Stan Kasten was named the 2013 Sports Executive of the Year by the Los Angeles Sports Council (Getty Images)
Stan Kasten didn’t take long to make a name for himself in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers president hasn’t been on the job for two years, but on Tuesday he was named the 2013 Sports Executive of the Year by the Los Angeles Sports Council. Kasten will be honored during the 9th Annual LA Sports Awards, March 5 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The awards dinner and gala, emceed by comedian Bill Engvall, will be televised on Prime Ticket on March 14 at 9:30 p.m., with multiple airings to follow. The ceremony also will feature the presentation of the Sportsman, Sportswoman, and Coach of the Year Awards.
Under Guggenheim Baseball Management, an ownership group including Kasten, chairman Mark Walter and Magic Johnson, the Dodgers led all major-league teams in home and road attendance last season. The Dodgers capped season-ticket sales at 32,000 last year and are currently deciding where to cap that number this year.
Guggenheim’s greatest feat: Negotiating an $8 billion television contract with Time Warner Cable that kicks in this year. The network co-owned by the Dodgers and TWC, SportsNet LA, is set to launch on Feb. 25.
Previous Sports Executive of the Year honorees are: Tim Leiweke, AEG (2012); Arte Moreno, Angels (2011); Tim Leiweke, AEG (2010); Jerry Buss, Lakers (2009); Mitch Kupchak, Lakers (2008); Brian Burke, Ducks (2007); Ned Colletti, Dodgers/Brian Burke, Ducks (2006); and Arte Moreno, Angels (2005).
Some bullet points for a Data Protection Day:
• It’s awards season in Los Angeles, and baseball prospect-ranking season everywhere else. ESPN.com’s Keith Law believes the Dodgers have the 11th-best system in baseball. Will Leitch’s history lesson at SportsOnEarth.com cautions against overhyping the next Delmon Young.
• Dodgers pitchers were historically good hitters last year, and they got better by adding Dan Haren.
• Peter Gammons picked the Dodgers and Padres to finish 1-2 in the National League West. Clay Davenport’s computer projection system has the Dodgers and Giants 1-2. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney also picked Dodgers-Padres.
• Major League Baseball is at a crossroads.
• FKB analyzed the merits of Chone Figgins.
• Two Sporting News writers projected some individual performances the National League West.
• MLB approved the use of protective pitcher’s caps. Clayton Kershaw approved.
• Happy birthday to former Dodgers Stu Pederson (Joc’s dad) and Joe Beckwith.
• RIP, Pete Seeger. Ben Greenman, writing for the New Yorker, offered this remembrance. I’m offering three songs:
