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LA Dodger Talk
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Garrett Cleavinger

23 posts

Mark was Right!

Mark was right! He called it early. We didn’t have to do anything at the trade deadline. Well, he’s part right. There are no major holes to fill on this roster, we actually had to create holes so we would have open spots for a couple of players that are coming off the 60-day IL…

By Mark Timmons · August 3, 2022103

Gut the Farm… or Not?

If I knew that I had three months to live, I would root for Andrew Friedman to trade as many prospects as possible in order to win the World Series. Of course, only the good die young, so I will live to be 126 years old! Shoot, I’d tell Andrew Friedman to trade for David Bednar…

By Mark Timmons · July 27, 202264

A Trade for Bullpen Help

… right about now would be a panic move that nothing good would likely come from. Anytime you think you HAVE to make a trade, you will always overpay! Every time. Sometimes you have to, but there is no reason to do so right about now. Yes, the Dodgers have lost Blake Treinen…

By Mark Timmons · June 26, 202272

All Hat – No Cattle!

There is an old saying “All hat, no cattle” which is an American expression referring to someone who is all talk but no action. It is also used to describe someone who presents the appearance of something they aren’t. It is similar to the British expression “all mouth and no…

By Mark Timmons · June 22, 202276

Remember, These Games Mean Nothing…

Squat, Zilch, Nada. For guys like Tomas Tellis, Andy Burns, Eddy Alvarez, Jason Martin, and Stefan Romero, this is like a playoff game. They know that they have no chance… but who knows – it feels like it might (this is their thinking), so they are all in. In reality, they are…

By Mark Timmons · March 20, 202233

Why Freddie Freeman Won't be a Dodger

There is no denying that Freddie Freeman is one of the best players in baseball. He is a stone-cold hitter and would really help the Dodgers, this year… but at what cost? Freddie Freeman will be 33 this season. Do you really want him blocking 22-year-old Miguel Vargas who really…

By Mark Timmons · March 13, 202247

My Current Dodger Observations

First, to Badger. I love trade scenarios. I do not care how outlandish they are or how realistic they may be. I enjoy reading Bums trade proposals. I am not sure that I ever read one that was realistic, but they are fun. Bluto sometimes gives us scenarios from the baseballtradevalues.com site. They are fun for me. That is what blogs are for. Throw out ideas. To the best of

By Jeff Dominique · July 25, 2021158

Wheelin and Dealin

Earlier in the week, there was a little difference in opinion with respect to the Billy McKinney acquisition. I continue to read how porous LAD’s defense is, and with a gimpy Mookie Betts who may need late-inning defensive help to get him off his hip, a slowing AJ Pollock, questionable defense of Matt Beaty, and the need for CT3 to spend more time in the infield, AF went out and

By Jeff Dominique · July 23, 2021211

The New Rotation

With Dustin May, Trevor Bauer, and Clayton Kershaw all out of the picture, at least for the time being, the Dodger starting rotation after the All-Star Break looks like this: Striker Buehler Julio Urias Tony Gonsolin David Price JoJo Gary Yes, I said JoJo Gray. He will get another start or maybe two at OKC, and hopefully, be built up to at least four innings by then (hey, it s better

By Mark Timmons · July 9, 2021107

Here Come the Dodgers

The cream is rising to top the top. The Catman is back, albeit, quite rusty, but his velocity was fine. Phil Bickford is settling in as a nice piece in the bullpen. Cody Bellinger is trying to regain his stroke as is AJ Pollock, after stints on the DL. Zach McKinstry is back and making an impact. But maybe the biggest news is that Mookie Betts is coming out of

By Mark Timmons · June 11, 202148

Bullpen Building in Progress

I am of the opinion that most of us know nothing about building a bullpen. Garret Cleavinger was a pitcher most of you wanted to go bye-bye. He has had up and downs, but I see his stuff plays up to major league hitters. Last night, he pitches a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth, including two strikeouts. He is learning to trust his stuff and that is how a bullpen

By Mark Timmons · May 12, 202145

What was Andrew Friedman Thinking?

Let s get one thing straight: Andrew Friedman is the President and GM of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It is his responsibility to oversee anything that is connected with Baseball Operation. For the sake of this blog, Andrew Friedman is responsible for building the Dodgers Bullpen. To date, most Dodgers fans are saying that he built a deplorable bullpen. I have heard one fan say it was an average bullpen. They

By Mark Timmons · May 11, 202152

Stop the Insanity!

