Why I Trust Andrew Friedman
Frequently, I am accused of being a “ Dodgers’ Homer ” and even “ Worshiping at the Holy Temple of Andrew Friedman ” because I have been a supporter of his since he came to LA. Unlike some fans who love to criticize Friedman or Dave Roberts, I am fine with both of them, although…
Frequently, I am accused of being a “Dodgers’ Homer” and even “Worshiping at the Holy Temple of Andrew Friedman” because I have been a supporter of his since he came to LA. Unlike some fans who love to criticize Friedman or Dave Roberts, I am fine with both of them, although I could see the Dodgers replacing Doc if they don’t win it all this year… not because it was his fault, but sometimes change is needed for the sake of change and a new voice can be effective. I have no reason to support Dave Roberts except that his record speaks for itself, and to a man, his players love him… and they also respect him. The hatred of Dave Roberts is irrational, at best!
Some Morons think that Miguel Vargas is my favorite player because they have a favorite player and those same Morons thought I would be upset with Miguel Vargas’ demotion back to OKC. That’s what makes them morons: They think they know something that they don’t! They have no clue. I have said that I didn’t understand why Vargas was not playing, but that there had to be a really good reason. Others have suggested that the Dodgers don’t really value Vargas and have decided to trade him. While I think the Dodgers would trade just about any player, I think it is very small-minded to believe that they are hell-bent for leather to trade him… But they will… if they get value in return.
Vargas’ bat-to-ball skills are evident to anyone with a modicum of understanding of the mechanics of baseball, but he is still a prospect, and other than during the time he was injured, he has not had an opportunity to display his talents. His time will come, maybe with the Dodgers or with some other team, but believing that the Dodgers have decided to trade him is simplistic, small-minded, and just plain silly. Maybe that is how you think, but it’s not how Andrew thinks.
It is becoming apparent that Mookie Betts would be better served playing 2B. There has been a lot of talk about Willy Adames, Bo Bichette, and even Francisco Lindor, but there are other possibilities. Consider Paul DeJong of the White Sox. I do not see the Dodgers trading for Luis Robert, Jr., especially with the demand of the Sox, which will take a haul similar to Juan Soto. On the other hand, Paul DeJong is a solid defensive SS who put up a .857 OPS in his rookie year with 25 HR and has never come close to that again. As I write this, he has 13 HR and a .772 OPS for the ChiSox. He is exactly the kind of hitter that Robert Van Scoyoc loves to “fix,” and he has fixed many! What about Javier Baez? Could RVS fix him? OK, I’ll stop right there.
That is just another suggestion, but back to my “irrational worship of Andrew Friedman.” Actually, it’s very rational. As I said, he is not perfect, as evidenced by the fact that he traded away Yordan Alvarez… although for all the accolades he gets, the rumor is that he is not a good teammate (translation: he’s an A-Hole)… so there is that! Maybe he is just immature. But I digress. The fact of the matter is that since Andrew Friedman took over as President of Baseball Operations for the Dodgers, they have the best record in baseball and are the envy of every organization. Only the Yankees came close to the machine the Dodgers have built, and I believe the Dodgers have surpassed the Yankees in worldwide brand recognition with the signing of Ohtani and Yamamoto.
But Dodger fans love to nip at and peck away at perceived shortcomings by Friedman. This is usually done to compensate for something and I am not even going to go there. Here’s the crux of the matter: All fans see is the “tip of the iceberg” but there is a lot more to an iceberg than just the tip.
When we say that AF should trade for a certain player or “extend Teoscar,” we only know a small portion of everything that is involved. As fans, we think we know something when, in fact, we may know 10% of what Friedman knows, but we are quick to express our opinions and, in reality, show how little we know. I do not understand why the Dodgers called up Miguel Vargas only to let him sit on the bench, but I am satisfied that there is a reason, and we will understand it in due time. I am also fine with him going back to OKC. As I have said, he is not my favorite player – I do not have a favorite player… well except for Alex Freeland. We all know his story! However, I do like Vargas’ skillset. I liked Michael Busch’s skillset as well, but Busch is a 1B and was not going to supplant Freddie Freeman. Busch is doing just about what I predicted: .251 BA/.347 OB%/.791 OPS/8 HR. The Dodgers got a good return in Hope and Ferris. If Vargas is traded, it will be because the Dodgers will get a good return for him that will move the organization forward.
