In 2024, the single-best player in the Grand Game of Baseball is Aaron Judge. That could change next year. Aaron Judge will be 33, and Shohei Ohtani will be 31. Judge is still in his prime… maybe he has a couple of years at the top of his game left. Ohtani has improved this year, and I expect even more next year. Ohtani has been slumping for a few games, but he broke out in a big way yesterday, going 6 for 6 with 3 HR, 2 Doubles, and 10 (count ’em ten) RBIs. He now is hitting .294 with a 1.005 OPS to go with 51 HR, 34 Doubles, 7 Triples, 51 HRs and 51 SBs. He is absolutely the second-best player in baseball, but he is the NL MVP.
By the way, Mookie Betts is second to Shohei Ohtani in OPS, with .875. Hopefully, he can raise his OPS in the last ten days of the season. The Dodgers currently have seven players with an OPS over .800:
- Ohtani – 1.005
- Betts – .875
- Feduccia – .875 (OK – he doesn’t count)
- Muncy – .871
- Freeman – .861
- Edman – .824
- Teo Hernandez – .821
Then, there are Miguel Rojas at .770 and Will Smith at .758. When the Dodgers can field their starting team 100% healthy, they are a juggernaut! The Dodgers also clinched a playoff berth for the 12th year in a row. Only two teams have a longer streak, and I would bet money that the Dodgers will ultimately own that record. It may end up in the 20s. That has never been done in the history of the game! The Braves have the record with 14 seasons in a row – 1991 to 2005. The Yankees are second with 13 consecutive seasons… 1995 to 2007. Of course, it is now easier to make the playoffs as they have expanded to 12 teams, but that also means it is harder to win the World Series.
Still, this has been an amazing season and it is absolutely, positively, the best time in history to be a Dodger fan. The Big Club is profitable, the farm system is deep, the development machine is alive and well and the Dodgers are the envy of every team in baseball. The only problem is rate at which pitchers arms are falling off. I believe that this will result in a change in philosophy for the team over the winter.
Ryan Yarbrough’s name was brought up yesterday: Why did the Dodgers leave him off the Playoff Roster in 2023 and why did they trade him? You may not agree with this, but I am going to tell you why: Ryan Yarbrough is a soft-tosser who does not get much swing and miss. The Dodgers and most MLB teams value pitchers who have a lot of “swing-and-miss.” It’s really simple why: Baseball is a game whereby when a batter gets his bat on the ball, anything random can happen and most of it is not good. When a hitter swings and misses, nothing random generally happens. Ryan Yarbrough induces a lot of soft contact, and with soft contact, bad things can happen.
I agree with Andrew Friedman that swing and miss is the way to go, but the Dodgers are going to have to make some changes in the way they teach pitching. Maybe MLB will also get involved and invoke a speed limit or allow the use of “Spider Tack” again.
It Could Have Been Avoided
A couple of months ago, I wrote that Gavin Stone was on pace to pitch the most innings in his career and recommended that he needed a rest. However, under MLB rules and per the Players Association, you cannot just put someone on the IL to protect them from injury. You have to keep running them out there until they develop enough shoulder inflammation to go on the IL, and now it looks like Gavin Stone is done for the year. Even Ray Charles could see it coming. The good news is that Gavin should be fine next season. It’s not his elbow… just shoulder inflammation. But, Clayton Kershaw is very much in play… and barring another setback, I look for him to start a game next week!
Noteworthy
- The Dodgers now have the second-most potent lineup in baseball. They are #2 in Runs Scored behind the D-Bags and ahead of the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Brewers and Orioles.
- Alex Freeland struggled at AAA when he first got called up about a month ago, but is now heating up as he went 3-4 last night with a HR. There’s a good shot he’s the Dodgers SS sometime next year. Maybe Miguel Rojas comes back to Caddy for him the first half.
Now that Ohtoni has finally made the playoffs, let’s hope he performs.
What a season.
He closes out game 7 of the World Series on the mopund and brings a title back to LA.
They will make a movie about this one day…..
What you said
Freidman threw cold water on the mound stuff yesterday in an interview with Bill Plunkett.
Shohei had 19 total bases yesterday if you include his two steals. A record? And he was about two feet away from four home runs if you look at his first double off the wall. Incredible!
I wish that Vinnie was still around.
Any guesses on what he might have said if he was announcing yesterday’s game?
