Rant & Rave Saturday

If you can’t rant and rave what can you do?

  • Dodgerrick and others brought up some good points about the evolution of baseball yesterday. Thought-provoking! I promise to think about them in 2022. I just want BASEBALL in 2021. PERIOD! I want it now!
  • Remember that the Dodgers under Andrew Friedman typically operate with a quiet, say little, close to the vest approach.  That is a fact.  There are very few “leaks” in the Dodgers’ organization and other than “misinformation” no one hears anything AF does not want them to hear.,, and some of what he wants you to hear is misinformation.
  • I have the feeling that Andrew Friedman and Justin Turner have had a conversation and at the very least, the Dodgers will have the last opportunity to match any offer and I also believe that Justin Turner has a good idea of what the Dodger will pay and for how long.  He is most definitely wanted back and I think he will be back, and Toronto will pay him too much, but ultimately, I think JT will return for less money. I believe that it is 2 years in the $20 Million dollar vicinity!
  • Gavin Lux has two problems (1) Finding his swing, and (2) Fixing his throwing issues.  These were the issues last year. Frankly, he is going to have to show that he can hit and throw again.  His trade value is low right about now.  The Dodgers could get more for Kody Hoese, so Lux will either boom or bust.  Frankly, I lean to the “bust” side.  I hate it, but that’s how I feel.
  • “Crocodile Dundee” Hendriks is going to get paid.  Big time! The Dodgers will not be paying him.
  • Dave Roberts said that Corey Seager “Plays with a chip on his shoulder to prove that he can stay at SS.”  There is not a move in his future. That is his persona!
  • Gray, Ruiz, Lux, Hoese, Busch, Pages, Cartaya, Miller, Beeter, and Vargas.  5 will make it.  5 won’t.  Which is which? Who is who?
  • Andy Pages is very good! Arte Moreno is not!
  • Nolan Arenado will not be a Dodger in 2021. Take that to the bank!
  • If the Angels tank again in 2021 (and they will), Moreno will need to move on from Mike Trout and re-load. Trout will end up back on the East Coast!
  • A friend of mine who is very successful in real estate says that the secret to his success is “Don’t fall in love with any property. Be prepared to walk away!” That pretty much sums up how Andrew Friedman operates as well.
  • Kike, Alex, Pedro, JT, Blake are welcome back… we shall see what their market is.
  • I think the Dodgers have moved on from Joc Pederson. I hear there is very little interest in him around baseball.

I Like That Old Time Rock and Roll..

This article has 42 Comments

  1. Evolution of baseball – I liked the ideas about limiting the DH by tying it to a specific pitcher. I think this will do a lot for the strategy of the game, specifically affecting pitching changes like National League baseball. But, I’m way more interested in a rule that limits shifts. I would like to see two infielders on each side of the diamond and maybe even limit 3 players on the outfield grass. Batting averages would soar as a result of making all the infielders start the play on the dirt and infield grass. But, part of me says that baseball should adjust itself naturally as it has done in the past.

    I think it’s safe to say that JT has a better chance of coming back, than replacing him with other options. I don’t think that anybody wants to give him 3 years and I don’t think he would choose a 3 year deal from another team over a two year deal with the Dodgers. But, I wouldn’t say it’s a done deal by any means.

    It sure doesn’t look like Nolan is going to be here, but I sure would love for it to happen.

    I lean the other way on Lux. He had a bad year as a 19 year old in single A hitting 244 and roared back the next two years hitting 324 and 347. The dude can hit, there’s no doubt about that.

    I don’t agree that only 5 will make it from that group. Lux and Ruiz are already Major Leaguers. Gray, Hoese and Busch are knocking at the door so those 5 are safe bets. Pages and Cartaya are way too young to predict and Beeter and Miller haven’t even played in the minors yet. Miguel Vargas is on the fence for me. He’s done very well for his age so far, but too young to be a sure thing. So, if I had to pick 5, Gray, Lux, Ruiz, Hoese and Busch. Pages, Cartaya and Vargas are all too far off to be close to sure things and Miller and Beeter were just drafted.

    Baez, Wood and Kike will not be back. You can take that to the bank. Wood has the best chance out of the bunch at returning on a minor league deal. They don’t have much room on the roster after they sign JT or his replacement and a high leverage reliever.

  2. According to MLB Trade Rumors the Red and the Nationals are discussing a trade involving Eugenio Suarez. No other names have been mentioned. He could be the RH power hitter we are looking for and he’s a 3B. I don’t think we will get him but I wonder what the Reds would want for him.
    I would love to see JT come back again and finish his career as a Dodger but just in case he doesn’t Suarez could be a viable option and he doesn’t turn 30 yo until mid-July.

  3. So much to consider in a short column, Mark.

    Obviously the verdict is still out on Gavin Lux, but the talent is there. Steve Sax had big time throwing issues and he turned out just fine. Throwing issues can be solved, most just involve basic fundamentals. Not unusual for young players to go through some issue or the other. Andrew Friedman seems to think Lux will be fine, can’t be defined by a shortened pandemic related season. Some very good players had very bad years. Put him at second and see how he does.

