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The epic whining heard across MLB over the Tarik Skubal acquisition is evidence Andrew Friedman and Dodgers management are a masterclass in demonstrating creative leadership to cultivate a winning ballclub. If you doubt this, check Steve Cohen\u2019s Mets: monster payroll, less than .500 record.<\/p>\n
Any talk of changing the rules, salary cap or otherwise, to put reins on this kind of success would propagate underperformance and penalize this fascinating culture of constant improvement. No one\u2019s breaking rules. Any team could be doing what the Dodgers are doing if they had the wherewithal.<\/p>\n
Unlike the Saturday evening shocker that occurred when the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic, it was no Saturday night surprise to learn the Dodgers traded for Tarik Skubal.<\/p>\n
What was a surprise was the relatively minor amount the Dodgers had to give up to acquire the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner. It is highly doubtful that Zyhir Hope will turn into the next Yordan \u00c1lvarez, or that River Ryan or Brady Smith will develop into the next Pedro Martinez.<\/p>\n
Irrespective of whether Skubal signs a contract extension, as long as he does not complain of a \u2018dead arm\u2019 or sustain another injury, this appears to be an excellent deal for the Dodgers.<\/p>\n
The Dodgers\u2019 acquisition of Tarik Skubal is just another example of the team\u2019s willingness to cause a lockout and blow up the 2027 season.<\/p>\n
I understand why. Destroying the 2027 baseball season will give the team\u2019s starting rotation a full year to recover from its numerous injuries.<\/p>\n
The excitement over the Dodgers getting Tarik Skubal should be tempered by a couple of factors.<\/p>\n
Skubal could care less about a Dodgers three-peat. Sure, he wants to show he hasn\u2019t lost anything because of injury. He will have several starts during the rest of the season to do that.<\/p>\n
His main priority will then be to avoid any injury that might compromise his value in the marketplace. (Remember Max Scherzer?)<\/p>\n
Some of the other top-notch Dodgers starters might also be unhappy if denied a chance to start a postseason game.<\/p>\n
After the Angels\u2019 trade deadline moves, the only thing that could go worse for the Halos would be Frank McCourt buying the club. We know parking prices would zoom.<\/p>\n
This year the Dodgers\u2019 offense has been a case of feast or famine. It\u2019s either a lot of runs or hardly any runs. I think having Shohei Ohtani as a leadoff hitter is ridiculous unless you really like starting off a game with a one- run lead. To hit 50 home runs with 100 RBIs just doesn\u2019t make sense to me. He should be hitting third or fourth and hit 50 home runs with 130-plus RBIs. That\u2019s not the way that the game was played back in the day.<\/p>\n
The Dodgers need a real leadoff hitter who could work a walk, get a hit and steal a base and make it tough on a pitcher before your Nos. 2, 3 and 4 hitters come up. Unfortunately, that is not something the Dodgers are interested in doing these days.<\/p>\n