TEMP CLOSED NEWS/RUMORS Thread

Dodgers at it again

Even rival executives who complain about the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spending concede that the two-time defending World Series champions do just about everything well, from drafting and developing to scouting internationally.

An 11th-round draft pick, left-hander Justin Wrobleski, is the current NL ERA leader. And an international free agent who cost the Dodgers a mere $12.5 million, infielder Hyeseong Kim, appears to be a steal.

Kim, 27, lost the second-base job to Alex Freeland in spring training, but the Dodgers summoned him to platoon with Miguel Rojas at shortstop after Mookie Betts went on the injured list April 5 with a strained right oblique.

Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward, a former major-league infielder, compares Kim’s defensive skill to that of Andrelton Simmons, a four-time Gold Glove winner at shortstop.

“The talent he has, the work ethic, all the things combined, I’ve never seen a package quite like that,” Woodward said. “I think Simmons at his peak was probably similar. The arm strength, the quickness, he might have been the best I’ve ever seen.

“But Kim’s work ethic is off the charts. I have to tell him to stop. He wants to go, go, go. The speed, the arm strength, there are certain things he does that I can’t teach, mechanically. His hips are so mobile. He can be completely across his body and still throw a ball 100 mph across the field. And you’re like, ‘That doesn’t make any sense.'”

Woodward said he needs to see more of Kim at second base and shortstop before he can make a full defensive evaluation. But so far, so good for Kim, even on the offensive side. In 73 plate appearances, he is batting .308 with a .770 OPS.

Kim is under contract through 2027, after which the Dodgers must decide whether to exercise his two-year club option, which would pay him $5 million in both ‘28 and ‘29.

In other words, the Dodgers might get five years of Kim for slightly more than one-third of right fielder Kyle Tucker’s AAV.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/

 

Machado is looking up at the Mendoza line. Good stuff.

 

Did you see that bases loaded error he made yesterday on a ground ball single to right? Ball rolled under his glove and all four runs scored.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/CyY8g7_hHU8?si=nLDsx3njJLtOdeOV

 

RIP bobby cox

@grantmcauley
The #Braves have lost another legend as Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox passed away. He was 84 years old. Cox led Atlanta to a 2,149-1,709 record, a record 14 consecutive division titles, 5 NL pennants and the 1995 World Series championship.

 

Last line of that vlog: "So far he's not beating the post-PED allegations." Spot on.

I remember when they gave him that 14-year extension during his rookie season - while they still had additional years of control - and my first thought was, sure he's having a great start to his career, but he's still unproven, and going all-in like that was financially irresponsible.

Obviously the book's not closed yet, but right now that decision is looking pretty damn moronic.

 

asinine decision
if he put up great number for 2-3 years, okay
but even then, not 14 years
they basically killed any incentive for him to stay good/get better
lol padres

 

and promptly shats the game away

 

@brownsonjacob2
We have a Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts reunion.
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shame they’re headed in opposite directions
mookie back to the show, while CT3 continues to underwhelm in AAA

 

@BaseballQuotes1
27 years ago, Marshall McDougall had the greatest game in baseball history… ​

• 7-for-7
• 6 Home Runs
• 16 RBI
• 25 Total Bases

VIDEO​

amazing feat, no matter the level
months later, at age 21 he was drafted by the A’s
traded first to the cleveland, and then texas where he got one small uneventful 18 game mlb stint in 2005
he then spent the next eight (13 total) years bouncing around the minors, independent, mexican and winter leagues before calling it quits at age 33
kinda sad, but understandable to anyone who’s ever dreamed of playing in the show

* side note (positive), he played w/the dodgers org briefly in 2007

** side note (negative), he also played w/the padres org in 2008