For Dodgers, end is near. Really. Honest. Hopefully (Web links)

You can count the days now. Major League Baseball owners are expected to approve the final three groups left in the auction of the Dodgersthis week, possibly by Tuesday.

Then Frank McCourt is supposed to choose a winner by April Fools’ Day.

The Times’ Bill Shaikin breaks it all down in a question-and-answer piece.

-- Phil Wallace gives his overview of the final three groups at LA Observed.

-- Hall of Fame baseball writer Ross Newhan writes on his blog that some owners are concerned about the insurance money backing the Magic Johnson bid that would be state and federally regulated.

-- In a terrific piece on a terrific man, The Times’ T.J. Simers profiles ex-Dodgers VP Derrick Hall – now CEO of the Diamondbacks – and his battle with prostate cancer at age 43.

-- Here is the Tim Keown story to match that ESPN cover of Clayton Kershaw and Tim Lincecum. Keown breaks down each of their four head-to-head matchups last season, all won by Kershaw.

-- Shaikin writes McCourt has to be given credit for speeding up his youth baseball park program before exiting the Dodgers.

-- Ken Gurnick writes that young right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will be ready to fill any void injury brings to the Dodgers’ rotation this season.

-- Does Justin Sellers know this? Gurnick also writes it might not be wise to write off infielder Luis Cruz for that final roster spot.

-- Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal makes his case for why baseball is thriving.

-- In a video, Fox Sports’ Steve Lyons interviews Dodgers reliever Todd Coffey. Said the easy-going Coffey on the team clubhouse: “I’ve noticed it’s business as usual. That’s fine and dandy. But for me, we’re playing a kids’ game.”

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