If everything comes together as planned, 2020 could be the magical season we all hoped for since 1988. 2017 looked to be that season, but the cheating Astros stopped it. 2019 was elite, but they just lacked something more… 2020 it is! This could very well be epic… one for the ages. It’s a great time to be a Dodger fan!
The Dodgers didn’t get Gerrit Cole, but Plan B included Alex Wood, Jimmy Nelson, and David Price with Ross Stripling, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin in the wings. The truth is, the Dodgers have enough firepower to field two Top Ten MLB Rotations… if they stay healthy… which they won’t! The fact is, the Dodgers many be better with the above group than with Cole. They may be glad they came in second in the Cole Sweepstakes.
Rob Hill, Driveline Baseball, Josh Bard, Mark Prior, Conner McGuinness, and company might just make all the difference with this pitching staff. It’s very possible you see more than an incremental improvement from every pitcher on the roster. There are junkyard dogs and bluebloods on the staff. Clayton Kershaw and David Price are two of the best starters over the past decade. Walker Buehler and Dustin May are the next generation.
Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Walker Buehler, Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, Blake Treinen, and Kenley Jansen have all been All-Stars. Julio Urias and Dustin May are waiting for their turn. Caleb Ferguson, Pedro Baez, Joe Kelly, Scott Alexander, and Brusdar Graterol have electric arms in the bullpen.
I have no idea how good this pitching staff will be, but I can tell you there is no MLB staff with this amount of firepower! The pitching is talented, deep and exceptional. There will be injuries and some pitchers may not live up to expectations, but the depth will win out. I am going on record as saying that this 2020 Dodger pitching staff will be the best in baseball. You can’t get much better than that!
How many pitchers return to their top form will determine how great this staff might be. Alex Wood, Jimmy Nelsen, Ross Stripling, and David Price are all recovering from varying degrees of injury. Treinen and Jansen are trying to return to their days as lockdown closers. Can they do that? Rob Hill and Driveline Baseball say yes. Time will tell the story. However, people who have seen Alex Wood throw say his stuff looks “filthy.”
The offense is likely the best in the game as well. What an abundance of riches! The only platoon is LF where Joc Pederson and AJ Pollock could combine for 50+ HR. Betts and Bellinger are two of the Top Four Players in baseball. Gavin Lux is the only question in the infield and he is the consensus NL Rookie of the Year in the NL and the #2 prospect in baseball. Justin Turner at 3B, Corey Seager at SS and Max Muncy as all among the TOP players in MLB at their positions and Will Smith at Catcher is a rising star.
The bench is crowded with Kike Hernandez, Chris Taylor, Matt Beaty, and many others. This team has no discernible weaknesses. None! To top it all off, the farm system is still loaded, ranked #3 by Baseball America. Expect more players knocking at the proverbial door THIS YEAR, like Kaybear Ruiz (this is his make or break year), Jo Jo Gray, Dennis Santana, Mitch White, Luke Raley, Edwin Rios, Zach McKinistry, Brett de Geus, Victor Gonzalez, and Gerardo Carillo… to name a few.
Finally, the team has a gigantic chip on their collective shoulders due to the cheating and insolence of the Astros. I understand why the players were not punished (simply put: MLBPA), but the title still needs to be vacated. Regardless, the Dodgers have a lot to prove and they will be playing late into the fall this year and hoisting the trophy as World Champions in 2020. Bet on it!
Dodger Rants & Raves
- I am glad the Dodgers did not trade Andy Pages… he has sooooo much upside!
- I think Ross Stripling and Joc Pederson will both have great years.
- Training Camp surprise with a chance of making the team: Brett de Geus! I said Alex Wood the other day, but he’s no surprise anymore.
- The first Spring Training Game is on Saturday with the Giants and as we all know…
I’m not so sure I would label this a make or break year for Ruiz. He’s only 21.
He really didn’t make a lot of progress last year. I am high on him, but I believe he must take a positive step forward this year. I actually think he will and he will be on the big club before the year is over… especially if Barnes struggles offensively.
I concur with you Mark, but the one person who could derail this team is Roberts….IF he plays shuffleboard again, such as having Betts lead off against LHP but not RHP, having Joc return there. And on another blog is a fer that Dodgers might hamper Lux’s development by platooning him right off the bat, not allowing him an opportunity to hit LHP. Yes, the MLBPA has demanded immunity to players so that they cannot be punished, but from what has been heard throughout MLB most players now I believe will go to their Union leaders and tell them they want the rules in regards to punishment changed because to a man in all of MLB, they are incensed at the lack of really anything being done to those cheaters, those sinners.
