And the Beat Goes on…

Posted By on August 2, 2017

This is almost getting silly.  Are these guys even capable of losing, let alone a losing streak?  If they just win 2out of the next 4 games they will surpass that impossible streak of 42-8 when Puig first flew in.

We could look at what the playoff rosters might look like, but it’s way too early.  I have a feeling there will be a few twists.  Will Watson pitch like he did last night?  Can Cingrani develop a new pitch?  He added a cutter over the winter but it’s really not very good.  Maybe Kenley can help him with it or maybe Hill and Kershaw can teach a fellow lefty a new trick.  All he needs is one new pitch and he might be filthy. It’s hard to do during the season, however.

Tonight, Brock Stewart, you know, the guy with no ERA goes for the Dodgers.  This very well may be his last start of the season with Darvish in the rotation and Ryu and Maeda looking much improved.  Maeda is now 10-4 with a 3.79 ERA. Ryu’s ERA is 3.79 as well and McCarthy is 3.84.

With a 4.01 ERA, Darvish will have the worst ERA of the bunch when he arrives.  Why did we even get the bum?  JOKE!  He will benefit greatly by getting out of Arlington where he has a 5.38 ERA and has given up 13 HR.  On the road, he has a 2.49 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP.  He should shine in LA.

The Cubs are likely the biggest obstacle for the Dodgers to overcome, but their starting pitching is still not good.  Hendricks has a 3.80 ERA and Lester is 3.96 while Arrieta is 4.03 and Lackey is 4.87.  Quintana is doing great with a 2.37 ERA after putting up a 4.49 ERA with the White Sox.  Whether they play the Nats or the Cubs, the Dodgers starting pitching is vastly superior.

Brandon McCarthy will be back in the rotation, if just for one start and will be put on waivers after that.  If he pitches well, odds are someone will grab him, but that still leaves the Dodgers with Six Starters.  Could it be they will run with that for a while after Kershaw gets back?

  1. Kershaw
  2. Darvish
  3. Wood
  4. Hill
  5. Maeda
  6. Ryu

I heard on MLB radio yesterday that FAZ had let it be know that Verdugo, Buehler and Alvarez were untouchable… except for maybe a package that included Mike Trout.  They said Calhoun was always in play.

This article has 65 Comments

  1. I think Ravin goes down for Cingrani’s spot on the roster and after today’s game either Stewart, Stripling or Fields get sent down for Darvish’s spot. The FO will have to find a way to clear the log jam of SP and I suspect you’re right that we will see a waiver post for McCarthy and perhaps Ryu. Although the FO is unlikely to let any player leave without some form of compensation, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the FO lets a team have McCarthy, and to a lesser extent Ryu, without compensation. It would free up some payroll obligation and start to clear a path for a larger role for some kids next year (Stewart, Stripling, Buehler, Oaks etc).

    1. Seems to me that both McCarthy and Ryu are low cost/low commitment solid starters. I think that is pretty valuable. I agree with posters on the last thread, the Baltimore owner is dumb. He should traded a relief pitcher for those two, maybe they weren’t both available until we got Darvish. Baltimore still has time to make the playoffs if they can get a August deal done.

      1. Boxout

        I guess we should have figured that out, with what the Oriole’s owner gave Chris Davis.

  3. It does not surprise me that Calhoun was always in play. He is blocked by three players better than Calhoun. Forsythe, Taylor and Barnes are all better.
    –
    I hear so many good things about Farmer. The pitchers really like to throw to him. They say He is also a grinder or dirtball player. We have other catchers in the system that are pretty good. Where do these players come from? I know these players are not major league players until they are major league players. The farm looks awfully good.

