Media Questions for AF and Doc – The first several minutes were spent with respect to COVID-19. The Dodgers are still trying to understand all of the protocols. It is a brand new scenario, and they are all learning.
A question with respect to how many Dodgers and staff have tested positive for COVID-19. AF indicated that there have been some, but none were considered serious, and that they will not comment on individuals. If the individual wants to comment, that is there choice, but as an organization they are not going to break confidence. IMO, this is absolutely the correct response.
A question as to what thoughts have been given to the use of ball boys. Thus far, there have been no discussions. Doc joked that it may be him, but then indicated that perhaps two of the clubhouse guys will be doing double duty. I got the impression that the ball boy was not a major concern right now, but it will need to be addressed.
Doc was asked how he felt about the new extra inning rule. Has he heard from MiLB management how it has worked? Doc said that he has heard positive reviews of the rule, and he is agreeable for the rule in 2020. It is his view that it will save on pitcher arms and the number of pitches/innings it will save.
There was a follow up question on Doc’s Wednesday comments that it will be DH by committee. Per Doc, the team is so deep that they can go in any number of directions and use of players depending on the circumstances (pitchers faced). They like the position they are in when it comes to DH.
When will the team practices begin? The first formal date for practice to begin is July 3. But there are still many unanswered questions as to the testing protocols. How staggered will the testing be? Once the test shows negative, the player will be released to practice, but the question as to how many can practice at any point in time is still unknown.
AF commented that there is so much still to learn. He added that there will undoubtedly be a number of positive tests and they are going to need to learn how to contain it. They just do not know enough right now, and they recognize that they are going to need to get smart and fast.
Doc was asked how he believes the players will “self-police”. Doc said that the team will continue to be educated, and believes that the end goal will dictate their actions away from the field.
AF and Doc were asked about potential opt-outs. AF indicated that there have been a number of players (no indication how many) who have shown concern. AF wants to have those discussions with the players. He wants to understand what they are feeling and learn how best to respond. AF did indicate that this is going to be a player personal decision. I got the impression that he is not going to pressure players into playing. He will work to get the player fully educated, but the decision will be with the player and his family.
Doc added that the team is working more with video conferences, and computer use. The clubhouse will be limited to the number of people and the time spent in the clubhouse. They are working on anything they can to quell the concerns of the players. He reiterated what AF previously stated, and that they will be supportive of the player.
It was reported that with their exceptional depth, the Dodgers are seemingly built for a 162 game season. Doc was asked how he believes the team will respond in a 60 game dash. Doc responded that he believes that their depth will help just as much in a sprint. They can take advantage of the team/pitcher they are facing and can rest players at opportune times. AF agreed. He added that over the last couple of years, the culture of the team has changed. They do not look at 162 games or 60 games. They are focused on winning each game one at a time, winning every AB.
AF was asked about the Taxi squad. He indicated they have not come up with any conclusions, but that it is going to change depending on the number of games and the opponent. But once the three member taxi is identified for that road trip, there can be no changes to the squad. The biggest concern is that logistically they cannot properly transport the players because they cannot travel commercially.
AF was asked about the alternate site. They are finalizing their plans, but presently they are planning on using USC until the students come back, and then they plan on moving the alternate site to Rancho Cucamonga.
They are still looking at their options for players outside of their 60 man pool. They will continue to have those discussions.
Both AF and Doc were asked about their emotions over the last three weeks with the on again and off again. Both indicated that it was a roller coaster. AF emphasized they had no control. Doc wanted to praise the trainers because they were out front in educating the players as to the best way to proceed. Doc continued by indicating that he needed to tread lightly and be nimble. Need to be cognizant of the players, but he was excited.
Has the projected 26 man roster changed much from the shutdown? AF said that the only question at the time was whether Joc would be healthy enough to make opening day. Joc is now fully healed and that is no longer a concern. However it is tough to compare, because the 26 man is now a 30 man. They are still looking at all options. No decisions are imminent.
Question was asked about whether everyone in the dugout needed to wear masks. AF was not certain. He believed that all non-players needed to, but was uncertain about players. They are still learning.
AF was asked what factors will go into the decision making process for the 60 man pool. ML ready or developmental? AF indicated that it will be a balance. They do not believe they will need many more ML ready after their 40 man, so they expect to include players they want to monitor their continued development. Michael Grove perhaps?? Michael Busch?? Kody Hoese?? They will also include players on the cusp of the 40-man who could perhaps play ML baseball if needed. AF does not expect to fill the 60 man pool by Sunday. It will come together over time.
