Eddy Alvarez fits the role of being a Dodger “Stuntman” perfectly. Hanser Alberto is a “stuntman” for LA in that he can play multiple positions in a backup role. So is Zach McKinstry. Austin Barnes is a stuntman for sure and even though he is a starter most of the time, Chris Taylor is also a stuntman because of the number of positions he plays. I suppose we could even classify Gavin Lux and Max Muncy as “stuntmen” because they also play multiple positions.
Being a stuntman is a compliment in my opinion. I think it was Mickey Hatcher who first called Dodger utility players “stuntmen.” However, I am going to wager that the Dodgers have never had a stuntman quite like Eddy Alvarez. Eddy is 5′ – 9″ tall and weighs in at 185 pounds. He is also a switch hitter which is a plus for a stuntman. Eddy plays 2B, 3B, SS, and LF, which is somewhat unique, but what really makes him unique unto himself is that he is an Olympic Winning Short Track Speed Skater.
Eddy represented the United States and medaled at the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2020 Summer Olympics. He is the sixth athlete and third American ever to medal in both the Summer and Winter Olympics in different disciplines. After his MLB debut on August 5, 2020, Alvarez became the first Winter Olympics athlete and the first non-baseball Olympian since Jim Thorpe to play Major League Baseball. Only Alvarez and Jim Thorpe have played Major League Baseball and won an Olympic Medal in another sport.
The son of Cuban immigrants, Alvarez grew up in Miami. He took up roller skating at age five, began ice speed skating at age seven, and at eleven he won national age-level titles in inline, short track, and long track speed skating. In high school, Alvarez took a break from skating to concentrate on his other passion—baseball. He played well enough to earn a college scholarship but instead quit the sport to pursue his Olympic dream.
Alvarez made the 2008 and 2009 World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships, winning a gold medal in 2009. After missing the 2010 Olympics, he returned to baseball in an attempt to give his knees a break after years of chronic pain. He became an All-Conference shortstop, but his knees did not improve. In early 2012, Alvarez underwent surgery to repair badly torn patellar tendons that left him completely immobile for four weeks. He returned to the National Team in July but was too weak to navigate stairs, let alone skate competitively.
After intense physical therapy, Alvarez made the United States World Cup Team in December 2012. He finished the season as the country’s third-highest ranked skater. During the 2013–14 World Cup season, Alvarez won three medals. At the 2014 Olympic Trials, he placed second in the 500 meters, second in the 1,500 meters and third in the 1,000 meters. The performance made him the first Cuban-American male speed skater to make a U.S. Olympic team. At the Olympics, he won a silver medal in the 5,000-meter relay after failing to medal in his three individual events. Prior to the Olympics, Alvarez said he planned to give up speed skating after the Games to concentrate on baseball.
In May 2021, Alvarez was named to the roster of the United States national baseball team for qualifying for baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics. After the team qualified, Alvarez was named to the Olympics roster on July 2. On July 21, Alvarez was chosen to be a flag bearer for the United States in the Olympics opening ceremony alongside basketball players. The baseball team went on to win silver, losing to hosts Japan in the gold-medal game. Alvarez became the 135th athlete to compete in both the Winter and Summer Olympics and only the sixth to medal at both the Winter and Summer Olympics. Alvarez joined Eddie Eagan and Lauren Willims as the only three Americans to earn medals at both the Winter and Summer Games.
The Chicago White Sox signed Alvarez to a minor league contract on June 11, 2014. He made his professional debut with the Arizona White Sox of the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he played 27 games. He was promoted to the Kannapolis Intimidators of the Class A South Atlantic League on August 12, 2014.
Alvarez began the 2015 season with Kannapolis. After a successful stint with Kannapolis, Alvarez was promoted to the Winston-Salem Dash of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League on July 22, 2015. In 2016, he began the season with the Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League and was promoted to the Charlotte Knights of the Class AAA International League. On the season, he logged a .265/.341/.365 slash line with 6 home runs and 65 RBI. In 2017, Alvarez split the year between Birmingham and Charlotte, posting a .235/.347/.310 batting line with 4 home runs and 39 RBI in 126 games. In 101 games for Charlotte in 2018, Alvarez slashed .253/.348/.435 with a career-high 8 home runs and 37 RBI.
