LAD PROSPECTS – REAL OR HYPE

December 9, 2021

I continue to read about the sensational LAD prospects.  Mark has the Dodgers as a top 10 MiLB organization while no major publication does.  After the loss of Keibert Ruiz and Jo Jo Gray, the publications dropped them to mid-level (around 15).  Certainly not bad, but also not elite.  Just this week DodgerLover said the team needs to clear the deck for the next wave of prospect talent.  Is there…

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SOME POST TRADE DEADLINE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE RECLINER

August 1, 2021

With Mark on the 10-day inactive list to attend to family business in Las Vegas (ever notice how these trips are never to Des Moines, Iowa or Wichita, Kansas?), Jeff (AC) was desperate for some assistance on the LADT writers roster. With his options limited, he had to resort to adding someone from the alternate training site, and had no choice but to call on me, the Zack Reks/Edwin Uceta…

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The Status of the 2021 Free Agent Player

January 8, 2021

Blake Snell, Yu Darvish, Carlos Carrasco, and the BIG MARKET name, Francisco Lindor.  These four have a chance to be top tier in 2021, with Lindor in the elite class.  And they have all changed teams this offseason.  The first two names have moved the Padres into a top three NL and top four MLB team, while the second two names have moved the NYM to a significant NL East…

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The Marketing of Players

November 29, 2020

This is the time of year when we hear that teams will be listening on potential trades for Player A.  However, most of the time those proclamations are simply rhetorical.  The Brewers have said they are willing to listen to offers for Josh Hader.  The Rays will be listening on offers for Blake Snell.  The Reds will be listening on offers for Sonny Gray.  The Cubs are listening on offers…

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Dodgers and Top Prospects

August 22, 2020

As was discussed quite a bit earlier in the week, the Dodgers have a very prolific MiLB system even as far down the draft they have been picking from because of the continued success of the ML team.  That is true when also taking into consideration a few of the early draft pick busts they currently have.  2015: 1 – Walker Buehler – Starting rotation 1b – Kyle Funkhouser –…

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Recent LAD Draft Results

June 9, 2020

We are on the eve of the one meaningful positive news event thus far for the 2020 MLB season.  Even the event has warts as we have reduced the number of draft picks from 40 to 5, but it still lends to something good to look forward to.  We have all read and heard what a throw of the dice the draft is, and with 6 picks, how does that…

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Cape Cod Baseball League

May 29, 2020

A long time ago when the earth was young – well maybe not that long ago – I visited the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts. It was almost 45 years ago and it was a whirlwind visit as a day trip from East Bridgewater, a small community about 30 miles south of Boston. My wife and I were visiting relatives in the East Bridgewater area and they took us on…

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Do Deep Teams Have an Advantage in a Short Season

May 7, 2020

Much has been said and written about the Dodgers depth and how that makes them a very dangerous team.  I do not think that there is a question (at least not for me), that the premier builder of the 40 man roster is Andrew Friedman.  During his tenure, over the last five years in a 162 game season, the Dodgers have 485 wins, more than any other team in MLB. …

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MY RANDOM THOUGHTS ON – THE WINTER MEETINGS ARE OVER – NOW WHAT?

December 15, 2019

●Mercifully, the winter meetings are over. Lot’s of questions unanswered, but the main one for me is: Now what? As I wrote few weeks back, keep her steady as she goes. Also, remember, it was December 21, 2018, when the Dodgers surprised us with the Kyle Farmer trade. There’s lots of time between now and the start of spring training. ● It looks like Pedro Moura, of the Athletic, was…

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11 WINS TO GO!!!

September 30, 2019

Most often when I attempt to communicate the concept of time with my younger grandchildren, I talk in terms of “sleeps.”   “Three more sleeps and I’ll be there, or 2 more sleeps and I go home.”    We’re at that stage of the season, where we can communicate similarly about the Dodgers.   11 more wins, and we enjoy the parade!! Last year, we were flat out overmatched by the Red Sox. …

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