BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: MLB: Lasorda settles into ambassador role

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

MLB: Lasorda settles into ambassador role

Gus Arriola...a true visionary!

Tommy Lasorda has long been referred to as baseball’s greatest ambassador. Now he gets the title for real as it was announced on Monday at the World Baseball Classic news conference during the opening day of the 2005 Baseball Winter Meetings that Lasorda has been named the event’s official ambassador.

“My job is to alert everybody, let them know what’s happening and tell everybody to support it,” said Lasorda, who will be traveling to all the venues that are hosting the games. “We are looking for major crowds when these games are played. You are going to see Major League players. It’s strictly Major League players from their own country. It’s going to be exciting, it’s going to be very interesting and I’ll tell you what, you’re going to see some great baseball.”

Repoz Posted: December 06, 2005 at 07:12 PM | 41 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: dodgers

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Jim Wisinski

Posted: December 06, 2005 at 07:26 PM (#1764018)

In modern diplomacy the ambassador is often a figurehead picked for show or as a prestige post while someone else, generally someone that is actually competent for the ambassador's stated job, runs things and does the real work.

The choice of title for Lasorda's position was perfect.

2. jmac66 Posted: December 06, 2005 at 08:04 PM (#1764098)

Tommy Lasorda is dumber than ten dogs

3. White Sox Fan Posted: December 06, 2005 at 08:05 PM (#1764101)

But how will he have time to do this and run the Dodgers?

4. rLr Is King Of The Romans And Above Grammar Posted: December 06, 2005 at 08:08 PM (#1764111)

The Kingman republic has withdrawn its diplomatic staff.

5. The Artist Posted: December 06, 2005 at 08:12 PM (#1764117)

I really think Tommy should go back to being the GM of the dodgers - I for one would support it. Who needs Colleti ?

6. Dr. Vaux Posted: December 06, 2005 at 08:15 PM (#1764127)

Ah, Tommy Lasorda, the ####est #### who ever ####.

If MLB had war crimminals...

7. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: December 06, 2005 at 08:40 PM (#1764216)

"Tommy Lasorda has long been referred to as baseball’s greatest <strike>amb</strike>ass<strike>ador</strike>."

Fixed.

8. jmac66 Posted: December 06, 2005 at 08:44 PM (#1764227)

If MLB had war crimminals...

..then Steve Garvey would be all of them

9. Sweet Posted: December 06, 2005 at 08:48 PM (#1764242)

MLB: Lasorda settles into <strike>amb</strike>ass<strike>ador</strike> <strike>role</strike>rolls

Now the headline is fixed too.

10. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: December 06, 2005 at 08:53 PM (#1764252)

I admit that I don't really follow the Dodgers, but I've never quite gotten the Tommy Lasorda hate.

Clearly, he's past his prime, but he's had a nice career, right? Or am I missing something?

11. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:07 PM (#1764272)

I think most of the hate is based on him seeming to be a colossal butthole.

This may be true of lots of beloved famous figures, but for a figure associated with a particular sports team it means that everybody except LA Dodger fans has no reason to love LaSorda and lots of reasons to think he is annoying, overrated, etc.

12. The District Attorney Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:11 PM (#1764283)

Hmm, I thought it was actually mostly from the Dodger fans, thinking that he is a politician and backstabber who wants to schmooze and gladhand his way into running the organization again, despite doing an awful job when he was the GM (I can't remember what awful deals he made during his brief time as GM, but I do remember them being awful and I'm sure a Dodger fan can insert them here.)

13. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:20 PM (#1764315)

He was the GM for the second half of the 1998 season, from June 22 to Sept. 11. (source: http://tommy.mlblogs.com/about.html)

Before and after that, he has been the "Vice President".

Let's see, during that time period, the Dodgers...

1) Traded Paul Konerko and Dennys Reyes for Jeff Shaw.
2) Traded Greg McMichael for Brian Bohanon.
3) Traded Wilton Guerrero and prospects Peter Bergeron and Ted Lilly for Carlos Perez, Mark Grudzielanek and Hiram Bocachica.
4) Waived Manuel Barrios and Will Brunson.

The only really bad thing is the Konerko trade. Which was really, really bad.

Lilly didn't become good until four years later, after switching organizations another couple of times. And he's not that good.

