Tough night for the Dodgers on Jackie Robinson night. The team got in late from San Francisco and did not look ready to play. These games happen. Forget about it, get some sleep, and come back tomorrow.
It would be easy to pick apart the game, but no team can play on all cylinders each and every game. The Dodgers started out well enough with a pair of singles by Mookie and Corey. However as became evident throughout the game, the team just could not help itself with RISP, and neither runner scored. The team put two runners on base again in the 3rd and 4th inning and did not score again.
Mike Minor looked like a CY winner instead of the pitcher with the 2nd highest ERA in the AL. He shut out the Dodgers for 6.0 innings with four singles and three walks. They also struck out six times against the soft throwing LHP. I cannot determine if it is their usual inability to hit LHP or just a very lethargic game.
Texas native, Dustin May, took the mound in the stadium he grew up 30 miles from. He grew up a Texas Rangers fan, so he was excited. It is too bad that he could not have family and friends there to cheer him on. Dustin continues to show that someday he is going to be a dominant pitcher. But as a pitcher with his speed and movement, his lack of strikeouts is going to cost him until he convinces himself that he needs to get his offspeed (curve or change) to be thrown for strikes. When Orel indicated that Dustin only lands his curve for a strike 3 times a game, that fact does not go unnoticed to opposing teams. Orel also made the point that in this last three games combined, May had a total of 5 K’s. May could be a top of the rotation pitcher, and I believe he will be one day. Will he be there as a true #3 playoff pitcher in 2020????
May was down 2-0 going into the top of 7th, and Will Smith starts the inning with a double, and the Dodgers again had a runner in scoring position. After a Kike’ ground out and a Mookie strike out, the team was now 0-10 WRISP. However, that brought up Corey Seager who is unworldly this year so far with runners in scoring position with 2 outs. Before tonight, Seager was 9-18 with an HBP with runners in scoring position and 2 outs. What does Corey do…he lines a double to score Smith making it a one run game. JT follows that with a single that scored Corey and tied it up.
Dodgers looked like they were ready to take control, and then everything broke down. I made an argument why Lance Lynn would be a good addition because he has an ability to pitch 100+ pitches per outing. However, it is clear to me that an ability to throw 100+ pitches is just not important to Dave Roberts. In his postgame presser, Dustin said that after the 3rd inning he decided to mix up his pitches more and he gained a lot more confidence. It is something that he will use in future outings. He only threw 80 pitches, and was still strong as he hit 100mph in the 6th. He only threw 12 pitches in the 5th and 6th innings. Why not let Dustin build on that confidence? How else is he going to be able to get through the 7th or maybe the 8th. He had a good opportunity to show that he has the length to go deeper into the game.
But the bullpen has been so good this year, why not turn it over to them and let the offense wake up. McGee gave up the long fly to Derek Dietrich, then 3 singles to the next 4 hitters, and Jake’s first bad outing as a Dodger was over. The usually reliable Dylan Floro gave up a double and a sac fly to allow the final two runs to score. Just a bad night from two very reliable relievers. It happens. The only problem that it has now happened in two of the last six games. The bullpen is just throwing too many innings this year, and this was a good opportunity to let Dustin stretch it out. Is he a game three playoff pitcher? Let him prove it on the field. I would have rather seen him try and fail.
One positive outcome was Mitch White making his MLB debut and pitching a scoreless 8th inning, finishing it in style with a K of Shin-Soo Choo. Congratulations Mitch on an impressive debut.
One potentially negative concern was JT leaving after stealing 2nd base in the 7th inning. After the game, Doc said that it was something in his hammy. The current thinking is that it is cramping but nothing more than a very mild strain. JT will not play tomorrow. They do not seem overly concerned. Just being precautionary with as large of a lead in the standing as they have.
Saturday – Another Texas RHP, Ross Stripling vs. Lance Lynn.
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that during the game, we learned the tremendous actor, Chadwick Boseman, who expertly played Jackie Robinson in one of my absolute favorite movies (genre notwithstanding) 42, lost his battle with prostate cancer and passed away at 43. Ironically, Chadwick passed away on the 75th anniversary of the meeting between Jackie and Branch Rickey. Jackie will be idolized throughout history, and Chadwick will be remembered for his outstanding portrayal of the legend. Chadwick, rest in peace.
https://www.si.com/mlb/video/2020/08/28/si-insider-jackie-robinson-75th-anniversary
Someone in yesterday’s conversation asked what’s keeping the Dodgers from winning a championship. My short answer is Doc. My long answer is Doc’s mismanagement of the bullpen and his love for defense over offense, more specifically the hole Doc himself has created at 2b by insisting on starting Hernandez there.
Do you remember the mismanagement of the bullpen in last year‘s playoffs. Do you remember that Pollock couldn’t hit right handed pitchers all season long last year and then Doc insisted on starting Pollock in the playoffs and do you remember his horrific playoff performance. Sounds a lot like Hernandez this year so far.
Eric, I am going to say this to you one more time, and it is the last time. You need good defense to win championships. There is no in between. Good defense saved the Dodgers bacon numerous times in the World Series. In 55 Sandy Amoros was substituted for Jim Gilliam in left field, a great decision since Amoros ran down Berra’s line drive down the LF line and caught it saving 2 runs. Had Gilliam been out there, he would never have caught the ball because he was RH, In the 65 world series, Gilliam’s defense at 3rd saved the pitching staff numerous times. Kike is not playing 2nd base every game, as a matter of fact they have been platooning guys there all year. Kike has started 22 games there, Muncy 10, and Taylor 5. Lux started once. Kike’s defense has for most of the season been stellar. And whether you like it or value it or not does not make one bit of difference because Managers and GM’s do value defense. When the defense breaks down, the entire game goes to hell pretty fast. Doc has not mismanaged the bullpen this year. He has used it perfectly most of the time. This is only the third time this season the Dodger have given up 4 runs in an inning. I agree, Doc is not the most skillful at in game management, but you my friend are pissing in the wind on this one. I would bet if you could talk to Friedman he would tell you he loves defense. Right now the Dodgers have one of the better defensive outfields in the game with Mookie and Belli out there. I bet after the first game when Kike drove in 5 runs and homered that no one was bitching about him being in the game. But he is not the only one on the team not hitting. Muncy is still BELOW the Mendoza line. Bellinger has been mediocre the last 2 games and left 6 men on base tonight. Is that Doc’s fault? It is not his fault that the team was lousy with runners in scoring position tonight either. He has his faults, but when it comes down to it, it is up to Kike, and all the other guys to produce when they are in the lineup. Not everyone can be as steady as Turner, Betts, and Seager have been. Doc is not keeping LA from winning a championship. Right now, it would be their starting pitching. I do not trust the kids to be what is needed in a short series, like the first one, nor after that. The Dodgers need a true # 3. They would have had that if Price were here, but he is not. Nelson is out, and Wood is still injured. Stripling has regressed the last 4 games. They need that starter. They get one, they can hang with any team.
