Hopefully, This is as Low as it Gets

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1. Completely agree that moving these guys around defensively is unnecessary and ultimately hurts the defense. In Lux’s case it also hurts the offense.

   A wiser man than me once said “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. “

   1. Send that quote to Bauer

      1. Should I expect a reply?

         1. Maybe from his attorney’s!

   2. BANG!

2. Hit the nail on the head there Mark. I mentioned all of the moving around yesterday. No one seems to play the same position two days in a row except Freeman and Trea. I like Muncy at second better than third.

3. Are we serious? They hit laser beams all game it just happened to be at people……

   They will get right at home this weekend.

   1. They hit at least 4 that were home runs in nearly every other ballpark. I think they’ll be fine.

      Defense? Meh

      A lot of disquisition about the balls. Most of the talking heads I heard yesterday said not much can be done because a. the balls are already made and shipped and 2. MLB is made up of soft bellied hard headed self proclaimed but lacking measurable proof wannabe eggheads.

      The idea of one (maybe two with expanded roster) super utility guy is in my opinion a good one. However, being mostly old school I think it’s important players, especially the younger ones, know they have one position to focus on. I think Lux should play second base or left field but not both. I think once we got Freeman Muncy became a DH. He can play the field now and then but a lot more then than now. Hanser and Taylor are enough utility.

      I’m not yet convinced Trea is a good defensive shortstop. I am convinced that our third base platoon is less than and second and first base are average at best. I’m thinking ground ball pitchers cringe a bit when they look at some of the infield sets they see behind them. I could be wrong about that but watching the Dodgers, in general it just kinda looks like a team built on “notta to worry, we’ll eventually outscore everybody”.

4. Pardon my mood this morning. I frequently wake up in a bad mood when the Dodgers piss away 2 road games in a row.
   * It all started with the pre-game whiny, negative attitude from Kirsten Watson who bitched about being too hot with the roof open at Chase Field on a perfect, sunny 92 degree Arizona day. I’d just finished watching the White Sox game in Chicago where it was 36 degrees with wind at 30. There were about 200 people bundled up in the stands. I wish she would have been there.
   * I keep thinking how we all lament when we lose the Division by a game, thinking back to these efforts.
   * I do give the Snakes credit for their pitching. Joe Davis was imploring the Dodger bats to wake up. Yeah, me too. But, Zac Gallen had something to do with that. As I’ve mentioned before, I had high aspirations for Gallen. Quality pitcher with great stuff. But injuries and too many stops have kept him down but he has his moments.
   * I wrote this on this blog a few months ago:
   “Since 2018, the Dodgers have had 18 different players start at 2nd base. Last year Lux seemed to have the job only to lose it. Many hope he’s be the answer this year to put this to bed. Four years later the Dodgers still have questions again at 2nd. Is it Lux getting another shot with question about yips? Or is he going to be a left fielder? Is it Muncy CT3 or Hanser Alberto who was brought in to be a utility guy who’s a career (12 seasons) .276 hitter but .333 against lefties…… Or are we destined to watch Doc play musical 2nd basemen all season, again? So how is it that since 2018 the most starts at 2nd base for 162 game season is Kike with 63? I would expect a franchise like the Dodgers to have an everyday 2nd baseman with 120 plus starts per season”. That question looms larger for me today than when I wrote this.
   I think it’s time for Lux to get a day off and then quietly move to left field. Doc doesn’t have to make a big deal out of it; just don’t start him at 2nd anymore. There doesn’t need to be a press conference. Lux has the yips bad and those voices in his head aren’t going away even with perfect fundamentals and 1000 reps. You can just see his hesitation and lack of confidence on his yippy throws. The try out is over for me.
   It was nice that Freddie had the athleticism to quickly stab that ground ball and beat the runner to 1st with Urias no where in sight. He was too busy pouting after Ahmed’s homer.
   I think I need a nap.

   1. I agree with that, but the Giants lost, so they lost no ground. Too damn early to get so upset about this. It happens. They beat themselves.

