“What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. … In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring, sportmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.” ― John Lubbock, The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live in
As humans, we always see what we focus on… and with life being what it is, we will almost certainly find what we are focusing on. “Ah-ha! I told you that ____________________” (fill in the blanks). Let me illustrate by listing a few players:
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Kike Hernandez – “He loses concentration and makes a lot of mistakes and he strikes out trying to pull everything.” I see a player who has a high baseball IQ, plays exceptional defense wherever he is and is 5th on the team in RBI with some very key hits. I see Kike as an important cog in a championship machine.
Jedd Gyorko – “Why is he even on the team?” I see a guy who has been injured most of the season and is working himself back into shape, who is a lefty killer (he showed a glimpse against Robbie Ray last night), and plays multiple positions. He is a long-shot to make the playoff roster (depending upon whom the Dodgers play), unless David Freese can’t make it, then he’s a lock.
Clayton Kershaw – “He’s nowhere near what he used to be and is not an Ace.” I think he’s still the Dodgers’ Ace and one of the Top Aces in baseball. He has given up 23 HR (one every 6.7 AB’s, but Verlander is at every 5 AB’s). You have to look at the totality of the circumstances. There are more HR being hit this year than at any time in history. The ball is juiced. Maybe it will stay that way in the future… or not. However, you make a grave mistake in discounting Clayton. He is healthy, consistent and still in Cy Young contention.
Yimi Garcia – “Close game and Doc sends in Yimi. Give me a break.” Yimi Garcia will likely be on the playoff roster. I see a reliever who throws strikes and has allowed just 34 hits in his 55 innings of work. Of those 34 hits, 14 have been HR and YET (GET THIS): He doesn’t walk hitters and the league is hitting .172 against him. Add in a 0.83 WHIP and I’m actually thinking this guy is not a bad reliever… he’s a special reliever. OK, I would like to see a drop in HR’s allowed, but that is fixable. He allows a HR every 4 innings (Verlander is every 5). On Friday night, he gave up 1 hit and got the loss. In doing so, he struck out 4 of the 6 batters he faced and threw 19 pitches – ALL STRIKES!
Kenley Jansen – “The Dodgers will never win with him as a closer.” Maybe… maybe not. Maybe he fixes his problems. Maybe he doesn’t. Maybe he’s not the closer. Dodgerpatch made a good point the other day: “Why use a single closer?” Yesterday it was suggested that the Dodgers should have gone after one of the big-name closers last off-season: Diaz, Kimbrel, Holland? Yeah right!
In 2017, when the Dodgers won 104 games they had a skid when they lost 17 of 18. I have repeatedly said that there will be some bad stretches this season as well, where everything the Dodgers do is wrong. It happens. This too shall pass. Baseball is different in 2019:
- The ball is juiced;
- Coaches are teaching the hitters to look for certain pitches in certain zones; and
- Launch angle adjustments and staying in the zone are also resulting in more home runs.
It means that both teams hit more home runs. Today, the rosters expand. David Freese, Dylan Floro, and Ross Stripling will be back. All of them have the ability to impact the games immediately. Alex Verdugo, Rich Hill, and Max Muncy will be back in the next 10 days. This blip in the road will pass.
The Dodgers still have the best pitching in baseball… by a considerable margin. Take a photo of the team today and it will look much different in October. It just blows me away that a couple of losses and people are losing their minds… like they have never watched the ups and downs of baseball because they are from another planet?
And then I hear things like “The Dodgers won’t spend the money.” Who has spent the most money on payroll in baseball the past 5 years? Who has spent the most money on payroll and stadium renovations the past 5 years? The answer to both questions is the Dodgers! It’s absurd to say they won’t spend the money. Maybe absurd is not the right word – maybe the right word is delusional.
Additionally, spending excessive amounts on payroll seldom correlates with winning. Actually, it’s the opposite. Spending stupid amounts of money seldom leads to winning. The connection is not there. Stop with the fiction already!
The Dodgers may get sweeped today or maybe this begins a new winning streak. Do I have concerns? Sure, but I don’t worry. 97% of what we worry about never happens anyway. I worry most about Kenley Jansen, but things seldom end up how we think. This will play out and something we never envisioned could happen. Let me remind you that the Red Sox Bullpen was #17 in baseball last year and we all know “You can’t win a Championship with that kind of bullpen.”
