Gavin Stone’s last outing was a resounding success. Ryan Pepiot FINALLY went two innings in his 2023 debut. They will ramp him up over the next two weeks. Even Noah Syndergaard showed signs of life last night as he went five innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out six and walking nary a batter. Add in Clayton Kershaw, and in early August, Pepiot, Syndergaard, and Kershaw will be back. Of course, all some of you will remember is how bad Thor was before he went on the IL, but just remember that past performance is not indicative of future prospects. Add in the prospect that Striker Buehler could be back in September, and I think the rumors of trading for starters will fly out the window.
Urias and Gonsolin both pitched very well in their last two starts, and while it is easy to believe that Gonsolin’s arm is hanging on by a tendon, that may not be the case at all – in fact, if it were the case, he would not be pitching. If his UCL is “frayed,” it would be felony stupid to allow him to pitch. I think Doc took him out so that he could build on this start. He also pitched well in his last start… except for two bad pitches. I think that this is enough starting pitching:
- Urias
- Gonsolin
- Kershaw
- Sheehan
- Pepiot
- Miller
- Grove
- Syndergaard
In fact, when everyone is back in August, Grove, Sheehan, and Pepiot will move to the pen or back to AAA. It depends upon who is hot, but all three could be bulk-inning eaters. Also, Alec Gamboa, who struck out the side in his first AAA appearance, is chomping at the bit to get the call. He is a lefty who was another converted starter, and he has flourished in the bullpen. He had Tommy John in 2017 and also missed 2018. Gamboa has 5-pitches that include a 2-seam/4-seam split with his fastball. His fastball sits 93-94, and he hits 96 with his 4-seamer. He needs to be added to the 40-man roster or be lost to Rule 5 this winter… and he would get snatched in a heartbeat.
I suppose that it is possible the Dodgers could trade for Nolan Aernado if he becomes available, but at this minute, I would say the chances of that are slim and none. The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence and above the septic tank! Devin Mann also deserves a “look-see.” Jake Marisnick is an elite CF’er and will platoon with James Outman.
Mookie Betts is Playing Like a Superstar
.287 BA/.983 OPS, 27 HR, 64 RBI – MVP if not for Acuna, Jr.
We have such a depth of pretty good prospect talent. Not all can make it up so doesn’t it make sense to trade some of them before we lose them? Thinking Busch, Mann, one of our young catchers, and a couple of our young arms in return for some mlb talent like an Arenado or another real difference maker? Saw where Mann was playing SS. Can he play there at mlb level?
Possible. He has more pop than Rojas. But who knows. Mets are seriously a really bad team right now. Ya gotta know when to hold em and know when to fold em. I do think and believe they will trade for some type of pitching and maybe a RH bat with some pop.
Mann can be a utility guy at SS, but he does not have the foot speed or quickness to be an everyday MLB SS.
Not buying a pennant race or post season with four rookies and 1 veteran and ineffective starter in Syndergaard as part of the proposed 8 starters as suggested. AF will get some additional pitching……bank it. Giolitto, Flaherty, Stroman or someone else will be brought in.
It’s possible that you could trade for any of those three and not improve.
Again, NorCal is right on.
No way can you think of going to post season with Thor, rookies, and some questionable healthy starters. And, do you completely trust our bullpen? Phillips as the closer?
I believe you absolutely have to consider adding one of each- starter, bullpen. Of course, don’t be stupid, but see if a deal can be made to benefit both teams. We have surplus prospects, especially at P and C.
Oh, one more thing….I think most of you guys know I was very vocal about opening the door for Cody Bellinger to leave us and was happy Outman replaced him. Now, I do wish we still had TODAY’S CODY BELLINGER. His swing looks awesome…finally. Now I regret losing him….I was wrong to have not been more patient with him through his many struggles. I hope you can find forgiveness in your heart for my impulsive rhetoric the past two years regarding Cody.
A humble TM
Were you one of those who wanted to dump David Peralta too? 😉
I don’t recall getting on that bandwagon….I don’t usually get impulsively animated….it needs to be over a longer period of time, and in Peralta’s case, we just picked him up so it’s not like I had a lot of observation before hand. So no, I don’t think I was on that one.
I also remembering being not sold on Lux, especially after his meltdown. And even today, I don’t have warm and fuzzy feelings about him, but not enough to lobby for a removal.
As you know, I became vocal to send Vargas down because I was concerned for his welfare more than mine.
I was 😉
Oops
I hated to see Belli leave, maybe the best cf out there, so athletic, and coming around at the end of the season. I believe AF’s sourness with the Bauer debacle made him wary of large expenditures. One of his biggest mistakes, imo
Maybe 2 Vet starters Urias and Kershaw
Let me get this off my chest first…..I’m shocked MLB didn’t give Marvelous Max a hit and an RBI in the 9th inning. That ball had a lot of topspin and there was no way young Baty had a chance at catching that ball, perfectly placed. He never should have been called out for making an Error…it just wasnt. You see that kind of ball in tennis, which I should know, being a tennis star in my own mind.
Give me a “like” if you agree. Thanks..,
TM (short for Tenis Menace)
I wanted to keep Cody simply because I felt his injury’s over the last couple of years and really messed up mechanics were more to blame than a bad attitude like some said he had. But they were no willing to spend 17 mil on him. So they went to the cheap fix which was great for about a month. But if Bellinger was hitting fourth instead of Muncy, you would have more wins.
TM,
I’ll give you a definite “maybe!”
In the last 30 days, the Dodgers’ bullpen ERA is #6 in all of MLB!
The relief corps still stinks.
Yes!
And I agree with Mark that standing pat is a viable strategy.
New additions can blow up all on their own.
Maybe save the prospect ammo for a smarter offseason trade.
Problem with that strategy is the Rule 5 draft. Many of our top prospects will be availabel if not protected. Can not protect them all and if I am correct the Rule 5 draft is relatively early during free agency.
You risk losing some of that talent if you wait for a trade.
I still would go after the Pittsburgh closer. Would upgrade our pen which is essential in the postseason. Especially if your starters will not give you more than 5-6 innings.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!
The Rule 5 draft is held the last day of the Winter Meetings, which are normally held the first week of December, so teams have from the end of the World Series all the way through November to maneuver their rosters.
Instead of standing pat, the Dodgers front office nce landed Scherzer and Trea. Another time, he brought in Machado. Another time, Darvish.
