I was watching the Great Lakes Loons game on MiLB.com on Friday evening in anticipation of the Loons wrapping up home field advantage in the divisional play-off starting on Thursday. Initially it did not look encouraging as 19-year-old right-hander Gerardo Carrillo looked shaky giving up two runs in the first inning on two hits, two walks, a stolen base, a throwing error on a pick-off attempt and a sacrifice fly over 25 pitches. However, those two runs were all the Lansing Lugnuts would get in the game.
Carrillo settled down giving up only one more hit over the next four innings while recording five strikeouts and only one walk. He was followed by the dynamic duo of right-hander Stephen Kolek and left- hander Austin Drury. Together over four innings they gave up but two hits while striking out five with Drury allowing two out of character walks. On the season they have given up only two earned runs – both by Kolek in his 27.1 innings – in a combined total of 44.1 innings pitched.
Another 19-year-old, Melvin Jimenez, finished off the tenth inning with a runner starting on second base and preserved the win by striking out slugger Ryan Noda for the final out of the game. Jimenez has not given up a run in his last eight relief appearances.
The Loons had scored a run in the top of the first inning on a Romer Cuadrado ground out and tied the score with a second run in the fourth inning on a Hunter Feduccia sacrifice fly. The game remained tied 2-2 until the Loons scored the winning run in the top of the tenth inning. After loading the bases and with two out, catcher Hunter Feduccia lined a single to left field scoring Deacon Liput from third base with the winning run. On the play Romer Cuadrado was thrown out at home ending the Loons half of the inning. Feduccia on the season now has three hits – two of them doubles – in five at bats with the bases loaded. The Loons win coupled with losses by West Michigan and Fort Wayne gave the Loons the sought after home field starting the play-offs.
We have all heard of and/or been following a group of young Dodger catchers – Keibert Ruiz, Connor Wong, Will Smith and Kyle Farmer, although we are not quite sure what the future holds for Kyle. Sixteen-year-old Venezuelan catcher Diego Cartaya will not make his professional debut until he turns 17 for the 2019 season. Meanwhile, 19-year-old catcher Ramon Rodriguez is still on the radar even though has had a bit of a down year, first with the Loons and then with the Ogden Raptors. Perhaps we have to wait another year to see how 20-year-old catcher Marco Hernandez does in a second term with the Raptors or with the Loons in 2019.
One young catcher who has flown under the radar and is about to take flight is the aforementioned Hunter Feduccia who was signed by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft. The 21-year old native of Lake Charles, Louisiana is a 6’2”/183-pound left-handed hitter who throws from the right side.
He attended Barbe High School in his home town and following his graduation headed off to Louisiana State University- Eunice which offers two-year community college programs. During the 2017 season Feduccia posted a triple slash of .394/.514/.606 along with six home runs and 47 runs batted in over 52 games. He was named to the 2017 National Junior College Athletic Association Division ll All-Region Team while being voted the 2016 & 2017 LSU-Eunice Defensive Player of the Year.
During the summer of 2017 Feduccia played 46 games with the Rockford Rivets of the collegiate summer Northwoods League and quite a summer it was. In July, he hit .449 (40-for-89) with seven home runs and 25 runs batted in.
“For a 20-game stretch, he was the greatest hitter on the planet,” said Rivets manager Brian Smith, who gave Feduccia eight days off in July. “The kid was exhausted, and he was (still) hitting walkoffs.”
More impressive was his hitting in key situations, namely with runners on base. In those situations he hit over .400. That is, with runners on base, with runners in scoring position, with the bases loaded and with runners in scoring position and two out. With runners in scoring position and two out he went 15 for 25.
Feduccia was the recipient of a 2017 Northwoods League Rawlings “Big Stick” Award given to the player at each position who had the best batting average during the 2017 regular season. On the season he hit .348, fifth best in the league.
The 2018 college season was ushered in with great anticipation both by Feduccia who had transferred to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and by Tigers’ coach Paul Mainieri’s whose expectations were high for the first year catcher at the start of the season. Things did not go exactly as planned.
Before the season even started he suffered a broken bone in his left hand. He was struck on top of his catcher’s mitt by a teammate’s bat during a follow through swing. He returned to play more quickly than he possibly should have but showed considerable grit in doing so.
Lightening did strike twice although not quite in the same place. During the third week of April he was struck again when a pitch hit by a Texas A&M batter deflected off his right hand, his throwing hand. Breaking a bone in both hands in a few short weeks is a rarity that not many can share with Hunter Fedducia.
