The OFFICIAL DODGERS 2016 thread, brought to you by TW Cable BLACKED OUT IN YOUR AREA

[City Dad]

Is this going to be the best season we've never seen?

Will Puig be given a bail stipend?

Will Dave Roberts and Bob Geren allow selfies and nail tutorials in the dugout?

Will Kenta Maeda find Yan Chow's slippery shrimp too salty?

Will Scott Kazmir finally settle for the club-house supplied Farmer John's Extreme Lipids hand creme?

Will Vin use the term "fleek"?

Will A.J.'s face pucker so hard it collapses into itself?

Will Justin find hitting clean-up magically delicious?

more will be revealed

[DarkShadow]

The biggest move by the Dodgers front office this off season will be next week when they announce Yoshinoya returning to Dodger Stadium after the Maeda signing.

[City Dad]

yes!!!!!!!!

[DarkShadow]

yes!!!!!!!!

And Maeda took Kuroda's old number.

Remember when Kuroda did what bitchtits Billingsley wouldn't do and threw at Shane Victorino's head? That made Kuroda a Dodger for all times in my book.

You see Mikey Piazza get inducted into the HoF as a Met? I'm sure Tommy was happy about that.

And I don't know how the worse defensive catcher in the world got in as a HoF'er, but fame on!

[murrieta angler]

And Maeda took Kuroda's old number.

Remember when Kuroda did what bitchtits Billingsley wouldn't do and threw at Shane Victorino's head? That made Kuroda a Dodger for all times in my book.

You see Mikey Piazza get inducted into the HoF as a Met? I'm sure Tommy was happy about that.

And I don't know how the worse defensive catcher in the world got in as a HoF'er, but fame on!

You know it's never about defense....unless you are Jason Heyward and the Cubs! Trying to legitimize $184 million for 8 years.

[DarkShadow]

You know it's never about defense....

Unless you're Edgar Martinez and are still wondering why you haven't been elected to the Hall.

[City Dad]

this is what I see when I picture "regularities"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4os7Wa8gtM

[DarkShadow]

this is what I see when I picture "regularities"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4os7Wa8gtM

https://media.giphy.com/media/A9KfKenpqNDfa/giphy.gif

And we re-signed Brandon Beachy? Didn't he just have TJ too? Perhaps we're cornering the market on guys whose elbows fell off the past year.

[City Dad]

...and yet, here CG and I are, getting excited for February, making plans to drive to Camleback in March... will we ever learn?

[DarkShadow]

...and yet, here CG and I are, getting excited for February, making plans to drive to Camelback in March... will we ever learn?

Hey, at least you can catch fish the pond. Just bring your nightcrawlers! It'll be the SARL experience, in Arizona!

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/15/travel/tr-dodgers15


The lower of the two ponds is stocked with carp and soon will have a mix of bluegill, bass and catfish, so fishing is encouraged. (Because the water cycles from and to the Glendale Water Treatment plant, city officials are encouraging catch and release.)

[DarkShadow]

I didn't know Magic Johnson could play soccer!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBBcA7tLEFE/

[DarkShadow]

Brett Anderson, out 5 months with a backiotomy.

http://49.media.tumblr.com/a1ce1d6a1931d1c76a1f8cb4b02b946e/tumblr_np5iqv2XIt1qjk161o1_400.gif

[reservoir dog]

Do you think Puig will be traded? There's been talks and rumors and I'm sure there are teams that would love to have him.

[DarkShadow]

Do you think Puig will be traded? There's been talks and rumors and I'm sure there are teams that would love to have him.

I doubt it, not with his trade value so low.

When you combine the fact that he's stuck in a state of arrested development, which I can't blame him for considering his thrust from a third world country to the leader of the free world, his baseball IQ isn't as sharp as one would expect (once again, perhaps his previous coaches didn't focus on fundamentals?), and his injury plagued last year, I don't think many teams are anxious to trade for him.

