Dave Roberts
Many of you wonder why Dave Roberts does certain things, like oh… hit Chris Taylor #3? Some fans almost become enraged when he does such things. Why on earth would he have old man David Freese bat leadoff? Kike Hernandez #5? Why, oh why? Well, simply stated, it’s because you are playing checkers and he is playing chess. He’s about 6 moves ahead of you. You are thinking about THIS game. He’s thinking about THIS season. It’s a long season and it’s no secret that CT3 has struggled… until recently.
Chris Taylor hit .300 in May, with a .347 OB% and a .904 OPS. His confidence had to be waning in April, so what better way to boost his confidence by saying “Chris, you are the #3 hitter today – I have confidence in you.” Some smartasses will say “Yeah, that worked great, he got ZERO hits!” But the Dodgers won and the message was received regardless of how CT3 did. The stats back up what Doc did by putting CT3 in the Three-Hole – it’s not like he was hitting .100, but most importantly, Chris Taylor knows he has value. By showing confidence in a player when they are struggling or have been struggling, you can help turn around a season. Doc knows what he is doing. He has been there and done that.
If he wins a second “Manager of the Year” in 2019, will the Doc-Bashers shut up? I doubt it! It’s an irrational compulsion, like Kleptomania, which is the recurrent inability to resist urges to steal items that you generally don’t really need and that usually have little value! Dave Roberts is on track to do just that, but for some fans, that is not enough. They second guess everything he does and of course, since not everything he does works, it becomes “proof positive” (in their minds), that Roberts is a moron… a moron with by far the best record in baseball.
Does Doc look at OPS? He most likely is supplied with 40 modifications of OPS from the Dodgers’ Analytics Department of OPS and algorithms for a plethora of other data. As an illustration, let’s say that Doc brings in Julio Urias to face a LH hitter. Julio is not as good against lefties as righties, so why bring him in? Well, the Dodgers’ analytics may say that Julio is very good at commanding a pitch low and away from this hitter and that hitter is also very susceptible at swinging and missing those kinds of pitches. If Doc brings in Julio who hangs a slider in the middle of the zone, the Doc Bashers say he is an idiot and want him executed, when in reality, it was the lack of execution by the pitcher or hitter.
When Doc brought in Joe Kelly with an 8-0 lead, what if Kelly had loaded the bases and gave up a grand slam? The Doc-Bashers would have called him a moron, but Kelly executed and Doc looked brilliant by bringing in the struggling Kelly in a low leverage situation whereby he might regain some confidence. By the way, confidence is as big a part of hitting and pitching as technique and with your manager showing confidence in you, it breeds more confidence.
Many fans fail to understand how patience is a virtue, but again, we are playing checkers and Doc is playing chess. He has so much more data at his disposal that it would blow our minds and it is evolving every single day. It’s OK to disagree, just like it’s OK to think you are Superman and jump off the Empire State Building. Have at it! 😉
Clayton Kershaw
Lots of Dodger fans have written off Clayton Kershaw and say that he’s a nice #3 or #4 starter. Yes, that would be nice… except he IS the Ace. He’s the Dodgers’ Ace and will be for the foreseeable future. Clayton is a few innings short of qualifying for enough innings, but he’s getting close. He has a 3.20 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. By contrast, Max Scherzer has a 3.06 ERA but a 1.13 WHIP. By the time he collects enough innings to qualify, I think he will be in the Top 10 in starting pitchers in MLB.
The drop in fastball velocity is causing him to really have to re-invent himself, but we saw it in Rich Hill yesterday, who threw a fastball 93 and curve at 63. Clayton is getting there, and the results will come. In fact, he’s been pretty dang good. Saturday he delivered seven innings of one-run ball while striking out six. He has gone at least six innings in each of his first nine starts this year, and the Dodgers have won every one of those games. It’s positively “Ace-Like.”
Will Smith
Will Smith is showing why Andrew Friedman says he is going to be a Hall of Famer. I am not sure if he was serious when he said that, but so far, who can argue with it? He certainly looks poised and confident. He has soft hands and quick feet, something that is important for a catcher to go with an above-average arm. The Dodgers have a few more days to contemplate it, but IF – I said IF Smith keeps it up, the Dodgers could go with 3 catchers because Smith can also play 3B and 2B and play them well.
Matt Beaty might be the odd-man-out, but he has shown he belongs in The Show as well. Zach Reks is also just waiting for his chance as well. This is a really hard decision to make. Beaty deserves to stay, but Smith might deserve it as well.
Keibert Ruiz
As good as Will Smith looks, Kaybear is better. Alex Verdugo’s brother took me to task for saying that Ruiz resembles Alex Verdugo, but that is no rap on Alex. Ruiz has amazing bat-to-ball skills and this year, even though they are working on re-tooling his swing, he is hitting .270 with just 9 strikeouts in 152 AB’s. That’s a 6% strikeout rate which is totally sick. He’s much younger than Smith and Baseball America rates his Hit Tool as a 60 (compared to Smith’s 45). Smith grades better defensively and has a better arm, but that may not hold up as Ruiz matures and progresses.
