Just like every other fan, I have my favorites. I believe I have been more than obvious that Corey Seager has been my favorite Dodger since he was drafted. I also have jerseys for current Dodgers, Kershaw, Buehler, Bellinger, Turner, and Wood. I love the stars, but I am also partial to those who are more role players and not top of the rotation pitchers. The angst I feel with some fans is that they seem to expect every Dodger to be an ALL STAR at every position, all five starting pitchers to be CY candidates, and every reliever to be a lock down closer. But that is not how a team is built. I like and respect the role player. Not everyone does.
I know it was the last time the Dodgers won the WS, but they do not win it without the help of the role players, AKA The Stuntmen. Everyone remembers the Gibby HR, but how about Mike Davis coming off the bench with two outs in the 9th and getting a walk off Eckersley, and stealing 2nd to get into scoring position before the Gibson HR. Everyone remembers the Bulldog himself, Orel Hershiser, in that series. But in Game 1 after Tim Belcher allows four runs in the 2nd inning, it was Tim Leary who came in to pitch the 3rd and pitched 3 scoreless innings followed by two shutout from Brian Holton and finally two shutout innings from Alejandro Pena. (Belcher/Leary – May/Gonsolin). What about the back breaking 3 run HR from Mike Marshall after run scoring singles from Franklin Stubbs and Mickey Hatcher in Game 2. Mickey Hatcher getting 2 HRs in the series including a 2 run HR in the 1st inning of Game 5, and Mike Davis going deep in Game 5.
I was an Alex Wood fan when he was in Atlanta, and bought his jersey as soon as he was traded to LA at the 2015 trade deadline. Dodgerrick and I have had some disagreements on the value, usage, or…??? on Alex. I was not going to change his mind, and he was not going to change mine. My point on Alex is that he was never intended to be a top of the rotation pitcher, but always a #5. Max Scherzer is not going to be a #5 behind a team of starting pitchers of Kershaw, Cole, Verlander, deGrom. But Alex Wood is an 8 year vet, with a 53-44 career W-L, 3.45 ERA, 1.232 WHIP. He was an AS in 2017 when he led MLB in winning % with a 16-3 record. He was 26 in 2017, the same age as is Tony Gonsolin is now, and yet Gonsolin has not put up those 2017 numbers. Alex will not be a Dodger next year, but some team will sign him, and IMO he will be a very productive back of the rotation pitcher. I said enough about Alex in my response to William yesterday. I like Alex Wood, always have, always will.
I felt the same about Ross Stripling. He was never top of the rotation, but he was a good #4 or #5 on most teams and #6 for the Dodgers. I discount what he did this year in Toronto after the trade. I look for Ross to make the rotation and succeed in 2021. I wrote a blog post on why I thought that Wood and Stripling could be the R-L version of Andrew Miller. Miller was not as successful of a starter as either Wood or Stripling, but when Francona moved him to the pen after being traded to and then re-signing with Boston, Tito convinced him to convert to relief in 2011, and he became a very good high leverage reliever. Miller was full-time relief in 2012.
I began writing about another failed starter who became a reliever in 2017 ST. I said at the time that Brandon Morrow would get to the ML club by June and would then become the missing setup guy for KJ. I also said the same thing about Jesen Therrien for 2019, and he has not been heard from. I was also a Jose Leclerc fan, and after 2018 he has not been very good. So I am far from always right on these relievers. Although at 26, with a four pitch repertoire, and an AAV of $3.69MM thru 2022, and two team friendly options for 2023 and 2024, I would certainly like the opportunity to see what Jose could do for LAD. Texas will never let that happen.
I became a huge Caleb Ferguson fan after he was drafted. I was writing about his exploits after his promotion to Great Lakes in 2016, helping them win the Midwest League A League Championship. I kept writing about him until people actually knew who he was once he made it to the ML. He was always a starter. He was called up by LAD to start, and did not fare well at all as a starter. In his first three games at the ML level, he started and pitched 10.2 innings and was not very good. But Doc and AF knew he had a great fastball and a good curve. It only takes 2 pitches to be an effective reliever and Caleb had that, plus he threw strikes. Move him to the pen, and he was fantastic as a reliever in 2018.
- As a starter, Caleb’s numbers were – 3 GS, 10.2 IP, 7.59 ERA, 1.406 WHIP, 12 K, 6 BB.
- As a reliever, Caleb’s numbers were – 26 G, 38.1 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.043 WHIP, 47 K, 6 BB
Caleb did not embrace relieving in 2019 as he still thought of himself as a starter, and did not pitch well for LAD. In 2020 he not only embraced being a reliever, but looked forward to it. Yes, he still wanted to start, but he went all in as a reliever.
I am now and always have been a huge Austin Barnes fan. We already know that CK wants Barnes behind the dish when he pitches. Walker Buehler could not praise him enough after his outing against Atlanta in NLCS Game 6. Other pitchers are now talking about how much they like working with him behind the plate. Not one pitcher has anything negative to say about Will Smith behind the plate. In fact they all think he does quite well. He is just not as good as Barnes at that part of his game. I am not naïve, Will Smith has more than earned the starting catcher position, and if Barnes ever moves on, I am sure that CK will love to pitch to Smith. CK moved on from AJ Ellis. What will be interesting is when the lineups are posted later today, will Barnes be the catcher for Buehler with Smith as DH, or will Smith be behind the plate and Joc or Rios the DH? This is the WS, and if Buehler wants Barnes, there should be no question that your co-Ace gets what he wants. I have no idea whether that is something that is that important to Buehler. Walker was simply on record as saying that he pitched as well as he did because Barnes guided him through that 2nd inning “better than he has ever seen it before”, and that he leaned on him for the rest of the game.
I know of the many that did not want Wood on the roster. Almost everyone did not want Barnes until he started to hit again. How many were upset that Joc Pederson and Kike’ Hernandez took roster spots. I do not know who was going to replace them. I guess that is not true. Some wanted an untested Zach McKinstry on the roster simply because of what he did in ST 1.0 and 2.0. Joc’s and Kike’s previous Octobers meant nothing to them. Nobody waived the banner higher for Joc than did Bums. And nobody has done the same for Kike’ than Mark. I am undoubtedly in that boat with Alex and Austin. I have always been indifferent with Joc and Kike’. They were Dodgers so I was a fan, but not fanatical. However, come October I wanted all four on the roster. Not one will get a HOF vote, but they are quality ML ballplayers and should not be so easily dismissed. Especially those players under 30 who have 8 postseason HRs.
