Andrew Toles Has Won the CF Job!

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1. 1. Why in the world would the Pads want Gonzalez back? They have a stud at 1st.
   2. Toles needs some more time to prove himself worthy.
   3. It’s Happy Hour.
   4. Hello to Andrew and Farhan.

2. I am not opposed to Toles being the everyday CF. Bums might be (okay he will be). But I am also not ready to walk away from Joc, and just hand it to Toles. Toles is hitting very well lately, and hits in the clutch. But will he continue?
   .
   I am also not quite ready to move Alex Verdugo, but I do agree that Braun is a difference maker, and besides Seager/JT, the Dodgers do not have that. It will hurt some, but I am okay with trading for Ryan Braun. But I would try to stay away from the deferred portion of his contract, which Milwaukee has agreed to assume in prior discussions (so I have heard). I cannot see the Padres agreeing to AGon. They have Wil Myers firmly entrenched at 1B, with a nice extension signed this winter. There is nothing they can do with AGon. The Padres also rely more on speed than the Dodgers, so AGon is going to clog that up as well. The Pads make no sense for AGon.
   .
   While we just completed the 1st month of the season, there are some teams that are definitely looking like they will be sellers; Toronto, KC, and SF. KC has to move some or all of Cain, Hosmer, and Moustakas. They also have Kelvin Herrera who may be available. Can we try for Cain and Herrera before the Nats come calling? Toronto has gotten off to a very bad start but were waiting for Happ and Sanchez to return to the rotation. However, the blisters have returned for Sanchez today. While I have absolutely zero expectations, I would be thrilled with the thought of Kevin Pillar in Dodger Blue. SF is just not very good right now. Losing Bumgarner just crippled them.
   .
   Another team that may be having some real problems are the Mets. Syndergaard came out today with a biceps problem after giving up 5 ER in 1.1 innings. He missed Thursday’s start because of a biceps problem, and chose not to have a MRI. If you read between the lines, that decision was not well received by the field or front office management. That puts Syndergaard, Matz, and Lugo on the shelf. Harvey, Wheeler, and Gsellman are not pitching well, leaving Jacob de Grom as the one bright star. Cespedes and Duca on the DL and they are hurting quite a bit offensively. I bet they wish they kept Turner and Murphy.

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy9_lfjQopU

4. Why?
   .
   Why post inane trade ideas? Why debate them?
   .
   Less than a week ago Scott was complaining about the amorphous term “workhorse.” Now our starting pitching is starting to come around.
   .
   Yet, more rash comments about improbable solutions to problems that may not exist

   1. Why debate anything? When you consider that your posts and mine and everyone else’s are equally and universally irrelevant – we’re just fans and not actual GMs – it makes it easier to take them, and yourself, less seriously.

      Harebrained as they sometimes are, Mark’s trade proposals raise questions current and future value of players. Is Toles an everyday keeper? Is it time to give up on the hope of Joc hitting for average and not striking out at his prodigious rate? How do you deal with a declining Agon with still two years remaining on his contract?

      Ultimately what discuss means nothing because we have no influence…but it’s fun to talk about sometimes.

5. I will answer several questions:

   Why would the Padres want want Gonzalez?
   –
   Well, maybe they wouldn’t unless he were almost free . He’s a local legend and Meyers could play OF for a year or two. While the Pods are rebuilding , A-Gon could put butts in seats. I know it’s a stretch.
   –
   Why post inane trade ideas? Why debate them?
   –
   While I won’t debate them, “out-of-the-box thinking” sometimes yields amazing ideas.
   –
   You have to challenge the boundaries of conventional thinking. It doesn’t always work. Well, it seldom works. But, sometimes it works like you would not believe.

6. We call it “Skunk Works” – crazy ideas that can yield amazing solutions.
   –
   I have seen it work too many times that I don’t care if you make fun of it.
   –
   What I post may not be the answer, but… it may lead to the answer.

7. Mark, that’s why I love this site! Because of your “crazy ideas”! They are tons of fun! Keep them coming!

8. Seattle loves trading. How about gonzo and farmer for Nelson Cruz plus 6-7 2years. Or farmer Pederson McCarthy for Braun.

