And Then There Were 10

September 17, 2020

It took 50 games, but the Dodgers are the first team to qualify for the playoffs.  They marched into San Diego with a precarious 2.5 game lead and not playing very well at all.  Game 1 in SD was a match up of probably the team’s two Aces, Clayton Kershaw vs. Dinelson Lamet.  The Dodgers broke on top first with a walk, double and ground out to score a run. …

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WINNING UGLY, LOSING UGLY – WHO CARES?

September 15, 2020

Who the heck were those players wearing Dodger uniforms in the Rockies’ and D-backs’ series?   Whoever they were, they certainly did not perform like a playoff caliber team.   They struggled with pitching, struggled with hitting, and couldn’t play defense.  My, my, my, that’s typically a recipe for baseball disaster!!   Heaven forbid that team should have to play the mighty Padres in the playoffs.   The Dodgers may as well go home…

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Devil’s Advocate

September 12, 2020

As Mark is prone to do, he has laid down the gauntlet.  If you don’t bow down to Doc and AF you need a STUPID tattoo?  I have supported both gentleman for the most part, but while I would have difficulty blaming AF too much (because of lack of insider knowledge), certainly Doc has opened himself up to scrutiny. Let’s start with AF.  The Dodgers lost 2 healthy mid-rotation starting…

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The Dodgers and 2B

September 4, 2020

Second base has been an enigma for the Dodgers for the last two decades.  The concern does predate AF, but he has not found the remedy for the position.  The opening day 2B for LAD during the AF era has been Kike’ (2 years), Logan Forsythe (2 years), Chase Utley and Howie Kendrick 1 year each.  The best bWAR during the AF era was Kike’ last year at 2.2.  It…

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I Need To Vent

September 3, 2020

Sorry for the delay in getting this posted. I already had my article queued up and ready for publish before last night’s come from behind walk off win. Zac Gallen is going to be a superstar in this game and he just shut the Dodgers down. But the 2020 Dodgers are relentless and have no quit. I think that is a tribute to Mookie, just as 1988 was a tribute…

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Bad Night in SF

August 26, 2020

Nothing comes easy when the Dodgers play the Giants.  And I guess that is how it should be. LA goes to SF and we go into extra innings for Game 1 of a 3 game series.  Things started out great for the Dodgers as they get a pair of one out singles from Seager and JT.  After a Belli fly out, Muncy gets a three run jack in the first…

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Dodgers and Top Prospects

August 22, 2020

As was discussed quite a bit earlier in the week, the Dodgers have a very prolific MiLB system even as far down the draft they have been picking from because of the continued success of the ML team.  That is true when also taking into consideration a few of the early draft pick busts they currently have.  2015: 1 – Walker Buehler – Starting rotation 1b – Kyle Funkhouser –…

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RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM THE RECLINER

August 15, 2020

I’m writing this on Friday morning, basking in the joy of the Dodgers 11-2 thumping of the Padres and thought I would share some random thoughts from my recliner:  ●          Until last night’s game, this year’s Dodgers just haven’t been as fun for me to watch as teams in the past.   In “summer camp” it looked as if though they would be invincible.   Once the season started though, and even…

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AC’s Notes on Mookie’s Night

August 14, 2020

Mookie has a 4-4 night with 3 HRs and 5 RBIs, and a HBP.  His OPS is now sitting at 1.074.  Anyone watching the game realizes that Mookie’s 3 HR night ties him with Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa for the most 3 HR games in a career.  I am going to go out on a limb and say that before his career is over, he will have that record…

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After 25% of the Season

August 10, 2020

I was not sure how I was going to write my column for Monday.  It was looking ugly for a while, but with a pair of 3-run HRs by AJ Pollock and Mookie Betts, the Dodgers turned a potential disaster into a win. Typical Dodger win with the long ball.  In the three game series, the Dodgers scored 17 runs, 14 of them directly from seven HRs. I know that…

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