Our Boys in Blue have clinched yet another NL West Championship. That streak has now reached 8, and is one behind 9 consecutive AL East Titles by NYY and 14 consecutive Divisional Titles by Atlanta.
Out of the previous seven, the Dodgers have won two pennants, with no World Series Championships. NYY’s streak was from 1998 through 2006. The Yankees won five pennants and three consecutive World Series Championships for 1998, 1999, and 2000. From 1996 through 2003, NYY won six pennants and four World Championships in eight years. That is hard to top today. I hate NYY, but you have to admit that the six World Series appearances and four WS Championships is very special. It does top the five year run of three World Series appearances and WS Championships, the other hated ones achieved in 2010-2014. I cannot bring myself to write their name.
The Atlanta Braves won three consecutive NL West Titles (1991-1993) and eleven NL East Titles (1995-2005). You will note that 1994 was missed. This was a strike year. While the Braves were very good that year until the strike ended the season, it is doubtful that the Braves would have won the NL East. After 114 games, the Montreal Expos had the best record in MLB and were 6.0 games ahead of the Braves in the NL East Division. 1994 was the first year for three divisions in a league, and Atlanta’s first year in the NL East. Since no Division Titles were awarded in 1994, the streak continued in 1995. Thus under the new three division scenario, Atlanta won the first 11 NL East titles.
Teams have to be good to win a division. You just do not luck into winning a division title. Winning eight consecutive titles indicates that the organization is special as well. For the Dodgers, AF has been the President of Baseball Operations for the last six years, and has put together a team to win each year of his reign. This is Dave Roberts’ fifth consecutive year winning the NL West. Both gentlemen have proven that they are more than capable of engineering success over the regular season; even an abbreviated 60 game season. But now comes the hard part. You have proven that you can get this far, now take the team to the finish line.
It will not be easy. But for the Dodgers, I think the first series could be the most daunting. Any team can win a three game series against any other. Look at Colorado over LAD a couple of weeks back. There is no chance that Colorado is a better team, but they sure were for those three games.
I know that I am speaking to the choir, but the Wild Card Series bracket is as follows. The three division winners are seeded 1-3 depending on their final won-loss percentage. The three division second place teams are seeded 4-6 depending on their final won-loss percentage. Finally, the top two remaining won-loss percentage teams will be seeded 7-8,
- #1 seed plays #8 seed
- #2 seed plays #7 seed
- #3 seed plays #6 seed
- #4 seed plays #5 seed
We know the number 1 and the number 4 seeds are the Dodgers and Padres respectively. The Padres could very well end up with the second best record in the NL, but it cannot improve their seeding. The Padres knew this was the likely scenario, and went out and acquired a number of players that will enhance their chance to win the initial three game series and move on into bubble non-home field advantage NLDS and NLCS. They do not have to face one of the division champions in the Wild Card series. Instead they will face the #5 seed in San Diego. Are they really any worse off than the Dodgers, Braves, or Cubs. Seeds 5-8 are really the same team. If there was home field advantage in the NLDS and NLCS, the Pads would be at a disadvantage, but in a bubble…not really.
I am writing this on Wednesday morning, so everything could change. The #2 and #3 seeds still need to be decided. The Braves have a one game lead over the Cubs for #2. #5 thru #8 is wide open and six teams have a realistic chance. Currently #5 – #10 are St. Louis, Miami, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. Cincinnati, San Francisco, and Milwaukee are all at .500, and the tie breaker formula could very well decide who actually gets into the playoffs and their eventual seeding. Technically NYM and Colorado are still in the hunt, but their chances are slipping fast.
MY projected 3-man rotation for each of the possible #8 seeds:
- St. Louis – Jack Flaherty, Adam Wainwright, Kwang Hyun Kim (L)
- Miami – Pablo Lopez, Sixto Sanchez, Sandy Alcantara
- Cincinnati – Luis Castillo, Trevor Bauer, Sonny Gray
- SFG – Johnny Cueto, Kevin Gausman, Tyler Anderson (L) (Over Logan Webb)
- Milwaukee – Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, Brett Anderson (L)
- Philadelphia – Aaron Nola, Zach Wheeler, Zach Eflin
The Dodgers would certainly be favorites over any of those teams, but each of those rotations have the ability to shut down the Dodgers.