If anything, the Dodgers are waiting for him to have a rebound year, not get into any trouble on or off the field, and become a better teammate so that perhaps the trade value increases. Right now, the risk of trading him is not worth the reward.

[bowler]

My boss sells tickets for every Dodgers game at home so give him a call or txt. His name is Gabe and his number is 213-706-4138.

[City Dad]

Brett Anderson, out 5 months with a backiotomy.

http://49.media.tumblr.com/a1ce1d6a1931d1c76a1f8cb4b02b946e/tumblr_np5iqv2XIt1qjk161o1_400.gif

That's okay. We're deep at starting pitching.

which leads me to an interesting point - when was the last time the Dodgers brought up an ugly kid from Mexico to pitch? Just sayin'...

[DarkShadow]

That's okay. We're deep at starting pitching.

which leads me to an interesting point - when was the last time the Dodgers brought up an ugly kid from Mexico to pitch? Just sayin'...

hey hey hey...

just cuz the kid looks like Shrek, does not mean he's not terrible. Look at Valenzuela. Trump would've shot him outta of a cannon back to, wherever he was from.

In fact, I convinced half of Westwood to take a half day off tomorrow so we can see his first 'start' against the Gayngels. So far, I wrangled 8 people.

Any Dodger fan who wants to show up to Barney's at noon to watch, is more than welcome. Thank God the Gaylos channel is showing the game, because we know Time Warner would rather show another "Backstage Dodgers," where we follow Austin Barnes and his spring training routine and follow Justin Turner and his new cat.

[City Dad]

hey hey hey...

just cuz the kid looks like Shrek, does not mean he's not terrible. Look at Valenzuela. Trump would've shot him outta of a cannon back to, wherever he was from.

In fact, I convinced half of Westwood to take a half day off tomorrow so we can see his first 'start' against the Gayngels. So far, I wrangled 8 people.

Any Dodger fan who wants to show up to Barney's at noon to watch, is more than welcome. Thank God the Gaylos channel is showing the game, because we know Time Warner would rather show another "Backstage Dodgers," where we follow Austin Barnes and his spring training routine and follow Justin Turner and his new cat.


wait a second... Urias is starting?

[DarkShadow]

wait a second... Urias is starting?

Yessir.

And apparently Zach Lee is getting 2 innings of work in as well.

FSW or MLB.TV at 12:05, local time.

[reservoir dog]

Thought you Dodger fans might find this interesting...

http://www.tmz.com/2016/03/14/dodgers-josh-ravin-check-out-my-franken-arm-after-broken-bone-surgery/

[DarkShadow]

Thought you Dodger fans might find this interesting...

http://www.tmz.com/2016/03/14/dodgers-josh-ravin-check-out-my-franken-arm-after-broken-bone-surgery/

That our 8th starter broke his arm?

It was a great picture, because arms aren't supposed to bend that way!

[City Dad]

I just got back from 2 weeks of Jury duty... but yeah, we're screwed!

[DarkShadow]

I just got back from 2 weeks of Jury duty...

So did OJ do it?

[Brent]

And Maeda took Kuroda's old number.

Remember when Kuroda did what bitchtits Billingsley wouldn't do and threw at Shane Victorino's head? That made Kuroda a Dodger for all times in my book.

You see Mikey Piazza get inducted into the HoF as a Met? I'm sure Tommy was happy about that.

And I don't know how the worse defensive catcher in the world got in as a HoF'er, but fame on!

Roids. My man Roids.

[DarkShadow]

Roids. My man Roids.

Speaking of roids, my favorite Piazza highlight was this:

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z5ZsSZ-NDdw/hqdefault.jpg

[MarkyMark]

SF 3, LA 2. The legend of Don Mattingly lives!

[twin22s]

One game or a no hitter isn't worth blowing up a young pitchers arm, it was the right decision just not a good result. He had already thrown more pitches than he has ever thrown in a single game.

