Hopefully, Mookie will make an impact in the playoffs but he has been a non-factor in this series as he took the collar again last night. Shohei Ohtani, whom many fans have actually (delusionally) ragged on, showed up, stepped up and shut the Padres up! There are actually morons who believe Mookie should hit leadoff, even though Freddie Freeman is not a fan of having a runner distract him. What rubbish! In his last 7 games, Ohtani has hit .621 with a 1.276 SLG while Mookie has hit .172 with a .379 SLG. This is quite concerning to me.
Shohei is stepping up, and Mookie is doing his annual disappearing act! Many players contributed. Freddies had two hits, and Teo drove in a run. Muncy walked twice. Tommy Edman was 1-3 with a walk and a run scored, while Gavin Lux had two clutch hits. Will Smith walked and scored as well. Flaherty was OK, but the bullpen was “nails!” The lead is back to three games and the fat lady is humming for the Friars, who are a good team.
The Dodgers and the Phillies are tied for the most wins with 94, but the Phillies have one more loss. In the last 10 games, the Dodgers are 7-3, while the Phillies are 4-6. Tonight, the Dodgers can further the cause, and maybe Mookie can awaken…
Arizona Fall League
The Dodgers announced their AFL Participants yesterday:
- Zyhir Hope, OF
- Jake Gelof, 3B
- Alex Makerewich, RHP
- Kelvin Ramirez, RHP
- Jerming Rosario, RHP
- Eriq Swan, RHP
I would not be surprised if they added another, but we shall see. Some of you may wonder why certain players are on the roster, and others are omitted. Player development is not linear and is highly objective. The Dodgers Player Personnel People have so much more information that we do… and they ain’t saying!
Got faith in Mookie. Just 3 days ago he hit a walk off HR in a BIG game.
He is going to come thru when it matters in 24.
We dont win the Ship without him in 2020.
Need the bulldog to show up tonight!!
Speaking of Bulldog, where is Orel? I know his final game was Sunday, but why? Its a tough listen to Mendoza….
Mark –
Good game assessment. Mookie popped up all his at bats last night; I am no hitting guru but it seems to me that this is a correctable problem. While I have never been overly impressed with the Dodger hitting brain trust – especially when compared with Mark Pryor’s work – I hope they earn their money this playoff year. I will be watching Mookie closely in hopes they are successful because he will be needed if the Dodgers are to get to the promised land. Also, I like they way Roberts and Pryor have developed the relievers for the post season….Go Dodgers!
We rightly talk about how Prior has brought out the best in numerous pitchers but do we also need to question if his and the teams methods/philosophy are a net benefit or negative due to the number of injuries?
True dat
Too late for this season… but should the front office target SPs for their durability?
Corbin Burnes will be a FA this winter. He’s been a Top Five starter for several years and rarely misses a start. He’d be expensive, but it might make more sense to invest in a durable, proven veteran ML starter rather than the young import Sasaki.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he’s hopeful that Rojas will be able to return to the lineup for Sunday’s regular-season finale in Colorado after the shortstop was removed from Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the Padres due to an aggravation of a left adductor injury, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
“Rojas has been managing the issue for the last few weeks but had been able to play through the adductor injury before suffering a setback while running the bases Wednesday. According to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, Rojas is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday to gain a better understanding of the injury, and he’ll also receive an cortisone injection to relieve pain in the area. Both Rojas and Roberts are hopeful that by sitting out the next three games, the 35-year-old will be healthy enough to return to the lineup Sunday for one final tune-up before the playoffs”.
I have seen the criticisms of Ohtani. strikes out too much, bad with RISP——YIKES. The guy is human. How much more do they want from him. He’s the best hitter in baseball!!!
100% agree
Pretty much what I kept saying to all those that seem bent on pointing out supposed holes in this game.
If he had an 800 ops with runners in scoring position, he’d likely be at 150 RBIs. I guess that’s what the numbnuts is out there expect.
I prefer to have a hell of a lot of fun watching him do what he does.
Cheers!
The best outcome that could have happened when Mookie got hit by a pitch on Father’s Day was Ohtoni went into the leadoff spot and has met all expectations and more. His stats are out of sight and it breaks up the two lefties back to back. Plus he gets an extra at bat when the game is on the line. We need Mookie to perform tonight and in the playoffs if the Dodgers are going succeed in the playoffs.
