Two men in the long history of the Dodgers managed for 20 seasons or more. Walter Alston, and Tom Lasorda. Manny Mota and Jim Gilliam had careers of more than ten years with LA and then coached for several more years. Vin Scully was the voice of the Dodgers for 67 years. Most teams do not come close to having someone save an announcer here and there around that long. Two managers with 20-year tenures? No other team has as many. And one, Wilbert Robinson, was the manager for 19 years.
The longest-tenured manager ever is Connie Mack, and I seriously doubt anyone will ever come close to matching his 53 years as a manager, with 50 of those coming as skipper of the A’s. Mack was noted for not wearing a uniform in the dugout. He managed his last game in 1950 at the age of 87. His career record is 3731-3948. 7679 games, Unbelievable. John McGraw is the NL leader with 31 years as skipper of the New York Giants. He also managed Baltimore for three years. Bobby Cox managed the Braves for 25 years.
Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy are both in their 26th seasons. Tony LaRussa, who has 35 years of managerial experience, is the only manager to have spent at least ten seasons with three different teams. So you can see how unusual it is for any manager to serve more than 20 years on the bench. Guys who you might think got in 20 and yet were short include Earl Weaver, 17 years, Joe Maddon, 19, Billy Martin, 16, Chuck Tanner, Al Lopez, and Mike Scioscia. Gene Mauch managed 26 years for four teams, and Jim Leyland, 22 for four different teams. Leo Durocher has 24 for four teams.
HOF manager Joe McCarthy was the skipper of the Cubs, Yanks, and Red Sox. He managed for 26 years. Bill McKechnie, another Hall of Famer, managed for 26 years for five different clubs. Others with 20 seasons or more are Harry Wright, 23; Dick Williams, 21; Joe Torre, 29; Candy Jim Taylor, 29, all in the Negro Leagues whose records are now MLB records; Casey Stengel, 25; Buck Showalter is at 22 and counting. Lou Pinella, 23; Bob Melvin, 20; Ralph Houk, 20; Bucky Harris, 29; Clark Griffith, 20; Terry Francona, 23; and Cap Anson, 21.
Walter Alston
Alston took over as manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954. He replaced Charlie Dressen, who after winning two NL pennants in a row and losing both World Series, demanded a multi-year contract from the Dodgers. Instead, Walter O’Malley replaced him with the unknown Alston.
Alston came to the Dodger organization in 1944 as player-manager for the Trenton Packers of the Class-B Interstate League on July 28th, 1944. He replaced manager Joe Bird and the team had a 31-18 mark over the last 49 games. In 1946, Alston led the Nashua Dodgers to the New England League title and repeated it the next season with the Pueblo Dodgers of the Western League. He then was promoted to manage the Dodgers AAA team in St. Paul. In 1950, he took over the top AAA team in Montreal.
After Dressen’s demand, the Dodgers had no problem switching to Alston. His 1954 team did not win the pennant, and the hated Giants did. There was a lot of talk that he did not get along with Jackie Robinson. Robinson had criticized Alston for not fighting for the team, calling him a wooden Indian in the third base coach’s box. But 1955 would be a different season. Brooklyn came out of the gate, breathing fire, and never looked back. They won the pennant and advanced to their 6th shot at the Yankees.
They lost the first two in New York and took the next three at Ebbet’s Field. They lost game six at Yankee Stadium and then won the World Series behind the clutch pitching of Johnny Podres and a superb catch by Sandy Amoros late in the game. Brooklyn was finally on top of the baseball world. It would not happen again in Brooklyn. They won the pennant again in 1956 and lost to the Yankees again. Robinson was traded to the Giants after the season but refused to report and retired. It was just as well; the Dodgers were leaving for the west coast and new fans in Los Angeles.
