The Sky is Falling – The End is Near!

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1. We’ll rally around Miguel Rojas and we’ll play good baseball!!!!

2. Still enough talent to get to the crapshoot. Sure looked like an ACL injury so Lux is probably gone for the year. Dang shame for the young man. He worked so hard this off season and I heard he was really fired up to prove Mark wrong!

3. Mark–I think you are truly on an island with your Trayce Thompson take. Most people consider him a lock.

   1. Why? He has no track record, and his stats are unsustainable.

4. Andrelton Simmons is still a free agent, but he is not an upgrade over Rojas. Former Angel CF, Albie Pearson passed yesterday. RIP. Also, a favorite actor of mine, Tom Sizemore, had a stroke on the 18th of the month. His family was told they need to make an end-of-life decision as there is no possibility of recovery. Sizemore was one of the stars of Saving Private Ryan and Pearl Harbor,

   1. You like Tom Sizemore?

      I guess there’s no accounting for taste.

      1. Early Tom was great in movies like Saving Private Ryan, Wyatt Earp, and Black Hawk Down. He, unfortunately, is an alcoholic and had major anger issues as he got older but the man could act. This is sad any way you slice it…☺

         Freakin’ sucks about Lux. Still, why did they sign Rojas if not to play SS?

      2. I think he had a pretty tumultuous personal life of drug abuse, but he still played that jaded sergeant role in Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down pretty well. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with acknowledging the passing of someone respectfully, even if not a fan.

         1. Agree

            1. Me too

         2. Heidi Fleiss helped in his downfall. At the time it looked like he was trying to screw up his future.

      3. Being judgmental there Johnny? Don’t talk to me about taste. Everyone has problems at some point in their lives. I do not look down on someone who has abuse problems probably because I saw it in my own family. But as an actor, I liked his work. I first remember him from Passenger 57 with Wesley Snipes. Another actor who had a lot of problems. Do not judge me because I have sympathy for the decision his family has to make about just ending the mans life.

5. Miguel Rojas was brought here, and paid very little, to be a utility player. If he’s not injured again he might play enough to put up 2.5 WAR and rank toward the middle bottom in ML shortstops.

   “I also told you that it was Lux’s knee… not his ankle.” in bold emphasis.

   Yes you are the resident genius, of which we are often reminded, and the rest of us, and CBS Sports, who saw the ankle roll are morons. I bow to your superior intellect. Please forgive my insolence but if memory serves it’s the PCL that prevents the tibia from sliding behind the femur. All of us, morons and geniuses, have to wait for the MRI results to know for certain. I choose to remain hopeful.

   Maybe cramps are common in Spring Training but this is the first time I’ve ever seen a player leave a Spring Training game because of one. I hope it’s not a harbinger.

   A lot of question marks this morning and we will all continue to guess. I still prefer Thompson/Outman over Heyward. I guess for now anyway Taylor plays short and Peralta is every day in left. Luke Williams is next on the depth chart at MLB. Jason Heyward at ESPN, Heyward and Outman at fangraphs. I would think moves will be made

   Nope, no reason to panic, but I see plenty of reason for concern.

6. When the knee buckles inward like it did for Lux it’s usually the ACL. Hopefully other ligaments were not also injured. The pop he heard was most likely the ligament pulling off the bone. Brutal!

   1. Chad Moriyama had the best video. After watching it would appear the knee went both ways. Back and out.

      This is interesting take

      Dr Rajpal Brar:

      Main concern here is at the knee (can see it bow outward) for damage to the LCL & bone bruising. Can’t tell if there’s any hyper-extension from this angle. Ankle also turns inwards (inversion). Hopefully combination of ankle turn & knee limits damage at both.

      Limits damage? I don’t know. Hope so, but that looked like a blow out in Chad’s video.

   2. I heard that pop too. Ended my soccer playing days .
      a sound you never forget.

      Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7. Freidman and Gomez Adams have destroyed the most dangeroous roster in the big leagues in 2 years while allowing the Padres and others to surpass them by light years!! Our current roster is more than Ohtani away from a World Series Title!! This roster has to be one of the oldest in baseball!

   1. You should quit playing checkers and start playing chess like Friedman.

      Watch and learn!

8. The Padres and the Mets have left the Dodgers in the dust yet Fraudman is allowed to destroy the roster!

9. Rojas will play SS against LHP with Taylor in CF but I think Taylor gets the bulk of innings at SS against RHP. I’m sorry but Rojas has had exactly one above average year with the bat and that was in 2020. In the past we could carry a bat like that but not this year with what is already looking like a bleak bottom of the order. It also doesn’t instill must confidence given the fact he hasn’t even been cleared to swing a bat yet.

10. Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove sustained a broken big toe in his left foot during a weight room accident yesterday, the team announced to reporters this morning (Twitter link via Dennis Lin of The Athletic). The Padres have not yet revealed a timeline for Musgrove’s return.

    1. Maybe it’s just a cramp.

11. I think that Luke Williams might be the utility infielder guy. A bench player to ce in late in games or start to give aguy a rest. Taylor will start at short LF and CF even 2b and Rojas will be SS when Taylor is not. Vargas batter hit at second base or ouch. Then what. In the outfield it could be Peralta Heyward and Betts opening day with Outman Thompson Williams and Barnes and Taylor your bench Muncy 3b Rojas SS Vargas 2b Freeman 1b and Smith C and Martinis DH there’s your 2023 La Dodgers.

12. If Rojas Taylor Thompson and Heyward all get regular playing time my beloved Dodgers are in trouble and that’s my optimistic take on it

    1. Exactly. Taylor is fine but that’s it.

    2. I think Taylor will be at SS most of the time and when he plays LF then Rojas will be at shortstop that last outfield spot comes down to Heyward or Thompson. Like to know in a playoff spot like last year wouldn’t it be nice to see Heyward come up to pinch hit instead of Barnes. I think Thompson kind of chokes in big-time situations and then shines on Sunday afternoons when the tv cameras aren’t on him. Plus wouldn’t it be nice for Outman to get taught by a veterans like Heyward Peralta and Betts that have gone threw slumps. That’s what rookies need. If Outman is ready then you go for it. And if he is not. Then you make a trade for a center fielder and shortsop at the trade deadline. Because then you have Heyward or Thompson as your center fielder yuck.

       1. Rojas, who is far better defensively than Taylor, is going to get the lion’s share of the reps at SS. The TV camera’s are on Thompson every game he plays because all of the games are televised. I think you are underestimating the guy. He had some clutch hits last year when guys like Bellinger and Muncy were striking out so much.

13. 3:05 PM ET

    SP Noah Syndergaard R

    Confirmed Lineup
    LF Chris Taylor R
    1B F. Freeman L
    DH J. Martinez R
    3B Max Muncy L
    C A. Barnes R
    RF D. Peralta L
    CF T. Thompson R
    SS Miguel Rojas R
    2B M. Busch L

    Clear-day
    0% Rain
    58° Wind 8 mph Out

    1. Urias is starting.

14. Two names:

    Oneil Cruz
    Liover Peguero

    1. Who you giving up? Price would be high.

       1. Catching and pitching.

15. David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    Dave Roberts said Gavin Lux has a torn ACL and will be out for the season. #Dodgers

    David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    Dave Roberts said Chris Taylor will start a throwing program to play more SS. Mookie Betts playing more second base this season is also being discussed. #Dodgers

    1. That’s too bad. I feel really sorry for him. I think he was poised for a breakout season.

       …. Now Bradley and others can go into full panic mode with hare brained trade proposals.

       https://youtu.be/P3I1W3ThXrI

       1. Panic mode just saying in years passed that’s what the Dodgers do they go and get a veteran guy to play shortstop. Who wouldn’t want to be the shortstop for the LA Dodgers it looks good on a resume to for next year’. Plus your seen more on television then if your the shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds. Right. Thank God we got Rojas when we did. I’ve said go get Addames and Burnes so when that does happens Timmons can then go oh wow look what I said it would happen and look. Dodgers got Addames at trade deadline and take credit for it.

