I tend to believe that in baseball as well as any sport “what have you done for me lately?” rings the bell loudly and that when a pitcher has a 6-0 record, a 1.59 ERA, and a 0.88 WHIP, he deserves to be called “Ace!” This is especially true when that same pitcher leads the NL in ERA. Welcome the much maligned (by Dodger fans), Tony Gonsolin!, Dodger Ace!
Actually, you should have seen this coming. Tony Gonsolin has been pretty dang good throughout his career. In slightly less than 200 IP (193.1) over four seasons Tony Gonsolin has given up just 127 Hits, has 197 Strikeouts, and a 2.51 ERA to go with a 1.03 WHIP. Those stats are close to the “Ace-Zone.” Tony’s only problems were (1) Staying Healthy; and (2) Walking Hitters. Well, this year, he is healthy and his walk rate from 2021 is more than cut in half! I think he will only get better.
In reality, I see Tony as a Really Solid Number Three Starter, but he can be the Ace until Striker and Julio get their acts together. Ok, then there is that Old Kershaw Guy who acts like he can still pitch: 4-0, 1.70 ERA. 0.73 WHIP – Yeah, that there is Ace-Stats! This almost makes us forget about two pitchers: Andrew Heaney who is on the IL, whom Andrew Friedman resurrected from Pitcher Purgatory and is unscored upon in 2022, as well a Tyler Anderson who is 6-0 with a 2.90 ERA. Both Kershaw and Heaney should be back in the next 2-3 weeks.
Those six starters are better (stats-wise) than any other six starters in baseball… by a longshot. Of course, that will be determined by health, but if they are not all that healthy, there are options in the wings. We know the names: Knack, Pepiot, Miller, Stone, and Grove. I think at least one could step-up later this season. Pepiot has shown flashes… maybe Grove. Knack has the stuff right now and Miller and Stone are somewhat underappreciated. When you have the kind of farm system the Dodgers do, you do not block young starters with more older starters… at least in my opinion you don’t.
Mookie Betts: MVP!
Mookie is on that trajectory. It is now clear that Mookie was injured all last year and his declining skills early this season were just “rust” and getting his timing and rythum back. Mookie is playing with the sheer joy of a child and playing like his hair is on fire. He is in line to win the NL MVP… barring injury. Freddie Freeman has not been totally “in sync” all season – wait until he is. Trea Turner is playing for a new deal – and he wants it to be a “Green New Deal.” It’s looking like Max Muncy’s problems were physical and we will see him return at some point in the next few weeks.
Gavin Lux is hitting .280 and we are waiting for his power to develop, but I’ll take what he is right now. Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, and Will Smith have all shown signs of life, but have not consistently been where they need to be. The Dodger engine is not hitting on all cylinders right about now, but isn’t that true with every team? Maybe they will heat up about the time some of the other cool off a bit?
Craig the Closer!
Kimbrel notched his 11th save and showed no signs he was anything but dominant as he disposed of the Mets with 12 pitches in the 9th inning last night. He wore the closer robe well. The Bazooka, Almonte, Hudson, and Phillips have all been spectacular out of the bullpen and the time is coming when the Dodgers will see some more live arms return to action. I am very excited about the pitching prospects, including Carson Fulmer, Danny Duffy, Tommy Kahnle, Dustin May, Victor Gonzalez and I have not even mentioned Blale Treinen, whom I am not counting on this year.
The Bench
It was too bad that Kevin Pillar fractured his shoulder – he might have been a good comeback story. Now, we watch Zack McKinstry who can play just about any position. Zack will help the Dodgers… make no mistake about that!
Down on the Farm
- Ryan Pepiot threw 95 pitches in 4.2 innings for OKC last night as he walked 3 and struck out 7 while giving up just one run (he has a 1.75 ERA) and he just needs to throw more strikes.
- Miguel Vargas was 2-5 with a double and 3 RBI lat night.
- Jacob Amaya dropped into the .270’s from .330 before gong 2-4 last night with a double, while James Outman hit his 12th HR (.290/.967).
- If you want a power bullpen arm, you could do worse than Landon Knack. I think that Mike Grove and Knack would excel in the bullpen in one or two inning stints.
- Diego Cartaya was 2-4 with a double in his 2nd game for Great Lakes (he batted 4th). Will Smith: Better pick it up!
- Rancho Cucamionga tomorrow night!
That was my point!
Our pitching staff nutted up big time last night! 31 batters faced against one of the top two offenses in the league. That is getting it done!
MLB has new Hitter Rankings. Joc is #9 – Just behind Mike Trout.
#1 is Mookie:
https://www.mlb.com/stories/mlb-hitter-power-rankings-06022022?partnerId=zh-20220603-619935-mlb-1-B&qid=1026&utm_id=zh-20220603-619935-mlb-1-B&bt_ee=gvcealZVylqIBZg3rj3iODRDk8LPxxp5fgRVbXmOprafN2QwXuOBaoJ4VqfRejRN&bt_ts=1654260899986
I love the #1 pick! And I love Joc but any metric that has him as a top 10 hitter in baseball can’t be trusted! Joc couldn’t hit my lefty pitches!
I said it before and I say it now: Freeman needs to rest!
Mark –
Excellent analysis of Dodger pitching; I think you made a good case for standing pat on pitching as the trade deadline approaches IF they can get and stay healthy. And, I agree with the others on LADT that at this point there doesn’t seem to be much to choose from in a potential trade. Also, the more I watch Trey Turner the more impressed I am with him.
Girardi out as Phillies manager.
He should play the Dodgers every game.
Maybe we can handle teams from Pennsylvania?
Andrew Heaney will take a little longer, having last pitched on April 17, but with several off days coming over the next two weeks, the Dodgers have room to maneuver their pitching staff, and give Heaney as much time as he needs. He’s expected to pitch Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, per Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register.
Now that we see how well Gonsolin has done with a designated role and some consistency is there any hope for Mitch White given the same opportunity?
But, the Dodgers need to trade for pitching! They look more like they need to trade some pitching. Pepiot is picking up where Gonso left off, without the injuries. He’ll eventually learn how to throw strikes as Gonsolin has. Don’t get too excited about Bueller and Julio being Dodger lifers. There’s just way too much pitching in the organization. With so many quality bullpen arms in the minors or on the IL, it’s hard to imagine the Knacks and Groves entering the bullpen frey.
And yes, Cassidy. Mitch White is a forgotten man, but he’s very close to being a viable arm. Just one mistake his last time out, otherwise it would have been 5 or 6 innings and 1 earned run. He’s making progress, getting close.
I was wondering when people were going to notice that Gavin’s average is inching upwards. He’s starting to get confidence. He’ll go on a tare soon enough.
Another thing that most people probably don’t realize is that the weather has been uncharacteristically cool so far this season at Dodger stadium. The ball is just not travelling at all in the cool damp air. If it isn’t a line drive, or pulled down the line, it isn’t going out. That will change when the weather heats up and Lux, Belli and Max will be big beneficiaries when it does.
Off days and good pitchers coming off the IL is right around the corner. The pitching, as a whole, will get even better. I don’t know if CK or Heaney will be the same coming back as the were before they went on the IL. But, more left handed arms are usually a good thing. I’m just hoping the back injury doesn’t take an MPH off Clayton’s fastball.
“They look more like they need to trade some pitching.”
So what do you think we can get for Buehler and Urias?
Buehler is 6-1 despite his troubles. Urias has the worst run support in the league. Tone down the HR balls and they will be fine.
So, might get something back for those two?
Bun I love ya but you have to know neither is going anywhere.
Bun I love ya but you have to know neither is going anywhere.
Mookie is a marvel.
I’d like to propose a new triple crown. We replace BA with OPS–a clearly richer stat–and RBIs with runs. HRs get to stay. Right now, Mookie leads the NL in runs and HRs, and he’s second in OPS to Goldschmidt.
And as goes Mookie…
Of all the traits of Mookie that I wish could be imparted on his teammates it would be base-running acumen.
These Dodgers seem to have a knack for blunders–for getting picked off, for uncertainty that results in outs. It’s great that Lux is hitting. But if he’s going to try to score on a short fly to center–an ill-advised choice, I thought–he has to commit. Either go for it or don’t. The start-stop-start stuff won’t cut it.
That’s my daily kvetch.
Good take. But let him makes these mistakes now instead of October.
We are in for a wild ride….
Mookie is a marvel.
I’d like to propose a new triple crown. We replace BA with OPS–a clearly richer stat–and RBIs with runs scored. HRs get to stay. Right now, Mookie leads the NL in runs and HRs, and he’s second in OPS to Goldschmidt.
And as goes Mookie…
Of all the traits of Mookie that I wish could be imparted on his teammates it would be base-running acumen.
These Dodgers seem to have a knack for blunders–for getting picked off, for uncertainty that results in outs. It’s great that Lux is hitting. But if he’s going to try to score on a short fly to center–an ill-advised choice, I thought–he has to commit. Either go for it or don’t. The start-stop-start stuff won’t cut it.
That’s my daily kvetch.
You can say that again.
Just read this in the New York Post which I think is pretty cool and wonder if the Dodgers have used this new technology:
LOS ANGELES — The Mets’ next potential big thing will be awaiting when they return to Citi Field in 1 ½ weeks.
Team officials and players are intrigued by a new high-tech pitching machine the organization has purchased from Canada that represents another leap into the technology market under owner Steve Cohen.
According to hitting coach Eric Chavez, the new machine will replicate the delivery of any pitcher that is inputted.
“[The machine] will be the pitcher, so if we draw up Clayton Kershaw we will be facing Kershaw, his windup and everything and his pitches,” Chavez said Thursday before the Mets’ 2-0 loss to the Dodgers.
The technology is used by three or four other teams, according to Chavez, who added the machine can only be used pregame; MLB rules prohibit its use once the game has started.
Tony Gonsolin is 4 innings away from the most innings he’s thrown in a year. That’s fact.
However, I think he’s getting stronger, and I personally don’t think that innings threshold will be an issue for him anytime soon. Granted I’d love for his arm to take a 2 week vacation in July or so, and then be ready for Aug/Sept/Oct. But for now he’s been brilliant, and is an All Star. And he will be given a massive standing ovation by me at the All Star game when he’s introduced (or maybe when he starts?)
For those that are smarter than me, which is pretty much everyone here: who has a higher ceiling, Gavin Stone or Landon Knack? Who’ a starter vs who’s a power reliever? Both seem to have great stuff.
You’re right Bobby, at 51 innings Gonsolin is only 4 short of his MLB high for a full season, but he did throw 128 in the minors in 2018, so I think he still has some gas in the tank.
Of course, if he keeps pitching this way, we’ll need to see if we can get 300 innings out of him this year.
Stone has a higher ceiling and a body that looks like it still has some filling out to do. Knack has a higher ceiling and has elite control. I thinks stuff wise, Stone’s may be better. Not sure if one will be in the pen.
Stone’s FB is mid 90’s and has a great changeup
Knack has a 4 pitch mix with elite control of all 4 pitches
So, if one ends up in the pen, it might be Stone.
I always believed the last hurdle to the Big Leagues was command and control and therefore I am surprised why Knack wasn’t the first prospect to move up given he meets the three pitch minimum to be a starter.
Pepiot was further along in his career, the only one of these prospects to start the season at AAA. Grove is a no brainer since he was already on the 40. Knack has only pitched in 5 games this season at AA for a total of 19 innings.
Gonna miss Kersh by a day. He is starting at Rancho on Sunday.
I saw that coming. Game is almost sold out already. Should be a sellout by the end of the day. My son just agreed to fill in for a tournament on Sunday for a team that was a player short. Otherwise we’d be going again Sunday.
Missed Diego by a week and Kersh by a day.
I have had my eye on Tony Gonsolin since after he finished 2019 with a .580 OPS against (under .600 OPS against both sides of the plate) and 1.02 WHIP.
His 2019 and 2020 stats combined, he had well under .600 OPS against both sides of the plate and under 1.0 WHIP.
2021 he was injured and still managed to end up with a .686 OPS against. That is to me slightly better than average while being injured.
His career stats are .579 OPS against (under .600 against both sides of the plate) and 1.03 WHIP.
To me anything under .600 OPS against and under 1.0 WHIP is excellent. Tony Gonsolin is there this year and career wise he is there with OPS against including both sides of the plate and just about there with WHIP sitting at 1.03.
Another thing about Tony Gonsolin, he loves cats and so do I.
Gavin Lux !!!
Look like Eddie Rios tore his hammy. Eddie Alvarez coming up.
Dodgers Nation
Dodgers: Edwin Rios Lands on the Injured List With Serious Injury
Brook Smith
Jun 3
The Dodgers and Mets will play game two of their series tonight in Los Angeles. Tyler Anderson gets the ball One game after Tony Gonsolin went 6 shutout innings. They’re hoping for more of that tonight.
But the day was not without bad news. The Dodgers will be without Edwin Rios for the foreseeable future. Dave Roberts made the announcement before the game today.
According to Roberts, Rios sustained a serious hamstring tear. It will not require surgery, but Rios is headed to the injured list. The fact that it does not require surgery is a very good thing for his chances to return for the Dodgers this season.
His place on the roster will be filled by Eddy Alvarez. The infielder was signed to a minor-league deal by the Dodgers this off-season. Alvarez was hitting .304 for OKC when he got the call.
Rios had been finding his swing lately though. The big infielder had slugged 7 homeruns in 27 games and really looked to be figuring things out.
10:10 PM ET
Mets (35-18)
Dodgers (34-17)
SP Tyler Anderson L
6-0 2.90 ERA 49.2IP 48K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Trea Turner R
C Will Smith R
3B J. Turner R
CF C. Bellinger L
LF Chris Taylor R
DH Z. McKinstry L
2B Gavin Lux L
Partly-cloudy-day
0% Rain
67° Wind 6 mph Out
I am happy for Eddy!
What a great day for him and tough for Rios.
DODGERS PRESS RELEASE
DODGERS SELECT EDDY ALVAREZ
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of infielder Eddy Alvarez and placed infielder Edwin Ríos on the injured list with a right hamstring strain. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred outfielder Kevin Pillar to the 60-day injured list.
Alvarez, 32, will join the Major League roster after spending the first 43 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City. In 43 games with the OKC Dodgers, he batted .304 with eight doubles, four triples, five homers and 22 RBI. In the month of May, he slashed .350/.464/.563 with seven doubles, two triples, two homers and 15 RBI. In parts of two Major League seasons with the Miami Marlins (2020-21), he batted a combined .188 (19-for-101) with five doubles, one triple, one homer and eight RBI. He was originally signed by the Chicago White Sox as a minor league free agent on June 10, 2014.
Ríos, 28, makes his first trip to the injured list and the third of his career. The Puerto Rico native was hitting .244 (21-for-86) with one double, seven homers and 17 RBI in 27 games with the Dodgers. In his three seasons with the Dodgers, he has slugged 20 homers and driven in 43 RBI in 112 games. He was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Florida International University.
Get well Edwin. With Max back soon, and hopefully with a renewed contact rate, the loss of Edwin should be minimized. Dodger depth is being tested, let’s hope we can see some “kids” rise to the occasion.
Boy have the Angels imploded! Another October in New Jersey for Trout! The Angels really need my negativity.
The Prince needs to get this thing turned in the other direction if he wants to make his first all star game
Just my opinion but I think Zach McKinstry is going to be better than Hanser Alberto. I just don’t care for Hanser Alberto. And for that matter also better than Eddy Alvarez.
Hey, everyone.
I have an extra ticket for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes tomorrow.
Let me know if you want it.
First come…. first served!
Been waiting a while for a Belli bomb, Z Mac and CT 3 go deep too, Freddie in a little funk and Turner has a 26 game hitting streak. JT’s next hit will be # 1000 in a Dodger uni. Eric, matters not who you like or care for. Each has a place and is part of the team dynamic. Me I trust the Dodgers brain trust to get guys who fit in. Alvarez is a gamer. Alberto keeps the bench loose and rakes against lefty’s Players with track records. McKInstry was good until he wasn’t after he was injured. They ALL will have chances to contribute.
As much as I would love to tip a beer with you Mark I’m not able to make it that way because of a few reasons. One of them is the only transportation I have is an electric wheelchair. Can’t say I’m proud of that fact but it played very important allowing getting to where to pay a couple bills and to the bank for the $ orders. 14 miles on a charge! But I hope I go unnoticed traversing the sidewalks and streets other than while I’m using the crosswalks. Hope you and your son have the best of road trips and business. What you put together looks great!