Wet Birds Don’t Fly at Night

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1. Mark. with your sources, what is the status of Bobbie Miller? Will he pitch this year for the Dodgers at the major league level or will this be a shut down year?

   1. It is my understanding that he is going to pitch later this week, but I am sure the Dodgers are withholding some of the facts… like they always do.

      1. Thank you.

   2. Here is some info on that ….

      https://www.truebluela.com/2023/4/26/23695513/bobby-miller-oklahoma-city-jimmy-nelson-rehab-assignment-dodgers-nick-frasso

2. Cody Bellinger out on paternity leave with a second child. Does anyone know if he got married to the SI model he had with the first child? Just curious.

   1. Same girl, not married!

3. Way too soon to count out Pages or Cartaya for this season. You know it is EARLY.

   Thor can not get bye without more velo on his fastball. They are sitting on his fastball dead red.
   I would give him a couple more starts and then make a decision if Stone should get a shot at the N.r 5 spot.
   What about Bobby Miller ? Is he still in extended ST ?

   TT had one great game and since then practically done nothing. IMHO he will be the first among Peralta ,, heyward and him to go. Agree on Vargas, he does not look physically 100%. But for that his hitting has come on the last 10 days. His defense is stellar.

   Shelby Miller looks like a stud out there. Could he be the full time closer ?
   Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   1. Miller makes me nervous. I feel like he’s been a bit lucky thus far and his control could be a concern. He has 7 walks in 11 IP and although he hasn’t given up many runs these things tend to even out in the long run. Hope I’m wrong because if he can settle into the the full-time closer it would make the bullpen situation so much better. I still prefer Graterol because he throws strikes.

      1. More likely, I think, is that there isn’t an owner or ownership group that wants the negative PR and negative vibes.
         After he serves an exile in Japan without trouble, perhaps someone will give him a chance.
         But why pay millions for a headache?

4. Trevor Bauer has a friend in LADT.

   1. I still am bummed he is not pitching for us. I hear many on our team didn’t want him as a teammate. Oh well, not everyone can be well liked. We still should try to get along with even the different and weird. Plus….Hasn’t he paid for any transgressions he may have committed? “He who is without sin cast the first rock….”

      PS We’ve have another WS or two with him in the rotation.

      1. Yeah well you are certainly in the minority on this one. Doesn’t it tell you something where not ONE team had interest in him and could have had him at league minimum salary? He’s a cancer plain and simple.

         1. That’s what I hear……sigh…

         2. Black ball out of MLB. That’s what I think may have happen. He was not charged for any crime.

         3. Teams are under order not to sign him. It’s collusion and (give it time) someone will spill the beans.

   2. One of the better ‘inside’ look vlogs at pro’s life.

      When in NPB you need cultural cues to simply walk in/out clubhouse. And, when you’re That Guy, you’re being watched. Funny stuff.

      And most def the hottest agent in the biz.

   3. I remember the Opening Day starter ran into some trouble a few years ago.

5. Thor won’t be traded, but he may end up in the bullpen. If he can’t establish himself in the Dodgers as a starter, what team would want him? Wanting him as a starter is not the same as needing him as a starter

6. Thor’s best games seem to be at home. Hershiser said last night that he’s dropped his slider and using a cutter more, even though the slider was good last year. Wonder what the logic behind that is.

   I don’t recall seeing Taylor hit to right field with a nice level swing before. If he can continue to go with the pitch we might have a resurgent CT3.

   1. CT3 is the same CT3 not going to hit much and strike out a lot.

7. I read a couple of articles in The Atlantic recently about stupidity in the U.S.. One by Jonathan Haidt, one by David Freedman. There’s evidence we are being dumbed down, but I have to admit I don’t see it here. People just have different opinions.

   Friedman knows what he wants to accomplish here, win games and draw crowds. It’s been happening for several years running. I’m for the most part grateful.

   I thought Feduccia was coming up.

   I believe it’s Bobby Miller. He might have an aunt named Bobbie. He’s had mild shoulder soreness but is due to make his debut on Friday. He will of course be brought along slowly but should be available, if necessary, when it’s hot out.

