OKC is in the Pacific Coast League, a notorious hitter friendly league. Big hitter parks include, Salt Lake City, Reno, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, El Paso, Sacramento…It is a 10 team League, with two 5-team divisions.
The team is 14-16 good for 4th place in the PCL East, and 8th place overall. They are 3.0 GB the April standings leaders.
OF/1B James Tibbs III is 23 year old left-handed hitter. He is the leader in multiple offensive categories League wise.
- HR – 11, #1 in PCL
- RBI – 24, #2
- Hits – 37, #2
- Runs – 30, #1
- Doubles – 10, #2
- Walks – 21, #2
- Strikeouts – 40, #1
- XBH – 22, #1
- BA – .319, #11
- OBP – .424, #11
- SLG – .707, #1 (#2 is .630)
- OPS – 1.131, #1
His power was expected, but even with his K and BB rate, his contact rate is unexpectedly (to me) very good. He started out very hot, cooled, but has sustained a high level of hit tool/power tool.
Tibbs III was the Giants #1 pick in the 2024 draft (#13 overall). He was traded twice last year, first from SFG to Boston in the Rafael Devers trade, and again to LAD in the Dustin May trade.
SFG chose to trade Tibbs III over the Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge (or Boston choice). Eldridge was the Giants #1 pick in the 2023 draft (#16 overall).
Thus far, Tibbs III is outplaying Eldridge. Eldridge is exclusively a 1B while Tibbs III can and does play a competent RF/LF. Comparisons (Tibbs III, then Eldridge).
- HR – 11 (Tibbs III) – 5 (Eldridge)
- RBI – 24 – 20
- Hits – 37 – 34
- Runs – 30 – 24
- Doubles – 10 – 6
- Walks – 21 – 15
- Strikeouts – 40 – 39
- XBH – 22 – 11
- BA – .319 – .315
- OBP – .424 – .413
- SLG – .707 – .509
- OPS – 1.131 – .922
Eldridge has good numbers, but they pale in comparison to Tibbs III.
Tibbs III is on a MVP pace, but he isn’t the only Comet playing well.
While not a LAD prospect, 32 year old Ryan Fitzgerald is certainly a MLB utility infielder. His PCL rankings:
- RBI – 26, #1
- Hits – 44, #1
- Runs – 23, #7
- Doubles – 8, #6
- Triples – 3, #1
- BA – .333, #7
- XBH – 13, #6
Fitzgerald is 32 and plays primarily 3B. But also plays SS, 2B, 1B, and has played all three OF positions. The Dodgers have more utility players than one team needs, but Fitzgerald could play MLB baseball if given a chance.
Another former MLB player, 27 year old OF/DH Jack Suwinski is also high in PCL rankings in a few categories:
- HR – 7, #4
- Doubles – 7, #10
- Runs – 23, #7
- OPS – .951, #8
- XBH – 14, #3
28 year old OF/1B Ryan Ward, 2025 PCL MVP is back for more in 2026.
- HR – 5, #9
- RBI – 21, #7
- Doubles – 7, #10
- OPS – .974, #5
- XBH – 13, #6
23 year old SS Noah Miller is #3 in BB with 20, and #11 in hits with 30.
OKC leaders in SB is OF Zach Ehrhard and 2B Austin Gauthier were both at #10 with 5.
Team Rankings:
- HR – 35, #2
- Runs – 177, #3
- Doubles – 56, #1
- Triples – 10, #9
- BB – 150, #4
- K – 261, #5
- SB – 22, #7
- BA – .269, #6
- OBP – .366, #5
- SLG – .445, #3
- OPS – .811, #2
Pitching was not as good as the offense. OKC has two pitchers who are qualified starters, 32 year old LHSP Cole Irvin and 23 year old RHSP Christian Romero. Obviously Romero is the only prospect of the two, and he is not considered a top prospect. There were 18 qualified starters in PCL.
