With not much going on in the hot stove world of baseball yet, and it being the end of a decade, a lot of other Dodgers blogs and sites are doing best of the 2010’s, or making lists of their favorite players of the last decade.
Regular readers of the site will know that hands-down, my favorite player is Clayton Kershaw. But, as I’ve tweeted more than once on Twitter, Max Muncy is quickly becoming my second-favorite player on the current Dodgers team.
Looking back over some of my other all-time favorite Dodgers, there seems to be a trend. A guy that didn’t spend his whole career with the Dodgers might be a little under the radar, but he definitely had the hustle and a little something extra. Casey Blake, Brett Butler, Mickey Hatcher all come to mind. Justin Turner could certainly fit this mold, but over the last two years of watching Muncy, even if he was traded tomorrow, he’s solidified a spot on my list of all-time favorite Dodgers.
Muncy slowly worked his way on to the big league team, betting on himself even though it meant spending the whole 2017 season in the minor leagues after playing in the majors in Oakland. He has some of the biggest home runs in recent memory and in Dodgers history. Dodger fans will never forget his 18th inning, walkoff history-making home run in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series. Nor might they forget Muncy telling Madison Bumgarner to “Go get it out of the ocean!”, referring to a ball he had sent into the San Francisco Bay when MadBum took exception to his slow home run trot.
Muncy’s signature drop of the bat has turned me from a bat flip enthusiast into a bat drop enthusiast.
Muncy might’ve even won himself a Silver Slugger award at second base if he would have played more there, aside from the outstanding hitting of Ozzie Albies from Atlanta. Max had the most home runs and RBI among second basemen, but Albies had 60 more hits. Albies also had almost 150 more AB than Muncy.
But, maybe the best thing about the left-handed hitting Muncy is his versatility. During the season, Muncy played second, first and third base. He played six games in the outfield in 2018. Third base is not his best spot, having as many errors there in half as many games as he did playing second. Still, he is able to fill in at the hot corner when needed and perform satisfactorily.
Going into the 2020 season, Muncy may see less time at second base if Gavin Lux has anything to say about it. The young second baseman came up from Triple-A Oklahoma City late in the season and made the case to be on the postseason roster. If Lux continues to impress at second, Muncy will most likely find himself logging most of his innings at first base.
This isn’t necessarily the worst case scenario. Less wear and tear on Max’s body, keeping those home run counts up, and hopefully giving Dodger fans many more memories in the future.
Oh I go back so much farther than you Andy. Hatcher was originally a Dodger. He was traded to the Twins for Kenny Landreaux, not a bad deal at all considering that Landreaux had a hand in helping win in 1981, and Hatcher did the same in 88. I loved Gilliam, and Manny Mota, who could wake up in December and hit line drives. Norm Larker, very workman like player who replaced Hodges for a couple of years after he left in the draft and almost won a batting title. Bill Buckner was another one I loved. And one of the best over a really short time with the team, 2 seasons, The Toy Cannon, Jimmy Wynn….who was traded with a bunch of other people for Dusty Baker.
My favorite player in ‘59, my first year, was Wally Moon. In the 60s was Koufax. The 70s it was Bill Buckner. He was fearless in the outfield, never stopped hustling, and he could hack with the best of them. 80’s it was Scioscia. Why he wasn’t named manager years ago still pisses me off. 90s Piazza. He should have been paid. Instead we trade him and give that money to the Unthinkable Kevin Brown. 2000s. I don’t know… Gagne and Beltre. Since then there’s been such a turnover the one that stands out is Kershaw. It was easier having favorites years ago.
Some good choices Scoop. I could easily have all of them on my list, and I’d like to add Buckner, Tommy Davis and (for some comedic relief) Al (The Bull) Ferrara and Hatcher.
Snider was my hero. I wanted to play CF in LA. , then Koufax, after he retired it was Big D cause he was the only star. Garvey in the 70’s, The 80’s it was Fernando, Piazza, 2000’s, nobody. I like Kershaw but I was put off by the comparisons to Koufax because I do not think he is in Sandy’s league. Kersh was very good, but Sandy was unhittable at times and struck out guys a lot more than Kersh. Now, too much turnover……GM meetings going on this week……
I was at Dodger Stadium the day Buckner ruined his ankle. Bad day. I was also at Dodger Stadium the day Mike Scioscia got a double off of Nolan Ryan. I met Tommy Davis at the home for kids I was living at in Highland Park. He was so nice to us. He showed me how he held the bat and told me about how much hard work it was being a pro ballplayer. I was shattered when he got hurt in 65. But it allowed Lou Johnson to have the season of his life.
