[ARETE] Sport and Society Special Report

[Gary]

 The Dodgers define modern baseball and that ain't a compliment
    On Monday, April 1, 2024 at 03:07:57 PM EDT, richard crepeau via Sport_literature_association <sport_literature_association at lists.ku.edu> wrote:  
 
  
 
 

SPORT AND SOCIETY FOR ARETE

APRIL 1, 2024

SPECIAL REPORT

 

In a press conference at Dodger Stadium this morning Dodger President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, President and CEO, Stan Kasten, and Dodger Manager, Dave Roberts addressed the reporters with what was termed, a significant announcement. Andrew Friedman spoke first to announce that the Los Angeles Dodgers were hiring a second manager to add depth at that position.

Joe Maddon will join the Dodgers in this new position signing a five-year $100 million dollar contract. Maddon said he was delighted to be rejoining Andrew Friedman and to be with the Los Angles team that knows how to spend wisely with an unlimited budget. He added that he has the highest respect for Dave Roberts and sees no problem working with/or for him. 

You just knew this was going to happen. It had the air of inevitability about it. Spending big money is addictive and life affirming, and no one in baseball spends like the Dodgers.

The logic was impeccable. Last week the Dodgers signed catcher Will Smith to a ten-year $140 million contract assuring that he would not seek free agency after the 2025 season. This adds to the depth of the roster over the long term.

In the off-season the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a $680 million dollar contract, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto was signed to a 12-year $325 million dollar deal. Over the past few years, the Dodgers signed Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts to hefty long- term deals. Freeman signed for six years at $162 million while Betts signed for twelve years at $365 million. Newly acquired Pitcher, Tyler Glasnow, signed for five years at $136.5 million.

So why not add depth at the manager’s position?

As Stan Kasten noted, the Dodgers are totally committed to bringing another World Championship to Los Angeles. When asked if there was anything the Dodgers would not do, the silence was deafening. When asked if he would sell his soul to the devil, Kasten only smiled.

It has been an instructive and revealing day in Dodger and Baseball History. 

 

On Sport and Society this is Dick Crepeau reminding you, while noting today’s date, that you don’t have to be a good sport to be a bad loser.

 

Copyright 2024 by Richard C. Crepeau
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