   It’s my opinion they will stick with Syndergaard starts through to summer in hopes he finds what he’s looking for, which is 3 mph on his fastball and the edges of the strike zone. Even at 91-92 he could be much better if he didn’t throw that cheese right down the middle. What to do if he doesn’t improve? Beats me. Ask Friedman.

   This team has the potential to beat anybody 4 out of 7. Consistency is the goal with this group.

   1. First mistake was reading the Atlantic….

      1. Mistake to read?

         I strenuously disagree.

         Review:

         What makes this magazine fantastic is the combination of informed imagination and impeccable research. I would not call The Atlantic a news magazine because their best reporting is not necessarily on what happened last week but, based on evidence, what might happen next week. That, of course, is a huge generalization since they also dive deep into past issues But, in general, for me, their best stuff is when they look both deeply and imaginatively at the direction current events could take us. It’s speculative, and therefore not “news” but always fascinating”

         Intelligent, well researched writers.

         It’s never a mistake to read.

         What may I ask is your favorite publication Matt?

         1. LADODGERTALK.com

            I find it just a little too left leaning, but to each his own…

            1. Atlantic has been around for, I dunno, 150 years. I used to read it in the 90s. Still remember the basic thesis of an article I read there circa 1995, and it influences my thinking today.

               Like most things that were ostensibly heterodox in thinking back then, it is another victim of the rapid shift of the Overton Window the past 10 years.

               I don’t dislike Haidt. The Coddling of the American Mind gets a lot right about the causes of our current left wing religious intolerance. More people should read it. Allan Bloom predicted many of these same things 35 years ago, and I was required to read The Closing of the American Mind as a college freshman. The problem is, no college freshman today is reading Haidt’s book. They’re being spoon fed the 1619 Project and Critical Social Justice Theory and have a small army of DEI commissars on campus reinforcing correct thought.

               My problem with Haidt is that he reads like a classic Boomer liberal, and his insights, although occasionally good, are a reflection of his own vanity and self-image. He’ll cite that old study about conservatives having authoritarian traits because it reinforces his 80s image of his brand of tolerant liberalism, meanwhile AOC can do an interview where she actively calls for Fox News to be taken off the air, or Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett can actively threaten Matt Taibbi with jail time for exposing the nexus between the U.S. intelligence community and Twitter censors. He has no clue (or refuses to accept) just how thoroughly his movement and his party has been taken over by a Marxist derived authoritarian ideology that is the antithesis and the inversion of everything he believes.

               His Atlantic article railing against the influence of social media reads a little like he advocates for some government body to step in and regulate speech, ya know, cuz “disinformation.”

               The Atlantic is like a lot of corporate media institutions – hollowed out and fake.

               I had a stint where I was reading a magazine called Quillette. Not a fan of the founder, Claire Lehman, but I thought the content was, although arguably right-of-center (or appealing to disaffected classic liberals), refreshingly heterodox.

            2. heterodox

               Good word. A little stuffy. Unorthodox would’ve worked fine.

               I like Haidt. Typically I agree with him, but I’m left of center so that is no surprise

               The lead in today’s thread is stupid. What Haidt had to say was simply this:

               “Americans aren’t dumb—at least individually—but something changed in the last ten years that made the country-as-a-whole stupid in an unprecedented way. And yes, it was social media. What was once a place to share cute kid pics became a place to score hits on enemies and undermine institutional trust, and the viral nature of social media empowered the far political extremes, misinformation networks, and an unholy number of trolls. Can a country afflicted by structural stupidity survive?”

               I think he’s spot on.

            3. “heterodox

               Good word. A little stuffy. Unorthodox would’ve worked fine.”

               Your practiced condescension to mask your insecurity is one of the things I find particularly annoying about you, and no, unorthodox would not have worked fine because, although similar, the meanings of those two words are distinct, and that distinction to me was important – critical even.

               You like Haidt because, as I said, he speaks to and appeals to your particular vanities and self-image – aging Boomer liberal who wants to pretend the Progressivism today is the same thing as the Progressivism of the 60s ( and all wrapped up in nice prose bow that validates your intellectual self-regard). Spoiler alert – it’s not.

               Do you even know what DEI is?

