Just Win, Baby!

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1. Bickford got a haircut and performed very well for 2 innings yesterday. Maybe Thor should do the same. Anyone hear if Andre Jackson was picked up by another team on his DFA earlier in the week?

   1. Here ya go AVF:

      The Pirates and Dodgers have worked out a trade that will send right-hander Andre Jackson to Pittsburgh, FanSided’s Robert Murray reports (via Twitter). The Pirates have announced the trade, and that the Dodgers are getting cash considerations in return

      1. Thank you Zeke

      2. Good for Jackson. The Pirates are on the upswing.

2. Wild game, good win!
   Bobby Miller has the stuff and he already showed that in his first 4 games.
   Now he will prove he has the brain and the calmness too. As soon as something goes wrong he gets completely out of whack. Has to learn damage control. Maybe he should sit down with Clayton more, the master of damage control.

   In the low minors our 2023 prized international signing. 17 year old ss, Joendry Vargas, is off to a very good start in the DSL.
   And the highly touted Wilman Diaz, last years top signing, is rebounding very well this season after a bad first year.
   Hitting well in the AZ rookie league.

   Two highly talented ss, a position where the Dodgers are thin throughout the system. Keep an eye on those two kids.

   OTOH Dieog Cartaya now hitting below the Mendoza line. His development seems to have stalled a bit. But as Mark says: progress is not linear.

   Go Dodgers!!!!!!

3. Saturday scores
   Oklahoma City 7, Las Vegas 3
   Northwest Arkansas 2, Tulsa 1 (11 innings)
   West Michigan 10, Great Lakes 0
   Rancho Cucamonga 4, Lake Elsinore 1

   Sunday schedule
   11 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Justin Wrobleski) at West Michigan (TBD)
   11:05 a.m.: Tulsa (Ben Casprius) vs. Northwest Arkansas (Andrew Hoffmann)
   12:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Matt Andriese) vs. Las Vegas (Kyle Muller)
   2 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Julio Urías) vs. Lake Elsinore (Miguel Mendez)

   Julio on a rehab start

4. A little more on the sequencing discussion –

   This was a comment I read yesterday.

   “I highly doubt the sequencing theory had much if anything to do with the bullpen improving the last three games.
   Sequencing didn’t cause Graterol to make two horrible defensive plays to cost games and hang a two strike slider for a HR against Giants. Sequencing didn’t cause Caleb to walk 3 and hit another batter to blow a game.”

   No reasonable person should make a conclusion whether opposing teams have discovered some chink in the Dodgers sequencing armor – for or against – based on exactly two samples. He’s right. Graterol and Ferguson didn’t execute in those particular games. It happens.

   The question that perplexes me, and why I think Mark’s theory is at least interesting, is that the Dodgers relief corps, collectively, for all of 2022, was the best in baseball. Currently, up till a few days ago, they were nearly the worst in baseball with more or less the SAME personnel, throwing with the SAME stuff.

   Graterol and Ferguson having two bad games are a small sample size. It means nothing. An entire season’s worth of data compared to nearly a half season’s worth of data is not a small sample size. It means something. The question is what.

   Point #2:

   It’s no secret that Mark Prior has done a very good job getting the most out of pitching staffs and pitchers. He revitalized Anderson’s and Heaney’s careers last year, and the total pitching staff was tops in the majors. You don’t think opposing teams noticed?

   And if opposing teams notice that Mark Prior seems to have some sort of secret sauce when it comes to pitchers, do you not think opposing teams are asking themselves HOW he’s doing it? If they observe and begin to understand Prior’s approach, doesn’t it therefore reason that opposing teams can possibly predict what his pitchers are going to do and gameplan for it?

   Now, is this proof that Mark’s sequencing theory is correct? Obviously not, but it is a reasonable enough hypothesis to at least consider rather than dismiss with tautologies along the lines of, “The Dodgers relief pitching is bad because they’re simply not pitching good.”

   I loved reading Trashtros fans on Twitter wail and gnash teeth because they didn’t think that was a balk. It was a balk.

