When I read stuff like the Dodgers don’t have the pitching to win or that Tyler Anderson should not even be on the team, or that Muncy and Bellinger should go to OKC, and it is past time for the Dodgers to make changes, I just shake my head and call the perps out. At best, it is a nonsensical, knee-jerk reaction. At worst, whoever said it, might need to be buried in a shoebox after an enema. Did I say something wrong? Look, I am not passive-aggressive like some who smile in your face but are backstabbers. I say what I mean and mean what I say (at the time). Am I ever wrong? Of course, I am, but I do get my share of “right!” I have no problem saying the same thing to your face that people say behind my back.
I have been doing this blogging thing for over 20 years. I have a pretty good following – some of the biggest Dodger websites get less traffic or about the same amount of traffic that LADT does. I could monetize it with ads, like most other sites and make a few thousand a month, but I don’t. I do it because I like it and I do it for this Dodger community. If you don’t like my style, you can leave and then I’ll leave too. But, if you like different perspective, then drop a comment or two. I love hearing from you.
My first blogging memory was being castigated by Dodger fans who had spent a lot more time following the game than me about Adrian Beltre back in 1997 or 1998. That’s when he was first called up, and I predicted he would be a Hall-of-Famer. I wasn’t wrong. But for years they told me I was.
I called Clayton Kershaw the next Koufax long before he was.
I championed Andrew Friedman when he was hired and was treated like a pariah. There were knock-down drag ’em out fights all the time, but I “got” what Andrew was doing. Most fans didn’t and it was pretty bad in the beginning. They finally came around when there was nothing else for them to do.
I said Cody Bellinger was ready when everyone else said he was a year away.
Ditto on Corey Seager.
Full disclosure: I did predict Andy LaRoche would be an All-Star 3B! (we all make mistakes)
I have never been high on Gavin Lux, but I have tried to be. Right about now, I see potential, but wonder if he will ever harness it. Mike Busch is breathing down his neck. As you already know, Busch was promoted to AAA and hit a HR last night. Will Smith 2.0?
Everyone has the right to an opinion and to express that opinion. I have no problem with that, but when I read irrational, just plain idiotic predictions that the Dodgers are not built to win and all the rest of the drivel, I am not going to stand down. If you are going to comment, just do what Jim Rome say: “have a take and do not suck!”
Every person must choose how much truth they can stand. Some cannot handle the truth. They cannot handle reality. Maybe this is not the site for you. The Dodgers lost four games in a row before winning the past three, and some fans just lost their $hit! In the power ratings, the Dodgers only dropped to #2 in them. They were still #1 in the NL.
The Dodgers have a lot of pitchers on the shelf right about now. Andrew Friedman prepared for that – some will be back. Some won’t. The news about Tommy Kahnle, Blake Treinen and Victor Gonzalez does not sound encouraging. It makes no matter – there are plenty more. Stack ’em deep!
ATTENTION DODGER FANS: This is a damn good team. I would not trade this team for any other team in baseball. The Dodgers prospects of winning are better than 29 other teams. But, they are not perfect. Dave Roberts is not perfect. Andrew Friedman is not perfect. Rob Manfred is perfect: A Perfect A-Hole! Andrew has built a team that will compete for a Championship this year and moving forward. That’s all a fan can ask. Luck, and the Baseball Gods sometimes have a different idea. Deal with it. It doesn’t change a thing!
Dodgers Notes & News
- You cannot use “Hanser Alberto” and “glove” or “defense” in the same sentence. But I love his bat and the dude can pitch (not)!
- Edwin Rios is “demanding” more playing time by shutting his mouth and letting his bat do the talking.
- David Price is back – Let’s hope the Price is Right! We will probably see a couple more moves today, but since Tyler Anderson ate some innings… maybe not.
- No matter how you malign Tyler Anderson, he has been all the Dodgers could have hoped for… and needed as the #5 or #6 starter and swingman… so far!
- I am not happy with Muncy and Bellinger – neither are they, but I would still play the…, for a while. It is not set in stone.
- I wonder why AF DFA’ed Shane Greene – I think someone will pick him up. Probably Farhan!
- Mark Kertenian’s Go Fund Me Account is up to $130K of the $150K neded.
Dodger Minor League Info
- OKC scored 13 runs as Mike Busch made his AAA debut by going 2-5 with a walk and hitting a 2-run HR. Miguel Vargas hit his 5th HR and is hitting .317 with a .932 OPS. Jake Lamb, Kevin Pillar and Eddy Alvarez remain white hot! I would love to see Alvarez! Carson Fulmer continues to shine at the back of the bullpen.
