SAN FRANCISCO WAY?...

Jason Schmidt is one the best free-agent pitchers in the market. He is second on my list of Dodger targets to Barry Zito. Schmidt will come at a lower prize than Barry Zito. It is thought that Schmidt will be looking in the area of 4 years, 45-50 million deal. The deal is not overwhelming in any way, considering what they are paying Brad Penny right now. Jason also has ties with General Manager Ned Colletti from his San Francisco days. This might make him more of a candidate than Barry Zito. Schmidt went 11-9 last season, with a 3.59 era and pitched 213 innings. His numbers are not spectacular, but more of the solid variety. He has a lifetime reccord of 127-90, with a career 3.91 era. He is consistently in the 11-18 win range, and always keeps his team in the game. Jason is also on the downward slope of his career. Schmidt is 33 years old, and has shown signs of breaking down. Put all these facts together, and it makes you want Barry Zito even more. Jason Schmidt is a solid pitcher, but the Dodgers do not need "solid" pitchers. We have enough of those guys. We need a frontline pitcher, who can carry the pitching staff. We need an ace, and Barry Zito is our guy. Zito's career numbers are much more formidable than Schmidts. Add the fact that Zito is 5 years younger only makes him look better. The Dodgers need to focus all of their attention of Barry Zito, and forget guys like Schmidt, Ted Lilly, Vicente Padilla, and Gill Meche. Ned needs to deliver Barry Zito to Dodger Stadium. Anyone else will be a disappointment... On Wednesday, Roy Smith the Dodgers vice president of scouting and player development resigned. Roy followed Terry Collins who quit last week to take a managerial job in Japan with the Orix Buffaloes. Both, Roy and Terry where a pivotal part of the Dodgers farm system resurgence. They brought stability and know-how to these positions. I only hope that Roy, and Terry did not leave on any bad terms. However, we have to turn the page, and hopefully Ned fills the positions with capable people. We cannot let the farm system stagger like it did during the late '90's. We need to bring in someone who can build our future. I know Ned will come through again...


BELIEVE IN BLUE!