   1. https://twitter.com/rbhockey6/status/1672790222889947138?s=20

   2. Great win yesterday by the Dodgers! Always good to beat the Astros and a fantastic comeback to find a way to win.
      Regarding the sequencing theory, we will never know how much an impact it has had on the bullpen underperformance if any. My main point is to single out Mark Prior as the culprit for the sequencing problem is short sighted. The main issue is the ability and execution of the pitchers. But beyond that, the catchers and pitchers decide every pitch that is thrown. To my knowledge, Prior doesn’t call every pitch and every sequence for all pitchers. And even if every pitch was called by the bench, Prior would not have sole authority to make those calls. The manager is primarily responsible for all on field decisions. And the front office with its dozens of data scientists would have significant input.

      Secondly, the theory is that the entire bullpen pitched great last year and terrible this year with the same relievers so it must be sequencing. Well this is not correct. Phillips, Graterol, Ferguson and Miller have pitched well this year. All of them under 3.25 era despite some hiccups. So I guess sequencing doesn’t hurt them but just the other pitchers?
      The biggest performance drop offs this year have been Vesia with 2.15 era in 2022 to 7.58 era this year, Almonte 1.02 to 5.85 era, and Bickford 4.72 to 7.59 era.
      Vesia throws mostly high fastballs with high spin rates so sequencing is probably not the main issue.
      Almonte had a career year last year in 35 IP after being released and is likely just reverting to his mean. A 1.02 era for Almonte is not sustainable.
      Bickford was not very good last year either and he has been put in mop up situations this year to eat up innings often on short rest.

      Another issue in the bullpen poor performance this year are how many new relievers have been pulled up in emergency situations and how badly they have performed.
      Suero, Scott, Robertson, Hudson, Reed and others have ERAs from 8.10 to 81.00 this year and mostly did not pitch last year for the Dodgers. The starter injuries and short outings have forced the Dodgers to use relievers who are not MLB ready much more this year than last year.
      And last year David Price had a 2.45 era in spot duty. Even Kimbrel, who had a 3.75 era last year when he was roundly criticized, would be better than average this year.
      Overall, the bullpen has been disappointing this year and dropped off significantly. I don’t think this is primarily from sequencing but from pitcher performance.
      And the good news is that reinforcements are on the way. Daniel Hudson and Jimmy Nelson may return soon to join Phillips, Caleb, Graterol, Miller and Gonzalez in the bullpen. Also Grove and Pepiot may be added to the bullpen soon with Treinen and Buehler possibilities in the second half. That is 11 bullpen arms even without fixing Almonte, Vesia and Bickford.
      Hopefully the bullpen will improve significantly in the second half of the season.

      1. Classic case of circular thinking.

         In case you don’t know, a circular argument (or circular reasoning) is an argument that comes back to its beginning without having proven anything. An argument consists of one or more statements (premise) and a claim (conclusion). A premise is any reason or evidence that supports the argument’s conclusion.

         I am not saying you have to agree with me, and feel free to disagree… but your argument is not compelling as it is circular.

         1. Have a great day and hope the Dodgers sweep the Astros.

            1. I’m not sure about sequencing and all that, but one baseball pundit theorized that LA’s bullpen was still geared to rules that allow the shift. The new rules punish the pitch-to-contact guys, and favor the strikeout pitchers.
               Anyway, that’s why I think Kyle Hurt should get a shot at the BP. Very high K rate.

   3. It was a balk
      Now the balk rule can be subjective I’ll give them that .

5. I’ve actually been impressed with Busch’ defense at 3b. Not because he looks like Nolan Arrenado, but because all we ever heard was he’s an average fielder, no matter where he plays, and his bat is what got him here.

   So far, it’s the opposite. He looks calm and steady at 3b, and his offense is a tad slower; BUT, he is hitting really well with guys on base.

   I’d love to have him play more and learn on the job, but how many rookies can we do that with??? And with Muncy back this week, Busch likely is trade bait, and hopefully a big chip for someone.

   He may blossom somewhere else, regardless of what position they stick him at, but hopefully he helps land an impact player for us this year.

