… and that, my friends, is a good thing! Expectations were sky-high for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, as everyone in baseball believed they were a powerhouse! Yes, they did win 111 games, but a lot (and I mean A LOT) went wrong. I won’t list every little thing, but consider these things as going VERY WRONG:
- Justin Turner, the heart and soul of the team, really regressed to the point that the first half of the season was at the Mendoza Line, and even though he improved in the second half, he was obviously not the force he once was as Father Time extracted his toll;
- Cody Bellinger, once the ROY and MVP, also was Mendoza-esque, as he ended the year at .210;
- Max Muncy was injured most of the year and hit .196;
- Hanser Alberto, who was supposed to be the RH pinch-hitter extraordinaire, hit .244;
- Joey Gallo gave it a try and hit .162;
- Trayce Thompson was the new fan darling, but he struck out 43% of the time;
- Craig Kimbrel made Dodger fans pray for Kenley Jansen,
- Walker Buehler blew out his arm and was lost for the season;
- Dustin May did not come back from TJ until September and was largely ineffective;
- Clayton Kershaw did two stints on the IL;
- Tony Gonsolin, who was the Dodger’s best pitcher, missed two months;
- Blake Treinen, set-up man extraordinary, basically missed the season;
- Andrew Heaney was injured more than he was healthy; and
- The new closer, Daniel Hudson, blew out his knee.
A lot of bad things happened to the Dodger’s best players and supporting staff in 2022, and yet, they somehow won 111 games, despite (according to some) a moron for a manager. If he is such a moron, how in the hell did they win 111 games with all of those injuries. Eric summed it up best:
when I say expanded playoffs I mean the wild cards. It used to be the best teams in their divisions only got to the playoffs. Now some shitty team can win the world series.
–Eric
The best teams no longer win the World Series! You can argue all you want, but the facts are not on your side. With 12 teams in the playoffs, sometimes teams like the Phillies can win with a few lucky bounces or bad calls. They almost won it all last year, and nobody with an ounce of sanity thinks the Phillies were even close to being the best team.
Dave Roberts is not perfect – he makes some bad decisions, but so does every other manager. It’s just that many fans hold other managers to a lower standard for some strange reason. Every mistake Doc makes gets him maligned, while Alston and Lasorda made plenty of mistakes, and they are legends. I hope the reason I think Doc is held to a different standard is not what many people believe it is… and I will leave that right there!
Some of you say that Doc caused the Dodgers to lose, which I believe is an incredibly stupid argument, while others will say that it’s only because of Doc that they won 111 games. Your perspective determines how you sort your facts. Doc is not my hero. I don’t like his politics, and I disagree with some of his moves – It has been that way with every manager the Dodgers have had. Don Mattingly made some bad moves, and I called for his firing (I had called for Doc to be fired a couple of times when I was mad), but I did not call for Donnie Ballgame to be fired because of his game management – It was his Mis-management of the Locker Room that got him axed!
I respect Dave Roberts as the Manager of the Dodgers and believe that the Dodgers would not have won nearly the number of games they did in 2022 had it not been for Doc. By the way, he’s not going anywhere, so have at it and moan and groan over him being the manager. Make yourself miserable. Me? I know that no manager is perfect, but saying the manager is a “good tactician” is very, very subjective… especially when you are just looking for mistakes. I know I am not going to change anyone’s mind – you have to change your own minds… kind of like it’s up to you to change your underwear, or it gets really stinky!
What’s on Tap in 2023
Gone from this 2023 Dodger team are: Bellinger, Turner and Turner, Gallo, Heaney, Anderson, Kimbrell, Alberto, Kahnle, Martain, Buehler, and Treinen (who won’t play). There are lots of changes brewing. Andrew Friedman may pick up a supporting piece or two, and the Dodgers have until January 6th to decide what to do with Trevor Bauer. I can make a compelling argument to keep him (and I do not think it would be a PR or Team Problem). However, I can also make the argument that he needs to move on. I have no idea what will happen. I guess it depends upon how many “Woke Karens” are involved in the decision!
I do think that the Dodgers have their future SS on the roster. I will stick to my guns and say Gavin Lux is no SS. AF will stand pat until the trade deadline. If Milwaukee is out of the race (and depending upon what happens to Trevor Bauer), then Friedman will likely try and pry Willy Adames from Milwaukee for a cadre of prospects. You need to realize that Gavin Lux could be part of that trade, as he is from Wisconsin (a local boy comes home).
