McCourt shoots for divine intervention

Frank McCourt has found religion, but for reasons that are likely less than pure. 

CBS 2 News is reporting that McCourt has asked the faith community to go to bat for him with Bud Selig. At the time of this writing, the news station hasn't posted a link to this story. For the time being, you may enjoy this partial transcription:   

Anchorwoman Pat Harvey: Several local religious leaders have rallied behind McCourt and are sending a message to Major League Baseball. Twenty pastors have signed a 4-page letter asking Major League Baseball to approve the $3 billion TV deal McCourt brokered with Fox Television.

Of course, the pastors are only doing this out of the goodness of their hearts. Then it cuts to this one pastor, John J. Hunter of the First AME Church:

Hunter: We heard his story. Very, very transparent. His pain both personal and his challenges professional. We prayed with him. We're interested in moving the Dodgers and the community forward.

Does the pastor know that his prayers, if answered, would annul the prayers of the entire Dodger fan base? I would hope God's response would be something like this: "Hey Pastor, I hear your prayers and all but what about the million daily requests I get to run the bum out of town? By the way, is that a Rolex you're wearing?"

Not to say that this to date is McCourt's most desperate gimmick to retain ownership of the team, but it ranks up there. If the all-mighty Fox network couldn't persuade Selig to approve the television deal, then it's safe to say that the good pastors got no prayer.

Potential legal challenges for Stow family; Garv and Orel team up to buy the Dodgers

It won't be an open and shut case
The SF Chronicle examines the possible challenges that the Stow family may face in their lawsuit against Frank McCourt. In the article, Robert Rabin, a Stanford law professor, thinks McCourt should settle out of court to avoid more negative publicity. I have a strong feeling that the litigation-happy owner isn't going to heed the professor's advice.

Either way, here's hoping McCourt gets hung out to dry on this.

Orel satisfaction
The Daily News reported Sunday that Orel Hershiser is allying with Steve Garvey in a move to buy the Dodgers. The fan in me says, "Please, God! Let this happen!" I also recognize that an ownership team of Carlos Perez and Gary Sheffield would be a favorable alternative to McCourt. I do love Orel's quote in article: "The fan base, they deserve better....The Los Angeles Dodgers are part of the fabric of Los Angeles. Their pride and their heart have been hurt by what's gone on and what's happening. It will take a large effort to restore that and I'm pulling for McCourt and MLB....It hurts my heart. It's about restoring the confidence of the fan base and significant pride of the city."

The mantra of the fans this year has been "Anyone but McCourt!" At least with Garv and Orel, we're not getting just 'anyone.'

The Dodgers not the only team in violation of MLB's debt service...plus more Dodger news

The Dodgers and Mets aren't the only MLB teams with debt issues. The LA Times reports that nine teams are in violation of debt service rules. The key difference, however, separating the McCourts from the other leveraged owners is the more than $100 million they sucked out of the team to underwrite their lavish lifestyles. "Don't underestimate that issue," says Marc Ganis, a Chicago-based sports business consultant.

DE-FENSE!!
They've been sketchy at the plate, but Don Mattingly has whipped the Dodgers into a fine defensive unit, writes Steve Dilbeck.

Tough love
Dylan Hernandez writes that Hiroki Kuroda spent most of high school on the bench due to his inability to find the strike zone. During bullpen sessions, his coach would instruct the catcher to let the ball go pass him if it wasn't a strike. Kuroda: "I would have to run to retrieve the ball, then run back to the mound to make the next pitch." The tough love thing worked.

Fanning the flames
Can anyone at Dodger Stadium get anything right. By not removing flammable material and switching on a fan, personnel may have rekindled the second fire, per the LA Times.

Click to see photo gallery of Jerry Sand's milestone baseballs.

JERRY!! JERRY!!
Despite his almost rock-star status with the fans, Jerry Sands remains a small-town boy, writes Jill Painter of the Daily News. And, speaking of Sands, Ned Colletti is kind enough to give True Blue L.A. a prospect status update. More on Colletti, he gave an interview on Petros & Money that's worth a listen.

Scully gets the red carpet treatment

Steve Dilbeck updates us on Vin Scully's Hollywood Walk-of-Fame star, which continues to be shamefully obscured by a dirty red carpet (as originally discovered by Roberto Baly of Vin Scully is My Homeboy).

Giovanni Ramirez update
Per Eric Leonard of KFI, a parole commissioner says no evidence links Ramirez to Bryan Stow's attack.

The Dodgers' modest win streak comes to an end........plus more Dodger news

The hot Dodger offense of late goes Rockie cold; Ubaldo Ramirez registers his first win of the season. Recap courtesy of the LA Times.

Vincente Padilla is expected to return Friday. Even so, Don Mattingly says that he will continue with a closer-by-committee operation. Also reported, Juan Uribe should make it back in time for the team's upcoming 10-game road trip. 

SI's Tom Verducci estimates that the Dodgers have a minimal chance of making the playoffs. Not so fast, says Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness.

Part 2 look at the Dodgers' 2011 draft, courtesy of True Blue L.A.

As reported by the LA Times, MLB looks to end its investigation into the Dodgers' finances by January 22.

Tony Jackson of ESPN has lunch with Tom Schieffer.

Both the defense and prosecution agree not to comment on the results of Giovanni Ramirez' lie detector test, per the Daily News.

The Orioles want Prince Fielder (updated)

Per Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, sources in the Orioles organization are indicating that the team wants to sign Prince Fielder next winter.

So, it's Baltimore's turn now to show up Ned Colletti in the off-season.

I miss the pre-McCourt days when the thought of the Dodgers signing a big free agent was more than just a distant fantasy? These days, we're fettered to an owner who has to dig between proverbial couch cushions to pay his current players.

McCourt will have to do a lot of digging if he expects to make payroll in June. It's a pathetic era for Dodger baseball when the owner has to call everyone in his black book for a quick and easy cash advance.

What an image! If you're a fan of Westerns, Tuco's frantic and circular search for Arch Stanton's grave in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly might come to mind.

If there's hair, Giovanni wasn't there

Giovanni Ramirez' defense team says he didn't have a shaved head at the time of the opening day attack; therefore, he doesn't match the description of Bryan Stow's attackers, according to NBC LA.

Ramirez' attorneys admit that their client periodically shaves his head, but let his hair grow back in March and didn't shave it again until shortly after the day of the attack.

The defense hopes that a security camera at an East Hollywood motel where Ramirez and his girlfriend spent the night March 31 will prove that he had some growth on his dome, also per the NBC LA report.

It should be asked, if the video shows Ramirez emerging from his seedy room with a Trump-like comb-over, will Charlie Beck still adamantly believe he got his man?

Bryan Stow beating suspect is a wanted man in Nevada

The LA Times reports today that:

Giovanni Ramirez, the man accused by Los Angeles police in the brutal beating of a San Francisco Giants fan at Dodger Stadium, also is a suspect in a gang shooting in Nevada, LAPD officials said Wednesday.