Of course, I knew that everyone inclined would blame Dave Roberts for the loss last night. Right or wrong – everyone has an opinion of him, just like everyone has or is an… well, never mind! I sat four rows in back of the Dodgers dugout and had hundreds of Dodger faithful in all their gear around me. In the first inning, after scoring three runs in the top of the inning, the Catman gave it all back, and the Dodger fans were screaming to take him out. That would have been a dope-fiend move! Tony settled in and shut the Reds down for his next four innings and would have left the game after five innings with the same score except for Max Muncy’s Air Mail throw.
Tony did not have his best control, but he turned it around and pitched well – he pitched out of trouble…. because Dave Roberts left him in and gave him that opportunity. Someone said his velocity was down. NOT TRUE! Nothing more to say. UNTRUE! Fans make shit up! Just like a certain person made shit up about Betts being afraid of Vargas on the field, and when I call them out, they take their ball and go home. Bye! Some of you have an idea of how to manage people or players. Some have no clue… in fact some think management is a SOB! I can’t help you there!
Many fans want to blame this loss on Dave Roberts or Max Muncy because “Well, we have to blame someone.” OK, you can blame Max, but he has gotten better and will continue to get better at 3B. You could have given him both errors, and there would be no argument! However, the throw from Jason Heyward to Muncy would not have been caught by Nolan Arenado… or Brooks Robinson for that matter! I was forty feet away, and it either hit the runner’s foot or hit something and just skidded away. Max had no chance! Max was visibly upset and even jawed with the fans… which is why (it looked to me) Doc took him out and replaced him with CT3. You could see that Max was very frustrated and animated in the dugout. He cares…, and while I acknowledge he is not a great defensive third baseman, by the end of the season, I think you may have a different opinion.
CALEB FERGUSON LOST THE GAME! “But Doc should have never left him in there in the first place!” I call BULLSHIT, and here’s why: Caleb Ferguson has great stuff… and he is soft! I see this as a moment when Caleb Ferguson was not going to be given a Mulligan. This was a learning moment for Caleb. The fact that he choked will be a stepping stone or stumbling block! You don’t learn from success – adversity is the best teacher. Doc left Caleb to fend for himself. He sent Mark Prior out there to “build him up” and then left him to do it himself. In essence, he was saying, “I have confidence in you Caleb – You can do it!” Of course, we know what happened.
When managing people or players, you have to allow them to grow or not. You have to put them in positions where they can succeed or fail. But, when they fail (and fail, they will), you have to determine if they can learn from their failures and turn it around. Caleb Ferguson is soft, and Dave Roberts is trying to turn him into a Bulldog – as Tommy did with Orel. It starts with changing your mindset. Will Caleb learn after last night? That is to be decided, but if he turns it around, it was because Dave Roberts gave up the battle to win the war.
The Bullpen
Remember this: Bullpen Pitchers are fickle! Last night, Craig Kimbrel struck out the side with 12 pitches to get his 9th save for the Phillies… but he still has a 5.09 ERA – he has been horrible and great. Yency Almonte was unhittable last year – this year, it has been a crapshoot! Caleb Ferguson is a “lefty killer,” but unless that is his ceiling (I do not think so), he has to be stretched out of his soft comfort zone, “This is not Mamby Pamby Land, you Jackwagon!”
Caleb Ferguson has two saves this year. He came in with a two-run lead. Don’t tell me he should not pitch to RH Hitters. His problem was confidence and control as he walked or hit four batters. They only got one hit off of Caleb. Caleb will either grow or crash and burn over this. We shall see, but the bullpen needs more pitchers who can step up in pressure situations. It’s a work in progress.
The Bazooka has had two bad outings in a row, but his ERA sits at 2.10 – he is also a work in progress. Building a business and building a bullpen are very similar – you have to put people in positions where they can succeed or fail and then coach them up to succeed. It’s a process. Some pretenders will be weeded out, and others will become bulldogs! As I mentioned yesterday, there are a number of pitchers on the IL who will be back over the next few weeks or months, including Julio Urias, who will allegedly be back over the weekend. Then there are Dustin May and Walker Buehler (August and September… maybe), and Alex Reyes, Daniel Hudson, Ryan Pepiot, Jimmy Nelson, Blake Treinen, and JP Feyereisen.
Adversity is what gives us lessons. Life is like a coin – there will be good and bad times… just like a coin has two sides. Both sides are essential. Good times give you the best memories, some fun, some happiness, and it passes away without teaching anything. But, Adversity in life, though it is frequent, teaches you the lessons of life. If people think about why adversities are made, we can see that adversities are as crucial as success. It’s necessary to enjoy success. It gives us much more and better lessons, often bitter, but it’s sweetest after you get the result.
