Harold Peter Henry Reese was born on July 23rd 1918 in Ekron, Kentucky. He lived there until he was almost 8 when his family then moved to Louisville. He got his nickname, Pee Wee, playing marbles. A Pee Wee is a small marble.
Reese was so small that he did not play baseball until his senior year in high school. At that time he only weighed 120 pounds and played 6 games at second base.
After graduating from high school in 1935, he worked as a cable splicer for the Louisville phone company and played amateur baseball for a church league.
When his team reached the league championship, the minor league team in Louisville allowed them to play the championship game at their field.
The owner of the Colonels as the team was called, Cap Neal, was so impressed with Reese that he signed him to a 200 dollar bonus. A lot of money back then. By 1938 Reese was the Colonels’ starting short stop, and was affectionately called The Little Colonel by his teammates.
Reese was by then one of the top prospects in the minors, and he so impressed Red Sox minor league farm director, Bill Evans, that he recommended that the Sox buy the team.
Both Evans and team owner Tom Yawkey knew that the Sox starting SS Joe Cronin was nearing the end of his career. However, Cronin was also the manager. He went down to scout Reese and realized he was scouting his own replacement, so he deliberately downplayed Pee Wee’s abilities and suggested he be traded.
It took a while to find a trade partner since most teams thought something might be wrong with Reese since the Sox seemed so intent on getting rid of him.
But on July 16th 1939, Reese was traded to Brooklyn for 35,000 dollars and 4 players to be named later. The Dodgers ended up sending only 2, Red Evans, and Art Parks. The trade is now considered one of the most lopsided in baseball.
Pee Wee stayed in Louisville the rest of the 39 season and was called up to Brooklyn in 1940 Ironically, he walked into the same type situation in Brooklyn where the manager was also the team’s starting SS, Leo Durocher, but Durocher willingly stepped aside for the young SS.
Reese had a decent debut, which was cut short by a heel injury limiting him to 84 games. His big moment was a walk off grand slam he hit to beat the Giants.
1941 was a very forgettable year for Reese. He hit .229 and led the league with 47 errors. He also had a very forgettable World Series hitting .200 and making 3 errors in 5 games.
1942 was the year he established himself. Making the first of 10 straight all-star games, and leading all SS in putouts and assists. Pee Wee then did what a great many American’s did, he joined the Navy and served in the Pacific.
He missed 3 years while serving, and returned in time for the 46 season. The Dodgers battled the Cardinals down to the wire that year. Ending in a tie, and having the first playoff series ever. Cardinals won the first two games and that was it.
1947 was the year that Jackie debuted in the majors. The Dodger players were circulating a petition that warned they would not play if Robinson were brought to the team. Of course, the wording was not that nice. They assumed that the Southern born Pee Wee would sign.
But Reese, said he had been made aware of the injustice in the south when his dad had taken him to a tree where a lynching had occurred. Reese had very little contact with blacks, and he said when he shook hands with Jackie, it was the first time he had ever shaken a black man’s hand.
Pee Wee refused to sign and the protest pretty much died right there. Reese had been more concerned about his job as a SS since that was Robinson’s main position, but the Dodgers put Jackie at 1st, and Pee Wee retained his spot.
Some of the more vocal players eventually were traded including Dixie Walker, who was very popular in Brooklyn. Hal Gregg and Vic Lombardi were also traded to the Pirates for Billy Cox, and Preacher Roe in the Walker trade.
On the Dodgers first road trip to Cincinnati, Jackie was getting heckled unmercifully by the Reds fans, Reese, who was the Captain of the team by now, walked over to Jackie and engaged him in a conversation, and then put his arm around his shoulder in a gesture of solidarity with his team mate.
That immediately silenced the crowd. And gradually the fans began to accept Robinson, but it was not easy. He also got death threats in Cincy, and there was a large police presence at the park. Over that tough year Pee Wee kept Jackie’s spirits up and helped ease the burden he was carrying. Sometimes Reese did it with humor. He told Jackie, who was getting thrown at a lot, Jack, some of these guys are throwing at you because you are black…the others are doing it because they just do not like you!
Pee Wee played on pennant winners in 41, 47, 49, 52, 53, 55, and 56. He got his WS win in 1955. Pee Wee was a steady influence on those Dodger teams and he played 140 games or more every year from 1941 to 1956, not counting the war years, and scored at least 75 runs a year from 42 through 56 amassing 1,338 in his career. The most by any Dodger ever. Clayton Kershaw (68.9) just passed Pee Wee (68.2) for the highest bWAR as a Dodger in Dodger history.
He stole 252 bases and, in an era, when SS did not hit many home runs, hitting 126 for his career. He led NL SS four times in putouts, and was consistently in the top 10 in assists and double plays. Reese and Elston Howard have the distinction, although somewhat dubious, of being on the most losing World Series teams…6.
Pee Wee, not the manager, was the one who brought the lineup card out to the umpire at the beginning of the game. Between their last season in Brooklyn, and their first in Los Angeles, Pee Wee only played in 162 games, just 59 games in 1958. After the season he retired and became a Dodger coach. I always felt he would have been a very good manager.
