I always pick a player from a draft and he immediately becomes a favorite. In 2019, I was more of an advocate for Michael Busch than Kody Hoese. But he was too high in the draft. Rarely do I choose a top pick in the draft.
Some of my friends were surprised it was not the 6’6” LHP from Austin, Texas, Jimmy Lewis. I do not know why, but I have always loved pitchers from Texas, especially high school pitchers. Clayton Kershaw was the exception to my rule of looking for someone outside of the top pick to follow.
But this time, it was not the Texas pitcher that got me attached to. It was the Indianapolis kid who went to hometown Butler University, Ryan Pepiot. Pepiot went to Westfield High School, about 17 miles from Butler.
I was ecstatic when he reached MLB in 2022 as a 24 year old. He was more than competent at the MLB level. I have linked Pepiot’s B-R page.
I was upset he did not get a chance against the DBacks in 2023 NLDS. He should have. When you are down 2 games to none, you do not save someone for Game 4.
After the 2023 season, the Dodgers traded Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca to Tampa Bay for Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot. Margot and INF Rayne Doncon were later traded to Minnesota for SS Noah Miller before the 2024 season began.
I applauded the trade. I liked Pepiot…a lot, but his ceiling was not in the Glasnow realm. Tyler Glasnow went to Hart High School and being so close to Hart, I followed him while he was in High School. It did not hurt that his HS Coach was a good friend of mine. He was also my son’s HS Coach. So when Glasnow was traded to LAD, I was thrilled and called his HS Coach. He had nothing but glowing comments for his young pupil. As an aside, he was not so glowing with his RVS comments who he also coached. Let’s just say he was non-communicative about his feelings towards RVS. Nothing negative.
Glasnow immediately became my favorite Dodger not named Kershaw.
Some were not as enthusiastic about the trade. Glasnow’s history is riddled with injuries, while Pepiot was considered a good reliable mid-rotation pitcher. But Glasnow’s curveball was a difference maker. When he is on, it is unhittable.
In 2024, the Dodgers needed elite SP, and Clayton Kershaw was showing signs of Father Time creeping in and he had his own injury concerns. The trade was before the Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They knew Shohei Ohtani was not going to pitch in 2024. Walker Buehler was still on the shelf, and what can you expect from a double TJ surgery pitcher? Emmet Sheehan was still an unknown, as was Gavin Stone. Sheehan had TJ surgery and was gone for the year. Stone needed shoulder surgery during the season. The Dodgers also signed James Paxton.
The Dodgers were looking for Bobby Miller to fill that elite void, but we now know how that turned out.
2024 started out great with Glasnow. He was selected to his first All Star team. But then a back injury and later an elbow injury ended his season. He did not get to pitch in the playoffs, but maybe they do not make it if he is not in the rotation for 22 starts.
2024 was his best season, with the most starts, and most IP.
The pitching gurus knew that Glasnow was special when healthy. What could they tweak in his mechanics to take the pressure of his elbow and back? They worked on it in ST, and he was cleared to start 2025 in the rotation. His first start against Atlanta was excellent. He went 5.0 shutout innings on 2 hits, 3 BB, and 8K.
But it was his next start in a cold and rainy Philadelphia where he began to unravel. The footing on the mound was bad. His 99th percentile extension was not conducive to a good landing, especially with the new mechanics he was trying to incorporate. He came out of the game, angry.
He had three more starts before his shoulder told him to shut it down.
He went on the IL, but was able to return July 8 against Milwaukee. He left the game after 5.0 IP tied at 1-1. The run he allowed was unearned. He finished the season with 13 starts, 72.1 IP, 44 hits, 32 BB, 83 K, 2.86 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 3.33 FIP.