               “Americans aren’t dumb—at least individually—but something changed in the last ten years that made the country-as-a-whole stupid in an unprecedented way. And yes, it was social media. What was once a place to share cute kid pics became a place to score hits on enemies and UNDERMINE INSTITUTIONAL TRUST, and the viral nature of social media empowered the far political extremes, MISINFORMATION NETWORKS, and an unholy number of trolls. Can a country affected by structural stupidity survive?”

               Read the passage carefully. Since I brought up the topic of the precise nature of language and its ability to convey meaning, pay special attention to the words he uses. I ALL CAPPED the words I wanted to single out for special consideration.

               “undermine institutional trust” is really the most important phrase in this passage. He’s arguing that social media, with all of its inconvenient freedom to allow people to express and read different ideas and opinions, undermines authority. The words “viral” and “unholy” are also some key supporting adjectives that deserve honorable mention. Free speech is unclean. Don’t question authority, kids! It’s dangerous!

               So, it begs the question. If social media and the uncontrolled dissemination of ideas that it facilitates is a bad thing, and he spent an entire article saying that it is, then what is the solution?

               He leaves that part purposely vague, doesn’t he?

               Another spoiler alert – it means government interference in what we are allowed to read and say and ultimately think.

               That you, ex-hippy, free speech absolutist, go along with this phenomenon as “spot on” is a pretty telling example of how insidious this process is

            4. Condescension. Eventually you get to it don’t you patch. You just must establish your superiority.

               Go ahead. But you’re speaking to yourself now.

            5. No. I was responding to what I perceived as YOUR condescension. If I read too much into it (which I tend to do), then I apologize.

         2. I think the criticism of The Atlantic is typically made by people who don’t actually read it–or maybe based their opinion on one or two articles. It publishes a wide range of intelligent perspectives and journalism. The common denominator is intelligence.
            The criticism itself could be evidence of the dumbing own of America.
            (Anyone who disagrees with me is a STUPID DUMBASS!!!.. Oh, sorry, something about LADT just gets into my system sometimes.)
            I’m sure that many MAGA types think The Atlantic and the “lamestream media” is just chockful of “fake news.” Many MAGA folks, of course, prefer Fox News and the actual fake news it has promoted, such as the lie that the 2022 election was stolen. If Fox is their only source of information, they wouldn’t know that Fox has agreed to settle the Dominion defamation suit for $787.5 million. Yep, Fox is trying to cover up that news from the viewers they deceived.

      2. LOVE The Atlantic!

         Fabulous writers. Variety of opinions and subject matter.

         What don’t you like about it, Matt?

         1. The Atlantic was purchased in 2017 by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs.
            She is an active leftist and has shifted the publication even further left since acquiring.
            They still have talented writers, and the backing of a billionaire, but hardly an objective publication.
            For me, it is helpful to consider the biases of the publisher and writers when reading materials.

            1. That’s 100% true, RC, but also not a reason to ignore it. In fact, almost a silly reason not to own it. The editor, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more influential, is a pretty well-regarded and non-partisan reporter. I think.

               I mean Bloomberg is owned by, er, um Bloomberg. But it doesn’t generally reflect his political views. FoxNews obviously, as proven in court recently, don’t align with Rupert’s views.

               Don’t judge a book by the cover and all.

            2. The best publishers and writers all do have a bias–a bias that favors honesty, intelligence and integrity. Could it be that Jobs’ widow just admired the magazine and believe it plays a valuable role in American society? I seriously doubt that she interferes much with the editors and writers. I suspect she is patron, much as some other rich person might be a patron of a museum or the philharmonic.
               If the idea of honest journalism sounds glib–if you think every publisher would say that–what do make of the Murdoch family and Fox News decision to settle the Dominion defamation suit for $782.5 million? A textbook case of dishonest journalism–and they are paying for it. There are more lawsuits and settlements in the works.
               Discovery in the civil suit shows that Fox News was more interested in telling its audience what it wanted to hear than in reporting the actual facts.
               The Dominion case demonstrated that Fox acted with “reckless disregard for the truth” by reporting bogus claims that Dominion had corruptly rigged the 2022 election.
               Loyal viewers of Fox, however, may not know about the whopping dollar amount of the settlement. They have avoided reporting that detail.