  4. Dodger fan
    This sight has always been positive. Not complaining. I hope that was a joke.

  5. MINOR LEAGUE REPORT:
    .
    OKC 3-1 win over Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners) – Wilmer Font pitched yet another stellar start for the Dodgers. He went 6.0 innings, allowing 3 hits for 1 run, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. The sole run allowed was a home run by the recently optioned SS Taylor Motter. Justin Mark, Jacob Rhame, and Madison Younginer followed with 3.0 scoreless innings, with Younginer recording his 8th save. Offensively, recently promoted Henry Ramos went 4-4 including his first HR in his first 2017 AAA game. O’Koyea Dickson and Todd Cunningham both had two hits for the OKC Dodgers. After rejoining the AA Tulsa Drillers from the DL in June, Henry Ramos, the switch-hitting 25 year old OF from Maunabo, Puerto Rico, Henry Ramos, has hit .441/.486/.699/1.185. Could he be another FAZ find along the lines of Andrew Toles (or Chris Taylor)? Ramos was originally a 2010 5th round draft selection by the Boston Red Sox. He signed a minor league contract in November 2016. His 2017 ML Spring Training stats were 5-14 with a triple and HR, and 6 RBI’s (.357/.400/.714/1.114).
    .
    Tulsa 5-4 win over the Springfield Cardinals – Andrew Sopko had another average start going 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts. Layne Somsen, Brian Moran, and Corey Copping pitched the final four innings, allowing 1 run on 1 hit, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Copping picked up his 12th save. Brian Moran is a 28 year old LHRP signed by the Dodgers to a minor league contract after being released by the Baltimore Orioles. In 8 games and 8 IP, Moran has allowed 0 runs on 5 hits, 1 walk, and 10 strikeouts. He has a .185 BAA, and a .75 WHIP. This is another one of those head scratching minor league contracts that has turned into a AA LHRP that I find myself now following. Offensively, Matt Beaty continued with his quietly productive 2017 season with another 3 hit game, including 2 doubles. Beaty is now batting .314/.382/.512/.894. Catcher Garrett Kennedy had 2 hits, including his 3rd HR. Recently promoted Yusniel Diaz recorded his 1st hit in his 1st game at AA. Also recently promoted Johan Mieses returned to AA after a dismal start with the Drillers earlier this year.
    .
    RC Quakes 12 inning win over Modesto Nuts (Mariners) – LHSP Caleb Ferguson had another outstanding start for the Quakes. He pitched 7 scoreless innings on 4 hits, 2 walks, and 11 strikeouts. His ERA is now at 2.72 in a very hitter friendly league. Caleb just turned 21. He has recorded 110 strikeouts in 102.2 IP thus far. Alex Hermeling and Tony Gonsolin combined for 5 IP allowing 1 run on 4 hits, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts. Offensively Omar Estevez had 3 hits, while DJ Peters accounted for 2. OF Zach Reks (10th round), was the first 2017 draftee to make an appearance in a A+ league game. He did not get an official AB as he inserted as a pinch runner in the 11th inning for Ibandel Isabel. Zach McKinstry scored the walk off run in the 12th on a wild pitch.
    .
    Great Lakes 5-1 win over the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays) – Another fine pitching effort for a Dodger farm hand last night. Chris Mathewson started and went 7.0 innings. He allowed the sole run (unearned) on 1 hit, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Mathewson now owns a sub 3.00 ERA. Mathewson is a 21 year old 19th round 2016 draftee out of Long Beach State (affectionately known as the Dirt Bags). Evy Ruibel followed with 2 scoreless innings to get the win. This was Ruibal’s first Great Lakes game. He was recently promoted to the full season A team from the AZL Dodgers on July 31. Evy is a 2017 draftee out of Notre Dame. Gavin Lux, Cody Thomas, Cristian Santana each had two hits, while Brandon Montgomery had three.
    .
    The AZL Dodgers 6-5 win over the AZL Athletics – The highlights in this game were the rehab assignments for both Chris Hatcher and Rob Segedin. In his second AZL game, Hatcher started and pitched one inning, allowing 1 run on 2 hits. In his 2nd rehab game, Segedin went 1-2 with an RBI and 1 walk. Jesus Vargas followed Hatcher and pitched 6 scoreless innings on 2 hits, 0 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Jeremy Arocho had 2 hits for the Dodgers (both doubles).

