The Dodgers have not vacillated. To a man, they proclaim that it is” World Series or Bust!” No pressure, but when you have the best team and highest payroll in baseball, nothing but a World Series championship will do. Not only is the big club stacked, but the Minor League Teams are as well. The Dodgers are certainly a Top 10 Farm System – some experts rate them Number One, but their rank is a matter of opinion. The fact that they do have a plethora of starting pitchers in the pipeline should ally any fears about the starting rotation.
I still read from some “experts” that pitchers like Bobby Miller need better control. That was true a year ago. That’s old news. Bobby walked 13 and struck out 70 last year. I have seen him on several occasions (MiLB.TV) and while his control can get better, it’s pretty dang good. The only thing he needs is to pitch. Pepiot, Bruns, Nastrini, Knack, Beeter, Miller, Choi ,and Jackson (who pitched 3 shutout innings last night) are all MLB-Type Talents. Lots of people are wondering about Nick Nastrini. He has a world of talent, but like Pepiot, some question his makeup (not even saying that is true). Look at this video from a few weeks ago:
There are going to be some great storylines this year. Miller, Knack, Vargas, Cartaya, Pages, and about 20 others are on my daily radar. This should be a fun ride. Let’s Roll!
nick nasty
Watched the Angels last night against the Stros. They were held to 2 hits by Valdez who went 6.2 innings. Ohtani got the loss and their offense never got untracked. Pujols was 0-4 in the Cardinals opener. Right after signing a eight year, 70 mil contract, Pirates 3rd baseman, KeBryan Hayes, hurt his wrist diving for a ball. He is day to day.
What do you mean about “ his makeup” with Pepiot and Nastrini?
Pepiot addressed it over the offseason. He tended to “overthink” and maybe was too critical or negative. I call it “Stinkin’ Thinkin.”
This interview with Nastrini might give you some insight:
https://www.mlb.com/news/nick-nastrini-spring-training-interview
Control problems are often more mental than physical.
I see what you mean. Dude needs a check up from the neck up.
Thx
I know it’s easy to get excited about all of our young prospects but the truth is only a few of them will probably make a major impact. As Bear often reminds us they’re only prospects till they prove it with the big club. And he’s right. A look back a couple of years ago at the top ranked Padres prospects is proof of that. Only Tatis jr has had any kind of major impact for them. And I think they had 10 top 100 mlb.com prospects. Gore was a can’t miss and so far has missed. But I think there is something special about the Dodger development system, especially with pitching. We’ll need some infusion of young talent over the next few years to balance out the payroll.
Yes, you cannot predict how a player will develop and Progress is Seldom Linear, but all you can do it “project” these players, and the Dodgers have a very high number of “projectable” players. No, all will not make it, but I think this group probably includes more future major leaguers than most other teams. Few, will be stars or superstars, but there are a handful who have that potential… Miller, Cartaya, Bruns, Vargas…
Anyone else having trouble logging into MLB.com for the coverage?
Never had a problem before.
They don’t allow guys from England on the site .LOL
There was a problem with it last night. For some reason when you clicked on the game you wanted to watch, it always said, commercial break. It seems to be working today. Make sure your email and password are up to date. If not, go on the MLB site and change your password,
Miller – it’s command, not control. He can throw strikes. He threw them right by minor leaguers. Gotta catch the edges in the bigs.
We’re favored, money likes the field. 1 championship in 9 years of playoffs. Has a Kasten smell to it.
5,4,5
My prediction for innings pitched by starters in Colorado.
Welcome back Badger. I think Roberts would take that
Watford Dodger- I was unable to log onto MLB.TV last week on two of my three devices. Couldn’t get a successful login on my laptop or the Roku attached to my TV, though everything worked fine on my wife’s desktop. I finally called the MLB help desk @ 866-800-1275 (don’t know if that is the same # in the UK). When you call, there could be a considerable wait, but you can choose to have them call you back. They even estimate when they’ll call. Monday-Saturday the help desk is open 12pm to 12am EDT.
Once I got the call, it took a little while, but the technician successfully got me going again on both devices. Never would have been able to do it on my own. The tech was extremely helpful, despite having a heavy accent.
Good luck to you, and hope you’ll be able to watch opening day!
Woody – Thank you for taking the time.
I tried to log in tonight and everything is working perfectly, so not sure what the problem was previously.
2-0 down currently – too early to panic?
Way too early.
Last night I was looking at Buehler who was throwing 98-99 and hit 100 MPH against the Braves in the NLCS October 2020, that was just a year and a half ago, in 2021 he was 95-96 and hit 97 MPH, in this 2022 he is heading to that same speed on his fastball, he’s too young to already be having a drop in speed, what’s going on?
