Now that Oscar Night is fading into people's memories, here are some items about Tinseltown's two baseball clubs…
- Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com profiles Matt Kemp, recapping the outfielder's tumultuous 2010 season and looking at how Kemp is preparing to bounce back this year.
- Jamie McCourt and her attorneys have submitted a court filing asking that she receive fuller disclosure of the Dodgers' financial dealings, reports Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times. This latest step in the McCourts' ownership struggle stems from a recent report that Frank McCourt was looking for a $200MM loan from Fox, a proposal that was rejected by Bud Selig.
- Jamey Carroll tells MLB.com's Ken Gurnick that he doesn't feel "bitter" about not having a starting job with the Dodgers, despite a fine .291/.379/.339 slash line in 414 plate appearances last season.
- Jake Locker tells Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that he doesn't have any plans to pursue a baseball career. There were rumors that Locker, who received a $250K signing bonus as a tenth-round pick of the Angels in the 2009 draft, might turn to baseball if the NFL were to enter a protracted work stoppage. Lockout or not, Locker will make much more as a quarterback than he would as an Angels farmhand — Locker is projected to be one of the top QBs taken in April's NFL draft.
Really bro? Fuller? Wow…
One of the top qbs taken..maybe..but i’m more of thinking it won’t be before the 3rd round (and its only that high because some team will take him with a value pick based on his projections after his junior year)..never seen him play baseball..anybody have an idea on how good he is? I heard he got clocked from a mound at 95 but I think I read he would play OF
I can’t explain it at all, but I have a weird feeling we will end up seeing Locker in someone’s farm system before too long, since I think he will be a bust as an NFL QB.
Or considering the NFL is coming close too not playing next season.
Well, I can rest easy knowing that the 37-year-old outfielder who barely registers above replacement-level doesn’t mind a limited role on a big-market team.
If your talking about Carroll, he’s a infielder who was worth 2.7 WAR as a role player las year, and was one of the MVP’s of the team last year.
I HATED THAT DEAL.. but damn was he great last year.
What he did in 414 PAs last season (101 OPS+) is not in-line with his career numbers (85 OPS+), nor is there any reason to believe it signals an upward trend. Does his status as someone who is unlikely to generate 2.7 WAR again justify his occupation of a premium position for a team that wants to compete?
I never said I though he should be a starter. I was saying that Carroll was well above replacement level last year, and that he deserves a little more respect.
Carroll is a solid player, but he was clearly signed to play a strictly utility role on the team, not as a starter. Not sure why anyone would speculate that would change.
Frank McCourt dug his own grave and now the Dodgers will have to be sold. For the good of the game lets hope its soon, although I would bet the rest of the NL West is really happy he is still owner and having so much financial trouble that it is affecting the team’s ability to go out and sign top players.
Agreed, what will happen when the team can afford a 150 million dollar payroll? I really don’t care about signing huge FAs but I really would like to see some guys locked up.
How does “Jamie Wilpon” sound? At least she can shack up with somebody worthy of a $25M from the MLB while her ex can’t even get approval of a loan from an outside source.
Just joking Mets fans, I seriously wouldn’t wish a McCourt on anybody. Except maybe the Giants.
twice!!
It’s precisely because it was an outside source that it was rejected.
McCourt is on his way out as Dodgers owner; it’s only a matter of time at this point. $25MM from MLB? No big deal. No prospective buyer would bat an eyelash at paying that money back, and in all likelihood if it meant helping to get the team into the hands of an owner who can do right by it, MLB would probably just forgive the loan.
An outside source will not be so understanding. And when we’re talking a number as massive as $200MM on a team valued by Forbes around $727MM, we’re talking a NEW debt, beyond anything that exists, that is over 25% of the value of the team. THAT will not only make a potential new owner pause, but it would hurt their ability to be a strong team going forward.
Tweak the sarcasm detection device just a tad…. ;)
Wow, that Jake Locker article is really classy.
“…baseball’s Angels (we’re not sure what geographic location they currently claim, nor frankly do we care) hold Jake Locker’s rights.”
“…the pastime formerly known as America’s.” (referring to baseball)