I am not Catholic. I am not Jewish. I am not an Athiest. I am not Protestant, Baptist, or Pagan. I do not practice Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Falun Gong, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism. However, I fully support every person’s right to worship God as they choose or not to worship a God. There is nothing more divisive than religion or politics, which is why I was outraged when I found out that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were set to be honored at Dodger Stadium by the Los Angeles Dodgers. I am not going to give them much press time, but the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a group of queer and trans people whose entire existence is based upon hatred toward anyone Catholic… no matter what their charter says!
First of all, they are not sisters. They are dudes who are of the most extreme ilk, and they display extreme hatred toward religion and gender roles. They claim it is “satire,” but if I want satire, I can read any number of publications or go to a Comedy Club. There is no room for this kind of gender-bending hate group at a baseball game with children and adults present. Gender-bending is not only irreligious but also highly political. Politics and hate have no place in Dodger Baseball. I fully support the Dudes… ‘er Sisters to publically and peacefully demonstrate, but they should not be honored at a Baseball Game anymore than any hate group! That simply is not the forum. The “Sisters” proclaim that they are fighting bigotry, but in the process, they have become the bigots they detest.
I have been to Pride Parades – some were orderly and uplifting, and some were lewd and vulgar. I have seen the Sisters in San Francisco, and they are a group I would not want young children around. If I have to explain why; you already have your mind made up, and I am not going to say you are dumb – I am just going to say you have extremely bad luck when it comes to thinking.
Enough about the Sisters. The Dodgers did the right thing in canceling this debacle. MLB should have been smart enough to leave their hands off the All-Star Game. Politics and religion do not belong in Dodger Baseball. I am glad they did the right thing, but I question why it was even a consideration. This is something that needs to be looked into. The Dodgers have at least three people who are listed as a part of the Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Department. I suspect it is much larger than that.
Does Andrew Friedman hire analytic personnel based on Diversity, Inclusion, or Equity (“DIE”)? Or does he hire the most qualified persons for the job. If I need a surgeon, do I want someone who got the job on DIE? If so, I might DIE! I want the best person for that job. Are we going to start having baseball players based upon DIE, and as AI takes a bigger role in baseball, do we just want to DIE there too… or maybe we want the best damn player we can find… and maybe he is Japanese.
I will say that MLB has done and is doing a horrible job at recruiting black players to play baseball. That’s where DIE should come into play. Baseball would be a better game if we had more black players like Vida Blue, George Foster, Hank Aaron, Bob Gibson, Dave Winfield, Vada Pinson, Frank Robinson, John Roseboro, Roy Campanella, and many, many others. Use that DIE money on figuring out how to get more young black players to MLB instead of Trans and Queer hate groups!
That’s all I have to say about that. I am glad that the Dodgers came to their senses! That said, due to circumstances beyond my control, I am not going to be back on a daily basis anytime soon. My back is getting better by the day, and the A-Fib is nothing. I may have to get a partial knee replacement in September, but not now. I am feeling really good!
The problem is that our company has three websites, and we have to migrate all of them to a new platform called ShopifyPlus by August 1st! We are currently on Magento, which is very problematic. We have spent well over a million dollars to do this, and they rely on me for all of the technical copy and a lot of the sales copy. I also am still working on finishing my book, so I simply cannot keep writing for LADT… except maybe once a week! One of these days, I will retire and maybe tour the US in an RV to all MLB and MiLB stadiums! But, that is not today.
I will keep the site open, and hopefully, Bear can write a couple of times a week. I will lurk in the background. Here are a few tidbits:
- Never speak of last night’s game again. If you are going to lose, you might as will lose big! Nothing to see here, folks… move along!
- Why did the Dodgers call up Dylan Covey (who is a starter) on the day Dustin May had his flexor tendon problem? ANSWER: Because this was not a new injury. They knew he was having problems. hummm…
- Landon Knack just might get a callup soon. His ERA sits at 1.59 and last night he pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 R and struck out 9. He’s on the radar.
- The Dodgers are close-lipped about Nick Frasso, but he is on the active roster at Tulsa.
- Jonny LeDuca was 3-4 last night. I think he will beat Andy Pages to the show. Pages happens to be on the injured list now.
- Don’t look now, but Adam Kolarek has a 0.66 ERA at OKC!
- If Ronan Kopp can cut down his walks… look out! He has pitched 24 innings at GL with 38 K’s and 19 BB.
- Walker Buehler is hell-bent-for-leather to be back in the rotation by September 1st. That would be really soon, but he is determined, so we shall see!
- There’s no way to sugarcoat this: Diego Cartaya is no longer the Dodgers’ #1 prospect. He is regressing in every phase of the game. There has to be more to this than we are seeing.
- Here is my prediction on Dustin May: I have no clue! If he pitches against this year, it will be a plus. I am not counting on it.
- Gavin Stone will obviously get the next start.
- Is there any stage that is too big for James “Big Play” Outman?
