Consternation in Dodgerland

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1. Late response to yesterday’s post:

   All interesting comments about what turned out to be a close game. I find Jayne Cobb’s post timely in that respect. But in my write up this game was put out of reach early with a poor starting performance by Anderson. He didn’t fool anyone. Have to admit, this was the game I’ve been waiting for out of him. He got the 6 innings we needed but 7 earned? Yoiks. , One on a bonehead play by Lux, so it’s fair to call it 6, but Segura might have scored somehow anyway.

   I found it an ugly game but one we can hopefully learn from. It was a winnable game against another inferior club, but it wasn’t won. Get these over so we don’t do this in October? Yeah. Sure

   I agree more at bats needed by Rios, but he sure looked overmatched in that late at bat. Good morning, good afternoon p, good night. Mookie had one of those to start that fiasco.

   And Bellinger with another Blind Squirrel night

   Our minor league hitters are impressing but can we use them. We’ve got a lineup of studs at the ML level. We aren’t going to bench any of them unles it’s for injury. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – pitching. I know it’s looked good but I’m not really a believer for 180 games. I’m prepared to be wrong about that.

2. In my humble opinion, I believe Anderson is not a starter but a reliever, more of long reliever or piggybacks off a starter like he did with Gonsolin earlier in the season. Need a legit 5th starter.

   1. Hopefully Heaney can come back soon.

      1. I never thought we would be saying that! 😉

         I think it will be early June…

3. I went to bed when it was 7-1 and I do not regret that decision. Move on, nothing to see here.

4. I saw the Dodgers tie the Phillies, extraordinary. Although I have always heard that horse that reaches wins, it seems that it just doesn’t happen on this team. Hudson is not the piece for those situations.

5. I don’t know if Jayne posts regularly, but I’d like to return to her idea of drawing a line from playoff games to 1 run games.

   I did a quick calculation over the past three years of playoffs and the average winning margin was by nearly 4 runs.

   Without putting words in your mouth, perhaps the point is that the tactics that work in the regular season (extending counts comes to mind) won’t work as well in the post-season (where starters are pulled quite early)

   But I’m hard pressed to think of other tactics (defensive positioning, not giving away outs) that wouldn’t “scale” to the playoff game

   1. On a blog where some of us posted in the past, “The Oldtimer” who lived in Canandaigua, NY always used to say that some players just play better in tight games than other players because “the other players’ sphincters get too tight!”

      BTW, Jayne might be his moniker, but he ain’t a she (at least that I know of).

   2. Interesting about the run differential, but, in defense of Jayne’s point, the similarity between one run games and playoff games lies with the particular mindset. The playoffs are just more of a crucible overall than the regular season. Each play and event tend to have higher significance because of the small sample size relative to the entirety of the regular season. As a consequence, the fundamentals have to be better. Focus needs to be better. A one run game during the regular season tends to be more contested, so it brings out a similar competitive focus, and the lower margin for error in a one run regular season game places more emphasis on single events, which, in turn, emphasize good fundamentals and place more significance on mistakes.

      A highly talented yet somewhat sloppy and unfocused team will be at a disadvantage to a somewhat less talented, but more disciplined and focused team when the margin of error is lower, which is the case for a short playoff series and one run games.

      1. Yeah, I don’t buy the mindset thing. Feels soft and squishy to me.

         How do we define sloppy? Or unfocused? Errors? Doubtful. Do you think, on a whole, any unfocused or sloppy team will make the playoffs? Not sure i do.

         You treat all the games with the same basic strategy, you just amplify tactics in the post-season IMHO, you pull starters earlier, you pay match-ups more aggressively, etc.

         1. I think a highly talented but slightly less focused team can certainly make the playoffs. My only point is that a slightly less talented team will have a small advantage over a slightly more talented team that is less gaffe prone, especially in games that are more important or more highly contested.

            Obviously not an easy way to measure this. The Clutch stat does this somewhat.

            I suppose someone could compile events and apply a score or a rating based on relative leverage or importance of each event and their resultant sequence and its outcome. You could then assess whether the player made an exceptional play, a good play or a bonehead play. I’m sure there’s a nerd working on it.

            1. Ah! This is wonderful, and if this is the point Jayne was making I fully endorse it.

               Less errors, YES. No errors, nirvana.

               But how does that track-back to one-run games? It’s the same mindset?

