“Baseball flows with the rhythm of life. Comes forth in the spring, lives in the summer, goes in the fall, plays in shitty Latin American ballparks in the winter” – Walt Whitman
- I have to admit that I’m conflicted about MLB’s decision to move the All-Star game from Atlanta. I’m not conflicted about their decision. Simply put, I disagree with the MLB’s action. Why I disagree is not important. I’ll leave that to Mark and those of you who want to engage in that discussion to sort it out. I’ve come to learn that a blog and social media are not the places to engage in such discussions, as rather than educate, it only invites more rancor. Frankly, I come to this blog to have a moment’s respite from the stress of day-to-day living, not to fight or argue.
● MLB’s decision on the All-Star game did, however, further bolster my opinion that Rob Manfred is one of the worst, if not the worst Commissioner of Baseball during my time as a fan. I wonder how you can get and keep a gig like that, and yet continue to make blunder after blunder. MLB’s decision has made me ponder, once you make a decision like this, where does it stop?
● My conflict with MLB’s decision stems, primarily, from my lifelong love for baseball and whether I could ever decide not to follow the Dodgers in the days ahead. The reason I find myself so conflicted is that I have a deep-rooted love for baseball and the Dodgers. Baseball is such a precious, enjoyable, and simple game. It was the first “American” game that I learned soon after I immigrated from Holland as a five-year-old. I cherish the many years of memories I have of playing, coaching, and watching my sons play. My family has lived much of our life, playing or watching baseball. Whether it is playing over-the-line at Artesia Park, playing catch in the back yard with my grandson in the back yard, simply throwing a ball in the air and seeing how far I could hit it, or sitting in the stands at Dodger Stadium, I have always loved the game of baseball.
● I know that much about baseball has changed over the years. Professionally, it has become big business. Billionaire owners make a ton of money off their teams. That’s their right. Players are also being paid an enormous sum of money to play this game. While I don’t begrudge them their right to make as much money as they can, from my perspective, it has impacted much of the purity of the game. Even youth ball is now affected by the “pay to play travel teams.” Moreover, the pressure placed on kids nowadays to “succeed” as opposed to just having fun, has removed some of the youthful innocence from the game. Gone are the days of playing a pick-up game in the backyard with your best buddy. Despite that, because baseball and the Dodgers have been such a large part of my life, I’m not sure that I’m ready to be “done with baseball and the Dodgers” because of some stupid corporate decision. I gave up watching and following football and basketball many years ago, for differing reasons, and I don’t miss them. Maybe it will happen with baseball and the Dodgers too, but not just yet.
● For the most part, I have chosen not to engage in the political banter that’s been prevalent in the past couple of weeks. I respect and admire so many of you that read and comment on this blog. You have great insights on baseball and, in some instances on life and I enjoy reading them. I also admire Mark. It is a tremendous undertaking to keep this blog afloat and he spends an inordinate amount of time writing articles and providing fresh content every day. I’m only involved in this in a small way, and I can tell you that, from the help he provides me with the few articles that I post, he does an awful lot behind the scenes. I’m grateful to him for putting forth the effort he does, and I’m also very grateful that he humors me by letting me ramble on in my random thoughts articles.
● The reason I try to stay away from the political discussion is that, much like the purity and innocence of baseball, gone are the days that people can engage in civil discourse. I’m sure that things might be different if we were having some of these discussions in the backyard over a barbeque, but once behind the anonymity of a computer screen, things change. Simply expressing disagreement no longer seems to be allowed, as most people have this insatiable need to rebut each statement of disagreement by attempting to show that they are right and they, and they alone, have the superior intellect in the discussion. I fall victim to that thought process every now and again, and when I do, I don’t even like myself for it. In my opinion, this need to be right is an incredibly unhealthy perspective that can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. I blame the lack of civil discourse on political debates. I can’t watch more than a few minutes of the “debates”, if we can call them that. They’re more of an exercise in who can speak the loudest and interrupt the other more effectively. It is rare, that opposing arguments are ver discussed in a meaningful sense. Rather, it seems the accepted style is to engage in ad hominem attacks and forget to make your point on an issue. It defies my understanding how Joe Biden and Donald Trump can be the best this country has to offer for presidential candidates. That’s also why I never watch CNN, Fox News, or their ilk with my grandchildren. We want to teach them the importance of manners, and they will never learn them by watching that nonsense.
● I am disturbed that the Commissioner’s office leaked to the press that the balls used by Trevor Bauer were being inspected. Perhaps they weren’t responsible for the leak. Maybe it was an umpire or one of the clubhouse boys who did. Frankly, it doesn’t matter how that information got to the press, it just shouldn’t have. If you release the information for one pitcher, you have to do it for all. But of course, that’s not going to happen. I also find it peculiar that the players most critical of Manfred as to his investigation of the Astros and the punishment meted out, Justin Turner and Trevor Bauer, have had private information about them leaked to the press which caused them to be painted in a bad light. I, for one, don’t think that’s a coincidence.
● Finishing the discussion about civil discourse, ultimately, who cares if you think, for example, that Jansen should be the closer, or I think that Knebel should be the closer. It really doesn’t matter. None of us on this blog will ever have any input on that decision. Further, I doubt that anyone on the Dodger coaching staff or administration is going to call us to get our advice. Moreover, we do not have all of the information available to the coaching staff. We may think we know it all, but we don’t. Therefore, the discussion is and should be, nothing more than for fun. Just like the game itself.
● Well enough of that blah, blah, blah. After Friday nights’ 1-0 victory over the Nationals, then again after Saturday nights 9-5 victory, and lastly after Sunday’s 3-0 shutout, I came to LADT to read the game and post-game comments. I had to read over the comments twice because, with the exception of one quick comment by Bear, I could not find a single comment from anyone praising Doc Roberts for the use of his bullpen. He did a masterful job this weekend, and I would think after all the criticism that’s been heaped on him, he would get some love. He managed to pull the right strings in each game. Then again, maybe it was just luck on his part, I guess.
● Having the players receive a congratulatory message from their favorite players of their youth, was a very nice touch to the ring ceremony. It humanized the players and reminded me of the purity and love for the game that I wrote of earlier in this article. Most all of us had favorite players growing up, and we can all identify with how special it might have been for the Dodgers’ players. With that part of the ceremony being meaningful, I feel the less that Mark Walters speaks on these occasions, the better it would be for the fans. Just my opinion, but his speech made me want to vomit. On the other hand, I did get some satisfaction, sadistic perhaps, when the fans booed LA Mayor, Eric Garcetti.
