Since the Dodgers are up by 18 games in the division with 40 games to play, I figure it is safe to take a step away from the seriousness of the pennant chase and the Xs and Os of strategy to talk about a lighter topic. I do that today with ballpark organists (the ones that play the musical instrument at the stadium). The Dodgers have been at the forefront when it comes to music at the ballpark. Whether it was the comical Sym-phoney Band or the most popular baseball organist in the 40s and 50s, they have been engaged in history from the outset of organ music at the ballpark.
About 100 years ago, organ music became a common entertainment source in shopping areas, restaurants, and movie theatres. They accompanied motion pictures that had no sound. Naturally, the popularity and acceptance of the music expanded to professional sports, where hockey games were the first events in which they were used. The first known use of organ music at a sporting event was at Chicago Stadium when it opened in 1929 with an arena in place. Later such venues as Madison Square Garden and Boston Garden added organ music to their arenas.
The Hammond Organ company designed a specific electronic organ for sports venues in 1934, and it spread from there, but it wasn’t until 1941 that baseball debuted the organ at Chicago’s Wrigley Field with Ray Nelson at the keys. There were complications at the start, though, because with the game being broadcast on the air, the team had not received permission to perform a lot of popular songs from the era on the radio. Organist Nelson almost literally had his hands tied. Surprisingly, what many thought was a baseball staple dating back to early years was actually a novelty for many teams. The Cubs, for example, ditched the organ by 1944, and the original 1941 experiment only lasted two games. They (the Cubs) didn’t have a full-time organist return until 1967.
Though the Cubs put the kibosh on the organ, Dodger executive Larry MacPhail loved the idea and immediately hired Gladys Gooding in 1942. She was the organist at Madison Square Garden for the NHL Rangers. She worked as the full-time Dodger organist at Ebbets Field from 1942 to the date of the Dodgers’ Brooklyn departure in 1957. Gooding was not just an organist. She could sing and quite often would sing the national anthem when needed. She was noted for using her keyboard talents to plunk out musical puns of pieces that commonly corresponded with the appearance of a player or activity on the field of play.
Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine speaks with warmth regarding Gooding and how she would serenade the Hoosier State native with “Back Home Again in Indiana” when warming up every first inning of games he started.
In a game in 1950, when one of the umpires became sick and couldn’t take the field, Gooding played “Three Blind Mice.” It is reported that the remaining umpires ejected her from the game. The first organist ejection in the history of the sport.
Gladys closed out the last game at Ebbets Field to a tearful crowd with “Auld Lang Sang.” Vin Scully stated that he was a witness to the final game and that throughout it, Gooding played funeral dirges. The New York Times reported that the tunes she played that final game included “Thanks for the Memories,” “Am I Blue,” “Don’t Ask Me Why I’m Leaving,” and “Que Sera, Sera.”
When the Dodgers arrived in Los Angeles in 1958, four seasons in the Coliseum were played without an organist accompaniment. It only was when they arrived at their new digs at Dodger Stadium that the organ was introduced to Dodger fans in Los Angeles. (Previous PCL teams, the LA Angels, and Hollywood Stars had entertained fans with organ music).
The first L.A. Dodger organist was Bob Mitchell. Mitchell was a silent film organist and a natural for the position, but since talkies had not been in vogue since 1929, he certainly wasn’t long for the position due to his age. He was followed by Don Beamsley in 1966 and even High Schooler Donna Parker in 1972. Shortly afterward, Helen Dell took the job full-time and continued until 1988. Nancy Bea Hefley succeeded Dell, starting her first year during that magical 1988 season.
Nancy Bea followed Dell in the conservative style that proceeded her. Always polite. Never offensive in any way. She gave a positive spin on things. Broadway show tunes and the like were common. You wouldn’t hear rock n roll from Nancy Bea, though we’re sure she could play it. She has perfect pitch and can play just about anything at the top of her head.
Hefley continued in the capacity for 27 years, but her relocation to Northern Nevada made keeping up with the rigors of the home schedule and traveling back to Los Angeles nearly impossible. This opened the door for Dieter Ruehle, the LA Kings/Clippers/ Lakers/Sparks organist, who substituted frequently before being offered the position with Nancy Bea’s retirement.