All marquee impact players. Each of those deals paid off–as did the previous deal that landed Rich Hill.
Last year, AF didn’t stand pat–but he didn’t do much either.
He dealt pitching prospect Calvin Beeter on a slumping Joey Gallo, who remained a shell of his former self. (The Cards are now rumored to be angling for Beeter.) He dealt McKinstry for RP Chris Martin, who did a good job down the stretch. He trusted untested rookie Miguel Vargas, who wound up batting .175 and sat with Gallo on the bench in the postseason.
If impact players are on the market, the Dodgers should leverage their advantage. Having a deep farm system is just a means to an end.
There’s not much available. There are no Scherzer/Turner packages.
Good point
Thin the herd
Problem is, Bednar is under team control until 2027. He would cost a lot in prospect capital. But the larger problem is getting the Pirates to agree to trade him. So far they have not shown an inclination towards doing that.
There’s no reason to believe that if we had kept Bellinger, he’d be hitting .307 for us.
To me, it’s obvious he needed a mental and physical re set , and there’s no better place than with a crappy team that has zero pressure to do anything.
Now, if he is traded within the next 2 -3 weeks, we will see when he is back in a playoff pressure environment if the new Bellinger or the old Bellinger will show up. Maybe he’s fixed, and back to being a star player. Or maybe he’s better in a low pressure environment. We’ll find out the next 2-3 months.
And I’m personally not counting on a guy who’s never done it and has been injured for 3 months (Pepoit), or a guy who was absolutely horrendous but somehow will be good now because he threw 5 innings in AAA (Thor) to save us going into October.
It’s time to be pigs. Figure out which of these 8 right handed starters we have a ceiling of a 4/5 starter, and trade them. Keep the ones that have a ceiling of a 1 or 2 (or even 3) starter.
I’m wondering if the humidity was the reason for gonsolin s early departure last night. He looked gassed his last inning! Still believe doc did the right thing by taking him out. I guess syndergard gets another shot soon. Hoping for the best, but not sure how much longer he can go. I guess Barnes goes behind the plate today. That’s good since my son , grandson, and me are heading to Baltimore in the morning. My grandson is absolutely pumped! He pitches and plays first base and wears number 5 and loves Freddie! Would love to complete the sweep today. That would mean we went into New York and beat the Mets top 3 pitchers! Wouldn’t be totally opposed to verlander coming to LA, but not for top prospects. No to max! He’s nowhere near the beast he was, good but not a game changer. Still like Giolita coming in, but reds and rangers will be all in for him. I don’t think we stand pat nor should we! Bullpen looks a lot better, just wish bazooka would become a lockdown reliever, still makes me nervous like last night. !
Today’s game changed to a 5:10 EDT start.
Right hand hitting outfielders that will be free agents at the end of this season and play for a team that might be selling:
AJ Pollock, Sea.
Teoscar Hernandez, Sea.
Hunter Renfroe, LAAngels.
Randal Grichuk, Col.
Tommy Pham, Mets.
Jurickson Profar, Col.
Trey Mancini, Cubs.
Adam Duvall, Boston.
Andrew McCutcheon, Pit.
Mark Canha, Mets.
Any of these guys look good? Duvall and Hernandez would be my first choices.
With you on Duval and Hernandez as best choices.
Grichuk would not be a bad choice either. I think the Dodgers priority will be pitching at the trade deadline. But, these are all rentals, so, should not cost top drawer prospects.
Duvall has been injured some and only has 117 at bats. He is hitting for a higher average than normal, .258, but only has 7 homers. Hernandez has 15 homers and 50 RBI’s, I do not think LA is looking for an outfielder. Pham is actually having a better year than any of those guys. He is hitting .271 and has 9 homers. He also has 10 steals and an OPS+ of 127 Hernandez’s OPS+ is 109.Grichuk is hitting .300 but only has 5 homers and has only played in 55 games.
Yeah. We got Marisnick.
Stop gap player. RH bat with better numbers against lefties. But he is not the answer and probably will be gone very soon.
Teoscar K’s too much for me.
A lot of good possibilities here.
I read that Trayce Thompson will be off the IL in August. Might get DFA’d then.
I hope the Dodgers could create a package that might get him an opportunity elsewhere, something like Busch + Grove + Trayce for Giolito + ??.
* Joe Davis has to carry AJ Pierznyski. Here’s a national FOX guy who doesn’t do his homework. A Fact Checker can have a field day with this guy. Too many to mention but one glaring comment – “Max Muncy couldn’t care less about his batting average. He just wants to walk and hit homers”.
Read the Athletic article from July 14th, AJ.
* I don’t want to hear anymore about our Bull Pen being over taxed when we pull a starter at 65 pitches when he’s sailing along. Back to my same old question – are pitchers better off pitching or resting?
* I didn’t think this was Doc’s best game, despite the win. I have no idea why he didn’t send CT3 top 8, with Ottavino, who can’t hold runners and had 2 disengagement’s. He finally ran with 2 strikes. What do you need to see Doc? Get the guy in scoring position early in the count with 2 outs.
* Have you ever watched Will interact with the opponents during a game? He doesn’t. I don’t know if he talks to hitters but I bet he doesn’t. Guys are all different. Mookie is alll hugs and bullshit. He has fun playing and talks to everybody. Freeman is the Welcome Wagon at 1 st. And Will talks to nobody on the field. I kinda like his focus an intensity. No nonsense competitor.
* AJ was asking Joe in the 9th, why the Mets were not walking Muncy. I know why.
* In the ninth and post game, the Met fans and team looked like it was just after the JFK assignation. There are some unhappy campers in the stands and dugout. I wonder how much rope Buck has?
Looking forward to watching Bobby Miller today
he has a mask/helmet on half of the game. How do we know he’s not talking to someone, even a few words, if we can’t see it?
I said “I don’t know if he talks to hitters but I bet he doesn’t.”
Whats the part about “I don’t know” didn’t you read?
That really wasn’t my point anyway
They do that a lot here.
Well, I saw him interact a bit with Marcel Osuna….
Will Smith is not a particularly social animal. Pretty businesslike. Dave Roberts has described his personality as “vanilla,” and that his serious, no-nonsense demeanor is appreciated by the team.
The chemistry of this Dodger team seems to be coming together now. With JT in Boston and the arrival of strong personalities like JDM, Heyward and Peralta, there were questions about leadership.
I think we are witnessing it fast becoming “Mookie’s team.”
