In 2008, my wife, son, and I were at the last game in Vero Beach at Dodgertown. It was a packed house. Clayton Kershaw was a wide-eyed rookie. Carl Erskine played the National Anthem on his Harmonica, and Tommy Lasorda addressed the crowd by saying, “I know you will have another Minor League team here soon, but if you don’t root for the Dodgers, you won’t get into heaven.” Vero Beach is Hallowed Ground. That’s a story for another day.
Derek Lowe and Brad Penny were also in the Rotation, and Derek signed a ball for Stephen (my son).
Tommy did too. I have the signed picture but cannot find the digital copy. It was one hell of an end to an era. The next season, 2009, the Dodgers opened Spring Training in Glendale at Camelback Ranch. Camelback was not better or worse than Vero Beach – it was just different. Roger Dodger (RIP) and Badger were also there.
I wish that Roger, KanDodger, Lawdog, Oldtimer, and many others could have lived long enough to experience what we have enjoyed since Andrew Friedman took over. I have not been to Spring Training for 7 or 8 years. That is about to change next year, as I may spend a month in Arizona. I am winding down my involvement in US Water Systems as my son has taken over the day-to-day operations. I have projects that I need to finish this year, but next year is a different animal. My wife and I are thinking about buying one of these next year and traveling the country with a month in AZ. Stay tuned…
Dodger News
- How many teams could use a backup catcher like Hunter Feduccia? They all could have had him in Rule 5 a few months ago. Now, he is hitting .500 with a 1.563 OPS and has 9 RBI in his 14 ABs. Of course, it is a small sampling, but it also could be that at 25 years old, a switch just flipped. He looks ultra calm and ultra confident out there. Feduccia has always been known as a smooth operator behind the plate with great footwork and a great release. He has a compact under-control swing with surprising power. He is worth watching. I always knew he was solid, but he could be more than that! He could be a very good trade piece or backup to Will Smith.
- Clayton Kershaw should not always throw a strike on the first pitch. Even Ray Charles can see that! He could be the Opening Day Starter.
- Is Miguel “Freaking” Rojas hitting .346? Good things happen when you put the ball into play. In 26 ABs he has one strikeout and one walk. Of course, you don’t want all your hitters to do that (maybe you do), but a slick-fielding #9 hitter, doing it is worthwhile.
- Devin Mann is solidly spectacular.
- Miguel Vargas and Andy Pages have shown a great proclivity to swing at strikes only. That bodes well for them.
- Jason Heyward is not inspiring confidence. I wonder if he would accept a AAA assignment.
- Thor’s fastball hit 95 yesterday…
- I am starting to get very worried about CT3. To say he looks awful would be kind. Yes, it’s getting late… early!
Discussion (16)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Heyward is every passing day looking like this year below the Mendoza line, 170 strikeouts, waiting for his “new” old swing to trigger, 1st ballot candidate to revamp the hate for Doc Roberts.
Getting closer every day! Excited about Vargas! Not too worried about max, think he will be in top half of the mlb 3rd basemen. If outman is the center fielder that leaves left field as biggest concern for me. I have never been the biggest Barnes fan , but I acknowledge the fact some of the pitchers love him. I like the thought of trading him , long line of replacements behind him, all with better bats. Did someone forget Freddie is a damn good 1st baseman! If Vargas does his job defensively, we’ll be fine in the infield. Pitching is good, left field concerns me. Heyward, Taylor, Thompson? Almost peralta by default. Reynolds anyone?
As for the hallowed ground that is, or was, Vero Beach, I only visited once, traveling with my pal Pete the baseball writer. He covered the Angels and Dodgers before the Baltimore Sun recruited him to cover the O’s.
A few memories…
When we arrived and walked into the caferia, Lasorda shouted a greeting across the crowded room intended to embarrass Pete–who loved it….
