Are You Paying Attention?

Posted By on July 18, 2023

Since June 15th, the Dodgers have had one of the best bullpen ERAs in baseball. In fact, since that date, which happens to be the date Dave Roberts called out the bullpen and said, “they have to be better,” the Dodgers bullpen is tied for 2nd place in MLB with a 2.64 ERA (tied with the Braves). The Phillies are #1 with a 2.27 bullpen ERA. I am absolutely incredulous that some fans are still calling for the Dodgers to blow up the bullpen! Hello, have you been paying attention?

Bullpen pitchers are very fickle – we know this. Why do we act like we don’t? A few weeks ago, the Dodgers bullpen was 29th in all of baseball (for the season). Now they are #21. If you still believe the Dodgers are going to trade away some top prospects for veteran bullpen arms, you have not been paying attention to how Andrew Friedman operates.

Alex Vesia and Yency Almonte, who were both important cogs in the Dodgers 2022 bullpen corps, started out badly, but both have righted the ship. New pickup, Ryan Braiser, and his new cutter has a 1.46 ERA, Caleb Ferguson has a 2.36 ERA, and even the much-maligned Bazooka, has a 1.88 ERA. Evan Phillips is the closer and looks solid, if not spectacular.

Nick Robertson will likely go back to AAA, and Gus Varland, Jimmy Nelson, Ken Giles, Zack Burdi, Alec Gamboa, Shelby Miller, Justin Bruihl, and Adam Kolarek are options. Maybe JP Feyerseisen, Shelby Miller, Daniel Hudson, Striker Buehler, and some others may or may not be back. There are lots of options; only one or two need to pan out.

Those of you who think Noah Syndergaard will just be more of the same pitcher we saw early in the season must believe that Andrew Friedman and Mark Prior are idiots. If they really thought he would be bad, there is no way they would bring him back. I have more confidence in them than in anyone else on this board. If they think Thor can do it, I am riding on that bandwagon. Clayton will allegedly be back around the first of August, so the rotation will look like this at that time:

  1. Urias
  2. Gonsolin
  3. Kershaw
  4. Miller
  5. Syndergaard

Grove and Sheehan are bullpen options down the stretch, and don’t forget about Gavin Stone! The sky is not falling. The farm is stocked and at the ready. Progress is not linear, but many Dodger fans have bad-mouthed this team all year, and now it is starting to gel. Whether the Dodgers make any moves at the deadline depends upon who is available and how that team values our prospects. If you think Friedman is going to make a plethora of trades, you are not paying attention!

BTW, Watch for Ryan Pepiot!

This article has 71 Comments

  1. I still vote for another big bullpen arm. Can not have enough in the playoffs.
    If the Pirates indeed refuse to trade Bednar then Jordan Hicks of the Cards was mentioned.

    Huge hit by CT3 and a big win last night the way they came back on the road vs a really good team!

    Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!1

    1. Jordan Hicks?

      Surely you jest!

      He is 1-6 with 3 blown saves and a 3.86 ERA to go with a 1.49 WHIP.

      There’s no room for him in the Dodgers’ pen!

      1. I read that he was mentioned in an article or two that the Dodgers might be interested. Did not realize Hicks numbers are that ordinary.
        My vote still is on Bednar. IMHO this guy could be the difference between a good bullpen and a excellent one.
        Just imagine having him, Phillipps, Ferguson, Bazooka for innings 6-9 in a playoff game should our starter exit earlier than hoped .
        The team to beat will be the Braves to reach the WS and we must find a way to shut down their impressive lineup.
        I´d be willing to go to the limit for Bednar.

        Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!

          1. Bednar’s asking price may never be higher than it is right now.

            Sell high buy low: but Pittsburg is an AWFUL organization so yeah he probably wont be moved and that’s why the Pirates suc.

          2. Everybody has his price (said the MillonDollarMan and he was right, 🙂 )

            I´d go as far as Pepiot, Nastrini, Busch for him. Maybe even throw in a lower level top prospect like Fernandez or Galiz (one of the two catchers) .
            That is our Nr. 2,7 and 9 prospects plus another really good catching prospect.

            Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          3. Ram, I get the feeling you’d sell your first born for one hit of that sweet, sweet dope.

            What was the package the Dodgers gave up for Machado?

      1. Red Sox are only 1 game behind Houston in the Wild Card chase and they moved out of last place in the AL East. I doubt they trade anybody. They are looking for the same thing all teams want, starting pitching.

  2. Again according to Roberts, Buehler will NOT BE USED out of the pen. He will be a starter and will be stretched out the same way they do in spring training. So he will be for his first few games, an opener. I think they might trade for one bullpen arm if it can be had cheap enough. I still think they need a much better RH bat off of the bench than Marisnick.

    1. Cheap will not be enought. If the Dodgers think they REALLY have a shot at the Braves and reaching the WS they should not look for cheap help.

      Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. The Pirates have a TOP FIVE farm system, and it is delivering and ready to deliver even more. For them to trade Bednar would require a HUGE overpay! I think it is more likely Trevor Bauer will be a Dodger on August 1 than David Bednar!

