With a headline that depressing, I think that is just about all you need to know.

The offense has been non-existent the last couple of days, short of Miles and Carroll.

I cannot substantiate the headline with content or stats. I just hope that something happens the next two games to gain some momentum into the series against the Giants and the bottom of their rotation.

Long story short, I am on writing strike until the Dodgers give me a better headline.

Just a quick preview for tonight’s game against the Diamondbacks using the past as a predictor for the future.

The current Diamondbacks roster has a lifetime combined .241 on-base percentage against Kershaw.

James Loney has not been the same player that he has been in past years, we know this just by watching the games.

Loney has not had an extra base hit since he homered off of Jason Hammel in Colorado on April 6. That was, well, a lot of days ago.

Since then, Loney has amassed a stretch of 27 singles without an extra base hit. Since the homer, Loney has had 125 plate appearances.

Below is a table of players since 1919 who have had a stretch of 25 singles or more without an extra base hit that made a defensive appearance at first base during the streak. Loney’s 27 put him at the 15th spot on the list. Loney joins 21 other, not so distinguished players (with a few exceptions) here.

The last player on the list to reach the 25 game mark without an extra base hit was Jeff Conine in 2001. The last to get to 27, where Loney currently stands was Rod Carew in 1979.

Naturally, first base is a position where you expect some power. Loney had done a serviceable job in the past driving balls into the gap. Now, he just seems to be a slower version of Juan Pierre slapping the ball around.

With a lack of real options and his salary this year of close to $5 million, here is to hoping he turns it around. There should not be so much irony in the Dodgers giving away free James Loney batting practice jerseys to kids this coming Sunday.

I have lots of questions. Lots and lots of questions.

Now I am not saying he will answer our questions, but since Frank McCourt seems to be on this publicity tour of sorts, I thought perhaps if I compiled a bunch of my questions, as well as some from the public, he could respond to them. What better forum for all of us? After all, when he was on the Mason & Ireland show yesterday, then Petros & Money, he took calls from probably no more than 10 people combined.

The internet world would be a great place for Frank to answer up to. We are the ones reading everything out there. We are on Twitter, message boards, blogs, etc. We are probably the most cynical group with the most questions.

I have been one of Frank’s biggest critics. Now would be a great time to come clean. And here, he has all of the time he needs to think of an answer.

My questions are below. Put yours in the comments or email them to ryan@dodgersfyi.com. I will not pick and choose, I will include everything, as long as it is a relevant question. And one last rule, keep it clean, please.

Once I have everything together, I will push this to some sources and see if he would be willing to answer.

***

What can you tell us about the thought process in hiring Vladimir Shpunt and paying him a six-figure salary to send good vibes to the team remotely?

Why did you choose New York as the place to make your first real public comments in quite some time? You had to know the Los Angeles you have been avoiding for some time was not going to think positively about this?

Did the timing of your press conference in New York have anything to do with the fact that Tom Schieffer was scheduled to have his own press conference shortly after yours?

We are seeing lows in attendance that we have not seen in quite some time. Why do you think this is?

Considering that the Dodgers have made the playoffs twice in the last three years, why do you think season ticket sales have declined?

How is it that when you left your meeting with MLB and had your press conference, MLB released a statement essentially calling you a liar in regards to the conversations that happened only a matter of hours earlier?

What makes you think it is a good idea to constantly refer to your efforts to react to the Brian Stow incident as “turning a positive into a negative.” It seems insensitive to constantly try to spin this event into a positive when somebody is fighting for their life.

The public can recall public officials. Do you understand how all of the turmoil and off-the-field distractions could cause the public to want to recall you? After all, Dodger fans want to care about baseball, not constantly be surrounded by all of this stuff.

Also regarding the Brian Stow incident, how could you possibly have sat idly by and wait for what essentially felt like your hand to be forced to say anything? You are the top dog with the Dodgers, yet the true face, Tommy Lasorda was on camera at the donation rally with tears in his eyes crying.

More Aaron Miles?