          1. By the way, I suggested Adames and Reynolds long before you were here, and so did many others. It’s not your idea, but you are very adept at perceiving the obvious!

             1. No you have said there’s no way there going to get either one of those players. When I said they should have gotten both of them this offseason. And you said wait for the middle of the season. And I said they should have done it before spring training. And you said it was dumb for me to think that because the Dodgers have to worry about the tax. And would lose good players that’s what you said. And I said you go and get the players to win a world series so you trade players that has been how teams are built.

             2. I said that they were not going to get them now. Maybe at the deadline… and not now. Not then, either. I said it was dumb for you to say that and I was just being kind! It is idiotic and moronic, and no one with a modicum of intelligence would think that.

       2. Great link. Funny.

          Are you predicting the Dodgers won’t make a trade before you season starts?

    2. If Betts plays more second base where does that put Vargas?

       1. In Pittsburg.

    3. Best wishes to Gavin for a full and speedy recorvery. What a huge blow to the kid and the Dodgers.

       Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!

16. “IN ANDREW FRIEDMAN WE TRUST”

17. We will still have a decent lineup. Not the best but better than most. And maybe nobody else gets hurt. And maybe Syndergaard, Kershaw, May, Gonsolin all get 30 starts and 175 innings.

    And, there is the deadline.

18. No trade proposals from me, because I’d hate to see the Dodgers lose any top pitching prospects and Outman, but the Dodgers are not going to be as good because:

    Taylor is being discussed for SS. So besides Betts, that leaves Outman, Peralta, Heyward, Thompson to fill 2 spots in the outfield and all of them besides Outman have proved they can’t hit LHP and Outman might be the same. So once again the Dodgers look like they will struggle against LHP. Not to mention 2 of the 4 guys are past their prime and 1 is a journeyman. And if you don’t like rookies, 1 is a rookie (Don’t forget Vargas is a rookie too). So hitting against RHP is not a given either in 2 outfield spots. Although I think that will be fine.

    The alternative is Rojas at SS and that means no bat at SS. A BIG downgrade from T. Turner.

    Either way is not good.

    Busch is skeptical against LHP.

    Pages and Deluca hit LHP really good in the minors. But 1 is looking like repeating AA (I may be wrong) and the other hasn’t finished a full year in AA.

    But the good thing is, all you got to do is get to the playoffs and I think that is still intact.

19. You can trust in him, all I’ve seen recently is a crap bottom of lineup and bench. When the pitching and top of lineup can’t carry us and return to earth for a game or two we’re done. He’s made some great acquisitions in Betts and Freeman. I’ll take those two over any other two in baseball position wise but made some big time flops to. Gallo comes to mind among others. He sure has gotten outplayed so far this offseason like a bunch of has beens in another suck bottom of order gonna take us far in October. Sorrow my optimism gauge with lux not having a all star caliber year like I was betting on went way down

    1. It’s early! It’s only the start of Spring training games with the season starting in 30 days Let things sort out. Be patient! AF has plenty of prospect capital to improve any area of the team. Winning the division in my opinion means absolutely NOTHING. Make the playoffs and then the crapshoot begins,

    2. During Friedman’s time with the Dodgers, they have the best record in baseball… by far.. and he is really stupid, huh? Sorry if you don’t buy into your logic!

20. Bill Plunkett
    @billplunkettocr

    Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform surgery on Gavin Lux in LA March 7

21. Now that Lux is lost for the season I like this offense even less than before. This is a middle of the road offense at the moment on paper.
    A lot would have to go right to make them top 10. At least two out of Vargas , Outman and Busch would have to deliver solid numbers.

    The Dodgers will only go as far as their pitching will take them.
    If I had to predict their record I would give them 88-90 wins with the current roster.
    Close call to make the playoffs.
    There is always a chance for a blockbuster trade with all those top prospects though.