In the infield he is closer to his teammates and can better lead by example and vocally. He and Freddie are the dynamic duo, the great 1-2 punch. But when he was asked about which player impressed him most at the all-star game, Shohei singled out Mookie.
Nice.
Is it really that hot in the USA ?
Here in Germany t is one of the top stories in the 8 o´clock news . They are saying it has never been that hot in the South and a nation wide heat warning is in effect.
Hard to believe but here in Germany and europe the MSM are trying everything to seed panic about the supposed man made climate change.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Interesting.
Yes it is hot in Las Vegas, LA and Arizona on July 16th. It is gonna be 116 today in vegas just like it has been on many days in past years. But it was unseasonably cool in May and June in Las Vegas this year.
To me it is just variation in weather. Until climate experts stop flying in private jets, driving in limos, and living in huge air conditioned beach houses, I am not gonna worry about the weather.
Ocean temperatures off Florida in the 90s.
But why listen to scientists when we can listen to fools?
First time EVER a heat warning for Miami today
Listen to scientists, not activists.
This. Always this.
And be aware of the outliers. There always outliers.
The problem is the line has been blurred between the two.
93 where I live today. Up to 100 in the Springs and Pueblo
West is having a heat wave, for certain. But not out of the ordinary. Here in the Inland Empire in Southern CA (I’m 70 miles East of LA, near where the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes play) and it’s 100 degrees. Which is about 5 degrees above average. But it’s not abnormal is any given year to have heat waves that hit 110+. Phoenix, Vegas are seeing similar. But I’ve driven through Phoenix several times when it was 115. Today it’s 105. Not sure why the media is making such a big deal of this one. I’ve lived through much worse. Just in 2015, my son had a local baseball tournament in June when it was 117. We didn’t get over 90 this past June.
Climate change is real, but not every heat wave (especially a relatively mild and normal one) should be making international news. Nobody who’s lived in the western US for any length of time considers this a major heat wave. It’s just “kinda hot”.
Now days the media has to make everything seem dramatic and unprecedented.
I’m waiting for the headline “shocking discovery of salt in water off CA coast. Experts warn not to drink”.
Yes. Hot. Going to get hotter.
It is increasingly likely that both 2023 and 2024 will set records for the warmest years since instrument records began in the 1800s. In April, Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist with Berkeley Earth and at Stripe, wrote that there was only about a 22% chance that 2023 would eclipse 2016 as the warmest year on record.
That has now increased to “roughly 77%,” he said.
The only reason you’d even trade for a Giolito is if you wanted to make a push to win the division and, I suppose, to have a solid 4th starter for the playoffs. But really you only need three really sold starters to make a playoff run.
The Dodgers depth is a bit shaky, but conceivably, if everything broke right and Urias, Kershaw and Gonzo were pitching at a really high level, that’s all you’d need. … but everything has to break just right.
The Braves are loaded and everything is going right for them right now. And Anthopoulis has done a fantastic job locking up all of their young talent for the foreseeable future. In some ways his approach is smarter than even the Friedman Method, and that template was copied a little when Tampa Bay locked up Wander Franco for his peak years long term.
The Braves are set for a while, but, like the Dodgers last year, they can get bumped off in the playoffs.
Excellent points.
Dodgers aren’t desperate for a starter yet, but I would prefer to add a veteran who is gonna eat innings and keep you in games. Miller, Sheehan and Grove have performed well for Rookies but I wouldn’t want to rely on them during a Pennant race or in playoffs. And the health of Kershaw, Gonsolin and Urias is far from certain. Also a division title and a first round bye definitely help, despite last years performance.
“If everything broke right…”
We can be sure that won’t happen, which is why a proven SP like Giolito or Stroman would really help. The IL list right now includes Kershaw, Buhler, May, with Pepiot and Syndergaard making rehab starts. If everything broke right, those 5 guys would be an excellent rotation!
If the Cards want to dump Arenado’s (not-so-exorbitant) salary, the Dodgers should be in the hunt. He’d be a big upgrade on offense and defense for years to come.
Yep I agree Duke. You go get him and have the four amigos in Betts Freeman Smith and Arenado as your four studs to build around send Muncy to some team that needs a first baseman you know where Muncy would be good at. Tampa Bay or Baltimore two playoff teams that need a veteran like Muncy. Dodgers get Arenado a better third baseman and a better number four three or five hitter in the lineup and lock him up for years at third. Then in off-season improve Leftfield shortstop sand second base. Depends on what Lux does if you move him back to second base then go get Rosorio now an then resign him when he becomes a free agent. That infield of Freeman Betts Rosario Arenado and Smith can be set for years or put Lux at second and Betts back in rightfield that’s why you go get Arenado now. When the cardinals want prospects for vets and this is your chance to get him. And Muncy still goes to a playoff team like the Rays or Orioles or Reds.
The Cardinals have been adamant that they will not trade Arenado. Of course, that does not mean they would not take a huge overpay for him.
What’s an overpay? Cartaya, Busch, Leonard, and Vargas.
No deal!
Ok those four players and we get Arenado hell yeah. There all in the minors right now aren’t going to help us win a world series this year like Arenado when we can have a all-star third baseman for say the next five years.
Betts
Freeman
Arenado
Smith
JD Martinez
Peralta/taylor
Heyward/taylor
Outman/merisnick
Rosario/Rojas
That looks like a world series lineup.
Taylor can only play one position at a time.
Rosario and Rojas are not compatible.
I wouldn’t kick Max to the curb just yet
Move Taylor then back to the outfield you have Betts Rosario and Rojas in the infield some games betts goes to rightfield then Rojas plays second or Taylor. Depends on who is pitching on the other team you have options but your every day players would be Freeman Smith Betts Arenado Rosorio and JD Martinez in the lineup the other guys you play in the positions open that hit well against that opponents pitcher. That’s dodger baseball.
Dear Brad, I’m pretty sure you’re a Preller disciple and a Pads fan, you want to gut the farm with any change. Be patient with these guys, they will mature and give us a lot of satisfaction in the future, on the other hand, the world will continue to turn if the WS is not won.
I can’t find the Dodger – Mets game today at 2:00 on the MLB package. Any clues where to find this game besides Sports Net LA?
