LODUCA is gone....*sobs*
July 30, 2004
What a crock of shit
After days of rumors, the Dodgers have pulled the trigger on a deal that sends Paul Lo Duca, Guillermo Mota, and Juan Encarnacion to Florida in exchange for pitcher Brad Penny, first baseman Hee Seop Choi, and a minor league pitcher. Apparently Paul DePodesta isn't done dealing, so hell, let's just dump Beltre and Gagne too. Whether or not the Dodgers end up getting Steve Finley or Randy Johnson (who, combined, are 146 years old) in subsequent trades, the deal with Florida is total fucking crap. Let's start with Lo Duca. Yeah, the guy hasn't had the greatest second halves, but the guy has heart, he has energy, and more importantly, he has the respect of his teammates and fans. Obviously, however, those are things that DePodesta doesn't value at all. Which is bullshit. If numbers are truly everything, then how do you explain the '88 Dodgers? The '88 Dodgers didn't win the division, the NLCS, or the World Series with their numbers. They won with guys like Kirk Gibson, Mike Scioscia, and Mickey Hatcher-guys with heart. Losing Lo Duca is a huge goddamn blow. Losing Mota in this deal isn't particularly thrilling either, especially considering his value. Everybody has seemed to want Mota, and now he's dealt for a mediocre pitcher and a guy batting .270 with 15 home runs? What the fuck? Mota's an asshole, but the Dodgers did not get fair value. Losing Encarnacion, however, is beautiful-especially considering that he's going back to the team the benched him in the World Series last year. But if the Dodgers were just looking to get rid of Encarnacion, they could have dumped him in the San Diego bay, not dealt Lo Duca to Florida. Lo Duca to Florida? With the Dodgers in first place, Lo Duca to Florida? And Charles Johnson back in L.A.? Can PDP honestly say that the Dodgers' chances this season are better with a washed-up Charles Johnson behind the plate than Paul Lo Duca? (Not to mention that Charles Johnson is owed $9 million next year, and really has no interest in being in Los Angeles again.) It's official, De Podesta's body has been taken over by Kevin Malone. Florida rapes the Dodgers once again. (And the Dodgers asked for the rape!) And if rumors are accurate, the Dodgers may be on the verge of dealing Brad Penny, Jayson Werth, first-round draft pick Chuck Tiffany, and the highly-regarded minor league pitcher they just got from Florida to Arizona for Finley and Johnson. (And if they get Finley, who volunteers to tell Milton Bradley he's moving to left field?) If the Finley/Johnson thing proves true-which would mean the Dodgers were trading 7 fairly young guys for 3 veterans-it sounds like there's an order from the top to win this season and fuck the future. Sounds like something McCourt is capable of. After all, he's going to destroy the stadium, so why the hell would he care about the team's future? If he wins a World Series, he likely increases his chances of having people support his inevitable plan to turn Chavez Ravine into 300 acres of ugly tract homes. Little does he know, however, that when you fuck with a team that actually plays like a team, you're not getting any closer to the World Series. Obviously there's a belief that the current Dodgers didn't stack up well against St. Louis and other more formidable division leaders-and there may be something to that-but it's just too dangerous to screw with something that's working. Of course, the deal may not be about winning at all. It may simply be about money. Lo Duca would have been eligible for arbitration after the season, and would have been set for a big payday. You think McCourt was going to give $8 million to Lo Duca when he owes a couple hundred million for the team? Not a chance. For Lo Duca, it's not just about the money. For the McCourts, it is. Undoubtedly a sad day for Dodger fans-unless, of course, you've got a box of Hee Seop Choi jerseys. Seriously, though, it's sad. Lo Duca and Mota both shed tears on Friday. Lo Duca's tears were proof of only one thing-the dude bled Dodger blue. The guy struggled through the minors as Dodger, finally emerged in the majors as a Dodger, and became an all-star as a Dodger. More than anyone else on the team, Lo Duca had the support and love of the fans. You don't trade a guy like that, despite the fact that his trade value is at its peak. As for Mota, however, the tears were out of fear that he won't be able to complete his community service hours in Los Angeles. Angry as hell, the Dodgers beat the crap out of San Diego on Friday night. Milton Bradley had a great game, but is anyone excited? Didn't think so. Feel like you were kicked in the nuts (or your vagina)? Yeah, we know. Share your thoughts in the Fan Forum. -4m DodgerBlues.com
NOW...*cries*
Then....
BRING BACK LODUCA!!!