- The Tulsa Driller hit 9 HR after Mike Busch was promoted. Brandon Lewis is waking up (finally) – he hit 2. Pages got his 4th and is also looking good, but Kody Hoese is going crazy. His bat looks lightning quick and he was 4-5 with 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs. He hit 2 HRs. Can he keep it up?
- The Loons lost but Eddys Leonard continues his roll – 3-4 last night.
- At Rancho, Fresno beat the Quakes, but Cartaya was 1-3 with 22 BB. Luis Rodriguez was also 2-4.
- Goodbye Melvin Jiminez – I think this is the end of the line.
What is the point of a post like this Mark? You are the one that comes off as a drama queen and someone who is very confrontational in general. I agree with most of what you say about people overreacting but that’s the nature of being a fan. It seems like you post something like this a couple times a season (in between your annual post stating you are done posting).
Fine. You have your opinion.
Mark, I appreciate what you do. You do a great job getting the conversation started. The reason I was drawn to this site is because you have a no nonsense style and often write about perspective that others don’t. Yeah, sometimes you go out on a limb and you’re right, and other times you swing and miss like Bellinger on a fastball 6 inches off the plate and outside. Overall, your analysis is closer to reality than a lot of guys that get paid for it and you don’t sugarcoat it. I find it refreshing.
Sure, sometimes you throw out your shoulder patting yourself on the back. But, that’s okay too.
When I was watching the last couple of games, I thought that Lux could easily match Turner at shortstop defensively. His bat isn’t there yet, but Busch looks more like Trea Turner’s replacement than Lux’s. Amaya won’t be the shortstop next year, we’ll see what happens after that.
Speaking of Lux’s bat. .258/.342/.351/.693 isn’t half bad. His defense is great when he isn’t having brain farts and he’s coming up with some big hits in crucial situations. He looks pretty good compared to…
Alex Verdugo .213/.252/.323/.575
Enrique Hernandez .180/.253/.278/.532
Keibert Ruiz .262/.316/.346/.662
It was great to see Anderson rebound after pitching batting practice in the first inning. Just what the doctor ordered to rest a weary bullpen.
I remember about a week ago when people were imagining that Betts was still injured.
Cody decided to forget how to hit again and rub his bad luck off on Muncy. Both will eventually go on tares and carry the team at times. Cody is like Kelly Leak in the outfield, so I have a lot more patience realizing that Center Fielders with pop are like unicorns. Muncy, on the other hand, is adequate at best in the field. He needs to hit!
I’m still very excited about Pepiot. The strike throwing will come eventually. It may take a while. But, there’s no denying that his stuff is filthy. No, he is not a reliever.
Another day game today. I do like the day games as it gives a break to the nightly baseball season routine.
Wow, Hoese is coming along in a big way. I don’t know why people are so quick to label guys as a bust. Hearing about Vargas is like watching the news. It’s the same story every day. All he does is hit, hit, hit. He’s a sure thing, as is Busch.
Hopefully the boys in blue bring their brooms today behind Walker.
From Mitchell’s Mailbag:
“In my quest to give you a variety of voices to hear from, once again here is a Q&A with Times Dodgers beat writer Jack Harris.
Q: Let’s start with Clayton Kershaw. He is on the IL again, which has become a yearly tradition. With Kershaw and Andrew Heaney out, the fears of a lack of rotation depth are manifesting. Do you foresee a trade for starting pitching at some point, or will the Dodgers just ride this out? And if another pitcher goes down, what happens?
Harris: At some point, a trade for another starting pitcher — especially of top-half-of-the-rotation caliber — could make sense. I’m just not sure it’s right now.
The Dodgers are hopeful that Clayton Kershaw will be back as soon as (or shortly after) his 15-day IL stint is up. He played catch Sunday and is slated for a bullpen on Wednesday, making a quick return seem feasible. Andrew Heaney has also started throwing again and will begin bullpen sessions this week, putting him on track to return sometime in the next month or two (a return date hasn’t been finalized, but he’s moving in the right direction).
As long as neither suffers a setback, the Dodgers know their rotation won’t be limited in the long-term. Because of that, I wouldn’t expect them to be in a rush to force a trade now.
That said, this stretch has revealed the shallow nature of their pitching. Managing absences in May is one thing. But if they have more injury problems later in the season, or in the playoffs, a lack of depth could haunt them.
So yes, at some point, it would certainly behoove them to evaluate trade options (especially since they should have some more financial flexibility from the Trevor Bauer suspension). But unless there is a deal now that they can’t pass up, such a move might make more sense closer to the trade deadline.”
