MLB.com just came out with their first 2025 Power Rankings, and to no one’s surprise, the Dodgers are #1. The Phillies are #2, and the Yankees are #3. They said this about the Dodgers:
1. Dodgers (previously: 1)
— Will Leitch
The Dodgers are basking in the warm glow of their World Series win, and they’ve brought in Blake Snell, Hyeseong Kim and Michael Conforto, while bringing back Teoscar Hernández and Blake Treinen. Most of those pitchers who were hurt in October will be back at full strength for 2025, including, oh yeah, Ohtani. Yeah, suffice it to say, the vibes are good here.
Yawn! MLB Executives ranks the top farm systems, and this was the result:
#5 is not bad for a team that drafts at the bottom of each round!
THE ATHLETIC takes a stab at the Dodgers Roster.
There are no words to describe what is going on in HELL-A as we speak. All we can do is wish and pray that everyone is safe.
In the above picture, the house is totally gone, but the classic is barely harmed. Go figure!
Discussion (46)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Rams gave moved to AZ, that blows!
But we’ll still handle em.
Nick Punto joins the Padre coaching staff along with Robbie Hammock,
Former Dodger #6 in MLB’s top relievers:
“Across 30 appearances in 2024, Edwin Uceta went 2-0 with a 1.51 ERA, 0.816 WHIP, 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings, five saves, seven holds and a 1.9 WAR.
It marked quite the breakout season for the right-hander, who was designated for assignment, waived or released by the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Chicago Cubs between 2021 and 2023.”
Born and raised in CA. Spent several years in OR and TN, but here I am back in So CA. It’s the weather, period. I have no belief whatsoever that CA politics or management will change anytime soon. We have had serious fires for years now. This is just getting the publicity because Hollywood and Pacific Palisades. Yeah it is serious, but we have had losses or over 3,000 homes before, and the nightmare fire in Paradise, CA. As soon as spring arrives the CA Legislature (Super Majority Democrat) and the gov Newscum, and the greeny wackos, will forget about making changes. With every coastal big city, county, and the state solidly Democrat and with their propensity to lie, cheat, and steal in order to get their way with laws and elections, not much will really change. Hell, they will likely come up with another of their never ending batshit crazy ideas about forest management or water conservation or God save some other nuisance non-native pest or plant. Such a price to pay for great weather, I may be just as crazy as the Dems.
prayers and thoughts go out to the people in California. Hopefully no one else loses their lives…….. saw a rumor earlier, this was really interesting, second baseman Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay rays, could be a target for the Dodgers. Guy hit 21 homers last year and plays good second base. This would throw Kim into that super utility role. May not happen, but I would like that one a lot.
Slow day today, workwise.
Baseball America has three (3) breakout stars:
($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-breakout-prospects-to-watch-in-2025-for-every-team/
Eriq Swan, Brendan Tunink, Brooks Auger
At the very least some cool names. Eriq! Auger!
First, My prayers go out to all the people affected by the fires in LA and all the surrounding areas. From the films I see on the news, this is just unbelievable.
Secondly, forgive my ignorance in geography in the area, but where is Dodger Stadium located
in relation to the fires?
Sometimes in these disasters the uninsured actually do better than those with insurance. I have seen when Hurricane Sandy hit in the Northeast. Seeing two houses on a street. One still not rebuilt a year later-still fighting with insurance company. The other owner got a no (or low interest) loan and gets to rebuild sooner. Crazy system!!!
Caleb signs with the Pirates. Verdugo being courted by Houston and the Angels.
Is there a comprehensive report out regarding all the recent rule changes? Such as pitch and hit clock, base sizes, others I have forgotten. Will we hear anything about increased pitcher injuries and possible changes? Any new rules coming into play for 2025?
Cartaya traded to Twins:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/dodgers-trade-diego-cartaya-twins.html
The human toll of the fires is unbelievable. SoCal hasn’t had much rain and the winds were beyond fierce, gusts reaching 100 mph in places.
The fact aircraft and helicopters were grounded because of the wind, water issues and mayor Bass cutting $18 million from the fire department budget all plays into this.
