True Blue LA, Episode 2144: Predicting free agency

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, Eric Stephen talks to Kris Willis of Battery Power to preview this weekend's three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers and Braves met in back-to-back NLCS in 2020 and 2021, with each team winning a championship in those years. Both teams have won 100 or more games in the last two seasons too, but both were bounced in the Division Series. In 2024, both teams are strong again, but also dealing with pitching injuries and while the overall offensive numbers are good for both the Dodgers and Braves, both are dealing with struggles in parts of the lineup. Here's a look ahead to what should be a fun weekend series in Los Angeles. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we recap a winning road trip for the Dodgers, and discuss MLB agreeing to fix the great 2024 uniform fiasco. The Dodgers won five out of six games on the road last week, sweeping the Nationals then taking a series against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Mookie Betts stayed ridiculously hot, both at the plate and on the bases. Shohei Ohtani hit two memorable home runs, including one that tied him with Dave Roberts.  The team also got great pitching, including the best start of April by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow continuing to pitch like an ace, Gavin Stone setting a career high in innings in a game, and Landon Knack earning his first major league win. Andy Pages impressed as a rookie, and will get a long leash to continue to do so with Jason Heyward progressing slowly from his back injury. Plus, rehab updates on Walker Buehler, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, and Kyle Hurt. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we recap a rough homestand for the Dodgers, who lost three series in a row at Dodger Stadium. There were troubles with runners in scoring position, and especially so with the bases loaded, too many strikeouts for the hitters, and the continued issue of having the bottom of the lineup produce. The bullpen has struggled as well, and the team just hasn’t been in sync for the last two weeks or so. Among the positives though last week was Shohei Ohtani passing Hideki Matsui for the most home runs in MLB by a player born in Japan, and the Dodgers had three major league debuts – outfielder Andy Pages, plus pitchers Landon Knack and Ricky Vanasco – all in the same series. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we interview Andy McCullough about his new book, 'The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness.' McCullough has covered baseball for over a decade, including covering the Dodgers for the Los Angeles Times, and currently writes at The Athletic, and also co-hosts The Roundtable podcast about MLB as well. You can follow Andy on Twitter at @ByMcCullough. In this interview, McCullough details how the Kershaw book came about, his process of researching and writing the book, plus various highlights along the way, and McCullough's perspective along the way. You can pre-order 'The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness' from Hachette Book Group, before its wide release on May 7. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we marvel at the details of the criminal complaint against Ippei Mizzuhara, who was charged with bank fraud and stealing over $16 million from Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani and the Dodgers say they want to move on and focus on baseball, and Ohtani for the most part has, going on an extra-base barrage that included tying Hideki Matsui for most home runs in major league history by a player born in Japan. We also take stock of the Dodgers pitching staff with Bobby Miller landing on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, and Walker Buehler nearing a return from his rehab assignment (even though Buehler took a ball off his middle finger in his last minor league start). All that, plus so much rain in Los Angeles that the Dodgers have had three rain delays at Dodger Stadium in a 16-day span, including two in a row this weekend against the Padres. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on The Three-Inning Save podcast, Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch look back at Pat Zachry, a right-handed pitcher who relieved for the Dodgers in 1983-84 and died on April 4 at age 71. Related reading: Remembering Zachry at True Blue LA Zachry’s SABR bio, written by David Skelton Obituary at the Waco Herald-Tribune Jay Horwitz of the Mets remembers Zachry’s time in New York Obituary in the Cincinnati Enquirer The Three-Inning Save podcast is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we banter about Shohei Ohtani’s first home run as a Dodger, and the hubbub surrounding the aftermath regarding Dodger Stadium security and the fan who caught the ball. The Dodgers have used their bullpen an awful lot in the early part of the season, and in doing so added and subtracted several members along the way. Nabil Crismatt got a win in his one day on the roster, and Dinelson Lamet pitched three times and recorded the first professional save of his 11-year career. A week and a half ago, neither were on the Dodgers 40-man roster, and they aren’t now either, because both have since been designated for assignment. The Dodgers traded for left-hander Nick Ramirez, who is now in Triple-A. They also traded for right-hander Connor Brogdon, who will join the team in Minnesota this week. Lefty Matt Gage was released while on the Triple-A injured list, but has reportedly returned on a minor league contract. Plus, the Dodgers ran a planned bullpen game last week rather than have two starters pitch on four days rest, and they moved Brusdar Graterol to the 60-day injured list, which means he’s out until mid-May, and Blake Treinen is at least “weeks away” from returning from his own injured list stint. Hence the patchwork nature to the LA bullpen so far. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, the Dodgers re-opened the regular season with the home opener and a four-game weekend series against the Cardinals, of which they won three games. Mookie Betts started the season on fire, including hitting a home run in four straight games. Will Smith is also hot at the plate, fresh off signing a new 10-year contract. Similar for Teoscar Hernández, who homered three times and doubled twice against St. Louis. Dodgers starting pitching was excellent over the weekend, headlined by Bobby Miller striking out a career-high 11 batters in six scoreless innings on Friday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was also great in his Dodger Stadium debut, with five scoreless innings, disrupted only by rain. Also in this episode, we look at the Dodgers’ lack of left-handers in the bullpen, Shohei Ohtani’s timing at the plate just a bit off even though he’s hitting the ball hard, Walker Buehler starting a minor league rehab assignment and getting closer to a return, and Emmet Sheehan out until at least late May. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dodgers signed Will Smith to a 10-year contract worth $140 million, wiping out the final two years of salary arbitration for the All-Star catcher, plus another eight years after that. The deal was finalized on March 27, the day before the home opener at Dodger Stadium and the day before Smith's 29th birthday. Smith is now signed through 2033. He bats cleanup for the Dodgers, behind Mookie Betts (signed through 2023), Shohei Ohtani (signed through 2033), and Freddie Freeman (signed through 2027). All four also share another trait, in that they have a lot of deferred salary in their contract, totaling $902.5 million. For Smith, like Ohtani, those deferrals will be paid annually from 2034-2043. The contract for Smith puts the Dodgers payroll at roughly $320 million for competitive balance tax purposes. The Dodgers are already in the fourth and highest tier, such that for anything over $297 million in 2024 they will pay a 110-percent tax. At the moment, they are estimated to pay roughly $67 million in competitive balance tax for this season alone. Related reading: Dodgers deferred salaries, at The Athletic Smith contract details and reaction, at MLB.com More Smith reaction, from the Los Angeles Times Smith annual salaries, from MLB.com The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, the Dodgers are back stateside but the biggest story in the sport involves Shohei Ohtani and fired interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. Ohtani during a press conference at Dodger Stadium read a statement, though did not take questions. In that statement, Ohtani said he has never bet on baseball or any sport, nor has he ever had dealings with a bookie. Ohtani also accused Mizuhara of stealing from him and lying to him, and said he did not know of Mizuhara’s gambling debt nor any payment made from Ohtani’s account to an illegal bookmaker in Orange County – totaling at least $4.5 million per ESPN – until a Dodgers team meeting on March 20 after the opening day win in South Korea. Major League Baseball is investigating the Ohtani and Mizuhara situation, though Ohtani is expected to remain active as the investigation is ongoing. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch, with questions from Craig Minami. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices