A while back, some moron wrote something to the effect that “Max Muncy is coming back so we can have him strike out with a .200 batting average.” If you want to challenge me, I will go back and see who that moron was. It was moronic then, and it is moronic now. While Max Muncy is not “the heartbeat of the Dodgers,” he might be the “heart of the Dodgers.” As I have said before, if you don’t like the way I talk, go to www.LADodgerChronicles.com. They tolerate morons. I don’t. 99.9% of the morons there came from LA Dodger Talk and they left because I write mean things!
Max Muncy hitting in the seventh hole, showed what value he brings to the lineup last night. This is the team we have waited for all year and now it is here. The Dodgers missed Max Muncy immensely and now that he is back, all is right with the world. Additionally, Tommy Edman is exactly the kind of Centerfielder the Dodgers needed. It seems that most Dodger fans wanted Lane Thomas, Randy Arozarena, or Luis Robert, Jr. As usual, Andrew Friedman had a better plan. We were playing checkers and he was playing chess. That line makes the morons mad! So many of them hate Andrew and Doc, and it infurates them that this ten-year run is the best in Dodger history. They so much want to see Roberts and Friedman fail. Why? That’s what morons do!
Now, I do have to admit that I was a moron regarding Gavin Lux. I thought he was done, finished… stick a fork in him. I am so glad I was wrong. Gavin is not a SS, but he is a damn good second baseman and the dude can rake. Since the talk with his grandfather at the All-Star Break, look at his stats:
- .366 BA
- .434 OB%
- .667 Slg
- 1.101 OPS
- 6 HR
- 20 RBI
… all in 106 ABs. He is now a “FORCE!” He still struggles against LHP, but so does Will Smith (against RHP). Maybe next year, Dalton Rushing will share some of the burden behind the plate. But, we are living in the present. Barring injury, this may be the team the Dodger take to the 2024 World Series. The only other possible change is CT3 taking the place for Kiermaier or Heyward. In all likelihood, KK is the odd man out because we have a switch-hitting centerfielder who is pretty damn good defensively. Heywards’ LH bat is more valuable… IMHO!
Many morons had Clayton Kershaw dead and buried. Not so fast! The Dude can still pitch. He hit 92 MPH in his last start and I would not be surprised if there is another MPH… or TWO left as he builds his shoulder back up! Michael Kopech has been a revelation, and it is slightly concerning that he is “gassed.” If that is true, then rest is what he needs. Evan Phillips looks to be back on track, and Blake Treinen is due back today. I think Daniel Hudson needs an IL stint, and it would not hurt Gavin Stone to take a little vacation, even if he is pitching like an ACE.
The morons bitch and moan, not realizing that the Los Angles Dodgers have the best record in baseball. The Yankees, Orioles, and Phillies have 73 wins. The Dodgers sit atop the heap with 74 wins in a season where they have had more lost days to the IL than any other team… by far. Most of the walking wounded are back, and it is time for the stretch run. Now, Doc will go to the whip! Let’s ride!
Striker Buehler goes today. Man, if he can right his ship, this will be a scary team! There has never been a better time to be a Dodger fan! EVER! Wait and see what Tommy Edman will do…
Good morning from Virginia! Lineup is all set. Only 4 hits last night, but give that kid pitching his due!! I’m not sure keeping Heyward and letting Kevin K. go is the best way to go. KK is better defensively and he’s not been bad offensively. .. Love Chris Taylor . but isn’t it better to wait until the expanded roster time to bring him back? … Stone was “rock” solid last night!! ….. Now for the biggest question of the year?? Can Walker find his command? This Mariner’s offense could be the best medicine for Buehler! If he can hold them down for 5-6 innings , it could spark him on to a big finish and give the dodgers a much needed shot in the arm(again no pun intended)! …. Going to be tough for Kiki to get many at bats now. I’m sure Doc will sit Max some. That brings us back to Taylor. Do the dodgers need them both?? Basically the same guy. .200 hitters who play defense. Taylor is better defensively than Kiki, but Kiki makes better contact. …. I said couple weeks ago, Clayton looks happy and healthy!! Never ever count him out! …. Mark, heard anything else about Yamamoto? Glasnow? They’re going to need those 2 guys in October!! I believe Miller gets 1 more chance this season, and if it more of the same, he’s gone. …. Ohtani needs to break loose! if(when) the lineup will flourish. As of right now, ohtani swings and misses too much, Mookie on the other hand is always getting strikes called completely out of the strike zone. … Wouldn’t it be nice if Hunter comes in and plays well? Hate Barnes got hurt, but nice to see him get a start behind the plate. …. I said earlier that Lux needed a change of scenery. Well he got one!! From the bottom of the lineup to the middle!!! Is there any 2nd baseman out there playing better than Gavin?? Probably not!
