The Signing of Zach Lee

I’ve got to give credit to Ned Colletti and team for this one.  A GREAT signing and a real feather in the cap of Assistant GM Logan White.  Here’s a nice recap of Lee’s potential (as well as the other draft signings) from Tony Jackson.  The Dodgers really did a nice job (and spent quite a bit of money for once) in getting this done.  A potential 2012 lineup of Billingsley, Kershaw and Lee is pretty damn exciting.

There’s also a great video on the Dodger Media Network showing that Zach Lee was Logan White’s great white whale of the draft.  It’s a well done piece, and a nice look behind the scenes.

Criticizing Kemp

Steve Dilbeck wrote an interesting column today about fans’ perceptions about the performance of Matt Kemp and how any writer who criticizes Kemp is immediately jumped on by rabid fans.  I don’t remember this happening when Chad Billingsley stumbled down the stretch last season.

Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2010

If you trust the sources of ESPN LA’s Tony Jackon, then yes.  According to the transcript of an online chat from earlier this week, Jackson had the following exchange with a Dodger fan named Earl:

Earl (LA, CA)

Wow, if Kemp gets traded for anyone, I would be bummed.Do you feel that would be a big mistake for the Dodgers to trade Kemp for a frontline starter, despite what Colleti thinks about him?I think Colleti exaggerated the issues of Kemp, personally.

Tony Jackson (6:41 PM)

Earl, I have it on good authority (NOT from Colletti, from others) that if anything, Ned UNDERSTATED the issues with Kemp. This kid is really full of himself, to the point that it is becoming an issue in the clubhouse. I’m not saying they WILL trade him. I still think there is less than a 50-percent chance that they will. I’m just saying that if they do trade one of their core young players, he probably will be the one, not only because of these issues but also because he would have the most value.

————–

Earl (LA, CA)

Wow, Tony, didn’t know that about Kemp. I just don’t think you can afford to let a talent like his go. Do you think its just a simple case of immaturity?I mean a lot of ball players start out cocky, but mature and settle down with age. Kemp could be no different.

Tony Jackson (6:50 PM)

well, if it’s immaturity, he has had plenty of time to outgrow it. Based on what I’m told, he hasn’t outgrown it yet. None of this is terribly surprising, just judging from the way he handles himself with the media. He is difficult to deal with, and I’m told that isn’t limited to the media.

After reading the full transcript, as well as the reflections of my blogging brethren over at Memories of Kevin Malone and Vin Scully is my Homeboy, I found myself thinking a lot about this exchange and found it really interesting for a number of reasons.

First, like many Dodger bloggers and fans, I really enjoy and respect Tony Jackson as a writer and his perspective on things related to the club.  He’s with the Dodgers day in and day out, and he knows his beat.  So if Jackson says he has sources that indicate that Kemp is “really full of himself” and “becoming an issue in the clubhouse” then I’m going to pay attention.  That said, I’ve personally covered a handful of games over the past year, and (in my very limited interactions) I’ve always found Matt Kemp to be a straightforward guy.  For example, I was at the second home game of the season when the Dodgers lost to the Diamondbacks in a five hour marathon.  Kemp had a couple bone-headed fielding plays, including one that allowed the eventual winning run to score.  Yet there he was, being a man and answering the difficult questions in the clubhouse after the game.

I am, however, surprised that Tony Jackson’s comments aren’t a bigger deal.  Saying that one of the Dodgers’ biggest young stars has issues is newsworthy, but I’m guessing that as long as it doesn’t divide the clubhouse or cause problems on the field, then there’s no reason to make a mountain out of a mole hill, right?  I’m probably most surprised that this came out in a chat on ESPN LA, rather in one of Tony’s regular articles.  Jackson seems to know what he’s talking about here, and I’d be curious to know why it wouldn’t be a bigger story, either at ESPN or in the eyes of other mainstream media outlets.  Food for thought.