   2. One thing slower than his fastball is his time to home plate. Adrian Gonzales would be tempted to run on him.

   3. Weather warms up and Thor might loosen that arm up.

   4. “gets a lot right about the causes of our current left wing religious intolerance.”…..LOL as opposed to what the right wing intolerance of just about anything and everything?

8. …”.This could easily fall under the category of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Of course, the Ugly is Noah”….the chapstick of the rotation.

   1. The good:

      Muncy, Outman and Kershaw

      The bad:

      Barnes’ offense, Thompson, Thor, and until last night, CT3

      The ugly:

      That guy above with STUPID tattooed on his forehead

      I have faith in this team. Maybe not 100 win faith, but faith in improvement.

      1. Don’t forget to add Peralta and Rojas to your bad list.

      2. Is the STUPID tattoo worse than the one that says NO REGERTS?

   2. With Gonsolin returning soon, maybe Thor can go to AAA to work on his game.

      1. Yankees are starving for rotation help.

         1. How can we help that? It feels like we are too.

            1. Really Badger? i feel this team is swimming in starting pitching.

               In fact, i see another Mitch White-esque trade or two in the near future.

            2. Swimming?

               Hope you’re right. Feels more like treading water to me.

9. Back home late last night. Good to sleep in my own bed. Watched the recap of the game, too tired to watch the whole thing. Nice game for CT but I am not convinced yet that he can keep it up. Good news about Phillips, bad PR move by the Dodgers not letting fans know. This is a baseball blog. We all agreed a long time ago to keep it that way, you want to discuss politics, call CNN.

   1. Really. Not to throw shade on political takes but – on LADT? Please no.

      Twitter is the pols friend.

10. * Like Mark, I don’t know if Syndergaard can be fixed of not. Right now he’s just shitty but it goes beyond that. He puts no effort into playing the game right. Like holding runners and covering first base. That’s just unacceptable. His catchers have no shot. Every walk and every single turn into doubles. I had him at 1.52, 1.46 and 1.43 last night. Barnes had 2 good pop times and had no shot.
    It’s simple math. Decent pop times are 1.9 and good runners are at 3.25. That means 1.35 is about max. Over 1.4 home, forget it.
    It’s selfish to me. You put your catcher and team at a disadvantage by continuing to be slow to home. It can be fixed.
    Opponents are 7 for 7 on steals this year and 111 for 120 since 2018. 23 more than any other pitcher. When he had swing and miss stuff he got away with it, but not now.
    * When CT3 got to 3rd in the 5th, I think I saw Dino Ebel introduce himself to him.
    * With everybody on paternity leave I was wondering what happed last July / August? Was it the All Star break, or a great team party?
    * There are certainly 2 sides to Mookie at short. One is how remarkable he is a doing the little things that a seasoned SS does. I know he played there as a kid but he really has Big League actions there. I don’t recall a backhand and throw to 1st from the 6 hole yet but he’s made all the plays with some flair. The other side of that is Luke Williams. Can he play a decent enough SS so we aren’t weakened in 2 positions with Mookie not in right field? In addition it’s pretty possible that a 26 year old AAA guy thinks his future isn’t very bright when they start moving outfielders on top of you at your position. It’s very easy to get discouraged.
    * I’m so happy for Michael Busch. It’s a great moment for him and the whole family when he gets that first knock out of the way. His swing looks great. If you have the ability to slow down his swing, look how stable his head is; no dipping to get to his load. Nice and simple.
    * What a great compliment by Orel about how the Dodgers make kids coming up for the 1st time, feel so welcome. Pretty nurturing environment.
    * Some have suggested Vargas needs time on the IL with his bad thumb. Those folks never were in a competition for a big league job. He wants to make an impact as a rookie starting in the Bigs. The last thing Vargas wants to do it miss time and provided somebody else with an opportunity. He wants to play.
    * The perils of a skipper. Bottom 9, bases juiced, 2 down, Andrew Mac up, Doc has Miller ready to go to match up righty-righty. Instead Doc chooses to stay with Fergie.
    Had that decision ended with a McCutchen walk off, Doc would be crucified today. It turned out our way, so nothing is said.

