As Bear reported the Dodgers have apparently completed their 60-man pool with the additions of:
- RHP – Bobby Miller
- RHP – Landon Knack
- RHP – Ryan Pepiot
- RHP – Edubray Ramos
- C – Carson Taylor
- 2B – Michael Busch
- OF – Anthony Garcia
Five of the six 2020 draftees have been invited to be a part of the 60-man pool. Only Gavin Stone has been left out, as well as undrafted FA, Robbie Peto. The one unknown is that Devin Mann was reported to be on the 60-man pool, but he is not listed as a non-roster invitee yet. Ken Gurnick says the Dodgers are at 59, apparently leaving Mann out of the pool. But in my count he would be #60.
- RHP – 25
- LHP – 7
- C – 6
- INF – 11
- OF – 11
Also as Bobby reported, Gavin Lux has reported and was originally scheduled to be in tonight’s intrasquad game, but has since been scratched. Doc wants to give him a couple of days in camp. He would not disclose as to why Gavin was not in camp.
Doc did indicate that we could see Diego Cartaya in an intrasquad game at some point.
Alex Wood is slated to go 5 innings tonight. Julio Urias is scheduled for 2+ and Adam Kolarek is supposed to face some RH batters tonight.
Per Dave Roberts, regardless as to whether JT and other Dodgers want Chico Herrera to hit, he will not.
Dave was asked about Micah Johnson and his new endeavor out of baseball…painting. Per Micah, it was Doc who challenged him to pursue painting after he saw the painting Micah did of Maury Wills. Apparently, Micah’s painting career has taken off. Good for Micah Johnson.
Dave was asked tongue in cheek as to whether he wanted to bubble wrap Corey Seager because of how he is playing right now (5-6 before the double in the first tonight), fearing that something might happen to curtail his health. Doc laughed and said it did cross his mind. But he added that Corey is fully healthy, and just needs more reps and to get his legs in shape. He is playing as he did his rookie year, and Doc expects a great year for Corey. Of course I say this every year, but I am looking for a MVP season out of Corey.
Walker Buehler is about a week away from games. He just completed a two inning up and down. And is looking to extend it to three in a few days.
When asked about Tony Gonsolin and whether he is still being considered for the #5, Doc indicated that all they want to do with Tony is to begin to ramp him up. No decision has been made if he is still considered a SP candidate. Come on, we all know that Strip will be the #5.
Dave did indicate that he did expect to see some additional healthy players check in the next few days. No indication as to who. But he still anticipates that KJ will be reporting and be ready.
Joe Kelly was the featured player in Friday’s Zoom Press Conference. Apparently he was unhittable Thursday night, and said that he is feeling very good (100%). He was never at 100% last year, and would not put a number on it. He said he felt good enough to compete. I had the impression he was not going to say exactly what the physical problem was. But he did say that during the off season and post ST, he had time to work on what went wrong last year. Kelly throws a 4-seamer, but his index finger continually came off the ball and he lost spin on his fastball. He never had his 4-seamer last year. He now has it back, and he is throwing extremely well. He said the pitch will never be consistently 100% effective, but even at 50%, that is better than 0%. Kelly threw all four-seamers Thursday night. Doc did add in his presser that he expected to see a much healthier and improved Joe Kelly in 2020.
Joe was asked how serious he was to opting out, especially after David Price did. Joe indicated that it never went past the discussion stage with his wife. It was certainly a consideration, but they decided as a family that Joe should pitch this year. Price is still one of Joe Kelly’s best friends, and they talk all the time. Joe indicated that David called him after yesterday’s game and asked where the devil did that change he threw to JT came from. From all reports, it was filthy…Gagneesque?
I have not read all of the comments on Price opting out, but in a Houston Mitchell column (I believe) he indicated that Price was getting slammed by many “fans”. Just how ignorant and selfish can some fans be? If David felt safe playing in 2020 he would do so. He has his reasons, and they do not need to be justified or explained because some fans think he owes it to them to pitch this year. Joe did state that David feels every bit part of the team, and the team is 100% behind his decision.
