Every year since Andrew Friedman took over as President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014, I have been called a Suck-up, Homer, Kool-Aid Drinker, and probably other uncomplimentary things. There are some people who absolutely become “unhinged” whenever Andrew Frierdman’s name is mentioned. Some call him “Friedbrain” and other names which we cannot mention. Leading the charge against Andrew Friedman are two wordsmiths who evidently get paid by the word to see how much they can write without substance, namely Bill Plaschke and Dylan Hernandez.
I can’t use their names again as it makes me throw up in my mouth to read the nonsense they write designed to appeal to John Q. Moron, who has no clue and worships the ground they crawled out of! As I mentioned, Andrew Friedman joined the Dodgers in time to put his stamp on the team in 2015, as the team has won over 100 games four times and has the best winning percentage in all of baseball. Here’s how they rank:
- LA Dodgers – .618 Winning %
- NY Yankees – .567 Winning %
- Houston Astros – .557 Winning %
- Cleveland Guardians – .566 Winning %
- St. Louis Cardinals – .534 Winning %
The Dodgers have the best record in that period by a landslide. It’s not even close. The Stats are through the end of June. In that time, the Dodgers have won 77 more games than the second-place Yankees. They have been to the playoffs every year. They have won their division every year except one, and in that year, they won 106 games! They should have won two World Series, but they only won in 2020 because of the Cheating AssTericks! Oh, and to top it all off, even though the Dodgers have drafted at the end of most rounds due to their excellent finishes, Andrew Friedman has built one of the Top Two Farm Systems in all of baseball.
He also told us before the season started that this was a “Transition Year,” but he never said that the Dodgers would not try and win. In fact, as we speak, the Dodgers are in first place in the NL West, and it would take a total collapse for them not to make the playoffs. A “transition year” means that the Dodgers are going to start relying more on the Farm System to produce players, not just on Trades and Free Agency. All the Dodgers Farm Teams have a winning record, and the system is full of prospects. So, when some dumbass says that I am drinking the Kool-Aid, I say, “You should drink some of it too, but first take a dose of Dumbass Vaccine.” Why?
Drink the Kool-Aid! Even though the Astros won the World Series (by cheating) in 2017, Baseball America recognized their efforts by naming the Dodgers its 2017 Organization of the Year, honoring the team’s success from top to bottom. He was selected as the winner of the MLB Executive of the Year. Baseball America also selected him the Executive of the Year and named the Dodgers the Organization of the Year for the second time in four seasons. Much of the Dodgers’ success under Friedman has been due to homegrown talent that Friedman refused to include in trades, including Corey Seager, outfielders Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson, and pitchers Julio Urias and Walker Buehler. The Dodgers’ farm system is consistently ranked among the best in Major League Baseball. When he has traded prospects or young talent, he has the flexibility to acquire impactful talent such as Rich Hill, Yu Darvish, Manny Machado, and Mookie Betts, all of whom are expensive veterans but not with long contracts. In 2020, Baseball America called Los Angeles the model franchise in the sport.
So, do I think Andrew Friedman is perfect? Hell no! He traded away Yordon Alvarez and let Cody Bellinger walk. He signed Noah Syndergaard, so he is far from perfect, but he is so much better than whoever is in second place that you would have to have your head strategically placed where the sun don’t shine to fail to grasp that concept!
I would tell you who this is, but they already know!
Many fans mocked the Dodger’s Deadline Acquisitions. But Kike Hernandez has already been stellar, and so has Amed Rosario. Lance Lynn has shown what we might expect, and it’s not bad. Joe Kelly and Bryan Yarbrough have yet to show their impact, but here is what most fans fail to understand: They are looking at the past, and Andrew Friedman is looking to the future when making trades. Let me spell it out: Many of you wanted Ohtani or Bellinger or Thomas, while Friedman (with help from Robert Van Socyoc) was interested in acquiring Amed Rosario, who could be likened to a young JD Martinez BEFORE RVS overhauled his swing. Would it surprise you that Friedman may have acquired Rosario with the intent of turning him into a slugger? Andrew Friedman tries to get a player… before they become that player. That way, you don’t have to gut the farm!
At any rate, and I will say it again, Andrew Friedman is not perfect. I wish the Dodgers had kept Cody Bellinger, but we will never know if he would have had the success in LA, he has in Chicago. You are free not to like Andrew Friedman, and you are free to question his moves, but he has built and is continuing to build a sustainable juggernaut! You cannot argue with the results! Tell me: Which organization has been better over the past ten years? SCOREBOARD!
I think the naysayers could be very surprised at what this team can do. I am enjoying this ride, and one final thing: I hope you don’t have your hearts set on Ohtani!
P.S. Don’t look now, but the Dodgers bullpen is still the best in baseball since June 20th, and the relievers are now at #18 for the year. The pitching was so bad at one time that there is no way it is going to look good for the year, but now it’s crunch time, and what happens here on is all that counts.
Mark –
Great article!
You have presented an excellent case for why the Dodgers have been the winningest team in baseball over the past decade – Andrew Friedman!
A key point you made is that Friedman is always “looking to the future.” That is what true leadership is all about!
Regardless of what some fans or media think this is what guides his decision-making in his role as the Dodger baseball leader.
As for the hacks at the LA Times, I have a suggestion. You should hire Andrew Friedman to run your newspaper before you go out of business!
Nice win last night! Pitching only gave up 6 hits, but also issued 6 walks. Thought I read somewhere that when Clayton comes back and with all the options Doc will have , Bobby Millers innings may be cut way back. You agree with that Mark? Also read Yarbrough may be the sneaky good deal of trade deadline! Maybe used as an opener, also piggy back with Gonsolin, as a spot starter too. I don’t believe in all my years of being a dodger fan I’ve ever enjoyed 2 players hitting back to back as much as Mookie and Freddie! I often think what if Cody was number 3 , healthy and like the Cody of 2019! No other team could match that 3! Oh well, I can dream. I don’t like Koolaid so I ain’t drinking any! But at the end of the day , Friedman is the guy for the Dodgers. I know the chess and checkers thing, sometimes I’d like a rook and a castle instead of pawns! Pouring in Charlotte, headed to New Hampshire in 1 hour. Piss on the Friars!
Enjoy & Godspeed!
So far, the quietest, under the radar pickup, that I believe has been great for us is Ryan Brasier.
17 games with us, 18 ip total, and a 1 ERA?? I know we used him as a closer once, when Phillips wasn’t available, but I’d love to see what he can continuously do in late game leverage situations (see if he’s an option in Oct)
Just watched his inning from last night. Not clean but the stuff is Graterol Lite.
Good stuff, Mark.
Everybody can line up to get some from us.
From The Athletic:
“ Rodriguez spent two months on the restricted list last summer dealing with a marital issue.
However, according to team sources briefed on the discussions, Rodriguez and Mato asked for financial and contractual enhancements for the pitcher to join the Dodgers, one of 10 teams to which he is contractually permitted to block a trade. When those enhancements were not granted, he invoked his no-trade protection.“
Sounds like he is a freaking loser! I gave him the benefit of the doubt at first, but he is a little (rhymes with itch).
Yup Vassegh made mention of this on Dodger Talk. Screw him glad we didnt get him. Always remember Puig taking him yard!!
Lots of complaints about Andrew not getting the players people wanted. He could have gotten any of them. All he had to do is include Bobby Miller and the cream of our minor league prospects. I wonder how people would react to that.
MLB pipeline had a good recap of the trade deadline. They indicated that of all the trades completed this year, only 4 of the top 100 prospects were traded. Astros traded Gilbert #68 for Verlander, Rangers traded Acuna #44 for Scherzer, Rays traded Manzardo #37 for Civale, and Angels traded Quero #65 for Giolito.
The prospect rankings are from MLB pipeline and vary on other rating systems. However, no one close to Bobby Miller level was traded this year. The Dodgers have 8 top 100 prospects including Miller, Vargas, Cartaya, Busch, Rushing, Stone, Pepiot and Pages who are equal or better than the best prospects traded this year. Friedman had plenty of prospect capital to land another top pitcher, but preferred to hold the prospects and was foiled by no trade clauses. In my opinion a missed opportunity to improve playoff chances, but hopefully they can still win the division and make a playoff run.
The rankings are highly subjective. It’s also an exercise in groupthink.
For years EVERY ranking system had Vargas and Busch well above Outman–but Outman is the guy who is proving himself in the majors, while Vargas and Busch are in OKC. If this wasn’t groupthink, at least one of these rankers would have placed Outman above Busch.
We don’t know what AF offered for Eduardo Rodriguez. Dodgers do have a lot of prospect capital to work with, and I think AF did a good job in making economical moves for Lynn, Kelly, Rosario, Kike and Yarbrough. Maybe he was willing to splurge a bit for Rodriguez, but the deal blew up on the Dodgers.
