Just the facts, Ma’am

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1. Yes, the Dodgers bullpen was pretty good last year, but I think they have a chance to be better in 2021. I agree it only takes finding one or two to make it special. In addition to those expected to have a big impact, the Dodgers have some interesting bounce back options. Nelson is definitely an interesting pitcher, could go as a starter or reliever, depending how everything plays out this spring. Morrow, if he’s healthy, could prove to be a great signing.

   Does Turner have options? Probably, but I can’t see him leaving LA. Time to wrap it up.

   Fear of failure is a great motivator. Sometimes wolves are real. Are the Padres wolves?
   If everything goes right they may give the Dodgers a serious run. Depth could be the difference maker and the Dodgers definitely have some quality depth. .

   Good write-up, Mark.

2. It seems as though Busch may have the best hitting tools of any of our prospects. He’s now considered a second baseman.
   Lux is viewed as a “can’t miss”, or at least he was before 2020. He is also considered a second baseman.
   Busch played both first base and left field in college. Why not give him some reps in left this year because if Lux actually does fulfill his potential, we’re going to need somewhere else for Busch to play and take advantage of his bat. It could be that he’s the ultimate successor to Muncy at first, but he could also be the successor to Pollock in left.
   If his bat is as good as advertised and he has the ability to play three positions, he’s going to be very valuable.

   1. Why not Lux in the OF where he can use his speed and forget the “Yips?”

      1. Maybe the yips are a byproduct of learning a new position and will be overcome. It was really odd that the Dodgers hardly played him at 2B in the minors when he was on the cusp of coming up. Maybe they see him as insurance at SS in case Seager bails on us.

         1. He has had them on multiple occasions and at SS as well.

            Gavin has 2,754 Innings in the minors at SS (299 Games) and has a 74 Errors as a SS. His field % as a SS is .937 which is “worser “than bad! His fielding % at 2B is .970, where he only has 15 errors.

            He is not a SS, in my opinion. He may play 2B, but I think throwing has got in his head, Eliminate it! Move him to LF and see what he has!

            1. You’re painting a bleak picture for Gavin. In 2019 he had 776 innings 331 chances and a 961 Fielding percentage at SS. Similar number to Francisco Lindo’s age 21 season in the minors. If throwing has gotten into his head, do you give up and make him an outfielder, or do you focus on improving the throwing and keep him at a more valuable position? I agree that OF could be a good fallback for him. But, right now we need a second baseman, not an outfielder. Busch has a zero chance of being the second baseman this year, so there’s no need to make that move. Taylor, Peters, Recks and Raley are all options to back up in the outfield, so there isn’t a need there.

            2. If Lux were to move to the outfield it should be to CF and not LF.

               A 2022 low budget middle infield could have Lux at SS and Busch at 2b.

               That would open the payroll for other needs.

      2. They should both get some time in left. The more possibilities the better but at some point you want to have one of them as the primary guy at second and the other in left.

         1. Yep, at some point is the key phrase. At some point Busch is going to have to prove himself in the upper minors. Only then do you need to think about moving Lux off second base to accommodate him. This is a conversation for Spring 2022 or 2023.

3. Mark, nice write up but let me know when you convince Eric about AF and our bullpen! I give up. If only we could sign Doolittle!

   1. Just the facts, Ma’am!

4. Morning gang. Excellent write up Mark. Convincing Eric that AF knows how to build a pen would be even more daunting than building a pen. He uses his own formula and he sticks to it. Got to give him credit for that. The Turner situation is becoming a distraction. And some what of a pain. Just do what you have to do JT, sign, or move on. At this point I really do not care. Baseball will be played in LA with or without you. Snowing here today, so it does not feel like spring at all.

5. Excellent points on the bullpen, MT. You would think that with 25-28 pitchers in camp they can find a few guys to step up and win a bullpen job. The competition should be intense, as it should be. I’m just glad I’m not a bullpen catcher.
   As mentioned yesterday, you can’t have all-stars everywhere and the bullpen can be pieced together with less expensive contracts. That’s especially true since we still have KJ and Kelly’s pricey contracts. I too am confident that AF will get this one right and we’re still the team to beat. While the youngsters lack experience there is plenty of talent there, IMO.
   I love the shout out to Jack Webb. Great video and Joe Friday was such a hard-ass. One of the all time classics on the Johnny Carson Show was Johnny’s bit with Jack Webb, who had a great sense of humor. The Clyde Cooper and the Copper Clapper Caper is very funny and somehow done with a semi-straight face. If you don’t remember it, find it on You Tube.

