I happen to like hitters who have good bat-to-ball skills. I was reminded yesterday that I championed Andy LaRoche to be a star years ago, and it never happened. Yes, I missed that big time. Subsequent to that, I have been an advocate of Alex Verdugo, Keibert Ruiz, and Miguel Vargas. They all have excellent bat-to-ball skills in common. Of course, Verdugo and Ruiz have been traded away, but I think that Miguel Vargas has such a unique bat-to-ball skill that the Dodgers need to keep him. The Dodgers have Teoscar Hernandez, Max Muncy, and other players who have a lot of swing-and-miss. Vargas is an excellent complement to those players.
The Yankees have been elevated by Alex Verdugo and his bat-to-ball skills. I would not trade Vargas, as he is what the Dodgers need in their lineup. Verdugo has allegedly matured, and while he is hitting around .260, the season is young. He will not win a batting title this year, but there may be one in his future. Ruiz is struggling to stay around .200 after showing signs of hitting last season. Batting average is down across MLB as pitchers are throwing harder and spinning the ball more than ever before and their arms are dropping like flies.
Yes, I missed LaRoche, but here is the difference: I based my analysis on Andy LaRoche, Alex Verdugo, Keibert Ruiz, and Miguel Vargas based on YEARS of watching these players. I did not base it upon watching a couple of games and saying, “This guy can’t play,” as some morons do. Yes, I am not always right. Thank you for reminding me! You can jump to a conclusion in a small sampling, but years of watching generally is more accurate.
Some of you were down on Teoscar Hernadez because he has been slumping of late. Some even suggested that he should platoon. BULLSHIT! Who in their right mind would say that? Teo Hernandez essentially won the game for the Dodgers last night with two home runs including a grand slam. This is a country where FREE SPEECH is guaranteed (well… unless you disagree with the media narrative), but if you are not aware, Free Speech is not Free. Get it? Got it? Good!
It was excellent to put a good old-fashioned beatdown on the Yankees. It would have been even better if the Dodgers had brought out the brooms today. CT3 even got a hit but struck out three times. In his 88 ABs, he has struck out 41 times. Yeah, he’s close to getting back to what he once was… NOT! His strikeout rate is way up, and his BAbip is way down. That’s a recipe for hitting .100!
Are You a Pessimist or an Optimist?
Ronald Reagan’s favorite story or joke concerns twin boys of five or six. It goes like this:
“Worried that the boys had developed extreme personalities – one was a total pessimist, the other a total optimist – their parents took them to a psychiatrist.”
First, the psychiatrist treated the pessimist. Trying to brighten his outlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with brand-new toys. But instead of yelping with delight, the little boy burst into tears. ‘What’s the matter?’ the psychiatrist asked, baffled. ‘Don’t you want to play with any of the toys?’ ‘Yes,‘ the little boy bawled, ‘but if I did, I’d only break them.’”
Next, the psychiatrist treated the optimist. Trying to dampen his outlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with horse manure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the optimist emitted just the yelp of delight the psychiatrist had been hoping to hear from his brother, the pessimist. Then he clambered to the top of the pile, dropped to his knees, and began gleefully digging out scoop after scoop with his bare hands. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ the psychiatrist asked, just as baffled by the optimist as he had been by the pessimist. ‘With all this manure,’ the little boy replied, beaming, ‘there must be a pony in here somewhere!’
Some fans are just born pessimists. No matter what happens, they are going to see flaws. Me? I’m looking for the pony! Some Dodger fans are secretly disappointed after the first two games against the Yankees as they have nothing to bitch about and their lives are pointless. 😉
Coming into New York, the Dodgers were ramped up to play what is/was allegedly the best team in baseball, and they turned it up. I still believe the Dodgers are the best team in baseball, and if they need to make a move, they will. I am not advocating moving Mookie back to 2B, but if Bo Bichette becomes available at the trade deadline, I would do that. Lux could be part of that deal. Bo and Gavin could both benefit from new surroundings.
It was rumored yesterday that the White Sox had asked for Josue DePaula, Dalton Rushing, and Landon Knack for Luis Robert, Jr. I would do that in a heartbeat. Yes, that is a lot to give. Robert has an extensive injury history, but his upside is too great to ignore. Bichette is a natural SS, and his bat could come alive with the Dodgers. Outman will be back soon, but with Outman and Pages, we need to realize that Outman can’t hit LHP, and Pages can’t hit RHP. We know that about Outman, but it appears to be the same with Pages. Pages OPS against LHP is .866 but is just .662 against RHP. The difference between him and Outman is that he exhibits power against his same-side pitchers while Outman doesn’t.
Try this out:
- Betts 2B
- Ohtani DH
- Freeman 1B
- Smith C
- Muncy 3B
- T. Hernandez LF
- Robert, Jr. CF
- Heyward/Pages RF
- Bichette SS
It could happen. Vargas and Ryan would likely have to be a part of that deal for Bichette. It depends upon their record as to whether Toronto will be sellers. We won’t know until the deadline.
