While sitting in my office preparing for a trial, wishing I was at home in my recliner, watching the Dodgers and Padres game, I have some more random thoughts on the passing season:
• I don’t know about you all, but there is something special for me to see the young prospects come through the system and do well for the Dodgers. Saturday night was special!! What a treat to watch Buehler do his “Striker” magic. To be mentioned in the rarified air of Pedro Martinez and Dwight Gooden as the only pitchers’ since 1908 to have more than one fifteen strikeout game with no walks in a single season, and he joined Sandy Koufax as the only other pitcher in Dodgers franchise history with multiple 15‑strikeout games in one season. Pretty remarkable! Hopefully, the best is yet to come for young Mr. Buehler.
• It was also nice to see that Buehler’s amazing outing was caught by none other than “Will the Thrill.” Will Smith, whether he is a better long term option than Keibert Ruiz or not, has added the perfect amount of “bay-faced” enthusiasm to the team at a time they desperately needed a little spark. If Kaybear turns out half as good as Mark predicts, our catching future looks very bright. That doesn’t even take into consideration Cartaya, Feduccia, Wong, Berman, Rodriguez and Marco Hernandez). Catcher is a position of depth and strength for the foreseeable future.
• Then we turn to the “hair boys,” Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin. They will have some up and down moments as young pitchers often do, but my oh my, what arms they have! I’m looking forward to how they respond this week. If they’re capable of providing 2018 Caleb Ferguson type help for the Dodgers in the playoffs, what a blessing that will be!
• If I was the front office or management for any of the teams that will potentially play the Dodgers in the playoffs, I would religiously study how Eric Lauer pitches to the Dodger hitters. He absolutely owns us! Lauer was someone I hoped the Dodgers would have drafted in 2016. They went with Gavin Lux instead. Despite Lauer’s success against the Dodgers, I am happy with the Lux choice.
• Speaking of the 2016 draft, I find it
somewhat sadistically ironic that Will Smith was chosen with the pick the
Dodgers received for losing Greinke to free agency. Is there any of you that would trade Smith
straight up for Greinke? Why or why
not?
• Well the trade deadline was certainly anti-climatic. I will, here and now, take full responsibility for the outcome. Every time I interrupt my work repeatedly to check MLB Trade Rumors or Twitter to see if the Dodgers have made a move, they don’t. It’s much like the proverbial “a watched kettle never boils.” Each time they have made a major move I have been occupied and not able to check on transactions until much later in the day. So I apologize to you all. Had I kept my nose to the grindstone, we would have Vazquez and Smith in our bullpen today. I’m sure of it! Instead, because of my malfeasance, the Dodgers added Casey Sadler, Kristopher Negron, Tyler White, Jedd Gyorko and Adam Kolarek. I have gone back through many of the pre-trade deadline posts on this blog and not once did I see where anyone predicted or speculated that we would acquire any of these players.
• Not sure how much the new acquisitions will help for the remainder of the year, nor do I know if they will even make the post-season roster, but they provide nice depth while the players on the IL recuperate. I like what I have seen from Sadler so far, but I don’t view him as a shut down reliever. Gyorko (pronounced “JUR-koh”) might provide a nice bench bat to hit lefties. For the others, the jury is still out.
• Last year I attended a Dodger vs Mariner game with my Washington family in Seattle. Pantone 294 was in attendance also. They are some of the most fervent and enthusiastic fans I have ever been around, all the while remaining polite and respectful of the other teams fans. I honestly felt as if I was a Dodger home game. They are great ambassadors and represent Dodger fans well across the nation in various opponents’ ball parks.
• I’ve mentioned it on here before, but Ross Stripling has a podcast called the “The Big Swing.” It’s worth a listen. Ross and his frien Cooper Surles, spend some time talking about topics other than baseball (Games of Thrones for example. I might be one of the 3 people in the nation, that has never watched an episode), but the baseball talk is exceptional. They have interviewed Buehler, Bellinger, Michael Wacha, Kike(and his wife -this one, as you might expect is a bit juvenile), Alex Wood, Kyle Farmer, Joe Davis, Jameson Taillon, Rich Hill and Tim Kurkjian among others. There is some talk about the use of analytics and you get glimpses of how the Dodgers prepare their players that you might not get anywhere else.
• It may be from just my vantage point sitting on my recliner, but it appears to me that home plate umpires are becoming progressively worse at calling balls and strikes. I have mixed feelings about any type of robotic umpiring, but I’m leaning in that direction a bit more than my traditional mindset normally would allow. Umpires have a strong union though, so I don’t think it’s going to happen any time soon.
• I’m not in favor of having a runner start on 2nd base in extra innings. Certainly it shortens the game time, but on the other hand, you remove classics like the 18 inning Dodger World Series victory against the Redsox. I would take that type of long game any day of the week, regardless of how tired I am at work the following day.
• I would love to see Cody Bellinger warm-up again and make a serious run at the triple crown. What added excitement that would bring.
• I consider myself fortunate to have been
able to see both Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw pitch. They are absolutely two of the greatest
ever!! While I think that Koufax at
his absolute best was slightly better than Kershaw at his absolute best, it
isn’t by very much. Moreover, I would
never cluck my tongue at anyone who thought otherwise.
• I’m glad the Dodgers did not sign Bryce Harper. His 1.7 WAR looks mighty meager for $10,000.000.00 to $26,000,000.00 per year, 13 year commitment. Especially when you compare it to Alex Verdugo’s 3.4 WAR. Cherry-picking the stats. I know, but Verdugo is simply having a better year. Additionally, I don’t know if Harper’s personality would fit well with this Dodger team.
• I don’t miss Yasiel Puig. He was fun to watch for a little while. But as time went on, his antics became very tiresome. It doesn’t bother me to the least that no Dodger hitter has kissed RVS or BB after they have hit a home run. It was time for Puig to move on. I wish him well in Cleveland, but I’ll take our current right-fielder over him every day of the week.
• If the teams presently expected to make the playoffs do, we are in for one of the more exciting playoffs ever. The Dodgers, Braves, Cubs, Cardinals, Nationals, Phillies or Brewers, are all tough teams (I have purposely left off the Giants, because, quite frankly, I don’t like them!) In the American League, the same is true for the Yankees, Twins, Astros, Indians, Rays and A’s (I’m hoping the RedSox doesn’t make the cut, just so I can hear ESPN cry all the way out here in California. How good that will feel). Each of these teams has a very good blend of pitching and hitting, and none of them are pushovers.
• I will be very excited to see Gavin Lux get some time in the majors this year. He is going to be something very special. I think he will be better than Bo Bichette (sorry AC, but I think we selected the right guy!)
• I am also excited to watch the development of Josiah Gray. He has been exceptional this year. Today, as I type this, he will be going up against the Kansas City Royals #2 prospect, Brady Singer. At one point Singer was one of the top pitching prospects in the draft Singer was selected in the 2nd round in 2015, but did not sign. In 2018, he was selected by the Royals with the 18th pick in the 1st round. Statistically, Gray is having a much better year than Singer.
• Joe Davis is really growing into his broadcast position. I didn’t fully realize how good he was until I spent an hour in my car this week listening to Steiner and listening to Tim Neverett this weekend as he took over for Davis on the TV broadcast. Steiner and Neverett aren’t bad per se, but Davis is so much better. He has a tremendous feel for capturing the moment. Also, why the Dodgers use anyone other than Alanna Rizzo for the on-field interviews is beyond me. To me, David Vassegh is almost unlistenable. They also use a third person occasionally, whose name I don’t recall, and he is absolutely unbearable. He thinks his interviews are more compelling if he screams.
• I’m going out on a limb today and predict that the Dodgers are going to go to the playoffs. The Dodgers have 49 games left. If they go 24 – 25 the rest of the way, they would end the season 97 – 65. The Giants have 51 games left. In order to tie the Dodgers, they would have to go 41-10 for the remainder of the season. That’s not impossible, but frankly, I don’t think Scooter Gennett makes that much of a difference to allow them to do that.
• I hate it when the Dodgers lose to the Giants or Padres!! That just shouldn’t be allowed!!
2Demeter2’s Minor League Lowdown
OKC Dodgers beat the Las Vegas Aviators: 7-6
The Dodgers jumped out to an early 6-2 lead after 4 and held on for the victory as Caleb Ferguson gave up 2 runs in the 8th and Kevin Quackenbush surrendered 2 in the 9th. Logan Bawcom started and pitched 3.2 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks with 5Ks. Josh Sborz rescued him in the 4th by striking out the only batter he faced. Chris Nunn followed with a scoreless, but eventful inning allowing two hits and a walk.
Austin Barnes led the offense going 2-4 with a HR and 2B and 3 RBI. Zack Reks also went 2-4. DJ Peters added a @B and RBI.
Tulsa Drillers beat the NW Arkansas Naturals: 3-1
Jo Jo Gray won his battle with Brady Singer tossing a masterful 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits, 1BB, while striking out 7. Luis Vasquez followed with 2 scoreless innings, walking 1 and getting 1 K. Nolan long pitched the last inning allowing no runs. The offense consisted of a Christian Santana solo HR, and a 2 run HR from Errol Robinson, driving in Conner Wong who had singled.
RC Quakes lost to the Visalia Rawhide: 8-7
How many of you remember the old Rawhide television program with Eric Fleming and Clint Eastwood? Andre Jackson started and had a rare rough outing He tossed 4 innings, allowing 5 hits, 4BB 4 runs (3ER). He did get 5 Ks. Sven Schueller followed with a scoreless inning. Austin Drury pitched 1.1 innings with 2 runs, 2 hits 1 BB and 1 K. Darien Nunez followed with 0.2 innings allowing 2 inherited runners to score and giving up 2 runs of his own. He was followed on the hill by Conner Strain who tossed a scoreless inning.
Offensively, the Quakeswere led by Jeter Downs who went 2-4 which included a HR. Tre Todd added a HR as did Jeren Kendall. Miguel Vargas went 3-5 on his day with a 2B.
Great Lake Loons lost to the South Bend Cubs: 8-6
The Loons started off strong in
this game scoring 3 runs in both the 1st and 2nd
innings. Albeit, that 2 runs scored on
walks, and one on a Chris Roller sac fly.
Kody Hoese drove in a run with a single and Jacob Amaya doubled in a run. Leonel Valera drove in the a run with a
triple. James Outman went 3-5 with a
run scored and Valera went 2-4. Ryan
Pepiot started and pitched two innings and allowed 1 run on 2 hits and
2BB. He struck out 1. He was followed by Zach Willeman and well
let’s just say for him “It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” He
allowed 6 runs on 6 hits and 3BB. One of
the runs did score on an error by Outman.
Jasiel Alvino followed for 2 innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit. Justin Hagenman pitched the final 2 innings
not allowing a hit or run and striking out 1 Cub. .
Ogden Raptors beat the Rocky Mountain Vibes: 5-1
With the sounds of John Denver playing in the background, the Raptors took care of the Vibes scoring 5 runs on 9 hits and 4BB. Andrew Shaps led the way with 3 hits and 1 RBI. Zac Ching added a double and Andy Pages had a triple and 1 RBI. Jimmy Titus also had a hit and RBI. Titus is quietly having a very good 1st professional season hitting .343, with a 1.020 OPS. Jeronimo Castro started for the Raptors and threw 6 strong innings, not allowing a run. He surrendered 2 hits, but no BB and he did not strike out anyone. He was followed by Mitchell Tryanski for 1.2 innings of no run, 1 hit ball. He had 3Ks. He is yet to give up a run since being promoted to the Raptors. Then came Mark Mixon for 0.1 inning. He allowed a hit and nothing else. Nate Robertson pitched the 9th inning and allowed a run on 2 hits.
AZL Mota beat the AZL Oakland Green: 3-1
The Mota made the most of their 2 hits, scoring 3 runs in the 2nd inning Alfonso Guillen had a hit and an RBI. Alex DeJesus had the other hit. That was pretty much it for the offense. The pitching was the story of the day, as Louis Head, started and tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless ball as he continued his rehab assignment. Jeison Cabrera followed with 3.1 innings allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits, 3 BB and registering 6K. Huel Shen Lin finished up with 4 clean innings with 5K.
AZL Lasorda beat the AZL Angels: 3-1
Jorbit Vivas went 2-4 with a Rbi in the 1st inning. Eddys Leonard’s single in the 19th drove in the final two runs. Not much else offensively. 18-year-old Kraiky Berroa started and pitched a strong 4.2 innings allowing 4 hits, an unearned run, 2BB with 6K. He was followed by Adolfo Ramirez, who tossed 5 scoreless innings, allowing but 3 hits with 7 K. Yujo Kitagata got the final out in the 10th on a strikeout, preserving the victory..
”I hate it when the Dodgers lose to the Giants or Padres!! That just shouldn’t be allowed!! ”
It bothers me a lot more when they lose against the Madres, since they are always a mediocre team, SF at least has won WS and is part of the great rivalry, but SD will never win anything, that’s why I hate when they beat us !!
By the way, very good thoughts, I liked them all … Good morning
Very nice post 2demeter2, I agree with everything you wrote accept I´ll take Koufax over Kershaw by a larger margin
The next best thing after watching the Dodgers win the division is watching the Giants finish in last place.
I am looking forward to see what Lux can do in September.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Josiah Gray won the battle with Brady Singer. Gray is a keeper and alone makes the trade look even better.
That game you mentioned in Seattle, I was scheduled to attend the entire series. Our son Jay lives in Campbell River, British Columbia. I had planned to travel there and we would attend the series together. It would have been part of the ThinkBlueLA reunion but it didn’t work out.
I think it has been Clayton’s WS performances that has clouded my judgement a bit. I think Sandy was the better of the two by more than a little bit pitching before expansion, without modern day medical care and without the opportunity of a couple of years of minor league ball. Two years with 27 complete games. One-third of his games were complete games. Forty shutouts. However, everything is relative and both have been great Dodgers. I hope Clayton is a Dodger for life.
In 1954 lefty Karl Spooner had 27 strikeouts (15, 12) in his two games as a Dodger with two complete game shutouts (3-0, 1-0 ) on 7 hits and 6 walks. Unfortunately, back then, there was no TJ surgery and his carer ended in 1955.
Will take a while to get over you not getting Vazquez and Smith but I got over Pedro, Adrian Beltre, Mike Piazza and Paul Konerko so all things do pass.
My sons and grandchildren live in Anacortes Washington, just across the sound from Vancouver Island.
Karl Spooner was something special. There are many such players that their careers derailed by injuries.
I’m still not over Pedro and Beltre.
I also have relatives on Vancouver Island in Port Alberni. Nice place.
Nice post, 2D2. I share most of your sentiments.
Looking to the future, the excitement for me is in the rookies and seeing how they adapt to the big league. Smith is in. Good things should also come from Tony G and carrottop. The great mystery will be how Lux changes this team. I’ve got no idea except what I’ve heard from his fans who have been tracking him. 2B and LF have been my greatest disappointments in this team for a few years. Hopefully, they find a way to crawl out from Joc and Kike’s influence. The team has to adjust too much to accommodate those players. They don’t fit naturally into the mix. They need another OF.
I find myself pulling for the Giants in their bid for a wild card. They were nipping at our heels just last week (lol), but I don’t think they’ve got the goods to make a successful run but I have more feeling for that team than I do for the Rockies and Dbacks. I also think the Padres will be a force to reckon with within a couple of years. They have put together a scrappy team with great young talent. I see good things from them. Adding an Ace or two would make them very dangerous.
I guess it’s a foregone conclusion that we will win the West. We are picked to win the pennant, but it will probably not be a cakewalk. Our SP is probably unsurmountable as long as they are healthy. No need to worry but enjoy the rest of the show.
Thanks Jeff! The only time I root for the American league is when the Giants are in the Series. I have hated (but respected) the Giants for so long,that I just can’t ever bring myself to cheer for them.
2D2, I enjoyed your post.
Thank you Bumsrap.
Will Smith needs a nickname other than “The Thrill.” That moniker immediately reminds of Giants HOF first baseman Will Clark — anything other than a Giants player. Unfortunately, I do not presently have a good suggestion. Providing umpires with electronic assistance in calling strikes and balls is long overdue. Pitchers throwing with greater velocity / more movement, late breaking cutters, tighter and later breaking pitches, and catchers more and more adept at pulling pitches into the strike zone (euphemistically called “framing”) have made the job of calling strikes and balls much more difficult. Hate to see the Dodgers lose to Giants, or Padres — but to the Dbacks is the worst.
His nickname is already The Fresh Prince. He uses the theme as his walk up song.
I hope someone comes up with something much better than that – something original.
So far its been Thrill, Fresh Prince, Roy,
Keeping with the animal theme of Wild Horse and Bison maybe we could go with Panther. I need a Joc replacement so maybe Jock just to screw with you guys.
The Louisville Slugger (born there, and attended university)d? Borrowing from old nicknames: “The Kid (Ted Williams and Robin Yount);” “Sparky (George Anderson);” “Clutch (Jerry West);”
The other Dodgers will come up with something appropriate.
2D2, to answer your question. There’s no way I would trade Smith for Greinke. Like Puig, I’ve moved on. That ship has sailed.
I like how everyone sees things a little differently with players. MT is pushing K-Bear like a drug dealer at the park next to the local high school even while Smith is giving his best Johnny Bench impression. Bums and his love of all things Joc. My continued support for Pollock and Urias.
I’m very tired of Kike as a starter, but I still like him as a bench piece. I don’t think we necessarily need another outfielder at all. Joc is the man until the season is over, but there’s other options including a Beaty/Freese platoon at 1B, which would jettison Joc from his perch against RHP. CT3, Kike, Joc, Alex, AJ, Belli all can play on the grass. Beaty and Peters are also options.
Promoting Lux would kill all the platoons. Finally, 8 full time players with a lineup that leans heavily to the left. Muncy would be a full-time 1B when that eventually happens. What’s the holdup?
Joc’s the holdup. He killed the Astros in 2017 and they only have 1 LHP. I hope Joc figures it out now that he doesn’t have to worry about playing 1B anymore.
If you’re really sick of Joc, there’s good news. He only has one more year after this one, then we get DJ Peters who has reverse splits are even more stikeouts. Joc 2.0.
It’s way too early to talk about this but, Lux, Negron, Gyorko, Kike and CT3 all play second base and Freese, Beaty and White all play 1B. I can’t wait to see what the post-season bench looks like.
How do you think Farhan feels about his recent 1-3 record after the trade deadline? For all the Giants haters out there, this couldn’t be sweeter.
Greene is 0-2 so far with the Braves with a blown save, a loss and 4 runs in 2 innings. Aren’t you glad I’m not the GM?
59, Muncy has become an integral part of the Dodger attack. We need his bat and he is good to go against both RHP/LHP. If Lux comes to roost, Muncy should be at 1B. Freese is not an everyday player and Beaty can give a breather to either 1B or LF. Everything good that I see comes to pass with Lux being able to play 2B. As long as we avoid platoons because of the inadequacies of certain batters, the better off the Dodgers will be in the long run. Develop the new starters and BP now!, and this team will be good to go. Next off season, fill the gaps with real ballers who have a two way game in all respects, and pitchers who have command and control consistently. Without these elements, the team will remain incomplete.
So, we agree to some extent. From the articles I’ve read, Joc/Freese platoon is the goal with Belli playing 1B against righties and Freese playing against lefties. Belli going to RF and Verdugo in left against lefties.
I’ve been preaching this configuration even before Joc started playing 1B, but it was worth the shot. Lux’s production is throwing a wrinkle into this, but is also probably the reason he’s still at AAA.
If they call up Lux, Muncy is a full-time 1B and Joc is a fourth outfielder. I think they’re 50/50 on this. But, this eliminates the need for Belli, Muncy and Verdugo to change positions. I’m torn on this as well. On one hand, no platoons and better defense. Mark would be elated that Belli goes back to RF. On the other hand, Joc is solid in LF and killed the Astros in 2017.
If this isn’t confusing enough, you can always talk about the rotation and bullpen. Rotation Locks are Ryu, Kersh and Beuller barring injury which is always a concern with this group. Bullpen locks are Jansen, Baez and Kelly. Each has question marks. Others are…
May RH SP/Pen
Gonsolin RH SP/Pen
Maeda RH SP/Pen
Stripling RH SP/Pen
Urias RH SP/Pen
Hill LH SP/Pen
That’s a full post-season pitching staff. Now add in Ferguson, Shaggy, Floro, Garcia, Kolarek, Sadler, and flavor of the day, V-Gone!
Not confused yet? Talk about the bench with 20 first and second basemen at your disposal. This is going to be a crazy couple of months.
Is the priority to win games and Home Field advantage in the WS? Or, is the open tryout the priority?
Nice post. Very surprised to hear that CT3 and, to a lesser extent Hernandez, both might be sent out for rehab assignments this weekend. CT3 suffered a non-displaced forearm fracture just three weeks ago and he’s almost ready for a rehab assignment. That’s incredible.
Negron has been a nice stop-gap addition but Tyler White is just a guy. Not much value and will probably suffer a mysterious injury once we get the likes of CT3, Enrique, Freese and Gyorko healthy and start to set up the post season roster.
Yimi and Chargois don’t stand a chance at making the post season BP so it’s time for May, Gonsolin, Stripling to step up and see if they can earn a spot. May and Gonsolin both have power arms that will “play up” in a post season game. I can see both making the post season roster and contributing in a big way. By the way, Joe “Machine Gun” Kelly is looking rather impressive lately.
As my user name implies I’m a Dodger fan living in Northern California. I love when the Giants lose and really enjoyed looking at the standings and seeing them in last place. Their most recent surge is a mirage……….they will not make the playoffs!
I had a Latin teacher in HS called Mr. Demeter…. I too share most of your sentiments, nice write up. Another post talked about how Greene has done since the trade…
Maybe in this magical season the big Dodger in the sky helped us by not making the big deal.
The expressed notion of watching “our kids” do well, makes this part of the season exciting with a 16 games West lead we can really experiment. Seeing the rookie pitchers stand tall to compliment Will Smith will cement this team and management forever!
What a time to be a Dodger fan!
Well 2d2 Smith sure costs a lot less than Grienke! I agree it sure is exciting seeing all the young guys coming up and staking their claim. And because of his post season dominance I would definetley take Koufax over Kersh!
One gem in Stripling’s podcast is the story about how Kiké’s wife met Trump.
I did not get to follow too much of the site comments or games this past weekend, as I was enjoying(???) the Sacramento heat and watching my Grandson win a soccer tournament.
I admit that I am an unabashed Bo Bichette fan, and have been since before the 2016 draft. I do not want to go back and be a revisionist, but the Dodgers could have selected Eric Lauer as you suggested (although he was not on my radar at the time), and then select Bichette at either the Jordan Sheffield or Mitchell White selection. White was selected one pick before Bichette. But I will take Gavin Lux all day long.
As an aside, just as Gavin is not overwhelmed with PCL pitching, Bo does not seem overwhelmed by ML pitching just yet either. In a very small sample size, 35 PA, Bo is batting .406/.457/.750/1.207; 5 doubles and 2 HR’s. Gavin is 3 ½ months older than Bo. I project good careers for both players, and obviously hope that Gavin’s will be better.
I am not certain how I feel about Dustin May as a reliever in the post season. I may be convinced that Dustin should be the #4 starter, but to take on a role that he is not at all accustomed to in high stress situations, does not bode well. Memories of Walker Buehler in a relief role in 2017 is still fresh in my memory. But just as those failed relief appearances are still fresh, so are my memories of Walker Buehler as a starter last year in not only Game 163 where he was brilliant, but also Game 7 of the NLCS and Game 3 of the WS. I am also reminded of another rookie starter who had a good post season for the Cardinals, Michael Wacha. It is a role they do not have to think about, they do not have to warm up differently, they have the same routine as they have enjoyed since becoming starting pitchers.
Tony Gonsolin is different for me. He has relieved. In fact, this is only his second year as a starting pitcher. I think he has the makings of a dominant late inning high leverage setup/closer. I hope he gets the opportunity to showcase his talents in September in that role. If the Dodgers can continue to throw Yimi, Shaggy, and Floro out there and hope for better results, why not try Tony G. and give him the same number of opportunities.
I have said it before, and I believe it to my soul, it is my contention that AF wanted Josiah Gray more than Jeter Downs. I have nothing to base it on except how mesmerized he is with pitching projects. Make no mistake, Josiah Gray is a pitching project. He did not become a full-time pitcher until his College junior season. He is being pushed, all while getting the proper development. I do not see Josiah in the rotation in 2020, but I can see him in the rotation in 2021.
I know that it is a premium site that costs, but I know Mark has previously included access to full stories from the Athletic. I thought that I would share a Dustin May article from The Athletic that goes back to his high school days where he was not overly-recruited.
https://theathletic.com/1112591/2019/08/02/this-is-gonna-be-special-prep-coaches-convinced-others-of-dustin-mays-talent/
Go Blue. Beat the Cardinals.
Very nice write up. I think I remember someone in here saying it was time to trade Muncy because we needed to sale high. You may want to reconsider as he is a beast. I’m going to the game tonight and hope to bring back a victory. Go Blue
I have been banging the Muncy drum all along and was puzzled by all of the ‘sell high on Muncy’ off season talk and pointed out that only 4 players had a higher OPS last season than Max: Mookie and Yelich the 2 MVP’s, JD Martinez and Trout. Why would you trade that especially at the ML minimum salary and years of team control? Regression was what I heard, and he may have had to adjust to the steady diet of breaking balls he has seen this year but he still can hit anybodies fastball, works the count, takes his walks and has gotten better at going oppo. He hits righties and lefties and can play multiple positions. He is on pace for close to 40 HR’s after smacking 35 last year and over 100 RBI’s. His OPS has dropped off from last year but is still about .900. I’m pretty glad they kept him and also gratified he has not ‘regressed’.
Yeah he’s definitely not regressed! On pace for 40/100 at a MLB minimum is amazing. And we have 2 of those guys!!!
It was an exciting win yesterday. But the bullpen problems have not gone away. And we’re not playing San Diego or Colorado in the playoffs. There are people in our bullpen whom we never want to see come into a game, and I don’t know why they are still there, except that we didn’t get anyone to replace them. No team has an impregnable bullpen, but the Yankees are close. We have one which we hope never has to be used in any game, but of course you rarely see complete games any more. It is going to be quite a challenge for Roberts to decide which ones to use in any game. It’s not something he has done well at during playoff season.
Right now, we have Jansen, who has been somewhat mysteriously absent in the last few days, and who we can only hope regains some of his past form. Kelly, who is pitching better, but is only being used in low-leverage situations right now. Urias, who might have to end up starting, if Hill is not ready to go. Maeda, who cannot win as a starter now, and has had good moments in the bullpen during the playoffs. Garcia, who is mostly terrible. Chargois, who is very erratic. Floro the same. Kolaric who may be able to get one batter out per game. Stripling, who really isn’t a relief pitcher. And various other possibilities, none of whom is at all proven. So we had better pile up big leads in most games, and/or hope our starters can go seven innings per game. Maybe it all will somehow come together in the playoffs, but obviously it is not where you want to be when trying to win a title, and we didn’t at all fix it at the trade deadline, and it didn’t magically go away.
JT Chargois really wasn’t that bad yesterday. The box score didn’t look good, but he was the poster child for why the shift doesn’t always work and for cheap hits. Nothing was hit hard off of him. I hold out hope that he will surprise as we move on into the season. I don’t see him as the 8th inning guy, but his stuff is really good. I’m ambivalent on Garcia.
Fun post 2D2.
* I also have never seen Game of Thrones so I must be #4
* I’ll take Koufax by a nose based on post season success
* Geez, Peterson finally got a hit. He just looks lost at the plate.
* Sorry Carlos but I too had a gut full of Puig. Awesome talent, no baseball IQ. He couldn’t resist but get his ass involved during the Reds – Indians scrum last week. One take is he was “defending his teammate”. My take is he can’t stay out of any situation that screams “look at me”.
* 59 left out Muncy at 2nd base. I’m wondering if we get looks at 6 guys? Muncy, CT3, Kike, Gyorko, Negron and maybe Lux. The addition of (an injured) Gyorko into this mix is a mystery to me unless he’s good enough to win the job, which I doubt.
* Oh Geez, the umpires. I have become a convert and supporter for ABS. The inconsistency of “personal strike zones” has to go. The guy yesterday was awful. Since the inception of the little superimposed strike zone on the screen we have all been way more aware of the miss calls. Prior to that we all guessed. Now there is solid evidence. I’m sure that has been tough on umpires but use it as a tool to get better. The same guys suck over and over again. The veteran yesterday called one corner to the batter’s box and the other corner tight. Until he didn’t. High pitches sometimes a strike and sometimes not. Consistency used to be the goal, even for a shifted zone. Now I see way more inconsistency. It seems like it never fails that when an obvious strike 3 is missed, the guy gets a hit. Just like other areas for replay, the technology is there so why not use it.
* If the ABS gets implemented hitters will have to adjust to “wild” pitches now called balls that are actually in the zone. When the catcher has to dive to catch a pitch completely opposite from the intended location, the pitch appears and is expected to be a ball. Sometimes it is in the zone and if that’s called a strike, the hitters will go ape shit on that one. As Joe Davis asked awhile back, “can the computer throw you out?”
Sorry, my bad. There’s just too many to keep track of!
I would have to take Greinke over Smith (not counting the money thing) because Zach has a long record of being a real good pitcher. You may not like his personality, but remember, he has a physical/psychological problem that he has done a good job of controlling. We don’t know much about Smith because he has such a small sample size, but he looks very promising. ZG was 19-3 with an era of 1.66 for us in 2015. He started his career in 2004 and has 197 wins. He has possible HOF numbers and if WS matches them (with his offensive stats) in his career we will all be very satisfied.
–BTW I think we need to be careful to anoint WS as the second coming of Johnny Bench until he has put in a couple of years behind the plate. He has had a tremendous start and I am excited about him, but we need to see how he does over a year or two.
–You lose your rookie status if:
-130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues.
– 45 total days on an active Major League roster prior to Sept. 1, when clubs are allowed to expand their rosters from the 25-player limit to include any player on the 40-man roster.
From Sept. 1 through the end of the regular season, both at-bats and innings pitched count against rookie eligibility but days on a big league roster do not.
I wonder if the Dodgers are holding Lux back to make sure that he is eligible for rookie status next year? With our lead he isn’t especially needed this year.
Joc has disappointed me and has not been fun to watch. That said, a good case can be made that he has had a better year than Verdugo so maybe we just let his contract run out and then move on.
are you suggesting that Dodgers non-tender him after this season and make him a free agent?
I’d be interested to hear your “good case” that Joc has had a better year than Verdugo. If you go by WAR (which you may not subscribe to) Alex has been worth almost 3 times as much as Joc (3.2 vs. 1.2 as per Baseball Reference).
Joc has had a better year than Verdugo? Why? Because he hits only HR’s against RHP? Once Joc is gone, you won’t even miss him. He is not athletic, fast, or a good hitter in control of his bat. Verdugo has been consistent all year and should get better with time. Joc has not and will not improve as his history has shown us. Time to move on.
Some guy who calls himself SD Dodger just posted on twitter that Ruiz has a broken finger and will miss the rest of the season. Also says that Leo Crawford is being promoted to Tulsa.
Anyone know if this guy is for real, or just making up stories? Future Dodgers re-tweeted the info but I haven’t seen it anywhere else.
Crawford still on the RC roster and Keibert on OKC roster not listed on IL. SD Dodger must have an inside source if he is correct.
Maybe he’s one of those “thinking men”?
ThinkBluela.com also has it on their site that he broke his finger and out for the rest of the season. That site has consistently been the first get the minor league promotions announced and correct.
I love JOC but in no way has he had even a remotely comparable year to Verdugo! Gotta believe JOC gets traded this winter. I for one will miss him and all his incredible enthusiasm! Hope he has a killer post season!
Lots of positive buzz about 20yo Andy Pages in Ogden.
Andy has been getting a lot of positive buzz for the last few months on this site.
Kudus!
Andy is 18 years old and will play the entire season as an 18-year-old. He is on a cold streak now after a blistering hot one. Maybe after the All-Star break he will heat up again. Fourth in the league with 10 home runs and second in RBI with 37.
NLDS Game 1 Thursday Oct 3
NLCS Game 1 Friday Oct 11
World Series Game 1 Tuesday Oct 22 (same night as NBA Opening Night: Lakers at Clippers)
Please plan your schedules accordingly
This will be one of the times you don’t sell your tickets right? I know they would fetch a pretty penny but nothing quite like the playoff atmosphere at The Ravine! All Star game festivities next year as well?
I’ll be honest with you, Vegas. I saw the Lakers win the title at home vs Boston in 2010; that is the most amazing feeling a sports fan can have and greatest event a sports fan can ever attend. But the opposite happened in 2017. Being at Game 7 of the 2017 World Series and watching the my team lose the title ruined me. Now I have less desire to go to “just another game”. I want to be there when we win it all but that’s it. I only went to 3 games in 2018 and zero playoff games. I’ve yet to go to any game this year (granted I had a herniated disk the first half of 2018 and micro disk surgery in mid April so I couldn’t go for a while anyway)
My plan in 2017 was to fly to Houston if we had a shot to win the title in game 4 or 5. Last year I said I’m only going to the championship clinching game, wherever that may be. So I had rooms already reserved in both Houston and Boston for potential World Series games 6 and 7. And since we never had a shot to clinch the title in Game 4 or 5 at home, I wound up not going to any playoff games in 2018.
This year most likely I’ll wait till we have a shot to win it. If it’s here, great. If it’s on the road, well then you’ll see me at a Game 4, 5, 6, and/or 7 in Houston, New York, Cleveland, etc.
But you’re right, the playoff atmosphere at Dodger Stadium is amazing. Fans are into it, nervous, excited, loud. If you’ve not gone to a playoff game, you must!
All Star festivities (especially the HR hitting contest) has to be a must! That’s a bucket list thing. I did NBA All Star weekend at Staples Center in 2018, and that was a lot of fun.
Amazing story Bobby, thanks for sharing! I assume you made a profit on the resale of your tickets and you can always go if you choose to. The post season games can get a nice profit indeed. I would be devastated to watch a game 7 loss in person. Kind of like the Super Bowl Party this year wearing Rams gear-lol!
Thanks bud. Yeah, playoff games definitely turn a profit.
Funny example of how crazy fickle LA fans are: ticket prices for World Series Game 3 dropped quite a bit after we lost Games 1 and 2 in Boston. I still sold game 3 for a profit, but nothing compared to what could have been had we won Games 1 and/or 2. I had Game 4 tickets listed but they hadn’t sold while Game 3 was still being played. After we won Game 3 in the 18th, ticket prices started going up again! So I sold Game 4 for a much better profit. Then during Game 4, I had Game 5 tickets listed on sale, and they hadn’t sold as of yet. When Puig hit that big 3 run hr to put us up 4-0, I noticed prices started drastically going up! So of course I raised my prices even more. Then when Madsen gave up that huge 3 run HR to whoever from Boston, prices dropped a bit. And when Boston took the lead, prices dropped. Then Boston kept pouring it on, and prices were dropping fast! I then dropped my price quite a bit, and my tickets finally sold (again, for a profit, but nothing close to what could have been had we won game 5).
And yes, after losing to Boston in Oct, LA goes and loses to Boston again in the Superbowl a few months later! I was rooting so hard for the Celtics and Bruins to lose in their respective playoffs!!
Kimbrell to the IL with a knee issue.
Greene has been absolutely awful since the trade.
The Mets may move Diaz out of the closer’s role.
Andrew Friedman is a genius. 🙂
Feel Good Story – 23 -year-old Marlins 2B, Isan Diaz, was just called up today, along with Lewis Brinson for a double-header with NYM. His parents flew in for the game. In the 6th inning, Diaz came to bat to face Jacob deGrom, looking for his 1st M hit. On a 1-2 pitch he hit a HR while his parents were being interviewed. How great is that.
Diaz and Brinson along with Monte Harrison, and Jordan Yamamoto were sent by Milwaukee to Miami for Christian Yellich.
Yellich was not the first “big” trade Isan was a part of. After being a 2nd round 2014 draft pick of the Arizona DBacks out of Springfield High School, Springfield, Mass, he was packaged with Chase Anderson, Aaron Hill, and cash for Jean Segura and Tyler Wagner, in January 2016.
What a great day for the Diaz family!!!!
How amazing would that feel! Good for young Diaz and his family!!
It seems peculiar to me having Beaty play LF with Cody at 1B. Reasons for this?
To give Bellinger many reps so he’s used to being there in the post season?
Increase Beaty’s trade value?
Audition for next year’s 4th outfielder?
At some point, I would like them to optimize the defense by putting people in the positions that are best for the defense as a whole.
I think they are finally getting the message about defense and platooning. You only platoon when your players have limitations preventing them from either offensive or defensive assignments. Joc and Beaty fall into this category. Neither hit LHP and teams throw a lot of LHP against the Dodgers.
Beaty has been stellar as a PH. Usually, teams keep a guy like that around. Low cost. Joc is not low cost, anymore. The Dodgers will have at least 3-4 players they will consider what to do with, Joc, Kike, Taylor, Freese, and also Hill. Taylor, given the way he rebounded this year, should get at least the role of 4th OF. Freese gets hurt a lot, and Joc and Kike are too lopsided as players to be considered for the future. Both cannot seem to nail down their jobs as starters and this has been going on for years.
Beaty crushed lefties at AAA. Don’t make that decision too soon on someone so young. Platooning is fine when it’s a spot or two but last year’s situation wasn’t good long term.
Tony Smokes is dealin’!!!
brilliant 6 ip
And he can swing the bat too!
Great pitching by Gonsolin tonight. Verdugo, Smith, Ferguson, May, Bellinger, Seager, Buehler etc. are all so freaking young. The present and the future is indeed very bright for the Dodgers. The draft, international acquisition and the player development are “clicking” and we must be the envy of all of baseball
Tony is no baloney. Let’s hope we’ve found our new SP for the playoffs and next season. He looks mighty solid to me. We’ll also get another look at May soon.
Send the kid back down. Gonzo obviously doesn’t have what it takes!
Gyrko 2 for 3 with a dinger and a BB. The clock is ticking for Tyler White with CT3 and Kike getting rehab games as well as Gyrko with a couple of productive games in already.
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The Dodgers announcing that Urias is a starter next year means he’s not this year I guess. It sounds like he’s being kept in the pen as a weapon this year, not being built up this year, and will assume Hill’s spot next year.
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So who’s battling for the #4 spot? Hill, Stripling, May? It was reported today that Hill threw from 75 feet. Pretty risky to put Stripling or May in that spot. Although I agree with AC, I could see May continue as a starter and Tony G thrive in the pen.
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It absolutely can’t be Maeda. When Ryu comes off the IL it should be Maeda that goes to the pen not the two kids. Maeda should be getting his body used to that role sooner rather than later. No one held a gun to his head when he signed that contract. Kenta bet on himself and quite frankly there are better options to start.
I tend to agree that White is a placeholder. Gyorko is a grinder with pop, and Freese will be in the playoffs. Urias will get his chance to start next year and can influence more games out of the pen. Gonsolin has experience in the pen but May has only pitched as a starter so give Dustin the edge there. I still would pick Hill as the 4 starter if he can build up to 5 innings in time.
It’s fun to watch all the kids hanging together in the dugout that played together in the minors. There is a changing of the guard underway and the kids are looking like they belong. Maybe striking out at the deadline was a blessing in disguise. Negron and Sadler were moves that so far look pretty savvy.
I would pick Hill as well. He’s going to have about a month plus the time after the season until a 4th starter is needed to build up his pitch count, show he’s not injured, and still effective.
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Negron would be a good weapon off the bench as a pinch runner/defensive sub for a lot of postseason teams. Tough time cracking this group though. There will be 5 bench spots for the postseason:
Martin/Barnes
CT3
Kike
Freese
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Four sure things with spot 5 up for grabs among Beaty, Negron, and Gyorko.
Hawkeyedodger
Beaty.
Speaking of Beaty, I wish the Dodgers would give him some practice at 3B and have a plan for him to be Turner’s back up next year.
The yo yo is back on its way up for Joc
You could tell that playing first base was taking a toll on him offensively too. He has .OPS’d over .900 as an outfielder. It’s terrible as a first baseman. A Joc who hits .250-.260, drives up pitch counts, draws some walks, and hits for power is a good platoon piece.
Smith, May, Gonsolin, Beaty, Negron and Sadler. Keep them all. Please do not send them down. They are great. Although I know we can’t keep them all. Just dreaming.
I think Gyorko is a great pick up.
Him & Freese as Bench pieces come the Playoffs will be very important.
The BP is still the big question mark however. Asking too many Starters to pitch in Relief concerns me, as it is s different art, although I can see the rationale behind it.
I think you can wait until the final weeks of the season, to see who is pitching well.
For the record, as much as I wanted Vasquez, I would not have pulled the trigger on any deal involving Lux.
We can win it this year with what we have.
BANG!