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LA Dodger Talk

Feel Better?

I don’t! I have been just fine, but most Dodger Fans are losing their damn minds. No, let me rephrase that – they have already lost their minds! Have you ever watched the game of baseball? Do you know that it is sometimes maddening? I cannot predict what will happen, but I would…

By Mark Timmons6 min read21 comments

I don’t! I have been just fine, but most Dodger Fans are losing their damn minds. No, let me rephrase that – they have already lost their minds! Have you ever watched the game of baseball? Do you know that it is sometimes maddening? I cannot predict what will happen, but I would be willing to bet that Chris Taylor is going to win some games for the Dodgers before this season is over. Most of you can only see what is under your nose RIGHT NOW. You have sight but NO VISION. Here’s what many of you think:

  • CT3 is batting like .000, which means that is what he will do for the season.
  • Ohtani is not Superman, which means that he won’t be worth the contract!
  • Alex Vesia has a 2.89 ERA, but it feels like it is 12.00 to many of you.
  • Miguel Rojas cannot jump out of a boat and hit water.
  • The Dodgers will strike out 4,000 times this year.
  • The Dodgers will find a way to lose.
  • The world is ending. The end is near!

Damn, some of you are so miserable, why not take up knitting or curling? It’s early. The season has barely started. Nine teams in MLB have a record of .600 or better.. and the Dodgers are one of them. I think they are focused on the Ultimate Goal, which is winning a World Series, and to those of you who say this is not a championship team, I say that if they gave you an enema, they could bury you in a shoebox. They don’t have to win a 120 games to win a Championship. We know what happened last year.

We go through this every year. EVERY DAMN YEAR! I have to talk you off the ledge every year. It’s getting old. I was glad to see Roger Askew post some intelligent information yesterday. You should consider it:

I am so over uneducated Dodger fans posting their shortsighted BS on multiple sites. Next person that says fire Doc, fire yourself,, he would be hired by another team within a week. He is a MANAGER, which in this day and age is more than between the lines and making game decesions, it’s about pumping certain players up, holding other players accountable, and keeping the clubhouse culture with all those huge egos pulling in the same direction, all within the huge microscope of being the Dodger manager, Another thing, before all these tool bags with a key board start trashing the Dodger front office , do your damn research. Ned Colleti mentioned just a couple of days ago that he and most GMs don’t even think about making a major move until early or mid May,, as some players are still working themselves into the season, and some take longer than others. He also mentioned that by that time you get a feel for what your players are all about. And he isn’t the only baseball exec who has preached this, especially bullpens, which we all know that half the guys there right now will not be there by late August. Just do your friggin research by listening to players and execs who have been there and get paid to know the flow of the game before you spout your keyboard Cowboy crap. Never seem so much negative vibes this early in the season, who are these clowns??? if your going to be a true Dodger fan act like it. Any Bozo can be a Giant fan , all they do is talk trash all day long, nothing but negativity. Take the long game and believe in the process, we WILL be there come October, just chill the heck out , trust Freidman knows what he’s doing, and enjoy the season, going to be lots of ups and downs.

And while I’m on my ample soap box as some of you guys sight me in for the kill shot, I’m old enough to remember when Lasorda took over from Walter Alston in the 70’s, he was the guy who was going to get us over the hump after losing to the A’s in ‘74 and getting trampled by the Big Red Machine every year., our fiery savior from the Dukes. After losing to the Yankees in ‘77 and ‘78 , fans were getting restless, (gee, ring a bell?). He finally won in ‘81, but he had a reputation of leaving his pitchers in too long and running them ragged. Also, in ‘85 he had a chance to walk Jack Clark ,with a base open but didn’t want to face Andy van Slyke, so we all know how that turned out. So , no Dodger manager is without his warts, and also back then they ragged on Lasorda in the late ‘70’s saying anybody could manage a team that was so loaded with talent, Garvey, Lopes, Russell , Cey, Baker, Smith, Ferguson, Yeager, Wynn , the toy cannon, Mota, Buckner, pitching with Sutton , Rhoden, Rau, and of course the stud Messersmith. Then you got Mike Marshall to close. I know first hand because I was a young paperboy in the mid to late 70’s and used to read how the sports columnists totally trashed Tommy as a no win blowhard.as I folded my papers for my route, used to kill me reading that. Sound familiar 40 years later? Don’t think Tommy was relieved when he finally won in ‘81???? Like I said., if your a true Dodger fan , act like it, search the history of this franchise and you will see that just about all the managers got criticized and had the pitch forks out for them at one time or another by the same douchbags as we have today, why do you think Alston got ushered into retirement ? You still have to win in this market, and Roberts, warts and all, has done that, He doesn’t go 2 for 30 like mookie and Freddy did last year, plus having zero starting pitching against the D Bags . Move on people, it’s a new season!!!

