In 2004, Frank McCourt purchased the Dodgers from Ruppert Murdoch’s News Corp for 430 million dollars. His purchase of the team was mostly funded by debt. His South Boston parking lot property was used as collateral for some of the funding needed to buy the Dodgers. Later that property would be turned over to NewsCorp in exchange for cancelling acquisition debt. NewsCorp received approximately 200 million when they sold the property to Morgan Stanley and real estate investor, John B. Hynes III in 2006. McCourt had previously tried to buy the Boston Red Sox, but they were sold to John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Luccino.
The Dodgers assets acquired by McCourt included significant real estate assets related to the stadium in Chavez Ravine, including stadium parking lot land. Plans were announced for new real estate developments at Dodger Stadium, but those plans were never implemented. One discussed plan was to add an NFL stadium and adjacent retail complex. But after the Boston Herald reported details of the plan, political pressure forced the NFL and McCourt to deny that either party was pursuing the plan.
To offset the purchase, McCourt raised ticket and concession prices every year. By 2009, the team and its related assets, in which McCourt had invested heavily in improvements, had increased in value to 722 million according to Forbes. In 2010, the value had increased to 727 million.
Not long after purchasing the team, McCourt fired GM Dan Evans and replaced him with Paul DePodesta. DePodesta, along with Oakland GM, Billy Beane, were the main focus of the book, Moneyball. Both relied on sabermetrics to build a roster. In the middle of the 2004 season, DePodesta traded Paul LoDuca, the Dodgers starting catcher, set up man, Guillermo Mota, and outfielder, Juan Encarnacion, to the Marlins for high on-base player, He-Sop-Choi, power pitcher, Brad Penny, and prospect Bill Murphy. Murphy was then traded to the Diamondbacks with Koyie Hill and Reggie Abercrombie for Steve Finley and C, Brent Mayne. DePodesta said at the time, ” I believe we have acquired one of the better offensive players in the league. Wrong.
Finley hit 13 homers in his 2 months with the team. Choi hit .161 with no homers after the trade. In the playoff loss to the Cardinals, Penny did not pitch, Choi was 0-1, and the Dodger catchers went 3-10. The Dodgers won 93 games and the division. After the 2004 season, DePodesta declined to sign Adrian Beltre because of his high contract demands. So, they signed JD Drew for 5/55 million, Derek Lowe 4/36 and second baseman Jeff Kent.
In 2005, the team finished 71-91, the second worst record since moving to Los Angeles. A large part of that was due to injuries. After the season, McCourt fired manager, Jim Tracy, and shortly thereafter, he fired DePodesta. Ned Colletti was hired to be the GM. Ned’s first move was hiring former Red Sox skipper, Grady Little. He then went out and signed several veteran players, Rafael Furcal, Nomar Garciaparra, Kenny Lofton and Bill Mueller. The Dodgers went 88-74 and were the NL wild card team. They were swept by the Mets in the playoffs. That winter, Colletti signed veterans, Juan Pierre, Jason Schmidt, (perhaps his worst free agent signing), and Luis Gonzalez.
The 2007 team was barely over .500, 82-80. That October, Grady Little (resigned) as manager. I believe he was forced out when Joe Torre became available. Torre was hired to manage the 2008 team. Over the winter, Ned signed Andruw Jones, (his other big boo boo signing), Hiroki Kuroda and Chan Ho Park. Also in 2007, Dr. Charles Steinberg was hired as executive vice president of marketing and sales. He was aligned with Jamie McCourt. By 2009, both he and Jamie were losing influence and were on their way out per an LA Times report.
Around the trade deadline in 2008, it was obvious that the team needed a boost. On July 26th, they were at 51-52 a game back in the West. Colletti made his first move, he traded Jon Meloan and Carlos Santana to the Indians for 3rd baseman, Casey Blake. Five days later on the 31st, the Dodgers were part of a three-team trade that sent Andy LaRoche and Brian Morris to the Pirates, Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers, Craig Hansen and Brian Moss to the Pirates and sent Jason Bay to the Red Sox.
The team hovered around .500, but left field at Dodger Stadium became Mannywood. Ramirez in his 53 games with the Dodgers had one of the best 2 month stretches any Dodger player has ever had. He went .396/17/53. His OPS was 1.232 and his OPS+ was 221. At the end of August, they were just under .500 at 67-70. But they went 17-8 in September and won the West by 2 games. Colletti also picked up Greg Maddux for the second time in three years in a deal in August. Maddux was 2-4 down the stretch.
Ramirez was 5-10 in the playoff series with the Cubs, 2 of those hits were homers. He bettered that by going 8-15 in the NLCS against the Phillies. But LA lost in 5 games. Meanwhile, behind the scenes all was not well on the domestic front for McCourt.
In 2009, the Dodgers won the west again, and beat the Cardinals, 3-1 in the LDS. Then they dropped the LCS to the Phillies again, 4-1. They had traded for Jon Garland and Jim Thome at the end of August. In October, it was announced that McCourt and his wife, Jamie, were separating after 30 years of marriage. In early 2010, California Attorney General. Jerry Brown announced that they were opening an investigation into the Dodgers charitable foundation, Dodgers’ Dream Foundation.
