A Week Later

And the situation hasn't improved and can only be viewed as having degenerated. The only possibilites floating around are an overrated blowhard (Bowden), an inexperienced prodigal son (Hershiser), the same thing with a little bling (Epstein) who seemingly wants nothing to do with the job and the right hand woman of the guy you just canned (Ng) who will be tough to sell to a predominantly white male local media (particularly when you sold the notion that you were looking for "experience").

John Hart seemingly pulled himself from the running, perhaps sparing L.A. of the GM equivelent of Davey Johnson (talented, but uninspired once he arrives). Like I've said before, McCourt has painted himself into a Epstein-or-bust corner, which allows for Lasorda to perhaps position himself in the role of "Taking one for the team because I bleed Dodger Blue and love these fans so much" by taking the GM job on an interm basis.

Which brings me back to Ng and the ability to market her (because that TRULY is McCourt's biggest concern right now). In a market where Eric Karros was beloved by media and fans alike and given every chance in the world his first few seasons while Korean Hee Seop Choi recieves the support tantamount to whoever was facing Saddam Hussein during the "free elction" days of Iraq, can a female of Chinese descent get a fair shake? McCourt can sell the idea of hiring her as "revolutionary" in line with the tradition of Dodger baseball. But he tried to sell Depodesta as the same thing, only to can him twenty months later. And when you get right down to it, is this going to be what Lasorda wants? And seemingly these days, what Lasorda wants, Lasorda is going to get.

My guess as of 10:53 AM on Saturday is that they bite the bullet on saying they were looking for experience and hire Hershiser, hoping the PR of hiring a former Dodger great overshadows the inconsistencies in their rationale for firing Depo. After that, I start going into full prayer mode and hope Valentine doesn't show his arrogant ass around Chavez Ravine.