   1. I concur with everything you wrote on Busch. But on the flip side, I’m nervous about Muncy’s return since his batting has diminished the last 2 years since his elbow injury.

      1. Muncy is incredibly streaky.

         I am not saying I like it, but in a week or two after he gets back, he can carry the team for several weeks… until the next slump. That’s the part I don’t like.

         1. With his cold streaks lasting longer and occurring more frequently than his hot streaks since his elbow injury, it seems his cold streaks are his “new normal.” That’s what bothers me.

            1. Max finished last season strong–and started this season very strong– which suggests the injury is no longer a factor. He is streaky, but if he repeats his second-half performance from 2022, he’d be a real asset to the offense. Even when he isn’t hitting in the Mendoza range, he still draws walks and usually has a decent on-base percentage.

   2. I have always said that his defense was not as bad as everyone said. He is a good athlete and there is no reason he cannot be an above-average 3B.

      1. Busch’s below-avg arm strength will always hamper him somewhat at 3B. But he’s fine so far playing that position.

         1. I agree. But I don’t the Dodgers regard him as “the third baseman of the future” or something, He’s a stop-gap, and his arm would probably play better at 2B, which was the position they drafted him at although he played 1B at UNC.
            We all know the best 3rd basemen have absolute rifles for arms. They also have amazing reflexes and range. Guys like Brooks Robinson and Graig Nettles and now Arenado, Machado and Chapman really stand out over the OK guys. They change games with their defense. Call them A+ defenders. Max and Taylor are in the B range, I think.
            As for Busch, I think one highlight was telling.
            He had fielded the ball cleanly at deep 3rd, near the foul line. He had a nice, quick release and his throw arced a bit toward first, touching down a couple feet short of Heyward, who couldn’t handle the hop. Freddie probably makes that play. But I also think that Max and Taylor make that play–they maka a throw with more velocity and less arc. In a game of milliseconds it matters.
            And I still think AF missed out when he didn’t trade for Chapman and let the Blue Jays get him.

6. Watching the Cubs v Cards on TV from the London Stadium.

   Looks like lots of fans have made the trip over. My brother is there and says the atmosphere is great. He’s a Cubs fan.

   Marcus Stroman out after 4 innings with a blister problem.

   I do hope that the Dodgers get a turn to play here. You guys would love a weekend in London.

   Just watching Michael Fulmer pitch for the Cubs. Has anyone noticed the uncanny resemblance he has to our own Alex Vesia??

   Another fine win yesterday. Always good to beat the Asstros

   2. Next year we are going to Korea.

      1. I saw that. Been there, was not impressed.

7. My guess: Vargas goes to OKC when Muncy comes back and Busch stays. Not wild about exchanging a right handed bat for a left handed bat but Vargas will come back better.

   1. Well, if they send him there, I will defer to their expertise, but he is not going to learn to hit what they are throwing him in the Show at AAA.

      1. With all due respect to Mark and his way better than mine knowledge of baseball, Vargas is hitting .054 in the last two weeks. It seems to me that he is popping up or missing pitches he hadn’t missed before. It also seems he has expanded his zone. With my limited knowledge, I’d like to be Vargas’s agent. He is going to be a good to great MLB player. Like Barnes last year, or even Mantle back in the day, it may be a good thing especially mentally to send him down for a couple of weeks. In order for the Dodgers to be as good as we want them to be Vargas will play a huge part.

8. As for the pitch sequencing idea, I wonder if shifting–and the banning thereof–plays a role in that too.

   1. Of course!

      That is part of it. ERA’s are up all over the game.

      1. Stolen bases are way up as expected. What’s unusual to me is that a lot of pitchers are not holding runners and catchers not making throws.

         The Prior sequencing theory makes some sense but, I think a lot of our pitchers weren’t all that good when it came to holding runners anyways. Now add in clock pressure & you have some guys out of sync and missing their spots. It’s a trend I expect to see sorted out by September.

         Rickey Henderson over/under at 150 stolen bases if he were playing now?