Let’s hope that Smith turns out to be that HOF catcher and Ruiz has to move to another position. It would seem to me that 1B is his best bet as his speed is “SLOW.” You can clock him with a sundial. However, Verdugo got faster and maybe Kaybear can do the same. He is fun to watch. I am also anxious to see Diego Cartaya.
The Old Men
The Dodgers have a very young team for the most part as Seager, Bellinger, Hernandez, Taylor, Verdugo, and others are in their mid-to-late 20’s. However, the Dodgers have four, count ’em 4, older players who are role players and are excellent examples for the young guys:
- Justin Turner – Yes, he is becoming a “role player.” He will be 35 next season and rest is something he will need more of. He played 130 games in 2017 and 103 last year. I think he will be somewhere “in-between” this year as he gets ready for his “swan song” next year. JT is the heart and soul of the Dodgers and will be fierce for the playoffs. They just have to keep him healthy.
- AJ Pollock – What happened to his elbow was just plain bad luck, but it appears he will return in July or August. He will have to wrap his head around not being a starter anymore, but he’s a class guy and I think he will embrace that role. He remains a key component for the team as a RH hitter.
- David Freese – Don’t play him too much but he will deliver the clutch hits and play defense at 1B too. He is beloved by his teammates.
- Russell Martin – They say you can’t come home again, but Russ did and the respect he has earned from his teammates is immense and deserved. Many fans knocked the move when it was made, but he is hitting .265 with a .318 OB% while playing an excellent defensive game. Barnes and Martin… and now Smith are solid, if not spectacular.
- Rich Hill – The list would not be complete with this old guy. Pedro Moura of The Athletic has a piece on Rich Hill, but here’s an excerpt: “Everyone in here really wants to win, there’s no doubt about it,” said reliever Ross Stripling. “But Rich really wants to win. You can see that when he pitches, like in Tampa Bay, when he’s screaming out F-words in front of 2,000 people. There’s not a lot of people that have that fervor.”
Minor League Report by DC
Player of the Day – Edwin Rios: 2 runs, 2 hits, 5 RBI, 2 HR
Pitchers of the Day – Nathan Witt and Max Gamboa.
My personal bias is revealed here. That is, the misnomer with saves. For instance, Nathan Witt truly saved the game while Brett de Geus simply preserved the lead.
Nathan Witt came in with two runners on in the seventh and the Loons leading 5-4. He got a ground ball to leave them standing. He pitched another inning, a clean inning in the eighth, and did not get the save. Brett de Geus got the save although he came in with the bases empty in the ninth and a 7-4 lead.
The pitcher of the day could be Dennis Santana but what he did he is expected to do. What Max Gamboa did is more than expected. It is hoped for. That is, he inherited a bases loaded situation with a 6-4 score and struck out the hitter he faced to strand the runners. He was awarded a save as he finished the game.
Great Lakes Loons 7 – Fort Wayne TinCaps 4 (Padres)
The Loons completed a three-game sweep of the TinCaps dropping them 9.5 games behind the first place Loons. Great Lakes out hit Fort Wayne 32-16 in the series and out scored them 27-10.
In Sunday’s game in Fort Wayne the visiting Loons faced 19-year-old Efraín Contreras who had dominated them back on May 27th at Dow Diamond. The second time around they got to Contreras early with four runs in the top of the third inning on RBI singles by Jacob Amaya, Niko Hulsizer and Hunter Feduccia. They tacked on a single run in the sixth on a Dan Robinson ground out. Leading by a single run in the top of the eight inning they salted it away with a two-out, two-run home run by Luke Heyer. Every Loon starter had a hit except outfielder Dan Robinson. Hunter Feduccia , with two, had the only multiple hit game.
On the mound right-hander Stephen Kolek got off to a shaky start spotting the TinCaps a three-spot in the bottom of the first inning with all three unearned after a Miguel Vargas throwing error. Kolek settled in after that pitching five additional innings on two hits and seven strikeouts. Joel Inoa followed him and did not get out of the seventh inning giving up a run and leaving two on base for Nathan Witt who induced a ground ball to close out the inning. Witt pitched an additional inning retiring the side on two ground outs and a strikeout. Brett de Geus finished up with a scoreless ninth inning on one hit and two strikeouts.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6 – Inland Empire 66ers 4 (LAA)
The Quakes came out firing in the bottom of the first inning putting up four on a Marcus Chiu single, a two-run homer un by Jeren Kendall and a single by Starling Heredia. Catcher Tre Todd, in the bottom of the sixth inning, hit his first home run of the year driving in Starling Heredia who now has a seven-game hitting streak and is hitting .281 in his last ten games. The Quakes loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning with a 6-4 lead on a HBP and two walks looking to break the game open. Two strikeouts and a ground out the score was still 6-4.
Michael Grove started for the Quakes and after a clean first inning he gave up a three-run home run to catcher Ryan Scott. In the top of the second inning. That would be the same Ryan Scott that was released by the Drillers back in 2016 although he never played at that level. Wills Mongomerie followed Grove and breezed through three innings before getting into control problems in the sixth with walks and walking in the tying run. Connor Mitchell loaded the bases in the top of the eighth with two outs prompting manager Mark Kertenian to bring in Max Gamboa who shut down the threat with a strikeout.