I was concerned about that all last year. In the end, he had his best season in his career. I know he made a concerted effort to go deeper into games. Maybe he decided to take a little off in order to do so. Maybe it’s physical. Hard to know after just one season.
I won’t put too much stock into radar guns in Spring games, or early in the season after a short and abnormal Spring. But, I sure like seeing 98-100 more than 94-96.
Yankees, Aaron Judge Fail To Reach Contract Extension Prior To Season
By Tim Dierkes | April 8, 2022 at 10:17am CDT
Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters there will be no extension with Aaron Judge today, hours before the slugger’s self-imposed Opening Day deadline. In a rare disclosure, Cashman detailed that the Yankees offered a seven-year, $213.5MM extension beginning in 2023, representing a $30.5MM average annual value.
That AAV would have ranked 17th in baseball history. Notably, the Yankees were willing to extend Judge through age 37, the same as recent contracts for Corey Seager, Freddie Freeman, Marcus Semien, and Francisco Lindor, despite Judge’s injury history.
Cashman sounds like he’d like to avoid an arbitration hearing for Judge’s 2022 salary, which Lindsey Adler of The Athletic believes would happen in June. Beyond that, the two sides will engage after the season. Of the 24 arbitration eligible players currently headed toward a midseason hearing to determine their 2022 salary, Judge’s $5MM gap with the Yankees ($17MM vs. $22MM) represents the largest.
The DH allows Lux and his speed to hit 9th and puts Lux and Betts at the top of the best hitters after the first inning. Contact hitter Bellinger can use his speed hitting 8th putting his and Lux’ speed in front of Betts, again after the first inning.
I wonder how many times this lineup will be repeated this year. By June, that might not be a good thing.
Those are excellent points. It also takes a lot of pressure off of Lux and Belli.
Starting Lineup:
It sure is nice perusing the box scores last night and this morning. Baseball is in the air. I even got a few comments at the local stores and in the neighborhood with fellow park goers and dog walkers.
Sadly, it was not our Opening Day, yesterday. We will have to wait a few more hours to see those road greys while playing in Colorado this afternoon with a 1PM PDT start time today. At least there’s plenty to watch on SportsNet before the game. What a glorious day today.
As baseball tends to be, there were some unpredictable results yesterday with the Cubs taking down last year’s golden boy, Corbin Burnes with a lineup that no one recognizes in Chicago. No Bryant, Rizzo or Baez.
It’s a fun start in the NL West with San Diego losing to the D-backs.
The Angels are sill the Astros whipping boys and the stripped down Reds beat the defending World Champions in their own yard.
Some new team played the Royals and couldn’t hit that crazy old guy.
No Scherzer, No DeGrom, No problem. My son’s youth baseball teammate “Scooby” MeGill tossed 5 scoreless against the Nats. I really like that goofy kid. He sure grew into a stud of a young man.
The Pirates are leading the race to cellar after Ke’Bryan Hayes’ injury limited him to one AB in a drubbing at the hands of the Red Birds.
Fun stuff. Now we get to see the good guys play today.
The hated ones play their first against the fish, my second favorite team today.
It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame, for a ballgame today!
How’s the gametime weather, OldBear? It’s Hades right now in SoCal.
On Buehler:
I think some pitchers just try and throw it as hard as they can every time they throw a fastball. Those guys don’t last long. I think as pitchers mature, they understand that they don’t have to go max effort on the fastball. A 95 MPH fastball with spin, touch, and location beats a 100 MPH Max Effort heater. Sandy Koufax become Sandy Koufax when he took 2 or 3 MPH off his fastball. Walker Buehler does NOT seem to exhibit that MAX EFFORT he used to. Also, do not believe velocity in April will be the same as in June.
When I used to pitch and throw a fastball that made the Juggs Gun read “00”, my arm always “tingled” badly. If I kept if below that, no tingle! I suspect my ability to hit 100 sabatoged any chance of a career I had due to always having arm soreness.
Not too late. Take a piece of your gluteal collateral, lord knows you got plenty of that, tie it into your UCL and you’ll be throwing gass in no time.
Am I the butt of this joke?
Using a butt for collateral is no joke. You could make history. There could a bust of your butt outside the IU University Hospital. A lot of people would pay to see that. I wouldn’t, butt, somebody would.
Today, Fox will formally announce Davis as its lead voice of the World Series and MLB on Fox. In addition to calling around a dozen games during the regular season and the postseason, Davis will call both the All-Star Game and Field of Dreams games for Fox. He follows Joe Buck, who called 22 consecutive World Series and 24 in total for Fox. Davis will also continue as the Dodgers’ television voice.
