Will the LA Dodgers Become the New York Yankees—Or the San Diego Padres?

For the Los Angeles Dodgers this off season is a cross roads. When they won the 2008 Pennant they created expectations. The team of 2008 is gone now and the new team will be created in the front office. The man who signed Jason Schmidt, Andruw Jones, and Juan Pierre for reasons never explained will remake the infield and replace the majority of the pitching staff.

The public relations offer for Manny Ramirez, never intended to be serious, is the only noteworthy move so far. The Dodgers created a lot of excitement only after the Red Sox gave them the gift of a superstar. 

Now in the quiet before the storm, many questions circulate. But the biggest and un-asked question is: Why Los Angeles, the second biggest city in the USA and one of the biggest media markets in the world, does not operate like the “Big Boys”?

The Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, and Cubs (lately) manage to shop for the top free agents. They have the prospects for replacements, and trades. Year after year they build teams so they EXPECT to be in the postseason? The Dodgers won the pennant in 2008 more because the Red Sox wanted to get rid of Manny than because of any front office brilliance.

Why does a fabled MLB franchise, operate like a second tier team when it comes to the free agent market? Why is the new ownership looking to maintain a budget when the character of the 2009 team is at stake?

This team needs to be built not just maintained. Three of four infield positions are up in the air. Three of five starting pitchers are gone. They are talking about Stultz as a starter again. Does anyone think Andruw is going to come back slim and hitting .3oo?

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to compete on the diamond with the Big Budget teams but front office competition leads to the mention of budget restraints. The sale of the Dodgers to a "budget challenged" ownership not able to complete a purchase without a loan from Fox continues to be a question and a hurdle to building a competitive team on the field.

Hard to believe there isn't a "NY Yankees" degree of mega-rich, baseball committed person in Los Angeles. So why was a Bostonian imported to run the Dodgers? The Steinbrenners may be overblown and misguided in many ways but they are unquestionably committed to making the best product possible.

The McCourts efforts are not comparable. General manager Ned Colletti is not on the same level with any of the major market teams.  

Joe Torre was the first example of investing in a front-line guy. Manny Ramirez was a gift to the Dodgers but the GM takes credit for this bold move. But now we return to your regular programming.  There are two paths to building a consistent pennant contender. An open checkbook AND great drafting to provide trade bait to acquire proven players; this modus has benefited the Yankees and Red Sox.

The second path is; consistent drafting of young talent and the ability to make trades for gifted players; the Florida teams have proven this theory works even with a limited budget.

The Dodgers produced an excellent group of young players. Once. Martin, Kemp, Billingsley, Loney, and the trade for Ethier, brought a great nucleus together. DeJesus , McDonald, and Elbert are on the way but then…back to the checkbook.

Dodger fans are left to hope circumstances will yield a post-season. Hopes have to be founded on fading stars having a return to glory years, while at the same time rookies and average players perform beyond expectation with less mistakes than usual. Then the Dodgers make the post season.

The Yankees expect to win every year. Even in a tougher division they start the season expecting to go to the World Series. The Dodgers made the World Series in 1988, Why? Why can’t the Dodgers make a commitment to winning the pennant?

For example: having Furcal at the top of the line-up with Manny batting third sounds like an offense better than Hu leading off and Loney batting third. CC is the best pitcher available (and he has said he wants to play in California)—then why not expect him to be on the Dodgers to replace Penny and Burnet to replace Lowe (isn't anyone curious why Lowe is so anxious to leave?)? 

With this team the Dodgers match up with Philadelphia, Mets, and Cubs. The Dodgers should be regularly in the post season not occasional visitors; they represent a huge population center, and have a great baseball park.

The problem is commitment, dollars, the owners, the front office, and the scouting. This is not Milwaukee. And these problems should have been avoided when Fox sold the team.