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Previewing the Dodgers 2024 campaign with Ginny Searle, an editor for Baseball Prospectus, who wrote the season preview for Los Angeles last week at BP. We talk about the Dodgers' whirlwind offseason, adding Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and more, plus the strengths and weaknesses of the team, and the depth of the pitching staff. You can read Ginny Searle's work at Baseball Prospectus, and you can follow her on Twitter or Bluesky as well. 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 have actual spring training games to talk about. That, and MLB uniform quality, and concern over the pants. We review the Dodgers’ first four games, which included Tyler Glasnow’s debut with the team. Also, we have a date on Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers debut, coming this Tuesday against the White Sox. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to pitch in his debut on Wednesday. Plus, we look at new deals for various old friends, as well as two other old friends – Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier – back in the organization working as special advisors now for the Dodgers. 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 catcher Frenchy Bordagaray, an outfielder and third baseman who had two stints with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1930s and 1940s, and held the distinction as the last mustachioed MLB player for more than three decades until the 1970s. Related reading: Bordagaray’s SABR bio, written by Norm King The New York Times obituary of Bordagaray Bordagaray at the Baseball Reference bullpen wiki Los Angeles Times obituary of Bordagaray Previous Dodgers Rewind (2022) of Eddie Basinski, who like Bordagaray was a violinist who played for Brooklyn 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 unpack the first week and a half of Dodgers spring training, including Clayton Kershaw returning, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto making first impressions, and more. Ohtani keeps hitting home runs in batting practice and draws a huge crowd everywhere he goes. Likewise for Yamamoto, was “incredible” in facing hitters for the first time. Plus, details on Kershaw’s contract that could take him through 2025, a look at the spring training schedule ahead, how the Nike/Fanatics uniforms are garnering complaints across MLB, and other various Dodgers news and notes. 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 catcher Kevin Pasley, who played in parts of three seasons for the Dodgers in the 1970s, and was the last Dodger to wear number four before it was retired to honor Hall of Famer Duke Snider. 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 the Three-Inning Save podcast, the Dodgers signed Clayton Kershaw for what would be his 17th season, and potentially longer with a reported player option. Kershaw had elbow surgery in November and isn't expected to pitch until after the All-Star break, but he remains with the only professional organization he's ever known in returning to a loaded Dodgers team. Also this week, the Dodgers re-signed reliever Ryan Brasier and traded left-hander Caleb Ferguson to the Yankees in a bullpen reshuffling of sorts. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, a recap of DodgersFest at Dodger Stadium, at which Shohei Ohtani was understandably the star attraction. We talk about highlights and moments from FanFest, the general vibe at Dodger Stadium, plus some news about the team. That includes Walker Buehler starting the season on the injured list as he’s being slow-played to open the year after Tommy John surgery and will be on an innings limit in 2024. Pitcher Nick Frasso, who was added to the Dodgers 40-man roster this offseason, had shoulder surgery in November to repair a torn labrum. He likely won’t pitch in 2024. Shohei Ohtani is coming off elbow surgery in September that will keep him off the mound in 2024, but he’s expected to hit. He said Saturday that he expects to be fully ready to hit by opening day on March 20 in South Korea. Gavin Lux is “absolutely” the Dodgers shortstop heading into the year, and said he will be ready for opening day after missing last season with a torn ACL. The Dodgers are also kee

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, the Dodgers signed veteran pitcher James Paxton to a one-year contract to seemingly round out their starting rotation. Paxton returned from Tommy John surgery to put up a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts for the Red Sox in 2023, though he missed time last year with both a hamstring strain and knee injury, the latter giving a bad ending to an otherwise promising start to his season. Injuries have always been an issue for the 35-year-old Paxton, who has never qualified for any rate leaderboards and has topped 150 innings only twice in his 11 major league seasons. But he’s usually been very good while on the mound, which could benefit the Dodgers come October. Also, third baseman Adrián Beltré was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, giving the Dodgers a Cooperstown inductee for a third consecutive year. Related reading: Details of the signing at True Blue LA An “unspecified health issue” drops Paxton’s guarantee from $11 million to $7 million, per The Athlet

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we take a look at the Dodgers roster and payroll for 2024, which has become clearer in the last week. Michael Busch, whose path to playing time with Los Angeles was narrow at best, was traded along with reliever Yency Almonte to the Cubs in exchange for a pair of intriguing minor league prospects. The Dodgers have added four prospects in trades this offseason in moves that were essentially made to clear space on the 40-man roster.  One of those 40-man spots went to outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who was signed by the Dodgers to a one-year, $23.5 million contract. We talked about that move on the podcast last week, a transaction which essentially completes the active roster position-player set, and Hernández is the latest to join the group of Dodgers with deferred salary. More clarity came with the Dodgers reaching agreements on 2024 contracts with all 10 players eligible for salary arbitration, avoiding a hearing for a fourth consecutive season. This group incl

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch give a full accounting of our various predictions about the 2023 Dodgers. We got some right, and got some wrong. Like Eric picking the Padres to win the National League West, for instance. But this is a look back at all the various questions from Craig Minami throughout last year that pur our predictive powers (or lack thereof) to the test.  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, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch react to the Dodgers signing outfielder Teoscar Hernández to a one-year, $23.5 million contract. Hernández adds a right-handed-hitting power hitter who averaged 28 home runs and 31 doubles over the previous three seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. Hernández especially excels at hitting left-handed pitching, to the tune of a 136 wRC+ in his career, including a 164 wRC+ against southpaws since the start of 2021 that ranks fifth in the majors. He fits the exact need stated by Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman in an interview earlier Sunday on MLB Network Radio, giving the Dodgers another right-handed batter to go along with a lefty-heavy lineup that includes Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, James Outman, and Gavin Lux. We look at the impact of Teoscar Hernández on the roster, with essentially the 13 position players already set, and likely more time in the minors for Michael