6. Enjoyed reading your article, Mark. Thank you. We do not have a crystal ball, are mind readers or privy to the decisions by AF and the Dodger organization. We all have hopes, wishes and, yes, guesses, and I enjoy reading them all. Facts or fiction?

   Some quotes to think about:
   “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”

   “It is the absence of facts that frighten people: the gap you open, into which they pour their fears, fantasies, desires”

   Still, it is always fun to speculate.

7. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Dodgers had a proven bona fide closer, like some of the teams have? Someone who comes in for the last inning-plus, and has a very high save percentage? I do agree with what you always say, that relievers’ performances can vary from year to year. But somehow the Dodgers wanted to sigh Jansen to a four-year contract, because they also valued it. Unfortunately, Jansen has struggled in parts of every season since then, to the point that when it gets to playoff time, we scarcely use him. Are we going to go through another season with him blowing saves, or barely hanging on to them?

   We got away with not having a closer, or really even a top set-up man, last year, but part of that was because the season was so short, and then we used Urias in the big playoff games, who did a great job. Assuming that he is now a starter, we will have to mix and match again. We do have some people with potential, but a few of them are reclamation projects with arm problems. We don’t know how the season will go, and who will step up, and who will be a disappointment, and who will go back on the injured list. But usually a season comes down to the playoffs; we will be against San Diego and/or Atlanta, an we might have a one-run lead going into the eighth inning, and who do we put in to hold that lead? At that point, an overall bullpen statistic will not matter;, it will be our set-up man and closer vs. Tatis or Machado , or Acuna or Freeman, with the game and series on the line. I would want us to have some of the best relievers in the game for those moments, but we have not for years. Our bullpen lost a key World Series game against Boston, it also did not come through in the extra-inning loss at Houston. The bullpens failed in playoff series against St Louis and Philadelphia., keeping us from possible championships.. No bullpen is perfect, but you want to have someone about whom you feel very confident in a tie or one-run game. I don’t feel that way about any of our relievers, maybe someone will step up in a big way, but it is far from certain, based on their recent performances and injury history. Well, we will not know how this will work out until one or two of the key playoff games when it will be our bullpen against theirs.

   1. “But somehow the Dodgers wanted to sign Jansen to a four-year contract, because they also valued it. Unfortunately, Jansen has struggled in parts of every season since then”

      As they say, “Once burned, twice shy.”

      Maybe that long contract of Kenley’s convinced Andrew he shouldn’t do that again and it’s difficult to get a proven, really good closer these days on a short term contract.

   2. Every reliever has a point in the season where they struggle. Be it with their stuff, location, or just plain fatigue. Jansen has excellent post season numbers. His WHIP in 49 career post season games is a amazing 0.83. Which is better than his career WHIP which stands at 0.92. His ERA in 49 post season games is 2.40, compared to his career ERA which is 2.39. Bullpens, and bullpen pitchers are notoriously up and down. For instance, the only Dodger reliever who did not give up a single homer during the 2017 season was Brandon Morrow. He pitched in every World Series game. But his performance in Game 5 was terrible. He did not get an out, he gave up 4 runs, and the only 2 HR’s he surrendered all year. But he had been up to that point one of the Dodgers more reliable relievers. That is why he pitched in all 7 games. I felt confident in Jansen. He blew a save in game 4. But he had some help, Taylor not picking the ball up cleanly, and still having a shot at throwing Arozarena out at the plate, when Will Smith did an ole on the throw, and he scored the winning run. Sometimes things happen after the ball is put in play that the pitcher has no control over. He might induce weak contact and a bleeder gets through the infield. Is that on the pitcher? The first hitter in that 9th inning hit a ball that eluded Kike’s glove by about 4 inches. You can look at every reliever’s performance in a game, and fine usually either a great fielding play, or a bad one that affects the outcome. Jansen is a different pitcher now than he was in 2017. He still has his moments, good and bad. I do not think Roberts trusts him as much as he once did. And that showed by the number of times he was brought in with no one on base. He should not pitch in back to back games. Trienen, who everyone raved about, got some real help from his fielders. Especially Mookie who robbed Freeman when he absolutely crushed a Trienen pitch in a very crucial moment. Relievers are unpredictable. Not just some of them, all of them. You never know how someone coming in in a tight situation is going to perform. Dodgers over their history have had some really great moments from their pen, and some all would love to forget. Guys like Mariano Rivera are few and far between. Yates, Hand, Hader, they all have their warts. There is no such thing as a sure thing in the pen. Hader has lost 3 games to the Dodgers alone on late inning HR’s. Trevor Hoffman, the HOF reliever with the Padres once gave up 4 consecutive 9th inning HR’s to the Dodgers, and the Pads lost the game in the 10th when Garciaparra hit a walkoff. Jansen has had a very good career. He might not be the man anymore, and then again, he might go out untouchable. You never know.

