No, not for the Dodgers, but rather for me. I wrote this column last night after the game and I plan to write another one tomorrow, but it has been a whirlwind the past few days. Here’s a re-cap going back to last October:
- October – Had a cardioversion which was successful in elimination my A-Fib. I also changed my diet dramatically and cut my Blood Pressure from 171/95 to 120/84. My cardiologist was amazed, but I told him I would not go on a Statin and he told me I could not do it wouthout it. He was wrong – he told me “most people don’t have that kind of willpower!” I had an unusual form of A-Fib in that my heart did not race… it just beat in a funky manner. When I was at Cleveland Clinic, the person administering the EKG said “I have never seen a person with A-Fib had a heat rate of 57” (57-59 is my typical resting heart rate, for those of you who don’t think I have a heart).
- November – I declined knee replacement surgery and opted fort a brace when I am walking a lot. I know rarely wear it and my knee is fine.
- January 8th – After having back surgery (Lumbar Decompression) in May, my back begans to bother me again.
- February – Had an MRI and the Surgeon advised me that I had advanced Osteoarthritis, L2, L3 herniated discs, chronic lumbar spondylosis, and stenosis. Surgery, including possible spinal fusion of L2 and L3 is recommended.
- February – Sold our house after 6 days on the market.
- Rolled out our New WebSite after two years of development: www.uswatersystems.com
- March 1-2 – Packed 7 Pods and put them into storage as we have to out of the house March 11th.
- March 4-8 – I will be in Orlando at our Annual Tradeshow/Convention. While I am away, my wife will move into an Air B & B for three weeks, until we take possession of the new home on March 30th.
- April – Move into new home and get settled… then I will decide when to do back surgery.
- May – Get a new Cane Corso puppy to take the place of the Mighty Quinn, whom the vet killed.
Hopefully, we will be moved in and I can do my back rebab here:
So, I am kinda busyright about now, but the Dodgers are my only hobby and escape. I do for for your enjoyment and my sanity (or what little I have left of it).
Yesterday’s Game
- Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani look ready, as does Max Muncy. Will Smith, Jason Heyward, and Freddie Freeman are ramping up slower.
- Gavin Stone went three strong innings and tightened his grip on the #5 Spot.
- TJ McFarland, Dinelson Lamet, and Kevin Gowdy did nothing to hurt themselves.
- Michael Grove always seems to pitch below the level of his stuff. What’s up with that?
- The first camp cuts occurred yesterday, as the Dodgers optioned right-handed pitchers Landon Knack, Ricky Vanasco, River Ryan, and Nick Frasso; catchers Hunter Feduccia and Diego Cartaya; and outfielder Andy Pages. The club reassigned five players to Minor League camp: left-handed pitcher Stephen Gonsalves; right-handed pitchers Jesse Hahn, Michael Petersen and Eduardo Salazar; and outfielder Travis Swaggerty.
- Emmet Sheehan is “weeks away” from game activity.
- Conner McGuiness on James Paxton”The upside is massive. I think it’s no secret that he’s got a little bit of injury history … but when he’s out there and healthy and doing his thing, I mean, he’s got some of the best stuff in baseball, especially when he’s running his fastball up to 96-97 miles per hour.”
Discussion (10)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Been in Orlando most of the day. Florida is cool for a while, but not in the Summer and I would never live here. It’s a fun place to visit. That’s it.
Exe Dodgers on 40-man rosters. Yankees: Jones, Verdugo, Ferguson, Gonzales, Beeter, Kahnle, Vivas. Baltimore: Coulombe, Kimbrel, Kremer. Toronto: Garcia, Pop, White, Turner. Tampa: Clevinger, Elfin, Pepiot, DeLuca. Boston: Jansen, Martin, Wong. Twins: Stewart, Farmer, Margot. Tigers: Maeda, Leonard, McKinstry. Astros: Alvarez. Rangers: Eovaldi, Heaney, Sborz, Scherzer, Seager. Mariners: Raley. Angels: Anderson. A’s: Stripling, Wood, Noda. Phillies: Turner. Mets: Bickford. Marlins: Chargois, Amaya. Nationals: Floro, Gray, Ruiz. Reds: Montas, Cubs: Bellinger, Busch, Almonte, Pirates: Joe. D-Backs: Pederson. Padres: Darvish, Machado. Several more are NRIs
A suggestion to you Mark, so you don’t get burnt out and shut down this website. When you don’t feel like writing a lot, just use those bulletpoints you use with a little commentary. Just cover the important things. We’ll all be happy about that instead of the website getting shut down.