● It’s still early in the season, but you have to like this team. Minus Mookie and Belli, they represented well against the Nationals. The starting pitching looks solid, if not yet spectacular. Throwing more than 4 innings per game, is a nice change from last year. And, to Eric’s dismay, I think the bullpen is going to do just fine. Knebel has been a very nice addition. Currently, the pen is without Graterol and Gonsolin, who I think we can agree, will only make it stronger. Plus, I still think that Jimmy Nelson and David Price will be just fine as the season moves along. We may see a replacement for Alexander somewhere down the line, but right now, he’s a no harm no foul pitcher. Maybe, if the starters continue to throw 6 or 7 innings, the Dodgers won’t have to tax their bullpen quite as much.
● Speaking of Gonsolin, I am concerned that his injury might be more serious than initially reported. I hope not, but more recent reports indicate that he may be on the shelf for longer period of time.
● I don’t wish him any ill will, him being a local boy and all, but frankly, it would not bother me if Joe Kelly spent the entire year on the IL.
● Again it’s early, but I like what I see from Zach McKinstry. I love his enthusiasm. He appears to be a more disciplined player than Kike. He’s certainly is not as fidgety in the batter’s box as Kike. He has also done well defensively. I’m not ready to christen him ROY yet, but he’s exceeded my expectations by a lot. While he has been a ray of sunshine, unfortunately, Matt Beatty has not yet found his rhythm. He looks out of sorts at the plate. But, the season is long and I think he will come around.
● Sunday’s version of Kenley Jansen was really nice. I read a quote from Dave Roberts about Kenley: “He’s been working really hard with the performance guys, Brandon McDaniel, and his staff. Connor McGuiness has been good for him,” Roberts said. “He’s just been working really hard. Credit goes to Kenley, and it was really fun to see.” Keep on working Kenley, maybe there is a full year left in his gas tank.
● It seems that it was premature to stick a fork in Justin Turner and Clayton Kershaw. They’ve done quite nicely up to this point, at times even showing some flashes of greatness. Let’s hope they make it through the year without injury. With the depth available to Doc, he can give them plenty of opportunities to rest as needed throughout the season.
● The more and more I watch CT3 play the more I appreciate him as a player. He does so many little things well. Getting him from the Mariners for Zach Lee will always go down as one of the most one-sided trades in Dodgers history.
● Gavin Lux looks so much more relaxed and confidant this year. Defensively he has been very solid and his bat is coming around. Several of his outs have been very hard hit. I think he’s going to have a solid year.
● Max Muncy is also looking more like his earlier version, as opposed to last years version. He looks much more dialed in and is hitting the ball hard.
● This article was written on Sunday afternoon, and I’m adding this portion on Wednesday morning. Last night’s game, albeit against the lowly Rockies, was fun to watch. I dig the long ball! There were a lot of hard-hit balls and some of them went far enough to make the home run seats. What I found most impressive, however, is how well Trevor Bauer pitched. Again, it’s early in the season, but he shows a great command of his pitches and he exudes confidence on the mound. If he does this all year, I think we’ll all be happy that AF signed him.
While not giving up on the Dodgers yet, I’ve decided to retire my song parodies. After the first one, I mostly continued to do them for DodgerBlueMom. She was the only one who ever seemed to enjoy them. With the sad news of her death, I think it’s a really good time to hang that writing endeavor up.
My song for the day is “Goin Back” by the Byrds.
I agree about Jansen and Knebel. Kenley will not close every game, but I predict he will have more saves than anyone else on the Dodgers. It’s clear that he should not pitch back-to-back games, but he has been very effective when he doesn’t. Kenley has 3 saves to Knebel’s 2. I like what I am seeing.
Dustin May struggled, but the bullpen didn’t.
Also, when Bellinger comes back, what happens to Zach McKinstry? At this juncture, Zach is a more worthy candidate for 2B than is Gavin Lux! Zach is leading the team in HR and RBI and is OPSing over 1.000. Lux is barely OPSing half that! I know it’s early, but this routine with Lux worries me. McKinstry just shows up, shuts up, and steps up. He just gets the job done. Lux is out of excuses. He has to earn his playing time and just like Kike, he hasn’t! I am fearful that Gavin may be a bust!
Speaking of Kike, he;s stile mired at .208 and Joc Pederson is hitting .108. Joc is what I thought he was!
I think all of the major sports are in for a real surprise from what is going to be accepted and supported by the American fans. LIke you said, sports should be a respite from the day in and day out grind and concerns in our lives. Instead sports has become a constant reminder of the day in and day out grind in our lives. The days of the packed stadiums are over, and not because of “out of extreme caution for out fans” (they stopped doing things “for our fans” many years ago). The days of high TV ratings are over (without viewers, ad money dries up, without ad money teams will dry up). Times are a-changin. Anyone notice that the PGA is doing quite well, hmmm, I wonder what’s the difference in the approach they have taken (okay I know but I’ll leave that for y’all to contemplate for a minute).
Woke will drive you broke (in so many ways and not just money ways), listen up fat cat owners, your slip is showing!
I agree Truth, and I’m sad the Dodgers are not staying out of the frey. I also agree with much of what 2D2 said today and feel mostly the same way. It’s all very exhausting.
Manfred is horrible. I can’t recall any Commissioner that is more disliked by the fans and the players.
I’m not ready to praise Doc for handling the bullpen. I don’t think he needed to pull Gonzo and Treinen mid inning. I think those were unnecessary moves as was his double switch for Lux. I can also question why the hell Doc felt the need to start Beaty in LF, having Taylor on the bench only to use Taylor later in the game negating his off day.
McKinstry is hot right now. I love him over Kike. But, I’m not ready to give up on Lux. He hit another couple of balls pretty hard yesterday, just got under them. He’s also looked great in the field.
Don’t look now, but the mighty Padres are in 3rd place having lost two in a row to the Pirates who are going for the sweep today against Paddack. The Angels lost two in a row, so there’s only two teams that have not lost a series so far, the Dodgers and the Royals.
It feels really good to be 10-2.
TH; So your not watching anymore Dodger games?
And how did you come up with the question from what I wrote?
Congratulations to Raley on his first hit.
Lux looked lost at the plate. Is he going to be a feast/famine kind of player at the plate??
Excellent write-up.
Yes, I want to see Rob Manfred go. I think he’s bad for the game. Should have never thrust baseball into the middle of the Georgia nonsense. What did he think baseball would gain, especially when the entire country is so badly split?
I agree on coincidences and leaks. I also agree with Trevor Bauer and other players about Manfred. Past time for him to depart, for the good of the game.