Bad experiences happen; that’s what makes people experienced and truly human. If you don’t have Adversity in life, it means you probably don’t have lessons.
Talking about humans, we met so many people in our life. It’s not accidental. Everyone we met is for a cause, some give you good things, and it will be a memory forever. But, some give you bad things, bad experiences, which give you life-long lessons. From each and every experience, we learn something! The true essence lies in finding out the lessons and accepting them rather than complaining.
Hard times build you up, bad people make you strong, and enemies make us famous. All those hard times and the hard work you have is sure to give us an opportunity for results. It all depends on your attitude toward the adversities faced in life. Either it can destroy you, or you can use it to drive you to your dreams with those lessons learned from bad times.
All in all – it was a fun game. I enjoy the process of seeing youngsters like Caleb Ferguson grow into something more than they are. To me, that is the coolest part of baseball. If you are just concerned with wins and losses, you are going to be miserable half the time. Misery is a choice, and I do not have time for it in my life! The good news is that I walked 5 miles yesterday with no ill effects on my back. Life is too good to be miserable! If you are miserable… change your thinking, and you will change your life.
Now, I am worried about how the pitcher formerly known as Thor will do today. But, in baseball… just when you think you have it figured out… you don’t! Jonny DeLuca will play today.
By the way, not signing Verlander, deGrom, or Rodon are three of Andrew Friedmans best moves EVER!
Minor League Notes
- Michael Busch was back and had 2 doubles and 3 RBI (he had an unspecified injury)
- Of course, Nate Robertson was called up last night and is on the 40-man.
Well, if Roberts really wanted Caleb in a stress situation for him to learn he should have left him in .
But he took him out and brought in Miller . If what you say Mark really was Roberts intention there was no need to take him out with the game still tied.
IMHO Roberts once again showed why he is not a great manager but just okay. Ferguson is no rookie any more , he has proven already to be lethal vs LH hitting but very hittable vs RH hitting. Has nothing to do with him allegedly being soft. He is who he is, a lefty specialist. Four RH hitters were due up last night in the 9th with a chance to get this road trip on a good note , wiping away the two bad losses to the Yanks on the weekend and ending that little losing streak. Miller and Robertson were available but Roberts blew it by putting a pitcher in a situation he is not comfortable with and very likely never will be.
Now the team is on a three game losing streak with Thor going today, 1 game out of the divsion.
If you think Roberts wanted to teach a lesson to Caleb , fine, but horrible timing . IMHO Roberts once again mismanaged a game badly because he put a pitcher in a really bad situation from the get go.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have no inside knowledge, but I suspect that this has been a Topic for Dodger Brass. There must be a consensus that Caleb is more than a LOOGY! Personally, I think he is more than a LOOGY, but that is just me. I suspect that Dodger Brass and Doc have talked about this. It’s not just a thing that Doc does on his own and faces the consequences. I think is was planned by more than Doc.
He gave him the chance to win the game, but when he tied it, all bets are off. It’s a new game.
Again, this is my opinion.
I agree with you dodgerram Roberts is not a great manager. He has no idea how to manage his bullpen. I am not a manager but have been following Dodger baseball since the Jackie Robinson days. Just my opinion I feel that Phillips should be the closer not an 8th inning setup man as he has been used by Roberts lately. Just my observation.
So if you have the two three and four batters coming up in the 8th you’d rather Ferguson pitch to them and hope that there’s anything left for Phillips to pitch to? I actually think it’s been smart to have Phillips come in anywhere from the last batter of the 7th inning all the way up to closing depending on where they are in the opponent’s lineup.
Totally disagree in this case. The reds 2,3 4 hitters last night were Matt McClain, Jonathan India and DelaCruz. Two rookies with less than 100 career ABs and a young hitter with career 264 average. We are not talking about murderers’ row for the Reds. By using Phillips in the 8th inning against average hitters, you left Caleb to face 5 straight RH with no option for Phillips to bail him out. Roberts could have used Shelby Miller against the RH but chose Caleb instead and allowed him to stay in to walk 3 and hit another.
Now not only did they lose the game but Roberts has stressed the bullpen in the first game of a road trip.
Roberts is a poor manager of the bullpen which has been highlighted in the postseason. And his decisions here were terrible. But still the players and especially Caleb, are at fault for the loss.
