DAVE ROBERTS made it to the White House in 2021 … can he and the Dodgers repeat? (Wikpedia).

This time of year is what used to be called The Hot Stove League, when baseball was shuttered for six months and fans theoretically gathered around a warm kitchen appliance – today that would be a Keurig – and chewed the fat – today that would be some gluten-free pita bread – about what the coming new year would bring.

For LA-OC baseball fans, the biggest topics of discussion are the impact of Shohei Ohtani’s move to Los Angeles and the very modest off-season acquisitions of the Angels.
Expectations here diverge mightily.

At Chavez Ravine, they’ve accumulated a virtual all-star team, the greatest of which is t he (potentially) Greatest Player of All Time, the “unicorn” from Japan.

Ordinarily, a manager like Dave Roberts would be grinning from ear to ear, as happy as a hog in soft dirt, about a lineup of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Ohtani and now, a re-signed Clayton Kershaw. All MVP winners and probably all future Hall of Fame inductees.

But think of it. After last year’s romp to the NL West flag, the Blue Crew did a pratfall in the playoffs. So this year, if the Dodgers fail to win the World Series, the Stanley Cup, an Oscar and a Grammy (watch out, Taylor!) the season will be considered a letdown

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Down the freeway in Anaheim, new manager Ron Washington has lighter duty. All he needs to do is show improvement on last year’s 73-victory season and he’ll get another year of grace.

But, hey, with the acquisition of former Tigers’ reliever Jose Cisnero, he who posted a 5.31 ERA (3.99 ERA lifetime), you just know the Halos are headed in the right direction. He said, sarcastically. Hope the team didn’t get burned on this one.