As I write this, the Dodgers have just beaten the Angels 3-0 in the Opening Game of the Freeway series. Then, they lost 5-4 in the second game. It’s still Spring Training, and wins don’t mean what they do in the Regular Season, but the Dodgers look ready, and then I read some comments that make me question why I should continue to do this. Really!
When have I ever said that Andrew Friedman is perfect or doesn’t make mistakes? Like never! Andrew Friedman took over as President of Baseball Operations for the Dodgers in 2015. I am not even going to talk about his accomplishments before he came to the Dodgers – this is not about that. In the time he has been with the Dodgers, the Dodgers have won more games than any other team in baseball. They have won seven division titles and three pennants. They have won a World Series, which should have been two, but for the Cheating Asterisks. Baseball America has called the Dodgers “Baseballs Model Franchise” under Andrew Friedman. Despite winning 100 games every season and picking at the bottom of the draft, the Dodgers have the #1 or #2 Top Farm System in all of baseball (depending upon who ranks it).
Most Las Vegas Oddsmakers have the Dodgers as the #2 to the #4 Favorite to win the World Series behind the Astros. In my opinion… no, it’s not an opinion; it is a fact… this is the best time EVER in Dodger history to be a Dodger fan. Let me also state another fact: Due to the number of rounds in the playoffs now; it is more complicated than it ever was to Win a World Series because it requires more rounds and more games to win. If you disagree with that, seek help! Seriously!
Some try to denigrate the Dodger’s World Series Win in 2020 as tainted. HELLO! The Dodgers of 2020 had to win more playoff games (rounds) than any other team in MLB history up until that point in order to take the Trophy. Then, I read that signing Jason Heyward and trading for Joey Gallo was because Andrew Friedman was “stubborn.” Really? REALLY? Are your being serious?
I challenge you to even attempt to explain how it is “stubborn.” As Bluto so aptly said yesterday:
How the hell was the thinking around Gallo one of stubbornness??!?!??
That boggles my poor mind.
Mine too! It has nothing to do with being stubborn (maybe some of you are confusing yourself with Andrew Friedman). Both acquisitions were what are called “Low Risk – High Reward” I am not very smart), and I do not know what Andrew Friedman knows… because I do not have his resources. Before I go on, let me tell you how the Dodgers operate:
- Andrew Friedman is the President of Baseball Operations, but he does not operate in a vacuum;
- He has surrounded himself with a plethora of advisors, consultants, scouts, and statisticians, including Brandon Gomes, Josh Byrnes, Jeffrey Kingston, David Finley, Ismael Cruz, Billy Gaspirino, Galen Carr, Will Rhymes, Chase Utley, Pat Corrales, Ron Roenicke, Joel Peralta, Jose Vizcaino, and coaches, managers and others throughout the farm system.
- When players are under consideration of being acquired, a large number of those people are part of the decision. Andrew seeks input from all of these people. Yes, he has the final decision, but he values the input and usually goes with the consensus. Why are people so loyal to him? Simply because he gives them a say and values their opinions.
“Stubborn?” Joey Gallo was acquired in a trade with the Yankees for one of the “hundreds” (not literally) of RHP the Dodgers have in the minors. Clayton Beeter may or may not be an excellent major league pitcher, but the Dodgers gave up very little to get what had the potential to be a “lot.” Joel Gallo, in his eight years of MLB baseball, has hit 41 HR, 40 HR, and 38 HR in a season. Hindsight is 20/20, and it FLAT OUT did not work. They could not fix him. However, the Dodgers have been very successful at “fixing” players, such as Chris Taylor (at one time), Max Muncy, and others. The Dodger Brass reached a consensus that this was a low-risk, high-reward move that could bring them a great return. Yes, it did not work, but it was worth a try, in their opinion. Why do people like to point out one thing that failed out of 10 that didn’t? I have my opinion, but I am not saying it.
Jason Heyward is costing the Dodgers about $600,000, as the Cubs are on the hook for his other $21,000,000. He is in great shape physically, and Freddie Freeman believes in him (yes, he is biased). What does it hurt to allow him to earn a spot? What’s the worst that can happen? Why all the vitriol? He flames out, and they replace him. That’s it! He is universally respected by his teammates and in baseball in general. It’s a LOW RISK – HIGH REWARD MOVE! Stubborn? Are you out of your rabbit-ass mind?
We will find out soon enough if Heyward makes a difference, and if he doesn’t, he will be gone. Stubborn? More like Crazy Like a Fox! I am not a fan of Jason Heyward or Trayce Thompson… or Joey Gallo, for that matter, but I do understand Low Risk – High Reward! It’s not even close to stubborn – it’s very smart, actually! Very, Very Smart!
Andrew Friedman has made his share of mistakes. As the President of US Water Systems, my job is new product development, and my title is “Visionary.” Guess what? I make mistakes. Lots of them. The only people who don’t are the Critics, and I hate Critics because they always know better after the fact. Their hindsight is 20/20.
Oscar Wilde once said, “Criticism is the only reliable form of autobiography.” It tells you more about the psychology of the critic than the people he or she criticizes. Astute professionals can formulate a viable diagnostic hypothesis just from hearing someone’s criticisms.
Critical people are certainly smart enough to figure out that criticism doesn’t work. So why do they keep doing it, even in the face of mounting frustration?
