6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

With another round of insomnia attacking, powered by KUSC, here we go...

Dirtbags Reload

With two consecutive classes being recruited for their excellent pitchers and position players -- Abe Alvarez, Jered Weaver, Neil Jamison, and Cesar Ramos have all been drafted off the mound in the last two years, as well as star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki -- Long Beach State needed to reload, and the 2006 haul looks promising, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram. New hurlers will include local product Kyle Bredenkamp (RHP, Millikin High), Hunter Hewitt (LHP, Kentucky/Trinity High, spent the summer in Dirtbag camp), Andre Lamontagne (RHP, Santa Maria Righetti High), Russ Lowell (LHP, Encinitas La Costa Canyon High), Shane Peterson (LHP/1B, Temecula Chaparral High), Bryan Shaw (RHP, Livermore High), Scott Turmail (RHP, Missouri/Hazelwood Central High), and Vance Worley (RHP, Sacramento McClatchy High).

The Dirtbags will also see these new position players: Danny Espinoza (SS, Mater Dei High), Kip Masuda (C, Hawaii/Mid-Pacific Institute), Bobby McMurray (OF-3B, Mesa City College), Teddy Pattock (OF, Chandler-Gilbert (Az.) City College), Robert Perry, OF, Jr. (Santa Clara; a former Little League teammate of Troy Tulowitzki), Edgar Sedano (IF, Roosevelt High, East L.A. College), and Allen Wood (OF, Lakewood High/Golden West College).

Go Beach!

Roster Moves

• The Diamondbacks have traded for Tim Worrell from the Phillies, for INF Matt Kata. Worrell is 0-1 with a 7.41 ERA, and earlier in the year hit the DL due to "personal psychological issues". Judging by his ERA, I'd say those issues involved his fastball.
• The Rangers acquired reliever Kevin Gryboski from Atlanta, for pitching prospect Matt Lorenzo. The Rangers also acquired swingman James Baldwin (1.61 ERA, 22.1 IP) off waivers from Baltimore. How's that Drese DFA workin' out for ya?
• Former Angel and World Series Game 6 hero Scott Spiezio has requested a trade. It is almost certain the Mariners will DFA him if they can't move him by the trade deadline. (Hat tip: this Lookout Landing diary.)

More On Weaver From Rich

Not Jeff, of course, but Jered:

If you can look past that ERA (which actually is much more respectable than it was at the end of June), it is pretty easy to see just how dominating Weaver has been thus far. Including his two poor outings, Weaver is once again putting up numbers like he did in college in 2003-2004 when he was a two-time first team All-American at Long Beach State.

In fact, Weaver is pitching so well I fully expect that the Angels will promote him to Double-A Arkansas before the month is out as predicted after his last start on Saturday. I'm now going to up the stakes and say that Weaver will wind up in Anaheim before the year is out. Yup, I see him leapfrogging Triple-A, passing go, and collecting $200 four million dollars before the year is out. Heck, Weaver could find himself pitching against the A's in Oakland or the Rangers in Texas during the last week of September and the first weekend of October. ... A month in Little Rock anywhere close to his last month in Rancho Cucamonga and the Angels will undoubtedly call him up when the rosters expand in September.

I'm not quite that enthusiastic, but I do think he could make the team after a good August in Arkansas* followed by a strong showing in spring training.

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* Trust me, there really isn't such a thing as a good August in Arkansas, not with the average temperature around 81 and the average humidity 85%; let's not even discuss the rest of the stadiums in the Texas League.

Moreno On Angels Payroll

Somebody -- wish I could remember who -- suggested the other day that Bill Stoneman was going to be handed his job if the Angels didn't win the division the other day. I can't imagine it, doubly so after reading this Times interview with Arte about payroll.

Asked if he could also see the Angels staying pat, Moreno shrugged.

"I'm really OK with what the baseball people say. We really want a long-term … championship team. We don't want to disrupt things.

"I love this club. Who wouldn't? We're 6 1/2 games up. Last year at this time we were scraping. Having to go at the end of the year to Texas and win three of four and then go to Oakland and win two of three, that wasn't fun."

Moreno pointed to the recent signings of Cuban defector Kendry Morales and college player of the year Jered Weaver as signs the Angels were serious about money not being a hindrance.

"We're real happy with what's going on," Moreno said.

Weaver Trade Rumors

Again in the Times, rumors about Jeff Weaver being traded to a contender:

Dodger General Manager Paul DePodesta is undecided on whether to get something for Weaver — which would in effect be throwing up a surrender flag on the 2005 season — or keep him and continue to pursue the flagging San Diego Padres in the National League West.

A decision probably wouldn't be made until close to the July 31 trading deadline to give DePodesta a better read on the team's chances. Outfielder Milton Bradley and the versatile Jose Valentin are expected to come off the disabled list when the Dodgers return home Monday.

Weaver has expressed interest in signing an extension, but that is unlikely because the Dodgers aren't inclined to match his current salary and Weaver's agent, Scott Boras, won't give a hometown discount.

Even More Renovations At Dodger Stadium

Even beyond fixing the new foul ground seats, the Dodgers are thinking about all kinds of changes:

Valet parking, patio dining, a new sound system, six more suites and additional advertising could be coming to Dodger Stadium in the next two years.

The Dodgers also could expand concession and restroom facilities, add escalators and elevators and build two new stadium clubs, one by moving the press box to the reserved level, according to a project description approved by the city planning department.

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The Dodgers plan to add two stadium clubs, both on the club level, one along the third-base line and the other behind home plate, in the space currently occupied by the press box. The Dodgers would relocate the press box to the reserved level, but the plans do not indicate how many seats might be lost there or how those fans might be accommodated. The plan also includes six new suites, all on the club level.

The Dodgers propose outdoor food courts and dining areas on the loge and reserved levels, restroom facilities doubled in size and concession stands enlarged by about 70%. They also plan valet parking with a private stadium entrance, modifications designed to improve traffic flow in the parking lot and the addition of escalators near first base and third base and elevators near each foul pole.

In addition, the Dodgers want to renovate the sound system by installing speakers throughout the ballpark, not only in center field. They intend to expand the home and visiting clubhouses. And, as previously announced, the team plans to replace each seat in the park, with the exception of the pavilion seats.

The Dodgers also plan on putting another advertising ring around the reserved level.

A Plea

Somebody fix the damn SPORTSBLOGS servers. They've been iffy for the last day, and some of them aren't even responding to requests.