    1. Small point- It was bottom 8th, not 9th and McCutcheon swung at ball 4. The count was 3-1. We caught a break. I was surprised he stayed with the lefty. I thought it was not the best decision at that time….still think it.

       1. Well, I respecfully disagree. I think it was almost enough to ask Miller to do his first career save to on top of that asked to do a 4 out save. Being Miller a journeyman that somehow is throwing now darts over there, it goes well up in pushing your luck if you are a manager.

    2. Thought you might find this article by Mike Petriello interesting, Phil. It deals with throwing out runners and a new stat they’ve come up with to rate catchers’ ability to do so. It takes into account the lack of help by various pitchers.

       https://www.mlb.com/news/caught-stealing-above-average-stat-breakdown

       1. Good stuff STB. To my point, catchers have zero shot if the pitchers can’t get the ball to them. I didn’t predict that the disengagement rule would have the impact it has had with increased steals. I have said that teams, like the Dodgers, didn’t steal because it was an organizational philosophy and not due to lack of success. I was dead wrong for many teams. They have just decided to put stealing back into the game and not wait to string hits or wait for homers. I love it. But pitchers have to vary looks. You don’t see any B or C moves anymore. It’s the A move practically every time. (assuming they have an A move) As I predicted, we have and will see more catcher backpicks to keep runners close.
          Dodger pitchers need to get better in this area. Kershaw has a great move but most runners go on first movement with any tough lefties. It’s just a guessing game, when. Our righties need to get way better.
          Have you also notice the big increased in called balks for not pausing long enough? The baserunners are getting big advantages these days.

          1. As with everything else in the game, adjustments will eventually be made.
             Those who can’t adjust will fail.
             I wonder if AF and gang are already taking all of this into consideration for future draft picks. In other words, giving more emphasis to player speed on the bases than they used to.

11. Tony Gonsolin pitching tonight. Nice to have the Catman back. The youth movement is taking hold. I’m hoping Busch forces the Dodgers hand. Great start with the rbi.

12. Pirates home feed shows timeclock on sideboard near dugout. MLB.com?? Nada. Wake up folks.

    All the ball washing over Mook at SS is fine but, he hasn’t been put on the spot yet. Routine plays. For reference I took a 15 min trip with Ozzie highlights. You guys remember how ELECTRIC he was? Crazy hands & quick.

    Love Mook but he ain ‘t there yet.

    1. Mookie will need at least another 50 games at SS to be really serviceable.

    2. And he’ll never be there.

       Ozzie Smith was someone we may never see again.

       Just looked at his stats. In 1989 he had 6.7 WAR and his offense was barely above league average.

       1. Ozzie would catch a ball in the hole, turn a summersault, and still throw the runner out by 51 feet!

          1. He was the Fred Astaire of shortstops! Made the sensational look routine.

13. Am I the only one talking about Moving Will Smith?

    1. Do you have access to his medical files and know the extent of his injury. Football players have concussions all the time and they don’t switch out and become a kicker. I’m sure Will and AF will make the right decision based on his medicals.

       1. Agreed, but football players don’t take random 100+ MPH Foul balls off their domes all the time.

    2. Yeah, I constantly think about it, because the Dodgers fate this season depends on what they do long-term about Smith and the catcher position.

       I’d be shocked and disappointed if they put Will back behind the plate – bad for him and their investment. They need Smith’s bat this season, but where to put him. It ain’t easy switching to a position he’s never played before.

       And as for catcher – Barnes can’t do it most games, no way. Wynns not the solution either. So what’s the answer?

       Both these issues are difficult to solve! But they must be solved ..SOON.

       Even worse – what if Smith’s concussion is worse than we know, and he’s out indefinitely! That would be a blow on par to losing Lux for the year. He was the team’s #3 hitter, and that loss would change everything.

       1. OK, just learned Smith taking batting practice and will return eventually. But I still don’t like him back at catcher. This is a quandary for the rest of the season

14. DODGERS ACTIVATE TONY GONSOLIN

    LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers activated right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin from the injured list and optioned right-handed pitcher Andre Jackson.

