Let me get right to the point: Bill Plaschke writes stuff that appeals to real stupid fans, which is half of the Dodger base. In his latest fish wrap-worthy tome on how Andrew Friedman failed at the trade deadline, he once again displayed how plaque buildup in his pea brain results in drivel emanating from his keyboard. Translation: He is dumber than a bag of hammers. I would never suggest that you read such nonsense, so I will paraphrase what he said:
“Since I am so eminently qualified to be the President of Baseball Operations because I am a legend in my own mind, I would like to point out that Andrew Friedman is a dumbass because he did not gut the farm like AJ Preller did and get a closer and a bunch of other bright, shiny things. He needed to do that because I said so and because there is no dumbass vaccine, which I desperately need.”
There is nothing that proves a point better than Bill Plaschke attempting to make a counterpoint. Do the Dodgers need another closer? Every team should have six closers, right? Well… maybe the Dodgers do.
Tanner Scott is Plan A: Hopefully, by mid-August, he will be free of the inflammation he has experienced throughout the season. Structurally, his arm is fine, so that seems to be a reasonable presumption. But, what is Plan B, C, D, E or F? Believe it or not, there are more options. Kirby Yates is one (I am not fond of this), as he can get hot and be unhittable. I am not holding my breath on that one. Blake Treinen is another one. Bobby Miller is in there, too. He has looked outstanding in the bullpen, having notched three dominant innings in his first two outings. Maybe that is just what the Doc ordered. I’m going to give you another name: Roki Sasaki. Rather than build him up as a starter the rest of the season, have him work out of the pen. Justin Wrobleski has the guts of a cat-burglar! There are some other options, but it’s possible that several pitchers will get an opportunity to close. In 2020, the Dodgers had that great closer… Julio Urias, right? Well, he was never a closer. You can never predict what will happen. I vaguely remember Walker Buehler using smoke and mirrors to close last year!
Mookie Betts & Shohei Ohtani
There is a lot of information or misinformation circulating around the internet about Mookie Betts’ family.
- That his daughter is terminally ill; and
- That his stepfather died.
It may or may not be accurate, so I will not speculate. I have seen signs that Mookie might be breaking out of his funk with some hard-hit balls. Shohei Ohtani hit .309 in May. Then, in June, he started to focus on pitching as well as hitting, and he hit .265 in June. In July, he started pitching in games, and his batting average dipped to .204! Coincidence? Prove otherwise! Being a pitcher is a full-time job. Being a hitter is a full-time job. If he thinks he can do both, he may be a boat anchor on his team. This is not the Arte Moreno Angels. These are the Goddamned Dodgers, and we don’t need a Dog and Pony Show.
We need hitters at the top of our lineup. We have seen that Mookie can’t be Mookie and is undergoing whatever he is fighting, and we have been watching Ohtani wither away as a hitter while trying to pitch. Enough Already! Cut the distractions and play ball. When healthy and right, this is the best team in baseball, but it’s all about Dodger Baseball. It’s not the Mookie and Shohei Show! Cut the crap, you two! If you need help figuring it out, ask Freddie Freeman. Maybe Shohei will quit starting and become a closer.
Stop the insanity!
Maybe Ohtani needs to rest a day after pitching, or a day before pitching or pitching and not at bat in the same game.
I’m not sure, but I think he’s the only one who hasn’t had a day off.
andrew Friedman is the most overrated gm in baseball history.
this team is a joke
You are a comedian.
Mark,
You always say Doc and AF know more than us. So they need to come up with the answer. Maybe they need to sayto Ohtani that this year you need to JUST be a hitter.
The problem is that Ohtani was signed as a two-way player, and that contract has to be honored… even to the detriment of the team. Even Ray Charles can see that his focus on pitching is costing the Dodgers their best offensive force. Maybe it’s even “eating” at Mookie?
Ohtani strikeout rate seems to be getting worse as he continues to swing at pitches way out of the strike zone. How does his chasing high fast ball’s improve if he just concentrated on hitting? Are we to believe that because he needs to work on pitching as well, he is not working on fixing the hole in his swing? and would an at bat or two where he doesn’t swing at all a la Miguel Vargas be beneficial?