Other baseball news – Hard throwing ChiSox RHP Michael Kopech has opted out for the 2020 season.
Several players have been cleared to return to practice from their COVID-19 quarantine. Players returning include Tommy Pham (SD), Junior Guerra (AZ), and Seth Beer (AZ).
The draft signings are almost complete. As of this writing, 145 of the 160 have officially signed with two others having agreed to terms, just not official yet. Of those that would get compensating picks in 2021 if not signed, only four remain unsigned.
- Round 1 – All draftees have signed
- Round 1 – Competitive Balance – Cleveland– RHP Tanner Burns (Auburn)
- Round 2 – Miami – Daxton Fulton LHP (HS)
- Round 2B – Miami – Kyle Nicolas RHP (Ball State)
- Round 2B – Cincinnati – Jackson Miller C (HS)
Of the 13 remaining without any agreement, five are with Miami, two are with NYY, and two are with Boston. Cubs, Reds, Indians, and Orioles each have one unsigned player. Teams have until August 1 to sign their draftees. No team has exceeded the 5% overage limit and sacrificed a #1 in 2021.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTT ALEXANDER
Typical early pre-season game. Wood pitched 5.2 (actually 5.1) innings and allowed 2 runs on a 2 run HR by Joc. For most of the game, Woody pitched well, however he left a couple of pitches out over the plate that were crushed. The double by Barnes and then HR by Joc. Nomar was commenting that the coaches want Wood to work more to the glove side, and he tried to sneak a couple of 1st pitch fastballs that did not move as much as he wanted to Barnes and Joc. McKinstry also had a double off Alex and Belli had a single and was thrown out trying to stretch (or did he???) from CF DJ Peters. Belli went 2-3 as he also had an infield single. Woods seem to tire a bit in the 4th. After the double to McKinstry, he walked Betts and Kike’ back to back and they called the inning.
Julio Urias gave up a 1st inning double to Corey Seager who hit the ball off the top of the short fence in LF. His other two ABs were outs but they were hit hard. Urias went three innings and looked sharp, especially with his change which showed late drop. He also got JT with a back door slider at his back foot.
Gerardo Carrillo replaced Urias and gave up two monster HRs. One to Anthony Garcia that was well into the LF pavilion, and one to CT3 deep into dead CF. Corey and Smith hit him hard. Corey’s line drive was right to Joc, and Edwin Rios made a great diving play at 3B to rob Smith.
Adam Kolarek came in to relieve Wood and faced a RH batter, Rocky Gale. He did get Gale to fly out to RF. He then got McKinstry to pop to Seager for the 4th out of the inning to end the game.
2-2 Final Score. All runs on HRs (3). And all crushed.
FYI, here is a link to Micah Johnson’s website
https://micah-art.com/
Did not watch. But I am not into the mood yet. When they get close to the real thing I will be more into it. MLB.tv not really giving much of a discount for the shortened season. I got a better deal last year when I got back from California. 59.99 for every teams games, and 49.99 for one teams games. Last year I got home around the middle of June and got the rest of the season for 40.00. It is like 119.99 for a full season. I guess they need to make money where they can, but that is a little too rich for my blood. So, I will just watch what the Rockies show on Root sports when the Dodgers play them. And ESPN< and the game of the week on FOX. Hope everyone has a nice weekend. We have a brush fire just up the 50 between Canon and the Royal Gorge. Was watching the helicopters and planes drop retardant this afternoon. A few years ago we had a bad fire rip through the Gorge. It was closed for quite a while as they had to rebuild the bridge and the welcome center.
It’s OK for fans to be disappointed David Price is not playing, but to ridicule him is childish!
Here’s a couple of interesting things about that:
1. Price forfeits his salary; and
2. Boston still has to pay LA $16 million which more than covers Mookies salary!
😉
I think if Price opts out of the season he will forfeit his entire salary, saving the Dodgers and Boston about 16M each.
Steve Phillips (former Mets GM) on MLB Radio, says the Red Sox have to pay the Dodgers because the agreement is that they have to send $16 million to the Dodgers. I have read other opinions, so I guess it depends upon the wording of the contract.