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

22. All this talk about playoffs being a crap shoot and it comes down to luck is hogwash. There’s a element of that to it but the best all around talented team playing good ball when it counts wins the ring. I’m trying to think of a team that’s not really good lucking into a crapshoot championship and I can’t

    1. It is a crapshoot, the best team in the regular season rarely wins the title now.

       Thats been proven…..so no its not hogwash….thank the expanding playoffs for this…..

    2. All this talk about playoffs being a crap shoot and it comes down to luck is hogwash. There’s a element of that to it but…

    3. High comedy!

23. I was sure hoping it was his ankle. Very disappointing.

    That said, if there is a silver lining it’s that this happened in the third game of spring training and not the third game of September. Lux will be back next year, lets just hope his knee will return to 100%. Dodgers have plenty of time to evaluate their situation by the trade deadline. We will be fine on defense but I was counting on Lux to have a .290/.350/.450 season with 20hrs and 20 stolen bases. That will be hard to replace. But we don’t necessarily have to replace that production at SS. Way too early to speculate how the fist half of the season will play out and way too early to speculate who will be available at the trade deadline. And how much the ask will be on whomever is on the block.

    I have faith that AF will be his usual creative self and make the best move available. We still have a lot of prospect capital in the system. Some of which would have been moved even if Lux hadn’t blown out his knee. If we aren’t solidly in first place (or very close) by the deadline, I see AF making a big move. I didn’t think that would be the case 24 hours ago.

24. Dee Gordon’!!!!

25. Right now the Orioles have a better lineup then the Dodgers. But the Dodgers have to pitching. Looking at lineups I did and you go okay cubs dodgers about even and also red Sox and dodgers even. Better then Rockies and better then Giants and D-backs. But Orioles Mariners Padres Mets Braves Yankees Astros Cardinals all better. Lineups that is. Thank god they don’t play on video games. Because the lineup I put in there today that the Dodgers will use normally gets blasted by the Yankees in MLB2023. 22 to 5 with Kershaw vs Rodon.

    1. Your comparing real players to a video game? Idiotic

26. 2B Betts
    1B Freeman
    C Smith
    DH Martinez
    3B Muncy
    SS Oneil Cruz
    RF Heyward
    LF Taylor/Thompson
    CF Outman

    1. Put down the crackpipe. !

       1. Pirates are deep at SS, 2B, C, and 3B and shallow at 1st base. Liover Peguero is ready to replace Cruz at short.
          Vargas would become the Pirates first baseman.

          Next year Betts would move back to RF and Lux to 2nd base. Oneil would stay at SS.

27. Look forward to your return next year Gavin better than ever. It will seem like a great post season signing! You’ve got a lot of great youngsters to lead into the Dodger future!

28. Wishing a speedy recovery to Gavin Lux. Tough loss. Go Blue!

    Mark was spot on when he stated it was a knee injury.

29. Julio looked like he’s in ace form! Great lesson for our younger starters. Trust your stuff and throw strikes.

    1. Thor looked good too.
       Pitching will have to carry us.

       Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!

30. All this trade talk is way premature. They are and should not be in any big hurry to make any kind of decisions on trades. If they decide they need to get a SS, it probably won’t be until the deadline at least. Rojas is going to get the majority of the starts there and that is because he is the better defender. Taylor might have more pop in his bat, but he is not the glove there that Rojas is. And despite what some here think, defense is important to a pitching staff. Jordan Yamamoto is pitching himself right off of this team.

    1. It didn’t take him long…

       1. have to be on before you can be off

          1. He is headed for the released pile. True, he is non roster, but I think they expected better than what they have seen. He got a low uni number.

31. If Vargas doesn’t hit does that mean Betts moves to second base then Rojas at shortstop Peralta in LF Taylor in CF and Heyward and Outman in right field dies that make the lineup better without Vargas that’s if he doesn’t hit.
    Let’s see

    Betts2b
    Taylor cf
    Freeman 1b
    Martinez dh
    Smith c
    Muncy 3b
    Outman RF / heyward
    Rojas ss

    1. Vargas has hit everywhere he’s been.

    2. You are so eager to write off Vargas that you left him off. You only have 8 players!

       You are so predictable!

