When I read about “WAR” and “dWAR” I’m reminded of a couple of songs from my past, “What a Wonderful World” by Art Garfunkel, and “War” by Edwin Starr, whose lyrics I butcher to get my mind around the discussion of the past several days:
“Don’t know much about sabemetrics
Don’t know much of analytics
Don’t know much about advanced statistics
I don’t know what dWAR is for
But I do know “one and one is two”
And if the Dodgers could just win the Series
What a wonderful, wonderful world this would be.”
WAR, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing . . . .
it ain’t nothing but a confusing stat
(WAR) friend only to the number crunchers
Oh, WAR it’s an enemy to many on this blog
The point of WAR blows my mind
WAR has caused unrest on this board
Within the community of Dodger lovers
As much as I have been involved with baseball during my life as a player and coach, and as much baseball as I have watched and listened to in my lifetime, I have come to realize, to quote Micky Mantle, “It’s unbelievable how much you don’t know about the game you’ve been playing your whole life.” If one as great as the Mick felt that way, certainly, I’m in no position to think I know more than those who devote their livelihood to the sport.
Therefore, in the Christmas spirit, I thought I would take a break from the “who should we trade for Lindor or Betts” discussion and whether or not the team, as it is presently made up, is good enough to win the World Series, and tell you about my favorite baseball books and movies. For those of you who are in need last-minute shopping ideas, this might be of some help.
My Favorite Books
1. Lost in the Sun, Roy Gleason’s Odyssey from Outfield to Battlefield, by Wally Wasinack, Mark Langill and Roy Gleason: This book chronicles the story of Roy Gleason, who remains the only US combat veteran and former Major League Baseball player to receive “Special Congressional Recognition” for being awarded a Purple Heart, a World Series Ring, and holding a “perfect” lifetime Major League batting average. He also remains the only professional baseball player who after first playing in the Major Leagues was later drafted into the US Army and sent to the front lines in the Vietnam War. Gleason was a tremendous player, with movie star looks who had his career derailed by the Vietnam War. This book sits atop of my list for 2 reasons, one having grown up during the Vietnam era and having been subjected to the draft (my draft number was 65), his recollections of those times back numerous memories that I had stored in the attic of mind. More importantly, Roy Gleason’s son was married to my secretary’s daughter, and for Christmas a few years back, she got me a copy of the book, a baseball, and a baseball card all autographed by Roy Gleason, which (other than pictures of the Pony Baseball teams I coached over the years and my sons) are my most treasured baseball memorabilia. It is an easy read, and I would highly recommend it. It has five stars on my rating scale.
2. We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, by Kadir Nelson: Using an “Everyman” player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through the decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. I have always been fascinated with the history and players of the Negro Leagues, and this book has satisfied that fascination. It’s very easy to read, and is one you can place on your coffee table for easy browsing. As an aside, one of my favorite Vin Scully stories is about a bet Whitey Herzog made with Satchel Paige. You can read about it here: https://www.truebluela.com/2015/5/13/8599021/vin‑scully‑satchel‑paige‑whitey‑herzog‑wild‑child
It has five stars on my rating scale.
3. The Boys of Summer, Roger Kahn: In this book, Roger Kahn relates some history of the Brooklyn Dodgers up to their victory in the 1955 World Series. He then tracks the lives of the players (Clem Labine, George Shuba, Carl Erskine, Andy Pafko, Joe Black, Preacher Roe, Pee Wee Reese, Carl Furillo, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, and Billy Cox) over the subsequent years as they aged. The title of the book is taken from a Dylan Thomas poem that describes “the boys of summer in their ruin” It is a book about America, about fathers and sons, prejudice and courage, triumph and disaster, told with warmth, humor, wit, candor, and love. It has five stars on my rating scale.
4. Brothers in Arms: Koufax, Kershaw, and the Dodgers’ Extraordinary Pitching Tradition, by Jon Weisman: In my opinion, Jon Weisman is the Vin Scully of Dodger Bloggers. When he regularly wrote on Dodger Thoughts, virtually everything he wrote was a masterpiece. I have read, and agree, that Jon Weisman’s writing is about the closest thing to a Vin Scully story. That is very evident in this book, as Weisman uniquely paints pictures of the pitchers, and the Dodgers that are very enriching and will give you tremendous insight into the rich Dodgers’ history. It also has a five stars on my rating scale.