         Over.

9. Awesome come back win. I love whuppin on the Asstros.
   Miller is getting the MLB Welcome Wagon. He’ll figure it out. I do have 2 suggestions:
   * Karros noticed it in the dugout. If I’m up their hitting it might be nice if my pitcher is paying attention to my at bat and not pacing the dugout with his glove on ready to go back out there before we’ve finished batting. Kershaw needs to tell him to sit down.
   * Scrap the “Buehler Bun-Hugger pants”
   Another great College World Series game with LSU beating Florida with a homer in the 11th. LSU got another awesome pitching performance from the Floyd kid who fanned 17 in 8 innings. Man can these teams pitch. If Florida wins today to make it 1 to 1, I’m hoping will will get a chance to watch Paul Skenes pitch again.
   * I mentioned before that DeLuca looks like Ron Cey in the box. LSU has a sophomore who would make a good Dodger. Third baseman, Tommy “Tanks” White looks just like Justin Turner 2.0
   * Please tell me there will never be a review to see if the back of the glove, maybe the strap on the wrist, tagged the sliding runner, or was it his bare forearm, and not the glove? Please kill me if they go there on replays. It’s morphed into a place where it was never intended to go.

   1. Great point on the replay Phil.
      Baseball was just fine when a runner was called out when the ball easily beat them to the base and the fielder made a sweep tag. Or when the neighborhood play was allowed on a double play.
      The worst replays I have seen recently are the two home plate calls against Texas and San Diego. Both times the runners were clearly out at home by a large margin yet called safe due to a catcher having a foot in foul territory when the runner was 50 feet away. In neither case did the catcher block the plate and neither time was there a collision at all. Both times the umpire made the correct call on the field that runner was out and then NY replay office overturned the call. This terrible interpretation of the Posey rule changed the outcome of two games. The MLB is run by a bunch of attorneys who didn’t play the game and who are more interested in the legal language of a rule rather than the baseball fairness.
      I really hope this posey rule interpretation is changed before a playoff game is ruined.

      1. Excellent point RC Dodger. I saw both of those calls and they were ridiculous. Is the the NY replay guys the interpretation of the Posey Rule? It must be and I hope not at the same time. They really need to clear this up and soon.

10. After being drubbed 25-1 by the Angels, the Rockies gave a reprieve from his death sentence and sent Mike Moustakis to the Angels for two minor league pitchers and cash. One of the pitchers is named Van Scoyoc. I wonder if he is related to our hitting guru. Just checked, and no he is not.

11. M.Busch looks like a typical average player from the 80’s, for the MLB level he doesn’t have any especial tools both he does things well, he plays hard and exudes a certain joy in his game, it’s fun to watch.
    He will never be a Star but he can be a great team player, I like him.

    1. You can’t have stars at every position, but you never know how they will develop. Look at Will Smith!

12. 7:10 PM ET ESPN

    Astros (41-36)
    Dodgers (43-33)

    SP Hunter Brown R
    6-4 3.78 ERA
    SP Tony Gonsolin R
    4-2 2.92 ERA

    Confirmed Lineup
    2B Mookie Betts R
    1B F. Freeman L
    C Will Smith R
    DH J. Martinez R
    LF D. Peralta L
    RF J. Heyward L
    CF James Outman L
    SS Miguel Rojas R
    3B M. Busch L

