Things That Make Me Go “Are You Crazy?”
There are a few things that drive me crazy. I’ll beat you to the punch: “ That’s not a drive… that’s a short putt!” OK, whatever! Things that drive me crazy are things that defy logic, so if you apply some logic, it won’t drive me as crazy! Being Resistant to Moving Will Smith…
There are a few things that drive me crazy. I’ll beat you to the punch: “That’s not a drive… that’s a short putt!” OK, whatever! Things that drive me crazy are things that defy logic, so if you apply some logic, it won’t drive me as crazy!
Being Resistant to Moving Will Smith From Behind the Plate
Let me put this into perspective: Will Smith is in the process of becoming an elite hitter. Will Smith was drafted as a “defense first”catcher. His offense has evolved much more than his defense. Defensively, he is in the upper half of catchers, but his ability to throw out runners is suspect. I have no qualms about moving him; the logical place is currently LF. Concussions are serious, and the Dodgers are downplaying how bad this is. Hunter Feduccia has worked with a number of Dodgers pitchers; he is a LH hitter and a solid defender. He may be a big upgrade over Barnes and Wynns.
Austin Barnes should not catch more than once or twice a week. He has no shot at the plate. He should catch Clayton and catch another game every seven days, but the Dodgers HAVE to see what they have in Hunter. There is no reason to wait. The DFA of Jake Reed opened up a spot – send him a ticket Andrew!
Thinking You Can Win a Game With Taylor & Barnes in the Lineup
Combined, they are hitting 6-69! Whoever thinks that is OK is dumber than a bag of hammers! You have to do something about this Andrew! Like today! Call up Feduccia! Do it now! Is there an echo in here?
Wanting to Trade Max Muncy
In case you have been living under a rock, Max Muncy is tied for the major league lead in Home Runs with 10. Max is back and better than ever, and his defense has improved and will continue to do so. Max may very well hit 40+ HR this year, and still, some fans want to move him. Max is the least of the Dodgers’ problems. His 1.120 OPs is 3rd in MLB (second is James Outman with a 1.121 OPS). Quit talking crap about Max – It doesn’t make you look smart!
Wanting to Fire RVS
Ever since Robert Van Socyoc took over as the hitting coach in 2019 for the Dodgers, they have been one of the best hitting and run-scoring teams in baseball. Luke Williams, who has experienced a resurgence, credits RVS with his success (see video below). So do many other players. We all think that feast or famine (all or nothing) is a Dodger team problem. No, it’s more like an “Every Team Problem.” Scouts, analysts, pitching coaches, and computers are constantly looking for ways to get hitters out. They are always looking for that “hole” in a batters’ swing” which they can exploit. It’s harder to hit in MLB than it ever was.
Believing in James Outman and Cody Bellinger
Let me preface this with this: “I love James Outman. I love watching him, and he is one of my favorite players.” Many of you enjoy parroting repeatedly that I predicted he would be a 4th or 5th outfielder. Actually, this is what I said: “I see him as a 4th outfielder type. Solid, but not a regular. He could possibly fill in as a platoon in CF. We should see him in 2023.” Then, towards the end of Spring Training, I said that he HAD TO MAKE THE TEAM!
Some of you act like I am against James Outman. If anything, I am a huge fan, but I will tell you this: “Most of you never even saw him play until he came to the Dodgers for four games last year.” Then, you saw him homer in his first AB and had six hits in 13 ABs, and hit .462 with an OPS over 1.400. At that point, you jumped on the James Outman Bandwagon. “Damn the people who have watched him for years! I just saw the next Babe Ruth, and I am sure of it after four games!” Well, you don’t know crap after 13 ABs. You know a little more after 70 ABs, and James does look good, but it is very “childlike” to make a decision after a small sampling. 70 ABs are still a small sampling, but I have high hopes that James will be a solid-to-very-good MLB PLayer. But the jury is not in… yet!
TRUE STORY: Bob Hamlin of the KC Royals hit 29 HR in AAA in 1993. In 1994, he was the AL Rookie of the Year with 25 doubles, 24 HR, and a .282 BA to go with a .987 OPS. That was the Top of the Mountain for him. He never came close to any of that and was out of baseball three years later! The baseball landscape is littered with these types of players: Todd Van Poppel, Jerome Walton, and Gregg Jefferies, to mention but a few.
