Let’s get this out of the way: The Dodgers have a closer… his name is Kenley Jansen. He had an off-year in 2019 and the Dodger coaches, as well as Kenley himself, believe he will return to form in 2020. It’s not like this has never happened to other relievers before. Even the greatest ones (well maybe except Mariano Rivera) had off-years. The great Trevor Hoffman had many up and…
Some Random Thoughts on the Past Season and the 2020 Season
Despite the frustrating end to this past season, the Dodgers provided me with some memorable moments in 2019. Opening day with the 8 home runs was a nice start to the season. Bellinger just going insane for the first 2-3 months of the year. Ryu going 6-0 in May. Buehler’s 16K complete game against the Rockies. The rookies’ 3 successive walk-off homerun weekends. Will Smith’s first major league home…
Who Will Be LAD #2?
I cannot see the Dodgers signing Josh Donaldson. He reportedly has two pending four year deals (Twins and Washington). But the Braves have right of last refusal (meaning that is where he wants to play), but they are going to need to guarantee that 4th year, which they are contemplating right now. There is no reason for the Dodgers to continue to chase their tails here. JT is a quality…
Alec Gamboa – Dodger Fan and Now a Dodger
Left-hander Alec Gamboa was selected by the Dodgers in the 9th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Fresno City College, a community college in the Central Valley College League in California. Gamboa was born in Madera, California and attended Madera High School where he was twice named the County/Metro Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year twice, and posted a 7-0 record with a 1.18 ERA as a…
My Name is Pronounced Blade!
I’m the new guy here and I hope to live up to the standards of this blog. I see LADT as top quality with its participants being amongst the most cerebral of Dodger fans out there. I don’t make that statement lightly. I’ve visited them all and this isn’t a site where you can state an opinion and not back it up with facts and good logic. You’ll get called…
The Next Wave
The Dodgers Farm System produced nine new Dodgers last year, three of whom are still on the Baseball Prospectus Dodgers Top 20 Prospects (Lux, May, and Gonsolin): Gavin Lux, SS Dustin May, RHP Josiah Gray, RHP Miguel Vargas, 3B Keibert Ruiz, C Tony Gonsolin, RHP Diego Cartaya, C Jeter Downs, SS Kody Hoese, 3B Gerardo Carrillo, RHP Michael Busch, 2B DJ Peters, OF Jacob Amaya, IF Omar Estevez, IF Mitch…
The New Paradigm
Most people don’t get it. Some never will, but the Dodgers Farm System is arguably the most productive in MLB. Right after the trade with the Reds last season when the Dodgers sent Kyle Farmer, Matt, Kemp, Alex Wood, and Yasiel Puig to the Reds for Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray, Dodgers fans completely and totally took leave of their senses. “It’s a salary dump!” “The Front Office doesn’t care…
For a Change of Pace – Meet Jacob Cantleberry
Left-hander Jacob Cantleberry was selected by the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Missouri. He was born in Greenwood, Indiana and attended Center Grove High School in his home town before heading off to San Jacinto-North Community College, located just outside of Houston, Texas. In two seasons with the Gators he posted a 23 – 4 record through 32 appearances,…
My Favorite Baseball Books and Movies
When I read about “WAR” and “dWAR” I’m reminded of a couple of songs from my past, “What a Wonderful World” by Art Garfunkel, and “War” by Edwin Starr, whose lyrics I butcher to get my mind around the discussion of the past several days: “Don’t know much about sabemetrics Don’t know much of analytics Don’t know much about advanced statistics I don’t know what dWAR is for But I…
Meet Aaron Ochsenbein – Closer in Waiting
There has been considerable discussion on LADT regarding relief pitchers and more specifically what the Dodgers could or should do to strengthen the bullpen. It is a conundrum in that standing pat might fit the definition of doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Yet with relief pitchers who knows. How many have that dominant year and then what follows is not nearly as dominant…