Bleav in Dodgers

J.P. Hoornstra discusses the end of Cactus League play and the beginning of the Freeway Series (0:44). The just-completed World Baseball Classic (1:16) and the potential it showed to make baseball a more global sport (4:23). Can the WBC be part of baseball's long-term solution to overcome the crumbling RSN model (8:20) in MLB? The breakout springs by James Outman and Ryan Pepiot (12:50). What's the only 26-man roster question remaining? (15:20) The problem with acquiring Keston Hiura...

J.P. Hoornstra discusses the season-ending ACL injury to Gavin Lux (1:20), takes a gander at the Dodgers' thin depth chart at shortstop (2:10), then looks at the thin group of remaining shortstops (2:50). Shawn Green joins to discuss the typical hitter's routine at the beginning of spring training (10:00), why exhibition games offer a weird dynamic between pitchers and hitters (13:00), why some great spring training hitters can never translate their success to the regular season (14:30), the...

J.P. Hoornstra discusses the Dodgers' signings of David Peralta, Alex Reyes and Jimmy Nelson (1:20), two odd things about Peralta joining the Dodgers (4:46), and how it makes the outfield off-season plan make sense (7:09). The episode concludes with a deep dive (11:11) into the decision to retire Fernando Valenzuela's number 34. Link to J.P.'s column about the new rules coming to MLB in 2023 Contract details for Peralta/Reyes/Nelson Report about Peralta’s injury in Tampa Bay

J.P. Hoornstra compares this winter to the winter of 2014-15 (2:24), and the deluge of prospects that followed then and are coming now (3:25). After a quick recap of the Dodgers’ Top 30 prospects of 2020 (7:54), J.P. brings on Shawn Green (10:02) to discuss Scott Rolen (12:04) clearing the Hall of Fame bar by 11 votes. Which player on the ballot would Shawn induct before Rolen and Harold Baines (15:51), and what was he like as a rookie teammate? (16:40) JP and Shawn hype the WBC (18:00)...

J.P. Hoornstra discusses the Dodgers' decision to designate Trevor Bauer for assignment, and the subsequent reaction (8:30). Then Shawn Green joins to discuss the Dodgers' off-season moves: letting Justin Turner walk as a free agent (15:45), how a team navigates a change in clubhouse leadership (18:20), replacing Turner with J.D. Martinez (21:45), adding Noah Syndergaard to the starting rotation (25:05), letting Craig Kimbrel and Kenley Jansen sign elsewhere as free agents (27:40), and the...

J.P. Hoornstra breaks down the Dodgers' luxury tax situation (1:31) and the possible impact of lifting Trevor Bauer's suspension on the payroll (5:08). Then Shawn Green joins (9:20) to discuss the busy Winter Meetings, teams' bias against older players (16:19), the Dodgers' anticipated youth movement (21:10), and the Padres' big payroll push (22:50). Spotrac's 2023 luxury tax payroll calculator J.P.'s Winter Meetings recap column

J.P. does a quick Hot Stove roundup (1:44) before welcoming Shawn Green (5:15) to discuss the new Hall of Fame ballot – including the player who gave the most intense high fives (6:43) of anyone he played with. Then, J.P. analyzes the obvious implication of the Dodgers' signing Shelby Miller (19:53) to a 1-year, $1.5 million contract and letting Chris Martin leave for Boston on a two-year, $17.5 million contract. The Dodgers' ring ceremony prior to their 2021 home opener Link to the new...

J.P. Hoornstra discusses the Dodgers' non-tender decisions: Luke Williams (2:12), Edwin Rios (2:41), and Cody Bellinger (8:17). Then, Shawn Green jumps on (13:50) to discuss the all-time greatest performance by a non-MVP in baseball history that we just witnessed, and the runners-up finishes by Julio Urías and Dave Roberts in their respective award categories (21:03). For further reading The Dodgers’ 2023 projected payroll: https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/los-angeles-dodgers/payroll/ The...

J.P. Hoornstra kicks off a busy off-season week: Clayton Kershaw re-signs, Tyler Anderson leaves for Anaheim, and Dave Roberts finishes second in the manager of the year voting. Pressing questions remain, like how will the Dodgers fill out their starting rotation, and will Cody Bellinger remain a Dodger? Links: SCNG's "Inside the Dodgers" Newsletter Trea Turner free agent analysis Clayton Kershaw free agent analysis Andrew Heaney free agent analysis Tyler Anderson free agent...

J.P. Hoornstra returns (from losing his voice!) to discuss the Dodgers' season-ending loss to the Padres in the NLDS. Shawn Green joins (2:02) to reflect on the remarkable end to the 2022 season, the lack of emotional intensity at the end of the season (4:50), how to make the playoffs more fair (8:15), how long it takes a player to get over a postseason loss (12:45), how the Dodgers' season will be remembered (14:38), the kind of offensive approach that works in the postseason (17:40), the...

J.P. Hoornstra and Shawn Green discuss the start of the postseason (1:35), the Dodgers and the Padres splitting the first two games of the NLDS (2:00), the missing mystique when two division rivals play each other in October (7:15), pinch hitting Austin Barnes for Cody Bellinger in Game 2 against Josh Hader (11:20), the goose that interrupted Game 2 (13:09), fans running onto the field and trying to grab Shawn's hat (13:50), the budding rivalry dynamic between the Padres and Dodgers (17:45),...

J.P. Hoornstra recaps the Dodgers' 111-win regular season by the numbers (1:25), then Shawn Green jumps on to discuss what stood out to him about 2022 (5:35), potentially using a closer committee in the playoffs (7:30), Julio Urias' turn as the Dodgers' ace (9:30), the potential pitfalls of a 5-day layoff before the NLDS begins (14:35), Dave Roberts' role in the Dodgers' best regular season ever (19:35), then look forward to the postseason (24:30). Link to Statcast's team-by-team leaders in...

J.P. Hoornstra breaks down the Dodgers' growing list of question marks heading into the postseason. Can the lineup support a slumping Chris Taylor and Cody Bellinger? (6:00) Should Trayce Thompson start over Taylor? (8:14) Should Craig Kimbrel be on the NLDS roster? (10:10) Projecting the 8-man bullpen (12:02), planning on the worst-case scenarios (14:16) for the pitching staff, and a quick shoutout to Albert Pujols (18:31) Link to Joe Sheehan's Mookie Betts newsletter

J.P. Hoornstra and Shawn Green discuss the Dodgers' ability to maintain its franchise-record win pace (3:00) after clinching the National League West, whether this is the best Dodger team of all-time (5:10), the Dodgers' ability to sustain their success with different star players (10:45), the ideal number of September call-ups (13:05), and the visitors' clubhouse at Wrigley Field (17:40).

J.P. Hoornstra breaks down the Dodgers' 2023 schedule (1:20), then Shawn Green joins to discuss his experience playing under a balanced and unbalanced schedules (3:58). Then J.P. and Shawn discuss the future of MLB with a universal DH and every team playing every other team (6:00), the Angels being put up for sale (9:18), the Dodgers' prowess at keeping their best prospects (16:08), and Walker Buehler's pending Tommy John revision (20:50).

J.P. Hoornstra explores the question of who is the Dodgers' "ace" in a rotation without Walker Buehler (4:57). Then Shawn Green joins to discuss Walker Buehler's season-ending elbow surgery (6:02), and analyze the Dodgers' chances in a possible postseason run without their erstwhile ace (8:31). Shawn remembers the 2004 Dodgers' stretch run (14:31), which began with a sizable division lead in mid-August and ended with a first-round playoff exit. J.P. notes that the Dodgers employ participants...

J.P. Hoornstra remembers teaching Vin Scully about Twitter (1:38), breaks down the Washington Nationals' ask for Juan Soto (2:46), then brings on Shawn Green to discuss his memories of Vin Scully (5:00), his midseason trade to the New York Mets at the 2006 deadline (9:30), getting a care package in New York from the comedian Richard Lewis (13:02), and the impact on a clubhouse of missing out on a trade for a superstar (16:43).

J.P. Hoornstra and Shawn Green take you behind the scenes at the MLB Draft (1:37), reminisce over Shawn's draft experience in 1991 (6:32) and the '91 draft class (10:55), Shawn's experience at last week's Futures Game (10:33), Celebrity Softball MVP The Miz (15:25), and what to expect as the Dodgers take the field in the second half (17:20).

J.P. Hoornstra and Shawn Green discuss the Dodgers' two very different rivalry series this week. The St. Louis Cardinals (2:07) have played the Dodgers very close throughout their long history, and boast the best fans in baseball (5:08) -- or do they? Shawn talks about playing against a young Albert Pujols (6:50) and Miguel Cabrera (9:03). The Freeway Series (15:00) renews Friday in Anaheim and Shawn discusses the difference between fan-based and player-based rivalries (17:40). Finally, J.P....

J.P. welcomes special guest Shawn Green (1:56) to discuss the possibility of a Dodger starting the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium (6:13), the perils of a closer-by-committee arrangement (13:20), and the potential of a Dodgers-Mets NLCS (17:02).