That was unfortunate, but if Kershaw and Urias come back strong, the Dodgers will in good shape for the playoffs. Heck, we might get Buhler back too.
FWIW, the Rodriguez mess may have kept AF from pursuing Flaherty, who went to the O’s, and Lorenzen, who went to the Phils.
Both Flaherty and Lorenzen had strong debuts for their new teams. And Rodriguez had another good game for the Tigers. (Giolito, in contrast, has been hammered twice with the Angels. Ouch.)
Oh well.
Maybe Yarbrough will ride to the rescue!
Seriously, some people have compared him to Tyler Anderson, who did a great job for the Dodgers last season.
Again, I choose optimism….. unless Will Smith gets banged up.
Just a bad reply, Bear. The guy takes so much shit around here for coming up with off the wall trades that to me seem like he’s just spitballing ideas (what’s so wrong with that) He finally gets one right and you still try and rip him. I don’t why you have such a problem with him , but I like Rosario too and I think he has a chance to help this team more than Rojas does.
I have to give Bradley some credit because there aren’t many guys who would have stuck around as long as he has with the amount of crap he gets.
I give Bradley credit, too. I think he’s a good sport. Yeah, his trade ideas are …creative, to use a charitable euphemism, and he’s in constant battle with the English language, but he’s sort of the comic relief here, and this place could use the relief from all the folks here who are as serious as a heart attack.
Bear just doesn’t like being wrong about anything.
Thanks Dodgefan Im the Buddy Hackett of this chat and just love when Bear gets something wrong and it does come threw. If only I could get a Amed Rosorio jersey #31 and mailed to him and he take a picture with it on. Now that would be classic. Bear is like the old uncle who always wants to be right.
Let’s continue the Rosario talk. Don’t you think it is funny Amed is batting cleanup this last 2 games in JD absence from the lineup??
AF got Rosario but not to play SS but to play 2B against Lefties. Stop it right there.
Rosario CAREER Numbers against lefties:
BA OBP SLG OP
.303 .342 .477 .819
In june there was the cry/rant that we need a bat against LHP. We got him but go unnoticed because everybody thinks Amed is coming to play SS, not 2B. Mark stated the AF has vision for the future. Don’t you think this past summer, Dodgers Brass ( and Mark, lol )envisioned similar performance from MVargas that what Amed will bring at 2B ?
I agree, and I still think Vargas is that guy although he could play elsewhere.
Next year:
1b–Freeman
2b–Vargas
SS–Lux
3b–Busch
Freddie and the Pretenders?
Whatever talent they possess, Vargas and Busch have not proved they are at least average major leaguers. Vargas has had a good opportunity but has mostly proven that he is a work in progress. Busch has not had as much opportunity, but he is mediocre at best. Max is much better at 3B. (If the Dodgers want a really good one, maybe Matt Chapman would like to come home to SoCal.)
Lux is an OK second baseman but we still don’t know if he can succeed at SS in the majors. (I’m optimistic, but for the Wise One wanted him to play centerfield instead of Outman. Go figure.)
Not feeling warm and fuzzy about this infield, JG.
I’d rather have Rosario at 2B and I’d rather have Rojas/CT3 platoon with Lux at SS.
Busch over Muncy is intriguing but do you really believe he can knock in as many runs and hit more homers than Marvelous Max? So what are you doing with Marvelous Max?
I think you nailed 1B though. Lol
Max can DH or be cut.
Cut!!!
Doesn’t sound very “gentle” to me.
How about Johnny Slasher? Lol
Max > Busch.
In every which way. As a fielder, Max has more experience, better range, stronger arm. As a hitter, he’s on his way to his fourth 35-HR season. What we know about Busch is that he can crush AAA pitching, but his too-brief debut in the majors was underwhelming.
Busch did OK during his stint at 3B, but the expectations were not high. Why would they be? Busch only started playing 3B this season because Busch’s limitations are well known. He played 1B in college and the Dodgers drafted him with the plan to turn him into a second baseman. It’s great that they have now added 3B to Busch’s UT portfolio, because stuff happens. But the Dodger brass know he ain’t The Answer at 3B.
So if they’re both on the roster, Busch is better suited for DH or 1B–but of course 1B is covered. He is also better suited for 2B, but he’d have to show he’s better than Vargas. (And let’s not forget the Mookie factor. I’d have been thrilled if AF had put Busch in a package for Lane Thomas to play RF and moved Mookie to the middle infield fulltime.)
