This was supposed to happen NEXT YEAR. By “this,” I mean Michael Norris and Jeff Dominique were going to join LA DODGER TALK a year from now… but due to technical difficulties, it happened a year early… but for me, it was right on time. I am allegedly retired, but it doesn’t feel that way most days. US Water Systems is growing at 35% year-over-year with no end in sight….
Did the Dodgers have any idea Will Smith would be the hitter he is when they drafted him? Not in the least! When the Los Angeles Dodgers took Will Smith in the 1st round of the 2016 draft (32nd overall out of the University of Louisville), the internal scouting report looked something like this: In draft-speak:Will was a “Safe everyday catcher,” Not a “middle-of-the-order monster.” What They Actually Got Will…
Since Andrew Friedman took over the team a decade ago, he has not been shy about using his roster and shuffling players from OKC to LA, and moving players across various levels. Some of us saw the OKC Comets play last night, and they also play today and tomorrow. Ryder Ryan starts tonight for OKC. Let’s take a quick look at the other levels of the minor leagues. Tulsa Drillers…
I had a great conversation with a wise old sage about Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland. This old sage goes by the name of “AI”, and here was our conversation: Mark: What is the real story on why Hyeseong Kim was sent to the minors over Alex Freeland? AI: Short answer: this wasn’t about spring stats. It was about role fit, development path, and how the Dodgers think offense actually…
Zach Root burst onto the Dodger scene Saturday night, looking like the reincarnation of Sandy Koufax … with an altered delivery. The story of Zach Root is actually a pretty classic “late-blooming, grinder-to-dude” arc with a few sharp turns along the way. He is not a can’t-miss phenom — He’s more like a slow-burning fuse. Let me explain. He was born on Feb 6, 2004, in Fort Myers, Florida, and…
Even before Andrew Friedman was hired as President of Baseball Operations, I had called for the hiring of someone like him. When he was hired, I supported it from day one with a level of excitement that I had never felt. Immediately, I was attacked by morons who shall remain nameless. I have rarely second-guessed anything he does, for two reasons: What I am about to say is not second-guessing,…
I have been sick for a couple of days. I had a bug, but some of it was A-Fib. I am going to have another cardioversion shortly (just waiting for the call). My cardiologist is a friend, so he usually gets me in quickly. It’s always good for old guys to have a cardiologist as a friend. 😉 I keep mine on speed dial. This last cardioversion has lasted nearly…
James Tibbs III seems to have improved since joining the Dodgers. He changed his leg kick from being a “timing mechanism” to being a “metronome tap.” When he came to the Dodgers, they knew his swing did not need to be overhauled, like Justin Turner’s. The Dodgers reportedly encouraged him to return closer to the swing that made him a star at Florida State rather than chasing exit-velocity tweaks. Mechanically,…
The grass is riz. I wonder where the flowers is? Baseball America just published a piece titled: “One Intriguing 2026 Spring Training Performance For Each MLB Team.” In it, they featured River Ryan as the Dodgers’ “Intriguing Player.” In part, they wrote: “The big question for Ryan was whether he could return to health and his pre-injury stuff. Back from Tommy John surgery, Ryan needed one spring training outing to…
