The Best Team Money Can Buy: The Los Angeles Dodgers' Wild Struggle to Build a Baseball Powerhouse

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The Best Team Money Can Buy: The Los Angeles Dodgers' Wild Struggle to Build a Baseball Powerhouse Page 34

by Molly Knight


  swimming pool at, 202–3

  Chass, Murray, 282n, 288n, 302n

  Chattanooga Lookouts, 137, 139, 145, 149–50

  Chavez Ravine, 34

  Cherington, Ben, 49–51

  Chicago Cubs, 13, 17, 28–29, 40, 89, 289n

  Friedman and, 268–69

  during regular season, 198–99, 219, 258

  Ryu and, 167–68

  Soler and, 141, 143–44, 168

  trading of, 178, 302n

  Chicago Tribune, 44

  Chicago White Sox, 50, 144, 281n, 287n

  Cincinnati Reds, 9, 290n

  during regular season, 196, 219, 251, 254

  Clemente, Roberto, 67

  Cleveland Indians, 45, 131, 259, 281n, 289n–90n

  Close, Casey, 66–68

  Kershaw’s contract and, 4–5, 7, 67–68, 79

  Cohen, Steve, 31–33

  Colletti, Ned, 21, 39–46, 101, 109, 115, 276, 302n

  baseball background of, 39–41, 46

  Cortés story of, 42–43

  Dodgers’ finances and, 43, 139

  end of season press conference of, 235–37, 269

  Ethier and, 130, 160

  Gonzalez and, 48–50, 53, 58

  gossip about, 175–76

  Greinke and, 105, 160, 296n

  hiring of, 39–40

  Honeycutt and, 98

  Kasten and, 40, 48–49, 115, 139, 267

  Kemp and, 43–45, 120, 123–24, 272

  Kershaw and, 79, 81, 160, 171–72

  League and, 159–61

  Mattingly and, 48, 90, 121, 128, 172–73, 235, 237

  NLCS and, 45

  in player development system, 136

  players’ contracts and, 40–42, 45–46, 79, 81, 83, 124, 159–60, 171–72, 200, 259, 266, 287n–88n, 295n

  Puig and, 147, 180, 199, 256

  Ramirez and, 187

  during regular season, 128, 134–35, 137

  removed from GM position, 267

  trading of, 43, 45, 48–50, 53, 58, 116, 130, 159, 172, 178, 187, 191–92, 265–68, 271–72

  Uribe and, 83

  Wilson acquisition and, 199–200

  Collmenter, Josh, 131–32, 185, 189–90

  Colorado Rockies, 75, 116, 172, 186

  during regular season, 118, 125, 135, 147, 150, 252, 257–58

  Constanza, Jose, 210

  Conte, Stan, 241, 245–47, 303n

  Cortés, Hernán, 42–43

  Crane, Jim, 33, 285n–86n

  Crawford, Carl:

