A lot of guys on teams are nothing but scrubs who wait for their chance to contribute to the team. Over the years, many of these guys were favorites of mime simply because when they did get in a game, they played their hardest. I will attempt to give some examples here, starting with a guy who drove Lasorda bananas.
Derrell Thomas
On November 14th, 1978, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed utility man Derrell Thomas as a free agent. Thomas was a versatile player. Over the years, he played the outfield, 2b, 3b, SS, 1b, and even caught six games. He was a bit of a showboat, and when he the outfield, he loved to make basket catches, which absolutely drove Tommy Lasorda up a wall. He was the kind of guy who would do things that made you want to hate him. That was said by his teammate, Reggie Smith. But he also had a good friend on the team in Dusty Baker. Thomas was a local boy playing his high school ball at Dorsey High in Los Angeles. Several MLB players played there, including Sparky Anderson, Don Buford, and Chili Davis.
He was drafted first overall in the January 1969 draft by the Astros. By 1971 he was in the majors. On the 3rd of December, he was traded to the Padres along with two other players for OF Dave Roberts. He spent three years with the Padres and then was traded in the winter of 1974 to the Giants for Tito Fuentes and Butch Metzger. In February of 1978, he was traded back to the Padres for Mike Ivie. After the 1978 season, he signed with the Dodgers as a free agent. For the next five seasons, he would play in LA and post a .257/12/100 line playing all over the field. He played in 4 playoff series for the Dodgers in 1981 and 1983. After he was unable to hook up with any team after the 1985 season, he coached briefly at Los Angeles City College and was the first manager of the Boise Hawks of the Class-A short-season Northwest League. After he was fired from that job. he managed a bar and coached baseball at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale. Before a game in1989, several players showed up late for the bus, and although they drove their cars to the game, he would not play them. Several quit the team in protest, and he resigned. He was then hired by Dorsey High to coach their team in 1991. In March of 1992, a Dorsey player shot himself to death playing Russian Roulette on the team bus. Thomas was arrested the following month for attempting to purchase 22 pounds of cocaine. He was placed on probation which was extended after a 1997 drug possession arrest. As of 2009, he was working for the Dodgers as a representative of the Dodger Legend Bureau.
Jay Johnstone
Jay Johnstone was an undrafted free agent when he was signed by the Angels in 1963. Jay was born in Connecticut, and when he was a young child, his family moved to Southern California. Jay went to high school in West Covina, Edgewood High, and excelled in football, baseball, and basketball. He made his Angels debut in 1966. Over the next four season’s he was a versatile player for the Angels. He made a game-saving catch against Reggie Jackson to help preserve Clyde Wright’s no-hitter.
After a .238/11/39 campaign, he was traded along with Tom Egan and Tom Bradley to the White Sox for Ken Berry, Syd O’Brien, and Billy Wynne. He spent two years in Chicago, doing well the first season but hitting under .200 the second. He then signed with Oakland and had a terrible year, and was released. He signed with the Phillies in 1974 and had four very good seasons hitting over .285 in all of them. The Phillies traded him in 1978 at the deadline to the Yankees for Rawley Eastwick. He played against the Dodgers in the 1978 World Series but only got two at-bats.
Jay was known to play pranks and generally was the clubhouse clown. He loved keeping players on their toes. In 1981, he came to LA and played numerous pranks on his teammates and his manager. He cut the crotch out of Rick Sutcliffe’s underwear; he put a soggy brownie in Steve Garvey’s glove. He gave many of his teammates hot feet. In a game against the Pirates, he and Jerry Reuss dressed up as groundskeepers and drug the infield in the 5th inning. Lasorda yelled at them, and as punishment, he sent Johnstone up to pinch hit. He promptly hit a home run. He once climbed on top of the Dodger dugout, went up the aisle, and bought a hot dog at the concession stand…..during the game. He also went out to the mound to talk to a pitcher dressed as Lasorda while carrying Lasorda’s book and a can of Slim Fast.