Totally forgot about Sweet Lou, one of my all-time favorites. He had so much fun playing that it made you feel good just watching him play.
I met Tommy Davis at a hitting clinic he held. He changed my swing and I immediately improved as a hitter. The first autograph I ever got from a Dodger was his. Stevie Castro stood in front of his Cadillac and pointed at me. It was hilarious. Tommy was laughing as he signed my program. He was a favorite too.
Remember when Sunday’s were autograph days at the stadium? At each end of each tier there would be an autograph booth and players would sign these baseballs that were stickers. You could also get them on a glove, or a photo if you liked. I went to a game and was sitting in the second level, called Loge in those days, tickets were 12 bucks, fat chance getting one that cheap now, so I went to the booth down the LF line and there was TD signing autographs. I reminded him of my experience with him when I was a kid. He remembered coming to the home for the dedication of our gym. He came because Larry and Norm Sherry were there too. They lived about 3 houses away from the home. I had him sign my first baseman’s mitt that I used when playing softball. Totally a class act. I really loved # 12.
I would forget the Dodgers signing any of the big name free agents except their own. They showed the odds of which team will sign the major guys. Only guy with the Dodgers having the best chance of signing, Ryu, at 46%. Everyone else, they are way down on the list. The other reason, it if they sign any of the 10 guys offered arbitration, which includes the names most mentioned in connection with LA, Cole and Rendon, just one of those guys cost’s them their #2 pick in the draft, and 500 thou in International slot money. AF ain’t doin that.
I think you’re referring to the MLBTR poll with regard to those odds so yes, if you are saying that the fans know what free agents will go where, you’re right and we won’t sign any of the big name free agents. I, for one, don’t think that the fans know what they’re talking about. They vote with their hearts and prejudices.
If AF decides to go after Cole or Rendon, losing his 2nd pick and 500 thou in Intl slot money won’t stop him. Some of the lesser guys like Wheeler, maybe, but keep in mind how strong the farm system is at this point. I really don’t think the loss of a pick or slot money will factor very heavily into Friedman’s decisions, at least for the better free agents.
Yep, that was the poll. I do not think the choice of who they pursue is all on AF’s plate. Dodgers just finished their second straight year under the tax. I think the owners are going to have a lot more to say about what the budget is than Andy. I think the pick and the slot money would be less an issue this year than any other, but he does like his prospects and his farm system. No, I think maybe they re-sign Ryu, because he will be the cheaper option, and if they bolster the offense at all it will be via a trade. Same with the pen. Expect some minor signings just like in the past, but no major arm.
You are definitely right about most fans thinking with their heart instead of their brain. Some of the trade proposals are comedic at best.
I think AF will go after those FAs that make sense for us, which is ALL of the big names, I just don’t think he’ll land them. There’s a good chance at Ryu, but he’s not going to cost anywhere near what Cole and Rendon will. We are most likely to be outbid on those guys. That’s probably ok. We don’t need them as much as other teams do. We can win the West without them, and that is the goal. Right?
Agreed. Here is a story that just broke and is going to make the poop hit the rotating air circulation device, Mike Fiers, former Astros pitcher now with the A’s, told the Atlantic that the Astros used cameras in CF to steal signs during their 2017 championship season. Long rumored, this is the 3rd player who has reported this. It is now under investigation by MLB.
Well, some have said Darvish was tipping his pitches. Maybe it was actually the catcher who was tipping the pitches by putting his fingers down for the camera in centerfield.
Even if true, nothing will come of this. Houston might have to pay a fine. Big deal.
Thank you for the sharing of favorites. Fun to see. If i might indulge? Pete Reiser on stories Dad told. I woke up and loved Frank Howard in 1960! Then a pause until Wes Parker. The infield! So enjoyable a solid infield for years. Then Mike Marshell, the out fielder. Then i misplaced my mind. Then Kemp. Now Verdugo!! I was thinking Lux. Though my wife says he looks like he knows he is good looking. Like maybe lack of humility might get in the way? I saw a rabbit.