It’s Dumb to Use a Smartphone During a Baseball Game

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1. Greetings and good morning from extremely cold Colorado. It is about 7 degrees outside right now. I also think JT will be back. And I think if they get 120 games out of him they will be lucky. JT played in 42 of the 60 regular season games, he had hammy problems, and all 18 of the playoffs and World Series. He played 135 games in 2019. He was only 2-18 in the first two rounds of the playoffs, but then got hot against the Braves and raked against the Rays. Pollock has not played in more than 113 games in the last 5 years, so if they get him for 120, that would be quite an accomplishment. And Pollock was their best hitter against lefty’s last season. I expect Mookie to be better this season. He knows the pitchers a little better, and is getting a hang for the way the ball plays at Dodger Stadium. Of course, he has yet to see the Central and East divisions except for Milwaukee and the Braves who they played in the playoffs. If Lux were to fail, which I do not think he will, Taylor is more than adequate at second. Barnes could also play there on occasion. I expect the Turner drama to be over by Tuesday of next week. The trucks left Dodger Stadium today on their way to Camelback with the equipment. Spring has almost sprung, although judging from the frigid temps here, you would not know it.

   1. That pretty much covers it.

2. MT, I love that lineup, but I think JT goes back to the three hole and if I were a betting man, I would wager that JT starts more in the 3 hole than anyone else. The lineup sure looks great, top to bottom. No worries here.

   Do you think there will be daily changes to scramble the lineup as we’ve seen in the past, or more of a traditional set lineup like we’ve seen from Robert’s predecessors? We already know that the tree hole will have to be rotated in your proposal since catchers don’t really play full time. Pollock will most like get plenty of time off as you said and Lux mostly sat against left handers.

   I’ve also been struck by a foul ball. It was on Opening Day in 1997 which was the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson and special Jackie Robinson baseballs were used. I ran into a buddy at the stadium, so I sat behind him in the early innings on the Loge level right behind home plate. A screamer was fouled straight back, everyone in front of me dodged it and it hit me on my inner thigh just inches away from the family jewels and wound up on the seat behind me where the fan sitting directly behind me reached down and snagged the souvenir. I later returned to my own seat and the buddy I was visiting wound up catching two other foul balls that were hit back into the same area. I love the randomness of baseball, even if I was a bit sore that day.

   Hang in there Bear. It isn’t so cold over here in Huntington Beach and it sure seems like an early Spring is coming based on the very mild winter we’ve had so far in So Cal. I certainly can’t wait for the season to start. Sborz was an easy call. We’ll see if anyone picks him up.

   1. If no one picks him up, he has one option left. LA could send him to AAA.

3. White Noise

4. AF should just go ahead and get Garrett Cooper. He could fill in for Pollock in left or Muncy at 1rst. He’s good insurance in case Pollock has one of his seasonal freak injuries or Muncy hits like he did during the regular season last year.

5. Years ago I noticed a lot of fans attending games at Dodger Stadium spent a lot of time on their cell phones.

   But then, for whatever reason, people were not spending much time on the phones. Not sure what changed. Mostly people were just using them to take pics. Hopefully that trend continues.

   One of the most interesting things that came out of yesterday’s press conference at Dodger Stadium was the question focused on the payroll and Andrew Friedman said it’s more or less a three to five year process. So many felt the Dodgers couldn’t or wouldn’t add a contract like Trevor Bauer, then turn around and continue to pursue a right handed bat, Justin Turner the main focus.

   It’s just a different mindset. Goes to expect the unexpected approach. Like signing Mookie Betts to a massive long term contract in the midst of a pandemic. I recall many saying that Friedman would never do that — the biggest contract that he had ever offered was …

   Maybe we’re getting a better look inside the Dodgers approach moving forward. Perhaps many of the certainties were not real. We were not just going to be Tampa Bay with a bigger budget. The Dodgers were going to be truly different. Opportunistic no doubt, not as concerned with caps and big contracts as was once thought.

