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
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 (99)
Disagree, not disagreeable
10:10 PM ET
Diamondbacks (74-88)
Dodgers (111-51)
SP Zac Gallen R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Julio Urias L
0-0 .00 ERA
Expected Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
LF D. Peralta L
2B M. Vargas R
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
Clear-night
0% Rain
56° Wind 6 mph L-R
Pitching duel in Texas. deGrom and Nola!
I think the Dodgers have fewer questions than many fans think.
At this time last year, we knew that Bellinger, Taylor, and Muncy had some form of injury or surgery concern.
Bellinger has been replaced with Outman, who it appears should be an upgrade… even if he hits .240. I expect t he will do better than that.
Muncy is healthy and is off to a great start. It’s not silly to expect that he can have his career year.
Then there is LF, where Peralta is a pro against RHP, and CT3 has a much lower strike-out rate against LHP. CT3 had a horrid year in 2022, but in 2021, CT3 hit .296 with a .897 OPS against LHP. If he can come anywhere close to that, all will be well. He’s healthy, and while he has not looked great in ST he has done it before.
That leaves 2B and Miguel Vargas, who has worked hard to learn a new position and has played it credibly. The bat is the deal. Freddie Freeman is very excited about his “hit tool.”
I think people are confounded with Thompson and Heyward, but if both of them and CT3 don’t make it, there are still great options. Some of you are “glass-half-empty people.” The fact is, the glass is not half empty or half full. It’s 85% full.
Bellinger was 0-3 today and hitting cleanup for the Cubs. I’m excited to see some new faces and hopefull on opening day. Go Dodgers
I think I’m most excited about when Urias gives up 2 in the first, and Cassidy says don’t resign him, and Bear goes off on Cassidy
I see it as this by trade deadline we see we are week at left field and at shortstop. So who do we get to improve the lineup and the fielding and are behind the Padres to chase them down. So we look at batters that can hit lefties an righties a good and we will need a veteran starting pitcher for the playoff run now are we okay with winning the west or making it as a wildcard. So Taylor is t hitting Thompson isn’t hitting Hayward has turned into a pinch hitter off the bench. Outman has hit pretty well has 15 homers at trade deadline so he is now the everyday centerfield and Vargas as some.pop and leads national league in homeruns for second baseman so we are good there. So who do we call we call the White Sox see what they have for Anderson a outfielder and a starting pitcher with that move Rojas moves to utility guy in bench and Anderson starts the outfielder we get then becomes the starter. And then the starting pitcher is in the rotation that one senerio. Second option we look at the Diamondback they have Ahmen at shortstop been the starter there what the last three years they have Alek Thomas he would be good in left field for the Dodgers and young to sign him then the Dodgers get Bumgarner for a playing pitcher who loves the playoffs and beats up on the Padres when he pitches. Mad Bum madness in the rotation look at that urias kersh Thor Mad Bum and May. And the third option they trade with the Brewers doe Adames Yelich Burnes to the Dodgers adames becomes every day shortstop Yelich is your everyday leftfielder and can hit second or leadoff a hometown kid like Freeman. And Burnes slides into the starting rotation and you have Urias Kershaw Burnes May and Thor for playoff run and west title to win the division and not play in wild card game. Those three choices and which one I see fit the third one because all those three players can be signed on for 2024 and Ohtani will be a free agent and if the dodgers get him he slides eight into where Kershaw in in the rotation and we might lose Thor and Urias but they will get Buehler back and can always get another starting pitcher . And are lineup is set next year. Without so many question marks like tonite is like. That’s how I see the Dodgers season go.
So you feel a great need to replace a guy who was 16-1 with. .224 era in 2022? Now that’s a spoiled fan! And you are truly MAD to want Bumwashedup! Don’t drink and post!
Verlander did not last long.
Steve Cohen may be learning some hard lessons.
It’s the lessons AF already knows, but buying the biggest, baddest free agents free agents is not the path to winning.
Losing… maybe.
San Diego will learn it too.
Some on this site don’t seem to enjoy baseball much. I think some who claim to be fans ( of what I don’t know) actually hate the Dodgers. Lots of energy complains about the things that haven’t happened yet.
Give it time, at least let it fall from the tree before stomping on it!
Win or lose, I can’t wait for tonight’s game.
LET’S GO DODGERS !
I don’t know; I liked Outman with 77 better than with 33
Urias is a bum! Don’t resign him! Too early Bobby?
All bat no glove! Well you said that you were most excited about the bottom of our lineup!
Did somebody say they didn’t like Smith batting third?
Can Smith bat third AND cleanup
Nice piece of hitting by JDM, to shorten up and go in the other way
Muncy should take note
James just give me my chance Outman! The big stage.
Didn’t get to see the game I was busy. Looked at the box score and saw Outman hit a home run.
2 for 3 with a walk. Good start for him.
Smith my other favorite 3 for 4. Another good start.
He, I decipher Bradley posts and afterward realize the game wasn’t even been played. I just want to say, I like very much how the team looks. My granpa used to say “No lleves la carreta antes que los bueyes” (to put the cart before the horse). Let’s give at least 60 games to have a clear look. But don’t get to much trade excited, Dodgers will try more kids first and trade if they come, will be at the tradeline.