The OFFICIAL 2018 LA Dodgers Thread - Sponsored by The Mueller Investigation Co.

[DarkShadow]

https://i.imgur.com/0zUcMKp.jpg

You know the drill, if you're going to talk about your own team, start another thread, which again will be unlikely, unless you're a Cubs or Astros fan, and then you'll just get called out for bandwagon'ing.

The Blue were one game away from burning down the city, I think we will be deep in the playoffs again this year, regardless of the NL West becoming suddenly decent from the past year, except for the vaGiants who managed to mathematically eliminate themselves from playoff contention 2 games after the All Star game, after their ace decided to hurt his shoulder dirt biking. (A la, Jeff Kent.)

We won't be seeing a couple of faces in the dugout, thank god, and a lot of new faces, including personnel from our farm system who hope to make the cut and break into the major league roster; I'm looking at you, Walker Buehler. The saberdorks in the front office retained a lot of random personnel from various clubs and I'm curious who will stand out during Spring Training.

Will Bellinger have a sophomore slump? Will Pederson continue his steady hitting that encapsulated his Post Season? Will Kershaw's back go out again? Will Justin Turner ever shave his beard? Will Puig impregnate another debutante? Will Urias ever see the mound again? Will Kike ever go back to his natural hair color? Will Andrew Toles go back to stocking frozen foods?

Prognostications:

NATL WEST W L

Los Angeles Dodgers 95 - 67
Colorado Rockies 89 - 73
Arizona Diamondbacks 88 - 74
San Francisco vaGiants 80 - 82
San Diego Padres 69- 93


Dodger Stats
• 2018 Schedule (Execution Dates)
(http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/schedule/?c_id=la)• 2018 TV Broadcast Schedule (Who Even Has Time Warner) (http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/schedule/broadcast/index.jsp?c_id=la)
• 2018 Active Roster (We Have Matt Kemp Again?!) (http://mlb.mlb.com/team/roster_active.jsp?c_id=la)
• 2018 Depth Chart (24 Outfielders, 1 Catcher) (http://mlb.mlb.com/team/depth_chart/index.jsp?c_id=la)
• 2018 Transactions (We Traded Gonzalez? Oh Noes!) (http://mlb.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=la)
• 2018 Batting Statistics (Offensive Stats? You Mean Bellinger's Stats) (http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=la#playerType=ALL&elem=[object+Object]&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+hitting&game_type=%27R%27&season=2014&season_type=ANY&league_code=%27MLB%27&sectionType=sp&statType=hitting&page=1&ts=1424371058051)
• 2018 Pitching Statistics (Pitching Stats? You Mean Kershaw's Stats) (http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=la#playerType=ALL&elem=[object+Object]&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+pitching&game_type=%27R%27&season=2014&season_type=ANY&league_code=%27MLB%27&sectionType=sp&statType=pitching&page=1&ts=1424371084526)
• 2018 Salary (We're Still Paying Scott Kazmir HOW Much?!) (http://www.spotrac.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/)
• 2018 Injuries (Who is it this week?) (http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/injuries/#team119)

Dodger News
• LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/dodgersnow)
• Yahoo Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/lad/)
• ESPN (http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/lad/los-angeles-dodgers)
• ESPN LA (http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-report)
• Sports Illustrated (http://www.si.com/mlb/team/los-angeles-dodgers)
• Fox Sports (http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers-team)
• Time Warner SportsNet LA (http://www.sportsnetla.com/)
• MLB Trade Rumors (http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/los-angeles-dodgers)
• Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-dodgers)

Dodger Blogs
• Dodger Digest (http://dodgersdigest.com/)
• Vin Scully Is My Homeboy (http://www.vinscullyismyhomeboy.com)
• True Blue LA (http://www.truebluela.com)
• Dodgers Blue Heaven (http://www.dodgersblueheaven.com/)
• Dodger Therapy (http://dodgertherapy.blogspot.com/)

Twitter Accounts (So you can yell at them personally, #superfan)








Jansen (https://twitter.com/kenleyjansen74)

Hernandez (https://twitter.com/kikehndez)


Kershaw (https://twitter.com/ClaytonKersh22)

Pederson (https://twitter.com/yungjoc650)



Ryu (https://twitter.com/HyunJinRyu99)

Turner (https://twitter.com/redturn2)



Wood (https://twitter.com/Awood45)

Puig (https://twitter.com/YasielPuig)

[Lady Quagga]

Well, I know who WON'T be invited to camp......

