Let me start this off by saying that I believe Chris Taylor is a better Centerfielder than Joc Pederson RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW! Joc is much slower than Chris and maybe he runs better routes, but he is in no way an “elite” CF. Chris has had little outfield experience but has become a very good LF and lets’ not forget the first catch he ever made in CF. Joc seems to be always fighting a “slump.” As fans, we are always hoping he gets better. But, I think he is who we thought he was, and we should let him get away!
Look, this is a very good team, but any team can get better. If Joc had 40 HR and a .220 batting average, I could dig it, but he has just 11 HR, is a poor baserunner and looses concentration frequently in the field and to top it all off, he is not smart or savvy! Send him to OKC like SVS and move on. Chris Taylor needs to be the everyday CF. Send Joc to OKC and call up Henry Ramos.
I don’t know how he will do, but the Dodgers may have another Chris Taylor on their hands with Henry Ramos… but I think Ramos is worth a shot. He is a 25 year-old switch hitter who, in 121 AB’s, is hitting .406 with a .460 PB% and 1.104 OPS. The dude is knocking on the door (actually he is kicking the door in) and Joc is not showing anything. Doc is loyal to his guys, but the time has come to move on. Send Joc back to OKC and let him work on his swing, just like Chris Taylor, Yasiel Puig and Henry Ramos.
Maybe Joc can do what Yasiel did when he was demoted last year. I hope so… but I am not holding my breath. We don’t need two all-or-nothing players in the lineup everyday (Joc and Yasmani) and Joc is the odd-man-out because of Grandal’s defensive value. I thought this would be a breakout year for Grandal. His BA is better but his power numbers are down and his OB% has declined. Still, there is a lot of time left.
Rants and Raves
- Yadier Alvarez’ line last night: 5 IP/2 H/3 ER/6 BB/3 K – his AA ERA is 3.57. He might need better control….. ‘ya think?
- Is anyone still looking for regression in Chris Taylor?
- The Natural just keeps taking what they give him.
- If the ump refused to move last night for Utley, them he is dead wrong and should be suspended. That’s just dumb!
- After Ryu struggled through 5 last night, the pen held fast. Watson is good as a middle guy, not a high leverage guy.
- Chris Freakin’ Hatcher? Hopefully knows something we don’t!
- Great story about Dennis Santana
Harper’s Injury:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/nationals-harper-leaves-game-vs-giants-apparent-knee-injury/
I know the return of Adrian has probably been discussed a good deal here but I would like to know how everyone feels about it now that it has become very close. In my opinion to take Bellinger out of the lineup would be like taking a lot of the fire from the team. I also feel that change for the sake of change is not good. Bellinger is hitting better than I think Adrian can hit at this point in his career. This change is not good in my opinion. Not for any games. Bellinger does not need the rest that Roberts thinks he needs. So goes Bellinger, so goes the Dodgers.
If A-Gon is healthy and productive, he should play. Cody goes to LF. Cody is better at 1B, but Adrian’s bat could be huge… if he is healthy.
Taylor in Center?
Sorry, I should have also commented on todays post. I agree with Mr. Timmons that Joc should return to Oklahoma City to find his swing and I also think that Ramos should have an opportunity at some point. Chris Taylor has done done an outstanding job and should remain in the lineup in my opinion.
Some sentiment to putting Agon on first, Bellinger to LF, Taylor to CF, and Joc to OKC…
Another option is Bellinger to LF, Taylor to second, Forshite to the bench. Other options also. General consensus is Agon has more to offer than Joc or Forshite.
Where in the lineup does Agon hit?
Six or seven, maybe fifth if he’s doing well… I would put Puig behind Bellinger, then Agon- the catcher, then either Joc or For-shit and the pitcher.
I hope this is the last year of Forsythe.
It will be. He has an $8 MM option for next year, with a $1 MM buyout. Even FAZ isn’t crazy enough to pay him $8 MM next year, but some of the people here think so because Timmons said so….
