During the current season with all of its oddities I have been most interested in a few of the Dodger players. That is, not the big boys but those most recently to the scene. I have already written about Will Smith who might just be my new favorite Dodger. He is a player and I love his clean cut appearance and work ethic but as a high draft pick he is not a surprise to me.
Beyond Will, I am pleased that Zach McKinstry has signed his time card to MLB. It will not be this year but he has demonstrated he can be a MLB player. Next year he will get a turn although it might not be with the Dodgers, depending on what happens with Kike Hernandez. I am delighted with another player I have followed closely since his time with the Loons in 2015. Who could have guessed he would currently have a K/BB ratio of 23/2 at the MLB level? Victor Gonzalez had to battle his way through pretty much unnoticed on a path littered with obstacles, some of them seemingly self-inflicted.
Gonzalez was signed as an international free agent out of Tuxpan, Mexico way back in 2012. He was part of the same signing group as the much heralded Julio Urias. Both left-handers were scouted by legendary scout Mike Brito whose most famous discovery was another left-hander – Fernando Valenzuela. The two young left-handers were not teammates on their paths to MLB through the Dodgers minor league system. They had been teammates in Mexico as 15-year-olds on the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Mexican Baseball League and now are teammates again.
Whereas Urias had an explosive beginning to his professional career, Gonzalez stumbled at the starting line. He did provide a bit of a fleeting glimpse of what might be to come in his 2013 season with the Arizona League Dodgers. He posted a 3.79 ERA over 38 innings along with 45 strikeouts and 12 walks.
His second season on the Dodger farm did not go as well. With the Ogden Raptors in 2014 he posted an unsightly ERA of 6.09 over 54.2 innings giving up 79 hits while striking out 45 and walking 22. However, that was as an 18-year-old. Perhaps things would even out in 2015 with the Loons as Julio Urias had dominated at the Class-A level.
Gonzalez did moved on to the Loons for the 2015 season. Things again did not go well and on the season he posted a 5.49 ERA giving up 75 hits over 57 innings pitched with 16 walks and 45 strikeouts.
His 2016 season with the Loons seemed to be a good step forward. He final stats showed an ERA of 3.61 which was about middle of the pack for the league. He pitched 94.2 innings allowing only 79 hits and struck out 104, second only to Dennis Santana on the the Loons staff. The new issue was control as he walked 44.
Another bump in the road came in 2017 as he had to submit to the surgeon’s knife with the now-so-common Tommy John surgery which wiped out his 2017 season and most of 2018. At the same time Julio Urias had anterior capsule surgery. They rehabbed together and lived together in Arizona. Although they were similar in age Urias became a mentor to Gonzalez.
Gonzalez returned to the Great Lakes Loons in June of 2018, now still at Class-A in his fifth professional season. It was a season to forget. In six starts, he recorded a 5.61 ERA over 25 2/3 innings. Opponents hit .314 with an .819 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. After giving up five runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Dayton Dragons he left the scene and flew home to Mexico. At that moment he didn’t want to play baseball anymore.
“I didn’t want anything to do with baseball,” González said in Spanish. “I didn’t want to play baseball. I couldn’t do things right. I was already 22 and I couldn’t improve. I stayed in the same leagues. I couldn’t advance.”
Back home in Tuxpan he was resolved to give up baseball but with the encouragement of friends he contacted the Dodgers to see if he could play in Mexico. The Dodgers wanted him to pitch in the minors under their watch so perhaps with some reluctance he returned and was sent to Ogden, the rookie-league affiliate. His frustration didn’t cease as he allowed 13 runs in eight innings across four appearances with the Raptors.
“I’d come out after pitching and I’d cry,” González said. “I left the games crying because I couldn’t throw strikes.”
He pitched in the Mexican League following the minor league season and found some solace with the veterans in the league such as long time major leaguer Sergio Romo, who lent their advice. He reported to spring training thinking the Dodgers would release him if he didn’t pitch well.
Something happened on the way to ball park in 2019.
After initially struggling in his return in 2018, Gonzalez rose through three levels in 2019. The 6-foot, 180-pound left-hander got his first taste of Double-A and Triple-A and thrived. In 89.2 innings among three levels, he recorded a 2.31 ERA with 93 strikeouts. He walked 32. Pitching as a starter and reliever, he dominated left-handed hitters, holding them to a .152 average. Instead of being released he was put on the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. So what happened with the previously discouraged Gonzalez? Perhaps it was maturity as the tools were always there. Will Rhymes explained.
“Coming off Tommy John . . . he just came out on a mission,” farm director Will Rhymes said. “His velo was a tick up. He was up to 98 (mph) last year during parts of the season. He’s got a deceptive look from the left side. It’s a pretty full arsenal. He has a firm slider, curveball and a good changeup.”
Rhymes also mentioned that Gonzalez has the weapons to get hitters out from both sides of the plate, but it is Gonzalez’s ability to dominate lefthanded hitters that could be his path to the big leagues.
“I think that’s it,” Rhymes said. “He’s a really good strike-thrower. We’d like to see him continue to work on his pitches, maybe developing some more swing-and-miss stuff and really just keep growing into his stuff.”
It should not be forgotten that Gonzalez and Julio Urias rehabbed together and roomed together during that time. The time together was good for both players providing a brother like bond between them. Now they are brothers in blue. This from Urias,
“Honestly, and I tell you this with my whole heart, I feel like he’s the best friend I’ve had so far in baseball since I came here,” Urías, 24, said in Spanish. “From the minor leagues through my entire trajectory, I feel like he’s the best friend I’ve had. I try to give him a lot of advice because he’s gone through a lot of family difficulties. I’ve tried to be there with him like a brother.”
Urías shared what he learned about being a big leaguer, how to behave in the clubhouse and stay positive when things go sideways.
“I’d lose myself quickly,” González said. “Whatever little thing happened in the game and I didn’t want to pitch anymore. So, I went about learning those things.”
“He would tell me I have a lot of potential to play good baseball. Now we’re together here on the same team,” González said. “It’s very emotional because he’s my best friend. It’s a big thing — very emotional to share this moment with him.”
On July 31, 2020 two years after he told the Dodgers he didn’t want to play baseball anymore, González took the mound at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his major-league debut. He gave up one run on three hits in one inning.
“For him it’s just the more he gets out there, I think the more comfortable he’ll be,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said. “He’s obviously got a high ceiling and a lot of upside. Victor’s going to help us.”
How much has he helped the Dodgers in 2020? In 15 appearances over 20.1 innings he has posted a 1.33 ERA along with a 0.74 WHIP while striking out 23 and walking 2. Right-handed batters in 39 plate appearances hit .205 against Gonzalez while left-handers in 35 plate appearances hit .143. On the season he gave up only two extra base hits, both doubles.
Victor Gonzalez became the fifth Mexican left-handed pitcher to make his debut with the Dodgers behind Fernando Valenzuela (1980), Dennys Reyes (1997), Víctor Álvarez (2002) and the now fourth starter Julio Urías (2016).
After watching Trevor Bauer, he should be on the LAD short list of potential FA pitchers. Call me a fan.
Welcome to the club Jeff.
I’ve noticed that we agree on players about 90% of the time. Maybe because we share the same initials.
I just don’t see AF going out to get another veteran pitcher if Price comes back as expected. I know you can never have enough pitching but CK, Buehler, Price, Bauer, Gonsolin, May, Urias? How do you get everybody work? Or would you then trade Price or one of the youngsters?
A trade and/or a move to the bullpen for Gonsolin or May. I like both as starters, but either one can be very Gagne-esque.
He pitched a heck of a game but Bauer doesn’t look like a Dodger to me. Don’t ask me what that means, it’s just a feeling. And, I also can’t see AF giving up either Gonsolin or May. It would have to be as a FA.
Fan of some of the things he says. Fan of his stuff. Fan on some of the things he does on the mound not a fan of others. Showing up the Brewers hitter last weekend with his stare down for example. He would be an interesting add to the clubhouse.
There was an interesting comment from one of the announcers. A couple of teammates were not very fond of his before he came to the team, but after they were glad he was a teammate. Apparently nobody on the Reds works harder than does Trevor Bauer. I assume it is a lot like Joe Kelly. Opposing teams do not like him, but his teammates do.
I most definitely agree.
I think you’ve already mentioned that Wood loved having him as a teammate and said he learned a huge amount from him.
He has command of a lot of pitches. Can you imagine that Cleveland rotation if they kept all their pitchers! So far pitching is dominating except for the Yankees. We should follow in their footsteps tonight. Can’t wait to see who steps up this post season!
Bauer looked filthy. This is why I kept saying trade for him, even if it included Gonsolin. Oh well.
The loss of Devin Williams is HUGE! He struck out 53% of the guys he faced this year, a MLB record. We have gotten a serious break here.
Alexander and Floro NOT on the roster. Keiber Ruiz is
Strange decision to leave Floro off.
I keep him – he has earned it – and he’s good under pressure.
I like Gore in there – I’m guessing he’s our secret weapon for extra innings, starting on 2B.
Ruiz would’ve been left off.
Interesting to see in which situation Doc dare use Kelly?
Man on 2nd rule is not being used for the playoffs WD.
On the other hand I could see Gore running for JT late in the game if JT would be on base with the winning run in the 9th or extra innings.
Ah – didn’t realise that STB.
Explains why Reds & Braves are in the 12th lol.
There was plenty of traffic in those extra innings so going back to real baseball wasn’t the cause. The Reds held Votto at 3rd on a play where he probably would have scored. Atlanta got out of it. I think the Reds had the bases loaded twice. The worst thing about a 13 inning game there was all the poor people listening to Aroid had to endure four more innings.
Officially, The Dodgers added speedster Terrance Gore, utility man Matt Beaty and third catcher Keibert Ruiz to their roster for their National League Wild Card Series that begins Wednesday night against Milwaukee.
To make room, the Dodgers left off the roster right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro, left-handed pitcher Alex Wood and infielder Gavin Lux.
Floro?
We haven’t needed Gore before now, I don’t see why we need him now. I’d rather a guy who actually helped us win get the opportunity to play in the post season. Floro over Kelly for similar reasons.
I’d like Bauer. I doubt we get him for reasons STB mentioned. We have an outstanding starting staff lined up. Spend the money elsewhere. Like maybe Hendriks.
I think Jeff nailed it on why Kelly is on the roster. His teammates love him and know he has their backs. Now, if he can just pitch…
He’s not on the roster to pitch.
If we decide we have to throw at someone he’s our guy and he’s also the guy we can most afford to have suspended for the rest of the playoffs.
Floro has been very ineffective when asked to throw at batters.
Happy to provide the inside story for you Mark.
Friedman made the call and he wants Gore, I’d rather have McKinstry.
I would get Bauer, especially if he doesn’t change his mind and only wants a 1 year deal, you never have enough pitching and I don’t want to see him with the Padres.
Time to find out how good this Dodger team is. Play Ball.
Bauer says he wants 1-year deals, but if someone offers a 5 year $150 million deal he will take it… and they will!
Easy there Timmons. This guy will be 30 and even after this great 73 inning year has a career 3.9 ERA and only 17.6 WAR over 9 seasons. Last year he stunk. $150 million? Hell no.
I just got around to reading the Gammons article in The Athletic. Here are a few paragraphs that I think are very telling about the Dodger Organization:
“The Dodgers’ pitching has been the best in the National League, with Kershaw their only starter over 26 years old. Kershaw is one of four pitchers — along with Kenley Jansen, Pedro Báez and Julio Urías — who were in the organization when Friedman took over the Dodgers in October 2014. Of the position players, Justin Turner and Joc Pederson were the only ones currently on the 40-man roster who were already there.
All the rest have been drafted and/or developed since Friedman’s arrival. “Andrew hasn’t changed at all between Tampa and Los Angeles,” says Jeff McAvoy, who has worked for Friedman with both teams. “The willingness and capacity to listen is an important part of leadership, and he listens really well. Everyone has a voice, players included. He gives them a platform and allows freedom. He doesn’t mind contrary opinions and is always adaptable.”
