Chad Billingsley Signs A Three-Year Extension

It's being reported that the Dodgers and Chad Billingsley have agreed to a three-year extension. According to the LATimes' Dylan Hernandez, the deal is worth $35-36 million, including an option for a fourth year, which is being negotiated.

From MLBTradeRumors.com:

Billingsley will earn $6.275MM in 2011, his second of three seasons as an arbitration eligible player. The deal would buy out the 26-year-old's final year of arbitration eligibility and his first two free agent seasons.

Billingsley, a Dave Stewart client, has been a steady presence in the Dodgers' rotation since 2006. He posted a 3.57 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 191 2/3 innings last year. His career numbers - 59-41 record, 3.55 ERA, 825 2/3 innings, 8.2 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 - have led to larger-than-usual rewards through arbitration

Nice to see Dave Stewart and the Dodgers playing nice, despite the drama between the two last year. In August, Stewart criticized some members of the coaching staff of treating his other client, Matt Kemp, unfairly.

It's also nice to see Ned Colletti locking Bills up for the next three to four years. This kid has been an absolute beast over the last four seasons. Now, if he can get Clayton Kershaw locked up as well, I might start thinking better of Old Ned.

My Prediction:
Chad Billingsley will get the sixth and final undecided bobblehead on August 9. He deserves it. He's got the extension, now give him a bobble!

Lilly Staying In LA

According to the LA Times, the  Dodgers have signed pitcher Ted Lilly to a three-year deal. The dollar amount on the contract hasn't been announced yet. The deal is expected to be finalized once Lilly passes a physical next week.

Lilly went 7-4 in 12 starts for the Dodgers and had a 3.52 ERA. He also had the lowest run support in the majors.

The Dodgers now have three of the five rotation spots filled, with Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw holding down the other two spots. The team is still expected to have interest in re-signing Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla.


I'm curious to see what the Dodgers are gonna pay Lilly over the next three seasons. I wouldn't be surprised if Ned Colletti overpayed for the 34 year old. Well, maybe Frank McCourt is willing to spend some money this offseason.

Winning Streak Ends At Two

Vicente Padilla pitched another great game. He went 7 innings tonight, giving up two runs(one earned). He struck out 6 Mets and walked none. He was removed in the seventh inning for a pinch hitter. That's six games in a row now that Padilla has gone at least six innings and given up 2 runs or less. His ERA is 1.56 in that span. Padilla was the loser in tonight's game, with the Mets winning 6-1.

Johan Santana was his usual self, going seven innings,  allowing one run and five hits, while striking out four and walking one.

Once again, the Dodger bullpen was bad. It was announced earlier that Jonathan Broxton went home with stomach ailment and Hong-Chih Kuo would be unavailable out of the bullpen from pitching Tuesday and Thursday night. So it was up to the rest of the bullpen to keep the Dodgers in the game. That didn't happen. Jeff Weaver walked two and James McDonald allowed a sacrifice fly and an intentional walk. Jack Taschner, who was just called up, walked one. With the bases loaded, Joe Torre brought in Travis Schlichting who gave up a bases clearing double.

The Dodgers released Justin Miller today and recalled  Kenley Jansen from AA Chattanooga. Also, Ned Colletti says the Dodgers are serious buyers with the trade deadline nearing. He has a few pitchers on his radar, including Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, Dan Haren, Ted Lilly, Paul Maholm, and Roy Oswalt. I have no faith in Ned, but if a move is made, I'm sure he'll  get taken to the cleaners by the other team.

Around The Dodger Blogosphere: The Ned Colletti/Matt Kemp Situation

This whole Ned Colletti/Matt Kemp situation has got the Dodger Blogosphere talking. I've read some great stuff today. Here's what some bloggers had to say:

When in doubt, blame the players. Chad at Memories of Kevin Malone gives us a Ned Colletti Fault Flow Chart.

Why the Dodgers Are In Last Place. Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness gives 38 reasons why the Dodgers are in last place. Matt Kemp's defense and subpar baserunning are the last things on his list.

Roberto at Vin Scully Is My Homeboy gives his opinion on this situation.

and finally, The Left Field Pavilion shows us what Ned's done.

Winning Cures All

Yes, the Dodgers are a mess right now. There are problems with the offense, defense, and pitching. To blame one person for this mess would be stupid. Yesterday, Ned Colletti made some comments to Peter Tilden on 790 KABC about Matt Kemp. He said Kemp's defense and baserunning were below average and wondered aloud whether Kemp might be too comfortable now that he has a new two-year, $10.95 million contract.

Ned Colletti:

"I told him I didn't single him out, the same thing I told [the media] earlier. We had a five-minute conversation."

Asked if it was a two-way conversation, Colletti said it was. Asked if everything was fine between him and Kemp, Colletti simply said, "It's fine with me."

He's not singling Kemp out? Huh?

Obviously, Ned's got a problem with the way Kemp has been playing. And maybe Ned's right. But that's not the way you go about things when you are the General Manager of a professional baseball team.

Kemp's agent, Dave Stewart said it best:

"What I would suggest for Ned Colletti to do is look at himself in the mirror. No player has called out Colletti for wasting tens of millions of dollars on Jason Schmidt or Andruw Jones, and that players deserved the same level of courtesy from their general manager."

"You have to look at the fact that Matt is a 25-year-old player. He's been very successful, but you cannot forget the fact that he's still learning to play the game. He's only played center field for two years. He's done everything the organization has asked him to do."

Stewart is right. Ned's made plenty of mistakes as GM.

Ned Colletti put this team together. He needs to take responsibility for the problems the Dodgers are having.

The Dodgers are finally coming home after a 2 and 7 road trip. Stringing some wins together at home is exactly what this team needs. In the end winning cures all.