The Dodgers are on pace to win over 100 games this season… again… for the fourth year in a row. No has EVER (in baseball history) EVER done that, but were it not for the COVID-19 short season, the Dodgers would have won 100 games six years in a row! Let that sink in! No team has ever been this dominant for this long… EVER! Yet, I think some Dodger fans would trade two championships for a losing seasons the other five years, and that only proves that they value being miserable over continued excellence. Well, it also proves that they do not even come close to comprehending what a crapshoot having twelve teams make the playoffs makes it. I have to admit that most are old and only remember how easy it was to win when only two teams made the playoffs. They cannot comprehend why it is statistically more difficult to win now, so they continue to say, “Friedman can’t build a team for the playoffs.” I have to deal with that level of comprehension daily, and it wears on me. This is a broken record that plays over and over again every year… over and over… over and over! It could be that they suffer from a treatable disease:
I’ve posted this before, but Al Yellen wrote the best Essay entitled: “With MLB’s new playoff system, it’s impossible to ‘build a World Series team’“ I am publishing it in it’s entirety:
It’s been said by many that teams who want to succeed in Major League Baseball should build a “World Series team.”
I’m here to tell you that’s basically impossible now that MLB has 12 teams in its postseason. This year, we have a World Series between the No. 7 seed and the No. 12 seed (that is, if all the teams were seeded by record, which they aren’t).
This doesn’t mean the playoffs aren’t entertaining. The first couple of rounds this year were a bit less than compelling, granted, but both LCS had entertaining moments, interesting games, great pitching and hitting and a walkoff win. If you want to enjoy October baseball — and if you’re here, I assume you’re a baseball fan who does — you simply have to accept that the World Series is no longer an attempt to crown the best team champion. It’s simply a tournament played over four-plus weeks’ time that results in a winner. That doesn’t mean it can’t be good and enjoyable baseball.
Even in the “olden days,” the World Series didn’t always crown the best team champion. Take, for example, the Cubs, who won 10 N.L. pennants in the 40 seasons between 1906 and 1945. That’s really good! They won just two World Series in that span, in 1907 and 1908. They had the better regular-season record both times. But in the other eight, all losses, the Cubs had the better record five times, including being 22½ games better than the White Sox in the only all-Chicago World Series in 1906. Two great pitchers, Ed Walsh and Doc White, shut the Cubs down and the Sox won the Series four games to two.
It. Happens. All. The. Time. And it’s more likely to happen now when we have more postseason series — and when MLB expands, perhaps by the end of this decade, we’ll likely have even more. I’m fully expecting MLB to have a 16-team postseason when there are 32 teams.
Too many? That’s an argument for a different day. Today I want to examine what this all means to the Chicago Cubs as they currently stand.
JD said it right: “Oh, no.” If Dansby Swanson catches that ball, the Cubs win the game — and presuming everything past that went just as it did in reality, the Cubs are in the postseason and the Diamondbacks are not.
That’s how much of a crapshoot this all is.
So what do the Cubs now need to do in order to give them a chance to be in that postseason crapshoot every year, or nearly every year?
The Mets outspent everyone last offseason. What did that get them? Twenty-six fewer wins, and one of the guys they previously spent big money on is in the World Series — for another team, with the Mets paying a lot of the contract. I assume you don’t want that for the Cubs.
Go on a spending spree like the Padres did? They spent a ton of money on Xander Bogaerts, and the Cubs got the better shortstop for less money — and next year Bogaerts might be asked to move off shortstop. Interestingly, the Padres wound up winning just one fewer game than the Cubs did, but they had to win 14 of their last 16 to do it, and now they’re looking for a new manager after Bob Melvin and A.J. Preller reportedly clashed amid “institutional failure.”
The Cubs don’t have that. They’ve got a President of Baseball Operations who did a pretty good job putting together a contending team in 2023 and a manager who they like (even if some of you don’t). Yes, they have just lost a key executive to the Red Sox, but I suspect they can carry on without him.
The Cubs will have to spend money, no doubt about it. Job 1 is re-signing Cody Bellinger. You know, a couple of years ago Phillies owner John Middleton said the team was spending “stupid money” and regarding Bellinger, they might have to.
