That’s me, according to one commenter. However, unsurprisingly, he got it wrong. In psychology, an idiot has the least intelligence on the IQ scale (usually between 0 and 25). Then there are imbeciles who are not quite as dumb as idiots (usually an IQ between 26 and 50). Those who have an IQ between 51 and 70 are considered morons. Here is what he said:
Well Mark, you are an imbecile. Just one notch above a moron. I guess that gives you some leeway. Winning a WS is the ultimate goal. And, the one that great teams and GM/PBO’s are judged by. It is not the only metric, however, it is the one that greatness hinges on. Would the 27 Yankees be considered the best team of all time if they had not won the WS? The 75 Reds?
— Ohio Dodger
I think he was trying to be kind to me and believed that an imbecile was a notch above a moron, but imbeciles are a notch below a moron. Should I feel bad? I am devastated! 😉 All along, I thought I was a moron, and it turns out I am only an imbecile. Oh, well – I will somehow get through the day.
The above statement was in response to what I had just said, that a fair percentage of people here evidently disagree with:
Winning a World Series is the Ultimate goal, but under the new playoff format, only a MORON would think that is the only metric. BTW, he [Friedman] should have 2… and he once got to the World Series with a $76 Million payroll.
–Mark Timmons
I said that in response to this statement:
I didn’t question his record. He is doing a good job overall. I just don’t think he is as great as you do. When he wins a WS or two, I might change my mind.
— Ohio Dodger
Now, I am not picking on Ohio Dodger – I think a lot of commenters feel that way, and so I have to defend my honor so as to be re-classified as a moron. This was the statement that I think many of you have to re-think:
Would the 27 Yankees be considered the best team of all time if they had not won the WS? The 75 Reds?
You know what’s coming, don’t you?
The 1927 Yankees and the 1975 Reds were great teams, but what you are doing is trying to compare teams from three different eras, and that is like comparing apples to watermelons to jackfruit. The Reds won back-to-back titles in 1975 and 1976. While they swept the Yankees in 1976, in 1975, the Red Sox took them to Game 7, which the Reds won 4-3. The 1927 and 1928 Yankees swept both World Series 4 games to zero, and the team included Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
Baseball changed a lot in the years from 1927-28 and 1975-76. There were more teams, better player development, more minor league teams, better-conditioned players, and better scouting. One major difference was that when the Yankees their two AL Pennants, they simply had to play the NL Pennant winner 7 games in order to win the World Series. The 1975-76 Reds had to go to a playoff with the NL East Division winner each season in order to get to the World Series. The 1927 Yankees had to win four games, while the 1975 Reds had to win seven games. One could even argue that the Reds’ path to the Championship was harder because they had to win seven games instead of 4!
Contrast this with the 2020 LA Dodgers, who had to win 13 playoff games in order to win a Championship, or the 2017 Dodgers, who won 11 playoff games only to have the Championship stolen by the Cheating ASStricks! By the way, the AssTros also won 11 postseason games that year, but they cheated at the right time. Now, even Ray Charles can see that the more games you have to win, the more difficult it becomes.
We will never know how the 1927 Yankees would have done against the 2020 Dodgers or the 1975 Reds would have fared against them, but only a moron or maybe an imbecile would think it is just as easy to win 11 -13 games as it is to win 4 or 7 games! So, if I am a moron, where does that put you? I’ll let you call it!
I have just found that morons are offended when you call them morons. Some go and start their own blogs or leave for blogs where they can have the luxury of not having to face facts. By the way, it was very humorous to me that I was called a moron on a blog where morons are not called morons because I said something to the effect that those “who continually tried to tell everyone that Walker Buehler’s decrease in velo last year was by design, and that he did not have an arm issue. If you disagreed, you were a moron.” I may or may not have said they would be morons, but let’s assume that I did. What I did know and still do is that Dodger Coaches were worried about Buehler’s “high arm exertion” and “high effort” delivery, and he had been advised to dial it down, so naturally, I felt that could be what was at work. It turns out that I was wrong, and if that makes me a moron, then so be it. It’s better than an imbecile.
If you haven’t figured it out, I use the word moron on occasion and sometimes refer to myself as one. If you are so thin-skinned and passive-aggressive like many morons, maybe this is not the blog for you, or if you want to live in the past and think you have to win the World Series to have a successful season, then this is not the place for you either. You never want to settle for anything less than a Championship, but it a damn sight harder to win now than it was in 1927 or 1975.