Pee Wee retired with over 2000 games, 8000 at bats, a .269 career average, 2170 hits. He was part of the coaching staff that won the 1959 World Series, his second ring. After the 1959 season, Pee Wee left the Dodgers and became a broadcaster on television. He first worked with Dizzy Dean, and then with Curt Gowdy. He did that until 1968. He also did some work for the Reds, and finished his TV career as a part time analyst for the Expos in 1972.
He eventually went to work for Hillerich and Bradsby, the makers of Louisville Slugger bats. Pee Wee was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s committee in 1984 along with Rick Ferrell. There was a statue of Pee Wee erected at Louisville Slugger Field in 2000, and his number was retired by the Louisville Bats.
He also received the SABR Hero of Baseball award at a convention in 1997. Pee Wee battled lung and prostate cancer and on August 14, 1999 he passed away at his home in Louisville. There was a statue erected in Brooklyn at the park of the Mets single A Cyclones depicting Reese and Robinson overcoming the prejudice of the time.
Reese and his wife Dottie were married in 1942, and had 2 children. She outlived Pee Wee by 13 years. Robinson often cited Reese’s support as one of the main reasons he was able to get through the ordeal of being the first. Duke Snider said in his biography that Pee Wee was the Dodgers glue. And he was always called Captain whenever the old players met after their playing years. A true sign of respect.
Some think being the Captain means little anymore, but just look at some of the players who were captains of their teams, and you can see that they were all highly respected in the clubhouse and on the field, and always by the opposing team. Lou Gehrig was the Yankee captain for a while, and after he was gone, it was Bill Dickey. The Dodgers last captain was Davey Lopes. There has not been one since.
Pee Wee Reese. Small in stature, but a giant on the field.
I’m okay with standing pat. Although a hitter that hits lefties would have been nice. We don’t know what Texas was asking for Lynn. It takes two to tango. I do know this. There were teams that needed Lynn more than the Dodgers did. None of those teams acquired him either. That tells me something about the asking price.
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The Padres checked in on Lynn and Gallo before pivoting to Clevinger. The Padres would rather deal 6 prospect to Cleveland than give up what Texas was asking. To tell you the truth I was hoping SD would acquire Lynn rather than Clevinger because I think the Dodgers would continue to have success against Lynn.
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The Dodgers made their acquisition this past winter so they wouldn’t pay the over charge you pay at the deadline. They acquired Mookie Betts and brought up the #2 prospect in baseball. That was our trade deadline this year.
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As for Stripling vs Santana. No doubt Chicken Strip is the better pitcher but who cares who is the better long reliever on a 28 man roster. If you listened to AF they felt it was the thing to do for Ross and his career and earning power in arbitration. The Dodgers are always looking to add on to their minor league system. I imagine in a year or two we will be talking about a prospect they fleeced from Toronto.
I thought the team would add a RH bat. Dodgers talking with the Rangers I thought Todd Frazier might be a target. If Kiké does not get out of his funk I wonder if the team might add OF’er Anthony Garcia to the roster. Garcia looked good in spring training, and again in the Summer Camp scrimmages I saw on TV.
He is not on the 40 man, so someone would have to go. But he could be an option. Isn’t it a little funny though that everyone thought they were going to keep Gore to be a stolen base threat and use as the runner at second in extra’s. And he was released 2 weeks into the season.
Right now the Dodgers 40-man is at 39 with Stripling gone.
Nice piece. I call my daughter Pee Wee.
Thanks Hawkeye…I appreciate it.
Another reminder of the past that should not be forgotten. Thanks Bear.
Pee Wee was the consummate captain always putting his teammates first.
“Harold Pee Wee Reese was a captain of captains,” wrote Carl Erskine, a teammate of Reese for ten years. “Our infield was full of captains – Roy Campanella was like a field general; Gil Hodges, a sharp thinker with baseball savvy; Jackie Robinson, smart, aggressive. Any of them could have been a captain. Pee Wee, however was the respected leader. He played for at least four different type managers all of whom considered him their extension on the field.”
David Wright was the last MLB captain retiring in 2018. Much of the role of the captain was lost with managers coming onto the field to question umpires. In other professional team sports coaches are not permitted on the playing service.
Great write up bear. A giant in life as well as on the field!
Top notch piece; kudos! For Dodgers fans who enjoy the nostalgia of the 50’s Brooklyn Dodgers, I recommend the book “The Last Good Season – Brooklynns, the Dodgers, and their final pennant race together” by Michael Shapiro.
Great article ! any chance Price returns for post-season ?
Nice article, Bear. It’s another reminder that I need to finally watch “42”
42 is one of the better baseball movies I have ever seen. And Chadwick Boseman, and Lucas Black, who plays Reese, are excellent. But the surprise to me is how Harrison Ford nails it as Branch Rickey. He looked so much like him it was scary. No Cannon, Price is not coming back. The only player who opted out and then changed his mind was Markakis of the Braves. And I and many others thought that a player could not do that. As it has been said, AF is going to have to dance with the girl he brought to the dance. They could always pick up a player off of waivers, but they would not be eligible for the post season I think. Someone could probably check that.
