The Dodgers and Justin Turner are still a couple of years apart before they can make a deal. Turner, who’s 36, wants a four-year deal. The Dodgers, in part because he’s 36, don’t want to give him more than a two-year deal. MLB’s Jon Heyman reported on Tuesday that there are three teams beside the Dodgers expressing interest, although one of them, the Blue Jays, may have lost interest now that they’ve signed infielder Marcus Semien. The Braves and Brewers are likely the other two.
In other news, stupidity shut down Dodger Stadium for an hour this afternoon; approximately fifty anti-everything* people blocked an entrance to the Stadium where COVID-19 vaccinations were being performed.
*A post on social media described the demonstration as the “Scamdemic Protest/March.” It advised participants to “please refrain from wearing Trump/MAGA attire as we want our statement to resonate with the sheeple. No flags but informational signs only.
“This is a sharing information protest and march against everything COVID, Vaccine, PCR Tests, Lockdowns, Masks, Fauci, Gates, Newsom, China, digital tracking, etc.”
Here’s the promising return that the Dodgers got from Oakland: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/dodgers-acquire-sheldon-neuse-gus-varland-from-as-in-exchange-for-adam-kolarek/
The last holdout. https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1361130425146634240?s=20
Last month MLB.com did a series of Top 10 players for 10 different positions. Not surprisingly, the Dodgers faired pretty well. They had at least 1 player listed in 8 out of 10 positions.
Position/Player(s)/Spot in Top 10
Starting Pitchers – Bauer, 4th; Kershaw, 7th; Buehler, 10th
Relief Pitchers –
Catcher – Will Smith, 3rd
1B – Max Muncy, 5th
2B – Chris Taylor, 8th(!)
SS – Corey Seager, 6th
3B – Justin Turner, 6th
RF – Mookie Betts, 1st
CF – Cody Bellinger, 2nd
LF –
Dodgers were certainly the only team to have 3 pitchers and I don’t recall if any other team even had 2. Also, surprised how well Taylor was rated, and felt Seager was several spots to low. And poor Pollock didn’t make the top 10 at all.
Here’s the article. I looked because I wanted to know who they thought was better than Bellinger in CF. Oh, Mike Trout. Okay then.
I daresay Bellinger’s more fun to watch. Trout seems to take no joy in the game.
Here’s the promising return that the Dodgers got from Oakland: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/dodgers-acquire-sheldon-neuse-gus-varland-from-as-in-exchange-for-adam-kolarek/
Since the end of last season the following relievers have departed from the Dodgers’ roster: Floro (25 appearances), McGee (24), Kolarek (20), Baex (18) and Wood (7 and 2 starts).
In case anyone was worried… https://twitter.com/redturn2/status/1360765052081479680?s=20
Further info from ESPN.
2-year $34M deal with club option for Year 3.
Two years with a club option for a third year sounds fine to me.
Rich Hill is now a Devil Ray.
Jackie spoke out. https://twitter.com/FaithInDog1/status/1360366197141721090?s=20
Just finished reading the Felipe Alou (Rojas) autobiography. Quite good. First Dominican straight off the island to play in the Bigs. Minor league he was first assigned to in Louisiana threatened to fold if he were to play, so they shipped him off to Florida. Not much better there for a black Dominican in the 1950s. Two brothers, Matty and Jesus also big leaguers. They all three played in the giants outfield for a couple of games.
The Dodgers have traded Adam Kolarek to the A’s for a couple of minor leaguers:
https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2021-02-12/dodgers-trade-adam-kolarek-athletics-sheldon-neuse-gus-varland
I don’t understand this trade. Kolarek, a lefty, had an ERA of 0.88 in 30.2 innings for the Dodgers in 2019 and 2020.
LOOGY victim of the three batter rule. Would have been third lefty in pen, behind Victor and Scott Alexander both of whom have more success against righties. Apparently picked up a AAAA utility guy.
I see your point and partially agree. Kolarek still did quite well last year with the three-batter rule in effect. Alexander didn’t pitch after Sept. 1 and missed the entire post-season. His ERA last year was 2,92, compared to Kolarek’s 0.95. I couldn’t find what Kolarek is to make in 2021. Alexander will make $1 million this year. I like Gonzalez’s presence in the pen.
Neuse has very impressive AAA numbers, Varland also highly regarded.