X-CITES
When are we going to see Lipcuis?
Yeah, easier to say now after these last two games against the Bronx Bombers— but I just don’t think you platoon a 23.5M salary….
Cheers…and enjoy Sunday night baseball….
Great series to watch and stick to all my Yankee friends and relatives who told me before the series started we would get swept. Shame on them! Alex Vesia is beast among men. You were right on this one Mark. Would be nice to take the brooms out tonight.
You do A LOT of speculating on significant trades and line-up changes for someone who believes the Dodgers are already the best team in baseball as presently constructed.
So why assume the downside risks of making these major personnel moves if everything is already good enough as is?
Depending on what the Dodgers give up for Bichette, it may or may not be a “big risk.”
But regardless of the package for Robert, Jr. ..he IS a big risk because of his injury history.
Sunday schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jacob Meador) vs. Cedar Rapids (Jordan Carr)
12:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Alec Gamboa) vs. Round Rock (Max Scherzer)
2 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (River Ryan) vs. Visalia (Adonys Perez)
4:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Jared Karros) at Amarillo (Cole Percival)
Sunday will be the second start of the season for River Ryan, the team’s top pitching prospect. Ryan missed the first two months of the season with shoulder soreness, and pitched two scoreless innings in the Arizona Complex League on Monday in his season debut.
Another rumor has us getting Robert jun. for Cartaya, River Ryan and Outman/or Pages.
Since I would like to hold on to Rushing and dePaula I like that trade more than the one Mark mentioned above.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guys I wonder about their roles:
Vargas–2025 LF?
Lux–Some other team’s 2B?
Outman–Platoon CF with Pages moving to RF?
I suspect the Dodgers value both Pages and Outman more highly than Vargas. Any of the three could be traded, especially if the Dodgers go after a guy like Luis Robert.
While Outman is in OKC now, he’s had the most major-league success of the three, and is the best fielder as well. He also takes walks, which is something that Pages rarely does.
In the Spring of ’23, Lux and Vargas were supposed to be the Dodgers’ young, dynamic keystone combo. Now both have played their way into limited roles. Both are expendable–and have contracts that are easier to trade than Chris Taylor’s.
Trade anyone who doesn’t fit the long-term plan. Even if for prospects to add to the system.
I said weeks ago, If Bichette is available go get him. He would be reborn!! After the game last night i was thinking as another person said earlier, Taylor was in left field for his defense. If the dodgers dont like him in left, where’s he gonna play? …. Gavin Lux? what to do?? Hate to give up on him, but time is starting to run out for him! Maybe he does need a change of scenery. ……. When will we see Lipcius? soon i hope. ……. Teo? He’s gonna strike out a lot. But his production is huge!! leave him alone!! …….. Personally, i would rather trade vargas than pages! Again, i believe Vargas could use a change of scenery also and Andy is much better defensively………. Finally , if i come home from work and the house is a mess i bitch! If i come home and the house is clean i look for other reasons to bitch! Point? that’s what we do! i’m never gonna be a Barnes fan, but he’s a dodger!! So go Barnes!! Love Mookie , Freddie, Will, and rest of the guys. This weekend has been a great showcase of the potential of this team!! It needs a couple of changes to be special! But the Rockies are looming ! 4 in colorado. Lose 2 games or God forbid 3 and we’ll all need white jackets!! So keep the house clean and we will have to look really hard to find something to bitch about!!
I don’t see Friedman dealing for a big bat, but will look to upgrade the offense on the margins with another utility player.
The Dodger are all in this year and I think AF goes BIG! Need Roberts Jr. We have the prospect capital to get it done.
Yes, but it’s still a very tall order for AF to outbid others for Robert, Jr.
But sure, the guy in a Dodgers uniform would be intriguing ..to say the least.
I think our main competition for Roberts Jr. may be Atlanta because of their loss of Acuna Jr.
Yup
I really enjoy these Twit–I mean, X snippets following that follow today’s essay-cum-rant. The rant is OK too.
It would be great to have a contact hitter at the bottom of this lineup. Actually, it would be great if Lux was that guy, but perhaps it’s time to move on….. to Bo Bichette? Maybe.
It’s been reported that the Guardians want Bichette, but I still think the Jays want to build around him and Vlad Jr. But who knows?
A lineup with both Robert and Bichette? That would scary. And it does seem possible, if costly. What the hell–let’s add Mason Miller too.
It will be interesting to see what Team AF does. There are so many possibilities.
In the meantime, it would be great to see what Lipcius can do. It’s been reported that Dodger scouts had been high on him for years, and so the Dodgers jumped at the chance to acquire him. Did the Dodgers coaching tap his new power? Maybe. The Dodgers have revived the career of several pitchers, but it’s been awhile since they fixed a hitter like they did with JT and Max. Maybe Lipcius is one.
The only way I MIGHT do that deal with the White Sox’s is they take Taylor and his salary. SO it would be DePaula, Rushing, Knack and Taylor for Roberts. Opens up a spot on the 40 man roster and gives a graceful end to a good guy (Taylor) who needs a change.
