Yeah, Follow Them Over the Cliff That s the Ticket!
Several years ago, when the Dodgers traded for Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez (among others), I called BS. I still do. Yeah, I know what Kasten and Colletti were trying to do, but that was not the only way. Five years ago, when the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman they had the biggest payroll in baseball and had been bounced from the playoffs two straight years after missing them altogether the
Several years ago, when the Dodgers traded for Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez (among others), I called BS. I still do. Yeah, I know what Kasten and Colletti were trying to do, but that was not the only way. Five years ago, when the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman they had the biggest payroll in baseball and had been bounced from the playoffs two straight years after missing them altogether the previous 3 years. Those were a miserable 5 years.
When Andrew Friedman burst on the scene and traded the Beloved Kemp for the Hated Grandal and Dee Gordon for who???? I was ecstatic. I saw what he was doing right away. He was bent on making the Dodgers relevant again. He rebuilt the farm, chopped bloated unnecessary payroll and for the past 5 years, this team has been a joy to watch… most of the time.
Other GM’s and teams started to emulate the Dodgers and they are held up to be a model organization. Then they got to the World Series in 2017… and lost. Dodger fans said they choked. They said Kershaw and Jansen were “choke artists” and the team was a bunch of losers. Now, we find that the Astros most likely cheated BIG TIME to win. Like Molly Knight so eloquently said:
The notion that the Astros might have walloped Clayton Kershaw in that game because they knew what pitch was coming is especially painful. If Kershaw wins that game, the Dodgers take a commanding 3-2 series lead heading back to L.A. And if they win the World Series, Kershaw, with two wins — including a dominant Game 1 performance in which he tossed seven innings of one-run ball and struck out 11 — is likely named World Series MVP. The narrative that he’s bad in October is dead forever.
Imagine the lives, legacies, and circumstances that were changed with this cheating. What is most troubling is that everyone had to know, from Luhnow to Cora, the Altuve to Verlander to Fiers (the Rat). As far as I know, the Dodgers run a clean organization… way above board. Should they resort to cheating because the Astros and Red Sox (the least two World Winners) did? Hell no! You play to win the game, not cheat to win the game.
For years, sign stealing has been an art in baseball and it is never going to stop, but overt electronic surveillance has been mandated as off-limits to MLB teams. In fact, they have been told that the penalties will be severe if they are caught. I think the Hammer is getting ready to drop on Houston and it is going to be severe!
Over the past couple of offseasons, baseball GM’s have been showing extraordinary restraint. The contracts have been reasonable and rational, but this offseason a reliever who had just two good months was given a 4-year/$34 Million dollar deal; a #3 starter who has never pitched over 150 innings or won more than 13 games and has an extensive injury history (to boot) signed a 5 year/$118 Million Dollar deal…and I didn’t even mention that in 9 or 10 starts against the Braves and Nats (teams in the same division, he has a 6.00+ ERA. What follows next is a pitcher with an injury history, who will be 32 next year, just signed a 7-year/$245 million dollar deal and Gerrit Cole is set to make $300+ million over 9 or 10 years.
So, because all the lemmings are following each other and jumping off the cliff, you think the Dodgers should do the same? If you believe that you are stone-cold freaking crazy. Just because everyone is eating dog poop, doesn’t mean you have to as well. This is like playing the lottery: the odds of winning are small but people keep on buying the tickets. People keep putting bills in the slot machines, so since everyone is so irrational, the Dodgers should do it too? Shut your mouth! Seriously. This buying frenzy is going to cause many teams to “crash and burn.”
… and Andrew Friedman will be there to pick up the pieces at pennies on the dollar. “Brian Cashman is so smart.” Yes, he is. Andrew Friedman has not gotten the Dodgers to win the World Series in his 5 years as President of baseball operations. Cashman has not gotten the Yankees to the World Series in 10 years! It’s hard to do… especially if you have bad contracts like Jacoby Elsbury and CC Sabathia (there were others before that), then he added Giancarlo Stanton and I hope they add Gerrit Cole at $320 Million.
