The Trolley Dodger

In an article devoted mostly to the financial “trials” of CC Sabathia, SI.com’s Jon Heyman has this on the Dodger situation:

Current Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has a decent chance not to meet payroll this month, according to people familiar with his financial situation. If MLB has to fund the player payroll, a potential case for a sale becomes stronger. With McCourt’s soon-to-be-ex-wife Jamie McCourt also trying to force a sale, McCourt seems to have one foot out the door. His claim this week that he’s living in a one-bedroom place is a funny one in that he has the penthouse at The Montage, one of Beverly Hills’ most exclusive hotels. (Since I’ve never been there, I can’t confirm the penthouse has only one bedroom.)

Now, I don’t expect he should stay at the Super 8 a half-mile down Sunset from Dodger Stadium (“Comfortable hotel, great front desk staff, Ok breakfast” said one review), but at least be forthcoming about it. Why prevaricate when you don’t have to?

Oh right, it’s Frank McCourt. That’s kind of his thing.

Speaking of CC Sabathia, Ken Rosenthal had some Dodger-related rumor-mongering to accomplish last week. Via MLBTradeRumors:

The Dodgers were one of C.C. Sabathia’s “top choices” when he was a free agent after the 2008 season, and he would “love to have the Dodgers as leverage” when he (as expected) opts out of his contract with the Yankees this winter. As Rosenthal says, impending free agents hope the Dodgers solve their ownership problems quickly so the team can resume its status as a big-market destination.

I would love to have the Dodgers as leverage when I try to decide what to watch on TV next October. At the rate things are going, June is looking iffy.

Oh, please no. The looks of indignation that we will have to endure on a nightly basis….

Indignant is his middle name.

ESPN LA: “Rick Adelman on Lakers’ radar?”

The Los Angeles Lakers’ search for Phil Jackson’s replacement is just beginning, but NBA coaching sources on Thursday described the Lakers as “very interested” in Rick Adelman as a candidate for the position.

Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw has the public endorsement of Kobe Bryant and is regarded as by far the strongest in-house candidate for the position.

When a season ends so nightmarishly, it’s easy to try out daydreams — some might say pipe dreams — as a palliative. Take for example the calls for trading Pau Gasol and/or Andrew Bynum and bringing in Dwight Howard, who has often been linked with the Lakers.

“Gasol Or Bynum”

“Howard’s Future With Magic”

It’s probably not as simple as a one-for-one trade, but wow — imagine the new Superman flying in Staples Center.

Yes, I know. Yes, I understand this is completely not going to happen. Yes, I know the innumerable reasons why this could never take place. Yes, I realize it would require creating a rift in the space-time continuum (or at least doing some horse-trading in the MLB 2011 video game). I get all that.

But a man can dream.

2011 Dodgers (daydream edition)

Starting lineup

• SS Furcal (S)
• CF Kemp (R)
• RF Ethier (L)
• 1B Konerko (R)
• LF Werth (R)
• 3B Beltre (R)
• C Martin* (R)
• 2B Theriot (R)

* or C Santana (S) if Martin is done.

Bench

• C Barajas (R)
• IF Casey Blake (R)
• IF Jamey Carroll (R)
• OF Gibbons (L)
• OF Podsednik (L)

Starting Rotation

1. Cliff Lee (L)
2. Kershaw (L)
3. Billingsley (R)
4. Padilla (R)
5. Lilly (L)

Relief

• Closer: Broxton (R)
• Setup: Kuo (L)
• RP Jansen (R)
• RP Troncoso (R)
• Long Reliever (R)
• Reliever (L)
• Reliever (R)

What if the rumored Adrian Gonzalez/Heath Bell to the Dodgers trade was only Part 1? What if Part 2 is the Blue Jays wanting Broxton as part of a Roy Halladay deal? Might explain the George Sherrill deal as a backup plan. Or flipping Bell to Toronto in a 3-team deal?

Yikes. This last hour of the trade deadline is always nerve-wracking.

UPDATE: Well, much ado about nothing, as usual. :) Barring some August waiver-wire deals, this is it.