The Dodgers are 8-3, and Yoshi Yamamoto just won his first win while striking out 8. Tyler Glasnow has looked like an Ace since Spring Training, and Striker Buehler, a past Ace, went 4.2 innings for OKC yesterday, allowing just two hits, walking none, and striking out six! He threw 65 pitches, 42 of them for strikes. Walker was extremely happy with his results. His fastball was 93-95 until he…
Before I start talking about Opening Day, I want to talk about something that makes baseball so special. To me, it was never so evident as in the Freeway Series, although I saw flashes of it through the spring: Watching the youngsters and seeing the pure joy they experience is the best part of this game. Last year, it was Miguel Vargas, Bobby Miller, and James Outman (well, Bobby is…
I am just going to jump right into this one: In 2023, the best Caught Stealing Rate by Catchers was +9. That means that the best catcher was good for +9 Runs Over League Average. Will Smith was -1 Run Below Average and Austin Barnes was -4 Runs Below League Average. If Austin Barnes is one of the worst throwing catchers in MLB, then Will Smith is right there with…
While it is clear that Yamamoto has some very filthy stuff, he finished Spring Training with a 8.38 ERA. In 9.2 IP, he allowed 15 Hits and 9 ER. He walked 4 and struck out 14. It also has been rumored that he is tipping pitches. I heard someone say, “It doesn’t matter if he ‘s tipping pitches – they still can’t hit him!” YES THEY CAN! Now, understand that…
We learned a lot about Tyler Glasnow yesterday and why he is unquestionably now the Dodgers’ Ace. Lest we forget, he has had a singular injury problem, not plural problems. He has had just one injury that was undiagnosed for four years. It was fixed and he now looks healthy as a horse! Actually, he is horse – just check out his mane. Tyler is now the Dodgers’ Ace. End…
As I have talked about the Dodger Rookies, especially James Outman, it became apparent that whenever I said anything that was perceived to be negative about James Outman, I was attacked like I was a Wannabee by the Queen Bees in Mean Girls. I thought this was really strange until I realized the attackers were only the “Mean Girls” because they did not understand that I was not attacking their…
Chris Sale is a classic example of the “Best Trades You Make Are the Ones You Don’t!” Now, don’t get me wrong – It’s possible that Chris Sale may have a fine season for the Braves, but if I were forced to bet on that, I would bet that he would not! Chris will soon be 35 and has injured practically every body part a human has since 2017. In…
You ask most any Dodger fan, and they will say one of the bigger disappointments of the 2023 playoff series against the D-Backs was the performance, or lack thereof, of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Part of the Dodgers’ futility in their last three playoff appearances has been the lack of production by star players. In 21, they were further burdened by the loss of Kershaw, Muncy, Joe Kelly, and Shcerzer,…
Why Shohei Ohtani is not Coming to the Dodgers It is fun to think about Ohtani in the Dodgers lineup. There is a lot of talk about marketing opportunities, reaching the Japanese population, and jersey sales. However, let us not forget that the Dodgers put more butts in seats than any other team and already are a marketing dynamo. I seriously doubt that signing Ohtani will improve the bottom line….
Once again, Bruce Bochy demonstrated why he is a genius. Bochy’s strategy was this: After his starter gave up five runs in 4.2 IP, he told the bullpen not to give up any runs the rest of the way. No one else on the planet would have thought of something so ingenious. Then, in the 11th inning, he whispered into Adolis Garcia’s ear. “If you hit a Home Run, that…