Whether it was the injuries, the step up to Division I, the exhausting 2017 season in which he had played over 90 games including his Northwoods League games, he struggled with LSU posting a 2018 triple slash of .233/.375/.377. He didn’t play high school ball until his senior year so perhaps he had some catching up to do. Coach Mainieri offered his own perspective on Feduccia’s potential.
“I don’t even know if Hunter Feduccia realizes just how good a ball player he’s capable of being,” Mainieri said. “He can really be an outstanding player if we can just get him to shift it into another gear. Just to give a little bit more and give a little bit more focus and intensity. I think the kid could be a tremendous all-around ball player that could really do a lot in his post LSU days, as well.”
Mainieri also spoke of his plate covering ability with the bat.
“He doesn’t really have a weakness at the plate,” coach Paul Mainieri said. “He handles all kinds of pitchers, he handles all kinds of pitches, he covers the whole plate with his swing and uses the whole field. He has occasional power, he’s not going to strike out much and he hits in the clutch.”
After three games in the 2018 season with the Ogden Raptors, Feduccia was promoted to the Great Lakes Loons. His started off slowly with the Loons but has hit .315 in August along with a .381 OBP.
Behind the plate he has allowed one passed ball and committed his first error recently on a wind blown pop up behind the plate. He has thrown out 25% of would be base stealers and from what I have seen is very adept at handing pitches in the dirt. He doesn’t reach but slides laterally left or right keeping his body square and the ball in front of him. Additionally, he seems to work well with pitchers, something like AJ Ellis with Clayton Kershaw.
It seems that he has taken the next step that his coach at LSU was looking for. That is, focus and intensity. In a game on August 26 against the West Michigan WhiteCaps the Loons were in a late inning battle. In the eighth inning second baseman Devin Mann threw wide of first base at a critical moment in the game. A surprised Whitecap, John Valente, was thrown out at second base on the play with the throw coming from catcher Hunter Fedducci who had backed up first base and collected the errant throw.
Tuck Hunter Feduccia away in the back of your mind as another young catcher to watch in the Dodgers minor league catcher factory.
Dodger News by Mark Timmons
- Thanks to Dodger Chatter for all the effort he spends in delivering us the best Dodger Minor League News on the web.
- Thanks to Always Compete as well for all of his perspectives on the minors. Together they are AC/DC!
- I think all of us would have had Matt Kemp on the bench last night, but he was/is the Dodgers best hitter with RISP, hitting around .350. When Bradley hung a curve, Matt did what you are supposed to do: Make it disappear! It would be great if he could recapture the Beast Mode he had early in the year.
- Kenta Maeda is adapting nicely to the pen. He can be such a weapon there.
- The Dodgers starting pitching is now #1 in MLB, passing the Astros in ERA at 3.16.
- FLASH: Joc Pederson got a solid hit off a LHP!
- That defensive play by Kike and Bellinger in the 9th inning was Top Shelf!
- If the Dodgers can win today, this series will go down as when they “flipped the switch.”
- I will keep telling you that this team is built for the Post-Season.
DC, thanks for doing the Feduccia write up. When he was first drafted, I did not think too much about it. I mean, how many catching prospects can one team have? But as he started to play, I began to follow him more closely. For about a month, he has been on my watch mode, and I think he is going to be someone to follow up the organizational ladder. He should be at RC next year. I think he makes Connor Wong available to move to 2B or in a trade package.
I think he has taken his LSU coach’s advice to heart and definitely plays with heart. He alternates game by game with Gersel Pitre so the Dodgers are taking it a bit slowly with him. I think he will be a full timer with the Quakes in 2018.
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By the way, Pitre has become very versatile since starting out as a catcher, and should not be discounted as a potential MLB role or utility player. He hits well, not with power, but for good average. Turned 22 in late July so in on track for RC next year. He was pressed into service behind the plate when Garrett Hope went on the 60-day DL.
I think that is a good call on Pitre. He just always seems to be in the middle of it all. I do not think a team needs a lineup full of 25 HR guys. The Dodgers need the good bat to ball skills to go with the power.
AC people on this board have been talking that for the longest we do not need a All-Star at every position bat on the ball play some small ball is all the Dodgers are lacking the pitching is there
What AC said with a tip of the hat to DC.
