And the 2021 MLB Season Begins

February 17, 2021

Today is the day that pitchers and catchers are due to report to Camelback Ranch for the Dodgers.  Tomorrow is the first day of workouts.  Full squad reports February 22, with the first full squad workout scheduled for February 23.   The Dodgers play their first spring training game on Sunday, February 28 against the Oakland A’s at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. There will be some rules in effect that…

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And Yet Another Trevor Bauer Post

February 7, 2021

Welcome to Super Bowl Sunday.  I am a much bigger fan of college football, and since my Packers are out of it, the lure of the Super Bowl does not hold a huge interest for me.  I will undoubtedly watch the game, and I have a lot of family in KC so I will have some allegiance to them.  I am not against Tom Brady as much as many I…

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2021-2025 Payroll Projections (In Progress For Friday)

January 22, 2021

In a November 15, 2015 article authored by Matthew Moreno at dodgerblue.com, Andrew Friedman and Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten maintained that the extravagant spending for the Dodgers would not continue, and that the 2016 season would provide a small opportunity to make progress toward balancing the scale. According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly recently echoed a similar sentiment, going so far as to…

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The Pen: Better or Worse?

January 20, 2021

A little premature to know if AF is finished yet, but the Dodger bullpen has already been overhauled some. Knebel, Cleavenger, Kahnle, the new kids on the block. Kahnle will not pitch this season, and Cleavenger has never pitched above AA. Wood and Baez have gone to SF and Houston respectively, and McGee so far has not been signed anywhere. And the roster sits at 40. There are all sorts…

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Do You Want to Win the Battle or the War?

January 19, 2021

Even if the Dodgers do not sign Justin Turner, they are the class of the NL – It’s just that the gap has lessened! Position-by-position and pitcher-by-pitcher, it is my opinion that the Padres are not the equal of the Dodgers, but they are better than they were last season. The keyword right about now is: DON’T PANIC!

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No Bull About the Pen

January 6, 2021

It’s really simple: If Brandon Morrow is healthy, he is very, very good! When he’s not healthy, he is not a factor. He has had elbow, calf and shoulder injuries the past two years and is allegedly healthy now. He will be 37 in July and this is likely his last dance.

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The Case for Standing Pat

December 31, 2020

Sign DJ LeMahieu? That would cost the Dodgers a draft pick. Remember when, after losing Mark Teixeira to free agency and the Yankees, the Angels were awarded the 25th pick of the draft as compensation. And who did they use that pick on? None other than Mike Trout. Or look at it another way: Signing Mark Teixeira cost the Yankees Mike Trout.

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Sign Free Agents or Trade

December 30, 2020

There is always the debate as to whether prospects are meant to be held onto so as to build from within, or should they be used as prospect capital to acquire existing MLB stars.  Of course, these trades need to be made at the peak of the prospect trade value in order to maximize the return.  The Dodgers have had a perennial top 10 farm club since AF signed on…

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2021 Hot Stove League ???

December 28, 2020

Editorial Comment – This post was written prior to the Blake Snell acquisition by the Padres. The longer this offseason goes without much movement, the more likely AF is going to get involved. The number of teams that want to jettison payroll is growing  and is undoubtedly going to pique the interest of teams like LAD.  While it will stress out fans who continually want to see something happen to…

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Agony and Anticipation

December 7, 2020

Agony and anticipation. That is what the winter meetings have always felt like for me. I am pretty sure many others feel the same. It has been more that way since the advent of free agency. Back in the day when players got no more than a one year deal and were tied to their teams by the reserve clause. For you youngins, that means that the team that signed…

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