Former MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza arrested with 44 pounds of heroin and cocaine
By Craig Calcaterra
Feb 12, 2018, 10:06 AM EST

Esteban Loaiza pitched for 14 years in the major leagues. He’s now facing way more time than that in the California Penal League.

Multiple news outlets are reporting that Loaiza was arrested in San Diego County on Friday for transporting roughly 44 pounds of heroin and cocaine. His arrest report is reproduced below, courtesy of Jeff Passan of Yahoo.

Loaiza is due to be arraigned on Wednesday. Bail has been set at $200,000. At least one news outlet — Univision — questions whether the former big leaguer can make that bail. Loaiza, Univision notes, was one married to the late singer Jenni Rivera, but she filed for divorce from him in the months before her death in a plane crash, in part due to allegations of financial impropriety on his part. Whatever the case, Loaiza is in deep trouble.

Loaiza pitched for eight different teams in his career, spending four years with the Pirates and three years each with the White Sox, Rangers and Blue Jays. He spent two years in L.A. and Oakland — where he got a DUI in 20o6 — and a year each with the Yankees and Nationals. His best season came in 2003 when he went 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA for the White Sox, finishing second in the Cy Young balloting. For his career he was 126-114 with a 4.65 ERA in 377 games, starting 333 of them.

http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2018/02/12/former-mlb-pitcher-esteban-loaiza-arrested-with-44-pounds-of-heroin-and-cocaine/

http://img.spokeo.com/public/900-600/esteban_loaiza_2008_03_23.jpg

[MarkyMark]

What if Yu Darvish shuts out LA in the NLCS or NLDS?

MM

[DarkShadow]

What if Yu Darvish shuts out LA in the NLCS or NLDS?

MM

Doubtful, as long as we have those same slick balls from last year, which meant nobody could throw a slider, regardless of what your name was.

That, or if Darvish continues to tip his pitches, which I believe was one of the best Urban Legends from last year, ranked right up near "La Llorona" and "if you find encounter someone driving the same direction at night with their head lights off, not to flash them because it's a gang initiation and you'll get shot."

The "tipping pitches" deal was Dodger fans "Shock and Denial" phase of dealing with death. And I can't believe so many embraced it, instead of moving on to Stage 2, "Pain and Guilt."

[City Dad]

still smarting from that last game... but, cautiously enthusiastic. Got our block of tickets already.

[DarkShadow]

still smarting from that last game...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2759348-yu-darvish-to-dave-roberts-after-picking-cubs-my-main-goal-is-to-beat-dodgers

Yu, you already beat the Dodgers.

Twice.

In the World Series.

[DarkShadow]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-spring-sickness-outbreak-20180228-story.html

"Dodgers deal with an outbreak of flulike illness: 'I haven't seen anything like this.'"

*

So, I guess we have THAT going for us now.

Next thing you know, Puig will fart on someone's pillow and then start the pink eye outbreak.

[Lady Quagga]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-spring-sickness-outbreak-20180228-story.html

"Dodgers deal with an outbreak of flulike illness: 'I haven't seen anything like this.'"

*

So, I guess we have THAT going for us now.

Next thing you know, Puig will fart on someone's pillow and then start the pink eye outbreak.

Almost as bad as a dormitory coming down with mononucleosis......

[DarkShadow]

Almost as bad as a dormitory coming down with mononucleosis......


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

[DarkShadow]

Matt Kemp?

Are you liking his hitting, or his baby fro?

What say ye?

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kLCegoudfC0/maxresdefault.jpg

[Lady Quagga]

Joey Bats called - he wants his beard back.

(And Huey Freeman wants his hair.)


