The 27th of July was the birthday of one of the most successful Dodger managers. Leo the Lip Durocher. Leo Ernest Durocher was born on July 27th, 1905 in West Springfield Massachusetts. His parents had immigrated to the US from Quebec Canada. His mother was a hotel maid and his father worked as a railroad engineer. He died not long after Durocher was born. His family only spoke French, so when Leo started school, he did not know how to speak English. The Durocher family lived two blocks from Rabbit Maranville. He taught Durocher the game of baseball and gave him a glove.
Durocher became a good athlete in high school and was offered a scholarship to Holy Cross. But he was suspended from school for hitting a teacher, and never returned. Leo became a prominent semi-pro player with many Springfield area company’s competing to have him play on their company teams.
After being scouted by the Yankees, Leo broke in to pro ball with the Hartford Senators of the Eastern League in 1925. He was called up for two games, and then spent 26 and 27 in the minors playing for the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association, and then the St. Paul Saints of the American Association.
He was called up to the Yankees in 1928. A regular player, he was nicknamed “The All American Out” by team mate, Babe Ruth. Leo was a favorite of Yanks manager, Miller Huggins, who immediately identified him as manager material because of his passion, ego, competitiveness and his capacity to remember situations. But his outspokenness did not endear him to Yankee management, and his habit of passing bad checks to finance his expensive tastes in clothes and nightlife annoyed General Manager, Ed Barrow.
Leo helped the Yanks win their second consecutive title in 1928 and then demanded a raise. He was sold to the Reds on the 5th of February, 1930. Leo played 3 seasons for the Reds, and was traded mid season in 1933 to the St Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals were more Leo’s cup of tea. His fiery style fit right in with the Gas House Gang. He was given #2 and wore that number for the rest of his career. He supposedly inspired the Gas House Gang moniker and helped the Cards win the 34 series. He was a vicious bench jockey and rode his opponents constantly. He was the captain of the team and stayed with the Cardinals through the 1937 season and then was traded to the Dodgers. The Cardinals received Joe Stripp, Roy Henshaw, Johnny Cooney and Jim Bucher for Leo. Durocher was never a great hitter. His career BA is .247 and he hit only 24 HR’s. But he was a leader on the field. In 38 and 39 he was the regular SS for Brooklyn. In 1938 , his first year with the Dodgers, he was named player-manager by team president Larry McPhail. They were a combustible combination, and like Steinbrenner with Martin, McPhail hired and fired Durocher a few times. McPhail was pretty open to spending and trading for stars. He added Dolph Camilli, Kirbe Higby, Billy Herman and he bought a young SS from the Red Sox, Pee Wee Reese. By the end of the 1941 season, Reese had impressed Leo so much at SS that he gave up his regular job so Pee Wee could play. Pee Wee would spend 18 years as a Dodger. McPhail picked up some pretty good pieces for Leo, and they went to the World Series in 1941. First time in 21 years. One of those pickups was free agent OF, Pete Reiser. Reiser was ruled a free agent by MLB because of some mess up by Cardinals president Branch Rickey.
It was during his first year as manager that Durocher came into his own. The most iconic image of Leo is him going toe to toe with an umpire until he was eventually thrown out of the game. He valued this kind of fire in his players, and it was during this time he coined the phrase, ” Nice Guys Finish Last” He honestly believed that. Leo was also notorious for ordering his pitchers to hit opposing batters. If he wanted a batter hit, he would simply yell, ” Stick it in his ear”. Durocher’s relationship with McPhail was tempestuous. McPhail was a heavy drinker, and he and Leo would argue and he would fire him, and then rehire him in the morning. McPhail’s leadership of the Dodgers ended when he joined the Army during WWII. His replacement was Branch Rickey. Rickey retained Durocher and the Dodgers engaged the Cardinals in the first playoff in NL history. Durocher also regularly clashed with commissioner, Happy Chandler. Chandler had taken over in 1945 and warned Durocher to stay away from some of his old friends who were gamblers, bookmakers, and had mob connections. All of these people Leo allowed a free rein at Ebbets Field. Leo was very close to actor George Raft with whom he shared a house in Los Angeles. He also admitted to a nodding acquaintance with mobster Bugsy Seigel. He encouraged card schools in the club house and was something of a pool shark.
Things finally came to a head when his affair with married actress Laraine Day came to light. This drew criticism from the Influential Brooklyn Catholic Youth Organization. In spring of 1947, Leo got into trouble again. He and George Raft supposedly rigged a crap game that Dizzy Trout was in and took Dizzy Trout for a lot of money. Chandler suspended him for association with known gamblers, and the Dodgers had to have Burt Shotton replace him for the 1947 season, which was of course, Jackie Robinson’s rookie year. Leo played an influential part in assimilating Jackie onto the team. He let it be known that he would not tolerate the dissent of players on the Dodgers who were opposed to Jackie’s playing with the Dodgers. He said he did not care what color a player was, if he could help the Dodgers win the pennant, he wanted him on his team. There was a petition going around the clubhouse against having Robinson play. Some of the players who signed that petition were eventually traded by Branch Rickey, most notably, Dixie Walker and Kirbe Higby who were sent to Pittsburgh. In 1948, Leo returned to the Dodgers, but his personality and bad results caused a riff with Rickey and on July 16th, 1948, Durocher and Giant owner Horace Stoneham negotiated a deal that allowed Durocher to manage the Giants.
Leo enjoyed a lot of success with the Giants, exacting some revenge when his 51 team beat Brooklyn in the playoffs. He won his only World Championship in 1954 when the Giants beat the Indians. As Dodger manager Leo went 738-565. close to .570 winning pct. He was 637-523 with the Giants who he managed until 1955. Then in 1966 he was managing the Chicago Cubs after a stint as a coach for Walter Alston’s Dodgers 61to 64, getting another ring in 63. He went 535-526 with the Cubs over a seven year run. In 1972 he managed the last 31 games for the Astros and then the entire 1973 season. He went 82-80. and 98-95 over all and then he retired. Leo’s over all total is 2008-1709. At the time of his retirement he was 5th over all in MLB history.
Leo worked a lot in television. He was a commentator on NBC for the game of the week for a while, he also hosted NBC’s Comedy Hour and Jackpot bowling. He played himself in the Red Skelton movie, “Whistling in Brooklyn”. He also appeared in episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies and The Munster’s. I remember that episode well. Herman wrecks the ball field. One of his line drives knocks the scoreboard down. The last scene in the show, Leo is walking with Crazy Legs Hirsch and a football comes flying into his hands. He asks Leo where the nearest park is, and Leo reply’s, don’t ask.
Leo was the first manager to win 500 plus games with three teams. He died on October 7, 1991 in Palm Springs. He was married 4 times. He is buried in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery. He was posthumously inducted into the Hall in 1994.
