Wesley Branch Rickey was born in a small Ohio town on Dec 20, 1881. His father was a farmer. He had an older brother, Orla, {B 1875} and a younger brother, Frank {B 1888}. His father, Jacob, was a very religious man, and the household was your typical pious Methodist family. Rickey finished grade school, but then labor on the farm called. He got help from a retired educator who helped him get as many books as he could, considering the resources in the 1890s in Scioto County, Ohio. He educated himself enough to become a teacher at a local grade school, saving his money to go to college. Eventually, he went off to Ohio Wesleyan University, and over the next decade, his life was a hodgepodge of sporadic education, sports, and eventually coaching.
He played baseball and football at Wesleyan, and realizing he could make money to pay for his studies, he entered baseball’s semipro circuit in 1902 and coached the university team the next spring. He moved to the minors in 1903 and played in three different cities. He was a catcher, and after he graduated in 1904, his contract was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds. He would play parts of three seasons in the majors, where he earned a reputation as a bad hitter, a marginal catcher, and an odd duck for refusing to play on Sundays.
His refusal to play on Sunday’s infuriated Red’s manager, Joe Kelley, no relation, who released him back to Dallas before he got into a game. For the winter, Rickey moved to Allegheny College, where he coached football and baseball. He was purchased by the White Sox that winter but then sent to the St. Louis Browns when the Sox decided that they could not carry a catcher who refused to play on Sunday and refused to report until the college season was over. He made his MLB debut on June 16, 1905. That one game was it.
His mother became ill, and he returned home. By the time she had recovered, the season was over, and he returned to Allegheny. That winter, he became disillusioned with the semiprofessional character and left before the baseball season began.
While his MLB career as a player was very short, he would go on to have a long front office career. A sore arm eventually ended his playing career, and he returned to Ohio Wesleyan to complete the courses he needed to go to Law School. He married his sweetheart in June of 1906 and went on to a laundry list of jobs. He was Ohio Wesleyan’s athletic director while also coaching football, basketball, and baseball. He was secretary of the Delaware Ohio YMCA, and he taught law classes while taking other law classes as a student. He threw himself into William Howard Taft’s presidential campaign and worked with the Anti-Saloon League.
While coaching baseball at Wesleyan, an incident happened that would steel his resolve later on to integrate baseball. Ohio Wesleyan’s baseball team traveled to Cincinnati for a set of games. When the team tried to check into the hotel, the hotel manager would not allow the team’s lone black player, Charles Thomas, to register in the hotel. Rickey finally managed to get the young man a room, and when he went up to check on him, he noticed the young player wringing his hands, saying to himself, “it’s my skin, if I could only get it off, I could be like everyone else.” That incident stuck with Rickey. He could not do anything about it with the establishment, but he vowed he would try to do something about it in baseball.
By the end of 1908, perhaps because of all his activity, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, the #1 killer at the time. He spent most of 1909 in a sanatorium in upstate New York. He only left to start his first semester at the University of Michigan law school. By the end of 1910, his health had improved enough for him to supplement his income by coaching baseball for the university.
In 1911, nearing 30 years old, he graduated from Law School and chose Boise, Idaho, as the site of his law office. By his own account, it was a bad choice. He only had one client, and he did not even want a lawyer. But his baseball knowledge rode to the rescue. He had been scouting for the St. Louis Brown’s owner, Robert Hedges, who had been impressed with Rickey’s articulate presentations and intelligence. After a second unsuccessful winter in Boise, he was only too happy to meet in Salt Lake City and discuss full-time employment with the Browns.
Thus began a half-century working in baseball. At first, with the help of Charlie Barrett. a full-time scout, he would look at players in the Midwest and South. His title was somewhere between scout and GM. he would then present a list of players the Browns could draft from minor league teams. In 1912, 30 of the 105 players chosen were taken by the Browns. In mid-1913, he became the manager. He taught his players with a blend of lectures, heart-to-heart talks, and drills. He also began a lifelong fascination with statistical analysis. He even hired a guy to sit behind home plate and check how many times a player got on base and advanced his teammates.
The Browns improved some in 1914 and then slipped back in 15 amid accusations that Rickey was too intellectual in dealing with his players. That winter, Hedges sold the Browns to Phil Ball after giving Rickey a long-term contract as GM. But Ball was contemptuous of Rickey’s religious views and his approach to the game. He hired another manager, and Rickey returned to being a scout. He was not happy about it. In 1917, the Cardinals got new ownership, and they convinced Ball to release Rickey from his contract so he could become the Cardinal’s President.
Living in St. Louis and running the Cardinals was not all that easy a task. They had not finished in the top half of the league but once in the last 25 years. They struggled to their best record since 1891, but it was only good enough for third place. Rickey clashed with manager Miller Huggins, who was leery of Rickey’s theoretical approach. That winter, Huggins was lured away by the Yankees, and Rickey hired Jack Hendricks to manage the Browns.