Timmons also said Barnes would be very good, that Bellinger was ready, that FAZ were geniuses, that the rotation would be a strength of the team and that the Dodgers would go to the World Series this year. Where did you stand on all of that? Don’t make me look it up!
I too believe that this is all of Forsyth. If FAZ is truly genius they will not spend 8MM on him with so many other options.
Don’t worry Cody and Chris will both be in the line up. The point is that we would be better with Chris in center, Cody in left and Adrian at first. I know Cody is a better defensive first baseman than Adrian who is good and Cody seems to hit better at first. But we will need a productive Adrian through the playoffs. In the series Adrian would DH. This would make our amazing offense even better.
I see Adrian hitting behind Cody for protection and not to clog up the bases for the speed we have at the top.
I agree with Jonah putting Adrian down in the lineup exactly for the reason you stated. Speed. Agon is extremely slow.
I agree with Jonah putting Adrian down in the lineup exactly for the reason you stated. Speed. Agon is extremely slow.
I am beginning to like Barnes over Grandal.
I also like Barnes. He is definitely the future in my opinion.
Our future at catcher is Kay Bear! Will Smith is good too, but Kay Bear was “special” written all over him.
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We have another year of Barnes and Grandal. I like both. At the time the Dodgers traded for them, I said so and many disagreed with me.
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Lots of Dodger fans dislike Grandal, but I guarantee 3/4 of the GM’s in baseball will be lined up if he goes on the market. He is still TOP 10, maybe TOP 6 in baseball.
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I said in Spring Training that Cody was ready… and he was. I would love to have his defense and speed at 1B, but if A-Gon is healthy, he has to play. Maybe his decline was from injury more than declining skills.
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With Logan at 2B, the Dodgers have a great defensive infield. I also don’t get the dislike of Logan. In all of baseball, among 2B with 250 or more AB’s, Logan Forsythe is #6 in OB%.
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DJ LeMahieu (last year’s batting champ) is hitting .310 with a .372 OB% while Forsythe is hitting .236 with a .363 OB%. Do not underestimate Logan’s value to this team!
but a .312 slg?
Mark
Forsythe hasn’t hit righties at all this year, and there are far to many rightie pitchers in baseball, to carry an everyday player in the line up, that doesn’t hit righties at all.
Forsythe seems like he is a sure handed defensive player, but he is not a defensive savant, so that is not a reason, to have him in the line up everyday, when he isn’t contributing on offense, much at all.
Taylor will play second just as well as Forsythe would, if he is playing there, most of the time, next year.
And Taylor is younger, and he would be a great addition to are mostly all young infield.
And I don’t think Roberts is doing any favors for Forsythe, by hitting him, fifth.
But Forsythe does hit lefties much better, then he hits righties, so his bat against lefties in the post season, might be valuable, for the team.
Look for Adrian to be activated to DH against Detroit next weekend.
Totally agree on joc. Grandal is very streaky. He goes into deep slumps but also can get red hot! He and Barnes are a terrific catching tandem. I think our biggest deficiency is second base with Forsyth. Apparently Taylor is not the answer defensively. I don’t know that I am just getting that vibe from posters. Forsyth may be solid defensively but he definitely has no business in the fifth spot of the batting order. How about Barnes at second? Might have to try the wild horse another spot in batting order as teams are not pitching to him now. Against lefties: Taylor cf, seager, turner , bellinger 1b, Hernandez cf-lf, Barnes c, puig, Forsyth the strikeout king. Against right handlers: Taylor cf, Seager, turner,bellinger left, Gonzalez first, grandal, utley, puig
I’ve never agreed more with a post then this one! Joc must be a good person, but does not help this team.
Puig has earned at least a shot to move up, Agon is the last person we want running in front of the wild horse. Like Mark, I agree Agon should bat 6th for aging and for being a left handed behind Bells does not work.
Taylor
Seager
Turner
Bellinger
Puig
Agon
Grandal
Forsythe
Hell, try the Ramos kid out until Agon returns, just end the Joc era already, it’s been way to long
Here’s why Cody shouldn’t move to LF: his splits:
1B – .309 (BA), .385 (OPB), .713 (SLG), 1.098 (OPS)
LF – .202, .276, .430, .706
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Leave Cody at 1B. Let Gonzalez come off of the bench.
