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While unexpected, you’ve got to love this battle for the 5th starting spot in the rotation between Loaiza vs. Park. In the latest round on Saturday, Chan Ho struck first by allowing just one unearned run in five innings in the Dodgers’ first game in China. But Esteban Loaiza struck back later in the day with three hits and one (very lucky) run in five innings.

The difference between the two? Park is a non-roster Spring Training invitee and Loaiza is owed $6.5 million this season. Both men are pitching exceptionally well for the #5 slot, but Loaiza has the inside track at this stage, given his relative consistency and hefty salary.

The question is, what becomes of the intriguing Chan Ho Park? I was emailing with fellow blogger Brian Kamenetzky over at Blue Notes, and he accurately noted that which ever player does not make the team would need to clear waivers before giving the Dodgers the opportunity to stash them away in AAA. Given the dearth of pitching in the majors these days, it’s hard to imagine either of these making their way back to LA, but it’s an interesting question.

So who is your preference: Loaiza or Park?

I’ve been in Paris all week, well insulated from Spring Training and the plight of the Dodgers and their upcoming two game series against the Padres in China. I happened to log-in from the Paris airport just now and get caught up on things while I await my flight back to the states and ran across T.J. Simers take on the Dodgers trip to China.

While the premise that sending a hodgepodge of Dodger players to face off against “the Pads” seemed like a story that was created because there wasn’t any other interesting news on the Dodger front, it did get me thinking: What are the Chinese (or the rest of the world) going to get from this display?

If you take a look at who we’re sending, it certainly doesn’t smack of something for the history books: Eric Hull, Mike Koplove, Hong-Chih Kuo, Greg Miller, Justin Orenduff, Chan Ho Park, Matt Riley, Brian Shackelford, Eric Stults, Ramon Troncoso and Tanyon Sturtze. Hell, half of these guys are non-roster spring training invites! I doubt that the people in attendance at this game realize that many of these guys will never see the permanent roster at the end of March - smacks of self-promotion and media spin to me.

What are we really saying to the world with this trip? “Sorry, can’t spare our top talent for this little venture as we’ve got some gelling to do in Vero Beach before the season starts” comes to mind. I remember attending the first interleague game at the Ballpark in Arlington between the Giants and the Rangers. Lots of fanfare, all of the marquis players doing battle, and a tribute to Jackie Robinson. What could be better?

Evidently, not much. Besides a big paycheck that MLB is no doubt receiving for this little bit of East-West diplomacy, I don’t see what other benefit there is. The Chinese will see a random assortment of players on an unfamiliar field in an exhibition game that will likely look nothing like a real game (except for the rules and the uniforms). Ah yes, now I remember - we want to keep recruiting Chinese players for the league!

Bud Selig evedently disagrees. “It’s quite an experience, to say the least,” Selig said. “I’m thrilled with it. So this is great. This is history in the making. Someday I’ll look back on all this and say, ‘It was great to go for the first time.’ ” . I think he really meant so say ‘this will be a great help in recruiting our sixth Chinese national to MLB so we can continue to pilfer from their talent pool and strengthen our position in an era of declining interest and large salaries for American players.’

Outsourcing may be taking on a whole new meaning…

I caught the weekend’s games on TV, and I’ve got to say, it was great to hear Vin Scully back behind the microphone.  I’m  really getting psyched for the start of the season.  A few highlights: Loaiza looked strong.  He got lucky to make his way out of a few jams, but he was playing the Red Sox.  He was in a bit of a pickle in the first, but he managed to shut down Ortiz, Ramirez and Lowell and lay four K’s in three innings.  A great rebound.

The only thing more impressive (other than Kemp’s crushing of a home run off Dice K into the Holman Stadium parking lot) was Clayton Kershaw.  That kid can flat out pitch.  He may be the Dodgers’ #1 draft pick in the 2006 draft, but I think he could be up in the bigs very, very soon.  He had one just filthy curveball on Sean Casey (or “public enemy #1″ as Vin likes to call the big curve) that made Vin just sit back and laugh.  Check it out here (it’s worth a look).  The thing was a monster.  Before he took down Casey, he silenced  World Series MVP Lowell and JD Drew.  In 10 pitches.  Wow.  Did I mention he throws 97 miles per hour?  Filthy, filthy stuff.

Word is that Torre says Kershaw has zero chance of making the big league team, but with performances like that, he could be destined for the majors very, very soon.  So do you thinks it’s just coincidence that he followed Loaiza in the game today?  Or maybe a message for the presumed #5 starter to get his act together.  Regardless of what happens by opening day, the future of the Dodgers pitching staff certainly looks bright.

Photo from www.ladugout.com

Yup.  Well, at that’s the way the readers of Los Angeles Magazine feel.  Check out this great post over at Dodger Thoughts, which outlines the March Madness-like face off between 64 of the “greatest things in LA.”
Seriously, the Library?  All of us at DodgerFan are rooting for In ‘n Out Burger from here on out.

Just got back from a weekend on Vegas and the Luxor had the Dodgers at 3-1 odds to win the NLCS and 6-1 to win the World Series.  This seemed surprisingly optomistic to me, especially considering the Luxor had them at 10-1 at the end of the 2007 season. Only the Mets and Cubs had better odds. 

 And don’t even ask - you know I put $20 down on the Dodgers!