The Bullpen Conundrum

June 21, 2019

Hindsight is 20/20 Vision is Rare Foresight is often just luck After last night’s bullpen meltdown, everyone is calling for the Dodgers to trade for an entirely new bullpen and gut the farm system to get Will Smith, Brad Hand, Filipe Vazquez, and Jose Leclerc… for starters. I will tell you right now that the odds of getting two of those relievers are none and getting one is slim. So,…

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Dear Doc

June 20, 2019

Dear Dave Roberts, We think your lineups are stupid and that you rest the wrong players while playing the wrong players. We think there are only two things wrong with you: (1) Everything you say, and (2) everything you do. We know a lot more than you do about this. We have managed for years while sipping our beverages of choice and cursing your every move. That is why the…

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Why I Hate Joc Pederson

June 17, 2019

Some people evidently think I hate Joc, so I went with that catchy headline. In reality, I am not a hater. I don’t hate Joc Pederson and I don’t even hate the Giants. I don’t like the Giants but I don’t hate them. I love the Dodgers, but the opposite of LOVE is not HATE. It’s ambivalence. When you hate something, it controls you. If you are ambivalent about it,…

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Apples to Oranges

June 14, 2019

Last year when Corey Seager went down with Tommy John Surgery, it was immediately known that he would miss the rest of the season. Thus, the Manny Machado trade. It now appears that Corey will be out a month… maybe less, so there is absolutely NO WAY the Dodgers are going to trade for ANY shortstop, let alone anyone named Lindor. It ain’t happening! Comparing last season to this season…

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The Bad News Could Be Good News

June 13, 2019

Losing Corey Seager just when he was rounding back into form was/is a big blow, but unless you are just resigned to failure, sometimes bad news can be good news. I always say that problems are opportunities in drag. The fact that Corey is out means that Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez are probably going to get almost “regular” playing time. Of course, that could also be bad… if they…

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It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

June 11, 2019

Usually when change is involved, things get worse before they get better. That’s true in just about everything: life, business and sports. Since this is a Dodger Blog, you might be wondering what that has to do with the Dodgers. So, I am talking about three pitchers in general: Joe Kelly, Kenley Jansen and Clayton Kershaw. I think that before Spring Training, the Dodgers had a plan with each pitcher….

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Get It Out Of The Ocean

June 10, 2019

Max Muncy, aka “Mad Max” just cemented his place in Legendary Dodger Lore after jacking a massive home run into McCovey Cove off of Madison Baumgarner. MadBum allegedly took umbrage when Max blasted the 424 foot home run and enjoyed watching it as it left his bat. I mean, what is wrong with that? However, MadBum yelled at Muncy to stop watching the ball and start running, to which MadMax…

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Max “Freaking” Muncy & The Bullpen Again

June 8, 2019

I am not sure that an Andrew Friedman will ever have a “set” lineup, but if he did, Mad Max should be in it… and second base seems as good a place as any. I suggested early in Spring Training that second base was a position Max could play, but most fans disagreed. That’s how I know I am on the right track sometimes: when people disagree with me and…

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The Bullpen Dilemma

June 7, 2019

So, this is not meant to be contentious, but rather, an exchange of ideas. Yesterday, AC said this: “I absolutely agree with Mark that AF will not overpay for anyone. Where Mark and I disagree, is that I believe that to AF it is especially true with relievers.” Ummm, Jeff, I mean… AC, I agree. 100%. I totally agree that it is especially true with relievers. However, where we may…

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All Over the Place Wednesday

June 5, 2019

It’s hard to imagine a better team in MLB than the Dodger right about now. Yes, I know the Twins are doing well, but I can’t see them keeping it up. Their underlying peripherals don’t support their record, but they have been a pleasant surprise and great story. They are allegedly talking to Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel, but I think Dallas goes to the Yankees and Kimbrel goes to…

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