Before They Wore Dodger Blue

Posted By on November 18, 2025

Last week, I was contracted by a gentleman named Eric Vickrey, who describes himself as an Author and Baseball Historian. Well, I’ll just tell you what he said:

“I’m Eric Vickrey, a Washington state-based author and baseball historian. My third book, Before They Wore Dodger Blue: Tommy Lasorda and the Greatest Draft Class in Baseball History, will be published by August Publications on December 7th. 
 
In 1968, just three years after MLB adopted an amateur draft, the Dodgers pulled off what remains the best draft in baseball history. That year, they selected Davey Lopes, Bobby Valentine, Bill Buckner, Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Doyle Alexander, Geoff Zahn, Joe Ferguson, and Tom Paciorek. These players came up through the minors under up-and-coming manager Tommy Lasorda and formed the nucleus of the Dodgers’ next great era. 
 
Enhanced by interviews with 70 former players, executives, scouts, and other team personnel, Before They Wore Dodger Blue chronicles MLB’s transition from the Bonus Baby era to an amateur draft and details how the Dodgers front office pulled off their franchise-altering prospect haul. The book then follows the Dodgers prospects and Lasorda as they climb the minor-league ranks, including the Spokane Indians’ Pacific Coast League championship over Chuck Tanner’s Hawaii Islanders. 
 
If you’re interested, I’d be happy to send you an advanced copy of the book as a PDF. All I ask is that if you like it that you consider a shout out on LA Dodger Talk. And if you prefer a hard copy, I can make that happen in December.“

— Eric Vickrey

That’s right up my alley, and he did send me the PDF. I’ve read a little of it and can tell you that I will certainly read the book when it’s released. Here’s an excerpt:

So how did the Dodgers pull off such an extraordinary draft? Was it the genius of Campanis and his venerable group of eagle-eyed scouts? Was it an astute minor-league development system that maximized prospects’ potential? Or was it pure luck? As with many things in life, there isn’t one clear answer. Naturally, there was a certain amount of luck involved. But in the words of Campanis’s mentor, Branch Rickey, “Luck is the residue of design.”

— Before They Wore Dodger Blue by Eric Vickrey

Here’s the Book Cover again:

BTW, my book, “The Mountainmover,” is due out in May 2026.

I thought this was an excellent video (sent to me by Jayne Cobb):

This article has 83 Comments

  1. Ohtani, YY, Glasnow, Snell, Sasaki and Sheehan are what the 6 man looks like now, right?

    Then there’s: Ryan, Stone, Casparius, Wrobleski, Knack and maybe Frasso?

    Serwinowski, Ferris and Copen ended in AA and probably get a bump at some point?

    It feels like one to three of those have to move, EVEN if there are injuries. No?

  2. Passan’s off-season preview:
    https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46999006/mlb-2025-26-offseason-passan-predictions-free-agency-kyle-tucker-schwarber-alex-bregman

    “Los Angeles a longer shot” for Tucker.

    Beyond the Yankees, who would like a return engagement with Bellinger — particularly if Trent Grisham rejects a qualifying offer … the Dodgers, who nontendered Bellinger three years ago, have expressed interest as they peruse the outfield market.

    Teams are gauging the cost to acquire Washington shortstop CJ Abrams.

    Teams are trying to get a young bat from the Athletics for controllable starting pitching. They aren’t particularly inclined to mess with one of the best lineups in baseball and will focus on the free agent market.

    1. Grissom, and three others accepted the QO and will return to their teams. Reunion with Belli for the Yankees seems a long shot at best. With LA he would most likely fill a corner outfield spot because he rates out at better there than in center. What I like about Bellinger is that he has cut down his strikeouts considerably. He has struck out less than 100 times the last 3 seasons. He averaged 134 a year before that.

  3. Are the Dodgers on the threshold of an innovative new pitching staff strategy where you have 4 definitive full time starting pitchers on a team so good that they can afford to give them a great deal of rest during the regular season knowing they will still be in the playoffs? Was 2025 the first year of this strategy even if by a combination of accident and intention? Could we see a bullpen consisting of as many starters as classic relievers? In this scenario a 6 man rotation, together with plenty of strategic “injuries”, means that 10 to 12 pitchers get between 5 to 15 starts during the season. What would be the impact on the mental side as starters and relievers have traditionally been of disparate mental make ups? Would the players be on board with such a strategy? Most importantly, would it be effective and leave you with the best preparation for the playoffs?