5. The Last Innocents: The Collision of the Turbulent Sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers, by Michael Leahy: This book places the lives of seven baseball players, Maury Wills, Sandy Koufax, Wes Parker, Jeff Torborg, Dick Tracewski, Lou Johnson and Tommy Davis within the political and social maelstrom that was the era when the conformity of the 1950s gave way to demands for equality and rights in the 1960s. This is a very well written book that provides an outstanding history of the 1960s and of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with a wonderful insight into the culture of the time and of the players on the team, highlighting the uneasy relationship that existed between the players and the Dodgers’ front office. It has five stars on my rating scale.
6. The Soul of Baseball: A Road Trip Through Buck O’Neil’s America, by Joe Posnanski: Posnanski and the 94-year-old Buck O’Neil spend the 2005 baseball season touring the country in hopes of stirring up the love that first drew them to baseball. “This book is as much the story of Buck O’Neil as it is the story of baseball. In a time when disillusioned, steroid–shooting, money-hungry athletes define the sport, Buck O’Neil stands out as a man that truly played for the love of the game. Posnanski writes about that love and the one thing that O’Neil loved almost as much as baseball: jazz. It’s an endearing step back in time to the days when the crack of a bat and the smoky notes of a midnight jam session were the sounds that brought the most joy to a man’s heart.” Like with Weisman, most everything Posnanski writes is worth reading. It has five stars on my rating scale.
7. Only the Ball Was White: A History of Legendary Black Players and All‑Black Professional Teams, by Robert Peterson: If you love baseball history, this is a must-read. Peterson “tells the forgotten story of these excluded ballplayers, and gives them the recognition they were so long denied. Reconstructing the old Negro Leagues from contemporary sports publications, accounts of games in the black press, and through interviews with the men who actually played the game, Peterson brings to life the fascinating period that stretched from shortly after the Civil War to the signing of Jackie Robinson in 1947. We watch as the New York Black Yankees and the Philadelphia Crawfords take the field, look on as the East‑West All‑Star lineups are announced, and listen as the players themselves tell of the struggle and glory that was black baseball. In addition to these vivid accounts, Peterson includes yearly Negro League standings and an all‑time register of players and officials, making the book a treasure trove of baseball information and lore.” Rates 4 ½ stars.
8. The Best Team Money Can Buy: The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Wild Struggle to Build a Baseball Powerhouse, by Molly Knight: Knight tells the story of the Dodgers’ 2013 and 2014 seasons with detailed, previously unreported revelations. She shares a behind‑the‑scenes account of the astonishing sale of the Dodgers, as well as what the Dodgers actually knew in advance about rookie phenom and Cuban defector Yasiel Puig. We learn how close manager Don Mattingly was to losing his job during the 2013 season—and how the team turned around the season in the most remarkable fifty‑game stretch of any team since World War II. Knight also provides a rare glimpse into the in‑fighting and mistrust that derailed the team in 2014 and paints an intimate portrait of star pitcher Clayton Kershaw, including details about the record contract offer he turned down before accepting the richest contract any pitcher ever signed.“The bestselling, inside‑the‑clubhouse story of two tumultuous years when the Los Angeles Dodgers were re‑made from top to bottom, becoming the most talked‑about and most colorful team in baseball. “It’s as if Molly Knight ushers you behind the closed clubhouse doors.” (Buster Olney, ESPN) This book rates 4 stars.
9. Sandy Koufax, A Lefty’s Legacy, by Jane Leahy: What can I say, this book is about Sandy Koufax. It was written without Koufax’s involvement, so there is that. But it does give a good, albeit, sometimes disjointed look into this remarkable man and baseball player, It has four stars on my rating scale.
10. The Big Chair: The Smooth Hops and Bad Bounces from the Inside World of the Acclaimed Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager, by Ned Colletti and Joseph A. Reaves: This book is a behind-the scenes look at Ned Colletti’s career in baseball. I’ve never been a fan of Ned Colletti as a General Manager, however, this book makes for an interesting read. If you can get past the constant need for Colletti to pat himself on the back, the stories are entertaining and provide a bit of insight into the workings of a front-office. It has three stars on my rating scale.
