Player Profile: Russell Martin

July 20, 2023

Russell Nathan Coltrane Jeanson Martin Jr. Born 2/15/1983 in East York, Ontario Canada. He is biracial. His father, Russell Martin Sr., is Black Canadian, his mother, Suzanne Jeanson, is Franco-Manitoban. He was named after his father, his grandfather, John Coltrane, whom his father admired and his mother’s family. When he was two, his parents separated. His father used to play saxophone in Montreal’s metro station to make money to pay…

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Career Leaders: LA and Brooklyn

September 3, 2021

Hope everyone is well. I was just perusing the 2021 Media Guide. A really good source of information for fans. Unfortunately, they no longer sell them. So Mark got me the download site and now all that info is on my computer right at my fingertips. And the first subject I thought I would touch on is career defensive leaders at all the positions. One of Eric’s favorite subjects. Now,…

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MiLB – Dodgers UFO’s

July 31, 2021

I am not sure they should be called UFO’s but on the other hand undrafted free agents are somewhat like unidentified flying objects. They don’t get any attention during the annual MLB draft but all of a sudden make an appearance when we least expect it. Following the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, in which the Dodgers selected 19 players of whom 12 have been signed, they have signed seven UFO’s. …

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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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Where There is a Will, There is a Way

September 19, 2020

Right now Dodger catcher Will Smith is the talk of the town and perhaps rightfully so. Just a few short weeks ago he was being thrown on the scrap heap by some Dodger faithful. I for one am not surprised that he has stepped up to claim the starting role as the Dodgers’ catcher. It was mentioned the other day that there was nothing to suggest that this transformation could…

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Will the Real Keibert Ruiz Please Step Up?

March 8, 2020

KayBear Ruiz was signed at the tender age of 16 for $140,000 on his birthday, July 20, 2014. In 2015, he hit .300 for the Dominican Dodgers at age 16. In 2016, he split time between Ogden and Arizona, hitting a combined .374 with a .412 OB%. He was still just 17. Before the 2017 season, and still just 18 years old, Ruiz was named the #20 prospect in the…

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Some Random Thoughts on the Past Season and the 2020 Season

December 30, 2019

Despite the frustrating end to this past season, the Dodgers provided me with some memorable moments in 2019. Opening day with the 8 home runs was a nice start to the season. Bellinger just going insane for the first 2-3 months of the year.   Ryu going 6-0 in May.     Buehler’s 16K complete game against the Rockies.  The rookies’ 3 successive walk-off homerun weekends. Will Smith’s first major league home…

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Who Would You Rather Have… And Why?

November 11, 2019

Enjoying a Veterans Day weekend in Atascadero, CA celebrating my youngest grand daughter’s first birthday.  Frankly, my thoughts are filled with her and not so much Dodger baseball.  Trade proposals have been flying around this blog with renewed fervor over the past few weeks. I admit those discussions have a certain excitement to them, much like anticipating that new toy you want for Christmas, all the while knowing that most…

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What Could Happen… or not

October 25, 2019

Frankly, I am a person who believes that conventional wisdom is usually wrong. That leads me to look at things some people don’t notice and see things that they don’t. It’s not a “science”… more of an “art” that has to be continually refined. When many investors are buying, I may be selling and when they are selling, I am looking to buy. Like anyone, I am not always right,…

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AFL Progress Report

October 12, 2019

The Arizona Fall League started nearly a month ago and Tonight they will have their All-Star Game and the Dodgers will be represented by one player, namely Brett de Geus, who has blossomed into an excellent prospect since signing for $75,000 as a 33rd-rounder from Cabrillo (Calif.) JC in 2017, developing a 93-98 mph fastball with running action, a hard slider and a power curveball. He excelled in his full-season…

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