Dodgers: Stan Kasten Talks About Team’s Tough Playoff Losses and More
Anyone who is anyone is at the MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego this week. Of course, that brings Los Angeles Dodgers’ president Stan Kasten out to the party.
Therefore, Kasten went on MLB Network with Chris Russo to discuss things like Dodger Stadium renovations; and more important matters. While you can view the entire conversation below, we parse the video for the high spots for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXBCDxKHXIM
Indeed, Russo gets right to it after some chatter about the Dodger Stadium renovations. He asks Kasten to talk about the excruciating postseason exits the Dodgers have faced in recent years.
“Getting knocked out like that, it happened so quick and unexpectedly is just brutal. Those of us in this business are the only ones that can really relate. Surely fans feel it, but it’s nothing compared to how we feel. You know you work all year to get somewhere – and to be knocked out unexpectedly like that? Your first thought is ‘oh my God we have to start all the way back at square-one next year’. Then you think ‘maybe we will get here next year’, but that’s never a given. It’s excruciating.”
Next, Russo presses Kasten on the Andrew Friedman contract negotiations; to which Kasten says he does not discuss contracts for executives. Notably, Kasten is emphatic that nothing is official in stone as of yet with the president of baseball operations.
“You might have read it happened [Friedman extension], but I can promise you it’s never been announced.”
Finally, Russo asks Kasten if 1988 being the last World Series win is a dark cloud over the Dodgers’ franchise.
“I think it’s brought up because a lot of fans who are older talk about it a lot, the media talks of it a lot. I have to tell you – I’ve been here seven years – I can’t take any responsibility for what happened before. Also I don’t know how to build a team differently whether we won last year or 15 years ago. We haven’t gotten our goal yet which is to win a World Championship, and that’s what we are trying to do.”
Without a doubt, this was an interesting listen from one of the Dodgers’ leading figures. What do you think about his comments; including a playoff exit being the toughest on those who work in the game over fans? Do you agree or disagree? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
What’s mostly excruciating is watching Kasten do nothing ever at these meetings. I think 33 years personally for me is just a bit more excruciating than it would be for Stan who get’s paid quite nicely. We fans have been here decades and our allegiances are with this organization. Stan goes wherever he get’s a pay check and for 7 years it’s been here. The 1st thing he wants to talk about is the Stadium renovations? Personally I really don’t care how much Blue paint they put on the concrete, I wanna see the money I’ve invested into this team put back into it. And if it takes a payroll ( Like Boston Had in 18) of over 220 million, then so be it. Clint, this is truly a make or break year for me as a fan of 54 years. In that time I can’t tell you how many tens of thousands I’ve spent being a Dodgers fan. That’s what’s most frustrating for me, is why I’m here. It’s just old hearing from a guy like Kasten about how excruciating it is for him/them when they blow it, while simple fans as myself watch them hijack themselves by NOT accumulating the TOP talent each year, especially when they have the Most money, OUR money to do it. I’m not buying the MLB if they sit on their hands again, nor will I be attending their monopoly stadium or merchandise. Not a threat, just have better places to spend my time and money! Lakers and Rams tickets are where it will go.
Kirk, first of all, Happy Holidays my friend! I saw that Kasten interview with Russo yesterday and like you I don’t give a cr….p about those renovations, as I live in Southern Oregon over 850 miles away from DS. But like you I am not happy with an apparent non commitment to get the few players needed to get us past those October meltdowns. And rest assured, winning the division this year is absolutely no guarantee anyway.
I would rather see them use the money to improve the minor leagues, facilities and salaries.
Hey Paul, Merry Christmas man! Southern Oregon? I have a Vacation Home in North eastern Calif. Snow country! My Daughter lives near Salem. I drove to her place up 139 to Klamath Falls, and right through that Cyclone Storm on 140 Medford pass tuesday before Thanksgiving. Just made it over the passes along I 5 before they closed the Highway. I won’t even watch the winter meetings since I get pissed off everytime I see what we need go somewhere else. I get on here couple times dayly as I enjoy reading all of the fans thoughts as well. This mngt is truly the most arrogant group I ever remember. They think they are some ultra pseudo intellectual baseball God force that reigns over all of us fans. I get this bad vibe from Kasten that he believes he’s above all of us, just like the s-show in our current day politics. IT’S OUR MONEY STAN!!!!!!!
Hey Paul, Merry Christmas bud. I sent you another post a bit ago but I used the word p–i –s–s–ed So the moderator x’d it. Southern Oreg? Right on man I have a vacation home in North eastern Calif and drove hwy 139 to Klamath falls, then hwy 140 to Medford right through the center of that cyclone storm that hit tues before Thanksgiving. My Daughter lives in Salem area. I really like Oregon man.
