Today is quite an important day in the Dodger’s 2016 baseball season. Not because the Dodgers won their 30th game of the season in last night’s 4-0 shutout win over the Braves. Today is an epically important day because today is the first day of the post Carl Crawford era. The shocking and quite wonderful news awoke me from my slumber.
Carl Crawford Designated for assignment, Austin Barnes recalled from Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers today recalled C/IF Austin Barnes from Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated OF Carl Crawford for assignment.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 5, 2016
The move obviously makes sense. Crawford was batting .185 with six runs driven in all season and Austin Barnes was hitting .306 at Oklahoma City with a .416 OBP. Of course Barnes will give them some flexibility at second base and catcher. With Scott Van Slyke back from the disabled list, the Dodgers don’t need him anymore.
Dodgers Lineup vs. Atlanta
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Thompson RF
Gonzalez 1B
Kendrick 3B
Pederson CF
Grandal C
Hernandez LF
Kazmir P
Matt Wisler-2-5 vs. Scott Kazmir-4-3
Game Time – 1:05 PM – TV- SNLA
What this does mark is the first time all season that the front office has made a significant change to the roster and it’s about time. This is way overdue. The point here is not to kick Crawford on his way out, but to realize that the Dodger’s offense has been very poor this season and some of these veterans may not hit at all. The Dodgers are hitting .235 as a team which ranks them 27th in MLB. It’s time for some changes. If the Dodgers want to contend this year then some of the veterans have to go. Getting rid of Crawford is a great first step. Of course the Dodgers will be on the hook for the rest of his salary (43.5 million dollars). I don’t care. I’m ecstatic that we no longer have to endure his awful hitting anymore. That’s one auto out off the roster. Thank you Friedman.
Today’s pitching match-up in the series finale will see Matt Wisler countering Dodger’s left hander Scott Kazmir as the boys in blue go for a series sweep. Wisler is a 23-year old right hander that was acquired by the Braves in the Craig Kimbrel trade. If you remember Wisler faced the Dodgers back on April 21st in Atlanta. He didn’t get a decision in a game the Dodgers won 2-1 in ten innings. He did allow one unearned run on 4 hits over 6.2 innings.
Wisler is 2-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 11 starts this season. He’s allowed just 6.8 hits per nine and has actually pitched fairly well. Wisler has made two career starts against the Dodgers and is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA. The Dodgers are hitting .257 (9 for 35) against Wisler with five runs driven in.
Wisler vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 1.500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joc Pederson | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Utley | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .000 | .250 | .000 | .250 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Ellis | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Enrique Hernandez | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clayton Kershaw | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corey Seager | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trayce Thompson | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .333 | .000 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.333 | 2.333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 37 | 35 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 6 | .257 | .297 | .400 | .697 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kazmir has seemed to have done a total 180 on his season. He had a miserable start, but over his last two starts he’s allowed just one earned run on 5 hits, walked 3 and struck out 19 over 12 innings. He hasn’t lost a decision since May 9. Overall Kazmir is 4-3 with a 4.38 ERA and has whiffed 67 in 63.2 innings pitched.
The current Braves haven’t seen much of Kazmir, but Nick Markakis is hitting .423 (11 for 26) with two home runs and 7 runs driven in against Kazmir.
Kazmir vs. Braves
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Nick Markakis | 30 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 6 | .423 | .500 | .654 | 1.154 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A.J. Pierzynski | 18 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .278 | .278 | .278 | .556 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tyler Flowers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Francoeur | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | .667 | .500 | 1.167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kelly Johnson | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 | 3.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 56 | 50 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 11 | .360 | .429 | .500 | .929 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Let’s see if the Dodgers can make up some more ground on the Giants today. One thing is for sure, Carl Crawford will not be around to see it. Goodbye Carl thanks for that great 2013 postseason. Otherwise you were quite useless.
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Team
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W
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L
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PCT
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GB
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HOME
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AWAY
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L10
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1
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35
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23
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.603
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–
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16-11
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19-12
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6-4
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2
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30
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27
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.526
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4.5
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15-12
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15-15
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6-4
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3
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24
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31
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.436
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9.5
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10-15
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14-16
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3-7
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4
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24
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34
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.414
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11.0
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9-20
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15-14
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3-7
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5
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23
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34
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.404
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11.5
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13-16
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10-18
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4-6
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Go Blue!
Great news but like you said Scott, wish the contract could go with him. Anyway you cut it, giving a youngster the opportunity to play instead of him is well worth it.
There’s little downside. It costs us just about $500K a year to replace Crawford with Barnes. I think he’ll be worth it.
Anyone here doing streaming? I’m thinking about trying it because I no longer watch any other tv (and damn few ball games). Problem I’m seeing is that I seem to be blacked out by every team in California and Arizona. I’ve heard of these gadgets that mask location, do they really work well?