Inside a lounge, I eavesdropped on George Will interview Brett Butler regarding the art of being the leadoff hitter. Will’s “Men at Work” was a best-seller and I think he was hoping for a sequel. (I recall Butler stating the obvious: that Ricky Henderson was the best leadoff hitter ever.)…
I sat in the press box during what turned out to be Fernando’s final game pitching for the Dodgers. He struck somebody out, and I committed the faux pas of clapping in the press box…
A college intern was helping Pete. He was a huge baseball fan, and just enthralled to be there among so many heroes. But I noticed that he had zero reaction when an old guy with gray hair walked past.
“Do you know who that is? I asked him. He shook his head no.
“Sandy Koufax.”
Been to Vero Beach 4 times during the 90s. Loved it from our first visit. Beautiful city. we used to stay at the holiday inn or Guest Quarters on Ocean Drive.
Dodgertown had a special flair, felt like home from the moment you walked threw the entrance.
We then went to Camelback the year it opened and it was great too but not with the charme of Vero.
For several years we wanted to come back for ST but everytime our plans fell threw, be it a medical problem in the family, then Covid and now we have three dogs (all Weimeraner) who do not allow us to take a long vacation via plane from Europe to the US. Bought a second home in Italy (Tuscanny). Love that place too but I hope to be at Camelback at least one more time before my time is up.
Gonsolin can just not be relied on. Way too injury prone. I hope they give Stone or Miller a shot soon.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
Taylor’s troubles are really, er, troubling.
He’s been envisioned as a platoon option in the OF and as the primary UT guy, backing up Rojas, Muncy and Vargas.
I used to think UT was strength of the Dodgers, especially when we had both Taylor and Kike. Both were solid, above-average performers at multiple positions. After Kike left, I thought Lux might transition to the role–in part because he was having so much trouble against lefties. Obviously Hanser Alberto proved to be a sub-par performer–and didn’t even make the playoff roster.
So unless Taylor turns it around, this is a glaring weakness for a roster that, right now, seems heavy in the OF because Heyward is getting preferential treatment and Peralta was signed as an FA. (If this was a meritocracy, I’d say that Heyward is no more worthy than Zimmer or Duggar–and that there’d be no question that Outman should be starting at CF.)
But back to Taylor: His struggles underscore a point that I’ve made before. The Dodgers need to seek out a quality UT guy. I’ve suggested Ramon Urias of the O’s but I assume there are others out there. The O’s need pitching, and the Dodgers have ML-ready pitching–Pepiot, Grove, Jackson. (Trading one of those guys creates an opportunity for Stone.)
The Dodgers are probably stuck with Taylor and his contract–but they can still upgrade the UT role so that Taylor isn’t the go-to guy. Note the word UPGRADE.
Something I wonder about: Can Heyward be traded or would he simply be released? Would putting him on the OD roster alter his trade status in any regard? It they are wed to Heyward for some reason, perhaps Trayce should be dealt.
Julio Urias used to project to that amount of innings…
Until he didn’t!
Tony really hasn’t pitched a lot, in his career, so it is a process.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Dave Roberts said Tony Gonsolin won’t make Opening Day roster due to his left ankle injury. #Dodgers
Andre Jackson, Ryan Pepiot, Michael Grove all candidates to fill Gonsolin’s spot in the rotation. #Dodgers
I went to Vero in 2000 and to Camelback this year. I much preferred Vero. The place had so much history. The practice fields were much more accessible. Seats at the game were really close to the field. The new place is really generic – easier for a Californian to reach, but so much has been lost.
I have no concerns about Rojas handling SS. The infield defense at 3B and 2B do concern me. Muncy is not a good 3B. and Vargas hasn’t played more than a few games at 2B before this year. LF and CF also are of concern. I would like to see Outman get a chance to play CF every day, but all indications are that he will start the season in Oklahoma. The corpse of Jason Heyward should not be playing OF for the Dodgers unless the zombie apocalypse is upon us, but he’s a veteran so Roberts is going to run his corpse out there, at least against RHP.
