LOS ANGELES DODGERS CLIPS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012

LA TIMES

Dodgers' turbulent McCourt era ends as sale is completed

A tearful Frank McCourt thanks Dodgers' employees. Guggenheim Baseball's Magic Johnson, Mark Walter and Stan Kasten, who plan news conference, aren't expected to make immediate changes to team.

By Bill Shaikin

May 1, 2012, 7:16 p.m.Frank McCourt officially surrendered ownership of the Dodgers on Tuesday, closing a turbulent chapter in the history of one of baseball's most historic franchises.

The new owners wired the final payment on the record $2.15-billion purchase price Tuesday, closing the transaction that ended the McCourt era and ushering in Guggenheim Baseball as the Dodgers' third owner since the O'Malley family sold the team in 1998.

A teary-eyed McCourt thanked the Dodgers' employees at a morning meeting, according to several people in attendance. He introduced the staff to Mark Walter, the new controlling owner, and Stan Kasten, the incoming club president.

Magic Johnson, the face of the new ownership group, is scheduled to join Walter and Kasten in a televised news conference Wednesday morning at Dodger Stadium.

The new ownership will be charged with returning the Dodgers to the World Series for the first time since 1988. Every other team in the National League West has played in the World Series since then.

"The Dodgers move forward as a well-capitalized organization, strong both on and off the field," McCourt wrote in a farewell note to employees. "This is how it should be for the Dodgers — one of the truly storied and best-known franchises in not just baseball, but all of sports."

McCourt bought the team in 2004 with "not a penny" of his own cash, according to one of his divorce attorneys. He restored the Dodgers to profitability and delivered four playoff trips in his first six seasons of ownership.

However, his final two seasons were overshadowed by divorce proceedings that revealed he and his ex-wife, Jamie, had spent lavishly on themselves while saddling the Dodgers with more than $500 million in debt.

He took the Dodgers into bankruptcy last year, and into a legal showdown with Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who subsequently accused McCourt with "looting" $189 million from team coffers.

"It is my great hope and firm expectation that … this historic franchise will once again make the city of Los Angeles proud." Selig said Tuesday in a statement. He added: "I am grateful that the unbecoming events of recent years are behind us."

Selig's statement did not address MLB's role in approving McCourt as an owner, or in approving the transaction in which he established a new entity to control the Dodger Stadium parking lots, enabling McCourt to keep half-ownership of the lots even as he sold the team.

The Dodgers' new owners will collect parking fees, but they have not said how that revenue might be split with McCourt, or what development they might have envisioned for the parking lots. A spokesman for the new owners declined to discuss those issues again Tuesday. What is known is that no development can take place on the site unless McCourt and the new owners agree, according to people familiar with the sale agreement.

No major changes to the team are expected immediately. The Dodgers' executive departures Tuesday included McCourt and two of his closest lieutenants, vice chairman Jeff Ingram and senior vice president Howard Sunkin.

Kasten, the former president of the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, is expected to evaluate the Dodgers' front office personnel before considering additional changes. General Manager Ned Colletti remains in place.

Colletti has said he would like to sign outfielder Andre Ethier to an extension. Colletti met with Ethier's agent at Dodger Stadium last Friday, but it is unclear if a deal might be in the works.

McCourt had said he intended to use the bankruptcy filing as a means to retain ownership of the Dodgers.

Yet McCourt won by selling the team, at least financially. No baseball team had sold for even $1 billion, yet McCourt is expected to clear close to that amount in net profit. That would leave him with about seven times as much money as his ex-wife Jamie received under the divorce settlement to which the couple agreed last fall, before he announced he would sell the Dodgers.

Jamie McCourt was wired her $131-million divorce settlement Monday, from the Dodgers' sale proceeds.

Dodgers go a bit wild with new owners but hang on for 7-6 win

They jump out to a 7-0 lead over Colorado and come close to squandering it, but embattled closer Javy Guerra secures the victory. Dee Gordon's first career homer adds to excitement.

By Dylan Hernandez

May 1, 2012, 11:11 p.m.DENVER — Behind the desk in the manager's office, Don Mattingly mockingly pumped his fist.

The Dodgers won the first game in the Guggenheim era.

But it was messy, as the Dodgers nearly blew a seven-run lead against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. When embattled closer Javy Guerra struck out Carlos Gonzalez to secure the 7-6 win, there was a man on third base.

Told his new bosses would probably have trouble sleeping that night if they watched the game, Mattingly laughed and said, "That's what they get."

This was a stereotypically wild night at Coors Field, which started with the first-place Dodgers (17-7) building a huge lead on home runs by Dee Gordon, Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis. Gordon's home run was the first of his career.

Ted Lilly continued his fine early-season form and improved to 3-0, but couldn't pitch past the sixth inning because of a stiff side muscle. He wasn't the only one to visit the trainer's room: Third baseman Juan Uribe reinjured his troublesome left wrist in batting practice and wasn't available to play.

If there was something positive for the Dodgers to come out of the Rockies' late-game charge, it was that it presented Guerra with the opportunity to redeem himself.

In the Dodgers' homestand last week, Guerra lost two games. He would have lost a third if his team hadn't come back to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning of what turned out to be a 10-inning victory against the Washington Nationals.

Mattingly had talked to Guerra about pitching with conviction.

"I understood what he meant by it," Guerra said. "It's a mind-set."

The mind-set was something he would need Tuesday night, as he came into the game in the ninth inning with a 7-6 lead.

Guerra struck out Tyler Colvin but gave up a single to Wilin Rosario, who moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Guerra was saved by second baseman Mark Ellis, who backhanded an up-the-middle grounder by Marco Scutaro and turned a potential equalizing hit into a groundout. Rosario stopped at third.

"He really came through for us," Guerra said of Ellis, who was four for five with a run.

Guerra ended the game by striking out Gonzalez, who started the Rockies' failed comeback attempt with a two-run home run off Lilly in the sixth inning.

The start of the game was as festive as the end was nerve-racking, as Gordon led off by smashing a ball into the façade of the second deck beyond the right-field wall.

Gordon weighs 160 pounds. He entered the game with a .207 average and no previous career home runs.

"I can swing the bat," Gordon said. "I've got power."

Gordon told Ellis before the game that he would hit a home run.

How did Gordon know?

"Cause I know me," Gordon said, smiling. "I know what I possess. I know what kind of power I have."

Gordon's home run was immediately followed by three consecutive hits, including a three-run home run by Ethier.

Ethier now has 27 runs batted in, the most in the majors.

Teammate Matt Kemp trails him by two, as does Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton.

Lilly, who held the Rockies to two runs over six innings, said his side started to bother him in the fifth inning. He said it has been an issue in each of his last couple of starts.

Asked whether the injury might force him to skip a bullpen session or even a start, the left-hander replied, "I hope not."

Don Mattingly calls for caution about Dodgers' fast start

Manager points to last season's Colorado Rockies, who won 17 of their first 25 games before faltering. 'It's too early to think anything other than that we got off to a good start,' Mattingly says.

By Dylan Hernandez

May 1, 2012, 8:10 p.m.DENVER — The Colorado Rockies started the 2011 season the way the Dodgers have started this one.

"So much for 17-8, right?" Rockies Manager Jim Tracy said Tuesday.

The 2011 Rockies, who won 17 of their first 25 games, finished the season with a losing record and in fourth place in the National League West. Over their last 139 games, they were 56-83.

"I remember that," Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said. "See, that's what I'm saying. Nobody is going to remember a good start."

The Dodgers were a National League-best 16-7 in April.

"It's too early to think anything other than that we got off to a good start," Mattingly said.

He continued to stress that players other than Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier had to produce.

"They're at a pace history says they can't really sustain," Mattingly said. "Maybe they can, but it's really asking a lot."

In the case of the 2011 Rockies, they stopped hitting in May. Later in the month, they lost pitcher Jorge De La Rosa to a season-ending elbow operation.

"Everything started to spiral in the other direction," Tracy said.

Most baseball veterans believe that how a fast-starting team responds to adversity determines whether it will reach the postseason or finish like the 2011 Rockies.

Tracy recalled the words of current Chicago White Sox Manager Robin Ventura, whom he managed with the Dodgers in 2003 and 2004.

"Over the course of 162 games, all 30 teams will step into a pothole," Tracy said. "Every single one of them at some point in time will go through something like that. The teams that figure out quicker than others how to get the hell out of the pothole that they stepped in, that will go a long way in determining what your season will look like."

Tweet, tweet

There was a major online event this week: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw joined Twitter.

"Yeah …" Kershaw sighed.

In three days, Kershaw's account, @ClaytonKersh22, gained more than 18,000 followers.

He has only posted two messages on the social networking service: one announcing that he joined Twitter and another explaining that catcher A.J. Ellis pressured him into doing so.

Ellis (@AJEllis17) is among several other Twitter users on the team.

One of the most active and followed accounts belongs to Kemp (@TheRealMattKemp). On Tuesday, Kemp posted a picture of his new shoes. Last week, he posted pictures from the inside of a dentist's office.

Dee Gordon (@skinnyswag9) recently posted a picture of Aaron Harang's badly bruised foot that was the topic of several clubhouse conversations.

"It's just to have fun with the fans," Gordon said.

During spring training, closer Javy Guerra (@JavyGuerra54) asked his followers to choose his entrance music.

Other players on Twitter include James Loney (JamesLoney_7), Josh Lindblom (@JoshLindblom52), Justin Sellers (@SellBlock_12), Todd Coffey (@ToddCoffey60), Blake Hawksworth (@BlakeHawk425) and Jerry Hairston Jr. (@TheRealJHair).

Short hops

Juan Rivera (hamstring) is expected to return to the lineup for the series finale in Colorado on Wednesday. … Reliever Ronald Belisario is eligible to return Friday from a 25-game drug suspension. Because he is out of minor league options, the Dodgers would have to expose him to waivers and risk losing him if they do not immediately add him to their major league roster. A decision of what to do with Belisario hasn't been made, according to Mattingly.

Dodgers must pay Major League Baseball legal bills

Mediator is said to have upheld MLB constitution regarding teams that initiate legal action, with Frank McCourt and Guggenheim Baseball to share responsibility for more than $10 million.

By Bill Shaikin

May 1, 2012, 11:04 p.m.The Dodgers' bankruptcy filing will cost the team more than $30 million, after the team was ordered to pay the legal bills of Major League Baseball.

The Dodgers' player payroll on opening day was $25 million less than that of the Texas Rangers, participants in the last two World Series. The Dodgers have not been in the Series since 1988.

Under the MLB constitution, a team initiating legal action against the league must cover the costs for both sides. The court-appointed mediator in the Dodgers' bankruptcy case upheld that provision, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Frank McCourt, the Dodgers' outgoing owner, and incoming owner Guggenheim Baseball will share responsibility for the more than $10

million in MLB legal bills, these people said. The precise amount each side will pay could not be determined, and final bills have yet to be submitted.

The Dodgers reported more than $20 million in "bankruptcy-related expenses" through February, according to a court filing.

The bankruptcy case appears be the costliest for a U.S. professional sports team, according to Sports Business Journal.

However, the costs were well worth it for McCourt. He believes the Dodgers might have commanded less than half their $2.15-million sale price had MLB controlled the sale rather than the Bankruptcy Court, according to people who have spoken with him.

Dodgers start new ownership era by hanging on for 7-6 win

Dodgers hold off Rockies after hitting three home runs to take a 7-0 lead.

By Steve Dilbeck

May 1, 2012, 9:43 p.m.

Guggenheim Baseball Management, greatest owners in baseball history. Or something like that. Anyway, they are undefeated.

In the first game under the new ownership, the Dodgers jumped all over the Rockies on Tuesday night and then had to absolutely hang on for a 7-6 victory in Denver that featured three L.A. home runs -- and not one that came from Matt Kemp.

The taut game was finally turned over to struggling closer Javy Guerra in the ninth inning, who survived a nervous inning to earn his eighth save.

Kemp had 12 of the Dodgers’ 20 home runs entering the game.

One of the homers wasn’t exactly of the unexpected variety -- Andre Ethier’s three-run shot was his sixth home run -- but the others came from Dee Gordon (first of his career) and A.J. Ellis.

Ellis’ second home run of the season was a two-run drive in the fifth that left the Dodgers with a 7-0 lead and Ted Lilly simply cruising. It was looking easy.

This being Coors Field -- home of the no-lead-is-safe mantra -- things got a little nervous for the Dodgers when the Rockies’ offense awoke in the sixth.

Lilly had allowed only two hits through five scoreless innings, when Eric Young Jr. led off the sixth with a single, and one out later, Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run homer.

It was the first home run allowed by Lilly since last Aug. 26, a span of 68 innings. The batter who hit it? Gonzalez.

Lilly, off to a 3-0 start for the first time in his 12-year career, left after six innings. He gave up two runs on four hits and one walk, with four strikeouts.

He was followed by Josh Lindblom, who had been just shy of spectacular in his first 11 appearances (one earned run), but got into immediate trouble. He gave up back-to-back doubles to Ramon Hernandez and Chris Nelson, and then a two-run homer to Tyler Colvin.

The Rockies pulled to within one in the eighth when Troy Tulowitzki tripled off the right-field wall against Kenley Jansen and scored on Todd Helton sacrifice fly that Tony Gwynn Jr. caught near the left-center wall.

The Dodgers turned it over to Guerra in the ninth, who after three consecutive poor outings, pitched a scoreless inning to earn the save. But it came with some added suspense. With the tying run on second, Mark Ellis made a game-saving backhanded stop of a Marco Scutaro bouncer. Guerra struck out Gonzalez to end it.

Gordon opened the game by jumping on a Jhoulys Chacin (0-3) fastball, stunning everyone -- including himself, no doubt -- by driving it off the façade in the second deck.

Singles by Mark Ellis (one of his four) and Kemp preceded Ethier’s three-run homer. Ellis doubled in one run in the third before hitting his two-run homer in the fifth.

Frank McCourt's farewell letter to Dodgers staff

By Bill Shaikin

May 1, 2012, 8:29 p.m.

