Category: Dodgers Opinions

Hit Me with Your Best Shot

Published on by Andy Lane ChapmanLeave a comment
Baltimore Orioles vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Corey Seager–Los Angeles Dodgers during game against the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Jon SooHoo/©Los Angeles Dodgers,LLC 2016

“Well you’re a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts like the one in me
That’s okay, let’s see how you do it
Put up you dukes, let’s get down to it”

~Pat Benatar

Here we are, coming up on another “Midsummer Classic.” And, as a side show to the All-Star game, the Home Run Derby. This will be the third straight year that the Dodgers have had a participant. In 2014, Yasiel Puig did not hit a single home run. In 2015, Joc Pederson made it all the way to the finals before losing by one to winner Todd Frazier, then with the Cincinnati Reds. This year, the Dodgers’ participant is rookie extraordinaire Corey Seager. Seager is the seventh rookie to appear in the Derby, as well as the eighth Dodger player.

Continue reading “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” →

If I Should Fall Behind

Published on by Andy Lane ChapmanLeave a comment

“And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darlin’ I’ll wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me”

~Bruce Springsteen

105

The other day, when the news came down about Clayton Kershaw having back spasms and maybe facing a DL stint, I facetiously tweeted “RIP Dodgers season.” Now that’s not fair, or entirely true, that one player can make or break a season, being on (what is hopefully) a short stay on the disabled list. But if there’s any player that that sentiment would apply to, it would be Kershaw.

Continue reading “If I Should Fall Behind” →

How Can Dodgers Improve at 2016 Trade Deadline?

Published on by Dennis Schlossman6 Comments
andrew-miller
(Photo Credit: Leon Halip/Getty Images)

With only a little over five weeks remaining until the 2016 non-waiver trade deadline, many fans are wondering just how active the Dodgers will be, and how many top-shelf prospects the club is willing to sacrifice to achieve immediate, overall improvement.

Continue reading “How Can Dodgers Improve at 2016 Trade Deadline?” →

Roller Coaster (of Love)  

Published on by Andy Lane ChapmanLeave a comment
Los Angeles Dodgers against the Washington Nationals
Los Angeles Dodgers against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, June 22,2016 at Dodger Stadium. Photo by Jon SooHoo/©Los Angeles Dodgers,LLC 2016

“Oh, yeah, it’s rollercoaster time
Lovin’ you is really wild
Oh, it?s just a love rollercoaster
Step right up and get your tickets!”

~Red Hot Chili Peppers

Sometimes, I suppose, it’s easy for us to forget how lucky we are. We get bogged down in the day to day minutia and only focus on the bad things happening to us. This happens with sports fandom also. It’s so easy to focus on all the things that are going wrong with your team, that you don’t see all the amazing things that are happening in front of you.

Continue reading “Roller Coaster (of Love)  “ →

Dodgers Bullpen: Ranking the Top Five Relievers on the Farm

Published on by Dennis Schlossman1 Comment
DRC_Rhame4
(Photo Credit: David Minton/DRC)

While the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ bullpen has already fallen upon frequent scrutiny over the course of the 2016 campaign, many fans can’t help but take a quick peek at the rosters of the minor league affiliates to see just what’s available on the farm.

Continue reading “Dodgers Bullpen: Ranking the Top Five Relievers on the Farm” →

Dodgers Desperately Seeking Offensive Consistency

Published on by Dennis Schlossman1 Comment
Justin_Turner_ecxrgbvu_a9151djo
(Photo Credit: mlb.com)

Granted, it’s much easier said then done to arrive in Chicago at 3:30 a.m. after an adrenaline-draining victory in New York, show up to Wrigley Field about eight hours later, then expect to find any type of rhythm with the lumber. But despite the hectic scheduling, the Dodgers have found themselves in similar situations one too many times already over the course of the 2016 campaign, and need to show more consistency on offense in order to make up ground in the NL West.

Continue reading “Dodgers Desperately Seeking Offensive Consistency” →

No Relief in Sight for Dodgers’ Erratic Bullpen

Published on by Dennis Schlossman2 Comments
usa-today-9269652.0
(Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Unlike the starting rotation which has the luxury of looking forward to the return of several potential impact arms from injury, the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen has very few options of improving from within, and could be stuck with the same corps of relievers until the hot stove season begins to heat up later in the summer.

Continue reading “No Relief in Sight for Dodgers’ Erratic Bullpen” →

Dodgers Aim to Improve as Roster Decisions Loom

Published on by Dennis SchlossmanLeave a comment
svs1
(Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports)

Despite being under heavy scrutiny from both the media and the fans, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still among the contending squads in an underachieving National League West, but could find themselves slipping if some of their first quarter tendencies hold true through the early summer.

Continue reading “Dodgers Aim to Improve as Roster Decisions Loom” →

You’re So Vain

Published on by Andy Lane ChapmanLeave a comment

You’re so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You’re so vain
I’ll bet you think this song is about you
Don’t you? Don’t you?
~Carly Simon

CeFMpVhW0AAZc7k

As a fan, sometimes it feels as though the national media may be against your team. It really seemed that the ESPN Sunday Night game was very Cardinals heavy, and not so much about the Dodgers. I decided to go back through the game and time how much each team, and subsequent filler, were talked about.

Continue reading “You’re So Vain” →

Are the Los Angeles Dodgers Platooning to the Extreme?

Published on by Dennis Schlossman1 Comment
cd05oddlnmnhy2mwmjrlzwqzntjhm2viytq1y2vly2yzocznpwq4zgniowm2ownkmdk1nzy2mmrmmwrlzgrloda5mjy5-e1441065893734
(Photo Credit: NBC Sports)

In terms of perceived baseball chemistry, it’s not easy for the Dodgers to establish a sense of continuity when a different batting order appears on the lineup card almost nightly. Conversely, if the squad is winning, it makes the management team look brilliant. However, as soon as the club falls victim to any type of losing skid, the concept of the platoon and the sabermetric philosophy in general are trashed by the majority of the fans — without hesitation.

Continue reading “Are the Los Angeles Dodgers Platooning to the Extreme?” →