Complaints have been registered that the Dodgers have too many starters. That’s like saying you have too much sushi, too much money or too much beer. It simply does not compute. I don’t think that is even possible. The Dodgers used something like fifteen starters last year so it was assumed by many they would do about the same thing this year. That also doesn’t seem likely. I suppose it could balloon to ten, but not more than that. Thirteen Starters? Fertilizer!
Did you ever consider that having 7 or 8 starters during the regular season could be huge advantage in the playoffs? The way it is heading, only Kershaw will have over 150 innings. So, when the payoffs start, the rotation is Kershaw, Hill, Urias and McCarthy as starters, with Wood, Stripling, Ryu, Maeda, Baez, Fields, Avilan and Jansen in the bullpen. Several of those arms will be capable of pitching multiple innings. Stretching out 7 or 8 pitchers as starters may actually solve a problem rather than create the problem of an overworked bullpen.
Underworked starters may be a blessing in the playoffs. Of course, there will be an injury or injuries… I’m not talking about the 10-day DL kind – I am talking about Tommy John or some other type of serious injury. You never want to talk about it, but it’s inevitable. The pitcher I am most worried about is Alex Wood, who has evidently not responded as expected from rest for his SC joint. I hate to jinx someone, and hopefully, Alex responds and has a career year, but the odds someone, anyone will get injured.
The thing is: the Dodgers are ready for it. I suppose they could trade one of their starters, Maeda or Ryu would seem most likely, but both need to pitch well to do so. Brock Stewart is working his way back. At OKC last night, he went 2 innings, allowed 3 hits and 2 ER while walking Zero and striking out 5. I would not expect to see him at the major league level for a month, unless they want to use him as a reliever (which is a slim possibility).
Willie Calhoun and Alex Verdugo continue to hit over .300 at OKC. Edwin Rios continues to mash at Tulsa (another 2-run HR last night) and Shea Spitzbarth is nails (1.17 ERA). At the rate he is going, he could be in the Dodger’s pen by July. We’ll see.
On another side note, Rancho Cucamonga has such incredible, raw talent, it is amazing. Guys like Smith, Raley, Peters, Estevez, Isabel, Montgomery – just to name a few. Of course, some will not develop, but the raw talent is amazing! Well, I guess you can say the same thing about Great Lakes. Speaking of talent, 20 year-old Leo Crawford of GL went 5 last night, allowing 5 hits and 1 ER while striking out 6.
If the Dodgers do decide to trade a starter or two (like Maeda or Ryu), which doesn’t seem likely to me, will they go after another bat? Ryan Braun is on the DL and while his 5 and 10 rights have vested, it’s a foregone conclusion that he would approve a trade to LA. The Dodgers would have to unload Kazmir to make it work, so what else would Milwaukee want in return? Puig, Kazmir and Verdugo for Braun? Yes, he’s aging, but he is owed $20 million in 2018, $19 million in 2019, $17 million in 2020 and $4 a million buyout in 2021.
I am not saying the Dodgers should trade for him – but you have to consider it. He kills lefties – of course a righthander shut out the Dodgers yesterday. Bellinger can handle RF, but I think the Dodgers need another bat. We haven’t heard a peep from Andre Ethier, leading me to believe he is done. JD Martinez remains a possibility. How about Puig, Calhoun and Rios for him? I’m just sayin…
With Adrian Gonzalez no longer a slugger, the Dodgers need to find another power source. Martinez might be just what they need!
- Taylor CF
- Seager SS
- Turner 3B
- Bellinger RF
- Martinez LF
- Gonzo 1B
- Grandal C
- Forsythe 2B
Good article Mark. Yes! We have a strong farm system. We do not know how these kids will develop. However, the minor league coaches should have some idea who not to trade. Rios and Calhoun for example may be a good trade bait for an American League team. Both are good hitters with some defensive liabilities.
We seem to have more injuries than most teams. Although Seattle has lost 3/5 of their starting rotation. Turner, Joc, Wood and Either are just not healing very quickly.
I think there will be a trade before the deadline. It will be for a good hitting outfielder or a left hand reliever. I am hoping Avilan, Dayton or Liberatore can fill the reliever problem.
The good news is that the Dodgers do not need to make a trade.
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Ten good starters can and will allow a team suffer injuries in their rotation and get through a long season plus the playoffs. The old 4 man rotation mostly played in the era of the 154 game season and zero playoffs. Now its a 162 game season plus as many as 19 playoff games.