Discussion (104)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Finally people on this site agree with me on Bellinger. He needs to go to Oklahoma City and completely change his hitting mechanics. You can’t have a slightly open stance and stride toward first base(stepping in the Bucket) instead of striding toward the pitcher. Impossible to hit that way. His swing is under the ball and missing center cut fastballs at 92 miles an hour. Watch him closely when he is at bat. His head is also moving when he does that. He is either very stubborn and won’t change or the hitting coaches are morons not to see this, He is hurting the team by being in the lineup.
I listened to a radio interview with Andrew and he said he had been trying to acquire Duffy for a while. He said when he gets healthy he will be stretched out for the rotation possibly by September. If that happens would the rotation be Kersh, Max S, Walker, Julio, and Duffy. That would be one of the better rotations in the league.
Every day this team finds new ways to lose baseball games that they should win.
Embarassing display yet again.
I see no fire, nor urgency no nothing. Not on the field, not in the manager.
You would have thought this team got energized by that big trade, ownership showing them they are willing to spent tons of money to win another title this year and then they come out totally flat. Gonsolin was horrible from the get go setting the tone. Offense could again not come up with the big hit or at least a productive out when needed.
If they continue to play like that even with reinforcments arriving they will not win the division.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
When TT is activated, if by then, Belli has not found his swing, he must be sent to OKC to look for his swing, he is hurting the team and himself. When he’s on time with the 95+ fastball then call him.
And I want to say that Belli is my favorite player.
I now wish we had a Kirk Gibson type player on our club that would after a game like this, go into the clubhouse and tell DR and staff to leave and do some serious ass chewing…
OK I feel better now…
We’ll get em tommorow..
I think that is 1-11 in extras.
Smith has left 7 men on base tonight.
Well into extra innings. They never do anything easy. 1-9 in extra inning games, they need to change that tonight. Giants and Padres lose.
Why give up games by having Jansen in with NOBODY warming up?
Can we not try to win a winable game today and worry about tomorrow then?
Jansen is awful regardless of if he gets out of this.
Anyone else hear the kid screaming in the background encouraging Kenley?? LOL
They come all the way back on a pinch hit single by Pujols. Leave 2 more on as Taylor grounds out. Jansen in. And naturally, Jansen loads the bases on a double, walk and a single. This guy is just not reliable right now. They should have got a closer. Both Giants and Padres losing, and they might not gain any ground…pitiful. Jansen strikes out Walker and Kelly with the bases juiced without giving up a run….Hallelujah, Muncy, Turner and Seager due up in the 9th.
Tatis leave after hurting the same shoulder he dislocated earlier this year.
yeah, there’s no way CT3 gets benched in this new loaded lineup in favor of Bellinger or Lux
Hitting with less than two strikes CT is a demon. Now we need a sac fly, or more.
Where would we be without CT3
Taylor ALL DAY
Tomorrow is supposed to be a BP game and he has to have someone to pitch.
Why does Roberts, with the scoreboard so close, put the OKC bullpen in?
Now that SF and SD are getting beat badly it is time for us to come from behind and win this game.
Yup, after the solid trades and improvements made by AF and team, watching this game is a downer,
( although Granterol did make a nice play ), time to turn it off and go read some Louis L’amour.
What an emotion swing over the last 48 hours. Everyone so upset by the loss to the Giants yesterday after the euphoria of the win the night before, and then thinking the Padres were getting Scherzer to him becoming a Dodger this afternoon. And getting Trea Turner also just made the day something special, and now, they are flatter than a pancake in Arizona. Fortunately, the Asterisks are ahead of the Giants and the Rockies are beating up the Padres, who lost Tatis to a shoulder problem. I think the under the radar move was getting Duffy. He allows them to have a longer bullpen, which they can use. Bellinger’s struggles continue. No real help down at AAA. They have given up 7 walks tonight. Walks killed them yesterday, and are killing them tonight. Plus all the runs the Giants got yesterday were with 2 outs. If they are going to win tonight, they will most likely need to beat the D-Backs pen.
Taylor and Turner. Turner looks like he doesn’t want to hit the ball. Lots of looking.
Typical Gonsolin. No command. U just can’t depend on him!!! He is just as likely walk everybody as get an out. This is nothing new u r constantly on the edge of your seat wondering if he will ever throw a strike. I wanted him traded but nobody wants him. Mark tells me about his era which is good because guys like Bickford clean his mess up. I know he can pitch a good game but tonight is just as likely.
12 straight innings shutout mb more. Shutout by the giants and now this. Turner needs a day off but we have no bench. Playing the worst team in the league. We have to get gallen out get pitch count up.
We simply can not afford to lose games to the Serpientes.
Dodgers need to start feeling the urgency.
Come on man !
I know, you’ve heard it before from me…. CT gets two strikes on him and write it down, K. Twice tonight.
Come on man, time to get TM’s granny warming up in the pen!
Freakin Gallen can’t pitch against anybody else. Looks like Cy young against us!!
Jeff – Get well soon and stay away from the LAD medical staff…
Great assessment and I firmly believe in our team…
Let the race begin… Go Blue…
Looks like Jacob deGrom is shut down for at least two weeks. The Mets are looking at a September return to the rotation. The Dodgers will face the Mets 7 games over the next three weeks, and will not have to face deGrom.
The Nats currently have 24 on their roster. It would appear that maybe both JoJo Gray and Keibert Ruiz could join the roster for the remainder of 2021 to get that ML experience. Good luck to both.
It was fun reading all of the anxiety displayed on Twitter because MLB had not announced the Scherzer/Taylor trade. All of the sports journalists kept saying it was a done deal, and that it will get finalized. You just know that the hang up was Scott Boras trying to get everything he could for Scherzer to waive his no-trade clause. I don’t blame him. Maximize your assets.
I certainly understand the Adam Frazier and Daniel Hudson additions for the Pads. I am not sure I understand Jake Marisnick. I guess it is for emergency for if Trent Grisham gets injured. I would have thought he would have been a better fit for Houston who now desperately need a CF.
Kris Bryant is a good addition got SF. I am assuming he will replace Jason Vosler, and that improves them. The cost for Bryant was inconsequential. Greg Amzinger on MLB proved why you should never believe what you read on Twitter. He announced on TV that Joey Bart and LaMonte Wade Jr. were the return for Bryant. Harold Reynolds just destroyed him for that one.
Am I now allowed to say what a failure Jerry Dipoto was this trade deadline? I was told to be patient because Dipoto had a lot of other moves to counteract the idiocy of trading Kendall Graveman. Abraham Toro, Diego Castillo, and Tyler Anderson does not make up for the loss of Graveman THIS YEAR. Oakland improved their team for this year, and NYY and Toronto should very soon bypass the M’s trying to catch the A’s for the second WC team. I feel for their fans.
Of course the winner of the week was LAD. Not just because of the great trade for Scherzer and Taylor, but Seags is back tonight, Mookie will be back Sunday, Knebel probably next week, and Kershaw not far behind. Don’t sleep on Danny Duffy as a LHRP for September and perhaps the post season.
