Some time ago, an unnamed fan said that “Michael Grove is nothing more than a trade chip.” Without belaboring the point, that was a serious lapse of judgment on his part. Michael got roughed up pretty good at the beginning of the season, but after the 10th of April, he has been nails. Only Ryan Yarbrough has more innings pitched out of the bullpen than Michael Grove. Look at his stats recently:
Impressive, to say the least. Trade Chip! I call BS! Michael Grove is a very solid part of the Dodgers bullpen. JP Feyereisen is also becoming a lockdown bullpen piece. In his last 15 games he has a 1.33 ERA (0.52 in his last seven). Progress is seldom linear!
Walker Buehler
Yes, he looked very Buhleresque last night. I had made it a point to say that I had no opinion as to how he would come back, because you just never know how a second Tommy John will go, but damn, this is encouraging. I was not counting on him, but if he can keep this up, it changes everything! The Dodgers are taking it easy with their starters and allegedly, Landon Knack may start today. Elieser Hernández will likely be the odd-man-out, as the churn continues.
With Buehler back, Clayton and Miller throwing off a mound, and Phillips just bout ready to be activated, the pitching should continue to get better. The Dodgers are now #4 in TEAM ERA and will likely take over the top spot soon enough. Lux is at .200 and Kike has shown flashes lately.
Miguel Vargas
Some people like to say that Miguel Vargas was given two chances and did not make good in either one. The first one was just a few at-bats at the end of 2022 and the second was when he had two broken digits. Of course, everyone knows that you don’t need fingers to hit. SARCASM ALERT! However, he did nothing to quiet his detractors last night. Add in the near collision with Pages and the detractors must be quite pleased. Actually, EK tried to make it seem like it was Pages fault, but I see it as just two young players who have not played alongside each other that much. It one of those things that hopefully will be ironed out after last night. No harm, no foul.
James Outman
We will see what he is made of as he goes to OKC to play every day and hopefully work on his swing. Some fans are complaining that James was not given a square shot to which my BS Detector goes off. It happens to lots of young hitters and they can either become bitter or better! If James is who I think he is, he will figure it out and be back.
Down on the Farm
OKC NO NAMES BOX I have no clue about Andre Lipcius – Is he a prospect who, at age 26 is just now putting it all together, or is he just a AAAA player tantalizing us? I don’t know, but he has really looked good. Maybe we need to find out. Platoon with Muncy? Why not?
Drew Pomeranz went two innings allowing just 1 hit and 5 strikeouts. Gus Varland pitched 2 shutout innings.
TULSA DRILLERS – Wrobleski went 6 innings and struck out 9.
ACL Vargas took the collar and is hitting .188
GREAT effort from Walker last night!! That smile in the dugout says it all!! Now by no means does this mean he’s 100% . But if he’s anywhere close to 90-95% , wow! …. Now Miller is close to returning……..Clayton throwing and supposedly throwing harder and pain free. ….,,,Glasnow is a beast! (pay no attention to his last start). ………Gavin Stone pitching as well as anyone. ….,,, and don’t forget Yamamoto and Paxton!! …. Thats 7 , count em, 7 starters! All very good starters!!! ……Watching Johnny DeLuca. play very well for The Rays makes me feel. good. Not sure he would have ever gotten a real opportunity with the Dodgers. … ….. I am guessing Vargas may be suffering from a wee bit of nerves. His body language didn’t look so good last night. Really like him to be “the “ guy in left field! …. Weird no Mookie. last night!! …… And now on to the day game after the night game. These games don’t make me have goosebumps! Hunter Greene for the Reds against Landon Knack? ….. Should see Heyward again today along with Barnes! (whew)!! 100 mph from Greene , Swing Austin Swing!
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Landon Knack was scratched from starting tonight for OKC with the possibility of being called up to start tomorrow at Dodger Stadium. #Dodgers #Reds
Hey, it was a great outing by Walker Buehler. The depth on some of the breaking stuff was exceptional. Changing speeds really made a difference. A new approach. A better approach.
Looks like Michael Grove has found his role.