- ERA – Romero 3.70, #2 (PCL); Irvin 3.90, #3 (PCL)
- Hits – Romero 23, 11th most; Irvin 38, 2nd most
- HR – Romero 2, 12th most; Irvin 4, 6th most
- BB – Romero 9, 11th most; Irvin 13, 4th most
- K – Romero 13, #17; Irvin 12, #18
- WHIP – Romero 1.32 #4, Irvin 1.58 #12
- BAA – Romero .247 #7; Irvin .304 #15
The big innings reliever is 31 year old RHRP Wyatt Mills. He has 16.0 IP, 2.20 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, .127 BAA, 4 BB, 23 K, 2 saves in 3 save opportunities, 0 HR allowed. Mills last pitched in MLB in 2022. He was out all of 2023 and 2024 due to TJ surgery. He signed a 2025 MiLB contract with Boston and was released in August, and signed with LAD a couple of weeks later. With a 0.67 BAA, .127 BAA, and an almost 6 K/BB, Mills has to be a legit consideration for the LAD bullpen this summer.
Another reliever who may garner some consideration is former LAA reliever, 26 year old LHRP Garrett McDaniels. In 10.2 IP, McDaniels has not allowed an earned run this year, but his WHIP (1.59) and BAA (.243) don’t look sustainable for a 0.00 ERA. The problem 8 BB to go with 8 K.
40 man roster 26 year old RHRP Paul Gervase has had a ho-hum April. 10.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, .250 BAA, 5 BB, 14 K.
I do not see any other pitcher who is knocking on the MLB door.
Another 40 man roster addition, 23 year old LHRP Ronan Kopp, has not had a good start to 2026. Okay it is a horrendous start.
9.0 IP, 16.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, .265 BAA, 18 BB, 7 K. No, the BB and K are not reversed. Kopp has taken over from Maddux Bruns for organization pitcher with the worst control. 2 BB/IP is not good at all.
NEXT UP TULSA DRILLERS
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Comets 8 – Round Rock Express 1
LHSP Cole Irvin had his best start in a while, perhaps his best start of the year. He completed 5.0 innings, allowing just the one run on 3 hits, 4 BB, and 3 K.
RHRP Keynan Middleton (1.0) and RHRP Jerming Rosario (2.0) pitched the next three scoreless innings. They allowed a hit a piece with Rosario striking out 5.
RHRP Jordan Weems was called in to pitch the 9th and close it out. He gave up a pair of singles, but kept the Express from scoring.
All Comet hitters had at least 1 hit except DH Ryan Ward.
The Comets scored their first run in the 2nd. With one out, LF Zach Ehrhard singled and scored on RF Jack Suwinski’s double (8).
After Round Rock scored a run in the third on a single, WP, and single, OKC took back the lead in the 4th. James Tibbs III had a double (11). After Ehrhard drew a BB, Suwinski singled home Tibbs III.
OKC opened it up in the 7th. Suwinski drew a leadoff BB. 2B Austin Gauthier sacrifice bunted him to 2B. Suwinski moved to 3rd on a WP. C Eliézer Alfonzo reached on a fielder’s choice with Suwinski scoring. A WP moved Alfonzo to 2B. CF Mike Siani reached on E5 with Alfonzo scoring. Siani stole 2B and moved to 3B on a ground out. Siani scored on SS Noah Miller’s single.
OKC put it away in the 9th with 3 more. First three batters reached. Gauthier drew a BB, Alfonzo singled, and Siani walked to load the bases. 3B Ryan Fitzgerald singled home 2 and Siani scored on the throwing E9.
Suwinski was the only OKC batter with 2 hits. He also walked to reach base 3 times.
Tulsa Drillers 7 – San Antonio Missions (Padres) 2
RHP Payton Martin had a great bounceback game. He gave up a solo HR to the first batter he faced. After the HR, he shut down the Missions through the 5th.
Martin hit the proverbial brick wall in the 6th. The first three batters reached via BB, single, RBI single, and Martin was lifted for RHRP Roque Gutierrez. Gutierrez retired the side without any further runs.
Down 1-0 in the 4th, CF Kendall George led off with a single. RF Josue De Paula followed with another single with George moving to 3B. SS Elijah Hainline was HBP to load the bases. LF Zyhir Hope singled home George. De Paula scored when C Griffin Lockwood-Powell hit into a DP.
Tulsa put up 4 in the 7th. GLP and 1B Joe Vetrano led off with BB. With one out, DH Kole Myers walked to load the bases. With 2 outs, George was HBP to plate the go ahead run. De Paula followed with a bases clearing double (5), and a 6-2 lead.
Tulsa got an insurance run in the 8th. First 4 batters reached. Hope singled. GLP drew a BB. Vetrano singled to load the bases. 3B Jake Gelof walked to bring Hope home.
