Tony Gonsolin is 27 years old and played his first Minor League Game in 2016. In 2019, he made his first appearance in the Show when he pitched 40 innings with a 4-2 record and sported a 2.93 ERA. For every pitcher that makes the major leagues and starts like this, there are probably 25 or more who really struggle. In the COVID-19 year of 2020, the Catman pitched 46…
I am not confident that we will see the 2022 Baseball Season start on time… or that there will even be a season. I am extremely confident that the players and owners are fully capable of “killing off this grand game of baseball.” When players like Max Scherzer are paid $43 Million a year and players like Julio Urias are paid $3.6 Million, baseball has a huge problem and it…
The other day I did not have a whole lot to do after I finished packing my bags for my trip to California, so I watched Eight Men Out again. The movie is about the Black Sox scandal. And I knew well before I had ever seen this film about the 8 players banned for life by Judge Landis for conspiring to throw the series. What I learned is that…
Pitchers who wore them include, Ron Belisario, Corbin Burnes before he had lasik surgery, Tyler Clippard, Ryne Duren, who I remember well when he was an Angel. He once hit a batter in the on deck circle. Eric Gagne, Mel Harder, Joe Kelly, Jim Konstanty, Denny McLain, Kent Tekulve, Julio Urias, Bob Veale, and Fernando. And an umpire, Frank Umont. First ump to wear glasses.
No one chooses their time to die unless they take their own lives. And it can strike at any time from any direction. There have over the history of the game been many instances when players have passed away during the season, or in the off-season. 4 of those players were Hall of Fame members. The most prominent is Roberto Clemente, killed when his mercy flight to Haiti crashed into…
Most of us who have been Dodger fans for years have loved the classic look of the Dodger uniform. Next to the Yankee pinstripes, it is probably one of the more iconic uniforms in sports. Football uniforms and basketball uniforms have morphed a lot over the years, but baseball jerseys usually keep their team’s traditions. Even the Rams horns have changed drastically on the Rams helmets. The 1890’s version of…
There has been a lot of speculation as to why the Dodgers have not appointed a General Manager to take the place of their last GM – Farhan Zaidi. Some have speculated that it is because Andrew Friedman is an ego-manic who wants all the power. That explanation is too absurd to even warrant a response. I have also wondered why Friedman has not appointed a GM to take Zaidi’s…
When you think about the great outfielders who played the game, many come to mind, Mantle, Ruth, Aaron, Mays, Trout, Robinson, Griffey Jr., and Clemente. When you talk about great outfield arms, the list narrows some especially from the RF position. But some players are known for those cannons they possess. And the Dodgers had two of the best, and almost a third, Furillo, Mondesi, and then Clemente. Yep, he…
Back in the early ’60s, the Dodgers had brothers on the team at the same time. Larry Sherry was a star reliever and World Series, 1959, MVP. His brother Norm was Roseboro’s light-hitting backup when Pignatano was not available. Norm had a good grasp of the game and later managed in the minors, and the Angels for a 147 game stretch in 77-78. Norm passed away earlier this year in…
At first blush, you might think I am talking about the lockout and that certainly is what appears to be the biggest problem, but if you look deeper, you will find that baseball popularity is on the wane – that is the Deep Trouble that MLB is in. Jeff Dominique wrote about it yesterday in a masterful article. I also have a few thoughts about it. Look at this: Baseball…