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 35

by Molly Knight


  Loney, James, 21, 48, 53, 130, 133, 136, 290n

  Longoria, Evan, 75

  Lopes, Davey, 98–99

  Loria, Jeffrey, 186

  Los Angeles Angels, 8, 17, 54, 135, 268

  during regular season, 105, 139, 148–49, 300n

  trading of, 192, 271

  Los Angeles Dodgers:

  analytics department of, 41, 266–67

  attendance statistics of, 16, 22, 25, 89, 108, 151, 281n, 283n, 292n

  brawls of, 88, 110–13, 115, 117, 120, 156, 165, 170–71, 175, 179, 184, 258, 301n

  broadcast rights and media deals of, 17–18, 25–27, 34–36, 47, 150, 282n

  business model of, 193

  celebrations of, 202–3, 216–17, 231, 303n

  drafting of, 8, 21, 48, 75–77, 87, 108, 117, 119, 121, 136, 141, 149, 167, 272, 292n, 294n, 299n

  farm system of, 43, 46–47, 84–86, 99, 119, 136–37, 139, 145, 147, 149–50, 178, 182–83, 245, 256, 272

  finances of, 6–7, 13–14, 17–18, 21–22, 24–27, 30, 32–37, 39–40, 42–43, 45–46, 50, 53, 58, 63, 68, 81, 88–89, 91, 93–94, 119, 124–25, 127–28, 136–37, 139, 142–43, 151, 160, 167–68, 192–93, 206, 213, 217–18, 226, 235, 238, 245, 249, 253, 265–68, 273, 279–80, 282n, 284n–88n, 302n

  free agent signings of, 45–46, 89, 108, 119

  leadership committee of, 277

  management morale of, 25

  marketing of, 156, 179, 192–93, 249

  in NLCS, 1–4, 8–9, 20, 23, 45, 216–36, 246, 251–52, 260–61, 270, 295n

  in NLDS, 4, 205–19, 221, 223–24, 226, 228, 230, 233, 236, 260–64, 270, 282n

  NL West crowns of, 20, 191, 200–202, 205, 260, 279, 303n

  outfield platoon of, 203, 250, 253

  pitching staff of, 87–90, 98, 104, 115–19, 152, 159–62, 164–68, 170, 177–79, 185, 196, 199–200, 245, 253, 255, 258–60, 263, 265–67, 271–72, 276, 295n

  players’ contracts with, 2–7, 10–11, 13, 36–37, 40–42, 45–46, 58, 66–68, 70, 79, 81, 83, 89, 91–93, 116, 120–22, 124, 144, 159–60, 167–68, 171–72, 179, 188–89, 193–94, 200, 207, 209, 213, 215, 225, 243–44, 249–50, 253–54, 259, 266, 269–73, 279, 284n, 287n–88n, 293n–95n, 299n, 301n

  playoff pep rally of, 204

  pregame festivities of, 192

  private security employed by, 159, 195

  rallying cry of, 43

  in relocating from Brooklyn, 16–17, 24

  rookie hazing rituals of, 258

  rosters of, 6, 40–42, 65, 81–89, 93, 103, 118, 128, 133, 139, 145–46, 149–50, 160, 172–73, 199, 201, 245, 255, 259–60, 265, 270–72, 276

  sales of, 7, 13, 18–20, 28–34, 36, 124, 269, 282n–83n

  scouting of, 21, 75–76, 78, 136, 141–44, 151, 162, 176, 185, 190, 245, 270, 299n

  team meetings of, 83, 159, 194, 201, 241–42, 248

  trading of, 43, 45, 48–54, 57–59, 68, 89, 116–17, 119, 130, 134, 159, 172, 178–79, 186–87, 191–92, 231, 238, 253, 265–69, 271–73, 290n, 302n

