We Know Jack!

This article has 43 Comments

1. Tuesday scores
   Sacramento 11, Oklahoma City 5
   Springfield 7, Tulsa 4
   Stockton 10, Rancho Cucamonga 7
   ACL Rangers 2, ACL Dodgers 1

   Michael Kopech had another rough outing as he tries to come back from an arm injury. He couldn’t get through his inning, giving up two runs, three hits, and a walk, while only recording two outs.

   Wednesday schedule
   Great Lakes (Cam Day) at West Michigan (Joe Miller), 8:00 AM, PST game 1
   Great Lakes (Wyatt Crowell) at West Michigan (TBD), game 2, make-up of may 20
   Springfield (Max Rajcic) at Tulsa (jacob Meador), 5:00 PM, PST
   Sacramento (Carson Seymour) at Oklahoma City (Nick Frasso), 5:05 PM, PST
   Rancho Cucamonga (Hyun-Seok Jang) at Stockton (Ryan Magdic), 7:05 PM, PST

   For more detailed recaps,stats,schedules, standings and box scores for Dodger minor league teams go to the top of this page and cIick on MINOR LEAGUE AFFLIATES.

2. The more you know about baseball the more you know there IS TO KNOW about baseball.

   Dad wasn’t into sports but my uncle took me by the hand to brand new Dodger Stadium in 1962. I was 7. Now I’m 70 and still learning more and more about the game.

   PS to Mark: Yesterday you wrote, “ Well, James Outman went on to win the Rookie of the Year,….” and no one called you on it. I’m relating it here to let you know some of us ARE paying attention!

   1. Michael Norris called me on it yesterday and I told him that I was engaging hyperbole. 😉

      1. And at least two people bought that excuse

         1. I figured it was either hyperbole as an attempt to be funny, or an sentence that was just written too quickly. Errors, like Jack Shit, happen.
            At any rate, I interpret the purpose of Mark’s latest essay to remind (and scold) us fans that AF has more information and expertise at his disposal than we fans do–so who are we to question AF’s judgement? Mark also wants to remind us that he knows more than we do, such as the 132 listed Dodgers staffers/advisers/whatever.
            Who are we to question their judgement? We’re fans. Questioning judgment is part of our duty. You buy a ticket and you can cheer or boon. That’s part of the fun.
            I trusted AF’s judgement in signing Conforto for $17 million–and now I question it. With Pages ascending and Teo and Edman healthy, the team’s best OF alignment does not include Conforto, and now I’d rather see Rushing get some of the ABs Conforto is taking.
            If Conforto doesn’t show dramatic improvement, and soon, why shouldn’t he go the way of Taylor and Barnes? Perhaps they could eat some of that $17 million and deal him for a prospect.

   2. Yeah I caught that too . I wandered if Mark was seeing if we were paying attention,glad u said something .

3. Wow! 132 experts! That’s a lot! And gee, Mark, you’ve been doing this a long time. I think you’ve established your bona fides! How can anyone possibly disagree with you?!!

   This blog post is what is called a fallacious “appeal to authority.” It sidesteps the primary argument and, instead, relies on prestige or credentials instead of making a legitimate counter-argument.

   Dodgerrick made this comment yesterday:

   “Conforto has not been a good MLB player since 2020. He is a horrible defensive LF. He can’t play anywhere else. In his last season before his injury in 2021 he hit .232/.344/.384/.729. With the Giants he hit .239/.334/.384 and .237/.309/.450/.759. At this point in his career is is a .230 hitter who will hit 15-20 HR and play crappy LF. I don’t see the point.”

   What Dodgerrick wrote is demonstrably true. If you have doubts, go look at his Fangraphs page.

   I made a similar point once before. Conforto can only play LF on this team, and he doesn’t do that very well, certainly not well enough to offset his consistent offensive mediocrity. The last year he put up more than 2 WAR was in 2019.

   Mark continues to argue that he’s something he’s not and never has been, to the point he’s now calling people morons who disagree. Conforto is not a good defensive player and can only play LF. Period. The end.

   I think the Dodgers saw potential in his bat based on the second half of last year, and the decision was probably based on the assessment of their voluminous number of experts, and he fulfilled a need for the team – but I would say it was a higher risk signing based on his past performance, and, so far, it hasn’t worked out.

   I don’t begrudge the Dodgers for signing him. The Dodgers are the best organization in baseball. That doesn’t mean their moves always work out, or that mistakes aren’t made. And really, to be honest, unless Kim shows he’s a player who’s here to stay and gives the Dodgers enough confidence to depend on him during the playoffs, Conforto, perhaps unfortunately, still fills a need.

   But if you’re going to argue, address the premise of the argument.

   And why does this Outman/Vargas debate/I-told-you-so continue? Eric hasn’t been around in months.

   1. It’s not a debate. Since progress is not linear, it takes time to determine outcomes and I took a lot of heat at the time. I’m just saying that I was right. It I still know jack shit. Like I said, I am frequently wrong. I like to recount my wins.

      1. “I like to recount my wins.”

         Apparently.