I’ll take financial flexibility over multiple boat anchor contracts any day. Now, it’s not a given that Friedman will bow out of the Cole Sweepstakes – I can see him giving out ONE (only 1) boat anchor deal. It could be to Cole for $280 Million or Rendon for about $240. I think he would be better not doing it, but ownership may cave into the rabid fan base who have no clue, and yes… if you are saying the Dodgers should spend stupid money, I am saying “YOU have no clue.”
Watch how fast Strasburg goes south. That is a dope-fiend deal. Wheeler, I can make some sense of – they are hoping he gets better (not likely), but it is an overpay, just not as dumb as $300+ million for Bryce Harper. While all the lemmings are running over the cliff, Andrew Friedman is planning his next move. Stay tuned. It’s time some of you learned something.
I would not be afraid to start the season with the roster the Dodgers have… even minus Ryu (whom I think will get a 4 Year/$70 Million deal now) and pick up pieces at the trade deadline. These dope-fiend moves right about now are just plain crazy!
Dodger News
- Josh Bard is back as Bullpen Coach, taking over for Mark Prior. I know that Kenley especially liked him.
- Josh Hader is not leaving Milwaukee unless they get two Top Prospects (think Lux and Ruiz). Could Lux be the ROY in the NL? Forget what he did in his callup. Remember how bad Buehler looked in his initial callup. If Lux can play at that level, do the Dodgers even need to add anyone?
- JT can play 3B for 125 games and Matt Beaty or Ed Rios can play against tough RHP to give JT a blow. Give Beaty or Rios all spring at 3B and they can play an average 3B.
- I wonder if the Dodgers could get some pitching from the Cards for Joc Pederson? Carlos Martinez?
- Believe me, AF has lots of contingencies – I think he knew the Winter Meetings were going to be a Crack House!
Today’s Music
This song has special significance to me. I’ll tell you someday…
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Discussion (217)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I’d be fine with MadBum. I think he’d bring an edge the team has lacked in recent years and would be embraced by the clubhouse (eventually). Lets hope the bidding on Rendon remains more reasonable than it was for Cole. I saw a report that LA was willing to go 8 years 290 for Cole, so they will spend, but have limits.
I am impressed with the depth of knowledge that many of you have, and I respect the time and effort put into your comments. The bottom line for me is a world championship for the Dodgers – and I believe changes are in order or we will be looking at another NL West title followed by another heartbreak in the playoffs. Specifically, we must add an additional high impact starter and a dominant closer. The bats we have now are good enough, but pitching is what wins championships.
Does the FO really know what they want? I sometimes wonder how so little changes in the Dodger strategy of acquiring talent. It SEEMS that they only want bargains. They let all the other aggressive FO’s sweep the top tier and then try to decide if there is anyone worth picking up. Kolarek? White? Negron? Look how far that got us. I’m not crying over spilt milk, but letting Greinke walk was a bad mistake. Now we want another top tier SP and there is no one left, but they knew that already as they were never going to get into the FA market at this level. They simply don’t do this! Okay. I accept this. It’s only the farm hands and some FA stragglers that they might go after, no one important, no difference maker, no star at any level. How dull! At least sign Ryu so we can have a decent rotation for 2020. Don’t let him walk away. Forget the Giant Bum!!!
I can’t get mad at the Dodgers for not paying that much for Cole. It may work out for the Yankees, but if it doesn’t, they now have about $60 million plus a year for two players. I am willing to bet that the Phillies will get more return on their investment in Harper. I thought that deal was crazy too.
Just because he’s less expensive doesn’t mean he’s worth 100 mil. He’s a playoff number 3 at best. We need stars to get a championship. Mad Bum is no longer a star. Every championship Yankees win would have been ours if we had signed Cole.
The Dodgers will not pay “stupid money” to any free agent. They are going after MadBum because he will be less expensive. I have no confidence that he is the MadBum of 3 years ago – ERA of 3.90 with an FIP of 3.90 last year so it wasn’t bad luck.
