Did the Dodgers have any idea Will Smith would be the hitter he is when they drafted him? Not in the least! When the Los Angeles Dodgers took Will Smith in the 1st round of the 2016 draft (32nd overall out of the University of Louisville), the internal scouting report looked something like this: In draft-speak:Will was a “Safe everyday catcher,” Not a “middle-of-the-order monster.” What They Actually Got Will…
Since Andrew Friedman took over the team a decade ago, he has not been shy about using his roster and shuffling players from OKC to LA, and moving players across various levels. Some of us saw the OKC Comets play last night, and they also play today and tomorrow. Ryder Ryan starts tonight for OKC. Let’s take a quick look at the other levels of the minor leagues. Tulsa Drillers…
And they are off and running! The 2026 MLB season is officially on its way. The Dodgers open at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks and begin their pursuit of a third straight Championship. Miggy Ro is in the starting lineup despite there being a right hander starting for Arizona. We will get our first look at the powerful first eight of Ohtani, Tucker, Betts, Freeman, Smith, Muncy, Teo and Pages….
Not by my choice, but LA Dodger Chronicles has come to an end, at least my version of it. I tried to log on to the site on Sunday, March 22, but instead found a notice that “This Page Does Not Exist”. I emailed my Project Manager to get the site back up, but there was no response. I tried to call him on Monday, but his phone was blocked. …
First chance this new season to put my foot directly in my mouth. I really suck at this, but what the hell. There are many ways to look at the new season, new players, and new rules. One prediction already shot to hell with Kim being demoted to AAA. I was absolutely sure Freeland would be sent down after his absolutely awful performance at the plate this spring, so I…
I had a great conversation with a wise old sage about Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland. This old sage goes by the name of “AI”, and here was our conversation: Mark: What is the real story on why Hyeseong Kim was sent to the minors over Alex Freeland? AI: Short answer: this wasn’t about spring stats. It was about role fit, development path, and how the Dodgers think offense actually…
Zach Root burst onto the Dodger scene Saturday night, looking like the reincarnation of Sandy Koufax … with an altered delivery. The story of Zach Root is actually a pretty classic “late-blooming, grinder-to-dude” arc with a few sharp turns along the way. He is not a can’t-miss phenom — He’s more like a slow-burning fuse. Let me explain. He was born on Feb 6, 2004, in Fort Myers, Florida, and…
Even before Andrew Friedman was hired as President of Baseball Operations, I had called for the hiring of someone like him. When he was hired, I supported it from day one with a level of excitement that I had never felt. Immediately, I was attacked by morons who shall remain nameless. I have rarely second-guessed anything he does, for two reasons: What I am about to say is not second-guessing,…
No, this post is not about Eliot Ness and his bunch, it is about baseball records that probably will never be surpassed. Records are made to be broken. No one ever thought Ruth’s 60 homers would be topped. Yet in 1961, 13 years after the Bambino died, Roger Maris did just that. The pressure of the chase caused him to lose some of his hair. They thought no one would…