9. Also Pederson and gonzo to Miami for ozuna. Dodgers pay 70percent Donnie baseball would like that.

10. Love it Mark, Toles is hot, hitting .400 in his last 4 games, 6/15, 13 total bases

    I hope he keeps it going, if he does, certainly an upgrade over Joc and obviously the best lead off candidate

    Agon the anchor is here to stay I think, I hope he heals and raises his average, I hope he did not lose the ability to drive in runs, he is AGON after all, I give him time, like him 5 or 6 in the order

    Bellinger and Toles need to play, Agon needs to heal, DL him when Joc gets back, put Bells at first for awhile

    Trayce Thompson batting .023 and slugging .023, 1/43 at OKC, HUH????

    1. Thompson is a mess. He is seeing a sports psychologist.

       1. Maybe Thompson should see an optometrist because apparently he is not seeing the baseball when he’s up to bat.

11. Great win today and gained a game! They have Kershaw, Urias and Wood lined up for the Giants and smell blood in the water. Sharks need to eat and nothing tastes better than Giants meat. Taylor deserves to stay but probably won’t, same for Bellinger, SVS is overdue to be sent down and play everyday and maybe find his stroke.
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    I would love to have Braun but not for a king’s ransom to make AGon go away. Don’t think he will be put on the DL and he is starting to hit, just no power. I prefer they keep Joc but Toles and Bellinger are looking pretty good! Faz will pull the trigger for the right deal, 5 and 10 don’t concern the Dodgers as they are not on his no trade list. I agree with AC there are other cheaper options out there for a RH OF power bat that won’t block the kids, but as I said would love to have Braun in LF. I also enjoy you stirring the pot!
    –
    Thompson may need to go to Tulsa as he is hurting OKC at this point. What happened to him besides the injury? His confidence must be totally shot.
    –
    Fields and Liberatore will be up and down all year as needed. Injuries keep popping up that give players a chance to show what they have. It’s a great time to be a Dodgers farm hand.

12. Mark, I do love the lineup that you’re trade brings the Dodgers. However, I do agree the Madres aren’t taking Gonzalez period. I also think you overpaid and the Brewers aren’t in need of outfielder. Although talent is talent.

    If the Dodgers could get Gonzalez to take a DL stint so he could start hitting, there is a few teams that may be a 3rd team. Miami seems like a good place for him. There is a few more depending on whether it’s this season or next

    Funny, what a couple days means in baseball. Toles was a goner a few days ago to many. Now he’s a stud. I believe in him and I do think he needs more AB’s vs lefties. Gutierrez means SVS is going down first I believe. Forsythe will send Taylor down. Joc will send Bellinger down unfortunately. Segedin will be sent to AAA.

    Unless there’s a. DL stint coming up for someone in the pen. the Dodgers are going to have choose between Romo and Hatcher.

    1. I am not sure Miami is a landing spot for AGon. The team is in negotiations to be sold, and I do not think that AGon is something new owners would want to take on. Puig, being Cuban, would be a much better draw in Miami than AGon. In addition Justin Bour is a LH hitting 1B with a $553K salary and arbitration due to begin for 2018. While not lighting it up this year, the Marlins do like him (or maybe they just like his LH bat and salary).

       1. How about the Yankees? Their pair of current 1st basemen suck. Maybe Gonzalez could still reach that right field porch and he would only cost them $43M over the next two years. And the Yankees can also afford 10 Greinkes and 20 Cuetos.

          1. Box, they would be the one team I could see taking AGon. If they are still in the race come July, and the 1B combo do not improve, I can see the Yankees reaching out. AGon will still need to turn on the pitch and get it in the air to take advantage of that RF porch. And the Yankees can afford 20 Greinkes and 40 Cuetos.

             1. The Dodgers would still need to eat a big portion of his contract.

    2. Hawkeye

       I was thinking the same thing, that you were thinking, about how just a week, can make a big difference, in baseball.

       I do think Toles deserves more playing time, but I don’t want to trade Joc.

       The biggest thing that bothers me about Joc, is that he doesn’t shorten his swing, when runners are in scoring position, when he has two strikes, most of the time.

       I think he needs to make that adjustment, because he is now, in his third year.

