In Part One, we saw most of what transpired prior to and after the naming of Kennesaw Landis as commissioner. There were literally no players banned between Landis’s death, until Bowie Kuhn became commissioner in 1969. But that doesn’t mean there weren’t baseball players and managers who had some problems.
Happy Chandler was the commissioner in 1947 and he suspended Dodgers manager Leo Durocher for the 1947 season. This came at a particularly bad time for the owner of the Dodgers, Branch Rickey. Rickey was attempting at the time to break baseball’s long standing color barrier that denied black’s the right to play organized baseball. In Durocher, he had a manager with enough clout to keep his players in line. And Durocher had already done that by nipping a petition by some Dodger players who did not want to play with Robinson.
Now Rickey had to scramble to find a manager just before opening day. Why was Durocher suspended? According to Chandler, Durocher was suspended for “the accumulation of unpleasant incidents that were detrimental to baseball.” Leo had been warned about his association with some people involved in gambling. One of his friends was mobster, Bugsy Siegel. And he also was close with actor George Raft.
But another factor was his involvement with married actress, Laraine Day. When the influential Catholic Youth Organization found out, they let the commissioner know of their displeasure towards such behavior. So Chandler suspended Leo.
He was replaced by Burt Shotton, who led the Dodgers to the pennant. Durocher returned in 1948, but a bad start and his outspoken personality led to a rift with Branch Rickey, and in July of 1948, Rickey and Horace Stoneham, negotiated a deal whereas Leo would take over the Giants.
He had his greatest success as a manager with the Giants and got his revenge in 1951 when the Giants beat the Dodgers in a playoff. After that incident, baseball enjoyed several years with little to no controversy.
As a matter of fact, things went swimmingly until in 1974, a year after he purchased the Yankees, Bowie Kuhn suspended Yankees owner, George Steinbrunner for two years for his admittance that he made illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign, and that he had employees lie about bonuses that they turned into contributions for Nixon. Steinbrunner was reinstated after 15 months.
He would become a two-time suspendee, when in 1990, Fay Vincent suspended him again for hiring a confessed gambler, Howard Spira, to get dirt on outfielder, Dave Winfield, with whom he had been feuding. He regained control of the Yankees in 1993.
But in 1989, Pete Rose gambling on games while manager of the Reds came to light. Baseball had a lengthy investigation. Bart Giamatti was the commissioner at the time. He was banned for life after reaching an agreement with Major League baseball. Pete has attempted many times to be reinstated, but so far, no commissioner has been in favor of his reinstatement.
Because of this, Rose is not eligible for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame, nor can he attend any official MLB functions. He cannot be employed by any MLB team. On a personal note, I have always felt that Rose’s lack of remorse, and his failure to make a heartfelt apology, were the main reasons I felt he was getting what he deserved and agreed to.
Now, with baseball embracing, and indeed using legal gambling money as a source of league income, I am thinking this is a double standard, and Rose should get Hall consideration. Just let the ERA committee decide if he belongs in the Hall. As a player, he more than deserves to be there.
Things were not quiet long. In 1993, the Reds owner, Marge Shott, was suspended for a year and fined 250,000 dollars for bringing “disrepute and embarrassment” to baseball for a series of racist and offensive comments.
Shott had admitted in a deposition for a lawsuit by a former employee that she occasionally used a racist term. She also admitted to having a Nazi armband on display in her home, a gift from a veteran she said. She also made derisive comments about the Japanese and Jewish people. A New York Times story quoted her as saying” Hitler was good in the beginning, but he went too far.”
Her suspension was later reduced to 8 months for good behavior.
Shott was a controversial owner. Like many early owners in the game, she was notoriously cheap. She complained about having to pay players salaries when they were disabled. She notably cited P Jose Rijos, who she had to pay 3 million dollars. ” He gets 3 mil while sitting on his butt.”
She was also not happy when her Reds swept the A’s in the 1990 series. It was her belief that owners made the most money when the series went longer. She had the lowest paid office staff in the league, and would shut off lights and heat to save money.