You could say that Ruehle was born for this. We have all heard the stories of Vin Scully being mesmerized as a child as he listed to the live feeds of college football games on his family console radio. Dieter experienced the same thing when it came to stadium music. As a 12-year-old, Dieter had already decided that being a stadium organist at sports events was the occupation he wanted to do in life. He was granted his wish to play the organ at a Los Angeles Kings game during a promotion with KABC television, and it simply took off from there. He solicited his services with the Lakers, Kings, and Clippers as a teenager. At age 15, the Clippers took him up on the offer and hired him. And then the LA Lazers soccer club followed suit. By 1989 the L.A. Kings signed him, and he already had over five years of experience. It was hard to believe that he was only 20 years old.
Ruehle would often serve two functions with the Kings as the team organist and DJ as well. This would require him to be completely on top of all the action. Additionally, he was responsible for sounding the horn when goals were scored at Kings games, something you really couldn’t mess up. It was in this active environment, in a quicker-paced sport, that Dieter developed his style, and it certainly wasn’t with conservative show tunes. He played the latest pop and would spin the hip hop music as a DJ as well. On the keys, he would play the likes of Janet Jackson, the Doors, Stevie Wonder, Queen, the Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, and more.
Ruehle patterned his playing after other organists, notably Chicago White Sox organist Nancy Faust, who played for the team for 40 years (1970-2010). He was more prone to mix modern music and pop music than his predecessors. As Ruehle became more seasoned, so did his active style. He contracted with other teams (San Jose Sharks and Phoenix Coyotes) and at Olympic games and all-star games. By the time the Dodgers hired him in 2016, Ruehle was at the top of his craft and known by his contemporaries as the best in the business.
Dieter has brought his personality to games and humor that sometimes goes unnoticed. If you pay attention and log his tunes, you’ll find that he comes up with music for just about every in-game situation you can fathom. Anyone following the Dodgers with an eye and ear for detail will notice how engaged he is. Aside from his constant serenading of individual player walk-up songs when they make a play, there are other nuances that can be noticed.
Figuring out the song title or lyric puns within the game can be a game in itself with Ruehle. It is literally a game of “Name that Tune” at the ballpark. Periodically Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser will take notice of his creativity, and that usually makes for several minutes of back and forth with them, talking music and hearing Ruehle will play something they mention or request. Their back and forth is pretty entertaining.
I will admit to not being well versed in the new music that is released these days. Dieter is on top of all that and more. He uses it. So there is a lot that I don’t catch. In the course of a game, he may play the Rolling Stones, Eagles, Queen, Drake, Smashing Pumpkins, Stevie Wonder, the Doors, and the Beatles.
An example was in Tuesday night’s game, Freddie Freeman fouled off a few pitches, prolonging the at-bat; Dieter started playing Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” I guess because he kept the at-bat going.
The Theme from “Bonanza” was played after a Dodgers scoring onslaught. Verified in a text to Orel Hershiser that he played it because it was a “bonanza” of runs. Only Dieter truly knows his reasoning. Depeche Mode’s “I Just Can’t Get Enough” was a tune that he came up with when Hershiser claimed that he was wearing out the Bonanza theme for offensive rallies.
Other song puns I have noticed (and there are dozens that I most assuredly have missed):
- Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” was played during Padre sidearm lefty pitcher Tim Hill’s appearance.
- The theme from “Twin Peaks”. Often paid when there is a 2-2 count.
- The Beatles “Norwegian Wood” when Alex Wood takes the mound.
- “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” when Muncy does well.
- Close balls hit down the line are accompanied by the theme from “Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind.”
- The Theme from “Dragnet” after a Dodger batter was hit by a pitch.
- “House of the Rising Sun” when Kenta Maeda pitched.
- Theme from Gilligan’s Island when the game hits the “Three Hour” mark as in “three-hour tour.”
- Theme from Hawaii Five-0 when the team takes a 5-0 lead or when #50 Mookie Betts makes a highlight play.
- Theme from Monday night football when the Dodgers take a football score-like 7-0 lead.
- Theme from the obscure TV show “Room 222” when the deuces are wild in numerous parts of the game.
- Ruehle’s spontaneous repertoire has included Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet,” during a small earthquake that occurred during a game in 2018.
