How About Pierre for Pujols?

Bill Shaikin's proposed trade for Roy Halladay is doubtlessly a pipe dream, although we'd pull the trigger in a heart beat (heartbeat?). What's interesting here is that someone in the Los Angeles media will actually broach the topic of trading Russell Martin. We all know how those dudes at the LA Times get all misty eyed when it comes to heart-and-soul, dick-in-the-dirt types of guys like Martin. Bill Plaschke still gets all weepy when the ghost of Paul LoDuca haunts his column. After all, how dumb was it to trade a decent catcher due a big payday and a statistical decline for a front of the rotation starting pitcher? How soon we forget, LoDuca hustled!

So here the Dodgers sit wondering what it would take to make a serious run at Roy Halladay. The name Clayton Kershaw gets bandied about often, probably by J.P. Ricciardi. But trading your second best starter for your first best starter seems like a weak net result when the bottom line is a World Series. And let's be clear, the Dodgers don't have a GM with the sack to do a big deal like this. This package might not get you a Halladay, but would it get you Jake Peavy? I definitely won't get you Cliff Lee. The Indians are pretty stocked at catcher (thanks in part to our boy Ned.) All this trade discussion is pointless anyway. We'll sum it up with this: if a starting pitcher could be had for the scant price of a league average catcher, you do it. Even if he hustles.

Breaking News: Livan Hernandez Miraculously Still Employed

Raise your hand if you were honestly aware that Livan Hernandez was still employed as a major league pitcher?

Liar.

You're Dumb if You Don't Hate Manny

We told you so.

Jayson (with a Y) Stark wants you to know how dumb you are for not having his opinion. He even invited some professorial type dudes to try to figure out why we're all so dumb.

We're just a bunch of dumb dummies.

Anything Going on Tonight?

Hooray for sanctimonious sportswriters!

As we celebrate the return of Manny Ramirez (and a certain genius Dodgers blog - you know we mean this one, right?) sportswriters - not just Plaschke - are getting all high-and-mighty with it again. So look for a lot of "this is bad for baseball," and "Manny shouldn't be in the All Star Game" and our personal favorite the dreaded "he's not getting my Hall of Fame vote!" Not to get too existential here, but can a Hall of Fame without Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez still be called the Hall of Fame?

On another note, go buy the new Wilco record.

Glass Eye! Glass Eye!

We kind of have mixed emotions here. On the one hand we follow the San Diego Chargers. In fact, we were so pleased with Sunday night's victory over the Denver Broncos that we almost said no to those last three fingers of Jameson. Almost.

On the other hand we like to laugh at the misfortune of the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. And the Raiders firing of Mike Shanahan, followed by his team soundly throttling the Raiders practically every time they play is pretty amusing.

We are happy at the Shanahan firing for one reason. Foot-Long Dodger wife has, purely through anecdotal evidence, determined that Mike Shanahan uses a certain prosthetic appliance. And every time he is shown during an NFL broadcast Mrs. Foot-Long Dodger Blog is compelled to scream, "Glass Eye! Glass Eye!"

Hopefully his next job is outside of the AFC West.

You be the judge.

Furcal to Return in 2009

Like a good eBayer, Ned moved in and sniped a slightly used Rafael Furcal auction. This was an imperative for the Dodgers. And in no way should the shopping list be called completed. Time to find some power Ned.