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I see no sense whatsoever in having Washburn become a Dodger; especially at the expense of having to give up either an excellent current player or an excellent prospect from their minor league teams. Washburn might be durable, but he's really had only one good year ever. His ERA is mediocre; and he's an extremely unlikely player either to sign on to the Dodgers after his current contract runs out.
I can easily see how it would be in Seattle's interest to trade him somewhere - it could only help them to get either an established or potentially high value player and perhaps he could indeed help another team... but not the Dodgers. It's in Seattle's interest to trade Washburn wherever they currently are in the standings, but it's not in the Dodgers interest to add him -

Why would Washburn benefit the Dodgers. His stats are not that impressive and never have been. He had one good year with the Angels - his lifetime ERA is over 4. Why give up a talent in the team or in their minor league teams for someone who not only probably won't be around next year, but whom they probably wouldn't want around next year. Pass on Washburn Dodgers, please. He wouldn't be an asset for the Dodgers (he might for another team) and they'd lose all around by acquiring him. My opinion at least.

Oh Please. Give me a break. Does Wang Chung realize that WE who are Islander fans also wish that he hadn't bought the team 9 years ago and then ... more need not be said.
Wang Chung will long be remembered in Islander history...

If the Dodgers don't 'accept' Manny's slight different counter offer, they're crazy and I will be incredibly dissapointed. As is, they could easily have offered Ramirez 3 years for 70M. C'mon, look at what Ramirez put into the stands, look at what he did for the whole atmosphere of the players and look at what he does himself. Whether you like him, are jealous of the $ he gets, he hasn't asked for anything excessive - given values being what they are. If they don't go for it now, they're really ... words can't describe how I would feel about the team I've rooted for all my life. Make Manny a Dodger, Do it.

I don't understand the bad press re Nomar. He played for the Dodgers for 3 years, yeah he had some injuries, but he played hard when he did, which was most of the time except injuries were higher last yr. I've never heard him connected in any way whatsoever to drugs or drug trainers, so, putting him in with that class seems a definite unfair. Nomar has been a great player, and can still play if he's not got some serious injury. Rather than retire, I'm surprised someone, esp the Dodgers, haven't nabbed him right up.

If the Dodgers fail to sign Manny, I'll view it as an example of total incompetence from the GM and incredible cheapness of the owner. Manny, whatever is the true story of his unhappiness towards the end in Boston, is a class AAA player and did only incredible things for the Dodgers last year on and off the field. Not to sign this guy, a real opportunity for the Dodgers, would be just absolute stupidity, incompetence and a sign that the owner doesn't want to risk even a penny of money spent by the fans to get the team ahead. That's how I would view anything less than a successful signing of Ramirez.

Let's hope it is Manny and the Dodgers; and a decent offer for someone who provided a huge amount last year.

Why bother any discards from other teams. After all, doesn't that just go 180 degrees from the wondrous GM's avowed disastrous poilicy, Just bring up another minor league prospect to play in the minor league team that SNOW has created for the NHL. Then, when fans complain that the Islanders might be headed to an all time low for a team, just threaten to move the franchise.

Could any owner be so incredibly STUPID as to leave an incredibly ongoing fan bullion bank as there already exists in crowded Nassau County, just East of NYC and forsake that for what ...uncertainty that Kansas City can even support Hockey in the long run. I'm not knocking Kansas (nor suggesting Nassau County or Kansas is a better or lesser place), but we already know there's an incredible fan base for Hockey where the ISLANDERS are. As for Kansas City, however much enthusiasm there is or isn't there now, that just doesn't translate into the same financial potentials.J
I'm really beginning to wonder just how smart Wang can be... if he seriously is entertaining such a potentially disastrous move - especially on top of what was obviously the disastrous misplaced decision to support his inexperienced GM, and his acquiescence with SNOWS megolamania need to remove Ted Nolan as Coach, especially after two years in which Nolan proved beyond any doubt how incredibly capable, talented and creative he is, How can WANG not see how little SNOW has accomplished. Does WANG really believe the so-called PROMISE that today's youngsters will develop into super talented players who will suddenly one day become the dominant players in the entire NHL and return THE ISLANDERS back to the glory days of the 1980s - unfortunately, the reality is that all SNOW has accomplished has been the turning of what was becoming a very very promising team (under Ted Nolan's leadership as Coach) into what amounts to nothing more than a very average minor league hockey team.
that has now lost 20 of its last 22 games; and which might have a hard time winning even 5 more games for the rest of the season.
Perhaps WANG thinks that should he indeed move the team to KC, he will escape the embarrassment he has to feel somewhere for what the team has become. I hope he doesn't make another disastrous decision, such as the KC one.
Sadly, it's very likely that Wang doesn't care enough about his team to even dwell or be aware of this mess.
I feel sorry for the players, both the more established ones and the new ones to have endure this hideous disaster that SNOW tries constantly both to ignore and put a happy face on. To hear one more time how this was a good loss, and how we're improving or whatever BS is put out when everyone can see what indeed is actually happening ... is just sickening.
WANG, I truly believe you could still salvage this mess, but it would require coming to face SNOW glaring inadequacies as GM. as well as making right the horrible dismissal of Nolan after his two incredible years as Coach. AND, GORDON shouldn't be blamed for the current abomination.- The team isn't failing because of his efforts, but because a GM should know that having upcoming youngsters is one thing, but that there's a more appropriate place for new young stars to learn the trade, and that place is not in the major leagues until they're ready. In my opinion, SNOW has dishonored THE ISLANDERS by turning the franchise into a virtual minor league setup. FIRE SNOW, RETAIN GORDON, and make right what was done to NOLAN. You had the best possible coach you could have hoped for with NOLAN, but I suggest you offer him Snow's job as GM. If you make such bold moves, the fans will come.

Not only would it be an incredibly STUPID move for the ISLANDERS to transfer to KC, it would be the lowest of the lows from the owner and GM. First, that there is a fan base in New York, for pity sake, albeit Nassau County, hardly needs any proof. Even with the disaster that SNOW has created this year, that is equally Wang's responsibility, attendance is better than I would ever otherwise expect. KC has not proven itself as a professional Hockey site and I doubt it will be. Worse, to do that after the FIASCO that SNOW has created by essentially turning a professional Hockey team on the verge of really doing well into what is now nothing better than an average minor league team, and having the fans, myself included, having to face that ... in vfrtual shame. To leave after that... all I can say is that I believe that there's really such a thing as KARMA, and to do that will catch up to both WANG and his buddy, SNOW.
The only thing I can see, and I've said it now a thousand times, and you'd think they'd actually consider this after the hideous season (and, please, don't blame it on injuries, the injuries aren't all that extensive and Nolan handled worse): IF WANG really read what people think and had some actual mind, he'd see that SNOW is an absolute disaster. FIRE SNOW, KEEP GORDON and BEG NOLAN TO RETURN AS GM. AND WANG, if you did that, I would bet anything that not only would the season turn around, but so would fans. Why is Wang so afraid or so impressed by Snow - Remember, Snow had no experience in Administration or running a hockey team. You made him GM. DO YOU THINK HE WOULD EVER GET A JOB ANYWHERE ELSE AS GM ON THE STRENGTH OF HIS WORK FOR THE ISLANDERS.
HOW MANY OTHER TEAMS WOULD KEEP SNOW ON IF HE PRODUCED THE DISASTERS HE HAS FOR THE ISLANDERS. I'D SAY MINUS 20!!!

FIRE SNOW, KEEP GORDON, BEG NOLAN TO BE GM AND PAY HIM WHAT HE'S WORTH.
Keeping the current act together is going to make an even worse disaster.
MY opinions only. I wish Wang would at least read them, but I doubt he lets himself be aware of what the 'common' folk think and stays insulated as Snow somehow manages to impress Wang with his emphatic less than nothing accomplishments. (And it does get sickening to hear how the youngsters are coming along ... yeah... they will of course some day, but this was not the way to do it.)

Put another way from my earlier post: To Coletti, No one is going to remember whether you called Manny first or he called you. So, please throw that one away where it belongs.
BUT, they WILL remember if you sign Abreu or Dunn as some sort of ludicrous 'complementary' in the sense of 'equal weight in talent. I would ALWAYS remember the person who would ever do such a thing, and I'm quite certain most Dodger fans would. IT IS ONE THING TO TRY AND FAIL (BUT, HOPEFULLY SUCCEED), IT'S ANOTHER NOT TO EVEN TRY. In my book, we are still at the not even trying stage. Manny did incredible huge wonderful things for the Dodgers last year, WHAT and WHY are you waiting to see when he calls. Get pushy, call him.
As for the poster picking Bonds over Manny. I'm a big supporter of Bond's talents, even if they were indeed misused some; but, putting that issue to the side, let's be serious. Bonds is what, ten years older than Manny and Bonds has been a great player. He wasn't able to play last year, but whether he did or not, I still put Manny on a`category level higher than Bonds at his best. Ramirez is a Hall of Fame top player - Bonds may have been too, but I think Manny is better. BUT, that is really not the issue or what this comment is about. It's about Coletti getting up and seeking out Manny and, no one will tell you did that. But if you don't even try once that one offer was put out... which you had to know wouldn't work. C'mon up the stakes and see what happens. Then, if he's still aloof, then wait and see or not, but not now. I think now is the time to show him the Dodgers REALLY appreciate and want his special service. My thought at least.

Lets see, Bobby Abreu, could he be an equal replacement of M.Ramirez in the Dodger outfield. Hmm. I can't seem to write a follow up sentence to that thought, the ink keeps melting. Let me try the same with Adam Dunn... no, same problem. Well, suppose I add one Abreu to one Dunn, would that give me anything close to one Manny R. That's how ludicrous I think even posturing about somehow replacing Manny R with either of those two players is. If the Dodgers REALLY think that would work, they've got real serious problems. Granted having to find someone else is always a possibility. Given that, and given that M.R. might really play for the Dodgers full time... my recommendation to Coletti is ... Go out and try to sign him NOW, please don't wait until you read about his signing elsewhere. GMs can show humility - no one will remember that later, just whether the players they've found and signed really worked. So, now is the time to try to get those players, like Manny for the Dodgers, or Coletti will be elsewhere in 2009 himself.

Ramirez almost single handedly propelled the Dodgers into the Post season. He was an incredibly powerful and positive influence on the Dodgers younger players, if not also, the older ones. He should be judged on how he was with the team and what sort of stats he's had through his career. The other stuff ... just how much of that is or was hype. Who knows. I hope the Dodgers go all out to get him back. At 36, that's at least 5 or 6 years. I think it's unfair to spec that "OH he might fake this or that" All hype and BS. All I can see is a tremendous player who has done great things and did beyond anything for the Dodgers since August 2008. And all that other stuff... why speculate negatively when really, we just don't know all the facts and never will, We don't even have ONE side of the story. My opinion at any rate!!!

Agreed: Letting Nolan go = Terrible
So terrible in fact, that for the first time as an Islander fan, I've questioned whether I want to care about them. Nolan was exceptional... is ... an exceptional coach. Letting him go and in the way that it happend and for the apparent reasons ... was totally disgraceful, and bad for the team, players, and fans in every possible way.
As far as Weight's 'rejuvenation goes... we'll see. At this point, I suppose, it would be nice for him to feel coming back was worth something to his new team. I don't particularly care one way or the other yet. I'm still upset to see the debacle of the past summer.
With Nolan, the Islanders were moving ahead. Now... if they move ahead, it'll only be accidental. Desperation seems their present mode. How an owner could have allowed last summer to have happened, in silence ... tells one something about that person.

It's a good acquisition with Penney not available, but.... what did San Diego get in exchange.

Gordon might be a good NHL coach - then again, he might not. Being a good coach for the Providence Bruins doesn't translate into immediately being a good or even competent coach for any team on the NHL level.
That said, he absolutely HAS to remember, if he's to stay, to follow Snow's lead... always. And, if he happens to be successful immediately (whether by accident or ability) he'll immediately be in danger. Snow apparently can't have anyone else around who might have some authority and worse, might develop some independent views. A very very narrow and dotted line must Gordon follow and even success won't help.
Whether Gordon turns out to be good or bad, I think Snow must go. And Gordon is good, then the only chance he'll have to show it is if Snow has been swept away by Wang Chung.
WANG CHUNG, do you hear this, SNOW MUST GO, SNOW MUST GO, SNOW MUST GO. :) :)

Gordon, as predicted, got the offer. And, it was pretty obvious why. First, how could Snow ever be in any real command position (the sense of being so is obviously something he needs greatly - even though it's just psychological, not real) with either of the two 'candidates' who had had previous coaching history. Then, really, in addition, neither of those two fit anything the I's might do - Snow, not withstanding. They were the only two desperate enough to stay in the running, among more established possibles who opted out wisely early - and they weren't the best.
On the other hand, Gordon, while an unknown to some extent, can be directed (read: controlled -at least at first) by Snow because ... yes, Snow is in the position of allowing Gordon to make the big jump. So, to begin with, Gordon has to be indebted to Snow. AND, he has no previous baggage and probably was a pretty good coach for that league. He might turn out to be a good NHL coach too. BUT, here's where he'll have to be careful. If he does, somehow, turn out to be a good coach, that achievement will put Snow back into that uncomfortable area of not having total control again. If Snow couldn't stand that Nolan had any resistence to his ideas(and Nolan had to have been easy, compared to most, in terms of getting along), can you imagine if Gordon turns out well and begins to have some geneuine authority. Ultimately, whatever Snow's good or bad traits are as a GM - and the worst was firitng Nolan for the bad reasons he had - in the end, when the Islanders or if the Islanders ever start emerging from this decade or two of down on the bottom, and they might, that's when Snow must go. Wang Chung note. :)

The first two on that list have to be really desperate or they would have opted otherwise - And, neither one, on the surface, seems a particularly compatible fit with the team. The last, Scott Gordon, is obviously an unknown, and he probably (mistakenly, in this particular case) views being named as coach of the Islanders as a giant step up, as, perhaps normally it would be. But, sometimes unusual giant steps also have giant unavoidable pitfalls.
In any event, none of those three even comes close to comparing with what the Islanders had.
Once again, I hope Wang Chung's unusual quietness of late suggests he's less than happy with Snow.
Of the three, I would be very surprised if the offer weren't made to Gordon. He might do himself a great deal of good to really think it through before deciding to take it. Attractive looking packages offered by ... enough said.

This isn't news. Was it ever a possibility. Only someone desperate will take that job, or someone whose current position is so far beneath this one that they think it might benefit them no matter one - in effect, another type of desperation.

Truth or Hype?

This goes beyond absurdity, and stupidity. It reeks of desperation. Snow wants long term - what does he mean? A 20 year contract to an unknown whose qualifications are going to be, out of necessity, unknowable. All this, because he allowed his selfish arrogance dominate his conduct and fired the one person who held it all together and could have helped created something. Instead, why bother to go on.. A patently self-destructive scenario is unfolding. Snow could help things if he reversed course. And, Wang Chung could help things if he'd wield some influence now (instead of when he usually does) and either FIRE Snow or make him reverse course,
There isn't a coach out there who's worth much who will put himself into this situation as it is now. I hope Wang's uncharacteristic silence of late suggests his feelings are less than in agreement with his GM.