         And I don’t know, and don’t think this is true, but I hope the Outman rehashing isn’t meant in any way to needle Eric from behind his block (and I don’t know if that Duke-whatever account yesterday was an Eric sock puppet, but I wondered), because I think he’s entitled to some grace and a little sympathy. I don’t think you’d do that.

         1. I know and understand Eric and it pained me to have to ban him, but you probably never saw some of the comments that he made. I had to delete them. They were as bad as another guy who happens to ruin another blog. Both have tried to come back, but I don’t want the drama.

            1. I didn’t, and yeah, we don’t need that drama.

         2. No, Patch.
            Duke -whatever? Ouch. I’ve been around for years now.
            You’re hurting my feelings!

            1. No, there was another Duke yesterday. You’re Duke Not Snider. This guy was Duke Not Harris.

               Naw, as long as you talk baseball and not politics, your posts are awesome. I enjoy reading them.

               This other Duke was different.

4. Dear Dodger patch:
   When you comment it seems to focus on berating or “correcting” Mark. And then you throw in some “deep” intellectual thoughts and finally close out with some baseball wisdom. Usually by the second sentence I move on. Mark is very gracious with you and mostly kind. But you need to either move along or state your baseball comments and sign off. You simply grate on me. Mark, appreciate your work and your baseball knowledge. Still a great time to be a Dodger fan!!
   GW

   1. Get your nose out of Mark’s asshole and come up for air at some poitn garebear.

      1. Hey, don’t be a dick. Oops! Too late.

      2. garebear …. I needed the laugh. Thx.

      3. Oh my. Such tender sensibilities! But never fear I am not disturbed by your comments. But I do like the nickname “garebear”!
         Go Blue

         1. 😉

   2. Moving on by the second sentence of my posts seems to be a good strategy for you. I’d stick with that.

      And this isn’t really directed at you, Gare Bear (LOL), but more to the room, but I’ve defended Mark many, many, many, many times over the 10 years or so I’ve been around this blog. I’ve been called a Mark ass-kisser on more than once occasion.

      I just call em as I see em.

      I don’t mind arguing about baseball. I like doing it, actually. Just do it in good faith and make good ones. If you make a good point, I’ll acknowledge it.

      I don’t do personality cults. I don’t like being told what I can or cannot say.

5. MAY DAY TODAY.

   CODE RED.

   1. I see what you did there.

6. A much-needed win last night. I was not very optimistic after Scott allowed his second homer of the night. Homers have killed the Dodgers the last few games. But the guys rallied and got the win. Giants won their game, so LA needed to win. Padres lost again to the Blue Jays, so we pick up a game on them. I appreciate all of Mark’s work and dedication to his site. I know how frustrating it can be trying to find the right topics to focus on. I have only been doing this since 2020. I am a little older than Mark, so I have been a fan a few years more, and the Dodgers have been my team that whole time. I have only been to one spring training game, in 2009 when Manny re-signed with LA. I have only been to one postseason game, in 1981, when Fernando lost game 2 to Ray Burris, who tossed a 3-0 shutout that day. For 9 years, I had to follow the team in the Sporting News and newspapers because I was serving my country, but I was as avid a fan then as I am now. Any baseball knowledge I have picked up is from reading a lot and since the cable age began, watching a ton of baseball. I trust my eyes a lot, but I also know that the team has soooooooooooooo much more information than I do. When I do a story, especially one related to the history of the team, it takes 12-24 hours of research to find enough information about the person or era I am writing about. I like to be correct on the history and the player. I don’t know it all, never have, I just try to have subject matter that appeals to the readers.
   I thank Mark for originally giving me the opportunity to write about the team and the sport I love.

   1. I appreciate you writing and doing the research, Bear.

      I read Mark’s comments yesterday, and noticed he made that claim about Outman getting the ROY.

      I knew it was incorrect, but it wasn’t a big deal. I told myself, “yeah, Bear will catch that and issue a correction.”

      You did.

      Your Dodger and baseball knowledge is encyclopedic, and it’s great you’re sharing it with everyone.

      When you go, the Dodgers need to freeze your brain like how Ted Williams had his brain frozen. It should be preserved forever.

7. What I don’t get is WHY some few always need to correct somebody for stuff instead of letting it slide.
   Whether Mark mis-typed (oh my gosh -that has never happened to anyone else) or intentionally stated that Outman won the ROY – who gives a CRAP!
   I noted it as soon as I read his post – and moved on – I didn’t feel the need to issue a corrections or asked if he meant it (from previous posts I am aware that Mark really does know that he didn’t win ROY) , or if he stated it metaphorically to make a point.

   I know that my thoughts and decisions are based on the information I have available at that time – if a parameter or variable changes I usually hope I am smart enough to then update my thoughts or decisions accordingly (i.e. change my mind!).

   With regard with Conforto – my fan side wants to bench him ASAP, however, I think half a season is not unreasonable to see if he gets out of his so far season-long slump.
   AGAIN – as badly as they have played this past week – they will still win the division – so realistically the Dodgers are not risking anything (except pissing off some fans).

