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Post by Blunashun on Oct 21, 2023 18:13:28 GMT
I hate to be the Debbie Downer of this board, but they could load up this team with five aces, a stellar bullpen and nine Ohtani’s in the lineup and they’d still find a way to blow it come October. LA has had some of the strongest lineups and best pitching (sans this year) for the better part of a decade now. Yet they only have one shortened season title to show for it. Sure - they are a great regular season team as shown by their dominance in division titles. But they either have nothing left come October or they lack the skills / abilities / motivation to keep it going for another month. I do blame the players for a good deal of this, but dammit, they have changed from year to year with only a couple of exceptions, those being Kershaw, Mookie & Freddie. And ALL of them seem to crawl back into their shells when the fall classic arrives. A team with only two or three dependable bats in the lineup isn’t going to do squat, especially when those bats get shut down. There’s a reason guys like Peralta, Heyward, Rojas, etc. are available from the free agency scrap heap each and every year. Every now and then they strike gold, like with Muncy. But his regression this year and putrid D just might land him back on that list. They play adequate D, but their bats result in hits once every four or five AB’s. A lineup of 2/3 .200 hitters shouldn’t even be in the postseason. Yet somehow they continue to put 100 W’s on the board thru September. So, does somebody just come in and shut the breaker off? Are they so spent from the regular season that they completely forget how to pitch and bat? There’s only been one constant factoring in on their annual dump - and that constant has been Fraudy and Daisy. They will not or cannot motivate this team for another four weeks of play. And for some reason, they refuse to learn from their past mistakes that October requires a DIFFERENT type of baseball - one that is not played based on their overlord book of analytics. Sitting back and waiting for three run homers doesn’t work. Righty / lefty matchups don’t work. Runs are harder to come by due to better opposing pitchers. Manufacturing runs via bunts, steals, hit and runs, sacrifices are ALL still vital parts of this game, whether Doc and the puppet master want to admit it or not. A manager must have a “feel” for each game going in and know when and when not to pull the trigger. Unfortunately, we have a guy that would have trouble firing a cap gun (remember those?). Daisy might be the greatest regular season manager in our and perhaps all of baseball history. The players love him and he manages to keep most of those egos in check. But he simply lacks the skills and abilities to take this team to the next level and LA is doomed to continue with this October futility until ownership finally does what they should have done years ago. But as I’ve said too many times before - that doesn’t seem to be even remotely possible as long as LA continues to put 47k in the stadium every night and those concession and souvenir stand registers continue to ring. GO DODGERS!!! I will add there was nothing wrong with Freeman's playoff production the year the Braves won it all. There was nothing wrong with his postseason his first year in LA. We should have no gripes with Betts' postseason production in 2020. I don't like the 2020 shortened season argument because everyone was operating under the same rules of engagement. Why didn't they win? I mean, it's EASY, right? Huh? Huh? But I honestly feel as though the players LIKE Dave Roberts. Emphasis on 'LIKE.' Respect? Eh. Maybe. Maybe not. They have to know he's just a figurehead. That Friedman is running the team. Andrew really needs to reassess that role. While I'm sure he likes having a puppet in the dugout, how effective are you making that puppet if everyone can see the strings? How many bad ventriloquists have you seen? 'Oh, man! I can SEE his lips moving.' You spend all year swinging from the heels for a five run homer. Look what it did to Cody Bellinger. Look at what ONE year away from that did for his game. We've enabled that philosophy by having players just like Max Muncy. This isn't mean to pile on Max. I've already stated he's provided way more than could have been expected. That said, he's pretty much come to personify our style of play. Swing away. Damn! Strike out. You'll get 'em next time, Max. Keep swinging away. That guy REFUSED to go the other way with shifts that could have had him standing on second base on a freaking bunt. That's points on your batting average. A double is good for your slugging percentage. But what was my exit velocity? You know what? Shuddup & bunt, motherfucker. I'M in charge here. But Andrew said... We need a manager & for Friedman to butt the fuck out. |
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Post by Blunashun on Oct 21, 2023 18:22:02 GMT
I worked for a guy just like this at one time. He said he wanted a supervisor. What he really wanted was a figurehead, that he could pin blame on. Send what he thought were his worst employees to. It was transparent. Okay. That's the way you want to play the game?
Everyone he sent me I would have a talk with. It went something like this...
