One thing an early exit always means is that the next few months are going to be very long. At least it will feel that way. I will have the weather to deal with as we get real winter weather in Colorado. But once the World Series ends, I will check the baseball news daily. Free agents and non-tenders will be the main news those first few days. Trades and signings will come later. The one thing I would love to see AF do is strike early for once instead of waiting for what seems an eternity to fans to make a major signing or trade.
Until some real news comes out, those who are die-hard baseball fans will probably watch the series pretty closely. Since we no longer have a vested interest in the participants, other than to wish SD is swamped by a Tsunami, some will not watch. Our attention turns to Pro-football, hockey, the NBA, and for me, USC football. I quit following the Lakers years ago and have never been to or into hockey. My next big baseball thing is the Winter Meetings. I am like a hungry wolf waiting for Dodger news. Andrew has starved me the last couple of years with mostly fringe He signed Heaney on the 10th of November and sold Reks and McKinney to the Rangers on the 21st. On Dec 1st, he signed Hudson and resigned Chris Taylor. He made no trades at the Winter Meetings since there were none because of the lockout and claimed two pitchers, Duplantier, and Fulmer, off waivers on the 8th of December. From then on, the player movement meter was aimed mainly at AAA depth.
Kershaw came back in the fold on the 13th of March, and on the 16th, he signed three more players, only one of whom would impact the MLB roster, Yency Almonte. Sheldon Nuese was claimed by the A’s the same day. On the 18th, he signed Freeman, Anderson, and Jake Lamb. He also traded Luke Raley to the Rays. Alberto was signed on the 23rd. More depth the next day as Kevin Pillar came aboard. He traded Matt Beaty on the 28th for a minor leaguer and, on April 1st, the one-for-one involving Pollock and Kimbrel. So for the winter and the days leading up to spring training, his biggest gets were two of his own free agents, Freeman and Kimbrel. Most of the rest did not involve A-type players. I think most of us fans felt the team had no major needs except maybe a front-line starter to compliment Urias, Kersh Gonsolin, and Buehler. Buehler went down in June with an elbow injury that turned into TJ surgery, and he is not expected back until late next season at the earliest. I think 2023 is a wash, and we won’t see him until 2024. May wasn’t ready either and would get very few innings when he did return.
Thompson came from Detroit in June and did some yeoman work as a sub and occasional starter. Meanwhile, AF kept to his MO and grabbed numerous players off of the waiver wire. Not one made a major contribution; to be truthful, I would have been surprised if they had. Gallo and Martin were their only deadline pick-ups, and we all know Martin did a good job, and Gallo was a tick better than he was in NY but did not even get off of the bench in the playoffs.
So with another long winter ahead, what are we fans to do? First, most vent about the early exit, and those who have really strong feelings about it, vent about the manager and the front office. Plenty of blame for everyone. The only ones who are blameless are us fans since we led the league in attendance. Like lemmings to the sea, we kept spending our hard-earned and somewhat more meager funds on the best show in town. And that is what the Dodgers were. They responded from last year’s debacle and decided to be better and get their Western Division crown back. 111 wins. Only 11 more, and the big crown is ours. Whoops. We came up ten short, and hence I am writing this post.
Now we do roster reconstruction with other fans and websites; we make up trades in our heads, most of which have little chance of even being considered. We rant when we hear that AF has guaranteed that Roberts will be back at the helm and there are no changes planned for the coaching staff. Ok, the Angels fired both of their hitting coaches today. LA should at least consider someone with a different point of view on the staff. The three true outcome philosophy, in my opinion, sucks huge rocks. We do know there will be roster movement. LA has ten players who are free agents. A few of them made major impacts on this season’s team. Anderson, Kershaw, Turner, Kimbrel. JT has an option and a buyout, Price has said he is going to retire, and Gallo, Heaney, and Chris Martin also can leave. Of those, I believe Kershaw, Anderson, and Martin have the best chance of returning. I think they will decline JT’s option and maybe bring him back at a much lower salary. Turner is going to take the money and run. They also have a huge decision vis a vis, Cody Bellinger. The lowest they can offer him is 18.1 mil. Per his WAR numbers, he is worth 1/3rd of that.
That leaves a huge hole in the defense if he is non-tendered and another hole at SS with Turner moving to greener pastures. A lot of buzz that they are going to make a push for Judge. He would be in right field, moving Mookie to center field. But I think Judge goes home to the bay. Lots of issues to discuss. It will be most interesting to see how it all plays out. Myself, I am going fishing one more time before the lakes freeze! Go Blue.
Since this was written, the Phillies bested the Padres, and the Astros beat the Yankees. A Phillie-Astro World Series starts on the 28th of October. The weather in Philadelphia will most likely be pretty chilly. You do not have to worry about that in Houston. I would bet the TV ratings are not going to be very high. Not much interest in those two teams beyond maybe their own cities. Lots of rumors floating around, including one saying the Dodgers will make a strong push for Judge, with the possibility of Mookie moving to either second base or center field. It is going to be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Thanks for the article today Bear. My sports interest in the offseason include USC football as well. Lincoln Riley has really turned the program around. It looks like the transfer portal will be huge, again, for the Trojans in 2023. It’s Rams football as well. So far the injury bug has hit the team hard and they could miss the playoffs. We’ll see. Yeah, I gave up on the Lakers once Magic tried to run the team. His rebuild through the draft was average at best. He was a great player and is a successful businessman, but awful at building a team. Yet he has all the answers why things don’t work and blames everyone else for his failures. The Buss’s should sell the team. They have proven to way out of their element since their father passed. Other than James and Davis I couldn’t name another Laker. Good luck fishing Bear. We can’t do that in California….no water in the lakes!