David Peralta was signed to a minor league deal by the Padres. They are reaching for straws. LA picked up a half game on them last night when their game with Atlanta was postponed. Dodgers have the largest lead of any division leader, but are still 2 games back of the Phillies, who I consider their biggest threat in the NL. Phillies have great pitching a very good offense. Vargas needs some time to settle in. Problem is, he is not going to play every day. He will get some time, but it seems the plan is to play Taylor too. Kike will be the third baseman for a while, at least until Muncy comes back. He looks very solid over there. Barnes will most likely catch today. Mookie will be back in there and most likely Heyward too.
Walker just seemed composed with great command. He didn’t overthrow or get behind in counts.
I just don’t understand the Deluca situation. He had speed, power, good outfielder. The Dodgers brought him up but then really didn’t use him. I don’t regret the trade but I am not surprised he is doing well.
A hamstring injury limited DeLuca’s playing time.
My guess is that the Marlins really wanted him in the deal as a low-cost replacement for Margot.
The trade was with the other Florida team, the Rays.
Excellent outing by WB. He still has very good velo (around 95,96 with an occasinal 97,98) but the offspeed pitches were the difference. Good depth on the knuckle curve too.
He should get even better with time.
What I find perplexing in AA: Cartaya is not playing regularly. On nights when he is not catching he should be the DH.
Kid is just turning it around since last week and he needs as many AB as possible.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!
It’s his back.
Seems like the dodgers ship out guys and they perform. Can’t keep em all! I having a hard time understanding a Vargas-Taylor platoon. I keep reading they want to give Chris a long runway. Well how does that help Vargas? The dodgers have plenty of money. If Taylor continues his absolute horrid streak , bite the bullet!!!
I pay no attention to what they say.
..a lesson I take to heart now.
Complete transparency would be a front office disaster. So, yeah.
A great outing by Buehler!
Just one start, but fantastic results. Buehler has had great success in the postseason and if he can stay healthy for October, he could be a difference maker.
I would love to see Walker and Clayton both in the rotation soon.
It will happen
Sunday Dodger Minor League Schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Peter Heubeck) at Dayton (Jared Lyons)
11 a.m.: Tulsa (Orlando Ortiz-Mayr) vs. Wichita (Pierson Ohl)
1:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Dinelson Lamet) at Sacramento (Carson Seymour)
2 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Patrick Copen) vs. Inland Empire (Barrett Kent)
Re Miguelito…
–Fifty ABs is not a lot, but it is not a few either. Pages and Outman certainly showed their ability in their first 50 ABs, but Vargas hit below the Mendoza line and walked only twice. When Roberts needed a righty bat to pinch hit for Belli in the playoffs, he turned to Barnes, not the overhyped rookie. And it was clearly the right call.
–Was he actually PLAYING with broken fingers, or had he recovered? If his fingers were broken, why wasn’t he on the IL? I don’t know of any Dodgers who have been playing with broken fingers, much less an unproven rookie. If his performance was affected by the injury, why didn’t the Dodgers open up the competition for 2B to Busch and others? (Three other Spring training candidates for 2B–Busch, Luke Williams and Jahmai Jones– were on major league rosters while Vargas was sent back to OKC.)
It is obvious, in retrospect, that the Dodgers in Spring ’23 had too much confidence in Vargas’s abilities. But he didn’t hit or walk: his career OBP is .287. And his defense at 2B was far from “stellar,”. as a big fan once insisted. (It puzzles me that Vargas, after playing a lot of 3B in the minors, is not viewed as temporary replacement for Max. But the brass now seem to have ruled out 3B and 2B.)
It’s entirely possible that Vargas, at age 24, will blossom in LF now. That would be great.
Of course it’s also possible that he will prove himself to be a 4A player….
If Max is out a while, then Lipcius could merit a promotion if he keeps hitting like this. An injury to another infielder is possible too. Not unlike Max, he might be a late bloomer.
If you care to read it, I think this explains it all:
https://www.mlb.com/news/miguel-vargas-ready-to-bounce-back-in-2024-for-dodgers#:~:text=%E2%80%9CComing%20into%20the%20spring%20with,His%20numbers%20showed.
When Vargas first came up and stole third. He was full of confidence and enjoying the game. 1 game but last night he looked like a deer in headlights. I say this as I believe in him as a hitter. I just hope mentally he could just throw caution to the wind and let his talent show. I am rooting for him to relax and have the confidence he belongs. We need the best of him.
Being platooned or not playing every day will certainly hurt Vargas’ progression and confidence, A young player needs to play.