But beyond that, and also locking up Justin Steele to a long-term deal, the Cubs already have a pretty good core signed for reasonable terms. Swanson, Hoerner, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki are all signed for at least three more seasons. That’s a pretty good core to build around. The Cubs found out late in the 2023 season that a bullpen made of used chewing gum wrappers wasn’t going to cut it. That’s where they should focus after re-signing Bellinger, and not necessarily spending big money on that, either. “Intelligent spending” was mocked by many when Jed Hoyer used that phrase a while back, but it does actually seem like the right thing to do.
To circle back to the headline, you can’t build a “World Series team.” Teams that appeared to have done that this year — Dodgers, Braves in particular — are watching the World Series at home with the rest of us.
Build a team that’s good enough to get into the October tournament and withstand injuries. That is, in my view, what the Cubs have to do to be able to get in the playoff conversation every year, or nearly so. Do that and it should work out in a championship or two, eventually.
So, this brings me to the crux of what I want to discuss today: Will the Dodgers make a BIG MOVE at the trade deadline? Before I answer that, I want to remind you of what Andrew Friedman said when he took over for the Dodgers. He said this, according to Jon Weisman:
— Andrew Friedman (via Jon Weisman)
“It’s an incredibly exciting day for me, coming into a franchise with such an historic history, occupying the same seat held by legendary baseball men like Buzzie Bavasi and Branch Rickey, is both challenging and humbling. Baseball would not be where it is today, without the Dodgers, and I have to say it feels great to be a Dodger today.
“Baseball is great when fans care deeply, and no team has better fans than the Dodgers. They expect their team to compete deep into October every year, and so do I. The fans know that baseball’s best when you win, so I’m looking forward to working with the many talented people in this organization to help us get to where we want to be, which is bringing a World Series championship back to L.A.
“I will focus on process, and I will be as open and disciplined in our thinking as possible. Success requires an entire team of people who are on the same page and who trust implicitly in the processes we implement together. I look forward to working with the many talent people who are already here in baseball ops and adding dynamic people from the outside as well.
“Most of all, we will create a culture of trust throughout our entire organization. An environment of trust and forthrightness breeds a healthy and highly functional organization. And I want our players to know that we will communicate openly and take care of them at all costs.
“I fully recognize the magnitude of the job ahead of me. This is a world-class organization with world-class expectations.
“It’s important to be able to supplement your major league team and it’s important to be able to use certain guys to go out and get things that you need, whether it’s in the offseason or in July.
On the relevance of team chemistry:
“It’s a much longer answer than we have time for right now, but if you are a team that wins 70 games and you have great chemistry, I don’t want those 25 guys. Those aren’t guys that I necessarily want to be in the trenches with. A lot of those stories about chemistry from the media come after the fact — it’s a narrative after the fact. … I’d rather win with what you determine to be bad chemistry than lose with what you determine to be good chemistry.
“We look at scouting reports. We look at the different metrics. We look at who they are, their makeup. We do a lot of digging on the people we are going to acquire.”
On communicating with players:
“We’re gonna communicate. We’re going to talk to guys. We’re going to be very open and honest and forthright. People are going to know exactly what we’re thinking. I think it’s important that whatever conversations we have with players behind closed doors, that we have with the players, that they understand what we feel like our their strengths, what we feel like are their goals and things they need to work on, so that line of communication is open and guys know what the situation is and where we stand.”
“It’s an incredibly exciting day for me, coming into a franchise with such an historic history, occupying the same seat held by legendary baseball men like Buzzie Bavasi and Branch Rickey, is both challenging and humbling. Baseball would not be where it is today, without the Dodgers, and I have to say it feels great to be a Dodger today.
“Baseball is great when fans care deeply, and no team has better fans than the Dodgers. They expect their team to compete deep into October every year, and so do I. The fans know that baseball’s best when you win, so I’m looking forward to working with the many talented people in this organization to help us get to where we want to be, which is bringing a World Series championship back to L.A.
“I will focus on process, and I will be as open and disciplined in our thinking as possible. Success requires an entire team of people who are on the same page and who trust implicitly in the processes we implement together. I look forward to working with the many talent people who are already here in baseball ops and adding dynamic people from the outside as well.