No team will take on Taylor’s salary. The Dodgers would have to eat most of it.
How about…. Taylor plus Vargas and second-tier RP for the Angels’ Luis Rengifo?
Rengifo is having a career year, and his lefty bat would complement Kike’s righty bat in the UT role.
If AF decides against pursuing Robert, he could shop down in Anaheim for an outfielder like Taylor Ward and Rengifo. As I’ve mentioned before, part of my rationale is sentimental. I want Taylor, who has established roots in SoCal, to have a soft landing. Arte Moreno doesn’t like dealing with the Dodgers, but he might make an exception if the Dodgers are paying Taylor’s salary.
I’ve seen Jo Adell mentioned in rumors too. He is finally having something of a breakout, but my guess is that AF would seek more proven players.
I do not like Smoltz too much but he said what many of us here and on other Dodger blogs say too: Need two more bats with high OBP to compliment our sluggers.
If Vargas, Lux , KIke, CT3 can not provide that in the next two months AF has to go the trade route and he will just do that. even if costs some of our blue chip prospects. I agree with the poster who said we are all in this season.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great game last night
Mark,
Can’t argue with that lineup that includes Robert’s (yes injury concerns) and Bichette.
This makes us younger and more athletic
Talyor, Kike, Lux and Vargas should be included in these trades or DFA’D in Taylor’s case. And yes we are going to lose a bunch of top talent but if not now when?
That’s 4 spots off the 40 man to allow for Robert’s/ Bichette .
Then add to your bench with Lipcius and either Owings or Gauthier.
Only possible concern is that we are Righty dominant, at least until Muncy comes back and replaces one of the lesser performing players.
Pitching is very solid barring any new injures and the potential return of our current injured pitchers over the next 2-3 months.
Andrew, all the posters have done the work for you, make this happen
Go Dodgers!!
Another good win by the Dodgers against the Yankees. Teoscar provided the offense, but Gavin Stone deserves some credit as well. His ERA is now 2.93 and he has pitched great all year. He is right there with Yamamoto and Glasnow as the best pitcher so far this season at the bargain price of $700,000 a year! A good example of the Dodgers ability to develop homegrown pitching.
Good call Mark. Robert & Bichette would be awesome. And here’s why. Dodgers FO loves Vargas. They brought him up to get 100% acclimated to the whole big league scene and it’s culture. Be on the bench and learn. In the mean time showcase Outman, Ryan, Pages and hand CT3 & Kike a rope….then
Betts 2b
Ohtani dh
Freeman 1b
Smith c
T. Hernandez rf
Robert Jr. cf
Bichette is
Vargas of
Rojas 3b*
Until Max gets back
Book Em
Like how your narrative goes outside the box. Maybe AF is outmaneuvering the crowd.
Why would the front office love Vargas at this point?
Certainly they did love him, which is why he got the late promotion in ’22 and even made the playoff roster….even though he hit below the Mendoza line.
They loved him more in ’23, when he was basically awarded the 2B job with no competition. Very odd considering he was recovering from hand injuries. He had about a half season to prove himself, but he failed on both offense and defense and was sent back to OKC.
Right now he is sitting while Chris Taylor is playing. Vargas has had only 20 ABs. Perhaps the front office still loves Taylor more.
Remember: Vargas played a lot of 3B in the minors, but the Dodgers now just see him as a leftfielder.
If the Dodgers aren’t going to play Vargas, why not send him back to OKC and bring up Lipcius?
I
The Vargas issue, with him not playing while Taylor doesn’t make sense to most of us.
Lately Taylor has been playing a lot – is it because the Dodgers are giving him one last audition before maybe DFA-ing him?
Only watched one of Taylor’s at bats last night – started 2-0, then finished with 3rd call strike with a pitch pretty much in the middle of the zone. To say he is lost would be an understatement.
It will be interesting to see who of us that are subjectively offering our thoughts is the closet to what will actually transpire. Which would then make our thoughts “objective”??
They are slow playing Miguel for a reason. Duh. Subjectively is could be because his first 2 cups of coffee he was so mad because he was failing. Never happened before. He was failing to see the big picture. Fast forward and the FO wants him to get totally acclimated to the players, coaches, and all the small nuances of being in the bigs. Rest assured, Taylor will be dfa’d, subjectively.
Book Em
I don’t think the Dodgers are designing their rosters and dictating their strategy for the benefit of Miguel Vargas and his emotional state. On this roster he would only play LF and bat no higher than 7th.
There use to be reason to think the brass loved Miguelito. They did that by playing him.
Now you seem to be saying they are showing their love by coddling him… by keeping him on the bench and letting Taylor play. So he can “see the big picture” and get “acclimated.”
Riiight.
Good look at Alex F over at Dodgers Digest:
https://dodgersdigest.com/2024/06/09/alex-freeland-is-becoming-a-top-dodgers-prospect/
I like this Bruce Kuntz on X, didn’t know he wrote for that site.