I’d also advise you not to take this so seriously – I don’t! I am sick and tired of all these wins – I want to experience some losses. I can’t stand it anymore!
And here I thought my wife was being kind when she called me an idiot and not a moron!
At least you are not an imbecile… like me.
I am so glad I have no wife to abuse me!
I’m normally called a piece of excrement. So at least you guys are standing upright on two legs. BTW they don’t use the word excrement, I don’t think they know what it means.
I have a question. How many GM’s or President of Baseball operations have two championships in this millennium that are active with the same club today?
Of course, the answer is none, although Friedman should have two.
To all the experts who predicted the Pads would run away with the west, congratulations! You were spot on! They’re just running backwards full speed! I’m sure Preller will be all in on Ohtani. Is it just me, but don’t 90 % of MLB play by play guys sound alike? Heard the Marlin’s guy the other night, almost puked! The exaggerated screams on things like walk off walks drive me bat sh*t crazy! There must be a discount store for announcers out there somewhere! Used to love MLB network, but now it’s almost as bad as ESPN. Finish the Brewers off tonight!
I’m not sure Preller will be around to go after Ohtani. They are 4 1/2 games out of the last playoff spot. If they miss the playoffs I can’t see how the Padres don’t clean house. This is one of the most epic failures of a season for any GM in history. 3 $300m players, Soto, the best closer in baseball and arguably the best second baseman in baseball. And they are 5 games under .500 and 16 games out of first place. If the coaching staff and Preller survive into 2024 I’d be shocked.
I have said that about the broadcasting teams for a long time. Joe Davis sounds like a Joe Buck clone. You want horrible? Listen to the Rockies crew. Biggest homers in the game, and their team sucks. Drew Goodman’s home run call is the worst. Take a good look, you won’t see it for long. All of his color analysts are exe-Rockies. None of them add anything to the game. The one guy I can listen to is Jon Miller. He is old school and calls a great game. His home run call is very simple. Adios Pelota.
Frankly, I’m glad I got rid of cable so now I can’t watch the Rockies broadcasts. If I never hear the words “Subaru strike zone”again it’ll be way too soon.
It would be logical that the best front office would be based on the next two metrics, wins and division championships. Friedman has shown he can win with a small budget and a large budget. So at the very least I’d think it would be fair to say the Dodgers front office has been the best in our lifetime. I’m a senior citizen. In large part to Friedman
Friedman isn’t why I’m a senior citizen. He’s a large part of the Dodgers success.
We got it John. I think no one can deny Freidman’s success. There are plenty of astute people around him. They have more exe-GM’s working for them than any other team. Their team president, Stan Kasten, was part of the Braves long running success even though he left the baseball decisions up to John Schuerholz. Kasten also ran the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA and was named executive of the year twice. No one else has so far done that. Zaidi and Anthopoulos went to other teams. He inherited a farm system that was pretty decent. And he had a core of young players mixed with some veterans when he took over. His style has caught the ire of some fans. Fans as a whole, want their team to go after the superstars or the biggest names in free agency or trades. Many blamed it on his coming up with a low budget team. Might have been part of it, who knows. But he avoided most of the superstars and made a bunch of low-cost high reward moves instead. I remember when everyone wanted the Dodgers to trade for Cole Hamels at the deadline, and he went elsewhere. Fans were irate. They thought Hamels would most certainly help the Dodgers win. But Freidman deemed the price to high and he eventually went to Texas in an 8-player deal. He has made mistakes, and he has made some very sound moves. Yes, winning the World Series is the ultimate goal. Problem is, it is just not that easy as the team with the best record in their history found out last year.
Walker Buehler Update: Second Simulated Game Not As Sharp
https://dodgerblue.com/walker-buehler-update-second-simulated-game-not-as-sharp/2023/08/15/amp/
It happens to all pitchers coming back. They are not going to be 100% every time out.
In my fantasy there’s a join in chant before stepping into the hallway “Lets do this for Quasimodo” because I’m one of their best fans.
Lets do it for Quas!
* Fans should be just enjoying the ride and not dread what might be ahead. Chicken Little was right for those folks. We are on a crazy fun run and if you can’t enjoy this baseball, you need some serious self-evaluation.
