Face it, we all do it. And it rarely changes the other guy’s stance. I know, I do it a lot. We all have differing opinions about anything and everything baseball. Politics is the same. Differing views depending on a ton of things.
I do know this to be a fact, the Dodgers are in the best stretch of winning in their entire baseball history. No Dodger decade is close except maybe the 50’s when they went to the World Series 5 times and won twice. They also finished in the top 3 eight of those 10 seasons. 57 and 58 are the only exceptions.
Since the last season that Colletti was the GM to now, they have finished in first in their division 9 of 10 times and second once. Three World Series and one win. They lost in the NLDS four times and the NLCS twice. But it is also much harder to make it to the World Series now.
The arguments can be over a myriad of subjects. Who they should trade for, good trades, bad trades. We all have an idea of what we consider the worst trades made by the Dodgers since they moved to LA. Few of us remember any trades Brooklyn made.
One I have had several times concerns who belongs in the Hall of Fame among Dodgers who are now retired. Many fans opine that Fernando belongs in the Hall. Almost all fans who believe that are Dodger fans. The impact Fernando made on Los Angeles is undeniable. He mesmerized LA fans like no player before or since.
He is the only player to ever win Rookie of the Year and the CyYoung in the same season. And his number was retired this year by the Dodgers, joining Jim Gilliam as the only non Hall members so honored.
But if you look solely at his stats, he is nowhere near being a Hall of Famer. Same argument can be made about Maury Wills. Wills brought the stolen base back as a weapon. He had a very good career. He won an MVP award and was a huge part of three World Champs.
But again, he did not have numbers comparable to his peers. But Maury has a good chance of getting in with the golden age committee. Valenzuela not so much. Garvey the same thing. He for his era did not possess the power of most first basemen of the time. Had he passed 300 homers, he might have been elected. In his 15 years on the ballot Garvey never got more than 42.6 percent of the vote. In his last year on the ballot only 21 percent.
Things like that can trigger a pretty passionate debate. I know, I have had them. But I also try to understand where the other person is coming from. A lot of them do not know how Hall of Famers are chosen. Or the criteria used by the BBWA.
My problem with arguments is that I have a trigger. Not the same thing all the time, but someone will post something, and I might have a strong opinion in the other direction. And then it is on.
Baseball fans are always going to argue. What matters is that you keep it civil and try to see the other person’s point of view.
08-02-2023 – MiLB Game Summary Report
OKC Dodgers 6 – Round Rock Express (Texas) 3
OKC scored 5 in the bottom of the 2nd inning to give OKC a 6-1 lead. Mike Montgomery went 5 innings allowing only the one run, 3 hits, 2 BB, and 5 K for the win.
Jimmy Nelson’s LAD career seems to be coming to an end. He allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, 1 BB in 0.2 IP. His ERA is now at 7.71. Gus Varland had another nice night in his one perfect inning with 2 Ks.
Michael Busch slugged his 19th HR, 4th in 5 games, 6 out of his last 9, and 12 since July 1. And yet he cannot get a MLB job.
Key Performers:
- Michael Busch – 2-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (19)
- Drew Avans – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (21)
- Ryan Ward – 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (14)
- David Dahl – double (16)
Box Score
Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 4 – Tulsa Drillers 0
Wichita shutout the Drillers on 4 hits (3 singles and a double)
Key Performers:
- José Ramos – 2-4, double (13)
Box Score
Great Lakes Loons 5 – Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego) 2
The Loons slugged 3 solo HRs, including 2 in the 7th when they scored 3 runs to open up a 4-1 lead.
Ronan Kopp started and did complete 3.0 hitless and scoreless innings. He did issue 4 walks against 2 Ks. Michael Hobbs finished the final 2.0 scoreless innings, on 1 hit, with 3 Ks.
Key Performers:
- HR – Taylor Young (4), Alex Freeland (7), and Griffin Lockwood-Powell (9)
Box Score
Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado) 7 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2
Fresno jumped out to a 6-0 lead after 3.2 innings. RC scored 2 in the 7th after being down 7-0. RC had a total of 4 hits (all singles).
Key Performers:
Box Score
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero.
I appreciate this site because MOST of the time, commenters seem to be respectable even when they do not agree with a point made. When one decides to name call or belittle someone, the argument is lost. I think Bear is right, in most discussions, minds are not going to be changed. Although I have had my mind changed on a few occasions. I like it when points and counterpoints are made, but are not made with rancor .
