LAist: What Is Colletti Thinking?

ishXdavid

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:21:52 -0800

Ned Colletti absolutely KILLS me. His lone bright spot on his resume is that he hasn't traded away the farm... yet. From bad trades to even worse signings, the Colletti era in Los Angeles has been an utter waste. I'm afraid of any potential deals because Colletti has an uncanny way of underselling our prospects -- Dioner Navarro, Edwin Jackson, and Chuck Tiffany come to mind. The problem is that Colletti's background is in Public Relations so he's a spindoctor. Frank McCourt is so susceptible to Colletti's schmooze tactics that he cannot see what many longtime Dodger fans see: a rudderless ship. It's true that our kids aren't kids anymore. It's even more true that valuable learning experience has been wasted on the likes of Luis Gonzalez, Nomar Garciaparra, Juan Pierre, Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt, etc. etc. etc. The Rays are 2008's version of the Rockies and DBacks last year and the Indians the year before. Teams that had a young nucleus of players who were given the opportunity to succeed. Colletti assumes the false pretense that since LA is a big market the Dodgers don't have the luxury of "rebuilding" because the fans demand that we contend annually. I've been a fan for over 20 years and there's an entire generation of fans like me whose experiences of "contention" are few and far between. I believe I speak for many longtime fans who understand the game in that "contention" implies more than being competitive in a lousy division. It means making progress as an organization from the rookie ball on up to the major league level. What's the point of drafting and developing great prospects if the GM is just going to acquire washed up roadblocks especially if all that money just ends up on the disabled list? I just don't get it. I was really hoping that when McCourt bought the team from FOX and dedicated himself to "the Dodger Way" that we'd get back to being the Dodgers. Instead, Brian Sabean's right-hand man has turned our beloved franchise into the San Francisco Giants - South. Thanks for nothing Ned Colletti. Please exit stage right.

Andy Sternberg

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:01:53 -0800

haha. No idea where I came up with Loiaza there. I'm big on Kuroda, and Billingsley is looking like the real deal -- finally able to strike out a dozen WITHOUT giving up the game in the sixth. Torre seems to be starting to trust these guys too. The resurgence of Chan Ho? Will it last? Of course, the bottom line is backing these pitchers w/ offense. The joke that is Angel Berroa put Colletti straight into the Sabean category of worst GMs ever.

mintxcore

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:35:31 -0800

Kershaw sent down to make room for Loiaza?! You mean Kuroda? Loiaza is a minor league White Sox now... I think what is more important than making a trade is simply playing the right people. LaRoche, Either/Kemp, etc. Oh, and praying Nomar doesn't hurt himself... Remember the last time Ned traded for a SS? Angel Berroa meet Julio Lugo.

Andy Sternberg

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:00:52 -0800

I couldn't agree more, Jimmy and I hope ol' Ned gets a hold of this reality check. Sabathia would be a waste -- Penny is bound to turn things around and the Dodgers just sent Clayton Kershaw -- who could very well light things up if necessary -- back to the minors to make room for Loiaza. I'd like to see a trade for some middle relief with Broxton and Beimel and even Saito being inconsistent. Joe Borowski could be cheap middle relief now that he's been sent down. Who the hell is this Falkenborg stroke anyway? And it's absolutely hilarious that Jack Wilson is deemed to have any trade value whatsoever.