In 2008, my wife, son, and I were at the last game in Vero Beach at Dodgertown. It was a packed house. Clayton Kershaw was a wide-eyed rookie. Carl Erskine played the National Anthem on his Harmonica, and Tommy Lasorda addressed the crowd by saying, “I know you will have another Minor League team here soon, but if you don’t root for the Dodgers, you won’t get into heaven.” Vero Beach is Hallowed Ground. That’s a story for another day.
Derek Lowe and Brad Penny were also in the Rotation, and Derek signed a ball for Stephen (my son).
Tommy did too. I have the signed picture but cannot find the digital copy. It was one hell of an end to an era. The next season, 2009, the Dodgers opened Spring Training in Glendale at Camelback Ranch. Camelback was not better or worse than Vero Beach – it was just different. Roger Dodger (RIP) and Badger were also there.
I wish that Roger, KanDodger, Lawdog, Oldtimer, and many others could have lived long enough to experience what we have enjoyed since Andrew Friedman took over. I have not been to Spring Training for 7 or 8 years. That is about to change next year, as I may spend a month in Arizona. I am winding down my involvement in US Water Systems as my son has taken over the day-to-day operations. I have projects that I need to finish this year, but next year is a different animal. My wife and I are thinking about buying one of these next year and traveling the country with a month in AZ. Stay tuned…
Dodger News
- How many teams could use a backup catcher like Hunter Feduccia? They all could have had him in Rule 5 a few months ago. Now, he is hitting .500 with a 1.563 OPS and has 9 RBI in his 14 ABs. Of course, it is a small sampling, but it also could be that at 25 years old, a switch just flipped. He looks ultra calm and ultra confident out there. Feduccia has always been known as a smooth operator behind the plate with great footwork and a great release. He has a compact under-control swing with surprising power. He is worth watching. I always knew he was solid, but he could be more than that! He could be a very good trade piece or backup to Will Smith.
- Clayton Kershaw should not always throw a strike on the first pitch. Even Ray Charles can see that! He could be the Opening Day Starter.
- Is Miguel “Freaking” Rojas hitting .346? Good things happen when you put the ball into play. In 26 ABs he has one strikeout and one walk. Of course, you don’t want all your hitters to do that (maybe you do), but a slick-fielding #9 hitter, doing it is worthwhile.
- Devin Mann is solidly spectacular.
- Miguel Vargas and Andy Pages have shown a great proclivity to swing at strikes only. That bodes well for them.
- Jason Heyward is not inspiring confidence. I wonder if he would accept a AAA assignment.
- Thor’s fastball hit 95 yesterday…
- I am starting to get very worried about CT3. To say he looks awful would be kind. Yes, it’s getting late… early!
In my opinion, I think AF will regret signing Chris Taylor to 4 year 60 million contact. He looks lost at the plate, strikes out this Spring 41% of the time batting .103 with a .366OPS. Last year he struck out 40% of the time batting .221 with an OPS of .677. He is non tradeable unless the Dodgers eat most of the contract. He has really not been the same player since the second half of 2022. He claims to be injury-free. Even in a utility role, he will not benefit the Dodgers with his offense. IF the Dodgers could unload his salary, it would put them under the CBT first threshold of 233 million
Unless he can make a big turnaround, he will be cut before Mid-Season. He looks worse than Jason Heyward
Zero percent chance this happens.
Supposedly Taylor’s mechanics are complicated and he got into bad habits last year due to injuries. But, yeah.
If he continues to struggle would the Dodgers be more inclined to have an additional infielder on the bench (Hernandez)? And what would that do to James “Hitman”s chances of making the team? Given Heyward time to work on his swing with a minor league assignment would be good, but as Mark said, would he agree to do so?
I hope the Dodgers don’t play the service time game and keep Outman in the minors on Opening Day.
They usually do not.
Taylor was bad last year, but his wRC+ was still 93 (100 is average), and he was an above average defensive player at multiple positions. There’s still some value there. Not for 15 mil, but the Dodgers will keep him on the roster this year.
Rojas got quick hands. Like him lots. CT3 drifting downward – lost his stroke.
Heyward whiffs on first AB – high/inside. He’s the same old Jason.
Feduccia? Wait till Austin gets back. The kid’s got game but AB the vet.
Seager crushed that dinger. Fun stuff watching CK & him dueling.
yeah, I noticed the high/inside whiff, too. That’s going to be his Kryptonite. You were right about that.
I really like the Rojas signing. The Dodgers are defensively weak at every other spot in the diamond. Having him at SS is a good anchor.
I pretty much am expecting CT3 to strike out when I see him come to the plate now. Seems like he’s swinging through lots of hittable pitches. The whiff I saw yesterday wasn’t even that. He was just badly fooled and waved at a pitch low and away. That tells me he’s starting to press and doubt himself. Saw something similar with Cody last year.
Max at third is an adventure to watch. Rough at best.
Beltre he’s not.
He had that running throw that was fortunately dug out of the dirt by the 1rst baseman. That’s a kind of throw a 3rd baseman will routinely have to make that a 2nd baseman doesn’t. I think he’s said he’s most comfortable at 2nd, although he put up decent defensive numbers at first.
Unless something drastic happens, Heyward and Thompson will make the team. So will Outman. I think Taylor is going to be used as a defensive replacement until he either finds his swing, or gets cut. It is more than obvious that he is pressing. Feduccia has opened up some eyes. I could see them trading Barnes to a team that needs catchers, and there are a few. Forget all those Anderson rumors. The Sox think they are contenders, so why would they trade an All-Star shortstop? Dodgers struggling to score without Freddie, Mookie and Will. Melancon likely out for a couple of months for the D-Backs. Season opens in less than two weeks. Duggar made a couple of highlight reel defensive plays last night. Arizona knocked out of the NCAA Tournament. There were a couple of total upsets.
The Dodgers are paying Taylor 15 million. Why on Earth would they cut him?
Because he is worth – $3 Million?
He might be, but they’re gonna have to pay him the 15 million regardless. You think they aren’t going to give him an extra long runway?
If he is worth 3 million, then that’s an incredible value to a team that will pay him the league minimum if the Dodgers cut him. Meanwhile the Dodgers still pay his full contract value. With the 4 million buy out in his 2026 option year, the Dodgers owe him 45 million dollars remaining on his contract. So, they’re gonna cut him because he’s having a bad year?
Should have traded him to the Cubs for Heyward in the old swapping of bloated contracts. Better yet, send Heyward to the minors or release him and eat 65% of Taylor’s contract and trade him.
Eddys Leonard opened some eyes too. He could step in for Taylor easily in my eyes. Quick bat and hands. Hernandez is having a nice spring, but he has little chance to make the roster unless they option Outman out. But it would still be like having another rookie on the team.
Before I opened the LADT page I thought I would comment on CT3 and start a discussion about how terrible his ABs look. I’ll join the crowd and say the dude looks horribly lost at the plate. His timing hitch with the wrist cock may have played well a couple of years ago, but he now looks late on every FB and he was always susceptible to a swing and miss on slider away.
If there is no improvement Dodger fans can give AF the business because it does indeed look like a bad multi-year contract and an overpay. Right now CT3 is better than the likes of Sheldon Neuse, Edwin Rios, Hanser Alberto, McKinstry and Matt Beaty, but then again that’s not saying much.
Could Muncy and Taylor and say some of these minor league rookie pitchers get us a decent third baseman Shortstop and leftfielder. I say look at the bluejays or Guardians teams maybe the As they have tons of outfielders and Matt Chapman at my third base from the bluejays that Diaz shortstop for the As looked good in WBC what about that leftfielder that plays for Mexico Alfaro with the long hair he looks like a beast who does he play for looks like a pro wrestler. There’s some players dodgers could look at. Any other suggestions if Taylor isnt hitting an dmuncy ain’t plYking good at third an sits only spring training how long do you wait to do something and what form who do we get.
Don’t complain. You’re the one who reads it. Just think, the 30 seconds it took you to read that post is 30 seconds you will never get back.
Lets just roll with what the Dodgers have. I’m suspicious of SS and LF (both positions vets that I don’t like). And 2B because of a rookie. But lets just roll with them and see what happens instead of being trigger happy. And what’s up with you and 3B, Muncy will be fine.
As I said before, I’d rather go with homegrown players over past their prime players. Particulary past their prime platoon players. I’m high on Outman so that’s self explanitory and I’m willing to see what Vargas has to offer.
Another thing I’ve said before is that the right formula is drafting and developing prospects to reach MLB and fill in the holes with GOOD free agents (preferably free agents) and GOOD players from trades. Stars and superstars like Freeman and Betts.
That rookie looked damn good today. He made a couple of real nice plays. You dislike Peralta? I get it. But they are paying him 6 million, so he is going to play.
