All Smoke and Mirrors

November 27, 2018

In case you have been hiding under a rock, we are now engaged in the Baseball Hot Stove League where fans talk about trading everybody and his brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandpa,  grandma as the family dog. It’s fun and we all engage in it to some degree. But, there are two rules you have to go by: #1 Believe half of what you see and none of what you…

Read More >>

What Is The Financial Truth?

November 25, 2018

I love this site. Without a lot going on in this so-called hot-stove league period, it is difficult to come up with topics that generate any interest. But then Dodgerrick provides an article that piqued my interest anyway. I have been harping that the Dodgers are in a cost control mode, meaning keeping payroll below the CBT threshold for reasons outside of the Dodgers operations. The article may give fans…

Read More >>

Pending Big Name Trades???

November 24, 2018

There has been no big player transactions and it is a holiday weekend, so pickings for material are pretty slim.  However, as long as the Dodgers are mentioned in some big-name transactions, I will continue to think that something could happen.  At the very least it allows for a lot of conjecture and good writing material.  We all have our favorite Dodgers who we do not want to see moved…

Read More >>

Change is in the Air

November 20, 2018

When you get to the World Series, you have a good team and no matter what, you are in position to win it.  Ask the 1988 Dodgers.  It seems absurd to me to blame the guy who assembled the team that got to the World Series for the loss.  In 2017, they were the best team.  In 2018, the Red Sox were, but does the best team always win?  I…

Read More >>

RH Bat? What About Giancarlo Stanton???

November 19, 2018

What are the Dodgers needs going into the 2019 season?  We know they need a catcher.  I discussed that in great length yesterday.  I think they need a 2B other than CT3 or Kike’, but I know I am in the minority.  I think the Dodgers need a leadoff batter.  That is really not what Alex Verdugo does, but he seems the most logical…if he makes the squad, and there…

Read More >>

2019 or 2020

November 17, 2018

Why do I think that there is virtually no chance that the Dodgers will sign Bryce Harper this winter?  Primarily because I do believe the leaked report that the Dodgers will not go over the CBT threshold for the next four years.  I believe the Dodgers are looking at next year’s salaries and next year’s FA class and saying that it makes much more sense to wait one year before…

Read More >>

The Sophmore Jinx

November 16, 2018

In the United Kingdom, the “sophomore slump” is more commonly referred to as “second year blues”. A sophomore jinx is the popularly held belief that after a successful rookie season, a player in his second year will be jinxed and not have the same success. Most players suffer the “sophomore jinx” simply because scouting reports on the former rookie are now available and his weaknesses are known around the league. Many players have suffered the sophmore…

Read More >>

This Team Doesn’t Need Much

November 15, 2018

This time two years ago, and again, this time last year, the Rabid Friedman Bashers (RFB) were predicting that Clayton Kershaw would opt out of his contract due to the Dodgers failures in the World Series. The Bashers look for anything they might spin their way to make Friedman look bad and when that fails they move on to something else.  I’m not sure she meant it as a compliment,…

Read More >>

Logjam of Lefties: The Rotation

November 13, 2018

With Hyun-jin Ryu accepting the Dodgers qualifying offer, the Dodgers are now able to field an all LH Rotation: Kershaw Hill Urias Ryu Wood Of course, they would have to  leave Buehler and Maeda out of the rotation in order to do that. Not only that, but the Dodgers have some prospects who could possibly slot into the rotation as soon as 2019. Everyone has an opinion as to who…

Read More >>

Financial Considerations

November 10, 2018

There are currently 38 Dodgers on the 40-man roster without consideration of either Yasmani Grandal or Hyun-jin Ryu accepting their respective QO.  With the current makeup, the Dodgers will have a salary total of nearly $179MM or approximately $27MM under the 2019 competitive balance tax threshold.  We will all know no later than Monday, November 8 at 2:00 PM PT if either accept.  Assuming they do not accept, below is…

Read More >>