The off-season has definitely gotten slow. The transactions have come to a sudden halt during the Christmas season. The Dodgers have even been extremely slow in signing minor league free agents. Other teams have made moves that appear to have strengthened them but not the Dodgers. Well folks, it is time to look up some of those patience quotes. Some feel the Dodgers got snookered by the Reds. On the…
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…
Before we start this discussion, let’s remember that the time between the Holidays is a real dog when it comes to the Hot Stove League, thus, these really are the Dog Days. OK, let’s look at what the Kemp-Puig-Wood-Farmer trade produced. The Dodgers sent Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Kyle Farmer and $7 million Dollars to the Reds for Homer Bailey and two nice prospects. Very simply, the Dodger…
Are the Dodgers in on Bryce Harper? Yes, even Ray Charles can see that! A better question is “Will the Dodgers really try to sign Bryce Harper? The answer is the same answer I give when people as “Do you wear boxers or briefs?” I say “Depends.” Bada Bing! But seriously… Bryce Harper has “IT” – the “IT FACTOR.” He would be an instant fit for LA. Yes, the Doders…
One position where the Dodgers are looking for improvement is in catcher. I have read some who are not happy about who of Maldonado, Wieters, Lucroy, Vogt, Joseph, Mesoraco, Ellis, or Butera, Friedman will select from. Most of the naysayers did not want Grandal back but have no recommendation for a replacement except JT Realmuto. If it were only that easy just to want something. The Fish are looking for…
Baseball is the ultimate game for statistics, and in the past few years statistics have multiplied faster than a warren of rabbits. Launch angles, exit velocity and spin rates are only a few of the new statistics. Some statistics such as framing and DWAR are somewhat subjective and not yet a perfect means of measurement. So many fans use stats literally in the respect that your stats say what you…
Yesterday Mark wrote, “this Dodger Team, right here, right now, is better than the 2018 version.” I will stipulate that the Dodgers may be better just for the loss of Farhan Zaidi and Turner Ward. That may be cruel, and they may do wonderful things for their new respective clubs, but they were a disconnect for this team. Friedman wants more of his fingerprints on the roster and approach, and…
“A .209 hitter this year against left-handed pitchers, Puig was disgruntled by how he was limited to playing against right-handers, according to people familiar with his thinking who spoke under the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject. The frustration was said to affect his play, and Puig is now described as distrustful of management and open to playing for another team.” – Dylan Hernandez, LA…
The Bryce Harper rumors are growing, but even with Dodger officials traveling to Las Vegas to meet with him, “What happens in Vegas, will likely stay in Vegas!” Just my opinion. There will likely be some more player movement by the Dodgers this offseason, but I believe that Andrew Friedman is right – the Dodgers really don’t need much, and they certainly don’t need to make changes just for the…
In case you have been hiding under a rock, we are now engaged in the Baseball Hot Stove League where fans talk about trading everybody and his brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandpa, grandma as the family dog. It’s fun and we all engage in it to some degree. But, there are two rules you have to go by: #1 Believe half of what you see and none of what you…