Why was that preface so important? What I have been reading of late (outside of the distaste for Doc) is:
“They are not used to starting and relieving”. “They are pitching too much”. “They aren’t pitching enough”. “The team needed veteran middle rotation pitchers”. “The team didn’t need anyone else; the kids were more than enough”. “The stage is too big for them.” These comments have been directed towards Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin. One can generally tell whether the commenter is a fan of the pitcher or not by whether they are “making excuses” for not performing, or by indicating that they should not even be on the roster.
This is the WS, and there are no tryouts or do-overs. You either perform or you do not. In the playoffs, Clayton Kershaw has been no better than 50-50. Right now, Walker Buehler and Julio Urias look like money pitchers. Will that continue? That part of the story has not yet been told.
“Not fair to take a starter and make him a reliever”. Most of the time, I . would agree with that, but in 2020, not so much. There were no off days until the WS so bullpen games became the #4 and #5 starters for many teams. The playoffs are win or go home, and a team cannot afford the luxury holding pitchers back just because they were starters. May and Gonsolin were considered the #4 and #5, so they were most likely considered for the bullpen role. Interesting that Urias was also a starter and he relieved in the first Wild Card game, and gets the win. He relieves in Game 3 of the NLDS and gets the win. He pitched 3.0 and 5.0 innings respectively. Julio starts Game 3 of the NLCS and goes 5.0, and comes back to pitch brilliantly in Game 7 to bring the pennant back to LA. He was the winning pitcher in those two games as well. The role change did not affect Urias. But it did for both May and Gonsolin?
Gonsolin started Game 2 of the NLCS, pitched well for three innings, and has not pitched well since. Could it be that in his next 4.2 IP he issued 7 walks? That is loss of command, not being tired. May was in the pen for his first three playoff appearances and he was outstanding. Then he was asked to start Game 5 of the NLCS and he faltered. I am sure the team was expecting more than 2.0 innings, but it was an elimination game, and the team could not afford to be patient. The same with Game 7 when he only went 1.0 IP.
May relieved in Game 2 of the WS in a position when the outcome was still widely unknown. However, he had no command of his pitches. He was not too tired from overuse (I will get to that later). He may have been too amped up. Whatever the reason, he was ineffective, allowing for four runs, and effectively putting the game out of reach.
Three pitchers who were starters during the season but were required to spend time in the bullpen because of the no days off scenario all teams played under. Urias was exceptional, while May and Gonsolin were dubious.
“They pitched too much”. No they didn’t. In 6 games, May pitched 9 innings, while in 3 games, Gonsolin pitched 7.2 innings. May is 23 years old, and should have had zero problem pitching limited innings for 6 days, never back to back. He certainly was fine for his first three relief appearances. Neither the number of games nor IP should have been too much for Gonsolin.
“They weren’t allowed to pitch enough to get into the game”. In the NLCS Game 2 Gonsolin started, he was unhittable for 3.0 innings and then everything fell apart. Already down 1 game to 0 to a very good Atlanta team, and not knowing what to expect from Kershaw, Doc was hoping that Gonsolin could have gone a little deeper. But he wasn’t going to let him continue to struggle in a playoff game most thought the Dodgers needed to win. He has not been the same since the first 3.0 innings in the NLCS Game 2. In Game 7 of the NLCS, Gonsolin followed a very shaky Dustin May, with an even less effective 2.0 innings. Doc was not going to let either pitcher pitch them out of the playoffs just to let them get the flow of the game. They were both given a golden opportunity in Game 7, and neither could pull it off. That is the player, not the manager. The manager reacted quickly allowing the team to stay within reach and ultimately prevail.
“The team needed a veteran middle of the rotation pitcher”. I was one of those calling for that. I cannot be critical because I have no idea what was asked for by either Texas for Lynn or Cleveland for Clevinger. I have no idea how Lynn might have pitched for LAD after the trade, and I have no idea whether Clevinger would have been injured as a Dodger. It is irrelevant to discuss what might have beens (even though I like to). Because of the number of teams that were still in the playoff hunt, very few teams were willing to trade a mid level rotation starter, and those were the only two that were seemingly available.
“The team did not need anyone else, the kids are fine”. We have seen the results from the “kids” in the 2020 playoffs.
With that said, I am not upset that the Dodgers chose to go with May and Gonsolin in critical games. I will not be upset if Doc continues to go with them, and they continue to falter. Why? Because I do not think they will continue to falter. Doc far more than me believes in his pitchers. If both pitchers go to their fastball in a relief role here on out, they could very well dominate a team that cannot seem to hit high fastballs. Seems like a perfect antidote. I believe they will. I can foresee:
- Buehler – Game 3
- Urias – Game 4
- Kershaw – Game 5
- Buehler – Game 6 (3 days rest)
- Urias – Game 7 (3 days rest)
I suppose Doc could come back with May/Gonsolin for Game 6, but I think he may see more value in getting them into the right spots in Games 3-5. I have no problem pitching Buehler or Urias on 4 days rest. Last game for 4-5 months? Don’t hold back. Kershaw has not always been great coming in relief, but he hasn’t always been a disaster. If Urias can only go 4 in Game 7, Kershaw can piggyback a couple in the middle of the game before turning it over to the pen. The trick with Clayton, is get him out once he looks to be melting down. Regardless, Doc has options, and I think the roles that May and Gonsolin will play will be pivotal to bring the WS Championship back to LA. Secondarily, it may not mean much, but this postseason experience for both pitchers should greatly benefit them (and the Dodgers) for future years.
Interesting to note that Roberts brings in May to face the RHH Manuel Margot and then RHH Joey Wendle, and Cash brings in Aaron Loup to face Cody Bellinger. May gives up the single and double and Loup strikes out Belli. Same situation, Roberts is an idiot and Cash is a genius. One caveat, I think I would have rather let VGon face the RHH Margot, and let May start an inning. But it was still the tactical move to get the RHP face the RHH. Cash does it too.
A team needs their stars. Where would the Dodgers be without Mookie and Seager? Quietly Muncy, Belli, and Fresh Prince have had good (not great postseasons). But a team also needs the role players to supplement and sometimes carry those stars. Where would the legend of Kirk Gibson be if not for the walk to Mike Davis.
Great write up Jeff. We can discuss and argue about players all day long (which is why we enjoy LADT) and then armchair manage each move once the game is over to soothe our wounds. But baseball is the best game ever because you never know what will happen. I often think about a game where the umpire called a strike against my team instead of ball four. After bitching and yelling at the ump, the batter hit a home run. That’s how quick fortunes can turn.
I was at the ‘88 WS when Mickey Hatcher hit a home run. Who would have figured? He ran around the bases like someone was chasing him!
We have great starters but I love our role players. CT3,Kiki,Joc. I wouldn’t trade any of them. When they are at bat I know they can come through just like our starters.
Remember Manny Mota? The Dodgers have a rich history of great players and just as great role players .
Rambling—sorry! Go Blue!