This year, the Dodgers will play it differently. The kids will get a chance. Vargas, Outman, Stone, Busch, Pepiot, Miller, and others will also have an opportunity presented. Some will seize the day, and others will not. Bryan Reynolds could be on AF’s list, but he is more of an LF’er than a CF’er! To me, it will be fun watching how this plays out. I am very much looking forward to the season. I think 2023 will be a very good year, indeed! As someone likes to say (often): “Now is not the time for dope-fiend moves!” This still is a very good team, and if players do not step up, AF has the resources to get ones that will.
Have a Safe & Fun New Year’s Eve!
Finally, From the Great Seth Godin
The world as it is
No one sees reality.
It’s worth repeating: No one accurately sees the world as it is.
A person with hearing loss doesn’t experience the world the same way a synesthete does. A rock climber doesn’t see a steep slope the same way an elderly person does. And an optimist and a pessimist rarely experience opportunities in identical ways.
And each is correct.
Correct in that their experience of the world is their experience of the world. It’s not possible for anyone to actually see the world as it is.
But there’s a significant opportunity we can work toward:
To experience the world in a useful way.
Not correctly, but usefully.
If the methods you’ve used to judge other people, to choose projects or to make decisions have been helping you get exactly what you seek, congratulations.
For the rest of us, there’s a chance to work on our filters, our habits and our instincts.
To engage with the world and our choices in a way that’s useful.
Today’s a perfect day to begin a whole new pattern.
Happy, Healthy 2023 to all on this site! Trevor Bauer will soon be released and The Dodgers will eat the 22 million n in salary as I’ve stated many times in the past. AF will have to get teams at the trading deadline to eat salary of those being traded and give up more in our prospects to stay under the 233 million. Very little room to operate.
This is an example of conflating wishful thinking with reality.
Thanx, to me a good year comes down to being able to evaluate it in full. But I live in the past and don’t believe future years be better than some great years of my past. I’ve had some outstanding years and know the feeling of being a giant and also some years almost of complete sorrow. I still have a couple dreams that I will persue and many that have fallen into a black hole. I’m not discontent and am okay with the product of me and the busload of regret that every man carries. May your new year be filled with accomplished dreams and with goodwill to others everybody. But goddammit! 2023 are you F@#$%^ kidding me?
I wish you all a Very Happy New Year. I am looking forward to it. I think you are very wrong about the Dodgers just releasing Bauer and eating his salary, Andrew. Makes no financial sense whatsoever. They might do it later, but the decision will not be made on January 6th. They can DFA someone and add him to the roster. Unfortunately, not one of us here know what their plan is or what is going on behind closed doors.
Looking forward to a great year ahead with LADT and the new and improved LA Dodgers!
So really, in theory a
“shitty “ team can win the World Series but how many times has that actually happened, seriously?
Oh yea it happed this year granted. The Houston Astros are a shitty team, but a really really good team too.
I think “shitty” is relative.
You’re right, Mark, how did the Dodgers win 111 games? How did they win a hundred?
Pitching and a few hot hitters drove the team to the division title. Maybe there is hope in 2023.
If the Dodgers can win 111 in 2022, why can’t they win 100 in ’23. The Dodgers won last season with starting pitching, the bullpen and a few hot hitters. Yes, there is uncertainty. More rookies, less vets. More unknowns. But the pitching looks solid and pitching wins games. Expecting big things out of Dustin May. The addition of Thor adds an interesting twist.
So what about Trevor Bauer? Bill Shaikin of the LA Times believes the Dodgers may keep him on the roster. Probably depends on the clubhouse.
I believe a Karen is entitled, but not woke. Don’t mess with a Karen.
Eric is right about the playoffs. Maybe San Diego wins the division and the wildcard Dodgers win the World Series.
In some ways, this might be more exciting, all the young players and uncertainty. Andrew Friedman expect the Dodgers to be really good. I’m actually excited about spring training.
Since the Dodgers are working the trade market hard, I expect a move or two. But I don’t expect them to stay under the tax threshold, unless, of course, they dump a veteran or two. No matter what happens the Dodgers will prioritize winning over the money.
Fearless Prediction:
Dodger Lineup on August 5, 2023:
1. Betts RF (puts up his career year with his buddy JDM )
2. Freeman 1B (the usual – Mr. Steady)
3. Martinez DH (he comes back with a vengeance)
4. Muncy 2B (I predict a career year)
5. Smith C (Just gets a “little” better)
6. Vargas 3B (ROY)
7. Busch LF (25 HR – .245 BA, 340 OB%)
8. Adames SS (acquired at the deadline for Bobby Miller, Gavin Lux, and Eddys Leonard – signs a 6 year/$150 Mil extension))
9. TBD – CF (this could be someone on the roster or not – the Dodgers could do worse than Duggar))
I will call you on WAdames!
