In 1963, Sandy Koufax won his first Cy Young Award. In 1964, he finished 3rd in the Cy Young Award, and then in 1965 and 1966, he won the Cy Young Award again, which meant he won the Cy Young Award three out of four years. Dean Chance may have deserved to win, but Sandy was a close 3rd in the voting. Koufax was 19-5 with a 1.74 ERA, 223 IP, and a 0.875 WHIP. Chance was 20-9 with a 1.65 ERA, 15 CG, 278 IP, and a 1.006 WHIP. It was arguable that in 1964, Koufax was better, but Chance had 50 more IP and a better ERA. Still, the argument could have gone either way.
However, the biggest Cy Young injustice was in 2012, when R.A. Dickey got more votes for the Award. Dickey was 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA, 234 IP, and a 1.053 WHIP, while Kershaw was 14-9 with a 2.53 ERA. He pitched 228 Innings, with a 1.023 WHIP. The Mets were 74-88, while the Dodgers were 86-76… playing more meningful games. However, the sportswriters were in awe of R.A. Dickey’s knuckleball and the knuckleheads voted for Dickey over Kershaw, just like some knucklehead voted for Carlos Marmol as manager of the year this season. That writer should be banned from drawing air. However, I digress. They did not use WAR in 2014, but Kershaw had a 6.4 WAR to Dickey’s 5.7.
My point is, that both Kershaw and Koufax won Cy Youngs in three out of four seasons… and arguably could have made it four in a row. The three that each pitcher won were their only ones. Kershaw has finished in the top ten in Cy Young voting nine times, while Koufax had just those four years. Of course, back when Koufax played there was just one Cy Young Award for both leagues. It was a year after Koufax retired (1967) that MLB decided there should be a Cy Young Award for both leagues.
Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux won four Cy Young Awards in a row, making them the only two pitchers in MLB history to do so… but the Dodgers had two pitchers who could have also easily done so… except for the fact that the baseball writers did not agree!
Manager of the Year
I do think the Manager of the Year in the NL was a joke this year. Pat Murphy got 144 points, Mike Shildt got 70, Carlos Mendoz got 35 and Dave Roberts got 3. I guess the writers figured a trained dog could manage the Dodgers and losing damn near two rotations of pitchers was a cake-walk for the Dodgers. Personally, think Doc got picked over because the Dodgers were the favorites and because of their payroll.
X-CITES
FLASH: This just in…
MLB is building a new skyscraper to house all the rumors…
Camelback Ranch – Spring Training
I am going this Spring. I just bought 5 tickets to the following games:
- Feb 20th vs. the Cubs
- Feb 22nd vs. the Royals
- Feb 23rd vs. the Clowns Down the Freeway
Discussion (20)
Disagree, not disagreeable
sorry to hear that Mark! where did you catch them? They say you can’t catch scruples in san diego, san francisco, houston, or new york. Funny thing. When Tony Gwynn played in san diego, i had a little spot in my heart for the Friars. Not to worry my fellow Dodgers fan, machado and tatis helped rid my heart of that dumb ass spot!! … Reds obtained Brady Singer from the Royals. i wouldn’t have minded the dodgers trading for him!
Dodgers starting talks with Tommy Edman on an extension.
i can see AF giving Snell a 3 year deal. no more. i just don’t see him giving Fried 6 years. Or gutting the farm system for Crochet. If snell will take 3, he’s a dodger! … Reading the dodgers are cooling on Adames, which leads me to believe that AF may be ready to make ex-padre ss Kim an offer. i know he won’t be ready for the start of the season, but he brings excellent defense and is a better than average hitter. Another possible , typical AF signing! .. read this morning if the cubs would consider dealing with the dodgers, Bellinger could be in play!! i said earlier , that’s ok with me! (i know my blessing doesn’t mean jacks—t!) But it would make center field solid! allow Edman to play SS until Kim is ready, then allow Tommy E. to become a super utility player. Sign Teo for left, Belly in CF, Pages in right. Now someone would probably have to go. Would you keep Kike, or cut ties with CT? Me? Taylor would be traded. … Stout lineup!!! … Well it looks as if the college football playoff might have to finally come to terms that Alabama ain’t good enough to be in their beloved playoff this season! But give them time, they’ll probably figure a way to get them in! Even if it means screwing some more deserving team. just a sunday morning observation! … Everyone please have a wonderful thanksgiving holiday! Be safe, be happy, be a friend to a stranger! remember, through all the crap we see daily, we still live in the greatest country in the world! Hell, hug a padre fan! (they could use something good for the holiday!)