Exceptional stuff, Jeff! A voice of reason! I do hope you do not totally disappear into the night after the season!
I say it frequently and I will continue to say it: Most people just have “sight” but just about anyone can see. What most people lack is “vision.” People with sight say “Doc, should have made some different moves in Game 2 and they might have won.” People with vision understand how Doc was setting up the staff to win the war… not necessarily that “battle.” The Dodger brass knew Snell would be tough on them, but some fans continue to blame Doc for the loss… and I guess it was his fault. Doc personally came off of the bench and struck out 15 times! “Damn him – he doesn’t;t know how to manage!”
Every time I hear that stuff about Doc (and it is every game, win or lose), I wonder how many times you were dropped on your head as a kid because something tragic is causing some of you serious mental impairment. Pedro Moura said it best: I think people are often just looking for something to be upset about, and the manager is the most obvious target. Not that I can blame them. It is a hard world out there. But I understand that it must feel awful to be powerless watching a manager make a decision you know defies logic. But it’s about balancing that with appreciating all the smaller correct decisions.”
However, I digress!
Sight: “May and Gonsolin should not pitch again.”
Vision: “I think they learned something, got some experience and will be VERY useful before this series is over” Their stuff is too good. Yes, they are young and so are many of the Rays pitchers. I believe that May and Gonsolin will rebound. WHY? Look at their stuff. They have been good in the past. Glasnow wasn’t good either, but do not count on that again (unless he is tired from overuse). Gonzo and May have not been overused. They will get more chances… and should!
Summary: V-Gon and Floro, as well as Wood, have looked good and Baez is solid as a rock. Bazooka, Jansen, Treinen, and Kolarek have not even pitched. They are well-rested. We know that at least three of them can pitch back-to-back-to-back days.
McGee and Kelly are useful in certain spots. The starters are aligned with Buehler, Urias and Kershaw rested and ready. The hitters need to execute the Dodger way of hitting tonight with Charlie Morton. They have to know to lay off his power sinker – he will not get it in for strikes on a continual basis. It’s a pitch designed to get the hitter to “chase.”
Look, you can criticize moves any manager makes. If he pinch hits for a batter, at best, there is a 1 in 3 or 4 chance that hitter gets a hit. So, 70% of the time, you can second-guess, but what were the odds the original hitter would have done better? You don’t know. Managers make moves, but players have to execute.
In the last 14 games (which takes in a little of the regular season), the Rays bullpen ERA is 2.14. The Dodgers is 2.72. The Reds were second at 2.61. They both have the same number of IP – 59. The Rays bullpen has been better… but not that much. I have a feeling the Dodgers have something to say about that. I shall enjoy watching every pitch and hope that Striker Buehler brings his blister-free “A-Game.”
Finally: I officially beat COVID-19 (again). After 18 days and a week in the hospital and with the help of Remdesivir, I went back to work yesterday. I also talked to a cardiologist about my aortic aneurysm and he said the CT Scan shows it is non-threatening and stable and wants to do the elective surgery the first of the year, so when Jeff is done, I will be back to LADT. I feel great and it feels great to feel great again. I have no lingering side-effects! At work, we have had to get into the COVID-19 testing business for our employees. We buy 25 Rapid Tests (the type that pricks your finger for blood) for $450 and 15 minutes later, we know the answer. We can’t wait for 48 hours to get the results. COVID-19 is sweeping Indiana like never before – almost 3,000 cases yesterday, 42 deaths (but 35 were in nursing homes). Hopefully, Remdesivir and the vaccines are getting close. Stay safe, everyone!
Great news on your health! Stay well.
Mark, great to hear you’re healthy. In the final analysis, we can gripe about the Dodger’s relief pitching, but health is everything.
Jeff, great write-up. My take on it is that it’s easy for young pitchers to get rattled on the biggest stage in the world. Do they have the talent? Definitely. Do they have enough time to settle down and make adjustments? Maybe. Who knows? Maybe they won’t even know until they step back on that stage again. Confidence is an ephemeral thing. A few good outs, and maybe they get it back. In an interview recently, Buehler talked about learning to live with failure. This from a pitcher who by all accounts has more confidence than he knows what to do with. Let’s hope that May and Gonsolin rise to the occasion. In any case, the team has enough talent to compensate. Others will step up. Despite the disappointments of past years, I think that this is their year.
You do not trust yourself with the aneurysm, I have an uncle who underwent surgery about 5-6 years ago and today is in perfect health, he had it behind his stomach, it was hidden, by pure chance they found it, a vein or an artery that is not 100% is very dangerous.
It has to be operated as soon as possible and everything will be fine, it is more risky to be with the aneurysm, it is a time bomb, than to have the operation.
I am hoping that Wood and McGee are re-signed for 2021. Alex has said that he loves the Dodgers organization; if he is willing to move full time to the bullpen the transition could turnout very well for him and the Dodgers. Ferguson is on the IL for 2021, and Scott Alexander is a trade, or non-tender candidate. That only leaves Victor Gonzalez and Adam Kolarek as returning LH relievers.
Sorry to blow up your proposed rotation, but Urias and Bueller would both be on 3 days rest not 4. I’m surprised Mark didn’t catch that. With that said, Wood should start game 6, especially after his “I came here to win a World Series” comment. Some guys are just more up to the task than others and the Rays have difficulty against Left handers.
Not that were even going to get there anyways. Bueller is going to do what he does in post-season games. WIN, WIN, WIN baby!!! Then Urias will shut them down setting up Kershaw for bookend wins so people like me can’t bash him about his failure in the post-season any more. Dodgers in 5!!! It’s all over on Sunday and time to move on to football and all the offseason talk about ridiculous trade scenarios and expensive free agents we don’t need and moving players into unfamiliar positions to make room for guys who will never fit on this team.
That pitching rotation won’t work as BullPen is right. I used my fingers for that calculation. I’ve been reading about another Opener/bullpen game elsewhere and expect to see it posted here soon.
I’m not as confident in Gonsolin as Mark is. I’ve already stated my reasons why more than once. It’s just my personal observation, not based in stat facts, just what I saw on tv. May has been throwing 100 mph so if there is to be an Opener I’d go with him or Wood.
Be careful pronouncing you are over Covid Mark. I’m reading many articles on how much we don’t know yet on lingering effects. I had a virus in ‘68, plasmodium falciparum, and I can tell you from personal experience there are long term implications. I didn’t have Remdesivir to lean on though. Hopefully it continues to work for you.
As for role players, they obviously play large in the Friedman model, so I expect to see more going forward. Maybe not the same players as one or more may decide to test the market, but I believe we will have little trouble finding replacements moving forward. It would appear Seager may be over his injuries and with any luck both Rios and Lux will be ready to step into full time role’s. Bellinger and Betts are obviously everyday players, who knows what might happen at first, so our utility players will, hopefully anyway, be there to give our everyday players some time off. I’d sure like to see more Dodgers starters play 150 games.
