Category: Dodgers Opinions

Dodgers Roadtrip Review: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Published on by Andy Lane ChapmanLeave a comment

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The Dodgers have completed their first road trip of the season, returning home with just a 2-6 record against the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs. As my friend Chuck says, just get in and out of those locales without any injuries, and we can call it a success. Mission almost accomplished. During the road trip the Dodgers lost Franklin Gutierrez to a left hamstring strain, placed him on the 10-day DL and recalled Trayce Thompson from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

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Dodgers Lineups: What’s the Problem Against Lefty Pitching?

Published on by Dennis Schlossman1 Comment
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(Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports)

Last year, a few stubborn fans who didn’t care to comprehend simple math believed it to be a season-long jinx. But only ten games into the 2017 campaign, the struggles the Dodgers have been wrestling with against left-handed pitching have become so obvious that other teams are realigning their pitching rotation when they see a series vs. Los Angeles appear on their respective schedules.

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Dodgers Roster: Is It Too Early for a Few Performance-Based Adjustments?

Published on by Andy Lane Chapman1 Comment

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One week into the season, and fans of the Dodgers are already getting restless. The narratives from last year have carried into this one — the injuries, the inability to hit with runners in scoring position, and the troubles facing left-handed pitching. Other teams are changing their rotations to have as many left-handers as possible face the Dodgers. Rich Hill is the first starter to be placed on the DL, and Justin Turner left the game early last night with a quad strain.

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Better Utility Option: Chris Taylor, Kiké Hernández or Charlie Culberson?

Published on by Andy Lane ChapmanLeave a comment
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(Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)

Listening to the Dodgers radio broadcast yesterday, Rick Monday said something that piqued my interest. He said that he thought Chris Taylor might have a better chance making the 25-man roster because he was there, in camp, showing his hustle. Meanwhile, Enrique Hernandez was playing with the Team Puerto Rico, and not being seen or evaluated by the front office and coaching staff.

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Dodgers Bullpen: Grant Dayton May Be on Verge of Breakthrough Season

Published on by Dennis SchlossmanLeave a comment
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(Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)

With all the speculation surrounding which roles certain players will fill in the bullpen for the upcoming campaign, it’s a bit tough to forecast the level of success for the relief crew of the Dodgers moving into the 2017 season.

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Dodgers Roster: Outlining the Battles that Could Go Down to the Wire

Published on by Dennis SchlossmanLeave a comment
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(Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri/USA TODAY Sports)

Now that a full week has passed since the Dodgers began their 2017 Cactus League campaign, we thought it may be a good time to revisit several of the roster battles that we’ve been discussing since the squad began taking shape earlier in the winter.

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Dave Roberts Determined to Guide Dodgers to World Series

Published on by Andy Lane ChapmanLeave a comment

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Dave Roberts and Logan Forsythe stand on the side of the Dodgers‘ practice field in Glendale chatting. “You know what makes this a championship club?” Logan asked his new manager. “I do,” Roberts said while nodded vigorously. He turned from watching the players to look his new second baseman in the eye. “This, it’s the veteran guys that talk about winning. And, other teams that I’ve been on, it’s been a handful,” Forsythe continued. “Last year, we were tough, man. Our team is tough,” Roberts said. “And it’s like…” “You got the right guys to be that way,” Forsythe continued for him. “We do, we do, man,” said Roberts.

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Dodgers Trade Rumors: What’s Next on Andrew Friedman’s Wish List?

Published on by Dennis Schlossman3 Comments
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(Mandatory Credit: Bryan R. Smith)

Despite the unusually high number of player trades orchestrated by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers over the winter months, many of the deals, excluding the acquisition of Logan Forsythe, have been that of the low profile variety. Yet after continuing to add to the bottomless pit of talent on the Los Angeles farm, many fans are beginning to wonder if the management crew may be on the verge of cashing in on a potential blockbuster.

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Would Joe Blanton’s Presence Boost Dodgers’ Roster to Higher Level?

Published on by Andy Lane Chapman1 Comment
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(Photo courtesy of si.com)

The Dodgers have done an excellent job this offseason getting the gang back together. Over the weekend, Chase Utley reportedly agreed to a one-year deal to return to the team. Even though he could find more playing time elsewhere, perhaps even a starting position, he chose to come back to LA. Sure, he’s a SoCal native at the end of his career, and maybe he just didn’t feel like starting over again. But most likely he recognized that this team has an excellent chance to win it all this year.

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Dodger Baseball: Can’t Hardly Wait

Published on by Andy Lane ChapmanLeave a comment

“Lights that flash in the evening
Through a hole in the drapes
I’ll be home when I’m sleeping
I can’t hardly wait

I can’t wait
Hardly wait”

~The Replacements

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It’s a sight for Dodgers fans sore eyes — on Thursday, the trucks were loaded up and headed to Camelback Ranch for spring training. Pitcher and catchers report on Wednesday, one day after Valentine’s Day, a little love note to all baseball fans.

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