Tax returns showed that the charity’s chief executive, Howard Sunkin, received a salary of 400,000.00 a year. Almost one-fourth of the foundations entire budget for the year. Sunkin was a close associate of McCourt and worked with him during the divorce. The Courts decided that the funds be repaid. McCourt paid 100,000.00 personally.
After the Dodgers were eliminated from the playoffs in 2009, Jamie was fired from her position with the Dodgers as CEO. She filed for divorce shortly thereafter. McCourt said the divorce had no bearing on the team at all. By Dec 2010, it began to get ugly. A judge declared that the post-nuptial property agreement that McCourt had claimed provided him with sole ownership of the Dodgers was invalid. After that decision, McCourt’s lawyers said that they would use other legal avenues to establish sole ownership of the team. Jamies lawyers said that she would be a co-owner due to the community property laws.
In June of 2011, they reached an agreement in a settlement of their divorce. The settlement was contingent on Major League Baseball approving a 17-year television deal with Fox Sports West and Prime ticket. That set aside a discussion on ownership until a one-day trial to be held in August. The agreement was that if the judge sided with Frank, he would keep the team and pay a settlement to Jamie. If he sided with Jamie, the team would be sold. But on June 20th, MLB rejected the deal and the agreement fell apart. So, on October 17th, 2011, they reached a settlement with McCourt paying Jamie 130 million dollars and she relinquished her claim on the team. One of the more expensive divorce settlements ever.
In 2010, the team finished under .500 and in fourth place. They had to muddle through the PED suspension of Ramirz in 2009. Then in 2010, Ramirez only played in 66 games before being placed on waivers. In 2011, Don Mattingly replaced Torre as manager. They got over .500 and finished 3rd.
But by April of 2011, the team was in disarray. Commissioner, Bud Selig announced that as part of an investigation into McCourt’s stewardship of the Dodgers, he would be appointing a representative to oversee the day-to-day operations of the team. In effect, MLB took over the Dodgers. It was said he took the action because of deep concern for the finances and operations of the team. This happened shortly after the Times reported that McCourt had taken out a loan from Fox to cover the team’s payroll in April and May. McCourt disputed the actions vigorously, but Selig appointed Tom Schieffer, a former diplomat and Texas Ranger exec, to oversee the team’s operations.
On June 27, 2011, the Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11. Now the haggling really began. Both MLB, and McCourt’s lawyers went back and forth before an agreement was made to sell the team. On March 12th, 2012, he reached an agreement with the Guggenheim Partners, Magic Johnson and Stan Kasten, to sell the team for a record 2 billion dollars. He separately sold the land around the stadium for an additional 150 million to the same group.
Although he has no control over the property, he will profit from any future development of the land. They also pay 14 million a year to rent the parking lots surrounding Dodger Stadium to an entity half-owned by McCourt. The deal was signed on May 1, 2012, officially ending McCourt’s turbulent ownership of the team.
In the aftermath, most fans were elated that he was no longer the owner. The constant raising of ticket and concession prices. What seemed to be the inability to attract and sign front line free agents. Also, the inability to win a World Series. Guggenheim wasted little time making their mark on the team. Improvements at the stadium, and a commitment to winning, and not just in season, but a World Championship. Colletti was given carte blanche and he used it. On August 25, 2012, he made a trade with the Red Sox that totally changed the face of the franchise.
Minor League Scores
OKC 13, Round Rock 1: OKC fell behind 1-0 then scored 13 unanswered runs for a 13-1 win at Round Rock. Andy Pages went 3-5, scored 3 runs and drove in 2. Dalton Rushing was 3-5, scoring 3 and driving in 5. He hit his 4th and 5th homers. Andre Lipcius drove in 3 and hit his 23rd homer, Cody Hoese had 3 hits including his 16th homer and drove in 3 runs. It was a bullpen game for OKC, Feyereisen went the first 2 and struck out 3. Dodson went 1 inning and gave up the run on no hits and 2 walks. Grove pitched 2 innings and got the win. Honeywell and Little went the last 4 innings just giving up 3 hits between them. Rushing is now hitting, .343. Pages is hitting .360.
Corpus Christi 6 Tulsa 1: Tulsa was shut down on just 3 hits. Their lone run was unearned. Newell was the only Driller with more than 1 hit.
Great Lakes 12 South Bend 7. The Loons pounded out 14 hits, 12 of them singles, to beat the Cubs at South Bend. Five Loons had 2 hits apiece, Campbell, De Paula, Gelof, Nevin and Thompson. The Loon’s defense was not great, and they made 4 errors allowing 4 of the runs to be unearned. Bruns went 2.1 innings giving up 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, 2 walks and striking out 4. Cabrera went 1.2 allowing 2 hits, 3 runs, all unearned, and striking out 3. Jo Rodriguez got a blown save and the win, his 2nd. He went 3 innings, striking out 2, walking 1 and giving up 2 hits and 3 runs. Game was called after the top of the 8th.