Gutierrez finished 3.0 scoreless innings. He allowed 2 hits, 0 BB, and 1 K.
RHRP Christian Ruebeck pitched the 9th. He did not allow a run, issued 1 BB, and struck out 2.
The Drillers had 6 hits, with 5 of them coming from the three OF.
- Kendall George – 1-3, HBP, 2 runs, 1 RBI
- Josue De Paula – 2-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, double (5)
- Zyhir Hope – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Joe Vetrano – 1-3, 1BB, 1 run
Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) 6 – Great Lakes Loons 0
This was a 1-0 game until the 9th inning. RHSP Logan Tabeling pitched the first 6.0 innings. He allowed 1 run, 4 hits, 1 BB, and 6 K.
LHRP Justin Chambers started the 7th and completed 1.1 IP. He did allow a pair of singles and a pair of Ks.
RHRP Dilan Figueredo relieved Chambers in the 8th with one out and a runner on 1B. Figueredo got the DP to end the inning. But the normally reliable righty lost it in the 9th. Figueredo struck out the 1st batter. A pair of singles and a WP put runners on 2nd and 3rd. The next batter hit into a 5-2 fielders choice for 2 outs with a pair of runners on. The next batter had a 2-run double, followed by a run scoring single. A single and a fielding error and throwing error plated the final 2. Final line – 1.2 IP, 5 runs (3 earned), 5 hits, 2 K.
CF Eduardo Quintero had two hits, including his 2nd double. He has now raised his BA to .209. He was the only Loons batter to have 2 hits.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 10 – Ontario Tower Buzzers 7
RHSP Isaac Ayon started and pitched well enough. He completed 4.0 innings, allowing 1 unearned run, 3 hits, 1 BB, and 4 K. Ayon left with a 4-1 lead.
Ontario got on the board in the 1st. SS Emil Morales hit his 4th HR and a 1-0 lead.
Lake Elsinore tied it up in the 2nd after a passed ball.
Ontario went back in front in their half of the 2nd. RF Mairo Martinus reached 2B on E9. CF Jaron Elkins had a RBI single giving Ontario a 2-1 lead.
In the 3rd, Morales and 3B Chase Harlan had 1 out BB. Martinus tripled (2) home both runners.
The problem ensued when the relievers came in. 4 relievers followed Ayon. In 5.0 IP, combined they allowed 9 runs (all earned), 9 hits, 4 BB, and 4 K.
Morales tripled home a run in the 8th. In the 9th, Elkins drew a BB and scored on C Conner O’Neal’s double (2). O’Neal scored on 2B Joendry Vargas’ single.
- Emil Morales – 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, triple (2), HR (4)
- Chase Harlan – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 run
- Joendry Vargas – 2-6, 1 RBI
- Jaron Elkins – 1-3, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Mairo Martinus – 1-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, triple (2)
1B Jose D. Hernandez reached base 3 times on BB.
Mark, how much do you pay for that vpn link you put up on the last thread?
The BAD NEWS is we lost last night. The GOOD NEWS is all teams in the NL West lost also and we’re still in first by a half a game over the Padres. The teams we’re losing to recently all are young and Hungry,while we appear to be OLD and satisfied. A youth infusion would help,but the present roster currently won’t allow it.
There is Rushing, Freeland, Kim, Sheehan, Dreyer, and Wrobo. How much more youth do you want to infuse?!???
I’m personally NOT a fan of Teo,Kiki ,Edman or Tucker,but we’re stuck with all four.
Of course I root for them to do well,but I would like to see us get younger and I realy don’t like the Tucker and Edman contracts.
Two of those aren’t even laying, thus irrelevant
I think it’s more what to do with Mookie, Freddie, Teo and Kike in the next year or two if their game continues to deteriorate. How much does popularity play in the decisions?
And Sasaki
Sadly, Saski needs a little seasoning down on the farm to get it together for more than 3 innings. But we are not exactly flush with blue chip replacements. But with we have coming back from the IL, we don’t need one .