I do not like Snell for a few reasons:
1. He will be 32 in a few days;
2. He has had two great seasons where he was the Cy Young Winner and in the rest his ERA was around 4.00.
3. For his career he averages 4.1 walks per 9 innings.
4. In two of his 9 years, he has been very, very good , and the other 7 he has been not so hot.
5. I think someone will give him a 4 year deal and I hope it’s not the Dodgers… I would not mind a 2-year deal.
AF is teasing us with all these stocking stuffer minor league relief pitcher deals. I’m waiting for my Dodger real gifts for Xmas for the 2025 Season. Probably will come soon, but I’m vey impatient.
Mark, why isn’t Fried getting more love on the Dodgers blogs? The Dodgers could use a left handed starter and Fried from what I understand is a So. Cal boy. What am i missing
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed right-hander Giovanny Gallegos to a minor league deal, per Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors. Gallegos was the former closer for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Today’s thinking:
SP1: Sasaki
SP2: Bieber.
RP: Sewald
OF: Teo, if Teo doesn’t come to agreeable terms then Tyler O’Neill.
My Xmas list for Dodger signings is Snell,Teo,Kim and Sasaki. If not Sasaki,then Buehler. Not in any particular order. NO Qualifying offers attached to any of them. AF, make my Xmas cheery and bright. You have the money. With this group, chances are another parade could happen again 2025. Run it back.
the big advantage of signing Snell? the dodgers wouldn’t have to face him! he’s a very good pitcher. his walk per nine innings worries me a bit. But if he’s on, he’s possibly the best left handed pitcher in baseball. … 5-6 innings every time out. … the advantage to signing Crochet? he’s younger than snell and has a massive upside. … the advantage of signing Fried? great pitcher with a small chance of injury. he’s probably itching to get back to california and reuniting with Freddie! Fried , snell, Crochet? My personal preference would be (1) . Snell. (2). Fried. (3) Crochet. not saying he’s better than the other 2, just don’t want him on the giants or Friars. and if the dodgers don’t get Snell, i hope he goes back to the American league! .. Looking more and more like Walker may not be back. Sasaki? i believe it’s 50-50 he’s a dodger. Dustin May? bullpen or trade. .. Catman? look for a big bounce back from him! … as far as the offense, I don’t want a platoon at Shortstop! sign Adames, put Edman there regularly and make a trade for a center fielder. i believe Mookie is far better at 2nd than shortstop. he doesn’t need the stressof being SS! … i know it’s a long shot, but could Bellinger be a n option in center field? wouldn’t mind that at all!
Chris Woodward back coaching first base.
Brett Honeywell and Zach Logue non-tendered by the Dodgers today
Fun fact: Kendrick Lamar and Father John Misty have dropped albums on the same schedule for over a decade: 2012, 2015, 2017, 2022, and now today.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Tony Gonsolin has resigned for $5.4 MM.
The Dodgers and right-hander Dustin May settled at $2.135MM, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic (X link). That’s the exact same salary he had in 2024. May will be looking to bounce back after spending all of this year on the injured list. One less arbitration case for AF.
This was Roberts’ best year managing the Dodgers. He deserved strong consideration.
Dave not at LEAST placing 2nd or 3rd in Manager of the Year voting is absurd. Seems VERY clear it was all about jealousy and envy of the Dodgers roster strength and they closed their eyes and put their fingers in their ears about the devastated pitching rotation. Dave pulled off a miracle. Several actually.
Jim Callis of MLB.com list the Top Prospects from the Arizona Fall Leage and the Dodgers had one:
10. Zyhir Hope, OF, Glendale (Dodgers No. 11)
As one scout put it, “How many high school guys have hit in the middle of an AFL lineup 18 months after being drafted?” Hope hit just .228/.301/.446 but he was the Fall League’s most dynamic player, with some evaluators giving him well-above-average grades for raw power, speed and arm strength.
Ill be at the opening series vs The Tigers!!!
Enjoy ST!
MLB free agency is hilarious. It starts and nothing happens. In the NBA players sign monster deals at 12:01am.
Maybe we’ll get something tomorrow to get the dominoes falling.