      1. I don’t think it’s too early to be upset when we play like this and do the same things that have caused problems for us in the past. I don’t like us beating ourselves whether it’s May or October.

         1. I get that, but you can get an ulcer worrying about this stuff. Besides, the manager was not happy. They were lucky they were on the road.

5. I think it’s way too early to give up on Lux as an infielder. Mark makes some good points. I might agree that it may be more efficient to have CT3 at 2B and Lux in LF in the short term. But, in the long run, it makes more sense for Lux to keep improving in the infield judging by his extremely high DRS number at 2B, even with the bad throws from time to time. Hell, Steve Sax was worse and stayed at the position for most of his career.

   Patch, like I said yesterday, timing is everything. It was very convenient that you chose to highlight the Giants offense as being better than the Dodgers yesterday. Sadly for you and you’re favorite team, the baseball gods pulled the rug out from under you.

   I think it’s weird that Muncy is going to be fine at 3B and Lux can’t play 2B. I guess people see what they want to see.

   The Giants suck no matter how good or bad they are. They’re the Giants, so by definition, they suck!

   Farhan is a genius, he picked up Nunez! He also cut Bickford and Moronta. Thanks Farhan!

   Gabe Kapler wasn’t very good with the Phillies. Let’s see how this plays out.

   1. I can make it to one of those places you mentioned that are in Long Beach on Saturday. Just let me know which one.

6. LOL we aren’t even 20 games in….what a spoiled fan base we are.

   1. Totally concur with that statement, It is worse in the Twit universe.

7. Look I’m not panicking nor am I getting an ulcer. But I don’t think it’s an overreaction to giving Lux a break from 2nd and taking some pressure off, like Mark says as well. I’m not saying he can never play 2nd again. But to stubbornly stick with the kid right now while he’s struggling, makes no sense to me. when Muncy or CT3 can play there regularly. Do we have to prove a point? I bet if he could answer candidly, Lux might welcome the switch to take the pressure off in a less demanding position. He can’t be having a lot of fun with this in his head right now either. If you haven’t experienced the yips, you don’t get it.

   1. I’ve never experienced the yips, but I get what you’re saying phil. If the coaches can’t fix it, then maybe the outfield is where he belongs. He was drafted as a shortstop, but that’s where a lot of the best players play in high school. It’s a launch league now and with the current baseball falling short of the fences maybe left field is what is best for him. Maybe there he can just run down fly balls and focus on hitting. And Taylor? Back to second. Muncy? Take his glove away and he too can focus on hitting.

      Does it matter what Lux wants? Just asking.

8. I agree with those here who think this will be Trea’s last year with the team.
   I wonder if Amaya realizes just what a huge opportunity that would be for him. If he can actually learn to hit decently and carry that to the majors, he could be the Dodgers shortstop for a long while.
   Even with all the hitting we have in the lineup, I don’t see the front office installing him as the regular shortstop if he’s going to hit .220 every year.
   His minor league hitting career has been somewhat streaky, ranging from horrendous to spectacular. If he can reach a middle ground, the job will be his for the taking.
   It would be a welcome change to have a great fielding shortstop behind our pitchers.

   1. And Eddy Alvarez?

      1. 2 answers Badger.
         * Of course it matters what Lux wants to do. His wishes need to be considered as he’s not a robot. But inevitably it’s a performance business and any decisions needs to be in the best interest of the team.
         * I personally like Amaya’s glove better than Alvarez’ from what I’ve watched. Amaya has very special feet and hands. Plenty of arm. It’s going to be all about his bat.

         1. Yeah, if Amaya hits, he’s the choice if Turner leaves. I was just asking what we do with Alvarez. He’s 32, OPS’n .900 in OKC, and seems like a likable guy. He’s definitely a good story. If we release him Farhan and Kapler might make an All Star out of him.

            1. We could always trade him to the Ice Capades.

9. I think most of the Dodgertalk faithful will be happy if Lux and Taylor switch positions. That is until one or the other if not both make an error.

