What Have We Learned?

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1. I believe we learn a little more about these guys each day. We will see how Lux handles a little adversity because of his struggles over the weekend series with the Nats. He did hit a couple of balls pretty hard, but they were caught. Taylor was not as hot through the series but had a huge hit with 2 outs in Saturdays game. Betts is still day to day. Hopefully he is ready for this 3 game series with the Rockies. If not then hopefully for the Padres.

2. It’s an easy group to root for from top to bottom! Proud to be a Dodger fan! Can’t wait for this weekend. Statement series!

3. I’ll add to what we’ve learned: The Padres are not going to lose unless we beat them. They are probably saying the same about the Dodgers. This should be fun.

4. Zach is my guy and has been for some time. There was always something about him that stood out. He wasn’t/isn’t the best player on the field in terms of skills but might just be the best using the skills he has. I love that he can hit with two strikes and with runners in scoring position and can play multiple positions. He plays like the game is still a game and not a life and death situation.

   https://ladodgertalk.com/2020/03/02/mckinstry-ex-zach-ly-knocking-on-the-door/

5. I tend to not draw conclusions after 10 games. The Padres are good, but can they sustain over 162 games?

   I tend not to call people morons, but I’m okay with what Mark said about Rob Manfred. For the record, I’ve never liked the commissioner, said so many times. He needs to go.

   Since we play the Padres 19 times, I won’t put too much weight toward the first series. But yes, absolutely, it would be good to make a statement.

   Since Gavin Lux had been some balls very hard, it would make sense that some will begin finding holes.

   I like Max Muncy. Thought he was much better than many of the players some folks thought we should get in the off-season. He has a attitude that plays well.

6. Zach is my guy and has been for some time. There was always something about him that stood out. He wasn’t/isn’t the best player on the field in terms of skills but might just be the best using the skills he has. I love that he can hit with two strikes and with runners in scoring position and can play multiple positions. He plays like the game is still a game and not a life and death situation.

   https://ladodgertalk.com/2020/03/02/mckinstry-ex-zach-ly-knocking-on-the-door/

   1. Miss those incredible prospect write ups DC. You always had your hand on the pulse of our minor leagues. Wish that you would return someday!

7. We’ve learned that the 2016 Dodger draft class is redonkulous and is getting more impressive. A fashion model, you don’t say?

   https://www.ocregister.com/2021/04/12/dodgers-2016-draft-class-continues-to-produce-major-league-talent

8. I agree, no rush to judgement right now. I know that the Dodgers are going to be a monster all year. I’m glad to see Muncy start hot after a bad year last year. McKinstry has been a pleasant surprise and is much better than Kike in my opinion. The lineup and the pitching staff is loaded. Best record with 2 MVPs out for around half of their games? 7 starting pitchers on the current roster? Three former closers, all looking dominate at times? The Dodgers beat a covid weakened Nats team, an overrated A’s team and a bad Rockies team. The Padres beat a bad D-Backs team, a mediocre Giants team and a bad Ranger team. Not too much to glean from that. The Padres are playing a AAAA Pirates team and the Dodgers get the Rockies at home before their big showdown this weekend. I can’t wait to park my butt in front of the TV all weekend.

9. What the Dodgers lose with Kike moving on is his defense, especially at 2nd base. With Lux as the starter and playing solid defense overall, it made Kike expendable. Kike was always going to have a low offensive ceiling. I think Zack will be be better overall, and he’s played good outfield D.

   Muncy doesn’t get the respect he deserves. Since he started playing full time in 2018, he’s 6th in walk rate, 6th in ISO and 14th in wRC+ at 140, just behind Ronald Acuna and just ahead of George Springer. His ability to get on base is elite.

   The Padres are really really good. Much was made of the Snell and Darvish pickups, but Musgrove might be the breakout pitcher that becomes the staff ace. And Lamet hasn’t even played yet. Next year the Padres will start integrating Mackenzie Gore into the rotation, who’s probably the top pitching prospect in the game. ..and then there’s Mike Clevinger, who’ll be coming off Tommy John. The Padres will be good for a while.

   The Braves aren’t hitting yet. They are better than their record, and I think they will be the third best team in the NL when the season ends.

   1. Padres lost Morejon to the IL yesterday. Tatis is not back yet, but is supposed to be ready for the Dodger series. Early games are not a gauge to what will transpire later. I look for these to be close games. Dodgers have done well without two of their best players.