It’s showing on mine at 5:10 EDT
5:10 PMax M ET
Dodgers (53-38)
Mets (42-50)
SP Bobby Miller R
5-1 4.50 ERA
SP Scherzer R
8-3 4.31 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
LF D. Peralta L
RF J. Heyward L
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes RHo
Rain
65% Rain
81° Wind 10 mph R-L
Wow that may have been the fastest 3 innings I”ve ever seen.
That may have been 35 min max?
What happened with Heyward??
Sore neck.
He tried to stretch his hit into a double and slid head first into second. Baty was blocking the bag and they collided. Heyward’s neck hit Baty’s shoulder.
Wuaaa, Rojas!!!! Primer play!!!
Mookie is Spookie!
Got Bobby Miller off the hook, now win it.
Vargas at OKC today with 4 BBs plus a hit.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!
So we faced Scherzer and Verlander. So even though they not what they once were, still showed they can get up for the big game. So Verlander had that freaky game with 6 walks and we beat him. But still just 3 hits total against the two of them. So OK we split the two games. But maybe a preview of what this lineup may do against a ‘playoff’ type pitcher.
It’s time to start pich hitting for Muncy, or drop him down in the line up. 1 hit and 1 RBI against a crappy team like the Mets is not acceptable when you’re in position, multiple times to do more.
If Arenado becomes available the Dodgers should try to make that trade. Max (according to Sportrac) has a base salary of $10 million in 2024 with the Dodgers holding a club option with no buyout. Take on Arenado’s salary and let Max go at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
He should not be hitting fourth, he K’s far too often, he seems a bit out of shape (round is a shape isn’t it?). Say yes to Arenado.
Well, that was a tough one. Miller pitched well but couldn’t quite snag that comebacker. The bullpen was excellent against until Robertson lost to Robertson. The placed-runner puts a lot of pressure on the reliever.
Kudos to Outman, who picked up two walks and scored the Dodgers’ only run, with Mookie delivering the RBI.
Also, Mookie sure looks smooth at 2B, doesn’t he?
Of course, with you, it’s all about Outman! If outman does something, that’s better than winning!
I went back and read all your comments. I’ll discuss what I found out later, but let me use one word to describe it: SICK!
Ha!
Got you, Pavlov’s mutt!
Outman has improved steadily since you likened him to Aesop’s hare, who is one of literature’s all-time great losers. He’s reduced his K rate and improved his BA. He’s a rookie hitting at a respectable .748 OPS–7th on the all-star-studded Dodgers– and playing solid D. With Mookie getting action in the middle infield, your “4th or 5th outfielder” has started more games in the OF than any teammate.
If he doesn’t score in this game, the Dodgers get shut out. And did you see the clip of him running down that fly to deep center? Dodgers didn’t have many highlights in this loss, but Outman provided a couple.
You went back and read all my comments?
Nice to know you care…. but, seriously?
Talk about sick.
Or should I say: SICK!
I thought that everyone would blame Roberts for the loss… but I was wrong. It’s Max Muncy’s fault!
The Dodgers had 4 hits. The following Dodgers had NO hits:
1. Freeman
2. Muncy
3. Martinez
4. Peralta
5. Marisinik
6. Outman
7. Barnes
8. Smith
But we need to get rid of Muncy?
Take some dumbass vaccine… please!
Oh, there is no such thing.
It sucks to be you!
Haha
Keep up the good fight, MT
I’ll step up to Max’s defense.
Yes, he is slumping. Yes, his BA ugly.
But his OPS is hovering just below .800, which is above average. And the advanced stats suggest that he might be the unluckiest hitter on the Dodgers.
Max’s Batting Average on Balls In Play (BABIP) is .191–the worst among regulars–even though he is second to JD Martinez in Barrels Per PA at 9.7%, and just ahead of Mookie at 8.6% and Freddie at 8.4– though he rates worse in terms of the “sweet spot.” (For contrast, Miguel Vargas has a .224 BABIP but a barrel rate of only 3.9% . Max’s average exit velocity is at 91.2 mph is 4th on the team, just ahead of Freddie, while Vargas’s AEV is 86.8 mph.)
So Max, it seems, really has hit a lot of hard line drives into a lot of gloves. That’s baseball.
Perhaps he’s due for a change of luck.
It’s not about hating Max it’a about building a better team. I find it amazing when a poster suggests a change, he is labeled a moron by you, but when you come up with a WAG it’s spectacular and all-knowing. If you don’t think the Dodgers are a better team with Arenado at 3B you’re being a “homer” who is oddly attached and captivated by the roster currently developed vs. the one that can be acquired.
Noticed that, huh?
Only a moronic dumbass would take Mark’s all-knowing proclamations seriously. Even Ray Charles can see that his progress is not linear.
Book it!
Are Dodger Fans EVER happy? Oh that’s right, we need a WS win to be truly satisfied. Fourteen games above ,500?, Yeah but so- and so is not hitting,and needs to be traded. I say hats off to Doc and the Dodgers to be where they are in spite of losing May ,Bueler etc. and certain hitters not performing.
As a big Roberts critic I have to agree. I said before the season we will find out a lot about Doc and his work.
So far he has done a very good job with less talent than in years before and tons of injuries.
Have to give credit where credit is due.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He is managing well this year.
Eric Karros has made an interesting prediction re Ohtani:
“Who’s he going to be playing for?” Karros said on Saturday. “He’s going to be playing for the Giants. … That makes all the sense in the world. They have the wherewithal to do it, then they get him for a couple months to try to court him so they can sign him in free agency. … And you don’t think that the Angels wouldn’t want to trade him to San Francisco to spite the Dodgers? C’mon, this is drama.”
The “stick it to the Dodgers” angle is pretty good. And right now, the surging Giants have moved ahead of the D’backs, while the talented, underachieving Padres lurk beneath. Getting Ohtani would seem to makescompetitive sense
But who would the Giants deal? Their farm system is ranked 17th by mlb.com and 18th by Keith Law, while the Dodgers are ranked second. Moreno might want to “stick it to the Dodgers”–but would he also spite himself by taking a weaker offer? The Angels’ system is down at No. 28, which is why they may be interested in quantity as well as quality
If I am the GM of any interested team I would only trade for Ohtani if he agrees to an extension before the trade is finalized.
Can not render a kings ransom for a two month rental if he opts to test free agency.
Potential killer for an y interested team.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is ZERO incentive for Ohtani to do any negotiation before he hits the open market.