I’ve asked myself the same question about walking away from baseball. The final straw may come down to whether there is a work stoppage. If there is, I’m guessing I walk away. I’m sure I won’t be alone.
Headed for the game tonight. Already just a tad ticked off. I read Mookie won’t be in the line-up. This is an old story. Go to a game and star players sit. Didn’t get to see him play last year, finally get to be in-person and no Mookie? Hope the reports are not true. Hey, I have no patience.
I keep thinking this will be the last year I buy season tickets. I listened to baseball analysts on the radio saying that fans aren’t really paying for escalating player salaries. Okay, then why do they keep raising ticket prices?
All of this factors in when I consider the long term future of the game. Then there is the patience of Dodger hitters, going deep into counts. Good strategy no doubt. But it really slows down the game.
I already hate the fact there is no DH. I like action. Another reason to dislike Manfred.
Again, enjoyed the write-up.
I already write about politics elsewhere, no need to do it here.
I do not know where you read that. Lineups for tonight’s game won’t be posted until at least 5 PM pacific time. Nothing about him missing Thursday’s game on twitter or the Dodger site. He looked fine last night.
Doc announced at the beginning of the series that Mookie would play Tues-Wed and then sit on Thursday. He might change his mind, but that was the original statement.
I did not read that. Sorry. I think it is kind of dumb to sit him. He is the catalyst out there, and playing 3 games in a row can only help his game. Maybe they just want to see how his back responds after back to back games. AU, Lux does not look lost. He hit the ball hard twice. Got a sac fly the first time.
You are right. Tonight’s lineup Taylor Cf, Turner 3B, Muncy 1B, Smith C, Pollock LF, Lux SS, McKinstry 2B, Raley RF, Urias P.
Excellent write up. Bravo 2D2. Expressed everything I feel and more. Here is another for you. I read about this yesterday and thought, why are they messing with the game? We all know they are going to use bigger bases in one of the leagues as an experiment. Baseball has teamed with the Atlantic league to test some new idea’s too. Here is one I think is nuts. They are going to move the mound back one foot. Huh? You have all of these guys who for years have been pitching from 60 feet 6 inches, and now you want them to get used to doing it from a foot further back? I also read about the reasons. MLB supposedly is concerned about the high strikeout rate. So, they figure that by moving the plate back, the ball will be traveling a little slower when it gets into the hitting area, and walla, more hits, less strikeouts. How about maybe more arm troubles for pitchers who have trained one way most of their lives and now have to make a huge adjustment just to make sure they can reach the plate. Guys who throw in the high 90’s like May would lose maybe 2 or 3 miles an hour on their fast ball. What about curveball pitchers who now have to throw the ball a little harder to get it to the plate, and how does that affect the break? Just plain nuts in my mind. They are also going to test a rule that says when you pull the starting pitcher, you lose the DH. Idea there is to force managers to have to use more strategy. Wow. Again, another head scratcher. As for the Dodgers and the way they are playing, I am extremely happy with the start. Who wouldn’t be happy with 10-2. But I have seen some posts elsewhere saying that they should be 12-0. Maybe, but baseball is an unpredictable game. Rondon, of the White Sox missed a perfect game last night, not because of an error or a walk, he plunked a guy when he had 2 strikes on him with one out. Yep, ya never can tell what will happen. I love McKinstry’s work ethic and the results are showing. I think Beaty’s problems are just an extension of how he played in spring. He did not hit well there either. I honestly think a change of scenery will do him a lot of good. Lux has been hitting in bad luck. He has hit some balls very hard that were atem balls. Taylor is the Dodgers Swiss knife. He can do pretty much anything. Belli is due back Friday. So someone has to go. My candidate right now would be Beaty. Not going to give Doc praise for his handling of the pen just 12 games into the year. Ask me 100 games from now and I will have a better analysis for you.
Thx 2D2 for a nice write up. Good to have your perspective back. I’m with you on so many of your points. And you reminded us all about how much time and effort Mark puts in to keep LADT up and running. Thank you Mark. Your blog adds so much to the Dodger fan experience. Even if we can sometimes be “ morons”! And come to think of it I just don’t understand why Doc and AF don’t consult with me regarding their some of their decisions. I should give them my email!
Exactly Cassidy. 3 things people argue about the most, religion, politics and sports. I try to avoid the first two and confine my arguments to sports. It also irks me that AF does not have my phone number to consult me on roster moves and trades!
That is a great Byrds song, written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, but done in classic Byrds style. I remember when the song came out, and I was disappointed that it was not a hit. I would rather hear this song than some of their big hits
I don’t think that any area can escape the controversies which swirl around. The 24-hour cable media is a big part of that. They need people to keep watching, and people seem to need new things to argue or be polarized about.
Jansen is pitching pretty well, but he almost never has a clean ninth inning. Against teams better than the Rockies and Nationals, , that will be a concern. Right now, though, 10-2 is very impressive.
Radio magnates are fickle. This album came out after a lull in their releases. If you are not in the mainstream and the song does not get a lot of requests, then it passes from the radio listeners consciousness. There was a band called Moby Grape. Never had what one would call a huge hit. But listen to their albums and you will see those guys were real innovators. 8:05 is a classic. And only a couple of minutes long. Unusual for those times.
I never heard of Moby Grape. I did read Moby Dick though.
Just had to comment because I thought I was the only one who followed Moby Grape. Saw them at Fillmore. Loretta Young’s son was in the band.
I have one of their albums. They did not get much Radio play, but they were good A lot better than most of the crap that gets played today. Them and the band, Its A Beautiful Day both very under rated.
Moby Grape was better live than on record. The were part of the San Francisco music scene, being among the second tier of groups(like Quicksilver Messenger Service and the like). I saw them live at the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino, along with Quicksilver Messenger Service. They wer pretty good live.
Bear I agree with you about “It’s a Beautiful Day” – they were a wonderful group. I had a big time school boy crush on Patti Santos
2D2…Do you have any of their albums? I have 2. Their debut album and Marrying Maiden.
No I don’t have any of their albums. Other than Quicksilver Messenger Service and It’s A Beautiful Day, the SF music scene didn’t do much for me.
2D2….if you want, email me your address and I will burn them for you. You have my permission to get my email addy from Mark.
Don’t forget Dan Hicks and His Hot licks! There’s ties to all those bay area bands together such as Sid Page.
“Omaha”! Some of the better DJs here, like B. Mitchell Reid and Dave Diamond, would play that song.
William we now have at least two things in common, our love for the Dodgers and our appreciation for this song. It is probably my favorite Byrd song, and I think their change of some of the lyrics from the King/Goffin version make it a much better song.
