Here is some MiLB news while we contemplate who is going to hit for the Dodgers besides Andy Pages.
And when is Alex Call going to get more playing time.
And why is Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland the only appatent runners who bust their ass down the line. At least Mookie was doing so in OKC.
Kim is looking more impressive every game (ignoring the error). His game deserves to be at the MLB level, and with Kike’ and then Edman coming back, I do not know how both Kim and Freeland stick in LA.
OK
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Comets 7 – Salt Lake City (LAA) 4
LHRP Jake Eder was the opener in this bullpen game.
Eder gave up a triple and single in the 1st inning, but held SLC scoreless in the 2nd.
In the 4th with Brusdar Graterol on the mound, SLC got a run taking a 2-1 lead. Bazooka gave up a one-out BB and then a two-out triple brought him home. After Graterol walked the next batter, LHRP Ronan Kopp was summoned, with 2 runners on. to get the last out of the inning.
In the bottom of the 5th, SS Mookie Betts led off with a BB. Mookie moved to 3rd on a ground out and scored on 3B Tyler Fitzgerald’s single.
Kopp returned to the mound in the 6th, and it did not go well. He walked the first batter. The runner stole 2nd and then to third on Kopp’s errant pickoff attempt at 2B. He scored on a WP. After a strikeout, Kopp gave up a HR and a 4-2 lead.
With one out in the 7th, 2B Austin Gauthier singled. Gator stole 2nd and moved to 3rd on catcher throwing error. RF Jack Suwinski continues to show power with a game tying 2-run HR (9).
Tyler Fitzgerald drew a BB and stole 2B. CF Zach Ehrhard also drew a BB. Both runners moved up on a balk, and again on a WP with Fitzgerald scoring. SS Noah Miller brought Ehrhard home with a sac fly.
In the 8th, the Comets got 2 BB, a HBP, and a sac fly for an insurance run.
LHRP Keynan Middleton, LHRP Antoine Kelly, and RHRP Carlos Duran navigated the final 3 innings without a run.
- Ryan Ward – 2-5, 1 run
- Jack Suwinski -2-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (9)
- Mookie – 1-2, 1 BB, 1 run
Tulsa Drillers 4 – Arkansas Travelers (Seattle) 2
LHSP Adam Serwinowski only allowed 1 run, but it was in 3.2 IP. He threw 83 pitches (51 for strikes) before being lifted for RHRP Carson Hobbs. He exited after allowing a single and 2 walks leaving the bases loaded. Hobbs got a strikeout to end the threat.
In the 3rd Serwinowski allowed a leadoff double, a SB, and a WP to score a run. He exited with Tulsa leading 2-1.
Tulsa got the scoring started with RF Zyhir Hope’s 6th HR. In the 3rd, CF Kendall George hit a 2-out single, stole 2nd, and scored when LF Josue De Paula reached on an error.
Hobbs was able to get through the 5th without allowing a run. He gave up a hit, but registered 2 Ks.
RHRP Joel Ibarra entered in the 6th. 2 walks and a single, and Ibarra was done. RHRP Lucas Wepf relieved Ibarra. Wepf struck out the first batter he faced, but a run scored on a ground ball force out before retiring the side.
Wepf pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
RHRP Kelvin Ramirez relieved Wepf in the 8th and retired the side in order in the final two innings for the save.
Kendall George and Zyhir Hope each had a pair of hits, with Hope slugging a HR (6). George had 2 SB and is now sitting on 18 for the season (18 out of 20).
Arkansas had 7 errors in this game.
Great Lakes Loons vs Lake County Captains (Cleveland) – Postponed Due To Rain
Ontario Tower Buzzers 10 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAA) 8
Things started out positive for Ontario. 2B Joendry Vargas led off with a triple (1). With one out, 3B Chase Harlan doubled to score Vargas. Harlan scored on DH Ching-Hsein Ko’s single.
Hyun-Seok Jang was the SP for Ontario. He retired the side in order in the first, but in the 2nd, 2 walks, a WP, fielding error and single scored 2 runs (1 earned).
Ko hit a solo HR (5) in the 3rd to take the lead.
Ontario picked up a couple in the 5th to extend the lead. Vargas reached on an error, and SS Emil Morales singled him to 2nd. A passed ball moved the runners up. Harlan singled to plate both runners, and a 5-2 lead.
