AI (Artificial Intellegence) is something I use everyday. I know… one of you is going to say, “Well, you need it.” TOUCHE! When ChatGPT first came out a few years ago, I subscribed for life ($20/month) and gradually began to use it more and more every week. Just for fun, I asked it this question, “What happened to Miguel Vargas after he was traded by the Dodgers to the White Sox and why did he struggle so badly?” ChatGPTcame back and said this:
“Miguel Vargas’s struggles with the Chicago White Sox can be attributed to several factors:
- Transition to a New Team Environment: After being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the White Sox in July 2024, Vargas faced the challenge of adapting to a new team dynamic. The White Sox were enduring a historically poor season, which likely affected player morale and performance. Vargas himself appeared visibly dejected during games, indicating the mental toll of the team’s struggles. New York Post
- Inconsistent Playing Time and Positioning: Initially, Vargas was utilized in various roles, including third base, left field, and designated hitter. This lack of a consistent position may have hindered his ability to establish a rhythm both offensively and defensively. Interim manager Grady Sizemore later aimed to provide Vargas with a more defined role at third base to address this issue. MLB Trade Rumors
- Difficulty Hitting Fastballs: Vargas has historically struggled against fastballs, a trend that continued with the White Sox. Pitchers exploited this weakness, leading to a low batting average and high strikeout rate. Addressing this specific aspect of his hitting mechanics is crucial for his improvement. Sports Mockery
- Pressure and Expectations: Being a key acquisition in a significant trade, Vargas faced heightened expectations to perform. The pressure to deliver immediate results, combined with the team’s overall poor performance, may have adversely affected his confidence and approach at the plate.
In summary, a combination of environmental changes, inconsistent playing roles, specific hitting challenges, and external pressures contributed to Miguel Vargas’s underperformance with the Chicago White Sox.”
Miggy no longer plays for the Dodgers, so I have no investment in him. I also know that progress is not linear, and so there is still hope for Vargas. I hoped that both Busch and Vargas would be a solid duo for the Dodgers. Busch was a high strikeout/big power guy and Vargas was (allegedly) a good contact hitter. Well, it did not happen… with the Dodgers, and of course Vargas could not hit with the White Sox. They are not far from each other in Chi-Town and I will continue to wish both the best!
New US Water Systems Location
We moved from two locations into one on October 1st. Our manufacturing plant was 20 minutes from our offices and we moved both to this 100,000 sq/ft brand new facility. It took 72 semi trailer loads! After 30 days, it feels like home… except that I no longer have an office there. I really enjoy not being in the day-to-day operations. My 71st Birthday is November 18th and I am enjoying semi-retirement. See me in the picture? My son and I are standing beside each other with sunglasses on.
Will you be using AI to write your articles from now on?
I have used AI to research and re-write sections of copy. We also use it in our business nd have been building a AI gheneratedHelp Desk that is really coming together, but I don’t use it to write blogs… just check facts and get details. I used to “google” things and I stll do, but AI is rapidly unseating Google for me.
It’s good to see ChatGpt has improved since it’s introduced. When it first came out several years ago I asked it who should the Dodgers second baseman be. It said McKinstry. Unfortunately, the Dodgers had traded him the year before.
Ray Kurzweil talked about AI and singularity. The new AI they tout is just a search engine with a supercharger under the hood. Anyway, what do I know. I thought AI was Alan Iverson.
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I like Adames right now. Pair him with Betts up the middle with Edman in CF. Adames can slide over to 3B in a year or two.
Or platoon with Muncy right now.
A friend who dabbles as a lyricist asked Chat GPT to write a song using the phrase “too late for love…. in the style of Bob Dylan.”
I don’t have a copy of it handy–but AI Dylan pretty much nailed it.
It surprised me to read that Vargas, with his great rep as contact hitter, has so much trouble with velocity.
Maybe this is the core difference between a 4A player and major leaguer. The game just speeds up from 90 to 95…
Here’s hoping that Vargas will do better if some of his old teammates–Lux, Outman, maybe Cartaya–find their way to Chicago in a deal for Crochet.
Interesting stat I just saw from Baseball Savant regarding “no doubt” HRs–defined as struck balls that would have gone out of all 30 ballparks.
Including the postseason, 33 of Shohei’s 57 HRs were no-doubters.
This beat out Judge, with 31 of his 61 as no-doubters.
Soto was third at 26, followed by Rooker at 24, Schwarber at 23 and Alonso at 22.
I went through a Taco Bell drive thru last night and AI/bot took my order. It was different but not bad. Reading the comments in the previous article about Ohtani being ready to pitch. If both are healthy when the season starts I don’t see a scenario where Ohtani and Yamamoto don’t start in Japan.
Sounds like the set-up to a Steven Wright joke.
if you(everyone) could upgrade one position, which one and who would you replace that position with? Mine , Ryan McMahon at 3rd. … still seeing some speculation Burnes is a perfect fit for the dodgers. never know. but i don’t believe it, not 6 or 7 years! some say Buehler is 50/50 to be a dodger next year. i sure would hate to lose him. i see a big bounce back year for him next year! Glasnow?? hopefully he’s 100% in spring training. Miller? i’m hopeful. Gonsolin? #5 or # 6 . not bad for any rotation! Dustin May? i have no clue. Clayton? he’s not finished! i believe they sign one of the following. (1). Fried. (2). japanese guy. (3) Flaherty. will be very interesting!!