Gamboa finished a scoreless ninth with two more strikeouts.
Tulsa Drillers 3 – Arkansas Travelers 10 (Seattle)
The Drillers took it on the nose and probably other body parts losing 10-3 to Arkansas and now stand
6.5 games behind the division leading Travelers. Tulsa was tied 3-3 after five innings before the roof caved in. Pitchers JD Martin, Ryan Moseley and Michael Boyle gave up seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings – Martin with one and his fourth of the game, Moseley with five while recording a single out and Boyle with one while allowing two inherited runners to score.
Offensively, the Drillers scored their three runs in the third inning with two out. Chris Parmalee scored on an error after his double while two more scored on a Zach McKinstry double. The Drillers had but four hits, three of them doubles. Cody Thomas, with his double, now has 96 total bases on the season, good for sixth in the Texas League.
The second baseman, Sam McWilliams , started his second game for the Drillers and has scored two runs but has not yet had a hit. He is 21-years-old and was a 19th round selection by the Dodgers in the 2018 June Draft.
OKC Dodgers 8 – Memphis Redbirds 2 (Cardinals)
The Dodgers have come alive in the last four games including a sweep of the Redbirds. Dennis Santana had his second consecutive strong outing going six innings on five hits with two runs while walking one and striking out four. Relievers Kevin Quackenbush, Josh Sborz and Jaime Schultz pitched three scoreless innings on a combined one hit, no walks and two strikeouts.
With the bat, the Dodgers played mostly long ball with even sacrifice flies being long. In the second inning, Edwin Rios hit a solo home run while Errol Robinson drove in a second run with a single. In the top of the third inning, Zach Reks homered and Edwin Rios drove in another with a sacrifice fly. Rios next hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth and Connor Joe closed out the scoring with another sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning. The Dodgers scored eight runs on eight hits, besides the two by Rios, Drew Jackson had two.
Batting Freese leadoff made all the sense in the world. The Phillies were using an left handed opener, hence the need for a right handed bat. Having Freese lead off allowed Roberts to maximize the amount of at bats Freese would get in the game.
The Athletic on Top Catching Prospects:
https://theathletic.com/1004955/2019/06/03/duquette-the-top-10-catching-prospects-in-baseball/?source=dailyemail&redirected=1
Hint: Ruiz is #3 and Smith is #7.
I am not going to get drawn into this Smith vs. Ruiz debate. I am just as happy as can be the Dodgers seem to have regained control over this position. Catching is a defense/pitching game first position for me. Smith is better than Ruiz is right now. Maybe Ruiz grows to surpass Smith, but I do not see it. Ruiz makes better contact and has tremendous bat to ball skills. He has some legit pop, so offensively he might have a higher ceiling. It is always tough to translate MiLB numbers to MLB, but both players show that they have the potential of playing at an AS level, and either one can be the starting catcher for the Dodgers as far as this fan is concerned.
One other thing about some comments made after yesterday’s game with respect to Joc. I have never been a supporter of Joc as Bums has been, but I have never been one to blast him. I know some were disappointed that he swung at the first pitch with the bases loaded after a walk. For the season, in 44 PA, in RISP, Joc is batting .278/.386/.750/1.136. WRISP and 2 outs in 25 PA – .364/.440/1.000/1.440. Are we really going to complain about those numbers? So he didn’t come through yesterday. But I guess when a team is 22 games above .500 after 60 games, there are not a lot of things to complain about. IMO, the Dodgers do not need to go out and get Nick Castellanos or Jose Abreu or any other RHH. I cannot see a better LF for the Dodgers than the Joc/Kike’ or Joc/CT3.
I was also very happy to see Joe Kelly come in a non-high leverage situation. and pitch well. It appears he is trying to work on his knuckle curve. If he ever gets command of that pitch, his 4-seamer will look even better. I think that is the experiment they are working on. Regardless as to how poorly he has pitched this year, he is working on that knuckle curve just as Baez was working on his secondary slider that is now part of his vastly improved repertoire . Kelly is very much a necessary pitcher out of the bullpen. I remain very hopeful that the Joe Kelly of the 2018 WS will return when absolutely needed. We all knew that this team was good enough to run away from the NL West competition. But the question was how will this team play in the playoffs. There is still 102 games left to find out, but if all of the trust that Doc has shown to CT3/Kike’/Freese/Beaty/Kelly/Jansen/Alexander…..comes through at the end, then it will all be worth it. If not, then we can continue to point fingers. That being said, I still want to improve the 8th inning reliever. I think Baez is much more efficient in the 7th. We also need to remember that come playoff time, Maeda probably goes to the bullpen.
Bring on the DBacks.
Good post, Smith and Ruiz could end up being like Scioscia and Yeager, a nice problem to have indeed (in 2021.) When Pollock comes back there will be no open roster spots for position players until Sept call ups. Freese is perfect for his role on the field and in the clubhouse-this could be his swan song-Martin too. There is a need for better setup in the bullpen but maybe someone will emerge from on the roster or in the minors-if not a move should be made. That’s it folks, this team is locked, loaded and ready for bear! No need to disrupt the obvious chemistry this team has to get another RH bat, (barring injury of course.)