    Partly-cloudy-day
    79° Wind 10 mph Out

13. Andre Jackson to Pirates

14. Glad you picked up on that MLB.com analysis about the Dodgers facing a weak schedule in the second half. That bit of news surprised me. The team has been hard hit by injuries–harder than most teams, I think–but the depth has played up, especially with Miller and Sheehan emerging. (Both were bound to come to Earth after spectacular starts. But I think both have shown they are legit ML starters.) With Julio and Max due back–and reinforcements like Hudson and ??? coming–I fully expect the Dodgers to win the West again.
    Allow me to pause here to praise Roberts for exactly the right move in this win: Putting in Peralta to pinch-hit for the slumping Vargas. Peralta homered, so it’s easy to call this the right move in retrospect. But Peralta is a professional hitter with a long track record, so he was likely to make solid contact–and Roberts knew he could simply move Mookie to 2B, Heyward to RF and Peralta to LF. Mookie’s versatility is the key to this roster. But Peralta was just right guy in a pinch–and Roberts knew it. (Note to Mark: Perhaps Gallo and Vargas never got ABs in the playoffs because Roberts rightly had lost confidence in their bats. If your bench is crappy, you don’t use your bench.)
    But speaking of Vargas’s struggles, well, what about Busch?
    When Max comes back, should Busch get some starts at 2B? Right now, Busch is playing a passable 3B, but he doesn’t have the glove, arm or experience of either Max or Chris Taylor. Busch is blocked at 1B by Freddie and at DH by JDM, but is Vargas playing well enough to “own” 2B?
    When Max is back, perhaps a 2B platoon of Busch and Vargas is worth a try. If Busch shows himself to be capable at 2B, he’ll be more valuable for the Dodgers and also in a potential deal. Busch’s lack of a clear role with the Dodgers makes him a trade candidate. But what if he outplays Vargas?
    If Busch does get dealt–maybe for a pitcher like Giolito–then maybe Jahmai Jones or Yonny Hernandez could come up to LA if needed. Both are playing well in OKC.

15. Who would you send down? Deluca is on the team as a right hand bat.

16. With Vargas struggling and outman got an dthen cold cold the Dodgers look for a shortstop or second baseman at deadline and an outfielder and a starter. I still say willy Addames and Christian Yulich and Corbin Burnes make sense for the Dodgers. One it gives them a every day shortstop Adamme and if Taylor stays or Rojas they then can go play second for the struggling Vargas. With Yulich you could put him in Leftfield and then put Peralta in centerfield if Outman struggles against certain pitchers and Peralta does better you still have Hayward and Bets in outfield and with Burnes it gives you a number three pitcher in playoffs with Kershaw Urias Burnes and Gonsolin Miller Sheehan that’s a pretty good starting pitching rotation for the stretch run and into the playoffs. Brewers have to be out if it for us to get those three guys. It’s either them or the Dodgers look at Whitesoxs or Cardinals

    1. How about if the Mets continue to struggle, the Dodgers trade for Scherzer?

    2. Nice try Bradley, but the Dodgers won’t be shopping for any of those, and the Brewers won’t be trading those guys. They are only 1.5 games behind the Reds. Makes no sense for them to trade any of those guys, and excuse me, but Yelich, although he is better than he has been in a few seasons, is not that much better than our guys. The only stat where he is way better is in stolen bases. Adames is hitting only .213, and he has 7 errors. Not better than Rojas or Betts for that matter at SS. And why would they trade Burnes at all? He is by the way, only 5-5 with an ERA of almost 4 runs a game. Peralta is not a centerfielder. He has never played there.

       1. Then I guess the Dodgers look at the Whitesoxs cardinals and Royals for players if they got Chapman and Grienke and a good hitting infielder or Perez the catcher those three players have playoff experience and could help this team and it wouldnt cost the Dodgers much to get those three guys with playoffs experience and it at least gives smith some nites off catching and then have a catcher that can hit in Perez rather the Barnes maybe they need the crafty vets shoot they already have Hayward Peralta and Martinez why not add Grienke as a fourth or fifth starter Chapman in the bullpen and Perez as the backup catcher playoff experience over rookies. And here is an outfielder if they want a contact hitter and vet go get Charlie Blackmon from the Rockies. I know there all older but it gets them all one more chance at a ring. And some times you need older guys then rookies. Remember the 88 Dodgers Dempsey Hatcher Gibson Marshall Sax sometimes it takes guys that have the experience and it jells together. Just like the braves did with a whole new outfield at the trade deadline and what happened. Well they got hot and won a world series. If they got Chapman and Hudson comes back Grateol and the guy now closing you could have three guys for 7, 8, 9th inning meaning pitchers would only really have to pitch six innings and then know they have four pitchers to close the last 3 innings. That’s what wins you playoff games.