“Most of all, we will create a culture of trust throughout our entire organization. An environment of trust and forthrightness breeds a healthy and highly functional organization. And I want our players to know that we will communicate openly and take care of them at all costs.
“I fully recognize the magnitude of the job ahead of me. This is a world-class organization with world-class expectations.
“It’s important to be able to supplement your major league team and it’s important to be able to use certain guys to go out and get things that you need, whether it’s in the offseason or in July.
On the relevance of team chemistry:
“It’s a much longer answer than we have time for right now, but if you are a team that wins 70 games and you have great chemistry, I don’t want those 25 guys. Those aren’t guys that I necessarily want to be in the trenches with. A lot of those stories about chemistry from the media come after the fact — it’s a narrative after the fact. … I’d rather win with what you determine to be bad chemistry than lose with what you determine to be good chemistry.
“We look at scouting reports. We look at the different metrics. We look at who they are, their makeup. We do a lot of digging on the people we are going to acquire.”
On communicating with players:
“We’re gonna communicate. We’re going to talk to guys. We’re going to be very open and honest and forthright. People are going to know exactly what we’re thinking. I think it’s important that whatever conversations we have with players behind closed doors, that we have with the players, that they understand what we feel like our their strengths, what we feel like are their goals and things they need to work on, so that line of communication is open and guys know what the situation is and where we stand.”
On autonomy:
“I’m a big fan of collaboration. I think that anyone who thinks there’s one person making all decisions, it’s naive.”
On payroll:
“We’re gonna solve for winning, and I think the payroll part of it will be a byproduct of that. A healthy, highly functioning organization has a lot of good young players you’re interjecting with veteran star players and (being) able to do that in a way that allows you to remain competitive, that’s our challenge. That’s the thing that will drive us every single day in what we do.”
Andrew also stated that he wanted to build a sustainable team to win year after year, not win for a few years and then tank. He also said something very wise:
“I don’t believe the best team wins the World Series every year. I think the hottest team wins the World Series every year.”
— Andrew Friedman
Here’s another wise quote:
“Making sense of MLB’s postseason rollercoaster is a fool’s game.”
— J.P. Hoornstra
Will the Dodgers Make a Blockbuster Trade?
While anything is possible, I would not predict that he will make a Huge Splash. The Dodgers are still running away with the division, and many players will be back in the next six to eight weeks. Dave Dumbrowski will not hesitate to gut the Phillies’ farm system, while Friedman will not do the same in the Dodgers system. However, it does not mean that the Dodgers will stand pat at the trade deadline. I think that what Friedman has done in the past will predict what he might do in the future… and he seldom does what any of us predict.
I think that Tyler Rogers of the Giants would fit in well in the Dodgers’ bullpen. Rogers has a 2.92 ERA in a majors-leading 40 appearances this year, with 27 strikeouts and only two walks. The 33-year-old righty with the submarine delivery is affordable ($3.2 million salary this year) and controllable through 2025 as well. He has not allowed a run in 10 of 11 appearances this month. Rogers has a career ERA of 2.96 and has led the league in games pitched in two of the past four years. His submarine delivery would play well with all of the flamethrowers in the Dodgers ‘ bullpen. Friedman can deal with Farhan and could get Rogers relatively cheaply.
As I have said, I think Garrett Crochet is a waste of collateral. By the All-Star Break, he may have 120 innings. In 2023, he had 12 innings and in 2022, he did not pitch due to injury. In 2021, he had 54 innings and just 6 innings in 2020. I cannot see him helping during the stretch run or in October. I can see Wrobleski doing it, however. I suppose the Dodgers could have an interest in Jack Flaherty…
Jazz Chisholm is a player that the Dodgers might value because he can play IF and OF, but there is a lot of bad blood between him and Rojas. Randy Arozarena could be had for LF, but I would rather keep Miguel Vargas. Taylor Ward of the Angels could be in play and would not cost a ton. The Dodgers almost signed Tommy Pham before they decided to sign Teoscar, so they do like him, but they had two opportunities and declined both times.
With Gavin Stone, along with Glasnow, Knack, Paxton, and the choice of Kershaw, Miller, Buehler, Wrobleski, or maybe Casparius, Hurt, or Ryan, the Dodgers seem stacked at starting pitcher. Of course, you can never have too much pitching. The Bazooka may also return in August!