In August of 1918, Rickey joined the US Army Chemical Corps; he was commissioned as a Major and joined a company that included Captains Ty Cobb and Christy Mathewson. Before the Armistice on November 11th, his unit supported many attacks on the Germans. He was back in the states by Dec 23rd and spent Christmas at home with his family. NOTE: Sometime during his training, Mathewson was exposed to gas accidentally. As a result, his lungs were weakened, and it eventually killed him in 1925.
The team he returned to was in serious financial trouble. He named himself the manager to save money. His teams were lousy. They did improve a little but then fell back. He was finally replaced by Rogers Hornsby. He contemplated quitting but then decided to stay as GM. But he was beginning to lay the foundation that would make the Cardinals a league powerhouse for the next three decades. When he was kicked back up to the front office, Rickey really found his niche. He practically created the position of business manager all by himself. He was also beginning to get the farm system going. This was a move of need. The Cardinals could be outbid for real talent since the team was financially challenged, so an experiment started at A-Class Houston in 1924 became a testing ground for what would follow.
They would sign as many as they could cheaply and then weed out the good from the bad. The best they would keep for themselves and the good ones were sold to other teams to give the Cardinals a profit. The one team became many, and the Cardinals farm system supplied a bunch. Rickey was a cold-blooded judge of talent, and he was not sentimental when it came to aging players. He would prove that time and time again by trading those guys to fill holes. He was also a teacher. He set up sliding pits to teach sliding and base stealing. He put up strings in the bullpens so pitchers could develop control.
Rickey was not above using deception to get his way. Kennesaw Mountain Landis, the commissioner, thought the minor leagues should be run as separate entities. He did not like the idea that major league teams could use them to supply their needs in a pennant race. In one decision, he released 74 players from the Cardinals system. This was known as the Cedar Rapids decision. Landis had said the Cardinals had more than one team in some leagues, so they could affect pennant races by moving players between these teams. He offered no proof they had done so, but he released the players anyway. One of the more talented players released was outfielder Pete Reiser. Rickey arranged for the Brooklyn Dodgers to get Reiser with the proviso that, eventually, he would be returned to the Cardinals. But Reiser did so well in spring training that Larry McPhail reneged on his promise.
Rickey built an NL powerhouse in St. Louis that would win nine pennants and 6 World Series between 1926 and 1946. By late 1942, Rickey’s relationship with Cardinal owner Sam Breadon was strained. He had refused to back him on the Cedar Rapids mess, and he would give himself bonuses while cutting Rickey’s budget for salaries. In 1937, Brooklyn board member James Mulvey approached him about coming to Brooklyn. He was not ready to leave his comfortable life in St. Louis. By 1942, he was. On October 29, he was announced as the new GM of the Brooklyn Dodgers at a lunch at the Brooklyn club. He was also introduced to Walter O’Malley, with whom he shared a table.
Brooklyn fans saw a different team than Rickey did; he saw a team that had aging stars and had been ravaged by manpower needs in WWII. The fans saw a team that won the pennant in 41 and finished 2nd in 42. It was the disposal of aging stars that would earn him the nickname “El Cheapo,” But it also built the foundation for the “Boys of Summer.” Rickey was unkempt and absent-minded. He was a staunch conservative and backed Dewey for president. There was even talk of him running for governor of New York if Dewey won. He would absentmindedly toss lit cigars into trash cans. His wife said, “he will never be on the top ten best-dressed list.”
With the draft in place, teams cut back on signing players. Rickey signed them in buckets. Players like Gil Hodges would play a handful of games in the majors before heading off to boot camp and then return to stock baseball’s richest farm system. It was during this time that Rickey earned the nickname, The Mahatma. A reference to Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi, who was said to be a combination of your father and Tammany Hall.
After the war, Rickey blended pre-war players like Dixie Walker, Hugh Casey, and Pee Wee Reese with the results of his player development program. That led to another Rickey innovation, the spring training complex. With close to 700 players under contract, Rickey needed a large complex to train the players. He made a deal with the City of Vero Beach to use the former Naval pilot-training base on the east end of town. Using a complex system of colors and numbers, players were sorted, trained, analyzed, graded, and eventually assigned to their minor league teams, all according to Rickey’s methods. Except for Vero Beach, which became a model for other teams, most of the things he did had been honed in the Cardinals organization. But his next move would raise him from talented baseball executive to sainted agent of progress.
Rickey had been thinking about integrating baseball since early in his tenure with Brooklyn. We all know the story. Rickey wanted a man who was not only a good ballplayer but intelligent enough not to fight back. Jackie Robinson was that man. He would be 27 before he played a minor league game. Jackie paid Rickey back plenty. He was the catalyst of 5 Pennant winning teams. And forever is etched in baseball and Dodger lore.
