markjay6

There seems to be a logic among some that we need to have a unique dominant closer for the playoffs, so giving Diaz as long as leash as possible to work out his problems is thus worth the risk in the regular season, even if it costs us games or moves us down in the standings.

That logic is wrong.

Younger fans may not remember, but the insistence on having a fixed closer badly hurt us badly in the playoffs pre-2020 . There were several extremely high leverage situations in the 7th or 8th inning when we badly needed our best reliever to come in — whether to face the heart of the lineup, or batters who were dominant against left-or right-handed pitchers, or needing to get out of a jam with r

Are you a commuting student from Riverside, Los Angeles or elsewhere who could benefit from a weekday place to stay near campus?

Here is a great opportunity for free weekday housing walking distance to campus in exchange for some light help.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t1cHxX2TOY_XrXKrVecerR_d6fs-wmsNBkZBO2i9rFg/edit?usp=sharing

I never thought I would support a DSA member for elected office--but is Raman better than Bass for mayor of Los Angeles?

Here is where Ohtani currently stands in WAR measures and how those project across 162 games:

bWAR — 4.1 — 11.86

fWAR (FIP-based) — 3.5 — 10.13

fWAR (RA/9-based) — 4.7 — 13.60

fWAR (split) — 4.1 — 11.86

First place on all three fWAR measures. Second to Sanchez in bWAR.

Pages is third in bWAR. Trails a bit more in fWAR, which values defense differently.

Here is where Ohtani currently stands in WAR measures and how those project across 162 games:

bWAR — 4.1 — 11.86

fWAR (FIP-based) — 3.5 — 10.13

fWAR (RA/9-based) — 4.7 — 13.60

fWAR (split) — 4.1 — 11.86

First place on the fWAR measures. Right behind Sanchez in bWAR.

Pages is third in bWAR. Trails a bit more in fWAR, which values defense differently.

Without getting into the differences between them, there are a few different systems used for calculating Wins Above Replacement.

Here is where Ohtani currently stands in those and how those project across 162 games:

bWAR — 3.7 — 11.99

fWAR (FIP-based) — 3.2 — 10.37

fWAR (RA/9-based) — 4.3 — 13.93

fWAR (split) — 3.8 — 12.31

Just to get a sense of how these stand historically, Ohtani himself has never previously reached 10 WAR.

Barry Bonds never reached 12 WAR.

Only one player, on one occasion, passed 13.93 WAR, and that was Babe Ruth in 1923 (14.1).

What a privilege it is to watch Shohei play.

Go Dodgers!

In our first 29 games, Ohtani has accumulated 2.1 bWAR and 2.0 fWAR. He has thus far been averaging 0.3 WAR per pitching start. If he pitches another gem today, he should be on pace for 12+ WAR on the season after today’s game.

That would be only the 6th season of 12+ WAR in MLB history, and the first since 1967.

I think more likely he ends up with 10 or possibly 11 WAR, which would be his best season to date. It’s unlikely he can continue with a sub 0.5 ERA, and he is bound to miss a few games due to illness or injury. HIs hitting has room for improvement, as his current OPS of .898 is his lowest since 2022. But 2022 was also his best pitching season to date, so we may need to lower our e

Let’s say, for the sake of imagination, that Pages’ ceiling is Mookie Betts (HOF)

And Dalton Rushing’s ceiling is Will Smith (3+ times all-star)

And Wrobleski’s ceiling is Tyler Glasnow (long-time starting pitcher, one time all-star)

Not saying these are likely, just that they are within the realm of possibility.

Who do you think is more likely to reach it?

Female soldiers court-martialed for their choice of civilian clothing on the day they are discharged.

Police punished for barbecuing on Shabbat.

What's going on?

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-court-martials-female-troops-who-showed-up-for-discharge-in-tank-tops-short-skirt/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/border-police-officers-sent-to-jail-for-barbecuing-on-base-over-shabbat/

Women punished for what they wear? Police punished for barbecuing on Shabbat?

What's going on?

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-court-martials-female-troops-who-showed-up-for-discharge-in-tank-tops-short-skirt/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/border-police-officers-sent-to-jail-for-barbecuing-on-base-over-shabbat/

Imagine that we had to divide the Dodgers roster into two in a couple of months when more players will be back from injury. How do you think these two squads would rank in the MLB?

Dodgers: Team A -- Team B

Catcher: Smith -- Rushing

1st Base: Freeman -- Kiké

2nd Base: Espinal -- Edman

Shortstop: Rojas -- Betts

Third Base: Freeland -- Muncy

Right Field: Hope -- Tucker

Left Field: Teo -- Call

Center Field: HSK -- Pages

DH: Othani -- De Paula

Pitchers A: (Ohtani), Snell, Sheehan, Ryan, Casparius, Diaz, Treinen, Klein, Stewart, Knack

Pitchers G: Yamamoto, Glasnow, Sasaki, Wrobleski, Dreyer, Vesia, Scott, Henriquez, Phillips

The guy was a little-known prospect when we picked him up last year in a minor trade last June. Didn’t show much in Triple A but did pretty well in limited appearances on the Dodgers. Miraculously saved game 3 and arguably our season in the World Serious.

Now he seems to be a regular piece of our bullpen, pitching in two of our first three games, giving up only one hit, no walks, and no runs, with two strikeouts in two innings pitched with 0.91 FIP.

He’s only 26 years old, earning less than a million, and under team control until 2032.

What kinds of stuff does he have? How fast can he throw? What are his main pitches? What's his ceiling?

I’m excited to see what he can do for us (beyond w