As the sale of the Dodgers closed on Tuesday morning, outgoing owner Frank McCourt emailed a letter to the Dodgers' staffers, thanking them for their efforts and inviting them to a meeting with the new owners. The text of McCourt's farewell letter follows:

"To my colleagues at the Los Angeles Dodgers, "I am pleased to inform you that the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged successfully from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The sale to Guggenheim Baseball Partners has been completed, and the Dodgers move forward as a well capitalized organization, strong both on and off the field. "This is how it should be for the Dodgers - one of the truly storied and best known franchises in not just baseball, but all of sports. "I am grateful to have been part of the Dodger organization and to have had the pleasure of working with you. Despite the difficult environment of the last few years, we together can be proud of what we have achieved. We enjoyed tremendous success on the field. In 2004, we won our first playoff game since 1988. We went to the playoffs four times over the next six years, including back-to-back National League Championship Series - a first for the Los Angeles Dodgers in over 30 years. And we are off to one of the best starts in baseball in 2012. "Off the field, we returned the organization to profitability. We grew the value of the franchise well beyond what anyone thought was possible. We made it a Dodger ongoing practice to give back to the Los Angeles community. Your hard work has been essential to all of this. "I am confident that the new ownership, which will be introduced to you this morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Stadium Club, will carry forward the Dodger tradition, the Dodger commitment to community and the effort to make the team once again World Champions of baseball. I thank you all for working with me and for your dedication to and support of the Dodgers. "With respect and affection, Frank"

Wave goodbye to the McCourts: Dancing in the streets is allowed

By Steve Dilbeck

May 1, 2012, 12:23 p.m.

Let’s party. Let’s make like Kool & the Gang. Let’s throw confetti, imbibe a wee too much, dance until the feet blister, sing lyrics we can’t quite remember.

You are allowed to be gleeful today. Allowed to overreact, overindulge, over whatever you want.

The McCourt era is officially dead.

I was going to put on my little sailor cap and run down the street and kiss a nurse, but the wife is funny about things like that. Maybe we could invite Hank Williams Jr. over, and just ask that he skip the political commentary.

Twenty years after riots broke out in the streets of Los Angeles, there is reason to take to them again in celebration. The darkest chapter in Dodgers’ history is over.

For the moment we can forget all our very real questions and concerns about Guggenheim Baseball Management, and just go all happy feet. Smile until it hurts. Relish a fresh beginning and the exit from the team of Frank and Jamie McCourt.

Maybe the new guys won’t prove any better, though I’m liking the odds. Maybe nothing changes, or in some dark alternate universe, they actually get worse. Maybe a giant asteroid is about to hit the Earth and Bruce Willis is nowhere to be found.

But right now, at this very moment, just rejoice. The family that sent one of the most iconic and cherished of all Los Angeles civic treasures into financial ruin, is gone from the team. Pop the cork on the good stuff.

That Frank McCourt somehow turned this into a near $1-billion personal windfall, that he incredibly duped the new owners into keeping half control of the Dodger Stadium parking lots, is anguish for another day.

Today we party. Ding dong, McCourt is gone. Everything begins anew. Hope that there is an ownership group that is actually committed to the team and winning is reborn.

Feel good. Hug a stranger. Find an old sailor’s cap. It’s a gray and overcast day in Los Angeles, and it’s absolutely beautiful.

Did Matt Kemp just have the greatest April in MLB history?

By Steve Dilbeck

May 1, 2012, 10:47 a.m.

And the answers are: 1) Absolutely; 2) Maybe; 3) It wasn’t even the best April for a Dodger.

I offer multiple answers not to go all wimpy on you, but because the answer requires a close examination of statistics. And as Mark Twain wrote, there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and baseball statistics.

Picking a greatest whatever in baseball inherently demands the use of statistics, and this means not only picking which numbers to play with, but which ones to place the greatest significance.

And Kemp offered some amazing April numbers to play with: In 23 games he batted .417, had a .490 on-base percentage, .893

slugging percentage, 12 home runs, 16 extra-base hits, 24 runs and 25 runs batted in.

As The Times’ Dylan Hernandez pointed out, this is only the fourth time in major-league history a player has finished April with a batting average higher than .400, with more than 10 home runs and more than 20 RBI.

The others are Barry Bonds (2004), Larry Walker (1997) and Tony Perez (1970). Bonds and Walker went onto to win the National League MVP and Perez is in the Hall of Fame.

ESPN’s wonderful Jayson Stark examined whether Kemp managed the greatest April ever and concluded: “It is, at the very least, The Greatest April Ever By A Hitter Who Played His Home Games At Sea Level.”

Using the same statistical categories listed above for Kemp, it could be argued only Walker in ’97 edged Kemp’s April: .456/.538/.911, with 11 homers, 18 extra-base hits, 29 runs, 29 RBIs.

Walker, of course, played in Denver during the pre-humidor era, when balls at Coors Field made like NASA projects. And 11 of Walker’s 23 games were played at Coors.

Then there were these numbers by Bonds: .472/.696/1.132, with 10 homers, 15 extra-base hits, 21 runs, 22 RBIs. He walked a staggering 39 times.

Stark lists 10 other contenders for the April award, including Ron Cey for the Dodgers in 1977: .425./543/.890, with 9 homers, 15 extra-base hits, 18 runs, 29 RBIs in 20 games.

Whether Kemp’s April was the greatest, or just one of the best, doesn’t matter too much in the end. It was at least knocking at the door. And for every Dodgers fan, a wonder to behold.

Dodgers sale closes; McCourt era ends

By Bill Shaikin

May 1, 2012, 10:12 a.m.

Frank McCourt surrendered ownership of the Dodgerson Tuesday, closing a turbulent chapter in the history of one of baseball’s most historic franchises.

The new owners wired the final payment on the record $2.15-billion purchase price on Tuesday, closing the transaction that ended the McCourt era and ushering in Guggenheim Baseball as the Dodgers’ third owner since the O’Malley family sold the team in 1998, individuals close to the negotiations confirmed.

The new ownership group, fronted by Magic Johnson and incoming Dodgers President Stan Kasten, is expected to hold its first news conference on Wednesday. Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter, who arranged the financing as chief executive of Chicago-based Guggenheim Financial, is expected to make a rare public appearance at the news conference.

The new ownership will be charged with returning the Dodgers to the World Series for the first time since 1988. Every other team in the National League West has played in the World Series since then.

No major changes to the team are expected immediately. The Dodgers’ executive departures Tuesday included McCourt and two of his closest lieutenants, vice chairman Jeff Ingram and senior vice president Howard Sunkin.

Kasten, the former president of the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, is expected to evaluate the Dodgers’ front-office personnel before considering additional changes. General Manager Ned Colletti remains in place.

Colletti and McCourt signed the Dodgers’ best position player, outfielder Matt Kemp, to an eight-year, $160-million contract extension last winter. Colletti also has said he would like to sign outfielder Andre Ethier to an extension.

Colletti met with Ethier’s agent at Dodger Stadium on Friday, but it is unclear if a deal might be in the works. Ethier, who is second behind Kemp for the league lead in runs batted in, can file for free agency after the season.

McCourt’s eight-year run included the highs of the Dodgers’ first consecutive National League championship appearances in 31 years and the lows of a failed strategy to retain ownership by taking the storied team into bankruptcy.

In the end, McCourt won, at least financially. No baseball team had sold for even $1 billion, yet McCourt is expected to clear close to that amount in net profit. That would leave him with about seven times as much money as his ex-wife Jamie got under the divorce settlement to which the couple agreed last fall, before he announced he would sell the Dodgers.

Jamie McCourt was wired her $131 million divorce payment on Monday, from the Dodgers’ sale proceeds.

McCourt retains half-ownership of the Dodger Stadium parking lots, although no development can take place on the site unless he and the new owners agree, according to people familiar with the sale agreement.

The Dodgers’ new owners will collect parking fees, but they have not said how that revenue might be split with McCourt, or what development they might have envisioned for the parking lots.

The Dodgers’ bankruptcy filing came on the heels of a bruising two-year divorce battle that revealed how the McCourts used team revenue to further a lifestyle that included side-by-side estates in Holmby Hills and Malibu, private jet travel around the world, even house calls from hairdressers and makeup artists.

Commissioner Bud Selig seized control of the Dodgers’ financial operations last April. Major League Baseball later accused McCourt of “looting” $189 million from team funds.

The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy in June, evicting the trustee appointed by Selig and charging the commissioner with forcing their hand by rejecting a proposed television contract that would have put the team on sound financial footing.

The Dodgers’ new owners can open negotiations on a television deal this fall. They can launch a team-owned regional sports network, or they can leverage the threat to do so in what is expected to be a bidding war among Fox Sports, Time Warner Cable and perhaps CBS. The Dodgers’ new television contract is expected to be worth $4 billion, or more.

ESPN.COM

Ted Lilly goes 6 strong as Dodgers hold off Rockies

DENVER -- As usual, the Los Angeles Dodgers got power and production up the middle. For once, center fielder Matt Kemp wasn't the one doing the heavy lifting.

Catcher A.J. Ellis homered and drove in three runs, shortstop Dee Gordon hit his first major league home run and second baseman Mark Ellis had four singles and made the game-saving play in the ninth inning to preserve a 7-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Their contributions helped Ted Lilly (3-0) pick up the win despite a shaky performance by the Dodgers bullpen. Lilly pitched six solid innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, but he left after throwing just 79 pitches because of a stiff lat muscle.

"We just didn't want to push it too far," said manager Don Mattingly, who watched his bullpen fritter away almost all of the 7-2 lead Lilly left his relievers.

Javy Guerra struck out Carlos Gonzalez with the potential tying run 90 feet away to end it.

"That was fun," Mattingly said. "That's the way it's supposed to be, right? CarGo with the game on the line?"

The Dodgers pounded out 11 hits off Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin and then held on. The win capped a big day for the storied franchise, marking the end to the tumultuous Frank McCourt era.

The $2 billion sale of the team to Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group that includes former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson, was finalized Tuesday, just hours before the Dodgers improved to an NL-best 17-7.

"I think the fans of L.A. are pretty excited about the new ownership and what it's bringing. As long as L.A. is happy, I'm happy," Kemp said.

The Dodgers were even happier after this latest display of pinpoint pitching from Lilly and power at the plate that has propelled them to their best start since 1983.

Even with a 7-0 lead after five innings, they weren't exactly comfortable at Coors Field, however.

"Every inning we'd come in and say we need more runs, we need more runs," Mark Ellis said. "Nothing against our pitchers. That's just the way this is. And then that wind starts blowing a little bit and you know we need to score some more runs. And we held on."

Thanks in large part to the second baseman's play that robbed Marco Scutaro of a tying single up the middle with one out in the ninth and Wilin Rosario on second base.

"Just good scouting, I guess," Todd Helton said.

That, and tough luck.

Mark Ellis was shading toward the bag while jockeying with Rosario before the pitch, and then the thick grass slowed the ball down enough for him to make the play to throw out Scutaro and keep Rosario at third.

After falling behind Gonzalez 2-0, Guerra threw a backdoor slider and two cutters to strike him out.

The dramatic ending was a fitting bookend for the Dodgers. Gordon led off the game with his first career homer, a second-deck shot to right field.

"He was talking all day how he was going to hit a home run," Mark Ellis recounted. "And then he goes out there and hits a home run. It wasn't a short one, either. It was a bomb, too. He called it."

Gordon was surprised that his double-play partner revealed that bit of banter.

"I kind of hinted to Mark," clarified Gordon, who was homerless in his first 311 career at-bats. "I can swing the bat. I've got power. I just try to get on base, hit steady line drives, but he gave me a pitch that I could hit."

How could a guy who's generously listed at 160 pounds and who had never hit a home run in the majors be so sure of his power?

"Because I know me. I know what kind of power I possess. I've lived with me for 24 years," Gordon replied. "So, I just try to do what I can to get on base and I happened to hit a home run."

Lilly downplayed the strained lat muscle that cut his outing short. He called the injury "very minor" and said he hoped it wouldn't force him to skip a side session or his next start.

Chacin (0-3) gave up a career-worst seven earned runs. After allowing Gordon's homer and Andre Either's three-run shot in the first, he gave up an RBI double and a two-run homer to A.J. Ellis and left trailing 7-0 after 4 2/3 innings.

Lilly's only mistake was a fat fastball that Gonzalez sent into the right-field seats for a two-run homer, his fifth, in the sixth inning that made it 7-2.

The Rockies tagged Josh Lindblom for three runs on four hits in the seventh and Todd Helton made it 7-6 with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Game notesOver the last two seasons, Lilly is 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA in five starts against Colorado. ... The rubber game of the series Wednesday pits Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (2-0) against Drew Pomeranz (0-1).

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

Sale of Dodgers finalized

Updated: May 1, 2012, 10:48 PM ET

ESPN.com news services

LOS ANGELES -- The tumultuous Frank McCourt era is over for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The $2 billion sale of the team to Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group that includes former Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson, was finalized Tuesday.

McCourt met with Dodgers employees Tuesday, expressing his appreciation, and introduced new controlling owner Mark Walter, said Howard Sunkin, a spokesman for McCourt.

Walter is chief executive officer of the financial services firm Guggenheim Partners. The team will be run by former Atlanta Braves president Stan Kasten. They will hold a news conference Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.

"The Dodgers move forward with confidence in a strong financial position as a premier Major League Baseball franchise and as an integral part of and representative of the Los Angeles community," according to a joint statement by McCourt and the new owners.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said he's pleased the sale is finished and the Dodgers can have a fresh start after the "unbecoming events of recent years."

"It is my great hope and firm expectation that today's change in ownership marks the start of a new era for the Los Angeles Dodgers and that this historic franchise will once again make the city of Los Angeles proud," Selig said in a statement.

The timing couldn't have come at a better time for Dodgers fans, who are excited about having their team leading the National League. The team had a 16-7 record going into Tuesday night's game in Colorado.

"It's been a positive since the announcement of Magic and his group," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said in an interview on 710 ESPN's "Mason & Ireland Show." "You could feel a difference with the fans instantly. There's been so much negative for the last few years that it just gets kind of old for guys that are playing because people aren't showing up and it doesn't have anything to do with if you win or not.

"And I think the energy's been great with the new group. Hearing the things these guys are talking about wanting to do, it fits in right with what we want to do. We came to win. These guys come and they work hard, and at the end of the day they want to be fighting for a championship, and it sounds like the group we have coming are all about that."

Said Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp: "I think the fans of LA are pretty excited about the new ownership and what it's bringing. As long as L.A. is happy, I'm happy. As long as we're winning, I'm happy."

The Dodgers have won six World Series titles but none since 1988, when they were still owned by the O'Malley family that moved the team from Brooklyn to California after the 1957 season.