I think that column sums up precisely what I was trying to say regarding Dodgers pitching. Does that mean I’ll be buried in a shoe box along with Mitchell and Harris? Maybe. In the mean time I hope we can just have conversations about the team without being insulted regarding our takes. Also I guess we could have some fun and just make sh*t up. Seems to be a very popular theme around the blogosphere.
You like to do research Badger. Why don’t you look around and see which pitching staffs have more depth and list some possible trade candidates?
So, let’s go through this again. Right now, they have Bueller, Urias, Gonsolin, Anderson and Pepiot/Grove. Kershaw and Heaney are on the IL with May and Duffy on the 60 day. So, in effect, they have a full rotation right now and another one off roster, especially when you consider that we haven’t seen Bobby Miller, since he dominated the Angels pre-season. That’s 11 starting pitchers to choose from, in and out of the rotation all year without even considering Price or Andre Jackson.
So, go ahead and find another team that has 7-8 starting pitchers with MLB experience and also have 3 top Starting Pitching prospects that are at AAA or AA right now.
BTW, Who The F*** is Jack Harris? He was a freaking intern just a few years ago. Sorry, but he’s nothing close to a definitive authority on baseball and shouldn’t be answering questions about what the Dodgers should do personnel wise. He might as well be Bumsrap trading everyone to bring Joc Pederson back…
The real Joc Pederson that we all know and love is back! .222/.280/.478/.758 Looks about right.
Pepiot and Grove are works in progress. Time will tell if they truly are an option. Duffy and May should be available later in season but will have innings limitations. If your Friedman, do you roll the dice on these options or trade for someone better in July? Given the expanded playoff format I doubt a meaningful arm will be available. But are you ready to go into the playoffs with rookies who may still have control issues and veterans with inning limits. Only thing certain is that AF isn’t going to make any trades (if any) until near the trade deadline.
That is the relevant question MP. At the moment what is being pointed out are simply possible cracks that could widen in late season. And there’s no practical way of knowing who will be available at the deadline. Ideally I’d like a large van full of starters now so we could just cruise through the summer, winning every night 7 to 3
Tyler Anderson is for the most part pitching well. A quick read on his splits the last few years suggest a fade in the second half. He’s 32, so his best years are likely behind him and I anticipate his second half just might be less than. Will he complete the 140 innings that is projected. The Magic 8 Ball says emphatically, yes, maybe.
Heaney? Nobody knows. Kershaw. Yeah, we all hope so. Buehler and Urias? Should be a solid 1,2. Gonsolin. Let’s hope he extends his career high of 55 IP by about 100 innings. He’s in his prime. The time is now. May. We have no idea what to expect. We’d be wise not to except much. I don’t expect wise.
“Also I guess we could have some fun and just make sh*t up. Seems to be a very popular theme around the blogosphere.”
LOL! You and Mark actually make an interesting pair. It’s a compare and contrast exercise in communication styles and personality. Mark is all confrontational bluster. What he might lack in tact and diplomacy he makes up for in directness. You know what he’s saying and where he stands and who he’s addressing.
Your passive aggressive style is the diametric opposite. You don’t directly offend like Mark’s full frontal attack. The effectiveness of your style lies in its ambiguity. It’s not immediately apparent that you mean to offend or undermine, so there is plausible deniability. In fact, most people don’t recognize the intent, which is partly the point. It is a rhetorical device that hides in the shadows. The best single word I could use to describe this particular persuasive style is … insidious.
I don’t mind Mark. You just learn to accept that he’s going to occasionally bellow a lot for effect. It’s like a Tommy Lasorda clubhouse tirade after a bad loss. You just roll your eyes and acknowledge it’s just Tommy being Tommy. It gets people riled up and commenting, which I’m guessing is the point.
That’s all well and good about what’s-his-name-whoever-sports writer-guy, and we’ll all have to take his word as gospel because he writes stuff for a living and is therefore and expert, but who is the top tier pitcher the Dodgers are supposed to trade for? Someone mentioned Chris Sale yesterday, who I hadn’t considered, but could be potentially be had cheap – because he hasn’t pitched in a year. His timetable for even returning is “months.” Not an option.
Who else? Every single attractive pitcher out there is either on a contender or is young and under team control for a while. Tyler Mahle? Ok, the Reds stink and they might want to unload him, but he’s stunk it up this year. The other Red guy isn’t even pitching.
I already ruled out Montas. He’s …. decent. He’s not a tier one pitcher. Ok, Grienke? He’s not pitching badly – not great, but not badly – and could probably be had because the Royals are terrible. If the Dodgers get desperate enough I suppose he’s an option, but Buehler, Urias, Kershaw, Gonsolin, Heaney is actually pretty darn good rotation. Why the imperative to acquire an ace. Why do you keep belaboring his point?
I would rather roll the dice with the rookies, injured and unproven than watch Greinke try to junk it up there in the playoffs. There’s one Greinke, old and gets by on smoke and mirrors. I’d rather have the 5 or so, high upside options. One out of 5 stepping up is a better odds than Greinke pitching like he’s 29-31 again.
What I would like to see is a well rested Buehler, Urias, Kersherzerfax, Gonsolin, set up for the playoffs.
If forced to choose I think I’d roll with Greinke’s experience and guile over Miller’s deer-in-headlights during the playoffs. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to making a choice on either.
Buehler, Urias, Kershaw is perfectly fine for the playoffs as the top three. If Duffy gets some time to round into shape, he could replace Tyler Anderson as a swing guy. The more Gonsolin pitches the better he’ll be, I think. Not sure about Heaney long term, but he’s looked good so far.
Okay, why do people, like Mark, write the columns they do? It creates dialogue and discussion. It challenges readers. It’s fun. What would people have him write? Why does Bill Plaschke write what he writes? Readers love to rail against Plaschke. Some people on this site love to rail against Mark. He enjoys that.
Now Mark Timmons and Bill Plaschke do not think alike. But the approaches are similar. Write something to stimulate discussion. It’s why this site works. Lots of thoughts and discussion.
Hey, I like Tyler Anderson. Adds depth and innings to the pitching staff, keeps the Dodgers in games.
Gavin Lux looks pretty good at times, yes he made a big error Sunday, but his hit won the game. Really like it when he goes the other way.
Sounds to me like Tommy Kahnle will be back shortly. Blake Treinen is another story.
Both Clayton Kershaw and Andrew Heaney will be back soon, unless there are setbacks, and next month sounds reasonable for both.
Cody Bellinger needs to drop a bunt at least once a game. Why he doesn’t is a mystery. Because of his speed opposing teams don’t want him on base. Reach first on a bunt, steal second and come home on a single. I’m guessing sooner or later teams move away from the shift and more balls fall for hits.
Walker Buehler needs to come up big today
Nice way to bounce back and win the first 3 games of this series. The daunted Phillies offense that strutted into Dodger stadium last week and pounded out 33 runs and played stellar defensive baseball returned to earth and got shut out by Padres last night and kicked the ball around.
Please don’t give Christian Walker anything too good today otherwise he will be shooting off his six gunner when he rounds 1st base today. God that guy loves hitting at Dodger Stadium, plus it’s a day game and we all saw how the ball flies out in yesterday’s day game.
I sure do miss hearing from Phil Jones. I believe he said he was going to be away for a bit. Hope you get back soon I miss your analysis.
Hope I didn’t suck in my post, haha.
I don’t think sending Muncy/Belinger to OKC should be part of anyone’s discussion. But anyway in spring Muncy announced he was about 85% recovered. So at time I posted that I translated that to about 60%. So now he is saying he doesn’t think he will be 100% until NEXT YEAR. So you don’t have to translate that, it means not 100% now. OK so a lot of guys play at less than 100% and we never know because that is not published. So we know Beli helps us with his defense and we score plenty of runs. But what is Muncy adding other than walks? I guess they feel his high OBP is worth keeping him in lineup.
I would switch Muncy to batting 9th, so that when he does walk you have Mookie coming in that can move him over.
Going to today’s game with my sis thanks to Bobby’s generosity. One thing I will say about Mark. He makes you think. Like him or not, he loves the Dodgers and I know that for a fact. I was one of the ones who butted heads with him over Freidman and some of his early moves. But we settled that a long time ago. He has helped me with my writing for the blog and encouraged me to do more. Greene DFA’d. Does not really seem fair, but they are paying Price 16 mil, so follow the cash.
I see Mark differently. I think he makes people react. He’s the bull that just crashed through the front door. A bull crashing through the door doesn’t make a lot of sense and surely isn’t thought provoking. I mean, there he is, a thousand pounds of pissed off livestock, are you going to sit and ponder where he came from, what’s his motivation, ask him if you can be of assistance etc or are you going to react by making a move – get the hell out or …. wave a red cape. With Mark I prefer to wave the red cape.
I totally understand and maybe because I am the same way sometimes, I can see it. But I also respect your opinion more than most.
Mark is a good friend. I knew that before he proved himself so. I wish he’ll keep this site going for more years than any of us has . the right to even ask of him-he’s already done that. It’s completely at his expense and it’s not poisoned with advertisements. He does this for me…..and you. Thank you Mark!
I consider Badger my friend also. Baseball has filled most of his life. I get a thumbnail of baseball education from the varied opinions at this site. If I sought only facts baseball would be nothing more than a scoresheet to me.