The Dodgers are being cautious with Yamamoto and Glasnow… both will be factors in the playoffs.
My moron-free morning take:
1. Love the lineup. Edman before Ohtani is fun. Lux currently anchoring the offense. You love to see it.
2. Stone has been our 2nd best SP this year. #4 guy in postseason is possible.
3. Rotating closers is fine. Kopech is the guy until he isn’t. Things change fast in the pen.
4. Yamamoto, CT3, Graterol & Barnes are final pieces. Pages is a 2025 piece I think, although he got a long runway this year.
5. Next year features Rushing in LF and either Teo or Pages in RF. Edman & Outman can battle for CF.
And Mookie is where
Oops, I guess I’m the moron.
Are you assuming Betts will be in the infield? I wonder if they will entertain him playing short again next year.
Mookie could move back to SS, but with both Edman and Rojas under contract, I think that position is covered by two superior defenders. And perhaps Alex Freeland could get called up at some point too. (I used to think AF would sign Adames over the winter, but that was before Edman’s arrival and Lux’s big surge.)
Edman could play CF, but he’d be a better SS than Mookie–and Mookie is the better outfielder.
If Teo is re-signed, then one outfield spot could become a competition between Pages, Outman and Rushing. If Rushing proves he won’t suck in LF, the Dodgers could shift Mookie to CF and have Teo in RF.
Among the younger options, Outman is the best by far in CF, while Pages should play RF. Mookie’s versatility can optimize the options.
Gee, didn’t some moron around here used to push for Lux to be moved to CF? I think his name was Mark or maybe Mike…
Is that guy still around?
I still think that he would be great there, but it would be a process.
Agree with you BP on almost everything, except Outman. i believe if he hits at Oklahoma, he gets moved in the offseason! All the back and forth is not good for him. Probably like Michael Bush, goes somewhere else and thrives. With Pages, he is a left fielder. I think he has to improve defensively and offensively to be a starter for this team. Still feel like he’s not totally engaged all the time. Just my opinion. Still don’t see the need for Taylor and Kiki together. BUT, who goes? With Edman playing center and being able to play infield when Rojas or Lux needs a day off, KK is my choice for the bench!
Busch thriving is a bit of a stretch. He’s having an okay year and I’m happy for him. He gets pinched hot for quite a bit so either he has trouble with left handed pitching or has trouble against certain type of pitching. Busch has no place to fit in the Dodgers lineup. There was once a comment on this site that stated if a guy can hit they will find a place for him to play. I agree , But the mid .250’s isn’t going to reserve you a spot on the lineup.
Not to belabor the point… but I will:
Kyle Schwarber is the leadoff hitter for the Phillies and has been all year, even though he has a .251 BA a compared to the #2 hitter, Trea Turner, who is hitting .311
Why?
OPS! Schwarbers is .858 while Turner has a .842 OPS.
OPS Rules, even though Turner is faster!
Mark, you make it sound like if Schwarber’s OPS would dip a couple of points below Trea’s they would move him out of the leadoff spot.
It’s not simply a matter of putting the guy who happens to have the best OPS number in that spot and, in the Phillies’ case, manager Rob Thomson has a specific reason for putting him there. OPS plays into it, but it’s definitely not just the number.
Here’s the explanation from Thomson and Realmuto, and based on this, if Thomson was managing the Dodgers he would most definitely bat Shohei leadoff:
“Schwarbs is the best in the game at making the opposing pitcher feel uncomfortable before the game even starts,” Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto said. “There’s never a moment where they feel like ‘Oh, we can just ease into this game.’ They have to be on their top game the first pitch of the game. And that’s not fun as a pitcher. Like I said, he’s the best in the game at that, and he just sets the tone for our offense … He is never an easy out. That’s what you are looking for out of your leadoff.”