    1. I definitely don’t understand what you are qualifying as this new strategy,

      I do, however, want to note the limitations of the 40 man roster. Not sure you can have 12 starters on the 40, and that’s assuming (I presume) no starting pitching prospects who aren’t ready for the majors?

      Nor is having 4 quality starter new.

      2. Yes, I agree, you didn’t understand what John has posted. Mixing your four starters with the other guys who go up and down, start/relieve, ‘rest’ the starters on the IL. No one starts 25 games, Some guys start 5-10 times to fill in and everyone ready for the playoffs.
        Sort of what this years plan was when no big moves made at deadline. We have enough pitchers, they just have to get healthy. It worked this time

        1. Thanks for clarifying. It does sound like last year, I (obviously) thought he was more looking for an all starter pitching staff or something in that direction.

  4. a 6 man rotation is pretty much a guarantee for the dodgers. ohtani can’t keep up the pace pitching 30 plus starts, and playing 162 games. Snell, Glasnow, sasaki, need rest also. yamamoto? he’s a freak!! but he will not pitch 200 innings. On the other hand hand, there’s Emmit, Wrobleski, Stone, Ryan, & maybe Bobby Miller. Emmit looks to be a bonafide. number 3 starter. maybe even a number 2. Gavin Stone? probably a 2or3 , but not in LA. Wrobleski? a starter or swing guy? great stuff whatever they decide to do with him. Ryan? there’s magic in that arm! Some of the aforementioned won’t be there in spring training. All of them will want a starting job. there’s no room at the inn!! I’m thinking Emmit gets moved in a trade, and Gavin Stone forces his way into the rotation. Bobby Miller? He may not even be a dodger much longer. time will tell if he can figure it out. He’s probably running out of chances.
    as far as relievers go. I heard the guys on mlb this morning talking about Edwin Diaz. they don’t believe he’ll get the 5 year 100 million +. contract he’s looking for. i’m sure he won’t get it from the dodgers! I’m still betting on Suarez or fairbanks!

  5. I think you will see the big four skip a few starts. There will be an OKC shuffle, and Jackson Ferris may start some games, along with Stone, Ryan, Sheehan, and maybe others.

  6. I am “all in” with Bellinger. He won’t cost a draft pick or Bonus Money and we don’t have to trade anyone.

    Just pay the man, and he can play any outfield position, plus 1B.

    Just get it done!

    6 years/$195 Million.

    1. Dope fiend move.

      We already ditched him once.

      No way he comes back unless it’s for one or two years.

      1. He is a better contact hitter now. He strikes out less than Ohtani, Max, Teo or Freddie. He does not have the same power numbers, but his 29 last year would have been second on the Dodgers. Check his stats and he is 29, plays all three outfield positions and first base, and is a much better defender than Tucker. His BA over the last 3 years is around .280.

    3. Please NO. He will not have the same impact, and his road/home splits this year are concerning. Dodgers need to get younger…. not sign another 30+ year old to a long contract. His best fit is in NY and I still think the Yankees resign him. I also think he doesn’t want to come back to LA and Boris will just use them to up offers.

  7. 1. Ohtani DH
    2. Betts SS
    3. Freeman 1B
    4. Smith C
    5. Bellinger CF
    6. Pages RF
    7. Muncy 3B
    8. Teoscar LF
    9. Kim/Rojas 2B

    Bench: Rushing (they will not trade him – bet on it), Edman, Ward.

    That’s all they need to do with the position players.

      1. Bellinger is a different player than when he was with the Dodgers and struck out 150 times a year. In the past three years, he has struck out 87, 89, and 90 times. Past performance in LA means nothing.

      2. Check his baseball reference page there Brian. He is not that guy anymore and has not been for the last 3 years. He had more homers and RBIs than Tucker. He struck out just 5 times in 28 at bats in the Yankees playoffs this year. Teo struck out 21 times in the four series.

    2. Bellinger, now 30, is more intriguing to me than Tucker, partly for sentimental reasons, partly because he’d be less expensive, and partly because he could easily transition to 1B when Freddie calls it a career.
      The Dodgers might use him in CF, but the Yankees mostly used him in LF. Pages is probably the better CF at this point–and he’s improving, while Belli’s defense has started to decline. From what I’ve read, playing in Yankee Stadium has benefited his game–and a little research suggests that’s very true,
      In ’25, he hit to an .814 OPS with 29 HRs–but the good stuff mostly came in home games.
      His OPS in Yankee Stadium was .909 with a .302 BA and 18 HRs, compared to .715, .241 and an 11 HRs on the road. Nearly 200 OPS points is a pretty big home/away split. Can the Dodgers get Yankee-Stadium Belli in Chavez Ravine?
      Mark wants to offer him $195m for 6 years–an AAV of about $32 million. Not sure if that’s dope-fiend territory, but it seems steep to me, especially when a better player who is due $45m for 3 years might be available in a trade. Yes, Buxton is injury-prone–but while we all have fond memories of Belli’s MVP season from years ago, Buxton just finished his best, healthiest season.
      But if the Dodgers bring back Belli, can we re-sign Kike and get Kenley back too?