Rancho 5 San Jose 7: The Quakes jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and did not score again until the top of the 8th and lost the first game of their series with San Jose. Quintero was 2-5 and Rojas was 2-4, they were the only Quakes with multiple hits. Yean took the loss.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Tough loss. Offense shut down by the Orioles. Scary moment for Flaherty. Buehler tomorrow, then Miller on Thursday, then the biggest series of the year to date starts Friday in Phoenix.
Best thing about this game: the Dodgers went down fighting.
How did we not get a mention of Vladair Spunt?!??!!?
I mean Dylan Hernandez pretty much made his name of that wacko.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-13-la-sp-dodgers-fyi-20100614-story.html
I remember that guy. Strange times.
The Beltre thing was of course just another bizarre blunder by the McCourt regime but it was reported by the Times the Dodgers countered with a $60 million offer that included an option year. Beltre took the better offer. Can’t blame him for that, but Seattle proved to be a difficult place to produce offensively. It needs to be remembered that as good as Adrian Beltre was, he didn’t make an All Star team for the first 12 years of his very long career. 2004, as a 25 year old in LA, was by far his best year as a professional.
Easy, I was living in Phoenix then, I was driving cross country and I never read the Times anyway.
If it’s Buehler and Miller starting the next 2 days it could turn out to be a disaster.
Yep the Birds are tough but maybe the hitters will come alive but not likely. Sure hope so.
Burnes is a tough pitcher. But it isn’t like the guy is invincible. Even the best get beat. His ERA over his last seven games is 5.75. He has given up 21 runs in his last 5 games. Any pitcher can be beaten. And the Dodger offense is better now than it was a month ago.
Simply put, the Dodgers must score.
McCourt turns borrowed money on a parking lot into buying the Dodgers. Then he mismanages his business and then is forced to sell that business and then becomes a billionaire. Only in America
Yes, it is amazing how he stepped in a pile of crap and came out smelling great.
Dodgers really, really should think about bringing up Rushing. Kid is tearing it up in OKC. two more HRs yesterday.
Makie him the backup C for the stretch run and postseason.
You can not go into postseason play with Barnes, Kike, CT3 and KK among your 13 hitters. And Smith struggling badly.
Smith will catch most of the games in the playoffs anyway so Rushing would give you an extra potent bat on the bench and pinch hitter at the very least.
Oh, and while I am at it, please not both Kike and CT3 on the roster. How many utility guys does a team need ?
My bench would be: Rushing, Pages, Kike, KK.
Versatile enough and two RH and two LH hitters.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
Doubtful that will happen. Like I said, he would have to be added to the 40-man before 12:00 PM on the 31st EST, which means 9 PM PST on Saturday. After that, he can only be added by replacing an injured player and they would need to petition the Commissioner’s office to make such a move.
They changed Thursday to that TBA guy. They might want Miller to open the Arizona series. We shall see.
I would have flipped flopped Buehler and Miller. Miller today and Buehler tomorrow.
That way Miller would have pitched Game 4 at ARI.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
They haven’t even announced a pitcher for Friday. I don’t think they know who available day to day is let alone 4 days from now.
It is about today and tomorrow. Miller today and Buehler tomorrow . That is what I would have done.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bad news about Glasnow.. Roberts said he is not making progress, will need a rehab stint and it is up in the air if he willl be built up for October.
Screaming TJ surgery on the horizon.
Without Glasnow and Yamamoto the Dodgers will very likely not play for the WS title this season.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well crap. As cautious as they have been with this group they appear to made of crystal. It appears to me this team will hit their way to a championship or they will come up short.
As for your bench idea, 2 rookies and a retiring veteran is risky. I’m not saying it wouldn’t work but I will say I don’t believe AF would risk it.
I was excited about the signing, but we all knew the guy had a history. His 22 starts this year are a career high. He had 2 two years ago after averaging 12 over 4 years.
It really isn’t surprising unfortunately.
As far as this Balt series goes, yesterday was the needed win, with Flaherty on the mound, knowing Buehler/Miller are next. Flaherty went 6 and allowed 3 runs. I’d accept that vs a playoff type team like Baltimore, but the offense folded.
The bottom 2 in the lineup get on, and Ohtani and Betts promptly pop up. That was the game, and that was pathetic.
But whatever. Since we may not have Glasnow/Yamamoto, it’s time for Buehler and Bobby Miller to step up. I hope we have a long man ready for tonight who may need to give us 2-3ip if Buehler is throwing tons of pitches again without command.
I think Knack, often overlooked, might be more effective than either Buehler or Miller.
Knack has a 3.00 ERA in 48 IP.
Miller: 7.39 ERA in 39.2 IP
Buehler: 6.01 ERA in 44 IP.
ERA can be misleading, which is one reason I also Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched.
Miller: 1.74
Buehler: 1.67
Knack: 1.00 !!!
So why not Knack? Is it because he’s hefty and doesn’t look the part? Is it the common perception (perhaps true!) that Buehler and Miller have more upside?
But it’s nearly September. The home stretch.
Perhaps there should be more focus on actual performance.
The Dodgers pitching has really gotten on the bad side of the Baseball Gods this season, again.
Again, last night Flaherty was target practice in the 5th. A miracle catch on a bullet come backer for an out, a bullet down toward his lower body for a single and a shot off his pitching wrist. in the same friggin inning. WFT.