There are a few players that I would trade next year but for now I am all for going home with the players that took me to the dance. I like Roberts and with a few exceptions, I prefer a Manager that wins wars at the expense of a few battles.
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It should be evident by now that we can influence the performance of a few players. All we have to do is proclaim a player dead and repeat it again and again. That player will then get the clutchiest of hits to win a game.
Last night’s game reminded me of 2017. A good come from behind win. Maybe the luck is turning. While it is true that Kemp has been slumping badly, we need to remember that Kemp carried this team in the early going. Great clutch hit last night. He is a good veteran player who probably has a few more clutch hits in him.
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A 3-run HR given up by Hill, a 2-run HR given up by Ryu, 2 solo HR’s given up Kershaw, and absolutely nothing given up by Wood. Just sayin…. Three 7.0 inning starts out of the last 4 games, and all victories. Back to back saves by Jansen. Excellent setup by Floro and Maeda. Hopefully the bats will break out today for the Dodgers, and Buehler does not have to be perfect to win this series.
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As bad as the start this year against the DBacks, I believe they are now 9-6 with them on the season.
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I know I stated that I was going to wait until after the season to discuss next year, but I am on board with having a long discussion with Patrick Corbin. I do not know of a good leadoff hitter available via FA, but maybe FAZ can sign Corbin and then package some of those pitchers for an elite leadoff guy. Since de Grom is not happening, I am also in favor of taking a long look at Zach Wheeler. I think he is just about ready to be that guy.
I think Clayton Kershaw’s Opt Out Clause is where it all starts.
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That will have to be the first order of business.
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There are three possibilities:
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1. He does not opt out;
2. He opts out and signs with another team; or
3. He opts out and re-signs with the Dodgers.
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Once that happens, the Dodgers can explore other pitching options, and they have a lot of them:
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1. They have Rich Hill for one more year.
2. If they extend the QO to Ryu, he might take it.
3. Buehler is at least a legitimate #2… maybe a #1.
4. Wood is controllable two more years.
5. Julio Urias should be available (should be).
6. Kenta Maeda will want to start.
7. Chicken Strip is controllable through 2023.
8. Then there are Caleb Ferguson, Dennis Santana, Dennis May, Mitch White, Mike Grove, Tony Gonsolin and others.
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Some of those could be traded, and of course, Clayton could be back. Corbin is doing really well now, but he has been up and down throughout his career, and someone will likely give him some big money. I could see this Farm System spitting out a starter a year!
Wow… I wake up this morning and were tied for 1st….
With our glaring deficiencies, it must be divine intervention!!!
As I’ve said before, AC & DC bring a calming effect to LADT and of course an up to date look at our kids in the system…
Do we really need pitching in 2019???
Happy for Jansen!!!
You always need GOOD pitching. Kershaw is a wild card right now. I hope he is a Dodger for life, but I just do not know where his head is at.
or his shoulder, or his back, or his hip
First of all, congratulations are in order for the AZL Dodgers, champions of the AZL with a 6-5 win over the AZL Cubs. 18 year old starter Jacob Gilliland did not record an out but was charged with 3 runs due to his 2 walks and 1 HBP for the 1st three batters. 5 pitchers followed, but it was the middle innings controlled by the Hernandez boys (Antonio and Ricardo) who pitched 5 scoreless innings. Nathan Witt got the final out in the 9th to preserve the win after Nelfri Contreras got into trouble.
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Offensively Jeremiah Vison (LF) went 3-5, Leonel Valera (SS) went 2-5, Sam McWilliams (2B) went 2-3, and Aldrich De Jongh (RF) went 2-5. What was somewhat surprising for this team, is that while the AZL Dodgers had the 2nd best record in the AZL (second only to Cubs who were 0.5 game better), they had NO All Stars named.
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The Tulsa Drillers clinch the 2nd half Texas League North Division Championship with a 5-3 win over the Springfield Cardinals. Dustin May started and pitched a strong 6.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks, with 5 K’s. Karch Kowalczyk pitched the final 2.2 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 0 walks, with 5 K’s. DJ Peters led the offense with his league leading 28th HR. He went 2-5 as did Zack McKinstry and Wes Darvill. The Drillers start the best 3 of 5 Texas League North Division championship against the Arkansas Travelers (Seattle) on Wednesday. The first two games are in Arkansas with the next three (if necessary) are in Tulsa.
