Who Do You Believe In?

Posted By on May 27, 2019

Let me start this by saying that very little surprises me anymore. I would not be surprised if Joc Pederson hit 40 HR, nor would I be surprised if he hit .190. It would not surprise me if Kike Hernandez hit 25 HR and batted .290. I also would not be surprised if he hit .240 with 12 HR. CT3? It could be boom or bust. I don’t have my horse hitched to either wagon. I do believe, however, that Joc, Kike, and CT3 can all be very key parts of what the 2019 Dodgers want to accomplish.

See, this game that we all love is played by humans and humans do some really dumb things. They can also do some really, really great things. Never underestimate the power of the human spirit, but never forget that things can spiral out of control. It’s the human condition. Little things can turn into big things. A hitter starts out hot and then experiences some bad luck by hitting balls hard right at people. Then he starts pressing, trying to hit a 5-run home run and the bad habits stay.

Or he has a new baby, girlfriend, wife, a parent with cancer, serious health issue, etc. that takes him outta’ his game. “But he’s a professional.” Yeah, a human professional, not a professional robot! Stuff happens! The fact of the matter is that players burst onto the scene and have incredible success (think Cody Bellinger or Chris Taylor), then slump and fall short their next season (think Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor). Cody has re-invented himself to be better than ever, but CT3 is still a work in-progress (although recently he has been showing signs of breaking out).

Progression as a hitter is not linear (nor as a pitcher). Cody Bellinger changed and adapted to become the best player in baseball (at least right now). Other Dodger players are also trying. Joc Pederson is trying and succeeding, so is Max Muncy. I’d like to think that Kike and CT3 will benefit too, but that is up for conjecture. Who do you believe in?

I don’t always write what I believe. I don’t always have an opinion. I write to make you think… sometimes to make you mad. I write to stretch you. I write to make you consider other opinions. Groupthink is good. Collectively, all of us are smarter than one of us.

Maybe the bullpen needs help. Maybe the Dodgers need another RH bat, but maybe… just maybe… MAYBE, this team is complete. Maybe the Dodgers have all the pieces. Who do you believe in? I am not saying that is the case, but I am saying it is possible. I’m saying that a LF platoon of Kike and Joc could be great. I am saying that the bullpen issues may be solved internally. I guess it depends upon who you believe.

I do believe in Andrew Friedman. I believe in him because I know how he works, what he values and that he “trusts the process.” Some fans feel that Andrew Friedman did nothing to address the team’s bullpen issues. Well, to say he did “nothing” is absurd – he brought in “Wildman” Kelly to be the setup guy. So far, Kelly has not done his job. But, Friedman trusts the process. Many fans would have given up on Kike, CT3, Joc, Petey, Kenley, and others. Shoot, last year some were saying that Cody was a platoon player – that’s all.

Andrew Friedman trusts the process. Will “Wildman” Kelly turn into “Machine Gun” Kelly? It’s possible. Who do you believe in? That one reliever RIGHT THERE would change the entire complexion of the pen. The Dodgers signed Kelly because they believe they could make him better, Honeycutt thought he could work his magic on him. So far, it has not been a success. Who do you believe? We know Honey has a track record of turning pitchers around. There’s still time… it depends upon what you believe.

I think some Dodger fans think the Dodgers should have signed Craig Kimbrel. The fact that NO TEAM has had “meaningful” discussions with him tells you a lot… if you can read between the lines. Number One is the fact that he is asking for too much money. It is rumored that he is willing to take 4 years/$60 million. Number Two is that many baseball people feel his best days are in the past. That he is no longer “elite.” Sometimes the best deals you make are the ones you don’t make.

Most fans look at a player’s past performance and say “We should trade for (whoever) as they are great.” But will they be great in LA? We know how that works out with some players. Washington tried to rebuild their bullpen in the past off-season with the addition of Trevor Rosenthal (36.00 ERA), Dan Jennings (13.50 ERA), Kyle Bearclaw (5.12 ERA, Tony Sipp (6.30 ERA) and Sean Doolittle (3.68 ERA). While the Dodgers bullpen ERA of 4.45 is not good, the Nats are dead last in MLB with a 7.25 ERA. The MLB AVERAGE bullpen ERA is 4.35, so the Dodgers are below average. I suspect they will be “above average” by the first week of June.