      1. I still think if Jansen doesn’t drop to his knees on the mound and do the “whoa is me” and does his job by backing up the plate, they still may have got Arozarena out.

   3. When Friedman signed Kenley Jansen he was the premier closer in the NL. He was a proven bona fide closer… until he wasn’t. Sign guy who was the best closer the time meant nothing then… just as it does now!

8. Hall of Fame vote to be announced this evening. I do not think anyone makes it in. Schilling has lost support because of his posts on some social media, Bonds and Clemens are too far away to garner enough votes to get in, and none of the new candidates are even hall worthy. Helton may gain some steam, and Rolen too. Amazingly, Jeff Kent, the all time leader in Home Runs by a second baseman is still languishing around 25 percent. Kent has the 50th most RBI’s in MLB history. More than Piazza and some other Hall of Fame players.

   1. Isn’t it silly that a Hall of fame performer can be denied entrance to the HOF because of his political views. What has our world come too? I would respect any argument over whether or not a player, based on performance and statistics, should be in the HOF. But tweets or FB posts, as Joe Biden would say, “come on man!”

      1. If that’s the criteria then Ty Cobb should be removed from the Hall of Fame

         1. Well you could argue that anyone with that kind of background should be removed. But it is like history, just removing a statue does not remove what actually happened. They are fast tracking putting Harriet Tubman on the 20 dollar bill to replace Andrew Jackson. Ok, I get that. But it does not change American History one bit. Jackson despite his racism and being a slave owner, was still a hero at New Orleans. Nothing changes that. Cobb is still the leader in career BA. One of the best to play the game. But Cap Anson, and K M Landis were also outspoken racists. And no one has said a thing about removing them. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

         2. Don’t put that in the universe, because I am sure there is a group ready to launch a movement to remove all all those considered racists from the HOF.

         3. I have read very credible information that Ty Cobb was framed by a journalist with whom he had a feud and in fact, was far from a racist!

            1. You are probably referring to Al Stump. Stump was supposed to be writing Cobb’s biography and according to him, there was stuff Cobb did not want in there, including the fact that his father was shot and killed by his mother. Stump published his work after Cobb had died, and Cobb had issues with some of the content. They were not on very good terms.

            2. I recommend Ty Cobb, A Terrible Beauty by Charles Leerhsen. It debunks Al Stump’s book.
               https://www.amazon.com/Ty-Cobb-Terrible-Charles-Leerhsen/dp/1451645791

      2. It is. But that is the way things are now. Look at another candidate, Omar Vizquel. Vizquel a few years ago was considered a lock to make it in. Last year, his 3rd year on the ballot, he got 52% of the vote. But, this year the allegations of spousal abuse were exposed. He denied it of course and he and his wife are in the middle of a contentious divorce. So that is not going away since there is a police report. Vizquel is still considered one of the best fielding SS ever, and would go in on the strength of that just like Ozzie Smith did. 11 Gold Gloves. Schillings strongest argument for enshrinement is his post season performances. He does have 7 more wins than Drysdale, and 20 less losses. So that way he is also qualified. But his post pissed off a lot of voters and was very controversial. Character matters to some of those guys, to others, not so much. My take is that until Hodges is in, the Hall is not legit.

         1. You get no argument from me on that. Hodges belongs in the HOF!!!!!

   2. Writers should not be the ones determining who goes in to the hall and who doesn’t. It should all be based on statistics. When the player with the most hits EVER in the game is not in the hall of fame, I think it’s an absolute travesty. Show me proof where Pete Rose bet on his team to lose a game. Maybe I’ve been in a closet somewhere all my life but I’ve never seen it laid out in black and white. Has it ever been proven that Bonds and Clemmens took steroids? Prove it to me. Yeah, I would think they may have. If they didn’t, would they have gone into the hall? I’m sure they would have. So maybe put them in with an asterick. So Jeff Kent didn’t get along with the writers during his career so there’s no way he can get into the hall if he was an asshole. The writers don’t like Kurt Shillings political views so there’s no way he can possibly make it into the hall if they don’t believe in his views? What a bunch of CRAP. It’s all a popularity contest which to me is bullshit.

      1. Rose was shown the proof. And he took the punishment. So what they had was very credible. There was also supposedly an agreement that it would remain private and not released to the public. Whether he bet on the Reds to lose makes no difference. The rule states you do not bet period. Whether he bet on the Reds all the time to win makes no difference either. Betting on games you are in a position to affect is a no no. He was the manager, and any move he made could affect the score. End of argument.

         1. So you don’t let him into the hall as a manager. Show me proof he bet when he was a player. With all due respect, the argument may end with you Bear, but it certainly doesn’t end with me.

            1. I get that. Unfortunately, he never did enough as a manager to qualify for the hall, but his behavior afterwards is what is keeping him out. So for those who support Pete, there is no arguing with the higher authority which in this case is not the writers, never has been. The commissioner’s office is the entity that is keeping Pete out of the hall. You wish to disagree with that judgement, I suggest a letter writing campaign to the commish. Doubt Manfred can have his mind changed. He had a gambling habit long before he became a manager.

         2. I agree. And let us say that he did not bet against his team, but if he bet on his team a lot, and a few times did not, that tips the bookies that he might have an injured player, or does not think the Reds will win the game. And on the games he bet on the Reds, wouldn’t he perhaps sacrifice the next games to win those? For example, he uses his best reliever for three innings, and he can’t use him for two games. Or he plays an injured player because he thinks he can help him win that game.. Maybe he did not do that, maybe he just liked to bet and thought his team would win. But no one knows, and it obviously casts serious questions as to the whole situation, which is why it matters so much.

   3. I am a fan of the pitcher Curt Schilling. He is very much Hall worthy. Here is a sample of his creds from a 2017 SI article.

      “Turning back to the regular season: Schilling’s 3,116 strikeouts rank 15th all-time, and his 8.6 strikeout-per-nine rate ranks third among pitchers with at least 3,000 innings, behind only Johnson and Ryan and just ahead of Roger Clemens. It’s true that Schilling pitched in an era where strikeout rates were almost continually on the rise, but he was still ahead of the curve: His trio of 300-K seasons puts him in the company of Johnson, Ryan and Koufax as the only pitchers with more than two such seasons during the expansion era, and he finished in his league’s top five in strikeouts eight times. What’s more, he demonstrated impeccable control while doing so, leading the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio five times and placing in the top five another four times; his 4.4 ratio is the highest of any pitcher with at least 3,000 innings since 1893, when the pitching distance was first set at 60’ 6”.”

      “Schilling’s ability to miss bats and prevent runs led to eight top five finishes in WAR and nine seasons of at least 5.0 WAR; among his contemporaries, only Clemens (14), Johnson (11), Maddux (11) and Mussina (10) had more, while Martinez had as many. His 79.9 career WAR ranks 26th all-time, six wins above the standard for Hall of Fame starters. His peak score of 49.0 WAR is 1.3 wins below the standard—a couple runs per year, spread out over seven seasons. His overall JAWS, however, is 2.4 ahead of the standard, good for 27th all-time, ahead of five 300-game winners (Glavine, Ryan, Mickey Welch, Don Sutton and Early Wynn) as well as 32 other enshrined starters. That’s a Hall of Fame pitcher.”

      I agree.

      In 2004, I had the pleasure of meeting Curt Schilling while he was throwing strings during ST. And I mean pleasure. He was gracious to both my wife and me. He did not big league us at all. We got to go into the pens because Andy was catching him at the time. Curt liked Andy from his days in Philly with him and also in Boston. So I saw a different Curt Schilling than the social media persona. BTW, Curt Schilling is a BIG MAN.

      I would also vote for Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. They never failed a drug test. Is there other evidence? Sure. But they never failed a drug test. Nobody can convince me that Mike Piazza or Jeff Bagwell did not use PEDs. If Bonds & Clemens used the PEDs as has been reported, it undoubtedly added years to their career, and made them get through injuries faster, but it did not make them Hall worthy. They were already Hall worthy. Bonds probably does not break Hank Aaron’s HR record without PEDs. PEDs did not make Bonds’ hands faster through the zone. How many more HRs would he have hit if he did not have a ML record for intentional walks of 688, and 2,558 walks in total (also a ML record). He had four years with an OBP of greater than 50% and one year above 60%. 7 time MVP, three before he was accused of PEDs.

      My ballot would include Schilling, Bonds, Clemens, Kent, and Billy Wagner. I could be persuaded to include Andruw Jones and Scott Rolen. Too many Dodger fans remember Jones as a Dodger. He started to go downhill the year before he became a Dodger. He was the best CF on the planet while he was in Atlanta, at a time that included Ken Griffey Jr. Jones had 10 GG as did Junior. Ozzie Smith had 13. Jones also had a career OPS north of .800. This AM on Hot Stove, John Smoltz said he would not be in the HOF without Jones in CF. Contrary to some on this site, DEFENSE matters, and Andruw Jones was the best of his era. From 1997 thru 2007, he never played less than 153 games throwing his body all over the field, and he came up golden every year.
      Scott Rolen for me was very good, but I am not sure HOF worthy. I will have to go back and compare him to the 3B of his time and to the 3B in the HOF. But he is getting solid consideration.

