Do You Still Not Get it?

DISCLAIMER: If this does not apply to you, don’t sweat it!

When Andrew Friedman took over as President of the Dodgers, he made several moves that most Dodgers fans mocked and ridiculed, such as signing Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, and Scott Kazmir. They mocked the trade of Dee Gordon and then went Bat-Shit Crazy over the trade of Matt Kemp and FedEx for Yasmani Grandal and others. Fast forward a little, and many of you also lost your mind when Friedman completed the Kyle Farmer Trade. “That was just a salary dump.” I said, “Watch and learn, little boys.”

Some of you are the guys who bitterly ridiculed and complained when Andrew Friedman signed or traded for Andrew Heaney, Tyler Anderson, Trayce Thompson, and others of similar stature. Remember when you lost your mind when Friedman traded Dylan Floro for someone you have never heard of named Alex Vesia and a youngster named Kyle Hurt? Vesia has way outperformed Floro, and Kyle Hurt has a world of potential. You were also appalled when Friedman traded away Adam Kolarek. Ha! Ha! I am not saying you are dumb… but you may just have bad luck when it comes to thinking.

Now you have started back up again as Friedman has traded for Joey Gallo while trading away Mitch White and Jake Lamb. I don’t know why, but I frequently underestimate the potential for Dodger fans to fail to understand that Andrew Friedman is playing chess while they are playing checkers… or tiddly-winks.

Some fans just have no clue. Before the season, Keith Law said that the Dodgers Farm System was “Hilarious” (because it was better than anyone else). He rated it Number One. Now, at Midseason, Keith Law comes out with his TOP 60 MLB Prospects, and as I reported earlier this week, Diego Cartaya is #4 (up from #13 in the pre-season), Bobby Miller is #26 (up from #50), whom Law says has “the best pure stuff of any starter in the minors.” Then there is Gavin Stone at #32 (previously unranked) whom Law says “Is banging on the door of a big-league rotation right now.” At #34 (up from #62) is Miguel Vargas, about whom Law states the following:

Vargas just keeps on hitting, with a .294/.385/.504 line so far in Triple A as a 22-year-old, making a ton of hard contact and hitting all pitch types. He’s still more of a contact/doubles hitter than a big power guy, although that can change quickly when you have the hard contact skill (especially when you’re a Dodger), and he’s probably not going to stay at third in the long term. There’s a chance he gets to 25-plus homers, though, and a chance he stays at third; it’s just more likely he’s a high-average 20ish homer guy at first who’s an above-average regular for a long time.

In the Top 34 MLB Prospects, the Dodgers, who always draft at the end of the round, have four of the top 34 prospects. Chew on that for a minute. Vargas was called up a few days ago, and you saw what he could do. James Outman is already on the team. I’m just going to cut to the chase and tell you that if you think Andrew Friedman got a “swing and miss” yesterday, you must be intellectually incapable of grasping what Friedman has done, is doing, and will continue to do. Andrew Friedman was, is, and will be “Building the Monster.”

The Dodgers will be in the running for the World Series Every Year. You can’t do that by trading the farm every few years and then having to rebuild. If you think that “Soto and Bell would have allowed us to rival the 1927 Yankees and chase the all-time wins record of 116,” You are simply a child playing an adult game. Andrew Friedman is doing it the way the 1927 Yankees did it. They didn’t sell the farm every few years; they grew their own players and made occasional trades to strengthen the team.

In case you live on another planet, the Dodgers are the best and winningest team in MLB Baseball right about now. If it’s important to win 116 games, then go root for some other team. The Dodger intend to compete for a World Series title every year, not win one in 2019 as the Nats did – only to fade into oblivion the next year. The only way you can sustain that kind of a streak is to build the best damn farm system in baseball and allow it to produce.

I predict that AJ Preller will be looking for a job in two years. Trading the farm and signing expensive free agents is not the path to MLB success… it’s the path to destruction. Andrew Friedman has built and is continuing to build a sustainable model. Juan Soto is a talented player, but the players the Dodgers would have had to trade for Soto are collectively more talented… even if a single one does not put up Soto numbers. AJ Preller is as entertaining as he is ignorant of how to build a monster! Sure, Padres ownership wants to win NOW. RIGHT NOW!

Behind all of this is Peter Seidler, the grandson of Walter O’Malley and the nephew of Peter O’Malley. Peter is driven to win a World Championship for San Diego at all costs. AJ Preller may be the “Mad Scientist,” but Peter Seidler, the namesake of Peter O’Malley, is the “Willing Checkbook“. It’s never spoken of, but there is lingering resentment within the O’Malley and Seidler families about losing the Dodgers and not being able to buy them back. Some believe there may be a rift in the family and that Peter wants to put his imprimatur on the Padres. Peter O’Malley is not listed as an owner in most media. Power and the desire for recognition drive people… sometimes it drives them to make bad decisions. Peter Seidler is a two-time cancer survivor, and building a farm system may not seem to be prudent to him. I get it, but unless he is incredibly lucky, this is not the way you build a sustainable winner.

