If you consider all the data and analysis of baseball teams and apply it correctly, it seems likely that the 2021 version of the LA Dodgers will push 120 wins. However, I doubt that happens! To even pass 116 wins would be an amazing feat and would involve just about everything happening perfectly… which rarely happens.
There will be bumps in the road… hopefully just speed bumps, not mountains! However, big challenges are not out of the question. Stuff happens! A devastating injury can occur at any time. If it happens to Edwin Rios, Chris Taylor, or Tony Gonsolin, it’s bad, but what if it happens to Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, or Striker Buehler? Injuries occur and sometimes Tommy John Surgery is necessary. Bones can be broken, ligaments can be torn – If you have been around sports for any period of time, you are acutely aware of this.
Maybe this will be a magical year… where no serious injuries occur. Just don’t count on that. Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers certainly are not! They have wisely maintained and even added to the teams’ incredible depth, making the Dodgers the team most able to withstand devastating injuries.
I do not have any evidence to support it, but it seems to me that teams who have utilized Driveline Baseball Training for their pitchers have been relatively injury-free over the past couple of years. At least, it seems that way to me. We know that Kershaw, Jansen, Buehler, Price, Bauer, and other Dodger pitchers have been students of Driveline Baseball practices, and the Dodgers still have 25-year-old Rob Hill as Pitching Coordinator, Technical Development to minimize injuries for pitchers. In case you forgot, here’s the scoop on Rob Hill: HERE
Let’s hope the Dodgers run of good luck continue through the season… and if they are real lucky, this season could be one for the ages. Maybe that 120 Win Goal is achievable.
Spring Training News
- LH Alex Vesia has a very good shot of making the team right out of Spring Training, but if not, will almost certainly see time in the Show during the season.
- Mike Kickham, another LH pitcher who is 32 and has played in MLB since 2014, starts Sunday. He is a huge longshot… even for AAA!
- It sounds to me like Dustin May is destined for AAA to continue to develop his off-speed stuff. Gonsolin could be headed to AAA as well. They will not be there the whole season, but both could benefit from developing their pitches. Gray will undoubtedly start at AAA as well, but by playoff time, we could see all three on the MLB Roster.
- Just a note, when you first post here, your comment goes into moderation, and I have to release it. Also, if you post a link or two, it also goes there. Nothing personal… it’s just the way it is. Sometimes, I don’t look at the site for a few hours, so it can sit there until I release it. It happened to a couple of people last night.
Discussion (35)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Terrence Gore was signed to a minor league deal by the Braves. Joc Pederson said he turned down more lucrative offers for the chance to play everyday with the Cubs. He would never have gotten that opportunity here. If anyone is looking for a really cool Dodger jacket, they are selling a warmup jacket that has 7 time champion on it and all of the patches from those World Series at the MLB shop. I think it is right around 150, but you could order it today and using the code, it was marked down to 112.99
Dodger Digest guy floats 8y/$237m extension for Seager. I’d do it.
A theory: Taylor will be a full-time utility player, meaning he will start as many games as Muncy, Pollock, Turner.
However, those games will be spread among 2b, ss, 3b, lf & cf.
It’s possible he may end the year with as many starts as anyone not named Betts, Bellinger or Seager.
Who are the players that you are most excited about this year? For me it’s Urias and Lux! It those 2 have big years then look out. It’s how many games above 100!will we go!
Peter Gammons has an interesting piece today in the Athletic on the need for pitching depth – both SP and RP – due to the increase from 60 to 162 games this year.
Most GM’s looking to need 7-10 SP and 10-15 RP to get through the year. Lots of discussion on LA and their depth.
With proper rest and usage could Kenley be a top closer this year? He doesn’t have to close every opportunity. He was pretty good last year except for a couple of September meltdowns. If he has regained some cut and control it could happen! That would be huge!
My first favorite player, and my favorite all time actor, both had the same nickname. Duke. Duke Snider and John ” Duke” Wayne.
He is in charge of Video Production at my company and has a sick sense of humor! 😉
Here are some examples of videos would not let him publish:
This one is particularly corny and my son-in-law is the one with the hat and cigar:
Question is: Can he spell and write with the same sense of humor as Michael?
My son-in-law named his dog after Michael Norris… “Bear.”
Well, maybe he doesn’t know Michael, but it sounded good!
😉
Look what happened to Ethier? An unexpected injury that ended his time with the Dodgers even though he bravely tried to come back. I liked Pedro Guerrero and was sorry to see him get traded. I hope I won’t get in trouble by saying I named my parrot, “Pete” after him.
Ruiz is still not in camp. The team is working to get him there. When he does arrive he will have to go through Covid protocols. # 3 catcher right now is Tom Federowicz.
The unknown. It is always there. And it can happen before the season even begins. In 1986, Pedro Guerrero broke his leg during a spring training game. He only played 31 games that year. He had a comeback season in 87, then was traded in August of 88 for John Tudor. Cardinals definitely won that trade. Tudor over his 1yr 2 month Dodgers stint was 4-3. They got nothing out of him during the 88 season as he was injured most of the year. And he pitched 6.1 innings in the playoffs and World Series. Cardinals got 4 seasons from Pedro. The first 3 were ok. Last one he was slowing down a lot. Tudor, after his Dodger stint, went back to the Cardinals as a free agent and went 12-4 his final year. Even over the last few years some player has gone down for the beginning of the season. Kershaw with his back. I think I remember Turner going down with a wrist injury a few years ago.