The sale was part of a reorganization plan after McCourt took the team into bankruptcy last June. A federal judge approved the deal last month.

The sale was supposed to close Monday, the day McCourt was to make a $131 million payment to former wife Jamie McCourt as part of their divorce settlement. The team's statement said all claims will be paid. Jamie McCourt did receive her payout on Monday.

McCourt bought the team, Dodger Stadium and 250 acres of land that includes the parking lots from the Fox division of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in a $430 million deal in 2004. Fox bought the team in 1998, then sold it to McCourt.

Despite the Dodgers making the playoffs the first four out of six seasons under McCourt's ownership, the off-the-field saga took attention away from the team as he and Jamie McCourt became involved in a protracted divorce battle during which their lavish spending habits were revealed in court documents and testimony.

In April 2011, MLB appointed former Texas Rangers President Tom Schieffer to monitor the Dodgers on behalf of Selig, who said he was concerned about the team's finances and how the Dodgers were being run.

The team filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after Selig rejected a proposed broadcast rights deal with Fox Sports that McCourt said would have alleviated worries about covering payroll.

The team's debt stood at $579 million as of January, according to a court filing, but McCourt stands to make hundreds of millions of dollars.

The sale price set a record; Stephen Ross forked out $1.1 billion for the NFL's Miami Dolphins in 2009, and Malcolm Glazer and his family took over England's Manchester United soccer club seven years ago in a deal then valued at $1.47 billion.

The previous record for a baseball franchise was the $845 million paid by the Ricketts family for the Chicago Cubs in 2009.

NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw said the ownership issues didn't weigh on the team last year because it was out of the players' control. He said the squad has had an opportunity to meet the new owners and he's excited about the future.

"It's the end, but it's also the beginning," Kershaw said. "It's a cool time."

Dodgers owners return focus to field

Updated: May 1, 2012, 9:29 PM ET

By Ramona Shelburne | ESPNLosAngeles.com

If you know Stan Kasten, and everybody in baseball knows Stan Kasten, what he has been able to do in the last month has been remarkable.

For the last month, ever since Frank McCourt agreed to sell the Los Angeles Dodgers to a group headlined by Kasten and basketball legend Magic Johnson, until Tuesday morning when the $2 billion sale finally closed, the normally gregarious Kasten has managed to slip in and out of Dodger Stadium to coordinate the in-season transition of ownership half a dozen times without anyone really noticing.

He's met with nearly everyone in the organization -- players, coaches, executives and front office staff -- as well as outside consultants to gain perspective on everything from how the stadium should be modernized to what pieces the team needs to add to give Matt Kemp some more runners to drive in.

But when I saw him near the ownership box last week before a game against the Atlanta Braves, he smiled, held up his hands and said, "I'm not here."

The message was the same as it's been from this new ownership group throughout the entire process: This isn't about us.

Most of it has been out of necessity, of course. All parties involved in the sale signed strict non-disclosure agreements that prevented them from even discussing the team or the sale.

But it should be noted that this group -- funded by controlling owner Mark Walter, who seems to prefer Magic Johnson taking all the public bows -- stuck to the same low-key script even after it bought the team and could easily have been taking victory laps around town while the sale closed.

What does this mean going forward? It's hard to say. But after eight years in which the owners of the team became the dominant story, obscuring every good and bad thing that happened on the baseball field, at the very least it's pretty refreshing.

As much as fans fell in love with the idea of a hands-on owner like Mark Cuban who would live and die with every pitch, the best owners generally sit quietly up in an ownership suite, make the financial decisions to put the team in position to succeed and let the players on the field shine.

How often does Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss appear in public? And Angels owner Arte Moreno is notoriously shy. He's usually seen in front of cameras once or twice a season, if that.

Magic Johnson is not going to be shy, of course. He'll be wearing a Dodgers jersey and hat everywhere for the next couple of months. He'll be an incredible draw for free agents this offseason and an ambassador for baseball in the community.

But Johnson's also smart enough to know that it's a whole lot more exciting to watch Kemp play baseball these days than to watch Johnson cheer from an owner's box seat.

Kemp's a bona fide superstar who just completed one of the greatest offensive months of baseball ever. He's got a smile that can turn all the lights on in a room and plays the game with the same kind of exuberance that made Lakers fans fall in love with Magic three decades ago. In the month since Magic's group bought the team, Kemp has led the Dodgers to the best record in the National League.

That's what these new owners should be selling: baseball, Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, and then some more Kemp.

That's enough. Or at least it should be. Frank and Jamie McCourt never got that. Not even at the beginning when they spent many of their early days trying to win over Dodgers fans through the media instead of spending the money to put a great product on the field, or upgrading Dodger Stadium.

And all that was before the ugliness of the last three years, when both McCourts had an opportunity to spare fans and the franchise from becoming embroiled in their divorce for the ages by settling out of court (as they ultimately did), but instead selfishly took everyone down that very low road with them.

In many ways, Magic has already played his most important role in this transition process simply by lending his name and credibility to this ownership group to help soothe all the wounds the McCourts left open and raw.

It probably took a star of his magnitude to counterbalance all the devilish details of this sale -- the record price tag, the continued (albeit limited) association with McCourt on some of the land around Dodger Stadium, and the strange clause in the sale agreement requiring his group not to disparage or even comment on McCourt or his family now or in the future.

Remember that picture of Magic sitting next to McCourt on Opening Day in San Diego? Here's guessing that was McCourt's idea, not Magic's. But that's not the important part. Ask yourself this: Is there any public figure besides Magic who could withstand such a damaging photograph with his image intact? The other two finalists wouldn't have stood a chance. Billionaire hedge fund king Steve Cohen may never have recovered. Poor Stan Kroenke, who already would've been struggling to outrun the perception that buying the Dodgers was just a land-grab to help return the NFL to Los Angeles, could've have been run out of town.

No, that was something only Magic could have pulled off. And when you think about it that way, it makes you wonder why anyone ever even tried to bid against him.

OK, so it's done now. A day later than anticipated, which was strange to everyone, but not so strange to anyone who has ever tried to close on a house.

McCourt leaves a very rich man, which is what he should have been all along. That part is always going to be hard to swallow.

But for the first time in a very long while, he isn't the story anymore. Baseball is. Matt Kemp is.

That's enough. It always has been.

Scott Boras: Purchase great dealUpdated: May 2, 2012, 3:48 AM ET

By Ramona Shelburne | ESPNLosAngeles.com

While some rival executives and industry leaders have called the $2.15 billion sale price of the Los Angeles Dodgers outlandish, super agent Scott Boras thinks the new ownership group fronted by Magic Johnson got a steal.

"I think it's a great business deal," Boras said. "There have been a few people that go to winter meetings every now and then and say baseball owners are making a lot of money and they're doing so because the franchise values of the teams have risen to certain levels and therefore players are of a particular value."

Boras, of course, was joking referring to himself and other sports agents who have pushed for some of the monstrous contracts like the nine-year, $214 million deal he secured from the Detroit Tigers for free agent first baseman Prince Fielder.

The Dodgers sale, Boras said, is validation that major league franchises are worth far more than what they are annually valued at by Forbes magazine. The Dodgers were valued at $800 million in Forbes' latest annual report.

"The values of franchises in the industries have now been realized, they've been advanced," he said. "This is just merely evidence of what was the truth for years. This is the first time that we've had that confirmation of ownership value of the sport."

Boras was speaking on Saturday, before the major league debut of his client, Washington Nationals rookie Bryce Harper. He was able to secure a five-year, $9.9 million deal for Harper after he was the first pick in the 2010 draft.

Boras was not always as successful in his draft-day dealings with the Dodgers under Frank McCourt's ownership. In 2005, his client Luke Hochevar rejected the Dodgers' $2.98 million signing bonus and instead returned to the University of Tennessee for another season. He was picked first overall by the Kansas City Royals in 2006 and signed to a four-year, $5.3 million deal.

"For me, when the way the Luke Hocheavar thing was handled was a very telling moment for the McCourt ownership," Boras said. "Because this guy was a guy who had the ability to be a Major League starting pitcher, but the recognitions for that was not at the ownership level. I think the scouting and all the others understood what they had, and that caused me concern."

Boras doesn't expect that to continue under the new ownership group.

"I think when the ownership bought the team, and with what they paid for it, there's an expectancy that the -- and maybe a few quotes by ownership personnel -- might lead you to believe that they're going to be highly competitive and attract stars and keep stars here," he joked, referring to several comments about pursuing top free agents made by Johnson.

"You know, the old story is that the minute an owner says something, he's got to execute," Boras said. "If you're a baseball player and if you hear that, if you hear where it comes from, it's going to make this market more attractive and more players are going to look into it."

Mattingly talks about Kemp's sizzling startMay, 1, 2012

By ESPNLosAngeles.com

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly knows what a hitting hot streak feels like. He was a .307 lifetime hitter in his playing days, with 222 homers, multiple All-Star appearances and Gold Gloves, and a batting title and an MVP award to boot.

But even he is impressed by the start Matt Kemp is having.

“Matt’s just a completely different player than I was,” Mattingly said in an interview with Steve Mason and John Ireland on 710 ESPN Tuesday. “He does so many things defensively, he runs it down in center, he’s got a great arm, he can steal bags, he hits for average, hits for power. This guy, he’s just the total package.”

Kemp hit .417 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs in April, joining Barry Bonds, Larry Walker and Tony Perez as the only players in major league history to finish the month with a .400 average, at least 10 homers and 20 RBIs. The Dodgers lead the National League with a 16-7 record, and Mattingly gave the credit to his All-Star center fielder.

“He’s taken it to another level,” Mattingly said Tuesday, before the Dodgers played the Colorado Rockies in Denver. “He’s leading our ball club and a guy who wants to win in the worst way, and guys just follow along when you get a guy like that.”

Kemp also has 21 strikeouts, something Mattingly said actually plays into the slugger’s favor.

“I think one of the things that Matt has going for him -- obviously right now with Andre [Ethier] behind him swinging the bat well, that helps him a lot -- that’s the main thing -- but he strikes out just enough that they think they can get him out if they make pitches. That’s the key for me. … When they don’t get the ball when they want to, then they’ve got to pay. And that’s where Matty is. He strikes out just enough to get them to keep pitching to him.”

Speaking of pitching, Mattingly also offered insights into his decision to stick with Javy Guerra as closer, despite a few rocky outings. Listen to the full interview here.

Next moves for the Dodgers Buster Olney - May, 2, 2012

The Frank McCourt era in Dodgers' history is over, writes Bill Shaikin. There will be a press conference today, where the group led by Mark Walter, Stan Kasten and Magic Johnson will be introduced, as the new leaders of one of baseball's crown-jewel franchises.

There is a whole lot of work ahead for these guys, as they decide how to renovate Dodger Stadium, improve the fan experience and delve into other ways to monetize their investment.

That will include a conversation about how to make the team better on the field -- and keep in mind, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been pretty good so far, with more wins than any other National League team and a four-game lead in the NL West.

The Dodgers figure to be aggressive in the trade market before the July 31 deadline, maybe adding to their lineup or to their pitching staff. But the increased financial flexibility that general manager Ned Colletti will have going forward doesn't necessarily mean Los Angeles can make deals, because you need to match up well with another team, and you have to have the tradable assets to complete a move.

They almost certainly will grow their payroll going into next season; it's only at $90 million for this 2012 season, slashed by about 25 to percent in recent years, and can easily increase into the range for the superpower franchises. This is good news for players who might test the market in the fall, such as Cole Hamels, Miguel Montero, Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton.

The first real change that you probably will see in how the Dodgers run their baseball operations, according to industry sources, is in their participation in the market for Latin American players.

For years, the Dodgers were MLB leaders in this, reaching agreements with players like Roberto Clemente, and signing and developing players in the Dominican Republic, from Pedro Guerrero to the Martinez brothers, Ramon and Pedro. But during McCourt's time as owner, the Dodgers basically stopped participating in Latin America. Under the new rules negotiated by MLB and the union, teams are limited to spending $2.9 million annually in this market -- and that's probably more than the Dodgers spent during McCourt's tenure.

Kasten, if you remember, was part of an Atlanta Braves organization that became a model for player development, so you can bet that he would love to restore the Dodgers to their prior standing of preeminence in this area.

Changes are coming, and maybe the first people who will feel the ripples of that will be in Venezuela, or the Dominican, or Mexico, or Colombia.

Meanwhile: The Dodgers won again, hanging on in the end.

The call for McCourt closure has finally been answered, writes Tom Hoffarth.

Matt Kemp outhomers Padres, Cubs in AprilMay, 1, 2012

Power Surge: (Player with highest combined HR distance) 2011 Winner: Jose Bautista March/April Winner: Matt Kemp Kemp is off to a torrid start, with 12 home runs that have traveled a true distance of 4,802 feet. That’s a longer true distances than the Padres, who have hit 11 home runs, and the Cubs, who have hit the fewest HR (9) entering May. Kemp's 12 home runs are two shy of the record set by Albert Pujols in 2006 and Alex Rodriguez in 2007 for the most home runs by April 30.

DODGERS.COM

Dodgers hold on to secure win for Lilly

Gordon hits first big league homer during four-run firstBy Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 5/2/2012 1:57 AM ET

DENVER -- So this is what owning a $2 billion baseball team is like.

Purchasing the Dodgers and taking the keys to Dodger Stadium on Tuesday morning, Guggenheim Baseball Management saw its first-place team mash three homers (none by Matt Kemp), nearly blow a seven-run lead, have starting pitcher Ted Lilly (side strain) and third baseman Juan Uribe (left wrist) injured, but escape Coors Field with a 7-6 win over the Rockies.

"That's what they get," a smiling manager Don Mattingly said of his new bosses. "The excitement of it." Nonetheless, Mattingly said the entire night was fun for him, right down to watching embattled closer Javy Guerra strike out slugger Carlos Gonzalez to end the game with the tying run on third base as the Dodgers, at 17-7, matched their best start since 1983.

"It seems like no lead is really safe here," Mattingly said. "And [the Rockies] seem to do it all the time when you watch the highlights."

Dee Gordon had the first Dodgers highlight, not only hitting his first Major League home run leading off the game, but even calling it before the game to teammate Mark Ellis, who had four hits. The other Ellis in the lineup, catcher A.J., continued his impressive start

with a two-run homer and an RBI double, raising his average to .305. And Andre Ethier walloped a three-run homer, his sixth of the season, to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead before a batter was retired.