He’s a tough guy and finished 6, and will see any lingering effects, but damn.
The Orioles are a nice team and they have done some good things since losing 100 games. They used their high draft choices very well for quality position players, starting with Adley Rutschman. They’ve also had success with some reclamation projects with veteran hitters. They seem to do well with player development. Seems like an organization on the rise and developed the right way.
One of the major improvements for the Dodgers since the beginning of the season is controlling the opponent’s running game. Early in the season teams ran wild on us. The pitchers gave the catchers no change, failing to hold runners. Walks and singles became doubles. That has all changed in the 2nd half. The pitchers now pay attention and give Will a chance and he has blossomed pegging runners. He is consistently at 1.8 pop time, by my watch, and he’s shut down that element defensively
But there are too many wild pitches that get away from Will and advance runners 90 feet, especially in advantage counts. We will predictably have pitchers throw 58 foot breaking balls. And Will is down on that knee, which I hate, and 2 guys advance into scoring position WAY too often. That needs to be cleaned up.
So as September approaches, here are things I want to see:
The Bell has rung. It’s time to put your best team on the field every single day. I don’t know how many different lineups the Dodgers have used this season? And I don’t care.
That act is over. We now have a full compliment of players back and available.
I want to see a consistent line up and batting order in September. We seem to never do that but NOW, I think it is critically important to get into a defensive routine and a predictable batting order and offensive routine. Stay with that down the stretch and quit shifting guys around.
For Sept, call up Pages who would stay with the club through the playoffs as a bench piece and his .337/.871 vs LHP.
Muncy at 3rd with Kike as a backup
Rojas at short with Edman as a backup
a platoon at 2nd with Edman and Lux v RHP
Ohtani at DH
Freddie at 1st
Mookie in right
Edman’s and Kiermaier in center
Teo in left.
Barnes backing up Will.
Kike has earned the utility and back up role with his recent play.
Taylor can go home. I see absolutely no reason for CT3 and his .161/.528 to be on the playoff roster. At 34, he has played in 67 games and there is ZERO evidence that he will be a productive asset for the Dodgers down the stretch. I don’t care about his contract.
That’s a bench of Barnes, Kike, Keirmaier and Pages on a routine basis, which doesn’t light my fire but it’s even worse if it’s Taylor instead of Pages.
Let’s start that right now with a predictable batting order vs LHP and RHP to get ready to compete down the stretch. That’s just one platoon with Lux and Edman’s at 2nd. The rest is set and Kiermaier in center when Edman plays 2nd.
Stop the lineups de jour. Stop seeing CT3 at 2nd. Stop seeing an order with Barnes, Taylor and Kiermaier at the bottom of the order in the same game.
If you’re a health regular, you’re playing. Do not expect nice rest days down the stretch.
I love the fact that we are in a dogfight down the stretch as opposed to non-competitive coasting into the playoffs and resting guys while running a try-out camp.
So get with it AF and Doc!
The starting rotation has to get settled. Are Buehler and Miller going to be worth a shit?
I think Miller is showing positive sighs. Are Glasnow and Yamamoto going to get rehabbed and ready to solidify the rotation? That needs to get started.
Is Kershaw going to be in the rotation? Is it Knack and Grove? Could we trust Worbleski as a starter?
Stone is a lock as is Flaherty. That’s it! Too many loose ends in the rotation for my comfort but that all needs to get settled.
It didn’t last year and we when down with Lance Lynn throwing gopher balls.
But lets live or die with a predictable lineup and let’s see what happens.
Phil, we agree on the bench . Almost. I have Rushing instead of Barnes.If the Dodgers want that WS title they will have to end that sentimental affection with CT3, Barnes and Buehler.
I like them too for what they have done for the Dodgers in the past. But you can not live in the past. In life and baseball.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No way that they have 2 rookies on the bench. Not a chance. Last night was one reason I would rather have Heyward on this roster than Taylor. With Freeman unavailable, and Feduccia the only lefty bat on the bench, Taylor had to hit for himself. Heyward was 4-8 as a pinch hitter with 2 homers. Taylor can’t hit my grandmother, and she is dead.
Pages is no longer a rookie. He played almost the entire season at LA.
And if a rookie is the better solution play him.
But yeah, I get you. AF and Roberts love their veterans. For better or worse.
Maybe they should rethink their strategy. Has not worked well in postseason play.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had Miguel Vargas completely waste a roster spot last October (for 3 games)
Yep, should have been Rosario on the roster.
Pages is a rookie. He is in his first season in the majors. You are a rookie for that entire season. Period. Pages has shown more power against minor league pitching than he has up with the big team. And they are not going to call up a guy with only 19 games experience at AAA to face MLB pitching in the biggest games of the year with all that pressure. You have no clue how a rookie will perform under those conditions. Kike and Taylor actually have very good postseason numbers. Kike has more post season homers than Teo, Ohtani, Freeman, Mookie, Smith. Believe it or not, he and Freeman are the only two Dodgers with more than 10 post-season homers. Kike has more postseason homers than Duke Snider had. Taylor has 5 more postseason homers than Mookie does. Taylor and Kike are the only players on the roster who have hit 3 homers in a single post season game. Yeah, they prefer the veterans who have shown they can come up big in the biggest games. Pages will get his chance, maybe this year. But Rushing is going to have to wait.
