We were considering buying a condo at Vero Beach about eighteen years ago. It’s a good thing we didn’t, as the Dodgers moved to Arizona. That was our only reason to consider Vero Beach. Well, that was a dope-fiend idea that I had a long time ago… and I had to abandon it. You see, twenty years ago, US Water Systems was in its infancy… and I had to focus on it year-round. In 2007, US Water Systems was a $2 Million Dollar (per year) Local Indianapolis Water Treatment Company with eight employees.
It was in 2007 that I decided to change our business model, and when I arrived home at night, typically after working twelve hours, I started designing a website that had a shopping cart where you could buy any type of water treatment equipment. I often worked until 2-3 AM on this horrible website. Let me assure you that I was not, and am not, a web designer. But one day, when it was about done. We put $500 into Yahoo at 11:00 AM (they were the big search engine then), and we got our first order from Morristown, NJ, at 11:21. We did $2,450.00 that day! Eighteen years later, we have 30X’ed our sales.
I am now the chairman, my son is the CEO, and my nephew is the VP of Sales. They are both so much smarter than me, and with my son being 25 and my nephew 38, we will be in excellent hands for a long time. We have approximately 80 employees, a 100,000 sq/ft facility, and no debt! Why am I telling you this? Well, this year was the first time I could get away to Spring Training for over a dozen years. Long story short: We are looking for houses in Phoenix for a second home and where we can live from January to April. I might get my BBWAA Card (Baseball Writers’ Association of America). Maybe I can help the Dodgers improve the fan experience at Camelback Ranch. After all, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Now, back to Dodger Baseball…
The Dodgers Will be 0-162 in 2025!
I don’t think the Dodgers will win a single game in 2025. They are pathetic! JUST KIDDING! They will win many games… maybe not 120! We are seeing the roster being formed by injuries. Due to injury, Evan Phillips, Michael Grove, and Michael Kopech are already headed for the IL. Hyeseong Kim, James Outman, and Andy Pages are likely headed to AAA. I can see Eddie Ramirez making the team. OKC should be stacked!
Some fans are excited because Kody Hoese is hitting .273. Kody is an Indiana Boy who will be 28 in July and just recently started to hit for a decent batting average, but as a 3B, he lacks the requisite power to play there. He’s returning to AAA and will be Rule 5 exposed in 2026. I am not sure he will be selected. The OKC Comets could look like this:
- C – Feduccia
- 1B – Bote
- 2B – Kim
- SS – Freeland
- 3B – Hoese
- LF – Rushing (he might catch twice a week)
- CF – Outman/Dean
- RF – Pages
- DH – Ward
Austin Gauthier will play all over, and Zyhir Hope will likely go to GL and could move quickly. DePaula should also go there. We will talk about the pitching tomorrow. Based upon what I think I know today, here is the roster I think the team will break camp with:
Position Players:
- Smith
- Barnes
- Freeman
- Rojas
- Betts
- Muncy
- Conforto
- Edman
- T. Hernandez
- E. Hernandez
- Taylor
- Rosario
- Ohtani
Pitchers:
- Snell
- Glasnow
- Yamamoto
- Sasaki
- May
- Gonsolin
- Knack
- Treinen
- Scott
- Yates
- Vesia
- Banda
- Casparius or Garcia
Just a Guess!
Rants & Raves
- Ohtani hit 95 MPH in his last bullpen session.
- Bobby Miller is still in the concussion protocol.
- What’s the holdup on Dave Roberts’s extension? Maybe they want to announce it in Japan!
- A healthy Max Muncy will put up some monster numbers and so far… he looks very healthy! Could this be his career year?
Discussion (15)
Disagree, not disagreeable
GLENDALE, Ariz. — “The wait is nearly over to see Shohei Ohtani return to game action. Ohtani is expected to make his first appearance of Spring Training as the Dodgers’ designated hitter in Friday night’s game against the Angels, manager Dave Roberts said on Wednesday”.