[MarkyMark]

I tend to look at opportunities..how many pitchers can say I threw a no hitter on my 1st start? Again, he wasn' t missing the plate by that much..It's the new way of managing ..err, micro managing. Again, the bullpen rears it's ugly head...(But why do I care, I'm a Directv customer)

[DarkShadow]

One game or a no hitter isn't worth blowing up a young pitchers arm, it was the right decision just not a good result. He had already thrown more pitches than he has ever thrown in a single game.

This.

It's not hard to understand why Roberts took the kid out.

Then again, the ones that can't seem to grasp this are the ones that ask how many points we scored last game.

[MarkyMark]

This.

It's not hard to understand why Roberts took the kid out.

Then again, the ones that can't seem to grasp this are the ones that ask how many points we scored last game.

Good point. However, give the kid A CHANCE. You can't predict what was gonna happen in the future. What if he was able to finish the game on a 110 pitch count? Just saying....


MM

[City Dad]

what's up with the 'pen?

[DarkShadow]

what's up with the 'pen?

They're being used correctly. They just haven't performed...


...


"Let's fire Roberts!!!"

[DarkShadow]

Defending the Dodgers pen is like defending Donald Trump.

You look like such an idiot trying, it's really not worth your while.

[City Dad]

wow. I didn't get to see the game, just checked the score... wow...

[TroutOnly]

...........MAD-BUM......................lol.................

[Lady Quagga]

dammit, who drank all the Wild Turkey?

[City Dad]

Kershaw vs Bumgarner... thoughts?

[Stumpknocker]

Kershaw vs Bumgarner... thoughts?

Both great pitchers...Giants' lineup is currently healthier than the Dodgers' is, but I think it'll come down to which pitcher has better control of their stuff tonight. And then there's the Dodgers' set up relief "pitching", though it looks like Romo won't be there to set up for the Giants either...

[DarkShadow]

Both great pitchers...Giants' lineup is currently healthier than the Dodgers' is, but I think it'll come down to which pitcher has better control of their stuff tonight. And then there's the Dodgers' set up relief "pitching", though it looks like Romo won't be there to set up for the Giants either...

I hear Romo and Crawford are both out with pulled cervixes.

Apparently Mad Bum went a little rough on them. That's why you have a safe word.

[DarkShadow]

...........MAD-BUM......................lol.................

Kiiiiiiikeeeeeee Hernandez............lol...............

[Stumpknocker]

Who knew Kike Ruth was gonna show up?

[City Dad]

that was cool.

[City Dad]

any speculation on who will take over the mic when Vin retires?

favorites?

least favorites?

[DarkShadow]

any speculation on who will take over the mic when Vin retires?

favorites?

least favorites?

Alanna Rizzo.

[DarkShadow]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CS1J_zIWcAA5VOr.jpg"Hey Giancarlo, hit a home run."

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/YYvCsKdWWTjFQmFmPkoyjw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztxPTg1O3c9MzEw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/Sports/ap/201409011238454818956"OK, skip!"

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2539423.1456113754%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_635/marlins-spring-baseball.jpg"I'm a genius."

[City Dad]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CS1J_zIWcAA5VOr.jpg"Hey Giancarlo, hit a home run."

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/YYvCsKdWWTjFQmFmPkoyjw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztxPTg1O3c9MzEw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/Sports/ap/201409011238454818956"OK, skip!"

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2539423.1456113754%21/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_635/marlins-spring-baseball.jpg"I'm a genius."


Manager of the year

[DarkShadow]

Manager of the year

The same dudes who cheer and throw their 99 cent beach balls are agreeing with you right now.

Gooo Dodger!!! (fans)

[City Dad]

Dee Gordon... hmmmm

[DarkShadow]

Dee Gordon... hmmmm

http://d13beo3f7vpmvd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/dee-gordon-barry-bonds.jpg

"Hey, I never got caught..."

[City Dad]

Dodgers win the ineptitude marathon...

... and the countdown for Julio Urias deput is on... tick, tick, tick..........

