In 1963, Sandy Koufax won his first Cy Young Award. In 1964, he finished 3rd in the Cy Young Award, and then in 1965 and 1966, he won the Cy Young Award again, which meant he won the Cy Young Award three out of four years. Dean Chance may have deserved to win, but Sandy was a close 3rd in the voting. Koufax was 19-5 with a 1.74 ERA, 223 IP, and a 0.875 WHIP. Chance was 20-9 with a 1.65 ERA, 15 CG, 278 IP, and a 1.006 WHIP. It was arguable that in 1964, Koufax was better, but Chance had 50 more IP and a better ERA. Still, the argument could have gone either way.
However, the biggest Cy Young injustice was in 2012, when R.A. Dickey got more votes for the Award. Dickey was 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA, 234 IP, and a 1.053 WHIP, while Kershaw was 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA. He pitched 228 Innings, with a 1.023 WHIP. The Mets were 74-88, while the Dodgers were 86-76… playing more meningful games. However, the sportswriters were in awe of R.A. Dickey’s knuckleball and the knuckleheads voted for Dickey over Kershaw, just like some knucklehead voted for Carlos Marmol as manager of the year this season. That writer should be banned from drawing air. However, I digress. They did not use WAR in 2014, but Kershaw had a 6.4 WAR to Dickey’s 5.7.
My point is, that both Kershaw and Koufax won Cy Youngs in three out of four seasons… and arguably could have made it four in a row. The three that each pitcher won were their only ones. Kershaw has finished in the top ten in Cy Young voting nine times, while Koufax had just those four years. Of course, back when Koufax played there was just one Cy Young Award for both leagues. It was a year after Koufax retired (1967) that MLB decided there should be a Cy Young Award for both leagues.
Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux won four Cy Young Awards in a row, making them the only two pitchers in MLB history to do so… but the Dodgers had two pitchers who could have also easily done so… except for the fact that the baseball writers did not agree!
Manager of the Year
I do think the Manager of the Year in the NL was a joke this year. Pat Murphy got 144 points, Mike Shildt got 70, Carlos Mendoz got 35 and Dave Roberts got 3. I guess the writers figured a trained dog could manage the Dodgers and losing damn near two rotations of pitchers was a cake-walk for the Dodgers. Personally, think Doc got picked over because the Dodgers were the favorites and because of their payroll.
X-CITES
FLASH: This just in…
MLB is building a new skyscraper to house all the rumors…
Camelback Ranch – Spring Training
I am going this Spring. I just bought 5 tickets to the following games:
- Feb 20th vs. the Cubs
- Feb 22nd vs. the Royals
- Feb 23rd vs. the Clowns Down the Freeway
MLB free agency is hilarious. It starts and nothing happens. In the NBA players sign monster deals at 12:01am.
Maybe we’ll get something tomorrow to get the dominoes falling.
It’s because of the Salary Cap in the NBA. Players just pick the team they want and sign. There’s nothing (or very little) to negioate.
Can we get a little today?
You watching Indiana vs. Ohio St. tomorrow?
Go Hoosiers.
Absolutely!
I have never been a Hoosier fan because… well they were always loosers. What a turnaround. I live about 35 minutres from the Statdium. Too bad they are playing at the Horseshoe. I think I may get season Tix next year!
I don’t normally watch morning football on Saturdays but I’ll make an exception tomorrow. Hope they prove all the experts wrong.
I hate OSU but they are going to roll.
Ill be at the opening series vs The Tigers!!!
Enjoy ST!
Jim Callis of MLB.com list the Top Prospects from the Arizona Fall Leage and the Dodgers had one:
10. Zyhir Hope, OF, Glendale (Dodgers No. 11)
As one scout put it, “How many high school guys have hit in the middle of an AFL lineup 18 months after being drafted?” Hope hit just .228/.301/.446 but he was the Fall League’s most dynamic player, with some evaluators giving him well-above-average grades for raw power, speed and arm strength.
Busch who?????
Dave not at LEAST placing 2nd or 3rd in Manager of the Year voting is absurd. Seems VERY clear it was all about jealousy and envy of the Dodgers roster strength and they closed their eyes and put their fingers in their ears about the devastated pitching rotation. Dave pulled off a miracle. Several actually.
This was Roberts’ best year managing the Dodgers. He deserved strong consideration.
I agree that Roberts got ‘overlooked’ because he manages the Dodgers. People forget that despite all of the injuries and having to manage a patchwork rotation they won the most games.
The Dodgers and right-hander Dustin May settled at $2.135MM, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic (X link). That’s the exact same salary he had in 2024. May will be looking to bounce back after spending all of this year on the injured list. One less arbitration case for AF.