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RC just keeps on winning. They have now won 50 games in the 2nd half. They only play 70 games in a half. That is a very impressive record when you consider that Rylan Bannon, Gavin Lux, and Dustin May are no longer on the RC roster after strong 1st halves. Isaac Anderson started and went 5.0 IP allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks with 8K’s. Sven Schueler and Dan Jagiello pitched the final 4 scoreless innings to close out the win. Offensively, Cody Thomas went 3-6, Cristian Santana went 2-6, Donovan Casey went 2-5, Hamlet Marte went 2-4, and Omar Estevez went 2-5 extending his league best 23 game hitting streak to 23 games. Jared Walker contributed a grand slam, his 16th HR on the year. Jeren Kendall did not get a hit, but he did walk 5 times and scored 3 runs. RC starts their best 3 of 5 California League Southern Division championship on Wednesday in Lancaster against the JetHawks (Rockies). The first two are in Lancaster while the next 3 (if necessary) are in Rancho.
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Thanks to a pair of HR’s by Dillon Paulson (and 5 RBI’s), the Ogden Raptors beat the Grand Junction Rockies 6-5. The 1st four batters had all 7 hits, and scored all 6 runs, with Jeremy Arocho (2B) going 1-4, Daniel Robinson (LF) going 2-3, Dillon Paulson (1B) going 2-4, and Ronny Brito (SS) going 2-4.
Outfielder Matt Cogen flew in from Ogden to join the Loons today. He entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and then doubled to clear the loaded bases in his first Class-A at bat. He was the Dodgers 30th round selection in the 2018 draft out of Belmont University. He turned 23 in August.
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With the Raptors in 54 games he hit .316 with a .408 OBP along with nine home runs and 50 runs batted in. He scored 54 times. He struck out 37 times and walked 29 times. In college his K/BB ratio was almost 1:1.
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John Rooney picked off another runner in his one inning pitched.
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Loons win 5-3.
Is Rooney a legit prospect, or is he just a dude who is the greatest picker offer ever made?
Hard to say just yet. He does not have anything overpowering, so he needs to pitch rather than throw. Mayo and Callis have him with a ceiling of a back of the rotation starter. I do not know if he throws hard enough to be a quality late inning reliever, but I do see him being able to come into a game with a runner on 1B and keeping him there and hopefully producing a ground ball. He has a great pickoff move which helps him tremendously. If nothing else, it is going to keep the runner more anchored at 1B making it more difficult to go to 3B on a single. He only has 15 innings this year at Great Lakes, so he will probably start there again next year, and see if he can impress enough to get a mid year promotion to RC.
Rooney is currently the #18 Ranked Dodger Prospect. He is big – 6′ 5″ and 235 but does not have overpowering stuff. He could be a back of the rotation starter. He is worth watching.
DODGERS SELECT CONTRACT OF ROCKY GALE
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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of catcher Rocky Gale from Triple-A Oklahoma City (#58).
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Gale, 30, appeared in 85 games with OKC this season, where he hit .281 (83-for-285) with four home runs and 34 RBI. Gale has played in 14 Major League games in the 2015 and 2017 seasons with the San Diego Padres prior to being signed by Los Angeles as a minor league free agent on February 25. The Portland, Oregon native has slashed .262/.306/.331 in 709 games over nine minor league seasons, and was named a Pacific Coast League Mid-Season All-Star with Oklahoma City this year.
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To create room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart and placed him on the 60-day disabled list with a right oblique strain.
Solid move. Gale has been productive offensively and defensively all year. This also keeps Farmer away from behind the plate.
Why not sacrifice Dozier in the 6th? Add on some runs. Regardless.
Sacrificing is about as prevalent as the SB nowadays Idahoal.
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Nobody wants to give the other team an easy out if they can avoid it.
I thought the same thing. Do something to get 2nd and 3rd with 1 out (but then again, we have Grandal coming up)
I wrote that comment before Dozier struck out. My comments go to limbo and Mark has to release them. I have tried everything to change it.is
Two runners on with no outs in the 6th and we don’t put the ball in play (3 straight K’s) after that will come back to bite us every stinking time, but I want to be wrong
yup. And you just knew the other team would score runs in their very next at bat, just to prove that very point
Doc is the dumbest manager I know. Madden on the 7th.
Another bad call from Roberts..the worts call. Unbelievable….
And Alexander????
This tie is fault of Roberst
I’d say it’s the failure to score runners.