Dodger News & Minor League Report

  • It was nice to see Andy Pages get a hit on his first pitch.
  • The Dodgers moved Hyun-il Choi to AAA, and he started the game and was just OK. 4.2 IP/5 H/3 ER/2 BB/2 K. Let’s see how he does. A couple of years ago, he was the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year.
  • Kody Hoese is hitting .355, but his bat is soft!
  • Cartaya is struggling.(.515 OPS)
  • Rushing is in a rush to move up. He hit his 3rd HR and had 3 RBI last night (1.020 OPS).
  • Taylor Young remains hot (1.122 OPs). Austin Gauthier remains cold. (.768 OPS)
  • At GL, Alex Freeland continues to rake (.450 BA/1.321 OPS). Kyle Nevin is OPS’ing .911.
  • Liranzo is still struggling with a .290 OPS.
  • Hope is still OPS’ing 1.155 at RC, while DePaula’s OPS is .488.
  • Bleacher Report ranked the Dodgers Farm System at #6.
  • This is definitely a Championship Caliber Team.

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Discussion (21)

Disagree, not disagreeable

Be civil — moderation is real. Links may need a moment of review.

  1. CassidyApril 18, 2024

    Just read today’s posts. This was a fun day. Just think what it might be like if the the Dodgers were a last place team! Dodgers off to a slow start and that means we probably only win 105 games this year. Take a deep breath!

  2. Old Bear 48April 18, 2024

    It is not how you start that counts. It is how you finish. Last season at this point, they were 10-10 and a game out. This year they are 12-8 and a game in front. They did not even get going until May. I would be a whole lot more worried if they are this inconsistent come September.

  3. Mark TimmonsApril 18, 2024

    It’s really creepy that I have Blind Joe Death, Hondo, and Eric stalking me.

    If they don’t like what I say, you would think they would go away, but Creepy Stalkers can’t help themselves.

    So, I just re-write their creepy posts. This is fun.

  4. Brian PerkinsApril 18, 2024

    Holy shit that Pages HR . . .

  5. dodger dadApril 18, 2024

    sorry! earlier i panicked! earlier i almost crapped my pants! earlier i forgot this should be the best team in baseball! and eventually it may be, but right now today was an embarrassing loss! maybe the dodgers should hire dave martinez as docs bench coach! no need to fire doc, just give him someone to guide him. overreacting? maybe , but no excuse for losing 2 of 3 at home to washington! sky ain’t falling, but it sure has been dark last few games! can’t help think about george strienbrenner. hhow he would react to the yankees losing a home game like dodgers did today. knack pitched very well after the first inning. give up 2 to the nationals and lose? and i still don’t like doc hitting kiki for outman in the 7th. ninth? yes. roberts seems to love kiki! me, not so much! day off and we’ll all be fine! mets? don’t sleep on em!

  6. Mark TimmonsApril 18, 2024

    OD, I mean Blind Joe Deaf in the Head, I am not leaving, and I am going to mess with you like you have never been messed with before. I know that guys like you can’t resist imparting misery to others, but you have no idea what I am going to do to you. Bring it! 😉

    I could just block you, but this will be more fun!

  7. WoodyinVTApril 17, 2024

    Glad I have the NBA playoffs to watch.

  8. IlliniDodgerApril 17, 2024

    Yep. 0-7 with RISP. Can’t win games like that. Combine that with no HRs and you get shutout and embarrassed.

    The Nats starter did settle down after the first inning and we had some bullets that were atom balls, but the offense was otherwise non-existent. At least we can’t lose tomorrow.

  9. dodgerdadApril 17, 2024

    PATHETIC!!

  10. dodger dadApril 17, 2024

    strikeouts and more strikeouts! why not just let outman hit in the 7th? and i know left onn left, but couldn’t have done any worse than kiki! matchups matter, not so much with dodger bench.

  11. Mark TimmonsApril 17, 2024

    Michael Grove has sooooo much potential!

  12. MattApril 17, 2024

    No, its called being a glass half full person instead of being a miserable and unhappy fan.

    Now that sounds like you….why even watch the games….

  13. Mark TimmonsApril 17, 2024

    BJD & Hondo,

  14. Mark TimmonsApril 17, 2024

    Yes, I supported McCourt until he showed how corrupt he was.

    I was excited that a small businessman bought the team. He turned out tgo be chump… much like you. What is your point?

