The Marketing of Players

November 29, 2020

This is the time of year when we hear that teams will be listening on potential trades for Player A.  However, most of the time those proclamations are simply rhetorical.  The Brewers have said they are willing to listen to offers for Josh Hader.  The Rays will be listening on offers for Blake Snell.  The Reds will be listening on offers for Sonny Gray.  The Cubs are listening on offers…

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I Need To Vent

September 3, 2020

Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. I already had my article queued up and ready for publish before last night’s come from behind walk off win. Zac Gallen is going to be a superstar in this game and he just shut the Dodgers down. But the 2020 Dodgers are relentless and have no quit. I think that is a tribute to Mookie, just as 1988 was a tribute…

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Stealing From Theo…If Not Now, When?

January 4, 2020

It is time for a little Devil’s Advocacy.  I have been an unapologetic fan of Andrew Friedman and what he has accomplished, and just as critical as to what he has NOT accomplished.  I was critical when AF did not beat out the Astros offer for Gerrit Cole before the 2018 season.  The Astros traded a #5 SP in Joe Musgrove, a decent but unceremonious 3B, Colin Moran, a RHRP…

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So How Was Your Hot Stove League?

January 27, 2019

Well now that the Dodgers have signed AJ Pollock, what comes next?  Maybe something.  Maybe nothing.  Is JT Realmuto on the horizon.  Apparently, the Pads are very much in on JTR, but they are insisting on extension talks before they consummate the deal.  Obviously, either Francisco Mejia or Austin Hedges will be going back in a package.  The Pads have ML OF’s available as well a bucket load of high-level…

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Riley Ottesen and Eric Carter: Two Young Men on a Mission

January 16, 2019

The more we read about minor league ball players, the more we learn about the commitments they make, not just as baseball players, but as young men.   They have all of the challenges in life just as young men who do not pursue an athletic career have, plus they have the near impossible task of navigating a road to MLB littered with speed bumps.   Many, or most, are…

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Different Perspectives

January 12, 2019

Editorial Note – This was written before the massive Russell Martin deal went down, and I did not want to consider this post to be like Kemp, Puig, Wood, and Farmer and just dump it.   The written word is a strange thing.  One reader will read comments one way and another reader another way, and yet the writer had a totally different reason for the comment. The most recent…

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Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

December 28, 2018

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…

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2018 MLB Winter Meetings

December 10, 2018

Okay, I am done arguing with people on this or any other baseball site about corporate finance, which happens to be a subject I am very well-versed in. But that is different than knowledge of the Dodgers balance sheet of which I have none. So, let’s move on.   I am writing this in an El Dorado Hills Starbucks at about 1:30 PM. So this may not be current by…

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Collusion or Just Frugal and Prudent

December 2, 2018

So far, this year is beginning to mimic last year a bit. There has been some movement, but it is for the lesser thought of FA or in one case a player who wants a bigger pay day next year (Josh Donaldson).   It seems that a lot of teams are looking for the trade route first before even considering a high cost FA. Look for Harper and Machado to…

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Looking to 2019 – Part 2

November 5, 2018

Yesterday I looked at what might the team be looking at/for in 2019 with pitching (starting and relief) and catchers.  Today I am looking at the infielders and outfielders. Infielders:  Much of this will be determined by how Corey Seager rehabs.  Will he be able to play SS as well as he did his first two years? Many do not believe that he will be able to, but much of…

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