If JDM goes on the IL, perhaps Busch will get called up and take some those hacks. He’s earned more of an opportunity.
Need a good one from Julio tonight
Thanks for the article Mark. Andrew Friedman is a great GM, and indeed has a stellar record. I think he is a top 5 GM in the sport and could possibly be the best. But regular season record is not the only metric to gauge GM performance. Friedman took over a good team that had won two straight divisions and 94 games in 2014. The roster he inherited included Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, Urias, Haren, Beckett, Jansen, Baez, Stripling in the Pitching staff. The position players included Seager, Turner, Bellinger, Pederson, Verdugo, Gonzalez, Kemp, Ethier, Puig, Rojas, Farmer, Ramirez.
Friedman was also given the largest payroll in the MLB for his first 8 years in charge and the largest international budget in the sport by far.
My point isn’t to criticize Friedman, but to put into context the advantages of the Dodgers franchise when he took over. Ned Colletti was a pretty good GM before getting fired. In the 8 years since Friedman took over, the Dodgers have won a world championship and three NL titles. A great record to be sure, but not the best performance in MLB. In 2014, the Astros won 70 games and were a much worse baseball team than the Dodgers. Since that time, the Astros have won 2 world championships and 4 AL titles. Yes, one of their titles is tainted, but the improvement they have made since 2014 is greater than the Dodgers, and as you put it: Scoreboard!
I would also argue that Alex Anthopolous record in ATL is at least equal to Friedman’s record. ATL won the WS in 2021 with a payroll of $142 million compared to the Dodgers $266 payroll. And the current ATL roster is better and well positioned for the future. AA has done a great job of locking up the best young brave players, whereas Friedman tends to let players go to free agency like Seager or opt out like Greinke.
The Tampa GM, Erik Neander has kept them competitive with a bottom 5 payroll, and is another good GM.
Again, I think Friedman is a great GM but he is also operating with the most resources in the MLB and he took over a good team in 2014.
Anthopolous is a fantastic GM.
In a lot of ways he’s been a disruptor in similar ways Beane and Friedman were disruptors.
Were Beane looked for overlooked value and Friedman has generally avoided long term deals to older players, Anthopolous has not hesitated to lock up young pre-arbitration players to long term deals. For example, Ocuna was signed in 2019 and has an AAV of 12.5 mil. The Braves are getting his prime years at well under market value. The Ray’s did something similar in locking up Franco for the next 10 years.
The Braves have their core under team control for the next few years. They’re going to be good for a while.
Good post.
AF walked into a great situation. The team was strong and suddenly he had a lot of $$$ to work with. He’s done a good job, but it’s not like a zero-to-hero story.
Talking about resources, Kim Ng has been doing a marvelous job with not much for the Marlins.
Yep. A lot of good moves.
Okay, the world is changing, time for the Dodgers to approach things differently. In the past the Dodgers assessed their team and made trade deadline changes to improve. But with all the additional teams believing they may have a chance to compete, realistic or otherwise, the Dodgers can no longer count on smashing trades at the deadline. Less players available, more teams in the market to add and costs of gaining talent increasing, it’s time they move in a different direction. They need to focus more on adding in the winter.
Even Andrew Friedman admitted that he didn’t want to overpay, which is why some potential deals didn’t happen.
The best time to make moves was the off season, JP Hoornstra pointed out this morning in the Daily News, for all the above reasons.
You can probably make minor moves at the deadline, but if you want impact talent it had better be done in the winter.
His column today is a good analysis along with Jack Harris in depth review in the LA Times of what happened. Both worth reading.
An example of the Dodgers frustration with prospect costs to make a deal can be found in one of their early targets Lucas Giolito when the Angels outbid the Dodgers to make the deal.
The Dodgers thought they had a good shot to land Justin Verlander until Houston owner Jim Crane entered the fray.
Obviously, the fall back to Eduardo Rodriquez, who stunned them by blocking the deal, was a huge setback. That’s on the Tigers for not getting that waived before the trade talks advanced to that point. But looking back, was Rodriquez really somebody you wanted?
Now, I realize the disappointment for LA fans, but honestly how many trade deadline deals work and get a team into the World Series or help the team win a championship?
I can recall two winter deals that were difference makers for the the Dodgers, one for Kirk Gibson and the other for Mookie Betts. One of the Dodgers best winter trades ever was signing Freddie Freeman.