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I’d also say Caleb Ferguson is growing into a lock-down reliever right before our eyes!
Roberts put Ferguson in the game and he kept AZ from scoring in the 8th! The tie is still the fault of Roberts!!
The tie was the fault of the Dodgers’ inability to score, plain and simple.
Why bring Jansen in after Ferguson gives up the lead, I am done with Robert’s??? Somebody please explain his reasoning??? AC or Mark really need an answer as I am beyond mad at DR right now. Or anyone?
There is no RIGHT way to do this, but for the Dodgers to win, they have to keep AZ from scoring in the 9th, so why not the best you have and win it in the bottom of the inning?
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I have no problem with that.
When you do not bunt with runners on first and second with nobody out, you blame that on Doc. You now change the attitude of your hitters. A fly ball gets you a run. A past ball or wild pitch get you a run. I do not care, Doc is an idiot.
well, he bunted this time. And now we have 2nd an 3rd with 1 out. Can we get that fly ball, or even the passed ball or wild pitch?
No we get a double and two runs. Matt Kemp back to back hero days.
I just heard a report (unconfirmed) that Yadier Alveraz has left the team. He has packed everything up and left the clubhouse. Once there is confirmation, I am sure this is going to get out fast. There was just something never right about Alveraz. He always came across as entitled. I have been hoping that he would be traded the last two years.
Fascinating! Can we recoup some of that signing bonus?
To all those who called Doc an idiot, I’ll await your next comments….
Doc is an idiot!
😉
They need to go back and read what I wrote about second guessers.
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It’s all about execution!
Roberts is a genius jajaja. No Execution depends on the players. there are correct and incorrect movements and these do not depend on the results the players can or can not fail that does not depend on Roberts. it was a bad move to put madden in that situation event if he had taken the zero. I criticize roberts for his movements not by his results he does not take decisions that give Dodgers the best option of win the game….anyway fantastic Dodgers win. I hope Kemp take this for inspiration
MK. MVP at least today.Sweet
As Lou Reed would say, “take a walk on the wild side”!!!
I am sure glad mgmt. didn’t give up on Kemp!!!
It is going to be a wild next 4 weeks!! Looking forward to the traffic on this blog.
On serious note, tomorrow won’t be any easier; we get deGrom!
Like Mark said, Kemp has some of the best numbers when runners are in scoring position, on this team.
And I guess it is more then luck last night, since this was a high fastball today, that Kemp hit to win this game.
Matt is now 7 for 15 against Bradley, so he has seen this guy well, in the last few years.
We have to keep this intensity against the Mets tomorrow too.
Got to give Kemp a lot of credit. In his previous at bat he swung and missed three fastballs. He had to be looking fastball after hitting that hanging curve last night.
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Loved Verdugo’s AB. For a rookie who was just brought up, he was calm, cool and collected in that situation. And Muncy did a nice job as well.
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Has Descalso taken Nick Ahmed’s place specializibg in HRs against the Dodgers?
Doc is definitely an idiot . The only one I know who is a bigger idiot, is me.
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Now let’s get deGrom tomorrow.
Without Muncy, we don’t win this game!
And I still think he needs to start against any leftie starter, we face.
There was nothing wrong with Roberts putting Madson in the game when he did. That’s why the Dodgers acquired him. He’s a 38 year veteran with a long resume’ of success in high leverage situations. In fact I believe that Roberts only left Ferguson in the game at that time to face the left handed hitting Descalso, after which he intended to remove him in favor of Madson.
“38 year old veteran”.
I am the one who said Doc is an idiot. I wrote my comments in real time. Not after the fact I did not second guess Doc once. My comments do not show up in real time. For some reason my comments go to Mark’s server and they stay there until he release them.
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Let me explain. Tell me why Doc did not bunt in a previous inning when we had runners on first and second with none out and then in the ninth inning with the same situation he does bunt and we win. The whole situation changes when You have runners in second and third with one out. The double play is off, the past ball or wild pitch can score a run. The pitcher may not bury a curve in the dirt. I wrote my comment as soon as I saw Dozier was not bunting. We were leading at that time 1-0. We needed to add on to our score.
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We won and I am happy. Doc in my opinion is a horrible manager. In play offs, those kind of decisions will lose you games. The players bailed Doc out and Doc did make the right decision in the ninth inning.
