When Andrew Friedman said this was a “transition year,” he wasn’t kidding. The Dodgers rotation at the beginning of the season looked like this: Urias, Gonsolin, Kershaw, May, and Syndergaard. All but Kershaw are gone, and he is not even a shadow of himself. Lance Lynn looked like a stud pickup at the trade deadline, but it was evidently “smoke and mirrors” as the league figured out what the Dodgers…
It was a great run! Clayton Kershaw will finish his age 35 (and last) season as a lifetime Dodger with a 12-4 record and a 2.61 ERA. I saw him in 2006 and every year since he hit the Majors in 2008. In his sixteen-year MLB career, he went 209-91 with a 2.48 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Nobody did it better, and he is the LA Dodgers (probably the…
Fans are still thinking about the offseason and espousing that the Dodgers need to sign a couple of starting pitchers. This is especially true after Julio Urias was arrested yesterday under charges of Felony Domestic Violence. They throw out names like Jack Flaherty, Marcus Stroman, Jordon Montgomery, and others. I would liken signing any of those guys to playing Russian Roulette. After you sign them, most of the time, you…
Ted Giannoulis, The San Diego Chicken We see them now at most major league parks. Most are there to entertain the fans during lulls in the action on the field. The Dodgers are one of the few franchises without a mascot. I am pretty sure the Yankees also have no mascot. All of the Dodgers’ rivals in the west have mascots. The Giants have Lou Seal, D-Backs, Baxter the Bob…
above the septic tank! Think about that one, if you will. Whenever Dodger pitchers are struggling, fans always want to trade for or sign some other pitchers because they think the grass is greener. The problem is that with most hard throwers, the arm is going to break down sooner than later. Do you want Ohtani? His arm is already broken… for the second time. Giolito? He had TJ in…
At one time, Kolten Wong was a very good second baseman. While never an All-Star, as a LH hitter, he has a career .742 OPS against RHP. He is exclusively a second baseman and plays Gold Glove defense at the position. He likely has no future in 2024 with the Dodgers, but he could have a future in October for them! In 2021, Eddie Rosario, who was a journeyman, was…
None of us are getting out of this thing alive – that is a given. Quasimodo (“Quas”) has been part of this blog for as long as I can remember. Not everyone knows his “backstory,” but I do. Quas has had his challenges, and now he faces the final challenge before he goes to be with the Big Dodger in the Sky. Quas and I were not close friends… mostly…
Many Dodger fans only comment when they have something to complain about. I guess it is human nature. Right about now, those fans have no purpose or direction in life. From my perspective, this may be the most fun season ever. There have been disappointments and injuries, and there have been triumphs and successes, but make no mistake about it: this is a team! These guys are fun to watch….
Just wanted to look back at some of my favorite trades in Dodger history. Some, I was very young for, others, not so much. They are in no particular order. 1. Gino Cimoli for Wally Moon. On December 4th, 1958, the Dodgers made the first trade that would impact the team significantly for several years. Gino Cimoli, a right-handed hitting outfielder, was traded to the Cardinals for former ROY Wally…
After last season, I believed that Justin Turner should have retired. Last season, he struggled at bat and in the field. He came on in the second half, but it looked to me that he was ‘losing it.” He hit only 13 HR, and at age 38, I felt that it was time to retire. JT felt differently! As I write this, Justin Turner (aka/Red Turn 2) is batting .290…