   Freeman took Muncy’s position. Trade him if a good return is available. That has been my mantra for 4 years now. Muncy, a free agent in 2024, signed a 3 year / $26,000,000 contract including a $4,500,000 signing bonus, $26,000,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $8,666,667. In 2022, Muncy will earn a base salary of $11,500,000, while carrying a total salary of $13,000,000.

   Bellinger and Muncy for Buxton. The Twins have a 1st base prospect that might make MLB in 2022 but currently { https://www.mlb.com/player/miguel-sano-593934 ) Miguel Sano is their 1st baseman and not a strong 1st baseman. More needed? I’m okay with that.

   RF Betts
   CF Buxton
   SS Trea
   1B Freeman
   C Smith
   2B Lux
   3B Justin
   DH Rios
   LF Taylor

10. Lux is a better second baseman than CT3 and CT3 is a better LF than LUX, NO THANKS !!!
    Jeff Dominique made a very wise comment about Lux and by the way it is obvious that it is with a dedication for someone:
    JD: ” Gavin Lux’s defense – Much has been written about Lux’s errant throws at times. Contrary to what others may say, Lux has been much improved in that regard for this season, until the third inning. On a hard hit ground ball hit right at Gavin, he fielded it fine, but inexplicably threw wide to 1B (okay VERY wide) for a 2-run scoring error. He had all day, and maybe that was the problem. He seemed to just lose concentration. No excuses. He messed up. He needs to own it, and he did.
    Some will blame this loss on Gavin, because they appear to be emotionally invested in Lux not playing well, and have been for some time. He made an error. It was his first of the season, and it will not be his last. Get over it. What many will ignore is that just as much fault lies with…”
    To paraphrase JD: get over it!!!

11. The WAR stat.
    So far this season, according to Baseball- Reference, the top three LAD players are:
    1 Lux 0.7 WAR
    2 Freeman 0.6 WAR
    3 Bellinger 0.5 WAR
    Some people on the WAR stat:
    1 When one of your favorite players has high WAR: “Oh, he’s so good, he’s got … WAR .
    2 When one of the players who is NOT one of your favorites has a high WAR:
    “Oh, WAR is so imperfect”

    1. WAR is an imperfect stat.

       Every stat (in and of itself) is imperfect.

       Show me a stat that is not imperfect!

       When you add 2, 3, or 4 stats to one stat, you have a more perfect picture.

       1. 67% of all stats are made up on the fly.

12. OK, I can see some of you here do not see what people like me, Badger & Phil Jones do.

    We know what the Yips look like. Once, US. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously said in his 1964 Order that he could not use words to describe pornography but “I know it when I see it.”

    The YIPS are hard to define, but we know it when we see it and I know that Jeff Dominique also knows what the YIPS look like.

    Even when Lux makes a throw (and most are not good throws) he has the YIPS in his head! He is thinking about it. This is nothing new. It has plagued him all his career (on and off). To believe otherwise, you have to have your head elsewhere. The question is, and it’s the ONLY question: Can he overcome it? Take it away for a while – let him focus on hitting.

    And when some one compares Lux and Muncy to having the yips, well you just are blind. There is no fear in Muncy’s eyes when he makes a throw, Yes, he will make some errors, but he does not carry that fear that Lux does.

    1. I love these words from Mr. Dominique, don’t you? :
       “Some will blame this loss on Gavin, because they appear to be emotionally invested in Lux not playing well, and have been for some time. He made an error. It was his first of the season, and it will not be his last. Get over it”.

       1. I do not blame the loss on Gavin. I blame it on the people who put him at 2B!

          I am rooting hard for him.

          1. I blame it on the balls.

    2. An error is an error. A play not made is a play not made. A double clutch is a double clutch. A bone head play is a bone head play.

       Lux will contribute more defensively over the course of the season at second than Muncy or Taylor even with a few yippy throws and Taylor would do the same in LF in comparison to Lux.