Josh Donaldson announced his retirement. Sonny Gray, Cardinals announced starter for opening day at Dodger Stadium, removed from his start with a tight hamstring. UL Washington passed away at age 72.
The Tigers have traded infielder Andre Lipcius to the Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations. He had been designated for assignment by Detroit last week. The Dodgers opened up a roster spot for him by transferring left-hander Clayton Kershaw to the 60-day injured list.
Lipcius, 26 in May, will join a new organization for the first time in his career. He was selected by the Tigers in the third round of the 2019 draft and was added to their 40-man roster in November of 2022. His major league experience thus far consists of 38 plate appearances over 13 games with the Tigers last year, hitting .286/.342/.400 in that time.
Not a problem Mark. I will just keep on keeping on. Nice deal for Wheeler. Phils interested in Snell only on a short-term basis. Looking like Montgomery would go to Boston over a return to Texas but his options are dwindling. Same with JD. Braves feel Acuna should be ok by opening day. Teams starting to make cuts and trim guys who have no shot. Catlin Clark becomes college basketballs all-time scoring leader passing Pistol Pete Maravich.
Quite the medical history… Great work on the blood pressure and heart rate.
I figured you couldn’t keep LADT down for long. When you suggested that you would sell the domain, I had a fleeting thought… but it indeed fled.
As for the Dodgers….
The stars seem aligned for Stone. With Sheehan ailing and Buhler of course not ready, Stone may have a few weeks to prove he belongs in the rotation. (Hey, no pressure.)
With Kike’s return, the Dodgers certainly seem set. Almost too set. The only real competition, it seems, is for a lefthanded RP. Not sure why, but I find myself rooting for Rooney.
This lineup is practically unfair. Shohei was great in a mediocre Angels lineup. It will be fun to see what he can do in a great lineup….
Oh, just heard about Zack Wheeler’s extension. Huge AAV, even while apparently the prices for Snell and Montgomery are falling. Wild market.
Just for fun, here’s a lineup with Will resting:
Mookie 2B
Shohei DH
Freddie 1B
Teoscar LF
Max 3B
Heyward/Taylor RF
Outman CF
Barnes C
Lux SS
I’m going with Lux as the “second lead-off” because he’ll see better pitches with Mookie and Shohei behind him. I’ve pretty much given up on Barnes’s offense. Pages, I think, is now the 27th man. If a starting infielder gets hurt, Rojas, Taylor and Kike can cover it.
Dodgers doing well, but like they say, don’t leave it all in spring training. Impressed with Pages, Sweeney and Owings, who has shown some skills at a couple of positions. Knack was impressive too. Stone looked really good yesterday, a lot of movement on his pitches. For a guy my size and age, 75, my BP is excellent 124/70. My weight fluctuates a lot, but I cannot really exercise since my knees, both of them are shot. Because of my diabetes, my diet is restricted anyway. I just got approval from the VA to see an orthopedist. I know how you feel Ram. My youngest daughter and I had a little spat that caused her not to talk to me for almost three years. But time heals stuff like that. Sometimes it is best to make the first move, others, let them do it. Acuna dealing with a meniscus problem and has been out of the Braves lineup for a couple of days. Not fixed yet Mark, still signing in.
Mark –
Thanks for the updates – the house and property looks awesome – make sure you have time to enjoy your new surroundings!
Also, I think it is great for the rest of us long-term if you do take breaks throughout the season and do not feel compelled to post everyday.
Lastly, I am thankful (along with others) that you have just enough insanity that you “must” write this blog.
Hopefully this affliction is not curable:)
Mark, I am fighting blood pressure too. always was in the 135/145 to 85/95 range but since Christmas last year when I had a terrible fight with my 20 year old daughter (have not spoken wth her since) I experience spikes up to 190 to 110. I cut down on alcoho and work, trying to relax a bit more . But so far not much has changed.
I am not overweight at all, work out 3 days a week for about 1 hour and walk the dogs a couple times too. Our diet contains a lot mediterreanean food, fish , vegetables.
What exactly did the trick for you ?
Just like you I refuse to take Beta blockers and /or statines. Eventually killed my father who in the end had to take 20 pills a day because of all the side effects.
Dodgers looking good so far.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!