- “Closing Time” from the musical Rain when the season ended.
No previous Dodger organist would dare poke fun at an opposing player through music. Well, that changed. When former Astros were in town, the gloves were off. Josh Reddick came to the plate to Ace of Base’s “I Saw the Sign.” Carlos Correa received Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road, Jack.” After striking out. Changers were in effect.
Dieter joined the Dodger entertainment crew representing a different generation and one that would play music that was more modern and contemporary to today’s age. For some old timers, that seemed sacrilegious. Truth be told, it was about time for it, though. I will admit to not being a fan at first, but let’s face it, I’m old. Ruehle’s creative approach and humor were noticed, and I came around. He is entertaining, and who can complain about that?
Ruehle’s style was quite a change for the relatively conservative Dodger org., who were probably the last team to bring modern music into their stadium. I don’t believe the Dodgers began piping in rock and hip hop music until well into the 1990s, while other teams had been doing it for years. We had Nancy Bea and the organ, and that was it. For some fans, that was actually all they wanted, but the Dodgers have awakened to the fact that they must cater to a younger generation of fans for the future of the game. The game and the entertainment that accompanies has required that change and the Dodgers moved along with the program. It was about time.
Great pitching matchup today.
Two,young fireballlers going up against each other, Dustin and Sandy .
Looking forward to,it.
James Outman had a career night last night, hot for the cycle plus another triple. Wow!
Bobby Miller a good outing too.
But Treinen got lit up just a bit, seems to need more time to rehab.
Go Dodgers!
Great piece about Dieter, Evan! He is part of the Dodger “Fabric.”
We had the Wedding Rehearsal last night, and I got home at the top of the 7th inning. That was the important part.
Craig Kimbrel looked better than I have ever seen him look. If he can keep that up… LOOK OUT!
It’s finally Wedding Day. The whole FamDamily is in. It shall prove to be epic!
Or as Barney Stinson would say: Legendary!
Have a blast Mark and best wishes to the wedding couple for a long and happy marriage!
Go Dodgers!
Enjoy this special day with family and friends!!! Congrats to your son and his newly bride to be!!!
Hey Mark,
Why am I unable to sign in and stay in here at LADT? I see no “sign in” button for me to hit.
The only thing at the top are “about us”. “Minor league affiliates” and “Top Dodger prospects”
So how do I sign in other than having to do it each and every time I post something?
Thanks,
TM
Hey Mark, it’s my guess it’s a formal wedding and you’re wearing a tux. Please post a photo of you in that tux. I have never worn a tuxedo. I think I’d make a funny picture in one.
The Dodgers on Friday named catcher Diego Cartaya the organization’s minor league player of the year and chose right-hander Gavin Stone as minor league pitcher of the year.
Those were the right movrs
Tough choices with Vargas hitting 300/397/497 as a 22 YO in AAA. Busch isn’t far behind with 276/365/523 with 28 Doubles and 27 Homers at AA and AAA combined. Cartaya is 270/403/543 as a 20 YO split between A and A+.
Stone is a no-brainer pitching at three levels this year and carrying a 1.50 ERA with 139 Ks in 102 innings.
Performance is important, of course, but my sense is that these awards also reflect character, coachability, improvement. And that speaks well of Cartaya and Stone.
A few years, if I recall correctly, Omar Estevez was honored –but he now seems like a career minor leaguer and future coach. And I think last year one of the young Asian pitchers was honored–but he still seems a long way from Tulsa or OKC.
Stone might end up being better than Miller. So consistent. Whenever I see highlights, he reminds me of Grienke.
Good points Duke!
Holy Jeepers was this a nice read!
There has been continued discussion about Bickford and Kimbrel’s use. And sometimes they blow the game. But lets face it the team is preparing for the playoffs. If we lose a couple of extra games because of them , big deal. Every inning they pitch means someone else doesn’t have to. Certainly we aren’t going to see Roberts say that, but that’s the way it goes. I would hope that neither is on the playoff roster. But I guess Kimbrel still has some rope left
I totally agree, but not with a one-run lead for Bickford right after using Phillips to escape a jam. I think Bickford is worth hanging onto for next season, but I would put a fork in him for now. He’s seemed a little off all year and yet he’s pitched the second most innings out of the bullpen so far with worse results than anyone.
B&P, yesterday I published that Bickford was a disaster for his poor performance yesterday and practically the entire season, but not as a “complaint”, rather it is a kind of pity for the boy who cannot recover from the way the 2021 season was. Of course we have a lot of advantage over division rivals and he, Bickford will not be on the postseason lists. My feeling is a bit mediatic in maintaining the general leadership of all baseball and having all the advantages of being the leader in the playoffs. And I agree with you in holding on to the boy for the future.
I loved Nancy Bea Hefley. I was lucky enough to run into her before a game at the stadium once. I told her that I was a big fan and it was an honor to meet her. She was gracious and humble similar to Vin. When news broke that she would be replaced, I was heartbroken. But, Deiter Ruehle as stepped into her big shoes and filled them admirably. I can honestly say I like him better because I appreciate his sense of humor.
As far as the Twin Peaks theme goes, I think he only plays it with 2 outs on a 2-2 count, but I could be mistaken.
He’s pretty punny. I’ve heard him go after visiting players other than the Astros. It’s always appropriate and funny.
Well, Doc almost screwed that game last night. After a day off, you expect most, if not all of the bullpen to be available. I agree with Eric on this one. This is not a tryout for Bickford. Even Ray Charles can see that Bickford won’t be on the postseason roster. He’s also the most used reliever in the last 7 games. So, how did it make any sense to bring him in to protect a one-run lead right after you bring in your best reliever to escape the jam in the previous inning?
Even then, Doc brought in Phillips one batter too late. Everyone could see that Anderson lost it after the walk and he was at around 73 pitches before the inning started, so Doc should have been prepared.
It was a curious use of the bullpen altogether. About the only thing that Doc did that made any sense was bringing in Phillips to escape the jam, but as previously mentioned, a batter too late. The Marlins had 7 right-handed hitters in the lineup last night. The two lefties were batting 4th and 8th, so they were spread out enough that you weren’t going to get a platoon advantage against a lefty pitcher. They used Vesia against a lefty and he gave up a weird infield single for a run and retired the righty. Price pitched against righties only and gave up a homer to the first batter he faced, the number 9 hitter, Burdick’s second home run of the season. Had Price pitched the 8th instead, he would have faced the other lefty in the lineup which would have setup Kimbrel to pitch the 9th. Brusdar got to pitch the 10th with a five-run lead. That’s the kind of situation that Bickford should have been used.
Going into the playoffs, my biggest concern is how many lefties will be in the bullpen, and how can we guard against Doc doing stupid shit like he did last night. Right now we have 3 lefties in the pen and 5 righties and Doc managed to use one of his lefty pitchers to throw exclusively against righties. I thought this was particularly puzzling from a guy that focuses so much on platoon advantages.
The short start by Anderson is untimely with May, not fully built up, scheduled to pitch today. It gets better after that with Urias and Gonsolin scheduled to pitch on Sunday and Monday. Maybe it’s time to option Bickford and backfill him with Jake Reed to get a fresh arm ready in the pen. Reed seems to be the only choice, the only healthy arm ready to go as V-Gone and Treinen are still about a week a way at a minimum.
B&P you just can’t help yourself when it comes time to criticize Doc. Here is a quote from Juan Toribio, the beat writer that writes for mlb.com (obviously knows more than you, although to listen to you, no one knows more).
“The Dodgers were also working with a short bullpen as Chris Martin was unavailable due to an elbow issue, according to Roberts, and Caleb Ferguson was down due to his heavy recent workload. Brusdar Graterol was also considered unavailable, but he ended up pitching once the game got into extras. Roberts said at one point he considered using infielder Hanser Alberto, even during a tie game.”
When you read this, you have to come to the conclusion that the plan was to finish the game working around a very short bullpen and without regards to lefty/righty matchups. Do you (or Eric) really think these bullpen usage decisions are made only by Doc. Guess again, Mark Prior and the rest of the pitching coaches are more than remotely involved in how the bullpen is used. I don’t know about you, but I have concluded that Prior is the best pitching coach in baseball and I have a feeling his input guides Doc’s decisions most of the time.
