Baseball Cave

[Lord Tyrion]

The Dodgers are the Yankees of the West. Built a team on high priced free agents and emptied their farm system to do it.

Red Sox were lucky the Dodgers were big enough suckers to take on the Beckett, Gonzalez and Crawford contracts in the 2012 trade. We even threw in a Nick Punto for good measure Great move for Boston as they dumped over-priced, disgruntled players for a bevy of prospects that will be used to re-build and re-tool. Only thing I didn't like about that trade was losing Gonzalez. Mike Napoli has made up for it though.

Wow. I disagree with everything you said...

The Dodgers did not empty their farm system in all these trades. I think the only relevant prospect they gave up was De La Rosa for Hanley Ramirez. They have some of the top prospects in AAA including Joc Pederson who has been tearing it up in the minors. The Dodgers have other players in AAA who are on the verge of making it on the roster. Ryu, Greinke and Puig were free agent signings and they worked out great.

As for the Boston trade, I think both sides benefited. Gonzalez was a nice pickup, but Crawford has been pretty good when he's been healthy including the playoffs. Also, Beckett had a great year and even had a no-hitter. Unfortunately, he got injured. The Dodgers would not have made the playoffs these last two years had it not been for that trade.

The Dodger future is pretty good. They've been able to get major talent and preserve their farm system. Once the current set of players fade in talent, there is going to be a group of youngsters there to pick up the slack.

 

[fljoe0]

All of those great Braves teams were built on pitching. And boy did they have that in spades. They were just always one or two big bats short on offense. American League teams for the most part can hit 1-9. NL teams are at a disadvantage in the WS because of the DH.

Your theory doesn't explain the Marlins (nothing can explain that)

I've been a National League guy all my life. I became a Braves fan as a kid in the early 70s probably because there was no Florida team and the Braves were carried on the local radio station (and they had Hank Aaron!). I live close to the Marlins stadium so they are the local TV games (you can feel sorry for me now ) and I go to Marlins games. I'm within driving distance of 5 spring training teams and they are all National League teams. What I'm getting at is that is with all these NL roots, I've never been a fan of the DH but the rules need to be the same in both leagues no matter what they are. I would be ok with the DH just to get the leagues the same. Please, somebody make both leagues the same.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Wow. I disagree with everything you said...

The Dodgers did not empty their farm system in all these trades. I think the only relevant prospect they gave up was De La Rosa for Hanley Ramirez. They have some of the top prospects in AAA including Joc Pederson who has been tearing it up in the minors. The Dodgers have other players in AAA who are on the verge of making it on the roster. Ryu, Greinke and Puig were free agent signings and they worked out great.

As for the Boston trade, I think both sides benefited. Gonzalez was a nice pickup, but Crawford has been pretty good when he's been healthy including the playoffs. Also, Beckett had a great year and even had a no-hitter. Unfortunately, he got injured. The Dodgers would not have made the playoffs these last two years had it not been for that trade.

The Dodger future is pretty good. They've been able to get major talent and preserve their farm system. Once the current set of players fade in talent, there is going to be a group of youngsters there to pick up the slack.

You can disagree with me, that's cool.

The Dodgers gave up 2 of their top 5 pitching prospects (Alan Webster & Ruby De La Rosa), James Loney (although he was a throw-in), plus cash in the Red Sox trade. That's a lot for the huge contracts they took on. Granted, the Sox were stupid in signing those guys to those deals in the first place (except for A-Gon). However, they found someone to take the money off their books so it worked out for them in the end. I can live with that roster purge. It resulted in a WS trophy last year.

The Dodgers are now saddled with contracts for a former front-line starter turned perennial DL dweller (Beckett) who just retired on them, an aging fourth outfielder (Crawford) and A-Gon (again, who I like as a player). A huge contractual obligation. Of course, they may find someone to take Crawford off their hands and purge that salary themselves.

The scuttlebutt from the East Coast sportswriters is that Mattingly's on the chopping block and that there are major changes coming to the Dodgers roster. They are saying ownership is none to pleased with the early playoff exit this year and that Kershaw can't handle big game pressure. Of course, that's all just rumor at this time. If the Dodgers are smart they will offer Jon Lester a blank check for 4 years. He's a proven big game pitcher and I harbor no illusions that he's coming back to Boston. He is dominant in the AL and would be even more so in the NL where there is no DH and the pitcher is basically an automatic out. That would be a major piece in getting LA a title. The offense is already there.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Your theory doesn't explain the Marlins (nothing can explain that)

I've been a National League guy all my life. I became a Braves fan as a kid in the early 70s probably because there was no Florida team and the Braves were carried on the local radio station (and they had Hank Aaron!). I live close to the Marlins stadium so they are the local TV games (you can feel sorry for me now ) and I go to Marlins games. I'm within driving distance of 5 spring training teams and they are all National League teams. What I'm getting at is that is with all these NL roots, I've never been a fan of the DH but the rules need to be the same in both leagues no matter what they are. I would be ok with the DH just to get the leagues the same. Please, somebody make both leagues the same.