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Joc isn’t the only regular having a bad season. What about Forsythe?
Forsythe: .236, .363. .312, .675
Joc: .219, .333, .426, .759
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Really – a .312 SLG.?
When he moved to 4th in the lineup, is the same time he moved to first. When he played LF, he hit all over the lineup when called up. I think batting order had more to do with it.
Forsythe is not doing well, but replacing Joc with an Agon will hopefully impact the team, if Agon shows up of course. Bat Forsythe 8th.
I don’t think that the numbers bear out that batting order position has significantly affected Cody’s offensive performance. His best OPS is batting 6th. Check out his splits and see what you think.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=bellico01&year=2017&t=b
Exactly. Those stats are quite misleading as Belly hasn’t played LF in a long long time.
If he was playing both positions consistently for the last 8 weeks, then those stats would have some relevance. But right now? Meaningless
Rick
When Cody was playing in left field, it was also his first two months, or less, in the majors, and he was just learning to adjust, so I don’t know if his stats while he was playing in left, are a true reflection, of where he was playing, or they were more a reflection of him, just learning to adjust, to major league pitching.
And when he has played in leftfield, he didn’t look uncomfortable at all on defense, so I don’t see that, as any connection, with his hitting.
Mark
If they are going to have Taylor play centerfield, he needs to start playing it, everyday now.
Because that will give him more experience in center, before the post season begins.
He needs to get use to playing in the different stadiums that we will be playing in, until the end of the regular season.
I know Grandal hasn’t been hitting as well lately, but he did work hard in the off season, and he is doing much better this year, and he is throwing out runners better too, so I give him credit for that.
I like Barnes a lot too, but we don’t know for sure, how well he will hit against rightie pitchers, since he doesn’t play or hit against righties, to much.
And we don’t know how well he will hold up, playing everyday, but I agree, he is a player!
I just don’t understand why Roberts is hitting Joc and Forsythe behind Cody, in the line up.
I would bat them seventh, like where Roberts batted Chase, last night.
And I do think Chase is a much better option against righties, then Forsythe is..
To Cody’s credit, having these weak hitters hitting behind him, hasn’t effected his hitting, because he is still hitting, and hitting in runs.
And I do think we are seeing a better Chase this year, at this point in the season, because he has not over played to much, and wore himself out.
And Chase has made a pretty good adjustment, coming off the bench, so I think Roberts should give him, more playing time, against righties.
Because I think Forsythe has been given more then a chance, to hit righties this year, and he is still not hitting rigthies, at all!
And I don’t think Forsythe and Joc, trying to over work their counts, is helping them hit any better, so I think they need to change their strategy, and stop watching good pitches go by.
They need to attack any good pitches that they get, instead of waiting until they have two strikes, and become easy outs, for pitchers!
I agree about Utley MJ, he has been making solid contact, and deserves a few more starts against RHP. His defense is still good and he’s an excellent base runner. Forsythe has trouble with a hard slider from RHP just like Kike and neither should face them until they adjust their swings.
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Joc spends more time out of the box than in it while hitting and still does not seem ready when the pitch is thrown. He has become an easy out and either pops up or rolls over for a ground ball to 1st or 2nd unless he is just missing the pitch completely. He is trying to pull everything and seems in a deep mental funk right now.
If Agon and Ethier hit when they return there will be no need for Joc on a playoff roster. Eithier can pinch hit and play corner OF moving CT3 to CF or Cody to LF when Agon plays in the field. I agree Joc looks completely lost and out of sync with his swing. His AB’s are woeful and non-competitive.
He’s probably also looking at a trade in the off season for more puzzle pieces to improve depth. Joc, Kazmir, BMac, maybe Ryu might be on the trading block in the off season just to deepen the farm and to further complete the plan by FAZ to acquire MLB ready depth at nearly every position.
