I stole that from Jon Weisman (I steal most of my original material) – I hope he doesn’t sue me, but it seemed appropriate for today’s Rants and Raves:
- How many teams have an All-Star RF, who is also a Gold Glove 1B, end the game in CF for defensive reasons? That’s what makes him take the place of Mike Trout as the games best player (other than the fact that Trout has done it for many years – hey, it’s my blog and I can use hyperbole). The dude is becoming Superman! It’s just a matter of time until they quit pitching to him.
- When are we going to learn that just about the time we want to get rid of a player who looks to be horrid, they finally get it going? Baez, Kelly, Garcia, and Taylor all come to mind. Let me remind you that Doc Roberts and the Dodger’s Braintrust are so much closer to the situation and understand exactly what is happening in a players growth and evolution. It’s like me going to a hospital and advising a Brain Surgeon how to perform brain surgery.
- Since early May, Joe Kelly has one of the best reliever ERA’s in baseball. Maybe Friedman and Company were “on to something” after all. Many of you thought they were just “on something.” This Kelly guy is turning into a monster. Confidence is amazing! He can throw three pitches at any place in the count. He’s not just a smoke thrower – he is becoming a pitcher. He can pitch multiple innings on back-to-back days. This is what AF envisioned when they traded for him.
- I am not as worried about Kenley Jansen as many of you. 12 out of the 15 runs he has given up are on Big Flies. He is evolving as well and still struggling with what the pitching coaches want and what he wants. Old habits die hard. I think he will be fine. He’s not horrible, but he will work through this.
- The Dodgers could have signed Craig Kimbrel who blew the save and the game last night for the Cubs and has a 16.88 ERA after 3 games. Yikes! I’m sure he will improve, but I believe he is on the decline. Signing him was another dope-fiend move for Theo, whose most recent history isn’t good.
- So, Joc Pederson can’t play 1B? “You can’t move him mid-season?” Conventional wisdom is usually wrong. He still has work to do, but he is adapting. I see growth. This move just gives the Dodgers so much flexibility.
- So, barring a setback, Rich Hill will return in September, and he says as a starter. I wonder if he could fill the Lefty Role in the pen? I think he could adapt. I have seen him hit 93 a couple of times this year. I am sure he would love to win a Ring and am positive he would embrace the role if asked. That could be like trading for a bullpen arm.
- Let me preface this next statement with this: Julio Urias will be in the running as to who the Dodgers’ Ace is with Buehler and Kershaw… next year. Is it possible the Dodgers’ keep him in the pen the rest of this year and just not pitch him on back-to-back days? Would they consider pitching him 2 innings every other day or every third day? You don’t want to mess with a talent that big, but what a weapon out of the pen… In the playoffs, you would have Buehler, Kershaw, Ryu, and Maeda as starters with Striping (barring trade), Garcia, Baez, Kelly, Floro, Urias, Hill and Jansen in the pen.
- Many Dodger fans don’t want to see AJ Pollock come back. Don’t be absurd. Friedman sees something you don’t. Get used to it. He WILL BE a weapon this second half. The sad part is that Seager and Pollock coming back will cost Garlick, Beaty or Rios (pick two) their spots. All look like they belong.
- The Dodgers bullpen ERA continues to drop and is just a little over 0.50 runs a game behind the leader. They are #9 in all of baseball. They are tied for 3rd in saves and tied for 2nd with Houston for BAA. Also, they are #2 in fewest walks and 3rd in WHIP. The bullpen can be improved and AF will try and do so, but not at any cost. It turns out that it may be a little hysterical to lambast a bullpen that seems to be getting better and better and is actually pretty good. Just my two cents.
- 5 consecutive Walk-Offs after a walk-off with five consecutive walls in a walk-off. That’s a record for the ages and it’s a great time to be a Dodger fan.
- SIDENOTE: No animals were harmed and I tried to offend no one with today’s Independence Day Slide. If I offended Colin Kaepernick in the process, all I can is “I am sorry I offended you, but ______ you if I did!” Happy 4th of July!
MT’s Minor League Lowdown
DSL Dodgers Bautista – They lost 10-3 to the DSL Red Sox. Harold Restituyo went 3-4 and Darwin Arinamo and Alejandro Fernandez both went 2-4 and that was it as the Dodgers also pit up 3 errors.
