Over the Hill and Through the Woods

April 6, 2017

Evidently Rich Hill doesn’t flourish in Spring Training, and while he was not in mid-season form last night, he was pretty good.  Five innings was enough – let him go six his next start.  You have to love this guy’s story, determination and never-say-die attitude.  What are the odds that a guy finally figures it out at 36 year old and becomes a star?  Probably about the same that he…

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World Series or Bust!

April 3, 2017

A few years ago, a blog called The Post Game was published with the picture I just posted on the cover page.  There is no photo credit, but they evidently photoshopped it, so kudos to them. I hope they don’t mind my using it.  In the article they quoted Clayton Kershaw: “It’s funny that’s a headline story — World Series or bust,” Kershaw told ThePostGame. “I feel like every team…

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The Tuneup is Over – It’s Time to Play Ball!

April 2, 2017

Opening Day for Baseball Season is today!  The Dodger have their opening day on Monday and it looks like they are firing on all cylinders.  Corey Seager could get out of bed and single on the way to the bathroom. I have just a few thoughts about the approach of the season: The Dodgers may not need a Brad Brach – before the season is over Yasiel Sierra could be…

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Barnes Loses It!

March 28, 2017

I AM POSTING THIS EARLY because I leave for Florida at 5 AM Wednesday Morning and won’t be back be back until Monday.  Hopefully Always Compete can keep you entertained – I’ll try and get a few in, but we have rented a 6 bedroom condo for the family Spring Break. Cheers! Here’s the IMPORTANT STUFF, the way I see it: Bobby Wilson hit a 2-out 2-run HR (his 4th of the pre-season)…

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Kike Hernandez or Chris Taylor?

March 26, 2017

Andre Ethier is most certainly going to start the season on the DL, but Andrew Toles Grand Salami yesterday iced his place on the team.  I punched his ticket!  It also doesn’t hurt that he is hitting .348.  I think this kid may have Wally Pipped Ethier. Next up is our utility infielder position. Chris Taylor has garnered a lot of attention with his Spring success in the Cactus League.  He…

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Some Bums Rap…

March 23, 2017

Today’s blog is written by Bumsrap.  Thanks for a day off… Pitching Depth In 2008, Cole Hamels seemed unhittable for much of the season and the post-season.  He was 24 years old in 2008 when he pitched 227.1 innings in the regular season plus 35 more in the post season. That was 63 more innings total from the previous year. His worst year of his career was 2009. Here is…

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Willie or Won’t he Calhoun?

March 22, 2017

Willie Calhoun is a very polarizing figure – you meet him you immediately like him!  You watch him hit – you love him.  You watch him run and you wonder, and you watch him field and you become nauseous.  Any manager would love to have his bat but very few could tolerate his fielding. Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi have shown repeatedly that they value defense.  I challenge any sane…

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Some Players Are Not Going to be Happy

March 19, 2017

The 2017 version of the LA Dodgers has nearly 40 players who have shown that they deserve to be on the Opening Day Roster, but many won’t.  I am not going to include Willie Calhoun, Alex Verdugo or Cody Bellinger because they will be ready soon enough, but I am talking about players who have demonstrated that they belong on the big league roster.  I am not even considering Charlie…

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Clowns to the Left of Me…

March 17, 2017

Jokers to the right; Here I am – stuck in the middle with you. Clowns: Scott Kazmir threw a 5-inning simulated game on Thursday and said he felt better.  The only problem was that his fastball was at 82-84 which is 10 to 12 MPH off of what it should be.  Of course, if he is pitching in pony league, he should do well.  I don’t think he’s going to…

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Life is Good!

March 16, 2017

It’s March 16th and Adrian Gonzalez will never play in the WBC again… so there is that.  He says Little League is ran better and he would be right – it’s mostly a joke! Julio Urias is pissed he’s going to extended Spring Training… and the Dodgers have more good players than they have positions.  Life is good!  Just to be clear, Urias is not going to the pen or…

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