  anonymity of, 55–56

  contracts of, 54, 56–58, 250, 253, 271–72, 295n

  injuries of, 56–58, 150, 152, 251

  NLCS and, 218, 220, 222, 226, 230, 232

  NLDS and, 210, 212, 214, 223–24

  Rays and, 54–56

  Red Sox’s signing of, 54–57

  during regular season, 84, 92, 150, 191, 203, 250, 253, 256, 277

  return of, 179

  trading of, 53–54, 57–59, 89, 119

  Cruz, Luis, 82–84, 92, 152, 159, 164, 178

  Cuban, Mark, 27–28, 285n–86n

  Dallas, Tex., 2, 5, 7–8, 10, 71–74, 243, 278

  Dallas Cowboys, 35–36, 223

  DeJesus, Ivan, 53, 290n

  De La Rosa, Rubby, 53, 119, 290n

  Dempster, Ryan, 178, 302n

  Denorfia, Chris, 161–62

  DePodesta, Paul, 39, 285n

  Despaigne, Yunior, 158, 300n

  Detroit Lions, 8, 72, 286n

  Detroit Tigers, 76, 171, 219, 294n

  during regular season, 103–4, 255, 266

  DiMaggio, Joe, 164–65

  Disney, 17, 282n

  Dodgers Dream Foundation, 26

  Dodger Stadium, 47–48, 58–59, 73–74, 79, 124, 184, 282n

  assault of fan at, 25–26

  Dugout Club at, 193

  end of season press conference at, 235, 237

  NLCS and, 228, 231

  NLDS and, 208, 216, 261–62

  ownership and value of land surrounding, 30, 32, 34

  Puig and, 151, 156, 164, 197–98

  during regular season, 84, 134, 166, 180, 192–93, 241, 247–48, 252, 278, 291n

  renovation of, 14–15

  repairs needed by, 13–14

  Scully’s drive to, 154–55

  season ticket prices at, 193, 302n

  Dominican Republic, 21, 118, 151, 165

  in WBC, 187–89

  Dreifort, Darren, 75

  Drew, J. D., 42, 287n–88n, 301n

  Drysdale, Don, 88, 102, 294n

  Eckersley, Dennis, 59, 169

  Elbert, Scott, 263

  Ellis, A. J., 84–87, 172, 192, 294n

  batting of, 86–87

  brawls and, 110

  Greinke and, 102–3

  on Honeycutt, 98

  injuries of, 152

  on Kershaw’s focus, 5

  Kershaw’s home run and, 78

  Kershaw’s pregame routines and, 69–71

  Kershaw’s relationship with, 64–65, 69–70, 78, 86, 213

  Kershaw’s slider and, 65

  minor league career of, 84–86

  NLCS and, 229, 231

  NLDS and, 213, 261–62

  during regular season, 84, 87, 92, 109–10, 137, 182, 185, 190, 197, 252, 278

  Ellis, Audrey Elizabeth, 85

  Ellis, Cindy, 85, 189

  Ellis, Luke, 85

  Ellis, Mark, 242–43, 292n–93n

  departure of, 243

  injuries of, 118, 129, 152

  NLCS and, 218–20, 222–23, 226, 229, 232, 235

  NLDS and, 209

  Puig and, 145

  during regular season, 81–82, 92, 129, 137, 185, 189–90

  Ellsbury, Jacoby, 51, 125, 298n

  Ely, John, 119

  Eovaldi, Nate, 119, 187

  Epstein, Theo, 51, 268, 289n, 301n–2n

  signing Crawford and, 54–56

  trading of, 178, 302n

  ESPN, 17–18, 96, 127, 289n

  Ethier, Andre, 243

  awards and honors of, 130

  comparisons between Gonzales and, 131–32

  comparisons between Kemp and, 133

  contract of, 36–37, 41, 160, 250, 253, 271–72

  drafting of, 130

  injuries of, 221, 224

  Mattingly and, 128–30, 133, 250, 255

  NLCS and, 220–21, 224

  during regular season, 84, 92, 128–34, 152, 196–97, 203, 250, 253, 255, 299n

  Excel Sports Management, 66–67

  Falsone, Sue, 110, 220, 245

  Federowicz, Tim, 87, 172–73, 178, 192, 272

  Fenway Park, 13, 18, 49

  Fife, Stephen, 152

  Figgins, Chone, 242

  Forbes, 24, 31, 35

  Ford, Whitey, 62

  Fox, Fox Entertainment Group, 17–20, 282n, 284n

  Dodgers’ media deals with, 25–27

  Francona, Terry, 51, 289n

  Freeman, Freddie, 208, 214

  Freese, David, 220, 234

  Friedman, Andrew, 267–71