I think we simply have to wait and see how this all shakes out with the current lineup. In about a month, we will know a lot more, and Muncy may be ready to return.
X-CITES
Finally…
I am taking a few days off, and I may or may not be back. I have reached the conclusion that I will not allow the childish, little idiots who live to criticize me because they have never built or run anything themselves in their lives (except their mouths driven by their small brains)… I will not allow them to take away my joy and happiness. I have better things to do than read what these dimwits write… and if I am such a stupid/bad/make-shit-up kind of guy, why do they even read here in the first place? If/when I do come back, I may thin the herd of the idiots that don’t even rise to the level of morons. If you are not one of them, I’m sorry, but they ruin it for everyone. If you are one of the idiots, I am sure you don’t comprehend that either.
Discussion (61)
Disagree, not disagreeable
A thirdbaseman to play until Muncy comes back. Who plays good defense and can hit lefties and righties. Hmm. Where is Ron Cey when you need him isn’t it funny how back when it waa Cey Russell Lopes and Garvey and Yeager. It didn’t matter if it was lefties or righties they just played. Here is a name and player I heard of Jesse Winkler OF and and is it CJ Adam’s SS from the Nationals. It seems like the Dodgers always trade with them. Do they have any pitching this year. I haven’t watched to many Nationals games.
Very entertaining game.
I would prefer they sign Bichette sooner, while Muncy is still out.
That moves Rojas to 3rd base for now.
And no more Biggio, and very limited reps for Taylor and Kiki.
That improves your defense and offense now with Rojas, Bichette and Lux.
When Mookie comes back Lux sits and either Kiki or Taylor goes.
When muncy comes back either Vargas goes down or who is ever left between Taylor and Kike gets released.
Your bench is Barnes or Feducci, Lux, Rojas and a Vargas / Hayward platoon.
This move is happening because I just don’t see Rojas being able to hold up playing full time with almost 78 games left.
Go Dodgers!!
7 Eleven!
Hurry back Max. Can’t take it any more!
true dat bradley
Biggio sucks what big leaguer can’t lay down a bunt. They need to do something about a third baseman Lipsicus was having a good year and they didn’t call him up. For this guy. Only becaue he bat’s lefthanded. I swear every time lux biggio Kiki and taylor are up. I just know they will strikeout and even the bench knows that.
Nice comeback. No big hits, but great situational hitting. Biggio should have not bunted. Glasnow did not have it today.
Damn! Biggio ?? it’s time to go!
7:15 PM ET
Dodgers (51-32)
Giants (40-43)
SP Tyler Glasnow R
8-5 2.88 ERA
SP Erik Miller L
2-2 3.79 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
RF J. Heyward L
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B Gavin Lux L
3B Cavan Biggio L
66° Wind 10 mph Out
NO Vargas against a left handed pitcher and Biggio,Heyward and Lux starting against a left handed pitcher, Giants must be having a bullpen game.
Taylor Ward and Refigo and Anderson I am telling you all three of those guys would help improve the Dodgers. Angels I am sure would like Lux Cartaya Outman and pick a pitcher in the minor leagues. Add Anderson with Paxton and Glasgow and Stone and Knack that’s five good starters until like Buehler or Yosemoto or Keeshaw come back. Refirgo can be an upgrade at third until max cones back and taylor and Kiki can play second with Rojas at shortstop until Betts comes back. And Taylor Ward can be your every day Centerfielder with Pages Teo Hernadwz and Heyward platooning in leftfield and rightfield
Muncy (oblique) took swings off a tee, fielded groundballs and did some throwing Friday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Muncy’s progress from a Grade 1 right oblique strain has been slow to the extent that he was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 21. However, the third baseman appears to be beginning to ramp up, and the Associated Press reports that his next step will be to take live batting practice before potentially beginning a rehab assignment. Muncy isn’t expected to return to the Dodgers’ lineup until after the All-Star break”.
What’s happened to Maddux Bruns?