More importantly, something clicked for him and his mechanics before the playoffs, and he was a new pitcher in October. He was outstanding in the postseason. 6 game, 3 starts, 21.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, 2.95 FIP, including his first MLB save. Everyone is going to remember Yamamoto’s MVP WS run, Miggy Ro’s game 7 tying HR, Will Smith’s Game 7 winning HR, Will Klein’s phenomenal Game 3, Freddie’s walk off in Game 3, the outstanding defense of Miggy, Tommy Edman, and Kiké, and of course the Pages catch. But the Dodgers do not win the WS without Glasnow.
WS teams have their MVP’s, but it is quite often the one not mentioned as heroic who the team relied on to get through. It was that way with Julio Urías in 2020 and Walker Buehler in 2024. They were not the heroes, but they were pivotal to the team success.
Glasnow went into the offseason for the first time knowing what he needed to do to ramp up with his refined mechanics. He has had a fantastic start to 2026. He has 5 starts, and everyone of them has been at least 6.0 innings, and has compiled 33.0 IP. His BB/9 rate is dramatically down from 4.28 to 1.91. His K/9 rate is about the same, slightly down. His HR/9 is way down. His 2026 ERA is 2.45 and that is in line with his expected ERA of 2.15, FIP 2.27, and expected FIP 2.75.
His 2026 numbers are not out of line with Yamamoto or Paul Skenes. They are all below Shohei Ohtani.
Before my site crashed, I was about to publish my predictions for 2026. I know it is easy to pick Paul Skenes, but my pick for CY was Tyler Glasnow. It is still waaaaaaayyyyyy too early for any CY discussion, but three Dodgers pitchers are certainly in the early season discussion.
I know there are many out there that do not believe Tyler can finish the season without a lengthy IL stint. For me, I am enjoying watching him pitch at an elite level. A level he was projected to be at by AF/BG.
How ironic that the pitcher that many did not want to see traded for Glasnow because of his reliability for staying healthy, is on the 60 day IL with a hip injury, while Glasnow is having the best start of his career.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORT
Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle) 10 – OKC Comets 5
There was some good news with LHSP Jackson Ferris’ start. He only walked two batters in 4.2 IP. The bad news, he allowed 7 runs (6 earned), on 10 hits in those 4.2 IP.
RHRP Brock Stewart threw another scoreless inning in relief. However this one was with a lot more stress. He allowed 2 hits and a BB with 2 K.
The next three pitchers threw a combined 3.0 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned), on 6 hits, 0 BB, and 4 K. 3 of those K’s came from LHRP Antoine Kelly who struck out the side in the 9th.
OKC scored a pair in the 2nd. James Tibbs III drew a BB. He moved to 3rd on a DH Jack Suwinski double (5). Both runners scored on SS Noah Miller’s RBI single.
Down 7-2 in the 5th, the first two Comets were retired. 3B Ryan Fitzgerald reached on catcher’s interference. Fitzgerald moved to 3rd on RF Zach Ehrhard’s double (6). LF Ryan Ward tripled (1) home both runners.
In the 6th, Suwinski walked and moved to 2nd on a WP. He scored on a single from C Eliézer Alfonzo.
Fitzgerald was the lone Comet hitter with a multi-hit game, including his 7th double.
Frisco RoughRiders (Texas) 9 – Tulsa Drillers 7
RHSP Payton Martin just got shellacked. He gave up 8 runs (all earned) in 1.2 IP. He allowed 9 hits and 2 BB before being pulled.
The Drillers struck first in the 1st inning. CF Kendall George led off the game with a single. He moved to 2nd on a disengagement violation and scored on DH Zyhir Hope’s double (3).
After Frisco scored 4 in the bottom of the 1st, Tulsa got two back in the 2nd. SS Sean McLain reached 1B on a force out. George drew a BB. McLain and George scored on back to back singles by RF Josue De Paula and 3B Kyle Nevin.
Frisco put up four more in the bottom of the 2nd, going up 8-3.
