Double Standard
Even before Andrew Friedman was hired as President of Baseball Operations, I had called for the hiring of someone like him. When he was hired, I supported it from day one with a level of excitement that I had never felt. Immediately, I was attacked by morons who shall remain…
Even before Andrew Friedman was hired as President of Baseball Operations, I had called for the hiring of someone like him. When he was hired, I supported it from day one with a level of excitement that I had never felt. Immediately, I was attacked by morons who shall remain nameless. I have rarely second-guessed anything he does, for two reasons:
- It is usually well-thought-out and grounded in a readily comprehensible strategy, and
- Second-guessers are never wrong because they get their information after the fact.
What I am about to say is not second-guessing, and I know the answer to half of the question. The second half of the question is what looks like a double standard to me. Let me explain. Roki Sasaki is making the Dodgers opening day roster as a starter, while ALEX FREELAND IS NOT! Now, in full disclosure, Alex is my favorite Dodger, and I seldom have favorites, but Alex is because of his backstory: He went from a kid not expected to walk well to an MLB SS! That inspires me.
Alex Freeland could have hit his way onto the roster this season – he didn’t! In 39 ABs, he hit .100 with a .288 OB% and a pathetic .442 OPS. Of course, he didn’t deserve a spot, especially since his competition was 32-year-old Santiago Espinal, who, in 36 ABs, hit .389 with a 1.027 OPS. Clearly, on the face, Espinal won! Except that he has no place or future with the Dodgers – he is just a placeholder until Tommy Edman or Kike Hernandez come back.
Alex Freeland has always struggled as he changed levels, but has learned to play up to his competition. He will not be a star, most likely, not even a starter – he’s a utilityman… and he’s a ballplayer. He’s a Junkyard Dog… and I think he would have risen to his level.
Andrew Friedman obviously has his reasons. Maybe we will find out… maybe not. However, it is a double standard when Alex Freeland, with a .100 batting average, doesn’t make the roster, but Roki Sasaki, with a 13.50 ERA and an inability to string two good innings as a starter, does make it… and I understand the double standard.
The difference is that Roki Sasaki is a mental midget (at his worst), or mentally fragile (at his best). The Dodgers are afraid of breaking Roki’s spirit. They know that Alex Freeland has an indomitable spirit. The only way you break Alex is to kill him. I said I knew the answer, and I hope that both players reach their potential, but I have to ask myself, “who was the last weak-minded player I remember with the Dodgers”?
It was Thor, Noah Syndergaard. How did that end up?
Top 10 Rotations
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- Tigers
- Pirates
- Yankees
- Brewers
- Blue Jays
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Discussion (74)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Zach Root!!!
Didn’t half of Roki’s family die in the earthquake and tsunami a few years ago? Yet he was a professional inJapan, and came over here, giving up a chance to get many millions more than he did if he waited a few years… cause he wanted to pitch in the big leagues. Against the best in the world. Doesn’t sound like a mental midget to me. But yeah, every major has leaguer has to be perfect, right out of the gait… baloney.
Perhaps Freeland has succeeded at every level because he has had the opportunity to play. If he was promoted to The Show now, he mostly would ride the pine and not make progress. The Dodgers like veteran UT guys–Rojas, Edman, Kike and now Espinal –who are essentially finished products and understand their role. I hope Freeland gets plenty of reps this season in OKC, including action in the OF. He’ll be ready for the ’27 season when Miggy, Kike and Espinal are unlikely to be around.
Spring Breakout is broken
Where I live, if you order a steak at Denny’s, you go to jail!
Lucas Wfpt not only can’t spell his last name, but also the moron can’t pitch as he walked in 5 consecutive runs. His pitches weren’t even close! Me? I would have started drilling guys, but I doubt he has the control to do that. I mean, he can’t even spell his own name. Damn!
Stick a fork in Walker! He is done.
Nice article on Buehler by Michael Baumann: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/walker-buehler-is-back-sort-of/
It’s like a steak at Gwen and a steak at Denny’s! The average price of a ticket to a Dodgers baseball game in 2026 is about $131 The average price of a ticket to a Angels baseball game in 2026 is about $71 fun with numbers
I don’t understand the seemingly outsized value “making the opening day roster” has. Obviously there’s a financial benefit to being a major leaguer contra a minor leaguer, but Freeland, Ryan, et al are all going to be up at some point.
Chris Taylor opted out of his deal with the Angels and was released. Austin Slater released by the Tigers. Walker Buehler was selected by the Padres and is in their rotation with Pivetta, King, Marquez, and Randy Vazquez. Musgrove on the IL< Waldron with be on the IL and Darvish will miss the entire season. Yankees sent Jasson Dominguez to the minors. Most of the Dodger regulars have already left Arizona for LA.
