2018 has been a season full of challenges and in no small part, the challenges were created initially by the decision the Dodgers made (and still denied by them) to not exceed the Luxury Tax Threshold (“LTT”). Many fans don’t agree with the decision, but on every level, except my RFL (“Rabid Fan Level”), I agree with it. I actually thought they would get below it in 2017, but it happened a year later than I expected. And… here we are. The Dodgers righted the ship after early struggles and even injuries to the pitching staff didn’t slow them down… until Kenley Jansen went on the DL.
Since that happened, the Dodgers’ bullpen has been saddled with three straight losses and and everyone is losing their minds because FAZ should have saw this coming and signed certain other unnamed relievers. Some say that FAZ “doesn’t value relievers,” which is preposterous. They valued Kenley Jansen and opened the vault for him. They just won’t overpay a reliever knowing full well that many are tremendously inconsistent. There may be an inverse correlation between what relievers are paid and their actual value. Some of the best bullpens in recent times have been built without large expenditures.
The Dodgers bullpen has not been good and it is now overexposed without Kenley Jansen, but they have had their moments. All we know is that Jansen will be out until at least next Monday, when he will be re-examined by a cardiologist. The pennant could be lost in that period, but I doubt it – help is on the way, in the form of Alex Wood, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Julio Urias. Wood and Ryu will be back this week, and by Wednesday, the bullpen will look vastly different. I have been saying that this team is built for the playoffs and I still believe that – I also know that they have to get there first!
Losing Kenley Jansen was a shock and maybe the only player the Dodgers could not replace, but I saw something the past two days with John Axford that gave me pause. He’s worth watching and I was surprised to see him almost hit triple digits… with a lot of movement. He has closers experience and maybe Honeycutt helped him find a few MPH and movement. I am not predicting Axford will be the closer, but after a horrid first game, he has literally been Light’s Out and Eye-Popping! Stranger things have happened.
At any rate, Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling are headed to the bullpen as Wood and Ryu move back into the rotation. There will likely be some bumps in the road as they get their mojo back. Moving Maeda and Stripling will immediately help, but this will be a process. Machado and Kemp have been ice cold. That will change, just like Pederson, Bellinger and Muncy heated up. Kenley will likely be back and so will Julio Urias. This is a team built for the Post-Season.
Starters:
- Kershaw
- Buehler
- Hill
- Ryu
Bullpen:
- Ferguson
- Urias
- Axford
- Floro
- Alexander
- Wood
- Maeda
- Stripling
- Jansen
The Dodgers may or may not carry 13 pitchers in the Post-Season, but Baez, Vinditte, Chargois, Fileds, Cingrani, Rosscup, Liberatore and others likely won’t be a part of it.
My prediction is that the Dodgers will hang on and win the division in Sepetember – they could even be a few games behind by then, but Machado, Dozier, Kemp, Turner, Puig, Bellinger and Company will get it together. It might be a bumpy ride – hide all sharp objects and stay out of high buildings. The sky is not falling and it will be OK. By the playoffs, the bullpen will be a Dodger strength.
By the way, there are two chances the Dodgers will DFA Matt Kemp: None and Never! The guy is in a slump, but his OPS is still .808 and he is hitting .283 with 17 HR and 66 RBI. Two on the NL’s best hitters went through even worse slumps. Matt Carpenter and Paul Goldschmidt were even worse for a lot longer… until they figured it out. I am sure that IF he were injured the Dodgers would give him a rest. If not, he will be fine.
I do know this: Dozier and Machado and Turner and Puig and Bellinger should only sit if they are tired. Forget the matchups. The good ones figure it out! Right about now, the key word is Don’t Panic!
Thank you M.T. attempting to produce a calming effect!!! I never like to enter the fray when the villagers are wandering thru the streets with torches in hand…
Machado is and never was a mistake… He’s in a slump…
My guess is Doc is back in 2019… Adding Honeycutt to any of the whining and gnashing of teeth was plain stupid…
Maeda n Strip, maythe baseball gods be with you and lets get something rolling…
We must gave been looking at a different pitcher. Axford did hit 99, and was consistently in the mid to upper 90’s. But I didn’t see the movement you’re talking about, and towards the end of his outing there were some hard hit outs. Hope I’m wrong, but Axford is not someone I am counting on.