   Many analysts are now saying that if Corey Seager stays healthy and repeats his performance, he will get a long term, big contract moving forward and there will be plenty of money to extend Clayton Kershaw for another two or three years.

   There is definitely something going on in LA and it has to be scaring the rest of baseball.

   Good line-up, Mark.

   1. I like a high OPS guy in the #3 spot and Will has been that. I also believe that JT will lose a little next year while still being a factor. I like Smith’s wheels higher in the lineup!

      I was surprised that AF went over the Salary Cap, but you can bet it will not happen every year. They will come back under it to reset it next year.

      1. A lot of money comes off the books next year and that is why they are going over this year knowing this. JT is getting older and having the nagging injury issues. I wonder if they have given any thought to trying Smith in the infield?

      2. Mark – l love your brashness.

         Most people, when recently having been proved to have been completely wrong on a certain topic would tend to leave it alone lol.
         Not you.

         Would kick the tires on Rosenthal if I were AF. He might be receptive to a one year deal to play for the WS Champs?

         JT will be back – there’s not enough noise coming from anywhere else to suggest he won’t be back.

         1. I assume you were talking about hydroxychloroquine. When I touted it, it was the only game in town and I would have taken it rather than take nothing. Some were saying that it would cause heart problems. Just yesterday, the New England Journal of Medicine wrote this about hydroxychloroquine:

            “Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine show only modest antiviral activity in cell-culture systems. There was no evidence of cardiovascular toxicity in either trial.” That is when taken in the proper dosages.

            Also: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601240.html

            So, here is your chance to explain how I was proved wrong! I will go a step farther and say that you can’t. won’t say that I have studied more on this subject and COVID19 than you, but have spent a lot of time on it. I’m waiting!

            1. Ha no – I’m not into all the Covid talk.

               I was referring to the certainty that we would not be ”Pig”s, and that we would be playing by the new unwritten rules of staying under the $210 Salary Cap Threshold – and therefore would have zero chance of signing Bauer.

               I’m now reading that we will definitely be back under it next year – to reset it.

               I was merely stating that it’s probably not a good idea to second guess our GM, especially when recently having been custard pied.

6. Three Simple Rules for Dating Trevor Bauer
   “I have three rules,” Bauer says. “One: no feelings.”

   The headline of Ben Reiter’s new profile of Trevor Bauer really says it all: “Trevor Bauer Is More Concerned With Being Right Than Being Liked.”Bauer, the brash, outspoken Indians pitcher, might not care too much about being liked by the opposite sex, either.

   While the story is primarily concerned with Bauer’s baseball life, one anecdote offers a fascinating glimpse into his personal life:

   When Bauer meets a potential romantic partner, he outlines for her the parameters of any possible relationship on their very first date. “I have three rules,” he says. “One: no feelings. As soon as I sense you’re developing feelings, I’m going to cut it off, because I’m not interested in a relationship and I’m emotionally unavailable. Two: no social media posts about me while we’re together, because private life stays private. Three: I sleep with other people. I’m going to continue to sleep with other people. If you’re not O.K. with that, we won’t sleep together, and that’s perfectly fine. We can just be perfectly polite platonic friends.”

   It’s his way of being considerate. “I imagine if I was married at this point, I would be a very bad husband,” he says. He does want a family in the future, when he can be as all in on it as he currently is on his career, maybe in a decade or so.

   When most people describe their ideal first date they think dinner and a movie, or a nice drink at a quiet bar. For Bauer it’s laying out a series of policies for a relationship that doesn’t exist yet.

   If that’s the way Bauer kicks off a first date, you have to wonder how many second dates there are.

   https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/02/19/trevor-bauer-indians-first-date-rules

   https://www.silive.com/mets/2021/02/mlb-rumors-trevor-bauer-already-having-trouble-with-dodgers-fans.html

   1. That’s who I thought Bauer was but with much less detail.

7. I really do hope JT is back and agree with some of the other posters who said JT will probably miss some games due to injury so it behooves the Dodgers to have a plan in place to factor that in. Salary cap is not an issue if you have the team in place to go back to back WS wins.