After all that activity by the Padres, the power rankings came out and they are ranked # 10. Dodgers are ranked # 1. 6 of the top ten ranked teams are in the AL. Only the Dodgers, Cubs, Braves and Padres are in the top 10. Some were surprised the Astro’s did not make any moves, but with a depleted farm system, and some major players, Springer, coming up as free agents this winter, they did not look to be dealing from a position of strength.
Sept 15. If a team signs a player by then, he’s eligible for October.
For example, there is a dude named Yasiel Puig who could be a Sept 15 pickup…
Two chances of that:
1. Zero
2. None
I would have to concur with that Mark, especially since he tested positive for Covid, and has been seen partying in Vegas without a mask, or social distancing. Yasiel wore out his welcome. Too bad, the guy had some serious talent.
That high
There is another one who rejoin after opting out, Isan Diaz from Marlins….
Great story, Harold – I thoroughly enjoy the oldtimer stories.
In case you missed it, Pedro Moura wrote a piece in The Athletic called: Why the ‘very confident’ Dodgers only sold at the MLB trade deadline
https://theathletic.com/2034947/2020/08/31/why-the-very-confident-dodgers-only-sold-at-the-mlb-trade-deadline/
A couple of blurbs:
The Indians’ Mike Clevinger was the consensus top prize, and the Dodgers have been interested in him in years past. Beyond him, it could be argued that Ross Stripling was the next-best starter to be dealt, and the Dodgers traded him away.
“As much as he’s helped us through the years,” Friedman said, “we felt like it was in everyone’s best interest with the depth we have right now, and caring about him.”
That isn’t just rhetoric. Friedman really cares about guys like Ross.
Mark – this one is another excellent one by Michael.
Man, I am sorry, Bear! I have read so much of this from Harold that I assumed and you know what happens when you assume.
This is the second time I have done that. I will stop!
No problem Mark, I just figured you are suffering from “OLDTIMERS’ like most of us OLD guys.
“You don’t need to watch baseball this September.“
The first line of MCullough’s column in the Athletic this morning. He’s right. Just tune in later and all the good teams will be there. He mentions the Dodgers being the best team in baseball but they will of course have to negotiate the “3 game minefield” without home field advantage. Anything can happen and nothing we “could “ have done yesterday would have changed that. Would Lynn or Clevinger be that big an upgrade from May or Gonsolin?
What a crap shoot this whole freakin year has been. And there will be a whole lot more crap falling through the shoot all the way to the end of the year. Stand by. It’s going to get interesting.
Thanks for the article Bear. It’s always good to read about one of the “boys of summer”. You mentioned the Louisville Colonels. In 1958, My uncle, in southern Indiana, took me to a Colonels game. They were an AAA team of the Orioles then. All I remember is a high fly foul ball landing on an empty seat next to me and bouncing to someone a row or 2 behind me. I’m still mad at myself for being too “chicken” to attempt a bare handed catch. 🙂
I tried that once at Dodger Stadium when I was down the right field line, ball hit me square in the wrist, and hurt like hell.
Here’s Friedman on what we acquired for Strip:
Friedman indicated it would “take a little bit of time” for the two players L.A. is receiving from Toronto to be on the cusp of being Major League-ready. The Dodgers nonetheless are bullish about their return for Stripling.
“We are definitely getting a guy we like and feel like will fit in really well with our next crop of prospects that are coming,” Friedman said. “And then another guy that will come from a bigger list that we’ll just have some time to kind of work through.”
A guy they like and another guy.
Not a lot to talk about there.
Hopefully Stripling can put it back together in Toruffalo. He better keep the ball in the middle of the park there. 325 down the lines, 367 in right center.
I”m really excited about the guy though. He could be an impact player for us
A sure fire maybe. The other guy might be a problem though. Who knows his history.
One of the players the Dodgers acquired in the Stripling trade is 20 year old RHP Kendall Williams, Toronto’s 2nd round pick last year. He’ll join the 60 man pool.
He’s 6’6″ and had planned to pitch at Vanderbilt before Toronto drafted him. Here’s a profile from a Jays fan site: https://jaysjournal.com/2020/02/08/blue-jays-2020-top-prospects-11-kendall-williams/
Sorry, this is Voldomer. I misspelled my user ID.
Here’s some of the scouting report on Williams:
In January 2017, in the middle of his sophomore year of high school, Williams made the decision to relocate from his home in Mississippi to attend IMG Academy in Florida, with the hopes that the instruction plus the challenge of better competition would pay off. That it did, as Williams shot up Draft boards over the next couple of years en route to an above-slot bonus after the Blue Jays made the Vanderbilt commit their second-round pick. In an abbreviated pro debut in 2019, the selection paid early dividends, with the 18-year-old posting a 1.13 ERA over six games – five starts – and 16 innings in the rookie Gulf Coast League, where he walked seven and struck out 19.
At 6-foot-6, Williams is the quintessential projectable high school right-hander, and he’s still maturing. His velocity continues to creep up to the mid-90s and his fastball plays up because of its steep plane and angle. He throws both a slider and a curveball, with success, with some scouts thinking the curve will ultimately work better with its spin and coming from his high-three-quarter slot. He has some feel for a future average changeup.