Meanwhile, Dylan Floro is now a Fish.
https://twitter.com/DSzymborski/status/1360327084585975810?s=20
On April Fools Day, it will probably be snowed out at best… https://twitter.com/GabeLacques/status/1359928340434542601?s=20
Wait a minute. I thought last year’s ASG was scheduled for Dodger Stadium for the first time in about 50 years. Out of the rotation again?
Edited: Ah. Atlanta was already set, so the 2022 game will be in LA.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6b6c10b9757f019bf75ec8a1ed50e4b0b060ac82301ea1aeaf22e92a9158556a.jpg
Ha!
Is home-field advantage real? https://slate.com/culture/2021/02/coronavirus-home-field-advantage-causes-bubbles-fans-refs.html
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-joc-pederson-chicago-cubs-things-to-know-20210210-cg7ro3y3cne6fjsvjxwuow3iiy-story.html
5 things to know about Joc. Introducing Joc to Cub fans
More Kershaw thoughts, apparently outtakes from the interview published yesterday.
I guess the Justin Turner situation will linger until it is known whether or not the National League will allow for the DH this year.
Looks like the DH is not happening apparently nixed by the players.
Dodgers, Buehler avoid arbitration. $8M for two years plus escalating bonuses.
So, Barnes is the only holdout.
Yep
I’m old enough to remember when Drysdale and Koufax held out together for salaries that would appear a pittance today.
I remember when Manhattan only cost 24 bucks.
Jorge Castillo of the LA Times went to Texas to interview Clayton Kershaw, who talks about fatherhood, winning the World Series, and more.
Dodgers projected to win 103, seven games up on the Pads. https://twitter.com/cdgoldstein/status/1359037623415758849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1359037623415758849%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.truebluela.com%2F2021%2F2%2F9%2F22273535%2Fmlb-deadening-baseball-rawlings-dodgers-news
A good friend of mine is a buddy of an MLB umpire, who was told that his first exhibition game would be February 27, the scheduled first day of games. The umpire doesn’t see that happening.
Yet another defector. https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1359254140464078852?s=20
McGee joins Alex Wood on the Dodgers’ farm team in San Francisco.
I can;t recall any really useful player the Dodgers got from the Gnats, except perhaps Jeff Kent. It might better to call them the Dodgers’ castoff team.
I can;t recall any really useful player the Dodgers got from the Gnats, except perhaps Jeff Kent. It might better to call them the Dodgers’ castoff team.
Tom Haller.
Fine. I was a Tom Haller fan when he was a Tacoma Giant, and I was delighted when the Dodgers acquired him. Same goes for Manny Mota.
Manny wasn’t a Giant very long. I had to look it up; I thought of him as a Pirate before he became a Dodger.
I saw Manny play for the Tacoma Giants when I was a kid, and had an autographed program from him – long since lost, unfortunately.
This is amusing. Chuck Connors was a ballplayer in the Dodgers’ minor league system before he became “The Rifleman” and Jason McCord of “Branded.” He knew Walter O’Malley, and the two men bartered for a favor once. In 1948 when Connors was on the Montreal Royals and in Spring Training camp with the Dodgers in the Dominican Republic, O’Malley persuaded him to recite “Casey at the Bat” at the farewell party as the clubs headed back to the States. Connors apparently thought O’Malley owed him a favor as a result.
Great story. Thanks. I looked up the game. It was May 1, 1949. Connors’ DP came in the bottom of the 9th at Ebbets Field with a runner on first and one out and ended the contest, which the Dodgers lost, 4-2. For some reason, he was pinch-hitting for Carl Furillo. Connors had a solid 1949 season at Montreal, hitting .319. He had many past and future Dodgers as teammates. One was Dan Bankhead, who in August 1947 became the first African-American MLB pitcher. He also homered in his first at bat. Connors played in 1951 for the Cubs, appearing in 68 games and hitting .239 in 214 at bats. That was the end of his big league career. Before he appeared for the Dodgers, Connors had played one full season with the Boston Celtics of the old Basketball Association of America and briefly for them for another year. Acting, not pro sports, was clearly a better choice for Connors, who was a native of Brooklyn.
I realize that signing Bauer could have an impact on retaining CK but I still hold out hope that the Dodgers can keep him and let him retire a Dodger.
I also worry about what this does for the Dodgers’ likelihood of keeping Seager. Losing him would be truly detrimental, and he knows what the Dodgers have paid to Betts and now Bauer and Seager was the NLCS and WS MVP.
There are several premium SS due for free agency next season, including Story, Lindor and Correa. That should make it likelier to retain Seager (or acquire a more than capable replacement).