What a great argument: You have no clue.Lol.
Hey, just keep on doing the same over and over again. Keep playing your kikes, Barnes and CT3 because they have had some big hits sometime in ancient times. Good strategy. Roberts and AF strategy.
About Rushing: Why not give him a look now ? Barnes is out and they have no faith in Fiduccia to begin with.
What is the worst that can happen ? Wil he hit less than those other bats ? Mendoza line ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not that ancient dude. And something you should do, spell Kike with a capitol K. The other way is a slur to those of Jewish faith. Kike had a couple of playoff homers in his series with Boston in 22. Taylor hit his 3 homers in 21 against the Braves. Rushing has no position right now except LF. He hasn’t played C in a while. And he hasn’t handled any of the pitchers on the MLB roster except maybe Stone. And if you have a complaint about the way the roster is comprised and think you are smarter than the people who run the team, why don’t you ask the Dodgers to hire you? Or even better, write Freidman a letter and tell him he is an idiot for playing and paying those guys.
You mean capitol K as in striKe out ? Lol.
You really want to accuse me of a slur of those of Jewish faith because of it ? Really?
If you really think that CT3, Barnes and Kike all of a sudden will be good hitters in the postseason after doing nothing all year long so be it. You are a true optimist. Me, I would rather have Rushing, Pages on the roster. We will see soon enough how it plays out.
Rushing has caught about 40 games at AA this season. If you call him up you can easily get him used to catching the major leaguers during September. And BTW, Smith could use some time out too . He is in a month long decline now. A reset could work for him.
Not accusing you, just suggesting you capitalize his name. They way you spelled it could suggest that slur. I do not presume to think that Barnes, Kike or Taylor will be good in the post season, but their track record suggests they will not be as bad as you might think. As for Rushing, you seriously want to use a rookie catcher catching must win games in September and learning on the fly, well, that might be something you would do. But, most MLB teams, and certainly the Dodgers, prefer players with experience in those games.
Bear
1 The playoffs are small samples.
2 How long ago did Kike and Taylor do whatever you said they did?
3 “Kike has more postseason homers than Duke Snider had.”
That tells you everything. lol
Not over a career. The great Mookie Betts has over 250 at bats in the post season, his post season average is just .251 with an OPS below .800. Teams want players with postseason experience no matter how many years ago it might be. Veterans are less likely to be jumpy in a critical at bat than some 22-year-old kid. Yes, there can be exceptions to the rule. You can laugh all you like, but I will be more current, ok? Kike has as MANY post season homers as Justin Turner. He has more than Freeman. He has come up clutch in big games. Tell me when Pages has come up clutch in any game that was championship caliber. Postseason experience counts.
teoscar has been clutch this year as has Betts at times. Right now Smith is the worst offensive player in the lineup, Ohtani has not been good with RISP, and Freeman should have set out after he hurt his finger. I personally don’t have much confidence in him. If freeman, Ohtani, Betts, smith, Muncy , Teoscar would hit like they could we wouldn’t even be talking about Kiki. Btw Edman is a career league average hitter so I wouldn’t expect much offense from him.
I think it’s Doc that loves veterans. I think Friedman is unbaised.
Doc does not make up the final postseason roster on his own. The front office ultimately makes the decision along with INPUT from the coaches, Doc and the medical staff regarding the health of the players.
Doc has more influence/input than just the health of the players. That’s the medical staff’s job.
Eric, read what I wrote, it is a combination of the three along with the front office. I know the medical staff has the medical side of things, but Roberts has just a little input as to the construction of the postseason roster. The final decision is always made by the front office. I never said Roberts had any influence on the health side.
Same old thing there is no urgency. And once again we end the year short on pitching. Buehler, miller, kershaw take your pick none playoff worthy.
I do not see that. They played hard. They know they are in a fight. All you had to do was listen to the post-game interviews. These guys care. Don’t sell Kershaw short. He is a warrior.
bear, I was responding to Phil Jones who was saying get with a set lineup. LA just won’t do it. It just amazes me how brittle this team is. Our pitchers supposedly can’t make it to the end because they have thrown more innings than they ever have. There are pitchers all over the league throwing more innings than the previous year. For example king of SanDiego was a reliever. He goes to the post every time as a starter and appears to b just as good or better. Now it is not even September and Roberts is saying Glasnow might not be back. Kershaw is a warrior but not a playoff performer, Buehler has been awful, Miller provided a little spark but stunk up the playoffs last year after he had a much better year than now. If Glasnow can’t go then it will be one series and out. If he does pitch and is on his game we have a shot.
I see where you are coming from, but Kersh’s playoff stats are skewed mostly because of his performances in his early years. And I do not count 23 because he was injured when he pitched against AZ. He did not pitch in the postseason in 21 because of injury. In 20, he won 4 of the 13 games they needed to win and lost 1. I trust him a lot more than I do Miller or Buehler at this point. In a must win game, I would not be so sure. But Kersh is pitching better now than he did at the end of last season.