DSL Dodgers Shoemaker – The score was 8-2 as they lost to the DSL Rangers. The Dodgers had 11 hits, led by Marlon Cairo with 3 and Juan Diaz, Vladimir Perez, and Oscar Alvarez with2 each. They just could hit when it counted and 5 errors hurt them immensely. Only 4 of the runs were earned.
AZL Dodgers Mota – They also had a bad night, getting beat 4-0. They had the same number of hits as errors: THREE! Jeremiah Vison had two of the hits. Diego Cartaya went 0-4 and is hitting .242. Marcus Soibach pitched 5 strong innings, allowing 5 hits on 5 strikeouts and no BB. He gave up 1 ER.
Ogden Raptors – The Raptors scored 7 Runs on 10 hits as Ward, Todd, and Shaps all had 2 hits. They also played errorless baseball. Castro went 5 innings and allowed 2 ER for the win and Melvin Jiminez pitched the final two innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 4.
Great Lakes Loons – It was a 6-4 loss for the Loons as they were bested by some Lugnuts from Lansing. Jacob Amaya, Hunter Feduccia and Gersel Pitre all had 2 hits. Kolek went 4.1 innings and allowed 3 ER. Zach Willeman pitched the last 4.2 innings and while he struck out 7, he was tagged with the loss.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes – Rancho won 3-2 behind a 2 run home run by Deacon Liput who is starting to put it together, unlike Jeren Kendall who struck out all three of his at-bats and saw his BA sink to .196. That is beyond sad! Andre Jackson went 5 and allowed 2 hits to go with 7 strikeouts and 1 ER. deGeus and Nunez pitched the final 2 innings to preserve the win.
Tulsa Drillers – The Drillers lost 6-5 in the bottom of the 9th as Andre Scrubb was tagged with the loss. Sheffield gave up a big 2-run home run in the 7th that tied the score. His ERA sits at 2.25. Santana and Ruiz both had 2 hits.
OKC Dodgers – The Dodgers lost at Nashville 14-11. Nashville scored 12 runs in the the second inning off of Batting Practice Pitcher Brock Stewart. He is about to be cut lose along with Jeren Kendall. Ferguson, Sborz, Schultz and Quackenbush combined for 5.1 shutout innings but the damage was done.Peterson had 3 hits and Joe, and Perkins each had 2.
Amen to your last statement. Happy 4th to you and thanks for your continued insight into the Dodgers.
Maybe if Colin Kaepernick didn’t get offended so easily, he would still have a job. I’m done buying Nike products. Bashing the flag of this great nation is unacceptable regardless of where your politics lie.
Yes, the bullpen is improving. Yes, Rich Hill can be a lefty killer in the post-season pen. Baez, Kelly, Yimi all have the tools to be elite. Jansen is still scaring me. But, it looks like they are sacrificing the battle in order to win the war. They are making some changes to Jansen and Kelly in hopes to improve them. They need to get comfortable with the changes before they can get over the hump. Kelly looks like he might have done just that. He pitched a clean inning in a high leverage situation last night night and came out on top. Jansen did not, but he’s throwing more pitches which will make him better in the long run. Don’t look now, but it’s starting to look like it’s coming together.
Another great win last night. Now, we need to beat down the Padres to the point where they want to trade us Kirby Yates! I’m so excited to get Seager, Pollock and Freese back even if that means no more tied home games in the ninth and no more walk offs. We’ll soon be winning games in the 6th inning.
With Hill moving to the 60 day IL, it seems like it is time to move Urias into the rotation. We need his arm and we’ve seen how teams like Colorado and Arizona have unloaded on some of our best starters recently. Beuhler was bombed his last two starts and so was Kershaw. Teams are beginning to hit them consistently and Urias is the only other arm on the team that can get the job done. Stripling will have to survive in the BP, grin and bear it. If Kelly has indeed come around, it will make life easier in the BP without Urias. Bring him on.
I love having Urias in that “Hader” type role. Problem is, he can’t do it but every few days and he’s a potentially dominant starter.
So you’re right; Urias might return to starting after the break. Then in October, if everyone is healthy, let’s see how Hill/Urias are used.
I would look for Stripling to start for another couple weeks with Urias trading places with him the end of July. Urias is in the BP only to save innings.
Although I don’t expect it, I would consider moving Stripling at the deadline for a good, back end reliever if that deal can be made. He doesn’t seem at his best in the pen and isn’t going to crack the rotation other than a swing man with the Dodgers
100% agree that Strip is a good trade candidate. And for his sake, he can go start, and start only, for another team and earn his next big contract.
