Some Pre-Spring Training Random Thoughts

A short Super Bowl Sunday, busy at work weekend, random thoughts post. 

•      My last post was replaced by the tragic news of the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and the 7 others who lost their lives in the crash of the helicopter in Calabasas, California

•      This is written on Saturday morning, and I wouldn’t mind at all if this post is replaced by one, announcing the happy news that the Dodgers acquired Mookie Betts in a straight-up trade for Dylan Floro.  I mean no disparagement to Dylan Floro by this.  I think he’s a very fine pitcher, though probably not enough to land Betts by himself.   

•      The nickname “Mookie” just seems destined for LA and the Hollywood lifestyle, doesn’t it?  His actual name is Markus Lynn Betts.   Apparently, his parents wanted his initials to be MLB.  Prophetic.  If the Dodgers do acquire Mookie, they should immediately add a bowling tournament to Kershaw’s annual ping-pong shindig.   According to Wikipedia;  “Betts is an avid bowler; he bowled throughout his youth and competed in the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) World Series of Bowling in Reno, Nevada in 2015 and again in 2017.   He has bowled three perfect games.   His highest game in PBA competition is a 300 game during the World Series of Bowling on November 12, 2017. In February 2019, he won the 2019 CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational, competing with professional bowler Tommy Jones.”     

•      Don’t know if a trade for Betts is going to happen (frankly, I seriously doubt that it will), but if we do have to take on David Price and his salary, and still give up some prospects in the trade, then, I would ask for the RedSox to throw in Bobby Dalbec.  He could be a nice replacement for Justin Turner when the time comes.  

•      Arbitration hearings start this week, still no word as to settlements between the Dodgers and Pederson, Muncy, Baez, and Taylor.   If there are no settlements before the hearings, then I fear that at least one of these players is going to have his feelings hurt, and he will express that displeasure publicly.  Which, in turn, may lead to a trade or diminished performance.   On the other hand, it may motivate that player to perform at an exceptional level and cash in big-time on his next paycheck.  I prefer they settle, but if it does go to a hearing, then please have the players extra motivated. 

•     This past week, I listened to a short interview with Ryan Sienko.  This might not be a name that’s particularly familiar to you.  Sienko is currently a Catching Coordinator for the Dodgers.  Sienko is also the founder of the company “Catch & Throw.”  He has been an assistant catching coordinator and catching coordinator for the Dodgers since January 2015.  His responsibilities include catching philosophies and drills, deciphering receiving metrics, blocking philosophies and drills, throwing philosophies and drills, coordinating player plans, working with the research and development department, drills and skill work, and traveling to all affiliates to work with the catchers.  His company, Catch & Throw is the equivalent of a Driveline, but for catchers.  According to its website, it seeks to be “a trusted and respected source for the development and mentoring of catchers.”  In any event, in the interview, there was a discussion of the big four of catching prospects: Smith, Ruiz, Wong, and Cartaya.   Another name he threw in the mix that we might want to keep our eye on was Jair Camargo.   Camargo is 20 years old, signed out of Columbia as a teenager, and had a decent, though not overwhelming, season at Great Lakes last year.  We might see him at Rancho Cucamonga next year.   For those of you that have Twitter and Instagram accounts, you might want to check out Ryan Sienko, he has a lot of pictures of the caching prospects.   There’s a couple of pictures that show the meals the Dodgers feed their minor leaguers.   They will help you better understand why the Dodgers are leaders in player development.

•      I like that the Dodgers are willing to go outside the “box” to hire individuals who make their living in the private sector developing certain baseball skills.  Old school “baseball” guys tend to get in a tizzy fit, whenever someone like RVS or Sienko is hired.  But then, whenever I listen to some of the ex-baseball player color commentators on TV give their opinions, I remind myself that hitting .300 does not guarantee you will be a good coach or manager, or even know why you were as good as you were. 

•     The coincidences between Gavin Lux and Steve Sax are too many to ignore.   Both have 5 letters in their first name (I know I fudged a little for Sax), both have 3 letters in their last name.  The third letter both their first names is “v” and the last letter in their last names is “x.”   In their last year in the minors, Sax hit .346, while Lux hit .347.   In his last season in  the minors, Sax had a teammate named “Rusty,” while Lux had a teammate named “Rocky.”   Sax had his first full major league season at age 22, and he won rookie of the year.   Lux will have his first full major league season at age 22, and he will win rookie of the year (unless of course Dustin May or Tony Gonsolin beat him out).  I’m telling you folks, you just can’t make this stuff up!!   This is way too much of a coinkydink.  It has my head spinning, that’s for sure.   Let’s keep Lux just too see of he can replicate what Sax did in his first year.  

•      I’m looking forward to the All-Star game at Dodger Stadium.   It would be nice to have a few Dodgers make the All-Star team.  I would also expect that a Dodger, perhaps Joc again, will participate in the Home-run Derby.   You have to drum up the home team’s excitement.   I haven’t been to all of the stadiums in MLB (far cry from it actually), but I still think Dodger Stadium is the most beautiful MLB stadium in which to watch a game. 

•      Spring training starts in approximately 2 weeks.   I’m looking forward to the baseball chatter it will produce.   I’ve maxed out on the “speculation of who is going to get traded for who” dialogue.  I want to see some green grass and a white ball and hear the popping of a catcher’s mitt.   Perhaps I should take up drinking instead, but my stress release comes from watching a little baseball.  So I’ll just continue to stay away from the booze. 

