All About the Kids…

July 9, 2024

I would not expect Miguel Vargas to debut at 3B in Philly due to the hostile environment, but one never knows. I hear Miggy V is taking balls at 3B at a furious pace and that Dino Ebel and others are working with him. Of course, the Dodgers are not going to trade for a 3B at this time. Maybe it will change at the deadline, but Vargas could fill…

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Progress is Not Linear…

March 19, 2024

You’ve never heard that before! Ha, Ha! Nowhere do we see evidence of that more than with Gavin Stone. In 2022, he was the Dodgers Minor League Pitcher of the year and looked ready to take the next step. Then, after looking good in Spring Training in 2023, he laid an egg and put up a 9.00 ERA in 31 IP. The opposing batters simply beat him like a rented…

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How to Build a Great Rotation

November 20, 2023

Many… or at least some Dodger fans believe that this Winter, the Dodgers will do something they never have under Andrew Friedman and sign two or maybe even three starting pitchers to long-term deals. Let’s get this over with right now: It is not happening! If you look at Andrew Friedman’s past history, you will see that he rarely gives out long-term contacts – Mookie Betts was the lone exception….

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Jim Brewer, Master of the Screwball

August 8, 2022

On December 13, 1963, the Chicago Cubs, looking for a RHP, traded Jim Brewer and C Cuno Barragan to the Dodgers for Dick Scott. The trade would be very one-sided in the Dodger’s favor even though Barragan never played a single game in L.A. Scott spent 1964 with the Cubs and was gone. Brewer would go on to be an integral part of the Dodger bullpen for 12 seasons. A…

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Twenty Things I (Think I) Know

July 28, 2022

The Dodgers can score six runs in 2/3 of an inning off of a pitcher who has a 6.49 ERA and is a total mess but can only score one run off of average to below-average pitchers in 7-1/3 innings. When the best part of Max Muncy’s game is his defense (and it is actually pretty good), the time has come to do something with Max Muncy. Maybe Andrew has…

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What Happens to Austin Barnes?

May 22, 2022

Austin Barnes was drafted by the Marlins in the 9th round of the 2011 amateur draft. In December of 2014, Austin was acquired by Andrew Friedman in one of his first trades with the Dodgers. He was a key piece in the Dee Gordon trade wherein the Dodgers traded Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, Miguel Rojas, and cash for Chris Hatcher, Andrew Heaney, Kike Hernandez, and Austin Barnes. Austin Barnes might…

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Defensive Efficiency Ratio (DER)

May 11, 2022

BTW: I suggest reading that book! Defensive Efficiency Ratio is a statistic used to evaluate team defense by finding out the rate of times batters reach base, on balls put in play. Basically, for every ball hit into the field of play, how likely is the defense to convert that into an out? The formula for Defensive Efficiency Ratio is: 1 – ((H + ROE – HR) / (PA –…

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The Farm Just Keeps Getting Stronger

April 29, 2022

I mean… is that even possible? How is it possible? As you read below what I wrote about the minor leagues, the Dodger system is just “riddled” with these power arms. I have never seen anything like it. Farhan can steal a player here or there (like Nunez) and their farm system is improving, but nothing like what is happening Down on the Farm in Dodgerland. It was announced yesterday…

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LAD PROSPECTS – REAL OR HYPE

December 9, 2021

I continue to read about the sensational LAD prospects.  Mark has the Dodgers as a top 10 MiLB organization while no major publication does.  After the loss of Keibert Ruiz and Jo Jo Gray, the publications dropped them to mid-level (around 15).  Certainly not bad, but also not elite.  Just this week DodgerLover said the team needs to clear the deck for the next wave of prospect talent.  Is there…

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MiLB Odds and Ends with Dodger Chatter

August 31, 2021

The Dodgers Big Hurt A couple of days ago we profiled Dodger relief pitcher Alex Vesia who came over to the Dodgers in the Dylan Floro trade with the Miami Marlins. Those were not the only two players involved in the trade.  Right-hander Kyle Hurt also came the Dodgers way. The 6’3”/215-lb. native of Rancho Santa Fe, California attended  Torrey Pines  High School in San Diego and was drafted out…

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