* I can tell you the players don’t think that way. They are enjoying the success but they know that every day is a new day. You control what you can control……. your effort.
Somedays you get the peanuts and some days you get the shells. Enjoy the peanuts.
* William Contreras is an adventure behind the dish for the Brewers. He got two interference calls and was close to a third. He starts out deep enough but steps forward, toward the pitcher. Then he reaches for pitches. The good catchers let the ball travel. He damn near clanked a pop up while failing to cast the mask away. And he tries to yank pitches a foot out of the zone to the middle of the plate. Not the most subtle framing I’ve ever seen. The HPU should tell him that he gets no calls until he knocks that shit off. He’s 25 going on 12.
So he’s better be able to hit. He’s hitting .273/789 with a 30% K-rate. He needs to get better.
* Have a little fun tonight and enjoy a baseball game.
Hey Phil. Did you catch Watson’s pre-game interview with JD? He said something I thought was very interesting, he said, I am only here for a year. That to me implies that he won’t get another deal after the year. He will either retire or move on to another team. I just thought that was odd.
Bear, I did not catch that. I too think that is odd. He doesn’t look done to me unless he just wants to hand it up.
Does he think he won’t get another deal from the Dodgers? Have they told him that? Are they filling the DH with Muncy or Smith or ???
I can’t see why he would move on to another team on his own volition. Keep your ear out for more info on that one, Bear. I will too. You got my curiosity going.
I don’t think it’s that odd at all.
My guess is that JDM doesn’t buy the NOhtani argument.
At any rate, JDM signed a one-year contract, accepting a below-market deal so he could be reunited with his coach Von Scoyoc, who is also a good friend. (JD was an usher in Von Scoyoc’s wedding, or maybe it was the other way around.) He wanted that coaching, wanted to play with Mookie again, and wanted a better chance to win a championship. While he wants to build up his value and get another nice contract, he also seems realistic that Father Time may be catching up–and his recent groin and back troubles could be a sign of that.
.
That mades some sense Duke. Maybe he can shop for a better deal elsewhere. More power to him.
Dude! I really appreciate you going all out to get a few days worth of the “m word” out all at one time. Nice job!
Cheers
Sometimes ya just can’t hold it anymore.
Winning the WS now is much much more difficult than it ever was in the past. The playoff setup inadvertently punishes the best teams because it robs them of momentum. Just ask the Braves and Dodgers last season. Did they both choke? Maybe but not likely.
-Mo Ron Idiotus aka IlliniDodger
I don’t get into the name calling thing. I let facts speak for themselves. While my opinions and observations are not always correct, they are based on facts.
If people can’t see that the current playoff structure makes winning the World Series much more difficult even compared to the recent past, then you are ignoring facts. Plain and simple.
Let’s not forget, this is all by design. MLB makes a lot of money in the playoffs. So do individual teams. More playoff games, more money. The more likely it is for any given playoff team to have a shot at the WS, the more fans for any given team watch. Better rating, more $$$. When a team like the 2022 Phillies makes the WS, that gives fans of just about all the playoff teams hope that if their team gets hot, it could be them too. When the lowly Padres knock out the 111 win Dodgers in 3 games, it gives fans of all other teams hope that their team can take out a behemoth and go all the way.
As much as I dislike the current format, it’s probably good for the game as a whole. Unlike 100 years ago, millions and millions of fans still have hope that their team has a shot on September 1st. In the 1920s, there was only 2 playoff spots. For just the WS. The vast majority of fans has already written off their teams season by Sep 1st. Now? Instead of 2 fanbases looking at a chance to win it all, there are 12. This is a business. And this is all about keeping fans interested so they keep watching baseball.
However, the net effect is that the best teams have a much lower chance of winning a title. Luck plays a much bigger role. Those are just facts.
If the only thing to celebrate is winning a WS, what’s the point? Only 1 out of 12 playoff teams will do that every year. And it’s unlikely the 2 teams in the WS will be the two teams with the best regular season records. In the 1920s, the odds of the two teams with the best records playing in the WS was 100%.
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
John Adams
+1 well said.
In the 1920s, the odds of the two teams with the best records playing in the WS was 100%.