Today, we learned from Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times that Casey Blake is most likely headed back to the DL. His elbow was swollen. Then he was taken to the hospital with a severe fever. Turns out the elbow has a nasty infection.

Russ Mitchell, who is not that good, is the only remaining infielder on the 40-man roster. So until Furcal or Blake come back, we may be subjected to more of the unfortunateness that is Aaron Miles.

And for those wondering, I am not an art major or a Photoshop expert.

Just some random observations and then the latest on the MLB takeover

• The Dodgers have had only one error in their last 69 defensive innings, and have also played 5 straight games without committing an error.
• During that same 5 game stretch, Matt Kemp has two walk-off homers.
• Matt Guerrier has now pitched 10.2 scoreless innings this season. He has struck out 7 and walked just 2.
• Juan Uribe had driven in just 3 runs all season prior to yesterday’s game. Yesterday and today, he has added 5 RBI’s to bring his season total to 8, tying him for 3rd on the team with James Loney. Matt Kemp has 15, and Andre Ethier has 9.
• Vicente Padilla was activated from the disabled list following today’s game. Ramon Troncoso was optioned back to AAA Albuquerque.
• I’d venture to guess the reason Don Mattingly left Kershaw in with the bases loaded in the 9th today was that he would face right-handed hitting David Ross. If Mattingly had brought in Broxton, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez would have countered with Brian McCann, a much better hitter than Ross.

On to the McCourt fiasco.

Newly hired, as in the day before all of this MLB takeover stuff happened, Steve Soboroff, who is the vice chairman of community relations or something like that, has been talking today. He is a documented Frank supporter, and boy, is he doing a bang up job.

“We need more people like Frank McCourt.”

That was said, and probably with a straight face.

He went on to say, “There’s a predetermined campaign to blow him out of town. I think it’s irresponsible and it’s hurting the city.”

As Charlie Sheen would say…. DUH!! But in all seriousness, who is really hurting the city?

Soboroff also contested the decision by Bud Selig to repossess the team, claiming that the also financially challenged Mets have not faced the same actions from the commissioner. MLB has put a spending restriction on the team of $5,000. Anything above that would need approval from the MLB.

I could sit here for an hour copy and pasting quotes, but I think you should just read the article for yourself from the L.A. Times. Lots and lots of mumbo-jumbo about how Frank is great, he’s a changed man, and almost an attempt for the public to feel sorry for him.

With all of the ownership stuff, it might be easy to forget there is a baseball game to play.

I was looking at the historic match-ups the current Dodgers and Braves have against tonight’s starting pitchers, Jon Garland and Derek Lowe. If the past can be used to predict a future, it looks like there might be a lot of runs scored tonight. Neither pitcher has had success against their opponents at all:

Derek Lowe vs Dodgers Lineup

Matt Kemp is the only Dodger starting tonight that has not hit Lowe, and hit him well in the past. Jerry Sands being the exception, since he has never faced Lowe, of course:

Jon Garland vs Braves Lineup

Freddie Freeman has never faced Garland. Otherwise, pretty good success for the current Braves against Garland. Notably missing from the lineup is the current Brave who has had the most success against Garland, that being Eric Hinske. Hinske is 14-40 lifetime vs. Garland with 3 HRs.

Keep checking back, I will update as more breaks.

9:20 pm: Frank McCourt has released a statement:

“Major League Baseball sets strict financial guidelines which all 30 teams must follow.  The Dodgers are in compliance with these guidelines.  On this basis, it is hard to understand the Commissioner’s action today.”

**

4:00 pm: So there is a whole lot happening, but what does it all mean.

First, why did it happen? Basically, Bud Selig has a duty as the commissioner of MLB to protect the best interest of each team and the league. The financial troubles of the McCourts, at least as it relates to their ownership of the Dodgers has been well documented. Most recently, after MLB blocked the Dodgers attempt to get a $200 million loan. Later, we found out that Frank McCourt had taken a $30 million personal loan from Fox in order to meet operating expenses for the next month.