She refused to pay for the surgery needed by OF, Eric Davis, after he suffered a lacerated kidney during game four of the series, and then was angry that he was indignant about the matter. Lou Pinella, who managed the 90 team, would leave in 92 after she would not back him when he was sued by umpire, Gary Darling, for defamation. He had to get his own lawyer. Shott was eventually forced to sell her stake in the Reds to Carl Lidner.
Under the surface, the game had a problem, and it would come into the light in 2007. Everyone in baseball knew that players used different substances to stay in the game, and had done so for years. But the PED use that came into the light in 2007 was damning. George Mitchell’s 400 page report on PED use blamed everyone and named 90 players, stating there was a collective failure on everyone to realize there was a problem.
Steroid use had come to the forefront with the death of Lyle Alzado in 1992. Alzado had always denied using steroids. He finally came clean in 1991. His death rocked the NFL. Baseball would have the same shock when Ken Caminiti, a former MVP, died in 2004. Only this time, it was not steroids or PEDs, it was hard drugs.
Just 5 days before he died, Caminiti had walked out of jail where he had been for four weeks following violating his parole for drug use. Caminiti was one of those players, along with several others, who got hooked on cocaine. Caminiti’s death was caused by an overdose, and the fact that he had coronary artery disease. He was 41. But Caminiti also admitted to Tom Verducci in an interview in 2002, that he used steroids to recover from a shoulder injury in 1996. His MVP season.
Mitchell’s report stirred a hornet’s nest. Baseball’s main problem was that it was not just fringe players doing it, it was some of their biggest stars. The door had been opened by Jose Canseco’s tell it all, Juiced, in 2005.
He named several of his teammates, McGwire, Palmiero, Juan Gonzalez, Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Giambi, as steroid users in his book. Now that it was out in the open, baseball had to figure out how to deal with it.
The 90 players named, and some who were not, now mostly felt compelled to defend themselves. Several would flatly deny they had ever used anything. Some would be proven liars, others would be accused, even though there was no physical evidence that they had. So far, no one has been banned for PED use, but several have been suspended for lengthy periods. And although baseball has cleaned it up some, players are today, still getting suspended. Giants pitcher Logan Webb was suspended for 80 games in 2019. It is an ongoing concern.
Another problem that has popped up repeatedly in the last several years is domestic violence. The Dodgers have lost two pitchers over the last couple of years because of this, Julio Urias, and Trevor Bauer. Both losses have cost them come playoff time. They lost Bauer for part of his first season, and all of his second. As we now know, the woman in question has been charged with fraud. Bauer is still unemployed by a major league team.
Urias has finally been charged with five misdemeanors after months of investigation, but the Dodgers really missed his presence during the 23 playoffs. Urias, if convicted, could face a long suspension by MLB. He has a real problem since he is a second time offender.
Then of course, there is the sign stealing scandal involving the Astros. What irks me most about this is that the only people suspended were the GM and the manager. Not one player who benefitted from the sign stealing was punished. Oh, yeah, Houston got a 5 million dollar fine, but were allowed to keep the trophy which in ticket sales and memorabilia is worth a whole hell of a lot more than 5 million. I still believe the title should be vacated and no champion crowned. The Dodgers would not like the title earned that way.
So where does the game go from here? There undoubtedly will be more cheaters in some form down the line. Another player will get charged with domestic battery. Suspensions will continue as players look for ways to cheat the drug screen. And fans, who really have very few options for entertainment these days, will continue to pour their hard earned cash into a game they love.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Baseball Club 21 – Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado) 9
You want to put excitement in the game? Put a MLB team in Albuquerque. After scoring 28 in the first two games, OKC came back to plate 21 in this one. The big difference in this one, after Dinelson Lamet, OKC’s next three pitchers in 4.2 IP allowed one unearned run. J.P. Feyereisen went 2.2, and allowed 1 baserunner (single) and got 4 Ks. The usually reliable Kevin Gowdy had a rough 9th allowing 4 runs on 4 hits and a BB.
OKC scored in 7 of the 9 innings, 5 with crooked numbers. Every OKC batter reached base, and only Andre Lipcius did not register a hit. He did reach on 2 BB. 8 batters scored, and 6 had RBIs. OKC had 4 batters with multiple hits. OKC had 6 doubles and 4 HRs.
The two OKC hitting stars on the game were Trey Sweeney who went 4-5 with a double and HR, 5 RBIs, and Ryan Ward who went 3-5, 2 HRs, a double, and 6 RBIs.
Trey Sweeney for OKC today:
4-for-5
2B
HR
5 RBIWhat a performance for the #Dodgers shortstop prospect as he finished a triple shy of the cycle! He has an .895 OPS this season
pic.twitter.com/qJhvLWQwKZ— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) April 25, 2024
Ryan Ward…again! And we have video this time!
It's his second three-run blast of the day! pic.twitter.com/1s0eUzZeWx
— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) April 25, 2024
Drew Avans in the leadoff spot had a double and 4 walks, scoring 4 runs. He now has an OPS of .927 as a leadoff hitter.
You can look at the box score for the inning by inning rundown. It would take me a novel to write.
- Trey Sweeney – 4-5, sac fly, 3 runs, 5 RBI, double (7), HR (2)
- Ryan Ward – 3-5, 1 BB, 3 runs, 6 RBI, double (6), 2 HR (8)
- Chris Okey – 3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (3)
- Miguel Vargas – 2-6, 2 runs, 1 RBI
- Drew Avans – 1-2 4 BB, 4 runs, double (7)
- Chris Owings – 1-3, 3 BB, 4 runs, 3 RBI, HR (6)
- Kevin Padlo – 1-6, 2 RBI, double (8)
- Jonathan Araúz – 1-5, 1 BB, 2 runs, double (8)
He did it with the glove, and now he does it with the bat!
Chris Owings goes yard, as OKC homers for a third straight inning! pic.twitter.com/ek5BC45TRz
— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) April 25, 2024
And Check out this defensive gem from Chris Owings playing RF in this one.
The offense has dominated the headlines, but there have been some great defensive plays too.
What a catch by Chris Owings! pic.twitter.com/DaTjbeLEHf
— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) April 25, 2024
Tulsa Drillers 6 – Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KC) 4 – 7.5 innings
The game was shortened to 7 ½ innings due to rain, with the Drillers leading 6-4. The Drillers SP, Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, was not dominant, but he was effective for 5.0 innings. In the 2nd inning he walked the leadoff hitter that was followed by a 2-run tying HR, but that was all he allowed. He allowed 2 other singles and 2 BB with 5 Ks.
Jake Pilarski relieved Ortiz-Mayr and allowed a 2-run HR of his own in the 6th giving the Naturals the lead. The Drillers retook the lead in the bottom of the 6th, and Ben Harris entered to relieve Pilarski in the 7th. After one out, he walked the bases loaded before Logan Boyer bailed him out. Boyer also pitched a scoreless 8th.
The Drillers opened the scoring in the 1st with a 2-run HR by José Ramos. The Drillers were quiet with 1 hit and 1 BB over the next 4 innings. But in the 6th, Brendon Davis singled and scored on a double by Austin Beck. With 2 outs, Yeiner Fernandez drew a BB and Griffin Lockwood-Powell slugged a 3-run HR, his first of the year, to give the Drillers the lead and eventual win.
Jose Ramos hit HR #6 which ties him for the most in the Texas League (Per PxP Dennis Higgins) Dennis is widely known throughout the broadcast industry as one of the best & most experienced & listen to how impressed he was with his HR. It's all you need to know about Ramos's… pic.twitter.com/bfji2YFEWb
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) April 26, 2024
Your @SoFi Player of the Game is Griffin Lockwood-Powell!
Lockwood-Powell crushed a 3-run home run that lead to the Drillers win!
SoFi is the all-in-one finance app where you can bank, borrow or invest! pic.twitter.com/O5ibEI9D8W
— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) April 26, 2024
- José Ramos – 2-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, double (3), HR (6)
- Austin Beck – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2 doubles (3)
- Griffin Lockwood-Powell – 1-3, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (1)
Great Lakes Loons 5 – Fort Wayne TinCaps (Padres) 1
Jared Karros was absolutely brilliant in his 4th start of the year. 3 of his 4 starts were stellar. He still needs innings, but he also needs competition. He has to be considered a potential AA promotion late spring or early summer. He pitched 5.0 shutout innings. He gave up 1 hit, 2 BB, and 8 Ks.