Saying that a player will be a 4th outfielder is not disrespecting him. It is very difficult to be an MLB player, and James Outman is one. I have watched him for several years and had predicted he would be one, so it is difficult for me to see fans watch him for four games and jump on the bandwagon because he is a shiny, bright object. “Yeah, you just figured this out after four games- I’ve been watching him for two years.” You don’t know Shineola after four games. You know a little more after twenty-six games (that’s how many games of experience he has.)
Many of you have said that we cannot trust that Cody Bellinger is back… and you are right! It’s a short sampling. It’s kind of like wanting to bench JDM against LHP because in 27 PA’s he has a poor BA, but has one the best hard-hit rates in baseball. I say that James Outman should play every day. I would even be in favor of batting him leadoff, but it’s a long season and an even longer career. Just like we cannot pronounce Cody “fixed,” we cannot label James Outman as a star… yet, but we can acknowledge what he has done as “damn good” and say that right about now, his future looks very bright. Enjoy the process because right now, James Outman is the best Rookie in the NL!
Believing That the Dodgers Will Trade for Shohei Ohtani This Season or Sign Him as a Free Agent
Shohei Ohtani is an amazing player, and he will never be a Dodger! Get used to that! Teams with stupid owners like the Angels or Mets will sign him. Shohei Ohtani will be 30 soon and on the downhill side of his career. Signing him would qualify as a dope-fiend move. The Dodgers don’t need to put butts in seats. They have that covered. OK, they might sell a few hundred thousand jerseys, but that is chump change. Put down the pipe and back away. The only way Shohei Ohtani comes to the Dodgers is if he wants to take a lot less than market value in order to be a Dodgers and win a World Series!
Only an idiot would trade the prospect collateral necessary to get Shohei Ohtani, and Andrew Friedman is no idiot! Big contracts to aging pitchers seldom pay off. Baseball land is littered with bad contracts for sore-armed pitchers. I do not think AF will even sign Julio Urias, who is three years younger. He will command an eight to ten-year deal, and at least two of those years will be spent on the IL.
In parting, I have three things to say, and you can just watch and learn:
- JD Martinez has one of the Top 22 Hard Hit Rates in Baseball. He will be just fine.
- David Peralta was signed to hit against RHP – he will be solid to very good. In case you haven’t been watching, he is slowly getting locked in. He is in great shape, and there is a reason his teammates respect the hell outta’ him.
- Jason Heyward is a very nice bench piece.
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Discussion (129)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I see our SS hit a HR. Way to go Rojas!!
Ohtani, unlike Greinke, might not want to sign with the highest bidder. He wants to win and will probably choose a location that also has a good chance for a championship. He is going to get a shoe contract etc. I think the Dodgers will offer a max 5 year contract, maybe 4 at 45.
If the Dodgers were to trade for Ohtani, my guess would be Muncy, Urias, Busch, and another pitcher would be on the table. Moving Muncy would open third for Smith.
If you are the Dodgers you trade prospects for Ohtani ten times out of ten. Maybe fourteen times out of ten.
You are the Dodgers and the asset is Ohtani.
How is this even a debate?
It’s great to see Outman have such a hot start. But I agree with Mark. Still too early to know where he will fit in for this season and moving forward.
I’ve reserved my opinion on Outman because I never got to see him play up close. He skipped Rancho all together. He moved from rookie league to high A. He Didn’t play a game in low A. I tend not to have strong opinions about guys I haven’t watched play. And I didn’t see a single one of his minor league games (outside of highlights). I tend to reserve judgment before I sound off. Unlike Lux, Vargas, Cartaya… ect. Whom I saw play many, many times and talk to many times.
I remember how Joc started. His first month or two in the league he looked like the second coming. After the AS break he became what he is today. A platoon outfielder. 70 ABs isn’t much to go on. I’ll reserve judgment. But I’m rooting for the kid and our record would be in the trash without his bat, so far, this year. He and Muncy have carried this team, so far.
Totally agree with Mark’s column today.
Friedman is NOT stupid, doesn’t make moves that are not well thought out even if they don’t all work out. I MIGHT be able to see him trading for Ohtani as a rental if it would win the World Series, otherwise not a chance. Cohen will sign him because he wants NY fans to love him!
PS: Agree on Cobb’s comments about Joc. Loved me some Joc the first half of 2015(?). Thought sure we had a R.O.Y. and solid everyday player. So did a lot of other people. I wish he’d signed anywhere but SF.
Bluto my friend, I think if you leave off the first line and the last line of that post you would encourage more discourse.
