Landry is one of those guys who keeps us a bit off base with his name, which is Simon Meaux Landry. From all reports it seems he goes by Meaux, as in “Mo”. He was selected by the Dodgers in the 22nd round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Mississippi.
He grew up in Ponchatoula, Louisiana and attended high school in his home town before heading to Pearl River. He had three good years of high school ball, but his senior year did not turn out as he had hoped or expected. It seems he got distracted and as a result his college options shrunk.
“High school was a little tricky for me. I started off great my first three years. Then I started getting a lot of attention my senior year. A lot of scouts started coming to our games and I just blew it. I put a lot of pressure on myself and had a terrible year so my options were limited,” Landry said recently. “I came to Pearl River on a visit, loved it here and signed that day. It was awesome.
The right-handed hitting Landry played two years with the Pearl River Community College Wildcats in which he started every game at first base and made more than a little impression. He hit .301 as a freshman with 16 homers, 13 doubles and 46 RBIs but really took a step forward as a sophomore in 2018, hitting .392 with 16 doubles, 19 home runs, 68 RBIs and 51 runs scored. His influence on the team was not limited to his on-field success. His head coach, 36-year-old Michael Avalon explained. Avalon arrived in Pearl River the same year Landry arrived. The two made an instant connection.
“He was a dynamic player on the field and off the field. He was a captain both years for us and everything he did on the field and off the field represented what we want out of a Wildcat baseball player,” Avalon said. “He was a marked man every time we faced someone but continually got it done. He got that done through his work ethic. The thing that was special about him, not only was he a special player, but he made the program better by making every player and coach better.”
The Dodgers have done a good job of scouting at the community college leagues and Landry did not go unnoticed. In fact, the 6’4”/230-pound first baseman drew unusually high praise from Billy Gasparino, the Dodgers Director of Amateur Scouting.
“It’s probably the best raw power we’ve ever seen at a workout,” Gasparino said. “It would be better than any power in our system now, based on some of the measurements we have. If you go through exit velocity, he has better exit velocity than any minor or Major Leaguer we have in our organization. It’s just a fun guy to watch, because he has extreme power.”
Prior to the draft Landry had committed to the University of Houston fully intending to play with the Cougars. However, hearing his name called in the draft, he decided to pursue his dream of playing at the MLB level.
Landry debuted with the Arizona League Dodgers on July 16, 2018 with a walk and and a double in two plate appearances against the AZL Cubs. On the season he hit .210 with a .338 OBP and .452 slugging percentage, collecting 10 extra-base hits – including two homers and seven doubles – in 19 games.
The expectation is the 21-year-old Landry will start the season with the Ogden Raptors and the hope is he will find his way to the Loons at some point during the season.
Minor League Report by DC
Great Lakes 1 – South Bend Cubs 6
The Loons were limited to four hits against the Cubs on Tuesday. Niko Hulsizer had two of them, both doubles, and on the season four of his five hits have been doubles. The lone run was driven in by a Romer Cuadrado single following a Hulsizer double.
On the mound Stephen Kolek started his second game of the season and after a rough first inning pitched quite well giving up three runs, two earned, on six hits over five innings with one walk and three strikeouts. Brett de Geus made his Loons debut giving up three more runs on three hits in his 1.1 inning pitched. Justin Hagenman continued his strong start to the season with a third relief performance giving up one hit and one walk over 2.2 innings while striking out four.
The Loons have two more home games with the Cubs before starting a six game road trip against West Michigan on Friday.
RC Quakes 5 – Visalia Rawhide (D Backs) 8
The Quakes four game winning streak came to an end as they fell 8-5 to Visalia. They scored those five runs on two hits and five walks. Two runs scored on a Devin Mann home run in the third innings and another on a Brandon Montgomery double in the ninth. The other two runs scored courtesy of Rawhide catcher Renea Martinez, one on a throwing error and the second on a passed ball. The Quakes did steal four bases.