My eyeballs can tell me all I need to know about defense. There’s no good way to say this but you’re living in the dinosaur ages if you are still looking at defense stats and talking about 1955 and 1965. Since you brought up Muncy and Bellinger they have an OPS over 100 points higher than Hernandez. And it gets worse for Hernandez if you look at their expected batting average and expected 0PS there’s a bigger gap there.
Eric, there is no doubt that 2B has been an issue for years and many have thought, and still do, that platooning is not the way to go. I think most of us thought that this problem would be solved by bringing up Lux late last season. It has not worked out that way and we will see what plays out this season as to how the Dodger will finally do it. Remember, we brought in Logan Forsythe and Brian Dozier. Didn’t help. Before them, Howie Kendrick and Chase Utley. These were bandaids and Kike was there throughout all of this. It has been our achilles heel since AF has been here. Not faulting AF, but it is his job to find a permanent replacement and he has said he didn’t favor platooning. Platooning also gives Doc more rope to hang himself with.
While it’s true that many posters here live in the past, talk about the past, get high over past memories as if it were really a vital part of their being, the general wisdom is that a balance of offense and defense needs to be struck. What this has meant for the Dodgers since AF has been in charge was the building around Power, the HR. This is why Joc is still getting PT as well as Muncy. But its not enough. We need hitters, bats that can drive in clutch runs with a single, a double, not necessarily with a HR. When the Jocs and Muncys are switched out for all around good baseball players, we will see a change in the way this team plays offensively.
Defense is a given on this team till you start to f**k up making poor throws, decisions, and not catching balls. But almost no one is so bad on defense that you never wish to see them in a game. That is not the case with offense. There are players that can go almost a whole season with poor offense and still remain on the team if they are capable of hitting a HR.
My point is this, that AF almost always goes with the farm boys to fill out the roster. That’s great if you have the talent to do that with and we’ve had some great talent coming up, but we still can’t find a 2Bman and a catcher that has a balanced game that can be relied on. AF blew his wad on Mookie in a very uncharacteristic move, (a good dope-fiend move), he went outside of the farm to do this. This leaves us in a great position but still no resolution to 2B and C. Mark extolled the virtues of the catchers on the farm for years, but we still have no cigar. You want better hitting? It has to come from 2B and C. They are the only ones not on the same level as the rest of the team! It is also the least expensive way to field a team for the Dodgers. We cannot be going out and buying Mookies whenever we need a position player. Plus, we are still not resolved in the rotation although some stubborn posters keep insisting we are good to go and that the 3 stooges will somehow rise to the occasion for the WS. Hasn’t happened yet.
That last part I totally agree with. And why was Lux left at the alternate site? Well, he sucked in the pre start up games. Especially on defense, where he is supposed to be pretty good. And he struck out a lot. Kike Struck out once more today, and I think he had 5 in the double header yesterday. He has 24, which is actually one less than Betts, and is 4th most on the team. Taylor and Muncy have 30 or more. Kike has been given the job twice, and twice he has failed to take the bull by the horns. I am also in total agreement that they need another EXPERIENCED ARM.
And you show a lack of knowledge of baseball period. You have no clue. I know what Muncy’s OPS is, and Bellingers. Expected batting average means bupkis. Your eyeballs obviously are not that good. And you do not have a clue how important defense is. I cited those two instances off of the top of my head, but tell me oh brilliant one, didn’t the first game of that double header feature some outstanding defense that basically saved Kershaw from giving up the lead. Sure, I remember all of Dave’s past moves, who doesn’t ?? And how about the two catches over the last 2 days that cost JT a couple of homers? Hernandez is an offensive hole in the lineup. Everyone can see it. If it were just him, no one would be talking about it at all. But it is up and down the lineup. And how, after how brilliant the bullpen has been for most of the year, can one question Roberts use of same? It is not his fault the starters are barely getting out of the 5th inning. If he made a mistake tonight, it was not letting May go back out for the 7th. He had only thrown 80 pitches. But before you start telling me I live in the stone age when the only person on this blog who thinks defense is over rated is you, well, you had better learn a lot more about the game before you take me on bucko. I have a lot more knowledge of the game and it’s history than you. I can tell you right now that off the top of my head, I can name a couple of Hall of Famers who got there more for their defense than their bat. Bill Mazeroski, and Ozzie Smith. Argument over
I don’t dispute your view of defense, Bear, but almost any player, especially on the Dodgers, is very decent, defensively. Bad defense is intolerable on most teams. But what about bad offense? Muncy, Kike, Joc, the C’s? All bad offensively, but can hit a HR once in awhile. This is going on now for some years, the same story. What’s your defense of that?
Unlike you, I thought that Doc should have pulled May because his pitching was just bad enough to give up 5 hits, 2BB in 6 innings and didn’t look particularly dominant after 6 innings. The bats came back to tie the game, but it was the BP, McGee who blew his Hold on a game that we might or might not have won this time because of the lack of hitting. The BP is supposed to be our strength. Why not use it? 6 innings is a decent outing for May. I am not a Doc apologist. Guys like Mookie didn’t come through tonight. Not 1 rbi after JT all game. It’s not defense that will ultimately win a game, it’s offense. A normal MLB defense is sufficient to win. A normal MLB offense is NOT sufficient to win.
Oh yeah, HR once in a while? Last year Joc, Muncy and Belli combined for 118 homers. I have seen teams with less than a normal MLB offense win the series. It depends on who gets hot. The Giants were not even close to the best offensive team when they won 3 years out of 5. But they got superior pitching and defense when they needed it most. Better rethink you analysis’s there Jeff.
You don’t have to have the best offense, but a good consistent one. The Giants had clutch hitting.
I think sometimes you don’t read my posts very well. It’s the nuances that you seem to miss at times. Teams can’t win just hitting HR’s. You need to do the little things because they add up. Offense will always beat defense in almost every case. Of course there is always the possibility of exceptions. But exceptions are the rarity, not the norm. Giants had a very good team and won how many titles within a decade? 2010, 2012, 2014. Batted .263 in 2014, .278 in 2012, and .248 in 2010. Less than .700 OPS in all those seasons. They didn’t hit many HR’s. The only year the Dodgers hit above .260 was in 2014, .272, which was #2 in the NL and they lost to St. Louis who were #5 and hit a paltry 101 HRs. They went down in BA but began to increase their HR’s. Players like Pederson added 26HR’s but batted .210 with barely getting over 100 hits for the whole season! 2014 Giants were #4 in NL batting. #3 in 2012, #7 in 2010. Since AF took over, the best Dodger offense was #7 in 2018, #8. 2017 and 2016, #11. 2015 #10.
Giants got 3 bingos with their paltry HR hitting club, yet Dodger fans keep beating their chest saying they are the best team in baseball and have gotten 0 bingos but hit lots of HRs. Built for Power but not the WS.