It’s because criticism is an easy form of ego defense. We don’t criticize because we disagree with a behavior or an attitude. We criticize because we somehow feel devalued by the behavior or attitude. Critical people tend to be easily insulted and especially in need of ego defense.
Feel free to disagree with me, but as Jim Rome says, “Have a take and do not suck.” The Dodgers and Andrew Friedman are smart… very smart, and you just may be the stubborn one. When someone takes chances, they do not all work, but if they work more than they fail, you have a winner! History has already identified Andrew as a winner, but he is not perfect!
Hmm, all the fans I know are excited about this team! They love the ownership, front office, the players, the food, heck even the mariachis in between innings!
Could not agree more. Missteps, AF has had a few and like all fans I have questioned some of them. I thought he was nuts trading a first-round draft pick for a SS who couldn’t hit his weight. But Taylor, despite last year and the showing he has had so far this spring, has more than proven himself.
I thought Tyler White was a huge blunder. But he did not cost much. Felt the same way about Ron Negron. He hit two homers, he had little power, in his first week as a Dodger. Didn’t hit another the rest of the year, but he played solid defense. I did think he got Brian Dozier a year too late. He was not very good. But again someone who did not cost them a lot.
Most fans have no clue how much goes into the decision-making process when it comes to trades or player acquisitions. Remember when Farhan had AF’s ear, they would seemingly pick up someone off of the A’s trash heap almost every week. They did the same thing with players AF was familiar with, like signing Andrew Toles despite knowing the guys troubled history. Had that guy been able to stay healthy, he would have been a huge part of the Dodger offense. He was that good. Remember, an injury at the beginning of the season at Dodger Stadium derailed his career.
I was one of the non-believers when he first came to the team. A supposed Wunderkind of baseball. But he is what the prototype President of Baseball Operations are looking like now. Many teams are following the Dodgers example. It is more fun for me as a fan to watch my team win consistently than having to watch a team like say the Angels, with two of the best players in the majors fall short year after year. Be happy they are playing at all in October. They have not failed to get there in years.
Flight leaves for LA at 1:50 this afternoon. See you guys on the flip side.
…”Most fans have no clue how much goes into the decision-making process when it comes to trades or player acquisitions.”
You don’t know this Bear. Why state it as if it were a supported fact?
Most fans that I know or have talked to have no clue. Go on some other blogs. same thing. They think it is just easy to do either. It is usually a lot more complicated than that.
Mark: you know I couldn’t agree with you more. In arguing with B&P about Doc, I told him (which he disputed) that a highly regarded graduate school of business compiled statistics that said the best decision makers in the world only got it right 7 out of 10 times. Even though he disputed what I said, it was verified statistically.
So decision makers are considered very good if they bat 70% just like baseball hitters are considered very good if the bat 30%. The 70% number applies to all walks of life and business, certainly including sports management. I will never understand the vitriol towards AF, Doc, etc and as I read some of the posts, I just shake my head.
I have been a fan of this team for 75 years and know this is absolutely the best time to be a Dodgers fan. As I said a few days ago, while this season does have more unknowns than others, I still believe this will wind up being a 100 win team. The beauty of this year is that the unknowns raise the level of anticipation and excitement. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Right on the button JayB. Although I think my right-wrong percentage is a lot lower. I know I am batting .000 in the spouse category. Hey we all know he has made some head scratching decisions at critical times, but I also understand totally, that in the final analysis, it is on the player to get the job done.
“A critic is a man who judges what he cannot achieve.”
Ok, I will never throw a 98 MPH fastball. I freely accept my limitations. I guess that gives me license then to criticize the hell out of Syndergaard’s 94 MPH, no-movement center cut fastballs that are consistently getting crushed.
I understand the reasoning behind the signing. He’ll be in his second year all the way back from Tommy John. That’s typically the time frame for when a pitcher regains all of his previous velocity. Oftentimes they come back throwing harder (Buehler is an example).
Syndergaard has not regained his velocity. He’s sitting right where he was all last year, maybe even half a tick less.
He’s a completely different pitcher. He’s no longer Thor. He’s Syndy. Unless Pryor comes up with some cute ways to sequence his pitches around his secondaries and he learns how to nibble the edges, then I don’t see him being much more effective than he was last year, and he was a very unexceptional starting pitcher last year.
The Dodgers are paying him 13 mil AAV. You wanna guess what other starting pitcher is getting paid 13 mil AAV? Hint: He used to play for the Dodgers … and he shut them down last night.
Tyler Anderson was actually the Dodgers most valuable pitcher last year. His WAR was higher than Urias. They pitched about the same number of innings. Anderson’s FIP was better. He’s not a hard thrower, so he’s not really injury prone. He was a dependable workhorse the team could consistently count on to give a quality start.
Ok, yeah, sure, the Dodgers didn’t want to pay him a three year deal. They have guys in the pipeline, they want to get under the cap, they don’t want to block the youth movement, yada yada yada. But consider that Urias will probably command a 250/10 year deal … at least. Anderson was his equal last year.
If Anderson even approaches what he did in 2022, his deal will turn out to be an incredible value.
“Yeah, but Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller and Pepiot!” These are prospects. And are there any lefties in the pipeline? Don’t you want at least one left handed started in your rotation? If Urias is gone and Kershaw retires, then what? Maddux Bruns?