How are they going to police no spitting? AF had no idea.
There is no decision on the All Star Game and when LA will get another opportunity to host.
When asked what his thoughts were about managing knowing that he is a cancer survivor that he may be more at risk. His doctors advised that he is no more at risk than any other player/coach solely because of his cancer. He did have a very short pause for concern, but it was quickly answered. He has no trepidation.
They were asked how they felt about facing the Astros. Doc smiled but gave no answer, while AF paused and then said it was time to look forward. No looking back at 2017. Nothing is going to change. I got the impression that those games will rise to another level of competition regardless as to what was said (or not said) today.
They have not made any final decisions as to how to proceed during ST 2.0. They are still trying to understand the protocols on staggering, but he does anticipate a lot of on field BP and a lot of intrasquad games.
Healthwise, the team is going into ST 2.0 in good shape. There are no known concerns, but they will not have sufficient knowledge until they get on the field. When asked specifically about Jimmy Nelson, AF indicated that he was throwing bullpens but will know more when they see him next week.
The two kept most things close to the vest. It is probably just as likely that they are venturing into uncharted territory than intentionally not being as transparent as fans may want. I believe that it is far more the former than the latter. But it sure seems that both are very much looking forward to seeing what this team can do on the field.
Discussion (145)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Belated congratulations on your retirement, AC. Hope you find it enjoyable and fun. More time to spend with your family. Always a good thing.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
congrats on retirement Jeff..
I find one of the greatest things
about retirement is Sunday night..
Dodgers being sued by some fans who said they were being targeted for being Latino. According to some who have seen the video, they were arrested for bad behavior. This happened at the last game at Dodger Stadium last year. Kind of dumb if you ask me since many Dodger fan’s are indeed Latino, and the only fans I have seen arrested or detained when ever I have been to the Stadium are those who are drunk, or very disorderly.
Congratulations on your retirement, Jeff! I hope to emulate you some day! In the meantime, glad you can give some of your hard earned time to this blog.
Hurry back Jeff. The three of us are destroying your beautiful baseball blog!
With that man at second rule for extra innings I think Gore might be around all year. That seems like the perfect spot to use him.
Pitchers – Brett deGeus, Kasowski (The Big K), and Josiah Gray for sure
Position players – Omar Estevez and maybe another catcher
Favorite cartoon character – I’ll broaden it to favorite cartoon show (not contemporary) – Bullwinkle and nothing is even a close second.
Little poll. Who, besides the 40 players already on the roster, do the Dodgers use as the other 20 players allowed to come to spring training and basically be on call if needed? Some of the non roster invitees maybe, like Gore who has MLB experience and blazing speed, Reks, Thomas, a couple of the pitchers, and probably one or both of the catchers, Lobaton and Gale. Interesting question…..favorite cartoon character? Tie, Yosemite Sam and The Roadrunner.
I notice that most teams seem to be signing their draft picks faster than we are, but that’s no surprise since AF tends to drag out his signings most years. All the guys in the know seem to think every team will sign all its draft choices this year because of the small draft. I certainly hope we get our remaining three guys.
In the meanwhile talk amongst yourselves – Today’s subject cartoon characters I have known and loved (don’t forget Dudley Do-Right).
Tomorrow’s subject – Two often overlooked vegetables, kohlrabi and daikan
Carry on.
Wow, it spun out of control there for awhile, but baseball talk is creeping back…M.J.T. must have worn his MAGA hat to bed…
I really enjoyed watching Toles play… It now reminds me painfully of the Steve Howe saga… Hope to God he gets some help…
I’m anxious to see Rios’s AB’s in ST.. Who knows…
NBA has it’s problems already… I’m more of a NCAA fan anyhow…
A little late, but just read about Toles. Very sad. Hope he gets help soon.
I am now officially retired, but I am now in Camp Jellystone camping for the weekend. Yes we are keeping Yogi and Boo Boo company. I have very limited wifi so I may not be able to get anything else posted until Monday. I will get it the old college try.
Read that about Toles earlier today. Its too bad that the news media got ahold of it since he is obviously a very private person. I hope the Dodgers or some of the guys at least use their resources to help him. Hell, I would take him in with me as much as I can say that about someone I have never met. Seems like a great guy that has been dealt a bad hand in the brain chemistry department.
Love the DH in this short season. We will see how it goes. I have to admit, I don’t really like watching the Rich Hill, Ryu’s, etc. flail away and taking the bat out of the 8 hitters hands too many times. Ryus HR was awesome but still.
