Meet Your New Dodgers GM (Part 2)

Roberto Baly — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:49:00 -0500

I'm going to have a great challenge ahead of me. Pitching wins ball games. I know we lost good starting pitchers in Brad Penny, Derek Lowe, and Greg Maddux (who retired).

We currently have Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, and Clayton Kershaw. I'm assuming that the signing of Claudio Vargas means he will be slotted in the starting rotation. Not if I'm running the show.

Right away I will sign Andy Pettitte to a one-year contract. It looks like the Yankees are moving on without him. Joe Torre can convince him to come to the West Coast. I believe Pettitte still has it. He's 36 years old and had a 14-14 record last season with a 4.44 ERA I'm sure he will have a lower ERA by pitching in the National League.

Now for the fifth spot. I will sign Oliver Perez. I believe he has yet to reach his potential. He is 26 years old and about to emerge. He can strike out hitters often and even though his stats have not been that great, I believe he can succeed in Dodger Stadium. He is not my ideal starter but all I'm asking is to perform within your abilities and be our fifth starter.

My five-man rotation would go like this: Billingsley, Pettitte, Kuroda, Kershaw, and Perez. Yes, I'm giving the Opening Day start to Billingsley. It's time for him to become the ace. Pettite will be a good choice at the second start. I like Kuroda at third because it won't give much pressure for Kershaw and Perez.

On to the bullpen.

I'm not going to sign Joe Beimel. I was told I can't because of money issues. So I have to look at other options.

I like the Bullpen more than the starting pitching. Even with Jonathan Broxton closing. I feel this is the year that Broxton becomes that powerful closer we have visioned in the last couple of years. He knows it's his job now.

I won't make any signings unless an injury or a bad performance occurs during Spring Training.

Cory Wade, Ramon Troncoso, and Hong-Chi Kuo are in. I will have Vargas in the Bullpen with Rookie Scott Elbert.

That's a total of 11 pitchers. Torre will decide if he wants to open up the season with 11 or 12 pitchers.

Many things have to align correctly. But this pitching staff has potential. If it fails, I can always make a trade before July 31.

Meet Your New Los Angeles Dodgers GM

Roberto Baly — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:04:01 -0500

Let me play the role of Dodgers GM for a minute since the real GM is too busy signing great players like Claudio Vargas and Guillermo Mota. (Wow, just typing those names gives me a ugly vision for this season.)

First, let's talk about offense (pitching will come at another article.)

The Dodgers really only have two holes to fill—second base and left field.

In my first official act as GM, I would call Scott Boras (I think he prefers texting) and give him a two week deadline for negotiations over Manny Ramirez. Left field problem solved.

I would offer him a four year contract. I know it's not the six year deal he is looking for, but reality is that no one will give him a five or six year deal, so why not offer him a four year contract and force him to sign it?

The money will surprise you. I'm willing to give him a $ 90 million contract. That's $22 million per year, which should keep Ramirez happy. Don't worry, my boss Frank McCourt, will not lose money. I will ask the marketing department to make a whole Man-Ram line of t-shirts, wigs, and other souvenirs that fans will buy. The money will come. Fans are willing to buy it.

It will be bigger than Fernando-Mania or Nomo-Mania. It will be Manny-Mania.

Fans will come to the games. Jamie McCourt wants four million fans to come. If we sign Ramirez, four million fans will come.

If he rejects the deal, then I would move on without Ramirez and concentrate on other options. Remember that Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier will be starters in the outfield no matter what happens and I still have Juan Pierre.

Let's be realistic. I won't be able to trade him unless there is a GM that likes him. I'm keeping Pierre on the bench and let him count his money in the dugout while McCourt cries. Of course, I'm betting that Ramirez would accept my deal.

But let's say he doesn't.

Then, I would sign Bobby Abreu. His power has been on the decline for years, but it's a better option than Pierre. I'm predicting Kemp will have a break-out year and he will be the power hitter we have been looking for. Give Abreu a two year deal and hope that he accepts it.

Onto second base.

I would call Joe Torre and ask him to play Blake DeWitt often in Spring Training. If he plays solid ball, make him the Opening Day starter once again. I will tell him that he will be playing every day, and to just relax. Give him a three month chance to prove that he belongs. If he struggles, I will look for options from the bench, or a trade.

On the bench, I would not sign Nomar Garciaparra. Thanks for the carne asada memories, but I'm saying bye. The Mark Loretta signing was a good one. I like that he can play most of the infield positions and will bring a better bat than Mark Sweeney.

Those are my ideas for the offense.

Bleacher Report - Articles by Roberto Baly

Meet Your New Dodgers GM (Part 2)

Meet Your New Los Angeles Dodgers GM