Wondering
Yes they do! I had to do that last year, at the begining of the year, and I live in Southern California. I have an Apple TV, and it works with any Apple I pad, I phone or computer. I used unblockus. It is only about five dollars a month, and you can try it free, for five days. And I am not computer savvy.
And it was easy to do, with this service. They just came out with a new Apple TV, but you may be able to get the older one.
I payed only 75 dollars, and you can use that, to stream any thing that you have on your apple product, on your TV set. The Apple TV is smaller then a iPad.
I have a Sony TV, about 10 years old. I was thinking of going with a Roku. Or I could use my laptop and a Chromecast. The hardest part is probably making the decisions…
Wondering get the fire stick at bestbuy
Fire TV is hard to beat. I have the Fire Box ($89 at Amazon) and I have Apple TV, but I like the Fire much better. Roku is also excellent.
But for them to work, I use ww.hidemyass.com
Wow!
Just curious, whose decision was it?
Go Blue!
Artieboy
I was thinking it had to be a hard thing for Friedman to do. Because Crawford was such a good player for the Rays, when Friedman was there. Maybe Crawford will just retire, and spend time with his girlfriend, and his young child.
He knows he can’t play baseball anymore, like he once did, because of all of the injuries that he has had.
Crawford had to be a really good player at one time, to get the contract he had. He just had to many injuries, after playing on the artificial grass.
It is hard to believe now, but he was a highly recruited quarterback, out of high school.
I find it hard to imagine him as a quarterback. The fairly simple decisions necessary in left field seem to be beyond his capability. Call me old-fashioned but I have no respect at all for a man who won’t give his child the respectability of a legal marriage.
I’m sure FAZ got orders from ownership on this.
I find it easy to see him as a quarterback. He was a safety and an option QB in high school. A lot of emphasis has been placed on read options in recent years. In high school he could do anything, including dunk a basketball.
Your comment about marriage and fatherhood sounds insensitive to me. As I remember that was an embittered battle. Do you know details of that relationship? And, has it ever happened to you, or to anyone you know?
Insensitive? Maybe but I’m glad my parents were married. If my father were just someone who visited occasionally, I would have to wonder if he really cared.
My parents were married. Then they weren’t. Then I was adopted. And of course there are fathers who don’t care. But I believe they are a minority. I don’t know what happened in Crawford’s personal life, and maybe he handled it poorly. But I do know there are some bat shit crazy baby mom’s out there and a man has to be very careful who he lies down with. I’ll give Carl the benefit of doubt.
Maybe saying he has no respect for CC is a little harsh, but, depending on his level of parental involvement, I don’t think CC is doing his kid any long term favors by doing anything less than ensuring a completely stable family unit. Conversely, I respect Agon a great deal because of his commitment to fatherhood and his family. I think that’s something to be praised and held in esteem, even if not everyone, myself included, are married with children.
Ya Wondering, as Badger stated, very offensive and insensitive comment on your end. Try walking a day in others shoes before “having no respect” for them………really hard to have respect for anyone that has the audacity to write that, just because a father is not married does not mean he will not be a part of his child’s life, get this man a filter please, unbelievable.
You just applied the same level of judgmentalism to him that you’re finding fault with him for. Why don’t you show a little “sensitivity” and tolerance Mr Social Justice Warrior.
I do judge those who “have no respect” for unmarried single fathers as a whole. Very easy to judge actually.
I find it funny you come running to the rescue Cabbage. I wouldn’t expect my point to penetrate your concrete shell. I love the add on…
“I don’t think CC is doing his kid any long term favors by doing anything less than ensuring a completely stable family unit.”
Once again, YOU don’t think, it’s all about YOU and what YOU think, YOU are a pompous prick. I hope CC would punch you both in the face if you said that to him in person without ever knowing his current situation, but, I know we are all keyboard warriors here, so type on……..
Oh, I’m sorry. Did I trigger you?
*sigh* yup…..SJW…probably a millennial, too. You possess all the hallmark characteristics:
– a complete inability to see any nuance in different points of view
– a complete intolerance to those views that aren’t deemed “correct” group think
– a propensity to show a violent and vulgar lack of respect to others who don’t subscribe to your correct point of view.
– lack of basic critical reasoning skills in favor of indoctrination.
So in one post in which I admonished you for not showing a comparable level of sensitivity that you, yourself demand, you curse at me and advocate that I be beaten up…all because I said something relatively innocuous that you didn’t agree with.
Classic.
Nope. I won’t call you names or threaten to beat you up. I do think you disqualify yourself from any attempt at rational and civil dialog….about anything. You’re just unstable.