Despite his size, Williams tends to throw strikes and should have solid command and control, not to mention sharper stuff, once he figures out how to consistently repeat his delivery with his long limbs. There’s a lot to dream on and potentially huge upside, though he’ll need time to develop and refine his craft in the Minors.
Scouting Grades/Report (20-80 grading scale)
FASTBALL
55
CURVEBALL
55
SLIDER
45
CHANGEUP
50
CONTROL
50
OVERALL
50
#17 on Blue Jays prospect list. He was a second round draft pick in 2019. This is a nice pickup.
There are a million prospect lists, of course. The one I took my info from had him at #13.
He must be pretty good. He was a Vandy commit when drafted and signed for above slot money.
Just what the Dodgers needed, another RHP. That will drop Andre Jackson from the top 30, so the count remains at 14. I was more concerned that it was going to be another utility infielder which Toronto also has several of. MLB Pipeline has Williams with an ETA of 2023, which generally means 2024-2025. With two pitches at 55, one at 50, and one at 45, he projects more as a reliever.
Many said after the draft that they believe that Bobby Miller projects to be a reliever as well, but he has a 65 fastball. He also has 55 slider and 50 change. Clayton Beeter has a 60 fastball, 60 curve, and 60 slider, and 50 change.
Other top 30 RHP Prospects of Dodgers:
Landon Knack – 60 fastball, 55 slider, 50 curve, 55 change
Gerardo Carrillo – 65 fastball, 55 slider, 55 curve, 50 change
Michael Grove – 60 fastball, 55 slider, 55 curve, 45 change
Edwin Uceta – 55 fastball, 50 curve, 60 change
Ryan Pepiot – 55 fastball, 50 slider, 60 change
Hyun-il Choi – 55 fastball, 50 slider, 45 curve, 55 change
Jimmy Lewis – 60 fastball, 55 curve, 50 change
Brett de Geus – 60 fastball, 55 slider, 60 curve
Andre Jackson – 60 fastball, 45 slider, 50 curve, 55 change
Mitch White has three 55 rated pitches.
Kendall Williams does not have one pitch with a 60 grade. Other than Mitch White and Hyun-il Choi, he would be the only RHSP without a pitch rated at or above 60. There is nothing wrong with him, but he is not special when put up next to the overabundance of RHP that LAD has. Mitch White will probably be next year’s Stripling.
As a prospect, Ross Stripling graded out just about the same as Kendall Williams. It appears that Williams’ ceiling is Ross Stripling. Same as Mitch White. WHy not take a chance on a position of need, say OF.
While I have zero knowledge as to whether he was made available or not, I would have preferred 18 year old CF Dasan Brown (#19 prospect). He has elite speed (80) and a plus field grade. His speed and fielding project to stick in CF. He does not have the power potential to play a corner OF spot.
Good information AC
Toronto’s system is pretty good, but anyone not in the top 15 of any system ranking has to be considered something of a long shot, right? Maybe this kid can be developed. I agree about Brown. Doubt it will be him.
Agree with you that anyone not in top 15 will have a tougher road to become a star. There have been a number of lesser rated players that make a roster, but generally not as a regular. Even in the top 15, the road is tough. The difference is that those players get a much longer rope. Think Jeren Kendall who was a top 5 at one point.
One thing I’ve always wondered, AC, is whether a grade indicates score as of the date of the grade or max potential.
In other words is a 60 grade fastball the same for a 23 year old as for a 20 year old?
And I agree, by the way, that it would have been nice to get an outfielder rather than another RHP.
It depends on the publication. MLB Pipeline looks at the grade at the current time. As an example, in 2017 Mitch White was graded with a 60 fastball and cutter, a 55 for curve and 45 for change. Currently, his grade for fastball and cutter/slider has been downgraded to 55. Fangraphs looks at future value (FV). They show Kendall Williams as a 40 FV. Dodger RHP FV are:
May – 60
Gray – 50
Gonsolin – 50
Graterol – 50
Gerardo Carrillo – 45
Andre Jackson – 40+
Ryan Pepiot – 40+
Jimmy Lewis – 40
Edwin Uceta – 40
Dennis Santana – 40
Mitch White – 40
Carlos Duran – 40
Jerming Rosario – 40
Williams slides into the Mitch White/Dennis Santana role. 7 RHP grade out higher, and 6 grade out as equal to. I have no problem with that role. I advocate for it. But to trade Ross Stripling for someone who is going to be Ross Stripling 4 years from now does not move the needle for the future, nor does it help the team today.
I pulled it from BA. They are my go to for prospects since I’ve been getting their yearly prospect handbook for as long as I can remember.
OK, we’ll use your source since you actually get a handbook every year.
I think my source was MLB Pipeline.
In any case (and with the proviso that Williams might never throw another pitch) I’m happy with the return, even if the 2nd guy is just a throw in.
52nd pick; Dodgers selected highly regarded high schooler Jimmy Lewis (also 6′ 6″) with the 78th pick. Appears to be another excellent trade by Friedman and staff.
From what I read the acquisition is like that of a late round 1 early round 2 pick. That’s a pretty great get for Stripling.
As discussed before I don’t understand the “comp” world, but Twitter says this guys comps to Nate Pearson.
Was fairly raw for the pro game but + size, athleticism, and feel for spin. On the ludicrous scale, he was likened by a Blue Jays scout to a young Noah Syndergaard.