Both Mazeroski and Ozzie were good hitters, not great, but solid.
Maz was a career .260 hitter. His OBP is under.300. His OPS .667. He was a very mediocre hitter. Ozzie was a career .260 hitter. But he did not hit over .250 the first 6 years of his career. He worked and made himself better, but his hitting did not get him in the hall, and if you think different you would be wrong. It was his superior defensive skills at shortstop. He was a one man highlight reel. The offense on the Dodgers is right now the best in the league. Yeah, they are power driven, and that is very maddening at times. I have said for years that Kike should not be on this team. He is here because of his defense and flexibility in the field. Belli is not a bad hitter. He is not a hall of fame hitter either, and he has been hot and cold. We all know about Muncy’s struggles. Taylor is slumping. Barnes has actually hit well the last couple of weeks, and Smith is struggling. But I am not going to blame all of the stolen bags on the catchers when there are maybe two guys on the staff who hold runners well. Steals are not a huge part of the game anymore. Joc is Joc, he is the same player he has been since he got to LA. He is hot and cold, always have been. But if this were a normal season, no one would be worried that after 34 games he is hitting .214. Everything is amplified because of the shortness of the season. And you are bitching because the BP had a bad game? McGee has been lights out. And the only ball hit hard off of the guy was the homer, and it was hit to the opposite field. They are four games in front, a virtual lock for the playoffs, and everyone gets all upset over a loss. Incredible. The biggest offender tonight was Bellinger. He left 6 men on base, you cannot get that from your cleanup hitter. But give the pitcher for Texas some credit too. Minor has always pitched well against the Dodgers. I think most people are pissed because they got beat by a guy who was 0-5 with a 6.75 ERA coming into the game. But they had their chances and did not do a damn thing. I think your analysis that all those guys are bad offensively is wrong. They are all having down years. Smith is still a kid with less than 100 games in the majors under his belt, and you were wrong about shooting their wad on Mookie. They have a ton of salary coming off of the books next season. And even more the year after that. We do not know what kind of player Lux will be yet. He has not really had the chance to show his wares. I would love to see less platooning. But this is the kind of team AF has built, and for better or for worse, we are stuck with it. We are stuck with Roberts too. He will be around for at least 4 more years. So, who would you trade for to be the catcher? They have plenty of surplus prospects, and who would you get for second base? Me, I would just stick Taylor over there permanently. He has one more year on his deal after this year, and he has been decent at the plate. He had a bad game tonight, and has slumped a little, but I trust him more than Kike, who I personally think should be dumped. Hell, bring up McKinstry and see what he has got. Their immediate concern, outside of the lack of length by the starters, is the health and well being of Turner, who will not play tomorrow. Rios is still out, so either Muncy or Beaty will get the nod against Lynn,
And neither got into the hall on the strength of thier hitting . It was their defense that got them there.
My whole point is that the structure of the team needs changing. We have some great talent but little in the way of consistency, just Power. Change out those guys to consistent hitters and it is addition by subtraction. It’s not rocket science. AF has to get out of the farm ‘consciousness’ unless there is someone that really has a full deck of cards. Doesn’t have to be HOF. Defense is usually there already if they make the majors. They don’t have to be GG. Joc, Kike, the two C’s, & Muncy, do not have the full deck to play with. It’s not their poor defense that we suffer from.
And, I am not complaining about the BP. I said they blew this game. Another example of you not reading the posts very well.
Jeff, you and I both know that is not what is taught now a days. It is all about launch angle. The kinds of hitters you are talking about are rare. I understand that they are way to dependent on the HR, but that is what the FO seems to want. You show me a single coach on the Dodgers who preaches hitting the ball square, or going with the pitch. Their most consistent hitter has been Turner until Mookie got here. Betts is a pure player. Belli improved almost every aspect of his game last year, and only a late season fade kept him from 50 homers. He is legitimate, and will improve. Muncy is Muncy. He has occasional power, a good OBP< and strikes out too much. Pederson is almost one of those 3 outcome types of guys. K, walk or HR. But he also improved last year, and had his best offensive season. He will be gone as will Kike after this season, so the team will be changing again. I read your posts just fine thank you. And I did not say it was you bitching about the bullpen. I do not see AF making any big changes at the deadline nor do I see the Dodgers making any real major moves this winter except deciding if they are going to keep Turner in the fold. You are stuck with what they have and the philosophy that is behind it. We all are, now, if you want to call up ol Andy and tell him he needs to switch it up, and change the entire coaching hitting philosophy, go ahead, I am sure he will listen to you about as avidly as I am. It still comes down to having enough starting pitching to win. Right now the 8 seed is Philly, that can change easily over the next 4 weeks. Also we do not know if they are going to put teams in a bubble for the first round or not. Since they have played much better on the road than at home, playing at a neutral site might benefit them in the long run.
A few observations: The Dodgers seldom play well after playing a night game then traveling to another city (even home), and not getting to sleep until the early morning hours. 14 inning doubleheader sweep of Giants, including a bullpen game, then flying to Dallas was tough duty. Kiké is playing like a player who is resigned to soon wearing another uniform. I cannot recall seeing a player with the talent of Cody Bellinger take so many awful looking swings. Formula for disaster – 16 of 17 Jake McGee pitches are fastballs to a fastball hitting team – of the 16 fastballs the Rangers hitters swung 10 times and only whiffed twice (4 fouls, and 4 BIP). Dodgers trade targets? Royals Will Merrifield or Angels David Fletcher for second base?
My bad; Whit, not Will, Merrifield
Completely agree with your suggestions of going out to get Merrifield or Fletcher SCB. Our biggest position player hole seems to be at second base right now. Both the Royals and Angels are not playoff teams and we certainly have the prospects to get one of those trades done.
Merrifield is going into his age 32 season next year and I know the Royals love him but let’s face it , by the time they are competitive again he’ll be at the end of his career. He can also play outfield if we would ever need him there.
Fletcher is important to the Angels but not as important as pitching would be. He can play just about as many positions as Kike but is a much better hitter.
I realize it’s awfully early to give up on Lux but getting Merrifield or Fletcher would remove the need for him so why not make him the centerpiece of the trade and then add pitching, or in Fletcher’s case pitching alone might be enough to get a deal done.
We have a plethora of second basemen. Lux is our future at that position. He needs at bats. Kiké is slumping, that’s true, but he’s always been a streaky hitter. Patience.
I keep hearing how we need another starting pitcher. We are currently first in team ERA, second in team WHIP and tied for 8th in IP by SP. If Friedman decides to go get someone, fine, I’ll of course get on board with it. But honestly, I think we look pretty good right now.
Yesterday was an off day. They are entitled to be flat considering what they did the day before. I think they will be sharper today.
Today should be really interesting. We’re facing a pitcher whom many consider to be one of the very best in baseball right now. If he shuts us down, does that make AF want him even more? If we knock him out in the third inning, does that take the bloom of the rose? I know front offices don’t make decisions based on one outing, but at least we’ll see the guy close up before deciding if we want to make a real run at him. That’s assuming Andrew is even thinking of going after a pitcher in the first place.