You are correct and that it is considered 3 days rest by Baseball Reference. A starting pitcher in a normal 5 man pitching rotation pitches every sixth day, and many consider that 5 day’s rest, when it is really only 4. However, I should have been more clear and stated it is only one day less than when both Buehler and Urias would be expected to pitch. In a 5-man rotation without a day off it would be:
Friday – Buehler
Saturday – Urias
Sunday – Kershaw
Monday – Pitcher 4
Tuesday – Pitcher 5
Wednesday – Buehler
But Monday is a day off, and I would be moving Buehler up only 1 day to pitch Tuesday, taking away the necessity of Pitchers 4 and 5 or a bullpen game. Therefore I corrected the statement to make it three days. But it does not distract from the fact that my proposed rotation through Game 7 only pushes up Buehler and Urias 1 day, and that should not be a burden with 3 ½ months before pitchers and catchers are due to report. I doubt that I misled anyone into thinking that Buehler and Urias were pitching 2 days earlier than expected. But I suspect you knew that.
Mark does not edit what I or anyone else writes. So if there are corrections that need to be made in what we write, it gets pointed out and we correct it if we can. That is what happened in this case. So thank you.
“Rays have difficulty against Left handers.” While they are not a very good offensive team, they actually hit LHP better than RHP. They have a 46 point OPS advantage with LHP.
Vs LHP – .237/.339/.455/.794
Vs RHP – .238/.324/.415/.738
I guess that it depends on whatever metric you consider when determining whether a team hits LHP or RHP better. I would use OPS whereas you might not.
“all the offseason talk about ridiculous trade scenarios and expensive free agents we don’t need and moving players into unfamiliar positions to make room for guys who will never fit on this team.” That is the fun time of the season. No game pressure. MLBTradeRumors most popular post annually is their projection of the top 50 free agents, what they will sign for, and where they will go. I love the Hot Stove Season. I plan on making ridiculous trade scenarios and recommending expensive free agents. But you are right, if I were AF I would not be moving Seager to make room for Lindor, but Badger would. And I am sure that both sides of the argument will be making “meaningless” posture statements knowing that nothing we opine is of any relevance to MLB decision makers. To many of us that is fun.
AC, I’m afraid I am one of those people you were talking about in your article this morning.
I admit I have not been as verbally complimentary towards certain players who are not considered stars but role players, players who are definitely needed to bolster and complete a team’s success. Case in point, Mickey Hatcher is and always will be, one of my favorite Dodgers.
I confess, as a person anxious and thrilled to see minor leaguers moving up to the big time, that I was very disappointed to see Zach McKinstry not make the opening day playoff roster. But, I can not see who he would replace. I was also just as disappointed that Floro was left of the first roster.
It has been mentioned that friends, relatives and even players themselves could read this blog so it has now made me more careful at what I say. So, I apologize for anything I might have written that may have bothered them.
DBM, you are not the target of the article. I do not recall any time that you have said anything negative about any Dodger player. I do not know how you feel about Doc or AF, and that is good (IMO).
You are certainly not alone with wanting to see Zach McKinstry on the roster. Again IMO, McKinstry is exactly where Beaty was last year. New kid on the block but destined for a supplementary role on a future roster. And as I said above, those players are necessary. I would have liked to have seen Beaty get some more ABs during the postseason, but I understand why he isn’t. The team is generally using the same 9 players with 2 coming off the bench or with an occasional start (Kike’ and Barnes). Rios and Beaty are emergency players or an occasional PH (Rios when power needed).
Thank you, AC.
Bulldog and Penguin,
Buehler last pitched on the 17th and threw 6 innings. Today is the 23rd. Your math is wrong.
Urias pitched 3 innings on the 18th. He will allegedly start on the 24th. Again do the math!
5 out of 4 people struggle with math. I don’t!
Apology accepted!
I believe they were commenting on the rest between game 3 &6 for Buehler and game 4 & 7 for Urias.
Mark……. Huh?
Doesn’t matter. Chili got it. And it looks like Jeff made a correction. Hopefully it won’t go past this weekend as Pitcher 4 and Pitcher 5 don’t exactly fill me with confidence.
If we hit, we will beat these guys.
Well done Jeff!! The role players are vital to any team’s success. I was always a fan of the Stuntmen, and particularly the much under appreciated Brian Holton.
Charlie Morton is a very good pitcher. The Dodgers will have their hands full tonight. I like to believe though, it Buehler pitches his best and Morton his, then the Dodgers will prevail. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
That entire pen was pretty darn good including Alejandro Pena. Buehler seems to be getting better each outing.
During the 14 year championship run according to Tracy Ringolsby,June 19, 2017, the Braves used:
• 20 players at catcher, led by Lopez’s 1,106 games caught.
• 35 players at first base, led by Fred McGriff’s 629 games.
• 24 players at second base, led by Lemke’s 860 games.
• 28 players at third base, led by Chipper Jones’ 1,207 games.
• 20 players at shortstop, led by Jeff Blauser’s 791 games.
• 57 players in left field, led by Ryan Klesko’s 625 games.
• 30 players in center field, led by Andruw Jones’ 1,334 games.
• And 56 players in right field, led by David Justice’s 665 games.
Bum-
Interesting information. I would have never guessed those numbers for any of those positions. I would have thought 2 players for 3rd base…..Chipper and his backup that would play maybe once a year.
So now to give this more validity, what are the Dodger numbers per position through the past 7 seasons?
Regarding the Braves 14 year run, they probably only started 10 different pitchers because of their 3 headed monster with Avery and Neagle. Obviously I’m exaggerating the low number but hopefully point taken.
By the time we are done with a 14 year run I wonder how our numbers will match up.
Thats why I’m curious where we’re at after 7 years…..
I’ve tried to find a source that already has done the compilation work and haven’t found one yet.
I would like the Dodgers to get 3B Brian Anderson from the Marlins, he is a player who has grown year after year, he is far from free agency but he is a player who would be worthwhile, he has a good present and a better future.
Great write up Jeff. My first favorite role player was Chuck Essegian. We all know what he did in the 59 series. In those early series it was guys like Essegian, and Lou Johnson who were the big differences. And of course the dominating pitching the team had. They have always had the less publicized guys who could come off of the bench and do a job. Dave Hansen was another. Kike during the regular season has always been an enigma to me because you know the guy has talent, you know he has power, yet his regular season stats, except for his first year, just make you scratch your head. I really thought that when he had his 20 homer season it was the worst thing for him as a player. The next year he seemed to get pull happy. And his stats reflected that. He is supposed to be better against LHP< but this year he was better against RH. He also is better as a starter than off the bench by almost 50 points on his BA. But he has a huge PH homer in the post season. Kike has been one of those pieces that has performed huge on the big stage. And when your stars are not getting the job done, someone has to step up thier game. Most of us believe Kike and Joc will be gone next season. Joc has always been good in the post season and has some of the bigger hits for this team. It should be noted that our spark plug 345 million dollar man does not have one single home run off of a lefty pitcher this year. All 17 of Mookies homers have been hit off RH pitchers. There are 3 former MVP's on the Dodgers. The Rays have none. Our players need only live up to the resumes they have built, and we should be fine. But they need Mookie and Belli and Muncy's power. They need the steady and reliable JT, who so far is not really playing at that level for probably the first time ever in the playoffs. They need solid relief, and starters who keep the other teams offense at bay while their offense cranks it up. Against Snell, they did not even get a hit until Taylor's homer in the 5th when they were already down 5. For the next 3 games, they hit first. Score first, score often, and make the pressure on the pitchers a lot less daunting. Snell could do what he wanted because he has that 5 run lead. And even when they cut the lead to 2, once they left Turner out there on second with no outs and did not even move him to 3rd, you knew they were not coming back. I have no problem with how Roberts has handled these playoffs. He has made the right moves at the right times. Not every move a manager makes is going to be successful. And I can go back in Dodger history and point out a lot of bad moves by some managers who were considered among the best. I think the most asinine thing I have read on here over the last couple of weeks is that Roberts gave up. And that was posted during the Braves series when they were down, and then almost tied the game. To me, you do not give up and then come back like that. Have the tying run on 3rd in the bottom of the 9th and only lose because your hitter hit's a rocket that is fielded by the 3rd baseman. No one on this team is giving up. To think so is moronic. And certainly the manager is not giving up. I as a fan am not giving up. I have seen them lose, and I have seen them win. A lot of it is talent, and some is just luck. But this team is on a mission. You can see it in their demeanor. They have been here before, the Rays have not except for Morton. At some point you have to believe they will begin to feel the pressure.
Rays are hitting .237 so far. Dodgers hitting .227. Rays have one more hit, 16 than the Dodgers and have one more at bat. Dodgers have walked 11 times, but struck out 27. Rays have only 2 walks. Rays team ERA is over 6. Dodgers around 4.5.
I don’t follow other baseball teams, but I assume that the fans are pretty much the same, though some cities have more demanding fans than others. NY, Philly, Boston would come to mind as places where the fans demand more than they do in Los Angeles. The Yankees essentially fired Joe Torre after winning five titles, they fired Joe Girardi who had won one. Boston fired Francona with two titles. Chicago pushed out Joe Maddon who managed the Cubs to their first title in 108 years.
In Los Angeles, we do not like to fire managers. We kept Alston for 21 years, Lasorda for twenty or so. We seem prepared to keep Roberts for another twenty. We have many writers and broadcasters and fans who react strongly to any criticism of the Dodgers manager,as if someone were attacking a religious figure. Yes, some fans are inclined to blame the manager for every defeat. And there are some fans who blame him for nothing, it is always due to insufficient talent, or players not coming through, or just the way it goes in baseball. The way it is has gone is that the Dodgers have not won a title in 32 years, while some franchises have won three or even four. Is this all due to deficiencies in managing? Of course not; but unless one thinks that the only role of a manager is to keep the players happy, it might be reasonable to conclude that there have been some lacks among the various managers we have hired.
Over the years, the reflexive defenses of any of our managers, among the Dodgers station personnel, most of the local media, and virtually all of the blogs, is very predictable, as much so as the fans who criticize the managers after playoff losses. Actually, it seems that the only fan and media bases in this town which keep the pressure on the coaches or managers, are those of the Lakers and USC football, maybe occasionally UCLA basketball. The fans of the first two have demanded a high level of success, and demand that the coach be fired if it is not reached.
I continue to think that Dave Roberts is far from one of the best game strategy managers. Maybe it is an overrated talent. Maybe Roberts has some deeper reasons for his moves or lack of moves than the fans are able to discern. Most national writers did question his decisions in the 2017 and 2018 World Series, and even more so in the short 2019 playoff run. But the local media did so only mildly, and the fan base let it go with each new season.
I have not been a big fan of any of our managers over the years, though I did think that Torre had some good approaches in games, better than the ones who preceded him, but he certainly was not a genius as manager. I did expect a lot from Dave Johnson, who I thought was very good with the Mets, but he seemed not to be too interested when he got here, so was a definite disappointment. Maybe I just expect too much from a manager, though i have seen a few with other franchises. who I thought were very much on top of each game, thinking a step or two ahead of the opposing manager. Those are pretty few and far between, though. I would mention Bochy, LaRussa, Gil Hodges with the Mets, Mauch (yes. even so), Weaver, Leyland in his prime, Murtaugh, at least in the World Series, maybe Fred Hutchinson, though he tragically had a short career, I cannot tell about Stengel, whom I never watched in the Yankees’ glory years of the 1950’s. I have read about baseball people who have said that Durocher was without parallel in managing a game from start to finish. Alston did a very fine job in 1959 and 1965, maneuvering very average offensive talent to championships. I have been impressed with Kevin Cash over the last two seasons. I like strategy, analyzing the relative abilities of managers or coaches to outmanage their opponents, or at least do the best with the talent they have, and who are always worth looking at as underdogs, because their teams overachieve.
I’ve lived among giant fans, Twins fans and dbacks fans. giants fans are the worst and it’s not even close. Of course, being a Dodgers fan fanned some flames but just being at the parks I could see a big difference. Twins fans are for the most part courteous, dback fans were calm until we peed in their pool, but giants fans, and 49er fans, are louder, ruder and drunker than any park I’ve ever had the privilege to visit.
Today’s Game 3 lineup:
Mookie
Seager
JT
Muncy
Smith (DH)
Belli
CT3
Joc
Barnes
Buehler
Hi Bobby – hope life is good?
I’m sure you’re still basking in the warm
glow of the Lakers triumph.
Could you explain why Barnes is catching Beuhler tonight please?
I’m surprised because I would let Smith catch, and get another hitter, probably AJ into the lineup as DH, to lengthen it.
Maybe I’m missing something, but I’m not feeling that lineup.
Watford, not Bobby, but I speculated above about Barnes catching tonight. After NLCS Game 6, Buehler was very vocal as to how beneficial Barnes was navigating him through the 2nd inning, and then letting him guide him through the rest of the game. After Game 6, I thought that Barnes may add Buehler to his list of pitchers along with CK. It has nothing at all to do with Smith, and everything to do with how well Barnes works with the pitchers and the game he calls. Maybe it is superstition and not wanting to change anything from Game 6. In his pre-game presser, Barnes commented that his job along with the pitcher is to throw up zeroes and let the offense do their job. BTW, Barnes also indicated how well Smith receives and works with the pitcher. This is the WS and it is pitcher’s personal choice.
