Jack Wilson from Fox Sports.com

So according to a Fox Sports article, the Dodgers are again pursuing Jack Wilson.  I didn’t know too much about him so I checked the stats on espn.com (See below.)

It is what people say, pretty good defense, offense wasn’t that good.  22 RBI’s in 305 at blats definitely needs work.  I know he had a good year a couple of years ago, but it hasn’t improved.

Here’s my take on what happened.  The Dodgers realized that Rafael Furcal really wants 4 years and could get it from the A’s.  The Dodgers then went looking back at Wilson, but the price was steep.  Basically the Dodgers know he is currently paid more than he is worth, and so do the Pirates which is why they keep shopping him.  The Dodgers have to give up 2 players, then wanted the Pirates to cover some salary.  The Pirates will do it…but for a 3rd player.

Then the Dodgers realized they better go hard again after Furcal and that is what I think is currently happening.  I bet they are working on a deal for 10-15 a year for 2 years with 2 option years.  That way he gets the 4 years.  It is a risk, but I bet it is close to this.  The Dodgers almost have to go after Furcal to keep him from other teams.  I know Joe Torre loves him too, so I’m sure that is playing a part.

Jack Wilson would plug the hole…but he’s definitely Furcal.  We’ll see how it plays out.  If Furcal leaves, then Wilson may be a better option.  We’ll also see if the Dodgers offer Furcal arbitration.  If they do, they know he is leaving.  If they don’t…I bet they are confident they can get him.
Season & Career
Year     AB     R     H     HR     RBI     BB     K     AVG
2008 Season     305     24     83     1     22     13     27     .272
Career     4039     482     1087     56     358     230     485     .269

Read this article in the LA Times today.  I’ve copied the link, and the whole article, just because I figure it will disappear from the Internet at some point.

Here’s my take away though.  For the first time in as long as I can remember, the Dodgers are keeping ALL of their coaching staff.  With all the coaching and management changes in the last few years, the coaches have changed as much as the players.  I think this really affects a team.  If the Dodgers can take this year, and the coaches can go in next year with the knowledge of this year, it should only benefit the team.  Teams…and fans need that consistentcy.  Thankfully, it looks like Joe Torre and the fact that the Dodgers won the division have really helped that.  Go Blue.

Here’s the link:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers25-2008oct25,0,5105067.story

Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti laughed when asked about the reports this week detailing the kind of contract the team is thinking of offering or has offered Manny Ramirez.

The business of how hard the Dodgers should push to re-sign Ramirez isn’t a laughing matter to Colletti and team owner Frank McCourt, who will probably be making the most important decision they’ve made as baseball executives.

Ramirez’s agent, Scott Boras, declined to comment on the reports.

Colletti said they were fiction, claiming that the Dodgers haven’t had any internal conversations about the value or length of a deal they should offer the 36-year-old outfielder. Those conversations probably won’t take place at the Dodgers’ organizational meetings that start today, because few of the 101 people who will assemble at Dodger Stadium over the next three days will be involved in those discussions.

“We intend to meet with Scott some time in the near future and try to see what’s on his mind,” Colletti said.

Though only the Dodgers can negotiate with Ramirez during a period that lasts until 15 days after the end of the World Series, Colletti wouldn’t say whether he would use the window of exclusivity to reach out to Boras.

Colletti said he would ask Boras about another one of his clients, Derek Lowe. But Colletti didn’t sound optimistic about retaining Lowe, saying people around the free-agent pitcher have told him that he wants to live on the East Coast.

One person who said he didn’t intend to change the place of his employment was third base coach Larry Bowa, who was being targeted by the New York Yankees, according to reports out of New York.

“I’m loyal to Joe,” Bowa said, referring to Joe Torre, who made him one of his first two hires upon becoming the Dodgers’ manager last winter.

Bowa denied reports that he had an escape clause in his contact.

The Dodgers announced Friday that their entire coaching staff, including Bowa, would be retained for next season. Also returning will be hitting coach Don Mattingly, first base coach Mariano Duncan, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, bullpen coach Ken Howell, special hitting coach Manny Mota and hitting instructor Jeff Pentland.

Hernandez is a Times staff writer.

They fought and fought…but that last homerun killed the mood.  Joe Torre was quoted as saying that one game can change the momentum.  More like one swing.  The Dodgers took the momentum last night, tonight, it was the mammoth homerun.  I do say mammoth because in itself it represented the momentum.  The air when out of the sails as that ball was crushed.  I think they can win tomorrow night…but winning 2 in Philly is a tall order.  Derek Lowe did all he could, and my boy Casey Blake came through again.  Manny is just unstopable.  If Martin had hit anything tonight, the game would have been different.  He had some close ones, but they didn’t go through.  Here’s hoping they can fight through.

Today’s a pretty typical day as a Dodger fan up here.

Talked to a co-worker about the game last night…his comments:

So what’s wrong with the Cubs?

I responded, “It doesn’t matter what’s wrong with the Cubs…what matters is the Dodgers!”  (These people just don’t get it.)

He then got talking about the curse, and wished it was still there for the Red Sox.  We talked about it for the Cubs, and then said, “well, once their done, the curse will go to the Giants.”

Personally, I’m fine with that.  The Giant’s can accept the curse.  Not that I believe it…but I love the fact that it gets into the fans’ heads.  If the Giant’s fans could believe their team can’t win because of some unseen power.  So be it.  Hopefully the curse will be the strongest against the Dodgers.  That would be fun.

I picked up the San Jose Mercury News today.  No baseball on page 1, or 2, or 3.  The Dodgers were put on Page 4.  They obviously just pulled an article someone else wrote, but the worst part was that they cut off the article at the end.  No “Continued on page 8.”  Just ended the article in the middle of a quote from Joe Torre.  No love for the Blue.

That’s ok – everyone up here knows the Blue is rockin this year.  I called it last night.  Casey Blake likes the playoffs.  Here’s just hoping another team doesn’t expose our relief pitchers.  Saito still needs some work.