I think the Syndergaard signing in lieu of Tyler Anderson could turn out to be a mistake.
Damn AF and his stubbornness!.
TA has a career ERA over 4.15. TA had one year where his ERA was under 3. He had a GREAT year last year. My guess is he regresses towards his mean….
Exactly Matt. Thor’s career ERA is 3.42. And Patch, like most of us, is one of those who questioned the Dodgers signing Anderson last season. We all did.
Syndy’s career ERA includes his time as 98 MPH Thor. Anderson’s career ERA includes most of his career pitching in the Colorado home run palace.
I always knew Anderson would be great last year, just like I know Syndergaard will be a bust … and if Thor pitches well I will deny I ever made this post and claim I knew all along.
Geez why dont you apply to be GM if you know everything.
It doesn’t pay enough.
I don’t recall questioning the signing of Anderson. And he obviously benefited from the Dodgers’ coaching–lessons that should now benefit the Angels.
I did question the Heaney signing. He also benefited from the Dodgers’ coaching, when he stayed healthy.
I hate to tell you this Patch, but pitchers can win, and win consistently with a fastball far slower than 94. How many times did Anderson throw a 94 MPH heater last year? Vary rarely. Greg Maddux never threw the ball that hard, and I can name dozens of pitchers now and back then who cannot. Kersh is one of them. What Thor is learning, and learning on the fly, is how to pitch without his 100 MPH fastball. Spring training home runs do not bother me a bit, otherwise I would be chewing my nails since Urias has given up a lot of them this spring. He got tagged for four of them in the WBC alone.
Thor didn’t totally suck in 2022. He did well enough that the Phillies traded for him, and he helped the Phillies get to the World Series.
We are hoping the 2023 edition will be better. He made it clear that he came to the Dodgers to get his old mojo back.
If we get the 2022 version, it wouldn’t be a disaster. If it is a disaster, I’m hoping we’ll get a good look at Gavin Stone.
Yeah, I mean if the Dodgers are going to get 3.50-4.00 ERA of Syndergaard with a 93.5 MPH fastball that doesn’t play at the MLB level, I think Gavin Stone is perfectly capable or meeting of exceeding that performance.
Having Tyler Anderson do what he did at the 3rd or 4th spot in the rotation gave the Dodgers a huge advantage vis a vis other team’s 3rd or 4th starter. Syndergaard and a 4.00 ERA isn’t terrible, but it also doesn’t give a comparative advantage at that slot.
And Bear, no, there are different kinds of pitchers who take a fundamentally different approach to pitching. Synderaard and Maddux is not a very good comparison. Maddux was never a power pitcher. That wasn’t his game. A big part of what made Syndergaard effective was his velocity. It’s like Buehler. He was struggling last year because physically he wasn’t able to rely on the velocity and movement of the fastball he had before.
My point is and was, a pitcher can win without a 95 MPH fastball. I know they have different styles and approaches to pitching, But even as great as he was, Koufax did not become a star pitcher until he learned to take something off of his fastball instead of trying to just throw it by everybody. Location is just as important as velocity. Which is why Kershaw can still win with a heater that sits at 91-93. Syndergaard is learning how to be a pitcher instead of a thrower. Case in point, the at bat after the homer, he struck Trout out on a 93 MPH fastball well placed up in the zone.
No one does it better
Exactamundo
We live in strange times.
This is the first time the Dodgers haven’t opened the season at Dodger Stadium without playing during the day in 47 years.
First night opener since 1976.
I’ve attended numerous season openers, all during the day. Really like the day openers.
As to critics, some have legitimate points, others do not. If this site didn’t allow critics, there would no reason for it to exist.
It’s all perspective. Until it isn’t.
This should be an interesting year. Unless, of course, none of this works and the Padres run away with the NL West.
Stubborn wasn’t trading for Gallo, stubborn was to keep playing him even though he proved wasn’t able to turn it around and striking out at 50% clip and taking a.roster spot he didn’t deserve and that’s my opinion mark, criticize it all you want makes no difference to me. What trips me out is much your feathers get ruffled anytime Friedman or doc is not put on the golden pedestal you put them on. I think signing Heyward was a bad idea. Same with Thor and I knew in my heart Gallo trade was a mistake soon as it happened. Sorry I have a different opinion then you mark. I don’t think taking up roster spots with low risks, high reward is very smart at all. It’s a Damm shame someone can’t express their opinion on here without getting ridiculed by the all mighty in his own head only mark
Thank you for conceding. When the argument is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. I just said that believing you know more than AF is silly. I was wrong. It is delusional.
AF lives in the forest and we fans live in the clouds. Sometimes fans through a different view unblocked by trees get things right. Fans would do a terrible job of building a team or managing a payroll but fans can be more right on players like Gallo and maybe are ready more quickly to move on from a bad decision.
A business basic is to not make decisions on the future based on past investment that failed.
I rarely if ever criticize Friedman or Roberts. I will say Muncy too often prefers to take a strike he could drive for a RBI in favor of working the count/walking. When I get down on a player I offer him up in a trade but never for a bag of balls. I offer them in a trade for a very good player and challenge the supporters of that player. Usually their answer is that the other team would want more. In Muncy’s case, why wouldn’t a team want a player that will hit 35 home runs and have an OPS of .850? Because they don’t believe he will?