His relationships with his partners were not so good. By 1950, he knew that his lucrative contract would not be renewed. So he set the wheels in motion to give Walter O’ Malley control of the team and himself in the GM chair in Pittsburgh. He set out to make Pittsburgh the kind of team the Cardinals had been But by 1855, and he was gone. His original move was to send his chief scout, Howie Haak, to the Caribbean to look for talent. It would pay off huge in 1960, but Rickey was long gone. He also engineered the plucking of one Roberto Clemente from the Dodgers in the rule 5 draft.
For two years, he headed the Continental League. He promised not to raid MLB rosters, but the league collapsed when baseball expanded. He joined the Cardinals as a consultant. It was an awkward relationship. Cardinals GM Bing Devine felt threatened by Rickey’s presence. Then when Rickey advocated that Cardinals star, Stan Musial, should retire, it got worse. He was not helped when Busch fired Devine in 1964, and the Cardinals won the pennant with a team assembled by Devine. Busch was embarrassed, and after the season, he fired Rickey too. Branch spent his last years writing his book, “The American Diamond: A Documentary of the Game of Baseball.” It was the closest thing to an autobiography he would write. Rickey passed away in Dec of 1965. He is buried in Rushtown, Ohio, just across the river from Lucasville; his wife died in 1971 and is buried next to him. Rickey was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.
Bear – that was a phenomenal read. Great history for all – thanks –
You are welcome Gerald. It was a lot of work, but it turned out well.
Back in the day, Branch Rickey said that baseball’s reserve clause is opposed by persons of “avowed Communist tendencies” which is something I still chuckle over.
Where’s the lie?
Commie.
J’Accuse
“ …For forty-five minutes he continued pacing, pausing, pacing, and then pausing. Finally, Branch Rickey broke the silence by pounding his fist on the pastor’s desk as he shouted, “I’ve got it!”
“Got what, Branch?” the minister asked.
Rickey finally relaxed on a chair and told his pastor, ” …I had to talk to God about it and be sure what he wanted me to do. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Wendell,” the Dodgers general manager said, “I’ve decided to sign Jackie Robinson.”
Fantastic read, Bear !Thank you so much for blogging this .
Blog of the year IMHO !
About recent developments: It is about Miller time for the Dodgers. Especially should TG be out for the year. But even if the Catman is available for the postseason the Dodgers should sorrowly consider adding Bobby Miller.
An arm like that could make the difference in a run to the WS. If you can watch his performance yesterday at OKC.
This kid has ace written all over him. The stuff always was there but now he appears to have the control too.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://apple.news/A5USJPKWuRLe8uXPJC1_e0A
Bravo, Bear… Learned a lot in this piece.
Tough loss today. Mistakes are part of the story, but only part. I think it’s fair to say that, come closing time, the Mets have a significant edge with Diaz. Dodgers may need to score early–but that will be especially tough against DeGrom and Scherzer. The Mets are a tough team.
And I still think Atlanta might be tougher still.
Plusses: Kershaw struggled early but gave up only one run. Will he stay healthy? Will Gonsolin come back in good shape? My guy Trayce struck out twice, but also walked twice.
Yes, it might be Miller time–or maybe time to get Stone. I hope we see both in the coming weeks, as well as Vargas starting at 3B.
Stone is MLB-ready. Miller has the greater potential, but it bothers me why Miller gives up more hits and HR.
This year Miller has 109 Innings and has given up 11 HR to go with 94 Hits.
This year Stone has 106 IP and has given up 2 HR to go with 80 hits.
Stone-Cold Pitcher!
Those stats are an excellent measure. When I first saw film of Stone, something about him reminded me of Greinke.
Best Dodgers news from today is that Brandon Lewis had a 3 HR day for Tulsa. Second best was Hanser Alberto’s new pitching record.
Worst news is either Belli’s chronic regression or the persistent pain in Lux’s neck. The best lineup could have Trayce in CF. And why shouldn’t Outman get another look?
With all their troubles, it’s easy to forget that the Padres are still a darn good team, especially when Darvish is pitching like that. (He’d probably be a Dodger if not for the Trashtros.) Clearly the Pads have a lot more to gain in this series to secure their Wild Card spot.
Suddenly the Dodgers look vulnerable.
Bear –
Interesting article about a very complex and interesting man. His contributions to baseball and American society speak for themselves. In reading it, I found myself looking for comparisons with AF and concluded their mutual strengths are in the recognition and development of talent. I just hope that AF stays with the Dodgers for a longer career. Thanks for all your efforts to educate LADT readers – even old timers like me!
Is it me, or do the Dodgers seem to play like crap on the last day of an East Coast road trip? Let the Mets have this one, they needed it more than we did. This will serve as a reminder to play all nine innings for the postseason.