Terribly sad situation. Yes they must figure out the insurance issue.
No doubt this will be analyzed in depth, hopefully some changes will be made.
As to the Dodgers, the most impressive element has to be the ranking of the farm system. That’s stunning considering where the Dodgers draft.
Several writers, including those at the LA Times and Jeff Passan point out the Dodgers are serious about landing Tanner Scott.
Mentioned JARRETT SEIDLER yesterday, that sent me down a rabbit hole.
Found this article ($$$$) on Cartaya that’s very informative.
https://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/article/95818/guarding-the-lines-the-fall-of-a-low-a-superman/
First of all, it has a great lede:
Catchers are just weird.
But goes on to really good stuff:
“His swing is pretty as right-handed swings go… Low-A pitching got a whole lot worse coming out of the pandemic … and Cartaya destroyed it. Once the pitching got better, his quality of contact and contact ability both imploded.”
Having worked for over 30 years with the US Forest Service, I have some thoughts on the LA fires and forest management. I started with the USFS in 1964. At that time it put money into the treasury through it sales of timber. Its forest management was guided by the philosophy of Gifford Pinchot “The greatest good for the greatest number over the long run”. As environmental groups grew in number and strength, laws were written that severely restricted what the FS could do without public approval. The most restrictive was NEPA (Nat’l Environmental Planning Act), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With NEPA any project of significance has to be studied at length with input from numerous disciplines The FS always tried to stay out of politics, and pretty well did until Bill Clinton became President. He fired the Chief of the FS and installed a wildlife researcher as chief. Also, NEPA and ESA made cutting timber and managing fire fuel much more difficult. The environmental organizations have a list of over 5000 endangered species that they use to control activities they don’t like. Not only from the USFS, but the Bureau of Land Mgt, (BLM), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), et al. It has severely effected the economy of many small towns, as sawmills were forced to close. At this point I consider the FS to be an extension of the Park Service.
There are millions of acres of lodge4pole pine in the west. When lodgepole gets to be 8″ in diameter, it is ice cream to the mountain pine beetle. The longer the FS goes with an abbreviated timber cutting program, the more disastrous wildfires become. In California, restrictions are even worse due to additional state regulations. A small private land owner has so many hoops to jump through that a timber sale is almost impossible. As a result of the extreme regulations, the fuel load keeps building until nature takes its course. It will only get worse until our political leaders have the will to return to sensible forest management.
I know this pales in comparison to what people are dealing with but:
I really hope they dont move the Rams game from SoFi monday night.
Yeah, the Palisades are 75% gone. That’s staggering.
I don’t understand people’s anger at the Fire Insurance debacle. Voters, in their wisdom, passed an ordinance (I think that’s what the noun is) that doesn’t allow Insurance companies to use forward projections in determining insurance costs. That is a non-starter for any businessman, and they all stopped writing fire insurance policies.
Sometimes you reap what you sow.
I love California, and have really settled in. But the proposition process is completely bonkers.
And don’t get me started on the coastal commission.
But enough politics.
Back to baseball:
FWIW
On the YouTube broadcast I cited yesterday there was a little bit of love for Jung, who also has spectacular stuff+ ratings for his pitches, it’s just control that’s a problem (some of his pitches sail to the backstop.)
I had to evacuate my place here in Irvine about three years ago. Growing up near the foothills, fires were always an issue. I remember hosing down the wooden shake roof of my parent’s house.
Going to school in Malibu in the early 90s, fires caused an evacuation or two. A college friend was burned out of her house. Laguna Hills was devastated in 1993.
I tell people from out of state who comment about our earthquakes that it’s not the earthquakes that cause the damage. It’s the fires.
Still, shocking to see the complete destruction in places like Pasadena and Palisades, which really aren’t that adjacent to undeveloped foothills and brush.
And there’s the potential that a lot of these homeowners didn’t have fire insurance because companies like Allstate are leaving California.
It’s really tragic.
Strongest Santa Ana winds I’ve experienced in a long time. There’s upended trees and huge branches snapped off like twigs all over the place.