Even in his worst year with us Max put up 2.7 WAR. He appears to have his swing back, I think he will get back to 4+ WAR, and he’s being paid $13.5. We need more of those type players, not less.
Mark, you know I agree with you on AF, however I feel I must point out by criticizing those who you call critics, you’re kinda shooting yourself in the foot. You keep going after them, and Doc haters, and by now it really isn’t necessary. Let it go buddy. Minds are made up, and there is nothing more tightly locked than a closed mind.
And I think it’s rabid ass not “rabbit ass”, though rabbit ass does make the point.
I hope so. regarding Muncy.
https://www.phrases.org.uk › bulletin_board › 44 › messages › 273.html
You’ve lost your rabbit a** mind – phrase meaning and origin – Phrasefinder
The extra “rabbit ass” just adds a little color to the phrase. Use of “rabbit” hints at Bugs Bunny, who was screwy to begin with. And I’m no expert but I think that what happens when a rabbit loses its mind, is the entire herd has to be destroyed to avoid the spread of Mad Rabbit Disease. Better look that one up, though.
Rabid. As in rabies.
Bugs Bunny?
Only a true idiot would commit slander.
Max is actually a pretty great Dodger.
He is getting paid a lot less than Taylor–and has produced much more.
He’s a guy who many thought should be a DH. But he proved to be a quality 1B, and credible at 2B and not-shabby at 3B. That versatility is a great asset when the Dodgers seem unable to envision JDM play LF.
Max is a grinder and he wears his love for the Dodgers organization on his sleeve. He has often expressed gratitude for how, when he was thinking of hanging it up, the Dodgers believed in him and helped make him what he is.
His only bad year came after a severe injury to his elbow. When he wasn’t hitting, he was still putting up great ABs and getting his walks. And during the last two months of the season, he was hammering the ball again.
With the shift outlawed, he could have his best season yet.
And Roberts stubbornly kept putting him out there when most of the commenters here, including the blog authors, wanted him sent down to the minors to clear his head or whatever.
His track record allowed for a long runway. In that case stubbornness was probably the right call. Stubbornness can also backfire catastrophically. Joey Gallo at the deadline did nothing to move the needle. The Dodgers are great at reclamation projects, but when you need to fix a weakness heading into the playoffs is not really the time or the place.
Dammmmmmmm straight!
Thor gets till Memorial Day to prove he’s got five innings < 3 earned. Yesterday: Five innings 9 hits, 2hr & 5 earned agst a so-so lineup.
He’s like Heaney all over again. I can’t watch him anymore.
“Mets the Dodgers of the East – keep your prospects.” -MLB.com. And like the Dodgers they need another big bat ASAP. We’ll see how far that “…prospects…” strategy goes by about Mem Day.
Waiting for Ohtani while fans smolder & season looks like a write-off is PITA. Not any fun to watch.
95-100 wins.
Prior and McGinnis are revamping Thors mechanics. It does not happpen in a linear fashion.
Unfortunately those 95 MPH exit velocity line drives off of his pitches look pretty linear. … Linear right over the fence.
He’s building his arm strength and not showing the spin he’s learning from Prior. When the season starts, hitters will have read the scouting reports on 94 center cut 4 seamers and swing out out of their shoes at two seamers that are not spinning backwards. I believe Thor will surprise.
The movement on a fastball – can that be ‘adjusted’? Thor’s heater looks flat. Tinker all u want – some guys can replicate a wrinkle in their out pitch – his control is good but that’s it. Mikey Trout smashed that HR – what we have is the Heaney routine again. As long as they’re solo shots you can live with that. But he starts walking people and he’s done and heading down the 5 to Dago.
“The movement on a fastball – can that be ‘adjusted’? “
Yes.
Amazing how you can completely twist things around. I’m not conceding crap. I’m sticking to my opinion. The big difference in how you and I think mark is your satisfied with winning divisions and call it success, only a ring does it for me. In case your unaware your the king of slander and puffing yourself up
… and you have no clue how hard it is to win a ring now. So many more teams and more layers of playoffs. The best teams seldom win now. The teams who get hot do and that is what AF is banking on. Everyone is copying the Friedman Model, but you know better than him so maybe you should be working for a team. I mean, you “KNEW” Gallo wouldn’t be any good. What did you think about CT3 or Muncy?
What about Vargas, whom Freddie Freeman says, “I have not seen that kind of hit tool in a long time?”
So how do teams “get hot”?
Are the Astros not the best team… or just the chronically “hot” team? (I think they’re the best.)
The Padres got hot. And Phillies certainly got hot. But isn’t part of the reason the trades that brought key players to those teams?
It’s nice to see that Outman, that lucky guy, will be playing a key role in 2023.
Is he a dramatically different player today from the guy who succeeded at every level in 2022? I doubt it. Perhaps if he had a bit more opportunity in 2022, there never would have been a need for Gallo.
Your sure are
Michael do you consider your life a failure if you are not the best at what you do?
Michael: Wow, “only a ring does it for you”. The Yankees have won the most World Series, 27 of them in 120 years. That is only 22.5% of the time. So I guess in your mind, the most successful World Series team in history has been a failure 77.5% of the time. Impossible for anyone to live up to that standard.