Brandon Neeck relieved Karros and ran into a control problem in the 7th. After a one-out single, the Loons got the 2nd out, but Neeck forgot where the plate was. A walk and HBP loaded the bases, and a WP broke up the shutout.
Lucas Wepf recorded a 4 out save, striking out 4.
At the same time Jared Karros was dominating the TinCaps, the TinCaps pitcher, 27 year old, Michael Cienfuegos was shutting down the Loons for 4.0 innings. But in the 5th, the Loons manufactured 4 runs. Thayron Liranzo led off with a double. Yunior Garcia singled Liranzo to 3rd. Sam Mongelli drew a BB to load the bases. Dylan Campbell singled home 2 and Mongelli and Campbell moved up on an error. Kyle Nevin reached on a fielders choice with Mongelli getting thrown out at home, but Campbell moved to 3rd. With 2 outs, Alex Freeland singled home Campbell with Nevin getting to 3rd. Freeland and Nevin pulled off a double steal with Nevin stealing home.
In the 9th Dylan Campbell singled home the 5th run.
- Dylan Campbell – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Alex Freeland – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI
- Yunior Garcia – 2-4, 2 runs
- Thayron Liranzo – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, double (3)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 12– Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 10
Carlos Duran started for RC and pitched 2.0 innings. He allowed a single, one BB, and struck out 4. He just needs for innings to build back up from his 2022 TJ surgery.
Roque Gutierrez relieved Duran, but could not duplicate his last exceptional outing. With the Quakes up 6-0, in the 3rd, Gutierrez allowed a double, BB, 2 run triple, run and scoring ground out for 3. The next batter reached on E-4, stole 2B and scored on a single. Gutierrez completed the next 2.0 innings without allowing a run.
RC got the scoring started in the 1st. Kendall George led off with a single. Jordan Thompson followed with a single. Jake Gelof tripled home both runners, and scored himself on a fielders choice ground out.
In the 2nd, Logan Wagner led off with his 1st HR. Juan Alonso reached on an error and was forced by Wilman Diaz. Diaz stole 2nd. Kendall George reached on another E-4 with Diaz taking 3rd. George stole 2nd. Thompson singled both runners home for a 6-0 lead.
Now leading 6-4, Jesus Galiz led off the 5th with a solo HR.
A single (Thompson), BB (Gelof), and single (Joe Vetrano) loaded the bases. A wild pitch plated Thompson and the other runners moved up. Galiz drew a BB to reload the bases. Wagner hit a ball to 1B who made a throwing error at the plate and Gelof scored, and the bases remained loaded. Juan Alonso singled home Vetrano and Galiz. Wagner and Alonso pulled off a double steal. Wagner scored on a single by George, with RC now leading 12-4.
After David Tiburcio pitched 2.0 flawless innings, Jorge Gonzalez entered in the 8th. Gonzalez allowed 3 walks, 2 singles, and a sac fly and was relieved with the bases loaded for Carlos Martinez. Martinez delivers a wild pitch and allows a 2-run single and all 3 inherited runners scored.
After leaving the bases loaded after one out and not scoring in the 8th, Carlos Martinez went back to the hill in the 9th to try and close out the game. The Storm did not go quietly. The first two batters singled putting runners on 1st and 3rd. A sac fly brought one run home. After a strikeout and SB, the Storm had a runner at 2nd with 2 outs. Martinez walked the next batter, and the runner on 2nd moved to 3rd. It took 8 pitches, but Martinez struck out Dillon Head to close out the victory.
- Jordan Thompson – 3-6, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (2)
- Kendall George – 2-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI
- Jake Gelof – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, triple (3)
- Jesus Galiz – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (2)
- Logan Wagner – 1-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (1)
- Juan Alonso – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI
About six years back, I found old black Rawlings glove at my son’s ballfield. I notified the league directors to see if anyone was missing the glove… with Jose Canseco’s “signature.” Nobody claimed it.
