Dodgers Web musings: Frank McCourt and all that jazz

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It’s hard to live up to a titanic build-up, but I’m thinking the Frank McCourt versus Bud Selig face-off is going to pull it off just fine.

The bankruptcy showdown is scheduled to begin Monday in Delaware, but the pre-court filings have continued to come and they aren’t getting any sweeter.

Now Major League Baseball has attempted to put a precise number ($189.16 million) on how much money McCourt took from the team for his personal use –- or as MLB called it, ‘looting.’

The Times’ Bill Shaikin has that update, plus how Bryan Stow could prove pivotal in the case and McCourt’s claim that Selig appointing a task force to examine stadium security after Stow’s beating was largely responsible for the attendance decline. Wrote Shaikin:

‘Two days after Stow was beaten, and two weeks before Selig appointed the task force, the Dodgers drew their smallest crowd in eight years for a weekend Giants home game. The crowds remained small -- the Dodgers’ attendance dropped 18% this season -- and the team blamed Selig for trumpeting his dispatch of a security task force and a trustee to Dodger Stadium within six days in April.’’

Right, that’s why attendance plummeted. Everybody was talking about that task force. Or it could be 99.9% of the fan base knew nothing about it.

Also on the Web: -- Meanwhile, McCourt asked for a six-month extension for the team’s exclusive window to develop a reorganization plan. Which, if granted, would leave McCourt in charge into the start of the 2012 season.

-- Bloomberg’s John Heylar and Scott Soshnick write that what the bankruptcy trial will ultimately determine is whether the MLB commissioner continues to wield the sport’s ultimate power.

-- The Times’ T.J. Simers, taking time away from writing about crazed Notre Dame fans, said Don Rickles is pleading with him to help oust McCourt.

-- The Baltimore Sun’s Dan Connolly writes that Dodgers assistant general manager De Jon Watson is scheduled to interview for the Orioles’ GM job on Wednesday.

-- ESPN/LA’s Jon Weisman not only thinks the Dodgers should sign Prince Fielder, but that they can afford him.

-- Joe Torre said Kim Ng would be an excellent choice as the Angels new GM.

-- LA Weekly’s Gene Maddaus explains why Vin Scully was unexpectedly trending on Twitter Monday night during the World Series.

-- Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman said shortstop Rafael Furcal would like to remain with the St. Louis Cardinals.

--- And some MLB videos on Clayton Kershaw saying he plans another offseason trip to Africa and a link to Matt Kemp talking about winning the Hank Aaron award.

ALSO:

Dodgers to bankruptcy judge: Six more months, please

T.J. Simers: Don Rickles is a hotter ticket than the Dodgers

-- Steve Dilbeck

Left photo: Frank McCourt. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Right photo: Bud Selig. Credit: Joe Raymond / Associated Press