I ordered this World Series Championship Wall Hanging several weeks ago and then I had to get it framed. Notice the subtile Blue Effects on the wood frame? I hung it in a place I was saving it for beside my desk.
Well, the Dodgers are allegedly still in the bidding for Juan Soto and have made an offer of at least $600 Million for him! They have signed another Ace in Blake Snell and to me, it would make a world of sense to up the ante and convince Soto to come to LA. Sign Kike and Treinen and they are done!
Check this out:
- Player A – .257 BA, .372 OB%, 46 HR, .965 OPS – 26 Years Old
- Player B – .288 BA, .410 OB%, 41 HR, .989 OPS – 25 Years Old
Player A was Shohei Ohtani, and Player B is Juan Soto who was a year younger. He has yet to play his age 26 season. I know Ohtani can pitch and Soto can’t, but the Dodgers need to get younger and Soto does that while making them better unbeatable!
The Dodgers are still in on Soto… until they sign him… or are out!
X-CITES
Forget this – It ain’t happening!
I guess I was wrong about Soto. Never thought we’d be real players. Big Dawgs are making deals these days.
I’d still prefer Teo + Adames + Treinen to Soto. And there would be $$$ left over for Kike and more. (Arenado? Maybe.)
While Betts, Ohtani and Yamamoto made long-term commitments to the Dodgers, I think it makes sense to plot strategy in 3-5 year increments. Snell and Edman just signed five-year deals. Adding them to the core the Dodgers powerful core has already assured the Dodgers will be the team to beat for the next five years, probably longer. Adames and Teo would add more oomph than Soto.
Soto might continue to live up to the hype, but it bugs me that he isn’t a complete player. He’s a mediocre fielder who ultimately should play DH, which could be Ohtani’s job for many years. Soto’s comps Trout and Pujols were quality fielders and clubhouse leaders. Trout, like Ohtani, runs well. Soto is great at getting on base and hitting for power, but steals are not part of his game. All considered, I’d rather a healthy Ronald Acuna or a Bobby Witt on my team than Soto.
Helluva hitter, yes…. but is he really a helluva player?
Alas, the Dodgers can’t have Acuna and Witt–but they could add Teo and Adames.
It will be interesting to see how Soto’s decision affects the market. Plenty of ripple effects.
I’m with you. Give me Teo, Adames and Treinen and Soto can stay in NY or go to Boston, whichever makes him happy.
All day
Not a fan of Farhan, he traded a total glue guy, Kershaws personal catcher AJ Ellis , for Ruiz, total analytics BS and stats over a major clubhouse guy, who groomed guys like Justin Turner to be leaders.Kershaw was crushed,, total dumbass move.Funny , when he bailed to go to the Dark Side up north, everyone thought he was THE guy instead of Freidman.. Turns out he was a tight ass who did the usual dumpster diving for players instead of taking a chance and throwing your balls out there to get a big time player like Freidman has done year after year. I am totally uncomfortable having Zaidi in the front office. Dude is a total cheap ass, doesn’t value players and loyalty like the culture that Freidman has built. They are just an analytics number to him. No way he would have signed Kike to be an October guy or give Trienen almost a full year off to heal, Gonna break my old Ned Colleti record out , the one thing he has preached about for years is how incredibly patient the Dodger front office has been with players, giving them a chance to heal and proving themselves. Walker is a prime example., along with Treinan. Zaidi would have traded them both for a warm six pack and some analytics journeyman guy in AAA Toledo. Don’t trust that guy as far as I can throw him.
It was also Farhan who traded Alvarez for Fields. However, the Dodgers have a GM already, so Farhan would be in an advisory role… which may be right up his alley. How the mighty have fallen!
None of this is accurate nor provided with necessary context.
But it’s a fun opinion!
Forget Soto.He will NEVER be a Dodger. He is east coast bound to Queens NY.
Last thought on relevancy. 1978 there was the game of the week and Candlestick. Nielsen ratings were just like guesses . Of course more people watched. It was a rare event. Now it’s oversaturated and really hasn’t been the big dawg for ages. Young people will never flock to MLB. It’s a slow game and not a made for TV sport. If you change it radically . No new fans and the grumpy fans will stop watching. That equals no fans. Love the game and enjoy it until it’s no longer ‘relevant’.