  6. We were in 3rd place in the division when I quoted the song title ‘I Think It’s Gonna Work Out Fine’. Dodgers are writing a song called ‘I Think It’s Gonna Work Out Better Than Fantastic’

  7. Predicting the 25 man roster for the post-season is an interesting exercise, in part because we don’t know what the new guys will do and in part because the post-season roster is constructed differently, with some guys kept on mostly as pinch-runners or pinch-hitters and so forth.
    –
    Here’s my attempt:
    Position players (
    1B/OF – Bellinger
    1B – Gonzalez
    2B/3B – Forsythe
    2B – Utley
    SS – Seager
    3B – Turner
    INF/OF – Hernandez
    OF/INF – Taylor
    OF – Puig
    OF – Pederson
    C – Grandal
    C/INF – Barnes
    C/INF – Farmer
    Pitchers (12)
    SP – Kershaw
    SP – Darvish
    SP – Wood
    SP – Hill
    RP – Jansen
    RP – Baez
    RP – Watson
    RP – Morrow
    RP – Fields
    RP – Avilan
    RP – Maeda
    RP – Ryu
    –
    I think the team only has room for 2 of the 5th starters in the pen as long men/emergency starters and goes with an 8 man pen. This gives them room for a 3rd catcher which allows them to use Barnes in other roles than backup catcher if they wish.
    –
    An embarrassment of riches!

      1. That is the exact same thing I was thinking, doubledigitmind!
        .
        I feel like we are all part of a “Lifestyles of the rich and famous” episode.
        .
        Is anybody else developing, champagne wishes and cavier dreams?

    3. Pretty good prediction, spot on with a couple of variables:
      –
      If Ethier shows he can play the OF in Sept he adds another veteran bat off the bench, as a DH and to play match ups. I don’t think Farmer’s spot is locked in just yet, he has a lot to prove. If I’m an opposing manager I still respect Ethier more than a rookie in a pressure situation, and certainly AGon or Utley. Andre deserves one last post season as a Dodger if healthy. Another who has a chance if he turns heads is Verdugo, but I think he will struggle a bit like most rookies do.
      –
      I like the vet starters in the pen, but what if Buehler is just lights out when called up? I remember a young Bob Welch, and Jim Palmer, and Dwight Gooden having a WS impact. To me Fields, Avilan and the 2 starters are not locks but pretty likely if all remain healthy. Cingrani will get a chance if he can out pitch Avilan.

  8. I agree with you guys. Love it. Now if Stewart can go 7 scoreless innings.
    –
    I worry about Taylor just a little. He is starting to struggle just a little. I am wondering if he neeeds a rest. His fly balls are warning track fly balls. He came back strong after the all star break.
    –
    One more thing. Last night the first three batters ran the count to 3-2. It is forcing the pitcher to throw a lot of pitches. It also forces the pitcher to throw a pitch that is hitable.

    1. Idahoal

      We just played are first game in August yesterday, and here is Taylor’s numbers for July.

      394 / 412 /669 /1072

      You might be right that Taylor is tired, but his numbers in July, are very good, in fact Joe or Orel, mentioned yesterday, that Taylor might be up for player of the month, of July.

  9. I have read numerous articles about the Darvish trade and they all say something like, “Darvish is going to make a great 1-2 punch with Kershaw.” It seems that the Dodgers already have a great 1-2 punch with Kershaw and Wood and Darvish would be number three (or four if you count Hill). Don’t understand why so many overlook Wood who has better numbers than Darvish and has been great all year.

    2. Don’t think that Wood is being overlooked Campy and you are right about the numbers, so far, this year.
      .
      Just that Darvish has been considered the better pitcher between he and Wood in the past and there is a strong possibility that Darvish will come on strong with really good, ace-like numbers, for the rest of this year.
      .
      If not, you have him penciled in correctly. Either way, he is still a good add to the rotation.

  10. What’s new on Kershaw? When they traded Calhoun, they effectively picked up Forsythe’s option. I think he is fine at 2b and ok at 3b. Not everyone can hit .300. He and Seager look great together. In the minors is LoCastro working up through the system. He might be the future 2b. I can even see Farmer at 2b down the road. If you can play short stop, you can play 2b. I’m missing the angst that comes along with the giants’ rivalry. A’s-giants rivalry in Oakland strong. They are selling out in Oakland.