Perhaps one of his more memorable pranks was in spring training in 1982 when he tied a rope to Lasorda’s door and anchored it to a tree so he could not open his door. He also once covered a microphone with the scent of stale eggs and proceeded to interview Hatcher, Dave Stewart, and several other teammates. And he one time faked pausing for a commercial while interviewing Yankees Deion Sanders and Mel Hall, tricking them into uncovering a restaurant breadbasket containing a snake. Both players leaped from their seats, provoking a great deal of laughter.
But usually, when he was in the game, he was all business on the field. The biggest hit of his career came in the 1981 World Series. In game 4, he hit a 2-run pinch-hit homer to spark the Dodgers to an 8-7 win after being down 6-3. Jay hosted a sports blooper show after he retired and also appeared in The Naked Gun as a Seattle Mariner. Jay died of complications of Covid-19 in September of 2020. He wrote three books, and if you are a fan, they are a must-read.
Mickey Hatcher
As much as I loved Johnstone, I have always had a soft spot for players who have been traded away by the Dodgers and then return many years later. Mickey Hatcher was one of those guys. His fun-loving nature hid the ballplayer underneath, and when they needed him the most, Hatch delivered on the field.
Hatch was born in Cleveland, Ohio. But later on, his family moved to Mesa, Arizona, and that is where he went to high school. He then went to Mesa Community college, where he was named All-American twice in both baseball and football. He then went to college at the University of Oklahoma, where he also played baseball and football. He played wide receiver in the 1976 Fiesta Bowl. He was drafted twice,19 74, 12th round by the Astros, and 1876, in the 2nd round by the Mets. He signed with the Dodgers after being drafted in the 6th round of the June draft.
Hatcher moved steadily up the chain, and after a solid AAA season, he was brought up for a cup of coffee in 1980. Hatch, in parts of 5 minor league seasons, hit .339/43/287. In March of 1981, with a need for a solid center fielder, the Dodgers sent Hatcher and two minor leaguers to the Twins for Kenny Landreaux. Hatch would play for six seasons with the Twins. His line was .284/26/260. He then resigned with the Dodgers as a free agent in 1987. Mainly he was a bench player, but he would sprint to first base when he walked.
His 1988 season was solid for a bench player. He hit .293. He only had one homer, but he and some of the other scrubs became the Stunt Men. So-called because they came in when the stars were out. Hatcher kept things loose on the bench, and he would do different routines to the tune of The Mickey Mouse Club. The Dodgers made it to the series, and with Kirk Gibson out, Hatcher was forced into a more prominent role. He delivered. Game one is mostly remembered for Gibson’s dramatic walk-off homer off of Eckersley. But Hatcher hit a 2-run bomb in the bottom of the first that started the scoring. Hatch, when he hit the homer, sprinted around the bases like he thought they might take it away from him. He hit .389 with two homers and 5 RBIs for the series. Hershiser won the Series MVP award, but in my eyes, Hatcher was the MVP.
Kike Hernandez
Enrique Javier Hernandez Gonzalez was born in Puerto Rico on August 24, 1991. His father, Enrique senior, is a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates. His mother is Cuban and owns a boutique in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. He attended high school at the American Military Academy in Puerto Rico. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2009 in the sixth round. In 2014 he was called up to the Stros. He got his first MLB hit, a ground-rule double off of Domenic Leone on July 1st. The next day he hit his first homer off Chris Young — the same Chris Young who is now the GM of the Texas Rangers. On deadline day in 2014, he was traded to the Marlins in a 6-player trade. He would only play in 18 games for the Marlins, getting seven hits. But one of those was a 9th inning grand slam off of Craig Stammen of the Nationals.
On December 10th, 2014, for the second time that year, he was again traded. This time part of a seven-player blockbuster between the Marlins and the Dodgers. He was assigned to AAA Oklahoma City. Called up in April, he played all over the field. In August, he replaced slumping Joc Pederson as the primary center fielder. Playing in 76 games, he slashed .307/396/490 with seven homers and 22 batted in. He played in 4 games in the NLDS against the Mets and hit .308. Kike was known for his energy and his versatility in the field. He was a solid defender who sometimes made some spectacular plays. He also became known as the banana man. He had a banana suit he sometimes donned in the dugout. He was, in my eyes, a bundle of energy.