Bear: In yesterday’s post you said that on days that Ohtani pitches we will lose him hitting. When with the Angels, MLB came up with the Ohtani rule, which states: “rule that allows the pitcher to be assigned to the designated hitter spot in the batting order and to remain as the designated hitter even if replaced on the mound by another pitcher”. I certainly didn’t like it then, but love it today. So when he pitches he will stay in the lineup after he leaves the mound.
Did not know that. Thanks.
Some Moron gave me a different answer to this a couple of weeks back.
Was that me?
So pleased to see my favourite Dodger of all time put on an exhibition on Monday night.
More than happy to eat crow, and be labelled a moron if this plays out like I hope it will.
However – I remember last year when certain people got over excited about the great man’s performances, only to be mightily disappointed when push came to shove. There’s an awful lot of baseball to be played before the “Moron” labels are handed out!
I believe Mark was ‘Done’ with CK after his playoff debacle
“ you don’t like the way I talk, go to http://www.LADodgerChronicles.com.”
Based on their most recent posts 76 comments and the 12 on yours that seems to be exactly what’s happening. LOL
Not exactly, this site was shut down many posters have not made it back.
I’m OK with that.
In fact… I prefer it.
If you use Google Web Tools you can see that we still have about seven times the traffic. It’s down about half of what it was a year ago. LADC has about 25 commenters and very few other readers. If you are SEO savvy, you can see it. Many people don’t comment. I have done this for 20 years, and it’s not as much fun as it used to be, so I have tried to drive the Dodger Haters away. 😉
Mark, I agree with your latest post about “morons”. I agree their expectations are wildly wrong. First, that Friedman and Robert are somehow to “blame” for all losses and get no credit at all for all the wins – of which there have been MANY more than long time Dodgers fans like many of us are remember in years gone by.
Buehler needs to learn how to be effective with his now-different “stuff” just as future HoF’er Kershaw is obviously doing. Kersh didn’t get as good a he has been by being dumb. He knew he had to re-learn being effective. Buehler is not (and may never be) a HoF’er so it remains to be seen if he understands the need for this. Hopefully he’s not like Syndergaard who thought the Dodgers would magically “cure” him and make him what he had been before injury.
Yeah, that has just gotten really old to me, and I just tell them to GET OFF MY LAWN!
I truly believe this is the best time to have ever been a Dodger fan.
Busch will probably finish top 4 or 5 rookie of the year! Second on the team in home runs. so if thrive isn’t the right word, sorry. And no , with Lux firmly entrenched at 2nd base, no where for him to play. Same scenario for James i would assume.
Busch was OPSing about .800 the last I saw.
He has played 109 games at 1B, 3 at 2B, 2 at DH and 1 at 3B.
He wasn’t going to play 1B for LA.
The two players we received back in the Busch trade with the Cubs, Ferris and Hope will more than equal what the Dodgers gave up in Busch. AF and BG did very well as usual.
Excellent trade.
Ferris and Hope are both playing well. Maybe they’re in LA in a few years–or maybe traded for a more proven commodity.
10:10 PM ET
Mariners (64-62)
Dodgers (74-52)
SP Bryce Miller R
9-7 3.29 ERA
SPWalker Buehler R
1-4 6.02 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
2B Gavin Lux L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
SS Tommy Edman S
CF K. Kiermaier L
80° Wind 8 mph Out
“Brusdar is supposed to throw a ‘pen sometime this week, I think,” Roberts said. “This guy, I don’t know how we went from carrying him off the mound to two weeks later he’s throwing bullpens.
“He’s a quick healer, so that’s a good thing for the Dodgers.”
I hate the thought of Kiermaier possibly being the odd man out when all are healthy. His defense in CF has made a believer of me. A few clutch hits mixed in and a revitalized energy that he has now that he’s a Dodger is great. A+ defense up the middle is extremely valuable and I can see this guy making a clutch play or 2 in post season play. That 99 mph seed he threw to the plate for an assist the other day was a game changer.
