There has been a lot of conjecture as to who might get traded and who the Dodgers might target in a trade. Frequently the target is bullpen help and a RH power hitter. There are lots of relievers the Dodgers may target: Greene of the Tigers, Vasquez of the Pirates, Leclerc of the Rangers and many others. Most Dodger fans are focused on the bullpen as that seems to be…
A Father and a AAAA Player
First, I want to say how appreciative my wife and I were with the kind words, thoughts, and prayers that were written last week. I say my wife, because she read them all to me while I was waiting for the next doctor to poke and prod. Suffice to say, I had a scare that has dissipated since my Tuesday ER visit. I had my last follow ups on Thursday…
The Bullpen: Fact & Fiction
It has been suggested by some that Craig Kimbrel is the solution to the Dodger’s bullpen woes. Just to be sure that I understand it, this is the Craig Kimbrel that Boston (who needed a closer) parted ways with and 28 other teams have passed on? No one wants him for a reason, but the Dodgers should sign him anyway with some silly “knee-jerk” reaction because he just happens to…
So Whatever Happened To . . . ?
One of my favorite times of year is the time leading up to the MLB player draft. I enjoy both college and high school sports, and while I don’t follow them as fervently as I did when I coached, I still get excited about the draft considering who the Dodgers may or may not select and I follow the prospects from my local area. According to Baseball America, approximately 1,200…
The Game is Evolving
On a number of occasions Mark has advised that the game is evolving and we should get used to it. It is difficult to argue with either point. The game has evolved out of necessity to offer a sense of fairness in competition and to, as they say, level the playing field with a standard set of enforceable rules. Actually, if you Google it, there are ample sources following the…
Hindsight: 20/20
Looking back today on the trade that brought Rich Hill and Josh Reddick to the Dodgers for Frankie Montas, Grant Holmes and Jherel Cotton, I thought it was a good bet at the time, but if Friedman had it to do over, he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t, not because it was bad deal, but he wouldn’t because it did not win a Championship. Holmes may be toast and Jharel Cotton might…
I Was Wrong About Alex Verdugo
Well, I think I was right that he had excellent bat-to-ball skills and that he had a cannon mounted on his shoulder. I may have been right in calling him “Tony Gwynn-esque.” I do believe that Alex is going to be a star. He may hit 20 HR some years and he could hit more, but this is a guy who will be a career .300 hitter. I truly believe…
Dodgers Minor League Report
I will cover the Dodgers – Reds game on Saturday as part of the Minor League Report, because that is how they played… like a minor league affiliate. I will cover them last to teach them a lesson (yeah, that will work). Great Lakes Loons – The Loons improved to 24-15 by destroying the West Michigan Whitecaps 7 – 1. Andre Jackson continues to shine and he did not disappoint…
Relief Help On The Way?
I have not been shy about stating how I feel about the bullpen. And I do understand that recognizing that there may be a problem and doing something about it can be and often is two different things. Maybe with the way the starting pitching is performing, this will become less of an issue, but I prefer to plan rather than to react. I have never disagreed with Mark about…
Anal About Analytics
Sometimes the people or players who help you get to a certain place or benchmark are not the people or players who can take you to the next level. I have witnessed this firsthand as US Water Systems has grown from 22 employees two years ago to almost 50 today. Some of the people who helped get me to certain places aren’t capable, or willing to go to the next…