In this century, Boston has won 4, San Francisco 3. Houston 2 (and they lost 3). Even the Royals and dbacks have won as many as we have. I think most fans feel we should have more titles than we do.
A lot of those Yankees championships were won when they only played 1 series.
No doubt about that. And I’m sure the players and management feel the same as we do. But there are degrees of failure and success. Winning 111 games and not the WS is a disappointment but it’s not a failed season in my book.
I’m well aware of how hard it is to win it all especially these days and odds year to year are slim but it’s got to be the only goal or why bother. I can accept it’s not happening on a regular basis but still anything less doesn’t satisfy me and I don’t consider the season a success. Sorry I can’t change that about myself. Winning a hundred games and the division is great but every time we get booted in the playoffs it bothers me, last year hurt like never before. Getting hot at right time helps tremendously but it still takes elite talent especially with starting pitching and no Cassidy I don’t think that at all. And mark it’s such a stupid thing to insinuate I think for a moment I could even come close to doing the job Friedman does just because I don’t agree with some of the moves. It’s my choice as a fan to think this player will do us a lot of good or not. Simple as that
This was not simple, but actually quite contrived.
I sure hope with all my being that Friedman is banking on more than getting hot
Low Risk – High Reward guys, reclamation projects that the Dodgers have had some success with or NOT. So what goes into the decision to keeping a non-roster invitee on the 26 man roster over prospects all ready in the system.
Does it come down to performance in Spring Training, which many see as meaningless or is it resume? It seems experience plays a big part. The Dodgers seem to value veterans and are are apprehensive about playing too many rookies.
I think performance in the last couple of seasons and spring training should matter for veterans trying to prove their worth. Not just with stats but the eye test.
Jason Heyward is a 13 year veteran. His last 2 years, he’s hit .211/.606. This spring he hit .204/.645. To me those are not numbers that warrant a roster spot over a prospect. It was a foregone conclusion he was going to make the roster. What kind of worse performance would it have taken to keep him off the roster? His presence keeps a prospect with a future from getting experience.
Peralta also had a miserable spring at the plate hitting .160/.620. but in the last 2 years , he’s hit .250 in 134 games.
Roster Dodgers get a longer leash for me – but not much. I was glad to see Trayce Thompson find some success with the Dodgers last year. But a closer look reveals it may have been a flash in the pan. Now 32 and a career .221 guy with 5 teams, he hit .256. He’s penciled in to get time versus LHP but his splits show severe reverse splits hitting .174 vs LHP versus .308 versus RHP. So, how does that work?
If the great hitting gurus can fix Hayward, they need to fix Thompson vs LHP.
Thor is another reclamation project with a very short leash.
Too many question marks for me to predict much more then 90 wins at this point.
This is a year that the Dodgers could use their vaunted organizational depth, play the prospects more and get under the Luxury Tax threshold.
During these tryouts, these games do count, by the way.
It’s Low risk – High reward, except at the expense blocking the young guys as veteran projects get dumped on their heads.
Phil, you’re an expert on pitching mechanics. Watching last night’s game did you notice how Noah Syndergaard steps toward first base with his left foot in the bucket and pitches across his body which loses velocity and accuracy. My son pitched in college and was always taught to step straight at the batter. Your thoughts.
I agree Andrew that stepping toward your target eliminates having to correct something in your release to get back on line. A few inches open or closed is okay. Not landing on the heel and with a slightly closed toe with everything going towards the catchers glove is ideal. That’s a teach for young developing pitchers, but it’s harder to change that in veteran guys. Plenty of pitchers cross fire and make it work. Some guys step open but usually throw sinkers. Either way, It’s just one more moving part that complicates consistently. Striding closed can aid some pitchers in hiding the baseball.
Honestly, I never watched Thor enough when he was at his peak, to see what his normal landing spot was so I can’t speak to it being different.
Via Molly Knight/Lance Brozdowski on Twitter:
First time seeing Noah Syndergaard data since the #Dodgers got their hands on him. 3 things jump out…
1) Slider now looks like a cutter. Pitch was up 4 mph sitting 88+ with more backspin, 1″ iVB ➡️ 7″ iVB.
2) Four-seam picked up ~4″ of ride, only down .5ish in velo from 2022.
3) I think the curveball is now basically a ~76 mph sweeper. It’s getting more spin direction change from hand to plate compared to 2022, now has positive iVB and picked up 3″ of horizontal movement, getting it to 14″ total.
Guessing there was a grip/orientation tweak there.
Yep.
Those numbers are very encouraging. If he can find edges with those pitches he will be effective.
The only way the dodgers win 100 is if they upgrade left field position and shortstop. If they go with platooning with what they have I say 95 wins because of the pitching we have to get an everyday left fielder that hits and a shortstop that can hit. Rojas can field probable better then turner but we are going to miss tuners bat and playing everyday and producing. They should have gotten Reynolds for centerfield. And then outman and Hayward could have been in left field and Reynolds would play every day in centerfield. And probable hit second in the lineup.. But we will see at trade deadline what happens.
They have won 100 four times in the last 10 seasons. A majority of that team there was platooning at multiple positions. Having a star SS or left fielder has not changed the fact that they have only won the world series once. You can win a lot of games if you get production from all of your players. How the team plays as a whole means a lot more that who is playing.