Leo Crawford started for the Quakes and didn’t fool many hitters giving up six runs on six hits and three walks in three innings. Wes Helsabeck pitched the next three innings allowing two runs, both unearned. German born Sven Schueller mopped up with two hitless innings. On the season Schueller has pitched six innings in relief over three appearances giving up but two hits and no runs.
The Quakes have not yet had their home opener. They play the Rawhide again tomorrow in a 11:00 AM PDT game and then head home for opening night against the Lancaster JetHawks on Thursday.
Tulsa Drillers 3 – Springfield Cardinals 2
The big draw at ONEOK Field was, of course, Clayton Kershaw making his second rehab start. Before a sellout crowd Kershaw went six innings giving up five hits, walking none and striking out six. He threw 81 pitches, 59 for strikes. He did allow two solo home runs in the sixth inning. There was a scary moment in the third inning when Irving Lopez lined a single off the back of Kershaw’s foot.
Kershaw was followed by Shea Spitzbarth who pitched 1.1 innings giving up a hit and walking three. He left with two runners on in the top of the eighth inning. Marshall Kasowski picked him up by stranding both runners he inherited and then striking out the side in the ninth inning.
The Drillers had taken a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on an Omar Estevez single scoring Jared Walker. Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tulsa rallied for a 3-2 win. Josh Thole and Zach McKinstry started the rally with singles followed by an opposite field single by Gavin Lux to load the bases. Pinch runner Logan Landon scored the tying run on an Omar Estevez dribbler to first base. The winning run scored on a DJ Peters single pushed to right field against a five-man infield.
The Drillers, now 3-3, wrap up their seven game home stand tomorrow afternoon before heading off to play the Arkansas Travelers on Thursday.
OKC 0 – Omaha Storm Chasers (KC) 4
The Dodger bat collected only six hits, all of them singles, with two of them by Edwin Rios.
Left-hander Rob Zastryzny made his Dodger debut a good one allowing only two hits and two walks over five innings with six strikeouts. The 27-year-old had been signed by the Dodgers as a free agent on March 26. Relievers Justin Grimm and Josh Smoker did not fare as well. Grimm took the loss giving up a run in the sixth inning with Smoker giving up three in his 1.2 innings pitched.
The Dodgers are on the road for six more games before heading home to play these same Storm Chasers on April 16.
Hitter of the Day – Omar Estevez who now has five two-hit games in his first six games of the season.
Pitcher of the Day – The tip of the hat goes to Rob Zastryzny for his first appearance of the season as a Dodger and his scoreless five innings on 66 pitches.
EXTREME power. Nice write-up. DC. Can’t say I knew of him.
We have had what were considered “extreme power” guys come through before. As with all youngsters it is a wait and see to find out if it can translate well at the next level, the next and so on. DJ Peters is also a community college player out of Western Nevada College. We are waiting to see if DJ can reduce his strikeouts which he has not done so far this year.
Meaux is another of those high character guys the Dodgers look for. I can’t wait to see him with the Raptors and how the Pioneer League parks hold or don’t hold him in. I fully expect to see him with the Loons at some point later in the season.
Thank you for the this post DC! Meaux Landry has been a favorite of mine since he’s been drafted. No reason for this other than his name. Now I have more reason to follow him. Seems like a very fine young man and I hope he becomes a player we all become excited about!
On the last post, therealten stated “Not being on the 40 man hurts Sborz etc. maybe trade with the white Sox for a guy like Fry.” Sborz is on the 40 man, and can be recalled. The Dodgers have shown interest in the ChiSox’s Jace Fry, but he is not off to a good start either. He is a 25 year old, who could become a good reliever in the right environment. I like Oregon State pitchers.
Taylor Rogers and Ryan Pressly, two relievers other than Jose Leclerc that I have been touting the last two years, are having a good start. Rogers is still with the Twins, and as long as they are relevant Taylor will not be moved after they traded Pressly last year. To me, Pressly is the one that got away. FAZ wanted Dozier, they should have sweetened the pot and pushed to get Pressly. Instead the Stros traded for him. The Twins got a couple of good prospects in 23 year old RHP, Jorge Alcala, and 19 year old OF, Gilberto Celestino. Both are in the Twins Top 20 prospect list, but the Dodgers could have done better if they wanted Pressly. Zac Rosscup, John Axford, and Ryan Madson made more sense to FAZ than Pressly or Keone Kela.