10. It sounds like Gonsolin’s injury will take awhile to heal, that’s a big blow to the bullpen. I’m still hoping Doc allows he and Gonzalez to pitch multiple high leverage innings, as both are good against both sides of the plate.

    I’ll stand by what I have said for the last 2 years, Jansen should be used the first inning that he can start an inning, following the starting pitcher. His days of closing are over.

    I like Treinen but he needs to get better against LHB, he did that in a shortened year last year, hopefully it spills over into this year.

    It will be interesting to see what the Dodgers do with Kershaw after this season. If Kershaw would take a significant pay cut i’d like to see a 2 year deal for him. The Dodgers franchise is in a good place player wise to be very successful for a few years, it would be nice if the powers that be, spend the money to keep the important players in Dodger uniforms during this successful period that the franchise is currently in.

    I’m with others in saying that Zach McKinstry gives it all he has and will be better than Hernandez, although I didn’t care for Hernandez.

    I’ve always liked Chris Taylor, he’s a valuable piece of the team as he can play just about anywhere. I always favored him over Hernandez when both were on the team. He is in a contract year, so there is that extra motivation he has this year.

    I’ve always liked Muncy and I didn’t complain when he was in a long slump last year, because I know what he is capable of. That being said, when the team is healthy the 6th spot in the batting lineup is perfect for him.

    “I think it should be a team goal NEVER to lose a series this year. Every Game Matters!”

    I’m all for that.

11. About Zack:
    ”He wasn’t/isn’t the best player on the field in terms of skills but might just be the best using the skills he has”
    Harold, I can’t find a better way to say it !

12. I’m very impressed with the team so far. Considering that Betts and Bellinger have been out along with Gonsolin and Graterol on the pitching side. Muncy has seemed to have turned things around. I amazes me how the entire lineup grinds the opponent pitching on such a consistent basis and no one emphasizes this more than Max. Lux has had some bad luck recently with hitting into outs with hard hits. His defense has been a surprise. So, his overall play has been a plus and I think will continue. The team is so deep that even losing two MVPs the Dodgers continue to win even though the competition has been poor. The two loses were games that the Dodgers lost and not won by the A’s and Rockies.

    The bullpen should be a huge advantage throughout the season. With Kenley’s last outing it brought back visions of the past. Just dominating. But, unfortunately, he has had these flashes in the past 3-4 years. He has a big problem getting his body in sync consistently. When he does it’s magic. When he doesn’t it can be a high wire act. I don’t understand the Dodgers’ fascination with Scott Alexander. He’s suppose to be a sinker, ground ball pitcher, but he has become a knee to waist without much control pitcher. Why him and not Kolarek? I cringe when he gets in the game. I know he has, but to me he never has a clean inning and has control problems. I don’t get why and how he is beginning his fourth season with the team. Jimmy Nelson will continue to improve the more he pitches. The same with David Price. His stuff looks good and needs more innings to get things dialed in. Knebel, Trienin, and Gonzalez have been doing what we expect them to do. And, once Gonsolin and Graterol join the staff then the depth and quality will be incredible. Joe Kelly? Whatever. It would be nice though if he could contribute something before his contract ends.

    With the Dodger manager, very disappointed. His coaches are outstanding. The front office is simply the best in baseball. And, it’s not even close.

    The Padres have to stay healthy throughout the year and the odds of that aren’t in their favor. Tatis has already been injured. They don’t have the depth we do to withstand anymore long term injures. Especially, on their pitching staff. It’s a long year. It will be interesting to see what happens.

    1. Team is great.
       Padres are great.

       Will be a very fun NL West.

       I too miss the prospect articles we used to get on this site. They were a great asset to put alongside those from Dodgers Digest, FanGraphs, TBLA, MLB.com.

       In my opinion of course, which is nearly worthless.

       1. I think Dustin Nosler is one of the best objective scouting review assessors of minor league talent around. His top 50 is great.

