What s Up Doc?

Doc is what is up!

Dave Roberts, who in his rookie season as the Dodger’s manager, won the Manager of the Year Award is a shoo-in to do it again in his second year.  He’s so far ahead, there’s not a second place.  Of course, FAZ gave him an embarrassment of riches, but he has managed it almost flawlessly. I still know of three or four morons who criticize FAZ by trying to point to small failures (Olivera, maybe Schebler, Latos, Johnson, Cotton, Reddick, Montas, blah, blah, blah), but all you have to look at is the SCOREBOARD!

FAZ has proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they know how to build a juggernaut while still winning in the process.  Usually, the new front office blows up the team and starts over but FAZ still went to the playoffs in their first two years and is now poised to win it all in year three. To the best of my knowledge, this has never been done before. The mockers have turned into the mockees (is that really a word?)! I told them for years that they were missing a good opportunity to shut up because they were just going to be exposed as blowhards… and now they are.

Now they have to shut up, but they still don’t.  A few morons say that Guggenheim & Company “forced” Friedman to hire Roberts and that FAZ was set to hire Kapler.  Somehow, they believe that this degrades FAZ.  Well, there are lies and there are damned lies and that one is a damn lie!  Totally untrue.  It only deserves mention to berate the source of such drivel.

Dave Roberts has shut up his detractors too. When one type of slander doesn’t work, the FAZ detractors resort to other methods like “Dave Roberts is a puppet – he just does what FAZ says.” The people who say that are simply liars or ignoramuses… or both! DodgerRick was kind enough to post an article from USA TODAY (If you haven’t read it, I suggest you do) that takes a look inside of  the Dodgers’ Front Office.

You want to know the secret behind the Dodgers’ success, reaching 83 victories faster than any National League team since 1944, there’s no need to look any further than their front office.

Its brand is Analytic Geek Squad, a group boasting Wall Street resumes, MIT diplomas and Ph.Ds.

Yet, while they routinely pore over statistical data with their players, they’re actually accepted and embraced within the clubhouse culture as one of their own – averting the chasm so often seen between players, field staff and front-office executives.

“The communication from Andrew, Farhan (Zaidi) and the multiple GMs around here is extremely comfortable,’’ Dodgers veteran pitcher Rich Hill says. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, wow, I can’t talk to him because he’s the president or the GM.’ There are no barriers or walls. The level of respect is there for everybody, and you just don’t find that in every organization. Hopefully, other organizations will look at this as a model for everyone.’’

Make no mistake, this is an organization that thrives on data. Players are given charts before each game on everything from defensive positioning to opposing pitchers’ tendencies to secretive injuries. Catcher Yasmani Grandal has a color-coded cheat sheet on his wrist band. Outfielders carry index cards in their back pockets during games, reminding them of their defensive placement. Players are given access to a proprietary statistical website.

Manager Dave Roberts is provided so much information before every game that he could launch a NASA program.

“But the perception that those guys are just kind of number guys,’’ Roberts says, “couldn’t be further than the truth. They’re down in the clubhouse all of the time, interacting with players and coaches, and bouncing ideas off one another. We talk just as much about clubhouse chemistry, and the right type of player we need, as much as we do the data.’’

And, please, the notion that the front office is making out the lineup card, Roberts says, is a narrative that needs to go away.

“That has never, ever happened,’’ Roberts says. “There’s always been that collaboration, bouncing thoughts off one another. We use all of the data from lineup construction to positioning to pitcher’s usage and matchups, but as far as the lineup cards, that’s my call.

“Ultimately, it’s my decision who is going to play.’’

This would be a good opportunity for all the detractors to just shut up. Maybe I am using some strong words, but I listened to this drivel about FAZ for years.  The people who said it aren’t here on this board, but they are reading this and I know who they are and they know who they are.  Most of us know who they are.  It’s a free country, you can say stupid stuff. You can be an idiot who marches at Charlottesville.  No matter how detestable your beliefs are, you are free to express them as long as you don’t injure another person or infringe on their rights.  That’s true almost everywhere in America, but when you infringe on my rights by saying stupid stuff and cause me to lose brain cells, well, that’s where it stops.  I can’t spare any more brain cells. You all know that!

OK, this rant is over.  Have a wonderful day!

The batting order doesn’t really matter as much as we fans think that it does.  DodgerRick also posted this yesterday on the Significance of Batting Order. It’s a worthy read.  Logan Forsythe hit 5th, Puig hit 7th and Kike was the cleanup hitter.  It’s didn’t matter – they were all instrumental in the come from behind win.  Maybe we all should not miss this opportunity to shut up about the batting order (Myself Included).  These guys are professionals – don’t try this at home!

Rants and Raves

• We aren’t hearing much about Brandon McCarthy.  What’s up with that?
• Why does Clayton need a rehab start?”  It’s just more innings.  Have Stewart or Stripling or some other pitcher ready and see if Clayton can go 5 – I bet he can!
• Locastro was 3-5 again with his 2nd HR (.415 BS, 1.081 OPS) in game 1 and 1-4 in game 2
• Farmer played 3B and was 3-5 in game 1 and played 1B in Game 2
• Buehler pitched 1 inning and allowed 3 hits and a run.  It’s taking a while to get him accustomed to relieving.
• Sborz and Sopko had good outings in Tulsa’s double header.
• Andre Ethier and Adrian Gonzalez both played for RC last night.  Forget their numbers…. are they healthy?  That’s all that counts.