Tag: Dodgers

  • The One Twist with the Los Angeles Dodgers

    The One Twist with the Los Angeles Dodgers

    The Los Angeles Dodgers are the most hated team in baseball. Nobody likes them. In fact, some do not want to confront them.

    Although, tonight marks a major twist. One that will accentuate the sports world.

    Even though the Dodgers face a lot of criticism, one man will step on the mound who does not necessarily evoke much hate at Comerica Park

    I am talking about two-time Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal. It will not be any type of typical pat on the back. It will be a standing ovation for one of the best Detroit Tigers in franchise history.

    Skubal recently pitched two of his best seasons compared to Randy Johnson. There will not be ire when this one’s over.

  • The First and Last Time Andrew Friedman Was Denied as Part of The Tampa Bay Rays

    The First and Last Time Andrew Friedman Was Denied as Part of The Tampa Bay Rays

    Andrew Friedman has been a long-standing executive for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays since 2004. He was voted MLB Executive of the Year in 2020 and became Sporting News Executive of the Year during 2008.

    Friedman has been a man of his word.

    He won and took the Dodgers to the World Series three times even when considering the COVID era. He has gotten the best out of baseball players such as Clayton Kershaw, Shohei Ohtani, and Evan Longoria.

    While everything appears to bloom for the Dodgers except for Jacob Misiorowski facing Shohei Ohtani at the plate, there is one churlish result that incentivizes Friedman.

    The 2008 MLB World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies when Brad Lidge struck out Longoria on a hanger. That is a stark reminder that Friedman was denied of his hopes in bringing a championship to the Rays. The Rays eventually made it back to the same World Series as the 2020 Dodgers but lost.

    Friedman has been shuffled in fame, achievement, and misdeed that he needs to deliver the Dodgers a third straight World Series.

    The 2008 Philadelphia Phillies did what not many other teams could do which is outwit Friedman. They were led by smart, experienced management, Charlie Manuel, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and so on.

    What is different about this year’s Phillies to the 2026 Dodgers is that Friedman has MVP candidate Shohei Ohtani still in the wings, coming off two World Series, and they are getting the most out of their pitching staff from the likes of Tarik Skubal, Roki Sasaki, and Tyler Glasnow.

    The only thing that has haunted the Dodgers and Anaheim Angels for many years is Ohtani’s status on the mound. It is difficult to pull off two positions.

    During Ohtani’s time on the mound, he averages 10 strikeouts per nine innings and goes to show as a testament for his hard work. Last year, it was one measly trade for Miguel Rojas from the Miami Marlins to pull off the World Series dagger. This time, can it be three?

    The other times Friedman lost as part of the Dodgers in the World Series was 2017 and 2018 to the sign stealing Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox.

  • MLB Power Rankings 8/11/26

    MLB Power Rankings 8/11/26

    1. Los Angeles Dodgers: Tarik Skubal’s home debut did not go as planned but the Dodgers are still feeding in the engine’s seat.
    2. Milwaukee Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski became the fastest ever in MLB single season history to reach 200 strikeouts since Spencer Strider. Please tell me this team is not brewing.
    3. Tampa Bay Rays: Yandy Diaz and the Rays still come in strong at No.3.
    4. Atlanta Braves: Braves come into the playoffs with 99.3 odds.
    5. Chicago Cubs: Pete Crow Armstrong is proving why a MVP case is most likely.
    6. New York Yankees: Injured stars may play a part but the additions they got back are instrumental.
    7. San Diego Padres: the Padres have the highest batting average in baseball which leads to a momentous shift.
    8. Chicago White Sox: I am a big believer in this team right now.
    9. Arizona Diamondbacks: much injury riddled like the Yankees.
    10. Boston Red Sox: Adley Rutschman is everything they pushed Marcelo Meyer for.
    11. Philadelphia Phillies: this team has a chance but Don Mattingly tells me something’s wrong and they address the manager position next offseason.
    12. St. Louis Cardinals: J.J. Wetherholt has made the future brighter.
    13. Texas Rangers: Rangers are in the thick of the wild card race with a motivated team.
    14. Houston Astros: I have always liked big things out of Dalton Varsho as he homered in his debut.
    15. Cleveland Guardians: Angel Genao is a future top prospect that might just buoy the Guardians chances.
  • Welcome Tarik Skubal to the $25M Club

    Welcome Tarik Skubal to the $25M Club

    Millionaires are growing on trees in Los Angeles.

