Well, it is playoff time. Today is also the anniversary of Bobby Thompson’s “Shot heard round the world.” A little overkill there. The only place it was really heard was in New York and Brooklyn. A dagger right through the heart of every Dodger fan. And total elation in Coogan’s Bluff. One of the photos of that event that always stuck with me was one of Jackie Robinson. While the…
You ask 100 fans that question, you might get 100 different answers. One thing is for certain, bad defense is going to cost you games. It cost the Dodgers a game only yesterday. Max Muncy blew what should have been an easy double-play grounder, and the Giants won, 2-1. As of today, the Dodgers are the 10th best fielding team in the majors. 6 playoff teams are ahead of them….
Well now we know from whence commit our next opponent. Who do you prefer? Milwaukee or Arizona? Pitching wise, both present challenges. But the earliest either’s number one can start is game two of the NLDS in Los Angeles. Milwaukee’s two main studs are Burnes and Peralta. Woodruf is their best starter, but he has pitched in only 11 games all year. He is 5-1 with a 2.28 ERA. But…
Well, here we go again. 11 straight years going to the playoffs. 9 years of disappointment, and 1 of elation so far. And last season was probably the most disappointing of all. Yet, we have experienced a time unlike any other in Dodger baseball history. People harp a lot that they resemble the Braves of the 90’s with all these trips and not much success. Yet I look on all…
Since Mookie and Freddie are having such great years, I thought I would look back on some of the best all-time record holders. Freeman, who is about as consistent a ballplayer as you will ever see, is now one hit away from his first 200 hit season. Think about that. 14 years in the league and this will be the first time reaching that mark. By comparison, Steve Garvey had…
When the Dodgers signed David Peralta and Jason Heyward, Dodger fans were less than enthused. And I must admit, I was one of them. Heyward was coming off of a year where he was worse than horrendous. And the Cubs were willing to pay him for not playing. Peralta was coming back after a season in which he had been traded at the deadline. He did not impress anyone with…
2023, according to many, it is supposed to be a transitional year. In some ways, it has been. In others, not so much. Nothing has played out as expected. The only starting pitcher who was a starter out of spring training left standing, well leaning a little, is Clayton Kershaw. Syndergaard, traded, Urias, placed on admin leave, Gonsolin, injured and out until 25, Pepiot, injured and just returned. Grove injured…
I have always said how much I love history. US history has always been a favorite subject. Right up there with that is the history of the Dodgers. I thought I would look back at some players we all might have forgotten. They were Dodgers at some point in time, they might have only stayed a season, or maybe a couple. But they are right there on the all-time roster….
It is happening. Slowly for sure, but it is happening. At the beginning of this season the Dodgers had five veteran starting pitchers. Kershaw, Urias, Gonsolin, Syndergaard and May. May obviously the kid in the bunch but entering his 4th season in the majors Many of their back-up players are and were veterans. Some vets they signed in the offseason looked like they would be making the team. Peralta and…
Ted Giannoulis, The San Diego Chicken We see them now at most major league parks. Most are there to entertain the fans during lulls in the action on the field. The Dodgers are one of the few franchises without a mascot. I am pretty sure the Yankees also have no mascot. All of the Dodgers’ rivals in the west have mascots. The Giants have Lou Seal, D-Backs, Baxter the Bob…