136 posts
Justin Wrobleski has seized the day. This Spring, he has 9.1 IP, a 1.93 ERA, and a 0.75 WHIP. I can see him in the Dodgers’ Starting Rotation in April. Where does he fit in? Well, they could put Tyler Glasnow on the IL recovering from his injury last season. Hold Glasnow out for…
If you think that Kike Hernandez is “ just another poor hitting utility player ” you may suffer from the same malady Kike did the first half of last season: LACK OF VISION . Kike hit .191 in the first half of 2024, and during that time, he had a conversation with Martin…
Even though, he is not technically a prospect, James Outman, who spent most of 2024 at AAA has to be at the top of this list. In fact, I think this is a “make or break” year for James. There are a few other players who could make an impact for the Dodgers in 2025, but I think we…
First of all, I want to welcome back James Outman who went 2-4 . He could have sulked when he got sent back to OKC after finishing #3 in the NL ROY balloting… but he did not. He went to OKC and went about his business and here he is back in the Show. I love James Outman and his…
I wasn’t around much yesterday, but this morning, I read several things that were funny, silly, crazy, and mostly just plain wrong… to the point that I have to address them: #1 – That I have a deep hatred of Eric: That’s funny, silly, crazy, and mostly just plain wrong. I…
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…
Elly De La Cruz has stolen 30 bases in 35 attempts, so it seems logical to keep him off the bases… right? Nah, that’s too easy – let’s have him get on base all five at-bats! Tyler Glasnow will have an occasional bad game. That was one last night. The hitters either show up en…
I love the Giants! Right! OK, that’s a damn lie! Gavin Stone has exceeded my expectations. I have always liked him but did not envision him in the rotation. He’s there and he’s good! JP Feyereisen is a Godsend and the bullpen remains outstanding. The offense generally rolls and…
If I had as bad a record of predicting what would happen with the Dodgers as many of you do, I would quit being a baseball fan. Before the season and even during the season, many of you make these dire, wild predictions about how bad some aspect of the Dodgers is, and for ten…
When the Dodgers traded Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca for Tyler Glasnow, the naysayers were quick to call Glasnow “Fragile” and “Injury Prone” because they thought they knew what they didn’t know. As it turned out, the pitcher they thought was a dog turned out to be a Workhorse…
As the Dodgers prepare to play the Padres in Slam Diego this weekend, it occurred to me that maybe there is a team sitting on a bad contract that the Dodgers might target to get rid of Chris Taylor. I have not had time to consider who that might be, but I’ll bet there is a…
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…
Chris Taylor has always been a big hit-or-miss guy with the bat, but he has selflessly played all over the field and has done a very credible job at it. Need a SS? He can play there. 2B? No problem, 3B? Of course! Anywhere in the outfield? All three spots! Yes, he strikes out a…
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…
The Dodgers have some decisions to make. Blake Treinen needs to be activated… probably today, and Walker Buehler is allegedly going to start Monday. So, at least two roster decisions loom. Both moves are obvious – Nabil Crismatt and Gus Varland will go back to OKC (or not, in…
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…
The Dodger starters are 11th in MLB ERA (3.68), while the relievers are 12th (3.64). Overall, the Dodgers rank 10th in MLB Team ERA (3.66). That has prompted much speculation by fans as to the Dodgers needing to trade for bullpen help. As usual, many fans have sight but lack…
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…
Of course, that is a generalization that is not always true, but it is true enough of the time that I am concerned. Last night, the Dodgers scored 11 runs on 20 hits. Betts and Smith had 4 hits each, while Ohtani and Pages had 3 each. Muncy and Lux had two each. It was quite an…
Singer Ray Stevens is given credit for writing the phrase “ There is none so blind as he who will not see ” in a line from the song “Everything Is Beautiful” which was released in 1970. I actually think someone said it long before Crazy Ray. Now, I am not proclaiming that…
James Outman got a couple of hits, including a 3-run HR last night. As huge as Tyler Glasnows’ night was (7 IP/14 K’s/3 H/0 BB), the Dodgers needed James to get resurrected, and he is certainly trending in the right direction. This bodes well for the team, and now, if only…
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…
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…
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: Chris Taylor has 1 hit in 9 ABs and has struck out 5 times – BA – .111…
Before I start talking about Opening Day, I want to talk about something that makes baseball so special. To me, it was never so evident as in the Freeway Series, although I saw flashes of it through the spring: Watching the youngsters and seeing the pure joy they experience is…
Everyone thinks that Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman are the key to the Dodgers’ offensive success in 2024. I beg to differ. Of course, the Dodgers need the three former MVPs to step up and do what they do, but there are a few other players who could also be the…
Under Andrew Friedman’s leadership since 2015, the Dodgers have a winning percentage of . 623 (845-512) , including a franchise record 111 wins in the 2022 season as well as a club-best . 717 winning percentage during the shortened 2020 season (43-17).There is a lot more to the…
A lot of Dodger fans have been impressed with Chris Okey, Austin Gauthier, and Andy Pages. That’s fine. I like them too, but none will be on the team out of Spring Training… unless disaster strikes. Spring Training is just that: Training of your body and Training to play…
Just not at SS! Gavin Lux is OK at 2B, where he will be a “hit-first” player, or I would not be surprised if some team tried to convert him to CF. He cannot play SS and Dave Roberts said as much. Unless Mookie gets injured, there is not a spot for him on the Roster. That doesn’t…