Yo daddio…. Well, in terms of the totally unrealistic upgrades, I might offer the Dodgers’ top 6 prospects straight up to KC to try to get young Bobby Witt Jr to play SS for the next decade. Guy just won a gold glove and he should be MVP runnerup to Judge in the AL.
Realistically? Among the free agents, I’ve always liked Burnes, the rare pitcher (today) who combines excellence and durability. (Last winter, I rated Burnes first, Cease second, Glasnow third among trade targets. And I still see them that way.)
Understand that I would prefer the youth of Skubal or Skenes, but I don’t think they are realistic targets. Crochet isn’t as good as that pair, but he is certainly a realistic trade target, and perhaps Jesus Luzardo is as well. (Looking for that post-Kershaw lefty.)
Speaking of youth, the A’s Mason Miller remains intriguing, in part because he could be converted back to SP. He’s realistic because he’s on the cheapo Athletics and they’ve got to flip him before he costs too much.
I think you’re right about Fried, Sasaki and Flaherty. All three have personal reasons to be attracting to LA. So does Buehler, and Shane Beiber is a SoCal lad who might come as a rehab project. The Dodgers, I think, will land two potential front-line SPs and maybe a top RP like Devin Williams, while re-signing Treinen.
Bold prediction here: The rich get richer.
After what Andrew did at the deadline I am not going to worry about what he does this winter. I know that he will improve the team and address our holes, but how that happens is a mystery to me. He has so many options. So I will enjoy the hot stove season as I continue to bask in the World Series euphoria, which by the way, was greatly increased on Tuesday.
Go Andrew
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Exactly, the team we see in Japan will not be the team we see in October.
I do hope they bring Buehler back.
Yes been a pretty good couple of weeks!!!
Lets keep it rolling Monday night at SoFi!!
Ill be there!
Root hard for the Horns, we been playing well.
Totally agree.
Andrew knows everything he did this year turned to gold. And he knows because they were superior on defense they won the Series . So based on that I don’t think Adames has elite defense, so non starter.
Oh I just wanted to say that the lefty we need could be coming soon. Keep your eye on Wyatt Crowell.
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What Dodger minor team was Crowell with last year?
Wyatt played for th GL Loons:
https://www.milb.com/player/wyatt-crowell-694573
He is a lefty who is small and lean and pitches with a buggy whip action. Herecently had TJ. Has a 93-94 MPH fastball and a plus slider. He was a full-time reliever at Flordia State. Keep and eye on him. He might move fast next year.
Pretty sure Adames is rated as an elite defender, perhaps better than Edman or Rojas. His bat is similar to Teoscar’s –right-handed with big power, lots of Ks.
If the brass debates between Adames and Teo, they might opt for Adames because of his defense at a premium position. Even if they bolster the OF, the mix of Pages, Edman, Outman, Rushing and Taylor isn’t bad. (I vote no on Soto because I’d rather see that $$$ invested in two or three players.)
And assuming that Adames signs a long-term deal, he could easily shift to 3B. (The Mets are reportedly already eyeing him for 3B. )
I think I’ve just talked myself into Adames …. but I’d be happy to see Teo back, with Edman handling SS.
-16 DRS is elite? That # is for 2024. Ok, he was good in the past. So. Better than Edman or Rojas? Seriously. I need some of what you’re smoking. But you have a right to pine for Adames. I think AF does not.
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Mets owner Steve Cohen to meet with Juan Soto, Scott Boras next week. Mets will definitely be one of the Soto’s sinning finalist if not the finalist. He gets more money from the Mets probably than anyone else.
If Soto prefers the East coast, I have my money on the Mets. I have a hard time seeing Cohen letting a generational talent like Soto go to its cross town rival. However, if Soto truly intends to prioritize winning, that buck stops with the Dodgers.
Yeah, happy to let the Mets and Yankees have a bidding war. Dodgers should have other priorities.
signing finalist
Bob Nightengale
It’s highly unlikely now that Shohei Ohtani will be able to pitch in their 2-game series in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs in March after undergoing surgery for his torn labrum on his left shoulder, but the Dodgers still are optimistic he’ll be pitching again in April
He’s Superman!
We dont need him pitching until October….in fact id be fine with that.
We won a flipping WS without him throwing a single pitch all year and he was the MVP.
Adames has received offers from the Dodgers and Mets as of Thursday, Mike Rodriguez reports.
“According to Rodriguez, the Mets have made an offer of over $160 million for seven years. However, because Francisco Lindor holds the reigns at shortstop, Adames would have to likely play third base. As for the offer from the Dodgers, the details of the proposed contract have not been reported. If he signs with Los Angeles, he would be their starting shortstop”.
Not a huge fan of him. But in the font office I trust.