It must be 30 years old, and so worn the straps broke. I found a leather craftsman to fix it.
Like other baseball fans, I was disappointed when I learned the extent of the steroid scandal. With Bonds, we saw the physical transformation from his Pittsburgh days. But both Canseco and McGwire looked like they had won a genetic lottery, and put in some work in the weight room.
The hardest hit I ever witnessed was by Canseco–a screaming line drive over the Angels SS that seem to still be rising when it reached the seats in Angel Stadium.
Back in those days, all I cared about was the game itself. I was on the road a lot, so when I came home, watching the games was a big deal. I had Sirrus radio in my truck and I would listen to the Dodger broadcasts while on the road. But it struck a nerve when I saw that more than a few Dodgers, or former Dodgers were on the list. Guys I respected and loved watching them play. When Manny got suspended, that pretty much ended it for me. From that point on, I did not want anything to do with any player who had been suspended for PED use. One of the main reasons I was so against Yasmani Grandal, who had been suspended when he was with the Padres. I really hated that trade.
Never liked him
Chris Taylor continues to struggle. At some point they are going to have to say enough is enough. I like Chris, but he needs to hit. Kike might be waking up. He had two hits and was robbed on a great catch. They go to Toronto, where the Jays are no playing very well right now. 13-13 and have lost 4 of their last 5. The Dodgers face their best pitcher so far, Kikuchi on Saturday as he faces off with Glasnow. JT is the only Jays player above .300. Next best is Varsho who is hitting .263.
Why won’t Taylor cut down on his swing? Some contact is better than no contact.
Trying to replicate his prior success I would guess. That swing got him his contract. He has never in his career been a high average contact type of hitter. One of the reasons he has struck out over 1000 times in an 11-year career. But he is a career .250 hitter. One would think he would figure it out.
Because it’s SUPER-DOOPER hard to change a swing?
He didn’t get to become a millionaire just by stumbling upon a swing. It has taken thousands of at-bats to get it to the point and purpose that it is.
Why don’t the Dodgers just send him to Triple A? He’s not doing anyone any good considering he has two hits for the season and a million strikeouts. Let him try to work it out on the farm and bring him back if he gets his mojo back.
He cannot be sent to MiLB. He has zero options. He would have to be DFA’d, and certainly some team would pick him up and gladly let the Dodgers pay him.
This is, as usual, dead-on.
I also remind everyone the only analog I can remember in terms of just jettisoning a veteran under the Friedman regime, the only one, is Carl Crawford.
Are we there yet? Maybe? No?
Since a team who picks up Taylor would would pay the pro-rated mlb minimum, maybe some team would trade for him and pay one or two $MM of his contract.
Only hope is trading Taylor for another teams bad contract.
Doubt that would happen. But he can be released, which at this point seems to be the most likely outcome if he does not turn in around ASAP
If another team wants him, perhaps AF could get a prospect for him–and eat his salary. Perhaps this could be part of a larger package: Taylor + prospect for a lefty reliever….or something like that.
In today’s blowout, Roberts put Taylor in for Teoscar. He went 0 for 2, with one K, lowering his BA to .044. (The slumping Outman, meanwhile, bounced back from 3 Ks with a single and walk.)
With Pages playing so well, Taylor’s fate may hinge on the timing of Heyward’s return.
Seriously, I think a team like the A’s might welcome Taylor to provide some veteran leadership on the cheap. If the alternative is to DFA him, why not package with an attractive prospect to get a decent player in return?
I think the Dodgers lost Ryan Noda in the Rule 5 draft–and he became the A’s first baseman. There are several guys in OKC and Tulsa who are blocked on the Dodgers but could play for small-market ML teams.
You have to feel bad for the guy. He has had so many big games for the Dodgers, strikeouts aside. His first career homer was a grand slam, and he now has six, including one in Baltimore last season. He threw out a Padre runner at the plate to end a game a couple of years ago. His 2-run homer won the wild card game against the Cardinals, and he was one of only a couple Dodgers who played well in the 2021 NLCS against the Braves. His three-homer game helped stave off the inevitable. Unfortunately, he has little to no trade value at this point and he has one year left on his deal with a team option and a 4-million-dollar buyout. Considering how early in this season it is, he is owed well over 20 million by the Dodgers. When they cut Carl Crawford loose, he was owed 43,467,000 dollars. He had two years left on that deal. No body picked him up and he retired after the contract was paid.