Nice photo!
Book em
One final word on Soto: He was better at age 25 than Ohtani was at 26 and his skills are very rare. Surrounded by players like Betts, Freeman, Ohtani, Smith, and Muncy, I could see him being “persuaded” that he could go down in history as the best LF’er of all time… IF he works on his defense and wins some Gold Gloves. He is reportedly a great teammate, who was around some clowns for a while. I don’t hold that against him. Not everyone can evolve… but some can!
Soto better at 25 than Ohtani at 26?
Uh, nope. Not unless Soto was secretly pitching in disguise with all-star quality.
And while Soto broke into the majors at 19, Ohtani had to play in a lesser league before he was able to join the Angels. He made his ML debut at 23.
Ohtani is truly in GOAT territory.
Soto is a terrific hitter and a mediocre fielder–which, come to think of it, was kind of what Miguel Vargas was supposed to be.
Soto may be a good teammate who clowns around a bit–but is he a leader? Is he a hard-working role model like Mookie, Freddie or Shohei?
Maybe he has those qualities, and maybe he’ll work hard and win a Gold Glove in LF.
But I hope he does it for the Mets.
On Zaidi:
MLBTR said this;
“Zaidi’s front office had a knack for developing unheralded targets into productive role players or solid regulars. They hit on low-cost acquisitions of Mike Yastrzemski, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Thairo Estrada, for instance. Yet the Giants rarely had the high-end talent necessary to compete with star-studded rosters in Los Angeles and San Diego. That persisted even after San Francisco landed Blake Snell, Matt Chapman and Jorge Soler late last offseason.
Even if Zaidi’s tenure in San Francisco didn’t end the way he’d envisioned, it’s unsurprising that the Dodgers are interested in bringing him back. He’d bring more than a decade of high-level experience along with his personal connections to Friedman, GM Brandon Gomes, and senior vice president of baseball operations Josh Byrnes.”
I have to believe that part of Farhan’s problem was that he could not attract high quality free agents to the shithole that was/is San Francisco?
If we can cut and paste this years comments and predictions about Soto into last years about Ohtani— I think it would be exactly the same for many here!!!
I don’t think so.
AS an example, I predicted that the Dodgers would not sign Ohtani and AVF was adamant that they would…
Picture looks great. I got a TON of WS merch. Can never have too much,
I want WB back on the Dodgers….
Will Walker be walking?
I want him back too, but I think several teams that are shopping in the second tier of SPs could offer him attractive deals.
I hope the Angels are one of them. He’d join Kikuchi at the top of a rotation and the 1000-to-1 longshot odds for an October Freeway Series could have Buehler facing off against Shohei or Snell.
That would be cool.
Close the book on Buehler. He is history.
All of the negative comments about Soto will change if he becomes a Dodger. Especially when the season starts. That’s ok,I love all my Dodger players and my DODGER friends.
Very nice office Mark. I was wondering about the curved screen monitor. Is that something that you would recommend to someone shopping for a new monitor? On Soto, I’m in the group of people that think we have enough offense and would prefer to see the money go to strengthen the team in all other areas. I guess that’s the get off my lawn group. Besides the whole baseball community would lose their minds if we signed Soto. The outfield could use some help right now (without Soto) and if we go to a six man rotation, another starter wouldn’t hurt. If Mookie really is moving into 2nd base, Lux could become the left handed bat off the bench if he would embrace the role. I can see Mookie moving back and forth between Right field and 2nd base next year depending on who’s pitching.
Billy, here is the view from my desk.
I use three screens on on the 49″ curved Samsung Monitor. This is the monitor I use and it has changed my life. I have my e-mail open on the left, the web on the center screen, and our company software (Netsuite) on the right side. I also have Microsoft Teams open on my laptop.