November 8, 2024
Glasnow said in an interview on Foul Territory TV in late October that he had imaging on his right elbow recently and “it looks like it’s fully healed.”
“Glasnow also mentioned that he planned to throw twice per week throughout the offseason rather than taking an extended break as he has done in the past, with the goal being to “try to get my tissue used to that workload.” The righty’s final appearance for the Dodgers this season came on Aug. 11 and imaging after a setback in September showed a sprain. While the early offseason prognosis appears positive, Glasnow still has a long ways to go before he’s out of the woods”.
Dodgers make offer to Adames? Remember we’re playing checkers and Andrew is 4 or 5 moves ahead of us playing chess.
I don’t think he wants to block his young gunslingers at SS . Adames contract could become an albatross. I’m not sure he will age gracefully. So let’s make Cohen over pay for an average 3rd baseman. We need to get younger and the Dodgers are the one team that can do it and still be the odds on favorite.
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the dodgers have over the past few years produced a boatload of pitching talent. miller , may, stone, sheehan,knack, buehler, pepiot, ryan(trade),wrobleski(spell check). all that i mentioned have had or probably will need tommy john. nevertheless all were developed by the dodgers. Pitching won’t be an issue next year,although i believe they sign Fried or Maybe Sasaki. .. But, position players? well that’s a whole different story. Will Smith, Lux, and Pages. that’s all that participated in the world series. looks as if lux might be traded. will struggled the 2nd half of the season. Pages? talented, yes but unproven. Michael Busch looks to be an average to slightly above average player. there was nowhere for him to play. any other players (not including bYordan) that you regret them trading? Ruiz? not really. Freeland may be a very solid ss. Hope may eventually become an everyday outfielder. (see outman). my point being, if they can sign Adames, they should. if they get 3 outstanding years from him, job well done! Mookie will be an all star at 2nd. but SS should belong to Adames! Afterall , he helped us win in 2020, right?
Adames can play SS for a few years and then move over to 3rd. I believe his defense at SS last year was not as good as prior years but I hope AF signs him. Another solid starter would be on the wish list. Buehler or Snell would be my pick. If Mookie moves to 2nd, we will need another OFer. Teo back on a three year deal and Pages to RF.
All sounds good
I have a few things:
1. It sounds like the Dodgers are serious about Adames, so I am going with that.
2. If Sasaki is posted, he will be a Dodger.
3. The Dodgers will try and re-sign Teo… quickly!
4. The Dodgers will try and trade for Garret Crochet annd Luis Robert, Jr. but the Oriloes may be able to offer more. The Dodgers will offer Bobby Miller, Rushing or DePaula, Emil Morales, Zyhir Hope, and Noah Miller for Crochet and Robert.
5. Dave Roberts will sign a 5-year extension as manager.
2025 Lineup:
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts 2B
3. Freeman 1B
4. Hernandez LF
5. Adames SS
6. Muncy 3B
7. Smith C
8. Robert, Jr. CF
9. Pages RF
Bench: Barnes, Kike, CT3, Rojas
That would be a scary lineup!
where’s edman? cannot keep taylor over tommy tanks!!!
Right -Rojas has to retire and go to the front office.
Miggy can replace McCullough as first base coach when the Marlins hire him as manager in a week or two. Only problem is Miggy’s not ready to retire.
Edman is going to play every day, therefore if we get Adames, we don’t get Robert Jr and if we get Jr we don’t get Adames.
Or we include Pages in the Robert Jr trade and have Edman or Jr play right field.
Or……………………………oh, never mind, I think I’ll just wait to see how it plays out.
you scarey me! As my 2 year old grandson would say!
BREAKING NEWS!
Roki Sasaki is officially being posted to Major League Baseball this offseason.
The Chiba Lotte Marines announced that the team has begun the process of posting Sasaki.
The Dodgers are considered the heavy favorites to sign him this offseason.
One thing in the Dodgers favor, in addition to having the largest International pool money remaining of $2.5 million for 2024 to sign him,Sasaki has the same agent as Yamamoto, the Wasserman Group not the Boras Corporation.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly in talks with Walker Buehler about a possible return, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Buehler etched his name in franchise history after an unforgettable postseason performance.
I don’t quite understand the fascination with Adames and Crochet. Ok Robert Jr. moves the needle for me. He is young, proven with upside. If we need a lefty that bad, throw the money at Fried instead of Willy. Pitchers are like candles in the wind. Giving up the farm for a mediocre one is well…..fill in the blank. Besides Roki is coming! Oh and my mother liked crochet. I still like a reunion with Teo and Striker.
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90 days till pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on February 7th. With the Holidays approaching, time will go by quickly.
Adames gives them an all star SS! it allows edman to roam center field. and if the dodgers do swing a deal for Robert, tommy tanks becomes the super utility player that gives them so much flexibility!! plus it adds 30 plus dingers to an already powerful. lineup. and if muncy moves on soon , and Freeland grows as an everyday ss, adames moves to 3rd. case closed!
And if we sign the cheap Japanese ace, we’ll have plenty of money. Dream offseason:
1. Sasaki
2. Adames
3. Teoscar
4. Buehler
5. Treinen [or another reliever]