You all think that yesterday’s debacle was the worst Dodger “Blowing a Lead Game Ever,” but it wasn’t even close! I remembered a column that Jon Weisman (now the Dodgers VP of Communications) wrote in his previous life as a blogger on “Dodger Thoughts.” In part, here’s what he wrote:
“On August 21, 1990, I went to a baseball game with a friend. And I stayed for about seven innings, and then we left early.
— Jon Weisman
I don’t think we thought twice about it. It was a weeknight. We had jobs.
And the Dodgers were winning, 11-1.
To say the least, this score more than satisfied the formula I described within an early Dodger Thoughts post defending Dodger fans: [margin of the lead] – [number of innings remaining] > 4. It doesn’t mean you hate baseball or you’re an unworthy fan if you bargain your way into an easier drive home and a bit more sleep.
It does mean that once in a while, you might miss an exciting finish. And boy, did we miss a doozy. (Well, actually we didn’t, since it was still going on by the time we got home.)
The Phillies scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning and nine in the ninth, rallying to beat the Dodgers, 12-11.
Mathematically, this was the second-most stunning comeback in MLB history, according to Baseball-Reference.com, surpassed only by a 1952 game in which the Reds had a 8-2 lead with two out and the bases empty in the ninth. But we’re splitting graying Tommy Lasorda hairs, here.
The Dodgers had an 11-3 ninth-inning lead … and lost.
Here’s the Video to prove it:
You can read the rest at Jon Weisman’s blog, but after leading the game 11-1, the Dodgers lost it 12-11. However, it doesn’t make yesterdays’ loss feel any better. This is baseball – stuff happens!
Dodgers News
- So Dustin May is out for the season with a “torn esophagus.” Wow. He missed a season with a torn UCL and another with a torn flexor tendon. Now, he will miss this season with a torn esophagus. We know why he tore his UCL and Flexor tendon: He threw too fast! Was he talking too fast or eating too fast? I want to know! 😉 Well, at least he is OK, but it sounds like he is not built of sturdy stock.
- The upside to yesterday’s game was that CT3, Lux, Biggio, and Barnes were on base with hits or walks nine times and scored four runs. The bad news was that Vanasco, Phillips, and Ramirez coughed up a hairball.
- I was impressed with Justin Wrobleski. Yes, he gave up four runs, but he is a strike-thrower who has only 202 innings under his belt in the minor leagues. He pitched at Great Lakes all of last year and started this year in Tulsa, where he pitched 67 innings before moving to AAA OKC, where he logged ten innings. Now, he is on the Show, and I think I will learn very rapidly what he can and can’t get away with. I think he is here to stay.
- Today is a bullpen game, and I (almost) hope they lose. I want them to feel the sting of a loss and losing another series during the break. After the break, this is where the rubber meets the road!
- The Dodgers selected Brent Honeywell, who was once a huge TOP PROSPECT. This is another Rehabilitation Project by AF. Don’t bet against it succeeding… I am not betting either way. Sometimes it works – sometimes it doesn’t.
- FUTURES GAME – It was played yesterday and the NL won 6-1. You can watch at the link.
- Clayton had a very successful start at OKC. He threw about a dozen pitches over 90 MPH and topped out at 91.5 MPH. I think he still has 93 in the tank after a couple of more starts.
Small consolation it was not THE worst 9th inning implosion ever for the Dodgers.
At the current state of the team they need every win they can get. Thats what makes it sting especially hard.
Said it in a comment to yesterday blog: I would have brought in Phillipps for the bottom of the ninth. Make sure you win this game and win the series right there. Wins are at a premium at the moment for the Dodgers, Roberts said as much in his interview. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow and how the next game will shape up.
Should the Dodgers be worried about Phillpss ? Has given up some important hits and runs lately.
Best wishes to Dustin May for a full and speedy recovery. What a way to miss the rest of the season. Down goes the first of the walking wounded we hoped could help down the stretch and in the playoffs. Who will be next ? My money is on Yamamoto.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just watched on the injury report and I’m not sold on Yamamoto and Muncy returning to the Dodgers in 2024. The trades they make at the deadline will determine if I’m right or not.
