Colletti Will Return As Dodgers GM

the only reason colletti isn't working the register at KFC right now is because of all the young players. i know being a GM is a thankless job, but it's never a good sign when people say the best thing he's ever done (besides acquiring manny) is hold on to all the great players that came up through the system. (i.e. not unloading the youth movement for miggy, bedard, santana, etc.) the thought of colletti with 60 mil. to spend is frightening. unless he miraculously starts spending the money wisely, he has the potential to handcuff the organization financially for many years this offseason. all the 2nd and 3rd players are due for significant raises in the next few years, so he won't be able to get away with signings/pickups such as andruw jones, jason schmidt, juan pierre, and esteban loaiza. here's to dropping 65 mil. on jon garland, uncle ned. *raises imaginary wine glass*

of course i meant to say "coast" but "cost" almost seems more appropriate.

I think Colletti did a better job than people give him credit for. The hardest and most important thing to do is run an organization that produces top notch tallent from the farm, something the Dodgers are among the best in baseball at doing. Yes he gave out some stupid contracts, but to my knowlege, none have/will cause long term damage (Zito & Hampton). If ownership gives you money to put a team together, you have to spend it, or the fans will rip you appart for not putting together "the best team possible".

I'd point the finger at Torre more than Colletti. The team obviously has serious talent, and vetran depth, but why just a modest record barely over .500?

"I have to agree with BK....Manny for Laroche was a horrible idea"

Urgh??? On a purely financial basis.. Manny probably rasied about $20m for the club by getting into the postseason. Just add up those $15 per car parking fees alone.

Yea Santana for Casey Blake was a stellar trade. As was the choice to continue forcing the hand with the aging veterans (Nomar, Kent, Maddux). Manny literally fell into his lap. The only reason they got him is becasue Florida refused to part with any of their top shelf prospects and there was two hours left before the deadline passed and he was literally destroying the Red Sox.

You will look back at this day and realize the illusion of intelligence in acquiring Manny Rameriz was strictly coincidence. Manny is amazing, but it was not nearly as much Colleti as it was circumstance.

The Dodgers are a deadbeat franchise that overcharge their fans ($15 parking! as stated before) have an owner that took them as a consolation when he could not buy the Red Sox and a clueless GM with incredible young talent to use.

Good Luck Boys in Blue

"Did Ned draft and develop all that talent? jmurray is right. The only thing he did was hold on to that talent."

Holding on to talent you know is there is at least as important as drafting talent you think might mature.

"Trades (sans Manny) have been so, so. He's presided over a 500 club who only sniff at the playoffs because the entire NL West is in the crapper."

Remember that last year, the NL West was the toughest division in baseball. Injuries had a lot to do with this year's downturn.

"Yea Santana for Casey Blake was a stellar trade."

Oh goodness, get off this one. Santana wasn't going to make it as a catcher, both because of his defensive issues and because of Russell Martin. Further, the jury is still out as to whether he can produce like he did at IE in a higher level, lower elevation league.

"As was the choice to continue forcing the hand with the aging veterans (Nomar, Kent, Maddux)."

So, you apparently know nothing about the Dodgers. Kent was extremely productive last year, production that was certainly worth picking up a $9 million option. As for Nomar, do you remember how he earned that contract? Something about being the Dodgers' best hitter in 2006.

As for Maddux, they brought him in to eat innings and for his influence on the pitching staff. Have you seen Derek Lowe's record with Maddux on the team? Enough said.

"The Dodgers are a deadbeat franchise that overcharge their fans ($15 parking! as stated before)"

How many big market teams get you a seat behind home plate for $9, less if you get it on a special? Also, one doesn't need to park at Dodger Stadium if they don't want.

This just cements the notion for me that Frank McCourt is just a bad/dumb owner. He fired Depo, who as it turns out did a pretty good job, for PR reasons and hired a relative moron like Colletti. Now he's got a chance to fire his GM without upsetting the team, and right before a pretty big offseason for them, and he doesn't do it. Just really doesn't seem like a good idea to keep Colletti on board with all the important decisions to be made this winter, especially with people like Logan White and Kim Ng in the organization. If McCourt isn't careful by the time he gets around to dumping Colletti those two will be gone.

traditionally always hated the dodgers (’81 expos, black monday, i was there)
but always loved the clothes.
the best in baseball, because they have as much tradition as any (yanks, bosox, wsox, cubs etc) but don't look like history class (yanks) or your nephew's cuddly jammies (cubs). and they stayed stylish, with just enough flash in the flash-era 70s/80s (j.r. richard-era astros, schmidt-era phillies, gary carter-era expos)

my point?
karma dictates that you have to sign guys that look right in that uni.
the downturn started with kevin brown, right? grumpy guy in flashy fines? doesn't work.
jeff kent, another example.
reverse example: Manny
sabathia, would be pimpin' in the blue.

This decision seems very odd to me. If McCourt feels Colletti is the person to make these important decisions in this offseason then he should be signed to a long term deal and not just have the option picked up. Why give Colletti the most important offseason if you aren't confident enough to keep him long term?

Ok Ned, here is where you make your mark as a Dodger.

Here is what you need to do to keep your job for more than another year, and not completely screw the Dodgers over for years to come:

1. Resign Manny. Enough said.

2. Resign Furcal. The guy was our best hitter until mid june even after being out since may 4th, and him getting hot against the cubs helped most everyone else get hot, and take the cubs like they were nothing.

3. Keep the youngsters together (Kemp/Ethier/Kershaw/Billingsley/Broxton/Loney/Martin). I want Peavy as much as the next Dodger fan, but you gotta give an offer like:

Mcdonald, Elbert, D. Young, Dewitt, low level prospect, and Jones/Pierre plus a ton of cash for Peavy. Do not include Kemp or Kershaw to get Peavy. Its just not worth it to give up those players who will be key for us in 09.

4. If we don't trade for peavy, go hard after one of the big SP in free agency (sadly enough, the only one that has stayed healthy so far in his career is CC, so we might have to try and get lucky with an injury risk in Burnett or Sheets :/).

If we do trade for Peavy, try using in house options for the end of the rotation instead of getting an over-priced back of the rotation guy we dont need with all the guys who we have that are capable of starting.

If Colleti was, somehow, able to do all of this, i would praise him as a god. Unfortuntaley, i believe he might only get 2 of these, and i think they will be Resigning manny and trading for Peavy, but he will use the Kemp/Kershaw as the main piece to do it and he will let Furcal walk.

Prove me wrong Ned, please.