8. We’ve just traded Kolarek and Cody Thomas to the A’s for utility guy Sheldon Neuse and minor league righty Gus Varland.

   Neuse can play all over the diamond including third base and he hits right handed. I wonder if this means JT is less likely to be returning or if we’re on the verge of trading CT3, or quite probably neither of the above.

9. Probably neither – fills Kikes shoes. AF still got bullets in the chamber !

   1. Opens up a roster spot for Turner. Neuse has only 25 career games under his belt. He is most likely ticketed for AAA. Neuse hit no homers in his little stint with the team last season. He did hit 27 at Las Vegas in 2019. No way he is ready to be a full time 3rd baseman. He also strikes out at a 31 percent clip.

      1. I read where he’s on the 40-man so it doesn’t open a spot for JT.

         1. He has options, so he can be put on the AAA roster if they want.

            1. He can be sent to AAA but he still has a 40 man roster spot. He was on Oakland’s 40 man so he goes on the Dodges 40 man . He would have to be DFA’d to open a spot on the 40 man

         2. We traded away two players from our 40 man and received one player on their 40 man and the second, not on their 40 man. That opens a spot.

            1. Thomas was not on the 40 man he went unclaimed in the rule 5 draft in December of 2020

            2. You are right, I just checked the 40 man and he is on it. But I still think he has a very slim chance of cracking the 26 man at the end of spring. I fully expect Turner to be somewhere by early next week.

10. Mark, It’s illegal to spill beer because it costs 2$ an ounce at the ballpark! And Im still a little nervous about Smith hitting in the middle of the lineup until he shows he can hit the off speed stuff

    1. I used to want a Duke Snider type hitting 3rd but now I want a Joe Morgan type there.

       Betts best fits as a Morgan type but he needs to stay at #1. Lux could eventually be that guy.

       1. I’m with you. I thought DJLM would be a great 3 hitter on this team. A guy that hits for average, has some power, gets on base and doesn’t strike out a ton. Basically Steve Garvey and Justin Turner. 😉

11. Rumors now have Mets thinking of a trade for Chapman. I’m hoping it’s the Dodgers that get him.

    1. They were trading for Bryant yesterday and Chapman today. The A’s probably wouldn’t have traded Neuse if they were gonna trade Chapman.

12. Never forget that the Dodgers have a history of taking older underperforming third basemen and turning them into very -good-to-great players (i.e., Muncy and Turner). Could Neuse be another? You never know. I also think Cody Thomas is closer than many think!

    1. Thomas will at least get a look in spring with the A’s. But their roster is filled with outfielders.

13. Well, it looks like we got a little more right handed and got rid of some of that left handed hitting outfield redundancy. Reading through some prospect reports, Sheldon Neuse looks to be a very solid pickup. He’s always received pretty good grade with his hit tool and they’ve projected power from him. He’s performed pretty well with the bat in the minors with big Ave and OBP numbers. He get’s a 60 grade for his arm and would be considered rangy at 3B. He’s been learning 2B, being blocked by Chapman at 3rd and has performed pretty well defensively. He was also a second round pick in his draft class. Pretty freaking solid!

    Kolarek was useful, but limited since his ability to get righties out was sub-par. Raley could be a steal for Oakland. They wanted to get more left handed and Raley could be a nice pickup for them.

    Gus Varland also looks like a solid pickup. He is said to have advanced command and control and has a mid 90s fastball and misses bats with it. Slider is also a solid offering and his changeup is showing promise. He had Tommy John surgery in early 2019, so he’s already had the requisite time to recover.

    It sure looks like AF might have pulled off one of those under the radar trades that winds up being really good. Max Muncy / CT3?

    1. They did not trade Raley. They traded Cody Thomas.

       1. Oh, damn. I really do think they’re the same player! So much for that opening on the 40 man.

    2. Def more Muncy than CT3.

       Hell, maybe a little Tyler White!

       1. Lets hope not.

14. I do not think trading for this guy in any way means they won’t sign Turner. And even if he is on the 40 man roster, his limited MLB experience tells me he is probably ticketed for AAA to begin with. He struck out 19 times in 56 at bats in his only big league appearance. There are still DFA candidates on the roster. Varland had TJ surgery in 2019 so he is another injured pitcher AF has picked up over the years. Thomas was blocked anyway, and has a high K rate himself. Typical kind of trade for AF.

    1. You are correct.

       Doesn’t affect Turner’s potential return.

       I like him as a final bench competitor against Beaty.

15. Then there is this breaking news:

    https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure

16. … and this:
    https://www.milb.com/news/major-league-baseball-announces-minor-league-baseball-teams

    Each MLB Club will provide Minor League players and staffs to their four affiliates – one at each of the Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Low-A levels. Minor League Clubs will receive PDL licenses from MLB that entitle them to operate in the Professional Development Leagues, ensuring a new set of standards in terms of facilities and player working conditions. The licenses will create many improvements to the experience and lifestyle of Minor League players, such as:

    -Player salary increases ranging from 38-72% for the 2021 season.
    -Modernized facility standards better suited for professional athletes.
    -Improved amenities and working conditions for players and staff.
    -Reduced in-season travel for players and coaches.
    -Better geographical alignment.

    This announcement follows other recent announcements made by Major League Baseball detailing elements of its new comprehensive player development system. The new system will better serve fans, players and Clubs throughout the United States and Canada; preserve high-level, sustainable baseball in nearly every community where the game has historically been played; and position the sport for growth in future years. In combination, the integrated player development system now includes 179 teams across 17 leagues in 43 states and four provinces. Including the Arizona and Gulf Coast Leagues, there are 209 teams across 19 leagues in 44 states and four provinces.

    More teams will be joining the broader MLB player development system and other baseball leagues in the coming weeks and months, further enhancing the landscape for fans to continue to cheer on future stars. MLB has nearly completed its work towards ensuring baseball’s presence in almost all of the previous affiliated communities.

    1. Thank you Mark, for your write-up and news about the minor leagues. Appreciated it. Also thanks for keeping us informed on the virus treatments. I have trouble sleeping on my stomach but will try it.

17. Mark, I love that line up. That one will play.
    While I have no hard evidence and don’t plan on researching it, I think Doc employed fewer, different lineups last year than years past. We saw platooning in left with Joc and AJ, Lux getting tryout time at 2nd and Barnes getting PT. But Doc played the same guys in a more predictable way then in the past. I’m a fan of that predictability and I think it paid off in the end. I liked settling on CT3 at 2nd and then left with Kike for D. I hope Doc sticks with that thinking and doesn’t measure his managerial talent based on how many moves he can make.
    While I didn’t hear Bauer’s introducing broadcast, I enjoyed Bauer’s interview with the guys from the MLB channel. I’m fascinated each time I listen to his takes on pitching and his use to advances in technology. I’ve long been interested in advanced pitching instruction by Tom House, Ron Wolforth and Driveline. I was one of the first to use tubing and 2.5 pound weights for pitchers everyday before we ever picked up s ball. It’s been interesting to watch the evolution of acceptance about Driveline and similar innovations. At the start, if was viewed by many as some sort of voodoo. Traditionalists found the techniques weird and suspect. I remember a few spring trainings ago at Goodyear Park, watching Bauer throw weighted balls, rubber balls over his shoulder backwards in to the bullpen wall, using that long flexible stick to shake his arm out, and many other toys prior to his unusual warm up. Many questioned the value of this stuff and thought he was a nut. He may be a different cat but his methods are now generally accepted and commonplace. He was ahead of the curve. I love to hear him talk pitching and think his self evaluations are very interesting.
    A couple of other thoughts on Bauer’s interview:
    His female agent, Rachel Luba works on and hourly rate and not commission. I’ve never heard or thought about that before. She’s a fascinating character.
    Molly Knight’s last few articles in the Athletic have been very irritating to me. Yesterday, she had to start in on Bauer. She seems to have some axe to grind and statement to make over the treatment of women. Her latest contribution instructs Trevor Bauer on what he should have said yesterday in his introduction. Like she knows. Certainly no one supports sexual harassment but she seems on a mission to provide investigative reporting into the matter in every article instead of writing about baseball. She needs to quit her beat and get a job with 60 Minutes, IMO
    My winer home is 2 miles from Camelback Ranch. Yesterday was a perfect 77 degrees without a cloud in the sky. It’s touched 80 this week (like my best fastball). 72 today and another pool day. Can’t wait for the players to arrive. I saw what appeared to be a coach yesterday unpacking his car and going into a condo with a Dodger bag. Can’t wait to see who it is. Lasorda used to say about 2 condos down from mine. I will miss seeing him.