    Gonsolin, 28, will make the start tonight after missing the first 24 games with a left ankle injury. Last season, he went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA (31 ER/130.1 IP) and 119 strikeouts against 35 walks in 24 games. He made the National League All-Star Game roster after posting an 11-0 record with a 2.02 ERA (21 ER/93.2 IP) in 17 first half starts. He is entering his fifth season with the Dodgers, and he is a combined 26-6 with a 2.51 ERA (76 ER/272.2 IP) and 267 strikeouts in 59 games (51 starts). He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth round of the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of St. Mary’s College.

    Jackson, 26, pitched 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits in his second stint with the club. On the campaign, he has made five appearances, allowing 10 runs on 11.1 innings with 10 runs. In his career, he is 0-1 with a 4.13 ERA (16 ER/32.1 IP) and 29 strikeouts in 12 games for the Dodgers. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2017 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Utah.

15. David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    Will Smith threw to bases and is now participating in Live BP with Miguel Rojas. They are facing #Dodgers minor league pitchers.

    1. Don’t hit him in the head!

16. 6:35 PM ET

    Dodgers (13-11)
    Pirates (16-8)

    SP Tony Gonsolin R
    0-0 .00 ERA
    Roansy Contreras R
    2-1 4.57 ERA 21.2 IP 19K

    Confirmed Lineup
    RF Mookie Betts R
    1B F. Freeman L
    CF J. Heyward L
    LF James Outman L
    2B M. Vargas R
    3B M. Busch L
    SS Chris Taylor R
    DH D. Peralta L
    C Austin Wynns R

    Clear-day
    0% Rain
    57° Wind 8 mph Out

    Bush at 3rd base

    1. Busch at 3rd base

    2. No JD, interesting.

17. Tuesday scores
    Oklahoma City 5, Sacramento 4
    Tulsa 4, Arkansas 1
    Great Lakes 4, Fort Wayne 2
    Rancho Cucamonga 3, Inland Empire 1

    Wednesday schedule
    3:35 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Ben Casparius) at Fort Wayne (Garrett Hawkins)
    4:35 p.m.: Tulsa (Kyle Hurt) at Arkansas (Emerson Hancock)
    5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (William Cuevas) vs. Sacramento (TBD)
    6:35 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Peter Heubeck) at Inland Empire (Jake Madden)

18. Tim Anderson will be a Dodger by the trade deadline.
    He’s met the only real necessary qualification.
    He’s on the Paternity List this week.

    1. I hope you are right, but a lot of Dodger fans are against him… unrightfully so.

       This may explain why: https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-white-sox/baseballs-culture-problem-starts-with-tim-anderson/

       1. I dislike punks regardless of what team that they play for or what race, color, nationality, etc.

          I disliked Puig’s antics. Who needs that nonsense?

          No one should be showing another player or team up. In the old days, the game regulated itself. If you were bush, you got plunked or slid into. Now, players are treated with kid gloves and we have to let everyone “express himself” or “represent”.

          I agree with what Vince Lombardi said to his Packers in the ’60s – “when you get to the end zone, act like you’ve been there before”.

          1. I was not really a fan of Alex Verdugo’s bling, tattoos and general antics when he was a Dodger, but he did impress me with something he said on a podcast recently.

             He made the distinction between a player’s own irrational displays of exuberance when he makes a good play or hits a home run, and when those emotions are directed at an opposing player and are meant to be disrespectful.

             Some years ago the NBA clamped down on taunting because the game was being hurt by the constant fighting that was the natural result of taunting. The NFL implemented restrictions on end zone celebrations for the same reason. Baseball has always policed itself. The unwritten rules actually serve a purpose. It is professional courtesy.

             I think as the game becomes more international with the WBC gaining in popularity, those type of hyped displays will gain more general acceptance, but I hope rules that restrict disrespect to opposing players are still enforced by the old guard. It’s a hard game, most will fail, and those that don’t will eventually get old and fail. Careers are too short to show disrespect to your colleagues.

             https://youtu.be/Of2YEkyDxPo

             1. I followed the Women’s NCAA basketball. tournament this year to watch the wild taunting that goes on now. It’s silly, funny and part/parcel of the NIL social media circus they’ve got going. LSU with Angel, Miami and the Cavendar twins, Van Ligh etc – they’re all over the place with Griddy stomping up the floor, hand signs in your face and so on.