      1. Jeff, Excellent insights into Schilling. Appreciate hearing about your personal encounter.
         I would definitely vote Schilling into HOF based on his baseball career and especially his postseason success. He was a key pitcher on 4 World Series teams, and three WS champs. It is hard to tell the story of the 2001 and 2004 seasons without having Schilling as a key contributor.
         I would personally focus only on the baseball career. His controversial comments after his playing career should not weigh into his HOF candidacy. Writers need to use the mute and block buttons instead of making every tweet a huge issue.

9. Strength in numbers! No one heard of Williams a year ago. Gonzalez has proven himself in clutch situations and if Graterol develops a better sharper slider he’s closer material. And in the playoffs probably May and Gonsolin will be available. It will be interesting which other youngsters will develop and who off the reclamation pile will deliver. I don’t think Padres or Atlanta have a lights out closer either. I’d take our bullpen over theirs.

   1. Pads BP’s best pitcher right now would be Drew Pomeranz. No Rosenthal yet, and Yates is gone. The rest of the pen is pretty much kids.

      1. Drew Pomeranz would absolutely be the top closer for LAD in 2021. Pierce Johnson was very good last year, and after a rough start so was Emilio Pagan (Tampa Bay closer in 2019, 70 IP). Matt Strahm was good for most of the year. Craig Stammen could be a bounceback candidate, and the Pads really like Tim Hill and Dan Altavilla. But to your point, the Padres bullpen still needs work. Why they spent $21MM on Profar and not on relief could be a big mistake by Preller. They did not need Profar and they could use a late inning high leverage reliever (or two). And I would not sleep on Adrian Morejon.

   2. William asked above
      “Wouldn’t it be nice if the Dodgers had a proven bona fide closer, like some of the teams have? Someone who comes in for the last inning-plus, and has a very high save percentage? ”
      I too would certainly like that.. But our lock-down bona fide closer has become a 20 million boat-anchor for the most part. He has his moments now but the veto and cutter command is history. I wish he still had it. I’m sure he wishes he still had it. I think he’s trying hard to regain past form but he’s fighting time. He’s a poster child against long-term contracts to relief pitchers.
      And like Cassidy, I think in the short term Gonsulin could fit the bill with V-Gon and Graterol not that far away.
      You don’t need to throw money at this years batch of “closers” with the young talent we have in the pen.

10. Hand’s salary for this season is 4 Million. 6.5 is deferred over the next 3 years. Hmmm. AF could have matched that.

    1. I do not think it is the salary (although it could be). It is more the AAV. Hand takes LAD over the threshold and without JT in the fold.

11. WHIP IT. WHIP IT GOOD.

12. I have been one who was critical of AF and his bullpen makeup. And I do not apologize for it:

    2016 – RP not named Kenley Jansen with 20 or more games (in order of # of games pitched):
    Joe Blanton
    Pedro Baez
    J.P. Howell
    Louis Coleman
    Adam Liberatore
    Chris Hatcher
    Grant Dayton
    Jesse Chavez
    Casey Fien

    2017:
    Ross Stripling
    Pedro Baez
    Josh Fields
    Luis Avilan
    Brandon Morrow
    Chris Hatcher
    Sergio Romo
    Grant Dayton
    Tony Watson
    Tony Cingrani

    2018:
    Scott Alexander
    Pedro Baez
    Daniel Hudson
    Josh Fields
    Caleb Ferguson
    JT Chargois
    Erik Goeddel
    Dylan Floro
    Tony Cingrani
    Yimi Garcia

    2019:
    Pedro Baez
    Yimi Garcia
    Joe Kelly
    Dylan Floro
    Julio Urias
    Caleb Ferguson
    Casey Sadler
    JT Chargois
    Scott Alexander
    Adam Kolarek

    Casey Fien, Casey Sadler, Louis Coleman, Chris Hatcher, Josh Fields, JT Chargois, Erik Goeddel, Zac Rosscup, Edward Paredes, Wilmer Font, Pat Venditte, Grant Dayton, Adam Liberatore, John Axford, Daniel Hudson, Jesse Chavez…No matter if your glass is half full, these were not good bullpen pieces, and most of those guys were major relievers. AF did well with Joe Blanton, and hit the jackpot with Brandon Morrow. And more to your point, neither pitcher was celebrated when they signed.