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If no trades are made, I will guess that the rotation in September/October will be Kershaw, Stewart, Urias, plus two from a group that still has innings left and or not injured from McCarthy, Kazmir, Wood, Maeda, Ryu, Hill. I have said a few times that Kazmir would make it back this year and felt lonely doing it so if he does he will be well rested at the end of the season. Maeda made it through 2016 and is in better shape this year and will have pitched fewer innings.
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The Brewers are in first place and are a NL team so they probably will not want players that project to be best suited as a DH. That leaves out Rios and Calhoun. Add the problem that Braun would block Peters and Verdugo and put one of Puig, Joc, or Bellinger on the bench until Gonzales retires and the Dodgers would strengthen 2017 at the expense of the following years.
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If the Dodgers really do need Braun then I would want to mitigate salary and include McCarthy and Kazmir in a trade for Braun. The Brewers could use both pitchers if they are healthy. I don’t think the Brewers have a good rotation and they do not have any lefty relievers.
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If Braun’s injury is not a concern then I would not be upset if McCarthy, Kazmir and Puig were traded for Braun.
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Righty/Lefty lineup
2B Utley/Forsythe
SS Seager/Seager
3B Turner/Turner
LF Braun/Braun
1B Gonzales/Hernandez
CF Pederson/Taylor
RF Bellinger/Bellinger
C Grandal/Barnes
I’ve advocated Martinez a few times as a better trade target. Puig, Calhoun and Rios seems a little much to me for a guy who is a free agent at the end of the season. Detroit has Justin Wilson who’s a lefty and is currently their closer. I know it not likely but maybe a package that would get us both Martinez and Wilson? Puig replaces Martinez for Detroit and Calhoun can be a future DH for them?
I don’t see the Tigers wanting Puig, when they didn’t want to keep Cespedes, who had a very good offensive season, when he was with the Tigers.
When it comes to offense, Puig is not even close to Cespedes, if he was, we wouldn’t be thinking about trading him.
Puig had better stats last year at the end of the season, and I think by playing him everyday, we have exposed his short comings.
And I think playing Puig everyday has made his value go down, even farther, then last year.
When I heard Roberts mention Wood and sternum in the same sentence, the first thing that came to my mind, was that syndrome that they have take a rib out, in order to prevent a nerve issue, so I hope Wood will be ok.
Because there has not been that much success, when pitchers have had that done.
The only bad part about giving these pitchers some time off, is the fact that they won’t make Kershaw, take some time off.
And he might benefit the most, from having a little time off, in the long season.
I know you want your best pitcher to start as many games that they can, but some rest for Kershaw may make him hold up better in the post season, if we go there.
Because the other way he has pitched throughout the season, has not always proved, to be a successful, when it comes to the post season.
When the over/under on Dodger starters was proposed before the season I was one of the few to say under 13 and roasted for it. This was based on the apparent health in ST of all but Kazmir and Stewart. The starters have exceeded most everyone’s expectations so far. I prefer they keep everyone but how to make them all happy?
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Urias doesn’t want to be in AAA and who can blame him?
Ryu doesn’t want to pitch out of the bullpen and has an argument.
Kazmir doesn’t want to be in extended ST in Az and like Bums says may make it back this year.
Wood has an injury that was not thought serious but is lingering. They have no need to rush him.
Maeda, McCarthy and Hill have already been on the DL this year but no arm issues.
Stewart, Jurrjens, Oaks, Masterson, Heston and Font are a phone call away.
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What a post season rotation would look like is another issue and who is hot and healthy is hard to guess but Kershaw, Hill, Wood and McCarthy based on performance so far with Urias and Ryu possibilities, and less so Maeda. Kazmir and all others a 25/1 field bet. Or perhaps a trade to upgrade #2 but at what cost?
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A RH bat and a LH relief pitcher would cost a lot less. Cain and Martinez should be less as a rental and the Padres are shopping Hand. The Dodgers don’t have to make a trade for offense but losing 2-1 and 2-0 has to make them think about it.
The ultimate success of a 7-8 man staff has yet to be determined. So far, since no one else has tried it, you can’t really predict that it can produce a championship. The bigger staff is just a smokescreen for the ever increasing importance of bullpens throughout baseball. A 7 man staff with all but 1 going more than 5 innings is really nothing more than a bullpen game. The only difference for the Dodgers is that its bullpen game starter has experience as a starter at the major league level. Still, though, it is a bullpen game. I still don’t think it will play in the playoffs, but time will tell. I doubt if any other team can really financially afford to pay bullpen guys the millions that a starter gets. But that is what the team is doing. It cannot become precedent because of the cost, but for 2017, it is the Dodgers’ way. BTW: Grienke was nails last night at Marlins. Still is beautiful to watch him set up hitters and pitch to the edges of the strike zone. D’backs are tough. Closer was hitting 98mph.