   The Dodger brain trust made a decision in spring to sign Conforto – I thought it made sense at the time.
   As a snap-shot through yesterday – obviously it doesn’t seem to make sense now.
   BUT, if Conforto turns it around then he will be a great asset, if he doesn’t I really think the Dodgers trade him to a non-contender.

   As for Outman, he seems like a very likeable individual, but he really doesn’t belong on the Dodger roster.

8. I just think its not necessary to post, ‘I guess you know more than AF’ Everytime someone wonders about a particular player on the team and why he is not let go or benched or playing another position. If we can’t discuss opposing opinions then why have a blog? That’s what fans do!!! Otherwise We can just read pr statements from the team and Roberts announcements.

   1. Pretty sure you’re in somebody else’s house. So they actually get to set the rules for what goes and what doesn’t go. And they get to say whatever they want. And if you don’t like it, then you start your own blog or go to somewhere that you find more agreeable. What I find hilarious are the gadflies on here who just keep coming back for more. Pretty effing stupid if you ask me. Though no one did

      1. Are we allowed to disagree or have a different opinion, or no?

         1. While I appreciate Gary Hager’s zeal and I would like to go to war with him, I was not bothered by Patch’s response. Patch is not afraid to speak his mind and defend me, or take me to task. In this case he is wrong 😉 But he knows that he can disagree and be a little snarky at the same time. If course, I would never do that! 😉

            Yes, anyone can disagree but have a take and do not suck!~

            1. I call out myself, sometimes.

         2. As long as the “owner of the house” says yes, then yes. His call, no one else. Them’s the facts.

      2. Seriously!! You are OK with the answer ‘I guess you know more than AF’? as adding to the conversation?

9. 10:10 PM ET

   Diamondbacks (26-23)
   Dodgers (30-19)

   SP Corbin Burnes R
   3-1 2.56 ERA
   SP Dustin May R
   1-4 4.43 ERA

   Confirmed Lineup
   DH S. Ohtani L
   SS Mookie Betts R
   1B F. Freeman L
   RF T. Hernandez R
   LF Andy Pages R
   3B Max Muncy L
   CF Tommy Edman S
   C D. Rushing L
   2B Miguel Rojas R

   79° Wind 10 mph Out

   NO Conforto in the starting lineup

10. “Mark…..Mark….Mark” some
    of you guys remind me of, “Marsha…..Marsha…..Marsha” from “The Brady Bunch”.

    Mark is sometimes right and sometimes wrong JUST LIKE ALL OF US! If any of us were frequently right we’d be on that list of experts he posted.

    I noticed some fans having conniptions over Dave sending Scott back out there only to give up another bomb. But Dave wanted to save the remainder of his bullpen and like all of us most likely expected to lose that game. So it kinda counts as more than just a win on the season record.

    PS: Just imagine how it aggravated the living schit outta the Padres to hear the Dodgers pulled one out at the very end after they also expected us to lose! Thats almost better than winning it at all!

11. Man, I’d never tell you what to do, Mark; after last night’s game I was expecting a good discussion here and some back and forth. Instead, the focus is on “fans” that opine despite having little to no information , and the inclusion of a CV as if someone is questioning the legitimacy of LADT (I guess we can conclude the omission of “morons” as progress). Oh well, I’ll still read, contribute very little and enjoy the laughs. With a blog like this, I imagine some takes will be less than stellar; basically, a bunch of malarkey and “hot” takes that are sometimes as cold as the far side of Pluto.

    The game: Edman with the biggest at bat of the night, went with the pitch the other way on 0-2, what a set up by Tanks. I was nice to see Muncy get the walk-off; a few years back, I’d argue Muncy was the dodger you’d most feel comfortable with in that situation: bases loaded, less than two out- need contact, a fly ball or a walk. Times are different for Muncy now but he may be turning it around. Perhaps he’s lost some bat speed (or patience), as evidenced by his continual early jump on pitches that are smashed but pulled waaaaay foul (maybe it’s a timing thing). Nevertheless, a good win.

    Big road trip looming, should be interesting.

    1. Great if we can talk about the team, not the posters.
       Ok its a great site, but every week or so we have to put up with a Mark Rant. Still the best site out there. Thanks Mark for keeping it going

       1. It’s the rants that keep it that way.

          If I don’t do that with a frequency, it ends up back to “Fire Roberts and “Friedman is Fried Brains!”

    2. “I guess we can conclude the omission of “morons” as progress.”

       Well, true. He didn’t call us morons.

       He called us “dumbasses” instead. LOL

12. Grow up boys. You’re losing people’s interest.
    Great time to be a fan of the Blue!
    Book em

13. I’m here to kiss Mark’s ass:

    Damn, what an unbelievable comeback by the Pacers! Wonder if this reminds New Yorkers of 5th inning, game 5???

    1. Bobby, that may be the most unbelievable comeback I have ever seen in any sport.

14. Ahhh….
    A three-run homer from Teo–off Burnes.
    And a strong start from Dustin May–six innings, five hits and one walk, just one run (HR) and 8 Ks.
    Keep it up… Beat the Dbacks.

15. Great seriers win, GUTTY.

    Dont look now but SD is playing liken horse S.

Comments are closed.