I don’t care if Muncy bats 200 from here on out , just be that HAMMER at the end of the lineup, holy crap! With him down there and Lux on fire in the middle of the lineup passing thr baton, shits getting kind of scary for other teams, and that’s with Ohtani scrapping a bit .
Lux credits his uncle Augie Schmidt, not his grandfather, with helping him fix his swing.
Uncle Augie was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 1982 after winning the Golden Spikes Award, but his pro career stalled in AAA ball. He went on to become a successful coach at Carthage College, notching more than 1,000 wins.
Jay -Hey!! Startin to feel it Mark, think Doc went to the whip! Bullpen is dealing tonight,! Close it out boys!!!
On a side note. D -Bags and Madres gotta be gettin frustrated , they are playing lights out every night , but we are starting to get our groove. We all know that baseball has ebbs and flows. Feel like we took their best shots, but now the Kraken has awoke , they called down the Thunder.. bout time for us to do a run of our own.
Great team win.
Dont look now but who has the best record in baseball????
Aug. 20: RHP Brent Honeywell Jr. clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City
The long reliever was designated for assignment on Sunday. In 10 appearances for the Dodgers this year, he had a 2.21 ERA in 20 1/3 innings pitched.
From the Dodger’s Official Page:
“RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (right triceps tightness)
Expected return: Early-to-mid-September
Yamamoto took a big step forward on Aug. 16, throwing 17 pitches and striking out a pair during a live simulated game at Busch Stadium. It was the first time the Japanese right-hander faced live hitters since landing on the injured list in June. Yamamoto is slated to throw a two-inning sim game today on Aug. 21, which he’ll follow up with a three-inning sim game before being sent on a rehab assignment. Yamamoto has said his goal is to make it back for the Dodgers down the stretch”. (Last updated: Aug. 20)
I would give Buehler one more start and then it’s decision time. Right now the length he is giving us is taxing the bullpen. He has no put away pitch when he gets to two strikes. He doesn’t get the curveball over consistently even with at times a 97 mile heater. Then he nibbles and walks start happening. I like his intensity but right now he is hurting the team.
Walker knows that he can’t continue like this! First 2 batters, 3 pitches , 2 outs, then same old story. He’s too competitive to continue pitching like this. The velocity is there. At times his curve ball was good. But with so many full counts, he. can’t put anyone away with that straight fastball. Big decision coming soon! Wouldn’t London Knack be a better choice for now? Love Buehler, but he is taxing the bullpen. …. How about that play Edman made last night? He and Kopech (mayde Flaherty too), could be the best acquisitions any team made at the deadline! Heyward was clutch last night! so hard to figure out who stays and who doesn’t! I agree, Taylor shouldn’t take anybody’s spot on this team, unless it’s Kiki. And i don’t think that would be a good move either. ….. Max? damn i love his attitude when he hits a ball like last night! Wonder if Hunter F. starts today? Will looks kinda lost at the plate right now. …. Would love for the top 4. to get. hot together! Lux has more swag than ever!! ……. There’s an old saying in racing, catching the leader is one thing. Passing him is another!! Padres and Dbacks are emptying their guns at an unreal rate. Just ain’t passing anybody yet!
Striker, your main job is to eat innings. Stop nibbling and give us 5 or 6 innings. You don’t need a shutout. Hell ,you don’t even need to win when you’re on the mound. Just give us some length. I expect the same from Miller real soon. Take one for the team and the odds you get a ring will go up.
Kudos to Andrew for assembling a great roster. Focusing more on defense, speed & bat to ball skills was genius. I think slug or nothing is a crapshoot. Do not DFA KK.
I kinda miss the morons.
Book em
Oh, by the way. ”Kinda miss the morons” Total sarc!
Book em
DH Ohtani
RF Betts
1B Freeman
LF Teoscar
2B. Lux
C Smith
3B Max
CF KK
SS Edman
Max is the only weak link on D
KK is the only weak link on O
Great frikking lineup.
Book em
like your lineup, might put Edman ahead of KK, less likely Max gets pitched around. With a scheduled day off tomorrow, shouldn’t be any need to rest that lineup other than maybe Will. zBut Doc will probably change it up. Rojas probably back at shortstop. Kiki probably gives Freddie a day. Will out. Need to win!! Rest tomorrow!