Little Bit of This – A Little Bit of That

Posted By on September 17, 2022

  • Do you remember when (not that long ago) when Dodger Fans were questioning whether Farhan Zaidi was the “Genius behind Andrew Friedman?” I hear Farhan is awesome at Fantasy Football and Fantasy Baseball, but suddenly his star is getting tarnished in the real thing. He caught lightning in a bottle last year… never to happen again. Freidman is like the EverReady Bunny.
  • The Playoff Roster for position players is set (barring injury). It is the current roster minus Miguel Vargas.
  • It is looking like Tony Gonsolin will make the roster, but out of the bullpen.
  • In Phil Bickfords last seven games, he has pitched 8.2 innings and given up 0 Runs on 4 Hits, and Struck out 13. His WHIP in that span is 0.58.
  • The Dodgers are #1 in over 95% of the hitting and pitching categories. It is getting soooo boring!
  • By the playoffs, Dustin May will be stretched out to six innings.
  • The AFL should be fun this season as Andy Pages, Jose Ramos, Jorbit Vivas, Emmet Sheehan, Hyun-Il Choi, Tanner Dodson, and Ben Harris compete for the Dodgers.
  • Hyun-Il Choi has not played this season due to “forearm inflammation.” Why now?
  • Great Lakes season is over as Kendall Williams gave up five runs in the first four innings, and the Loons could not muster enough offense. They lost 6-5. See ya’ next year!
  • Edwin Rios was 3-5 with his 7th HR as he is getting his strength and swing back.
  • Jacob Amaya was 3-4 and is hitting .257.
  • Keone Kela pitched a perfect inning.
  • Marshall “Fastball” Kasowski’s ERA is up to 3.96.
  • Almonte, Treinen, Graterol, and Price are all due back soon. Might the Dodgers be saying “goodbye to Kimbrel?” It is an option.
  • Great News: No Apple Sucking TV Tonight. They have catapulted to the “Worst Broadcast in the History of Baseball!”
  • Tanner Dodson – At first blush, you have to wonder why Tanner is on the ACL Roster. If you look at his stats, you will be even more puzzled, but Andrew Friedman grabbed this 25-year-old for a reason. In 2022, he put up a 7.97 ERA with a 2.29 WHIP in the Dodger’s system. Tanner was acquired from Tampa Bay for Luke Raley. Dodson has spent his entire baseball career, both amateur and professional, as a 2-way player but only had 25 at-bats in 2021 and none in 2022. His fastball was hitting 98-100 MPH, and the pitches moved like crazy. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Dodson could be a closer IF he can harness his control. He walked 38 batters in 35 innings in 2022. I am pretty sure the Dodger Pitching Braintrust will be focused on this guy!
  • Ben Harris – Ben is a 22-year-old LHP who was drafted in the 8th round of the 2021 draft. He pitched 55 innings (mostly in relief) in 22 between RC and GL and struck out 107! Yes – 107! He started at Rancho, and in 27 innings, he put up a 5.53 ERA. So, they moved him up to GL where he put up a 1.93 ERA with an 0.86 WHIP. He had seven saves in 8 opportunities. Even Ray Charles can see what the Dodgers are trying to do here. David Laurila of Fangraphs calls Harris, “The Best Under-the-Radar Pitching Prospect in MLB.” He was drafted in the 8th round out of the u=University of Georgia in 2021. “I don’t throw super-hard,” said Harris, whose heater sits 92–94 mph and tops out at 95 MPH and whose repertoire currently comprises roughly 70% fastballs and 30% sliders. “Luckily, there’s something with the way I throw. It’s a little bit tucked behind — I throw from behind my head — so it’s a little more hidden than normal. I’ve never faced off against myself, but that’s what I’ve been told. I believe [the effectiveness] comes from a combination of a few different metrics, as well.” You may not see the results in the games in the AFL, but rest assured, the Dodgers will have a cadre of pitching specialists working with Tanner and Harris.

