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Andrew Toles

199 posts

LAD PROSPECTS – REAL OR HYPE

I continue to read about the sensational LAD prospects. Mark has the Dodgers as a top 10 MiLB organization while no major publication does. After the loss of Keibert Ruiz and Jo Jo Gray, the publications dropped them to mid-level (around 15). Certainly not bad, but also not…

By Jeff Dominique · December 9, 202134

And the 2021 MLB Season Begins

Today is the day that pitchers and catchers are due to report to Camelback Ranch for the Dodgers. Tomorrow is the first day of workouts. Full squad reports February 22, with the first full squad workout scheduled for February 23. The Dodgers play their first spring training game on Sunday, February 28 against the Oakland A’s at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. There will be some rules in effect that

By Jeff Dominique · February 17, 202146

Jumping to Conclusions

So, as Andrew Friedman moves into his sixth year as President of Baseball Operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers many of you expect him to change his methods and do something drastically different like trade for (pick one): Aaron Judge Nolan Arenado Mike Trout Glyber Torres Francisco Lindor Or maybe you expect him to sign that Top Free Agent like (pick one): Liam Hendriks Trevor Bauer Marcell Ozuna DJ LeMahieu Nelson

By Mark Timmons · November 24, 202084

RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT “SUMMER TRAINING”

Here I am, in the office on what has to be the most unusual 4th of July holiday in my lifetime. Had several things that I wanted to write about (including the “Art of stealing pop bottles” :-), but busyness has reared its ugly head and gotten in the way. It stinks to be your own boss and then have your boss be such a jerk. ● Well looks

By Mark Timmons · July 4, 202047

Cabin Fever Causes Insanity

Many bloggers and national sportswriters are suffering from severe cases of cabin fever which is akin to seasonal affective Dodger disorder (SADD). In case you don t know what that is, here is an overview on SADD: Seasonal affective Dodger disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that s related to the fictional failure of the Dodger front office to acquire all of the top free agents so that the already stacked

By Mark Timmons · January 11, 202048

Rule 5 Draft Considerations

So many of us have been looking at FA possibilities and trade possibilities that most have not paid any attention to the first date that will impact the 2020 Dodgers roster. The 40 man roster needs to be set by November 20, 2019 with all Rule 5 eligible prospects protected. The actual Rule 5 draft will take place on Thursday, December 12, 2019. That gives AF and his staff less

By Jeff Dominique · November 8, 201916

What Could Happen or not

Frankly, I am a person who believes that conventional wisdom is usually wrong. That leads me to look at things some people don t notice and see things that they don t. It s not a science more of an art that has to be continually refined. When many investors are buying, I may be selling and when they are selling, I am looking to buy. Like anyone, I am not always right,

By Mark Timmons · October 25, 201939

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

By Mark Timmons · September 24, 201942

Andrew Friedman and the LAD Top 30 Prospect Lists

This is AF’s 5th full year, and hopefully he will continue for several more years. He is human so he is prone to making mistakes, but never has he made an error without a very good reason for making a change. Most of us may not have understood the decisions, but they were always made to help the team. And I recognize and appreciate that it was a rhetorical statement,

By Jeff Dominique · August 3, 201954

The Final Pieces

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

By Mark Timmons · May 26, 201971

Heartbreak Hairballs at Petco

If the Dodgers had beat the Padres on Sunday, that would have likely crushed the Padres maybe even ruined their season and the win was within reach until Kenley Jansen snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. If you are a Padre fan, it was like Kirk Gibson hitting the home run in the 1988 World Series, but if you are a Dodger fan it was worse than death itself! That

By Mark Timmons · May 6, 201976

The Best Way to Kill a Team

DISCLAIMER: I m writing this very slowly for those of you who are not stupid, but just have bad luck when it comes to thinking. For the ones who just have an irrational hatred of Andrew Friedman, I suggest that you seek professional help. I can t help you. Why AJ Pollock? First of all, I was not someone who really wanted AJ Pollock. He was way down on my list. but

By Mark Timmons · May 3, 201967

Baseball s Next .400 Hitter?

The Giants are a really bad team, but their World Series now is playing the Dodgers. I have a sneaking feeling that the Dodgers are going to have problems with them all year. It s just one of those things It s easy to blame this one on Doc for taking out Maeda after 5, but Alexander didn t cough up a hairball. Stripling did an inning later. Well, stripling set the table

By Mark Timmons · April 30, 2019156

Just Rants and Raves

If Alex Verdugo can throw a 98.4 MPH seed from LF to Home Plate to gun down a poor defenseless runner, he can probably throw 103 MPH off a mound. The Dodgers should immediately convert him back to a pitcher. Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com anointed Dennis Santana as the Dodgers future closer. However, AC and I did that a year ago. He s the Dodgers future closer unless

By Mark Timmons · April 19, 201936

Misc., Etc.