Oh, I am not giving up on Lux. If the Dodgers don’t believe Seager will sign an extension Lux will be the shortstop in 2022, if not sooner. (I want Seager to be a lifetime Dodger). There us no guarantee that Turner will be back after this season and both Fletcher and Merrifield can play third base if needed. I do not consider Lux to be unavailable in trade, but the return to the Dodgers would have to be significant.
Friedman isn’t likely going to trade a top prospect. That hasn’t been his M.O. so far. I don’t know what he’s thinking at this point but my gut tells me it isn’t a second baseman.
Merrifield is a fine player, an All Star last year and he has a very friendly contract through ‘23. He’s 31 He will be costly. Lux for a 31 year old? I don’t see it. But if AF doesn’t think our second base position is ready for a World Series in a few weeks, I could see him making a lesser offer for Merrifield. That would be fine with me.
I saw a 2022 projected starting lineup that had Seager at third, Lux at short and Estevez at second. Of course Verdugo was listed as the starting left fielder in that projection. We also have a premium defender shortstop in Amaya and if he learns how to hit he could be in the mix. I could see Friedman using names like that in a trade for Merrifield. Frankly I don’t think Andrew has given up on Lux for this year. Give him some at bats and see if he’s ready.
How many AB can Lux get in the next 3 days? 12 AB at most? because that’s all he has to prove his worth. From what I’ve seen including last year its not worth much
Lux is 22 years old. Not every 22 year old comes up and sets the MLB world on fire straight out the gate. He was the MiLB player of the year last year after tearing up AA and AAA pitching. I have no idea what happened that he was not ready to come to ST 2.0 ready to play, and neither does anyone here. To speculate would be unfair. I mean no disrespect, but I am going to place more emphasis on how MiLB talent evaluators rate Lux more than fans. He is rated as high as #2 overall prospect in all of MiLB by the professionals (consensus top 5). Admittedly they are not always right, but they are undoubtedly more right than wrong. I liked Bo Bichette more than Lux at the draft, but I am fine with putting Lux at 2B and letting him sink or swim.
Did not intend to imply that Dodgers should/would trade Lux in a deal for Merrifield. The return to the Dodgers would have to be much more significant than Merrifield for the Dodgers to give up Lux.
The way I see it is we need 2 pieces- Lance Lynn and Whit Merrifield. Just a little bit of backround on Merrifield: The following are all lifetime averages:
.296 BA
.313 BA vs LHP
.867 OPS vsLHP
.315 RISP vs all
By contrast: Barnes(6-15) and Pollock(12-35) combined are hitting .360 vs LHP. Next would be Seager at .225
Oh and BTW Merrifield can also steal a base or two. Lifetime averagefor a full season
32 SB. He also led the AL in hits the last two years(total 398)
I have no idea who it would take to get those two players but like SBC I have no problem with lux being part of the package.
I would not include Lux for either Lynn, or Merrifield.
And Lux is only a start.
SORRY i MEANT SCB NOT SBC
The Dodgers had a record of 24-9 going into last night’s game. They tied it up in the seventh inning, so they had a decent chance to win, and even if they lost, they would be 24-10. Roberts, who virtually never has anyone try to steal a base, who almost never even employs hit-and-run, has Turner try to steal second. Turner is the last person I would want to see try to steal a base. His musculature is such that he is always at risk for leg injuries, and has had several, which sometimes take a long time to heal. But Roberts decides that this is a time to call for a steal. And sure enough, Turner has to run at full speed for ninety feet, and then dives into second base–and injures his hamstring.
We hope that he is indeed day-to-day, as Roberts often says, but he also could be out for two weeks or more. Missing Turner for the playoffs would probably mean another season of ultimate Dodgers futility, even with all the talent on hand. The reward of having Turner stealing second base is far outweighed by the risk that he would injure himself. Yes, you have to play the game, and take some risks, but the incongruity of having Turner trying to steal, when you virtually never put on any running sign, was a glaring mistake, in my opinion, and the result was hardly surprising. That was the most important aspect of last night’s game, in my view.
Strange days and weird times.
Not sure you can conclude much at this point, especially with a player like Gavin Lux, who many call a can’t miss prospect. Guessing you need a normal spring training and a regular season to get a better feel.
Certainly don’t feel Dave Roberts is the issue. Championship teams overcome mistakes made by managers, usually highlighted by players rising to the moment and maybe a bit of luck. Hey, managers make decisions, some work, some don’t.
This is the best team I’ve seen in LA in a long time, but the truth is they should be hitting better at times, but again, it’s a strange time so who knows how this would play with a normal spring and a 162 game season, which would allow their depth to be a major factor. Depth always seems to play a big role, but it’s usually based on the long haul, not the short sprint.
All that said the team is far from perfect and could improve with the right moves.
As to Cory Seager, can’t see the Dodgers allowing him to walk away, might become an Adrián Beltre situation. I like Seager’s chances of becoming a long time Dodger.
Looking at trades, Lance Lynn makes some sense, so does Trevor Bauer, who may want to be a Dodger. Whitfield would be an upgrade at second. It will be interesting to see how all this plays out. I’m guessing Andrew Friedman is active.
I have said all along that I think that Corey Seager should be a lifelong Dodger. I am wondering if Lux getting a call right now is due to trade deadline considerations. Nobody can see what he is doing at USC. I suspect he will start at 2B both Saturday and Sunday. Two RHSP. If not traded, let him stay at 2B for the rest of the season. Let Kike’ and CT3 go back to being utility players. Maybe it is time to see what Matt Beaty can do in a prolonged spot in the lineup over Muncy. What could it hurt?
Totally agree, AC. Good observations. I am not giving up on Lux either. You don’t become the number one prospect in MLB for nothing. To me he is the future. And he was not the only player who was late to camp.
Lux back on the roster today replacing Webster.
I think you meant White.
Yes, thanks
We got Webster??? LOL
It is not enough to just want a player. There has to be reciprocal interest and players that will match with the needs of the trading team. I do not care what the career stats say for a trade deadline deal. I am only interested in what they are doing this year. That is the purpose of a deadline trade…to take the team to the championship.
The Angels walked away from a Ross Stripling/Joc Pederson/Andy Pages for Luis Rengifo and MiLB??? Exactly who does anyone think LAA would demand for 26 year old David Fletcher, who has the most hits in the AL, and is controlled thru 2024. There is as much chance of getting Mike Trout as there is for David Fletcher. NONE. Not happening.