I know that the Dodgers will not get Jose Leclerc, but I still continue to watch him. He is not one that got away because the Rangers are not interested in trading him. So I just follow him. After four solid games with 4.1 scoreless innings, Jose got lit up yesterday allowing 3 runs in 0.1 IP raising his ERA from 0.00 to 5.79. I will still take him.
I was maybe skimming too quickly this morning through all the comments on the previous post but I don’t think you (AC) mentioned in the Kelly comment that Kelly also busted Hanley’s ribs and that probably cost the Dodgers a playoff series win. Kelly is more likeable than I thought he would be though.
“Dodgers will hit a buzzsaw or a brick wall that is who they are”… Just when I thought HamC was in a lg. of his own…
Come on Dodgerfan, I know you’re out there… What can you contribute today???
Magic Johnson was right in stepping down as Lakers top guy… Too much on his plate and not used to criticism… Still the greatest Laker to don the Purple and Gold…
Still wishing it was Sborz…
Dodgerfan is MJ.
To confirm, just ask her what she thinks of Joc.
You know you’re spoiled when a two-game losing streak is cause for alarm.
Not all teams can be the Seattle Mariners!
today a must win?
three-inning save for jansen likely
Tonight, Maeda goes 5 inning and the Pitcher formerly called “Batting Practice Kelly” comes into the game and pitches 3 shutout innings and assumes the role of “Machine Gun Kelly.”
The Dodgers will break out the heavy lumber as well.
Before you ask “Is this wishful thinking or do you know something we don’t?”
The answer is YES
Sometimes sports coverage can be so petty and gossipy.
ESPN’s lead story says that LeBron was “stunned” [no quotes in their story] by Magic’s decision, according to a “source with knowledge of James’ thinking.”
It’s a contrived, orchestrated reaction to run with as news. Nobody, not even my wife, has knowledge of my thinking.
Go on record or Shaddup.
Early Dodger Storylines:
1. Bellinger the Destroyer
2. Kelly the Gas Can
3. Offense [mostly] off to hot start
4. Ryu/Hill/Kershaw on the shelf
5. Barnes/Martin more than doing the job
6. Hernandez brain-farts
7. Platooning still rampant
8. Bullpen still trying to find its identity
9. We’re in first place!
10. Minor league talent bubbling on back burner
We have our backs to the wall in this series, but if we can win tonight we are half way there, because we have Buehler pitching tomorrow.
Still a proponent of that old adage: Split on the road and Win at home…
As MT said we’ll do it tonite and we got the Kid on Thursday… Easy Peasy…
And if we can beat their two best pitchers, that will make this split even sweeter!
Tonight’s line up:
Pederson LF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Bellinger 1B
Muncy 2B
Verdugo RF
Taylor CF
Barnes C
Maeda P
I’m not sure why all the position shifting as well just to get Verdugo in RF. I’m good with resting both Pollock and Hernandez, seems like they need the rest at this point
I would have probably put Verdugo in CF and Taylor at 2B leaving Bellinger and Muncy at this years usual positions of RF and 1B respectively
SoCalGrinch
Maybe Roberts is trying to give Cody a day off with his legs, and that is why he is putting Cody at first.
That makes sense
Per Bill Plunkett, Dodgers have placed Russell Martin on the injured list with lower back inflammation. Rocky Gale promoted from Triple-A
I will be interested to see how the minor league catching shuffle plays out. Thole is catching the afternoon game in Tulsa. Does he go to OKC for night game back up and stay for 10 days backing up Smith? Ruiz to OKC to split with Smith?
I never understood keeping Gale on the 40 man. I guess we’ll find out now if he was worth it. Kinda important to have a competent back-up catcher. First rule: Do no harm.