He followed up his solid 2015 year with a real down year in 2016, batting only .190. His value to the team was on defense. He improved some in 2017. He hit HRs in double figures for the first time with 11. But his shining moment in the playoffs came in the NLCS against the Cubs. In game 5, he had the game of his life, hitting three home runs and drove in 7, helping propel the Dodgers to the infamous 2017 World Series. He did not have the same kind of World Series, hitting .231 against the Stros.
Kike was handed the starting second base job a couple of times and just did not do the job. He got homer-happy in my eyes after he crushed 21 in 2018. His BA was around .240 most of the time. His K rate was high, about 25% for a player of his type, and he even admitted that sometimes he came up looking to slug one out instead of just meeting the ball. When the Dodgers made it back to the NLCS in 2020, Kike had a solid series against the Braves. He was their super sub, along with Chris Taylor. He hit .306 with two homers and two ribbies. The second of those was huge. It tied game seven at 3-3. Bellinger would then hit the winner off of Chris Martin, and the Dodgers were on their way to the 2020 title. He did dislocate Bellinger’s shoulder with a misguided high forearm smash. After the 2020 season, Kike left LA as a free agent and signed with the Red Sox. Many called for the Dodgers to retain the Banana Man, but he was redundant at that point with Chris Taylor in the fold and Gavin Lux about to break in.
Hanser Alberto
When Alberto signed as a free agent last winter, my first reaction was, “WHO???”. Alberto was born in the Dominican Republic in 1992. He signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent in 2009. He played in the Dominican Summer League and won the batting title. He played his first baseball in the US at Frisco in the Texas League in 2014 and won the Rawlings Gold Glove as the best defensive SS in the minors.
He got a cup of coffee with the Rangers in 2015 and his first major league hit was an RBI triple. Alberto bounced around, and in 2018 he was claimed off of waivers at various times by the Yankees, the Orioles, and then the Giants. But after a week, he was returned to Baltimore. In April of 2019, he was pressed into service as a pitcher in a game the Yankees were winning 13-3. He hit a batter, gave up a 2-run homer, walked two more hitters, then got a force out and two fly outs. In August, he became the third Oriole in a three-week span to achieve his first career five-hit game against the Royals. It was the first time three players on a team had done that since 1936. He finished that year .305/12/51. He had a solid 2020, but he was non-tendered since the Orioles did not want to go to arbitration with him.
In 2021 he signed with the Royals and played in 103 games, again showing a lot of versatility. He hit .270 with two homers. He elected free agency and signed with the Dodgers on March 22 for a whopping 1.6 million. Being a little sarcastic there. Since joining the Dodgers, he has played all of the infield positions and right field. He has also pitched in 8 games, setting a record for a position player. He is the life of the party on the bench, and he leads the reception committee when a player hits a homer and returns to the dugout for his post-homer water bath. He is fun to watch simply because he plays with such joy and energy, and no one on the bench cheers louder than Alberto. Yeah, I know who he is now.
Current Dodger News – MT
- 17-7; 2.27 ERA; 0.95 WHIP – Thems some Cy Young numbers, people! He is officially the Dodgers Ace!
- Tommy Kahnle is a little rusty, but give him a couple more innings, and he is a closer. He has a ton of swing-and-miss. Kimbrel has a ton of swing-and-hit!
- It doesn’t sound like Gonsolin will be built up as a starter, so if he makes the playoff roster, it will be as a reliever.
- Price, Almonte, Treinen, and the Bazooka are all much closer.
- Mike Busch went 3-6 with 4 RBI yesterday (.281 BA/.887 OPS/29 HR/102 RBI – not too shabby)
- Jacob Amaya went 3-6 and is now hitting .263 with a .370 OB% for the year.
- Emmet Sheehan went 3 Innings at Tulsa, allowing 1 Hit and 0 Runs – he struck out 4.
