Every year, certain players regress, some stay the same and others breakout. It’s hard to predict who will do what, but there are a few clues that might be there as to which players may be “Breakout Candidates.” Justin Turner “brokeout” with the Dodgers. So did Chris Taylor in 2017. JD Martinez brokeout as a Tiger. Scooter Gennett brokeout as a Red. Breakout years happen all the time… sometimes when…
When the Dodgers were sold the last time, Guggenheim and Company were not my pick to be the owners, but here we are. There’s nothing you or I can do about that. They are the owners, and they certainly have a very peculiar set of circumstances. They are under SEC investigation, defending lawsuits, their principals are using their personal wealth as security, shareholders are upset (maybe even revolting), they are…
As I talk to Dodger fans or read comments around the blogsphere, it is apparent that there are three schools of thought about the Dodgers: Friedman Hater: This is the most prevelant. Andrew Friedman won’t spend any money, he dumped payroll and won’t trade any top prospects. The Dodgers won’t make the playoffs this year. Wait and See: These fans don’t have a strong opinion and believe that the Dodgers…
GOLD GLOVES In the 2017 season, Yasiel Puig absolutely should have won a Gold Glove, but was denied… probably because lots of people did not like him. He vowed to use his snub as a springboard and win the Gold Glove in 2018, but for whatever reasons, he regressed immensely, so much so that he was not even in the discussion. This is not an indictment on Yasiel (I dissed…
There has been a lot of conjecture about where certain Dodger players should play. Some think Chris Taylor should play 2B, and some on MLB allegedly had him at #5 in the Top 2B. I have no doubt that CT3 could be a Top 2B, even though he has not played well there in what short time he has had. I look for him to have a nice bounce back…
I don’t know about you, but it is my opinion that the Dodgers bullpen is not a need right about now. They signed Machine Gun Kelley and have a plethora of options in 2019 including Therrien, Ferguson, Santana and many others. The starting rotation is 8 deep and while it would be nice to add a Kluber or Bauer, the reality of the situation is that Cleveland has not traded…
There’s nothing that gets Dodger fans dander up more than the Koufax Verses Kershaw Argument. Sandy Koufax pitched for the Dodgers for 12 years, while Clayton is entering his 12th season. Let’s look at their average seasons based over their 12 and 11 year careers: Sandy Koufax:16 Wins 8 Losses; 2.76 ERA; 1.106 WHIP; 9.3 K per 9 innings; 3.2 BB per 9 innings Clayton Kershaw: 16 Wins 7 Losses;…
I think some GM’s think that they have Andrew Friedman “over the proverbial barrel” since he has already moved three key players off the Dodgers roster. Right about now everyone is trying to sell high and buy low and there’s not a lot happening, all over the hot stove league. But, if you think Friedman traded four players for the privilege of overpaying for others, you are smoking some really…
No, this is not a course in the “new math.” Five out of four people struggle with math anyway. However, sometimes you can get better by deleting some pieces. You don’t always have to add pieces to get better. These pieces that you subtract may be pieces that most people view as essential, but in reality, they may not be that at all. Now, I am certain that Andrew Friedman…
If you are not of that ilk, then you will not be offended, but if you are, I have to ask… and I’d like to know: Why do you hate Andrew Friedman so much? Note:This is just not directed to LA Dodger Talk’s readers – This is across the blogosphere. You may say you don’t but that is total BULL, and you know that. You hate him! You’ve hated him…