RF Belongs to Verdugo

Posted By on April 18, 2019

Lots of other blogs give you a game recap. There are billions of those blogs and they do a good job. I just try and give you another perspective, win or lose. When they win, they are’t this king of the world and when they lose, they are not the scum of the earth. I try and keep even keel and eliminate knee-jerk reactions. After sweeping the Reds, the Dodgers are back in first place. Next stop is Milwaukee for a four-game series and then three with the Cubs. I am bummed out that I can’t get to any of these games, as I have plans all this weekend and the next week, I will be in Las Vegas all week. Bummer!

The Dodgers and Reds only had 3 hits apiece as Sonny Gray and Striker Buehler were both dominant. It was AJ Pollock’s turn to step up and he did with a 3-run jack. Striker has righted his ship as he looked dominate all day. The bullpen did it’s job and it was 3-2 win for the boys in blue. Rich Hill threw 4 shutout innings for RC (story below) and struck out 8. I have always felt that Rich Hill had a “career year” left in him. Wouldn’t that be something if he did? You never know.

But back to the headline: Alex Verdugo has shown he is ready, willing, able and excited to play RF every day. Since he hits Lefties and Right-Handers equally well, there is no need for a platoon. I would also think that he will soon see some time as a leadoff hitter. That means that Bellinger will play 1B, except when there is a tough RHP on the mound. In that case, Belli plays CF and Muncy plays 1B. Max can also fill in at 2B and 3B, so he should get 400-450 AB’s. Joc and CT3 platoon in LF. Freese gets his share of AB’s and everyone should be fresh.

By the way, it’s dangerous to judge how a player will do after just 20 games, whether they are doing very good or very bad. AJ Pollock has not been hot this year (maybe yesterday starts a new trend), but historically he goes on tears that can carry a team. That’s how baseball works. Justin Turner is the same way and he has not really got untracked either.

Through the first 20 games, the Dodgers are the best hitting team in baseball! They are 2nd in runs scored, OPS, BB, HR and tied for 1st with the Braves for OB%. The Dodgers are also 4th in MLB in batting with RISP, hitting .294. I think some credit has to go to Robert Van Socyoc. We have to acknowledge that he has at least had a hand in this. The Dodgers have never hit like this in the past 10 years… maybe longer. Turner Wards team is 28th in hitting! Yikes! I’m just sayin’…

It’s not quite as rosy on the pitching side… but they are getting better. The Dodgers have currently climbed up to 13th in ERA at 4.20. Their starters are 12th with a 3.87 ERA and the bullpen just finally got their ERA under 5.00. It now sits at 4.78. As a point of reference, the Nats were active over the winter in getting bullpen help and their bullpen ERA is almost DOUBLE what the Dodgers is. WOW!

Better days should be ahead as Hill and Ryu return over the next two weeks and the strain on the bullpen is lessened. By the way, the Red Sox are 6-13 (8 games behind the Rays) and the Rays could bury this this weekend. They are essentially the same team as last year… minus Joe Kelly and Craig Kimbrel, but that just shows how the element of luck comes into play in making a magical season.

Julio Urias will make what might be his final start before he goes back to the bullpen to limit his innings. If he can wrap his head around that, he can be a huge weapon out of the pen. Can you say “Andrew Miller on Steroids?Maybe they should just let him there all year and convert him back to a starter next year. I would recommend that.

I know some of you don’t trust Kenley Jansen, but so far he is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA and is 5-5 in saves. He has not given up a HR (yet) and the league is hitting 1.72 against him and he has a 0.84 WHIP. 11 K’s in 8.1 innings. You have nothing to fear, but fear itself! He looks primed for a big season. He’s healthy, eating better and is visibly slimmer. He is getting into the flow.

Minor League Report by Mark

Great Lakes lost to South Bend Cubs 2-1 – The Loons had six hits over 9 innings and only one was an extra base hit. James Outman had 2 of the hits and Amaya had the only RBI. The Loons were 0-10 with RISP. Outman is someone DC should profile. Josiah Gray again dominated, giving up 1 run in 5 innings with 5 K’s. He has a 1.23 ERA on the season. This kid is going places and all he cost the Dodgers was a knucklehead.

Rancho Cucamonga won 4-2 over Lake Elsinore – Rich Hill started and went 4 innings, throwing 54 pitches. He allowed 4 hits and zero runs while striking out 8 and walking zero. Carlos Rincon hit a HR in the 2nd inning. Carillo pitched 4.2 innings and allowed 2 runs, while Sheffield got time final out and save after Rincon and Wong both hit RBI singles in the 9th to break a 2-2 tie.