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Another decision, which I never said anything was to let Feguson pitch the ninth and after the HR, brings in Jansen. Why not let Jansen start the ninth. Please explain this to me.
You can’t take all the credit. I think Doc’s line-up choices are usually asinine. And his pitching choices often leave much to be desired.
I also feel that Madsen should of pitched his first inning in a non leveraged situation. Then if you are comfortable with him, let him pitch in a leveraged situation. Another dumb Doc move. Throwing him to the wolves immediately is dumb. Now ask me how I really feel about Doc.
Idahoal
Don’t worry about it, we all do this, including me, because we only want the best for the team!
I understand your reasoning with Madsen, because we have had new pitchers and players, that were veterans, that have had trouble pitching in LA, in a penant race.
Like what happened to Axford, in his first appearance, against the Astros.
And todays game, was an important game.
And I thought we were pretty lucky to get out of that inning, that Madsen pitched in.
And believe me, if that inning would have turned out differently, more people would have thought more highly, of your idea.
Some also told you a bunt was not appropriate, but the Dodgers bunted, in that next inning.
I just think Roberts only trusts certain players to bunt like Kike’, and that is why he didn’t do it, in the inning before.
Turner, Machado, Bellinger, Dozier, and Grandal, the heart of the order, were 0-17 and we still won.
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Hopefully Buehler’s foot x-rays come back negative. He is much needed.
What happened with Buehler?
Not really sure, but they are doing precautionary x-rays. Maybe from all his activity on the base paths.
Or post game celebration.
Rudy
Your right, we can’t always expect to win this way.
And we were pretty lucky that Matt could come through, in these last couple games.
Great win for Dodgers today! Matt kemp has got to believe he has been destined for this magical season. This time last year he was probably totally unwanted by anyone but his life changed when he returned to the team he loves! What a difference a year can make. I hope he can continue this magic ride through the World Series. Btw if Gale can catch, throw, and tag out a runner while making contact he may become our catcher. I am being sarcastic but with him here maybe Grandal can be pinch hit for now. Great series which could have gone either way but credit the Dodgers for playing 27 outs. Now degrom ugh! At least the other one went today.
AC – is Stevie Berman the next position player to convert to pitching or was he just filling in as the Quakes head to the play-offs? Three great innings today. He missed so much time this year but hit well when he played.
I think Berman is a candidate much like Stetson Allie. I do not know how much catching Berman is going to do in the Dodgers organization. I did not see him pitch so I do not know if he has that 100 MPH fastball that Allie has, but it could be something to lengthen his career. If as you suggest he is manager/coach material (and I agree with you that he is), then this will help him in that regard, if that is what he wants to do.
I don’t think he has a 100 mph fastball. Today he threw 20 pitches, 14 for strikes, in three innings so was definitely just trying to get the game over with the Quakes huge lead and heading into the play-offs. The Quakes pen is not all that strong now. Maybe he will be more like Blake Smith or become a very young coach as Austin Chubb and Jairo Pacheco were/are. Jairo turned 22 in July. I don’t think Stevie would want to end his playing career yet but if he is to convert I hope it is sooner than Allie or Smith did.
Madson wasn’t being thrown to the wolves. He’s a 38 year old veteran who was acquired for just such situations. The last thing he would want is to be coddled in that situation as if he were some raw rookie. Rest assured he understands his role, and was happy that the manager showed confidence in him to rise to the occasion.
Madson wasn’t being thrown to the wolves. He’s a 38 year old veteran who was acquired for just such situations. The last thing he would want is to be coddled in that situation as if he were some raw rookie. Rest assured he understands his role, and was happy that the manager showed confidence in him to rise to the occasion. —
Concerning Alvarez:
Per source: Yadier Alvarez got in an argument last night with Drillers management about his slated start on Sun. (It’s believed he did not want to pitch in a meaningless game with playoffs clinched and wanted to pitch in 1st games of playoff series with Arkansas starting on Weds)
Not good
Per source: Yadier Alvarez got in an argument last night with Drillers management about his slated start on Sun. (It’s believed he did not want to pitch in a meaningless game with playoffs clinched and wanted to pitch in 1st games of playoff series with Arkansas starting on Weds)……SOMEBODY KNOWS ABOUT IT?