    1. Dodgers hired Alanna’s replacement, Kirsten Watson. She will basically be doing the same thing Alanna did. She previously worked with Spectrum SportsNet working on Lakers and Sparks broadcasts. Melancon is signing with the Padres. So maybe AF sneaking in and snagging Rosenthal is still possible. Trades like the one that happen this morning do not exactly get me all a twitter. To me, he is AAA fodder until he proves otherwise, and I sincerely hope he is not a younger version of Tyler White.

    2. I agree with you on the Molly article. Then Pedro Moura say’s “Hold my chardonnay” and writes the same thing, making the same points. They love to complain how Treavor criticizes people on Social Media, then they use their platform to criticize him. How tone deaf can you be?

18. I agree with you about Nuese the only way he end up on the 26 man roster is if for some crazy reason they want a right handed bat instead of McKinsty’s left handed bat

    1. Or instead of Beaty’s left handed bat? Since Beaty plays the same positions as Rios?

       1. That’s my takeaway.

          I’m projecting Nuese to take that last bench spot which Beaty barely clings to.

          McKinstry’s versatility wins out.

    2. Now it’s Floro to Marlins.

19. Got my second shot about 1/2 hour ago. I am still standing! And it is up to 12 degrees here today! Supposed to drop to 4 on Sunday and -10 that night. Brrrrrrrrrrr. Oh well, I have my insulated jeans and a heavy coat, so I am fine. Fridge is full and so is the pantry. No need to go anywhere.

    1. Good luck. Let us know how you feel tomorrow.

       FWIW
       I did well for about 12 hours other than arm pain. Felt symptoms (fatigue and muscle aches) for next 24 hour or so. Arm pain started at about 6-8 hours. Your mileage may vary.

       Back to normal, or at least my version of normal, after that.

20. Dodgers trade Dylan Floro to Miami for LHP Alex Vesia and a prospect.

    Thank you forever, Dylan, for that huge strikeout of Arrozarenna!!

    1. The prospect coming back to us is RHP Kyle Hurt

21. Alex Vesia looks like the Marlin’s version of Cleavinger. A lefty who throws gas, but has very limited experience. I’m glad AF is collecting high upside lefty bullpen pieces.

    Here’s the righty bullpen possibilities they still have…
    Gerardo Carrillo
    Andre Jackson
    Edwin Uceta
    Mitchell White
    Brusdar Graterol
    Kenley Jansen
    Joe Kelly
    Corey Knebel
    Dennis Santana
    Blake Treinen
    Brock Stewart
    Andrew Schwaab
    Jimmy Nelson
    Brandon Morrow
    And that’s before you get into May and Gonsolin.

    1. Paxos another LHRP with some upside.

22. Well, the past couple of days have been interesting – minor roster pieces like Kolarek and Floro, who were effective at times, leaving for prospects. It does make you think that there is likely another move (or maybe 2) in the offing. Thomas, Beatty, Raley and Reks may all be the same person – lefty swinging corner types and it makes sense to thin the herd.

