The Trolley Dodger

MILWAUKEE (TD) – Reports are coming in that the Milwaukee Brewers did not, in fact, install a statue of former owner Bud Selig in front of Miller Park today.

“A simple mistake,” current team owner Mark Attanasio told confused reporters following up on the AP story. “Bud just happened to be standing in front of the park and was mistaken for a lifeless, brassy statue.”

Ballpark staff reportedly wheeled Mr. Selig’s motionless figure into a U-Haul truck, last seen heading north on Miller Parkway.

“If this were a prize fight, they would have stopped it quite a while ago.” – Vin Scully, after Ethier’s 2-run double in the 8th inning last night.

“Beanie Babies” – Jon Weisman’s wittily titled Dodger Thoughts post this morning, in which he wrote, “Events like these tend to divide fans into two camps — those who find the tradition heartening and those who find it infantile.”

If you find the pitch-protection tradition infantile, I’m afraid you’re too grownup for baseball itself.

Trying to intimidate the other team by charging their locker room after the game, on the other hand, is pretty bush league.

Besides, it was a cutter on your thigh, not a fastball at your head. I’m surprised you even felt it, seeing as how you’re so much like a freight train. ;)

Negotiations between the Twins and free agent Eric Gagne have reportedly broken down after nearly coming together on a one-year, $3-million deal.

Also reportedly, the Dodgers want to pick up some more bullpen help after their first two priorities — Manny and a starting pitcher — are taken care of.

If you’re Ned Colletti, do you bring Gagne back as a middle reliever?

Does Gagne have any value to the Dodgers?

Would he even come back?

Too much baggage?

Update: So much for that idea…

An MRI recently revealed that Gagne has labrum and rotator cuff damage in his pitching shoulder. He was given the option of having an injection and trying physical rehab, or undergoing surgery.

Either way, Gagne was not going to be able to make the Brewers’ roster this spring. He signed a minor-league deal that guaranteed him a $1.5 million salary if added to the roster by March 26. That deadline became moot when Gagne was unable to pitch in a game.

Update 2: …or maybe not

With the bullpen being the Dodgers’ greatest question mark, who should make an appearance at Camelback Ranch on Friday but the team’s greatest reliever of all time, Eric Gagne.

Gagne, the 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner and three-time All-Star, said it’s not “Game Over” for him just yet.