We went to three games, and they did not open the gates until 30-35 minutes before the game started. In most parks, it is 1.5 to 2.0 hours before the game. This was repeated for all three games. I talked to several fans, and they said it was like this last year. There was also a big problem with “cutting line” as well. As game time approached, there were large groups of Hispanic fans who just cut the lines. If you know me, you know I have a loud voice, and I yelled loudly, “Stop Cutting the line, you Morons!” My son asked me what I would do if they came after me. I said, “That’s why I brought you guys. You are my bodyguards.” That stuff pisses me off.
It was also very obvious that the number of ushers and employees is way down. You can hardly find an usher. Instead, there are armed policemen throughout the stadium. This is a conscious decision, and I am not sure why, but my guess is that they think they are saving money somehow.
I could see it happening on opening day, but all three days? I talked to some fans who went to Mesa on Friday to watch them play the Cubs, and they said that the gates were already open when they got there about an hour and a half before the game and that a lot of fans were already inside.
This experience is not an isolated incident…. and it’s CRAP! On Sunday, we got into the stadium in the second inning despite being there an hour before the game… maybe we should have cut line!
Back to Dodger Baseball…
- Zyhir Hope’s speed has diminished somewhat, but it is still above average. He should lay off the squats now. He doesn’t need to add bulk to those tree trunks. His bat looks legit. His arm is above average. Now, focus on baseball… not the weight room! He will likely start at Great Lakes and move to Tulsa if ready.
- James Outman’s star is sinking like the Titanic. I was sad to watch him strike out three times on Saturday. He just looks lost… defeated!
- Andy Pages does not look good, either.
- Of all the players, Kike Hernandez got the biggest cheers from the fans!
- David Bote has looked good.
- Miguel Rojas looks to be a great utilityman… and he can hit!
- It was only one inning, but Dustin May’s performance was encouraging. He hit 95 once but his fastball sat at 94.
- Ryan Sublette has looked good in two appearances. He’s likely headed to Tulsa.
- Ryan Ward looks like a AAAA player.
- Hunter Feduccia has looked good with the bat but not so good behind the plate.
- Remember when some blogs said, “Of course, Luis Garcia will never pitch for LA?” – Well, MLB.com lists him as a dark horse candidate to make the team out of Spring Training due to injuries to Phillips and Kopech!
- Austin Barnes has looked solid this Spring. Will this be his last season as a Dodger? Will he retire?
- Alex Freeland has made the most of his single at-bat.
- The ChiSox have the following former Dodgers on their roster: Miguel Vargas, Jacob Amaya, and Andre Lipcuis – they are a combined )-fer!
- Tyler Glasnow starts today.
LINDY’S SPORTS BASEBALL 2025 PREVIEW
I don’t know why I do this… but I always do. I used to get Street & Smiths and Athlon Sports Annual Baseball Previews, but I think Lindys is the only magazine left. So, it came today, and they predict the Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series. As usual, they are wrong.
3:05 PM ET
Dodgers (98-64) (1-3)
Reds (77-85 (1-2)
SP Tyler Glasnow R
0-0 .00 ERA
SPCarson Spiers R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Chris Taylor R
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF E. Rosario L
CF James Outman L
1B David Bote R
DH Andy Pages R
C H. Feduccia L
SS Sean McLain R
80° Wind 2 mph In
Bobby Miller (head) will resume throwing Monday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Miller has been shut down and in concussion protocol after being hit in the head by a line drive during his first Cactus League appearance last week. However, he managed to avoid a serious injury and has been cleared to ramp his throwing back up. It’s not clear when Miller might be ready for appear in a game again. Miller is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City”.
Roki Sasaki is scheduled to make his first spring appearance Tuesday against the White Sox in what Prior called a “hybrid B-game,” as Minor League camps have not opened. Blake Snell is to start the Dodgers’ Cactus League game that day.
“These first couple weeks [are] really both of us trying to get to know each other and then try[ing] to progress from there,” Prior said of Sasaki. “Get him dialed in with some things that he wants to work on.”
Freddie Freeman (ankle) could make his Cactus League debut Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
“Freeman has been brought along slowly in Dodgers camp following December surgery to remove loose bodies in his right ankle, but he’s progressing well. The veteran first baseman will get some at-bats in a minor-league game Monday and is tracking toward his first official spring training action later this week. Freeman is expected to be ready to go for the Dodgers’ season-opening two-game series against the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18-19”.
