Some organizations reload after postseason disappointment. And some organizations implode.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are veering toward the latter category. The husband-and-wife ownership team, Frank and Jamie McCourt, appear headed for Splitsville.

Frank is the franchise chairman. Jamie was, until recently, the team’s CEO. They are estranged these days and he just fired her.

The Los Angeles Times picks up the story:

While Frank McCourt is pressing ahead with the business of the team, including Tuesday’s announcement of a long-term contract extension for General Manager Ned Colletti, Jamie McCourt is believed to be lining up investors for a possible effort to buy her husband out and gain sole control of the team.

In addition, she was believed to have started calling prominent baseball figures, with the intention of arranging meetings to discuss the direction of the team.

That sounds ominous. Will one of the networks turn this domestic conflagration into a reality show?

Will Frank get custody of Manny Ramirez, or will he go to Jamie?

Colletti and manager Joe Torre will try to keep things together while lawyers, accountants, firemen and EMTs deal with the ongoing disaster at top of the organizational chart. Something tells us this will not end well.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while Tony La Russa takes his own sweet time mulling his future:

• Has Orange County got its collective blood pressure back to normal after watching Brian Fuentes (barely) close out that Game 5 Angels victory?
• Will the Rams finally open up their offense once they fall several touchdowns behind the Colts Sunday? Or will they try to rally with an endless succession of short slant passes and bubble screens?
• Why are NFL and college teams making it harder for fans to tailgate? Why scale back one of the great man joys we have left?
• Tipsheet admires the SEC, but are they taking college football a little too seriously in the South?
• Do any of these commercials we endure on televised sporting events actually inspire us to buy stuff? Or does it all go in one ear and out the other?
  

A DOCUMENTARY WORTH SEEING

Tipsheet toiled in Baltimore when the Colts left for Indy. So Tipheet really enjoyed seeing ESPN’s “The Band That Wouldn’t Die,” directed by Barry Levinson.

You can spot This Reporter (much younger, more hair, great sweater) taking notes at the infamous Robert Irsay drunken news conference scene about 17 minutes in,

RECLAIM THE EAGLE?

The old “flying bird” sign that once adorned Sportsman’s Park would look good in the new Busch Stadium, looming high over left-center field. It would obstruct our view of the parking lot out past the stadium, but it would be kind of cool.

Cards fans Gary Timmerman would like to see a community effort to see it moved from its Highway 40 perch to the ballpark. “Bring the eagle home to roost,” Timmerman said. “Let’s do it. It would be worth it see the Eagle fly again after a Cardinals home run.”

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Jay Mariotti, FanHouse: “What we learned in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series is that the Yankees are hardly infallible. As the National League-champion Phillies nursed hangovers and planned their rotation so a well-rested Cliff Lee can start in Game 1, the Best Team Money Can Buy couldn’t hold a two-run lead with an overpaid pitcher, $82.5-million A.J. Burnett, and a bullpen that left a creaky bridge to Mariano Rivera. The plan was to bury the Angels, who came in hitting .202 in the ALCS with two stolen bases and a .138 average with runners in scoring position. That way, the Yankees could have five days to rest themselves, prepare CC Sabathia for the Game 1 duel with Lee and let America salivate over the hottest (and coldest) World Series matchup in years.”

John Harper, New York Daily News: “A.J. Burnett was at his dazzling best Thursday night as long as he was losing by four runs. When it really mattered, however, he didn’t look at all like the guy the Yankees saw as a big-game pitcher when they gambled $82.5 million on him last winter. Basically he looked unnerved in the first road postseason start of his career.”

Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com: “The Yankees have made a mind-numbing 48 postseason appearances. They’ve won 26 World Series titles and 39 pennants. They need another trophy like Mark Teixeira needs another vowel. Meanwhile, you can fit the Phillies’ World Series hardware (two since 1883) into George Steinbrenner’s Altoids tin.”

Kevin Blackistone, FanHouse, on replay review: “I don’t want to hear anymore about how getting it right can be so wrong because it might take too long and slow down our games and take the human element out of the contests by diminishing the role of officials. We don’t live like the Flintstones anymore; we live like the Jetsons, and the second edition of The Jetsons stopped being made over 20 years ago.”

Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Tim Tebow has four fumbles, two interceptions and been sacked 12 times in six games, all of which makes you wonder where Florida would be if he was actually having a good season. Oh that’s right: 6-0 and ranked No. 1 in the BCS.”

MEGAPHONE

“Isiah killed his own chances when it came to the Olympics. Nobody on that team wanted to play with him . . . I’m sad for Isiah. He has alienated so many people in his life, and he still doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand why he wasn’t chosen for that Olympic team and that’s really too bad. You should be aware when you’ve ticked off more than half of the NBA.”

Magic Johnson, crushing Isiah Thomas in the new book “When the Game Was Ours.”

INBOX

Many Cards fans have weighed on the potential off-season retooling of the Cardinals. Here is one of the more creative examples:

“If Rick Ankiel finds the pickings slim, what would be wrong with offering a minor league contract with the intention of him returning to pitching as a late inning match up lefty? If he could successfully return to the mound, he would provide a weapon from the left side that would enable two matchup lefties (Trever Miller) to do the job of three.  For example; Rick enters to retire a lefty in the 8th inning. A righty follows and the next inning lefties (Utley and Howard for example) are due up. The Cardinal pitcher spot is due to lead off. Rick retires the lefty. A right hand specialist comes in to get the righty, while Rick moves, defensively, to the outfield. Rick then goes back to the mound with a reserve outfielder inserted. Rick can then lead off the next inning and take the mound against the lefties due up in the 9th. That would be an extreme use, but certainly not far fetched, IMO. Obviously, he could also be just a one out match up, if the situation called for it.

“In addition, Ankiel would provide some pinch hitting and defensive flexibilty, if he had pitched several days in a row and was not going to be used.  He would be the ultimate Tony toy, IMO. I know it is crazy, but if he could corral his control ??????, it would not be so crazy.”

Jeff Covinsky
Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Ankiel’s offensive demise this year prompted a lot of fans to suggest his return to pitching. Mentally and emotionally, he tried to turn that page a long time ago. He would be a fascinating utility player if he could revive his pitching, but Tipsheet would be shocked to see that happen.

Elsewhere on STLToday.com

The Blues have a “to-do” list to take care of this weekend at Scottrade Center.

Hockey Guy took at look at the impact of major injuries in the NHL this season.