Andrew Toles The Dodger Beat Writers know what is up with Andrew Toles, but out of respect for his privacy (and to keep their jobs), they ain t saying! That s OK! Whatever it is and I have an idea, I hope he gets to the right place soon. He still has a world of talent if he can solve his problems. Farmer, Wood, Puig Kemp The Dodger Beat Writers also

By Mark Timmons · March 14, 201957

You Don t Play to Win the Game!

In the regular season, your are always playing to win the game. I mean this game, or at least you try and put yourself in position to win more games. That is not true in Spring Training. If you are upset Doc let Stetson Allie, the wild fire-baller, walk batter-after-batter in the 9th inning only to take him out and let Yordy Lordy, Lordy Cabrera give up a three-run game killing

By Mark Timmons · March 12, 201953

Flawed Memories

In 1984, a man named Kirk Bloodsworth was convicted of the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl and sentenced to death—an outcome that rested largely on the testimony of five eyewitnesses. After Bloodsworth served nine years in prison, DNA testing proved him to be innocent. Such devastating mistakes by eyewitnesses are not rare, according to a report by the Innocence Project, which is an organization affiliated with the Benjamin N .

By Mark Timmons · March 4, 201966

Let s Play Twenty Questions

So, since Bruce Bochy has announced he will retire AFTER this season, will Bill Hanselman be hired now or wait until the next off-season? That is, if he really will be the next Giants manager and I have heard he will be. I guess you never know, but it makes sense. Andrew Toles has been his own worst enemy in the past with getting kicked off teams, etc. Is this what is happening again or is it really something

By Mark Timmons · February 19, 201987

What Will Be

There are about a 100 Free Agents who are not signed. That seems like a large number, but less than ten are really top players. The rest are likely minor league contract players. This is the list I have: Bryce Harper Manny Machado Dallas Keuchel Marwin Gonzalez Gio Gonzalez Josh Harrison Clay Buchholz Ervin Santana Evan Gattis Certainly, not all are even starters, in fact, I could make the argument

By Mark Timmons · February 18, 201991

Being a Dodger

Per JT on the Suits: We trust them, said the third baseman and team leader. The front office has done a great job. They build a 40-man roster, not a 25-man roster, and that s the biggest difference between the Dodgers and other teams. I have been saying that for 4 years running. AF is a master at building the 40-man roster to play in a 162-game season. The Dodgers should

By Jeff Dominique · February 10, 201972

Who s on First?

There has been a lot of conjecture about where certain Dodger players should play. Some think Chris Taylor should play 2B, and some on MLB allegedly had him at #5 in the Top 2B. I have no doubt that CT3 could be a Top 2B, even though he has not played well there in what short time he has had. I look for him to have a nice bounce back

By Mark Timmons · January 14, 201952

On My Soap Box

Because of the lack of player personnel movement, all of the national publications and national writers are creating the best of the remaining lists. Where will the top 10 remaining free agents land? How about where will the top 15 free agents and major trade personnel land? They all have opinions, and some of them are well thought out. However, while they have much better contacts, none of them no

By Jeff Dominique · January 7, 201934

Dodgers vs Rockies as of 01-04-19

I have no idea what is in the plans for the Dodgers over the next 6 weeks before pitchers and catchers report, if anything. I know it seems logical that the Dodgers would do something, but everybody is waiting to see where Machado and Harper are going to go. The Dodgers do not appear to be the leading team for any of the major FA (except for Grandal). But that

By Jeff Dominique · January 4, 201931

Happy New Year 2019!!

Since I wasn t sure if Mark had wifi access or not, on behalf of LADT, let me wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR. 2018 was not my finest year for positive sports results. Not only did the Dodgers fail to win a WS for the 30th consecutive year, but my Trojans had a less than .500 winning percentage and missed a bowl game (and still retained their head coach????), and

By Jeff Dominique · January 1, 201937

Why Do So Many Dodger Fans Hate Andrew Friedman?

If you are not of that ilk, then you will not be offended, but if you are, I have to ask and I d like to know: Why do you hate Andrew Friedman so much? Note:This is just not directed to LA Dodger Talk s readers This is across the blogosphere. You may say you don t but that is total BULL, and you know that. You hate him! You ve hated him

By Mark Timmons · December 29, 201871

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

With apologies to the late great David Bowie. I continue to read about all the possible changes coming to the Dodgers, and I have zero comfort that any one of them will ever transpire more than another. I do believe that there will be at least one significant change, maybe more, which is why the negative comments on the Reds trade are curious, unless it gives those who just do

By Jeff Dominique · December 28, 201845