Tulsa kept plugging away in the 3rd and 4th. In the 3rd, 2B Jake Gelof led off with a HR (3). The HR was followed by singles from 1B Joe Vetrano and LF Kole Myers. After two Drillers K’s, George and De Paula each drew a BB, with the 2nd one bringing Vetrano home.
Gelof hit his 2nd HR of the game for the Drillers 6th run.
The Drillers scored a run in the 9th on Myers’ double (1) to finish the scoring.
- Joe Vetrano – 3-5, 2 runs
- Kole Myers – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI, double (1)
- Jake Gelof – 2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR (4)
- Kendall George reached three times on a single and 2 BB
Great Lakes Loons 3 – Beloit Sky Carp (Miami) 0
Four Loons pitchers combined on a 5 hit shutout. Combined they issued 7 BB and registered 15 K. 22 year old RHRP Davis Chastain was the most effective. He finished the game for a save, retiring all 7 batters he faced, four on K’s.
GL scored solo runs in the 4th, 6th, and 8th innings. In the 4th, CF Mike Sirota led off with a single, moved to 2nd on an errant pickoff throw, and to 3rd on a ground out. Sirota scored on a 1B Cam Decker RBI single.
2B Logan Wagner hit his 5th HR in the 6th.
In the 8th, SS Jose Izarra led off with a double (2) and came around to score on DH Nico Perez’s RBI single.
Ontario Tower Buzzers 7 – San Jose Giants 3
2B Joendry Vargas was HBP to lead off the game. He stole 2nd and scored on CF Mairo Martinus’ double (4). Martinus scored on C Anson Aroz’s single.
San Jose tied it up off Ontario’s RHSP Marlon Nieves. He hit 2 batters and they scored on a pair of singles.
RHRP Isaac Ayon allowed the go-ahead run in the 5th. A 1-out single and SB set up the 2-out RBI single, giving the Giants the 3-2 lead.
Ontario put up 4 in the 8th. Vargas singled and stole 2B. Martinus and 3B Chase Harlan each drew 1-out BB. Aroz singled home Vargas. 1B Easton Shelton had the big hit, a bases clearing double (6).
RHRP Matt Lanzendorfer pitched a scoreless 8th, and RHRP Jecsua Liborius pitched a scoreless 9th to end the game.
Can he go 9?
Nobody goes 9,
I watched Skeenes Perfect Game last night… until it wasn’t.
Skenes is a beast. With all due respect to Tarik Skybal, the best pitcher in MLB is Skenes.
The trio who was supposed to guard the Dodgers, Vesia, Scott and Trenien, stunk up the stadium last night and ruined a beautiful performance by our young pitcher. Some good plays by Pages’ and Kim up the middle again proving that the Dodgers defense is getting better. We will be OK but the RPing needs some serious consistency.
Sheehan was what I would call effectively wild. Over 100 pitches in 6.1, threw 64 balls, hit a guy, but struck out 10 so when he found the strike zone they couldn’t hit him. Well, Busch could. The point is, Sheehan deserved better.
Dodgers offense? 6 hits. Ohtani, Tucker, Freeman and Hernandez 0fer. Only Kim, hitting .391, had multiple hits. The Padres now have a better record as do the Braves. Cubs and Reds have caught us.
Those of you who couldn’t view this were spared.
That of course would be 64 strikes.
Good points Badger.
I watched the condensed version on MLB. Pages’ could have maybe caught that triple, but his later throw home was great as was Kim’s throw home.
Funny how Rushing is being anointed with a handful of games but Kim’s nearly 1.5 years is not enough to say he is becoming a solid MLB player but that Freeland just needs “a little more time.”. I guess it depends which side of the fence you are on.
Another couple of poor months and they will be calling Tucker Conforto II. He will come around.
Busch hits every pitchers with Dodgers on the chest.
Glad I didn’t watch the game. It looks like the bullpen “Shit the Bed”. It could definitely be a weakness until Philips and Diaz return healthy. I don’t trust Treinen and Dreyer in a pressure spot,too inconsistent.Scott doesn’t look good in back to back games.