    Threatened? Ha, Ha!

    By the way,I know who you are now. It took a minute… but I got it.

    For the record, I know who Roger Askew is. He is a stand up guy who does not hide like a little bitch behind a fake moniker. You can find him or maybe he will tell you himself. You fucking scared hiding behind your keyboard little bitch! OD!

  15. Andrew Vincent ForteApril 17, 2024

    Andy Pages matched Chris Taylor’s hit total on the year (1) in his Dodgers debut

  16. Andrew Vincent ForteApril 17, 2024

    3:10 PM ET

    Nationals (7-10)

    Dodgers (12-8)

    SP Jake Irvin R

    0-1 4.24 ERA

    SP Landon Knack R

    0-0 .00 ERA

    Confirmed Lineup

    SS Mookie Betts R

    DH S. Ohtani L

    1B F. Freeman L

    C Will Smith R

    3B Max Muncy L

    RF T. Hernandez R

    CF James Outman L

    LF Andy Pages R

    2B Gavin Lux L

    74° Wind 2 mph Out

    04/17/24 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Landon Knack from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.

  17. dodger dadApril 17, 2024

    maybe bringing pages up wiill lite a fire ubder kiki! hope im wrong, but taylor might not even have any sparks left !! is taylor out of options? man im hoping gavin lux comes around! with his speed he can be a massive weapon at the bottom of the lineup! a .280 average and 15 plus homers, in numo 9 hole? if it were up to me, which it isn’t, i would switch freddie and ohtani in the lineup. no particular reason, but freddie really flourished in the 2 hole last year!

  18. dodgerramApril 17, 2024

    Well, CT3 might win a few games for the Dodgers or he might not. That is not the point because player XY might win a few games for the Dodgers too. Maybe even a few more.

    Fact is: CT3 is not in a slump, he is declining for years now. The eyes (and stats) dont lie.

    So the question is: Should the Dodgers keep him around hoping he might suddenly turn it around or should they go in a different direction ?

    IMHO the Dodgers have the same player twice on the roster already in Kike and CT3. And both are not setting the baseball world on fire.

    Decided between the two of them who to keep and eventually bring in someone else to take the second roster spot.

    I am glad they brought up Pages to see what he can do. If he is the real deal that much better and RF is set. ONe less reason to keep both CT3 and Kike.

    The bottom half of the lineup has to improve . Not necessarlily now but come the stretch run and playoffs.

    Excited to see Knack today!

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  19. sbuffaloApril 17, 2024

    Okay the question I have Mark, after reading this, is did you have your soap box custom built or did you just pull something out of the garage.

    I enjoyed today’s rant. It was well thought out. I must admit that Chris Taylor does drive me a little nuts with his swing from the heels approach and nothing ever good happens when hitters strike out with runners in scoring position. Unless, of course, we consider that if they make contact, it could end up in a double play. But then that’s how we scored the first run last night. Sometimes it seems like things don’t happen in proper order. Like a runner on third, a strikeout for the second out and then a fly ball.

    For whatever reason, it seems to take time in the spring to sort out the bullpen. Most teams wait for June to figure out what moves they may need to make. It’s a very long season. Hopefully most answers can be found internally. If not, there is the trade deadline.

    The real issue is incredibly high expectations. After spending all that money and assembling a “super team” it’s the burden the Dodgers carry. Money, of course, doesn’t mean all that much in baseball. Just ask all the teams who win the winter and flopped in the summer.

    I expect the Dodgers to win one hundred games and the the NL West again. But there will be ups and downs. It’s the nature of the game.

  20. Andrew Vincent ForteApril 17, 2024

    Wednesday Dodger’s Minor League Schedule

    9:05 a.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Nabil Crismatt) vs. Sacramento (Carson Whisenhunt)

    10:05 a.m.: Tulsa (Justin Wrobleski) at Wichita (Jarret Whorff)

    11 a.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Cam Day) at Inland Empire (Riley Bauman)

    3:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Jerming Rosario) vs. West Michigan (Garrett Burhenn)

  21. Andrew Vincent ForteApril 17, 2024

    Landon Knack will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start Wednesday against the Nationals, Kirsten Watson of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed after Tuesday’s win that Knack will make his major-league debut Wednesday in the series finale against Washington. A second-round pick out of East Tennessee State in 2020, Knack advanced to Triple-A last season and has posted a 3.22 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 54:22 K:BB in 13 total starts for Oklahoma City (58.2 innings). Knack has joined the team in Los Angeles but will need to be officially added to the 26-man roster ahead of Wednesday’s game.

    My guess is Hurt gets sent back to Oklahoma City.

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