                It’s not your mom’s sport anymore. Good product – audience numbers better than mens.

       2. Interesting take.

          “What happens in between the foul lines stay there.”

          That is simple not true.

          I don’t know. I’m old. I don’t care for mouthy.

          If the team is ok and it, I sure would be.

19. This website is my go to read when I wake up.

    Friedman is a smart man. There have been free agents that he’s got that I don’t care for, but I know that it’s because some better free agents didn’t deserve the contracts they were getting from other teams and he didn’t want to out bid those other teams, because it would be a dope fiend move.

    Right about now, if Taylor can bounce back from his bad year last year, the Dodgers could use him as an everyday player in the outfield. Leaving only one spot out there for the trio that only hit RHP, but the Dodgers would need a platoon partner somewhere. Otherwise Smith everyday as Mark suggested or a long shot Busch everyday. I like an everyday player that hits both RHP and LHP. I’d rather see 1 or 2 of the trio that hit RHP only as pinch hitters, if there’s room on the roster for them. But whatever works best.

    I just always thought Pages and Cartaya were over hyped. I’m not saying they suck no no no, because that would be stupid, just over hyped. They’ll make it to MLB no doubt.

    Frasso is in my top 10 prospects now that Outman and Vargas have graduated from the minors to MLB.

    1. Who are you, and what did you do with Eric?

       ; )

       Damn good evaluation!

       1. Thanks Mark.

    2. “I just always thought Pages and Cartaya were over hyped”

       You might be right. Even life long talent evaluators can buy into hype. Neither of those guys are doing real well right now. Maybe it’s just part of the process.

20. Where’s JD? He’s not on conception leave is he?

    1. He’s not in the lineup today, either. Just read it was a back injury.

    2. Back issues.

       1. My favorite childhood memory is my back not hurting.

          1. Well, the heart people concluded that my heart was fine and now I am back on the schedule to have the back surgery. I now wake up, and my back doesn’t hurt for about 2 Minutes, and then it starts. I am so sick of it, and I am ready. I told them to give me an hour’s notice and I will be there.

             1. Jesus. That’s awful Mark.

                ejg

    3. April 25: DH J.D. Martinez held out of lineup with back injury
       Martinez was out of the Dodgers’ lineup on April 25 for the first time this season with what manager Dave Roberts called a back injury. Roberts said Martinez felt something during his last at-bat on April 23 against the Cubs. The team is hopeful Martinez will be back in the lineup on April 26 against the Pirates.

21. David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    Max Muncy and Brusdar Graterol are expected to rejoin #Dodgers on Friday at Dodger Stadium for beginning of home stand.

    David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    JD Martinez still dealing with a lower back issue is the reason he isn’t in the lineup for second straight game. #Dodgers

    David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    Roberts ruled out Friday activation for Smith. Possible Saturday. #Dodgers

    David Vassegh
    Dave Roberts said Will Smith be in the bullpen to catch relievers warming up during the game. Another box for Smith to check. #Dodgers

    David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    Smith said his headaches have been gone since last Friday in Chicago.

22. Wow. You poor, sad, little man-boy. Who would read a column by someone so immature and unprofessional that bullies and demeans his readers. Shame on you. Get help. SMH, SMH.

    1. If the shoe fits, wear it! That sounds like your size!
       

23. Why is Dave Roberts when being interviewed seems like hes scared to talk like hes choosing his words before he speaks.

24. Andrew Friedman is one of the best GM’s in the business. His success with Tampa and the Dodgers is amazing. Since joining the Dodgers in late 2014, he has helped produce 8 successful seasons in a row, including 7 division titles, 3 pennants, and a World Series champion!
    But like everybody, he is not perfect. I disagree with AF from time to time, and in most instances he turns out to be correct. As Mark often points out, AF has way more information than any of us can imagine. But to label those of us who criticize AF or some of his moves as morons or stupid is an interesting approach. I think a case can be made that other teams like the Braves and Astros have had more success than the Dodgers during the Friedman era, especially when you consider the financial resources and talent that Friedman controls compared to those organizations.
    When AF took over the Dodgers, they had just won 94 games, two straight division titles, led MLB in attendance, and they proceeded to have the highest payroll in baseball over the next 8 years. In 5 of his 8 years, Dodger payroll was the highest in the MLB. They also spent an unprecedented $100 million on international signings in 2015, that resulted in very little payback. The best player in that group was Yordan Alvarez who was signed for $2 million and then quickly traded away for a journeyman reliever, Josh Fields.