I know Mark and BandP are not worried about the bullpen, but that just reeks of homerism to me. The bullpen is:
Tied for 1st in blown saves with 23 (5 more than SF and SD).
9th in ERA
12th in WHIP
7th in BA
17th most Ks
17th most BBs
And they did this with having the 22nd least IP for a bullpen. AF was never in on Kimbrel. KJ has been and will continue to be the closer. Maybe for the playoffs, AF will direct Doc in another direction. If LAD had the same number of blown saves as did SF and SD, they would be 2 games ahead of SF and 7.5 ahead of SD. 23 blown saves for a championship caliber bullpen???
They have 7 walk off losses. They have a 1-10 record in extra inning games, and are 13-18 in one run games. That just screams the bullpen is a weak link or the management of the bullpen is. Or maybe both. Band P listed a slew of potential relievers. Out of that list, which ones can be counted on in back to back games in a high leverage situation during the playoffs. There was a funny little comment on Twitter. Trea Turner doubles, steals 3rd, and scores on a sac fly. Max Scherzer throws 8 shutout innings. 1-0 in the 9th and the gate opens and out comes KJ. Oh No!
The bullpen is mediocre at best. It is not a strength. The offense is going to need to score a lot of runs to make the bullpen inconsequential.
Are they the best team in MLB? Absolutely!! I truly believe they are, and that they will overcome the bullpen deficiencies. I just do not believe hiding my head in the sand and say that they have a great bullpen when every metric for analyzing a bullpen reads mediocre. I hope KJ saves every critical game from tonight to a WS championship, and I have to eat crow. But I think it is more likely that someone like Julio Urias will have to come in and shut them down. I still believe that VGon has plantar fasciitis, and needs more time on the IL.
I am laid up for the next 4-6 weeks with achilles tendonitis and a bad high ankle sprain. I generally walk 6-8 miles per day, but not now. So I will have a lot of time for reading and writing.
I root for the White Sox in the AL because they share Camelback Ranch and I can see games there as well as LA. And because they drafted and brought up Nick Madrigal who I followed throughout his college days at OSU. He’s a nice young player with plus bat to ball skills. I think if he is healthy off his hamstring injury, he could have competed to lead the AL in hitting someday. Now that can’t happen. I was sad to see him traded along with Codi Heuer, who I like as well, for the Sox to make a big splash with Kimbrel. I hope it works out for both teams but I hate to see “Nicky Twostrikes” moved. And a fan should never get too attached to a player.
Taylor 2B
Muncy 1B
Turner 3B
Seager SS
Smith C
Pollock LF
Bellinger CF
McKinney RF
Gonsolin P
Welcome back Corey, no pressure, go bat cleanup. Pretend like we didn’t just trade for your replacement. You have a spot on this team if you want it.
Tonight’s winning Lineup vs the Snakes:
HITTERS H-AB RBI HRSB AVG
C. Taylor2B 97-347 55 16 9 .280
M. Muncy1B 82-297 61 22 1 .276
J. Turner3B 103-350 59 18 0 .294
C. SeagerSS 39-147 22 4 1 .265
W. SmithC 69-265 48 14 2 .260
A. PollockLF 72-246 37 13 4 .293
C. BellingerCF 26-162 21 5 2 .160
B. McKinneyRF 43-204 21 8 2 .211
T. GonsolinP 2-11 0 0 0 .182
I would have liked to see the Dodgers get a bona fide closer at the deadline and there really was just one elite closer and the White Sox paid a premium in Nick Madrigal to get him and they also gave up a useful bullpen piece. That’s a huge haul!
Daniel Hudson was in the next tier and the Padres got him. He’s not really a closer anyways, but has thrived as a setup guy. Richard Rodriguez is solid, but he’s not a 99 flame thrower. More of a ground ball pitcher.
Scherzer is going to push a guy from the rotation back into the bullpen (Gonsolin?) and Danny Duffy is effectively a bullpen add.
Let’s look at what this staff would look like in the postseason
After the rotation of Scherzer, Bueller, Kershaw and Urias we can pick our bullpen out of…
Jansen
Knebel
Treinen
Kelly
Nelson
Duffy
Gonsolin
Price
Graterol
V-Gone
Bickford
And that’s without even considering Vesia, Alexander, Cleavinger, White, Sherfy and Nunez.
I think we’re in pretty good shape. Could you imagine if Tommy Kahnle appears in September when rosters expand? I’m not starting any rumors, but I’m not counting him out yet. (Probably more of a dream than rooted in reality).
Neftali Feliz struck out the side in his last AAA outing on just 11 pitches. He’s making a comeback folks!
Any Brandon Morrow sightings?
Dammit Andrew, why haven’t you figured out how to get 8 closers in your pen at the same time!?
The Dodgers activated IF Corey Seager from the 60-day injured list.
@FabianArdaya
The Dodgers claimed Chad Wallach off waivers from the Marlins. Catcher depth for their 40-man after trading Keibert Ruiz.
Giant fans all pumped about Bryant coming to SF, The Dodgers have totally shut him down this season. He is hitting .115 against LA with 1 HR. Only has 3 hits in 26 at bats. He struck out 11 of those at bats.
Keith Law implies that Cartaya has/had passed Ruiz as a prospect.
I found that interesting.
AV Forte – I live in the suburbs of London, 15!minutes into the heart of the City by train, in Watford, in the County of Hertfordshire.
So good to hear of your relationship with your in laws. It doesn’t surprise me at all. My in Laws are great people and likewise, don’t get involved in our stuff.
I think it is the English way – quite reserved, and not wanting to cause offence. We are a very tolerant nation compared to our neighbours in Europe.
Hope you’ve managed to convert your wife to Baseball.
I took mine to Chavez Ravine, and she thoroughly enjoyed it.
Nice to have you onboard – where are you from?
In Jansen we trust! Right?
Well pretty uneventful deadline for boys in blue ! 🙂
I m thinking the reason we didn’t trade for a closer is the plan is to have Julio Urias fill that roll when we get to the playoffs. Worked out pretty good last year!
Dodgers just welcome sherzer ant turner in team’s oficial Twitter ‘
The same questions being reiterated here today. Nothing has changed. And why Tatis? What if he did the exact same thing to her? It’s ok when a Padre does it but not ok if a Dodger does?
“I’m not going to look at stats (facts) but I’m going to offer up an opinion”. Thanks Jason. We’ve had quite enough of that for several years running. Bellinger is in a slump. He had a good month in June, I know you don’t know that, but he did, his OPS in the last 14 days is .447, but in the last 7 days it is .824. Again, those pesky stats that get in the way of making sense, but it looks to me that he’s struggling with consistency. I do exactly what Roberts is doing, keep running him out there. I bat him lower in order, but I don’t bench him. Still plenty of games left to figure it out. If he doesn’t by October, then you can bench him.
Man what a failure by the Rockies not to get something for Story. I guess they felt the comp pick was more than they were offered? Can’t see that but who knows
Bryant a good move by SF
SD has to be sitting there wondering WTF happened?
