RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT THE START OF THE SEASON

So I wrote and submitted this article to Jeff on July 22^nd in the a.m.  He then let me know he had a couple of other articles lined up and that it might be posted later this week.   Then, the Dodgers go and sign Mookie Betts.   Wow!   I decided to leave the article intact with a few adjustments.   

●          I’m glad that I was proven wrong.  I did not think that we would have baseball this season.   Now, by the time this is posted, we will have had our first, if not first two games of the season.   Let’s hope that nothing arises that forces the season to be cancelled as a result of non-baseball events happening in our world. 

●          With the start of this most unusual season, there are many questions that need to be answered.  Among them, how will pitching staff be used?   Will “piggy-back” starters become a regular thing?   How will the lack of fans in the stands affect the players performance?  Will it matter to them at all?   What happens if several players on the same team test positive during the season?   Will the entire team have to be quarantined for 14 days?   Do they forfeit the games they were unable to play?  Would Landon Knack, Bobby Miller or Clayton Beeter make their major league debut in a situation like that?    

●          There are several oddities of the new method of play.   Throwing the ball around the horn after an out is something entirely meaningless, but it’s such a tradition that when it’s not done, it just seems weird to me.   Also, the players haven’t quite figured out what to do after they hit a homerun or make a nice play.    Sometimes they high five, sometimes they don’t.   Either way, it looks odd.   Made me wonder, if the Dodgers do win the World Series this year, will they be allowed a parade?   Probably not.   

●          I’m still find it odd to watch a game without the fans in the stands.   I enjoyed looking at the faces of the fans.   I don’t have the same feeling about the fan cut-outs.  They don’t quite do it for me.   Joe Davis, on the other hand, can still bring the best out of a game with his play-by-play and commentary.  I close my eyes and listen to him, and it seems so much better.   One thing about the fan cut outs in the stands, I was surprised to read of all the hatred and vitriol extended toward Mary Hart on social media and Twitter.  Apparently, Dodger fans, like much of our society today, are only allowed to express certain opinions approved by the cancel culture and thought police.  It’s a shame.  

●          One of the things I most dislike about not having fans in the stands is that the Houston Astros will get a free pass on their cheating ways this year.   There will be no one there to boo and jeer them.   That’s really unfortunate, because they deserved every minute of what was coming to them.   

●          It was only “Summer Training” but there are some things to really like about this Dodger team: 

            ●          Mookie Betts (this is added – don’t we just love him all the more now?) 

            ●          Corey Seager looked physically stronger than I recall him looking in the past.   He also seemed very dialed in and everything he hit was hit hard. 

            ●          The same was true for Joc Pederson.  Apparently he worked with a movement coach recommended by Austin Barnes.   It seems to have worked, as he looks much more athletic and stronger.   He even looks quicker on the base paths.   Let’s hope he has a monster year.  

            ●          Bellinger looks like he is locked in as well. 

            ●          I feel sorry for Lux, but Kike and CT3 will be a nice platoon at 2^nd base.  

            ●          Barnes still looked a bit overmatched at the plate.  I felt that way even before he got hit by the pitch.   I know he has some good defensive qualities, but I’m starting to like Rocky Gale over Barnes as the backup catcher in a shortened season.  

            ●          Don’t know the issues, maybe he was pressing with the weight of the expectations, but Lux was really struggling. I still think he will be a quality big leaguer, but he needs some time to reset. 

            ●          Pollock is going to be Pollock.

            ●          Justin Turner looks like he’s primed to have a good season as well.

            ●          I like what I’ve seen from Zack McKinstry and Luke Raley.   I think they can hold their own at the major league level.           

            ●          Did I mention Mookie Betts?  

            ●          Starting pitching looks solid, though not quite spectacular.   Kershaw looks stronger than last year.   I’m hoping Wood has a solid year, but, I have concerns that he won’t.   He is definitely a “piggy-back” candidate.   It would have been nice to have Buehler ready to go right out the chute, but I’ll go for him shutting out Houston in his first start.  