The Marlins drafted well in the years leading up to their titles. They were lucky enough to have their young pitchers at the time (Beckett and Burnett) blossom at an optimal time. Plus those two teams could hit (young Mike Lowell anyone?).

The drawback to their system is that once their good young talent becomes arbitration and free-agency available they trade them off to keep payroll down. It's going to happen with Stanton. I'm hoping he ends up in Boston. Provided he recovers from that nasty pitch in the face.

 

[Out of Order]

Go Royals!!!!!

 

[swiftdog2.0]

Go Royals!!!!!

Good team. They deserve some playoff wins it's been a huge drought for them. I gotta admit I like the Orioles in that series, though.

 

[fljoe0]

What's your pick in the series?

Mine is the Giants in 6

 

[Out of Order]

Royals in six!

 

[redman]

Well tonight is game 7 of the World Series. No one expected the KC Royals to make it this far. I was born and raised in KC and have been a lifelong fan. I was only 7 when they won the '85 series and don't remember a lot but I remember my Grandparents were very proud. I don't know if they will win tonight. I hope they do. I was talking with a friend yesterday and we are both so nervous it's not even funny! I am already proud of them and I hope tomorrow I get to go and buy me a new KC Royals World Series Champions hat! Or T-shirt if they have one big enough!

 

[Out of Order]

What's your pick in the series?

Royals in Seven!

 

[fljoe0]

We have 2 old guys starting tonight, Tim Hudson (39) and Jeremy Guthrie (35). I think Bumgarner will be available for bullpen duty. Should be good.

 

[Out of Order]

We have 2 old guys starting tonight, Tim Hudson (39) and Jeremy Guthrie (35). I think Bumgarner will be available for bullpen duty. Should be good.

Everyone's available! Well almost everyone....

Felt a bit bad for Peavy last night. I liked him a lot when he was on the Red Sux and was happy he had a good run in San Fran. Was hoping he would do well for 5 or 6 and then the Royals would trounce the bullpen. I guess Petite(sp?) was brought back to earth last night.

 

[fljoe0]

Everyone's available! Well almost everyone....

Felt a bit bad for Peavy last night. I liked him a lot when he was on the Red Sux and was happy he had a good run in San Fran. Was hoping he would do well for 5 or 6 and then the Royals would trounce the bullpen. I guess Petite(sp?) was brought back to earth last night.

I don't have a favorite team in this tonight but I don't want to see Tim Hudson get shelled. I'm a fan from his Braves days so I know how you feel with Peavy.

 

[redman]

I just read that Ventura's hat from last night is headed to Cooperstown

 

[Out of Order]

I don't have a favorite team in this tonight but I don't want to see Tim Hudson get shelled. I'm a fan from his Braves days so I know how you feel with Peavy.

I'm a Royals fan in this series because of the drought the franchise has gone through. Red Sux/Cubs syndrome I guess you could call it..

I generally pull for the older veterans. Let Hudson do well, walk a batter or two in 7th and then bring in Lincecum for the three run bomb!

 

[DiO'Bolic]

No World Series game should start later than 7 PM EST... EVER!

Two thirds of the viewership resides in the Eastern and Central time zones, and the vast majority of us need to work the next day. And they wonder why viewership has been steadily declining for years with the World Series.

Also, speed it up. The game may be played without a clock, but the fans rely on them.

 

[Out of Order]

No World Series game should start later than 7 PM EST... EVER!

Two thirds of the viewership resides in the Eastern and Central time zones, and the vast majority of us need to work the next day. And they wonder why viewership has been steadily declining for years with the World Series.

Also, speed it up. The game may be played without a clock, but the fans rely on them.

7? I'll miss Jeopardy!!!!!!!

 

[misery chastain loves co.]

Gotta root for the underdog Royals tonight! I hope it's a good game but I won't make it all the way to the end. As mentioned directly above, the games start too late on the east coast but then it would be too early for the west coast. I can't stay up for MNF either........

 

[DiO'Bolic]

7? I'll miss Jeopardy!!!!!!!

The answer is World Series. The question is...

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Gotta root for the underdog Royals tonight! I hope it's a good game but I won't make it all the way to the end. As mentioned directly above, the games start too late on the east coast but then it would be too early for the west coast. I can't stay up for MNF either........

Only one quarter of the viewership is west of the Rocky Mountain High. You'd think numbers would dictate logic, especially in regards commercial revenues.