Eddy also has 101 ABs in MLB with the Marlins and has a .188 average in those limited appearances. He is no longer a Rookie because of his service time. The Dodgers signed Eddy on January 1, 2022… and here he is after hitting .304 with a .430 OB% at OKC. He OPS’ed .930 with 8 doubles, 5 triples, and 5 HR with the OKC Dodgers. I hope he has a great run. He is an inspiring story. Only in America…
Dodger News & Notes
- Tyler Anderson just keeps doing what most fans and pundits said he could not do. Never say “never.”
- We keep getting glimpses of Cody Bellinger… Will he ever figure it out?
- Miguel Vargas hit his 8th HR last night for OKC. Jake Lamb hit #12.
- Mike Busch was 2-6 last night for OKC.
- Garrett Cleavinger – 1.74 ERA in OKC.
- James Outman hit his 13th HR for Tulsa last night.
- Bobby Miller pitched 5.2 innings (87 pitches) allowing 5 hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K’s.
It is amazing that the Dodgers have the best record in the NL despite so many key players out or not playing up to their capabilities.
Kersh, Heaney, May, Bauer, Treinen, Gonazalez =all key pitchers who have been out all year or for an extended time .
Still the Dodgers have the best ERA in the league.
Muncy out and nowhere near 100 percent before going on IL.
Belli in two year slump.
Smith below expectations.
JT too.
Now Rios out.
Still the Dodgers have scored the most runs in the NL.
Amazing and a prove how talented this roster is and how deep the franchise.
However: IMHO we have to get a couple of players at the trade deadline to make a strong run at another WS title.
Need one more reliable RH bat and preferably another lock down reliever IF treinen does not come back this season.
If Gonsolin and Anderson can continue the pace they are on so far we will not need another starter unless both Kersh and Heaney can not return which is unlikely.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Red Sox aren’t going anywhere. J.D Martinez will be a free agent this off season. If we do need a right handed bat. He is my choice, what say you guys?
1. He would not be cheap; and
2. While he has a high BA and OB%, he seems to have lost his power (5 HR in 190 PA).
Well, that is just One Homer less than Belli.
And 2 more than muncy
JD would Be a good Pickup
How much Could he Cost on an expiring contract?
Go Dodgers?
It depends upon who is in the bidding. There will likely be several teams that need help, so you just have to outbid them.
It could be anyone between a top 10 prospect and/or a Top 20… maybe 2.
I got my tickets yesterday and I’m sitting in the “Fault Zone” on the railing. Seats 1-4. Man, I hate missing a Dodgers game to attend another event, but this is a good exception to the rule. Fireworks after the game a plus. Looking forward to a nice evening in tepid weather to enjoy baseball, hotdogs, beer, family, friends and fireworks. The simple things in life.
I guess it’s a good game to miss since our worst pitcher is on the mound tonight. The one with the worst 96 PMH fastball in the league.
Nice to see a pitcher throw one into Belli’s swing patch last night.
I wonder how long it will take for Eddy to get into a game. Watching him in the Spring, he is athletic and makes some great plays in the infield. He’s got some pop like a mini Jose Altuve, or a life sized Jose Altuve.
Last night’s game was a really fun to watch game. New York Mets didn’t either bring their ‘A’ game or are not the team their record states they are. It’s likely they didn’t bring their ‘A’ game. But the Dodgers hadn’t brought their ‘A’ game to the field yet either. Last night’s game showed Dodgers ‘A’ game is on it’s way! It sorta puts me in the mood to up my own potential even though that is a losing battle, but it’s possible I could make it a fun fight. Mark, lets hear Lowel George’s 20 Million Things To Do.
Heaney And Max Muncy Begin Rehab Assignments
Brook Smith
Jun 4
With as well as they have been playing, it’s hard to remember that the Dodgers still have some key pieces out. Right now, they have 10 players from their 40-man roster that are currently on the injured list. Of those 10 players, 6 of them are on the 60-day IL.
Thankfully, the Dodgers should be getting 2 of those 10 guys back soon. Max Muncy went on the IL with that nagging elbow pain and Andrew Heaney has been down since the second start of his season with a shoulder issue. Both guys are starting rehab assignments this weekend.
Max Muncy
Muncy reaggravated the elbow that suffered a torn UCL when he bumped into the netting on a play in foul territory. With as much as he has been struggling, it was an easy decision for the Dodgers to place him on the IL. He will take some at-bats with a minor league team this weekend in preparation for his return.