The Dodgers are on track to win an unprecedented 194 games!
I’ll take the “under.”
Mark: I have them for 135 wins but perhaps you are correct. I did not include Spring Training games nor post season games. Actually to be completely correct. it’s not 135 wins but 134.9999999999etc.
Fantastic write up 2d2. You covered a lot of topics with civility and reason. I enjoyed the Byrds song. One I had heard a few times, but unfortunately has been left off there greatest hits album. I guess for an obvious reason…it wasn’t a commercial hit. I had heard of Moby Grape, but wasn’t familiar with their music. Bummer their main musical band influence and creator destroyed his life with drugs.
The Dodgers seem to firing on all cylinders at the moment. This weekend will be a good test and provide the team with their first real competitive opponent. In watching May last night I thinking “and this is our #5”. Yikes for the rest of baseball.
Manfred’s ridiculous experiments are a joke. Move the mound back a foot to slow down the velocity. How about having players learn to make more contact and defeat the shift. Now days it’s blow up the whole thing and start over as opposed to concentrating on the obvious problem and fixing that. It’s like defunding the police and reimaging law enforcement. No, how about weeding out shitty cops. Or, how about creating training to avoid excessive use of force when they stop uncooperative suspects. Most people want more policing not less. Especially, in poor neighborhoods. That’s a fact. Anyway, enough political commentary.
Carry on.
When May gets better putting hitters away with 2 strikes he’s gonna be awesome. Four seamers up in the zone and getting his breaking just off the plate instead of bouncing it 2 feet off the plate in the dirt. Like that 2 strike breaking ball Trienen threw to strike out Story. Nelson could be up for his first close of the year tonight. Gotta save the big four for the Padres series!
Seems that Dustin missed a start.I know we had a open date and you want your best pitchers to start every faith day.But,some of you wise men explain Dave’s rotation to me.
He was setting up the rotation so Kersh, Buehler and Bauer would start against Padres this weekend.
Giants in second place and playing well. Imagine that. In all fairness to the Padres, they are playing without Tatis and do not have the kind of depth to overcome a loss like that. The Dodgers won 5 games without two of their big guns. Padres cannot pull that off.
Today is Jackie Robinson day across baseball. Everyone will be wearing #42.
Funny how posters will say they dont want to talk or write about politics but then go on to actually write and post about politics. As for MLB taking the all-star game out of Georgia it is about social corporate activism. Right is right and wrong is wrong when a political party outright tries to deny easy access for the people to vote all because a sore loser lied and claimed the election was rigged. Baseball is a business just like every other professional sports league. Many players urged MLB to do this. The fact is a heard lots of people “talk” about how they were going to boycott the NFL and NBA and even MLB for players “kneeling” or taking a stand in the name of social justice. And since the SCOTUS Citizens United ruling corporations are people too.
I for one dont want to hear the complaining. Put up or shut up with your boycott nonsense. Whew, got that out of my system.
Now about Jansen. Things that I have noticed is that on many of his cutters there is little movement and all are coming in at the same speed. This allows hitters to adjust and tee off on him. This may be what they are working with him on. The other was his command and that being the back of his mind them adjusting to this and so he nibbles and why he has been giving up a lot of walks. I am just glad to see that he has put together a few decent outings in a row but I am still not very confident when he comes into a close game to save. Having Knebel available to pick up the slack and limit Jansen is optimal.
Surprise player of the year so far on the Dodgers is Zack McKinstry.
Respect your opinion, but as a Vet, I take offense to kneeling for the National Anthem. And I have not watched since. But that is my stance, I do not expect all vets or everyone to agree. Yes, I served so they can have the right to do that, but high priced athletes have a forum as do entertainers. I do not watch the NBA either nor do I buy their products. Manfred did what he did under extreme pressure. I for one think it is ridiculous. He moved the game from one of the more heavily populated black cities to the palest city in the US, Denver, which is 84 percent white. And by not moving the game to say, Milwaukee in a year which they are honoring Hank Aaron, is kind of disrespectful to his legacy since he played a majority of his career there. Last time I checked, he never even played in Denver.
Denver has one of the best mail in vote systems in the country. Over 90% of people eligible to vote do so by mail. While they require ID, they accept 16 different types. They also mail out ballots to all eligible voters. This is in stark contrast to GA.
97% of the voters in GA have a driver’s license and the 3% who don’t can get a free one from the BMV. I do not think it is in stark contracts to GA.
Denver is predominantly white too. I live in Fremont county and I get my absentee ballot early in October. But I had to have an ID to vote, and to sign a petition also.
I too am a vet and for one took an oath to defend the constitution and that 1st amendment right to free speech. Kneeling for a propaganda song does not make one unpatriotic. In fact they are exercising their rights that I defended. The other issue is that this is not a black or white issue it is a voting rights issue. I honestly dont know why we have the national anthem before sports games anyway. Just do away with the propaganda that was all started during the 1950’s.
Free speech is one thing, kneeling is another. I too took the oath. And they have a right to their opinion just as you do. But I do not consider the National Anthem a propaganda song. I sang it at Dodger Stadium and it means something to me. It meant something to my father who was at Pearl Harbor and I believe kneeling is disrespectful to those who paid the ultimate price so some high paid weenie can show his disdain for something that has been a permanent part of the culture since WWII. All nations have anthems. Is God Save the Queen a propaganda song. If you do not want to stand, don’t.
Roger that
Glad to see you are right there with Robert’s and Manfred making false statements about a law you apparently haven’t read.
I would be happy to debate any person in the country who says the Georgia Law restricts voting. All it does is prevent cheating. You can spew all the hyperbole you want, but how do you prove fraud when no signatures or IDs are required? The answer is that you can’t and Trump was wrong to even try.
Gabriel Sterling is the chief operating officer and chief financial officer in the office of the Georgia Secretary of State. He wrote a piece yesterday in the Washington Post (a liberal newspaper) and I am going to publish it in its entirety to rebutt baseball’s position in canceling the All-Star Game as well as you position:
“Someone is going to get hurt.” I made that prediction four months ago regarding misinformation about the 2020 election. I was horrified to see it come true on Jan. 6.
The reaction to Georgia’s new election law has me worried again. Though I have not received any threats yet, thankfully, that same foreboding is creeping up again as the president of the United States and others once again spread lies about what is going on in Georgia.
So I plead with the president once again: Someone is going to get hurt. Your words matter. The facts matter.