  11. So the question is out there…
    Alvarez, Verdugo & Ferris for Trout?
    I’m pulling the trigger on that one!

    2. I did too and I had a yellow leisure suit and shoes with 5″ platform heels. I was 6′ 9″ with my shoes on. 😉

  16. The Dodgers got their 75th win in their 106th game Tuesday, becoming the third team in the last 70 years to reach 75 wins in 106 decisions or fewer. Los Angeles is 40-6 since June 7, while every other team has at least 18 losses in that span. (Elias Sports Bureau)

  18. RICH HILL NAMED NL PITCHER OF THE MONTH

    LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill has been voted the National League Pitcher of the Month for July announced earlier today on MLB Network.
    –
    In five July starts, Hill registered a 4-0 record with a 1.45 ERA and an impressive 40:5 strikeout-to walk ratio en route to claiming his second career monthly award, last winning the AL Pitcher of the Month Award for the Oakland Athletics in May 2016. The left-hander allowed just 19 hits and two home runs across 31.0 innings of work. Rich is the second Dodgers hurler to earn monthly honors this season, following Alex Wood’s award-winning month of May. Among qualified NL starters, Hill finished the period tied for first in wins, second in strikeouts and third in ERA.
    –
    In his first outing of the month on July 1st against the San Diego Padres, Hill tossed 7.0 innings of shutout ball with a season-best 11 strikeouts, limiting the Padres to just four hits and one walk on only 92 pitches. The impressive start was his first scoreless outing on the season after logging five such starts last year between Oakland and Los Angeles. On July 6th against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium, Hill notched nine strikeouts without issuing a walk over 7.0 frames. The 13-year-veteran limited the opposition to just two hits and one earned run. Over the course of his dominant month, Hill did not allow more than two runs in any start and reached the 5.0-inning mark in each outing. Across his last seven starts dating back to June 21st, Rich has compiled a 6-1 record with a 1.88 ERA and 55 strikeouts over 43.0 innings pitched. During his hot stretch on the mound, the University of Michigan product held opponents to a .175 batting average on just 27 hits. An integral part of the pitching staff, Hill has helped the Dodgers enter play today with the lowest team ERA (3.08) in the Majors.
    –
    Starting pitcher Aaron Nola (3-1, 1.32 ERA, 34.0 IP, 43 SO) of the Philadelphia Phillies also posted a strong month. In seven starts from June 22nd-July 26th, Nola recorded at least seven strikeouts in each start, becoming the first Phillies pitcher to do so since Curt Schilling in 1998 (March 31st-May 7th). The seventh overall selection in the 2014 MLB Draft logged at least 6.0 innings in each start during his excellent month, limiting the opposition to two runs-or-fewer in each outing. Others receiving votes for NL Pitcher of the Month included Hill’s Dodger teammate and three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw (3-0, 0.72 ERA, 1 CG, 33 SO); 2017 All-Star Zack Greinke (4-0, 2.12 ERA, 34.0 IP, 33 SO) of the Diamondbacks; Lance Lynn (3-1, 1.47 ERA, 36.2 IP, 24 SO) and Michael Wacha (4-1, 1.93 ERA, 1 CG, 1 SHO) of the St. Louis Cardinals; Brent Suter (2-0, 1.50 ERA, 30.0 IP, 25 SO) of the Milwaukee Brewers; Gio Gonzalez (2-3, 2.14 ERA, 42.0 IP, 37 SO) of the Washington Nationals; and Jhoulys Chacin (4-0, 2.51 ERA, 28.2 IP, 25
    SO) of the Padres.
    –
    In recognition of their Pitcher of the Month Awards, James Paxton and Rich Hill will each receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, for their accomplishments.

    1. I am confused. All I have read for most of the year was that Hill was too old and always on the DL to be an effective pitcher, much less an elite pitcher. How could he possibly be NL Pitcher of the Month?

  19. I was actually going to go off on a rant about that, but I am trapped on a Board Meeting Conference Call for the next two hours.
    –
    The conference call is for The Gift of Water – if you want to do a good deed, donate:
    –
    http://giftofwater.org/

    1. Ok, in appreciation of all you do for us, and for free, without advertising BS, donation sent in the name of Mark Timmons from my Schwab Charitable account.
      .
      Thanks again for your efforts, for allowing us to better follow and discuss the Dodgers in an enjoyable setting and for offering and allowing other posters to write like AC, Dodgerrick, Dodgerpatch and Bums.

