Everyone is considering what might happen by “Thinking in the Box.” A few of you are thinking “Outside of the Box,” but you all need to be aware that there is no box. Before I do so, I would like to have a moment of silence for Faye Vincent. He was a great man. He lived in Vero Beach, and I loved to talk to him as he sat in his golf cart at Holman Stadium at Dodgertown. Faye was crippled and could barely walk, but the Dodgers provided him with a golf cart. We talked a lot about the state of baseball, especially Pete Rose. We disagreed on that, but we were always cordial. I think he appreciated that, as some fans would yell at him that Rose should be back in baseball. RIP, Faye – You were a good man!
The Possibilities: Spring Training & Beyond…
- The Dodgers starting rotation will almost assuredly be a great deal different at the end of the season than at the beginning. We know that (probably) Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Sasaki, Gonsolin, Miller, May, and Knack will likely be trying out for six spots. That means one goes to the bullpen, and the other goes down to AAA… or gets traded. Then… Ohtani, Kershaw, and Sheehan may return. What then? Wait, there will be injuries, and none of us have any way of knowing what they might be. Even if two or three are injured, the Dodgers have that covered. If all of the pitchers are healthy at the All-Star Break, expect a Blockbuster Trade!
- What will happen behind the plate? Dalton Rushing (if ready) is a perfect backup to Will Smith as he can sit against tough RHP… if he is ready! I could see Dalton forcing Barnes out this year… maybe even in the Spring. It’s more about rest than it is “splits.”
- What about the infield? I hope the Arenado and Muncy rumors are just that – rumors!
- Mookie will stay at SS as long as he wants. I think that might be two years!
- Expect Freddie, Max, Will, Mookie, and Teoscar to rest more. Keep them fresh and prevent injuries. That’s why I think Kike will be back.
- Andy Pages and James Outman will get long, hard looks in Spring Training. I will be there February 20-23. I have a Back Ablation scheduled on February 18th, but the Doctor assured me I would be good to go.
- There will likely be injuries and setbacks. There will be players who we counted on who may not produce, and there may be ones that we did not count on who are vying for a spot.
- What about David Bote and Giovanny Gallegos.
- Watch Jack Dreyer!
X-CITES
Just in case you forgot!
RIP Mr. Vincent. Tough situation for a commissioner. Popular player banned for life for gambling. This has been debated ever since. Rose accepted the ban, that was part of the deal. He had petitioned every commissioner since to have the ban lifted and all have refused. Why? Maybe because they get to see evidence we will never see. Now, at this point, I believe it is all a little to hypocritical for me with all the ads for legal sports gambling that the MLB network has. They even have a show based on telling you the odds and who is hot and who is not. Very hypocritical. But we know Manfred is not going to lift the ban, he denied Rose the last time. But now that Pete has passed, and the hypocrisy is in full bloom, maybe the time has come to put the hit king in the Hall. He can no longer profit from his induction, he is no longer alive, so a lifetime ban has been completed.
The ban isn’t a lifetime ban but a permanent ban. Rose’ death is irrelevant.
Everything I have read says lifetime. Giamatti banned him permanently from having any kind of job in baseball like coaching and such. His family can still file for reinstatement. So far all attempts at that have failed. But resistance might soften some with the uproar from so many fans about the hypocrisy of him being banned for something that is advertised daily on the MLB channel.
Rose agreed to be placed on the permanently ineligible list for betting on baseball. He could and did appeal to be reinstated as eligible but was denied. I don’t know if his family can continue to appeal or not. I also believe that the Hall of Fame said anyone on the permanently ineligible list could not be elected to the Hall. I do agree that baseball is at the height of hypocrisy with all the money they accept from online betting sites and posting odds for every thing under the Sun in a baseball game. If Rose is reinstated Joe Jackson should be also
I totally agree with you on Jackson. You would also have to consider reinstating Buck Weaver, who played very well in the series, and was bunched with the others because he supposedly knew of the plot. He also never took a cent of the gambler’s money. Weaver is no Hall of Famer, but he was a very good player.
Major League Baseball Fires Umpire for Sports Gambling Violations
An investigation found that Pat Hoberg shared sports betting accounts with a professional poker player who had bet on baseball
I’ll bet you he was a bad umpire.
What wants to bet?
What are the odds and the over and under?
I’ll take that bet.
The people who rate umps say his was one of the best ball/strike umpires in MLB.
He, on at least one occasion, worked an entire game without missing a call.
From Yahoo Sports last June:
“Among the 79 umpires who have called more 14,000 pitches over that span, Hoberg ranks No. 1. Another website that ranks umpires, Umpire Scorecard, said Hoberg had an accuracy rating of 95.4% on balls and strikes in 2022 and 2023, the best in the majors.”
