Editorial Note – I wrote this before the Buehler injury. The 2018 Amateur Draft is now over. All that is left is the signing of the draft picks. The Dodgers did not select a high school player in Round 11 indicating to me that they expect the top 10 to be close to the bonus pool + 5%. There will be some savings with picks #9 and #10 as…
In the first 45 days of the season, the NL West could have buried the Dodgers, but they didn’t… and then the Dodgers went 15-5 in their last 20 games, so they are right back in it. You can call them “lucky” for what they have done in the past 20 games… and you might be right, but they were about as unlucky as you can get before that. This…
The photo is Justin Turner saying “It’s been nice knowing you, Joc.” In case you have been living under a rock, Joc Pederson is very polarizing to fans. People love him or hate him. With his new swing, he has cut down his strikeouts as well as most of his his power. He will not hit HR with that swing. No way, Jose! He’s an OK outfielder, not a centerfielder…
Some people will say “Wow. The Dodgers have only won one of their last two games and they are six games under .500. OMG! The sky is falling. The world is ending. The Dodgers suck!” I say: “The Dodgers have won five out of their last six games and are now only 4.5 games behind the first place Rockies.” I can’t tell you how to feel. I just know that…
Kenley Jansen and Scott Alexander appear to be “fixed.” That bodes well for the bullpen, but I would still like to see more help there. Of course, I have always made no bones about wanting Raisel Iglesias. Let’s take it a step farther. Cody Bellinger is a great 1B, but what if the Dodgers had another 1B who could play the position as well and also hit? I have no…
In order understand what a complete, unmitigated disaster this 2018 Dodger team is, it helps to look at who their best players have been so far this year. Unquestionably the two players who have carried the Dodgers to what little success they have had in 2018 are Matt Kemp and Yasmani Grandal. What is ironic is that most Dodger fans wanted Grandal gone and Kemp was not even supposed to…
Can the Dodgers Win The World Series? Well, stranger things have happened but to me it seems highly unlikely. In fact, I think it’s close to impossible. So, do the Dodgers just play as hard as they can and go as far as they can? That sounds easy, but when your stated goal is World Series or Bust before the season, it might be pretty hard to really get yourself…
I was a reading a piece the other day about how some basketball teams are built to win in the regular season, but not the playoffs. Case-in-point: the Toronto Raptors, led by Kyle Lowry, Demar DeRozan and Serge Ibaka. They shine in the regular season but cannot advance in the playoffs. Love or hate LeBron James, he steps up in the clutch. Of course Dodger Fans remember Kirk Gibson’s Home…
… and that includes Dave Roberts. Last night was a classic example of what is wrong with the Dodgers. Trailing all of the game, in ther bottom of the 9th inning, the Dodgers Kike Hernandez homers off a RH pitcher (Write that down, Doc-a RH pitcher) to tie the game. Chris Taylor quickly strikes out and Alex “I am screaming to be sent back to AAA” Verdugo meekly grounds out. …
It’s time to see what Kike Hernandez can do as a regular – put him at 3B until JT comes back. Pederson goes to CF. Muncy and Valera go back to OKC. Too many weak bats. Hudson goes back to OKC and Cingrani goes on the DL. The team is under siege and decisive action is required. Things have to change and they have to change now! Puig will be…