Dodgers "State of the Dodgers" Address

Dodgers "State of the Dodgers" Address

The LA Dodgers called a Press Conference on July 1st, 2043 to address the concerns of the Dodgers fans and media.  They prepared a statement to address concerns, future plans, stadium needs, and prospects.  In an unprecedented move, this speech was given right at game time on the field.  The game with the Blue Jays was delayed nearly one hour as the General Manager, Scott Roy stepped onto the field instead of the players for the 7:05 game time.  A large fine from the commissioner's office is expected for delaying the game.  Below is the prepared speech, the General Manager of the Dodgers had prepared.

 

"Good evening to the great fans of the Dodgers.  You fans are a fantastic part of the Dodgers great franchise.  Dodgers have won 18 pennants in their historic history.  It is that historic history that brought me to LA.  We must restore that great history back into this great Dodger franchise.  I understand the Dodgers have only been to the playoffs once in the last 16 years.  That was during my first year as General Manager here 7 years ago.  Since then I have been a failure.

 

Let me explain the state of the Dodgers in those 7 years.  I came from south of here in San Diego.  There we had success contending for the NL West Championship nearly every year.  I brought that same formula to Dodger Land.  It worked the first year as we won the NL West.  My plan was to continue making the playoffs nearly every year by overspending.  Thinking that winning would increase revenue for the Dodgers and allow me to continue building a winner.  I was wrong.  The prospect talent was thin here.  The Angels were in the middle of a great run of baseball.  A lot of you were going to their games instead.  Also, you diehard fans wanted your own home grown propects to follow from the minor leagues up.  Buying talent didn't enthuse you.  Basically, I couldn't continue to overspend in free agency or trade for major league talent as the cash and prospects disappeared.

 

That brings us to a program we started 2 years ago.  We began to trade major league players for minor league talent.  We refocused on the draft as well.  We are committed to winning in LA and we will do in the historical LA way.  We will have a great farm system and you will have talent here you have known since they were fresh out of high school or college.  We will find great players like Clayton Kershaw, Steve Garvey, and Sandy Koufax.  You will follow 18 year olds through the minors.  YOU WILL SEE THEM BE ALL STARS AND WIN PLAYOFF GAMES IN LA.  Just look at the current leading Rookie of the Year candidate Armando Rayna.   He was drafted by our refocused drafting techniques just 2 years ago.  As you watch this game today, the ushers will be handing you a list of our minor league prospects you will see, in this stadium, winning games in the near future.  

 

Another concern of the fans is the condition of this stadium.  We understand the convenience and  

comfort of this stadium is poor.  LA fans want more from a stadium.  Some fans may even be uncomfortable coming here and have elected to go to Angels games instead.  Should we build a new stadium?  Well this is a historic stadium.  I love the fact that you can go to the same stadium that your Grandpa took you to when you were kid.  A new stadium can never have the same memories you have here.  WE ARE COMMITTED TO RENOVATING THIS STADIUM TO SOMETHING YOU WILL BE PROUD OF.  Currently, the renovations are scheduled to be completed within a 5 year plan.  As you see our payroll decrease, that money is going into the minor league program and stadium renovations.  It will not be a profit source for Dodgers ownership.

 

Thank you all for coming to the game tonight.  Your ushers will be passing out a list of our prospects to keep an eye on in our minor leagues.  They also will be passing out comment cards, please use them to let us know the extra conveniences you would like to see at the stadium.  Don't forget tomorrow night everyone with a paid admission will receive a Armando Rayna Rookie Card.  I have a feeling it will be worth a lot of money as he begins his hall of fame career."

 

Here is the prospect list handed out to the fans:

 

 

 

 

 

Luis Burlos. CF. (77//89). Age 23.  Projected Arrival Date: 2044. Acquired: Via trade with Marlins

Luis can hit for power and still maintain contact with the ball.  He can play all 3 outfield positions and has good range with a great outfield farm.  If he stays healthy we expect continual improvement from Burlos.

 

Mike David 3B (77/88) Age 21.  Projected Arrival Date: 2044. Acquired: 3rd round 2041 draft.

Mike hits for power.  He can also play good defense at 3rd.  He is working to improve his contact but at the very least he projects to crush lefty hitters.

 

Chris McJmes DH (75/93) Age 23.  Projected Arrival Date: 2044.  Acquired: 1st round 2042 draft.

Chris hits for power and is a RBI machine.  His bat projects as a cleanup hitter.  He should contend for many RBI titles in his career.

 

Gauher Gollego SS (76/86) Age 23.  Projected Arrival Time. 2044.  Acquired: via trade with Royals.

Gauher improved greatly during Winter Ball.  He provides defense at SS while still projecting to hit for average with a great OBA average.  Should hold the SS position in LA for years to come.

 

Angel Baca 3b (80/93) Age 22. Projected Arrival Time: 2044.  Acquired: 2nd round of 2043 draft.

Angel was a projected 1st round pick in this years draft.  He fell to us in the 2nd round.  Since then, Angel has used that motivation to show great improve in his one month in the minors.  He can become a great hitter but needs to work on his defense at 3rd.

 

Kevin Lister CF (69/84) Age 19. Projected Arrival Time:  2046 . Acquired: via trade with Toronto.

Kevin has good range and fielding at CF.  His lefty bat is destroying minor league pitching.  His peak of 84 should see a jump soon. He is an exciting young player in the Dodgers system.

 

Steve August LF (68/89) Age 21. Projected Arrival Time: 2045.  Acquired: 1st round 2041 draft.

Steve is a professional hitter.  He could become a great contact, power, and on base guy.  He needs to work on increasing his speed and fielding ability.  He was drafted as a hitter though and he projects to be a cleanup hitter in our lineup one day.

 

Teshima Nakahira SP (84/93) Age 22. Projected Arrival Time: 2043. Acquired: 2nd round 2042

Tesh is a project of our scouting in Japan.  As he has become more familiar with America, his talent level has increased.  His fastball tops out at 96 and is always moving.

 

Carlos Cadavieco SP (73/95) Age 17. Projected Arrival Time: 2046.  Acquired: 1st round 2043 draft.

Carlos comes from Mexico.  He could reach the majors by age 19.  He was drafted for his fastball which is already major league quality.  In his 24.2 innings of work in the minors he has been SPECTACULAR.  Carlos can't wait to show that he should have been the 1st pick in this draft.

 

Mike Webb SP (70/88) Age 21. Projected Arrival Time: 2045.  Acquired: 3rd round 2042 draft.

Mike still has work to do in the minors.  He does have two good out pitches in his fastball and slider. 

 

 Chris Medchild SP (68/85) Age 21. Projected Arrival Time: 2046. Acquired: via trade with Rockies

Chris has come on strong lately.  We expect a jump in his peak as he is pitching well lately.  His cutter with good movement makes it hard for opposing hitters to reach base.

 

Ted Cook SP (66/88) Age 21. Projected Arrival Time: 2046.  Acquired: 1st round of 2038 draft.

Ted was drafted at age 16.  His first four years in the minors there was no progress.  Since then he has come on strong.  We are excited to see if he can live up to the expectations we had for him 5 years ago.

 

Lawrence Rehnberg (67/82) Age 21. Projected Arrival Time: 2045 Acquired: 3rd round of 2043.

Lawrence shows the ability to be a good starter in the majors if he stays healthy.  Other GM's like him as well as we have received numerous trade offers for him.  But, we didn't draft him to trade him so he will remain a Dodger.