I keep reading that many here believe that both Joc and Max may not (should not??) make the playoff roster. Maybe they would not be your choices, but unless Joc opts out for personal reasons, both will be on the Wild Card roster. AF and Doc both prefer veterans in the playoffs over the kids. Zach McKinstry seems to be a fan favorite, but he has all of 7 MLB at-bats. Does anyone truly believe that AF is going to select Zach over Max or Joc for the playoffs? Two LH bats with playoff experience who can carry the team? Not saying they will but they could. Max was the deciding factor in the one 2018 WS game the Dodgers won, and Joc should have been the WS MVP in 2017 (and would have been if not for the cheating). Okay maybe Co-MVP with Clayton. I see no possible way for either Max or Joc being left off for Zach McKinstry.
Doc has said that he does not see much platooning in the playoffs. CT3 and AJ have both shown they can hit RHP, so they should be able to be in the lineup throughout. And that is basically what Doc has implied in his pressers. Walker Buehler comes off the IL on Thursday, and Mitch White is probably optioned back to USC. My projected roster for the first series will be 14 position players and 14 pitchers.
- 1B – Max Muncy
- 2B – CT3
- 3B – JT
- SS – Corey Seager
- LF – AJ
- CF – Belli
- RF – Mookie
- C – Fresh Prince
- DH – Joc (against RHP) or Kike’ (against LHP)
- Kershaw’s catcher – Austin Barnes
- Bench (4) – Edwin Rios, Gavin Lux, Matt Beaty, and Joc or Kike’ (whoever is not DH)
- SP (3) – Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Dustin May
- RP (11) – Tony Gonsolin, Julio Urias (L), KJ, Blake Treinen, Pedro Baez, Dylan Floro, Joe Kelly, Brusdar Graterol, Adam Kolarek (L), Jake McGee (L), Victor Gonzalez (L)
Alex Wood does not make the initial series roster, but if the roster expands to 15 in subsequent rounds, I think the Dodgers add Wood and send Beaty back to USC. I selected May as the #3 starter because I think that Gonsolin and Urias are more effective than May would be coming in relief.
I do not think JT plays defense the first round, Rios will play 3B and JT will DH, putting both Joc and Kike’ on the bench. If JT cannot play at all in the first round, Zach McKinstry or Keibert Ruiz could be added, or they could choose to go 15 pitchers initially.
Where the Dodgers will really have an advantage will be in the NLDS and NLCS. With no days off, the Dodgers have five legit starting pitchers, and no other team can make the same claim. The Dodgers also have a deeper bullpen than most (if not all teams) in a five or seven game series without days off. If the Dodgers can get past the first round, they would have to be prohibitive favorites to make the WS.
There are too many variables to look beyond the first round.
- Can JT play?
- If JT plays, does he DH?
- Does Joc opt out for the NLDS and NLCS and WS?
- Will Walker Buehler’s blisters resurface?
- How many openers and bulk inning relief roles by Gonsolin, May, and Urias can be anticipated? Or will all three start?
Excellent analysis Jeff. By the way, I know it is a misprint, but the Braves have never played in the AL East. As of right now, the Dodgers opponent would be the Reds, but that could change quickly. The Reds have played 57 games and the Giants only 55. They have a 4 game series with the Padres this weekend. The Phillies and Milwaukee are both 1 game under .500, so they are not out of it yet. The Giants play the Rockies one more before they play the Padres. Milwaukee has all of it’s remaining games against the Cardinals, while the Phillies finish against the Rays, and the Reds play the Twins. Dodgers currently lead the Rays by 2 games for best overall record. Playoffs for the Dodgers start next Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. Turner’s being pulled after 5 innings was preplanned. So it was not due to injury.
Bear, thanks. Fixed!
Anytime there buddy. Just fact checking.
Julio Urias leads the Dodgers in IP this year. Clayton will likely pass him in his next start.