In the 5th with one out, Jang gave up 2 singles and a BB to load the bases. RHRP Seamus Barrett entered and gave up an infield single to score one. Barrett then induced a DP to end the inning.
Barrett came back out in the 6th, and it do not go well. Barrett walked the bases loaded, and threw a WP. Barrett was lifted for RHRP Ricardo Montero with runners on 2nd and 3rd and Ontario clinging to a one run lead. Montero gave up a 2-run single and lost the lead.
Ontario retook the lead in the 7th. LF AJ Soldra led off with a single. With one out, Morales singled. Harlan followed that with a 2-run double (3). Ko then slugged his 2nd HR of the game and a 9-6 lead.
The XBH continued into the 8th. Soldra led off with a double (1) and scored on Vargas’ 2nd triple of the game.
RHRP Jecsua Liborius entered the 8th and surrendered a HR. He went back out in the 9th and gave up a leadoff double. Two groundouts later and the Quakes got their 8th run. That is where the score remained 10-8.
The Tower Buzzers got 17 hits to score their 10 runs.
- Ching-Hsein Ko – 4-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2 HR (6)
- Chase Harlan – 3-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2 doubles (3)
- Joendry Vargas – 3-5, 2 runs,1 RBI, 2 triples (2)
- AJ Soldra – 3-4, 2 runs, double (1)
- Emil Morales – 2-5, 2 runs
On an otherwise sucky day for the Dodgers, it’s fun to read about the Tower Buzzers and all that intriguing talent….
–Is Morales or Harland the 3B of the future?
–Or maybe Vargas, who seems to be figuring things out?
–And is CH Ko the Taiwanese Murakami?
Also fun to see the highlights elsewhere on the farm, including George beating out a routine grounder to SS.
I share Jeff’s concern that both Kim and Freeland could be sent down as part of the Dodgers’ anti-youth movement….
Logan Wagner is in the mix too. According to BA:
Logan Wagner is a switch-hitting infielder in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization known for high-end raw power, bat speed from both sides, and versatility across the infield, though injuries to both hands (hamate fractures in 2023 and 2024) limited his development. Drafted in the 6th round of 2022 from P27 Academy (SC), he is a strong, athletic player often described as a power-over-hit prospect who projects to play second or third base long-term.
He has been playing 2B, but I have also seen him at 3B.
He has actually played more 3B. Logan also plays 1B. . BIG Improvement this year at Great Lakes over last year. He has very even splits on RHP vs LHP. I would love to see what Logan can do against the better pitching at AA. IMO he is a better option than either Sean McLain or Jake Gelof. He is also younger than either of them by 2-3 years. Kyle Nevin can move to 1B opening up 3B as well, That would give Chase Harlan a chance to move to A+. This is a different year for the affiliates, The hitters are generally ahead of the pitchers. I cannot remember seeing this many good bats at Great Lakes. Harold would be ecstatic.
Good to know….
Today’s loss to the revitalized Braves was another reason to seek solace down on the farm.
With the season near the 1/4 mark, one of “power rankings” places the Dodgers 4th behind the Braves, Yankees and Cubs.
That seems right to me. The Dodgers just aren’t playing up to their capabilities, with Pages and Max as the exceptions.
Here’s hoping that Mookie’s return can spark something in Shohei and the others.
Giants right-hander Logan Webb is heading to the injured list with right knee bursitis, the team announced. We will miss him in the upcoming 4 game Giant’s series starting this Monday.
He is the one pitcher the Dodgers beat in SF.
Great coverage by Jeff. His comments on the hustle or lack of it is spot on. Kim has shown he belongs over the last 1.5 years and Freeland is again producing. Just trying to figure out how much value Kike provides. Again, not much offense last night against a mid range pitcher.
They will call up some 34 year old with a 11.76 era and he will throw 7 shutout innings against the Dodgers!!
Doc is great. But I agree , let Call play and sit Teo! How long can they keep him in the lineup? Love the guy, but enough is enough! Sleepwalking is what this team looks like! Stoic? Lethargic? Need an infusion of life? See more enthusiasm from my 12 year old grandsons team. Individually? love them all. Collectively? They all act like they work in a funeral home!
Blake Snell will be fine. A little bad luck and a little off with some of his pitches, but overall I think he’s just fine.
Just me, but if Freeland isn’t going to play on the big league team, why not package him in a deal for either a pitcher, or a second baseman who can really hit mlb pitching? Edman ain’t coming back no time soon. Kim may or may not stay up. Kike will hit .210(if we’re lucky). Santiago is a short timer, Miggy might not be healthy. Need some excitement, some energy, some attitude!
Is there some flu passing around?
Pitchers pace themselves to last more innings.
Veterans pace themselves to survive the season plus playoffs . They have been playing 170 or so games for years.
Are there a few teams that are good enough to advance through the playoffs if they had a player who could keep their act together? Would Rojas be such a player?
Could Kike’ keep that team loose?
Could trading those 2 open 2 spots for players that could contribute more?
Might as well trade Teo as well.
The Dodgers have middle infield covered. Betts/Kim. Backups are Kiké/Edman/ Rojas. Freeland and Espinal will be adiosed. Call is 4th outfielder. Until further notice, that’s the summer club.
Snell looked rusty but wasn’t hit hard. Offense went to sleep again.
Teo will hit. If not this month, maybe next month. Or July. August?
Ohtani continues to hit like a potential Cy Young candidate.
Atlanta is a solid baseball team. That said, the Dodgers should win 2 of 3 at home against them. Favored today. 9 runs O/U.
When the next Dodger starter goes on the IL, who is called up? Do we guess or do we already know? I’d be guessing. Maybe somebody here knows.
Just read that the Royals’ Jonathan India is out for the season…
Which means they could be in the market for a guy like Freeland or ???
I will root for Kiki this year,but I hope it is his last with the Dodgers.We need to start opening spots on the roster and get younger. Maybe Teo can be traded in the off season and the Dodgers will eat some of his salary.His bat speed has really slowed down this year and his plate discipline has gotten worse from last year. He needs some R&R on the bench or a trip to the IL.
My god, that video above of Kendall George. He hit a regular ground ball to SS and beat the throw to first; unreal..
I agree. I had to include it.
He could be a fun addition to the Dodgers. LF?
Move Betts to 3rd and there would be room for Kim at short. Although Freeland at SS and Kim at 2nd would put them in their original positions.
Kim and George would give Dodgers speed.
Betts is not moving to third in this lifetime. So many don’t like him at SS, and you want to move him to a position where he has to make longer throws and the ball is on him quicker? Not smart.
Longest throws are from SS. The ball is on 3b more quickly but I think Betts could handle it. I doubt he wants to. I still say the best position for him is second base.
Kim and George would give the Dodgers speed. The team values power more. If they could get on at .350 or better they could be difference makers.
Bear, as usual, you are wrong.
Hey Bum,
Good point.
Funny how many online here didn’t think much of Georges speed until he started hitting .350. I thought about Kim and George at the top of the lineup making life miserable for opposing pitching and setting the table. I know homers are the king of hitting but small ball is so much more fun. Ohtani’s current minimal offense and multiple strikouts don’t belong at the top of the order. His power belongs in the middle of the order where he can drive in runs if he doesn’t strike out.
Little note about Snell’s game yesterday. To his credit, the Braves did not hit the ball hard at all. Only Olson’s 2 run-single in the second was hit hard. Albies hit was a dunker off of the end of his bat. The walks got him. But considering he hadn’t pitched in a major league game since September; he wasn’t all bad. It was the offense taking a night off against a pitcher who was tattooed his last game against the Rockies. Pages hits a nothing 2-run homer in the 9th to keep them from being embarrassed again. Betts is supposed to play tonight and then fly to LA after the game.
Totally agree Bear with your comments on Snell yesterday. He just didn’t have it from the git-go. Very understandable. Not so much for the offense.
But I had to read about it as I’d had enough of Orel and Stephen Nelson by the third inning. They refused to stop whining about Snell’s “bad luck”. They couldn’t shut up about all the unfortunate bad luck he was having with hits that had little velocity, seeing eye hits…. whatever. It was like a pity party and somebody stole their crayons.
Bulldog my ass. Just call the game for what it was and quit whining.
I plan on enjoying the Braves broadcast today.
I have never been a big fan of Orel in the booth. He talks way too much. Sometimes his info is okay, but most of the time he just rattles on. The other night, Nomar was in the booth with Joe, and it was much better to listen too. Karros was on the Fox game between the Padres-Cardinals. He doesn’t change no matter who is doing the play-by-play. I switched and watched the Lakers get blown out at home by the Thunder. Hopefully they knock them out of the playoffs, so I do not have to hear about Leboring James for at least a few months. I hope the Lakers let him go somewhere else and they become Luca’s team. Since that was pretty unwatchable, I watched reruns of Person of Interest with Jim Cavezel. Good series. Mendoza though, she is the worst.