"So, I understand you were having problems with Craig. Do you want to talk about that?"
"Not really."
"Okay. You're starting with a clean slate here. I have one rule: Don't embarrass me. If you can do that, I have your back."
They would look up with a gleam in their eyes.
I would add - "Craig is a prick."
I never had such a loyal crew. Sometimes you can unite people by finding a common foe. Dave should try that. Andrew is probably a very nice guy. Dave's job is motivating though. If that includes making Friedman out to be Hitler, so be it.
I saw that former supervisor on Linkedin. He was looking for a job.
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jrgreene6
Legend
Married . . . With Cats
Posts: 7,438
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Post by jrgreene6 on Oct 21, 2023 19:20:32 GMT
100% agree with BOTH of these last two posts. And a title is a title, whether it’s 62 games or 162. Every team had to play those same number of games and every team agreed to the Turd’s format.
Yes - a good deal of our games were divisional due to travel restrictions. But so were everyone else’s.
Was the NL West one of the weaker divisions in 2020? Perhaps.
But we still had to go on and beat the rest of the NL wildcard & divisional winners to make it to the big show just like Tampa Bay did to play us.
Did their manager make a HUGE mistake in pulling that pitcher that cost them that game and perhaps the series?
In most opinions, he did. But was it any worse than Daisy pulling Rich Hill in the 7th inning with only 72 pitches in a game we had in hand against the Red Sox?
I would also agree that most, if not ALL of the players “like”, maybe even “LOVE” Daisy. But I don’t think too many respect him or his “leadership” role as their captain.
LA can only makeover this team and its roster so many times. And each time they have, they’ve come up empty in the postseason to teams they pretty much handled throughout the regular season.
It’s a mentality thing with them more than anything. And while that should and does fall on the players shoulders, Doc doesn’t possess the demeanor to effect change in that deficiency.
Like you said - he’s only a “figurehead” prop to Fraudy’s ideals and game plans and for us to achieve that ultimate goal of another title, I sincerely believe they BOTH need to go.
No way another ESTABLISHED manager is going to come here and take orders and game plans from the geeks and their stat sheets upstairs.
A GOOD GM shouldn’t feel the need to be anywhere NEAR the dugout throughout the season. But Fraudy seems to think that part of his job is to call the shots while Doc bobs his head up and down to his every request / demand.
And that’s another thing I’ve NEVER liked about Roberts. His expression and demeanor never seem to change, whether we’re up or down by 10.
He always seems to have this blank, clueless look on his face like the game he’s supposedly managing is the LAST thing on his mind.
I don’t know what has to happen for both of these bozos to hit the road - perhaps a 60 W last place finish in the division might do the trick.
But I won’t be holding my breath for that to happen anytime soon.
GO DODGERS!!!
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Post by Blunashun on Oct 22, 2023 20:20:58 GMT
Former home run champ working as advisor with Dodgers to foreshadow changes?
First, we must find out if the speculation is true.
By Thomas Carannante | Oct 20, 2023
This week, the Los Angeles Dodgers told their fans there wouldn't be any organizational changes on the way after back-to-back NLDS eliminations at the hands of inferior division rivals. Cool. Excited to run it back, we guess?
Friedman didn't rule out future changes, however, and Dodgers fans caught wind of a potential intriguing development on Wednesday, just a day after fans were disappointed by the team's end-of-season press conference.
It appears as if Nelson Cruz is at Dodgers' minor league camp and serving a some sort of advisor/coach, as he was pictured with prospect Eduardo Quintero wearing a Dodgers sweatshirt. Cruz never stated an intent to retire after the San Diego Padres released him, so fans are wondering what's going on here.
Perhaps he wanted to still be around baseball after no team picked him up following his release in mid-July. Perhaps he's trying his hand at a different baseball role to see if it's how he wants to begin his post-playing days.
Either way, one of the best power hitters in modern MLB history is seemingly involved with the Dodgers in some capacity, which is positive no matter how you look at it in the short-term or long-term.
Former home run champ Nelson Cruz working as advisor with Dodgers to foreshadow changes?
In the short term? He's helping out the young up-and-coming talent in the Dodgers system as he determines his next steps. Long term? He sticks as an advisor/coach and works his way up the ranks, eventually succeeding Dave Roberts as head honcho in the MLB dugout.