It continues to astound me that even with the best record in baseball and a record that is on an historic pace the criticism continues.
100% Truth
Twenty long years in Boston (‘73-93) taught me that without winning teams you better get busy with your own ‘expert’ analysis ( blame Bill James). Moved out here in ‘94 and emerged a fully formed Red Sox Baseball Sensei – knows all – seen all. You’ve prolly met a few of them?
I put the Sox gear away around ‘95. Watching & and listening to Tommy L. taught me one important thing about baseball – I don’t know Sheit. Stay in your lane.
Heaney’s high heater:
https://youtu.be/C_FO0C2NyXc
JB, you started by insulting me and then you showed an example that really reinforced what I said. He wound up using Graterol anyway, which was my point to begin with. Maybe not so obvious to you.
Ferguson Aug 17 13 pitches, Aug 20 13 pitches, Aug 24 26 pitches
Bickford Aug 18 24 pitches, Aug 20 22 pitches, Aug 22 31 pitches
Who had the heavier workload? Consider that Bickford also has the second most innings pitched in the pen this year.
I form my opinions based on the information I have. Juan Toribio doesn’t necessarily know more than I do. He may have more information, but I have more experience and I’m pretty good with numbers, logic and reasoning.
Here’s the logic part…
If the pen was so short, why not let Phillips pitch more than 2 outs, 10 pitches? Why not let Vesia pitch more after throwing just 6 pitches, all strikes, Kimbrel 10 pitches, 8 strikes?
You’re a Doc lover, I’m a Doc hater. You attack me every time I question Doc’s decisions, I don’t attack you when you say something positive about him. Keep it up and you’ll see the not-so-nice side of me.
Between me and you, I obviously know more than you do. Same logic you used in the Juan Toribio argument.
B&P: you told me awhile ago you are an IT guy. I respect that but you continue to show your bias and naivety by quoting only the workload numbers you just did. You (and all of us) are only seeing part of the story, the one based on numbers. There is obviously so much more that goes into the decision making process (medical info and what the player is saying about himself to name two).
The reason Graterol was used was solely because the game went into extra innings. If Bickford would have performed, that wouldn’t have been necessary. Actually the short bullpen management would have worked out if Bickford had performed. In fact, Doc said he was considering using a position player instead of Graterol. Up and downs are very important in the decision on pitcher usage and go beyond how many pitches were thrown.
You say I attack you every time you question Doc’s decision. That wouldn’t be the case if you were just a little more open minded. He managed a decimated bullpen (again with the help of his staff) tremendously this year and has an incredible winning record over his tenure. Have you ever once acknowledged him when he does something good? No, only criticism. You say wins are not the true measure (I guess not being a great golf cart driver is). I wonder how many more wins we would have had over his time as manager if he had made all the decisions you would have made? Also, your decisions always come with the beauty of hindsight.
You probably do know more than me and that is OK. Most of what I see from you is a nice portrait. However, your unyielding bias about Doc is quite frankly already a not-so-nice side.
So, you’re wrong on several accounts. When Doc does something good, I acknowledge it if I believe it to be anything more than a routine decision. I’ll admit it doesn’t happen that often, or as often as I criticize him, but that’s because he does more stupid stuff, than smart stuff. Again, I don’t praise on routine stuff. But, if you look back, I did say he used Phillips in the right spot. I guess you missed that.
When I point something out that Doc did wrong, I use an example of what would have been a better move based on the information that is publicly available. If you don’t agree with it as the right move, you can also keep it to yourself. You know, like you’re telling me to do. That is called being a hypocrite, in case you can’t figure that out.
Doc is mostly good in the regular season, bonehead moves aside. The team’s record justifies that. Or does it? Could it be that Scouting, Player Development, Free Agents and Trades, and general roster construction all have more bearing on that?
When it counts most in the postseason, his bonehead moves costs us rings. They are well documented and have been written about over and over again. 1-7 in the postseason says he is not the great manager you think he is. This is what I think about wins. This is why I believe they are not the true measure any more than driving golf carts is, and incidentally, he is also bad at that.
I gave an analysis of the bullpen usage which sparked this conversation. In fact, it was objective, not biased and I didn’t say anything offensive about Doc besides “Curious use of the bullpen” and that “About the only thing that Doc did that made any sense was bringing in Phillips to escape the jam”.
* Bickford has been horrible lately, he shouldn’t have been used to protect a one-run lead. Most rational people would agree with this.
* Price should have been used against a lefty and Kimbrel should have been used in the 9th against all righties. How is this so disagreeable? That’s what he’s done 99% of the time this season with pretty good results. So, why deviate?
* Then I pointed out the fact that he had to use Graterol anyway.
These are all reasonable points if YOU were being objective. You are continually insulting me whenever I question this manager’s moves. Something every freaking fan does of every freaking sport. What the F is your problem? Seek help.
So, let’s summarize. You’re a hypocrite and you accuse me of doing everything you do to me. Are you too crazy, old, or dumb to figure out how irrational you’re being?
BP,
I hate to be negative here but I believe if we lose a playoff series, it will come from the bull pen. So, either the players of the manager will let us down….or both.
I also would like LA to start resting starters- more days in between starts or throwing less pitches or both. Maybe pitch 1 every 7 days. I believe they can add 3 players Sept 1, so if we add 3 pitchers, use these guys to help rest some starters. We want them fresh.
What are your thoughts?
TM
If you’re concerned with the bullpen, resting starters puts more pressure on the bullpen. I think you go with a six man rotation when CK comes back and you use Heaney as a long man every few days to rest the bullpen. This is probably the best way to balance both.
All Starting Pitchers are used to pitching in a 5 man rotation, so a six-man rotation should provide adequate rest.
I’m hoping that by the end of the season, the bullpen will be “Doc Proof”. But, I agree that the biggest threat to a Championship is Doc doing Doc things.
Dodgers nearly beat Alcantara again, and probably would have if not for the sloppy defense. (Getting Lux back should help.) Gallo ended it with a bang, not a whimper.
Great to see May deliver another strong performance, and Mookie hit his 30th. And even Bickford struck out two!
Quite the interesting personalized story of the guy whose the expansion joint to make for a very enjoyable ball game. The story reminds me of Garth Hudson who played for ‘The Band’ who was Dylan’s backup musicians that gained fame on their own merits. The band had to convince the Hudson family that playing with them wouldn’t be harmful to Garth’s future career. I say he did very well for himself. Who would of thought that music lessons would lead `to a career in sports?
Former Dodgers reliever Scott Alexander is heading back to the big leagues, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
The Giants announced they’ve selected reliever Scott Alexander onto the major league roster. Fellow southpaw Thomas Szapucki was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. To create a spot on the 40-man roster, San Francisco recalled left-hander Sam Long from the minors and placed him on the major league 60-day injured list.
Alexander hasn’t pitched in the big leagues in over a year, having been shut down in mid-July 2021 with a shoulder injury. He was released by the Dodgers after the season, and he signed with the Giants about a month into this season.
6:10 PM ET
Dodgers (87-37)
Marlins (54-71)
SP Dustin May R
1-0 .00 ERA 5.0IP 2BB 9K
SP Sandy Alcantara R
11-6 2.19 ERA 176.2IP 44BB 157K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
SS Trea Turner R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
DH Max Muncy L
3B J. Turner R
LF Joey Gallo L
2B Chris Taylor R
CF C. Bellinger L
Sandy Alcantara R
11-6 2.19 ERA
In Domed Stadium
Saturday’s Dodger’s Minor League Schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (River Ryan) vs. Fort Wayne (Jose Espada)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Landon Knack) at Arkansas (Stephen Kolek)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Ryan Pepiot) vs. El Paso (Reiss Knehr)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Chris Campos) at Visalia (Dylan Ray)
May vs. Alcantara is “Must See TV”. I’ve been looking forward to this since it was announced.
TM: The biggest threat to our post season success is not Doc or the players. It is the nature of a short series when anything can happen. Since 1969, only 13 teams with the best regular season record have won the World Series. What that proves is that short series are a crap shoot, at best. The teams that get hot at the right time normally do the best. Hope this year is the 14th time (assuming we end with the best record).
Hi Jay,
I can’t argue with what you said, but let’s review our past playoffs. I see us losing some games because poor use of the bullpen or the bullpen players not performing as expected.
Notice what occurred when we won the WS…..Manager used Julio Urias to close out both playoff series- Atlanta and Tampa. Not Jansen, not Graterol, not Knebel…….nope….he was smart enough to go with Mr Ice Man, the hot hand, Julio Urias. Had Doc went with Jansen or anyone else, I doubt we win either of those series.
TM: Manager is always smart when it works. Doc used Urias in relief in Game 2 of last year’s NLCS and he blew the save. So does that mean Doc was a genius in 2020 and an idiot in 2021? I hardly think so.
I believe the Manager makes decisions using the best information he has at that time. Some work and others don’t. As Mark has said many times, the player needs to get the job done once he is chosen.
B&P says I am a Doc lover. Maybe so but as I’ve said in the past, I have been rooting for this team since 1949. I’ve watched many rosters and many Managers. I love what the team has accomplished since Doc came on the scene as compared to any other era since 1949.
That doesn’t mean Doc hasn’t made some bonehead decisions, which are much easier to call bonehead after the fact. But his teams have won at an unprecedented pace. Yes he has had great players but so have many other Managers of other teams and their teams don’t come close to the Dodgers record of the past 6+ years.
I’ve also said in the past that the whole organization starting with ownership and down to the last person on the support staff deserve credit. Believe me when I say the Manager is an integral part of the team and deserves credit when the team wins.
Good read, good rebuttal. Cheers
TM
Jay B. That stat is misleading. The AL and NL play different opponents, so you can’t compare records between the two leagues with any accuracy. The real stat is over 45% of the teams that won the World Series in that time period had the best record in their league.
I didn’t check the entire date range, but I did check 2010 to current as a sample. Here are the results…
AL BR NL BR WS Winner
2021 Rays Giants Braves
2020 Rays Dodgers Dodgers
2019 Astros Dodgers Nationals
2018 Red Sox Dodgers Red Sox
2017 Indians Dodgers Astros (Indians had 102 wins Astros had 101)
2016 Rangers Cubs Cubs
2015 Royals Cardinals Royals
2014 Angels Nationals Giants
2013 Red Sox Cardinals Red Sox
2012 Yankees Nationals Giants
2011 Yankees Phillies Cardinals
2010 Rays Phillies Giants
This comes out to “42.66% of teams that had the best record in their league, won the World Series”
If this is true, it’s way less of a “crapshoot” than the argument that you’re trying to make.
Let me put this to you a different way. If you have the best record in the regular season, you have the best chance to get to the World Series and have a change to win it as a result.
The difference between me and you, is that you don’t question what you see, read and hear. I do, I look it up and make sure it’s true.
I need that jersey Deiter is wearing!
The funny thing about all this interchange, nothing has been said about the horrendous Zorro Whip Throws by JT specially the first one which was a double play ball that will have finish the 6th for Anderson.
Went fishing, not a great day, but not a total bust. Martin and Ferguson were not available. Doc went with what he had. Performance is on the players. And two errors by two vets who should know better, well, that did not help Price at all. He should have been out of the inning before that runner ever got to third.
We ran into a pretty damn good pitcher tonight. And he had a chip on his shoulder after last week. Credit to him.
I agree with your take about the bullpen yesterday BulldogsandPenguins. And I like your use of the phrase I use: Doc proof.
TM you said this:
“I hate to be negative here but I believe if we lose a playoff series, it will come from the bull pen.”
You are right on the money. Very good statement you made. I give you the highest praise I can possibly give someone. Excellent statement. This is why I was talking about relievers at the trade deadline and wanting a Doc proof bullpen for the playoffs.
Doc must be doing something with Bickford. Trying to rest some guys in the bullpen. Assessing Bickford to determine if he’s going to be on the playoff roster. Something else.
Kershaw, Treinen, V-Gone, Kahnle and possibly Duffy are coming back. Who do you cut when they come back and who do you cut if you got Robertson and Chaffin? 6 pitchers, go!
If any 40 man roster moves are needed, I couldn’t care less about Bruihl, Grove, Jackson, Price, Reed. Release any of them.
If Robertson and Chafin were traded for. Active roster moves: Bickford optioned and Price released.
Kershaw and Treinen activated. Active roster moves: Choice of Martin optioned, Graterol optioned, Heaney released due to no options left or make up an injury.
Gonzalez stays in the minors, he has options.
Kahnle is out of options, Keep him unactivated or release him.
I couldn’t care less about Duffy. Keep him unactivated or release him.
Rosters expand in September too. So more wiggle room then.
Roster expansion continued:
The Kershaw and Treinen part: I would just wait for roster expansion to activate them. Therefore no active roster move needed.
Kahnle is useful, so I’d try to keep him for next year, if there is a spot for him next year.
Duffy I don’t care. Put him at the top of my other post with Bruihl, Grove, Jackson, Price, Reed. Guys on the 40 man roster that I couldn’t care less about.
Oops I think the second post has 15 pitchers on the active roster. Release Heaney or a phantom injury to him.
14 pitchers in September
Starters
Kershaw
Gonsolin
Urias
Anderson
May
Bullpen
Robertson
Chafin
Treinen
Phillips
Ferguson
Kimbrel (For now, but if no improvement, no playoff spot)
Vesia (Right now not good enough against RHB, but I see improvement)
Graterol (Don’t like him against LHB)
Martin (Small Dodger sample, bigger sample not good)
If Almonte returns in September then one of the bottom 3 is optioned. I have my eye on Vesia right now. He’s improved against RHB. I still need to see more improvement though.
We ran into a pretty damn good pitcher tonight. And he had a chip on his shoulder after last week. Credit to him.
Agreed. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap.
B&P: I really have to either stop reading this blog or stop letting your stupid remarks get to me. Other than telling you earlier that you are a “know it all” and arrogant (which is defined by unwarranted pride) I have never insulted you. But the last sentence of your earlier response certainly shows who you are. I can’t believe Andrew Friedman has Doc at the helm when he could have you an incredible self proclaimed baseball expert. Sorry to say but you are an arrogant know it all. Too bad.
Try living in reality. If you insult me, I fight back.
This was your very first sentence…
B&P you just can’t help yourself when it comes time to criticize Doc. Here is a quote from Juan Toribio, the beat writer that writes for mlb.com (obviously knows more than you, although to listen to you, no one knows more).
“although to listen to you, no one knows more” – THIS IS AN INSULT. It’s directed at me. You threw the first punch, so don’t come back and say you never insulted me. This isn’t the first time either. And it’s always about Doc.
Next time, make your case without insulting me and we can have a discussion. When someone is rude and insulting, my reaction is to give it back tenfold. It’s something that I’m working on.
About bullpens, but I’ll start with Pete Rose. As Pete never bet against his Reds during the time he managed the club I felt he was wrongly persecuted. These days I hold a different opinion. Pete didn’t bet against his team, but when he had money placed for Reds victory he’d sacrifice games where he hadn’t placed a bet (by proxy) by blowing through their bullpen. This is the same evil as betting against your team only from the opposite viewpoint. It would be like betting on a horse and not drugging that horse but drugging all other horses to fail in said race. It’s a shame that someone who played like Rose did is not allowed to be among lesser players in the HOF. It was shameful what he did and did it to himself. He deserves to stay banned. A long way to go around to make a simple point, that’s one can lose future games by playing a current game with using pieces often suggested by posters at this site. You can put sure as shit get the job done relievers in game 1 and then making game 2 more iffy and they won’t answer the call for game 3. At least it seems so to me. I want Dodgers to win every game but there’s too many obstacles that will not allow that. We can say things like this or that could of won a certain game after the fact, And that could very well be true. But there’s always a different viewpoint that comes at the price of games which might be of more importance. There is no such bullpen that could Doc proof or any manager proof it couldn’t possibly exist. Dodgers would have one if it could be put together but it can’t. A franchise has a lot of ducks to put in a row and that has a short shelf life. But at the moment this franchise had got their ducks in a row for what is proving to be a historical season. There’s always flaws because it’s a game only for humans and humans err, even the most gifted.
Dustin pitched well yesterday. Quality start and should have gone out still tied after 6 if not for bad defense again on the Dodgers part.
How did that official scorer get his job though?
Both plays should have been ruled errors making the 2nd run unearned. Not that it mattered for the run scoring and only Dustins ERA but stil two horrible judgements.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!