The Best is Yet to Come!

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1. Will Texas keep Bret de Geus (with his 8.14 ERA), or return him to the Dodgers? They will keep him. They’re a bad team and have nothing to lose holding on to him.

   1. I find myself not caring, personally.

2. I was surprised when the Dodgers signed Albert, but increasingly he does seem like the perfect fit–in no small measure because Muncy can slide over to 2B and Lux can sit against lefties.
   But mostly he is a great fit because he is Albert By God Pujols, the most accomplished major leaguer in the game today–and no one is even close. On the Angels, this legend became a creaky old guy who was standing in the way of Ohtani at DH and Walsh at 1B, and occupying space that belonged to role players like Ward. He no longer fit. He knew it and it couldn’t have felt good…. But on the champion Dodgers, he’s still a reliable, dangerous bat against lefties and a guy who even MVP caliber players like Kershaw, Mookie and Belli look up to. (I really do wish I could complain that Albert is blocking Peters, or Raley, or Neuse, or Ravelo… But nope. Albert’s still got more game.)
   That’s good news. The bad news is that, yeah, he really isn’t needed if Lux starts proving he isn’t just the infield version of Joc. And that would be great, because Albert will be getting the rocking chair at some point.
   Loving the updates from the farm, especially regarding Cartaya and Miller. I wonder if Miguel Vargas’s record hitting streak at Great Lakes continued. He’s only 21, but some seamheads rate him ahead of Hoese at 3rd.

   1. True, Ture, True.

      Vargas took the collar!

   2. Vargas has easily passed Hoese at 3b after the latter came out this season with nothing.

      Vargas might have to move to 1b someday but that’s ok because the timeline fits with Muncy anyway.

      We are done rushing guys. When they are ready they play. Next year [or sooner], Ruiz will join the roster and everyone will get a little more versatile.

      1. I would not be too quick to write Hoese off (although I really like Vargas). This is Vargas’s 3rd year at Great Lakes (albeit was Low A before).

         This is Hoese’s first year in the Minors and he started at AA, bypassing A Ball. Apples to oranges.

         1. No slight intended to Hoese. He’s still a top 10 prospect. But Vargas might have the best hit tool in the org along with Busch.

3. Pujols is the Man! He crushed that homer. Belli and Max pulled, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Belli said it was only a cramp when he came out of the game. But we will see. Bauer pitching tonight. Sight of the game was the look on Joe West’s face when Yang uncorked that pitch to the backstop, priceless.

4. Yes, the Dodgers absolutely destroy journeyman right handed pitching. Today they’ll face Cy Young again, so that most likely means a day off for Muncy and possibly Belli as well. Lefties hitters injured the night before against a lefty on the hill today = day off. Hopefully, these injuries aren’t serious and they’ll be back out there on Sunday.

   With all these muscle pulls, it seems like they aren’t hydrating. Maybe they should hire Adam Sandler to be their water boy.

   If you haven’t noticed, Fat Albert right now has a higher OPS with the Dodgers than his highest mark at season’s end for his entire Angels career. That’s gotta hurt. 5 Bombs in fifty something ABs is incredible considering his age and lack of mobility. Maybe finally having a chance to earn another ring has rejuvenated him.

   Gavin Lux, for all intents and purposes is a kid. Let him mature and he will reward us. He has more RBI and more HR than Verdugo who plays in a hitters ballpark. And he’s two years younger and has done it with less ABs and much less big league experience. Have you noticed Verdugo’s splits this year?

   Man, the injury bug keep biting. I’m not happy about Belli and Muncy coming off the field. What the hell is going on?

   The Padres are two games behind us and 3.5 behind the Giants. Most of their lineup is still intact. I wonder if their fans are complaining as much as we were just a few days ago.

   I’m hoping Bauer will step up and keep us close against Cy Young with two of our best hitters out of the lineup. Yes, Belli is one of our best hitters, I don’t care about what his stats say after just 62 ABs.

   WTF? Rangel has missed three straight games now.

   Saw comments about the bullpen after the game yesterday. It’s funny how small sample size is a thing when our reliever is doing well, but not a thing when our reliever is doing poorly?

