FLASH: Progress is not Linear

May 9, 2024

Miguel Vargas, Gavin Stone, Diego Cartaya, Gavin Lux, James Outman and many other prospects prove that the old adage, “Progress in not Linear” is so true. Miguel Vargas had succeeded and mastered every level where he played… except on the MLB Level. Of course, he could play the “broken finger excuse card” but there are no excuses. It is what it is and your stats tell who you are. Miguel…

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Why Platoons?

May 6, 2024

I know that many of you hate platoons, but I am down with that. You want to see the best players in there every day (or at least, your idea of the best players). The problem is this: the best hitter against many left-handed pitchers is not a left-handed hitter. Sabermetrics and analytics now run baseball, and if you don’t think that is true, you probably believe in the Tooth…

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Vargas is Coming!

May 2, 2024

For all the flack that Yamamoto has taken, here he is with a 3-1 record with a 2.01 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Not bad for a guy who is just starting to pitch up to his capability. Knack went back to OKC so that the Dodgers could have a couple of fresh arms in the bullpen, and both Feyeriesen and Varland did their jobs last night. JP i not a…

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Stoned!

April 27, 2024

Well, as much as I like Gavin Stone (and I like him a lot), I confess that I mostly saw him as a high-leverage bullpen piece… until yesterday. 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K. OK, yes, he was a bit lucky, but he went seven innings and allowed one earned run ! WOW! JUST WOW! In my defense, I have never seen Gavin Stone throw a…

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Nobody hit (much), but everybody pitched!

April 26, 2024

Mookie, Freddie, and Kike each had two hits. Mookie is smoking hot. Freddie is back over .300, and Kike is heating up. In his last 7 games, Kike is hitting .294 and appears to be in a platoon with Max Muncy. Pages and Outman platoon in CF, except when Pages play RF, and Lux and Rojas are in a platoon at 2B/SS. Many of you don’t like platoons and blame…

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Is SS a Problem?

April 12, 2024

As we speak, Mookie Betts is listed as the Dodger’s starting shortstop, but against tough LHP he slides over to 2B, as Gavin Lux is deemed a liability against lefties and Miguel Rojas plays SS. Miguel still plays SS at a very high level and he does hit LHP better than RHP as a rule. This year, he is OPS’ing .818 against LHP and 1.000 against RHP, but obviously, that…

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Outman & Kike – Dodger Centerfielders

April 9, 2024

I took a lot of flack last season because of James Outman. Much of it came from Eric, who disappeared this year when the going got tough for James. Eric evidently can dish it out, but he can’t take it! I sometimes think he loves James Outman more than the Dodgers. He also seems to hate Miguel Vargas, but many of you do because you hate it when I am…

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One Pitch, One Swing

April 6, 2024

Quite often, that is the difference between success or failure for a pitcher or hitter: One Pitch – One Swing! Look at Bobby Miller yesterday. He struck out the side in the first inning and could not get out of the second inning after allowing five runs. One Pitch! Several Times! The Dodgers are 7-3, which is on pace to win 113 games, and some Dodger fans are losing their…

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Keeping it Real

April 2, 2024

If Mookie Betts hits .520 this year, the Dodgers will have no worries. Actually, the TOP SIX of the Dodgers batting order are delivering at a rate that is scary. It’s the BOTTOM THREE that are also scary: Now, I did not make those numbers up, so don’t be hating on me. It is a concern, but it is early and there will be no knee-jerk reactions. I expected a…

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