- Julio Urias’ struggles are concerning. Most of the damage was done to his changeup… right in the middle of the plate. 4 HR? Nobody could pitch last night. I think a couple will go back to OKC (Almonte and Jackson). Phil Bickford gets credit for gutting it out in his last game, but he has been horrid most of the year!
- The Catman needs to step up tonight.
Discussion (25)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Nice comeback win. Gonsolin lowers his ERA to 1.13. Mookie with a clutch 3 run homer.
Mark so glad to see the site up. Hope you are healing well. I just want to echo the statements of so many of how appreciative we are of you keeping this site open. Don’t be shy to take a week or two off now and then. We have learned immensely from your baseball knowledge and the Dodgers in particular. My favourites are hearing about the next group up and the ones behind them to watch for. And of course the trade possibilities.
Bear your write-ups on all the history are astounding – so enjoyable and educational – and thanks to everyone for contributing – Cheers from Alberta Canada – Gerry
Machado to the IL. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Dave Roberts Implies Gavin Stone Will Take Dustin May’s Spot in Rotation
Former Padre Eric Hosmer designated for assignment by the Cubs.
Thursday scores
Oklahoma City 6, Sugar Land 4
Corpus Christi 4, Tulsa 1
Great Lakes 10, West Michigan 0
Rancho Cucamonga 17, Visalia 11
Friday schedule
3:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Ben Casparius) vs. West Michigan (Garrett Burhenn)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Robbie Erlin) vs. Sugar Land (Forrest Whitley)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Kyle Hurt) at Corpus Christi (TBD)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Peter Heubeck) at Visalia (Jose Cabrera)
3 of the 4 Dodger Minor teams are in 1st place except Tulsa which in second place 1 game behind
8:15 PM ET
Dodgers (28-17) 1st place
Cardinals (19-26)
SP Tony Gonsolin R
1-1 1.42 ERA
SP Steven Matz L
0-4 5.62 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
DH J. Martinez R
3B Chris Taylor R
2B M. Vargas R
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
LF T. Thompson R
Rain
57% Rain
69° Wind 11 mph L-R
Former NFL Hall of Famer, Jim Brown passed away today. RIP
Red Sox Sign Bradley Zimmer To Minor League Deal
Let’s fill a hole in the rotation by bringing Trevor Bauer back. The Dodgers can proclaim the day of his first start Sado Masochist Pride Day.
DODGERS SELECT TYLER CYR
LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Tyler Cyr and optioned right-handed pitcher Andre Jackson to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Cyr, 30, appeared in 15 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, posting a 2-1 record with a 4.86 ERA (9 ER/16.2 IP) and 24 strikeouts. Last season, the righty made 12 appearances in the Major Leagues with Philadelphia and Oakland, allowing four runs in 13.1 innings with 16 strikeouts. He posted a 1-0 mark with a 2.08 ERA (3 ER/13.0 IP) and 16 strikeouts with Oakland. In eight minor league seasons, he is a combined, 19-13 with a 3.08 ERA (102 ER/298.1 IP) and 358 strikeouts in 233 games (three starts). He was originally drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 10th round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Embry-Riddle University.
Jackson, 26, was recalled last night, pitched 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on two hits with three strikeouts. He fired three perfect innings before getting tagged for three runs in the eighth inning. On the season, he has allowed 13 runs in 14.1 innings with 13 strikeouts in six appearances for Los Angeles. He has been with the Dodgers parts of three seasons and he is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA (18 ER/36.0 IP) and 32 strikeouts in 14 career games. He has was drafted by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2017 draft out of the university of Utah.
You don’t have to write nearly every day here, Mark. I don’t think you’d be able to quit this place entirely. You’re too passionate about the Dodgers to completely give it up, but I think writing a post here 1=2x/week is a reasonable compromise.
I would like to think that the Dodgers caught May’s flexor strain early. I hope he’s not done for the year, and my hunch is he isn’t.
Here’s a little more on his injury and time frame for his return.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29898372/
June’s Rotation?
1. Urias
2. Kershaw
3. Gonsolin
4. Stone
5. Knack
6. Syndergaard
Thanks for keeping this site alive Mark. And I’m very glad you are feeling better.
* One of the things that is way different now days is how a pitcher reacts to giving up multiple homer runs in an inning. Yesteryear, after the 2nd dinger in a row and 3rd of the inning, Dejong would not have been able to hit the 4th homer. He would have been on first after getting drilled by Urias.
* I remember walking to the plate after back-to-back jacks and wanting to wear catcher’s gear. I was thinking “just hit me in the ass or lower back and not my head.” I got in to the corner of the box and took the medicine that didn’t ask for. But there was no way the pitcher was going to get pounded without sending the message…………… that’s enough.
I’m not saying I agree with that retaliation but that’s how the game was played. It was understood and expected.
* Every time I see Jordan Hicks pitch, he looks unhittable. His ERA is misleading this season. He gave up crocked numbers early and in a few outings. His last 11 appearances he’s been nails. His stuff just disappears.