    Assuming the 5 SP to start the season will be Kershaw, Buehler, Bauer, Price and Urias and they aren’t allowed to carry more than 13 pitchers, they’ve eliminated 2 possible bullpen pieces. Currently that leaves
    Jansen
    Treinen
    Knebel
    Graterol
    Kelly
    V Gonzalez
    as sure things. This is an overly left-handed pen. If Cleavinger is on the active roster, that means that disaster has struck – he’s a break glass in case of fire kind of guy. Maybe this means that Scott Alexander is #7.

    Gonsolin and May as # 8? or they send one to the minors to stay stretched out and keep Santana or White up? Or maybe sign or trade for another bullpen arm?

    When pieces start moving like this, I wait for the other shoe to drop.

    1. Lots of internal options and always the chance of another signing.

    2. Rick, there is no 13 pitcher limit this year, so they can have 14 or 15 if they want to.

       Of the 6 guys you’ve listed as sure things in the bp 5 of them are right handed so I’m not sure what you mean by saying it’s “an overly left-handed pen.”

       1. True, that – no pitcher limit.

          Typo re handedness of bullpen

23. In response to the comments about Molly Knight’s article about Bauer. Molly’s article had over 480 responses and most of them were negative, including a number that were deleted because of content. That is an unheard of number of responses. There were several people who canceled their subscriptions. She hasn’t had an article posted since her hit piece so I wonder of the Athletic got the message. The article was really bad and deserves all the criticism it received.

    1. I cancelled my subscription to The Athletic a few months ago. Too much politics, not enough sports ruined the experience for me.

       I am very interested in politics but I have magazines, books and websites dedicated to politics that I already read. You know – the name of the website (Athletic) should give the reader a clue about the contents.

       1. I have never read it. I have a few friends who use it. But it was just something I never had the extra cash to get.

24. Sounds like Rosenthal may be coming!

25. The Yankees are shopping Betances. He’s been injured the past 2 years and has a 6 million dollar salary that the Yankees could pay part of.

    1. Ummm, he’s with the Mets!

       1. Of course; thanks for the correction.

26. Seems to me like Friedman is making up for lost time the last couple of days. Shades of last year when all their significant moves came in February. Maybe this is his new trend. Sit back, watch, then strike. I know nothing about the guys they are getting. I know all of them have little to no experience. The lefty they are getting from the Marlins, Vesia, in 4/1 innings gave up 3 homers. Not very impressive, but the scouts probably know something we do not. Someone said something about the Dodgers getting rid of ground ball guys because the ball has been deadened a little. Sources said the new ball would go maybe 2 feet less on drives of 365 or more. Still means nothing when one of the players today get a hold of one. Bellinger might lose a homer or two. Barnes would be more affected since he has gap power. I liked Floro though, and he got one of the more important outs of the World Series when he struck out Arrozarena. Imagine the let down of leaving LA for Miami. One thing is sure though, other than Thomas, the 2 players leaving the Dodgers are in their 30’s, while all 4 of the players coming back are in their 20’s.

27. Press Releases:

    DODGERS ACQUIRE LHP ALEX VESIA AND RHP KYLE HURT

    LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired left-handed pitcher Alex Vesia and minor league pitcher Kyle Hurt from the Miami Marlins in exchange for right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro.

    Vesia, 24, made five appearance in 2020, allowing nine runs in 4.1 innings while striking out five. He made his Major League debut on July 25, 2020, tossing 0.2 innings at Philadelphia. The Northern California native is 11-2 with a 1.62 ERA (18 ER/100.0 IP) and 138 strikeouts in 52 minor league appearances (one start). In his first full minor league season in 2019, he went a combined 7-2 with a 1.76 ERA (13 ER/66.2 IP) and 100 strikeouts in 38 games across three different levels. He was originally drafted in the 17th round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out California State University, East Bay.

