Times are tough in Los Angeles.
A second consecutive playoff exit at the hands of the Phillies was followed by news of a nasty divorce. Frank McCourt and his soon to be ex-wife Jamie continue to lob insults at each other making the most personal of matters embarrassingly public.
Of course, the Dodgers have Joe Torre at the helm with his four World Series titles. None while guiding L.A.'s storied franchise.
Today comes news that has to serve as another kick to the Dodgers down offseason.
First came word that Jim Tracy won the NL Manager of the Year award. The announcement was a foregone conclusion after Tracy led the Rockies on an improbable playoff run. His easy going manner seemed to be exactly what the mile high team needed; his selection is a surprise to no one.
Tracy was Dodger manager from 2001 through 2005.
That news was quickly followed by word that Mike Scioscia is this years AL Manager of the year recipient. Like Tracy, Scioscia was a shoe-in. His "one game at a time" mantra and ability to connect with his players was never more on display, or more needed, than it was after Nick Adenharts tragic death.
Scioscia played 12 years for the Dodgers and spent several years as a coach in the organization.
I'm not suggesting that the Dodgers would be any better off with either Tracy or Scioscia at the helm instead of Torre. Tracy in fact was given five years to lead the team. The Dodgers were an impressive 427-383 under his guidance.
A fourth place finish in 2005 proved to be his undoing. One could argue his record earned him a pass after one bad year, but five years is an eternity for a major league baseball manager.
He got his shot—Scioscia, however, never did.
The Angels skipper was famously passed over for the Dodger Manager spot and finally opted to accept an offer to lead the Halos in 1999. The Dodger manager at the time was Davey Johnson. After that came Jim Tracy. Scioscia was and remains a great success as the Angel skipper leading the team to the 2002 World Series Championship. This is his second Manager of the Year award.
Would the Dodgers be better of with either of this years Manager of the Year award winners? Again, I am not suggesting that.
However, it is worth noting that both have a Dodger connection. It's also worth pondering what might have been if the Dodgers had been more patient with Tracy or more aware of Sciocia's managerial talents.
Times are tough in LA to be sure and these selections must only serve as salt to a Dodger wound. The salt doesn't hurt all that much but it stings like the dickens.
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