Matt Kemp?

Are you liking his hitting, or his baby fro?

What say ye?

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kLCegoudfC0/maxresdefault.jpg

[DarkShadow]

Joey Bats called - he wants his beard back.

I heard he's still trying to find his glasses.

https://i.imgur.com/XDaMPi2.gif

[Lady Quagga]

The United States Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel Presents......


The Justin Turner Recovery Cam!!!

http://image.ibb.co/fegwX7/limpy.gif

[DarkShadow]

Live look at the Left Field Pavilion entrance at 2 pm:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a5/94/12/a59412fd32df3abefdfe92f9c140cebe.jpg

[DarkShadow]

Sooo...the season starts today, right?

[Lady Quagga]

Why couldn't the sewage pipe have burst yesterday? Because the Chavez Ravine Brown Trouts played like shiiii........

[Brent]

Live look at the Left Field Pavilion entrance at 2 pm:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a5/94/12/a59412fd32df3abefdfe92f9c140cebe.jpg

That's some funny cheet right there!
I think half of the sporting population actually believes that...lmao

[DarkShadow]

That's some funny cheet right there!
I think half of the sporting population actually believes that...lmao

I think I see 1/2 my cholo friends in that picture above, including Miklo.

[Lady Quagga]

https://youtu.be/wg5idK9bE_k

[Lady Quagga]

https://youtu.be/xu-O6ACpgKk

[DarkShadow]

So like when is Spring Training over?

[steelhead]

This is the year where the much hyped PUIG who everyone thought was the next Roberto Clemente is going to come into his own and be the future HOF that he is......awww fugget about it.

[DarkShadow]

In lieu of playing well, the Dodgers present!:

https://la.curbed.com/2018/4/26/17285588/aerial-tram-dodgers-stadium-union-station

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HU1tc0n9tr88DotqPnWtuu_87OY=/0x0:3300x1899/920x613/filters:focal(1386x686:1914x1214)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59530913/Chavez_Flyover_Rendering.0.jpg

[MarkyMark]

Giants & Dodgers fans in close quarters...right??

MM

[DarkShadow]

How about them Dodgers!

:Neutral:

[City Dad]

In lieu of playing well, the Dodgers present!:

https://la.curbed.com/2018/4/26/17285588/aerial-tram-dodgers-stadium-union-station

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HU1tc0n9tr88DotqPnWtuu_87OY=/0x0:3300x1899/920x613/filters:focal(1386x686:1914x1214)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59530913/Chavez_Flyover_Rendering.0.jpg


Of course, traffic getting to the tram station will be a nightmare... and then you'd have the line to get on the tram.

[DarkShadow]

Of course, traffic getting to the tram station will be a nightmare... and then you'd have the line to get on the tram.

Yeah, I won't be using no damn tram.

I'll continue to have a Lyft driver drop off the crew of flunkies at the Short Stop an hour and a half before the game (no traffic), we pregame there ($5 drafts versus $20 dollar stadium beers), we then walk to the stadium (no $20 parking), and after the game is over, instead of

1. Waiting in our vehicle for hours on end, trying to exit
2. Waiting in the Uber line for hours on end, trying to exit
or
3. Waiting in the shuttle line for a bit, trying to exit

we walk BACK to the Short Stop, have a night cap, and then take a Lyft home.

•

(What I'm saying is, drinking beers at the Short Stop is better than traffic.)

[troutdog]

Playin good ball, back to .500 … Stripling pitched another great game tonight, GO BLUE!


TD

[City Dad]

count-down to Manny Machado season-ending injury: four, three, two...

[DarkShadow]

count-down to Manny Machado season-ending injury: four, three, two...

It's not even that. I just thought our GMs would hold fast and realize that this year we might be up Schitt's Creek (which fly fishes very well).

We just gave up 5 prospects to rent a Bird scooter that'll get us to the next bar across the street, but won't actually get us home at the end of the night.

In the interim, we just paid $30 to get across said street.

I think we might've as well walked.

[CHUCKY]

Matt Kemp?