BANG!
You nailed it!
Freddie does not like to be distracted, and he would be very distracted by Shohei ahead of him.
You may be old, but you still have a brain! đ (That’s meant to be a compliment!
Bullpen will have to be lights out for us to win it all.
Your procedure must have gone well Mark. Hope the recovery is quick and painless.
The procedure is tomorrow. Today was testing and vampires sucking the blood out of me.
good luck. Just a ‘minor’ procedure
The procedure starts at 9AM and I should be out of recovery by 5 PM. They say there’s a 50/50 chance they will keep me overnight, but if they don’t, we will head home Saturday morning. It’s a 5-hour drive. My CEO son started the company move today. We have two semis and six trailers that are running all day today, tomorrow, and Saturday. We have approximately 80 semi-loads. They put up the sign today:
News From Internet:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/12-more-prospects-who-stood-out-in-the-dominican-summer-league/ ($$$$$)
Arnaldo Lantigua, OF, Dodgers
Lantigua was repeating the DSL, but heâs a prospect worth monitoring. Lantigua signed for $697,500 in 2023, so the Dominican outfielder received one of the Dodgersâ biggest bonuses in their class that year. After hitting .222/.345/.475 in 29 games last year, Lantigua batted .301/.430/.575 in 49 games this season, with his 11 home runs tied for second in the league, as he drew 33 walks with 34 strikeouts. When Lantigua signed, his above-average raw power from the right side was the biggest draw from his strong 6-foot-2 frame. He showed that power in his debut and featured some of the best power in the DSL this season with some of the most consistent hard contact of any hitter in the league and exit velos up to 109 mph. Lantigua has long been a good fastball hitter for whom some scouts had questions about his ability to hit offspeed stuff, but he made strides with his ability to recognize and hit soft stuff this year, even homering a few times on breaking balls. An average runner, Lantigua spent most of his time in center field but projects better in a corner long term.
Jay Jaffe looks at the weak spots for NL contenders:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-weakest-positions-on-the-remaining-nl-contenders/
Rotation: Dodgers
Itâs not that the Dodgers were doomed to repeat last yearâs Division Series unraveling because they forgot what happened. They loaded up on high-end starting pitching this past winter by signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto and trading for Tyler Glasnow, then adding James Paxton and bringing back Clayton Kershaw with a plan for him to return from major shoulder surgery in midsummer. With those pitchers â fragile though they may have been â joining their existing wealth of young arms (including Walker Buehler and Dustin May, both returning from elbow surgeries), the Dodgers figured they had enough pitching to make it through the season and assemble a strong rotation for the playoffs…
He also looked at the strongest spots for NL contenders:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-strongest-positions-on-the-remaining-nl-contenders/
Dodgers: RF and DH.
Baseball America tracks which pitching prospects added the most velocity to their FB ($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-prospects-who-added-the-most-fastball-velocity-in-2024/
Dilan Figueredo and Christian Romero (both in Rookie League) added ~2mph
Jackson Ferris got a callout as well.
Dan Szymoborski Chat:
Idiotic Failson: Assuming the Yankees sign Soto, what do you think they do with 3B next year? They canât keep trying to just hope the Platonic idea of DJ LeMahieu can give them any real number of games next year, and thereâs nothing really in the farm. Any chance they sign Bregman?
Dan Szymborski: I actually mentally have them down as a likely Bregman home
Thank you for the chat!: Who are the top trade targets in the offseason for 1B/2B/3B?
Dan Szymborski: I could see the Oâs trading Mountcastle and I think Hoerner could be avialable given the config of the Cubs roster, finally SOMEONE would be interested in India I think
Josh: What do you (and ZiPS) think of Landon Knack? Both for the playoffs and for the next couple of years. Is he a mid-rotation guy?
Dan Szymborski: ZiPS sees him as 3/4 startery, and I canât really quibble with it
Justin: How do you rate Dave Dombrowski as a GM? He always has good teams but at the same time seems to have a hard time with player evaluation. I think the Nick Castellanos and Taijuan Walker FA signings where bad when they signed and he seems to overpay in trades for relievers (soto for vierling, estevez trade). Itâs almost like hes stuck in 2010 but the Phillies are really good so Iâm not sure what to make of it.