I think we are starting to see how good Julio can be if he can get past his 1st inning problems. I think the right move is for him to pitch out of the pen this year in the playoffs, but he is obviously a top-of-the-rotation starter.
Mad Max is showing signs of life but is he had gone down the stretch and taken a collar, I would have definitely left him off the roster. It’s no longer an issue as he seems to be getting his mojo back.
I can’t say the same about Joc – I hope his head is in the game.
I think Clayton needs 7 IP to qualify for the ERA title. He’s in the Top 5!
Had the team kept Gonsolin with the big club a few weeks earlier like everyone on this blog was screaming for, he would be the one with the ERA title.
Clayton needs 5.2 IP to reach 60 and qualify.
5 out of 4 people struggle with math!
And you are 3 of them.
Yes on Urias. Muncy would have never even been considered for being left off the roster especially with Joc being a question mark. Max has been through two years of postseason play. Doc keeping him in the cleanup spot no matter what everyone else thinks speaks to what Doc thinks.
The Dodgers are tinkering with using openers and that has me worried. What’s the purpose? Yes Urias looked good coming into the game in the 3rd but Kelly lost the game in the first. It doesn’t matter much when runs are scored, onky who has the most runs when the gsme is over.
I’d like to see an article on the opener strategy and the reasoning for batting the pitcher #8 to have a bat hitting before the leadoff hitter after the first rotation (al la Tony La Russa).
Kelly will never be the opener again. It will be Graterol .
What is up with Blake Treinen? He used to excel at missing bats, not so much anymore. He has gone from me wanting him in there to now thinking Gaselino Rev2. What’s up with Dennis Santana? I haven’t seen him in a while?
Dennis Santana is at USC.
The pitch Treinen made to Laureano was a good pitch that Laureano just happened to turn on. Stuff happens.
Thanks, AC, for the breakdown of the playoff participants however changing some of the bottom ones are. At least I now have a pretty good idea who might make the top eight.
My playoff roster is much like yours (surprise to me).
Joe Kelly is rusty now but has been unreliable for years. I get using him last night to work out the kinks, but what’s with all of the curve balls? He threw nothing but #2 in his previous appearance and all but 4 pitches last night.
He is one guy that I never want to see out there with the game on the line. Maybe the worst free agent signing by Friedman et al.
For the first round the Dodgers should use the guy who has pitched best and been most consistent for the 3rd starter. That guy is Tony Gonsolin.
I agree with that rick.
In fact I have no problem with either of our young guns starting, or, opening with Graterol then sending May or Gonsolin in.
Kelly is there, trying to find his fastball. It’s been lost since he threw it through a second story bedroom window. If he could throw that cheese consistently at the upper margin of the strike zone he could be given that 6-9 inning that faces the bottom of the order no problemo. Starting him like that was a questionable strategy. No high leverage for that guy. Maybe next year.
We will face whatever team survives a mad finish to the 8 seed. Hopefully they exhausted their staff to get there, but, whatever and whoever, we should beat the crap out of them. My strategy? Give the middle finger to this joke of a playoff format and score 20 in first two games a and blow the 8 seed out of town in a hurry.
The pitch he threw through his window was a change up. Not a fastball. His fastball is there. He threw some last night, but the reason he is throwing the breaking ball is because he was missing his spot with it so much. I have no problem with Kelly at all. He is one of the few pitchers on the staff who has had success in the playoffs. And he wasn’t all bad last year either. He had a bad stretch at the beginning and was one of their better pitchers until he had a couple rough outings just before the playoffs last year. As for game 5. That’s on Roberts for sending him back out there.
I agree with your last point. I don’t agree he has command of his fastball. Until he shows me otherwise, I don’t trust him in the late innings unless that is when the bottom of the order comes up. What he showed last night was not impressive.
I really thought had we won game 5 last year vs DC we would win the whole thing.
I feel that again this year; if we win that first round, I think we get it done!
Think Blue
We were winning. Dave made 2 bad decisions, he sent Kersh back out and then left him in after he had given up a run, and he gave up another, and then bringing Kelly back out to pitch a second inning. Also we were seriously out pitched.