- Stock Dropping:
- Kody Hoese – .227
- Jeren Kendall – .163
- Heaney & Cobb Tonight
- 100 and Counting…
I remember Gary Carter was a jolly guy too, I remember him joking around with Lasorda, but it’s true that he wasn’t on the team for long.
Wow, Bear. Another great piece. You could have just called it goofballs and included Juan Uribe in the there as well.
Congratulations on the 100 win milestone! A huge accomplishment with 18 games remaining. They’ll set the franchise record for wins this season and it should be a very long time before it’s broken… Unless it’s broken again while this core is still together.
You’re really reaching Mark. You call out Lux every time he makes an error, crickets when Trea makes one, like when he launched a throw into the stands a few nights ago. It’s pretty routine for a player to bounce one to fist base. Freddie should have scooped it.
Lux has 7 errors and a 975 fielding percentage. Trea has 14 errors and a 970 fielding percentage.
The bottom 3 chipped in again with 3 of the 7 runs scored. I don’t know for sure, but our bottom 3 are among the best in baseball.
It’s always very fun to take care of the Giants. Another series win and the Dodgers are 8-2 in their last 10. Just 4 more series remain on the season. Unless you count the 6 game series against the Rockies as two, or the 5 game series against the Dbags as two.
So, how many wins will this team finish with? Of the 18 remaining games, all but 4 are at home. I’m gonna throw out my guess as 114! I think 14-4 is a reasonable finish to this historic season, especially considering the the Dodgers love to pound on the Padres, Dbags and Rockies.
There’s been some rumors that Trea and the Dodgers might be talking on an extension. I would love to see this happen. I really like the this offense, not as reliant on the long ball, it seems like they can score in a variety of ways. I love how they manage to string hits and walks together for crooked numbers.
I can’t see how they wouldn’t bring JT back for another season. The DH has extended his career. Muncy is obviously no third baseman since he can’t make a barehand play, just like Lux can’t make throws. **sarcasm**
I can’t see why they wouldn’t keep the core together for another season and let the prospects bake a little longer. This team is all business and if it ain’t broke, there’s no need to fix it. They have plenty of young, controllable, elite pitching and a little contract bloat falling off next year in Price, Kimbrel, Heaney, Anderson and Gallo.
They don’t really need to retain any of those players. The bullpen is extremely crowded as it is, to the point that Kimbrel and Price might not be needed this post season. Gallo is like a vanity license plate with Thomson doing much of the damage in LF. Anderson and Heaney were great this year, but next season we’ll have Urias, May, Gonsolin, Kershaw, Duffy and a ton of options in Grove, Pepiot, Miller, Stone and Jackson to start with. And then there’s Bauer.
Totally disagree about bringing back Anderson.
Here’s my reasoning:
Urias is the only guy we can count on to pitch well and be injury free (and the injury part is really only a guess).
May, Gonsolin and Kershaw have all been injured for a period in both the past two years. Even if you want to assume May’s injuries are behind him for the time being, you can’t make that statement about Gonsolin and Kershaw.
Duffy hasn’t pitched in 2 or 3 years. What makes us think he’ll come back anywhere near what he used to be?
Grove, Pepiot, Miller, Stone and Jackson – none have proven that they belong in a major league rotation next year. Grove and Pepiot both had some (moderate) success this season but I’m not going to count on them as part of my 2023 rotation until they have a much larger sample size with good success.
I believe Miller and Stone still need time at AAA.
Jackson certainly hasn’t proven anything yet.
I think Anderson could be brought back at something like 3 years/40 million. Hell, we paid Bauer about 40 mil not to pitch for us this year, so even if that kind of contract for Anderson blows up in our face, I think it’s a risk well worth taking, just because we don’t have enough proven starters that we can count on starting at day 1 next year.
As far as Bauer is concerned, as of today, we certainly can’t count on him for next year.
1) He has the ability to opt out.
2) If he opts in, nothing says the Dodger front office won’t just cut him loose to avoid the potential problems his presence might create. I’m not necessarily endorsing that action, but I see it as a real possibility.