Now you know.
Absolutely
He had a superb game
The days of the manager having absolute control over a game are gone. The Leo Durochers of the world would not exist in today’s baseball environment. (There’s a reason that Bruce Bochy retired shortly after Farhan Zaidi arrived.)
It’s now a collaboration between the manager, the front office and the computer as to who plays and how and when and how much.
Roberts is primarily expected to be a good communicator and pass down the position of the management to the players in such a way that they buy in and on that account, he has acquitted himself very well. He seems to be a “player’s manager” and in general the Dodgers like playing for him.
I don’t think that he is a particularly good strategist nor is he adept at managing a bullpen. But by getting the players to buy into the team concept, the Dodgers have won a lot of games.
I think that they could do better but I also think they could do worse.
My criticism of him this year was spelled out well by Hannah Keyser in her recent article at Yahoo Sports – I don’t think that Roberts has put either May or Gonsolin in the best position to be successful in the postseason.
An ex-pitcher friend of mine was talking recently about the recent struggles of the Dodgers’ young pitching duo. He observed that sinkerballers (May) and splitter-throwers (Gonsolin) live on the movement of their pitches and that too much adrenalin will cause them to overthrow which will straighten out their stuff and make it hittable. Letting them start games and work in their usual pattern will allow them to settle down and have their usual good stuff. Given that May is throwing everything 100+ and he usually pitches in the high 90s, I think that there’s a lot of validity to what my friend is saying.
Don’t mess with the kids if you want them to pitch well.
Excellent points on Dave Roberts and his good leadership and communication skills. I also agree that his in game strategy and pitching management are not always the best, although the players ultimately determine the outcome. In terms the usage of May and Gonsolin and totally agree that the Dodgers have not put them in the best spots to succeed this postseason. They are both rookies who have been primarily starters with limited relief experience and limited playoff experience. May pitched in 3 high stress games in 5 days when entering game 2, and inherited a runner on base. I was told that was only the second time in his career that May relieved with a runner on base, and he is clearly uncomfortable in the stretch. The situation was Margot at the plate and Wendle on deck with two outs, and Gonzalez was pitching at the time and had gotten 3 outs in 10 pitches. If not for the botched double play ball by Kike, Gonzalez would have been out of the inning. It seems that with Gonzalez going well, and Margot hitting RHP and LHP about the same, inserting May in the middle of the inning was not ideal. Of course May gave up two hits and two runs that inning. To me, Gonzalez could have been left to finish inning, before bringing May to start a new inning. Again, the players need to perform, but it helps when they are put into the best situations to succeed.
I am generally a Doc supporter. Yes, he makes bad decisions sometimes…don’t we all. But I agree with you that the one change that I had the hardest time with was pulling VGon and inserting May. I would have waited for May to start a clean inning. However, both May and Gonsolin need to perform when given the opportunity. Just like Kershaw in 2008, the kids have to cut their teeth sometime. Game 2 will not be the last opportunity in this WS for either May or Gonsolin, and I expect they both will have learned from their experience and do much better. Doc invested in his kid pitchers, and I think he will get a good return on that investment.
It was interesting listening to Julio today in a pre-game presser. Because of the way he has been used in relief after starting in postseason play, did he have any advice for Dustin and Tony. He said to be patient. They are both excellent pitchers and they will learn.
Alston managed for 23 seasons. He has been the bench mark for assessing the success of all who have followed him. He was a force in the club house and an imposing physical presence. Few players would have challenged him to a fight. Lasorda was a totally different breed. He would build their confidence, and tell them they were champs. He also would chew them out when he felt that they were not performing to thier capabilities. But Tommy tended to wear out his bullpen, and was not really a great tactician either. But he did something Roberts has not done, he managed a champion. You missed 63. The Yankees that year were a far superior offensive team. But the Dodgers had the best pitcher on the planet, and a couple of really good pitchers to go with him. In that 4 game sweep of the Mighty Yanks, they used 4 pitchers in 4 games. And the reliever who got into game 2 only pitched 2/3rds of an inning. Dave is a players manager. He has the respect and the love of his club. He communicates with all of his players and lets them know exactly why he has either removed them from the game, or why he is playing someone else in their place. Communication is his strongest skill. He is also the choice that AF made to run this type of team. But he is surely not responsible for the performance of a player after he enters the game. Has he made some bad moves? Yep, but you can only say that after the move has been made and it does not work out. Supposedly when he took Hill out in 2018, Hill told him he had nothing left. But only Hill and Dave know what the conversation was. Maybe Honey saw a flaw in the mechanics that made him feel Hill was losing it. At the time the change was made, I was livid. But I don’t know why he did it. All I know as a fan is that the bullpen imploded and we were down in the series. You can only suppose, because no one will ever know, how a Bochy or LaRussa would have handled the situation had they been in those shoes. Managers greatness and legend live because of the players they have managed. You never hear about how good a manager Tom Kelly was. Yet in 1987 his Twins beat the Cardinals who were managed by Whitey Herzog, who was one of the better managers of his era, and then in 1991 beat Bobby Cox’s Braves who had some of the best pitching in the majors. And they did it by winning all of the home games. But Kelly is a .478 career manager. His record in the post season? 16-8. .667. Casey Stengel only became a genius after he became the Yankee manager. 10 pennants in 12 years gives you that status. With the other 3 teams he managed, Brooklyn, the Braves and the Mets, he was under .500. One reason his career record is barely above .500. Joe Torre, the same thing. He managed the Braves and the Mets with little success. He takes over in NY and wins. He did good with a lousy owner in LA, but did not get them over the hump. Durocher as good as he was only won 1 WS, 1954 with the Giants. He never got the Dodgers or the Cubs to the promised land. A managers job is to keep egos rubbed and players happy. It is also to put the players in the best position to succeed. What they do with the opportunities presented is on them. I still do not think Dave Roberts is a very good in game manager. But at least this post season, which has been one of the more stressful ones of all time. He has kept the team on it’s focus of winning the Championship, and his players loose. They came back from being down 3-1 in a stadium with few fans 1400 miles from home. There is no situation comparable to the one they have faced since they went in the bubble. They have been expected to win the whole thing by almost every sports service there is. How they face that pressure will determine their ultimate fate. They either rise to the occasion, or they go home dissapointed again.
Michael, I skipped 1963 because as wonderful as the season was, i thought we had the best team.Koufax and Drysdale were incredible. Davis won his second straight batting title. The Yankees were starting to decline, though obviously they were still very good. I didn’t give Alston as much credit for winning that year, as in 1959 or 1965.