        1. James Loney was an average first baseman with less power than a dead battery. His lone claim to fame as a Dodger was hitting a grand slam in the sweep of the Cubs in the playoffs. Best thing he did for LA was get traded to the Red Sox bringing A-Gone to LA.

  8. Grisham has accepted the QO from the Yanks. They say it won’t change their interest in Bellinger or Tucker. but how many OF do they need?

    No to Bellinger for reasons stated before.

    I wouldn’t be surprised to see them trade some of their young starters. Miller, Knack, Frasso ?Knack and Frasso lack the upside and Miller needs a change of scenery.

      1. Knack is probably the best of the bunch and that’s not saying much. Time to thin the herd.

        1. A lot of teams need pitching.
          Instead of flipping guys for more prospects, which is easy to do, I’d rather see guys like Miller and Knack packaged with other players to upgrade the current roster.

          1. A baseball YouTuber has predicted Kwan will go to the Dodgers.
            Very doable–and Kwan would be a big upgrade over Conforto, of course. High-quality ABs and gold-glove defense.
            But I think Kwan only makes sense if the Dodgers don’t acquire Tucker, Buxton or Belli.
            Even with Kwan’s defense, I think Teo>Kwan in LF and in the clubhouse.
            BTW, the same YouTuber predicted that Buxton, who grew up in Georgia, may head to Atlanta…

    2. The Mets are reported to be interested in Belli, especially if they can’t come to terms with Alonso.
      It’s crazy to me that Steve Cohen would spend a fortune for Soto but try to get Alonso–a face of the franchise, the beloved “Polar Bear”– to accept a team-friendly deal.
      Alonso is second to Schwarber among the power bats on the market. The Mets might lose him to Boston or Baltimore or ???

    3. Or maybe they just trade Grisham…..I’m sure there would be teams interested in him for 1 year at $22M.

    1. He is nasty and filthy, and has difficulty throwing strikes. If he can improve on that – look out!

  10. For those of you who wanted Taylor Ward, the Angels traded him to Baltimore for Grayson Rodriquez (RHP).

    2. Seems kind of strange…
      My understanding has been that the Orioles need pitching more than another bat.
      But the Angels need pitching, so well to Anaheim, Grayson Rodriguez!

  11. Could the Dodgers take a flyer on JJ Bleday?

    He’s not a CF’er but he was the #4 pick in the draft in 2019. He has some skills..

    1. According to his baseball reference page, he is a center fielder. He has played 278 of his 383 games in the majors in CF. He made 9 errors in 705 chances and has 11 of his 16 career assists at the position. Best year with the bat was 24 when he hit .243 and had a .762 OPS with 20 homers and 60 driven in.

  12. not a lot of upside! numbers though look like someone they could target! i would pass! they have (had)too many .200 hitters on their roster! read yesterday (rumor). the dodgers do have interest in jared duran from boston. but i guess they have interest in everybody! i wouldn’t mind him being a dodger. but the trade proposal would make you cringe! Hope and 2 others for him. it won’t happen. it’s impossible to predict who the dodgers bring in. whatever they do, all most has to revolve around teo moving to left, doesn’t it? sAt least grisham is off the table. now that he’s gone, let’s concentrate more on bellinger , tucker, and buxton. I do like duran and kwan! not my money!!

  14. When I have time, I’m going to work the trade simulator for a 3 way deal with Nationals, Yankees and Dodgers.

    Yanks get MacKenzie Gore, Dodgers get CJ Abrams, Dodgers move off of Rushing, Ryan, Sirota, Knack and someone else.

    Either a 3-way deal, or the Dodgers make the deal first and then flip Gore to replenish system.

    1. Wow! Thats a lot to give up for a career .717 OPS hitter. How about signing Verdugo and have him finally winning that batting title next year for us?

      1. First and foremost, because Abrams trade value is probably lower than it should be?

        Further, Because Abrams is better and younger and plays a key position?