I respectfully disagree with your assessment that FAZ values relievers. Paying Kenley Jansen who was the ONLY pitcher in the Dodgers organization who could close, was simply recognizing that they needed a closer. Every contending team needs a competent closer. Jansen was the best.
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Chris Hatcher, Juan Nicasio, Joel Peralta, Yimi Garcia, Pedro Baez, JP Howell, Jim Johnson, Adam Liberatore, Ian Thomas, Luis Avilan, Sergio Santos, Bud Norris, Louis Coleman, Casey Fien, Nick Tepesch, Grant Dayton, Jesse Chavez, Josh Fields, Josh Ravin, Tony Cingrani, Wilmer Font, Erik Goeddel, Daniel Hudson, JT Chargois, Dylan Floro, John Axford, Zac Rosscup, Pat Venditte. These are the relievers that have trotted out to the mound as members of the Dodgers during the FAZ era. Which one of these are competent late inning high leverage relievers? Middle relief? Sure, but certainly not late inning high leverage. The bullpen was so good in 2017 that they had to go out and trade for Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani who were used extensively down the stretch.
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I excluded Brandon Morrow and Tony Watson, two good late inning high leverage relievers the Dodgers chose not to sign. Not signing Morrow was somewhat understandable as he wanted to close and got a 2 year $21MM contract. That understanding was countered when Logan Forsythe’s option at $9M was exercised. Losing Tony Watson because of a 2 year $7MM contract tells me how they value late inning high leverage relievers. Farhan made it quite clear that he believed that the loss of Morrow and Watson would be more than offset by Garcia and Cingrani. How did that work out? Value good relief? Then why is Baez still on the roster (and I am talking about the 40 man)? Why did it take so long to move Hatcher?
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FAZ values competent late inning high leverage relief so much that they have to p___ off two starters to move into relief and hope that a 22 year old with major shoulder surgery who has not pitched in 15 months can come back and be a difference maker in a pennant race. Maeda and Strip will make the transition, but please do not expect them to be happy about it. It is probably going to cost Maeda $1.5MM. They value relief so much that their best reliever is a 22 year old starter who is one year removed from the California League. I am still hoping that Alexander will be a good late inning guy, but how is his confidence now after being pulled in his first real closing effort to be replaced with a waiver wire pitcher? Even Baez doesn’t get that treatment.
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I do not think they value relievers. I think they want to surround Kenley Jansen with 20 middle relievers between LA and OKC and hope one will emerge. Joe Blanton did 2 years ago. Brandon Morrow bailed them out last year, but only because he had an opt out if he was not recalled by June 1. They had no idea what they had. As good as Strip has been as a starter, just how good is he going to be in a late inning role on back to back days? Maeda was good last post season, but will he be able to back to back days. Or back to back to back as Jensen has had to do?
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It may work out, but it will not be because FAZ values relief. It will be because they needed starters to replace the relievers they did have.
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When Ryu comes back this week, someone will need to be removed from the 40 man. I expect Rob Segedin to get his release.
Ol’ Mark loves to push our buttons, doesn’t he?
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You are right, though, FAZ does NOT care about relievers. They see them as nothing more than movable parts, almost robotic, without any real value. I am beginning to see FAZ in that same light. Time to bring in some real baseball minds, not Bomar calculators.
Fun article about Dozier in The Athletic:
https://theathletic.com/470042/2018/08/13/doubt-brian-dozier-and-he-will-prove-you-wrong/
I got nothing. Let’s beat SF tonight
I am not sure how you have an organizational philosophy to not extend your pitchers late in games and limit innings at every turn and then not value relief help more.
AC’s assessment of the FAZ era relievers is spot on, why they did not take a 7 million dollar flyer on Watson is beyond me. I realize they thought they had a duplicate in Cingrani but with volitility of all relievers they should have signed him, the money was there at the time.
For all that FAZ has done well, they have done only average in the relief area. In fact in some areas of pen building they have failed miserably, AC addressed it and that is carrying bums too long( Hatchet and El Gasolino come to mind. They should have been taking out of Robert’s hands much earlier.