Pederson and Pollock hit a combined 51 HR’s last year in 758 ABs. They won’t do that in 2020 if they exclusively split LF in a platoon. Lots of their combined power came in games where they were BOTH playing. Now, if DJ Peters figures out how to stop striking out, maybe then the Dodgers could field a 50 HR LF combo. I for one am not ready to hold my breath on that happening.
Hello Brooklyn Dodger! I concur but to be honest I do not think for a minute that either Joc or Pollock want to be platooned, and that’s one concern Dodgers may have to address somehow.
Mark, this time you could be correct. Let´s see what happens.
I am looking forward to the first TV game on Saturday. I love ST. I love to see the farm kids play. As a High School player I dreamt of playing baseball in Florida in the spring. Never happened, but it was fun dreaming.
I do believe the Dodgers are going to be very good. I just see one problem. Pollock will not be happy platooning in LF. I think Pollock and Pederson will have a very good ST. One will have to be traded before the season starts.
Exactly and my post to Brooklyn Dodgers says that same thing.
Andrew Friedman can explain to AJ that he can trade him and cash to the Marlins or he can shut up and win a World Series. Pick one AJ!
I’m with you on AJ Mark. He thrived in meaningless AB’s vs lefties last year. If he’s unhappy deal him or he can keep his mouth shut and win the position. I’d be just as happy with Taylor getting his AB’s vs lefties. The defense would be better.
Exactly Pollock needs to shut up and be a team player. A platoon of Pederson and Pollock could produce and I predict will produce about 45 home runs. That is Cody Bellinger type numbers.
One thing is that when Pollock is in there the Dodgers would have a very balanced lineup of 4 LHB and 4 RHB. What takes place however remains to be seen. Again, I am not so sure both Joc and AJ care too much about platooning but WSS..
Wow, Mark. While I like your posts, I’m not sure you would fare well with dealing with players. Obviously, it was the Dodgers intention to clean up the outfield mess, thus the failed trade of Joc Pederson to the Angels. It’s still a mess and they know it. What I would probably say instead is the hot bat plays. But it’s not AJ who is the problem, it actually how do you get at bats for Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez, who both saw playing time in the outfield.
The addition of Mookie Betts means there is only one outfield spot left for four players. The infield is pretty set with Max Muncy, Gavin Lux, Cory Seager and Justin Turner. Of course, injuries could play a factor, but probably not likely. Pollock is really good and I’ve watched him for years, so I get just how good he can be. The second half where he was healthy should be an eye opener. Since most of his injuries have been of the freak variety, there is no reason to expect him not to be healthy.
I like Joc, always have, watched in A ball and actually see no reason he can’t hit lefthanders. He hit them in the minors, but he’s in his free agent year and playing time is important. He has indicated that he had lots of discussion about the issue last year with the Dodgers. Even with Pollock out he was still sharing time with Taylor and Verdugo He needs to play, be given a chance a chance to hit lefties. That probably won’t come with the Dodgers. Yes, he wants to be a Dodger, but does anyone actually see that happening next year. The Dodgers focus is going to be on re-signing Betts, keeping both Seager and Bellinger long term.
The idea that you send Pollock and a bunch of cash to another team makes no sense. We’re already paying for Maeda to play for the Twins. Getting a talent like a 100 mile potential back of the bullpen reliever back was a plus. But the Dodgers probably would have been happy with putting Maeda in the bullpen where he was very effective. Only one problem, Maeda wanted to start, and the club didn’t want an unhappy pitcher on the roster.
The same holds true for Pederson. This is his big year, his opportunity to cash in … As good a person as Joc is, he’s great in the community and fans really like him, he’s also human and he won’t be happy playing part time. Nothing has changed. Pollock already has a contract and if he gets hot he can actually carry a team. These are just the realities the Dodgers face. Easy to deal with on paper, not so easy to deal with in the clubhouse and behind the scenes.
Good points here, sbuffalo. Joc did hit LHP well enough in his last year in the minors, 2014 at a .290 clip. BUT we all know that hitting either hand of a pitcher is much more difficult in MLB, so the fact that a guy hits lefties in the minors does not always result on that player doing as well against MLB pitching
The Dodgers won’t be glad they finished second in the Cole sweepstakes when they face the Yankees in the WS. Pitching depth is great during the regular season but the playoffs is all about aces and we have only one. Kersh and Price are past their prime and even in their prime they were not playoff aces. I think May and Urias could get there but this year would be a stretch. Counting on Wood to last a whole season at a high level just isn’t realistic. And not to mention our bullpen which has question marks throughout. Our lineup is WS worthy but our pitching has a lot to prove. Still think we need a second ace. We will see by the trade deadline where the pitching stands.
