It was almost sixteen years ago that I started LA DODGER TALK and up until a year ago, when I took a year off, it has been pretty much part of my life. When I originally started I had some rules which gradually eroded over the years. I am not going to get into the details or blame anyone, because to solve a problem you have to recognize your share of responsibility because if you only blame others, you will never solve it. As Dr. Wayne Dyer said:
“All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. The only thing blame does is to keep the focus off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. You may succeed in making another feel guilty about something by blaming him, but you won’t succeed in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy. ”
Again, I am not going to re-hash the past, but I am going to go back to rules on this site. I don’t have to look far to come up with rules that I like. Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts had the right idea and I am stealing some of them from him. He won’t mind! In fact, he used to be a reader. I can’t say if he still is or not. As VP of Communication for Showtime, he has certainly moved up the food chain. Here are his rules that I am adopting:
Thank You For Not …
- using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
- personally attacking other commenters
- baiting other commenters
- arguing for the sake of arguing
- discussing politics
- discussing religion
- using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
- making the same point over and over again
- claiming your opinion isn’t allowed when it’s just being disagreed with
This is the place to discuss Dodger baseball and other stuff that you might want to share about life, sports, etc. I am a Duke basketball fan, a Colts football fan and a Pacers Pro basketball fan and I can’t guarantee I won’t bring something about that up on occasion. ‘PAT McAFEE RETIRED? IS THAT A JOKE?
Anyway, let’s talk Dodgers – It’s only 13 days until Spring Training! Whoooooooo Hooooooo….
It’s up to you all to choose the topic today!
Discussion (27)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Yeah, telling Joey that they have to make a decision so he has to make a decision. I think Joe wants 2 years but I doubt the Dodgers will give it.
Maybe they are using Romo as leverage to get Blanton…
Might be getting paid on the sly by the Giants, to ruin us.
Sign Blanton
I am pretty cynical about relievers. You never know what you will get. They have on years and off years. I would be willing to give him a chance. I also think that Hatcher or Baez might also be lights-out this year. It’s a fine line between success and failure but both have plus stuff.
Romo only pitched 30 innings last year and gave up 5 HR. His best days are behind him. No thank you.
Man I hope not! The thought of Sergio Romo on the Dodgers makes me want to vomit. I’ve hated the mere sight of the guy while he was on the Giants. It would take awhile to get used to seeing his sorry mug in Dodger Blue. Then again, if he struck out Posey with the bases loaded, I might cut him some slack.
HI MARK!!! IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE DODGER TALK BACK. IT REALLY MAKES MY DAY WHENI I SEE YOUR. POSTS. THIS HAS BEEN A BAD HEAR PHYSICALLY FOR ME. BJT, LATELY I HAVE BEEN FEELING BETTER. THE DODGERS CAME CLOSE LAST YEAR, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE YEAR. YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY MARK. JUST WANTED TO SAY BY NO MEANS AM I AN EXPERT. I JUST LOVE MY DODGERS. EXCUSE MY ALL CAPS BUT COMPUTER. NOT WORKING. LOOK OUT FOR 2NAMES. THIS YEAR. JULIO URIAS AND CODY BELLINGER. THEY WILL LEAD US TO THE PROMISED LAND
I just heard that Sergio Romo may be coming to the Dodgers. If so, it’s Bye, Bye Joey Blanton!
I think Grandal is just hitting his stride as an MLB player. If he stays healthy and keeps learning his craft, he could be an all star. Having consistent pitchers would help his resume. I like pitchers who are easy to catch, instead of having to jump all over to block balls. Our top 3 starters seem to be easy to catch. The others? I still think Urias is all over the place, but hopefully he will become more of a control sort of guy.
I could make an argument for this lineup:
1. Forsythe 2B
2. Puig/Ethier RF
3. Seager SS
4. Grandal C
5. Turner 3B
6. Gonzo 1B
7. Pederson CF
8. Toles/SVS LF
If Grandal is healthy and hits between Seager and Turner, he could be a devastating Cleanup hitter. Sometimes hitter become better because of who hits in front and in back of them.
Mark, to your prediction a couple posts back about Grandal hitting 40 homers. I don’t see that happening for the following reasons: 1) He’s a catcher and won’t play enough games even if he DH’s every game in an AL park that he otherwise may have been rested, 2) He hits too far down in the order, 3) While he has a good OBP he doesn’t spoil pitches consistently to get the pitcher to make a mistake 4) if I remember correctly his home run ratio is a lot lower batting right handed.
So, from what I read, it appears that the Twins wanted JDL, Alvarez and Calhoun and the Dodgers may have offered JDL and Calhoun, but not Alvarez. I would have done that deal and evidently the Dodgers would have too, but I am OK with Logan Forsythe. I remain skeptical that Calhoun will every play 2B for the Dodgers. I think he still gets traded, maybe in a package with some vets.
Any time you follow the advice of Jon Weisman you’re doing well and way ahead in the game. I always enjoy reading your blog Mark, however, I think you would have to agree, he was the Vin Scully of Dodger bloggers.
The rules are fine. But it appears that some smart baseball people won’t be joining in here because of them. I agree with the rules, but the fun of these sites is to engage in baseball talk, and if some other stuff is thrown in along the way, we should be able to ignore it and get to the baseball. I am able to ignore the stuff I don’t want to read and get to the baseball jewels that are sometimes hidden there. I have an advantage that I don’t know any of the people commenting, so the personal stuff to me is irrelevant. I think the personal needling/personality hits are boring and don’t add anything to any site. But a little non baseball junk is ok with me. It keeps it fun.
Aye aye, sir