Let’s wait until the MRI’s come back. How do we manage to have so many pitching injuries while also managing pitchers’ workloads?
What a sloppy game. A good reminder to play all nine innings on both sides of the ball.
On the bright side…
Kershaw was masterful after that first inning. He just about hit the target of 5/75 on the nose. Did they send him to the pen to throw that 75th pitch?
CT3 had a big clutch hit with a couple of rib eyes attached to it. Maybe this gets him going.
JT was 2-2 with a walk.
We had a chance to win every game in the series, but so did they. Neither team looked overmatched by the other. It’ll be a fun NLCS if everything plays out as planned.
That’s it! The remaining schedule is practically 100% in the division except for 3 against the Cardinals at home. 20 home games and 12 on the road featuring 9 against the Padres (3 home, 6 road), home and road 3 game series against the Gnats, a 5 game home series against the Dbags with a doubleheader and 3 on the road, and that 6 game homestand to end the season, all against the Rockies.
It seems like we’re in cruise control right now. Let’s see if they can keep focus a little better going forward.
BP,
I have said this previously and will say it again….if we replace Tre with Lux we will lose out big time. Lux is maybe half the man Tre is.
yesterday Lux made my case again. His fielding and decision making is just not natural and instinctive like Tre’s is. I don’t trust him in the field even if he does bat .280, his RBIs will be close to half of what Tre knocks in. And for anyone who thinks if Lux bats 2nd, this will cause him to drive in more runs and hit better, think again. I think Lux will put more pressure back on him again….he needs to bat down in the order….that way expectations are lowered and this reduces his anxiety.
You or anyone won’t hurt my feelings if you disagree. I said the same about Cody last year, pretty much gave up saying it this year (no one likes redundancy), and look at how his year has played out. A mediocre Cody with the bat, but still good at the other skills- fielding, running.
Pay the man…Tre Turner. He is worth more than Soto.
TM
PS. Does everyone else also have to put name and email on every post, rather than sign in?
Lux is half the man Trea is? Gosh, why would you assume people here would disagree with you? How about we don’t disparage anyone’s manhood? Lux has become a very good player at second base – both offensively, and he’s been better than average defensively (bad play last night not withstanding). Of course TT is a better player, and of course it would be nice to sign TT to a long term contract. You can’t just snap your fingers and make it happen. It requires a LOT of money.
I don’t even fully understand your point about Bellinger. Are you saying that, Had the Dodgers listened to you about where to place Bellinger in the batting order, it would have reduced his anxiety and made him a much better player than he is now?
And yes. We have to enter our email addresses each time we post. This is a great blog for content and discussion, but the web platform is absolutely atrocious.
It is WordPress, the most popular platform, but I need to update it. I will someday…
It just fine Mark. Don’t worry yourself with the small$hit.
Bear, Thanks for this one, great piece! Makes me think about Vin as he was friends with both Rickey and Robinson or as both Vin and Robinson (and Robinson’s family still) respectfully addresses. ‘Mr. Rickey’. I like that. Spike Lee does so as well. Gotta respect respect.
I have NEVER, EVER used a viable email here.
Never will, either.
Thanks DP,
I was wondering if I was the only one who had to do this. It never used to be that way before (could sign in).
Okay, so now I feel better…..I think.
DP,
Oh, one more thing regarding Belli.
Last year, before the trade deadline I said “if the Dodgers can acquire great needed assets, like pitching, we should consider using the Belli chip to cash it in.”
I do not believe his problems are mental, like Lux. I think they are physical- bad mechanics, nasty habits, stubbornness to not choke up and just try to reduce swing at least on two strikes.
Lastly, when I said “Lux is not half a man as Tre” that was basically me saying, Lux will hit half as many home runs and knock in half as many runs as the great Tre would. I hope that helps.
TM
Go back and look at Trea’s numbers when he was Lux’s age. Lux flubbed one by taking too long. It happens to everyone. He also makes plays that few others make. I want Trea back because Trea at Short and Lux at Second is better than Lux at Short and Busch at second right now. But, what about in two years? Busch has power that Lux and Tea will never have and is extremely uncommon and valuable for a middle infielder especially in today’s game. I’m not knocking Trea. He’s a great fit on this team. But, I think you’re underestimating Lux and Busch’s futures.
Yes, Belli sucks again this year. You got one right, but he’s still the best center fielder on this team. Byron Buxton is the best center fielder in the game and can’t stay on the field. Cody’s under control for one more year, might was well roll him out there for one last try. Outman will put some pressure on him next season. Belli’s problems look like their in between his ears. Maybe he sees a sports psychologist in the offseason and turns it around. Maybe he gets a little better like he did this year compared to last.
