Since I began following the Dodgers in 1952, there have been many ups and downs and quite a few,“ Wait until next year”, times. Generally speaking in life I tend to look at the good times and not dwell on those that are not so good. The good times can’t be erased and the bad times cannot be made any better by lamenting and dwelling on the what-ifs. I expect…
Winners and Losers
As we are getting ready to see who the Dodgers first opponent will be in the post season, it is extremely difficult for me to consume any negativity ascribed to the Dodgers after this season. No conditional statements…they were great. The best team in LA Dodgers history. I say LA Dodgers because the 1953 team that 105, did so with 8 less games. I still read from some how bad…
11 WINS TO GO!!!
Most often when I attempt to communicate the concept of time with my younger grandchildren, I talk in terms of “sleeps.” “Three more sleeps and I’ll be there, or 2 more sleeps and I go home.” We’re at that stage of the season, where we can communicate similarly about the Dodgers. 11 more wins, and we enjoy the parade!! Last year, we were flat out overmatched by the Red Sox. …
The Greatest Dodger Team… Ever!
So, here the Dodgers sit on a pile of 105 wins. That is the most games they have ever won… well actually they tied the franchise record with the win over the Giants yesterday. It’s simple: they win today and the bar is raised to 106 wins. Win-wise, they are the best Dodger team ever. Some moron on another blog full of them predicted the Dodgers would win less than…
Rich Hill: The Man, The Mountain, The Myth and the Legend
When Andrew Friedman signed Rich Hill to a 3 year / $48 Million dollar deal. he was lambasted by many Dodger fans for continuing down the path of signing Scott Kazmir, Brett Anderson, and Brandon McCarthy: “Another injury-prone pitcher.” “Blister boy!” Well, here we are at the end of that deal and Rich Hill has indeed spent some quality time on the IL, but if Friedman has it to do…
Dodger Young Guns
The State of the Bullpen… and Dodger Pitching In the month of September of teams that are likely candidates to play the Dodgers in the 2019 Fall Classic, here is how they compare in bullpen ERA since September 1st: Dodgers – 3.28 Astros – 3.47 Yankees – 3.81 HR per 9 Innings Dodgers – .95 Astros – 1.52 Yankees – 1.59 BABIP – Batting Average Balls in-Play Dodgers – .242…
Regain Some Sanity
A short two or three weeks, many Dodger fans removed their brains, put them on their dresser in a jar and proceeded to lose their minds. They had convinced themselves that the sky was falling, the Dodgers were doomed, and the world as we know it would never be the same again. Five hundred years ago, Michel de Montaigne said: “My life has been filled with terrible misfortune; most of…
Roy Gleason – A 1.000 BA, a Purple Heart, Two WS Rings
It seems most Dodger fans, and those of other playoff-bound teams, are trying to pre-determine which players will make up the roster for the first playoff round. I must admit it does interest me but mostly because I have favorite players that I would like to see on “the list”. I do not attempt to make any rational judgment as to whom will make the cut. In the meantime I…
Rant & Rave Tuesday
The Dodgers are still ranked 3rd in MLB Power Rankings and it should not be lost on anyone that the Dodgers were #1 in 2017. What does it all mean? Not much. It’s how it all comes together… So, as the dust settles, how about the big free-agent signings and trades made by Philadelphia? The team is clearly flawed and Gabe Kapler will likely lose his job, when it should…
Player Development: Part 3 – (Communication)
I am spending a couple of weeks with my family in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Spending time with my grandchildren is one of the greatest joys I have ever known. It doesn’t take long though for me to realize that I speak another language than they do. In order for me to convey “adult” concepts it is extremely important that I know how to communicate effectively with them to get…