“seriously outpitched” nah I dont think so. We had em right where we wanted em, just didnt get it done.
2020 we will.
Better check the stats my man. They beat up on Corbin twice, and those were the only 2 wins they had. They scored exactly 6 runs in 3 games against Scherzer and Strasburg. In games Corbin pitched, they scored 16. Team BA was .220. DC’s was .230. They out homered DC, but only scored one more run than they did for the series. They struck out 64 times, against only 42 for the Nats. Both Strasburg and Scherzer had WHIP’s under 1,00 against them. Kershaw, Baez, Kelly, and Urias all got hammered pretty good by DC’s hitters, and DC hit homers when they needed them. They were outpitched when it counted.
Corbins games dont count got it.
Nats were so much better than us got that too.
Think Blue!
Nice try at sarcasm. What counted there bud, was that their aces got the job done, ours did not.
” I have no problem with Kelly at all. He is one of the few pitchers on the staff who has had success in the playoffs.”
And has had failure in the playoffs.
“bringing Kelly back out to pitch a second inning.”
So he is so fragile that he can’t pitch a second inning? The guy absolutely sucks. There are better options available to Doc and Doc better figure that out and either leave him off the playoff roster which is the preferred option or don’t use him in the playoffs because he can eliminate the Dodgers with 1 bad outing. This is why I talk about building a dominate bullpen. It seems GM’s nowadays don’t believe the bullpens are all that important.
Eric, how many games have you saved at the big league level? The same as me Zero. Kelly has a track record of success, He has been a one inning pitcher for quite a while. That is his job. And in Doc’s eyes, he had no better options why did he not even have them warming up while the Dodgers were hitting? Why did he send Kelly back out there? Every pitcher has bad games. I have seen Koufax get hammered and the so called best pitcher of our era get the same. Had Kershaw not given up 2 homers to tie the game, Kelly would never have even pitched. I think you are taking a small sample from this year and making judgement based on prejudice, not fact. Kenley Jansen has pitched worse than he has this year. Pitchers today are specialists. It has nothing to do with being fragile. It has to do with how they are built up to do the job they are paid to do. Has Kelly been lights out? No. But he has been effective. His inning yesterday was simply to get him work since he has not pitched in a month. They have already clinched, so I do not see what you all are so worked up about. You can mark my words. There will be a game in the post season where he is going to come into the game in a clutch situation, and it will be because he has pitched in that kind of situation, and been successful before. GM’s today know more about how important the bullpens are than you or I ever will.
I’m not talking about a small sample, Kelly has consistently sucked.
“Kelly has a track record of success”
I don’t know where you are getting that from and why you keep saying that.
“You can mark my words. There will be a game in the post season where he is going to come into the game in a clutch situation, and it will be because he has pitched in that kind of situation, and been successful before.”
God help us if that happens and if it does it shows how bad a manager Doc is.
At this point I think you have to consider Rios over Joc as the dh against righties. Joc is just list up there right now. I feel bad for the guy. He obviously is struggling with some off the field concerns
I honestly believe Joc will be on the roster for the first round, but, when they go in the bubble for the second round, if they get there, he will not be with the team. I think his family issues will keep him in California.
Winning the five-team division is nice, but for most of the period, there was nothing much in it. Baseball is, unfortunately or not, all about winning that final game, which is hard, but some teams do it. At some point, the Dodgers are going to go down in the sports history books for some kind of record of winning the most games in a long period without ever winning the title. So while i would certainly not scoff at or ignore this success, and the many fans who are understandably very gratified by it, it has its limits, particularly after years of the same end result.
if I were managing the team, I would never use Kelly unless we were ten runs behind. But Roberts seems to like him, because he uses him a lot when available. Starting the game three runs down is not good, and could be disastrous in the playoffs.