Heres trhe monitor. It is a great deal right now:
https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-DisplayHDR-FreeSync-Adjustable-LS49CG932SNXZA/dp/B0CDQMQQS2/ref=sr_1_5?crid=PV11KZ1K31PE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.l0UCRBsvhGzOYzm_5J6CDgbfuxas_zINV8ldzRq8BXPwseClXR04C5Z21bgHwBtJ571nDgqKYyFCLqqFaFdWehHNjgoJxuuK8XOGdFU-qThIV1WgnXKqrU_0pRNLyt0vcre4eGR6c43w8hKn8V6MqSe6MroJeAPsFO4cJ9MLh2NLrl-AENFnLlXSppc45M6dbXJn8W8lHWWyjWzWg_cJcMaa1z_DJBr83c-Gs71_r64.k71B5CobaMbPPpg97wrRMKJAYYk_KQFz7aZ5SmGvNt8&dib_tag=se&keywords=49%2Binch%2Bsamsung%2Bmonitor&qid=1733341166&sprefix=49%2Binch%2Bsamsung%2Bmonitor%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-5&th=1
Thanks Mark
Nice office. I have a picture in mine of Koufax pitching his no hitter against the Giants in 63. My daughter got it for me as a Christmas present several years ago.
Since I’m relatively new at blogs, did we have advisors back when we traded an unknown prospect for a veteran reliever in in the middle of a pennant race? Who would ever make such a boneheaded trade? NOTE: I recall all the prospects we wanted traded this season and last season. I recall “trade prospects for parades.” If our front office thinks Farhan will help, bring him.
Farhan? who cares? As far as changing the game to keep up with the nfl and nba? Been watching a little more nfl lately. A Bronco fan for Over 30 years.(was a rams fan till they moved). Watching guys like Mahomes, Jackson, Josh Allen play quarterback, very entertaining! But, the nfl has some stupid rules also. the overtime rule? ridiculous! the new kickoff rule? ridiculous! Think these create enthusiasm among potential fans? not so much. … the nba? as far as i’m concerned it’s unwatchable! now i am 66 years old. i miss the days of jordan, bird, magic, dominique, and so on. And Mark, you’re right about us old timers not wanting the game we love to change beyond recognition. I’ll admit, didn’t like the idea of the DH in the NL. But now i love it! i still despise the “ghost runner “. i don’t mind the pitch clock. i don’t like the 2 throw over rule. Bigger bases? who cares? Having a 11 year old grandson who absolutely loves baseball, (and the dodgers). sure there’s things baseball can do to keep and attract younger fans. For starters, make the players more accessible before games! Young kids want to meet their heroes of the game. a 11 year old kid shouldn’t need to beg for a wave, or a smile during games! have more on field promotions for KIDS , and only kids! Hand out baseball cards during games!! When those morons in new york tried to rip mookies arm off , the mlb did a great thing by putting a young kid with cancer in their seats! But, why not have Aaron Judge and Mookie go over to the kid before the game and give him an autograph? Have double headers on saturdays and sundays with kids on the field between games! i asked my grandson if he had the chance to attend a super bowl, the nba finals, or the world series which he would choose? Didn’t take 2 seconds, world series! Granted he’s been in a baseball atmosphere since birth. But other kids feed off his love for the game! Nobody dunks in baseball. nobody sacks the pitcher! Baseball has plenty to offer! it just needs jazzed up some! But not by stupidizing (word?) the game ! Just promote it better! it will sell itself.
“Golden -at bat rule.” What’s next, banana ball rules?
Manfred has got to go.
Manfred works for the owners. He’s basically their puppet and they pull the strings.
We should start by eliminating about 1/2 dozen of the owners who won’t spend any money to make their teams competitive.
And by “banana ball rules” if you mean the Savannah Bananas, they probably outdraw a few MLB teams, so you might have a point there.
Subtle????
I know it’s not your thing, but anyway…,
David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports said, “My understanding, talking to people around the league, they expect Teoscar Hernández to re-sign with the Dodgers. Many people around the league expect Teoscar Hernández and the Dodgers to find their way back to each other, and my understanding is the Dodgers and Teoscar are very much engaged and trying to nail the final details of a contract.” While no deal is official just yet, the possibility of Teoscar Hernández rejoining the Dodgers is already a big win for the team.
If this is true and DV is a reliable source, NO Soto. Better ways to spend $600 million plus to improve the team.Now let’s get Roki Sasaki and piss off the entire MLB world.
Also it is a smart move by the Dodgers to sign Teo before the Soto signing announcement , as the price would go up on Teo for teams that didn’t sign Soto as a fallback.