Let s Play Twenty Questions

Andrew Friedman- “He’s earned the right to be on our Major League team and help us win games,” said Friedman. “He has a very high floor as a player. He has a very advanced approach at the plate. Tremendous bat-to-ball skills that complements our lineup. Very good defensively. Checks a lot of boxes in what we look for in a player. I expect at the end of the year he’ll have logged a significant number of plate appearances.”

I’m excited, I really believe Verdugo is going to shock alot of fans when he gets the chance to play everyday. Reminds me of a Corey Seager type hitter, and the power will 100% come, he will have 20+ Hrs this year, but it looks like AF is very high on Verdugo

Gonna go on record as saying that in year 4 of Manny Moes contract, (maybe 3), the Padres will be trying to dump his contract, no matter how good he is hitting. (Gee, does the name Zac Greinke ring a bell?) I don’t care how many so called experts are saying how great the Padres farm system is and how they are a year away from contention, blah blah blah… This is the same front office that went “All in” a couple of season ago by getting Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, and I think James Sheilds. Aaannndd, nothing happened. Freidman is still light years ahead of San Diego’s FO, and we all know they just did Mark’s signature “Dope Fiend” move of signing a boat anchor 10 year contract. I am so friggin relieved that Freidman takes all kind of crap from guys like us, but still has yet to mortgage the Dodgers future by making a huge deal just to make one. Say what you will, but 2 or 3 years from now the Pads will be hovering around .500, while we will still be bitching that we shoud have won 104 games instead of 100.

Anyone heard of Abreu to the Dodgers rumors?

SCG

And most people don’t realize how amazing it was for Bo Jackson to be able to play pro baseball after he had his hip replaced.

Mark knows that better then most, although Mark didn’t experience that when he was young like Bo was.

But it sounds like Mark got the most of his real hip for a long time.

But your hip is where your body gets all it’s balance from, and you don’t realize that as much, until you have a serious hip issue.

Bo’s is on his third replacement now.

Yasiel Puig is a cross between Bo Jackson and Roberto Clemente. Maybe he will realize his potential elsewhere.

apparently the link put me in moderation

go to cincinnati.com to see interview with Puig

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more fodder for the Puig “lovers”/”haters”

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here’s the money quote ( . . . thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week) “The last couple of years, I didn’t work hard because I still have a contract to go,” Puig said. “Now, I think work harder than any year of my life.”

more fodder for the Puig “lovers”/”haters”

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https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2019/02/18/yasiel-puig-looks-make-money-himself-contract-year/2909205002/

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here’s the money quote ( . . . thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week) “The last couple of years, I didn’t work hard because I still have a contract to go,” Puig said. “Now, I think work harder than any year of my life.”

AC after what you say, which of course is true and most of us know it, the Madres still give him $300M for 10??? Now that’s s a dope fiend move…

I sat in a meeting of AA several years back and had the honor and privilege to hear Newk and Sweet Lou Johnson speak… One of the first questions to Sweet Lou was about baseball and came back quickly “Son you’re in the wrong meeting!! We talk about recovery in here”!!! Catch me on a sports show or whatever… Personally, knew I was in the right place… Newk had a big old grin from ear to ear…

RIP Newk …

.275 – that’s the Over-Under what Manny will hit in SD.

First year at Camelback Ranch. My tour guide was Logan White and we were talking with Maury and Big Newk!

MJ,

Bumsrap is not Hamchuck unless he knows how to change his IP address.

2Demetter2

Good answers, and good food for thought!

On another note, sad to read of the death of Don Newcombe. Great pitcher and ambassador of the game. It would have been a delight to see Don Newcombe in his prime pitch against Don Drysdale in his prime. The hitters would have been shaking in their cleats.

Mark, thanks for the post. Since you took the time out of your busy day to as, I’ll do the same and answer the questions.

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1. So, since Bruce Bochy has announced he will retire AFTER this season, will Bill Hanselman be hired now or wait until the next off-season? He may be hired, but I think they hire Hensley Meulens or Ron Wotus as manager.

2. Andrew Toles has been his own worst enemy in the past with getting kicked off teams, etc. Is this what is happening again or is it really something beyond his control? For the young man’s sake, I hope it is something other than his inner struggles.

3. Can Chris Taylor re-capture his 2017 form? Hope so. But not if he continues to lead the league in taking third strikes looking.

3. Who would you rather have at 2B – DJLM or CT3… and what if DJM cost 10X what CT3 did? On cost alone, CT3. On pure baseball, DJLM

4. Will Joe Kelley be “Machine Gun Kelly” or “Wild Man Kelly? Machine Gun Kelly for much of the year. I think he will spend some time on the IL

5. Will Kenley Jansen be better than ever? No. But he will be more consistent than last year.

6. Will Corey Seager be good as new and better than ever? Initially, good. Next year, awesome!

7. Can Hyun-jin Ryu reach his great potential and have a career year? Like AC posted, I would be happy if he achieved 20 starts.

8. Is Clayton Kershaw still an elite pitcher after a few injury-plagued years? Not CK elite, but still very good.

Does Clayton still have more left in the tank and will his new off-season routine help him get back to where he once was? I certainly hope so, otherwise, without getting another solid starter, we are screwed.

9. Is Cody Bellinger a MVP Contender or a MVP Pretender? In between

Does he have 50 HR potential or is he a “Rob Deer in the headlights?” He has 50 homer potential. He is some much more athletic than Rob Deer could ever think of being. CB is not a one trick pony.