Oh man, if you think Kersh, Kike, CT3 and Barnes will take us to the promised land I feel sorry for you. You will be deeply disappointed. Again.
‘Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where did I say that? Never said that not once. I said, and please understand this, this is the way the FO puts this team together. I have no say in how the roster is constructed. No fan does. What we might think is the right way, is simply not a consideration. And yes, I trust Kershaw simply because of his prior postseason woes.
No surprise that the Dodgers only WS title came in the C shortened season. They were relatively healthy pitching wise that season.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a better idea for Lux’s platoon partner. Betts comes in to play 2B while Pages plays RF against LHP.
Absolutely. And then plug Pages into RF and you have killed it.
But bet your house that Roberts will play CT3 at 2b or Kike. And when they go down the apologists will say hey,dont blame Doc or AF, the players did not perform.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“And when they go down the apologists will say hey,dont blame Doc or AF, the players did not perform.”
EXACTLY.
I think AF gives the alalytics to Doc and Doc does whatever he wants with it and Doc loves veterans. In my opinion the blame lies with Doc not Friedman when it comes to what you said.
Analytics may get the player into the game in a certain situation, but it is still on the player to get the job done. The only thing you can blame on Doc is putting the player in the game. The guy fails, it is not his fault. As for who and how the roster is constructed, that is totally on the front office.
Roberts can only play who the front office provides him with. I am sure he uses the analytics to try and use the pieces in their best situations. However, once the decision is made, it is on the player to execute and produce. When they come thru everything is hunky dory and no one says much. When they fail, crap hits the fan and Roberts is a dumbass.
Ultimately, it is probably about 10% on the manager and 90% on the players.
Can’t blame Doc for doling out that idiotic contract to Taylor and keeping him and letting JHey go.
It’s the players — or more specifically— the roster. Casey Stengel was supposedly a genius when he managed the Yankees. With the woeful expansion Mets, his team lost 120 games. A record in futility that still stands. A good manager fills out a lineup that has the best chance for success. But he’s working with the roster he’s been handed. If the players don’t perform is it the managers fault?
“Analytics may get the player into the game in a certain situation, but it is still on the player to get the job done.”
Bear respectfully, that is a very conventional and unreasonable assumption in CT3’s situation. He’s incapable “get the job done”. It’s hoping for a miracle.
I personally don’t think it is reasonable or prudent to put CT3 with his .161/.528 in an important at bat in the playoffs. It’s unfair to Chris to expect success.
To add to that, he’s 35 and in the playoffs in 2022 and 2023, he’s hit .077 / .220 with a 54% strikeout rate.
I would agree with that. This season he probably should not be considered for the post season roster. And those numbers came in 13 at bats in 22 and 23. Career wise he has been a .248 hitter in postseason. But I am not sticking a rookie with no experience in there either.
You’re likely right, Ram, about CT3 moving in somewhere.
I expressed my preferences and CT3 would not be on the active playoff roster. Kike has played good lately despite his average, so he gets a spot by default. But we don’t need both CT3 and Kike.
I don’t care what CT3 has done in the past, post seasons. I see no indication that he deserves a roster spot, THIS SEASON.
I would have another catcher up along time ago but Barnes is here to stay for good or bad.
It might be interesting in October when the playoff roster reunion with CT3, Barnes, Kike, and Kiermeier, and Buehler can sit around the campfire and roast marshmallows with AF, and watch the World Series.
Yep. Anybody but Taylor. How about Mookie in center, Teo in right and Rushing in left. Then Mookie can pitch in October as well!
With 19 games experience in left field? Not a chance.
“Yep. Anybody but Taylor. How about Mookie in center, Teo in right and Rushing in left. Then Mookie can pitch in October as well!”
That’s not what I said. That’s your idea.
I like it. But, Taylor has post season experience. LOL. I wish Taylor would go away.
Eric, I’m good with that. Pages is way better in right than center but not up to Mookie defensively in right. But I’d live with that and his bat vs LHP.
I guess it comes down to who you want at 2nd, Edman or Mookie.
And while Kiermeier is great defensively in center, he can’t hit.
But I’m good with your idea.
👍🏻
Actually the ump was not very bad. 8 missed calls. Unfortunately, 3 of the missed calls were in one AB of Will Smith.
https://x.com/UmpScorecards/status/1828805009690997192/photo/1
Absolutely accurate.
Never forget:
https://x.com/bsmile/status/1828777762515271727?s=46
Priceless!
Wow that post was well-written yet depressing LOL. Those were not good years for Dodger fans!
No they were not.
The only time I ever “boycotted” one my teams was the last few McCourt years. Due strictly to the consistent fighting in the stands and fighting in the parking lot, I didn’t attend a game from 2010-2012 or so.
It looked like Raider fans had taken over Dodger Stadium, and I had no desire to be around that nonsense.
I totally understand the arguments you all are presenting for the postseason roster. We cannot agree on these all the time. I base what I am saying on watching the history of who has been on playoff rosters before and the history of the current regime, including Freidman and Roberts. In 2013, there were 2 rookies on the roster, Ryu and Puig. And Ryu could not really be considered a rookie. There were none in 2014, two in 15, Seager and Pederson. Seager had really impressed in his short time that year. One in 16, ROY Seager, one in 17, ROY, Bellinger. Buehler in 2018, Smith and Beaty and Lux in 19. None in 20, Bruihl in 21 none in 22 and Vargas last year. Difference between all of those guys and Rushing, most of them had a lot more experience in AAA. The last really true AA player to make an impact on the Dodger championship run was Steve Howe in 81. He came straight to the majors from AA.