       1. Predictable oh if you look at the lineup no Vargas. Betts to second base. Miguel Rojas to SS Freddie Freeman first base Max Muncy third base Will Smith is the catcher in your outfield you have David Peralta your center fielder is Chris Taylor and in right field since you think you have to have a rookie start James Outman. And your DH that stands for designated hitter Mr Timmons is JD Martinez. Is that clearer for you if Vargas doesn’t hit. Without trading for anybody that lineup would be decent score runs but could it beat the Yankees or Astros hmm that’s what you look at. Prediction you want no it can’t so that’s why trades are made with the good teams that have money and prospects. Hope it’s a little clearer now since you only counted eight players.

          1. There are nine players in a lineup, not eight, but 5 out of 4 people struggle with math!

             Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

             1. I just gave you every position players playing and a lineup and you still can’t agree with that lineup. Doesn’t that tell you something if s lineup is like awh that means it can’t beat Yankees or Astros so you go and make trades to best those teams. That’s my point and you keep counting eight players when I went position by position without Vargas.

             2. Here is what you gave me:

                Betts2b
                Taylor cf
                Freeman 1b
                Martinez dh
                Smith c
                Muncy 3b
                Outman RF / heyward
                Rojas ss

                THat is 8 players. There are 9 in a lineup.

                You left out LF, Moron!

32. Prayers to Gavin Lux for a full recovery. It was heartbreaking to see his interview this morning explaining the injury.
    Gavin had worked hard this off season to prepare for this opportunity at SS. Many forget that he was hitting 297 with a 812 OPS when he was hurt in late August. In his interview he thanked the players and coaches for their support, especially Dave Roberts. It certainly seems like they are a close knit group and Lux is a great guy. Although I often criticize Roberts for strategic on field decisions, I think he is great in the clubhouse and is a caring and supportive coach. And his leadership skills are outstanding.

    I think the Dodgers need to add some depth at SS by signing Iglesias or Villar as free agents. Rojas can be an everyday SS, but he is coming off a wrist injury and Taylor is coming off elbow injury. Depending on how the season progresses, the Dodgers can also add a better hitting SS at the trade deadline. I still think Dodgers can win the division, but losing Lux is a big blow to the lineup.

33. Roster Resource lists Yonny on the bench. Come at me, Bear.

    1. He could make it… or not! It’s too early to say.

       But, I lean toward “not.”

       1. Me too. He’s not necessary. Yet.

    2. Anytime. A. His career BA is .198. He has zero power. He is third on the depth chart. Roster resource is dumb. He was picked up as depth. He couldn’t hit my grandmother and she is dead. Yonny Hernandez has about as much chance of making the 26-man roster as you do. ZERO. Luke Williams is a better option at backup than Hernandez.

34. Peralta is the left fielder Timmons. Yes I left him out. Opps moron… Still say if Vargas can’t and Outman can’t then what? It will be along year then. Wow a Reynolds and Addames added to lineup would change slot if people’s minds about this year. Isn’t that what every Dodger game is used to. Fans saying wow your lineup is stacked. Look at this lineup by adding these two players.

    Betts. RF
    Addames. SS.
    Freeman. 1B.
    Martinez. DH.
    Muncy. 3B.
    Smith. C.
    Reynolds CF.
    Taylor LF
    Vargas 2B

    Bench
    Barnes
    Heyward
    Rojas
    Peralta

    1. Adames would hit lower in the order. He hit .237 last year, and yes, I like that lineup, but it cannot happen until the All-Star Break.

