215 posts
I have always wondered about the predictability of having a closer and why teams have simply gone in the direction of having a 9 th inning man, no matter what the situation was. If you really think about it, throwing that “stopper” out there for the final three outs night after…
I was listening to a conversation a couple of days ago where Person A was arguing that it was “ crazy that baseball was making all these changes . The game is just fine – Don’t go changing everything! ” Person B had a different take, “ Other than the DH and lowering the mound…
I thought it would be interesting and appropriate to look at the Dodger bullpens in the seasons they won the World Series. This is simply because so much of what I have read lately on our site pertains to the makeup for the post-season of our relief staff. Clem Labine – 1955 For…
Jim Brewer LHP Chicago Cubs 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…
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…
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…
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…
First, to Badger. I love trade scenarios. I do not care how outlandish they are or how realistic they may be. I enjoy reading Bums trade proposals. I am not sure that I ever read one that was realistic, but they are fun. Bluto sometimes gives us scenarios from the baseballtradevalues.com site. They are fun for me. That is what blogs are for. Throw out ideas. To the best of
Now some think they are really going to miss Kike and Joc. Possibly, they both had memorable moments as Dodgers. But neither was a starter. Joc s inability to hit LH pitching relegated him to platoon duty of sorts. Although his glove is excellent, Kike could not hold the starting second base job when it was given to him. Twice.
There has been a lot of talk by MLB fans in general how the Padres may have caught the Dodgers. On the East coast, most in NY and Atlanta believe they have better 26-man rosters. Dodger fans of course take offense at such a charge. None of the four teams are finished completing their rosters, but I thought I would take a more in depth look at a Dodgers/Padres comp,
A little premature to know if AF is finished yet, but the Dodger bullpen has already been overhauled some. Knebel, Cleavenger, Kahnle, the new kids on the block. Kahnle will not pitch this season, and Cleavenger has never pitched above AA. Wood and Baez have gone to SF and Houston respectively, and McGee so far has not been signed anywhere. And the roster sits at 40. There are all sorts
Agony and anticipation. That is what the winter meetings have always felt like for me. I am pretty sure many others feel the same. It has been more that way since the advent of free agency. Back in the day when players got no more than a one year deal and were tied to their teams by the reserve clause. For you youngins, that means that the team that signed
2020 was difficult for Corey in the start, stop, start again routine because of COVID-19. It was his recovery year and usually a pitcher will be better his second year back from Tommy John Surgery. Here s one thing to keep in mind: In his MLB Career, Corey Knebel is a perfect 57-0 in save opportunities.
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
Maybe you missed it, but the 2020 Dodgers are the World Champions. Yes, by golly, they won it again after just 32 short years. It wasn t a fluke and going into 2021, they are the odds on favorite to win it all again. Hey You all, watch this: I ll blow up the team and make dope-fiend trades just because I can , said the stupid Redneck! I ll do it out by my
NOTE: I told you Rob Schelling aka/2demter2 would be back little did I know how soon! Mark Timmons Gamer: A player who approaches the game with a tenacious, spirited attack and continues to play even when hurt; a competitor; a player who doesn’t make excuses. The term is a compliment, most especially when it comes from another player. Goat: one blamed for causing a failure or defeat, esp. in
Dodger’s Offseason Plans The Dodgers won the World Series in 1988 and it only took thirty-two more years to win another Championship. I guarantee the next ones (notice I did not say “one?”) will be much sooner. Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman got the proverbial monkey off their backs and both can now rightly take their respective places as “baseball icons.” I do want to say a few things about
CLAYTON KERSHAW GETS HIS RING!!! We can put the Kirk Gibson HR and the Orel Hershiser team celebration into the Smithsonian, because we have new LA Dodgers World Series heroes. It took the 3rd time in 4 years for the Dodgers to finally cross the Championship line. Mookie proves to be a difference maker not only for the game but for a World Series Championship team. Corey Seager ends a
It has been 32 years! In some ways that is a lifetime, but here we finally are: Ready to see if the Dodgers can clinch the 2020 World Series tonight. I would be remiss if I did not consider our Dodger brothers and sisters who are in the path of the wildfires and have had to evacuate or are facing evacuation. May the Big Dodger in the Sky be with
What a difference a night makes. After last night’s game I commented that the Dodgers need to come out swinging in the 1st against Glasnow. Mookie Betts leads off with an 8 pitch double followed by a run-scoring Corey Seager single, two wild pitches and Seager gets to third. JT strikes out, Muncy walks, Smith K’s and Belli comes up and gets an infield single to score Seager. After a
The Rays are in the WS for a reason. They are good and they never quit. Let me get the negative out of the way. I have been a Dave Roberts supporter throughout the postseason, but I have also said that there is no way that I would bring Pedro Baez in with runners on base. You want to make a change from Treinen? Okay, that was at least an
The Franchise opened the 2020 World Series and had a game fairly reminiscent of his 2017 Game 1 against the Assterisks. Back in his home town, Clayton Kershaw threw a non-stressful 6.0 innings, and left with an 8-1 lead. He allowed 1 run on 2 hits. He issued a one out walk to Randy Arozarena in the first, and then proceeded to sit down 13 consecutive batters before Kevin Kiermaier
For the third time in four years, the Los Angeles Dodgers are NL Pennant Winners and headed back to the World Series. Will 2020 be different? Like the Cubs in 2016 and the Nationals last year, I think the Dodgers are the team of destiny. I am sure Tampa Bay Rays fans feel the same way, but I am a Dodgers fan so who cares what Rays fans think. Corey
Elimination game, facing the Braves top pitcher, Max Fried, and the Dodgers, besides the obvious need to win, had several objectives: 1. get off to a good start; 2. run up Fried’s pitch count; 3. Keep Buehler’s pitch count down; 4. Keep the Braves off the bases; and 5. Score more runs than the Braves. The Dodgers were successful on four of the
Okay, the 25 year old Fresh Prince also comes through in the clutch as he has done so many times. Biggest hit in his 2 year career…a well timed 3-run HR. After the first three innings my headline was: Dodgers Look For Walks, Braves Look For Hits A.J. Minter has never started an ML game. Minter’s previous high in IP was 1.2 (once). He goes 3.0 IP, faces 10 batters
Well, basically, that is what we all are in some form or another. I know that I have often thought, damn, I can do it better than he can, or what is he thinking? Armchair GM s also usually feel they are good managers too. Over the last several years, I have often disagreed with both Roberts and AF. I still feel Roberts, although a great communicator and player s manager, still
After the Dodgers scored 4 runs in the 9th to almost get that come from behind victory in Game 2. The Dodgers unloaded on Kyle Wright and the Braves for 11 runs in the 1st inning. After last night’s game, Dave Roberts said that “I definitely think that’s some momentum we can take into tomorrow.” Boy did they. The Dodgers unloaded on Kyle Wright and the Braves for 11 runs
I had the privilege and joy of watching last night s game with a new friend. I will call him DR (not Dodger Rick). DR is a long time reader, but does not post. DR reached out to me before I assumed responsibility for LADT and offered to assist with some IT to form a new blog. Because Mark allowed me to assume LADT, DR s services were not necessary, but I
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
Well that was an interesting and very long game. Dodgers won 5-1, and despite appearances (it could be called an ugly win) they, nevertheless, won in dominating fashion. There were lots of walks. Padres pitchers, threw 165 pitches in 8 innings, as they walked 10 Dodgers batters, and added a hit by pitch for good measure. Walker Buehler started for the Dodgers and almost immediately started to make Dodgers fans