In the weeks and months after Nov. 3, my boss and I, along with local election workers, received death threats because we would not bend to pressure from one president to alter the outcome of the election. It is disappointing to see the new president engage in similarly dangerous hyperbole.
First, as The Post has correctly noted, the new legislation does not decrease early voting hours, though President Biden falsely claimed otherwise. In fact, early voting hours were expanded by adding an extra mandatory Saturday of early voting and continuing to allow Sunday voting. Early voting hours must be open from at least 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a step up from the “normal business hours” required by previous law. Counties can extend those hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., as many have done in the past.
The president alleged last month that the bill “makes it a crime to provide water to voters while they wait in line.” But providing gifts of any value to voters to reward them for casting a ballot has been illegal in Georgia for years. A similar law exists in the president’s home state of Delaware, though it does not specify water or the infinite other things of value that could be used to persuade voters. Georgia’s legislation simply adds a buffer zone to close a loophole in the law that has been taken advantage of in the past. Notably, the bill allows groups to donate water for poll workers to give out.
The president has also said that adding a photo ID number requirement to absentee ballots “adds rigid restrictions . . . that will effectively deny the right to vote to countless voters.” Leaving aside that majorities of Black voters and Georgia Democrats support the added security measure, studies show that photo ID laws don’t decrease turnout.
In an ironic twist, Democrats who now decry adding photo ID numbers sued to get rid of the signature match process for absentee ballots last year, arguing it was subjective. Photo ID numbers are as objective as it comes. They are also widely available. Ninety-seven percent of Georgia voters have a driver’s license or a free state voter ID. Almost all have a Social Security number, the last four digits of which can now be used to cast an absentee ballot thanks to the new law.
Contrary to popular belief, the legislation writes ballot drop boxes into law for the first time in Georgia history. They were created by a temporary emergency rule in Georgia in response to the pandemic last year. Without legislation, drop boxes would be unlawful.
Another wild allegation is that changes to the State Election Board allow the legislature to overturn elections. That is false. There is nothing in the bill that allows that and nothing within the Georgia code that gives the election board, let alone the legislature, the power to overturn an election. The law allows the board to remove top elections officials of poorly performing counties after a lengthy review and appeal process. That can be used for elections officials who chronically fail to address long lines, lose absentee ballot applications or mismanage the process overall.
Don’t get me wrong, this section of the law removes the secretary of state, an accountable representative of the people of Georgia, from the election board and replaces him with an unaccountable appointee of the legislature or governor (depending on when the appointment is made). That is an ill-conceived part of the law. But it isn’t voter suppression.
The president has also repeated the lie that “this is Jim Crow in the 21st century.” Democrats have clearly realized this is a potential fundraising tactic regardless of the impact on voter confidence. It is no small wonder how a law, which election experts agree expands voting access to all Georgians, could be compared to the vast historical effort to disenfranchise and oppress Black Americans.
While this isn’t necessarily how Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, or I, would have written this law, it is not what President Biden claims. We saw just three months ago how election disinformation such as this can lead to violence. It was wrong then, and it’s wrong now.
For the long-term health of our shared democratic republic, let’s turn down the rhetoric, both on the left and the right. Let’s tell the truth. Let’s make elections boring again.”
MLB started it. You continued it. I just finished it! I will not allow blatant lies by Biden to stand!
I’m curious Mark; you have stated that dead people and other ineligible people voted in the last election. Do you consider Joe Biden the legitimate President of the United States?
Of course. Joe Biden is the President in name (although we all know someone else is calling the shots).
The Democrats won.
Did they win without corruption?
Myself and about 50% of the country do not believe it was without fraud, but what was done by mostly 5 states makes it impossible to prove fraud. Every state should have laws like Georgia. If you want to vote, provide I.D.
To say it is unduly restrictive is absurd. You have to have ID to get welfare, go to the doctor, get a library card, buy a gun, buy a car, have utilities in your name, get unemployment, go to school, cash a check, buy alcohol or cigarettes, et al.
Someone else is calling the shots? Ok, yeah sure.
Remember there were 60 court cases that Trump filed claiming fraud. No fraud was shown. In fact Trumps lawyers didn’t claim fraud in court has they had no proof and would have been subject to judicial complaint if they argued in court something they couldn’t show.
Trump always claims fraud. He even did so in 2016 when he lost the Iowa caucuses. DHS said we had the most secure election in history.The GA Secretary of State said the election was fine. Are you saying he is part of some conspiracy?
In all 50 states you MUST provide ID to register to vote. This absurd lie you people keep parroting just shows your ignorance. You can easily do a quick search to verify that what I stated is true. Once you register you then get a ballot or on the list to vote at a place where voting happens. If you honestly believe that people are voting hundreds of times just by telling someone a name then please provide this proof. Otherwise your assumptions are just as noteworthy as the moon being made of cheese.
Biden can’t string two coherent sentences in a row, let alone run a country. He is no leader and you can bet the DNC is pulling his strings. How that moron got 80 million votes is beyond me. But he won, so we are stuck with him
Good thing it’s only the other parties politicians who lie and cheat and would do anything to obtain and retain power!
Could you please provide 100% documented proof that “cheating” happened in Georgia? Nope, because it did not happen.
I’ve not watched a single NBA or NFL game in a few years now. Used to be in a fantasy football league for years. Gave it up when Kaep did his grievance grift routine.
Bumsrap once commented that what Keapernick and others were doing was not about disrespect to the nation and its institutions, but was to promote positive social change, in this case against police brutality against people of color.
I can respect that point of view. The problem was, it was a lie.
When Kaep successfully lobbied Nike to pull a shoe from the market that depicted a Betsy Ross flag – a historical symbol of this country – he revealed that his motivations were much deeper than creating positive change with regards to police policy. His objection was to the very concept of America itself. Like many now, he fundamentally hates the concept of this country – it’s founding, its institutions – all of them – its economic system, Constitution and system of government and is working tirelessly to “dismantle” them.
People like Bumrap get taken in because the movement exploits our sense of empathy and decency (because he’s a decent person) and manipulates it for a larger end. It is all a lie.
BTW, what happened to Kaep. I thought after all the talk about how he was blackballed from the NFL and would be a star if he was given a chance to play that he would actually play and compete and be a star. I’ve heard nothing. Did he get signed and make camp with a team last year? I actually don’t know. I presume this narrative was, in the end, a lie, too, just like everything else.
I am a happy camper today. My new 12 string just got here,
Very good stuff 2D2. Very good analysis and opinions. Thanks for the post.
I haven’t been shy about my feelings about Rob Manfred. And now the Bobba-Louie of change, Theo Epstein. Yesterday was the announcement of 2 more dip-shit ideas for the poor Eastern League. That Independent League has become MLB’s experiment lab and the players expendable lab rats.