“Manager Dave Roberts told reporters – including the Los Angeles Times’ Jack Harris – that first baseman Freddie Freeman would be making his Cactus League debut Thursday against the Colorado Rockies. Freeman, who underwent ankle surgery in December, is slated to start at designated hitter”.
It seems like a lot of good people are attracted to LADT. I’m honored to be able to interact with all the great Dodger fans that park their intellect on Mark’s site. Just like US Water Systems, you have taken LADT to the next level and can now include it in your success story!
Book em
3:10 PM ET
Dodgers (98-64) (1-5)
Brewers (93-69 (2-2)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Tyler Alexander L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Miguel Rojas R
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF Chris Taylor R
CF Andy Pages R
1B David Bote R
2B Hyeseong Kim L
C H. Feduccia L
DH J. De Paula L
83° Wind 3 mph R-L
Mega dittos on the thanks to Mark. With all that he must have on his plate, the consist quality content is amazing, and not only for free but at a cost to him. Also appreciate the regular contributors. A bunch of amateurs putting out better content than the pros. I’d rather get takes from AVF, Old Bear, and Mark than Buster Onley any day. Thanks for the daily fun gentlemen. Mark, I’m headed to Indianapolis on business later this month. I’m going to stop by the plant and buy a water filter. I’ve never had one, but you won’t let us contribute so I’m going to at least be a customer. I know you don’t need my small order but I will at least feel less guilty
My wife and I had the pleasure of having dinner with Mark, Patty (wonderful wife), Steve (son), and Luke (nephew) last Saturday night. Then we shared several very hot innings with Mark, Steve, and Luke on Sunday. Patty caught an early flight back to Indiana.
I have been reading this blog for many years and have occasionally posted. This past weekend was the first time I met Mark in person. While seeing 3 games, having dinner several nights with friends and even making time for a business meeting an hour outside the metropolitan area, he still had the time and energy to write and post a couple of posts. Not only is Mark a very good man, but he works tirelessly on this blog. I, for one, am not only blown away with his dedication but truly impressed by the depth of the man. He really loves his family, which is extremely apparent from his writing but so much more so when you are with him (them) in person.
Those of us who are part of this blog are so fortunate to have Mark at the helm. To all those who have attempted to take Mark on, you really don’t have a clue. I know this is not about the Dodgers but I wanted to give you my personal incite.
Eddie Rosario didn’t get a proper Spring Training the last two seasons, but this year he’s fully fit .
I think the Dodgers take a punt on him. Not sure Outman and Pages are better options at this point.
Glad to be back home. I have watched every game so far, not impressive to say the least. But there have been a few bright spots. May and Gonsolin returning to the mound. The early performances of both Barnes and Feduccia, who both are hitting .571 on 4-7 performances. Feduccia has driven in 5 runs to lead the team. Zahir Hope has played well, although his routes in the outfield leave something to be desired, the kid has closing speed and has made a couple of great catches. David Bote is making a real effort to make this team. He is hitting .667 so far with 6 hits in 9 at bats. The big negative for me, and I have said this a lot, this team is striking out way too much. 11 plus times a game. That is too many missed chances. Doctors’ appointment today, most likely will get physical therapy scheduled and approved, and new meds for my gout.
Wonderful success story Mark. I too, have had a great life based in the field of agriculture. Not the financial success like you, but in my own right I’ve done well. Taking over a small dairy farm from my dad, I’ve worked like 2, sometimes 3 guys, putting in 100 hours each week to succeed when money was tight and I couldn’t afford any extra hands. I’m now 63, fairly comfortable, farming with one of my three sons. We got it figured out I think. After 40 years of milking cows, we transitioned over to full time grain farming, with minimal tillage, maintaining great yields, saving fuel, labor and headaches. I owe a lot of it to my wife of 38 years. She has stood by me, supporting me, raising our four kids, helping where she could. Believe it or not, I gained some motivation for perseverance by following my beloved Dodgers. They always represented a highly successful baseball franchise, (save for a few McCourt years). Through it all, surround yourself with positive people and inspiration to thrive in this dog eat dog eat world. BTW, I’m very happy in our political direction right now. Thank you, Mark.