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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
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“NL WEST–A NEW #1 ?”
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There, I have said it.
Despite a World Series ring, despite winning the NL West 10-times in 11-years.
There is a new top team in the NL West.
There I have said it.
All of baseball is talking about what GM-AJ Preller did at the trade deadline, acquiring impact players to fix a flawed team we have seen since opening game.
All of Los Angeles is talking about the Evil Empire’s decision not to spend money at the trade deadline, dealing for a setup reliever and a minor league outfielder.
The Dodgers have been a disaster in the bullpen, and it is a bit of a reach to think ex-Twins setup guy Brock Stewart will be a difference maker.
And LA subtracted from the rotation in dealing once big time starter Dustin May for Red Sox minor league OF-James Tibbs.
Yes, the Dodgers have the big hitting Shohei Ohtani, the veteran All Star Freddie Freeman, top hitting catcher Will Smith and Japanese ace pitcher Yosh Yamamoto.
But Mookie Betts is hitting a lifetime worst (.233).. Teo Hernandez is not the big bat he was last year. Super sub Tommy Edman is back on the DL. Max Muncy-hot and cold-is just off the DL.
Outside of young rookie Andy Pages, no one else scares you.
The Dodgers have starting pitchers to run out there, especially if Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell can be vintage Glasnow-Snell. After that is a roll of a dice. And do you really think you can trust anyone in a bullpen with an ERA of (4.53)?
As for the Padres, some in baseball view AJ Preller as a lunatic. Others say a genius. This after he dealt away 14-players and prospects in making 5-trades in a 7-hour span last Thursday.
But he has a veteran talent laden team-now hitting. He has filled the flaws on his roster with proven major league rentals.
The Padres believe Yu Darvish and Michael King will return to trustworthy starters this month. Dylan Cease has been dominant in stretches, and they retained him as their own final 2-month rental.
And then there is the bullpen, the Four Horseman, or maybe now the Fab 5, or possibly the ‘Six Pack’. No one in baseball has that talent, that depth, that firepower.
So you tell me who has the better roster on paper right now, based on production and potential?
You cannot invoke baseball history now. Last year is last year. The last decade under Dave Roberts means nothing going forward. All that counts will be what’s on the field, starting August 15th when the Blue and the Brown-Gold meet 6-times at the end of the month.
I know alot of screeching about Dodger-Dollars, best team money can buy. Yes screaming in San Diego that this GM has traded the farm system away for the 4th time in 11-years. and yes the Friars have yet to win the division, much less play in the Fall Classic
Be real about all this. The Dodgers Dollar is their currency, signing stars. The Padres currency is their farm system. Very different way of doing business. Now we see what happens next.
Not cheerleading, not rooting, just dealing with the reality of what I see.
A new #1 in the NL-West. It’s the Padres now, not the Dodgers from back then!.
Play ball !
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