Mark solid post above but I disagree about Kemp. I have little confidence he will break out of his slump. I think he should be put on the dl for 10 days to reset and Verdugo brought up, he is better offensively and defensively right now. The timing could not be better with the amount of lefties we are facing this week. Bring back Kemp in 10 days and hope he can find his swing again, if not provide minimal at bats when the rosters expand and DFA him in the fall. Even when he was carrying us there were troubling signs, an unsustainable BABIP, an abysmal walk rate, and an inability to hit sliders consistently. Finally, on Kemp, has he put on weight again or is that just the camera adding 10 pounds?
We need to get hot and Roberts needs to get into these guys a bit. If I have to hear another “the intent” is there postgame speech from Roberts I am going to throw up. I don’t like Roberts but I realize he is likely towing the company line most of the time. Mark or AC can you confirm how much of his moves are his own and how many are completely FAZ influenced? Is the matchup game regardless of how a hitter is hitting completely FAZ or more Roberts or both? I hate to see hot hitters rested as I believe hitters need rhythm and thrive when they are in rhythm. However this team has won a lot of games doing it there way so who am I to criticize,, I do wonder if players really like the organizational philosophy of matchups and rest,Mark or AC?
My final rant, which has already been talked about, is the bull shit about not extending Ferguson one more inning on Saturday to protect him. What a joke. He could have been run out there another inning without consequence. How did kid gloves work with Urias? There has to be some ability for Roberts to divert from these pre determined pitcihing plans based on need and the eye test.
Also, one final note on Saturday, if Roberts was mixing and matching based solely on numbers, Chargois should have been lifted when McMahon came up as he has been pounded by lefties in 2018. Rosscup or Axford should have been in.
Well go blue, need to get rolling, and no better series or team to do it against. This is the first game I actually agree batting Kike’ in the four hole against lefties, please continue to own Bumgarner my friend.
Roberts believes in the FAZ sabermetric philosophy or they would never have hired him. That is why those who think Sciocsia should get the job are not being realistic. I do know that the trends and analysis reports come out everyday and there are strategic conversations. But that is where it stops IMO. FAZ does not make out a lineup. I know there are those that believe that, but I am not one of them. I think Doc takes all of the information and puts his best matchup lineup to win that day. I know the book says that JT should get a day off after a night game, but he has not played most of the year. He was getting hot, and he cannot be tired.
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As far as how the players feel about it, I do not know. No player likes to be out of the lineup. No pitcher thinks he should come out. Outside of Kemp and JT to a lesser degree, there is no reason the non-catchers should come out of the lineup. Put the best 8 out there regardless of matchups and let them work through it. Machado should not get a day off. He needs to work through his slump. Dozier, Bellinger, Puig should start every game. Grandal should get 95% of the remaining starts. Joc should get his starts for Kemp and CT3. And Kike and Muncy should be bench players with Barnes. No algorithm can show muscle memory and that is what baseball hitting is. Continually being inserted and removed from the lineup has a deleterious affect on muscle memory.
AC
Also, the adjustments hitters must make from game to game, to keep up with the many adjustments pitchers will make, from game to game, and sometimes, from at bat, to at bat.
Click your heals 3 times and say “there’s no place like home’ and beat the snot outta mad bum! Bout time for a sweep to recharge the batteries and put these Dodgers in a killer mentality. Enough of getting lackadaisical following small rally bursts. Go for the throat and do it again! Simply god is not good enough. Time to be great. Is that too much to ask for or expect? It wasn’t in 88! Show us!
SABRphiles emphasize the volatility of relief pitchers, especially middle relievers. A few years back, Jason Stark of ESPN.com wrote an article in which he quoted a baseball GM:
“The first thing you’ve got to remember,” said another GM, “is they’re relievers for a reason. The reason they become relievers in the first place is because they have some flaws. They don’t have a third pitch. They can’t repeat their delivery. They’ve got an unorthodox arm angle. So we made them relievers — because if we had a choice, we’d make them starters. Just the fact that we made them relievers means you’re looking at an imperfect crop to begin with.”
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Another quote from a different article: “There’s no right way to build a bullpen; sometimes the big money thing works, sometimes the scrap heap approach works. … the best thing to do is have enough depth in case Plan A, Plan B, or even Plan C fails. ”
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This is the thinking that informs the Braintrust. Relievers are a dime a dozen. If one doesn’t work then just get another one because relief pitchers, other than the guys like Jansen who are great year after year, are so inconsistent.
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Think of this – name one reliever resigned by the Braintrust other than Jansen? You can’t because there aren’t any. So each year, you build a new ‘pen with guys from the minors and other teams’ broken and spare parts. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t but the process matters to these guys more than the outcomes.
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This year’s group of spare parts includes Floro, Chargois, Rosscup, Axford, Goeddel, Hudson, Venditte, et al. Has anyone looked to see what this group accomplished in 2017? The only investment other than Jansen made in this year’s ‘pen is Alexander.
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Does anyone think that it will be any different next year?
Perhaps then the building of the rotation should be constructed differently. Instead of middle relievers extend the starters like when you take out your #1 your #2 comes in. Or by design of pitching duos as the complete game pitcher pretty much extinct. Just the scrap heap method doesn’t seem most logical at first take as there has to be something better than luck of the draw.
Courtesy of TrueBlueLA, re: the offense: “Since scoring 21 runs against Milwaukee on Aug. 2, the Dodgers have scored 27 total runs in nine games. Last week in six games they were 10-for-48 (.208) with runners in scoring position.”
If the Dodger hitters were not slumping, we might not be talking about the bullpen… if they could jump out opf a baot and hit water!
Concerning the current bullpen woes, I don’t understand why there wasn’t a conference call with Roberts, Honeycutt, Pryor and the front office to address this situation soon as Jansen went down. As much number crunching done by the front office I’m sure they have an algorithm for replacing a closer. And, if there was a meeting of the minds, this bullpen disaster in the last three games, was the plan? Like Jerry Harriston mentioned on a post game show, pick a closer and move forward. It’s probably not going to be up to the standards of Jansen, but let the bullpen know it’s roles moving forward. But, no, it’s fly by the seat of your pants approach. Bring in Alexander to close and then pull him after the 2nd batter because Arenado once hit a home run against him. Alexander has, also, gotten him out three times. And then bring in Chargois who was set up for failure. Again, Roberts overthinks with his bullpen and then tries to justify his thinking post game. It’s embarrassing.
As of now, I would go with Axford to close. Experienced in the role and last two appearances were excellent. Will he be Jansen? Most likely not, but a defined role for him will increase the probably of success. Maeda and Alexander for the eighth inning. The remaining bullpen of Ferguson, Stripling, Chargois, Goeddel, Floro, and eventually Wood. If Axford is somewhat successful, that’s a good bullpen to get us through until Jansen returns.
I must respectfully disagree with the disagreement. 😉
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I still say that relievers are a crapshoot and FAZ is not so stupid that they don’t value relievers. That’s silly to me. This year, to stay under the luxury tax, spending money on relief pitching was a luxury they could not afford. Even Watson would have been pushing the envelope. Many of us wanted Herrera (on DL), Bear Claw (22.00+ ERA) or Britton (up and down). Of course, there are others who have done well and many others who have done poorly.
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I want you to think back to last year. This time last year, the Houston Astros were nearer the bottom than the top in MLB in pitching. Their closer was a psycho and the staff had many injuries. On Aug 31st they traded for Verlander and their pitchers got healthy. Some starters became relievers and the rest is history. They ended up winning it all without a closer, because they had a lot of guys who could pitch 2, 3 or 4 innings.
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I do not think it was by design, but the Dodgers are on the same path the Astros were last year. The Dodgers bullpen had a 3.38 ERA last year, while the Astros was 4.27. This year the Dodgers bullpen ERA is at 3.92 while the Astros is 3.03.
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The Dodgers are getting healthy and I will remind you that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. The Dodgers are #2 in starter ERA this year, while the Astros are #1, but some starters are goiing to the pen. All I will say is that I still believe that this team is built for the playoffs…
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History will acquit or convict me.
I guess I value relief pitching more than most. My first Dodger hero was Larry Sherry and my second was Ron Perranoski (with Jim Gilliam). I have always believed in relief pitching.
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I also want to make clear that while I do not like the makeup of the bullpen, I do think the team can win. Maybe the starters transition to the bullpen will work out. When Maeda went to the pen in the playoffs there was always at least one day between games so he never had to pitch back to back. Will he be able to get up quickly, warm up, and be ready in back to back days? Will Chicken Strip? We know that Doc will not let Ferguson do it. Totally different preparation for a starter and a reliever. I am okay with Urias pitching in September. I am just not counting on him for the playoffs.