I’ve always felt Strip and Joc would be traded this season as they can be replaced.
Happy 4th! On the Dodger front, I got nothin, except that it looks like Joe Kelly is slowly rounding into form. God help the rest of baseball if this guy figures it out !!
If we’re going to get political, then bash the Navy Seal who told Kap that kneeling before the flag and during the anthem is NOT disrespectful.
Try being arrested and historically brutalized by police as compared to white people and then question how much somebody is offended.
Spot on Bobby. Folks just don’t get it, but that’s OK. Cages trump raised fists!
This team is scary. When you think you have seen it all, something new happens
I’m not taking the bait. Disrespecting this flag, this country is not the answer for me. Instead, I choose to treat everyone equally because it starts with people not being a-holes to each other. This crap that Collin is doing is divisive. He’s a loser and a cry baby and he’s un-American in my opinion. I’m darker than he is, and my fro in the 70’s rivaled his. So, he can suck it!
yet you took the bait. love it!
now let’s talk Dodgers. What sucks about being on the east coast is sometimes you can’t stay up till 1am or so watching the ending of games! I only saw the “Belly!!” texts from friends this am when i woke up. Then saw the highlight of the game winning hr. Wow!
Happy 4TH Bobby!
59 – John Carlos n Tommy Smith luv ya too..
Thank you, Bobby!
Agree to agree
Happy 4th everyone!! All is well in Dodgerland for the day!
And think about it!! Here comes Seager n Pollock!
Damn and the rich get rjcher!!
“Friedman wees something you don’t. ” Great typo Mark. I hope he doesn’t have a kidney infection.
Happy 4th everyone. Today we celebrate this great country. Perfect it’s not, flaws it has but still the greatest land of freedom and opportunity in the world!
Maybe it was my imagination but I thought yesterday, Kelly’s arm slot WS slightly different then before. Previously it looked like he was throwing darts but yesterday looked like his arm was slightly more back before he started to release.
I think you are right.
How about a three-way deal:
ShaneClint Frazier to the PadresRoss Stripling to the Yankees
Kirby Yates to the Dodgers?
I’m on board. Call the GMs and get it done!
Mark, I know you’re 2 or 3 hours ahead of me (you never know which in Indiana) and I can see you’re already on the sauce. I think you meant Clint Frazier, not Shane.
Also, the Pads don’t need any more outfielders and Preller would never give up Yates for either Frazier or Stripling.
Just my opinion.
Happy 4th everyone!
Well, I am not on the sauce (but I might be soon), but as I mentioned I have a friend named Shane Frazier and that’s not the first time I have done that.
Parts of Indiana are on Central Time. Indy is on Eastern Time. I wish we were on Central Time. That way Dodger games would start an hour earlier.
Happy 4th. everyone. The bullpen is starting to look good. Jansen threw a cutter that did not cut for the HR. Basically he has a fastball and cutter. Honeycutt wants him to throw the slider more. He has a good one, but no confidence in it yet. It will come. A lot of decisions to make this month. Friedman will not do anything stupid. He will not give up good farm players. He will sit and do nothing if he has to.
Do u mean Clint Frazier? I think Yankees can do better than Strippling
I have a friend by that name and I do that a lot…
If they can do better… they haven’t!
Happy 4th. Great points Mark. Some thoughts on your thoughts and some of mine:
* No kidding on enjoying this Dodger ride. Never seen anything like it. Unbelievable every night.
* How were Greg Holland’s last 2 days? 4 walks Tuesday, game tying dinger last night and 2 blown saves. I don’t know how he pitches at all stepping open, flying open and falling off so badly to the first base side. How does he repeat a release point with all those moving parts. Pretty unique and not one to teach your kids.
* I said awhile back that Joe Kelly is the key to the Dodger’s bullpen. If he can be what they hoped it changes everything. The run on that BIG fastball is amazing. It looks like it rises right into a rightie’s throat. Add 2 other plus pitches that he is starting to command and he is looks like a very uncomfortable at bat.
* Like 59inarow, Kenley Jansen scares me too. More specifically, Kenley in 1 run games scares me. His stuff looks better but he can’t seem to avoid giving up a dinger.
* If Joe Kelly can be what we hope, I can see him in 1 run save situations.
