Blame it on Doc!

Posted By on May 16, 2024

Last night’s loss was all on Dave Roberts. He made the decision to only pitch the two call-ups from OKC and no one else! Well, of course, the front office was in on it, too, but if it makes you feel better, blame Dave. Of course, that is sarcasm, but with Snidley Whiplash pitching, the Dodgers just used their AAA pitching and rested the bullpen. BTW, Webb does resemble Snidely Whiplash, who is a fictional character who originally appeared as the main antagonist in the Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties segments of the animated television series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. He is the archenemy of Dudley Do-Right and was listed among the 100 greatest characters in television animation. Notice how they look the same?

Have you ever seen them together? I think not…

Anyway, last night’s game was one the Dodgers were willing to sacrifice so they could live to fight another day. It is still maddening how they can score six runs, then ten runs, and then one run with Betts, Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, Smith, and Teoscar in the lineup. Shouldn’t they accidentally “run in” to a few? OK, I am beating a dead horse!

Here’s what Juan Toribio of MLB.com said:

Coming into the series against the Giants, the Dodgers, who are in the middle of playing 13 consecutive games without an off-day, knew they were going to need pitching help for the finale. After Tuesday’s win, the Dodgers huddled around Roberts’ office to try and figure out who it would be.

The easy decision would have been to start Ryan Yarbrough, who is the best length guy in the bullpen and has plenty of experience starting games. Yarbrough, however, pitched twice over the weekend in San Diego, making him unavailable for significant length. The same applies for Michael Grove, who also came up as a starter, but hasn’t pitched more than two innings in an outing since April 17.

Another option could have been to trot out a handful of relievers and trying to mix and match their way through a game. That option, of course, burns a couple relievers, which is what the Dodgers were trying to avoid.

In the end, the Dodgers elected to select the contract of Hernández and recalled Salazar from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Both pitchers answered the bell, taking down all eight innings and allowing just four runs, keeping the offense within striking distance.

Even with just using depth arms, the Dodgers’ pitching staff extended its franchise record of allowing four or fewer runs to 22 consecutive games. That is tied with the 1924 Senators for the fourth-longest such single-season streak in the live-ball era (since 1920). The 2017 Guardians hold the all-time record, with 25 consecutive games.

“They told me last night that I was going to start, and I just came here really positive that I was going to do my job tonight,” Hernández, who will stay on the active roster moving forward, said in Spanish. “The work I did with [catcher Will Smith], we were on the same page the entire night. All of my pitches were working really well.”

The Dodgers have pitching out the Waaaazzzooo.

Dodger News

MLB.COM rated the TOP 11 switch-hitter prospects, and the Dodgers had one on the list:

10. Thayron Liranzo, C/1B (LAD No. 9)
Liranzo has displayed rare power for a catcher, which allowed him to lead the Single-A California League in homers (24) and OPS (.962) last season. He’s been more consistent batting lefty but still has natural strength and bat speed from both sides. Most of his questions lie on the defensive side. He’s not certain to stick behind the plate, although he has the kind of thump that can make an impact even if he shifts to first base.

MLB.com also lists players who are pleasant surprises. Here’s one for the Dodgers:

Dodgers: Noah Miller, SS/2B (No. 26)
The Dodgers acquired Miller in February’s Manuel Margot trade with the Twins because they viewed him as an outstanding defender and thought he could unlock more offense after he batted .220/.326/.318 in his first three pro seasons. He’s making more contact and driving the ball more consistently this spring, producing a .261/.359/.425 line with five homers in 34 games as he repeats High-A.

Down on the Farm

OKC NO NAMES – Ben Casparius went six innings, allowing just three hits and 1 ER. Drew Pomeranz pitched a clean inning with two Ks.

TULSA DRILLERS Cartaya took the collar.

GREAT LAKES LOONS Gelof was 2-3 with a Double and two BB. Liranzo was 2-5 while Bruns went 4, striking out seven and walking 1. His ERA is 0.71. Wepf went 2 to get the save.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES DePaula was 2-3 with a walk and 2 RBI as he hit his 1st HR.

Damn, I Miss Christine McVie

In the history of the world of music, this is one of the EPICS!

This article has 39 Comments

  1. those two arms called up from AAA did a hell of a job. Especially when considering that Wendelstedt squeezed both of them over and over.
    Offense again proved is up and down , all or nothing, just like in years past.
    Muncys average is closing in on the Mendoza line once again.
    Lineup could use another bat with high average, high OBP in the Arraez mold.

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

    1. Yes. I thought we had one in Pages.I am afraid now we probably don’t.We don’t need to lose Hernández.

  2. The two call-ups did a good job. The offense after the top 4 fizzled out. Ohtani was struck out twice on two of the worst calls all season long. 5-9 in the lineup recorded 7 of the teams 10 K’s. Only Lux hit a ball hard. Pages average has dropped to .260 and Muncy has lost more than 30 points over the last week. His OPS dropped under .800 also. MLB has an umpiring problem, and it is not getting better, it is getting worse. Wendlestedt should retire. Bucknor and Hernandez are consistently awful. The ABS cannot get here soon enough. I would rather see that then the challenge system. Umps K’s zones are not consistent and that is the worst part of the game these days. Too many blown calls in too many games.

    2. The pitchers did their jobs, but this practice of bringing guys up who seem to have zero chance of sticking on the roster just annoys me. I’d have rather seen Knack for an extended stay.
      Or a guy like Dinelson Lamet, since he had a fair amount of success in the past.