Lux made your case again, huh? Lux had a 988 fielding percentage at 2B last year, 974 this year at 2B. Trea had a 973 fielding percentage last year at second base. Lux is a natural SS, just like Trea. Lux has a career 968 fielding percentage at SS compared to Trea’s 973. They just aren’t as far apart as the case you’re trying to make.
The other day, Trea kinda dove for a ball that skipped off the end of his glove that lead to a run. No one said shit.
Back to Belli. He was abysmal last year and mostly so this year. So, you’re patting yourself on the back like some kind of savant. But, I recall you were also trying to dump Lux. He’s a top 5 second baseman in baseball this year, so enough back patting.
Lol, nice rebuttal BP…..you never disappoint me.
Yeah, I did slightly exaggerate things to get an arousal from you, but because Tre is my favorite Dodger, I really don’t want to lose him. I suppose if we do lose him, Lux will have to do.
As for Belli – you say he is the best we have…..but I’m not so sure. If we platooned Outman and Trayce next year, why would you think Belli and all his strike outs would be better? I’ve seen TT make some nice plays in the OF too. Have you seen otherwise? I don’t know much about Outman’s D, so I will defer to you and other more learned fans.
I wonder how much Belli will go for this year? What do you think?
I gotta see Tre produce in the postseason.
If he does then pay him. If he doesnt perfom this postseason he will walk…
PB, I believe your first paragraph provides the reason for the Dodgers’ poor play yesterday.
They had to be tired.
Flight to Miami (5 hours) from LA on a game day, arriving around 4:00 AM.
Then a game that day.
Then another flight of almost 3 hours to New York against a strong opponent and again without a day off.
I would be tired, very tired.
That and the fact they already clinched the division (unofficially). 😉
Michael – thanks for another education.
I’d obviously heard of Branch, and the award named after him, but this explains the esteem in which he is held.
We are very lucky here with the great articles – something new every day to ponder.
TM – Yes (I do)
Interesting series against The Mets, but to be honest, I feel less concerned having now seen what the have, with a nod to the DeGrom/ Scherzer axis.
Personally I don’t think we will both reach the NLCS – I see the Braves there.
I’m enjoying the swagger Trayce is playing with – and I really hope Vargas gets lots of opportunities to show what he can do.
We could use another hitter in form.
Cody, Gallo and CT have had their chances and none have grabbed them.
Time for Doc to get tough.
Sadly, the two seed will have an easier road to the playoff than the one seed. MLB just can’t get their postseason bracket right.
If the season ends in the same order in the standings as today. The Dodgers get the top seed and a buy. The Mets get the second seed and a buy.
Atlanta is the top wild card and will play the Phillies (A half game lead on the Padres).
The Cardinals 4.5 games behind the Braves will play the Padres.
The Dodgers will play the winner of the Braves Phillies series
The Mets will play the winner of the Cards, Padres series
The Braves and Phillies have more combined wins than the Cards and Pads.
I guess we will have to beat both the Braves and Mets this year if we want to be in the WS dance.
Thank you Watford. I try to give the best info I can find. Doc get tough? Not his style. But I am sure in private talks with the players he lets them know that there are other options. He has already been quoted as saying Taylor’s K rate is alarming. The only thing that is going to fix Bellinger is a total swing overhaul, which won’t take place until this winter. He will change, or he will be gone. Gallo is beyond salvation. What you see is what you get. Trouble is, he is not making any contact that has been solid for well over a week now. Same with Bellinger. I bet Edwin Rios is hoping for a trade this winter to a team that can desperately use his power.
Watford, I hope you don’t mind me asking your son’s age. An answer from you might follow with a couple other questions. I remember you saying he’d become a fan of the game while living here in the States.
Hi Quas – hope things are good.
My older son Ben is nearly 19 now and just about to head off to University in London – staying in a cool part of town called Shoreditch.
He’s studying Music Production, which sounds great but not sure how much he’ll earn out of it once he’s qualified!
Still, gotta let em do their thing I guess.
As for Baseball, he only has a passing interest in the game these days – but I think he may well be heading out to the US next summer to work at Camp America – so I’m sure if he does he’ll get to a couple of games.
He’s still got the Baseball cards you sent him, and a Dodgers Cap and Jersey with Grienke on it – but it’s too small now.
That was a great day we had a Dodger Stadium sitting behind Home Plate, watching Ryu beat the Reds in 2013.
Good times.
My reason for asking was I got this 1st baseman glove and don’t have a place where it could be better used. It’s a classic Hutch B666 from the 70’s and I was observing how well it was made. I should ask philjones what his opinion of that model is. At any rate I thought of you because I was guessing finding baseball gear isn’t quite as simple as over here. And I have to admit I was thinking your son was younger. Still it’s yours if you have a use for it.
Great article, Bear.