Gavin Lux is hitting .667 after two games for the Reds. He played 2B in the second game and was 2-3 with 3 RBI, batting 2nd.
He’ll have a good year in Cinci. They won win, but he’ll play well.
How much playing time will he get is a key question for him personally?
I believe he’ll start if he stays healthy.
He started for us, he’ll start for them.
What position?
Reds have Matt McClain at 2B. He’s too good for a platoon. He’s the reason they traded India, a former ROY.
Unless someone gets hurt, Lux seems likely to platoon at DH. He crushed RH pitching down the stretch last season.
Lux doesn’t have the typical power profile for a DH, but Cincy is a hitters’ park.
What position?
Reds have Matt McClain at 2B. He’s too good for a platoon. He’s the reason they traded India, a former ROY.
Unless someone gets hurt, Lux seems likely to platoon at DH. He crushed RH pitching down the stretch last season.
Lux doesn’t have the typical power profile for a DH, but Cincy is a hitters’ park.
Eddie Rosario would be a huge plus if he can recapture past form.
Who’s spot does he take?
Yeah that aint happening….
Here’s the bench right now,Rojas,Barnes,Kiki and Taylor. Kim could start the year in the minors if he shows he can’t hit MLB pitching,an injury to one of the postional starters could happe or a trade is in the works. That’s the only ways Rosario breaks camp with the team.
Both Pages and Outman came into camp realizing that both have a very slim chance of making the opening day roster unless there is a trade or an injury. Both look like they’re pressing.
I don’t think OUtman did himself any favors by going where he did this off season to rework his swing. Based on his swing last year it seemed like Chase Utley would have been the perfect mentor for him.
Time to find promising Japanese outfielders.
Mark I believe you have the cred to write or call the Dodgers front office. Your complaint is real and nothing makes a person more upset than seeing the first pitch. Go give them the what for.
Assuming visitors can still get close to players on the practice fields then it shouldn’t be a security issue that keeps fans out of the stadium until just prior to the start of the game.
Mark, can you describe what you witnessed on the practice fields that might be of interest to us?
A lot has changed since I was there before. It’s harder to get to the players and backfields. It’s a waste of time, in my opinion. It seems to me that the Camelback Ranch experience is strictly for the Dodger’s benefit… Screw the Fans! That’s my feeling. You know how when you are at a game, if you are standing in a certain area, how ushers come up and ask to see your ticket? There seems to be no ushers at Camelback Ranch.
Maybe it is a security thing. Vero Beach was so much fun in the years prior to 2000 and maybe longer. Fans shared sidewalks with players and we could get very close to the practice areas.
I think it’s a combination of Security and being cheapskates where it makes no sense.
Vero Beach was incredible. I have been there over a dozen times, but this felt like corporate plastic!
To say I was not impressed is a huge understatement.
A much different breed of fan, before 2000
That is painfully obvious.
Today’s fan are loud mouth knuckleheads with zero respect for those around them.
And hotels have no employees.
Damn robots
RHP Emmet Sheehan
Injury: Recovery from Tommy John surgery
Expected return: Possibly before the All-Star break
Status: Underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2024; has resumed throwing off the mound and hopes to begin a rehab assignment in May or June.
Mark,
Why do you feel it necessary to comment on the ethnicity of the people cutting in line?
I guess I’ll have my answer if you call me a moron and delete my post.
Why would I call you a moron or delete your post? I only do that to morons…
You asked what I think was a genuine question, so I will give you an answer.
Here are the facts and only the facts:
I personally observed probably close to 100 (maybe more) people cut line.
They were all Hispanic, and it was perfectly clear.
I am going to ask you a question: If you were mugged by a person, would you just say, “I was mugged by a person?”
Or would you say, I was mugged by two female Chinese women (if that were the case)?
Why should I not speak the truth? The truth is: THEY WERE ALL HISPANIC.
If they were white guys, I would have said “5 White Guys.” or if they were Filipino…
What am I supposed to say?
Enlighten me….
The last time I was at the Louvre the guard at LA Giaconda said the protective glass plate was put in front of it after a Russian tourist threw a coin at it.
Whatever you do, do NOT call Hyeseong Kim a Korean!
If you had seen a bunch of white guys cut in line, would you really have noted that they were a bunch of white guys?
Color me skeptical.
Or would you have simply called them “morons”… when “assholes” would be more appropriate.
If you are white and a bunch of white guys cut a line, you may or may not include that. The same if you are Hispanic and Hispanic guys cut line: You may or may not include that. In most cases, you would include as much information as possible. “He was a huge Hispanic guy about 7 feet tall.” He was a skinny white guy who had a face that was disfigured.”