      1. A. Knack could not be recalled due to the 15-day rule. He has to stay at AAA for 15 days unless there is an injury. B. Lamet is not on the 40-man, so someone would have to be DFAd or sent down. Both Hernandez and Salazar have prior MLB experience, so it is not like some rookie was tossed on the fire. C. They are in a 13-game stretch where they have no off days. Makes sense that they are looking down the road towards the playoffs and want to keep the big guns on the staff healthy. Just think of the decisions they are going to have to make when first Miller, then Kershaw, are ready to return.

  3. Last nights problem and our problem in general. Top 4: 7-15. Bottom five: 0-18. I’ll be giving Taylor a standing O through my tv against the Reds

  4. I have been a big supporter of Taylor. Especially the walk off homer against the Cards. I just don’t think Taylor is a good fit for this presently constructed roster. Since the Dodgers committed to Teo they have too many ks in the lineup now. I suppose a streaky Taylor at his best but can u count on that?

    The Dodgers need a trade for an outfielder who can put the bat on the ball or bring Vargas up to c if he can be that guy. I could envision a playoff game where with the bases loaded we have Muncy k, teo k, outman k, pages k, Taylor k…. Wait only 3 outs lol

  6. If we send Outman down when Hayward comes back and Pages continues to crater, who plays CF?

  7. David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    Dave Roberts told us after tonight’s game to expect Elieser Hernandez to stick around in #Dodgers bullpen as a long reliever in the near term.

  8. Muncy and Pages are both slumping, Muncy is streaky, and Pages is probably streaky too.

    Max always ebbs and flows. Most sluggers do. Max has a history. Pages doesn’t, so we have to wait and see.

    Outman was/is streaky and can’t hit LHP. Max also struggles with LHP now, so there is that.

    A month from now, we will know a lot more, but I would love to see CT3 to request an assignment to Glendale.

  9. Here are Muncy and Pagers over the past 7, 15 and 30 Games: Muncy is first:
    Compare

  10. Dodgers announced today that Emmet Sheehan had Elbow UCL surgery yesterday. The procedure was complete by Dr ElAttrache. He is officially done for the season.

    With such a deep roster, he was almost forgotten.

    1. I felt that was coming after he was shut down earlier. He will likely not be back until 2026.

  11. 10:10 PM ET

    Reds (18-25)
    Dodgers (29-16)

    SP Tyler Glasnow R
    6-1 2.53 ERA

    Confirmed Lineup
    SS Mookie Betts R
    DH S. Ohtani L
    1B F. Freeman L
    RF T. Hernandez R
    3B E. Hernandez R
    2B Gavin Lux L
    LF Chris Taylor R
    CF James Outman L
    C A. Barnes R

    63° Wind 3 mph L-R

    Very Weak Lineup

    1. Interesting that they are starting Lux and Outman against a LHP… but not Max.

  12. David Vassegh
    @THEREAL_DV
    Bobby Miller said he felt great in his 2 IP yesterday. Threw close to 30 pitches. He was happy with velocity and shapes of his pitches.

  13. 05/16/24 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled LHP Nick Ramirez from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
    05/16/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Eduardo Salazar to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.

  14. How many bases will the Reds steal with Barnes catching tonight?

    1. What if they don’t get on because Glasnow likes to pitch to Barnes?

      How many bases will they steal, then?

  15. Sad for Sheehan. Hang in there young man. Maybe on a steal if Barnes relayed it back to the pitcher he’d have a better chance. Gonna have to be a big night for the top 3 tonight.

  16. I feel so badly for Sheehan. I really felt he had superstar written all over him. Depth is not what it used to be. It just seems like they could have diagnosed this earlier. I mean he has been out 3 months. I trust there were good reasons because I know the Dodgers want him back asap.

    1. Just what I was thinking. Just set down and Glasnow gives up a homer. Throws one right down the middle n gone. Freeman gets 86 right down the middle n can’t hit. Where’s the curve from Glasnow? Freeman hitting almost .300 how? all I c is fouls and chases. To me freeman looks awful just a punch hitter.

  20. Throwaway game. I have seen enough of Outman, bring Heyward back. Taylor definitely needs to take one for the team. Freeman does not look like himself. He is a line drive hitter, and he is not doing that right now. Lux still rolling over on the ball, but at least he is usually making contact. Nothing to see here, go get them tomorrow.

  21. Freeman clearly hitting this year at a level below what he’s done in the regular season over the last 3 yrs.
    At 34 approaching 35 – Is falling a level below an elite hitter his “new normal?”
    If it is, this changes the equation for what the Dodgers need 1 thru 9 in their line-up.

  22. I like the idea of the OKC No Names.
    Sort of like Clint in a spaghetti Western

  23. It looked to me that Jason Heyward was in the Dodger dugout last night and not rehabbing at Oklahoma City. Decision time is here. Who goes and who stays?????? Outman and Taylor trying out last night for who will be leaving. My guess is Outman. I hope it is not Pages.

  24. Glasnow just didn’t seem interested last night. The command wasn’t there. This xtra rest. Well he’s healthy . Another throwaway game. Probably the weakest lineup available. 2 games in a row just no interest in winning. I know we r playing the long game, keeping them healthy(even though our il is loaded blah blah blah. Sorry for the rant but this offense will not do in the postseason.

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