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Post by Blunashun on Oct 22, 2023 20:24:35 GMT
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jrgreene6
Legend
Married . . . With Cats
Posts: 7,438
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Post by jrgreene6 on Oct 22, 2023 21:04:46 GMT
I remember every year that we went down to Vero for Spring Training in the late 90’s thru the 00’s there was a specific area in the complex (named after Manny Mota). It was compact, fenced in and consisted strictly of a pitchers mound / rubber and home plate. Pretty much a 70’ enclosure. And it’s where EVERY player could be found sometime during the day SPECIFICALLY working on bunting with Mota doing the instructing. We were never there for games or practices when there weren’t a half dozen or so players in this area with Mota. And we were usually at the facility at least six or seven times for hours at a time each and every trip we made down. I guess by now its either been removed or is covered with weeds, overgrowth and cobwebs like something out of a horror movie. I’m also guessing nothing like this exists at their shared facility with the White Sox in Glendale. It’s a damn shame what simple strategies have gone by the wayside for analytics garbage. Most will never know the simplicity or beauty of the game we grew up playing, listening to on the radio and watching on television when broadcasts were limited to maybe a couple of games on the weekend or holidays. Now we can watch every single game every single night on a device we can hold in our hands. Technology has advanced - but it still hasn’t replaced the sheer joy of listening to Vin (or Marty & Joe here in Cincy) on an A.M. transistor radio with your grandpa and a couple of cold beers. Damn - I miss those days. GO DODGERS!!! |
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20DodgerMiracle24
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Rob Manfred is a disaster to our national pastime.
Posts: 1,790
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Post by 20DodgerMiracle24 on Oct 23, 2023 16:35:12 GMT
I remember every year that we went down to Vero for Spring Training in the late 90’s thru the 00’s there was a specific area in the complex (named after Manny Mota). It was compact, fenced in and consisted strictly of a pitchers mound / rubber and home plate. Pretty much a 70’ enclosure. And it’s where EVERY player could be found sometime during the day SPECIFICALLY working on bunting with Mota doing the instructing. We were never there for games or practices when there weren’t a half dozen or so players in this area with Mota. And we were usually at the facility at least six or seven times for hours at a time each and every trip we made down. I guess by now its either been removed or is covered with weeds, overgrowth and cobwebs like something out of a horror movie. I’m also guessing nothing like this exists at their shared facility with the White Sox in Glendale. It’s a damn shame what simple strategies have gone by the wayside for analytics garbage.
Most will never know the simplicity or beauty of the game we grew up playing, listening to on the radio and watching on television when broadcasts were limited to maybe a couple of games on the weekend or holidays. Now we can watch every single game every single night on a device we can hold in our hands. Technology has advanced - but it still hasn’t replaced the sheer joy of listening to Vin (or Marty & Joe here in Cincy) on an A.M. transistor radio with your grandpa and a couple of cold beers. Damn - I miss those days. GO DODGERS!!! Analysis, schmalysis. THat's what Robby had in mind when he pulled Rich Hill in that game we recall so often, 71 pitches!!! And what happened? Joan Baez coffed up the lead and other relievers couldn't stop the bleeding. Yeah, bunting isn't exactly exciting but it's nonetheless an element of the game, and adds variety. Not to give Manjerk any props, but steals are also part of the game, but the jerk doesn't realize that not only do we like steals, but we also like seeing runners getting gunned down at 2nd, another element of the game. Today's game is altogether dominated by homers and multitple relievers. If, in the natural evolution of the game, steals become rare, too bad for the fans. THat happened when the Babe started hitting pitches out of sight. Enlarging the bases was a really stupid thing to do. It might make steals more common, but also adds negatively to pitchers' stats. Just like the DH, which was supposed to add offense and make the game more "exciting", so it is with Manjerk's tampering, which can be compared to genetic engineering. The game has changed down thru the decades, but the changes have been natural, and inspired no rule changes. They didn't need changing since outlawing the spitball in 1920. |
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jrgreene6
Legend
Married . . . With Cats
Posts: 7,438
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Post by jrgreene6 on Oct 23, 2023 17:13:38 GMT
I remember every year that we went down to Vero for Spring Training in the late 90’s thru the 00’s there was a specific area in the complex (named after Manny Mota). It was compact, fenced in and consisted strictly of a pitchers mound / rubber and home plate. Pretty much a 70’ enclosure. And it’s where EVERY player could be found sometime during the day SPECIFICALLY working on bunting with Mota doing the instructing. We were never there for games or practices when there weren’t a half dozen or so players in this area with Mota. And we were usually at the facility at least six or seven times for hours at a time each and every trip we made down. I guess by now its either been removed or is covered with weeds, overgrowth and cobwebs like something out of a horror movie. I’m also guessing nothing like this exists at their shared facility with the White Sox in Glendale. It’s a damn shame what simple strategies have gone by the wayside for analytics garbage.