I never liked Rose, but I totally respected the way he played the game. He came to beat you. Just like Bob Gibson. Gibby had the same mentality on the mound that Big D had. He would have hit his own mother if she dug in on him. Bonds was not very likeable either. But if he had just used his head, he would have made the Hall anyway. He was that talented. But he wanted the headlines that Soto and McGwire got when they were trying to outdo each other in homers.
And why wouldn’t Bonds seek the headlines? Baseball was doing nothing about PED use at the time. In my estimation it’s on them, not the players. MLB welcomed it, they should welcome the players who used into the Hall. And Rose? He will never win a popularity contest, but let the All Time hits leader in. It’s time. Give them a separate wing if you have to but let them in.
CT3. I’m a fan but if he doesn’t at least start making contact he has to go. I would give him til …. May 9th, Ascension Day, to show contingency with bat and ball and if there is continued declivity? Adios. We give Pages his at bats and carry on with Kiké as the lone utility player. Kiké is hiiting 200 points higher than the floundering Taylor, which means he’s hitting .350 right? Well, not really, but this team doesn’t need both guys.
I see signs of inconsistency with this club. The top of the lineup is All World. The middle is All Now and Then. The bottom is All Mendoza. When they hit as a team they are pretty much unbeatable. But that can be said for a lot of teams in MLB. What does it mean for the next 6 months of baseball? How do I know? My crystal balls have proven unreliable. I can see 100 wins and conquering the West by World Rhino Day. Everything after that is cloudy with a chance of pain.
Okay, I wrote it down. Badger says LAD clinches at home on September 22 against the Rockies. There will be 6 games remaining on the regular season schedule.
Honestly I didn’t look but figured the season finished in October again.
You play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back. Bonds always was a me first type of guy.
Catchy phrase but with the rare exception it just isn’t true. Not at that level.
I didn’t like the guy. He was a liar and a cheat. But he certainly wasn’t the only one and baseball was allowing it. I’ve often asked how many home runs would Shawn Green have hit if he bulked up to 230 on roids? If he had and was hitting 60+ home runs would I feel the same way about him as I did Bonds? Nope.
I hope Taylor gets it together, and fast.
Pages is off to a great start, not unlike Outman last season. But like Outman, a slump is certainly possible, perhaps likely.
If the Dodgers send Taylor packing–I would prefer a creative trade–Kike’s value as the UT guy rises. What if Kike gets hurt? Chris Owings is down in OKC, with a lot of experience in the minors. Or maybe a guy like Trey Sweeney or Lipscius could be summoned.
Off topic but something I found very interesting.
Baseball bats.
In conversation with an old friend who has been a master craftsman his entire adult life, specializing in woodworking. He coached baseball in Oklahoma for years and has made his own fungo bats out of several varieties of wood. Cherry and walnut were beautiful and harder, but too brittle to work in practice.
Anyway, we were talking about bat construction and he told me this:
”Pick up your bat at its balance point with left thumb and forefinger. Begin tapping hitting surface from the barrel end. (anything works- ball, two fingers edgewise, wooden spoon…). Near 6½” from end the vibration disappears at one point. This is the Center of Percussion (COP), which is commonly referred to as the Sweet Spot. Maximum energy transfers from bat to ball at this point IF the centerline of bat is on the ball path. This last confirms Ted Williams ‘slight uppercut swing’ as most pitches are decending at the plate, not to lift the ball but to stay in the ball path.”
So I grabbed my 32” Louisville Slugger Hillerich and Bradsby Flame Tempered Reggie Jackson that I swing daily and did the test. To my amazement the COP was 6 1/2” from the end of the bat which was about 3” from where I had assumed the sweet spot would be – in middle of the fat of the barrel, right at the end of Jackson’s signature. I was blown away. The sweet spot was mid point between the signature and the label, where the barrel was a full half inch thinner. Who knew? All my life I targeted the fattest part of the bat (more mass) and was missing the sweet spot causing more bat vibration and less exit velocity producing warning track power.