    1. You don’t have any comments in moderation.
      –
      Stats ebb and flow and I really did not expect him to hit over .300, but as I have said before, I think he will hit .280-.290 with 20+ HR – and I am fine with that. He will improve next year.

      1. CT3 is one of the better guys in their lineup for manufacturing runs. Will be key in the playoffs. He just scored after HBP, Stolen base at 2nd, tags up and advances to 3rd on medium flyball, scored on groundout.
        .
        Utley did it in the 9th in that extra inning win vs Giants.
        .
        Puig is starting to pick up some of that ability as well.
        .
        Bellinger would be great at it except he keeps hitting home runs so we don’t see him manufacturing any runs with small ball.
        .
        I don’t see Turner, Seager Joc, Grandal, or Forsythe as having this ability.

    2. Bluto

      I didn’t even check that, because he was doing so well.

      Usually I check the other way around, not a player that is ranking.

  22. I understand that most are happy with Seager at shortstop, but there have been a handful of occasions since the all star break where he has not made good defensive plays at short. Just sayin. He booted a ball vs the braves just now that led directly to giving up a run.
    .
    I think he’s pretty solid, but in the long run, he needs to check his ego and consider a move to 3b. Just my 2 cents. I can take criticism since I know most would disagree.

    1. Knight

      That was a bad hop not many shortstops react fast enough, to catch that cleanly.

      At least Corey got the out at first.

  24. Oh dear

    Baez gives up a HR

    Still not happy with him in the 8th.

    7th innings only.

    1. Watford

      That is the third HR one of our relievers have given up a HR, in three games.

      Fields, Ravin, and Baez

  26. In three years, it is possible Seager will move to 3rd… if the Dodgers have a good SS at the ready, However, I do not think it is likely. I believe he is the best SS in baseball… overall. He only has 8 errors this year after 18 last year and has improved both his fielding percentage and range factor. I see no reason to move him unless you get Ozzie Smith. Why?

    2. When he botches the turn off a feed from the second baseman, it does not count as an error and that has happened on a handful of occasions this year. In the recent series vs the Giants, he spiked a throw to first off a feed from second. His range is respectable, but not spectacular. There was a ball by Buster Posey in the last series that got by him – that ball would not have gotten by Brandon Crawford, Francisco Lindor, Trea Turner, or other elite fielding shortstops. Just my opinion based on what I’ve seen.

      2. Knight

        I respect that you are just making your opinion!

        I have been known to do that on an occasion or two, myself!

        1. The year JT’s contract is over is when a certain MVP candidate playing who grew up an enormous Dodgers fan becomes a free-agent. Seager at SS with Arenado at 3rd works for me.

    1. Mark

      Our relievers have now given up a HR in the last three games.

      Just get out of your conference?

    2. I think that ended the streak where the Dodgers were undefeated after grabbing the lead.

  28. Hard to complain. They can start a new streak tomorrow. As for tonight’s game, I thought there were some bad AB’s. Puig had a nice game, but a bad K when he didn’t move the runners over. Don’t get me going on Kike’s AB. Swinging out of his shoes and came nowhere close to hitting the ball. We need a base runner in the 9th and Joc is swinging 1st pitch. I know we are all content with Puig hitting 8th, but he owns Atlanta’s pitcher. He’s now 7 for 12 I believe. Puig should have been hitting 5th and Forsythe 8th tonight.

    As for Baez, he got beat on a slider. On a positive note, he’s throwing more sliders this year and at times it has looked good. He picked a bad moment to hang one. His real sin was walking the previous batter with two outs. I for one didn’t think Flowers hit it that well. It seems like RF in that park is like the Launching Pad all over again in Atlanta. I would have preferred to see Morrow in there though. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game, but really looking forward to Friday’s.

  30. I got toasted awhile back for mentioning a move to 3rd. for Seager, but I still see it happening… Best SS in baseball in a period where I can’t remember so many good/great SS’s roaming the diamonds??? Maybe so, Maybe not… Lets just say were blessed…
    Arrenado @ 3B… Yikes…Hate to see Turner escape, but the $$$ rule…
    OK I put down my pipe!!! You get Turner a 1B mitt for Christmas and tell him to lightly oil and maybe the next couple ST’s a few games played there… The Kid to the OF etc. I gotta go, it’s wearing off…

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