Is now a good time to talk about The Trade?
Enjoy Bear!!!!
Thanks AV, I will.
Insulting others with a different opinion is what drives America today! What a country we live in!
::claps::
We live in the greatest country in the world, but it’s slowly turning into a Third World Country under the present administration.
False.
Almost absurdly false.
Never been a greater country at a higher level of achievement. And the world is doing pretty amazing too.
I guess you’re lucky, you must not have to drive very far these days like us who live in rural areas, and you obviously do not have an infant to care for that needs baby formula.
Is that defined as lucky?
Just off the top of my head, here are ten things that are happily not the product of luck.
If you want more, just think. It’s a wonderful, wonderful world!
1. I live in the world where more is made with less.
2. I live in the world where the fewest are in poverty.
3. I live in the world where I can communicate with multitudes no matter where they live for peanuts.
4. I live in the world where vaccines and medicines are created in the shortest time ever, eradicating problems and disease that have hindered mankind. (Case in point, forty years ago heart surgery consisted of cutting open one’s chest and then prodding the heart with fingers!)
5. I live in the world where we are exploring and documenting the universe at a literally unprecedented rate.
6. I live in the world where computers and artificial intelligence can fold proteins and design anti-biotics.
7. I live in the world where microprocessors are constantly smaller and less power consuming.
8. OH, now that you mention it! I live in the world of baby formula. Mind you that until around 1900, wealthy families could hire a wet nurse, an arrangement that often compromised the health of the nurse’s own infant. Orphanages kept herds of lactating donkeys or goats, and babies would feed directly from their teats (which may have been safer than gambling with bacterial contamination of unpasteurized, unrefrigerated milk and hard-to-clean feeding vessels with nipples made from fabric or leather).
9. I live in the most just, most equitable society since the Dawn of Man.
10. I live in a world where weather can be predicted and natural disasters averted.
All that said, the commitment to rural broadband is an important recent transpiring.
So much for all of us trying to stop posting political comments, especially ones that are ugly Forte.
Mark, please delete this kind of confrontational politics.
Thanks Bumsrap.
You are a better person than I.
You make a good point. I feed off the negativity and contribute to it as well. I’ve been meaning to distance myself from this, but I need to do a better job.
America is addicted to outrage. Social media, the internet and news media are the drug pushers
That’s one of the most astute thing I’ve heard you say yet patch.
I might add that we are a society quick to react. Instigators (influencers ?) count on that, rather than a response.
Granted. Although, there is plenty to be outraged about these days if you’re paying attention. But, you can choose to take the energy generated by that outrage and try to make it into something positive, or you can just go around screaming and being pissed off. Free country, it’s up to each individual to decide which they want to go with.
What channels are there to do something positive? Run for office? Media feeds the anger and social media provides a quick and easy way to express our anger and frustration. It’s junk food for people interested in politics or social issues because they care about these things.
In such an environment, people don’t discuss issues in good faith. Their caricatures and hatred of the other side are already formed and reinforced daily by what we consume.
Take the exchange up above, for example. Vincent mentioned 3rd world, and I think there was an assumption by Bum that he was making a reference to race in a pejorative sense, i.e. it was racist.
I saw it as an acknowledgement of rampant homelessness and little incentive to do anything about it, dramatically rising crime rates and the unwillingness to prosecute criminals, a rise in the murder rate that is directly proportional to the defunding and denouncing of police, the politicization of our legal system to go after political enemies, the decline in the middle class and the rise in addiction and drug overdose deaths, the cultivation of sectarianism and racial grievance and animosity for the pursuit of political power, the dramatic spike in inflation and economic mismanagement – things that are hallmarks of 3rd world nations.
Starting Time 4:10ET
Diamondbacks (18-20)
Dodgers (24-12)
SP Walker Buehler R
4-1 2.81 ERA 35K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Trea Turner R
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Turner R
CF C. Bellinger L
LF Chris Taylor R
2B Gavin Lux L
Clear-day
0% Rain
75° Wind 8 mph Out
He, I was looking a couple of hours ago MLB Central and there is this section they select the most “interesting ” trade ideas by fans.
This one was discussed:
SBeiber
For
DCartaya & JAmaya
I LLOL ( literally laughed out loud) and at the same time envisioned Mark reaction to this trade!
Welll hang on, that’s a trade worth talking about.
Hell no.
Ok, I’m done talking about it.
But you wanted to trade the prospects Seager, Urias and Joc for an over-the-hill Cole Hamels.
I’m spittin’ facts!! 😉
I’ll respond.
Alternative facts. Spit away. Try not to drool on your shoes.