From 1958 to 1976, Alston would win three more championships, take his team to five World Series, 59-63-65-66-74 and sign a one-year contract after each. His teams won 2040 games and lost 1613. A .558 percentage. They also had five ties. Not bad for a guy who had one MLB at-bat and struck out. He was known for his quiet manner, but he was very strong. He once challenged every player on the team to come out and fight him on a bus ride in Pittsburgh. Not one of the Dodger players, including Frank Howard, 6’7″ and 265 pounds, took him up on it.
He had some missteps, as all managers do, and I, for one, never forgave him for his use of Stan Williams in the 9th inning of the 1962 playoffs against the Giants. But his players played hard, and they won a lot. He managed for 23 years in the majors and had six more with the team in the minors.
Tom Lasorda
Tom Lasorda came into baseball in 1945 when he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies. He would spend two rather mediocre seasons there, and then in 1948, he was drafted by the Dodgers in the minor league draft. He would never win a game in the majors. His record was 0-4. But as a minor-league pitcher, he was pretty good. His overall career record, including the minors and winter league stats, is 144-111. At AAA, he was a solid 110-63. He always joked that it took a Hall of Famer, Sandy Koufax, to push him off of the major league roster.
After his last season at AAA in 1960, Lasorda turned to scouting and eventually became a coach and then a manager. From 1965 to 1972 he managed at the rookie level, in the Arizona Fall League, and finally at AAA Spokane and Albuquerque, where he managed the Dodgers up-and-coming stars of the 70s. On September 28th, 1975, Walter Alston turned the reins over to Lasorda. It was a dream come true for Tommy.
And for the players, the difference between the two would have been a major culture shock. Whereas Alston was “The Quiet Man,” Lasorda was the exact opposite. Boasting about the “Great Dodger in the Sky” and believing in yourself, he was loud, outspoken, and at times, the most profane manager alive. His outtakes are classic. His office became a shrine to his many friends, including Frank Sinatra. But his players loved playing for the guy. And he became the first manager to take his team to the World Series during his first two seasons in the majors. Granted, they were both losses to the Yankees, but they were both very exciting series.
He had four players on his 77-team belt 30 homers or more, which never had been done before. His entire infield were players who had been moved from their primary positions except for his third baseman, Ron Cey. Garvey had been a 3rd baseman with a scatter arm, and Russell and Lopes had both been outfielders. He instilled a love for the team in his players and made sure they all bled Dodger Blue.
Wilbert Robinson
Maybe one of the more colorful characters in Dodger history. Robinson started his baseball journey as a catcher in 1886. He would play for 17 seasons. He caught for the Philadelphia and Baltimore franchises in the American Association then he moved to Brooklyn in the National League in 1892. He played for them for 10 years before moving to the Cardinals for a season and then finishing with two years with the Orioles in the AL.
He became the manager of the Orioles in 1902 for one season. Then for the next few years he worked in the butcher shop he owned in Baltimore and caught some semi-pro ball. He accepted an invitation from former teammate, John McGraw, to work with the Giants pitching staff in 1909. He accepted again in 1910 and joined the Giants as a full-time coach.
In 1913 after the World Series, he got into an argument with John McGraw at a party for the team. McGraw was pretty hammered, and he started criticizing Robbie’s third base coaching methods. They got into a heated argument and McGraw told Robbie it was his party and to get the hell out. Robinson threw a beer on him and left. One month later, he signed to manage the Brooklyn franchise. The team had several nicknames over the years, but after several years under Robbie, they became known as the Robins.
His first real success was when they won the NL pennant in 1916. They faced Boston in the series who were led by their young pitcher, Babe Ruth. Rube Marquard was the Brooklyn ace. But they lost the series in 5 games. Ruth began his scoreless inning streak in series games. They won again in 1920, but lost to the Indians. This was the series with Bill Wambsganss unassisted triple play in game five,
Affectionately called Uncle Robbie by his players, he seemed to get the most joy when his team would prevent the Giants from winning the pennant. He would eventually make up with his old teammate, McGraw. But his teams would not win another title. He is perhaps also well remembered for a stunt he participated in during spring training in Daytona Beach in 1915. A female aviator, Rita Law, was dropping golf balls from a plane as a publicity stunt for the local golf courses. Eventually the idea of dropping a baseball was floated. None of the players were brave enough to give it a shot, but Robbie, just shy of his 53rd birthday, said he would do it.
