RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT “SUMMER TRAINING”

Here I am, in the office on what has to be the most unusual 4^th of July holiday in my lifetime.   Had several things that I wanted to write about (including the “Art of stealing pop bottles” :-), but busyness has reared its ugly head and gotten in the way.   It stinks to be your own boss and then have your boss be such a jerk.  

●          Well looks like we may have some baseball.   On the other hand, I don’t believe we will.  I sincerely hope that I’m proven wrong, but let’s see how things unfold in the next two weeks. 

●          Opening day for the Dodgers will be July 23^rd (which happens to be my wife’s birthday), but the opponent and the location (home, neutral or away) has yet to be determined.   When is the last time that has ever happened?  

●          The All-star game has been cancelled for this year.  The Dodgers have, however, been scheduled to host the 2022 All-Star game.  This development has to be disappointing for the Dodgers and their fans on so many different fronts.   First, among several other reasons, there is the stadium renovations and the extensive planning that has gone into hosting the game this year.  Certainly some of the planning will be useful in 2022, but there will definitely be concerns over whether the same or similar entertainment will be available; whether or not the city of Los Angeles will be in a position to support the influx of fans coming to watch the game and whether or not the 2022 season will be affected by the sure to be contentious CBA negotiations.   The possibility of a strike looms large.   

●          The disappointment to the fans is also not to be ignored.   While there was no guarantee that they would have been All-Stars this season, the thought of seeing Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw, or Justin Turner represent the Dodgers in the summer classic would have been sweet.   Two years from now, that prospect is less likely.  Mookie Betts may not be a Dodger, and Kershaw and Turner will be older.   Kershaw and Turner (he may also be gone) may not be performing at all-star level in 2022.  Joc Pederson will likely be participating in the home run derby for another team.  

●          Sad news on Andrew Toles.   I sincerely hope the young man finds the help he needs to get his life straightened out.   He was a very enjoyable young man to watch play, and his after game interviews were very refreshingly open and honest.  

●          Minor League baseball has been cancelled for the year.   It was reported in late June that the  Dodgers released several players from their Minor League system.   The number and names of the players are not yet known.   Francys Romero, among others, reported Dodger minor league players released included, Daniel Corcino, Jose Lobaton, Yeison Cespedes and Jeronimo Castro. 

●          The Dodgers have extended, until the end of August, their agreement to pay all Dodger minor league players(not on the 40 man roster), the weekly $400.00 stipend.   While I’m sure it helps some, roughly $1,600.00 a month is not going to pay the bills for most of them.  For those minor league players who were getting paid more (some AAA players have contracts up to $10,000.00 a month or more), having their contracts voided and receiving this payment, has to be a very sick joke.

●          Eno Sarris and Emily Waldon wrote a thought provoking article for the Athletic yesterday (July 2^nd), wherein they posed the question, “With no Minor Leagues or College Ball, Where Will Prospects Go to Play?

https://theathletic.com/1902965/2020/07/02/with-no-minor-leagues-or-college-ball-where-will-prospects-go-to-play/

In the article, they discuss various options available, including the San Diego League, Driveline, Independent Ball and pick-up games at the local parks.  Unfortunately, some of these leagues are pay to play and many cannot afford to participate.  Also, some MLB teams are not keen on having their players participate in these leagues.   In addition, what I hadn’t considered before, and which Sarris and Walden thoroughly address, is the risk involved for these players. One player summed it up this way:

“I make $400 a week playing baseball for half the year. Do you think I’m gonna risk maybe paying for surgery myself?” asked one High-A player. “Or risk giving them a reason to get rid of me? No chance. Risking injury in-season is one thing — we’re all working to get to the top — but when we haven’t been told anything since March, why am I going to put my career on the line? I’ve played since I was five, my parents have made countless sacrifices, my wife currently makes so many sacrifices. We give so much to play this game and we love it. It would just be cool if MLB gave a shit about us.”

A triple A player had this to say:

“Indy ball? Yeah, I think it’s a horse’s ass move,” said a Triple-A player. “You mean to tell me that we’re going to rely on severely underfunded independent leagues to develop players but MLB can’t find a way to make minor league baseball work? Just goes to show how much they don’t care about the minor leaguers. Every organization has ‘their guys,’ and it couldn’t be more in the light than what they did with these 60-man rosters and leaving the rest of the minors in the dust to fend for themselves.”

Anyway you look at it, it’s not an ideal situation for anyone. 

●          I wonder how the mangled negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA, MLB’s treatment of the minor leaguers, and the handling of the draft this year will impact young kids’ view of a future in baseball?   Moreover, if there is a strike in 2021/2022, I can see many youngsters, along with fans, bailing on baseball and heading for other sports.  