In the past, Gavin Lux’s errors (throwing errors) from the SS position got in his head and affected his entire game. That’s why I don’t want to see him at SS. He is a superior 2B man. Let him bloom there and sign Trea. I don’t know if everyone saw it, but Trea outright said this week, “I’m an East Coast Guy!” But, he also said he was open to signing anywhere that the organization was committed to winning.
It’s hard to see too many teams in on Turner: Philly (but they are big on Bogarts) maybe, Yankees… maybe, Giants, maybe… not many teams can afford him.
It’s going to be hard to keep Miguel Vargas out of the lineup. JT may or may not want to come back. If the Dodgers win it all, I could see him retiring… or not.
Ideally, a team like the Dodgers needs to integrate a rookie into the lineup every year for sustainability. Mike Busch is also ready. Outman is a 4th or 5th outfielder.
Do they tender Bellinger? Without the shift, both Muncy and Cody will improve a lot. Is it enough?
What if Turner walks? Do they dare move Lux to SS? I have heard that the brain trust is split on this… from a source that I believe.
What about this?
1. Betts RF
2. Lux SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Smith C
5. Muncy 2B
6. Turner DH
7. Vargas 3B
8. Thompson LF
9. Bellinger CF
Bench: Taylor, Barnes, Outman, Busch, Alberto
On the shift rule change next year: will Bell/anyone actually benefit?
Tide lifts all boats. If the .230-240 guys add 20 points to their averages and Belli goes to .220 – he’s still way behind the average.
If Trea is not a Dodger next year then I would evaluate a trade for Nico Hoerner, Cubs 25 year old SS/2B. The middle infield of Lux and Hoerner would be a long-term middle infield. Hoerner adds youth and could be considered the annual youth plug into the starting lineup.
Decide who plays third after we know if Trea returns or if Hoerner is obtained.
Anderson for two years would be great for the rotation.
Wow, where the hell have you been? Nico would be a great add.
You keep saying Outman is a 4th or 5th outfielder. At AA and AAA he’s put up as good if not better slash line than your favorite Vargas and certainly better than Busch. I don’t expect Outman is going to be a superstar, but 4th or 5th outfielder? I think 3rd outfielder and floor being 4th outfielder.
Speaking of Vargas, I think he could use more time in AAA.
The Braves just lost Ozzie Albies – most likely for the postseason too.
Thank you Bear
Enjoyed watching each of those guys.
This is a special team and is having a historic year. I wonder how Andrew thinks he might improve the team from this point.
With Mookie and Freddy signed for at least the next 5 years I would love to sign Trey and keep this big 3 together.
Great piece Michael. Thanks for all the hard work.
Luis Cruz for me.
Cruz was there for such a short time. Another would have been Rick Dempsey, who was always a cut up on the bench. They still show the clip of him running in the rain on the tarp and sliding into home. Notice there wasn’t much humor when Alston was running things.
https://www.mlb.com/cut4/jerry-reuss-was-an-amazing-baseball-prankster-c238250836
Yeah Bum, Ruess would be on that list too, but as a pitcher, you did not see him out there fooling around much.
Bear –
Great work….thank you!
I have one colorful character from the Alston era – Leo Durocher! He was Alston’s third base coach one year. I will always remember a game at the LA Coliseum when Leo challenged a colorful home plate umpire named Jocko Conlon on a play at the plate. Leo tried to kick dirt on Jocko’s shoes but the Coliseum surface was so hard Leo’s foot bounced up and hit Jocko in the shins. Jocko kicked back and Leo retaliated and the incident went back and forth for minute or two. Of course, Jocko kicked Leo out of the game and Leo got the worst of the kicking incident because Jocko had his shin guards on and Leo only had his socks on . The crowd went wild and while I don’t remember the outcome of the game, I will always remember those two old men kicking each other in the shins. Now I am the old man….but, that’s the wonder of baseball – memories of all types!
Yes, Leo was a character, but I doubt anyone here ever saw him play.
I’ve been reading quite a bit on the Bauer situation and it really seems he’s gonna come out of all this nonsense with the courts deciding in his favor. I’m pretty certain Manfred wishes he could have a do-over as he can see what he will likely be facing in the short future. Well Mr. Manfred, you bit on it, you grew it and soon you’ll chew it.