10. Can Austin Barnes and Russell Martin comeback? Yes.

what if they did put up some good offensive numbers? Oh happy day!

11. Is the starting pitching as good as it looks? Yes. However, it does not look like the top staff in baseball. Certainly good, but we’re one [itcher away from being elite.

will injuries be the legacy of this starting rotation? Unfortunately, yes.

12. Will Max Muncy be as effective as last year or will he regress? No, but he won’t regress much.

13. Will the Dodgers miss Kemp, Puig, Wood and Farmer? Farmer yes, the others no. I was a big Alex Wood fan. I thought he was one of the more under appreciated pitchers on the team. However, it was clear he had lost a little something and he wasn’t worth the cost.

14. Will Pedro Baez continue his progression as a pitcher and become unstoppable ? Yes. He won’t reach unstoppable levels though. I do think he will be solid.

15. Will Walker Striker Buehler win a Cy Young in his second season? No.

“will he throw a no-hitter?” No.

16. Is Alex Verdugo ready and will the Dodgers give him the chance? Yes and hesitatingly.

Is he over-hyped or is he the real deal? In between. I don’t think he’s Tony Gwynn, but if he is, we win the Series. Book it. Will we find out THIS year? Hope so.

17. Will the Dodgers win over 95 games? Nope, exactly 95.

18. Can AJ Pollock stay injury-free? Yes he can. The question is will he.

19. What will be the outcome of the Dodgers hiring of Robert Van Socyoc and Associates? I think the hitters will have more information available to them to be better prepared for all game situations. Hope they capitalize on that.

Will it be the Holy Grail? No. A dismal failure or just more of the same ole’ same ole’? Without injuries to key players, it will be slightly better.

20. Will the Dodgers win the World Series? I certainly hope so!

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I think Machado to the Padres will be good for them in ways that transcend the box score. He will connect to the Latino Community in San Diego County and, as a result, attendance will increase and TV ratings will be higher. How much additional income that will provide remains to be seen, but it will have an overall positive impact. Much the way Adrian Gonzalez helped the Dodgers in that regard. As far as a pure baseball move, it’s probably dope fiend. I’m glad the Dodgers didn’t do it. I don’t think the difference between Seager and Machado is worth 25 million per year.

M.J. yes I know you are. And I think alot of us here feel the same way.

Thanks

MJ,

Yes I saw one report saying it that way. But usually we can’t believe half of what we read.

Except on one particular Blog.

Nonetheless, whatever the case, I’m rooting for Andrew.

Puig said he did not work very hard at baseball the past two years. If that is how he feels I am glad the Dodgers dumped him. We do not need ball players who think they are entitled. I bet the Reds did not like those comments. AF knew what he is doing.

Padres supposedly still in on Harper. Preller loves this stuff. Wouldn’t put it past him to sign Bryce, who apparently is not thrilled with the idea of playing/living in Philly.

Mark

I just wanted to tell you, you are right, it is hard not to go there, with his history

As much as I like Toles, that is the first thing that came to my mind too.

And I know you are coming from a good place too.

I, like others here hope for the best for Andrew Toles. Hoping he plays in Dodger Stadium many times this year.

Sad news of the passing of a great Dodger. Mr. Don Newcombe.

Did everyone hear Don Newcombe just died?

So, what do you think Harper gets now? Any wagers?

Toles’ path to the Major Leagues has clearly been a difficult one. There have been obstacles and he has overcome many of them. When he makes the Show he will have persevered. We don’t know the challenge he is now facing and I am glad to see that no one here is giving up on him or assuming the worst. For all we know he might be taking care of a loved one, being there for that person, sacrificing for that person. The Dodgers have said he is still family.

I would like to see Harper on the Giants or Padres.

Tony Clark, foot in mouth?

Ha ha.

10 years. $300 million

Straight up idiots.

So……. ticket prices won’t come cheaper, at any rate.

It all rests at whatever the demand is for whatever product. Even if the whole team and coaches, ground keepers , etc. were to take 50% cut on their salaries if would lower seat prices. All parties are trying to get as much as they’re are able to squeeze out of us turnips. If us turnips were able to make bank at the turnip level we’d middle to make the most of it as well. That’s why there’s value even in the free stuff that comes with the price of a ticket. Just because we all want something that something gets divided so many times there’s not much left for the ‘have nots’. Monsanto continues trying to cover all points of what our needs are and abuse all consumers in many ways that they’d surely go to hell for if there were such a place. Even the government, (it’s not “we the people”) have found a way to squeeze the populace forever just to use ghost worth (money) that only works for it because we’re kept in debt. That is the number one concern of our government, to keep us in debt. Otherwise it’d all fall apart. But I’m sorry my ADD kicking in. but you got me started.

Manny to San Diego

Manny Machado is a Padre

”Because this market is crazy and I do feel players should be owed what they deserve”

And how much do they deserve?

Does anyone think that there are players who deserve $40 million per year?

If you have a $40 million player, how much can you pay the other 24 players?

17. The Dodgers will not win over 95 games.

If the Dodgers really want to eliminate platoons then they have already decided that Verdugo will be the left fielder. Spring training is supposed to get players ready for the season and usually stats gathered in spring are not used to decide who plays to start the season. Players should be able to work on things in the Spring. Still, Joc needs to have a big Spring if Friedman and Roberts (FAR) are serious about limiting platoons.