Several Dodgers fans have seemingly mocked Andrew Friedman, who has been the architect of the most amazing ten-year run in baseball history. They saw the San Diego Padres trade for Mason Miller, JP Sears (since sent to the minors), Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramon Laureano. Miller and Laureano have made an impact with Ramon batting .333 with a 1.000 OPS. Ryan O’Hearn is struggling mightily (.185 BA), and JP Sears is pitching at AAA. Mason Miller has been good (not great) with a 3.38 ERA. By the way, Mason Miller has a 3.71 ERA this year.
The Padres traded the #3 MLB Prospect at the time, Leo DeVries, along with their #6 Prospect, #12 Prospect, and an unranked prospect for Miller. To get O’Hearn and Laureano, the Padres gave up six more prospects, including their #5 Prospect. The trade for O’Hearn and Laureano cost only one good prospect, namely the #5 ranked Boston Bateman, but both players are Free Agents next year. With San Diego’s ownership lawsuits, it seems unlikely either player will resign with SD.
The question is: “Is it really a big deal to give up the #3-ranked prospect in all of baseball?” The short answer is yes. Here’s why: According to ChatGPT, the odds of a #20 Top Overall Prospect (like Josue DePaula) becoming a superstar are 8 to 12%, but the odds of a #3 Overall Prospect becoming a superstar are 40 to 50%. The Dodgers never had a chance to get Mason Miller once San Diego offered DeVries. DeVries has a 3X to 5X greater likelihood of being a superstar than DePaula. Miller would have been nice, but it was never going to happen.
The Dodgers do not have a prospect of DeVries’ caliber, but they do have a plethora of prospects who could become outstanding players… maybe one or two could evolve into a superstar, namely:
- Josue DePaula
- Zyhir Hope
- Eduardo Quintero
- Mike Sirota
- Jackson Ferris
- Emil Morales
- James Tibbs III
- Ching-Hsien Ko
- Kellon Lindsey
- Joendry Vargus
There is no player here who has the opportunity to be a superstar like Leo DeVries, who has a 40 to 50% chance. The above players have an 8 to 12% chance. One or two may become superstars, but it is not likely. That’s why you have to hoard multiple prospects. You do not know who will defy the odds. There is a logical reason for this: This is not the first time the Padres have gutted the farm. They did it for Juan Soto and sent about 5,000 great players to the Nats. Since 2017, the Dodgers have won 760 games for a .636 winning percentage, while the Padres, who always try to trade their top prospects for a chance to win THIS YEAR, have won 494 games for a .479 winning percentage. The Dodgers have two World Championships in that period and would have three except for the cheating Astericks.
So, whenever you criticize Andrew Friedman and use the San Diego Padres as an example of what the Dodgers should have done, I say STFU! Move on… unless you are a dumbass. San Diego’s methods are of the dope-fiend variety. The Dodgers reclaimed first place last night with a 3-2 win over the Padres. The Dodgers are still the class of the NL right about now, and the future is bright as they keep the farm strong and intact. The best is yet to come for this team.
Let me put it this way: Would you rather be a fan of a team with two World Series wins and a .636 winning percentage or a team that has never won a World Series and has a .479 winning percentage? Bright shiny objects do not lead to sustainable success. By the way, Andrew Friedman learned this the hard way: On a couple of occasions, he needed some relief pitchers like Josh Fields and Tony Watson, so he traded a couple of unremarkable (at the time) prospects for them. Yordan Alvarez and Oneil Cruz wold sure look good in Dodger Blue right about now.
Sorry, some moron (me) had the comments turned off!
we noticed
Or maybe your neglect reflected your “STFU” sentiments…
Dodgers are one dominating performance from Blake Snell away from being back on the good foot.
From The Athletic (Fabian Ardaya):
Call it a prediction, or willing it into existence, but Dave Roberts hoped this would bring out the best in the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have floundered through much of the last six weeks, squandering what was once a nine-game lead and lost ugly in the process. With the newly-minted first-place San Diego Padres in town to start a stretch six games head-to-head in the next 10 days, a breaking point was near.
“We need to ramp up the intensity,” Roberts said as his team approached this vital weekend, stumbling after four straight losses. “We do. Because if we don’t, then I just don’t think it’ll bode well for us.”
For at least one night, the Dodgers found it. They met the moment against a Padres team that had won 23 of their last 35 games, oozing talent and swagger in the process. In a 3-2 win, they managed to cling on to the type of game they’ve let slip too often. For at least one night, they are back tied for first place in the NL West.
