1. Dodgerpatch indicated that I was taking the criticism of Austin Barnes too personally. Not true. I would never take criticism alone personally. What I take personally is the name calling. A week ago I stated that Barnes had option(s) remaining and that he should be considered to be optioned to OKC, and bring up Will Smith to get better acclimated to the pitchers. When the name calling started, I…
Do you have the audacity to doubt my veracity? Or even to insinuate that I would prevaricate? While I’ll thrust my phalanges into your physiognomy with such intensity, That it will horizontalize your purpendicularity. I like the sound of that. It just rolls off the tongue… That was fun! So, Revisionist Historians like to believe that the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman won the World Series for them in 2016. Well, it’s true that…
When the Dodgers acquired Jimmy Rollins, I was pretty vocal that Corey Seager was ready and there was no need for Rollins to be the “bridge” to Seager. I still think Corey was ready a year earlier, but FAZ made him wait… and it turned out OK. FAZ had a plan of succession. In the Spring of 2017, I pronounced Cody Bellinger ready for the Show, but FAZ sent him…
Last Thursday AC completed a review of all nine Dodgers minor league teams. It was an exhaustive review in terms of its depth and probably a bit exhaustive for the author. AC looked at the players, from his perspective, who are on an uphill trajectory. He included 45 players, some on a seemingly quick ascent and others on a more slow but steady climb. The list certainly included some surprises…
While sitting here in my recliner, remote in hand, watching the Dodgers-Red Sox, I have some random thoughts on the passing season (with apologies to Thomas Sowell): • First, and foremost, it is important for all of you to know that I have not made a single mistake in the past 5 – 10 years as to Dodger in-game decisions, lineups they should have used, and as to trades…
Not DJ LeMahieu, the recent AL Player of the Week, DJ Peters who was selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Western Nevada College. Peters became the highest draft pick in the history of the junior college located in Carson City. Peters had previously been selected twice in the June Draft in the 36th round and became the third Wildcat…
No, he is not a member of the late Merle Haggard’s family. He is another one of those invisible Dodgers minor leaguers pitching above expectations. Justin Hagenman was selected by the Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft as a junior out of Penn State., 704th overall. He was born in Voorhees, New Jersey and attended Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken,NJ. At Bishop Eustace Hagenman…
A month ago, most Dodger fans wanted Chris Taylor executed. Now, they are shocked at his execution. He is one of the hottest hitters in the league. What’s the difference? The LA Times, Jorge Castillo wrote this: In 15 games since Seager was put on the injured list June 13, Taylor was batting .429 with three home runs and a 1.1238 on-base-plus-slugging percentage entering Friday’s meeting with the Colorado Rockies….
A few days ago, Bluto posed the following: “I mean if you are evaluating players from a far then you have to be down on prospects when they fare poorly. But what’s the difference between being down and writing off? And what does writing off mean? Does it mean moving down in the prospect list? Or removing altogether?” I am sure that my opinion of “being down” vs. writing off…
Mark and I don’t always agree on everything Blue, although I think we are pretty consistent from a Macro view. But when it comes to the bullpen, Mark and I just do not see eye to eye. I have been a relief pitcher wonk since 1959 and Larry Sherry. Clem Labine would have been my favorite Dodger in the mid 50’s. I am not going to go through the history…