Several pundits think the Giants will pay whatever they need to in order the get Ohtani and will open the war chest and pay him next year. I could see that. I could also see the Padres using Juan Soto and gutting the farm to get Shohei in one last desperate act. Preller could go for broke and think this might turn the Padres around. The Reds could try the same thing. Up until this weekend, they have been one of the hottest teams in baseball, and they have collateral to trade.
Moreno will not trade with the Dodgers even if their offer was double what others were… but of course, we know that AF would not do that either. Ohtani isn’t coming here this year, and this trade has the potential to wreck the Dodgers’ season. However, trading for him could wreck several seasons!
Ohtani to Reds?
I like that idea. The malnourished Angels could load up on talent, the rising Reds could make a big run… and then Ohtani would come to LA as a free agent anyway!
The idea that a Dodgers trade for Ohtani “could wreck several seasons” is quite a stretch, since the Dodgers are ranked as having the ML’s second-best farm system. That’s a pretty nice cushion–and the Dodgers would have the game’s best DH and a new ace to team with Kershaw and Urias.
AF dealt 5 prospects for Machado and it didn’t leave a noticeable mark on the system. Sure, Dean Kremer has been solid for the O’s, but it’s not like he turned into Pedro Martinez.
If the Padres do pull off a trade I think it will be a 3 or more team deal. Soto to a 3rd team, prospects back to the Angels. Soto for a season and 2 months doesn’t help the Angels much. However, Soto to a contender can.
I could see Ohtani to the Padres, Soto to Baltimore and a pile of prospects to the Angels. Baltimore has the system that can withstand that and Soto would put them over the top of the Rays this season and next. Angels can get prospects the Padres don’t have and the Padres would be ALL IN for the stretch. Which is exactly a Preller kind of move.
But who knows.
Jayne for GM!
The three-way deals are always fun. I would love to see the O’s go all the way to the Series this year… and then get beat by the Dodgers in a 4-0 sweep. Payback for 1966.
The only thing better would be for the Angels to go on a miraculous run to an October Freeway Series.
A lot of good thoughts today. Now they play a very good Baltimore team and then the AL West leading Rangers. 1 1/2 up on SF with AZ falling into third place. Padres lost to the Phillies again and looked bad doing it. My take on Muncy is this. Max has a very good OPS. But, Muncy takes way too many good pitches and ends up swinging at balls he couldn’t hit with a railroad tie. When he does get hot, he can carry the team. Problem is he hasn’t been on a hot streak in quite a while and he has made the four hole and almost automatic out. Hard to watch. In the last 3 games, he is 1-11 with 5 strikeouts, They need more production more consistently than what he is doing. If you go back over his last 138 games though, he is hitting .210 with 33 homers and 92 driven in. But, in that time he has struck out 156 times in 485 at bats. Over 30% of the time.
I would say move Peralta up in order. But he’s in 2 week slump also
It’s better to calculate Ks against plate appearances, not ABs. Max gets a lot of walks, which is why his OBP is about 25 points higher than JDMs.
If half of his walks were singles with identical impact his BA wouldn’t be embarrassing and there would be fewer complaints. I
Trade rumors heating up everywhere. There is one out there that the Astros are very interested in Bellinger.
Marcus Stroman has an opt out option after this season. I would guess he takes advantage of his good year and tries the open market. He would be a good potential trade target. I think the Cubs would like some young, controllable pitching.
I still think Urias/Kershaw/Gonsolin as your top three with Miller and Pepiot rounding out the starting five is a pretty decent rotation.
What the Dodgers need is some help in their relief corps. I haven’t heard much about Blake Treinen, but apparently he’s been throwing since April. Still no guarantee he pitches this year. I’ve heard nothing about Jimmy Nelson. Even Buehler, presuming he makes it back, is not going to be stretched out to start, so he could be a viable bullpen piece.
Mark Leiter Jr. is another Cub. He’s under contract till 27, but he’s already 32. He’s having a decent year and can pitch multiple innings. He’s not a closer so won’t be closer expensive like a Bednar, although, because he’s cheap, there’s no real incentive for the Cubs to trade him.
Kyle Hendricks is in the final year of his contract. He hasn’t pitched terribly. The Dodgers would likely have to pay some of his 13 mil salary, so resetting the CBT is out of the question.
Roberts has stated that Buehler will not be used out of the pen. He will be stretched out. Starting probably with three innings his first time out and progressing, just like they do in spring training. Yes, they need back of the pen help. But it remains to be seen who is going to be available. Robertson will be back in OKC by August 1.
I think you will see old friend Rich Hill back in Blue to bolster the staff and wont cost much at all.
Sent the Pirates
Pepiot, Nastrini, Ramos, Leonhard plus Busch for
Bednard and Hill.
That is a very nice package with a MLB ready starter, an excellent starting prospect plus three position players, one of them MLB ready (Busch).
Should Buehler be able to come back and can get stretched out to 3-4 innings we would have a very, very good pitching staff, including a lockdown closer.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why is everyone so desperate to empty the farm for mediocre starting pitching?
This trade is about the bona fide closer, not Hill. But Hill too can be valuable eating innings until Kersh and Buehler get back.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Ram, do you actually read any of the real baseball news? The Pirates are not going to trade Bednar. Their GM has stated that repeatedly. If, and only if, they decided to trade him, it would take a lot more than what you put on the table. Simply because of the length of time he is under team control. And they would want top prospects. Not a pitcher just coming off of the IL, and a mediocre middle infielder. They might want Busch as part of the package, but with Hayes being there long term, it is doubtful. Phillips is the Dodger closer. At least for now.
Not their prospects Patch, so they just unload, I just wish they knew how to spell these kids names. Sorry, Bednar is not getting traded. Hill has had a decent season, but not the kind of starter the Dodgers would package that many kids for. Pepiot pitched the other day, so he could be back soon. Why trade Busch to the Pirates unless you were getting Bednar?? Who is under team control for several years and who the Pirates GM has said numerous times is not going to be traded. Leonard has little trade value as he is not hitting all that great anyway.
Hill aint gonna cost much at all. Think like a 40-50 prospect….
How often have we heard in the “Real Baseball News” a certain player is not going to be traded ?
A LOT more than my offer ? Well, Busch is our Nr. 2 prospect, Pepiot Nr. 7 and Nastrini Nr. 9 . That is three of our top ten prospects PLUS two more good prospects in Ramos and Leonhard. A LOT more ?