[DarkShadow]

Dodgers win the ineptitude marathon...

... and the countdown for Julio Urias deput is on... tick, tick, tick..........

The fact that we have to Break Glass for Emergency in May is good tidings....

Don't worry, Montas and DeLeon are both coming up as well to give us 114 wins by the end of the year.

Prolly bring up a couple of bats too, mash about 40 HRs a piece....bring up a speedster who's gonna steal about 60 bases...

Bring up an announcer who doesn't call people Eric Karros....

A right fielder with an IQ higher than his shoe size....

[Stumpknocker]

A right fielder with an IQ higher than his shoe size....

Apparently Puig is trying to improve this year, but after that play yesterday, I'm thinking he might not be fixable...wonder what game he was watching?

[DarkShadow]

...wonder what game he was watching?

Hey, I get it.

I was once 5 years old with my head not in the game. The gophers in right field were more important than winning a game.

The best was Ellis's "WTF ARE YOU DOING?!" look he gave Puig as he ran towards 1st. That's the look I give twice an inning with these guys.

[City Dad]

Hey, I get it.

I was once 5 years old with my head not in the game. The gophers in right field were more important than winning a game.

The best was Ellis's "WTF ARE YOU DOING?!" look he gave Puig as he ran towards 1st. That's the look I give twice an inning with these guys.



hopefully, being dumb isn't the reason he can't hit... but I'm sure it doesn't help. Maybe he'll creep back over .250 in time to be worth a fire-sale utility guy... oh, wait, we have four of those already...

[Stumpknocker]

hopefully, being dumb isn't the reason he can't hit... but I'm sure it doesn't help. Maybe he'll creep back over .250 in time to be worth a fire-sale utility guy... oh, wait, we have four of those already...

He's 25, so sadly, his prefrontal cortex is probably as developed as it's gonna get...but who knows, maybe his attention span will increase with age...with his physical abilities, even a dimwit who can pay attention would be a very good ballplayer.

[DarkShadow]

hopefully, being dumb isn't the reason he can't hit... but I'm sure it doesn't help. Maybe he'll creep back over .250 in time to be worth a fire-sale utility guy... oh, wait, we have four of those already...

I think the fact that he's a few Senkos short of a 10 pack, doesn't allow him to understand that in the majors, especially in this day in age, adjustments are constantly being made. Also, it seems to me, after watching games that are played in the Carribean, a high baseball IQ isn't really developed. I look at Yoenis Cespedes, and he may be almost as dumb as Puig:

http://deadspin.com/yoenis-cespedes-decides-ball-thats-right-there-is-unpla-1766886124

http://deadspin.com/daniel-murphy-freezes-yoenis-cespedes-with-the-ole-fake-1777697533

Anyway, Roberts benching him last night was hilarious.

http://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/yasiel-puig-admires-single-640x356.png

[troutdog]

Sure glad the reds came into town this week! :Big Grin:

Puig needs to go, aside from that arm he is a disaster.


TD

[DarkShadow]

Urias...welcome to The Show.

[City Dad]

Urias...welcome to The Show.



this will either be really great or really terrible or something in between there. but already sick of Valenzuela comparisons to come... or not

[DarkShadow]

this will either be really great or really terrible or something in between there. but already sick of Valenzuela comparisons to come... or not

Cmon, they're both lefties, they're both Mexicans.

A leftist Mexican.

No wonder Trump wants to build the wall.

:Secret:

BTW, am I the only idiot who is wondering what happened to our pitching staff to have us require calling up someone who still can't buy beer yet?

[DarkShadow]

Wow, Puig to Triple A.

Who woulda thunk it.

I think TD is in mourning today.

[Stumpknocker]

Wow, Puig to Triple A.

Who woulda thunk it.

I think TD is in mourning today.

I heard it was either triple A or middle school to finish growing up.

[DarkShadow]

I heard it was either triple A or middle school to finish growing up.