    In 2017, I was a lonely voice for Brandon Morrow when he signed a MiLB contract. I said at the time he would be a big help to a mediocre bullpen. The reliever with the second most games pitched in 2017 did not make the post season roster (Baez). The two Tony’s were picked up at the trade deadline and pitched well in the WS, as did Strip, but all in a limited role. Because of lack of faith in the bullpen, the Dodgers were forced to abuse both KJ and Morrow throughout the playoffs, so much so that they ran out of gas. Out of 15 playoff games, Morrow pitched in 14 and KJ 13. The bullpen had to rely on Brandon McCarthy as a reliever. That did not end well. Fields was horrific. Kenta Maeda moved out of the starting rotation to be a big bullpen help. Does that read that AF had a good bullpen when it mattered most?

    The 2018 bullpen was a joke, and it showed in the WS. At the trade deadline the Dodgers picked up John Axford and Ryan Madson. Axford did not make it to the playoffs. The Dodgers wish that Madson did not get to the WS. Mark likes to quote ERA’s for relievers, which for Madson was a respectable 2.08 for the playoffs. But ERA does not include inherited runners scored in that metric. In the NLDS and NLCS he inherited 7 runners and 2 scored. But in the WS, he pitched 4 games, inherited 7 runners and all 7 scored. AF was disappointed again with a bad bullpen when it mattered most, that he went out and overspent on one of the relievers who shut down the Dodgers…Joe Kelly.

    But something else finally clicked for AF. In 2019 at the amateur draft, AF and his draft team decided to draft for relief: Ryan Pepiot (3), Jack Little (5), Aaron Ochsenbein (6), Nick Robertson (7), Alec Gamboa (9), Logan Boyer (11), Mitchell Tyranski (12) (A DC favorite), Jacob Cantleberry (13), Sean Mellen (14), Jeff Belge (18), Braidyn Fink (19), and others. That does not count Jimmy Lewis who was selected in Round 2, but figures to start. I am a big fan of the first four, and I believe a couple of the later round picks could be good, especially Belge and Fink.

    In 2020, he signed Blake Treinen, a former closer. Someone who has done it before. Do the Dodgers win the WS without Treinen? Also signed Jake McGee, another late inning high leverage veteran reliever. I thought last year’s bullpen was very good, and I said so in the beginning of the year. He signed Blake Treinen and Jake McGee instead of Casey Fien, Erik Goeddel, Casey Sadler, John Axford, Louis Coleman…I would say he learned and grew.

    I think this year’s bullpen could be excellent. Again for 2021, AF traded for a former late inning closer in Corey Knebel. He could be outstanding (or not). He re-signed Blake Treinen. If KJ does not pitch in back to back games, he showed that he can be very good. Not 2017 good, but good. Victor Gonzalez could be on the cusp of being outstanding as can Brusdar Graterol. Dylan Floro’s changeup makes for a big improvement in his repertoire, and he proved it to himself that he can get it over against big RH bats in Game 6 against Randy Arozarena. Self-confidence does wonders. Floro is a different pitcher with that change. Adam Kolarek is a lefty killer who has learned not to get beat by RH batters. He has been excellent for a year and a half for the Dodgers. I have little confidence in Joe Kelly, but for me a potential game changer is Tony Gonsolin. Somehow some way I think Kelly gets moved. Can Gonsolin close? Why not. But I think he assumes more of an Andrew Miller type role where he comes in to get middle of the order tough outs in the 6th, 7th , or 8th.

    I think if AF was not already invested with $28.33MM in two relief pitchers, and more than $40MM on four, he would have been more inclined to spend on Trevor May, Trevor Rosenthal, Kirby Yates, Alex Colome. I am not as high on Hand, as his velo has seriously dropped the last two years. His slider is still good, but he has to set it up with his fastball which isn’t.

    So while I once believed that AF did not value a bullpen, I think that changed after the 2018 WS. 2019 was not good, but it was a start. He was at least looking for relief help like Aaron Bummer during the winter, and Felipe Vazquez and Ken Giles at the deadline. He did not get any. Chisox said no on Bummer and thank God Pirates said no on Vazquez. Giles’ elbow was bothering him at the deadline (cortisone shot never a good sign at the deadline), and AF passed. But he was looking at quality relievers.