Spring training stats:
Position players on the 13 man roster with 3 or more HR:
Outman 3
Betts 3
Freeman 3
Muncy 3
Taylor 3
Position players on the 13 man roster with at least a .280 BA:
Smith .318
Muncy .295
Outman .294
Freeman .286
Position players on the 13 man roster with at least a .900 OPS:
Betts 1.115
Muncy 1.006
Outman .981
Freeman .950
Superstar (Freeman), stars (Betts, Muncy, Smith), a rookie (Outman), Taylor.
Do these numbers include WBC action?
No that’s another league. So these aren’t very accurate considering.
9:07 PM ET vs Angels (away)
SP Ryan Pepiot R
0-0 .00 ER
Reid Detmers L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
DH J. Martinez R
3B Max Muncy L
LF Chris Taylor R
CF T. Thompson R
2B M. Vargas R
SS Miguel Rojas R
Clear-day
0% Rain
79° Wind 7 mph Out
Last Spring training game, Season starts Thur. night against Arizona
When you say that they should have gotten Reynolds. Was he even available? What was the cost to have traded for him? No other team made a deal for him. How can you make those statements when you have no information? Reynolds is a good player but he’s no superstar. Not worth overpaying for.
Wow Reynolds is a switch hitter batting 310 probable hit 26 HR and you don’t think he would make the lineup better then Thompson Taylor or hey ward who sll combined will problem hit 25 total and you don’t think he would have made dodgers better. Having everyday player like Turner was for dom triple AAA prospects to the pirates. When areynolds said he wanted out of Pittsburgh that’s when the dodgers should have gotten him but then the pirates up the price and wanted four top notch prospect good teams do that trade to get an every day starter. We didn’t an snow we have different centerfield and left fielder every nite when we could have had the same center fielder every nite. That’s why I say they should have done it the Dodgers but they didn’t.
What? Reynolds hit .262 and OPS of .807 last year and he’s not a very good defensive center fielder. Of course he’s better than Thompson and Heyward hut he’s not worth four of our best prospects.
Wow, Reynolds is way worse than that journeyman Mookie! I had no idea. Why are we even thinking about a sub-journeyman hitter?!?
But seriously, folks…
Those OPS and HR numbers are pretty close to Will Smith’s. Reynolds’ speed and the fact that he is a switch-hitter–and about equally proficient from both sides–would be an asset, especially in LF.
The big question is price. Plus, there may be greater needs as the season unfolds.
If winning the World Series is the barometer as to having a good season, then (LISTEN UP)… get ready to have a miserable existence!
It is getting harder and harder UNLESS they go back to two leagues and two teams coming to play for the World Championship. The Dodgers would win 50% of them. However, that is not happening and teams are emulating the Dodgers and the Red Sox under Theo. There is more pressure and incentive to win. Teams like the Padres and Mets are going all-in.
I think that people who believe you can “buy” a Championship now are total idiots… no I don’t think they are- I know they are! Like the Beatles so eloquently said: “Money can’t buy me love.”
You have to be smart and not make dope-fiend moves. Taylor, Thompson, Peralta, and Heyward may all be gone by June… or not. You have to let it play out and see what you have. Bryan Reynolds could be great, or the player you trade for him could be great. Slow down and see what happens.
Look, there are 162 games to figure this out. Many of you act like Children who have never seen this play out! … and you wonder why I think some of you are ____________________ (you fill in the blanks).
Shoot if Tyler O’Neil was are left fielder every day Is be okay with that. The Cardinals have alot of good outfield prospects. And with Jordan Walker jumping from AA to the starting outfield that could be a possibility. And with no where for O’Neil to start at. He sure would look good in Dodger blue a O’Neil Outman Betts in the outfield come playoff time. With a Hayward and Taylor on the bench. Could possible be
O’Neil is going to be the Cardinals center fielder. He is not getting traded.
Hoody got a point here – too fast an inning + lines for beer = you see a couple innings on your phone.
I’m good with the time rules, though lately it seems umps are not pushing them (true?) simply because it’s another hassle dumped on them.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRvnpj5H/
Doesn’t look like Trayce is gonna get to .100 this spring. He’s making Belli look like a masher
don’t piss Bear off again.
And don’t say we should’ve gone with Grove over Pepoit either.
But I just got off one!
😉
Uh oh! Well since I’m a Pepiot fan, spring training doesn’t mean a thing!
It does until it doesn’t.
His spring stats don’t mean crap for him because he was making the roster no matter what. It is what he does from Thursday on that will make or break his time with this team.
He’s on a plane right now so I’m getting all my spring training complaining out of my system tonight!
Someone said if the Dodgers got Trout Otani and Rendon what would it take to get them from the Angels. With those three would Dodgers then be World Series favorites to win. With Trout cf Otani dh Rendon 3b Freeman 1b Betts rf Smith C Rojas ss Peralta lf Vargas 2b and to the angels would it be outman Muncy Taylor Pepiot minor league players. Just like to see a lineup the dodgers would do if that trade happened.
Bradley,
That is a “tongue-in-cheek” idea that will never happen. I made the suggestion in jest, but you are clinically insane if you think Outman Muncy Taylor Pepiot and minor league players will get that done. Don’t let anyone know your address because they are coming to get you.