What kind of rosters did those teams have? Some of them probably didn’t consist of equivalent players to THIS YEAR’S Kiermaier, Kike, Taylor, Edman, Rojas (his stats are nothing to write home about) and remember Lux is a platoon player that just recently woke up and that’s only the position player side of the equasion.
Factor in possible average or weak starting pitching and you need all the offense you can get.
The writing has been on the wall for the post season roster since Heyward was DFAd. There was no reason to bring Taylor back at that point in time. Activate him September 1. Pages could have been brought back up then if they wanted him on the post season roster. As it stands right now Heyward is gone Pages is only on the post season roster if someone gets hurt. That leaves Taylor by default I personally think that’s a mistake but I don’t have a say in the matter. Yesterday on the radio pregame David Vassegh said the front office was discussing Rushing as a possible power bat off the bench but didn’t think it would happen.
Taylor is a fly in the ointment. I think the
Dodgers wanted to do right by Heyward and give him the opportunity to catch on with a contender for the stretch and playoffs.
Rojas is hitting over .280. He is doing exactly what the team needs him to do. The 2020 team had 6 players hit below .250 during the season, Muncy, Lux, Bellinger, Barnes, Kike and Beaty. 22 you had 3 players in the starting lineup hit below .225. Bellinger, Muncy and Taylor. And all those guys played a bulk of the games. They had seven players who had time off of the bench who hit .212 or lower. There are almost always some weak bats on the bench or in the lineup. Either guys who are considered defensive whizzes or players under a big contract that they do not find it financially reasonable to get rid of.
BA is not the whole slashline.
No Eric it isn’t. So, let’s look beyond the BA, ok? Rojas is hitting .295 with RISP, one of the higher averages on the team. The average OPS in the majors is .714. Miguel is 30 points better than that. His OPS+ is 109. 9 points above MLB average. He hits much better on the road than he does at home, but all of his home runs have come at Dodger Stadium. He is on the team because of his defense, his clubhouse presence, and his leadership. Now, you might not value those things much, but it is very obvious the team does. And even though many do not use BA as a way to gauge hitters, for over 100 years it was the main standard used to compute their value. In a sport where being great means failing 70% of the time, a guy hitting .288 is a very good hitter.
I was talking about those other teams you mentioned. Rojas is the least of my worries considering Kiermaier, Kike, Taylor, Edman and the question marks about the pitching. Plus Doc.
If you really want to find out just who were the dregs on those teams. Go to baseball reference. Type in Los Angeles Dodgers and their entire history pops up. Won and lost records, everything. Then you go over to a year, like 2024, and it pulls up all the individual stats. Why do you think I disliked guys like Gallo, Gyorko, White, simply because none of them contributed anything to the Dodgers. The team respects those players achievements in the past. That is why they are on the roster right now, and Pages is not. It is why Taylor was kept, and Heyward was waived. You say the playoffs are a small sample, I disagree because combined with their regular season stats, some players have played a quarter of a season or more playoff games. Just for an example, not tooting his horn or making him out to be a star, Kike has played in 72 post season games and had over 200 plate appearances. That is about 1/3rd of a season. Mookie has played in less games but has more plate appearances because he is an everyday player. Kiermaier on the other hand has been in only 31 games. Edman has not played all year until he played the other day. I would cut the guy a little slack. He is what he is, a very fast player who can fill in at several positions, and he is also a switch hitter. That has value since you do not need to PH for him when they change pitchers. I think Edman is going to be very good with the Dodgers. Postseason experience counts for a lot Eric. Especially on a team like the Dodgers. Yes, they are past accomplishments, but guys like Kike can win a series for you. You look back on past World Series wins and sometimes it is the guy you least expect who wins the series MVP. Of the Dodgers 7 titles, only twice, 81 and 2020, has a position player won the MVP award. Otherwise, they have all been pitchers. Podres in 55, Sherry in 59, Koufax in 63-65, Hershiser in 88. 2020 was Seager, 1981 it was split between three players, Cey, Guererro and Yeager.
One thing I think we all can agree on is that the Dodger roster is getting a little long in the tooth. Freeman, Betts, Teo, Kike, Taylor, Barnes, Max, Rojas, Kiermaier, all in their 30’s with Smith, Ohtani, and Edman all turning 30 next year. Glasnow, Hudson, Banda, Kershaw, Treinen, Brasier, and Kelly all over 30. Flaherty is 28 which leads me to think they might give him a contract this winter. Outside chance of that I believe. Buehler is 29, Gonsolin, 30, May will be 27. So an influx of some youth might be forthcoming next year.
“So an influx of some youth might be forthcoming next year.”
On the position player side, all they have is Pages, Outman, and Rushing. I hope to see them all.
Eric, not to be wise ass, but any conversations about next year are topics for this winter. I’m concerned about RIGHT NOW.