Saturday schedule
4 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jackson Ferris) at Lake County (Trenton Denholm)
5 p.m.: Tulsa (Orlando Ortiz-Mayr) vs. Amarillo (Dylan Ray)
5:15 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Luke Fox) at Lake Elsinore (Miguel Mendez)
6:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Justin Wrobleski) at Reno (Chris Ellis)
With the bottom of the order starting to show signs of life after a horrid start with Max Muncy and Mookie Betts on the IL, and with Will Smith mired in a slump, the Dodgers are still within a handful of runs of leading the league in runs scored. They are #2 in all of MLB in OPS and #1 in OB%.
Cool your jets!
James Outman is in a huge slump – he’s down to .277.
Diego Cartaya is hitting .154 after 3 K’s yesterday.
It looks to me like he is trying to pull everything.
What really bothers me is the Dodgers are running a billion dollar plus operation in payroll. and there is no left handed infield position player better than Cavan Biggio in their entire minor league system that can replace Max Muncy at third while on the IL. One solution is to start drafting quality position players rather than pitchers in the first round whenever that pick may be. Right now the organization is top heavy in pitchers and not very many quality position players.
something missing in that offense, and not just mookie and max! Guess Rojas streak comes to an end. ………. Can’t blame lack of rest for Hudson and Trienan last night. …….Score 3 runs off Webb you should be in line for a win! ……..Knack looked good for the most part!………Sure miss #22 out there!……..Still believe Bichette is a Dodger by August 2nd!
Well Treinen got bit, it happens. My takeaway is at least the Dodgers came back to tie it late in the game in the road instead of folding the tents. Baseball just happens sometimes, we move on to Saturday, pretty good old school National League game, lots of good pitching.
MiLB has almost reached the 1/2 way point of there season.
The Dodger minor league affiliates are playing .500 ball so far.
Quakes : 33-37
Looms : 36-36
Drillers : 36-36
OKC : 41-37
First time in a bunch of years that the cumulative records of this group is only around 500 ball.
I believe the Dodgers had the best cumulative winning % in MiLB last year. And have been at the top for years.
Records of course are not import in the grand scheme of things in the minors, development is.
But it seems we have been very aggressive in promoting some of our top kids.
That’s a good thing, hope we continue to push the envelope.
The 3 clubs in Arizona and Dominican rookie leagues are doing well.
Some very good young talent , especially position players , performing well.
Mostly all 17-19 yr olds.
Let’s hope they develop over the next few years. There off to great starts
Go Dodgers !!
06/25/24 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent RHP Gregg Ferrera to a minor league contract.
Friday schedule
4 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Payton Martin) at Lake County (Carter Spivey)
5 p.m.: Tulsa (Jacob Meador) vs. Amarillo (Billy Corcoran)
6:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Alec Gamboa) at Reno (Logan Allen)
6:45 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Cam Day) at Lake Elsinore (Ian Koenig)
10:15 PM ET
Dodgers (51-31)
Giants (39-43)
SP Landon Knack R
1-1 2.10 ERA
SP Logan Webb R
6-6 3.16 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
RF J. Heyward L
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B Gavin Lux L
3B Cavan Biggio L
60° Wind 8 mph Out
I’d include Vargas in the deal.
Rendgofi from angels could play 2b and othee positions like third base and Turner Ward can play all three outfield positions and they have a starting pitcher that used to be a Dodger Anderson. Thats my take on Dodgers and Angles make a trade Lux a outfielder and a pitcher for those three angels. It’s simple. Like every one says doesn’t break the bank like everyone is worried about. Gives dodgers some better hitters and Lux a new start somewhere and ship Miguel Vargas down there so then Mark can root for the Angels.
On track for the 100th shutdown….AGAIN!
If the Dodgers wanted to rid themselves of underperforming players but have a longer contract, waive the player. The Dodgers have ten days to release him or trade him. If they are able to make a trade great. Because these players could have enough years, they could declare themselves a free agent but then lose their current contract. Again if claimed they lose the contract. What will probably play out is the player will resign a minor league contract. In this situation the Dodgers are on the hook for the remaining part of the contract. If said player refines himself on the field the Dodgers open up a spot on the 40 man roster and life goes on.
I’m not the only one who thinks AF is the best.
https://dodgerblue.com/dodgers-news-andrew-friedman-voted-best-mlb-executive/2024/06/27/
It’s just a joke that Will Smith isn’t a finalist for NL all star starting catcher!