So it’s Jair Carmago who takes the back up catcher spot in OKC tonight. Can’t say I’ve heard of him. Looks like he was at AZL. Played some at OGD last year. Age 20 season it looks like on my quick phone check.
DC – any word/thoughts on him.
Wonder if he will stick at OKC until Gale comes back down or if he’s just filler for tonight. Still, must be a thrill for him
If Joc goes 0’fer again tonight, I’m starting the revolt
I am getting restless too with Joc. I looked for anything comforting and found his OBP was excellent and he leads the team in average exit velocity (AEV). Bellinger is close to Joc’s AEV but nobody else is. Seems his hard contact is at somebody and his soft contact refuses to find a hole.
What about CT3 who is 0-14 against RHP?
Bums, I will hold off on the revolt, hopefully he gets on a good streak coming up. AC, yes, CT3 looks very lost.
I am happy Magic decided to choose happiness over basketball executiveness. Apparently Magic wanted to fire Walton and Pelinka.
https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/magic_johnson_wanted_to_fire_lakers_gm_rob_pelinka/s1_127_28843331
Maybe Kobe will be the next President and replace Magic. I have no idea is that is a good idea. I only know what I wanted to happen all the while knowing I haven’t got a clue if my opinion is just another dime a dozen opinion.
I wanted to keep Randle and now I want to sign him as a free agent. He is available. I want to keep Walton as well. The Lakers have stunk long enough to get high draft choices and I want to keep them for the most part. I want to keep Ball and hope he can stay on the court. I would trade Lebron and stay young. Everyone wants Giannis and so do I. He plays for Milwaukee as did Kareem. Can that trade be copied? Doubt it but it happened once.
Prediction: LeBron will not be a Laker in 2020.
Magic Johnson screwed the Lakers. I can’t believe that he quit in this manner without even talking to Jeanie. He dumped Randal, Russell and now Zubac for basically nothing and now we’re left with Polinka and LeBron.
Tear down and start over, or keep with the plan and get that other star to pair with the King?
The first step is to hire someone to replace Magic, this time someone who has vision and knows what they’re doing. This person needs to come up with his plan on how to move forward. It seems to me you have to play both ends of the sword. What can you get for JaBrone and Who’s willing to sign to play with him here. If the answer to the latter is no one, then you have to trade him. If you can convince Thompson or Leonard to come, you do it and keep Jabrone and keep trying until Jabrone comes off the books.
My prediction is he is a Laker in 2020. Mostly because his kid just settled into High School and the length of this contract conspicuously coincides with his son’s high school schedule. This is too new to even know if he wants to be traded and as you know, his trade value is probably at it’s lowest point in his career.
Okay, trade him to the Clippers.
LaBron wants to win another Championship.
The Pacers would be the favorites if LeBron came to Indy.
Wow that is bold.
Another one bites the dust. Our guys are dropping like flies now. Bummer for Martin and Ryu. The bats went a little cold the last couple of days, coming down to sea level and playing a good Cards team that had our number last year.
AC, find us a reliever, please!!! I actually think the pen will be awesome once everyone settles in, but it would nice to have a guy to pencil in the 8th inning and take pressure off of these other guys. I thought Yimi, Baez and Kelly could all handle that role, but they are all over the place right now.
Too many times we need relievers to pitch in weird situations. More than 3 outs for one guy, then the next guy for only a batter, to come in a walk a left batter usually. I’m hoping they find their roles soon and that the starters can start going 6 consistently.
The last two games, pitching was decent and the bats were not. We just need a couple of guys to get their mojo back.
Grinch, I laughed pretty good when I say your lineup comment. Yes, they always seem to over-complicate things. The Dodgers need to start using a rule we use in IT. KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. Stop making unnecessary changes. But, MJ brings up a good point about Bellinger’s legs.
BlackMirror99, you’re right on the money with the Storylines. I wanted to punch myself in the face watching Kike the last couple of games.