       ….”OK, I can see some of you here do not see what people like me, Badger & Phil Jones do.” That’s because the rest of us have vision 😉

       1. So, are you telling me that you don’t see that Lux has the Yips either?

          Here’s the Beauty of this argument. It will settle itself. Someone will be right and someone will be wrong.

          It will be very clear!

          1. I didn’t see it at the beginning of the year, but it sure reared its ugly head yesterday. Let’s see if it continues. Doc usually backs up his players, showing confidence them. So, I don’t see a pending change. If you believe in defensive stats, (I don’t so much) then he belongs at second base. If you believe in WAR, you must believe in defensive stats because it accounts for about a 3rd of WAR.

             1. I would not rely on WAR and I certainly would not rely on many defensive stats. I just see the YIPS. My eyes tell me that. It is a horrible place to be…

             2. WAR. It doesn’t matter what we think. What matters is that every management team in all of baseball uses it to evaluate players. We can still use our eyes, and our gut and our older than dirt intuition but every GM out there is laughing at our “get off my lawn” thinking. You don’t have to fully understand WAR, but if you want to sound well informed, pretend you do.

             3. Badger, any MLB team that has their own analytics department calculates their own WAR. It’s proprietary information that isn’t exposed for other teams to copy. They do NOT use the same WAR that you use.

             4. Well, ok. I am sure it’s close and it’s still wins above replacement.

13. Happy April 28th everyone. I’m writing this at 5:15 PM West Coast time and MLB hasn’t yet extended Bauer’s administrative leave which is due to expire tomorrow.

    For those of us who thought Manfred would use the cover of the NFL draft tomorrow to issue his ruling, we’re getting closer to seeing that happen.

    Of course, nothing says the he couldn’t just extend it tomorrow. We shall see.

14. Lux and the yips.

    How do you treat the yips?

    I looked it up:

    Change your grip. This technique works for many golfers, because it changes the muscles you use to make your putting stroke.

    Use a different putter. A longer putter allows you to use more of your arms and shoulders and less of your hands and wrists while putting.

    Easy peasy.

    1. I suggest Suppositories

       1. Good call. They worked for you, right?

          1. No, remember, the Doc suggested you brush your teeth with them! 😉

             1. True. True. No more gumorrhoids.

15. Dodgers: Ryan Pepiot Breaks Into MLB Top 100 Prospect List
    Brook Smith

    There’s a reason why Dodgers fans get so excited by prospects coming up through the system. For almost a decade now, new ownership has made it a goal to have an incredible farm system while also fielding a team capable of winning championships every year. They’ve done just that.

    But some of these names that come up through the system have had an enormous impact on the Dodgers big league club. Think guys like Alex Verdugo, Walker Buehler, Cody Bellinger, Gavin Lux, Corey Seager, and many more. They’re one of the best at not only finding that talent, but developing it.

    And that could be the case with Ryan Pepiot. The right-handed pitcher out of Butler was scooped up in the 3rd round back in 2019 by the Dodgers. And just a few short seasons in minor league ball have landed Pepiot on MLB’s Top 100 Prospects list. He broke that today when Reid Detmers graduated off of the list.

    Pepiot comes in at number 100 with the move. Featuring a really good fastball that sits around 96 mph and an MLB-ready change-up, Pepiot has a good shot of making an impact on this team very soon. He has already racked up 22 strikeouts in 15.2 innings of work at Triple-A Oklahoma City this year and has allowed just 2 earned runs in the process.

16. Clayton Beeter has a No-No through 4 with Tulsa, and 8K’s.

    He looks devastating!

17. Amaya just jacked his 6th HR!

18. They pulled Beeter after 4 and Jordon Leasure is pitching in his AA debut.

    Leasure struck out the side!

    Extremely filthy!

    1. No no no mo’

19. Drury is in now. THe no-no is over – 1 hit!

20. …. and now the score is tied 2-2.

    Blah!

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