My Favorite baseball movies:
1. The Sandlot (1993): Can there be any other? “Your killing me Smalls” will be quoted for years and years to come.
Ham: “Hey, you want a S’more?”
Smalls: “Some more what?”
Ham: “No, no. You want a S’more?”
Smalls: “I haven’t had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?”
Ham:
“You’re killing me, Smalls!”
2. Pride of the Yankees (1942): Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig! It can’t get better than that. It’s old and “hokey” by today’s standards of film making, but I love it, and still shed a tear during Gehrig’s farewell speech.
3. 42 (2013): The story of Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey’s efforts to integrate baseball. Well told and well acted.
4. Bull Durham (1988): I’m not a Kevin Costner fan (other than this and parts of “Tin Cup” most of his movies are awful), but I enjoyed Bull Durham, if just for these exchanges:
“Skip: “You guy, you lollygag the ball around the infield. You lollygag your way down to first. You lollygag in and out of the dugout. You know what that makes you? Larry?”
Larry: “Lollygaggers.”
Skip: “Lollygaggers! What’s our record, Larry?”
Larry: “Eight and 16.”
Skip: “Eight and 16. How’d we ever win eight?”
Larry: “It’s a miracle.”
Skip: “It’s a miracle. This is a simple game. You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. You got it. Now we have got a 12‑day road trip starting tomorrow. Bus leaves six in the morning.”
“Larry: “Excuse me, but what the hell’s going on out here?
Crash: “Well, Nuke’s scared because his eyelids are jammed and his old man’s here. We need a live … is it a live rooster?”
[Jose nods]
Crash: “We need a live rooster to take the curse off Jose’s glove and nobody seems to know what to get Millie or Jimmy for their wedding present. That about right? We’re dealing with a lot of s—.”
Larry: “Okay, well … candlesticks always make a nice gift, and uh, maybe you could find out where she’s registered and maybe a place‑setting or maybe a silverware pattern. Okay, let’s get two! Go get ‘em.”
5. 61* (2001): Great story directed by Billy Crystal about Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle as they battled to break Babe Ruth’s home run record.
6. Moneyball (2011): The story about sabermetrics and how it was employed by the Oakland A’s. You have to feel pretty good about yourself if they pick Brad Pitt to play your character. I enjoyed the interaction between Pitt and Jonah Matthews. Well acted and good story, whether you’re an “old school” baseball guy or a “nerd.”
7. Major League (1989): Ridiculously funny and irreverent. What more needs to be said. “Juuuuuuuuuust a bit outside.” “Let me think it over, will ya, Charlie? I’ve got a guy on the other line about some white walls. I’ll talk to you later.”
8. Trouble with the Curve (2012): Directed by Robert Lorenz, starring Clint Eastwood as an old baseball scout trying to prove his worth. Good old school baseball vs sabermetrics type story.
9. Bang the Drum Slowly (1973): Probably the best baseball tear-jerker, starring Robert de Niro as a dim-witted catcher who becomes terminally ill.
10. A League of Their Own (1992): A fantastic story of woman’s baseball during World War II. Stars Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosey O’Donnell, which is mostly known for this exchange:
“Jimmy Dugan: Evelyn, could you come here, you got a second? Which team do you play for?
Evelyn Gardner: Well, I’m a Peach.
Jimmy Dugan: Well I was just wonderin’ why you would throw home when we got a two‑run lead. You let the tying run get on second base and we lost the lead because of you. Start using your head. That’s the lump that’s three feet above your ass.
[Evelyn starts to cry]
Jimmy Dugan: Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There’s no crying! THERE’S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!
Doris Murphy: Why don’t you give her a break, Jimmy…
Jimmy Dugan: Oh, you zip it, Doris! Rogers Hornsby was my manager, and he called me a talking pile of pig…t. And that was when my parents drove all the way down from Michigan to see me play the game. And did I cry?
Evelyn Gardner: No, no, no.
Jimmy Dugan: Yeah! NO. And do you know why?
Evelyn Gardner: No…
Jimmy Dugan: Because there’s no crying in baseball. THERE’S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL! No crying!”