This article has 32 Comments

  1. For the playoffs, i remember someone (maybe me?) Did a look at how long pitchers went. The median and mode (because of openers) recently has been only four or five innings.

  2. I don’t expect May to be fixed, just like that. But, he was yesterday. There’s time to get him right for the postseason. I loved seeing those 100’s on the gun. Pure filth.

    Speaking of pure filth. Emmet Sheehan and Ronan Kopp are going to be Don and Sandy all over again! It’s freaking ridiculous how many elite pitching prospects the Dodgers have. Sheehan has 14.1 K/9 and Kopp as 15.6 this season. WOW!

    Good article on the Dodgers top 3 hitters on ESPN.com today. It seems that it wasn’t the Dodgers braintrust at all that decided the batting order. It was the big three that came up with it. Doc decided to get their feedback and set the top of the order based on where they said they were comfortable. That conversation also led to Will Smith hitting 4th behind Freeman. The results are, for the first time ever, the top three hitters in a lineup are all in the top 10 in WAR. The lesson here is that the nerds behind the computers aren’t always right. Good job to Doc for choosing his players input over the computer’s output.

    Thanks to Mark for highlighting Bickford’s streak. After the game last night, I was thinking to myself that Bickford is doing his best to pitch himself onto the postseason roster.

    Kimbrell is no guarantee, but let’s not forget that his streak was about the same as Bickford’s until that homer, just his 3rd on the season. Bickford has given up 9 of them.

    The bottom 3 came up huge last night. They accounted for 3 of the 5 runs batted in and 3 of the 5 runs scored. Bellis is back to the Mendoza line with 2 runs an RBI, a walk and 2 stolen bases.

    When the hell is Lux going to be back?

    Doc sounded pretty impressed with Almonte’s bullpen. Can’t wait to get these guys back. This is the deepest bullpen out of any postseason team we’ve had during this 10 year run!

    The Dodgers were talking about the option of using an opener if Gonso can’t be built up in time. This is criminally stupid. Refer back to the top of the lineup scenario for guidance. Gonso no doubt, will feel more comfortable starting the game, don’t dick him around with an opener. If he can only go 4, just let him go 1-4, not 2-5. In the end, it’s still 4 innings. Don’t make a reliever start the game where he is less comfortable and don’t make a starter start in the second inning where he is less comfortable just because a geek thinks the data says there’s a slight advantage.

    Graterol needs to be in the pen for the postseason. He’s nails with runners on often inducing the groundball or a big strikeout. He also has postseason chops delivering a 2.04 ERA across 18 postseason games.

    The AppleTV broadcast team is the worst I’ve ever seen. They were talking about how special The Cardinals and Guardians are and were carrying on about how exciting the Giants rebuild is. Where are they getting this from? I could barely stand it and put most of the game on mute. And then to find out that the Dodgers vs. Cardinals game is going to be covered by this crap infuriates me.

    So, Treinen, Almonte, Brusdar, Price and Gonsolin are all going to come back? Where the hell are they going to stash them on the roster? Bickford, Bruihl, Grove are fairly easy decisions. Then who? Cutting Kimbrel would be a ballsy move. You would have to trim three more from the active roster to get back down to 13 pitchers for the playoffs. It’s going to get interesting. All remaining pitchers are very worthy. This staff as a whole is about as talented as I’ve ever seen.

    1. If Treinen, Almonte, Brusdar, Price, and Gonsolin are all healthy, I cannot see Kimbrel on the team. Too much baggage. He’s not coming back… so screw him!

      2. I still predict that Treinen is not fully healthy, and he will not be an option. I also don’t think Gonsolin will be healthy enough to gamble with him. My other sad prediction is that Kimbrel will still be there, and it will come back to bite them hard.

  3. You don’t have to cut Kimbrel. You just can leave it out for a series. Price, like a state before, won’t be an option with that 90 miles fastball he last exhibit.

    1. Well, his wrist was highly inflamed, but two weeks before that, he was hitting 95. If he can get back to that, then he is an option – just not at 90.