4:10 PM ET
Braves (27-13)
Dodgers (24-15)
SP Bryce Elder R
3-1 2.02 ERA
SP Justin Wrobleski L
5-0 1.25 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
CF Andy Pages R
RF Kyle Tucker L
3B Max Muncy L
LF Alex Call R
C D. Rushing L
SS Hyeseong Kim L
2B A. Freeland S
79° Wind 6 mph Out
This probably is Espinal’s last game as a DODGER.
I agree, only reason he made the team was that they optioned Kim to begin the season and he had the best spring training of his life. He hasn’t shown that so far this year. Fitzgerald is raking at OKC, he would have been a better choice as a utility player.
Doc is listening.
Ever wonder if Doc reads any of these blogs?
I know for a fact that the links are available to them: All the Commercial sites, like The Athletic, ESPN, MLB are obvious, but they also have several blogs and this is one of them. They want to know what fans are thinking. Jon Weisman occasionally comments here.
This fall, I plan to do an interview with the President of Cooperstown. Send me nay questions you might want me to ask. Also, another interview with AF is on the horizon.
Dodgers optioned Paul Gervase to AAA and called up Wyatt Mills.
Edwin Diaz transferred to 60 day IL to make room for Mills on the 40 man.
Wyatt Mills?
Didn’t see that coming.
Hey, don’t diss Wyatt – he has a career ERA of 6.21… so he’s due!
😉
3-2 with a 3.26 ERA at OKC.
Betts will be activated tomorrow. Somebody is losing their spot. OKC’s game postponed due to inclement weather, so Mookie is most likely on his way back to LA.
Today’s game looks like a clone of last night. 1 hit over 4 innings. Muncy strikes out with 2 on in the first. Walk to the 9 hitter sets up a 3-run double for Atlanta. Padres-Redbirds scoreless in the 4th.
En verdad el equipo está bien jodido, un miserable hit en 5 entradas para el tamaño de la nómina. Algunos dirán que las victorias que cuentan son las de octubre, o que estos partidos son de entrenamiento de primavera, sin embargo en frustrante y además aburrido ver todos los partidos con la misma historia, NO PUEDEN BATEAR y eso no es culpa de Doc Roberts. Espero que alguien de piel demasiado sensible me recomienden alentar a otro equipo.
No te preocupes, aquí hay un montón de imbéciles que te mandarán a la mierda. Hay algunos verdaderos fans que saben del tema, pero también unos cuantos aburridos tontos… y chavalas también.
Translation: Don’t worry, there are plenty of idiots here who’ll tell you to go fuck yourself. There are some real fans who know their stuff, but also quite a few boring fools… and girls too.
Wrobo looks to go all 9 innings, saving the pen and taking 1 for the team. Another meaningless 2-run homer late if the game when they are virtually out of it. Not going to win many games garnering just 2 hits over 8 innings. Well he got 2 outs in the ninth. Mills coming in. The two homers he gave up were late in the game and solo shots. Offense stunk up the joint again. 9 Ks, 5 from the bottom of the order.
Excuse me, 7 Ks between Call, Rushing, Kim and Freeland.
Dodgers got a little unlucky in this one, what with Max robbed with the bases loaded on a GREAT play by the Braves right fielder.
Great call by the announcer: “A face full of wall and a glove full of ball.”
Try English. There is no translator on this site. By the way, any loss is on the players, not Doc Roberts.
Translation: Honestly the team is completely screwed, a miserable one hit in 5 innings for the size of the payroll. Some will say the wins that matter are the ones in October, or that these games are basically spring training, but it’s frustrating and also boring to watch every game with the same story, THEY CAN’T HIT and that’s not Doc Roberts’ fault. I’m sure someone with skin way too sensitive will recommend I root for another team.
Solo una persona tonta pensaría que este equipo está acabado.
Están pasando por una mala racha, y aun así siguen encaminados a ganar alrededor de 100 partidos.
Another dud so far! I wonder if the braves and dodgers traded uniforms if the new dodgers would hit! Would the “new” braves suddenly go stone cold? Anyway, another pathetic display from the boys in blue. It’s going to get better. Just don’t know when.