    Hurt, 22, was the Marlins 5th round selection in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft out the University of Southern California. The former Trojan made four starts in 2020 for USC, going 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA (7 ER/17.0 IP) and 25 strikeouts. In his three seasons with USC, the right-hander went a combined 9-13 with a 5.06 ERA (97 ER/172.2 IP) and 170 strikeouts. The Torrey Pines High School graduate pitched in the Cape Cod League in 2018, going 1-1 with a 3.47 ERA (9 ER/23.1 IP) and 22 strikeouts for the Chatham A’s.

    Floro, 30, spent parts of the last three seasons with the Dodgers, recording an 11-4 mark with a 3.10 ERA (34 ER/98.2 IP) and 92 strikeouts. Last season, he went 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA (7 ER/24.1 IP) and 19 strikeouts in 25 games while adding six postseason appearances and allowing three runs in 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts. The former Cal State Fullerton Titan has pitched in the Major Leagues five seasons and is 14-7 with a 3.33 ERA (59 ER/159.2 IP) and 139 strikeouts.

    DODGERS ACQUIRE IF SHELDON NEUSE AND RHP GUS VARLAND FROM ATHLETICS

    LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired infielder Sheldon Neuse and minor league pitcher Gus Varland from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for left-handed pitcher Adam Kolarek and minor league outfielder Cody Thomas.

    Neuse, 26, spent the 2020 season at the Oakland Alternate site after hitting .250 (14-for-56) with three doubles in 2019 for the A’s. The infielder had a banner season with Triple-A Las Vegas prior to his promotion in 2019, hitting .317 (158-for-498) and clubbing 27 homers with 102 RBI in 126 games. In four minor league seasons, spanning five different levels, he has hit a combined .294 (460-for-1565) with 49 homers and 247 RBI. He was originally drafted in the second round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Oklahoma.

    Varland, 24, is a combined 2-2 with a 1.54 ERA (11 ER/64.1 IP) and 77 strikeouts in 18 minor league games (15 starts). In his last full season in 2019, the Minnesota native went 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA (7 ER/26.1 IP) and 27 strikeouts in five games for Advanced-A Stockton. The right-handed pitcher was originally drafted by the A’s in the 14th round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out Concordia University.

    Kolarek, 32, made 20 appearances for the Dodgers in 2020, going 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA (2 ER/19.0 IP) and 13 strikeouts. He posted a 5-0 record with one save across 46 games and delivered a 0.88 ERA (3 ER/30.2 IP) in his Dodger career. In his four Major League seasons, he is a combined 11-3 with a 3.32 ERA.

    Thomas, 26, spent part of the 2020 season at the Dodgers alternate site. In 2019, he clubbed a career-best 23 homers and recorded 76 RBI with Double-A Tulsa. In four minor league seasons, he has notched 81 homers and driven in 278 runs with a .255 batting average. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Oklahoma.

    KIRSTEN WATSON JOINS DODGER BROADCAST TEAM

    LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the addition of Kirsten Watson to their broadcast team. In her role as a reporter and host, Watson will contribute to the Dodgers’ SportsNet LA game broadcasts and studio programming as well as pre- and postgame coverage on both television and radio.

    Watson joins the Dodgers following two years as a reporter and host with Spectrum SportsNet, where she appeared on pre-, post- and in-game broadcasts of the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Sparks and South Bay Lakers while also co-hosting the network’s Lakeshow studio program. She also currently serves as a producer for the National Football League, creating localized content for international markets, hosting its Game Recognize Game series and organizing international trips for NFL players for content and media opportunities. Watson also hosted Monday Night Football on Channel 5 in the UK, an international broadcast in partnership with NFL Network.

    “I am excited to continue my passion as a storyteller with the Los Angeles Dodgers,” said Watson. “To have the opportunity to be a member of and represent one of the most iconic sports franchises is an honor.”

    Following the completion of her Master’s degree at Columbia Journalism School, Watson was awarded the Stuart Scott Internship-Scholarship from the National Association of Black Journalists and ESPN, where she produced video packages for SportsCenter and NFL Live. Watson also earned her Bachelor’s degree from Columbia and was a member of the school’s volleyball team.

