Some games have highlight nd some have lowlights. It seems to me that last night’s game was of the lowlight variety. Nothing worth remembering… well, maybe a couple of things:
The Pitchers
Julio Urias has filthy stuff, but he still has not figured out the first inning. This needs to change. There is something about the first inning… Bring him in the second, fifth, ninth inning and he is fine. Maybe someone needs to tell him it is the second inning. Normally, this would not bother me in Spring Training, but this is a pattern with Julio. Last night, he threw almost 30 pitches, gave up a ht and a ran with walking a batter. If he keeps this up, he will end up in the bullpen where it seems he doesnot have that problem. So, the problem is between his ears. To me, it is not impossible that if Jimmy Nelson is healthy, Julio, Dustin and Tony all end up in the bullpen… just this season, not forever.
The next pitcher up was Corey Knebel whom the Reds beat like a rented mule. He gave up just one run because Dave Roberts called the inning. The Reds might have scored 50 runs had they finished the inning.
Dennis Santana, who followed the first two batting practice pitchers looked very efficient and deceptive, For last night Santana was the champ and Urias and Knebel were the chumps.
Next was Bobby Miller who looked excellent with the help of a Lux-to-Taylor-to-Muncy double play. This is too small of a sample to even see anything… except that he has a “presence” on the mound.
Scott Alexander looked in mid-season form: ground balls but some infield hits, but he gave up no runs as he got a ground ball for a double play to end the inning. He is a guy that needs to start innings, not come in with runners on base.
Cleavinger looked good but it’s one game. You really can’t conclude anything. He has to keep doing it to convince me.
Then finally, there was Landon Knack – He got the first batter out and then walked a batter followed by a HR. Nothing to see here folks… move on.
The Hitters
I am not sure how the Dodgers scored four runs, but they did. Gavin Lux and Zach McKinstry continue to show they belong. Matt Beaty is making a case against stacked odds (since he is LH). Sheldon Noisy got a hit as did FedEx, who has no shot of making the team unless Barnes or Smith is injured and Ruiz is still stuck in South America. There was not much good to see last night, except the Dodgers infield had some nice defensive plays.
Today’s Game
The Boys of Summer play the Cubbies at Camelback Ranch tonight at 5:05 EDT. Old friend, Joc Pederson will almost certainly be in the lineup against RHP Jimmy Nelson. It will be interesting to see what Joc does – he has a flair for the dramatic and especially interesting to see if Jimmy Nelson has anything left in the tank.
Help Wanted:
AC (Jeff Dominique) is going to be taking some extended time off, with no timeline when he will be back, but he intends to be back. If we have any aspiring writers who want to be more involved (even one day a week or one day every two weeks), let me know. mark@uswatersystems.com
I watched the game, and although Urias had some control issues, my view was that he was also getting squeezed by the ump on several pitches. Knebel was unimpressive to say the least. His curve ball got him some strikes, but his fastball was getting tattooed. The offense sputtered. The regulars who were in there were not making solid contact. Taylor, Muncy and Turner. The defense looked good. One thing I will say for Knack is that he did not let the HR shake him. He came back and got the outs. But again, with a chance to win in the bottom of the 7th, the offense did not get the job done. But it is spring, the kids were out there at the end. Jackie Bradley Jr comes to the NL, signing a 2 year deal with the Brewers. D-Backs lost Kalhoun with an injury. MLB will have a new day to celebrate as June 2 will become Lou Gehrig day. It is in conjunction with ALS, sort of like the day they use to combat cancer. All players will wear a 4ALS patch on that day. Knebel was seen having a lengthy conversation with Mark Prior after his inning. The new on field girl is not impressive at all. Looks like the DH and expanded playoffs are dead issues for this year. No talks planned for right now before the end of spring. Houston may suffer their first major loss as Framber Ramirez looks like he needs surgery on his broken finger and might be out all year.
I am concerned that we are losing AC for a while. Hope it will not be for long and also hope everything is ok with him and his family. Will miss his talented write-ups that entertain and teach me a lot of baseball things. Take care, AC, and come back soon.