Playoff atmosphere with this series, and, when two good teams are closely matched, as they most likely would be in the playoffs, it is often single plays that have an outsized impact on the end result. First Nimmo robbed JT’s HR. Last night Lux goofed. You have to limit mistakes, and the last two games show us that it is going to be a hard road to get a WS win.
IF Gonsolin is done, that is gut punch.
I had forgotten, but the 2017 Dodgers at this point had a better record than this years team. They went on to have a losing record in September. Gosh! Who’s that guy they picked up from the Mets as a bench piece who did absolutely nothing?
No Respect! James Outman is the Rodney Dangerfield of Dodger Prospects.
The Dodgers have 7 top 100 prospects, but should have 8. Outman has either outhit, or outfielded (or both), all of the Dodger’s hitting prospects ahead of him and it really isn’t even that close…
Outman .298/.399/.594/.993
Vargas .304/.404/.511/.915
Cartaya .260/.395/.519/.914
Busch .273/.362/.511/.873
Pages .233/.341/.461/.802
To add insult to injury, MLB Pipeline lists three other hitters ahead of him…
Ramos .256/.347/.498/.845
Rushing .415/.529/.756/1.285 – This is a freakshow. It’s also just 82 AB’s.
Leonard .267/.353/.428/.781
Outman also plays a premium defensive position and does it very well.
Outman is also 4 or 5 years older than most of those players. Less Projection.
Jose Ramos is a guy to watch. I don’t know how to describe it, but when you look at Outman play and Vargas play, one has “it” and the other one… not so much!
Busch is only a hundred-something days younger. Rushing is 4 years younger and 4 levels lower.
I love James Outman, but I cannot ever see him as any more than 4th outfielder. I said that about Joc too.
Joc is talking extension with the Giants, and I read an article yesterday that they are considering moving Joc to first base. We all have a pretty good idea how that would work. Trea is a premier SS. Lux is much better at second than at short. I give him a little rope for his two gaffs yesterday that allowed hits that led to runs. One of those was part Mookie too. Very unusual for him to not make a play like that. Trea has one real weakness, and it has shown quite a few times on this road trip. He is really susceptible to the sweeping outside breaking ball. He struck out on that several times. He is not at this point, hitting the ball with the same authority he did earlier. He has not homered in quite a while, then again, neither has Freeman. The power is coming from three players, JT, Mookie and Smith. No one else has been pounding the ball. With Bellinger, Gallo and Muncy, all not hitting very well, it puts a strain on the rest of the lineup. Maybe Vargas can instill a little life into the situation. Their toughest opponent this weekend will be tonight when they face Darvish. Manaea they have owned, and Clevinger is not the same pitcher he was a couple of years ago. SD is fighting for their playoff lives, even though Milwaukee has fallen back some.
Haha, Im sure their infielders will love going from Belt’s gold glove D at 1b to Joc.
But better for us, so I say do it!
He was really ugly at 1B when we tried and he’s only looking slightly better than the same old Joc with the bat. He is who is is.
Freddie and Trea need some days off.
How do you know that Lux is better at 2B than at SS? Lux hasn’t played steady at SS since the 90 something games he played in the minors in 2019 when he had 13 errors in 460 chances as a 21 year old. Trea at age 22 in the minors had 21 errors in 518 chances.
Trea is a premier shortstop, that’s for sure. But, it isn’t because of his defense. The eye test says the last two shortstops we played against are better defensively.
Personal opinion BP. I just do not think the kid has the stuff to play SS day to day. I think his baseball clock isn’t that good. No, he has not played it consistently since then, and the scenario is that he might get the job simply because they do not sign Turner. There are times I just do not think Lux has his head in the game.
We played tired and made too many mistakes, pitchers included.
* Have I mentioned we should sign TT?
* Small things matter. Muncy needed to move his feet better to let Will’s throw to 3rd travel on Lindor’s steal in the 6th inning. Lindor might have been out, saving us a run on the sac fly. Guys can’t make tags. They want to get in front of the bag and sweep tag. Moving your feet while the ball is in the air to straddle the bag and a pop tag was needed on Smith’s perfect peg.
* Lux had a tough day. He looked timid on the grounder he sat back on and on the pop up.Mookie didn’t looked to pleased. I still put him at 2nd everyday and leave him be.
* Bring on the dancing bears. Weird play when Thompson was out at home. Thompson was only 45 feet behind Lux and Dino couldn’t disengage from coaching Lux to get back to Thompson in time to keep him at 3rd. Strange play certainly but a couple of mistakes were evident, One, Thompson needs a clock in his head and must know it’s not an easy score from first on a pop up behind first and the throw to 2nd. He at least has to peak at the play coming around 3rd as Dino is nowhere to be seen. And why couldn’t Dino be seen? While Dino is energetic and mobile, I don’t know why he has to be 3/4 of the way home with Lux. It’s showy but useless. There’s a point where he can’t stop a runner going home and needs to be no farther than 1/2 way home, so he can disengage and coach Thompson. 2 mental errors that cost an out. Nice hustle just bad judgement.