Would have liked to see the Dodgers get some bullpen help but maybe Knebel is that guy for nothing. I hope so. Or maybe there is something that isn’t announced yet. MLBTR keeps crashing so I hope that is the case. I personally don’t have any confidence in Jansen on the mound in a must win, go home game closing out a win, even with a 3 run lead.
What a hectic trade deadline. Dodgers did not trade for a reliever so maybe they feel with Knebel coming back, they will be fine. Have to wonder who gets sent down when they activate Seager and Scherzer. Dodgers have 58 games left, the Giants have 60 and the Padres have 57. It is going to be a sprint to the finish. Have to beat up on the bad teams, and be a little better than .500 against the good teams. Giants just got Tony Watson from the Angels. Late trades trickling in.
Robles to the Red Sox, Soler to the Braves from the Royals. Seager will be activated tonight and be at SS,
Lester and Happ to the Cardinals.
Soria goes to the Jays. Marisnick to the Padres. So far, Dodgers have not addressed the pen and the deadline has passed. Could be some deals submitted but not announced.
Giants get K. Bryant
Kris Bryant goes to Giants
I think that the solution to improving our bullpen may very well be right under our noses but was dismissed without any serious consideration. When TM said that his grandma could strike out Cody Bellinger I was intrigued. TM, can you provide more information?
What is her WHIP? (2021 and career, please)
Does her fastball have significant swing and miss velocity and movement ?
Would she be willing to be patted down by the umpires when coming off the mound?
Is she willing to throw at opposing players to protect her teammates, and deal with the subsequent batter who charges the mound?
How is her pickoff move?
Is Boras her agent?
Will she be able to see the catchers signals or will they often be crossed up and risk injury?
Is she capable of leaping over the third base line on the way to and from the mound?
What is the spin rate of her breaking pitches?
Can she bundt? 😉
Please provide answers TM and maybe we can take advantage of this opportunity before other organizations hear of it!
Gibson and Kennedy to the Phillies. Yanks getting Heaney from the Angels. Straw traded to the Indians from the Astros. Harrison and Gomes to the A’s,
MLB network reporting the dodger nats trade is official
The story said un named source. And it was repeated on several blogs. I really do not care. The Dodgers do not need that kind of toxic player in the clubhouse, and like I said, the hearing on the 9th has nothing to do with the criminal case, it is about the restraining order. This thing could stretch out for a long time.
Giants pushing hard for Story?
Not really understanding why. They have Crawford who is having a great year. Of course they want Story’s bat and there are other positions to play on the field but taking him from Colorado to SF is quite the change in hitter’s park.
Story is a great player for any team to grab but it just doesn’t make sense to me. I guess it depends on what they give up but I can’t see other teams not giving more that what SF’s need/give up ratio is
I’m a little torn on the White Sox picking up Kimbrel since I’m rooting for them to make it to the World Series. I guess at least we won’t have to face him until then.
So, Starlin Castro gets 30 days for beating his wife, a second offense and Bauer is in limbo for 30 for allegedly being rough with a hooker? Tatis Jr. loosley involved with no bad press and in the lineup every day? That’s fair.
The stretch run will be fun with the super team that AF assembled against the perennially lucky, overachieving arch rivals to the North and the Red Headed, no class, bratty step child to the South.
Now three games back, what’s the over-under in days before we reclaim first place? 1 week, 10 days? 2 weeks?
Talent will be trickling in over the next week. Seager today, Betts on Sunday, Max during the Astros series and hopefully Trea just has a little COVID and will be here soon. I almost forgot that CK will be back a week from today and Knebel some time in between.
For all the worry warts out there. The Scherzer / Turner deal is official.
Once again. Scherzer, Turner, Mookie, Seager, Kershaw and Knebel will all be joining the team within a week.
Bear states above that the players don’t want him back. I assume that is from The Athletic article where an “unauthorized” player made that claim. The article also claims that this is backed up by the “fact” that no player has publicly supported Bauer.
So which is it? By the very definition of “unauthorized” the players have been told NOT to comment, which makes sense. So by not commenting when they are told not to they are not showing support? A lot of mental gymnastics there that could take Simone Biles place in Tokyo for that one.
Some of you probably believed the “reports” that “many” were upset with Justin Turner for coming on the field to celebrate the WS win last year after a positive test. That was bullshit. Only the media guys were “upset” and not the players and this article could be as well.
I agree that many guys may be turned off by the whole thing and the point that many are young guys starting a family and that Bauer may not reflect their values. Who cares though? This is a work environment. Not a group of friends playing Thursday night softball.
I think that those same players, being young, healthy, rich young men know that trappings that are out there in SOME women and also probably know that Bauer fell for it. So maybe some can sympathize. Maybe not.
Bottom line……media is not the Holy Grail and what is written is not necessarily true. It could be. It could not be. WE DON”T KNOW!!!
None of us know the facts of this case. I would assume that the Dodgers have some insight into what is going to happen and planned accordingly with the Max pickup. Who knows though, that move could have been planned before all this with Bauer.
As to Bellinger, has anyone really seen ANY adjustments in his offensive “game”? What he is doing is NOT working and I personally haven’t seen anything that leads me to believe that he even realizes it. I would ASSume that there are coaches and players in his ear offering advice, film study, etc.
I am not going to go study stats but just my eyeball stats tell me that Belli has been more off than on over his career. Of course, his 1st half 2019 was amazing but really is a huge outlier 2+ years later now.
If injury is the excuse/reason, then fine. Sit and heal. With this move the Dodgers are deep enough to sit Belli for as long as he needs and heal. Taylor and T. Turner more than make up for the absence of Bellinger, and quite honestly, Taylor DESERVES to play everyday and not just from an emotional Rah-rah level but from a production level. Taylor is the much better player TODAY. Sorry, but I don’t care what Belli did years ago. By that rational, Pujols should be starting everyday.
With Kimbrell off the board, the Angels are apparently shopping Iglesias. Not sure Arte wants to trade with LA, but that would be a good move for the Dodgers.
Relief pitchers are going here and there, and we have not gotten any. Are we really going to go into the postseason with this relief corps? Perhaps we did all we could in the Scherzer and Turner trade, and we do not have any left that we would trade and who would have value. I would have liked Hudson, at least, as part of our deal. Right now it looks like we are going to be mixing and matching, as usual.
Baez is a big acquisition for the Mets, as Kimbrel is for the White Sox. Virtually every top team significantly improved their roster.
Darn, the Phillies got Kennedy, who is left?
White Sox got Kimbral.
Felicitaciones Bear, gran trabajo en esta narración sobre Durocher a mediados de los años 60 comencé a seguir a mis queridos Dodgers con todas las limitaciones en materia de comunicación de aquella época, prácticamente solo era prensa escrita por México, y recuerdo a Leo manejando a los cachorros de Chicago, un equipo eternamente perdedor que a juzgar por la distancia y casi nada de comunicaciones solo tenía tres elementos activos buenos Leo, Ernie Banks y Ron Santo era agradable ver información de ellos en fotografías de la revista deporte ilustrado y despertó en mi mucha simpatía que con tu excelente articulo me recordaste aquellos momentos mágicos de mi adolescencia.
