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Billy Gasparino

32 posts

Why the Dodgers Don't Have a GM

There has been a lot of speculation as to why the Dodgers have not appointed a General Manager to take the place of their last GM – Farhan Zaidi. Some have speculated that it is because Andrew Friedman is an ego-manic who wants all the power. That explanation is too absurd to…

By Mark Timmons · December 12, 202119

The Dodgers Braintrust

Andrew Heaney will not be the first low-risk high-reward pitcher signing. It is pretty common to hear things like “ Andrew Friedman signed another pitcher off the scrap heap ” and similar things. I think some fans believe that Andrew is sitting at his desk randomly pushing the…

By Mark Timmons · November 13, 202111

You Shouldn t Fly a 747 from Row 13

Occasionally, I have a little more information than some of you (at times), but it s not nearly as much as it used to be when I had several members of the Dodgers Organization on Speed dial. Jeff probably has a lot more inside connections than I do now. Since Andrew Friedman became President of Baseball Operations for the Dodgers, I have very little inside information and that is by Andrew s

By Mark Timmons · July 26, 2021234

2021 Dodger Draft Preview

As every semi-lucid baseball fan knows, next week is the 91st MLB All Star game. The results are close with the AL winning 45 games, NL winning 43 games with 2 ties. The AL has runs scored 373 runs and the NL has scored 370 runs. The AL is currently riding a 7 game winning streak. But that is not the only MLB event that is happening next week, and

By Jeff Dominique · July 7, 2021110

Nick Robertson – A Look Back (Updated)

The Dodgers 2019 draft was perhaps an unusual one in that they targeted college relief pitchers. I don’t think the plan is to transform them into starters but more so to continue their present path. Relief pitching is the fastest way to MLB unless one is a budding superstar and relief pitchers most certainly are in demand. Why not develop your own and in due course have a stable of

By Mark Timmons · January 13, 202118

Looking Ahead and Looking Back

Just for kicks, let’s look ahead to the 2026 MLB All-Star game. Here is a note from the color commentator. “Here in the second inning with two outs, the AL second base all-star is making his first all-star plate appearance. Tampa Bay Ray’s second sacker was selected as the best at his position in this, his third MLB season. Former North Carolina Tar Heel Michael Busch may not be a

By Mark Timmons · December 9, 202075

Zach Fitzpatrick Dodgers Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting

I have to tell you folks that with minor league ball gone belly up my baseball oxygen is basically depleted. I am only on life support with MLB and the goings on. The Dodgers have thus far signed only one undrafted free agent righty Robbie Peto out of Stetson University. A few signings would definitely provide some more baseball oxygen for me. I have looked at the 60-man roster

By Mark Timmons · July 10, 202040

Spring Training 2.0

DRAFT RESULTS Let’s remind what the penalties are for exceeding the slot bonus value. Bonuses that exceed the slot value by 5% are charged an overage tax of 75% of the amount in excess of the slot value. If the bonuses exceed the stipulated slot value from between 5% to 10%, there remains a 75% overage tax assessed for the excess bonus, AND lose next year’s #1 draft pick.

By Jeff Dominique · July 7, 202043

MEET CLAYTON BEETER

With the 66th pick in the MLB player draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers select Clayton Beeter, a draft eligible sophomore, right-handed pitcher out Texas Tech University, where he majored in accounting. Like Landon Knack and Bobby Miller, Beeter was scouted by Marty Lamb. Lamb (who is worthy of his own profile) has had very good success with players he’s scouted(including Walker Buehler and Will Smith). If Beeter signs(he does have

By Mark Timmons · June 19, 202041

Jake Vogel CF

With the 100th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, The Los Angeles Dodgers select…Jake Vogel, CF, Huntington Beach High School, Huntington Beach, California. https://www.mlb.com/video/2020-draft-jake-vogel-of?t=mlb-draft “Now batting for your Los Angeles Dodgers, CF, Jake Vogel”. At least that is what his high school coach is hoping to hear. More players from California have gone on to play MLB than any other state, and in particular Southern California has been a gold