I actually can’t believe we are having such a silly conversation.
I didn’t use “assholes” because there were little kids present, but that would have been a better name.
I’m not going to engage with you on this because I know your politics and mine are entirely opposite and I come here for the baseball content. I will only say I felt/feel it is injecting your politics. And I think equating some people cutting a line with mugging is ridiculous.
Well, dumbass, you already did engage me.
It was a baseball comment and you (YOU, NOT ME) brought the identity politics to make yourself feel superior by virtue signaling that you are somehow better than us creatins.
This is all on you. I won’t call you a moron out of respect for morons. You give morons a bad name.
Who else could it be but a knucklehead Hispanic with zero respect.
The only thing respectful to them is a cold Corona. Idiots.
Well, I am not saying THAT!
I know many fans do not care about strikeouts, but the Dodgers are putting them up in droves this spring. 16 more K’s today. 7 of them by Outman, Muncy and Taylor. Outman finally got a hit, but he is being outplayed by Hope and Rosario. Pages has one hit in 8 at bats and has struck out 4 times. LA hitters have struck out 58 times in 5 games. That is 11 plus K’s a game. Team leaders are Taylor and Outman with 5 each. Let’s get some wood on the ball guys.
It’s still early, Bear.
Some guys like to get their slumps out of the way at the beginning. 🙂
The entire team is striking out too much. Muncy has 3 Ks but is still hitting .500. I get the smiley face, but I am sorry, I hate strikeouts. They are empty at bats and this team so far has had way too many of them. Snell and Sasaki getting starts today. White Sox say they consider Miguel Vargas as a third baseman. Good luck with that. Guardians’ owner, Larry Dolan passed away at the age of 94. Flaherty and Maeda are part of the fight for rotation spots in Detroit.
I’m still wondering whether Rosario’s deal enables him to opt out if he doesn’t make the roster.
Even if he plays great, I don’t see him making the cut. . . unless there is a significant injury.
It would be nice to have Rosario stashed in OKC, but he might get a nice offer to stay in the majors….
Meanwhile, the list of still-unsigned free agents includes two starters for the ’24 AL Champ Yankees: Alex Verdugo and Anthony Rizzo. Ouch. Verdugo is still only 28, but Rizzo could be done.
Could some team still try to lure JD Martinez away from the glories of pickleball?
And the Arenado agonistes continue….
All former major leaguers have an opt-out clause and if another team wanted to sign him tomorrow to a major league deal, the Dodgers would likely acquiesce to that. Maybe the Dodgers hitting coaches have discovered something and he is expecting to go to OKC for a while? We just don’t know what we don’t know.
Mark, your description of the “back fields” access is exactly what I experienced a few years back when I decided I won’t return to Camelback Ranch anymore. I figure that the popularity of the team and World Series championship has simply made it worse.
Regarding the line cutters. Just the way people are these days. Rude. There is no defending the disorganization and lack of Stadium access until 30 minutes before game time. I understand that Fan Fest at Dodger Stadium was an unorganized fiasco this year too.
The Dodgers organization needs to wake up and straighten things out soon because things are getting out of control. I’m talking about security, protecting fans and improving the overall fan experience.
I last attended a regular season game at Dodger Stadium three years ago when I thought I had been inserted into the black hole at a Raider game. Profanity, beer flying when action happened on the field, a lot of pushing and shoving. The days of Helen Dell entertaining the crowd on the Conn organ were long gone. There is no easy solution when mob mentality of rude fans takes over.
I don’t envy the Dodgers head of security and the tasks at hand that need to be addressed but something needs to be done. Will it? Maybe after something tragic happens.
I have not been to a game at Dodger Stadium since 21. My sister and I opted instead to go to Rancho. This will be the last year that the Quakes are a Dodger affiliate. Next season, the Dodgers new low-A team will be in Ontario at a new ballpark. Rancho will become an Angels affiliate. I will probably go to Denver to see the Dodgers play. Cheaper, and pretty easy access to Coor’s Field.
Very insightful and consice.
On the baseball side they always hire the brightest and most qualified people. Every other department is littered with unqualified DEI hires that could care less about the fans. It truly is a travesty.
Book em
This was a silly post.
Has DEI become some weird catchphrase that people use without research or care?
It’s like when I place an order at a restaurant and the server says Perfect.
Seriously, it’s like incompetence just arose as an issue with DEI.