          1. Nosler does a very nice job. He’s fun to read.
             That said, I’ve noticed that many the prospect pundits have such a poor batting average. As I recall it, Beatty and Rios were never considered top ten prospects before they were promoted to the 25-man roster–while some top ten guys never pan out. (But I am still rooting for DJ Peters to become our Aaron Judge!) McKinstry, I think, is another who tended to be underrated by these exercises even while he was obviously impressing Dodgers brass.
             My guess is that these commentators focus more on the “ceiling” than the floor.
             As a part-time Angel fan, I sadly recall the raves about the “can’t-miss” first-round SS Brandon Woods who was dubbed “the next Cal Ripken” by a minor league manager. I even recall a reported rumor that Angels nixed a trade for Miguel Cabrera because Wood was demanded in the deal.
             Baseball America ranked Wood ahead include Verlander, Braun, Lester, Justin Upton, Prince Fielder. His potential was such that he managed to play 272 ML games over five years–before washing out with .186 career batting average. (How many .186 hitters last that long?)

13. The blown call at home Sunday to end the Braves – Phillies game was typical of the lack of reliability with the replay review system in MLB. Just like practically everything Rob Manfred has his hand in, it’s run like a clandestine operation. No transparency in the process. He’s the Wizard behind the curtain and will feed the underlings what he feels they need to know.
    By my count Manfred and his minions have had a role in 19 rule and game changes after “extensive” fan research and “opinion gathering”. Most of these are ridiculous like no DH due to bundling it with the expanded post-season, max 2 pickoff moves to first in A-, forcing the pitcher to step off to make a pick off throw in A+, and bigger bases in AAA. I hate the shift that puts a rover in right field but I’m not sure there needs to be a rule. Maybe the players need to adjust which most have been reluctant to do.
    The construction of the baseball is top secret.
    So, what’s the process involved in reviewing a call? What does the command center in New York look like. Some TV personal have had tours. Why can’t we get a TV tour of the operation. Who’s doing the review? 2 umpires – who? Are they seeing the same camera shots in NY as we are seeing on our TV’s at home? Why does it take sometimes 5 minutes for a decision I can see in 30 seconds? Why is there no umpire or representative to give a verbal explanation of the verdict? What rule or view was seen to determine the outcome? I hate it that the default is what was called on the field. The best idea I’ve heard is that NY gets the video with no knowledge of what the call was on the field. The judgement is based on what was seen on the video NOT what was called on the field.
    Does Manfred have a secret desire to run the CIA? More transparency and less cloak and danger would be welcomed by the players and fans. Practically everything he does seems paranoid and antagonistic. The fans are not the enemy and baseball is not a toy Manfred should change as he sees fit.

    1. I totally agree Phil. Manfred is a tool. And the replay clearly showed from multiple angles that the runner never touched home. Pure fantasy. I also think if hitters want the shift to go away, they should learn to beat it. I was sitting there watching Lux hit the other day, and the entire left side from the SS position to third base was wide open. He could have dropped a bunt down the line and had a hit easily. Or just take an outside pitch to left. I remember Bellinger getting a double doing that in the playoffs. Instead, Lux swings from the heels at an inside pitch and grounds into the shift. I think it was Tommy who said you need to see at least 50 or 60 games before you get a feel for what a team is. I have used that idea for years. Right now, it is so far so good even with two main pieces of the offense missing some time. I am pissed at Spectrum right now. For the last year and a half, I have been able to watch Altitude Sports, which carry’s the Rockie games. And since those games are blacked out to me on MLB.TV, that is where I have watched them when they play the Dodgers. And that was on my channel list on Spectrum…at least until I checked it last night. Now it is gone, so if I want to watch the game, I have to wait until an hour after it is over to do so……grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

       1. Players who prove they can counter the shift will stop seeing the shift.
          Home runs are fun and all, but I find the game much more compelling when baserunning and strategy is vital. I’d much rather see a batter like Ichiro than, say, Nelson Cruz or JD Martinez.

    2. Couldn’t agree more on Manfred. Like I’ve said many times he’s the worst commissioner in the history of pro sports. Yeah, I’m sure all these bullshit changes he’s trying in the minors were highly suggested by fans. Just fix to universal DH and then have Manfred lock himself in his office for the remainder of the season.

14. Two comments Bear, one, try volokit.com I get all the Dodger games on my computer or laptop and then connect to my TV for great coverage. You can get just about all the MLB games, NFL games, NHL games etc., on that site. Second, when the shift is on, as it was with Lux, the pitchers pitch inside which makes it hard to hit the other way. Not impossible, but rather difficult (then there is the occasional pitch that missed its intended spot). A bunt toward third should still be an attractive option.