That should come sometime next week.
Andrew Heaney
For Heaney, he will head out to pitch with the OKC Dodgers on a rehab assignment. Given that he only made 2 starts before the IL trip, he is expected to pitch a few times in Triple-A before heading back to the big league club. Having him back in the starting rotation should be huge for the bullpen and pitching staff as a whole.
But in terms of replacements, you can’t do any better than the Dodgers are doing right now. Tyler Anderson has been a guy that they’ve gone to with Heaney and Kershaw out, and he’s in the middle of a 26-inning scoreless streak.
Great news about Alvarez.
This year, AF stocked OKC with experience. I expect that Lamb will get called up in case of another injury. I remember that OKC had Alvarez playing a bit of left to broaden his stunt abilities.
I read that the the Dodgers will pay $47M in luxury tax this year which will drop to $18.9M if the arbitrator upholds the the Bauer suspension. The Mets will pay $22.5 M; the Yankees pay $7.6M; the Phillies pay almost $629K; and Red Sox pay $466K . Prior to the arbitrator’s decision, total luxury tax due to be collected from the four teams is over $78M. That is more that some teams pay in total annual salaries. Anyone know how the luxury tax is allocated?
Part of the money paid due to the luxury tax obligations is allocated to player benefits. The rest is distributed among teams that did not pay the cap.
Will be at the Quakes game tonight sporting my #42 Robinson Jersey and a Brooklyn cap. Section 9 in the top row where the handicap seating Bro Steve and my sis will be there. Steve is wearing his 2022 All Star game shirt.
We are in SuperBox 8, Seats 1-4… wherever the heck that is.
1st base side. Close to the home dugout.
Looks like we’re spread out as far as possible. I’m leaving home at 4:30 which will put me at the park around 5:30 or so.
Have a good time boys. Was excellent fun and an education meeting up with B&P, Michael and Patch.
Those guys have forgotten more about Baseball than I will ever know.
I’m guessing the Super Box will have a good view lol.
Pete – if you’re reading this – hope you are well mate.
Pound that water tonight my brother!
10:10 PM ET
Mets (35-19)
Dodgers (35-17)
SP Walker Buehler R
6-1 3.22 ERA 58.2IP 49K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Trea Turner R
DH J. Turner R
LF Chris Taylor R
3B H. Alberto R
CF C. Bellinger L
C A. Barnes R
2B Gavin Lux L
Partly-cloudy-day
0% Rain
66° Wind 6 mph Out
Andrew Heaney is the starting pitcher for AAA Oklahoma City tonight.
Self-important post alert (as if that were necessary.)
Back from Santa Barbara/Montecito with the following observations:
1. Santa Barbara: Still beautiful.
2. Super-Rica: Still delicious.
3. Water. Serious issue up there.
4. San Ysidro Ranch: Ridiculously great. You pay for it though.
5. Dodgers: Just a great team.
Super Rita?
If I were to make a wild ass guess, I’d say it was an old school Sonora style Mexican restaurant near downtown Santa Barbara that looks straight out of the 70s, compete with gaudy red upholstered booth seating
https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/reviews/la-super-rica
Not sure about the red upholstery, but if Julia Child loved it , it’s definitely old school. Sounds awesome. I love SB. … classic mission style architecture that is disappearing in California. Reminds me of San Juan Capistrano here in OC.
I’ll be sure to try it.
Andrew Heaney tonight: 3 innings, 0 runs and 0 walks and 5 strikeouts.
Mookie playing like the MVP
The Mook! He’s awesome
OTOH, what’s wrong with Buehler? … we need to trade for a pitcher!!!!
I think it’s time to concede that Walker ain’t right.
Hopefully this is rock bottom
It was great to meet Mark, OldBear and BulldogsandPenguins tonight.
Just got to a a place to watch the second half of the Dodger game. Ugh.
Can Mookie pitch? Seriously. He’s doing everything else on his own. Why not have him do that too.
Before people beat up Walker too much; this was simply incredible hitting. You could count on 1 hand the number of hitters who pull that pitch for a HR. Alonzo is just dialed in.
There is nothing wrong with that pitch.
https://twitter.com/mlb/status/1533285771947515904?s=21&t=gZ8eWaZKOD6hLO0OoSDh0g
It’s the City Connect unis! I can’t remember us winning while wearing them. I had a bad feeling when I saw Buehler wearing one…