JT at a .400 run would be awesome but I am really looking forward to seeing Betts play for LA. I hope he likes his time here and this is year 1 or many to come.
Glad MLB is coming back. I hope the overreacters don’t shut it down along the way.
Very sad about Toles! Must be a serious mental health problem. My heart goes out to him.
What can I say? I’m excited to see baseball again! Of course, there are a lot of unknowns. The short season, the Covid precautions… it’s all very unpredictable. That having been said, I take tremendous pleasure in debating the Dodgers DH options. Why? One of the most beautiful and necessary things in life is to care deeply and passionately about something that doesn’t matter! Politics matters. I care deeply about politics, but in the final analysis, it is deadly serious. And that takes some of the fun out of it. Politics is combat. Sports is play. We can argue about who should be the Dodgers DH, but it won’t affect the state of the world. Yes, I’ll be mad as hell if the Astros win the WH this year. And if the Dodgers win it all… it will be heavenly. And yet, except for my mood, nothing will change because of it. And hence it’s beauty. It’s a drama played out on a field of perfectly mowed grass. It’s theater, not real life. And that is exactly what I need now.
So, to throw down the gauntlet… Who the Dodgers put at DH on the opening day depends on match-ups. That’s how they do everything. Between Beaty and Rios, I choose Beaty. You need someone who makes contact, and that isn’t Rios, despite his power. Rios has the most beautiful swing… when he strikes out! Beware of hitters who look good striking out! Beaty is all business. When he is at the plate, he looks totally locked in, all the time. And if I had to guess who will be the starting DH on opening day, I would say Turner. You don’t want to take any chances on his legs. If he gets injured in a short season, it would have big consequences. And he hits lefties and righties well. So no match-ups necessary. I would guess he’ll get the most DH time of all of them. The only question: Who will play at 3rd?
Being a Dodger history buff, I kind of liken his trouble’s to what Steve Howe and Bobby Welch went through with their addictions. Mental issues are another thing I understand, but so is addiction. Both Steve and Bob are gone now. Howe in an accident in his truck. He had methamphetamine’s in his system. Welch when he fell in his home in 2014 in Seal Beach and broke his neck. Earlier reports had him suffering a heart attack. Welch is the last pitcher to win at least 25 games in a season. 27 in 1990. Dodger fans fondly remember him from his classic duel with Reggie Jackson in the World Series when he struck Jackson out.
Sounds like the end of the line for Andrew. I have heard that he is having severe mental issues. I guess it is true.
Update, and not good, on Andrew Toles:
https://www.ocregister.com/2020/06/26/former-dodgers-outfielder-andrew-toles-arrested-in-florida/
The KBO has been doing this for their games.
Did you kids see what the giants are doing this year ? I like it and I hope the Dodgers do it too. Then you all can see my pretty cardboard cutout at each home game!
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29367236/giants-program-display-cutout-images-fans-stands
I for one (and I’m certain many others) am excited to see this shortened version of a season especially how events in my small world was making me less enthusiastic about baseball. Hope I can go without the too continuous bummer saga for awhile. 162 games seems to tax players health and likely shorten their careers. Expanding rosters and 60 games will be educational, to say the least. Teams won’t be able to get lackadaisical at any point of a shortened season so this race for the pennant should be pretty intense. We shall see. Cheers!
It is so good to actually read many talking Dodger Baseball again.
My apologies for my absence. I was hit rather hard with some physical ailments. My first ever experience with kidney stones, that actually resulted in a couple of operations. That is pain I never want to experience again. Just unbelievable. I’m back to work, completely well now, but a few weeks back I was seriously thinking a lot about my mortality. For the first time since 1997 I took a sick day from work, and it ended up being 30 of them.
Drink water folks. That was my issue apparently.
Just a couple of baseball thoughts:
DH in the NL? Hate the idea, but also intrigued on how it will benefit the Dodgers.
30 man roster starting out and eventually reducing to 26 man at the end? I think this is the way MLB should do it every year. April should have the expanded rosters and the September run should occur with the minimum. Perhaps this will be the new normal in seasons to come.
Hygiene and spitting on the field? Not sure how it will be policed but it’s about time something was done. So if a player spits, is he ejected? Is it an out or additional strike? Is maintenance called to clean up the mess? I know MLB was slowly outlawing smokeless tobacco from the field of play. Looks like COVID-19 will permanently remove it from the game, which is a good thing. The wet rag for pitchers (instead of saliva) is an interesting concept. Not sure how it will work so I guess these things will be worked out.
