DMVol

+1...move on, like a bad stock...holding on to it usually isn't going to help....

+1....evidently the Royals didn't think he was very good or they would have kept him....maybe he isn't "fixable", by Butcher or anybody else...

Both your team and ours made horrible decisions w/ Hamilton...the Reds traded him to Texas when he was on the cusp of becoming a great hitter...we signed him to big bucks when he was done (for whatever reason)...Kudos to Daniels and Texas, they figured correctly, twice...when to get him and when to avoid a bidding war to keep him...

Nothing would surprise me when it comes to PED's at this point....but, if he wasn't using PED's, you have to remember that he is now at an age (32) when lots of baseball players and athletes start a decline....some start earlier than others....it wouldn't surprise me if he's just in a predictable 30 something decline....Hopefully he bounces back some next year but he's simply not going to be the player he was in his 20's....Roger Clemens was starting the usual decline of a 30 something athlete when his "workout reigmen" helped him to a rejuvinated career.....yeah right.....I don't think Vernon Wells was using (though, again, I wouldn't be surprised by anything)....I think he was just declining at around the same age as Hamilton.... Having said all that, you are probably right...he was probably using....

+1....and even if that draft pick "might" turn into Jason Vargas, it would likely be 5 years down the road....

Jennings dropping the fly ball in the OF in game 1 didn't help crooked hat...

If they don't look at Green at 3b now, it would mean that he is viewed strictly as a 2bman....

Nats maybe make the most sense....good core, built to win next year.....

1. I tend to think that if there was ANY discussion about any Dodger-Angel trade, that could be significant (we'll see what evolves).... 2. Realizing that many on this board view all media as rumor mongering know nothings, I will take Rosenthals reporting over your conjecture (or anybody else's, me included, on this board)...

Link?

Don't believe Mattingly's head would be on the chopping block if the Dogs are short of the WSeries....I do agree on the Kendrick thing....the fact that there were talks at the trade deadline (if Rosenthal is accurate) is surprising and maybe is indicative that Arte is going to make significant changes, and if the Dodgers have the best deal out there for Kendrick, so be it....

Really, the Braves were caught with Tex in 08....with Boras as his agent, he was a goner for sure and there wasn't a better deal on the table than what the Angels offered...if Kotch pans out, it's a good deal for them...

Nothing to lose at this point....we really have no upper level starting pitching prospects to speak of....same with the 2 relief pitchers signed from the Independant league...it's not like they're inhibiting anybody's developement....DiPoto (or his replacement) has lots of work to do in the offseason...

The Dodgers are probably the best team in baseball right now, with a historic run in the last two months...and they are going to can their manager and trade for Scioscia? I don't get that....

+1....Scheurholtz trained Wren very well.....

May be a Craig although I don't see anything posted about this...Not sure why we would need more offense (unless Trumbo is traded) but here you go.... http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/08/al-west-notes-rangers-reddick-kendrys-morales.html

As much as Arte seems to always step up with his checkbook (sometimes foolishly, see Hamilton and Pujols), you have to wonder if maybe we finally have reached a saturation point....not sure we'll be taking on anything new beyond trying to re-sign Vargas ( a good idea IMO) and an upgrade or two in the pen....beyond Pujols and Hamilton, you have Blanton's dead weight of 8 million and a year left on Wells' deal, even though the Yanks are paying some....in the past, that maybe didn't seem like a lot but it looks large when you're trying to whittle down from 140 million, and still compete... I think Kendrick or Aybar may be traded but I don't think we are taking on anything new, except maybe Vargas and a reliever or 2....

Link?

That is probably the number 1 problem....but signing or trading for aging hitters like Wells, Pujols (although he has at least been decent when healthy) and Hamilton hasn't helped matters either....number 3 is probably lack of pitching developement in the minors....the good pitchers from our farm have been traded in the Kaz, Haren and Greinke deals....

Championship caliber is kind of a non sequitur....getting to the playoffs is the key....the Cards in 06 and 2 years ago, the Angels in 02, all were wild card teams that got hot....Building a "championship caliber team" seems to get lost in do or die playoff scenarios with guys like Jeff Weaver in 06 and Freese two years ago stealing the spotlight.....I don't think you need a top five pitching staff, assuming the everyday lineup is reasonably productive, to make the playoffs....

I don't disagree with him....the everyday lineup can be pretty good, with a healthy and reasonably productive Pujols and a reasonably productive Hamilton....if you keep the rest of the everyday lineup together (that may be unrealistic), it's potentially not bad....the trick is fixing the pitching....and that's not going to be easy....

Unless the relievers name is Mo Rivera....

+1....and any of the Cuban defectors out there waiting for clearance....farm system is thin, FA market this winter is thin, seems to be something to consider....considering Kendrys was a good pick up, it's not like we've bombed in the international market when we've jumped in....

If you need a starting pitching upgrade, those 6 starts, with a quality veteran like Vargas (assuming he's healthy), might be the difference in getting you into the playoffs...But if you can't get anything much in return, hold on to him and make him a qualifying offer in the offseason...

+1...."low level prospects in return" "nothing significant in return"?....geez, what are some of you thinking....