SOME POST TRADE DEADLINE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE RECLINER

August 1, 2021

With Mark on the 10-day inactive list to attend to family business in Las Vegas (ever notice how these trips are never to Des Moines, Iowa or Wichita, Kansas?), Jeff (AC) was desperate for some assistance on the LADT writers roster. With his options limited, he had to resort to adding someone from the alternate training site, and had no choice but to call on me, the Zack Reks/Edwin Uceta…

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Kike’ Hernandez – The Banana Man No Longer A Dodger

January 24, 2021

By now, everyone knows that Kike’ Hernandez will not be back in Dodger blue. Some fans are very saddened by his departure. I go on Twitter a lot because guys like Rosenthal and Passan, and even Heyman, post there quite often, and even break the news of signings there. I know some here subscribe to The Athletic, but I just cannot afford something like that so I get my news…

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Why We Need MiLB Production Before Prospects Are More Than Prospects

January 11, 2021

I have lost count of the number of times I have read that Kody Hoese is expected to have a big impact for the Dodgers in 2021.  I find myself smh and disagreeing. But to some, it comes across as me denigrating the talent of Kody Hoese.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  I have not seen enough of Kody Hoese to know whether he is going to be…

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Trickle Down Impact of San Diego Moves

January 3, 2021

Somebody made a point as to what the Padres transactions did for the psyche for the other teams.  The Padres have now joined the Dodgers, Braves, probably Mets, and maybe the Nationals (with their pitching and Soto/Robles/Turner) to separate from the rest of the NL.  Some team from the NL Central will get to the playoffs, because, well one of the teams has to.  It is a rule. Because of…

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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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Financing in MLB

December 20, 2020

The financing of a baseball season is going under the microscope this offseason and potentially into next season.  There is no question that MLB lost several billion in revenues. According to Forbes’ estimates from 2019, as gathered by the University of Michigan sports economist Rodney Fort, MLB teams made a total of $9.9 billion as follows: REVENUE (IN BILLIONS) UNDER… CATEGORY NORMAL SEASON HALF-SEASON W/O FANS* Gate receipts $2.84B $0.00B…

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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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Men in Black Part 2

November 16, 2020

Back again with my second installment about the 10 men in the hall who were umpires. Looking back and remembering some of the umps I do, I cannot help but wonder what has kept guys like Augie Donatelli and Shag Crawford out of the hall. Only the Vets committee knows for sure. But today’s story profiles a couple of pretty good umps and one really versatile one who excelled in…

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Doc: “THIS IS OUR YEAR. THIS IS OUR YEAR”

October 19, 2020

For the third time in four years, the Los Angeles Dodgers are NL Pennant Winners and headed back to the World Series.  Will 2020 be different?  Like the Cubs in 2016 and the Nationals last year, I think the Dodgers are the team of destiny.  I am sure Tampa Bay Rays fans feel the same way, but I am a Dodgers fan so who cares what Rays fans think. Corey…

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First Round Possibilities

September 24, 2020

Our Boys in Blue have clinched yet another NL West Championship.  That streak has now reached 8, and is one behind 9 consecutive AL East Titles by NYY and 14 consecutive Divisional Titles by Atlanta. Out of the previous seven, the Dodgers have won two pennants, with no World Series Championships.  NYY’s streak was from 1998 through 2006.  The Yankees won five pennants and three consecutive World Series Championships for…

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