It was reported that immediately after the game last night a San Francisco Giants fan tried to blow up a LA Dodger fan’s car. He was not successful, however, as he kept burning his lips on the exhaust pipe.
Well, if you are only going to get 5 hits, make sure most of them are Home Runs and the Dodgers did that last night. The bullpen again came through BIG TIME last night. The Dodgers are now TOP FIVE is the NL in Bullpen ERA. The “bullpen fear-mongers” reportedly have little to say.
The Dodgers have the second best record in all of baseball. It is amazing that the Giants have the best record. I think it is all
… but it is what it is! I do think a crash is imminent!
I do not expect Andrew Friedman to be active at the trade deadline. By “active” I mean making a lot of trades. I could see maybe one, but he is still learning that the more prospects you horde, the better the chances of finding good ones. Mookie Betts helped the Dodgers win a World Series last year, but I have to ask: “Mookie Betts or Mike Trout: Which contract will be the biggest boat anchor in the future?”
There is no doubt Mookie is a better player than Alex Verdugo, but how about in three years? Seven years? Jeter Downs is struggling at AAA (.239 BA), as has Conner Wong (.148 at AAA). Ten-year deals can come back and bite you. Trout is on the DL and will 30 in August. I see this ending badly for the Angels who may be forced to “give Trout away” at some point!
Did you know that new Angel Scott Schebler is older than Mike Trout?
Class Act
Dodger News and Notes
- Scott Alexander pitched a clean inning with 1 strikeout at OKC and according to Doc is probably going to be activated July 2nd or 3rd.
- JoJo Gray has now thrown live BP and simulated games at OKC. I think the plan THIS season for Gary is to get him to be able to throw a couple of innings and bring him up to the Show. If healthy, his stuff will play well out of the pen.
- Corey Seager’s rehab has “plateaued” and he still feels pain in his wrist when he swings. He is running, throwing, and fielding, so all you can do is hurry up and wait. It sounds like it might be a few more weeks…
- Corey Knebel is still recovering from a severely strained lat (so severe that surgery was contemplated) and the best timetable for him is late in the season. He is playing catch as we speak…
- The Bazooka also pitched a scoreless inning last night.
- Kevin Quackenbush got his 10th save at OKC last night and is still unscored upon in 18 appearances. He has been around and is 32-years-old, but that is worth watching.
- Tsutsugo was 0-5. He has a Mack-Truck Sized Hole in his swing!
- Kaybear took 3 walks last night – when you can’t find a pitch to hit – you walk!
Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Jim Ray Hart, Jesus Alou, Bobby Bonds, Jim Davenport, Tito Fuentes and Tom Haller. With a lineup like that and a one two punch of Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry, no wonder the Gigantes are in first place.
Hate to break the news… but many are deceased.
Bunch of “tailpipe kissers” anyway.
In the past 5-6 years the Dodgers have been prone to go on winning and losing streaks. It is many of the same players and the same manager. I have done a lot of coaching and I know that sometimes it happens.
But the pattern concerns me. Is it because they have had swing and miss players like Pederson, Bellinger etc? Or is it more probable it comes from the manager?
I know the manager doesn’t hit or field, I’m just asking for the opinion of others why a team would be prone to occasional losing streaks over the years.
What are the opinions of some of you?
I think baseball is just hard.
I think it’s the all or nothing approach at the plate. They Homer a lot, Walk a lot, K a lot, and hardly steal bases, hit behind runners, hit and run or do any type of “small ball”.
You can’t argue with the success over the long haul of a 162 game season. But, you can make the argument that it isn’t optimal in the post-season when you have several series to win.
Willy, all teams do that, not just the Dodgers. Teams have gone on streaks of both kinds this season. The Yankees are in the midst of a bad stretch . I remember the Dodgers going on a 10 game streak many years ago that closed the gap with Atlanta when they were about 12 games back. It happens every year. A couple of years ago, they had an 11 game losing streak in late August and September and still won the division going away.