Ohtani was capable of doing both before. So why not now? Is it because of age? Or is it because he hasn’t done this for 2 years and it will take awhile to get back into form? If he is still struggling when do you eliminate his pitching? Remember, Muncy and Conforto had long leashes.
Shohei is arguably the biggest “offensive force” in baseball next to Aaron Judge. Judge had a 225 OPS+ in 2024 and is at 217 this year. Ohtani was at 186 last year but has slid to 171 this year. Judge had a 1.159 OPS last year and a 1.160 OPS this year. Ohtani was at 1.036 last year and is at .979 this year. Clearly, Ohtani has slipped. If you rest him once a week, that is a huge impact on the Dodgers’ offense. Will Smith is 5 points below him in OPS.
When you say rest him once a week, do you mean not being in the lineup? He hasn’t had a day off in quite awhile but is rest the answer? His biggest problem is pitch selection. Why is he swinging at non competitive pitches? This is something that Roberts has alluded to. Give him a day off? Sure, but is that sufficient?
Those leashes were in first half of year. Can leases last for August and Sept???
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic nailed it:
The biggest truth might be this: Even had the Dodgers managed to pry Steven Kwan from the Guardians or swung the deal to get Jhoan Duran instead of Stewart from the Twins, nothing shifts the Dodgers’ chances of being baseball’s first repeat champs in 25 years more than their existing stars figuring it out.
Betts needs to hit, breaking out of a season-long funk that has become an increasing storyline with each successive month as he’s hitting .240 with a .681 OPS. Freeman collected three hits in the penultimate day before the deadline and homered Wednesday for the first time since June 28. He’s hoping to move past a June and July where his OPS was just .616.
Teoscar Hernández is having a good trip after struggling to rediscover his timing in the months since coming off the injured list. The Dodgers need Max Muncy to come off the injured list next week and recapture the form he was in when Michael A. Taylor slid into his left knee. Call’s acquisition would be less of a necessity if Michael Conforto’s $17 million signing translated more to what he was in July (.827 OPS) rather than what he’d been before it (.602 OPS). On Thursday, Gomes highlighted Conforto’s strong month as a reason to keep giving him opportunities.
Even Shohei Ohtani, who set a career-high with five straight games with a home run earlier this month, has been increasingly prone to whiffs. A lineup that still has scored the second-most runs in baseball this season certainly didn’t look the part in July; their 91 wRC+ for the month ranked 26th in the majors.
“As we saw last year, what’s most important is to peak at the right time and hit our stride in that second half and be strong going into October,” Gomes said. “So the belief in this group, and what we can accomplish, is strong and we feel great about what we can do.”
Max Muncy at Oklahoma City last night was 3 for 3 with 3 singles and one RBI. Need him to be the Max Muncy just before he got hurt,NOT the early season version when he comes off the IL.
Sounds like he is chomping at the bit!
This was my fear with Ohtani:
That his goal to be a two-way player would overtake his responsibility to be a team player!
On the flip side, his pitching allows for a 6 man rotation which helps Yamamoto.
His real lifetime goal is to be THE greatest baseball player the world has ever seen, not ONE OF the greatest. An impossible undertaking and really? Does he have a chance at unseating the Babe or Willy and others in most minds? Certainly his name will be mentioned with theirs… but it already is. This is what animates him needing to pitch. But he already knows that the likelihood of pitching much longer is very very poor. Despite all our angst at his hitting decline, it appears it will continue. DAMN.
12:10 PM ET EARLY GAME
Dodgers (64-47)
Rays (55-57)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
9-7 2.63 ERA
SP Joe Boyle R
1-1 2.82 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
LF M. Conforto L
CF Andy Pages R
3B A. Freeland S
2B Tommy Edman S
RF Alex Call R
91° Wind 6 mph Out
Ohtoni back in the leadoff spot
didn’t help. Mookie hit into DP
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Dave Roberts said #Dodgers will evaluate how Max Muncy comes out of today’s game as DH for OKC before deciding if he would return tomorrow.