I think we all agree we have a better option than Joc. Taylor can play second. There is no question about that. It is just a question where you want to put everyone. Utley is looking pretty good to me. Platoon Utley and Forsythe. Put Agon on first. Taylor goes to center and Bellinger to left. Taylor and Bellinger are going to play regardless. Let Either be the DH and pinch hitter, if he comes back strong.
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I would never move Puig from batting 8th. Why mess with success. Grandal should bat 7th and Agon 6th. Let the two slow runners bat at the end of the line up.
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I would like to see Ramos have an opportunity. I hope they call him up in Sept.
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Hatcher has been reinstated. I hope he is on a short lease. Let him throw about four times. If no good, let’s end it. If good, let him throw some more. Put him in high leverage situations. It may cost us a game or two, but we need to know.
Idahoal
With the point you made, and others have made, about our slow runners, hitting at the back of the lineup, I was thinking, maybe it would be better, to hit Puig ninth, and hit our pitchers eighth.
This way, Puig would be a second lead off hitter in our line up, and then he wouldn’t be blocked, by any slow runners, that are hitting, or running, in front of him.
And Puig should not feel any more pressure hitting ninth, then he feels, hitting eighth, like he has, most of the year.
But I am still a little leary about moving Puig out of the eighth position, and trying to over analyze, the line up, and possible messing, with Puig’s, current success.
I agree with you Mark. If Utley asked the ump to move and he was thrown out for that reason, the ump should be suspended. It was wierd. It looked like they were just having a conversation. It is going to be the interesting today to find out what really happened.
Taylor
Seager
Turner
Bellinger
Utley
Grandal
Pederson
Puig
I really can’t understand this fixation on Puig hitting 8th. I would rather he hit 5th or 6th, and I would give him a try in CF, too.
I agree Jonah, there is a lot of concern to moving Puig but none to moving Cody or Chris or others. Strange. If you don’t want to mess with success then don’t change the current lineup. We will see what the W/L record is with these changes.
Have you noticed how, when the GM or Manager does something, most posters immediately latch on to it as a great idea and really harass any posters that disagree with them? Then when the GM or Manager gets around to changing his mind and makes a counter move, once again most posters think it’s a great move and completely forget they used to be against it. That is the definition of a follower.
It’s called credibility. When leadership has it, then decisions made are accepted, especially is there is a logical and convincing foundation for that decision.
You know what I notice? I notice some people tend to take an opposing position in spite of nigh overwhelming evidence that they’re wrong simply to be a contrarian; that somehow doing so makes them an independent thinker, more objective ….a realist. Actually, the opposite is true. Folks who doggedly hold on to a discredited position are like flat Earthers.
Puig has had problems for a long time, hitting in the clutch, especially at the top of the line up.
Because he puts to much pressure on himself, and he often over swings, because of this.
And Roberts has experimented with Puig, higher in the line up at times this year, but when Puig has been moved up in the line up, he hasn’t been able to produce, like he has, hitting eighth.
It isn’t like Roberts, hasn’t tried that!
Puig is not the same hitter he was in the past. Less anxious and isn’t pressing as much. He’s won some battles in clutch situations the second half of this season and to think he can only do that in the 8 hole is ridiculous. I hate seeing innings or games end with Puig on deck because Utley, Forsythe, Grandal, or Joc are getting more AB’s.
If it’s not broke don’t fix it, right? Well, the 5 hole is broke. I’d rather see Forsythe drawing walks there than what Joc is doing, but I’d rather see Puig there and I find out now if he can handle it or not.
Hitting Puig 8th seems like a confortable place in the order with him this year since he has the highest BA in that position. I would not hit him 5th since he is only hitting .033(1-30).
I think jonah and package are quite the duo. Here are some others.
.
Abbott
and
Costello
Abercrombie
and
Fitch
Clothing Store
Adam
and
Eve
Famous first couple
Amos
and
Andy
Situation comedy popular in the United States from the 1920s through the 1950s.
Ant
and
Dec
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, popular presenters of light entertainment television programmes in the UK.
