Will the Real Keibert Ruiz Please Step Up?

March 8, 2020

KayBear Ruiz was signed at the tender age of 16 for $140,000 on his birthday, July 20, 2014. In 2015, he hit .300 for the Dominican Dodgers at age 16. In 2016, he split time between Ogden and Arizona, hitting a combined .374 with a .412 OB%. He was still just 17. Before the 2017 season, and still just 18 years old, Ruiz was named the #20 prospect in the…

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More Minor League Information

February 4, 2020

A while back Daniel asked if there was a limit to the number of players and minor league affiliates an MLB team can have. There are limits at each level but other ways to store players. Minor league rosters according to MiLB. AAA -25 active players AA – 25 active players A+ – 25 active players (35 players under control on roster) A – 25 active players (35 players under…

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Some Pre-Spring Training Random Thoughts

February 2, 2020

A short Super Bowl Sunday, busy at work weekend, random thoughts post.  •      My last post was replaced by the tragic news of the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and the 7 others who lost their lives in the crash of the helicopter in Calabasas, California •      This is written on Saturday morning, and I wouldn’t mind at all if this post is replaced by one, announcing the happy…

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An Iconoclast Looks at MiLB Contraction

January 23, 2020

One of the many definitions of an “iconoclast” is someone who strongly opposes generally accepted beliefs and traditions. Some people think inside the box. Others think outside the box. I prefer to think there is no box. I am an iconoclast. I readily admit it and even embrace it. While the entire Dodger Fandom was attacking Andrew Freidman (pick a day… any day), I was embracing his tactics. I still…

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The Dodgers Other Clayton

January 19, 2020

There will only ever be one Clayton Kershaw but the Dodgers did sign another Clayton on January 17. They had previously selected left-hander Clayton Andrews in the 40th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft but he didn’t sign. He did so with the Brewers in 2018. The new Clayton on the block is 24-year-old infielder Clayton Daniel. He was acquired from the Cubs in a trade for right-hander Casey…

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Ryan Pepiot – Butler’s All-Time Strikeout Leader

January 9, 2020

Right-hander Ryan Pepiot was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Most thought he’d be a day one pick, or maybe even a very early third-rounder, so the Dodgers did well to nab him with the 102nd overall selection. He was born in Westfield which is part of the Indianapolis Metropolitan area and attended Westfield High…

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Meet Aaron Ochsenbein – Closer in Waiting

December 22, 2019

There has been considerable discussion on LADT regarding relief pitchers and more specifically what the Dodgers could or should do to strengthen the bullpen.  It is a conundrum in that standing pat might fit the definition of doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Yet with relief pitchers who knows. How many have that dominant year and then what follows is not nearly as dominant…

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A Bit More on Brett de Geus

November 14, 2019

LADT readers know by now that I have followed left-hander Logan Salow since he was acquired from Oakland on April 25, 2018 in a trade that sent Wilmer Font to the Athletics. All that is needed now for Salow is to keep the plate from moving. That is a big one but 2020 might be the year that happens. I have also been a keen follower of right-hander Marshall Kasowski…

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Everyone’s Got One

September 6, 2019

“Opinions are like…” Well, you know the rest, but here’s the difference. Opinions are welcome here, A-Holes are not. At the company I run (US Water Systems), we have 10 “Core Values” ranging from “We Don’t Panic” to “We are fair… but not suckers” to our 10th Core Value which is “We do not tolerate Assholes.” Pardon our French, but there is no better way to say it. Snarky, divisive…

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Dodgers Most Improved Minor Leaguer for 2019

September 4, 2019

Who is your favorite minor league player in the Dodger pipeline? I suppose we shouldn’t have favorites as every player has the same goal and is doing all he can to reach the highest level he can, hopefully, MLB. I have a lot of players I follow but I expect my number one favorite is Zach McKinstry. I also expect my perception of Zach is out of the mainstream and…

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