Dan Szymborski: I think heâs still quite solid. I think he may be overrated these days on pure talent acquisition, but heâs always underrated as a general administrator/leader. Heâs always run a very professional, competent front office and as far as I can tell, whenever there are ex-player hangers-on in a Dombrowski FO, theyâre there for a reason, as in specific insight, not nostalgia. Though exact interactions between front office people is the product of educated guesses, Iâm friendly with front offices and sell data to anybody, but both sides are very careful about how much information they share with me for ethical reasons, them for practical ones. Iâm not a beat guy, but I *am* a journalist still
Szymborski also wrote about which teams are best equipped for the playoffs:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/which-teams-are-best-equipped-for-the-playoffs/
Baseball America also recapped which calendar year prospects had the most helium for this season ($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/helium-review-see-all-our-2024-hot-sheet-picks-for-sleeper-mlb-prospects/
Zyhir Hope: …Hope was one of the better players in the Dodgersâ farm system. The outfielder showed a blend of production, strong analytical traits and future projection…
Hyun-Seok Jang: …His four-pitch mix wowed evaluators in the Arizona Complex League and helped him earn a bump to Low-A…
Dodgers and Yankees!
BA Top 100 movers:
Josue De Paula (No. 48 to No. 35), OF, Dodgers
Weâve steadily beaten the De Paula drum dating back to the offseason. So far, the 19-year-old Dodgers prospect continues to show one of the higher ceilings in all the minors.
Alex Freeland (No. 95 to No. 68), SS, Dodgers
Freeland is yet another astute Dodgersâ find. Heâs a savvy, well-rounded hitter who should stick in the middle of the infield.
Ben Clemens Chat
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ben-clemens-fangraphs-chat-9-10-24/
Adam: Are we at the point where, push come to shove, the Dodgers would just employ bullpen games in the playoffs rather than throw Buehler or Miller out there?
12:49
Ben Clemens: Yeah, I think they should employ bullpen games with those guys as part of the plan
Brett: What is more likely to happen, someone other than Ohtani to be in 50/50 club or someone other than Judge hitting more than 62 HR in your lifetime?
12:47
Ben Clemens: I think 50/50 club
12:48
Ben Clemens: itâs only been a year since we had a legit contender in Acuna
Jay Jaffe Chat:
Steve O: I donât subscribe to the theory that the Yankees are uniquely bad at developing bats. Developing bats is difficult. Look at the Reds or Pirates. Theyâve been rebuilding for years with high draft picks, and they have developed maybe 3 above average bats between both teams? Or what about the Dodgers? The Dodgers have really only developed Will Smith. Outman, Lux, etc have regressed. Development is difficult.
Jay Jaffe: It does appear that the tide is shifting for Lux, but whatâs your window? The Dodgers did draft and develop Bellinger and Verdugo just a couple years before Smith and Lux. Theyâve tended to favor pitching (and have done well, even with the injuries).
Smiling Politely: Re: Dodgers not developing hitters, Corey Seager would like a word, as would Michael Busch (heck, Luke Raley might even count). Now with Lux, I want to be optimistic, but heâs still not starting against lefties, so my excitement has a lower ceiling than it otherwise would
Jay Jaffe: the timeframe point from Steve O rules out Seager, but youâre right about those other two in that they were major league ready but the Dodgers didnât have room for them
3:47
Not Sure: Jay how long do you figure the trio of Verlander, Scherzer, and Kershaw keep pitching?
Jay Jaffe: i bet 2025 will be the end for at least one of them and probably more
brooklyn resident: Ohtani: best DH season ever?
Jay Jaffe: Yes, i think thatâs a fair statement
Talfred: Other than a single Ohtani start following a 2-inning outing, neither Ohtani nor Yamamoto have ever pitched on fewer than 5 days of rest. Is there any way that the Dodgers can even consider a 5-man rotation next year?
Jay Jaffe: More likely they use a modified 5-man as they did earlier in the year, using spot starters and openers to buy the occasional extra day of rest for both. It will be an interesting juggling act; letâs hope it doesnât reprise this yearâs shuttle to the IL, which seems to board daily.
Guest: Do you think weâre going to see a repeat of the 2023 Dodgers this year? A great team undone in the post-season by a lack of quality starting pitching?
Jay Jaffe: I think itâs entirely possible they go that route. I mean, a year ago I couldnât have told you who Landon Knack was and now heâs quite possibly their Game 3 starter.
Thanks, Bluto!
Great stuff!
10:10 PM ET
Padres (91-67)
Dodgers (94-64)
SP Joe Musgrove R
6-5 3.95 ERA
SP Walker Buehler R
1-6 5.63 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
C Will Smith R
SS Tommy Edman S
2B Gavin Lux L
CF Andy Pages R
67° Wind 8 mph Out
09/26/24 Los Angeles Dodgers activated C Austin Barnes from the 10-day injured list.
09/26/24 Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Brusdar Graterol on the 15-day injured list retroactive to September 25, 2024. Right shoulder inflammation.
09/26/24 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Ben Casparius from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
09/26/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned C Hunter Feduccia to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.09/26/24 Los
09/26/24 Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Brent Honeywell on the 15-day injured list. Cracked right middle fingernail.
09/26/24 Los Angeles Dodgers activated LHP Anthony Banda from the 15-day injured list.
Kershaw (toe) will not be available for at least a couple more weeks, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Manager Dave Roberts told the media that Kershaw’s progress has stalled and that Kershaw is dealing with pain in his toe as well as other unspecific issues. It was already known that he would not be back for the regular season, though his status for the postseason now also appears to be in jeopardy.
It looked to me like Knack was having a mental meltdown in his last inning the other night. Did anyone else get that impression ?
No. But I saw a pitcher who was frustrated.
Big difference between frustrated and panicked. I agree that it looked like frustration.
OK, let’s assume that Yamamoto, Flaherty, and Buehler (we might find out tonight) are the starters. Maybe Graterol can’t go. That leaves Casparious, Honeywell, Hudson, Brasier, Treinen, Phillips, Vesia, Gonsolin, Kelly, Grove, Miller. Wrobleski. Henriquez, Banda, and Kopech – pick ’em! Then… maybe Ohtani can pick up a couple innings. I am willing to go to war with these guys.
Damn, what a total team effort, first time all year I saw a Dodger team that got punched in the mouth the last two games and actually showed some Brass Balls and came back to get it done in both. Bout Fing time!!(pardon my French). Going forward the big thing I noticed is that when Mookie struggles, it throws the rest of the lineup off. Ohtani has shown this whole series he has no problem with a pressure cooker game, he seems to embrace it. Freddie will get his also, but if Mookie is rolling,look out, then opposing teams gotta deal with an awakening Will Smith and Teoscodar and Muncy, low average guys , but the last dudes you want to see with men on base, always a threat to go deep. Another thing I noticed, Kike is starting to feel it. I would totally take him over CT3 right now , he is in playoff mode , and he can be clutch when we need it
Thoughts and prayers are headed your way!
Book em
SWEET!!!!! Now, do they rest, or do they plow on? I believe they want the â1â. seed. playing at home is pivotal for them to reach the world series! i also think weâll see a completely different Mookie these playoffs. Pages? absolutely! Kevin K. ? sorry KK. Andy looks confident! Still concerned about his center field defense. ⌠Mark, hopefully you are all good right about now! we need you! the dodgers need you!
Greatness never rest. Sweep the Rox.
I believe the roster is set.
The usual nine plus Barnes/CT3/Keekay/Pages.
Buehler/Knack wrap up SP3/4.
I have Henriquez/Gonsolin/Banda rounding out the bullpen.
No Kershaw/Grove/Casparius.
KK will be on the postseason roster. For the Division series they will take one less pitcher.
I like your roster. Hey Matt I’m pretty sure you have to have 13 pitchers. Not 100% certain.
Book em
No you do not have to have 13. My guess is we may take 12.
I read that Freeman is staying in LA for treatment on his ankle. I would expect that they will try to get the number 1 seed but will sit anyone who is dealing with injuries to give them more time to get healthy and prevent making the injuries worse. I don’t know if last night alleviated concerns about Mookie or not. The stars know they need to be stars in the playoffs so we’ll have to see what they do. I don’t know if there was some truth to the question of Ohtani pressing to get to 50-50 but he’s been nails lately. I think everyone’s biggest concern is that the bats will be stale with the time off. If we win this year it will be because someone like Rojas, Edman, Lux or Pages comes through in key moments as much as the stars being stars.