* CT3 did get a hit but 2 more strike outs when contact was needed.
I’m sure those games meant a lot to the Mets but now we are home can play better, against the Friars.
Per your “small things matter” comment. I always admired Javier Baez’s tagging ability. He does exactly what you suggested Phil. He catches the ball with his glove above the base. The moment he catches it he slaps the glove in front of the base. It’s a thing of beauty. Let the throw do the work. It never made sense to me to catch the ball a foot or two in front of the bag and then reach back to make a tag. It’s kind of the same with Will Smith and his sweep tags when there is a play at the plate. He always seems to be a foot or two in front of the plate. When the ball arrives and hits his glove he immediately sweeps the glove toward the plate. More times than not the ball doesn’t stay in his glove. I would think that securing the ball before starting the sweep would be the way to make the play. Are there any catchers among us who can comment on Smith’s approach to this type of play?
Sorry to see both Graterol and TG26 go on the IL. With the depth in the BP it might be best to let Graterol shut down until next year. With Gonsolin I guess we wait for the MRI or exams. But, with SP depth no reason to take chances with him. I thought Duffy would become an afterthought for this season, but he may have a opportunity because of the Gonsolin situation. The constant with Dodger pitching is that it’s always evolving. Stone or Miller in the team’s near future?
Carry on.
Talk about tired. What can we expect tonite after cross country flight??
More tired.
The only thing positive is that they do not lose three (3) hours on the clock. In fact, they gain three (3) hours.
Pitching matchups for #Dodgers weekend v Padres
Fri 7:10 — RHP Yu Darvish (11-7, 3.41) vs. RHP Dustin May (1-1, 1.64)
Sat 6:10 — LHP Sean Manaea (7-7, 4.90) vs. LHP Julio Urías (14-7, 2.32)
Sun 4 — RHP Mike Clevinger (5-5, 3.59) vs. LHP Andrew Heaney (2-1,2.12)
Maybe it’s my perception, what I understood from the comments, but a few days ago everyone was saying that the Dodgers are the best team in history, and now two days later many are worried about a couple of Mets pitchers.
Aren’t the Dodgers supposed to be the best team in history?
Anyway, they needed the victory more, just like the assholes tonight, so relax and not worry about a couple of games or pitchers, playoffs are very different
Exactly, these games mean NOTHING for the Dodgers. The best thing was Kersh looked great, after the 1st.
Now they do need to stay ahead of the Mets for the #1 seed, but even that may not be that advantageous based on the other teams seedings.
A lot can and will happen in the postseason.
I am surprised how some fans are throwing Lux under the bus for his two plays yesterday.
Kid has been nothing short of very good all year defensively ( at 2b) and at the dish
The first play yesterday happens all the time even to gold glovers: very fast runner who beats the throw by an eyelash. He could have charged the ball a little more but it was not
an error.
And the second play IMHO is more on Mookie than Gavin
The OF who is coming in has a far easier play than the inf going out
Go dodgers!
,
Spot on!
The fans here throw everybody under the bus at the slightest opportunity.
Were you here for the “DFA _______” campaign(s) for:
Kimbrel,
Muncy,
Turner,
Bellinger,
Pillar,
Bickford,
Taylor,
Bruihl,
Nelson,
Price
And that’s just this year!
Friday Dodger Minor League Schedule
2:30 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Landon Knack) vs. Northwest Arkansas (T.J. Sikkema)
Game 2: Tulsa (John Rooney) vs. Northwest Arkansas (Andrew Hoffmann)
4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (River Ryan) vs. Lake County (Will Dion)
4:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Aaron Ochsenbein) at Round Rock (TBD)
7:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Chris Campos) at Inland Empire (Michael Lorenzen)
I will eat my Clem Labine card if pitchers aren’t on to the next Spider Tack.
https://apple.news/ARSc9UjSQSVWBw2jar3tL4g
Trevor Plouffe thinks it’s a clear hair product that when mixed with rosin is grippy & near stealthy.
We need to sign Trea pr another SS, not move Lux from 2B. Next year the shift is off, so one big NO to Muncy at 2B. I don’t want to resurrect the dark years of HKendrick and JKent kind of defense at the middle.
Honestly haven’t thought of Howie & Kent since they left. Dark days.
That was a fantastic article on Branch Rickey. I have a side story on him.
My Uncle Bruce (my father’s brother) was a dead-ringer for him but even more bombastic. He claimed to be the inventor of Pizza, Elephant Ears, and a number of other things. My dad was in business with him in a Bowling Alley, Restaurant, Bar, called Timmons Lanes and Bar in Greenville, Ohio. I remember when I was just a little kid my dad sold his interest to his brother for some ungodly low sum. I was upset because I couldn’t bowl free any time I wanted. Then… a few months later, Uncle Bruce was indicted for Income Tax Fraud and did Federal Time for it. That was why may dad sold out. Uncle Bruce always reminded me of Branch.
