Says who? Name a Number 2 better than Clayton Kershaw! He has a 7-2 record and a 2.01 ERA and then of course our #1, Alex Wood is 6-0 with a 1.69 ERA and he has pitched like 26 straight scoreless innings. There’s not a better duo in baseball. Of course, the Dodgers are #1 in all of baseball in tear ERA and WHIP.
… and then Baez and Hatcher come in and close (Slam) the door. Maybe now you know what FAZ saw in them.
Chase Utley has been solid of late. and the team is just playing like… well… a team! Early start tonight!
Rants & Raves
- That HR by A-Gon was the longest from him in a long, long time. Let’s hope he can keep it up. The Dodgers could use an A-Gon right about now.
- They could also use a Justin Turner and he is supposed to be back early next week!
- Don’t worry about Cody – the league has adjusted – he will too.
- Too bad Segedin is going to be out most of the season.
- Here’s comes Seager!
- Heston and Freman???? Organizational depth, that’s all!
- When is Romo going away?
Minors
- Farmer with his 2nd HR (at Albuq) – hitting .400 with 1.471 OPS at AAA
- Dickson hit his 13th
- Verdugo was 1-3 (.318)
- Rios was 2-4
- Sopko 4 IP/6 H/5 ER
- Sierra 2.1 IP/5 K
- Diaz and Peters with HR at RC
- Hanson 2-4 (.192) at GL
It is surprising that Freeman and Heston are taking up two slots on the 40-man. Maybe if their first names were Morgan and Charlton it would make more sense. Are there no better options to fill those slots?
No harm done. Heston was a decent pitcher for SF in ’15, threw a No-Hitter against the Mets on June 9. I remember it well as friends threw me a birthday party and made me watch it. Freeman is what FAZ likes, a utility player. Neither should get to LA, and if they need the 40 man spot, one gets outrighted.
Great win…
Do you ever wonder if players can hear us talk about them??? Was it yesterday or the day before someone lamenting about Agon’s warning track power??
Just keep on keeping on!!!
I am shocked that hatcher preserved the shutout and against the strength of their lineup. Great job hatcher!!! Typical Roberts guts of a burglar. If hatcher had let something start I am sure he had kenley warming. I hope this is agon getting healthier. Even though he has an overpriced contract we need him more than ever. At any rate a timely first homer. Wood is great right now hats off. If puig could just produce a little and we could pickup Cain we are off to the races. How about Roberts saying we are better than the cubs and then back it up if only for one night very gutsy. By the way bellinger is showing the presence of utley. After a hit the other night he rounded the base hard just playing the game the right way. He looked just like utley. Little things make big things happen.
Madden said he thought the Cubs did a good job getting Wood out of the game after 5. Pitch count was high at 91. But he said the Dodgers have a good bullpen, which shut the team down for the next 4. Good job by the pen. That was not exactly a throwaway appearance for Hatcher. He could have easily blown it, or at least blown his appearance. I’m sure there was bullpen activity in the 8th and 9th. I think the bullpen is fully rested right now, so don’t be surprised by an early hook today.
Yeah, Kershaw is a pretty good # 2. It’s pretty hard to argue the Dodgers need more pitching when they are #1 in all of baseball in team ERA and WHIP. I think there is a good chance that FAZ will be selling pitching at the deadline. Anybody see that Kazmir is up to 92 MPH? Take his salary and he is yours. In any event, don’t spend the trade chips on pitching unless something really good falls into our laps.
.
I was the poster lamenting Agon’s “warning track power”, still am!! Hey Kobe Bryant got 60 points in his last game, anybody still want him starting for the Lakers? Yeah, I think the offense needs a boost, Agon’s ONE home run through the first 49 games is unacceptable, especially when combined with Turner’s ONE home run and Pederson’s TWO home runs through 49 games this year.
.
Problem is, who do you target. Position wise, 1st base and outfield are probably the only places to upgrade. Braun looks like an expensive injury-prone potential anchor, Cain is a EXPENSIVE rental and probably not a BIG difference maker. J.D. Martinez looks like a good rental, but at a huge price after his fast start. What to do????
.