“The thing that is so important about the Dodgers is that they are built on collaboration,” says Will Rhymes, who is the team’s director of player development. “The scouting and development departments always work together, which isn’t always the case; sometimes they clash when there are disagreements on why a player isn’t performing as expected. Josh Byrnes oversees both, and he’s a genius as well as a tremendous person to work with. What he, Billy Gasparino and the scouting staff do in the draft is tremendous. Look at Dustin May in the third round. Tony Gonsolin in the ninth round. Look at the international scouting, Urías and Victor González.
“Andrew preaches patience. In some organizations, they have certain things they want in terms of pitching deliveries and pitching. Everything here is about the individual, finding out what he does best, then try to find ways to improve on that.”
Gonsolin is a classic example. At St. Mary’s University, he was an outfielder/pitcher. He wasn’t drafted as a junior. The next year, after a four-year career and a 7-13, 4.06 ERA season, the Dodgers took him in the ninth round. Now, he’s up to 97 mph with an unhittable changeup/split, and in the postseason may be their rover, used in any situation required.
Big bat Twins go against The Cheaters who were without Verlander, and Greinke only goes 4.0 IP in Game 1. The Twins? They score 2 runs on 7 hits in two runs.
Probable NL MVP Freddie Freeman comes up big with a walk off single 1-0 game in 13. Reds are going to have nightmares as to why they could not pull this one off.
And of course they go flat against the Asstros.
3 game series’. I knew there would be some surprises, but this feels cruel.
If there was a no doubter, I would have picked Twins against Houston. I hate three game series.
The Twins have lost like 18 straight playoff games.
Good god imagine being a fan of that!!
If anyone wants to know why I think having Gore on the roster is wasting a spot. his season stats. 2 games no at bats, and ZERO steals. I would be willing to say they he is not going to steal a single base in this 3 game series. I doubt he will even get into a game
I’ll take that bet. I predict he scores the winning run in one of the games.
Old friend Ryu got clobbered in his start against Tampa today.
By the end of the day Maeda, Hill and Ryu will all have been eliminated from this year’s playoffs.
50 push-ups says Gore steals nothing more than a roster spot in this series.
You’re on Badger. If he does you do 50 push ups. If he doesn’t I’m having Mark do mine.
That’s a good plan Jefe. Wish I’d thought of it first. But, Mark won’t do them. He still owes me 1,000 from years ago. He’s old and soft now.
I’m older and softer.
Your half way to losing.
First of all, I would have taken an extra pitcher rather than an extra runner, but it’s well established AF is much smarter then I am.
I don’t think Gore was added for his base stealing though. He is there to beat the throw to home.
Anyone still wish we had Ryu? I’m happy with Urias, May, Gonsolin with Gray in the pipeline. And all four of those guys together will make less than Ryu for the next few years!
Yeah. I think he is a lot better pitcher than he showed, and pitching in Dodger Stadium in a playoff game is a lot different than pitching in a band box park like Tropicana.
Here’s the thing about Floro, in his career he has lopsided splits he’s good against right handed batters and bad against left-handed batters but this year he has reverse splits. That may be why he was left off the roster. Doc might be uncomfortable using Floro.
I don’t like Kelly I wish she was left off the roster too.
I might sound like a broken record but the bullpen is going to make or break the Dodgers in the playoffs.
Well hopefully they are safe against the Brewers. They don’t hit well.
Eric, the one thing about relievers you refuse to acknowledge is that for most relievers, career stats are meaningless. It is what are you doing this year. You would never have wanted Tyler Matzek this year and yet he was a good reliever during the season, and he is a very big reason why the Braves are 1-0 in the playoffs today. Look at Liam Hendriks career pre 2019. There is no way you would have been an advocate for him. And he is going to get a monster contract this winter. Brandon Morrow had one good year in his career and that happened in 2017 for LAD. I was a lonely voice in the wind in 2017 ST when I was saying that Morrow was going to be a big part of the team by June. Watch them pitch and stop looking at the back of baseball cards. That is exactly why I pushed for Ryan Pressley when Mark kept telling me WHO??? Relievers are a different breed. Floro’s different splits are because he perfected his change this offseason. Relievers continually come out of nowhere to dominate and then disappear.
I still don’t understand what you mean when you say career stats for relievers are meaningless. Why them and not other players? But I do want to say that I don’t just look at career stats I also look at current season stats I take both into account.
So do you think that perfecting his change as you said has flipped his stats the other way around for the time being and soon enough he will be effective against both sides of the plate?
In a season like this, the stats are skewed. You can take trends from season stats, and try to figure out just how effective relievers can be. A couple of years ago, the Dodgers were hot after Brad Hand. The Padres ended up trading him to Cleveland. According to almost everyone, he was a pitcher we should have targeted for the pen at the deadline. Cleveland if they had felt like it could have gotten a pretty good haul for him at that time. Going into his appearance last night against the Yankees, he was 16-16 in save opportunities. Pretty safe bet to shut down NY and keep the Indians in the game. Instead, he imploded. Lost his control, and the next thing you know, Yanks scored 2 and the Indians are toast. Jansen is living on his reputation. So is Kelly. Floro despite his reverse splits, has pitched better than expected. Kolarek was nothing more than a lefty specialist prior to this season, and because of the 3 man rule, he had to get better against righty’s or he would not have been much help to the team. Now, you can take trends and make a case that he should not have been on the roster either. But since we are not privy to inside information that the coaches or anyone in the organization has, we can only guess. The one stat with relievers you cannot base your evaluation on is ERA. Especially in a season like this one. One bad inning, or in the case of a long man, taking one for the team in a blowout, can bloat that stat greatly. To be honest Eric, the bullpen, more than any other piece on a baseball team is a crapshoot at best. You never know from day to day who is going to be the best option. Roberts picks his usually on match ups or who has been lights out the last few outings. All you can do is cross your fingers and hope for the best. There are no for sure things in the game of baseball. You are only as good as your last performance. I look back, and I remember a very good pitcher named Donnie Moore. Moore was the closer on the Angels. He was one strike away from getting the last out and putting the Angels in the World Series. He gave up a 3 run homer that lost the game. Even though it was not the last game of the series, and they had a shot to win and go anyway the next day, it ate at him until a few years later, he committed suicide. That is how bad he felt he had let his team down. I am pretty sure these guys feel worse after blowing a game or a series than we do. I would bet Buehler is not a happy camper this morning. And how about the Twins? Obviously on paper, they are a far better team than the Astro’s. But they did not win a game. And the Twins lost their 18th playoff game in a row. Be glad, you are the fan of a team not sporting that stat.
I am still TJ’d over Floro not being on roster. Hope he is added to the next round. He earned a place this round though and I thought he improved a lot from last year.
8.8 million, DBM. I can’t imagine a role for Kelly in this deal. If he comes in in any high leverage situation I will eat my Dodger cap. I don’t know how much more we need to see to know Kelly stinks.
He is not getting 8.8. No player is making what they signed for this season. All the salaries are pro rated. so it is probably closer to 3. And except for that stint as the opener, he had not given up a earned run this year. And even giving up those 2 runs, his ERA was below 2. Also, he is the one pitcher on this staff who simply because of his erratic control, is intimidating. And like Jansen, he is living a lot on reputation, and prior performance, especially what he did to the Dodgers in the 18 Series. He might stink and be scary to us fans, but he has the confidence of Roberts and his team mates.
Don’t fully understand having Gore added. I’m a very firm believer that “You got to dance with who brung you, swing with who swung you.” Personally, I would also have taken Floro over Kelly. But then again, I’m not the one getting paid the big bucks to make these decisions. Nor will I suffer the consequences if they go sideways.
Nightmare start for the Padres. You lose Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet for the first series, and then you give up 6 runs in the first 3 innings. May exhaust their bullpen. However, their offense may bring them back.
Well I’m about half serious that the new extra inning rule should be extended in the playoffs too. I typically love pitchers duals but the Reds – Braves 13 inning job was BORING. The Reds can’t hit and ran the bases like the Keystone Cops. How Joey Votto didn’t score from 2nd on a sharp single to left is a mystery to me. He was an adventure all day. 33 strikeouts, zero situational hitting, zero moving runners, zero bunting (the Braves have zero sac bunts this season) and zero runs until the bottom of the 13th. I have no idea how many runners LOB. Earl Weaver would have been proud. Sit back and wait for the winning homer, that never happened. 33 K’s is totally ridiculous. Bauer’s performance was why I wanted to avoid the Reds starting pitching at all costs. But they couldn’t hit a bull in the ass with a bag of ice.
