Maddux Retires and What Could Have Been

Greg Maddux is set to retire Monday and in the process was asked if he was insulted in having to pitch out of the pen in the playoffs.  His answer is why he is such a class-person.  Bill Shaikin of the LA Times wrote this:

Maddux said that day he was not offended by serving as a mop-up man.”It was a privilege,” he said. “I felt privileged to do it. I was glad I had a chance to pitch.”It stinks that we lost. But there’s a lot of good young players here, and they’re only going to get better. I think this team has a chance to be good for a while.”

It would be nice to sign him as a coach, but he will proabably take a year off.  Who knows?

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN:

1. Andy LaRoche

2. Carlos Santana

3. Jon Meloan

4. Byran Morris

We may be very, very sorry we traded any (maybe all) of these guys for “hired guns.” 

WHAT MAY BE:

Raffy and Manny are finding no one wants to sign them long-term.  Both could be back.  Let me remind you all again that FISH HACKS make up about 90% of what they say.  Tony Jackson (not your ordinary “fish hack”) swears that the Dodgers have not been talking to the Pirates about Jack Wilson.  Don’t get your panties in a bunch about all the rumors.  In fact, they are building a new 50-story building to house all the “rumors.”

HA!

WHAT IS:

The Dodgers are players in Free Agency. They just aren’t stupid like the Yanks in bidding against themselves.

WHAT SHOULDN’T BE:

Casey Blake for more than 2 years.  I’ll take him at 2 years/$13 million - he’s your major league average 3B!

WHAT MIGHT BE:

No less an expert than Logan White thinks Dodgers AA 3B/1B Russell Mitchell reminds him of Kevin Millar.  I left him off my Top 10 Dodgers Prospects, but maybe he should be there.  His a truly a professional hitter.  He’s a better fielder than Millar and could be a guy who has a long major league career.  He is a hitter who has good power who could develop more patience.  He’s really just a good ballplayer and hit .364 in limited action in the AFL this fall.   He’s the kind of player that Cody Ross ihas become.  He’ll blossom in his mid to late 20’s. He’ll be 24 next year.  I think he’s a guy who in a year or two could play 3B and hit 20 HR while batting .260.  In other words, he’s Casey Blake at $6 mil a year less.  Watch him!

Also, Scout.com reports that SS Juan Castro might be on the verge of rejoining the Dodgers. The club allegedly has offered a minor-league contract to the veteran shortstop, who if he accepts would have a strong chance of making the club as a backup infielder.

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