35. Why not Vargas batting second?
    Maybe someday.
    But so far, his career OBP against major league pitching is .200, that’s why. Not in five ABs, not 10… but about 50. He has a lot to prove, especially given these great expectations.
    Freddie, with one of the best bats and OBPs in baseball, up near .400. With Mookie and Freddi at the top, there’s an excellent chance that Smith, Muncy and Martinez would step to the plate with one or two runners on base.
    When JD essentially replaced JT as DH, I initially thought he should bat 3rd or 4th, given his reputation. But he is 35 and actually Will has been the superior hitter lately, with more power. He’s also pretty fast–and not just “for a catcher.” So I’d slot JD behind Max, who is primed for a bounce-back–and runs better than is commonly percieved. (Pretty sure he’d smoke JD in a footrace.
    I have no problem with Rojas as the starting SS and Taylor backing him up. It’s a shame that Lux is out, of course, but Rojas is solid, especially on D. A good guy to bat 9th.
    But what do the Dodgers have after Rojas and Taylor?
    None of the shortstops in the farm system are knocking on the door. And what if either Rojas or Taylor go down with injury?
    I guess Yonny Hernandez would be next in line, but this is not exactly an exciting option. Signing Iglesias is a possibility. The Yankees have 3 shortstops battling to start; perhaps Isiah Kiner-Falefa could be had in a trade. But both IKF and Iglesias would just seem like insurance…

    We talk about “the emergency catcher.” If the Dodgers don’t include another UT guy on the roster, who would be the emergency shortstop?
    I have the answer: Mookie. He came up playing 2B, and he’s a freaky great athlete. The presence of Pedroia moved Mookie to the OF. When I think about it, it’s almost bizarre that Mookie isn’t a shortstop now. At 5-9 and 175 or so, he’s not a prototypical rightfielder like JHey, even though Mookie is probably the best.
    So yeah, I think Mookie should be taking more infield practice… just in case.
    There is no reason to panic, but AF might want to make a boring more for Iglesias. It would be the safe move.
    The Dodgers can reassess their needs at midseason. Perhaps they’ll go after Adames, or maybe Reynolds. Maybe both.
    And perhaps the trade package includes the guy who needs knee surgery. That might seem cold, but it could happen.

36. Forgot about Luke Williams. He has a shot at the roster if he has a big spring.
    He and others should get a lot of reps at SS.
    For some time I’ve been pushing for trades to shore up SS. The Rojas deal was a positive move, but it cost the the Dodgers the only decent, near-ready SS prospect they had.
    The Orioles and Reds are deep at SS, but thin at pitching, a Dodger strength.
    One guy I like is the O’s starting SS Jorge Mateo, a spectacular fielder with spotty offense. His OPS was .646, but with 13 HRs and 35 steals (caught nine times.) The steals could go up with the new rules.
    The O’s rookie sensation Gunnar Henderson can slide from 3B to SS–with another top SS Jackson Holliday –a No. 1 overall pick–in the wings.
    Dodgers could start by offering Grove or Jackson. Grove might be a 5th starter for the O’s.
    There’s no reason to rush, but the Dodgers now have Rojas backed by Taylor backed by a question mark. Right now, I’d prefer Mateo to Rojas. More upside. More excitement.
    When Barnes starts at C, the Dodgers’ starting lineup could feature Vargas and 8 guys in their 30s.
    So much for getting younger…

    1. I honestly believe that they will not do anything until they see what they have after spring training. 26 man right now would be C. Smith-Barnes, Inf, Freeman, Vargas, Rojas, Muncy, OF, Betts, Taylor, Peralta, Heyward, Bench, Busch, Williams, Thompson. Pitching staff slightly more complicated in the pen, but the starters, Kersh, Urias, Thor, Gonsolin, May. Pepiot is going to make it as a long man out of the pen. The seven other bullpen arms would most likely be, Phillips, Graterol, Ferguson, Vesia, Hudson, Miller, and Almonte. I think Heyward is the only non-roster player who makes the 26 man roster. None of the pitchers in the non-roster side have much of a chance.

37. There’s a big difference in best team in regular season and best all around team built to win playoff games

38. For those you who think playoffs are a crapshoot and luck are just making excuses for the years dodgers weren’t good when it mattered most. And anyone who thinks asstros weren’t best team out there last year send me some of what your smoking and bear I don’t get how so many are saying Shelby Miller is a lock for to make team. Dude sucks

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