2021 Hot Stove League ???

December 28, 2020

Editorial Comment – This post was written prior to the Blake Snell acquisition by the Padres. The longer this offseason goes without much movement, the more likely AF is going to get involved. The number of teams that want to jettison payroll is growing  and is undoubtedly going to pique the interest of teams like LAD.  While it will stress out fans who continually want to see something happen to…

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Financing in MLB

December 20, 2020

The financing of a baseball season is going under the microscope this offseason and potentially into next season.  There is no question that MLB lost several billion in revenues. According to Forbes’ estimates from 2019, as gathered by the University of Michigan sports economist Rodney Fort, MLB teams made a total of $9.9 billion as follows: REVENUE (IN BILLIONS) UNDER… CATEGORY NORMAL SEASON HALF-SEASON W/O FANS* Gate receipts $2.84B $0.00B…

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Smokey

December 16, 2020

Today’s post is about the longest tenured Dodger manager. Walter Emmons Alston. Smokey to his friends. Alston was the manager when the team moved from Brooklyn. He was just 3 years removed from guiding them to their only World Championship in their long history. His team was a mixture of old Brooklyn stars, Reese, Hodges, Snider, Furillo, Erskine, and some new blood just beginning to make some noise on the…

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Coors Field Hangover

December 14, 2020

While most everyone was saying that DJLM was a guarantee to re-sign with NYY, there are comments emanating from Cashman that indicate that DJLM is not a slam dunk.  However, the negotiations have gone nowhere in a while.  Could it be that some other team is making headway into the negotiations causing Cashman some concern?  I have been a DJLM advocate for nearly the last three years.  I was disappointed…

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The Marketing of Players

November 29, 2020

This is the time of year when we hear that teams will be listening on potential trades for Player A.  However, most of the time those proclamations are simply rhetorical.  The Brewers have said they are willing to listen to offers for Josh Hader.  The Rays will be listening on offers for Blake Snell.  The Reds will be listening on offers for Sonny Gray.  The Cubs are listening on offers…

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Rosey

November 23, 2020

Today my topic is Johnny Roseboro. One of the things I often wished was that I had been able to see Campy play when he was at his peak. Even one year in LA would have been nice, but it was not to be. So for my formative years watching the game, our catcher most of the time was John Junior Roseboro. He was born in Ashland, Ohio on May…

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Upcoming MLB vs MLBPA Negotiations

November 8, 2020

Yes, baseball is a game played by a bunch of kids.  In MLB, they are very rich kids paid by very rich owners.  As much as most of us want it to remain strictly a game, we cannot.  MLB is a business played at a very high stakes level.  While the face of MLB (Rob Manfred) and MLBPA (Tony Clark) are problematic (and I am being kind), the high priced…

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Dodgers and Braves NLCS Preview

October 12, 2020

Today, the Dodgers face off against the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the 2020 NLCS.  The Dodgers have never faced the Braves for the pennant before.  They have faced each other three times in Divisional Series play. 1996 NLDS – Dodgers lost to Atlanta 3 games to 0 2013 NLDS – Dodgers beat Atlanta 3 games to 1 2018 NLDS – Dodgers beat Atlanta 3 games to 1 Before…

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First Round Possibilities

September 24, 2020

Our Boys in Blue have clinched yet another NL West Championship.  That streak has now reached 8, and is one behind 9 consecutive AL East Titles by NYY and 14 consecutive Divisional Titles by Atlanta. Out of the previous seven, the Dodgers have won two pennants, with no World Series Championships.  NYY’s streak was from 1998 through 2006.  The Yankees won five pennants and three consecutive World Series Championships for…

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I Am Not An Ostrich

August 13, 2020

I wrote this before Game three in partial response to MT’s comments.  With the way my year is going, the Dodgers will win 25-0, Belli will go 7-7 with 4 HRs, and the team will go 15-15 WRISP. Update – Well not quite as good as described above, Wednesday’s game had some definite positives.  The Dodgers actually used two bunts to put the team in a position to score two…

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