Okay, somehow listing other past implosions doesn’t make me feel any better. It’s a loss that shouldn’t have happened.
Oh, I get it. Too many injuries are impacting the Dodgers.
But the “super” team is a far cry from super. I wrote earlier that the Dodgers are a good team. Uh, change that. What they are right now is a very mediocre team. Again, blame injuries.
With luck they will win the division and get to the playoffs. But after that, unless they find sudden health, the shell of a team will again go down.
No one should blame Roberts for yesterday or the recent play. If anything, blame the trainers or weight experts. Why is it the Dodgers have so many injuries? Bad luck? Oh, and I’m beginning to think Walker Buehler’s problems are mental. I guess he went to Florida to help clear his head.
Oh well, enjoy pointing out past meltdowns, if it what you must do. The trade deadline is around the corner. Will the Dodgers do something significant or try to put caulk in all the cracks? The Olympics get under way soon. Good chance to focus on something other than baseball.
The longest losing streak of a World Series champion is a 9 game losing streak by the 1953 New York Yankees. They started 46-13 that year before losing 9 in a row. The losing streak dropped them to 5 games ahead of Cleveland.
If we have learned anything lately (i.e., last year), it’s how you play in the Post-Season. Same at 1988! Who would have expected the Dodgers to beat the Mets in the playoffs when they were 1-11 against them in the regular season? That form of measurement does not work. I also do not believe you can make a determination about the Dodgers 2024 season based upon what is happening NOW!
Oh, and the Indians went to the Series in ’54 – not the Yanks.
But I am referring to 1953, not 1954.
It was 1-10 that year. One game lost to rainout
Oh my, that was so much better than 1-11.
1-10- that is great!
I did not bother to look it up!
Maybe the guy will draft tonight can help.
Wrong LA team for that move.
Would like to see a couple of adjustments on the offensive side of the ball upon returning from the All -Star break
Bring up Hoese and Ward.
Biggio is released and one of Outman/Vargas or Lux go down.
Ward platoons with either Vargas, if he stays up or (Kike/Taylor in LF.
Hoese should play 3rd base everyday on a prove it bases.
He hits both lefty and righty’s well. Has over an .800 OPS against both.
Kike and Taylor can cover the (Lux , Outman or Vargas’s positions, depending who gets sent down.)
Starting Pitching help may depend on if Kershaw and Glassnow can be back by August 1st.
No idea we’re Walker and Miller’s mechanics and heads are at.
Starter needed? Probably
Bullpen help?
If reports are accurate could Kelly and Graterol be back by end of July and if so great.
Go Dodgers !!
For years we’ve been complaining about the October layoff being a disadvantage. This is one way to fix that.
Now if only fixing that disadvantage would fix the OTHER “disadvantages” that have also contributed to the Dodgers recent playoff failures….
Haha, a friend of mine went to that Phillies game in 1990, and actually stayed thru the entire 9th inning.
He called me the next day and told me he was there; he sounded like he had just witnessed 3 deaths he was so stunned and sad.
07/14/24 Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Brent Honeywell.
07/14/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Ricky Vanasco to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
07/13/24 Los Angeles Dodgers transferred RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Triceps tightness.
07/13/24 Los Angeles Dodgers claimed RHP Brent Honeywell off waivers from Pittsburgh Pirates.
1:40 PM ET
Dodgers (56-40)
Tigers (46-50)
SP Honeywell
0-0 2,70 ERA
SP Brieske
1-0 3.52 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
RF Andy Pages R
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B Gavin Lux L
3B Chris Taylor R
CF James Outman L
83° Wind 12 mph R-L
Sunday schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (TBA) vs. Fort Wayne (Barden Nett)
11 a.m.: Tulsa (Jerming Rosario) vs. Corpus Christi (Luis Angel Rodriguez)
11:05 a.m.: Oklahoma City (Ben Casparius) vs. El Paso (Carl Edwards Jr.)
6:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Wyatt Crowell) at Stockton (Jackson Finley)
Ben Casparius will be activated off the injured list to make his first start since leaving his June 18 outing with a team trainer.
Brent Honeywell was drafted by Andrew Friedman and the Rays. Now he has come full circle back to AF.
It would be a feel-good story if he could come back, but the odds are long. Honeywell ranked in the Rays top 30 seven consecutive seasons, reaching Tampa Bay’s No. 1 spot in 2018, but missed three consecutive seasons returning from a trio of elbow surgeries. His fastball velocity is nearly back, sitting 93-96 mph, and he occasionally uses a low-90s cutter as well. Honeywell still throws two distinct breaking balls, a mid-80s slider and a slower curveball. As with most talented pitchers, it is his command that betrays him.
More dumpster diving by AF.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there anything wrong with that?
No, if you are the GM of a bottom feeder type of franchise.
At some point it is headscratching (saying it kindly) that we have to sign a guy like Honeywell to come in and immediately has to take the ball in a game that counts in the standings.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I see it as pretty smart.
And seemed to work out pretty well
Has anyone else looked at the common demise of the pitching staff? It seems like every year we piece together a starting rotation before the postseason. However this year it’s before the All Star break. Is anyone policing Mark Pryor? He’s been at the center of all this pitching madness.
How does Pryor keep injuring all these pitchers?!!! And why?
Good point. I have come to the conclusion it is No coincidence the only year we won it all was the Covid shortended season.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Prior has been the Dodgers pitching coach since 2020. I that time here is where the Dodgers have finished in all of MLB in Team ERA:
2020 – #1
2021 – #1
2022 – #1
2023 – #13
2024 – #8
The past two seasons have been punctuated by injuries. Is that his fault? Maybe his methods cause injury? I have no clue.
Honeywell was impressive for one inning. Will they let him go more or it that it?
left handed pitcher. shocked doc didn’t pinch hit for lux!!! lol
Dodgers have made it pretty clear that they prefer Pages over Vargas
The fact that they play different positions comes into play.
Today, with Outman in CF they could have gone with Teo in right and Vargas in left but went with Pages in right and Teo in left.
At some point it is headscratching (saying it kindly) that we have to sign a guy like Honeywell to come in and immediately has to take the ball in a game that counts in the standings.
At least now we understand why Friedman is smarter than the average fan. Hr just got 3 shutout innings for nothing, Zero, Zilch!
I am sure I am not scratching my head. I understand it totally!
What is don’t understand is fans who don’t get it! It’s not usually the bottom dwellers who do it. It’s teams with plenty of resources.
I wish we could’ve said the same of Biggio. He’s been given way too long a leash for someone who’s contributed extremely little.
i miss steven nelson being on intentional talk. cause if he were still there he wouldn’t be broadcasting dodger games! No more vinny’s out there! damn! ain’t we seen enough of yarbrough???
damn. i’ve seen enough of outman!
The Dodgers have been very embarrassing the last week or so. Not the losing. We all know they have injuries. Here are some of the lowlights I have seen the past week.
Ohtani standing at home plate admiring a home run that wasn’t. Also, another baserunning mistake. He’s already made more than I can count this year. This time he was picked off but made safely to second. He’s not very focused.
Freeman and Smith don’t bother to run out batted balls. Funny seeing them have to switch gears when fielders flubbed it. I’m not saying give it 100% down the line although that’s what I would do. Just don’t completely dog it.
Talent will win most of the time. So the Dodgers better hope they are more talented than any team in the playoffs. Not likely. They certainly won’t be winning on character and leadership.
The “leadership” has been used up having the team do a hip swinging, leg lifting dance when they get a hit. That would be more appropriate at a girl’s softball game.
Your very last point is so spot on! That “dance” is stupid sissy crap!!
Totally agree with the last comment. I’m sick of seeing grown men do these infantile pantomimes every time they get on base.