    1. I get it, but not all of the pitches were inside. And a little creative foot positioning can change all that. I used to inside out my swing by moving my left foot back when I was hitting. I also hit lefty. It would allow me to take the inside pitch to left. About the same thing Wally Moon used to do when they were playing in the coliseum.

       1. The more pitchers and defenses can get batters to change their stance or swing in response to the shift the more they win.

          You have the best batters in the world doing things differently.

          1. I never changed my stance, just moved my leg back a little. Lets you see the pitch longer.

             1. That’s changing a stance by definition!

                noun
                1.the way in which someone stands, especially when deliberately adopted (as in baseball, golf, and other sports); a person’s posture.
                “she altered her stance, resting all her weight on one leg”

             2. Position of my foot changed, but my stance never did. Elbow, knees all in the same position they always were.

    2. Campy, I see no evidence that pitchers now days pitch to the shift. They used to. Phases like “play em away, pitch em away” used to be the practice but it’s no longer applicable. Over the time I have watched the evolution of the shift, pitchers now just pitch. Shifts are based on where hitters usually hit the ball complied by computers with big sample sizes. Shifts just play the odds. It’s based on the propensity of hitters to hit to certain places regardless of the type of pitch or location. Everyday I see outside, firm pitches to lefties pulled into the shift. No thoughts of pitching in. The pitchers just pitches normally and that’s where the hitter usually hits the ball. Hitters need to be willing to hit or bunt away from the shift. Why not be a team guy and add 20 hits a year? But hitters like Joey Gallo (and many fans I presume) feel they are paid to hit homers. They have no interest in a 39 hopper to beat the shift. Chicks dig the long ball.
       By the way hitters like Rod Carew changed his stance and approach during an at bat he could hit falling out of bed.

    3. Thanks for the info Campy. That is where I am watching tonight’s game and I do not have to listen to the Rocks announcers.

15. Mookie back in the lineup against Colorado tonight.

16. The Dodgers are the envy of baseball but the Padres are for real. Thanks to the Cubs handing Darvish over for nothing to cut payroll. Thanks to the pirates who gifted Musgrove. Thanks to Tampa giving away a number 1 in Snell. It just seems as though the Padres fleeced their trade partners. I just don’t understand how the Padres can make these deals without giving up much of anything. Of course the cards traded Gomber for Arenado and the Rocks said we will give u 50 mil as well.

    Of all the recent trades the Dodgers seem the only team who gives up anything of value. Verdugo and a catcher plus a top farmhand. Then paid to get rid of maeda. They not only gifted Maeda to get Graterol but they continue to pay for him. I guess all is well because we won the World Series but we paid dearly for Betts.

    The Padres picked up 2 aces and musgrove who has pitched a no hitter this year. Their bullpen has started the year great. I think we are better but the margin is slim. I don’t know how the Dodgers stay on too much longer but hopefully AF does.

    1. R u kidding me! No way we win a WS without Betts! I’m making that trade all day long every day!!!!!! And we’ll win more titles because of him!

    2. Snell lasted 2/3 of an inning against the Pirates tonight in the Pads loss. Yep, he is an ace all right.

       1. And that bum Bauer only struck out nine tonight! And he gave up another hit!

    3. The Dodgers lose Ryu to free agency and trade Maeda–and they go on to be bigger stars on their new teams. I’m happy for them, and for the Blue Jays and Twins. And it reflects well on the Dodgers’ reputation for assessing talent.
       Yet without these quality pitchers the Dodgers go out and win the World Series, with big contributions from rising talent like Urias, May, Gonsolin, Graterol and VGon. Trading Stripling at midseason brought in another promising prospect.
       Perhaps the only time I’ve questioned what Friedman is doing is when he won the bidding for Bauer. It still rubs me the wrong way…. but I think I’ll get over it.

17. Orel and Joe are going for a
    ” worst ever trophy ” Even when thry run out of stuff to say they just keep talking.
    Painful !

18. I’ve learned

    That Bauer is absolutely awesome to watch

    And that this place is far better without the Politics

    1. Anyplace is better without politics. Especially in this day and age. Power bats heating up. 4 dingers tonight. Feel bad for Beaty. He is getting very few opportunities. Seager heating up again. Bad news for the rest of the league. 11 games in and they lead the Pads by 1.5 games.

    2. Let’s not forget that baseball brought the politics here. We did not bring it to them.

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