Also, today’s Yankee starter is another testament to the idea of trading excess ML talent you are going to lose for nothing in exchange for “lottery tickets”.
Sometimes they pay off. Usually they won’t.
Thanks for the link.
It would be great if the Dodgers can have a real competition for the SS job next Spring.
(X is the social network that used be called Twitter. Anyone can post there. I’m glad that Kuntz and others who follow the Dodgers are doing so.)
What a wonderful lift these first two games have given us! Our pitching is as good as anyones, and a great defensive game by Kiki! Good d all around. Called third strikes on kt3 are hard to understand. Please, just go away.
7:10 PM ET ESPN Sunday Night Baseball
Dodgers (41-25)
Yankees (45-21)
SP Tyler Glasnow R
6-4 2.92 ERA
SP Luis Gil R
8-1 1.82 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
LF T. Hernandez R
RF J. Heyward L
CF Andy Pages R
2B Gavin Lux L
3B E. Hernandez R
76° Wind 10 mph Out
Took me a while to remember Vargas was on the roster. Bench is Taylor, Rojas, Barnes & Vargas, right?
That is correct
If the Blue Jays make star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. available this summer, it appears that the Cubs would be among the suitors for his services. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported this morning that Chicago’s brass have “privately discussed” the possibility of pursuing Guerrero ahead of the trade deadline next month.
that would be great, that means Bichette would also be available earlier. ….. Haven’t heard from Bradley lately. Hope he’s ok. His trade ideas aren’t always feasible, but they sure are entertaining!! And he also suggested Bichette weeks ago. …. Really shocked Barnes not in the lineup today. I know it’s a night game, but Doc loves sitting Will on Sundays!! lol. …. hopefully Lux can keep his helmet on tonight!! He seems to have a problem with that!!
The Dodgers really want this sweep, and no game tomorrow so everyone rests ..hence, Smith catches this game
For what’s it’s worth.
Max Scherzer had a rehab start today against our AAA club.
He faced Lipicus 2x’s and struck him out twice using a total of
6 pitches.
He faced Gauthier 1x and struck him out on 3 pitches.
At least Owings who faced him 1x made contact grounding out to 2nd base.
Yeah
Go Dodgers!!
Sorry but I can’t see the love for Luis Robert’s. He’s a career .276 hitter, he has struck out 404 times and walked 83 times. His on base average is .323, he’s not a threat on the base paths. I’ll give him the.823 OPS. Is that worth 3 top ten prospects? Use those projects in a trade, I’m all in. We can do much better than Robert’s. Currently we have five regulars with a OPS higher than .823
How do you know how robust the set of available OF will be?
Or how robust do you think it will be?
Don’t have any idea. What I do have an idea about is getting value for value. Go get Roberts I’m good with that but I’m not good with a gross over pay. I suggested earlier that if you threw in Taylor and his contract the value for value would be closer. Would you give three top 10 prospects for Max Muncy? His and Roberts career OPS. Are the same. Muncy a good player and has contributed to the Dodgers. But Rushing and especially De Paula is to much to give.
Don’t have any idea. What I do have an idea about is getting value for value. Go get Roberts I’m good with that but I’m not good with a gross over pay. I suggested earlier that if you threw in Taylor and his contract the value for value would be closer.
In business you have to determine wants and needs. Sometimes you might gamble if you have a real need but it’s foolish to gamble capital on wants. Like Mark I started a business from ground up. I’d see my competitions with brand new toys and luxuries that I wished I had for our business. I learned to wait a year or two I could buy their luxuries plus their blue sky on pennies on the dollars. I dealt with small budgets and billion dollar budgets, each are the same, every asset counts whether it’s money or infrastructure. You can’t be afraid to expend money, but if you go out and try the get the best new toy out there and not think of what if might cost down the line, you are putting yourself and your entity in a dangerous position. Okay I’m off my soap box.
I am afraid this will be what we c in the playoffs. Lux, pages, can’t make contact to move a runner. Just throw lux an inside fastball or the top of the zone n he will k. That is why we need a bat. Kike n pages weak against righties and lux just weak. Got to get a bat. Platoon pages in the playoffs mb with outman or Heyward if a move is not made. I believe AF will get a bat.
Lux is toast.
Heyward was the one who failed in that inning.
Decisions will be made.
Heyward yes agree but he didn’t k. U know the other 2 k. Glasnow 2 little 2late. Dodgers refuse to score for him and play crappy d. Pages should have caught judges ball n now Mookie can’t make play. Glasnow seems to give up a homer every game. Dodgers don’t score. Game over.
Glasnow is the tits
Shut me up, Lux!
And in the Captain Obvious department tonight…..Mookie is not a very good defensive SS. AF has to find a good defensive SS and get Mookie to 2B or RF.
His glove will possibly hurt the Dodgers in the post season as much as his lack of clutch offense. Subjective comment!
Glasnow has got to be relieved. The Dodgers scored and he was pitching!! Way to go Mookie, lux, pages!! Tried to use a little trash talk to get the bats moving. Take over Cassidy.