Anthony
and
Cleopatra
Astaire
and
Rogers
The famous dance pair of Fred and Ginger
Asterix
and
Obelix
Barnes
and
Noble
Booksellers
Barnum
and
Bailey
Circus magnates
Batman
and
Robin
Beauty
and
The Beast
Ben
and
Jerry
Ice Cream Makers, with flavors like Cherry Garcia. Headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont.
Bergen
and
McCarthy
Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy – Ventriloquist and dummy. Father of Candice Bergen (Edgar, not Charlie).
Bill
and
Ben
The Flower Pot Men.
Bill
and
Ted
From the movie ‘Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure’
Black
and
Decker
Tool Company
Boaz
and
Ruth
Major figure in The Book of Ruth in the Old Testament of the Bible. Boaz is Ruth’s second husband.
Bob
and
Ray
American comedy duo from the 50s and 60s
Bogart
and
Bacall
1940’s movie duo and married couple
Bonnie
and
Clyde
Brahms
and
Liszt
Cockney rhyming slang for intoxicated
Brooks
and
Dunn
Singers
Bubble
and
Squeak
Potatoes and scallions [onions]
Burns
and
Allen
Burton
and
Taylor
Butch Cassidy
and
The Sundance Kid
Western
Cagney
and
Lacey
Cain
and
Abel
Cannon
and
Ball
Comedy Duo
Captain
and
Tenille
1970’s Band that sang “Love Will Keep Us Together”
Castor
and
Pollux
Celestial stars which are named after the twin sons of Zeus and Leda. Both Stars in the constellation Gemini.
Chas
and
Dave
Cheech
and
Chong
Starred in the movie “Up in Smoke”
Chip
and
Dale
Cod
and
Chips
Cupid
and
Psyche
Currier
and
Ives
Damon
and
Pythias
Dastardly
and
Muttley
David
and
Goliath
Dharma
and
Greg
Doctor
and
Nurse
Dolce
and
Gabbana
Donny
and
Marie
Osmond
Dumb
and
Dumber
Ernie
and
Bert
From the Sesame Street TV Show
Fact
and
Fiction
Ferdinand
and
Isabella
Royal Cousins married in 1469 and started the Golden Age of exploration
Flora
and
Fauna
Frankie
and
Johnny
Ballad about a lovers’ quarrel ending in murder. Recorded at least 250 different times (don’t quote us on that).
French
and
Saunders
Comedy Duo
Gilbert
and
Sullivan
Gumby
and
Pokey
Claymation characters
Hale
and
Pace
Comedy duo
Hall
and
Oates
Hanna
and
Barbera
TV Cartoon Producers
Hansel
and
Gretel
Hatfields
and
McCoys
Classic Feuding families from USA
Hollywood
and
Vine
The most famous intersection in Hollywood
Holmes
and
Watson
Jack
and
Jill
Famous hill climbers; not so good at making their descent.
Jeeves
and
Wooster
Jekyll
and
Hyde
John Smith
and
Pocahontas
Johnson
and
Johnson
Ken
and
Barbie
Kylie
and
Jason
Neighbours Australian soap fame. Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. Played characters Charlene Mitchell and Scott Robinson.
Lady
and
The Tramp
Disney dogs who romantically shared a plate of spaghetti
Lancelot
and
Guinevere
Laurel
and
Hardy
Comedian Duo
Laverne
and
Shirley
TV show
Leda
and
The Swan
Lennon
and
McCartney
Lenny
and
Squiggy
Lewis
and
Clark
Lilo
and
Stitch
Little
and
Large
Comedy Duo
Live
and
Let Die
Song by Wings from the James Bond movie of the same name.
Lone Ranger
and
Tonto
Lucy
and
Charlie Brown
Lucy
and
Ricky/Desi
Mario
and
Luigi
From the video game Mario Brothers
Marks
and
Spencer
High street retailer
Mary Kate
and
Ashley
The Olsen twins
Mason
and
Dixon
Masters
and
Johnson
Mickey
and
Minnie
Cartoon
Morecambe
and
Wise
British comedian duo
Mork
and
Mindy
TV Show
Mutt
and
Jeff
Mutt and Jeff was an American newspaper comic strip, created by Bud Fisher that ran from November 15, 1907 to 1982.