That said, I agree with the last line, the asset is Ohtani. That’s not in question. The question is – what’s he worth to YOUR franchise? It’s my opinion, and only my opinion, he would be more valuable to other organizations.
What happens when a pitcher puts a ball on a tee against Max?
I forgot to post earlier that the Dodgers released Rubby De La Rosa.
Dodgers Planning To Activate Tony Gonsolin For Wednesday Start
By Mark Polishuk | April 23, 2023 at 3:33pm CDT
Tony Gonsolin’s 2023 debut may be imminent, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya) that Gonsolin will “likely” be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday’s game against the Pirates. It won’t be a full start, as Gonsolin is expected to pitch around four innings before giving way to the bullpen.
Nice win. Lets just keep it going in Steel Town. Ohtani no.
Looks like we most likely will be at a tie to lead the division at this day’s end,
Ohtani is an all star pitcher AND an all star hitter. No one in the HISTORY of modern MLB history has even come close, including the Babe. If he continues this level of excellence for another 5-6 years I don’t see how he can’t be considered the greatest ever!
Also impressive gut check by our Dodgers after that debacle on Friday!
Badger: Gonsolin threw 57 pitches in his MiLB rehab start. The start on Tuesday will function as his second rehab start (probably 75 pitches or so) only it will happen with the big club. He should go 4-5 innings and get him ready for 85-90 pitches in his next start, which gets him close to being full ready.
How about some kudos for our ace, who, battled without his best command today.
He’s just a joy to watch, never giving in.
Just say NO to OH!
Nop
OK, let’s assume that the Angels flop (again) and Ohtani is on the market. Put aside his bat for a second. Let’s assume that Ohtani is best pitcher on the market (and it probably ain’t close). Let’s further assume that Dodgers want to shore up their pitching staff, which is always a reasonable assumption.
In years past, the Dodger front office brought at mid-season in high-impact players like Scherzer, Trea Turner, Darvish and Machado at mid-season. The Dodgers gave up a lot of young talent to get those guys, but which of these deals do Dodger fans regret? Any of them? And while it was not at mid-season, but the Dodgers also gave up a lot to get Mookie. Does anybody here wish we had Verdugo, Kike and Connor Wong instead of Mookie? I know some of you think Mookie overrated–a star, but not a superstar. But do you wish AF hadn’t pulled the trigger on that deal?
But back to the 2023 mid-season trade market with the Angels entertaining bids for the most extraordinary player in the game…
The Padres will make an offer. So will the Mets. So will the Yankees. So will other teams.
But the NO-to-OH crowd say, “Don’t do it, Andrew! We don’t want that guy! We want to keep our top prospects in OKC and Tulsa and Great Lakes and Rancho Cucamonga!”
So the AF says, “Yeah, we’ll let the Padres get him.”
For some reason I don’t think it would work out like that.
Duke –
You make a pretty strong case for going after Ohtani. You are right about who actually regrets the loss of the prospects for recent Dodger deals. And, you probably could add the SF Giants as Ohtani suitors.
There would be a lot of public pressure on the Dodgers to get into the bidding war for him. Not sure the Dodgers want to send a “not interested” message to the 40k+ fans every game at Dodger Stadium.
Sure glad I am not on that hot seat!
What would be the tax ramifications, if we’re over again this year, to signing Ohtani and it puts us over by 40-50 mil next year? Does his signing mean we don’t sign Julio or Kersh next year? There’s a lot of moving parts here. I’m sure AF and Co have all the numbers pencilled out for all the scenarios. If there’s an unlimited budget who wouldn’t want Ohtani!
On a side note.
This weekend my son (freshman catcher for his HS JV team) tried to convince me (once again) about this new catching philosophy. About almost always having a knee down (to frame more effectively). I don’t buy it. I have never bought it. My son’s coaches won’t even entertain a knee down with runners on. My son is excellent at blocking. But he keeps telling me “I could block better with my knee down”. I call BS.
Watch how this ends.
My 15 YO could have blocked that pitch. If his knee WASN’T down!
Kike was not involved in the Betts trade. Substitute Jeter Downs.
04/23/23 Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Evan Phillips on the bereavement list.
Praying for Evan and his wife.
Potentially devastating news involving RHP Evan Phillips surfaced on Twitter late on Sunday night following an update on the MLB transactions page. The reliever was placed on the paternity leave list on Thursday as he and wife Elizabeth were reportedly welcoming their first child. Notably, he flew out from LA to Chicago with the team but immediately flew back. Now a report showing he’s been placed on the bereavement list has fans very concerned.