I’m with you, but I will say Maeda has at least gone on record in the past that his contract shouldn’t be a reason for him to be in the rotation and he is willing to do what is best for the team. Let’s just hope it all works out, but I’m as pessimistic as you about the state of the pen and the way the front office has prioritized the pen. For being a bunch of progressive future minded saber-metric nerds they seems to be behind on the value of bullpen pieces.
So that’s been the plan since the beginning of the season? Sign all of the spare parts off the scrapheap and then when it doesn’t work, move “extra” starters into the bullpen? Since that’s what the Astros did last year, that’s what the Dodgers should do this year?
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Its better to have your bullpen rely on the likes of the Cup or the Axe or the guy who pitches with both hands then it is to resign the likes of Morrow or Watson? Or to move starters to the ‘pen?
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Built for the post-season? How many more walk-off losses to divisional competitors can they withstand before the post-season is something that the Dodgers watch on TV? Dustin Nosler of Dodgers’ Digest posted this AM: “Since their horrific 16-26 start, the Dodgers have the best record in the NL at 48-29. That’s a 101-win pace, which sources tell me is good. Problem is, since the Dodgers acquired Machado on July 18 (the day after the All-Star Game), the Dodgers are just 11-12. ”
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And “The Dodgers are on an 87-win pace. That might be enough to win the division, but if the season ended today, not only would they have lost the division race, they wouldn’t even be the second wild card team.”
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And “We’re nearing the middle of August and instead of the Dodgers starting to hit their collective stride (or already in their stride), they’re scuffling.”
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They may not BE in the post-season, so it’s hard to say they are built for it.
Whether or not the Dodgers hitters are slumping, the bullpen is not an acceptable piece of this team. Let’s say the Dodgers make the playoffs. The games are usually going to not be slug fests, but close games where the pen must be relied upon. FAZ’s philosophy is to gather cheap arms for the pen and hope enough work out like Morrow did. Get enough warm bodies in here that they can piece together innings 6-8. Maybe Dozier was a response to striking out on a good relief pitcher, but a quality piece should have been obtained if they were serious about winning it all this year.
I am okay with the team as it is.
I can never tell when you’re messing with us or not.
I do like to joke around here I’ll admit but, in this case, I do like this team.
Fair enough. I commend your optimism.
Just heard Uncle Ned on Dodgertalk this morning talking about the bullpen and how incredibly difficult it would be for us to get a good reliever and run him through the waiver gauntlet without having somebody claim him. He didn’t sound too optimistic, which he usually is. We might be stuck with what we have in house. Like Mark says, we better hold on tight, this could get kind of rough.
If Kenley had been healthy last weekend, the perspective might be somewhat different.
But he wasn’t.
I agree Mark, could you imagine a healthy Kenley with Strip and Maeda in full bullpen roles? Dang…
DODGERS REINSTATE ERIK GOEDDEL
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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today reinstated right-handed pitcher Erik Goeddel from the 10-day disabled list and optioned switch-handed pitcher Pat Venditte to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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Goeddel, who missed nine games with right lat inflammation, last pitched on August 2 against the Brewers, where he allowed three runs on two hits over 1.0 inning of relief. In 30 games with Seattle and Los Angeles this season, the California native has a 3-0 record, 3.06 ERA (12 ER/35.1 IP) and has limited the opposition to a .202 average.
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Venditte, 33, has appeared in five games with Los Angeles, allowing four runs over 4.1 innings (8.31 ERA), while striking out four against one walk.
DOZIER
TURNER
MACHADO
KIKE
TAYLOR
PUIG
BELL
BARNES
KERSHAW
Finally Machado in the 3 slot , lets prove Rick wrong about it not mattering, hope he breaks out tonight.
Kike hitting .455 off the Bum, validated #4 slot this time.
