Devil’s Advocate

September 12, 2020

As Mark is prone to do, he has laid down the gauntlet.  If you don’t bow down to Doc and AF you need a STUPID tattoo?  I have supported both gentleman for the most part, but while I would have difficulty blaming AF too much (because of lack of insider knowledge), certainly Doc has opened himself up to scrutiny. Let’s start with AF.  The Dodgers lost 2 healthy mid-rotation starting…

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The Dodgers and 2B

September 4, 2020

Second base has been an enigma for the Dodgers for the last two decades.  The concern does predate AF, but he has not found the remedy for the position.  The opening day 2B for LAD during the AF era has been Kike’ (2 years), Logan Forsythe (2 years), Chase Utley and Howie Kendrick 1 year each.  The best bWAR during the AF era was Kike’ last year at 2.2.  It…

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Dodgers and Top Prospects

August 22, 2020

As was discussed quite a bit earlier in the week, the Dodgers have a very prolific MiLB system even as far down the draft they have been picking from because of the continued success of the ML team.  That is true when also taking into consideration a few of the early draft pick busts they currently have.  2015: 1 – Walker Buehler – Starting rotation 1b – Kyle Funkhouser –…

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Andrew Freidman Genius or Not?

August 20, 2020

On October 14th, 2014, the Dodgers announced the hiring of Andrew Friedman. Former Tampa Bay GM and Vice President of baseball operations as President of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers. His contract was for 5 years and 35 million dollars. Friedman was born in Houston Texas and attended Tulane University on a baseball scholarship. His college career was derailed by a couple of injuries. He earned a B.A….

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RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM THE RECLINER

August 15, 2020

I’m writing this on Friday morning, basking in the joy of the Dodgers 11-2 thumping of the Padres and thought I would share some random thoughts from my recliner:  ●          Until last night’s game, this year’s Dodgers just haven’t been as fun for me to watch as teams in the past.   In “summer camp” it looked as if though they would be invincible.   Once the season started though, and even…

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AC’s Notes on Mookie’s Night

August 14, 2020

Mookie has a 4-4 night with 3 HRs and 5 RBIs, and a HBP.  His OPS is now sitting at 1.074.  Anyone watching the game realizes that Mookie’s 3 HR night ties him with Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa for the most 3 HR games in a career.  I am going to go out on a limb and say that before his career is over, he will have that record…

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After 25% of the Season

August 10, 2020

I was not sure how I was going to write my column for Monday.  It was looking ugly for a while, but with a pair of 3-run HRs by AJ Pollock and Mookie Betts, the Dodgers turned a potential disaster into a win. Typical Dodger win with the long ball.  In the three game series, the Dodgers scored 17 runs, 14 of them directly from seven HRs. I know that…

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MEET BULLET JOE ROGAN

August 6, 2020

There’s a pretty good chance, unless you are an ardent student of “old-time” baseball and you are a scholarly student of the Negro Leagues, that you have never heard of Bullet Rogan. I have to confess that I knew very little of Bullet Joe Rogan until my recent article on the Negro Leagues.  Frankly, even with the information we have, there is far too little known about him.   From those…

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Nice Comeback Win to Knot the Series

August 5, 2020

First observation, this is a much different game for the Dodgers without Mookie Betts.  They are still talented enough to win, but he sure does make it much easier.  Seager and Betts seem to have been carrying the team on this trip, and the spark just seems to have gone out without Mookie.  The pitching matchup for Tuesday night was the one expected for Monday. Two of the brightest MLB…

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7-3 Start Thanks to Relief Corps

August 3, 2020

Except for one bad pitch, the Dodgers have been outstanding on this current road trip.  They are currently 5-1 on the trip, with three to go in SD.  I am not sure that home and away mean that much in 2020, except do like the last AB for a potential comeback.  But there certainly is no fan reaction to build momentum upon. The team is currently 7-3, and on pace…

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