There are a couple of choices: Star or Journeyman. It’s hard to be a star, and it is just about as hard to be a journeyman. A year ago, I thought that James Outman was destined to be a 4th or 5th outfielder, and while some fans took exception, there really wasn’t anything that suggested he would be any more than a platoon player. Of course, all fans have their…
When the Dodgers signed David Peralta and Jason Heyward, Dodger fans were less than enthused. And I must admit, I was one of them. Heyward was coming off of a year where he was worse than horrendous. And the Cubs were willing to pay him for not playing. Peralta was coming back after a season in which he had been traded at the deadline. He did not impress anyone with…
It seems like a large number of Dodger fans do not like the platoons. They want to see a lineup that rolls out there every day and is the same. What they fail to realize is that is part of what has made the Dodgers one of the best teams in baseball over the last ten years. Some of you have wanted Jason Heyward to start every game in RF…
When the season started, many fans worried where the offense would come from. Some worried that Heyward, Peralta, Martinez, and Muncy were past their prime and could not deliver. They worried there were too many rookies in the lineup. They worried about the bullpen and the starters, and after last night’s bullpen meltdown, they worry again, even though this Dodger Bullpen has been the best in baseball since June 20th….
The bad news is that the Dodgers lost to the Yankees, setting up today as the rubber match. The Good News is that last night was a “breakout” game for Michael Grove. In his best-pitched game so far in his young career, he was dominant… except for two bad pitches to the same hitter. Sometimes certain hitters just have a pitcher’s number. Groves’ mechanics were in sync and his release…
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 season. So there is that! Of those 31 pitchers who had ERA’s below 3.00, there are only…
Unconventional thinking is the ability to imagine new possibilities and solve complex problems that have eluded other people. Being unconventional is an essential element in doing original work or creating original ideas. Right now, the Dodgers could use a heavy dose of unconventional thinking. Let’s jump right into where I think the problems are the greatest. Before, I start: That was Vintage Kershaw last night! The Old Man is still the Ace!…
Or… maybe it’s more like, “Mookie looks good on SS.” Either way, I think this is one of those situations whereby Mookie could transition to SS seamlessly. The Dodgers play injuries very close to the vest, but I have to believe that there is talk within the Dodge Front Office of Will Smith changing positions (call it Joe Mauer Syndrome). The most logical place right about now is LF. He…
There are a few things that drive me crazy. I’ll beat you to the punch: “That’s not a drive… that’s a short putt!” OK, whatever! Things that drive me crazy are things that defy logic, so if you apply some logic, it won’t drive me as crazy! Being Resistant to Moving Will Smith From Behind the Plate Let me put this into perspective: Will Smith is in the process of…
What has been the Dodgers main issue over the last several seasons? A lack of consistent offense. Even though they waltzed through the NL last season, there were times when the offense took the day or a couple of days off. When they scored last season, they did it in bunches. That trend has continued early this year. At 8-9, they are off to their worst start in several years….