Kimbel goes to White Sox
Take a few minutes to read the whole text and then take the “test” at the end……
The population of Earth is around 7.8 Billion.
For most people, it is a very large figure to imagine.
However, if you condensed 7.8 billion in the world into 100 persons , and then into various percentage statistics,
the resulting analysis below is relatively easy to comprehend.
Out of 100 :
11 are in Europe
5 are in North America
9 are in South America
15 are in Africa
60 are in Asia
49 live in the countryside
51 live in cities
12 speak Chinese
5 speak Spanish
5 speak English
3 speak Arabic
3 speak Hindi
3 speak Bengali
3 speak Portuguese
2 speak Russian
2 speak Japanese
62 speak their own language.
77 have their own houses
23 have no place to live.
21 are over-nourished
63 can eat full
15 are under-nourished
1 ate the last meal, but did not make it to the next meal.
The daily cost of living for 48 is less than $2.00.
87 have clean drinking water
13 either lack clean drinking water or have access to a water source that is polluted.
75 have mobile phones
25 do not.
30 have internet access
70 do not have conditions to go online
7 received university education
93 did not attend college.
83 can read
17 are illiterate.
31 are Christians
25 are Muslims
16 are Hindus
7 are Buddhists
7 are other religions
16 have no religious beliefs.
26 live less than 14 years
66 died between 15 – 64 years of age
8 are over 65 years old.
If you have your own home, eat full meals & drink clean water, have a mobile phone,
Can surf the internet, and have gone to college, You are in the minuscule privileged lot (in the less than 7% category)
Among 100 persons in the world, only 8 can live or exceed the age of 65.
If you are over 65 years old, be content and grateful. Cherish life, grasp the moment.
You did not leave this world before the age of 64 years like the 92 persons who have gone before you. You are already the blessed among mankind.
Take good care of your own health. Cherish every remaining moment. —- How lucky we are.
And, if you think you are suffering memory loss, read this:
Anosognosia….. Very interesting.
In the following analysis the French Professor Bruno Dubois Director of the Institute of Memory and Alzheimer’s Disease (IMMA) at La Pitié-Salpêtrière – Paris Hospitals addresses this subject in a rather reassuring way:
“If anyone is aware of his memory problems, he does not have Alzheimer’s.”
1. I forget the names of families ..
2. I do not remember where I put some things ..
It often happens in people 60 years and older and they complain that they lack memory. “The information is always in the brain, it is the “processor” that is lacking.”
This is “Anosognosia” or temporary forgetfulness.
Half of all people of 60 and older have some symptoms that are due to age rather than disease.
The most common symptons are:
– forgetting the name of a person,
– going to a room in the house and not remembering why we were going there,
– a blank memory for a movie title or actor, an actress,
– wasting time searching where we left our glasses or keys …
After 60 years most people have such a difficulty, which indicates that it is not a disease but rather a characteristic due to the passage of years …
Many people are concerned about these oversights hence the importance of the following statement:
“Those who are conscious of being forgetful have no serious problem of memory.”
“Those who suffer from a memory illness or Alzheimer’s, are not aware of what is happening.”
Professor Bruno Dubois, Director of IMMA, reassures the majority of people concerned about their oversights:
“The more we complain about memory loss, the less likely we are to suffer from memory sickness.”
Now for a little neurological test. Only use your eyes —- make sure you have your reading glasses on ……. if you can remember where you put them.
1- Find the C in the table below!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
2- If you have already found the C, then find the 6 in the table below.
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999699999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
3- Now find the N in the table below.
Attention, it’s a little more difficult!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
If you pass these three tests without problem:
– you can cancel your annual visit to the neurologist.
– your brain is in perfect shape!
– you are far from having any relationship with Alzheimer’s.
Kimbrel to White Sox! If not us then good to have him out of the NL.
Gammons:
Deep organizations have prospects at the top well known. The Yanks didn’t touch guys they consider undealable:Vope, Peraza, Dominguez, and have Schmidt up in weeks. Dodgers have Diego Cartaya, Pepiot, Miller, Knack, Jackson they did not want to trade.
Bluto’s comment:
Jackson?!?!?!?!?!!
Farhan is a brilliant talent evaluator!
Can I just say that it’s great to have smart and aggressive GMs in the NL West.
I mean the Giants/Padres/Dodgers are going to be good not only this year, but for years going forward.
It’s awesome.
Or maybe his mental well being is suffering Phil? V-Gon was huge for us last year. I’m not giving up on him just yet. As much rope as Bellinger is getting we can wait on V-Gon. But I’m concerned about how much Graterol wants it!
You didn’t disappoint Bear. Great write up on Leo the Lip. Keep em coming. your posts make my mornings.
* I view this latest transaction as as a “fresh start”. We’re at a point where the noise from outside the Club House can’t impact the team, negatively. While the announcers, media and fans focus on how many game we can win at Az and the Astros and where we are in the standings, and all the outside noise, it needs to be much more simple. PLAY BETTER, one day at a time. Each guy needs to refocus and improve his play every pitch, every at bat, every inning. It’s time to stop pissing away games.
* Before Price’s start yesterday, I said I’d be okay with standing pat. Wow, was that a cranial-rectal inversion. My bad.
* Not only will Max help us down the stretch but maybe more importantly, it keeps him from the Giants and Padres. A win on the field and psychologically, said Mr. Obvious.
* V- Gon needs to B-Gone. Along with Graterol. Buy em both a big, nice lunch and send them down the road. Okay, V-Gon might be hurt but Graterol just seems lazy and not committed to reach his potential.
* As I have mentioned before, I’m tired of speculation that a guys is hurt, when he’s playing shitty. Maybe he is. Maybe not. If he’s hurt, go on the IL. If not, I’m going to assume that any player out there is healthy enough to be an improvement over his substitute. And since there is no transparency. I see no reason to assume a guy is hurt because he doesn’t “look right”. It’s like Joe Kelly. If his shoulder was so painful why didn’t;t he get it treated instead of one poor performance after another. So, I’m done with any speculation and excuses for bad play because a guy might be injured.
This trade with The Nats is not final. What is the hold up? Any inside info?
Braves picking up bats – Duvall (would like see in Dodger blue and Rosario -decent pick up with Acuna out.
I like the Scherzer/Turner trade. Pitching is my concern and I wanted Scherzer (and Kimbrel). Not counting Taylor as a regular starter, I always thought 2B was our hole offensively (I think Bellinger will get it together eventually), so Trea Turner is as they say icing on the cake. Plus, out of the 4 guys the Dodgers traded, Ruiz is the only one I am high on. I just hope Friedman can get both Scherzer and Turner to stick around for awhile by extending them.
I don’t know about all of you, but I have seen enough of David Price to conclude he is nothing like he was during his prime and his stats show it too. .289/.352/.428/.780 is not good.