    1. They probably wont, but they SHOULD. Value is never going to be higher….next year he’ll just be a JAG.

      Thats why the Pirates are the Pirates….

      1. Why? He’s under contract till 2027 and earning near league minimum. If the Pirates want to build a young (cheap) and competitive team, he’d be a guy they would want to keep around.

        1. Nah, he’ll revert to the mean next year and just be another guy….SELL HIGH

          Again, thats why they are the Pirates.

  5. Great start on a tough 9 game road trip!
    Won 3 out of 4 with the only loss in extra innings.
    Mark makes some good points about the resurgence of the bullpen, and the many options in AAA or returning from injury. But I would still look to add a starter and a bullpen arm. No need to give up many top prospects but since they may lose some prospects to the rule 5 draft anyway, it makes sense to use some of them to get depth this year. They could use insurance against future injury or ineffectiveness in August and September.

  6. Thank you CT3. Nice to have you back. Defense at SS looks like he hasn’t missed a beat. He and Rojas have been very good there defensively.
    Good for Sheehan. Sometimes if you can hang around long enough, good things happen.
    Not to whip a dead mule, but Max Muncy is awful. Please move him down in the order unless the plan is to sandwich his out between Smith and JDM hitting. And I’m not buying that where he hits in the order, doesn’t matter. I don’t know where that came from. It’s always mattered. Since the break he is 1 for 14, with ZERO RBI. My my counts he’s been unproductive with 9 men on base. In the 4-hole this season he’s hitting .180, .188 with runners in scoring position and .125 with runners in scoring position with 2 outs. And he’s hitting .139 against LHP. So why isn’t he platooning. Anybody else with such miserable splits would have been platooned or benched long ago. Seriously, maybe platoon at 3rd with CT3 or Devin Mann. Somebody the can hit a buck-forty vs LHP.
    So piss in my ear and tell me it’s raining. Tell me about his wonderful .780 OPS or some other cherry picked stat that tells me my eyes are wrong and he really is a fine asset in the middle of the order.
    I explained last week my opinion of OPS.

  7. I’d have him bat ninth. He’d add power o the bottom of the order and if he walks, Betts and Freeman can drive him in.

  8. If we don’t go get an impact bat (Arrenado, etc), then we HAVE to have one of, if not both of, Muncy and CT3 to wake up and become who they were for several years.

    It still boggles my mind that we average so many runs a game, with Muncy and CT3 playing way below their capabilities, and getting journeyman numbers from our entire outfield of Peralta Outman Heyward.

    We’ve seen Mookie be crazy hot, and then be crazy NOT hot before, especially end of last year. If he or JD cool down, we’re in deep trouble, unless other guys wake up. Hopefully the guys that have done it for us before, Muncy and CT3, wake up these next 3 months.

    1. As the title of Mark’s post asks, are you paying attention?

      Heyward has an OPS+ of 112.

      1. are you saying he’s more than just a journey man out there? With a WAR of less than 1?

        1. Much more. If I am right, the journeyman would have an OPS of 100. This is 12% better.

          What am I missing here?

        2. FIRST OF ALL:

          I suck at posting, so massive apologies for three (3) responses when one (1) should do.

          .344 wOBA
          ➡ 117 wRC+
          ➡ 45.0% Swing

          • 76.8 Est. Bat Speed
          • 88.1 EV MPH
          • 7.6% Barrel
          • 42.4% Hard Hit

  9. Arenado and Dejong and Montgomery from cardinals for cartaya Busch Vargas Leonard Pepiot that way cardinals can rebuild the infield and dodgers get a 3b and pretty good hitting shortstop and a starting pitcher and they still keep Muncy even though I think they should trade him.

    1. Bradley, explain to be again why we need a shortstop. We have 2 on the roster and another back next season.
      DeLong and Montgomery will be free agents at season’s end and could be had for money and not prospects.

      1. He can’t. And he keeps beating the Arenado drum when their GM has stated repeatedly that his two stars, Goldschmidt and Arenado are going nowhere.

        1. Well Arenaldo from LA area and cardinals are selling and rebuilding he would have his no trade clause to come to LA. Dejong would be upgrade hitting wise at shortstop then you could move Rojas to second base and put Betts back in rightfield or leave Betts at second and we need a starting pitcher right. And the Cardinals want to rebuild those four dodgers would have a better shot at making big leagues with cardinals then staying dodgers. And I also see rumors Goldsmith could be traded to one rumor to the Giants so that’s why I mention Arenado since Cardinals are selling.

          1. That makes no difference Bradley. Today on MLBTR the Cards GM addressed the rumors. He is not trading Goldschmidt or Arenado. Makes no difference if the guy is from LA or not. You are dreaming and not using any logic whatsoever in you lame posts about getting the guy. It isn’t happening. And I read what you said about him going to the Yankees. Yankees have a depleted farm system. If they trade for anyone, it is going to have to include MLB level talent. The Cardinals will likely trade the guys who are in the last years of their contracts. Includes guys like Flaherty, Montgomery, DeJong. and any excess outfielder they might have, and a couple of their relievers it does not include Goldschmidt and Arenado. Get that idea out of your thick skull.