          1. Greinke, 1-8 5.31 ERA 16 homers allowed in 81.1 Innings. 1.230 WHIP Hard pass. Chapman, 3-2 2 saves. 2.63 ERA 27.1 innings pitched in 29 games. 50K’s 1.317 WHIP He has walked 20. A little high, but he would be a maybe. Perez is untouchable, and he is owed over 42 million the next two years. You might get Chapman and Greinke for some lower-level prospects, but the Dodgers are not going to pony up 42 million for Perez as long as they have Smith. Nobody is paying a backup catcher that much. plus, Perez is 33. Why would they want Blackmon? He is 36 years old hitting about the same as Peralta with less homers, and he no longer plays center field. Besides, the Rockies are not going to do a thing to help the Dodgers. If they went after an outfielder, they would probably want a RH hitter. Now O’Neill of the Cardinals would have been perfect, but he is on the 60-day IL. The rest of their outfielders are either left-handed, or not that good. They might be willing to offer up a starting pitcher, but I would not hold my breath. Now for the White Sox. Anderson is not the same player he has been. He has not even hit a homer yet in 229 at bats, As a matter of fact, only 9 of his 52 hits have been for extra bases. All doubles. They are not going to trade their best player, Luis Robert Jr. But they are a team who might be willing to trade some pitching, which according to AF, is exactly what the Dodgers will be pursuing come the deadline.

    3. Now which one did you smoke?

    4. Right now, the Brewers don’t seem likely to be sellers. They are only 1/2 game out of first, behind a ridiculously hot Cincy team that just reeled off 12 straight wins. (Call it the Elly Effect.)
       That said, perhaps the Brewers would be willing to deal Burnes, who obviously was unhappy with management and seems unlikely to stay. While Burnes has a good track record, he’s been mediocre this season with a 4.10 ERA and a 5-5 record. The Dodgers might still make a run at him because of his experience and a confidence they can fix what ails him.
       If the Cubs don’t extend him, they could seek offers for Marcus Stroman, who is expected to exercise an opt-out clause. Unlike Burnes, he’s pitching great.

       1. Stroman left todays start with a blister problem. Burnes is not going anywhere.

17. There is a report that Yonny Hernandez is in LA. I think Taylor to the IL

18. David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV

    Chris Taylor had a right bone bruise that won’t heal without rest. Taylor headed to IL and Yonny Hernandez will be activated.
    Max Muncy took live BP earlier today and is expected to return Tuesday in Denver according to Dave Roberts.

19. Eric Stephen
    @ericstephen
    Daniel Hudson struck out all 3 batters he faced today for Triple-A Oklahoma City, needing only 11 pitches
    Sure seems like activation on the road trip is nigh

    1. DODGERS RECALL YONNY HERNÁNDEZ

       LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled infielder Yonny Hernández and placed outfielder Chris Taylor on the injured list with right knee soreness, backdated to June 22.

       Hernández, 25, returns for his second stint with the club. In 47 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, he hit .260 (44-for-169) with 11 doubles, two triples, two homers and 25 RBI. He has been in the Major Leagues parts of three seasons with Texas (2021), Arizona (2022) and Los Angeles (2023), hitting a combined .196 (33-for-168) with five doubles and six RBI. He was acquired by the Dodgers on November 3, 2022 from the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations.

       Taylor, 32, heads to the injured list for the first time this season. On the season, he is batting .206 (34-for-165) with 11 homers and 26 RBI in 59 games. The 2021 All-Star has been in the Major Leagues parts of 10 seasons with Seattle (2014-16) and Los Angeles (2016-23) and has slashed a combined .253/.329/.434 with 100 homers and 378 RBI in 920 career games. He was originally drafted in the fifth round by the Seattle Mariners of 2012 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Virginia.