Cassidy, its’ amazing that Dodger pitching allowed the fewest HR’s in 2019 in the NL with 185. But the problem with the pitching seems to come in October when they have problems keeping the baseball in the yard. See game 5 of the NLDS last year where in just 2 innings or less, Dodgers gave up 3 HR’s which ultimately ended their season. Yes, we ALL know the Astros cheated in 2017, but even with that the Dodger pitching allowed 15 HR’s in 7 games, which if I am not mistaken is a WS record for HR’s allowed.
Cassidy, while I agree with you that Gerrit Cole is a difference maker, the Astros still did not win the World Series. I’m not so sure you can’t out Kershaw and Price. Kershaw was ace like in 2017 except in Houston and we now know why that happened and Price was certainly an ace in 2018 World Series.
Buff, I really agree with your last post. But re this one, no, Cole didn’t win a World Series last year, but it wasn’t because of him. He’s an ace, but he and his Astericks got beaten by 2 aces!! Which is Cassidy’s point. We have 1 ace. We may have 2 more eventually in May and Urias, but right now they aren’t aces. Could they be in 6 months? Most likely not, but let’s see.
Are Kersh and Prices aces in October? No. Our best bet will be using our #3 farm and getting that co ace in July, wherever he may be (shout out to Vin Scully)
Sorry but Kersh wasn’t ace like in 18 and 19 playoffs. Just can’t see him pithing twice in a series against that righty Yankee lineup. And Price has a lot to prove this year. I’m just saying there’s A LOT of question marks with our pitching. I’m not as optimistic as Mark especially about the playoffs
I agree, there are question marks with the pitching staff. I understand that it will be pricey to trade for a number 2 starting pitcher, so I’ll give Friedman a pass on that. But even though Friedman did pick up a few relievers which I give him credit for, he didn’t get a bona fide closer.
Loving all the positivity. I stated a few weeks back that I thought we’d have the best Rotation and I stand by that.
My biggest concern is still Doc. He is great in the Regular season, so let’s hope he’s learned something from previous Post Season disasters.
I too am concerned about Doc. And it is my biggest concern too. The way he’ll handle the pitching staff and will he do the right thing and do a STRICT platoon of Pederson and Pollock. No starts for Pollock against RHP. And will he let Lux play everyday at 2B.
I too concur about Roberts being a concern when it comes to October.
Pollyana has nothing on our host this morning. The glasses aren’t just rose-colored – they’re hot pink.
The offense will be the best in the NL for sure. I’m not nearly as sanguine about the pitching however.
The Dodgers have to make up for the loss of Ryu, Hill and Maeda. The 3 combined for a record of 28 – 13, 68 starts, 395 IP (including Maeda’s relief appearances). Ryu’s ERA was 2.32 and WHIP was 1.01; Hill had 2.45/1.13; Maeda had 4.04/1.07.
They are going to rely on David Price to replace one of the 3. Price was 7 – 5, 4.28 with a WHIP of 1.31. So, OK he was injured last year – in 2018 he was 16 – 7, 3.58 with a WHIP of 1.14. He only threw 74 innings due to injury in 2017 and was 17 – 9, 3.99 with a 1.20 WHIP in 2016. In other words, he won’t be as good as Ryu was last year if he stays healthy (a big if). He’ll be better than Maeda if he’s healthy. But he’s the #3 guy.
Every year, you hear that every player is in “the best shape of his life”. Every year, someone has a new changeup grip, a better breaking ball, has worked to regain a lost MPH or 2. It rarely means anything once the season starts however. So – Stripling has a new changeup grip, Wood has been reborn working with Driveline, blah blah blah. Maybe – we’ll see. But probably not.
The thing we know about baseball is entropy happens. The Second Law of Thermodyamics happens. (Unless someone is using steroids.) Players age and rarely regain lost velocity or endurance. We age – our bodies break down. We learn to get along on experience and guile where once we relied on phyisicality. This idea that Wood and Kershaw and Jansen are all going to be reborn as younger, stronger versions of last year’s self is unlikely.