Oscar
and
Felix
The Odd Couple – played by Jack Klugman & Tony Randall on TV, Walter Matthau & Jack Lemmon in film.
Ozzie
and
Harriet
Parsley
and
Thyme
Peaches
and
Cream
Penn
and
Teller
Magicians
Peters
and
Lee
A successful British folk/pop duo of the 1970s, comprising Lennie Peters and Dianne Lee.
Pinky
and
The Brain
Cartoon characters who have starred in the American animated television series Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky and the Brain, and Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain.
Pinky
and
Perky
A children’s television series first seen on the BBC in 1957.
Popeye
and
Olive Oyl
Porgy
and
Bess
Posh
and
Becks
Procter
and
Gamble
Punch
and
Judy
Classic beach puppet entertainment which was suprisingly violent
Ren
and
Stimpy
Rhubarb
and
Custard
Richard
and
Judy
British TV presenters
Rocky
and
Bullwinkle
Rodgers
and
Hammerstein
Rod Hull
and
Emu
Comedy Show ’70’s
Romeo
and
Juliet
Romulus
and
Remus
Twins brothers who were the founders of Rome
Rosencrantz
and
Guildenstern
Sage
and
Onion
Salt
and
Pepper
Their central role in western cuisine dates back to the court of Louis XIV, where salt was thought to whet the appetite and pepper was the only spice not considered vulgar.
Samson
and
Delilah
Sears
and
Roebuck
An American mid-range chain of international department stores, founded by Richard Sears and Alvah Roebuck.
Siegfried
and
Roy
Famous Las Vegas stage show with their white tigers
Simon
and
Garfunkel
Simon
and
Schuster
Publishing Company
Siskel
and
Ebert
Movie Reviewing Duo
Smith
and
Wesson
Gun Maker
Sonny
and
Cher
1960’s singing duo and 1970’s variety show couple
Spongebob
and
Patrick
Stanley
and
Livingstone
Starsky
and
Hutch
US cop show
Stiller
and
Meara
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, a husband and wife comedy team, were a big hit in the 1960s and ’70s. Parents of comedian Ben Stiller.
Tarzan
and
Jane
Thelma
and
Louise
Tippeecanoe
and
Tyler Too
Tom
and
Jerry
Great Cartoon Cat & Mouse
Torvill
and
Dean
Ice Skating Fame
Tracey
and
Hepburn
Troilus
and
Cressida
Tweedledum
and
Tweedledee
From Alice in Wonderland
Waldorf
and
Statler
Muppet show!!
Wallace
and
Gromit
Will
and
Grace
TV Sitcom
William
and
Mary
Cousins who married and jointly ruled as king and queen of England from the Stewart dynasty
Yin
and
Yang
Zig
and
Zag
What a waste of space.
I give him an A for Affort!
An apt description of Bumsrap, a waste of space….
What are you doing?
Atta Boy Bumsrap, Make it personal!
Really, Bumsrap. Get a life.
I am hopeful that posters here can/will express intelligent, informed opinions without personalizing things or being rude to others who don’t share their opinions. That has largely been what has occurred thus far; please don’t revert to name calling, fun making, rudeness, etc.
Yes, I think we are starting to push the envelope.
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Let’s disagree without being disagreeable.
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What Rick said!
Well said Dodgerrick. Posters on this board are not followers. They are very capable of thinking for themselves. We do it without being nasty.
The ball is flying out today and Perdomo is a ground ball pitcher. The Dodgers are trying to hit the ball in the air, which will work but you have to let the ball get deep and stay behind it against this type of pitcher. Maeda is a fly ball pitcher and he will have to mix his pitches up better and the outfielders are already getting a workout after 2 innings.
Good call, Vegas.
Give Maeda credit, he has settled down nicely and is piling up the K’s and keeping his pitch count down, he may go 7 innings today.