Most will never know the simplicity or beauty of the game we grew up playing, listening to on the radio and watching on television when broadcasts were limited to maybe a couple of games on the weekend or holidays. Now we can watch every single game every single night on a device we can hold in our hands. Technology has advanced - but it still hasn’t replaced the sheer joy of listening to Vin (or Marty & Joe here in Cincy) on an A.M. transistor radio with your grandpa and a couple of cold beers. Damn - I miss those days. GO DODGERS!!! Analysis, schmalysis. THat's what Robby had in mind when he pulled Rich Hill in that game we recall so often, 71 pitches!!! And what happened? Joan Baez coffed up the lead and other relievers couldn't stop the bleeding. Yeah, bunting isn't exactly exciting but it's nonetheless an element of the game, and adds variety. Not to give Manjerk any props, but steals are also part of the game, but the jerk doesn't realize that not only do we like steals, but we also like seeing runners getting gunned down at 2nd, another element of the game. Today's game is altogether dominated by homers and multitple relievers. If, in the natural evolution of the game, steals become rare, too bad for the fans. THat happened when the Babe started hitting pitches out of sight. Enlarging the bases was a really stupid thing to do. It might make steals more common, but also adds negatively to pitchers' stats. Just like the DH, which was supposed to add offense and make the game more "exciting", so it is with Manjerk's tampering, which can be compared to genetic engineering. The game has changed down thru the decades, but the changes have been natural, and inspired no rule changes. They didn't need changing since outlawing the spitball in 1920. And let’s not forget the most ridiculous change of our lifetimes - the runner on second in extra innings. Implemented to shorten games for the low attention span crowd, I bet more games have gone on to an 11th or 12th inning + than they did before the girls high school softball change. Seems every time I witnessed one of these games, either both teams scored that runner in the tenth (WAY more often than not) or neither scored. Too many wildcards have penalized teams that won all year long, only to get eliminated in their first round by a team that barely went .500. I’d MUCH rather see the top team in each division play right off the bat, so they either need to expand and split the division by four with four teams in each or simply split the current two with seven or eight teams in a west division and the remainder in an east division. The second scenario will NEVER happen because it would eliminate too many of these retarded wildcard games and the revenues they generate. But I’d put my entire worth on the idea if MLB does expand and go to four divisions of four teams each in both leagues, they’ll STILL have at least a wildcard game or two just to get as many teams and games in as they do now. MLB continues to creep closer and closer to the other three big leagues with “the more, the merrier” ideals of the playoffs. But to oldsters like me, it does nothing but diminish the spirit of the game and promotes only the “who’s hottest” come October mentality - see AZ -vs- PHI. This isn’t our or our old man’s baseball. This is X-Box / Sony PlayStation with live players and stadiums. And that’s not a compliment or endorsement. It’s a travesty. GO DODGERS!!! |
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Post by truedodger on Oct 23, 2023 21:12:18 GMT
What are some people thinking? They want us to trade for Corbin Burnes, the Beer Drinkers' ace. There's no way the Drinkers will deal him away, being the ace of the NL Central champs. Same with Tyler Glasnow. He might not be the Rays' ace, but he's right up there and it's highly doubtful the Rays will deal him either. Dylan Cease of the White Sox is much more realistic, though with a 4.58 ERA this past season. On top of all that, all three of those pitchers are rigties, and once again, we need a LEFTY starter like Blake Snell, but just like Kersh, he's been a pretty bad post season pitcher. I"d say our best bet is to acquire a young MLB ready lefty starter that only fans of that other team know about. Tommy John had good at best stats when the Dodgers traded for him in '72, and then he became much better than just "good" for just one example. IDK, expectations can be misleading. I checked his numbers and in 8 playoff series he's averaged 6.0 IP and has allowed 4 earned runs only twice. I think he'd be a nice get and they don't give up anything via trade. |
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Post by Blunashun on Oct 23, 2023 21:17:29 GMT
