Another rainy day and not great results in the minor league system yesterday. Well, that isn’t quite true. The nature of the day is not always decided by wins and losses. It is an individual game played in the context of a team game. Here is a bit about some individuals. Jake Vogel In Rancho Cucamonga 19-year-old Jake Vogel seems to have shaken off his early injury woes while having…
The New Rotation
With Dustin May, Trevor Bauer, and Clayton Kershaw all out of the picture, at least for the time being, the Dodger starting rotation after the All-Star Break looks like this: Striker Buehler Julio Urias Tony Gonsolin David Price JoJo Gary Yes, I said JoJo Gray. He will get another start… or maybe two at OKC, and hopefully, be built up to at least four innings by then (hey, it’s better…
Momma Said There’d be Days Like This…
Rants & Raves What happened the past three games is unexplicable! This is baseball. We have seen this movie before. We can’t explain it… but it happens. I am just along for the ride. This is baseball. This is life. Everything is not always puppys and bunnys! Morality clauses have generally been held to be valid and enforceable as applied to high-profile figures, such as Trevor Bauer (California may be softer on this…
2021 Dodger Draft Preview
As every semi-lucid baseball fan knows, next week is the 91st MLB All Star game. The results are close with the AL winning 45 games, NL winning 43 games with 2 ties. The AL has runs scored 373 runs and the NL has scored 370 runs. The AL is currently riding a 7 game winning streak. But that is not the only MLB event that is happening next week, and…
Remembering 1992
Over the last several years, we Dodger fans have been very lucky to have a winning franchise. 8 consecutive division titles, 3 trips to the World Series, and a World Championship. Cy Young award winners, MVPs. A couple of ROY winners and a lot of exciting baseball. For most seasons, the Dodgers have been very successful in Los Angeles. Oh, there have been some losing seasons, like 1958, their first…
Sight Versus Vision
These two things wrestle with one another constantly: Sight absorbs the visual elements of this world.Vision unveils a world that can exist. Sight reveals boundaries in our path.Vision sees beyond boundaries. Sight shows you what you do not have.Vision gives hope to weary eyes. Sight is present.Vision is future. Do you remember when the Dodgers were no-hit by the Cubs and I wrote: “Getting No-Hit May be the Best Thing That has Happened to This Team.” I guess…
Where Have You Gone Joe DiMaggio?
Unless they know something about the history of the game, many younger folks would simply think Joe DiMaggio was the Mr. Coffee guy. But to more than a generation of Yankee fans, he was one of the best that ever wore the pinstripes. Players like that are few and far between in today’s game. His type of player would be a dinosaur. He struck out only 369 times in his…
The Dodger Players Spoke
Last night the Dodger players spoke without saying a word. Their four errors showed that they might have been somewhat distracted… and understandably so. But they maintained their composure until they got Max Scherzer out of the game and proceeded to destroy the Nationals bullpen. The Dodger players were laughing and having a great time for the most part… except for the defensive lapses. I can understand it. The White…
Scandal’s Hit All Sports, Not Just Baseball.
The most disturbing news this week has been the Trevor Bauer story. Myself, I reserve judgement on guilt or innocence until all of the facts are in, and are presented. But it brings to the forefront once again that pro athletes are nothing more than talented human beings with the same failings we all have. Some take their celebrity and do wonderful things. Others shy away from the spotlight and…
Phil Bickford – Riding the Simple Train
Right-hander Phil Bickford was claimed off waivers from the Brewers by the Dodgers on May 3, 2021. I expect the move was questioned by more than a few Dodger faithful since the 25-year-old Bickford had previously pitched just two innings at the MLB level – both with the Brewers – resulting in four and two runs scored against him respectively and a Brewer ERA of 27.00. He debuted with the…