Admittedly, there is more of a chance that KC would consider trading their best player and face of the organization, but why would they. The talks would have to start with May or Gonsolin and include Lux and others. Merrifield is primarily an OF now. A transition that started last year (76 GS at 2B and 73 GS in OF). 2020 – 25 GS in OF and 8 at 2B. Why more OF? Please do not tell me it is so they can find a place for Nicky Lopez. Put yourself in Dayton Moore’s seat. Don’t make a trade proposal that you like as a Dodgers fan. What would it take to get Dayton Moore to trade Whit Merrifield? It is not Omar Estevez, Gerardo Carrillo, Michael Grove, DJ Peters, Cody Thomas, Zach Reks, Victor Gonzalez… Start with May/Gonsolin/Lux/Gray. At least two plus another.
I have read the name Jose Ramirez. Cleveland is right in the thick of the race and is not going to trade Ramirez. Cleveland is not a good trade partner for LAD anyway as they desperately need a good hitting MLB outfielder. The Dodgers are not going to move Pollock, Bellinger, or Betts, and Cleveland has zero desire for Joc. Forget Mike Clevinger, Zach Plesac, and Brad Hand as well.
Cincinnati is now 1.0 games behind St. Louis for the automatic #2 team in the NL Central. Also 1.0 GB NYM and Philadelphia for #7 & #8 WC. They have said they are not sellers. How much of a buyer they are we do not know. If the Dodgers want Trevor Bauer, they are going to need to wait until next year.
The competition for Lance Lynn will be stiff. CWS says they are in the hunt for Lance Lynn and/or Robbie Tay. Rick Hahn is never afraid to pull the trigger. I still do not think that Texas will trade Lynn unless they get a massive overpay. They figure to contend next year, and Lynn is their Ace. Robbie Ray is a much more likely trade candidate. Arizona figures to go nowhere and Ray is a rental. CWS has the prospects to make it happen. But Houston is also interested.
If I were in the AL, I would be worried about CWS. With Nick Madrigal back, their offense is very solid. Nick Madrigal is the type of offensive player I think many on this site would like. He is a base hitting machine that does not strike out. But he has ZERO power, so his OPS will never be that high. I very much like Nick Madrigal, but he is not going anywhere.
Would the Dodgers consider a trade for Gausman? Would Zaidi trade with LAD? What would it take to get Wilmer Flores? He is controlled thru 2021 with a team option for 2022. He is hitting .297/.341/.730/1.071 against LHP this year. WRISP he is hitting .343/.368/.629/.997. He also plays all over the infield. He is more likely to be moved more than Whit Merrifield or Jose Ramirez.
I am more than fine with making a trade. I would trade Lux if I thought it meant bringing a WS championship to LA. Of course there are no guarantees, but there are no guarantees that Lux will be a productive ML hitter either. However looking at the number of teams that want an upgrade, and knowing that AF is not going to overpay, the likelihood of a meaningful trade are not great. I am guessing that the Dodgers are going to need to find a #3 from May/Gonsolin/Urias and hope that Belli, Muncy, and Kike’ can re-learn how to hit LHP. I will be very surprised if AF makes a game changing trade.
Boy, what a killjoy! Ruining all our fun AC, even though all of your points are well taken, as usual.
Wilmer Flores is an interesting idea that I haven’t heard anywhere before. Yes, of course Farhan would trade with us if he liked what we gave him in return.
The Angels will never get to the playoffs if they don’t get pitching. They could replace Fletcher if they got really good pitching in a trade for him. Of course, we’re never going to give them that pitching which would probably have to include at least one of Gray, Gonsolin or May.
More likely two of them.
Two of them?!
That’s not happening.
We are the best team in baseball. We lead in pitching and scoring. We don’t need any knee jerk trades at this point. We need to get everybody healthy and be ready to peak in a month. Teams that are chasing us will be the ones that buckle at the trade deadline.
Did not say I was in favor of the trade. Said that is what it would take.
Yeah, I read it that way, and I didn’t really think you would do it. That might be the ask, but Friedman won’t bite.
The Dodgers are in the driver’s seat on all trades. They don’t have to do anything and they will remain favorites.
I agree with Badger I don’t see any major trades. Possibly a rental starter for insurance purposes that is not going to cost to much, if one of the kids aren’t stepping up. Muncy is going to be fine. Belli is going to be fine. Lux will get a few more looks at second. If Kike or Taylor get hot we won’t be talking about second. We do have the best
record in baseball.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the Dodgers trade for Lance Lynn. He has pitched well this year and could slot well into the #3 spot in the rotation. I just wish they could do it before he starts against us today. Hader would be another good target but I think the asking price would be too high and not sure the Brewers would even consider moving him. I am not thinking they will do much if anything but it’s always fun to think about a few more pieces.
Jeff, nice analysis of May in your opening. I think he did’t pitch badly and deserved better fate. By definition it was a “quality start”. But there are some weaknesses as you pointed out that need to be improved upon. More secondary pitches for strikes is a start. I like the fact that he threw the change. It comes out of his hand okay but I would like to see him scrape more speed. His 7-8 mph difference, to me, is not enough. He’s got such life on his pitches, when he can better command his secondary stuff and change speeds better, he will go to the next level.
* Good game to put behind us.
* Some complaining about our catcher’s throwing ability lately. While neither is great, our pitches don’t seem committed to holding runners. May did pick a guy at first but he guessed right on a first movement break. The throw on Tavaris was terrific but he stole it on the pitcher.
* Speaking of Tavaris, he robs JT or a homer, beats out a grounder to 2nd (I replayed it twice and timed him down the line at 3.67) and stole 2nd. He scored on Choo’s double which was a good pitch by May but better hitting. That’s an earned run manufactured by speed.
* I have watched Joey Gallo take live BP, on the field, at spring training and it’s awesome. He hits moon shots. So I watched his swing in slo-mo last night and saw alot of similarities with Bellinger. Belli starts taller initially but once each get their hands in the launch position things are very similar. Uppercut, bucket foot, high launch swing with a huge long extended follow through by both. Lots of swing and miss but lots of power. I couldn’t teach that stroke.
* Around Jackie Robinson Day, I also like to think about Larry Dobie, who broke the color barrier in the American League just 3 months after Jackie. Doby was the first player to go directly to the majors from the Negro leagues. A seven-time All-Star center fielder, Doby and teammate Satchel Paige were the first African-American players to win a World Series championship when the Indians took the crown in 1948. Doby later served as the second black manager in the majors with the Chicago White Sox HOF guy like Jackie.
* An overhead view of the new Ranger Ballpark last night showed what looked like a full parking lot. You don’t suppose they have cardboard cars out there, do you?
The scouting report on Ruiz says his arm strength is “fringy” but he has quick feet, a good release and is accurate. Other than maybe the fringy part I wouldn’t say any of that with those other two guys.
May is showing me he’s ready. I feel the same way about Gonsolin. Personally I have no problem going into the playoffs with those two as our 3 & 4. If our offense continues to roll, we will remain the team to beat.
I too am good with May and Gonsolin. I’ve been lobbying for Gonzo for weeks now.