Well that game sucked begonias. A real team effort. Or lack of it
Thanks for the milb report Jeff. I like having the box scores all in one place. It would appear the Dodgers have a few ML prospects, and what I can glean from the information I don’t have to pay for, the top 3 are all outfielders, none of whom will crack this lineup anytime soon. And trying to anticipate how they could be of use in the pursuit of a threepeat can be fun but also impossible to really know. Not this early in the season. Everything has a beginning, a middle and an end, and quite often they don’t resemble each other. This beginning, as awful as it has looked at times, is good enough to be on pace for 101 wins.
This current Dodger team can sleepwalk through the beginning and win enough to hover around the top of the division. They are proving that. I suspect they will do that until the deadline, then make a trade for the push to finish. My guess on that move is still pitching, but again, it’s early.
As soon as Tucker wakes up we’ll be fine.
Imagine that AF just decided to pass on Tucker.
Instead, the man who says he avoids mid-season deadline trades because the are so dang expensive, gave Tucker a record contract with a $60 million AAV.
If Tucker was putting up Ted Williams-like numbers right now, we might think it was worth it. But what did Tucker–a fine, all-star calibre player–actually do to earn double what other all-star calibre players are earning? He’s good, very good–but he’s getting paid like he’s great, destined to be a first-round HOF guy.
Over the winter I was arguing that AF should instead make a run at the oft-injured but periodically great Byron Buxton. A blockbuster for Buxton, I argued, would be more interesting than a fat paycheck for Tucker. As it happens, Buxton is off to a strong start this season, certainly outplaying Tucker. (Full disclosure: I also thought Jaron Duran might be a good target–and he’s off to a terrible start.)
Tucker has had one good moment–the walk-off hit before this annoying losing streak began. He hasn’t totally sucked the way Conforto sucked–but then Conforto was only getting $17 million.
Anyway, we’re now about 1/5th into this season, and several players are off to slow starts. But to me, no performance has been as annoying as Tucker’s.
Yes, he needs to wake up. And Mookie needs to get well.
What if this is who is he is now? He’s been shit for a while.
People also ask
What is begonia meaning?
Begonia: meaning and symbolism
The Begonia symbolises balance, harmony and caution. Thanks to its versatile character, it is often associated with the balance between sensitivity and strength. In various cultures, the Begonia also represents gratitude and individual beauty.
I had a friend in Albuquerque in the 70s who used to say “that sucks the ruby begonia”. I thought it was funny so I just picked it up. He got it from a running gag “ghost character” on the Amos and Andy show. It was also the name of a famous participant in turkey races in Texas. Never considered the meaning of the plant.
I remember that show well. Was hilarious.
GREAT movie.
In praise of much-maligned Mas….
https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/max-muncy-dodgers-underrated-hitting-star
Too many guys swinging on one side of the plate , and ending upon the other side of the plate! Let’s face it it, the dodgers haven’t been facing Koufax the last few games! After a 3 run first inning, kinda felt like the game was over. Will it continue? Probably not. Does it end today? Probably not! Sasaki the stopper? Don’t think so. 6 innings with only 2 runs? Absolutely take it! Probably not. Agree with an earlier post, Kike and Edman are ok pieces, not game changers. Kike will immediately become the lowest batting average on the team. He’s been on the bench all along, so his presence hasn’t really affected the team much at all. Not preaching gloom and doom, just stating facts. If the first four don’t start hitting, the next 5 can’t carry them.
Emmit? I’m a little worried. Looks great one inning.Looks horrible the next! I’m expecting him to be the guy going to the bullpen when Snell returns. Just can’t see them taking Wrobo out of the rotation. Sasaki? They will ride him till the end. Whenever that is.
I watched a little of Payton Martin and saw hood “pitchability”–appeared to know what to do on the mound and finished a couple guys easily on three pitches. Interesting to see a non-power pitcher in the system. AA is a good challenge and he’s meeting it.
Just let me know when it’s time to break this out.
“Im beginning to think that this collapse, this mess is a fireable offense for Friedman and Gomes. They are so arrogant and delusional, I’m close to bringing back my fire Friedman and fire Gomes memes.
Actually , screw it, just do it.
Pathetic.”
He’s just biding his time!
Yes. Fire Friedman. If he doesn’t win the third in a row he must be crap
I was so disgusted watching empty at bats. Pages swinging at a clear ball four did not help my mood. But when you load the bases with less than 2-outs and score just one run, that is bad situational hitting. They also are not hitting homers now. Down 2, Henriquez lets the game get away in the 7th. It was so bad, I switched to Prime and watched the Lakers win over the Rockets. Was more entertaining. Ohtani with another ofer.