Handegg bores me, but I love https://twitter.com/midnightwonko/status/1358515307090907137?s=20
Get to hear Joe Davis again today, he is called the Hoyas-Villanova game.
¿Baloncesto?
As you’ve probably never seen him before… https://twitter.com/nut_history/status/1358062689247977473?s=20
Rosenthal at The Athletic, on the Bauer signing:
I’ve heard and read a few comments about the Dodgers’ signing of Bauer for $100M just two months after laying off a bunch of non-playing employees. I agree it’s not a good look at all.
Joc explains his departure at The Players Tribune.
What a poignant and heartfelt piece of writing. I hate to see him go but understand even better why. He didn’t have much to say about Doc, did he? Hmmmm…
Now he needs to perform his dreams. He is in his prime and I think he will have a more evolved plan when he is at bat. Hopefully he will come to camp mean and lean and relaxed.
I wish him every success – except against the Dodgers.
Yeah, I guess he didn’t have anything good to say about Doc.
Goodness gracious. When your son retires before you do…
https://twitter.com/DodgerInsider/status/1357512957345767425
Trevor Bauer is a Dodger. Color me unenthusiastic.
From what I have been hearing his personality is at best an acquired taste and potentially toxic. He deepens the rotation for sure, but at what cost (financial and otherwise)?
I like the signing. He is idiosyncratic and several teams couldn’t deal with that. I saw him pitch at Jackie Robinson Stadium at UCLA many years ago, and he was impressive. But his warmup regimen is unusual. What the Dodgers should look to do now is package May or Gonsolin with another roster player plus one of two top prospects and obtain a hard-hitting, right-handed batting third baseball, if there is one available. The Turner situation has been twisting in the wind too long.
Have my eye on Chapman. Billy Beane is always up for a deal, though Chapman still has a bunch of controlled years and he usually doesn’t sell that early.
Rios and Hoese should interest the A’s. Add a pitcher and a conversation might get started.
Gonsolin, maybe. But keep May please! We need that hair on our roster!
He might not have to fight as much with the Dodgers regarding his training methods as he has with other teams. Besides, he is now playing for the team he has always wanted to play with.
On the other hand, (and the other end of the pay scale), I’ve always liked Dexter Fowler…
No disrespect to Dexter Fowler, bit I always liked Art Fowler, who had a small role in helping the Dodgers win the pennant in 1959 but was sent to the minors before the season ended. He was awarded a full World Series share but not a ring. Eventually, the Dodgers gave him the ring.
No disrespect to Dexter Fowler, bit I always liked Art Fowler, who had a small role in helping the Dodgers win the pennant in 1959 but was sent to the minors before the season ended. He was awarded a full World Series share but not a ring. Eventually, the Dodgers gave him the ring.
Recall having an Art Fowler baseball card as a kid when he was an Angle. Never realized that he was an old friend. See that he spent ten years on the farm before debuting at age 31.
I am pretty sure that Martin and Fowler were big drinking buddies.
Never mind. He got WS rings with the Yankees as their pitching coach in ’77-’78. He and Billy Martin were a team in NYC, Detroit, Minnesota, Oakland and Texas.
Always liked Dexter, saw him as the poor man’s Kenny Lofton.
Exactly.
Second guessing Friedman is tough. Worrisome for me is what it means now moneywise for getting JT back and Klayton extension, but I will put himself in his hands.
From SI (which is going to go to a metered paywall soon, by the way)
Here’s the bunch that tried to shut down Dodger Stadium. https://twitter.com/SafetyPinDaily/status/1356709382487232513?s=20
Plaschke wrote a touching story about Lasorda’s “executive assistant,” a man named Felipe Ruiz.
Manfred is probably the worst commissioner ever, and that’s saying a lot. https://twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1356434396065239040?s=20
Manfred worked for Selig for quite a while. If you’ve not read Pessah’s The Game, you should. It’s basically a history and lambasting of Selig as a self-dealing man who finagled a minority stake in the Brewers to multi-millionaire status, doing terrible harm to baseball along the way.
Selig was indeed awful. He also destroyed my beloved Seattle Pilots.
Manfred was outdone by Commissioner Landis, who kept baseball segregated for decades.
Manfred was outdone by Commissioner Landis, who kept baseball segregated for decades.
Manfred, on the other hand, is just trying to dismantle the sport.
