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Let s Throw Out The Baby With The Bathwater

When the Giants won the World Series three out of five years, does anyone remember what happened in between? What is of interest to me is that after winning the World Series in 2012, in 2013 the Giants were ten games under .500 the next year 10 GAMES! Then, the very next year, they won the World Series again. Just because some moron says the Dodgers don t have depth,

By Mark Timmons3 min readJump to 48 comments

When the Giants won the World Series three out of five years, does anyone remember what happened in between?  What is of interest to me is that after winning the World Series in 2012, in 2013 the Giants were ten games under .500 the next year – 10 GAMES!  Then, the very next year, they won the World Series again.

Just because some moron says the Dodgers don’t have depth, doesn’t mean it’s true.  Someone posted an article by Howard Cole mocking the Dodger’s depth.  Of course he did.  That’s what he does… based upon 38 games this year, he thinks that proves the Dodgers have no depth? I won’t even try and reason with someone who is so obviously devoid of commons sense – I guess it’s not common in his case. The Dodgers do have amazing depth, up and down the system, but how do you plan for crazy stuff like this?

The Dodgers signed Logan Forsythe as depth, especially if Justin Turner went down.  So, for a minute, it looked to be a great move, until Forsythe went down too.  The Dodgers’ front office is evidently composed of jackasses for not having another All-Star Caliber shortstop to back up Corey Seager.  Why did they not do that?  They should have had Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carerra stashed on their 40 man roster.  Cole is absolutely right – they had no depth after Seager. [I case you don’t know – that is sarcasm.]

The Dodgers should have predicted that Bellinger and Taylor would “regress.”  Really?  What makes you think they have “regressed” after seeing all of 38 games?  “Well the bathwater is dirty, let’s throw out the baby too!” Yeah, that’s the ticket! I don’t think either player has regressed.  I think they will be fine – maybe they are trying to do too much, but my opinion (for those who care) is that they will be just fine. I do agree with moving them down in the lineup. They both will figure it out. Taylor has to stop looking at so many called 3rd strikes – that is fixable.

On the other hand, I think they should have played Kike more – let’s see what he can do as a regular.  I don’t like that they didn’t. I don’t know what the front office’s fascination with Joc Pederson is.  The Anti-FAZ faction will say that FAZ keeps THEIR players (which is dumb and wrong), but Joc is not their player and neither is Puig.  Both of them are killing the team… in different ways.  Farmer looks lost and right now the team is composed of a bunch of Punch & Judy Hitters.

Depth?  Look at the depth at catcher – the pipeline is full of potentially great ones.  Andrew Toles was depth in the outfield, as is Henry Ramos.  Toles’ injury has really hurt this mash unit.  So, when your “depth” goes down too, you have no “depth?” Maybe your depth needs “depth?”  Yeah, that’s what he means. Cole says the Dodgers have no depth, but lots of baseball people who can actually think and have common sense have stated otherwise… a lot!  At this moment in time, Cole may be right… for a minute, but he’s wrong… as usual!

I have said it many times: this front office is not perfect.  I was OK with the moves they made last offseason, but many weren’t and so far, it looks like you were right… but it’s a very long season.  I still think the Dodgers will win the division because of their DEPTH!  It’s fashionable to pile one when someone is down, but I have not lost faith in the front office… not even close. If you think they are going away anytime soon, you also are delusional.  They have built a world-class organization – one of the best in baseball.  They have lots of depth, regardless of what some may say.

The main thing that bothers me is that they are so “streaky.”  They can go 52-8 and then lost 17 in a row!  I’d like to “fix” that. They are in that “17 in a row rut right now.”

“There is no depth!”

“The sky is falling!”

“Taylor and Bellinger have regressed!”

“The Dodgers are an absolute mess.”

Shock journalism sells.  But, it’s nonsensical – like throwing the baby out with the bathwater! Just Dumb! … and some people have a depth of dumb!

This too shall pass – I just wish it would hurry up and do it!

Discussion (48)

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  1. boboMay 13, 2018

    Losing three straight is basically getting swept. Four straight would be absolutely pathetic. It’s already been a long season.

  2. boboMay 13, 2018

    Mental

  3. norcaldodgerfanMay 13, 2018

    Mark:

    Might want to write a story about Bellinger and how his shit is wearing thin with the Dodgers. Doc benches him for not hustling in SF, then says in a post game conference about players needing to make adjustments and then tonight he bunts down by two runs in the bottom of the 9th on a 3-0 count.