Pretty sure the reds feel like they were their Best bets to get hits being the two three and four hitters. Otherwise why are they there in the lineup?
McClain, India, and Dela Cruz are ‘average hitters’.
lol
BTW, a Star is Born with Elly De La Cruz and his arrival. He has “IT!”
… and before some of you say, “We should trade for him.” It ain’t happening!
Yes, kid looked awesome. They spoke about some of his exit velocities in the minors. Amazing stuff.
Freak athlete.
Hope the Dodgers will eventually find a kid like that too. Josue de Paula maybe ? 18 years old and recently promoted to RC in A ball.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I predict he will hit his first homer off of Thor.
112 mph velo on the double. 30.4 to first.
Yea, he’s a keeper.
So far we have been winning on OK pitching and mostly really good hitting. So when pitching is less than ok (or hitting) it is a struggle. Its a long season lets see how pitchers coming back will be. Urias hot and cold so far. CK likewise. OOOPs. I think I have posted what I sometimes don’t like in others–Stating the obvious. Oh Well!!!
As for hitting? Can our crew of 30year olds continue to hit and stay uninjured for the duration? Can Outman and Vargas contribute? Will be fun (or frustrating) to watch
It’s both… fun and frustrating.
I just am not a fan of people who only see the negative (much of it made up in their minds) and only post such imaginings!
Its so negative that we win division every year. Playoffs a crapshoot. We have it better than most. I live in South FL. Marlins (BLEH)
Tough break for the Rangers and deGrom. I would have liked the Dodgers to sign him during last offseason but it appears it was a very wise move by AF and Dodgers managament to stay away from deGrom.
With TJ surgery coming up he will not only miss the rest of this season but very likel the entire 2024 season as well.
Huge blow to the Rangers goal to finally win a WS title.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also think there is ZERO chance the Dodgers will sign Ohtani!
Ah, maybe not 0 percent but I would not bet on it either. Although many experts are giving the Dodgers as the Nr. 1 destination for him.
Will take around 500 million upwards to bring him in and if he gets injured it would blow up the salary cap for years to come. Very risky signing IMHO. OTOH the best player in baseball who brings you a great hitter and an ace pitcher. High risk , extremely high rewards if it works out.
It will come down to Yanks, Mets and Dodgers IMHO.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
I completely agree with this opinion. He’s a revelation to be sure but I feel ANY team will be mortgaging franchise’s future decisions for the $500 million or more it will take to get him.
Well, after reading Mark’s article I guess I should be happy we lost. Seeing that this experience gives Ferguson a chance to toughen up and grow through adversity.
Come to think of it, this is exactly the teaching Jesus gives to anyone who wants to follow him….you must go through and overcome through your many inevitable trials and tribulations. So it seems to me, with or without knowing, Mark was merely piggybacking off my Lord’s words, words that i live by. Soooooo, I certainly cant find fault with that.
I feel much better now about our loss. Who’s next to grow?
TM
I detect a sarcasm alert! 😉
Not from me…..
If you want to teach Ferguson a lesson, let him stay in and take a beating in a game that’s a blowout for one side or the other. Not fair to the rest of the team to put a game on the line and possibly lose it trying to teach one member of that team a lesson.
They could’ve lost it even if he took Ferguson out a couple batters prior. But he sure didn’t put them in the best situation to win it
I personally think Doc is an OK manager, not the best and he sure isn’t perfect
I could be wrong, but from what I’ve read, you seem to defend every single thing he does
I see reasons for things he does that no one else wants to consider.
If it were me, I would have had Phillips finish the game. I do not put everything in neat, titled boxes!
My question is not who Doc should have brought in for the 9th inning, but rather why anyone should have been brought in. Phillips could have closed out the game.
That was my thought – I predicted it and was wrong!
Ferguson had the ability to win the game and did not! That simple!
This whole article of excuses for Doc and Ferguson would be redundant if you understand a comment from Norcaldoger from yesterday: Ferguson is not a closer and the experiment should be halted now.
I did not realize he was such an expert.
Using that same line of thinking, no one can ever grow into a role. You are born a closer, or you are not!
Mariano Rivera should have been sent to the bone pile after his 5.51 ERA debut!
Ferguson a closer. Like Joc Peterson growing into First Base, or CT3 growing into cleanup.
162, these things happen. Regular season losses don’t get to me much anymore.,
We have a solid team, will be there at the end, and hopefully peaking by October.
Win today!!!
As I left the stadium a drunk Reds fan jeered me and said, “Dodgers Suck.”