  turnover of executives of, 40

  uniforms of, 16

  winning streaks and runs of, 177–79, 191, 194–97, 205, 211, 246, 256

  in World Series, 59, 84, 88, 91, 169, 209, 216, 280, 304n

  Los Angeles Lakers, 7, 28, 31, 193

  Dodgers’ competition with, 15, 47

  Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 16, 281n

  Los Angeles Sparks, 36

  Los Angeles Times, 49, 76, 119, 277, 282n–83n, 285n, 292n

  Lucchino, Larry, 50

  Luhnow, Jeff, 41, 136

  Lynn, Lance, 292n

  McCann, Brian, 103, 214, 216

  McCourt, Frank, 18–27, 60, 77, 186, 245

  Colletti and, 39–40, 42, 45, 139, 268

  comparisons between Walter and, 35–36

  and competing with Lakers, 15

  divorce of, 20, 22–25, 27, 30, 32, 282n–86n

  Dodgers acquired by, 18–20, 282n

  Dodgers’ finances and, 13, 18, 21–22, 24–27, 30, 32, 35–36, 40, 42, 45, 68, 81, 88, 119, 167, 284n, 286n

  Dodgers’ sale and, 13, 30–33

  Dodgers’ TV deals and, 26–27, 35–36

  finances of, 18–20, 22–26, 32, 35, 88, 282n–83n

  homes of, 22–24, 32

  Mattingly and, 93, 127

  ousting of, 21, 25–27, 35, 89

  physical appearance of, 19–20, 36

  McCourt, Jamie, 18–20, 60

  ambitiousness of, 20

  Colletti and, 39

  divorce of, 20, 22–25, 27, 30, 32, 282n–85n

  as Dodgers’ CEO, 20, 23

  in fight over Dodgers’ ownership, 23–24

  finances of, 22–25, 32, 35, 283n

  Fox TV deal and, 27

  homes of, 22–24, 32

  McCutchen, Andrew, 132, 299n

  McGwire, Mark, 99–100

  brawls and, 171, 184

  Kemp and, 149, 257

  NLCS and, 226, 295n

  Puig and, 151–52, 194

  Machado, Manny, 118

  Maddon, Joe, 268, 275

  Maddux, Greg, 46–47, 105, 191, 206

  Major League Baseball (MLB):

  attendance statistics in, 283n

  average salaries in, 291n

  competition for executive positions in, 41

  Dodgers’ sale and, 31

  draft of, 74–77

  guaranteed contracts in, 287n

  International signing rules of, 142–43

  ousting McCourt and, 25–27

  owners meetings of, 50

  popularity of, 146

  TV deals and, 7, 27, 35–36

  Marmol, Carlos, 178

  Martin, Russell, 21, 130

  Martinez, Dave, 176

  Martinez, Pedro, 21, 68, 77, 211, 233, 291n

  Mattingly, Bill, 94–95

  Mattingly, Don, 39, 88–102, 303n

  ambidexterity of, 95

  awards and honors of, 90, 95

  Beckett and, 117–18

  brawls and, 171, 184

  childhood and adolescence of, 94

  coaching career of, 45, 97–98, 101

  coaching staff of, 98–102, 127–28, 279

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

  and condition of Dodger Stadium, 14

  contracts of, 91–92, 217, 235–36, 241, 275

  Dodgers’ finances and, 88, 93

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

  Ethier and, 128–30, 133, 250, 255

  finances of, 91–92

  Friedman and, 275–76

  Jansen and, 166–67, 177

  job at risk, 127, 175–77, 195–96, 210–11, 217, 228, 236, 275

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

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

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

  League and, 166–67, 177

  nickname of, 90

  NLCS and, 217, 221, 223, 228–30, 236

  NLDS and, 209–13, 215–17, 263

  physical appearance of, 90, 95–96, 235

  private life of, 96–97

  Puig and, 146–47, 149, 151–52, 164, 179–80, 194–95, 199, 203, 235–37, 241–42, 248–49, 256, 258

  during regular season, 89–92, 111, 117–18, 120, 127–30, 133, 152, 161, 164, 166, 170–71, 175–77, 180, 195–96, 199, 201, 203, 241, 247–50, 254–56, 258–59, 276