I like Zach Reks who is playing way above his scouting resume when he was drafted in the 10th round in 2017. He was considered a light power hitting corner OF, but his power production has spiked up, especially this year. But he is 25, and is struggling somewhat in making consistent contact at AAA. I am not sure that Zach is just waiting his chance. I think Kyle Garlick will get more than a cameo appearance before Reks breaks onto the roster. Both are destined for #4/#5 OF for some ML team, and what is not to like about that. But neither figure to be AS.
I like the life that both Edwin Rios and especially Starling Heredia are showing. It has been a long time since we were talking about Heredia as a prospect. We fans forget that Starling is still just 20, and may now just be getting used to being “away from home”. After yesterday’s game he is now at .314 over the last 10 games. Rios’ power is starting to reemerge, and there is hope that he will continue to drive the ball. He now has a five game hitting streak of his own. At 25, I do not see Edwin as a long term Dodger, especially since it appears that Matt Beaty may have passed him by as a ML player. Just like I wanted to see Willie Calhoun traded because I hoped he would be a ML player, but it would not be as a Dodger, I feel the same for Rios. I have seen too many times what happens with players that are “stuck” in an organization when they might be able to crack the roster in another. I think Rios is that guy. While he is ML ready, he is just not a 20-22 year old prospect, so do not expect a big return.
Freese may be as good an asset or better than Chase Utley was for the Dodgers. I know that is a tall statement to make but the guy has been nothing but clutch and has been a sweet addition to this roster. He was a respected player on his old clubs and still gets the cheers and welcome mat. Having elders who are still vital can balance a team and add an intangible element that doesn’t show up in stats. His stats ain’t bad at all.
I think Mark is reaching for the stars in his essay on Doc. Wild projections and revisionist dogma that have little to do with the guy and more to the talent of this team. It’s hard to look bad with a team such as we have. I said earlier in the season that we might be looking at an historical moment here and Doc is not responsible for it but is the beneficiary of the greatness of this team at present. Anyone think that Doc has made Cody into a force of nature? JT the soul of the Dodgers? Kershaw the ace of aces? Get real Mark. It’s good to be a fan but not a fool.
I totally agree. But, it goes both ways with Doc. I see little in terms of growth, making the same mistakes often. But, on the other hand, I wonder if he would be better with a better bullpen. There are things I like about Doc, like the other night when the Fresh Prince walked off, he was out there like one of the guys to greet him with a big hug. A couple of nights earlier, he pulled Yimi after a leadoff walk only to get pummeled by the other 3 guys he brought in. The next night the bullpen was fine, partly because he used so many guys the night before, he didn’t have such a quick hook. I don’t even want to get into the Kike batting 3rd and 4th in the postseason while mired in a slump, or the quick hooks / miscommunication with Rich Hill in 2 postseasons in a row. Or, keeping Kershaw in so long in game 5 2017 WS. Or having Darvish pitch a second inning in game 7. I really think they should have replaced his bench coach this offseason to help quell all of these mistakes.
I did like that Doc went out to the mound with 2 outs and runners on in the 7th and left Hill in the game with a pitch count of 100 and he struck out the next batter. The team got off the deck in the bottom half of the inning and put Hill in position to win the game. I will call that growth (and Hill never handed him the ball.)
If only that had happened in the WS. I like Doc it’s just too be he wound up getting checkmated in the World Series or triple jumped depending on what game the Cora was playing.
Got to love the starting pitching. Hopefully Urias becomes a highly productive part of the pen this year.
M Fickle T (remember last week’s lecture about baseball fans?) could not wait
to fire Doc last summer.
This year’s version will rave about the way Doc positions his handkerchief
in the correct pocket to get it to his nose faster:-).
Ouch! Can you really deny the patience and encouragement that DR is showing guys who are struggling. If you don’t like his decisions on the field at least appreciate his effort to help players succeed.
That’s a manager i would appreciate,
and what he’s doing doesn’t seem to be hurting this team.
Jeff – I don’t really understand why you are so down on Doc. Isn’t a manager always a product of his team? If he has good players he is a good manager. If he doesn’t, he is a poor manager. Is Bruce Bochy the same manager he was winning the WS and now having his teams finish last in the division? When Walter Alston had the horses he usually won. When he didn’t have the horses he didn’t win. He would be the first to tell you he won because of what the players did on the field. The players take a manager into the HOF, the manager doesn’t take the players.
You said: “Anyone think that Doc has made Cody into a force of nature? JT the soul of the Dodgers? Kershaw the ace of aces?”
Nobody thinks he made Cody, JT, Kersh into what they are. What they are came from within them but I would contend is that Doc has established an environment in which players can become what they are. He makes those conditions available. Max Muncy would be a prime example. He has an understanding of the game knowing that failure is more prevalent than success and helps players deal with failure. Players fail but with Doc they don’t have to fear that their playing time with the team is over or cut drastically. It is also my contention that Doc helps players through those rough times by continuing to have them play their roles and being supportive.