       I do think that Toles has showed a lot character, and mental toughness, since he has joined, the team.

       He made that transition from A ball last year, look pretty easy, when we know, that not many players make a transition, like that.

       He has also shown some mental toughness this week, by pulling himself up, and hitting his way, out of a slump.

       And I think that shows a lot, especially for a player, that once, had anxiety problems, when he was younger.

       I do think that Toles was a victim of these platoons, because he found himself on the wrong side of a platoon, when we were facing more lefties, then righties.

       And because of that, Toles had only started two of the last seven games, before he got that big hit, that put us ahead, in SF.

       I also think that is mostly why, he went into that slump.

       Because these one or two at bats, late in a game, is not the same as starting a game, and getting four, at bats.

       I still think they should play mostly, the everyday line up.

       I do think Roberts should start Toles, against some lefties, to see what he does.

       And I like the fact that Toles is talking to Turner, and getting advice from Turner, and I would hope all of our young players, are doing the same.

       I know Toles needs to get better on defense, and like Mark said, it is a lot easier for a player to only play one position, and know, they will only play there, all of the time.

       And Toles actually looked more confident in center, yesterday.

       It is amazing how getting a few hits, can help a young player’s, confidence.

       But I would stick with Toles in left, for now.

       And with more confidence on defense, I think Toles can be one of the best leftfielders, that we have had, in a long time, with his good speed, and his strong arm.

13. MINOR LEAGUE – 04/30/2017
    Great Lakes – Devin Smelzer was the lone bright spot in this game. He pitched 5.0 innings, gave up 5 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks, and 8 strike outs. He got the loss, but pitched better than that. The two relievers that followed gave up 5 runs in their 3 innings. Lux, Hansen, and Ruiz each had 1 single for the entire Loons offense.
    Great Lakes 1 – Dayton Dragons 7

    Tulsa – Josh Sborz came to pitch today. 5.1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 4 BB, 0 K. His ERA is down to single digits. Sierra came in with 2 outs in the 7th inning, gave up one unearned run on 2 hits, 1 BB, and 2 K. Technically he got the blown save and the win. Wynston Sawyer had a three hit day, including his 2nd HR and two doubles. Edwin Rios continued his solid hitting with another 2 hit day, and is batting a robust .376.
    Tulsa 4 – Northwest Arkansas Naturals 3.

    RC Quakes – Dennis Santana threw very well today… 5.1 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 8K. His ERA is down to 1.14. While White and Buehler have got all of the attention, Dennis Santana, the 21 year old RHP from San Pedro de Macoris, DR, is quietly having another AS year. 23.2 IP, 22 H, 7 R (3 earned), 3 BB, 26 K. 2B/3B Zach McKinstry, continues to hit well after his April 19 promotion from Great Lakes. Zach is now batting .355 at RC, after batting .371 at Great Lakes. McKinstry had three hits today and had 2 key RBIs to put the Quakes ahead in the 9th. C Garrett Kennedy also had a 3 hit day. Franklin Gutierrez had an additional 2 hits in his 2nd rehab start. For the year, DJ Peters is batting .309/.441/.543/.954. The Quakes scored 7 in the 9th to take a 10-8 lead only to lose on a walk-off 2 R HR in the bottom of the 9th.
    RC Quakes 10 – Lancaster JetHawks 11.

    OKC – DH Postponed due to inclement weather.

14. One good reason not to install Toles in CF – he isn’t a CF. He runs bad routes to the ball. (Apparently, teaching OFs how to run to where the ball is going to be is a lost art or isn’t covered in the minors any more.) Thompson doesn’t run good routes – Kemp didn’t either. Pederson is always in the right place because he knows how to move there efficiently.
    –
    What happened to defense starts up the middle? The Dodgers have Grandal (bad at blocking pitches, good at framing, so-so at stopping SB), Forsyth ( he hasn’t been there long), Seager (makes silly mistakes at times) and Pederson, who can play CF. And now, we get Toles instead?
    –
    And what about a small sample size? Has Toles proven that he’s ready to be an everyday player?