               Wait. I think i get it. The supposition is that if all MLB teams are of equal talent and equal performance, then the 1-run game record indicates how better teams “find the extra-lever” to win. Whether this is by concentrating more on ground balls or whatever.

               Yeah, I’m not sure I jibe with it, but at least now I understand it. Or hope I do.

6. Apologies!

   I do buy the “clutch” metric, but I’m not sure that’s what he was driving at.

   I judge the book by its cover, I guess?

7. There was an interesting discussion here about the long season as against the playoffs, and whether the Dodgers underachieve in the playoffs based on their talent, and if so, why. Obviously there is not one reason, if they do. But I will once again suggest that Roberts is key to this. He is not a good game manager, his skills are in keeping the team reasonably content. In a long season, the few losses of games because of Roberts, do not mean much. In a crucial playoff series, almost always against a good manager, it is magnified.

   Roberts has this need to be clever, when mostly it is not necessary. He did it against Atlanta in game 2, when Treinen had pitched around a nine-pitch seventh inning,, and could easily have pitched the eighth, setting up for Jansen in the ninth. But he decided to put in Urias, whose arm was tired, and then left him in long enough for the Dodgers to lose the lead, the game, and the series.

   Last night, the Dodgers rallied from down 7-1, to tie it at 7-7, in front of an excited crowd. They had runners on first and third with one out in the eighth. Roberts put up Alberto, which was fine, he makes contact. A base hit likely wins the game, a fly ball does, too. But he puts on the squeeze, but a safety squeeze, apparently not wanting to take too much of a risk. Alberto fouls it off. Then amazingly, he puts it on again. The Phillies first baseman is ready, charges, throws home ,and the runner is out, because it was a safety squeeze; had it been a suicide squeeze, he would have scored. So no runs, and we lose in the ninth.

   Just one game, and we are still on a pace to win 108. So like all of Roberts bad moves late in games, it gets ignored. And Roberts will be here as long as he wants. And there are certainly worse managers. But in five- or seven-game series, this kind of thing really maters, and it has before with Roberts.

   First, why squeeze? Second, if you are going to squeeze, go for it, and have the runner in motion at the pitch. Finally, why in the world do you do it again? To show how clever you are, they will not expect it again! If it works, Roberts gets praised on the postgame show and here. After the game, Roberts is asked about the strategy; he purses his lips as he always does when he thinks he is being questioned. He says the the Phillies first baseman made a good play, charged in, and made a good throw. Yep. He was ready for it, and you didn’t start the runner, who scores if the bunt is laid down. Again, many more games, we have enough talent to win most of them. Let’s see what happens in playoff time. Bad percentage moves like last night stand out in the playoffs, but then people forget, and we look forward to the next season with Roberts still managing.

8. several observations about last night:
   1 – Where is it written that a starting pitcher has to pitch a certain number of innings to save the bullpen, even if it means that the decision costs you the ballgame? Anderson didn’t have it last night – even George Shearing could have seen that. Roberts could have pulled him before the game got out of control. The decision cost them the game.
   2 – Why pull both Justin Turner and Gavin Lux at the same time? Because Roberts had decided to squeeze and needed a guy who could bunt and a guy who could slide into home without hurting himself. I’m sure that Girardi must have had an inkling of what might happen under the circumstances.
   3 – Lux’ failure to be ready to make a throw and subsequent error cost them a run, but what I thought was interesting was Hersheiser’s comment about Lux’ “laziness” and lack of professionalism.
   4 – Neither Hudson nor Almonte had fastball command last night, but Almonte showed a good slider. Hudson showed nothing, but again Roberts left him out there to take his lumps and it cost them the game.
   5 – Bellinger’s HR against Wheeler is a case of “owneage” – his stats against Wheeler are astounding.
   6 – To load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 9th and score no runs is horrible – there’s no other word for it.
   7 – Those who have posted that Muncy is going up there hoping to walk are right – he’s way too passive.

   Last night was as frustrating a game as I have seen in a while.