14. The Balls of Summer Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:21 PM (#1764316)

MLB: Lasorda settles into his favorite spot on the couch

15. The District Attorney Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:42 PM (#1764368)

Okay, fine, one godawful deal and the rest pretty much meant nothing either way -- I'll upgrade "awful" to "unpromising." But hell, even if he's the next Branch Rickey, he's still not the GM right now, and if someone is perceived as trying to politick their way into running the team when that's not their job, that's a good way to become unpopular. As a Mets fan, my analogy would be Al Leiter. It can really drive you nuts.

16. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:43 PM (#1764370)

"The only really bad thing is the Konerko trade."

Carlos Perez was an expensive, crappy pitcher, and also apparently a multiple rapist. Picking him up for Ted Lilly doesn't qualify as a bad move?

Among other supremely jerky things, Lasorda pretty much turned his back on his son, an "out" homosexual who died of AIDS in the early '90s.

17. Devin has a deep burning passion for fuzzy socks Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:46 PM (#1764381)

He's also routinely bashed as an arm-slagger. There are few things more certain to get you hated around here (just ask LaRussa).

18. Sean McNally Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:47 PM (#1764386)

I can only hope he represents this farce of an event with the dignity that he represents the Dodgers with during MLB's annual conference call and amateur player draft.

19. if nature called, ladodger34 would listen Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:53 PM (#1764395)

Carlos Perez was an expensive, crappy pitcher, and also apparently a multiple rapist. Picking him up for Ted Lilly doesn't qualify as a bad move?

Sample size alert.. Perez did post a 120 ERA+ in 77 innings with the Dodgers after the trade in 1998 and made 1.5 million total that season.

It wasn't Lasorda's fault that he became expensive. Kevin Malone gets the blame for that one.

He did get Grudz out of the deal and the prospects (other than Lilly, who didn't do anything worth mentioning until 2002) didn't turn out very well.

This isn't an endorsement of Lasorda, but of the deals he made, the Grudz/Perez wasn't terrible.

20. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 06, 2005 at 09:53 PM (#1764396)

Carlos Perez didn't become expensive until Kevin Malone signed him to a huge contract before the 1999 season. He wasn't crappy until that, either. In fact, that deal didn't look that bad at the time. (unlike the Dreifort Contract).

21. Barca Posted: December 06, 2005 at 10:49 PM (#1764461)

I have met Tommy Lasorda.
I was out jogging, when he stopped me to tell that he was thinking about buying a house in the neighborhood.
He asked some questions about the area. He seemed very nice with a pleasing personality.
I liked him despite his 'Mr. Dodger' act that he showed in public.

22. Dr. Vaux Posted: December 06, 2005 at 11:07 PM (#1764484)

You must be the richest guy on Primer, Barca.

But that's the man's secret; he apparently is charming on the face of things. Inside, though, the brain of a dishrag and the heart of an antelope.

23. scareduck Posted: December 06, 2005 at 11:09 PM (#1764492)

Don't forget that he was instrumental in getting rid of Pedro Martinez for Delino DeShields.

24. Repoz

Posted: December 06, 2005 at 11:10 PM (#1764497)

Lasorda was just on Mike & the Mad Dog for a very uncomfortable segment...Tommy was really pushing the "Classic Games" (if he said it once he said it 25 times...ambastador speak, I guess).

He then went into this unreal pro-America speil where he said that the other teams are "donkeys" and that if the US really wanted to win...he should be the manager. He then got sorta miffed at M & MD because they were not enthused about the games saying that just like our brave soldiers overseas that have USA on their uniforms...the USA team will do everything to win!

He also said that he wants Fregosi as the manager..."You know he's Italian too!"

He said that McCourt realized that he had made a mistake in hiring DePo and that the Dodgers were on their way back to the real Dodger way...even tho Depo is a really nice guy.

25. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: December 06, 2005 at 11:22 PM (#1764519)

A few

26. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: December 06, 2005 at 11:23 PM (#1764520)

Whoops. I hate my work computer.

27. Dewey, Steven Wright Wannabe and Soupuss Posted: December 06, 2005 at 11:24 PM (#1764522)

they were not enthused about the games saying that just like our brave soldiers overseas that have USA on their uniforms

/eyes roll back into head, drool begins dribbling down chin

28. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: December 06, 2005 at 11:34 PM (#1764547)

Yogi Berra would be a much better choice for this gig. Or even Joe Garagiola (senior, not junior). And, you know, they're Italian, too!

29. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 06, 2005 at 11:56 PM (#1764590)

Or Paul DePodesta!

30. jmac66 Posted: December 06, 2005 at 11:57 PM (#1764597)

Like Jim Valvano said when they asked him why he gave so much playing time to Corchiani and Del Negro

"I don't play them because they're Italian; I play them because I'M Italian"

31. Mr. Bouton's Greenie Fetish Posted: December 07, 2005 at 12:02 AM (#1764609)

but I've never quite gotten the Tommy Lasorda hate

I always thought it was due to the fact that he denied that his son was gay, or that he died of AIDS.

32. jmac66 Posted: December 07, 2005 at 12:18 AM (#1764644)

but I've never quite gotten the Tommy Lasorda hate

my objection is not necessarily to him per se, but to the way he's portrayed, viz as a rather lovable, jolly, friendly , umm... "ambassador of the game" (to coin a phrase)

when in fact he's a crude, foul-mouthed, empty-headed, vindictive, sub-literate moron

(I mean, I don't wanna cast any aspersions...)

33. Didi Dodo Doodoo (1k5v3L)

Posted: December 07, 2005 at 12:47 AM (#1764697)

In other news:

Grady Little is the new Dodgers manager

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5143766

34. Repoz

Posted: December 07, 2005 at 02:05 AM (#1764807)

Oh...I forgot to add this Lassorda tidbit at the end of the Mike/Dog innerview.

Lasagne..."Well...Merry Christmas fellas, and if any of those guys want me to stop saying Merry Christmas during the holiday season...send them over to see me and I'll give them the right that'll put them in the hospital and then I'll give them the left which'll put them in the cemetery.

Nobody's gonna stop me from saying Merry Christmas...just send em over!"

Mad Dog (after saying goodbye)..."Mike do you have any idea what Tommy was talking about there?"

Francesspool..."Nope"

I'm sure this interview will be on WFAN's site manana.

35. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 07, 2005 at 02:41 AM (#1764841)

From #34, I guess Lasorda is a big Bill O'Reilly/John Gibson fan. My respect for him has somehow decreased beyond negative infinity.

36. Repoz

Posted: December 07, 2005 at 03:15 AM (#1764879)

After his latest schtickla...there is no doubt that Little Tubby Tommy will be vacationing at Camp Campanis very shortly.

37. Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

Posted: December 07, 2005 at 04:44 AM (#1764986)

Lasagne..."Well...Merry Christmas fellas, and if any of those guys want me to stop saying Merry Christmas during the holiday season...send them over to see me and I'll give them the right that'll put them in the hospital and then I'll give them the left which'll put them in the cemetery.

Nobody's gonna stop me from saying Merry Christmas...just send em over!"

You left out the line after that, which was,

"That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to Clown College!

But unlike Bart Simpson, all of us kind of expected that....

38. Bob T Posted: December 07, 2005 at 04:55 AM (#1765001)

Even a lot of Dodger fans hate Lasorda now because he's seen as the guy who got the McCourts to stab DePodesta in the back.

But Lasorda wanted Hershiser or Valentine to manage, which they aren't. Then he backed Fregosi.

So long Tommy.

39. The definitely immoral Eric Enders Posted: December 07, 2005 at 05:43 AM (#1765053)

The Carlos Perez trade was abominably bad, but it doesn't look so awful in retrospect because Bergeron, the most desirable player in the deal, tanked so badly.

Trading anything other than a bag of balls for Carlos Perez would be a bad trade. Wait -- strike that. I'd rather have had the baseballs.

There are a lot of players I can't stand. Jim Edmonds. Jeff Kent. Derek Jeter. Manny Ramirez. But I don't think there's anyone in baseball whom I find more distasteful than Lasorda.

40. Repoz

Posted: December 07, 2005 at 06:09 AM (#1765077)

Eric...If you want a distasteful taste of Lasorda...scroll down for the Mike & Mad Dog interview and give a listen.

41. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: December 07, 2005 at 06:32 AM (#1765093)

TDIEE, I thought Perez's horrible 1999 was a surprise to all, and that the trade that acquired him wasn't considered that bad. I don't remember anyone saying "What the hell?" as they had after the Konerko dumping.

Perez was good in 1997 and 1998.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

MLB: Lasorda settles into ambassador role

Reader Comments and Retorts

BBTF Sponsor

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics