What a Train Wreck!

  • It is rumored that the Phillies and Dodgers are in trade talks for their managers although the 6-5 Phillies are asking for a GM to be named later if they take the manager of the 4-7 train-wrecked Dodgers. Move along folks, there’s nothing to see here.
  • Look, it’s simple!  I try to break it down to the simplest explanation.  The Dodgers only have four problems: (1) Can’t Hit; (2) Can’t Field; (3) Can’t Pitch; and  (4) Can’t Manage.  Fix that and you fix the Dodgers – Simple. Next problem….
  • I imagine there will be a few changes:  Wilmer Font will likely be gone as will Joc Pederson.  He looks pathetic up there.  I would recall Stewart – he is due to pitch today and make him the long guy and call up Andrew Toles – ENOUGH ALREADY! I believe Andrew will be a spark!
  • Grandal and Kemp are the only ones really hitting… but the others aren’t looking totally over matched.  Joc is.
  • FAZ was hoping that Joc could seize the day, so he would have some trade value… but it wasn’t to be. Back to OKC to re-tool… again.
  • Yimi Garcia is a couple to four weeks away.
  • They could always put Buehelr in the pen for a while….
  • That’s all I got…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XZMC1M9o04

 

MINOR LEAGUE REPORT by AlwaysCompete

While Mark writes his post about last night’s debacle, I thought I would at least start today with a little positive Dodger baseball news with the very hot hitting OKC Dodgers.  Of course that is also followed by two less than stellar games from the two A Ball teams (Quakes and Loons).  The Tulsa Drillers had the day off.   I absolutely concur with Mark on Toles.  It is time to bring him back.  In my original post, I had a picture of Toles in his LA Dodger hat hoping it would happen sooner rather than later.

OKC DODGERS:

The OKC Dodgers unloaded on the Round Rock Express (Rangers) with a final score of 19-1. The Dodgers’ line was 19 runs on 19 hits, and committed 1 error.  Every starter had at least one hit, with 6 having multi-hit games, and 8 of the 9 position players now sporting a batting average north of .300:

 

Andrew Toles – 4 for 6 (1 double and 5 RBI) – Now hitting .391

Tim Locastro – 3 for 5 (1 double and 1 triple) – Now hitting .556

Donovan Solano – 3 for 4 (3 RBI) – Now hitting .313

Travis Taijeron – 2 for 3 (2 doubles) – Now hitting .636

Alex Verdugo – 2 for 5 – Now hitting .304

Jake Peter – 2 for 5 – Now hitting .333

Max Muncy – 1 for 5 – Now hitting .313

Breyvic Valera – 1 for 4 (2 RBI) – Now hitting .333

Rocky Gale – 1 for 4 (1 HR and 3 RBI) – Now hitting .154

 

While the offense took center stage, Walker Buehler was the starting and winning pitcher, surrendering 1 run on 4 hits, 1 BB, and 6 K, in 5 IP (73 pitches). Adam Liberatore (2 IP), C. C. Lee (1 IP), and Pat Venditte (1 IP) each followed and combined for 0 runs on 1 hit, 2 BB, and 6K in their 4 innings.

 

This game also saw Tim Locastro starting in CF, where I think he is going to get a long look.  Future replacement for Kike’?  A better bat to ball hitter without the power, but a much faster player in the field and on the base paths.  I like Kike’, but I really do like Tim Locastro, and I hope he gets a chance.

 

RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES:

 

The Quakes lost for the 5th time in 7 games, losing 5 to 3 to the Stockton Ports (A’s). The Quakes had 6 hits, led by Gavin Lux who broke out with a 3 for 4 night.  Cody Thomas went 2 for 3, and is now batting .318.  But the big story offensively (or lack thereof) were the 17 K’s wrung up on the Quakes.  Only Thomas came away without a K.  The Ports’ starting pitcher, 20 year LHP Jesus Luzardo, registered 10 K’s in his 5 IP (85 pitches).   Andy Sopko started for the Quakes and for his first 4 innings he was outstanding, allowing 0 runs on 2 hits, 1 BB, and 5 K’s.  His second start was very reminiscent of his first start.  In the 5th, he allowed 1 run on 2 hits and 1 BB before being lifted by Parker Curry after 73 pitches.  Curry promptly gave up a 2 run triple allowing both inherited runners to score giving Sopko the loss.

 

GREAT LAKES LOONS:

 

Great Lakes also lost for the 5th time in 7 games, losing 4-1 to the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers).  The Loons scored their one run on five hits; 2 by CF Brayan Morales and 2 by Zach McKinstry (double).  The starting pitcher was the 13th round 2017 draft choice, Marshall Kasowski (West Texas A &M).  He allowed 2 runs on zero hits in his 2 IP.  His downfall was due to his 4 walks in his first 2 innings, and then starting the third by walking the first two batters he faced.  Andre Scrubb replaced Kasowski and continued the lack of control with 2 more walks and 1 HBP allowing 2 inherited runners to score, giving Kasowski the loss. The one bright pitching spot was the 2 shutout IP by Vinny Santarsiero (1 hit, 0 walks, 3 K’s).

 

Request for DC – One of your patented prospect reports on 22 year old CF from Ponce, Puerto Rico…Brayan Morales.

 

Starting pitchers for today’s outings:

AAA -OKC- Manny Banuelos

AA – Caleb Ferguson

A+ – Jordan Sheffield

A – Riley Ottesen

 

 

 

This article has 46 Comments

  1. So now is the time the band should move the the instruments to the top deck??
    I’ll be there Fri. after a beef dip sandwich n mac salad at Philippes and will start the MVP chants…
    Thanks for the MILB info AC…

    1. I’ve still yet to do Phillipe’s! I need to finally go. Is the beef dip the best sandwich to get?

  2. Wilmer has to be DFA’d and you’ve got to wonder if Alexander isn’t sent out for Liberatore, Paredes or Vindette. Alexander looks horrible and Font’s slow. sweeping curve ball doesn’t play so well in the BIGS! Should see some FO moves prior to the start of the D-Backs series.

    1. I agree entirely. If Alexander was the second coming of Britton they wouldn’t have dealt him for Avilan.

  3. Hearing the name of Jed Lowrie last night reminded me of Peanuts Lowrey, who I hadn’t thought of in the last 60 years. Anyone else remember him?

    Regarding Joc: He has more hits than SO’s.

  4. Let’s see what the smarterst guys in the room (baseball-wise) decide to do. I hope this adversity allows the cream to rise to the top.

  5. When Grandal came up down by five runs I thought to myself that this is when Grandal will hit one out and he did. I like Yasmani and he’s an excellent defender, but with runners, on base in tight games, he doesn’t come up with those hits.

  6. With Seager it’s just a matter of time. And until he starts hitting, along with Taylor and Puig, it’s gonna be tough going for the Dodgers. Word is balls have been hit hard but not catching the gaps so that’s probably a good omen. I personally feel it will come out in the wash sooner not later. More worried about pitching than hitting. Woody not a 2 without the velocity he showed early last season. Hope he make a liar out of me. Starters rate fair to midlin in my mind right now. No opinion yet about the BP except Jansen started shaky but now looks strong. Not watching like past seasons since there is so much else going on in our nation these days. Interesting times for sure. It’s a curse.

  7. Bobby, you can’t miss with the double dip beef… But then there’s ham and pork also.. Go easy on the mustard at the table… Aquired (hot) taste…

  8. Harlan, you may have a few more seasons under your belt than me, but I’d like a 10 spot on every time my Dad would tell me stories about Lowry…His 1941 stats were off the charts… I started going in 1953 and enjoyed the days of Angel Annie and Steve Bilko…

  9. Thank you A C for the info on White and May. Appreciate the answer to my question. Are they going through that throwing program the Dodgers are high on? I imagine so.

  10. I guess winning the division isn’t a foregone conclusion. at least don’t tell Arizona it is.

  11. I have no problem with FAZ giving Font a chance. Now he needs to be moved. I do ha.ve a problem with Joc. He had three years. He has no value. Send him to AAA to figure it out. The majors is not the place to figure it out. Bring Toles up. He should of been there from day one.

    Actually the Dodgers have been hitting the ball. It has been right at someone. That is going to change.

    I agree with Mark on Ryu having a good year. It is two years since his operation.

    Vinditte is the one who had a good ST. I know he kinda looks like a freak show. However, he can pitch. He is the first one I would bring up. If Alexander does not produce, bring up Liberatore. Problem is, Alexander has a contract and FAZ does not like to send those guys down.

  12. Maybe a po boy at Darrells, Lake Charles!?
    Really though I’m excited to see Toles back in L.A… Could be his big chance… From out of MLB, bagging groceries to Chavez Ravine…

  13. Tonight the Dodger start a three-game series with Arizona, I’m sure they are coming to LA with a lot of confidence, and looking for a sweep. The Dodgers need to take at least 2 of the 3 games, but a sweep would be nice.

  14. I am waiting for my ride to Cap Haitien airport, have been in Haiti. This morning, for the first time in a week, I was excited to read the post of how the boys have been doing. YIKES. It doesn’t sound good. Not as depressing as Haiti but let’s go Dodgers, snap out of it, please.

  15. MINOR LEAGUE REPORT – April 12, 2018
    .
    The Dodger farm affiliates split their 4 games yesterday. One oddity was that there were two walk off games ended by a walk; one a loss and one a win.
    .
    OKC Dodgers with a 3-1 victory over the Round Rock Express (Texas). OKC is now 5-1 after their 4th consecutive win. Manny Banuelos started and went 6 innings (60 pitches – 42 strikes), and got the win. Perhaps the 2018 version of Wilmer Font??? Yimi Garcia relieved in the 7th to start his rehab assignment and pitched a perfect inning. Pat Venditte pitched the 8th allowing 0 base runners and two K’s. Brian Schlitter allowed 2 hits in the 9th but got the save.
    .
    Offensively, the Dodgers were led by Rob Segedin (2-4 with his 1st HR), Henry Ramos (2-4), and Donovan Solano (2-3). Alex Verdugo had a double
    .
    Tulsa beat the Frisco RoughRiders (Texas) off fashion in the 11th inning. With the new extra inning rules in play, the Drillers started a runner at 2nd. Connor Joe led off with a walk. Drew Jackson sacrificed the runners to 2nd and 3rd. After Errol Robinson struck out, Luke Raley was intentionally walked to load the bases for DJ Peters, who promptly walked forcing in the winning run. A walk off walk.
    .
    Caleb Ferguson started and went a little farther this time around. He pitched 4.2 innings allowing 3 runs (1 earned), on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 6 K. Ferguson was followed by arguably the three best relievers in the Drillers bullpen, Shea Spitzbarth, Corey Copping, and Josh Sborz. Spitzbarth went 2.1 innings allowing 1 hit. Copping went 2 innings allowing 2 hits and 1 walk and 1K. Sborz finished the game with 2 innings, allowing 1 hit and 3 K’s to get the win. That is Josh’s 3rd scoreless relief appearance, getting a save and a win. It appears that Josh is taking to his new role quite well. OKC has a lot of capable relievers, but if Josh continues to showcase his relief chops, I can see a promotion to AAA at some point this year. He does have the ability to take his game to MLB.
    .
    Offensively the Drillers had 10 hits led by DJ Peters with a 3-5 night including a double. Kyle Garlick went 2-4 and hit his 2nd HR. Luke Raley went 2-4 and Will Smith went 2-5. Drew Jackson added a double for the 10th hit.
    .
    RC Quakes lost their 4th consecutive game and have fallen to 2-6. They lost to the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) 5-4. Jordan Sheffield started the game much as he did in his first 2018 start. However after he retired the first two batters in the 3rd, Jordan gave up a HR and back to back doubles for a second run. In the 4th, Sheffield allowed a lead off single followed by a HBP and a BB to load the bases. After striking out the Luis Rengifo, Sheffield reached his 75 pitch mark and was relieved by Nolan Long, who promptly walked in a run and giving up a sac fly for another. Long allowed 2 inherited runners to score.
    .
    Offensively, the Quakes were led by Gavin Lux and Jeren Kendall. Perhaps both of them are getting more comfortable at the A+ level. After Lux’s horrendous start, he backed up his 3-4 night on Wednesday with a 2-3 game on Thursday. Kendall went 2-4 with a triple. When Kendall gets going, I would expect to see more triples out of him. Kendall can be a bust or the next Willie Davis. A very high ceiling with a very low floor.
    .
    Great Lakes also lost for the 4th consecutive game, also falling to 2-6, with a 4-3 loss to West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers). The Loons lost in the same manner that the Drillers won…with a walk off walk. Dan Jagiello walked 4 batters in the 9th to force in the winning run. Riley Ottesen started and continued his lack of control. After allowing 6 walks in his .2 innings in his first start, Ottesen came back with 5 walks in his 3 innings last night. Ottesen allowed 1 run on 2 hits and those five walks and 3 K’s. Wills Montgomery relieved Ottesen in the 4th and pitched 4.0 innings. He allowed 2 unearned runs on 2 hits 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Jagiello pitched a scoreless 8th before giving up the four walks in the 9th and absorbing the loss.
    .
    Offensively Brandon Montgomery went 2-5 with a triple and Carlos Rincon went 2-3. Romer Cuadrado and Brayan Morales each added a double for the Loons.

  16. Here’s an excerpt from Houston Mitchell’s recent post about the “third time through the lineup” fallacy:
    “So, what do the numbers tell us? They tell me that “third time through the lineup” should not be a blanket rule, like it is for some teams (*cough*Dodgers*cough*). There’s little evidence to support removing Kershaw, Wood or Hill just because they are facing a lineup for the third time in a game.
    I am a fan of the new-age stats that are used in baseball. I like ERA+ and OPS+ and WAR and any stat that better helps us understand a player’s contributions. But I have never understood this “third time through the lineup” rule. Because for about 100 years, pitchers faced lineups three or four times a game, and I don’t remember a lot of 9-8 games when I was a kid, which is what you should get if most pitchers fall apart the more times they face a batter in a game. It’s one of those rules that have been adapted to the current game (like “pull him before he gets to 100 pitches”) with little evidence to support it. Does it apply to some pitchers? Sure. But far from the majority. And as far as using it to conserve innings to protect young arms goes, ask Julio Urias and Jose DeLeon how well that worked for them.”

  17. Hopefully DOC will bat JOC in the 2-hole again so he can get more at bats than Seager, Bellinger, Kemp, etc.

    1. liberatore for alexander
      toles for font
      segedin for joc?

      i’d like to see a first round of moves soon

  18. Well since we’re currently miserable, and since misery loves company, I watched Yu Garbage pitch today. He couldn’t get out of the 5th with over 100 pitches thrown already, and lost 4-0. That made me happy for a little bit

  19. So Maeda is in the pen all week and only throws 1 inning yet they send Wood out there not recovered from food poisoning and let Maeda sit until tonight.

  20. I guess the Dodger players read the press saying they should win the division going away and believed it. Time for Doc to kick some ass and for FAZ to make some changes.

  21. C’mon guys, get off the deck and show a pulse! Someone , ANYONE, step up and show the way. All it takes is Mark’s 10 run inning, alot of truth to that. Greinke can be had, just string some#%#^^@@hits together!!

  22. If you only have a four man bench, why burn Joc. Just announce Barnes in the first place.

  23. Hawkeyes, even if you burned Joc would it make a difference? Who would you rather have hitting Barnes or Joc? These games in April count just as much as September. Maybe it is time to put the best 25 players on the team.

  24. Watching the games and looking at the BA as CT3, Corey, Puig, Forsythe, Enrique, Barnes and Joc come up their numbers are horrible. JT can’t get back in the line-up quick enough.

    I’m worried CT3 has regressed to the Mariner’s CT3 and of all the “head scratching” moves by the FO (or lack of moves) executing the team option for Forsythe is highly questionable in hindsight. I’m worried the Dodgers won’t have their “in season magic” they’ve had the last few years, but we will just have to see where the spark comes from.

    Toles? Buehler? Verdugo?

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