Hey Andrew,
It was ugly looking like the Dodgers relief pitching version of the Three Stooges. Watched the condensed game in MLB site. Nice 5 minute rundown of the game. Some great defense from Pages’ and Kim on the throws home and nice situational hitting by Kim. He is really getting into the flow.
Stewart
Treinen allowed the tying homer, but that was after Vesia literally threw the lead out the window. Sheehan came out for the 7th and got the first out. After a single, Roberts pulled Sheehan and Vesia relieved. He got the first hitter, Kelly on a fly out. He then walked Crow-Armstrong and then Swanson hit his triple scoring 2. Pages actually had that ball hit just below the pocket of his glove and it dropped. He then gave up a single to Hoener scoring Swanson. Hoener then deeked him into a third disengagement to first thus causing a balk. Busch then struck out. Had Vesia even been just more in the strike zone, he made 20 pitches, only 8 were strikes, it might have been different. Team was 2-6 with RISP. But this is on the first 7 hitters in the lineup, they went 3-36. Ohtani 0-3 3Ks, Freeman 0-4 Smith 1-3, 3-run homer, Tucker 0-3 with a walk, Teo 0-4 2Ks, Muncy 1-4, Pages 1-4. Kim and Freeland were 3-5 combined.
As I scrolled through the games yesterday on mlb package, at least 4 games were blacked out! 2 on Apple TV, and the Orioles and nationals because I don’t have access to Masn cable. Beginning to wonder, why even bother? Baseball wants to attract more viewers, but yet they allow less games to be available on TV! Makes no sense whatsoever! I started to get Apple’s trial then cancel, but why bother! After that performance by the bullpen last night, the Dodgers are sleepwalking at this point. Maybe Kim should lead off! (Just kidding). They seem to go through spells like this every year, but Ohtani looks absolutely awful! Teo looks terrible! Tucker hasn’t gotten to LA yet! Without Will’s 2, out bomb, they probably don’t even score against a Cubs pitcher who isn’t all that! I’m just venting a little, but it’s early! It’s not getting late! It’s going to take time! It’s going to be a long journey!! It’s frustrating! It’s all the cliches! Seriously, losing that game last night was not good! The Cubs can hit! Their pitching is nowhere near as good as the Dodgers (starters). But they can hit. So give Emmit a ton of credit for shutting them down for almost 7 innings! That’s 4 superb starts by starters consecutively. Oh , I didn’t include Wrobleski’s excellent performance! Dodgers starters are pitching their -sses off! The bullpen has to step up! The offense? WAKE-UP!!!!!
Jeff,
That is an outstanding piece on Pepiot and Glasnow.
One of my son’s best friends went to Butler with Pepiot, and my son met him a few times.
Your minor league report is nothing short of Outstandingly Amazingly Perfect!
You are better than AI… by To the Moon and Back! 😉
+1
Agree 100%!!!
Thank you all. I love MiLB.
If I were Dave Roberts, this would be my lineup today:
1. Rushing C
2. Muncy SB
3. Pages CF
4. Kim SS
5. Rojas 2B
6. Freeman 1B
7. Ohtani DH
8. Hernandez LF
9. Tucker RF
That ranks them in order of OPS. If you want to hit higher in the lineup, then show me!
Tucker time
Not so sure on that batting order, pretty big black hole 7-9 lol.
That would certaibly do damage to the outstanding 7-9 numbers the Dodgers have put up.
The sky is not falling but it appears lower than it was a week ago.
We need Ohtani and Teo to get going and the bullpen to do its job.
Saturday Dodger’s Affiliates Schedule
11:05 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Logan Tabeling) at Beloit (Liomar Martinez)
4:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Cole Irvin) vs. Tacoma (Jhonathan Díaz)
5 p.m.: Ontario (TBA) at San Jose (Ricardo Estrada)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Wyatt Crowell) at Frisco (Dylan MacLean)
Vesia was bad last night, and he was the one who allowed the Cubs back in the game. A run was charged to Sheehan, but Vesia blew it after getting the second out.