Sometimes the best moves you make are ones you don’t make. Even if a lot of you are smarter than Andrew Friedman (I believe some think that), you don’t have access to all of the info he does, and you have no idea what other teams ask in return when a trade is discussed. There was no way he was going to sign Craig Kimbrel… even if he didn’t cost a draft pick, but the fact he would have cost the Dodgers a draft pick, slammed the door on signing him… even if the price were reasonable (which it wasn’t).

The draft will soon be over and Kimbrel will not cost a draft pick. First and foremost: I think Kenley Jansen will be fine, but if Kimbrel was willing to come in and play any role in the pen, I would give it a try, but it would have to be at a reasonable price. I do not ever see that happening and it’s borderline delusional to think it might. There are arms in the minor leagues that could help. Tony Gonsolin has been laid up until recently – maybe this is the year he doesn’t get stretched out and throws out of the bullpen. Jesen Therrien, Marshall Kasowski, Dennis Santana, Dustin May and yes, Caleb Ferguson could play a role.

Who do you believe in? I trust “The Process.” BTW, sitting on the bench causes you to be “cold” with the bat. See what sitting out a few days did for Justin Turner (5 for 5)?

Minor League Report by DC

Player of the Day – Donovan Casey

Casey was involved in all the action on Sunday. The Quakes scored three runs in each of the second, fifth, ninth  and eleventh innings. In each inning Casey had a hit to go go along with his three runs and two runs batted in. In his last 10 games Casey is hitting .342 with 11 runs, 10 runs batted in and three home runs.

Great Lakes Loons 2 – Fort Wayne TinCaps 12 (San Diego)

You win some, you lose some. The Loons took it on the chin on Sunday afternoon which was a bit surprising as they have been a “Walking in the Sunshine” team all year. They fell 12-2 to the TinCaps and saw their first place lead shrink to a single game over the Lake County Captains.

Jose Chacin’s struggles continued for the fourth game as he was touched up for five earned runs over 4.1 innings pitched  on nine hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Joel Inoa pitched two innings giving up two hits, three walks and three runs with two strikeouts. Drew Finley was no more successful in his 1.1 innings pitched as three TinCaps crossed the plate on three hits and three walks. Left-hander Austin Drury stranded a runner left on base by Finley in the top of the eighth inning and pitched a scoreless ninth inning on one hit.

Offensively there was not much action from the previously hot bats. Jacob Amaya and Jair Camargo scored the two Loons runs as a result of a TinCap error. Carmargo had two of the Loons six hits.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 12  – Lancaster JetHawks 13 (Colorado)

Geraldo Carrillo had his least successful start of the year giving up six runs in four innings with 10 hits , three walks and four strikeouts. He gave up three in the bottom of the third and three in the bottom of the fourth. Leo Crawford followed Carrillo and after retiring the first two hitters he faced in the bottom of the fifth first baseman Luis Castro homered on the first pitch he saw from Crawford. It was Castro’s second home run of the game. Not to be outdone, Casey Golden followed Castro with a homer of his own giving Lancaster an 8-6 lead at that point. The lead increased to 9-6 in the bottom of the seventh inning on another Lancaster home run. Melvin Jiminez came on in the bottom of the eighth inning and  after a lead off single retired the side. Max Gamboa provided some suspense by walking the bases full in the bottom of the ninth but got two strikeouts to close out the inning. Things got away in the bottom of the 11th inning as Connor Mitchell gave up four runs on two home runs, a third by Castro,  to erase the three runs the Quakes had scored in the top of the inning.

Rancho got in on the three-run innings via the singles route scoring three in the top of the second inning on RBI hits by Marcus Cuiu, Jordan Procyshen and Brayan Morales. They added another three in the top of the fifth to knot the score at six with a HBP, singles by Deacon Liput, Devin Mann, Donovan Casey and a ground out by Jeter Downs. Trailing 9-6 in the top of the ninth inning the Quakes made a run and scored two following a Lancaster error on a Deacon Liput double and a Donovan Casey single. With two out and a two-strike count on Jeter Downs, the tying run came in on a Downs double.

The Quakes forged ahead in the top of the 11th inning with three runs on a Devin Mann single and Eric Peterson double only to fall 13-12 in the bottom of the inning. Mann with three hits and Casey with four lead the Quakes attack.