Reds had the bases loaded twice not sure how the rule change would have given them any more opportunity.
It wouldn’t but it would have mercifully ended quicker, maybe.
So Devin Williams won’t be pitching in this series? That is awesome news because I believe the only way the Brewers can beat the Dodgers is by taking a lead late into the game and using Williams and Hader to close it out.
So now all I’m worried about is Hader.
Avoid Hader with a lead and the Dodgers will be fine.
Hader is 1-2 against the Dodgers in his career with zero saves. He has given up 2 game winning homers to the Dodgers. His win came in a game they tied, and later came back to win. He is good, but not invincible.
Good article Harold Uhlman, it’s an good example that we should never give up,
it’s a shame that no one mentioned it !
Maybe you should save it for another day.
Thank you Jorge. It is amazing that Victor is now on a MLB team roster and going into the play-offs.
Here we go, first step all the way to the World Series.
SD and CHC upset. A 3 game series is indeed dangerous. Yankees just came from behind to take the lead. They could sweep.
They are not broadcasting the game
I got it. Lets go Dodgers
The Dodgers have got to hit better than this. Just three hits in five innings.
Muncy.
Trade him!
I did. He went to the Angels in the Trout trade.
This is a hard watch
It’s October again. Time to Mendoza up! A crappy starter gives us five walks in two innings and we can only score three! And then once again good pitching shuts down the “vaunted” Dodger bats! When will it ever end!!!!
All or nothing.
SQUIRREL!
ALL!!!!!!
Corey Cigar!!
Hand blows the save, Yankees 10-9 top of the 9th.
Now bring in Kersh to pitch the 8rh!
Where is Kelly when we need him? lol
Urias did a great job for 3 innings. We pay Treinen for his late innings shutdown. I will come back to my original sentiment about starting Buehler instead of CK. I was okay with this until the announcers began to talk about the blisters and said it was still an issue with Walker. No way would I have started him knowing this.
Do they let Treinen finish the game or bring in Jansen. Me, I leave him in.
It’s pucker time.
Jansen has no power and command. Pull him!
Doc sure does trust his bullpen and in particular Jansen.
Well he got away with that one.
Whew!!!!!
Collective sigh of relief.
How does Kenley go from the guy who made Trout look at 3 strikes this year to a guy throwing 87 mph cutters.
He’s old and soft. Like STB and Timmons.
Lindor 1 for 8. He’s a bum.
Muncy.
Where’s our driveline pitching coach that was supposed to make a difference. That was downright scary and if Yelich had gotten on I don’t know if Doc pulls him. I’m closing with a Graterol tomorrow
I’ve said it many times, but when Kenley piles on the pounds, his pitching is not the same.
Luckily this is not Yellich of last season. That was a shocking AB with the game on the line.
Win tomorrow and the guys get a rest.
I said yesterday we go as far as Mookie, Corey and Will Smith take. Not sure why I have that feeling about Smith, but I also mentioned Belli and Max have shown little to inspire a belief they will break out of their too many K funk when there are RISP.
Tonight, Betts goes 2-4 with 1 RBI, Corey 1-3 with 1 BIG RBI HR late in the game, Smith although 0-3 did get an RBI w/ a bases loaded BB. Belli went 1-4 w/ 3 LOB, Max 0-2 w/ 1 K. JT had a bad night also, but it would be nice to see some offense and RBI’s from Belli and Max. If they would start hitting I don’t think the Dodgers can be beat by anyone. If they don’t we’ll continue to see close games and some “nail biters.”
One down!
I would modify your post, norcal, by saying if JT doesn’t produce, this team will struggle through games like this one. Luckily, we had just enough but there is little excuse for guys like Muncy. I will say that Muncy is very proficient in drawing BBs. I guess that’s a skill.
