Ned Colletti UPI Photo/Jon Soohoo/HO

Special Code: PGYG83M3DHGY

I struggled with how to title this post. Now that I’ve written it, it reminds me of the Dr. Seuss book “Go Dog Go,” but hopefully I’ll still get my point across.  

Like other Dodger fans, I’ve watched as the Dodgers have let most of this off-season pass.  No offense to Jaime Carroll, but unless he’s going to pitch, he wasn’t what people were expecting. 

What’s caught my attention in the blogs, articles and general opinions (mine included) is that the Dodgers really aren’t doing anything behind the scenes because of the divorce.  It seems that all money is on hold, and therefore, the Dodgers are just looking for cheap bargains.

Many thanks to www.mlbtraderumors.com, because they had a nice little post to help show me different (click here).  Hold tight Dodger fans – it seems that things are still brewing.  Here’s the summary:

• The Dodgers made an earnest attempt to land Roy Halladay prior to the blockbuster deal that shipped him to Philadelphia.  According to sources, the Blue Jays would have preferred L.A. as a trading partner, but of course, it wasn’t really up to them.  Ultimately, it didn’t matter how much the Dodgers could give Toronto or potentially give Doc in an extension, the Phillies were at the top of his list. The Dodgers made an earnest attempt to land Roy Halladay prior to the blockbuster deal that shipped him to Philadelphia.  According to sources, the Blue Jays would have preferred L.A. as a trading partner, but of course, it wasn’t really up to them.  Ultimately, it didn’t matter how much the Dodgers could give Toronto or potentially give Doc in an extension, the Phillies were at the top of his list.

What this confirmed is that good ol’ Ned is still working.  No one knows who’s really calling the shots for the Dodgers at the top, but at least we know Crazy Ned Colletti is still on the phones.  This is the same guy who got Manny Ramirez for nothing, and continues to turn out of date pitchers into work horses again.  He’s not perfect (no need to bring up certain names), and he definitely didn’t get Halladay but at least we can know he’s not sitting at a desk doing nothing due to money restraints.  

We all know the Dodgers need another pitcher and I’m sure he knows it better than anyone, but he’s trying.  When it comes down to it, getting the player is what people remember, so it is a fine line, but I know he’s working the channels.  Last year, no one thought the pitching would even be decent, but it lasted to the playoffs.  This year, he knows he has to get over the hump.

Like every Dodgerfan, I’m rooting for Crazy Colletti to pull something out of his hat, or at least be smarter than all the rest of us. 

Like the Dr. Seuss book…Go Colletti Go and then Go Around Again!

Special Code: PGYG83M3DHGY

George Sherrill - SI.com - From Associated Press

What a week for the Dodgers and baseball. I love this time of year because the trade deadline is just exciting. Nothing more to it. There is a hard deadline you can see coming and you always hope your team goes out and gets a star to help you make the playoffs. This year was no different, especially with Roy Halladay being the the star prize.

Now, I really didn’t know a lot about George Sherrill. I know he is well respected, and he brings a veteran presence to the bullpen. He certainly showed his stuff in his first game striking out the side. He certainly isn’t Roy Halladay though.

I really thought the Dodgers were going to get both Sherrill and Halladay. I still think the Dodgers need more starting pitching, so that is a huge question mark. This is especially true now that the Phillies got more pitching and the Cardinals got more bats. We’ll see. Truth be known the Dodgers aren’t killing with offense right now, so that needs to come around too to help the pitching.

Here’s a few more other random things from the week:

• Manny and David Ortiz were again linked to steroids. Funny how Manny said nothing, but Ortiz reacted with shock.  I just found an article that stated that the Union alerted Ortiz and Manny years ago about the test.  I guess David Ortiz forgot about that…
• The Dodgers certainly didn’t roll over the Cardinals this week.  That could be a problem in the playoffs.
• Saw Russell Martin essentially derail the Dodgers today against the Braves with errors. He is strong with the pitching staff, but he just doesn’t seem to have everything he did a few years ago.
• I was watching the game today and noticed that Andre Ethier is on fire again in front of Manny. I wonder if it is really seeing better pitching, or Andre just being stoked to have the chance to hit because Manny will probably drive him in.

Coming next, the Spy Game for this week.  The Dodgers didn’t do a lot this year, but the Giants certainly proved they are going for it this year.

What do you think – do you like Sherrill?  Are the Dodgers still short on starting pitching?