I forgot to mention Herzog; yes, an excellent manager. I didn’t follow the Twins much, but Kelly was highly thought of, but then his teams fell off, as sometimes happens. He did a fine job altogether, though. I’ve probably missed a few. Obviously, Francona was good, but i got so tired of him changing pitchers for every batter; and he did have a lot of talent, so I did not rate him as high as the others I mentioned.
What about Sparky Anderson? Of course he had PeteRose, Johnny Bench. Joe Morgan and Tony Perez on his team.
You are right, how could i forget Sparky. Very good manager, I well remember 1973 when his Reds overcame an 111-game Dodgers lead. A classy guy. I was not thrilled when he used a guy up from the minors to start against the Braves when the Dodgers were a game behind them with about a week to play in 1991,. But he deserves to be considered one of the top modern managers.
I watched Money Ball again last night. It is a pretty entertaining movie. I did not realize that the character Peter Brand was in reality a combination of some of the A’s evaluators and Paul DePodesta. That being said, As other teams have embraced Beane’s and the A’s philosophy and saber metrics, some have won the big game, others have not. And the Red Sox of 2014 were probably the first. Billy and his A’s have always fallen short. Over all these years the innovator has not gotten his team to the World Series. Yet his copiers have. Makes you think that what works for some, does not necessarily work for the inventor.
Well, as the movie showed, the A’s owners were outrageously cheap, and never gave him any money for a key free agent or two. He mostly won with people no one had heard of. And when they got in the playoffs, the greater talent of teams like the Yankees or Red Sox was just too much to overcome. He was not perfect; making the midseason trade for that power hitting outfielder whose name I forget, did not work out at all. But just when it looked like the A’s run was over, he rebuilt with a new group of lesser known players. I think that he was great, and I loved the stories, which I presume are true, shown of him maneuvering to make trades of players he hadn’t even acquired yet.
As I heard it, DePodesta did not want his name in the movie, for whatever reason.
‘
“Just hit. Just hit like you’ve hit all year.” Tony Kornheiser, PTI, on how the Dodgers win.
Yep. I believe I agree with him.
Probably Money Ball works better when paired with money, something Billy Beane usually doesn’t have a lot to work with. But I’m only guessing, since I haven’t studied this very closely.
I too agree that hitting will provide the key to any success the Dodgers. Of course it won’t hurt to get good pitching also.
Bear, my personal theory about this is that statistically, it is easier to predict what will happen over a long season than in a post-season series of 5 or 7 games. Randomness just plays too great a role in a short series, so it becomes harder to predict performance. Sabermetrics uses statistics about players’ previous performance (e.g., as high school or college players) to predict their future performance. In the days of Moneyball, even the most experienced scouts couldn’t compete with statistical models using prior data about player performance. This phenomenon is not unique to baseball. Statistical models will almost always outpredict human evaluators in medicine, psychology, the stock market, etc. However, where it breaks down is in predicting situations where there is a lot of error in prediction, like in short series where randomness plays an outsisized role. That might explain why Billy Beane has been remarkably successful in building clubs that make the playoffs, but not in getting to or winning the WS. It would also have helped if he had a larger budget to work with. At least in the old days he was competing with clubs that did it the old fashioned way. That gave him an edge. He could do more with less money by finding undervalued players. Now everyone is into sabermetrics, so he no longer has this edge.
One team totally into analytics will win this WS. And if both teams play their best the Dodgers win so just play our best and we win!
Yes , I agree, Cassidy! It’s not coincidence that two AF clubs totally into sabermetrics made it this far. However, this equation explains why the Dodgers will win the WS:
Sabermetrics + big market money = Mookie!
What Makes a Good Paragraph?
A good paragraph is composed of a topic sentence (or key sentence), relevant supporting sentences, and a closing (or transition) sentence.
Mutiple short paragraphs and white space between paragraphs make it easier for mentally challenged people like me to read comments.
I enjoyed this.
I always though it was like a shirt.
Long enough to cover what has to be but short enough to keep your attention
In today’s pre-game presser with Dave Roberts. He mentioned how important it was to get both Dylan Floro and Victor Gonzalez back in Game 2 after a tough outing in Game 1. He added that they both pitched more relaxed and better in Game 2. He didn’t bring it up today, but he did previously that it was important to get Pedro Baez back up the next day after a bad outing in the NLCS Game 2. I know many do not believe in Doc’s philosophy, but he trusts his pitchers, and they reward that trust most of the time. We will never know if Doc had selected a pitcher other than May in that situation what the outcome would have been. But if the Dodgers were better than 0-6 WRISP, maybe they could have won even with the use of May.
Doc was asked about taking off the kid gloves with Julio. Doc said that some will say that the team was too careful with Julio and did not push him enough. But Julio always knew that whatever the decision was with his usage, he knew that the organization had his best career interests at heart, and that Julio respected that. I think that is true, because I remember reading comments from Scott Boras how impressed he was with the Dodgers in their handling of Julio at his age and after his surgeries.
Roof is closed tonight. Doc wasn’t sure what impact that will have. He does remember when the roof was closed in the summer how the ball did not seem to travel as well, but he said…we’ll see. The players do not seem to think that it will make much of a difference.
Blisters seem to be better. WB used all his pitches.
Well I guess turner can hit a 95 mph fastball lol
Buehler is just awesome. The ace for years to come.
Almost 3 am here in the Netherlands, but worth staying up for. I am one of the ones who questioned the wisdom of leaving Muncy in the clean-up spot for all of those games when he wasn’t hitting. Well, I guess he’s getting his groove back. 3-0. We need to give Doc some credit for that one. In this case, his philosoohy of believing in his players is paying off. And Walker Buehler is a stud. And Justin Turner is Mr. October.
JR has his Superman cape on tonight! Go Blue!
Did Doc just call for a squeeze play????
I hope Doc leans on Buehler Kershaw Urias Gonsolin Treinen Baez the rest of the series. If he needs to use more guys McGee is Ok. But gotta be careful with the rest. Either use them against the same side of the plate ONLY or don’t use them at all. There are definitely a few I wouldn’t use AT ALL.
Oops not necessarily same side but the strength side.
This sounds pretty official from Ken Gurnick:
You might see Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning. Or the seventh inning. Maybe even the fifth inning. He’s no longer the closer, because the Dodgers don’t have one. To a great extent, they’ve eliminated bullpen roles entirely
Barnes homerun = this is our year.
Austin Barnes and Kike both part of that Dee Gordon trade.
Now we understand why Austin Barnes is in the lineup!
Walker with an absolute gem tonight. With 93 pitches I assume Doc goes to the BP with a combination of Treinen, Baez, Kolarek and KJ.
