Chad Moriyama Dodgers, Sabermetrics, Scouting
Via Vin Scully Is My Homeboy
With the Dodgers finalizing the transfer of ownership from Frank McCourt to Guggenheim Partners yesterday, the new owners held a press conference today to answer questions and make statements about the state of the team.
“We’re not going to gouge the fans just because we paid a nice sum for this franchise,” Johnson said, disclosing that general parking would come down from $15 to $10. “We don’t want the fans to think because we wrote a big check [$2 billion], we’re going to stop writing checks for talent. We don’t want people to think we’re short on money now. That’s not the case.”
In what is a solid public relations move, Magic Johnson announced that the team would reduce parking prices.
Most importantly though, he says that they will pay for talent. Will they just throw money at the situation though?
No, says Stan Kasten.
“We have to make a [scouting and development] commitment nationally and, more importantly, internationally.”
Stan Kasten on the Dodgers payroll: “Can’t give you a number, but we’ll be in on every major free agent.”
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) May 2, 2012
How about concerns that Mark Walter will meddle in personnel decisions like Frank McCourt did from time to time?
Walter on Stan Kasten: “It would be incredibly stupid of me to tell him how to run a baseball team.” #dodgers
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 3, 2012
How about the team’s image with fans and the public?
“I especially liked what Magic said about not having to reinvent the wheel, and what Kasten said about [players] interacting with fans. Fred Claire, when he was in charge of public relations, used to send us out in uniform to do clinics in places like Pasadena, Compton, the San Fernando Valley — all over Southern California. The fans here love baseball and proved it over the years.”
“Mr. O’Malley, you put pride in the Dodgers,” Johnson said, asking the former owner to stand. “What we want to do is bring the pride back to the city and organization. We want to win on the field and make sure the fans have the best experience they’ve ever had. We want to make sure it’s fan-friendly and safe.”
But wait, doesn’t Frank McCourt still get a share of the parking lot revenue?
In response to repeated questions about McCourt possibly capitalizing on parking revenue, Johnson and Walter quashed that possibility — Magic firmly so, in no uncertain terms.
“We own it 100 percent,” Johnson said. “He won’t get a dime for the parking.”
Walter stressed that McCourt can profit only from future development, adding, “We don’t have any current plans for development. Nothing can be developed unless we think it’s good for us.”
Thankfully, there was no “there’s a new sheriff in town” moment, nor was there a sign of impending disaster.
I have to say that they got their reign off to a great start by holding a near flawless introductory press conference.
Why not completely flawless?
Kasten will work alongside general manager Ned Colletti in personnel matters in an effort to return the Dodgers to a place of consistent excellence.
Makes it sound like Ned Colletti will be sticking around or something. Ugh.
I’ve expressed my concern with that before, but I’ve also said that if Stan Kasten thinks keeping him on board is the right move, then I’ll try to evaluate him as a different GM under the new regime.
In Stan we trust, right?
We’ll see, but Colletti is now easily the part of the organization that I’m most concerned about.
—–
Magic Johnson and Mark Walter both took parting shots at Frank McCourt, even if they weren’t direct.
Magic: “Let’s move forward. Frank is not here. He is not part of the Dodgers any more. We should be clapping for that.”
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 2, 2012
New #Dodgers owner Mark Walter, who lives in Chicago: “I do plan to get a residence here. Just one residence.”
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) May 2, 2012
Glorious.
From watching the press conference, I’d say that Walter’s line was pre-meditated while Magic’s line was really more out of frustration at the line of questioning (which I frankly didn’t understand considering how much people revile Frank McCourt).
Which actually concerns me more, that Magic is less in touch with the pulse of LA than we’d generally give him credit for.
“Which actually concerns me more, that Magic is less in touch with the pulse of LA than we’d generally give him credit for.”
Who cares? I want our owner to care about the team, not the city. I don’t care if he doesn’t wear chucks and go to the beach every weekend, i want them to make good baseball moves. Who cares about the “pulse of LA”?
pulse of LA can also be rephrased as fan sentiments. Johnson/Kasten/et al were savvy enough to announce immediately the $5 drop in parking prices but I was surprised at their lack of shock at just how much dodgers fans have come to revile frank mccourt.
on your larger point, I agree with you, ultimately, the proof will be the product on the field.
To be fair, as a figurehead, it is somewhat important that he “gets it”.
funny thing about those verbal jabs is that according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN there is a “… strange clause in the sale agreement requiring his group not to disparage or even comment on McCourt or his family now or in the future.”
lawsuit anyone?
As I noted, that’s exactly why I think those jabs were not direct.