I agree with you that the runners are running on the pitcher as much as the catcher. May’s big leg lift, even from the stretch, is not conducive to keeping runners close, especially someone who can run like Tavares. White let Kiner-Falefa have a running start on his SB. Salvador Perez would not have thrown either runner out. I do not blame Smith on either of those. FWIW, Smith was rated with a 60 arm (out of 80), while Ruiz has a 50 rated arm. Cartaya also has a 60 rated arm.
Barnes has never been considered to have a strong arm. His strength is working with pitchers and calling a game.
I have not seen Adley Rutschman yet, but Joey Bart is the #2 rated catching prospect in all of MLB, and he has not exactly been a shining star. When you continually get crossed up with a pitcher, and have a problem with holding onto the pitch, there are still holes. I assume the Giants development people will work with him to make those adjustments. I still think Bart will be a factor in MLB. BTW, Bart also has a 60 rated arm.
Jeff, I watched Adley and Madrigal for 3 years at OSU. There is no comparison between Bart and Adley catching the baseball or the entire package in IMO. Rutschman is a dude. As a freshman, I said he was Buster Posey who switch hits.
Madrigal has more pop than you give him credit for and will hit for more power in coming years. But he is a bat to ball contact guy. He’s also a really good, instinctive player.
I have watched Madrigal, and I am a fan. I have not had the pleasure of watching Rutschman. I very much look forward to that.
Jeff, it’s a treat to watch Madrigal in the middle with Tim Anderson. He can really play. If they keep them together that’s good stuff up the middle. I like the White Sox.
I had my coat tugged on and missed viewing 3 innings but yesterday’s umpire did a better job calling balls and strikes than any umps I’d seen for quite some time. They said he was a rookie ump.
Above, Eric commented on Doc’s use of AJ Pollock in the NLDS last year to show his ineptness at managing the team. I do not think anyone on this site has ever said that Doc is a master at making decisions during the game, but to say that his use of AJ Pollock is proof positive that he is inept is not fair (IMO). Last year, AJ Pollock was one of the best hitters in the Dodgers lineup the second half.
Pollock – .288/.348/.537/.885 – 13 HR and 33 RBI
Muncy – .225/.385/.489/.874 – 13 HR and 38 RBI
Belli – .263/.371/.546/.917 – 17 HR and 44 RBI
I assume that Doc should have checked his crystal ball to learn how horrid a NLDS AJ was going to have. Doc sat him for games 4 and 5, although he did PH in both games (and K). They did not lose because of those two PH attempts. His 15 K’s were less than Belli’s 17 in the 2017 WS. In post season play, Belli has struck out 52 times in 145 PA (35.9%). Should Doc sit Belli?
I do not think there would be much argument from most that Doc has a problem managing a bullpen. But outside of Bruce Bochy who doesn’t? Doc did not give up the HR’s to Rendon and Soto in NLDS Game 5. It was Clayton Kershaw. I am on record that I believed that Maeda should have come in to face Rendon and Kolarek to face Soto. But there is no guarantee that the results would have been different. I think the Nats had divine intervention last year, and I have no idea why. I liked what Cary Osborne had to say about sticking with Kershaw. I cannot find the article, but it was something along the lines that Doc was trying to get Kershaw a little redemption for past failings in the post season. Kershaw owned Eaton in the 7th. Let him feel a little more success. Unfortunately, it backfired. The sentiment seems logical, and I can see Doc doing that…right or wrong.
To be fair the second half of the season was filled with meaningless games. AJ’s first season was a bust. A couple of cheap homers in Boston but really nothing meaningful. I’m holding out hope a short season and rest will get him playing at his peak this postseason
Hello Quas. Nice to see you and hope you are doing better.
As far as I have seen on almost every outlet I have read, there is absolutely no buzz about the Dodgers being interested in anyone. Reds have said Bauer is going no where. Cleveland is in the race, and their asking price for Clevinger has been quoted as being ridiculous. Jays have an interest in Simmons, and the Angels are looking like they are sellers. A couple of teams, most notably the White Sox are kicking the tires on Bundy. My hunch is Ol Andy stands pat. This deadline is it. There is no picking up players being waived and then traded. My guess is that they go into the post season with a Kersh, Buehler, May and Gonsolin rotation, with Strip being demoted to the bullpen, especially if his start today is as bad as the last couple have been. AF might pick up someone for the pen if it is the right price and fit. His interview the other day said they will make moves if it makes the team better. What would be great is more consistency from what they have. I think Lux is going to start the next few games for sure with the status of JT yet to be determined. (He is supposed to have tests today). Not sure if Rios is close to coming back. He would be a power boost off of the bench. Beaty should get some reps with JT sidelined. Was surprised to see that Betts has the most career AB’s against Lynn. I thought JT had seen him more. One other thing, some person on Twitter suggested that MLB adopt the 7 inning game as the norm for all games. Personally, I think that is dumb. It would be like reducing football to a 3 quarter game. Leave tradition alone.
I agree there is no chatter. But with AF there never is. Outside of Machado, which player has AF traded for that there was a lot of speculation before the trade. The speculation was Sale in 2016, but because AF did not want to include Urias, Sale stayed with the ChiSox. I do not know who else was in that speculated deal, but Urias was the stumbling block. Hill/Reddick was a backup plan. I think it was Hawkeye who mentioned Yu Darvish early on in 2017, but I do not think there was a whole lot of chatter on Darvish at the time. Certainly on Verlander, but not Darvish. Who saw Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani in 2017. Not game changers, but quality RP at the time. David Freese in 2018. Nice RH bat to pick up. I wish there was a nice RH bat to stick at 1B or DH right now. If there is one, AF will see it. He may not make the trade, but he will see it.
So who knows who AF is talking to. I would not be surprised to see AF take a run at Trevor Rosenthal. Prior to his injury, Trevor was a great post season reliever. He seems to be getting back to that level. He is certainly a rental, and if KC wants him back next year, they will have the opportunity. But KC might be able to pick up a pretty good lottery pick or two. I would like to go into the playoffs with a pitcher with a resume like Rosenthal. But that is the type of pick up I would expect. Another is maybe Texas RHRP Rafael Montero. He is a different pitcher after his TJ surgery and move to the bullpen. He has two more years of control.
CWS, Houston, NYY are the most likely teams to pick up any meaningful SP.
2015 it was Hamels. Everyone was sure the Dodgers would jump at that. But if I remember right, the stumbling block then was Seager. So Cole ended up in Texas.
It is believed that Turner’s injury was a cramp caused by dehydration, not a strain, he will sit today and be re evaluated on Sunday. Poll: Who thinks the Dodgers give JT at least a 2 year deal this off season? Just slinging hash here gang, and seeing what sticks. Personally, I think it is a given he gets at least a 2 year deal.
I agree. Two or three years.
Two years, team option with vesting for a 3rd.
Agreed
Wouldn’t that be player option with vesting for a 3rd?