By Jeff Dominique · June 18, 202077

A Closer Look at Bobby Miller

Once again Billy Gasparino was following the recommendation of super scout Marty Lamb in drafting 1st round draft pick, Louisville RHP Bobby Miller. He was also responsible for scouting and drafting 2nd round pick, Landon Knack out of East Tennessee St. They were close to a third recommended player, Louisville OF, Zach Britton, but chose Carson Taylor instead. Britton went in the 6th round to Toronto. Marty Lamb has been

By Jeff Dominique · June 14, 202031

Carson Taylor A Closer Look

https://www.mlb.com/video/dodgers-draft-c-taylor-no-130?t=mlb-draft Draft night is always an exciting time because of what might be in the not too distant future. It was especially exciting this year as it came in the midst of a world without baseball. Since there were only five rounds, it was a different kind of draft not leaving teams much room for error and providing a less take-a-chance atmosphere. That would be true for most teams, but

By Mark Timmons · June 13, 202058

Recent LAD Draft Results

We are on the eve of the one meaningful positive news event thus far for the 2020 MLB season. Even the event has warts as we have reduced the number of draft picks from 40 to 5, but it still lends to something good to look forward to. We have all read and heard what a throw of the dice the draft is, and with 6 picks, how does that

By Jeff Dominique · June 9, 202039

It s Getting A Little Drafty

Every year I get excited about the MLB baseball draft. The selection of young players is akin to bringing home a new puppy from the shelter. You’re never quite sure what you’re getting. You may have that special family pet that for years to come, or you may have a yapping dog that, no mater how much training you provide, never stops peeing on the carpet. In addition, I have

By Mark Timmons · May 31, 202043

Dodgers Teenage Team for 2020 – Pitchers

Last week we had a preview of some of the teenage position players in the Dodgers minor league system. This week a sneak preview at some of the teenage pitchers which is a more difficult task it seems. As of today, there are at least 36 young pitchers in the system who have not yet turned 20. Left-hander Robinson Ortiz and 32nd round selection in 2018, right-hander Jacob Gilliland, both

By Mark Timmons · March 12, 202059

Nick Robertson – Looking to Move on Up

The Dodgers 2019 draft was perhaps an unusual one in that they targeted college relief pitchers. I don t think the plan is to transform them into starters but more so to continue their present path. Relief pitching is the fastest way to MLB unless one is a budding superstar and relief pitchers most certainly are in demand. Why not develop your own and in due course have a stable of

By Mark Timmons · January 29, 202033

Alec Gamboa – Dodger Fan and Now a Dodger

Left-hander Alec Gamboa was selected by the Dodgers in the 9th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Fresno City College, a community college in the Central Valley College League in California. Gamboa was born in Madera, California and attended Madera High School where he was twice named the County/Metro Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year twice, and posted a 7-0 record with a 1.18 ERA as a

By Mark Timmons · December 28, 201931

Bo Who?

Since the 2016 First-Year player Draft, Dodger fans have been questioning the first selection made by Andrew Friedman and friends. That selection was none other than shortstop Gavin Lux who is currently pushing for a spot on the Dodgers postseason roster. When we questioned the pick we, of course, did not have the inside information that Director of Amateur Scouting Billy Gasparino and his team had. Yet, it seemed to

By Mark Timmons · September 12, 201959

Steady As She Goes

Well here we go, with my initial attempt to entertain you folks for the day and, hopefully, provide you with an interesting and thought provoking read. Admittedly, Mark T. tried his best to trade for Jon Weisman or Mike Petriello, two of the most elite bloggers out there, but he was unsuccessful. Instead, rather sadly, he ended up giving you me, the Zac Rosscup of bloggers. As we take a

By Mark Timmons · July 8, 201956

2019 MLB Draft Preview

While the Dodgers have two first round picks and 3 picks in the first 78 selections on Monday, the DBacks can go a long way to re-establish themselves with this draft. The DBacks own seven of the first 75 selections this year: their regular picks in the first (No. 16 overall) and second (No. 56) rounds, a compensation first-rounder (No. 26) for failing to sign 2018 first-rounder Matt McLain, two

By Jeff Dominique · June 2, 201958

Meet Meaux Landry

Landry is one of those guys who keeps us a bit off base with his name, which is Simon Meaux Landry. From all reports it seems he goes by Meaux, as in “Mo”. He was selected by the Dodgers in the 22nd round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Mississippi. He grew up in Ponchatoula, Louisiana and attended high school in his

By Mark Timmons · April 10, 201951

Dodger Middle Infield Prospect Upgrade

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

By Jeff Dominique · August 4, 201884

Dodger Chatter: Dodgers Pick Off John Rooney

Left-hander John Rooney made his third appearance of the 2018 season on Monday night, the first in the Class A Midwest League. Rooney was a bit surprisingly selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft. The 6’5”/235-pound native of Melrose, New York attended Hoosie Valley High School in Schaghticoke where he posted a 35-0 win-loss record. That is not a typo. Following graduation he

By Mark Timmons · July 31, 2018134

Dodger Chatter: 2018 Amateur Draft

Much disappointment has been expressed because the Dodgers couldn’t sign their first round selection this year. High school right-hander J.T. Ginn chose to attend Mississippi State University and perhaps enter the draft again in 2020 after his sophomore year. I was 100 percent sure that the Dodgers had a commitment that he would sign or else why would they select him with their first overall selection when some very good

By Mark Timmons · July 7, 201858

Dodger Chatter: Meet Marshall Kasowski

Right- hander Marshall Kasowski was selected by the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of West Texas A M. The 23-year-old native of Conroe, Texas had transferred to the Division II college after two years with the Division I University of Houston Cougars. His time with the Cougars was limited to a total of 33 innings over two seasons. Kasowski was injured in a severe

By Mark Timmons · June 15, 201832

DODGERS ANNOUNCE SELECTIONS FROM SECOND DAY OF 2018 DRAFT

DODGERS ANNOUNCE SELECTIONS FROM SECOND DAY OF 2018 DRAFT With the final two picks on Day 2 of the First-Year Player Draft, the Dodgers picked up senior outfielder Josh McClain from North Carolina State University in the ninth round and junior infielder Deacon Liput from University of Florida in the 10th round. Both McClain and Liput were selected by Los Angeles in the 2017 First-Year Player Draft in the 14th

By Mark Timmons · June 6, 201851

DODGERS ANNOUNCE SELECTIONS FROM FIRST DAY OF 2018 DRAFT

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced their first two selections in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft, picking Brandon High School (MS) right-handed pitcher J.T. Ginn with their first pick (30th overall) and West Virginia University right-handed pitcher Michael Grove with their second selection in the second round (68th overall). This season, Ginn appeared in eight games (seven starts), going 5-1 with a 0.36 ERA (2 ER/39.1 IP)

By Mark Timmons · June 5, 201841

2018 MLB Amateur Draft Preview for Dodgers By AC/DC

2018 MLB Amateur Draft Preview for Dodgers By Always Compete The 2018 MLB Amateur Draft begins on Monday June 4, and continues through Wednesday June 6. Rounds 1 and 2 will be completed on Monday; Rounds 3-10 will be completed on Tuesday; Rounds 11-40 will be completed on Wednesday. If you believe the organization has multiple good but not great prospects, this year’s draft does not figure to turn things

By Jeff Dominique · June 4, 201852

Dodger Chatter: Sleeper Alert

The minor league rosters have pretty much taken shape and there are some surprises with the assignments at the various levels. Some players unexpectedly were assigned to higher levels while others return to the same level although their 2017 performance might have suggested otherwise. Still others will participate in extended spring training and the Driveline program. Regrettably, a few have already been inexplicably released, such as right-handers Logan Crouse and

By Mark Timmons · April 4, 201841