Dodgers web musings: Who needs another out-of-town owner?
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Not the Dodgers, at least that’s how a great many feel.
No less than Hall of Fame baseball writer Ross Newhan, who’s now retired from The Times but writing his own blog, thinks this is a road the Dodgers have been down enough.
Since Peter O’Malley sold the Dodgers, they have been owned by Australian Rupert Murdoch and Boston’s Frank and Jamie McCourt. The results were turmoil and bankruptcy.
Although I don’t think having an out-of-town owner should be an absolute deal breaker, it certainly is preferable to have an owner who is from Los Angeles, and also with a baseball background.
That immediately points to Dennis Gilbert, Fred Claire and O’Malley.
Asks Newhan: Why go to Connecticut or anywhere else when there are potential and quality owners in the neighborhood?
McCourt has said a community tie will be important when he selects a next owner, but more important than the highest bid?
Also on the web:
-- To those who don’t understand how the judge ruling McCourt can’t sell his media rights along with the team can impact the price (my hand’s up), Forbes’ Mike Ozanian writes it could cost him $300 million because it would eliminate bidders with less upfront cash.
-- Dodgers.com’s Ken Gurnick has 10 questions for the team as it enters 2012.
-- Hedge fund king, a would-be Dodgers owner, Steven Cohen and McCourt have at least one thing in common. Cohen knows all about contentious divorces.
-- Times columnist Bill Plaschke gives his 2011 MVP to the fans who boycotted McCourt and drove him to sell.
-- Mike Petriello of Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness thinks the Dodgers’ lack of investment in foreign players under McCourt has begun to show.
-- An analysis by the Associated Press on the final MLB payrolls for 2011 shows the Dodgers coming in 12th among its 30 teams.
-- Those looking for optimism for 2012, Sports Illustrated’s Cliff Corcoran thinks the Dodgers can win the National League West.
-- ESPN’s Buster Olney’s rankings of the Top Ten outfields in baseball (Insider status required) has the Dodgers’ trio at No.7.
-- Where are they now (still): Jon Heyman of CBS Sports said Andruw Jones has re-signed with the Yankees for one year at $2 million.
ALSO:
A look at your 2012 Dodgers lineup
Hedging your bets on the next Dodgers owner
Judge: Dodgers can pay creditors without selling TV rights
-- Steve Dilbeck