The extra inning rule, starting each half inning with a runner on second? Hey, same as my slo-pitch softball league. Perhaps they can institute rovers in the field and have every hitter start his at bat with a 1-1 count. I’m just glad it’ll only be for 60 games and not the post season.
Fan-less ball parks? It’ll be strange, but considering the alternative, which is a cancelled season, I’ll run with it. I just hope that before the season ends, the world will be deemed safe enough to allow fans in Stadiums. It would be rather sad to only have Mookie Betts for 60 games, never having the chance to see him play in person.
Stay safe everyone.
Opening Day:
Versus RHP:
1. Betts RF
2. Bellinger CF
3. Turner 3B
4. Muncy 1B
5. Seager SS
6. Pederson LF
7. Rios DH
8. Smith C
9. Lux 2B
Pitcher: Kershaw
Versus LHP:
1. Betts RF
2. Bellinger CF
3. Turner 3B
4. Muncy 1B
5. Pollock LF
6. Hernandez DH
7. Seager (Taylor) SS
8. Smith C
9. Lux 2B
Pitcher: Kershaw
I have a lot of hope that with another year of Robert Van Socyoc and with Rob Hill and Driveline Baseball in the Dodgers camp, see could see some really cool stuff like:
1. Mookie Betts becomes even better and wins the MVP, with Cody Bellinger finishing second;
2. Jansen, Kershaw, Wood, Price, Nelson, Baez, and Chicken Strip could gain a couple three MPH on their fastballs;
3. Some of the Young Bucks grab hold;
4. Gavin Lux becomes a force as the ROY and forces the Dodgers to hit him leadoff by the 30th game;
5. Joc Pederson feasts on RHP and hits 20 HR in 60 AB’s;
6. Clayton Kershaw, Alex Wood, and David Price all finish in the TOP 5 in Cy Young Balloting;
7. Justin Turner hits .400 in the short-season;
8. Doc Roberts wins the Manager of the Year in the NL;
9. Corey Seager hits .350 with 14 HR in 60 games; and
10. The Dodgers win the World Series.
Tell me that none of that could happen. I know all of it won’t.
Finally, “Live Free or Die” is the official motto of the U.S. state of New Hampshire, adopted by the state in 1945. There are many people in this country that feel that way. If I don’t like it, I’ll stay away from them.
It is sort of nice to look forward to the season, but I will be surprised if it does not get interrupted and then canceled. There are just too many risks, and particularly in the warm weather states where many of the games would be played. The only reason I can see for the spike in these states, including CA, very unfortunately, is the too early reopening, and all the people who went to the beach and bars in those areas. This virus is not going to just go away, though we all want it to. Lack of social distancing and mask wearing will inevitably make it worse. I just don’t see how we’re going to be able to play all those baseball games (30×60 divided by 2 is 900, if I have computed this correctly, and then playoff games) under these circumstances. And if one team stops playing, they all will; it would look awful to do otherwise. So we’ll see, but the hoped for leveling off and then decrease in cases is not happening, which makes sports restarting look more like a bid for money than optimistic can-do Americanism.
Good morning everyone. I have not posted for a while. I just needed a break from all this turmoil and talk about the virus. I thought also you all needed a break from my not-so-brilliant comments and questions, sometimes. Thank you for your patience. Thank you Singing The Blue for thinking of me. I am still a fervent faithful fan (like the alliteration?) of Dodger baseball, major and minor. Looking forward to some games.
I’ve always enjoyed the “what will the Dodgers starting rotation be in 2021, 2022, …?” articles I’ve read on other blogs. Any takers?
I, like many others, is concerned and careful with respect to the Covid virus. I’m careful to wear a face covering and am mindful of my physical distancing at all times. I have become a hand washing “fiend”, but I’m also of the mindset that life must go on with the simple and sometimes inconvenient things we must do in order to stay safe and healthy.
At the same time we must all acknowledge that Coivd is here, it’s amongst us and we can either be paralyzed by the numbers and work ourselves into a frenzy or we can move on with life by mitigating our exposure and hope for the best. That’s the camp I’m in! I do find it interesting that many bloggers attack leadership for Covid’s devastation, but it was going to be here infecting millions with or without self-isolation, closed borders etc. I won’t try to convince you if I’m right or wrong or mostly right or wrong, but instead I’ll live my life my way and you can live your life your way. No need to get in a pissing contest on a blog. Put it to rest.
A vaccine won’t be readily available until late 2020 or early 2021 and with a world in need of a vaccine, wide-scale vaccinations probably won’t be available until late 2021.