Urias saved us, and the two bases loaded walks. But a win is a win, and we knew that the Brewers’ bullpen pitchers would give us trouble. We need Buehler to somehow get through the playoffs with the blisters. Nice effort by Treinen. Betts is our best player, obviously, and if it weren’t for his two doubles and Seager’s big HR, we would have hardly done anything at the plate, which we have seen too much of in playoff series. Maybe we will start hitting tomorrow, and save the staff a bit.
Winning ugly is still winning, but… KJ has to make it interesting, doesn’t he? Walking some guy I’ve never heard of to get to Yellich with the tying run. Way to shorten our lifespans, Big Guy! The Buehler Blister hopefully won’t Bust us! And Muncy sure busted out in the 4-hole: 0-4. I thought that it was a confidence-builder for him, but I guess it is the equivalent of playing with one of our hands tied behind the back. We have this guy, Will Smith, who could be more productive there, I think. Doc seems to lose 20 baseball IQ points during the playoffs. Oh well, I shouldn’t complain.
I think Smith will go tomorrow as DH and that’s the reason why Ruiz is on the list, it makes sense.
Tremendous read on V-Gon, congratulations on your great work.
Thanks.
I hope V-Gon has a chance to shine in these playoffs and that he seizes the day. Great post, Harold!
The Brewers have some bullpen arms with guys who have funky deliveries and great stuff. Four runs got it done. They did what was needed! Save the runs for when we need it.
I think Urias is the Dodger’s secret weapon in the playoffs.
Kenley’s Velocity was way down last night. It’s easy for him to get funky at times – they will be looking at his mechanics. He only threw 1 pitch over 89.
Kenley”s velocity has been in the upper 80 s for his last 2 appearances. He’s done well but something is off and I’m not sure if the team can fix it so easily.
Urias was fantastic. I’d have let him pitch the 8 th and 9th.
We can save runs fir later? That’s good to know. We might need them against teams that can actually hit.
Put a fork in Jansen, he is done! Roberts has to have his head examined if he gives another chance to surrender a game. Playoffs is not the time to boost a fading pitchers confidence. I would be fine with Jansen being off the playoff roster in the next series.
Dave Roberts was pleased that Kenley Jansen saved the game, but said, “It just didn’t seem like the stuff had the teeth.”
I think it’s generally accepted that closer’s stuff should have teeth. A Gabby Hayes cutter sounds quite hittable to me. Don’t forget, these Brewers are a group that slashed .223/.313/.389 which put them at 24th in MLB. You throw that 89 mph Velveeta cutter to the Braves or Padres and it’s gonna get smeared. Milwaukee is a team that should not even be in the playoffs. Leave us dispose of these guys quickly and move without ceremony to the next round.
Common Roberts! Jansen stuff is wearing dentures! Loyalty has lost you previous playoff series. Time to be ruthless. Muncy and Jansen need to sit!
Well, he is on the roster and unless something terrible happens, he will continue to be. Kenley is pitching better in 2020 than he has in a while. His 3.03 FIP is the best mark since 2017, even if his xFIP says differently. His average exit velocity of 82.7 mph lands him in the top 1 percent of the league, and his xwOBA of .255 also puts him near the top of all pitchers in baseball.
I mentioned earlier that he only had one pitch over 89 last night. He had two over 89 in his last regular-season appearance. I went back and looked at some game logs. I started on September 2, when his ERA was 1.13 and in his one inning of work, he threw 12 pitches over 90 MPH and hit 95 and 94 MPH.
On September 8, he threw 22 pitches over 90 MPH, but none over 93.
On the 12th, he gave up 6 Runs, he threw 14 pitches over 90 MPH.
On the 19th, he threw only 12 pitches but 8 were over 90 and he hit 94 with one.
On the 24th, he threw 6 pitches over 90, but never ht 92, and on the 25th, he threw 12 pitches in the 90 to 91 range.
Clearly, he is not throwing as hard as he was in early September. He is either injured or his mechanics are messed up. He has been working on his mechanics all year. So, I am not sure what is going on, however, I believe he got a save… and that was all that was required last night!
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He has put a lot of weight on.
He never pitches well when carrying weight.
He slims down during the off-season and puts weight on during the season and his results go south, like most sportsmen.
If there’s ever a call for Sumo relief……..