There are several other books and movies that came under consideration, but for today, these are my top ten.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, the happiest of Hannukahs and a healthy, happy and prosperous 2020. Let’s start the new decade with a World Series victory, shall we.
I think I posted this recently, but this is an independent film that I immensely enjoyed:
Well, it’s already started. The Friedman Bashers bashed him for signing Brandon McCarthy (age 31), Brett Anderson (age 27), and Scott Kazmir (age 32), and now they are bashing him for NOT SIGNING Hyun-Jin Ryu (age 33), who has an extensive injury history for ALMOST DOUBLE what AF paid any of the others.
You show what your colors are! Take that stupid stuff somewhere else. We know what you are: Irrational and delusional!
I am elated AF did not sign Ryu and unless he gets a real deal land in his lap, I think he will wait until the trade deadline and get someone like Mike Minor for half a season. Watch and learn, boys and girls!
Well Mark the only thing I’ve “learned” with AF so far is “watching” other teams celebrate the last game each year at Dodger Stadium! Tho,I agree with you, Ryu too much of a gamble for that money but thanks for the memories Hyun Jin!
It’s been 10 years since Cashman got the Yankees there.
Do you really want to make that comparison because it’s a losing argument!
A gamble? I think this says more about AF than it does about Ryu. He is ice cold when it comes to signing anyone worthy of a FA contract other than his own farm crops. This was the last straw for me. The bottom line is always money with this FO, not loyalty, not real baseball value, just money. Ryu made his point last season showing he was healthy and able to pitch with remarkable efficiency. We will see just what the Dodgers will do with a depleted rotation that will not be the quality as last year. Each year they seem to be less able to overcome their deficiencies except winning the division. This is a fact, too. Why ignore it? What happens when the farm begins to dry up? Does anyone think they will remain in the same position forever? Mark seems to think that way and yet we’ve seen the team slip from the WS title 3 years in a row. Now we’ve lost the #1 pitcher with the best ERA in the game. Do you think this loss is minor?
I would add three other books including Movers and Shakers Walter O’Malley and baseball’s westward expansion, City of Dreams and Forever Blue. Movies have to include Field of Dreams and The Natural. The original Jackie Robinson, starring Jackie as himself, is a must see.
WAR creates a safe space for anyone attempting to place data in a box in order to determine the value of players.
Two books I would recommend: “Campy – The two lives of Roy Campanella;” and, “The Last Good Season – Brooklyn, the Dodgers, and their final pennant race together.” “Campy” written by Neil Lanctot; “The Last Good Season” by Michael Shapiro. Both are excellent!
“The Man Who Brought The Dodgers Back To Brooklyn” by David Ritz (1981).
I surprised “The Natural” didn’t make your list. 42 is my all time favorite baseball movie. I absolutely loved “The Big Chair”. The best part is when Ned told Tommy that Frank was a Giants fan and Tommy’s reaction to it. Tommy and Jackie are two of the best characters to even be around the game and Jackie as to be one of the best human beings to ever walk the earth. He was also a hell of a ball player.
I’ll miss Ryu, but I hate it when guys go to some inferior team as a money grab. Moving on…
The rotation is a big conundrum for me. May, Gonso and Urias are undeniably talented, I would hate to block them for a 33 YO Vet like Ryu on a 4 year deal. On the flip side, I can’t say definitively that they’ll be ready to go 6-7 innings, day in and day out. Judging by AF’s recent depth of Starting Pitchers, I would think we’re gonna have some sort of addition to the staff before the season begins.
Do you think there’s a better chance that we sign a High Upside guy like Tijuan Walker before the season begins, or pick up rotation depth at the deadline? What is more beneficial for the team?
My favorite non baseball book – WAR and Peace, Leo Tolstoy.
$20M in today’s market is not a money grab by Ryu. Are you a communist like Bumsrap? This is a free market economy. How can you pin something like this on Ryu who has been as loyal a player as anyone? Look no further than AF for the reason they didn’t sign him. They want to waste millions on Hill who has real health problems who has not even played much! Sorry, you are seeing a weak FO in action. Believe your eyes.
Jeff, someone hacked your account. I am sure you would not say something that dumb.
