So, here we are back at .500 (7 – 7), and predictably people are losing their minds. They only have one mind (well, some have half of one, but that is something I will leave alone), so that is sad. Here is the stuff we hear after losses and fourteen games:
- “Just like Grove, I’ve always thought of Jackson as a trade chip and nothing more.” – What a comment seriously devoid of any understanding of how baseball players are developed!” Of course, you would trade them away and be shocked to find out that two or three years later, they are both closers. Now, I am not saying both will be closers, but they have filthy stuff… and many, if not most times, it takes years to learn how to command their stuff. Progress is not linear. Mike Grove had Tommy John in 2017 and missed two seasons, and basically had to re-learn how to pitch due to complications. In 2021, he had a 7.88 ERA in AA. The next year Grove put up a 3.79 ERA between AA and AAA. You can write him off. I’m not. He may pitch well today or get his ticket punched back to AAA, but I keep my eye on this guy because I think someday, he will be a very good pitcher. ANDRE JACKSON: He has pitched in four games this year. Two were really good, and two were really bad. In his first outing, he allowed one hit in three IPs. In his second outing, he allowed five hits and 3 ER in 2 IP. Then in his third outing, he went 1.1 innings and allowed no runs, no hits, no walks, and struck out 3. Of course, last night, he got bombed. So, because a young player goes from dominant to bad, to dominant to horrid, you “Know” that he is a “trade chip and nothing more?” I have one thing to say:
- Grove and Jackson may be back in AAA next week, or sooner, and while they could be trade pieces (depending upon the situation), both have worked very hard and overcame many obstacles to play this game. They both love the game and have the desire to succeed. They both need to develop consistency and focus on what works best with their stuff. I like both pitchers a lot and admire their grit!
- Then I get this “Tome” on how Outman is better than Vargas, which is based upon eighteen (18) games. EIGHTEEN! First of all, I hope Outman is better than Vargas because that means that the Dodgers have their centerfielder for the next 5-10 years. That would be awesome. However, only a fool would base their assessment of James Outman and Miguel Vargas based upon a few MLB games! But that’s what he did and, in the process, proved my point. In Mike Trout’s first 18 games, he did nothing and ended up back in the minors. I am not always right in my assessment of players. I thought Andy LaRoche would be a superstar. I thought Will Smith would be a backup. I thought Alex Verdugo would win a batting title (well, he still might), and at age 20, I predicted Adrian Beltre would be in the Hall of Fame. I said Joc Pederson would be a 4th outfielder, and that is true. I also did not believe that Mike Busch had the arm to play 3B, which is starting to look wrong. However, I do know better than to anoint someone as anything after eighteen freaking games! Nuff said!
- Of course, the Fruitcakes blame every loss on Dave Roberts because.. that’s what Fruitcakes do. The Dodgers were beaten by Dave Robert’s bad moves. I guess it makes miserable people feel better to blame someone. Sometimes moves are made for reasons you are not privy to (someone has an “injury that is not being publicized,” or maybe it’s simply for the mindset”). You don’t know, and I don’t know, but I don’t pretend to know while you do. Why didn’t Will Smith play last night? “Doc is obviously a dumbass! That’s your “go-to.” It really gets old. Get some new material.
Last Night’s Debacle
Noah Syndergaard rebounded from a bad start, and while he did not pitch great, he pitched well enough to win. 6 IP, H H, 3 ER, 9 Ks. He holds some promise, and when Gonsolin gets back, he will be a nice #5 (I think). Jackson absolutely coughed up a “hairball.” It seems to me that he sometimes loses concentration. That is fixable. Other times his stuff is spot on downright “filthy.”
I HAVE SOME NEWS FOR YOU! When you only get three hits and take one walk, you will mostly lose. It’s up to the players to hit, and when your BIG THREE (Betts, Freeman, Martinez) go 0-12, you are probably cooked! So, they need to come back and win the series. That’s it!
James Casparius Pitched 6 No-Hit Innings Last Night for GL
The Loons won 1-0 and the Dayton did get one-hit.
When are Mookie and Freddie gonna start helping out Muncy and Taylor!