It always pays to have good attorneys. I think the Sox should pay us 16 mil as a fine for what they did to us in the WS, even if they don’t have to pay it for Price.
And don’t forget he helped out all the Dodger minor leaguers financially. He’s had a very good rep with his teammates wherever he’s played.
I’ll bet the people who are yelling the loudest about his opting out were also the ones who were screaming that they didn’t want him to come in the first place.
I won’t take that bet.
David Price is a class act. Can’t fault any player deciding to sit out this mess. I look forward to rooting for him next year!
People can be so mean and insensitive. The man had the right to opt out given to him and other players during the negotiations. They also do not get any service time when opting out so it is a double edged sword. No pay, and no service time. Price doesn’t owe the fans anything. He owes his family everything.
AC, thank you for the recap on last night’s inter squad game. I watched part of it but did not see the final innings. Liked Joc and CT3’s homeruns. To me, Wood and Urias looked good. Do you think they have a real umpire calling the pitches? I thought he did well.
Regarding Price, I have no problem with his decision to opt out this year. Every person’s case is unique and no one knows better what is good and safe for themselves and their family than they do. His support of the minor leaguers was also a big plus in my admiration of him in my eyes.
Bob Geren, the Dodger bench coach, is doing the umping DBM.
And the “announcers” are not as enamored with his strike zone. To say he was inconsistent would be a fair assessment. But he is better than Angel Hernandez and Cowboy Joe West.
I must be nice for you to just talk about baseball. See there is enough news to just talk about on-the-field stuff!
Things are falling in place for the Dodgers, now just get Kenley back and we are ready to go.
Now that Posey has opted out, the Giants have a real hole at catcher. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them make a call to Russell Martin. As good as Bart is, they aren’t ready to turn the catching over to him with so little experience so (if we ignore the fact that it’s the Giants) Martin would be the perfect guy for them.
If you’re Farhan and one of your few options in house is a guy named Chadwick Tromp, you check your Rolodex for RM’s agent’s number and make that call.
I have heard some speculation that Martin may not be so eager to come back. However, he would be the primary catcher if he signed with SF. Can he still catch 40 games?
He could certainly catch 40 games…………………………………out of 162.
40 out of 60 and played in barely over two months, less likely.
RE: David Price
A guy has to do what he thinks is best for himself and his family, so I don’t begrudge him his decision. A couple of salient points though:
1 – If he hadn’t already made $103MM, he might have made a different decision. There are guys who have admitted that they have to play due to the money or service time issues. Price had the luxury to make a different decision, plus he is going to make $32MM/year for the next 2 seasons.
2 – He might have made a different decision if he played 50 years ago. Players used to put the team 1st and their careers and family after that. Can you imagine Koufax agreeing to pitch game 7 on 2 days rest in 1965 with his bad arm if he pitched today? Grover Cleveland Alexander pitching in relief on no rest in game 7 of the 1926 World Series at age 39 and hung over?
Players like Price are like mulit-million dollar corporations. It’s just a different time.
I agree with both of your points. With respect to your point #1, Austin Barnes was asked this AM in his Zoom Press Conference if he considered opting out, and he said NO, I play baseball.
With your #2, you are correct that these are different times. There is just a lot of money in Major League Sports. But I think we have seen Kershaw come back and pitch on short rest in the post season. Sometimes successfully, other times not so much.
Well, actually, Koufax refused to pitch the first game of the 1965 World Series, because it fell on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. And he and Don Drysdale refused to come to Spring training in 1966, insisting on a raise from Walter O’Malley. Not only was there no free agency in those days, but players weren’t even allowed to be represented by agents. So Koufax had his principles, too. Some things were more important to him than baseball. Apparently, David Price’s health and the health of his family are more important to him than his salary for this year. I will miss seeing him pitch this year. I was curious to see what he’s got. But regarding his decision, who am I to judge?
Little side note to that 66 season, Sandy’s last. The hold out did not hurt him at all. He went 27-9 with a 1.73 ERA. Won his 3rd Cy young. Big D on the other hand had a mediocre season by his standards. 13-16 with a 3.42 ERA and 177 K’s. Far below what he usually did. Dodgers swept by the Frank Robinson led Orioles. For their efforts Big D got 110,000, and Sandy took home 125,000. Big D got a 10,000 dollar pay cut the next season. Most he ever made was in 1969 when he made 115,000. Players make that in a few games nowadays.
