Is it Time for Robo Umps?

January 25, 2022

This is a call up from the archives from an article I posted on December 7, 2016. The game we all love has changed considerably since the first published rules of baseball were written in 1845 for a New York baseball club called the Knickerbockers. Alexander Cartwright authored the rules and is considered to be one of “the fathers of baseball” along with Abner Doubleday, Henry Chadwick and the most…

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MLB vs MLBPA

December 4, 2021

On August 12, 1994, the MLB Players walked off and the player strike began.  The strike ended 232 days later on April 2, 1995, making it the longest such stoppage in MLB history.  Who is hurting?  The fans.  The same people they (both sides) are trying to keep coming to games, parking, and buying concessions and souvenirs. It is hard to measure attendance due to the pandemic precautions from both…

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Max Scherzer and Sweep of the Padres

September 13, 2021

A couple of observations for the weekend series sweep of the Pads.  The starting pitching was obscene.  Urias 7.0 IP – 0 runs, Buehler 7.0 IP – 2 runs, Scherzer 8.0 IP – 0 runs.  In 22.0 IP the Padres scraped together 10 hits and 3 walks against the three starters.  Two shutouts for the weekend.  The Padres were never ahead for the entire weekend.  Outside of Blake Treinen’s outing…

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The Ups and Downs of Being a Dodger Fan.

August 2, 2021

The last few days have reminded me how frustrating this team can be sometimes. And it is not just this version, there have been many over the years. Last year, this team was a lot of fun to watch, and it stretches this season, it has been fun too. After losing the opener to the Rockies 8-5, and Belli losing a HR when he passed Turner on the bases, they…

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SOME POST TRADE DEADLINE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE RECLINER

August 1, 2021

With Mark on the 10-day inactive list to attend to family business in Las Vegas (ever notice how these trips are never to Des Moines, Iowa or Wichita, Kansas?), Jeff (AC) was desperate for some assistance on the LADT writers roster. With his options limited, he had to resort to adding someone from the alternate training site, and had no choice but to call on me, the Zack Reks/Edwin Uceta…

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ST Begins – Dodgers with Overall Best Depth and Talent

February 28, 2021

October 27, 2020… After that unforgettable strikeout of Willy Adames  by Julio Urias Almost four months to the day, the Dodgers are going to be taking the field in an actual baseball game, even if it is only a ST game.  The Dodgers are starting 32 year old LHP, Mike Kickham.  Kickham signed a MiLB contract on January 27.  Lat year Kickham last year pitched for Boston, and pitched in…

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Meet Me In St. Louis

February 3, 2021

The St. Louis Cardinals have always been an iconic organization in MLB and arguably the most successful NL via winning more WS than any other NL team, trailing only the NYY.  The Cardinals have won 11 WS in 19 appearances. They also hold the ire of Dodger fans as St. Louis  has beaten the LAD in four postseason series (1985 NLCS, 2004, NLDS, 2013 NLCS, and 2014 NLDS) against a…

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Has San Diego Caught The Dodgers?

January 25, 2021

There has been a lot of talk by MLB fans in general how the Padres may have caught the Dodgers.  On the East coast, most in NY and Atlanta believe they have better 26-man rosters.  Dodger fans of course take offense at such a charge.  None of the four teams are finished completing their rosters, but I thought I would take a more in depth look at a Dodgers/Padres comp,…

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AC Musings for 01-18-21

January 18, 2021

There has been a lot of discussion as to what is the best way to develop a team; a team for sustained contending.  Most LAD fans believe that AF builds his team for success from within.  Others believe organizations can build a winning team by trading prospects for young controllable MLB stars.  Others believe they need to sign affordable free agents.  Most believe you need a bit of all the…

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The Status of the 2021 Free Agent Player

January 8, 2021

Blake Snell, Yu Darvish, Carlos Carrasco, and the BIG MARKET name, Francisco Lindor.  These four have a chance to be top tier in 2021, with Lindor in the elite class.  And they have all changed teams this offseason.  The first two names have moved the Padres into a top three NL and top four MLB team, while the second two names have moved the NYM to a significant NL East…

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