Yes, Ohtani passed Snider for the most extra base hits before the break. The difference is it took Ohtani 93 games to do it. Duke had his in 80 games. At the break in 1954, Snider was hitting .367. He had 20 homers and 70 driven in. His OPS was 1.149 and he had 219 total bases. He had walked more than he struck out, 46-43. He had scored 65 times, and he was slugging.700. Ohtani has struck out 93 times already. Snider struck out 96 times for the entire year, and he ended up hitting.341
Yes. ‘Before the Allstar game’, an artificial stat
Yep, since now they play over 90 games before the All-Star game. I really think they should go back to a 154-game schedule. Start the playoffs earlier and cut out the inter-league stuff. Play teams in your division more, not less. It is also like Justin Turner’s 13 post season homers as the record for the Dodgers. Seager tied him for that, but Duke Snider hit all 11 of his in the World Series, which to me is a much bigger accomplishment.
Have to win a game to avoid a terrible road trip just before the ASB and you ride with Yohan Ramirez. Spin it MT but that’s managerial malpractice.
Maybe he just needed a hug. Freaking pathetic
Ok to blame this one on Doc or nah? Ramirez pitched yesterday and the 8th today. Vesia warms up and a lefty is due up first in the 9th and they bring Ramirez back in????
The Dodgers scored 3 runs in the first inning and then just STOPPED. Inexcusable.
Not understanding why we didn’t see vesia after that triple. Kind of weird.
Anyone else tired of Yohan?
I’m was tired of him when he blew a game I. Cincinnati and Doc needed to give him a hug.
If he is on the roster when the second half starts I’ll be astonished
No shame in getting swept by a powerhouse team like the Tigers. Worst back to back losses?
P.U..
As I have stated many times in the past we are lucky to be in a SHIT division.
Hahaha haha haha!
I say we just laugh along with everyone who is NOT a dodger fan about what we just did these last two games.
Championship team!!!! LOL
All these “injured” Dodgers pitchers can’t just be (mostly) “load management” by the FO , and they need to figure out how to get & keep Glasnow and Yamamoto healthy by early September. Also, this batting order probably needs 2 quality bats added to it. So in reality, AF ..DOES.. need to make at least one blockbuster trade by the end of this month if the Dodgers are to have any legit chance at being WS contenders. He has his work cut out for him.
Well, the A’s took 2 out of 3 at Philly this weekend.
There… do y’all feel better now? lol
No, I don’t either.
They hit 8 homers today scoring 18 runs. Butler hit three, Brown hit two and Rooker hit two, for 21 total for the year. Gelof hit the other one. Dodgers first half ends with a loud thud!
The inability to score after the first inning was the primary reason the Dodgers lost this game. Nothing else matters.
All is well. ” Everything is for the best in this the best of all possible words.” (Dr. Pangloss in Voltaire’s Candide.)
It really is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, isn’t it?
Dodgers 23-34 since May 21 per the Times.
May 21 they were 33-18. Today they are 56-41. That adds up to 23-23. Times cannot add. If they were 23-34, they would be 56-52. Since they have only played 97 games, that is not possible. Both Arizona and SD lost, so they are still 7 games up.
no need to panic! we might trade biggio for merrifield! game changer! ok, i made that up! sorry! yarbrough is so almost bad right now! can’t watch! Ramirez had his moment. get gone ! petersen ? decent, get gone! in a different light, Honeywell looked good! maybe stay! biggio, get gone! … Shouldn’t bench players be able to pinch hit and be productive? we seem to pinch hit worser hitters for the hitters hitting better than the pinch hitters we send up! like that one? … 2 position players and one starter, and 1 reliever. that’s all we need!
Merrifield was released the other day. So Biggio is not being traded. But I would be he will be DFAd sometime shortly after the All-Star break.
This will be fun. I am going to do a list of players on the left side. And where they should be or replaced with who. Since some of you say. There not going to do a trade. There not going to trade for six players. Want to bet its possible.
Outman trade to whitesoxs for Tommy Pham.
Vargas traded to whitesoxs for Art Lopez 2b
Hernandez keke traded to whitesox for DeJong SS, 3B, 2b,
Landon Knack traded to whitesoxs for starter Feede
Taylor keep him because they he can play almost every where.