Now look back at the potential deals the Dodgers were looking at the deadline. Giolito got rocked yesterday and so did Dylan Cease.
Even getting Max Scherzer and Trea Turner at the deadline didn’t result in a World Series title and that was a great trade.
So yes, I think the Dodgers will realize that focusing on big improvements in the winter and lesser ones at the deadline will make more sense moving forward. Otherwise the costs will only grow for impact talent. Obviously, Friedman didn’t want to pay those prices and who can blame him?
I agree with all of this, good post!
2020 may have been the hardest WS to EVER be won.
Get out of here with that crap Hondo…..
Good point, Matt.
Had to play an extra series. Did not have the homefield advantage. Just two arguments .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Book of Moron can be so redundant…
If you disagree with me, YOU ARE A DUMBASS!
Does the Wise Sage of LADT think Andrew is perfect?
Goodness gracious no, we are assured. He traded Yordan Alvarez! He let Cody walk instead of rewarding him with $19.65 million for a dreadful season!
Ah, but the Wise Sage always defends AF’s promotion of Miguel Vargas during the stretch run of 2022, even though Miguelito proved he wasn’t ready. And then AF, chief of the Dodger brain trust, decreed in the spring that Miguelito would be the starting 2B, discouraging any competition from the likes of Michael Busch, Jarmaih Jones, etc. Brilliant!
And yet now, Miguelito is back in OKC.
I will certainly give credit to AF where it is due–and criticism where it is due also. But the Wise One bristles if AF gets criticized.
Hindsight is 20/20.
Most, if not all, baseball people I know thought Vargas was ready and real baseball people still believe.
Of course, you are a legend in your own mind because you and Eric picked Outman… and you won! Well, actually Outman is a nice player, but only a moron would think his talent trumps Vargas!
Well, one could argue that the 2020 championship was the easiest to win.
Just a 60-game season. Not nearly as much wear and tear and tribulations of a 162-game season.
Contrast that to the 1988 championship.
Bob Costas pointed out that the Dodgers’ injury-deleted lineup was one of the weakest ever in the WS, relying on guys like Franklin Stubbs and Mickey Hatcher in the heart of the lineup. Dodgers needed that magical AV from Gibson to win the opener and deflate the A’s. And then there Hershiser’s heroics.
And we just had an 111-win team get bounced in the first round by a Padres team that added guys like Josh Hader and Brandon Drury in the midseason AF could have dealt for Drury, but he really believed that Miguel Vargas would come up and just hit, hit, hit.
Oh well.
Would have preferred if Bobby Miller started tonight over Julio.
Tough assignment for a rookie to pitch at SD in a pennant run. Plus Julio apparently has a finger problem , so the extra day of rest might have benefitted him.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!11
I respectfully disagree. Julio is not right and he can really benefit of handling the A’s. I prefer BMiller against the Madres and beginning the series.
What is the point of this? Semi-vitriolic if you ask me.
Anyone seen Trea Turner’s # this year. YIKES
I didn’t mind losing Tre….it was Corey I minded….
Coming into the Winter of 2024, the following players are free agents or come off of the payroll:
Urias, Kershaw, Bauer, Shelby Miller, Jimmy Nelson, Brasier, Cyr (pitchers) (Lance Lynn has a team option at $18MM, Kelly has one at $9.5MM)
JD Martinez, Kike Hernandez, Rosario, Peralta, Heyward, Marisnick (position players) (Muncy has a team option at $10MM).
The point is that this is a transitional year. Most of the above won’t be back next season. If none (including Muncy) return next year, that’s $101MM in payroll savings. There is no telling what the Dodgers will look like next season, which of their own free agents they will bring back, which of the prospects will start the season on the ML roster, and what free agents that they will try to sign. There are lots of moving parts!
I truly believe that they are keeping their options open for next year while being competitive this year.
If up to me….the following should be back next year for sure, or at least we should try to resign them:
Clayton, JDM, Max, Kike, and Rosario
If Lux plays LF we probably don’t need Perralta.
I’d also try to resign Urias, but prefer to wait to see the balance of the year
Transition to what?
The Age of Ohtani?
Rick,
Well said!
That’s why they signed Betts and Freeman to long term contracts?
I think Dodger fans are quite satisfied with the 2020 championship.
Mark, great article, but I think much of the frustration with AF is the fact that we have not won a World Series without an asterisk next to it.
