Before we start the season, let me say that I am extremely excited that Mookie Betts will end his career (probably) in Dodger Blue. Unlike many of you, I am not surprised. We all know how much Andrew Friedman loves his top prospects and he simply was not going to part with three top prospects (including Tony Gwynn-esque, Alex Verdugo) for a rental. Do the math! I think Alex Verdugo…
As I write this right about now, even the Haters have been forced to shut up. The Dodgers have been the best team in MLB over the past 5-years. They have a Top 3 Farm Systems and Major League Depth that is the envy of every other team. Many other team executives complain that “it’s just not fair” how the Dodgers operate their franchise.
We can analyze until we are paralyzed and we can come up with all types of dream scenarios, but I am more pragmatic about it. Baseball will contract those teams. It will happen. Get used to it. It’s what comes afterward that is up for debate.
I am very happy to announce that LAdodgerTalk will be back May 1, 2020 and that Mr. Jeff Dominique (formerly known as Always Compete, or “AC”) will be the man in charge. My only involvement will be as a consultant. I may write a column or comment occasionally. Jeff wants to do this and I believe he will do a great job. Some of the other writers may join him….
I thought it might be fun to look back to 2017 and what Keith Law had to say about some Former Dodger Players. I like Keith Law a lot. He has a lot of insight into prospects… but he is not perfect. If he was, someone would be paying him $50 million dollars a year. Jose De Leon Born in Puerto Rico but drafted in the 24th round out of…
The one that I do not understand even for a second is why it is not OK to bunt late in the game to break up a no-hitter. The sole purpose of standing at home plate is to get to first base. If it wasn’t, there would be no first base. A bunt is a legal, underused tool. If it is legitimate at other times in a game, then it is legit with two out in the ninth in a possible no-hitter. It is not the job of the batter to massage the pitcher’s ego. For heaven’s safe be prepared to field a bunt. Stop whining, you have the ball and can do whatever you want with it and you have eight players to back you up. The hitter is alone with a little round bat.
If you know how to cheat, start now.”—Baltimore manager Earl Weaver, to pitcher Ross Grimsley on the mound.
I really enjoy western type movies and I guess for their simplicity. I also enjoy baseball-type movies because of my love for baseball. Two of them came together for me in prompting this column. Who doesn’t love Clint Eastwood performances? I especially enjoyed his performance as Gus Lobel in “Trouble With the Curve”. I watched a re-run of it a while back and also watched a re-run of “3:10 to…
Let me just say it here. I was wrong. I misjudged this whole thing. I apologize for what was my stubborn miscalculation of events. We are experiencing something that never has been experienced. When the whole world’s economy shuts down, the ramifications can be endless. Are we in for another great depression? I certainly hope not.
We have all seen statistical models of how this current pandemic is supposed to go. But, just like in sports, the computer-generated models are just that. The game is played by people… people who are capable of some really good or really bad things. So, I will not even speculate on what will happen. I learned a long time ago to control what I can control and quit worrying about…