While sitting here in my recliner, remote in hand, watching the Dodgers-Red Sox, I have some random thoughts on the passing season (with apologies to Thomas Sowell): • First, and foremost, it is important for all of you to know that I have not made a single mistake in the past 5 – 10 years as to Dodger in-game decisions, lineups they should have used, and as to trades…
International Free Agents
It has been four years since that massive International Free Agent (IFA) class, that has turned out to be something other than successful. They signed 13 players for a total of $46,374,500 led by Yadier Alvarez ($16MM), Yusniel Diaz ($15MM), Omar Estevez ($6MM), Starling Heredia ($2.6MM), Yordan Alvarez ($2MM), and Ronny Brito ($2MM). Oneil Cruz was also in that class with a $950K bonus. Not only did those 13 players…
The Will Smith Era is Upon Us
I like Austin Barnes. Let me start with that. When Andrew Friedman acquired him, I was elated. In his first full season (102 games) he hit.289 with a .408 OB% and OPS’ed .895. Pretty incredible! However, he hit .205 last year and is hitting .207 this year. In parts of 5 MLB seasons, here is what his BA/OB%/OPS is: 2015: .207/.361/.637 2016: .156/.270/.458 2017: .289/.408/.895 2018: .205/.329/.619 2019: .207/.302/.646 I…
The Manager and Trades
The Manager’s Role Let me start this off by saying that anyone who doesn’t believe that “All of us are smarter than any one of us” probably is not a coach, manager, scout or part of the Dodger brain-trust! Some fans think that the Dodgers front office makes out the lineups and that Andrew Friedman is this “control freak.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Dave Roberts is the…
2019 Prospects Rising
A few weeks back there was a recommendation that we provide our opinion on the risers and fallers this year in the LAD Minor League system, and suggested that the AS break would be a good time. DC offered his input a week or so ago, and now I would like to provide my admittedly myopic (and shortsighted?) insight. I apologize for the length, but it is hard for me…
Ogden Raptors – Three Weeks In
The Raptors play in a short season rookie league. It is easy to forget the Pioneer League as players are so far from MLB and many are fresh out of a recent draft and the Arizona League. They have not yet really surfaced in the parent team minor league system so one has to do a bit of scuba diving below the surface to find them. But, there they are,…
Another Look at DJ
Not DJ LeMahieu, the recent AL Player of the Week, DJ Peters who was selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Western Nevada College. Peters became the highest draft pick in the history of the junior college located in Carson City. Peters had previously been selected twice in the June Draft in the 36th round and became the third Wildcat…
Steady As She Goes
Well here we go, with my initial attempt to entertain you folks for the day and, hopefully, provide you with an interesting and thought provoking read. Admittedly, Mark T. tried his best to trade for Jon Weisman or Mike Petriello, two of the most elite bloggers out there, but he was unsuccessful. Instead, rather sadly, he ended up giving you me, the Zac Rosscup of bloggers. As we take a…
What’s Next?
The Dodgers will go into the All-Star Break at least 30 games over .500. We would all be happier if it were 32 games above, but that depends upon whether the Dodger bats wake up or not. It would be great to see Chicken Strip pitch about 7 shutout innings! I still see him as a great trade chip, especially if he can have a good outing today. Teams need…
The Dodgers “Hag”
No, he is not a member of the late Merle Haggard’s family. He is another one of those invisible Dodgers minor leaguers pitching above expectations. Justin Hagenman was selected by the Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft as a junior out of Penn State., 704th overall. He was born in Voorhees, New Jersey and attended Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken,NJ. At Bishop Eustace Hagenman…