Tulsa Drillers  0 –  Northwest Arkansas Naturals  4 (Kansas City)

Dustin May took the hill for the Drillers and pitched six innings giving up six hits, three runs, three walks and striking out five. Nolan Long gave up an additional run in his two innings while Chris Nunn pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

The Drillers matched the seven hits of the Naturals but couldn’t turn any into runs. Carlos Rincon and Keibert Ruiz each had two hits. Zach McKinstry was thrown out at home trying to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park home run.

OKC Dodgers 0 –  Omaha Storm Chasers 5 (Kansas City)

Tony Gonsolin returned to action and pitched a scoreless inning although he did allow a hit and gave up a walk. Daniel Corcino followed Gonsolin for five innings with a stat line of seven hits, five runs, five walks, and one strikeout. Adam McCreery and Chris Nunn both pitched a scoreless inning. The Dodgers had but two hits, a double by Connor Joe and a single by  Cameron Perkins.

NEVER FORGET!

This article has 96 Comments

  1. As for Justin. I did not see a report from the ‘Stat Nerds’. When was the last time a hitter had five hits and no RBIs in a game when his team scored 10+ runs? I agree no need to panic and trade for relievers when we have plenty to pick from who might be OK later. We know they all have minor unreported injuries . When the time comes plenty of time to evaluate needs later in the season. It seems if Verdugo and Cody can hit lefties maybe no need to shop for another right hand bat to put in against lefty pitchers.

  2. Not that he was even a prospect, but last week the Dodgers traded Mike Ahmed to the Seattle Mariners for Cash. Essentially, Seattle wanted him and the Dodgers gave him away. Hopefully, he gets a chance to play. The M’s sent him to their AA affiliate.

      1. I have nothing on Jesen… I am assuming the Dodgers are taking it slow, but I have no clue.

        Here’s what I do know:

        1. Tony Cingrani has a sore shoulder… again. This is what has happened over the course of the last year. I think he goes under the knife.

        2. Andrew Toles is at home with his family. No one is talking.

        3. No one is talking about Joe Kelly’s bereavement leave, but evidently something has been happening this season that could be affecting his performance. Stay tuned…

  3. Over the next 42 days, the Dodgers are scheduled to play 39 games. I assume that MLB has set a similar schedule for most of the other teams in the majors. I can’t think of any team better equipped with starting pitching talent than the Dodgers to deal with this. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Dodgers press Urias and Stripling into service as a starter two or three times (maybe even in tandem) to give the other starters an extra days rest to maintain their strength.

    The Dodgers will play 24 of those game in the friendly confines and only 15 on the road. If we continue to win/lose at the same rate as we have thus far this season , we would go into the All Star break with 60+ wins and a solid lead in the NL West and probably in the NL overall as well.

    1. Good points DD. I have noticed Doc has kept the pitch counts down for his starters recently and it makes sense for 2 reasons: one, why fire the bullets with a 7 game lead and the best record in the NL in May? Second the guys in the pen need work and Doc needs to sort out who fits where. When they had bunched up off days they gave Maeda a blow to keep him fresh and heal from a minor injury. They could do the same thing with Beuhler at some point. Strip and Urias are not ‘openers’, they could get a spot start here and there without much dropoff and can go multiple innings out of the pen. There has really been no need for a ‘long man’ with the starters so consistent.

      A proven set up guy for the 8th inning would be a nice trade target but the team will have to overpay. The answer could be already rostered, it’s a long season. Doc said awhile back that lots of guys have good stuff but most can’t handle the big league actual game pressure. A pennant race is no time to experiment but May and June with a big lead is a good time to see what you have.

      Bullpen candidates on the 40 man are to me in order: Shaggy-filthy stuff, swing and miss and ground balls type who only needs improved command. Santana-big time movement but lacks command, stretched out as a starter for now. Sborz who was drafted as a closer but has not really tapped into his potential yet. McCreery if they need a leftie, he is a large man and throws hard and Schultz who is slight but throws strikes and battles. Behind all of them to me but perhaps not the brain trust is Stewart. There are some guys in AA too who could be rushed but why? I don’t think there is a need to rush White, Gonsolin, May or Kasowski this year but performance may dictate otherwise if someone is dominating. As Mark said above ‘trust the process’.

    2. That is a truly touching picture!! So many young men have died far too soon!

      1. Haven’t heard. ThinkBlueLA first to report it. Ron Cervenka on Twitter.

  6. Mark,

    You have a way of covering all the bases, no matter what. You are a born salesman.