Walter Alston scared his players, Tommy loved them and Doc is more than a manager simply using all those wonderful analytics. Perhaps they are key during games but he is always working to have them build confidence. And yes, he does present different lineups and put players in the batting order that make us wonder. But they are winning and executing so maybe, just maybe, his lineups aren’t the dishwater some think they are. I think it is an over-statement to say they are winning in spite of him. If so, why didn’t they the WS the past two years?
Yesterday was amazing. Every player in the lineup in the eighth inning did what needed to be done. Hit for power, go from first to third on a single, hit sac flies, bunt a run home. If the manager must take the criticism when they lose, then he is entitled to the praise when they win as they did on Sunday.
Nice reasoning DC. Those 2 HOF managers you mentioned had totally different styles and they were both successful with their styles when they had the players. Doc is a manager for these times and was probably hired because he bought in to the analytics. I still would like to see the algorithm that shows the player with the lowest OPS (Beaty) should bat 5th behind Cody gives the team the best chance to win. Doc is still learning and got taught a big lesson last year in the playoffs when Miley pitched to only 1 batter and Counsell faced the lineup he wanted to then started Miley again the next game. Teams are using the opener more and lefties more to slow down the Dodgers devastating LH hitters. Doc is still learning how to counter that but the players have to come through. Does anyone here know the lineup that will face Ray tonight? About the only thing I know is Joc will not start and it’s Smith’s turn to catch. I’m not even sure Cody will be starting and batting cleanup, he’s starting to press a bit. I do know the team will battle and probably prevail and leave it all on the field as they do every game.
Guys: The manager has an effect MOSTLY on the edges. But a few have
special, narrow gifts that allow more. Buck Showalter seems to be one.
I think Walt got more from somewhat marginal rosters than given credit
for. Think Tommy may have gotten less with better talent, though I am a
great admirer of his as a 162-game guy (not a five- or seven-game one:-)
No accident, it says here, that his last champs were bunch of guys (Orel H
at the top of the list) having seasonal-best or close-to-it years – with the bull-
pen impermeable to his “hunch” plays, since they all turned out so reliable,
even at the tail, tired end.
DC, I didn’t say Doc was worthless and could be replaced by a monkey. My post was a response to the over the top fiction that Mark wrote about him. You would think that by his description that Doc was in a very special class, and that is simply not the case. I believe you could plug a dozen different managers into Doc’s position and come away with good results because the team is so darned good. According to Mark, Doc is a chessmaster. An absurd statement that has no logical basis except to challenge some of the posters like me that are not particularly enthralled with Doc. He likes to stir things up with fiction and then rewrite a new history according to the current events.
How does Doc create an environment that players can become who they are? Do you think most managers don’t give their players a chance? I am not an old style fan thinking that a manager should be stern & stout and not give players leeway and a chance to succeed in spite of struggling. Then why has Doc pulled pitchers out of games when they were pitching well like Rich Hill’s no hitter? Most managers probably would not have done that. He did leave him in the other night, though. Progress? I think it’s more random than that with Doc, but I don’t want to get into the whole analysis of it or list all of the things I consider mistakes. As I said, my post is a comment on Mark’s lecture which seems to always have a pointed and self righteous motive behind it for personal reasons, not for factual statements. Let’s leave it at that.
Good win yesterday for the Dodgers. I loved the suicide -squeeze-sacrifice bunt. Reminded me of Lasorda days. Exciting. And it was a good bunt by CT3. By the way anyone know why Bellinger was replaced by Hernandez last night in right field?
Does anyone know what, if anything Case Utley is doing for the Dodgers these days ?
FanGraphs has a new mock:
In it the Dodgers get Kody Hoese and Kyle Stowers. Kiley and Eric also report or relay that the Dodgers have worked out Daniel Espino, like Gunnar Henderson, Brennan Malone and Will Wilson.
They go on with the Dodgers “really” liking Stowers. Could also be angling for 1B/LHP Spencer Jones in the second round and UC Irvine 1B Brandon Lewis later.
This team is good. BUT, we can get gooder, and we start getting gooder with this draft today! Hopefully AC/DC and the rest of the smart folks here will have some nice insights on the guys we draft tonight.
I agree that, yes, we need some outfielders, and some left handed starters, BUT, just go get the best guy possible. You can always trade for what you need later, if you have studs in surplus and don’t draft just for need.
And NO, Kersh is not the ace. Kersh would not start game 1 in the playoffs, nor should he, and until he proves otherwise, I will be nervous that he’ll be “average at best” in October.
Agree
Found this article posted in another Dodgers fan group: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/cody-bellinger-was-already-good-then-he-changed-his-swing/?fbclid=IwAR39REstNbEye3kuHI7lzWD5PSbAIg9BrEAqxrf57-mbwNzWonXNAAj9q1I
Remember how Bellinger was exposed in the 2017 WS with breaking balls low and in? He’s not getting beat by those pitches anymore – he’s gotten really good advice from vets (like JT) and analytics gurus and he’s worked his tail off to make the right adjustments. At my son’s high school baseball team banquet the coach relayed a quote from someone who said “Success is not the result of a singular gargantuan effort, but rather the relentless pursuit of incremental daily improvements.”
