Thank You For Your Service!

I am not advocating for Bauer and/or Urias – just pointing out they deserve a chance somewhere… especially if Urias can demonstrate some contrition.

Good analysis Rick. I’m thinking Striker would not be a surprise. I’m not even sure if AF & BG will make a blockbuster or a top FA signing. But it is fun to throw stuff against the wall and hope it sticks. So throw Robert Jr. into your Crochet trade and I’m all in Mark.

Book em

I have no interest in signing Jack.

Gonsolin, Knack, May, Wrobleski, we got plenty of guys to get thru 162…

I want the Dogs come next October…and no one has proven that more than Buehler….

If Flaherty comes back on a team Friendly deal im all for that as well.

Teams have multiple reasons for signing free agents. If signing one places the team in ill-repute and affects the public regard in which the team is held that is a disincentive for signing the player. Signing Urias is a major PR problem for whoever signs him. I do believe that he should have a second chance, but I think that the Dodgers have better options. OC Dodger’s observations are spot on – Urias’ stuff was declining.

Bauer is another matter. Regardless of the legal wrangling and the merits thereof, I recently watched a video describing him as a “clubhouse cancer” – a pitcher as good as Bauer was traded twice before he darkened the Dodgers’ door, and he was virtually uncoachable in both Arizona and Cleveland. The Dodgers have made a real effort to avoid these kind of players – see the exit of Yasiel Puig for a recent example. Why go after Bauer or Urias when there are other pitchers without the baggage available?

A lineup containing Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, and Soto would be crazy. I am not fond of Soto – he’s a hotdog of the worst sort. But there’s no doubt the man can hit. He can play the OF well enough to man LF. With Betts at 2B, they can move Pages to RF (his natural position). That still leaves a problem either at SS or CF.

Soto would be really expensive – cheaper to sign a 6 year older Teoscar Hernandez and maybe Adames to man SS, leaving Edman to play CF. Fill more holes and without Soto’s baggage.

As to available starting pitchers – Sasaki may not be MLB ready – or maybe he is. Burnes peripherals have declined year after year. Fried has had trouble staying on the field. Snell still has his control issues. All are good, but all come with risk. The Dodgers’ rotation is full of risk. Most of their pitchers have big upside but all have had trouble with health. Burnes has been the steadiest but his decline portends some kind of injury.

My guess is that Friedman has an alternative that will surprise most of us.

My view is looking forward not backward as it relates to the talent pool. Urias and Bauer had their chances as Dodgers. I feel they could have a place in the MLB, just not as a Dodger. Pitching tends to be a younger man’s game (exceptions for sure). I clearly remember seeing Julio’s fastball at 97 in 2020 and at 92ish when he had his beating up the ladies incident. Best for him to find work on other teams. I’d like to see a new SS, Sasaki, Treinen, Teo and Kike back. Should be fun to see what happens.

Took my younger son to the Armistice Day Parade in Whitehall yesterday.

Made me very proud to be British watching all the Service Men and Women Parade. The King and Prime Minister and many other dignitaries laid wreaths, and as usual it was all done with great precision and ceremony.

We spoke with a number of Veterans with chests full of medals as I wanted my 16 year old to get a feeling of the pride in serving your country.

My year in LA in 1990 taught me so much about respect for ex servicemen and women. You guys have a different perspective on it, one of respect and gratitude.

I have stood many times and applauded at Baseball games and NFL games when service people have stood. I love the fact that you sing the Star Spangled Banner before every game.

In the UK you will never ever see an off duty Service member wearing their uniform, in fact they are advised not to for fear of abuse or confrontation. My best pal was a Met (London) Policeman for 33 years and I never once saw him

In uniform.

You guys salute your Service people and actively promote them, and defer to them, and offer them free meals and other things as way of respecting them.We could learn do much from the US.

Thst would never ever happen here. Shawn was right above – you really do live in the best country in the world and although it might not always seem like it, there is no better place to live in the world in 2024, with the Uk a very close second.

Happy Veterans Day!

Freedom isn’t free. There are those who have paid for our freedom with a heavy price.

In terms of the Dodgers, I subscribe to the notion of giving second chances to folks who have wrestled with their demons and rehabilitated themselves. After all this is the land of opportunities.

If Urias takes the necessary steps to correct his wrong doings, while taking full ownership of his mistakes, I have no issues giving Julio a second chance as a Dodger. However, I believe he owes his family, the fanbase and city of Los Angeles an apology.

Having said that, I have no respect for abusers so Julio has some work ahead of himself to fix his image and mend the bridges he destroyed with his abusive antics. Until I hear an apology from that young man and assurance that he has course corrected his issues, I don’t want to see him again, ever.

As to Bauer, MLB needs to stop discriminating and give that man his chance. He’s earned it!

Win, Win!

I think this was the best Vets Day ever on this site.

The comments were sparse, but the morons are gone.

It’s the best ever!

What Urias did was inexcusable, but what Marcel Ozuna did was even more egregious… and he apologized, got help

and is now loved by his teammates. Maybe Scott Borass does not care about Julio, but Julio could be rehabilitated… if he is inclined and maybe he has a future in baseball.

Thank you vets. I mean it!

Book em

Agreed – he was a big part of us winning in 2020.

Where did you read that he was being removed from the record books?

If correct – I also agree that his name must remain.

Urias wont be back with us, but I dont think he needs to be scraped from the record books. Without him we probably dont win in 20.

How about Chase Utley to coach 1B?

could you actually see the dodgers giving Urias another chance? i’m not saying it’s wrong to give him another opportunity, just curious if the dodgers would want the headlines. Julio was never a problem on the team. How would guys like Freddie, Clayton, Mookie, Will, ohtani, react? But i “do” believe they would accept julio overr Bauer. Not saying Bauer doesn’t deserve another chance, just a different type of person. If i were a betting man, i’d bet more on Julio being back than Bauer. But don’t see either in a dodger uniform again! The risk is not worth the reward! …. Actually enjoyed some nfl yesterday! Detroit-Houston, washington-pittsburgh, KC-Denver. Dallas-Philadelphia (hate dallas!). college basketball started! nothing replaces baseball, but i do love college basketball! Audie Murphy marathon today! a true American legend and hero! God bless all veterans!! They deserve our love and respect!!

Mark –

Thanks for the tribute – I know that a lot of us are veteran’s on this site.

I been to a lot of places and hands downs – warts and all, left and right wings and everybody in between this is BY FAR the best country in the world.

There is no other country where anybody who works hard and has a good idea (regardless of color/gender) can be successful.

Unfortunately in today’s political environment – I truly think not enough people realize just what we have and that we truly have more in common than that which seems to divide us.

THIS NOT MEANT as a political statement – just a reflection of my thoughts for a country I served for 28-years.

On to Dodger stuff.

1. While I agree that Buehler may be an extraneous piece if what you noted above pans out – based on his post-season work – why couldn’t we expect him to continue his growth as a pitcher (not just a thrower). In the 9th inning of game 5 his off-speed stuff was filthy. He comes through in the “BIG” moments – I for one would like to see him re-sign with the Dodgers and trade some of the other arms for assets (i.e. draft picks, prospects and international signing $’s).

2. As for Julio – he has been catch twice in the act of “public” spousal abuse – so how many times has this occurred when he wasn’t caught? – I would rather let somebody else sign him.

3. While getting Soto would almost be unfair to the rest of the league, re-signing Teo, getting Adames and signing Fried or Sasaki would be just as good if not better.