Hopefully, nobody missed the article Bluto posted. The “deadline sellers” hitting cupboard looks pretty sparse to me. I hope FAZ trades for an up and coming, team controlled, young player, who nobody sees coming, who could be good for several years, like Haniger or Ozuna or ???? Kind of like how they swooped in on Alex Wood a couple years ago.
.
https://www.fanragsports.com/mlb/inside-baseball-70-players-hit-trade-block/
Boxout
Why are you being so negative today?
Just be happy Agone is coming around, after being hurt, from the start of the year.
And I believe Turner will have better power numbers, by the end of the year, like he did last year too.
And Turner has also been out hurt too.
Everyone in the outfield but Cody, is the players not really producing, although Joc has been out hurt too.
And the problem there, is that they don’t have the good back history that both Turner, and Agone have, that shows they will have better numbers, by the end of the year.
Our infield production will be there, it is our outfield, that hasn’t produced like they should, in the last couple of years.
But I don’t really want to be negative today, about our team, or our players, after a nice win, like we had last night.
Don’t think I am being negative, just realistic. I have NO complaints about Turner, the guy is a stud, he is leading the majors in hitting and is clutch, but he has not shown a lot of power. My point is, we need to get power somewhere else, even though I believe Turner will start hitting for more power.
.
I am very happy to see Agon hit a home run. I’d like to think “old guys rule” and You can pine for vintage Agon all day, but I think we need more from 1st base AND outfield. That is where we need to look for possible upgrades.
Boxout
Ok my bad!
If we can find a left fielder and then put Bellinger on first and Agon off the bench it would solve some positional question marks.
Yeah, Bellinger is who I want at 1st, but his versatility gives us options. I think if a rental like Hosmer was available RELATIVELY cheap, he should also be considered, even though his defense is suspect. Hosmer also hasn’t shown much power this year, but I think it is more likely he starts showing more power than Agon. Would LOVE to see Agon turn back the age clock and be a stud again, but doubtful he can do it. Hope I am wrong!!
Box, Cain and Martinez too expensive, but Ozuna won’t be? Haniger is the kind of player that Seattle will want to build around. They are not going anywhere this year. Dipoto made a lot of moves and is really without any pitching. I can see them trying to move Seager/Cano/King Felix, but not Segura or Haniger.
.
Ozuna and Yelich are the only two Marlins they can move and get any kind of return, and that is going to get expensive. I cannot see them moving Realmuto, and it will cost the Marlins too much to move Gordon or Stanton. J.P. Morosi says the Tigers will make all of their veterans available if they are not at .500 at the end of June. If that happens, look for them to make a push to move Verlander and Martinez to LA. If the Dodgers assume most of Verlander’s contract, it should not be more than the Hill/Riddick trade last year. Martinez gives the Dodgers a big RH power bat, and a playoff rotation of Kershaw/Wood/Hill/Verlander could stand up to anyone including the Nats. If the Dodgers get Verlander, both Ryu and Maeda can be moved. Maybe that gets talks going with Seattle for Haniger.
Ozuna would probably be much more expensive. But that is my point, “Why rent when you can afford to Own?
.
The rental market doesn’t look all that impressive (after looking at that list of 70 Bluto posted) and we know it will be over overpriced. I would rather see FAZ throw even more into the pot, than what would be needed for a rental like Cain and get back even MORE. I don’t see FAZ matching the expected FA price for Cain that I have seen thrown around, so he is probably truly a rental. Let’s go big or stay home.
.
By the way, what is our trade assets? Would you guys trade Wood? I know you can’t before his scoreless streak ends, but would you? Looks to me Wood would be the most valuable “available” pitcher in baseball right now and we are deep in starting pitching. And thanks to Dodgerrick we all know you don’t want pitchers with an injury history. Would you trade Taylor? We are deep in the super utility department with Kiki. Could selling high on those guys and some of our other trade pieces, get us a Benintendi? A Hanigan AND a Segura?
.
If Corey Seager’s brother is available I am interested!! Could either him or Turner play first??