Tulsa beat the Arkansas Cardinals 10-7 – Cody Thomas was 4 for 4 with 3 HR’s (5 on the year).Walker hit his first, McKinstry hit his 2nd and Gavin Lux also hit his 5th. Lux also had a double and Kaybear Ruiz, who is starting to heat up had a double and was 2-5 (.216). The Dodgers used 6 pitchers who shall remain nameless.

OKC lost to the Omaha Storm Chasers 8-5 – Drew Jackson and Conner Joe, who were both returned to the Dodgers as Rule 5 draftees both were 3-4. Beaty was 2-5, but that was pretty much it as they only had one extra-base hit. Will Smith did commit his third error. That is rather early for some many errors, especially since he is allegedly a defensive whiz. Daniel Corcino gave up 9 hits and 6 runs in 5 IP, which pretty much sealed the game.

Photo Credit: Jon Soo Hoo/LA Dodgers

This article has 43 Comments

  1. I read somewhere that the knee brace that Rich Hill is wearing has had a positive effect on his mechanics making his curve ball even more deadly. 8 Ks in 4 innings seems to back that up.

    I want to see more Alex! That 372 BA is fun to look at, but I really like his efforts in RF. It looks like he gets a quick jump on the ball and makes good routes. I can’t wait to see him unleash that arm! Sorry Max, even with all those homers last year, I would rather have that high average, low strikeouts and good glove in the lineup.

    What a bench! With Freeze, Muncy and Taylor coming off the bench, the Dodgers are really stacked. I know Taylor is off to a slow start, but he’s not going to hit below the Mendoza line all year. He might be our best defensive outfielder.

    That six game losing streak was ugly, but we have a 4 game win streak going, already had a 5 game win streak and we currently sit 12-8 in first place in the West where we belong and this team is going to get better. We still have some bats that need to get going and our pitching staff is just starting to get healthy.

    Time to take care of the Brewers. The Cubs have been playing better recently. This road trip will be another good test.

  2. What was somewhat of a surprise has been seeing Muncy play 3b to spot JT. It makes sense, now. Muncy will now slot into more of a utility role, and can play every infield position except SS. Actually, his defensive metrics look better this year, so he’s becoming less of a liability wherever he plays.

    This is going to allow Bellinger to slide back to 1B, and will give Verdugo a chance to shine in RF, which is his natural position. Remember, he’s got nearly the cannon arm that Puig does, is more accurate with it, and doesn’t rip up the positioning cards and drop the remnants on the ground in the front of the coach as he walks away.

    For Verdugo to lead off, though, he will have to improve his walk rate, which right now is in Dee Gordon and Jose Peraza territory *. Historically it’s cracked double digits, so as he settles down a little as the season progresses, I’d expect it to rise.

    I’d like to see him compete for the ROY.

    * Peraza this year is swinging at everything, btw, and missing quite a lot, which is a huge change in his style. It was observed that the Reds as a team are swinging and missing at more pitches. Is this Turner Ward’s influence?

    1. Verdugo is a good baserunner for not being a “Fast” guy. I miss the days of having a true leadoff hitter. I also miss the days of having base stealers, guys that can steal 30, 40, 50+ bases, but here we are. And since we’re here, Verdugo is probably the best choice to bat leadoff with what we have.

      As far as Verdugo’s arm goes, being a former pitcher he has plenty for RF. Time will tell if he rivals Puig, or Mondesi in Dodger’s lore.

      Muncy is never gonna be a gold glover, but he has enough glove to hold down the starting job at 3 positions if his bat keeps playing. But, he’s nowhere near the alternatives that we have at any of the positions he plays. Maybe he can add at outfielders glove to his bag as well. I think he had a start or few in the outfield.

      1. Verdugo does not have the arm of Puig or Mondesi. But he is very close. He was selected as the best OF arm in AAA (I believe it was 2017). He has 56 career OF assists in MiLB. Not just a strong arm, but also accurate. He sees the ball off the bat as well as anyone. He gets a great jump, and takes a great route to the ball. That gives the impression that he is fast, but he is more efficient than fast, and that allows him to fill in at CF if need be.

  3. I am all in for Freese, Muncy, Taylor, and Martin being the bench. I think they should be judicially woven into the starting lineup but I would prefer there not be automatic platoons. That means Pederson starts against 50% of the lefty pitchers and maybe Pollock and Turner start maybe 80% against righty starters.

    Pederson’s best stats have been from the 5th spot in the lineup. But it is easier to get the right, left, right sequence with Pederson hitting first.

    1. 59 Thanks!

      I just looked at the order, so I assumed Kike was after Verdugo.

      Kike was actually faster last year then Verdugo.