  retirement of, 96–97

  roster issues of, 88, 128, 172–73

  team philosophy of, 92–94, 255

  temperament of, 90, 96, 98, 102, 111, 166, 176–77

  on throwing at batters, 170

  Uribe and, 83

  World Series and, 211

  Mattingly, Jordon, 96

  Mattingly, Kim, 96

  Mattingly, Mary, 94

  Mattingly, Preston, 8, 90, 96–97

  Mattingly, Taylor, 96–97

  May, Lucas, 85
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br />   Mays, Willie, 17, 155, 250

  Medlen, Kris, 205–6, 209

  Meredith, Josh, 72

  Miami Dolphins, 24

  Miami Marlins, 169, 287n

  Ramirez and, 186–87, 242–43, 254

  during regular season, 129, 156, 194–95, 200

  trading of, 59, 178, 187, 271

  in World Series, 53–54, 215

  Michael, Gene, 96

  Midwest City High, 121

  Miley, Wade, 290n

  Miller, Andrew, 76

  Milwaukee Brewers, 22, 45, 288n

  Greinke and, 107

  during regular season, 105, 127–29, 134, 139, 156, 164, 213–14

  Minnesota Twins, 22, 192, 230, 245, 294n

  Molina, Yadier:

  NLCS and, 221, 225–26, 231, 234

  NLDS and, 261, 263

  Montero, Miguel, 163, 165, 170, 184, 241

  Morrow, Brandon, 76

  Mozeliak, John, 135

  Mulligan, Thomas S., 282n–83n

  Murdoch, Rupert, 17, 282n

  Musial, Stan, 17, 31

  Myers, Wil, 279

  Nagy, Charles, 168

  National Basketball Association (NBA), 27–28, 36, 121, 127, 202

  National Football League (NFL), 30, 35–36, 286n–87n

  National Hockey League (NHL), 36

  National League Championship Series (NLCS):

  Cardinals in, 1–4, 8, 217–35, 246, 260–61, 264, 270, 295n

  Dodgers in, 1–4, 8–9, 20, 23, 45, 216–36, 246, 251–52, 260–61, 270, 295n

  Giants in, 231, 264

  Phillies in, 23, 232

  National League Division Series (NLDS):

