DODGERS NEWS/RUMORS thread

Again, eh ?

 

Friedman was on MLB radio this morning and talked about a couple of things and I think it was mostly damage control for the Stan Kasten thing yesterday.

• The Austin Barnes injury early on caused his mechanics to get all out whack and while they worked on it, there was nothing they could really do to fix it in season. He has spent the winter working with the new hitting instructors and they feel his production will be closer to 2017 than it was in 2018. He also made a point that I brought up earlier as based on Barnes career trajectory, 2018 really seems like an outlier, so they believe that he will improve.

• He was pressed on whether or not they were done or if they were in on Realmuto. Obviously they are not allowed to comment on that stuff, but something he noted about the depth is that both catchers on the roster have the ability to play the infield. So if they can find a viable upgrade at the catcher position, they would consider it as it would not hamper the roster construction. He added that one major advantage they have had on an already dangerous roster was production out of the catching position... that is not lost on them.

• Bowman kinda gave him the business about passing on Harper. Friedman said that the team was still considering upgrades on the roster and that they have no "hard and fast rules" from the ownership to stay under the luxury tax.

• They like the roster as currently constructed, but they realize they had an issue with consistency last year and it wore on some of the pitchers that would get 15 runs of support one game, then see a disheartened lackluster performance in the next. He thinks some guys will be more productive (guessing Barnes, Bellinger and having Seager back as well) and a big reason for pursuing Pollock was his proven ability to hit the better pitchers in the league... something that really hurt the club last year. Without saying any names, the goal of this offseason was consistency and they feel they are better now in that department than they were a year ago, but are not necessarily done.

This could all be a load of shit, but who knows. I am wondering if the backlash from the Kasten comments moves the needle for them at all as that was a really horrible look for the ownership group. Galaxy Brain thought here, Kasten said it to rile up the media and fanbase to push the ownership to let them pursue Harper.... yeah, that ain't gonna happen.... Also, there may have been more to the interview, as I caught it after it had already started.

 

Yeah that'll do it for Harper/Machado and probably guys in the future as well.
You're gonna come out and say that guys like Harper will be liked less than say Seager/Belli if they join the team?
Think Harper and future guys want to hear that shit?
FOH Dodgers. Back to Brooklyn with you

 

I heard some dialogue the other night, that I found particularly thought provoking, and it somehow at ground level, applies to this really scummy Kasten thing.
On True Detective, the guy known as Purple Hays, who was a LRRP Marine is asked a question by his future wife... "Did you track men and kill them in Viet Nam"? He answers," I did "
And he asks her "did you march in protest?" She answers " I did".
Then he says, " funny how all the marches ended as soon as they stopped the draft".
It made me really think about that...was it about peace in the world, or just getting out in time not to get killed after getting drafted? The war certainly went on after they went to he lottery system.
Maybe a poor example of copping out on BH, I'll admit.
But they got what they really wanted, no matter what they let us believe to the contrary.
And then, with a dull thud, it was all over...

 

So why trade away Puig?

 

I agree Moose will probably hit 25 dingers but he is almost one dimensional. Yeah he is learning 1b but that is nowhere near what MGT has looked for in the past. They have mostly brought in guys with more versatility. Plus this team is chalked full of 1b/3b guys in Turner/Bellinger/Martin/Muncy/Freese......we don't need Moose. If they were going to go after Moose they would not have resigend Freese. As for Toles, it looks like he will be a solid bench guy for now, which means that he will get a lot of playing time due to the injuries this team ALWAYS has.

I am going to assume that Realmuto is brought in and Verdugo is sent back in the trade. So as it stands now our roster looks like:

Inf Starters - JT/Seager/Kiki/Muncy
Inf Bench - Freese/Barnes
OF Starters - Bellinger/Pollock/Taylor
OF Bench - Toles/Joc
Catcher - Realmuto/Martin

That actually leaves one more bench player to round out the offense, provided that we carry 6 guys in the bullie.

 

Kasten has always been a blowhard but now he's being a snobby little bkitch.

 

As much as Kasten’s comments suck he’s a mouthpiece for ownership. I’m sure he’d love to have Harper and Kimbrel lol

 

Not as much as his salary!

 

Especially having to read this trash from LAD ownership on Dr. Buss' birthday. Smh Dr. Buss is rolling in his grave

 

Such the anthesis of a winning attitude. He doesn’t believe in the premise that fans are disappointed because attendance numbers? And projected attendance at that since he can’t predict the upcoming numbers.

Since when has attendance numbers at the stadium be the measure or proxy for winning? Dodger attendance is always good or one of the best in the majors but it’s been 30 years since we won a WS.

You have a chance to push this team over the edge with a mix of experience and youth and you pass.....for money that is like the interest the deep pockets earn in a day.

What a loser mentality. I believe in “windows” of opportunity and it just looks like the windows are slamming shut.

No significant improvement in pitching, hitting, or defense. And another year goes by.

Should have known when Friedman was hired.

 

So...we're in deep shit then, eh?

 

Might I suggest POTY in so many ways BUT... Wrong thread @rube LOL..

Dude this IS History happening.
Because she has the same animal magnetism that Wins, right or wrong,
that same shit tRump brings to the table.
It didn't matter who knew more at some point if they haven't the gravitas to explain it to the masses
people respond to the verbal 'winner' in any given dialogue
of course we/they do.. and have historically
my engineer 'banker' son and I were watching Davos yesterday
you know when it's happening in front of your eyes sometimes it's hard to grasp that its History.
Each time
Ocasio Cortez is just getting started my friend
That youthful fire of hers resonates ... hard
Obama rallied ALL American's, and especially blacks, with his vision of "Change" which we ALL knew we needed
Like she will/is doing with Latinos
And "Change" was NOT Hillary, nor was it Romney.
tRump was "Change"
and we, America, needed it.
some now like it more than others, and he might yet get impeached, but we, America did need it.

But don't sell yourself short comparing somewhat naively idealistic, though smart as whip Ocasio Cortez with the attractive and corrupt dimwit Sarah Palin


Do better maaaan... LOL

(still wrong thread so sorry for the rant guys.. )

 

and your point was...

<chuckles> "nice rant" how long ya been watching them son?
there's some 'old' Dodgers lovin' losers on this thread

 

Confirming once again that YOU are the bad luck jinx

I'm all in on Toles getting another shot though

 

:clap::clap::clap:

this rant is why no one else has 30,000+ DSP 'Likes'

Thank you Suh