        1. Oh. I see how my post could be miscontrued.

          To be clear the idea is in the last sentence. To spend that prospect capital for both Gore and Abrams and then move Abrams.

          1. Abrams is not a great defensive SS. Many evaluators believe his best long-term role may not be at shortstop — a move to second base or a less demanding defensive role might allow his offensive tools and speed to play up, while limiting defensive exposure.

    2. I hope you mean Ryan Ward and not River Ryan….
      I think that’s an overpay for Abrams. Mookie has proven himself to be a good SS. No reason to push him to 2B at this time, especially when we should find out how good Kim can be…

      The Angels trade for Grayson Rodriguez is interesting. A talented pitcher coming off injury–the Angels Minassian said its a gamble the Angels are willing to take…. When I make my mock trades, I tend to steer clear of guys coming off injury, such as Stone and River Ryan. I like both a lot, but I would be quicker to trade Stone because Ryan was so impressive in his brief run and does look like a potential closer to me. They appear to be Sheehan’s competition for sixth starter.
      Assuming the Twins want to cut payroll and will need pitching, here’s an ovepay for Buxton:
      Rushing as a ML-tested catcher with power, Zyhir Hope as the top prospect who could be billed as Buxton’s eventual heir,…. Gavin Stone , Landan Knack, Bobby Miller as the arms (who have limited opportunities with the Dodger)… The Twins might have a backup catcher to toss back.
      Just spitbaling….. The potential of a Teo-Buxton-Pages outfield seems like a worthy gamble. Relatively low compared to fat contracts Tucker and Belli are seeking. Those mega-contracts can work out–or they can get ugly like the ones for Baez, Bogaerts, Kris Bryant and especially Rendon.

  15. just keep sirota and rushing , leave mookie at shortstop. Sign the Wilson kid from the A’s when he becomes available.

  16. MLB Trade Rumors predicts that the Dodgers may non-tender the following pitchers:
    Evan Phillips
    Anthony Banda
    Brock Stewart

    I get Phillips – he won’t pitch most of the season. Banda is one of 6 LH relievers on the 40 man. Stewart is not expensive and he should be back soon.

    Some of these prophets are a little hazy.

  17. maybe wrobleski assumes banda’s role. Would hate to see phillips go. Stewart? replaceable, but he really never got to show the dodgers much of anything. probably if healthy would be a better option than trienan considering their age. The fairbanks mumblings are getting a little louder.

    Would the phillies consider trading Bryce Harper?? read somewhere there’s a small possibility of that, but not completely unrealistic. He’s not exactly thrilled with the GM’s analysis of him recently. Wouldn’t that be a big deal? Someone posted would the dodgers have any interest in harper. No, his outfielder days are over. he’s a first baseman/dh now. it would be something to see him in a yankee uniform!

    Don’t understand Baltimore. trading away a pitcher with 4 years of control for a one year of taylor ward. they still need starting pitching. All that young talent in Baltimore will go to waste! Shame!

    won’t it be just like AF to run the price up on bellinger and tucker and then trade for an outfielder! Speaking of outfielders. Ryan Ward is the new starting left fielder for the dodgers!yeah right. Is he really just trade bait? Ward in left. Teo in right. Pages in a body cast!! Alex Call? if he stays, he could be a good 4th outfielder. i like his ab’s. he should get more playing time with teo ‘s defense getting a little worse as time goes by. it ain’t the world series,but this is so much fun!

  18. FWIW, Dustin Nosler of DodgersDigest put out his offseason plan–and joins Mark on the Belli bandwagon, suggesting a six-year contract of about $157 million.

    He also recommends some head-scratchers, such as trading Rushing, Banda and others to target some obscure but allegedly promising young relevers, plus a new backup catchers and a young UT guy that seems pretty meh. He’d bring back both Kike and Rojas.

    The argument for Belli is easy to understand, Nosler suggests he’d handle RF, with Pages in CF and Teo in LF. I’f prefer Belli to Tucker, but not as much as a blockbuster for Buxton who, despite his injury history, has a higher upside than Tucker with a very affordable contract at $45m for 3 seasons. The money save could be applied to another OF ilke Bader (as Buxton insurance) as well as a top reliever, and perhaps Murakami or Okimoto.