Against the Brewers yes. Against the Yankees or other good hitting teams. Hell no! The next save he blows may be the one that costs us a series. We have much better options. Plain and simple! No time for misplaced loyalty again!
If you haven’t read it, Pedro Moura wrote a piece about Kenley yesterday:
https://theathletic.com/2102729/2020/09/30/kenley-jansen-dodgers-2020-mlb-postseason/
“I’ve got to accept that I wasn’t at my best,” Jansen said earlier this year.
So do we Kenley. So do we.
He still has it in spurts. The thing is we just never know when it won’t be there, we just know that it will likely happen.
And that’s the ONLY reason Seager hr was so important.
The relationship between Doc and Kenley is the same as we parents have with that kid of ours who is always just on the verge of getting a major punishment. But we’re softies and we always give them one more chance to straighten up before taking away the car keys or grounding them. And they behave for awhile and then they screw up again and the cycle starts all over.
Deep down we love them but we know that eventually we’re going to have to send them to boarding school.
“Deep down we love them but we know that eventually we’re going to have to send them to boarding school.“
That explains a lot Jefe. We must eventually forgive our parents. They did the best they could.
Seager’s home run, his hitting in general, is his value to this team. I just checked Defensive Runs Saved by position at BR and our SS position is league average. Zero. No surprise there. Just keep hitting Corey. That’s what you’re here for.
As everyone knows I am on the RISP bandwagon. The Dodgers had scads of opportunities early in the game to break it open and went 1 for 8 RISP. They got 2 runs from walks with the bases loaded in the first but went 0 for 3 RISP. This won’t get the job done.
Rios damn near broke it open on the foul ball.
On the batter he walked, I was yelling why are you throwing a 2-0 slider with the tying run on deck. Then I realized it wasn’t a slider just a really slow fastball/cutter. I’m with Clayton. I don’t want to hear about it being an empty stadium either as an excuse. I’m going Graterol tonight. I’m sure Doc won’t and Kenley has done better without a lot of time off, but geez that was scary last night.
They are going to have to rely on the kids. I definitely move Muncy down in the order, but Doc won’t. He is wishing for lightning in a bottle. Joc will probably be in the lineup today. Why? Because Woodruff is a fastball first pitcher. And Joc kills fastballs. Smith won’t DH today. Not against Woodruff. And Barnes will be catching.
ESPN has the worst commentators of any of the stations that do MLB. Perez is a joke and implied that the Dodgers and Buehler were cheating because Buehler has something on his finger to combat the blister. Well, if what they are using to make the skin tougher is against the rules, why didn’t the Brewers take the issue to the Umpires and get him kicked out of the game? What ever is on there has to be approved by the league, or he could not pitch. As I understand, he cannot pitch with the finger covered. But medical treatment making the skin tougher is allowed. Be it some sort of salve or even crazy glue. Since crazy glue hardens and cannot be transferred to the baseball, I see no real problem there. If anything it would make the ball stick to his hand so he could not throw it! Anyway, best line of the night actually came from Turner, who was talking about them not negotiating ball boys into the deal and the players had to chase the balls down. He told them to watch Pollock because Pollock would take the ball and fire it into the stands at 100 MPH aiming for the cutouts in a sort of a down the clown game. Hope yours was not the one he was throwing at DBM! That would smart. Oh yeah. maybe the Brewers were not complaining simply because they have a blister man of their own. Bret Anderson.
I agree. The announcers were horrible. You would also think, according to them and the amount of TV coverage he got, that Counsell has to be the greatest manager ever.
Woodruff is a good playoff caliber pitcher. It will be a good test to see where we are at offensively. I give Muncy one more chance tonight and if he continues to look bad then I’d be moving on to Rios at first
You might do that Cassidy, but Roberts won’t. It is all about reputation. . Muncy has hit 30 plus homers in the majors twice. Rios even with the HR every 11 at bats or so, has not shown that yet. Doc trusts Muncy to find himself.
Braves-Reds scoreless again through 5. Braves might be better offensively, but they sure seem to not be able to hit the Red pitching very well. Cubs-Marlins won’t play until tomorrow. Marlins lost Marte with a broken pinky suffered in the 9th inning yesterday.