    1. Joc has improved by playing everyday in CF. I see Toles take a few bad routes but he has more speed than Joc and more than makes up for it. I actually think he will be a better CF than Joc.
       –
       I am not sure what you are seeing with Corey and Logan, but I consider them both to be very solid defensively. Logan has a high defensive IQ and works very hard on his defense, which he has improved. Corey has 2 errors, Logan has 1. Corey gets to balls others may not just due to his length. The talk about moving him to 3B is by fans who have no clue… not the team.
       –
       The Dodgers have a lot of pitchers who bounce the curve or slider because that’s one of Honeycutt’s ways. Yasmani worked hard to improve his footwork and lost weight to help. The Dodgers are 3rd from last in Wild Pitches with 6 – tied with the Cardinals. Seattle leads with 18. Grandal does have 3 PB, but I remember two of them: one bounced about 18 inches in front of the plate and just skidded without coming up and the other acted like it hit a rock and bounced over Yasmani. Sometimes you can’t do much about them, but there’s a person at another board who criticizes Yasmani everytime he makes an out or mistake or spits. I think you might be listening to his irrational rants too much. Grandal is not a Gold Glove Catcher, but why do pitchers like to pitch to him so much? The Dodgers have consistently been near the top in ERA every year with Grandal. You can’t do that with a bad catcher. BTW, he’s throwing out .533% of attempted thieves.
       –
       I actually think the Dodgers are strong up the middle.

       1. Mark

          I think Grandal must of read what you said about him, because he got three hits, yesterday.

       2. There’s about 300% LESS CHANCE of Toles becoming a better CF than Pederson, as of your three trades becoming reality.
          .
          And to quote Dean Wormer, there’s Zero point Zero chance of those three trades happening.
          .
          Can we stay grounded in reality? There’s lot more to CF than speed. There’s arm, there’s ball pickup, there’s routing…

          1. Of course, someone said that Bellinger was not coming up anytime soon too, so there is that!

             😉

          2. Bluto

             I am not advocating Toles playing center over Joc right now, but Toles has a much better arm, then Joc does.

             1. What in the world do you base that on, MJ?

                100% correct Mark. I’m wrong alll the time, but I’m not alone on that.

             2. Agreed MJ. Toles has a much better arm. I think Bellinger is what we hoped Joc would be a few years ago. I’m not advocating giving up on Joc. Joc is an excellent CF. He gets great jumps and reads on the ball. He does need to improve on coming up on balls that are hits to CF and picking; them up cleanly.

       3. I don’t have an opinion about Forsyth – I haven’t seen enough of him yet. Seager looks OK to me defensively but made a zillion errors last year. Grandal looks awkward behind the dish to me. It’s an eyeball test thing. His footwork doesn’t look good and there is a reason that he has had a large number of PB the past few years. If he is improving than great. Grandal is throwing out more runners this year so he has improved in that area.
          –
          I suspect that pitchers like throwing to him because of the pitch framing thing. Incidentally, he has given credit to AJ Ellis in learning how to prepare for a series and call a game.

          1. He made 18 error last season. Hardly a zillion. Brandon Crawford made 21 a couple of years ago and he’s a GG shortstop. Seager will never have the range of some, but he’s a plus defender by all defensive metrics.

          2. Bluto

             The scouting report on his arm, was a 70, out of 70.

             Joc scouting grade on his arm, was 50.

15. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/04/quick-hits-braun-sanchez-benintendi-rizzo.html?fv-home=true&post-id=91282