•      Perhaps I’m overly optimistic, but I expect big things out of Jimmy Nelson, Alex Wood, and Blake Treinen this year.   I have nothing presently to point my finger at to support that optimism, but I do feel that way.  You might feel different, and that’s okay.  

•      Minor league coaching staffs have been announced:   Triple‑A Oklahoma City:  Manager – Travis Barbary (26th year in the organization); Pitching Coach – Bill Simas (10^th);  Hitting Coach – Manny Burriss (2^nd); and Bench Coach – Mark Kertenian (4^th).   Double‑A Tulsa:  Manager – Scott Hennessey (4^th); Pitching Coach – Dave Borkowski (3^rd);  Hitting Coach – Brett Pill (1^st);  Coach – Jeremy Rodriguez (4^th).   Single‑A Rancho Cucamonga:  Manager – Austin Chubb (5^th);  Pitching Coach – Ryan Dennick (3^rd); Hitting Coach – Dustin Kelly (3^rd); and Coach – Jason Bourgeois (2^nd);  Single‑A Great Lakes:  Manager – John Shoemaker (44^th); Pitching Coach – Stephanos Stroop (2^nd);

Hitting Coach – Seth Conner (3^rd); and Coach – Elian Herrera (2^nd).   Rookie‑Advanced Ogden: Manager – Anthony Cappuccilli (3^rd); Pitching Coach – Dean Stiles (3^rd); Hitting Coach – Dylan Nasiatka (1^st); and Coach – Johan Garcia (1^st).   Rookie‑Level AZL Dodgers(there are two teams):  Managers – Jair Fernandez (5^th) and Danny Dorn (2^nd); Pitching Coaches – Rob Ellis (1^st) and Ramon Troncoso (3^rd); Hitting Coaches – Jarek Cunningham (4^th), Keith Beauregard (2^nd) and David Popkins (2^nd); and Coaches – Chris Gutierrez (3^rd) and Pedro Montero (4^th).  Dominican Summer League Dodgers:  Managers – Cordell Hipolito (3^rd) and Fumi Ishibashi (10^th); Pitching Coaches – Andres Urbina (3^rd), Roberto Giron (7^th) and Hector Rodriguez (2^nd); Hitting Coaches – Sergio Mendez ( 5^th)(I hear he is also a mean jazz pianist), Johermyn Chavez (7^th) and Brady Conlan (1^st); and Coaches – Dunior Zerpa (3^rd) and Leury Bonilla (1^st).  I’m hoping that between now and the beginning of the minor league seasons, DC will introduce you to all of these gentlemen.  The fast riser in the group appears to be Austin Chubb, with Mark Kertenian running a close second.   While Barbary and Hennessey appear to have the most trust in leading the up and coming prospects.  All the while John Shoemaker keeps plugging along, leading the young ‘uns in their first taste of full-season baseball.  

•      I love college and high school baseball.  College Baseball starts on February 14^th.   I live in a region that has tremendous college programs.   As a rule, I typically root for USC baseball (although they have been in a downward spiral in their athletic program the last several years), but this year I’m cheering on the Arizona Wildcats.  Their coach, Jay Johnson, is one of the best young college coaches in the United States and he’s putting together a wonderful program there.   My son played with him at Point Loma University in San Diego (which, by the way, has one of the most beautiful college ballparks in which to watch a game).   We knew then that he was destined to be a good coach, and he has become that in spades.   Sometime in the future, I hope to write an article about 3 of the greatest coaches in Southern California junior college and small college coaching ranks, Wally Kincaid (Cerritos College), John Scolinos (Cal Poly Pomona) and Dennis Rogers (Riverside City College).   There are so many wonderful high school and college coaches throughout this country that toil in anonymity, but who have a profound impact on the young men under their charge and lead, develop and encourage in such a positive way, as they pursue their dream of playing baseball professionally.   These three are particularly memorable.  I was reminded of them, this past week as I read the many memorials for John Altobelli, the Orange Coast College baseball coach who died with Kobi this past Sunday.   It was very clear that he was one of the great coaches.       

•      I will admit to not being a Kobe Bryant fan.   I stopped watching pro basketball primarily because of him.  However, I’m also very mindful of the impact he had on Los Angeles and the world sports scene. There are few, if any, like him.  That said, it is an absolute tragedy whenever a young father, in the prime of his life, has his life taken away much too early.   My sons grew up with him being the face of the Lakers and basketball.   They, like many others, were very impacted by his death.  The pictures of Kobi and his daughter, Gianna, and their beautiful smiles, are very haunting to me.   Kobe is just a few years older than my sons.  Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli, Payton Chester are the same age as my granddaughter, Maddie.  Christina Mauser is a year younger and older than my sons.  Sarah Chester, Ara Zobayan, John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, and those previously named, have left behind family and friends who are experiencing pain and grief of a magnitude they have never ever experienced before.  I know Mark has said that we are not to discuss religion or politics on this blog, and I fully understand why and wish to honor that in the long term. Today, however, I entirely on my own make an exception to that rule, by making a single observation, because for me it’s only through prayer and God, that I can make any sense (if that’s the right word) of this and similar tragedies.   

•      I also don’t have much interest in professional football.   I prefer college football.   I will be attending my neighbor’s super bowl party, and I’m going to cheer on the Chiefs.   I can never, ever, ever, ever, ever, find myself cheering for a team from San Francisco.  Never!!  Among the many great things that Jackie Robinson as a man and baseball player, I will always respect him for choosing to retire rather than play for the hated ones when he was traded to the Giants.  I know that he had actually decided to retire before the trade, and his decision to retire actually had nothing to do with being traded to the Giants, but my version of the story sure sounds a lot better, doesn’t it?