    Touching photo!

  7. Mark, how do you define “the process”. It doesn’t seem to be working for the 76ers. I heard AF once say the key is to develop and keep good young talent and supplement with players brought in. He seems to value depth, versatility, launch angle and swing and miss stuff. What separates AF from other GM’s and presidents? Thank you to all you veterans who have served and protected this great country!

      1. Bluto, it is if you consider a conference semifinal a success! All those draft picks and all your left with is one player who can’t stay healthy and another who can’t shoot in a shooters league! Brand is incompetent and sixers have no chance at a championship!

        1. Silly and Irrelevant for a number of reasons.

          1. Brand has nothing to do with the process.
          2. Embiid and Simmons are painfully young.
          3. And most importantly, that’s not what the process was about. It was about the best way to create a contender. The process was to accumulate enough assets that you had multiple chances for franchise players. Everybody gets hurt, everybody misses on draft picks. So the process was about accumulating multiple assets with hopes Some of them turned into high quality players. The Sixers have four.
          4. It’s called the process not “the result”
          5. As a process it worked exceedingly well.

    2. “What separates AF from other GM’s and presidents?”

      Other than the fact that he is the ONLY ONE to be to the World Series two years in a row and has the best record of any GM ever in his first 4.25 years while re-building the team and the fact his team is the NL favorite to go back to the World Series? A LOT!

      The Dodgers have cut down on their swing and miss stuff as their strikeouts are down and their hitting with RISP is up. They are averaging about 1 more run a game over last year and their farm system s absolutely loaded. I’m not sure which channel you are watching, but the Dodgers are the envy of just about every other franchise. Even Houston and Boston don’t have the resources the Dodgers do.

      I do give a thumbs up to Brian Cashman and the Yankees who are the equal of the Dodgers. Cashman has changed and is now building just like the Dodgers.

      Insofar as the 76’ers, Elton Brand did not draft most of those players, but the “process” has worked very well in Philly. I don’t see how you can call Brand incompetent. I call Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss incompetent. The Lakers are a trainwreck… but an aging LeBron James is going to rid up in his wheelchair and save them?

      The “process” is to get there every year and the magic will take you the rest of the way… on occasion.

  8. I wonder about Gonsolin pitching 1 inning yesterday. Was it ONLY because it was his first game back, or did we want to see if he could let it loose for only 1 inning of action? If he gets a shot to pitch another inning in a few days, we’ll know that he’s being groomed for a bullpen role this season. And I think that’d be a good thing.

    Will Smith should be up, because we should NOT screw around with a groin injury to a catcher. If Barnes is hurt, give him 2 weeks off to fully heal that thing! We’ll need him.

    Will Smith, welcome to Miami; bienvenido a miami!! (I mean LA)

  9. If my math is correct the Dodgers have an open spot with 39 on the 40 man. Gale is in the lineup for OKC today in the doubleheader opener. They could just add Smith to the 40 man and put Barnes on the IL to clear a spot on the 25 man. They could also move Pollock and or Cingrani to the 60 day IL to add more 40 man spots if needed.

    Az is the sleeper team in the NL West. By run differential AZ should be 3 games better than their record and the Padres 3 games worse. They are tied in the standings but AZ ‘should’ be up by 6 games over the Padres. Az is 3rd in the NL in run differential.

    1. If the shift is legal… and it is, then shift. A well-placed bunt will only get a single

  11. M.T. – Epic picture… Let us never forget…
    DodgerD – Loved your positive take… Lets hope in the next 42 days we can put to sleep Az…
    Well I hoped several weeks ago we could check out Smith and Barnes era begins soon… Smith can play a little 2B here n there… See what we got…
    Let Barnes rehab completely before we get to the dog days…
    Tampa shift… All ya gotta do is learn to bunt…easy… Right!??!

  12. I really like Ferguson. He has a good fast ball and curve. Yesterday he relied on just the fast ball and got hammered. How long did it take Baez to realize he could not survive with just the fast ball. I remember one game when Baez was hammered and the catcher just kept calling the fast ball. And they never took Baez out. I really felt sorry for Baez. I really believe it was planned to show Baez this is what happens when all you throw is a fast ball. Now Baez is using three pitches and doing very well. I wonder if the same thing is happening to Ferguson. Doc did not take Ferguson out. He made him finish the inning. If a major league batter goes to the plate only looking for a fast ball, you are going to get hit.