Taylor 0/8 against the Bum, why #5? Wish Taylor was above Barnes and Puig/Bell, 5/6, but whatever
I like it!
the last shifts to the bat of kike have been of very low quality. today it will be an interesting exercise to philosophize about which is better: hitting rhythm or statistics’
Dang, both Taylor and Barnes in the lineup against Bum. Take a damn chance and throw Joc and Grandal in there, no way they could do worse. Taylor is turning into a swinging saloon door. You almost wonder if his eyesight is off. Dude is officially leading the league in strikeouts.
DODGERS GIANTS ON MLB NETWORK TONIGHT, FYI
the last shifts to the bat of kike have been of very low quality. today it will be an interesting exercise to philosophize about which is better: hitting rhythm or statistics’
Per TrueBlueLA:
“During the last six weeks, the boys in blue have hit .201 against left-handers, which is the lowest number in baseball. To go along with the lowest average, they are also last in slugging percentage (.312) as well as OPS (.592).
The player who has most notably struggled the most is Kiké Hernandez. For his career, Hernandez has been known as a better hitter against lefties. When he’d get opportunities to start, they would normally be against left-handed pitchers.
Since June 29, Hernandez has been the worst hitter in baseball against lefties. In 44 plate appearances, Kiké only has four hits. His slash line sits at .095/.116/.143/.259, all the worst in baseball during that stretch.”
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No more Kike please
What many fans fail to recognize is that the player you saw yesterday may not be the one you see today… or tomorrow. Kike is maddening sometimes because he has such potential and great power, but he kills Mad Bum….
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However, that is in the past. It’s what he does tonight that counts. There’s not much middle ground with Kike – HOT or COLD!
I’m surprised Farmer wasn’t called up for this series.
You’ve been talkin’ ’bout that potential since the day of the trade.
And every year, one excuse after another, he shows you misread him.
Time to own up, Mark.
He’s an occasionally nice, occasionally useful Part Time Player.
With all the chances he’s had, very unlikely he’ll ever be more.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. There is something wrong with
management and some fans killin’ him with unearned expectations,
like hitting him cleanup.
And occasionally during that stretch, he’s been collecting weak at-bats
in the 4-hole….inexplicably.
Someone know something about Jensen status? I AM JUST READING HE WOLUD NEED ANOTHER HEArt surgery at the end of the season.
Rotoworld:
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Kenley Jansen (heart) threw a bullpen session Monday and will throw another one Wednesday and Friday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that the team was “encouraged” about Jansen’s chances of beating his projected 4-6 week timetable. That’s the good news. That bad news is Jansen was also told by doctors that there’s a good chance he will need ablation surgery again this offseason, which is the same procedure he had six years ago. Scott Alexander is the favorite for saves in the L.A. bullpen for now, although manager Dave Roberts has indicated he could use multiple relievers.
Thanks
More news about the Dodgers’ offense per TrueBlueLA:
Re; Matt Kemp: “Since July 24, Kemp’s three hits are the lowest amongst players with at least 57 plate appearances. The next closest is Jose Bautista with seven. Not only is he dead-last in hits, he is also dead-last in AVG (.060), OBP (.140), SLG (.080), OPS (.220) and wRC+ (-35).”
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“Another player vitally struggling to hit south paws has been Chris Taylor. In 2017, Taylor hit a remarkable .297 against left-handers. Since June 29, Taylor is hitting .167, which is tied for third-worst. His .217 on-base percentage is the fourth worst.”
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“Since being acquired at the trade deadline, Brian Dozier only has one hit off of a left-hander (.125 AVG). Austin Barnes is 4-for-27 (.148 AVG). Cody Bellinger is hitting .175 and has the sixth lowest slugging-percentage.
Matt Kemp is hitting .195 and has the third lowest average on balls put in play”
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“five of the next six starters the Dodgers face will be left-handed, so this upcoming week may present one of the Dodgers’ biggest challenges of the year.”
For what it is worth, I have been noticing that Manny Banuelos has been relieving exclusively lately. Getting tuned up for a September call up?
Also, for what it is worth:
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It would not hurt the Dodgers to DFA some players on the 40-Man and call up Manny soon:
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Venditte (he never pitches in the majors)
Segedin (agree)
Rosscup (just sayin’)
Liberatore (what?)
Well, that’s at least 4 spots to save players from Rule 5 this winter.