   1. “Saw comments about the bullpen after the game yesterday. It’s funny how small sample size is a thing when our reliever is doing well, but not a thing when our reliever is doing poorly?”

      If you are talking about me, I commented on Kelly and Bickford. One has a small CAREER sample (Bickford), the other has a large enough CAREER sample (Kelly).

      Kelly’s career stats are bad. Bickford’s career stats are also bad, but it is a small sample, but so far this year his stats are good. Therefore I know what we are getting with Kelly, but I have hope for Bickford. See how that works.

      Why do I like career stats better than part of 1 season stats? Because it is a larger sample. See how that works.

      Sorry if I come across straight forward or arrogant, that’s just the way I explain things.

      By the way, I like your posts, you’re one of my favorites to read.

      To Cassidy:

      Maybe Jimmy Nelson is a failed starter that is now trying relieving and maybe he will be successful at relieving. I just look at his career stats, as a starter to be fair, and I don’t like what I see, but as I said before maybe relieving is where he will excel.

      1. The list of “failed” starters who became outstanding relievers is a long one including the greatest to ever do it. But I just love Nelson’s stuff. Take away his first outing in Colorado and he has been lights out. IF! he can stay healthy he could be huge come October. An October bullpen of Jansen, Treinen, Gonzalez, Nelson, Gonsolin, Price, Knebel, and Graterol would be awesome. And yes I’m still holding out that Kelly will finally pay dividends. Keep throwing the FB Joe!

      2. Yeah, I signaled you out a little. I respect your opinions for the most part, but I think you’re unnecessarily tough on expectations for relievers. But, I’m also pointing out a lot of Vesia, White, Uceta and Cleavinger chronic complainers.

         Sometimes you have to look at stuff and not just results. Especially in Kelly’s defense. He’s had some big moments and not really a not of meltdowns. You look at his career stats and there’s nothing that screams horrible or exceptional. His career stats are not bad. His lifetime ERA+ is 104. 4 percent above average is far from bad in any sense of the word unless your a parent looking at your kid’s report card.

         Now, to go with that unremarkable ERA, Somehow he has a 628 winning percentage He’s a bit of an enigma. He’s also pretty damn good in the post season overall. There’s definitely a place for Kelly in my bullpen especially if the opposing players are getting chippy.

      3. Career averages are like putting one foot in ice water and the other in boiling water. Try that and you will see that one the “average” you should be comfortable… but you are not! Bullpen pitchers are so up and down (for the most part) that averages are just a Jedi Mind Trick!

         1. Good line about the water. This guy knows . . .

5. Prediction: we trade for a full-time LF at the break and move AJ to the bench for PH/spot-start role. Or straight platoon.

   1. Won’t happen. If they trade for anything it will be pitching. I do not think Allard has ever won a Cy Young, so someone must be being sarcastic. Bauer should handle this lineup easily. Pujols will most likely start at 1st and Pollock will start also since he crushes lefty’s. Not to worried about Belli. If Muncy’s injury is an oblique, that is a lot more worrisome. Mookie’s numbers against lefty’s are not all that great. But he needs to start getting untracked pretty soon. Hovering down around the .250 mark. Read an interesting story about players who are still getting paid and have been retired for a while. Bonilla gets paid until 2035. Unreal. And he makes more a year that way than some active players do.

      1. Money today is worth more than money tomorrow. But you knew that already.

         1. True, but it cost more to live tomorrow. Way things are going it is going to be very expensive just to eat.

   2. “Prediction: we trade for a full-time LF at the break and move AJ to the bench for PH/spot-start role. Or straight platoon.”

      If Friedman decides to improve the offense then that would be the best way to go about it. But it’s the bullpen that needs to be improved.

   3. You know what I would do with Pollock? Absolutely nothing. Put him in left, hope he stays healthy and leave him alone. He has done nothing to justify being benched or platooned. His average is good and his splits are RHP .274 and LHP .286. We’re paying him 18 million so why would we “trade for a full-time LF”. I don’t see that being a priority unless he gets hurt and we don’t want to go with the AAA guys again.

      1. I agree Pollock when healthy can carry a team. He did a great job last year and tied Mookie for the team lead in HR’s. Pollock is a pro’s pro. And a pretty damn good ballplayer.