At least we can now eliminate the dumb possible non-tender rumor that was out there.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Tony Gonsolin has resigned for $5.4 MM.
Rest assured, he will be in the rotation!
Fun fact: Kendrick Lamar and Father John Misty have dropped albums on the same schedule for over a decade: 2012, 2015, 2017, 2022, and now today.
Fun fact? What team did they play for
again?
On another note. Sports writers are full of shi……..themselves. And seriously biased. There’s a couple of viable alternatives to vote for awards and the HOF, but the good ole boys will never change the system. Therefore I don’t put much credence in awards .
Book em
Brett Honeywell and Zach Logue non-tendered by the Dodgers today
That’s a shame. Honeywell came across very well in the YouTube video posted by Matt and Mark.
However we need to move on. AF knows what he is doing.
Either of those guys could still be re-signed on a minor league contract but I’m guessing that Honeywell will get an MLB contract from someone.
Once Treinen is signed, I like the idea of trading for Devin Williams…
Imagine a bullpen with Treinen, Williams, Kopech, May and Phillips from the right side, and Vesia and Banda from the left. Maybe Knack or Grove as the long man.
Mr. Forte makes a good point about Snell: Best lefty available, and no QO-draft pick attached. Might accept higher AAV but lower overall $$.
At any rate, even if Roki doesn’t choose LA, the Dodgers should be able to snag at least one of the top three FA pitchers–or , alternatively, swing a deal for Crochet. (From what I read, the Dodgers are seriously considering all four. How will it shake out?)
Depending upon whom they might sign as a starter (or starters), Gonsolin could wind up as the long man. I expect good things from him this year, if not as a starter then for sure in the bullpen.
I think there is a very good chance Honeywell is back.
With these two moves, the Dodgers 40-man roster will sit at 36.
With 4 openings on the 40 man roster, there should be some signings soon.
Chris Woodward back coaching first base.
Woodward will serve as a baserunning and infield instructor.
the big advantage of signing Snell? the dodgers wouldn’t have to face him! he’s a very good pitcher. his walk per nine innings worries me a bit. But if he’s on, he’s possibly the best left handed pitcher in baseball. … 5-6 innings every time out. … the advantage to signing Crochet? he’s younger than snell and has a massive upside. … the advantage of signing Fried? great pitcher with a small chance of injury. he’s probably itching to get back to california and reuniting with Freddie! Fried , snell, Crochet? My personal preference would be (1) . Snell. (2). Fried. (3) Crochet. not saying he’s better than the other 2, just don’t want him on the giants or Friars. and if the dodgers don’t get Snell, i hope he goes back to the American league! .. Looking more and more like Walker may not be back. Sasaki? i believe it’s 50-50 he’s a dodger. Dustin May? bullpen or trade. .. Catman? look for a big bounce back from him! … as far as the offense, I don’t want a platoon at Shortstop! sign Adames, put Edman there regularly and make a trade for a center fielder. i believe Mookie is far better at 2nd than shortstop. he doesn’t need the stressof being SS! … i know it’s a long shot, but could Bellinger be a n option in center field? wouldn’t mind that at all!
My Xmas list for Dodger signings is Snell,Teo,Kim and Sasaki. If not Sasaki,then Buehler. Not in any particular order. NO Qualifying offers attached to any of them. AF, make my Xmas cheery and bright. You have the money. With this group, chances are another parade could happen again 2025. Run it back.
Kershaw will be signed just before Spring Training along with others when you can open up spots on the 40 man roster the day Spring Training officially starts on February 7th and transfer players to the 60 Day IL ,like Stone,Ryan,Sheehan and Graterol. It also depends when Kershaw can return after signing him and transfer him to the 60 Day IL opening up another spot if he won’t be ready to pitch until later in the season coming off dual surgeries.
That’s a really good Christmas gift. Sneak in Kike and I’m all in.
Book em
Today’s thinking:
SP1: Sasaki
SP2: Bieber.
RP: Sewald
OF: Teo, if Teo doesn’t come to agreeable terms then Tyler O’Neill.
Dark-horse candidate for a contract:
Patrick Sandoval, who is recovering from TJ and won’t be able to pitch until ’26. He was non-tendered by the Angels.
Sandoval was flashing ace potential a couple seasons back, and pitched well for Team Mexico in the WBC. Like Shane Bieber, he’s actually an OC boy, and I can see the Dodgers bringing him in as a project. (Remember when AF signed Tommy Kahnle knowing that a full season would pass before he could pitch?)
This just seems like an AF move to me.
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed right-hander Giovanny Gallegos to a minor league deal, per Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors. Gallegos was the former closer for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Gallegos will receive an invitation to the team’s big league Spring Training camp, and a $2.5MM base salary if he makes Los Angeles’ active roster with $1.5MM more available in incentives. The deal has three opt-out dates, giving Gallegos some flexibility if the Dodgers have no plans to select his contract.
Interesting under-the-radar and a very risky acquisition. Giovanny Gallegos was never a fireball but since 2020, his velo has fallen from 94 to 92. Now, it could be mechanical or his arm could be hanging on by a thread. Probably a good risk and AF knows a whole lot more than me.
Mark, why isn’t Fried getting more love on the Dodgers blogs? The Dodgers could use a left handed starter and Fried from what I understand is a So. Cal boy. What am i missing
They are talking to him, but he rejected the Qualifying Offer and the Dodgers would have to lose a draft pick. Friedman will do that, but not readily. Draft picks are essential to Friedman’s Healthy Farm System. He also has a checked injury history, but may fit-in well in a 6-man system. The Dodgers would like to have another LH starter (I would think Kershaw will be back before the All-Star Game, but right now, the rotation is:
Yamamoto RH
Glasnow RH
Gonsolin RH
Ohtani RH
Sheehan RH (maybe July)
Knack RH
Kershaw LH (maybe June)
May RH (I think he will be a reliever, but…)
Fried is a definite possibility…
Gonsolin and May both say they’re healthy. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s true. They both haven’t pitched in real competition at the Major League level in more than 18 months. That’s why we need to sign another quality starter who can give us innings. Plus they will slow walk both guys. As observed from past years you need at least 8 to 10 starters and 10 or more relief pitchers to effectively navigate a 162 game schedule.
He received a Qualifying Offer from Atlanta which he rejected and if the Dodgers sign him they will lose a draft pick in 2025. Also he will probably want a longer deal than AF is willing to offer. Snell is the best proven lefty on the the market with ties to AF when both were in Tampa and will probably will get a shorter deal higher salary than Fried. Better move.
AF is teasing us with all these stocking stuffer minor league relief pitcher deals. I’m waiting for my Dodger real gifts for Xmas for the 2025 Season. Probably will come soon, but I’m vey impatient.
I do not like Snell for a few reasons:
1. He will be 32 in a few days;
2. He has had two great seasons where he was the Cy Young Winner and in the rest his ERA was around 4.00.
3. For his career he averages 4.1 walks per 9 innings.
4. In two of his 9 years, he has been very, very good , and the other 7 he has been not so hot.
5. I think someone will give him a 4 year deal and I hope it’s not the Dodgers… I would not mind a 2-year deal.
3 years or less,I’m all in.
i can see AF giving Snell a 3 year deal. no more. i just don’t see him giving Fried 6 years. Or gutting the farm system for Crochet. If snell will take 3, he’s a dodger! … Reading the dodgers are cooling on Adames, which leads me to believe that AF may be ready to make ex-padre ss Kim an offer. i know he won’t be ready for the start of the season, but he brings excellent defense and is a better than average hitter. Another possible , typical AF signing! .. read this morning if the cubs would consider dealing with the dodgers, Bellinger could be in play!! i said earlier , that’s ok with me! (i know my blessing doesn’t mean jacks—t!) But it would make center field solid! allow Edman to play SS until Kim is ready, then allow Tommy E. to become a super utility player. Sign Teo for left, Belly in CF, Pages in right. Now someone would probably have to go. Would you keep Kike, or cut ties with CT? Me? Taylor would be traded. … Stout lineup!!! … Well it looks as if the college football playoff might have to finally come to terms that Alabama ain’t good enough to be in their beloved playoff this season! But give them time, they’ll probably figure a way to get them in! Even if it means screwing some more deserving team. just a sunday morning observation! … Everyone please have a wonderful thanksgiving holiday! Be safe, be happy, be a friend to a stranger! remember, through all the crap we see daily, we still live in the greatest country in the world! Hell, hug a padre fan! (they could use something good for the holiday!)
You had me all the way up to hug a Padre fan…
I have scruples! 😉
Dodgers starting talks with Tommy Edman on an extension.
Wise move. As a Cardinal, I use to hate facing him. He was a pain to get out. He’s one of those players I’ve always felt this team was lacking. Doesn’t necessarily hit for a lot of power, but Edman can put up a quality AB.
sorry to hear that Mark! where did you catch them? They say you can’t catch scruples in san diego, san francisco, houston, or new york. Funny thing. When Tony Gwynn played in san diego, i had a little spot in my heart for the Friars. Not to worry my fellow Dodgers fan, machado and tatis helped rid my heart of that dumb ass spot!! … Reds obtained Brady Singer from the Royals. i wouldn’t have minded the dodgers trading for him!