1 + 2 = 6
The Dodgers will pay Tanner Scott and Edwin Diaz a COMBINED $142 million for much less production unless they suddenly turn into Eric Gagne. Edwin Diaz and Tanner Scott (to say nothing of Kyle Tucker) are a testament to what happens when you say, "Let's be pigs!"
That's evidently the new math. No Dodgers not named Teoscar or Max got any hits, and Teoscar got 2, while Max got 1, but somehow (6 Walks, 2 Errors) that adds up to 6 runs! Go figure! I'll take it. Shohei somehow can't jump out of a boat and hit water right about now.
Emmet Sheehan looked dominant, and Evan Phillips has the closer's job squarely within his sights. Evan Phillips is a testament to the genius of Andrew Friedman, who grabbed him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays. To date, Phillips has earned $17, 900,000 in total. He has 17 wins as a Dodger and 46 saves to show for it.
The Dodgers will pay Tanner Scott and Edwin Diaz a COMBINED $142 million for much less production unless they suddenly turn into Eric Gagne. Edwin Diaz and Tanner Scott (to say nothing of Kyle Tucker) are a testament to what happens when you say, "Let's be pigs!" As smart as he is... Andrew is not perfect! "Let's be pigs" was an unfortunate choice of words.
In case you were living under a rock, after the 2020 World Series, Andrew Friedman famously said, “Let’s be pigs.”
Apparently somebody forgot to explain that being a pig meant hogging championships, not wallowing around in a trough full of bad contracts.
Tanner Scott. Edwin Díaz. Kyle Tucker.
There’s aggressive. There’s bold. Then there’s spending like a drunken sailor.
And then there’s backing a Brinks truck up to the free-agent market, dumping the cash on the sidewalk, and yelling, “OINK! OINK!”
Maybe it’s time for a new organizational philosophy:
“Let’s be smart again.”
Friedman wanted pigs. What he needed were snipers! There's a bunch of 'em Down on the Farm.
Speaking of the Farm: Jeff is on Vacation (I hope). Yesterday was a busy day - we hosted our Annual US Water Systems Friends and Family Party, and I cooked all the Burgers, Brats, and Dogs. It was a great day! Here's my (AI-assisted) Down on the Farm Report:
There were no Minor League Games... Yesterday!
Report over... man, that was easy!
The Brewers are still two games up on the Dodgers in the win column, while the Dodgers are up two on the Braves. Will Smith should be rounding into form soon. Alonzo is just up to make sure he ramps up slowly. At some point, it will likely be Smith and Feduccia as catchers. Rushing seems to me to be headed for surgery... unless Shohei goes to LF and Rushing DHs, I can't see carrying a guy who can only pinch-hit. There will still be some surprises... watch and see!
Discussion (75)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Money is not a factor in our decision-making.
It's like ordering anything off the menu: no guarantee you're going to like it but cost isn't an issue.
Sheehan was excellent throwing strike after strike. He was a different pitcher after being sent down to Oklahoma City. My prediction is he will be a better pitcher overall than River Ryan. Detroit took the wrong pitcher. Doc said after the game he will start against the Marlins this coming Sunday.
Philips was lights out touching 99mph to close out the game. Nice win overall for scoring 6 runs on only 3 hits with Teo having two of them with his game changing 3 run home run.
FanGraphs has moved the Dodgers' chances of winning one of the two National League playoff byes to 91.2% after last night's win and the Braves' chances down to 17.9% after their loss. This fluctuates everyday ,but based on our remaining schedules, we have the better chance.
We didn't know what Pages was going to be when Tucker was signed
The Ohtani factor is the main reason that the Dodgers go overboard on their decisions on the roster, some good, and more not so good. When he took salary deferrals each year, he was promised to use his low yearly annual salary to put the BEST team on the field as possible. Most of them have NOT worked out thus far. Personally, I DON'T care what they spend because they are within the current rules as long as we try to win. The attendance will be over 4 million again this year and with all the sponsorships Ohtani brings in, their revenue is over a billion dollars. They have multi-million- and billion-dollar owners who put the emphasis on winning. I've made the choice NOT to attend any games because of the cost and would rather watch a game on TV in the comfort of my home but by the attendance figures, that doesn't seem to be the case for others. We all have choices in life.
Emmit didn’t look like the same guy last night. Looked like a #2 or a #3 starter. The minors were berry berry good for him! Maybe Ohtani could use a quick trip down? Just kidding! But maybe Teo should share his resurgence info with Ohtani and Tucker! It’s hard to believe,, the Dodgers with some help from the Cubs could be in the number one spot in a couple of days! As bad as they have been over the past few weeks, they could still get the one seed. AMAZING! After hearing Joe Davis talk about Alex Call saying he feels like he could be a 20 plus homer guy if he played regularly, I wonder why he isn’t playing more. I guess a regular daily diet of 60 million dollars leaves no room in the belly for Call! Well it’s 11 am here in southwest Virginia. I’m still recovering from old men’s basketball last night! 2 hours of half court ball! And I’m 68 and not even in the top 5 in age! Preacher Tom is 76 and still going strong! Our youngest is 53. 15 of us play twice a week. It’s very physical and competitive. Not always pretty, but it sure is fun! Kinda like watching the Dodgers!
Update above!
Katie Woo got Friedman and Robert's on the record with regard to Rushing's go-forward role, why Freeland and the search for RH power ($$$$)
Open on www.nytimes.comhttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7557826/2026/09/02/dodgers-roster-call-ups-takeaways/?unlocked_article_code=1._lA.LDsN.A2Y6iVVc52NB&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-shareSheehan was impressive. And now that Shohei won't be pitching, Sheehan has a decent shot at making the postseason roster. I'm guessing that October rotation will feature Yamamoto, Snell, Skubal, Glasnow... backed up by Sheehan, Scott, Phillips, Sasaki, Vesia, Dreyer, Treinen, Henriquez. Wrobleski? Not great lately, so he might be pitching himself out of contention. Edwin Díaz and Bubic are possibilities as they recover from injuries. Lauer seems very unlikely. Who am I forgetting?