When fans say, “Trade for such and such player,” we have no idea how another team values the Dodgers players involved. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Scouts have varying opinions about certain players. One man’s food is another man’s poison. To each his own. That’s not my cup of tea — all of these sayings show how much of what we see is subjective. The Dodgers have won one World Series under Friedman, and it should have been two, but he had no control over that. It’s much harder to win a World Series these days than it was in the past when all you had to do was win the pennant and play the pennant winner from the other league. If you can’t comprehend that, then it is likely someone is reading this column to you today.
I like the fact that the Dodgers are committed to winning the World Series and consider it a failure when they don’t. That’s a great mindset, but in reality, under the current format, the stars have to align perfectly in order to win it all. Baseball players are a streaky bunch. They run hot and cold, and with today’s analytics, video, coaching, scouting, and the like, things can turn in an instant. It is going to be a fun season. Andrew will make some trades… players will come and players will go, but the Dodgers will be in it at the end. Will they win it all? I will guarantee one thing: I will hope they do!
Let me explain why I trust Andrew Friedman with another example: During the past year, I have ceded control US Water Systems to my son, who will be 25 on June 18th. Next week, he will officially become CEO of US Water Systems. Within the past two months, I have moved out of the office and work from home. I am no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the company. My son, Steve, is doing an amazing job, but occasionally, I see something happen that I question, and I ask him, “Why did you do such and such?” In nearly every case, I questioned the decision because I did not know all the facts. I completely trust him to do the right thing, and that is why I trust AF… even though I have even fewer facts. Jumping to conclusions without all the facts is a sport for morons.
Walker Buehler
I still do not have an opinion on what will happen with Striker Buehler. He can no longer “bully” hitters like he used to. His 4-seamer doesn’t move as much, and he is stubborn. He can still reach back and hit 97 or 98 so he can be effective. He is just going to have to learn to pitch differently, and it might be a process. I can’t predict the outcome, but I would not bet against him.
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Ready for my Next Dog
As some of you know, I lost my trusted guardian in September; now that we are settled into our new home, I am ready for my next one. His name is Shadrack and he is one of these (not sure which one of the litter of 14 he is):
Here’s his daddy:
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Discussion (94)
Disagree, not disagreeable
So, just to be clear, you may or may not like Doc?
So as Andrew stated earlier, Bobby Miller goes tonight.
If everything goes as planned it’s possible he will be brought up at some point later next week when his next start is due.
Do we move to a 6 man rotation?
Does a starter move to the bullpen?
Who goes to Triple A or gets a phantom IR stint?
The easy move is IR someone or Banda to Triple A (but he has been so good) and Paxton to the bullpen until he is traded or released. That may depend on where Kershaw is at over the next 6weeks.
With Paxton I just don’t know how he would hold up having to pitch 2-3 x’s a week
His control stinks and he doesn’t miss bats. He would be another Yarbrough which is redundant.
Walker will probably stay in the starting rotation to continue to work things out until playoff time and then possibly go to the bullpen or be left off the playoff roster all together, pending who returns from the current IR list.
They certainly should not be messing with Stone.
Go Dodgers!!
10:10 PM ET
Rangers (32-35)
Dodgers (42-27)
SP Michael Lorenzen R
3-3 3.05 ERA
SP Michael Grove
4-2 4.72 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
RF J. Heyward L
2B Gavin Lux L
3B Cavan Biggio L
C A. Barnes R
68° Wind 7 mph Out
Bullpen game tonight
I am really starting to question AF decisions. It was extremely galling to me to see the Dodgers rolling with an outfielder playing SS and watching the guy the Dodgers should have playing SS hitting 3 Run tanks to beat us. AF couldn’t give Seager 330 for 10 but can give Ohtani twice that? All of the Dodgers current headaches with the line up revolve around not having a real starting SS on the team. At least put Rojas back at SS and let’s see what he does with the bat. Put Mookie back in the OF or 2B if you have to. I think Lux is going to end up being a good player if they just give him some time and regular ABs. AF will screw around platooning him and then trading him so he can come back and embarrass the organization wearing a different uniform like Seager did last night.
I just read that Bauer signed with Houston, is that true?
It seems like it’s yesterday’s news, and I’m just finding out
Would the dodgers go after Kris Bryant because he can play thirdbase first base and almost all outfield postions. And I am sure rockies would like some of are prospects or even Lux. Also his last name starts with B so why not.
