It was a pre-season game where only three of the nine likely starters played, and they had av combined total of nine at-bats. This was a game where some fringe minor leagues and non-roster invitees got their chance, and most blew it or at least did not show much. Well Eddie Rosario hit a nice home run and David Bote had a couple of singles. Here are a few of my impressions.
- I am not encouraged to believe that Kim will hit. He could end up at OKC. Yes, it’s a small sample…
- At first blush, Kody Hoese looks like his bat is WAYYYYY slow!
- Zyhir Hope has incredible bat speed but looks like a cartoon character with his immense thighs. OMG… it’s jaw-dropping. He did make a nice catch in LF.
- With his opposite-field HR, Eddie Rosario announced that he is going to be a factor. This could change a lot.
- DePaula looks like he may have improved his running a little.
- David Bote hit the ball where it was pitched and played a solid 1B.
- Rushing and Outman showed nothing.
- I was impressed with Hunter Fedducia.
- Yamamoto, Wrobleski, and Miller had very little. It looked like their first game…
- Gellagos barely broke 90…
- Max Muncy looked to be in the best shape I have seen him in the Spring.
- When Bobby Miller got hit in the head as he walked off the field, Jim Plunkett asked him if he was OK, and he said yes, but he didn’t want to talk. Plunkett was then berated by Dodger PR Person, Juan Dorado for even talking to him. I have been told that the Dodgers PR staff are Nazis. There is no reason to disbelieve that!
- Some fans have said that Bobby Miller was “Hard-Headed” – I guess we know that is true. Bobby is a beast!
My son and I and my nephew, made the trek from Indy to Camelback Ranch. We will see the next two games on Saturday and Sunday. Old friend Tony Jackson will join us on Saturday.
We had dinner with Tony Jackson at the Rustlers Rooste which is an amazing place. If you are ever in Phoenix, you should go. They have a 40 foot slide that you can go down when you enter the restaurant. Of course, I had to do that! The kids were mortified!
Today the Dodgers play the Cubs in Mesa. We are not going to that game. Today is a business day and we have some meetings planned. I will be at the game Saturday and Sunday and then we fly back Sunday Night.
Zyhir Hopes Tree Trunks!
Please tell Tony that one of your regulars remembers his great work when he covered the team.
What’s he doing these days?
He just got out of real estate and is getting into Cyber Security. Tony is one of my best friends. He’s a great and real guy!
I missed Josh Rowitch (President of Cooperstown Hall of Fame), although we texted each other. What a gig he now has!
Thanks Mark really appreciate article this morning. Hopes lower half kinda reminds me of Chris Gwynn a little bit. Liked what I saw outta him yesterday. Good see Rosario connect might need another vet bat down the line. Enjoy rest of your trip !
I could see the Dodgers packaging a couple of pitchers (Knach and ?) along with CT3 for Prospects, and Eddie Rosario becomes the LH off the bench… in the next 3 weeks!
Except that Tony Gwynn couldn’t squat his weight.
Hope can squat 650 lbs… I’m sure!
Awesome Mark, enjoy!
3:05 PM ET
Dodgers (98-64)
Cubs (83-79)
SPTony Gonsolin R
0-0 .00 ERA
SPJordan Wicks L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
2B Tommy Edman S
LF M. Conforto L
C A. Barnes R
1B E. Hernandez R
3B Miguel Rojas R
DH Chris Taylor R
CF Andy Pages R
RF Ryan Ward L
clear-day
74° Wind 3 mph L-R
I may be in the minority here but Bobby Miller didn’t look improved to me before the accident yesterday. Control issues, getting behind in the count and then trying to throw fastballs down the middle. I know small sample size as Mark says about others but I think the preseason hype was largely over exaggerated. I hope I am wrong. His girlfriend is a kick boxer so he won’t get much sympathy at home.
No, he did not. He was at 97 MPH… but as you said, it’s a small sample. I ‘m not writing him off!
Small sample?!?!?
Now we are into microscopic samples.
Rosario is a lefty, Mark. His homer went to right center and cleared the fence by plenty. Hope made bad reads on both of his catches in left. Dean looked like a real center fielder. Clarification on something I mentioned earlier this year. Rancho has been sold to the Diamond group. But they will remain the Dodgers low A team for 2025. In 2026, the Quakes will become the Angels California League entry, replacing Inland Empire. The Dodgers new low A team will move into a new stadium in Ontario.
Agree about Hope’s bat speed.
I’ve eaten at Rustlers Rooste and agree, it’s a good recommendation. So are Bucca di Beppo and Oreganos.
Best regards to Tony Jackson, an excellent writer. (I can’t believe a talent like that had no place to land within the industry). He seemed to have the inside scoop within the clubhouse back in the day.
Rosario was a Dodger killer in post season a few years back. I simply don’t see a place for him on the roster at this moment. Yeah, some pieces have to be moved for that to happen.
It’s disappointing to see speedster Z Hope transform into a different type of player that we imagined. Perhaps he will develop and his power will be advantageous, but I much preferred the agile base paths burner he was supposed to be.
It was all about the B.S…. not the job.
I’ll let him explain… I won’t put words in his mouth… If he wants to. I’ll ask him?
There is only one number that means anything in spring training.
The number of injuries.
Book em
Mark did Z Hope play amy 3rd baae in the minors.
No
Thoughts on Duran & Campos?
Mark, if you get a chance try to pay a visit to Grimaldi’s pizzeria in Peoria. There is a waiter there who can share some stories of Tommy Lasorda when he used to visit the restaurant. He shared some stories of players as well. We try to pay a visit every time we are in town. The restaurant in Scottsdale is their headquarters. Located in a beautiful, somewhat secluded, shopping center.
Mark,
Considering that Kim is a G Glove at a few infield positions,has a cannon arm and Mook is not, wouldn’t it be better to use him (and Rojas) at SS and Mook at 2b. Watched a hesitant Mookie at the first two spring games and it made me think he would be better at 2b.
Enjoy the baseball portion of your blog. Thanks for keeping it going.
Jack