Austin Barnes. I sincerely apologize for Mark not believing in you!
And maybe me too
Ok Urias, now your turn to match Kersh and Buehler
Will they let Bazooka finish?
Thankfully the Dodgers had more than a one run lead.
I actually thought Kenley looked pretty good last night in spite of the homer you so negatively allude to. I think he just needs to be monitored more and he needs more recovery. It’s what happens when you get older. You lose the ability to recover. You have good days, but are more inconsistent. If and when Roberts and the staff figure out how to best manage this about Kenley and put him in situations where he’ll be more likely to succeed, he and the team will be much better off.
Great game by Dodgers! Contributions from so many in tonight’s game!
Especially Buehler, Betts, Turner, Muncy and Barnes.
And Roberts deserves a lot of credit for starting Barnes to make Buehler comfortable, calling safety squeeze, and taking Buehler out at exactly the right time.
Still a lot of work left against a formidable opponent, but very efficient effort from a talented team.
Dodgers are well positioned for the next game with all bullpen arms available to back up Julio.
One game at a time, one inning at a time, one at bat at a time. Keep grinding.
Keep it going. Don’t change a thing.
Every single man is pulling the rope. Keep it up
What ever Charlie Hough told Jansen it seems to have fixed Jansen,
I wish he would tell it to me!
Very impressive game. Sign Buehler as soon as you can, because he is an essential part of the Dodgers’ future, one of the best pitchers in baseball. It is always great when you have a starter who takes control of the game from the outset. That is the Dodgers’ history in Los Angeles, most of the titles we have won were because of our great starting pitching.
Fitting that Jeff’s article was about role players, and one of the hero’s of the game was Austen Barnes. By the way, doesn’t his name remind you of a certain British secret agent? “My name is Barnes. Austen Barnes.” Or was that Austen Powers? Vote for the best Barnes moment of last night’s game:
A. Suicide squeeze
B. HR
C. Catching a Walker Buehler 3-hitter.
Will he relegate Will Smith to DH for the rest of the series? Stay tuned! Austen Barnes. International man of mystery!
I was upset with AB in the middle of the seasons, so much so that I wanted to see Kaybear Ruiz. But, I have always been a big fan of Barnes. I just felt like he needed to do something different. He has struggled for a couple of years, but I remember his breakout year and I loved the Dee Gordon Trade. However, Austin is a junkyard dog and he figured it out.
Your eyes may tell you that Will Smith is an All-Star and yet AB is now the personal catcher for Clayon and Striker. That’s the “vision” part and Role Players like Austin Barnes are what help make the Dodgers a great team. You can quantify what he did last night, but he’s always there!
I am sorry I doubted you, Sammy!
I wonder what Chase Utley was doing at the game last night? Is he going to work for the Dodgers? That was the plan at one time!
Barnes has been a fairly consistent player since being acquired. Career slash of .239/.344./356, and a + dWAR every year. Mid year when some in here were thinking he was going to hit .300 I said he would maybe hit .250. He didn’t, finishing at .244. He had one outlier offensive year out of 6. He’s 31 in December and not a free agent until ‘23. Smith is our starting catcher. And what to do with Ruiz? Beats me. I had him in Barnes’ backup role this year.
Yep, we are set up nicely to finish this thing off. The only thing that can stop us now is the Rays. I don’t think so, but, what do I know? I thought Smith would hit worse in the Majors than he did in the minors, he hasn’t, I thought May and Gonsolin would finish as they started, and I thought Ruiz…. there were other things I was wrong about but can’t talk about it here.
We’re doing it pretty much as many of us figured. Good pitching, timely hitting. 2 down, 2 to go.
Any chance Ruiz or Cartaya in a pkg to get a SP next year or?? I suppose I should ask first who’s available??
I’m liking Smith @ 3B in the future if he can make the transition…
Lets go get em today…
You could save your prospects and just go out and sign Bauer, but do you really think we need to add a SP with CK, Buehler, Price and Urias as proven guys now? That means you just need one of May, Gonsolin, Gray and White to work out as a #5. Both May and Catman were excellent until the playoffs. I’m guessing what they showed during the season is more indicative of future performance than their playoff results.
It’s a great question and one I’m willing to entertain in the offseason.
I wonder if Kershaw and Buehler have had any conversations about Buehler’s success in the post season and Kershaw’s mixed results. Obviously that conversation would have to be started by CK if there was one. Just amazing that two such excellent pitchers would have such varying playoff stat lines, although granted Buehler’s is a much smaller sample size.
I wonder if Kersh gets a ring, he would entertain thoughts of staying in Texas or thereabouts?? I think he mentioned his home is a short drive from the stadium..
Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see Kersh end his career with the Blue, but we all know it’s a business…
I thought Kershaw might go to Texas right before we extended him.
I agree about the pitching Jefe. Bauer has a lot of miles on him and only has a couple years where his ERA was under 4. I don’t think we need him. Depends on for how much. Urias, Gonsolin, May, White, Gray are all ready to step up Bobby Miller could be close too. Santana, Beeter, if these guys can get some minor league work in, big if, with college experience they will all be in their mid 20’s and available by ‘22. I think we look pretty good in pitching. That said, Houston got Charlie Morton for $7 million per and Tampa got him for $15 million per. If that is available then yeah, sure, grab that guy.
We’ve got Kershaw for one more, and Price for two more, Buehler, Urias, May, Gonsolin et al… looks stacked to me.
,
Gray should get a look next year and be counted on as a 2022 rotation piece.
1. Buehler
2. Kershaw
3. Price
4. Urias
5. May
6. Gonsolin
Plus Gray, Miller and others are in that pipeline. There is no room and no need to sign a free agent. AF needs to sign Seager, Buehler and Bellinger in the next two years. He will not sign a big name pitcher. No way!
The Yankees and the great Gerrit Cole are watching on TV. This is the way a Championship team is built.
If AF waits another year (w post season) to sign Buehler, he will likely qualify as a “big name pitcher” 😉
At this point, I trust our decision makers. So if they choose to start Barnes with Urias today, I will be very happy with it.
Running the staff is more important than offense from the catcher, especially in this lineup. However, the catcher is also producing offensively, so why change it!!
With a lefty starting Pollock will replace Joc today, so that means Doc needs to decide if he’d rather have Barnes or Kike in the lineup. If it’s me, I think I go with Barnes. CT3 didn’t look very good last night so another option would be to sit him for a day and start Kike at second. If Barnes starts, I think it makes more sense to have him catch and Fresh Prince DH instead of the other way around, although that is also an option. He’ll definitely be catching Kershaw tomorrow.
Although Barnes was the hitting hero last night, if he starts today it will be due to his ability behind the plate.
We have an “embarrassment of riches” at catcher. That’s an enviable position for us to be in.