I've Seen This Story Before
Since becoming a Dodgers fan at age 9, sixty years ago, I have seen this story so many times that I laugh instead of panic. Most years, the Dodgers had no chance, but I rooted for them anyway. In 1988, they had no chance, but the impossible happened! Over the past ten years…
Since becoming a Dodgers fan at age 9, sixty years ago, I have seen this story so many times that I laugh instead of panic. Most years, the Dodgers had no chance, but I rooted for them anyway. In 1988, they had no chance, but the impossible happened! Over the past ten years, Dodger fans fully expect to win every game, every year… and rightfully so! The Dodgers are the envy of every team in baseball, but maybe it is time for a re-set.
Now, I am not saying that the Dodgers just have to lose this year and not make the playoffs – I fully expect them to make the playoffs in 2023, but there will be some bumps in the road. There were earlier in the season, and they are still there. The injury bug has devastated the pitching staff, and all they can do is keep fighting.
Oh, they could make some dope-fiend moves and trade the future for some instant gratification right now. However, if the Dodgers were going to “load up” this season, why would they have waited until now? Why not also load up in the off-season? Many of you do not get it – my only question is, can you not comprehend it, or do you just refuse to accept it?
“We’re the Dodgers – we can trade for anybody we want and sign anybody we want because we have all the money!” I am not going to call you dumb if you believe that – I am just going to say that you must have bad luck when it comes to thinking! Here’s the reality of the situation. THE DODGERS FARM SYSTEM IS LOADED! This is the first time I can remember them having the best farm system in baseball in a “Coon’s Age.”
But that does not mean that all of these prospects are ready and able to help right about now. Also, remember two things: (1) Progress is not linear (they will be ready when they are ready), and (2) Half of them will not make it (we know that historically). For every Bobby Miller who makes it, Gavin Stone won’t. For every Emmet Sheehan who makes it, Nick Nastrini will not. For every Andy Pages who makes it, a Diego Cartaya won’t! [Those are just examples, not what I think.] I have no opinion as to who will and won’t make it. All I can do is look at the stats (which mean EVERYTHING to some fans, but in reality, they don’t mean jacks___t!). I trust my eyes more than the stats when evaluating young players, and to date, there is no metric for evaluating “want to,” “determination,” “desire,” and “heart!”
None of this is lost on Andrew Friedman. The Dodgers are in a very unique position. The farm system is loaded. Already, Miguel Vargas and James Outman have been integrated into the lineup. Michael Busch could be back any day. It is also not lost on Andrew Friedman that Austin Barnes can’t hit and that he now has a losing record as a starting catcher. AF can see that Trayce Thompson can’t deliver what the Dodgers need. Even Jason Heyward’s sun is setting to some degree.
There’s not a lot he can do right about now. Only a complete idiot would trade the prospect collateral required to get a catcher or another outfielder. This team just went 14-2 with the same players! So don’t tell me they are so bad that they cannot do it. The pitching staff is gassed. Even Ray Charles can see that! Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone will likely pitch this week, and Landon Knack is not far behind. Alex Vesia has righted his ship. John Rooney and Emmet Sheehan are progressing nicely. Michael Grove and Nick Robertson are also possibilities.
For some reason, the Dodger Brass are loathe to call up Hunter Feduccia, and of course, his BA has dropped to .267, but he still has a .402 OB%. I suggest releasing Thompson and calling up Hunter, so you have another bat who can hit RHP. David Peralta and Miguel Rojas will do what they are supposed to do. Remember, the Dodgers were the hottest team in baseball a week ago! I suggest you keep your wits about you when things are going poorly… and by the way, it’s not the hitting: It’s the pitching, and this too shall pass!
Take a deep breath… shoot, take something stronger! You evidently need it. Me? I enjoy the process!
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Discussion (92)
Disagree, not disagreeable
James Outman saved the game!
Big night for Rojas! Hopefully this gets him going!
There may be questions about Vargas’s defense but there is nothing wrong with the way he turns a double play. Really like the way Stone battled back.
Uh oh Almonte shuts em down!
Yikes! Gulp!
Almonte is now pitching…..(closing my eyes)
Outman has settled into where I thought he would be at the end of the season on his slash line.
.255ish BA/.850ish OPS
I hope he does better than that but that was my prediction in the offseason.
And they’re heading for the exits at Truist! Heart of a champion tonight. Huge win! I think!
Anyone can change their name but that doesn’t change who they are. There is no such thing as a transgender, at least factually. Any parent who would allow a child to have the choice to alter themselves physically sexually should be harshly punished and restricted from being a parent in the future. Talk about playing god…….what A CAN OF WORMS!
Great comeback win and that Eric is why they signed JD Martinez. When healthy, he is one of the best hitters in the majors.
Stone will need another pitch with more action in the strike zone if he’s to be a legit SP in the show.
Vargas doing well being more aggressive at the plate, but needs even MORE aggression, ..just trust his bat-to-ball ability more. He’ll break out when he does that.
The JDM signing is a total success so far. …but only if he can stay healthy w/o any more extended IL stints.
Hopefully, Rojas can keep his recent hitting surge going. Then he’d be perfect batting ninth.
There was a picture of the hate group in the LA Times recently. Wow. What a sick bunch of people.
A friend of mine took his dad to Dodger Stadium about 4 years ago. Unbeknownst to them it was Pride Night. My friend told me for he and his dad that game was ruined. And every game they had ever been to was now ruined. And every future game was ruined because they would never ever go to another game.
Here is John Wick falling down steps in Paris for ten hours. Thank me whenever.
Nice comeback win. First NL team with 30. Pads 8 back and 4 games under .500. Don’t sleep on the D-Backs or the Giants who are playing well with some new blood. Lakers get swept, but face it, Nuggets were the better team all year. Hopefully Leboner will move on and I can watch Laker basketball again. Hunter Dozier DFA’d by the Royals.
I stated when I said that I would keep writing as long as Mark left access to the dashboard that there would be no name calling tolerated and keep the discussion to baseball unless the subject pertains to something that has to do with baseball. The Dodgers LGBTQ night pertains to baseball. We all have views. I respect everyone’s right to an opinion. But do not cross the line. No name calling. Period.
Some questions, and some information:
1. What would be the national reaction if the Sisters of PI were targeting Muslims instead of Catholics?
2. WWVD? (What Would Vin Do?) and would the Dodgers honor these haters if devoted Catholic Vin Scully were still broadcasting? Or even if he were still alive?
3. Are there no Catholic ball players who will speak out against this anti-Catholic bigotry? Or non-Catholics, for that matter? (“They came for the ——— but I was not a ——- so I said nothing”) It’s time for some courage, that rarest of human attributes.
More information: “ Among the abhorrent actions of the worldwide “Order,” whose motto is “Go forth and sin some more!”—a perversion of Jesus’s command from John 8:11 “Go and sin no more,” co-founders “Sister Vicious Power Hungry B*tch” and “Sister Missionary Position” wore the habits of a Roman Catholic convent to a gay nude beach, and in 2007, they tricked the archbishop of San Francisco into giving them the Eucharist during Holy Communion. This past Easter Sunday, they hosted a “Jesus and Mary-themed striptease”
where a pole dancer was
“writhing upside down on a large wooden cross.”
Half-naked men were also there
competing to be crowned the “hunkiest” Jesus
along with contestants vying to win the group’s longtime “Foxy Mary” contest.”
My family was planning on attending the Quakes game tonight but anything that can even be perceived as support of the Dodgers is now off limits for us. So very sad.