He just won the Cy Young award.

There is a god, and she understands baseball!

[russkish3]

I am delighted for Eric Gagne. If the Yankees had the Dodgers' bullpen they might have won the World Series. I knew they were in trouble when I saw their middle relief. And Mariano Rivera at this stage is no Eric Gagne!

Note to long suffering Dodger fans: WHO WOULD YOU SIGN TO IMPROVE THIS TEAM? It would be painful to see the same lineup next year! Is WILTON GUERRERO enough?

Russell Kishi
Glendale, California

Even Pedro Guerrero would help

[russkish3]

Hard watching this team struggle. The demise of the Dodgers has been a long, slow and painful process that began when Al Campanis made his notorious verbal slipup on "Nightline" in 1987. They actually had just enough to get by for one more glorious year after that, with Kirk Gibson's heroics. But they have been a ship without a rudder ever since. Oh, for the days of Koufax, Drysdale, Wills, Tommy Davis before breaking his ankle, et al.

Worst of all -- watching the Giants dominate the division. Ugh! But there must be plenty of people out there who actually enjoy watching the Dodgers languish behind every year.

Russell Kishi
Glendale, California

I think I will say the same thing I said last year. If the people they have stay healthy and perform, they can be a formidable team.

Shawn Green had an abysmal year. Brian Jordan missed most of it. Even Paul LoDuca was weak most of the second half. Dave Roberts missed much of the season and never truly hit his stride.

Someday, Adrian Beltre will be a superstar, but last season, he showed only flashes of this. If he matures and becomes consistent, he will be incredible.

And - we will need a first baseman. If they make LoDuca into one and bring along the new kid catcher, (name just escaped me), who also showed flashes of power and sharp defense, they have the elements of a contender. I believe Fred McGriff, who was 40 last Halloween, is finished.

The middle infield is a dream, and I'd have believed Cesar Izturis for the gold glove at shortstop, and he and Joey Cora are as slick and pretty as any two middle guys in either league. And neither is a total throw-away hitter.

The pitching still appears solid, although you can never have too much strength there. Bad boy Odalis Perez may have mixed too many poor outings in among his good ones to be around next season.

I think they should be conservative and stick pretty much with what they have, plus or minus picking up a good hitting first baseman and a starting pitcher to replace Perez. There are even good role players and up and comers on the bench, like Mike Kinkaid.

We'll see.

I think LA will have another tough season in 2004, unless they make some moves. A new ownership may help, or may screw things up more. My take: Jordan and McGriff are already gone.
Odalis Perez is on his way out, if LA can deal him, along with maybe Mota. If you want somebody that isn't 'damaged goods,' you have to offer something. The new kid Jackson, looks good and could be trade bait, or they will keep him in the event of another Brown collapse, which is always imminent, it seems. I think Dreifort is another 'what if.' As for Gagne, he has been called a franchise player, and perhaps so - he was the only real bright spot they had this season. Piazza was also called a franchise player, and he is long gone. I hope LA keeps Gagne. I hope LA can AFFORD to keep Gagne. LoDuca could be trade bait. Ross looked good as a back up catcher and maybe could be a first line catcher. They should skip looking at Santiago. I think Benito Santiago is too old and would be another McGriff. LoDuca had his break out year and hasn't reached those totals again. Maybe he can. I am thinking he won't.
I hear talk about a 3 way trade where LA gets Edmonds from St Louis. Edmonds is damaged goods, as I read it.

If Green does not bounce back to a 35 + home run year, and there is nobody else in that power quality, look for a short season for the Dodgers. LA PROVED you cannot win if you cannot hit the ball, even though you can catch the ball and pitch the ball.
Just my opinions

[russkish3]

My setniments exactly. Why don;t you apply for the general manager's job?

"Scuse me while I disappear,

Russell Kishi
Glendale, California

P.S. -- enjoyed your visit to the Chat Room last night! Take care.

Tim Ross was the up-and-coming catcher I couldn't think of, and I was very impressed with him.

LoDuca might hit better if they move him to first base. The disclosure that Shawn Green played the entire season concealing an injury was both a relief and infuriating. If he really and truly comes back healthy, it will make a huge difference.

I also had forgotten about Edwin Jackson, new phenom pitcher. That kid really showed some talent.

Also - you're right: No more expensive old farts. There was a rumor on the six o'clock news last night that Mike Piazza might be back. Him I can do without. Far as I'm concerned, he has always had attitude problems. If they do blow the budget on him, he'll become a first baseman here, as they already announced he is going to do with the Mets.

I'm already itching for baseball again.

I would like to see more player development in the Dodger farm system. With all the major league teams, talent is pretty thin for trades, and LA is locked into some pretty high priced beef, like Brown, Dreifort, & Green. Not saying Brown and Green aren't worth it, I just say it's a lot of cash they cannot spend on others, so I would like to see new talent scouted and brought up.

The idea of getting more over the hill hired guns like McGriff is not what I would do. I realize McGriff had an uninjured career before LA got him, but he was 39 and had limited life in LA anyway. Getting some old guy and squeezing 'one more year' does not seem to work too well in LA.

I don't know what you thought of Raul Mondesi, but I always liked him in LA. He was a great fielder and pretty steady at bat. I think there is life left in him and I wouldn't mind seeing him back in LA. I have no idea what his club house/locker room history was, however.

Added after Mike showed up: Yeas, Mike I agree about Piazza. I don't think that would be a productive move. If Piazza, then why not Sheffield? Neither would be sound moves, in my opinion.

Gary Sheffield strikes me as a high-priced whore. He has a ton of talent and is a dangerous hitter, and he'll play for whoever pays him enough, but you get the impression he really doesn't give a shit about his team or winning for them.

Maybe that's not fair, but that's how he comes off to me, wherever he goes. I had occasion to speak with Ross Porter, Dodgers broadcaster, back when Sheffield went through all his angst of wanting to be traded, and he said Jim Tracy took him aside, grabbed the front of his shirt, and told him to shut up and play ball, and for the rest of that season, he did.

I've never been as convinced of Dreifort as some. At his best, he's pretty good, but he's kind of like the boxer who can take a punch. And now, there always seems to be something wrong with him.

Man - I wish all this seasonal insanity and rotten, gloomy weather were gone and it would be spring again!

I need my baseball!

Do you ever go to Arizona to spring training? I never have but my brother in law always does. He is a Giant fan (I don't get to pick brother in laws) One Christmas when we picked names among the family, I drew his name and gave him a Dodger cap - he was not pleased. I might go some time, as my wife's mom and sister live in Sun City.

The fact that Sheffield gets passed around alot would indicate he has a problem. The Yankees would be the perfect place for him.

No word on Robin Ventura. I would suspect he will be gone, too.
Vladimir Gererro is the name I see tossed around the most. Don't know much about him. He would cost alot of money.

As for Dreifort I too never saw that much in him. He never proved his worth and I don't see why they spent so much money on him. Brown has proven value and has done well when healthy. He is not getting any younger, however.
If science and politics ever get to cloning, I nominate Sandy Koufax and Orel Hershiser.