On the day of the stunt, Law forgot the baseball and substituted a grapefruit from one of her crew’s lunchboxes. She dropped the grapefruit which landed in Robinson’s mitt, exploded, knocking him down and drenching him in the warm juice. Thinking he was covered in his own blood he yelled for help. The players came over and realizing what had happened, all of them burst out laughing. Robinson always suspected Casey Stengel had done the deed, but Law later fessed up in an interview.
Robbie always seemed to get the best out of his collection of misfits, over the hill vets and kids. He managed two legitimate Hall Of Famers in Zack Wheat and Dazzy Vance. But he managed many other characters too like Casey and Babe Herman. His team was often referred to as the Daffiness Boys. He finished with a career record of 1399-1398 with 21 ties. He managed Brooklyn for 18 years. He was removed as manager while he was away on a hunting trip in 1931. He passed away in 1934 after falling and hitting his head on a bathtub.
Manny Mota
Manny Mota spent more than 50 years in the Dodger organization as a player, coach and broadcaster. The Dodgers celebrated him with induction into the Legends of Dodger baseball the other night, a well deserved honor.
Manny was not only a very good hitter, he was also the best pinch hitter on the planet when he played back in the day. He would garner 150 career pinch hits. He did not have a lot of power, but it was once said of him that he could wake up in late December, pick up a bat and scorch a line drive to left. He was that good.
Born in the Dominican Republic in poverty, he like many children of that nation, saw baseball as a way out. His hero was Jackie Robinson and one of his biggest thrills was being able to shake Jackies hand the day his uniform was retired by the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in 1972. Manny was lucky enough to play as a young man alongside Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays.
He brought a joy and enthusiasm to the game every day and he never took anything for granted. After he retired and became a coach, he also was a mentor to the many Latino players the Dodgers had in the organization. He was also the proud father of two MLB players, and three other sons who played at the minor league level.
On the occasion of his 145th pinch hit, he was invited to the White House by President Carter, he gave the president a Dodger jacket with his name on the back, and asked him to buy more Dominican sugar. His worst moment came in 1970 when a line drive foul ball he hit, struck young Alan Fish in the head, he died five days later. Always known for his great love of children, that was a huge blow for Mota to take.
Manny had a .300 average as a pinch hitter. 150-500. He was as solid as they came in the clutch. He is revered and one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Glad I got to see him play, even gladder I saw him hit a homer, a very rare occurrence indeed.
Which pitcher on the active roster gets optioned or IL’d when Stone is activated on the 26 man roster today?
There is an opening on the 40 man roster ,but not the 26 active man roster.
My guess is Bickford will get sent down. Has options left and has pitched 3 out of the last 4 games if I am correct.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!1
Sore ankle
Bickford has no options remaining. Maybe they will IL him. I was thinking Vesia who has 2 options remaining or Ferguson possibly on paternity leave.
Alex Vesia optioned to Oklahoma City as predicted to make room for today’s starting pitcher Gavin Stone on the 26 man active roster.
13 runs and only one home run. 9-17 RISP. Who are these guys??
Thanks for the read Bear. There have been 8 managers since Lasorda. All but two have a better record than he did.
Last night was fun. Lakers and Dodgers both win. Dodgers looked very good, a lot went right.
What do we expect from Stone today.
5IP 6K’s, 1 ER?
No.
Clayton Kershaw wins National League pitcher of the month award for April,7th career pitcher of the month award for Dodgers LHP.Kershaw was 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA in six starts in April, with 41 strikeouts against only five walks. He led the NL in wins, WHIP (0.763), and innings pitched (38), averaging 6⅓ innings per start.
James Outman wins National League rookie of the month for April. Outman in April hit .292/.376/.615 with seven home runs, three triples, four stolen bases, 20 runs batted in, 17 runs scored, and a 164 wRC+. He led all major league rookies in home runs, triples, extra-base hits (14), slugging percentage, and OPS (.991).
Tuesday scores
Oklahoma City 5, El Paso 2
Tulsa 11, San Antonio 1
Great Lakes 7, Quad Cities 6
Rancho Cucamonga 2, Lake Elsinore 1
Wednesday schedule
9:05 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Nick Nastrini) vs. San Antonio (Duncan Snider)
3:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Justin Wrobleski) vs. Quad Cities (TBD)
5:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (William Cuevas) at El Paso (Ryan Weathers)
6:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Jerming Rosario) at Lake Elsinore (TBD)
First up on The Atlantic morning page:
Never Give Artificial Intelligence the Nuclear Codes.
Didn’t read it yet, but sounds like good advice.
Matt, I don’t expect Stone to go 5, but do hope he gets close. It’s possible I guess as the Phillies have looked like the Keystone Cops. If he goes 5 and gives up 3 I think it will be a success.
On Gavin Stone, from the Athletic:
“He’s an assassin,” Rob Hill, the Dodgers’ director of minor-league pitching, said this spring. “It’s literally like a different sort of aura.”
“There’s that bulldog in him,” manager Dave Roberts said.
“You don’t see him crack a smile,” said Ryan Pepiot, his minor-league teammate. “It’s just a Stone-cold face, basically the whole time.”
Stone describes it as pushing aside fear by knowing his stuff is simply nastier than anyone can hit.
“You don’t want to get hit hard, don’t want to get embarrassed,” he told The Athletic this spring. “But you just got to lose all that.”
* Mookie, have a day. I especially liked him taking 3rd on that whimsy lob throw in from center. Good baseball. * Speaking of which, what’s up with the Phillie’s outfielders? 2 nights in a row they can’t throw. One, a lob in allowing a base, another one over a cut-off man and a third destined for a location unknown. Pretty lazy efforts. They look terrible and it’s an embarrassment to have Kody Clemens finish consecutive blow outs.
* I loved Barnes’ attempt at a safety squeeze when the game was still a game. It’s an indefensible play and should score a run for a guy who can’t hit. Help your team in some way Austin. Just one more thing – actually bunt the ball. His K made it a very lame AB.
* I like D-Train. Maybe not every night but I find him refreshing. He made a good point on Vesia. I too have noticed he’s just grinding. You can see it in his face and body language. He needs to be less hard on himself and have a little fun. Easier said then done however when you’re pitching poorly.
* Two things I keep hearing that I don’t believe
1. Will Smith is one shot to the mask from being finished as a catcher. I find it hard to believe that Will, his family and the organization would take that change. They have great doctors at their disposal to evaluation concussion protocols. He’s been cleared. I don’t think they would approve Will’s return if was a serious as some folks sitting at home watching on TV, speculate it is. I doubt (and hope) he’s not one shot away from catastrophe. I’m trusting the medical professionals on this one.
2. Can we ease up on the predictions that Outman will flame out and come crashing back to earth? Like it’s inevitable. Like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Why the negativity. How about enjoying his performance so far. We all know there will be ups and downs as he adjusts to the Show but let’s stop predicting a regression to some imaginary mean.
I like the kid and love his efforts. Get off his ass.
*Looking forward to getting stoned today.
Agreed PJ! Outman is a rookie. He will have ups and downs. So far, it’s been more ups than downs. I hope he wins the R.O.Y., but I would settle for finishing in the top five. Him and Vargas seem to be rounding into major leaguers and we should be happy for their progress even if they go through some slumps at the plate.
I also like D-Train, you would think he was a life long Dodger the way he brings honesty yet, not a homer like some guys. But he does at times talks a little too much. Just my opinion but he is a nice change.
philjones
I made a comment yesterday about Outman coming back down to earth. I did it because I’ve been the biggest cheerleader for Outman besides Duke Not Snider and I got complaints about cheerleading for him here. I rather have not made that comment though.
Phil –
Great takes!!
I thought I knew a lot about baseball until I came to LADT a couple of years ago and starting reading posts from knowledgeable people like you. Just goes to show one can learn things at any age.
Please keep your astute observations coming!
Great to see Vargas hit some ropes with authority. He needed a game like that; hopefully he can build on it. Mookie’s going to have a monster month, you can just tell he’s pretty locked in right now.
100%, Phil.
This was Julio’s game, and what a great breakthrough for Vargas. And maybe Taylor is coming around. And the stars Mookie and Freddie also delivered. Not a dramatic win, but the team’s best overall performance of the year…
In addition to the negativity about Outman, I’d welcome a reduction in the Vargas hype. Can we agree that his thumb has healed? And that his defense needs improvement? Roberts says so.
It’s nice to have Smith back behind the play. Apart from Mauer, I can’t think of another catcher who was moved because of concussion issues. But if Smith is considered particularly vulnerable, an eventual move to 3B seems prudent.
Speaking of defense, there were some slick plays in this game by Outman, Muncy and Rojas.
Still, I wonder how Mookie would have handled the tough plays made by Rojas. I’m all in with Mookie at SS.
Duke Not Snider
Good point about Vargas. I think Vargas’s thumb has been healed for awhile. I don’t think it takes a month or so to heal with all the medical staff the Dodgers have and him not being put on the IL. It was a slow start for him as I predicted.
Our bruh club is sinking in EPL.
Boehly’s taking it all in and still flashing money. He wins in the end. I hope….
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRwmmR5w/
Alex Vesia optioned to Oklahoma City as predicted to make room for today’s starting pitcher Gavin Stone on the 26 man active roster.
Dodgers Select Gavin Stone, Option Alex Vesia
By Nick Deeds | May 3, 2023 at 12:05pm CDT
May 3: The Dodgers have formally selected Stone’s contract, per a team announcement. He brings their 40-man roster up to a count of 40 players. Lefty Alex Vesia was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in order to open a spot on the active roster.
Vesia has been hit hard in 13 appearances this season, yielding a 7.84 ERA in 10 1/3 innings with a 25.4% strikeout rate that’s better than league-average but vastly worse than the 34% he posted in 2021-22. Vesia’s average fastball velocity has held steady at 94.2 mph, but he’s giving up more hard contact than he ever has with the Dodgers; after yielding an 87.2 mph average exit velocity and 34.6% hard-hit rate in 2021-22, he’s at 91 mph and 44.7% so far in the young 2023 season.
He’ll be back shortly.
If they option Stone to Oklahoma City after this start, I believe they will bring back Bruhl before Vesia.
EARLY GAME TODAY
4:10 PM ET
Phillies (15-16) 5.5GB
Dodgers (18-13) First Place
SP Aaron Nola R
2-2 4.46 ERA 36.1IP 28K
Gavin Stone R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Heyward L
CF James Outman L
2B M. Vargas R
LF D. Peralta L
SS Chris Taylor R
Partly Cloudy Day
1% Precipitation
66° Wind 10 mph Out
Kid should have been out of the first inning already. If not for Muncy mishandling the perfect double play ball.
Good stuff though by STone.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah Stone didn’t have the best luck in that first inning but he stayed hard. He didn’t let the sword penetrate the stone
I don’t remember Trey Turner ever making a play like that in the hole with the Dodgers
Oh how quickly we forget.
I’m not saying, he never made any good plays with the Dodgers. I just don’t remember him making that jump throw that deep in the hole
Second time around threw the lineup they are teeing off on Gavin.
Spitting on t he change and lighting up his fastball which is only at 93-94 mph range instead of the advertised high 90s mph.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He’s always been 95 to 96.
His fb around 93 this game
4 Seamer by pitch
94.4
95.9
96.6
93.6
94.2
95.2
94.6
94.1
93.9
94.6
93.5
93.2
94.6
93.2
93.8
92.6
93.0
92.4
91.3
91.6
92.1
92.7
92.0
92.9
92.6
92.3
91.4
91.2
92.1
92.3
90.9
Typical case of nerves by a rookie.
10 baserunners in 3 IP. Not too much control. Probably 1st game nerves, but doesn’t look ready for prime time based on this one game. WHIP is 3.0.
Love those rookies!!
First game in the majors. Cut the kid some slack. Very few rookies come out and dominate big league lineups and the Phils are the defending NL Champs. Only down two. Comeback time. Nice shot by Vargas.
Castellanos still can’t field
Muncy is da man! Game winning slam! wow!!!!!!!
Silver Hammer. Congrats to Max
Did you see the look on Trea’s face when the Phillies had the meeting on the mound?
It was like oh man I’ve seen this too many times before
Kimbrel is still… Kimbrel.
The superrooks Outman & Vargas jump-started the comeback.
Muncy redeems himself.
I want Busch to stay, please don’t send him back down.
Still no 5th starter, maybe Stone gets better.
Almost forgot – Barnsey with the miracle hit, the turning point!
What is the scuttle on Stone. I’d like to hear Stone is up for a set of starts, but I’m nobody!
All that bitching and moaning before the first pitch thrown of the season I thought someone here woulda took me up on my bet offering the division field against MY Dodgers. My $ was with my words so that says we have some who simply like to just bitch and moan. I just like gloating things going this way. Does that make me a poor sport? Maybe, but wait……Okay I’m over it. Cheers!
The Dodgers are nobody’s little brother!
Gavin Stone is only a hair better than: White, Stripling, Pepiot, J.Gray and Grove.
… and you determine this after one start?
Enjoy munching on those words in the future!
I don’t care about today’s result, I mean his “things”, they are good but not special, but I like his “attitude”, he is a warrior, he will be better No.5 than them.
Dude wtf do you know? Very little apparently.
Way to premature to judge this kid. I think you need to be a lot more patient. His stuff is better than any of those guys you mentioned.
Pressure much?
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRwxRUte/
Dodgers are going to bypass Thor this weekend while he works on mechanical issues. Stone most likely will get at least one more start up here probably next week in Milwaukee. A lot of shoulder injuries this year and more pitchers getting TJ surgery than I have seen in a long while.
Max to the max. Great photo on mlb.com of the team welcoming him at home plate. Am I wrong to feel a little bit sad for Kimbrel?
So much to like about this game. The rookies delivered again, with Vargas’s bomb and Outman hitting two doubles–and zero Ks. Stone wasn’t sharp, but his outing would have been better with a little more defensive support. Also, two more hits from Taylor, and a big pinch-hit from Barnes. (He hit it hard, but the Phillies clearly need a new third baseman.) Nice work from the bullpen.
And meanwhile, the Anaheim team is keeping those ever-faint Freeway Series dreams alive. Ohtani struck out 13 with fastballs in the 99-100 mph range, but the Angels needed last HRs from Jake Lamb and Trout to beat the Cards. While the Dodgers improved to 19-13, the Halos moved to 17-14, second place to the Rangers and just ahead of the Trashtros.
I didn’t get to watch the game I was out of town. From the box score I see Outman had 2 doubles without a strikeout.
What sucks is that my other favorite prospect Stone didn’t have a good game. He has good stuff so he’ll come back. I was just hoping he would make a good impression, so the higher ups would keep him on the big league roster. Maybe they still will, I hope so.
I see Gonzalez had a good one and two thirds of an inning. I didn’t dig to see who he faced, but the key for him is to get RHB out.
So Graterol got ruffed up. The same thing for him like Gonzalez but the opposite. The key for him is to get LHB out. I didn’t dig to see who he faced either.
So that was a grand slam by Muncy. Cool.
I gotta see the highlites, maybe dodgers.com has them.
Eh wouldn’t say roughed up at all….if you actually watched the game? He also struck a guy to keep it tied to give us a chance to walk it off. I swear some of you guys expect perfection!
Totally agree….all three hits were sorta cheap….no one, including Harper hit the ball hard. The RBI single was a bloop just over the SS head.
Definitely not “roughed up.”:
Stone wasn’t sharp, but Muncy’s error and the bloop single off Vargas’s glove didn’t help.
Just noticed that the Dodgers have played 32 games—so nearly 20% of the schedule. Most of us, I think, can relate better to full-season stats than the small-but-growing samples we have now.
Anyway, here are some simple (and silly) projections.
–Freddie and Outman will play all 162 games. They’re the only players yet to sit out a game.
–Max will finish with 60 HRs, 135 RBIs and a team-leading OPS of 1.039. (My dark horse MVP candidate!)
–Mookie, despite a slow start, will again score 100 runs–but Freddie, Max and “Outy” will score more.
–Outman’s rookie-of-the-month performance leads to a .290 BA. 110 runs scored, 105 RBIs, 35 HRs, 15 triples, 30 doubles, 20 stolen bases and an OBP of .382 and OPS of .980. (He snares the ROY despite, egads, 205 strikeouts.)
–Kershaw finishes with a 25-5 record and a 1.89 ERA . Another Cy? Not if Shane McClanahan finishes 30-0.
I like most of your projections ….but Muncy ain’t hitting 60 dongs and we all know kershaw will spend time on the IL due to his back at some point so 25 wins seems like a pipe dream. And would it not matter what shane mcclanahan does since he pitches in the AL?
I took it as “tongue-in-cheek, “but maybe I am wrong.
Time to wake up from your nap Duke! Nice dream tho!
The Phillies have issues. They seemed intent on giving it away.
Barnes single was an error. He hit it good, but that ball should’ve been caught.
It would have been nice to see what Stone might have accomplished with a decent defense behind him. In my opinion he deserves another start. Like in 5 days. Take the ball kid. And take command.
Is Graterol tipping his pitches? His stuff looks too good to be getting hit like this.
I like this team. It appears to be developing character.
Muncy should have caught that ball too! Stone looks fine! Should be a regular starter for several years. Offense is really good right now. Haven’t looked, but is darvish in weekend rotation?
Gavin Stone looked like a rookie starting his first game, albeit with an amazing changeup.
Yes, the changeup is fantastic. But I was a little disappointed in his fastball. Topping out at 94 was less than what I expected. A couple more mph on the heater would make the change even more lethal.
I emember him touching 97,98 last year.
Go Dodgers1
HE TOPPED OUT AT 96.6 LAST NIGHT.
Gavin Stone is not a big guy. He can hit 97 to 98, but he cannot sustain it… nor should he try. That’s Bobby Miller. That’s Dustin May. Gavin is more of a Julio Urias. He will be just fine.
He does need to trust his stuff and throw strikes. If he does, he can get 6 innings. 6 innings is what 8 innings usta was. 7 innings now is like a complete game.
He definetly needs a reliable third pitch. Didn’t see many sliders or curveballs. What’s his best third pitch? But I like his makeup. Similar to Pepiot. Developing a good third pitch and we’ve got 2 very good young pitchers and Miller on the come!
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/gavin-stone-694813?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb
He threw 9 sliders. Was looking for the outside edge with them.
I think he did fine. Again, if Muncy doesn’t choke on that double play ball, who knows?
Looks like I got another post in jail. That happens a lot here doesn’t it.
It was a Statcast report off of Stone’s game. He threw 9 sliders. 11% I think.
Thx Badger
I just read through many past comments by the negative nellies on this blog. Paraphrasing:
1. Why does AF keep dumpster diving with people like Jason Hayward?
2. This team will finish barely above .500.
3. Doc is a terrible in game manager
4. Anybody but Rojas at ss.
5. Muncy is finished.
6. The lineup is terrible.
7. Etc, etc, etc
Hayward is currently OPSing at .879 and could be in a strong position for the comeback player of the year. The team is currently pacing for 96 wins, well above “barely above .500” and close to the 100 wins I predicted.
Doc’s in game managing last night makes him look like a genius. All his maneuvering at the end of the game set us up for a win. Some how you never hear good things about Doc, only things when they lose.
Miguel Rojas is a very good ss. The play he made on Trea Turner in the 9th is one of the best plays you will ever see a ss make. Without that play, we very well might have lost the game, not to mention the clutch hit in the 8th off an incredible reliever that started the go ahead rally.
Muncy’s performance needs no explanation. This terrible lineup has produced the 4th most runs in MLB and is OPSing as a team at .796.
All this really says is “STOP FORMING SUCH STRONG OPINIONS” based on very short term information. We really have no idea how things may wind up. Maybe they wind up barely above .500 or maybe they do win over 100 games. A baseball season is endless and this one has a lot to go.
I’ve said it before. We are blessed to root for a team with such a great organization (top to bottom). Sit back an enjoy the ride.
Hear Hear!
I sure prefer All and All to All or Nothing!
That’s a pretty strong opinion this early in the season JayB.
I agree with it though.
Keep up the good work.
… and guess what? The dumbasses who said all that will not learn a damn thing!
Gotta say that Jason Heyward hd been a very pleasant surprise.
I know it’s relatively early. but he is putting together some very good ABs, and I was certainly not expecting his resurgence.
I like Gavin Stone and he’s gonna be just fine. Give him time.
I remember when the highly touted Julio came up and took a while to find his feet. Gavin will be fine.
I’m actually enjoying this season watching our youngsters play more than I enjoyed the 111 wins last season.
If Heyward hits,we already know he is a gold glove right fielder, that clears a path for Betts to play short. Taylor could play left to get his righty bat in the lineup.
Mark: Unfortunately you are right. Hope your recovery is going well.
Jimmy Nelson’s minor league rehab assignment was stopped on Tuesday, after he appeared in one game last week for Oklahoma City, throwing a scoreless inning.
Wednesday scores
El Paso 5, Oklahoma City 3
Tulsa 3, San Antonio 2
Great Lakes 9, Quad Cities 2
Rancho Cucamonga 4, Lake Elsinore 3
Thursday schedule
3:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Yon Castro) vs. Quad Cities (William Fleming)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Emmet Sheehan) vs. San Antonio (Efrain Contreras)
5:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Dylan Covey) at El Paso (TBD)
6:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Luis Valdez) at Lake Elsinore (Fernando Sanchez)
I would like everyone who was lobbying for Marvelous Max to be traded or disposed of please step forward and acknowledge your sin and repent from your evil thoughts.
You know who you are….
TM, President of the Believe in the Marvelous Max, but Okay to Trade Cody Instead Fan Club
I own my Trade-Muncy-Mantra but have you seen what the player we got for him is doing?
No. Remind me.
I will admit I am eating crow so far, thought this was a .500 team going nowhere. However the rest of this month will tell the true story, if they can maintain our .600 pace then we are legitimate contenders for a chip. If not then I will no longer have to eat crow and my pessimistic outlook will be validated. Go Blue and eating crow.
Syndergard needs to go however we are doing, he is done!
Bless you Adam for your honesty…..now go and sin no more……
Pastor TM
In Prior, I trust!
Was good to finally see Stone. His changeup is as good as advertised. Setup pitches weren’t hitting their spots. And balls in play seemed to have eyes. We can’t forget that this time last year he was still in A ball. That’s a long way to go in 12 months. Hopefully he can shake off the jitters for his next start. I hope the Dodgers give him at least one more before moving him back down.