I looks like Urias is a once a week pitcher, at the most. I haven’t seen his name in a game in a while. I hope he is learning something while throwing side sessions. Is this the best way to develop your next superstar pitcher? I think he should pitch every 5 days and hang in there for 80-90 pitches each time. It looks like the team has other ideas. The local paper in the Bay Area had a long story on the fact that each giants’ farm team is in last place. A wonderful read.
Urias is in the regular rotation. He pitched Monday and is set to start again tomorrow.
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He pitched 6 innings and threw 92 pitches in his first AAA outing.
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He is pitching every 5 days and throwing 90 pitches, so what’s the complaint?
Mark
Wood is pitcher of the month, and Cody is rookie of the month!
If we make a trade, I want a front line #2. I don’t trust anyone else on this staff to be a reliable, and at #2, you need a reliable.
Yes, we were spoiled by having an ace in Greinke be our 2, but for a team like this, where World Championship or bust is the mentality this year, go out and get that guy.
Bobby
I was thinking the same thing about getting a top pitcher, for the post season.
And that is because right now, Hill, and Urias haven’t pitched that well yet, and the injury issue, that Wood has right now.
I do think Urias will get his act together, and he will be pitching well, in the majors soon.
But right now, Hill hasn’t pitched close to a number two, and I expect a number two pitcher, to pitch six or seven innnings, more often, then not.
But hopefully Turner will come back soon, and since it is getting hot now, his power will return too!
There is not much that I agree with Dodgerrick about, but I do believe in a 5 man starting rotation. I think pitchers more than position players need routine. Baseball (okay most sports) rely on muscle memory. Routine helps maintain that muscle memory. If you have inconsistent starting patterns, I think you will get inconsistent results.
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With that being said, I have no issues with having 7-8-9-10 starters (even 20, Dodgerrick). If it works, who cares!! The frustration Dodger fans have is that the last time the Dodgers were in the WS was 1988. That year, the Dodgers started 11 pitchers including future HOF Bill Krueger and William Brennan. Even Shawn Hillegas got 10 starts before being traded (August 30) to the White Sox for the great Ricky Horton. See, FAZ did not invent the head scratching trade for the Dodgers. I guess 1988 was Orel Hershiser and the 10 Dwarves. The difference is that the 88 team had a Bulldog who carried the team on his back. The 2015 KC Royals had 10 different starting pitchers. The 2014 Giants had 8, but all they needed was MadBum. The 2013 Boston Red Sox had 11 starting pitchers. The 2013 Cardinals team that beat the Dodgers had 10. The 2011 Cardinals had 9. The 2012 SF Giants had 7 different starting pitchers, but 5 started 160 out of 162. The 2010 Giants also had 7, but they had 6 that started 161 of 162 games.
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Historically it is a mixed bag. But what is not a mixed bag is that the best teams had that one guy that put the team on his back and said let’s go. As much bitching and moaning as the FAZ bashers did last year, the Dodgers got to Game 6 of the NLCS with the best pitcher on the planet on the bump. He could not get it done. If fans want to bitch about Hill, at least have Kershaw do what he is supposed to do in Game 6, and see what happens in Game 7. If he loses, then bitch about Hill. It wasn’t Maeda, or Blanton, or Hill or Reddick, or FAZ…It was the best pitcher on the planet that could not get it done in the most important game in his career. Just like the 2013 and 2014 playoffs before that. With Kershaw and Greinke, the Dodgers should be able to beat any team in a 5 game series. Nope. Clayton is 4-7 with a 4.55 ERA in the playoffs. The Dodgers should have been in the WS in 2013 and 2016, but the best did not get it done. What the Dodgers lack is a bulldog or a MadBum. MadBum may be an a******, but who would you want on the mound in a critical game. 1988 Hershiser pitched 18 of the 44.1 IP by LAD. In 2014, MadBum pitched 21 of the 61 IP by SFG. No one else was close. Hershiser throws a shutout against the Mets in Game 7 of ’88 NLCS, and then wins two of the 5 games in the WS, and relieved in another. So you do not need a 5 man rotation (preferable sure, but not need). You can win a WS with just one bulldog. Just get to the playoffs and give me the bulldog.