You can certainly kick that can down the road but I’d like to get your take on my original post; how about implementing the ideas I preposed about settling in on a consistent lineup and batting order, down the stretch?
I know it’s unlikely but the brass seems reluctant to set a lineup, regardless of who the names are, and stick with it.
Thoughts?
I agree with that. I hate how they move guys around. I think they can do that because of so many poor hitters.It’s kind of like choosing between Eenie, Meenie, Miny and Moe.
I think Edmond is the best hitter that can play CF.
Rojas is the best hitter that can play SS besides Betts but that’s besides the point.
We already talked about Betts coming in to platoon with Lux against LHP and Pages in RF in that situation. Everything else is set.
I would like to see Smith get some time off and let Rushing get some MLB experience. Not the playoffs, just during the regular season. I don’t know if that has anything to do with a set lineup.
The SS Freeland will get some looks in spring. Hoese might even get some time in spring training. Cartaya does not look like he is ready yet. So, it will probably be Smith and Barnes for one more year at least. It definitely looks like Rushing is going to see time in left field and maybe some innings behind the plate. But you are right, there are not many top prospects at the AAA level and really no one at AA who seems likely to jump. Pitching wise, it could be a different story though. Wrobleski and Knack, if not traded, could be in the mix along with Henriquez.
Absolute YES to your first sentence! They need youth next year.
An old friend, someone we pretty much threw away on the waiver wire a few years back, has become a lights out closer for the Rays.
You just never know how a career will develop and I’ll bet that some of you barely remember this guy was ever here.
I remember Uceta very well. Couldn’t throw strikes. Young and lacked confidence but he certainly has developed. With the Dodgers he was kind of like stone in that his changeup was his pitch.
Is it true that Ryan Brasier, since becoming the Dodgers, has the lowest bullpen ERA in the majors??
Yes, in 56 games with the Dodgers Brasier’s ERA is 1.45.
Nice write up and synopsis of the Dark Ages/McCourt years. Not a fun time to be a Dodger fan.
I just watched Yamamoto’s 2 innings pitched. 2ip, 2k, 1 hit (a homerun that some big dude hit 450′). Yamamoto just gooved that pitch right down the middle.
But otherwise, his stuff looked pretty good. Pages made a nice play on a liner to CF for one out. The announcers were for the other team, so they didn’t really mention any mph on his fastballs.
Next year predictions 2025 no Buehler flarethy Kershaw kiermeier taylor Barnes and get relief pitching please Kopachi is good keep him and Gratehol build something around those guys trenen and vesia and Joe Kelly.
Add to team
Max Fried
Corbin Burnes
Addame at short stop
Sign Teoscar
Bring Kiki back
Bring Rushing up
Andy Pages
Lipicus
Feducci
Doesn’t that sound like a better bench to do things with. Now let’s look at free agent center fielders who would be a good one for the Dodgers.
If the Dodgers don’t have Glasnow and Yamamoto they won’t make it to the world series they they need. Those two pitchers Flarethy Stone and Kershaw to get to the World Series. And can we findout how every pitcher we have needs Tommy John Surgery. And you don’t hear any other teams pitchers having this many problems. Next year they won’t have flarethy Buehler Kershaw but will have Ohtani Yamamoto Gosselin Stone they better get some free agent pitchers. So next year they don’t have this problem if Glasnow needs Tommy John and Rivers that’s two pitchers that will be down next year. And you never know about May. I think they should make May the closer. Again if we are short pitchers I can see Padres and Snakes getting in playoffs and both those teams can play with Philly and the Yanks and Orioles. But when it’s Cleveland vs San Diego someone will win there first world series. That be history right there.
Not one comma!
Impressive.
The answer to the Dodgers in particular, I’m not talking about any other teams because I only follow the Dodgers is firing the medical staff.
That’s your suggested answer, Eric, but there is absolutely no proof that they are responsible for the injuries.
You might be right, but you make it sound like there is no possibility that you aren’t.
The Cleveland Indians won a couple of World Series.
After reading further, someone else already mentioned that.
More unearned runs from a sloppy defense. The Orioles are too good to give away runs.
” But when it’s Cleveland vs San Diego someone will win there first world series. That be history right there.”
Sorry to burst your bubble, Bradley, but Cleveland won the World Series in 1920 and 1948.
True story. Rockies, Padres, Mariners, Rays and Brewers the only teams with out a title. Only the Mariners have never been to a series.
Well, for those who think defense is not as important as offense, I say poppycock.
Defense is even more important in the playoffs. Giving good teams extra outs is a recipe for disaster.
Our defense let Buehler down tonight. Cost him 2 unearned runs and more importantly a lot of extra pitches, a possible win, and extra innings thrown on the bullpen. Luckily the Oriole defense was even worse.
If two players are hitting roughly the same, I go with the better defensive player everytime. The only exception is if a player is OPSing over .800. Then I can except lessor defense.
Burnes won’t be taking his infield out for steaks anytime soon. 5 unearned runs? Ouch.
Dodgers defense had a couple brain farts. What was Smith thinking? The ball clearly hit the ground. Muncy is Muncy at third and Kiké is no Freddie at first.