I believe our bet was for $10,000. Please donate it to your favorite charity.
Could Mookie play SS for two years?
I’m optimistic. If he plays league-average defense and delivers his usual offense, that would be just fine. He could be an all-star at SS.
I know the Red Sox moved him from 2B to RF because Dustin Pedroia was an established star. Off the top of my head, I can’t remember who they had at SS. But I imagine plenty of Red Sox fans will be annoyed thinking they could have had a keystone of Mookie and Pedroia.
Injuries could certainly alter the outlook for several positions.
If the Dodgers need a catcher, I think Feduccia might get the call instead of Rushing. From what I read, Feduccia is a better defender with more experience. Rushing could catch every day in OKC–so that he’ll be ready to share the job with Smith in ’26.
Still feels like a couple more trades would be made. Perhaps Brasier could packaged with long-suffering Ryan Ward to get something decent.
Duke,
Why isn’t anyone talking about mookie Manning 2b and having the new Korean with 3 Gold Gloves roaming SS with Miggy Ro? Got to be easier in Mook.
1. First of all, the Korean Gold Glove is for the best player at a position, not necessarily the best DEFENSIVE PLAYER.
2. He has played 1924 innings at SS and has 48 ERRORS.
3. He has played 5153 innings at 2B and has 69 Errors.
4. His Fld% as a SS is .954.
5. His Fld% as a 2B is .978.
6. Mookie wants to play SS
7. Kim is going to have to prove he can hit. That is not a given.
#6 says it all, but I do not see Kim as anything but an Emergency SS.
Yep, #6 is the primary reason.
Mookie is making AF’s first big trade look better and better.
A lot of people, I think, figure that Mookie would eventually move to 2B. But who saw SS coming?
Can any of us think of any player who transitioned from outfield to SS in their 30s?
Simple, Mookie wants to play SS. Mookie makes 32 million a year, he is an 8 time all-star and 11 year veteran, an MVP winner and one of the catalysts for the offense., Kim has never played a game in the majors and is an unknown at that level. He will get a long look in spring, but he can be optioned to the minors for more seasoning.
Bogaerts was the SS for Boston at the time. He was just starting.
Red Sox SS was Xander Bogaerts when Betts came up.
Ahh, thanks Mark and Bear.
Now it sort of makes sense. But if Mookie had gotten the SS job, perhaps he’d still be in Boston. Probably not… but who knows?
And now Bogaerts is moving back to SS for the Padres.
The Dodgers have five (six if you add Kershaw) players who will go on the IL next Tuesday, when they Report to Spring Training.
1. Stone
2. Bazooka
3. River
4. Hurt
5. Emmet
Kershaw gets signed. Possibly Keekay.
What do you think happens with the other spots?
Kike will be one of them, they won’t fill the other spots until they feel the need. They could still sign one of the unsigned players, most likely outfield depth.
7 Days until Spring Training!
Flaherty is a Tiger.
For those thinking that the Dodgers are just going to dump CT3 for Kike you are mistaken.
CT3 aint going anywhere and he is going to have a solid year.
I can give you $17 Million Reasons why CT3 is not going anywhere, but if the Dodgers could trade CT3 for Kike, they would.
Both are great teammates.
CT3 had a very good year in 2021, and the Dodgers rewarded him with the contract he is playing under. He has one more year on that deal (if the Dodgers want to renew it) – they won’t!
Look at the trend:
2021 – 507 ABs
2022 – 402 ABs
2023 – 338 ABs
2024 – 213 ABs
Now, maybe he will be healthy in 2025… but the trend is not in that direction. He will be 35 this season and last year his OPS+ was 73. MLB average is 100. I am rooting for him, but the odds are not good.
He has something to prove for sure.
I’m not betting against him and he has value in that he can play all over the diamond and play it well.
I look for him to have a solid year….
https://www.joeposnanski.com/p/a-few-words-about-fay-vincent
Joe Posnanski’s article on Fay Vincent is excellent. The owners booted him from the Commissionership because he wouldn’t acquiesce to their wishes. It’s a shame because Selig (an owner), did exactly that. Vincent truly cared about the game and often sided with the players on disputes.
He banished Steinbrenner from the game. Quite a gutsy move.
His apology to the Negro League players was unprecedented. Vincent deserves HOF consideration in my opinion.
