I want to thank everyone for the kind words and words of encouragement. I am of the belief that service to others is as important as doing what you want… maybe more so. Therefore, I am not going anywhere, however, I am going to look for another couple of writers over the next several months (no big rush). Bear (Michael Norris) is good for 1 or 2 blogs a week and ideally, I would like to find a couple more writers who could write once a week… occasionally more! That way I could write 2 or 3 times a week. When (if) I retire, I may do it more, but it is working out right about now.
I read the comments during that day and was happy to see that people consider LA Dodger Talk a part of their day, but there was one comment that really changed it all and defined what I knew I was going to do, and it was not on the blog. It was an e-mail to me and while he did not request to keep it private, I will. If he wants to tell everyone what he wrote to me, he can but right now I am keeping it between him and me. In the e-mail he said this:
“Hi Mark. I still visit the site several times per day and read the posts and comments. It is still the best Dodgers blog and you have good insights and many good commenters. It would be a shame if you gave it up.”
— DodgerRick
For the record, we did not agree on many things as he leaned to the negative, but his comments were well-reasoned and steeped in logic, unlike someone else who was here who had irrational rants steeped in touches of insanity. Rick is always welcome and maybe he will share his story when it is time. I consider him my friend.
So right about now, it is business as usual.
Yesterday’s Debacle
Yesterday afternoon started out as amazing. Our Eastern Region Sales Manager lives in Maine and Friday, nine, 1.5 pounds of Maine Lobsters arrived, so yesterday was time to cook them. I cooked the steaks while my wife cooked the lobsters and as the family was gathered around the outdoor dining table eating lobster (with drawn butter) and the steak was when the Kimbrel and Almonte coughed up the game and cost Clayton the win. It was ugly… PERIOD! It almost gave me indigestion.
My son-in-law who is a Red Sox fan says “this is a flashback to when he played for us. That’s why we got rid of him….” Kimbrel is 1-4 with 3 blown saves, a 1.52 WHIP, and 4.78 ERA. “Well, he got hit by that ball.” This is a no-excuse zone. His record is what it is. Kenley Jansen was not the answer either, but Kimbrel’s inability to close is something that is going to plague this team until he is replaced.
I said it at the time and I will say it now: This was a bad move by Andrew Friedman. Here’s what it boils down to: AF paid Kinbrel the same he could have paid Jansen, BUT HE GAVE UP AJ POLLOCK IN THE PROCESS! Now, I know that AJ is not hitting great for the White Sox, but that doesn’t mean he would have done that for the Dodgers. He is subject to getting hot and carrying a team for a period of time. The Dodgers could certainly use another RH power bat.
Kimbrel can be “fixed” at least until the next time… and that is what my son-in-law said too. “You just cannot trust him.” Remember in 2018 when Kimbrel had a 4.15 ERA in the World Series. It was Kelly and Eovaldi who saved his bacon. I do not trust Kimbrel and it is time to replace him. I doubt that will do it, but I would release him today and look within the organization for a replacement. He may pitch well for three weeks but then he will crash and burn again and you will regret having him. Maybe when he was younger and had 3 or 4 more MPH on his fastball, the margin for error was greater. Now, if he is not perfect, he gets hit!
Tell me that Evan Phillips could do worse! Yency Almonte got hit yesterday, but he’s a candidate. What about Ryan Pepiot, Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, or Bobby Miller who was filthy yesterday? Use one of them as a closer for a half-season and let them go back to starting next year! Speaking of Bobby Miller, he started for Tulsa and went 6 innings, allowing 2 hits and striking out 10. After he left the game, Arkansas scored 14 runs in the next two innings! The Dodgers have to get a closer and it will be a damn shame if they have to give up minor-league prospects to do so.
Rants & Raves
- Tony Gonsolin deserves to be the All-Star Game starter, but what about Clayton Kershaw? Dylan Hernandez of The LA Times tries to make the case that Clayton should start it. Nice thought, but Clayton won’t make the team… unless they put him on there ahead of others who deserve it. I like the idea, but not the reality.
- Mookie is obviously not running full speed. It will take a week or so more. Hopefully, he rests during the All-Star Break.
- I am elated that Austin Barnes agreed to a 2-Year/$7 Million Dollar Deal to stay a Dodger. Hopefully, he retires a Dodger.
- Justin Turner continues to show activity while Muncy and Bellinger as flat-lined.
- Boy, I hated that loss yesterday – It gave the Padres a glimmer of hope when the Dodgers had an opportunity to stomp on their neck. Kimbrel must go!
Future Dodgers Down on the Farm
- OKC lost 18-5
- Miguel Vargas was 3-5 with 2 RBI and his 13th HR – .299 BA/.907 OPS – It’s time!
- Yadier Alvarez was lit up like a Christmas Turkey 1 IP, 5 R
- Mike Busch hit his 20th HR, which is what he had all of 2021.
- Tulsa lost 14-4
- Andy Pages went 2-4 with his 14th HR and 3 RBI
- Bobby Miller was incredible.
- Great Lakes won 11-8
- Jonny DeLuca was 4-4 with 3 doubles
- Diego Cartaya was 1-2 with a walk
- Vivas and DeJesus both had 2 hits.
- Rancho Cucamonga won 16-4
- Damon Keith was 1-3 (a double) with 3 BB and 3 RBI
- Yenier Fernandez was 2-6.
- Luis Rodriguez was 2-6 2ith 3 RBI
Time to Rock the Rockies
Happy Fourth of July
Glad you decided to stay. Means I keep my job a little longer! LOL. I tend to not jump on Kimbrel for this one. Dave should have pulled him after that 102 MPH liner hit him. Almonte would have had all the time he needed to warm up. He did stiffen up and now is not available for the next several days. So someone is going to have to step up. And the offense yesterday sucked. SO even though Kimbrel got the loss, the offense gave the pitchers zero help.
Happy that your staying Mark. Almost as happy as my wife. I for one put a vote in for B&P as a writer. Bear gives us great history lessons and I’d love to see B&P give us his statistical analysis of the game. Tho I am one who doesn’t like stats and facts get in the way of my opinions. Happy 4th of July to everyone! We have some warts but still the greatest country on earth!
Hi Mark. I don´t normally have time to write, besides, I am not an English writer, however read your blog everyday. For my blue heart, it is absolutely necessary to start the day reading your blog. Please keep doing it.
From Costa Rica, Happy fourth of July for all of you!
Go Dodgers.
I said it right after the game yesterday: I have no confidence in Kimbrel and especially not in the postseason .
I hope Treinen is back soon and will take over the closer role.
Dodgers had a shot to drop the Padres into a deep hole and Kimbrel let them out.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would have taken 3/4 before the series started in a heart beat DR.
Things like this are gonna happen over the course of a season, unfortunately when you are the Closer there is no hiding place.
I think Kimbrel will figure it out. Maybe we’ll trade for AJ and Wild Man Kelly?
Well Mark if they don’t get rid of Kimbrel then at least we can put him into the BHG!
In the end we won three of four. Sure you are not happy after winning the first three, but happy with the end result. Kimbrel BLAH!!
Your closer has to be able to save a 1 run game, no excuses! But, man that dude seems to have the worst luck of anyone. The ball that hit the top of the fence was a mile high. Any outfielder should be able to get back to the wall, time the jump and get his glove over the wall. Any ball that hits the top of the fence should have been caught.
Okay, with all the analytics that we have, and all the lefty/righty matchups that we do, why the F did Doc choose to keep Kimbrel in knowing full well he was going see another couple of lefties after Cronenworth singled off his shoulder? Kimbrel has been horrible against lefties. Doc strikes again!
The Dodgers failed to add on all game. Even in the first inning, they had a shot to break open the game and didn’t. It’s one of those games were the offense decided not to show up.
It may seem that they should have just signed Kenley and not traded Pollock for Kimbrel. Sure, except for the fact that AF told Kenley to wait until he could clear payroll. Kenley, being the soft, no confidence guy that he is decided to bolt for the Braves. But the hole in the story is that they would have still had to clear payroll and that would have been AJ or Price anyways and it doesn’t look like anyone was interested in eating 16M for an untrustworthy reliever.
So, it is what it is.
Early this year, right when camp broke, there were rumors of the Dodgers working with Kimbrel on his curve. Maybe their “fix” was detrimental to the result. He was the best closer in baseball before getting traded to the ChiSox last year. Maybe they could get that Kimbrel back. Maybe not.
I still operate under the assumption that closers are a special breed, unlike Patch who thinks the save is an arbitrary statistic. I want a guy that’s used to closing games. To think you can just throw Miller into that situation is far fetched. Ideally, I want a guy that racks up K’s as well. For some reason, none of the guys that are picking up saves in the minors have a high K rate, except for Zuniga, who is 8 for 8 in save ops, has 40K’s in 33.1 IP and a 5.94 ERA! Sounds a lot like Kimbrel right now. Mark Washington at 6’7′ has half as many saves as Zuniga, but is a perfect 4-4 with a sparkling 1.16 ERA, but only 22 K’s in 23.1 IP. In AAA Fulmer is getting the most Save Ops and is 7-8 with a 1.69 ERA 32IP and 35K’s. I’d like a better K ratio, but he might help. Almonte, in OKC was 3-3 15 IP and 25 K’s and Moronta was 2 out of 4 in 9 IP and 17 K’s.
Judging by the numbers, Almonte is our best bet. Unfortunately, Almonte is the best replacement, but he’s also terrible against lefties so far this year.
Maybe that’s the one need at the trade deadline. Again, the bad news is there isn’t going to be a ton of closers that are better than Kimbrel available.
The top ten saves leaders are all on contenders except for Danial Bard (Rockies) and Raisel Iglesias (Angels), so if you think you’re gonna get someone better than Kimbrel on the trade market, you’ll probably be disappointed.
Maybe Gregory Soto from the Tigers would be the ideal target, but the familiar story about arb years remaining strikes again. Next year is his first arb eligible year.
Oh year, everyone’s favorite flavor is now 12-15 with a 2.43 ERA. Bednar has two less saves and just as many blown as Kimbrel.
If Miller is truly an option, call his ass up now and have him start pitching out of the pen. Or, keep trying to fix Kimbrel and wait for Treinen to come back? Maybe use Ferguson or Vesia or Price in save situations when lefties are coming up? I just do see any good answers here.
I just don’t see any reason why we should be pining over Kenley. He has more blown saves than Kimbrel and is currently on the IL for the same problem they fixed twice before. Is this a case of “It’s better to dance with the devil you know than the one you don’t.” I don’t think so. Kimbrel and Kenley are similar and one isn’t necessarily better than the other.
Personally, I’m glad Kenley’s gone. I would be even more pissed if he had 4 blown saves with the Dodgers and then went on the IL again. I’m getting mad just thinking about it. He was one of the best closers in baseball, but never the best. He was never the same after Doc rode him like, as Mark would say, “A rented mule” after the 2017 season.
That was Lux, he is not a natural outfielder. Taylor might have caught that. Bellinger for sure. They need guys playing their natural positions.
100% agree. Especially with Mookie back. Just leave Lux at second and let him be. He’s developed into an outstanding second baseman. I think his bat suffers moving around especially when he makes mistakes in left.
Couldn’t agree more Bear and Cassidy. Second base has been the black-hole for us for some time now. We had hoped that someone would step up and nail down the position. Well Lux, despite his ups and downs, has done that. He’s earned the job. So why are we continuing to move him in order to find a spot for Muncy? Who hasn’t done shit. Put Lux at 2nd and leave him alone.
Phil
I agree 100%….I am beginning think that putting together the right lineup to maximize the the team’s talent – short and long-term – is a Dodger organizational weakness….
My favorite comment of the week: “So why are we continuing to move him in order to find a spot for Muncy? Who hasn’t done shit. Put Lux at 2nd and leave him alone.”
I don’t care if my closer is a strikeout guy. I only care that he doesn’t give up runs.
Closers tend to come in with the bases empty to protect a win. They just need not to let the other team score.
The guy I want as a strikeout machine is the guy who fills the Treinen role. The reliever who is brought in to face the heart of the order, often times with men on base. That’s when you need to keep runners from advancing and, of course, scoring.
Bingo.
Kimbrell is not missing enough bats , or inducing enough soft contact. So that increases the chance that bad things will happen like that.
I agree with BP that we don’t have a lot of options right now. I’m surprised he didn’t mention Phillips in his post above
Kimbrell is not missing enough bats, or inducing soft contact. That increases the chance that bad things like that will happen.
I agree with BP that we don’t have a lot of options. I’m surprised he didn’t mention Phillips in his post above though
Phillips is dirty. I think he’s been a great addition. But, you’re right. I should have mentioned him with Alomonte. But, at the same time, I hate to move him out of the Treinen role, which is debatably more important.
But, you are dead wrong about Kimbrell, his whiff% is 89th percentile and his K% is in the 94th percentile which is elite. He misses bats better than almost everyone.
OK I’m wrong about the missing bats. It must be the walks and the balls in play that are killing him. His whip, 1.52 is way up there.
Awesome, so we do have a setup man. It’s Kimbrel. Oops, he failed at it last year.
Wonder if AF will target David Robertson of the Cubs?
But, he had two bad seasons just before this one. Doesn’t that sound eerily similar to Kimbrel?
After being shut out all day, when the Padre’s saw Kimbrell, they smelled blood. Confidence goes a long way
It’s no Cinco de Mayo, but July 4th is a wonderful holiday.
I was born in Canada, but it’s hard not to be thrilled to live in this country.
Enjoy your burgers/steaks/hot dogs/tofu!
Baby backs, hot links and Dodger Dogs on the menu.
Baked beans, greens, pasta salad and green salad are the sides.
Lemon Cloud Pie for dessert.
And why do they need a closer? Do like other teams where it’s used by committee, and see who does a better job, I’d like to see Price in that role, at least so that having him on the team is of some use and not just dead weight.
By the way, I don’t know if only I noticed it, but I saw a worried, thoughtful Machado, and not with that stupid smug, overbearing, dismissive face, with that arrogant attitude with raised eyebrows, as if his farts don’t stink, I think that for the first time I did not feel contempt for that son of a B!7@$…
U old softy Jorge!
I’m also very glad, and grateful, that you are going to keep LADT going, Mark. Thank you!
And here’s another vote for B&P to become a regular contributor (and pot stirrer!)
Very happy with your decision MT. Good choice – for us. And you too I hope.
* Happy Birthday America and happy 4th to everyone. I’m preparing to hunker down in my neighborhood of pyromaniacs. This is my least favorite holiday especially when I had 2 dogs.
* What a buzz killer ending that was yesterday to what was a great contest through 8 innings. Great because CK was great. The starting pitching for the last 3 games was outstanding. Not so great for the offense yesterday.
* Kimbrel is the easy target. Especially when you watch Phillips get through set-up innings on 8 pitches. Kimbrel sucked. But I’m going to blame the offense for not adding on some runs.
We scored 1 in the first off a struggling MacKenzie Gore. It could have and should have been more. Muncy and Thompson being rally killers. We then went scoreless innings 2-8. We had the lead-off man on in the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 8th and scored 1.
* Muncy looks like a hard-luck guy lately. But he creates his own hard luck. He just keeps pulling balls into the shift when he isn’t striking out. He may have good exit velocity but he’s hitting into areas where there are more defenders. Yesterday he again took an outside fastball that needs to be lined to left, rolled over it for another easy grounder to 2nd. You just can’t pull that pitch. That’s not bad luck.
Warning!
For all of you who have had a gut full of me talking about situational bunting to move an important runner to 2nd, STOP READING HERE.
* Both Barnes and Bellinger had opportunities to move runners into scoring position with a sac bunt, and both failed to do it. Both showed bunt on the first pitch, both made half assed attempts at actually getting the bunt down and both promptly went to hacking. Barnes had a nice fly ball but the runner died on first. In the 8th, Bellinger had the whole left side available after JT’s single. Joe and Orel even mentioned it. Instead he too showed a half-hearted bunt attempt with no conviction and went to hacking. He struck out.
The bunt haters will claim Belli isn’t paid to bunt and he pinch hit to hit one out. Right now, he’s paid 17 million to hit .207.
* Would either lead off runner have scored an insurance run or 2 had they been sacrificed to 2nd? Who knows? But I say you make something happen when you need to pad that 1 run lead and your offense is stagnant.
* We have been scoring runs. Despite the middle of the line up being shitty. 2 – 8 in the lineup; Muncy .163, JT .230, Thompson .217, Bellinger pinch batting (I won’t say hitting) .207 and Barnes .179. Really? This for the best team in baseball?
* It isn’t panic time. But there are questions.
Doc and the brass will all be busy during the All-Star festivities. When things settle down and we get deeper into July, I’m interested how they will approach the second half. How much leash does Muncy have? When is his struggle not a slump anymore but who he is now? I feel sorry for the guy but how far does loyalty and faith go in a business all about production and winning. Could a youngster like Vargas hit better then .163?
* They can choose to stick with Bellinger longer due to his defense and lack of a replacement.
Again, not time to panic. It’s one blown game. But there are certainly questions as we move forward and it will be interesting how things will shake out.
I totally agree with everything you say, I just think it was necessary to say that they stop saying that Bellinger hopefully recovers his MVP form, HE IS NOT A SUPERSTAR! He’s an excellent outfielder, but he doesn’t have a good arm, and he’s a mediocre hitter, but keep waiting for him to recover and making excuses in the meantime. And the same for Muncy, and it’s a shame since they are or were one of my favorite players.
What is wrong with this statement:
Would either lead off runner have scored an insurance run or 2 had they been sacrificed to 2nd? Who knows? But I say you make something happen when you need to pad that
Mark, I’m glad to hear you’ve decided to continue with the best Dodger blog on the web. A happy 4th to one and all! Go Dodgers!
Going to a BBQ. I hope all of you enjoy a safe and very happy 4th. Let us not forget those overseas protecting us from unseen danger. They are there because they feel the duty to do so. Been there, so I know how alone they can feel at times. Bless our nation and our troops. Prayers to the victims of the shooting in Chicago today. Some warped ass people out there.
9:10 PM ET
Rockies (35-44)
Dodgers (49-29)
SP Julio Urias L
6-6 2.64 ERA 81.2IP 76K
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
SS Trea Turner R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
DH J. Turner R
LF Chris Taylor R
RF T. Thompson R
CF C. Bellinger L
3B H. Alberto R
Clear-day
0% Rain
73° Wind 8 mph Out
Not too often when you see less than 3 lefty batters in the starting lineup. Happy 4th to all.
Juan Soto just purchased a 7.7 million dollar house in Los Angeles anything to that.
lol – That’s pretty funny. A player can play where he wants to if he’s ready to take a little less money which is still more than most will ever need in several lifetimes. Some have the courage to tell their agents to do what they want them to do and that goes for the Players Union as well.
It shows he’s got a lot more money than I do.
I hope he enjoys his 3 bedroom 2 bath 2000sq ft home.
As one of those regular readers who doesn’t comment (this is my second comment ever), please stay. I enjoy this blog despite the occasional politics drama. I’ve learned a lot from both the posts and the reader comments and I would really miss it.
Seattle is beating the Padres 7-zip in the 6th. Go figure.
Snakes beat Giants 8-3.
The bullpen is my favorite thing to talk about and since you guys are talking about it because of what Kimbrel did yesterday, I thought I’d comment on the bullpen.
I don’t truly trust anyone in our bullpen as it stands right now except maybe Reyes Moronta, a little more on him later. All of the guys have flaws in their stats besides Moronta.
I’m big on career stats because it is a bigger sample and I’m big on career splits because of the 3 batter minimum rule, but I also weigh 2022 stats into the equation and the only guy currently on the team that has great career stats against both sides of the plate and is so far doing good this year is Reyes Moronta, but he has only pitched 14 innings so far this year, so it’s a small sample.
I don’t want to take anything away from guys like Phillips, Almonte, Graterol, Vesia who are having good to great years so far this year, but all of them have flaws in their stats. Such as Almonte who’s overall career stats are bad and his 2022 splits are bad. Or Graterol and Vesia who’s overall career stats are good but their career splits are bad and their 2022 splits are bad. Or Phillips who’s overall career stats and career splits are bad, but who’s 2022 overall stats and 2022 splits are excellent.
So if you ask me who I would go with in high leverage situations such as the closer and set up man, I would go with Moronta because of his excellent overall career stats and career splits, plus he is doing good so far this year (but small sample). And I would live in the moment with Phillips because his overall 2022 stats and 2022 splits are excellent, even though his career stats and splits are bad.
On the IL I trust Treinen, Hudson, Kahnle because their overall career stats and career splits are at least better than average to good.
And if Kimbrel can be fixed, I would trust him because his career stats and splits are excellent.
I forgot to mention I don’t trust Bickford and Price either. Both have done bad so far this year and Bickford has bad career splits and 2022 splits and his overall career stats are about average. And Price has been a bust ever since joining the Dodgers.
Also why is Lux sitting on the bench, did I miss something? Not that I am high on him but if I remember correct he is hitting LHP good so far this year.
Price has had 4 straight excellent appearances snd his fastball is up to 94+. He could be a big piece in the 2nd half. Bellinger looking better tonight. He’s responding to my more positive approach!
Oh I didn’t know that. Is that up from earlier this year and how much? And do you think that’s enough of a difference that it’s going to make a difference?
It has for the last 4 appearances. I’d love to see him close it out tonight
Now, I’d really like to see Price. Don’t know why he wasn’t up to face Blackman.
Huh maybe the injury that kept Moronta out of baseball for 2020 and 2021 is still not healed.
Can’t blame Moronta; Kimbrel ‘s got the ninth inning so screwed up no one can close a game out right.
David Price Leaning Towards Retirement After 2022 Season
By Mark Polishuk | July 4, 2022 at 6:28pm CDT
2022 is the final season of the seven-year, $217MM free agent deal that David Price signed with the Red Sox in December 2015, and it has been widely expected that the veteran left-hander will hang up his glove once his contract is up. Price all but confirmed as much earlier this week when speaking with Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, initially telling Plunkett that he did plan to retire at season’s end, before making it more of a “yes and no” answer for family reasons.
“My (two) kids love it so much. That’s the only thing that makes me even think about playing any longer,” Price said. “I always told myself I’d ask my son, ’Do you want daddy to play baseball or do you want daddy to be home all the time?’ I asked him before this year and he said, ‘I want you to be home.’ I said, ’Are you sure?’ He said, ’Yeah.’ Now when I ask him, he says, ’No, I want you to keep playing.’ “