2023 – 1988: Back to the Future!

October 7, 2023

In 1988, the Dodgers had the Stuntmen, but in 2023, they have a team of stuntmen (thanks to Bill Plaschke for that). In 2022, the Dodgers had players who felt they had a pedigree… that they were Bluebloods. In 2023, it’s clear that these guys are really junkyard dogs. This 2023 Version of the Los Angeles Dodgers is 70% built on castoffs (all of the above), oldtimers like Clayton, whose…

Read More >>

The Memory’s Just Keep Coming

October 6, 2023

Well, it is playoff time. Today is also the anniversary of Bobby Thompson’s “Shot heard round the world.” A little overkill there. The only place it was really heard was in New York and Brooklyn. A dagger right through the heart of every Dodger fan. And total elation in Coogan’s Bluff. One of the photos of that event that always stuck with me was one of Jackie Robinson. While the…

Read More >>

I Hate Snakes!

October 5, 2023

I really do. I also have an irrational fear of them. The Dodgers begin their postseason quest on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are fresh off of the Wild Card sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in what could likely be Craig Counsell’s last game for the Brewers. It is widely speculated that he will leave the Brewers for the Mets, as his contract is now up. There are two…

Read More >>

Defense: Just How Important is it?

October 3, 2023

You ask 100 fans that question, you might get 100 different answers. One thing is for certain, bad defense is going to cost you games. It cost the Dodgers a game only yesterday. Max Muncy blew what should have been an easy double-play grounder, and the Giants won, 2-1. As of today, the Dodgers are the 10th best fielding team in the majors. 6 playoff teams are ahead of them….

Read More >>

Pick Yer Poison: Brewers-Diamondbacks

October 3, 2023

Well now we know from whence commit our next opponent. Who do you prefer? Milwaukee or Arizona? Pitching wise, both present challenges. But the earliest either’s number one can start is game two of the NLDS in Los Angeles. Milwaukee’s two main studs are Burnes and Peralta. Woodruf is their best starter, but he has pitched in only 11 games all year. He is 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA. But…

Read More >>

What’s next?

October 2, 2023

Well, the Dodgers do not play a game until next Saturday (a real game, I might add). So, there are only so many things to talk about. Yesterday, many started talking about what the Dodgers might look like next year. Before we discuss that, I would just like to congratulate the team on winning 100 games… again… for the fourth year in a row (not including the COVID year). Now,…

Read More >>

Do You Remember When…

September 30, 2023

… some Dodger fans thought Farhan Zaidi was the real genius and Andrew Friedman was just the “front man?” Neither do I! But, AF is humming, “How do you like me now?” Gabe Kapler was fired from his second manager job (maybe his third time, if you count getting picked over for Doc Roberts). Actually, this is just Farhan Zaidi trying to save his job! Maybe it works… maybe not….

Read More >>

Once More Into the Breach

September 30, 2023

Well, here we go again. 11 straight years going to the playoffs. 9 years of disappointment, and 1 of elation so far. And last season was probably the most disappointing of all. Yet, we have experienced a time unlike any other in Dodger baseball history. People harp a lot that they resemble the Braves of the 90’s with all these trips and not much success. Yet I look on all…

Read More >>

What’s Next for James Outman?

September 29, 2023

There are a couple of choices: Star or Journeyman. It’s hard to be a star, and it is just about as hard to be a journeyman. A year ago, I thought that James Outman was destined to be a 4th or 5th outfielder, and while some fans took exception, there really wasn’t anything that suggested he would be any more than a platoon player. Of course, all fans have their…

Read More >>

I Fault Dave Roberts for One Thing

September 28, 2023

For the record, Dave Roberts is the NL Manager of the Year in my book. The Dodgers lost 2,266 days to the IL disbursed through 29 players. That is the most in baseball. The Angels were close with 2,186 days, and the Yankees lost 2,106 days. The Braves and the Marlins lost 1,658 days and 1,584 days, respectively. Arizona lost 1,099 days to the IL. The Reds lost 1,950 days,…

Read More >>