…”In a year that was been so improbable….the impossible has happened”
He had 17 total bases. 3 homers-12 2 doubles-4. a single-1. The record is 19 by Shawn Green when he hit 4 homers a double and single against Milwaukee. Green also had 5 extra base hits as did Ohtani, but he drove in 7 runs to Shohei’s 10.
Why don’t steals count toward total bases?
Seems like a flaw to me…
The Dodgers will go as far as their pitching takes them. They may be an offensive juggernaut at times, but will it sustain them?
Too bad about Gavin Stone. Having a breakout year. Not sure what the rotation will look like in the playoffs or even the rest of September. Whatever is happening the Dodgers need to change their approach. Start developing pitchers to go at least seven innings. There is one theory that the Dodgers using pitchers to go just five innings allows them to throw harder leading to arm issues.
Limiting innings and giving pitchers time off starting in the minors is not making a difference. They’re still getting hurt, as Orel Hershiser has pointed out.
Limiting innings for starters also puts more pressure on the bullpen.
An amazing day for Shohei Ohtani. Hitting the 50/50 mark is incredible. I would rather have Ohtani than Judge. Ohtani is a far bigger name, more of an attraction. Judge is merely a great baseball player, maybe the best in the game at the moment. Shohei is iconic.
Hopefully, Clayton comes back and Walker Buehler continues to get better. There is some thought the Dodgers will sign Buehler to a one year deal. Good idea. Obviously, can’t have enough pitching.
If Walker pitches well in the playoffs he will get a multi year contract from someone.
I would never let ohtani pitch again! i’m all in on acquiring more starters and keeping him healthy. sign Teo, extend Edman, resign Jack. Max? i’m not sure what to do. But never,ever, ever, ever put ohtani on the mound again! jmo!!
Why?
Not letting Ohtani pitch would likely void his contract. He was signed as a two-way player. You have to let him pitch!
PERIOD!
And the fans want to see it too. Except for Dad I guess. Just imagine him pitching a shutout and having two home runs in the same game. The possibilities are endless.
oh ok ! but another arm injury? scary!
Regarding Yarbrough, I completely agree that he is a soft thrower. I also agree that he gets a lot of balls put to play as opposed to striking out. However, we seem to have a lot of the opposite going on right now where everyone’s throwing their arm off – so there needs to be a balance between the two. The thing I do know, he was pretty good at eating up mid innings when the starter was puttering out early in the game.
I’m getting back into Baseball this last couple of years and part of the experience is collecting autographed baseball cards. I have picked up two autographed Gavin Stone limited edition cards this year. Sad that he won’t be making it into this postseason run, but with his demeanor on the mound, high hopes for his future as a pitcher for the Dodgers long term.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Dalton Rushing and Jackson Ferris have been named #Dodgers Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year.
Congrats!
Friedman: Ohtani Pitching In Postseason “Not Really An Option”
Right up until he pulls a John Fogerty and says put me in coach I’m ready to play.
Well I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that the media is pathetic! Ohtani has thrown only a couple of bullpens and they’re story booking him getting the last out of the series. What a joke. Gonsolin or Kershaw have a better chance of getting that out than Ohtani ever will. Just let him rehab and get that arm really for next year.
Book em
10:10 PM ET
Rockies (59-94)
Dodgers (91-62)
SP Kyle Freeland L
5-7 4.89 ERA
SP Ryan Brasier (Opener)
1-0 3 .60 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
LF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
CF Andy Pages R
SS Miguel Rojas R
3B Max Muncy L
2B E. Hernandez R
67° Wind 9 mph Out
Casperius up, Logue down.
Back in the day, I went to Dodger Stadium. Steve Garvey had been in a prolonged slump. On that day, he went 5 for 5 with 2 HRs and 3 doubles. With his first hit, the crowd went wild. With each hit the crowd was louder and by the 5th hit it was pandemonium. The stadium was rocking.
I can hardly imagine what it would have been like if Ohtani’s 50/50 game yesterday would have been at home.
That would have been amazing.
As it was, he got a curtain call on the road….
Kershaw (toe) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Friday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Roberts told reporters after Friday’s session that Kershaw’s injured big left toe isn’t at 100 percent and has prevented the veteran southpaw from executing pitches at game speed, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. Kershaw may need another bullpen session or two before facing live hitters as he aims to return before the start of the playoffs.