“The division isn’t won or lost in the next 10 days,” Clayton Kershaw said. “But it will make an impact. We know that.”
The stakes are obvious. For a night, so was the clear intent of a Dodgers team that has played in a fog for an extended stretch.
“I think that I could see it as far as on the field,” Roberts said. “I could feel it. Our focus was keen.”
That started, as always, with Kershaw. Every inning the Dodgers have gotten out of his surgically-repaired left arm has been a godsend. What was seen as a superfluous and sentimental signing has instead been vital. Friday, that meant righting the ship.
“We had the right guy on the mound tonight,” Roberts said.
This was a big win. But lets not lose sight of—-only 4 hits in a bullpen game. 2 sac flies and a home run. Another poor outing by Vesia (2 hit batters and a walk)
And the Madres barely touched a Kershaw MANY thought would get bombed.
The stars have to play like stars and were collectively 0 for.
The bullpen is held together by scotch tape and bailing wire.
The healthy Dodgers’ rotation can put them in a place to win every game, but without an offense which scores 5 R/game or a bullpen that actually stops the other team they won’t win enough.
Which is why they are 13-21 since 7/3.
I seem to recall a Scotch tape and baling wire World Series. 😉
Can miracles strike twice??
Miracles happen when preparation meets opportunity.
Aside from Vesia, the bullpen was ok. What’s bothersome to me is that whoever Roberts sends out, they don’t have a clean inning. This has been going on for awhile now.
Today’s game illustrated the old maxim that a walk is as good as a hit.
The Dodgers got out to a 5-0 lead because Shohei and Will walked twice, and Mookie walked once. And each time they got to 1B, they managed to reach home plate.
Imagine what it is like seeing a blazing 89 mph fb for 6 innings and the next guy is throwing 96.
Another crappy umpiring session. Kershaw even reacted to a few. ABS can’t be initiated soon enough. Hope it’s next year. Even if the poor strike calling doesn’t always have an effect on the score, it does raise a pitcher’s pitch count. In their defense, with 100 plus FBs and spin increasing dramatically, umps may not be able to accurately call some pitches. It will also get rid of framing which is another word for deception.
I agree on framing (cheating). Would also like to outlaw oven mitt to make fingers longer.
The mitt is an advantage but the players will say it is a safety factor. The only alternative would be to eliminate head-first slides. Probably neither will happen.
ABS will definitely reduce duties of a catcher to basics, like calling a sound game, knowing the opposing hitters and stopping those dirty runners with oven mitts from stealing bases. (grin)
Thanks for the comments, David.
Bright shiny objects do not lead to sustainable success. By the way, Andrew Friedman learned this the hard way… BANG! You got it perfectly explained Mark
9:10 PM ET
Padres (69-53)
Dodgers (69-53)
SP Dylan Cease R
5-10 4.52 ERA
SP Blake Snell L
2-1 2.37 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
3B A. Freeland S
2B Miguel Rojas R
75° Wind 7 mph Ou
I read on another site that several fans were questioning why Doc took Clayton out after six innings. They thought that Doc should have left him in to pitch another inning. Now, I have no idea what happened in the dugout, but I saw Clayton hugging Doc, which leads me to believe that Clayton agreed with that. BTW, the Dodgers won!
These morons just live to bash Dave Roberts because it makes them feel like real men to criticize a guy who is doing something those morons could never do. I find it interesting because each one who said it used to post here and did not like to be called out for their self-serving, moronic drivel. Have a nice day! 😉
Of course, if Doc had left him in and the Dodgers had got bombed, they would have blamed Doc. What morinic hypoctits!
As you would say. BANG
Clayton pitched 6 brilliant innings! why push him just because the bullpen hasn’t been working? heck, i wanted him to pitch 9! i still don’t understand the treinan move. 1 pitch and done. maybe it’s a confidence thing who knows. Vesia looks like a man with no confidence right now. i’m sure he’ll get it back. …. top of the order needs to be produce tonight! Cease can be beat like a rented mule! put some runs on the board!!!
Kershaw has around six more starts and maybe 4 more in the post season (hopefully). I know Maddux once said he could pitch every day but let’s save arguably the best pitcher we ever had for another day..
And tonight, Cease beat himself.
Morales seems to taking off. De Paula returned tonight.