View from the Dodgers' Vin Scully Press Box

One half of the dodgerfan.net duo will be at tonight’s game against the Diamondbacks, so check back in the early evening for pre-game comments from Joe Torre and batting practice photos, as well as post-game comments.  Plus, I’ll respond to your questions and comments throughout the game.

Bring on the first night game of the year at Chavez Ravine!

In the meantime, I wanted to call attention to Dodgers season ticket holder, and fellow blogger, Alyssa Milano’s site, Touch ‘Em All, and her ode to Opening Day, which I particularly liked:

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.
 -Rainer Maria Rilke

Yes. Oh, yes. I love this time of year. The days are longer, the pollen is in the air and there are little buds of future flowers everywhere you look. For the past few years and every year at this time, we have a couple of ducks (I think they may be married but I don’t know for certain) that fly into my backyard daily and take a bath in my pool at around 4 p.m.

Spring has sprung! And with the promise of all these amazing gifts from nature, comes the reminder that Opening Day soon will be here.

Even the drama of the McCourts’ divorce can’t bring down my baseball spirits. Because even though I obviously want my team to do well, this is the one time of the year that it’s not about my team winning or losing. It’s about walking into my home stadium, after months of a cold winter, and relishing in the hope of a new season.

The buds will bloom. The gates will open.
The frogs will chirp. The bats will crack.
The birds will fly. The balls will soar.

And for this time, right now, before any loss or statistic is recorded, my team… is the best in the league.

And don’t think Alyssa doesn’t know her Dodgers.  She recently spoke to ESPN about the upcoming season and makes it to about 40 games a season:

“There is no better place to be than in the ballpark in your town,” she said. “It’s a sensory experience.”

“I haven’t been thrilled about the starting rotation for years. You have to have good pitching to win a championship,” Milano said. “I haven’t told management my thoughts. But I blog about it and pray someone in the front office will be reading!”

And, of course, Alyssa’s passion for the Dodgers bleeds over into her *Touch* clothing line, designed for the ladies who love baseball in your life.  An Easter gift, perhaps?  At the very least, I’m sure you all will enjoy the pictures (check out the link to see more)!  BTW, I’m not sure why she models so much Phillies gear on the site, but I’m willing to overlook this.

Photo Credit: Touch ‘em All

Mark Timmons over at LA Dodger Talk has a very interesting “must read” interview with Logan White (Mark seems to have the inside scoop on White and De Jon Watson…be sure and search his site for a great on-camera interview Mark did with the dynamic scouting duo back during the Winter Meetings).

Joshua Fisher at Dodger Divorce is the go-to guy for everything in the Frank and Jamie McCourt divorce saga, and earlier this week he broke it all down to Fred Roggin on Channel 4.

Steve Dilbeck at the Los Angeles Times Dodger Blog pleads for Manny Ramirez to reclaim his “Manny being Manny” character.

Now bring on the regular season!

As a refresher, each week we select one person from the world of Major League Baseball and then beg, bribe, cajole and/or twist their arm until they participate.  We ask them five questions, they tweet their responses back to us, and we post ‘em here.  The questions do not change, but how people interpret and answer them does.  Think of this as our way to learn a little more about the people that play, cover, work with, tweet about and cheer on professional baseball teams, with an emphasis on the Dodgers.

Note: Keep in mind that Roberto kept to the spirit of the project by answering his questions via Twitter, so he had to make do with the 140 character limit for each answer. 

Five Tweets with… Roberto from Vin Scully is my Homeboy

1. What excites you the most about this season?

Matt Kemp & Clayton Kershaw. It will be a big year for them. 20 Wins & 40/40!

2. What is your biggest concern about this season?

I’m not worried about the Pitching. I’m worried that Russell Martin and Manny Ramirez will struggle all season long.

3. What is your earliest baseball memory?

1991 Dodgers. I still hate the Atlanta Braves. One game behind them… Strawberry, Samuel, Butler, Daniels, Morgan, Martinez…

4. What is your favorite baseball memory?

Karros/Piazza/Mondesi/Nomo/Hollandsworth. I grew up watching these guys. I thought it was going to be a dynasty. Boy was I wrong.