The stupidest of stupid.
That said, we must remember that nearly 1 in every 2 people has a below-average IQ. Thought maybe not on this board.
Why are you folks here? If you get butthurt and offended by the word Hispanic or DEI go hug a tree or something.
Book em
Call it like it is.
I don’t go to games because of the Hispanic idiots that ruin the experience. Period.
What’s wrong with Dieter Ruehle?
I can tell ya from a fact going to Dodger Stadium is 100 times better than going to Philly.
Went to the Rams-Eagles playoff game, those fans suk.
I went to a Dodgers-Phillies game in Philadelphia about 8 years ago. Wore my Dodger cap with some trepidation. I was very pleased with the experience. Expected the worst and chatted with some Phillies fans throughout the game that were very respectful and good people overall.
Nothing wrong with Deiter. He’s great and has a good sense of humor. I’m not too keen on the hip hop music constantly blasting thru-out the game, but that’s just me. I’m old. Plus, if it makes the younger generations more apt to attend games, I’m all for it.
I went to a Dodger Red Sox game at Fenway park wearing a Dodger hat as did what seemed like half the crowd did as well.
I tried to stay away from this but I just can’t. The hypocrisy is just too glaring. Dan, you called out Mark for identifying the race of the line cutters, thus injecting identity politics into the discussion. Then you chastise him for defending himself claiming you seek only baseball content. In the old days, pitchers who threw high inside fastballs had to stand at the plate at some point. I miss that.
3:05 PM ET
Mariners (85-7) (2-2)
Dodgers (98-64) (1-4)
SP Luis Castillo R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Blake Snell L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
2B Tommy Edman S
LF M. Conforto L
3B E. Hernandez R
1B Miguel Rojas R
RF E. Rosario L
C A. Barnes R
CF James Outman L
DH Ryan Ward L
81° Wind 3 mph Out
The latest MLB Pipeline podcast is worth a listen for dodger fans, I am out, it mentions Jaren Elkins and that Lantigua prospect. The former is a seventh round draft pick/converted running back who has been tearing it up in the complex. The latter is who the Dodgers traded for international money, who is a potential right field monster.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mlb-pipeline/id906717198?i=1000695878961
I am out = IMO!
Apologies.
Per Jack Harris:
Dave Roberts left open the possibility of Hyeseong Kim starting the season in the minors, as he continues to make swing adjustments coming over from Korea
GM Brandon Gomes has also been non-committal about where Kim will begin the season
Still a lot of time left in camp before any final decisions are made, but something to monitor as the Dodgers evaluate their roster over the rest of spring
Works for me.
I. wonder how Glendale manages games when it’s the White Sox’s as the home team. Maybe and it could be a stretch, some other company other than the Dodgers or the White Sox’s run game management. Mark needs to go back to Arizona and go when there is a white Sox’s game and report back to us. Also I always wondered if Joe Kelly got anything for Marcus Vargas when he took back the number on his return? Mark you might check that while your down there taking care of game management in Glendale.
I have been gone most of the day, so… just in case you missed my kind response to Dan in Pasadeana, here it is again:
Well, dumbass, you already did engage me.
It was a baseball comment and you (YOU, NOT ME) brought the identity politics to make yourself feel superior by virtue signaling that you are somehow better than us creatins.
This is all on you. I won’t call you a moron out of respect for morons. You give morons a bad name.
Another loss and 13 more K’s. A couple of critical errors led to big innings. Snell, Wrobleski, Jose Rodriguez, Ortiz and Jacques pitched scoreless innings. Julian Fernandez is pitching himself right out of a job. He gave up 5 earned on one hit and 3 walks.
Right-handed pitcher Michael Grove will not be ready for Opening Day as he’s a month behind schedule in his throwing program due to a shoulder injury he dealt with at the end of last season.
Gomes and Doc both said Kim could start the season off in AAA. That would open up a spot for Eddie. We shall see.
Book em
I think that is very likely.
Dodgers have 13 games left before they open the season in Japan.
I agree, David Vasseghe, who has been embedded with the team for years and runs his DodgerTalk podcast mentioned on Roggin and Rodney the other day that Kim’s defense is way ahead of his bat, and they are working on his hitting. I don’t see the Dodgers sacrificing hitting for stellar defense just yet. They are also trying. Kim out in the outfield to fit their MO, guys that can play multiple positions. By the way , digging that Kike is back, he’s that guy who can call out the stars on this team if they need to be held accountable.