And Koufax was playing in incredible pain that year. His arm was practically falling off. At times, the pain was so great that he couldn’t throw his curveball, just kept coming at them with his rising fastball. That’s one reason I consider him the greatest Dodger pitcher of all time (with kudos also to Kershaw, of course)!
In 65 when he pitched his perfect game against the Cubs, Ernie Banks was heard to say, sore arm my butt!. Everyone in the league knew Sandy was having trouble, and they still could not hit him. In 66 the story was that he was icing his arm after every game. It would get that swollen. He quit because the doctor told him if he wanted to retain the use of his left arm he needed to quit pitching. Kershaw has passed most of Sandy’s stats. He now has 4 more wins than Sandy had. But Koufax over his last 6 years went 129-47. He was 36-40 his first 6 years. Had Koufax had the same kind of start to his career that CK had, he would be ahead in all statistical category’s. On any given day, Sandy could have pitched a no hitter. He was that kind of pitcher. He also K’d 18 twice. Something CK has never done. And CK will never come close to having as many complete games as Sandy. CK has 25 in his career. Sandy had 27 in each of his last 2 season’s. I still would take Koufax over Kershaw in a must win game, especially in the World Series. Kersh has walked fewer batters and given up fewer homers.
Aroldis Chapman has tested positive for Covid-19, and he is showing symptoms. It has been speculated that he could be out for a while.
Also KC had a situation where Cam Gallagher tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms and played in the intrasquad game before being notified of the test results. Now KC is not sure what to do. Does the entire team have to quarantine?
The Orioles have made an offer to Yasiel Puig.
I read that about Puig earlier today. O’s have none of their main outfielders in camp, so it seems like a fit. Yasiel should jump on it. The pool is drying up and he would be a monster in that bandbox.
Wonder why KC did not wait for the results before playing him in the game. Was there not complaints from some teams that the results of testing were taking too long? Did they really need to play him before test results? Just some questions I have.
It was probably from monitoring test rather than initial test. I think the protocol is they get tested every two days(???). I think the teams are very concerned with the delay in getting the test results. All teams have had at least one monitoring test (and probably two by now). Houston shut down practice for one day because one of their staff members tested positive, and the team did not know who he came into contact with. MLB and MLBPA is still trying to work through all of this. Both sides are working hard to make this work. If it does not happen, it will not be because of effort.
Really nice to be talking Dodger baseball. I thought it wouldn’t happen this year but I’m glad I’m wrong. so far.
I have had MLB Extra Innings Package from DirecT for years. It’s $30.50 per month for 6 months or $183.00 per season. I haven’t started it yet but plan to before Opening Day. It’s not cheap but it’s nice to get all the games.
Also it should go without saying that Price and others should be able to opt out without criticism. Hopefully these lame questions will be short lived and folks can talk baseball and not about a player’s personal decision. It’s not worth printing when some dope thinks he knows what’s best for another human being. It is a story of who’s in and who’s not but after that, let’s move on.
1. There are going to be a lot of positive tests.
2. Dustin May had absolutely filthy stuff in the first inning!
The announcers were commenting that May has been using the off time to work on his curve and changeup so that he’ll have something off speed to show along with his power stuff. I agree MT, he looked incredible in that first inning and has looked pretty good in general today. If he can master one of those off speed pitches Strip might be competing with Wood for that 5th spot. It might be hard to keep May out of the rotation.
Chico “The Cannon” – Do Not Run on him!
Edwin Rios has a really sweet, powerful swing.
His swing is so fluid, level and effortless. Nice to watch.
Too bad you never saw Ted Williams. The sweetest swing ever. Ted was a wonder to watch. I remember seeing his last homer on TV. # 521. Just think how many HR’s he would have hit had he nor lost 5 seasons to military service.
Rumor has that he had 40/20 vision. The baseball must have looked like a baskerball to him.