Outside the Box
Evening out the playing fields
Darryl Fuller
Issue date: 3/6/06 Section: Sports
At one point this off season the Dodgers had no general manager, no manager and seemingly no direction. Time is surely the measuring stick for success in sports and this situation was no different. Within months the
Dodgers hired Ned Coletti; as general manager. Insert an eager, yet laid back manager in Grady little who has let's not forget, been in a very high profile, controversial job before (as the Boston red sox manager and the Pedro Martinez debacle) and the Dodgers were quickly on the move signing six new impact players in the month of December.
This included the hometown guy Nomar Garciaparra who will play first base for the first time ever. They also have the durable veteran Kenny Lofton, third base slugger bill Mueller, a shortstop in Rafel Furcal (insurance in case Cesar Izturis does not fully recover from surgery). With the best farm system and also signing proven but streaky right handed pitcher Brett Tomko, the team has made some major strides. By adding these veterans to a relatively young baseball club, the Dodgers have a good combination of youth, speed and power. Manager Grady Little has the right attitude to mold this mixture of talent together.
Finishing last year with a dismal 71 and 91 record, the Dodgers were forced to watch their cross town rivals the now "Los Angeles Angels" of Anaheim get to the playoffs only to be stopped by the world champion Chicago White Sox. This off-season proves that the Dodgers do not want to become the "little brother" in Los Angeles.
By adding key impact players, resigning legendary play by play announcer Vin Scully, and putting the names back on the jerseys, the Dodgers see to be coming back to life after the "Depodesta experiment" went horribly wrong.
After firing a good manager in Jim Tracy and not being able to hit the ball off a tee, the Dodgers are now reloaded and if they remain healthy should easily wrap up the weak National League West division. With Frank and Jamie McCord finally waking up and smelling the smog that surrounds Chavez ravine the Dodgers have given themselves a chance to restore the glory and tradition that's associated with being as Eric Gagne put it a "Freakin' Dodger."
Dodgers hired Ned Coletti; as general manager. Insert an eager, yet laid back manager in Grady little who has let's not forget, been in a very high profile, controversial job before (as the Boston red sox manager and the Pedro Martinez debacle) and the Dodgers were quickly on the move signing six new impact players in the month of December.
This included the hometown guy Nomar Garciaparra who will play first base for the first time ever. They also have the durable veteran Kenny Lofton, third base slugger bill Mueller, a shortstop in Rafel Furcal (insurance in case Cesar Izturis does not fully recover from surgery). With the best farm system and also signing proven but streaky right handed pitcher Brett Tomko, the team has made some major strides. By adding these veterans to a relatively young baseball club, the Dodgers have a good combination of youth, speed and power. Manager Grady Little has the right attitude to mold this mixture of talent together.
Finishing last year with a dismal 71 and 91 record, the Dodgers were forced to watch their cross town rivals the now "Los Angeles Angels" of Anaheim get to the playoffs only to be stopped by the world champion Chicago White Sox. This off-season proves that the Dodgers do not want to become the "little brother" in Los Angeles.
By adding key impact players, resigning legendary play by play announcer Vin Scully, and putting the names back on the jerseys, the Dodgers see to be coming back to life after the "Depodesta experiment" went horribly wrong.
After firing a good manager in Jim Tracy and not being able to hit the ball off a tee, the Dodgers are now reloaded and if they remain healthy should easily wrap up the weak National League West division. With Frank and Jamie McCord finally waking up and smelling the smog that surrounds Chavez ravine the Dodgers have given themselves a chance to restore the glory and tradition that's associated with being as Eric Gagne put it a "Freakin' Dodger."