Come on .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, a lot more. I like Rich Hill, but he has an ERA close to 5. His Whip is 1.448. Ram, when the guy keeps saying it over and over on multiple outlets, and as reported by guys like Rosenthal and Heyman, I tend to think he is not bullshitting. Also, Bednar has four more years of team control. The Pirates have a bunch of young talent as it is. If they unload anyone, it is going to be the over 30 guys on their roster. Santana, Choi, maybe Connor Joe, who is 30, Hill, and McCutcheon. The rest of their team is pretty young. Busch might make sense for them, but we are not getting Bednar. I would not trade any prospects for Hill. He might pitch better in LA than Pittsburgh and then again he might fall down and break his neck. Leonard is 22 and not doing all that great at AA.
Since I absolutely suck at predictions, I will just sit back and see what happens at the deadline. I have a wish list that I doubt will come to fruition.
Bear excellent answers to friends who are so interested in gutting the farm, I think they are impulsive wishes and not thorough and informed analysis that allows a glimpse of a hint of being true. In the end AF will give us a pleasant surprise without sacrificing much of the farm and if not, I prefer that we stay as we are. Greetings
You also dont follow prospects so best to keep quiet.
Y tú grandísimo pendejo como sabes a quien sigo y a quien no? Y tú no eres nadie en este sitio como para pedir callar a nadie imbecil
Everyone seems to assume that Kershaw will be back good as new in few weeks. The first report was that he wasn’t even going to miss one start. So until I see him back pitching I assume he isn’t back on roster.
Kersh is chomping at the bit. If his shoulder is sound, and they won’t let him pitch until it is, he will be back the first week of August. They are simply being cautious because they need him for the stretch run.
I don’t think we are even looking at BP pieces. A good quality RH OF would be nice, but not necessary and I wouldn’t want to give up any prospects for what is out there right now unless it’s a surprise player that hits 280-300. Starting pitching is I’m sure where we’re looking, but is a 3rd tier guy really going help??? Arenado would help and I would love to have a 4 year younger version on this team, but he wouldn’t put us over the edge right now. I think if we stay pat it just tells you a lot about our plans for going after Ohtani. Reset the payroll tax throw $500 mil at Ohtani and hope Buehler and May come back strong. That is enough to get us back to the WS.
A lot of reports that Dodgers are looking for bullpen help. One possible target is the Cards’ Jordan Hick and his 100+ heat.
That said, I could see the Dodgers shifting Sheehan to the pen down the stretch. Let’s recall how Pedro Martinez, Dave Stewart and Bob Welch all started in the bullpen before they became aces.
* I never could find a TV broadcast of the game yesterday. MLB Extra Innings apparently didn’t carry the game again for reasons unknown to me. I’m blacked out from Sports Net LA since I’m a close 1000 miles away from the stadium. Of course, I missed the games on Apple+ as well.
Can’t find a radio broadcast on-line either. I’m out of the listeners area. So, I’m too close to watch and too far away to listen.
For the expense of my MLB Package, I’m missing too many games and I’m pissed off.
I really wanted to see Scherzer and Bobby Miller and the match up didn’t disappoint. A real pitchers duel.
I “watched it” on ESPN game cast with some jazz playing in the background. Kinda fun actually. I felt like a kid again listening on the radio to games with my imagination presenting all the visuals. My mind could fill in all the details from the pitch by pitch information. I don’t want to make a habit out of it but it was kinda fun.
* I’m sure somebody has ways to stream games and get the audio somehow, but I don’t really care to know. I pay good money to watch games and that should be good enough without being a video Sherlock Holmes. I want to turn on my TV and have the games without going on a snipe hunt.
* It gave me plenty of time to second guess decisions, waiting for the next pitch and the results to pop up on the computer screen. I had such hope for Outman to get a hit in the 9th after Taylor’s nice double. Not to be. We couldn’t seem to get a timely knock.
* Muncy is just killing us in the 3 or 4 hole. Again taking hittable pitches, getting behind in counts and striking out too much. Move his ass down in the order. Better yet, call Mann up somehow and let him platoon at 3rd.
* I’m critical of Doc recently after being easy on him all year. In the last 3 games, we had 3 outstanding starts from Urias, Gonsolin and Miller, for 2 wins.
My question is why has each outing been cut short? We were around 83 pitches per outing. Now, since the break, it’s 72 pitches per outing with NO bad starts.
Urias had 6 innings and 85 stress free pitches.
Gonzo pitch count only 54 pitches in 5 innings on Saturday. Tony has only gotten to 90 pitches in 4 of his 14 starts.
And Miller’s pitch count was 77 in 4.2, by far his lowest total in his 9 starts.
Are we saving starters out of fear of injury? Are we keeping then “ fresh” for September? Is that what’s going on?
I’m good with not overtaxing the starters but 72 pitches and calling it a day? That’s a bullpen session. You get what you ask for from players. We are 3 1/2 months into the season and we asking starters to go 5 innings and 72 pitches. Show me the science that supports such caution.
For no reason that I can see, Doc/the Wizard are relying exclusively on our bullpen which has been great but seems to me to be the NLF. That’s Not For Long, when they have to cover 3 or 4 innings a game. And Duke says we need bullpen help.
Doc is just in his element when he can change pitchers every inning after the 5th.
* I have said this before and I will repeat it – for Barnes to help his team and be an asset, he needs to be the best bunter in the league. He can’t hit so spend quality time learning and practicing, the bunt.
I have largely abandon talking about the bunt because we don’t do it. But I swear there are critical times (like yesterday) when it’s the right play, ESPECIALLY during playoff baseball games. And you just can’t start doing it in the 8th inning of an elimination game. Practice it during the season!
A nice little sac bunt in the top of the 8th with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs would have kept Barnes in the game and saved Smith to pinch hit later, as needed.
Instead Smith pinch hit and nicely moved one of the runners to 3rd with a fly ball. Nice job but I’d take a sac bunt moving both runners up.
I know, it will never happen and I’ve practically abandoned think about it, but I still believe that play is in order.
* We had our chances. Just didn’t get it done. I’m sure it was a great game to watch. I wish I had.
The MLB blackout rules remain both incoherent and self-defeating.
More small ball would be nice. Yes, Barnes really does need to bunt if he can’t hit.
I was puzzled that Gonsolin was pulled after 5 but read that he was getting away with some solid contact–and that was why Roberts made the move.