    1. I am not all warm and fuzzy about 33 year old players with arm issues (even LFers). Per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Braun was initially diagnosed with right trapezius soreness, but clarified Sunday that he is suffering from additional injuries in his arm that are the main issue for him.
       .
       “Despite being hampered by multiple ailments, Braun also said after Sunday’s game that he is optimistic about his chances of avoiding a trip to the disabled list. Assuming it is in fact just wear and tear and there is no structural damage, the 33-year-old could be back by the end of the week if his soreness is able to go down as he gets additional rest. However, his absence could be much longer if his arm fails to respond to treatment in the way that the team hopes.” Wear and tear are concerns and do not usually just go away. You learn to manage some pain, not always eliminate it.
       .
       There also is some concern about Braun’s contract. However, it is not as onerous as some may believe. Braun has 4 years remaining of a guaranteed contract for 2017-2020, with a $4M buyout of a 2021 option. He’s guaranteed $76 million over that 4 year span–which includes the $4 million buyout for the option. On top of that, there are deferments which lighten the financial burden over those four years. A total of $14 million dollars is deferred over that four year period. Another $4 million was deferred from the 2016 salary. That all has to be paid back starting in 2022–the year after his mutual option. But it’s spread out over 10 years which equals just $1.8 million per year. So not only do the Brewers–or any trading team–never pay Braun more than $15 million in any given season, the deferments are portioned out so that they wouldn’t really impact any future payroll. While his actual payroll would not exceed $15M, I do not know how the deferred portion is considered pursuant to the new CBA for luxury tax purposes.
       .
       This is not an AGon or Crawford contract. It is not even an Ethier contract. Eliminating the deferred portion makes this contract at least palatable. However, to eliminate the deferred portion of the contract would require better prospects in return, so that would have to be considered. So let the wild “innane” trade proposals begin. By the way, while I absolutely agree that the FO does not give a rip about what we may think about player personnel or potential changes, I personally like Mark’s trade proposals, as well as Bums’ and Boxouts’. They are fun to consider. They elicit comments from some of us. Blogs are meant to be entertaining, and I for one am entertained. So Mark, Bums, Box and whomever else, keep the inane trade scenarios coming.

       1. For clarity, the last part of my post was not referring to you Watford.

       2. AC, you left the “s” out of inane.
          😉

       3. I do believe the Brewers were willing to eat the deferred portion of his contract last season. Sure they would take an outfielder with potential, but they aren’t going to be in a hurry to move Braun this year. Not yet at least. And when and if they are, they will want pitching.

16. Hawkeyes–I agree with you. Taylor, Segedin, Bellinger and SVS are going down. And yet what is Bellinger going to learn at AAA? It is going to be fun to see Seager, Turner, and Bellinger on a daily basis. All three are very aggressive hitters along with Toles. Taylor is great off the bench. He plays great defense and hits. I think Grandal had three hits yesterday. Maybe he is coming. Puig hits to many ground balls. He is hitting the ball hard, but on the ground. He needs to change.
    I think the boys in blue are on their way. April is over.

    1. Idahoal

       You are the one, that predicted that Toles, was heating up.

       Taylor also hit another HR, yesterday too

       He is hanging in there, and making it hard for Roberts, to make an easy decision, when some of the players on the DL, come back.

       1. Idahoal

          Puig is hitting a lot, of ground balls.

          I think when he doesn’t get a hit soon enough for him, he starts to try to pull, almost everything, and that causes him to hit grounders, to the left side, of the infield.

          1. Seems to me that his new stance and approach at the plate has less emphasis on going the other way. He’s moved so far off the plate and added the JT leg kick with a more open stance. He’s giving up the outside corner I think in part to stop chasing balls that are outside. He’s just got to elevate because he’s hitting the ball plenty hard.

             1. Hawkeye

                Your insight about Puig, does make a lot of sense.

                That is to bad, because Puig has so much power, to right center.

             2. I think it’s still a process and no doubt part of what they’re trying to correct with Puig is how rotational he gets. Now if he finishes high, ala Kemp, then we will see less balls hit to Short and more to RCF.