Good post by RC Dodger regarding GMs in baseball. Certainly Anthopoulos and Neander deserve mention. As for the Astros, it is fair to note that Jeff Luhnow oversaw three straight years when the Astros were historically bad from 2011 through 2013. They won 162 games over three years. I was living in Houston then and that franchise purposely went in the tank and killed baseball in that city for a while. They used the draft capital from those horrible years and the following 70 win season to draft Correa, Bregman, , McCullers and Kyle Tucker. No doubt they have been a very successful franchise and among the best in baseball but it is hard to overlook the cheating scandal in 2017 which brought them their first title. Luhnow lost his job as a result. If you discount the World Series title in 2017 they have won 1 title in the 7 years since they returned to playoffs. Agree wholeheartedly with your praise of Anthopoulos but also fair to note that Acuña, Riley, Albies, Freeman, and Fried were in that organization when he took over in November 2017.
Pepiot activated and optioned to OKC. Miller DFA’d.
Um, what Miller was DFA’d?
Probably Shelby
Bobby. He gave up 3 runs last time, and we have higher standards here in LA.
The one whose first name starts with a T.
Trevor
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!
Doesn’t make sense
Makes perfect sense. They need the roster spot for Yarborough
I have seen more than one poster, usually fans of other teams, constantly criticizing the Dodgers because they have not won a full season championship since 1988. Wow, like we did not know that. What we also know is that every other team had the same rules and chances to win in 2020. Naysayers say the same thing about the Lakers winning in 2020 in the bubble. My take is that under the conditions the seasons were played in, both championships were much harder to win. No homefield advantage. No fans at all until late in the playoffs and then only 25% of capacity allowed. Nothing and no one to get energy from except your teammates. It is much harder to even get to the World Series than it was in 88. They had to beat 3 NL teams to get to the 2020 series. In 21, when they ended up losing to the Braves, it was the same thing. Not one of those fans would have not wanted their team to win. They would have gladly wore the hats and other gear out there and available after the series was over. The Dodgers just happened to be the last team standing, it could have very easily gone a very different direction. The Braves had three chances to close out the Dodgers and go to the series and lost them all. The title is legitimate, no matter how many say it isn’t.
let em bitch. I”ll take my ring and my memories of Urias striking out that one dude to end it.
The one dude was Bradley’s favorite SS, Willy Adames.
We don’t need him now we sign Rosorio have Rojas and Lux comes back more options for 2b and way better hitters then Vargas and you still have mookie in 2024. The positions in need in 2024 is thirdbase and Leftfield right now the third baseman for the Dodgers to get Is Matt Chapman and resign JD Martiniz as DH and let Muncy walk. Now for a outfielder I will have to look at who is available for outfielders but 3 guys to sign off season Rosorio Chapman and Martiniz. Let me do the research on free agent outfielders. Okay Bear.
I don’t care how we won it…..just glad we did. It counts.
Now, as to their argument that it is tainted…they do have a point. It was not a full season. So why argue over that….I just agree and say, “yes it was over a 60 game season, and yes, this is more than 100 games less than normal…..but hey, every team had the same conditions, so it’s not like it was an advantage for any one team, including LA.
So, you can call it what you like….I call it a World Series Championship win and my boys have the ring to prove it.
Definitely more legit than the 2017 Championship
Bingo,
The ‘best ‘ is subjective. Like with Roberts. Sure he has this great winning percentage. But how would he do as Oakland’s manager. I always think of Joe Torre who suddenly became the ‘greatest’ when he went to manage the Yankees.
Anyway, it makes for lively discussions.
My baseball despise list. Number 5.Fernando tatis. Number 4. Carlos Correa. Number 3. Barry bonds. A tie for first. The Alex Aholes bregman and Rodriguez . Honorable mention Altuve and Pete Rose. Now I feel better. The one I always wanted in dodger blue , Ken Griffey Jr. As good as I ever saw. I kind of like Miller pitching against friars. He needs to get some padre hate in him ! He seems to have that “piss on you “ attitude and we could use some of that . Maybe Julio can take advantage of a weak Oakland lineup and get himself back on track
Wow, you put Rodriguez that high just because he exercised his right to enforce his no trade clause. To me, that is nothing compared to what Juan Marcial did to our catcher….I think his name was Roseboro.
He is talking about A-Rod. Not Eduard.
Didn’t you forget to include that asshole son of a bitch Manny Machado on your list?
