We went to three games, and they did not open the gates until 30-35 minutes before the game started. In most parks, it is 1.5 to 2.0 hours before the game. This was repeated for all three games. I talked to several fans, and they said it was like this last year. There was also a big problem with “cutting line” as well. As game time approached, there were large groups of Hispanic fans who just cut the lines. If you know me, you know I have a loud voice, and I yelled loudly, “Stop Cutting the line, you Morons!” My son asked me what I would do if they came after me. I said, “That’s why I brought you guys. You are my bodyguards.” That stuff pisses me off.
It was also very obvious that the number of ushers and employees is way down. You can hardly find an usher. Instead, there are armed policemen throughout the stadium. This is a conscious decision, and I am not sure why, but my guess is that they think they are saving money somehow.
I could see it happening on opening day, but all three days? I talked to some fans who went to Mesa on Friday to watch them play the Cubs, and they said that the gates were already open when they got there about an hour and a half before the game and that a lot of fans were already inside.
This experience is not an isolated incident…. and it’s CRAP! On Sunday, we got into the stadium in the second inning despite being there an hour before the game… maybe we should have cut line!
Back to Dodger Baseball…
- Zyhir Hope’s speed has diminished somewhat, but it is still above average. He should lay off the squats now. He doesn’t need to add bulk to those tree trunks. His bat looks legit. His arm is above average. Now, focus on baseball… not the weight room! He will likely start at Great Lakes and move to Tulsa if ready.
- James Outman’s star is sinking like the Titanic. I was sad to watch him strike out three times on Saturday. He just looks lost… defeated!
- Andy Pages does not look good, either.
- Of all the players, Kike Hernandez got the biggest cheers from the fans!
- David Bote has looked good.
- Miguel Rojas looks to be a great utilityman… and he can hit!
- It was only one inning, but Dustin May’s performance was encouraging. He hit 95 once but his fastball sat at 94.
- Ryan Sublette has looked good in two appearances. He’s likely headed to Tulsa.
- Ryan Ward looks like a AAAA player.
- Hunter Feduccia has looked good with the bat but not so good behind the plate.
- Remember when some blogs said, “Of course, Luis Garcia will never pitch for LA?” – Well, MLB.com lists him as a dark horse candidate to make the team out of Spring Training due to injuries to Phillips and Kopech!
- Austin Barnes has looked solid this Spring. Will this be his last season as a Dodger? Will he retire?
- Alex Freeland has made the most of his single at-bat.
- The ChiSox have the following former Dodgers on their roster: Miguel Vargas, Jacob Amaya, and Andre Lipcuis – they are a combined )-fer!
- Tyler Glasnow starts today.
LINDY’S SPORTS BASEBALL 2025 PREVIEW
I don’t know why I do this… but I always do. I used to get Street & Smiths and Athlon Sports Annual Baseball Previews, but I think Lindys is the only magazine left. So, it came today, and they predict the Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series. As usual, they are wrong.
Discussion (23)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I agree, David Vasseghe, who has been embedded with the team for years and runs his DodgerTalk podcast mentioned on Roggin and Rodney the other day that Kim’s defense is way ahead of his bat, and they are working on his hitting. I don’t see the Dodgers sacrificing hitting for stellar defense just yet. They are also trying. Kim out in the outfield to fit their MO, guys that can play multiple positions. By the way , digging that Kike is back, he’s that guy who can call out the stars on this team if they need to be held accountable.
Dodgers have 13 games left before they open the season in Japan.
Gomes and Doc both said Kim could start the season off in AAA. That would open up a spot for Eddie. We shall see.
Book em
Right-handed pitcher Michael Grove will not be ready for Opening Day as he’s a month behind schedule in his throwing program due to a shoulder injury he dealt with at the end of last season.
Another loss and 13 more K’s. A couple of critical errors led to big innings. Snell, Wrobleski, Jose Rodriguez, Ortiz and Jacques pitched scoreless innings. Julian Fernandez is pitching himself right out of a job. He gave up 5 earned on one hit and 3 walks.
I have been gone most of the day, so… just in case you missed my kind response to Dan in Pasadeana, here it is again:
Well, dumbass, you already did engage me.
It was a baseball comment and you (YOU, NOT ME) brought the identity politics to make yourself feel superior by virtue signaling that you are somehow better than us creatins.
This is all on you. I won’t call you a moron out of respect for morons. You give morons a bad name.
I. wonder how Glendale manages games when it’s the White Sox’s as the home team. Maybe and it could be a stretch, some other company other than the Dodgers or the White Sox’s run game management. Mark needs to go back to Arizona and go when there is a white Sox’s game and report back to us. Also I always wondered if Joe Kelly got anything for Marcus Vargas when he took back the number on his return? Mark you might check that while your down there taking care of game management in Glendale.
