Austin Barnes

The Bullpen is a Symptom, Not the Disease

August 12, 2018
54 comments

That the Dodgers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory  is obvious.  However, the implosion of the bullpen (Chaggy in particular) is a symptom, not the disease.  The symptom manifests itself when the disease is active.  The disease is “FailureToScoreRunsItis.”  Last night, Dodger hitters left 12 runners stranded (combined).  At the trade deadline, FAZ acquired two of the biggest bats on the market in Machado and Dozier.  Add in a…

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Dodger Middle Infield Prospect Upgrade

August 4, 2018
84 comments

What a difference a couple of years makes when it comes to middle infield prospects for the LAD.  Prior to the 2015 amateur draft, there was one regular SS (Jimmie Rollins), one regular 2B (Howie Kendrick), one utility (Kike’ Hernandez), and one prospect (Corey Seager) at SS.  Chase Utley was added later in the year.  There really was no other prospect.  In the 2015 draft, Gasparino’s crew selected:   Willie…

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Any More Changes or Stand Pat

July 29, 2018
87 comments

Yesterday Mark made a good argument as to why the Dodgers might want to stand pat. Today I would like to make an argument as to why the Dodgers should consider another move or two. I understand the thought that with how the Dodgers are built right now they can compete and win the NL West.  I understand why many believe the team should stay as is and let the team…

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The Curious Cases of Logan Forsythe and Austin Barnes

July 26, 2018
40 comments

The Dodgers have lost two in a row, but the sky is not falling. They will stay the course and they will win the NL West.  Nobody is dead. This too shall pass!  Must I keep reminding you? Of greater concern to me at this juncture is… WHAT IN THE HELL HAPPENED TO LOGAN FORSYTHE AND AUSTIN BARNES?  I must say that it irks me when people who have never…

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When It’s The Middle of July…

July 11, 2018
67 comments

…and you have two players below .600 OPS (Barnes and Forsythe) and one barely above it (Utley @ .621), it’s time for some new blood. It’s bad enough that the Dodgers have four other KEY HITTERS hitting .245 or lower: Pederson, Bellinger, Grandal and Hernandez. The diference is that their OPS are all .779 to .843. We all know what the definition of insanity is. Let’s face it: Barnes, Utley…

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Tough Decisions

July 9, 2018
64 comments

… AND SOME OF THEM MIGHT NOT BE POPULAR. It was said that the entire Dodger team watched Walker Buehler throw a simulated game yesterday – he’s not just another arm.  His stuff is electric and he should ready to start next weekend against the Angels. I have heard that he likley will not have a cap on his innings this year (within reason).  I expect to see him log…

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Do You Remember…

July 8, 2018
102 comments

… when the Dodgers could have traded for Cole Hamels for SVS and JDL?  (Neither do I, but some insist it is true.) … when every Dodger fan wanted Sonny Gray? … when Dodger fans wanted David Price? … when Dodgers fans were upset that Zack Greinke was not resigned by the Dodgers? I remember… …when FAZ signed Anderson, McCarthy and Kazmir? … when FAZ got Barnes, Hernandez, Grandal, Taylor,…

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News, No News, Good News & Bad News

June 30, 2018
24 comments

The Good News While the Dodgers couldn’t jump out of a boat and hit water last night, the good news was that Rich Hill is rounding into form and becoming the type of starter the Dodgers thought the were getting until he turned into the Poster Child of Blisters.  Thanks to Laser Technology, Rich Hill now has a bionic finger (I just made that last part up because it sounded…

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Chicken Strips and Chicken Bleep

June 27, 2018
76 comments

Ross Stripling was not sharp last night, but he battled and did a credible job, however Baez owns him (he should never pitch to Baez again – just put him on); and I thought Ross was tiring, so I had no issues with Roberts taking him out. He might have done better… or it could have been worse.  Yasiel Puig took the blame for the loss… and rightfully so. He just…

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Hernandez, Grandal, Hudson and Puig

June 24, 2018
33 comments

That sounds like a law firm, like Dewey, Cheatem and Howe…. but it’s not. Kike Hernandez I suggested this over the Winter and I am going to suggest it again:  It’s time to play Enrique Hernandez everyday!   Yes, I know he has a history of not hitting RH pitching, but he also has a history of hitting some pretty big home runs off RH pitchers.  This year, he has 91…

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