It’s All Down to This

Posted By on March 17, 2026

I have been sick for a couple of days. I had a bug, but some of it was A-Fib. I am going to have another cardioversion shortly (just waiting for the call). My cardiologist is a friend, so he usually gets me in quickly. It’s always good for old guys to have a cardiologist as a friend. 😉 I keep mine on speed dial. This last cardioversion has lasted nearly 18 months. Anyway, I did not watch much of the games over the weekend, but here is the way I see things:

  • Santiago Espinal has earned his way to a roster spot. He started hot, and I doubted he could maintain it, but he did, and he deserves it. He will stay up until Edman or Kike is activated.
  • What should the Dodgers do with Blake Treinen? It looks to me like he can’t pitch anymore. He’s afraid to throw near the plate. He has no role on this team. Do they cut him now, or after he has blown several games? He has been a warrior. After missing all of 2023, he played in 2024 on a million-dollar contract. He made $8 Million in 2025, and the Dodgers awarded him $13.5 Million for this season. He is toast. Just get it over with.
  • Tibbs and Ehrhard both impressed and will be at OKC (I would assume), awaiting a call-up for an injury. If Pages were to go down, it would likely be Ehrhard. If the need is for a LH hitter, it would be JTIII.

Here’s my stab at the Opening Day 26-Man Roster:

  1. Ohtani
  2. Freeman
  3. Kim
  4. Espinol
  5. Betts
  6. Muncy
  7. Smith
  8. Rushing
  9. Call
  10. Pages
  11. Hernandez, T
  12. Tucker
  13. Rojas
  14. Yamamoto
  15. Glasnow
  16. Sheehan
  17. Wrobleski
  18. Diaz
  19. Scott
  20. Vesia
  21. Dreyer
  22. Casparius
  23. Klien
  24. Hurt

For the final two spots, there are Roki Sasaki, Blake Treinen, River Ryan, and Ryder Ryan. I know that River has been optioned, but that could change. I would keep the Ryan brothers and send Roki to OKC to work on his 3rd pitch. #ain’tnoprimadonnas

Get Better Soon, Bear!

I was just diagnosed with moderate Macular Degeneration, too. When you get as old as us and have seen so much shit, you get it. I have come to the conclusion that seeing too much shit caused MD. I currently do not need shots, however.

Thanks to My Wife of 29 Years…

For putting up with me. Someone (who shall remain Nameless) said, “I’m not sure either of you could have found anyone to put up with either of you.” That is likely true.

This article has 24 Comments

  1. Mark,did you read my post from Katie Woo about the Dodgers renaming the Dodger playing field,not the Stadium ,UNIQLO, a Japanese fashion Giant. What do you think?

    1. Yeah, well, it was going to happen. That’s a very creative way to get around changing the Stadium Name.

      1. I had never heard of them. Here’s what AI has to say:

        UNIQLO is a global clothing retailer known for clean, minimalist basics and surprisingly smart fabric tech. Think of it as the “Swiss Army knife” of your wardrobe—simple pieces that quietly do a lot.

        The quick story

        Founded in 1984 in Japan

        Parent company: Fast Retailing

        Founder: Tadashi Yanai

        Now one of the largest apparel brands in the world

        What makes UNIQLO… UNIQLO

        Basics done right: T-shirts, hoodies, jeans, outerwear—clean, no loud logos

        Affordable quality: Not luxury, but better-than-average fabrics for the price

        Fabric innovation (this is their secret sauce):

        HEATTECH → keeps you warm without bulk

        AIRism → breathable, moisture-wicking for hot weather

        Ultra Light Down → jackets that pack into a pouch like a burrito

        Global presence

        UNIQLO has stores all over:

        Japan (home base)

        United States (NYC, Chicago, etc.)

        Europe, Asia, and beyond

        Their vibe

        UNIQLO leans into what they call “LifeWear”—clothing designed for everyday life, not runway drama. It’s the anti-fashion-fashion brand: no shouting, just quietly reliable.

          1. I am not a hipster. 🙂

            LL Bean and Eddie Bauer are more my style. Also, consider how damn old I am.

  2. Sasaki and Treinen will be the final two on your list of the 26 man Opening Day Roster even though I agree Treinen should be released and RP E.Henriquez should replace him.

    1. Treinen looks done to me. It’s a question how long will the Dodgers put up with his non performances before they release him. He has been well rewarded for his gutsy performance in the 2024 World Series with a 2 year contract. Father time is undefeated and eventually catches up with all of us at some point.

    2. Agree with this

      & nice that our biggest debates are who plays 2B until Edman returns and the last couple spots on the pitching staff, for which there is heavy competition.

    2. Freeland is batting .118 with a .480 OPS this Spring. He is definitely Oklahoma City bound.

    3. Not with the spring Freeland had. BA isn’t everything but it counts when you’re BA is .118. Yikes! And Kim and Call are hitting over.400.Freeland needs some AA “SEASONING”. Too bad, a nice guy who could platoon with Max a few days to a week.

  5. News from Internet:

    Jesus Cano looks at Christian Zazueta ($$$$$)
    https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/christian-zazueta-top-dodgers-rhp-prospect-inspired-by-mexican-roots/

    Since joining the Dodgers, Zazueta has added 17 pounds to his now 6-foot-3 frame. That fastball that once barely hit 90 mph touched 98 this past year, and he has added a mid-80s changeup that has proven to be one of his best swing-and-miss offerings.
    With added strength, increased maturity and a deepened pitch mix, Zazueta now finds himself knocking on the door of the Dodgers’ top 10 prospects—a testament to how quickly his profile has shifted. The final step is sharpening a dependable third pitch as the missing piece that could transform loud potential into a complete arsenal.