Good reading from your article, Bear. Thank you for highlighting one of my favorite old time Dodgers.
On the 2 PTBNL from Toronto, could one of them be Ryu? Just dreaming. But, would love to see him back. Never liked him leaving.
When will the ptbnl be official? It will be nice to see the return for Ross. Will Ross still be the financial advisor for some Dodgers?
We now know one of them (see my post above)
Very nice morning read Bear!! I never had the pleasure of seeing Pee Wee Reese play, but I loved the stories that Vin Scully would tell about him. I too love the movie 42 and think it is a much watch for any baseball lover. After watching the movie, Pee Wee’s stature rose exponentially in my eyes. He also shares the same birth date as my wife, albeit he was born 30 years earlier.
As much as I hated to see him traded away, Kendall Williams seems like a very nice return for Stripling. Look forward to seeing what the player development department can do with him.
Please keep these articles coming Bear!!
The Dodgers now have five pitchers who’ve been drafted in the top two rounds the last two years:
2019: Kendall Williams, Jimmy Lewis
2020: Bobby Miller, Landon Knack, Clayton Beeter
We need a young big right handed bat in left field that doesn’t strike out every other at bat
I would have loved to see what it would have cost to acquire Starling Marte. Miami traded LHP Caleb Smith and RHP Humberto Mejia for Starling Mejia. Since the decision was to move Strip, why not trade him for Marte? Regardless, AF could have put a better package together than did Miami.
Another RH bat that maybe could have helped LA was Todd Frazier. Against LHP Frazier is hitting .343/.425/.514/.939. Mets traded a PTBNL for Frazier. My guess is that AF’s PTBNL could have been a better P.
Marte is an interesting player. Who’s place would he take on our roster?
Joc. They moved Strip, they could have moved Joc for a PTBNL as well.
I see. Well, maybe Joc clobbers RHP the rest of the way.
Thanks for the really nice article, Bear! You captured something of the nostalgia for that time, which seems so much more innocent than our time, now. It’s true that players back then had no rights and were exploited for their talents. Yet, it also seems like a time when character mattered. That’s what you see in Pee Wee, his character, the moral dimension of the man. You see how his teammates, coaches, even the opposing players responded to it. I suspect that Ross Stripling has some of that character. His podcast with Joe Kelly showed someone who is intelligent and empathic. I think that is why he will be missed. His talent is not as great as some of the up and coming pitchers. He will be missed more for his personal qualities, like being willing to take any role assigned to him and do it willingly. Fortunately, my impression of Gonsolin is that he is also someone of character. And his talent still has an upside, where Strip had already reached his ceiling. Still, Strip will be missed.
David – this early piece on Tony Gonsolin reveals something of his character.
https://www.thinkbluela.com/2016/08/loons-tony-gonsolin-i-just-want-to-play-baseball/
Totally concur with you about Ross’ character. He did anything that was asked without complaint. He is a gentleman and he will be missed. That is not to say that his character is more positive than anyone else, it is just that he stood out. I am VERY happy for Strip that he can continue to compete for a starting rotation in Toronto, but my take on a deadline trade for a team that is in contention is that it needs to be for someone that would make the team better for THIS year. Trading Strip for someone who figures to emulate him 4 years down the road does not make THIS team better.
Even though I agree with everything above, I’m not sure that trading Strip makes THIS team worse either.
He’s not one of our top 5 starters, and he wouldn’t have started in October. He’s not one of our elite relievers, and I don’t see him a BETTER option in the pen than most of the guys in that pen now. His spot as a middle reliever/multiple inning reliever in October will likely be filled by Gonsolin/May/Urias. So aside from his fantastic personality and team oriented locker room character, his on the field presence may not be missed in 2020.
Okay, you do not believe that Strip would help the bullpen. We just disagree with that and the only person that matters, AF, agrees with you. That being said, everyone who agrees that Strip should not have been retained for the bullpen, I would assume that you will all be okay if (when) Baez and Kelly implode as they are more likely to do than Strip.
Strip pitched in the playoffs in 2016, 2017, and 2019. I don’t quite recall why he didn’t pitch in the 2018 playoffs (maybe injured?). He was great in 2017, and not great in 2016 and 2019.
Overall, he has a 5.40 ERA in the playoffs. 8.1ip, 11 hits, 5ER, 2b, 4k, a .344 BA against, and a 1.56 WHIP. For his regular season career, he’s almost at 1k per inning. But in October, he wasn’t getting those swings and misses and the strikeouts. Perhaps you’d rather have him in October, but AF clearly didn’t.
I don’t see an implosion from those two unless Doc asks them to get more than 3 outs. I think our bullpen is deep enough and good enough to get through the playoffs just fine. That said, I thought Stripling would be designated long man. I’m assuming that role, if needed, goes to Santana or Wood.
Santana will be the long man for now, but he will not be in the playoffs. Rios still needs to be added as does Buehler and Baez and Kelly. Santana does not make it through those additions. As far as Wood goes, I am not confident he makes it back. I am one of Wood’s biggest advocates (have been since before the trade with ATL), but I do not seem him as an improvement over the other LHRP. I do not think he makes the post season roster unless there is an injury.