    That’s the worst fundamental baseball I’ve seen in a long time. It’s my gut and only that, but Doc wouldn’t look at him as he came back to the dugout and I think Doc is so tired of Bellinger not making an adjustment on the offspeed stuff and on the hands and then when he tries to bunt on a 3-0 count you’ve got to wonder what they might do with this guy. I’ll go out on a limb and say he sits Sunday……just a hunch.

  4. dodgerrickMay 13, 2018

    3 in a row to the Reds? Let them come from behind? But of course, the Dodgers don’t come from behind.

    7 under .500, 8 games out. 24% of the season gone. 7th worst record in MLB, 4th worst in NL. The teams behind LA are mostly trying to lose. It looks like the Dodgers are trying to lose too.

  5. BobbyMay 13, 2018

    Today was the first game in God knows how long that I gave ZERO attention to. I didn’t watch, listen, follow gamecast, check online or on phone for score or update. Nothing. I just knew the game was over and who won because of the espn app automatically updating me after games are over.

    And I see we lost 5-3 and Chargois got the loss an Bailey is now 1-5 (meaning he was 0-5 until today). Ho hum. Looking forward to being swept by the worst team in baseball (aside from LA) tomorrow

  6. Jorge ValenzuelaMay 13, 2018

    Even against my heart (I’m dodger fan since 1980) I think it’s time to let Kershaw go, it was very important to win the division and sell tickets, but at the important time, in playoffs, it has not helped much, let’s stop thinking with our hearts and start using reason … This is my humble and personal opinion!

  7. Joel CMay 13, 2018

    Right now… Today… The Dodgers are not mediocre, but a very bad baseball team. The evidence is they have lost series to the Marlins, Padres, and now, the Reds. From I can tell , most of the players offensive numbers are down from last year. The bullpen statistical numbers are significantly down from last year. The bottom line is that team needs to have a lot better performances across the board. There isnt a magic wand or switch available. No one player can get the team better. The Dodgers CAN get turned around….

    But I am guessing that 2017 Giants said the same thing about getting turned around, and we know didnt end so well for them.

  8. AdamMay 13, 2018

    I realize Baltimore may not want to dance but tell me why going hard after Machado is so wrong? There are no surefire prospects outside maybe Ruiz so any package would not be that disabling. I think White or Alvarez, Christian Santana, Sheffield, and one more lottery ticket pitcher gets close and if Orioles want to help us financially Forsythe. A slightly bigger name replacing Santana or Sheffield if they want to make sure we stay under the LT. Machado and the return of Turner turns this season, this confidence boost would carry over into the pen and we would have a shot at our 6th division title in a row. And then as our front office always reminds us it is a crap shoot from there.

    Even in the worst case scenario we don’t make the playoffs and we don’t resign Machado. Oh well we are still in about the same position for 2019, what gives with this train of thought??

  9. dud dewMay 13, 2018

    My take on the Forsythe trade was that Logan would have to prove he could play in a pennant race.

    He mostly failed, though he did some nice work under greater pressure in the post-season.

    So not a great move, not an awful one by the FO. As is his nature, Mark overstates his case:-).

    Well ahead coming down the stretch in 2017, an unmotivated squad finished 14-22 (I started with their win

    against the Brews August 25, and ended with last game of season, a win against the Rocks, IIRC).

    Add the 14-22 to this year’s start at 16-23, and you have a team playing .400 baseball, a record of 30-45.

    To get to 90 wins this year, they have to go 74-49, or roughly .600. Doable? Sure. Likely? Doubt it.

  10. IdahoalMay 13, 2018

    This loss is on Doc. You let the starting pitcher hit and then he pitches to one batter and he gets one out and then taken out. Why? Then we give up four runs. If Bellinger does not sit today then Doc has lost the team. Talk about a stupid mistake. Bunting on a 3-0 pitch. He could of done it 3-1. You must place that bunt on the line or it goes foul. Not back to the pitcher. Maybe it is time for a club house meeting. I am getting tired of the same crappy baseball every night.

  11. IdahoalMay 13, 2018

    We have Hill today and he is the one starting pitcher I have little faith in. I hope I am wrong and he has a good game. If he does Doc will take him out after four innings.

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