* Every time Will takes a shot off his mask, I wince. How many shots can he take?
Today provides another opportunity to play better.
Why does a historic franchise like the Dodgers is succumbing to the globalist agenda and promoting abominations. Why does mlb and some other teams are doing this ? you can say whatever you say about the Angels or Arte Moreno but i dont think he or that franchise is promoting all this garbage. The dodgers ownership is a group and Walter sold very small portion of actions to these lesbians that are promoting all this garbage and magic johnson son is a trans queer or whatever you can call it . This is something not about baseball. Baseball is player by men and most men there have wifes and families and are straight just like God created them they have roles as men so why promote this. I hope players would pronounce themselves on this and stand up for truth. Most fans that come and see dodgers are families what example is this giving having a homosexual night on stadium and now even making players wear hats with colors of this evil lbgt agenda disrespecting the Dodger blue and Dodger uniform. Mark Walter and ownership of Dodgers are disgusting . Tommy Lasorda would not be supporting this, yes he had a homosexual son but never advocated for this or even spoke about this or supported that. There was a homosexual player on Dodgers Glen Burk but never achieved anything as a player and was let go due to poor performance and maybe played a few games at mlb but . If anyone wants to be a homosexual that is their choice but why push this agenda by the Dodgers makes no sense and i am sure most fans do not like this. So sad to see a historic franchise promote immorality and push agendas on their fans and disgracing their uniform and tradition.
I think everyone here worships at the Church of Baseball.
Let us pray for Julio, and Bickford, and Almonte…
Nice to hear Kolarek is pitching well. He did a good job during his first stint with the Dodgers.
Given the struggles of Almonte and Bickford, I hope the brass consider bringing up some the top SP prospects, like Knack, to fortify the bullpen. Given the past success of RPs like Pedro Martinez, why not have Knack or another SP do his apprenticeship in the major league pen?
It was nice seeing that Brock Stewart is pitching for Minnesota. I wonder how many teams out there have pitchers who used to play for the Dodgers.
TM: Very good perspective. The only thing I will add is 1 bad game, even in October is still only 1 bad game (unless it is a one game elimination). Otherwise it still takes 2, 3 or 4 wins.
I used to go nuts over a game like last night but I’ve learned over 75+ years of rooting for our team that no matter how ugly the loss is, it is still only 1 game. Stay cool buddy; it is a very long season.
So how much would you pay a guy who is 5-4 with a 4.39 ERA? Lol
But, if there is one thing I learned last year is that I’m not going to fret over a bad game on May 18 or June 18th…….October 18th may be different though.
ShopifyPlus is a strong platform, I’m surprised the transition costs are that high.
Hopefully when fully migrated, you enjoy the upside.
Mark, again to say thanx for not going cold completely and closing this structure. I don’t think my comments on the game of baseball carry any importance other than my opinion. Mostly here is where I’m able to cheer for my lifelong team. And that’s pretty important to me in my very small world. Anyone could say to me to “get a life”, but I’ve had one and one that rates big just not the best. At any rate I like it here. So thank you.
Mark – come down to Huntington Beach for a beer on Main Street sometime – we owe you! Thx
The Athletic list 27 Prospects that You may not know, but should:
Here’s one:
3. Landon Knack, RHP, Dodgers
Age: 25
HT: 6-2 WT: 220
Scouting grades: FB: 55 CB: 50 SLI: 55 CH: 50 CTL: 60 CMND: 55
Stats (Double A): W-L: 1-0 ERA: 1.55 IP: 29 H: 19 BB: 6 SO: 30
Knack’s fastball sits in the mid-90s with putaway, four-seam life at the top of the strike zone. His slider has significantly improved since last year, with a tighter, later break than before. He appears to be in the best shape of his career and it shows on the mound. He has a great pitcher’s frame and his delivery is much more consistent than it’s been in the past. He has moxie and a bulldog-type vibe.
Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes: “I feel strongly that Landon Knack is being underappreciated right now. He had some real momentum in years past and had a hiccup in the second half of last year. He really dialed-in his routine and nutrition this offseason. (He spent the whole offseason at Camelback Ranch with our group.) Now that his delivery is in a good place again, he’s carrying velo throughout the game and has above-average feel for multiple pitches to flood the zone to create weak contact while maintaining the ability to get swing-and-miss when needed. I think he has as high of a major-league starting pitcher probability as anyone in our organization.”
Agree about May. hoping for best. But not optimistic about this ‘treatment’. OK I am not a Dr., but just my opinion. I think we have seen the last of him for 2023
Very glad that you are feeling better Mark.
I also want to thank you again for this great place. You and Bear always provide insights and information in an entertaining way. LADT is a daily part of my life and I appreciate both of you.
Go Dodgers!
Isaiah 5:20 (NIV) Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
That’s all I want to say about this, and they are not even my words….I hope this doesn’t violate any rules….I’ve not said anything about this until now.
TM