Before I got sidetracked with the spring training heroics of Cody Thomas and Zach McKinstry, I had been providing a thumbnail sketch of the relief pitchers the Dodgers had signed in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft. Those profiles included Logan Boyer, Jacob Cantleberry, Jeff Belge, Nick Robertson, and Alec Gamboa as well as Ryan Pepiot whom I think will start the 2020 season in a starting role. There are still…
My Thoughts on the Bullpen and Others
I have been away for a bit due to some unexpected personal family matters, but I have continued to read the blog everyday. Last week when Mark proclaimed, “This could not only be the best Dodger bullpen of All-Time, but it could also be one of the best in the game… maybe ever!”, many unsurprisingly jumped on that testament. I have been a huge critic of the bullpen makeup, and…
McKinstry – Ex-Zach-ly Knocking on the Door
I have followed Zach McKinstry since he was selected by the Dodgers in the 33rd round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. I especially took notice when he was advanced to the Loons in 2016 and became an important cog in their championship run by moving to the third base position, a position he had not previously played. The 6’/180…
Rowan and Martin
Abbreviated Spring Time Random Thoughts – by 2Demeter2 (aka/Rowan) I was hoping to finish my article on Alanna Rizzo this week, but I have been down and out with the flu and a cold for the past 4 days, feeling rather punkish. So that article will have to wait for another day. On the other hand, one of the “benefits” of being down and out was that I got to…
The Kershawshank Redemption
Ninety-Three! That’s all you need to know. Clayton Kershaw was clocked at 93 MPH in yesterday’s game. The last time he did that was over 2 years ago! This was his first Spring Game and he was giddy after it… because he knows there is more left in the tank. 94? 95? Maybe… but every MPH of separation between his fastball and slider is HUGE! He sat at 91-92 most…
It’s Hard Not to be Giddy About This Team
Bleacher Report ranked all 30 MLB teams playoff odds and of course, the Dodgers were #1 with a 95% chance of making the playoffs. The Twins were second with a 90% chance and the Yankees were tied for third with an 85% chance (of course they pay in a tougher division). Surprisingly, the Tampa Bay Rays were only given a 60% chance. The Asstericks were also tied for third with…
Rant & Rave Thursday
Tradewinds Are Brewing… This Dodger team for 2020 is the deepest in major league history and has no obvious holes. Cut to the chase: I think it’s time to make another trade like the “Salary Dump” to the Reds whereby the Dodgers ended up with Jo Jo Gray, Mookie Bettes and David Price. Well, that wasn’t “exactly” the trade, but it was effectively the trade as Jeter Downs was a…
Cody Thomas – the Other Cody
On Monday outfielder Cody Thomas made a bit of a splash with the Dodgers after entering the game in the sixth inning to replace Cody Bellinger, although he moved to right field. All Thomas did was drive the first pitch he saw to the opposite field for a home run and then rob Blake Rutherford of a home run with a catch that would be Bellinger-like. Granted it is an…
Get Off My Lawn!
Count this as my latest of the “Dodger Codger” series. The older I get, the more I look at myself and realize that I sound like an old man. And then I realize, “I am an old man.” I’m nearing 60. I have followed the Dodgers for 55 years., and I could cite to you incidents from every Dodger season back to my years as a young child. We are…
Random Thoughts on Spring Training
On Saturday, AC provided us with an amazing analysis of questions to be answered this spring. It prompted me to go back a few years and see what the pressing questions were in the spring for the past few seasons and how they were answered: Last year, the top questions facing the Dodgers heading into Spring training were: • Is Clayton Kershaw definitely in decline? I would feel safe to…