I can’t fault the Dodgers for letting Ryu go. He is the old and infirm. Also, they know more about his health than anyone. The fact that they didn’t resign him speaks volumes about what they think of his health.
My beef is that they haven’t (yet) done anything to bolster the rotation. For better or worse, Ryu was their best pitcher last season and they haven’t replaced his production.
For movies, you cant leave out The Rookie, which happened to be based on the true story of James Morris.
For books, one of the best is Peter Hollenbeck’s Bums.
Congrats to Hyun-Jin Ryu – may you pitch well for the entire contract and prosper. Congrats to Friedman and Dodgers for not making that crazy offer.
I have read 6 of the ten books:
1. Lost in the Sun – Outstanding book
2. Boys of Summer
3. Brothers in Arms
4. The Last Innocents
5. The Best Team Money Can Buy
6. The Big Chair
Other than your #1, my other two favorites of that list were Boys of Summer and The Best Team Money Can Buy. I have to admit that your description of the Big Chair was spot on. It had some great inside stories, but Ned sure does like to write about himself. Not a great literary expose’ but it was very enjoyable.
I have watched all ten of your movies, but I have more issues with the movie list than the book list. I did not enjoy The Sandlot (and I know I am in the minority). Bull Durham is far and away my favorite baseball movie. Pride of the Yankees is a great movie; not just as a baseball movie. On your list, Bank the Drums Slowly is tremendous, A League of Their Own and Major League were great fun baseball movies. I saw 42 once, and while I loved Jackie Robinson, the story was much better than the movie for me. I preferred The Jackie Robinson Story. starring Jackie Robinson. I did not like Money Ball. The book was much better.
My favorite movie that you did not list is The Natural.
Unlike 2D2, I am a big Kevin Costner fan. A Field of Dreams is on my Top 5 baseball movies list. Another Kevin Costner movie that is one of my top baseball movies is “For Love of the Game”. How do you not love the Vin Scully call of the game throughout the movie, and then the classic line…”The cathedral that is Yankee Stadium belongs to a Chapel” ?Okay, Kelly Preston didn’t hurt, and Billy Chapel meeting with Kelly’s daughter at USC, at a spot I remember well. Okay I am a sucker for baseball, Kelly Preston, and USC.
Other favorite baseball movies:
Eight Men Out – 1919 Black Sox
Don’t Look Back – Satchel Paige
The Rookie
Fear Strikes Out – Jimmy Piersall
Bad News Bears
As to Kevin Costner, I met him when he was participating in a celebrity pro/am golf tournament in Palm Springs many years ago(I purchased a ticket and followed his foursome and he spoke with me a couple of times) and he seemed a very fun man who you would love to kick it with in a backyard BBQ.
I think it’s just a matter of preferences. I’m told that some people like brussel sprouts and pea soup, I don’t. Although I can tolerate brussel sprouts if they are wrapped in bacon and smothered in garlic. Pea soup on the other hand is never tolerable. But then I like sauerkraut, beets and asparagus, and others don’t care for them at all. I enjoy Costner’s sports movies, but not his non-sports movies. Field of Dreams and For the Love of the Game just didn’t grab me like the the films I’ve listed.
That was awesome 2D2. I loved the parody on WAR and all of the books sound like interesting reads and I hope to get order some of them especially The Boys Of Summer, Brothers In Arms, The Soul Of Baseball to name a few. I own and have read The Big Chair. I, too, have never been a big fan of Colletti as A GM, but it was interesting to read his experiences.
I have also have read Jay Johnstone’s books, Over The Edge and Temporary Insanity, which are a light read, not too serious and still crack me up at times. I read them when I am feeling down and need a good laugh to cheer myself up. Thank you for the information and Merry Christmas to you and a healthy good year ahead
The movie,”Kill The Umpire” with William Bendix, gave me the brilliant idea of traveling from Los Angeles to Tampa/St. Pete and enrolling at the Umpire Academy sometime in the early-mid ’70s. I believe it was run by Bill McKinley, with young umps like Eric Gregg and Rich Garcia members of the instruction team.
For the purposes of this article I decided to cap my lists at 10. In actuality, there was very little difference between 8-15 in my mind. I admit that I choked on the original Jackie Robinson movie. It should have made the list. Eight Men Out, The Natural and Don’t Look Back we’re in the next 5.
