It All Starts Now
THE BATTLE OF THE THIRY-SOMETHINGS Spring Training doesn’t mean much to veteran players, They have done it before, and it is assumed that they can do it again. It is not always true, but it is true enough that it has to happen with people like Jason Heyward (who was pretty good…
THE BATTLE OF THE THIRY-SOMETHINGS
Spring Training doesn’t mean much to veteran players, They have done it before, and it is assumed that they can do it again. It is not always true, but it is true enough that it has to happen with people like Jason Heyward (who was pretty good for a while and pretty bad for the past couple of years), Trayce Thompson (who is 32 years old with 782 MLB ABs and a .221 BA… and then it gets worse), and Chris Taylor (who was an All-Star in 2021 and has had more good years than bad since the Dodgers acquired him for Zach Lee).
The Dodgers also have some other thirty-somethings, including Austin Barnes (rock-solid backup catcher who somehow manages to always get a big hit when he infrequently plays), Mookie Betts (who, with his old pal, JDM, on board this trying to reclaim the magic he left in Boston), Miguel Rojas (if healthy, he will give the Dodgers amazing defense and solid contact from the SS position that the Dodgers used to covet), JD Martinez (who is reunited with his pal Mookie and the hitting coach who made him JDM), Freddie Freeman (who is HIGHLY motivated to have his “career year”), Max Muncy (who is healthy and without the shift, may actually have his career year), and David Peralta (a LH specialist who will only hit against RHP and is expected to murder them.)
That is ten (count ’em 10) offensive players over thirty years old. On the pitching side, the Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw, Noah Syndergaard, Shelby Miller, and Daniel Hudson, who are all over thirty. Since Hudson is on the IL, that means that 13 of this year’s 26-man roster is comprised of Thirty-Somethings! Why all the thirtysomethings? I’ll tell you why… next!
THE YOUTH MOVEMENT HAS STARTED
Andrew Friedman and the Front Office Braintrust know that they have a Farm System that is loaded and ready to spit out prospects over the next three years like there is no tomorrow… only there is. Miguel Vargas was anointed to be the first Primetime Dodger Prospect to advance in 2023, but then, James Outman came and seized the day and took another spot. He had no right to be here, but here he is, and he earned it. It wasn’t given, and that is a plus for him. It’s up to him where he lands.
Miguel Vargas has the requisite hitting skill to someday be a batting champion and perennial All-Star. I think he will be a TOP FIVE in the lineup hitter by the halfway point. Mike Busch, Andy Pages, Jonny LeDuca, Dalton Rushing, Diego Cartaya, Gavin Stone, Mike Grove, Bobby Miller, Eddys Leonard, Jorbit Vivas, Nick Frasso, River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan, Landon Knack, and a few others are not far behind.
This thing can happen quickly!
HOW LONG IS THE LEASH?
It depends upon the player:
- Chris Taylor – It’s long because he has a record that is average to impressive. Chris Taylor will likely be a Dodger all year. If he’s doing good, you won’t want to trade him and if he’s doing bad, you can’t trade him. He’s due!
- Jason Heyward – 138 ABs (OK, I just pulled that out of somewhere), but this is all about “what did you do for me lately?”
- Trayce Thompson – Thompson and Heyward cannot be on the team at the same time. Trayce is a nice guy without the pedigree in baseball. His time is shorter.
- David Peralta – His leash is longer. There is absolutely no reason to believe he can’t hit RHP. I would have rather had Joc Pederson, but Joc got $19,000,00, and I bet there is not much difference in their stats.
THE PITCHING IS ROCK SOLID
No use discussing it. One of the best starters is on the IL (Tony Gonsolin), and another is at AAA (Gavin Stone). Everyone is concerned about pitching – the Dodgers aren’t! Nor should they be. Noah Syndergaard is this year’s project (the Dodgers had two last year), and he will likely be a big contributor… but if he isn’t, then there is always Gavin Stone, who might be the Dodgers’ #2 next year!