Part of me wonders if Joc has it in him to do what Bellinger did to elevate his game. Joc has the physical skills to be an elite hitter. However, he has to show he’s got the drive and the mental makeup to do what Belli has done.
You do realize that Joc is having the best year of his career? He’s 8th in OPS in MLB for Christ’s sake!!!
With a .270 BA and platooning only against RH pitchers, yes – Joc is performing better than he ever has.
Let me ask you 59 – do you consider Joc an elite hitter? – up there with Trout, Bellinger, Yelich, et al? I actually think he has the physical tools to get there. I’m just questioning if he has the mindset to be elite – this was a fascinating part of the article I posted. It’s not a knock on him if he doesn’t. He’s still a solid contributor to any team.
Joc is still young enough to learn and adjust. He is doing much better, but he has so much more talent to display.
I forgot to mention, those are great stats Mark posted about CT3; he’s really come on strong after a bad start; hopefully now Kike can start to wake up as well.
I’ve noticed that Kike often gets pull happy and (not unlike Puig from a couple years ago) will whiff at the breaking pitch low and away. Lately, I’ve seen AB’s where he has gone opposite field and been more productive. I think he knows how to make the right adjustments. When he started off hot at the beginning of the season, I think he just lost sight of the right approach at the plate and now has to refocus.
KNights is on a roll. Exactly what has happened with Kiki. Good call.
Doc decisions to bat people anywhere he wants is a product of great talent. If he had less talent he would not be batting Beaty behind bellinger. While he may be building Taylor’s confidence how is he helping the confidence of the people he bats behind. Through the course of a full season the dodger roster of talent allows for wide latitude. Unfortunately, in the playoffs, in a short series, the talent level gets a lot closer and each decision is magnified. There is less margin for error as we have learned. In a short series you maximize a shorter roster. The experimentation and expectations are much different.
This thinking that kershaw is the ace is what I fear the most. This is the kind of thinking that has caused us to throw kershaw out there as our savior. We see how that has worked out. Insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Take the pressure off kershaw by putting him in a secondary role. When ryu started the first game I think against Atlanta you would have thought the sky was falling. Instead, we won and kershaw pitched a really good second game. Then, they went back to putting kershaw feelings ahead of the team.
Will smith will go down to get regular at bats but his experience has been positive. The bullpen will still have to improve. I do not blame doc for this bullpen. He can only put in who he has and in the situations that are called for. The team is so good that we will win with this bullpen. Plus, some are definitely better than how they have pitched surely. I think the biggest issue with the pen is lack of command. We have got to come with a quality guy that can throw strike one. The good thing is this team can be improved and it must start with the bullpen and a quality rh bat who could be pollock.
I completely agree that the team can get better by getting more from the bullpen and getting a right handed bat. A lot of folks would agree.
The debate is raging over how the Dodgers go about doing these things. who to trade for? which players can the Dodgers offer to other teams to pry away quality players? which relief pitchers can improve enough by the post season? will their right handed batters heal/improve in time for the post season?
Doolittle, Treinen,hand,gant,diaz are all relief guys who could be had if their team is out of contention. There are others who might not trade with the Dodgers like smith and Yates. A rh bat still comes back to castellanos because he kills lefties and in the World Series he could dh. Abreau has been mentioned but I am not sure he fits the need.
I like this take – if the FO makes a move involving any of these players, I will remember to give you props.
I”d be comfortable with Joc, Muncy, and Freeze being our DH. No need to overpay for a rental like Castellanos who wouldn’t be a big upgrade anyway (.262, 6hr, 22rbi so far this year. Blah)
Now, a reliever who’s a stud and a rental? Yes, we need to pay for that.
Castellanos has a 900 plus ops vs. left handers.324 ave vs. lefties this year. This is the best time to get him when you can buy low. He is treading water with Detroit. He will become a free agent, down year, Detroit can’t seem to get an extension, not much leverage for Detroit. He could fill a dodger need and at the least a big bat off the bench. I agree I would not overpay but he might be a bargain.
I’ve been on that bandwagon and it has gotten me death threats!
Death to Casty support. Death to Casty support.
This year’s numbers are for 39 PA. Castellanos does have a .857 OPS over his career against LHP. Kike’ has a .849 career OPS against LHP. If you pick up Castellanos, who on the 25 man do you drop? I still like Joc/Kike’ over Castellanos.
As far as DH in WS, for FYI only…NYY has 3 LHSP so far with the rumor that Keuchel will go to NYY (Happ, Paxton, Sabatthia), Boston has 3 LHSP (Price, Rodriguez, Sale), Houston has 1 (Miley), Twins have 2 (Perez and Smeltzer), Rays have 1 (Snell), Indians have none, and Oakland has 1 (B. Anderson).
Agree. Castellanos does not improve this team beyond what they are right now. Unless the replacement is so wildly better, why make a change, when you have the best record in BB.