Perusing the team stat pages our total pitching isn’t bad, starters rank 2nd in IP and ERA. That kinda surprised me, though it shouldn’t. Relief pitchers are 17th in saves, 8th in blown saves and 17th in ERA. Simply put, that needs to be fixed.
The offense is actually doing ok. First in RC+, 2nd in WAR (behind Cubs) and though the K% feels high, its middle of the pack. Run differential remains high, that’s a good thing, but the offense just too often looks hypnotized. Like last night. A few highlights along with several innings of lights out.
This is going to be a lot like last year. They’ll turn it on when they feel the need to. Maybe.
The team is great.
Don’t worry, be happy.
Positive sentiment there Bluto.
That song was released 38 years ago. How’s it working?
Life is pretty amazing!
I like this Jacob Frost kid!
Drafted in the 10th, a 2.25 ERA 14 strikeouts (28.6-percent strikeout rate) and eight walks.
I didn’t see the game but the box score told the story. Andrew’s “shit-the-bed” comment seems spot on.
Since the start of the Mets series (11 games) Ohtani is hitting .171 / .505 with no home runs and 1 RBI. His K-rate is 32%. That K-rate is up to 44% in the last 6 games.
Yeah the back-end of the pen sucked and Ohtani’s a mess.
I enjoy watching Freeland bat more than Ohtani.
Oh, and Pages should have caught that ball that banged off his glove. PCA would have.
Bums, we agree on that. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one who thought he should have caught it. Pages has a great arm…no, elite arm. He is getting better at chasing down balls in the gap. He is getting better reads on ball hit in front of him. But he still has a problem going back on balls. If he had just gone to the fence, it would have been an easy catch. Instead he ran back with the ball. Better CF would not do that. But he is still learning, and if he can get to that point where he can trust himself to run back on the ball, he will be more complete.
I still take him over PCA.
Pages definitely should have caught that ball. He seems to have issues with balls hit right to the fence.
Tyler Fitzgerald DFAd by the Jays. Was with the Giants a couple of years ago and hammered a couple of big homers against the Dodgers. Ellie Rodriguez passed away at the age of 79. Haf a 30-game stint with the Dodgers in 76. RIP.
I watched a video on Facebook earlier that was really cool. It was Kid Gleason, manager of the 1919 White Sox, talking about the 1905 season with Connie Mack. There was real grainy video of the 1905 World Champion Giants. Most of it of Christy Mathewson pitching. Instead of gold lettering, those guys wore jersey’s that said World Champions.
I am trying to like Blake Treinen. I am trying to feel confident when he comes in. But I have to admit, it is getting harder and harder. It is not enough to get two strikes and then groove one so hitters can blast the pitch 700 feet. I fear Treinen is nearing the end.
My friend Doug is a big Treinen fan (more than just for pitching). Doug, tell me that there is still hope for Blake.
I wish Scott would go back to walking more hitters. He needs to STAY OFF THE PLATE!! But for most of the season, he has been very good.
Scott has been in 13 games (half of the LAD games), and has 11.1 IP. He has 4 holds and 1 save. He has now allowed 3 runs, all via the HR due to down the middle cock-shots. He is the closest the Dodgers have to a closer, so he needs to figure it out.
But I am giving Alex Vesia a pass. Prior to last night, Vesia had 8.2 IP in 10 of the Dodgers 25 games. He had not allowed a run. He did not allow an inherited runner to score out of 6. He allowed 2 hits, issued 3 BB, and registered 10 K. So he blew a tire last night. Happens.
The bullpen has not improved over last year, when they were bad until Roki Sasaki moved to the pen. They have 7 saves in 12 save opportunities. They are 21st in ERA with a 4.66 ERA. And they are NOT overworked. They are last in MLB in reliever IP. Scott has the most LAD reliever IP, 11.1, good for 80th in MLB.