    “We feel that our broadcast is one of the best in sports and know that Kirsten can help make it even stronger,” said Lon Rosen, Dodger Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “We’re excited for Dodger fans to get to know her.”

28. Meet
    Kirsten Watson:
    

29. Melancon to Padres on a one year deal

    1. Is he still ambulatory?

30. I’ve enjoyed watching Turner and have always thought he was the most clutch hitter on the team by far. I would prefer him to sign a one year contract that gives him a second year if he gets 475 PAs.

    That said, I won’t miss him if he can be replaced by Chapman who can steal a base, hit for power, and play defense. I would include May in a package to get Chapman.

31. To the person who always argued (and has an attitude problem) with me about the bullpen. You know who you are. (Bear). Friedman just traded Floro and Kolarek. You ol wise one who has watched baseball for 100 years and think you know it all insisted Friedman likes Floro and Kolarek. While I told you that they are nothing but LOOGYS and ROOGYS.

    it’s not your opinions that I have a problem with. Not at all. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. It’s your ignorance of stats and your attitude problem (which includes thinking you know it all) that I have a problem with.

    1. Shots fired.

       This should be interesting.

       https://images.app.goo.gl/kNsC8MExbph8Hw4q9

       1. No, I am not going to argue with him. He has his own way of valuing players, and that is fine. He is welcome to believe what he wants. I am not going to waste time and energy arguing.

          1. 😉

    2. I would not infer too much on those trades. The Dodgers bullpen is loaded and Friedman took two pieces who may or may not have made the team this year and turned them into future pieces. Both will be useful for the teams they went to, but they were not needed in LA.

       1. This is a very good summary statement.

32. Kolarek and Floro did not have any options left. So what AF did was gain some roster flexibility with players that do. Neither one has much experience, but obviously AF and the scouts see something they like. Eric, I never said I knew it all, and usually any player on the roster has the possibility of being traded. That being said, I see no upgrade in the trading of those two guys. They were both effective last season. I am far from ignorant, I just value players differently than you do. And I do not have an attitude problem at all. I respect everyone who posts on here. Sometimes we argue, and that is simply normal. People do not always agree on everything, especially baseball. Have a nice day.

    1. Sometimes you poke a bear with a stick and all you get in return is a big hug.

       1. … and sometimes the Bear gets you!

          1. Talking trash on the computer is worthless. He does not know me, and I do not know him. Look what happened in the past between you and I. And we have come to respect each other. We all look at the game through different lenses. What I value, is not the same as what Patch, Badger, or Watford might value. I used to argue with MJ all the time. Usually about 2 players, Joc and Puig. Doesn’t mean either of us was right, I am very much old school. Most of the stats they use now, I really do not care about. Players today are a different breed than guys like Mantle and Mays. Bigger for the most part, more into nutrition and working out. The get paid a lot more money than those guys did. But is the game better? To some it is. That’s fine. I think there are things in the game that there should be more emphasis on, like striking out way too much. But teams are not inclined to worry about that as much. What I do value is consistency. And some players just never get to that level.

33. Some people call me a know-it-all, and they are right…I do know everything, though I must admit to an occasional lapse of instant recall.
    Generally, I’m fairly good natured around those with lesser intellect, but I must admit that those of you who think you know it all can become quite tedious to those of us who do.

    1. Gee Dave, why are you being so modest? I actually have a pretty good sense of humor. At least I think I do.

       1. What I said was not a response to you Bear, just a smart alec comment into the space.
          Just trying to add a little levity. All I have to offer is humor, and most of my humor is probably better kept to myself.
          I learn a lot from this site, but many contributors get testy quite easily, which seems pretty counterproductive.
          I love baseball, so I enjoy this site because I learn here. I appreciate everyone’s contributions, just not the snark so much.

34. Dodger Nation is reporting that the Dodgers are going to sell tickets to Camelback at 18% capacity. That would be a little over 2400 seats. The will be sold in blocks of 2 4 and 6 tickets. They go on sale next Saturday, the 20th of February.

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