I admit that I considered Urias. Only considered. And Hamels pitched over 200 innings that year. Hardly over the hill. He was 7-1 with Texas. We could have used that down the stretch.
I remember.
That idiot GM from the Phillies asked for all three of those guys, and AF unsurprisingly ended all further negotiations.
You’re whole argument at the time was, because of the relatively mediocre collection of prospects Texas gave up, the Dodgers could’ve offered something a little more tantalizing that didn’t include any or all three of Seager, Urias or Joc – that AF didn’t really try very hard to land Hamels.
I think the Dodgers lost to the Mets that year. Could Hamels have helped? I’m sure he could have. We’ll never know … and we’ll never know if a lower tier package of prospects from the Dodgers might have included some unheralded prospect at the time like Bellinger or something.
AF was in prospect hoarding mode at the time. I think the objective was to build up the farm system , even if it meant not “going for it” when it came to the playoffs.
That’s right. The Phillies got a handful of guys that didn’t amount to much. As I recall it was Mark who kept repeating the nonsense about what Philly was asking and what I would give them.
It wasn’t nonsense. That’s what What’s-His-Name literally asked for … and once it became public it no doubt soured any further negotiations. Whatever YOU would’ve offered isn’t really relevant. You weren’t the GM, nor were you privy to the negotiations or anyone’s state of mind. We’re just schlubs here on a blog playing make believe GM.
The only place I saw anything that said the Phillies were asking for Seager, Urias and Joc was on Mark’s blog. I am sure it’s likely they asked for each individually to head the package but not all 3. Seager was the #1 prospect and untouchable, Urias was a Top 10 and also untouchable. Joc? I don’t know. I only know I wanted Hamels for the remainder of the year. He was a stud back then. We had plenty to offer including Holmes, Verdugo, DeLeon, Baez and an 18 year old C+ rated Cody Bellinger.
Do you think Mark just imagined it?
https://www.dodgersnation.com/dodgers-rumors-phillies-expect-prospect-package-for-hamels/2014/07/29/
Ruben Amaro was pretty firm, from what the articles said, and AF said “adios.” Negotiations ended and Ruben settled for what Texas gave him because he probably burned all the other bridges with other GMs because of his ridiculous ask.
Ruben Amaro reminds me of Arte Moreno – ham handed, ego driven idiot.
Couldn’t access that link.
“Do you think Mark just imagined it?”
If you mean do I think he made it up – well, yeah, kinda. It’s what he has done for years. The Phillies didn’t insist.
This is as strong as I remember it:
“The Dodgers have never been able to sell the Phillies on a package for Hamels that didn’t include someone like shortstop phenom Corey Seager or the Dodgers’ best pitching prospect, Julio Urias. We’ve heard rumblings that, if one of those two isn’t in the deal, the Phillies have asked for as many as six players back from the Dodgers’ 1-A prospect tier. And that ain’t happening, either.”
The Phillies asked and got a hard no. Then the Phillies asked again, different ask, and Friedman apparently walked. Texas got a good deal in my estimation. A 200 inning pitcher, 7-1, then 15-5, 11-6, a post season starter and they got him for a handful of hamburgers.
Did you envision Mark using the phrase, “dope fiend?”
Mark, I enjoy reading this blog. I find it to be the most informative source of Dodger news, and the pulse of the avid fans. Thank You for all your efforts.
Lets hope we get the (Johnny) Walker Blue Label today.
05/18/22 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Ryan Pepiot to Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Thank you Bluto. Eleanor Roosevelt said that it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Thanks!
Buehler from the first inning began his extreme diet of curveballs and sliders, in critical moments where he needs a strikeout he does not trust his diminished fastball.
Dbacks hitters .180 to .220 AVG, throwing them a diet of curveballs and sliders, he can’t get past them with his fastball.
Buehler’s working way too hard today. This is the dbacks, not the Yankees.
Kershaw supposed to get on a mound today. He didn’t.
Roberto Ortiz, today’s home plate umpire is the first Boricua umpire in M L B. He has been quite inconsistent today to say the least.
Dodger players play to casual and not aggressive enough
Man, they have played 3 games in 27 hours.
4 games in 45 hours.
When are we trading David Price again?
On the 12th of Never!
Very excited about today’s game and we have a nice little streak going into Philadelphia. Walker was a little less than normal, but getting out of that bases load jam was incredible.
Wow, David Price came back in a big way. Especially after a prickly recent quote when he responded to “When are you going to pitch again?” with “You should ask the Dodgers”. If he’s on the freaking Covid IL for 3 weeks, why isn’t he built up to start a game and go 4? Not everything is perfect in Dodgerland. I don’t like this disconnect between him and the team. If he’s a team cancer and can’t do his job, get rid of him. But, don’t screw him around for 2 years! Price will return the most value in a trade if he’s capable of starting. You aren’t going to increase his trade value by having him on COVID IL for weeks.