  13. Bill Buckner has died. Horrible disease – Lewy Body (sort of like Alzheimers). Only 69.

    I always liked him. I saw the Dodgers and Cubs after he was traded. He had to work really hard to get loose enough to play after that horrible ankle injury.

    https://twitter.com/BobbyValentine/status/1133040136491556866/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1133040136491556866%7Ctwgr%5E393039363b74776565745f6d65646961&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fmlb%2Fteam%2F_%2Fname%2Flad%2Flos-angeles-dodgers

  14. One of my favorite Dodgers, Bill Buckner, has reportedly passed away at thew age of 69.

    1. You can count on one hand where Buck was with my favorite Dodgers. This is truly a sad day for Dodger Fans, Baseball Fans, and most importantly to the Buckner family. Billy Buck RIP!!!

      1. A great Dodger. Like Kirk Gibson, he had to have his body wrapped in bandages everyday in order to play

  15. Mark, what? Will Smith coming up before your Ruiz? How many times did we disagree on that happening?

    1. I don’t think we disagree on who is ready first. I just believe the long-term catcher is Ruiz. If the Dodgers need a catcher now, Smith is closer to ready than Ruiz, but I believe the future is Kaybear!

  16. Either way we look set at the catcher position for many years to come. And if Lux is for real then maybe our longstanding search for a second baseman could finally be solved. Future looks very bright!

  17. We will see how Smith does… maybe he is HOF Material like AF says (I doubt it, but who knows?) Ruiz could always move to 1B. Ruiz is not fast, but he has great footwork. I wish Will Smith a HOF career. You really never know.

    1. I don’t think he has been an instant success when he has moved up from lower to higher leagues. The Dodgers don’t have anybody slow on their team unless maybe Martin now falls in that category. Grandal and Gonzales were the slow players that could clog the bases.

      I think Smith will be an outstanding catcher and if he hits he could help out at third as well just as Ruiz could help out at first. With both scenarios, the Dodgers could have three catchers on the 25 which would mean nobody would have to unavailable–just bring in the first or third baseman.

  18. Long, long ago, The Washington Post wrote this:

    It Hurts to Watch Buckner

    Limpin’ lizards, here comes Bill Buckner. What on earth are we to make of the Boston Red Sox player who has become the symbol of The Agony of Victory?

    He crawls on his belly like a reptile. He couldn’t run any worse if his feet were on backward. That isn’t Billy Buckshot praying; he’s walking. The man is a child’s Christmas toy. No matter how you put his body together, he still plays baseball.

    What’s the count on Buckner? Two arms, two legs, no ankles. Laugh, laugh, I thought I’d cry. Who else falls down, then does the backstroke under a popup?

    When it comes to visual memories of the 83rd World Series, Buckner may hold the patent. Buckner crawling after a ground ball on his knees. Buckner diving for a popped up bunt and giving it a Bobo Brazil head butt. Buckner carrying his sickly bat out to the foul line during pregame introductions as a public statement that, damn it, he will break out of his slump.

    Buckner belly-flopping across home plate, helmet over face like an 11-year-old, then lying there waiting for an autopsy. “I didn’t slide,” he said. “I died.”

    Buckner says he’s not really that slow going from home to first, “It’s third to home that takes 20 minutes.”

    In Boston, they say he wears so much tape that “he looks like the Invisible Man, out for a walk.”

    He ices so many parts of his body after every game — both feet, one knee, one shoulder and his hamstrings — that he has been asked if he’s a devotee of cryogenics, the science of freezing a body until a cure for what ails it comes along.

    “The way he runs is the theme contest of this World Series, isn’t it?” wrote Leigh Montville in the Boston Globe.

    At first glance and second, too, Buckner is both amusing and inspiring. He’s every kind of blood-‘n’-guts.

    He’s the willingness to endure any amount of pain and any potential for embarrassment or failure just so he can say he played the game.

    But Buckner, and his situation, also are more complex than that.

    Is he playing hurt?

    Or is he hurting the team?

    Is he unselfish or very selfish?

    Is he a hero or a hotdog?

    Is he the worst player on the field in this Series — an utter liability on offense, defense and the base paths who should be on the bench in New York so Don Baylor, who at least has joints that move, can play first base?