    Arte Moreno may make major blunders and the Angels definitely need pitching, but tearing it all down and trading Mike Trout just isn’t going to happen. The Angels need pitching. If they acquire it or develop it they have a pretty good team. They also need a big star and that’s Trout, someone who actually excites their fan base.

    What exactly does reload mean?

    Definitely like Andy Pages. Thanks Arte.

    Guessing Joc Pederson is gone. But if the interest in him is “thin” that means he could return on a very team friendly deal. Thinking he signs elsewhere with an opportunity to play every day, something the Dodgers won’t offer. But we’ll miss his bat when the playoffs roll around.

    There are two things I’m really tired of hearing. One is about elections, the other Nolan Arenado. I agree he’s not coming to the Dodgers. Time to move on.

    Not having Justin Turner at third base in 2021 would be weird. Makes too much sense for Turner to continue as a Dodger. No doubt you’re right, Turner and Friedman know the numbers and length of a new deal.

    The bullpen seems to be the real focus. What gems may be found in a pretty slow moving and unsettled market?

  4. I can see Joc ending up in SF. He is from Palo Alto and his wife grew up in the East Bay. Zaidi knows him well and I think he’ll get a one year “show us what you got” deal around $7-9 million and I’m OK with that. Love Joc’s prodigious power but he has gotten a bit “thick in the hips.”

    1. I think Joc will end up with a job, just not with the Dodgers. He looked a little lazy last year, thick in the hips is a good way of putting it. He also seemed disinterested at times, not running out grounders, etc. Bad look for a contract year after almost being traded. On the flip side, he was more than helpful in the post season. I’m ready to see what Zack Reks can do.

    2. According to rumors, Joc has several teams interested including the St. Louis Cardinals who are searching for a LH bat. For $7-9M the Dodgers would want Joc as long as he will accept a platoon role.

  5. I think Joc would be a great addition to the Yankees and their right handed heavy lineup. I’d rather have him than Gardner against righties

  6. Of the two problems you identify with Lux, Mark, the one that bothers me more is the hitting. If he can’t get rid of the yips, you can always put him in left field. Although it’s a very small sample size, he still hasn’t shown he can hit in the majors. To me, that’s the more important stumbling block.

    The Angels had a “can’t miss” prospect about 10-15 years ago named Brandon Wood. When he first came up, teams used to ask about him in trades but the Angels knew they had a great one and hung on to him. He wound up spending five years in the big leagues and although he hit great in AAA his lifetime MLB batting average was .186. I hope Lux finds a lot more success than Wood did, but some guys just hit a brick wall when they get to the big show.

    1. Thanks you SingingTheBlue. Watched it and I loved it. Yes, Don Drysdale was pitch perfect, pun intended.

    2. Willie Davis looked smaller than I remembered him but then again he was standing between Drysdale and Howard.

  7. All I am reading says the team has not given up on Lux at all. And last year was an anomaly for everyone. Kid had the yips and let it affect his hitting. Common in young players. Contrary to what Mark said, there has been interest in Pederson by a few teams. I am not surprised at that at all. He is a pure power hitter and a lot of teams are short in that department. There was a report yesterday that some free agents who have been in contact with the Jays are openly wondering if they are going to be in Toronto this year. Kind of iffy at this point since Canada closed their border.

  8. Not a fan of the limited DH. The DH is there to keep pitchers from hitting, and in this age of high priced pitchers, injury. I do not care about the strategy, most managers suck at that anyway. What I care about is not having some .079 hitting pitcher come up with 2 outs and the bases juiced. No DH after the starter leaves changes that whole World Series. Friedman wants Price to get a ring.

  9. I just realized that Dave Roberts constant smile these days is irritating. No one can be that happy all the time.

  10. The Dodgers have a core that will keep them in the post season for years assuming Seager re-signs, Turner can run the bases without putting himself on the DL, Lux can hit and throw and Muncy doesn’t repeat the 2020 regular season. Might add that Bellinger has holes in his swing that more and more is being exploited.

    I think the prudent thing to do is to remove as many of those ifs as the Dodgers can afford and as other teams are willing to make trades with the Dodgers.

    I wish the Dodgers would share information about what players are doing in the off season regarding workouts and instruction.

    1. Pederson will get multiple offers.
      Lux will hit.
      Turner hit over .300 this year. He had a hammy. It happens. He will be fine and he will be here.
      Covid will be a player again. We can’t seem to get our collective stuff together and until we do, Covid is in play.
      I’m not convinced Seager will stay.
      Is Barnes back? If he is, it’s time to trade Ruiz.
      Friedman wants to do something big. What big is most likely? It might be Bauer. Might be Hendriks. I agree Arenado is unlikely but I don’t rule it out.
      I wonder what Lux and Ruiz trade values are now. My guess is not what they were.