Treinen is unfortunately not doing as well as earlier, and he just isn’t the pitcher he was three years ago in Oakland. Which leads to the question of who on the Dodgers relief staff is actually reliable? This one or that one might pitch well in a given game, but then do poorly the next time. it seems like a grab bag, and doesn’t our bullpen mostly seem like that every season? We cannot count on Jansen, Treinen is struggling some, Baez rarely pitches well three times in a row. You need to have at least one really good reliever, who can shut down the opposition in a key moment, and who can lock it down in the ninth, and we do not have that. This is what worries me the most about the playoffs; that and the thing I have mentioned several times, that there is no way that Turner should have been trying to steal a base, no matter whose idea it was.
If we can get by that ridiculous three-game series, our advantages will be greater in the longer series. But we still need our bullpen to consistently close out games, we are not getting complete games or likely even eight innings out of our starters.
Kelly can shut teams down, and he has proved that. He dominated the Dodgers in the series in 18. I think y’all are over reacting to a pitcher who has thrown only 3 innings in the last month. He was working on his control of his breaking ball yesterday. That is the one pitch that he has had trouble with even earlier this year. Last year Kelly got off to a bad start. In April and May he was bad. Then from June through the end of the season, he was a totally different pitcher. He had 44 K’s in 33 innings. His ERA was high simply because of the first two months of the season, and since he rarely pitches more than one inning, he never pitched enough to get it down. I think the trust is there because of his track record. And he is the one guy in that pen that when he comes in to pitch, hitters are very uncomfortable.
We had that key reliever, in my opinion. It was slating up to be Ferguson. I think the team is really going to miss him and not sure who can replace the value he was to the team.
Judging from what I have seen of him, Mitch White could be that kind of guy. He has been pretty impressive the couple of times he has pitched. All pitchers go through rough patches. The only reason Kelly was the opener last night was to get him some work. Winning the game was secondary. So I am not concerned when someone gives up something when they have already clinched. The pitch Lareano hit out last night was a good pitch. He just managed to get around on it. They hit two balls right on the screws in the 9th. But they were right at someone. Belli and Muncy looked better and Rios taking a lefty deep was a great sign. I think Joc will be on the roster for the first round, but if they advance, and go into the bubble, I think he will be replaced by Beaty. ..I have a question for all of you. If they lose in the first round, who gets the blame?
How can you decide who to blame before the event happens?
I suggest we wait to see how it unfolds before attempting to blame someone.
In the meantime Bear, I’m blaming you. You’ve got broad shoulders and I know you can handle it.
I have taken the blame for all of them. it is because I root for the team too hard. This time I am just going to drink a brewski and chill. BY the way, I said IF they lose. It is always on the players who do not perform. But I also believe that managers make some boneheaded moves in big games. And a few in Dodger history stand out. Dressen sending in Branca to face Thompson, who had beaten him with a HR just 2 days before in 51. Alston using Williams, who never really was very good out of the pen, and had a tendency to walk hitters, in to pitch with 2 on in the 9th with the Dodgers leading 4-2 in 62 against the Giants. Lasorda not walking Jack Clark, As for Dave, I will let sleeping dogs lie. The evidence of his gaffs are too fresh to dredge up here.
Well, of course it will have at least something to do with how the games are played, who does badly, whether Roberts will make any glaringly bad decisions. Just generally, I would say Roberts. If Clevinger and Rosenthal shine in a series we lose to them, then Friedman will get some blame, but GMs are usually not the target for playoff losses. i think that the nature of this season will limit most of the blaming, it will be considered by many writers and fans as a very unusual season where nothing should really be held against anyone.
Pretty obvious right now that Clevinger is going to miss some time. His bicep is acting up and he was pulled early yesterday.
Alex Gordon of the Royals is going to retire after 14 years with the Royals. Good player. Sandy Alderson will become the president of the Mets if the sale to Cohen goes through. Tatis’s batting average has dropped to .278 and the MVP talk about him has cooled off. Machado is a more viable candidate for that since he is hitting .313 with 16 homers and 47 ribbies. Freeman of the Braves is a solid candidate too. Dodgers in the mix would be Mookie and Seager, who leads the team with a .325 average and is tied with Mookie for the team lead in RBI’s at 39. Does not look like Clevinger is going to pitch in the first round at least. He has biceps problems again.
Buehler activated, White optioned to alternate site.