Mattingly downplayed Lilly's injury, while the pitcher conceded it isn't getting better and offered no assurance that he wouldn't need to miss a start.

"Hope not," said Lilly, off to a 3-0 start and 9-2 lifetime against Colorado.

Mattingly didn't downplay Uribe's wrist injury, an aggravation of a sprain that sidelined him for four games last month. Mattingly said Uribe reinjured it during batting practice Tuesday, which left the bench short on right-handed hitters late in the game.

Lilly said the right oblique strain that bothered him his previous start caused him to shut down Sunday's bullpen session early and forced him from Tuesday's game after six innings and only 79 pitches, few of them fastballs.

"I was throwing the kitchen sink at them," Lilly said. "I was thinking about [the side] early, and in the fifth it kept getting a little worse. I've had this in the past, but minor. I thought it was getting better. I only feel it when I throw. I started the game and felt good, but it crept up on me."

Lilly left with a five-run lead, but that meant Mattingly got into the bullpen early, and the lead was trimmed to 7-5 after Josh Lindblom allowed three runs in the seventh -- two more than he allowed in April; then 7-6 after Kenley Jansen allowed a run in the eighth.

So it came down to Guerra, who was saved with a fine defensive play from Mark Ellis on Marco Scutaro's grounder just before Gonzalez (who had homered off Lilly) fanned. Mattingly said he could see conviction in Guerra's pitch selection and execution, which was the topic of a meeting they had Sunday.

"Absolutely, the last couple days I was thinking about it," Guerra said. "I understand what he meant. It's a mindset."

Gordon got the game off to a stunning start with his first Major League home run (only eighth professionally), and even in Coors Field it was a no-doubter that hit the second-deck façade in right field.

"He was talking all day that he'd hit a home run," said Mark Ellis. "He called it."

"I don't know what to say," said Gordon. "I kind of hinted to Mark, but I can swing the bat. I know me, I know what kind of power I have. I've lived with me for 24 years."

Even with the home run, Gordon said the "highlight of the night for me" was a fifth-inning walk that drove Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin from the game.

"I've been trying to work every count," said Gordon, who has only six walks to 20 strikeouts.

After allowing Gordon's home run leading off the game, Chacin allowed singles by Mark Ellis and Kemp, then a three-run blast to center by Ethier before an out was recorded.

"Our starting pitching tonight was awful," said Colorado manager Jim Tracy.

The part of the lineup that doesn't include Kemp and Ethier contributed in the third inning, as requested by manager Don Mattingly. Tony Gwynn singled, stole second, took third on a bungled pick-off throw and was doubled home by A.J. Ellis.

Eric Young's diving catch of Gordon's drive to left-center robbed the Dodgers of another run to end the inning. But after Gwynn's double leading off the fifth, A.J. Ellis homered to left.

Dodgers sale to Walter, Kasten, Magic complete

Parties close on $2 billion-plus sale of team, stadium and land

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 05/01/12 4:32 PM ET

The sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers became official on Tuesday as Guggenheim Baseball Management closed its $2 billion purchase of the club and Dodger Stadium from Frank McCourt.

The principals will hold a 10 a.m PT news conference at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday that will be streamed live at MLB.com.

Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, will be the controlling partner; longtime sports executive Stan Kasten will be president and CEO; and former Lakers great turned businessman Magic Johnson is a part-owner who will have a public role. The investor group includes Mandalay Entertainment chairman Peter Guber, Guggenheim Partners president Todd Boehly and Texas energy investor Bobby Patton.

Guggenheim paid an additional $150 million for a 50-percent interest in the property surrounding Chavez Ravine and the stadium parking lots, in a joint venture with McCourt.

"After a long and difficult road, the sale of the Dodgers is now complete, and I am pleased that the club can have the fresh start it deserves under new ownership," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "I congratulate Mark Walter, Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten and all of their partners, and I look forward to working with them.

"In addition, I want to personally thank all Dodger fans for their patience and loyalty during this trying period. I have said many times that we owed it to them to ensure that the club was being operated properly and would be guided appropriately in the future. It is my great hope and firm expectation that today's change in ownership marks the start of a new era for the Los Angeles Dodgers and that this historic franchise will once again make the city of Los Angeles proud."

Kasten, a graduate of New York University and Columbia Law School, ran the Atlanta Braves during their remarkable playoff run, the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA and Atlanta Thrashers of the NHL. He later ran the Washington Nationals. Kasten has been in almost daily contact with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti in recent weeks and introduced himself to players in the clubhouse before Sunday's game.

Johnson runs Magic Johnson Enterprises, a multimillion-dollar company that includes Magic Johnson Productions, a promotional company; Magic Johnson Theaters, a nationwide chain of movie theaters; and Magic Johnson Entertainment, a movie studio.

The purchase, announced March 27, is the key element in the Dodgers emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. McCourt filed for bankruptcy last June when he couldn't meet player payroll or pay bills after MLB Commissioner Bud Selig declined to approve a $3 billion agreement between FOX and the Dodgers to extend their television broadcast rights.

Based on a settlement with MLB and overseen by the bankruptcy court, McCourt had until Monday to close the sale. McCourt also was required to pay his former wife, Jamie McCourt, a $131 million divorce settlement on Monday.

"The Dodgers emerge from the Chapter 11 reorganization process having achieved its objective of maximizing the value of the Dodgers through a successful plan of reorganization, under which all claims will be paid," the Dodgers said in a news release confirming the closing. "The Dodgers move forward with confidence -- in a strong financial position; as a premier Major League Baseball franchise; and as an integral part of and representative of the Los Angeles community."

The Guggenheim group was one of three final bidders in an auction run by Blackstone Advisory Partners on behalf of McCourt -- the winning group of Guggenheim, Johnson and Kasten; one that included billionaires Steven Cohen and Patrick Soon-Shiong and agent Arn Tellem; and Stan Kroenke, owner of the St. Louis Rams.

The McCourts bought the Dodgers in 2004 from Newscorp for a net purchase price of $371 million. With the $2 billion for the team and stadium, plus $300 million for the surrounding land and parking lots, including the $150 million worth of land contributed by McCourt, the selling price is a total of $2.3 billion, just shy of $2 billion in appreciation in eight years.

Under McCourt's ownership, the Dodgers reached the postseason four times in eight seasons; he invested, according to the club, $150 million in improvements of 50-year-old Dodger Stadium; and he moved Spring Training from venerable Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla., to Camelback Ranch-Glendale in Arizona. He also established the Dodgers Dream Foundation that refurbished dozens of youth baseball fields and established ThinkCure in partnership with City of Hope and Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles to raise money for a cancer cure.

However, McCourt's tenure also saw missteps, including alienating the fan base by what MLB estimated in court documents to be a $190 million "looting" of Dodgers equity to fund an extravagant lifestyle. He and Jamie McCourt also became entangled in one of the most costly and publicized divorces in California history.

Dodgers focused on field with sale complete

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 05/01/12 9:46 PM ET

DENVER -- Reaction in the Dodgers' clubhouse about the news that the club was officially sold on Tuesday was subdued, in part because the players and staff were already introduced to the new ownership group before Sunday's game at Dodger Stadium.

"All the guys we met seemed nice," said manager Don Mattingly. "We had a short talk. A lot of stuff has been written, that they want the Dodgers to be first class and be as good as we can possibly be. They say they're committed to taking the Dodgers to that level."

Mattingly, who played for only one owner, George Steinbrenner, in New York, said he wasn't worried about working for an owner who didn't hire him.

"You're always auditioning, every day," he said. "I don't feel any more pressure. I'll tell you what I tell the guys, that you should put so much pressure on yourself to perform that you should be the most disappointed if you're not doing your job. You should know it first, before anybody says it."

Adam Kennedy is one player who has played for new Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten when they were together in Washington. Kasten also ran the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers.

"I know this: the team is at the top of his thoughts," said Kennedy. "You know that's how he won championships with other organizations."

Kennedy said Kasten was able to develop relationships with all players, while providing special attention to the ones who carry the club.

"I've talked to Matt [Kemp] and Andre [Ethier] about that," Kennedy said. "I saw how close Stan was with Adam Dunn, and I can see that relationship developing with Matt and Andre. Stan cares for everybody, but he also knows who's the face of the franchise and who will take the team to the next level."

One of the first priorities will be to get Ethier's contract extended, as general manager Ned Colletti has been saying since the winter. Ethier, who thought he had an extension worked out a year ago only for it to fall through, will reserve judgment.

"It's nice to have a new start with what's going on up top to blend with how we're playing on the field," Ethier said. "Dodgers fans should have a lot to be excited about, especially after what's happened the last couple of years. It's important that we figure a way to make that come to life on their end upstairs and on our end on the field."

Decision time nears for Dodgers on Belisario

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com

DENVER -- It's countdown time for Ronald Belisario, who is eligible to be activated on Friday after serving a 25-game suspension for violating MLB's drug program.

Belisario's activation, however, is no sure thing. He's scheduled to pitch one inning for Triple-A Albuquerque Tuesday and Wednesday to show he can go back to back, but even if he's pitching-ready, the Dodgers must decide if they want to tamper with the bullpen chemistry for a player with the baggage of Belisario, who has been in and out of trouble all four seasons he's been a Dodger.

"I know there's been conversations about it," manager Don Mattingly said. "With Belly, it all goes back to the fact that his stuff has never been a question. There's never been a question he can pitch in the big leagues, and he's dirty [in a good way] at times."

Mattingly's non-answer is a reflection on the decision, because Belisario is out of options. The Dodgers can't send him to the Minor Leagues without first getting him through waivers, so he could be lost to another club.

But unless somebody gets hurt in the next two days, there doesn't appear to be a roster spot for Belisario. And even if he rejoins the team, his role will have changed from the setup man he was as an overpowering rookie.

"We need a multiple-innings guy," said pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. "He's not walking into the seventh or eighth inning of '09. The other day, when he pitched two innings, the first inning was good and the second inning tailed off, and that concerned me. He likes to let it fly for one inning. When he's on, he can be dominant, but that's 20 pitches or less, and after that, his stuff changes."

Mattingly not shocked by Kemp's stellar April

DENVER -- A pretty good April for Matt Kemp:

A .417 batting average, second-highest in Lose Angeles Dodgers history for April; 12 home runs, most in Dodgers history and fifth-highest in MLB history for April; an .893 slugging percentage, highest in Dodgers history for April; 75 total bases, most in Dodgers history for April.

He's already won two National League Player of the Week awards and the NL Player of the Month award should go his way later this week.

Manager Don Mattingly said nothing Kemp does surprises him and he rejected a suggestion by a local reporter that Kemp is flying under the radar.

"You can't say what's going on is crazy, because he went into the last week of the season last year with a chance to win the Triple Crown," Mattingly said of Kemp. "This is not new stuff. He's not anonymous. In L.A., they know him pretty well. The more he does this, the more he'll be seen everywhere and he's going to keep going.

"Matt strikes out just enough that, like [Mark] McGwire, they're dangerous, but if you make the pitch just right, you can get him. But if you miss, that's the problem."

Mattingly agreed with Kemp's analysis that his hitting style is much like his childhood hero, Frank Thomas.

"An opposite-field power guy, that's what Matt does," Mattingly said. "It's kind of ridiculous power. Other guys don't go out there and Matt's land 10 rows back."

McCourt e-mails farewell to Dodgers employees

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 05/01/12 4:45 PM ET

DENVER -- Frank McCourt said goodbye to Dodgers employees in this company-wide e-mail Tuesday morning after the $2 billion sale of the club to Guggenheim Baseball Management closed:

"To my colleagues at the Los Angeles Dodgers,

"I am pleased to inform you that the Los Angeles Dodgers have emerged successfully from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The sale to Guggenheim Baseball Partners has been completed, and the Dodgers move forward as a well capitalized organization, strong both on and off the field.

"This is how it should be for the Dodgers -- one of the truly storied and best-known franchises in not just baseball, but all of sports.

"I am grateful to have been part of the Dodger organization and to have had the pleasure of working with you. Despite the difficult environment of the last few years, we together can be proud of what we have achieved. We enjoyed tremendous success on the field. In 2004, we won our first playoff game since 1988. We went to the playoffs four times over the next six years, including back-to-back National League Championship Series -- a first for the Los Angeles Dodgers in over 30 years. And we are off to one of the best starts in baseball in 2012.

"Off the field, we returned the organization to profitability. We grew the value of the franchise well beyond what anyone thought was possible. We made it a Dodger ongoing practice to give back to the Los Angeles community. Your hard work has been essential to all of this.

"I am confident that the new ownership, which will be introduced to you this morning at 10:30 a.m. in the Stadium Club, will carry forward the Dodger tradition, the Dodger commitment to community and the effort to make the team once again World Champions of baseball. I thank you all for working with me and for your dedication to and support of the Dodgers.

"With respect and affection,

"Frank"

Dodgers go for series win behind hot Kershaw

By AJ Cassavell / MLB.com | 5/2/2012 1:20 AM ET

Off to their best start in 19 years, there's no one the Dodgers would rather have on the mound looking to continue that than lefty Clayton Kershaw.

The National League's reigning Cy Young Award winner gets the call in the rubber match of a three game set between the Dodgers and the Rockies. Kershaw will be opposed by fellow southpaw Drew Pomeranz.

The 23-year-old Pomeranz (0-1, 5.40) left his last start with forearm tightness, but Rockies manager Jim Tracy said immediately after the game that he didn't expect him to miss any time. It appears Tracy will be proven right.

"It just scared me, because I didn't know what it was," Pomeranz said Saturday. "It could have just been a cramp, or it could have been anything. I just don't like to feel [new] things."

It'll be a tall task for Pomeranz in facing Kershaw, who has posted a 2-0 mark with a 1.78 ERA this year. After three straight no-decisions to start the season, Kershaw has won each of his last two starts. He lasted a season-high eight innings his last time out -- a Dodgers victory over the Nationals on Friday.

On Tuesday, the Dodgers -- 17-7 for the first time since 1983 -- pounded the Rockies for seven runs and 14 hits, and perhaps most importantly for Los Angeles, the production came from throughout the order.

For much of the season, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have provided the majority -- if not all -- of the offense. They both chipped in Tuesday, but so did the other six bats, as everyone in the starting lineup (minus starting pitcher Ted Lilly) notched a hit. Shortstop Dee Gordon's was his first career home run.