Snellzilla showed up tonight along with the bullpen .. great win , teascore is my guy. On the flip side , missing Mad Max for two weeks is gonna hurt , dude is HUGE in the middle of the lineup, he was on fire too. Just gotta get through it. I think this series got everyone focusing on what is ahead,
These were just a couple of starts, but Kershaw and Snell delivered in a big way against the damn Padres
A lot of us, I think, are pleasantly surprised by Kershaw’s recent performances. But if he keeps it up he could move into the playoff rotation.
Snell met expectations, considering his lofty compensation and the benefits of the Dodgers’ “slow-play” approach to the season.
And how bout that Will Smith? He gunned down three Padres trying to steal. Sweet. He’s leading the NL in BA and OBP, and should get some down-ballot MVP votes, along with guys like Schwarber, Alonso, Crow-Armstrong…
Yes, Shohei should be the prohibitive favorite. He’s on a 156-run pace and his OPS is 1.018, 61 points ahead of No. 2 Ketel Marte. Plus he doesn’t suck as a pitcher.
Hurry back, Max. You’ll be needed.
Clean baseball – great to see a couple of clutch wins. Sweep tomorrow behind Glasnow hopefully. It starts with good starting pitching.
BTW, while I still pine for Mason Miller, it’s sure nice to read about Bobby Miller’s progress as a reliever in OKC. How soon will we see him back on the big club?
It’s also nice to see Edgardo Henriquez touching 103 mph… while we wait for Kopech’s return.
Given the struggles of Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, it’s hard to imagine that the Dodgers be in first place without the work of rookies Dreyer and Casparius.
Henriquez was impressive. Freeland is already better defensively than Max but Muncy’s bat will be missed. Freeland will hopefully improve his bat
He’s getting there.
Now, if we only had a LH outfielder in the minors who hits a ton of dingers, bats 300 and is biting at the bit to replace Conforto. The GM need to call Amazon, order a set of testicles and make the switch.
Time for GlassNOW to step up today and earn his big contract and WIN a big game for us today. Of all our starters I don’t trust him in a BIG game. Prove me wrong.
Think about it for a minute,if the San Diego starters don’t do their job,the heralded San Diego bullpen is meaningless.An example is last night’s game with starting pitcher Cease. In my opinion the San Diego starting staff is much much weaker than the Dodger starting staff.
Taking the season series from San Diego last night ,we now have the tiebreaker in case of a tie for the Western Division with them.
Dodgers Updates: Tanner Scott & Kirby Yates Beginning Rehab Assignments
“The Los Angeles Dodgers have had struggles in their bullpen recently, but reinforcements are on the way in the forms of Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech.
All three are progressing and expected to return within in the next few weeks. Yates is the closest toward being activated off the 15-day injured list, followed by Scott, while Kopech is a little behind them”.
“Adam Serwinowski, who was one of the pieces the Dodgers received in the Hunter Feduccia package, pitched his third stellar game in a row since becoming a Dodgers farmhand. In this game, he pitched five and two-thirds innings, surrendering no runs on two hits. He came to the Dodgers with a 4.84 ERA, pitching in the same Midwest League, but in 17 innings for the Great Lakes Loons, his ERA is a minuscule 0.53. When asked to explain such a drastic difference in results, his answer gave insight into the inner workings of the Dodgers’ mystique”.
4:10 PM ET
Padres (69-54)
Dodgers (70-53)
SP Yu Darvish R
2-3 5.61 ERA
SP Tyler Glasnow R
1-1 3.08 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
2B A. Freeland S
3B B. Kennedy R
81° Wind 9 mph Out
Wow, Buddy Kennedy starting @ 3B? Good for him. I doubt he makes anyone forget Max or now Alex Freeland (who MAY be making Max a bit nervous about 2026?) but I hope he has a strong game.
GO DODGERS. Hoping for the sweep but very glad they’ve already won this series.
Who?
With Rookies like Freeland, I almost never look at stats. I look at his play, demeanor, and how he carries himself. He is a ballplayer – the hitting will follow…
Would love to see Freddie or Will lead league in BA. But lets see. Its close and plenty of time to go.
And still would like to see more offense. Most runs yesterday due to poor play by SD
Our starting pitchers did their jobs this weekend. Although, the bullpen continues to be an area of concern; did their best to try to hijack the W today, but the offense came through at the right time.
The bullpen continues to be a problem and is currently the weakest link, but reinforcements should be on their way.
Go Dodgers!
I agree. The ‘pen couldn’t hold a 2 run lead for 4 innings. They gave it up in 3 innings.
What a job by Vesia. Overpowering those 3 punks for the save
He makes me nervous watching him be nervous but he got the job done. Getting Manny to pop up was icing on the cake.
Mookie!