Q & A

QUESTION: “Bellinger’s hitting is “Suspicious” How in the hell does he re-become a 300+ hitter after being soooo friggen terrible? The first memory of being a Dodger Fan is sitting in a barber shop in Van Nuys getting a Butch and on the TV Maury Wills stole his 82nd base. I’m sure there are a few examples of players getting dumped by the Dodgers and becoming MVP material including a few idiotic trades. What happened here? Was he advised by his ahole agent? Does he secretly hate LA and therefore purposely tank? Was he betting on other teams? WTF?”

ANSWER: Everything cannot be quantified. It was likely a combination of injury, bad habits, and the fact that maybe the Dodgers’ coaches did not fully engage with him for whatever reason. Sometimes a player has to hit rock-bottom in order to recover, but I assure you that he did not tank on purpose. Those two bad (horrid) seasons cost him millions of dollars. I am happy for him, but wish he were still a Dodger. I also do not blame Andrew Friedman for not resigning him.

QUESTION: Will the Dodgers try and sign Shohei Othani?

ANSWER: Absolutely! A better question is: Will they SIGN Shohei Ohtani? That is a little more complicated. The smartest thing Shohei could do right about now is to go ahead and get the Tommy John Surgery NOW. That way, he could be ready to DH by April or May of next year. He should not pitch at all in 2024. It’s possible that the Dodgers would try and sign him to a split contract. In 2024, he would be paid (let’s say) $40 Million, and maybe it’s a three-year deal, but there are incentives for pitching, like maybe a Million dollars per start of number of innings pitched. I’m just spitballing, but Andrew Friedman will try and seize the day now that the paradigm has changed. It would also be with several opt-outs. This could be very interesting.

QUESTION: What is the likelihood that Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch will both be on the team in 2024?

ANSWER: I think the odds are very good. Both players are still highly valued as prospects, even though Miguel Vargas flopped in his first season. His skills are very apparent, although he would not be the first player to fail to make it while having the requisite skills. Vargas has bounced back and is now hitting .301 at OKC. Michael Busch hit his first MLB home run last night, and Vargas played 3B for the 5th game at OKC. He has played 27 games at 2B and 2 in LF. Gavin Lux will be back in 2024 and those three players could make up a great “core” moving forward. I thought Vargas was ready this year and so did the Dodgers and other baseball scouts. However, progress is not “linear” and we can never predict when the light turns on. If someone thinks a player who hits .191 in 303 ABs won’t become a very good MLB player, they have not watched the game (or Cody Bellinger).

QUESTION: Where will Gavin Lux play in 2023?

ANSWER: I did not think that Gavin Lux could play SS at the MLB level, but evidently the Dodgers did. Do they still think that? Well, there are some who think that playing that position after his gruesome injury is a lot to ask and there are some who think as I do – that he is not a SS. He has the speed to play in the outfield, and he is a solid second-baseman. Forget that he did not look good in the OF in 2022 – he had never played there! If you want to put him in LF or CF, then give him an entire Spring Training there. Where Gavin players will likely be dictated by where Shohei Ohtani signs. The short answer is 2B, SS, LF, or CF. He could also be traded… especially if Milwaukee values him like I think they do.

QUESTION: Where will Mookie Betts play in 2024?

ANSWER: He will play for the Dodgers! Oh, you mean what position? I would love to see him at SS, and I think he would be the best SS in baseball! The Dodgers may think otherwise. He could play 2B or RF as well – maybe he will bounce around, but the offseason will be interesting! Peralta and Heyward love being Dodgers, but they may get better offers. If I had to guess, the Dodgers will do what they are so adept at doing – rotate players around to other positions to exploit matchups. If you are looking for a set lineup every day, you had better switch teams!

QUESTION: Will Austin Barnes be the backup Catcher next season?

ANSWER: Very likely! I put it at 75%.

QUESTION: What is wrong with the Texas Rangers and their seven-game losing streak that threatens to have them miss the playoffs?

ANSWER: Obviously, Bruce Bochy is an idiot! I mean, that is what Dodger fans say when Roberts loses seven in a row! Actually, no matter what some say, Bruce Bochy is not the “Zen master.” His reputation was made when the Giants won three World Series in five years because his players executed, and he rode on the back of Mad Bum in a performance for the ages. In his 26 years as a manager, he has a .499 winning percentage. The Rangers spent money like a drunken sailor this season and last offseason, and they are still in danger of not making the playoffs. He is not an idiot, and neither is Dave Roberts!

Dodger News & Notes

• Landon Knack, Shelby Miller, and Ken Giles all pitched for OKC last night (with varying degrees of success, but they are all being prepared to pitch in LA this season. Blake Treinen is not far behind.
• RHH Austin Gauthier is hitting .324 with a .943 OPS in the minors this year. He is a 2B/SS/Utility-type who will be 25 next May. Watch him! He is a baller!

Standings