9. Observation. This so-called best offense ever is not all that. With three guys hanging around the Mendoza line and the inconsistency of everyone except Freddie Freeman, I am not convinced of anything. Muncy is a HUGE hole at the top of the lineup. He gets a hit every other week. I care less that he walks a lot. He is not paid to walk. Bellinger has swings where he looks like the 2019 version and then swings like Billy Ashley. His defense though is beyond stellar. They are hitting in a little bad luck as I have seen many AT EM balls over the last several games. I also think this team has been hurt power wise by the new baseballs. Bellinger came () that close to getting LA within one run last night in his second at bat, bur shanked the ball just enough to go foul. As for the BP giving it up the last couple of games, I am not stressing over that. Happens every year. They had a stretch last season where they lost 15 of 20 games allowing the Giants to get a strong hold on first. But changes need to be made. Roberts stubbornness about loyalty to his players sometimes clouds his baseball mind. Muncy should be hitting down where Bellinger or Lux are. Taylor still strikes out too damn much. And he is doing it in clutch situations more than ever. Bellinger and Taylor are the only players with over 30 K’s. Belli at 39 and Taylor at 41. Rios has struck out as many times as Will Smith, 15, in 37 less at bats. Smith started to look like the Smith we all like last night. As the weather heats up, hopefully the power will come too.

10. I didn’t know we were allowed to talk about how crappy a manger Doc is. Pretty funny comment about switching two players and trying to surprise them with a bunt.

    14 pitchers on the roster. Some pitch every day and Kahnle and Kimbrel (The two best) never pitch at all.

    I like using your closer in the 9th at home in a tie game. Doc apparently doesn’t this time, but will sometimes.

    The other comment about Lux was that he won’t do that again. Chalk that up to inexperience I guess. Clean baseball and we win that game.

    The Phillies played like they wanted it more. That failed bunt turned into a rally killer. With Hanser at the plate, and all the contact he makes, why not just let him swing away and do his thing? Or, like most said, suicide squeeze. 50/50 hindsight I guess. Another point, if you’re trying to squeeze a run home, aren’t you supposed to bunt to third so the throw is more difficult?

    1. I know this comment wasn’t aimed at me, but….

       i don’t think for a moment Roberts is a crappy manager, I just think he occasionally makes real head-scratching decisions.

       It’s still easily the best team and lineup in baseball.

    2. I am not impressed with Roberts as a manager; he is good at PR but lacking when compared with successful Dodger managers who won multiple world championships – Lasorda and Alston. Lasorda was known for being a “great motivator” for players and teams whether they liked his “style” or not and he won two World Championships. Alston was a quiet, no nonsense leader who once stopped the team bus to challenge “griping” players to step off the bus and fight or stop griping. He won three World Championships in LA. IMO, Roberts’ strength is PR but his teams often don’t appear motivated and some of his in-game decisions perplexing. Maybe strong PR skills are the most important asset for a 21st century manager; but, I am not expecting any more LA world championships with Roberts at the helm.

11. Lux’s laziness play has happened to many players, I remember that once Pujols made it to Puig.
    Those things happen when you start routinely playing the game and you start taking things for granted and then you get confident, but then every once in a while a player shows up and they’ll embarrass you.
    Those plays are important because they mark the player in a positive way, they change the focus of the game, from now on Lux, just as Puig and others did, will never take anything for granted and will know that he will have to be 100% focused on every game situation.

    1. I think Segura just punked Lux. Everyone in the league knows how he throws, like he’s flipping it around the infield with a tendency to throw it away. One of those guys is going to look like an idiot on that play. It was Lux.

       Do not attempt a safety squeeze twice. Unless the book on that has changed, it’s a dumb move. And if you’re going to do it with a less than runner, he’d better get a jump. Barnes didn’t. Out by 8’.

       Sometimes this team can sure look undercoached. Another one to put in the rear view.

       I still think our hitters will heat up. And, I still think our pitching will cool down.

       For those who don’t know, Jayne Cobb is a mercenary with his own code of honor who did not fight on either side of the Unification War. He’s a bad ass. I wouldn’t recommend pissing him off.

12. Uh oh Kersh to the IL.

    1. And so it begins

       1. lol – exactly. All pitchers so far this year. Sheesh.

    2. We all knew it was just a matter of time. Let’s get some cortisone in there and another at the all star break.

       1. Yep.

          I’ve been trying to get the message across here.

          1. The Dodgers alway seem to have the most pitching, only to have the least pitching. Maybe that’s why Doc was saving the bullpen.

       2. I fear this is the end for CK or thommy John

          In retroperspetive it is a Shame he was Not allowed to try complete the perfecto in Minnesota

          Go Dodgers!

          1. Love the optimism dodger ram!

             Since the inflammation is in the pelvic area, I’d be somewhat surprised if it results in a Tommy John surgery.