Sandlot was on top, mainly, because it reminds me of times with my sons, as I most always watched it with them.
Another book that I enjoyed was Ball Four. I have not read Bums or Campy, but will add them to my read list
Ball Four was a great book.
Can someone who likes the WAR stat explain to me why Hernandez had a better WAR (1.5) than Beaty(0.3) and about the same WAR as Will Smith(1.6) and why Seager(4.0) had a better WAR than Turner, Pederson, Verdugo?
WAR is a very flawed stat.
WAR is a very flawed stat.
WAR is also the ONLY single stat that you can use to judge a player’s value and get a pretty accurate overview of that player. Yes, it is not perfect, but it tells a whole lot more than any other SINGLE stat. However, some people lose their minds because it is not perfect.
WAR encompasses a lot of details, including what position you play, clutch hitting, and a whole bunch of other metrics.
Kike did have some very ky hits nd he grades excellent at just about every position, so it;s easy to see how he grades higher than Beaty. It’s weighted so that with 414 AB’s like Kike had, he would automatically be higher than Beaty’s 212 AB’s or Smith’s 170 AB, although Smiths HR’s drove his WAR. Seager drove in 20 more runs than Turner and had 20 more doubles, while playing a more prominant position.
I am not saying to just rely on WAR, but it is a very good stat in most cases.
I suggest you check out Fangraphs explanation of its WAR calculation. They do an excellent job of pointing out how WAR is calculated, its limitations, placing too much emphasis on one stat without looking at others, etc. The article is well worth the time to read by fans who want to more about the stat.
We could all add to the list with our favorites. Great job 2D2. A lot of work went into that.
A couple of other books that come to mind that are favorites of mine. Not too deep but books I enjoyed.
Roy Campanella: “It’s Good to be Alive”
Bob Welch: “Five O’Clock Comes Early”
Duke Snider: “The Duke of Flatbush”
Jackie Robinson:”Baseball’s Great Experiment”
Peter Golenboch: “Bums”
Another good one…Five O’clock Comes Early. I was a big Bob Welch fan, so it was a must read for me. It was also helpful in that while I was not an alcoholic, I could see myself becoming one. Right after I read the book, one of my close friends joined AA and I went to a couple of meetings with him for support, and stopped drinking for a long time.
Another really good book that I had forgotten about. I was a huge Bob Welch fan, his battles with Reggie Jackson were epic! Five O’Clock Comes early is a very good book!
Catcher in the Wry by Bob Uecker!
Grand Slam by Denny’s.
My neighbor just rang our doorbell and handed me homemade warm biscuits and jam. Daylight is now pushing darkness back. Is Betts next?
A few more good reads
Lords of The Realm by John Helyar
Baseball in The Garden of Eden by John Thorn
Bums by Peter Golenbock
For those of you that enjoy reading of the Dodgers of the past – here’s a wonderful article on Sandy Amoros written by Evan Bladh: https://www.thinkbluela.com/2019/12/sandy-amoros-gone-but-never-forgotten/ Amoros is mostly known for “the Catch” in the 1955 World Series, which is probably the greatest defensive play in Dodger history.
No argument from me, but the Al Gionfrido catch in the 1947 World Series was right there, but it did not include the double play, or result in WS championship
I agree Gionfrido’s catch was amazing
The off-season has certainly not shown any evidence of “we are going to be aggressive” or “We are going to have a big turnover in players” to date, has it?
I wish Ryu well in Canada. I would not have signed him for 4 years and $80 million. Primarily, because of his injury history and I’m not convinced that I would be getting the early season Ryu or the one who struggled a bit in August and September. What if the all-star version of Stripling returns. Would that help us forget Ryu?
On the Dodgers website, here is the depth chart:
ROTATION
1. C. Kershaw
2. W. Buehler
3. K. Maeda
4. J. Urias
Next, are May, Stripling and Gonsolin.
I say, let’s start the season with that.
Here’s how our starters are ranked in MLB:
#10 Kershaw
#13 Buehler
#64 Maeda
#115 Stripling
Now that Ryu is gone, all the more important we sign Dick Mountain even if he is only good for 1/2 a year. He was(is) a favorite of mine.