    When AF took over the Dodgers in late 2014, the following players were already in the organization:
    Pitchers – Kershaw, Urias, Greinke, Ryu, Stripling, Haren, Jansen, Baez, Caleb Ferguson, Yimi Garcia.
    Position players – Seager, Pederson, Bellinger, Justin Turner, Puig, Gonzalez, Kemp, Ethier, Gordon, Hanley Ramirez, Juan Uribe, Rojas, Kyle Farmer.
    Even today, 9 years later, you could start a pretty good MLB roster from the players Friedman inherited.

    AF made some great moves to optimize the roster, draft new talent, develop players, sign free agents, and strategically trade assets.
    And I think he is a top 5 GM in the sport, if not the best.
    But in fairness to the other teams, AF started with a very good Dodger team, and has had the most financial backing of any team in the sport. This is not meant to criticize AF, but just to put into perspective where the team was when he took over.

25. The good news? Gonsolin looks good. The bad news? Dodgers no hits through 4 innings (again).

    1. You think Gonsolin looked good?

       I didn’t. 3.1, 3 walks, 1.5 WHIP, 65 pitches. He was not ready. And now a costly bullpen game

       1. I thought he looked good for a guy who has not pitched in the Majors since August 2022.

          1. I’m surprised at how low your bar is Mark.

             He wasn’t ready. He looked it.

             Was this just a throw away game?

    2. A lot of talk about what the Dodgers should do about Will Smith. Remember right or wrong the Dodgers have to take into consideration what Will wants for himself.
       It’s only fair that Will has a say in his career going forward.
       On another note, I was talking to my nieces husband, who used to be a equipment developer, for a major sporting goods firm. In 2017, he and some other individuals not connected to the firm, came up with a design for a new catchers mask.it had the springs that separated the mask from the cage, like the one Tyler, flowers, and others have come up with. The difference was in the frame of the mask that touched the face. It was made in two pieces of a material like Kevlar that was filled with a shock absorbing gel. well, what happened is he finished his engineering degree and went to work for a Boeing and there Design never got off the drawing board
       What he told me is there a better masks that a lot of MLB catchers could be using but they’re under contract with certain sporting goods company’s
       That makes no sense to me when you’re considering your health, Haven’t done any research on it myself I’m only going on what he has told me

26. Good news.

27. Without Muncy, Smith and Martinez, and with Mookie not hitting and Freeman not really Freeman yet, this offense is bad, really bad.

    1. At times, yes.

       That’s been the problem.

       But we still have innings left. A 3 run homer ties it.

       1. 7 run homer maybe. They stunk up the joint.

28. Our new catcher has played in 3-4 games. He’s tied with Barnes with 2 hits. This is not your dad’s dodgers! Pirates look like the dodgers and dodgers look like the pirates of past years! Earn your money doc!

29. Man, this bullpen is bad.

30. I don’t know about anybody else, but in this game I’m rooting for Maggi

31. My head hurts. That’s most likely because I keep pounding it into something hard. But, that’s what you do on a night like tonight.

    Forehead + hard thing = Dodger fan. At least tonight.

    1. Btw. Don’t anybody challenge me!

       I’ve checked the math.

32. So a day after 5 Dodger relievers combine to throw 5 shutout innings, four Dodger RPs combined to give up 8 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.
    Yeah, looks like inconsistency is the hallmark of the 2023 Dodgers.
    Gonsolin wasn’t great, but at least he didn’t give up any runs. This was probably the only bright spot in this game. Nice than Freddie got his 4th homer, but I hope he gets more hits in moments that matter.

33. Win today and its a 5-2 road trip….Ill take that every dadgum time….

    Need Julio to shove today….

34. Win today and its a 5-2 trip.

    Ill take that any dadgum time.

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