If he listens intently, Farhan can begin to hear the fat lady singing.
good morning Mark! happy to hear from you. A 3 game sweep might just put the giants in sale mode. Get er done!!
Phillies suffered a couple injuries last night. Schwarber tweaked his groin and Harper pulled up running out a grounder and grabbed his hammy.
Tough for any team to get through 162 game season without injuries. Baseball is so hard on the lower leg area.
NL Wild Card is a log jam so there will be a lot of buyers I would imagine.
Great piece on Ryan Yarbrough in The Athletic today and his importance to the Dodgers:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5597017/2024/06/28/dodgers-ryan-yarbrough-missing-bats-sliders/?campaign=5888993&source=dailyemail&userId=147501
He really makes it so that you may need one less starter.
We have enough starting pitching to win a WS. And certainly more than enough starting pitching going forward. My bet is that AF goes after another bat. Either Bichette or Roberts Jr. Both down right now but the history and potential are difference makers.
I think you hit the nail on the head, but I also think this ownership wants a full season championship badly. They spend well over a billion dollars in the winter, I think spending some more to shore up the holes in the roster would not be out of the question.
Will AF make a big splash?
I think the evidence points more to “yes” than “no.”
Sherzer-Trea was a big splash. Machado was a big splash (albeit predictable). Darvish was a pretty good-sized splash too–and he wound up getting screwed by the Trashtros.
He went the small splash route in ’22, trading Beeter for a badly slumping Gallo, and promoting Vargas from OKC when there were better options in the trade market. He also flipped McKinstry for RP Chris Martin, which turned out to be the best deal of the bunch. But all considered, the ’22 acquisitions didn’t move the needle much–and maybe moved it in the wrong direction.
There’s a lot of talent out there who could help fix the Dodgers’ flawed roster.
New rumor has Detroit and the Dodgers talking about Tarik Skubal. Detroit would love for someone to take Javier Baez’s contract as part of a deal. But Baez is having an awful season and is owed 73 million over the next 3 seasons. Dodgers won’t do that.
Offense going completely cold and getting embarrassed in first round by teams we dominated isn’t crapshoot. There’s something wrong. Myself I’ll take having good respectable post season runs over 100 wins seasons anytime. I don’t need a great regular season to enjoy it. What happened last couple years when it really counts, that hurts. Every sport has a bunch of teams making playoffs but only in baseball do I hear the loser term crapshoot
Heard this a few days ago from the BVM sports outlet?
Yes over the last week many outlets are buzzing around a possible trade between Jays and Dodgers
Not sure who the heck they are but if this is even a possibility, I would take this in a NY minute
:
The Los Angeles Dodgers, aiming to bolster their roster by the July 30 trade deadline, are considering a trade proposal that would bring Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette to L.A. in exchange for Gavin Lux, Diego Cartaya, and Payton Martin.
Maybe that’s why they moved Cartaya to AAA a few days ago to showcase him in a trade?
I guess that move will either enhance our prospect capital or put us in the red.
Hope he puts up some solid numbers, but I’m not to gonna bet on that one.
Bichette could be the long term SS solution if they can extend him after the 2025 season .
Although coming off injury and having a below avg yr so far, his career stats speak for themselves.
Bichette : Career
Avg: 293
Hr: 93
RBI: 340
OPS: 801
SB: 55
Strikeout rate: 21.6%
Fielding% : 964
Games : 594
Bichette- 1 hr every 26 AB which avgs around 24 hrs per year
Bichette just turned 26 in March and is just beginning to reach his prime.
Go Dodgers!!
Old Bear 48, thank you for backing up Mark he is so blessed to have you as a true friend. Mark I to will support what ever you decide about this site. Many of the posters on this site have commented here that this the best Dodger blog anywhere. That is 100% correct. Thank you so much for all your work and passion you put into it.
It still amazes me how many people blindly bite the hand that feeds them.
This is an excellent site that so many individual enjoy to let it be ruined by the few who pick a fight or do a “neener – neener” when a statement by somebody else that they disagreed with is wrong, just so they “may” feel better about themselves??