For the intellectually challenged, Thompson and Heyward are “safety nets” for the kids. Plan A is the Kids; Plan B is to use the Kids to get another hitter. I like Bryan Reynolds a lot, but unlike what a few commenters here think, you just do not go “tag” a player, and he’s yours. The Pirates have to be motivated to trade him, and the Dodgers have to have a match. I am not going to pretend what kind of package that could be, but I just know he would look good in LF with Outman in Center Field.
If the Dodgers were to trade for him (at the deadline), I would like to see them sign him to a five to seven-year extension. He is not a superstar, but he is and could be a very nice “star.” We shall have to wait for this type of thing to happen… if it does.
I never look at a season and think, “this is what the Dodgers have.” Andrew Friedman will do what is necessary to make this team competitive, which is why I still say I expect 95-100 wins. This is one of the best seasons to ever observe as a Dodger fan. Why? The Dodgers lost more WAR this season than last season than any team in MLB history. It is going to be fun watching them recover it.
I have one request: Let’s keep idiocy at a minimum this season!
What are the Odds?
I have read so much negative stuff about the Dodgers this offseason, that it boggles my mind. I can only theorize that mental illness is running rampant among some Dodger fans… but not this one. The Athletic has a great article on which teams are the favorites to win the World Series and ‘What do you know?” the Dodgers are right there!
Teams with the highest win totals
Teams with lowest win totals
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Discussion (99)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Might see Stone sooner then expected. Hope so. I’m aware of the reasoning behind giving Pepiot and Grove their shot first over Stone but not sure I agree. Hoping they don’t burn out most of the innings he can pitch this year in minors. Gave clay his shot at 20 years old. Galvin is already 24
I’m thinking about changing my name to idiotic moron
I predict Dodgers and Padres tie for the Division, each with 94 wins.
I predict no Dodgers will win ROY
I predict no Dodgers will win MVP, CY, or GG.
I predict Mark will call one or more of us idiots and, he may be right.
Dodgers open season with nine players on the injured list
The Dodgers finalized their opening day roster on Thursday, and in doing so placed pitchers Tony Gonsolin, Ryan Pepiot, Daniel Hudson, Jimmy Nelson, and Alex Reyes on the 15-day injured list, giving the team nine players on the injured list to open the season.
Pitchers Walker Buehler, Blake Treinen, and J.P. Feyereisen were all placed on the 60-day injured list on February 16. Shortstop Gavin Lux, who is expected to miss the season with a torn ACL and sprained LCL in his right knee, was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday to make roster room for Jason Heyward, who made the team as a non-roster invitee.
The joy of baseball is this team could win 88 games or 108 games. That’s what I like best about the game you never know what will happen. With Pepiot going down Grove could be a ROY candidate or he can fail miserably.
I’m eternally optimistic and think they win 100 games and win the division by 2 games. But worse case scenario they miss the playoffs. I believe the Dodgers depth will be the difference.
That’s the joy of baseball this team could win 88 games or 108 you never know until they play the games. I’m forever optimistic and believe they win closer to 100.
I believe the Dodgers have better depth than the Padres and that will make the difference with the Dodgers in front by a game or 2 certainly not a 20 game runaway like last year. I think the kids will be alright with even more of the young players besides Vargas and Outman making a difference.
Pepiot to the IL Grove to the rotation.
Speak of injuries, Pepiot has just been put on the IL with an oblique strain. Grove is now our #5 starter.
Fried left his start for Atlanta with an unknown injury.
I agree with Summerboy more than I wish I did. Gonsolin MAY be the injury prone type(?) Yet another significant one will prove it to me. Syndergaard is past his best years and will have to be a better pitcher than he needed to be earlier when he had exceptional heat.
I think that the Dodgers’ recent string of successful regular seasons and win totals show that their leadership is better at “Moneyball” baseball than anyone else. My objection to Friedman, et al, is not that they haven’t been very successful; I have a general aversion to new age baseball. That’s a different issue.