However, over time, I do believe that Bear has changed his mind a bit about AF, but not about Tyler White and Jedd Gyorko.
We debate. I see no arguments here.
Jeff you made a point about Lynn’s 7 innings that was immediately supported by Gonsolin’s 5. The A’s appear to be a pathetic Major League Baseball team, but they are Major League players. Why did it take him 84 pitches to get through 5, and why can’t he throw 90 and get through 6 against a lineup like that? Because he’s Gonsolin, that’s why. The question I have is can he make it through to November.
The offense looks fine. They will have their off nights against better pitching, but I still see issues with our own better pitching. I’m not convinced we have it.
Correction: Fernando jersey hasn’t been retired YET; his special weekend is next weekend, Aug 11-12 vs the Rockies.
MLB Power Rankings (BR)
1. Atlanta Braves
2. Baltimore Orioles
3. Texas Rangers
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Houston Astros
6. Los Angeles Dodgers
7. Philadelphia Phillies
8. Toronto Blue Jays
9. Milwaukee Brewers
10. San Francisco Giants
11. Cincinnati Reds
12. Boston Red Sox
13. Los Angeles Angels
14. Chicago Cubs
15. Minnesota Twins
16. Arizona Diamondbacks
17. San Diego Padres
18. New York Yankees
19. Miami Marlins
20. Seattle Mariners
21. Cleveland Guardians
22. Detroit Tigers
23. New York Mets
24. Washington Nationals
25. Pittsburgh Pirates
26. St. Louis Cardinals
27. Colorado Rockies
28. Chicago White Sox
29. Kansas City Royals
30. Oakland Athletics
No arguments from me.
Dylan Hernandez came out pretty hard on Friedman this morning. This isn’t a World Series team, Friedman knows it, and didn’t really work that hard to do anything about it. And you already know Plaschke agrees. Comments?
Dodgers still haven’t won a full season WS since 1988. They only have a Covid ring for 60 games. Not much more than a third of a season. Definitely not satisfying.
The Times articles were right on the mark and I agree.
Kasten and Friedman’s goal is just enough to make us contenders — not the WS. They know they can continually get away it.
I’m drafting a letter to ERod to thank him for squashing the trade. I have a hunch this would have come in second behind the Bauer deal as AF’s biggest mistake.
He left the Red Sox last year to handle personal problems (I have no problem with that) but never contacted the team to let them know how he was doing. They were just left there wondering if/when he was ever going to come back.
A number of his former teammates who now play for us texted him when it looked as though we might make a play for him. These guys thought they were friends with him, not just ex-teammates, yet he never took the trouble to answer them.
Now I read that when the deal was in the works he told the Dodgers he wanted to add another year at 20 mil if he didn’t opt out. He was certainly entitled to ask for that. He was in a good position to bargain. But only after AF said no did he enforce his no-trade provision. I don’t have a problem with that either, but then his people made it sound like it was all family reasons that he didn’t come.
Friedman and Gomes have gone out of their way to blend a very close clubhouse this year. Most guys on the team say this is the best group they’ve had here. I think Rodriguez simply would not have fit in the way that the front office wanted.
Darn good trade for Rosario. Essentially got Amed for nothing. Syndergaard was a total flop. Rosario has already done more for the Dodgers than Thor did.
He is actually having a better year than Trea Turner.
Turner: 443AB, .662 OPS, 10 HR, 34 RBI, .237 BA, 81 OPS+.
Rosario: 398 AB, .689 OPS, 4HR, 43 RBI, .269 BA, 92 OPS+.
The Good
Aldry Acosta was getting 18 inches of horizonal movement on his sinker, which, paired with 94 on the Velo, is very tough to hit. He also has good deception and throws to the corners. Put that all together & that’s is why he’s so good at missing barrels.
The Not so Good
Tough start tonight for #Dodgers No. 13 prospect Maddux Bruns
Although he struck out 7 in 4.1 IP, Bruns allowed two homers and five earned runs in total. It was the first time Bruns has allowed multiple homers in a start in his entire pro career
The Excellent:
Nick Frasso was EXCELLENT tonight for Double-A Tulsa
5.0 IP
3 H
0 R
1 BB
8 K
19 whiffs (!!!)
77 P / 53 S
Damn that Rojas!!😍
Barnes is God