So we picked up Casey Blake and Manny Ramirez in the last week. The Manny trade came at such a surprise, but I gotta tell you, I'm so stoked that I called both of my Dodger fan friends!
And yes, I agree that Manny, personality wise, can be a problem, a little too much of a Manny-Show...it seems that even Joe Torre is a little apprehensive of the many Mannyisms that he possesses...but I will say this: Joe Torre negotiated in his contract that he has direct say over all personnel, both coaching staff and playing staff, something nearly all managers don't get. So...he must be at least that much optimistic about the potential of Manny fitting in. To be honest, if it were any other manager, I'd be nervous about the potential of a clubhouse cancer. But Joe Torre knows how to coach big personalities. He's the Phil Jackson of baseball. Look at any of the Yankee teams he's had in recent years...he knows what he's doing, and I feel really comfortable that he can coral the team, even with Manny's personality.
Anyway, it seems as though now the Dodgers are playoff bound (don't mark my words), and even though that doesn't mean much, being that we would be Division Champs of the NL Werst (that wasn't a typo), and probably wouldn't do much of a threat against the other Division leaders, let alone the amazing teams in the AL (tho crazier things have happened).
But...we have a good solid team cooking for next year (pending the retaining of Ramirez and Blake, the experience of having a whole NL season with a new team under Torre's belt, the hope that Kent retires and can start bragging about himself at home, the health of Furcal, and the health and "get yer act together" of Penny and Lowe, and the either hopeful trade or "get your act together" of Andruw Jones (the latter being HIGHLY unlikey)). So yeah, lots of pendings for anything exciting to happen next year, but I should be able to justify re-ordering my MLB Extra Innings from COX and not feel like I'm wasting my money.
At least I'm hoping for being above .500.
And yes, I agree that Manny, personality wise, can be a problem, a little too much of a Manny-Show...it seems that even Joe Torre is a little apprehensive of the many Mannyisms that he possesses...but I will say this: Joe Torre negotiated in his contract that he has direct say over all personnel, both coaching staff and playing staff, something nearly all managers don't get. So...he must be at least that much optimistic about the potential of Manny fitting in. To be honest, if it were any other manager, I'd be nervous about the potential of a clubhouse cancer. But Joe Torre knows how to coach big personalities. He's the Phil Jackson of baseball. Look at any of the Yankee teams he's had in recent years...he knows what he's doing, and I feel really comfortable that he can coral the team, even with Manny's personality.
Anyway, it seems as though now the Dodgers are playoff bound (don't mark my words), and even though that doesn't mean much, being that we would be Division Champs of the NL Werst (that wasn't a typo), and probably wouldn't do much of a threat against the other Division leaders, let alone the amazing teams in the AL (tho crazier things have happened).
But...we have a good solid team cooking for next year (pending the retaining of Ramirez and Blake, the experience of having a whole NL season with a new team under Torre's belt, the hope that Kent retires and can start bragging about himself at home, the health of Furcal, and the health and "get yer act together" of Penny and Lowe, and the either hopeful trade or "get your act together" of Andruw Jones (the latter being HIGHLY unlikey)). So yeah, lots of pendings for anything exciting to happen next year, but I should be able to justify re-ordering my MLB Extra Innings from COX and not feel like I'm wasting my money.
At least I'm hoping for being above .500.