Dodgers: Sale of team completeThe sale of the Dodgers became official on Tuesday, as Guggenheim Baseball Management closed its $2 billion purchase of the club and Dodger Stadium from Frank McCourt.

Just a couple of hours before Wednesday's game, the Dodgers will hold a 10 a.m PT news conference at Dodger Stadium, which will be streamed live at MLB.com.

Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, will be the controlling partner; longtime sports executive Stan Kasten will be president and CEO; and former Laker great Magic Johnson will be a part-owner with a public role.

Rockies: Defense key for slumping Rosario Catcher Wilin Rosario, who has thrown out five of the 11 runners who have tried to steal against him this season, will likely get the start on Wednesday in place of Ramon Hernandez.

Offensively, however, the 23-year-old is hitting just .219 with a .642 OPS in 34 plate appearances.

"I got away from my rhythm, my tempo, and that's what I've worked on the last couple of days," said Rosario, who had a pinch-hit single on Tuesday. "I feel better, more comfortable. I'm confident that I'll be good. I'm learning what I can from Ramon, and I'll be ready for my chance."

Worth noting• Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis has reached base in 15 consecutive games after his 2-for-4 performance in Tuesday's contest. In his last seven games, he is hitting .435.

• Todd Helton's 45 homers against Los Angeles are the most he has hit against any club.

• Carlos Gonzalez is hitting .379 against the Dodgers in his career.

• Of the six Rockies with 10 or more plate appearances against Kershaw, only Eric Young is hitting above .300. He has posted a .308 average with no extra-base hits.

DAILY NEWS

DODGERS 7, COLORADO 6: Power-ball numbers are winners for L.A.By Arnie Stapleton The Associated Press

Posted: 05/01/2012 11:38:44 PM PDT

DENVER - As usual, the Dodgers got power and production up the middle.

For once, center fielder Matt Kemp wasn't the one doing the heavy lifting.

Catcher A.J. Ellis homered and drove in three runs, shortstop Dee Gordon hit his first major-league home run and second baseman Mark Ellis had four singles and made the game-saving play in the ninth inning to preserve a 7-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Andre Ethier added a three-run home run in the first inning.

Their contributions helped Ted Lilly (3-0) pick up the win despite a shaky performance by the Dodgers bullpen. Lilly pitched six solid innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, but he left after throwing just 79 pitches because of a stiff lat muscle.

"We just didn't want to push it too far," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, who watched his bullpen fritter away almost all of the 7-2 lead Lilly left his relievers.

Javy Guerra struck out Carlos Gonzalez with the potential tying run 90 feet away to end it.

"That was fun," Mattingly said. "That's the way it's supposed to be, right? CarGo with the game on the line?"

The Dodgers pounded out 11 hits off Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin and then held on. The win capped a big day for the storied franchise, marking the end to the tumultuous Frank McCourt era.

The $2 billion sale of the team to Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group that includes former Lakers star Magic Johnson, was finalized Tuesday, just hours before the Dodgers improved to an NL-best 17-7.

"I think the fans of L.A. are pretty excited about the new ownership and what it's bringing. As long as L.A. is happy, I'm happy," Kemp said.

The Dodgers were even happier after this latest display of pinpoint pitching from Lilly and power at the plate that has propelled them to their best start since 1983. Even with a 7-0 lead after five innings, they weren't exactly comfortable at Coors Field, however.

"Every inning we'd come in and say we need more runs, we need more runs," Mark Ellis said. "Nothing against our pitchers. That's just the way this is. And then that wind starts blowing a little bit and you know we need to score some more runs. And we held on."

Thanks in large part to the second baseman's play that robbed Marco Scutaro of a tying single up the middle with one out in the ninth and Wilin Rosario on second base.

"Just good scouting, I guess," Todd Helton said.

That, and tough luck.

Mark Ellis was shading toward the bag while jockeying with Rosario before the pitch, and then the thick grass slowed the ball down enough for him to make the play to throw out Scutaro and keep Rosario at third.

After falling behind Gonzalez 2-0, Guerra threw a backdoor slider and two cutters to strike him out.

The dramatic ending was a fitting bookend for the Dodgers. Gordon led off the game with his first career homer, a second-deck shot to right field.

"He was talking all day how he was going to hit a home run," Mark Ellis recounted. "And then he goes out there and hits a home run. It wasn't a short one, either. It was a bomb, too. He called it."

Gordon was surprised that his double-play partner revealed that bit of banter.

"I kind of hinted to Mark," clarified Gordon, who was homerless in his first 311 career at-bats. "I can swing the bat. I've got power. I just try to get on base, hit steady line drives, but he gave me a pitch that I could hit."

How could a guy who's generously listed at 160 pounds and who had never hit a home run in the majors be so sure of his power?

"Because I know me. I know what kind of power I possess. I've lived with me for 24 years," Gordon replied. "So, I just try to do what I can to get on base and I happened to hit a home run."

Lilly downplayed the strained lat muscle that cut his outing short. He called the injury "very minor" and said he hoped it wouldn't force him to skip a side session or his next start.

BASEBALL: Lilly shines in Dodgers' winThe Associated Press

Posted: 05/01/2012 11:13:10 PM PDT

DENVER - Ted Lilly threw six solid innings and the Dodgers got home runs from Dee Gordon, Andre Ethier and A.J. Ellis in a 7-6 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.

Lilly gave up four hits and two runs while the Dodgers pounded out 11 hits off Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin and then held on despite a shaky bullpen performance.

The victory capped a big day for the storied franchise that marked the end to the tumultuous Frank McCourt era.

The $2.15 billion sale of the team to Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group that includes former Lakers star Magic Johnson, was finalized Tuesday, just hours before the Dodgers improved to an NL-best 17-7.

"I think the fans of L.A. are pretty excited about the new ownership and what it's bringing. As long as L.A. is happy, I'm happy," Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp said. "As long as we're winning, I'm happy."

The Dodgers were even happier after this latest display of pinpoint pitching and power at the plate that has propelled them to their best start since 1983.

Lilly (3-0) improved to 9-2 against the Rockies. He got all the run support he needed by the time the Dodgers had sent four batters to the plate in the first inning.

The only downer for Los Angeles was the bullpen that allowed four runs in two ugly innings before Javy Guerra shut the door in the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances. He allowed a one-out single to pinch-hitter Wilin Rosario, who advanced on a passed ball and went to third on Marco Scutaro's groundout.

That brought up Carlos Gonzalez, who already had homered earlier in the evening. With first base open, the Dodgers decided to pitch to the Rockies' slugger, and Guerra fell behind 2-0 before throwing three consecutive strikes to end it.

Gonzalez's bat splintered as he smashed it into the ground in frustration.

Chacin (0-3) gave up an RBI double in the third to Ellis, who made it 7-0 with a two-run shot in the fifth, his second of the season. The seven earned runs Chacin allowed were a career worst.

Gordon led off the game with his first career homer, a no-doubt shot off the second deck in right field, and Ethier homered into the bullpen in right-center following singles by Mark Ellis and Kemp to make it 4-0.

Lilly's only mistake among his 79 pitches was a fat fastball that Gonzalez sent into the right-field seats for a two-run homer, his fifth, in the sixth inning that made it 7-2.

The Rockies tagged Josh Lindblom for three runs on four hits in the seventh.

Chris Nelson hit a run-scoring double and pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin a two-run homer to right that made it 7-5. In just two-thirds of an inning, Lindblom gave up as many hits as Lilly did. With the tying run at the plate, lefty Scott Elbert came on and retired Gonzalez on a groundout.

Troy Tulowitzki led off the eighth with a triple against Kenley Jansen, and Todd Helton drove him home with a sacrifice fly that left fielder Tony Gwynn Jr. tracked down at the wall in the power alley, making it 7-6. Jansen gave up a two-out single to Ramon Hernandez but struck out pinch-hitter Jason Giambi to end the threat.

Notes

Left-hander Josh Outman impressed the Rockies with his one inning of work Monday at Triple-A Colorado Springs as he inches closer to joining Colorado's bullpen. Outman (oblique) hit 95 mph with his fastball, manager Jim Tracy said. ... Tracy said Rosario is getting enough playing time at catcher to avoid stunting his development. Tracy noted the experience Rosario is gaining from watching and listening to Hernandez is as much a teaching tool as is playing. ... The Rockies know about fast starts like the Dodgers are enjoying. They opened 17-8 last year only to fade fast. "You have to be mindful that the season isn't one month long, it's six," Tracy said. "A good month does not a season make." ... The rubber game of the series today pits Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (2-0) against Drew Pomeranz (0-1).

TOM HOFFARTH on THE DODGERS: Mayday call finally gets answeredBy Tom Hoffarth, columnist

Posted: 05/01/2012 10:20:30 PM PDT

Closure officially came a day later than the one we had circled on the calendar.

Maybe that's how it was supposed to happen. On May 1, the distant cries of mayday finally could cease.

Dodgers fans could come to shore from their lifeboats, stop bailing water and take a nice, warm shower.

The successful wire transfer of $2 billion-plus apparently takes more than just the 30 days mandated by the courts.

There's a devil in the details, we've been led to believe.

Meaning that when Frank McCourt's involved, you need lawyers, judges and priests with expertise in exorcisms to sign off on it.

At last, the ownership deed was formally pried away from the clutches of an overburdened divorcee and assumed by a gaggle of apparently overloaded investors under the banner of Guggenheim Baseball Management.

Next up is a big coming-out party this morning at Dodger Stadium to put a new face on the franchise, with the blessing of Vin Scully, Tommy Lasorda, L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and anyone else who has an employment stake or access to free tickets invited to attend.

Dodgers history turns the page on a new chapter. One that doesn't have a number after it in the title.

"The Dodgers emerge from the Chapter 11 reorganization process having achieved its objective of maximizing the value of the Dodgers through a successful plan of reorganization, under which all claims will be paid," the team said in a statement Tuesday, just a day after the April 30 deadline came and went for orders to have the sale completed.

"The Dodgers move forward with confidence - in a strong financial position; as a premier Major League Baseball franchise; and as an integral part of and representative of the Los Angeles community."

And with fans ceasing and desisting their picket-line protests along Sunset Boulevard. Many actually are driving back over the hill to return to the park.

The Dodgers, with the best record in the National League, rank sixth in Major League Baseball overall attendance at the moment, averaging more than 39,500 a game in 12 home dates.

They come off a weekend series against Washington in which they exceeded 44,000 each night and hit 54,000-plus for a bobblehead giveaway.

A year ago, when owner outrage collided with deviance to create the worst attendance backlash in recent memory, the Dodgers were 11th overall and failed to crack 3 million, filling seats at just 64 percent capacity.

McCourt's third-base dugout seats can be filled by Magic Johnson. Or Stan Kasten. Or Mark Walter. Or maybe they can work out some kind of time share.

McCourt was at the stadium Tuesday, introducing Dodgers employees to the Guggenheim team headed by Walter. Soon to be taking the office of CEO is Kasten, the former Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals president.

Somewhere, Magic also will get a desk and chair, for having pulled this all together as the front man. They might as well build another statue for him out beyond center field. Then, start creating a bobblehead in his honor.

From a presentation standpoint, that's how this all lands in the laps of Dodgers fans.

Magic Johnson is the epitome of showmanship and fun.

Frank McCourt shows what can happen to someone fundamentally flawed.

I have a letter McCourt sent to me March 24, 2006.

It was in response to my mailing him a copy of the new book, "Fun is Good," written by Mike Veeck, the maverick minor-league baseball owner and son of the late Hall of Fame owner Bill Veeck.

Just a couple of years after buying the team for a mere $430 million, McCourt faced a media backlash at the time for botched attempts at attracting fans - remember "Two Dollar Tuesday"? - as that 2005 squad finished 20 games below .500.

In thanking me for the book, he said: "It certainly looks like a fascinating commentary on the success of different types of business environments and I look forward to reading it."

I have no idea if he ever did, but I could see his attention to detail left something to be desired.

He misspelled my name.

We didn't know at that time that he and his wife, Jamie, already were having all kinds of fun on the Dodgers' dime. A $21 million home in Brentwood came in April 2004. By July 2007, they put down another $27 million for a home in Malibu. And then $19 million for the place next door.

The McCourts had good fun, all right, until their union went the way as many do in L.A., and ownership issues of the franchise that came out in divorce proceedings smelled of unethical behavior.

"I think we just got over our skis," McCourt explained last year during another round of media spin, apparently unaware the last time it snowed in Los Angeles was 50 years ago.

Guilty in the court of public opinion on charges of fan abuse, Ballpark Frank might need a probation-officer escort to get within 50 yards of the stadium entrance again. But somehow he has access to a steam shovel that can be fired up if the parking lots around Dodger Stadium ever are converted into some kind of profit-making establishments.

And that's all OK with everyone in the MLB bankruptcy claims adjustors' office? Because that $1 billion windfall from this devilish transaction isn't enough?

Eight years and a few months after Bud Selig officially welcomed him to the ownership cartel, in the wake of a botched attempt by Fox and Rupert Murdoch to turn the team into a TV-generating dynasty, McCourt leaves with no World Series titles, a few trips to the postseason and that free copy of "Fun is Good."

McCourt must know of the old Irish blessing: "May you be in Dodger blue heaven a full half-hour before the fans know you're dead."

Add to that: Don't let the door to Magic Johnson's limo hit you on the way out.

Frank McCourt no longer Dodgers' owner as sale goes through to Magic Johnson-led groupBy Tom Hoffarth, Staff Writer

Posted: 05/01/2012 12:46:53 PM PDT

The Dodgers' $2.15 billion sale to Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC was completed this morning, ending Frank McCourt's tumultuous stewardship of the team after eight-plus years.

The new ownership team fronted by former Lakers great Magic Johnson, and including controlling partner Mark Walter and CEO Stan Kasten, will be formally introduced at a Dodger Stadium press conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

"The Dodgers emerge from the Chapter 11 reorganization process having achieved its objective of maximizing the value of the Dodgers through a successful plan of reorganization, under which all claims will be paid," the team said in a statement today, one day after the anticipated April 30 deadline passed for the sale to be completed.

"The Dodgers move forward with confidence - in a strong financial position; as a premier Major League Baseball franchise; and as an integral part of and representative of the Los Angeles community."

A deluge of detail work had to be completed by mediator Joseph Farnan Jr., before the sale was announced, after McCourt picked the Guggenheim group as the winning bidders through a Delaware bankruptcy auction in late March.