I was just seeing if that happened wouldn’t the dodgers be World series favorites with those three guys. Did I say go and do that.
Betts
Trout
Freeman
Ohtani
Rendon
Smith
Vargas
Peralta
Rojas
Look at that lineup wow that would match Padres lineup for sure but we would have the pitching. Dream a little dream.
What the fuck is going on here?
Just think what kind of lineup the Dodgers will have when they reanimate the cryogenically frozen body of Ted Williams!
My 2022 MLB Dodgers on Playstation that’s what I am going with traded Muncy Taylor thompson and Gonsolin. Got Trout Rendon and Ohtani. Ha ha ha.
I think it’s fair to say that after ST it’s definitely gonna be a long season in here.
Some may have to get voted off the island.
I never knew that “stubborn” was such a loaded term. Often learn something new here!
I will stubbornly suggest that AF & Associates will have learned from 2022 that they shouldn’t enter the playoffs in 2023 with a couple of bench player who really can’t contribute. I will stubbornly argue that, down the stretch in ’22, AF got outplayed by his peers like Preller–and that is one reason the Padres bounced a 111-win team so swiftly. It wasn’t even close.
Now, some folks here will stubbornly insist that, when the playoffs roll around, it all depends on “luck” and which team “gets hot.”
And I will stubbornly point out that Branch Rickey–AF’s greatest predecessor–said: “Luck is the residue of design.”
It’s nice to be able to cherry-pick facts and make up your narrative around them. If you think that proves anything, you are unable to foment an intelligent argument. That is just pure drivel. No argument there. Nothing constructive there. Just say it, and it must be so! Ha Ha! Yes. It is laughable.
Somehow a team is able to win 111 games but not good enough to win the first playoff round. That borders on insanity! “It was Friedman’s fault because he is stubborn.” Gallo had one AB in the post-season. It had nothing to do with Mookie, who hit .143, or JT who hit .154 or Will Smith, who hit .188, or Gavin Lux who hit .231. They averaged a little over 2 runs a game it is because AF is stubborn! That’s a nice Comdey Club Skit! Please!
stub·born
adjective
having or showing dogged determination not to change one’s attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so.
“a stubborn refusal to learn from experience”
In some ways, maybe Friedman could be stubborn, such as in his acute understanding of statistics and probability, but that’s not stubborn! As any successful money market manager, options trader, or stock market guru knows, if you have a plan, you stick with it. Andrew is a master at that, but fans like to cherry-pick their stats. For instance, when AF signed Hanser Alberto, he was roundly criticized, and then he was criticized by the same fans for not re-signing him… especially after seeing how Alberfto did with the White Sox in Spring Training.
Gallo is still a case in point: I did not like the deal, but the Braintrust (not just AF) saw something. That it did not work is immaterial. It’s the process that is important. If you have a process… then you have to trust the process. Joey Gallo was given 137 PA to produce – he did not, but the Dodgers trusted the process. The process is why they signed Heaney and Anderson and did not re-sign them. Same reason they signed Thor. “The process” is why Heyward, et all will be given runway.
Prior thinks he can get a lot out of Syndergaard. Those of you who are using just sight on this one instead of vision will be pleasantly surprised! I also think those of you who are waiting for Ohtani will be greatly disappointed, UNLESS Mr. SO wants to take less to be a Dodger.
Well the good news out of spring training for our bench is that Thompson and Heyward hit .286. Combined! Hopefully got that one in before Bear wakes up.
Wipe the slate clean tho. It’s time for Dodger baseball!
Funny ha ha and I was probably up longer than you since I woke up at 4 am yesterday and did not hit the hay until after 12 because I was traveling all day. I care less what they hit. Both are veterans. What they do from tomorrow on is all that concerns me. They flounder, they are gone, simple as that.
If Thor after ten or so games in has a losing record and a era north of four which I think is likely and they keep throwing him out there anyway I will call that stubborn to. Same if Heyward has pitiful numbers. One bright spot our no hitting outfielders sure can play good D
OK, I am starting to understand the trend here…
Every pickup AF makes is suspected to be bad because he is “stubborn.”
I haven’t gone back to look, but what about Heaney and Anderson?
Everyone hated Muncy and Alberto…
Everyone?
Two
If everything I think will happen does happen, then I know what I would do next!
There has to be a psychological term for this beyond self-importance.
Elaborate!
I know we have a lot of brilliant naysayers in here but FiveThirtyEight still has us as the slight favorite to win the WS in their component rankings. This is a tough crowd in here. I think we need to trade the LADT group out to Detroit for a year to tegain a sense of gratitude for being a Dodger fan.
Personally I feel truly blessed to be a big life long dodger fan. We got a great organization from top to bottom the best in the game in my opinion but that doesn’t mean I need to pretend everything they do is gold like some do. If I can’t praises the great and criticize the not what’s the point
What to expect from the Dodgers this season?
Keith Law’s season projection: 97-65
The Athletic’s staff voting (percentages reflect first-place votes):
NL West
San Diego Padres 61.3%
Los Angeles Dodgers 38.7%
Arizona Diamondbacks 0.0%
Colorado Rockies 0.0%
San Francisco Giants 0.0%
Here’s a commenter on The Athletic:
John J.