They are usually club options. See the article below on team options with vesting for some of the 2019 contracts.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/08/2020-vesting-options-update.html
OK, I guess we’re talking semantics here and you are correct, it is technically a team option, however it works in favor of the player because it automatically vests if the player performs the previous season.
Thanks for clarifying.
Absolutely correct that it benefits the player. Unfortunatley there is a lot of squabbling because the team controls those vesting options. Right now JA Happ is bitching about NYY hurting his vesting opportunities, even though he has been putrid for most of the year.
would be shocked if we don’t see this
I say yes to 2 years. He still hits and has been good with the glove with an occasional throwing error. But he is also part of the heart of this team. Underappreciated by many on this site.
These kids will never get to 100 pitches the way Doc manages. It was disappointing to see May removed but hardly a surprise. I’m not worried about the bullpen getting worn out with 28 players. Even after Urias short outing there were 7 relief pitchers who didn’t throw that day.
~
I’m good with May and Gonsolin. I don’t love Lynn but no doubt tonight will be a showcase.
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Like is playing way too much. He should be a bench bat and defensive replacement. Everyone has to play enough to stay sharp or find their swing but Kike is a one tricky pony. He hits fastballs middle-in. Let Lux play. He was good enough to take Goose deep twice the other day. Let him play already.
I agree. I do like Lance Lynn but his value is going deep into the game with a high pitch count. That is not a consideration for the Dodgers. I understand that as good as the bullpen has been for the Dodgers, that a good argument could be made for pulling May. But if there ever was a game that called for May to continue on, yesterday was it. He hit 100 MPH in the 6th, and only threw 12 pitches in the 5th and 6th. He was at 80 pitches. Per his post game comments, he learned from his mistakes in the 3rd. He could have pitched the 7th and maybe the 8th. For me it was an opportunity lost to see how deep May could go.
Stripling tonight and I don’t feel very confident.
He is due to have a good game.
Let’s hope he does.
Rosenthal reporting the Pads are on the verge of trading for Trevor Rosenthal. They are going to be a difficult opponent for whichever teams have to play them in October.
Done deal per Jeff Passan. Rosenthal is someone I would have liked to have. SD is getting better and they were already tough. Rosenthal was a very good playoff reliever. They now have someone to replace Kirby Yates.
And Pomeranz too Jeff, He is also on the IL>
Today vs future Dodger Lance Lynn:
Mookie
Seager
Muncy (3b)
Belly
Joc (DH)
Beaty
Pollock
Lux
Barnes
Thank you Bobby.
ChiSox, San Diego, and Toronto seem to be the front runners in on Lance Lynn. The Dodgers have inquired, however per Bob Nightengale are “unlikely” to meet the asking price. You can bet that if Lynn shuts down the Dodgers today, the Pads are going to become even more interested.
or we get to him early, his price drops, and AF swoops in!
Not that I want Lynn, but still
I have only read through half of the posts but I would like to thank all of you for chiming in on my post up top. Even Michael Norris (AKA Bear) who has a whole different philosophy than me.
I have read some GREAT points made by a few of you and I might highlight them later when I have some time.
The point of my original post had nothing to do with yesterday’s game outcome specifically.The bullpen part of my post was just about past playoffs. And the other part of my post was pointing out that we have better options internally for 2B than Hernandez.
My philosophy Eric, is based on watching this game and this team for well over 60 years. I have always valued good defense as much as good offense. With Lux up, they have two options besides Kike at second. Even though Muncy has played there some, I do not consider him a true second baseman.
2 points made by Jeff are very true.
“It’s not defense that will ultimately win a game, it’s offense. A normal MLB defense is sufficient to win. A normal MLB offense is NOT sufficient to win.”
AND
“Almost any player, especially on the Dodgers, is very decent, defensively.”
That second quote, I wouldn’t have used the word almost because they all are fine defensively.
Well I hate to burst your bubble, but the best offensive team did not win in 59, 63, 65. Nor were the Dodgers better offensively than the A’s in 88. But all of those teams won with one thing that was better than their opponents. PITCHING. The best offense does not always win. So in effect Jeff’s statement is pure Bull. Without defense you are screwed. You have your opinion which I believe is full of holes,and Jeff has his. Nothing either of you can say will ever change my philosophy on how the game is played. If offense is so great, how come there are so many 1-0 and 2-0 games?
Pitching is absolutely critical to win.
We were talking about offense and defense.
Pitching is different than defense.
Ya know,. sometimes I think you believe I am a moron. I know the difference between all of them. I played the game, and I have watched the game. And the best offense does not always win. Period. But you had better have good defense or your pitching and offense will not matter at all. Dodgers lost a game in the 41 World Series on a passed ball. You go down through baseball history and you will see where an error at a critical moment caused a lot. An error led to the Yanks losing game 4 of the 63 series and getting swept. Problem is you put no value on defense, and sorry Eric, you are in the minority, especially when it comes to the Dodgers. Andrew and Doc, and the whole organization places value on defense and versatility. Otherwise they would not be loaded with guys who can play multiple positions. You are never going to win this argument, so you may as well quit. What you value, is not the same as what the team values
I already won the argument.
“And the best offense does not always win. Period.”
Correct I already said pitching can beat hitting.
” But you had better have good defense or your pitching and offense will not matter at all.”
Wow I’m speechless.
You being speechless would be an improvement. You baseball IQ is very low.
Your examples, Michael, do not illustrate the point. There are always exceptions to any definitive statement we can make about anything. Offense will always give the edge, but you still need defense as well as pitching. It’s a whole package. If one is really poor, then that will alter the chances.
Philosophy is what changes Michael. You can see it throughout the history of baseball and how the game has changed. Philosophy is not a static thing. If it is, it’s dead. Since you are the expert, you are right in saying no one will ever change your mind. This usually makes for a difficult person and life, full of themselves. That was being philosophical and not an ad hominem.
Jeff, you have your opinions and I have mine. I look at baseball one way, and you another. As for who I am on an everyday level, you have no clue and should keep your opinion about my personal life to yourself. Your examples prove nothing either. We have different views, that is obvious. If offense always gives one the edge, how come it does not always win? And that is through out the history of the game. Yes, the game has changed, as has the owner ship and running of this team. And their philosophy has defense as one of it’s priority’s. If you cannot see that, well, that is your problem not mine. My issue with Eric is that he totally devalues defense, and I think that is wrong minded. I never said I was an expert. But I know the game, and I know the history and I know this team from watching them all these years. I am not a difficult person at all, and I have never been full of myself. I am pretty set in my ways, but some of my views on things have changed. I accept things more readily than I used to. I have even conceded that AF has a plan that although I might not understand or agree with, it works for him and the team.
Eric, you certainly have a point on Kike especially at 2nd. He’s hitting .209 with reverse splits; .222 vs righties and .179 versus lefties. I personally think Lux will be the second baseman in 2021, but not now. I hope I’m wrong and he tears it up with his current opportunity. But if he was ready, AF would have had him up before. I would put CT3 at 2nd against righties (292). But any way you stack it our 2nd basemen can’t hit lefties. CT3 – .152, Kike – .179, Muncy .179. I guess Lux can’t hurt.