I know Peralta is going to play. I didn’t say he isn’t.
Dear Bradley, Is Mark billing you for periods, commas, and other punctuation? Because he isn’t billing me.
Classic.
Mark charges Bear $1 per paragraph with the first one free.
Bradley, you seem like a very passionate fan, so I am going to explain some things to you. First off, teams, and not just the Dodgers, rarely if ever make trades during or right after spring training. Most teams prefer to see what they have before they go trading parts. Especially star players. You keep mentioning the Jays and the Guardians. First off, Cleveland won their division last year and they feel they are going to do the same this year. Blue Jays are () this close to contending. So there is pretty much a zero chance that they trade anybody. Chapman was just traded to the Jays and is their starting third baseman, why would they even consider trading the guy? Alfaro is primarily a catcher, and not a great defensive one at that. He is with the Red Sox on a minor league deal. Mexico’s left fielder should be familiar to you. It’s Randy Arozarena who played for the Rays in the 2020 World Series. No way the Rays trade him. Herein lies the problem with what you propose. First, between them, Muncy and Taylor are owed 55.5 million, with 42 of that being owed to Taylor. Both are coming off of bad seasons, so their trade value is at its lowest point. No one is going to take on that kind of salary unless the Dodgers pay a huge portion of it. Muncy also has a 10-million-dollar team option for next year. Now the As might trade some outfielder of theirs, but no way they are taking on any salary. The majority of major league teams make deals like you are mentioning at the deadline or in the winter. Not a snowballs chance in hell any team makes a move like that before then. Oh sometimes, rarely, a team makes a trade for need from a surplus at the end of spring training. Just like the Dodgers did last year when they traded Pollock and got Kimbrel because they felt they needed a closer. In reality that trade hurt them some because Pollock kills left-handed pitching, so they ended up going out and getting Thompson, who at the time he was traded for, was killing lefties at AAA. Lasorda used to say, it took him 50 games to see what kind of team he really had. Most teams wait at least that long before they start making changes. I hope this clears it up a little for you. The As are probably the only team you mentioned that would be willing to trade before the season starts, but they are not trading for someone like Muncy or even Taylor unless the Dodgers picked up the tab. And the As have very few players who could even crack the Dodger roster.
Okay but if there saying Muncy looks bad. At playing third base then you don’t do anything. Or Taylor looks the same as last year’s so okay let’s keep them and they might play like they did in 2018. Since there’s nothing position wise that is going to make the dodgers go wow lets bring up this guy. What they do then who do they look at? That’s what I’d like to know? All you so called know it alls how to improve leftfield, third base, and shortstop. Who would they go after. Now, the guy that complains about commas or wants commas!!! Go. jump, off, a, frickin, cliff, you piece of dog bleep bleep bleep! You don’t know me. So I didn’t put in a comma.
Mark is the site administrator, and this is his baby. I write for the site and use spell check to make sure I do as much as I can to be correct. Now, who says Muncy looks bad? It is his first time playing the position full time. He had a couple of rough games over there, but he also has made some nice plays. Muncy has looked a lot better at the plate the last few days so it seems he is finally healed from his injury. As for Taylor, I do not think you really understand how the whole contract thing works. He is guaranteed 40 million dollars more through 2025. He then has an option with a 4-million-dollar buyout. Now, do you expect some team to pay him that much after the season he had last year and the way he has been hitting this spring? It is preferable for most teams to play at least 50 games to see what they have. Then they usually start making moves one way or the other. Just because you might think a trade with this team or that team is easy to make, does not mean it is so. First off, they have to want what you are peddling. Teams would rather have the Dodgers prospects than a player making 10 mil or more. Now a contender might check in to see about Max at the deadline if the Dodgers are floundering. The defense of this team all around the outfield is good. So I get that you feel they need better hitters out there. I keep telling you that management feels they do not need a shortstop and you keep saying they do. Rojas may not be a great hitter, but he is at least a contact hitter who does not strike out much. And with the glove, he is going to save you a lot of runs. Muncy is the third baseman until he isn’t. Leftfield will belong to Peralta and Taylor, or even Thompson. No trades will go down before the deadline. You are going to have to live with what they got for now. No one, not even Dave Roberts, knows how Freidman plans to work the trade market. Right now, the powers that be are satisfied with the roster they have. If any drastic changes are made, they will come at the deadline or this winter. Nobody here has any idea who they would target in a trade at the deadline, not me, not Mark, nobody.