What is obvious right now is that MLB doesn’t like the current game. And they feel rule changes can fix this “broken” game. When you start with that premise, there is no limit to ideas for change. So, I disagree right off the bat. I don’t think baseball is broken.The players and the game always adjust to the times.
So with that premise, the “game is broken”, what’s needed is more athleticism, more stolen bases, more hits, less strikeouts. you know more like the NBA and NFL and soccer. We need to pander and recruit the younger non-fans who demand constant stimulation. They watch games, sort-of, while taking selfies, talking on cell phones, eating and whatever other distractions. To me these are NOT baseball fans. I see no need to change the rules and demensions of the game to suit them. They have no appreciation the strategy, for rhythm of the game, for the pace of play, the smells, the colors, the skills displayed.
As I’ve mentioned, I count 23 changes from Manfred and and MLB to fix the game. Very few have any merit. I’m all in for speed up rules enforced. A 15 to 20 second pitch clock and 2 minute pitching changes makes sense. I’ve watched it in fall ball and it works. Make the hitters get in the box and the pitchers pitch without all the cat and mouse games. We did that it in high school. Why the Player’s Union has opposed these efforts is beyond me. That’s the easiest way to pick up the pace without major changes.
The 2 latest experiments are total bullshit, again. The double-hook rule is some sort of lame compromise between having a DH, and not. It’s a solution in search of a problem. When there’s a pitching change, the DH is lost. (so here’s an attempt to change how the game is managed by eliminating an “opener” and adding “strategy”) Why do I want to see the DH lost? Why do I want more pinch hitters, more double switches. I want the best players on the field.
Now let’s change the dimensions of the park. Move the rubber 12 inches back. Or 2 feet. Or 3. Do it until guys quit striking out. Really? This isn’t about the ball being that much slower, as some have mentioned. It’s about the hitter’s reaction time. The “percieved velocity” of the ball. I’ve listened to Tom House enough to know that for every foot a pitcher releases the ball closer to home it equals 3 mph in perceived velocity. So with an added foot, the average fastball speed goes from the current 93 to 90. 90 was where the average was some years ago and I guess it was a better game then? Those damn pitchers just throw too damn fast now. Make a rule.
So I’m old school and proud of it. Again my advice to MLB is leave the game alone with a few obvious exceptions like the ABS and the DH. And give the umps the power to speed up play with clocks. Play Ball!
Right on philjones. I couldn’t agree more!
I just want to clear up something. I never said that I think the bullpen will be a weakness. I said that I think the bullpen will be the weakest part of the team. I think the offense and starting pitching will be better than the bullpen. I think the bullpen will not be either bad or dominant, it will be decent to good depending on injuries and the way Doc handles it.
Gonsolin being injured is a big blow to the bullpen. Also Graterol who hasn’t pitched is clearly better than a few relievers that we have, more specifically clearly better than Santana, Nelson, Alexander. Those 3 amigos are the weakest links in the bullpen in my opinion. And again I’m talking about career stats. I left out Joe Kelly in this discussion because nobody knows what’s going on with him, but he would be another one of the weakest links in the bullpen.
Again the bullpen is not going to be weak, but it is going to be the weakest part of the team in my opinion. This is a very good team.
Another way of putting this is that unless there is a long term injury to a very important player on the team, I think the Dodgers will be looking for bullpen help at the trade deadline, if they are going to be looking for any help at all.
Thanks for the clarification, I may have misread or misunderstood your position. That said, I respect your input on this blog and hope you continue to share your insights.
What is you opinion on how Doc has handled the bullpen in the Nationals and Rockies games so far?
No problem 2demeter2. Others have misinterpreted my words it’s not just you.
I’ll say that Doc has gotten better than the very beginning of the season. If I comment any further with specific details this will be a long post. So I’ll leave it at that.
Eric, I think Nelson is going to prove you wrong this year. When he settles in, I think he will pitch some big innings for us. And I’d bring Kelly back just to pitch to Machado. Now that would bring some fireworks!
And here is my pet peeve. What makes you think that about Nelson? Nothing against you Cassidy because this could be a question to anyone here that don’t look at stats and I mean the right stats.
If a person doesn’t look at stats (more specifically career stats) then how can that person give a reputable prediction?
Gut feelings are fine, I get gut feelings.
An example of a gut feeling I had is Will Smith after AA ball. He didn’t have eye popping stats at AA ball but he had solid stats and I had a gut feeling he would become a good major league catcher. Then he went on to have better stats at AAA ball and the rest is history. Gut feelings can turn out to be right sometimes.
Not my gut but my eyes. His stuff this spring has been nasty. I discount Colorado. When healthy he’s had good results. He’s gonna close tonight. Let’s see
Eric, I respect your opinion., but what you consider the right stats might not be the measuring stick for someone else. Just because you believe in them, does not mean everyone else has to.
Excellent article 2D2!
Many great points. I have often criticized Dave Roberts for his handling of the bullpen, and I must give him credit for his recent decisions. Going back to the 5 out save in Colorado, and throughout the National series, he made good choices on pitching changes. Of course, it always comes down to the pitchers performing well, but if I am going to criticize when it doesn’t work out, I need to give him credit for the successes. And last night in the Rockies game, Roberts seemed to push all of the right buttons. When Graterol and Gonsolin come back, the bullpen should be a great strength of the team.
Thanks for the blog and the dialogue!
2D2, excellent writing. Manford has to go. However, I’m not sure he will be replaced with somebody who will be much better. Call me jaded.
Things have simply changed. Our society and our games. What is cause and what is effect is difficult to determine. Is social media a disease or simply a symptom of a larger more endemic problem?
You brought up youth sports. I am living the changes that have taken place in youth baseball. I got home at 11;00 last night because my son had a double header in Riverside. On a Wed school night. Like so many things in our society today, youth baseball is a choice of extremes. Have your kid play in local rec league against miserable competition on a team where your lucky if half the players can even play catch (and give your son little chance of developing to the point of playing HS baseball)… or … spent $200/month + playing on a travel team and have your kid treated like a division 1 athlete with a 6 day a week practice/game schedule with drive line classes mixed in between. If you want to start on these teams, that is the expectation. Full financial and time commitment at 12 or 13. Kids with families without means or parents who don’t have the time or the willingness are simply not going to play baseball past 14. Period. That is the new youth baseball.