Yes, I thought Shane Greene got a raw deal. But, there’s something that not a lot of people seem to understand and that is the 26 man roster, 40 man roster and options. I’ll tell you this. I’d rather they cut an old reliever that didn’t exactly impress in the minor leagues, than have to cut a high upside guy with options. That’s how we wound up with Bickford. Thanks Farhan!
I’ll say it again. You already have Walker, Urias, Kershaw, Gonsolin, Anderson and Heaney. How are you going to possibly add another to the rotation and what are you going to do if/when May and Duffy come off the IL? Who are you going to acquire who is definitely better than what we already have? Sorry, but I’m not interested in Greinke and his 88.3 average velocity four seamer. Please tell me how that’s gonna help in the postseason.
Cassidy, you aren’t fooling anyone trying to disguise your political bullshit and Bluto, you must be the dumbest person on the planet by first egging him on, then listing things that have absolutely nothing to do with the current administration and several things that are patently false.
Why don’t you keep your bullshit politics off this site. It doesn’t belong here and most people don’t like to see it and almost everyone voted against it. WTF are you having such a hard time following THE ONE FREAKING RULE on this site?
This site is so much nicer when people aren’t constantly reminded how stupid you are. If you run out of stupid baseball takes, try not posting at all.
Mark, maybe a three strike rule should be in effect…
I propose, if you start a post that turns political like Cassidy did today, you get a strike. No one that responds gets one even for overly political, bullshit, stupid, batshit-crazy posts like Bluto. Once you reach 3 strikes, you get banned for the rest of the season and playoffs. You can release everyone from jail once free agency begins.
Thanks?
Strike 1?
You seem to include venom with your complaints.
Just a little.
Responding to the trade proposal…
I would immediately dismiss any trade with Cartaya in it. Right now, he’s still pretty young and not close to MLB ready, but he has the combination of skills to be a once in a generation type catcher with a rocket arm and immense power.
I’m still trying to figure out why guys with two more arbitration years of control AFTER this year keep getting mentioned in trade rumors. I can’t remember the last time an elite player was traded with that much control remaining.
Replying to your last paragraph, if you were the Nats GM, would you consider trading Soto this July or this winter?
He’s making 17 mil this year, could easily make 25 in arbitration next year and maybe up to 35 in his final year (2024).
The Nationals probably aren’t going to be competitive while he’s with them and their farm system needs re-stocking.
I think it’s an interesting topic for discussion because he’s going to get a contract of somewhere between 400-500 million starting in 2025 and I don’t believe Washington will pay it.
Frankly I don’t know if anyone would offer enough to counteract the huge hit they would take from their fanbase, but hey, they survived dumping Scherzer and Turner and still have fans coming to their games. And the deal wouldn’t necessarily have to consist only of extremely high rated prospects. The Nats could ask for current regulars as well.
Thoughts?
Jump into the deep end Jefe’ and tell us which Dodgers you would offer up and what you would pay for Soto?
I’ll start with Bellinger and Muncy and let you take it from there.
Are the Giants involved somehow?
Like I said, how many guys have you seen that were traded with 2.5 years left on their contract? Paul Goldschmidt is not a correct answer. He was traded in the off-season after Arizona picked up his option year.
I think the best time to trade is during the deadline, demand will be highest and supply will be the lowest with additional teams in the playoffs and no free agents to compete with. So, the question is which deadline to make a deal. I think the best value / highest return compared to years lost would be next year’s deadline. I don’t think the additional prospect or lower level prospects would offset the loss of revenue by trading him an entire year earlier. Since this almost never happens (for a reason), I don’t have reference points to refer to.
I just can’t remember anyone traded with 2 full years plus the remainder of a third season for a budding superstar.
Most teams that are looking to acquire a guy like Soto, don’t want to send good regulars in return. Most teams that trade their superstar want really good prospects to rebuild around. Everyone was shocked that the Dodgers and White Sox traded big name major leaguers for each other because that almost never happens. Each of them only had 1 year remaining on their contracts.
They survived dumping Max and Trea. Then survive some more by dumping Soto the very next year? That’s a lot to ask for a fanbase. Neither Trea, or Max were homegrown. Max was old enough and played for enough teams that it wouldn’t hurt that bad. Trea was never close to their most popular player. Soto is younger and more popular than both.