Greetings from Galway. The annual trip to the races for three days.
Three days of absolute carnage. If ever you get the chance, do not hesitate.
Ireland is a magical place.
In Friedman I trust.
This is our year.
All the best to you
Can someone in the know post an answer to this: If a player in Texas or Florida making 10 million dollars a year is traded to the Dodgers in California. how much of a cut in take home pay will he have with the tax differences between the states?
California state tax rate for income over $1M is 13.30%. So $1,330,000.00.
Its not an easy answer like saying the State tax rate in CA is 10% and FL is 0. Because your tax in a state is based on the money earned in that state. So you are taxed in , CA, NY etc a certain percent based on how many days you worked there. Even though your ‘tax home’ is in FL. I thought Gary Sheffield asked for extra toplay in LA.
In regards to Johnny Gente’s infield suggestion, FYI Matt Chapman is a free agent in 2024.
The Dodgers are a better team now than they were last week. They need 4 starting pitchers to get it together for the playoffs.
A lot of money is coming off the books next year and Lux, many prospects and new acquisitions could make an impact.
Cody Bellinger : I wish the Dodgers would have signed him. Put on your GM hat and ask yourself could you sign a guy that has not hit his weight for two years for 17 million dollars ? I might have signed him for 7 or 8 million dollars to be a late inning defensive replacement and pich hitter. I’m amazed at the year he is having.
Kike Hernandez : In his first go round with the Dodgers every second or third game he would wear pants that were two to three sizes too small. My mom called them his sexy pants. Hopefully, he has outgrown the need to wear tight clothing.
I would’ve Q.O.’d him knowing it was a risk.
Too many of our 2020 guys were already gone.
I just don’t know if Cody would have turned it around in LA – I have watched him many times this year, and he looks like a different hitter. His strikeout % is under 18%. He has the big swing, but when he gets two strikes, he is swinging for a base hit. He will never hit 549 HR again, but he will hit 30 with a .300 BA.
A Cubs fan buddy sent me this yesterday, as it was posted during the Cubs game when Bellinger was batting:
2022: 144 games, BA: .210, OPS: .654. K Rate: 27.3%
2023: 76 games, BA: .321, OPS: .921. K Rate: 15.9%
You may be right.
I was surprised though, even if they had their reasons.
Could be wrong, but I think AF did offer Cody a contract, but lower than the “qualifying offer” of $19.65 million. If AF offered the QO, then Cody would have to stay. (I think AF did the right thing,) At any rate, Cody decided to test the market and got a decent two-year deal from the Cubs.
He’s making the most of it, especially now, putting up MVP-quality numbers in the last month. As I understand, he can opt out of his Cubs contract and will be a hot commodity over the winter. If he really wants to come back to LA, the Dodgers might well accommodate him–but I have a feeling they are saving the big bucks for Ohtani and Cody would get better offers elsewhere.
I’ve read that Cody really likes the Cubs, so perhaps he’ll sign an extension. Or maybe the Yankees could swoop in.
If I have Cody’s contract situation wrong, I trust that someone here will correct me. Thanks in advance.
Dave, he would have turned that down.
In case you missed it, Hondo the Horrible was not very complimentary of me. I was going to let it go, but the Old Bear had my back and deleted his Bullshit. I am good with that. Good riddance to bad rubbish!
Duke reminded me that morons are offended when you call them morons. I am sorry that I offended any moron – I thought they already knew.
Sorry not sorry if I offended you, oh Wise One.
Well, at least you got my name right!
Occasionally you get someone who strays over from Nosler’s site.
It’s one thing if you’re negative, a troll or just a jerk, but if you’re all of things plus you don’t have anything intelligent to say, well …
https://youtu.be/PVrEwCa8nSA
Patch,
Do you know Nosler?
I think I posted on his site a total of three times, and was banned twice and doxxed.
From my brief observations of him and his toxic sludge of a comments section, he’s just generally a terrible human being.
I also deleted my comment to Bradley. It was not the time for that kind of thing. Guys, I am not going to be able to post a story for a couple of weeks. I have eye surgery coming up, and a funeral to attend next week. I am going to be extremely busy and my sight won’t be tip top so research is out of the question. Found it quite satisfying that Scherzer was less than spectacular in his Texas debut. Put his team in an early hole giving up 3 to the woeful White Sox. On the other hand, Flaherty had a stellar debut in Toronto pitching 6 innings of 4 hit ball. Sticking out 8 and walking two to get his 8th win.