             Perhaps a Thommy John surgery though, I guess.

             1. Yeah, my mistake
                When I heard they put him on IL I checked the net and there they said forearm trouble
                Only later I found out the article was from 2021
                So a big mea culpa

                Go dodgers!

          2. It’s not an arm issue.

          3. First time anyone had TJ for a pelvis unjury.

             1. Kershaw to have a ligament taken from his elbow and inserted into his pelvis–reverse TJ.

             2. Tommy Bum Surgery. Solid plan.

13. So, it certainly looks like a bullpen game tonight. Maybe I should just go see Northman. Cleavinger coming up to replace Kershaw. I think I’d rather have a Starting pitcher try to take down 3 innings again ala Ryan Pepiot. Gove and Jackson are on the roster.

    Looks like we’re going to be tested during this month long run with just one off day. No rest for the weary.

    1. Striker might go tonight!

14. I get so damn mad at Roberts. Especially how he handles the pitching staff. How many runs does a starter give up before he is taken out? Where is our closer? Last year Doc wore our pitching staff out chasing the Giants. Then in the play offs starting pitchers could not start because they had dead arms.

    JT was starting to hit the ball. So of course Doc sits JT. Muncy bats clean up all the time and he plays all the time and cannot hit right now. Let Muncy sit a few games and then bat him 9th. Next year with 2 infielders on each side of second, Muncy cannot play second.

    The play by Lux was a Little League play. Not anticipating a runner going home on a short pop up is bush league. I stopped watching right after that play.

15. Why did Roberts bring in Hanser for Lux with a RHP just being announced?
    Hanser is Not known for bunting anyway and why Go against the obvious matchup here?
    Strange decision.
    And in all my 45 + years watching Baseball I have Never Seen a Former MVP in his Prime years Look als lost als Belli at the Plate for such an extended Time.
    And unbelievably muncy Looks Even worse

    Go Dodgers!

16. Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List
    By Anthony Franco | May 13, 2022 at 11:59am CDT

    The Dodgers are placing Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list due to right SI joint inflammation, the club informed reporters (including J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group). The team doesn’t anticipate it being a long-term absence. Reliever Garrett Cleavinger has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.

    The SI joint is in the hip/pelvis area, so Kershaw is fortunately not dealing with any arm concerns. He missed most of the second half of last season due to forearm/elbow issues, so this latest injury would seem to register as a much more minor concern. Walker Buehler will take the ball tonight against the Phillies in Kershaw’s stead.Dodgers Place Clayton Kershaw On Injured List
    By Anthony Franco | May 13, 2022 at 11:59am CDT

    The Dodgers are placing Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list due to right SI joint inflammation, the club informed reporters (including J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group). The team doesn’t anticipate it being a long-term absence. Reliever Garrett Cleavinger has been recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.

    The SI joint is in the hip/pelvis area, so Kershaw is fortunately not dealing with any arm concerns. He missed most of the second half of last season due to forearm/elbow issues, so this latest injury would seem to register as a much more minor concern. Walker Buehler will take the ball tonight against the Phillies in Kershaw’s stead.

    1. Back issues. He’s had them before. It’s all connected. Compensatory pain. Who knows what might be next.

       If help is coming from the system the bats better wake up. All of them.

17. Not his arm it is his hip. SO chill dudes. No TJ needed.

18. I will have Clayton fixed by Sunday. I’m just going to order this for him:
    

    1. Done deal!

19. Maybe a second shot for Pepiot after Cleavinger gets sent down after he pitches?

20. I have done a little research, and it seems that Hanser IS a good butter and has had a modicum of success with it.

    I can post several more if you like…

    So you can throw that argument out. However, Doc still let Anderson in way too long.

    1. Great video. Thx for sharing,

21. The “infamous” team doesn’t expect Kershaw to have a long-term absence. Allow me to be a “negative nelly” but we’ve heard this multiple times before. In a pre-game scrum in about ten days we will hear Doc say something to the effect CK hasn’t responded well to treatment and arthroscopic surgery is planned to take a better look.

    No, I’m not proclaiming that the Dodgers handle injuries different than any other club, and I don’t expect Doc or the front office to say anything other than what has been announced on day 1 of CK’s IL stint. I’m hoping for the best, but would not all be surprised if the injury is indeed much more severe than noted today.

    I don’t believe TB should have ever been suspended, but his selfish and arrogant stunt has cost the Dodgers to spend player capitol last year (Ruiz and Gray) to get Scherzer and TT and limited AF’s pursuit of SP this off season. Where’s the vaunted minor league depth in pitching? If Pepiot’s performance is indicative of the maturation and development of our young guns to this point, I’m worried.

    1. Wow. You have a tough grading curve. Pepiot is exactly what everyone said he was.

    2. Is somebody having a case of the Monday’s?

       Allow me to pick apart you arguments, Nelly!

       First, it’s hard to call a team that’s gone deep into the playoffs just about every year for a decade “infamous”. You could have more appropriately assigned that to Doc, because we all know of his many infamous mistakes in the post-season. I agree that at times people go on the IL and stay there long after the “short stint” prediction. But, that isn’t always the case. For every much worse, there seems to be more of a rest. You choose to believe what you want.

       The last paragraph is what I really have a problem with because you don’t know if they would have sold off one or both of those guys at the deadline anyway. You assume it is cause and effect, but maybe AF would have trade for TT or Scherzer or both anyways. Then you assume that they didn’t go after pitching because of that trade. But, they did sign Kershaw. We all should have seen that coming. And they also spent another 16M on Heaney and Anderson. Maybe they should have signed Thor instead. Just $5M more than the Heaney / Anderson combo.

       Then you really hit a wall with the “where’s the vaunted minor league depth in pitching?” comment. In case you missed it, Pepiot was named PCL league pitcher on the month. That should tell you that he’s one of the very best minor league pitchers in baseball. I would think that the ‘maturation and development” would be impressive considering that he’s only had 38 minor league starts and 151 innings total. Then he comes up and throws 3 scoreless to start his career. That’s a blazing fast riser. HOF’er Clayton Kershaw had 51 starts and 251 minor league innings. Another HOF’er Max Scherzer made 30 minor league starts and 163 innings. He went 4 scoreless in his debut, then gave up 5 in his next start. He didn’t lose a season to COVID.

       We are playing this season in a condensed schedule. Makeup games are being played in previously scheduled off days. Kershaw is the 10th pitcher to land on the IL this season and you aren’t impressed with the depth. So what are you impressed with? Are you impressed with the best winning percentage in the NL? Best run differential in all of baseball? The fact that all of the minor league teams have a winning record? Please let me know if there’s another team out there that can boast these facts, Nelly?

    3. Serious or sarcasm?

       1. We’ve played 30 games. If we intend to go deep in the playoffs that means we’ve got about 150 to go. If we think we can get there with our minor league pitchers it’s my opinion we’re dreaming.

22. Trevor Bauer’s Appeal Hearing To Begin On May 23
    By Anthony Franco | May 13, 2022 at 3:50pm CDT

    Major League Baseball handed down a 324-game suspension to Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer last month after finding he’d violated the Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy. Bauer denied all wrongdoing and immediately announced plans to appeal the ban, and Britt Ghiroli of the Athletic reports that hearing is set to begin on May 23.

    That’s not to say a resolution is forthcoming shortly. Ghiroli reports that the process is likely to take place over several days in the coming months, with scheduling subject to the availability of the arbitrators. The panel will consist of three individuals — one of whom was selected by the league, one selected by the Players Association, and one independent arbitrator approved by both parties.

    Three women have made public allegations that Bauer assaulted them during sex. He was not charged criminally, but the league has the authority to hand down discipline even in the absence of charges (as it did in this instance). The pitcher has denied the allegations.

    Bauer’s appeal marks the first time a player has contested a ban under the Domestic Violence policy. (All previous players found to have committed a violation agreed to their suspensions). The 324-game suspension is the longest handed down by the commissioner’s office since the policy was put into place. Bauer was on paid administrative leave between last July — when the first woman’s allegations were made public — until the suspension was announced on April 29. He is not being paid during the appeals process. Bauer signed a three-year, $102MM free agent deal with the Dodgers that runs through 2023.

23. I’m glad many got my point after last nights game. I won’t go over the analysis of Roberts choices as I think everybody covered that well.

    What I will add is that my view of how to adjust to close games doesn’t just apply to the mangers decisions. The players themselves need to adjust to the situations. And if they don’t, they need to be taken out of those situations and put in players who will adjust. And I don’t care how famous or how many MVPs or AS games that player may have appeared in.