As to the coming season, I have the same concerns that many have:
2 big question marks for infield defense (Muncy and Vargas)
A huge offensive loss at SS (T. Turner for Rojas)
2 giant question marks in the OF (anywhere that Betts doesn’t play)
A team that’s been a juggernaut for years hasn’t had these kinds of questions. Maybe Vargas and Outman will be great (and I hope that they are) but right now, they are question marks. We don’t know if they can do the job until they show that they can.
They have too many veterans on the downside of their careers – Heyward, Peralta, JD Martinez.
I think that the rotation will be fine as will the bullpen. But offensively, they do not match up with the Padres. Look at a position by position analysis
C – Smith vs Nola – LA
1B – Freeman vs. Cronenworth – LA
2B – Vargas vs. Kim – ?
3B – Muncy vs. Machado – SD
SS – Rojas vs. Bogaerts – SD
LF – Peralta/Taylor/Thompson vs. Tatis Jr. – SD
CF – Outman/Taylor/Thompson vs. Grisham – ?
RF – Betts vs. Soto – ?
DH – Martinez vs. Cruz/Carpenter – LA
I have seen projections that the Dodgers win between 88 and 96. I expect low 90s and a wild card berth. This is a “rebuilding” year and the first part of a youth movement. They are evaluating the youngsters to see who is a keeper and who isn’t and where they need to fill in holes while trying to win, where SD is all in this year.
Mets placed Verlander on the IL to open the season. Their 40 year old 43 million dollar a year #2 pitcher breaks down before opening day.
Robert Murray
@ByRobertMurray
Source: Outfielder Ben DeLuzio has been granted his release by the Chicago Cubs – and is signing a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
More depth by AF.
75 year D fan ,good stuff here, thanks to all. As to AF, I suggest the Bauer debacle was a large influence in going from a freespender to a posture that wouldn’t pony up for Anderson, this year’s biggest mistake imo. I am not confident in our rotation past 2. Not sold on Gonsolin, and Thor looks Shaky. Outfield is a mess, not sure Doc will sort thru it successfully. I look for 90 wins, disappointing offense. No Turner, no title. Just my two cents.
It was a long wait but opening day is finally here. In their 1st 10 games, the Dodgers play 8 vs. the D-backs and 2 vs. the Rockies. It sounds like an opportunity for a real good start to the season.
My useless predictions?
1) The offense /defense will get sorted out, but we will have a dominant pitching staff which will carry us
2) Andy Pages will come up sometime this year and take over LF or CF (with Outman in the other spot and Mookie in RF)
3) We are in a dogfight with the Padres for the NL West and Wild Card 1 (Juan Soto will have a normal Juan Soto MVP type year)
4) I don’t like Will Smith batting 3. I feel he’s more of a 4 or 5 hitter and eventually that 3 spot will go to Miguel Vargas (maybe not till next year, however)
Old friend Matt Beaty is a friend no longer.
Was a Padre, recently a Royal, now a Giant.
Reynolds and the Pirates have been discussing an extension and were said to have made significant progress last night towards same. Today is the supposed deadline. Rain predicted this morning, but it is supposed to clear up before tonight’s game. Gonsolin looks like he will now be out until June instead of late May.
Corbin Burnes a good fit? I’m all-in on him at the deadline. Throw in Ohtani and we got the best rotation in NL.
I can dream and Dodgers Nation say it so.
Happy opening day yall!!
’23 is the year of the Dodgers.
Kersh rides off into the sunset with his 2nd World Series Trophy and Mookie and Freddie cement their legacies in LA….
Vargas wins ROY…..
Urias wins CY and WS MVP
May is the comeback POY.
Mookie and Freddie split the NL MVP vote so Goldschmidt wins that….
I can’t recall an Opening Day with such an awkwardly crowded OF.
There’s bound to be a shakeout, and maybe Luke Williams or Yonny Hernandez will get called up.