[Dan in Pasadena]

mstupp, Good info and intriguing considerations. I guess I'm with you that the Dodgers should give LaRoche a chance to truly show what he can do. BUT, if he can't stay healthy enough to show it...particularly after a couple his prior injury problems... then relying on him sort of proves itself as a vain effort.

As to the "in-fighting" in the clubhouse. The beef was primarily between typically prickly (and a bit of a know-it-all) Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez on one hand (Nomar and Derek Lowe in there a bit too) and James Loney and Matt Kemp on the other hand, In Gonzo's case he wanted to play everyday and Kemp/Ethier were playing musical chairs with him because Grady Little thought that was the way to go. Gonzo probably WAS an everyday left fielder on some teams and MAY be this year if he goes elsewhere. But he wasn't on the Dodgers. Ethier and Kemp were both hitting above .300 and were hitting for power on a 25-30 HR pace if they'd had a full season of AB's to prove it. Gonzo was frustrated and it overflowed.

Kent on the other hand made the comment that the young guys didn't "get it." Well, what exactly does that mean if you're executing like they were? They played music he didn't like in the clubhouse and acted "loose" around the veterans unlike what he THOUGHT they should act...deferential? They made some mistakes, particularly Kemp in base running, but he's 23 or 24. Did Jeff Kent "get it" when he was that age? If they don't "get" how special it is to have a shot at the post season because they have a career ahead of them and he has one largely behind him, how is that their "fault"? I think he is frightened that he will retire without a ring.

Truth is the Dodgers were in first place as late as July 26th. Their starting pitching was riddled with injuries and ultimately fell apart but their level of field play didn't fall off UNTIL Kent mouthed off in the press and immature Loney responded to a question about it "bothering him if team leaders voiced criticism?..." and Loney responded, "Who said they're leaders?" Then the beef was on. As it stands, Gonzo is gone and Kent may be. Torre and via Larry Bowa will get it across strongly that that schit doesn't go on a "team". They'll "get" that Torre and his $14M contract ain't going anywhere but THEY are if they don't pull as a team.