Without looking it up I am pretty sure:
That is not correct. Some years the one of both leagues had multiple teams with better records than the other.
But there can be no dispute that it is a lot tougher to win a WS now than back then.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!11
Baseball had just two teams left standing until 1969. So, the two teams with the best records met every year from the inception of the World Series until then. The first playoff came in 1946 when the Cardinals and the Dodgers tied for the best record. It happened again in 1951 and 1962. Weird that the Dodgers were on the losing end of all three. It was a little harder to get there from 62-68 as each league had 10 teams.
I think you missed my point.
Best team in the NL or Al not automatically had the second best record in MLB every year.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
Ram, I did not miss your point at all, you are trying to make something very simple complicated. It was not. I just pointed out was the way it was. The teams with the best records IN THEIR LEAGUES played. Now, maybe there were years when the second-place team in the AL had a better record than the NL participant, but that is apples to oranges. Each league had their patsy’s. And then maybe there were years when the NL team was better record wise. Most of those probably took place in the early 1900’s when the AL was the weaker league. No matter. What they face today is a gauntlet. Multiple teams with a better record would be a stretch. I will tell you what, and it will take a little time, but I will research that for you.
I kind of remember the All-Star games taking on a more important role in determining the better league. Maybe more so than the World Series. The All-Star game game displayed league wide talent, one league versus the other. Not just 2 teams. There were 2 All-Star games each season and they weren’t that much of exhibitions. The stars might play the whole game with the goal of winning the game. I don’t remember every team getting a representative.
It least that’s how I remember it as a kid.
Missed one fact there Jayne, Pads beat the Dodgers, but it took four games, but they did lose three in a row. They lost one played in LA. But you are spot on about the money factor. Why does anyone think less? Playoffs bring special caps, and more jersey sales. In a stadium like Dodger Stadium, where you know there is going to be a crowd of close to 50,000, with all that parking revenue, souvenirs, concessions, the amount of money to be made is enormous. Game one last season of the NLDS drew 52,407. Which for Dodger Stadium is close to a sellout. Game two drew 53,122. 105,529 for two games. In comparison, game one in San Diego drew 45,137, game two, 45,139. The Padres owners had to be ecstatic. They got two more home games in the NLCS and had a chance to have two more, plus any World Series games that might be there. Side note, they drew less fans for both games of the NLCS against the Phillies than they did against LA.
Some teams cannot keep fan interest even when they are in the race. The Marlins are drawing 14,157 fans a game, Rays, 18,190. This one surprises me; Baltimore is drawing only 23,059 a game. Minnesota, a little over 24,000. The Brewers and Texas just a tad over 30,000. The Dodgers top the list by plenty at 48,023 and are just a shade under 3,000,000 at home for the year with 21 home games left. Yanks are in second at 41 thousand a game. San Diego and St. Louis are the only other teams over 40 thousand a game attendance. Braves and Phillies just a little over 39.
Florida just seems like a terrible baseball market. Rays do have stadium issues. But they’ve been good for years. Marlins haven’t, but they are on the hunt this year. No clue why fans don’t seem to care. It would be in the best interest of baseball to find new homes for those teams.
Baltimore is also a head scratcher. Great stadium. Central location. Exciting young team that looks built to contest for years.
Florida has a migrant fan issue. Most baseball fans in Florida have come from the north east. I have a friend who lives there and he is a Phillies fan. He would go to some of the games when Philly came to town but that was it. Their stadium is a very nice venue to watch a ballgame but it’s downtown with practically no parking. Teams from the east coast show up they have decent crowds but teams from the Midwest and West not so much.
Wednesday scores
Salt Lake 6, Oklahoma City 2
Tulsa 5, Frisco 2
Lansing 4, Great Lakes 3
Visalia 3, Rancho Cucamonga 2
Thursday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Peter Heubeck) at Lansing (Jacob Watters)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Kendall Williams) at Frisco (Dane Acker)
5:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Gavin Stone) at Salt Lake (Kenny Rosenberg)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Jared Karros) at Visalia (Yoscar Pimentel)
Looking forward to a resurgent Lynn dueling Mil’s best pitcher, Burnes, later tonight.
Welcome to the new Dodgers Kolten Wong…
It’s just a minor league contract,
Where did you see that Jorge?
Not that we’re likely to see him in LA anytime soon, but at one time he was considered a decent ballplayer.
