250 posts
DISCLAIMER: I swore long ago that I would never write this… BUT, here I am doing it! I could not resist. Also, I am truly sorry if I offend anyone. Many years ago, when my wife had a series of ice cream shops, she hired a new girl, and I asked how she was doing. Her response…
Just like every season, especially in the Spring, things never turn out the way you think… especially due to injuries, and the Dodgers have quietly had quite a few on the pitching side. Here’s the short list of injuries that will shape the Dodger’s Opening Day Roster: Bobby…
There are 1,458 innings in a 162-game baseball schedule. Of course, games will inevitably go into extra innings, so let’s call a season 1,500 innings (give or take). I have stated before that I would not be surprised if no Dodger starter pitched more than 125 innings. For…
There are thirteen pitchers who love Austin Barnes . He is an “on-the-field-pitching coach.” He is not going anywhere, so get that out of your mind. Hunter Feduccia, who happens to be LH, may or may not be a better hitter, and maybe his arm is slightly better, but he is no…
It seems like every other day, someone is blowing out their UCL and needing Tommy John Surgery. The Dodgers have had their share – Buehler, Gonsolin, May, Frasso, et al. What can be done to stop this? Can anything be done to stop this? I have been listening to all of the talk…
While it is clear that Yamamoto has some very filthy stuff, he finished Spring Training with a 8.38 ERA. In 9.2 IP, he allowed 15 Hits and 9 ER. He walked 4 and struck out 14. It also has been rumored that he is tipping pitches. I heard someone say, “ It doesn’t matter if he ‘s…
Many… or at least some Dodger fans believe that this Winter, the Dodgers will do something they never have under Andrew Friedman and sign two or maybe even three starting pitchers to long-term deals. Let’s get this over with right now: It is not happening! If you look at Andrew…
Once again, Bruce Bochy demonstrated why he is a genius. Bochy’s strategy was this: After his starter gave up five runs in 4.2 IP, he told the bullpen not to give up any runs the rest of the way. No one else on the planet would have thought of something so ingenious. Then, in…
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…
For the record, it was discussed yesterday whether Clayton Kershaw was a #1, #2, or #3. I think the answer is d. Neither – Clayton is a #2.5. There. That’s my final statement on it. How many aces have 33 starts anymore? Only 31 pitchers in MLB had more than 31 starts last…
Dustin May may be the Dodger’s best pitcher before the season is over. He did not have his best stuff or pinpoint control last night, but even when he is “off,” he is still extremely hard to hit. His “bad stuff” is better than most pitchers’ “good stuff!” Actually, the entire…
By design, Bobby Miller has not pitched in a Major League Spring Training Game, and I do not think he has played in any minor league or B-Games either, as he allegedly had a “sore shoulder” when he arrived at Spring Training. Allegedly, it is OK now, but the Dodgers are ramping…
If you are going to Spring Training, one of the best things is to go as far into the complex as they let you. I have not been there for a few years, but when I went regularly, I had Press Passes and was able to get everywhere, even the clubhouse, which I rarely did because these…
For the past several weeks, we have been discussing who is going to play where and how the rookies will fit in. Will Lux play SS or 2B? Will Vargas play 3B, 2B or LF? Will Outman start in CF? Will Busch play anywhere? There is a lot to be decided, and we are not going to solve…
We have hashed and re-hashed the state-of-the Dodger’s pitching for what seems like a hundred years when it has only been a few weeks. I have maintained that the Dodgers do not need another starter, as that starter blocks Pepiot, Stone, and Miller. However, when a player wants…
Bluntly stated: “ If you have one of the best farm systems in baseball, it is Felony Stupid to waste it. ” We have repeatedly seen that buying expensive free agents is no guarantee of anything. Baseball executives are becoming painfully aware that youth and energy, and…
Every Dodger fan has their own idea of how to “fix” the Dodgers or how to build them for the playoffs. First of all, the Dodgers don’t need “fixed” – they won 111 games and picked a horrible time to turn cold. After leading MLB in hitting with RISP with a .272 BA (Houston was…
I have always wondered about the predictability of having a closer and why teams have simply gone in the direction of having a 9 th inning man, no matter what the situation was. If you really think about it, throwing that “stopper” out there for the final three outs night after…
I received an E-Mail yesterday from the Dodgers PR staff about getting media credentials for the NLDS. I used to get them but have not done that for about nine or ten years. Anyway, towards the bottom, it said this: “ All individuals must be both vaccinated and boosted to…
So, all season Dodger fans have ragged the Dodgers’ “Botton-of-the Batting Order.” Specifically, they have been critical of Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, and Joey Gallo; however, that team they have been so critical of is poised to set a team record for wins. They are getting…
I had already started this blog post when Whistling Ranger (welcome to LADT) posted this: “I look for the Dodgers to concentrate on roster management in the offseason. There is extreme competition for the 40-man roster. Look for them to trade older players for younger, promising…
That means he is really not fixed – you can just see the momentum shift as he throws strikes and then throws balls. I hope, wish, and pray he is fixed, but he’s not. I hope to the Big Dodger in the Sky that I am wrong. He’s Kenley Jansen revisited. The Dodgers will rue the day…
As we head into the weekend, we’ll examine some of the current News and Notes as it relates to Dodgers Baseball… The Dodgers are coming off a sweep of the Marlins and taking two of three to take the season series from the Brewers resulting in a 5-1 record during the 6-game home…
With the playoffs a full month and a half away (48 games), it’s a bit of a reach to try to predict what a potential playoff bullpen will look like. We’ll know a lot more once we’re closer to the finish line, but from the looks of things, September will be a tryout for October…
The Dodgers just finished off a seven-game sweep of their intra-division rivals from the North and South. The Giants and Padres don’t know what hit them. Both rivals moved in opposite directions at the trade deadline, but the results were the same. All L’s for the challengers…
DISCLAIMER : If this does not apply to you, don’t sweat it! When Andrew Friedman took over as President of the Dodgers, he made several moves that most Dodgers fans mocked and ridiculed, such as signing Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, and Scott Kazmir. They mocked the trade of…
I have been away for a long while and will return to posting a piece now and then, now that I start this new phase in life called “retirement.” Some random Dodger bullets running through my mind. Friday, July 29th – Last Day before Retirement As disappointed as many fans are…
Actually, it’s past time. I am so done with Craig Kimbrel! Three letters: DFA! It’s over, done; stick a fork in him! So, who’s the closer? Let’s run down the list: Evan Phillips – Tell me he can’t. He has the stuff, and while he has never done it, he looks cold-blooded and calm…
Mathew’s publicity still, taken at LA Coliseum Eddie Mathews was born on October 13th, 1931, in Texarkana, Texas. His family moved to Santa Barbara, California, four years later. Eddie got his love of baseball from his father. His dad was a Western Union telegraph operator and…
So far, so good. The Dodger’s starting rotation is as good as it gets in baseball this season. They have the best winning percentage, ERA, WHIP, and Ave Against. It’s a clean sweep in most of the major indicators of success, but there are reasons for concern. They don’t K at an…