Are you liking his hitting, or his baby fro?

What say ye?

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kLCegoudfC0/maxresdefault.jpg
Hopefully machado is the key to winning a World Series

[DarkShadow]

Hopefully machado is the key to winning a World Series

Hopefully Machado can also pitch a game 7, as starting pitching will continue to be our Achilles heel.

[DarkShadow]

Prognostications:

NATL WEST W L

Los Angeles Dodgers 95 - 67
Colorado Rockies 89 - 73
Arizona Diamondbacks 88 - 74
San Francisco vaGiants 80 - 82
San Diego Padres 69- 93


https://i.imgur.com/oKTIjeG.jpg

Not bad.

*

And to Atlanta we go....

[Brent]

https://i.imgur.com/oKTIjeG.jpg

Not bad.

*

And to Atlanta we go....

Not bad at all! If you'd have gone to Vegas with that, you might have made a few bucks.

[DarkShadow]

Live look right outside the left field pavilion before Game 1:

https://i.imgur.com/qwebjby.jpg

[troutdog]

I was hoping you kids would be here today...here we go again.

1 win down, 10 to go...


TD

[Brent]

Congrats to the Dodgers.
That being said. Since the only thing my pathetic Angels have on the Dodgers is a more recent World Series win...... Go Brewers :Confused::LOL:

[MarkyMark]

Machado made up for Game 3...horrible at-bats.

MM

[Brent]

Machado made up for Game 3...horrible at-bats.

MM

Then he goes and takes valuable base runners off base in a one to nothing game by trying to be dirty. WTH was he thinking?

[Brent]

Manny Machado is a dirty PoS. Can never root for an a*****e that tries to hurt other players by being dirty.
Good job on the win, but Machado can break a leg. Literally.

[DarkShadow]

Manny Machado is a dirty PoS. Can never root for an a*****e that tries to hurt other players by being dirty.
Good job on the win, but Machado can break a leg. Literally.

LOL.

Yeah, the dude's shady. You remember his incident with the A's a few years back, when he chucked his bat at the A's 3rd baseman?

[Brent]

LOL.

Yeah, the dude's shady. You remember his incident with the A's a few years back, when he chucked his bat at the A's 3rd baseman?

Hey! But you're winning. LMAO
I love the younger talent the Dodgers have, but am no Dodger fan believe me.
I love baseball and seeing these great young players is good for the future of the sport.

[DarkShadow]

Hey! But you're winning. LMAO
I love the younger talent the Dodgers have, but am no Dodger fan believe me.
I love baseball and seeing these great young players is good for the future of the sport.

With the deep pockets we have now, there's no excuse in having a crappy farm system.

I hope the 5 guys we gave up for renting Machado this year don't end up being ROYs wherever they may end up.

It's also good seeing players like Turner and Muncy (and Taylor last year at least) go from being below average players to some pretty amazing players once they started wearing the blue.

Let's see what happens tonight. I don't wanna go to a game 7.

[etucker1959]

With the deep pockets we have now, there's no excuse in having a crappy farm system.

I hope the 5 guys we gave up for renting Machado this year don't end up being ROYs wherever they may end up.

It's also good seeing players like Turner and Muncy (and Taylor last year at least) go from being below average players to some pretty amazing players once they started wearing the blue.

Let's see what happens tonight. I don't wanna go to a game 7.

I've never been a fan of trading away good prospects for rental players. (with one exception) If your team truly has a shot at winning a World Series championship that year! I didn't think the Dodgers had a chance this year for a championship. (I did last year) I'm wrong about 20% of the time, when I truly think I'm right. I'm hoping I was wrong at the trading deadline. Go Dodgers!

[DarkShadow]

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

It's Ryu time!

[etucker1959]

Congratulations on the Dodgers winning the Pennant! Does anyone have any logical reasons that say's the Dodgers can beat Boston? I know we are all rooting for the Dodgers, but that doesn't mean they even have a chance to win the World Series. What does anyone think out there, if some Boston fan bets you a pizza over who wins the World Series?