Well I was wrong. Wood is back on the roster.
I like Baez, he has been effective and his career stats are WAY BETTER than Stripling.
I like Stripling better than Kelly, I haven’t been shy to call out how much I dislike Kelly. A matter of fact I would like Kelly to stay on the IL, and it’s not because I wish an injury on anyone.
But overall Stripling would not help the bullpen. He’s just not a good enough pitcher on this team.
I am not concerned with the regular season. The Dodgers have a large enough lead that they are not going to relinquish it. I am much more concerned with how the pitchers pitch in the post season. Baez has pitched in 23 games (21.2 IP) in the post season. He has allowed runs to be scored in 7 of them (30%). Strip has pitched in 11 post season games and allowed runs in two of them (22%). Strip pitched horribly in the 2016 Game 4 of the NLCS and allowed 5 runs (4 earned). He did not give up a run in the other 4 games in the 2016 post season. He did not allow any runs in the 2017 post season. He allowed 1 run in the one game he pitched in the 2019 post season. Baez has allowed 4 HRs and Strip 0. You prefer Baez and I prefer Strip. Again, the only voice that matters (AF) agrees with you.
Yea I here you Jeff. I just trust bigger samples than smaller ones. That’s why I look at career stats the most.
Thanks Bear for the great article. Always fun to read the history of the game. If I was on today’s team I would vote for co captains Kersh and Mookie.
Sorry to see Strip get traded. He will get more chances in Toronto and I hope he does well. I seem to remember his first start was a no hitter into the seventh and Doc came and got him because the pitch count was getting up there.
Hard for a pitcher to be the Captain, Usually it would be a position player.
Strip pitched in the playoffs in 2016, 2017, and 2019. I don’t quite recall why he didn’t pitch in the 2018 playoffs (maybe injured?). He was great in 2017, and not great in 2016 and 2019.
Overall, he has a 5.40 ERA in the playoffs. 8.1ip, 11 hits, 5ER, 2b, 4k, a .344 BA against, and a 1.56 WHIP. For his regular season career, he’s almost at 1k per inning. But in October, he wasn’t getting those swings and misses and the strikeouts. Perhaps you’d rather have him in October, but AF clearly didn’t.
ERAs for a relief pitcher are meaningless. His ERA is inflated because he allowed 4 earned runs (5 total) in 0.1 IP in one game. He allowed 1 run in one other game. In 9 of the 11 games, he allowed 0 runs. Can Baez say the same thing?
Could David Price return to the Dodgers this season?
https://sports.yahoo.com/could-david-price-return-dodgers-140015817.html?src=rss
I would like to see it, although I don’t know if there would be enough time to get in shape
Could David Price return to the Dodgers this season?
https://sports.yahoo.com/could-david-price-return-dodgers-140015817.html?src=rss
I would like to see it, although I don’t know if there would be enough time to get in shape
He’s well rested.
But I doubt it.
Wood has never pitched well out of the bullpen so I don’t see him as the long man – it’s not a good fit. I agree that Stripling is probably better than Santana or Gonzalez as long man (at least at this point) but Strip has 2 more arb eligible years whereas Santana and Gonzalez will be under team control through 2026.
If Wood returns, I assume that they will see if he can compete for a spot in the rotation. If not, he’s probably off of the postseason roster.
Baez (aka El Gasolino) has become one of Roberts’ steadiest options for high leverage innings out of the ‘pen (who’d have thunk it). Last season he was in more high leverage situations than any reliever on the roster except Jansen. In high leverage situations last year (in the 7th inning or later with the game tied or ahead by 1 or with the tying run on deck), his OPS against was .476. He will be missed until he returns.
Wild Man Kelly, on the other hand is the opposite of Baez. In high leverage situations last year his OPS against was .765. There is almost no one that I trust less with a lead than Kelly, which is saying something given his stuff. While I do expect that he will be back, I don’t look forward to it.
The Dodgers currently have 14 pitchers on their 28 man active roster. I expect that Baez and Kelly will be back and that Gonzalez and Santana will be sent down. I also expect their post-season rotation will not include Wood and that one of Gonsolin, May and Urias will be the long man in the bullpen.
Wood has been excellent as a reliever .566 career OPS against him as a reliever. Somewhat small sample though.
You’re right about Baez and Kelly. And I too do not trust Kelly one bit.
If ever there was an outlier year, this is it. I don’t much care what has happened in the past. I’m just looking at who pitches well the rest of the way. Santana makes me nervous. If Wood is healthy, I would prefer him as long man. But who knows. We wait for the finish.
Badger I agree with you about Santana, he makes me nervous too.
Career .877 OPS against him and .800 OPS against him this season so far. I don’t want Doc to allow him anywhere near the mound in winnable games.
Come playoff time I don’t want him on the roster because who knows what Doc will do with him in the playoffs.
He won’t be on the playoff roster.
He may have been good, but he does not like the role. Unlike Strip, who just did what he was asked, Wood did the job, but was very vocal that he is a starter.
Alex Wood added to the roster tonight, taking Striplings place in the bullpen — 5 LH’ers in BP. Buehler to return tomorrow — no indication on who goes back to the alternate site to make room.