I’m glad I was wrong about Strasburg going to the Padres, if they had attained him, the guarantee of winning the division would be in jeopardy.
Stan Kasten has a lot of practice explaining teams that lose in the playoffs. The teams Kasten has led since 1991—Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, and the Dodgers—have gone all gone to the playoffs nearly every year. Almost 28 years of playoff experience for Mr. Kasten. Yet how many World Series have his teams won?
One.
Kasten knows how to build playoff teams. He doesn’t know how to build World Series winners.
Who knows with these guys. Probably just trying to calm fans down
Folks, what it boils down to is that nobody should expect much if anything from these Winter meetings , so that way it would be as no real surprise to anyone.
Go Lakers. In the last few years they’ve signed the greatest player of his time, used their chips to acquire another generational talent to pair with him and signed a well functioning supporting cast.
They’ve done everything they said they would do for us and now it’s up to the team to get it done and that’s all we ask. The Dodgers FO and ownership on the other hand don’t do everything they can with our money
NODH, in Rendon’s case, it just may boil down to him accepting a deal from the Rangers to go back to his home state.
Yes NODH, really happy with Jeanie Buss and Magic getting Lebron and Pelinka rounding out that team. It was a complete overhaul and brilliantly done. Glad that we have the greatest pro sports organisation in the world’s history in our State and City. They are the shining star of excellence of how and what to do to win Championships. The Dodgers could be the exact way but won’t. The Lakers have won 6 championships, and been to the finals 10 times since the Dodgers last won. The Buss family will not go more than 10 years with out one! Very proud to be a Lakers fan… They get It!!!!!
Basketball has a very different dynamic. In Basketball one incredibly talented player can DOMINATE a game or a series. We have all seen it happen. LeBron and Davis have an incredible synergy contributing over 50% of the scoring. Last year Leonard willed the Raptors to win the Championship.
Baseball is a very different dynamic. Winning rarely relies on one player. Look at the Phillies they signed Harper and are stuck with a 12 year contract but did not win their division while the team that lost him won the WS!!!
If Cole is so incredible why did they not win the WS?
Baseball is about all aspects of the team and how a team comes together.
Kasten has been a minority owner and President for 7 years and the team has won its division all 7 years. I thought they had a real chance to win the WS 5 of the 7 years. Let them continue with the plan of using their Farm and signing Free Agents as seldom as possible to control their budget. Guys scream the Dodgers have lots of money…It a business! The team will be worth more money if they win so they do want that championship as much as we do.
I thought he purchased the responsibility to win from Frank McCourt along with the land surrounding that responsibility. He gets no advantage because he invest for profit and we invest to watch a parade.
Kasten is about making money. Not winning at all costs. When the Braves dynasty started in the early90’s Kasten was at the helm. Ya he drafted Glavine. Avery and guys mark wholers, jeff blauser. Javy Lopez. But they didn’t win until he was fired sherholtz took over. And what did he do he trader Smoltz and signed Maddox. And that got them over hump and win their only World Series. Si until this cheap idiot gets fired we dodger fans don’t have a prayer. Am really considering changing to the Los Angeles Ángels of Anaheim especially if they sign Cole or Rendon. Kasten and Friedman must go.
What worries me is Kasten’s track record with Atlanta. Every year his teams were great and they had a top pitching staff. But, out of all the playoff and WS appearances, I think they only won one.
Feels as if being competitive is “good enough” for Kasten &Co.
This old bastard is one of the biggest blowhard BS artists in the history of American sports and the epitome of arrogance, he has 1 Championship between Braves and Dodgers and a history of lying to fans such as 2014 when Stanley proclaimed that he was going to solve the pissing contest that continues to this day between Dodgers TV and Direct TV and baldy never made even a slight effort. Stanley is a fake as is his Jerry Lewis look a like protege Andy Friedman who is more concerned with finding some reclamation project who works out and thus in his mind makes them look like geniuses than in truly putting together the best team possible with a TV contract that basically paid Mark Walters et al to buy the team with the pending TV fortune. 6 years later over 50% of fans can’t watch the games !!!! Not good guys !!!!!!!!
This old clown is one of the biggest blowhard BS artists in the history of American sports and the epitome of arrogance, he has 1 Championship between Braves and Dodgers and a history of lying to fans such as 2014 when Stanley proclaimed that he was going to solve the conflict that continues to this day between Dodgers TV and Direct TV and baldy never made even a slight effort. Stanley is a fake as is his Jerry Lewis look a like protege Andy Friedman who is more concerned with finding some reclamation project who works out and thus in his mind makes them look like geniuses than in truly putting together the best team possible with a TV contract that basically paid Mark Walters et al to buy the team with the pending TV fortune. 6 years later over 50% of fans can’t watch the games !!!! Not good guys !!!!!!!!