There is a nice article in The Athletic today:
https://theathletic.com/4318772/2023/03/17/dodgers-mlb-trayce-thompson-roster-lefties/
It basically says that Trayce Thompson will or can hit lefties better.
Let’s hope so!
4:05 PM ET vs Cubs (away)
SP Ryan Pepiot R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Hayden Wesneski R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF J. Heyward L
LF James Outman L
CF T. Thompson R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
SS Chris Taylor R
2B M. Vargas R
1B Ryan Ward L
C P. Mazeika L
Clear Day
0% Rain
67° Wind 5 mph L-R
I went to Vero in 2000 and to Camelback this year. I much preferred Vero. The place had so much history. The practice fields were much more accessible. Seats at the game were really close to the field. The new place is really generic – easier for a Californian to reach, but so much has been lost.
I have no concerns about Rojas handling SS. The infield defense at 3B and 2B do concern me. Muncy is not a good 3B. and Vargas hasn’t played more than a few games at 2B before this year. LF and CF also are of concern. I would like to see Outman get a chance to play CF every day, but all indications are that he will start the season in Oklahoma. The corpse of Jason Heyward should not be playing OF for the Dodgers unless the zombie apocalypse is upon us, but he’s a veteran so Roberts is going to run his corpse out there, at least against RHP.
If the Dodgers had Outman in CF they could run Peralta and Taylor or Thompson in LF and it would be adequate. An OF with Heyward or Taylor or Thompson in CF and Peralta and Taylor or Thompson would not be.
At least Taylor can play defense at several positions – he doesn’t seem to be able to get his swing back. Given the loss of Lux, Taylor will be playing more INF than was originally planned, so he will still have value.
Yeah, I went in 2000 as well. Great place.
Was a nice 1.5 hour or so drive north from Miami.
Obviously, Vero Beach is special. It is Hallowed Ground. I have had the privilege of walking the entire grounds and have been through just about all the buildings on the property. I once sat next to Tommy Lasorda behind the screen during a B Game and he talked non-stop, telling wonderful stories. After a n hours to two, he shook my hand and said “I didn’t get your name, where are you from?” I told him and he said “You sure don’t talk much.” and I replied, “I don’t need to – listening is why I am here.” … and he kept on talking.
I have also been through Camelback, including the offices, cafeteria, workout areas, classrooms, weight rooms, and inside batting, and pitching. It is equally amazing but you are not as close to the players and other brass. Vero was hallowed ground, intimate and historic, but was so antiquated that it was no longer functional. That’s why no other team has landed there. Camelback is more corporate and straight-laced. Vero is your Grandmother’s House. Camelback is the White House, but they are both pretty damn impressive.
I almost bought a condo in Vero in 2007, but did not go thru with it when I found out the Dodgers were moving. I have no desire to buy one in PHX.
The Dodgers were about 50 years late leaving Vero. They have a beautiful facility in Glendale. Those who have never been should go at least once. That picture above was my first trip there, it was a great day. I went back several times in the years I lived in Arizona.
I miss Roger. He was a good man.
I went to Camelback once, which was weird because I was living there. I got close enough to the players prior to the game, but I got my autograph’s at the fence after the game. I got Monday’s when he was walking on the concourse after the game.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Dave Roberts said Tony Gonsolin won’t make Opening Day roster due to his left ankle injury. #Dodgers
Andre Jackson, Ryan Pepiot, Michael Grove all candidates to fill Gonsolin’s spot in the rotation. #Dodgers
Since it isn’t an arm issue this might work out well for the Dodgers. It showcases Jackson/Grove/Pepiot and lets Gonsolin reach the playoffs with fewer innings pitched.
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner.
yeah, it’s a good point. No real sense of urgency with Gonsolin. Let him develop and build up at his own pace.
He only projects about 140 innings. That’s several missed starts. He made 24 last year, averaged about 5.1 per start. I don’t see him improving on that. Front, back or in the middle, Gonsolin will be on the IL this year. Maybe more than once.
Julio Urias used to project to that amount of innings…
Until he didn’t!
Tony really hasn’t pitched a lot, in his career, so it is a process.
I read somewhere progress isn’t linear.
Speaking of Urias, he’s getting bombed in the first inning. Get him out of there. 29 pitches already.
At least he won’t be celebrating!
Back in camp as soon as his plane from Miami lands. His ERA in the classic is 7. At least he is getting the bad innings out of his system. I bet he walks this winter.