            ●          For the most part, the relief core has looked good.   Ramos appears to be a nice addition.   I think McGee will come around.   He’s always had great stuff, and even though he gave up a home run in his first appearance, he was still able to keep the ball down in the zone at 94 mph.  Santana has looked solid, as has Graterol, Ferguson and Floro.   If Treinen and Kelly can perform at 80% of what they are capable of, then we’ll be fine.   I’m assuming Baez will return and that he will be Baez. 

            ●          Even though he’s had positive results in the past 2 games, I’m still concerned about Jansen.  His cutter seems to have regained some of its movement, but his velocity has been way down.  Hopefully, he is holding back for the real games.  

            ●          The youngsters have also pitched well.   I believe the future will be bright for Gray, May and White.   May’s stuff is flat out nasty, with Gray’s not being that far behind.   White has good stuff and just needs to harness it for a season.   Victor Gonzalez also showed flashes of excellence.  Watching Gray the other night he reminded me a bit of Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale.   He has a bit of “nasty” in his personality that has him in control of the situation and puts some fear into the hitters.  Let’s hope he can duplicate their success.     

●          There was a rumor reported by Lou Merloni that the Dodgers and Betts were closing in on a large contract extension.   Let it be so.  Turns out that it was more than a rumor and that I wasn’t dreaming.  12 years, $365 million!   12 years of Mookie Betts!   Some might complain that the contract is too long, and that he’ll be too old before it’s over.   Maybe.  But there are a few players that did quite well until they were 40, including; Chipper Jones, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Carl Yastrzemski, Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Rickey Henderson, just to name just a few.  I would rather have Betts than Bryce Harper any day of the week.   I’ll write more on this signing in a later article.   Today, I’m just going to relish the fact that Mookie Betts will be a Dodger for the foreseeable future.   That makes me happy!   

●          Here’s some funs statistics that occurred over 60 games:

            ●          Best Batting Average:   Rogers Hornsby (.466), June 21 – Aug. 29, 1924; Ichiro Suzuki (.458), July 1 – Sept. 6, 2004; in last decade, Josh Hamilton (.427), June 4 – Aug. 14, 2010.

            ●          Best On Base Percentage:   Barry Bonds (.613), June 27 – Sept. 7, 2004; last decade, Joey Votto, (.560), July 18 – Sept. 21, 2015.

            ●          Slugging Percentage:  Barry Bonds (1.016), April 13 – June 23, 2001; last decade, Giancarlo Stanton, (.824), June 22 – Aug. 29, 2017.

            ●          OPS:  Babe Ruth (1.598), May 11 – July 22, 1920, recent notable, Jim Edmonds (1.367), July 3 – Sept. 12, 2004; last decade, Bryce Harper (1.269) April 24 – July 5, 2015.

            ●          Hits: Ichiro Suzuki (121), July 1 – Sept. 6, 2004; last decade, Jose Altuve (103), May 27 – Aug. 8, 2017

            ●          Home Runs:  Barry Bonds (37), April 13, 2001 – June 23, 2001; last decade, Giancarlo Stanton, (33), June 22 – Aug. 29, 2017.

            ●          Runs Batted In:  Hack Wilson (90), July 17 – Sept. 27, 1930; recent notable, Mark McGwire (80), March 31 – June 13, 1998; last decade, Josh Donaldson (68) July 1 – Sept. 11, 2015.

            ●          ERA:  Fernando Valenzuela (.029), April 9 – May 8, 1981 and Lefty Grove (.029), April 14 – May 18, 1936; recent notable, Zack Greinke (0.60), April 8 – May 15, 2009; last decade, Jake Arrieta (.044) Aug. 4 – Oct. 2, 2015.

            ●          Strikeouts:  Nolan Ryan (142), May 14 – July 4, 1977; last decade, Gerrit Cole (133) July 17 – Sept. 24, 2019 and Corey Kluber (133) June 14 – Aug. 13, 2017.

            ●          Team Won-Loss Record:  1906 Cubs and 1912 Giants (52-8); last decade, 2017 Dodgers (51-9).

●          The Dodgers don’t typically do particularly well against the Angels in the preseason, so Tuesday night’s victory was particularly sweet.   Now let’s go out and sweep the Giants on the way to that World Series Championship!!