If you could pick just one player that you thought would help the Dodgers win another World Series, who would it be? For most Dodger fans I have talked to, and judging from the posts I have read, that player would be Shoei Ohtani. Ohtani is a front-line pitcher, and he is an MVP-caliber hitter. He would probably be the DH, but he also could play some outfield.
I would think there would be an awful lot of opinions on this subject. But for me, if I could get just one player, I would love to have Mike Trout. One, he would cost less; two, the guy has 3 MVP awards, and three, he is one of the best defensive players in the majors. Another plus for me is that Mike is a power RH bat. I think he would love playing for a team that consistently contends.
But there are probably others. I thought a few years ago, when it looked like they might have a chance to sign Bryce Harper, that not only would he look great in blue, I could see a lot of his homers flying into the right-field pavilion.
But I also would like to see the Dodgers extend some of their own stars. I always thought they might do that with Urias. But it looks like he will for sure test free agency this winter, and I think he will be moving on because someone, the Padres, Mets or even the Yankees, is going to offer him a lot of money.
I really thought they should have re-signed Corey Seager. I was a huge fan of Corey. The guy can hit, that is for sure. But as has been stated numerous times, he would have cost the Dodgers close to 400 million to match what he is making in Texas where they have no state income tax.
I know they had no shot in all reality at signing him, but another guy I would have loved to see in Dodger Blue is Aaron Judge. Judge has awesome power. Would he hit 60-plus in LA? Probably not. No Dodger EVER has hit more than 49, and that was done once, Shawn Green. Beltre hit 48 in his walk year. Those both are records for Dodger hitters. The Judge could have freed up Mookie to move to the infield. Then Vargas would be at third.
Pitching-wise, well, Scherzer would have been nice, and so would Verlander. But Max made some comments that made him sound like a real jerk. Verlander visited and then opted for the big apple. I hoped they would trade for or sign a closer, but in retrospect, there really were none of the top guys available. Thor is a low-risk, high-reward type of signing that Freidman loves. I think he will do fine. Is he the 100 MPH guy he was?? Nope, but he really does not need to be.
Just for fun, let’s hear what the well-informed, always delightful, intelligent posters of LADT have to contribute. Have a ball and go get em.
OKC Dodgers
Game Summary: For a third consecutive game, the Oklahoma City Dodgers bested their opponent by one-run during a high-scoring game, claiming a 7-6 victory over the Las Vegas Aviators Tuesday night at Las Vegas Ballpark. Jahmai Jones continued his recent hot streak, hitting two home runs and picking up a total of five RBI. The Dodgers (3-1) took the lead with four runs in the second inning, including a two-run homer by Jones. The second baseman went deep again the fourth inning and poked a two-run double in the sixth inning. OKC led, 7-5, entering the bottom of the ninth inning. Las Vegas (1-3) scored one run and had the tying run at second base with one out before Dodgers third baseman Luke Williams turned an unassisted double play off a soft line drive to end the game.
Discussion (27)
Disagree, not disagreeable
04/04/23 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent CF Ben DeLuzio to a minor league contract.
04/03/23 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent 2B Dayton Dooney to a minor league contract.
Just read all the week’s posts in one sitting and have come to the conclusion that you’re all geniuses! Quantum mechanics–who knew?
I’ve been in a funk suffering from blackout syndrome, thanks to both Dbacks and Rockies blacking out the first ten games of the season in southern New Mexico. Isn’t there a law against such things?
You’ve done such an admirable job of watching and commenting, I hope you can carry the load for the upcoming Dbacks series while I sit here blindfolded and fuming. You Gentlemen are the best!
You get a lot more lucky when you put the ball in play and don’t strike out! Subatomically speaking!
Mark, more like Newton’s Second Law : Force.
The acceleration of an object depends on the mass of the object and the amount of force applied. Or stated in an equation.
F = m*(V1 – V0) / ( t1-t0)
Now using this formula I believe the Dodgers will not lose tonight.
Is fate the same as luck? As a player I believed in fate. The things you can’t control that decide the outcome. As a player you control your effort and attitude. After that, it’s fate or luck? 3 outcomes; you get a break and run with it, you don’t get that break (maybe due to injury), or you get the break and don’t take advantage. Same with the game. Some the ball, go 0 for 5. 2 clinkers, great day. You just keep trying and how your fate improves.
It it fate or being unlucky when a team that won 111 games, and can’t hit their ass in the playoffs? The same behavior in July creates grumbling. In the playoffs it’s a disaster.
I wish a could bottle a remedy.
Sometimes the cookie crumbles, sometimes you eat the cookie
Call it luck if you must but it’s really physics.
Balls, gloves, bats, feet move by physics not luck. If he hits the ball was it luck or physics?
Same goes for if he ran and caught it or didn’t.
I know 5 out of 4 will disagree but there is no such thing as luck. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.
If I’m ever convinced all decisions are made by algorithms and that playoffs come down to luck I’ll lose my over fifty years love of the game quick. Lucky for me no one on here or any fan for that matter could ever convince me of that
I don’t understand the conditions of Mark’s question. So I’ll just assume that if I could snap my finger and get 1 player for the Dodgers it would be either Judge or Trout. I’m not a fan of what’s in LF this year, so an outfield of Judge or Trout, Betts, Outman would look very nice to me.
Freeing up Taylor to play SS permanently. I believe he’ll come out of his funk and out produce Rojas by a mile.