Way too early to make any judgements. Call me on 28 March and we will see how things look then. Kersh starting on Friday against the Royals. Interested to see how Nelson does tonight. Pederson is wearing # 24 to honor Kobe Bryant.
One other player that I was happy with last night was DJ Peters working a walk in his plate appearance.
I can see Knebel being a problem in the bullpen, he has a career .732 OPS against RHB. And Doc is a strict go by the book manager who does the RHP/RHB and LHP/LHB match ups even if someone has reverse splits as Knebel does. Just saying.
Anyone on here remember when two Dodger wannabees traded wives during Spring Training? I think it was in the 60’s, or 70’s. I remember it happening, but can’t remember the details. Any help?
I remember 2 Yankees, Fritz Peterson and Mike Keckich doing that. I don’t remember it happening with the Dodgers.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/mike-kekich-fritz-peterson
They were Yankees, but Keckich was a former Dodger. Best known for replacing Koufax in the rotation when he retired. Keckich and Peterson’s wife did not stay together, but Peterson and Keckich’s exe married. Exactly right Rick
Maybe last night’s game wasn’t the most exciting ever, but I sure got a kick out of Neuse’s arm strength on this play he made at third. Turns out he was a 2-way player in college and had some pretty good results. So we not only have Davidson but also “The Big Noise” who could work out of the bullpen in a pinch if they made the roster.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1367307151870369792
Thanks, I had the details wrong, but remembered it happening. Did one of them try to make the Dodgers later?
No. Kekich was originally a Dodger. He never returned after the trade. Peterson was a career American Leaguer. Pitching for the Yanks, Indians and Rangers. Kekich pitched for the Dodgers for 2 years before being traded for Andy Kosco. He had a 2-11 record in LA and was only above .500 once in his career which lasted 9 years and ended with Seattle in 1977.
I will definitely miss AC during his time away, and appreciate his great contributions.
Thanks to all the other writers as well.
Dodgers looking good so far this spring with a lot of potential depth.
For anyone interested in Andrew Friedman interview, he was on Big Time Baseball podcast with Jon Heyman for 30 minutes this week. Heyman talks too much but Friedman commented on Bauer, JT, Kenley, Seager and others.
Good luck, AC, with whatever you’re dealing with! You will be missed!
We will all miss you and your thoughtful articles Jeff. Please hurry back
Let me add my good wishes to those above Jeff. Hope you aren’t away too long. You are the Justin Turner of LADT.
Speaking of JT, for those of you who get The Athletic, a great article up on Justin by Ken Rosenthal, including some predictions by AJ Ellis as to what JT does after retirement. Hint: after a few stops, AJ predicts he’ll wind up as the Dodger manager.
And for you Alanna fans, another worthwhile read, actually an interview, that Molly Knight did with her about her decision to leave the Dodgers and move back east.
Old friend Trayce Thompson hit his second homer this spring for the D-Backs in the second inning of their game against the Angels. Joc Pederson is not in the Cubs starting lineup against the Dodgers tonight.
Jeff, hope you get back soon. You’ve done a great job both managing and contributing to this site. Not the same without you.
Sorry to see “Nick” Knack give up a Paddie Whack last night. I lost the bet and had to give my dog a bone.
Pitching tonight was not great Nelson went 1 and had an unearned run due to a wild throw by Barnes. In his defense, Neuse was out of position when he threw the ball. Neuse also airmailed one to first that went for their second error. Gray would have gotten out of his outing with no dings, but came back for a second inning and a walk and a homer, he was gone. Uceta then took a blow torch to the game as everything he threw up there was hammered. Allowed 2 homers and 4 runs. Dodgers will get their first spring loss tonight. Offense getting on, but not much else.
Uceta looked better suited to pitching in the home run derby this year! Wow! That was ugly! Nelson has some serious break on his curveball but can he throw it for strikes? Not much command from the mound tonight.
Pepiot looks like a future closer.