Inside the Dodgers

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Kuroda to Make Decision Soon?
Published 12/12/2007 by Mr. Fleece at MLB Fleece Factor
... Free agent Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda will be deciding between the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers as soon as tomorrow, reports the Los Angeles Daily News. Sources out of Japan are stating that Kuroda could be leaning towards the Dodgers, but no deal is imminent. ...

The Diamondbacks' Week in Review
Published 12/12/2007 by Jim McLennan <info@azsnakepit.com> at AZ Snakepit: Front Page Posts
... - remains to be seen. The story in the previous sentence says, "Kuroda's choice of team will reportedly have more to do with personal preference and less to do with the length of the deal." However, it appears he has scrapped his plan to visit some of the teams interested in his services this week, so you can put away those "Please come to Phoenix, Kuroda-San!" signs. And that story basically elimates AZ from contention and says it's most likely the Dodgers. In more general news, Nick Piecoro describes the team's increasing ...

Kent's Back In Blue, Other Roster Notes
Published 12/12/2007 by Rob at 6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog
Jeff Kent has accepted his 2008 option, according to Diamond Leung. (Also via mlb.com and the Los Angeles Times. The Cubs have won the bidding for Kosuke Fukudome, leaving the Padres in their dust. The deal is believed to be for $48M/4 years. The Padres signed former Phillies 2B Tadahito Iguchi to a one-year deal. The Dodgers supposedly are one of the two finalists for Hiroki Kuroda, the other being the Mariners.

Hitting the snooze bar, 12.12.07
Published 12/12/2007 by Jack Ryan at MVN Outsider
News and notes while DeAngelo Hall sends former coach Bobby Petrino a Christmas card… Report: Kuroda nearing pact with Dodgers (LA Daily News) Reports in the Pacific Rim claim he’s signed with the Dodgers, but the Los Angeles Daily News’ Tony Jackson writes that the deal isn’t done — yet. Kent to return to Los Angeles (ESPN News Services) Second baseman Jeff Kent has informed the team that he will return to honor the final year of his deal. Iguchi, Padres near deal (San ...

Hiroki Kuroda
Published 12/14/2007 by ernest at Blue Heaven
Tony Jackson is excited about the potential signing of Hiroki Kuroda (stats) as he lands in LA Friday morning. News might just be around the corner. With of all of the rumors surrounding him I thought I'd put up this YouTube video of Kuroda vs. Matsui in a 9 1/2 minute at-bat from 2002. BTW, He is said to feature a mid-90s fastball, slider, forkball, and shuuto (also called a “reverse slider”, it’s a pitch similar to a ...