Oddly, I find myself agreeing with both you guys. I believe there must be common ground here as I think each of you make good points.
You left out one word patch, PROUD Millennial.
I reread the comments, and I don’t think that Trigglypuff had much of any point, aside from maybe that we ought to Walk in CC’s shoes first before we judge him. But, then again, he undermines this single point by unrepentantly judging.
You just have to do what is best for the team. That is what FAZ did. What I liked about the decision is that it is telling the players that your contract will not keep you on the team. Another decision will have to be made about Montas. Before he was injured they wanted to make him a starting pitcher. Now it looks like he is pitching in relief. I hope they do not make the easy decision and send Fien back down. Fien has looked good so far. It is starting to look like FAZ is starting to put the best 25 players on the field.
When Puig comes back he better be a different hitter. If not, he is not going to be much value to the team. He had enough time to be a solid player.
Idahoal
That is exactly what Friedman said. And I think everyone knows that Crawford had to go, including Crawford himself.
That does make a good precedence. And if that is true about working with Puig with his hitting, that is also good.
And Idahoal I’m am suprised that they haven’t used Fien more.
I am just going to pretend that the Dodgers are paying Barnes $35 million over these next couple of years.
Like I said a couple of weeks ago. Crawford is not the type of player who was going to be effective playing 2-3 days a week. It was time to say goodbye.
Well said H.
Maybe he is done. Maybe 50 or so every day at bats in a lower league can straighten him out. Don’t know. Don’t much care at this point. I like Carl Crawford. But I won’t miss him. Time to move on. Urias, Montas, De Leon, Thompson, Seager, Barnes, Verdugo, Bellinger – let us move swiftly into our future by welcoming our children into the now.
Why was Howie playing off the line so far at third base, with a right hand batter up?
And where was the second double hit just hit?
I take no joy in Crawford being DFA’d but clearly it had to be done. Injuries to other players gave Carl chances to show whether he had anything left in the tank but it became painfully obvious he didn’t. The way some people are reacting you’d think we just traded for Mike Trout.
Calling Barnes up is a good thing; we need more offense at catcher and Grandal’s clearly hurting. I believe they’re still looking at Montas as a starter, just trying to build his innings slowly.
Happy Sunday everyone!
Bad throw! CC type.
Artieboy
Where was the second double just hit?
AGon’s? Right center.
Kiké. Terrible man. A decent high school throw has that guy by 6′ he’s here because he can hit.
Kaz needs a quick inning.
Oops. He got it while I was on the phone.
No by the Braves player. I didn’t see the second double.
I was late to the parade on this one.
Busy all day taking care of my wife who has Parkinson’s, in stage 4. And then cooking dinner for friends coming over from dinner tonight.
Had the game on, then noticed Barnes in the doughnut. Well what brought that on I said to myself.
Then I logged on here for the first time — and saw what happened to Crawford.
Sorry to hear about your wife. Husband and caregiver – it’s great that you can do it but it’s tough too. My wife has had 2 strokes and needs dialysis which I have learned how to do. i wouldn’t trade the time I have with her for anything.
Roger
Have a nice dinner!
I posted this on the last thread before I figured out there was another one:
Rick,
Kendrys Morrales was available to play 1B on a 1 year deal. Ethier could have went there as well and they could have traded for Hunter Pence and kept Kemp. Mark Trumbo comes to mind as well.
I also think that they could have gotten Gonzo with the same package of players in the offseason. Stan and Ned were just in a “dope-fiend mode” right after the sale. THE TRADE was why they traded Kemp – he was the only one they could get value and relief from.
But, I’ll humor those of you who think it helped the Dodgers win 3 titles. If it did, it is now shackling them as well. You can’t have it both ways.
… and I do like A-Gon – he’s a solid citizen. I just think if they had waited, they could have gotten Him for Loney and the prospects. With the money saved they could have signed another stud starter and instead of 3 titles, they might have a championship instead!