    2020 was very good. I do believe that the 2021 bullpen will be better. While I would prefer another more recent closer to be added (Rosenthal or Colome), I do not see AF spending the necessary dollars. I am more than fine going to battle with: KJ, Treinen, Knebel, VGon, Graterol, Floro, Kolarek, and Gonsolin. I am still a believer in Brandon Morrow. And who knows, maybe Jimmy Nelson can become that Joe Blanton. There will be a time during the season, that Doc will need the likes of Scott Alexander, Josh Sborz, Garrett Cleavinger, Mitch White, Dennis Santana, Edwin Uceta, or Gerardo Carrillo. I agree with Mark that maybe one of those has a VGon or Graterol type breakthrough. I do not see a Devin Williams in any of them, but again to Mark’s point, neither did Milwaukee at first. If Ryan Pepiot has a good summer, he could be a late addition and could make a post season roster depending on the health of the others. And 2020 Playoffs hero, Julio Urias should make a return to the October bullpen.

    No Mark, AF has changed his focus and philosophy on the bullpen. It is no longer an afterthought, and I do believe he will continue to focus more on the bullpen as the game is changing.

    1. Jeff, I am very impressed with your depth of knowledge about the players, and the list of every bullpen pitcher we had lately. It brought back some memories; ah, yes, John Axford, who was no good when we got him, and Madson, who had been good five years before we got him. Jim Johnson from the Braves, and he pitched as badly for us as he did for them. It became like dumpster diving, not that I want to insult the players. But a good case can be made that if the Dodgers were not so…penurious about this, we might have won more titles. I always wanted us to get Zach Britton, but the excuse was that they were concerned about his arm, so the Yankees got him instead. We have been rumored to be interested in Hand for years, but apparently not. Getting a name is not always the answer, but it can be very helpful, and we always eschew it when it comes to the bullpen. Again, it is going to come down to the playoffs, and we will see if we have the guy or guys who can get the other team’s best hitters out with the winning run on base.

13. Last season because of the coronavirus the Dodgers played pretty crappy teams during the regular season for the most part. That’s why I pretty much ignore last year regular season stats.

    At the end of this coming up season I will be glad to say Friedman built a good bullpen if the stats say that is the case. That is if it is a normal season and the Dodgers play a decent amount of good teams during the regular season.

    I’m all in when it comes to signing relief pitchers on minor league deals because there is nothing to lose and maybe one or two of them become gems.

    I have said that it is my opinion that the bullpen will be decent this year. I don’t prefer decent I prefer good.

    1. Makes no difference who you play. You play who the league says you will play. You pooh pooh the stats, but the bullpen did the job in the post season against the better teams other wise we would be calling someone else World Champs. Get over it. All the teams played under the same rules, and remember, out the gate the Rockies were the best team in the league until they weren’t and the Pads were contenders most of the year. They also played Houston and the A’s.

       1. Same ol same ol from you. Julio Urias (a starting pitcher) bailed out the Dodger bullpen in the playoffs. Julio Urias did the job in the playoffs otherwise we would be calling a different team world champs.

          1. Bear and Eric, please do not reply to each other. Your input is good when it is not directed to the other.

14. Realmuto back with the Phillis $115 M/5 Years..allegedly.

15. Cassidy, i believe you are wrong about Ty Cobb. He has a bad reputation because of
    ” Fake News ” we need more
    ” just the facts “, and a lot less cancelation philosophy.

16. https://nypost.com/2015/05/31/how-ty-cobb-was-framed-as-a-racist/

    1. Okay but did he sharpen his spikes and slide with an elevated foot? Did he try to spike first basemen?

       1. He tried to spike everyone. He also one time beat a disabled guy up. He had a temper for sure, whether or not he was racist is a point of contention, but he was accused of it. Cap Anson on the other hand, never pulled strings about where he stood. Neither did Landis.

17. I liked the article and I agree 100%, Mr.Timmons you are right

18. I recommend Ty Cobb, A Terrible Beauty by Charles Leerhsen. It debunks Al Stump’s book.
    https://www.amazon.com/Ty-Cobb-Terrible-Charles-Leerhsen/dp/1451645791

19. Have a great day guys. I am out.

20. Hope all is well with you Bear. We all have lost it at times here. Well except for DBM! Get back ASAP.

    1. I have my moments, Cassidy. But thanks.

21. It’s been said, ” YOU CAN’T
    KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN ”
    Hurry back when you can Bear.
    Kind regards.

22. For what it’s worth Bear, I back you 1000%.

23. For what it’s worth Bear, I back you 1000%.

24. Thank you. I asked Mark to remove my posts and he did so. Siemen to the Jays for 1 year, 18 million. As I thought, no one elected to the Hall. Rolen and Helton had the biggest increase in percentage. Schilling missed by 16 votes.