Here’s a few players that have to be protected under Rule 5:
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• Edwin Rios
• Matt Beaty
• Kyle Garlick
• Josh Sborz
• Kaybear Ruiz
• Drew Jackson
• Logan Langdon
• Yadier Alvarez
• Andrew Sopko
• Shea Spitzbarth
• Nolan Long
• Jared Walker
• Christian Santana
• Issac Anderson
• Andrew Istler
• Leo Crawford
• Garret Hope
• Gersel Pitre
I’m surprised to see Ruiz on that list already. Crawford too.
Austin “Freaking” Barnes: You can’t stop him – you can only hope to contain him.
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Clayton Kershaw thinks he is a “Freaking Gazelle.”
People have posted a lot of interesting facts and stats the last few days re. our variety of struggles. All are true. All are disconcerting. All are quite opposite of how we were playing last year (aside from that crazy 17 of 18 losses stretch).
Here is another fact: if we hold on and win today, we’re tied for first. I”m not trying to sound like an ass. Just pointing out that we’re lucky that there’s no great team in the NL this season. So let’s use that to our advantage. Be 1 game better than AZ the rest of the way and we get to win the division again and get to the dance. We have plenty of time to wake up from this funk and be ready for October.
Last season, 104 wins and a SI cover asking “Best Team Ever?” didn’t cut it. So maybe we do it a different way. The Giants won 92, 94, and 88 (wild card) during their 3 titles. If they can win it, so can we.
Now let’s finish this game off today
Exactly… Built for the Playoffs!
What playoffs?
Only the Dodgers need to pinch hit for their cleanup hitter.
seriously
We’re looking at vintage Kersh… Puping the fist like Tiger this weekend…hBum not too shabby either… It doesn’t get any better than this…
Taylor and Machado look lost out there. Turner looks great at the plate and in the field.
They really missed a completely healthy JT.
My fav Ned acquisition of all time (I think there are three, total:-).
CT3 1-4 with 3 K’s. Sit him down and use Verdugo. Leads the NL in K’s.
Muncy is not better than billinger in fist. Why muncy in fist?
Must head scratching move yet unless Dozier is hurt.
Dozier removed for dizziness
Ouch
Nice job Doc! The pitch count looses another game.
BP exposed again. FO didn’t get what they needed most at the deadline and Doc is brain dead. Takes Alexander out in Colorado once Alexander gives up a double, but leaves him in tonight and he implodes. He has no idea what hand to play and this shit show is full on now!
Shit can the entire pen
Good night Mrs. Calabash wherever you are!!!
Daniel
EXCELLENT QUESTION you raised above!!
Roberts deserves the reception he’s getting.
Has an entire bullpen ever been designated for assignment in one night?
First and Third, two outs and two strikes on the batter and you hit him. Horrible, horrible pitching.
Mark–Love the blog but please don’t come up with some BS sunshine. This team in all phases with the exception of SP is an unmitigated mess. RISP is non-existent, BP sucks, defense not so good and the big trade deadline acquisition Machado has been average at best, certainly not superstar.
Something’s gotta change with the roster for this team to get to the playoffs. Like a setup man for Jansen or a 2nd closer for him when he’s on the DL. At this stage where is that to be had?
You know what guys, and I respect the hell out of Mark, AC, and DC, etc, but we got us a big problem. Kershaw lays on his sword, 110 pitches, and the bullpen coughs it up again. This is a team morale blow, because Kershaw pitched his ass off for his team. This one may start some rumblings in the clubhouse. We can post our opinions all we want, but the reality is that we are exposed in a big way right now with a bullpen that didn’t get addressed at the deadline, and don’t think for a moment that the other teams aren’t smelling blood in the water.
100% agreed!
Alexander isn’t the answer in the 9th either. After giving up baserunner after baserunner. Roberts leaves him out there. There wasn’t even anyone warming up.
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8 hits 3 walks, 2 runs – one on Kershaw’s pop-up and one on Turner’s solo HR. Offense stinks.
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Kershaw was great but needed to go 9 for the Dodgers to win tonight.
Dodgers in 3rd. 3 – 7 in last 10.
Have thought for a while, in spite of John Smoltz (who said Yanks were still a lock
after Boone did what Roberts did tonight with a rusty Chapman in game 4 of recent
Red Sox series – i.e. follow the Dread Baseball Manager’s Bible and have no one
backin’ up your “closer”), that neither Flock nor Bombers are guaranteed post-season,
especially if Mariners can finally play with poise in September the way they just
did in Houston, and if Rocks and D-backs can be a wee more consistent in
clutch weeks.
