Tony, Doc, Julio, & Mookie

August 20, 2023

That’s our agenda today, boys and girls! Tony Gonsolin So, now we know for sure that an “elbow injury” is likely going to keep Tony Gonsolin out for the remainder of the season. That’s all we know – there’s a whole lot more to know but at this juncture that Dodgers and/or Tony Gonsolin ain’t sayin’. That’s typical, not only for the Dodgers but also for many other teams as…

Read More >>

Some Days the Bear Gets You

August 6, 2023

… and I am not talking about the Old Bear! Last night was just one of those games, where the bear got us! Some of you want to try and pin it on Roberts, Hernandez, Almonte, or Ferguson, and of course, it is just not that simple. Some of you wonder why on earth Roberts brought Phillips in on Friday night when the game was well in hand. Well, Phillips…

Read More >>

Enjoy the Ride!

July 2, 2023

Julio Urias pitched about like I thought he would play in his first game back from the IL. He was rusty and gave up a lot of soft contact in the first inning. The Royals got just one extra-base hit, but Julio was not sharp. That was to be expected. He was using all his pitches but did not have command of them – kind of like what you would…

Read More >>

The Iceberg Principle: What’s Below the Surface

June 18, 2023

When an iceberg is floating free in the ocean, only a small part of the whole is actually visible. Perhaps ten percent of the iceberg is discernible above the water line, while the rest is hidden below the surface in the depths of the ocean. Think about that, ninety percent of the iceberg is invisible. People are like that too. Many times they only share a small part of whom…

Read More >>

How to “Fix” the Dodgers

June 15, 2023

Step 1: You start out realizing that they do not need to be “fixed.” They may not even need “tweaked.” I think they could stand pat and still win it all… if things go right. Step 2: Go back and read Step 1! Now, I am not saying that Andrew Friedman may not make a trade or two. That will depend on whether certain teams make certain players available. However,…

Read More >>

Is The Manager the Problem?

June 8, 2023

Pitching changes, lineups, and strategy decisions are subjective… VERY subjective. Additionally, second guessers are seldom wrong. I rarely question tactical decisions because I know that there are frequently underlying reasons. I think I was dead on in what I said about Caleb Ferguson, and I think you will find out about it soon enough. The beat writers report what the team gives them; sometimes, they are told not to publish…

Read More >>

Sometimes the War is More Important Than the Battle

June 7, 2023

Of course, I knew that everyone inclined would blame Dave Roberts for the loss last night. Right or wrong – everyone has an opinion of him, just like everyone has or is an… well, never mind! I sat four rows in back of the Dodgers dugout and had hundreds of Dodger faithful in all their gear around me. In the first inning, after scoring three runs in the top of…

Read More >>

May Day, May Day!

May 13, 2023

So, maybe you are of the mindset that when Dustin May got into a little trouble in the 7th inning Doc should have taken him out? That’s silliness! It’s true that Dustin May was cruising after six innings, and he got two quick outs in the top of the 7th inning. I think he had only allowed two hits at the time. Dustin was under 90 pitchers at the time,…

Read More >>

Has Dave Roberts’s “Shelf Live” Expired?

April 18, 2023

In the NBA, they change coaches more than some of you change your underwear. The other day, someone asked me, “Do you wear boxers or briefs?” I said, “Depends…” It also might depend on when you ask about Dave Roberts’s shelf life. This is Doc’s 8th year as the Dodger Manager, with 661 wins and 388 losses. That’s a .630 winning percentage. Among any manager in baseball history with at…

Read More >>

One Step Forward – Three Steps Back

April 12, 2023

The simple way to blame someone for last night’s debacle ‘er, loss, is to say it was on Dave Roberts for starting Chris Taylor at 3B after Max Muncy’s big night. However, that would be short-sighted as well. Max has not fared well against Alex Wood – having just one hit in 9 career at-bats against him, and it could be that Max Muncy is becoming a platoon hitter as…

Read More >>