The amount of time that Mark puts into this site is incredible!
So my question to others is “when” he is wrong who gives a Fxxx!
Let it go, ignore it and move on and write something that is “semi” rational, “reasonably” thought out and “possibly” entertaining. The amount of nit-picking that sometime occurs is ridiculous.
Plus, typically Mark owns it when he wrong on his opinions on certain players.
As most of us are older (i.e. definitely over 55) I think we can handle being called some names – but Mark, maybe instead of saying that a post or specific thought is “moronic” instead say “nonsensical”??:)
Also, as most of us are / have been married, could you imagine the ruckus in your relationship if you corrected your spouse on every little comment and or nuance. Everybody here should have learned to let the small stuff go as it makes for a happier life!:))
I grew up pretty hard-core blue collar, and believe it or not, my dad used the word “that little bastard” as a term of endearment.
Now of course he if prefaced that word with “Fxxxing” – then “usually” it was not a term of endearment, but then, of course in a context of pulling off something funny with your friends/family, getting call a “you Fxxxing bastard” probably meant you scored a point and could expect a friendly retaliation sometime down the road.
That is of course, something that the written word cannot convey vs. the tone/context of the verbal word in a face-to-face get together.
Any way – in summary – I don’t think any of us that reads this blog “as a go to” every morning wants it to go away.
Finally, whether or not I agree / disagree with any/all of your posts, I will say that as we come up on the July 4th holidays that we easily (warts and all) live in the best country ever!! AND I wish all of you a safe and enjoyable holiday with family and friends!
Would be a shame for you to go away!! Look forward to this all day. .. there’s always someone or somebody want to piss in your cereal. Well i don’t eat cereal. Haven’t in 55 years. Hell i don’t agree with everyone all the time, but that’s what makes for good conversation! Give people 3 chances. #1 , warning. #2. week off. #3 permanent ban. You and i have never agreed on Barnes. But, i respect your opinion and acknowledge my bias against him. I pull for him, but he drives me crazy! ….. I want Bo Bichette. Bear doesn’t. But we agree that LA needs another bat. Bottom line everyone practice aa little common courtesy and respect every single person. If you can’t, go away! Go Barnes!!
Thursday schedule
4 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Patrick Copen) at Lake County (Rorik Maltrud)
5 p.m.: Tulsa (Chris Campos) vs. Amarillo (Dylan File)
6:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Wyatt Crowell) at Lake Elsinore (Eric Yost)
6:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (River Ryan) at Reno (Humberto Castellanos)
“Chris Campos makes his Double-A debut on Thursday. Patrick Copen, the Dodgers’ seventh-round pick out of Marshall last year, makes his Midwest League debut after getting promoted Tuesday”.
It is your blog, Mark; you do what you want. But as many of us said before, don’t let others spoil your love of the game or the team. Yeah, the uninformed and disillusioned are going to always piss and moan about something. And since I used to write for this blog, I know how it can drain one listening to people constantly complain about an era that is unlike any era in Dodgers history. I am old, but I totally understand that the playoffs are crapshoots. And if you go into the playoffs minus major pieces, like 21, when Muncy and Kershaw were not available, your odds of winning go way down. Yet in 21 they got to the NLCS, but just could not come back from a 3-1 deficit. Last year, same thing, injuries to the pitching staff, and the stars not producing against Arizona. Just get rid of the ones who give you ulcers. And there is no need to post every day. If you like, just a game recap can generate conversation. I like posting here, most of the fans here have some solid knowledge, and I respect theirs and your opinions. I shall continue writing for Jeff’s blog as long as I can. Be well my friend, and do what makes you, not others, happy.
I read 2 blogs this one and ladodger chronicles and they each have their own personalities due to the head moderator’s. This one is more edgy for sure. I like both of them and don’t post as much as i used to.
You lost or banned quite a few posters over the years I have been reading.
It’s a blog and people are going to say things others either agree or disagree with. Sometimes its better to not say anything you don’t agree with instead of going back and forth like you and Eric have for the last 3 years.
Just my 2 cents is all and i hope you keep the site going as its a daily occurrence for many of us
Between your previous site and current one it has been an enjoyable daily read for me over the last 12-13yrs.