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Now I would still want Kershaw against anyone in any situation. But he does need to win a critical game before the bashers blame everyone other than Kershaw. The question was asked “who in the heck is going to pitch in the post season other than Kid K? Anyone you feel comfortable in facing Arrieta or Strasburg?” Well yes, since Alex Wood has already gone head to head against Arrieta and won, I would feel comfortable with him. McCarthy shut out the Cubs for 6, so I would be fine with him. In his last 2 games (9.1) innings against the Cubs, Kershaw has given up 5 home runs. So if recent history is the indicator, I may be more comfortable with Wood and McCarthy facing Arrieta over Kershaw. Which is why I do not let history dictate as to how I feel. I will always take Kershaw over anyone else. But he is not a bulldog until he proves it on the field.
AC
I totally agree with you about Kershaw.
He is the highest paid pitcher in baseball, and do not think it is wrong, to expect Kershaw to finally put this team on his back, in the post season.
And that is why I think Kershaw needs to keep in mind, the long season.
And I think he needs to take care of himself, and try to keep some of the innings off his arm, and not insist on, pitching deep into the eighth or ninth inning, every time he starts.
And that is why I think it would be good to give Kershaw some rest, in the regular season, especially in the later part of the season.
And I hope Wood will be ok for you AC, and for the team.
Like I said before, Wood is the one that is dominating hitters, right now, not Kershaw.
I just hope Wood’s new way of throwing, is not the reason that he feels sore, in that area.
Also AC, as much as I hate that guy Bumgarner, I think I would trust him more then any other pitcher, to pitch like that, in the post season.
But that was before he toke that dive, on a motorcycle.
He was toking and driving?
Maybe both?
First of all, Clayton Kershaw is my favorite Dodger, but on April 20th I wrote a column called “Clayton Needs to Fix This” https://ladodgertalk.com/2017/04/20/clayton-needs-to-fix-this/
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The Rockies deliberately tried to disrupt Clayton at the start of the game against them… and it worked! I wrote:
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“Personally, I believe that Bud Black is a very smart manager and I believe that Tyler Anderson was late in walking from the bullpen to the dugout by design. It was designed to throw him off Clayton’s routine. It was designed to steal his focus and intensity… and IT WORKED! Clayton was clearly rattled in the first inning and ne never really got into his rhythm the rest of the game.
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Clayton likes routine and you had better believe that other teams will do the same thing or something similar to throw him off. Don’t lose theta intensity and focus, Clayton, but also let it go and keep your focus. This is a mental hurdle that he will have to overcome… and quickly, or teams will do all kinds of things to throw him off. Can you blame them? They know they have no chance against him unless they can get him out of his comfort zone. It’s time to take another step forward, Clayton. Don’t let them get your goat!”
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I believe that intensity is important, but sometimes you get so intense that you get tunnel vision. I believe the Dodgers got rid of AJ Ellis in part, because he couldn’t control Clayton. I believe that Clayton’s greatest strength is also his greatest weakness. He needs to chill at times and let the game come to him. Alternate that pattern of the first pitch strike. Chill, Dude!
I seem to recall that Bob Gibson was famously like Kershaw is now – extreme tunnel vision. There have been lots of pitchers with that kind of intensity who did really well in the post-season. If you put too much pressure on yourself though, it can become a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. Don Newcombe is a good example of that.
Rick
Kershaw has to have big mental issues, when it comes to the post season.
And like you said, as soon as you starts doubting yourself, it can become a self fullfilling prophecy.
Mark
I totally agree with that!
My concerns have been ongoing:
1 – We don’t have a reliable #2 guy for the postseason. Hill is unreliable to put it mildly. Wood was lights out for a while but is essentially a 5 inning pitcher and we don’t yet know if he will come around health-wise for the post-season. The revolving door policy for the walking wounded pitching brigade may get the team through the regular season but won’t work against the Nationals, Cubs, or whomever the team faces in October. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Dodgers trade for a stud #2 but don’t expect that they will, for a couple of reasons:
A – The Braintrust has not made a real impact trade after the deadline in the 2 years that they have been in charge. Think about it – Mat Latos, Jim Johnson, Josh Reddick, Rich Hill, etc. etc.
B – I think that they want to grow their own ace from within and they think that maybe Urias, Buehler or Alvarez will be that guy in a couple of years, so why trade too many big chips to win now when they will have the aces in a few years to win then?
2 – I think that another OF bat would be really helpful. Let’s face it – Pederson, Puig and Gonzalez aren’t getting it done this year. They have been making due with a patchwork of utility infielders playing OF and Toles won’t be back this ear either. A righty bat would be particularly good. I like JD Martinez but he has been a bit injury prone and he doesn’t really know the NL.