Per Jack Harris:
Dave Roberts left open the possibility of Hyeseong Kim starting the season in the minors, as he continues to make swing adjustments coming over from Korea
GM Brandon Gomes has also been non-committal about where Kim will begin the season
Still a lot of time left in camp before any final decisions are made, but something to monitor as the Dodgers evaluate their roster over the rest of spring
The latest MLB Pipeline podcast is worth a listen for dodger fans, I am out, it mentions Jaren Elkins and that Lantigua prospect. The former is a seventh round draft pick/converted running back who has been tearing it up in the complex. The latter is who the Dodgers traded for international money, who is a potential right field monster.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mlb-pipeline/id906717198?i=1000695878961
3:05 PM ET
Mariners (85-7) (2-2)
Dodgers (98-64) (1-4)
SP Luis Castillo R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Blake Snell L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
2B Tommy Edman S
LF M. Conforto L
3B E. Hernandez R
1B Miguel Rojas R
RF E. Rosario L
C A. Barnes R
CF James Outman L
DH Ryan Ward L
81° Wind 3 mph Out
I tried to stay away from this but I just can’t. The hypocrisy is just too glaring. Dan, you called out Mark for identifying the race of the line cutters, thus injecting identity politics into the discussion. Then you chastise him for defending himself claiming you seek only baseball content. In the old days, pitchers who threw high inside fastballs had to stand at the plate at some point. I miss that.
Mark, your description of the “back fields” access is exactly what I experienced a few years back when I decided I won’t return to Camelback Ranch anymore. I figure that the popularity of the team and World Series championship has simply made it worse.
Regarding the line cutters. Just the way people are these days. Rude. There is no defending the disorganization and lack of Stadium access until 30 minutes before game time. I understand that Fan Fest at Dodger Stadium was an unorganized fiasco this year too.
The Dodgers organization needs to wake up and straighten things out soon because things are getting out of control. I’m talking about security, protecting fans and improving the overall fan experience.
I last attended a regular season game at Dodger Stadium three years ago when I thought I had been inserted into the black hole at a Raider game. Profanity, beer flying when action happened on the field, a lot of pushing and shoving. The days of Helen Dell entertaining the crowd on the Conn organ were long gone. There is no easy solution when mob mentality of rude fans takes over.
I don’t envy the Dodgers head of security and the tasks at hand that need to be addressed but something needs to be done. Will it? Maybe after something tragic happens.
I know many fans do not care about strikeouts, but the Dodgers are putting them up in droves this spring. 16 more K’s today. 7 of them by Outman, Muncy and Taylor. Outman finally got a hit, but he is being outplayed by Hope and Rosario. Pages has one hit in 8 at bats and has struck out 4 times. LA hitters have struck out 58 times in 5 games. That is 11 plus K’s a game. Team leaders are Taylor and Outman with 5 each. Let’s get some wood on the ball guys.
Mark,
Why do you feel it necessary to comment on the ethnicity of the people cutting in line?
I guess I’ll have my answer if you call me a moron and delete my post.
RHP Emmet Sheehan
Injury: Recovery from Tommy John surgery
Expected return: Possibly before the All-Star break
Status: Underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2024; has resumed throwing off the mound and hopes to begin a rehab assignment in May or June.
Mark I believe you have the cred to write or call the Dodgers front office. Your complaint is real and nothing makes a person more upset than seeing the first pitch. Go give them the what for.
Both Pages and Outman came into camp realizing that both have a very slim chance of making the opening day roster unless there is a trade or an injury. Both look like they’re pressing.
Eddie Rosario would be a huge plus if he can recapture past form.
Gavin Lux is hitting .667 after two games for the Reds. He played 2B in the second game and was 2-3 with 3 RBI, batting 2nd.
Freddie Freeman (ankle) could make his Cactus League debut Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
“Freeman has been brought along slowly in Dodgers camp following December surgery to remove loose bodies in his right ankle, but he’s progressing well. The veteran first baseman will get some at-bats in a minor-league game Monday and is tracking toward his first official spring training action later this week. Freeman is expected to be ready to go for the Dodgers’ season-opening two-game series against the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18-19”.
Roki Sasaki is scheduled to make his first spring appearance Tuesday against the White Sox in what Prior called a “hybrid B-game,” as Minor League camps have not opened. Blake Snell is to start the Dodgers’ Cactus League game that day.
“These first couple weeks [are] really both of us trying to get to know each other and then try[ing] to progress from there,” Prior said of Sasaki. “Get him dialed in with some things that he wants to work on.”
Bobby Miller (head) will resume throwing Monday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Miller has been shut down and in concussion protocol after being hit in the head by a line drive during his first Cactus League appearance last week. However, he managed to avoid a serious injury and has been cleared to ramp his throwing back up. It’s not clear when Miller might be ready for appear in a game again. Miller is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City”.
3:05 PM ET
Dodgers (98-64) (1-3)
Reds (77-85 (1-2)
SP Tyler Glasnow R
0-0 .00 ERA
SPCarson Spiers R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Chris Taylor R
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF E. Rosario L
CF James Outman L
1B David Bote R
DH Andy Pages R
C H. Feduccia L
SS Sean McLain R
80° Wind 2 mph In