Actually 6 LFRP for tonight. Alexander, Ferguson, Gonzalez, Kolarek, McGee, and Wood. RHRP – Jansen, Treinen, Floro, Graterol, and Santana. 15 pitchers and 13 position players entering tonight’s game.
Good catch. Should have looked at roster rather than trusting the fading memory
JT on the IL with a left hamstring strain.
Rios was activated. They do not really need to push JT, and he should be back in time for the next Padres series.
I am guessing that Lux is auditioning for a roster spot for the remainder of the season once JT does return. Because the starting pitchers are not expected to go deep, the team needs more relief pitching. We will get to see what Lux does against LHP in tonight’s game.
Today’s lineup:
Mookie
Seager
Pollock (DH)
Muncy
CT3 (CF)
Smith
Kike (LF)
Rios (3b)
Lux
Urias
I do not like Kike in the lineup, He has reverse splits, and is hitting RH pitching better. Giving Belli a blow is probably smart. Between Mookie, Seager, and Pollock they have more HR’s this year than the entire D-Backs lineup tonight.
Damn I wish Beaty was in there. He has a very small sample vs lefties this season but it is a good sample. And I want him to make a statement to Doc that he can hit lefties.
If there is any year that Doc can experiment and not put the team in jeopardy of not making the playoffs it’s this year. Beaty does have horrible career stats vs lefties but it is a small 38 at bats sample. I wish Doc would give him a shot and also bring up DJ Peters and give him a shot. You never know, you might find out something that is positive.
You do realize Peters has struck out 615 times in 1989 PA (32.7%). In a pennant race? I do not see that happening.
Doc has no say-so in calling up DJ – that is up to the Front Office.
Matt Beaty has a career OB% of .315, and you want Doc to give him a shot, but you hate Kike who has a .319 career OB%? Hummmm….
I know what Hernandez is all about Beaty is still unknown that’s why.
We really don’t have many right handed hitters on the roster, and now even one less with JT on the IL.
I realize a number of guys have reverse splits anyway, but we could only find 5 right handed batters to start tonight.
The only other option would have been to start Barnes at second instead of Lux.
Why is Belli getting a second day in a row off? Hopefully just more rest rather than an injury that nobody is talking about.
AF says we do not need any more RH batting.
I’m not concerned about the team hitting lefties. I think it will correct itself. But has anyone thought of DJ Peters getting a shot to show what he has? Just a thought.
I would like to see the kid get a couple of shots. Couldn’t hurt, and he is a RH power hitter.
I like the deal the Dodgers made at the trade deadline. They effectively traded a pitcher that had a -.8 WAR for a pitcher with a +.9 WAR (Gonsolin).
I have liked Ross Stripling and believed that this might be his year. He started out on fire, pitching 7 strong innings and allowed just 1 ER. His fastball had location and movement and he was hitting 95 and his curveball was a hammer! It turns out that was his high-point of the season.
His ERA was as follows after each game:
Game 1: 1.29
Game 2: 2.92
Game 3: 4.00
Game 4: 3.97
Game 5: 5.61
Game 6: 5.46
Game 7: 5.61
I know I had seen enough and so had AF. Ross is a good guy, but he wants to be a starter and he stands to make much more as a starter. AF got value back and gave Ross an opportunity. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery.
The Dodgers got better at the trad deadline by losing Stripling and gaining Gonsolin. Urias slots at #3, May at #4 and Gonsolin at #5.
Dustin May has been consistent, in that his ERA has never been over 3.00 all year. It sits at 2.83 as we speak. He has pitched 5 innings or more in 4 out of his seven starts. I’ll take that for a #4.
Gonsolin has pitched 17.2 innings and has a 0.51 ERa and a 0.792 WHIP. Even Ray Charles can see that is better than Chicken Strip.
Julio Urias has a career 3.24 ERA, but his ERA this year is 3.67. He has been up and down with his last game being his worst! 4 ER in 4 IP. Unlike Stripling, he has not pitched himself out of the rotation and tonight is a big start for him. His ERA is better the Gerrit Coles’ and Cole is averaging 2.3 HR per 9 IP while Urias is at 1.0 HR per 9 IP. I am not saying he is as good as Cole, but he is a kid and is not doing horrible. I still think he will get it together. His stuff prevents much hard contact. He just needs better control.
I agree mark, addition by subtraction. Strip was given the opportunity and it did not pan out in la. Less stress in Toronto and probably less competition as the Dodgers have a guy pushing you daily. Not like AF to give up a player with a couple of years of control. I hope we got adequate return but I guess AF thought so. I think Gonsolin is a tough cookie a junkyard dog a grinder so I believe we improved.
Dustin May has pitched well and consistent. It is a concern for someone with his stuff to have very few strikeouts. I think he needs an adequate change. Everything is hard. At one point I believe he was a victim of an overly high average on balls in play. It may not be the case but it seems he gives up a lot of seeing eye hits.
Urias seems to have regresssed this year. He has never shown great command. That usually comes with experience but a high pitch count has plagued him throughout his young career. It could suddenly click let’s hope.
Urias looks more sharp tonight than I’ve ever seen him. Aggressive and attacking the plate. If he pitches like this for the rest of the season, I’ll be very pleased.