      On Corey, only Grandal was slower last year, so Corey has gained some speed from his correction surgery, and losing that extra weight.

  5. I am not sure that “not trusting Kenley” is a fair assessment of how some of us feel. I can only speak for myself, but while I do believe Kenley is still valuable, he is not the same dominant pitcher he was pre 2017 WS. As we all notice that Clayton has lost MPH, and recognize that he is not the same dominant Kershaw, can we not say the same about Jansen who has lost comparable MPH? Can we not state that without giving the impression that we do not trust Kenley? Will Kenley return to the 2017 Kenley? I guess that is why they play the games. But most of us are just commenting on what we see. None of us have access to the player/coaches/medicals…..

    I was on AJ Pollock train in the beginning, and I remain on that train. He has had a couple of critical hits already in 20 games, and he has not yet got untracked. I never expected the power that some might have. Many of his HRs came in that AZ bandbox. Some feel that Pollock was signed to replace Yasiel Puig. If so, advantage Pollock so far.

    Pollock – 82 PA – .243/.293/.365/.658 – 2 HR – 14 RBI – 5 BB 13 K
    Puig – 57 PA – .182/.211/.345/.556 – 2 HR – 8 RBI – 2 BB 15 K

    Pollock is on pace for a 100+ RBI season. His 14 RBI is tied with Joc for #2 on the team behind Cody’s 23. Pollock has 2 sac flies in 20 games which is probably more than the entire LAD team had last year. Pollock K ratio is 16% while Puig is 26%. Let’s not even get into who the better clubhouse presence is. He is a 5 year $12MM AAV player. He is not $25-$30MM for 5-10 years. What other RH bat (other than Puig) was available who is a plus plus in the clubhouse and continues to put across clutch RBI’s. I do not expect to change anyone’s mind on Pollock, just to say how I feel about him.

    I still feel Puig will go off at some point, but if Puig can, why can’t Pollock?

    I agree with 59 that the loss of PAs will come from Muncy so that Verdugo gets more playing time. I said it before, and still believe it, regardless of the comparison above, I think that Puig was considered tradeable because of Verdugo. Verdugo is proving what most talent evaluators believed, Verdugo is a hitting machine. He will slump (like all players, especially rookies), but his bat to ball skills will keep him out of long long long slumps. Verdugo deserved the chance, now he is earning it.

    1. I think Muncy playing 3B and not being a disaster opens up more playing time for him. Rather than Muncy being relegated to 1B in a starter/platoon role with Freeze, he can spell all three positions – 1B, 3B and 2B – and ensure consistent playing time while Bellinger moves to 1rst. As 59 mentioned, his bat plays, and it needs to be in the lineup until he shows it shouldn’t.

      I’m not even sure he needs to learn how to play LF since he’s a similar player to Joc. Right now, LF looks ok with Joc playing RHP and Taylor playing LHP. If Taylor continues to stink, you’d have the option of putting Kike there. …or Verdugo. with Bellinger back in RF. Even with his hitting woes, Taylor is still a valuable defensive replacement in the outfield, and his probably the best candidate to give Pollock a rest in CF, with Verdugo being a good candidate as well.

    2. Completely agree with you on trading Puig to clear space for Verdugo. It also made sense from an organizational standpoint. The Dodgers had no plans to resign PuigKemp so trading them during the off-season for minor leaguers made sense. It’s another way the Dodgers can replenish their farm system seeing as how they have been drafting players in the back end of the first round.

      1. But, man-o-man, did people lose their minds over it.

        Some people have sight, but no vision.

        1. There was a live chat with the guy over at Fangraphs – Sullivan? – and one the questions asked was if the Reds were out of it at the deadline and traded away Puig and Kemp, would they get anything close in value to the prospects they gave up. His response was “Not a chance.” LOL

          I pop in on other blogs and I don’t read too many folks pining over Puig or Kemp much anymore.

  6. I wonder where Peter has been, I hope he is ok.

    Because he has been adamant that Verdugo should get an outright position.

    1. Hi MJ – hope you’re well.
      Was thinking the same thing about Pete.
      He usually posts early every day, but it’s been a while.
      Hope there’s nothing wrong, always enjoy his lyrical posts.
      Maybe he’s taking a breather.

      1. Watford

        Hi I hope your doing well too.

        The last time we heard from Peter, I believe was Saturday.

        Because he said he was going to the game in Rancho, to see a certain pitcher pitch.

        He sounded like he was in a great mood.

        I remember he mentioned he was wearing his mood ring, and getting his Hawaiian shirts down.

        I hope everything is ok too.

        Because I think he would love to add to the talk about Verdugo.