10:10 PM ET
Brewers (65-56)
Dodgers (73-46)
SP Corbin Burnes R
9-6 3.60 E
SP Lance Lynn R
9-9 5.88 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF D. Peralta L
DH J. Martinez R
3B Max Muncy L
RF J. Heyward L
CF James Outman L
SS E. Hernandez R
C A. Barnes R
Kike at SS today….
Guess we’ll see if being a Dodger fixes those throwing problems.
DodgersNation has a nice report about Gus Varland and it made a good point that was news to me.
Varland, remember, was lost in the Rule 5 draft. His post-Dodger career with the Brewers was going smoothly until he took a nasty line drive off his face. (DN has the scary video–I vaguely recall the incident.) There was no concussion, but Varland came out of that game and he was out for a few weeks.
His second outing after the fateful liner was a disaster: nine earned runs, six hits (including 2 HRs) and three walks while getting only two batters out. Brewers DFA’d him the next day, and Dodgers exercised their Rule 5 rights.
Sure is nice to have him back. Maybe he’ll climb into Roberts’ “trust tree.”
One of the things AF has done spectacularly well is to build (and use) a deep pool of pitching talent, including those relievers who shuttle between LA and OKC. Other teams (especially in smaller markets) have to rely on a smaller cohort of RPs. It’s a bit unfair.
The rules discourage hoarding, but the Dodgers push their advantage. until they can’t. I will continue to root for old friends Bickford, Bruhil and Jackson except when they face the Dodgers or Halos.
Well Mark. Touche. I guess I am the idiot. My only point is that a team is not considered great unless they win it all. A WS Championship. Sure the 27 Yankees and all teams until 1969 had an easier road to a championship than they do now. That does not take away from their greatness. I am amazed that the 72-74 A’s don’t get mentioned more as an all time great team. I base my conclusion on the fact that teams talked about as being great have won championships. Teams that have great regular season records and fail to win the WS either get talked about as underachieving, choking, or not talked about at all. 1954 Indians and 2001 Mariners come to mind. Perhaps we can just say that a team can be considered as a great team within the organization like the 2022 Dodgers. But, not a great team in MLB history. I like reading your posts and I think you are very knowledgeable about baseball and have some good insights.
Burnes gives up a single to Barnes!
And then strikes out Mookie, Freddie and Peralta.
Impressive.
Austin Barnes!!! For MVP!!!!! Ha ha ha
People who complain about Barnes are morons.
I know Phillips last outing was pretty good. But he’s been scaring me a lot lately. he kinda has that no-confidence look on his face
Anyway, he gutted it out and got the save
Good for Barnsey he needed that
Great outing for Lance, pitching out of trouble and giving seven shut out innings
Yep, great game for Lynn and Barnes.
Phillips got two quick outs and then threw six straight balls. Put the tying run on, and Frelick stole his third base in this game. Ugh.
Fortunately, Adames struck out for his 4th time in this game.
I’m glad Roberts has not (yet) named an official closer, because Phillips hasn’t been convincing lately.
And that makes 11….
Very happy that Roberts followed my advice to sit Smith to allow Barnes the chance to fix his swing . Pretty quick dividends!
Maybe Barnes should get half the starts the rest of the way, with Smith sitting and DHing to get primed for the postseason. Also hope Feduccia comes up after Sept. 1. He’s earned it.
Meanwhile, the D’Backs beat the Pads in a pretty big game for the wild card. …
Now watching the drone show created as a tribute to Fernando. Pretty cool. Also, did I hear this right? That Walker Buhler suggested the creation of a Fernando Valenzuela Award for Rookie Pitcher of the Year? That’s a great idea.
Yes, you did hear that right.
That is a great idea. I always thought there should be a separate award for rookie position players and pitchers.
Fernando would be the perfect one to name it after
Love it. Just saw the LAT story:
https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-08-17/dodgers-walker-buehler-mlb-award-honor-rookie-pitchers-fernando-valenzuela
I mean if an award can be named for Trevor Hoffman, come on….
Opposing teams will soon learn to start intentionally walking Barnes. 🙂
If the MVP award is given out for the player most valuable to his winning team , and the season ended today , Mookie gets my vote, hands-down
Gold glove short stop, second base, and right field. What can I say