Smith, of course, was in there to get a hit, and the sac fly was a consolation prize. But the offensive gap between Smith and Barnes is huge now. Meanwhile, the hottest hitter on the planet, Mookie, hit two opposite field shots to the warning track. Oh well.
Offense was the problem for a change. But if Miller hadn’t bobbled that comebacker–not an easy play–he gets a force at the plate and maybe the DP. But that’s baseball.
Really impressed with Miller’s progress. I think he may be a playoff starter, after Kersh and Julio
Phil I think it was a very winnable game, I will simply say that they had countless opportunities that were wasted against a totally unmotivated rival team (their body language gives them away), sometimes I think that Dodgers are too nice to the rivals (I don’t remember when it was the last time we won on Sunday).
“You get what you ask for from players,” are baseball words to live by. The archaic Radio/TV broadcast rules for some games during the season (i.e. Apple TV) in this day and age I will never understand. I didn’t realize how good I had it with FSW2 back in the day living in the LA market. The ability of a player like Barnes to be able to bunt in certain situations come playoff time could certainly steal a game or two if the Dodgers make a deep run come playoff time.
“Are we saving starters out of fear of injury? Are we keeping then “ fresh” for September?”
Yes and yes.
“Show me the science that supports such caution.”
The one safe assumption you can make is that there is a direct correlation between pitches thrown and stress on the arm. It’s not a linear correlation, depends on the pitcher, and, as you probably know, there is not an exact science here. We can, however, factor the recent injury history of Urias, Kershaw and Gonsolin. Gonsolin had to be shut down at the end of last season. Do you want him throwing 100 pitches in July for games that don’t matter as much, or do you want him pitching in September at full strength.
I’d sit Kershaw until mid-August even if healthy and let him stretch out slowly so he’s peaking again in September.
Good comment Patch. I agree with you on Kershaw and I think that’s what they are doing with him. A little mid-season vacation to limit his innings. He’s no spring chicken.
As for Gonsolin, I don’t necessarily need to see him throw 100 pitches, but he threw 54. That’s about half, if my match skills are intact. He is averaging 79 pitches per start in his 14 starts, as I mention, with only 4 starts in the low 90’s. Maybe that’s right for him.
But I can’t believe that every starter has to be limited as much as we do. I think we expect too little from the starters and the bullpen suffers.
I certainly know that every guy is different and I’m not suggesting that we over use our starters. But to me “overusing” isn’t our average 82 pitches an outing. Just my opinion
Kershaw to undergo an MRI on the shoulder?
Great!
The Dodgers PR machine strikes again.
Old news….was throwing full strength last 2 days.
He had the MRI Several Days ago.
“But Kershaw said he underwent an MRI “before the (All-Star) break” and was advised by Dr. Neal ElAttrache that it “just needs to heal.”
That would seem to indicate the MRI revealed more than simply inflammation but the three-time Cy Young Award winner would not be specific.”
….
“Roberts is forecasting Kershaw won’t return until early August in a best-case scenario:
“It’s hard to give an exact timeline, but the beginning of August, at some time around there, is sort of fair,” Roberts said.”
LOL! Way to always give us a straight answer, Doc! That’s RobertsSpeak for, “He’s got a full labrum tear and his career is over.”
I doubt his career is over or that he has a tear in his labrum and they are hiding it. Still a conspiracy theorist there Patch?????
Did you know Doc is a member of the Freemasons? Bet you didn’t know the Earth is really flat, did you?
You people are so naïve.
7:05 PM ET
Dodgers (53-39)
Orioles (57-35)
SP Emmet Sheehan R
2-0 4.35 ERA
SP G. Rodriguez R
2-2 7.35 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
LF D. Peralta L
RF J. Heyward L
SS Chris Taylor R
CF James Outman L
87° Wind 8 mph Out
While everyone seems to be ragging on Max and saying he should be moved from the clean-up spot, here’s a stat to consider:
His OBP over the past 30 days is a solid .355, which is slightly higher than Freddie’s and Will’s. (Mookie’s is .439, but he’s in a separate galaxy right now.) Max’s power is a bit down, however, with a OPS at .755.
If Roberts wants to try a different guy in clean-up, Heyward might be the best option. He’s been pretty hot over the past month: a .306 BA, a .390 OBP, and .859 OPS.
What he said!
The problem with using Hayward as cleanup is when a lefty enters the game, then the right hand batter who substitute Hayward will also bat cleanup.
Where Muncy bats pales in comparison to if he bats!
Next season:
Muncy comes back and moves to DH.
Vargas takes 3b
Betts to 2b
Taylor/Rojas on the bench
Who plays SS?? Lux?? I still think he is better suited for 2nd base, I would put Mookie at SS.
You might be on to something…
How about a real competition?
If Mookie can beat out Lux for SS, why not? On the other hand, Mookie seems content at 2B. Anyway, that would be impressive if Mookie went from OF to SS. The typical progression was the other direction, like Yount from SS to CF. Back in the day, Ernie Banks went from SS to 1B.
Yes, next year Max could move to DH…unless the Dodgers capture that unicorn from Japan.
Did any of you see Devin Mann’s home run?
https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/oklahoma-city-dodgers-devin-mann-hits-controversial-home-run
I’ll take it!
Did any of you see Devin Mann’s home run?
Hated it. The guy carried the ball in his glove for two or three strides. That’s a catch.
I’ve seen enough of Sheehan. He needs more seasoning at OKC. He needs to improve his slider, better command of his change and fastball and please more first pitch strikes. And until Outman can cure his constant swing and miss, his ceiling is an average mlb outfielder
He needs to be in relief!
At least you’re sure of your opinions!
Sheehan is raw and green. He needs more games. The Dodgers don’t have the time right about now. He could prosper in the pen. His future is as a starter.
I wasn’t saying Cassidy (or you) were wrong, just impressed at how earnest you both are.
I mean… he could go down, or he could go to the pen.
Hey Cassidy, he has never pitched at OKC so when he does go down, it will be his first AAA experience….but I am sure you knew that.
If anyone thinks for a second the Dodgers will go late into the season/post season with Miller, Grove, Sheehan in the starting rotation, especially after seeing Sheehan’s shaky performance tonight, is a moron and in need of a vaccine.
That doesn’t mean I don’t want them to succeed, or that I don’t want them to have a long and successful Dodger career, it doesn’t mean I don’t think the Dodgers are bad at developing talent, it doesn’t me I don’t love the Dodgers, it doesn’t mean I’m opposed to young/rookie talent, but it does mean I want them to win a WS and three rookies in the rotation during a pennant race is a recipe for disaster and AF knows it.