As far as the salary goes, they could be cheap and try to save a lot of millions on one player, minus the loss of revenue for selling less tickets and concessions. But, when you lose fans like that, they probably don’t spend the same money (On tickets, concessions, grear) for a few years, and lost fans are hard to get back. You can see that with the Angels, who have spent a significant time in first place this year, but still aren’t getting close to filling their stadium like they did after they won a World Series .
The answer to BPs query is of course money. Saw it happen with Goldschmidt in Arizona.
Goldbrick was a lot older.
The Nats would not want any players with more than minimum salaries back. If they are getting rid of Soto, they would get rid of anything of value and hoard prospects.
Soto would take (at least) Lux, Cartaya, Miller, Pages, Grove, and Yurchak. That’s the cost to get the best player in baseball… maybe more. He might get the Dodgers two more World Series, but that is a lot to pay.
I was thinking along the same lines Mark although you might have to sub Vargas for Yurchak.
I definitely wouldn’t make that deal.
I also happen to think the Steve Cohen will pay whatever he has to and Soto will be a Met in 2025 so getting rid of all those prospects (basically our future) for two years of Soto, no thanks.
I don’t know Mark, when Cody was Soto’s age he was better than Soto and look what has happened to him. I see the names of the guys you mentioned and along with who we have here already I think we can beat any team Soto is on.
Goldy didn’t have 2.5 years remaining. They traded him after they picked up his option at the end of his 5 year deal.
“The Diamondbacks, of course, were well aware of the lightning rod the decision represented but decided to push forward with it anyway. There are a multitude of factors as to why they did.
Three stand out: money, Goldschmidt’s age and the club’s competitive cycle.
Big-dollar decisions:
With one year remaining on his contract, Goldschmidt, one of the best players in baseball over the past six years, has positioned himself for a significant payday. “
It was indeed mostly about money.
OK, stop the political rhetoric.
Just stop!
I had a great time at the game today! Thank you Bobby. Those seats are great. A foul ball landed a row below us and about 10 seats to our left. We drove and parked at Union Station and took the shuttle. Shuttle was free to ticketed fans. Parking was 8 bucks. A lot better than parking at the ball park. Got my brother Steve an All Star game T shirt. A little pricey, but what the hell. Place went bonkers when Turner homered. I would do that again.
The shuttle is the way to go. You should have grabbed some taquitos across the street from Union Station. Great game to be at. Glad you got to go. You’re the man, Bobby!
We stopped at Tacos El Gabillon on Washington and Central. Stuff was pretty good. Had a sundae at Dodger Stadium. Pretty good.
B&P, my post had nothing to do with politics but with how rude people can be to one another with a difference of opinion. And you are the worst offender!
No Cassidy, I am not rude because you have a difference of opinion. I’m aggressive when you keep doing shit like this. And you are the worst offender at bringing up your dumb ass commie politics all the freaking time. If you don’t think your post was political you’re just a dumbass because you fail to see the shit show it turned into. You are a passive aggressive little turd. Most of us see what you’re doing. Keep it on twitter.
Now stick to baseball.
Wonderful use of the “I am rubber, you are glue” discourse!
Bravo
::claps::
“ bringing up your dumb ass commie politics all the freaking time. If you don’t think your post was political you’re just a dumbass because you fail to see the shit show it turned into. You are a passive aggressive little turd.”
Please.
You do realize that statements like this prove Cassidy is right.
Gavin Stone made his AA debut tonight.
5 IP
5 H
0 R
0 BB
8 K
This after he put up a 1.44 ERA at Great Lakes.
He ain’t far off!
Reminder, I will be in LA from May 31st to June 5th.
On May 4th I plan to catch a game with Jayne Cobb and his kid and my kid in Rancho Cucamonga.
Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.
Hard to go to a game on May 4th when you do not get here until May 31. My sis and I are looking to see if we can make that Quakes game on the 4th of June.
We’re looking forward to it!
Will be nice to finally meet you. And nice to have a weekend without a damn travel tournament!
This refers back to earlier: “I don’t make shit up!”
Opinions are just that, but if I say I “know” something, it is because I do.
You should know by now that I do not care what you think of me.
You might piss me off… but you don’t define me.
I am way too comfortable in my own skin.
If you didn’t care you wouldn’t get pissed off.
Comfortable in your own skin. I remember when I was. Been a while. Hard to get and stay comfortable these days. Something always seems to hurt.
Latest On Clayton Kershaw
By Mark Polishuk | May 18, 2022 at 4:50pm CDT
There had been some indication that Clayton Kershaw could be cleared to throw a bullpen session today, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya) that such a session won’t take place. Some right SI joint inflammation sent Kershaw to the 15-day injured list on May 13, and while the star left-hander has started playing catch, it appears he is still some time off from a formal bullpen.