  10. I’ve been thinking recently about how impactful the Lux injury has been and how remarkable the team is without him.

    With Lux, the team’s lineup is much longer and the depth even more pronounced and consequential.

    But without Lux, you really develop an appreciation for:
    1. The wisdom of the Dodgers’ preference for versatility and multi-positional players.
    2. The rehab of JDM and Hayward

  12. Okay since Bear says no way to Arenado trade how about this one Shane Beiber Amen Rosorio and Naylor from Indians. For Pepiot Pages Vargas and Busch that’s a good tradr for both teams and a way better hitting shortstop then Rojas or Taylor.

    1. Rosario is hitting about 30 points higher in batting average and has 3 home runs. He has a -0.5 war this year while Rojas has a 0.9 war this year. No thank you on Rosario over Rojas defense matters. As mentioned Bieber is hurt and one Naylor is a catcher and the other is a 1B/of and is Cleveland’s only power bat other than Ramirez. Don’t think it will happen. Cleveland is not a seller yet anyway.

  13. Bieber’s injured and Naylor plays catcher, other than that I’d say it’s interesting.

  14. 7:05 PM ET

    Dodgers (54-39)
    Orioles (57-36)

    SP Michael Grove R
    1-2 6.89 ERA
    SP Tyler Wells R
    7-4 3.18 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 Miguel Rojas R
    CF James Outman L

    Partly-cloudy-day

  15. “Let’s make a trade just so that we can say we made a trade or… four!”

  16. Okay so everyone here bear Pluto dodger fan duke. You all think the dodgers won’t trade prospects for better talent for the stretch run. Every single trade senerio I say you say no way. When the people you mention to trade will never make it to the big leagues with the dodgers. What you do then is send them else where to get what you need to win a world series. Dodgers need a right handed bat, a better backup catcher, a better hitting 3b and SS preferably a guy that you can put in the lineup every day, and startering pitcher and a player that can hit both righty and lefties*. also a starting pitcher and bullpen help. Okay so isnt rich hill with twins. So go get him Solano infielder and right handed bat and max Kepler a outfielder and I am sure they have a reliever. Trade them Busch Vargas stone and another prospect it wouldn’t be a trade like wow but it would give the Dodgers what they are missing right now. And it doesn’t cost you any guys on the major league roster.

  17. Someone said josh Naylor of the Indians is a catcher. Um no he plays outfield dh or first base. And Amed Rosario has more power the Rojas and has been in playoffs games before and will be a free agent at the end of the year which we could sign him as a SS for next year. Then move Lux back to second base.

    1. There are 2 Naylors in Cleveland Bo a catcher and Josh a 1/b and outfielder. Cleveland is still in a race for first place in the central division they’re not trading either Naylor. Again Rosario has 3 home runs Rojas has 0. Rosario’s war this year is is -0.5 Rojas’ is 0.9 that’s almost 1.5 positive war for Rojas. Rosario is not a better option at short than Rojas. Also Hill is in Pittsburg not Minnesota.

  18. The only trade I would consider is for Arenado. He would be a great acquisition. Otherwise, stand pat.
    Sheehan and Miller are untouchable in my opinion. They will be a part of one of the greatest rotations in the league very soon. CT3… way to go! Big win.

  19. Mickey my thoughts on that to Arenado yes but alot of if guys on here think no way don’t give up pages and Busch and stone and Vargas there are future. Dodgers can get him. If a guy wants to play for a winner. He will say trade me. I think that is what Nolan will tell owners to trade him get some prospects. If we don’t get him then watch. The Yankees will be cause they would love to disappoint the dodgers fans. And then we see Nolan playing the next five years at third base for them. When the boys in blue could have gotten him.

    1. I don’t think Bradley. I know, 100% Nolan Arenado is not being traded. Ohtani might be but it won’t be to the Dodgers. Arenado is not in a position to dictate terms to the Cardinals front office and besides, he loves playing there and has said that several times. You are beating a dead horse, In fact you are beating a horse that is still in the barn and has no chance of getting out.

      1. Never mind that Arenado said he opted in to his contract and intends to stay in St. Louis.

        If Arenado was on the trading block which he’s not I would hope the Dodgers would be a serious contender for his services.

      1. I honestly thought maybe Heyward tweaked his neck that he had hurt 2 days ago, and maybe that’s why he came out.

        But after a dude hits a HR, why pinch hit for him so early??

  21. Nice job by Grove tonight. We have too much depth of prospect talent to eventually lose in rule 5. AF will be making a move at the deadline.

  22. Just my 2 cents I think Friedman will get a starter and maybe a reliever. Grove, Miller and Sheehan have done a great job keeping the team in the playoff hunt. I just think they’re all going to be pushing innings limits. I could easily see going after Giolito, Montgomery or Flaherty to be a workhorse down the stretch. With Miller and Sheehan moving to the bullpen as high leverage relievers. They might get a bat if someone falls in their laps but no one major.

  24. Nice to score a lot of runs and only have one home run. Dodgers got a lot of hits ,they took their walks, and they stole some bases. Nice game !!!

    Max needs a reboot and a hard reset

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