●          As we approach the start of “Summer Training” more and more reports are coming out of players having tested positive for Coronavirus.  It’s been reported that 1 or 2 Dodger players may have tested positive.   All sports were cancelled after word came out that Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz had tested positive for coronavirus.  He had tested negative for influenza, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection. His symptoms had diminished over the initial day, but he was tested, and the test returned positive.  The Utah Jazz cancelled their game and the nest day the NBA suspended its season.   Other professional leagues soon followed.  Presumably Gobert and the other NBA players that tested positive soon thereafter are now fine, as little has been heard about them since then.  A few days before Gobert had tested positive, Tom Hanks (our beloved Forest Gump) had announced that he had tested positive as well.   Soon thereafter, our society was placed on lock down.  Now there are attempts to crawl out of that lockdown I various ways, including MLB starting its 60 game season.  As we approach the season, reports are coming out of more and more players testing positive.  In addition to which, there are players announcing that they are opting out of the season, and have chosen not to play.  With these reports, Dr. “Doom and Gloom” Fauci forecasting more dire days ahead, and the actions undertaken by many governors, mayors and county board of supervisors in the past several days ordering a halt to business reopenings, as well as ordering that certain businesses close, and ordering the mandatory wearing of masks, I just don’t see that MLB will be able to play this season.  Frankly, I suspect that we will be facing another government imposed lockdown in the next 2-4 weeks and MLB will cancel the season for good.    

●          All sports have been affected by the national discussion on race relations that have prevailed in the last few weeks.   Ian Desmond had this perspective

 “America’s pastime is failing to do what it could, just like the country it entertains.

“Think about it: right now baseball we’ve got a labor war. We’ve got rampant individualism on the field. In the clubhouses, we’ve got racist, sexist, homophobic jokes or flat-out problems. We’ve got cheating. We’ve got minority issue(s) from the top down. One African American GM. Two African American managers. Less than 8% Black players. No Black majority team owners.

“Perhaps most disheartening of all is a puzzling lack of focus on understanding how to change those numbers. A lack of focus on making baseball accessible and possible for all kids, not just those who are privileged enough to afford it.

“If baseball is America’s pastime, maybe it’s never been a more fitting one than now.”

Whether you agree with him or not, it’s rare for a player to speak his mind so openly. 

●          No matter how much I try, I can find virtually nothing positive to say about Rob Manfred.  It would be nice for MLB to actually hire someone as commissioner that cared about baseball (Bart Giamatti is probably the last, and only one who actually loved the sport).  The Peter Ueberroth, Bud Selig and Manfred 3-piece suits get tiring.  It’s bad enough that Manfred butchered the Astro, Red Sox cheating scandal investigation in the worst way possible, this past week, after the “good faith” negotiations with the players union about reopening the season concluded, Manfred shared this tidbit with Dan Patrick:

“The reality is, we weren’t going to play more than 60 games no matter how the negotiations with the players went or any other factor — 60 games is the ‘outside of the envelope’ given the realities of the virus.”  

Lovely!   With that type of “good faith” it’s not hard to imagine how contentious the CBA negotiations will be.  Nor will it be surprising for the players to insist that the owners show them their financials.   You can’t trust a single word that comes out of Manfred’s mouth. 

●          On a more positive front, “Summer Training” starts today (July 3^rd).   Seems odd doesn’t it?  Then again, we have a little baseball to talk about.   We also had our first transaction in a while, with the Dodgers signing AJ Ramos to a Minor League contract.  Typical AF contract that can be hit or miss.  In 2016, Ramos was a very good pitcher.  If he replicates that, it’s a good sign.   If he doesn’t, no harm, no foul.  In any event, him and Ross Stripling should get along real fine. 

●          With 60 games to be played, I’m predicting a 40-20 record for the Dodgers(actually I predict a 0-0 record).

●          One of my most memorable Dodger Stadium memories occurred on July 3^rd.   I don’t remember the exact year, but it had to be 1976 or 1977.  It was before I was married and had my own kids.  I took my father and my 5 year old nephew to a game.  After the game, they let us onto to the field to watch the fireworks.  I have to tell you, laying on Dodger Stadium grass, looking up at the fireworks, while listening to patriotic music is a 4^th of July experience like none other.  It was truly mesmerizing!! 

Hope you all have a safe and enjoyable July 4^th weekend!!

One of my favorite singers is Steve Goodman.   He died much too soon from Leukemia in 1984.  He was known as Mr. Cub, being one of the most ardent Cub’s fans ever.  I know it’s sacrilegious to play a Cubbie song on a Dodger blog, but it expresses what many feel after a 32 year WS drought, and besides, I just couldn’t bring myself to parody the lyrics, so here it is.      

And I (AC)

will pick one of my favorites to mark this great day. One of my favorite singers is Lee Greenwood, and on this version of his marquee song, he had some help from some of our great heroes of today. I do not think we can say it enough, but THANK YOU to all who have served, especially to Bear and Badger; two men who have served this country well and have served this site well. I cannot thank you enough for both contributions.