Kike has been lousy since opening day when he had 4 hits, a homer and 5 RBI’s. He is about as inconsistent as they come. He has made a career out of the one excellent season he had where he hit over .300. And he has made his mark as a lefty killer, until the last 2 seasons. His act is old, and he needs to be gone. He has been in there because Roberts and the FO LOVE his defense. Right now, that is his biggest asset. If you want him outa there, best talk to Dave and Ol Andy, because he is going no where and will keep playing, especially against LHP because they expect him to do better.
You know Bear, all my calls to Doc and AF haven’t been returned. Maybe you could have better luck?
He is on my speed dial, but according to some idiot on Twitter he is on the phone with the Angels checking on the availability of Mike Trout. So at this point he is ignoring me. Also heard there that they are in ” progressing negotiations will the Royals about one Whit Merrifield.
Bottom line, Lux will be, and should be, given every opportunity over the next couple weeks to take this job and run with it. If you’re the #2 prospect in the game, it’s time to show it.
Luckily we have the best record in the game with our 2b hitting like .200 combined. So any signs of life and he can make this job his.
I would like to see him win it, but he is facing a tough chore today. Lynn is pretty tough.
Kiké has put up over 10 WAR for the Dodgers and he’s done it for $12 million. AF wants more like him, not less.
Defense may not win games but it sure as hell can lose them. In ever major sport it is said defense wins championships. Is baseball the only sport where that is not true? Of course not. And Eric, pitching is indeed part of the defense. By design and by definition defense is to keep the other team from scoring. Good luck doing that without good pitching.
Lux will have to show that he can hit in the majors. So far, he hasn’t convinced. He was disappointing last season after all the hype that was thrown around.
He hasn’t convinced YOU. Top baseball evaluators are convinced. If he was playing on a less talented team, he would be playing every day getting that experience. Leodys Taveras is also highly regarded young hitter but he is getting a chance to play every day with Texas. Carter Kieboom (Nationals SS top prospect) was sent back down. Kieboom is the #6 SS prospect in all of MLB and the Nats #1 overall. Tavares is 21 while Lux and Kieboom are 22. Not everyone can break on the scene as well as Tatis Jr.
Last year in 82 PA, Lux batted .240/.305/.400/.705. For a 21 year old, not HOF, but also not disappointing to me.
There is some buzz out there that AF is checking on the availability of some players. No names mentioned, but one is a Royal.
I hope not Danny Duffy or Ian Kennedy
Supposedly it is Merrifield.
I would be absolutely shocked if it is Merrifield. I cannot see it.
To tell the truth, so would I.
According to reports, LA has released reliever AJ Ramos.
Bear, I’m watching Lance Lynn warm up. I think it’s about time you admitted that he’s your son.
Hah! They just said his nickname is Big Bear. Does that make you Little Bear?
He is a light weight., When I was my biggest I was 370 plus. Only 250 now though, His beard is much bigger than mine, and my hair is much THINNER.
I just looked it up. Texas has the second worst team batting OPS in all of baseball.
Hey does anybody know why Smith isn’t catching today? Is he injured again or is this just a Doc decision?
And Stripling gives up way too many hard hit balls. And Texas is the 2nd worse hitting team.
Stripling leads the majors with 12 HRs given up.
Managers choice. Smith will be in there tomorrow.
Really inconsistent balls and strikes…AGAIN. Lux is called out on three questionable pitches but the same pitches were balls for Strip.
I love it Muncy doubled and Bellinger homered. Good signs.
I am NOT comfortable anymore with Strip on the mound. We will need more runs.
But, after seeing Lynn’s stuff, I can see why teams would want him.
I’m all for Joc beating the shift but I was looking forward to him hitting off of a guy who throws nothing but fastballs.
Wilmer Flores is an interesting idea. Kike has failed miserably to be our lefty killer and Wilmer is raking vs lefties. It’s a big drop off defensively but a boost hitting lefties.
Flores is a negative dWAR player. That might fly with Eric but won’t with Friedman.
4 innings, 3 earned and a lot of center cut strikes from Stripling. I think his time as a starter has wound down.
Strip can’t see he wasn’t given a shot.
The team does just fine against lefties. That’s not a problem.
Against LHP – .220/.313/.349/.662
Against RHP – .262/.338/.517/.855
I would not say that Dodger hitting against LHP is fine. They just got shut down by Mike Minor who had the second worst ERA in the AL. Minor has just been tatooed by almost everyone except the Dodgers. Although to make up for that, the Dodgers did hit RHSP Lynn hard.
The anomaly there Jeff is that their record when a lefty starts is 8-1! That to me proves that once the starter leaves, they pile on the bullpen. Unfortunately they did not get that done on Friday.
Time for another Belli bomb! Lynn up to 90 plus pitches in the 5th. He is not long for this game.
Muncy bomb.
This is probably Muncy’s best game of the season and wouldn’t you know it according to career stats Muncy’s best spot in the batting order is third right where he’s at today.
Bellinger’s best is 5th by the way. How about we slide Turner in at number four when he gets back.
Our big three lefty bombers finally leaving the Mendoza line behind!
Double steal! Now that’s old school. Mad Max is waking up.
3 steals in one game! What’s going on?
Coming from a Ross Stripling fan, it is time to send him to the pen. He has lost command of his fastball and it is just laying flat over the middle of the plate. He did have more than a chance. It is now time to turn it over to Tony Gonsolin. I am still not convinced that Urias “gets it”, but without a trade, it is going to be Buehler/Kershaw/May/Gonsolin/Urias.
For all the nonsense that Adam Kolarek was getting, he still seems to be pitching very efficiently and effectively. He gives up a weak ground ball single to Kiner-Falefa that would have been an out had Beaty been playing more straight away 1B. But again no runs. He has done everything asked of him.
Jeff Jr., I agree with everything you wrote above. Strip in the pen will be more of a boost to the rest of the BP who are getting more work than they should be. Strip usually can go long, but since he is giving up too many HRs, limit his innings.
Graterol scares me a bit. His power is incredible and his bulldog intensity, off the charts. But adrenaline is not going to overcome good hitters who will figure him out. He will never be a closer if he continues to rely only on his power. He’s got to develop some nuance in his pitching. Jansen is way above his level and is still developing new pitches in his arsenal. I’d love to see more development in Graterol’s toolbox.
I agree with you about Graterol. He is still a baby with a lot to learn, but a lot of tools to develop. If I were to pick a bullpen right now for the playoffs, I am not sure that Graterol would be on it. He has 25 games to show how much he can grow. I hope he does, because he has quite an arsenal.
However, as a RHRP, with Baez and Kelly on the shelf, his chances are much better.
How about that call on Dietrich when he actually walked into the ball to get hit? Second time he has done that this season.