  5. Lux is starting today.

    Heaney, Bickford, Price better not touch playoff action with their home run rate. Every run is precious in the playoffs.

    1. If health is not an issue these are the pitchers that will make the playoffs in my opinion only:
      Kershaw
      Urias
      Anderson
      Gonsolin
      May
      Treinen
      Phillips
      Almonte
      Vesia
      Ferguson
      Martin
      Graterol
      That leaves 1 spot to be determined.
      Options:
      Kahnle
      Kimbrel
      Heaney
      Bickford
      Price

      1. At the rate pitchers get injured it’s highly unlikely that one or more aren’t back on the IL by playoff time so chances are that one or more of your first 12 won’t be on the list come the first post season roster.

        Something good (and bad) can be said for each of the five alternates you’ve listed.

        Bickford, for all his inconsistencies has really been lights out lately.
        His last 8 appearances, over 9.2 innings, he hasn’t given up a run (and therefore hasn’t given up a home run).
        Only 4 hits and 1 walk in those 9.2 innings. Of course he could give up 3 homers next time out.

        Kahnle, if he continues on his current path, might be an excellent option.

        Heaney could be a good multi-inning guy.

        I’m guessing Price doesn’t make it back.

        Kimbrel? Since it’s highly unlikely that they kick him to the curb, I suggest we use him as an opener. That way, if he has a bad outing, we’ll have 8 or 9 innings to recover from it.

      2. Truthfully I think Price is done and will be released. Sounds like Almonte and Graterol are going to be the first 2 guys back and to make room on the active roster Grove and Bruihl will be optioned. Sounds like Treinen will be back next and Bickford will be optioned. That leaves Gonsolin, if he is back one of Kahnle, Kimbrel, Heaney will go on the IL. That makes 14 active pitchers for the remainder of the regular season, come playoff time one of the remaining two will be left off the playoff roster.

        Just my guess.

  6. So with the exceptions of those on the 60 day IL and minor leaguers, the only non-option is Justin Bruihl?

    1. And Grove, he’s still on the active roster. After I thought about it and checked Dodgers.com, I think Price is done.

  7. One last point regarding the discussion yesterday.

    I’m perplexed when people complain that Roberts isn’t open and upfront about everything in media interviews. Or that he makes statements that seem overly optimistic about injuries.

    Well no s**t! As he should. Opposing teams are managing their rotations and bullpens based upon who they believe they will face over the next 5-10 days. Anything Roberts says regarding his players will be analyzed by other teams. If it looks like a starter is down for two weeks that can, and often will, have an impact on how other teams utilize their pitchers in anticipation of facing the Dodgers. If they believe they will be facing Kersh, Urias and May in coming days they will manage their staff differently than they would if they believed they were facing Kersh, Pepiot and a bullpen game. Why would you even think of tipping your hand? It can only hurt you. Guys that are hurt are going to be hurt either way. Who cares what Roberts says in interviews?

    And even when discussing why a decision was made; of course he’s not going to say exactly the reason for that decision. Roberts will say some nonsense like “he felt good today and had a few days rest, so we put him in”. Would you prefer he say “our guys upstairs noticed player X who started in LF tonight can’t hit a slider high and tight”. Why would you ever tip off your strategy?

    I know we all love to endlessly analyze things and wish we were all a fly on the wall inside the decision making process. But us knowing anything or everything won’t change the outcome of games. I’d rather Roberts be tight lipped and keep their opponents guessing.

  8. 9:05 PM ET

    Dodgers (99-44)
    Giants (69-75)

    SP Julio Urias L
    16-7 2.30 ERA 152.2IP 36BB 144K
    SP Sean Hjelle R
    0-1 5.73 ERA 11.0 IP 4BB 15K

    Confirmed Lineup
    RF Mookie Betts R
    SS Trea Turner R
    1B F. Freeman L
    C Will Smith R
    3B Max Muncy L
    DH J. Turner R
    CF T. Thompson R
    LF Joey Gallo L
    2B Gavin Lux L

    Cloudy
    0% Rain
    57° Wind 12 mph Out

    1. Triple-A: Heath Hembree, who was designated for assignment on Tuesday, cleared waivers and was sent outright to Oklahoma City, but the 33-year-old right-hander elected free agency.

  11. Didn’t see the game last night but heard highlights, who the heck was doing play by play? Is it just me but are all (most) of announcers bad through out Major League Baseball? I had a small gripe about joe Davis awhile back, I sincerely apologize! Julio wins 3 more and it’s between him and Kyle wright for cy young. No belli tonight? Georgia bulldogs are badass, go blue!

    1. Kyle Wright has a 3.18 ERA – there is no way he gets the Cy Young.

      Sandy Alcantra is the closest, but the Cy Young is Julios to lose.

      Zac Gallen is nice too, but like Sandy is on a losing team.

  12. Gavin Lux with the short arm… OK he hasn’t played in a couple of weeks… but you just saw why he will never be a SS. It’s the routine throws he has difficulty with.

    Urias’s infield defense is betraying him.

  14. DODGERS RECALL ANDRE JACKSON

    LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Andre Jackson and placed left-handed pitcher Tyler Anderson the paternity list.

    Jackson, 26, returns for his fourth stint with the club and he has appeared in one game, allowing two hits in two scoreless innings. In his Major League career, he is 0-1 with a 1.98 ERA (3 ER/13.1 IP) and 12 strikeouts in four games. He was originally drafted in the 12th round of the 2017 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Utah.

    Anderson, 32, is 15-3 with 2.62 ERA (47 ER/161.2 IP) and 119 strikeouts in 27 games this season. The southpaw is tied for third on the team in wins and ERA, while ranking first in innings pitched and strikeouts. He has been in the Majors parts of seven seasons with Colorado (2016-2019), San Francisco (2020), Seattle (2021), Pittsburgh (2021) and Los Angeles (2022) and he is combined 44-41 with a 4.21 ERA (367 ER/785.1 IP) and 661 strikeouts. He was signed by the Dodgers on March 18 as a free agent.

    1. FWIW, I’d be surprised if Kimbrel doesn’t make the playoff roster. While he’s been disappointing, he hasn’t really been a disaster. A cold-blooded analysis may suggest he shouldn’t make it–but that would mean that AF and Roberts admitting a mistake, so their ego is in play too. (It would be so much easier to jettison Bickford, even if Bickford has been much better lately.)
      Unfortunately, Roberts (or the brain trust) has been slow to audition other closer alternatives possibilities such as Phillips. Part of the reason is the injuries to Treinen and Graterol. But can’t we see how Phillips and Vesia and ??? will do with the game on the line?
      The Dodgers’ pitching prospects do seem pretty amazing. There are exciting arms at every level.
      As for today’s game, I am rooting hard for Urias to get the Cy. With 18 games left, Julio has a shot at another 20-win season. That plus the league-leading ERA should be plenty. For half the season, Julio had been somewhat overlooked while Gonsolin was leading the way.
      In Future Dodgers News (at least in my dreams), Ohtani had yet another dominant performance, playing the spoiler in a 2-1 win over Seattle. He struck out 8 over 7 shutout innings, and drove in one run and scored the other.
      Last time I checked, Ohtani ranked 8th in the MLB in ERA and 7th in OPS.

      Oh, and please let Andre Jackson start a game!

      1. And Ohtani’s not the MVP? Sheesh. Long ball fanboys in a twist about that.

        Judge is a fine slugger. Great till they pitch around him.

        Put Shohei’s two WARs together and what do you have? MVP.

  15. It is absolutely AMAZING how JT has turned his season around! He’s literally one of the best hitters in the league right now! With Muncy back and Thompson bombing this lineup 1-8 is one of the all time greats. And then there’s Belli!

    1. Today Trayce played CF and delivered another HR and a walk. He’s long been known for his defense.
      Gallo play LF and got a double.
      I had long assume Belli would all the starts in CF while Trayce and Gallo would platoon. Now I wonder if a Belli-Trayce platoon is under consideration.

Comments are closed.