I wonder if Treinen is just too old/stubborn to relearn how to pitch. I still think there’s enoigh stuff/movement there if he revamps his approach/mix some. Or is he in the classic sacrifice-location-for-velocity cycle of death?
I doubt he is stubborn, and he already knows how to pitch. Might be that he just does not trust his stuff at the moment. That happens now and then. Also, he threw Bregman a slider, and Bregman had been seeing sliders every at bat from Sheehan. He was definitely sitting on that pitch, and he crushed it because it was up in the zone. But this loss is on Vesia and the first seven hitters in the lineup who went a combined 3-26. Smith’s 3-run homer was the only damage they got. Pages trying to stretch that double into a triple was ill advised also. He would have moved to third on the ground out by Kim that deflected off of Busch’s glove and then scored on Freeland’s single.
This loss is not on Vesia. He left with the Dodgers still in front. This loss is on Treinen and Scott and as you said the lack of any semblance of an offense at the top of the order.
He might not have given up the winning runs, but his less than stellar inning ruined Sheehan’s effort. He has as much to do with putting them in a bad spot as Treinen or Scott.
If I knew that, they would be paying me to coach pitching.
All right. Here’s another question: Why is it that when an NBA player–who runs all game–comes up lame it’s a cramp, and when it’s a baserunner it’s 4-6 weeks on the IL?
Tim McCarver used to argue that NBA players had less leg issues because they run backwards on defense.
Suarez to the 10-day IL. Will Roberts alter the batting order again? I do not really trust Sasaki yet, especially against a team like the Cubs. Rea is pitching for the Cubs, 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA, Sasaki 0-2 with a 6.11. Odds favor the Cubs. Busch is 1-3 against Sasaki with a 3-run homer. Happ is the only other Cub with a hit off of him. Dodgers have hit 5 homers off of Rea, Ohtani 2, Smith, Espinal and Pages the other 3. Smith has 7 RBI’s against him and is hitting .571 off of him. Smith will most likely get the start based on history with Rushing getting the start in tomorrow’s day game.
Article on Mookie’s return, sometime mid-May. “Regarding his position in the batting order, Roberts has mentioned that Betts could occupy the third or fifth spot. This decision aims to ease his reintegration into the team without putting too much pressure on him from the start. “Mookie is a key player for us, and we want to make sure he’s comfortable and ready to contribute,” added the manager.”
Mookie was very comfortable in the leadoff spot. It wasn’t until he broke his hand and was moved to 2nd in the order when he returned that his offensive numbers started to drop. I bet Mookie would feel more comfortable batting leadoff.
Mookie has way more PA batting leadoff than Shohei. It is not like we are comparing Dee Gordon to Shohei as a leadoff hitter.
Mookie: .295/.375/.535/.910 – 5,049 PA in leadoff position
Shohei: .284/.387/.608/.996 – 1,489 PA in leadoff position
Mookie: .278/.347/.455/.802 – 1,213 PA 2nd in lineup
Shohei: .285/.388/.616/1.004 – 1,409 PA 2nd in lineup
The Dodgers do not lose any production by moving Shohei to #2, and they improve production by moving Mookie back to leadoff.
Prior to the hand break in 2024, Mookie was batting .304/.405/.488/.892 in the leadoff. After returning, Mookie batted .263/.314/.497/.811 batting #2 in the lineup.
In 2025, batting #2 in the lineup – .258/.326/.406/.732.
In 2026, batting #2 in the lineup – .179/.281/.429/.710.
It has to warrant consideration, doesn’t it?