Selig invoked the “Best Interest of Baseball” clause from the MLB Constitution. From Article II, Section 3 of “The Commissioner”:

In the case of conduct by Major League Clubs, owners, offices, employees or players that is deemed by the Commissioner not to be in the best interest of Baseball, punitive action by the Commissioner for each offense may include any one or more of the following:

(a) reprimand; (b) deprivation of a Major League Club of representation in Major League Meetings; (c) suspension or removal of any owner, officer, or employee of a Major League Club…

Basically, Bud Selig felt that Frank McCourt could no longer run the Dodgers in the best interest of the league and removed him.

Going forward, expect in the short-term, very little change to the status quo. No players are going to be sold off to other teams or anything crazy like that.

As far as player transactions go, any moves such as a signing or trade will be subject to MLB approval, much in the same sense that when Frank McCourt was acting as the owner of the Dodgers, he would have to approve any moves. MLB must also approve any significant financial expenditures. This does not mean that the Dodgers will not be able to trade at the July 31 deadline, but it would have to make financial sense for the Dodgers, short and long term for MLB to approve.

The Dodgers are not the first team to be taken over under MLB control. Most recently, the Rangers were run by the MLB because of their financial problems, which were far more advanced with bankruptcy. They were eventually sold as auction. The Expos were also run by the MLB prior to their sale and move to Washington.

In fact, the Rangers, under MLB control last year, acquired Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners.

Long term, removing Frank McCourt from control of the Dodgers has the most advantages. He can no longer attempt to mortgage the future finances of the Dodgers. As I stated before, McCourt was actively trying to secure a $200 million loan. This loan would have been from Fox in exchange for extending the Dodgers agreement with Fox for the team’s cable TV rights.

While the TV rights may not seem like a big deal, they really are. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox have additional revenue by owning their own cable TV channels where they broadcast their own games. This basically means that in addition to all of the normal sources of revenue, such as ticket, merchandise and concession sales, the Yankees and Red Sox also profit from television advertising sales as they own the stations their games are broadcast on. The Dodgers do not make this revenue when their games are on stations others own.

Being in the second largest television market in the country and having one of the most popular teams in baseball, it is clear that the Dodgers could, long term, have significant, extra profits from a Dodgers network.

3:30 pm: Jamie McCourt was quoted by Bill Shaikin on Twitter as stating, “As the 50% owner of the #dodgers, I welcome and support the commissioner’s actions.”

**

2:45 pm: TMZ is reporting that the IRS is investigating the McCourts. Issues include:

• Frank took $145 million from the team, tax-free
• McCourt children drawing salary from the team, with no apparent duties
• California Franchise Tax Board also “looking into situation”

**

Today, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced that his office will assume control of the operations of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Pursuant to my authority as Commissioner, I informed Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt today that I will appoint a representative to oversee all aspects of the business and the day-to-day operations of the Club.  I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the Club, its great fans and all of Major League Baseball. My office will continue its thorough investigation into the operations and finances of the Dodgers and related entities during the period of Mr. McCourt’s ownership.  I will announce the name of my representative in the next several days. The Dodgers have been one of the most prestigious franchises in all of sports, and we owe it to their legion of loyal fans to ensure that this club is being operated properly now and will be guided appropriately in the future.”

Source: LA Times

This has been on my mind for a few days now, but I wanted to at least wait until after the donation collections at Dodger Stadium has concluded. With that in mind, please, if you are planning on donating to Bryan Stow and his family, please do. This is most important, and I do not want anything I say to detract from that. Donations can still be made by going to www.sfpcu.org or by sending money by Paypal to stowdonations@gmail.com.

Now, on to business. Lots of profanity below, no structure and no proof reading. Straight from the heart. Stop reading now if you wish.

We all know that a Giants fan was beaten severely by a couple of complete jackasses in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium shortly after the opening day game. Not much more needs to be said about this unspeakable incident or the type of people that would do such a senseless thing. It’s like baseball, at least in Los Angeles, has turned into a matter of not wearing the other gang’s colors. No friendly rivalry any longer. Doesn’t matter what team you are a fan of. This is embarrassing, but it is also sadly becoming reality. I have the comfort in knowing that when I go to a Dodgers game, at least I am wearing the right colors. But what is sad is that I have had to try to talk somebody close to me out of wearing an Angels shirt last year, unsure of their safety when the Dodgers were playing the Angels. Not only is that sad, but it is pathetic and embarrassing.

The culture that has overtaken the place that is fondly called Blue Heaven on Earth has taken the family atmosphere out of the games. This spreads further than just if you are sporting the colors of another team. When I have kids, they will be Dodger fans, but until something drastically changes, they will not have what was once the joy of going to a baseball game at Dodger Stadium. The atmosphere is just not suited for kids or the faint of heart. All the great memories I have of going to a game when I was a kid, those cannot be replicated today. Sad.

I had never in my life thought that I would actually be embarrassed to be a Dodger fan. And that has very little to do with the random act of violence two people committed. As unfortunate as that was and is, it is not a surprise at all. I could have almost predicted it from my experience with past games, and even my detailed experience I wrote about from opening day last year. The fact that good people and good baseball fans like myself are lumped in with the likes of people who lack conscience and common decency is sad. But that is now me as a Dodger fan. We are not all like that, not very many of us are. Our good names are tarnished.

Like I said, this is no surprise though. A couple of blocks away from Dodger Stadium is a park. On opening day, you will find this park packed with people. Umbrellas and tents set up, everybody drinking out of plastic cups. I spoke to a friend that was at the park and asked him about it. The impression that I got was that there were plenty of police present, but they were not actively stopping people from drinking alcohol unless they became a nuisance. Hundreds of people drinking, and the police are there to just be present I guess? On a 90 degree day, drinking in the heat for hours before the game even starts and we are surprised by what happened? Shit, I am surprised it was only two people that took it this far.

I did personally see police and security in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium before the game forcing many people to pour our their drinks. That’s nice, but obviously it just was not enough. Blocks away, the larger crowd was basically being encouraged go drink their asses off so long as they did not become a nuisance. Good one, LAPD.

Anyways, enough of that. Let’s just jump right to the heart of the matter that is boiling within me. I’d like to just extend one big, public FUCK YOU to Frank McCourt. I don’t have a boss or an editor. I run no ads here. I post infrequently. I don’t care what anybody thinks, because this is how I feel. FUCK YOU. I have bit my tongue frequently when it comes to Frank, but most of all to blame for this situation is you, Frank. It was nice that you opened up the gates of Dodger Stadium to accept donations for Bryan Stow today, but I’d be remiss if I did not say that I am surprised you did not take a cut, or charge for entry.

It broke my heart to see Tommy Lasorda on the news, crying about this today after he reportedly donated $5,000 of his own money. Since you, Frank, are the top of the food chain, where the fuck were you? You did not even show up. You did not donate a penny. I would guess that just about any other owner of any other team would have matched the donations of the public. We are paying for your fuck ups and your mistakes. YOU fired security. YOU did not see this coming. I did. A lot of other Dodger fans did. This was no random act. They had attacked four other people. If you had the foresight to see this coming, there would have been security all over the damn parking lot. By the time the second or third people were assaulted, somebody should have been on this. It is absolutely fucking unspeakable that it came to what it did. You are not responsible for the actions of others, granted, but you are responsible for the security of your customers (that is basically what we are, right) on your property, when there is a foreseeable risk.

So we have the greatest Dodger representation of all time crying. I painstakingly try to find anything with your name on it, even a statement. I found it. It’s your spokesperson publicly responding to the fact that you are being sued for an unrelated incident. Today Frank? Today? Man, lose the ego for a minute and realize that there is something bigger going on today that yourself. Something that happened as a result of your cheapness, the fact that you are shrewd, broke and have no business owning a part of the culture of Los Angeles. One of the most storied franchises in baseball is now a national embarrassment because of YOU.