    Or is he an inspiration, the symbol of everything the Red Sox are about and the last man you’d want to remove for the sake of some dry strategy?

    Is the brown-haired man with one high-topped black shoe incredibly courageous or amazingly foolish?

    The answer, please.

    All of the above. Though probably quite a bit more of the good stuff.

    It is unlikely that any man so hurt — at least so conspicuously hurt — ever has played a major role in a Series. Or been so determined not to get off the stage, no matter what the cost to himself. Or maybe his team.

    This postseason has been agony for Buckner in more than one sense. It’s not the pain. He’s used to that. He’s taken an anti-inflammatory drug for the last 10 years of his 16-season major league career, although he knows doctors don’t like that.

    He has had nine cortisone shots this season. The X-rays of one ankle show bone virtually against bone. After the season, he’ll have spurs and chips removed. He has studied up on plastic ankles. No, it’s not funny.

    Buckner knows all the stories about players who called it quits rather than risk permanent injury. Buckner openly courts an invalid old age and perhaps middle age, too. “I think it’s worth it,” he says.

    But is it worth it if he bats .174 in the Series and .196 for the postseason? Is it worth it if he has no walks, four RBI and only one measly extra-base hit (a double) in 51 at-bats in October?

    Is it worth it if he botches a popup and a bunt that should be a double play? Is it worth it if he reaches nothing at first base?

    Above all, is it worth it if he is two for 11 in the playoffs and one for 10 in the World Series with men in scoring position?

    In short, to be honest, is it worth it if he’s worthless?

    What makes all this so wrenching, so unfair, is that the sophisticated statistical studies of baseball in the ’80s have, basically, unearthed only two men who, throughout their careers, have consistently proved that the word “clutch” can have an empirical basis: Eddie Murray and, to an even greater degree, Buckner.

    No other player in baseball raises his level of performance so consistently when the pressure is greatest, the game situation most dire and the team in the greatest need.

    Quoth “The Elias Baseball Analyst”: “Has batted for higher average with runners on base than with the bases empty in eight of last nine seasons.” With runners in scoring position in recent years, Buckner has batted .430, .341, .220, .325 and .320. His slugging average rockets up even more in such spots.

    That’s why it’s so painful to watch Buckner’s defensive swings and the weak pops and grounders they are producing now.

    Ever since he hurt his Achilles’ tendon in Game 7 of the AL playoffs, he really has been a shadow of a ballplayer.

    Buckner just says he’s stubborn. His grit, however, puts Red Sox Manager John McNamara in a tough spot. When a man gives this much for the team, how do you take him out, even if you should?

    When McNamara fills out his lineup Saturday before the Red Sox face left-hander Bob Ojeda, he’ll choose between his head and heart.

    With no DH spot, should it be the rusty but healthy Baylor at first?

    Or should he gamble on Buckner one more time, in the vital No. 3 hole where he can kill rallies, and at first base, where Len Dykstra and Wally Backman may finally, in desperation against Roger Clemens, try to expose him to a drag bunt?

    As of now, McNamara says, “If he’s hobbling like he has been, he’ll be playing.” If so, hold your breath. He may play funny, but he doesn’t deserve a sad end.

    Bill Buckner would have approved of that article. RIP, Billy!

    1. That told me more about a person, Buckner, than I didn’t realize I didn’t know. Might have to diagram that sentence to verify it makes sense. I knew he had a bad back and the stiffness he had as a result might have something to do with “the ground ball”.

      We new he was nasty to Steve Garvey with an elbow here and an elbow there but didn’t role on the floor with him like Sutton did. He won a batting title as I remember and I think Ted Williams said he would do that when he saw him in spring training just prior to his making the Dodgers 25.

    1. Two Things:

      1. His hitting coach is Turner Ward, who is in danger of getting fired; and
      2. He plays in a hitter’s ballpark.

      1. I would have bet anything that Puig was going to have a great year this contract year for him. Wow was I off!

        Especially after having such a nice postseason for us with some big time clutch hits. He’s sure cost himself a lot of cash !

        1. Year is only one third over. Maybe not fair comparison, but lets see who produces more Pollock or Puig. Understanding that he had worn out welcome in LA

          1. I am willing to do that, but then we have to factor in the locker room aspect as well.

  20. LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of catcher Will Smith and placed catcher Austin Barnes on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain.