Don’t bet on it.
Manfred is thrilled.
Too bad about Albies. And just after he’d come back from injury. That’s a real blow to the Braves, who I think could still be the Dodgers toughest test in the NL.
It’s increasingly looking like the upcoming WS storyline could focus on the Dodgers avenging the Trashtros. Houston is strong.
The AL’s top six seems pretty settled, but the order can shift. In the NL, I find myself hoping that the Brewers knock the Pads out of the Wild Card.
Why? Because the worst-case scenario would be for the Pads to beat our mighty Dodgers.
Totally agree with your last line.
I could learn to live with being eliminated by any team this year………………………..except the Padres. That would be near impossible to live with.
Good stuff Bear. I love the clubhouse pranksters keeping things fun and loose.
I hope the Trea rumors about signing an extension are true. He looks like he’s enjoying himself and his teammates. And if he enjoys winning and playoff money, there’s nowhere better to play than L.A. I don’t know if it will all be about money. But if it is, pay the man.
If he goes, I would take a hard look at Amaya before moving Lux to short. His hitting is improving perhaps to a big league level when he gets comfortable and he’s a ++ defender.
This Apple TV doing more and more games, is pissing me off. And I suspect it will get worse. I really don’t want to get a streaming package as I record everything and skip ads. I can’t record, I’m not interested. I pay handsomely in 2 locations for a DirecTV satellite service and a Cox cable package with MLB Extra-Innings. I’m not anxious to pony up another $15.99 for Apple TV, then Paramount plus, HuLu……….. you get it, $7.99 here, $15.99 there. Apple’s a bad broadcast and this is bullshit. And sadly the wave of the future.
Well, I had my last joint replacement, I hope, last Thursday. I’m out of the hospital and getting around with my walker. So I have 2 replaced knees and 2 replaced hips and cataract surgery in both eyes. It will be so nice to see and be out of pain for the first time in years when I walk. I’m so excited to resume some favorite activities like golf and riding my bicycle.
Congrats winning the 100th game boys. I sure am enjoying this team.
Agree about Amaya – I would sure look at him, but I am very skeptical of his bat. Maybe he will surprise me.
I hope you recover quickly. My father had two hip replacements this year, a few months apart. Recovery was tough but he says he hasn’t felt better in 20 years.
My friend who owns a sports bar in town went off on the Apple broadcast when I saw him yesterday. He pays $9k per year for NFL and $4k for MLB. But has to hook up TVs with Amazon and Apple devises just to make sure he gets all the games. Neither are expensive, relatively speaking, monthly. But he spent $1k to buy and install equipment for two sports he’s already paying $13k a year for. And for inferior broadcasts.
Thanks Jayne.
And I’m glad your father is doing so well.
I have a perfectly fine 60 inch TV made prior to 2018 so it won’t even load Apple TV. Not about to buy a new one to get their stuff.
Use an HDMI splitter in conjunction with a Roku or Google Chromecast and you can get any streaming service. Combined cost under $100.
Good luck with your recovery! Kick ass with your physical therapy.
Sunday Dodger Minor League Schedule
12:35 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Logan Salow) at Albuquerque (Riley Smith)
4:05 p.m.: Tulsa (TBD) vs. Springfeld (Domingo Robles)
Couple of Dodgers in the news, or exe Dodgers anyway, Calhoun was DFA’d by the Giants who claimed another exe Dodger, Jharel Cotton off of waivers and David Price has announced he is retiring after the season.
And I think Price is done this season.
7:08 PM ET ESPN
Dodgers (100-44)
Giants (69-76)
SP Andrew Heaney L
3-2 2.84 ERA 57.0IP 15BB 84K
SP Alex Cobb R
6-6 3.48 ERA 129.1IP 37BB 133K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
SS Trea Turner R
1B F. Freeman L
DH J. Turner R
3B Max Muncy L
LF T. Thompson R
2B Chris Taylor R
CF C. Bellinger L
C A. Barnes R
Rain
31% Rain
59° Wind 15 mph R-L
Dodgers
I watched last night’s game this morning. Weird game. Very poor defense on both sides especially early and especially the Giants. How they won 107 games last year, compared to this team, is amazing.
