Game Number Four: A Night to Forget

March 4, 2021

Some games have highlight nd some have lowlights. It seems to me that last night’s game was of the lowlight variety. Nothing worth remembering… well, maybe a couple of things: The Pitchers Julio Urias has filthy stuff, but he still has not figured out the first inning. This needs to change. There is something about the first inning… Bring him in the second, fifth, ninth inning and he is fine….

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They Saved the Best for Last

March 1, 2021

NOTE: Jeff knew what I was going to lead off with today! 😉 Yes, I know it is early, but the best thing I saw all game yesterday… and I saw a lot of good things, was Michael Grove’s pitching! I wish there was a radar gun, but his stuff looked great. He has an arsenal of pitches and showed an excellent feel. I have always thought he would be…

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And the 2021 MLB Season Begins

February 17, 2021

Today is the day that pitchers and catchers are due to report to Camelback Ranch for the Dodgers.  Tomorrow is the first day of workouts.  Full squad reports February 22, with the first full squad workout scheduled for February 23.   The Dodgers play their first spring training game on Sunday, February 28 against the Oakland A’s at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. There will be some rules in effect that…

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More CBT, Universal DH, and JT

January 29, 2021

“Well, it’s a significant demarcation,” Mets president Sandy Alderson said. “I wouldn’t say that it’s a line that cannot be passed, but it’s definitely a significant consideration when you get to that level.”  Per Andy McCullough, The Athletic, “by instructing Alderson to mind the luxury-tax threshold…new Mets owner Steve Cohen has conformed with his 29 colleagues in baseball’s ownership class. The competitive balance tax operates as baseball’s de facto salary…

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2021-2025 Payroll Projections (In Progress For Friday)

January 22, 2021

In a November 15, 2015 article authored by Matthew Moreno at dodgerblue.com, Andrew Friedman and Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten maintained that the extravagant spending for the Dodgers would not continue, and that the 2016 season would provide a small opportunity to make progress toward balancing the scale. According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly recently echoed a similar sentiment, going so far as to…

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The Pen: Better or Worse?

January 20, 2021

A little premature to know if AF is finished yet, but the Dodger bullpen has already been overhauled some. Knebel, Cleavenger, Kahnle, the new kids on the block. Kahnle will not pitch this season, and Cleavenger has never pitched above AA. Wood and Baez have gone to SF and Houston respectively, and McGee so far has not been signed anywhere. And the roster sits at 40. There are all sorts…

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The Case for Standing Pat

December 31, 2020

Sign DJ LeMahieu? That would cost the Dodgers a draft pick. Remember when, after losing Mark Teixeira to free agency and the Yankees, the Angels were awarded the 25th pick of the draft as compensation. And who did they use that pick on? None other than Mike Trout. Or look at it another way: Signing Mark Teixeira cost the Yankees Mike Trout.

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AC – Back In The Saddle

December 6, 2020

First of all, I received multiple emails wishing me good health and prayers, and for that I will be forever grateful.  I do not get sick very often, but when I do, I do it right.  The illness occurs once every 5-6 years, and lasts a couple of weeks.  And it is almost always the same.  I start out with a head cold, with a severe sore throat, and it…

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Construction of A 40 Man Roster – Part One

November 2, 2020

The Hot Stove League is always fun for us armchair GMs, allowing us to look at ways of improving a reigning World Series championship team.  Not just a WS championship team, but THE consensus choice of the best team in MLB for 2020.  But changes must be made.  Nothing can stay at the top by being stagnant.  Changes can come internally or externally.  AF is a master as to building…

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Dodgers and Top Prospects

August 22, 2020

As was discussed quite a bit earlier in the week, the Dodgers have a very prolific MiLB system even as far down the draft they have been picking from because of the continued success of the ML team.  That is true when also taking into consideration a few of the early draft pick busts they currently have.  2015: 1 – Walker Buehler – Starting rotation 1b – Kyle Funkhouser –…

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