2020 Dodgers All Star Week

July 14, 2020

With a raucous sellout crowd pulsating throughout the stadium last night, Joc went head to head against Vlad Jr in a remake of the classic 2019 HR Derby.  This time Joc bested the young Blue Jays slugger and won the 2020 Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium.  This was on a night that followed a Josiah Gray masterpiece who went 2 innings striking out all six batters he faced in…

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Notes for Friday, July 10, 2020

July 10, 2020

As Bear reported the Dodgers have apparently completed their 60-man pool with the additions of: RHP – Bobby Miller RHP – Landon Knack RHP – Ryan Pepiot RHP – Edubray Ramos C – Carson Taylor 2B – Michael Busch OF – Anthony Garcia Five of the six 2020 draftees have been invited to be a part of the 60-man pool.  Only Gavin Stone has been left out, as well as…

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Chico IS the Man

July 9, 2020

This may not have the Hollywood ending that many would have liked to have seen, but this story does have Hollywood roots.  The saga begins March 2008. Francisco “Chico” Herrera was an 18 year old high school baseball player from Hollywood High School when he was hired to be a ball boy for his Los Angeles Dodgers.  Job Description: If a player needs something, he gets it. It is thankless,…

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Spring Training 2.0

July 7, 2020

DRAFT RESULTS Let’s remind what the penalties are for exceeding the slot bonus value.  Bonuses that exceed the slot value by < 5% are charged an overage tax of 75% of the amount in excess of the slot value.  If the bonuses exceed the stipulated slot value from between 5% to 10%, there remains  a 75% overage tax assessed for the excess bonus, AND lose next year’s #1 draft pick. …

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I Am At a Crossroad

First of all, thanks for putting words in my mouth Bums.  What you apparently read into what I wrote is that I think COVID-19 is a hoax.  Never said those words.  Never hinted those words.  But believe what you want.  COVID-19 is very personal to me. My son and granddaughter are both considered high risk, as am I having had two significant bouts with pneumonia. Last weekend both my son…

July 6, 2020
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Things That Make You Go Hmmm – July 5 Edition

July 5, 2020

The Los Angeles Dodgers have reported to Dodger Stadium; or at least some of them have.  There are some who have apparently tested positive for the coronavirus, while others (so far only David Price) has opted to sit out the 2020 season.  I am perfectly comfortable with any player or management personnel deciding that it is in their best interests to opt out for the season.  I just hope that…

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Six Man Rotations and a Draft Update

July 1, 2020

Players are expected to report to camp beginning today and there are a couple of topics that have caught my attention. It has been close to 50 years since MLB moved from a four man rotation into the current five man rotation. However for 2020, in an abbreviated season, the six man rotation is being considered. There are now a couple of teams coming out indicating that they are going…

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Doc and AF Media Zoom Conference Call

June 25, 2020

Media Questions for AF and Doc – The first several minutes were spent with respect to COVID-19.  The Dodgers are still trying to understand all of the protocols.  It is a brand new scenario, and they are all learning. A question with respect to how many Dodgers and staff have tested positive for COVID-19.  AF indicated that there have been some, but none were considered serious, and that they will…

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Plaaaaay Baaaaall

June 24, 2020

Well…MLB players are expected to report July 1 to their home fields for COVID-19 testing and to initiate ST 2.0.   Camp is due to begin July 3.  As is usually the case with “normal” ST, pitchers and catchers will report first, with position players due to follow.  It is expected that the players will report to ST on a staggered basis, and that they would be on the field at…

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Are MLB Owners Short Sighted?

June 22, 2020

I want to be clear from the start.  I am now, and I always have been on the side of the players when it comes to salary.  They are entitled to whatever they can get.  Scott Boras and Gerrit Cole can convince NYY that Cole should be paid $324MM, and that becomes his Fair Market Value (FMV). But Scott has no right to dictate to the owners as a group…

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