What “reliable” number 2 are you suggesting the Dodgers trade for? Right now, the teams that may be selling are TB, Blue Jays, Tigers, White Sox, Royals, Angels, Rangers, Mariners, A’s, Braves, Marlins, Phillies, Reds, Pirates, Giants, Padres.
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Chris Archer? If you go by innings pitched he is certainly reliable, but his 3.74 ERA might suggest otherwise. His WHIP and Batting Average Against are not bad. Jake Odorizzi might be a better option, but I do not think he is a #2. Alex Cobb can be moved, but he is not my idea of a reliable #2.
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Marco Estrada is a 33 year old rental. Happ looks like a one year wonder. I am sure the Tigers will be glad to move Verlander and Zimmerman. Quintana? This is certainly not his year. Maybe take a look during the winter. If you did not like Hill, you are definitely not going to want rental Justin Vargas from KC. Kennedy or Hammel? Mariners are not moving Paxton. Yovani Gallardo or Chase De Jong? A’s will move Sonny Gray. He may have #2 stuff, but reliable? Braves have Teheran. Their best pitcher this year is Jaime Garcia. No thank you. The only pitcher on the Marlins that I would even consider is Dan Straily, and they will not move him. They are going to build around Urena and Nicolino. Phillies have two pitchers with ERA’s under 5, and only one under 4.5 (none under 4.45). Reds – Their #2 seems to be Bronson Arroyo. Anybody you want there? Now the Pirates do have Gerrit Cole. I would pay to have him, but with the Astros and Yankees involved, I would not count on the cost being reasonable at all. You want Cueto/Samardzija/Cain/Moore as a reliable #2? How about the Padres Clayton Richard? The Rangers have a rental in Yu Darvish that they may move, but just like Gerrit Cole he will cost a lot. Less than Cole because he is a rental, but costly nevertheless.
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It’s easy to say the Dodgers need a reliable #2, but who? Cole? Darvish? Gray? Archer? Quintana? Anyone of those is going to cost you at least one of Urias or Buehler. In the case of Cole and Archer, probably both plus…I would consider Odorrizi, but he would be a #3 or #4. You might entice Tampa with Stewart/Alveraz/Verdugo. Then again, probably not. I have no idea what the cost would be for Darvish, but because the Yankees and Astros will be all over that, FAZ will not get in a bidding war for a rental. So where do you go to get that #2, and who are you willing to move in a trade for that pitcher?
I also agree with B, but you say it as if that is a bad thing. You also left out a word in your sentence. “So why trade too many big chips to win now…”. I would have said MAYBE win now. It didn’t work for Detroit (Price), Toronto (Price), Texas (Hamels), Oakland (Lester), SF (Moore), and lest I forget, LAD (Hill). It would be more appropriate to say Cueto won with KC, rather than KC won with Cueto. But the cherry-pickers can always point to that trade. If they want to, they can also mention Jake Peavy, but he was also just along for the ride on MadBum’s back with SF. I do not have the time or inclination to go back and look at all of the deadline trades and see which pitchers were a reason to get to and win the WS. Maybe others can remember some.
1- If Hill can get his blister issues under control … and it is looking like that he is, he is a #2. For that matter, so is Wood and I think Urias will be that before the All-Star Break.
A- See AC’s Comment. If Clayton had done his job, Rich would have been on the stage…
B – True!
2- Agree – Pederson, Puig and Gonzo could go away. Bellinger could go to 1B and Taylor can man CF. Put Verdugo in LF (or RF) and get us a RF’er!
Trading for WHAT IS PERCEIVED TO BE TOP SHELF PITCHING is a dope-fiend move!
Trades are always a good debate topic. Everybody has a side, but nobody wins the argument. The FAZ bashers love to bring up Latos and Johnson. But they always forget that Wood/Avilan/Peraza were also in that trade for Hector Olivera and Paco Rodriguez, and three 2nd and 3rd tier minor leaguers. I cannot imagine a knowledgeable baseball fan saying that was a bad trade. But then again to many, FAZ can never do right. But you will get no argument from me…Latos and Johnson were horrible. Forgetting Latos and Johnson, I would have made the trade of Olivera/Rodriguez/3 minor leaguers for Wood/Avilan/Peraza straight up.