Could not agree more. If you do not trust him to play everyday trade him as long as he has good value.At the moment he has thanks to his good numbers at AAA recently. If he fails again in the Show you will not get much for him.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!11
The Dodgers FO surely knows this, and if they don’t do it, ..they will be to blame.
The only truth is between the lines.
Vargas has his next chance now and he has to deliver at age 24. IMHO if he does not he is at the end of the line with the Dodgers. Next man (prospect) up.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
The nugget:
“Coming into the spring with a broken finger and then in the middle of the season getting hit on the hand again, I think that led to a lot of bad habits at the plate,” Vargas said. “I was dealing with a lot of pain and that didn’t fully allow me to be myself.”
OK, he “was dealing with a lot of pain.”
Did he tell the coaches or hide the fact? Even if he was trying to play through the pain. shouldn’t the coaches have noticed something was wrong?
Seems to me that he should been put on IL and not in the lineup. Maybe the Dodgers should have tried Busch. It’s hard to blame Vargas for trying, I guess, but this is not good management.
Logically, that is what he should have done, but his life was all about getting to the Show and you can bet he concealed his pain because he did not want to lose his spot. Of course, any competitive rookie would do that. Is it right? No. But I would expect nothing less from a player like him.
I went to the last two A’s vs. Royals games. I was interested in watching Rooker play. I remember watching him play a little with the Royals and wasn’t impressed. Because of people wanting to trade for himI watched with renewed interest. In nine plate appearances he had two hits, both last night. He struck out six times and without exaggerating he wasn’t close on any off speed pitch. He does have a nice average and some power production and you can’t base a players talent on two games, but I wouldn’t give up any high prospect for him and I would take Vargas over him very time. Again this is based as what I saw of him as a Royal and two games in KC. BTW don’t sleep on the Royals. If their pitching continues they will be a good team. Bobby Witt is the real deal and Salvy as a catcher is really good. They aren’t ready for the big show but they are going in the right direction. I’m far from a professional scout.
From the A´s I only want Mason Miller.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
4:10 PM ET
Reds (19-27)
Dodgers (31-17)
SP Hunter Greene R
2-2 3.27 ERA
SP Landon Knack R
1-1 2.81 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
2B Gavin Lux L
RF J. Heyward L
3B E. Hernandez R
C A. Barnes R
67° Wind 9 mph Out
05/19/24 Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Connor Brogdon on the 60-day injured list.
05/19/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Ricky Vanasco to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
05/19/24 Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of LHP Anthony Banda from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
05/19/24 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Landon Knack from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
05/19/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP J.P. Feyereisen to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
So happy for Buehler. His low and inside cutter is a real weapon against lefties. What starting pitching depth we have. With Sasaki on the way. It’s the foundation of this franchise. If two of the three of Lux, Pages and Vargas can get their bats to their expected levels then October will be a lot of fun this year!
dodgers have a new reliever in town. Betcha he makes his dodger debut today!
Vesia a good job getting out with 1 run. But this why u can’t put him in a playoff game in a tie game. Walk…
Lux where r u?
It’s a long season. Playing SS full-time will wear down Mookie and affect his offense.
Shohei’s “must-contact” approach on his game-winning hit is VERY encouraging!
The reds were held up by a Banda.
Ohtani demonstrates what makes him great!!
The best way to listen to Stephen Nelson and Eric Karros broadcast a Dodger game is with the Mute button on. They offer nothing interesting and are way too bias. How did they ever hire Nelson ?
Roberts on Mookie’s progression at shortstop.
…Taking this on, it’s not going to be linear. ….
Nice job Mark!
Ohtani gets his first walk off hit as a Dodger; we hope the first of many. Nice relief by Vesia, Treinen and Banda. Bullpen has been nails. Looks like Az is going with a bullpen game Monday, Mantiply is the starter.
Nerdy Nelson? What! You don’t like Nerdy Nelson? Karros i can live with. Like i’ve said before, most play by play guys in mlb suck. Thank God Jess wasn’t with him this weekend!! …. Looks like a bullpen game for Arizona tonight. Could be struggles for the Dodgers! ……. Banda looked good. he’ll probably be on a bus later today! ……. Never liked walking the a batter to load the bases! Especially when the pitcher can be a little erratic. But it all worked out. …… Nice piece of hitting by Ohtani! Go Barnes!!