2022
BA .238
OBP .298
SLG .458
OPS .756
BB 49
SO 166!!
HR 31
RBI 98
And you want to extend him to 30mil per year??
BTW, in his 3 last seasons, he has SO more than 150 SOs per year.
5 out of 4 people struggle with math.
It’s $25 Million per year… and yes, he is a second-tier SS, which is why he is not getting a Trea Turner deal. He’s getting half that!
Willy Adames strikes out an average of 40 times more a season than Trea Turner. Turner costs $300 Million. I want to pay Adames $150 Million. Do the math and get back to me!
Well, there is a good chance that by deadline Lux is having a better season than Adames and I not even talking of Miller and the tax considerations.
I hope you are right!
Think about this:
To those of you who want to cancel Trevor Bauer, you need to understand that you could be next!
Watch this if you dare. It is vitally important!
No question the professional activist set and Twitter mobs have gotten way out of control. I’ve had talks with both my kids about their social media activity. Something they post on Instagram at 16 can cost them their job at 25. It’s insane. Even if it seems relatively harmless at the time.
That said, I’ve repeated many times that this likely wouldn’t have happened to a player other than Bauer. He took every opportunity to poke MLB in the eye and seemed to get a kick out of being a childish troll on Twitter. He is a bit of a special circumstance in that I think there were an awful lot of people in the game who enjoyed his fall from grace. Deserved or not.
yes, any of us could be next if:
1. Are male
2. Hit females
3. Get kicks from hitting females.
4. Hit the wrong female.
I think that hitting a female for any reason is generally wrong (unless they are trying to kill you… and then it’s sketchy.) However, there is only an accusation of Bauer hitting a female… no substantive evidence. The case was blown out of the water when the alleged victim’s cell phone showed she did not have a mark on her face.
On a side note, MLB has allegedly sealed the evidence. Trevor Bauer has made no comment. Something more is coming…
This is total presumption, but Bauer did something to merit the longest suspension ever. Sometimes if it looks like a duck and acts like a duck, it’s a duck.
It’s not just being a shit-stirrer on Twitter.
What’s coming is the Dodgers getting rid of him.
You may be right… I would hope not… but you may be!
Bluto, You are a disgusting person fueled by your political religion. You weren’t there, you know nothing and you ignore all of the evidence. Do you get your kicks by bullying him in that manner? You are no better than he is when you say slanderous things about him. You ignore the facts that the Police department didn’t charge him, the judge dismissed the restraining order and the very liberal DA did not want to pursue the case. But, you think a kangaroo court run by MLB issued a legitimate suspension after NOT suspending any of the cheating Astros and then suspending Joe Kelley for not hitting one of their batters, also the longest suspension of its kind? You are a piece of work, indeed.
Joke?
Thoughts on The World As It Is.
If we haven’t taken care of what we have chosen to consciously do and think about, our intuition isn’t intuition and instead it is habit and instinct and as such could guide us wrong. Yogananda, Jung, Freud, and others have told us: “Once repeated thoughts and deeds stick in our subconscious mind we might have to live with them repeatedly and compulsively as a habit or instinct”.
Why doesn’t Bauer get the same opportunity to return to his team as others suspended because of the sexual assault policy of mlb?
Because the team doesn’t want him?
Never heard a single player come on the record to say that. Spreading more lies?
To dodgerpatch from yesterday, no I’m not a commie. Just because I don’t think baseball players are worth 35-40 million per year for several years doesn’t make me a commie.
He’s just yanking your chain. He does it to me too.
Ok. Thanks again for giving me credit for what I said about the playoffs and you are right about this “woke” crap, it’s out of hand and Trevor Bauer is a victim of it.
And me!
Although Eric, I think your disfavor to players making their maximum is NOT the epitome of a capitalist.
I don’t like the market getting inflated just like I don’t like inflation.
You gave me credit for what I said about the playoffs? If so I missed that sorry about that and thank you too.
I have no clue what you’re talking about.
“I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
LOL!
I asked if you were a commie. Didn’t accuse … asked. And Mark is right, a lot of my comments are tongue-in-cheek.
But …. our system is based on the idea of a free market and price as a mechanism of meeting supply with demand.
Baseball players are paid what they are because their skillset is in very short supply, and in very high demand.
But 35-40 million. 1-10 million a year is more like it.
Excellent recap of the 2022 season, Mark!
Amazing that the Dodgers were able to overcome so many obstacles and still win 111 games. I had forgot how many things went wrong during the season, yet they continued to win.
Yes it was a very disappointing ending, but losing 3 close games to the Padres should not erase the fantastic regular season.
I disagree with Mark regarding Lux and to some degree on Roberts, but the new season will be interesting.