Cardinals Acquire Nolan Arenado
From MLB Trade Rumors, but citing other sources:
Aftera few days of waiting for their complicated trade to be finalized, the Cardinals and Rockies have completed their deal centering on thirdbaseman Nolan Arenado, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. The league and the union have signed off on the swap. The Rockies will receive left-hander Austin Gomber, third baseman Mateo Gil, infielder Elehuris Montero and right-handers Tony Locey and Jake Sommers in exchange for Arenado, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch previously reported Gomber’s spot in the deal, while Ken Rosenthal and Nick Groke of The Athletic tweeted that Gil would be in it.
The Athletic:
Joc apparently turned down a more lucrative contract before signing with the Cubbies.
https://twitter.com/hollyrpeete/status/1355398962421792770
Good for Joc and good for the Peete family.
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, updated for the Age of Twitter:
https://twitter.com/BlakeHarrisTBLA/status/1355698440982814727
https://twitter.com/BillShaikin/status/1355958219781234689?s=20
This is random news – but I had eye surgery this week. I had a detached retina in my right eye which was – not surprisingly – causing a lot of vision loss. So now I have a gas bubble inserted into my eye to aid the reattachment. Apparently, it takes about 2 months to fully work.
Anyone else had this done before?
Boxers get that a lot. Well, boxees.
What about pit bulls?
Pugs
And near-sighted people as well apparently. I asked my ophthalmologist what caused it to detach and his very medically informed reply was “bad luck”.
I had to get eye surgery for double vision a few years back and it changed my world. Hang in there, Dave. The experience was gnarly but it sure did the trick!
Wishing you only the best for a speedy and complete recovery Dave.
Thanks Dale.
Wishing you a full and swift recovery. I think the start of the MLB season will be delayed to accommodate your perfect vision.
Thanks Scoop. I was thinking the same thing!
2020 was the first year since 2001 that I didn’t umpire in Monterey County, CA, as no youth or adult league games were played. And, wow, did I miss it.
Scoop, did your house come through the rains OK, especially after the fires? I see Monterey got hit really hard.
WBBsAs: Thanks for your concern. We came out fine as we live in Carmel Valley Village high high above the Carmel River and the creeks that feed into it. We did receive an evacuation “warning” but not a “requirement.” The people whose homes were flooded live near the Carmel Lagoon, about 13 miles west of us, and where the Carmel River should empty into Carmel Bay. Normally, the sandbar that halts the river from flowing into Carmel Bay is bulldozed, but later in the year; had it been bulldozed in the midst of all these rains, there wouldn’t have been flooding. We did evacuate for five days during last summer’s fire, which came within a mile-and-a-half east of us. Sadly, some 50 homes were destroyed, also to the east. My Rotary club has raised money for those who lost their homes and also given some from our club finances, but he have only about 35 members.
Says the ump!
My annual eye exam from a new doctor referred me to a specialist due to signs of potential retina detachment but it was a false alarm, thank goodness. Now taking eye drops to mitigate glaucoma. It’s always a little scary but stay positive and don’t let any doom inter your internal dialog.
You’re on your way to full recovery Dave.
Thanks Bumsrap!
Maybe a vesting option. Do they still do those?
https://twitter.com/PplsCityCouncil/status/1355684016662269954?s=20
So discouraging – all of this ignorance and delusion! I got my first jab at Dodger Stadium on January 20th – long long wait but a smile on my face and gratitude in my heart. I read this and I despair – so many people around the world would give anything for a vaccination.
It’s insane that anybody would obstruct others but, hey, there are Mitch McConnells everywhere. I got my initial Moderna on the 24th at Kaiser Richmond (we live just a couple blocks from Kaiser Oakland but couldn’t get an appointment there). It was quick and efficient, followed by a couple days’ mild arm soreness. Followup jab scheduled for end of this month.
I remain optimistic that JT will return, but he’ll need (and will get) more days off.
Do you think that the Dodgers will primarily go with Rios as the sub, or will the Dodgers sign/trade for another infielder to spell off JT?
Would be a waste of Rios if they don’t. Swings from the right (left) side.
A bunch of the possibilities are now signed. I still don’t believe the Rockies traded Arenado PLUS $50 million to the Cards.
If I were a diehard Rockies fan I would be furious.
Maybe Smith moves to third and Ruiz is brought up.
Similarly, In 2022, Lux could replace Seager at short.
Okay, also in 2022, Rios at 1st and Bushe at second.
Then we could get free parking with the savings 😉
We do seem to have a surfeit of catchers. Max says “get it out of the river”.
I sincerely hope he comes back. Heart and soul of the team.