Hell Bear! They ain’t hitting nothing! No need to start screaming fire the hitting coach! He’s got the best job on the planet! Plus, most of these guys haven’t forgotten how to hit. They are just cruising along until they decide to turn it on!! Well I wish someone would tell them to turn it on! It’s very frustrating watching them right now! But not so frustrating I would watch LeBron! Haven’t watched the Lakers since the king joined them. Don’t hate the guy, just never liked watching him play. I wonder if he can hit a curveball?
I don’t give two hoots in hell about LeBoring. I was watching to see if they would advance, or if the Rockets would force a seventh game. Celtics-76ers game seven tonight. Dodger game on FOX. I don’t really mind it when they lose, but when they are not hitting at all, it is just frustrating as hell. Fans on X are calling for Von Scoyoc’s head. That happens every time they go through a stretch like this. I also believe this team is showing its age. Muncy’s double was the only really well hit ball all night. The Dodgers have made mediocre pitchers like Liberatore look like the best in the league, and it is happening all the time now. Code Red pitching for the Birds tonight, let’s see if they can light up a guy that they have seen pitch a lot. I was more into watching Hachimura last night. He was nailing 3-pointers.
The problem with signing Kiké and adding him to the roster is that it does not allow Alex Freeland to further his development at the MLB level. And Edman could deter the development of Kim at the MLB level. All three of Mookie, Kiké, and Edman are due back at the end of May. The die has been cast. The Dodgers will go with the veterans and let Freeland and Kim go to OKC, and release Espinal. Maybe Edman to MLB will take the team into June, but that is just timing, and not a permanent solution.
Before everyone continues to jump on the Freeland can’t hit train, lest not forget the awful start of Masyn Winn and Jordan Walker. Walker much longer than Winn. I think all of the St. Louis fan base was calling for Jordan Walker to be gone. The Cardinals decided to keep throwing him out there. It seems to have paid off.
St. Louis gave Nathan Church a chance to step in for Lars Nootbaar. Church isn’t killing it, but he is at a 98 OPS+, just about league average. Not bad for an 11th round pick. It is better than Kyle Tucker’s and the same as Teo’s.
The Dodgers chose to sign an OF for $60MM/year rather than go with Ryan Ward or a Ward/Alex Call platoon. The way that James Tibbs III is playing he might have got a chance this year. But now he is blocked.
Last year the Dodgers chose to re-sign Teo for $22M/year. That contract did not age well from the beginning. He needed an 8.25 fWAR over 3 years to justify that contract. He had a 0.6 fWAR last year and a 0.3 fWAR thus far in 2026. So he needs to produce a 7.35 fWAR for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027 to justify the contract. Not likely. He is supposed to crush LHP. This year in 31 PA against LHP, Teo is hitting .208/.387/.292/.679 with 0 HR and 0 RBI. Trade him this winter? Who will pay him $22MM next year?
So the Dodgers are paying 2 OF $82MM this year for a combined 0.6 fWAR. Actually that is more than $164MM with the luxury tax. Alex Call has the same 0.3 fWAR as do Tucker and Teo. He has already justified his $1.6MM deal. Call has a 141 OPS+ and 0.6 bWAR. Tucker has a 96 OPS+ and 0.2 bWAR. Teo has 98 OPS+ and 0.2 bWAR.
I know the Dodgers are playing the long game with these two, and HOPEFULLY they will come around.
Granted the Dodgers do not have anyone close to JJ Wetherholt, but St. Louis ran with him moving him to 3B after jettisoning Arenado. They ate a lot of $$$, but it opened a spot for Wetherholt. Wetherholt will undoubtedly come back to earth after his start. But he is not going back to AAA.
Sheer supposition on my part, but Emil Morales would probably be at least at A+ in other organizations. AA in others. After hitting .968 OPS in 143 PA at low A last year, he returned and has an OPS of .973 in 118 PA in the same league this year. He is 19 years old. Is Jose Izarra and/or Eduardo Guerrero really blocking him?
Mike Sirota and probably Charles Davalan would be at AA. Why are they still at A+? Because the Dodgers still believe that Chris Newell and Kole Myers are legit MLB regulars?