It’s time to see more of K-Bear. With all of the phantom IL stints, I can’t understand why they can’t find one for Barnes.
Kenley sure set them down last night. Geesh, he’s really nasty when he throws more than one pitch.
Treinen has the worst luck. He gives up more ground balls through the shift-hole than anyone.
Did BALCO reopen? Crawford is doing his best Brady Anderson impression with 17 big flys already, his career high is 21.
Justin Viele is the Giants hitting coach. Previously, he was a minor league hitting coach for the Dodgers.
There’s a silver lining for the Giant’s success this year…if you’re a Dodgers fan. Cueto, Posey, Gausman, Belt, Posey, Crawford, DeScalfani, Solano, Wood are all free agents after the season. Could you imagine the prospect haul if they were sellers? They’re gonna look like the D-Backs next year.
I sure hope Quackenbush gets a callup at some point. I just like his name.
7-1 Bueller takes on 8-1 Gausman on another warm summer night at Chavez Ravine. It’s home run weather and the Dodgers are just 14 homers from the lead.
Is anyone excited about an Astros v. Dodgers World Series rematch? This time, no trashcans. Or, how about a Red Sox v. Dodgers rematch? I sure hope it isn’t a Rays v. Dodgers rematch.
We are just about a month away from the Trade Deadline with no clear needs. Although, I wouldn’t mind checking in with the Nats on Mad Max.
Wasn’t Quakenbush a Marx brothers characteristics one of their movies? Was it Horsefeathers? Or Night at the Opera?
Not sure about that one, but growing up in the punk scene in Huntington Beach in the 80’s, you would know Dave Quackenbush as the lead singer for the Vandals. He replaced legendary “Steve-0” as the front man of the band because Steve-O was too crazy and unreliable.
They famously made a brilliant song to mock the Urban Cowboy craze around that time spurred by John Travolta’s movie. There was a punk rock night club called “Cuckoo’s Nest” in Costa Mesa that shared a parking lot with cowboy bar “Zoobies”. The song describes the conflict that resulted from the two venues’ close proximity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjmBf1rgteo
Literally every punk band that was anyone played there in the 79-81 time frame.
Saw Iggy there in ’79. Was not my “main genre”, but I always loved the energy.
cheers
Wow, Iggy at a place that small would have been awesome.
I was playing all over LA in country bars at that time. Not my kind of music. Played a lot in Orange county though, Crazy Horse, Cowboy, Wounded Knee Saloon.
“There’s a silver lining for the Giant’s success this year…if you’re a Dodgers fan. Cueto, Posey, Gausman, Belt, Posey, Crawford, DeScalfani, Solano, Wood are all free agents after the season. Could you imagine the prospect haul if they were sellers? They’re gonna look like the D-Backs next year.”
This right here…..and they wont be able to sign all of these guys. They could have stocked the farm…
Todos los peloteros próximos agentes libres de San Francisco están utilizando esta temporada como un gran escaparate para ligar otro buen contrato en sus últimos años de juego, lastima que solo lo hagan en estas circunstancias y no tengan un rendimiento durante toda la vigencia de su actual contrato que está por terminar. Pero tal vez tengas razón sobre lo de BALCO.
Corey Seager’s wrist is a problem. Will he return in mid-July or August? Beyond that, how will this impact his free agency?
I’m guessing the Giants will continue to play well as long as the pitching holds out and they avoid injuries. The last ride of an aging roster.
As to Mookie, he’ll be really good until the last couple of years of the contract, but his marketing value will remain high. He’ll go into the Hall of Fame as a Dodger.
Looking at it based only on the present and the immediate future I’d still make that deal.
Giving Mark his due that outfielder in Cincinnati is having a pretty good year.
So what will the Dodgers pursue at the trade deadline? They seem pretty set, players just have to perform. But the bullpen can always be upgraded. A starter? Depends on who is out there and the cost. If he’s traded, Max Scherzer would be an upgrade, but costly. Would you give up Kaybear, Mark?
No
Max wants an extension if traded. Doubt AF will do that given current payroll needs. Besides the way the Nats are playing I don’t see them as sellers.
That’s kind of funny.
Everybody but everybody thought the Giants would be looking up at the Pads and Dodgers all year long–and somehow they become the hottest team in baseball. But next year they’ll look like the D-backs?
Don’t think so. Sure, they can’t sign everybody, but they will sign some–and also make savvy additions. The moral of the Giants’ success story is that our old friend Farhan Zaidi is a damn good baseball exec, which is why AF brought him to the Dodgers. (The Dbacks and Rockies will look like the Dbacks and Rockies next year.)
Compare what he’s done with a to how the wealthy Yankees are looking up to the Bosox and GM Cashman (such an apt name) admits that right now, the Yankees suck. …
As for the Dodgers, things are looking up. As I write this our bums are up 3-0, and Buhler looks like Buhler, Muncy like Muncy and Lux like…. yeah, you know.
…
As for Mookie, he is still young, athletic and fit–and several of the greats have played well as they approached 40. He’s a sound investment. Neither he nor Trout will be “anchors,” the role Pujols served with the Angels.
Sudden thought: Maybe Smith moves from C to 2B, a la Biggio. Not this season, certainly. We think of him at 3rd, but why not 2B?
Really nice to see our pitchers work out of so many tough spots. Yeah, I guess you might rather they not get in said spots in the first place, but we have not won many of these types of games & it seems important to me to have winning experiences in them for the end of the season & playoffs. I also do not care if Bauer gives up homers, as long as he keeps giving up a couple solos. Once guys get in scoring position, he goes pretty much lights out.
5 in a row tonight? GO BLUE.
Jansen made Posey look bad.
How about some props for Will Smith last night picking all those wild throws from Treinen in the 8th inning last night. He could have easily missed any or all of them but dug them out.
No doubt Will Smith is a great catcher on both sides of the ball, all aspects of the game. I would be playing him 3 on 1 off. Right now he has about a 2:1 ratio with Barnes. I wouldn’t mind a 2:1 ratio with Ruiz, but Barnes?
The only thing that is needed is a SP since Gonsolin is not ready yet and Urias is going to get tired, I do not think he can finish the season strong, so I think the most viable will be a starter, but I do not see any other clear necessity for the team.
And I have a question: Does anyone know what Betts average is when Bauer is on the mound? Last night hit HR and then a hit, but before last night? I have the impression that he was 2 of 160 AB or something like that!
After Seager returns, Taylor will be able to split his time better between 2B & LF.
We’ll see if the bench has enough or needs to be augmented.
We will always be looking for reliable relievers. It’s a guarantee we add at least one by the deadline.
Those kinds of games give you grey hairs, but it was a win, so I will take it. They won the long ball battle last night, but the Giants pen also did a great job shutting them down after they chased Scalafani. He is 0-2 against them this season. Gausman will be a harder nut to crack. He has deGrom type numbers this season. All those guys on one year deals. All the debate about Roberts managing skills is meaningless. He is here for the long haul, so get used to it. Also, Roberts was a part time player for sure, but it is not like he was not a valuable piece on the teams he played for. He had no power, but his OBP was .342. He stole over 200 bases in his 10 year career. And in post season, he hit .321 with 9 hits in 30 at bats. And we all know how his stolen base ignited the Sox series win over the Yankees. He has exactly the managerial style that the ownership and front office wants. He is good at communicating with his players, and that is his strength. We all question is in game management, and use of the pen. His constant tinkering with the lineups. But that is the way things are now. The Dodgers game plans are heavily match up oriented. That is why you see him pull a pitcher when he seems to be cruising. I think there are times he has been outmanaged, especially in the post season, but his teams win. And they get themselves in a position to play and compete in the playoffs, and after all, isn’t that what everyone wants??? Playoff baseball is a crapshoot. We all know that, or at least we should. Now, you have more chances to fail. Look at last year, they were one loss away from being eliminated and not going to the World Series. But they came back and won. Some luck was involved no doubt. But in 2019 when they were clearly the class of the league, they lost in the first round. Baseball is a hard game to play. It takes a lot of skill to turn around a 100 MPH fastball. It takes more skill than any of us here on this site have. It is so very easy to sit one the sidelines and criticize those who get paid to play the game we love for the team we love. I have been guilty of that oh so many times. And it is also frustrating. But, in the end, no matter what happens this year, next year we will be back rooting for them again, if there is a season next year. That’s up to MLB, and the MLBPA to make happen.
Jays and Marlins making a trade, Cimber and Dickerson going to Toronto, Panik and a minor league pitcher to the Fish.
That a pretty underwhelming deal. Kinda like kissing your sister.
Depends on your sister….
Not in my book.
Twisted
I do not have a real blood sister, so I am safe.
I have a beautiful sister,but I don’t kiss my sister on the lips.Go MSU dogs ,we gotta win 2 in a row.Ring more cowbell! Hail State!!!
I had a foster sister who was a real knockout. Wrote to her a while when I was in the Army. Lost contact when I went to Korea.
Did anyone see the interview with Trevor Bauer during the game the other night, the one where he discussed the MLB’s shape-shifting policy on applying sticky stuff to baseballs? He is one articulate guy! I nominate him to take over as commissioner effective immediately! His main point is that pitchers need something to get a decent grip on the ball, so why not have some agreed upon substances that are allowed, and others that are banned? And then check on compliance in a uniform, standardized way (like in the dugout on a routine basis), rather than leaving it up to the the umpiring crews’ judgement of when to enforce the rule and when not. Seems very reasonable to me.
That or produce a baseball with a tackier surface, which Bauer mentioned as well. I’ve listened to Bauer a lot and you are right, he is extremely well spoken and has great ideas. He knows himself and the science behind all this. He’s anything but a mad scientist or a kook, like some portray him. Let’s get a lot more out of him before he becomes the Commish.
The Japanese leagues already use a tacky ball. MLB always seems to act like they are inventing the wheel, when all the “tech” we talk about that “should be” already exists.
I know. I’ve mentioned that a lot. In fact they come wrapped in foil.
Sticky right outta the pouch. Sounds like MLB is in the baseball dark ages.
Did anyone see the interview with Trevor Bauer during the game the other night, the one where he discussed the MLB’s shape-shifting policy on applying sticky stuff to baseballs? He is one articulate guy! I nominate him to take over as commissioner effective immediately! His main points is that pitchers need something to get a decent grip on the ball, so why not have some agreed upon substances that are allowed, and others that are banned? And then checked on compliance in a uniform, standardized way ( like in the dugout on a routine basis), rather than leaving it up to the the umpiring crews’ judgement of when to enforce the rule and when not. Seems very reasonable to me.
* Sometimes I listen to our opponent’s broadcast team the first game in a series to get other insights and take a break from Orel and Joe. It’s easy with the Giants as I really like Mike Krakow as an announcer. Duane Kuiper is sadly undergoing chemo so I miss him with Kruk. Not a fan of Jon Miller or Dave Fleming. Kruk had an interesting observation during one of the TSA checks of Bauer. He noticed that they checked his fingers which oddly isn’t done much, as they check gloves, hats and belts, but not fingers, the obvious thing they should check first. He mentioned that Bauer is a target as they took extra time on Bauer. Interestingly, Kruk wasn’t happy about it.
* Kruk was also justifiably hard on horseshit Angel Hernandez behind the plate. He pointed out how Angel has a different zone every inning and loves to ring guys up late on pitches that have been balls all night, always with 2 strikes. How does Angel keep his job?
* I think last night’s lineup is Doc’s best.
* Another shut out for the bullpen. (so did the Giant’s pen) We successful danced around the raindrops again last night. The Giants were 0 for 13 W/ RISP with 11 LOB. Bauer stranded 7 alone.
* The Dodgers and Doc seem reluctant to run Mookie. I mentioned it a while back and Cassidy pointed out that he may have other issues going on that I don’t know about and that’s absolutely true. But more and more, Mookie seems to be protecting something on the bases. Lately Doc has stolen with Lux and Belli but seldom Mookie. Last night in the 5th, Mookie’s ball to center looked like an easy double but he didn’t stretch it. Then with Muncy up it seemed like an ideal steal situation of a run and hit situation with Muncy’s eye. Muncy struck out on a low breaking ball that would have easily gotten Mookie a steal had he been going.This is pure speculation as he seems to be fine running defensively but isn’t pushing it on the base paths. I’m good with him staying healthy but It just seems odd to me.
* Another chance to go 2 for 1 in the standings tonight.
I’m not sure Muncy is a great guy to hit and run with. You need a guy that makes a lot of contact out of the zone. With Muncy’s propensity to walk, go yard, or K, there isn’t much of a point to hit and run with him.
Muncy is actually perfect in that spot as I actually said “Run and Hit”. Not hit and run where you want a contact guy at the plate. On a Run and Hit, the baserunner is attempting to steal and not dependent on contact. Muncy’s eye and ability to swing at strikes and take balls, is perfect for a Run and Hit. It gets the runner started to either steal, beat a double play ground ball or get to third easily on a base hit. Doesn’t matter as Doc doesn’t do either.
I know we’ve been giving Lux a hard time including myself but Wilmer Franco is hitting .136 so far. It’s a tough transition to big league ball, so I’m personally making Lux’s runway a bit longer! But Gavin, lay down a bunt once in a while!
Wander wants you to know he forgives you for calling him Wilmer, but Gavin says he won’t be happy if you ever refer to him as Garvin.
Too damn many names to remember.
Be easier to remember if we just called him Garvey Lux. That’s a “Dodger for life” name.
He hits more like a Wilmer than a Wander!
Or Wilma!
Fred won’t like it, you picking on Wilma like that. He might sic Dino on you.
For those of you who enjoy Bauer, be sure to check out his Vlog (video blog) on Youtube. Lots of inside stuff on his workouts, interactions with fans, game day stuff, etc. Something that no other player has done before, to my knowledge.
Interesting piece in The Athletic today about how the Dodgers found that after he returned from the IL, McKinstry was closing his eyes at the point where the bat made contact with the ball when he was hitting. Ever since that was pointed out to him, he’s been hitting like the Zmac we saw earlier in the season.
New Rule #1 when hitting: Open your eyes
Or, if you are pitching and are Trevor open AT LEAST one.
Let me know when he decides to pitch with his right hand tied behind his back.
I know he hasn’t been as effective as he would have liked this year, but as far as I’m concerned, he’s made baseball a lot more interesting. And he gives 110% every time he’s out there.
I LOVE that guy. So fun watching him look directly at the batter, make sure the dude sees him & then close an eye and throw. Now THAT is ENTERTAINING.
Cheers
I had no expectations of Bauer having a sub 2 ERA this year. Right now, he at a very respectable 2.59 and is leading the Majors in Innings Pitched, Quality Starts and K’s to go along with 8 wins. I can’t complain at all. You can make an argument that he’s the best pitcher in the league based on those numbers.
DeGrom is a better pitcher when he pitches, but Bauer is always ready to take the ball and give you a chance to win and give the bullpen a rest in the process.
So who is the Dodger’s ace?
I guess I’d make Buhler the ace of spades after today’s game. Bauer is the ace of diamonds as the game’s highest paid pitcher in 2021. Kershaw, beloved veteran, is clearly our ace of hearts. And so it’s fitting that Babe Urias is the ace of clubs, because he swings the meanest bat.
I don’t think any other foursome really measures up. And with both Kenley and Kelly returning to form, plus the impressive work of others, the BP is a strength.
But the lineup does have that one weak link…
The Dodgers really don’t need another proven bat, but I assume AF is putting feelers out.
And once again, Philjones nails it. I too have been wondering why Doc, who built his own playing care on his speed, hasn’t been running Mookie more. The running game, I think, puts pressure on the pitcher and defense i na way that can’t be quantified.
Not a bad idea for Angel Hernandez, as well.
Freeman now #1 in All Star voting. Pure BS, Muncy is having a much better year than Freddie. Simply a popularity contest anymore. Trout leading outfield vote getter and he is not expected back until August.
All these “contests” where you can vote for someone once a day are bullspit imo.
Well, it isn’t “The Best Players so far this Season” game.
BTW, I fill my ballots with nothing but Dodgers on the NL side and you can’t pay me to vote for an ASS-terick on the AL side.
Not so much a fan of the actual game, but I am very interested to see what Ohtani can do in the derby. FUN watching balls fly outta the park.
Muncy clearly deserves the All Star start.
I don’t think the fans are wrong to honor Trout, because he’s Mike Trout. Respect. He’ll sit out the All-Star game and someone else will replace him and get a bit of glory. No losers in that.
What is weird about the latest results I saw was that Lux was running 3rd behind Albies and Frazier–or was it Cronenworth?
Anyway, the Lux numbers tell me that Dodger fans (or perhaps teenage girls) are very active in this popularity contest–and so it’s all the more puzzling that Muncy isn’t leading.
Jimmy Nelson: 24 IP 12 H 39 K
But the ball kept slipping out of his hand last time out.
I’m not too concerned about Corey’s injury. At this point, why rush to bring him back before the All-Star game? Might as well be cautious. Maybe counting stats lead to smaller contract offers by other teams. Can rehab while others are off for the break. The schedule before the break isn’t overwhelming as the “Resurgent Nats” cleaned up within their weak division. 3 games against the Rockies in Colorado to get right, then back at Dodger Stadium to play the Giants.
Food for thought. In 2018, Belli hit lefties to a tune of .226/.305/.376/.681 in 187 ABs and was platooned. Last year Mookie hit .200/.313/.218/.531 against lefties and this year he’s hitting ,222/.352/.403.755 in 127 combined ABs. Why no platoon?
Because he’s improved ?
Because he wins games with his Gold Glove and his legs too.
The notion of a platoon raises the question: Who is the other guy?
He’d bat lefthanded.
So… Beatty? Perhaps we could bring back Luke Raley…
Tonight’s winning lineup:
RF Mookie
1B Max
3B Justin
CF Cody
C Will
2B Chris
SS Gavin
LF AJ
P Walker
The same lineup two days in a row? This can’t be.
Somebody tell Doc that McKinstry is opening his eyes now and should be in there instead of AJ against an excellent righty.
Actually STB, Pollock’s splits don’t justify platooning to me. .244 vs Righty, .269 vs Lefties. Mac on way fewer at bats has reverse splits and is .259 vs Righty and .281 vs Lefties. Pollock never seems to get much love from Dodger fans. I don’t see him as a platoon guy despite the fact I like McKinstry.
That kind of reasoning is hard to argue with Phil. I think it’s just my ambivalence toward AJ and my real fandom for Zmac that was speaking. Logically, I can’t dispute your points.
Or Taylor plays SS instead of Lux, and McKinstry plays 2B.
Pollock’s OPS is at .729, Lux at .664. (McKinstry, with fewer chances, is at .764.)
If Lux doesn’t start rewarding the patience of Dodger brass and we fans,
he belongs on the bench. So far, the patience is revealing that Lux is far from the second coming of Ozzie Smith and he struggles mightily against lefties. (I wonder if this was true in the minors.)
Here’s hoping that Lux figures all this out and also that Seager rakes on his return. But against lefties, the best lineup might sit Lux, move team MVP Muncy to 2B and start Old Man Albert at 1B.
Since coming to the Dodger’s Albert’s OPS against lefties is a team-best 1.129, with one HR every nine ABs. (Damn that Tauchman!) Lux’s OPS against lefties is way down at .427, which ranks him below Urias and Kersh, and just a bit better than Buhler.
Never call him Walker. His name is Striker!
I just bought that 4th of July hat that Bear doesn’t like. I had to get the snapback as 7 1/2 wasn’t in stock and his orders are still impacted. I thought about buying it the day that Bear was complaining about it from the Dodgers site, but they pissed me off when all my World Series gear arrived months after I ordered them.
Mike at Sports Addict is a great guy, but he’s also an Angels fan. He said he’s going to tune into the Home Run Derby to watch Ohtani, but will probably boycott the game due to the hasty move. The price at his shop is around break even when considering that a single hat doesn’t qualify for free shipping on MLB.com. I’m sure I could have ordered my preferred pro-fit from the site, but I’d rather give my local shop my money. He also has a rewards program where you get a free hat after purchasing 10. Only 7 left!
Have you seen the jersey’s that they are going to wear in the game??? No longer wear your team jersey, but a jersey from your league that looks like a softball outfit. 4ht of July hat was just a little off for me. The all star game hat is not much better.
This is what Robber Manfred suggested:
Send in the clowns. Manfred is a disgrace and his leadership is nil.
Mike at the shop mentioned that the All-Star hats are crap this year. Manfred sucks. The Dodgers played the Yankees on “Color Block” day. All white and all black uniforms that looked like crap instead of having the two most iconic uniforms on the field at the same time. He’s a freaking moron!
Hey B&P, since it’s a scroll up aways, it’s likely you missed my response to your comment on my original post. I didn’t want you to miss it.
Here’s the chronology:
I posted about Mookie on first in the 5th, “Then with Muncy up it seemed like an ideal steal situation for a run and hit situation with Muncy’s eye. Muncy struck out on a low breaking ball that would have easily gotten Mookie a steal had he been going”
You replied with “I’m not sure Muncy is a great guy to hit and run with. You need a guy that makes a lot of contact out of the zone. With Muncy’s propensity to walk, go yard, or K, there isn’t much of a point to hit and run with him.”
You needed to read my original post more carefully before you critiqued it.
My reply to you was, “Muncy is actually perfect in that spot as I actually said “Run and Hit”, not Hit and Run where you want a contact guy at the plate. On a Run and Hit, the baserunner is attempting to steal and not dependent on contact. Muncy’s eye and ability to swing at strikes and take balls, is perfect for a Run and Hit. It gets the runner started to either steal, beat a double play ground ball or get to third easily on a base hit. Doesn’t matter as Doc doesn’t do either.”
You responded to something I didn’t say.
Thanks
I offer my apologies. I assumed you meant hit and run when I read it, but it didn’t make sense to me at the time when you mentioned taking balls. I dismissed it instead of analyzing it further. Probably because you don’t often see a hitter take a pitch in the zone on this team when a runner is going. Essentially making every stolen base attempt a run and hit.
I don’t know for sure, but from watching the games as religiously as I do, I don’t feel like they ever put on a straight steal sign. I get the impression that players go if they think they can steal a base, they go for it. Sometimes, but rarely it looks like they put on a hit and run. That’s my impression.
I also have the impression that you have a good eye for the details in the game and I appreciate your perspective. The next time you see a straight steal where the hitter is taking all the way, point it out to me and I’ll see if I saw the same thing.
Luis Yanel Diaz, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Level & Affiliate: Complex Level Age: 21 Org Rank: 2HM FV: 35
Line: 3-for-4, 2 HR, K
Notes
I could have chosen one of several hitters who had multi-hit efforts in the Dodgers/Angels ACL game last night, a contest that featured 27 combined hits and some verbal sparring between the clubs after a Dodgers player admired a home run. It’s been two years since most of these young kids have played meaningful baseball and there was a lot of intensity in this one. Diaz is tooled out but this is his fourth season (fifth year) stuck down in rookie ball and the track record for players who spend even three years down here is very troubling. In short, don’t be surprised if Diaz puts up huge numbers early this year, as he’s much older and more physically gifted than the average complex-level prospect and needs his approach tested by full-season pitching.