OKC drivers and pedestrians better look out. "The Wild Horse" has been let loose upon your town.

I really do feel bad for the Puig fans tho. They're going to have to find another player to cheer as if they have just hit a home run when they only hit a 200 foot fly ball.

[City Dad]

Yasiel who?

[Stumpknocker]

Yasiel who?

Knock knock...
Who's there?
Yasiel
Yasiel who?
Ya see yuhlater.

[DarkShadow]

Yasiel who?

C'mon, he's hitting like .800 in Triple A.

[City Dad]

C'mon, he's hitting like .800 on the breathalyzer in Triple A.

there, fixed that for ya...

[DarkShadow]

AJ Ellis would never had a career if it wasn't for Kershaw.

I'm glad Roberts yanked his weak hitting weak defense self for Grandal this year, and didn't even let Kershaw pitch to his little buddy anymore as the season progressed and AJ kept hitting under his weight.

Now if someone could take Puig off our hands....

[troutdog]

6 more wins and the wait is over....GO DODGERS!!!!


TD

[City Dad]

CG and I were there last night - Blue got plenty of home cooking calls for sure, however, the Cubs really pooped the bed. let's hope those bats don't get going, 'cause if they do no billy goat or black cat is gonna stop 'em.

youngest post-season starter ever... yikes.

[DarkShadow]

So when do the playoffs start?

[troutdog]

So when do the playoffs start?

Hopefully early next week in Cleveland! :Big Grin:

TD

[DarkShadow]

Hopefully early next week in Cleveland! :Big Grin:

Yeah, not so much. But wait till next year!

•

It sucks that Kershaw will always end up taking the blame for post season failure as long as he wears his Dodger uniform, regardless of his success. The masses that headed to Sport Chalet to exchange their newly purchased Dodger hat they bought on Friday for a Rams hat on Sunday walk around muttering "Kershaw," "implosion," and "postseason" but don't know what an E.R.A. is. The "sportswriters" who only realize the Dodgers are still in the MLB only during playoff time will push the same rhetoric. Yet, this year, it was clearly evident from the beginning of the season that we couldn't hit good pitching. In the post season, good pitching will most certainly defeat good hitting the vast majority of the time and good pitching is all that you're going to see. Kersh could've thrown 18 perfect innings, but you can't win a baseball game 0-0 due to the less than stellar and extremely stagnant offense we put together this year. I'm honestly surprised we got past the Nationals with the numbers of runners we left stranded on base during the divisional series and the opportunities we provided them to steal the series away.

The fact that we couldn't pick up a major arm during the off season and had to throw Maeda out there was a problem. Maeda is a back end rotation type of guy, as we saw during the end of the season and while he dominated the likes of San Diego and Arizona early in the season, teams like the Cubs have too much fire power to think we can throw him out there during seemingly must-win games and remain competitive. And then throwing a talented, but inexperienced 20 year old out there pretty much solidified the fact that the FO needed to get a legitimate arm during the off season, instead of gambling with the newfangled Sabermetric statistics and getting a patchwork of guys like Anderson, Wood and The Others to hold the rotation down. And while a motley crew of starters with Kershaw leading the helm may get you over your division rivals, as time has proven before, it makes you less competitive in the playoffs. You can quantify spin rate, perceived speed, and average exit velocity all you want, but ultimately, "A Guy Who Can Compete" unfortunately isn't a column you can quantify by numbers in a spreadsheet.

Regardless, there have been more positives this year than in year's past, starting with the fact we no longer have an incompetent manager. We have a future 3rd baseman (current SS) who will be the face of the organization for years to come, and a group of younger guys that showed various degrees of promise. There is plenty of work to be done, as our veterans in Utley, Gonzales, Ruiz, etc. are not getting any younger and the FO need to start looking at who will fill in for those players once their Social Security kicks in. The pocket books need to be opened up in order to retain the services of Turner and Jansen, who both have been lights out during pressure situations and need to get rewarded for their efforts. After all, this is a business.