Why in the world would you trade Wood? Sure the Dodgers have a lot of starting pitching, but how do you replace one of the very best young pitchers in baseball right now. Maeda or Ryu? Stripling/Stewart/Oaks? The point of getting a rental is to get you to the finished line this year, without giving up current year stars. Will you still overpay? Of course. You cannot always be looking at making the team better for next year by giving up players that you need this year. Neither Cain or Martinez is going to cost Wood or Buehler. Ozuna? They are going to start with Wood or Buehler. No thanks. The surplus is Stripling/Stewart/Oaks/Sborz/Sopko. Verdugo/Calhoun/Rios are all legit trade options for position players. Calhoun and Rios more for the AL. Does anyone truly believe the Marlins would listen to trade Ozuna or Yelich starting with Maeda and Ryu? Just like last year’s trade with the A’s , it is going to be what can the Dodgers get for Stripling/Stewart/Oaks/Sborz/Verdugo/Rios/Calhoun. Depending as to whether a multiple year OF is returned, Pederson and Puig could be included. They are not going to risk Wood/Alveraz/Buehler/White. Who are the best options that FAZ can obtain without exposing the top pitching prospects?
First, I am in no way “looking at making the team better for next year by giving up players that we need this year”. I think the Dodgers have as good of chance of winning it all this year as any team in baseball. I am looking for ways of improving the team THIS year.
.
Second, I don’t want to trade Wood, I have been a supporter a long time. Shoot, if a 1.69 ERA is what we can expect from the new Alex Wood you don’t trade him for anybody!! BUT, we don’t know that!!!!
.
I just think you have to consider selling HIGH. If you could have traded Alex Wood and Chris Taylor for Jean Segura and Mitch Haniger before the season, I bet you would have done it. Today AZ would probably like a do over. What if Alex Wood could bring you a currently under performing 23 yr old Trea Turner RIGHT NOW, would you do it? I will be the first to say, I don’t know, but the Dodger organization knows if they would. We have a HUGE potential trade piece in Alex Wood right now. Him and some of those prospects you listed could potentially bring back a big time young stud who could help THIS year.
.
I do think Dodgers have good possibilities for replacing Wood THIS season, Hill, Urias, McCarthy, Stripling and ??????
.
Following is a link to an article by a Detroit writer last December and what he thought Detroit wanted for Martinez. My how things change.
.
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/detroit-tigers-ideal-trade-partners-for-j-d-martinez-121916
Mark
You mentioned in your piece just what I have been thinking lately, when I have watched Wood pitch, in his last three, or four games.
And that is that Wood is pitching better, and pitching with more dominance then Kershaw has been pitching, this year.
And I that is even though I think Kershaw has brought his pitching to another level, in his last two or three games.
And my only concerns with Wood, is exactly what you said Mark, can he stand up and be able to pitch the entire season, with no injury issues, and I sure hope so for Wood, and for the Dodgers.
The bullpen also pitched another good game too, to keep up with our starting pitchers, like they have, most of the year.
And Agone’s two run HR to straight away center, has to make any Dodger fan happy, because he is one of our few hitters, who can hit good pitching.
And it is good news to hear Turner will be back soon too, because he is another one of our players, who also hits good pitching.
Rockies AAA team at Albuquerque has 6 guys over .290. Can we get our hands on some of Rockies’ hitting instructors? It’s not all light air.
I don’t know about that. Isn’t Albuquerque’s air light just like Denver’s?
.
I really like Turner Ward after Mark McGwire and somebody in the organization must have helped Taylor reinvent his swing.
Only 6?
–
The last year the Dodgers were there they had 15, COUNT ‘EM FIFTEEN, players who hit over .290!
I was about to say the same thing. Go back and look at some of those Albuquerque teams the Dodgers had, and remember all the can’t miss hitters there were.
Very nice win and performance by Wood and the bullpen. Great to see AGon get the HR monkey off his back, did Utley show him the way? I would have left Wood in another inning at 91 pitches but hard to argue with the results. Baez has a microscopic ERA and seems to be pitching a little faster. Hatcher looked good, now somehow just get Romo to join the party?
–
Rockies unloaded on the Cards with a 10-0 explosion at Coors. DBacks also won and throw Greinke tonight, Dodgers need to hit Lackey’s so-so stuff on a late afternoon start where the ball will carry. McCarthy needs to avoid the long ball as well and keep his power stuff down in the zone. Dodgers may need to win just to keep pace, the NL West would send 3 teams to the playoffs at the current pace. Only Houston has more wins than the Rockies this year in MLB.