    Smith, 24, will have his contract selected for the first time in professional career and his next appearance will be his Major League debut. The backstop played in 38 games for Oklahoma City, batting .290 (40-for-138) with eight homers and 28 RBI. Smith was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Louisville. In four minor league seasons in the Dodger organization, he has a combined to hit .244 (231-for-948) with 43 homers and 154 RBI.

    Barnes, 29, will make his first career trip to the injured list. In 40 games this season, Barnes is batting .231 (27-for-117) with seven doubles, four homers and 15 RBI. On the last road trip, Barnes hit safely in four of five games, batting .438 (7-for-16) with four RBI. In his five seasons with the Dodgers, Barnes has accumulated a .238 (142-for-596) batting average with 16 homers and 70 RBI

      1. Probably not. He’s not starting tonight and Roberts says Barnes should be back in ten days. But it’s a chance to see how he performs under the big lights. September might be his main showcase for the postseason and 2020.

          1. He could own catcher like Lou Gehrig got the chance to own first base. A little hyperbole on this site isn’t that uncommon is it?

  21. Kelly reinstated, Ferguson sent back down. Alexander (having a hard time against lefties) and Urias (only used in multiple innings and plenty of rest in between) are our lefty options for the time being.

    1. That should limit Doc’s options for mid inning pitching changes which will make you and I happier. Choose the best man for the situation and give them a clean inning to work with. The search for a bridge to Jansen continues but Baez and Kelly are really the logical options, Floro if it’s all righties, plus Stripling and every few days Urias.

  22. DODGERS ACTIVATE RHP KELLY
    LHP CALEB FERGUSON OPTIONED TO OKLAHOMA CITY

    LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today activated right-handed pitcher Joe Kelly from the bereavement list and optioned left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

    Kelly, 31, has appeared in 17 games for the Dodgers this season, going 1-2 with a 7.79 ERA (15 ER/17.1 IP) with 17 strikeouts. In his eight-year MLB career, he is a combined 44-27 with a 3.98 ERA (308 ER/642.2 IP) and 515 strikeouts.

    Ferguson, 22, appeared in 17 games (one start) this season, going 0-1 with a 5.94 ERA (11 ER/16.2 IP) with 16 strikeouts. He made a spot start on April 13 against Milwaukee, tossing 2.2 innings, allowing one run and striking out two to earn his lone loss of the season. In his two seasons with the Dodgers, the southpaw has a 7-3 record with a 4.11 ERA (30 ER/65.2 IP) and 75 strikeouts against 23 walks.

  23. I think Buckner lived in the Boise Valley. I know he coached Class A Cubs here in Boise. He did not travel. He had a Billy Buckner baseball school here. He was to young. RIP Billy.

  24. I like what Bums said. Maybe Will Smith pulls a Lou Gehrig.

    It could happen…

  25. If I’m coaching OKC I wouldn’t allow Ferguson to throw his fastball, only curves or changeups!

    1. So he can get murdered there too?

      He just needs to command his curve and pitch… not throw.

  26. Good to see smith up. Hopefully he can take advantage of his opportunity. Either way he needs the experience because I believe he will be up more than once. In the end he may need to be playoff ready. Kershaw proving once again he is not a big game pitcher. Thanks to the Dodgers defense we are still in the game. Kershaw is a competitor, a class act, a grinder but not an ace. I’m sorry but Roberts and AF have got to recognize that when it comes playoff time. He is still a valuable, solid piece, but not dominant. Too many home run balls.

  28. Who says the Dodgers don’t need both Kike and CT3?

    Sometimes when people say things, you should bet the other way.

  29. Right now the the NL all star outfield could include three Dodgers! I’m putting Yelich at dh! Especially the way these three are playing defensively! And Mark, I told you Kiki and Taylor would come around. Trust the process!

  30. We all want to see production out of Kike and Taylor, and today’s game is a good picture of what that would be like if all the pieces come together. Like I’ve been saying, the Dodgers don’t need to do a thing as far as acquiring new talent. They’ve got it, already! Both pitchers and batters.

    I will look forward to watching Will Smith and seeing what he can bring to this club. Martin and Barnes seem to be holding it together at least enough to keep this train moving forward. We are having a fantastic run and we should see much more of it as the season progresses. Barring injury, nothing should stop this train.

  31. I knew Doc would put in Kelly. Always does it when they have a good lead. Boom, 2 run HR. When will he ever learn, when will he ever learn.