  hiring of, 267–68, 299n

  Mattingly and, 275–76

  press conference of, 269–70

  Rays and, 176, 267–70, 275, 299n

  trading of, 267–68, 271

  Garcia, Freddy, 214–15

  Garcia, Yimi, 276

  Garfinkel, Tom, 112, 297n

  Gibson, Kirk, 59–60, 65, 180

  brawls and, 171, 184

  Dodgers-Diamondbacks rivalry and, 169

  World Series and, 59, 216, 304n

  Girardi, Joe, 97

  Glavine, Tom, 46, 206

  Goldschmidt, Paul, 132

  Gomez, Carlos, 164–65

  Gonzalez, Adrian, 243, 289n, 299n

  awards of, 214

  comparisons between Ethier and, 131–32

  contracts of, 58, 294n

  first day and at-bat with Dodgers of, 58–60

  injuries of, 11
8–19, 125, 129, 298n

  Kemp and, 125

  NLCS and, 220–23, 226, 230–32

  NLDS and, 214–15

  Puig and, 157, 199, 202, 207, 231, 241, 248, 258

  during regular season, 81, 92–93, 118–19, 129, 131–32, 152, 157, 177, 197, 199, 202, 207, 223, 241, 248, 257–58, 260, 276–77

  trades and, 48–54, 57–59, 89, 119, 231, 269

  Gonzalez, Fredi, 210–11, 216

  Gonzalez, Luis, 182–84

  Gordon, Dee, 221, 245, 255–56, 271

  Greenberg, Chuck, 286n

  Gregerson, Luke, 111

  Greinke, Zack, 87, 102–13, 297n

  anxiety of, 106–8, 112, 221, 230, 296n

  awards and honors of, 66, 105, 107, 210, 296n

  on bathroom hygiene, 201

  beaning of, 170–71

  brawls and, 110–11, 113, 115, 117, 156, 165, 170, 175, 184, 258, 301n

  childhood of, 105–6

  Colletti and, 105, 160, 296n

  contract of, 66–67, 89, 160, 209, 294n

  drafting of, 105

  Ellis and, 102–3

  finances of, 108–9, 296n

  game planning of, 69

  hitting Quentin and, 102, 104, 109–12, 165

  on Honeycutt, 98

  illnesses of, 106–7

  injuries of, 89–90, 110–11, 113, 115–18, 128, 156, 175

  Kershaw and, 105, 112

  Mattingly and, 89–91, 230

  nickname of, 112

  NLCS and, 218, 220–21, 228–31

  NLDS and, 209–10, 221, 260–63

  Puig and, 156–57, 201–2

  during regular season, 89–91, 102–6, 109–13, 128, 156, 170–71, 175, 177, 195–96, 201, 230, 245, 250, 258, 292n, 301n

  retirement and, 106, 109

  on talking to reporters, 102, 295n–96n

  in walking away from baseball, 106–7

  Grichuk, Randal, 261

  Griffey, Ken, Jr., 124–25

  Guerra, Javy, 148

  Guerrero, Alex, 245

  Guerrier, Matt, 111, 178

  Guggenheim Partners, 13–15, 47, 89, 119

  Colletti and, 39, 139, 268

  and competing with Lakers, 15

  Dodgers’ acquisition and, 13, 29–33, 124, 283n

  Dodgers’ finances and, 7, 39, 63, 125, 127, 139, 142–43, 265, 284n

  Dodger Stadium renovation and, 14–15

  Mattingly and, 92

  NLDS and, 211

  players’ contracts and, 7, 116, 188, 284n

  Puig and, 141–44

  Gyorko, Jedd, 161

  Hairston, Jerry, Jr., 84, 137, 152

  Hall, Derrick, 202

  Hamels, Cole, 69, 294n

  Hanwha Eagles, 116

  Harang, Aaron, 87, 116, 172

  Haren, Dan, 245, 271

  Harvey, Matt, 197

  Henderson, Judy, 121

  Henderson, Rickey, 95, 194

  Henry, John, 18–19

  Gonzalez and, 50–53

  Red Sox acquired by, 18, 32

  Hernandez, Ramon, 116, 152, 172–73, 178

  Hershiser, Orel, 169

  Heyward, Jason, 208, 210–11, 216

  Hillman, Trey, 237, 295n

  gossip about, 176

  Mattingly and, 100–102, 127

  Hinske, Eric, 170

  Hochevar, Luke, 75

  Holliday, Matt, 229, 234, 261, 263

  Honeycutt, Rick, 69, 98

  Houston Astros, 41, 123, 135–36, 176, 268

  comparisons between Dodgers and, 33–34, 137, 194

  during regular season, 156

  sale of, 29–30, 33–34

  Howell, J. P.:

  brawls and, 88, 170, 258

  NLDS and, 263

  during regular season, 196, 258–60

  Hunsicker, Gerry, 175–76, 299n

  Ingram, Jeff, 18

  Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 27, 32

  Jackson, Samuel L., 192–93

  Jansen, Kenley, 88

  finances of, 167, 301n

  injuries of, 276

  named closer, 167, 177

  NLCS and, 216–17, 229

  NLDS and, 262–63

  during regular season, 160–61, 165–67, 171, 177, 185, 190, 196, 199–200, 259, 276

  Jarrin, Jaime, 16, 282n

  Jay-Z, 192–93

  Johnson, Calvin, 286n

  Johnson, Chris, 214–15

  Johnson, Earvin “Magic,” 15, 192

  Dodgers’ acquisition and, 28–31

  Dodgers’ celebration and, 202–3

  Kasten’s relationship with, 28, 286n

  Kemp and, 124, 127

  Kershaw and, 7, 79

  NLCS and, 218

  Puig and, 164

  World Series and, 203

  Johnson, Elliot, 210

  Johnson, Josh, 59–60

  Johnson, Reed, 210–11

  Jones, Chipper, 163

  Jones, Joshua, 298n

  Jordan, Michael, 6, 145, 224

  Kansas City Royals, 75, 85, 100

  attendance statistics of, 108

  Greinke and, 105–8

  in World Series, 260, 272

  Kasten, Stan, 46–53, 119, 256, 297n

  Braves and, 28, 46–47

  Colletti and, 40, 48–49, 115, 139, 267

  Dodgers’ acquisition and, 28–31, 33

  Dodgers’ farm system and, 46–47

  Dodgers’ finances and, 46, 50, 136

  Dodger Stadium renovation and, 14

  Friedman and, 269–70

  Gonzalez and, 48–53, 58

  Greinke and, 108

  Johnson’s relationship with, 28, 286n

  Kershaw and, 79, 171–72

  Mattingly and, 48, 172, 175–76, 203, 237, 275

  NLDS and, 206

  opening day roster and, 88

  players’ contracts and, 46, 79, 144, 171–72, 179

  Puig and, 143–44, 150, 162, 179, 203, 270

  Ramirez and, 187

  and Walter’s dealings with press, 35

  Walter’s relationship with, 46–48, 50–51, 53

  Kelly, Joe, 218, 220

  Kemp, Matt, 21, 119–31, 271–73, 288n

  awards and honors of, 43–44, 122, 124, 257

  benching of, 247–48, 251

  brawls and, 110, 120

  celebrations and, 202, 303n

  childhood and adolescence of, 121–22

  Colletti and, 43–45, 120, 123–24, 272

  comparisons between Ethier and, 133

  contract of, 120–22, 124, 207, 253, 273, 294n

  drafting of, 119, 121, 294n

  Greinke and, 110–11

  injuries of, 93, 120, 125–26, 129, 133, 148–50, 152, 172, 179, 190–91, 203, 206, 220, 244–47, 250–51, 256–57, 273

  Johnson and, 124, 127

  Mattingly and, 45, 120–21, 123–25, 133, 149, 203, 237, 247–50, 255–56, 258

  nickname of, 121

  NLCS and, 228

  NLDS and, 206–7, 260, 263

  Padres and, 272–73, 278–79

  physical appearance of, 121–22

  Puig and, 190, 206–7, 248, 257–58, 272

  race and, 121

  Ramirez and, 247

  during regular season, 84, 92–93, 99, 110–12, 119–20, 122–29, 131, 133, 148–49, 164–65, 190–91, 203, 207, 246–51, 253, 255–58, 278–79