  Braves in, 4, 205–6, 208–12, 263, 282n

  Cardinals in, 224, 260–64, 270

  Dodgers in, 4, 205–19, 221, 223–24, 226, 228, 230, 233, 236, 260–64, 270, 282n

  Pirates in, 224

  Neruda, Pablo, 16

  New York Mets, 31, 294n

  during regular season, 118, 156, 197, 250

  New York Times, 282n, 287n–88n, 302n

  New York Yankees, 153, 161, 164

  in ALDS, 91

  comparisons between Dodgers and, 15, 47, 89, 193, 284n

  drafting of, 94, 96

  finances of, 52, 245, 284n

  Mattingly and, 90–91, 94–97, 100

  players’ contracts with, 66, 213–14, 294n, 298n

  during regular season, 192–93, 198

  World Championships of, 90–91, 217

  in World Series, 54, 91

  Nippon Ham Fighters, 100

  Nolasco, Ricky, 245

  NLCS and, 229–30

  NLDS and, 209

  during regular season, 196, 198–99, 209

  trading for, 178

  Nomo, Hideo, 21, 180

  Oakland Athletics, 9, 41, 59, 82, 130, 141, 169, 258, 269

  Oakland Raiders, 30

  O’Malley, Peter, 17, 282n, 286n

  O’Malley, Walter, 16–17, 24

  Pacific Coast League, 17, 99, 256

  Passan, Jeff, 297n

  Pederson, Joc, 271–72

  minor league career of, 149–50

  during regular season, 255–56, 258, 278

  Pedroia, Dustin, 51, 289n

  Peralta, Jhonny, 261, 263

  Peralta, Wily, 129

  Perez, Chris, 259, 266, 295n

  Petco Park, 92, 245–46

  Philadelphia Phillies, 98, 272

  finances of, 52

  in NLCS, 23, 232

  players’ contracts with, 294n–95n

  during regular season, 69, 195–96, 222, 251

  trading of, 192

  Piazza, Mike, 59

  Piecoro, Nick, 195

  Piniella, Lou, 96, 98, 128

  Pittsburgh Pirates, 36, 67, 76, 128–29, 132, 224, 290n

  during regular season, 89–90, 219

  Poole, Mitch, 58–59, 144–45, 247

  Posey, Buster, 177

  Preller, A. J., 279

  Puig, Yasiel, 139–59, 167–70, 231–42, 244

  anger issues of, 143, 147, 165, 199, 207, 277

  awards and honors of, 163–64, 255

  beaning of, 169, 183–84

  benching of, 248–49

  Bravo’s relationship with, 182–83, 194, 197

  brawls and, 170, 184, 258

  in brushes with law, 147, 240

  call-up of, 148–51, 159, 178, 183, 186, 195, 254–55

  chronic tardiness of, 194–95, 236, 241, 248–49

  conflict between Romo and, 182

  contract of, 37, 144, 159, 167–68, 179, 207, 225, 249, 269–71, 299n

  Cuban background of, 140–41, 143, 151, 157–59, 182, 184, 195, 225–26, 300n

  Diamondbacks and, 167, 169, 182–84

  disappearance of, 247–48

  discipline issues of, 179–81,194–95, 235, 277

  elected to all-star team, 255

  entourage of, 197–98, 277, 303n

  finances of, 182–83, 225, 277

  Friedman and, 270

  Gonzalez episode and, 182–84

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

  major-league debut of, 151–59, 161–63, 165, 300n

  marketing campaign around, 249

  Mattingly and, 146–47, 149, 151–52, 164, 179–80, 194–95, 199, 203, 235–37, 241–42, 248–49, 256, 258

  minor-league career of, 145, 147, 149–50

  moved to center, 256, 260

  NLCS and, 220, 222–23, 225–29, 231–34

  NLDS and, 206–8, 211, 215–16, 226

  number worn by, 144–45, 164

  off-season of, 239–40

  physical appearance of, 139–42, 151, 156, 207, 239, 255

  pickoff tutorial of, 152–53

  playing style of, 145–47, 150, 162, 182, 184, 198–99, 229, 232, 240–42, 249, 258, 277

  private security for, 159, 195, 225

  Ramirez and, 185–86, 219, 242

  during regular season, 151–59, 161–65, 169–70, 175, 179–85, 191–92, 194–95, 197–99, 201–3, 207, 240–41, 247–50, 254–58, 260, 277

  relations between reporters and, 159, 165, 179–83, 194, 199, 238

  in relationships with women, 183

  reputation of, 143–45, 159

  scouting of, 140–43

  in team meeting, 241–42, 248

  tryout of, 141–44, 158, 162, 239

  Pujols, Albert, 135

  Punto, Nick, 9, 49, 242–43

  NLCS and, 227, 230

  Puig and, 199, 242

  during regular season, 84, 134–35, 137, 152, 157, 185, 197, 199, 289n

  trading and, 53, 58

  Quentin, Carlos, 102, 104–5, 109–12, 117, 161, 165

  Ramirez, Hanley:

  awards of, 186

  contracts of, 187–89, 243–44, 253–54, 271

  departure of, 271–72, 278

  injuries of, 82, 118, 152, 186, 189, 220–24, 228–32, 236, 243–44, 250, 253–54

  Kershaw and, 252–53

  Mattingly and, 254

  naming of, 187–88

  NLCS and, 219–24, 228–32

  NLDS and, 209, 211, 219

  off-seasons of, 243

  playing style of, 186–89

  Puig and, 185–86, 219, 242

  during regular season, 177–78, 182, 185–90, 196, 247, 250, 252–54, 257

  returns of, 185–86, 189, 250

  trading and, 89, 119, 186–87, 253

  in WBC, 118, 187–89

  Ramirez, Manny, 21, 58–59, 180, 191

  Reinsdorf, Jerry, 50

  Reitz Memorial, 94

  Reynolds, Greg, 75

  Richard, Clayton, 112

  Rihanna, 123, 164

  Rivera, Mariano, 161, 192

  Rizzo, Anthony, 199

  Robinson, Jackie, 16, 153–54

  Robinson, Rachel, 153–54

  Robinson, Shane, 233–34

  Rodriguez, Alex, 75, 294n, 296n, 298n

 
; Rodriguez, Paco, 87, 136, 196, 210, 293n–94n

  Rollins, Jimmy, 272, 278–79

  Romo, Sergio, 182

  Romo, Tony, 223

  Ronaldo, Cristiano, 145, 192–93, 198

  Rosen, Lon, 29–31, 286n

  Rosenthal, Trevor, 134, 222

  Ruth, Babe, 18

  Ryan, Nolan, 286n

  Ryu, Hyun-Jin, 87, 243

  auction for, 167–68

  contract of, 116

  injuries of, 263

  Mattingly and, 90

  NLCS and, 228–29

  NLDS and, 209, 211–12, 228, 263

  during regular season, 90, 116–17, 129, 196, 211–12, 245, 292n

  Uribe and, 83–84

  Sabathia, C.C., 21, 66, 213–14, 294n

  Sabean, Brian, 40, 46

  St. Claire, Randy, 59

  St. Louis Cardinals, 16, 31, 42, 84, 99, 205, 278

  attendance statistics of, 89

  drafting of, 134–35, 218

  finances of, 36, 134–35, 218

  in NLCS, 1–4, 8, 217–35, 246, 260–61, 264, 270, 295n

  in NLDS, 224, 260–64, 270

  player development system of, 135–36

  during regular season, 134–35, 139, 207, 217–19, 224, 257, 292n

  TV deals of, 36

  World Championships of, 217

  in World Series, 2, 134, 217, 222, 235, 238

  St. Louis Rams, 30–31

  San Diego Padres, 17, 44, 49, 142, 297n

  brawls and, 110–12, 117, 120, 156, 165, 301n

  finances of, 94, 104

  Kemp and, 272–73, 278–79

  during regular season, 91–92, 104–5, 109–12, 152–54, 156–57, 159, 161–62, 165, 175–77, 195–96, 278–79, 301n

  trading of, 265–66, 272–73

  Sands, Jerry, 53, 290n

  San Francisco Giants, 16, 83, 294n

  Colletti and, 39–40, 45–46, 200, 288n

  Lincecum drafted by, 77

  in NLCS, 231, 264

  during regular season, 25, 66, 69, 77–79, 81, 89–90, 111, 131, 164, 177, 181–82, 200–201, 233, 247, 249, 251, 256, 260, 281n, 298n

  Wilson and, 199–200

  World Championships of, 251, 270

  in World Series, 77, 115, 200, 231, 251, 272

  Santana, Carlos, 45

  Schachter, Jim, 282n

  Schaefer, Bob, 98

  Scherzinger, Nicole, 192–93

  Schmidt, Jason, 45–46, 288n

  Schumaker, Skip, 242–43

  brawls and, 170, 184

  NLCS and, 224, 229

  NLDS and, 210, 215–16

  Puig and, 194, 242

  Ramirez and, 254

  during regular season, 9, 84, 134–35, 137, 147, 149, 165, 177, 184–85, 199, 254

  Scully, Sandi, 154–56

  Scully, Vin, 64, 291n

  daily routine of, 154–56

  NLCS and, 218

  Puig and, 153–56, 162, 197

  during regular season, 111, 153–56, 162

  Robinson’s race with, 153–54

  Scutaro, Marco, 177

  Seager, Corey, 108, 272

 

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