The article on Bellinger’s swing analysis was somewhat interesting. The photo analysis was useful, but when he goes into these anal analytical formulas and swing elevation issues of 1% or 6% I shutdown and go “really?”. In trying to ring out every single digital stat to make a point in mind numbing to me. How about this “see the ball, hit the ball?” I can see his point on weight issues during the swing and the differences before and after Cody’s broken leg. With three batting instructors and several successful hitters available to Cody and nobody noticed this? Looking at film from his MVP season and comparing it to 2020, 2021, 2022 seasons someone had to notice these differences. Bueller? …. Bueller? It sounds like the rehab regiment was very unusual for someone who is recovering from a broken leg. Actually a hairline fracture of the tibia I believe. So riddle me this. Why is a player with a broken leg is allowed to take batting practice as part of his rehab? Common sense tells me that is not a good idea when trying to recover from a broken leg. Cody puts tremendous torque on his back leg while swinging. So how is helping in Cody’s rehab? I’m not a doctor, but I know that a person will probably use their body in some way to over compensate for a weakness in another part of the body. So, apparently that’s what happen with Cody while continuing to take batting practice as stated in the article. It’s an interesting theory and one I find hard to be valid. If it is true then people need to be fired. Now days things are getting over analyzed to the point where the obvious is being overlooked.
Carry on.
I’m with as a Laker fan. I watched them as religiously as I watched the Dodgers in the 80s and 90s. However, I don’t blame Magic for the issues. He didn’t impress me much when he was in charge of the team. But it was Jim Buss who wrecked the organization. The Lakers were alway top of the list for just about any free agent. Everybody wanted to play in LA, for decades. It took Jim Buss about a year to completely destroy the team’s reputation. No free agent of note wanted to sign with the Lakers. It wasn’t until they sold out to Lebron that that changed. And that was at the expense of handing over almost complete control to him. That’s when I lost interest in the team. I can’t stand Lebron. As great as he is this is his third organization. I can’t stand players that have zero loyalty to a team. They gutted the team to get AD and more recently Westbrook. Sure, they won in 2020 but I completely stopped watching the NBA that year. The hyper politicized track that the league took (and especially the Lakers) absolutely turned me off. I watch sports to forget what’s going on in the rest of the world. Especially the incredibly unhealthy and fractured state of our politics. Last thing I want is for that to be forcefully drilled into sporting events. I haven’t watched a Laker game since summer of 2020. It’s now a team of an egomaniac superstar, and second perpetually injured superstar and a hugely over the hill former superstar. All paid huge sums. They have traded all their 1st round picks for years and they simply……suck. They are so far from the Showtime and Kobe era that I don’t even consider them the same team I rooted for for decades. It’s sad. But the whole league has changed in so many ways it doesn’t resemble the sport I once loved. The style of play, the egos, the lack of team loyalty and the almost non existence of the old rivalries that were once so fun. Bulls play the Pistons? Nobody cares anymore. It’s about the players and not the Cities now. Lakers Celtics once caused LA and Boston to nearly shut down. Everybody watched. Now? No heart to the game any longer. It’s a shame. I have no plans on going back.
I had six Pacer season tickets. I canceled them almost three years ago and have never been back. I 100% echo Jayne Cobb’s reasons for leaving.
I completely agree Jayne Cobb. I loved the Jerry West and Co. Lakers through the Shag and Kobe era.
I stopped following the NBA years ago. It is all about the money now. The league is a train wreck. LA vs Boston was always a fan favorite. We hated them and they hated us. As it should be.
And of course Chick Hearn was basketball’s Vin Scully.
Thanks for bringing back those memories.
Am I the only one who says I don’t think we should be going after Judge? So signing him would bring another 30+ year old onto the team with a long term contract. This year was great, but what about all those other injury riddled seasons. Is he going to be able to reproduce 2022 in 2023 or 2024. Now needing to adjust to pitchers he has hardly faced before. Another guy to strike out 150-180 per year
OK, Aaron Judge played for Fresno State through age 21.
At age 22, he played in 131 games and hit 17 HR. (A and A+)
At age 23, he played 124 games and hit 20 HR. (AA and AAA)
At age 24, he played 93 games in AAA and hit 19 HR while batting .270.
He then played 27 games with the Yankees as a 24-year-old and batted .179 with 4 HR.
Then at age 25, he played155 games, ht 52 HR while batting .284 .
Now Miguel Vargas only played in 18 games and hit .170, and many Dodger fans concluded he is chopped liver. He is not going to be a HR hitter like Judge, but I think he will be a better hitter than Judge. He’s also 3 years younger than Judge was when he made the Show.