McCourt filed for bankruptcy in June 2011 when Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig rejected several attempts to restructure the team's finances through the extension of a TV rights deal with Fox Sports' Prime Ticket channel.

Much of the financial problems for McCourt came as the result of personal spending of team assets, which all came out during a divorce process. The final sale of the team also completes a $131 million payment from Frank McCourt to ex-wife Jamie McCourt as court mandated, and as the precursor to establish Frank McCourt as sole owner of the organization before he could move forward.

McCourt is to remain in the ownership picture if only as an investor in developing land in the parking lot surrounding the stadium.

Also departing from the Dodgers' front office are Howard Sunkin, the team's senior vice president, and Jeff Ingram, the vice chairman.

OC REGISTER

The final card up McCourt’s sleeve

April 30th, 2012, 5:21 pm · · posted by Howard Cole, OCREGISTER.COM

Deuces wild, everyone. It’s come down to this. Today is Frank McCourt’s last day as “steward” to the Dodgers.

Frank has spent his final Dodger dollar on mansions, hair and makeup, and while he may yet have an ace up his sleeve, thankfully the ace’s name is not Clayton Kershaw. McCourt holds no more power over the precious resources of our fair city. So we can all exhale and get on with our lives.

Fine, so the exiting owner still has a rather large piece of the Chavez Ravine pie. How does the flavor “Lots O’Lemon” strike you? Never mind. I can guess your answer with little imagination, and as much as we’d love to let the man have it, it’s probably best to keep things clean.

And while I still could turn out to be correct in that McCourt may yet fork over the real estate in a subsequent sale, I’ll take my medicine on this joyous day – and it is a joyous day – and admit the error of my prediction. I was wrong when I said Frank wasn’t going to be keeping the parking lots. A major E-6 for me.

But – and it’s a big butt, Juan Uribe’s butt – I was right about a bunch of other stuff, so I’ll pat myself on the Frank-Jobe-corrected-throwing-shoulder (no joke) re the following.

As I said, Frank is walking away a rich man. A very, very rich man. That was the plan all along, we know now. So congratulations on that, Mr. Evil Genius. You proved to be one step ahead of everyone, from Major League Baseball to the ex-wife, on down to the last the poor schlub to pay fifteen bucks to park on Sunday.

But more importantly, much more importantly – and I’ll scream the proclamation from the tippy-top seat of the top deck section as far as the echo can travel – everything is going to be OK. It really is. The gloom and doom of the McCourt years is behind us. Frank has adiosed himself from the premises, the locks have been changed and everything really is going to be OK.

The club is off to a 16-6 start to the season, firmly in first place with Magic and company, cavalry and all, riding to the rescue as we speak.

While the grand gesture idea put forth by MSTI’s Mike Petriello sounds nice and makes good sense, I don’t think it’ll come in the way he suggests. Given the events of Opening Day 2011, the lowering of beer prices couldn’t be more inappropriate.

Besides, the last thing L.A.’s only baseball team needs is to be taking its cues from the Angels, especially when it involves something as classless as helping the drunk to a cheap refill.

The new owners ought not start with a promise about a championship either. McCourt made the same promise, remember, and if we’ve learned one thing from his example, it’s not about what you say, it’s about what you do, and how you go about doing it.

The return of straw hats to Dodger Stadium would be welcome, I suppose, even more so if it’s accompanied by top-notch and polite-beyond-expectations customer service. And with a week’s head start, there’s no good reason for there to be such a thing as a long hot dog line come the next homestand.

But the way to this fan’s heart is a plan to win in 2012 and every year from here on out. Not another peep out of the general manager’s mouth about acquiring “a bat” singular at the trading deadline.

You don’t wait until the last week of July when you don’t absolutely have to, and you don’t absolutely have to. Not in the least. And you certainly don’t aspire to trade for one extra player.

You look to be the best of 30 clubs and at every spot conceivable, from left field to third base, to first base to the bullpen to the last man off the bench.

That’s how you begin, that’s how you win, and that’s how you grab our attention.

Good luck to Magic, welcome to incoming baseball-man-in-charge Stan Kasten, and a hearty handshake to the new queso grande of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mark Walter. We’re glad you’re here. Oh man, are we glad you’re here.

TRUE BLUE LA

Dodgers 5/1/12 Minor League Report - Isotopes Cruz to Victory

by Brandon Lennox on May 2, 2012 6:01 AM PDT in Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Report

Minor League Player of the Day – Luis Cruz - 4 for 5, 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 RBI's, 2 Runs. Cruz, who was among the last cuts from the Dodgers roster during spring training, has done nothing but hit since joining the Isotopes. The 28 year old infielder increased his average to .341 with his 4 hits on Tuesday, which ranks behind only Alex Castellanos for tops in the organization. He's spent almost all his time at shortstop this season and should be at the top of the minor league depth chart at that position if something should happen to Gordon.

AAA – The Isotopes almost created a perfect picket fence over the first 6 innings on Tuesday, with only a 2-spot in the 2nd preventing the perfection, yet they still barely escaped with a 7 - 6 victory over the RedHawks (Astros). Albuquerque scored their 7 runs on 14 hits, with 4 of them coming from Luis Cruz who went 4 for 5 with a double, a homer, and 2 RBI's. Matt Angle and Elian Herrera both went 2 for 4 with a double and a run driven in, while Scott Van Slyke came off the bench and connected on a triple. On the mound Michael Antonini made his first appearance since rejoining the Isotopes from LA, but had a sub-par outing as he gave up 4 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings. Ronald Belisario also struggled in his first AAA rehab appearance as he allowed 4 of the 5 batters he faced to reach base, but luckily the late inning relievers were solid and preserved the win. Scott Rice threw a hitless 8th and then Josh Wall continued his hot streak with 3 strikeouts in a perfect 9th. Wall has been so good, in fact, that he has allowed just 1 hit over his last 11 innings of work.

AA – The Lookouts started off many on the wrong foot as they lost to the Huntsville Stars (Brewers) 4 to 3. Chattanooga actually staged a late inning comeback as they scored two in the 9th to close the gap to 1 on a Travis Denker homer, a Kyle Russell double, and a Griff Erickson single, but Griff was eventually stranded at 3rd when Luis Nunez struck out to end the game. Outside of the 9th inning the only other offensive highlight for the Lookouts was a solo homer for Jake Lemmerman, who also walked twice and stole two bases. Chris Withrow started this game and while he allowed 8 his over 6 innings, he didn't walk a batter, limited the damage to just 2 runs, and struck out 7. Geison Aguasviva gave up the final two runs in relief to increase his ERA to 3.86.

HiA – The Quakes and 66ers (Angels) matched 3-spots in the 7th inning, but Inland Empire one up'ed Rancho by scoring 3 more runs in the 8th to secure a 7 - 6 victory. Quake starter Angel Sanchez showed solid improvement over his previous two starts as he limited the opposition to just 4 hits over 6.1 frames, but he still wasn't all the sharp as he walked 3 and gave up 3 runs. Reliever Jon Michael Redding was the real goat, however as the 66ers tagged him for 4 runs in just 1 inning of work. 3 of those runs scored after he left the

game as Logan Bawcom allowed a pair of run scoring singles, but his ERA remains unblemished as none of the runs were charged to him. At the plate Austin Gallagher hit his 5th homer of the season, which leads the organization, but that was the extent of the excitement as there were no other extra base hits and none of the Rancho batters had more than one base knock.

LoA – Off day

Coming up – Should be a fun match-up in Rancho on Wednesday as Zach Lee takes on one of the hottest pitchers in the California League in Donn Roach. Allen Webster will try and change his luck now that the month has turned to May as he starts for Chattanooga, while Jarret Martin will take the mound for the Loons. Finally Mike Parisi will try and continue his solid start to his season for the Isotopes.

Minor League Transactions - HiA: Brian Cavazos-Galvez was demoted from AA to the Quakes, Jarrad Page was removed from the roster, and Casio Grider was activated from the DL

Dodgers Postgame Notes: Ted Lilly's Side, Juan Uribe Sidelined

by Eric Stephen on May 1, 2012 10:37 PM PDT in Dodgers Postgame Reaction

Ted Lilly was removed after six innings Tuesday night, the third time in four starts he was pulled after exactly 79 pitches this season. Now we know what that dugout discussion in the top of the seventh inning was about, between Lilly, manager Don Mattingly, and trainer Sue Falsone.

Lilly has a stiff side muscle, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times, something that the left-hander said has bothered him in his last few starts. Whether Lilly will have to miss his next start is unknown, but we'll be on the lookout to see whether or not Nathan Eovaldi makes his third consecutive one-inning start for Double A Chattanooga.

In addition, Hernandez reported that Juan Uribe re-injured his left wrist during batting practice and was unavailable to pinch hit Tuesday night. That explains why Uribe didn't bat for Adam Kennedy in the top of the ninth inning against left-hander Matt Reynolds. But I still question why the right-handed Justin Sellers, who came in for Kennedy anyway on defense in the bottom of the ninth, wasn't sent up to hit for the left-handed Kennedy.

UPDATE: Sellers was brought in on a double switch and would have batted second had the game gone to the 10th inning. I missed that, so ignore the last sentence in the previous paragraph.

Speaking of injuries, Juan Rivera pinch hit for the third time in six games since straining his left hamstring. Rivera again didn't see time in the field, though Gary Miller on the KCAL pregame show said Rivera was available to play the field on Tuesday. With the left-handed Drew Pomeranz starting for Colorado on Wednesday, expect the right-handed Rivera to start.

Tomorrow

The third and final game of the series at Coors Field is a noon start, the first of four consecutive day games for the Dodgers. But the festivities begin at 10 a.m. PDT, when the new ownership group will be introduced at Dodger Stadium. The press conference will be televised by KCAL and Prime Ticket, and will be shown online by MLB.com and Dodgers.com.

Dodgers Get Power From Where Jhoulys Expect It

by Eric Stephen on May 1, 2012 9:12 PM PDT in Dodgers Game Recaps

The Rockies scored the final six runs of the game, but that was after the Dodgers scored the first seven runs of the contest. The Dodgers bruised and battered Jhoulys Chacin, a pitcher that had given them trouble in his young career, providing just enough cushion on their way to a 7-6 victory over the Rockies Tuesday night in Coors Field.

Chacin, you may remember, allowed just one home run in 64 career innings against the Dodgers before tonight, when that stat went out the window after just one batter. Dee Gordon, he of the .207 batting average and .241 slugging percentage entering play Tuesday night and in the midst of a 1-for-15 and 5-for-31 slump, crushed a pitch from Chacin, lining it off the facade of the upper deck in right field for his first major league home run.

After a single and a walk, Andre Ethier cashed in three more runs with a bomb over the center field wall to widen the Dodgers' lead. After four batters under new ownership group Guggenheim Baseball Partners, the Dodgers had four runs.

A.J. Ellis drove in a run in the third inning with a double down the left field line, then powered a hanging breaking ball over the left field wall in the fifth for his second home run of the season and a commanding 7-0 lead. All seven of those runs, and three home runs, were off Chacin.

That was more than enough for Ted Lilly, who continued his great start to 2012. Lilly pitched scoreless ball for the first five innings, including retiring 10 in a row at one point. Lilly finally allowed a pair of runs in the sixth inning on a two-run shot by Carlos Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was also the last man to hit a home run off Lilly, and that came on August 26, 2011. In between those bookend home runs to Gonzalez, Lilly went 265 batters and a career-best 68 innings without allowing a home run.

After a long diiscussion between Lilly, manager Don Mattingly, and trainer Sue Falsone in the dugout during the top of the seventh, Lilly was removed in favor of pinch hitter Juan Rivera, who grounded out to end the inning. Lilly allowed just two runs in his six innings, the most runs scored against him in a start this season, walking one and striking out four.

Lilly was pulled after 79 pitches, the third time in four starts he has been lifted after exactly 79 pitches this season.

Josh Lindblom started the seventh inning for the Dodgers, but he didn't finish it, with his first truly poor outing in 12 appearances this season. After allowing back-to-back doubles to Ramon Hernandez and Chris Nelson for a run, Lindblom surrendered a home run to Tyler Colvin to cut the Dodgers' lead to 7-5.

The Rockies added another run off Kenley Jansen in the eighth, forcing the setup man to throw 27 pitches.

The embattled Javy Guerra came in to pitch the ninth inning, and the Rockies got the tying run to third base, but Guerra got his swag back, to borrow a term from Mattingly, by striking out Gonzalez to end the game and seal the win.

Notes Mark Ellis went 4-for-5 on the night, his first four-hit game since doing so for the Rockies last September 14 against the

Brewers.

With his three-run home run, Ethier overtook Matt Kemp for the major league lead in RBI, 27 to 25.

I'm still wondering why the left-handed batting Adam Kennedy was allowed to bat in the top of the ninth against left-handed pitcher Matt Reynolds with right-handed batters Juan Uribe and Justin Sellers available off the bench, especially when Sellers was brought in for defense in the bottom of the inning.

Up Next

Clayton Kershaw gets the start Wednesday afternoon as the Dodgers go for the series win, facing lefty Drew Pomeranz.

Tonight's Particulars

Home Runs: Dee Gordon (1), Andre Ethier (6), A.J. Ellis (2); Carlos Gonzalez (5), Tyler Colvin (2)

WP - Ted Lilly (3-0): 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

LP -Jhoulys Chacin (0-3): 4 2/3 IP, 11 hits, 7 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts

Sv - Javy Guerra (8): 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts

A Paucity Of Home Runs

by Eric Stephen on May 1, 2012 3:36 PM PDT in Dodgers Game Previews

The Dodgers look to get back on track Tuesday night at Coors Field, sending Ted Lilly to the mound to face Jhoulys Chacin of the Rockies. Lilly has allowed three runs in three starts so far this season.

Lilly allowed a home run to Carlos Gonzalez last August 26 at Dodger Stadium. Since then, 245 batters have come to the plate against Lilly and none have hit a home run, a span of 62 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers have faced Chacin 10 times since the beginning of the 2010 season, and Chacin has allowed just one home run in 64 innings, with a 2.39 career ERA against the Dodgers. That one home run off Chacin was hit by ... you guessed it, Matt Kemp, at Coors Field.

Dodgers April In Review: The Matt Kemp Show by Eric Stephen on May 1, 2012 11:46 AM PDT in Dodgers Monthly Reports

The Dodgers picked up where they left off at the end of last season. After a 17-11 August and a 17-9 September to end 2011, the Dodgers began 2012 with a 16-7 April, thanks in large part to Matt Kemp and some superb pitching.