It still is this winter. Especially where you live.
But I think you may be right. We’ve drafted enough pitchers these past few years to find a replacement. He may not be as good as him, but we’ll make up for it with Kershaw’s replacement.
He will likely be too expensive to keep but we’d be willing to meet him halfway.
Worried about Pepiot injury.
Taylor’s troubles are really, er, troubling.
He’s been envisioned as a platoon option in the OF and as the primary UT guy, backing up Rojas, Muncy and Vargas.
I used to think UT was strength of the Dodgers, especially when we had both Taylor and Kike. Both were solid, above-average performers at multiple positions. After Kike left, I thought Lux might transition to the role–in part because he was having so much trouble against lefties. Obviously Hanser Alberto proved to be a sub-par performer–and didn’t even make the playoff roster.
So unless Taylor turns it around, this is a glaring weakness for a roster that, right now, seems heavy in the OF because Heyward is getting preferential treatment and Peralta was signed as an FA. (If this was a meritocracy, I’d say that Heyward is no more worthy than Zimmer or Duggar–and that there’d be no question that Outman should be starting at CF.)
But back to Taylor: His struggles underscore a point that I’ve made before. The Dodgers need to seek out a quality UT guy. I’ve suggested Ramon Urias of the O’s but I assume there are others out there. The O’s need pitching, and the Dodgers have ML-ready pitching–Pepiot, Grove, Jackson. (Trading one of those guys creates an opportunity for Stone.)
The Dodgers are probably stuck with Taylor and his contract–but they can still upgrade the UT role so that Taylor isn’t the go-to guy. Note the word UPGRADE.
Something I wonder about: Can Heyward be traded or would he simply be released? Would putting him on the OD roster alter his trade status in any regard? It they are wed to Heyward for some reason, perhaps Trayce should be dealt.
Been to Vero Beach 4 times during the 90s. Loved it from our first visit. Beautiful city. we used to stay at the holiday inn or Guest Quarters on Ocean Drive.
Dodgertown had a special flair, felt like home from the moment you walked threw the entrance.
We then went to Camelback the year it opened and it was great too but not with the charme of Vero.
For several years we wanted to come back for ST but everytime our plans fell threw, be it a medical problem in the family, then Covid and now we have three dogs (all Weimeraner) who do not allow us to take a long vacation via plane from Europe to the US. Bought a second home in Italy (Tuscanny). Love that place too but I hope to be at Camelback at least one more time before my time is up.
Gonsolin can just not be relied on. Way too injury prone. I hope they give Stone or Miller a shot soon.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
As for the hallowed ground that is, or was, Vero Beach, I only visited once, traveling with my pal Pete the baseball writer. He covered the Angels and Dodgers before the Baltimore Sun recruited him to cover the O’s.
A few memories…
When we arrived and walked into the caferia, Lasorda shouted a greeting across the crowded room intended to embarrass Pete–who loved it….
Inside a lounge, I eavesdropped on George Will interview Brett Butler regarding the art of being the leadoff hitter. Will’s “Men at Work” was a best-seller and I think he was hoping for a sequel. (I recall Butler stating the obvious: that Ricky Henderson was the best leadoff hitter ever.)…
I sat in the press box during what turned out to be Fernando’s final game pitching for the Dodgers. He struck somebody out, and I committed the faux pas of clapping in the press box…
A college intern was helping Pete. He was a huge baseball fan, and just enthralled to be there among so many heroes. But I noticed that he had zero reaction when an old guy with gray hair walked past.
“Do you know who that is? I asked him. He shook his head no.
“Sandy Koufax.”
Getting closer every day! Excited about Vargas! Not too worried about max, think he will be in top half of the mlb 3rd basemen. If outman is the center fielder that leaves left field as biggest concern for me. I have never been the biggest Barnes fan , but I acknowledge the fact some of the pitchers love him. I like the thought of trading him , long line of replacements behind him, all with better bats. Did someone forget Freddie is a damn good 1st baseman! If Vargas does his job defensively, we’ll be fine in the infield. Pitching is good, left field concerns me. Heyward, Taylor, Thompson? Almost peralta by default. Reynolds anyone?
Heyward is every passing day looking like this year below the Mendoza line, 170 strikeouts, waiting for his “new” old swing to trigger, 1st ballot candidate to revamp the hate for Doc Roberts.
Why Roberts? Doc does not make the decisions as to who makes the roster?
The Front Office makes that decision, but the Doc Haters blame him for everything.