BTW, St. Louis is showing you can get better and younger. Same with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. And I know none of them are back to back WS champions, so we keep on this route until it fails.
BTW, maybe AF/BG are looking at Salt Lake City. CT3 is having an outstanding start. .323/.420/.431/.861. They could have the Kiké and CT3 duo reunion.
Careful, someone’s going to take you seriously
Hear, hear…
Creating a lineup of actual (and alleged) superstars with humongous contracts guarantees that guys like Tibbs, Ward and ??? will be kept down on the farm.
I like Kike but I also see that his return could stunt the progress of Kim and Freeland.
Mookie, Edman and Kike are all expected back.
I have watched a lot of the Buzzers games. Morales is impressive. I should think he will be moved up sooner than later. Me, I would put the kid at AA.
They won’t put him at AA, but really isn’t he a better prospect than Elijah Hainline and Sean McLain? Jake Gelof? He will initially fail at AA, but he will adapt and adjust. Both Jesús Made and Leo Dries are succeeding as 19 year olds at AA. He cannot field with Made or De Vries. He will eventually move to 3B. Move Kyle Nevin to 1B and Hainline to 2B. Vetrano to the bench and Gelof to the Development List. That would keep McLain at SS, but there aren’t better options right now. They can do something at A+ now and look at AA during the summer.
And before someone else says it…Yes, AF/BG have forgotten waaaaayyy more than I will ever know. Just me spitballin’.
Ive read that Hairline has a lot of proponents in the organization.
He does, and they are warranted,. He is just not as talented as Morales (IMO). Hainline is a utility/platoon type while Morales has regular written all over.
On the minor league broadcasts, they call him a future superstar.
What’s money?
Super boring game. No spark by the Dodgers. Sleep walking through the game which seemed to drag on. It was close to 3 hours with a bad HPU.
I was trolling for the knitting channel.
They have stretches like this every year lately. I am more concerned over Ohtani’s lack of hard-hit balls. He is turning over on pitches and hitting weak grounders. His last at bat, he hit that ball off the end of his bat. Usually, he is scorching his outs. Tucker’s problem is that he is swinging at way too many BAD FIRST PITCHES. Being aggressive is one thing. being selectively aggressive is another.
The last time a Dodger hit a home run in a game was Sunday, April 26, 2026, when Shohei Ohtani hit a solo shot in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs. That home run, Ohtani’s sixth of the season, snapped his own 59-plate-appearance drought,
Freddie hasn’t homered in almost a month. Crochet’s MRI showed only inflammation. He won’t throw again until Monday.
7:15 PM ET
Dodgers (20-12)
Cardinals (19-13)
SP Roki Sasaki R
1-2 6.35 ERA
SP Michael McGreevy R
1-2 2.97 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
RF Kyle Tucker L
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
CF Andy Pages R
SS Hyeseong Kim L
2B A. Freeland S
62° Wind 6 mph L-R
Saturday Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule
3:35 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Christian Zazueta) vs. Peoria (Nate Dohm)
5 p.m.: Tulsa (Wyatt Crowell) vs. San Antonio (Ian Koenig)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Chayce McDermott)) at Round Rock (Kyle Funkhouser)
6:05 p.m.: Ontario (TBA) vs. Lake Elsinore (Tyler Schmitt)
Tomorrow’s probable starting ptching matchup against the Cardinals is Justin Wrobleski against ex Dodger Dustin May. Should be interesting.
“Mouthbreather” May got his ring yesterday.
Excellent. Dustin May has traveled a tough path.
We’re down 1-0 already… but that’s okay, today I won’t say anything about whether the game is over or not, but…..
That’s not true, I just like to tease!
3-0 now, and sorry, but watching Sasaki pitch is not fun. Gets two out, lets two on the first two innings. Now at 70 pitches with just 2 outs in the third. Strain on the bullpen putting the offense behind the 8 ball early.
Sasaki basically throws a 97 mph batting practice fastball. Sorry but the kid is a bust! He’s a Japanese Bobby Miller
Still learning, but them letting him learn at the major league level is not fun to watch. The Dodgers haven’t given up on him, fans though, don’t trust the guy. My take, he belongs in the bullpen at the back of games. As a starter, he sucks rocks.
Sasaki had a lot of success at a very young age in a league where his fastball was the best. Now he is in MLB, where his fastball is the norm.