By the way, did you see a duck or a rabbit in the picture… or both? It might depend upon what you are looking for…
I also see a team that is in the middle of a rough patch. Before the Yankees played the Dodgers, they were swept by the A’s. But I also see the team I believe will win the World Series, ups and downs of baseball notwithstanding.
Minor League Lowdown
- The OKC Dodgers managed just 4 hits last night as they were shutout, but Gavin Lux had 3 of them in what could have been his last game at AAA. Mitch White pitched 3 very strong innings, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 4 while walking ZERO. Watch him in the AFL. I really hope they make him a reliever.
- Tulsa won 6-4 and lots of good things happened:
- Drew Avans went 3-6
- Cody Thomas was 2-4
- ‘Conner Wong went 3-4 with 3 RBI and his 24th HR (he is hitting .349 at AA)
- Carlos Rincon blasted his 15th HR – a 2-run shot
- Leo Crawford went 5.1 innings and allowed 2 runs, striking out 5 (his ERA at AA is 2.37)
- Shea Spitzbarth pitched 2 shutout innings allowing just 1 hit and striking out 4 (2.05 ERA)
- Jeren Kendall only struck out once at RC – that was the lone highlight as they lost 5-1
- Great Lakes shut out Lake County 6-0 as Zach Willeman allowed just 1 hit over 6 innings. Edward Cuello pitching the final 3 shutout innings.
- Brandon Lewis hit a 2-run home run and drove in 3 runs to do the most damage
- Ogden won 18-5 and are 49-20 and 18-year-old Andy Pages hit his 16th HR. Everybody else hit too.
- Diego Cartya is hitting .296 in the Rookie League at age 17. One can’t help compare what a 17-year-old Keibert Ruiz at the same age – .374 in a 100 more AB’s. With Ruiz, Wong and Cartya, the Dodgers have a line of sight at the catcher position.
All I can say is this is a great time to slump. I know it’s unnerving to see our two best pitchers for most of the year to hit a wall against the snakes. Baseball is a grind. They’re catching their breath right now. It’ll be fun to see them firing on all cylinders when the post season begins. Unfortunately, we aren’t going to have all cylinders until Muncy and Verdugo come back. This is the perfect time to call up Lux to pick up some slack.
I don’t expect to win too many games with CT3 and Kike in the same lineup, much less adding Gyorko and Negron to the mix. I don’t ever want to see that again. Unfortunately, I think we’re going to continue giving guys days off for the next week at least.
As impressed as I am with Will Smith’s bat, his glove and the way he handles himself is even more impressive. With him and Lux coming along, this team is going to be great for many years to come. I can’t remember a Dodgers team with so much home grown talent.
Conner Wong! Wow! Dude has been fire since joining the Drillers. Watch out.
I agree, CT3 and Kike are basically the same player i would keep CT3 as he is more athletic and hits better average but still strikes out way too much. But having this 4 guys in lineup is ugly. Imagine if they had put Tyler White and Barnes as well.
Dodgers are 15-10 since Versugo went onto the DL and 0-3 since muncy went on the DL, Verdugo brings a certain type of energy and swagger to the team that is obviously not there right now, I believe it is goi g to be vital in october and even right now, we are playing very very flat
I am sure that is part of it and another component is that even after going 0-3 in their past 3 games, they are still 17 games ahead. It’s hard to maintain focus all the time when you are that far ahead. Also, as Brookln pointed out, it has been some bad luck as well – balls hit hard right at fielders. It evens out…
5 -5 Since Kike and CT3 returned from the DL.
Since they returned from the IL: Taylor .297 / .350 / .514 / .8 64; Hernandez .333 / .405 / .556 / .960. And, both have made outstanding defensive plays.
A famous line from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, The Rainy Day, says it all. “Into each life some rain must fall.” One more line from this poem is “Behind the clouds is the sun still shining.” We are still in first place, still going to win our division, so do not give up hope. All is not lost, we are not doomed and the sky is not falling. Go Blue!