20. Just saying, I have been a fan of the late, great Maury Wills since he came up in June, 1959, and was a big factor in the Dodgers winning the World Series. If the two throw to first rule had been in effect when Maury stole 104 in 1962 and won the MVP of the NL, and in 1965, when he stole 94, no telling how many bases he could have stolen. His lifetime total of 586 SB’s would be much higher. Speaking of 1962, I still get a sick feeling every time I think about the Dodgers hitting a slump the last few days of the season and losing a three game playoff series to the Giants. Alston, who to me is the greatest manager in Dodger history should have brought Drysdale in to finish the Giants off in that damn top of ninth. I believe the World Series was starting the next day, and Alston wanted to save Drysdale for the first game. What a season it was. This is a great site. Thanks for letting me comment.

    1. And Duke Snider tried to talk Alston into using Big D. Alston forgot rule #1 Ya gotta get there first.

       1. I heard that the players were screaming at Alston in the clubhouse, while Alston was in his office with the door closed. Don’t know if that is true or not. I do know that Leo Durocher was undermining Alston’s authority.

          1. Big D tried to talk him into it too. They were seen in the dugout in a discussion. Durocher always thought he should have been managing over Alston. There were players on the team who felt that way too. Alston was the exact opposite of Durocher, one was calm, the other fought like hell to win. I will say this, I do not think the Dodgers go into that funk at the end of the season with Leo at the helm. Tommy either. They needed a fire lit under them because Koufax was not the same after coming back from his injury.

21. Maury should be in the HOF. He changed the game, paving the way for Brock, Henderson, Coleman, Raines and others.

    1. I agree wholeheartedly. I am optimistic that Maury will get into the HOF when the Golden Era committee votes again in about 4 years. Rest In Peace, Maury.

       1. Wills did not come close in the last vote when they sent Hodges into the Hall. He might make it, but it is a longshot.

          1. Yes, you are right. Maury received three votes; however, he received nine votes the previous Golden Era voting five years prior, missing by three votes. Hodges, received only three votes that same year. I believe
             So, being optimistic, I think Maury will get in.

       2. I agree on Wills; he changed the game in the 1960’s paving the way for the excited running game of the 70’s and 80’s. Thanks goodness it is back in the game….except LA. Hope that changes soon…

22. I’d offer that it’s a combination of things. Not sure why there’s a drive to assign the bullpen’s issues to something singular.

    If I had to guess, and I know very little, I’d say it was a mix of:
    1. Bad luck
    2. Under performing
    3. The shift
    4. Over-use
    5. Sequencing, bad communication, flawed approach plans and changes to the baseball.

    1. I think the shift and the time clock have had a lot to do with it.

23. I don’t know if there’s a place to check, but it seems like we’re on the losing side of our challenges more often than not. Maybe it’s just me, but we seem to challenge a lot of plays that don’t seem like they should our way

    1. Bad judgement by the coach who tells Roberts to challenge, and bad judgement on the guy in the video room looking at the obvious.

24. Can’t say I understand why Philips didn’t take the mound for at least part of the 10th. If there is a valid reason I’d like to know but if the reason is just Roberts then I’m starting to see a not so good pattern.

25. How much longer do we have to watch Vargas flail away? He needs a reset in OKC. When Muncy comes back move Busch to second. His turn.

    1. I read here at LADT, I think, that someone suggested an IL activation for Muncy and a send down of Vargas to open up the roster spot. Might happen, just might happen. I too have seen enough for now and agree that he needs a reset.

       I think the Dodgers will look for more offensive help at the trade deadline wherever they can find it. If it’s an OF we’ll see a lot of Mookie at 2B, if it’s an IF Mookie will stay in the OF with the new guy inserted at 2B.

    2. Your idea makes sense Cassidy, but I doubt the Dodgers do it because my gut tells me at least part of the reason Busch got called up from OKC was to “showcase” him for the expected trade(s) later next month. So if they send Busch back down upon Muncy’s return, then that bolsters my thesis. But if what you postulate happens, then okay, I’m wrong.

    3. Agree on OKC for Vargas….with Muncy coming back, give Busch a shot at 2B….

26. To me this game was like a World Series game and thr players came through. Seems some unwanted drama may have come into play.

