Clueless

It's been one month since the Dodgers fired Paul DePodesta and more than two weeks since Ned Colletti was hired as GM. And what was once one of the greatest franchises in pro sports history still shows no signs that it has a clue.

DePodesta was presumably fired one month into his own mangerial search because Frank McCourt was unimpressed with a field of candidates led by Terry Collins. But this current list doesn't exactly make the heart go pitter-patter. How exactly is a list of Jim Fregosi, Grady Little, John McLaren, Manny Acta, and Joel Skinner any better than what DePodesta announced?

Fregosi has 10 losing seasons in 15 years as a manager. He had one great year with the Phillies in 1993, and another quality year with the Angels in 1979, but that's about it. He's old school, but couldn't even get the Bill Plaschke endorsement. Little is actually a decent manager, but he's best known for his foolish decision to leave Pedro Martinez in too long for Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. McLaren is a Lou Piniella lifer, who said he had a lot of Sweet Lou in him. But you have to question the foresight of a man who would actually follow Piniella to Tampa Bay in the Vince Naimoli years. Manny Acta has an undistinguished resume, and little association with winning. And Joel Skinner? The guy who went 35-41 with the Indians in the second half of 2003? Why?

With Bobby Valentine entrenched in Japan, and Orel Hershiser back in Texas, maybe the Dodgers should just trot Tommy Lasorda back out there.

In the meantime, the Dodgers payroll is reportedly going to be only $75 million. So while the Red Sox could jump at the Josh Beckett-Mike Lowell trade with Florida, the Dodgers just had to watch a deal that was perfect for them (they had the prospects to make it happen!) sail to New England. And just when you thought the Dodgers were completely AWOL this free agent season (it's awfully tough to sign a guy when you don't know who the manager will be), ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports Colletti is trying to use the team's limited resources on Rafael Furcal.

Rafael Furcal? The same guy who is demanding a five-year $50 million contract? Don't we already have a shortstop in Cesar Izturis?

This is pure silliness. Even with Cesar Izturis out until July, Oscar Robles is more than capable of filling the position in the interim. Colletti would be better off squeezing some starting pitching, an outfielder, and a first baseman into McCourt's tight budget constraints.

Goodwill towards the Dodgers in LA hasn't been this low since Norris Paulson kicked poor Mexican immigrants out of their Chavez Ravine homes. So what does a baseball team do when it's having an image crisis? Raise ticket prices of course.