And, in all fairness, this year wasn't as much heartbreak as in years past, simply because when looking at the series between the Cubs and the Dodgers from a impartial perspective, that Chicago team was clearly superior. They showed it during the regular season, and they showed their resilience and depth during the playoffs. Good luck to them and their fans in the W.S. It'd suck to get this close after all this time and lose.

Just keep Bartman away for the stadium until November.

[City Dad]

The best picture of the NLDS I've seen showed an elated Rizzo walking past a tired, gaunt looking Utley. Felt that pretty much summed it up.

I think FO was surprised/amazed to have had this successful a season.

Lets hope the rebuilding continues at an accelerated pace.

also, AT&T merger still possible...

[DarkShadow]

The best picture of the NLDS I've seen showed an elated Rizzo walking past a tired, gaunt looking Utley. Felt that pretty much summed it up.

I think FO was surprised/amazed to have had this successful a season.

Lets hope the rebuilding continues at an accelerated pace.

also, AT&T merger still possible...

And as long as the casual fans don't open their yap until October 2017, it'll be a great year.

The only problem is that now we have a bunch of band wagonners who refuse to get off the ship, simply because the Rams and Lakers suck.

[WARRIORMIKE]

You cant be mad at the Cubbies. They came in wanting it. You cant expect a lone star pitcher to do all the work. Dodgers beat their "horse" down.

With the series, its was exciting, I never regret watching my team go to battle. They will be victorious soon enough.

[DarkShadow]

You cant be mad at the Cubbies. They came in wanting it. You cant expect a lone star pitcher to do all the work. Dodgers beat their "horse" down.

With the series, its was exciting, I never regret watching my team go to battle. They will be victorious soon enough.

I don't think any non-casual fans are mad at the Cubbies.

Then again, I can't account for the the number of "Cubs Suck!" people who were yelling that at the Ravine this past week who may have actually been mad at the Cubbies, but then again, they don't know what an E.R.A. is and are the ones who are more excited when a beach ball comes into their section, rather than paying attention to the actual game being played on the field. They are probably mad at the Cubbies, until something more interesting than Dodger baseball came their way Sunday morning.

Speaking from a baseball fan/Dodger fan perspective, the Cubs earned their way into the Fall Classic. I'd love to hear an argument otherwise.

[City Dad]

something I think about - Clayton is 28. When Orel won he was 30... when Schilling won he was 34 and Johnson was 37... Jamie Moyer was 45 when he won a Series game... is it not out of the realm of possibility that we'll still have a lights-out ace for at least another few years?

[DarkShadow]

... is it not out of the realm of possibility that we'll still have a lights-out ace for at least another few years?

Not if you talk to the "I came here for the wave and the beach balls" fan.

But yes, for the ones who actually know the game. The problem is, baseball IS a 9 man sport.

[City Dad]

Not if you talk to the "I came here for the wave and the beach balls" fan.

But yes, for the ones who actually know the game. The problem is, baseball IS a 9 man sport.


keep that farm system running right and we'll add another two or three by '19

[MarkyMark]

I did enjoy the post season, this coming from a fan from the Cey, Russell, Lopes, & Garvey era. NLDS game 5 ranked as one of my all time favorites. Looking forward to next year

MM

[DarkShadow]

Jansen and Turner, both back in 2017.

Who woulda thunk it.

[City Dad]

Jansen and Turner, both back in 2017.

Who woulda thunk it.

all setting '18 up to be the year Blue pays Bryce Harper 400 mil for 102 games and Kershaw goes to the Yankees..

[DarkShadow]

all setting '18 up to be the year Blue pays Bryce Harper 400 mil for 102 games and Kershaw goes to the Yankees..

And we sign Carl Crawford for another 4 years, and give Yasiel a 8 year extension, even though he's hitting his shoe size, 'but the fans love him.'

(And we spot Hyun-jin Ryu at In n Out working in the drive thru.)