Bear –
Best wishes on the upcoming eye surgery! Thanks for all you do to keep LADT relevant in the lives of many LA Dodger fans….
* Dodger Dave – It’s easy to see Bellinger’s numbers this year and lament the Dodgers not giving him the 18 million it would have taken to re-sign him. I little history here can justify why the Dodgers didn’t. A look into his history shows that Belli had a spectacular 1/2 season in 2019 that carried him to an MVP despite a pedestrian second half. He had 1 good post season but otherwise was a mediocre to poor hitter for the next 3 1/2 years. Injuries had a part, but smaller than stated, and he got worse each year. He refused to make changes for whatever reasons. If you’re interested I would be happy to post his stats.
So maybe it was changes in latitudes and changes in attitudes but he in no way looks like the same hitter now with the Cubs. He has employed many of the suggestions from coaches and folks had here but he refused to make significant changes. Backing off the plate 2 inches wasn’t it.
Now he looks like the big one that got away but that was not true at the end of 2022. No revisionist history please, blaming the Dodgers.
* dodger rick gets it. He understands what AF is up to and the meaning of a “Transitional Year”. This will be a most interesting winter. In the meantime this team has a lot of synergy that can take us farther than I ever expected. I said 85 to 90 wins with the team we broke Spring Training with.
* What a great series to fatten up your average. Like Freddie needs the help.
* Dodger dad mentioned how much he enjoys Mookie and Freddie back to back.
I’m amazed what a great ambush hitter Mookie is in that leadoff role. I looked it up and it is as good as I thought. He’s hitting .340 leading-off with 10 home runs. He’s hitting .311 on the very first pitch and then takes advantage of advantage counts; 1 & 0 = .342 and 2 & 0 = .556. I love guys who feast on that and not take a cookie FB on advantage counts like a “house on the side of the road”.
* Freddie is hitting .550 in the last week and he too is an ambush hitter hitting .556 on the first pitch he sees. No waiting around with these guys. Let it eat.
* Yeah, yeah, I know it’s Oakland. I personally will not disrespect opponents. Players make the Big Leagues for a reason. it’s easy to make fun of guys but they did something right to get to the show. You try it?
Cool stats on Mookie’s ambush skills.
In addition to the power, Mookie has improved his plate discipline. He’s improved his OBP to .385 this season, with 65 walks against 75 Ks. That’s a really good ratio, but in the last 30 days it was better: 13 walks against 11 Ks.
Here’s hoping that the Dodgers continue to fatten up on the A’s pitching.
Yeah, maybe the A’s would struggle against the OKC Dodgers, but it’s still good for the confidence.
10:10 PM ET
Athletics (30-79)
Dodgers (61-45)
SP JP Sears L
2-7 4.09 ERA
SP Julio Urias L
7-6 4.98 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
DH Will Smith R
2B Amed Rosario R
3B Max Muncy L
LF Chris Taylor R
CF E. Hernandez R
SS Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes R
76° Wind 7 mph Out
Rojas/Barnes & Betts/Freeman
The mirror has two faces.
Both of those twosomes had a homer last night. 🙂
Wednesday scores
Oklahoma City 6, Round Rock 3
Wichita 4, Tulsa 0
Great Lakes 5, Fort Wayne 2
Fresno 7, Rancho Cucamonga 2
Thursday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Maddux Bruns) at Fort Wayne (Edwuin Bencomo)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (TBD) vs. Round Rock (Glenn Otto)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Nick Frasso) at Wichita (Carlos Luna)
6:50 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Roque Gutierrez) at Fresno (Connor Staine)
Just got confirmation about our bass player and close friend, Del Trogden passing away yesterday morning. He was a great guy and a very good musician. Used to love messing with him when he was singing. RIP Del, you will be missed a lot.
Sad!
Sorry for your loss Bear. My goodness Taylor is just pathetic!
Love that fastball
Freeman is God
Dodgers have now played 107 games–or one short of the 2/3 mark in the season.
The math is easier now, s we can roughly project that…
The Dodgers will win the West with 94-68 record.
Freddie will finish with all 162 games played, having compiled 220 hits, 60 doubles, 33 HRs and 141 runs scored–and yet may still finish second to Acuna in the MVP vote.
Mookie and Max will reach the 40 HR threshold–and, yes, Max will so while batting below .200.
Johnny G.
Jesus Christ is God.
Freeman is a really good baseball player.
“ guard yourself from idols “