17. Another fun game yesterday! Dodgers now possess the the longest current winning streak in baseball and after all the gnashing of teeth are only 2 games out of first with the inept Midgets coming to town. My how things change.
    .
    I agree with most posters on the board. SD doesn’t want anything to do with Gonzalez. SD fans don’t want to pay to see Gonzalez stroll around the bases with his walker. They want to watch young up and coming studs, just like us.
    .
    Give the centerfield job to Toles? Kid has looked good to me since he broke in. What a story, Box boy makes good. My wife would even like that one, but she would want to know if he double bagged the heavy ones, before getting on board. Before anointing the soon to be 25 yr old, everyday starting center fielder after 176 MLB ABs and a TOTAL of 21 ABs against left handers, I would like to see a little more also. I especially don’t want to trade our center field DEPTH in the form of 25 yr old Pederson quite yet. Interestingly Toles and Joc are only about 33 days apart in age. And I know I don’t want to trade away a 20 yr old tearing it up at AAA, a guy someone said could be another Tony Gwynn with a cannon. Wouldn’t a trade of Pederson and Verdugo result in a BIG dent in our surplus of young left handed hitting outfielders, if Toles doesn’t cut it?
    .
    I’m sure FAZ will continue to engage the Brewers in trade talks for Braun, but Mark’s trade proposal is VERY unFAZ like. Unless the Brewers get real in their trade demands, we are going to have to make do with platoons for Pederson and Toles during 2017. Just like we have had to watch FAZ build a bridge over “troubled waters” to the up and coming young studs in the organization. It could be worse.
    .
    Always Compete stated, “Cespedes and Duca on the DL and they are hurting quite a bit offensively. I bet they wish they kept Turner and Murphy.” I think we all know the answer to that one AND I wonder how the DBags feel about the Shelby Miller trade or the Nationals about the Eaton trade right about now. It’s starting to look like a parade of injuries in MLB and our DEPTH continues to shine when the injury and suckage factor kicks in. I am enjoying watching guys like Toles, Taylor and Bellinger fill in. Yeah, we need more hitting, but maybe we already have it or can get it at the upcoming “bargain sales”.

    1. It is also cool to look back at trades that did not happen. It was written that the Nats were trying to unload Ryan Zimmerman to get a reliever or OF help, and contract relief. With contract obligations of $14M in both 2017 and 2018, $18M for 2019, and an $18M option in 2020 ($2M buyout), there were no takers. With an April line of .420/.458/.886/1.345 for his 1st 96 plate appearances, I bet they are very happy that he remains a Nat. He ends April with the ML lead in hits, RBIs, and HRs (tied with Thames).

18. Braun ain’t Dodger material! How is it that his potential clubhouse poisoning isn’t being taken into consideration while, at least to me, it’s a far bigger threat than Chapman could have been. The dude is a total ‘feel bad story’. I wouldn’t even want Bryce Harper on the Dodgers and I don’t even hate Harper, but only because Harper is a Peacock but a peacock is better that a puke but both are the sort I don’t want to go into battle with. It’s not because Braun used PEDs but the way he handled that situation. I wouldn’t share a secret with Braun and that is a litmus test of who I want on the team.

19. I agree Quas, I do not want Braun. Just do not like him in Dodger blue. Besides, we have young guys to fill in . If we trade Verdugo it will be a big mistake. I believe Bellinger and Verdugo are major league ready right now. Why give up that talent for an older player. We just need to stand pat. Our front office is not very good at giving young guys a chance. We have enough old guys hanging around like Roma and Utley. Chicago brought up four young guys within two years. We can do the same.

20. Here is how I feel about Puig and Joc. You have been major league players for 3 years or more. You are both excellent defensive outfielders. However, you are playing a position that demands offensive. If you cannot produce offensively, we need to find someone else. I would give them until July to produce.

21. Interesting trade proposals being tossed around, and checking the stats of players on teams who might be trade partners reveals some flaws: McCutchen had a big drop off last year that has continued this season; same with Cain who has 1 HR and 5 RBI this season; Pillar has a lifetime average of .269 and no power and does not take walks; Braun is the only one currently productive and he has arm injury and contract issues. The Giants will never help the Dodgers with a trade that may haunt them for years, Padres would be extra cautious as well.
    –
    Miami has traded with the Dodgers and Ozuna has put up .295-.357-.891 with 21 RBI this year, is young with a good contract, and they need pitching. Oakland has been a trade partner and Khris Davis has 10 Hr’s and 17 RBI’s this tear, OPS of 1.032 after smacking 42 HR’s last year. He has a lifetime .250 average and seems like a RH hitting Joc. The A’s need everything and love prospects. Just for fun Matt Kemp has a stat line of .321 and 1.077 with 6 HR’s and 16 RBI’s this season.
    –
    The reality is the deals must line up with the win now and win later goals and teams are trying to make the Dodgers overpay which they won’t do. It’s pretty early for teams to become sellers, and also early for the Dodgers to become buyers. I still would like to see Dickson get a shot, he is hitting .324 and his OPS is 1.012 just behind Bellinger but he is not even on their list of top 30 prospects. DJ Peters has shot up to 19 in his first full season.
    –
    The recent 4 game win streak and favorable schedule this month allows the team to see what they have, get everyone healthy and tinker around the edges, while allowing the minor league players to sort themselves out. The Rockies and DBacks are flawed and this will play out over the season. The Rockies tend to struggle on the road and the DBacks just don’t have the pitching. Not saying there won’t be a deal or 3 around the deadline but no dope fiend moves are coming or needed.
    –
    How long will they go with a 6 man rotation? Until someone has a bad game? The competition seems to be bringing out the best in all of the starters and the rest can’t hurt either. When Hill comes back there are 7 so one might go to the pen. Maeda and Ryu might do well in that role if Wood keeps his spot. Pretty good problem to have!