What are some people thinking? They want us to trade for Corbin Burnes, the Beer Drinkers' ace. There's no way the Drinkers will deal him away, being the ace of the NL Central champs. Same with Tyler Glasnow. He might not be the Rays' ace, but he's right up there and it's highly doubtful the Rays will deal him either. Dylan Cease of the White Sox is much more realistic, though with a 4.58 ERA this past season. On top of all that, all three of those pitchers are rigties, and once again, we need a LEFTY starter like Blake Snell, but just like Kersh, he's been a pretty bad post season pitcher. I"d say our best bet is to acquire a young MLB ready lefty starter that only fans of that other team know about. Tommy John had good at best stats when the Dodgers traded for him in '72, and then he became much better than just "good" for just one example. IDK, expectations can be misleading. I checked his numbers and in 8 playoff series he's averaged 6.0 IP and has allowed 4 earned runs only twice. I think he'd be a nice get and they don't give up anything via trade. Which one? |
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Post by truedodger on Oct 23, 2023 21:18:16 GMT
There’s only been one constant factoring in on their annual dump - and that constant has been Fraudy and Daisy. They will not or cannot motivate this team for another four weeks of play. And for some reason, they refuse to learn from their past mistakes that October requires a DIFFERENT type of baseball - one that is not played based on their overlord book of analytics. Sitting back and waiting for three run homers doesn’t work. Righty / lefty matchups don’t work. Runs are harder to come by due to better opposing pitchers. Manufacturing runs via bunts, steals, hit and runs, sacrifices are ALL still vital parts of this game, whether Doc and the puppet master want to admit it or not. A manager must have a “feel” for each game going in and know when and when not to pull the trigger. AMEN!!! |
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Post by truedodger on Oct 24, 2023 16:18:59 GMT
IDK, expectations can be misleading. I checked his numbers and in 8 playoff series he's averaged 6.0 IP and has allowed 4 earned runs only twice. I think he'd be a nice get and they don't give up anything via trade. Which one? Snell. I've also seen that they might be in the market for Lucas Giolito. Idk about that one. I'd rather pursue the Japanese starters. |
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Post by truedodger on Oct 24, 2023 16:28:20 GMT
Wouldn't have Seager looked nice over at 3B for us. I always thought they would keep him over Bellinger. Turns out they moved on from both.
Man, and isn't that Bochy a good manager! Turns out the lizard Dusty has never won a game 7 while Bochy has never lost one. Would have never thunk it.
Was thinking what if the Dodgers make a play for Stanton. The word is the Yankees are going to go hard after Ohtani. With Judge, Stanton and Ohtani the Yankees would have an excess of DHs. The Dodgers wanted him a while ago. I don't want Muncy I rather have JD as the DH but if they want to go younger then make a play for Stanton. Miami pays $10 mil in '26, $10 mil in '27 and has an option his last year '28. He's at $32 mil in '24 & '25 so the Dodgers can ask the Yankees to pay $10+ mil to make it a good deal. That plus what Miami pays in the final two years.
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Post by Blunashun on Oct 24, 2023 16:30:06 GMT
Snell. I've also seen that they might be in the market for Lucas Giolito. Idk about that one. I'd rather pursue the Japanese starters. Japanese league still have those ridiculous posting fees? |
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Post by Blunashun on Oct 24, 2023 16:32:14 GMT
Wouldn't have Seager looked nice over at 3B for us. I always thought they would keep him over Bellinger. Turns out they moved on from both. Man, and isn't that Bochy a good manager! Turns out the lizard Dusty has never won a game 7 while Bochy has never lost one. Would have never thunk it. Was thinking what if the Dodgers make a play for Stanton. The word is the Yankees are going to go hard after Ohtani. With Judge, Stanton and Ohtani the Yankees would have an excess of DHs. The Dodgers wanted him a while ago. I don't want Muncy I rather have JD as the DH but if they want to go younger then make a play for Stanton. Miami pays $10 mil in '26, $10 mil in '27 and has an option his last year '28. He's at $32 mil in '24 & '25 so the Dodgers can ask the Yankees to pay $10+ mil to make it a good deal. That plus what Miami pays in the final two years. Stanton's performance has tanked BIGLY. No thanks on that one. |
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