      2. The ability to stay on the field is the 6th tool.

6. Whomever does the minor league report forgot to mention Cameron Gibbens (I’m high on him) from Great Lakes Loons who pitched a scoreless inning while striking out 2. He now has a 15.2 K/9 rate, 0.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP at Great Lakes. Overall this year his stats are 0.57 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 32 strikeouts in 15.2 innings.

   He’s only in high A ball, but I like what I see.

   1. I consider him a prospect but he will be 26 in a few days and he’s in A-Ball. I have said that they need to move him up to see if he is for real.

7. The depth we have in young catching is scary good. And we have some very good young pitching depth. But other positional depth is lacking. To me Busch seems to be the only guy coming up that has any star potential. Maybe Vargas

   1. Pages too. The other guys are really young. Vogel, Rodriguez and De Jesus. I wouldn’t write off Hoese just yet. This is really his first season of full season ball and the season is very young and he’s at AA. He’s being tested right now.

      1. Imo, highest offensive upside:

         1. Busch
         2. Pages
         3. Cartaya
         4. Vargas
         5. Rodriguez/De Jesus
         H.M. Hoese

8. Joe and Orel were discussing the rising number of injuries this season. The Giants have 15 players on the IL. Joe also noted that soft tissue injuries are up 100%. That is alarming as is the number of players needing TJ surgery. We can only hope this is a hiccup caused by not playing a full season last year, and not really enough time to get in shape for some players. Seager is ahead of schedule and should start a rehab stint in the minors really soon. I see him back by July 1st.

   1. After hearing that Gavin Lux loads up on espresso and red bulls before the game, I think these injuries and self induced. Drink some freaking good old fashioned H2O for God’s sake!

      1. Yeah if I drank that, I would undoubtedly have a heart attack! Kids today. It is like all of the people you see lined up at Starbucks to drink that swill they sell. My coffee tastes better than theirs and it cost a lot less too. Hardest thing I drank back when I was playing was water during games. When I was playing in the Army, it was Gatorade.

         1. I drink Lavazza Super Crema at home. I never go to Starbucks.

      2. I know a guy . . .

9. Wow, I look up and it’s June 12th already. Maybe a little early to talk about the trade deadline, but I’m sure the early action is just around the corner.

   Full time left fielder you say? AJ Pollock led the team in homers last year and was our best hitter against lefties. Sure, you might be able to find someone marginally better against righties, but he’s probably not going to be a lefty killer if you relegate him to the small side of a platoon. If that were the case, they would have kept Joc. AJ is the Rodney Dangerfield of the team, he don’t get no respect.

   Remember, Seager’s still on the IL. When he comes back, Lux is back at second and CT3 is going to need to get some playing time. It sure looks like Muncy is gearing up to play some second base against lefties with Albert at first. CT3 is going to have to spell AJ in LF a couple of times a week and spell JT at 3B. There’s barely enough ABs to go around without trying to replace a really good player.

   The Dodgers offense is very good, in case you haven’t noticed. The only team with more runs scored is the cheaters and they get to use a DH and a trash can. And we’ve done that with half of our team on the IL for most of the year.

   If you’re going to spend money and prospects at the break, you might as well get more pitching.

   1. Boy, everyone is dissing Keibert Ruiz.

      His bat is MLB ready and his catching has been for a while. Move Smith and platoon Ruiz and Barnes and you will get more offense than if you trade for anyone. If Smith played a less physical position, he might hit even better… actually, he would hit better!

      Ruiz is just coming into his power and now has 6 HR in 70 ABs. Counting his MLB stint, he has 7 HR in 77 ABs.

      If Friedman can pick up another arm he will, but I think Gavin Lux is a trade possibility!

      1. You really think AF would consider trading Lux at this point? He’s doing far better this year than he has in his past times up with the big club. He’s a former first rounder and still very young. He may not be progressing as fast as you would like but he’s definitely moving in the right direction.

         What kind of trade scenario could you seem him included in?

      2. Ruiz is a stud.

         Part of the future core.

10. The BP does need to be improved, but if it can get and stay healthy then the Dodgers should be in good shape. Same with the offense. I think I read here that the opening day starting lineup has not played together since. Now we see Bellinger and Muncy have some issues that we hope are short term. With a completely healthy team there’s no other team in baseball that can match our talent and experience. And, that’s with an average BP.

    Lux has had somewhat of a rocky few weeks. I hope they give him until at least the half way mark to decide his fate for the remainder of the season. His defense has been good. For a first full season he projects out to about 17-20 HR’s and 80-90 RBI’s which isn’t so horrible. SO rate is about 25%. Of course, he has to improve with hitting LHP. I don’t think he needs to be platooned exclusively right now. He definitely needs to work on having better success with LHP during the offseason. I believe he will be a plus all around player with more experience.

    There has been discussion here on MLB’s handling of substance use on the baseball. Yesterday philjones mentioned a Steve Stone had an idea I should be considered. phil, also, had his thoughts on the matter. His idea of having a rougher cover is a good idea. With the rougher cover the resistance when a ball is hit would need to be compensated for. Maybe, go with the 2020 ball with a slightly rougher cover. One of the pitcher’s bullshit excuses for using illegal substances is for a better grip so as not to hit the batter. Well, HBP is up this year and I thought that’s what the bag of rosin was used for.

    I think MLB should shelve enforcement this year and let the player’s union know that it will enforced in 2022. I know the last thing baseball needs is for a game to be stopped for a ten minute strip search. I think the tracking of spin rates can be used as a red flag (after getting a baseline for each pitcher per S Stone). If the high spin rate continues then let a team and pitcher know that MLB is seeing an uptick in spin rate. If an illegal substance is found after the warning then a penalty should be applied. The penalties for illegal drugs and supplements are pretty severe and appear to have curb their use. I ‘m sure that there are some instances where the player does ingest band substances innocently because of incorrect labeling or being sloppy and not checking the ingredients thoroughly. But, the policy doesn’t allow for any excuses and was agreed upon by the players and MLB. Test positive and you’re suspended. With this issue I believe that the penalties should be similar. It’s a decision that a player can make without any question as to it’s intent or consequences. Either you enforce the rule or change the rule. The pitcher will have access to a rosin bag (the same one for both sides) which will give the pitchers the comfort to know that the hitter will be protected from being hit with a thrown ball. LOL. Example of penalties might be: 1st time – 50 games, 2nd time – 100 games, 3rd time – 162 games. The fourth time – you just don’t get it and are too dumb to be a MLB player…lifetime. And the team should get the max fine, which I think is $5 million per occurrence. After all it’s cheating (Astros’s fine). It’s so exhausting having to hear about the constant attempts by players to cheat the rules. That’s why Boob Manfred made a huge mistake in his decision not to suspend or band any of the players involved with the Astros cheating. Where’s the repercussions for breaking the rules? Thanks to the most incompetent commissioner in the history of sports there were none.

11. Mark, whose dissing Ruiz? He’s a star in the making. Having a great year at OKC. His power has arrived and he has incredible bat to ball skills. And I think I read where he transformed his body this off season. So he wants it. If we’re healthy I don’t see a place for him this year but next year he’ll get a shot.

    1. Here he is last night. He is visibly more svelte. His career strikeout rate is 10%!
       

12. The problem with moving Smith is where? He might become a decent 3rd baseman, but Turner has at least another year and an option. Right now there is no spot for Ruiz. Much as I would love to see him play up in LA. Not sure they would move Lux. McKinstry still needs to crank his game up. He will be starting in RF tonight with Mookie moving to CF.

    1. Have you seen tonight’s lineup Bear? If not, I think it’s much more likely that we see CT3 in center, Mookie in right, Pollock in left and McKinstry at second. They really don’t like to move Mookie unless they absolutely have to and Taylor has played some centerfield this season.

       1. I read on Dodger Blue where they had the injury update on Cody and Max where Roberts had said that McKinstry was going to start in RF.

13. DODGERS SELECT ANDY BURNS
    DODGERS OPTION RHP MITCH WHITE, DFA RHP DENNIS SANTANA

    LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers selected infielder Andy Burns from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned right-handed pitcher Mitch White. Additionally, the Dodgers designated right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana for assignment.

    Burns, 30, appeared in 30 games for the Oklahoma City, batting .330 (32-for-97) with 11 doubles, five homers and 20 RBI. In parts of eight minor league seasons, he is a career .268 (754-for-2811) hitter with 79 homers and 366 RBI. He played in 10 MLB games in 2016 with the Toronto Blue Jays, going 0-for-6 with two runs scored. He was originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the 11th round of the 2011 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona.

    White, 25, pitched two scoreless innings last night. The right-hander has appeared in 11 games for the Dodgers, posting a 0-0 record with a 3.29 ERA (5 ER/13.2 IP). The former second rounder out of Santa Clara University is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA (6 ER/16.2 IP) in 13 career MLB games. In five minor league seasons with the Dodgers, he is a combined 14-15 with a 3.98 ERA and 316 strikeouts in 78 games (67 starts).

    Santana, 25, appeared in 16 games for the Dodgers in 2021, posting a 6.00 ERA (10 ER/15.0 IP) and eight strikeouts. He had been with the Dodgers parts of four seasons, going a combined 2-2 with a 6.42 ERA (29 ER/40.2 IP) and 36 strikeouts. The San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic born right-hander was originally signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent in March of 2013.

    1. Who saw that coming? Andy Burns?

       Santana was DFA’ed! Farhan will pick him up!

       1. Would’ve been Ravelo but he’s been MIA

          1. Doubt that. He is redundant with Albert and Beaty able to play 1st.

          2. In addition to playing 3rd, 2nd, and SS, Burns has also played 1st base and the outfield. Ravelo not that versatile.

             1. Bear: How versatile do one have to be when he’s hitting over .400?

14. Something else is going on with Santana! I didn’t realize Burns was even on the 40 man roster!

    1. He wasn’t. With them DFAing Santana, he takes his roster spot. Guy is hitting .330 with 5 dingers at OKC. More versatile than Ravelo. He will wear # 29. Adrian Beltre’s old number. Now all they need to do is get rid of Tsutsugo. Bad trade.

    2. Maybe he is not as good as some might think. He will most likely get picked up by someone. I do not think it will be the Giants.

    3. I don’t think he was on the 60-man but by DFAing Santana, that clears a space.

       I’m assuming that bringing up an infielder means they expect Muncy to be out for a while. Albert and Beaty will probably share time at first with Burns used at second, short and third when he plays. That also means they’ve (at least temporarily) lost confidence in Neuse who plays those same positions.

       1. There is no 60 man anymore. He was a non roster guy. DFAing Santana opened up a spot on the 40 man. Burns is hitting ,330 at OKC, Neuse is not even close to that, and Burns has some MLB experience too. Brewers get Hunter Strickland from the Angels for cash.

          1. Typo – I meant 40 man and I agree that if choosing between Burns and Neuse at this point, the choice was easy.

15. Thanks for feedback but the point of upgrading LF is to not rely on AJ so much. Weaponize him as a bench/spot starter.

    It’s thinking outside the box. Maybe too far!

    1. Why do that? Pollock has proved many times over as long as he is healthy he is weapon. And right now he is healthy. Just use him judiciously he will be fine.

       1. Right now doing a lot if work for you in that sentence.

16. Totally off the subject but watching last night’s game I thought the home plate umpire was outstanding. I didn’t see him miss one ball or strike call. His name is Nick Lentz. A breath of fresh umpiring air–tip ‘o the hat to you Mr. Lentz.
    Did anyone else notice or am I seeing things?

17. I thought the ice was getting thin with Santana. Farewell Dennis, I hope you pitch against us a lot.

    Andy Burns has been an animal against LHP this year. This is make it or break it time for him. I’m always excited to see what the new guys can do. I’m sad it wasn’t Ravelo, but am eager to see what Burns can do. Maybe he’ll be our Donovan Solano.

    Mark, there is no way in hell that Lux gets traded this year. He’s already showed that he’s a capable, very young shortstop. With more seasoning, he’s got the ceiling of an All-Star shortstop. With Seager’s impending free agency, there’s a better chance I win the lotto than AF taking on the risk of not having a shortstop.

    As far as Ruiz goes, he’s doing enough to make him practically untradeable. You certainly aren’t going to trade a catcher with his upside for a closer on an expiring deal. The only way he goes is if an Ace becomes available on a rebuilding team that’s drooling over a catcher that can hit. That or a “Mookie” type superstar on a rebuilding team. The problem is there’s no where to put anyone.

    No one is going to displace Smith, Muncy, Seager, Turner, Belli or Betts. It’s going to be a hard find to get someone to displace Pollock or the Lux/CT3/Muncy combo at second base. Ruiz is going to bring in a very big name if he is traded, I just don’t think there’s much supply to make that work. A couple of years ago would have been a different story.

    I don’t see Smith moving off his position full time either. Not in the near future anyways. Barnes is most likely the next catcher to be traded. It’s hard to even see a scenario where Smith plays third base in the next couple of years with Justin and Rios locked up. Even if the NL picks up the DH next year, it would make more sense to go and get a Castellanos to fill that role, or a Kris Bryant to job share at several positions.

    Like I said, Barnes’ days are numbered. He’s better than a lot of starters around the league, he’s fairly cheap and has another year left on his contract. It’s the perfect time to trade him. Did you notice Clayton’s line score yesterday throwing to Smith?

    With Muncy and Belli out with Injury and a lefty on the bump. Is the lineup going to look something like this?

    Betts RF
    CT3 CF
    Turner 3B
    Smith C
    Pollock LF
    Pujols 1B
    Lux SS
    Burns 2B

    1. Betts, CF, Taylor, SS, Turner, 3B, Pujols, 1B, Smith, C, Pollock, LF, Burns, 2B, McKinstry RF, Bauer P.

       1. Meh, Lux could use a rest against a lefty. It sends a message and it’s inevitable once Seager returns.

18. Well Mark I guess u couldn’t convince AF to keep Santana. I must admit I am surprised. A young pitching prospect who has had Mlb experience even if it has been bad. He has certainly had chances but for AF to give up this quick on someone this young is very surprising. Mb more to it.

    Never heard of Burns but if he doesn’t pan out he will be dfa next. It seems like yoshi would have been a better cut. AF must think he can fix him. Mb they can get another young arm for Santana.

    1. He could also go unclaimed and be reassigned.

       1. He can also be traded. Which I think is a distinct possibility.

19. Giants lose first game of a doubleheader 2-0 today to the Nats. Padres losing 2-0 to the Mets in the 3rd, Chance to pick up some ground tonight.

20. Tonight’s winning lineup:

    Betts CF
    TaylorSS
    Turner 3B
    Pujols 1B
    SmithC
    PollockLF
    Burns2B
    MckinstryRF
    BauerP

    No Belli or Max, Burns makes his MLB debut tonight.

    1. He makes his Dodger debut. He had 6 at bats with Toronto back in 2016. Last time I checked, they were still in the majors. Oh yeah, for those of you who advocated AF go get Lindor, he is hitting .216 right now.

       1. Sorry, You right Bear about Burns,

       2. The last time I checked, Toronto was not in the Majors. Buffalo took their spot. Never made much sense to get Lindor, I was against it…for the record.

21. Did anyone notice that Alex Wood’s ERA is rising faster than a fat kid pinata party? The Padres are in a rough patch right now and the Giants are tethering at the edge of the cliff with Longoria going on the IL and Wood fading back to mediocrity.

    1. Stop that metaphor!

22. Hosmer, Machado and Myers are all returning to pre 2020 levels. When their bullpen blows up they will sink quick! And the Giants record is just not sustainable with their talent level. The time is now to make a move and take our rightful place on top of the West!

23. Doc said Corey was about two weeks away from a rehab assignment yesterday. Today he’s about a week away. At this rate, he’ll be in the starting lineup on Monday.

    Doc doesn’t sound overly excited about Andy Burns. Worst case you have a guy off the bench that can hit a lefty.

    Muncy will be reassessed after a couple of days and they can always go retroactive from there.

    Belli might be able to pinch hit, “We’ll see after he starts moving around.”

    Do you think Yoshii will miss a little more than ten days? Doc sounded very confident replying in the affirmative. Answered quickly and decisively. He’ll be in OKC’s lineup on Monday. So much for OKC running away with the division.

    After all the injuries so far this year, I feel like I’m in denial about Muncy and Belli going down last night.

24. Max Muncy to the IL with right oblique strain. Dammit, I was in denial. Raley recalled.

    I guess the baseball gods want the NL west to be interesting this year.

    When we get all our guys back after the All-Star game, it will feel like we won the trade deadline.

25. Ravelo not playing again for OKC tonight. I’m assuming he’s hurt, although he probably wouldn’t have been brought up anyway because that would have necessitated DFAing someone like Tsutsugo, our future playoff hero.

    Pepiot started for Tulsa tonight and pitched 5 scoreless, hitless innings with one walk and 8 k’s. Very promising.

    1. Pepiot’s season numbers so far: 1.64 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 13.5 k/9.

       Seems like he is in a battle with Gray and Miller for #1 Dodger pitching prospect. Normally it would still be Gray, but his injury has put a damper on things. Hopefully he comes back fairly soon to defend his title.

26. Been nice knowing u Muncy. Oblique injury probably out for month plus. It will b another long period to get right. This is terrible news! Next man up but the Dodgers have really been snakebite. Probably caused by ankle issue. They probably should put bellinger on the il before he gets a related injury. Players are so fragile in today’s game.

    1. I do wonder if players are really that fragile today or if the MLB/players’ union corporate ethos is to protect the investment. Guys used to “play hurt” routinely–it was a matter of pride, and you didn’t want to lose your job like Wally Pip. It’s said the Cal Ripken was always nursing some minor injury.
       An excellent documentary on the brief but spectacular career of Mark Fydrich claimed that he was pitching with torn rotator cuff when he flamed out so young. Chances are something like that wouldn’t happen in today’s game. Amazing now how many young pitchers come back strong from TJ and other surgeries. Seems practically routine in today’s game.

27. Giants score 3 runs in their three game series with Nats and win 2 of them. Wow!

28. The Andy Burns Era begins!
    Really like these stories. A 30-year-old career minor leaguer (save for a six AB stint with Toronto in 2016) gets the call. He has certainly paid his dues, and was crushing in OKC. (An earlier report had Raley coming back. Is he–or did Burns get the call instead?)
    I really hope he makes an impact. Can’t help but root harder for these guys and late draft picks like McKinstry more than the annointed ones. (That said, I was annoyed by McKinstry’s slow stutter-step throw to first that nearly gave ex-Dodger Culberson a hit.)
    Also, I’m a bit fuzzy on Santana’s DFA…
    I guess it means he is out of options so they can’t just send him to OKC. Does this mean Dodgers are likely to trade him? And if they can’t, he becomes a FA like Pujols was?

    1. He had a option. There was no room on the 40 man for Burns, hence the DFA.

29. Not being able to use the goop not only affects Bauer’s spin rate but also his ability to hold runners on! He’s clearly not the same pitcher without it!

    1. Not pitching like an ace at all.

30. Good game to win tonight to pick up ground. Bauer is seemingly struggling every game with pitch count. It looks like he would come out sharp. He can’t get the rangers out. Terrible lineup and already 5 hits in 3 innings plus stolen bases at will. Not a good time to stink it up. I realize unearned runs but 5 hits in 3 innings. WTH did mookie do?

    1. FB is 200 rpm less than it was two weeks ago. Wasn’t it Bauer who took on a leadership role a couple of weeks ago and said he came to LA to win a championship. Last couple of outings he’s looked like s#$%t. He needs to do his part and pitch like a $40 million dollar compensated pitcher. Way too many BB’s, HR’s and pitching behind in counts far too often.

31. 1 – I had hoped that last night would be the kind of catharsis that the offense needed to really get kick-started. Maybe not.
    2 – Bauer’s RPM is down over 200 since MLB announced that it would start enforcing the rules. The LA Times hypothesized that the Dodgers may have made a $40MM mistake if Bauer can no longer pitch like an ace.
    3 – Raley came up when they put Muncy on the IL, so he’s up too.
    4 – They needed to DFA Santana to make room for Burns on the 40 man. It doesn’t have anything to do with options.

    1. The catharsis was quickly diminished by injuries to Bellinger and Muncy and a lefty on the hill the next day.

32. Don’t forget Bauer been pitching with very little run support
    I’m not making excuses for him but it does put a lot more pressure on the pitcher
    And as for Pollock, Does Anyone know what his average with RISP is ?

    1. Bear says there’s no chance he’s upgraded so discussion over.

       Welcome to the internet: where having no credentials entitles one to endless opinions.

       1. Look, they are paying the guy a lot of money to play, 18 million. Not to be a platoon player. That is simple logic, Anyone with half a brain can figure that out. Pollock is hitting about .285 against lefty’s and in the .260’s against RHP. By comparison our 30 million dollar man, Betts is hitting .255 against RHP and .241 against lefty’s and all of his homers are against RHP. Going into tonight’s game, Pollock’s avg with RISP was .344. Betts is at .279. So tell me, why should they upgrade when he is playing at a higher level than Betts???? I do not need credentials to read the stats.

33. Just another pathetic offensive performance against a no nothing lefty. McKinstry shouldn’t be in the lineup against lefties. Bauer isn’t very good but the offense is even worse! What’s up with Mookie and lefties. Career wise he’s fine but as a Dodger he’s been BAD! Joc bad!

    1. Agree on Zach.

    2. Only other RH bat left is Barnes. Not going to use the backup catcher in a starting role. Rest of the players on the bench are lefty’s and Lux does not hit lefty’s all that well either.

    3. Joc has picked it up lately. Another dinger tonight.

       Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!

34. Hmm…. Maybe we need to get a report on Bauer’s spin rate as Dodgers fall behind 5-0.
    But hey, Andy Burns is still batting 1.000!
    And now 6-0 as Price gives up a single…

35. Our all or nothing boys in blue! Pathetic tonight. Going to bed!

36. 70 million dollars worth of nothing tonight. Betts and Bauer stinking up the joint. Offense non existent and they are blowing a huge opportunity to gain on the Giants. Way things are now, they will still be 2 games back of the Giants. Oh yeah. Pollock went deep tonight.

    1. Yeah but what good was it really. It seems like he always gets his hits At the wrong time either when we are buried or when we don’t really need them
       I absolutely agree with you on Betts, He’s got to pick it up or we made a big mistake. I’m not one of those sayings we need to have an upgrade but I think POLLOCK Has proved he’s nothing more than a platoon player, he’s either injured on a short streak or in a slump as far as Bauer Time will tell If he can’t pick it up without the sticky stuff, I hope the dodger fans boo him off the mound

       1. I totally disagree with you. Pollock right now is a more productive hitter than Betts. He has a better average against both left and RH pitching, his avg with RISP is much higher. His avg with RISP is .344. Betts is at .279. Pollock might never be injury free, but when he is right, he can carry a team. He did that last year. Yeah, he hit it when they were down, but that is not his fault. No one except Turner even hit one loud off of the starter. When your entire offense sputters like that, you are not going to win. When your 40 million dollar pitcher, allows .160 hitters to hit 2 run homers, gives up 4 stolen bases, it does not matter if he strikes out 9, or 10 or any other number, you are going to lose. I think you guys are placing way too much blame on Pollock. He is hitting 20 points higher than Betts.

       2. Even if Mookie never gets another hit for the Dodgers he was worth every penny. At least for me. Without him we are still singing that same Dodgers mantra “Wait til next year”.

          Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          P.S. Mookie soon enough will turn it around and be the Mookie he was since he entered MLB. ONe of the best players around.

37. Mudcat Grant, former Dodger passed away today.

38. This falls under the category of %^$#@*( happens!

    Move along – there’s nothing to see here folks.

    1. Got that right Mark, but looking this bad against a last place really bad Texas team makes one ill. Someone ought to teach Bauer how to hold runners on. Now for the next couple of weeks, they are going to have to make do without their best power hitter to this point. Time for everyone to step up, and that includes Raley, who was raking at AAA. We will see if he can carry it over to the bigs.

39. Sorry to hear about Mudcat I vaguely remember him pitching for the Dodgers.
    What I do remember is he hit a home run off us in the World Series, does anyone remember who was pitching at the time

    1. Howie Reed

40. Here is the main takeaway from this game: NOTHING!

41. Maybe Clayton will want to end his career pitching in Texas like many of you imagined.

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