  19. 1. If I agree with that scumbag, give me some medicine!
    2. The Dodgers are not trading Rushing. If there were any chance of that, they would not have traded Rortvedt.
    3. Not only does Rushing have prodigious power, but he is a good defensive catcher, and the Dodgers’ pitchers love to throw to him.
    4. Inexperience kept him off the playoff roster. Nothing else. He still has a bright future.
    5. Belli costs the Dodgers no draft picks or IBM.
    8. Buxton, like a leopard, does not change his spots. He will be injured over 50% of the time. HARD NO!
    9. Monty Hall is dead! 😉

    1. Take your meds. Mark. Nosler wouldn’t pay Belli as much as you would, but he wants Belli back too…
      Inexperience kept Rushing off the playoff roster? Did Roberts say that or is that your conjecture?
      Rushing caught plenty of games and handled the staff more often than Rortvedt had. I read that it was a bone bruise that kept Rushing off the playoff roster, but it sure wasn’t clear when the rosters were announced. It just seemed the Rortvedt was suddenly more trusted.
      I don’t expect the Dodgers to trade Rushing, but he is a backup with starter-level talent who hasn’t realy clicked on offense yet. He’s a good guy to have if Will Smith gets hurt or whenever he needs rest. There’s no reason to think Will Smith, World Series hero, will move to another position any time soon….. regardless of the prophecy in the Book of Moron.
      At any rate, the Dodgers have a great farm system loaded with prospects (sometiems called “trade chips”) who don’t want to be hoarded.. They want to get to the majors–and that can be very hard in the Dodger organization.

      Writing big checks is pretty easy for the Dodgers. At some point one might backfire. Well, I guess some have…we can count the $17 million for Conforto, the $13 million for Yates… and we are hoping the Tanner Scott will prove that big contract was worth it–but he just led the majors in blown saves. Giant checks for Tucker or Belli might pay off–and they might not.
      I am arguing that AF should show his old penny-pinching, small-ball savvy.
      Think of this: The AAV of Buxton’s contract is $2 million less than the $17 million Conforto got paid. Buxton ranked 9th in OPS for the season, between Corbin Carrol and Pete Alonso. Belli ranked 33rd in OPS among qualified players. Buzton’s injury risk can be mitigated by signing a free agnet like Bader as a 4th outfielder who could back up Buxton and also be Teo’s late inning defensive replacement.
      Does Belli even want to come back to LA? He’s found success with the Yankees. He hits well in that stadium and may not want to return to the place where he struggled so badly that he wound up being benched in the playoffs.

  20. From The Athletic:

    Let’s look at five potential trade partners for a Skubal deal should one come to pass this winter:

    Los Angeles Dodgers
    Potential trade return: RHP Emmet Sheehan, LHP Justin Wrobleski, LHP Jackson Ferris and OF Zyhir Hope
    The Dodgers already have four aces in their rotation and an exciting development project in Roki Sasaki. However, teams can never have enough starting pitching, so the Dodgers have no reason not to add another ace to the top of the rotation, especially when they can offer a competitive package and have the resources to keep him long-term, as well.

    Los Angeles could offer two major-league ready starting pitchers in Sheehan and Wrobleski, and a third pitcher in Ferris who’s getting closer to being major-league ready. Sheehan and Wrobleski have already cut their teeth at the major-league level, even getting important innings during the postseason. Sheehan was especially impressive with the Dodgers this year, putting up a 2.82 ERA in 73 1/3 innings during the regular season.

    Ferris should start next season in Triple A after posting a 3.62 ERA in 154 1/3 Double A innings the last two seasons. He and Hope were the return the Dodgers got from the Cubs in the deal that sent Michael Busch to Chicago. Ferris won’t turn 22 until January and has plus stuff but needs to work on his command.

    Hope has the highest ceiling among this group. He’s at least two years away from the major leagues, but he reached Double A at the end of the season and has above-average on-base skills to go along with a power-and-speed combination at the plate and a strong glove in center field.

    Another idea would be to substitute Tyler Glasnow for Sheehan in the deal. This would give the Tigers a top-of-the-rotation starter to replace Skubal and they would control Glasnow for three more years. Glasnow does not have a no-trade clause with the Dodgers and has $94 million remaining on his contract if the team-half of the 2028 mutual option is exercised.

    1. With all due respect, I don’t think this is remotely an option. We signed Snell to be a TOR LHSP and that’s still the plan. We have plenty of high end SPs and we need as much youth/depth that we can keep.

      1. Replacing Glasnow with Skubal is a substantial upgrade. I would do that trade just to gain a greater chance of winning 3 straight WS titles. This would certainly fit the “let’s be pigs” narrative of Andrew Friedman. After all, Skubal would become the de facto ACE of this already stacked pitching staff.

        If this trade were to materialize, an argument could be made for that rotation becoming one of the greatest of all time.