I would not release Bauer next week, but try to trade for some salary relief even if he is added to the roster until spring training. Bauer served his record suspension, and Dodgers should not be forced to pay his salary to play for someone else in 2023.
The proposed Adames trade is an overpay, and if Lux can’t play SS, then there are better options than that Adames trade proposal and contract. Amaya can defend well in MLB, and the Astros won the WS this year with a rookie SS who hit 253 in MLB after hitting 287 in AAA.
Dodgers have many very good players and many options to succeed in 2023. Hopefully, they bring home the WS title this time.
Happy New Year!
Nice post that’s nested in reality. Truly a unicorn! Adames’ fielding percentage is about the same as Trea Turner’s which is about the same as Lux’. But, somehow Lux can’t play SS. The game will change beginning next season. There’s going to be much higher batting averages as a result with less dependence on home runs. It will favor left handed batters more than right-handed ones since the shift has been over-emphasized against lefties. This biggest difference is that all the infielders will start with both feet on the dirt. Along with bigger bases, speed is going to be the best way to exploit scoring opportunities in tomorrow’s game.
Well, I guess perception and perspective are the theme for the day. How else can you explain that the best team in the AL won the World Series, but the best team doesn’t win the World Series?
As far as Doc goes, perspective again. Is he the great manager that rests his players, get’s everyone involved and manages a clubhouse to get everyone to accept their roles on the way to a productive and optimized regular season? Or, is he the dodo bird that constantly pulls his pitchers too early, leans to heavily on the bullpen, puts people in a position they never or seldom were in during the regular season and basically panics his way to lost series in the postseason to underdog opponents. He’s both!
I went on a tirade, after that paragraph, but backed it out as I often do. Thanks Mark for making yet another Doc post after saying you were done with this subject.
Tomorrow, I’ll show you why the Dodgers are a better team next year. Willy Adames won’t be a Dodger at the trade deadline and Gavin isn’t going to home to Wisconsin. Even Ray Charles can see that the Dodgers brass is confident in Lux and I don’t see Andrew trading a pre-arb player with Lux’s pedigree for a guy with a year and a half remaining on his contract. The last two years were the best time to replace Lux at SS in free agency. The Dodgers passed. That should tell you something.
With a good core of players to build around and a plethora of hitting prospects that are nearly ripe on the tree and reduced payroll just around the corner, the Dodgers will be in on the tippy top of the market in the next offseason or the one after. They aren’t going to empty the cupboards on a guy like Adames, or Brian Reynolds. They’ll spend big for a Superstar like Freddie and Mookie.
Happy New Years to everyone in LADT land! Here’s my safe prediction for next season. The Dodgers win their division, again. They’ll have the best record, again. They’ll get knocked out of the playoffs, again when the bullpen implodes, again after pulling starters too early, again after not paying the going rate for a piece they need at the deadline, again.
B & P,
Roberts is acting for the Dodger Brass when he pulls pitchers early.. so if you are going to attack Doc for it, then please include the source of where that comes from and call for Friedman’s ouster as well. We could probably hire the Reds or Miami’s GM to replace him.
I am also going to suggest that when you draft where the Dodgers do, you do not get Freakish Studs like Verlander or Scherzer as starters. They are more brittle than that. I presume that when you get bad news, you are in the practice of shooting the messenger.
Friedman says Doc makes the in-game decision. There’s my source, now name yours.
I agree with the first sentence of your last paragraph. I don’t know what to say about the last one as I can’t figure out how it relates to anything I said to the post you replied to.
I respect your opinions for the most part. I mostly agree with what you say, but dying on hills like Lux isn’t a shortstop, Doc is a great manager and Verdugo is going to win a batting title makes me think your stubbornness gets the best of you sometimes. You should re-evaluate from time to time and consider new information more often. Believe what you see with your eyes and make adjustments. Consider that yeasterday’s information gets stale and new information tells the truth sometimes. Don’t be afraid to change your mind.
If you are going to believe everything AF says, then let’s talk…
“As far as Doc goes, perspective again. Is he the great manager that rests his players, get’s everyone involved and manages a clubhouse to get everyone to accept their roles on the way to a productive and optimized regular season? Or, is he the dodo bird that constantly pulls his pitchers too early, leans to heavily on the bullpen, puts people in a position they never or seldom were in during the regular season and basically panics his way to lost series in the postseason to underdog opponents. He’s both!”