So now Turner is diagnosed with a hamstring strain, not just a case of dehydration. Who knows when he will be back, and whether he restrains it, and is out for the season. He strained it trying to steal second base, because Roberts decided that he would be Picasso again and brilliantly add a surprising and unusual dash of SB color to the game canvas he was painting. The one player on the team whom I would try to protect from doing any unnecessary running and sliding, is Turner. Scoring the winning run in a playoff game,, that is a necessary risk, if you don’t want to take him out for a pinch runner.. Having him trying to steal second in a 2-2 game in the seventh inning, when you have a record of 24-9, is idiotic, and the result was hardly a big surprise.
How do we know Turner didn’t steal that base on his own? I agree it was a surprise, but, could it be Justin saw an opportunity and just took off? I think it’s certain nobody was expecting it. Great play. But ‘cept for that hammy thing.
He was pretty reckless throwing his body around in that 11 inning loss against the Giants a few nights before. He’s probably the unofficial captain of the position players, so I wonder if he was trying to lead by example and make a point about something. Effort’s not really an issue with the club, save some embarrassing ground outs. Or maybe he was trying to prove something to himself? We’re in it now. Turner’s always good for 1-2 injury stints per season and it took him a little over a month to get sidelined this time. I’d like to see Seager move over and Taylor play SS full time, as long as we’re tinkering.
It was my understanding the JT stole 2B on his own and it was not called by the bench, but maybe you have information I do not.
It makes more sense to me that it would have been Justin’s idea, not Doc’s.
Roberts is not guilty of Turner’s injury, no one can and should not blame him or anyone, Turner could have been injured just trying to score or running to second after one hit, stop looking to blame for everything.
Always looking for someone to make him guilty of everything, that is idiotic.
DODGERS PLACE IF JUSTIN TURNER ON IL
LOS ANGELES ACTIVATES IF EDWIN RIOS & LHP ALEX WOOD
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed infielder Justin Turner on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, retroactive to August 29, and have activated infielder Edwin Ríos and left-handed pitcher Alex Wood from the 10-day injured list.
Ríos, 26, returns to the Dodgers after missing 13 games with a left hamstring strain. In 14 games with the Dodgers this season, he is batting .276 (8-for-29) with three doubles, three homers and six RBI. In 42 career games for the Dodgers, he is a .276 (21-for-76) hitter with five doubles, one triple, seven homers and 14 RBI. Prior to joining the Major League roster last season, Ríos has spent five seasons in the Dodger organization, hitting a combined .295 (492-for-1670) with 95 homers and 326 RBI in 450 games. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in sixth round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Florida International University.
Wood, 29, made one start for the Dodgers this season, tossing three innings, and allowing three runs in a 5-4 loss to the Giants on July 25 before being placed on the 10-day injured list with shoulder inflammation. He is 31-21 with a 3.50 ERA (170 ER/437.2 IP) and 405 strikeouts in parts of five seasons with the Dodgers. In eight Major League seasons, he is a combined 53-44 with a 3.42 ERA (320 ER/842.0 IP) and 772 strikeouts.
Turner, 35, has appeared in 32 games for the Dodgers this season, slashing .282/.384/.410 with two homers and 20 RBI. The Long Beach, CA native is in his seventh season with the Boys in Blue and has hit a combined .301 (797-for-2647) with 114 homers and 403 RBI in 786 games for the Dodgers. In his 12-year Major League career, he has batted .291 (1016-for-3488) with 122 homers and 492 RBI. The 2017 All-Star recorded his 1,000th hit on August 11 against the Padres, becoming the 1,342nd player in MLB baseball to accomplish the feat. He was originally acquired by the Dodgers on February 6, 2014 as a non-roster free agent.
This year, Julio has a 10.50 ERA in the first inning. 12 Pitches – No runs. This could be the start of something good!
Lady and Gentlemen:
That is the Julio Urias I have been expecting!
He’s done it a few times already. 2 quality starts and at least 5 in half his starts.
I like what I am seeing from Julio!
Kike misses a Granny by a tick! But he got the RBI!
I love those productive outs!
On one hand… I would like to see Julio go 7.
On the other hand… let’s build on this.
There is no right answer!
Julio has to feel better about not having to look over his shoulder. The Dodgers dealing Stripling tells him that the team believes in him just as much as it does Goose.
We don’t need no stinking Clevinger! This is what Julio can do when he throws strikes! Our young guns stepping up!
Alex Wood could be a weapon out of the pen… he looked very good. If he can get 92 on his FB, he can be great.
Another great read Michael – you’re good at this.
Good result tonight – not unhappy with standing pat. Playoffs are a bit of a Crapshoot. Need some to get hot at the right time, a bit of luck and Doc to have learned from previous adventures.
Got a little dicey there in the 9th. And Jansen never got his heater over 90, but they won. Nice job by Urias, offense left too many men on again. It should not have been as close as it was. Az’s best pitcher going tonight. Rocks got hammered by the Giants, 23-5 at Coors. That has to be embarrassing. Grey and Diaz each gave up 7 runs, Diaz in 2/3rds of an inning. Pads taking on the Halos tonight.