Of course, you think the NFL has problems, you should see the LA Dodgers...

Five days in, and I could openly see why some sports fans would want to give up on 2023.

This story has kinda been back-burnered by all the situation in the NFL, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have 24 hours or so to make a decision that could remake their franchise and their fanbase.

After the revocation of an entire season of Trevor Bauer's suspension, the Dodgers were given until tomorrow to either put him on the roster or release him.

And the fact that they haven't -- and the rise of a very malevolent gang (I can't call them "Dodger fans", these fuckers are a gang...) indicates there's a very real chance Trevor Bauer is on the roster and pitches for the team.

Much of the lack of activity Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers did in the offseason was with this in mind -- they must've had an indication this was going to occur.

So, did Andrew and the Dodgers also have THIS in mind?

Today's fun email related to the Bauer newsletter is from a person who offered to come rough up my daughter a bit so I can see women actually like that. He included his name and sent it from his work email. Sick AND dumb. Most of the reaction has been very pleasant from readers.

— Houston Mitchell (@latimeshouston) January 5, 2023

Or THIS???

I wrote an article about Trevor Bauer last week and you would not BELIEVE the amount of rape threats I’ve received. It’s so tragically sad that the irony isn’t even satisfying.

— Rachael Millanta (@rachaelmillanta) January 4, 2023

Houston Mitchell writes for an unofficial Dodgers newsletter, Dodgers Dugout, and is an assistant sports editor for the Los Angeles Times.

Rachel Millanta is a lead MLB and NHL writer for BetMGM.  (Hat-tip to my soon-to-be former Dodger-fan anonymous friend, who alerted me to the Tweets.)

I also have heard from Dodger fans who have been increasingly disgusted as to the rise of misogynistic and violent rhetoric in support of Trevor Bauer across the Dodger fandom.

Let's get four things straight right now:

1. Andrew Friedman needs to resign as the President of Baseball Operations for the Dodgers, tomorrow morning, start of business.  If he doesn't, he needs to be fired.
2. You're stuck paying the son of a bitch anyway, short of a lawsuit.  So either sue him for signing the contract under fraudulent pretenses (as a cheating bastard with the SpiderTack) or whatever -- but release him as the next act.
3. Failure to do at least #2 is going to make being a Dodger fan a physically and violently dangerous proposition next season.  There is a rise of misogynistic, pro-rape right-wing gang members in the Dodger fandom.  They are going to coalesce around this pig, and if Trevor Bauer isn't the main focus of the 2023 season, there may be many in attendance who wish they were Brian Stow by the end of it.
4. When is anyone substantive going to realize that rape, sexual assault, domestic and other violence against women, etc. is a centerpiece of American sport and of many of the "men" (though many do believe this is what "walking and talking like a man" is in this country!!!) who partake in it.  Removing the former will cripple the latter, and it is LONG PAST TIME this be done.