Brock Stewart – #2 or #4?

July 27, 2017

Any way you slice it, Brock Stewart is a very good pitcher.  Currently, his stuff is worth of being a #4 or #5 “workhorse” type of pitcher. However, he could be a lot more than that and this is why I did not want to see him in the rotation this year. Brock has an excellent fastball, a nice slider (not great), and a below average change-up.  He really needs…

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Clayton Who?

July 26, 2017

The Dodgers won about 68% of their games when Clayton Kershaw was on the roster and now have won 100% of their games without him. Why the heck do we need this guy anyway?   It seems like it’s a new man or men every night… stepping up to do the job.  Kenta Maeda did his job for 5 innings and the pen nailed it with Josh Ravin pitching 3…

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I Am No Kool-Aid Drinker

July 25, 2017

I am an unabashed and unapologetic supporter of FAZ.  They have built a tremendous team and know how to utilize a full 40 man roster to their advantage because they have the depth to do so.  I also believe that a winning TEAM is greater than the sum of the individual players.  Clayton Kershaw is special.  There is no question of that.  But he is one of 40, and I…

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Life Without Clayton Kershaw

July 24, 2017

Really, it’s not gloom and doom! Last year, when Clayton had the herniated disk, everyone wondered what the team would do.  It turns out that Kershaw’s injury galvanized them and others stepped up to fill the void.  Not only did they not miss a beat, but they thrived.  I, for one, do not expect the same thing to happen this year, although I believe there is no reason to panic….

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Getting Ready for the Stretch Run – A Look at the Pitching

July 16, 2017

It’s almost a foregone conclusion that the Dodgers will be in the playoffs.  The Dodgers are now 9.5 games ahead of the D-Bags and 11.5 games ahead of the Rookies.  Neither team has the depth to come back.  However, right about now we should ask the question as to “Which players will play a role in that stretch run“?  If you look at the pitchers, it’s pretty clear that Romo,…

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Give Me a Hand!

July 7, 2017

Moment-by-moment, memory-by-memory, the Dodgers have did it again!  Dodger Broadcaster, Joe Davis  Joe has made it a lot easier not to miss Vin – he’s not Vin, but in case you haven’t listened to the stiffs and homers other teams use, he is near the top of play-by-play baseball announcers.  What a comeback and what a way to kill a snake!  Now, back to the things at Hand! If the…

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It’s All About Chemistry!

July 1, 2017

I keep reading that the Dodgers are in the hunt for a starting pitcher and frankly, I do not believe it.  What I mean by that is I do not think they are “hell-bent-for-leather” to get another starter.  That’s not saying that they won’t do it if the right situation presents itself, but they are simply not going to overpay to get another starter.  I think AC said the same…

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State of the Dodgers – Halfway to a World Series

June 30, 2017

Thursday night’s game was the official half way point in the season. So I thought it was an opportune time to look at what is right, or what is wrong, what can be fixed, or what doesn’t need fixing.  With Thursday night’s win, the Dodgers are 53-28.  That is a projected win total of 106.  They will win 94 even if they go 41-40 the rest of the way.  The…

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The Dodgers Have a Decision to Make

June 28, 2017

It’s on Kenta Maeda.  Kenta signed an incentive-laden contract with the Dodgers before the 2016 season. It’s a very “team-friendly” contract that pays for performance.  I’ll spare you all the details, but the more games Kenta starts and the more innings he pitches earns him some very significant bonuses.  That’s how Kenta makes his money and his agent gets a percentage of that money.  Do you follow where I am…

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Next Man Up!

June 24, 2017

… and the next men are Trevor Oaks, Brock Stewart and Walker Buehler.  Oaks is a back-of-the-rotation starter who is likely ready now while Buehler is a top-of-the-rotation guy who might be ready in 2018, but won’t ever be a workhorse (welcome to the new MLB).  Stewart could be a a middle-to-back of the rotation guy or an elite reliever.  Time will tell. Mitch White and Yadier Alvarez are due…

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