    1. Vegas

       I don’t worry about the Rockies, because they are always in first place, in the first month of the season, every year.

       And the grind their players have to go through in Colorado, along with the pitches looking much different when they are away, makes it hard for the Rockies hitters, to hit consistently, and make it though, the long season.

       And I haven’t even mentioned, what their pitchers have to go through, in Colorado, all year.

       And you are right, our starting pitching rotation, looks so much better now, then it did, in the first couple of weeks, in the season.

22. I don’t know enough to comment about trade proposals. It seems like a lot of you like that stuff, so keep it coming. I’m not interested in it, personally. Toles can play the game. Period. He has an energetic on field personality, and he can hit. He is a good leadoff man in an age when there are none. He is an Altuve lite. That’s good enough for me. Pederson will get his job back, Bellinger will be sent down, and Toles will be back in LF. I just hope he is not being platooned. AGon will serve out his contract, I think. He is too valuable a member of the team to let him go. He is Mr. LA, is a community service guy, and is the face of the team for Latinos. He will not hurt the team, even if only defensively. I like him in the lineup, but he should hit about 6 or 7. Ryu was a swing and miss guy in Glendale; it was disappointing to see him lose that. He might have found that groove again. It looks like the arm/shoulder is holding up. Hard to believe that the surgeons can do some of these repairs. Of course, they are working on world class, money be damned, young athletes. Probably makes it easier. The WORST TEAM IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE? THE giants. I hope they stay there.

    1. I agree with your projections that Joc goes back to CF when he comes back; Toles goes back to left; AGon is not going anywhere, and that his community service is very well received and respected by the fan base and FO; and Bellinger will be sent down. I do think both Joc and Toles will be platooned (for better or worse). I do not think either should be platooned; rested periodically against LHP, but not platooned.
       .
       I like Toles as leadoff, but I am not there with you on the Altuve lite moniker. Altuve is a career .312 hitter w/some pop, and SB potential in 3,571 plate appearances (5+ years). His least number of SB is 30 (last year) with a high of 56 (2014). I concede that the Dodgers do not value the SB like Houston does, but I do not see Toles as 40 SB person. Toles only has 191 plate appearances, and does have some pop. I know that you did not mean this to be a direct comparison (and I am not being critical), but Toles needs some additional time to be in the discussion. I hope he grows into the Altuve lite level, but I do not think he is there yet.

23. Buehler goes today. At OKC, 2 former major league starters start for OKC in a double header. Could be a preview of who the next call up is. Or trade bait.

24. DeJong? got crushed for Seattle yesterday.

    1. I like your comparison of Altuve light

       1. I still pull for Chase.

       2. Bobby

          I read on the MLB boxscore, of yesterday’s game.

          That Toles was one of three players, 5″ 9 or shorter, who have hit 5 HRs, this year.

          The first guy I looked up, was Altuve, but he has only hit, three HRs.

          And then I thought about the Rangers second base man, but he hadn’t hit five yet, either.

          Altuve light, sounds like a nice light beer.

          I wish they still had Michelob light, that was one smooth beer.