Nice analysis Jeff. It’s fun to speculate on match ups and roster spots and rotations.
Your line up looks good to me with one or 2 modifications (which you mentioned)
I’m not a JOC fan and if he opts in he will be on the roster but only as a pinch hitter in the right spot. He would not even DH. For at least the first round Rios would play 3rd to keep JT’s bat at DH and not risk him on defense. Rios’ stats are better than Joc’s against right handed pitching anyway (.224 – .791 vs .171. – .650). Joc’s selling point is he may occasionally run into a pitch and hit it out. In truth Rios has a better percentage of doing that than Joc. Joc homers once in every 19 at bats. Rios once every 12 at bats. I don’t see interest people’s interest in keeping this guy in a line up. Obviously Pollock is the everyday left (or center) fielder.
Kershaw and Buehler are no brainer starters for games 1 and 2. If we lose one I’m very comfortable with May, Gonsolin and especially Urias as game 3 starter. (But Urias in relief looks great) I’ll match up these guys with the 8th seed’s 3 guy, even Sonny Gray. I’m not sitting an HOF and future HOF to “load up for game 3”. That’s nuts to me. You play your best guys in the best situations. This format has no time to reinvent baseball. Plus why don’t you be the guy to tell Kershaw. You may have heard his thoughts on an “opener” last night. A thought I’ve shared when “openers” and bullpen games started to have legs 3 years ago. This strategy is fine for 4 and 5 starters who struggle the 3rd time through a lineup. But not for 1,2 and most 3 guys. This wastes dominate aces on the staff. Yeah, I know CK’s post season history but some was bad luck and mismanagement. How many teams would want May, Urias and Gonsolin in the back end of their rotation?
When the Dodgers signed Joe Kelly I ws a huge fan of the trade. I loved his stuff and thought he would be a high leverage back end reliever and possible closer. I stuck with that faith through one disappointing outing after another. I honestly now see no role for him other than mopping up with a big deficit. When you look closely, he had one good year since moving to the bullpen in 2017. He was effective for the Red Sox in 2018. He’s been a bust since. I have no idea what he’s doing now. I’d love to do a Vulcan Mind-Meld and climb inside that brain and see what’s in there as long as I know I can get out. Here’s a high velocity guy with movement with no command of the fastball. I have jokingly compared him to Sergion Romo; one slider after another (I know Kelly calls his a curve but it isn’t and it isn’t very good) I don’t get like 15 breaking balls in a row. What a headcase. And as dodger rick points out, one of AF’s worst signings at 8.8 million per.
Treinen has fallen from potential high leverage situations lately as well. He has pitched poorly in 3 of his last 5 outings.
It’s fun to read all the opinions and speculations. Keep em coming.
Looks like you will get your wish. Lots of chatter on twitter saying that they will be the game 1 and 2 starters. This is the only round they get in their own ballpark. But they have been better on the road. They have a challenge tonight. Fiers is a breaking ball guy, and they have not been great against that kind of pitch. But he is a righty, so Joc and Rios will probably both be in there at some point as will Lux.
I don’t know why we are re-litigating Wild Man Kelly at this point, but here goes:
Joe Kelly has a career WHIP of 1.386. Any relief pitcher who averages almost 14 baserunners per 9 innings isn’t reliable. He has walked 282 in 865 innings which is 3.7 per 9 IP.
He has been a Dodger since the beginning of 2019. His Dodger ERA is 4.18; his WHIP is 1.392. He was a -.6 WAR pitcher last year.
In his career he has allowed 34% of inherited runners to score – with the Blue it was 39% last year and 33% this year. Last year he blew 5 saves in 55 appearances against 8 holds.
I can’t think of any pitcher on the Dodgers’ roster that I would not prefer with the game on the line.
dodgerrick
Thank you for supplying those stats, you saved me time and effort. Joe Kelly absolutely sucks. I would hope he would be left off the playoff roster but for some reason I bet he won’t. It’s up to Doc to use him or not. Doc has better options, we’ll see how good or bad a manager Doc is in the playoffs when everything is on the line.