So – Wood has been promised a spot in the rotation or he wouldn’t have signed. OK – assume that is true. Wood was 1 – 3, 5.80 in 7 starts last year 1.40 WHIP, 35 IP. Yeah, he was injured. In 2018, he was 9 – 7, 3.68, 1.21 WHIP, 27 starts, 151 IP (including relief appearances). If the Dodgers are lucky, maybe he replicates Maeda’s numbers.
Now we are left to the 5th starter. Stripling can do it – he has before, but he also broke down before and couldn’t sustain it (in 2017). That leaves the shredded right arm of Jimmy Nelson and untested guys like May, Gonsolin and Urias. Roberts has said that Urias will be a starter this year so I assume that the job is his unless he pitches himself out of it.
Urias threw 79 inning in 34 appearances last year – an average of 2+ innings/per appearance. He has thrown 184 major league innings over parts of 4 seasons. He has thrown 312 minor league innings. That’s 500 innings in 7 years. He threw 122 combined innings in 2016 – that’s the most he’s ever pitched. No way after throwing less than 80 innings last year he throws 180 this year.
The pitching could be very good but right now is very iffy. They do have 8 or 9 guys who will probably start this year and they can cobble a rotation together. They don’t have 2 top-10 rotations. They might have 1 top 10 rotation. They don’t have a top 3 rotation. The guys who are in the rotation at the beginning of the season won’t all be there at the end.
The Dodgers are playing it differently this year than in any season since they have been in LA. They plan on winning by bludgeoning their opponents into submission by offense. This isn’t the Koufax/Drysdale/Podres or Osteen Dodgers; it’s not Sutton/Messersmith/John or Sutton/Hooten/John or Fernando/Reuss/Hooten or any of these permutations. In my view they have 2 sure things at the top of the rotation and question marks after that.
I don’t disagree with many of your points. Other than the fact that you are looking at this in a vacuum. The same could be said about just about every rotation in baseball.
So the Yankees got Cole. I could tear to shreds the rest of their pitching staff just as you have the Dodgers. But worse. They have all the uncertainty and none of the depth. Luis Severino has already been shut down after three days of ST. They have more certainty in the bullpen, but their rotation looks to me like it could implode.
The Braves? I could do the same run down. The Dodgers are better and deeper also.
The Nationals? Sure they still have the #1/#2 punch. But they also have very little depth. They are nn injury away from having a bottom 10 rotation.
Cardinals.. same
Astrix’s. Lost Cole and After their #1/#2 punch they have cobbled together, well, not much else.
Walker and Kersh are #1/#2. After that we have the most depth of any other team in the league. And considerably more talent. Both veteran and youth.
What your saying isn’t wrong. It’s just also true with every other team. And the Dodgers have vastly more depth to deal with these potential issues than anybody else.
While I agree with you that many other teams, even contenders, have pitching problems, the focus of Mark’s article is that the Dodgers’ pitching is going to be great. I hope so, but am not so sure.
Here’s what MLB.com had to say about it on 2/5:
“Dodgers: This might be Los Angeles’ weakest rotation in several years, with Clayton Kershaw another year older and NL Cy Young Award runner-up Hyun-Jin Ryu now in the AL East after signing with the Blue Jays via free agency. But it reportedly picked up another former Cy Young Award winner in David Price as part of Tuesday’s blockbuster trade with the Red Sox, and it still contains the division’s top pitcher in 25-year-old Walker Buehler, who’s coming off a 14-4 record and 3.26 ERA and still looks primed for even greater heights. Alex Wood, Jimmy Nelson, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Julio Urías are less sure things, but combined as a group they still give Los Angeles enviable depth.”
I don’t necessarily disagree with that assessment. But beyond Cole, there wasn’t really anybody else that would improve the rotation. Wheeler? MadBum? I don’t think they’d be an upgrade. Especially since they were being offered ridiculous contracts for their age/ability. I agreed with letting Ryu walk. 4 years is too long for his age and history. Especially given our SP depth in the minors. You can’t just let these kids rot in AAA forever. And I do believe Urias can get to 150+ innings this year. The flip side to his low inning count at his age is that his arm hasn’t been abused. He seems fully recovered from the shoulder issues. I think he has potential ACE level stuff. May isn’t far behind. And neither is Josiah Gray. If any one of those three hits their ceiling, there is your #2 starter. No other team in baseball has the group of young SPs like that.