Pages sent down to Oklahoma City
DePaula traded to the Oakland As for Brett Rooker
Gavin Lux traded to the Oakland As for an outfielder or infielder
River Ryan traded to Oakland As for Reliever Mason Miller
Sign Nathan Evoladi starter from the Rangers offer the Rangers Buehler and a minor league pitcher.
Jack Flarethy starter Detroit Tigers offer them minor league pitching or players.
Release Biggio
There thats how we can get rid of some of the problem. And bring in better ball players. Ones that hit consistently. And hope Betts and Muncy come back. And Glasnow and Kershaw or this club will be lucky to make wild card game. With what they have now on the roster.
Nice!
My god, he is drawing you into his delusion!!!!!
Chances of that many trades happening, zero. Who in the hell is Art Lopez? You mean Nicky Lopez? Dude can’t hit. He has no power; his OPS is .593, Vargas’s is .770. Why would they make four separate trades with the White Sox instead of just one trade with multiple players? The A’s would not trade Miller straight up for Ryan. I have to admit it Bradley, this time you have totally lost your mind. The Rangers are not going to trade Eovaldi for another player who would be nothing more than a rental like Buehler. They would want a bigger package than you offered there. The Dodgers might trade for one or two guys on that list, but not for what you are offering, and they are damn sure are not going to trade for 9 players at the deadline. You are totally living in Fantasyland. I can finally say it, those are the dumbest ideas for trades you have ever come up with. Totally over the top.
Hey lighten up will you Bear juts having fun with trying to get rid of the weakness on the team. Who knows who will be traded but we do all know where the weak part of the team is and having fun with it. Geez they need guys to replace Outman Vargas Pages and Biggip correct. Just having fun with it. Tommy Pham might be the spark this team needs a little fired up guy. Who can play any where in the outfield. And they need a leftfoeldee or rightfielder that can hit both lefties and righties. You want a outrageous trade okay they get Robert’s Jr Jessie Winker Nathan Evoladi Jack Flarethy Bo Bichette and DeJong and bring back Kenley Jansen. Now that woild be the ultimate trade for the Dodgers. I was just having a little fun since yesterday you said there nit going to spend that much money. So I did the players yiu could get without paying alot for them and players you could trade away to get those guys. It’s all speculation Bear and seeing what will happen. That’s what is fun about the trade deadline.
It is only about the money when it comes to star players on long term deals, like Arenado, and Ramirez, or even someone like Yelich. 9 different players though? That has never been done. Closest I saw was the three team trade with the Marlins, Dodgers, and Braves. Between the three teams, 13 players changed uniforms. The Dodgers got seven of them. Mat Latos, Mike Morse, Bronson Arroyo, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, Jose Peraza and Alex Wood. Morse was traded the next day to the Pirates for Jose Tabata. Arroyo never played a game for the Dodgers. Like Homer Bailey, he was a salary dump, and he became a free agent after the season. Latos, Avilan, Wood, and Johnson all pitched for the Dodgers that season. Wood and Avilan were the only two who stayed after the 2015 season. Peraza had 4 hits that year as a Dodger. His first hit was a triple. He was part of the three-team trade in December of 2015 that brought Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas, and Trayce Thompson to the Dodgers. Todd Frazier went to the White Sox, Scott Schebler, Brandon Dixon and Peraza went to the Reds. I would like to see the Dodgers trade for Randy Arozarena, and Zack Elfin from the Rays, expand that trade and get Parades if you could. Then get Fedde from the White Sox. Crochet is going to cost more than the Dodgers can offer in prospects. Maybe then get a bullpen arm in Tanner Scott. Robert Jr is also going to cost a lot. The Padres are pushing hard to get Crochet. But I think he might go to the Yankees.
Your trades have a better chance of happening than his.