There is a chance that such a rotation would fail to be successful, and the Dodgers would not even win the division. You are counting on two pitchers who have never proven their ability to pitch successfully in an entire season, much less get through one; and another one who is better out of the bullpen, and who tires late in the year. This sort of reminds me of the Dodgers of ’67 and ’68,. which still had Drysdale, had Sutton, and then some touted young pitchers who could not do the job. Those teams had little offense, so it is different. But either this is going to work out splendidly, vindicating those who have argued against us paying large contracts to free agent pitchers, even our own, or it is going to mark a downturn in Dodgers’ fortunes (figuratively, of course; the owners make even more money with the reductions in payroll).
I will state now that I think this is not good, that we do not have the kind of pitching staff which will win a title, or maybe even seriously compete for one. So we’ll see how it turns out. If we had a great bullpen, maybe we could get away with using several pitchers who will probably pitch five innings or so a game, but our bullpen remains a major question mark, without even one reliever who had a good season last year. I don’t think that the owners and front office are nearly as concerned about a title as the fans are, and I know that I’ve said that many times here, and the owners and front office seem intent on making that even more clear each day of the offseason.
While I’m not necessarily afraid of the kids ability to perform, I have to believe that something will happen between now and the start of Spring Training to change the rotation.
Yeah, but the ’68-69 Dodgers had the likes of Paul Popovich, Bob Bailey and Zoilo Versalles contributing to a team batting average of .239 in ’68. I don’t see the 2020 Dodgers hitting that poorly!
Not sure of the exact title, but “The catcher was a spy” gave a different baseball slant for a movie.
Once a bum, Always a Dodger… Don Drysdale.
I live for this – Tommy
CARL ERSKINE’S TALES FROM THE DODGER DUGOUT
Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big – Jose Canseco
Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports – Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams
We need to tag May and Gray as untouchable. They will be in the rotation 2021 as Buhler, May, Urias, Gray, Kershaw.
I agree with 59inarow, and I think that “The Natural” was the best sports movie ever made. Not the book, but the movie, which turned it into a mythical battle between good and evil, where good won. This film is underrated, some think that the climactic scene was overdone, but it fit perfectly into the context. And the acting, from Redford to Darren McGavin, Robert Prosky, Barbara Hershey,, Kim Basinger, Glenn Close, was excellent. A virtually perfect movie about sports as mythology and as American legend.
As to books, I loved the John R. Tunis baseball novels, which actually featured a fictional version of the ’40’s Dodgers, but with some of the players pretty much resembling their real-life counterparts. What a great writer of sports stories he was. Also,, Duane Decker’s baseball novels, featuring the fictional Blue Sox. Whether out of expedience or as a game, when Decker would have a chapter which featured an important game, he would construct a lineup for the opposing team which was the actual lineup of a real AL team, with the names altered. A lot of fun when I was just learning about the various players , and starting to collect baseball cards.
As to nonfiction, I loved the books of Roger Angell, starting with “The Summer Game.” What a wonderful and humane writer. Roger Kahn’s “The Boys of Summer, mentioned above, is also great. I read a fine book a year or two ago about the “Gashouse Gang” of the Cardinals in the ’30’s, a time and team which my grandmother from St. Louis was very proud of. Also a book about 1880’s baseball, and Hoss Radbourne, who won a whole bunch of games in one season for the White Sox. The book was a great description of how baseball was played back then. Also, “Crazy ’08,” all about the amazing 1908 season, the battle between the Cubs and Giants, with a lot of color about that period in America. I read a biography of Tris Speaker not too long ago, which was very good. Also, a rather famous biography of Ty Cobb which was made into a movie with Tommy Lee Jones. As a boy, I liked Jim Brosnan’s two nonfiction books, particularly the first one about the Reds circa 1959 or so. The second one I did not like so much because it recounted the Reds beating out the Dodgers in 1961.