[DarkShadow]

I know we are all rooting for the Dodgers, but that doesn't mean they even have a chance to win the World Series.

https://i.imgflip.com/2koll5.jpg

[DarkShadow]

Oh, and for the "Put your money where your mouth is," guys...

https://i.imgur.com/OC7gPEH.jpg

[Brent]

Oh, and for the "Put your money where your mouth is," guys...

https://i.imgur.com/OC7gPEH.jpg

Nice DS!
I'd say those odds are pretty accurate. Good luck!

[DarkShadow]

I'd say those odds are pretty accurate...

Those odds were the odds on April 18; notice the date on the ticket.

The odds as of yesterday for the Dodgers to win the WS are a +125, which is 5/4.

If I would put down $200 today, my pay out would only be a measly $450.

[Brent]

Is it getting crowded on the ledge yet? ������

[DarkShadow]

Is it getting crowded on the ledge yet? ������

Plenty a space left, especially for our little brothers, AKA, Angel fans.

Aka, our JV team.

Aka, "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim But We Can't Affiliate Ourselves With Anaheim So We're Affiliating Ourselves With the City That Actually Has Championships AKA, The Angels."

Did I miss something?

:Cool:

[etucker1959]

What a game last night! I'll admit, I'm not the big Dodger fan some of you people are but I'm an old school baseball fan. I remember seeing Nolan Ryan pitch for the California Angels. Or that great Dodger infield of Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey and Fernando mania!

So in watching the Dodger last two series, I have no idea where this new management style came from! Even the announcers in the Milwaukee series (old school players) had a hard time grasping the management style being employed!

So I'm old school in my thinking!

The Dodgers were down 2 games to 0 in a 7 game series. If they lose on Friday night their done! (no team has every come back being down 3 games in the World Series)

So here is my point.

Boston goes ahead in the top of the 13 inning by 1 run. The way both teams are not scoring, scoring 1 run an innings is all you should expect on an night like Friday. The Dodgers get an runner in scoring position with 2 outs and first base open. They are down by 1 run and if Boston can get the next out without letting the Dodgers score. They not only win the game but the series too! (no one comes back from 3 games down)

Here comes an management decision! Should Boston pitch to Puig with first base open? The following batter is their 2nd string catcher. This guy for the season isn't batting his weight. (he's hitting 205 for the season) Puig is a dangerous hitter with speed and the catcher shouldn't even be on a National league team with that kind of batting average. (with the pitchers having to hit)

So I'm thinking if I was the Boston manager, you walk Puig and take your chances with a 205 hitter. (that's old school thinking) We all know what happens, Puig smashes it hard on the ground and the 2nd basemen bungles the throw and allows the tying run to score with 2 outs.:LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL::LOL:
The Punch and Judy catcher bats next and hits an easy fly ball to right field for the 3rd out!

If some how the Dodgers win the World Series this year. This one play I described was the difference! I'm old school too on firing the Manager at the end of the season. If that 1 decision cost your team a World Series title!

[etucker1959]

Another great game for the Dodgers up to the 7th inning. I have since changed my opinion on the Boston Manager. (I think he learned something from the previous game)

With that being said, what do you people think about the job the Dodger manager is doing in this series?

[Brent]

Plenty a space left, especially for our little brothers, AKA, Angel fans.

Aka, our JV team.

Aka, "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim But We Can't Affiliate Ourselves With Anaheim So We're Affiliating Ourselves With the City That Actually Has Championships AKA, The Angels."

Did I miss something?

:Cool:

My condolences :LOL::LOL:
I couldn’t have scripted that a**hole Machados disappearance any better

[DarkShadow]

I couldn’t have scripted that a**hole Machados disappearance any better

Talk about doing the wrong things, saying the wrong things, and playing like absolute horse crap.

But I'm sure there will be some moron GM that'll give the guy 28 million per for 7 years.

[Brent]

Talk about doing the wrong things, saying the wrong things, and playing like absolute horse crap.

But I'm sure there will be some moron GM that'll give the guy 28 million per for 7 years.
Absolutely true