Kellon Lindsey is the Dodgers’ pick:
On Lindsey:
Full ReportThe diminutive Lindsey is one of the fastest players in the draft. He ran the fastest 30-yard dash at the Combine at a blazing 3.53 seconds and often runs close to 4.00 from home to first. His wheels, style of swinging, and build are all reminiscent of Trea Turner at the same stage of his career. Lindsey’s arm strength is going to be an obstacle that makes it tough for him to stay at shortstop and it seems silly to waste his speed at second base, so here he’s projected into center field where his speed could make him an impact defender. Whether Lindsey will develop power is going to be more dependent on his athleticism than his build. He’s not especially projectable (though Tommy Edman and Jett Williams are examples of hitters this size who’ve gotten strong anyway), but a bigger, more elaborate swing that takes advantage of Lindsey’s capacity for movement might coax more power out of him.
Lindsey was injured and missed a lot of showcase reps the summer before his draft year, which creates a bigger error bar around projecting his hit tool. Still, varsity pitching in Florida is good enough to be confident in Lindsey’s spring breakout. He’s a classic leadoff man prospect who’ll play up the middle somewhere.
Couple questions just asked, in the Fangraphs chat, about Lindsey. I wonder if it was someone from this blog?
Alfredo Garcia Any info on what the Dodgers see/like in Lindsey?
Eric A Longenhagen Elite speed, more body projection than generally assumed
Farhandrew Zaidman Lindsey feels a lot like Kendall George from 2023
Eric A Longenhagen Bigger power ceiling, imo. George was under slot, they had their pocket picked by Seattle with Farmelo
Videos and comments on Lindsey:
The Great Kiley McDaniel:
Hardee HS (FL) SS Kellon Lindsey has been the biggest riser this spring among high school players, jumping from the 3rd-4th into the 1st round. He’s an 80-grade runner with a shortstop profile and a Trea Turner vibe, but limited experience against top arms.
https://x.com/JoeDoyleMiLB/status/1769814851281416631
https://x.com/JoeDoyleMiLB/status/1773379530645999890
Rudner:
For any curious Dodger fans, Kellon Lindsey is an extremely intriguing prospect. He has game-changing speed and only recently started focusing on baseball full time after playing quarterback for his high school’s football team. Tons of room for continued growth.
Some guy named Peter Flattery, the third:
With the 23rd overall pick, the Los Angeles Dodgers have selected SS/OF Kellon Lindsey. Really intriguing combination of both speed and athleticism. Could put 70s on both. Closer to an 80 runner than 70. Contact skills are advanced, hit over power.
Kellon Lindsey was the highest-ranked player on BA’s draft board to take part in on-field action on day one.
He stood out at the plate AND defensively at DAY ONE of the MLB Draft Combine
($$$$)
https://baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-mlb-draft-combine-day-one-10-standouts-data-leaders-more/
Via Vinnie Cervino (who?)
23. Los Angeles (NL): Hardee Senior (FL) SS Kellon Lindsey
Hurt last summer but made up for that in a big way this spring. 80 runner/athlete w/ adv athletic metric testing off the charts. Scouts really love the hit tool; might be CF long term.
Bruce Kuntz:
This is dependent on how the #Dodgers use the money they’ll save if Lindsey signs under slot. Lindsey has risen a lot this year, if he continues that projection, I like the idea a lot.
For now, I’d give it a B-. Tougher to love when Caminiti/Brecht/Mayfield were all there too.
Somebody named Taylor Blake-Ward:
Dodgers 1-23: Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (FL) — speedy/athletic RHH prep infielder, quick/direct high contact cut w/ sneaky pop, mature hitter who could see leadoff profile, 80 runner w/ range on dirt and up-the-middle future whether SS/CF (Florida commit)
Another speedy top Dodger draft pick so he can run really fast back to the dugout after making an out.
Like Oddball said to Moriarity in Kelly’s Heros, stop with the negative waves baby. The kid can hit. Just needs some seasoning. But he is only 18. Be a few years before he is ready. You’re beginning to sound like Scott Andes with all that negative crap.
I hope we have seen the last of Ryan Yarbrough and Yohan Ramirez. River Ryan to be called up after the all-star break.
We will be sorry we didn’t draft Cam Caminiti, the 17 year old lefty which the Braves drafted after us with our 23rd pick instead of Lindsey.