Mookie also has 52 homers leading off a game, .286/.349/.533 .882 OPS with 69 doubles and 8 triples. Leading off an inning, he has 116 homers, 131 doubles and 21 triples. Ohtani has 26 homers, .288/.358/.634 .992 OPS with 15 doubles and 4 triples. Leading off an inning, 72 homers, .286/.364/.580 .994 OPS with 45 doubles and 5 triples. He also has struck out 270 times with 109 walks. Betts who has done it way longer, has struck out 331 times leading off an inning and walked 209 times. His K to BB ratio is about 2-1. Ohtani’s is slightly higher. But Mookie is much more comfortable leading off.
I like the L R L R sequence and I like Mookie leading off Freddie 2nd.
Mookie, Freddie, Smith, Tucker, Teo, Ohtani,…
Ohtani moves up when he stops hitting like a pitcher.
7:15 PM ET
Cubs (17-9)
Dodgers (17-9)
SP Colin Rea R
3-0 3.00 ERA
SP Roki Sasaki R
0-2 6.11 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
3B Max Muncy L
RF Kyle Tucker L
LF T. Hernandez R
C D. Rushing L
CF Andy Pages R
SS Hyeseong Kim L
2B A. Freeland S
61° Wind 11 mph Out
Okay, Doc puts Rushing in. Smith has owned Rea, but maybe he needs a day off.
Bullpen has been a train wreck last 10 games. Dodger overall hitting stats look better than they really are. It’s an all or nothing production. 12 runs, 8 runs, then 1, 0, 3, 4. Overall numbers look good but it leads to .500 record.
Went to bed after brilliant Sheehan 6 innings and woke up to this. Wow!
Since the series in Colorado, they are 3-5, that is not good.
Random thoughts:
1) I’m not at all unhappy that we signed Tucker. I think he’ll definitely make some major contributions this season and will certainly produce more than Conforto did last year. However………………………I have never seen a ballplayer play with less emotion. He seems like he gets absolutely no joy from anything that happens on the field, and that makes him last on my list of Dodger players that I enjoy watching. Pages rarely smiles but you can still see that he plays with a certain intensity and emotion, even if it isn’t showing as joy.
2) With regard to Counsell’s comments about the 13-man pitching roster spots and being unhappy that Ohtani isn’t counted:
I have absolutely no problem with that rule since he is a position player about 5-6 times as often as he is a pitcher.
On the other hand, for fairness’ sake, I think a change should be made to the rule about allowing him to stay in a game as the DH after leaving the game as a pitcher.
If they’re going to have him hit on days he pitches, I think he should have to hit as the pitcher and not as a DH. Once he’s pulled as the pitcher that spot in the batting order must be filled by the pitcher then in the game, or a pinch hitter if any bench players are still available. That seems reasonable to me.
Pages was visibly upset after getting thrown out at third last night. Tucker showed a little emotion in Colorado. I did not see any when they played SF at all. But the team has seemed pretty lethargic lately anyway, compare that to the Cubs bench after Swanson’s triple. Swanson is hitting right at .200, but he has more homers than Ohtani and 10 more RBIs than Shohei.
I’m okay with Tucker staying even keeled although it’s fun watching players having fun so I understand. Max has for me, been a sourpuss. Okay, I think he is less that now or maybe never was.
Ohtani shouldn’t hit when he patches. Simple rule.
Tucker is stoic.
Max is understatedly domonstrable: “Get it out of the ocean!”
Will Smith is out due to back tightness.
Fifty years ago, Rick Monday did this:
Today, the Dodgers did this:
Pages would have caught the ball PCA missed.
He didn’t last night
Today is a new day and
PCA is a PAB!
Touche
Sasaki must have the most hittable 98 mph fastball in mlb history. It’s like a magnet to a metal bat. Tho he gives up 4 runs in 5 innings, it was a better performance. He’s got to get his fastball down and out of the middle.. His forkball looked much better with the increased velocity. I’m still sticking with him.
That had to feel good for Conforto!
Sasaki and Kim should challenge each other to a sad face contest.
Jack Dryer MVP for me tonight