He’s still very young and needs to learn how to pitch. He may have to go to the minors or the pen… but I am still high on him… and I have not given up on Bobby Miller.
Sasaki is often a pitch or two away from a really good game.
Those are the pitches that get hit out of park.
Seems to me he is getting privileged treatment from the Dodgers brass, but with Stone and River Ryan recovering from injury, I don’t think Sasaki is blocking anybody now. (Is Bobby Miller injured too?)
When Snell returns, who will be shipped to the pen?
It could be Wrobo….
But Sasaki could help make up for the loss of Diaz.
He sucks! it’s that simple.
Nothing is ever that simple.
I would normally agree with you, but not this time. He is fragile and has no confidence, you can see the fear in his eyes. AAA assignment and don’t bring him back until Sept.
Yeah, that’s a moronic opinion.
He just completed 6.0 innings, retiring the last 10. 6 innings, 3 runs = quality start. If the Dodgers lose, it will not be because of Sasaki. It will be because of the anemic offense.
TRUTH!
Sounds good to me……
Sasaki is the poster child for a thrower. He has no idea how to pitch or where to pitch.
Let me take you a walk down Memory Lane:
Phase 1: “Future Hall of Who?”
Ah yes, the early years. Koufax, the can’t-miss bonus baby… who missed. A lot.
1955–1960 Koufax:
ERA hovering like a nervous hummingbird
Walks piling up like unpaid parking tickets
Control? Optional. Strike zone? A rumor.
He led the league in walks multiple times. MULTIPLE. TIMES.
Imagine that today. Dodgers fans would’ve been calling into sports radio:
“This guy couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn if the barn owed him money.”
And let’s not forget — he was often stuck in the bullpen because, shockingly, managers prefer pitchers who know where the ball is going.
Fan Verdict (circa 1960):
“Bust.”
“Overhyped.”
“Trade him while he still has a pulse.”
“Why is he even on the roster when we have guys who can throw strikes?”
If Reddit existed, there’d be a 400-comment thread titled:
“Koufax ain’t it. Change my mind.”
Phase 2: The “Wait…what just happened?” Era
Then something deeply inconvenient happened for the haters.
In 1961, Koufax:
Suddenly found the strike zone
Kept his nuclear fastball
Added a curveball that looked like it fell off a table and filed for divorce
It was like someone flipped a switch from “chaotic flamethrower” to “left-handed baseball deity.”
Phase 3: Absolute Baseball Tyranny
From 1962–1966, Koufax didn’t just get better. He turned into a myth with a glove.
3 Cy Young Awards (when only ONE was given for all of MLB)
4 no-hitters, including a perfect game
World Series performances that made hitters question their life choices
Hitters stepped in like:
“I regret everything.”
Meanwhile… the Early Critics:
Those same “trade him now” folks?
Suddenly:
“I always believed in Koufax.”
“You could see the potential.”
“I said in ’58 he just needed time!”
Sure you did, buddy. Right next to your stockpile of Beanie Babies and MySpace shares.
The Real Lesson (wrapped in sarcasm and a little truth)
If Koufax came up today:
He’d be DFA’d by age 24
Labeled “inconsistent”
Broken down into 47 advanced metrics explaining why he’s doomed
Then, immediately become a Cy Young winner for someone else just to complete the comedy arc
Turns out, development isn’t always linear. Sometimes it looks like a guy wandering through the desert, throwing 95-mph sandstorms… until one day he finds the map.
So yeah — Sandy Koufax was terrible… right up until he became one of the most dominant pitchers to ever touch a baseball.
Baseball: where patience is rare, and hindsight hits .400.
I see some Koufax in Sasaki!
I do too. Unfortunately it’s the 90 year old Koufax.
Okay, that was 60 years ago. In this day and age things are different and we don’t wait anymore. How many players were there 60 years ago compared to how many elite type pitchers are around today? I would say easily 10 times the amount of elite prospects then there were in 1960, probably even more.
Don’t get me wrong I’m very patient, but I need to see some progress.
3 earned in 6. That isn’t awful. In fact that’s a QS, though I don’t agree with the qualifier for that stat.
I don’t rgink he’s Koufax but I do see potential. He still misses his spots, a lot, but I think he can learn how to get better at that.