Well said DBM…it’s still a beautiful day today and there’s a game on too! If life gives you lemons, make lemonade! I don’t think there is a team in baseball that would not trade places with the Dodgers: their current team, players in the pipeline, owning their own stadium and league leading attendance plus their TV deal. Maybe the Yankees but not after the accountants crunch the numbers.
Damn good work Vegas keeping it simple
After seeing the ‘Best Team Eever?” lose 17-18 late in the season in 2017, and still get to Game 7 of the World Series, and after seeing the 8 game losing streak in 2013, and countless other August swoons the past 7 years, this latest stretch doesn’t bother me.
I think as we continue to play worse, not hit in key spots, give up late leads, and make errors, the team as a whole will start getting angry, and angry at themselves. Then something will happen and we’ll flip the switch.
Anyone on this board that’s been a Dodger fan for more than 8 months knows that the last 7 (including this season) NL West champs tend to screw around at times (over a 6 month grind), but we do tend to wake up and make things fun in October. I worry about anyone who’s ACTUALLY worried. We’ve seen this movie before. The only reason I’m not fast forwarding this movie now is because I want to see how Lux looks, and how May/Gonsolin progress.
If we get swept today? It won’t shock me one bit.
From the end of the previous thread, let me add that I was perplexed that Watford made such negative remarks. Didn’t fit him. Glad to hear that it was an imposter.
I don’t know if the Dodgers are going to get out of the first round of the playoffs, or if they’re going to win it all. Only one thing is certain, and that is that nothing is written in stone.
I agree with most, and maybe all that Mark wrote above. And I will repeat what I’ve said before, which is: YOU ARE NEVER AS GOOD AS YOU LOOK WHEN YOU’RE AT YOUR BEST, AND NEVER AS BAS AS YOU LOOK WHEN YOU’RE AT YOUR WORST.
Right now the Dodgers are at their worst. They ain’t that bad. All we can do is hope that they’re at their best throughout the playoffs.
And as for home field advantage, I’d like to have it, but I haven’t forgotten how much that helped us in game 7 in 2017. I don’t have the facts in front of me, but I believe that Wild Card teams have gone on to win the WS.
In fact, the 2007 Rockies won 21 of there last 22 games before the WS, including a one game playoff against the Padres for a wildcard berth, and a sweep of both the NLDS and NLCS. They followed all of that by getting swept by the Red Sox in the WS. My guess is that they went into the WS very confident, maybe even feeling unbeatable. The point is, no matter how you are playing before any series does not guarantee anything.
The Dodgers have been lowering their payroll over the last few years. Going back five years to average in, is not the point. It would be a bit like saying that Giants have the best franchise in baseball because they have won three world titles in the last nine seasons. Did you read the piece in the LAT a year ago which leaked documents where the Guggenheim Group promised any new shareholders that they would not go over the luxury tax threshold in the next five years? Well, the owners sort of denied their own document. Who knows what they will do? But so far they are sticking to it. Even Houston Mitchell notices it.
If you want to say that the Dodgers still spend more than most franchises, that is true. To say that it is delusional to note that the Dodgers consistently shy away from bidding for high-priced free agents, or any trade piece who has a relatively long-term contract, is ignoring what is right in front of one. And we are not going back five years, we are going back two or three, which puts us more in the present tense.
I am not a Hernandez fan, I certainly am not a Pederson fan. I think that there is a limit to what utility players like that bring to a lineup which presumably is trying to win a title. I think that Gyorko is a journeyman player. Now, any of these might rise up and do great things, though the odds are against it. But those are simply differences of opinion among fans. That the Dodgers have and keep such players is another issue, and at least some of it is related to willingness to spend money. I don’t see anyone like this, or Russell Martin, on the Yankees or probably the Astros starting lineups. I don’t see a bullpen filed with young pitchers who have not proven much on the big stage.
