Dodgers owner Frank McCourt declined to directly address the issue of general manager Ned Colletti's contract when asked about it before Monday's home opener. Colletti is entering the final season of a four-year deal with a mutual option for 2010, and it isn't clear whether the two sides have discussed or plan to discuss an extension.
"Those are conversations I'll have with Ned," McCourt said Monday before the Dodgers' home-opening, 11-1 win over San Francisco. "Those are going to be private conversations. What I can say is that Ned is doing a fabulous job and we're going to set out this year to win that division title again. That is what we need to do, (that) and try to win a world championship. That is the promise we have made to our fans. "The first step is winning the division title again. ... We're definitely on the right track, and I give Ned a large amount of credit for that."
The Dodgers have made the playoffs in two of Colletti's three seasons as general manager, and last year, the Dodgers won a postseason series for the first time in 20 years. Colletti made the trade for Manny Ramirez last July and then re-signed him in spring training.
It is clear McCourt wants the Dodgers to win the NL West again -- and they're the favorites to do so -- but it's unclear whether the Dodgers have to win the title for Colletti to keep his job.
Colletti declined to address McCourt's comments.
DODGERS 11, GIANTS 1: Orlando Hudson hit for the cycle, Andre Ethier hit two home runs, and Chad Billingsley pitched seven outstanding innings, striking out 11 batters without a walk. The Dodgers hung seven runs on aging future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, chasing him from the game with two outs in the fourth inning and beating him for the first time in his 12 career starts at Dodger Stadium.