I’m glad MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to play. With riots, looting, blame shifting and scapegoating going on at a fever pitch in America, I think it’s a positive thing that we might be able to be entertained with America’s past time…..baseball
Something to chew on. According to the CDC 647,000 Americans died as a result of heart disease last year, while 600,00 died from Cancer yet we still can buy cigarettes and tobacco. 84,000 died from diabetes, yet we can still get a Big Mac and large french fries 24 hours a day. 170,000 died as a result of unintentional injuries, yet we still drive cars, climb ladders, mow lawns and walk up and down stairs.
Covid is a scary thing, but life must go on!
Looks like I have one post being “moderated”.
While it’s being reviewed I’ll try to post this in response to Truth:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/how-arizona-lost-control-of-the-epidemic/ar-BB15YqRy
Baseball in Arizona?
Since so many of you have been claiming that you just want to follow the data on all this Covid stuff, I thought this information would give you some more information to think about. Don’t be pissed, but you did say you wanted to follow the data and what scientist are saying as of yesterday:
The average number of daily COVID-19 deaths on a weekly basis has fallen from a peak of just over 2,000 to 700 or so. That’s a roughly 65% decline. And it’s no fluke. The figure has been dropping steadily since April.
Hold on. That last number for June 23 on the chart shows a huge jump. Should we be worried? Is this the much-dreaded surge some have been talking up?
Apparently not. A big part of that one-time gain came from a revision by one state: Delaware.
As Youyang Gu, an MIT data scientist who created the COVID 19-projections.com site, tweeted: “To put the increase in deaths in context, Delaware added 69 deaths today: ‘The revision came from identifying 67 deaths dating back to April.’ So if you take out those 67 deaths, the week-over-week deaths have not changed.”
Goldman Sachs’ state-level tracker shows similar trends. The volume of coronavirus tests has risen 23% in the past two weeks, but positive results have increased just 1.3 percentage points to 6.2%. Meanwhile, deaths have fallen over the past two weeks by 12%.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the respected physician who heads the Trump administration’s coronavirus team, reportedly argued back in May at a closed Centers for Disease Control meeting that the agency’s death estimates were 25% too high, according to a Washington Post report.
Anecdotal evidence at the state level suggests this is true. In fact, estimates may be off by more than 25%.
A review of Minnesota deaths through late May, for instance, found that of 741 registered COVID-19 deaths, fewer than 41% listed it as a “primary cause.” By that standard, George Floyd, who died in police custody and tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus, could have been counted as a COVID-19 fatality had his death not been so well publicized.
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If you have an open and fair mind, enjoy what the scientists and data is telling us. Good news should be good for all of us, not just some who choose to believe what the data is telling us.
There is a gigantic cloud of dust that flew from Africa, across the 5,000 Atlantic Ocean, to the Southeastern part of the US. No, I didn’t make that up. So 2020 can’t shock us any more.
If baseball (and NBA and NHL) actually finish their seasons, I won’t be shocked. If one or more have the cancel what they started, I won’t be shocked. If Salma Hayek leaves that rich dude she’s with and goes out with me, I won’t be shocked (maybe some of you would)
This is the most bizarre year ever, and we’re not even halfway done!!
Baseball is back!
Pitchers and Catchers, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF, DH and Ulilitymen, and 30 other players report July 1st.
There will be a grievance.
The players will lose/
The season will be played.
The Dodgers will win it all.
2021 will be bloody!
And I had a long lucid response to Mark’s last post. Maybe I’ll just insert it here to get the lively conversation going again…….
Maybe not.
Sounds to me like they have no idea if this is gonna work or not. I’m no more confident than I was before the announcement. I’ll believe it when I see it.
https://miro.medium.com/max/1280/0*25izvigOllihYVC1.png
I lost a few toes when you slammed it shut but I will survive! 🙂
Go Dodgers!
I just don’t see the MLB actually taking off and running. Just too many games being played between the owners, players, politicians and fans. They can make it work in Japan and Korea but yet it seems like something is going on that goes far beyond the virus and baseball here in the US, that has to tell you that more is afoot. Very sad times. I hope it is time for Dodger Baseball but i think it is more likely that it is time for No Baseball. With all the stuff going on in the world, baseball just doesn’t seem very important.
Yes, I “slammed” shut the last thread. Against my better judgement I let it go on. But I was too busy listening to the media conference call and writing it up. Hopefully we can start back discussing baseball after the press conference today. I am sure there were many other bloggers who will comment as well on their sites.