April also marked the end of the Frank McCourt ownership of the franchise. Will May bring more Magic?

Dodger Batter of April: After finishing second in last year's MVP voting, Matt Kemp had a month that left no doubt of the best player in baseball. Kemp hit .417/.490/.893 with a Dodger-record 12 April home runs. Kemp scored 24 runs and drove in 25 in 23 games.

Honorable mention goes to Andre Ethier, who saw his power return with five home runs, and to A.J. Ellis, who led the team with 15 walks and hit .291/.443/.400.

Dodger Pitcher of April: It turns out the only thing that could keep Clayton Kershaw down was the flu. Despite being limited to three innings on opening day, Kershaw ended the month 2-0 with a 1.78 ERA.

Honorable mention goes to Ted Lilly, who has allowed just one run in each of his starts but has only started three times; and to Josh Lindblom, who allowed just one run in 11 appearances and made himself an indispensable part of the bullpen.

April Record: 16-791 runs scored (3.96 per game)79 runs allowed (3.43 per game).564 pythagorean winning percentage (13-10)

April National League West Standings

Club W-L Pct GB RS RA

Dodgers 16-7 .696 -- 91 79

Giants 12-10 .545 3½ 90 86

Diamondbacks 12-11 .522 4 104 102

Rockies 11-11 .500 4½ 113 112

Padres 7-17 .292 9½ 75 99

Game of the Month: Dodger Stadium on April 28 was an electric atmosphere. The game featured the debut of super prospect Bryce Harper, just 19 years old. Harper didn't disappoint, with a booming double to center field and a laser throw from left field. The game featured an outstanding pitching duel between Chad Billingsley and Stephen Strasburg, each of whom allowed one run in seven innings. The Dodgers were down two runs in the ninth but rallied to tie, with the tying run scoring on a wild pitch with two outs. To top everything off, Matt Kemp led off the 10th inning with a walk-off home run for a 4-3 win, and Kemp was serenaded with chants of "M-V-P" as he rounded the bases.

Southpaw Killer: Matt Kemp had 16 hits in 29 at-bats against left-handed pitchers in April, including five home runs and a double, hitting a robust .552/.606/1.103.

Infield Woes: The Dodgers starting infield of James Loney, Mark Ellis, Dee Gordon, and Juan Uribe combined to hit just .235/.306/.300 with one home run and 19 RBI.

Pinch Hitting: For the month, Dodger pinch hitters were terrible, with four hits in 26 at-bats, including a double, hitting .154/.214/.192.

Runners in Scoring Position: In April, the Dodgers hit .267/.384/.375 with runners in scoring position in 226 plate appearances.

They had a runner on third base with less than two outs 43 times, and got the runner home 22 times, or 51.2% (the entire NL scored 352 of 736 times, 47.8%).

They had a runner on second base with nobody out 41 times in April, and the runner advanced 28 times, or 68.3% (the entire NL advanced the runner 281 of 499 times, 56.3%).

April Weeks in Review: April 8 | April 16 | April 22 | April 29

April StatsPlayer PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SB/CS BA/OBP/SLG OPS

Kemp 98 84 24 35 4 0 12 25 13 2/2 .417/.490/.893 1.383

Ethier 94 87 11 24 6 1 5 24 6 0/0 .276/.330/.540 .870

Ellis, A.J. 71 55 4 16 3 0 1 7 15 0/0 .291/.443/.400 .843

Loney 77 69 5 16 6 0 1 6 8 0/1 .232/.312/.362 .674

Ellis, M. 90 77 16 19 2 1 0 2 11 1/0 .247/.356/.299 .654

Rivera 65 59 8 15 3 0 1 9 4 0/1 .254/.292/.356 .648

Uribe 65 60 3 16 3 0 0 7 3 0/1 .267/.313/.317 .629

Gordon 93 87 11 18 3 0 0 4 5 10/4 .207/.247/.241 .489

Starters 653 578 82 159 30 2 20 84 65 13/9 .275/.350/.438 .788

Hairston 49 40 2 12 2 0 0 0 5 1/1 .300/.417/.350 .767

Sellers 21 17 3 3 2 0 0 0 3 0/0 .176/.300/.294 .594

Gwynn 40 36 3 9 1 0 0 2 3 1/1 .250/.308/.278 .585

Treanor 17 15 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 0/0 .133/.176/.267 .443

Kennedy 23 17 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 0/0 .059/.227/.059 .286

Bench 150 125 9 27 5 1 0 4 16 2/2 .216/.315/.272 .587

Pitchers 52 40 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0/0 .075/.119/.075 .194

Totals 855 743 91 189 35 3 20 88 83 15/11 .254/.333/.390 .723

Pitcher G W-L Sv IP H R ER BB K ERA WHIP FIP*

Lilly 3 2-0 -- 20.0 9 3 2 8 11 0.90 0.850 3.30

Kershaw 5 2-0 -- 30.1 20 7 6 7 28 1.78 0.890 2.38

Billingsley 5 2-1 -- 30.2 22 13 9 7 25 2.64 0.946 4.37

Capuano 5 3-0 -- 29.2 23 9 9 13 29 2.73 1.213 3.98

Harang 5 1-2 -- 28.1 31 19 18 13 30 5.72 1.553 3.73

Starters 23 10-3 -- 139.0 105 51 44 48 123 2.85 1.101 3.57

Lindblom 11 1-0 -- 13.2 6 1 1 4 11 0.66 0.732 3.64

Wright 8 1-0 -- 9.0 2 2 2 5 10 2.00 0.778 2.98

Jansen 14 2-0 2/3 14.2 6 4 4 7 24 2.45 0.886 3.13

Guerrier 7 0-1 -- 6.2 3 2 2 5 4 2.70 1.200 3.80

Elbert 9 0-0 -- 6.0 9 3 3 2 5 4.50 1.833 5.20

Guerra 12 1-3 7/9 10.1 13 7 7 4 12 6.10 1.645 1.75

MacDougal 7 0-0 -- 5.2 9 5 5 6 4 7.94 2.647 4.96

Coffey 4 1-0 -- 2.0 5 4 4 2 2 18.00 3.500 5.70

Relievers 26 6-4 9/12 68.0 53 28 28 35 72 3.71 1.294 3.48

Totals 23 16-7 9/12 207.0 158 79 72 83 195 3.13 1.164 3.54

*FIP is estimated

It's Official: Dodgers Sale Completed, Frank McCourt Era Over

by Eric Stephen on May 1, 2012 11:05 AM PDT in News

The day we have waited for for some time has finally come. The Frank McCourt ownership of the Dodgers is now officially over, as the $2 billion sale closed on Tuesday.

Guggenheim Baseball Partners LLC is now in charge, with Mark Walter as control person, Stan Kasten as CEO, and Magic Johnson as the face and standing ovation generator.

"The Dodgers emerge from the Chapter 11 reorganization process having achieved its objective of maximizing the value of the Dodgers through a successful Plan of Reorganization, under which all claims will be paid," the Dodgers released in a statement. "The Dodgers move forward with confidence - in a strong financial position; as a premier Major League Baseball franchise; and as an integral part of and representative of the Los Angeles community."

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reported that general manager Ned Colletti met with representatives of Andre Ethier on Friday and speculates that an extension for the two-time All-Star right fielder could be the first order of business for Guggenheim Baseball Partners.

LA OPINION

Vendidos los Dodgers por $2,000 millones

POR: Agencia EFE | 12:56 pm | 05/01/2012 | La Opinión

El precio de venta establece un récord en este tipo de transacciones

Redacción Deportes EEUU, 1 de Mayo - La venta de Los Ángeles Dodgers a la compañía "Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC" ("GBM") por $2,000 millones quedó hoy completada, según informó el equipo de béisbol de la Liga Nacional en un comunicado oficial.

El antiguo dueño de los Dodgers, Frank McCourt, y la nueva entidad propietaria del equipo, en la que se incluyen los accionistas Mark Walter, que será el CEO de la compañía, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, exestrella de la NBA, y Stan Kasten, confirmaron que la operación de venta había quedado cerrada.

El precio de venta de los Dodgers es un récord dentro del deporte profesional de Estados Unidos al superar los $1,100 millones que Stephen Ross pagó por comprar a los Miami Dolphins, de la Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano (NFL), en el 2009.

También supera los $1,470 millones que hace siete años pagó Malcolm Glazer y su familia por la compra del Manchester United inglés.

El precio mayor que se había pagado por un equipo de béisbol dentro de las Grandes Ligas fue el de $845 millones cuando en el 2009, la familia Ricketts compró a los Cachorros de Chicago.

"Los Dodgers surgen de un proceso de reorganización de bancarrota en el que se consiguió el objetivo de conseguir el máximo de su valor a través de un Plan de Organización exitoso, que hará frente a todas las reclamaciones de pago que estén pendientes", destaca el comunicado oficial. "Los Dodgers miran al futuro con confianza", reitera.

De acuerdo al mismo comunicado, la posición financiera del equipo es "fuerte", como le corresponde a uno de los mejores equipos de las Grandes Ligas, que además es una parte integral y representativa de la comunidad de Los Ángeles.

Los Dodgers están teniendo un gran comienzo de temporada en el apartado deportivo con marca ganadora de 16-7, líderes de la División Oeste de la Liga Nacional.

El equipo angelino tiene en su poder seis títulos de la Serie Mundial, pero ninguno desde la temporada de 1988 cuando la franquicia era propiedad de la familia O'Malley, que consiguió trasladarla de la sede de Brooklyn a Los Ángeles después de concluir la temporada de 1957.

La cadena de televisión Fox, en 1998, compró el equipo a la familia O'Malley y en el 2004 se lo vendió a McCourt por $430 millones. En la operación se incluía las propiedades del equipo, el Dodger Stadium y un terreno adyacente que incluye una gran área de aparcamiento.

Se esperaba que la venta hubiese quedado cerrada el lunes, cuando McCourt tenía que pagar $131 millones a su exmujer Jamie McCourt como parte del acuerdo de divorcio entre ambos.

De acuerdo al comunicado, todos los pagos reclamados serán pagados y en concreto Jamie McCourt recibió el suyo en la fecha establecida por la ley.

ESPN DEPORTES

Se desquitaron de los Rockies miércoles, 2 de mayo de 2012

por ESPNLosAngeles.com

Los Dodgers de Los Angeles batearon tres jonrones, incluyendo el primero en la carrera del torpedero Dee Gordon, el zurdo Ted Lilly tuvo otra gran salida y la parte trasera del bullpen retuvo una ventaja mínima para sentenciar la victoria 7-2 sobre los Rockies de Colorado, el martes, en el Coors Field de Denver.

Los Angeles atacó temprano al venezolano Jhoulys Chacín con cuatro carreras en la primera entrada. Gordon bateó jonrón, su primero después de 311 turnos, y un poco más tarde Andre Ethier despachó el sexto de la temporada con dos compañeros a bordo. El receptor A.J. Ellis desapareció la pelota con Tony Gwynn hijo en los senderos en el quinto inning.

Ethier bateó de 3-2 con dos boletos gratis y con sus tres impulsadas de la noche recuperó el liderato de Grandes Ligas con 27, dos más que su compañero Matt Kemp, quien bateó de 4-1 y anotó una vez. A.J Ellis fue de 4-2 con tres impulsadas, el intermedista Mark Ellis de 5-4 y Gwynn de 5-2 con dos anotadas.

Lilly (3-0) mantuvo su impresionante arranque con seis entradas de dos carreras, cuatro hits y cuatro ponches para dejar en 1.38 su promedio de efectividad en la temporada. Desde el 1 de agosto del año pasado, Lilly tiene efectividad de 2.00 (20 carreras en 95 entradas) en 19 salidas.

Chacín (0-3) cargó con la derrota tras permitir 11 hits y siete carreras en cuatro entradas y dos tercios. El derecho dejó su efectividad en 7.32 en la temporada. Javy Guerra ponchó al peligroso Carlos González con el empate en tercera bases para agenciarse su octavo salvamento en diez oportunidades.

COMO SUCEDIÓGordon encendió la mecha con su tablazo a la fachada del segundo piso en Coors Field y luego de sencillos de Mark Ellis y Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier descargó vuelacercas de tres vueltas para poner el marcador 4-0 antes que Chacín realizara el primer out del encuentro.

En el tercero, el jardinero Tony Gwynn hijo bateó sencillo, estafó segunda base y anotó cuando el receptor A.J. Ellis conectó un doblete por encima de la almohadilla de tercera base.

Gwynn estaba en base cuando Mark Ellis pegó su tercer hit del juego, su segundo jonrón de la temporada, en el quinto inning. Los Rockies descontaron con jonrón de dos carreras del venezolano Carlos González en la sexta entrada y agregaron tres más en el séptimo, con dobletes seguidos del receptor venezolano Ramón Hermández y Chris Nelson y jonrón de Tyler Colvin. Un triple de Troy Tulowitzki y elevado de sacrificio de Todd Helton puso el juego 7-6.

Pero el preparador Kenley Jansen se repuso ponchando a Jason Giambi para terminar el octavo y Javy Guerra superó una amenaza en el noveno para anotarse el salvamento.

OTRO EN EL SHOWEl receptor A.J. Ellis extendió a siete juego su racha con al menos un imparable, durante la que batea .421 (19-8). Ellis ha alcanzado bases en 15 juegos consecutivos y en 18 de 19 juegos en la temporada.

NUEVOS DUEÑOSEl miércoles a las 10 am PT (1 pm ET) se realizará una conferencia de prensa en Dodger Stadium para presentar los integrantes de Guggenheim Baseball Management, la empresa que commpró los Dodgers a Frank McCourt por $2,150 millones de dólares. Se espera la asistencia de el alcalde Antonio Villaraigosa y algunos de los Dodgers más grandes de todos los tiempos, incluyendo el ex manager Tom LaSorda y los narradores Vin Scully y Jaime Jarrín.

LO QUE VIENEEl último partido de la serie de Dodgers y Rockies se jugará en la tarde (12:10 PT, 3:10 ET) con un duelo entre los zurdos Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 1.78) y Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 5.40). Kershaw, el ganador del premio Cy Young de la Liga Nacional en el 2011, tiene marca de 6-4 y efectividad de 3.97 en 16 salidas contra Colorado.