Like you, I still love the game. However, I have made a conscious effort in the past year to NOT dive into baseball related social media. Just like I found that fantasy football reduced my enjoyment of the NFL, I find that all the OCD coverage of MLB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook reduces my enjoyment of the game. My son’s phone sounds like a Vegas slot machine, pinging off an alert every 15 seconds from some baseball writer/analyst he follows on Twitter. “Dad, so and so said that this player is overrated”. “Dad, some guy on Twitter said we should trade for Trout”.
I hate it. Which is why I do enjoy this blog so much. This blog reminds me of old school sports writing. At least when it doesn’t become stuck on politics. Which I understand is almost impossible to ignore these days. As long as sports organizations keep jumping into it.
I hope Manford is shown the door. But I’m not sure who the owners pick next would be much better. Some things have changed and they will likely stay changed.
Unfortunately.
I miss Peter Ubberoth
I miss Bart Giamatti
Yeah, he was okay too. I never much cared for Ford Frick. But I did like it better when each league had their own president.
Never thought I would say this, but I miss Bud Selig after this trainwreck.
Jayne Cobb – where in Riverside did your son play? Riverside is where I presently live, and my son’s have played on virtually all of the local fields.
I feel your pain on youth ball. The decision to be made is a tough one, and I’m glad that those are decisions I don’t have make. I recently spoke with a local high school coach about his team. I assisted him as a coach in the late 90s, when things were just starting to change. He let me know that his “star” pitcher had told him the week before that he couldn’t pitch against their rival, because personal pitching coach and travel ball coach wanted to keep him fresh for a showcase tournament on the weekend. If it only happened once, you might shake your head and “say darn kids now a-days”, but he tells me it happens every week. He might not know who he has available for a game, until an hour or two before game time. That’s a horrible way to have to coach a high school team.
I’m afraid that we are going to be stuck with Manfred for the foreseeable future. He appears bound and determined to lead the sport into another protracted labor dispute.
2D2, in the area where I coached in high school, the same problems are occurring. Back a few years ago we faced similar problems and we took a pretty rigid stance. It was a quality program with a nice reputation. We knew as many scouts and college coaches as any of the non-school coaches and private instructors. The rules were simply. When you’re playing school-ball, you’re ours. Play on all the club teams, take all the private lessons, pay $3K a year for an academy and summer travel team that you want, WHEN YOU AREN”T Playing our High School season. We had our own pitching development program and throwing schedules. I asked the private guys to leave our kids alone during our season. Best player or not, the player, the parent, the academy / travel coach and the private instructors were made aware of this, This included showcase games by folks like Perfect Game The kids and parents had a choice; they could play on a good high school team usually in the playoffs or they could opt out and not play high school. It was their choice but they weren’t allowed to do both. There were some conflicts especially when the private lessons and year-round commitments were starting. Probably some lying too. But if you threw a 100 pitch bullpen with your Guru on Sunday and were my starter on Tuesday, that becomes apparent and we have problems.
It’s really about dad most of the time. If he was in our camp and trusted, it worked a lot better.
The funny thing is the number of private lesson guys who don’t know shit. But the rule seems to be that the more you charge, the more credibility you have with gullible parents.
Honestly, we have parents now that are convinced that unless Junior is in the Perfect Game system and “rated” by them (at practically any age), their lives are ruined. Scouts won’t see them. Colleges won’t recruit them. It’s all based on bullshit. I’m glad I’m retired and out of that scene. Follow the $$$$$
D2D. Our games last night were at Ryan Bonamino park. At the base of Mnt Rubidoux. He plays for a team out of San Bernardino called Easton Prime. We live in Redlands but I picked a team with I thought were the best mix of coaches and facilities. They have a brand new, 3,000 sf facility near the SB Airport. Coaches are very experienced. However, I feel they are overbearing for kids my sons age. But it is what it is. I’m not looking for my son to get a D1 scholarship. I just want him to develop enough to play HS ball. Which he can’t do when the rec leagues are completely depleted from kids moving to travel ball. He’s in 7th grade and is 100% obsessed with baseball.
I have zero intentions of putting any travel ball or “showcase” tournaments ahead of HS ball. I’m not sure which HS he will be going to. I know people in all the local programs. I want to put him in a position to have fun and succeed. And I do believe those things are connected.
Btw. My actual name is Leif Eldevik. You can find me on FB or Twitter.
Do not take this the wrong way. I am not criticizing you, but this is why MLB is only 7.8% black.
This is also not a racial comment, but 70% of black kids do not have a father in their life.
The cost of entry to basketball is just about Zero.
Football is a little higher and baseball is not even under consideration!
I feel so bad that most of those kids who are good athletes never have an opportunity to play baseball.
Tonight lineup
CF Taylor
3B Turner
1B Muncy
C Smith
LF Pollock
SS Lux
2B McKinstry
RF Raley
P Urias
I wish he wouldn’t sit Seager and Betts at the same time with Belli out. But, it you’re going to do it, it might as well be against the Rox.
Don’t sweat the short term for the long.
No Lux either.
I was looking forward to watching Lux play short. Bummer. Seems like a late scratch. Injury?
Scratched for a sore wrist.
Whenever I see Gavin Lux I am reminded of Audie Murphy
Looks just like him. Might be his demeanor and his looks
Damn, I know who Audie Murphy was, but I don’t remember any of that. You must be a lot older than me…
Maybe it’s just the TV Channels
I love old westerns
Eric, Nelson’s gonna make u a believer before this season’s over!
I hope so.
Way to F. …ing hang PRICE
Nelson’s stuff is there, if he can be consistent he’ll be awesome
Dodgers winning % 846. No other team has reached 700. yet.
My big question mark is , which Belli are we going to see this year
His stance and swing just don’t seem conducive to consistency
I think the league has really learned how to Pitch him, I certainly hope I’m wrong
I’d like to know what others think but it seems to me, he’s not on the right track to adjust back to the league to be the elite player he was in his MVP year
Kenley or Knebel? I’m fine with both.
For that matter, I’m encouraged by Price. A three-headed monster works for me. Injuries could force this former Cy Young ace into the role. Before Bauer was signed, I was more than comfortable with Price in the rotation. Remember, Eckersley and Smoltz made the move to the pen earlier in their careers and wound up in the Hall. Price could be a key weapon….if not trade bait.
Dodgers are off to a ridiculous start, but they’ve yet to play a team with a winning record. The upcoming games with San Diego will help demonstrate just how good this team is.
At the risk of seeming greedy, I too am a bit frustrated that Lux isn’t hitting like McKinstry , and by the inconsistency of Bellinger.