    1. Kelly has to do something different that what he’s been doing. They keep running him out there and he keeps getting pounded.

      By the way – here’s an interesting number:
      tonight – Starter 3 runs in 6 innings; bullpen 2 runs (so far) in 1+ inning
      yesterday – Starter 3 runs in 5 innings; bullpen 4 runs in 4 innings
      25th – Starter 2 runs in 6 – ‘pen 0 runs in 3
      24th – Starter 1 run in 6 – ‘pen 1 run in 3
      23rd – Starter 1 run in 6 – ‘pen 7 runs in 2
      22nd – Starter 2 runs in 6.3 – ‘pen 1 in 2.2

      If you look at it the bullpen gives up more runs in fewer innings than the starter most nights.

      This has to change

      1. Doc also has to change, Rick. A lot of those runs came with the poor choices that Doc made in the BP.

  33. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Will we ever learn to believe in Kelly after this performance? 3 batters, 3hits, 2 runs, no outs. I believe Kelly was bereaving himself while he was gone. Or, he doesn’t berieve in himself any longer. In any case, please remove this player from the roster. Let him work through his difficulties in the minors. Little League may restore his confidence.

    1. The worst contract the Dodgers have. Can you believe he’s making 25 million over 3 years. His career OPS against was over 700 beginning this season. An average career pitcher making 25 million for 3 years.

  34. Belli is the best defensive right fielder in MLB. What a fantastic play. Terrible call, no score at home.
    As I said before….he is wasted at 1st base.

  36. Cody Bellinger! what a play throwing out the runner at 3rd, completing a double play and preventing the run from scoring! That dude can play Right Field!

  38. If there was still any doubt about leaving Belli in the RF, I think tonight is clear !!

  40. I know we all want to torch Kelly, but we all felt the same way with El Gasolino Baez last year, and look at where he is this year. Call me crazy, but all we need him for is about 3 weeks in October. He sucked most of the season last year for the Sahx, then mowed down everyone else, including us in the postseason. He still has value for us, and that’s why Doc keeps trotting him out there. As fans, we can rag on Kelly all we want, but Roberts as the manager HAS to give Kelly a chance to get his head right. The guy can throw smoke, he just needs to lock in. Once again, tar and feather my ass all the way out of town, but I still think Kelly will be an important bullpen piece come October, just like a healthy Pollock will be huge for us in the play-offs. Gotta trust the process, even though it gets messy at times.

    1. We don’t need Kelly, plain and simple, at least this version of him. He must be sent down. There is no choice at this point. Luckily, we have a great offensive team that will protect most leads. Why make it harder than it has to be.

      Hats off to Belli. What a throw!

  41. Jeff give it a rest with Roberts! It’s not his fault he got dealt a crappy bullpen. He’s lambasted every time he brings in Alexander, Kelly Ferguson, Floro etc etc. They’re relievers. They should be able to come in and pitch whether in the beginning or middle of an inning! Just leave the starters in for 150 pitches?

  43. Pollock better learn some first base or he’s platooning with Joc in left when he comes back!

  45. Dodgers up by 8 games now, within a half game of the Twins for best record in baseball. I agree with Roger Askew the team has to use Kelly and so far he hasn’t hurt the team, just scared them a few times. It’s a confidence thing not physical, and he will be needed down the road. Bunch of guys stepped up tonight-17 hits!

    1. Kelly hasn’t hurt the team? Tonight was an example – yeah, the Dodgers won but they had to use Jansen in a game that should have been a laugher.

      Have you seen his line?
      17.3 ip 24 H 16 R 15 ER 3 HR 6 BB 17 K .324 BAA 1.73 WHIP

    2. Saris, McDaniels, Noel, Carter-Williams, Okafor, Cabarrot, Korkmaz, Fultz, and Shamet! That’s quite a process for 76ers Mark! Their front office is a train wreck and Brand just gave away some good young players for the train wreck named Jimmy Butler who they won’t resign!

  46. What a great game. 32 hits.

    Cody’s arm is unbelievably good.

    If the throw to Martin had been anywhere else, he could not have got the tag in, and the throw to JT was perfect too.

    Concur regarding Kershaw. He is still great, but not the Ace any longer.

    Buehler, Ryu, Kershaw & Hill is pretty formidable in a short series.

    Looking forward to seeing Will

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