December 19th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka During Thursday afternoon’s Zoom press conference, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked about what will inevitably be another modification to the current Major League Baseball and MLB Players Association Collective Bargaining Agreement; this because the current CBA does not expire until after the 2021 season. That question was (paraphrasing): How will COVID-19 protocols come into play for his players and his staff for the 2021 season with two entirely different sets of rules because of the CBA?
The question was asked by MLB.com’s Barry Bloom and began with: “Will you take a vaccine as soon as it’s offered?”
“For me, I personally would,” Roberts answered without hesitation. He then answered the other part of Bloom’s question.
“And like you said, the dealings with staff is different than the players and Players Association, so … and for me, I just don’t feel I have the right to tell anyone to take it,” he replied. “So, for me personally? I would, and as we know more, I think it will become more clear.”
Roberts was also asked if he was confident that a full season could – or would – happen in 2021 in light of the recent spike in reported coronavirus cases, especially in Southern California.
“I’m very confident,” Roberts answered. “I think that time, as far as timing, Major League Baseball, we’re at as good a spot I think as any of the sports are. And so, I think that, as we look out … actually, as we look at what we’ve accomplished, it took a lot of sacrifice from a lot of people to do some special things to get through last year.
“And so, as we learn from the NBA, the NFL, and things, the vaccines, as we start to learn more, I think that whenever it’s before us, in front of us, and right now we’re expecting to start Spring Training on time, play a full schedule of games. I’m very confident that we’ll be able to get through it,” he concluded.
(Photo credit – Mark J. Terrill)
With COVID-19 cases and related deaths increasing in record numbers daily, one can only hope (and pray) that Dave Roberts’ abundance of confidence rings true.
As they say, ‘Hope Springs Eternal.’
Play Ball!
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Fingers crossed they can keep everyone healthy and safe and play a complete season! LA has an exciting team no matter what. But I’d be stoked if they did any or all of the following:
Bring Back Justin Turner,
Signed Brad Hand,
Signed Liam Hendricks,
Signed Marcus Semium
Signed He-Seong Kim
Signed Bauer
Traded for Matt Chapman.
If the Nationals sell at the trade deadline, I really hope they go for Max Scherzer. My waaay too early trade deadline wish list!
Yes to Ha-Seong Kim.
Riddle me if you will?
I don’t follow baseball – I follow the Dodgers. In saying this, I can’t even remember players we face, and I’ve seen or followed in one way or another sll but 5 games over the past 12 years. I just Goggled the Ha-Seong Kim fellow. What would the assumed cost be in acquiring him? And factor that cost into todays depressed market and players who have already proven their abilities at the MLB level. Again, I have no clue whom ge is…
Ha-Seong Kim: 25 year infielder from Korea. Played for Kiwoom and Nexen heroes. Plays short, 2nd and 3rd. He’s hit almost .300 in his career and has a 30 home run and 30 steel season. Solid tools across the board and projects as at least an average major leaguer with potential for better.
Estimated total cost between salary and posting fee of around $50,000,000 for 5 years or so. If he hits 2/3 WAR per season he’d be a bargain. He could get to 3/4 WAR and be a star.
Thanks for the info. Austin Barnes hit .300 in the minor leagues, albeit with little power…how does that stack up to the Korean Leagues? I’m intrigued. $50,000,000.00 though.
$50 million for five years actually isn’t bad in today’s market (AAV = $10M).
I’m not an expert on salary structure, or stats. I do have a good feel for in game action. I took Drew at his word that the money was fair. I’m just a tad shy on the transfer from one place to the other. I read that Drew said, he thought he would be an average player, or at least I think thats what he said? I also read that the goal of upper management is to field the best team possible, so I then wondered if the risk was calculated enough vs options here at home. I appreciate the suggestion of bringing him aboard, and as I said it may turn out to be a brilliant idea?
I had trouble sleeping last night, so I looked up He-Seong on Youtube. Grant you, I only watched two or three minutes of highlights, mostly of him pounding meatballs over the fence, which is what good hitters do. To me, he hit the ball well out in front of the plate like Turner, but with his body squared up more like Ryu. I then wondered if he would hit better then Kike at the major league level? Who wants 500 at bats and a one year deal and has proven he can play in the MLB and wields a valuable bat in post-season play. Not saying you or anyone is wrong, just where my thinking took me. That and $50,000,00.00 buys a lot of youth in the states. Which seems to be where Friedman shines the brightest.
Please forgive my grammatical errors. I have poor eye-sight, an 8th grade education and fat fingers.