I’ve said before; the Yankees systematically went out to build the best bullpen in baseball. They got Chapman, whom the Dodgers had gotten, but whom the LA press declaimed against for a domestic incident which was never charged. (By that metric, Urias should be released, because his episode was worse than Chapman’s). So the Yankees got him, then traded him briefly to the Cubs for Torres, then got him back for a big contract. They got Britton, who I always thought was a great reliever. The Dodgers were rumored to be interested, but according to people like Vasseigh, they were just too worried about his arm problems. So the Yankees got him, and he is tremendous. They got Ottavino, whom the Dodges saw a lot of last year, having a great season in Colorado. Now the Yankees have the absolute best back-end relievers in the game. They also picked up a few other ones for middle relief. They spent money to do that. The picked up LeMahieu for a fairly big contract. They got Paxton. They spent for Stanton two years ago. The Dodgers, by contrast, have gotten two free agents in the last two years, Kelly and Pollock. They got nothing for Puig because they dumped his salary and that of Wood, for no return. The Astros picked up Verlander two years ago, which included his $27 million salary, then they resigned him for more years. They picked up Greinke’s salary. Now they have a staff of Verlander, Cole (another pickup), Miley, and Greinke. Three out of four starters big-time acquisitions. If one decides that none of this has anything to do with the Dodgers reluctance to spend money as compared to those teams, that’s an opinion which simply differs from mine.
We all want to see the Dodgers win a title. We may have different opinions about how committed the organization is to doing so, as compared to the two teams listed above, both of which seem better than we are. Both of those are playing better than we are, and seem more fortified for the playoffs. Maybe this all will change, we hope so. Getting some players back can certainly help. But when I saw an article from a few years ago, wherein Bill Shaikin interviewed a minority Dodgers owner who said that he is anxiously waiting for the franchise to get payroll down to where it is around the middle of the rankings, I took this seriously, and found it rather appalling, while others may wish to ignore the comments, or think that he was not speaking for anyone other than himself. Since that article, payroll has gone in the direction which he wanted, though we are not in the middle, and probably will not go down that far. But no one should expect us to bring in any high-priced players any time soon, that is an option which we have declined to pursue at all, whereas a few other franchises keep that open as a possible recourse. I don’t think that it should be that way, but I understand that one might differ, and much prefer the organization mostly relying on its own cost-controlled prospects and young players.
A couple of things:
Urias should be released, because his episode was worse than Chapman’s WHAT? With Urias, all we know is that the woman fell to the ground. There are conflicting stories about how that happened. No charges were filed. The woman made no statement and declined to pursue charges. In Chapman’s case, the woman made a statement that he “pushed her, put his hands around her neck and choked her” during an argument. He then locked himself in a garage and fired 8 shots with a 9 MM handgun through the door and walls. How he did not get charged is amazing to me. Criminal recklessness at the minimum for firing a gun.
How anyone can say “Urias should be released because his episode was worse than Chapman’s” leads me to discount anything else you say as delusional. I don’t know how else to say it! That simply has no basis in fact!
You just can’t say random, totally fictitious stuff and not expect to get called out!
… and when you compare Houston’s payroll to the Dodgers, you are comparing two different situations. The Astros are still much lower than the Dodgers. Translation: Houston had the money to spend – the Dodgers did not! I personally think it is “felony-stupid” to go over the payroll tax threshold.
I didn’t say that Urias should be released, I said that by the metric which caused the Dodgers to void the Chapman deal, one would think he would. be. My understanding was that when the police came to Chapman’s house, they found no marks on the woman, and that is why no charges of domestic assault were filed. Yes, firing a gun up into the air in the garage should have been a criminal charge.
He fired through the window and walls. By the grace of God no one was hurt.
Grey and Downs are nothing for Puig???
I know. Makes me want to use the M word…
Any Chance 2019 Dodgers have four 30 + HR players this year ? Turner has 26 and Pederson 27 ,do you think they can reach 30 ? Only been done in 1977 and 1997. Joc can hit home runs in bunches but also seem to not get enough at bats and also goes into slumps.
Sure, they can do it!
On the positive side, I just checked odds on the playoffs. The Dodgers are still a big favorite to win the NL, and they are a c lose second to to the Astros as far as winning the title. The oddsmakers are not always right, of course, but they still rank the Dodgers highly, despite our recent problems.
Why wouldn’t Lux be added to the 40 man roster tonight and send Alvarez or Ruiz to the 60 day IL or dfa Schultz? This would allow him to be eligible for postseason if he completely rakes.
