Front Office Blames Injuries For Dodgers Not Making Playoffs
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) - Los Angeles Dodgers manager Ned Colletti says the team's priorities going into next season involve adding a starting pitcher, keeping the bullpen intact, and improving the bench.
Colletti and the rest of the Dodgers' front office were in meetings to plan for 2013 on Thursday, a day after the Dodgers' season ended without making the playoffs for the third straight year and first under new ownership.
But today, Collettii reiterated that injuries were the main reasons for the Dodgers not making the playoffs.
Slugger Matt Kemp had a hamstring injury in May before Andre Ethier had an oblique strain.
Kemp was scheduled for surgery on Friday. He has a torn labrum in his left shoulder, and depending on what doctors find, it could be cleaned up in a minor procedure or he could have the labrum repaired, which would sideline him for four months. After a terrific first month, he wound up hitting .303 with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs a year after being runner-up to Milwaukee's Ryan Braun for the NL MVP award.
"It was a year where we learned a lot and accomplished a lot. I think we're certainly better this season than last season," Colletti told CBS'2 Jim Hill. "If you're going to have a full season of everybody and make the moves we made, and not make the postseason, then you can ask that question."
The Dodgers did spend a lot of money during the second half of the season, but Colletti believes if the current roster go through spring training together, it would be a different story.
The Dodgers began the season in bankruptcy under former owner Frank McCourt and ended it with an 86-76 record under new owners that include Magic Johnson and Mark Walter. The team's payroll ranked 12th in the majors at $94.7 million on opening day and rose to eighth at $129.1 million by season's end.
"It hurts because we all felt we could of gone farther and I think most of us would use that to fuel even greater determination to move further, said Dodgers President and part-owner Stan Kasten. "I'm not satisfied with ending our season on game 161. That's never going to be any satisfaction for me. We have plans to go much further, starting next year."
