Dodgers News: Ned Colletti Talks About Dodgers’ Season, Free Agents
The Dodgers season came to a disappointing end last night with their 9-0 loss in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Cardinals as the offense generated just two hits and Clayton Kershaw had one of his worst starts in over two years.
While it wasn’t the ending the Dodgers and Dodger fans wanted, considering they were 30-42 on June 22 and 9.5 games out of first place, the season was definitely a success. After the game last night, general manager Ned Colletti talked to Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com about how he viewed the Dodgers’ season:
It’s tough to capsule a season a half hour after it ends, but it was exciting. Sports are supposed to be entertaining. I think this group was very entertaining in a lot of ways. We won a lot of games, we stuck together in tough times. I’ll miss this group. Even if everybody returns, it’s never the same group. The dynamics change. That’s why I hate to see this season end. It’s a special collection of people.
Yes, the Dodgers in 2014 will look different than the team that finished last night’s game at Busch Stadium, but like Colletti said, even if the same team is back, it won’t be the same.
The 2013 team had the right mix of youth and veteran leadership, but there were too many injuries in the regular season and Hanley Ramirez’s injury in the NLCS hampered any chance of advancing to the World Series. In the winter, the Dodgers will be in the market for a third baseman, second baseman, an improved bench and bullpen while scouring the the starting pitching market.
Going into the winter,the Dodgers will have options on Mark Ellis ($5.75 million club option, $1 million buyout) and Chris Capuano ($8 million mutual option, $ million buyout), while it isn’t expected the Dodgers pick up both options.
Here’s the other 10 free agents the Dodgers have: Ricky Nolasco, Skip Schumaker, Jerry Hairston Jr., Michael Young, Brian Wilson, Edinson Volquez, Carlos Marmol, Juan Uribe, Nick Punto, J.P. Howell. It’ll be interesting to see which of these will be back as Dodgers continue to improve their club going forward.
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In case you missed it, here’s the “Mickey Mouse” Adrian Gonzalez antics from Game 5 of the NLCS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYKFOSj_OjQ