  7. If the bench winds up being Freese, Martin, Muncy, and Taylor there will be two unhappy players maybe three.

    Freese is the perfect bench player and Martin could be as well. A thought crossed my mind that maybe Smith and Barnes should share catching duties and give Martin the same role that Freese has. Martin’s back might not let him catch 50 games anymore. He could pinch hit, be the third option at catcher, play first or third when needed.

    That would be a better thought if Muncy could be traded for a player that would make the team better than Muncy does as a bench player. Does anybody have any ideas as to which team would want or need Muncy as a full time player? Would Muncy benefit more career wise as a full time player on another team compared to being a utility reserve for the Dodgers?

  8. 1. Joc Pederson (L) LF
    2. Corey Seager (L) SS
    3. Justin Turner (R) 3B
    4. Cody Bellinger (L) RF
    5. A.J. Pollock (R) CF
    6. Max Muncy (L) 1B
    7. Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B
    8. Austin Barnes (R) C
    9. Julio Urias (L) P

    1. Ben Gamel (L) CF
    2. Christian Yelich (L) RF
    3. Ryan Braun (R) LF
    4. Yasmani Grandal (S) C
    5. Jesus Aguilar (R) 1B
    6. Travis Shaw (L) 3B
    7. Hernan Perez (R) 2B
    8. Orlando Arcia (R) SS
    9. Zach Davies (R) P

    1. I guess Doc is sold on giving Verdugo more playing time just yet. Like I said, It’s gonna be tough because Joc and Muncy are producing as well. Bellinger and Pollock are gonna be in there pretty much every day. Pollock has a big edge being right handed.

      Remembering that we don’t have any 3B prospects, Muncy might just be the heir apparent to JT and may be more valuable in that role than trading him away with no clear cut need other than a right handed power bat at 1B or LF so you might as well include Joc as well. Maybe Joc and Muncy for Hanniger, eh Bums?

      1. If Muncy can hit well this season, I would try and lock him up for 4 or 5 years and you are right, he plays a pretty good 3B… and might get better.

  9. It’s 2 weeks into the season. I wouldn’t be handing over Muncy’s job just yet to Verdugo. The way the Dodgers rotate and rest guys there are plenty of ab’s available for both Muncy and Verdugo for the first few months. Let’s see where things are at after a couple of months. Now Taylor is a different story. His ab’s are in jeopardy with Verdugo looking so good. But keep the faith in Max!

    1. 59 your right.

      Muncy is a great deal right now, because not only is he cheap, he can play multiple positions, and he can hit both lefties and righties.

    1. Nice vid! Do you know what camera was used for most of it? I want to start doing more content.

      That you at around the 1:30 mark? You look a little like Phil Jackson.

  12. Mark

    I love your slogan, as well as your video.

    I can’t believe there were only three other water companies there.

    You are once again, getting ahead on this, so I expect even more success for your company.

    And like I have always said, you deserve it.

    1. Thanks, MJ.

      I have paid my dues.

      Some of it’s magic and some of it’s tragic, but I’ve had a great life all the way!

      1. Just remember without the tragic you would not be the person you are today.

        And I believe that is what gives you this drive to succeed, but that would be nothing without your great family life too.

  13. Damn it’s good to be missed!!! MJ and Watford my man, all is well with me and I’m going thru some additional therapy in Las Vegas… I was told by my MD to put aside the therapy and go seek additional healing by attending an Aerosmith concert at the Park Grand.. I already feel waves of wellness flowing over me…
    Yes I’m happy with the current streak and Verdugo getting a chance to show what he can do with MLB pitching… Great outing by Walker and our SP seems to be coming around…
    Peace Out – Go Blue
    P.S. No matter where I’m at in this world I’m on top of LADT and the Blue…

    1. That was a hose, for sure.

      Also, it was nice to see Barnes (unlike Grandal during NLCS) catch and tag for the put out at home.

  16. After these last 2 games with Buehler and Urias it’s good to,be a Dodger fan! Our future looks very bright including Ferguson and May and White and Gonsolin are right behind them. And on the other side we have Pederson, Seager, Bellinger, Verdugo, Ruiz, Smith and Lux! This is fun!

  17. Buehler and Urias future aces! And Ferguson, May, White, Gonsolin and Santana there to,fill out our rotation. It’s good to be a Dodger fan!

    1. You and about 6 other people get thrown into moderation. It must be a software glitch, but we are trying to fix it. I see them pretty quickly and manually approve it. Be patient – we will figure it out. Sorry…

      1. Settings might require first comment to be approved and somehow that number might have shifted to a higher number.

  20. Ken Gurnick: “Verdugo’s throw was clocked by Statcast at 98.4 mph, matching Washington’s Michael Taylor for hardest outfield assist this year.”

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