    The other night Muncy struck out looking with the bases loaded on a breaking ball down the middle. That can’t happen. My son (14) has a couple excellent coaches on his travel team. They have their priories right. They don’t yell. They coach. That is unless one of the boys strikes out looking with RISP. Then he will get his ass chewed out. Strike out swinging 10 times in a row. You’ll get advise. Strike out looking and you will get a earful. If you have two strikes and runners on, you shorten up and do everything you can to make contact on anything close. Muncy did not make the adjustment. He did what he always does, seemingly in all situations, and tried to work the zone. You don’t do that with two strikes and the bases loaded. And that’s not a new thing for Muncy. I’ve had that issue with him for years.

    Last night I cringed when Bellinger came up with the bases loaded and no outs. In that situation you MUST put the ball in play. I have never liked Bellinger’s approach with 2 outs and in close games with RISP. I have never seen a different approach out of Belli, from his first AB in spring training with the bases empty to a AB with the bases loaded in the 9th and no outs. He does not change his approach.

    I’ve always admired Freeman for that reason. He and Joey Votto are both masters at adjusting to situations. They each are three different hitters. Depending on the situation on the field and depending on the count. Now I don’t expect everybody to be Freeman or Votto. That would be unrealistic. But you simply can’t take the same approach regardless of the situation. Muncy and Belli have always had this issue. It needs to end. They are too good, on too good of a team and experienced enough on the MLB level where this should not just be expected but demanded. It irks the hell out of me.

    Also, Jayne Cobb is my favorite (male) character played by Adam Baldwin in the TV series Firefly. (He is best known for playing Animal Mother in Full Metal Jacket, another of my favorites) Firefly was the best Sci-fi TV series ever produced (for all of 1 season). That character always gave me a smile.

    “I’ll kill a man in a fair fight. Or if I think he’s gonna start a fair fight.” … Jayne Cobb

24. Does anybody knows how many sac flies we have in the season?

    1. 11 sac flies. J. Turner leads with 3.

25. Phillies (15-17)
    Dodgers (20-10)

    SPWalker Buehler R
    4-1 1.96 ERA 27K

    Confirmed Lineup
    RF Mookie Betts R
    1B F. Freeman L
    SS Trea Turner R
    3B Max Muncy L
    DH J. Turner R
    CF C. Bellinger L
    LF Chris Taylor R
    2B Gavin Lux L
    C A. Barnes R

    Clear-day
    0% Rain
    80° Wind 6 mph Out

    1. Better sit Smith after three hits yesterday.

26. Doc pre-game interview…

    The plane flight is what did Kershaw in. 😉

    David Price coming back during Arizona series next week. Not capable of taking down more than 5-6 hitters right now.

    Pepiot most likely pitching next Tuesday’s doubleheader.

    Sounds like Julio pitching tomorrow. Most likely Jackson or Grove on Sunday.

    1. I like it!

       1. Who would you rather see, Jackson or Grove? I’m hoping for Grove, but want to see Jackson to get another chance.

       2. I don’t.

27. I really err, don’t like Jackson…

28. 15 for 40 (.375) MLB hits Walker Buehler’s diminished fastball, that pitch has become a headache for Buehler.
    Now the positive his off-speed pitches have been almost unhittable.

    1. Last night his diminished fastball was at 96.9, 96.8, 96.7 for his top three in velo. He threw 13 of them at least 96.0 MPH. He threw 25 4 seamers. 4 of them went for hits. 1 a called strike. 13 were balls, 4 were fouls, 3 were outs in the field.

       This was his best game velocity wise this season, but it was his worst overall.

29. How many times Max Muncy has to strikeout with bases loaded until DRoberts realize he can’t be the cleanup hitter?

30. Disgusting strike call s on TT. It was a big F YOU to Trey, the Dodgers and all the fans who stuck it out to the 10th. Absolutely disgraceful.

31. Still can’t win extra inning games with a ghost runner on in the 10th. Graterol with a 101 mph fastball couldn’t strike out key runners who put the ball in play and allowed three runs to score in the 10th. The bullpen and the starters will be taxed in the next 21days, AF needs to perform his magic and get the ship from sinking with some key moves to address these pitching issues .It’s not too early to do so.

    1. What to do?

       I asked Jeff about this and he came up with some ideas. Worth the read this morning. There are no Scherzers out there but a few guys could be available. If we stay in house, and I suspect we will for a while, our alleged top minor league arms will be tested, and perhaps exposed. This stretch could go any direction. Stand by.

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