–
The only starting pitcher who did not give the team a chance to win recently has been Hill. Roberts gave him the vote of confidence but was also annoyed at his antics with the home plate umpire in his last start. With Ryu in the pen I would expect a quicker hook next start in St Louis if he struggles again with command.
–
Should Joc be worried about his CF spot? For sure he is platooned when he returns. I think finding Taylor more at bats will seriously cut into Kike’s playing time when JT comes off the DL. Forsythe still has not found his timing and Utley is playing well. We have not seen much of Gutierrez lately, not even as a PH last night. Puig may still be hurting from the collision that put Joc on the DL and perhaps could use a day off.
Vegas
I thought like you, that Roberts should have allowed Wood to pitch the sixth inning.
But in after thought, I think Roberts made a good decision to pull Wood after the fifth inning, because that would allow Baez to start out pitching, in a clean inning.
If Roberts would have allowed Wood to pitch the sixth inning, and he couldn’t finish that inning, and Baez had to come in with runners on base, that wouldn’t have been a good situation to bring Baez, into the game.
Because he pitches much better, when he comes into a clean innning, or when he starts the beginning, of an inning.
And Wood had already pitched, 90 plus stressful pitches, in that game.
Unless Puig got the wind knocked out of him, I suspect he exaggerated his pain. Maybe a little bit of OH NO, I DID IT THIS TIME.
.
Right now Taylor is better than Forsythe is and maybe better than Forsythe has ever been. I think that between Pederson, Puig, Bellinger, Hernandez, Forsythe, Utley, and Taylor the Dodgers don’t need Gutierrez or Eibner on the 25.
I think the 2 roster decisions management is struggling with are Gutierrez and Romo. Both have small enough contracts they could be eaten but being veterans could have some value in a stretch run or when rosters expand. Neither are providing much right now and could be easily replaced. Eibner is a placeholder until JT is ready or Joc who both may get an injury rehab. Ryu is taking an extra spot but the staff seems to be holding up fine even with Romo just for mop up duty.
Boxout isn’t being negative… He has hope!!!
I’d stick with Franklin G…
Gutierrez, Romo, Utley, and Gonzales car pool from a senior living community together.
I don’t know about that, because Agone, Utley, and Gutierrez have better numbers, then some of our young players.
That’s because they car pool…
Mark
Take a look!
Utley has almost the same exact numbers, that Joc has.
Now that’s funny! AGon will be hosting a celebrity lawn bowling tournament before the next home stand to raise $$ for his favorite charity. Seriously AGon will be the only one still with the team next year unless Utley wants to coach.
Here’s A-Gon and Chase out on the town:
Here is a link to Statcast leaders. Before you look, which Dodger do you think has the highest average exit velocity on balls hit?
.
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_leaderboard
So Schebler, Kemp and Hanley are all higher than any Dodger? (Puig in top 50 somewhere at top)
I know Bellinger is a slick fielding 1B, but haven’t seen anyone remark on the catch he made in LF last night. Made me think of the catch Sandy Amoros made in the 1955 world series.
Are they selling Chris Taylor jerseys at the ballpark yet?
Two players who have just not improved are Joc and Puig. Two outfielders. Puig has been up five years and Joc three years. I do not think either one has any value in a trade. I hoped both would have good years this year. I am sure Turner Ward has done everything possible to help them. What do you do with these two?
Meanwhile, for OKC, Urias went 6ip, 3 hits, 1 run, 2bb, 4k in 92 pitches
The word is out to feed Puig fastballs and until he adjusts or can catch up to them the book will not change. He is hitting 8th and they don’t nibble at all to get to the pitcher. McCarthy and Stripling both looked great, Taylor had a big fly off Lackey and with Kershaw going tomorrow get out the brooms! Snakes already lost so tied for 2nd.
Utley also had a big game, today too.
And Utley is hitting for higher average tthen a couple of our outfielders, now!
Yeah, when Joc comes back I wonder if we’ll see Taylor take a spell in right. Does he have an arm?
Make that 1/2 game out of 2nd. Greinke takes the loss and coupled with the Cubs loss the Brewers move into 1st place. The Cards could help them gain on the Rockies too.