The cream is rising to top the top. The Catman is back, albeit, quite rusty, but his velocity was fine. Phil Bickford is settling in as a nice piece in the bullpen. Cody Bellinger is trying to regain his stroke as is AJ Pollock, after stints on the DL. Zach McKinstry is back and making an impact. But maybe the biggest news is that Mookie Betts is coming out of his cocoon and at least looks healthy. Every time I see a video shot of the dugout, I see Albert Pujols engaged in conversation with a player or three. I think he is making a difference.
By the start of next week, the Dodgers should be back in the pole position in the NL West and maybe back to #1 in the Power Pole. Knebel and the Bazooka will likely be back, but there is no rush as the bullpen is doing it’s job and only stands to get better.It’s a great time to do some watching of the Minor Leagues… and speaking of that…
Dodgers Minor League Report
- OKLAHOMA CITY DODGERS BOXSCORE – OKC beat some Chihuahuas 4-1 last night. Ruiz and Reks both homered (the 4th for both of them). Cleavinger struck out the side in the 7th inning, between two walks. The Bazooka pitched a clean inning, striking out 1 and Vesia got the save in the 9th by also pitching a cleaning and striking out 1. The Dodgers only had 6 hits but were very efficient.
- TULSA DRILLERS BOXSCORE – The Driller brought out the heavy lumber and bet the Wind Surge 12-10. Jeren Kendall hit a 2 Run HR. Donovan Casey hit a 3-Run Blast as did Carlos Rincon. Noda and Feduccia hit solo blasts. Mike Grove started and went 1 inning, throwing 23 pitches, 9 for strikes, and gave up 4 ER. Guillermo Zuniga (22-year-old 6’5″ RHP pitched the final 2 innings, for the win (he is 5-1 with a 2.84 ERA. He allowed no runs and struck out 4. This is a guy to watch, as he has a fastball that he throws up to 96 MPH and a low 90’s slider. He has a clean, repeatable delivery and in the bullpen, you really only need two pitches.
- GREAT LAKES LOONS BOXSCORE – The Dayton Dragons continue to own the Loons as they beat them 6-3 (again). James Outman and Zac Ching had 4 of their 6 hits. Outman had the only extra-base hits: a double and a triple. Clayton Beeter started and gave up 4 ER in 1.1 IP.
- RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES BOXSCORE – The Quakes weathered the Storm 7-4. as McWilliams and Chalo each hit HR’s. Deluca was 2-3 and Franklin De La Paz went 2.2 innings for the win.
Dodger Notes
- MLB Trade Rumors ranks Corey Seager as the #1 Free Agent the next offseason. He is ranked ahead of Carlos Correa, Kris Bryant, Trevor Bauer (he can opt out), Trevor Story, and Freddie Freeman… but he’s a horrible SS… yeah right!
- Clayton Kershaw is ranked as the #9 best FA and Max Scherzer is #10.
- Speaking of Clayton, he needs to right his ship as the last couple of games have not been good. He takes the mound tonight against the Texas Little Sisters of the Poor.
- Bullpen ERA: Victor Gonzalez 2.14, Jimmy Nelson 2.29, David Price 3.98, Blake Treinen 3.28, Phil Bickford 0.00, Kenley Jansen 1.75. Now if we can just get Kelly and Jones rolling.
Is Knebel close?
Except for the hiccup on the HR to Reynolds, Urias pitched like an ace. I see things from him this year that were missing in past years. He really looks like a top 10 starter. Good news on the Mookie front. The HR, and the great catch and throw that saved a run. I love his defense.
Finally a glimpse of the “real” Mookie Betts and not that imposter who has been wearing his uniform. And Bellinger actually took a 2 strike swing and singled to left. If he start barreling up those center cut fastballs then we’ve got something. We’ll see. Seager could start rehab stint in 2 weeks. So we’re getting close to full strength. Hopefully we can keep everyone healthy until then. Can’t wait to see this team at full strength and playing up to their abilities. Only need to go 80-20 to get to magic 117 wins!
Yes, Mookie has been playing better lately, hitting the ball hard. Incredible catch and throw. Things are looking better, but the offense is at times a problem. Pujols is hitting lefties so that’s working.
It will be good to get Corey Seager back, need his bat.
As to free agents, no question Seager is the number one, but I’m not sure how you value a future contract. The Dodgers will no doubt try to sign him and I seriously doubt there will be a lot of competition. Maybe the Giants. Perhaps one or two other teams. Who can afford that kind of contract? Lots of questions surround Seager. According to what Rosenthal wrote, the Yankees don’t seem interested in adding any more big contracts.
Listening to MLB radio a week ago, it was suggested that Trevor Story might make more sense for the Dodgers. Less money, right handed bat, good defensive skills. I still like Seager.
As to Clayton Kershaw, certainly the Dodgers will sign him, but again how do you value the contract?
Interesting article today in the LA Times, written by Bill Shakin, about how Texas Senator Ted Cruz might play a key role in preventing labor issues from messing up the 2022 season. Good read.
Easy to be optimistic when you just played and swept one of the worst teams in MLB. They play another really bad team tonight. These are games that they have to win of course. Hope to see them getting both healthier and more successful.
This is when they should win, and even though the Pirates are a bad team, all of these guys are in the majors for a reason. They may be only AAAA guys, but they are being paid as major leaguers, so you had better treat them like they are. Dodgers scored 13 runs in 3 games, that is not even their per game average. So their pitching better be good, and the fielding outstanding if you are going to win games from guys like the Pirates. And remember, had Kenley not caught that bullet off of the bat of Hayes, that game would have been tied.
That scorcher looked like the infield could have gotten to it, sans that awesome stab by Kenley.
Not even close. Look at the play again. It was hit right at where the second baseman was standing.
Maybe, the infielder was positioned well, but you are assuming he would have caught it and I am assuming he would not.
Ask SF and SD how they did against these same Pirates….
Los Piratas son un equipo de grandes ligas, no es tan fácil como supongo que tu lo ves Rick. Te sugiero que veas el lado positivo ¨ saludables y exitosos ¨ Saludos desde Guadalajara Jalisco México
* 4 and 2 now in a portion of the schedule that needs be successful. But Bear’s point is a good one. Our opponents are in the show for a reason so they can’t be taken lightly.
* So refreshing to see Mookie have a game like we have been accustomed to seeing. Why he’s a star and so fun to watch.
* I love Bellinger taking that controlled, contact swing to get the ball in play. That hack isn’t going to win any style points but is works. I love the adjustment.
* Steve Stone, the ex MLB pitcher and current color commentator for the White Sox, has an interesting take on a better way to handle the use of foreign substances.
First, he thinks it should start next spring training, as I have suggested all along. He suggests baseline data on spin rates could be logged on every pitcher and all of their pitch types, late in spring training. This baseline spin rate data would be used all season. If a pitcher comes up with some new pitch he would have to address that with MLB. Otherwise, if there is a significant jump in spin rates by a pitcher, it could indicate he’s doing something to the ball. Penalties could be imposed at that point with some appeal process most likely. But a spin rate jump equals cheating. That would be the assumption.
This process takes the umpires out of the role of being detectives. They don’t have to decide whether to eject a player with a 10 day suspension attached or to let it go.
Here’s the “rub” (see what I did here?); MLB will approve a league-wide substance that will be supplied and available for all pitchers to use if they want. Likely, a rosin based product to enhance grip. It could be developed over the winter. This would be used during spring training to establish the baseline data. Use of any of the other super-sticky stuff would be illegal and would be detected by a spike in spin rates.
I thought this was an intriguing process worthy of consideration instead of the “Sh**-Show” of having umpires perform strip searches looking for product, managers complaining about arbitrary enforcement, balls and hats being confiscated and sent for MLB review and 10 days suspensions.
I also think the most simple solution would be coming up with a tackified baseball cover that the pitchers like. Forget the mud and produce baseballs with a non-slick hide. Apparently there are prototypes and Korea supposedly has a ball such a cover.
Since MLB has been studying this issue all season I trust that they will come up with some inadequate ruling on this one, just like usual.
A spike in spin rate is not always proof of using illegal substances. Your way would punish those not breaking the rules and assume them guilty. So no go on your option.
Roger that, this isn’t “my way” or “my option”. This is Steve Stone’s idea and his solution. I’m simple sharing what he proposed. I’m sharing that for discussion.
I do think that increased spin rate IS an indication of something going on however. Trevor Bauer has made the comment that large spikes in spin rate do not happen naturally.
Fan Graphs:
Jorbit Vivas, 2B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Level & Affiliate: Low-A Rancho Age: 20 Org Rank: 23 FV: 40
Line: 6-for-6, HR, SB
Notes
Vivas already has more home runs this year (five) than he did in his previous three pro years (two seasons) combined. The old Cal League hitting environment has likely contributed to this early-season surge but Vivas, who is of the compact middle infield phylum that I love so much, has indeed gotten a little thicker and stronger than he was in 2019. His approach is quite aggressive and I think this might create some statistical turbulence down the road, and Vivas is a 2B/3B defender only, not someone who can play shortstop. He’s looking like another versatile Dodgers platoon cog.
Thanks, Bluto. I also like Valera.
Giants trade Wisler to the Rays.
Mother–
Mookie had a good game last night. The way the media talks about this guy, you would have that he did something no one thought was possible. He had a nice assist at the plate. It was athletic, fluid and on the money. Unlike his earlier throw that was up the line and probably would have got the runner if it was on target.
Bellinger had a multi hit game. He looks to be making adjustments. I like that he’s employing a two strike approach at times. I remember Steve Garvey always doing that with two strikes. Maybe you would see some 300 hitters if that was done more often.
The baseball Gods bailed out our bullpen game induced stress on the bullpen. It’s good the rains decided to give us a little extra rest.
Sweeping the Pirates counts as much as losing three in a row with a badly banged up team against the Giants. I’ll take it. We play another AAA team team tonight, but the Giants also get a cellar dweller, so we might have to wait a little longer than the end of the weekend to take pole position. However, I do believe the Giants are due for big stumble and fall. This weekend is as good as any for that to begin.
Let’s make yet another change to the baseball to fix a problem. It will no doubt introduce a new problem that will later need to be fixed. I don’t understand why they can’t just pull out a ball that was right before the the juiced ball and reverse engineer it to make the new balls the same. After all, Rawlings has been making the balls as far as I can remember. This doesn’t have to be rocket science and any changes to balls should be used in the minors for a year before screwing up the major league game.
Why not just let the pitchers have the sunscreen, rosin and pine tar? All of those substances are routinely found on the field so it should be no surprise that they end up on the ball. Let them soak their skin in sunscreen and put a rosin bag and a towel with pine tar on it on the mound for all pitchers to use. If those substances are found on a pitcher’s personal equipment in abundance, toss and suspend them.
Clayton ready to go on another vintage Clayton run against his hometown team?
I’m not that concerned about the possibility of losing Seager as long as they augent the lineup in some other was to offset his loss. How weird would it be if we wound up with Correa? A better defender and a right handed bat. Maybe Kris Bryant? It’s hard to speculate when you won’t have a CBA and still don’t know if the DH will be a thing. I sure am enjoying watching pitchers hit possibly for the last season.
No way Correa ends up in Dodger blue!
He’s my most hated player in the sport. Tatis Jr. is close to passing Machado for second on the list. If Seager signed with the Giants, like someone suggested, I would hate him more than Correa.
Agreed, frankly that is why I lost just a little respect for Kiki going to the RSox. Not that he went there, it’s a job. But he was so vocal about the cheating, and then when he went there I read multiple articles that it was talking to Cora that got him there. Seemed kind of hypocritical to me.
Cheers
They could make all of the 2019 Asstro players available for free and I wouldn’t touch as single one of the cheating bastards. Especially the little buzzer-man, Altuve. I will never forgive the players, Hinch and especially Cora for this. The fact the players got away with it makes me more pissed. They tarnished the integrity of the game and I respect none of them. I dislike the Padres too but for different reasons.
K. Hayes is a real gem, what would it cost to get the rookie by 2022?
RF Betts
2B Taylor
3B Hayes
1B Muncy
DH Turner
CF Bellinger
C Smith
SS Lux
LF Andy Pages (he will do it in 2022, believe it)
Pirates are rebuilding and he is one of the main pieces, no way they even consider trading him. Now their leadoff hitter, Frazier, will most likely be on the market since he has one year left on his deal.
Pages/Busch platoon!
David Bednar caught my eye out of the Pirate’s Pen.
Might be a useful piece going forward.
He spent 2 years with the Pads and was not impressive. But he is only 26, so he probably could be had for the right piece.
Dodger hitters have much more experience against Foltynewicz than the Rangers do against Kershaw. Only Charlie Culberson has a history against CK.
Kelly looks like he’s getting better, last 30 Days:
1W-0 L, 3.48 ERA, 11G, 10.1 IP, 8H, 5R, 4 ER, 2HR, 3BB, 11 SO, 1.06 WHIP, .195 AVG
Don’t tell Eric that, he will implode.
Who is Eric?
All I know is Sandy is the Greatest.
#droppinsomeNYC
One of our posters, he really dislikes Kelly and most of the pen in general.
“Kelly looks like he’s getting better, last 30 Days:”
Can he get any worse. The bar was set so low.
Tonight’s winning lineup:
Mookie RF
Max 1b
JT 3b
Cody CF
Will C
CT3 2b
Gavin ss
AJ LF
Kersh P
Notes on a couple of former Dodgers, Kazmir was outrighted to the minors by the Giants. And the Padres signed Joe Beimel to a minor league deal. Mets leading the Padres in NY in the 8th inning. Scherzer leaves his start due to injury. Giants won game 1-0.
Joe Beimel is 78!
I can’t help but feel sorry for Mike Foltynewicz. He used to be really good and now he is just cannon fodder!
lol _ I was telling my wife just that. I feel sorry for the guy.
I was also thinking it was home run weather today. It really warmed up and it’s probably the warmest night so far this season.
It’s also rainbow day at the stadium, so the team responds by hitting a bunch of rainbows.
Breaking News: Bad Team is Bad
Why did Muncy and Bellinger leave the game? I’m following the game on Gameday.
Probably because Muncy has a sore ankle and Bellinger need not finish the game with an 11 run lead. Also gives others a chance to play. CK done for the night with 93 pitches and had a streak of 7 K’s in a row including 4 K’s in an inning. Wow
Thanks RF. Thank goodness it wasn’t because of injury.
Muncy strained his side and Belli cramp. Albert so sorry, I was wrong. U da man! Glad to have you on board!
Eric, did you here that about Nelson on tonight’s broadcast? Lowest expected average in all of baseball. Not bad for your 4th or 5th reliever! My bullpen is coming together but so is your offense.
Nelson is doing good. I like what I see from Bickford. Small sample but I like so far.
Both Lux and Mckinstry need to up their mph on throws to first
I’m not so sure Clayton will fancy finishing his career back home in Texas like many of you imagine.
I personally think he will retire!