Last season the Dodgers retired Fernando’s #34 officially. Some say it was way overdue. I felt the same way when they finally retired Hodges #14. Just like I felt Gil’s election to the hall was way overdue.
Fernando joined Jim Gilliam as the only non Hall of Famers from the Dodgers with their number retired. Gilliam’s was retired shortly after his death. No one had worn 34 since Fernando left the Dodgers in 1990.
So in reality it was sort of retired then. Most likely, if things go as most think they will, Kershaw’s 22 will be the next one off of the board.
Kersh has been anointed a Hall of Famer by most baseball people today. His election five years after he retires is almost a foregone conclusion.
The only two players on the current roster whose careers are even close to HOF worthy are Betts and Freeman.
By his 35th birthday, Betts should be over 300 home runs and 2000 hits. Freddie will be over 400 by the end of his contract and closing in on 3000. But Freddie when elected would probably be put in the hall in a Braves cap. Mookie would definitely be in LA.
But is retiring numbers the best way to honor a team’s stars? The Yankees have the most retired numbers of any baseball team. 23. One number, 8, is retired for two players, Berra and Dickey. 10 of those 23 numbers are retired for players not in the hall.
But the Yankees also honor their best with a monument park in center field at Yankee Stadium. No Yankee will ever wear a number below 10 again, all of them are retired.
The Dodgers display the retired numbers in a ring of honor just below the press level at Dodger Stadium. There are also giant numbers around the stadium at different levels showing the retired numbers.
The Dodgers also started honoring former stars with their Legends of Dodger baseball bobbleheads and a day at the ballpark.
Current members are Garvey, Hershiser, Newcombe, Valenzuela, Mota. There will probably be more to come. There are also some plaques around the stadium with Koufax, Big D and others.
Myself, and I am probably in the minority here, I think retiring a number should be reserved for Hall of Famers, or a player who spent his entire career with the team and was, like Gilliam, an integral part of a winning culture. But that is just me.
Fernando was a phenomenon that came from nowhere and his impact on the city was unbelievable. I lived through Fernandomania and it surprised me. So he earned it.
But I do think the Dodgers really need their own Hall of Fame like many teams have, and they need somewhere to display memorabilia from their best players.
I also believe it is time for MLB to finally recognize the contributions of Roberto Clemente to the Latino community and baseball itself, and retire his # 21 all around the league. He had as much impact on bringing Latin players to the majors as Jackie did with the black players.
There will come a point in time when retiring numbers will not be a feasible way of honoring your best. They are bound to run out of numbers sometime.
Fortunately or unfortunately, I have agreed to a paid consulting gig that was made too lucrative for me to say no to. The tipping point in my evaluation of the yeas or nays, was that the funds I earn will be put to use next year for costs incurred at LA Dodger Chronicles. So, I am not going to be able to be able to consistently compose a lot of articles. There will be multiple days that posts will run back to back. My consulting engagement is due to end 12/22/2023. Bear will help out as he can, as he always has. Anyone else want to give it a try, I will not say no. Just let me know.
With that preface, there was the first MLB trade of the off season.
Braves send RHSP, Mike Soroka, LHP Jared Shuster, INF Nicky Lopez, INF Braden Shewmake, and RHP Riley Gowens to CWS for LHRP Aaron Bummer. Soroka was on his way to being a dominant MLB pitcher before the injuries. Jared Shuster and Braden Shewmake were highly regarded prospects until they weren’t. Maybe the White Sox can turn them around. If they do, it will be a nice haul for a reliever whose best days are in the rear view mirror. For 2019-2022, Bummer was exceptional. I advocated trading for him in 2019 before CWS extended him. He took a big turn south last year. Maybe Atlanta can turn him around. A lot of question marks in this deal. The risk is well worth it for both sides regardless if there is a reward or not.
“But I do think the Dodgers really need their own Hall of Fame like many teams have, and they need somewhere to display memorabilia from their best players.”
Totally agree Bear. Dodgers have such a long and rich history, there should be a place to showcase it and the players that were part of it.
I have been to the Cincinnati Reds HOF. It is awesome.
It would be cool if they retired Clemente’s #21.
Not a huge fan of retiring numbers, like the Monuments park or ring of honor much more.
Retiring numbers feels like it won’t stand the test of time.
Well Cal Quantrill did not last long. He lasted all the way to Colorado, very very very early in the waiver list. Colorado obviously selected him and Cleveland then traded him to the Rockies for 23 year old C Kody Huff. I think this is a huge pickup for Colorado. They need pitching. Although Quantrill has not had much previous success at Coors Field.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to be posted on Monday (11-20-2023). He can take the process through New Years if he so chooses. It has been reported that Shōta Imanaga is to be posted later than Yamamoto, to better gauge his market, and how that may impact his future home and contract. Players have until December 5 to be posted. If he waits until early December, his negotiation could go into mid January.