Looks like I spoke to soon as another fly ball sneaked out to LF for a 2nd 2 run HR for Spangenberg and after a walk Roberts had seen enough of Maeda today and goes to the pen. At least it’s not Hatcher coming in.
Who did Hatcher replace on the roster?
I believe it was Farmer.
Baseball America has Grandal top 3 defensive catchers in the league. That surprised me. I’m not convinced AGon is more than a .250 hitter right now. I don’t know what it will accomplish to insert him in the lineup on a regular basis. Unless he shows he can drive the ball again, he should be a bench player or occasional platoon player. Still a good guy to have around though. Who goes down? Pederson?
I wish
1. The list was too long.
2. I didn’t cherry pick the list to find negative duos. It is merely famous duos, all of them.
Mark, I’m beginning to think you’re right about Joc. Even with my limited gray matter I could figure out that it’s not a good idea to keep hitting ground balls into the shift. I would think that by now Joc would have figured out that by cutting down on his swing, and trying to hit the ball up the middle, would result in hits all over the field, depending on how he was pitched. But what do I know? Maybe Joc is just a misunderstood genius.
I don’t know anything about Dennis Santana, but reading that piece from TBLA reminds me about Drew Jackson. I remember that when he was acquired from Seattle during the spring, I read that he had a very powerful arm. Having looked at his underwhelming minor league hitting stats, I have wondered whether or not the Dodgers have considered converting him to a pitcher. He’s still young at 24, and it would appear that he probably has the aptitude to make a change given that he’s a Stanford graduate. Anybody know if he’s being considered as a candidate for a change, since it doesn’t appear that even with his power, that he’ll ever be much of a hitting prospect.
I have no comment about Henry Ramos, since other than numbers I don’t have a clue as to what kind of prospect he is, nor anything about his readiness to compete at the MLB level at this time.
Regarding the Hatcher move, and the demotion of Kyle Farmer, I couldn’t really understand the reasoning behind it. Maybe it’s just temporary to provide some additional pitching before rosters are expanded in September. I liked the idea of carrying a third catcher who also has the flexibility to play the infield, especially since Farmer showed poise at the plate at bat after at bat. I like having the option of using one of the catchers off the bench to hit without having to worry about one of them getting hurt late in a game. But maybe it’s temporary, and that the Dodgers have the intention of carrying a third catcher during the playoffs. Or maybe Hatcher has undergone a transformation that none of us is aware of. Since I trust FAZ, I have to believe that there is something perfectly plausible in their thinking.
I don’t know what Agon will offer in the final month+, but with their commanding lead in the standings, and home field advantage in every playoff series, including the WS, virtually assured, the Dodgers have room to experiment. If anything, should the Dodgers manage to get to the WS, Agon, if he is performing well with the bat would be a really good choice to DH in the AL park. And even in NL parks, a lively Agon bat would be welcome, assuming he can play adequate defense at 1B with Bellinger shifting to LF and Taylor to CF. The only thing that I worry about is Agon clogging the bases with his sloth-like speed (although, “speed” is a misnomer).
Does Pederson have options remaining?
According to True Blue LA’s payroll tracker Joc still has 3 options left.
Dodgers looking good from here in Portugal.
I’m glad Ant & Dec got a mention Bums.
One other thing about Farmer being sent down. It’s possible that the Dodgers want him to get regular playing time over the next few weeks, rather than spending his time mostly on the Dodgers bench. Might as well keep himself sharp. I still think he could be a valuable piece in the postseason.
Excellent point!
Buehler struck out five hitters today, in two innings, to get his first save, for the season.
He threw 22 strikes, and eleven strikes were swing and misses.
Our secret weapon for the post season, we now have a very good, set up guy!
Wow, I just logged on and saw some long post with nearly 5000 words by Bluto.
Dude. WTF was that?? Meanwhile (and more importantly), if we go 26-19 the rest of the way, we set the all time NL wins record
It wasn’t Bluto!
I couldn’t write 50 words!
haha sorry man, I can barely read 1 word! Bum, not Bluto!!!