AZ sped their way to win. Speed doesn’t slump.
So Max doesn’t wear a cup? Say it ain’t so. I can’t imagine playing infield without one. But how do we know? Pitchers used to check during BP with a sawed off bat handle, while calling out “cup check”. Big fun for the pitchers hitting guys in the nuts. That was before that shit became hazing.
The Mookie – Heyward near collision is the reason some organizations have distinct rules for players on Texas Leagers. The retreating infielder can’t leave his feet. No diving toward the outfield. The incoming outfielder can slide feet first toward the infielder to catch the ball. No diving toward the infield. Sort of an old take-out slide technique. That can create shin to shin contact by the 2 players, one on his feet and one sliding. No head to head contact. Any collusion is scary but this creates the best of the worst.
I want a shortstop who is young, controllable, has a very good bat and glove.
The Dodgers have to plan for Lux next year and will learn what they have in Outman, and Vargas.
I don’t want any of the 2024 free agents for one reason or another so for me the Dodgers will need to trade for the player that will help them most whether it is for 2023 or 2024.
Muncy is a 1st baseman / DH.
Maybe Sandy Alcantara
Blunder, what ?
Sandy Alcantara and old friend Kenta Maeda pitched great games in Miami last night.
Neither team hits very well, but it was a great game to watch if you like good pitching
We’ll if he doesn’t wear a cup he should be better defensively! Protect the jewels!
JT drives a ball to right field and Mets score. His bat still got pop & he’s smart af. Mets taking care of an old friend (again).
There are some on this blog that want (wanted) to get rid of Heyward, Thompson, Taylor, Muncy, Doc, and even Gomes and AF. It’s kind of interesting that when those players have a great game (or 2) we never hear a word.
Same is true of Doc, Gomes, and AF. We only hear of the mistakes (easily acknowledged after the fact) but very rarely hear of the good decisions they make most of the time. I am very sad for people who are rarely satisfied and constantly looking for bad news.
Oh well, unfortunately that is human nature. I have said a couple of times I believe this is a 100 win team and I actually believe that more today after only 6 games. I am very much in Quasimodo’s camp. We’ll talk in October when the results are in.
I live in the Phoenix area and will be at the game tomorrow night.
Are we talking ’24 already? Sounds like it. If that’s the case I have no idea. Depends on what Outman, Thompson and Vargas do. And Urias. And Kershaw. And Lux.
I was clear on what I wanted this year. Didn’t get it. San Diego did. Scanning the ‘24 free agent list I see nobody at the top of it under 30. A few are over 40.
I agree with Mark about Ohtani. The Angels unfortunately got him through his arb years. Someone else will need that splash more than we do. He probably has 5 more years of damm good. After that his body could be worn out and whoever gets him might have a $40 million Shoehei Martinez for 6 years or so. The next 5? Yeah. Friedman knows how to do that doesn’t he.
Kinda early to talk trades. This is our ‘23 Dodgers, and barring anymore injuries, they are pretty good. Not run away good, but compete good.
The Dodgers are averaging 6.3 runs a game and allowing 2.1 runs a game.
If they keep that up, I predict a good season. 😉
So far into this young season the Dodgers lead the league in:
– WAR
– Runs
– ISO
– BB%
– Pitching WAR
– FIP
– BB/9 (they don’t walk many)
They could/should be 5-1 so far, but even at 4-2, that’s a 67% win rate, which would put them on pace to win 106 games.
I think they’re doing ok so far.
Also a good article about Miguel Vargas in Fangraphs
https://www.fangraphs.com/
Funny enough I was only thinking about this earlier – who could we get to play 3B and hit RH for power?
Kris Bryant would be a good fit, providing his dodgy back is healed.
Would Colorado consider trading him?
Well he’s costing them a lot of money in a team that’s no where near contending in the near future, especially with SD’s emergence. They might be keen to move on after a very disappointing first year, and save a ton of cash. They’ve done it before.
For the Dodgers, they get a RH 3B at the peak of his powers for the next 6 years at a cost of about $28m per year – until he is 36.
That would be a core of Mookie, Freddie and Kris locked down for the next 5 years. Plus we’ve got lots of money coming off the books after this season.
what would it take? Not as much as you’d think if it helps Colorado – think of the steal that SL got on the Arenado deal.
Be good to get Mookie untracked – -but from what I’ve seen so far, I see Vargas as our lead off hitter of the future.He’s gonna be an All Star.
The question is what holes will the Dodgers have for the next few yrs.
A replacement if Urias walks
A RH hitter
A 3rd baseman
Ohtani only fills one of those holes, and having a full time DH isnt the best usage of a roster spot.
Trout is awesome, I would never turn him away, but if our current OF’s perform it’s not our biggest weakness.
A good hitting third baseman fills 2 holes.
In the offseason get a good starting pitcher and a good hitting, good glove 3rd base.
Just my observations.
Juuio Urias is now rolling out his new cutter, which he can use in key situations. He used it less than a dozen times last night and it was very effective. He worked on it over the winter, but did not use it in the WBC. He’s using it now.
We have one of the best relievers in all of baseball in Phillips so he can close if Roberts chooses. But say that you’re protecting a one run lead in the 8th and the heart of the lineup coming up. Wouldn’t you want your best reliever then and your next best to finish the 9th. I would
Ohtani and he’ll be here in ’24.