Dodgers have been off and on for well over two weeks. Yeah, they offense will wake up sometime, sooner would be nice. Giants coming in for 4. Schedules pitching matchups, Sasaki-McDonald, Yamamoto-Houser, Ohtani-Ray, Sheehan-Roupp. Meanwhile Padres travel to Milwaukee for 3 and then Seattle. They came back and tied St. Louis with 2 in the 9th. Cardinal’s batting in the 10th against Estrada. Buehler pitched 6 solid innings for the Pads today giving up just 2 runs. Castellanos 2-run homer in the 9th tied it. Pads win they are tied with LA, lost, still 1 game back.
Down 5 and you swing at the first pitch and fly out? Rushing down to .302 and Kim struck out for the third time. Top of the order had 5 walks and 2 hits. Cardinals up 2-0 on the Padres in the 9th.
Ok, the Braves are currently better.
The Dodgers have some cupcakes coming Jonon the schedule. They should could maybe perhaps score against them and remain in first place until they play the Padres in San Diego.
We go through this every year. I predicted this but even Ray Charles could see it was going to happen.
This team is AMAZINGLY GOOD! They are just on cruise control. When the time comes, they will kick it into overdrive.
Don’t lose what little of your minds you have left.
I know I can’t afford it!
I can see they have the talent. On paper. They can play with anyone. They are 39 games in, a game behind last year’s team, 2 behind 24. For what they charge the fans to go to a game, they should try maybe a little harder and quit making average pitchers look like Paul Skenes.
“This team is AMAZINGLY GOOD!“
Not lately.
But I agree they probably will be by the end of the year, and that’s the only time it really matters. In the meantime, hairballs like these are hard to swallow gaggers.
The Dodgers are slow-playing the season again, engaging in “load management” for this veteran squad.
Last season, this approach forced the Dodgers to play in the first round of the playoffs against the Reds. Seriously, the Dodgers shouldn’t be taking that risk.
This season the gauntlet to the World Series should be a lot tougher. The Braves and Cubs are flexing while the Dodgers are slow-playing.
It’s so true Mark.
I’m just waiting for the next call to:
DFA an underperforming veteran
or
fire the hitting coach
or
show more intensity
or
stop trying to slug everything
Padres walk off the Cardinals.
To quote Phil Jones “Play better”. Long way to go in the marathon but really need Ohtani to heat up with the bat.
With Ya Zeke.
Playing better starts with a basic fundamentals like a pretty routine, comeback double play ball that wasn’t. Wrobleski could have minimized his own damage.
And swing at strikes and take balls. How many swings and misses did Ohtani have on pitches out of the zone? I counted at least 4. He’s too good for that.
We are swinging and missing or fouling of lots of mistakes. We don’t take advantage of mistakes in the middle. Leading to too many slammed bats and F-bombs
We don’t turn walks into runs.
The best part of the game was John Tumpane, the home plate umpire, who is second best in the league.
I think he missed about 2 pitches all day. Uncanny good. I think he’s seldom challenged and lost one, I think, yesterday.
Play Better
So this is the Wrobo version when he strikes people out.
Wake me up along with the rest of the team in September
The League finally adjusted to Wrobleski pounding the strike zone… then he adjusted – His ERA is now 2.42, which is just behind Paul Skenes. I love his composure and savvy!
Old friend Miguel Vargas is only hitting .230, but his OPS is .841. He has 9 HR/5 Doubles and 1 Triple with 28 Walks and SO. His SO rate is 20%. He is starting to put it together.
OTOH, Keibert Ruiz has a .205 BA and a .608 OPS.
Old friend Yordan Alvarez is doing ok.
Getting 2 hits and striking out 10 times won’t win many ball games. The team looks OLD and TIRED.
Yeah they do Andrew, but no time to rest.. They’ve got 7 games in 7 days against teams struggling to stay out of last place with no days off before playing another good team, San Diego. At least all these games will require little travel time as all are in SoCal.
There appears to be no sense of urgency with this team, probably because there’s no need for one. It’s not even mid May yet. The next 4 games against SF get them to mid May and even mid May is early in the season.
These guys are all pros and know their jobs. They are still in first place so early review of the standings say they don’t suck. You know who does suck? The giants that’s who. And they are up next. I smell a winning streak. And the padres are in Milwaukee so they’re going to lose.
It’s May 11th. It’s National “Eat What You Want Day”. Make mine a veggie burger with a cold Beck’s NA while I watch a Sasaki QS and Ohtani go yard.