The Dodgers have 2 starting pitchers returning soon (Bobby Miller and Clayton Kershaw). While James Paxton probably comes out of the rotation first, if Buehler is still pitching the way he is right now, I expect that he will spend the remainder of the season in the bullpen. A return from 2 TJs is not close to being automatic.
Buehler has a very long runway in my book. I look for him to be a playoff pitcher. Inconsistent run scoring is our biggest October nemises
Buehler continues to battle back from his second TJ surgery. It is a long and difficult process with a low chance of success. I love his competitiveness and his team first attitude. He likely was hurt when he took the ball on 3 days rest in the 2021 playoffs, when Scherzer complained of a tired arm. While he has not been close to his old form yet, he has not been terrible. The Dodger defense has not helped him out either. Rojas botched a play at third that cost him several runs that were classified as earned last week. And last night, it looks like Biggio made an error the batter before Seager’s HR. While one run is considered unearned, that error completely changed the inning. If there were two out and first base open with Seager up like there should have been, then Buehler would have had the luxury of pitching around Corey. Instead he had to give in to Seager, the best hitter on the team who is also LH. Seager showed in person why the Dodgers should have kept him. Without that error, Walker would not have thrown that 4 seam FB to Seager.
Buehler did not throw his teammate under the bus in the interview, he just acknowledged that he has to get better himself if he wants to stay in the rotation and pitch in the playoffs.
Buehler has a wining attitude and has given his best to this organization. I hope they recognize his contributions and find a way to keep him a Dodger next year.
I concur with all you said Mark. We fans do not know as much as we think we do. Especially when it comes to how trades are done. I have seen some very unreal trade scenarios brought up here, and on other sites. The Astros GM was quoted on MLBTR as saying the Astros will definitely be buyers at the deadline, so all of you hoping the Dodgers could pick up Tucker, you may as well forget about it. Only the fans are concerned about Betts as the SS. It doesn’t seem that Mookie or the Dodger FO and coaches are worried at all. Mookie has conceded it is a very hard transition, but he seems to enjoy the challenge. My thought is if they decide they want to go in a different direction, they will not upset the apple cart now. They will wait until the off-season to go get another SS. I have to believe that Vargas’s time here was more a showcase than anything else. I think he has slid down some in their eyes. Why give Pages an extended look, and just let a talent like Vargas ride the pine? Makes little sense. Nice looking dog. Hope you enjoy him. Happy Birthday to your son, a Gemini like Jeff D and me. Mine is tomorrow. #76. Wow surprised I made it this far. Just go beat Texas tonight, and then take two of three from a very tough KC team before heading to Denver for four. As for Pages running through Ebel’s stop sign, the kid is a rookie, he was trying to make a play and failed. It happens. He will know better next time.
Mark, question for you:
I agree with a lot of what you say about Vargas, especially the Busch similarities.
Do you consider him a LF only? Is that his only path to a starting job?
Maybe Walker Buehler should pull a John Smoltz and go to the Bullpen for a time?
Mark, if you want your new doggie to have a long and happy life, check out Dr. Marty’s pet food. Everything he needs and nothing he doesn’t. Our Pup has never been better and he absolutely loves the food.
Thursday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Christian Romero) at Dayton (Bryce Hubbart)
5 p.m.: Tulsa (Kendall Williams) vs. Arkansas (Juan Mercedes)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Bobby Miller) at Sugar Land (Blair Henley)
6:50 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Patrick Copen) at Fresno (Austin Emener)
Thursday will be Bobby Miller’s fourth, and potentially final minor league rehab start.
What a beautiful dog! All the best to you and Shadrack. Live long and prosper, little puppie!
BTW, we have 3 Weimaraner boys. One 13 year old and two brothers 3 years old.
The saying is so true: A house with a dog is a home, a house without a dog is just a house.
Go DodGerS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That dog— Daddy— looks like he can hit .270, play all three outfield spots and 3rd base in a pinch…sign ‘em!
Thought he admirably got out of the jam in the 4th, seems like Buehler is struggling to find an out pitch; four seamer looks too straight…and old friend Seager made him pay. Great at bat by Seager; actually showed patience, quickly recovered after missing the 2-0 gopher ball and took it to a full count where Buehler made a mistake. Command still off but making progress…
One game, 15 runs…the next, 2 runs….baseball
Or as the great philosopher Joaquin Andujar in two words once described baseball: “You never know…”
Cheers….