Joey Bart is an ER. That’s a catcher without the catch part. I hate catchers down on a knee limiting their mobility. Bart should never do it. Karros says it steals strikes and I think that’s bullshit. A catcher can’t drop his arm and mitt and catch down to up with both feet on the ground?
I wish we could do better then Tim Neverette when Joe Davis is doing football. I think he is lousy and especially with Karros.
Get off my lawn.
Bart was the second overall pick as well. Suppose to replace Buster. At 25 he’s a year away from being an official bust. Right about the time we’ll get a look at Cartaya. I’m going to enjoy that.
WOW, tough crowd lately on the broadcasters on AppleTv and even the home town crew. Completely agree with both AppleTv crews! HORRIBLE but the primary crew with the chick and two dudes are even worse than the Hunter Pence crew. I just think we have been spoiled over the years listening to the GOAT and Joe Davis nor anyone else will ever come close to Vin.
Great job as usual, Bear! I’ve come to realize that Bluto is my favorite commie as long as he stays true to the Blue! And we all know how difficult that is for a communist to ditch their favorite color of red for the Blue. He’s totally obnoxious but occasionally enjoy his sarcasm which reflects his high IQ and high standing in the people’s party. MT, you questioned me about a month ago when I suggested Price should be left off the roster when the IL mafia started returning. Something about a sub 3 era? Yeah, but mostly the result of garbage time appearances. Hey DP, don’t let let the door hit ya! Good riddance!
Viva Azul !!!!
agree with you about Bart. Platinum Sombrero last night with a passed ball.
don’t agree with you about Neverette–I like him . I also like the dogout reporter better than Alana who is rude and doesn’t let anyone get a word in edgewise.
I like Neveritte, too … generic as he might be.
1. I am no David Price fan, but his health will dictate whether he will be on the roster;
2. High IQ and common sense rarely intersect. I got lucky with one kid.
3. Andrew “Freaking” Heaney will be on the playoff roster… how dare you?
4. The fact that the Dodgers did not have the ability to challenge the Barnes “safe” at first is BULLSHIT!
Perhaps I missed it…. Is there a particular reason that Lux is not playing today? Still a pain in the neck or something?
If not, I think this would have been a good day to rest Trea and let Lux play SS. Why not give Lux a chance to make the throwing error that Trea made?
Anyway, I hope Lux is OK. Just thought it was odd he is getting a day off after missing so many games.
Occasional days off for Trea, Freddie, Mookie and other starters make sense to me. Nice to be able to root for guys getting some rest.
It was not odd. This was the plan. Let him play one game and then rest the next.
At this point in the season, I do not think you will see Lux play SS. You don’t do that with 17 games left to a guy who has had the “Yips” a couple of times. You leave it alone!
They are going to bring Kimbrel in tonight to play himself on or off the playoff roster!
Wow!
Excellent LA Times feature on Julio and his family back in Culiacan.
He and his family overcame a serious challenge with the eye trouble he’s had since birth. Multiple surgeries in childhood, often involving long bus trips to Guadalajara.
For some reason I can’t post a link or even share excerpts, but it’s worth a look.
Jackson: no command no career!
Well they won, but it was not pretty. 15-4 against the Gnats this year. Best record ever.
Not sure what the stats are, but the 2022 edition of the Dodgers seems vastly improved in both extra-inning and one-run games.
Kimbrel came through, but let’s not overlook how Bickford had another nice outing, with 2 Ks. A lot of us, including me, have predicted he won’t make the playoff roster. But he sure could make the decision hard.
Fun stat I just noticed: Trea now has 38 doubles, JT has 36 and Mookie has 35.
To be fair, Mookie would be challenging for Freddie for the league lead…if not for those hits that kept soaring over the wall.
Mookie
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRaS9f73/
Mookie
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRaS9f73/