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Sunday, November 13, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves
So It Really Was A Super Model
Remember those guys who predicted the Cy Young award winners using a computer model? And the AL award went to Mariano Rivera? Turns out their model correctly picked Bartolo Colon but they overrode it. "We are a little mad at ourselves for not totally trusting the model," Rebecca Sparks said afterwards.Things You Knew: Angels Might Have To Sweeten The Pot For Byrd
Well, duh, given that the market's pretty thin."When Paul left Kansas City in 2002 he left a significant amount of money on the table from another club to sign with Atlanta, and last year, when teams offered multiyear deals, he took one year from the Angels," McKinnis said. "So he's not all about money. He enjoyed his experience with the Angels, and because of that enjoyment, he'd like to come back."
Ask A Stupid Question
The Dodgers find themselves asking stupid questions:In advance of this week's announcement of a ticket price increase, the Dodgers have surveyed fans on a variety of topics, including the perception of owners Frank and Jamie McCourt and their commitment to winning and the community.It's surely the sign of a team that, while aware there's a problem, has forgotten the principle they need to follow, namely just win. Honestly, all this talk about how the Angels are supplanting the Dodgers in this market, while somewhat justified, is still pretty silly. The Dodgers only need to get good again. They, not the Angels, have the history, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Kirk Gibson on their side. The question before the house is whether Frank McCourt turns the club into a laughingstock on a permanent basis. It could happen, but it won't be the result of a single bad year. Bad years happen, but it's far too early to panic. What's clear is that Frank doesn't understand that.After the Angels slapped a Los Angeles label on their team in January, Frank McCourt said, "True Angelenos really know who their team is, and they bleed Dodger blue." Ten months later, the Dodgers' survey asks whether ticket buyers consider the Angels an L.A. team.
"We want to know what our fans think about what's going on in the marketplace," Dodger spokeswoman Camille Johnston said.
Comments:
It clearly doesn't help when we see USC's Matt L. wearing an Angels Lid in interviews. wonder what the whiz kid business boy's phone conversation went like pleading with matt to where a dodger cap...?
# posted by 
: 11/13/2005 09:06:00 AM
: 11/13/2005 09:06:00 AM
Yeah, I heard about that. What also doesn't help is the Angels advancing in the postseason in a year when the Dodgers had their second worst season in Los Angeles. Personally I believe this town is big enough for two teams -- show me another market that's sold a combined seven million tickets in a single season. However, Frank needs to establish that he possesses the ability to make out a plan, and more importantly, that he can stick with it. If he's not going to put a winning team on the field next year, it becomes far more difficult for him to justify those ticket rate hikes.
I'd be interested in reading your penning of a fantasy piece - Arte Moreno acquiring the Dodgers from Fox after the 2003 season while Disney finds McCourt to buy the Angels on the cheap.
# posted by : 11/13/2005 10:36:00 AM
: 11/13/2005 10:36:00 AM
Prediction: the questionaire will show that the Dodgers' fan base has not eroded as much as the McCourts were afraid it had. They will then feel less pressure to do the impossible (for them): make smart, logical personnel moves, and stick to a longterm plan that JUST MIGHT lead to winning baseball. Instead, they can continue to monkey about, make stupid baseball decisions, and -- most importantly -- keep their beady-eyed botoxed mugs in public eye.
-R.
-R.
# posted by : 11/13/2005 11:44:00 AM
: 11/13/2005 11:44:00 AM
There's an interesting side note here, and that is that the McCourts are asking the wrong group of people. That is, season ticket holders are already sold on the value of their purchase. They need to find out something about the casual fan.
I think you are right on with this post Rob. The Dodgers have a long tradition that can withstand a few years of stupid ownership (i.e., Fox/McCourt). On the other hand, nothing could withstand years of continued mismanagement.
If the McCourts would have left Depo alone to build the team & farm they could have easily withstood one bad year. The paniced firing and rudderlessness since pose a much bigger threat.
If the McCourts would have left Depo alone to build the team & farm they could have easily withstood one bad year. The paniced firing and rudderlessness since pose a much bigger threat.
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