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch react to Yoshinobu Yamamoto signing a record-setting $325 million contract with the Dodgers. Yamamoto hit the perfect storm in free agency, as a star who won the last three MVP awards and Eiji Sawamura awards (the latter for top starting pitcher) in Japan, and is only 25 years old, with all the big-market MLB teams interested in his services. The Dodgers won out, beating out the Mets and Yankees with a 12-year contract for Yamamoto, adding to a stunning December that saw them also add Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow. What a way to have our last podcast episode of 2023.  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, hosts Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch recap a monumental week for the Dodgers, in which they finalized a 10-year contract for Shohei Ohtani then traded for pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Everything last week pretty much revolved around Ohtani, the global superstar, in some way or another. First, his heavily-deferred contract broke some brains in how to properly interpret this deal, and how it can be worth $700 million or $461 million depending on your point of view. Ohtani was also heavily involved in the recruitment of star free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, his teammate on Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Ohtani even recorded a video to help woo Glasnow to reach a five-year, $136.5-million contract extension that finalized the Dodgers’ trade with the Rays. In addition to Glasnow, the Dodgers got outfielder Manuel Margot from Tampa Bay, in exchange for pitcher Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca.  The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Networ

The Three-Inning Save podcast covers the Los Angeles Dodgers, and this week we interview Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, who covered the newest Dodger, Shohei Ohtani, in his first six years in the major leagues with the Angels. Jeff wrote a book chronicling Ohtani entitled Sho-Time: The Inside Story of Shohei Ohtani and the Greatest Baseball Season Ever Played, which was written after the 2021 season and the paperback edition was updated after the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Jeff provides great insight to Ohtani's success as a player, what makes him tick, and what the Dodgers might expect going forward. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we are stunned at the enormity of Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. Ohtani’s deal shattered records for both total value and average annual salary in both baseball and North American Sports. His agreement with the Dodgers came after speculation that he might sign with the Blue Jays, plus flight tracking of a plane to Toronto that was actually carrying someone from Shark Tank. We recap the week that led up to Ohtani picking the Dodgers, including Dave Roberts daring to plainly state the obvious in an otherwise secretive situation. So now Ohtani joins an offense that includes Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, giving them a formidable trio atop the lineup. Those three also have a similar contract structure, it seems. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we take stock of the Dodgers ahead of the winter meetings. The first four weeks of the offseason have been mostly quiet. Jason Heyward is coming back to Los Angeles after a nice bounce-back year. Lance Lynn signed with the Cardinals. Yency Almonte avoided arbitration, and Ricky Vanasco found his way back to the 40-man roster. Shohei Ohtani is the big prize of the offseason, and the Dodgers will certainly be in the mix. But mystery surrounds him. Plus we look at potential pitching additions like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell at the top of the free agent market plus potential trade candidates Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we usher in the official start of the MLB offseason. On November 2, the day after the World Series, 12 Dodgers became free agents, headlined by shoulder-surgery-recoverer Clayton Kershaw and J.D. Martinez. We go over the Dodgers roster at the start of the offseason, plus Max Muncy’s new 2-year contract, various club option decisions and important dates upcoming. We also look at the volatile nature of postseason performance, personified by Corey Seager, who found the upswing again with another World Series MVP, this time with the Rangers, and Mookie Betts, who had two straight bad playoff performances. Plus, Betts comments on Trevor Bauer, Dodgers trivia, offseason questions, and more. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we lament the Dodgers getting swept in three games by the Diamondbacks in the NLDS. Game 3 at Chase Field in Phoenix went much like the first two games in Los Angeles. Arizona took an early lead with four solo home runs in the third inning against homer-prone Lance Lynn. Dodgers starting pitchers in the NLDS allowed 13 runs and recorded 14 outs in the series. Those four runs proved too much for an inept Dodgers offense, who scored only two runs in the seventh inning of Game 3, and scored exactly two runs in every game of the series, with a dismal .498 OPS. The Dodgers had their fourth-worst OPS in a single playoff series, but not quite as bad as the 1920 Brooklyn team in basically the end of the dead ball era. Now, the season is over, so we take a brief look at how the Dodgers will start the offseason, with many decisions ahead, including whether Clayton Kershaw will return. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we dissect the Dodgers implosion in the first two games of the NLDS against the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Clayton Kershaw had the worst start of his career, allowing six runs while recording only one out in Game 1. Bobby Miller recorded only five outs in his postseason debut in Game 2. The Dodgers trailed by several runs before they batted in both games. The offense could not pick up the slack, scoring only twice each in the first two games, mostly shut down by D-backs starters Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen. The Dodgers aren’t giving themselves many chances with runners in scoring position (13 PA in two games), and they aren’t coming through when they do (two hits). Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have just one hit in 13 at-bats in the first two games, but they aren’t alone. The Dodgers scored a combined four runs on 10 hits in the first two games. Now, they have to win three straight games to keep their season alive, the first of which is Game 3 at Chas

On this episode of the Three-Inning Save podcast, we preview the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card round, giving the Dodgers their fourth straight NLDS against a divisional opponent, and fifth in the last seven years dating back to 2017. We look at the matchup, including the Dodgers’ strong performances against D-backs starters Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt this season, plus how Dodgers pitchers have curbed stolen bases as the season wore on. Plus, we look at notes from three days of Dodgers scrimmages at Dodger Stadium, plus guessing the potential NLDS roster, and pitching plans beyond Clayton Kershaw and Bobby Miller starting the first two games. The Three-Inning Save is part of the Fans First Sports Network. Hosted by Eric Stephen and Jacob Burch. Produced by Brian Salvatore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices