caulfield12

That’s all we can do. We’re never going to be a $200+ million payroll franchise, it is what it is. The Dodgers right now are at $250 million, almost. All we can do is enjoy successes (KC in 2014-15, Indians almost beating the Cubs in 2016), Brewers, Rays, Twins and A’s recently. The Marlins seem to be progressing, and the Mariners have a bright future with all their outfielders. The franchises to worry about are really Detroit, Cincinnati (not so critical), Pittsburgh, Oakland and TB due to ongoing stadium issues (certainly strong front offices), the Rockies (have always had solid attendance) and maybe the DBacks. Pitt, Oakland, TB and Miami stand out the most. Pittsburgh and Colorado really seem lost in the woods. Obviously, the A’s are second in MLB record-wise, but the issues have been present for twenty years with the Giants, San Jose, stadium relocation.

I don’t quite understand why it’s so bad to enjoy baseball except that played by the White Sox...PTAC and Texsox somehow manage it quite well.

Don’t you want to maximize his plate appearances? Wouldn’t ideal lineup construction have him 2nd or 3rd? I guess we can go with the whole superstitious don’t change the winning lineup from the prior game...not exactly Modern Baseball Science 101.

https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/fernando-tatis-jr-prospect-who-got-away-white-sox-fans-read-your-own-risk Orel Hersisher repeated this story last night of how he was so upset after the entire family had just purchased loads of White Sox gear that Tatis had to spend 2-3 days away from the sport because he was so hurt, crying endlessly because he couldn’t understand why the White Sox didn’t want him. And how much that rejection drove him to be an even better player (maybe Rodon experienced a similar thing?) Obviously, they still encouraged Elijah to sign because of the relationship established between Senior and Paddy. But between that White Sox future denied and almost signing Machado twice, it pretty much convinced me to start rooting for them as my NL team...and comparing the two front offices, spending, will to win, Latin American ops, etc. They are only two games above .500 due to getting run over by the Pirates and Brewers, but the fact they’re in this position (beating the Dodgers’ top three starters 3/5, who are still outspending them by $80 million) without a healthy Pham (100+ stitches, nearly died), Tatis, Nola (starting catcher), Morejon, Clevinger, Lamet, Baez, etc., is so unlikely. And that Weathers, Abrams and Gore could be even better. It’s fun because LA is as much a dynasty as any team since the Braves or Yankees/Red Sox, David vs. Goliath, it’s the only way the sport can survive is for the small and mid-market teams to be competitive.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/24/us/dodgers-fully-vaccinated-fan-section-trnd/index.html Dodgers and Giants debut 100% vaccinated, Covid-tested zones at 100% capacity....

Lost in all the Jazz love is the Giants off to the quietest really impressive start in the majors.

https://www.mlb.com/news/the-man-with-the-most-baseball-cards Really cool story...

These Dodgers/Padres games have been nuts in terms of overall quality of play, key hits with RISP, high drama, amazing momentum swings and huge defensive plays. Season series tied up 2-2, with two more to go...including Sunday night with Musgrove/Urias or May. Both series the top starters lined up...the other two were impressive starts by rookie LHP Weathers, an early savior with all the early pitching injuries. Padres run away to take 3-2 lead in the season series. Have now lost 4 of last 5. Nevertheless, 14-6 for LAD, still best record in baseball by one game over SFG (and A’s, who amazingly went from 1-6 to 13-7). Five really interesting CA trams this year. But they’re (Dodgers) kind of in their first tailspin and lost McKinstry and now Knebel, not to mention Bellinger’s cracked fibula. Bauer vs. Snell Saturday.

There are still so many questions across the rotation and majority of the pen...now, should we at least be better than KC, Minnesota and Cleveland? Sure!

Yes, I know...and his unique extension. But at 97-99 they will time you. The one advantage that does stand out quite obviously is locating high in the zone but just so difficult for most even good hitters to lay off. Those seemingly rising pitches just aren’t possible to catch up with.

That margin for error is fine with a three run lead, but you’re going to have to throw offspeed pitches effectively to retire hitters on the best teams in the post-season when it’s tied or a one run lead. We saw it with the White Sox last October, even.

He’s not going to win a Gold Glove...a bit like a mini Franmil Reyes with more fast twitch-ability.

Skowron...

Hendriks hasn’t exactly been Colome bad...but also not sure he’s exactly earning his money, either.

Yermin better not to be hitting 7th tmrw, and Vaughn should be in the line-up, too.

Two off-speed hits at least tonight.

That’s his natural HR stroke, LCF...

Terrible at bat there by Eaton. Oh, well.

Really amped up there, great to see some emotion out of guys other than Yermin and TA. Can we really get to one game over .500, finally?

Tatis just killed Kershaw on 22nd anniversary of dad’s same accomplishment (two homer game) in Dodger Stadium. 116 exit velo. Two grand slams off Chan Ho Park. There was zero reason for Heuer to face a lefty. Either use Crochet or Hendriks.

Get Hendriks in, Jesus.

I guess we’ll hear the usual about Kopech being on a five day schedule...

Would it be possible to get just one clean inning from a reliever?

Looks like that guy might have had his head snapped into the top of the concrete wall...another Ligue situation coming, minus Royals’ coach suffering permanent injuries. Then there was the Fowler lawsuit over the low restraining wall.

Looks like he took a hit from an ILB into the concrete wall out there...