Heater Santiago has been disciplined 10 games. He is appealing. MLB did not check his glove, their decision is based on what the umpires saw. Evidently he had rosin inside his glove. Does anyone ‘now why this is not allowed?
They said he had a banned substance, his manager and he maintained it was nothing but resin. MLB took his glove and it was supposedly swabbed and they found what they said was a banned substance, but did not clarify what it was.
Here’s the link. Swabs May have been taken but a decision was made regardless of what was swabbed.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-hector-santiago-sticky-stuff-suspension-20210629-lbawqhflwbhqnfsobopctg5y4m-story.html
This bomb just dropped on Yahoo news, Bauer is under investigation for assault. Supposedly this happened earlier this year, and it is being investigated by the Pasadena Police department, and Bauer is cooperating with the authorities. It was first reported by TMZ. Bauer has denied the charges.
https://sports.yahoo.com/dodgers-trevor-bauer-accused-assault-woman-los-angeles-mlb-003347120.html
Brandon Lewis debuted with the Loons tonight. Left-hander Franklin De La Paz was also promoted from Rancho Cucamonga.
Justin Yurchak three more hits in four at bats.
From Rosenthal:
A looming Dodgers ‘problem’
The Dodgers soon might face one of their typical first-world problems — too many good players at a position of scarcity in the industry: catcher.
Will Smith is an offensive standout who has 33 homers and an .897 OPS in 156 career games, and under the current CBA he is not eligible for arbitration until 2023. Keibert Ruiz, who will be 23 in July, is three years younger than Smith, a switch-hitter with freaky contact skills who is tearing up Triple A. Then there is Austin Barnes, 31, a valued backup who has been with the club since 2015. Oh, and don’t forget Diego Cartaya, who is only 19, but at 6-foot-3 and 219 pounds might be the next Salvador Pérez.
Some Dodgers officials believe Ruiz ultimately might be even better than Smith, but the team must decide the best way to maximize the younger player’s value. Would it be in a job share with Smith, prompting a trade of Barnes? Or would it be through a trade of Ruiz for perhaps a top starting pitcher?
Another option, assuming the players and owners agree on a new CBA that includes a universal DH: Move Smith to third base, where he played 58 games in the minors, then make Justin Turner the primary DH and Ruiz and Barnes the primary catchers. That arrangement might last only one season, as Barnes is eligible for free agency after 2022. But with Turner’s defense at third in decline, it might be the best way for the Dodgers to get the most of what they have.
You are singing out of my Hymnbook! 😉
I could also see this in 2023:
C- Ruiz
1B – Cartaya
2B – Muncy
SS – Lux
3B – Smith
LF – Pages
CF- Bellinger
RF – Betts
Mark, where is Busch? The kid you said was the next Albert Pujols!
Put Muncy at DH and give Busch 2b.
Muncy is a much better fielder than Busch
Buehler really helps himself with his sacrifice bunts. If only the guy hitting behind him could deliver a clutch hit or two. Cody still not squaring up those center cut fastballs
Buehler breaks the streak! No hr’s no hr’s!!!!!!!!!!!! Thx Garvin!
Joseph Kelly. Where have you been?!!!!!!!! Best bullpen in baseball!!!!!!! Carrying that lame offense once again! Right Eric?
I feel better now 1.5 games behind as opposed to a possible 5.5 games behind.
Let’s make our move in July with the easy schedule and take first place.
Great!! Dodgers win!! U keep talking about easy schedule. The Dodgers play a hot Washington team on the road while the giants have 4 with the worst team in baseball Arizona. Arizona lost ketel to injury so they keep getting worse.
Kenley was just messin with us! Love that slider!!!!!!! Not a bad month for Mr Jansen!
That Belli catch . . .
What a rollercoaster the Baseball season is.
Best sport bar none.
Cody makes a hell of a difference defensively.