There is no argument with me about Will Smith. If he can be a great defensive catcher and hit, then why not find a home for Ruiz? There was never any question that Alex Verdugo had an elite hit tool. Alex Verdugo will win some batting championships is my opinion. This is not any disrespect to Alex, but Kaybear has an “eliter” hit tool. This guys bat could be very special. Ruiz is likely to move if Will Smith is the real deal. The only issue is that Smith is not a big guy. He about Austin Barnes size. Ruiz is 6′ and 200+ lbs. and as he matures he a 6′ 220 pound backstop. That may be the difference!
Mark you can keep both guys on the roster because Smith can give us at bats at 2nd and 3rd. It would be a nice problem to have. And you’re gonna let Jeff get away calling you a fool?
I don’t really care. I know who I am. Look at the record. Whatever… consider the source. I have bigger fish to fry.
dammit Mark. Now you got me craving fried fish
The record says you are a fool as often as most of us.
But, relentlessly, you are the once and forever
King of the Fickles!!!!!!
There is room for both catchers. Catchers don’t catch 162 games. When the time comes they can coincide until cartaya or somebody else better comes along. Right now smith needs to play and get at bats. He can fight for a role next year if not September. Then Ruiz can come onboard when ready. No need to rush Ruiz. The front office seems to understand when guys are ready ex. Seager, bellinger, verdugo to name a few.
As well known, not the uncritical fan of FO that so many knuckleheads here
are. But agree they have done a very nice job with the timing re: talented kids.
I think to evaluate Roberts you need to separate Roberts the tactician and Roberts the leader. We have opposed views about Roberts the tactician. The truth probably resides in the middle. He’s average. But Roberts the leader is off the charts good. His level of communication, confidence, patience, team first attitude, encouragement and calmness in the midst of difficult circumstances is as good as there is in baseball. And that level of player management is more important in today’s game with all the power players have now compared to previous generations. He gets a B+ in my book!
Walter Alston scared the hell out of players, but was wicked smart.
Tommy was the ultimate players manager, but was dumber than a bag of hammers.
Doc is neither one.
I agree that Roberts is a good leader and builds strong relationships with his players. His strength is in building up the confidence of those players who are struggling.
I think the thing that needs separation is Roberts the long term season long strategist vs Roberts the in-game/playoffseries tactician. Roberts always emphasizes his responsibility to navigate the ship for the whole season (keeping pitchers pitch counts lower, resting hitters who are on hot streaks, etc.) However, Roberts’ harshest criticisms have been over his decisions made during world series losses – causing many fans to wonder if Roberts has the ability to make tactical adjustments while managing in real time.
Decisions that fail are always the fault of the manager… even if the player doesn’t execute. That’s what everyone says, but in reality… is it true?
Sometimes.
I think you have a point when it comes to some hanging sliders from Kenley and Kershaw that cost them world series losses. What gives critics fuel are those incidents like when Roberts pulled Rich Hill early due to a miscommunication. Or the games where he made so many pitching changes he ran out of pinch hitters and/or relievers during extra inning losses. Don’t get me wrong – I am not advocating for the Dodgers to change managers. I think they can win the World Series with Roberts as a manager. But like his veteran players (e.g., Kershaw) who need to adapt and evolve, Dave Roberts should be looking to improve his game as well.
Yup, taking Rich Hill out after 4 innings in game 2 of the 2017 World Series was stupid. There was no logical justification for doing so. It started a chain of events that didn’t need to happen.
Agree 100% Knights 1, and I see growth in Doc this year that could bode well for the post season. He learned 2 years ago you can’t take your foot off the gas and coast to the end. He learned last year throwing away games because ‘it’s early’ can come back to bite you as it was tied at the end. This year he has had to work around injuries and slumps and a thin bullpen and has done a pretty fine job even if the lineups and batting orders surprise me sometimes. This is a close knit team that trusts the other guys and buys into the team concept as they battle hard every single game, and that is in part a reflection of their manager.
Perhaps Roberts is better as an Asst. Coach, making friends with the players and rooting them on, but his decisions have been mixed at best.
I would not call Roberts “Calm in difficult circumstances”. We have witnessed him panic with the pitching staff routinely. He isn’t doing it as much this year, but the panic stricken Roberts might return and start pulling pitchers after one pitch again.
Spoke to some Giants fans today. Their big issue is who will replace Bochy. You probably do not care, but any thoughts?
Farhan is smart; look for him to hire a young up and comer. The Giants won’t be contenders until 2022 or so, so they need to get young and get talent.
I”m curious to watch their firesale coming in the next 6-7 weeks. How much will Farhan be able stock their system?
Bobby. Is Farhan really that smart or was it AF who was the smart one in the FO? We will see.
Bill Hasselman perhaps. I don’t know if 53 is considered to be a bit old to start a MLB managing career or not. He’s had experience as a MLB catcher, a bullpen coach and first base coach with the Red Sox. He has managing experience at the A, A+, and AAA minor league levels and five years in the Dodgers minor league system. Plus, he has had experience working with the Dodgers in the Farhan Zaidi years. He twice went to the League Championship with the OKC Dodgers.
That’s the rumor I have heard…
Maybe we can trade him for Will Smith, Pitcher.