Hot Damn!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 8, 2022
TACO TUESDAY MAKES ITS DODGER STADIUM DEBUT DURING 2022 THEME NIGHT CELEBRATIONS
Team reveals special ticket packs ahead of its 60th year at Dodger Stadium
LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers will welcome back its dedicated fanbase, who has led MLB home attendance for eight consecutive season, for the 60th anniversary of Dodger Stadium by introducing exciting, new theme nights while also celebrating its diverse community. Each special event date will include a ticket to the game, featuring a unique pregame ceremony plus an exclusive experience or promotional item.
Making its debut at Dodger Stadium, Taco Tuesdays will introduce six new taco-inspired food items and specialty drink options throughout the season. The thirteen exciting nights will also feature local mariachi bands and will pair up with Mexican Heritage Day and Night on May 17 (12:10 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. vs. Arizona Diamondbacks), presented by Advance Auto Parts, as the team takes on the first split doubleheader in Dodger Stadium history. Fans who purchase a special ticket pack through Dodgers.com/TicketPacks will receive an exclusive Mexico-themed jersey, with different designs for the two different games.
The Dodgers will continue honoring its local heroes and first responders with Military Appreciation Night (May 30, 7:10 p.m.) and Firefighter Appreciation Night (June 1, 5:10 p.m.), both games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fans in attendance with a special ticket purchase will receive a one-of-a-kind hat. The team will partner with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health for Mental Health Awareness Day on May 15 (1:10 p.m. vs. Philadelphia Phillies) and attendees will be given a teddy bear.
Popular theme nights like LGBTQ+ Pride Night presented by Blue Shield of California (June 3, 7:10 p.m. vs. New York Mets) and Hello Kitty Night (July 6, 7:10 p.m. vs. Colorado Rockies) will return once again. The two-game set against the San Francisco Giants on May 3 and May 4 (both at 7:10 p.m.) will be headlined by a Mother’s Day makeup bag, presented by Proflowers, and fans will feel the force on Star Wars Night, as a special edition beanie will be given away to those with a unique ticket. Nights celebrating the diverse Los Angeles community, such as Japanese Heritage Night on June 15 (7:10 p.m. vs. Los Angeles Angels), Black Heritage Night on June 17 (7:10 p.m. vs. Cleveland Guardians), and Filipino Heritage Night on July 7 (7:10 p.m. vs. Chicago Cubs) will headline summertime fun at the ballpark. Fans are also invited to display their school spirit on UCLA Night, presented by UCLA Health, on April 29 (7:10 p.m. vs. Detroit Tigers) and USC Night on May 13 (7:10 p.m. vs. Philadelphia Phillies) and honor local teachers on Teacher Appreciation Day on May 1 (1:10 p.m. vs. Detroit Tigers).
These special promotional events are not stadium-wide promotions. Additional packages will be announced throughout the season, and complete details can always be found by visiting Dodgers.com/TicketPacks.
Taco Tuesdays at the stadium sounds great. I’m definitely going to one of those this year. I still like Sunday day games the best. Traffic on any other day of the week discourages me from going out there.
I’m going to try the shuttle from the Harbor Transit Gateway towards the end of the 110 for a weeknight game and see how that goes.
I repeat, very concerned about Buehler’s loss of speed, the Dodgers have been very cautious with him, in the past, with his workloads, always watching his count and the number of innings, he has not been overworked, quite the opposite , and as I said I am very worried about that loss of speed of 3 MPH at such a young age, if he were 33-34 years old and a lot of accumulated work was ok, his decline is already beginning, but it is not like that he is very young man, he is no longer the Buehler of 2020, now he is the one of 2021 a very good pitcher but he is no longer powerful.
We saw right now against McMahon he made the right pitch, a fastball to the letters but he was going 94 MPH and they deposited it all over LF for a double, the 2020 Buehler would have thrown a 98+ and McMahon would have been history.
Last year Buehler was going straight to the Cy Young and then he had that game in SF that gave me 6 runs and since then he hasn’t been at the level he was during the first part of 2021, he’s still very good but he’s not powerful anymore, the 2020 Buehler has been left behind.
Clutch from Lux but he needs to take some sliding lessons from TT! Never seen a side slide before!
I agree with DodgerHorse. Worried about WB and his loss of fastball velo. That extra velo often got him out of trouble in the past.
Good to see Lux come threw and having a good start to the season . Vs a LHP to make it even better.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
Dodger Ram agrees with Dodger Horse?
Yawn!