  returns of, 190–91, 202–3, 246, 250–51

  sick children and, 123, 297n–98n

  Torre and, 44, 120, 123, 180

  trading and, 192, 272–73

  Uribe and, 84, 164–65, 249

  Kendrick, Howie, 192, 271–72

  during regular season, 278–79

  Kennedy, Ian, 169–70, 183–84

  Kent, Jeff, 39–40, 83, 288n

  Kershaw, Chris, 71–74

  Kershaw, Clayton, 1–11, 61–79, 87, 119

  awards and honors of, 2, 9, 62, 67, 74, 77, 105, 233, 237, 252, 278, 296n

  b
aseball memorabilia of, 9, 74

  birth of, 71

  change-up of, 64–65

  charitable work of, 2, 67

  childhood and adolescence of, 3, 8–10, 62, 71–74

  contract of, 2–7, 10–11, 13, 66–68, 70, 79, 81, 93, 160, 171–72, 193–94, 213, 243–44

  control as focus of, 5–6

  curveball of, 5, 63–65, 68, 74, 208, 233, 252, 282n, 291n

  drafting of, 75–77, 136, 292n, 294n

  education of, 3, 8, 62, 72–74

  Ellis’s relationship with, 64–65, 69–70, 78, 86, 213

  ERAs of, 1–2, 62–63, 74, 77, 196, 233, 252

  fastball of, 5, 64, 74, 208, 224, 233, 252, 261

  father’s death and, 73–74

  finances of, 5–7, 10–11, 13, 67–68, 70, 76, 79, 93, 171–72, 213–14

  first win of, 9

  Friedman and, 270

  game planning of, 69

  Greinke and, 105, 112

  hitting of, 78–79, 233

  injuries of, 244, 246, 251–52

  Kemp and, 279

  Mattingly and, 8–9, 78, 89–90, 93, 121, 209, 244

  NLCS and, 1–3, 8–9, 218–19, 223–30, 232–34, 251–52

  NLDS and, 205, 208–9, 212–18, 230, 233, 260–64

  no-hitter of, 252–53

  number worn by, 10, 70

  on off days, 62, 213

  off-seasons of, 243, 278

  opening day starts of, 61, 66, 77–79, 81, 89–90, 244, 246, 278–79

  physical appearance of, 3, 61, 68, 71, 73–74, 78

  Ping-Pong played by, 3, 9

  pitching on short rest, 212–13, 263

  pregame routines of, 68–71, 79, 112, 192, 198, 208, 213

  private life of, 2–3, 8–10, 62

  Puig and, 156–57, 198

  during regular season, 61, 66, 77–79, 81, 89–90, 102–3, 116, 128, 137, 146, 156–57, 165–66, 177–78, 192–93, 195–96, 198, 212–13, 218, 233, 244–46, 251–53, 278–79, 292n

  religious beliefs of, 67, 73

  rookie season of, 5, 63, 74

  slider of, 5, 64–66, 68, 178, 208–9, 233, 252, 261

  wardrobe of, 67

  worrying of, 72–74

  Kershaw, Ellen Melson, 2–4, 9–10, 62, 69, 73–74, 79

  Kershaw, Marianne, 9, 71–74, 76

  Kimbrel, Craig, 160, 215–16

  Kinsler, Ian, 104

  Koehler, Tom, 130

  Kontos, George, 77–78

  Koufax, Sandy, 28, 62, 102, 155, 209, 216, 252

  Kozma, Pete, 220, 233, 261

  Kroenke, Stan and Ann Walton, 31

  Lackey, John, 263

  LaRoche, Adam, 191

  Lasorda, Tommy, 153, 169

  Laurenzi, Gino, 288n

  League, Brandon, 295n

  contract of, 159–60

  Mattingly and, 166–67, 177

  NLDS and, 263

  during regular season, 88, 159–62, 165–67

  League, Sasha, 166

  Lee, Cliff, 21, 192, 294n

  Lee, Zach, 192

  Leon, Yandrys, 158

  Lilly, Ted, 87, 116, 118, 191, 293n

  Lincecum, Tim, 76–77, 294n

  Lincoln, Brad, 76

  Little, Grady, 211

 

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