What Comes Next Is Not So Simple

December 27, 2018

Before we start this discussion, let’s remember that the time between the Holidays is a real dog when it comes to the Hot Stove League, thus, these really are the Dog Days. OK, let’s look at what the Kemp-Puig-Wood-Farmer trade produced.  The Dodgers sent Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Alex Wood, Kyle Farmer and $7 million Dollars to the Reds for Homer Bailey and two nice prospects. Very simply, the Dodger…

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The Roadmap to Bryce Harper

December 18, 2018

Are the Dodgers in on Bryce Harper?  Yes, even Ray Charles can see that!  A better question is “Will the Dodgers really try to sign Bryce Harper?  The answer is the same answer I give when people as “Do you wear boxers or briefs?”  I say “Depends.” Bada Bing! But seriously… Bryce Harper has “IT” – the “IT FACTOR.”  He would be an instant fit for LA. Yes, the Doders…

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Hope Springs Eternal

December 16, 2018

Baseball is the ultimate game for statistics, and in the past few years statistics have multiplied faster than a warren of rabbits.  Launch angles, exit velocity and spin rates are only a few of the new statistics.  Some statistics such as framing and DWAR are somewhat subjective and not yet a perfect means of measurement.  So many fans use stats literally in the respect that your stats say what you…

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Pruning The Roster To Keep It Healthy

December 15, 2018

Yesterday Mark wrote, “this Dodger Team, right here, right now, is better than the 2018 version.” I will stipulate that the Dodgers may be better just for the loss of Farhan Zaidi and Turner Ward.  That may be cruel, and they may do wonderful things for their new respective clubs, but they were a disconnect for this team.  Friedman wants more of his fingerprints on the roster and approach, and…

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Believe No One!

December 11, 2018

… especially not me.  Well, that is the one thing you can believe – I don’t have a clue! Believe that! That’s it. At the Winter Meetings, some teams are talking, some aren’t.  The ones who are, could very well be putting out propaganda (false information). Some teams have a lot of leaks to the press.  Andrew Friedman’s Dodgers are very tight-lipped.  There are no leaks, except for a few…

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Yasiel Puig, Platooning, and LAD Trades

December 8, 2018

“A .209 hitter this year against left-handed pitchers, Puig was disgruntled by how he was limited to playing against right-handers, according to people familiar with his thinking who spoke under the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject. The frustration was said to affect his play, and Puig is now described as distrustful of management and open to playing for another team.” – Dylan Hernandez, LA…

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Dodger Position Players: Over, Under, Sideways, Down

December 4, 2018

The Bryce Harper rumors are growing, but even with Dodger officials traveling to Las Vegas to meet with him, “What happens in Vegas, will likely stay in Vegas!”  Just my opinion. There will likely be some more player movement by the Dodgers this offseason, but I believe that Andrew Friedman is right – the Dodgers really don’t need much, and they certainly don’t need to make changes just for the…

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Review of the Non-Tenders

December 3, 2018

Well we are now in December, less than one week away from the Winter Meeting, and the Dodgers have Kevin Quackenbush and Adam McCreery.  So, I guess the Dodgers are all set.  Andrew & Co. addressed the bullpen, what else can anyone else want?   I have been scouring the internet to catch word that the Dodgers pulled off a trade for JT Realmuto or Corey Kluber.  Or if Andrew…

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Last Year’s Bullpen Problems Were All Kenley Jansen’s Fault

November 30, 2018

Many people blame Andrew Friedman and/or Farhan Zaidi for the demise of the Dodgers bullpen in 2018.  They surmise that they failed to adequately equip the pen with the requisite number and quality of arms. Actually, “demise” is a pretty harsh word.  The Dodgers and the Red Sox, the two World Series teams, both finished the regular sesaon with identical 3.72 Bullpen ERA’s.  The Dodgers did have the better WHIP…

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Dodgers Reportedly Hire Robert Van Scoyoc as Hitting Coach

November 28, 2018

Some eyebrows were raised when news broke that the Dodgers were contemplating hiring 32-year-old Robert Van Scoyoc as their new hitting coach. Perhaps those eyebrows are still raised and locked into position waiting to see how things play out.   One argument expressing doubt is that he has never played major league baseball so perhaps lacks the understanding of hitting at that level. I’m not sure that makes much difference…

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