Forget Rendon.
Pay Rendon! I’m tired of hearing about the Dodgers being in but not willing to pull the trigger. Rendon should have been MVP last season. He’s the RH bat they have coveted for some time now.
I’m not mad that the Dodgers didn’t get Cole for that kind of money. Rendon was my first choice. I would be happy with Rendon and Ryu. Please don’t make me root for Bumgrabber. Kent was bad enough. It does irk me a bit that the Yankees bested the Dodgers though if they were going heavy after Cole. I don’t like losing to the Yankees at anything. I would have paid Cole for 9 years before Strasburg for 7. Grandal is supposedly recruiting Ryu to the Angels. I have to believe Bumgrabber wants to stay in the NL as much as he likes to hit so I can see it happening.
Rosenthal said it cane down to Dodgers and Yankees for Cole.
Yes it’s a dope fiend deal but damn it when will AF and the Dodger owners step up and acquire the most coveted player during any Hot Stove season?
Now it’s rumored they will go after Madbum. I hope AF is working the trade market because I don’t see Madbum going to the Dodgers and truthfully I don’t want to see him in a Dodger uniform.
Don’t we already have one over the hill lefty! I’d rather have Dick Mountain than Assbitener!
That is way too much money, I am glad the Dodgers didn’t sign him.
Rosenthal is reporting the Dodgers are going after…………………………………………………………wait for it……………………………………………………………….Madison Bumgarner.
9 years $324 at $36MM per year…
David Vassegh on Dodger talk podcast tonight said the Dodgers are still in on Cole and the Dodgers are being aggressive when it comes to Cole. He says it’s coming down to the Dodgers and Yankees for Cole. He says the Angels are on the outside looking in when it comes to Cole. But he says the Angles are in on Rendon and so are the Dodgers and Rangers. He says he doesn’t buy the rumors about the Dodgers being in on Donaldson. He said nothing about Ryu.
Did AZ make a dope fiend signing of Greinke or were they brilliant because they were able to trade him.
Look no further than their record!
Did AZ make a dope fiend signing of Greinke or were they brilliant because they were able to trade him.
If the Dodgers paid Cole $40M in 2020 and 2021 and $25M in years 2022 through 2029 that would be a 10 year $305M contract. He might well be worth $40M during the next two years given innings May, Gray, Urias, Gonsolin might pitch in those first two years. They could then trade him and get quite a bit in return and we would know if Buehler, May, Urias, Gray would be good enough without Cole.
From Gurnick:
Roberts predicted the roster will turn over more this off-season than any since he’s been manager.
“There’s a fine line between Saturday night and Sunday morning.”
~ Jimmy Buffett
As we heard in the great Spinal Tap:
It’s a very fine line between stupid and clever.
Sure rooting for Angels over Yankees for Cole! Best scenario for Dodgers.
Giants acquire Zach Cozart and his $12.67MM AAV along with 2019 1st round pick SS Will Wilson (15th overall) from NC State. Looks like LAA had to include Wilson to dump Cpzart salary.
$21.67MM AAV for Cozart and Gausman who apparently wants to continue to start. Gausman not a whole lot less than his expected arbitration.
Didi Gregorius – 1 year Philadelphia
Kevin Gausman – – SF Giants 1 year – Guaranteed $9MM with bonus incentives for starts.
I don’t see any free agents other than Ryu happening now for the Dodgers. The Nats really threw a big wrench in the free agent wheel with that ridiculous Strausburg contract. I agree with AC, if the Dodgers are still in on Rendon though, 7/250 should be max and that’s stretching it. Tops for me on Ryu would be 3/60.
MLB Trade Rumors reports Scott Boras as saying that Rendon is going to get 7 years.
As far as Kershaw learning a change up, he talks about this on Stripling’s podcast (The Big Swing).
He says that he has tried to learn it for years. Tries a few in every bullpen session and they just don’t work.
He is NEVER going to learn a change up. That ship has sailed.