25. Bobbie 17, I am not advocating a trade, just looking at the possibilities thrown out there a bit deeper. There is a reason Joc and Wood would bring back the most: major league production and great contracts. Joc put up a 3.4 WAR last year at near the minimum salary. So why would the Dodgers let either one go? To potentially make the team better and more balanced because they think they can win it this year. They have to balance what any trade does a few years down the road also.
    –
    I agree AGon may finish his contract as he stays on the field, contributes in other ways and has a hard contract to move. Get what you can from him and plan for the future. It’s not his fault ‘The Trade’ was made.
    –
    No one is in a hurry to take Kazmir or Ethier off their hands so get what you can from them there also. Next year Crawford, Ethier and Guerrero drop off the books, almost $47 million gone and Kazmir, McCarthy and Ryu the year after that. If they stay the course they will be well out of luxury tax territory with young players coming in waves. Any trade that blocks the kids may backfire but there is a real need for another RH bat, especially if they can play all 3 OF spots, and if they can slide to 1B even better. SVS and Segedin are not top options and Gutierrez is limited to LF. Kike in CF is not ideal either but that’s what they have right now. Dickson is no CF either and made 5 errors in ST this March.

26. giants ranked 29-30 in baseball. Ahead of only the Royals. The price of champions. Love it.

27. Wow, what a surprise. I didn’t know you were up and running again. Great to see you at it again.

    1. Billy,
       –
       It’s good to be back. I had to leave some baggage behind.
       –
       Don’t be a stranger!

    2. Hello Sir, it’s been a while. Cheers!

28. Colorado is better because their bullpen is good right now. They acquired the closer I wish we could have gotten but he probably wanted to close. But it is a long season and their pitching will have to hold up. Right now everything is going their way but they are still only 2 games up. When and if the dodgers get hill back and he is pitching the way he can our pitching is going to be very good. I just worry our offense is not good enough. Seager and turner are very good, grandal is really streaky, puig and joc I’m afraid are just not very good. Forsyth average, agon hurt and heading the wrong way so our hope is in guys like toles bellinger. Verdugo is off to a great start in the minors otherwise that’s pretty much what we got without a trade.

    1. This is interesting.
       ~
       When Hill and Stewart return to health the rotation actually becomes crazy.
       ~
       Obviously Maeda/Hill and Urias will have usage limitations, but still…
       Kershaw, McCarthy, HIll/Urias, Maeda/Ryu, Wood/Stewart.
       ~
       This won’t end up being an issue in all likelihood, but if it doesn’t the crazy trade ideas will be out in force.

       1. We don’t want to hear trade ideas!
          –
          😉

    2. There,

       I wish the Rockies closer, was our set up guy.

29. DODGERS PLACE HYUN-JIN RYU ON DL,
    RECALL JOSH FIELDS
    .
    LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed left-handed pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu on the 10-day disabled list with a left hip contusion and recalled right-handed pitcher Josh Fields from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
    .
    Fields will make his third stint with the club after tossing scoreless relief in eight of nine games for the Dodgers this season, posting a 1.29 ERA (1 ER/7.0 IP) and striking out 12 batters against only one walk in 7.0 innings. Fields last pitched on Saturday against the Phillies, allowing his first run of the season on two hits in 0.2 innings of relief for Los Angeles and was optioned to Triple-A OKC following the game.
    .
    Ryu made his fifth start of the season yesterday against the Phillies, allowing just one run on three hits in 5.1 innings and striking out a season-high nine batters to record his first win of the season. It was his first victory since August 31, 2014 at San Diego. Ryu has gone 1-4 with a 4.05 ERA (12 ER/26.2 IP) this season, while striking out 29 batters against eight walks.

30. Back to a 5-man rotation…
    .
    I was going to post tomorrow that Ryu might, could use a blow after being out 2 years.
    –
    FAZ is going after the All-Time DL record!
    –
    Ryu is really hurt.
    –
    WINK, WINK, NOD, NOD!

    1. Seriously.
       ~
       The team could be moving into a very gray area where they are out and out manipulating the new 10 day DL.

31. Let’s see. When Hill comes off the DL that will send Wood back to the pen unless Maeda gets shelled again. So, when Ryu comes off the DL will it be time for a Maeda DL trip? Urias is up to stay according to the team so unless Hill continues to have blister problems something will have to give.

32. The darts hit Grandal and Gonzalez again. 4th and 5th respectively.

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