MT, nice prediction. Doc better not let Kelly pitch more than an inning until he has some sustained success.
The lineup is as good as can be expected tonight. Pollock and Kike can both use a day off, I guess. I hope Barnes doesn’t wilt now that Martin’s on the DL.
Great article from Jayson Stark in The Athletic:
https://theathletic.com/916577/2019/04/10/stark-are-mlb-managers-becoming-obsolete/
I would not say they are obsolete, but their jobs are certainly different.
What happened to our record setting offense? Fire this RVS dude!!
we should probably “pump the brakes” with the RVS for Cooperstown discussion.
Hahaha
I was afraid of this happening to Dodgers offense after a 3 game series at Coors.
Can’t understand hitting for Verdugo. He’s demonstrated that he can hit lefthanders. Time to let the kid play everyday. Pederson will hit some HRs, and maybe have an occasional hot streak. But it seems highly unlikely that he will ever be a consistently good hitter.
Brooklyn
I didn’t get that either.
Because we needed to get someone on base, not hit another HR at that point.
I CAN NOT KEEP WACHING THIS GAME. NO BATTING, NO PITCHING AND BAD FIELDING.
Bird box that shit
In order to win the team needs to be both lucky and good. So far in this series we have played mediocre and our only luck has been bad. I’m still predicting 60 losses. I know now that at least three of them will be from the Cardinals. So no big deal. Move along – nothing to see here.
CT3 has to go. .100 BA with 10 K’s in 31 AB’s. 2017 was an aberration, we’re watching exactly who he is as a ML ball player. Great defensive versatility but way too many K’s at the big league level. He needs a demotion to OKC. How much longer will we have to watch his offensive futility?
Pitching is a major concern, we have not given up less the 4 runs in any game this year, injuries mounting, Friedman’s cheap wallet and depth will be tested. We won the luxury tax war, and are in position to contend yearly. I guess that is all that is important right Mark?
Other observations, time for Verdugo to start and Taylor to ride the pine.
Robert’s and Our front office’s kid gloves with every pitcher have to come off. Or build a super pen Friedman because no one can go more then 5.
Seager is going to need time but will start to hit in a month or two, Turner does not seem to be hitting with the same power and authority?
Can we ever retaliate when our batter’s get hit, would be nice to get retribution just once.
And hello la dodger talk, still the most insightful site out there, thx Ac. Dc and Mark for all your hard work, even Half empty guys like me appreciate it greatly and enjoy the info immensely.
Go blue
Hello out there. Is anyone there????
I haven’t been feeling very well and it is not because of the Dodgers. Although, they sure don’t make me feel any better.
Yes, we are here and we’re here to help you. Feel better soon.
I’m not going to jump to any conclusions based on one series. I have my own doubts about CT3, but I am also confident that the brain trust will only show faith in him for only so long.
There are questions about the pitching, and maybe they’re deeper than I suspect. But at the same time, let’s also keep in mind that the pitching staff was, as is often the case, beaten up in mile high Coors before this series.
It’s still a long season, and almost anything can happen. And certainly we know that at points during the season players will get hot, cold and everything in between. And there are likely going to be changes throughout the season. Besides, even after this bad series (and there will likely be others), we still have a share of first place, and we’re certainly a lot better off than last year at this time.
Also, if memory serves, last year we got swept in all three games in our first series at home with the Cardinals, and followed that up later on by sweeping a FOUR series in their ballpark.
Too early for any negativity.
If anyone thinks that age may be catching up to JT, stop thinking it, No doubt it could be happening, but most likely he’s just off to a slow start, and will ultimately (sooner rather than later) pick things up. Again, I’m relying on my fragile memory, but I recall him getting off to horrible start in his first year with the Dodgers before finally becoming the player we’ve learned to love.
I would think Seager should hit 8th for awhile.
Barnes
Pederson
Turner
Bellinger
Pollock
Muncy
Hernandez
Seager
DH
Mark–Good luck to your Pacers. Should be a good first round match-up.