MikedUpRadio: Bloggin on the Edge!

Well it’s the end of an era of “Mannywood” in Dodgerland.

The White Sox have claimed Manny Ramirez off waivers today. The Sox will pick up the remainder of his salary ($4M) – The Dodgers won’t get any players in return.

Not sure of all the hatred coming from Dodger nation on Manny being a “Cancer” to the organization. I will never forget what Manny did for this franchise and the excitement he brought back to Dodger stadium. I was lucky enough to attend the first game Manny was in a Dodger uniform, it was against the Diamondbacks. The stadium absolutely erupted when he came onto the on deck circle, then went NUTS when he came to the plate. Flashbulbs, cheers, cheers, flashbulbs. He hit a SHOT to Stephen Drew in the hole, Drew couldn’t handle it, it was scored an infield single. “He RAN it out!” “Manny ran to first base, HARD”, was the word around the stadium.

How can you forget Manny’s bobble head night against the Cincinnati Reds? It was HIS bobble head night, but didn’t play due to an injury. So they wrote another Hollywood script that night. He came off the bench with the bases loaded. Manny swings at the first pitch for a Grand Slam. The place….well….erupted. Dodger fans hugging, smiling, taking pictures, ecstatic once again. Proud once again to call the Dodgers our team.

Then the success he had against the Cubs and the Cardinals in the playoffs in back to back years. I highly doubt we would be successful without the man.

I for one am very grateful for Manny’s short stint with the Dodgers.

So, before you get too ahead of yourself and bad mouth the man who came to L.A. and did a masterful job and dedicated himself for us to never forget the summer of ‘08, remember the good times we had with a future hall of famer. Remember where you were when you heard Manny Ramirez was a Dodger, I bet you had a smile on your face. I know I did.

Thanks, MannyWood.

Some big news were going to come out today from the greatest play by play booth in all of sports. Vin Scully was going to announce his future as broadcaster with the L.A. Dodgers.

Vin has announced he WILL indeed return for his 62nd year of announcing Dodger baseball behind the mic.

Vin said, “now that they have Rod Barajas, that was the clincher.” – (Dodgers earlier acquired catcher Barajas from the Mets for cash considerations).

So, I’d say with the news that the Dodgers have signed 18 year old phenom draft pick Zach Lee and Vin Scully returning next season are no doubt the best news Dodger fans have received all year. Now if they can only win the next 40 games….

Finally some good news to come out of Dodger Town this week, or maybe this year…?

The Dodgers did the unthinkable, the improbable, the impossible. The one draft pick that all the “experts” thought the Dodgers had NO chance of signing, well, they did it. They signed highly talented RHP Zach Lee to a $5.25 million signing bonus. Let alone the kid is from Louisiana, to pry him away from his home state and hometown big time college (LSU) program says a lot.

There was a reason why Lee was drafted so low (28th overall pick) Before this years draft, Zach Lee made it clear he was very interested in attending LSU to play Football and Baseball and it would take $5 Million signing bonus to get him to sign with a major league team.

With Frank McCourt going through a challenging time in his life, with his divorce that is soon to hit trial at the end of the month and his teams low’s, this is the most positive news Dodger fans and the Dodger organization has received all year. It’s definitely refreshing.

Once Lee hits the major leagues full-time (Dodgers will be patient). If the Dodgers can hold onto Kershaw and Billingsley, this could be one of the best 3 young studs at the top of their rotation for a very long time.

He was the 3rd highest paid draftee behind 1st and 2nd picks. He is the highest paid Dodger draftee in Dodger history, Clayton Kershaw received $2.3M

Key Dodgers signings Monday before Lee were 11th-round pick, outfielder Joc Pederson (committed to the University of Southern California), for $600,000 and their 26th-round selection, outfielder Scott Schebler (committed to Wichita State), for $300,000.