I liked “Veeck, as in Wreck,” all about the amazing impresario and owner Bill Veeck, written by him. I l also liked Golenbock’s “Bums,” mentioned above. I guess I prefer the stories of the older days of baseball, before immense salaries, free agency, wild cards. It may not have been as fair, but it was colorful, more consistent, and there was something appealing about the players often taking summer jobs and taking the bus with the fans. In those days, winning a pennant, beating all of the other teams in your league, all or nothing, was something very special. Virtually all of the great baseball novels feature the tension and drama of a pennant race. That is almost all gone; winning a five-team division where every other team is under .500, and then having to play a wild card team in best of five, might make a lot of money for the networks, but it belies the nature of baseball, which is the long season slowly leading to an ending which consummates what came before it.
My favorite “sports” (non baseball) movies – Hoosiers, followed by Miracle on Ice. Baseball – Bull Durham, followed by The Sandlot
I love Hoosiers as well. It ranks as my all-time favorite sports movie.
Eight Men Out and the Natural remain favorites. My favorite scene comes from Major Leagues. Game number one, the season opener, and Bob Uecker is in the press box, at the mic and he’s already pouring up a nice big tumbler from his 5th of Jack Daniels while calling the action. I still laugh just thinking about that scene.
Rich Hill arrested. Stupid Pats fans….
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bostonglobe.com/2019/12/23/metro/major-league-pitcher-rich-hill-wife-arrested-outside-gillette-stadium-before-pats-game-saturday/%3foutputType=amp
comical
I don’t even know, but I am sure this is what happened:
Mrs. Hill had a little too much to drink, was slightly intoxicated and pissed-off she couldn’t get the big bag in. She got belligerent and the cops cuffed her and Dick Mountain took exception to what was happening as most husbands would do. There’s nothing to see here, folks… move on!
Rich Hill: Come to LA… one more season!
Not listed so far, and 3 of my fave baseball/sports related movies:
1) Naked Gun (yes, it’s not all baseball, but the entire scene at Dodger Stadium is just brilliant)
2) Rookie of the Year: so goofy it’s funny, but I’m sure all of us as 10 year old kids dreamt of being in the bigs at that time.
3) Not baseball, but Little Giants was so good and so well done!
Molly Knight’s take on the Dodgers losing Ryu:
https://theathletic.com/1484241/2019/12/23/giving-hyun-jin-ryu-the-sendoff-he-deserves-as-a-most-beloved-dodger/
I didn’t know this:
“In 740 innings pitched for the Dodgers over the last seven seasons, Ryu posted a 2.98 ERA. Do you know how crazy great that is? He is tied for fourth all time in ERA+ in Dodgers history, behind only Clayton Kershaw, Kevin Brown and Sandy Koufax. (His 129+ is even higher than Don Drysdale’s 121+).
According to the Baseball Reference Player Index, since 1978 only four pitchers with at least 100 starts have posted career ERAs lower than 3.00. They are:
Clayton Kershaw 2.44
Jacob deGrom 2.62
Pedro Martinez 2.93
Hyun-Jin Ryu 2.98”
I’ll miss Ryu, but the Dodgers know his arm better than anyone. If he was worth it Friedman would’ve signed him.
Hopefully they won’t rhu the day they didn’t re-sign him.
You guys posting links to The Athletic, I don’t know if you all know it or not, but those links lead to three or four lines of the story, then you have to purchase or start a Free Trial to see the rest of it. I’ve never purchased anything like that because everything anyone publishes makes its way to general knowledge pretty soon anyway… That makes me “patient”… Or is that “cheap”?
Maybe a bit of both, however….The Athletic is worth the money, in my opinion.
Agreed
I ditched my subscription to ESPN for the Athletic and it was worth every penny.
I signed up this year at the recommendation of many on this site. I am not disappointed. It’s definitely worth it to me.
Brutus – I second what rudybird, Jon and 59inarow say. The Athletic is worth the money spent!
What, no Kazmir, McCarthy, or Anderson on that list Rick?
May the joy of the holiday season be shared by you and those close to you. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, etc to all my Dodger Talk friends.
Ty Cobb – A Terrible Beauty, by Charles Leerhsen, is a great read. Everything you thought you knew about Cobb was absolutely false. He was a completely misunderstood man. Al Stump was a liar and he took down the legend in an unjust way that completely destroyed his reputation. Ken Burns wasn’t far behind Stump either, Leerhsen did amazing research and explained Cobb with facts that exposed the lies and fraud that has tarnished his legacy. Yes, he was controversial, but not nearly what we believed to be true.