Patience is in order. The best possible lineup clearly includes Bellinger but maybe not Lux. Today Muncy moved over to 2B–not ideal, but “serviceable.” The Dodgers are so good that perhaps the greatest suspense before the playoffs may come at the trading deadline. Indians reportedly demanded Lux in a Lindor deal; would they want him in a package for Jose Ramirez ? Turner could shift over to 1B, Muncy to 2B. (Pardon my general manager fantasies.)
Sorry, but I feel compelled to close with a political note. With all respect I want to point out that, contrary to a recent assertion in this space, it wasn’t baseball or Rob Manfred or Joe Biden or the Georgia lawmakers that forced politics into LADodgerTalk.
That was a choice made here. And if people “go there,” I’m perfectly willing to engage, and I find it encouraging that others are willing too as well.
It’s quite trendy now in some circles to protest “cancel culture”–and it’s richly ironic how the people use this phrase are often the same ones who wanted to cancel nothing less than the clear results of a presidential election. Some of these self-styled “patriots” even staged a violent, lethal insurrection –and it wasn’t incited by President Biden.
One of the common traits of baseball and politics is that both are rich with useful statistics. There was a suggestion here that President Biden is failing to “unite” the country–yet as I write this surveys show he has a 59% approval rating, attributed largely to his administration’s covid relief and vaccine efforts, and now the proposed infrastructure measure. His predecessor’s approval rating never reached 50%, and it is now at about 39%. (You can look it up. ) But then, as his former defense secretary Gen. Mattis pointed out, that particular POTUS never even showed an interest in uniting the American people. (You can look that up too.)
But back to baseball….
I kind of like Charlie Steiner, even though he seems to make an error every time I listen. Today he said that “Diaz bobbled” when he meant to say either “Diaz blooped” or “McKinstry bobbled.”
I recall only one time that Vin, such a poet, made an error.
He was describing some incident that had Lasorda shouting from the dugout at the umpire–except he called Lasorda “Durocher.”
Then Vin was briefly silent, as though he caught himself.
Then he wisely just moved on rather than call attention to his bobble.
Personal preference,; not a Steiner fan.
To me, approval ratings don’t mean much and you can find polls that place his approval rating at 59%, 53%, and lower.
Bloomberg has his approval rating at 53%, but watch a news conference and CNN and you will see that the media lobs him softball after softball, whereas with Trump they openly argued with him on everything. So, my point is this: The Media Absolutely Controls the Approval Rating.
Then you say: “it wasn’t baseball or Rob Manfred or Joe Biden or the Georgia lawmakers that forced politics into LADodgerTalk. That was a choice made here.”
I know you live in another country, but it’s not another planet! It absolutely was Rob Manfred who forced politics in baseball. It would have never came into LADT without his asinine actions. To ignore it is to ignore baseball. To say that is completely disingenuous!
We’ve lost our ability to have rational and civil discussions about politics or culture that are rooted in fact or even reality anymore. We just create our own and it’s reinforced by the echo chambers we inhabit.
I’ve noted this before, but I’m old enough to remember when liberals actually had principles they stood for and injustices they stood against. One example is the pervasive power and influence of corporations. Being inherently anti-capitalist, the left had a visceral mistrust of corporations.
Now it’s “corporate activism!, woo hoo!” as many of the largest corporations band together to use their power and influence to mischaracterize and influence the legislative voice of a state. The state in this case voted overwhelmingly for a bill, which any reasonable person who has read it would not think it to be blatant voter suppression. Nevertheless, you had a President refer to it as “Jim Crow on steroids,” you had a mainstream media outlet (one among a cacophony) actually use old clips of minstrel shows as they characterized it as Jim Crow legislation – and you had a who’s who of Woke corporations, including Coke, who recently came under fire for having training sessions for its employees on how to be less white (yes, it really happened) calling for boycotts of a state.
What’s the difference now? Leftists now have institutional power. All the cancel culture Woke students a few years ago who were calling for censorship, forming mobs of who scream at and berate college professors who engaged in problematic wrong think – all of those students are now writing for the NYT and joining the public relations and human resources divisions of corporations. You have an alignment of big tech corporations and the media with the Democratic establishment. Are you really ok with Twitter and Facebook banning a story by the New York Post days before an election?
Now we see example after example of researchers having to retract studies from publications, professors fired, long time journalists forced out for a tweet years ago for being overheard using an improper word. It is commonplace. You’re seeing a push to pack the Supreme Court and turn it into a rubber stamp body, make DC a state and, push mass immigration of peoples most likely to be dependent on government largesse and, subsequently, be loyal Democratic voters – and now to ensure voting standards are low enough to open up the possibility of manipulation if the above strategies aren’t effective enough – or at least disenfranchise voters who take the time to read the fine print on policy and don’t accept being told what to think.
I’m also old enough to remember when California had Republican governors, where it’s infrastructure was the best in the country, it’s schools were the best in the country, where poverty was low and opportunity was the highest. Now it’s not even debatable that these trends have reversed. As a Californian my vote means nothing. It is a political Democrat machine and complete uniparty rule, and no matter what, my vote will mean nothing because of the larger processes in place. That’s disenfranchisement.
This isn’t politics as usual. We are currently in the middle of a revolution that aims to radically transform this country, to obliterate its history (or at least reframe history as irredeemably racist, colonialist and white supremacist) and dissolve the whole notion of checks and balances and the separation of power in favor of complete control.
A part of me just doesn’t want to live or be around to see what happens in the end.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
Well said Patch.
Is it just me, or is there no option to comment on the Price is right?
There is no option to comment on the Price is right. Confirmed. Can’t wait to watch that Padres series, eh Jorge?
It’s just another serie, against a third-place team, but it’s time to show those clowns who is the king and the only best team in MLB !!
Pretty funny, the Padres don’t have their starters announced for Saturday and Sunday yet. I think they’re sweating it. I appreciate your disdain for the Padres, do you live close to San Diego?
I live in Mexicali, 3 hours away
Well, It’s about to get real. I’m ready for some baseball now that extended Spring Training against a bunch of bottom dwellers is over. He’s how we close out the month…
Padres – 3rd place, supposedly the second best team in the MLB.
Mariners – 1st place in the AL West
Padres – again
Reds – Tied for 1st in the Central
Brewers – Tied for 1st in the Central
Muncy and Turner saved the B team last night. It wasn’t long ago that many were ready to move on from Turner because it was taking too long to sign him, too expensive to sign him and we could just slide Rios in to take his place. Well good thing AF wasn’t in that group! And Eric, at this rate the bullpen may be THE strength of this team. And it isn’t just my gut telling me that! Tho it is quite a gut.