Have yourself a series Teo!
Maybe the NYY should forget about Soto and prioritize Teo this offseason
pay the man!! dodgers can’t let teo get away!!! Glasnow is nasty!!!
Pages hit 3rd with the wrong foot
Just when I’m about to give up on Lux, he gets three hits, showing off those bat-to-ball skills.
Tough loss. Grisham has always been a good player, despite his .100 BA. Seems at his best against the Dodgers. Came up big in the clutch.
Oh well.
Pages with a rough night. Probably should have caught the ball in CF when he jumped but didn’t have too and then the slide into 3B on Hernandez’s sac bunt with a raised right leg. If he had used that leg to hit the base rather than his bent leg he’s safe. WTH was that?
Therealten, after seeing how Teo responded to my platooning suggestion, I think my work is done! I’m done advocating for more playing time for Vargas. If the Dodgers don’t believe in him, why should I? Fun series. Judge is a beast. So fun to watch him play. CF continues to be an issue for us both offensively and defensively, so I’m all in on Robert Jr. He’s young, cheap and controllable and ESPN had him ranked as the 23rd best player in baseball. We have the minor league depth to make it happen. But I’m good with Lux. Still think there’s a star in him. No on Bichette.
Cassidy, Robert was the 23rd best player then, he sure isn’t now. He is hitting .205, hasn’t played in two days, and he has 2 homers and 2 RBI’s. How much is an injury prone player like him worth? Sorry, I just do not see LA getting into a bidding war for an oft injured player. You think the Dodgers are the only team in need of outfield depth? Atlanta would be all over that guy. Dodgers have a lot of mid-level talent, but their star power at AAA is weak. Pages is not as bad of a defender as you might think. He misjudged a ball today, but he has only made one error. He has more homers, a higher OPS, more RBI’s than Robert does. He had a slump and has come out of it. I don’t think they will trade for a star player. I think they go more for a good hitting outfielder who gives them some contact. AF is not going to pay the price for damaged goods.
Robert’s 2024 stats are a small sample that is obviously not reflective of his ability. The ’23 stats are more relevant.
Is he injury-prone? Maybe. So was Glasnow, and the Dodgers just made a big investment in him. They also offered a nice contract to inury-prone Corey Seager but he apparently didn’t really love the Dodgers, or LA, or the state taxes.
Anyway, the injury risk will likely factor into the offer. Is it a dealbreaker? I doubt that.
AF has A LOT of options to improve this team. The pitching seems in good shape, but perhaps the Dodgers could add Tanner Scott to the pen at a reasonable cost.
Bichette and/or Robert would be the biggest fish, but a lot of outfielders should be in play.
Is Bichette the only real option for upgrading the middle infield? If AF deems SS the top priority, that could happen, and perhaps a lesser outfielder could be added, perhaps one from Anaheim…
Only playing 100 games or more once in his four full years in the majors is a HUGE RED flag. And he has missed more than 30 games this season. I am not denying that the guy is a huge talent, he is, but unfortunately, he is a ticking time bomb injury wise. Mookie has been more than adequate at SS. Most of his errors have been on throws. I have seen so many guys suggesting that Mookie should move back to RF. Unfortunately, these guys obviously never read or listen to interviews with the player. Mookie is more comfortable in the infield. He is not moving back to right. He could move over to second if they were to make a trade for a SS. But guys are also not listening to what other GM’s and teams are saying about trades. The Jay’s GM has stated that trading Guererro or Bichette does not make any sense for the team. Guys are hoping for a big star trade. AF rarely does that at the deadline. His MO is trading for complementary pieces. Machado was out of need. Turner was because DC knew they could not get both Ruiz and Gray for just Scherzer. Other than that, he has never picked up a star type player at the deadline. Mookie came in the winter. Guys bitched about him letting Seager walk. Seager left because the Rangers offered him a ton of money in a place that does not have state income tax. Dodgers offered him 100 million less. Seager is also injury prone. In 10 years in the bigs, he has played more than 100 games just five times. And he is out right now with a strained hammy. If AF gets an outfielder, it will be someone more along the lines of a player like Pham or Taylor Ward. But it is doubtful Moreno trades anyone to LA.
I think Vargas gets traded. He has no defensive position, looks very uncomfortable in the OF. Outman is our best CF defender, hopefully he comes back soon and gets back to last year’s production at the plate. Pages should play most days in right with JHey getting the occasional start. Lipsicus should get a chance right now! Kike is a pinch hitter/defensive OF replacement type player only.
Jack Harris
@ByJackHarris
Some Dodgers injury updates, per Dave Roberts
–– Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to throw another three-inning sim game, then could be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment
–– Bobby Miller could be ready to return after pitching 4+ innings in a rehab outing with OKC last night. No final decisions yet, but with a stretch of 13-straight games starting next week, a six-man rotation is a possibility
Great series, love this team!