As I stated above, I have never been that high on Alvarez. He has never come across as a team first player. He has always come across as an entitled player. “Look at the money you gave me, so you better use me right.” If the stories are right, his value has tanked and the Dodgers will never get what they might have. He will be 23 next year, still young enough to be considered a prospect, but I do not see how he will fit in the Dodgers organization after quitting on them (again if the reports are true). FAZ is not vengeful and will not do what I might have done, which is keep him in the organization but away from teammates until he can become a minor league free agent. If they can get something for him from Tampa move him as fast as you can.
Any Updates on Walker and his injured foot? Or How it was injured? I hate precautionary x-rays, usually indication of something more then just a mild injury. And he seems to be a tough kid so him complaining of something is an ominous sign. Definitely a huge piece moving forward, he had an extra gear today which shows how much his stuff would play in the postseason.
Has anyone heard or know what’s the story on Buehler’s foot
I am no Doc sympathizer. I have been hard on him for the last several weeks. But I am not going to blame him for any of the moves today. In fact as I said above, I give him credit for batting Verdugo in Chris Taylor’s place. With runners on 1st and 2nd and Dozier up, many have said that Dozier should have bunted. The last sacrifice bunt Dozier has had was in 2016 (2), and he had none in 2015. So bunting is not something that Dozier is comfortable with or much experience. What if he bunts right back to the pitcher for a DP? No, the Dodgers have a better chance with Dozier hitting in that situation. It just did not work (no execution).
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Ryan Madson is the most experienced high leverage reliever the Dodgers have (outside of Jansen). Unfortunately Madson walked Marte to put the DBacks in a Sac Fly situation. And they scored. It would not have been an issue if our high priced rental SS had come through earlier in the game. They executed, LAD did not. It was not a strategy problem.
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I do not have a problem with Ferguson facing Descalso. It’s not like Descalso hasn’t done that all year to do the Dodgers. Sure Jansen could have come in the top of the 9th, but he had pitched both Friday and Saturday. Descalso is 1-12 against Jansen, but that was a 3 run HR this year. Jansen is not the same pitcher he was in 2016 or 2017.
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Kike’ is an accomplished bunter (unlike Dozier) so it made perfect sense to bunt in the 9th. Kemp to be followed by a PH (probably Toles) was a good gamble.
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No, Doc has made a lot of questionable calls lately, but today was not one of them.
High-priced rental SS? Ouch, AC.
I know I am in the minority, but that is how I feel. He has 25 games to convert me.
AC
I noticed that too, so you aren’t the only one.
I actually think the pitcher was more afraid to pitch to Turner, there too.
And I think I agree with that!
But like you said, we have 25 more games, so let’s hope it is different, next time.
IT’S HARD FOR ME TO ACCEPT THAT A MLB PLAYER CANT BUNTS
You do not have to like it (I do not) but that is the game today. Sabermetrics does not like giving up outs.
Lefty vs Dozier. I get why they didn’t bunt. If I were to bunt Dozierin that situation then I would pinch hit for Grandal who is the most anti-clutch player on this team over his Dodgers tenure. And we all know he would have let Grandal hit. Batting him in the middle of the order is asinine. I second Rudy’s thoughts on his lineups.
Reports on prospect(?) Yadier Alvarez:
Yadier Alvarez has made some electric pitches tonight, but has the worst intangibles of any @TulsaDrillers pitcher I’ve seen in their 42-year history. Can’t field his position, can’t hold runners, doesn’t cover 1st, works slowly, bad body language…
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Per source: Yadier Alvarez got in an argument last night with Drillers management about his slated start on Sun. (It’s believed he did not want to pitch in a meaningless game with playoffs clinched and wanted to pitch in 1st games of playoff series with Arkansas starting on Weds) Alvarez reportedly packed up his locker and took an UBER from Springfield, MO to Tulsa, OK. A 3-hour ride traveling over 180 miles. He’s been unreachable today (the day he was supposed to start).a
It all goes back to that he feels he is entitled. I heard that about him right after he was signed, and it first became evident in 2017 when he was on multiple temporary inactive stints. I cannot see him ever pitching for the LAD MLB team. If he does not show up tomorrow (final game), he should be suspended and taken off the playoff roster, and never play in the LAD organization again.
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If I were in charge, I would place him on the AZL Roster next year and keep him on the Temporary Inactive List and tell him to stay home for the year, or advise him to retire and go away with his millions. But I hold a grudge and am vindictive.
Per Gurnick:
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler was taken for precautionary X-rays of his left foot after pitching 6 1/3 innings in the club’s 3-2 comeback win over Arizona on Sunday. The club stated that no results would be available until Monday.