I said ,”Congratulations, this was your World Series. I am glad to make you happy, but it’s just one game to us. We will not see you in the Playoffs. Have you ever been there?”
There were Reds fans there?
Whats worse than a Reds fan?? A bengals fan!!! That super bowl win was SWEET!
A .500 season in Cincy is the equivalent of a WS in LA. Except that in LA it’s actually possible to win a WS.
We could always inquire about kenley! Cora is running out of trash cans!
I also think Ferguson needs to get tougher mentally. Smith went out and talked to him after one of the walks. It appeared he wanted to after the walk that loaded the bases and Ferguson waved him off. He seemed to be shook up but wouldn’t accept help to me. He tried to throw harder which usually doesn’t work when you already are having control issues.
* Where do they make guys like Elly De La Cruz? 6’5”, 200lbs, switch hitter, hitting clean up with massive power, fast as hell and a shortstop by trade. I coached forever and never saw a kid like that. Ever.
* Again, the latin kids have a big advantage over US kids in pro baseball. Cruz is 21 with 4 years of pro baseball under his belt. While US kids are playing high school and travel ball at 17 and 18, this kid was moving in pro baseball. Didn’t Joe Davis point out that the kid was given up to a baseball development situation from age 6? That would never happen in the good ole USA. Nor should it, IMHO.
* Really, Orel wanted to sell me on Muncy being distracted and concerned about the runner in front of him on his express mail throw to 1st? Ain’t buyin it. Step on the bag.
* Not to say I told you so on Vargas’ improved footwork at 2nd, but did you hear Orel praise the kids work and improvement? I like what he’s doing defensively at 2nd.
* When was Graterol last clean inning?
* Doc on Sunday popped out of the dugout like a jack- in – the box to make a pitching change with 2 outs in the 9th. I needed to see that same eagerness last night with Ferguson walking the planet. I’m not buying he left him in to learn a lesson and gain toughness. What he learned was you can’t walk 3 guys in .1 inning, but I suspect he knew that. But then again, I have no good explanation why Fergie was left in, other than it’s Doc being Doc. He’s been great this year most of the time with situational pitching match ups. Last night wasn’t one of them.
Here’s the thing, Phil – and you understand this better than most:
Has Caleb been lobbying Doc for the Closer Role? We don’t know about Clubhouse Chatter, but we know it happens… a lot.
I could see Doc saying: “OK, it’s your game to win.”
I can’t say that it happened, but you can’t say it didn’t! 😉
Doc was very subdued in the Dugout when Caleb was pitching… it just felt different!
Changing the subject…..I’ve never been one for sitcoms and till about two weeks ago I didn’t know who Danny Masterson was/is. I knew was L.Ron Hubbard was as I had read a couple SiFi stories written by him and also knew wordwise he is the most published writer. But surely not one I’d put as great. To me he fit a clown like personality that failed at making himself so important. Easy to spot him as a phony. His best science fiction has to be the church he started and I may have to read it just to see if it can be looked at as the true threat it turned out to be. Just the script seems so impossible to be taken seriously to have made the mark of success it did. Tom Cruise really is a very good actor. He fits the role perfectly of every part he’s ever taken on screen. That takes intelligence. How could he fall for such nonsense. Maybe he’ll star playing Hubbard some time in the future. Can’t wait. Next up politics. Just kidding!
why does this opinion need to be told to us on a Dodger message board?
Agreed!
Stop it [Hand Slap]!
Can Masterson pitch?
Dodgers right-hander Daniel Hudson began a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday, pitching a perfect inning in the Arizona Complex League. He started against the Mariners and retired all three batters he faced, with one strikeout.
Hudson has been on the injured list since the start of the season, still working his way back from left knee surgery last June. He was also slowed during spring training with right ankle tendinitis developed while rehabbing the knee injury.
He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 18.
It’s unknown how long Hudson will need in the minors before returning, but it’s probably going to be a little while considering how long he’s already been out. Rehab assignments for pitchers can last up to 30 days.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Dave Roberts said Julio Urías is still on track to start on Sunday in Philadelphia. #Dodgers #Phillies
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
#Dodgers will not keep 6 starters when Urías returns. They will have a decision to make this week.
That decision will be made tonight!
News from Internet:
RIP Iron Shiek:
https://twitter.com/the_ironsheik/status/1502035980634759180
LOTS of great stuff in this Jay Jaffe chat:
Farhandrew Zaidman: DeGrom is the modern day Dwight Gooden? Absurd peak, unquestionably the best in his day, not a HOF.