This is a near perfect summation of Roberts. All jokes aside about ceremoniously drawing and quartering him, I think, overall, he’s a good manager for the Dodgers and fits their system and organizational philosophy very well. As systems go, and looking at things more broadly as part of a system, he’s good. He’s a good corporate middle manager. He just drives me nuts in the playoffs. When in the crucible of playoff baseball, I just don’t think he has a good feel for the game as it develops in real time. As B&P mentioned, either he’s overly wedded to procedure which makes him inflexible to the ebbs and flows of the game and a player’s performance, or he deviates dramatically from procedure and what worked in the regular season – for dumb reasons.
Scherzer couldn’t start because Roberts used him as a reliever for some stupid reason. Kershaw probably wasn’t needed as a reliever against the Nationals, he certainly didn’t need to telegraph to the world beforehand that he was going to use him, I think he did it for sentimental versus strategic reasons, and he absolutely should not have left him in to pitch to Soto. Mark likes to refer to the “deer in the headlights look” of Lux when playing in the infield. I will never forget that stupid look on Robert’s face after Kershaw gave up Soto’s homer.
And there’s just something about Roberts. He’s a PR guy. He has a difficult job. I realize that, and he’s gotten better at being a PR communicator, but, like a lot of PR people, I find his attempts at spin to be painful to listen to, and I really don’t believe a lot of what he says. In general, I just find all PR people to be just a little loathsome, actually. There’s an inherent sleaziness to it. The entire job is to inform, but obfuscate.
Perfectly analyzed. I have no problem pointing to Doc’s good side, but you’re going to have to get really lucky to win the ring with him at the helm. And isn’t that the name of the game?
The things I don’t like about Doc besides the in-game managing?
He’s billed as “The Great Communicator” which is absolute horse pucky. That’s easy to see if you watch any of his interviews and the multiple miscommunications with players, most famously with Rich Hill.
He seems to never have the same information/opinion as Friedman. He’s been in contradiction with him many times where he says one thing and Friedman says the opposite.
He almost ran me over.
Scherzer couldn’t start because Roberts used him as a reliever for some stupid reason
What was his excuse the next year? HUH?
@DodgerPatch
Saw your note on acronyms.
I guess it’s hard for me to presume what people know and don’t, but I will try to not assume the latter.
Not a big deal. As I said, just a pet peeve. I find more and more when I’m reading things, particularly on social media (or baseball blogs) that, because of the need for brevity, there is an annoying tendency to use abbreviations/acronyms without defining what they mean. More and more I find myself not knowing what the hell someone is talking about because it’s an alphabet salad. Brevity is a characteristic of all good writing. Clarity is better.
Same with me dodgerpatch, I hate those acronyms and can’t figure out what they’re saying most of the time.
100%
It’s a NY resolution
Hanley Ramirez was no SS, but I was sure glad he thought he was. At the plate he was a great SS. On the infield he nullified a perfect game to be recorded as a no hitter. I have no problem with Lux manning SS that is till he can’t and I haven’t yet seen that. He might shine or he might fall on his face, then I’ll decide. He’s still a kid and what he’s made of is still in test.
I hope you are right, but I would bet you are wrong… so would many baseball people.
Dave roberts is not a great manager, but neither was joe torre! They both are good at managing personalities, and benefit from great rosters. But if we criticize Dave. Shouldn’t we. Say the same for checkbook joe? Torre was mediocre until he got the George Steinbrenner Yankees! Then he became a great manager. Didn’t he have very good teams in Los Angeles and never won squat! We have to learn to live with Dave and hope he makes the right moves at the right times! Sure there are manager s in mlb better at in game decisions but Andrew doesn’t want those guys. Just saying roberts isn’t great but there are worse! Hope everyone has a wonderful and happy new year. Still want Brian Reynolds mark! Kinda redundant I know, but me want what me wants!
I want Brian Reynolds, but not at the cost of Bobby Miller, which the Pirates are insistent about. Reynolds is a good, not great player and won’t put you over the top. He’s not a good defensive outfielder either. Pages and Ramos are close, Outman might be good. I would wait and see how things go. No need to panic. I would rather start the season with what we have and make adjustments at the deadline. At that point, they might settle for a Kopp or Nastrini with Vivas, and Ramos or Deluca package.
Maybe we can make a three-way deal with Bauer going to a third team and the main prospect going to the Pirates coming from the team that receives Bauer.
I was never a fan of Joe Torre. To this day I have sympathy for poor Ramon Troncoso. I think he’s still icing his arm because of Torre’s overuse.
Torre had all the lack of insight of Roberts without the benefit of analytics or a process.
Both good at managing the clubhouse.
Mattingly maybe had a better intuitive feel for the game, but he wasn’t as good at managing personalities However, to be fair, Puig presented a challenge to anyone.
Dusty Baker did that X 5!
Happy New Years all.