You have never made me feel like you put the team ahead of yourself. You are transparent when it is convenient, and today was no exception. It pissed me off more than anything a couple years ago when the Dodgers clinched a spot in the playoffs seeing you celebrating with champagne in the locker room. No transparency then. Today, no fucking where to be seen.

I am not a religious person, but I may start to pray every night that MLB continues to deny your loan with Fox. It has come to that. If there is a higher being, how could he possibly allow you to continue fucking over each and every fan of this great team? How could he allow you to put the public at risk any longer when all we want to do is enjoy a day at the park.

Let’s consider the 5 or so games that I am probably not going to go to now this year. You are losing a bit of money on me. $95 for a ticket in the loge VIP section, two seats, 5 games. That is $950. Add in $15 in parking for those 5 games and now you are losing out on a total of $1,025. That money you are losing on me this year could have hired 102 security guards at $10/hour. Just for that one hour after the game, having the presence of 102 uniformed people throughout the parking lot? Things could have been a lot different.

The violence is no surprise at all. Ask anybody who has been to a game the last few years. Ask them how the environment has been spiraling down. It’s bullshit, and you have to know this. More should have been done. No surprise at all that it happened, and no surprise nothing was done. It’s cheaper that way to roll the dice on the safety of all.

It’s great you finally reacted and hired William Bratten and the LAPD is going to be more involved. It’s too late. Way too late.

Bryan Stow’s health and the fact his kids may not have a normal relationship with their father rests on your fucking conscience.

So in conclusion, just in case this has been lost in translation somehow, fuck you Frank McCourt. Fuck you for allowing a fan to be beaten within inches of his life. Fuck you for doing nothing to show compassion. Fuck you for justifying. Fuck you for making this life-long Dodger fan and many others not want to even go to a game anymore. Just plain, fuck you.

Vicente Padilla – Padilla was signed to provide both depth in the bullpen, as well as to slip into the rotation if needed. Padilla was injured in the initial days on spring training camp, going down with a nerve injury. He has recently started playing catch and could be back as soon as May.

Jon Garland – Garland left his last spring start on March 9 with an oblique injury. It was recently announced that Garland would start the season on the disabled list.

With Vicente Padilla also starting the season on the disabled list, the once overstocked starting rotation is not so stocked. Tim Redding and John Ely should all have an opportunity to compete for the 5^th spot, if needed.

Casey Blake – Blake injured his ribs on Saturday attempting to beat the throw after he laid down a sacrifice bunt. Blake has been plagued with back injuries, but an injury to the rib cage is harder to put a timetable on. Blake is listed as day to day, but should he miss significant time, a competition between Aaron Miles and Juan Castro could heat up. With Juan Uribe able to play 3^rd base, a competition between Miles and Castro to play 2^nd seems most likely.

Jay Gibbons – Gibbons came into the spring penciled in by most as half of a left field platoon with Marcus Thames. Gibbons has disappointed so far offensively this spring. Today we get word that he can’t see and is having tests done on his eyes. It’s either a good excuse or explains a lot.

If Gibbons is unable to start the season in the platoon, this will pretty much leave Tony Gwynn Jr. as a lock to get the majority of the starts in the outfield. This could have a trickle down effect on the rest of the outfield positioning.

Ronald Belisario – He still has not shown up. Who knows what the real reason is. It’s just pretty sad that somebody who gets paid a lot of money to play a game cannot get their shit together enough to even show up 3 years in a row. It’s not like he is the only player from Venezuela in the majors, or even the only player from Venezuela who has had off the field problems. It’s old.

Carlos Monasterios – Monasterios was reassigned to minor league camp today. He was a Rule 5 pick last year, meaning that in order for the Dodgers to keep him, they had to retain him on the 25 man roster for the entire 2010 season, which they did. Monasterios is more suited to be a starter and will most likely work in that capacity in 2011 in the minor leagues.

Losing Belisario and Monasterios from the bullpen mix will open up a competition from Mike MacDougal, Ron Mahay and Blake Hawksworth.