Jay Jaffe: He’s closer to the modern-day Koufax, but Johan Santana or Cliff Lee are more apt comparisons. Gooden had a lengthy back end to his career and did reach 194 wins and 2,800 innings. deGrom is 35 and has 84 wins and 1,356 innings, which is closer to Santana and Lee.
Chip: Is Father Time finally catching up to Justin Verlander?
Jay Jaffe: maybe. He’s had three good starts, one so-so one, and two bad ones, one of which was at Coors, but beyond that the velo and strikeout rate are down, xERA is up. Stuff+ sees serious declines in both his fastball and changeup.
I wouldn’t count him out just yet. A few weeks ago I started raking the dirt for a spot to begin the burial proceedings for Scherzer and he’s really gotten it together.
Brian C.: In the event that Judge’s stubbed toe requires the full amputation of his leg, will our insurance policy require that we seek compensation from the Dodgers for their malicious failure to Judge-proof their stadium infrastructure?
Jay Jaffe: it’s been 10 years since Bryce Harper concussed himself by running into the outfield wall in Dodger Stadium. It is more than goddamn time for the Dodgers to make it safer…
ee_rumbah: Favorite rookie pitcher thus far? I didn’t catch the Abbot start but Bobby Miller has the looks of a frontliner.
Jay Jaffe: I can’t claim anything close to a comprehensive view of all the folks people might name but I’ve been very impressed by Bobby Miller and Yennier Cano
Guest: As HOF guru, help me get past two travesties. Pete Rose was one of the greatest players of all time. His gambling came well after he retired as a player. The hypocrisy of MLB now embracing gambling sites should be the tipping point for Rose to get in. On the flip side, I can’t get past the Harold Baines induction. There must be 50 guys more deserving that got left out. How can you help prevent that from happening again?
Jay Jaffe: Rose was found to have gambled as a player. Players have been prohibited from gambling on baseball, with knowledge that the would be banned for life for doing so, since Landis handed down his ban on the Black Sox more than a century ago. Nothing MLB does with regards to getting into bed with gambling companies mitigates that one iota.
Farhandrew Zaidman: Is “WAR/GS” a stat that currently exists for SP, and if not, would it be helpful at all for the future of SP in the HOF (in the context of declining innings pitched)?
Jay Jaffe: I sometimes poke around with a WAR/200 (innings) as a cross-era comparative device. It’s worth keeping an eye on…
Remember him?
Hyun-il Choi, who missed most of the 2022 season with forearm inflammation, allowed one run on just one hit for Great Lakes today as he tossed 5.0 IP for the first time since September of 2021
Remember him, part deux
Michael Busch played his first game with AAA OKC since May 30th and made an immediate impact. 2 doubles in his first 2 at bats.
Baseball America has updated their top 100 ($$$$) Dodgers have 8 of the top 70.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/rankings/2023-top-100-prospects/
Take a guess at who they are (no cheating!)
Geoff Pontes ($$$$) takes a look at 10 young hitting prospects to get to know.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ten-young-hitting-prospects-with-good-underlying-data/
Chris Newell, of the eye-popping wRC #s gets a mention.
FutureDodgers takes a look at Nick Robertson’s stuff:
https://twitter.com/FutureDodgers/status/1666311487185453057
Ken Rosenthal has a lovely piece with a few tidbits about the Dodgers, but I’m calling out this about JD Martinez’ return to batting prominence and the role of Van Scoyoc therein ($$$$$)
https://theathletic.com/4587934/2023/06/07/mlb-trade-deadline-phillies-astros-guardians/
So when Martinez’s former instructor and best friend, Dodgers hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc, said the slugger fell into “a bunch of bad habits” in his final season with the Red Sox, I wondered how that was even possible for a hitter who pays such attention to detail.
“It’s one of those things when you keep looking at something over and over again and you just don’t see it,” Martinez said. “There were things I was kind of clueless to. (Van Scoyoc) was like, ‘no, dude, this is happening because of this.’ I had never thought of it like that. Just having a different set of eyes on it has helped a lot.”
Paul Hembekides notes:
Best ERA+ in MLB history
(min. 200 starts):
Clayton Kershaw (156)
Jacob deGrom (155)
Pedro Martínez (154)
Lefty Grove (148)
Walter Johnson (147)
Ed Walsh (146)
Addie Joss (143)
Roger Clemens (143)
The Athletic’s Prospect Intel ($$$$) mentions several Dodgers:
https://theathletic.com/4582858/2023/06/06/mlb-prospects-noelvi-marte-cade-horton-minors/
Austin Gauthier, DeLuca and an extended bit on Thayron Liranzo:
This is an interesting kid. He’s only 19, and he wasn’t a big bonus guy when they signed him. He’s 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds and looks durable enough to stay behind the plate.