If the Dodgers had Outman in CF they could run Peralta and Taylor or Thompson in LF and it would be adequate. An OF with Heyward or Taylor or Thompson in CF and Peralta and Taylor or Thompson would not be.
At least Taylor can play defense at several positions – he doesn’t seem to be able to get his swing back. Given the loss of Lux, Taylor will be playing more INF than was originally planned, so he will still have value.
4:05 PM ET vs Cubs (away)
SP Ryan Pepiot R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Hayden Wesneski R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF J. Heyward L
LF James Outman L
CF T. Thompson R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
SS Chris Taylor R
2B M. Vargas R
1B Ryan Ward L
C P. Mazeika L
Clear Day
0% Rain
67° Wind 5 mph L-R
There is a nice article in The Athletic today:
https://theathletic.com/4318772/2023/03/17/dodgers-mlb-trayce-thompson-roster-lefties/
It basically says that Trayce Thompson will or can hit lefties better.
Let’s hope so!
Could Muncy and Taylor and say some of these minor league rookie pitchers get us a decent third baseman Shortstop and leftfielder. I say look at the bluejays or Guardians teams maybe the As they have tons of outfielders and Matt Chapman at my third base from the bluejays that Diaz shortstop for the As looked good in WBC what about that leftfielder that plays for Mexico Alfaro with the long hair he looks like a beast who does he play for looks like a pro wrestler. There’s some players dodgers could look at. Any other suggestions if Taylor isnt hitting an dmuncy ain’t plYking good at third an sits only spring training how long do you wait to do something and what form who do we get.
Before I opened the LADT page I thought I would comment on CT3 and start a discussion about how terrible his ABs look. I’ll join the crowd and say the dude looks horribly lost at the plate. His timing hitch with the wrist cock may have played well a couple of years ago, but he now looks late on every FB and he was always susceptible to a swing and miss on slider away.
If there is no improvement Dodger fans can give AF the business because it does indeed look like a bad multi-year contract and an overpay. Right now CT3 is better than the likes of Sheldon Neuse, Edwin Rios, Hanser Alberto, McKinstry and Matt Beaty, but then again that’s not saying much.
Eddys Leonard opened some eyes too. He could step in for Taylor easily in my eyes. Quick bat and hands. Hernandez is having a nice spring, but he has little chance to make the roster unless they option Outman out. But it would still be like having another rookie on the team.
Unless something drastic happens, Heyward and Thompson will make the team. So will Outman. I think Taylor is going to be used as a defensive replacement until he either finds his swing, or gets cut. It is more than obvious that he is pressing. Feduccia has opened up some eyes. I could see them trading Barnes to a team that needs catchers, and there are a few. Forget all those Anderson rumors. The Sox think they are contenders, so why would they trade an All-Star shortstop? Dodgers struggling to score without Freddie, Mookie and Will. Melancon likely out for a couple of months for the D-Backs. Season opens in less than two weeks. Duggar made a couple of highlight reel defensive plays last night. Arizona knocked out of the NCAA Tournament. There were a couple of total upsets.
Rojas got quick hands. Like him lots. CT3 drifting downward – lost his stroke.
Heyward whiffs on first AB – high/inside. He’s the same old Jason.
Feduccia? Wait till Austin gets back. The kid’s got game but AB the vet.
Seager crushed that dinger. Fun stuff watching CK & him dueling.
In my opinion, I think AF will regret signing Chris Taylor to 4 year 60 million contact. He looks lost at the plate, strikes out this Spring 41% of the time batting .103 with a .366OPS. Last year he struck out 40% of the time batting .221 with an OPS of .677. He is non tradeable unless the Dodgers eat most of the contract. He has really not been the same player since the second half of 2022. He claims to be injury-free. Even in a utility role, he will not benefit the Dodgers with his offense. IF the Dodgers could unload his salary, it would put them under the CBT first threshold of 233 million