· 1h 10m ago
The Dodgers got an F in the off-season, not a C. They failed at everything, losing many talented players and simply not replacing them. They failed to keep the best player in the most critical position in baseball. They instead acquired other team’s castoffs as reclamation projects and now enter the season with just one outfielder in Betts and a lot of unanswered questions. Short and third are going to be black holes for a long time and second is another unanswered question.
The Padres went all in to win the division while the Dodgers turned yellow and hid their checkbooks and made horribly bad decisions. As a long-time Dodger fan I am appalled at seeing what looks like McCourt making bad decisions for the Dodgers again.
So much for excellence. The decline has begun.
Sorry John Jay, the Padres did not win the division, because the season hasn’t even started yet. You are putting the proverbial cart before the horse. Talk to us in September.
After seeing the final roster, the Dodgers will win 93 games in 2023 and finish second to the Padres in a close race but make the playoffs as a wild card. We won’t be able to beat up on NL West teams which we were 54-21 in 2022 with less games scheduled this year against those teams. With the balanced schedule we will be playing 26 games against the AL East and AL West which we did not play in 2022. except for the Angels. Both are tough divisions. Our offense right now is not great and I’m not in love with our present pitching. AF and BG have their work cut out for them to improve the roster during the season and especially at the trading deadline. I hope I’m I’m wrong but I have the utmost faith in AF to make wise additions and subtractions. That is my opinion and fearless prediction for the upcoming season. I will cheer for the Dodgers as I always have and watch as many games as possible and hope for the best.
93 wins is a lot of wins. With this current roster I’d be happy with that.
I won’t be surprised if we don’t win the West. San Diego has gone all in and that team looks good. I expect the Dodgers likely to be active in the trade market. Winning the Division is preferred of course but obviously not necessary. It’s how teams play in October that matter so hopefully the player or players we pick up will help light that October fuse.
I think the SD pitching is going to be bad. You win with Pitching…lets be real here if Scherzer didn’t crap the bed SD gets bounced in the first round…..and I believe if we had a SS that could field the baseball we go up 2-0 and win that series in a sweep…..
But onto 2023, I like our chances…..
Agreed. At the most critical moment in the game, Turner made an error on an easy play.
In this Freeway Series, what we saw was our lineup against lefthanded pitching. It is clear we are going to platoon LF and CF. I think Heyward will be the 4th or 6th OF depending how you look at it.
I also like our chances.
Some yea sayer thoughts. Plugging Vargas in at second everyday, brilliant. Word is Outman will get the majority of AB’s in center. Having gold glove caliber shortstop should glue up infield and predict will hit hit least 270 with some clutch. JD will produce just fine and better than last year. Unlike some, think max will handle third adequately and stick will be better than pre injury days with the chip he’s carrying around. Freddie, Mookie and Smith should all make all star team. Pen is strong and could very well become better with guys coming off IL by sep/ oct
Agree. And with Muncy healthy and the end of the Belli experiment, it is not impossible that the Dodgers may have a better team than in 2022. We may not win as many games due to the NL West being more competitive, but we may be a better team.
YES!
Latest winter storm to hit Southern CA seems to be less intense than predicted. When I saw rain forecast for Thur earlier in the week I started getting worried. Looks like it will pass LA by tomorrow morning. Last thing I wanted to see was our insane winter result in an opening day rainout. That would have been a first.
Boy mark that word stubborn really crawls up your spine. You keep twisting it around to mean things I had no intention of. You act like someone crapped in your yard if they don’t praise your genius, brilliant baseball god Friedman who you worship That many of us give a very poor grade to ever since the signing of Freeman and all your fancy word argumentative, make no sense talent and slandering opinions isn’t gonna change that
Vlad Guerrero had bad plate discipline and would swing at pitches way out of the strike zone but he often barreled those pitches. If it were not for scoreboard logic he would be second guessed. Friedman is like that according to some. But, he too has scoreboard.
Yawn!
Yeah and not counting 17 scoreboard says Friedman one win, seven loses. Would like to think need at least two wins before being considered the greatest GM ever
How do you compare a time when two teams went to the playoffs to a time when more than a dozen can. ?
Riddle me that!
The playoffs are crowded, but there was a time when it wasn’t
It usta be 2 teams, but now it’s a dozen
BANG!
Do you think the odds are more against you or more in favor of you under the new format?
There’s a new format?
You mean playing more teams? Does it matter? Still gotta win more games than the other good teams.
They had 2 and the ASSTROS stole it. Fact!
Made it to California safely. Plane was 2 hours late leaving the Springs, broken trash can was the reason. Ready for real baseball.
I still say Dodgers will be the divisional champs and I offer the division field on an even bet of $200 as long odds. This offer ends when the season begins. I would ask Mark to be fund holder to pay the winner. I can only afford to bet $200.
Suffered a mild stroke on Saturday, released from hospital Monday evening. Enjoyed catching up on reading LADT today.
Man I heard that word STUBBORN, so many times in last couple of days and then plenty while reading LADT.
I always thought it was a good thing. Oh well.
I guess I will be stubborn some more and root for the Dodgers throughout 2023. Yup going to stick with them.
Glad you are felling better. Stay healthy, It is going to be one helluva ride.
Get well!
Thank you men.