I am not worried about Buehler’s results, those were very good in 2021, it is obvious that he has been able to adapt to the slowdown.
As I said in 2020 he was 97-99 touching 100 MPH and in 2021 he was 94-95 touching 96, what worries me is because at such a young age he has lost 3 mph, without any injuries, without overwork, etc, etc
The positive thing is that in this 2022 season, which is just beginning, he is already at the speed he was in all of 2021, so there is hope that he will increase, perhaps he will recover the lost MPH.
Buehler is one of my favorite players and I want the Buehler of 2020 to return.
So what does everyone think about Karros? A lot less silliness. But is he too serious?
I’ve always liked him as a color guy. Happy he’s here
Better than Oral Orel. Talks less and has some good insights. But personally, I prefer Nomar.
Kimbrel made in interesting in the end but got it done. I like how he comes after hitters. No nonsense.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!
Watching the Giants up 4-2 in the 9th.
Whoops, it’s 5-4 Marlins now. This makes me more happy than our win, so far.
Midgets pick up right where they left off last season with a pinch hit HR to tie it in the bottom of the 9th.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Pollock went 3-5 for the W Sox. Kimbrel made it interesting, but I don’t like interesting in the 9th inning when the Dodgers have a lead. Kenley made it interesting, too, and it probably took a year off my life.
Very good game from Gavin Lux, that’s what he has to do this season: play positive defense, put the ball in play and use his legs and have good AB like he did now.
With the team that the Dodgers have, they don’t need him to be a star this year, they just need him to be a good player and stable at second base, today he did very well.
Good start, no need to complain about much. Switched over to Apple TV to watch Nats/Mets which has Scherzer vs Josiah Gray. It took me a couple innings to finally get it to work, had to do it on my phone as PC wouldn’t connect.
Giants are still pulling magic out of there a$$
Let me be the first to say the Giants aren’t for real. They will fade soon.
I repeat. I was concerned about Bueller’s velocity all last year. In the end, he had his best season in his career.
Really Patch? That was interesting? I didn’t get any agida at all. 3 run lead going in, even in Colorado, I knew he wouldn’t blow it. I was scared every time Kenley pitched.
I mostly felt like Kimbrel knew where his pitch was going to wind up.
Not a great overall game, but it got the job done.
The bullpen was great taking down half the game.
What’s the over under on how many games before until Cody gets a hit? Homer?
We’re gonna have to throw a lefty at some point in this series.
Kimbrel got squeezed on a close pitch to Blackmon, next pitch he rifles a double into right field, run scores. Could have easily not given up a run. He makes me just as nervous as Jansen but at least he seems to not get so frantic when runners are on base.
A good start to the season. Keep it up Dodgers.
Our friend A. J. Pollock got off to a good start hitting leadoff for the Chisox. He had 3 hits including a HR.
Kenley came in to pitch the 9th tonight with a 7-3 lead. By the time he got the last out the score was 7-6 with the tying run on first.
Bellinger and Lux were the only Dodgers not to strike out. They had 11 K’s. First four in the lineup struck out twice apiece. Smith Taylor and Muncy K’d one time each. 12 Rockies struck out. Bellinger needs to be a little more patient up there, his first two at bats he made weak contact on the first pitch. Good for Lux. Prove me wrong and I will be happy. Pages has driven in 3 tonight. Vargas had a homer for OKC.
Bellinger gets mid mid first pitch fastballs. He’s got to be sitting on that pitch and he still can’t drive it. That’s just not a good sign.
I tried at least 12 different streams and none could give me better than 50% buffering. It’s just even with everything else with this continuous saga I’m living. My TV took a crap, my truck got towed and I don’t have the $ to get it out and those fees going up daily are beyond it’s worth. So I only got bits and pieces of the game. Stats and victories are cool but I’m an eye test sort. Too much time on my hands and don’t know what to do with it. Ah! I do have a couple bottles of Absolute. Cheers!
I will just drop my fork ball in this WB velocity concerns. People just don’t realize WB didn’t miss a start last year on a year we have I think the most different starters in a season, combine with that high number of bullpen games. I am an old guy and I am not stats savvy guy but I watch all the games and you having both WB and JUrias at the top of your rotation last year, made possible of having such an incredible run.
I rather prefer having a 95 mph Bueller for all the year than a 100mph deGrom for 15 starts. Yes, you may say that deGrom had over 30 starts in 2018 and 2019 but that is exactly my point. I don’t think deGrom problems will got away and yes, I think they are velocity related .
I don’t mind Roberts and Pryor protecting our starters, Hello! we have a 16 men bullpen right now. I am more worried Roberts overuse Triennen.