I read a couple of other potential non-tenders. Ryan Yarbrough and Yency Almonte are on most lists. But today it was speculated that Victor Gonzalez will be non-tendered, and an even more of a surprise was Dustin May.
It has been reported that May will NOT pitch in 2024. It was speculated that if the Dodgers do in fact follow through and acquire 2-3 top of the rotation pitchers on longer term deals, then May may not be necessary in 2025. It has also been reported that Dustin may have to move to the bullpen to resurrect his career. John Smoltz did it, maybe Dustin can return to the rotation.
I am not saying I am in favor of this, just what I read today. The writer was looking at it logically, not emotionally, as we fans so often do.
Agree with all the comments on Brett Butler. One of my faves as well and I wish to hell Kendall George becomes something like this (then again I also hoped for this with Jeren Kendell and Jake Vogel)
Another reason why I always liked Dave Roberts, as he played a lot like Brett Butler
Looks like I was right about Woodruff. No team was willing to pay his 11 mil salary and gamble that they’d get their money’s worth.
Brewers have non-tendered him.
Lots of Dodger players can now stop holding their breath.
No non-tenders.
No non-tenders. Surprising. Braves traded two more of their young pitchers.
I could see them signing Woodruff. It is the kind of thing AF does. I read a lot of posts on other sites wanting them to trade for Yelich, Burnes and Adames. I just do not see the love for Adames. He is another K machine. They have enough of that on the roster as it is.
Hey Bear, as President and only member of the Billy Grabarkewitz Fan Club, I take umbrage with your besmirching of my man Billy.
I’ll have you know that in 1970, he was named to the All Star team and had a WAR of 6.5 with an OPS+ of 134. To this day, he holds the record of the highest WAR for a rookie without receiving any ROY votes.
I’m planning to have a bronze statue of him erected at shortstop. I just need to make sure that Lux doesn’t run into it and hurt himself.
I accept your apology and those of any of you other folks who asked, “who the hell is Billy Grabarkewitz?”
2B Betts
1B Freeman
LF Trout
DH Ohtani
C Smith
CF Outman
3B Muncy
RF ?
SS Lux
Once I got over the disappointment that the Dodgers drafted Lux over Bichette, I became a huge Gavin Lux fan. I saw him play quite a few games at SS while with Tulsa and OKC. I still do not believe he is an elite SS, while I do believe he would be an elite 2B. He moves well, has soft hands, and a strong arm. Unfortunately, the biggest concern with Lux is his arm. He will have one of the least accurate arms for SS. At 2B, while the accuracy was still suspect, they were shorter throws and less prone to being thrown away. In his first three seasons in pro ball, Lux had 61 errors in 208 games at SS. That is a .927 fielding percentage. That is not GG level.
That being said, my brain tells me that the Dodgers are going to put Lux at SS and not try to upgrade there. They let two All Stars leave presumably because they wanted Lux at SS. They are not going to move him away from SS as long as he is healthy.
Adames is an elite defensive SS with power. While fans may care (I do) Dodger management does not care one bit about strikeouts. As long as they hit HRs, the Ks will not be a problem. Thus, I do see the fascination with Adames in trade talks. However, I do not see Willie Adames coming to the Dodgers. Maybe they will move Lux back to 2B, but not this year.
If the Dodgers were so inclined to upgrade, and if Bo Bichette is not available, then I would prefer that the Dodgers go big. KC is not going to trade Witt. Maybe they should, but they are not. Big for me is Francisco Lindor or Fernando Tatis Jr. Both NYM and SD want to pare down their payroll so they can add in different areas.
SD has to get down to a payroll close to $200MM. Preller lost a big advocate for spending when Peter Seidler passed. Tatis is a very unlikely candidate to be traded (especially to LAD), but it would not stop me from checking. IMO, there is more of a chance that SD will trade Tatis than KC trading Witt.
Lindor is a luxury that NYM does not need with all of their holes. Pete Alonso is the face of that franchise, and he is a year from FA. He is said to be asking for Judge $$$$. NYM wants elite pitching and have been tied to all the top of the rotation pitchers, including $200+MM Yoshinobu Yamamoto. And Luisangel Acuña is the future SS for NYM. They have expensive needs, and very few options. Moving Lindor gives The NY Cohens a chance to upgrade in multiple areas, and have $$$ for Alonso.
Of course I do not think any of these will happen. But IMO, if you are going to upgrade, then do so. If not, stick with what you have. Don’t tinker around the edges. LAD does not need another Miguel Rojas.
Since I do not believe there is an upgrade out there that is a potential trade option, Lux it is, and hope he does not remind us of Amed Rosario or Kiké Hernández at SS defensively.
BTW, I do not worry about Lux’s offense. He will be a solid offensive player.