So we get all the Will Smiths in Baseball
they drafted another Hunter. Oi
Doc has stunned all of us! Against the leftie Robbie Ray, look who’s batting 8th!
CT3 (cf)
Kike
JT
Freeze
Seager
Will Smith
Verdugo (RF)
Joc!!!!
Buehler
Is Bellinger hurt?
Dodger bleacher report says just a day off for bellinger and muncy.
Happy he is giving Belli a rest
Joc is becoming harder and harder to keep out of the lineup. Friggin dude is killin’ it right now.
but all I ever see is people wanting to trade or demote him. Not all, but some WE KNOW!
Dodgers pick is getting close at #25. Who will it be? And why is the 9th ranked guy dropped so low?
guaranteeing this pick we make will be an All Star by 2024.
I have no basis for this guarantee whatsoever
ha ha you sound like Roberts now. As long as they don’t pick a HS student that won’t sign. This J.J. Goss kid is right on cue at 25.
It will be J.J. Goss at 25 and Chase Strumpf at 31
No Espino and his 100mph fastball?
Oh hi Bobby. There is this guy Ham who is irritating me. Espino if they are safe, I think Goss has more upside for some insane reason
Kody Hoese could be the pick also.
Cleveland took Espino at 24. Dodgers scouts spotted throwing things across the room and using foul language! I kind of like they took a 6’4″ college 3B who smacked 23 HR’s this year for Tulane.
Vegas. That is not Dodger material. I am glad the didn’t get him then. These two kids look solid as both are said to be “Solid Hitters” with good skills at the plate. That is great news and an idea of how the Dodgers are approaching Hitters in the future.
Gasperino said they were looking for LHP and OF’s but they would take BPA, not draft for need. They end up taking a solid hitting 3B and 2B which is maybe what they wanted anyway. Espino was a HS pitcher and Billy also said they prefer college guys because they are easier to project.
I think though, if they witnessed this kid throwing a Tantrum before they were to pick, it would have changed their mind. Both the kids they took were solid, but I believe this is a new direction for Dodger picking. No risky picks. And clearly, 2nd base and 3rd base have been difficult for the Dodgers to fill for years. Especially 3rd Base. They have not had much luck there since Ron Cey, until they had Hall of Famer Beltre and traded him away. But even in Brooklyn they never had a powerhouse 3rd Baseman
Ham, I was making maybe a poor joke that the scouts were throwing a tantrum when the Indians took the guy the Dodgers were rumored to have wanted-not Espino throwing a tantrum.
But what if Goss is gone at 25? What then Ham. You loser. Doc reigns supreme and should be deciding all of our picks.
Espino is gone now GOSS is in our sights!!!!!! Sorry Bobby and Ham. It will be Goss at 25
Espino is gone.
It will be Goss or Hoese
I was right. They played it safe with the College guy Hoese. Right Hand hitting 3b
He Kinda looks like a Baby Turner. Without the beard.
good call. Again, expect him to be an all star by 2024
Yep. I think the High School kids are scaring teams away. Next is UCLA Strumpf at 2B
Another Kody to the lineup lol
So is Goss 31?
Maybe, but I think Strumpf from UCLA the great hitting 2B. Just a hunch like Lasorda would make. I thought Goss at 25 so they may go 31 take a chance on signing him
watch the A’s take Goss
DC. Can the Dodgers get a pick if either first round didn’t sign? I know one pick is compensation of JT Ginn. Will Both selections qualify for comp?
That is a good question. I really don’t know the answer but being a first round pick it seems they would get another compensation pick if a player didn’t sign. However, perhaps AC would know.
I don’t think it is an issue since both are juniors. If they wait until their senior year they lose leverage in signing bonuses since they can’t return to university and there is no guarantee they will move up in a subsequent draft.
Thank you DC for answering, it is appreciated so much.
It should be like football and they state they are filing to be drafted. I hate this High School thing where kids see what they can get and then screw teams if it isn’t to their liking.
AC AC AC. Do you have the answer???
Yes. They receive compensation for 25 and 31, if they don’t sign. I think there’s zero chance of that with these two.
Dang it. A left handed hitting 2nd Baseman. I thought Strumpf was the choice but the Dodgers went with Busch.
Not bad Hamchuck for a loser who knows nothing about Baseball. The Dodgers obviously see 2nd Base as a need, but they liked Busch over Strumpf. Both can hit. I just liked the name Chase. We now have another Kody with a K and a replacement for Chase Utley. 🙂
Wow. Houston picks someone rated at 119 in the best players left. What do they see.
Baseball needs more trades and draft stockpiling like in football. Arizona has a ton of early picks. But Why don’t more teams trade for Draft Picks instead of regular players?? It would make the Draft a whole lot more fun to watch.
Yes. I agree. Now, did you see CT3 leading off tonight followed by the perennial guy always on the base paths, Kiki. CT3 swings with all his might and K’s 3 times and Kiki puts up an 0-4.
groans.
WB loses his perfect game, no hitter and shutout on one pitch.
Someone has to tell JOC you can’t pull a slider down and away. He couldn’t hit my slider! OK. I give up JOC is a platoon player!
Our starting rotation just on an insane run! Wow!