  11. Enjoyed “Old Time Rock& Roll”, but my “Old Time Rock& Roll” goes back to the mid 50’s to the mid 60’s before the “British Invasion”. Any one able to name the Dodgers singing with Drysdale?

    1. Tommy D., Frank Howard and Bill Skowron plus the guys mentioned by DBM.
      I always think of Skowron as a Yankee and barely remember his time in LA.

      1. Bill spent 1 year with the team, and was on the field when they beat the Yankees in game 4 in 63. He did not have a great year, but he was past his prime by then anyway. He hit .203 with 4 HR’s and 19 ribbies in almost 90 games. But he hit .385 in the series with a homer and 3 ribbies. He played until 1967 and finished up with the Angels. Yesterday would have been his 90th birthday. He passed in 2012.

  12. I saw a cute clip on Twitter. I had totally forgotten that there used to be a show on during the season called The Baseball Bunch. Usually had some kids on there. But Lasorda would dress up like a Karnac character that Carson used to do on the Tonight show and do these little vignettes of players. This one was called Young At Heart and Tommy was telling the kids about having to be young at heart even if you are older to play the game. And it featured all of the players who were 39 or older at the time, including Rose, Perez, Perry, Yaz, Fergie Jenkins, Jim Kaat..just a cool thing to watch.

  13. I want electronic strike zones, 2 fielders on each side, infielders on the dirt, and American League style DH.

    I also maybe want pitches that are 6 inches inside and above the strike zone to be declared as hit batter. Auto strike zone comes with more ability than just balls and strikes. Use it.

    Let a player that is pinch hit for return to that spot in the lineup later in the game. Can’t play defense again until after they hit again. This could add offense to games.

  14. Everyone gets one present from AF this Christmas. What do you want? Ok Bums we know what you want but I’ll take Hendriks

  15. One present huh? Ok, I’ll bite, I want Hendrick to be Jansen;s back up. Makes the pen better. Damn, Ohio State won, but Notre Dame is losing! Beane not leaving the A’s after all.

  16. Poor Trojans looked pretty pathetic last night. Can’t be a big time program if you can’t win the battle in the trenches! And if you can’t recruit the big beasts. Only way SC turns it around is to hire Urban Meyer!

    1. Wasn’t the problem Cassidy. The turnovers were. You give a team like that a short field to operate from and you will lose every time. They put themselves in too deep of a hole.

      1. I think it’s a recruiting problem. Why are top players from Southern California going to Oregon?

        1. Would you stay in Cali? It cost a lot more. Oregon is a quality school with decent sports programs, and USC has lost some luster since the days of Pete Carroll. Notre Dame got rolled by Clemson, makes me feel good. Stanford up on the Bruins in the 3rd quarter of their game. Lakers went 4-0 in the pre season and open against the Clippers next week. Angels-White Sox scheduled as the first ESPN Sunday night game this year. And Joe Maddon says Adell needs more time in the minors.

  17. I want the Dodgers to win another WS and COVID-19 to go away and everyone get well again.

  18. If I can only choose one present, I’ll take World Peace… and Blake Snell. CK, Buehler, Urias, Price, and May as starters. What a rotation! Convert Tony Gonsolin into a high leverage reliever. Problem solved. No need for Hendricks and the money he would cost. And if Santa gives me a second present… Mike Trout! Power RH bat we need. Second problem solved. In trade, we give them the entire Dodgers farm system. Win-win! 🙂

    1. Snell’s a good choice but will cost multiple top prospects. Hendriks cost only money. So, my choice is Sneldrik Trout.

    1. Yep. In the two previous years Sneldrik won 27, saved 25 and OPS’d over 1.000. He was Roger Sparky Ruth. Sandy Fingers Mays. Nolan Goose Williams. Clayton Sandman Mantle. Pedro Three Fingers Hornsby. I’m done.

  19. Mover, it’s been a while man. Lots of changes. Bought a new house, had an unexpected addition to the family a few years ago. My girls wanted me to coach their softball team, so did that for a couple of years. Got tired of the politics in my old district and started over in a new one.
    Did your youngest ever play college football? I remember he was doing well in HS?
    Is the Badger here the original Badger? I tried emailing him a few times the past few years but no luck.

    1. Gonzo,

      Good to hear from you. Life happens. As you can probably see, there are several others writing the blog now. I write 1-3 days a week, depending upon what others want to do. It’s a great community. It is the same Badger. I can send you his e-mail if need be,

      My son is now almost 22 and is the VP of Sales for US Water Systems. He turned down several football scholarships and said he wanted to walk when he was my age. He finished HS with 2 State Championships and was All-City, All-Conference, and All-State. I was shocked but he has never looked back… He played at 245 and he is now 195 and a new father to our 6th granddaughter, Rey Skywalker (at least that’s what I call her). He enrolled in Kelly School of Business and in his second year he said he wanted to take over US Water someday and dropped out of Kelly saying he did not need the diploma to do what he wanted. So, I think he will get more responsibility over the next 5 or 6 years, as he buys us out.

      Life is good. … great actually! Don’t be a stranger.

Comments are closed.