        1. Love Skubal, but the Dodgers would be giving up three pitchers and a top OF prospect in this scenario. Not an unfair price, really. But pitching depth has been vital to the team’s recent success.
          If the Dodgers acquired Skubal, it might take a $350-million contract to keep him on the roster long-term. The Dodgers wouldn’t think of him as a rental.

  21. why does everyone want to trade Dalton? Even if he is never the offensive player Will is, his defense and receiving skills are elite. Can’t replace him! his power is something else. he will hit, bank on it!

    looks like belli is becoming a hotter commodity than tucker! mets, blue jays,yankees,dodgers,giants,cubs all rumored to be in on him. The price may just go higher than the dodgers will go. It could bring the price on tucker down or maybe even make it higher!

    Brandon Lowe anyone? Rays are expected to make him available. Second baseman with power. interesting!

    1. Kind of a low OBP guy. Wish he were RHH. We could use someone who could convert to 3B after the 2026 season.

    2. Friedman is a finance guy. Rushing is an asset that cannot reach his market value playing behind Smith.

      1. I only want to trade Rushing if it can clearly benefit the starting lineup or rotation.
        I long suggested that Rushing, not Smith, should get some training at 3B as a possible successor to Max. Many catchers have proved adept at playing 3B. Right now, with Kike unsigned, Rushing is probably Freddie’s backup at 1B.
        The Dodgers are again talking about using Rushing in LF to get more ABs…. But they could have done that last season and never did.

        1. There’s a reason they never did! They’ve said they don’t see him as a viable lF, at least Gomes did.

  22. MLB announced new television and streaming deals with three major players that will reshape how fans watch games in 2026 and beyond. NBC will be part of the new arrangement and broadcast all four of the Wild Card Series when postseason play begins. Unfortunately, not every game will be on broadcast, as some games will find their way to Peacock (streaming) or the newly revived NBC Sports Network.

    1. yeah i saw that. it’s getting ridiculous! peacock, paramount, prime, fubo, apple, won’t be able to watch half of what we want pretty soon! When the ratings drop, they wonder why!

      1. This past post season saw a record viewers. The WS was the most watched in 34 years. As a result, baseball has the opportunity to build an expanded fans base. To achieve this, one would think you would want to make the games easily available to everyone. But no, short term profits rule.

  23. so if they trade dalton, one would think it’s for an established player or a very talented prospect. but who’s the backup catcher? if Smith goes down, they have to have someone capable on offense and defense!

    1. AF signed one catcher, Eliezer Alonzo to a minor league deal. He will no doubt start the year at OKC with Frankie Rodriguez being the other backstop on the team.

    2. There are a lot of capable, veteran backups floating around the majors and high minors. Defense is the priority with a backup catcher. They always find somebody.
      What happened to Chuckie Robinson? Chuckie, we hardly knew ye.

  24. And speaking of Bellinger…

    “Bellinger just had a strong 2025 campaign with the Yankees. He hit 29 home runs while only striking out 13.7% of the time. His .272/.334/.480 batting line translated to a wRC+ of 125. He stole 13 bases and got strong defensive grades, playing all three outfield spots as well as first base.”

    “There were some concerning elements under the hood. None of Bellinger’s 29 home runs went to the opposite field. He had a .302/.365/.544 slash and 152 wRC+ when playing at Yankee Stadium with its short porch in right field. He had a .241/.301/.414 line and 97 wRC+ on the road.”

    1. I’m coming around on at least the possibility of CB returning. I still think he whiffs in big moments and his main appeal is his financial contrast to Tucker.

      10y/$400m vs. 5y/$150m

      Even that would have to he heavily deferred.

      I think we can do better.

  26. OK – Forget Belli.

    Trade Sheehan for Wilyer Abreu. I would try Knack and Miller, but the Red Sox would want Sheehan… plus Sheehan went to college at BC.

    Abreu platoons in RF with Call. LH Abreu kills RH Pitchers. He has an .827 Career OPS against RHP. Alex Call has a .748 OPS against LHP.

    Book it!

    1. Ohtani DH
    2. Freeman 1B
    3. Smith C
    4. Muncy 3B
    5. Betts SS
    6. Pages CF
    7. Teoscar LF
    8. Abreu/Call RF
    9. Kim/Rojas 2B

    1. No, my wife makes the best turkey I have ever had, and if it were any better, it would be illegal.

      I will have a bunch of turkey, then go to sleep and wake up to a couple of turkey sandwiches.

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