The Hall of Fame: Who Should Not Be In?

January 31, 2023

The election for the Hall of Fame was held last week. Scott Rolen was the only player getting the requisite 75 or more percent of the vote. Todd Helton, former Rockies’ first baseman, fell short by 11 votes. There were some who questioned Rolen’s Hall worthiness. Today’s voters value players much differently than in the past. Had he played in the 1960s, Fred McGriff most likely would have gone in…

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How Peter O’Malley Saved San Francisco

December 1, 2022

Thirty years ago, the San Francisco Giants were in the midst of making their biggest free agent signing in franchise history.  Barry Bonds, then 28 years old and coming off his second MVP season, would be signed to a then-massive $44 million, six-year contract that brought him to his hometown San Francisco Giants.  It was a somewhat similar situation that they are going through now as they court Yankee superstar…

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Dodger Christmas Babies

December 23, 2021

Among the recent news items was a clip that Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, would celebrate his 49th birthday on Sunday, December 25. That piqued my curiosity a bit and I quickly took a peak to determine who else might have a Christmas Day birthday. That is, those with a recognizable name for me. There were many who had been born on that day but almost all were not part…

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The Game Has Changed and Not For the Better

November 18, 2021

Earlier in the week I had a dialogue with MT and Bluto regarding the lack of confidence I have in RVS as a competent MLB Team Batting Coach.  I have no doubts that his methodology can and does work for some, but each batter is different and needs a different approach.  At least that is the way it used to be.  I concede that the LAD method of hitting is…

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MLB Dates and LAD Roster Manipulation

November 4, 2021

Now that the WS is over, the MLB calendar is set (maybe).  Maybe because we have no idea what will become of the CBA after the current CBA expires on 12-1.    Tentatively, the MLB dates: November 3 – 160 players were declared Free Agents.  The Dodgers have 11. November 3 – 7 – Free agents can only negotiate with their most recent team. November 7 – Options must be exercised….

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What is Wrong With Cooperstown?

February 2, 2021

People are offended by team names and no matter what you name them, there is probably another group that is offended. I guess that right about now, you name a team based upon how few people you can offend. How about we name the Washington Football Team the Washington Generics? Oh wait, that would probably offend the Atlanta Brand Names.

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The Man, The Legend, The Hammer – Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron

January 31, 2021

Last week baseball lost another legend. Henry Aaron. Though he never played for the Dodgers, I had a deep respect for him as a man, and a ballplayer. I cannot imagine how it was for him growing up a black kid in the south. Nor can I imagine the hate directed at him when he was closing in on breaking the all-time HR mark set by Babe Ruth. He had…

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How Age Changed How I Look At Baseball

January 1, 2021

I just started thinking about this the other day. And it is so true. As a kid, you are in awe of the players. The speed of the game and how it seems like they make the plays so easily. The first time in a major league ballpark is magical. The first time you come through the tunnel as I did at the Coliseum and see the colors and have…

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Brandon Lowe, Blake Snell, and Rays Bullpen Even Series

October 22, 2020

In 2017, George Springer was 0-6 with a walk and 4 strikeouts before getting a one out double off KJ in the 9th inning in Game 2.  A sleeping giant had awoken.  In 2020 postseason, the Rays best hitter, Brandon Lowe was in a miserable slump, but that ended when he took Tony Gonsolin deep in the first inning.  And he wasn’t done. Gonsolin gives up a walk to Margot…

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Dodger Killers

October 13, 2020

With the passing in the last week or so of Bob Gibson, Whitey Ford, and now Joe Morgan, I got to thinking about players who always seem to be at their best against the Dodgers. It has always seemed to me like some players just have another team’s number. Take for example, Willie McCovey. His BA against the Dodgers in 297 games was .241. He hit 45 HR’s and had…

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