"The Dodgers will pay Tanner Scott and Edwin Diaz a COMBINED $142 million for much less production unless they suddenly turn into Eric Gagne. Edwin Diaz and Tanner Scott (to say nothing of Kyle Tucker) are a testament to what happens when you say, "Let's be pigs!""
No. It's a testament to what can happen when a team signs ANY free agent.
Sometimes they work out better than expected (very rare). Sometimes they work out as expected (hopefully). Sometimes the don't work out as expected (pretty common).
I'd say signing a high leverage relief pitcher is probably more high risk. They're fickle, you know.
But risk if a part of any signing. Look at Harrison Bader.
If there was any FA on the market last year who could have fulfilled the Dodger's outfield need and was considered a safe, low risk signing, it was Bader. Have you seen his stats? His WAR? The Giants aren't even paying him because he was involved in some drunken scooter accident at 2:00 am where he was leaving a bar ran into a fire truck. Brilliant!
I could go down a list. Dante Bichette's kid? How's he doing? Vlad? Juan Soto? .... and on and on. MLB is littered with FA signings who aren't living up to expectations.
Signing or trading for a player assumes risk. It's been this way since the beginning of baseball.
Do you want the Dodgers to win a third WS in a row? Yes or No? It's that simple.
If your answer is yes, then you're going to want to assume FA risk and be piggish to increase the chances of that happening. It's that simple.
What's the alternative? You want the Dodgers to platoon some Alex Calls and some Thomases and whoever else is kicking around at AAA? Maybe throw JDP or Sirota out there straight out of AA? Have a bunch of Will Kleins in the bullpen? Yeah, sure! No risk in doing that at all!
Did those signings at the time increase the chances of the Dodgers winning a third WS in a row over the alternatives AT THE TIME? It's that simple.
And Mark has reduced Tucker and Diaz not performing into some axiomatic conditional statement:
"Edwin Diaz and Tanner Scott (to say nothing of Kyle Tucker) are a testament to what happens when you say, "Let's be pigs!"" Which can be reduced to: "IF the Dodgers are pigs and sign expensive free agents, THEN they will get poor performances like Diaz and Tucker."
That's not true and pretty silly.
(No AI)
Let’s be pigs. Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, Skubal, Betts, Freeman. Back to back WS championships. Going for a three peat! Thank you AF and Dodger ownership! No better time to be a Dodger fan!
09/07/26 Los Angeles Dodgers sent CF Alek Thomas outright to Oklahoma City Comets.
10:10 PM ET
Reds (69-75) Dodgers (87-57)
SP Nick Lodolo L 3-3 5.08 ERA SP Tarik Skubal L 8-7 2.86 ERA
Confirmed Lineup CF Tommy Edman S SS Mookie Betts R C Will Smith R DH F. Freeman L RF T. Hernandez R 2B Miguel Rojas R LF Alex Call R 3B Max Muncy L 1B E. Hernandez R
87° Wind 7 mph L-R LINE LAD -316
NO Ohtani
I have read many comments today:
The Ohtani factor is the main reason that the Dodgers go overboard on their decisions on the roster, some good, and more not so good.
Did those signings at the time increase the chances of the Dodgers winning a third WS in a row over the alternatives AT THE TIME? It's that simple.
Money is not a factor in our decision-making. It's like ordering anything off the menu: no guarantee you're going to like it but cost isn't an issue.
Let’s be pigs. Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, Skubal, Betts, Freeman. Back to back WS championships. Going for a three peat! Thank you AF and Dodger ownership! No better time to be a Dodger fan!
Those are all quotes from many of you.
I have been... and still am a huge proponent of Andrew Friedman. I have always been suspicious of Mark Walter... and for good reason. He is now being investigated by the DOJ for failing to report a measly $20 Billion of loans connected to the Dodgers.
It's premature to say it, but I think he will likely be stripped of control of the team... maybe worse!
I have followed Andrew Friedman's entire career. Signing Tucker, Diaz and Scott are not his moves. Someone pressured him into it. Trading for Skubal is an AF move!
Emmet Sheehan was terrific last night. A couple more outings like that might earn him a spot in the BP for the playoffs.
How can anyone explain Teo's turnaround the past few games. Going from WTF, effortless, and wasted ABs to what he is doing now. Making contact with early in the zone pitches has certainly made a difference. When he was getting behind by missing center cut pitches it was like he gave up the AB. Pitchers were throwing out of the hand balls that ended in the dirt and two feet outside. Let's hope he can keep up this mindset through October.
The offense is still in a funk even with Teo, Edmond, Betts, and Max doing better. With their weak schedule it's a great chance to get Smith, Freddie, Tucker, and on his return Pages productive. Put Ohtani on the IL and get him right or another WS win will be difficult challenge. Let were doing OK in his recent absence.
Carry on.
I think the calendar turned and the Dodgers realized the postseason was a few weeks away.
What happens next is yet to be written.
Morales is a stone cold killer. His HR today--wow.
I got Two Press Passes to the Loons vs. the Dayton Dragons for Thursday and Friday. They were sold out, so I cashed in a favor... Dayton is only 90 minutes from where I live. My son-in-law is usually my cameraman, but I don't know if he can go on Friday...
My goodness! What an awful pitch to Del la Cruz. Skubal needs to be better! Mind boggling. Shelton and Alcarez not starting till after 11 pm. Ridiculous!