I hope it continues and hope you come back relaxed and refreshed.
And if you decide to continue, please don’t loose that edge, it keeps the blood flowing.
Let’s just do our best to respect each other views.
Go Mark !!
Go Dodgers!!
Perhaps we should discuss wordle, recipes, what’s for dinner or Auburn football like they do at TBLA or just suck it up and embrace the notion we’re all different and enjoy our fandom of Dodger baseball differently and we won’t always agree.
At the end of the day we’re online discussing baseball, many of us are retired and have been watching Dodger baseball for decades. In the big scheme of things that we’re all dealing in this thing called life does it really matter if one guy wants to sacrifice some WS titles for a few losing seasons, or a certain player should be sent out, or a big trade made should be made.
It’s a freaking blog for gosh sake.
Hi Mark- most of what makes you crazy is under the radar for me. I’m here primarily for your content and secondarily for the comments. Stupid comments are easily skipped over for me because I’m not invested. You take comments personally because this is your blood, sweat and tears. Totally understand that.
My 2 cents for posters is: don’t be an ass hole and have at least a modicum of respect. And Mark- I’d simply blow people up without fanfare – I bet know one would know or give a single shit. Thanks,
Jim
Just block the morons. not worth getting upset over them.
this is still the best dodger site out there. Just block them.
Please keep it going!
Thank-you for every morning. My first thing to read.
never usually comment, just look forward to reading your insights!
Mark,you know who the troublemakers are,just block them,delete them or do whatever it takes to rid of them. I still believe this is an opinionated site and opinions should not get personal with anyone.Why let a few assholes ruin it for all the loyal Dodger participants?
You have made this site the first place I go every morning. Thank you. You are very talanted.
I can agree with the playoff crapshoot to a point but maybe our FO could look at what is causing our top hitters gonads to shrink. Knowing that, look to trades for a non- 3 result hitter or two to try something different. On the pitcher side it’s just health. Every year it is the hitting. I think this is the cause of some of your posters angst.
Not quite sure why you would let someone’s SPORTS opinion bother you so much to take your ball and go home. Either just delete the ones that refute what you think or don’t worry about them. Most of them are just PEOPLE’S opinions that may or may not match yours. Yes, some proposed trades are pretty loony but I just read them and move on.
I guess you would rather have a site where everyone just agrees on everything and keeps patting each other on the back…… boring!
Agreed . And Mark should just stop calling other users out and suggest they would prefer feeling miserable over contnued excellency because those users would chose 2 WS titles going along with 5 losing seasons over 10 great regular seasons without a WS title.
Every animal is different. Speaking for me I would chose those 2 titles in a heartbeat even if we had 5 losing seasons in between and it would NOT make me feel miserable . I like baseaball a lot , not only MLB but the minors too.
If the big league team loses but some of our blue chip prospects have good days that makes me happy . It is not only about the big league team for me. Watching the kids move along , making it to DS and eventually win the title is just as nice as all those winning regular seasons.
But hey, that is just me and Mark probably will call me preferring to be miserable over happy too.
I can deal with it though cause only I know what makes me happy. No one else.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
This site great when it talks baseball. But this must be the 500th time posting about building team for wins or playoffs. I think all future posts on this subject should be deleted.
I think Mark now tied with Tom Brady for most retirements. But anyway. Just delete posts that make personal attacks on anyone. Let people express their opinions, and don’t feel compelled to answer idiots.
LOL
Most will agree about getting rid of idiots. But that doesn’t mean everyone that may disagree with a certain opinion.
Here we go again….
Sorry, I really like you Mark and this blog, but this is childs play at some point.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Dude, just DFA three or four guys on here and you’ll be golden.
Cheers
Mark I understand your feelings but why not just get rid of the garbage.
Don’t go anywhere Mark this is THE best Dodger Blog out there.
And you are 100% spot on about the playoffs and WS. Ill take what the Dodgers are doing over any team in baseball.
I’m not gonna re-hash 2017 but we all know what happened. So that’s 2 WS championships in 7 years and winning 100 games every year.
Being a Dodger fan is great we dont have down seasons, at all.
I enjoy the ride every summer and know we will have a chance to win it all come October, 2024 is no different.
No team can say that.