I was going to respond to the MiLB contraction topic, but I was not going to add anything meaningful to what was already discussed. Suffice to say that I do not believe that the contraction plan has much of anything to do with enhancing player development. I think it has more to do with once again bending to the whims of the financially challenged organizations, in yet another cost saving…
‘Handy’ Andy Pafko – A Forgotten Dodger
Now that the Bobby Thompson home run has surfaced again, perhaps I can tease you one more time with a reference to that fateful hit in an article I wrote four years ago. I trace my birth as a Dodger fan back to the 1952 season. Vin Scully and Duke Snider were the midwives in bringing me into the world of “Dodger Blue.” Vin’s voice captivated me one evening in…
An Iconoclast Looks at MiLB Contraction
One of the many definitions of an “iconoclast” is someone who strongly opposes generally accepted beliefs and traditions. Some people think inside the box. Others think outside the box. I prefer to think there is no box. I am an iconoclast. I readily admit it and even embrace it. While the entire Dodger Fandom was attacking Andrew Freidman (pick a day… any day), I was embracing his tactics. I still…
George “Shotgun” Shuba – His Greatest Moment
Yesterday Evan gave us a great read on Ralph Branca – the man – not the unfairly maligned baseball player. With his reference to Jackie Robinson and “shot” it brought me back to another historic moment in time and an article I had written eight years ago about one more little known Dodger who too was a better man. George Shuba – now there’s a name that I suspect doesn’t…
A Better Man Than Most
We, as Dodger fans, are all going through different levels of anger as we cope with the sign-stealing scandals of which the Dodgers were victims. It is a travesty of justice that we lost that window of opportunity to see our team win the World Series after so many years of falling short. Frankly, I’m pretty angry about it, but there isn’t much we can do except hope that this…
What is Driveline?
When I coached youth baseball and at the high school level, travel baseball and specialized training weren’t as readily available as is it is today. We had materials and videos written by Tom House, including the “Winning Pitcher”, “Power Baseball”(written with Coop De Renne) and of course Nolan Ryan’s “Pitcher’s Bible”. For hitters, you had Charlie Lau’s “The Art of Hitting .300″ and“A Hitting Clinic: The Walt Hriniak Way”. Of…
The Dodgers Other Clayton
There will only ever be one Clayton Kershaw but the Dodgers did sign another Clayton on January 17. They had previously selected left-hander Clayton Andrews in the 40th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft but he didn’t sign. He did so with the Brewers in 2018. The new Clayton on the block is 24-year-old infielder Clayton Daniel. He was acquired from the Cubs in a trade for right-hander Casey…
Holding On To Prospects…Chess or Checkers?
One of the problems the Dodgers have of going “big game hunting” is that in order to get someone special, one needs to give up someone special. More than most teams, the Dodgers are very reluctant to give up their top prospects. Is it any surprise that teams are requiring Gavin Lux or Dustin May for an elite difference making pitcher (or Lindor or Mookie)? There is a big gap…
“The Dodgers Only Care About Winning the NL West”
Every time I hear that it makes me wonder if the person who said it was repeatedly dropped on their head as a child. What other possible explanation could there be? Maybe insanity? Let’s just say that the fans who say that Guggenheim & Company are just “greedy bastards” – only concerned with profits are right. That’s all the more reason the greedy bastards would want to win. What? Why?…
Gavin Lux – Next Dodger Star?
In 2016, a rookie was called up at the end of the season and in 95 AB’s he hit .179 with a .263 OB% while striking out 45% of the time. Obviously, he was a ZERO, ZILCH, NADA. Nothing to see here… move on. Many people were unimpressed. “He needs to spend another season at AAA.” This kid was 24 years old and only hit .179? He was obviously way…