Two entirely different positions and scenarios. Freeland got more than an ample opportunity to become a platoon partner with Kim. In a simple parlance, he blew it. By the end of spring training, he showed no confidence at the plate whatsoever. As for Kim, I personally don’t think he earned a job in the starting rotation either, but he earned a shot at it because of his performance in the playoffs and World Series last year. About the only reason he got the nod over Stone or Ryan, is because they are both coming back from surgery’s and will be slow played by the Dodgers, the same way they slow played Ohtani and others the last several seasons. They are deep enough where they do not have to rush things. Just like Wrobleski will most likely get a slot because of Snell not being ready. I may not agree with some of the decisions made by the front office, but they are working with more knowledge than I.
Today Saturday, getaway day for the MLB team, the Dodgers Spring Breakout prospects will face off against the Chicago White Sox prospects at 9:05 PM ET on the MLB NETWORK. Here is the Dodgers spring breakout roster: Left-handed pitchers (4): Maddux Bruns, Cody Morse, Zach Root, Adam Serwinowski Right-handed pitchers (4): Cam Day, Payton Martin, Marlon Nieves, Christian Zazueta Catchers (2): Francisco Espinoza, Victor Rodrigues Infielders (7): Moises Bolivar, Chase Harlan, Elijah Hainline, Kellon Lindsey, Emil Morales, Joendry Vargas, Logan Wagner Outfielders (10): Charles Davalan, Josue De Paula, Zach Ehrhard, Kendall George, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero, Mike Sirota, James Tibbs III, Brendan Tunink, Landyn Vidourek
2:05 PM ET Athletics (76-86) (16-14) Dodgers (93-69) (19-8) SP Jacob Lopez L 0-0 .00 ERA SP Emmet Sheehan R 0-0 .00 ERA Confirmed Lineup LF Alex Call R 1B S. Espinal R C D. Rushing L 2B A. Freeland S 3B Nick Senzel R SS Hyeseong Kim L RF J. Suwinski L CF Jaron Elkins R DH K. Lindsey R 91° Wind 3 mph R-L Today is the Dodgers last Spring Training game in Arizona. They play three more exhibition games starting tomorrow with the Angels in Anaheim,then two at Dodger Stadium. They open the season next Thursday at Dodger Stadium against Arizona.
I root for every Dodger, and if Roki can go four or five innings, then GREAT! If he can’t, then he needs to accept his fate. River should be rolling in the rotation, too, but he has so few innings that they will likely keep him at OKC for a while. His stuff is “otherworldly.”
The performance from Roki in the WS was awesome, and it’s a reason why I believe he’s better for the BP, but that moment has dissipated, as seen in ST. I’d rather see a few more moments like the WS appearance to show his confidence with consistency and then stretch him out innings-wise to starter. I’m not basing anything on ST or his WS display, as one is obvious and one a possible fluke of a moment.
Bobby may be a mental dwarf!
Well, I seldom have a favorite player. I just like Freeland’s impossible dream. When people were saying he might never walk, he was dreaming of playing in the Majors. “When you see the invisible, you can do the impossible.” — The Mountain Mover “All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” ― T.E. Lawrence I must confess, I am a Daytime Dreamer!
Mark,are you referring to Bobby Miller? You have to say that Roki was strong enough mentally to come thru for us big time in the playoffs and World Series as a reliever. Coming to a new country and culture is tough for anyone to survive. He is still young and has the backing of both Ohtani and Yamamoto to help him develop and grow.
Saying Freeland is your favorite Dodger is quite a statement. I get it, but that’s a pretty far limb. (Mine is Smith btw and has been for a while.) I think Espinal showed a little more than the stats reflected. His defense looked at least as good as Freeland’s and he evidently fit in, whether through his friendship with Teo or his Rojas dopplegangerdom. Espinal can help us win games right now. Freeland can help us win games later. Normally I would be upset too–Hurt has a case as well–but I’m okay with it. As for Roki, we’re polishing the raw stone in hope it eventually shines
Also that he would relieve in last year’s playoffs.
I don’t believe either of them earned a spot, but Roki can at the least contribute a more meaningful benefit to the team in a position that is much harder to fill. Roki, coming from the BP a few times a week for 1-2 innings, is head and shoulders better than the time that Freeland might see in the lineup as a starter, let alone as a utility guy. I do disagree with having Roki in the starting rotation, but his lease is longer because he’s getting paid a decent check. I have also been saying that the issue with Roki is his mental fragility, as it takes very little to get him off the rails.
One reason that Sasaki makes the Opening Day roster as a starter is that the front office promised him last October that if he would relieve in the World Series, he would be a starter come Opening Day in 2026. Now his results thus far this Spring have been fair to poor and AF has stated that his results going forward will likely keep him in the rotation or not,if NOT the Dodgers have may options to fill that role. As stated many times, the season will be played any way the Dodgers choose to do so. So a few bad starts by Sasaki will not hurt the chances of them making the playoffs. My attitude is to give him a chance and his fate is in his hands.