This Saturday, the Dodgers travel to Mesa to play the Angels in their first game of spring. The next day they play San Diego. Just how soon we see Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz remains to be determined. When Ohtani first signed with LA, he did not play the first couple of games. But at some point, we will get to see #23, Tucker, and #3, Diaz. Most of us will be keeping an eye on the battle to be the starting second baseman. Kim, Rojas, Freeland and Espinal should get a lot of playing time. Ryan Fitzgerald is another long shot for the job.
Kim will miss some time while he is playing with team Korea in the WBC and they start their tournament schedule in Japan. As we all have learned, the leading candidate for the regular job, Tommy Edman, is not going to be ready for the start of the season. Since it is just the first game of spring, I would expect that no pitcher will go more than 2 innings. Most will pitch just one. The starters usually get at least two at bats in early spring games. And expect the pitchers to be ahead of the hitters. After the 4th inning, we will most likely get a parade of non-roster and minor league players.
That should give us our first look at guys like Tibbs III, Siani and old friend, Ryan Ward. Although the games mean nothing, I have always enjoyed watching them until the end and seeing the kids show their wares. Once in a while there will be a surprise as some prospect or NRI player shows his stuff. Of course, we will get to see DePaula, Hope, George and some of the kid pitchers we hope are the future of the franchise.
Usually at the start of spring the TV side of the game is handled by Rick Monday and Jim Neverett. Nelson arrives soon afterwards and Davis towards the middle of spring with the regular analysts like Orel coming on about the same time. Some of us will tune in to the WBC. I will try to watch the games that the US is involved in since it will be a chance to see Kersh pitch one more time.
My main concern will be injuries. Spring injuries in the past have affected the lineup more than a few times. Just a couple of years ago, Lux went down for the season with a torn ACL. One I really remember happened when they still trained at Vero. Pedro Guererro went down and it pretty well messed up the season. But this team is pretty deep. An outfield with all three main outfielders capable of smashing 30 homers. An infield where 3 of the 4 players also have 30 homer resumes and a catcher, Smith, who can easily hit 20. Add Ohtani and probably at least 40 bombs and this is probably the most powerful Dodger team ever. It would not surprise me if they set a new all-time record for homers by the team in a season.
I am looking forward to seeing what some of the young pitchers can do. Guys like Jackson Ferris, River Ryan, Henriquez, Kyle Hurt, Ronan Kopp, Nick Frasso, Luke Fox, and young left-hander, Adam Serwinowski. I saw Fox throw a bullpen on Facebook along with Ohtani, Diaz and Sasaki. His stuff looked pretty nasty. Vesia seemed to be in midseason form. He made Ohtani look silly in BP.
So, off we go. A new season is just a little over a month away. It is not spring here in Colorado. Usually, it does not show up until early May. I have seen snow here as late as Memorial Day, usually up around the Denver area. The Dodgers have a four-game Friday to Monday series against the Rockies in Denver starting on the 17th of April. Expect it to be pretty chilly up there that time of year. For those of you in warmer climates, get yourself ready for some Dodger baseball!
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
The Padres had Merrill batting second in their game with Tatis Jr. hitting behind Machado in the 4-slot. Bogaerts was their leadoff hitter. As I mentioned on the last post, they lost to the Mariners.
Love to read it.
So many reasons for optimism. With the depth of talent we have, even one guy breaking out like Tibbs or Ward could be huge.
Muncy might have a big year upcoming. He IS an automated strike zone. Smith has achieved full legend status and Mookie is ripe for a rebound.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the roster are the rotation depth/bullpen competitors.
Wroblesku, Ryan, Stone, Hurt, Klein, Henriguez have world class arms and would be locks on many rosters.
& Cy Sasaki remains a fascinating study.
Sasaki is working on a couple of new pitches. Roberts confirmed that when Freddie takes a day off, Rushing will be playing first base.
Sheehan could be our #2 or #3
It would be awesome if Sheehan, Stone, and Ryan pitched like 1 or 2 types regardless of where they were placed by the Dodgers.
More like a 5 or 6. 1-4 Ohtani, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell.
By the end of the year
It’s time for Dodger baseball!!
Yamamoto starts today, and Doc said Jackson Ferris will be starting tomorrow.
Like most of us, I’m more excited to see the kids this spring.
& Tucker
Pirates announced that Bill Mazeroski passed away yesterday at the age of 89. Maz is a Hall of Famer best known for his walk off homer in game seven of the 1960 World Series off of Ralph Terry of the Yankees. He played 17 years, all with the Pirates. RIP Maz.
Freddie wants to be a Dodger for 4 more years and AF seems to agree. In my opinion he’s the best of the best on and off the field, so I hope it happens. And when he retires with 3000 hits and at least 5 rings in LA he will go to the HOF with a DODGERS hat on!
Unless he needs to do it as a DH, then his final years could be in Atlanta
Easy extension next offseason. Hand Freddie the pen.
Exactly. Couldn’t agree more.
Any news about Gonsolin?
He is still a free agent. Kind of surprised some pitching poor team has not picked him up. Even Buehler, who was awful last year got a minor league deal.
I’m most excited to see River Ryan pitch
Srsly
I remember the day Mazeroski hit that home run. I was in Mr Harris’s 7th grade math class. He sent Paul to the office to get a score and Paul came back smiling and said “the Pirates won!”
They just showed (twice) that left center catch by Pages. It wasn’t that difficult a play. It was a warning track fly ball that Hernandez was prepared to catch when Pages showed up.
Stone and Ryan both arrived with added muscle and look ready to pitch. With Sheehan, Wrobleski, Knack, and Sasaki the Dodgers are loaded. I expect all of that staff, all 11 of them (I think) will be brought along cautiously. Maybe the young guys will carry loads early. This team is about winning in October and they know how to do it.
I also remember Mazeroski’s home run. I was in 4th grade laying in the nurses office with an ice bag on my forehead after banging into another kid while playing flag football. The nurse had the game on the radio.
LFG!!!!!
I would love to have a Dodger official explain what they liked about Kim before they signed him and what they didn’t like about him after they signed him. I know he has to cut down his strike out rate, but I love the guy. Teo looks much slimmer.
Badger and I are toasting to Kim’s single.
1000 push-ups and 500 lb. bench press and all we get is a lousy single. Hopefully he’ll steal second and third.
Maybe I’m early, or maybe the edible is kicking in, but I”m ready to annoit HS Kim the starting 2b
Slow down Bobby. It’s a long season!
You’re right. Long season.
Kim can have a day or two off in August.
I mean slow down on the edibles!😂
Haha
Apparently Owners are willing to discuss significantly increasing the current minimum wage of $780,000 and lowering the service time required to reach arbitration and free agency as “bargaining chips” if they can receive a salary cap in return, per Heyman and Sherman.
That has to interest a ton of young players.
How many players would it end up affecting?
I doubt it moves the needle much. The union appears to be adamant about that whole free market thing. I think the smart move is a minimum payroll and stricter investment rules.
Dodgers claimed LH hitting OF Jack Suwinski who was placed on waivers by Pittsburgh. More OF depth with MLB experience. I think the Dodgers claimed him so that nobody else would. He is a Dodger killer. Career MLB line – .199/.305/.389/.694. In 61 PA against LAD, Suwinski hit .314/.417/.687/1.083