First Game Takeaways
I always try not to draw any conclusions from just one game, but I do have eyes, and here are a few things worth considering:
I always try not to draw any conclusions from just one game, but I do have eyes, and here are a few things worth considering:
- Teoscar Hernandez looks fitter than ever, and his bat looks ready. He just lost a ball in the sun. That does not concern me.
- Andy Pages impressed me with his pitch selection and solid hits.
- Zyhir Hope‘s weight training and thickness are going to be a problem for him. He has added a lot of muscle and weight over the last couple of years. He loves hitting balls out of sight, and his power is tremendous, but his bulging muscles do not impress me. He looks like a linebacker, not an outfielder.
- Strikeouts are Ryan Ward‘s Kryptonite. Shades of James Outman.
- Many fans have forgotten that Nick Senzel was once a highly touted prospect. He bears watching as he was once the #2 Draft Pick. He can play IF and OF. He is a nice RH bat, but is not on the 40-man roster.
- Luke Fox has a live arm and could move up rapidly. Look for him in 2027.
- The game against the Angels was more about how BAD they are, not how GOOD the Dodgers are.
- Ryan Fitzgerald is worth watching. He will be 31 shortly.
- Jack Suwinski is an interesting pickup. In 2023, he hit 26 HR and OPS’ed .793 in his Sophomore Season. Next, his strikeout percentage dropped, as did his hard hit rate… and he has tanked ever since. Still only 27, he’s “fixable.”
- I had forgotten about it, but long ago, I said that Gavin Lux was not a SS. It turns out I was right. I also said that he would be traded. I took a lot of flak for that one, too. Thanks to Brian for the reminder.
- For the record, I think Hyeseong Kim makes the opening day roster along with Rojas and Rushing. There could be some surprises as well. I think it is likely Alex Freeland starts at OKC, but he could play his way onto the team. So could some others.
- I will be at the games next Tuesday and Thursday at the Ranch.
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (32)
Disagree, not disagreeable
A new home does wonders, and it only takes one team to believe he can be better out of LA.
This team is loaded. Could field a JV squad. #3Peat
1. Mike Trout will be 34 this year. 2. He is owed $185 Million over 5 more years. 3. He has not played 140 games since 2018 4. In the last 7 years, he has played more than 100 games 3 times. 5. In 2024, he was a 1.1 WAR player, and in 2025, he was a 1.5 WAR Player. 6. Now he is insisting on playing CF. 7. I am beginning to think that Mr. Trout does not care about winning. 8. What team in their right mind would trade for him? 9. His contract is worse than Rendons.
First game, but a hell of a good start for some guys who really need it. The team was playing hard and the prospects had to be in awe.
This is what happens when players are disciplined at the plate and make contact as a priority. Homers will come from those able, but contact is essential to runs being scored and taking stress off the starting pitchers and BP. As the Angels, why has Trout not demanded a trade? A wasted career in a dumpster known as the LA Angels.
I am not trying to take anything away from Kim, as he did have two hits, but they were opposite-field, weak contact. Still, it’s the result that counts. Fitzgerald, Teo, and Pages impressed me the most, and Hope absolutely scalded the ball. The Angels are really bad! The Dodgers are really good.
In addition, Kim drive in 3 with 2 clutch hits. Fitzgerald and Pages’ each had a triple and a double. Maybe Andy got his funk figured out. Erdhard hit well and drove in one. Lots of extra base hits. Teo was 3 for 3. Erhard and Ward played 1B. Yes the Angels are bad but 15 runs means they got hammered.