You all know the story… in 2014, at age 18, a Dodgers minor league first baseman hit .312 with 3 HR and 34 RBI. That same year, Adrian Gonzalez, the Dodgers 1B, hit .276 with 27 HR and 116 RBI. Three years later, that 18 year-old 1B who was 21 by then, hit 39 Home Runs because he seized the day. Adrian Gonzalez was injured and the Dodgers needed a…
Are The Kids Being Blocked?
AC provided an Always Complete list of the Top 30 Dodger rookies and it’s not hard to see why the Dodgers still have a Top 5 Farm System. The Dodgers have the most depth at catcher of any team in baseball and have a glut of outfielders to go with a plethora of live arms. Middle infield is the only positions where they have a lack, but a trade of…
Dodgers Top 30 Prospects – MLB Pipeline
The New MLB Pipeline Dodger Top 30 prospeccts have been published. Jim Callis is a premier minor league talent evaluator. He is not the typical sabermetrics talent evaluator. He uses the eye test as well. If he has not seen the player live, he has studied hours of tape. Some people prefer Eric Logenhagen of Fangraphs or Baseball America’s Kyle Glaser, but I am partial to Jim Callis. The…
There Is No Battle For LF, But the Bullpen Battle Rages
Contrary to what the Dodgers say, I do not believe there is a battle to determine who the starting left-fielder will be. It has already been decided. When Matt Kemp showed up early to Spring Training 40 pounds lighter and looking to be in the best shape of his life, he had a leg up on the competition and when he blasted a HR in his first game, the deal…
Weekend Observations
Some Weekend Observations: Wilmer Font was extremely efficient and effective. He had excellent command of both his 4 seamer and 2 seamer. He threw his breaking pitch just enough to show it and it was never left out over the plate. If he continues along this path, it will be very hard for the Dodgers to not keep him on the 25 man. On January 2, I posted…
Double Whammy… Means Nothing!
So the Dodgers got swept yesterday? Yawn! Big Deal! We did get to see a whole bunch of players who will not be with the team in 2018…. maybe ever! Logan Forsythe did nothing to dissuade anyone he is playing for a a contract and might have a career year. Trayce Thompson is trying to hit his way onto the team. Matt Beaty hit a Big Fly. No one not…
It’s Only Spring Training, But…
It’s nice, but it means nothing… well… I guess it means something, but, not a lot! It’s ONE Spring Training Game. The first one. That said, what a great game! Baseball is back. One game means nothing… but if it did, a lot of cool things happened and you might draw the following conclusions: Wilmer Font should be in the Dodger’s bullpen; Logan Forsythe will have a career year; Matt…
The Sun Comes Out Today!
Well, beat the drum and hold the phone The sun came out today We’re born again, there’s new grass on the field A-roundin’ third, and headed for home It’s a brown-eyed handsome man Anyone can understand the way I feel Oh, put me in, Coach I‘m ready to play today Put me in, Coach I’m ready to play today Look at me, I can be centerfield Well, I spent some…
Release the Kracken!
The Dodgers will not win 104 games this year… and I am not saying that they aren’t as good as last year. Depending upon how things shake out, you could be even better. They just won’t win as many games because all the teams in the NL West are better… in fact, most of the teams in the NL are better… except for maybe the Marlins and the Pirates. Competition…
Spring Training at Camelback Ranch
Camelback Ranch is a Holy Place where Dodger Fans convene every Spring to make a pilgrimage to the Big Dodger in the Sky! Yes, there is a Dig Dodger in the Sky… disagree and we have to fight… to the death! [DISCLAIMER: In today’s political climate, I am forced to say that is a joke, otherwise the FBI might be taking me away.] If you don’t go to Dodger Insider…