If this games is lost it looks to me like it will be because of a continued soporific offense.
Koufax, Drysdale, Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver, Jim Palmer, Juan Marichal. Just off the top of my head. Tarik Skubal, and Paul Skenes are the only two today that are at that level. Yamamoto, Nolan McLean, Garrett Crochet (when not hurt). could get there.
18 teams 1960
20 teams 1962
24 teams 1970
30 teams today. The talent pool is a lot more diluted today.
Totally disagree with this Jeff. there are way better players coming out today then 60 years ago. Those guys you listed all get hit today. I just saw 3 High School playoff games this week where the starters were throwing 95 with crazy movement.
And…. most of the kids that play club year round can hit that.
The game has certainly changed…
Since the Dodgers had 5 HR on April 20, they have 3 HRs in their last 10 games, 11 counting Saturday’s game. They have hit into 9 DP in that same span.
After April 11, the Dodgers were 11-3. Since that time, the team is 9-9. It’s not the pitching, it is the offense. From April 12-May 1:
Hits – 181, 14th in MLB
Singles – 99, 15th in MLB
Doubles – 33, 7th in MLB
Triples – 1, 26th in MLB
HR – 18, 20th in MLB
Runs – 80, 18th in MLB
BB – 70, 11th in MLB
K – 138, 17th in MLB
SF – 5, 18th in MLB
SB – 10, 21st in MLB
6.36 runs/game to April 12. 4.44 runs/game from April 12. The pitching has gotten better. 3.64 runs/game to April 12. 3.16 runs/game from April 12.
That is a 2nd tier offense. Not elite. Will it get better? I hope so, but we really do not know. We hear Tucker is going to find it. What if he is the player he is now. Last year 2nd ½ – .231/.360/.378/.738. 5 HR.
July – .218/.380/.295/.675 – 1 HR
August – .244/.346/.389/.735 – 3 HR
Sept – .158/.200/.316/.516 – 1 HR
It sure looks like Tucker is playing at the same level he did from the 2nd half.
I thought the Dodgers emphasized launch angle. Wow …. Four double plays
Not terrible by Sasaki today. It’s mostly the Dodger hitters lack of any production and energy being the main cause of this losing stretch. Very boring to watch.
What’s the deal with Ohtani’s hitting?
His last AB is becoming the norm. Watch two hittable pitches and swings at a ball out of the pitchers hand for the strikeout.
Who are all these pitchers the past few games who the Dodgers can’t seem to hit? Never heard of most of them. Still time to see if they can pull this one out
Carry on.
I’m convinced Otani is a 100% guess hitter. When he’s right it goes 500ft, when he’s not it’s just ugly.
He’s a freak talent but not a great hitter. He gets three chances to hit something hard.
Turns out that superman is not immune to slumps.
We’ve seen this before.
I thought Muncy and Teo were streaky but Pages takes the cake. Just a horrific 3-2 swing at that ball!
Wow — the Pages regression continues. He is all messed up at the plate. Hard to watch.
Well, I was pretty sure he wasn’t going to hit .400.
He’s still at .314!
Baseball is a game of continuing adjustments… and streaks.
Not to join the few that are a bit negative but could I now find a few people in here that would swap Pages for PCA. I’m talking skill and future not his strong preference to remain a Cub.
Let me think about PCA for Pages:
I won’t say no.
I’ll say “HELL NO!”
He just signed a deal so 0% chance
Graterol pitching for OKC tonight. 1.0 IP. Side retired in order, 1 K. His specialty, 2 ground outs.
If Bazooka can come back strong, the pen will benefit greatly.
Yes!!
Pitchers are not getting Pages out; he is getting himself out. He has regressed to swinging at balls again.
Progress is not linear.
2 steps forward…
One step back.
He was 1 for 3 with a walk. I hardly think he is the problem. We are an average team with 3 good starters.
Who is this glaze3 person and why isn’t he/she using the Scott Andes handle?
The whole team needs to smoke a doob.
Roberts: Blake Snell’s next rehab start is today in AAA OKC
“Dave Roberts on Friday told reporters in St. Louis that Blake Snell’s next rehab start will be Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, which is on the road this weekend in Round Rock, Texas. Snell is expected to pitch 4 innings and throw ~60 pitches, per Roberts, and will need at least one more rehab start after that before returning to the rotation”.