I’m hearing that Seager may be activated today and in the starting lineup. If so that would be great.
Any chance Friedman gets Kimbrel? I hope so because our bullpen in general, more specifically our closer is not very good.
Berrios going to the Blue Jays
Bums, hard to platoon a guy hitting .300 with a guy hitting .240 and OPS ing over 150 points higher. I love Joc as well and still wearing his jersey to Dodger games but it’s not gonna happen! No Berrios to Pads! Big blow for them!
I remember Vin getting a thrill out of watching Durocher fire the ball to first from short. Leo had a great arm. Seeing him as an older coach made me think about how hard it is to see a formally athletic young person within an old body.
Pujols
Kershaw
Scherzer
Price
Turner J
Betts
Jansen
Not sure many teams have ever had 7 possible HOF performers at the same time?
The Dodgers are not going to have a $275 mil payroll next year. Hard to see us re signing Seager. And can we get out of Bauer contract next year.
Anybody else concerned as to why MLB has not approved this deal? What is holding this up? None of the other deals were held up like this……just wondering. Yes, ever since the Warren report, I’m conspiracy sensitive.
Starlin Castro suspended 30 days by MLB for violation of the Domestic Abuse clause. He will also be released by the Nats.
I hope the Dodgers extend Trea Turner as quickly as they extended Betts.
I hope Seager moves to third or first next year and is re-signed at a mere mortal salary. But they are over the CBT this year and if they want Kershaw, Scherzer, and Taylor back next year it will be hard to also sign Seager. I assume Jansen won’t be back.
Let’s trade Bauer to the Angels as a salary dump and not expect to get much back.
It’s finally here. Friday, the trade deadline is just 5 short hours away. Oftentimes, we don’t hear about a last minute trade untils hours after the deadline passes, but all this madness is going to end soon.
Yesterday was the craziest of days as no one saw this blockbuster of blockbusters coming. I’m still pinching myself in disbelief and the baseball pundits all agree that this is a real game changer. Most of the experts are saying that the Dodgers got the best pitcher and best bat available in one trade and some are questioning whether the Nationals got enough in return. It really does seem surreal and the added oddity of snatching Scherzer from the Padres is icing on the cake and a pile of cherries on top.
The thing I find most fascinating about all the activity in the last couple of days is the Giants failure to make any kind of move one way or the other. After Scherzer came off the board, Berrios’ price tag is rising faster than gas prices and the Giants, Padres or Yankees are going to have to dig deep like the Christmas shopper going to Ebay for that special toy they missed out on at the box stores.
The trade of all trades wound up being firmly grounded in reality. The Nats traded an expiring asset in Scherzer and lined up a tippy top prospect crown jewel and holy grail, a catcher with great, if not elite, bat to ball skills.
Friedman played it perfectly with a prospect they didn’t need, already having a catcher with more power, better defensive skills and much success at the highest level. He insisted that Ruiz was much too valuable for a bat first catcher currently destroying AAA pitching and hidden from MLB pitching careful not to expose his true trade value. He got them to bite and set the hook dangling a coveted and young starting pitcher with a ton of upside and all you have to do is include your shortstop that won’t be sticking around awaiting the forthcoming rebuild.
When it was all said and done, there were no fantastical slumping very young, former MVPs or former 1st round draft picks involved. Andrew is too savvy to plug and hole while creating another.
For those who think a career utility man is going to displace an MVP center fielder just because of a slump, you’re not grounded in reality. This trade allows the Dodgers to use their super utility man as a super utility man and give a breather for slumping players to take a day to figure out how to get back on track. You won’t see a Belli/Pollock platoon unless Belli flops over the next two months. Which makes little sense anyways the way that Pollock has been destroying both righties and lefties this year.
The Giants are now firmly stuck in quicksand. Without the Dodgers bailing them out in the last two series with late bullpen collapses, they would look like a sinking ship. Lucky for them, the Dodgers gave them 3 games across 2 series after the 8th inning. If not for those mishaps, the Giants would have lost all 4 series coming out of the break and would possibly be thinking real hard about selling out and stocking up for their next run. Now, in no man’s land, they are stuck between not selling and bolstering their farm knowing that a one game battle royal against the Padres is looming in their not too distant future.
I was just reading a MLB trade rumors article on the trade. He mentioned that Scherzer joins Buehler and the soon returning Kershaw to provide a strong top three for the playoffs. Also, mentioned that Price and/or Gonsolin would be available to pitch a game four if needed. And the Dodger pitcher tied with the most wins in all of baseball, Julio Urias, not mentioned at all. How do these people get jobs as baseball writers or analysts? Like I’ve said in the past we have some of the most informed baseball people writing on this site than the majority of the “professional” media that covers the sport. Good for us!!
We still need a closer! We cannot let that slip by, in the excitement of the big trade. Kimbrel is going somewhere. All we have to trade for him is Lux, is that enough? We can learn from the last two seasons, when we essentially lost to Washington because we did not have a reliable closer, and then we won the title because we still did not have one, so we used Urias in relief. We know that big games are going to come down to having to hold the one-run lead in the ninth, and who is going to do that? If we cannot obtain Kimbrel, I don’t think there is another high-end closer we can get. I have been surprised that in the last few years, we have not gotten one, we seem to have some kind of wish to never upset Jansen.
I am not intimately knowledgeable about the minor league talent of other clubs, but it does seem that teams like the Yankees and the Padres keep being able to make deals without giving up anything significant in prospects. San Diego has almost built an entire team on acquisitions, and they are still sitting there with their top four or so prospects. So are the Yankees, and I would not be surprised if they landed Kimbrel, because Chapman has been struggling. If San Diego were to get him, look out, because while Scherzer is a big addition, we still have to close in the late innings, and we would not want to face Kimbrel in extra innings, vs. whoever we put on the mound, in the battle to get the automatic runner in from second base.
On this day in 2004, the Marlins dealt Brad Penny, the winner of two World Series games last season, 1B Hee Seop Choi and southpaw prospect Bill Murphy to the Dodgers for Paul Lo Duca, Guillermo Mota and Juan Encarnacion…
And by the way, I wasn’t worried about SD assholes having Scherzer, nobody cares about them!
Wow, lots of activity on the blog so early in the morning. AF has really done an about face in how he likes to build a championship team starting last year with the signing of Mookie to a long term contract and then signing Bauer in the offseason. Now with acquiring Scherzer and Turner using their top two prospects to help complete Friedman’s most aggressive trade so far. And he may not be done. An additional BP piece will most likely be acquired i.e. Kimbrel or Kennedy. With all the regulars coming back from injury in the next few days and add in this trade, talk about an infusion of talent. It’s staggering.
William, I guess AF did what you were asking for in trading top prospects for superstar talent. The trade may or may not help much in 2022 depending on what happens between now and the beginning of next season. But, it appears that AF has been given the green light to win it all this year and not to worry about next season or the future. Giving up all that talent for two months of Scherzer and a year and two months of Turner could be questioned. But, how much is too much if you win the WS this year. That’s what the Cubs did in 2016. Five short years later they are trading a good chunk of that WS winning team away. I’m very happy with the trade but still surprised that AF did what he did. After going so long with no WS titles and finally winning last year why not go for it again this year. If not now, when?
