Player Development is not Always Linear

September 29, 2018

Pitchers and hitters don’t progress from one stage to another in a straight line. That’s what we would like, because we like predictable.  We like things neatly arranged and sequential, but baseball player development happens so differently… and sometimes, so maddeningly different than what we like, that we are frequently frustrated beyond belief. This time last year, Striker Buehler, who was then named “Walker” Buehler,  was stinking up the joint…

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Not A Good Night

September 26, 2018

Last night, Dodgerrick posted an excellent clutch performance synopsis of the Dodgers 2018 season.  Yes, I wear rose colored glasses, but I am not blind.  I know that it is easy to do an autopsy on last night’s game as everything has already happened and the results are known.  But Rick was right in his estimation that last night epitomized that FanGraphs expose’.    Walker Buehler pitched a tremendous 5.2…

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Fan Appreciation Day

September 24, 2018

Yesterday’s game was fun and to be appreciated.  What a fan appreciation day!!!  The Dodgers score 14 and collect 16 hits.  Ryu pitched AND hit superbly.  He allows 4 hits and collects 8 strikeouts, and ZERO walks, and gets THREE hits.  Josh Fields and Julio Urias come in and shutdown the Padres for the final three innings.  It is hard to get too excited about shutting down the Padres, but…

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Is This the 2017 Big Blue Again?

September 20, 2018

I like contrarians.  They keep us thinking.  Sometimes we end up supporting a player more vociferously than may be called for.  Think Bums and Joc, Mark and Grandal, MJ and Toles, and of course me and Wood. Most of us have been frustrated with how this season has unfolded and have made some disparaging comments regarding FAZ or Doc, or players such as Joc, Wood, Puig, Dozier, CT3, and lately…

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What Do You Do When You Fall Down?

September 19, 2018

The Determined Dodgers fell down several times this season, but they got back up and kept themselves in the running. This Band of Brothers understand that as long as you are within striking distance, it’s how you finish, and they are now finishing what they started… and stumbled… and got back up – they never stopped running! In 2008 Heather Dorniden-Kampf, the favorite,  was competing in the 600 meter race in…

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The Joc Pederson Show

September 18, 2018

Evidently, there are worse things than not being able to hit LH pitching.  Many of us on this blog were growing weary of Joc’s two steps back after his one step forward. Well, last night, Joc hit his 22nd and 23rd HR, as the Dodgers leadoff hitter and is currently OPS’ing .843. So that we don’t forget, here is how most baseball people rank OPS: Rating OPS Excellent 1.000 Great…

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Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics

September 14, 2018

That phrase was popularized in the United States by Mark Twain (among others), who attributed it to the British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. It seems that there is a stat for everything and we all have our own opinions. I voiced my displeasure with Dave Roberts not playing Yasmani Grandal last night after his breakout game against the Reds on Wednesday. Many other Dodger fans voiced the same displeasure over…

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Legends of the Fall

September 13, 2018

I always use that title once this time of year. This is where legends are made and you never know who will step up when you least expect it. What better legend to feature that one Sanford Koufax, as his protegee goes tonight. If New Orleans is really The Big Easy, then St. Louis is The Big (It Ain’t) Easy for the LA Dodgers. With just two weekends left in…

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Get a Grip on Reality!

September 11, 2018

The best team does not always win… well, maybe I should rephrase that: The team with the best players does not always win, but the best team usually does win. By far and away, the Dodgers have the best players in the NL, but currently they do not have the best team. Certainly, the players have execute, but the players also have play as a team.  Too many times I feel…

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