    1. Curt Schilling has asked Baseball Hall of Fame to remove his name from any future Baseball Writers Association ballots. “I’ll defer to the veterans committee and men whose opinions actually matter and who are in a position to actually judge a player”. It is incomprehensible how a baseball player whose on field accomplishments are HOF worthy, but things he said and wrote pissed off baseball writers after he retired, hold him out. MLB HOF is the only HOF where character is considered. IMO if a players actions have no adverse impact on any game, they should not be considered. You can argue Pete Rose may have impacted the game. You can argue that people who used PEDs impacted the game. But someone who voices an opinion that many find offensive, does not impact the game. You do not have to like him. You can despise him. You also have to forget all the good he has done with ALS. But you should not be allowed to forget his baseball accomplishments that dictate whether he is HOF worthy or not. This is not a first amendment issue as Baseball HOF is a private organization. Schilling recognizes this and would rather walk away from future consideration (1 year) from a group of writers he has no respect for. Of course he only hurts himself. I am sorry it came to this as I fervently believe he belongs in the HOF. But sometimes it is true, you reap what you sow.

       Bonds and Clemens have one year remaining as well. I can only hope that the holier than thou baseball writers can look at what they did do and forget about the allegations. The same allegations that did not matter with Piazza and Bagwell. How many votes will Big Papi get next year. The whispers have been with him as well. Which he denies, and I take his word for it. ARod failed drug tests and he should be held accountable. However, like with Bonds, it is a shame as he would have been HOF worthy without PEDs as well. I do find it ironic that MLB considered him as an owner, but writers have the power in their vote to keep him out of the HOF.

       Jeff Kent is another who did not kiss baseball writers behind, and he is not going to get voted in.

       Should Gaylord Perry be removed since he admitted to throwing an illegal pitch. He confessed in his autobiography, “Me and the Spitter”. That certainly had a baseball impact.

       Time for me to get off my soapbox. My opinion holds no weight.

       1. … and Pete Rose should be in the HOF!

          1. Agree

          2. Shoeless Joe?

             1. If he had the stats. Let it say he was kicked out for cheating, but don’t cancel history.

             2. 13 years – 5,697 PA – .356/.423/.517/.940 – 233K and 519 BB I think he more than qualifies. There is a great deal of evidence that Jackson did not actually cheat. Shoeless Joe has always intrigued me. I think I need to do some more research on this one. Not that it would ever change anything.

       2. “You reap what you sow” not sure what you mean by that. Curt Schilling has a right to his opinion whether anyone agrees or not. Just give me the facts would certainly reward Curt Schilling with hall of fame membership.

          1. I could not agree more that he can say what he wants. But it comes with consequences. In this case, the consequence was not getting in the HOF. He knew what he had to do. Keep his mouth shut, act contrite and he would get in. He chose not to. I have no problem with him saying whatever he wants. But the voters did. I do not like the character criteria for the HOF, but it is there. I have had multiple conversations with Schilling in 2004 in ST and during the season. I do not know how I can say more clearly that I THINK CURT SCHILLING DESERVES TO BE IN THE HOF. I hope that is clear enough.

25. Looks like Marcus Semien signed with Toronto for 1 yr, $18 million to play second base.
    Too rich for me.
    Another backup option for Justin Turner is gone.
    But maybe that takes Toronto out of the JT sweepstakes.

    1. Toronto may be out of the JT sweepstakes, but the Brewers are in. They are one of the known teams. I have heard the Mets and Texas could be options. But who knows how serious any of them are. I still think the Dodgers are trying to move some payroll so that they can sign JT, stay below the CBT threshold, and call it a winter.

       1. Brewers fans would love JT and he would own the city!

          That might be tempting… unless he wants to win another Championship. It’s not happening there!

26. Andrelton Simmons signs with Minnesota, 1 year $10.5MM. That leaves Didi Gregorius as the remaining SS in this group.

27. Things are now really popping. The Giants look to be finalizing a deal for Tommy La Stella. I am a Tommy La Stella fan.

    1. Once again, we agree on a player evaluation Jeff. I’m a big La Stella fan also. He would have been a great addition as the lefty version of CT3 but I guess AF figures that McKinstry will fill that hole. La Stella is the better fielder but McKinstry can also play outfield and will be far cheaper.

28. https://www.mlb.com/news/justin-turner-signs-4-year-deal-with-dodgers-c212210494

    1. You sure take a long time to break a story Timmons.

       1. 😉 – Only about 4 years late.

          Just making sure everyone is paying attention.

          1. you are cruel

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