With this trade bringing Turner over many are concerned about what to do with our team MVP Taylor. I think it’s an easy call. Seager at SS, Trea at 2B, Muncy at 1B, Taylor in CF, and have Bellinger platoon with Pollack in LF. To have your most productive player become a bench player is nonsensical. Cody has been given plenty of opportunities to get his act together and has failed. Platoon him the rest of the season and let him fully recover from his injuries and surgery in the offseason. Then he can start 2022 healthy and ready to go. If I was Taylor I would be pissed to see them march out Cody to see him continue to be unproductive game after game meanwhile, after the this trade, Taylor doesn’t even know if or where he is going to play. To do that would almost assure that Taylor will sign with another team in the offseason to play everyday and at one position. And more important, Taylor is by far more productive right now for the Dodgers.
Yesterday, before the trade was being talked about, the Dodgers were 4/1 to win the WS. SF was 9/1, Padres 17/2. The money believed that once we get our starters back we are the better team. I agree with the money. Today? When these trades are announced those odds are going to change. We will be in the drivers seat gassed up with new tires.
I still don’t know why the Nationals are trading an All Star 5-7 WAR player for a few prospects It’s like they know something we don’t. Are they confident he will go back in a little over a year? Will they both go back? I don’t think so, but, I don’t know.
I think it’s safe to say Bauer is in the rear view mirror. You don’t bring that toxin back into this. This has the makings of something brilliant. The next 70+ games could be historic. This is going to be fun. Sure hope it gets announced soon.
Yes Turner played CF for a while, but he’s been a shortstop for 5 years. For better or worse Seager is the shortstop here. We have a Gold Glove in center. It’s go to be interesting how this plays out.
And the era of two Turners.
This trade made sense having Turner included. His versatility is like a huge insurance policy. Gives the option to send Lux to AAA to get his s…. together and come back up in September. If Bellie has to stay on first Turner can go to center. He can spell Cori on ss and Muncy on 2nd.
Oh and I like how they included the other Max in the deal!
The Dodgers can make all the trades they want, however, Roberts handling of the bullpen will probably do them in.
Is Andrew Friedman done? Not certain. I can still see him adding a bullpen piece. Craig Kimbrel is still out there or maybe another reliever. I would start Tony Gonsolin over David Price. But if they’re done, that’s okay too as long as Corey Knebel is healthy and ready to go.
To me, prospects are suspects until they prove they can play in the majors. I think a lot of McKinstry’s problems are directly tied to him being out for a while with an injury. He, like Bellinger, has struggled since he came off of the IL> Not everyone can be activated and do what Crawford did to us today. But McKinstry does not have as much value defensively as Belli does, so most likely he and Raley are sent down. Someone will have to be moved besides Peters. Who might be included in a deal today, who knows. Rockies say they are keeping Gray and may offer him a QO this winter.
Hey Watford Dodger,
You put a smile on my face when you said you agreed with my analysis regarding the Bauer treatment. I figured my thoughts are in the minority and probably not appreciated by many….so hearing a fellow Dodger brother give me a big “amen” was refreshing. Thanks…
PS
I haven’t gotten to many “amens” screaming for Cody Bellinger to either be traded or at least returned to the minors to work out all of his batting issues. Can I get an “amen” for that? Lol
TM
Wow, everyone is up bright and early today. I feel like a kid at Christmas. I’ve always loved Scherzer, with his weird eyes and his dirty stuff. He’s intense and is a warrior, a great addition even at age 37.
I was pretty shocked at Trea Turner coming in the same deal, but it makes a whole lot of sense. Doc already said that Seager’s going back to SS and Trea’s taking over at 2B. Of course that’s how they’re going to play it. TT is under control for another year and they don’t want to piss off Seags right before free agency.
Taylor is very valuable to this team as the Super Utility guy and will keep playing as much as a starter allowing them to give Belli a day or two off and some motivation to get this head and swing straight, Mookie time off to rest his hip, Turner and Pollock regular breathers.
Duffy gives them a veteran left handed option in the pen so they don’t have to rely on those lefty kids as much. I would be surprised if they get another bullpen arm at this point. With Scherzer coming and Kershaw coming back, these moves push two starters back to the pen that getting more and more loaded lately with Graterol coming back and Knebel about to return.
After watching this video about Bauer yesterday, I’m more convinced that Bauer won’t be charged…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzFctV0jxxI&t=1s
That isn’t to say that I’m convinced that he will be back this year. We already saw how Manfred reacts to political pressure, so my guess is that he does his best to kick this can into the offseason to give people time to forget about their faux outrage before Bauer comes back to pitch next season. He definitely doesn’t want Bauer on National Television in the playoffs and holding up that trophy.
I’ll be glued to the TV and the Web today to see if Andrew has another trick up his sleeve, or if Preller will now sell out the future and knee jerk a reaction to getting Scherzer plucked out his hand.
Here’s Joe Musgrove’s very unconvincing tweet regarding the Scherzer-Turner coup de gras. It really sounds like he’s trying to convince himself that everything’s going to be okay while pretended they’re not in 3rd place right now.
“It doesn’t change things, man. We feel like we’re better than that team, regardless. We feel like we want it more, we’ve got the pieces that we need. We’ve still got another day, so who knows what Preller’s got up his sleeve.”
Sure you do, Joe. You keep telling yourself that.
The era of 2 Turners begins.
Very exciting news to wake up to this morning. Always sad to lose potential stars of the future, but you gotta give to get.
It seems to me that much of our chances this season depend on the health of key personnel.
If I’m not mistaken the following are currently convalescing or recently returned to the fray,
Scherzer
Kershaw
Duffy
Mookie
Seager
Lux
Belinger
Turner T (Covid)
Graterol
Knebel
Kelly
Gonzalez
Nelson
Plus the long term casualties.
Seems an awful lot of question marks, but I guess other aspiring teams have the same problems.
There is also a slim chance that Bauer could also return.
What a great position that would put us in for the Post Season.
Think we might add Kennedy today.
All for giving Bellinger some time to get his stroke back but if he’s still struggling does he become a bench piece brought in for defense late in the game with Turner moving to short (sorry Corey but Turner’s better defensively)? Who would you rather have in the lineup Bellinger or Taylor?
Wow. AF amd the Dodgers really are going for it. Like it.
Giving up Gray and Ruiz is tough but you got to give something to get quality. With Cartaya waiting in the wings the loss of Ruiz is tolerable.