Hey Duke definitely not Snider. Why don’t you give us your insight on why the Dodgers are slow playing Vargas. Why is he on the roster? ? Hmmm. Cat got your tongue. Well I guess you don’t have to be a critical thinker to cut people down. Have a take and do not suck. Right.
Book Em
Shouldn’t your name be Danno?
Welcome to the unofficial those whose fake names end with an “o” club!
If the Dodgers don’t believe in Vargas, why is he on the roster. Could’ve left him in OKC. He is being slow played for a calculated reason.
Book Em
Good question
Kyle Tucker would be fantastic…. but will the Astros be sellers?
Not so sure about that. The Astros are a good, proud franchise that is 4.5 games out in the Wild Card race. Their fans would be pissed if they threw in the towel. A winning streak could get them back into race–and a losing streak could put Tucker on the market.
For that matter, will the Blue Jays sell? They are only two games out of a Wild Card.
Right now, the White Sox, Angels, Athletics, Marlins and Rockies should clearly be sellers. A few teams should join that list.
I am rooting against the Trashtros! Always!
If my voodoo powers work , Kyle Tucker will be on the market. I’d be more than fine with an OF of Tucker in RF, Teo in LF and an Outman/Pages platoon in CF.
But I think Robert is much more likely to be traded. AF and his team, I assume, will do a deep dive on Robert’s injury history. Is it a chronic issue or dumb luck? Could the Dodgers help Robert stay healthy with better conditioning?
But speaking of OF, it sure seems that the Dodgers could add a few years to Teo’s deal. Here’s a quote from Teo via mlb.com:
“I want to stay. I don’t want to keep bouncing around the league. I feel good here, comfortable. I think this is a good chance for me to win. That is the most important thing for me. It’s a great group. I would love to stay.”
And Robert’s contract is team-friendly, with an AAV below $20m for the next 3.5 years. He’d cost a few prospects, but would be cheaper than top FA options.
Seriously?
I think you need to have a better explanation for why the Dodgers are not playing Vargas much at all.
Can you provide an example of any current Dodgers who were “slow-played” onto the roster?
Roberts has been playing Pages plenty so the Dodgers can better assess his performance at the ML level. Seems clear to me the Dodgers value Pages more than they value Vargas. Last season, the Dodgers did not “acclimate” Outman but put him in CF from the start–and he finished 3rd in ROY voting. His ML achievements far exceed what Pages and Vargas have delivered.
If I understand your reasoning, you are suggesting, in essence, that Taylor is being played so that Miguelito, as a highly valued prospect, can be gradually eased and “acclimated” to the majors. But Vargas has already had 323 ABs in the majors, producing a .195 BA and .291 OBP. He even made the playoff roster in ’22. And let’s not forget that the Dodgers gift-wrapped 2B for him last season –but now they don’t want him playing 2B at all. How much acclimation is necessary?
He mostly played 3B in the minors, but the brass hasn’t used him at 3B in the majors. Alas, he apparently is not considered UT material. I’ve read that he is best suited to play 1B or DH–but it would take an injury to open up those spots. Where is Vargas on the depth chart?
The Dodgers may indeed keep Vargas because a trading partner would understandably prefer Outman or Pages, much as the Rays prefered Jonny De Luca.
Understand that I’d rather see Vargas get the ABs that Taylor is getting. I assume Vargas wants the opportunity too. But I don’t see AF and Robert dictating their roster and strategy to help Vargas. If the brass really wants to help Vargas, they should play him–or trade him.
I too think the “slow-playing-Vargas” narrative doesn’t hold water. If they really dislike his defense that much, then just option him back to OKC and bring up someone else in his spot. Speculating there’s some behind-the scenes rancor between himself and the FO, and the team is looking to unload him this summer.
Me?
Hey Mark, some old musician friends of mine live in Indiana and play at different venues around the state. If you ever get a chance, you should check them out, they are really good. The McGuires. Max and Barbara.
I believe I heard them play at a Winery a couple of years ago. We just moved to Mooresville, Indiana, which is about 30 minutes from where they are from (Columbus, IN).
They play a lot of venues around my neck of the woods. I’ll check them out.
Cool, if you do, tell them you know Bear. They are playing in someplace called Nashville Indiana soon,
Cool, if you do, tell them you know Bear. They are playing in someplace called Nashville Indiana soon, tell Max I told you to have him sing, Long Haired Country Boy! LOL.
He says “Book ’em,” and his name is Dano.
Cue the theme from Hawaii Five-0….
Players poll at The Athletic:
($$$)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5529966/2024/06/10/mlb-player-poll-overrated-underrated-worst-organization?source=user-shared-article
Ohtani best player.
Betts Best vibes.
Lots more good stuff
You say Rojas is hitting over his head, Eric, and nobody is going to expect him to win a batting title, but this is his 11th MLB season and including this year he has hit over .280 five times.
If you couple that with his excellent defense, he’s definitely an asset. The only disadvantage when you compare him with CT3 and Kike is that he can’t play outfield.
Thanks for that, Eric.
We definitely need a tweak or two.