GREAT story Bear!! Very insightful and once again thank you for your time and effort posting another great story. I’m sure everyone else on LADT appreciate your efforts.
Go Blue!!!
Does anyone know why Trea isn’t in today’s starting lineup? Injury? Rest ?
Probably rest, no mention anywhere of an injury.
10:10 PM ET
Padres (73-59)
Dodgers (90-40)
SP Yu Darvish R
11-7 3.41 ERA 155.2IP 29BB 153K
SP Dustin May R
1-1 1.64 ERA 11.0IP 3BB 13K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Turner R
SS Gavin Lux L
LF Joey Gallo L
CF C. Bellinger L
2B Chris Taylor R
Partly-cloudy-day
0% Rain
83° Wind 4 mph Out
NO Trea Turner
Friday Dodger Minor League Schedule
2:30 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Landon Knack) vs. Northwest Arkansas (T.J. Sikkema)
Game 2: Tulsa (John Rooney) vs. Northwest Arkansas (Andrew Hoffmann)
4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (River Ryan) vs. Lake County (Will Dion)
4:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Aaron Ochsenbein) at Round Rock (TBD)
7:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Chris Campos) at Inland Empire (Michael Lorenzen)
Lux scratched with a bad back. Alberto is playing short and batting 9th. Updated lineup.. Betts, Freeman, Smith, Muncy, Turner, Gallo, Taylor, Bellinger, Alberto. Turner said it is a planned day off. He had fought Roberts for 126 games or so, but he knew it would happen eventually.
Dodgers Designate Jake Reed For Assignment.
As expected, it was only a matter of time.
DODGERS ACTIVATE BLAKE TREINEN
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers activated right-handed pitcher Blake Treinen from the 60-day injured list and designated Jake Reed for assignment.
Treinen, 34, was placed on the injured list on April 17 and his next appearance will be his first since April 14. He made seven rehab appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts. With the Dodgers, he has made three appearances this season, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA (1 ER/3.0 IP) and five strikeouts without a walk. He is in his third season with the Dodgers, and he is a combined 9-10 with a 2.50 ERA (28 ER/101.0 IP) with 112 strikeouts in 102 games in Dodger Blue. In nine big league seasons with Washington (2014-17), Oakland (2017-20) and Los Angeles (2020-22), he is combined 36-31 with a 2.87 ERA (160 ER/501.0 IP) and 503 strikeouts with 79 saves. He was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in seventh round of the 2011 First Year Player Draft out of South Dakota State University.
Reed, 29, recorded his first career save on Tuesday night against the Mets and made two appearances in his second stint with the Dodgers (2 IP/0 ER). He has spent time with the Dodgers and Mets this season and he is a combined 1-0 with a 7.36 ERA (9 ER/11.0 IP) and eight strikeouts in 10 games. He has appeared in 20 career Major League games and he is 1-1 with a 5.57 ERA and 18 strikeouts against nine walks. In his minor league career, he is 21-15 with a 3.69 ERA and 394 strikeouts in 375.1 innings.
Doug Rau v El Jefe
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRP9SkMT/
Maybe Lux was not 100% yesterday, which caused him to make the misplays, and
What does it mean when Doc said that Gonsolin’s MRI was “as good as we could have hoped?”
That could mean just about anything.
There’s a reason the Dodgers added Reed and DFA’ed him: They want him back next year!
But it’s a risk!
It means that Doc is always saying stupid shit. “It came back clean” is all he had to say. He starts throwing tomorrow.
Vargas plays LF tomorrow. Doc says he plays 1st, 2nd, 3rd and LF.
But I don’t think it came back “Clean.” You are assuming that, but he said something much different. “As good as we could have hoped.” I think he is being deliberately Kriptic because it isn’t “as good as we wanted.” Andrew Friedman does not want anyone to know when Gonsolin will be back… or if he will be. I do not think it is said “off the cuff.” It is calculated!
As usual not a clear answer by DR about the TG MRI.
Can mean a lot of things. We´ll just have to wait.
However the pitching staff gets thinner and thinner and more and more question marks about key parts.
Now May had a tough start too, getting roughed up badly by the Madres.
Playoff rotation gets cloudier by the day it feels.
I still think they will have to take a look at Miller and Stone soon. IMHO both are ready to contribute to the Dodgers ,be it out of the pen or in the rotation.The clock on them does not start unless they have 45 days of this season on their meter and most of all: Who cares about maybe starting the clock early when the ultimate goal is the WS ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree. Bring up Miller. He stuff will play in the playoffs. Need hard throwing strikeout pitchers. I prefer Miller over Stone.