    Fangraphs Catcher Power Rankings
    https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-positional-power-rankings-catcher/

    Dodgers pair at 10.

    Jack Harris now at the Caliornia Post looks at James Tibbs:
    https://nypost.com/2026/03/05/sports/dodgers-prospect-james-tibbs-iii-seeks-mlb-debut/

    At 23 years old, Tibbs is one of the youngest players in the Dodgers’ big-league camp. But he’s also among the most intriguing, entering play Thursday with a .304 batting average, two home runs and five RBIs in 10 Cactus League games.

    In a farm system loaded with outfield talent, he could be the first to break into the big leagues, as well.

    Geoff Pontes at BA put together a list of breakout prospects for 2026 ($$$$)
    https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/geoff-pontes-breakout-mlb-prospects-team-for-2026/

    Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers
    I like young power hitters who can manipulate the barrel and Morales falls into that category… After a strong debut in the Dominican Summer League, Morales came stateside and finished the season well, hitting .339/.420/.548 over his final 30 games at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga.

    Adam Serwinowski, LHP, Dodgers
    Serwinowski, a tall lefthander, joined the Dodgers in a three-team trade with the Reds and Rays in July 2025… Serwinowski works with a four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup while generating nearly seven feet of extension on average. He shows feel for spin and the ability to land his changeup, and his durability gives him a high probability to develop into a real rotation piece.

    An interesting top 20 Dodger prospect list:
    https://medium.com/@landon_bsbl/my-top-30-dodgers-prospects-759e3431616f

    Harlan at 10
    Nieves at 12!

    Fastball: 50/60 | Slider: 45/70 | Changeup: 40/50 | Command: 30/45 | FV: 45

    Jay Jaffe Chat
    https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jay-jaffe-fangraphs-chat-3-10-26/

    Oaktown Blues: Did you read Project Hail Mary? Are you excited for the movie?

    Jay Jaffe: I haven’t read it yet – because my wife got it for Christmas and I’m waiting for her to finish it to read it, but I’m really excited, I’ve read all of Weir’s other books and I’m hyped for the movie

    Baseball learner: Do you think Cal Raleigh is really the best catcher in baseball or was last year just a career year? Will Smith has been more consistent offensively over time to my eyes. Roger Maris hit 60 too, but didn’t have a Hall level career or that many great years afterwards

    Jay Jaffe: I love me some Will Smith but Raleigh is head and shoulders above him, both as a hitter and as a receiver. In Raleigh’s four full seasons, his worst showing (2022) was 4.2 WAR. Smith, over the same timeframe, has topped that twice, with a high of 4.6. Last year even while setting a personal best with a 153 wRC+, Smith came in at 4.1 WAR (and about -7 framing runs) to Raleigh’s 9.1.

    Baseball Prospectus Podcast, Five and Dive previewed the NL West
    https://www.baseballprospectus.com/podcasts/episode-526-2026-nl-west-preview/

    They like Ohtani and Sheehan, they think Freeman and Muncy are candidates to step back and Trey Miller and River Ryan as ones who could pop.

    Sonja Chen previews the Dodgers spring breakout roster:
    https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/dodgers-spring-breakout-roster-2026?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

    Zazueta’s stock rose quickly in the Dodgers’ farm system last year, when he was named the organization’s Branch Rickey Minor Leaguer Pitcher of the Year. He spent most of the season with Rancho Cucamonga, going 7-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 16 starts, before tossing a scoreless inning in his lone appearance with Great Lakes.

    Jesus Cano at BA ($$$$) has a list of Prospects facing a critical year.
    https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/30-mlb-prospects-facing-critical-seasons-in-2026/

    Mike Sirota, OF, Dodgers
    There’s an argument to be made that Sirota could be the Dodgers’ top prospect. He checks a lot of boxes—plus speed, solid defense, advanced swing decisions and the ability to really drive the ball when he connects. But like others on this list, durability became part of the story.

    Brandon Gawlowski Chat
    https://blogs.fangraphs.com/brendan-gawlowski-prospects-chat-3-10-26/

    Mario: how will all these LAD OF Prospects ever make the roster before Teoscar leaves in 2028?

    Brendan Gawlowski: Perhaps they’ll make someone else’s roster

    JJ Cooper at BA ($$$$$) names one (1) ingruiging prospect per team
    https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/intriguing-spring-training-performance-every-team/

    River Ryan, RHP
    … and he’s sitting 96-98 mph with a swing-and-miss 90-91 mph slider. That slider has generated eight whiffs in 14 swings.

  6. Tonight’s game is one of those you might need to write off if either pitcher is good.

    No Royals have ever faced Sasaki and only Teoscar has faced Falter.

  7. 9:05 PM ET

    Dodgers (93-69)
    Royals (82-80)

    SP Roki Sasaki R
    0-0 .00 ERA
    SP Bailey Falter L
    0-0 .00 ERA

    Confirmed Lineup
    CF Andy Pages R
    RF Kyle Tucker L
    1B S. Espinal R
    C D. Rushing L
    2B A. Freeland S
    3B Nick Senzel R
    LF J. Suwinski L
    SS Hyeseong Kim L
    DH Mike Sirota R

    94° Wind 6 mph Out

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