Now go all in and get Kimbrel too. DJ peters has been DFA anyway. So him and a pitching prospect (Pepiot, Beeter anyone not named Miller) and it could be done.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well it is a little after 7 on the east coast. 9 hours until the deadline. Who moves today??? Cubs keep trading? Most likely with Bryant and Kimbrel headed to new teams. Padres want Berrios badly. But I am glad we have Scherzer. His playoff resume is impressive. Some guy on twitter who is obviously a Padre fan was saying wow, you guys traded for a guy who’s ERA vs the Pads was about 11. Well, Scherzer only faced them once this season and was lit up. But over his career he is 4-2 against the Padres and his ERA just a tick over 3. He has allowed 10 HR’s in 13 games and struck out 119 Padres in 82.1 innings. He is 4-5 against the Giants, 2-4 against the Rockies and 8-0 against the D-Backs. Since he most likely will start Tuesday’s game at home against the Astros, he is 3-1 against them. He is 7-5 in the post season. Berrios is 0-1 in post season and has a 7-5 record this season with an ERA comparable to Max, but Max is 8-4.
HOTTIE Watney of the MLB Network reported that Corey Seager will be activated today and back in the Dodger lineup vs the Snakes. Man she is gorgeous!
When / if all batters are healthy:
RF- Betts
SS – Seager
2B – Turner
1B – Muncy
3B – Turner
C – Smith
CF – Bellinger
LF – Pollock
Bench
Pujols
Taylor
Barnes
Beaty
McKinstry
Starters
Scherzer
Kershaw
Buehler
Urias
Price – Gonsolin (Bauer?)
He never do nothing bad or wrong on the field.
Bullpen
??????????
Both excited about the acquisitions and disappointed to see Ruiz and Gray go. I liked Gray’s stuff. With a DH next year Ruiz may have had a chance to play more but for now he’s blocked since we have to carry Barnes. I think Ruiz will be a star so the Dodgers better win it all to give up those two.
The question remains where do they play everyone. Not so fast casting Taylor back to super sub. He’s been great. Pollock has been excellent too. I’m a Cody fan but he’s a mess. If TT wasn’t on the Covid list I’d send Belli down to AAA to get his act together. He may be platooning down the stretch.
The infield will have Muncy, TT, Seager, and JT. The OF has AJ, CT3, Mookie, and Belli to choose from.
The trade does a couple of things. First, it protects them at SS next year if they lose both Seager and CT3. Second, it protects them if Mookie’s hip continues to be a problem and is worse than what’s being let on.
This is really the first time AF has emptied out the system. Yes, I know Miller and Cartaya are still around but our system has been drained. Lux for Kimbrel for the final piece?
If TB isn’t a complete idiot the Dodgers don’t need to do this although I would still love TT.
Nice post on Durocher. When I was growing up, he was iconic. Central casting’s idea of a baseball manager. Alston always struck me as boring, but I’ve since heard that he could be an intimidating presence in the clubhouse.
So what will the new lineup be pretty soon? Assuming that Belli’s wheels are healthy, maybe…
Betts RF
T. Turner 2B
Muncy 1B
J. Turner 3B
Seager SS
Smith C
Belli CF
Pollock LF
That is kind of amazing.
I think TT is the Dodger SS of the future, but the easiest move now is to leave the job to Seager. Trea has demonstrated a lot more versatilty than Seager. If Belli’s needs to stay at 1B for health reasons, then Trea plays CF and Muncy takes 2B.
Struck by a couple thoughts: Trea Turner is the kind of player we hope Lux could become. (I’m a little surprise the Nats insist on Lux too and maybe offer Harrison back. Who knows? Maybe they tried.) Also, Turner is a big improvement over my hankering for the speedy Starling Castro, who could have been acquired at a more modest cost. I wonder how long AF has been angling for TT.
I don’t think AF is done. Some of the bench guys could be included in a deal for an RP, perhaps even another big splash.
I’ve been dreaming of Scherzer joining the Dodgers for years, especially when the Nats beat the Dodgers in their WS year. I seem to recall hearing that he actually wanted to be traded to the Dodgers years ago. Does anyone remember that?
Love the fact that AF wants to win now. And in this season where we have been plagued by injuries and the TB debacle, getting Scherzer and Trea Turner makes a great story line. Looking forward to the playoff run against the Midgets and Pads. Don’t know much about Duffy. That sure wasn’t on the radar. Do you think AF is done? I suspect not. We’ll see today!
The Scherzer trade should be official sometime tomorrow. They are checking the medicals and waiting for league approval. Turner will not be joining the team immediately as he is in quarantine and has to pass several tests before he can play. Knebel had a strong inning yesterday, giving up 1 hit and striking out two. When Turner does join the team I believe it will allow them to use Taylor as was originally intended, as a super sub. He can spell just about everyone on the team. I think the roster victims will be Raley, and McKinstry. Two of the relief corps will probably be sent down or placed on the IL> I think Gonzalez is still not healthy and he goes on the IL. Bickford and Vesia will be the bubble guys. Knebel easily fills a late inning role. Bench will be Beaty, Barnes, Taylor, Pujols and McKinney if they keep him. Of course tomorrow might bring some other changes.
Funny how all the chatter about the loss to the Giants, and the Padres adding Scherzer just disappeared around the time AF all of a sudden jumped in and stole the Padres thunder.
Another great oldie-but-goodie bio, Bear! I’ve really been enjoying them. Wasn’t Durocher involved in the infamous cheating scandal, where the Giants used a telescope in center field to tip off which pitches were coming? I think that Bobby Thompson eventually admitted that.
On another topic, is Seager now expendable for a trade? He will be a FA anyway. Seager for Kimbrel?
It was hard not to like Leo Durocher. I first remember him as the third base coach for the Dodgers. Always great to listen to him on an interview show. He apparently lost that coaching job when he criticized Walter Alston for keeping Don Drysdale in the clubhouse while Dodgers relievers lost the deciding playoff game in 1962 to the Giants. After that he co-hosted a sports talk radio show, and was garrulous and charming. Then he got the Cubs managing job, and turned them around to where it looked like they had the best team in baseball in 1969, but they were caught by the Mets, and Durocher is blamed for some of that, it is a fascinating story.
I read this autobiography. He says that he never actually coined the phrase, “Nice guys finish last,” to mean a general rule. Some writer was asking him about some manager who was in last place, and the writer said, “He’s a really nice guy,” and Durocher said, “Yeah, nice guys finish last,” not intending to intimate that all the nice guys always finish last. He wanted to point that out.
Roger Kahn, author of the great book, “The Boys of Summer,” had high regard for Durocher as a manager. In the book “Bums,” a very enjoyable oral history of the Dodgers written by Peter Golenbock, someone said that Durocher was the greatest manager he had ever seen in terms of figuring the strategy of how to manage that particular game. His problems came from being abrasive at times, consorting with some questionable people, and advocating a very intense style of play which often led to beanball fights with other teams.
When the Dodgers would go to Chicago for a series, Vin Scully would interview Durocher, and you could see the mutual regard. Durocher knew so much about the game, and had great insights into strategy and the various players. I guess that one had to take him for what he was, the positive and the negative. He was unique, and there are not really any managers and baseball personalities like him now, which is a shame.