    Last night, Tarik Skubal was welcomed with open arms by the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse. Finally, the wait had been over and Skubal became an official Dodger.

    Skubal is a former Cy Young winner but does not have familiar ties with a team like L.A. L.A. has been to the World Series twice in the past two seasons and does not plan on slowing down. Shohei Ohtani was a factor in acquiring Skukal.

    Ohtani had been dealing with injuries and the Dodgers saw it fitting to trade away injury riddled River Ryan. They also traded 30 for 30 Zyhir Hope with a nice personality and Brady Smith.

    Skubal will begin his next start Tuesday on the north side of Chicago.

  • Where Does Tarik Skubal Land?

    Where Does Tarik Skubal Land?

    Tarik Skubal signed a one year contract worth $32 million to make a deep run with the Detroit Tigers. Turns out those odds are undefined.

    What we do know about Skubal is he won the Cy Young many times in his early illustrious career and has a season 2.79 ERA. Teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers are rumored to cash in on the big stud out of Hayward, CA, due to their sizable farm systems.

    Teams like the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies could use him but both teams are in dire straits. Skubal has learned that his time is most likely winding down in Detroit.

    Jeff Passan of ESPN said out of the aforementioned teams, the Dodgers are the lead suitor to acquire Skubal and how could that be fair? The Dodgers just continue to take advantage of not the system but their assets and that is what really separates themselves from the pack.

    These Dodgers are not going away and so is not Skubal trade rumors as the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline looms.

  • Trea Turner Home Run vs. Dodgers

    1 of 2 Trea Turner’s home runs on a national televised night between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Turner collected some defensive miscues but pulled out the W thanks to helpful home runs by Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh and Christopher Sanchez’ resiliency on the mound, striking out the modern Babe Ruth, Shohei Ohtani, twice!

  • Roki Sasaki Puts on a Clinic

    Yesterday, Roki Sasaki played a spectacular game against the Anaheim Angels. He threw a career high seven innings to go along with eight strikeouts and no walks.

    This is what the Los Angeles Dodgers wait for. This is what they plan.

    Catcher Dalton Rushing, who has played great in place of Will Smith, said, ‘there is a lot more in the tank,’ absolutely praising Sasaki’s performance.

    Unfortunately for Sasaki, he pitched against the last place Angels. His next matchup is against one of the best MLB lineups and that are the MIlwaukee Brewers.

    Sasaki pitches with over a 5.00 ERA and maybe even though there is room for improvement, things could still turn messy for the Japanese star from the 2023 World Baseball classic. His teammate Shohei Ohtani currently pitches a 0.73 ERA.

  • 2025 MLB World Series Game 1 Recap

  • Tommy Edman Listed as Day-to-Day

    So much for knowing him as the 2024 MLB World Baseball MVP, Tommy Edman is listed as day-to-day as he battles an ankle sprain rounding first in a hot humid game against Tampa or St. Petersburg.

    There is a lot about the future of the Tampa Bay Rays but their competition is steep. Los Angeles bench ranks sixth as of August 4, 2025 compared to 4th, 2024.

  • The Next Big 3 Has Arrived

    The Next Big 3 Has Arrived

    Have you ever heard of big 3’s? World domination as I like to call them. It is derive by the strength and numbers of what a ball club, organization, or franchise consist and this year it is no different than what is to come with the arrival of the big 3, again.

    I am talking flashing light like always but even louder, noisier, and bigger with the likes of Los Angeles’ own Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and unbelievably Roki Sasaki.

    This is a world domination beginning in Hollywood. The flames are passing along to other’s misery anticipation of the 2025 MLB regular season.

    That is not to say what the future holds for MLB as a whole.

    The misery was no different for Los Angeles offseason but what they leaned on was the prominent signing of Roki Sasaki and possibly sealing the future of at least years 10 years to start.

    Japanese born descent players have changed the game. They are no longer the generation of old that bored the MLB community. Now, it is pop funk fun, only, to the credit of L.A. and that is concerning because we saw the last situation such as this evaporate in the Miami Heat and the Dodgers are set in financial ways like no other.

    Ohtani is a phenomenon but history repeats itself with the size and increase and player’s egos and personalities in Major League Baseball. For now, Ohtani, the Dodgers ball club franchise organization unite and lean on last year’s acquisition of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and promising Roki Sasaki who seems to be the silencer from the gate and draw attention like any Big 3.