If I were to write AF, the following is probably what I would say. Mind you, I pull no punches, and I am pretty blunt. Don’t get me wrong, I think Freidman took a rebuilding organization and infused it with even more talent. And he did that while drafting low. But he has also had the luxury of pretty much-unlimited resources at his disposal. You cannot argue too much with…
It’s like deja vu, all over again.
Yogi Berra was one of the greatest players to play the game. He played in 14 World Series and won 10 of them. He was great on both sides of the baseball setting records for most home runs by a catcher (313) and most consecutive errorless games (148), and was a three-time MVP. He also served our country in the US Navy from 1943-1946. After his playing career, he managed…
Remembering Maury Wills
I have many memories of Maurice Morning Wills. Most of them involve his stealing a base. He was one of my favorite Dodgers in my childhood. He inserted energy into an aging team and helped them towards a pennant, and World Series wins. And the journey to that first year was a long one. He was born on October 2nd, 1932, in Washington, D.C. He was the seventh of thirteen…
Same as it Ever Was
Or, the more things change, the more they stay the same… This year was supposed to be different. After all, we had the highest payroll in the universe, (The Mets certainly tried), the deepest team, a ton of pitching and a 40-man roster just oozing with talent. Overflowing actually, since stashing guys on the 60 became an art for this front office. And it all comes crashing down… Please excuse…
Just Wait Until Next Year…
It’s a day later, and I have moved on. I am resigned to waiting until next year. Many of the fans on LADT are of the “older variety.” They remember when the winner of the National League and the winner of the American League played for the World Series Championship. If you had a good team and got there, you had a decent chance of winning. Today, you have to…
Not Beaten – Humiliated!
I will start this diatribe by saying that this epic fail will possibly cost Dave Roberts his job, but that is not the biggest part of the problem. The bigger problem lies in the office of Andrew Friedman. He is the President of Baseball Operations, and the buck stops with him. I have been a champion of Andrew since he was hired. I have defended him against many assaults on…
It All Boils Down to this: Win Today or the Season is Over!
Everything is crystal clear! The Dodgers either have to win today, or the 2022 season is over for them. If the Dodgers win, they go back to Chavez Ravine for Game Five, where the winner takes all. If they lose, their best season… the season for the ages is over. It will be a shame if the season ends today, but that’s baseball. The baseball gods can be cruel. I…
The Keys to Beating the Padres
First of all, the keyword is “Don’t Panic.” OK, it’s two words, but you get my drift. In both games against the Padres, the Dodgers have played like a team that has had a number of off days and is not sharp, and does not feel a sense of urgency. Actually, here are the four things the Dodgers need to do to beat the Padres. The Stars Need to Come…
The Importance of a Mexican Star
Dave Robert’s selection to start Julio Urias in Game one of the NLDS was a landmark decision that essentially told the world that he had supplanted Clayton Kershaw as the ace of the staff. This was no slight to Kershaw, who continues to thrive as a Dodger starter and will undoubtedly be a first-ballot Hall of Famer after retiring. Urias’ durability is primarily the reason for the decision, as he…
No Pressure, Clayton
Clayton Kershaw has said that he intends to play at least one more season. Most Dodger fans assume that it will be with the Dodgers. I don’t think that is a given. He could decide to be the Ranger’s Ace in 2023: Play at home, have his kids there every game, and go home to his own bed. Oh, and the Rangers would likely hand him a blank check. On…