If they lose today it is absolutely guaranteed Max is back tomorrow. YAY!
Max will be back anyway with Edman reinjuring his ankle.
I don’t think it’s necessary or urgent to bring Muncy now, there’s no need to rush him, let him get his rhythm and be completely healthy, as long as Freeland continues doing a great job like he has been doing so far. It’s true that it’s only been three games, but you can see that this kid has all the tools to become a great hitter.
What does seem necessary is to move Betts a little further down in the lineup until he gets his rhythm, because lately it seems that the first inning is only for two outs because he is an automatic out.
Just as Conforto has already been moved up a bit in the order, Betts should be moved down a bit.
You have to wonder how much longer does he hit 1 or 2. Ohtani then Smith would certainly be better right now.
You have to wonder how much longer does he hit 1 or 2. Ohtani then Smith would certainly be better right now.
Walked Ohtani twice to get to Mookie. He failed both times. So teams will keep this up until something changes
Intentional walks?
Love it when Shohei doesn’t chase. He also stole two bases in this one, including a double steal with Mookie…who also hit a clutch sac fly. (It wasn’t all bad.)
As I’ve suggested, Shohei’s recent struggles don’t concern me as much as Mookie’s long slump. But he isn’t alone. Teo and Edman have also struggled recently… but thankfully Freddie seems to be back.
Meanwhile, Edman’s injury has enhanced Freeland’s opportunity to prove he belongs on the roster for the rest of the season. Kike could wind up as the odd man out.
Really an embarrassing game for Mookie. Ohtani on base 4 times. Finally last 2 times a walk and Sac fly for Mookie. Before that just easy outs first 3 ABs
??? The no-doubt sac fly was clutch.
A pop-up or strikeout would have been embarrassing.
One good at bat. First 3 were bad. Then a mercy walk. No hits for Mookie in the series
Treinen still looks not ready for prime time.
In his two MVP seasons with the Angels, Shohei was successful in both the batter’s box and on the mound. Has he slumped a bit this season since he resumed pitching? Maybe.
But history suggests that Shohei can excel at both at the same time.
From Wikipedia:
“Following an injury-plagued 2019 and 2020, Ohtani hit 46 home runs and struck out 156 batters en route to winning his first AL Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 2021, a statistically unprecedented two-way season that saw him bestowed with the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award.[c] In 2022, he became the first player in the modern era to qualify for both the hitting and pitching leaderboards in one season, finishing third in the AL with 219 strikeouts.[d]
Ohtani won his second AL MVP in 2023, leading the AL with 44 home runs while recording 10 wins as a pitcher. He was the first player to win multiple unanimous MVPs and the first Japanese-born player to win a league home run title.”
Could be wrong, but I think the Angels gave him a day off after he pitched to give someone else a DH chance. If fatigue is an issue, perhaps the Dodgers could try this.
In five plate appearances today–back in the leadoff spot– Shohei got on base four times with two walks, a double and a single.
I am less concerned about Shohei than I am about Mookie’s continuing slump. I don’t think playing SS is a factor, however. (I don’t think his stepfather’s death was a factor, either, but if it’s true that his daugher is seriously ill…yes, that would be difficult to deal with.)
Whatever the underlying issue, perhaps Mookie needs a short break.
With Max due back and Edman headed to the IL, perhaps we’ll see Freeland get his first start at SS, with Rojas handing 2B.
So…
Shohei DH
Smith C
Freddie 1B
Pages CF
Max 3B
Teo RF
Call/Conforto LF
Freeland SS
Rojas 2B
With Max back soon and Edman heading to the IL,
Things get harder in your 30’s!
Try it in your 70’s.
Tomorrows’ Lineup:
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Smith C
5. Muncy 3B
6. Teoscar RF
7. Conforto LF
8. Pages CF
9. Freeland 2B
Good to see Max back in there.
And we get to see Freeland at 2B….
Roberts showing faith in Mookie. Hope it pays off.
I like it
If I’m reading the stats correctly, Freeman has started at second base one game in Triple A.