Very very satisfying win, and what a season. Hopefully Freddie will be fine. He’s a gamer…
The best is yet to come.
I don’t know if the # 1 seed is all that important to them. I’m not saying they will throw games in Col but they wont go all out.
SD was the hottest team in the 2nd half and we just dispatched them without using our best pitcher and best their best.
Like where we are at.
Enjoy it Dodger fans, rest up next week, and be ready to roll come next Saturday. All hands on deck!!
8:10 PM ET
Dodgers (95-64)
Rockies (61-98)
SP Ryan Brasier R (opener)
1-0 3.33 ERA
SP Cal Quantrill R
8-10 4.72 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
2B Gavin Lux L
LF T. Hernandez R
SS Tommy Edman S
1B E. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
3B Chris Taylor R
C A. Barnes R
83° Wind 6 mph R-L
Pages was among the candidates to possibly not make the roster, along with Kevin Kiermaier and Chris Taylor. But according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, itâs safe to assume Pagesâ spot on the club is safe.
âI canât see a world where heâs not on the playoff roster,â Roberts said.
The team this season had an attendance of 3,941,251, it took a little less than 60,000 to reach 4 million fans.
I don’t remember if it was in April or May that it rained in the city and the team played 2 games with the stadium almost empty and there the opportunity to reach the big number slipped away.
On another note, Kopech is a great candidate for an extension, he’s only 28 years old.
If no Gonsolin, maybe Casparius make it. Either him or Grove.
Unless they would consider going with a position player like Kiermaier.
Shohei’s performance today puts him on the edge of a Triple Crown.
He leads the NL in HRs and RBIs, and is second in BA to Luis Arraez–by only .004 points.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he doesnât âsee any worldâ where Freddie Freeman isnât in the lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS next Saturday, per Jack Harris of The Los Angeles Times.
Will Yamamota pitch at least 5 quality innings tonight and the bullpen finishes the job and we are the number one seed when all is said and done?
The Dodgers magic number to clinch the best record in the National League is 1.
They have also clinched a better record than every American League team, too, which means should the Dodgers reach the World Series they would have home-field advantage.
“The team this season had an attendance of 3,941,251, it took a little less than 60,000 to reach 4 million fans.”
It is worth remembering that LA did it in 80 games, the first game was in Japan or Korea, I don’t remember where… And there were only 15,000, which in LA would have been more than 50,000 fans.
It was Korea, and now it seems like a very long time ago. Be great to secure the best record tonight. I despise the Phillies.
8:10 PM ET
Dodgers (96-64)
Rockies (61-99)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
6-2 2.96 ERA
SP A. Senzatela R
0-0 3.38 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
2B Gavin Lux L
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
C Will Smith R
SS Tommy Edman S
1B E. Hernandez R
CF K. Kiermaier L
84° Wind 9 mph Out
09/28/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Ben Casparius to ACL Dodgers.
09/28/24 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled LHP Justin Wrobleski from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
“Unless âsomething really unforeseenâ happens, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Tony Gonsolin probably isnât going to be part of the teamâs postseason roster. Gonsolin underwent Tommy John surgery about 13 months ago and was considered a longshot to pitch any big league innings this season, though Gonsolin did return in time to pitch 7 2/3 innings over three Triple-A rehab appearances. As Roberts implied to the Los Angeles Timesâ Jack Harris and other reporters, however, Gonsolin is still viewed by the Dodgers as something of an emergency option, as it would be asking a lot of any pitcher who go from a year of inactivity right into the tension of important postseason relief innings”.
GOOD NEWS!!!!!
Philly just lost to the Nationals 6-3 on a Joey Gallo 3 run homer in the 8th and now the Dodgers are the number 1 seed in the National League playoffs and also in the World Series with home field advantage throughout.
Mission accomplished. Now to see if we have enough offense and bullpen to support a rotation without its two best pitchers all year, Glasnow & Stone.
I see that singles hitter from the Madres isn’t playing tonight so he can protect his batting average against Ohtani. Wussie!
I noticed that too!!
Complete chickenâ-move!
If he doesnât play tomorrow it tells you everything about his character.
If he played and won the batting title – then kudos to him.
If he wins it because he doesnât play tomorrow, then he should be ashamed of himself. I wonder what other players think?