Aah, what might have been.
Interesting stuff, Badger.
*Gore has some tools starting with a 99 mph LH heater. Don’t get beat with hanging change ups with that gas. It appears he adjusted and put the change in his back pocket, which is in close proximity to where I suggest he put that pitch. Actually make it a show pitch ahead in counts but never throw it in the zone.
*Pitch location emphasis has changed in the last few years, thanks to technology. Hanging breaking ball were never taught. Low heaters were a good thing, now days they want them up. A plus change could be thrown to either RHB or LHB, as long as it was down but not down and in. A good low change, away, frequently results in a pop up, and not a ground ball as imagined. Don’t miss in as the hitter can be fooled but still drop the barrel on the pitch. Now same-side change ups are rare.
Now, those “rules” have all changed. Especially using various pitches up in the zone. Analytics have changed so many previously accepted ideas on how to get hitters out.
*Where did Vespa get the 96mph hopping fastball?
*Taylor looks like he’s swinging at the bottom of a swimming pool.
I can imagine what CT3 is experiencing. I was once 1 for 32 and little kids on the street were telling me how to hit. I’m sure he’s miserable and I feel for him.
But he knows as well as all of us that it’s a production business. Yank that groin muscle, go on the DL and rehab at Camelback, and get some rehab assignments. This isn’t working.
Some Dodger faithful want to stick with him some more, but I have seen enough.
And some think we need to get some value for his $15million per. But sometimes things just don’t go as planned. The Dodgers paid Trevor Bauer a total of 61 million for 17 starts, a 6 & 5 record in 107.2 innings. That’s $570,000 per inning.
*The HPU was once again an adventure. Yamamoto has to be wondering about the MLB strike zone. Like WTF is it?
*Hudson still makes it interesting as a set up guy. Phillips is nasty.
*How does Joey Gallo go to the pay window every 2 weeks
with a clean conscience?
I first saw MacKenzie Gore at Lake Elsinore in 2019. I saw him two more times in Modesto and San Jose. Gore was unhittable at high A, and was promoted to AA at the end of the year, and met some tougher hitters. But then the Covid shutdown, and Gore’s delivery got out of whack, and it went from bad to worse when he went to the Alternate Training Site.
Things did not improve for him in 2021. He was up and down between AA and Arizona Complex and AAA and Arizona Complex, and not good anywhere. He developed anxiety (or exasperated it). It got so bad that he was honestly thinking about quitting.
The Padres stuck with him and assigned three pitching coaches to tag team him and rebuild his delivery and keep his mental outlook positive. He was horrible at the Arizona Fall League, except his velo was back. He kept working with his coaches, and made his debut in April 2022 against Atlanta. He pitched well and has been a different pitcher ever since.
Gore was my must get LHP from his Lake Elsinore days. There was no way the Padres were going to deal him, until they did. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, they did not have a Juan Soto to dangle to the Pads.
MacKenzie Gore will always be a favorite non-Dodger for me. Although I have had my share, and continue to have them. The Dodgers beat him, he pitched well, so everything is cool.
good information Jeff. Thanks
Rendon with a major injury for the fourth straight year, torn hammy. No timetable for his return. Wade Miley to have TJ surgery.
y’know….
When this team isn’t playing poorly, they are pretty good.
I’m enjoying the batting race….
The new top three:
Mookie .382
Will .376
Shohei .354
And in terms of OPS, Mookie is first at 1.130 and Shohei second at 1.100.
And Mookie is running again, with seven steals so far without getting caught.
Nice win. Stone battled and did a great job with Toronto’s big hitters. Ohtani with another homer. If some were wondering, this is why Muncy plays most of the time. Smith and Betts are on fire and Freddie is heating up. Ramirez did his job.
Buehler will make one more rehab start next week and then the Dodgers will make a decision about him being activated. OKC wins, 5-4 over Alb. Lipcius with the game winning three-run homer in the 5th inning. Kody Hoese was 2-4 and his BA is up to .349.