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Now Hill/Reddick for Cotton/Montas/Holmes – FAZ Bashers love to pick at this trade also. Yes Hill only started 6 games for the Dodgers. So what. In those 34 innings he compiled a 1.83 ERA, .786 WHIP, and 2.07 FIP. I will take that for 6 games for three pitchers that would probably never pitch for the Dodgers. But Hill was really acquired for the post season. If Kershaw wins game 6, then Hill goes against Arrieta in Game 7. If he had blown that game, then I would understand the bashing. But he never got the chance. So the “braintrust” was at fault because they did not find another #2 who would not pitch game 7 because Kershaw did not win Game 6? How does that even make sense?
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Reddick had one of the worst months in MLB history in August of last year. No question. But he was not a problem in September. For September/October:
Reddick .382/.417/.544/.961
Puig .281/.338/.561/.900
Toles .213/.229/.277/.506
Joc .286/.430/.651/1.081
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Joc was outstanding, but Reddick was certainly not the problem. He was also not the problem in the post season….308/.333/.308/.641. No power, but not a problem.
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So why was Hill and Reddick such a bad trade? They did not block anyone. They did their job. They got to Game 6 of the NLCS. They did not hurt the team one bit. None of the three pitchers were going to pitch for LA in 2016 (or any year after for that matter). But it was FAZ’s fault that Hill and Reddick didn’t get the Dodgers to the WS. What pitcher would have made the difference? Neither the Cubs or Indians made a trade for a SP at the deadline. They did acquire two very special relievers for which the Yankees received a ton in return. The Cubs also picked up Mike Montgomery for Dan Vogelbach. You want to know the market for Willie Calhoun and Edwin Rios? A long reliever – #6 SP, albeit a good one. I would take him on the Dodgers.
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The FAZ bashers cannot be upset with the results of the trades they did do (but I am sure they are). What they are really upset about is what they did not do. They did not trade for Cole Hamels/David Price/Johnny Cueto in 2015. Neither Hamels or Price got to the WS. Cueto was hot and cold for the Royals in the post season. He was good against Houston in the ALDS. Horrible against Toronto (one game) in the ALCS, and good against the Mets (one game) in the WS. The cost for Cueto (a rental with a questionable elbow), was high, but not exorbitant…Brandon Finnegan/Jake Lamb/Cody Reed. Brandon Finnegan and Anthony DeSclafini have a chance to be the nucleus of a good Reds rotation in the coming years. Zobrist cost the Royals Sean Manaea, a trade the A’s would make every year. All teams involved should be happy with how those trades turned out.
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Update on the three A’s…
Jharel Cotton – 3-6/49.1 IP/5.11 ERA/1.439 WHIP/4.62 FIP/23 BB/44 K
Frankie Montas – 18G/26.2 IP/4.73 ERA/1.538 WHIP/4.99 ERA/13 BB/29 K
Grant Holmes (AA) – 3-5/48 IP/5.81 ERA/1.71 WHIP/.301 BAA/23 BB/52 K
Update on Olivera and Rodriguez……I think Olivera is now in an independent league. I have no idea where Paco Rodriguez is. He was released by the Braves on March 28, 2017.
Really, you want to consider those bad trades?
AC
I believe Toles had a bad month in September, because he didn’t play that much, once Reddick was traded to the team
Most of Toles at bats, were just one at bat, late in games.
And really Reddick did nothing in August,like you said.
And I believe Toles hit for the highest average on the team, in the post season last year.
So Toles average in September is deceiving, because of that!
MJ, I am not blaming Toles, or even criticizing him. I like Toles. I hope he lands a starting spot next year. My point is that while August was a horrible month for Reddick, he was fine from September thru the playoffs. Not special, just not the problem that FAZ bashers want to make him out to be.
Excellent post, as always, AC.
Kershaw is too emotional and cannot seem to adapt to any disruption in his routine. However, it appears he is more serviceable on short rest than when he has an extra day. I simply don’t trust him in big games. When we had grienke I would have started the series with him instead of kershaw. If he is healthy I would rather have hill open the series. He can pitch 6 and turn it over to the bullpen. If we play stl I would have Ryu in the rotation he pitches well against them. Wood too inexperienced to be a 1. McCarthy needs to be traded while we can get something. Urias if everything come together could be huge. Maeda just no. Kazmir if healthy could be a playoff pitcher. To really get us through the playoffs you need some mental toughness or bulldog mentality. We don’t have a mad bum I just think although not ideal I would go with hill and if healthy Ryu could move in after kershaw.
What has happened to the Dodgers’ offense?
When is Turner due back?
Soon
Bellinger! 2-1 Dodgers!