My understanding of the rules is if they don’t do this the only other way is if he is replacing an injured player who has been on the IL for at least 10 days? In this instance the commissioner’s office has to be petitioned so I imagine no fake injuries.
I asked this late last night but it was 1am in the east and understandably did not get a response. Can someone clear up postseason eligibility rules for me as it applies to Lux and A potential call up later this week. Thx
It would have to be someone on the 25-man roster.
Several possibilities for post season IL: Muncy, Verdugo, Gyorko, Freese, and Negrón. For a spot on the 40 man roster, White and Schultz are DFA candidates
Gavin Lux has been called up
Where did you hear that? I have not heard a peep!
Ron Cervenka reporting Lux has been called up
So far, no one else is reporting it and I usually get a Press Release. That hasn’t happened.
Has Ron been spammed?
He wrote according to trusted source. Usually spot on with these transactions
The Dodgers have been one of the top 2 teams all season long. At this moment they are not. The Dodgers have gone cold. There is no way to deny it, call it what you want. Maybe they’ll heat up again and beat some of these teams they’re having trouble beating right now. Maybe not. For fans that have been around for a few years it’s upsetting but not really unexpected. It’s like waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Why they are not playing so well I really have no idea except for the normal reasons of injury and fatigue. Maybe this will be the year they put it together in the postseason and bring home the big prize. I always carry hope for that. So as with every other season and every season to come that I’m alive for…..GO DODGERS.
I don’t spend any time studying team payrolls, so I’ll leave the analysis to those of you who do. Here is a breakdown of luxury tax payrolls for 2019.
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/tax/
Look at the top of the list, and there are links to other breakdowns.
According to the list in the breakdown:
1. The Dodgers are 5th at about $24.5 million below the luxury tax.
2. Houston is 4th at about 9,5 million below the luxury tax.
3. Yankees are 9th at about $39.3 million below the luxury tax.
Like I said, I don’t spend any time looking and thinking about this stuff, but some of you do. So I’ll leave the analysis to those better in the know than I.
Brooklyn,
Those numbers are way off. Fake news! 😉
I’ll do some research later.
Mark…I saw a duck…for luck today.
Life isn’t about waiting for the sun to shine…
It’s about learning to dance in the rain.
MT – Why do you let William push your buttons with his ignorant/ insane comments… He’s chumming and let him chum…
Simple: Some might try the same psychotropics if I don’t put my foot down.
Drugs are bad!
Lux is up, but won’t be starting today:
Pollock
Freeze
JT
Belly
Kike (LF)
CT3 (SS)
Gyorko (2b)
Martin
Strip
LH starter for the Snakes today, but 3 RH starters coming up vs. the Rocks, Lux could get a couple starts at 2B. Rightie lineup for the Dodgers today, Cody the only LH hitter starting. Good to see Freeze back, not so good to see Kike, CT3 and Gyorko all in the same lineup bunched together. Then again what do I know, they may all go off! Biggie for me is seeing how Strip does, he could really help about now, and how May handles piggybacking.
I hate this lineup too, just like I hated yesterday’s. But, that’s what we got with Verdugo and Muncy on the DL.
Meanwhile, Verlander in Toronto: 8ip, 0 hits, 1 bb, 13k, 106 pitches
Firstly, Brooklyn, thank you very much for the kind words above.
Bit of a shock when you read stuff under your name that isn’t yours.
I know it’s happened to a few here, and I now feel sympathy.
Hopefully Mark can get to the bottom of things. Some people are very childish.
On to today’s lineup. Well, SoCal put some interesting stats about Kike & CT3 up earlier, that give me hope, but on paper, that looks weak.
I’d like to see Gyorko do well as he has a bit of Pop, and hopefully Freese will come back strong as he is very important for the Playoffs.
Big call for Stripling to come straight off the IL and pitch. See 5 innings at best.
Verlander is a freak!
He is the best pitcher in baseball… no doubt!
Mark – you’ve been spammed !!!
I know that’s not you.
😉
Clayton is still TOP 10, but Verlander is the best. He fooled a lot of people, including me.
He is the best RIGHT NOW, but overall, he has a career ERA of a Run Higher than Clayton.
I have heard nothing about Lux being added yet!
