Rants & Raves – Pitcher Style

February 16, 2023

Clayton Kershaw – He can still pitch with the best of them, but only about 70% of the season. If the Dodgers can manage his health so that he is healthy for the playoffs, then he can pitch another year. $20 Million for 126 IP with a 2.28 ERA and a 0.942 WHIP, then I will take it all day long. That’s ACE 1A Status! OH, and a 3.8 WAR…

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But, the Plan is Friedman’s… not Mine!

February 12, 2023

I should have thought of this before, but Andrew Friedman can’t go trading a number of Prospects for Bryan Reynolds without first seeing how Gavin Lux handles SS and, to a lesser degree… how Miguel Vargas handles 2B. If Lux and Vargas settle in as a solid Keystone Combination up the middle, then if James Outman has not been the second-coming, the Dodgers can afford to go out and get…

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The Plan May Be Unfolding…

February 10, 2023

It appears that Andrew Friedman wasn’t not just posturing as I thought when he said he wasn’t worried about the CBT. After adding journeyman outfielder, David Peralta yesterday and another $6 or $7 Million onto the payroll, it’s clear Friedman is not concerned with re-setting the CBT. It’s not the last time I was wrong. I am, however, always looking for the rest of the story or for the other…

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Statistics Are King!

February 5, 2023

Never doubt statistics. This is especially true when looking at minor-league players. You can always predict for a certainty how a player will perform in Major League Baseball by looking at what they did in the minor leagues. We don’t need scouts, GMs, Baseball America, or MLB Pipeline, and we don’t need any stinking Keith Law.. All we need are statistics. Statistics are King – they are God-like. Statistics will…

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Gavin Lux: Dodger Shortstop

February 2, 2023

I am fully resigned to the fact that Gavin Lux is going into Spring Training as the starting SS. I did not believe that he could play SS at the MLB level, but I will have to defer to Andrew Friedman, who knows “a thing or two I don’t!” Lux has added 15 pounds of muscle which might bring his arm up to average. The first time he makes an…

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Jason Heyward – Junkyard Dog

January 29, 2023

I see similarities between Jason Heyward and players like Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, Thor, JDM, and others. Anderson and Heaney came to the Dodgers hoping that the Dodgers could “fix” them. JDM didn’t come to the Dodgers to get “fixed…” maybe to get better, but in the past, he did work with Robert Van Socyoc, who is now the Dodgers’ hitting coach and credits RVS with making his career!. The…

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Who is the Closer?

January 22, 2023

For a number of years, the Dodgers have had a “Designated Closer.” Most recently, it was Kenley Jansen, followed by Craig Kimbrel. A while before that, it was Game Over Gagne… and others. Many Dodgers fans wanted the Dodgers to sign a closer this Winter. Of course, the usual names came up: Liam Hendriks of the White Sox and David Bednar of the Pirates. I am going to suggest that…

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Change is in the Air

January 19, 2023

After the craziness of the past couple of days… we are moving on. I have my opinions, and I do not care if you agree or not. In fact, I put my opinions out there so that you can disagree. Disagree with them all you want, but if you have a take and do not suck, that is fine. If you want to misquote me or attribute things I did…

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Who’s Stealing Now?

January 14, 2023

I have been wondering about this. The new bigger bases are supposed to improve the running game, IE, stolen bases. This has been a winter of change. The Dodger’s two best thieves of bags have left the team. Trea Turner, 27, and Cody Bellinger 14 have left via free agency. # 3 on the team last year was Freddie Freeman with 13. Mookie had 12, and Chris Taylor had 10….

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A New Third Baseman & Much More…

January 9, 2023

For the greater part of nine seasons, Justin Turner has been the one player you could count on, day-in-and-day-out! The Dodger’s Manager just penciled his name in at 3B just about every day. Justin was the heart and soul of the Dodgers during this run… and that run is over. Father Time caught up with JT. He is no longer a Top Third-Baseman, and his bat has slowed up. I…

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