2025 World Championship Chances
(in %, from PECOTA):
21.6 LAD
9.4 NYY
8.5 ATL
7.5 CHC
7.2 TEX
7.0 BAL
5.8 HOU
5.6 NYM
4.7 SEA
4.3 PHI
3.2 ARI MIN
2.3 TOR
1.8 TB
1.5 KC
1.4 CLE
1.2 DET
0.7 MIL SD
0.5 SF
0.4 BOS LAA STL
0.3 PIT
0.2 WSH
0.1 CIN ATH
0.0 CWS COL MIA
Life as a major leaguer can be fleeting at any time, especially when you are around 35 . Just look at JD Martinez after he had that great year for us. I read he has now signed to play professional pickelball. I don’t think Teo will have a year anything like last season. I think Taylor will continue his downward spiral. Rojas and Barnes–I don’t think they will have the offensive numbers as good as last year. In the end the goal is to be around in October. And Roberts shuffle around the guys to get the job done.
Will Shohei even be a 45-45 guy in 2025. Probably not. Freddie, Mookie–Lets see
You paint a rosy picture. Did someone piss in your post toasties?
I did say Roberts will shuffle the guys around and get the job done. Which particular opinion did you disagree with?
That it was basically a glass is half empty post overall. Funny that you don’t think that.
1. I think Teo will have a Teo year.
2. If Rojas and Barnes decline, there are options.
3. Ohtani will not have a 50-50 season, but he will have a 40–25 season… and that is fine.
4. Freddie and Mookie will rest more.
So what? What is your point? Spit it out!
My point is I don’t expect guys to have as good as year as 2024. But team will be fine and be there in October. Ok So I think we agree?
Oh ye of little faith….
I, for one, hope Shohei doesn’t come close to 45 steals. He injured his shoulder on a stolen base, remember? Let’s reduce the risk.
The individual “counting stats” in general may not be as robust, assuming that the Dodgers are as dominant as expected. Freddie, Mookie, Teo–all of the stalwarts should get a bit more rest this season to prepare for the playoffs. How many pitchers will shuffle in and out of the 6-man rotation? Will any starter reach 140 innings?
JD Martinez is one of those guys who should have learned how to play 1B to lengthen his career. Now that they’ve signed Alonso, will the Mets bring back JDM?
I first learned about pickleball when a friend posted an X-ray of his shattered collar bone, broken in two places. Honest.
Brasier being traded to the Cubs per MLBTR.
Per the MLB Hot Stove video above – Mookie and Freddie 2023 season combined stats were significantly better than their 2024 stats, and more in align with their career stats. So on paper they should be better in 2025 than last year (even if you consider they are older).
Agree with Mark that Ohtani will be closer to 40+ HR, and Teo with 25-30.
Also, Rojas and Barnes are bit-players and whether they produce to their 2024 stats or 2023 stats it will have no significant bearing on the W/L record.
With Edman, Kike and Taylor in CF and Conforto/Pages in RF it is really hard to think there will be a regression.
For the pitching, we are stacked and compared to 2024 (see Mark’s post a few days ago listing the # of starters and innings total), the odds are that they will be significantly better.
A great time to be a Dodger fan.
That’s what I’m talking about.
The Dodgers announced a trade, sending reliever Ryan Brasier and cash considerations to the Cubs in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.
Goodbye Ryan, you were a Dude!
This should be a win for the Cubs… and we aren’t getting a Hope or a Ferris back! 😉
I’ll bet Player To Be Named Later does more for us that Brasier does for Chicago! (and this isn’t a knock on Brasier)
If it’s a PTBNL or cash I’m guessing it ain’t gonna be much of a player.
Or cash, cash always works.
Well, I think Ch-Town needed a player like Brasier… provided he can stay healthy. They have Pressley to close, but they need a good setup man.
I think all we will get is cash…
I wish the Dodgers had sent him to the AL.
The Cubs have a decent shot at the playoffs this season, and Brasier could become a problem!
Brasier is still a good pitcher, but not great. He lost about 2.5 MPH on his fastball last year.
Brasier and Pressley at the back end of the Cubs pen makes it pretty solid.
Harrison Bader is signing with the Twins, Arenado to Red Sox rumors heating up.
Michael Conforto will wear # 23, Kim, # 6 and Yates, # 38.
Getting released from the hospital today. Will probably leave for Colorado early next week.
Huh?
Cool. Make sure your accelerator foot is ok.
Ex-Yankee reliever Stephen Ridings, recently signed to play for OKC, hopes to be the Dodgers next RP rehab success.
Every season, the Dodgers seem to come up with a gem that just needs a little polish. Ridings, now 29, has pitched in the Royals, Yankees and Mets organizations.
Back in ’21, he pitched five inning for the Yankees, striking out 7 with a 1.80 ERA.