So the only team, as far as I’m concerned, who really upgraded their rotation this off-season was the Yankees. Everybody else was pretty much flat to down. And nobody has the young arms we have. So I do believe the Dodgers will surprise people. Even if we don’t, and I am wrong, ESPN is still projecting the Dodgers will win 98+ games. The same ESPN who thinks our rotation isn’t as strong as the recent past.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/28738874/mlb-stock-watch-where-all-30-teams-stand-spring-training-games-begin
I like this post. I enjoy Mark because I like believing in his positive takes (who wouldn’t?). DRick’s arguments are always … well argued, but he is an inherently pessimistic foil to Mark, so you have to recognize the perspectives of both.
I agree with all of this except for perhaps the Josiah Gray part. From what I’ve read he’s good, but doesn’t have a #2 arsenal nor the build. I see him as more of a Ross Stripling swing man or middle relief guy.
I read another post that I thought was good, too, and it made the point I made a few days ago. The Dodgers have the pitching staff to win the division no problem, but, like basketball, you need a real 1-2 superstar punch to win a championship. In this case, you need a bona fide ace #1 and a near ace #2. Buehler is almost an ace, and the Dodgers really rode Ryu’s great first half last year, but right now they have a lot of potentially good #2s, but nothing certain.
And I read what Mark wrote about Kershaw still being the ace. Sorry, he’s not. Last year he was the team’s 3rd best starting pitcher. Maybe the Driveline gurus can turn back father time and give him and extra 2 mph on his fastball. Maybe he continues to decline. Age is unavoidable.
I think with Price and Wood and May and Urias, the Dodgers have the loss of Maeda and Hill accounted for. What they haven’t replaced is the surprisingly great year Ryu had, especially the first half. Among those four guys maybe one makes a big leap forward. My guess would be Urias or Wood as having the best shot to replace the production the Dodgers got out of Ryu.
If the pitching can remain relatively injury free then there is a chance it can be a huge factor, especially in October.
If you compare the depth of the Dodgers with the rest of MLB, what Friedman has built is great.
In this case the Mets and their depth in SP there is no comparison with the quantity and quality in favor of the Dodgers.
Friedman will one day be an HOF, he is revolutionizing baseball at the organizational level, there will be a before and after in how to lead a baseball team, he is making history !!!
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/camp-battles-mets-rotation.html
Big question is can Urias develop into a co ace with Buehler and can May become good #2-3 and how long will it take. I think they both will but this year may be a stretch. And we still have Gonsolin and Gray. The future of our rotation looks really bright!
Until unseated, Clayton is still the Ace.
Buehler is #2 and Price is the #3.
Peter Gammons who knows David Price and Andrew Friedman (who also knows him) expect him to have a big year.
I expect Clayton to have another good year. He was Elite last year… maybe better with Driveline this year.
Julio Urias has the stuff to be a #2 or co #1 behind Buehler in the future. May will be a horse…. how soon? Nelson is a bulldog…. is he healthy. I have been hearing raves about Alex Wood.
Has it ever occurred to anyone that Cole may not be as good outside of Houston?
I stopped listening to Peter Gammons along time ago, but I hope he’s correct. Freidman recently said he could see Nelson in the Morrow role if he’s not starting. The thing with May is they don’t have to build him up. He should be ready to handle a full work load. When he gets his opportunity this year, he might not ever relinquish that spot.
Rumors flying Luis Severino’s medical exam didn’t go well. He might need surgery.
Even with him heathy, I’d rather have the Dodgers rotation.
And here we go again with all this crap about Houston, I read this on another page and I wonder if it would be possible, although we know it won’t happen …
“What I don’t understand is why they don’t just put a playoff ban on for the next 2 years? They can absolutely do this, and it don’t affect the players union. But, it will be a great back door way to truly affect the players. With a playoff ban over the next 2 years and the loss of 1st + 2nd round draft picks over the next 2 years, it is in perfect sync.
The Astros could tank their season, but still don’t get the draft picks. They can play as well as they want and still call themselves division champs, but they still can’t make the playoffs, and it would go to the division runner up. This would also affect the players because they would all waste 2 good years (some people in their prime) on a team that can’t complete the ultimate goal of winning the World Series.
Plus free-agents won’t want to sign with them until the ban is lifted, etc..
Perfect punishment.”
Sorry Jorge, there are players on that team who weren’t on the 2017 team. Greinke waived a no-trade clause to go to Houston. Are you going to tell him that he can’t compete for the postseason now? The Astros are going to be must see TV this year. Especially on the road. It’s going to be them against the world. I have no problem letting them try to earn their way this year. Nor do I have a problem with some pitcher drilling them if that title isn’t stripped.