In 1512 PA as a minor leaguer, Aaron Judge hit 57 HR.
Mike Busch is 24 and in 1171 he has hit 52 HR with a lot fewer strikeouts than Judge.
I think it’s time for the youth to step up. Vargas for sure and Busch needs a shot. Maybe Busch is a 40 HR guy?
Judge hit .179 as a 24-year old and then hit .284 the next year. fr the Yankees – you have to give these guys opportunities.
Excellent points. Great perspective on how prospects develop. Judge is a one of a kind talent. But probably not a great fit for Dodgers given salary demand, age and strikeout profile.
I think Brandon Nimmo would be a better fit for Dodgers. He had a 5 war last year and career OPS of 827. Good fielder and true CF that is 29.
Also should sign either Trea Turner, Swanson or Boeggarts as SS. All similar ages and players.
Then bring back Kershaw and Anderson as SP.
and let the young players like Vargas and Busch have a shot.
I’m not sure if comparing the progression of a 6′ 7″ guy with a 6′ 2″ guy will give an accurate prediction.
The guy who owns the record for HR in a single season was 6′ 1″… and I am not saying Busch will be Judge, but I am saying he needs a chance.
I think Busch needs a chance as well, just not as a Dodger. I want to give Oakland’s #3 prospect a chance on the Dodgers. It would take more than Busch to get him and hopefully less than Vargas and Busch to get him.
Zack Gelof, age 23
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
After a strong finish to an uneven junior season at the University of Virginia, Gelof entered the 2021 Draft considered to have some of the best raw power of any hitter in the class, leading to his signing with the A’s for $1,157,400 as a second-round pick. That power bat immediately showed up in pro ball, as he homered seven times in 36 games and was rewarded with a call-up to Triple-A in the final week of the Minor League season.
Along with power that is expected to show up even more as he progresses through the system, Gelof brings an advanced approach at the plate with strong strike zone recognition and a good understanding of his swing. While he’s not a burner, he runs well enough and has excellent instincts, making him a legitimate threat on the basepaths.
Gelof’s supreme athleticism could lend to him playing multiple infield positions, though the A’s were impressed with his defense at third base, particularly his throwing arm, which had been a question mark entering the Draft due to some injuries. Also earning high praise for his confidence and presence in the clubhouse, Gelof has the makings of a player who could soon find himself on the fast track to Oakland.
Well, he is on a fast track, but since when does Oakland trade away top prospects? I suppose he could be had for Busch, Vargas, and another player.
But, that is not their MO.
The Dodgers have a lot of holes to fill in position players. Due to free agency they have holes at 3B and SS and then 2 holes in the outfield just because of holes, and then the bench sucked so there’s holes there too. Yes they had the best OPS and the best in other categories in baseball, but that was because of the best 1, 2, 3 punch at the top of the lineup along with Smith at #4.
Some of you don’t like T Turner’s defense, I don’t sweat it and that may cut down on what he can get in free agency (maybe not I’m just guessing it would). I’d like the Dodgers to keep him. How many guys have a 162 game average of hitting .302 with 24 HR’s with the speed he has.
Do the Dodgers sign J Turner for a year? He does have a tendency to make contact (not a 3 true outcome guy).
I think it’s time to cut bait with Bellinger. CF is a hole because of that.
LF is a hole.
Not many holes in pitching, but I think a starter better than our best is needed. I’d like to see Stone as a starter. Not a lot of holes in the bullpen, something I haven’t been able to say in awhile. I see 3 holes, but if the Dodgers can re-sign Martin and Kahnle, only 1 hole. I see a good amount of depth though in the bullpen if the Dodgers are willing to put Graterol, Ferguson, Bickford in AAA with Pepiot and Miller on the 40 man roster.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming months. But if a 111 win team can’t win it all what is it going to take to win it all?
Oh also, The Dodgers have a history of developing better pitching than hitting and that’s why I’m skeptical about the position player prospects in AA and above.
I think we all need to realize that sometimes the best teams get to the World Series, and most times, they don’t. Just because you win the regular season, does not print your tickets to the World Series. The Phillies are living proof.
Eric asked: But if a 111 win team can’t win it all, what is it going to take to win it all?
Answer: Probably a team with fewer wins than that… and a visit by Lady Luck!
When the Giants won 3 World Series in 5 years, they never had the best record… and by the way, I do not think we will ever see that again. It’s too hard, teams are better prepared and stuff happens!
I for one am really looking forward to seeing how different the 2023 Dodgers will look like starting the new season. My one wish would be a nice mixture of veterans and rookies that will be allowed to develop through out the season.
I could live with a 95-67 record as long as we finish the season going 20-5 instead of the dismal 2-6 that stunk up this year.
BTW I really enjoy all you geniuses that comment and write the great articles daily. You add flavor and joy to life even when you sound like a large family bickering over what to bring to the next family gathering.
Dodger fans are the best!
Go Blue!
Well, if someone can figure out how to win 95 games and then win out, they are truly genius. I doubt that it is something you can plan for… it is more like LUCK!