James Anderson calls out some breakout hitters at Rookie Level in the minors
https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/article/breakout-rookie-level-hitters-72695
I vented last night. I still think bringing in Ferguson to pitch the 9th was a mistake, and his prior stats vs RH batters prove it. Now, they may not have hit him at all, but that bleeder through the infield started his problem. He has problems with his control to RH batters. He tends to pull the pitch or miss high to his arm side, and he does that all the time against RH hitters. They have a .313 BA against. The reason I blame Doc is because he has the stats right in front of him, he had two righty’s available in the pen. Miller would have been the smart choice. And sooner or later, they are going to have to see what Robertson brings to the table. Why not bring in the big rookie. He is 24, not like the Reds are a powerhouse team. See what the kid has. They have brought guys up and sent them down without letting them pitch even once, Tayler Scott, give the kid a chance, or bring in the guy with a .111 BA against.
Had the same thought about Robertson. Certainly not the ninth inning but he could have easily been put in the sixth when the Dodgers were up 8-4.
DeLuca playing CF and batting 8th.
7:10 PM ET
Dodgers (35-26) 2nd place NL West 1.0 GB
Reds (28-33) 3rd place NL Central 5.0 GB
SP Noah Syndergaard R
1-4 6.54 ERA 52,1 IP 35 K
SP B. Williamson L
0-0 4.29 ERA 21.0IP 18 K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
DH J. Martinez R
3B Max Muncy L
LF Chris Taylor R
2B M. Vargas R
CF Jonny DeLuca R
SS Miguel Rojas RL
Clear Day
1% Precipitation
75° Wind 7 mph L-R
Wednesday schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Nick Nastrini) vs. Arkansas (Juan Mercedes)
4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Justin Wrobleski) vs. Lake County (Aaron Davenport)
5:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (TBD) at El Paso (Pedro Avila)
7:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Gabe Emmett) at Modesto (Shaddon Peavyhouse)
Agree with Mark’s post. I get the impression that Ferguson wants a role in more leverage situations and would like a chance to close games. Roberts seems to be looking for a third guy he trusts to handle innings 7-9. So he basically gives Ferguson a chance to back it up. And he failed. You want to be in those situations, throw the ball over the plate. Trust your stuff. Vesia had a role like that last year and he seems to have more of an edge than Ferguson. A confidence to challenge hitters in those situations. Maybe Ferguson grows from that and maybe not.
If I am the Dodgers, it is on Syndergaard to keep his spot in the rotation tonight. I would give Grove and Miller opportunities ahead of Syndergaard unless something changes tonight. He has more experience than either of them but not experience with the stuff he currently has. Grove and Miller have a better arsenal right now and certainly a higher ceiling. Miler will have his growing pains and so will Grove. But they are very unlikely to pitch to 7.00 era. I think the Dodgers know this better than me.
Interesting signing of Kole Calhoun. I wonder if he is going to replace Outman on this roster if Outman continues to struggle. Or if he is just one more left handed hitting outfielder competing with Heyward, Outman, and Peralta.
Lastly, looks like a lot of 40 man roster churn between now and the trade deadline. Throwing darts against the wall, basically. Issues with inconsistent production from spots 6 -9, a pitching staff thinned out by injuries, and a bullpen lacking depth and consistency. Every season brings its challenges. Looking forward to see DeLuca tonight.
Syndergaard. Sigh….
Syndergard, adiós, adios
Deluca has a nice compact swing. He’s done nothing wrong so far!
At the game tonight and yes Syndergaard looks as bad in-person as he does on tv. He has to be IL’d, DFA’d or sent to the BP. Absolute horrible signing by AF. No movement at all on his 92-94MPH FB.
Syndergaard has to go!
Syndergaard should be released immediately after the game. Call up Andriese he can’t be as bad as Thor.
In 2023, Syndergaard’s consistency is unparalleled. I don’t know of anything more predictable. There should be an award.
Nic Robertson threw two clean innings with 3 strikeouts and only 22 pitches.
Why not keep him in? Why turn to Graterol? It’s not like Brusdar has inspired confidence lately.
The batters he would face would be facing him for the first time.
It’s great that Robertson threw two innings and not just one.
But a low pitch count should matter, especially when a guy is in a groove.
Robertson was the OKC Closer.
He pitched two innings twice.
Only a moron would leave him in for more than that in his first outing.
He is a short reliever.
But, hey… let’s never miss a chance to blame Roberts.
You are very silly!
Only an asshole tosses out insults like moron, idiot and dumbass.
But I guess you think it’s charming.
Back to baseball…
Do you think 22 pitches is a lot?
Do you think his arm was going to fall off?
Do you think Robertson would have panicked and said, “No, coach! Take me out! I will surely fall apart!!!”
The inside-the-box thinking at the Dodgers is that RPs should be limited 1 inning. We see it all the time, regardless of pitch count.
Why?
Anyone else remember the pitcher Mike Marshall?
…..and Max saved Graterols behind with that DP. Sweet play right in front of me.
UGH
Another shit show, disgusting.
Robertson for closer.
Could be!
A lot of underachievement in this bullpen now. The best news lately has been Miller’s impact on the rotation. Perhaps Robertson can have a similar impact on the pen.
Yeah, yeah, it’s just one game… just two sharp innings…. But these guys are giving creedence to the promised youth movement. We can hope that Vargas continues his progress, Outman gets back on track and DeLuca proves he belongs. If he hammers lefties, he could stick.
Four losses in a row… And the Dodgers deserved to lose them all.
I think Elly De La Cruz and O’Neil Cruz landed in a spaceship
Dodgers gave Syndergaard a lot of run but I think we have a blister/tightness or a DFA coming. Take your pick.
DFA Tomorrow!
I think Doc gave Evan the 9th inning to allow him to gain confidence moving forward, to use it as a developmental moment so he might be better moving forward to ensure huge dividends later in the season.
Of course I’m being sarcastic but I mentioned a couple of nights ago that this roster is poorly constructed with Peralta and Heyward equal in terms of what they might bring to the team right now.
Graterol is Don Stanhouse who was nicknamed “three pack” because Earl Weaver went through three packs of smokes whenever he was called on. CT3 is a strike out machine, Vargas has some serious defensive deficiencies as he learns 2B, Syndergaard was a waste of $13 million and has to be the worst signing under AF’s leadership.
Stop with the Pollyanna outlook. The roster is flawed and it’s apparent a shake up is needed. Not suggesting Doc has to go at all but here’s where I might start if I was king for a day.
Graterol needs a AAA stint much like Puig, Vesia and Joc all had to do to get his head right.
Caleb is not a closer, stop the nonsense.
Make Mookie the everyday SS and see what we have in DeLuca. His short swinging stroke might play well and let’s give him two weeks or so to see what he has.
Trayce never wears the Dodger
Uniform again. When he gets healthy he gets DFA’d.
Syndergaard gets DFA’d tomorrow. His game doesn’t play in the MLB and it’s time to cut bait.
CT3 gets a Sunday start and an occasional PH but his K% is abysmal to play regularly and his playing time should be relegated to 2 or 3 times per week.
Frustrated with the teams performance but I wish Doc would have a Tommy moment and clear the clubhouse spread to get this team playing better.
So Phillips didn’t deliver today. It happens.
But the day before, Phillips pitched a clean inning, throwing just 11 pitches with one K.
I assume he was sharp, not lucky. And he couldn’t have been tired, right? Eleven pitches.
So why not keep Phillips in for another inning? Why risk putting a pitcher who might not be so sharp?
Nope.
So in came Ferguson, who absolutely blew up. Perhaps his worst day as a Dodger.
It happens.
But would it have happened if Phillips had thrown another 11 pitches?
Actually Stanhouse was called FULLPACK by Weaver. Because he would smoke a fullpack of cigs when he came in. He also had the moniker, Stan the Man Unusual.
It would’ve been great if we could have gotten Syndergaard to improve from last year.
But even last year’s 3.94 ERA would be serviceable as a fifth starter. For some reason he’s gone backwards.
I would not DFA him right away, he needs to go down on a phantom and try to work things out, just in my opinion
Two positives from today’s game, obviously Robertson and Deluca. Robertson pitch two very nice innings, and Deluca hit the ball hard twice, and had a very good at bat which he was able to work a walk.
No time to panic, we still have time to figure things out. The thing that worries me though I just don’t see a lot of options at the trade deadline to help us. Let’s hope AF can do his magic.
Could be several trade options.
The White Sox could move Giolito, Lynn, perhaps even Cease if buyers meet the price. Rumors that Cleveland will deal Beiber.
As for relievers, Aroldis Chapman will go to whichever contender meets KC’s price. Liam Hendricks could also be dealt.
Good to see Robertson come through. Perhaps we’ll see some more arms from the farm, like Knack and Sheehan. Let’s see what they can do. It’s been awhile since the Dodgers brought in premium starter from the farm and put him in the bullpen. They did precisely that with Bob Welch, Dave Stewart and Pedro Martinez. Those guys all flourished.
Everyone expects the White Sox to trade half their team.
Did you know they’re only 4 games out of the division lead after that absolutely horrific start they had.
They may wind up as buyers. We might have a few players that would interest them.
Oh, just noticed that Mark declared that “not signing Verlander, deGrom or Rodon” were three of AF’s “best moves ever.”
Correct me if I’m wrong, but AF had a big one-year offer for Verlander–and the Mets gave him a two-year deal. In other words, AF wanted to sign him.
AF, let’s recall, didn’t get outbid for Bauer! He gave him a 3-year deal with the highest AAV for pitcher.
And many Dodgers fans, in real-time, said that was bad idea.
I’m Norwegian.
Noah is the most consistent pitcher of 2023.
He’s a good man. He needs to shave his head. Become a monk.
Valhalla isn’t for him.
Ain’t for everybody.
Thor is living his Ragnarök.
For better or worse.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Headline: THOR NO MORE -Rookie Reds Sink Dumpster Dive Disaster Syndergaard – how much longer a Dodger???
Hammered
After Roberts comments last night, I think it is more likely Thor heads to the IL than being DFA’d Roberts said he still was having blister and fingernail issues.
Michael Busch back in the lineup for OKC against El Paso last night. He went 1-5 with three K’s. Kole Calhoun made his OKC debut and was 0-5. OKC won with 2 in the 10th inning. Jones hit 2 homers, Mann and Hernandez also homered. Washington got the save.
You have to believe that the team will turn things around. Yes, they are a flawed team. But a 111-win team did not win it all. They play in a division that does not really have at this point a dominant team. The Diamondbacks are playing way over their heads. They have some good young players, but you have to think that at some point, the league will figure them out. Meanwhile, the Giants have creeped to within 3.5 games of the Dodgers and we all know how much the Giants love spoiling the Dodgers parties. The Padres could be trouble if they ever figure it out. To me, they need to beat the leagues patsies. They had won 8 straight from the Reds heading into this series. They need to win today and go to Philly on a high note. Kershaw is going, so the BP should get a breather.
I just noticed an oddity. The Dodgers after they play the Angels on Saturday, the 8th of July, get five days off before they embark on a 9-game east coast road trip to New York, Baltimore and then Texas. Never seen that before. After that trip they come home for 9 at the end of July and into August, which just happens to coincide with the trade deadline. Although the Sox might sell, I think they have a better chance of prying Bieber away from Cleveland than landing any of the Sox’s starters. Ohtani most likely will NOT be on the trading block.
I agree that Ohtani will stay an Angel this season. Arte Moreno will hang on to Ohtani–and wind up sadly wishing him well when he turns down his mega-offer for a mega-offer elsewhere. It will be the biggest baseball story of the offseason.
Beiber would be a fine target. I think several good arms will be on the market, and the Dodgers will land one or two. Right now, Urias is a question mark. Will he come back as good Julio or not?
If May can come back and Julio gets a little more consistent the Dodgers will be fine in their rotation.
Julio, Dustin, Clayton, Tony and Bobby are an excellent rotation IF they are at nor near their abilities.
Need a bona fide closer to anker the pen.
Plus a big RH bat for the rotation who can play ss or LF.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s called the all star break genius.
What a strange season.
Right now, the Red Sox are 31-31, which is good for last place in the AL East.
And the Twins are 31-31 too, which is good for FIRST place in the AL Central.
The Red Sox are 13 games out of first place. Will this make them sellers? Perhaps not, because they are only 5 games out of a wild card berth.
Over in the AL Central, the last-place Royals, with an 18-44 record, are also 13 games out of first–and 18 out of the wild card..
If the season ended now, the Dodgers, Marlins and Pirates would be the NL wild card teams.
In the AL, it would be the Orioles, Yankes and Trashtros.
Bieber has lost 3+ MPH on his fastball, and his strike out rate is less than half of what it was 2 or 3 years ago. He is headed for TJ it seems to me.
When if ever is a Dodger International Super Star signing going to arrive on a Dodger roster like the Reds De La Cruz?
Happy Kershaw Day!!!
Win today!