It will help once (if?) Muncy returns and Lux has another month or so to show he’s capable of being the second baseman or AF will do something about that.
We’ll also know more about the Pages/Outman/Vargas situation by the deadline so the front office can decide what they want to do, if anything, about that.
Duke, why don’t you just give us your insight as to why ‘miguelito’ is on the roster. I did.
Wayne I didn’t suggest they were slow playing him. They brought him up and they aren’t playing him. What else is it if not slow play? Why is he there and not playing. Perplexing.
Book Em
Bluto that’s good.
But fake name or real you’ll never know.
Tucker would be great. Right now, he is on the 10-day IL. It would take a huge offer to pry him away from the Astros. And since Houston is only 4.5 games out of the Wild-Card, probably a little premature to think they will be sellers at the deadline. Their most ideal trade component is Bregman, who is a free agent after the season. I still believe Freidman will NOT pursue a big-name talent at the deadline. It just has not been his MO.
I think it would take at least DePaula, one other top 10 prospect and a couple of lower tier guys. Astros at this point are not sure if they will be able to sign him long term Also I think the Stros would want some pitching depth. They are down some arms. They might want someone like Knack or Hurt.
Well, AF landed a couple of big names a couple seasons ago in Scherzer and Trea Turner.
I don’t think AF is averse to adding stars. It all depends on the need and the market.
There’s a lot of talk that Bregman will be traded, and I love his game, as well as his reaction to Joe Kelly’s fastball up near his noggin.
If Max’s condition remains unclear, Bregman would be a great pickup. Maybe it’s time to move on from the trash-can enmity.
But first, can we please get a look at Lipcius?
No ex-stros
Tucker has no ties to the cheaters. He has only been in the league a couple of years, is one of the best outfielders in baseball and can do nothing but lengthen the lineup. Help the defense and make this team better. As for Bregman, who is rumored to be on the block, he was a member of the cheaters. No thanks.
I may change my fake name to Mark Timmonso.
If jumping to conclusions were an Olympic sport, we might have some Gold Medalists.
While I cannot definitively say what exactly is happening, I do not think the Dodgers would have called up Miguel Vargas if they were not high on him. “Hey, ya’all, let’s call Vargas up and sit him for no reason because we are not high on him and we are dumb as hell! The Dodgers are not dumb. That I know.
I also know two other things:
#1 – After Vargas had two broken fingers last year, he picked up some bad habits and never felt comfortable, and there are times this year when he still looks uncomfortable.
#2 – He has been spending a lot of time with RVS and Company.
This leads me to believe that they are working on something and that they believe they they can “fix” whatever it is without sending him back to OKC.
Feel free to disagree, but to me, that makes the most sense and of course, they are not going to announce it to the world.
I do not believe for a minute that the Dodgers value Outman and Pages over Vargas… and LH is no problem for him to play. He will be fine there. Just my opinion.
Vargas, Lux & Outman walk into a bar . . .
… and Vargas says, “What did I ever do to Doc?”
Trade deadline is the 30th of July this year.
I know you don’t have any favorite players (cough, cough), but why would the Dodgers value Vargas over Pages and Outman?
Talk about subjective vs. objective…
Both Outman and Pages have outplayed him on the big stage, on both offense and defense. That’s an objective reality, backed by all the data, as well as the subjective judgments of Roberts and others. Outman and Pages are trusted to play all over the OF–and Vargas, no longer considered viable at 2B or 3B, is limited to LF. His value as a defender has diminished, right?
Let’s consider an objective comparison of career ML stats:
Vargas — 323 ABs, BA of .195, OBP of .291, OPS of .654
Outman– 605 ABs, BA of .235, OBP of .339, OPS of .754
Pages– 173 ABS, BA of .260, OBP of .311, OPS of .721
Also: Outman’s career WAR is +3.0, while Vargas’s is -0.5.
Again, the backhanded slap to Outman is remarkable. He is one season removed from hitting to a .790 OPS and a 3rd place finish in ROY balloting. He started the season with a classic sophomore slump, and is now raking in OKC while playing top-flight defense. But it’s Miguelito who gets your love….even though he is one season removed from failing in The Show and finishing the season in OKC, while his peers Outman and Michael Busch were playing in LA.
But maybe you’re right.
Maybe Taylor is getting the starts because the brass just want to keep Vargas on the bench during games. They just want him to stay off the field during games and want him to work with the batting coaches to “fix” whatever is the problem now….even though we’ve heard for years that he’s the best pure hitter in the system. Well, the minor league system, evidently.
I’ve been rooting for Miguelito-and Pages and Outman– and wishing for months that Taylor might strain an oblique to give Vargas and now Lipcius a chance to play. But Taylor just hasn’t cooperated.
BTW, some Dodgers yakkers on Youtube were bemoaning Kike’s bunt the other day. If Roberts didn’t trust Kike to make contact, why didn’t he put Vargas in as a pinch hitter?
A fair question, I think. I wonder if the though crossed Roberts’s mind.
I get your sophomoric humor of calling him Miguelito. It’s pathetically funny!