Freddie hit over .400 the first 10 games of the season. Hitting out of the 2 hole he does not have a bunch of RBI ops as he did hitting third last year. That is where he needs to hit.
Would love to see5-6 guys all hit at the same time! jD was starting to hit, Freddie was scorching the ball,Will was hitting, outman doing very well. Muncy gets hot and Shazam! Everyone else cools down! Will smith and outman fall into the “need rest” category. Our offensive numbers always say we’re near the top in all categories, but some everyday consistency would sure be nice! I just miss the days of 7-8 every day players and nice bench pieces to occasionally rest them. I’ll never be a fan of all the platoons. The sky still is not falling, but Dodgers of last 6-8 years don’t lose games we’re loosing this year. Injuries and inconsistencies play big part, but as a 60 year fan, I’m not sure I like this team as much as some! But I’m a patient man! I’ll wait and see, but still believe a couple of upgrades need to be made with the offense. The pitching is going to be fine! Hope everyone has a great weekend! Love them dodgers!
Mark, heading to Scarsdale NY to watch my 10 year grandson play a doubleheader in baseball and my 13 year granddaughter play lacrosse under the lights. I will be unable to post today’s Dodger lineup. Will post Sunday’s lineup.
I’ll pinch-hit for you.
Have a great Day of Fun!
James Casparius Pitched 6 No-Hit Innings Last Night for GL. He pitched for the University of Connecticut.
Why do you have all the good teams and players?
More consistent hitting and pitching, of course. But what about holding runners on? The inability for most of this pitching staff to do so, is a glaring weakness for which I see know quick answer. With the new rules you only need 2 hits to score a run. The Dodgers are going to lose a lot of close games if this isn’t somehow addressed.
Thor has always been one of the worst.
It’s fixable. Don’t walk anyone and only give up home runs.
Yes that’s true. But besides Kershaw and Urias who on the Dodger staff can control the running game?
This is what I see. Too many wrongdoings together. No picking up of each other. Lack of competitiveness, worrisome signs of comfort when loosing. No Dodgers spirit visible.
Att. Costa Rican Fruitcake.
Go Dodgers
You are the Zen master of projection, Mark.
GET A GRIP!!!
You posed the question of whether Outman’s superior BABIP over Vargas reflected luck.
Interesting question!
So I dug a little deeper and found the statcast data that shows Outman’s exit velocity and barrel rate were superior. to Vargas’s. Just luck?
Sometimes hard hit balls go straight into gloves, and sometimes dribbles produce hits. But usually, a hard-hit ball has a better chance of being a hit. That’s why pitchers go after “soft contact.” So these wonky stats help explain why, yes, Outman’s BABIP is better than Vargas’s.
It’s true that I was just looking at this year’s stats, but I noticed that both Outman and Vargas had roughly similar BABIPs during their years in the minors. (The data we can assess these days is mindboggling.)
OF COURSE we are dealing with fairly small samples with these two rookies. But so far, it’s pretty clear that Outman is off to a better start. Mark seems unhappy about this, perhaps because he has repeatedly dissed Outman as nothing special–a “flash in the pan,” a fourth outfielder at best. And maybe, just maybe, he’s right!
Maybe Vargas really will be the ROY as Mark predicts, but right now my money is on Jordan Walker, that prodigy in St. Louis–even though it’s a small sample with him too. Still, I would trade Outman or Vargas for him in a heartbeat.
Oh, just noticed how Mark again points out how Trout’s early struggles belied his later success. Friendly reminder: Trout was 19 while Vargas was 22. Jordan Walker is 20.
The best news about Vargas this season is how he is showing a lot more plate discipline than he did late last year. I figure he must have been pressing last year, because his K rate really ballooned from what he was doing in the minors and his walk rate was way down. Vargas’s current walk rate in this small sample is unsustainable. But if he can pair the new discipline with his contact skills, perhaps he can keep his OBP hovering near .400. That would be awesome.
Just for fun, here’s another comparison of Outman and Vargas through just 14 games.
Vargas leads the Dodgers in OBP at .442, and Outman is second at .429.
In terms of OPS, Outman is at 1.096, while Vargas is at .728.
The margin of difference is in the slugging percentage: Outman’s is at 667 and Vargas’s is at .286.
It’s 14 games. Yawn…
BTW, being a 4th or 5th outfielder is pretty good… and right about now, James Outman is a 4th or 5th outfielder. That could change soon, but that is what he is right now.
I put very little stock in 14 games. I see it. I note it, and it is part of what helps form opinions, but to get all fixated on 14 games is really silly. 100 games will tell us a lot more. Maybe Vargas goes back to AAA for a time. My opinion doesn’t change because of a few games.
The Braves Von Grisson looked so good last year, that the Braves let Dansby Swanson walk. He hit .290 with a .350 OB% in 145 AB’s only to fall on his face in Spring Training and start the season in AAA.
Give it time. It’s a marathon… not a sprint!
Yeah but…. those were some really long home runs. And a lot of them.
Um no right NOWJames outman is a starting CF and that’s a fact you can’t dispute.
Cheap shot: HPU Jim Wolf calling pitch clock vio on Belli as he waves to Dodger fans in first AB.
Seriously?
” I thought Andy LaRoche would be a superstar.” I said he would never break into the Dodger lineup.
“I thought Will Smith would be a backup.” I picked Smith over Ruiz.
“I thought Alex Verdugo would win a batting title (well, he still might), and at age 20,” I wanted to include him in a trade for a righty bat such as Hanigar.
“I predicted Adrian Beltre would be in the Hall of Fame.” I liked Beltre.
“I said Joc Pederson would be a 4th outfielder, and that is true.” Joc now makes about $20MM.
“I also did not believe that Mike Busch had the arm to play 3B, which is starting to look wrong”. You got that one right.
“Of course, the Fruitcakes blame every loss on Dave Roberts – Timmons
“That is fixable. Other times his stuff is spot on downright “filthy.” – Timmons
On Jackson:
Danny Lehmann – “should we get him out of there?”
Dave Roberts – “Nah. This game is lost”.
Those were some very long home runs.
I was as high on Tony Abreu as was Mark on Andy LaRoche. We both struck out with those two.
Andy Pages is a guy I think could be good in LA. Give him a month at AAA and then bring him up. My mantra: Push Pages.
I was high on Blake DeWitt as our 2b. What the hell do I know
I was high on Yordan Álvarez. But that was before I knew who he was.
I remember saying he would win the job to start the season but was not the long range answer. He barely made it as the short term answer LOL.
I also remembering watching Joe Thurston take one swing and thinking he didn’t have a chance to play in the MLB.
Last player I was right about was Mike Piazza. Quit after that. Did not think I would ever get better.
I was high on Trevor Bauer…
Maybe we were all just high.
Tonight should be fun. The starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 21.73.
I think I will make popcorn.
It probably will end up 3-2.
No, we scored 2 last night. So our yo yo team will put up 7-8 tonight.
And then 2 tomorrow.
Agree. Dodgers are fun to watch every other game.
Nice! Being raised the right way!
Rumor has it that Andre Jackson was tipping his pitches last night.
If MLB hitters know what is coming, they will destroy it.
I hope so. Knowing what is coming and thus being able to lay off sliders that dip low and in and out of the strike zone is enough to beat a pitcher. Ask Kershaw.
I predicted the slow start this season and by ASG things will be ironed out. Also that we will win the division and nothing has changed my mind. I admitted if some shoring would be needed it would be addressed but would be minimal at trade deadline. If I am wrong……..;oh well, but I ain’t.
Mark is at it again saying ASININE things about Outman.
“Right about now, James Outman is a 4th or 5th outfielder.”
Right about now, your wonder boy prospect that you hyped as the next Babe Ruth .179/.442/.286/.728 sucks.
Outman is the starting CF even Ray Charles and Stevie wonder can see that.
Remember me saying these words in the off season? Who is more ready RIGHT NOW?
I prefer to wait and see.
See, I really hope James Outman continues what he is doing and even gets better, but I have watched him and Vargas for years. You are basing your taunting and intellectual supremacy on 18 games and even if you are right… that is dumb!
Small samplings will bankrupt you at cards and baseball prospects.
Oh, and in case you did not realize, Outman is in a platoon RIGHT NOW, so he is not the starting CF’er!
Maybe you have never watched a Spring Training and a season play out, but I have watched 60.. and took good notes, little boy!
You can wait and see all you want.
1) 4th or 5th outfielder is ASININE.
2) In the off season I said who is more ready RIGHT NOW.
I was right about number 1 above. We’ll see about number 2 above.
After you changed your post you said another ASININE thing. Outman is in a platoon right now.
PA against LHP:
Peralta 2
Heyward 1
Outman 10
Thompson 15
Taylor has been playing infield mostly by far.
Doc who you think can’t do any wrong is a dumb ass again playing Thompson against LHP. Thompson has career reverse splits and he’s doing the same thing so far this year against LHP .083/.267/.333/.600
By the way, Outman so far against LHP .400/.700/1.000/1.700
Great comedy act.
I have been trying to figure out which one of you guys is Dean Martin thus making the other Jerry Lewis. It takes two to play the game you guys are playing.
Which one of you guys is good at yo yo?
Eric, you’re starting to sound like Michael and he banned himself. Any chance that.,,..?
I’m just pointing out things after the 4th or 5th outfielder comment. I’m done I made my point with evidence.
Here’s your point:
I like Mark a lot Cassidy, but he has this obsession about Outman being a 4th or 5th outfielder.
I think it’s you with the obsession.
That was what I have seen over the past five years. I have said that maybe he will be more – and I hope he is. What’s the issue?
Tonight’s Lineup: (Commentary courtesy of Eric)
1. Betts RF (what’s he in there for?-Doc is an idiot)
2. Freeman 1B (he was 0-4 last night – sit the bum – Doc is an idiot)
3. Muncy 3B (Muncy should not be hitting third – Doc is an idiot)
4. Martinez DH (he is too slow and old – Doc is an idiot)
5. Outman LF (he should be leading off and hitting 4th at the same time and playing CF – Doc is an idiot)
6. Vargas 2B (he should be in AAA – He’s not ready – Doc is an idiot and so is Timmons)
7. Heyward CF (he’s too old and can’t play – Doc is an idiot)
8. Rojas SS (Taylor hit a HR last night -Doc is an idiot)
9. Barnes C (Smith should be starting – Doc is an idiot)
Smith is ill. Muncy is the emergency backup.
I wonder if Kenley were on the team if he would be the emergency backup?
…The Giants’ relief corps has recorded a 6.08 ERA with two blown saves through its first 14 games of the season, the fourth-highest bullpen ERA in the Majors. Rogers, who joined the club on a three-year, $33 million deal over the offseason, has an 18.90 ERA through his first six appearances, while Brebbia has a 7.94 ERA through a team-high eight outings.”
Gnats might finish last in the NL West. I hope so. I think they will be big players in the Ohtani sweepstakes.
Damn Bellinger!
Ya. That hurt, a bit.
He loved it.
Mook in Cold Mode.
Not getting our money’s worth.
Pretty good outing for trade bait. I hope he can build off of this game he was efficient threw strikes and challenged the hitters. Now if the offense can figure out how to score.
Eric only sees numbers. He has sight but no vision.
I said 3-2.
Missed it by one.
What a game!
Hey Mark, Nice one! Any score predictions for Sunday’s game? How about a blowout for the good guys 10 – 0?
OK, it’s BLOWOUT SUNDAY!
WOW!
It wasn’t pretty but it’s a W maybe that’s the spark they need to get on a run. Good night for the rookies Outman and Vargas in the ninth and 5.2 strong from Grove.
5 for 31, 13 Ks and 1 for 6 WRISP
But that 1 was big.
That was worth wading through 8 and 2/3 of offensive ugh.
When Grove is on he looks like Buehler.
Headline: ROOKIES RALLY TO CRUSH CUBS – A NEW ERA BEGINS!!!