I’m sure he will be but someone jumped the shark, but Lux is not in OKC’s lineup.
Jumped the gun would be the proper expression. Jumping the shark means that you ran out of ideas and do something ridiculous because you have nothing left. Kinda like some of the articles you write during the dog days.
David Vasseigh was adamant on pre game Dodger Talk that Lux wasn’t in AZ today, wasn’t added to the 40 man roster and the 25 man roster. But that Lux more than likely shows up in LA tonight and then is activated in time for tomorrow’s game at home.
Sorry for jumping the gun, but Ron is usually pretty reliable. Perhaps it is happening tonight or tomorrow am, but officially hasn’t happened yet.
Meanwhile, since it’s now Sept and it’s crunch time: Houston won. Yanks hit 2 home runs in the bottom of the 9th and won.
Rather than have Lux fly to Phoenix for one day, it makes more sense for him to go directly to LA. I believe Lux has been called up, but will not be official until tomorrow.
That was awful! OMG!
Thank the Big Dodger in the Sky he is OK.
Hopefully May is ok. In the meantime, aside from any possible injury, he might not be suited for this October bullpen of ours. That’s 2 times now as a reliever where he’s just not looked as sharp as when he starts. Much like Walker Buehler in 2017.
You may be right, but they started him WAY earlier than Walker, I mean Striker so that he might grow into it. I think they will give him another couple of opportunities. The only hard-hit was off his dome.
Striker isn’t sticking. You’re jumping the shark there.
I can’t help it if they named him a dumb name.
I’m part of the solution, not part of the problem.
I agree that May is not looking like a bullpen option for the post season.
These games are hard to watch. Feels very much like spring training. Guys just getting reps. I wish the NL West was better. It would’ve been nice to see someone push the Dodgers.
Thank goodness he is OK but he’s not ready for the big leagues. Gonsolin is on the post season roster, May will be left off and now it looks more like Floro and Garcia will be on it.
Well, you may be right, but a week ago Ferguson would not be on it either. I don’t put much stock in ONE game.
Certainly do not make a final decision on one game, but May does not appear comfortable coming out of the bullpen. In his 2 relief appearances, 2 1/3 IP, he has been charged with 7 earned runs with only 1 K. As a starter, 22 1/3 IP, 7 earned runs (2.82 ERA), while K’ing 17.
M V P!!
seriously, speaking of MVP, the great Freddie Freeman is now at .300/38/113. He’s right up there with Belly for MVP, as Atl is hot and closing in on us.
A small indication of our troubles, before today’s game……
In the last 7 games Bellinger and Muncy have a total of 1 RBI
In the last 9 games we have scored a total of 7 runs in innings 6-9 (once we scored 2 in 10th).
More thoughts… in the last 7 games (before today)
Muncy was batting .111
Bellinger .200
Seager 214
Smith .222
5 players have hit a total of 8 HR.
Guess it is just easier to say that we are in a slump.
The Dodgers should seek to acquire Nick Ahmed just to keep him out of games against the Dodgers. 🙂
And Escobar!
You just never know with Joc. Now let’s try to get some more.
Have you noticed that Baez is working MUCH faster?
I have, he’s actually faster than May when gets men on base, Kenley too.
BTW, someone posted as me halfway through today’s thread.
Magic number 7
We finally take one from the mighty Dbacks! Can we file away the Dustin May to the bullpen along with the Joc experiment at first!
Big win, much needed. Bellinger saved us from another defeat, and then Pederson won the game. Baez looked good in the closer role. It would be nice if we could start some rallies, as most of our hits are coming on home runs.
Is there any chance that the AZ pitcher hit Muncy on purpose because Buehler hit Margot? There is no way that Buehler was throwing at him. Arizona has had a history of throwing at our players, albeit with other managers. The timing of hitting Muncy seemed suspicious to me. Muncy is on the IL, and there is no way of knowing if he will be back for the postseason, though he thinks he will.
This team is just so much better with Freese back and will be even better when Verdugo gets back.
And they’ll be even better if Seager starts to pull it together. However, in his case I suspect his power will not completely return until next year. However, a whole bunch of doubles is fine with me.
And there is no doubt that Freese makes the Dodgers better.