27. I’m not sure if any of you recall, but Eric mentioned once that Vargas needed another half season in AAA for seasoning

    1. You don’t say.

    2. Thank you Bobby. Yes I originally said that in the offseason and got blowback here for saying it. Some people here think I’m stupid or better yet a moron (the moron part you know who).

       1. Never thought of you as a moron and have shared some of your takes but I can easily say you are too thin skinned. It’s quite alright to have an opinion that’s different from all and whoever but to stand so firmly to every word isn’t the challenge you seem to make it. When you find yourself right it’s ok to pat yourself on the back and inwardly gloat but is still nothing to prove and there is no reward because it’s also ok to be wrong’ There is no fight and there is no loss. Please don’t take ta this as I’m casting a curse or picking on you. I’m just sharing an observation.

          1. Just pointing out things that’s all.

       2. Or, a better moron? 🙂 You seem to be fairly cogent in your reasoning imo. Does not mean you’re correct, but that’s not a requirement. At its best, this site is just about bullshitting about baseball.
          Cheers

       3. That is purely self-induced!

    3. Well, he nailed it. The Dodgers should have signed Eric! He is actually smarter than their entire development department.

       1. Nope I’m not. You missed the point.

28. David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    Julio Urías had 8 strikeouts in 4 IP.
    Word from Inland Empire is Urías Fastball hit 95mph in 3rd inning.
    #Dodgers #Quakes

29. I had a bad feeling about yesterday’s game because I didn’t think Astros wanted to be swept and then get on that plane home with that gnawing at them.

    And then it was confirmed to me we would lose when Dubon made that great play to rob Smith in the 11th inning with Vargas coming up. Anyone but him….sigh! Oh well, we probably should have lost Saturday instead.

    I do not blame Almonte for the loss. Bregman is a very good player so him getting a hit didn’t surprise me. What surprised me is Perralta’s throw to the infield. The guy wasn’t even on 3rd when Perralta fielded the ball and in fact was slowing down to stop at 3rd. Oh well….like I said, 2 out of 3 is pretty good especially considering our starting pitching is not good right now. We don’t have an ace not named Kershaw. Julio….get well my friend.

30. Sunday scores
    Las Vegas 10, Oklahoma City 6
    Northwest Arkansas 11, Tulsa 4
    West Michigan 2, Great Lakes 1 (5 innings)
    Rancho Cucamonga 7, Lake Elsinore 1
    Jimmy Nelson pitched a scoreless sixth inning for Oklahoma City, allowing a single and a walk with one strikeout. It’s the sixth game for Nelson on this minor league rehab assignment, which began on June 10. Sunday’s appearance came on just one day rest, the quickest turnaround so far this season for the right-hander.

    The week ahead
    Oklahoma City at Sugar Land [Astros]
    Tulsa at Amarillo [D-backs]
    Great Lakes vs. Lansing [A’s]
    Rancho Cucamonga vs. Visalia [D-backs]
    Monday and Tuesday are off days this week for the top four affiliates, with each team playing a six-game series through next Monday to take advantage of the July 4 holiday weekend crowds.

31. Deadline is creeping up on us. Be here before you know it. There will be way more buyers than sellers. SO the pickins are going to be slim.

    1. Watching the NY Mess on a daily basis and being 15 games out of the division and 7 games under .500, they might be sellers.Money can’t buy you love or a championship.

       1. Would any of us want Max back???

          1. Yes – but obviously not paying the ridiculous Contract he is on.

             Mets would need to kick a large percentage in to make it palatable.

             1. How about JV????

             2. @Matt – NO on JV!

32. Vargas is a mess. Needs a trip to OKC.

33. I don’t think so for Verlander. Actually, I don’t think so for either Scherzer or Verlander. Aren’t they both owed 40 million more for next year also ? ( Each ) can’t see the Mets Kicking in that much money. to make it worth it for AF

    Verlander’s Stats
    W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
    2-4 4.50 52 44. 1.21.

34. Don’t forget to vote for our boys today. Especially Will

    1. Just did, all 4 should make it…but im sure there is some ant-Dodger sentiment running around….

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