You enjoy mocking him. It’s a sickness. I hope you get well soon.
I do have a favorite player, Alex Freeland.
You are a legend in your own mind!
Old man Miguel Rojas is Miguel, or Miggy. Young Miguel Vargas is Miguelito, or “Little Miguel.”
But no, I do not use the nickname to mock him.
I use Miguelito to needle you, Mark. To get under your skin because you have long regarded him as a personal favorite, always predicting great things while a peer like Outman was just “lucky” and overrated. Etc. The loser Hare to Miguelito’s winning Tortoise. Everybody who reads this site knows that you have a high regard for Vargas, despite his performance in the majors.
But who knows? Maybe Miguelito will turn it around. Maybe Von Scoyoc has fixed him and he’ll start tomorrow and bat .400 for the rest of the season while playing Gold-Glove caliber defense. (Wasn’t he hitting in OKC? Isn’t that why he got called up? Puzzling.)
I don’t understand why you had so much trouble acknowledging your obvious affection for Miguelito.
Have you really abandoned him for Alex Freeland? Don’t do that! It’s OK to have two favorites!
As for my status as a legend….
Project much?
And when the hell will we see Lipcius?
By August 1, Vargas will either be playing in OKC again ..or playing for another organization.
Either way, he’s not going to be on the Dodgers parent club beyond that date.
That’s my opinion/prediction.
That is a possibility, but I do not believe there is a connection between him not playing and an actual trade.
I’ll agree to disagree w/you.
Why would they bring him up to sit him if there was not a reason?
Unless you can explain that, you have nothing!
Give me something logical!
Is it logical that a guy who was raking in OKC would be called up to mostly sit on the bench and get special attention from Von Scoyoc? If he was hitting in OKC, he must have been doing something right.
I think we are all grasping for an explanation….
–Maybe Taylor is getting played to prove he is healthy for a team willing to take him on–assuming the Dodgers pay 92% of his salary. (I’m rooting for a deal with the Angels.)
–Maybe there’s a power struggle between AF and Roberts!!! Perhaps AF wants Vargas to play, but Roberts still believes more in Taylor than in Vargas. (I have always rejected the idea that Roberts has zero say in making out the lineup card or making moves during the game.)
–Positioning Vargas for a trade? Hard to say. AF has a lot of options. If he goes after Luis Robert, the Sox might insist on Pages or Outman to take over CF, and thus Vargas is spared. Is it possible Vargas is up to burnish his ML resume? Would trading him from LA have a little more cachet than trading him from OKC? By not playing him, the risk of injury is reduced.
I suspect Vargas is a bit envious of Michael Busch. He’d probably welcome a trade to a team that would play him.
I’m all in favor of trying to get Tucker but can someone please explain to me why we think the Astros can’t afford to re-sign him?
If we assume Bregman won’t be back and Verlander will be gone either after this year or next (he’s exactly on track for innings pitched to vest for 2025), those are two of their higher paid players.
Maybe they don’t want to bring back Tucker for some reason, but I think they can definitely afford him if they want to.
Well, they can afford it, but Crane is pretty tight-fisted when it comes to long-term deals. and Tucker will get a $300 Million deal.
I am rooting against the Trashtros! Always!
If my voodoo powers work , Kyle Tucker will be on the market. I’d be more than fine with an OF of Tucker in RF, Teo in LF and an Outman/Pages platoon in CF.
But I think Robert is much more likely to be traded. AF and his team, I assume, will do a deep dive on Robert’s injury history. Is it a chronic issue or dumb luck? Could the Dodgers help Robert stay healthy with better conditioning?
But speaking of OF, it sure seems that the Dodgers could add a few years to Teo’s deal. Here’s a quote from Teo via mlb.com:
“I want to stay. I don’t want to keep bouncing around the league. I feel good here, comfortable. I think this is a good chance for me to win. That is the most important thing for me. It’s a great group. I would love to stay.”
And Robert’s contract is team-friendly, with an AAV below $20m for the next 3.5 years. He’d cost a few prospects, but would be cheaper than top FA options.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale while the White Sox are “listening to offers” on Robert, the team would be seeking a trade package “greater” than what the San Diego Padres gave to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Juan Soto.
That’s what Dodgers are dealing with. Note to Sox; Robert Jr is no Soto!
Of course the Sox will have a big “ask.” They certainly should.
The question is whether the bidding teams will cooperate.
In the end, the Sox could be weighing offers from the Dodgers, Braves and Phillies. Perhaps the Orioles will be in the mix because their farm system is so deep. Anybody else?
Apart from his talent, Roberts will attract offers of his team-friendly contract over the next 3.5 years.
The Sox are hurting and need a lot of help. The Dodgers may do their due diligence on Roberts’s injury history and make a low bid., or none at all. But if AF wants him., an “overpay” may be required.
If history is any precedent, it won’t happen then.
The team the team only really splurges for superstars
Teo was named NL player of the week. Well deserved. Judge took home the honor in the AL.