No comparison. Here are Gonzalez’ stats with the Dodgers beginning after the All Star break in 2012:
2012 30 LAD NL 36 157 145 12 43 10 1 3 22 2 0 11 29 .297 .344 .441 .785
2013 31 LAD NL 157 641 583 69 171 32 0 22 100 1 0 47 98 .293 .342 .461 .803
2014 32 LAD NL 159 660 591 83 163 41 0 27 116 1 1 56 112 .276 .335 .482 .817
2015 ★ 33 LAD NL 156 643 571 76 157 33 0 28 90 0 1 62 107 .275 .350 .480 .830
2016 34 LAD NL 53 221 194 19 55 7 0 5 27 0 0 25 44 .284 .362 .397 .759
Here is Mark Trumbo:
2013 27 LAA AL 159 678 620 85 145 30 2 34 100 5 2 54 184 .234 .294 .453 .747
2014 28 ARI NL 88 362 328 37 77 15 1 14 61 2 3 28 89 .235 .293 .415 .707
2015 29 TOT MLB 142 545 508 62 133 23 3 22 64 0 0 36 132 .262 .310 .449 .759
2015 29 ARI NL 46 184 174 23 45 10 3 9 23 0 0 10 39 .259 .299 .506 .805
2015 29 SEA AL 96 361 334 39 88 13 0 13 41 0 0 26 93 .263 .316 .419 .735
2016 30 BAL AL 54 230 213 34 63 9 1 18 43 1 0 15 61 .296 .348 .601 .949
Trumbo wasn’t necessarily available from the Angels in 2012 – he wasn’t a free agent and wasn’t available on a 1 year deal. He’s not the player that Gonzalez is. He has hopped around from team to team – he’s a poor defender and not terribly consistent.
Here’s Morales:
2012 29 LAA AL 134 522 484 61 132 26 1 22 73 0 1 31 116 .273 .320 .467 .787
2013 30 SEA AL 156 657 602 64 167 34 0 23 80 0 0 49 114 .277 .336 .449 .785
2014 31 TOT AL 98 401 367 28 80 20 0 8 42 0 0 27 68 .218 .274 .338 .612
2014 31 MIN AL 39 162 154 12 36 11 0 1 18 0 0 6 27 .234 .259 .325 .584
2014 31 SEA AL 59 239 213 16 44 9 0 7 24 0 0 21 41 .207 .285 .347 .632
2015 32 KCR AL 158 639 569 81 165 41 2 22 106 0 0 58 103 .290 .362 .485 .847
2016 33 KCR AL 52 211 191 16 37 7 0 6 22 0 0 15 41 .194 .261 .325 .585
You’d rather have that than Gonzalez? H wasn’t a free agent either in 2012 or 2013 and wasn’t available on a 1 year deal. He’s worse than Trumbo.
I understand your point about “The Trade” but neither of these guys would have given the Dodgers the type of performance that helps to win.
The other point is that the Dodgers are who they are. You can’t undo “The Trade”. The question is whether the Braintrust can put together a winning team using its current strategy.
All those guys would have been a big downgrade from Agon.
Had the trade not happened, would Dodger fandom have been ok with mediocrity…especially after the prolonged mediocrity under Fox and McCourt? There was also pressure to make a statement with th Ethier signing, The Trade, and the Hanley pickup – the new regime is committed to undoing the parsimony of the past and is willing to spend to field a winning team.
Even without The Trade, assuming it never happened, how exactly would the current team be better after three years of suckage? Who would we have on the current roster that would be different had The Trade never happened?
Dodger patch
They also wanted Agone, because of the big Mexican American fan base.
Agone brings in reciepts for the Dodgers, beyond being a good baseball player. And what Dodger patch says!
Im pretty sure Loney was in the last year of his contract at the time.
Hurt,
Kike says he has a banana for you!
I’ll eat it! Let him play everyday, hell, pencil him in right under Agon in the 5 spot. Actually, 12 runs so far, we better see the same identical lineup tomorrow……I mean that, right FAZ??????
The BEST MOVE made by his FO this entire year. And I know about having to eat his deal but still spent way more on players to go elsewhere or home last year!
BEST MOVE? all caps
How does it help?
The Dodgers have over 1900 at bats this year, Crawford has 81 of them. And THIS is the best move made by our front office? That’s either crazy, or down right infuriating. If this is the BEST MOVE made by these yahoos they need to be canned immediately.
Or maybe people be overreacting JUST A BIT.
See my post on the next thread. You still won’t understand.
Maybe I should have re phrased that as a most signifant move so far this year. Certainly there was a reason for CC having only 81 AB’s so far. But still a good move to give a more deserving player a roster spot.
I get it PDF.
And the roster spot goes to a third string catcher hitting .178 in 55 plate appearances? If it went to a slugging prospect that was hitting .380 at AAA I would be a bit more excited about it. This is just dumping a slumping veteran and replacing him with someone not really needed on this roster.
Love that Dodger bullpen
Crawford gone. That should help the pen.
Badger
Friedman said that Crawford handled the news like a pro! Crawford isn’t he bad person, because he gets hurt all the time. I am sure that isn’t fun for him either.
Dodger rick
Hatcher just can’t help himself.
I don’t think that Brandon Crawford will get the silver slugger, this year!
DodgerPatch, you nailed it. You get the “standing O” for your extremely accurate analysis of Hallmark Characteristics of way to many in our society, not confined to just millennials, it cuts across all segments of society. Classic, indeed!
Bum
Where have you been?