2023 – 1988: Back to the Future!

In 1988, the Dodgers had the Stuntmen, but in 2023, they have a team of stuntmen (thanks to Bill Plaschke for that). In 2022, the Dodgers had players who felt they had a pedigree… that they were Bluebloods. In 2023, it’s clear that these guys are really junkyard dogs.

• Boston didn’t want Mookie Betts
• Atlanta didn’t want Freddie Freeman
• Oakland didn’t want Max Muncy
• Miami didn’t want Miguel Rojas
• Chicago didn’t want Jason Heyward
• Arizona and Tampa Bay didn’t want David Peralta
• Boston Didn’t want Kike Hernandez
• Milwaukee and Seattle did not want Kolten Wong
• Cleveland did not want Amed Rosario
• Chicago did not want Lance Lynn
• Chicago did not want Joe Kelly
• Boston did not want Ryan Brasier
• Minnesota did not want the Bazooka
• St. Louis did not want Shelby Miller
• Miami did not want Alex Vesia
• Kansas City and Tampa Bay did not want Ryan Yarbrough
• Seattle didn’t want Chris Taylor
• Baltimore and Tampa Bay did not want Evan Phillips.

This 2023 Version of the Los Angeles Dodgers is 70% built on castoffs (all of the above), oldtimers like Clayton, whose arm is held on with duct tape and baling wire, and unproven youngsters. If Sandy Koufax was the “left arm of God” then Clayton Kershaw is now the “Left arm of Job.” But, the Dude can still get hitters to screw themselves into the ground. These guys are playing with a chip on their collective shoulders. When people underestimate you, there’s a power in you to prove they’re wrong. This is a team that is of the highest character. This is a team with something to prove. This is a team of junkyard dogs!

Last year’s team felt entitled. This team yearns to prove they belong.

Two outs? No problem!

We are behind? No problem!

“Tell me what I need to do and I’ll do it!”

Move the runner. OK!

Make that killer pitch. OK!

It ain’t over until it’s over with these guys.

I’ll go to war with these guys any day. They pick each other up. They score more runs with two outs than any team in baseball. They support each other. They move the runners. They cut down their swings. They are not perfect, but you have to kill them to beat them! This team is to be reckoned with. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

BY the way: On a side note, last year and early this season, I had called Mookie out and said that he was not playing like a Superstar. I was called an “idiot” and mocked by one moron in particular for that. It turns out that was 100% true. Dodgers.com chronicles how Mookie “believes he’s finally in a place to better understand everything that comes with being the face of a franchise, which he certainly is for the Dodgers.” It goes on to say:

For Betts, the hardest part of the change was not performing up to his standards. While he starred in 2020 with a .927 OPS, Betts posted an .854 OPS in ‘21 and an .873 mark in ‘22. Those numbers are above league-average, but they didn’t meet Betts’ standards. It was something that wore on him as he tried to show off his talents in his new home. 
“This is really the first year [with the Dodgers] where I’ve played decent,” Betts said. “I think that was also the reservation that I felt like I couldn’t really say nothing because I’m out here doing some average [stuff], you know what I’m saying? In my eyes, I wasn’t helping us win games and [was] just blending in. I kept telling me, ‘You signed this contract and you’re just gonna blend in?’”

— Juan Toribio

Yes, I am an idiot and what does that make you? That’s the final word!

Rob Manfred, Trevor Bauer & The All-Star Game

Rob Manfred likely gets his news from the same place many of you also do: The Mainstream Media, which pushes their own narrative, frequently not rooted in the truth. Remember, in 2020, we were told to”trust the science.” I do trust science, and science is continually evolving. It turns out that a very high percentage of what we were told was simply false. I am not going to beat that horse, but you have to be mentally derelict not to comprehend that.

Staying with a baseball theme, Rob Manfred moved the All-Star Game from Atlanta to Denver because of Atlanta’s Racist Voting Laws. When was the last time anyone talked about that? No one does because it was complete and utter Bullshit. The media mob was screaming it, and the sheeple believed it. Then, the Moron known as Manfred possibly cost the Dodgers at least one World Series by suspending Trevor Bauer for what we now know is just plain bogus. Again, the media mob demanded it, and Manfred caved in. If you have not watched all of the YouTube videos and interviews that were released this week, then you may still believe Trevor Bauer is guilty. Of course, his teammates are not going to jump to his aid for fear of also being ostracized! Rob Manfred is the scum of the earth, and any good he has accomplished, such as the rule changes that came into effect this year are nullified by the evil (YES EVIL) done by this man.

OK, I’m done!

AFL

• Damon Keith was 2-4 on Thursday, and Yenier Fernandez was 1-3 as he played 2B.
• Last night, Keith was 0-2 with 2 BBs. Sublette pitched 1 inning and allowed 2 hits, but no runs while striking out 1. Pilarski pitched one inning and allowed 2 hits and 3 runs (none were earned).

I am so ready for tonight’s game – Let’s Roll!