5. Why do you love the game?

I don’t know. I remember my dad drew a baseball field on a paper. Explained the positions to me. Catcher, 1st, etc. Been hooked since. 

This week we’re psyched to have the witty Orel from the always irreverent Dodgers blog Sons of Steve Garvey and @sosgsosg participating.  The Sons keep it lighthearted and fun throughout the season, always looking for pop culture tie-ins and intelligent, humorous banter at every turn.  Their site is one of our favorites to check in at during a game, and theirs was the site that we first looked to when trying to figure out our place in the Dodgers blogging landscape.

Note: Keep in mind that Orel kept to the spirit of the project by answering his questions via Twitter, so he had to make do with the 140 character limit for each answer. 

Five Tweets with… Dodgers Blogger Orel from SonsOfSteveGarvey.com

1. What excites you the most about this season?

Kemp-Ethier-Manny 2-3-4. Healthy Furcal. Kershaw nominated for sainthood.

2. What is your biggest concern about this season?

Stagnation or injuries, or in Martin’s case, both. That the rotation falls apart. That the team becomes a sideshow.

3. What is your earliest baseball memory?

John Candelaria no-hitting the Dodgers http://bit.ly/9OFGiJ. He has been on my ON NOTICE list ever since.

4. What is your favorite baseball memory?

Gibson, of course. I was screaming and running around an empty dorm like an inmate freed from the asylum.

5. Why do you love the game?

Stadiums, hot dogs and the seventh-inning stretch. Robinson, Clemente and Ichiro. And yes, even Candelaria.

This week we’re thrilled to have Eric Stephen from the influential Dodgers blog True Blue LA and @trueblueLA with us.  I love True Blue LA for many reasons, but a big one is how Eric and the team break down the numbers behind the Dodgers wins or losses, and then tell us all what they think it means for the team and for us as fans.  Their analytical look at what makes the Dodgers tick is fantastic, and their coverage only deepens our love and understanding of the game.

Note: Keep in mind that Eric kept to the spirit of the project by answering his questions via Twitter, so he had to make do with the 140 character limit for each answer. 

Five Tweets with… Dodgers Blogger Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com

1. What excites you the most about this season?

Excited for Billingsley & Kershaw to lead rotation, Broxton to lead best bullpen in MLB, & the 90-HR outfield to win 3rd straight NL West.

2. What is your biggest concern about this season?

Biggest concern is health & potential regression of the 35+ crew (Manny, Blake, Kuroda), & that Vicente Padilla turns back to a pumpkin.

3. What is your earliest baseball memory?

Earliest game was 1982 with my cousin. I was 6. We were busy making jokes rather than watching the game. 1985 was first full year as fan.

4. What is your favorite baseball memory?

Kirk Gibson home run won’t be topped. Also loved Franklin Stubbs grand slam to beat Cardinals 7/6/88 (at game with my older brother).

5. Why do you love the game?

I love the pace of the game; no clock, no need to rush, anything is possible. Crack of the bat is one of the sweetest sounds in the world.

- Los Angeles Times Dodgers Blog: Steve Dilbeck writes about interviewing the great Sandy Koufax as a young reporter

- Memories of Kevin Malone: GREAT interview with Dodger minor leaguer (and fellow blogger) Brian Akin

- Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness: A thought-provoking look at how the casual fan’s view of Manny Ramirez and Juan Pierre differ than that of the Dodger blogger that follows the team on a much closer level.

- Dodger Thoughts: Jon Weisman evaluates the importance of OBP in the recent success of the Dodgers.

- MLB.com: Respected former Dodger executive Fred Claire weighs in on how former Dodger infielder Mark Loretta is settling into his new role on the Padres’ front office.

- MLB.com: Ken Gurnick looks ahead to Clayton Kershaw’s upcoming season

I think the answer is fairly obvious, but if you would like to read more, read on!