* I still think the Dodgers will make a bullpen move but as mentioned, but Mark’s list of the 12 pitches looks pretty damn good for the post season. With 3 starters (Buehler, CK, and Ryu, that keeps the terrific lefty Urias in the pen. The 2 weak links that I see are certainly Floro and Stripling (I’ve never been a Stripling fan and he isn’t starting when you have Meada Urias, although I want Urias in the pen). Looking at this group as a whole, I think they could win in the postseason with this group.
* Kelly is a key. (Oh, did I say that twice?)
Happy 4th of July Everyone… from your friends at US Water Systems. My sons-in-law does our videos.
Happy 4th to you Mark and to everyone here. Lets take a minute out to remember what and why we’re celebrating.
This place is more enjoyable when a Dodger isn’t getting beat up on. They are doing well so instead kapernak gets picked on?
We can’t have our freedom and eat it too.
Profound Bum!!
The more I look at this team a (partly wishful thinking ) if Kelly keeps improving, we may have what it takes to get a RING. Damn, I’m hoping for a NYY showdown.
Happy 4th July guys, from one who wishes he’d been born in the USA.
Agree with Rich S above. Hope you all realise how lucky you are to live in such a great, diverse country.
On the Dodger front, things are looking good, although we must not overlook the fact that we are playing in a weak division, and the challenges ahead will be far greater come the Post Season.
MJ if you’re reading this – hope you are ok
Happy 4th Watford my Man.
How true you are about my USA . WE have a few warts, but what free country doesn’t.
Raise a Guinness for me today Watford..
Happy 4th everybody and any vet who is on this site, we are indebted for your service, you guys are awesome. I know I got flogged pretty good for sticking up for Machine Gun Kelly and everybody’s favorite whipping boy, Pollock about a month ago, but as Mark has been mentioning the past week or so, the FO and Roberts has SO much more info on these players than we have. They are patient almost to a fault, and while most of us want to run these two out of town at times, watch how this plays out, alot of season left. Bottom line, we only need the real Killer Kelly for about two weeks in late October. He can Machine Gun all he wants in the regular season, just be ready come play-off time. Same for Pollock. Before he got hurt, on DodgerTalk Uncle Ned mentioned that over the years when he was GM, some of the guys he signed to a big contract had a tough time the first part of the season trying to justify the money, and he felt that Pollock was doing just that, and pressing too much. Good thing for Pollock, he is well liked in the clubhouse, which I have read numerous times has one of the best supportive cultures in all of baseball. We need his right handed power, and he has more than enough time to dial it in. Plus, with the way Roberts and the gang do load management with the players, he will be rested. Don’t forget, we are 30 games over .500 without Seager, a healthy Pollock, and a few question marks in the bullpen. I’ll take that any day of the week. How would you like to be the opposing pitcher when Seager gets back in the lineup? Good luck!
Roger – have always been in the Kelly camp. He is after Rich Hill, my favourite Dodger.
I like honesty in people, and both Rich & Joe call it like it is. When they do not perform they do not hide behind excuses, and are very open.
I also don’t understand the negativity towards AJP.
Every other team in the NL would love the predicament we have, of what to do with our outfield. If A.J was fit, and available at Trade Deadlines past, he would have had untold suitors.
Seagar & Pollock will be like having 2 new Star players for the 2nd half.
In other years we have had multiple needs in July. This year we should go all out for the one missing piece, a quality left hand lock down reliever.
Vasquez wouldn’t be a rental either, like Darvish & Machado.
But right now, Huntington wants Lux and Ruiz!
If he is genuinely insisting on Lux and Ruiz then there will be no deal. I would be surprised if another team offered him something that would be comparable to Lux and Ruiz.
Probably not… but they say they don’t want to trade him, so they have to be overwhelmed.
Remember this: If you are in love with one player, one car, one house, one couch… you will likely overpay… a lot!
No he doesn’t.
AJP needs to prove himself. Not only to Dodger fans, but himself, that he can stay healthy and productive when he plays. When you have a team like the Dodgers, with so many productive players, role players, super utility men, you have to compete to fit in. Let AJP compete. Let him prove he should be a starting Ofielder on this team. We obviously don’t need him, yet we have him. Great, give playing time and let him go to work. But I wouldn’t have him take anyone’s place on the team unless he clearly earns it, like Verdugo did.
Amazing. 30 hr before the break!
Before the season, MLB analysts said Belli was a 30-30 guy. I guess they meant 30 HR’s before the All Star break and 30 HR’s after 😉
The Dodgers signed Busch for slot value.