No details were provided on how Buehler was injured, but he mentioned that he felt something in his foot while pitching that worsened as the game went on.
If a major league player cannot bunt, then he needs to learn. Another nail in Doc’s coffin. I know, that is the way it is played today. I do not like it.
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I do not care if Madsen is a 59 year old veteran, the first time with a new team common sense tell me you put him in a situation where he can succeed and you as a manager can get a better feel for what he has and what he can do. There have been players in the past that did not perform very well in LA.
RC just keeps slugging, winning their 51st game of the 2nd half, 14-1 over the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels). Max Gamboa pitched his best game of the year for the Quakes with his 5.0 scoreless IP, allowing 2 hits and 3 walks with 7 K’s. Patrick Curry pitched 2 innings allowing the one run. Steve Berman pitched the final two innings allowing only a single. Offensively, Cody Thomas went 3-5 with his 19th HR and 4 RBI’s (84). Thomas is #2 in the Cal League in RBI’s only behind fellow Quake, Cristian Santana (108). Donovan Casey went 2-5, Ed Yarnall went 2-4, and Omar Estevez hit in his 24th straight game going 2-6 with his league leading 43rd double. Estevez has been outshined by Gavin Lux, but he has had a very good year. He should be able to go to AA next year full of confidence.
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The Drillers are tuning up for their playoff showdown with the Arkansas Travelers with a 7-1 victory over the Springfield Cardinals. Gavin Lux (2-5 w/ a triple), Keibert Ruiz (3-5), and Michael Ahmed (2-4 w/double and triple) led the offense. Andrew Sopko started and pitched the 1st three innings for the absent Yadier Alvarez. He surrendered the one run on 4 hits with 7 K’s. Austin Hamilton relieved Sopko and pitched 4 scoreless innings to get his 1st AA win. Michael Boyle and Shea Spitzbarth finished the game with 1.0 inning each to preserve the victory.
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5 pitchers went to the bump today for the Great Lakes Loons In their 5-3 victory over the Sound Bend Cubs. Jose Chacin went four in relief and Devein Hemmerich pitched the 9th to record his 2nd save. Darien Nunez followed Chacin for two innings to get the win. Luke Heyer went 2-3 for the only multi hit game for the Loons. As DC already stated above, Matt Cogen hit a 7th inning bases clearing double to put the Loons ahead and give them the eventual victory.
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OKC lives to fight one more day. The OKC Dodgers won two games today; 6-4 in the conclusion of yesterday’s suspended game, and 11-8 in the regularly scheduled game. In the first game, Brock Stewart started and went 5.0 innings surrendering 4 runs on 6 hits. Joe Broussard and Brian Schlitter finished up for the win. Edwin Rios, Travis Taijeron, and Henry Ramos each had 2 hit games to lead the offense, with Rios and Ramos both hitting doubles. In the nightcap, the Dodgers had a 17 hit attack led by Henry Ramos going 5-6 and 5 RBIs with his 21st double and 10th HR. Connor Joe, Donovan Solano, and Edwin Rios all had 2 hit games with Jake Peter (7), Rios (10), and Joe (6) also hitting HRs on the day. Joe Broussard pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the victory with his 10th save. The regular season concludes tomorrow with one game against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. The Dodgers find themselves 0.5 games behind the Sky Sox, and if they lose, their season is over. The Sky Sox have played one less game than the Dodgers, and I do not know if they will be allowed to pick up one of the postponed games. Because of the packed playoff schedule, I am guessing no, but I really have no idea. I guess we will all find out tomorrow if OKC wins their 4th in a row against the Sky Sox.
Prior to game 2 of this 4 game series I in the gist gave thanks to Kemp and Grandal for helping Dodgers through the rough period at the season’s beginning. Thusly for my sake to gloat I picture a team mate of his pointing out what I said and that had affected Matt to rise to the occasion these last two games. You know, like a butterfly flaps his wings in China to where a hurricane results in the island stream. At any rate the chances that this team will hoist a trophy are improving the further we traverse this season. I’m certain we all have doubts that will happen but I wouldn’t put money elsewhere. I never did that even when the Dodgers were already eliminated. This is a team that takes it’s wins with the same grace as with it’s losses and owns both as a team. A big part of what they do is not for selfish reasons. They want to do it for us fans to. As a team they all deserve a ring. ALL of them. CHEERS!