LAist

The Frank McCourt Era of the Dodgers Is Over!

The Dodgers officially announced the $2 billion sale to Guggenheim Baseball Management on Tuesday. In a press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers, Guggenheim Baseball Management LLC (“GBM”) and Frank McCourt today announced the completion of the sale of the Dodgers to GBM for $2 billion. As previously reported, the Dodgers’ new ownership includes Mark Walter as control person, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Stan Kasten as CEO of the organization.

The Los Angeles Dodgers stated, “The Dodgers emerge from the Chapter 11 reorganization process having achieved its objective of maximizing the value of the Dodgers through a successful Plan of Reorganization, under which all claims will be paid. The Dodgers move forward with confidence - in a strong financial position; as a premier Major League Baseball franchise; and as an integral part of and representative of the Los Angeles community.”

Eight years, four playoff berths, three NL West titles, two NLCS berths, one bankruptcy, no World Series titles and one big long embarrassment.

It's over folks.

CBS SPORTS

McCourt leaves with Dodgers on top, but don't give him too much credit

By Danny Knobler | Baseball Insider

As the Dodgers sale became official Tuesday, Frank McCourt handed Magic Johnson and his group the team with the best record in the National League, and the second-best record in baseball.

Which is strangely appropriate.

Not because McCourt was a good owner. He was one of the worst that baseball has seen, turning the team into a financial mess and turning off fans.

But he also took over a franchise that hadn't been to the playoffs in eight years, and hadn't won a playoff game since 1988. Under McCourt, the Dodgers made it to the playoffs four times, and made back-to-back trips to the National League Championship Series.

He'd tell you that made him a good owner (in fact, I've heard him say it). I'd tell you it says more about the baseball people who worked under him, including general manager Ned Colletti and assistants Logan White and DeJon Watson.

It also tells you what the Dodgers could and should become with better ownership in place.

Colletti and his staff built this year's team with a $95 million payroll that ranks 12th in the majors. The Dodgers are winning mostly because of homegrown players like Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw, but also because Colletti seems to have done well with the little money he had to spend over the winter.

Does McCourt deserve any of the credit?

Well, he did hire Colletti in 2005, a year after buying the team. He did allow the Dodgers to lock up Kemp last November, with an eight-year, $160 million contract that right now looks brilliant.

But he also ordered the payroll slashed as his ugly divorce from Jamie led to money problems. And he let venerable Dodger Stadium slide to the point where it no longer felt like something special.

No, he wasn't a good owner, but on the field, his teams were hardly a disaster.

Now he leaves, with the Dodgers on top.

USA TODAY

It's Showtime: Dodgers sale official as McCourt era endsComments By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Updated 11h 26m ago Rap music was playing loudly in the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse Tuesday at Coors Field, but there were no high-fives, no celebration and no acknowledgment that they have new bosses.

The Dodgers were officially sold Tuesday to the Guggenheim Baseball Management team, but to the Dodgers, it was just like another day at the office.

"It's really not a big deal in here," Dodgers All-Star center fielder Matt Kemp said. "It's nice to have everything settled, but all that stuff was out of our control.

"It's good for the fans, because they really wanted a change. So you're happy for them. But we always worried about taking care of business on the field. That was our concern."

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, who met last weekend with incoming owners Mark Walter and Magic Johnson, along with CEO Stan Kasten, says the new group made it clear that it aspires to bring a World Series championship to Los Angeles.

"They want the Dodgers to be a first-class organization that can be as good as they possibly can be," Mattingly said. "They are committed to take the Dodgers to that level."

No major changes were immediately planned for the Dodgers, who have the National League's best record. The new ownership group will have its introductory news conference at 1 p.m. ET today at Dodger Stadium.

"I am pleased that the club can have the fresh start it deserves under new ownership," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "I want to personally thank all Dodger fans for their patience and loyalty during this trying period.

"I have said many times that we owed it to them to ensure that the club was being operated properly and would be guided appropriately in the future. It is my great hope and firm expectation that today's change in ownership marks the start of a new era for the Los Angeles Dodgers and that this historic franchise will once again make the city of Los Angeles proud."

SPORTING NEWS

Dodgers’ new ownership soon could focus on Andre Ethier extension

PUBLISHED 52 minutes and 4 seconds ago

Now that the “Under New Management” sign is hanging on the entrances of Dodger Stadium, one of the first pieces of business the team might address is a contract extension for right fielder Andre Ethier.

Ethier, 30, is in the final season of his contract, but there appears to be mutual interest in locking him up for several more years.

According to CBSSports.com, Ethier’s agents recently met with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti. However, no deal is in place. Sources told the website that Ethier’s extension should fall anywhere between the six-year, $90 million range and the seven-year, $126 million range.

"I've always been inclined to keep him," Colletti recently told the Los Angeles Times. "His start certainly hasn't hurt."

In 24 games this season, Ethier is hitting .289 with six homers and a major league-leading 27 RBIs. He appears to be past the knee issues that limited him to just 11 homers and 62 RBIs in 135

NBC LA

Magic Johnson, New Dodgers Owners Look Forward to Fresh Start

Magic Johnson and other members of the Dodgers new ownership group are expected to speak publicly for the first time about the sale of the team and its future

By Jonathan Lloyd

| Wednesday, May 2, 2012 | Updated 7:09 AM PDT

Lakers great Magic Johnson and other members of the ownership group that took control of the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday after the ups, downs and general mediocrity of the Frank McCourt era are expected Wednesday to talk about their plans for one of baseball's most storied franchises.

The Dodgers principal owners -- Johnson, former Atlanta Braves president Stan Kasten and Guggenheim Baseball Partners CEO Mark Walter -- are scheduled to attend a 10 a.m. news conference at Dodgers Stadium.

"It's the end but it's also the beginning,'' Cy Young award winning pitcher Clayton Kershaw said Tuesday. "It's a cool time.''

The long-awaited sale was finalized Tuesday, bringing McCourt's ownership of the organization to an end and opening a new chapter for a team that struggled on the field last season amid turmoil in the front office and dwindling attendance figures.

Wednesday's news conference is the first by members of the Guggenheim group. A judge approved the $2.15 billion sale April 13 after a monthslong dispute in bankruptcy court involving the Dodgers and Major League Baseball.

"This is a great day for my partners and myself and the Dodgers organization," Johnson told ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" Tuesday. "But also, for the fans of Los Angeles who starve for a winning team. We're going to strive to bring them a winning team and a great fan experience."

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, who appointed a financial monitor to oversee the Dodgers last spring, said he is pleased the sale is final.

"It is my great hope and firm expectation that today's change in ownership marks the start of a new era for the Los Angeles Dodgers and that this historic franchise will once again make the city of Los Angeles proud,'' Selig said in a statement. "I want to personally thank all Dodger fans for their patience and loyalty during this trying period. I have said many times that we owed it to them to ensure that the club was being operated properly and would be guided appropriately in the future."

There were few reasons for optimism at this point last season. It was in April 2011 when Selig announced he planned to appoint a monitor to oversee Dodgers operations. In June, Selig rejected a proposed deal involving the Dodgers and Fox, and the organization filed for bankruptcy protection June 27.

One month into the 2012 season, LA has an NL West-best 17-7 record and a four-game lead over second-place Arizona. Although that has more to do with the play of Matt Kemp than the front-office shakeup, the Dodgers star said he senses the team is off to a fresh start.

"I think the fans of LA are pretty excited about the new ownership and what it's bringing. As long as L.A. is happy, I'm happy,'' slugger Matt Kemp said. "As long as we're winning, I'm happy.''

The Dodgers play at Colorado Wednesday.

As for McCourt, he was required to pay former wife Jame $131 million as part of a divorce settlement, but he won't leave empty-handed. McCourt, in a joint venture with the purchasers, retains a 50-percent interest in the property surrounding Chavez Ravine and the parking lots.

The Boston real estate developer bought the Dodgers in 2004 for $430 million form News Corp. -- a relative bargain compared to the astounding figure the Guggenheim group offered.

The Dodgers have won six World Series titles but none since 1988, when they were still owned by the O'Malley family that moved the team from Brooklyn to California after the 1957 season. The Dodgers made the playoffs the first four out of six seasons under McCourt's ownership, but the off-the-field divorce saga took attention away from the team.

Their spending habits -- "lavish" comes to mind -- were revealed in court documents and testimony.

EXAMINER.COM

Sale of Dodgers complete

Paula Duffy

The sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers was completed May 1, a day later than expected.

Some stray documents that did not get timely court approval prevented the closing on the expected date of April 30.

It didn't keep Frank McCourt from making the April 30 payment to his ex-wife Jamie in the amount of $131 million, according to the L.A. Times.

It came in the form of a wire transfer and was the final piece to the puzzle presented by the McCourts' ugly and public divorce that resulted in forcing the sale of the Dodgers.

The group in control trooped its senior executives into the Dodgers clubhouse on Sunday for a short meet and greet with players and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.

The Associated Press reported that Dodgers pitcher and reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw found it all very fascinating.

"It's the end but it's also the beginning," Kershaw said. "It's a cool time."

In its press release about the final sale, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig issued a statement that reads in part:

“After a long and difficult road, the sale of the Dodgers is now complete, and I am pleased that the club can have the fresh start it deserves under new ownership. I congratulate Mark Walter, Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten and all of their partners, and I look forward to working with them. In addition, I want to personally thank all Dodger fans for their patience and loyalty during this trying period. I have said many times that we owed it to them to ensure that the club was being operated properly and would be guided appropriately in the future. It is my great hope and firm expectation that today’s change in ownership marks the start of a new era for the Los Angeles Dodgers and that this historic franchise will once again make the city of Los Angeles proud."

It was Selig and the owners of the other 29 MLB teams that approved the sale of the Dodgers to the McCourts some eight years ago. It was revealed in the divorce trial that the deal was consummated with little cash and a lot of leveraging of McCourt assets out of state, including parking lots in and around Boston, MA.

Selig spoke to that issue in assuring fans that this time was different. “Despite going through bankruptcy court, this process required the same due diligence and analysis that any other sale would demand. Through all the challenges of this highly unique situation, our requirements were met. Ultimately, the sale produced a record figure in all of sports, illustrating the strength of our industry."

NY TIMES

Dodgers Sale Is FinalizedBy RICHARD SANDOMIR – May 1, 2012

The $2.15 billion sale of the Los Angeles Dodgers to a group featuring Guggenheim Partners, a global financial services firm, was finalized Tuesday, ending the stormy ownership of Frank McCourt, who put the team into bankruptcy nearly a year ago after a dispute over team finances with baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.

The closing was preceded last month by the bankruptcy court’s approval of the team’s reorganization plan whose principal component was the record $2.15 billion price for the team. The new owners also paid McCourt $150 million for a joint venture on the land surrounding Dodger Stadium, including the parking lots.

With the proceeds, McCourt on Monday paid a divorce settlement of $131 million to his ex-wife, Jamie.

Selig released a nearly 250-word statement that welcomed the new ownership, which includes Magic Johnson. Selig looked back at his lengthy and acrimonious fight with McCourt over control of the Dodgers and their finances — which he felt McCourt damaged — but never mentioned McCourt’s name.

Selig called the process a “long and difficult road” for the team that “can have the fresh start it deserves.” He thanked Dodgers fans for their loyalty “during this trying period.” He also said that “we owed it to them to ensure that the club was being operated properly,” and that he was grateful that “the unbecoming events of recent years are behind us.”

Now, he said, “this historic franchise will once again make the city of Los Angeles proud.”

Some of Guggenheim’s executives, including Mark Walter, are using their cash and money from the firm’s subsidiaries to buy the team. Johnson and other investors have small shares.

NBC SPORTS

Bud Selig issues a statement about the Dodgers being sold

Craig Calcaterra

May 1, 2012, 4:31 PM EDT

Bud Selig always says nice things when a team is sold. Remember when Frank McCourt bought the Dodgers? Selig had this to say then:

A day after News Corp. reached an agreement in principle to sell the Dodgers to Boston real estate magnate Frank McCourt for $430 million, MLB commissioner Bud Selig expressed confidence the deal would be completed despite questions about whether McCourt had sufficient financial backing.

“I’m not concerned,” Selig said Saturday about the proposed sale … “I don’t think Allen & Co., Stan Shuman or Fox would have gone this far if they felt there were economic problems that couldn’t be surmounted.”

Yeah, well, everyone is entitled to be wrong sometimes. The key is not letting that get you down and moving forward with confidence and optimism. Which is what Selig did today when the new owners of the Dodgers took control:

“After a long and difficult road, the sale of the Dodgers is now complete, and I am pleased that the club can have the fresh start it deserves under new ownership. I congratulate Mark Walter, Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten and all of their partners, and I look forward to working with them. In addition, I want to personally thank all Dodger fans for their patience and loyalty during this trying period. I have said many times that we owed it to them to ensure that the club was being operated properly and would be guided appropriately in the future. It is my great hope and firm expectation that today’s change in ownership marks the start of a new era for the Los Angeles Dodgers and that this historic franchise will once again make the city of Los Angeles proud.

“Despite going through bankruptcy court, this process required the same due diligence and analysis that any other sale would demand. Through all the challenges of this highly unique situation, our requirements were met. Ultimately, the sale produced a record figure in all of sports, illustrating the strength of our industry.

“The 2012 season is off to a remarkable start. As we welcome the new stewards of the Dodgers, I am grateful that the unbecoming events of recent years are behind us and the focus can be squarely on the field, where the Dodgers currently hold the best record in the National League.”

Here’s hoping we’re not revisiting this again in 2020.

KPCC

And so it has ended: The Dodgers are sold

May 1, 2012 | By Matthew DeBord

Well, our long local nightmare has finally drawn to an anticlimactic close. After a briefly alarming delay last night, the Los Angeles Dodgers are now no longer the property or Frank McCourt but belong instead to Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group made up chiefly of Magic Johnson, Stan Kasten, and Mark Walter, the CEO of Guggenheim Partners. The purchase price was a whopping, record-setting $2.15 billion.

The thorn in the side of Angelenos who grew to...well, let's just say dislike McCourt over the years will be the former owner's 50-percent stake in the parking lots around Dodger Stadium. GBM will get to collect the parking fees for games, but McCourt will be able to propose development plans — although they'll have to be approved by the new owners.

The press conference is tomorrow. Don't know where it is yet, nor what time, but rumor has it that Walter will be in attendance.