The Foundation of a Successful MLB Team

This article has 21 Comments

1. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.

2. Great article. I do like Will Klein and his stuff is intriguing.

   From what I can tell (from my uninformed POV) is that the Dodgers basically hunt superstars and seek value everywhere else. They didn’t do this with Yates, and I’m still confused by that signing. You could argue they didn’t do it with Hernandez too, I guess.

   But with those exceptions, I think it’s close or pointing to their actual philosophy.

   1. I did not like the Yates signing, but I get why they did it.

      In 2021, he had surgery and it cost him most of 2022 as well.

      In 2023, he came back with 61 IP and 3.28 ERA with 80 Ks.

      In 2024, he arguably was one of the best relievers in baseball. In 61 IP, he allowed 23 Hits, had a 1.17 ERA, and a 0.827 WHIP to go with 33 saves. AF only had to give him 1 year at $13 million, and he thought he would get something between what he did in 2023 and 2024.

      It turned out to be a dope fiend move.

      Like I said yesterday, if Will Klein can throw strikes, he is Mason Miller. 😉

3. John Ferguson. All due respect. Your last post noted that you think Conforto is rounding into something that could be helpful. I still think he’s a defensive liability. I think he should have made that catch in left field in the first inning and not making that catch cost. Them two runs. He made up for it on offense but basically that only made him even for the night. He’s a defensive liability and always will be. And just because he makes an unexpected catch now and then doesn’t change that.
   Cheers!

   1. Conforto was not acquired for his defense.

      Eldridge’s hit was 101 MPH and would have been a HR is eight ballparks.

      It appeared to me that Conforto took a bad route on a ball on which there was no margin for error. I watched it in 3D and still can’t tell if he should have caught it, but we know he is not a defensive wizard. He has struggled all season, and if he has put it all together for the playoffs, all will be forgiven.

      Last 7 games: .348 BA/.385 OB%
      Last 15 games: .289 BA/.365 OB%

      He is only playing against RHP… and they are done with him after this year.

      1. In my opinion, defense becomes more important in the playoffs. That includes Two in RF.

         1. Teo in RF,…. Effing autocorrect

4. 4:10 PM ET

   Giants (76-79)
   Dodgers (88-67)

   SP Trevor McDonald R
   0-0 9.00 ERA
   SP Emmet Sheehan R
   6-3 3.17 ERA

   Confirmed Lineup
   DH S. Ohtani L
   SS Mookie Betts R
   1B F. Freeman L
   3B Max Muncy L
   CF Andy Pages R
   LF M. Conforto L
   2B Miguel Rojas R
   RF Alex Call R
   C D. Rushing L

   82° Wind 7 mph Out

   Today the Dodgers break the 4 million mark in attendance

   1. “This marks the first time in franchise history the Dodgers have reached this attendance milestone. Dodger Stadium has the largest capacity in MLB, with 56,000 seats, which has enabled this achievement. The Dodgers also led MLB in attendance every year from 2013 to 2025. The team previously came close in 2019 and 2024, falling just shy with totals of 3,974,309 and 3,941,251, respectively.

      The addition of Shohei Ohtani in the 2025 season was a major factor in the attendance surge, bringing in new fans and boosting the team’s overall business”.

5. I agree with you on his defense Porpoise Boy. Not the worst by any means, but definitely a C- in the field. But…….last year teoscar was a playoff monster and we certainly can’t call him an A+ outfielder. It’s all about tradeoffs. The perfect team is unaffordable, even for Mark Walters

   1. I get it, and past results say MC had a snowball’s chance of a series MVP or something. IMO it becomes cumulative, MC in left means Teo in right, robbing them of Pages in right, etc.

6. Miggy Ro said he wants to return next season. Question, should LA sign him, most likely blocking Freeland? Kike is a free agent. I think he is at the point in his career where his offensive production in the filed during the regular season makes him a liability. I would not resign him. I would resign Miggy as a mentor for Freeland. They also have Kim and Edman who can more than ably fill Kike shoes. I also think there will be a serious discussion about moving Pages to right. He has been better, but he is much better suited for the corner position in RF.

   1. As a mentor?

      Bear, can you expand on that? Keep a declining value player so he can coach alongside the coaching staff?

7. I think it is way too soon to think about Miggy Ro or Kike next year.

   I think that Pages could spend one more year in CF before Sirota takes over in 2027. BA said that Sirota “might be a steal.” Pages will end up in RF… just maybe not next year. What if Tucker wants to be a Dodger (I don’t think that will happen)?

   Freeland is my favorite player… due to his story, but there are a lot of things to be decided between now and then.

   Kike is beloved by his teammates.

   1. ‘Kike is beloved by his teammates.’ So was Barnes and Turner
      Everyones time comes up

8. I feel like Kike is done with the Dodgers, I think that play where he didn’t slide in home plate marked his departure, or non-return to LA.

9. You’re welcome. That’s the classic reverse jinx by criticizing MC and then having him perform.

10. anyone else seen enough of trienan?

    1. Everyone

    2. That could be the nail. Don’t see how they could trust him in the playoffs. Especially a 3 game one.

       1. Roberts after the game seems to imply otherwise, unbelievably.

          https://x.com/SportsNetLA/status/1969910626932908125

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