It’s some too early to say I told you so about Manny, but so far he looks just like my warning
when the trade guaranteed the Ds a trophy in October (to hear the national press and LA
fans at that time). He has never struck me as Big Time Money, not when the O’s were
pretty good, at any rate.
Kershaw would have finished what he started.
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Alexander is no closer, he is a nice ground ball pitcher who struggles with control.
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The defensive switches were ill advised in the 9th inning.
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The team is in a funk and no other teams feel sorry for them.
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Bobby is right, there is still time but the leadership from Doc is lacking right now.
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I can’t keep watching games blown in the 9th, I will have to check the final score and condense the pain.
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It’s time for a Lasorda like come to Jesus meeting for the entire team with locked doors.
Maybe…but it might cost in October to stress the arm (and back and hip and
obliques:-) right now.
Yup.
Yup.
Yup.
DR is in a slump too. Happens.
Good notion!!!
Skeptical, especially in baseball…
In other important news Dodgers cut Erisbel Arruebarrena.
Anyone ever tally how much the Billion Dollar Boys wasted on Cubans?
Axford fraftued fibula, to dL. Dozier abnormal ekg and more tests being done. Are we in the twilight zone?
The worst part of the first and third walk was that Alexander got ahead of Slater 0-2, and just kept on coming inside, pitch after pitch. There were a couple of pitches earlier in the count when he nearly hit Slater. I kept on hoping that Alexander would mix it up a bit, and go for the outside corner (either up or down), because Slater had to be looking inside. And I’m not just talking about the 3-2 pitch. He could have done it on any number of his pitches after he got ahead 0-2.
His pitches are like throwing a whiffle ball, you have no idea where it’s going.
“The best is yet to come”
Sure does look like it. But until then it hurts alot ! I was at the game tonight and yes it was the twilight zone in the 9th. Very strange.
Like so often is the case, it only takes one pitcher to mess up to lose a game. It has been a different pitcher every night during the last 4 games while all the others did well.
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Alexander doesn’t seem to be able to handle the closer role but is still a good 7th and 8th inning reliever.
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The HBP was the key to the defeat.
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Buehler and Kershaw look like the aces the Dodgers need to win it all. Hill is a strong #3. Maeda should be the closer.
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Stripling should return to the rotation, if not now, in September and the playoffs for sure.
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Hopefully Fergussen = Miller.
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Hypothesis: Players that change leagues late in the season often struggle. Hypothesis: Great players take less time to adjust.
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I would go with this lineup against both lefties and righties:
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CF Pederson
RF Puig
3B Turner
SS Machado
1B Bellinger
2B Dozier (Taylor until Dozier returns)
LF Verdugo or Toles
C Grandal and Barnes
The best is yet to come. I sure the hell hope so………………………… I went from wanting to buy tickets for a game in San Diego next week to throwing up my dinner in the matter of one inning. Stripling might turn out to be the guy but he lacked confidence in the pregame interview in my opinion. It seemed like he would rather have Maeda close out the games but would do it if they called on him. That’s not the guy you want running in from the bullpen in tight games in the 9th inning. Stay tuned, if you can stand the pain…………………………
During the month of August which is now just about half-way over, Machado has posted a very underwhelming .263/.282/.368 slash line. To go with the unimpressive slash line is the fact that during August, Manny Machado has not yet homered or driven in a run
‘
That’s disgusting.
Damn if you don’t sound like our Twitter In Chief talking about his trusted staff!??! Is their a staff anymore…
The Dodgers hit the ball hard last night, but right at people. Maeda will be alright. The outfielders are the ones hurting this team. That is why Toles and Verdugo should be brought up now. I know they are both lefties and we are going to face more lefties. Both of these guys are not HR hitters and we need someone to put the bat on the ball. We are running more and that will help. We are going to be ok. I just do not like Doc’s line ups and the way he handles the pitchers.
Chris Taylor looks lost. He needs to go down to figure out his problem. Machado, JT and Bellinger look locked in. Dozier was a good acquisition. The infield is carrying the hitting part. Ryu looked very good.