Random Thoughts

1. Dodgerpatch indicated that I was taking the criticism of Austin Barnes too personally.  Not true.  I would never take criticism alone personally.  What I take personally is the name calling.  A week ago I stated that Barnes had option(s) remaining and that he should be considered to be optioned to OKC, and bring up Will Smith to get better acclimated to the pitchers.  When the name calling started, I started to defend Barnes more than I normally would have.  Why is it so personal for me?  Because no matter how many family members are told to stay away from these sites, too many family members hop on to see what people think of their son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin, or best friend.  It may not be healthy, but it is realism.  Earlier in the year, we learned that Alex Verdugo’s brother visited this site. 

Nobody on this site other than me knows what it is like to be a father of a professional baseball player who has been ridiculed because of his play.  Fans aren’t fickle?  Well then explain to me how my son was given a standing ovation at Fenway and then 15 days later gets booed out of the stadium.  Why?  Because the ball slipped out of his hand on a rainy night on a throw to the plate, and a run scored on the error.  I know that it’s baseball and it happens. I accept it, but I do not have to like it. So Patch, yes I do tend to take the name calling personal.  Because it was personal to me.

Should Barnes go back to OKC.  Yes.  Not because he is a black hole, but because he has lost his confidence.  I hope he finds his confidence in OKC, and gets traded to a team where he can get a new start.  Maybe he can land in Detroit and start all over, and get a chance to work with the up and coming pitching stars like the M&M boys – (Casey Mize and Matt Manning), and Franklin Perez.  Now I am done with any further commentary about Austin Barnes. It is time to turn the page and worry about the name on the front of the jersey rather than the name on the back of the jersey.

2. We are all so quick to take what a couple of OKC Dodgers are doing in the PCL and proclaim them to be future stars.  I am not taking anything away from what Gavin Lux and DJ Peters (or Will Smith) are doing in AAA, but the results need to be placed in context.  Going into Friday’s games, below are the offensive numbers for the PCL (AAA), International League (AAA), and Texas League (AA).

# of batters with a BA .300 or better:

Pacific Coast League – 30

International League – 12 (only 2 above .325)

Texas League – 4

# of batters with 20 or more HRs:

Pacific Coast League – 23

International League – 13

Texas League – 0

# of batters with a 1.000 or better OPS:

Pacific Coast League – 6

International League – 0

Texas League – 0

# of batters with a .900 or better OPS

Pacific Coast League – 31

International League – 15

Texas League – 0

While Gavin Lux and DJ Peters are off to tremendous AAA starts, one has to temper that with what the League is – a launching pad.  Let’s also not forget the remarkable start of Dustin May.  In 4 games started, Dustin has 21.1 IP, 2.53 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 0 HRs, 7 BB, and 18 K.  With the offensive numbers indicated above, May has been fantastic.  He will certainly get a look at the ML rotation next year.

3. I wanted to look at the impact of Gavin Lux and DJ Peters.  Lux and Peters were promoted to OKC on June 27.  In the 65 games, that Lux and Peters were Tulsa Drillers, the team was 42-33.  They average 5.815 runs per game.  Since the promotion, the Drillers’ record is 12-15, with the average number of runs per game at 3.222.  It is clear that Lux and Peters were a positive force for the Drillers.  Lux more so than Peters, but we can look at that in more detail at a later time.

What has been the impact of the duo with OKC?  The OKC Dodgers’ record before Lux and Peters arrived was 31-46.  In those 77 games, the Dodgers averages 4.532 runs per game.  In the 26 games the Dodgers have played since the promotion, the team is 17-9, and is now averaging 7.923 runs per game.  While baseball is a team game, it certainly looks clear to me that OKC is a different (better) team with Lux and Peters.

4. While Thor would be a good addition, if the Dodgers are going to spend prospect capital, then AF should spend it on a closer. Two years ago when his cutter was not only unhittable, it was also thrown for strikes. Unless he throws perfect innings, teams are going to run on him at will. If the team is going to be unemotional towards players, and only look at results, then Kenley has to be moved from closer. Again, if we are only concerned about how the player will perform in the WS, then there has to be strong consideration for a new closer. In the last 2 WS, Kenley has 2 saves, 3 blown saves, and one loss. Friday’s game is becoming to be more common than the lock down performances of 2 years ago.

5. Mitchell White may be about to take a big drop in the Dodger prospect list. Another bad night in AAA. His ERA is now at a sparkling 7.35. His numbers are 52.2 IP, 12 HR allowed, 23 walks, 53 strikeouts, and a .318 Batting Average Against. He is looking like a younger Brock Stewart than a can’t miss prospect. And yet another two hit night for Gavin Lux and another HR for DJ Peters.

AC’S MINOR LEAGUE LOWDOWN

OKC Dodgers 10 – Memphis Redbirds 13 (Cardinals)

The Dodgers jumped out to a 3-1 and 6-3 leads, but Mitchell White had a horrific outing: 4.0 IP, 12 hits, 11 runs (all earned), 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. His ERA is now up to 7.35.  He allowed the first 6 batters to reach base to begin the 4^th.  He left 2 runners on after 4 had scored, and Shea Spitzbarth came in and allowed both inherited runners to score, plus one of his own.  Stetson Allie allowed another run and Zac Rosscup and recently promoted (today) Victor Gonzalez restored order.  Gavin Lux had another two-hit night, his fifth consecutive game with two hits.    Zach Reks also had a two-hit night including his 16 HR, while DJ Peters and Shane Peterson each hit their 10^th.

Tulsa Drillers 1 – Frisco RoughRiders 5 (Texas)

Tulsa had another bullpen game as reliever Logan Salow started with 1.2 IP.  Parker Curry followed and allowed all five runs on 8 hits in 5.1 IP.  Jordan Sheffield pitched a clean 9^th.  The Drillers scattered 5 singles with Zach McKinstry getting two of them.

RC Quakes 7 – Stockton Ports 0 (A’s)

The Quakes pitched the third shutout for the night. Michael Grove pitched his second consecutive 3.0 innings of shutout ball.  However he did allow 5 hits and a walk in his 3.0 innings.  Dylan Floro pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab assignment.  Guillermo Zuniga, Max Gamboa, and Melvin Jimenez finished the shutout. Jeren Kendall with 2 hits and 4 RBIs, including his 12^th HR and Hunter Feduccia and his 2 hits were the offensive leaders.

Great Lakes Loons 1 – Dayton Dragons 0 (Reds)

The Loons and Dragons went 9 scoreless innings.  Leonel Valera started on 2^nd to begin the 10^th and moved to 3^rd on a ground out, and scored on a Kody Hoese sac fly.  Stephen Kolek (6.2 IP) and Aaron Ochsenbein (2.1 IP) were brilliant for 9.0, and James Bruihl closed it out in the 10^th for a shutout victory and his 2^nd save.  The Loons had 7 hits with Dan Robinson had 3, and Chris Roller hit his 12^th double.

Ogden Raptors 9 – Orem Owlz 5 (LAA)

In the first game of the 2nd half, the Raptors started as they finished the 1^st half, with a win.  The first half winners won in convincing style with a 31-7 record, which tied with the best half record in a half in the Pioneer League. The last and only other team were the Orem Owlz 10 years ago.  Down 1-0, the Raptors rolled off 6 runs, with the Owlz scoring 3 in the 5^th to get close.  The Raptors then scored three additional runs to close out the scoring.  Brandon Lewis and Andrew Shaps led the offense with 3 hits each.  Lewis hit his 6^th HR.  Ryan Ward had 2 hits, while Zac Ching hit his 2^nd HR.  Alfredo Tavarez started and allowed 4 runs in his 4.2 IP.  Jeff Belge pitched a hitless 1.1 IP with 3 K’s.  Nick Robertson allowed the 5^th run, and Corey Merrill finished the final 2.0 innings to secure the victory.

AZL Dodgers Lasorda 1 – AZL Rangers 4

Israiky Berroa allowed 1 run in his 5.0 IP, while Adolfo Ramirez went the next 4.0 scoreless innings.  The two teams entered extra innings all tied up at 1-1.  Franklin De La Paz yielded 3 runs in the 10th and the Rangers blanked the Lasordas in the 10^th.  Wladimir Chalo had 2 of the 4 Lasordas hits.

AZL Dodgers Mota 6 – AZL Mariners 0

The Motas scored 2 runs each in the 1^st, 4^th, and 7^th, while three Mota pitchers (Aldry Acosta, Jeisson Cabrera, and Huei-Sheng Lin) pitched a shutout.  Luis Yanel Diaz had 3 hits including 2 triples (8), while Kevin Aponte also had 3 hits and a triple (1).  Diego Cartaya had another 2 hit night including a double (8).