The Dodgers have won one World Championship under Andrew Friedman and should have won another but for the cheating ASStericks! They are the favorite again this year … EVEN AFTER THE PADRES ACQUIRED SOTO, HADER, DRURY & OTHERS. Josh Hader is was feared before July when he put up a 12.54 ERA and a 2.250 WHIP. These are real numbers. Craig Kimbrel was called upon to be ousted by Dodgers fans for his July, which showed a 4.91 ERA and 1.546 WHIP. Those numbers, while not good, make Craig look like an All-Star compared to Hader.

Juan Soto is a stud – no doubt, but so was Cody Bellinger. Fame is fleeting, and the game of baseball is hard. We will see how trading for him works out. I predicted that Andrew Fredman would not sell the farm… and he didn’t. That was the right move.

• Miguel Vargas will be an All-Star.
• Diego Cartaya is a “generational player” (whoever thinks he can’t stay at Catcher has never seen him play). The Defense will continue to improve, but the bat plays anywhere!
• Bobby Miller has a high ceiling and a low floor. He is high risk – high reward, but guys with that talent have to get a chance. At best, he’s an Ace. At worst, he’s out of baseball.
• Gavin Stone is ready right now to contribute, whether it be as a starter or in the bullpen.
• Ditto with Ryan Pepiot.
• Mike Busch is a guy who will be an occasional All-Star
• Andy Pages seems to have stalled, but watch out, he is coming!

At least half of those guys (probably more) would have to have been included in the Soto deal. You can’t get rid of that kind of talent and expect to continue to be successful. Watch the Padres and Learn! No one expected anything out of Justin Turner, Chris Taylor, Trayce Thompson, or Max Muncy… and most of you expect nothing out of Joey Gallo, who, at worse, is a Gold Glove outfielder who can play all three spots with a rifle arm. The Dodgers saw something, and they think they can rehabilitate him (the Yanks think the same about Clayton Beeter). However, for every Turner, Taylor, Thompson, and Muncy, there is a Sheldon Neuse, Tyler White, and Jedd Gyorko – they just don’t hang around long.

Joey Gallo seemed to be an unusual pickup to me … at first, but the logic is Low Risk, High Reward. Joey averages a HR every 13 ABs. So does Edwin Rios, but Rios is not a Gold Glove Outfielder and a good baserunner. The worst case is that James Outman takes his place at the end of August. The best case is that he hits at the bottom of the lineup and adds 15 HR in August and September. If they truly see something “fixable” in his swing, it’s worth a try.

I predicted that Clayton had another IL Stint in him, and the best thing the Dodgers could do is shut him down until early September. Pepiot and Stone are both better than Mitch White – both could be in the rotation SOON. Bring it! Dustin May will be back any day as well.

1. Urias
2. Anderson
3. Gonsolin
4. Heaney
5. Pepiot
6. Stone
7. May

That’s enough… Kershaw and maybe Buehler will return later.

Andrew Friedman’s best move was not making any dope fiend moves. Don’t be a dope-fiend fan! Craig Kimbrel was the closer on the 2018 Red Sox team that won the World Series, but Kelly and Eovaldi closed most games in the Series. Don’t get hung up on one guy! This team has been the best team in baseball all year, and it is going to get better. Watch and learn!

Future Dodgers Down on the Farm

• OKC lost 8-7 to Salt Lake
  • Mike Busch hit his 23rd HR
  • Dellin Betances pitched a scoreless inning, allowing a walk and striking out a batter.
  • Mark Washington did the same in 1.2 IP.
• Tulsa beat NW Arkansas by two touchdowns and a safety (23-7)
  • Every position in the lineup had at least 2 hits, except CF, as Jeren Kendall lowered his BA to .169. He cannopt jump out of a boat and hit water.
  • Jonny DeLuca was 3-6 with 4 Runs Scored and 3 RBI (.313 BA/1.005 OPS). He also hit his 25th HR on the season.
  • Ryan Ward was 3-6 with 4 RBI, and he hit his 27th HR on the season.
  • Andy Pages was 4-6 with 3 Runs scored and 3 RBI.
  • Brandon Lewis was 2-6 and raised his BA to an even .200.
  • Leonal Valera was 2-6 with 4 RBI.
• Great Lakes beat Lake County 5-4
  • Damon Keith started his first game at GL by going 2-5 with his 13th HR to go with 66 RBI for the season. He is hitting .301/.432 OB%/.939 Slg%. He only has 408 Minor League at-bats and is in my Top 15 already.
  • Jose Ramos was 1-3 with his 16th HR and 2 RBI.
  • Nick Nastrini went six innings and allowed 4 Hits, 3 ER, and 2 BBs while striking out 8.
  • Ryan Sublette pitched the final two innings and got the win (5-1). He allowed no hits or runs but walked three while striking out 4.
  • I don’t know what to think about 24-year-old Imanol Vargas. He has 15 HR and is hitting .280 with a .436 OB% and a .940 OPS. I guess I have to see what he does at Tulsa.
• Rancho Cucamonga beat Inland Empire 4-1.
  • Dalton Rushing made his debut with the Quakes on Wednesday and was hitless. Last night he hit cleanup and was 2-3 with his 1st Professional HR.
  • Nick Biddison (Pick 135) made his professional debut in this series as well.
  • Chris Alleyne (Pick 585) already has 12 ABs and is hitting .333.
  • Kyle Nevin and Michael McClain also made their debuts.
  • Taylor Young was 1-4 (Pick #255)