Your stats are flawed because his career stats include his stats as a starter. As a reliever he has only walked 105 in 253.1 innings. His ERA as a reliever is 3.46 and his strikeout ratio is 2.47to1.. His WHIP is 1.295. In 126 more innings he has given up 21 less homers than he did as a starter. Jansen blew more saves last year than he did. He has pitched a total of 9 innings this year. It is way too early to judge based on that .
Your stats are backward. He has pitched more innings as a starter than a reliever (432 vs 253), not fewer.
His BB/9 is 3.74 as a reliever which is the same as when he was a starter.
Jansen blew more saves because he had way more save opportunities. He had 41 save opportunities and blew 8 saves.
Kelly had 6 save opportunities and blew 5. NOT THE SAME THING AT ALL.
Here’s why he is on the roster:
1. 100 MPH Fastball;
2. He is s fighter; and
3. In 2018, Joe Kelly had a regular-season ERA of4.39 and a 1.355 WHIP, but in the World Series he had a 0.00 ERA and a 0.667 WHIP. In two World Series he has a 1.59 ERA and a 0.794 WHIP.
The Dodgers (particularly Honeycutt) thought they could “fix” Kelley, but it hasn’t happened… some of which is simply his inability to stay healthy. I don’t think he is on the roster for when the game is in the line and since he has not produced, this is a poor signing by AF… unless he does something amazing.
1. He doesn’t throw his 100 mph fastball. He might kill somebody with it.
2. He’s a fighter? Yup he fights himself.
He’s on the roster because he makes 8.8 million per.
One good year in 18 and the rest very pedestrian.
Just like Pederson, how bad do you have to be to get demoted to minimal roles? They will NOT help us win the WS
DODGERS ACTIVATE RHP WALKER BUEHLER
RHP MITCH WHITE OPTIONED
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have activated right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler from the 10-day injured list and have optioned right-handed pitcher Mitch White.
Buehler, 26, returns after missing 12 games with a blister on his right hand. The Kentucky native has made two separate trips to the injured list this season and has posted a 1-0 record with a 3.86 ERA (14 ER/32.2 IP) and 36 strikeouts in seven starts. The 2019 All-Star set career marks last season, going 14-4 with a 3.26 ERA (66 ER/182.1 IP) and 215 strikeouts in 30 starts. In parts of four Major League seasons, he is a combined 24-9 with a 3.19 ERA (128 ER/361.2 IP) and 414 strikeouts in 69 games (60 starts). He was originally selected by the Dodgers in the first round (24th overall) of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt University.
White, 25, made one appearance in his third stint with the club, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings on Friday at Colorado. In two games this season, he is 0-0 with 0.00 ERA (0 ER/3.0 IP) and two strikeouts. He made his Major League debut on August 28 at Texas, firing a scoreless frame against the Rangers. The former Santa Clara Bronco has been with the Dodgers four seasons, across five different levels, posting a 14-15 record with a 3.97 ERA (130 ER/294.2 IP) and 311 strikeouts. Last season, he split the season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, going a combined 4-6 with a 5.09 ERA (53 ER/93.2 IP) and 105 strikeouts. He was originally selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of Santa Clara University.
Today’s finale:
Mookie
Seager
JT
Muncy
Smith
Belly
Pollock
Joc (DH)
CT3
Buehler
I’m starting to like Smith in the fifth spot. I’ve wanted him higher in the lineup but fifth is alright.
Nice hit by Smith going with the pitch. I’d like to see that more often from the guys.
Smith is going to be very productive when you consider his position.
Smith has earned the right to DH when Barnes catches Kershaw
Yep that’s a good point Hawkeye.
unless JT is the full time DH due to his hamstring, and Rios is at 3b
That’s a good point too Bobby.
Smith was in a small slump but he didn’t let that bother him and he’s out of that slump now.
I just really like good hitting catchers and he seems like a humble team player kind of guy.
Of course dodger catchers is what I mean.
Mike Fiers A’s pitcher tonight was the one who testified about the asstro’s cheating in World Series with the Dodgers. Without his testimony we probably would not know what was going down. I still think they should have taken that trophy away from the cheaters!