I hadn’t thought about it that way, and I think you’re right ..
I don’t have a problem with telling Greinke that Shit Happens.
I actually agree with Hank Aaron, that players found guilty should be banned for life but that would mean litigation for years and it’s not worth the trouble.
I agree with Mark, Manfred should be terminated and I agree with Jorge, since it would be too much of a hassle to try and ban players, I would support a 2 year ban from the playoffs for the Astros. Finally, I’m irked about these former players going off on Mike Fiers. Screw Pedro and Big Papi. MLB should can them both.
In professional cycling in 1998, nearly the entire Festina team was taken into custody for doping allegations. Richard Virenque was put on trial for fraud. A federal prosecutor personally went after Lance Armstrong Elliot Ness style and was getting ready to prosecute him for fraud before the case was dropped.
The truth really came out a year after the 1919 World Series scandal when a grand jury investigated the rumors. There were Congressional hearing about the steroids epidemic.
There are a couple things that satisfy the justification to get the justice system involved:
– you can make a good argument that the cheating defrauded other teams and players in amounts that go up the tens of millions of dollars
– It is a national institution of cultural importance, and, as such, has been somewhat historically allowed to operate outside normal anti-trust regulations and govern itself.
– It is doing a piss poor job of governing itself in this particular instance
It is in the financial best interest of the three main parties: the owners, the player’s union and the commissioner to minimize the scandal and hope it all just goes away with minimal acknowledgement or penalty. It is the individual players, much to their credit and in a way that gives us all hope that not everybody and everything is corrupt, who are speaking out and building the momentum for an intervention to happen.
Interventions that I think should happen:
– Crane is forced to sell the team. It’s happened before. Marge Schott was eventually forced to sell her interest in the Reds. Donald Sterling was forced to sell his team because he said not very nice things in a recorded private phone call. The culture prevails, and the culture starts with the head.
– Manfred has to go
– immediate suspensions of the players suspected of using a vibrating device pending a formal outside investigation and a two year ban if they are found to have continued to cheat. …without pay.
The Astros as they are presently constituted need to be broken up and they need to start over.
The greatest moments in baseball are great because the integrity of the result has never been in doubt. Could you imagine Kirk Gibson’s home run now? It would be doubted because we don’t trust the institution. Baseball will die when this happens.
Sorry Mark but Kersh is not an elite October pitcher. Not in 18 not in 19. Not for much of his career. I do think he will have a very good regular season even better than last year. But I don’t want him pitching in October more than once a series.
I stand on my record of the past 5 years for predicting sunny days versus others who called for sleet and hail.
As a weatherman and prognosticator, I would remain employed. The one who predicted doom and gloom would be fired!
I have been calling for Sunny Days because even Ray Charles can see they are here and the front is settled in!
Dennis Goodwin stopped by my office today and we discussed whether this is the year the Dodgers go to a 6-man rotation. I could see it with the fact they can carry an extra pitcher quite easily.
1. Kershaw
2. Buehler
3. Price
4. Urias
5. Wood
6. May, Stripling, Nelson
Spread out the starts. 24 or 25 each and they are healthy for the playoffs…. and rested!
Sorry Mark but there hasn’t been a sunny day for the Dodger’s last game of the year for 31 years. You’re fired! But you’re right. This is our year! How good of a WS will,it be with us vs the Yankees or the Astros!
https://www.mlb.com/news/david-ortiz-speaks-at-red-sox-camp
I think this is the piece JR is referring to.
Interesting thoughts on Verdugo, but it’s his take on the Asterik’s cheating that interested me.
He echoed exactly what I said – that’s it’s unbelievable that not one player said NO at the time – that it was wrong and couldn’t and shouldn’t happen.
That’s why the players should be punished. They could have put a stop to it at any point – but all made a decision not to.
Meanwhile, Lance McCullers has opened his big mouth and talked more trash. That garbage (can) organization just does not get it:
“[The teams talking trash are] going to have to play us,” McCullers told The Washington Post. “Except for the guys who are popping off the most.”
“Those guys aren’t going to have to face us, which is maybe why they feel like they can speak like that,” McCullers continued. “But we’re moving on. That’s not what people may want to hear, but we stood here as men and we addressed [the scandal]. … We’re just looking forward to playing baseball again.”