I think Miller is the only one who can figure it out this year and he has the best pure stuff.
Who believes that?
I don’t!
Miller will likely be the only one in the rotation.
What? That’s what I just said!
Why would Miller, Grove or Sheehan be in the starting rotation in the playoffs?
In the playoffs a team can usually get by with three starting pitchers, sometimes four. With Urias, Kershaw and Gonsolin, why would any of these guys start?
Strawman!
read again………pennant race. No, I don’t expect all three, or even four if you add in Pepiot to be in the rotation late into the season and I also don’t foresee a sudden resurgence by Syndergaard. AF will get some additional pitching but to suggest four rookies out of eight possible SP and that the Dodgers might stand pat at the deadline is bad idea. Won’t happen.
Which is why the Dodgers are in the market for veteran SPs like Giolito, Stroman and others.
These guys are getting valuable experience, and the Dodgers are leading the West despite all the rookie arms.
Come Aug. 2, I think the roster will include at least three more proven veterans, perhaps four.
I read again. I guess is was the deliberate use of the word “postseason” that threw me off.
Barring catastrophe, I’m pretty confident neither Sheehan or Grove will be starting in the postseason.
I just think the price for a Stroman will be too high. Everybody thinks they got a shot at the playoffs this year, and there isn’t a whole lot of inventory. AF doesn’t overspend.
They have those?…… I mean moron vaccines?
Orel really called it with the difference with Rodriquez when he has to pitch out of the stretch.
I know you won’t believe it but I swear I had a feeling about Chris Taylor
Now, lets hold it !!!!
I believe you
CT3!!!!!!! But my goodness, what horrible pitch selection by Orioles. How can you not throw Taylor a down and away slider 0-2? It’s his kryptonite!!
that pitcher was throwing CT3 pure heat and challenging him, stupidly, i might add
Never speak of this again!
I think I like the Orioles.
THey really went through some extended horrible times, but this team is fun to watch.
They are a very, very fun team!
1. The Orioles, like the Reds and Diamondbacks, are loaded with young talent. Drafting in the top ten for several years in a row makes a difference. They deserve credit for hitting on those picks and developing them. Dodgers have a lot of depth in their system but do not appear to have the top end prospects those organizations have. Each of them have more on the way. Impressive young teams.
2. I think I read where Sheehan is going to bump up against that “ceiling” for innings pitched in a season before too long. He threw 68 innings last year and is at 80 innings this year. Done an admirable job considering he skipped AAA but he would likely be replaced if/when they acquire another starter.
3. This is not the team nor the season to sell off top prospects. There are not a lot of difference makers on the market – especially pitchers. I think with the acquisition of a starter (rental) like Giolito, Flaherty, Hendricks, or Montgomery and a right handed bat (Grichuk, Pham could be had cheaply) they would be favorites to win the West. Winning the West keeps them out of a one game playoff and gives them a legitimate shot to get to NLCS. Like many of you, I do believe success in the MLB playoffs has a randomness to it – a crapshoot, Stay out of Wild Card, win the West, take your chances.
4. With Vesia and Almonte showing signs of the regaining the success they had last year – that bullpen has become six deep. Phillips, Ferguson, Graterol, Brasier, Vesia, and Almonte.
Yes, the pen is looking much better.
Perhaps Prior is using his pixie dust on Brasier now. I would still welcome a big RP arm like Jordan Hicks.
As of today, the Dodgers have not signed any of their draft picks.
So what are we to make of this? ..a concern?
Of our 22 draft picks, 13 have indicated they’ll be signing.
One (round 14) will be going back to school.
No word yet on the other 8.
Thanks Blue for the update.
I read somewhere that they signed the young SS from the Beltran Academy in Puerto Rico.
Not noted on their website which lists all of the draft signings. Maybe it is not official yet.
We’re the favorites as is
Orioles were one low and away slider to Taylor from a win!
… and if chickens had lips, they would be people… but they don’t, and they ain’t!
…and if the frog had wings when he jumped, he wouldn’t have bumped his bottom when he landed.
That, kids, was a really nice team W
Bullpen to jaded, dodger fans………. HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW !!!!!!!!!
Kudos to Sheehan. He could have imploded. But he kept his cool and kept us in the game… A great learning experience…
And I had to follow on MLB Gameday and listen to some on the radio.
How O’s games are blacked out in NC Makes zero sense. MLB needs to change these blackout rules.
Great win. For the Grandpa out there that went give us a report, must have been a blast, congrats!!
The reason the Dodgers have been on a hot streak is simple. The bullpen now has been nails and not giving up late leads. Bellinger had two more hits in last nights Cub’s loss. Biggest rumor still has him going to the Yankees. He likes Chicago and like Stroman would love to stay there. Ohtani hit #35 last night. Boone getting roasted for pitching to him.
It is time to cut bait on Barnes. He, as Lasorda would say, couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. He is one for his last 16 with 6 K’s. He has driven in 5 runs all year. He is a 1.1 minus WAR player. At least last season he added some pop to the lineup. So, the pitchers get mad, big whoopee. They need production from that spot in the order when Smith is getting a blow. Here is a little tidbit I picked up last night watching DC win their game. Keibert Ruiz has allowed 72 stolen bases when he is catching. The most in the majors.
My final rant is on Max Muncy. Everyone praises his OPS because he draws a lot of walks. But walks rarely drive in runs. Max is healthy now. He is batting in an RBI position in the lineup. He has 53 runs batted in, most of those came early in the season when he was hot. I would like to see how many rallies he has killed with strikeouts, and how many men he has left on base. He has already struck out 87 times in 259 at bats. He is hitting a combined 194.5 over his last two seasons. How much longer can the Dodgers keep this guy in the four hole when he is a black hole in the lineup? I put Martinez in that slot and leave him there. to hell with this left right left right BS.
Was at game last week! Wonderful atmosphere and beautiful ballpark! Wonderful win ! My nine year old grandson commented why is muncy hitting cleanup? He finally swung at a first pitch! (He whiffed) couldn’t tell for sure but looked like Emmit was getting squeezed a little. Saw Will smack his glove on the ground a couple times on no strike calls. Back tonight , grove needs to get them thru 5-6 innings. Good pickup for Friedman with Brasier! Need Nolan at 3rd!