Generally, LA Dodger Talk does not cover each game play-by-play at least during the regular season. The reason why is that after a few games you have no idea how a team will hit, field, pitch, or how bad or good the bullpen will be. Oh, many fans think they know, but it is just their own necrotic (hopefully not psychotic) thinking. I can t stop you from going insane after

By Mark Timmons · May 6, 202152

Who are these guys anyway?

The Dodgers end April with a 16-11 record which is merely OK . The fact that they had a 13-2 start followed by a 3-9 stretch is what really bothers everyone. Fans are upset, but I guarantee you that the players are really pissed! During that 12 game stretch, the Dodgers are averaging 3.25 runs per game, after putting up an average of 5.8 runs a game in that 13-2 stretch!

By Mark Timmons · May 1, 202154

Now Let s Roll!

Clayton Kershaw did not have his best stuff yesterday, but it was good enough to throw 7 shutout innings. I think he could have pitched another inning, but why wear him out. He threw a very efficient 90 pitches and his ERA now sits at 2.09. Those of you who wanted to anoint Walker Buehler the Ace will have to wait a while. Dodgers Starting Pitcher ERA WHIP: Clayton

By Mark Timmons · April 29, 202173

Just Sitting in the Outfield Sun Wasting Time

Spring Training stats can be so deceiving: Last week Garrett Cleavinger was the flavor of the week, an almost certain lock to make the team. Sunday, maybe not so much. Last week, it appeared that Dennis Santana had pitched his way off the opening roster. Sunday, he sort of, kind of, maybe, redeemed himself. But then again, “it’s spring and the statistics don t matter!”

By Mark Timmons · March 23, 202134

The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same

LA DODGER TALK is not your normal Dodger blog site. Even Ray Charles can see that no other Dodger site has a Dodger historian like Michael Norris. Michael or Bear as we know him, is a National Dodger Treasure! What he lays down is not available anywhere else! Then we have 2Demeter2, who has committed to trying to write one blog a week wherein he will give his opinion from

By Mark Timmons · March 13, 202130

Game Number Four: A Night to Forget

Some games have highlight nd some have lowlights. It seems to me that last night s game was of the lowlight variety. Nothing worth remembering well, maybe a couple of things: The Pitchers Julio Urias has filthy stuff, but he still has not figured out the first inning. This needs to change. There is something about the first inning Bring him in the second, fifth, ninth inning and he is fine .

By Mark Timmons · March 4, 202120

AC Observations After Three ST Games

The Spring is three games in, and to draw any conclusions would be foolhardy. But I still have some observations from what I have seen thus far. For the first three games, the pitching has been outstanding. Albeit, without Matt Chapman and Matt Olson, Oakland’s offense is just north of woeful, as is Colorado without Trevor Story and Charlie Blackmon. The Giants did not play but a couple of regulars .

By Jeff Dominique · March 3, 202125

And the 2021 MLB Season Begins

Today is the day that pitchers and catchers are due to report to Camelback Ranch for the Dodgers. Tomorrow is the first day of workouts. Full squad reports February 22, with the first full squad workout scheduled for February 23. The Dodgers play their first spring training game on Sunday, February 28 against the Oakland A’s at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. There will be some rules in effect that

By Jeff Dominique · February 17, 202146

The Pen: Better or Worse?

A little premature to know if AF is finished yet, but the Dodger bullpen has already been overhauled some. Knebel, Cleavenger, Kahnle, the new kids on the block. Kahnle will not pitch this season, and Cleavenger has never pitched above AA. Wood and Baez have gone to SF and Houston respectively, and McGee so far has not been signed anywhere. And the roster sits at 40. There are all sorts

By Michael "Bear" Norris · January 20, 202151

No Bull About the Pen

It s really simple: If Brandon Morrow is healthy, he is very, very good! When he s not healthy, he is not a factor. He has had elbow, calf and shoulder injuries the past two years and is allegedly healthy now. He will be 37 in July and this is likely his last dance.

By Mark Timmons · January 7, 202184

The Case for Standing Pat

Sign DJ LeMahieu? That would cost the Dodgers a draft pick. Remember when, after losing Mark Teixeira to free agency and the Yankees, the Angels were awarded the 25th pick of the draft as compensation. And who did they use that pick on? None other than Mike Trout. Or look at it another way: Signing Mark Teixeira cost the Yankees Mike Trout.

By Mark Timmons · December 31, 2020114