Maybe play Muncy at 2nd. He has a lot of experience at that position.
Alex Freeland has played 9 games flawlessly in the minors.
Muncy will stay at 3B.
If anything, Mookie will go to 2B, and Alex can play SS.
So far, Max Muncy is 2-3 today with a double and HR.
Book him!
I think for long term health, the Dodgers should give Mookie some time off perhaps a 10 IL stint boy let him regroup.
Austin Barnes released by SF
Dodgers hanging in there with 3-0 win yesterday but Pods scare me.
Any mgr who puts a guy who Ks 3 times a game and a guy who is hitting.235 at the top of the order should be fired. Ohtani and Betrs need to be dropped down to 4th and 7th respectively until they show some better results.
Freeland Is fitting in really good with the team. Excellent defense. Same with Call, who made a nice play in yesterday.
Your nuts!
Classy astute observation. Porpoises hav the intelligence of a 7 year old human. Name fits.
Ohtani on base 4 times in sundays game. As for Mookie. He is definitely hurting team batting second lately
Appreciate the good comments. Nothing wrong with civil debate.
Ohtani last night: 1/4 , 2K, Mookie:0/4.
Understand the 40 HRs, 100 RBIs he contributed, but he would have driven in more with Freddie ahead of him banging doubles, since the Dodgers are allergic to putting speed at the top of the order.
I was in Tampa, great series win.
I saw Mookie and RVS at dinner Saturday night. He’s grinding, I believe he will come out of this just in time.
Brock looked great, thats a sneaky great pickup. I like the Freeland kid….
Holy heck was it hot sunday watching the game…
I like Freeland too and all of a sudden he’s a necessary piece.
Muncy replaces Edman, which actually works out fairly well.
Freeland & Rojas can share 2B as both are excellent natural defenders and we can bat them 9th.
Conforto is no longer a problem and Call will play against LHPs.
Ruiz is the weak link but I like the way we’re using him for defense & pinch-running. Keekay will take his spot when ready.
Freeland should stay even when Kim is better. He’s more versatile and useful.
Tampa in August is brutal.
With Max returning, Mookie needs to be dropped to some where between 6th-9th in the order for now.
Unlikely. I think they would 10 day b4 that.
08/04/25 Los Angeles Dodgers designated RHP Jack Little for assignment.
08/04/25 Los Angeles Dodgers claimed 1B Luken Baker off waivers from St. Louis Cardinals.
08/04/25 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned 1B Luken Baker to Oklahoma City Comets.
Nice. Need any body.
10:10 PM ET
Cardinals (56-57)
Dodgers (65-47)
SP Sonny Gray R
10-5 4.38 ERA
SP Tyler Glasnow R
1-1 3.38 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF M. Conforto L
CF Andy Pages R
2B Miguel Rojas R
76° Wind 10 mph Out
Here’s what I predicted as the lineup:
1. Ohtani DH
2. Betts SS
3. Freeman 1B
4. Smith C
5. Muncy 3B
6. Teoscar RF
7. Conforto LF
8. Pages CF
9. Freeland 2B
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
#Dodgers have placed Tommy Edman on IL with right ankle issue and Max Muncy has been activated.
The Dodgers lineup has greatly missed Muncy, who was hitting .304 with 12 home runs and an OPS of 1.009 over his last 47 games before the injury. Overall on the season, the left-handed slugger is hitting .250 with an OPS of .832.
@THEREAL_DV
#Dodgers Probables for #Cardinals series:
Tonight: Glasnow
Tuesday: Sheehan
Wednesday: Ohtani
Had an appointment today with a retina specialist. I have to start getting injections into my left eye on the 18th of this month. Should be ok though, they caught the wet MD early.
Damn, that hurts me thinking about it.
I think Teoscar is better suited to hit in the bottom 1/3 of the order. He will flourish there.
Move Pages’ up? CV clutch SF last night.
This offense looks tired.broken and showing its age in some respect. Thank God San Diego loses when we do. Mookie looks lost and should bat lower in the lineup until he figures it out or takes multiple games off on the bench.