Dominance

Posted By on August 18, 2022

As the Dodgers attained their 80th victory of the season on August 15th, a full 114 games into the season, there is simply one word that describes their performance: “dominance.”  The kind of dominance that ranks up there with some of the greatest teams in baseball history.

They’ve done it with major injuries that would have decimated most teams.

Kershaw has had two IL stints, and who knows when he will return.  Team ace (at the start of the year), Walker Buehler is out for the season, and probably next, Dustin May still hasn’t yet appeared. Blake Treinen was only with them for a little over a month.  Daniel Hudson, a little more than that.  Yet, here they are with all this pitching depth, holding things up at a record-setting rate. 

Tyler Anderson and Tony Gonsolin account for 27 victories and only three losses.  Those are your number 4 and 5 starters. Julio Urias has turned things around after a slow start and is on the pace to win close to the 20 wins that he had last year.

The bullpen is ranked third in MLB in ERA.  Bullpen role players have stepped up above and beyond what was expected of them.  Phillips, Almonte, Vesia, Price, Ferguson, and Graterol, all have excelled.

Even the lackluster performances by Kimbrel in the closer role have not derailed this team. 

The pitching injuries and closer failure were enough to destroy the seasons of 90% of the teams out there.  But not the Dodgers.  This is a stacked bunch.  Andrew Freidman has masterfully constructed a 40-man roster that is deeper than any of Major League baseball.

The subpar years from key position player components like Muncy, Taylor, and Bellinger have not resulted in extended losing streaks.  Dave Robert’s patience with them appears to be paying off as they slowly come around.  Even if they don’t fully return to being the threats they were before, their defense has been stellar, and they have contributed in small ways.

It wasn’t until late June that this ball club began to streak.  They kind of snuck up on the baseball world with their dominance. Even with the occasional losing streak that had early on, they never dropped from contention.  At no time was post-season play qualification in doubt.  Now they are in a position where they could tank and play .250 baseball the remainder of the way, and they still would qualify for the playoffs.

There was a series in San Francisco where the ball club was swept.  Early on, there was a series loss in Arizona and a lackluster series against Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but aside from those couple of slip-ups, this season seems to be near perfect.  Their 12-1 August record speaks for itself.

With 48 games remaining (as of August 16), here is what their final record will look like if they play at the following clips:

.300    94-68

.350    97-65

.400   99-63

.450   102-60

.500   104-58

.550   106-56

.600   109-53

.650   111-51

.700   114-48

.750   116-46

.800   118-44

Setting the MLB record for victories is within reach, but it would require the Dodgers to continue to play at a record-setting pace.  Probably highly unlikely as they step off the accelerator in late September when the division and home field advantage is clinched.  At that point, the focus should be on the key components to remain healthy, sharp and as well rested as possible.  

It would be great for the Dodgers to be in a position in their final weeks of play to have their position player starters get an at-bat or two and then rest half the game.  At this point, this possibility seems highly likely.  I call it Fall Training Baseball.  Something they haven’t been able to practice for a few years due to extremely heated Division race chases.  all know that their downfall in last year’s post season play was caused by weariness brought on by a heated pennant race when they won 106 games and finished second.

Some additional Dodger bullets:

  • Crazy schedule makers have the Dodgers playing Miami and Milwaukee 14 times over the next two weeks. Milwaukee has been slumping, and Miami is out of contention.  Is it possible to beef up their record even more prior to September?
  • A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Lux, Freeman and Turner should all hit over .300 by season’s end and that Freeman would win the batting title.  Perhaps a bit optimistic on my part, but none are falling off the table at this point.  Admittedly, it’ll be tough for all those predictions to come to fruition, but I’m still hopeful.
  • More on schedule quirkiness:  This is the first season in MLB history (with the exception of 2001, when 9/11 canceled a week of September games) where the regular season won’t be finished until well into October.  If the Dodgers go all the way, they cannot win the World Series in October because Game 4 of the World Series is scheduled for November 1st.  If it goes seven games, the baseball season won’t conclude until November 5th. Throw in some inclement weather, and it pushes back more. Can we say Thanksgiving baseball? 
  • Just when you think Friedman couldn’t possibly pick up a quality acquisition off the scrap heap, he did so by shipping off Dodger utility man Zack McKinstry for right-handed reliever Chris Martin who is gelling at the right time.  I like this pickup.  Unfortunately for Martin, unless the injury bug hits the team hard, it will be difficult for him to make the post-season roster.
  • Dave Robert’s and Andrew Friedman’s most difficult decisions will be who to keep off the 26-man roster in the postseason.  There are so many deserving players on the cusp.  Winning the championship this year is a 40-man roster proposition, not 26.  So many have contributed valuably this year.
  • Most fans were in favor of MLB’s changes regarding September roster expansion, restricting it to a cap of 28 players.  Frankly, I am disappointed that we will have fewer prospects given the opportunity to show their stuff this year.  Cartaya, Stone, Miller, Outman, Vargas, and Reed all probably deserve an opportunity.   It looks like we will only get to add returning injured players but what exactly the front office brass is thinking is anyone’s guess.
  • Brusdar Graterol, Victor Gonzalez, and Tommy Kahnle should be given a shot to recover from injury in September as well.  There simply isn’t enough room for everyone.  Nor is there time (Recent reports from Dave Robert’s states that Danny Duffy is feeling discomfort after facing live hitters, so he is probably out).
  • The promotion of Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller to AAA Oklahoma City and Nick Nastrini to AA Tulsa is well deserved.  Emmett Sheehan probably deserved a call-up, too, but when you send someone up, another has to be released or sent down.  It is probably a numbers game.  Speaking of numbers, Sheehan’s stats are quite impressive (W-L 6-2, 2.80 ERA, 16 GP, 10 GS, 54.2 IP, 37 H, 22 R, 17 ER, 2 BB, 17 K’s, .187 BAA, 1.15 WHIP).

Future Dodgers Down on the Farm (MT)

  • OKC won 2-1
    • Mike Grove had his best outing, going five innings, allowing four hits (all singles), 0 Runs, 0 BBs, and striking out 10!
    • The Bazooka pitched one inning and allowed no Hits or Walks, striking out 1.
    • Jacob Amaya is hitting .209
  • Tulsa lost 9-5
    • Kyle Hurt went 3.2 innings, allowed 2 Hits, 1 ER, walked 5, and struck out 6.
    • Jordon Leasure gave up a walk-off Grand Slam – Game Over
  • Great Lakes lost 6-3
    • Diego Cartaya hit his 21st HR.
    • Jose Ramos was 2-4 and hit his 23rd HR, and now has 85 RBI. I look for a big jump from him next year.
  • Rancho Cucamonga won 9-6
    • Dalton Rushing hit a 3-run HR and walked. He is hitting .469 and will move rapidly through the system.
    • Yenier Fernandez (still 19) was 2-3 with his 8th HR
    • Ronan Kopp went three innings and allowed 2 Hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, and 3 Ks.

This article has 71 Comments

  1. I think this has nothing to do with today’s article, but it struck me that I read somewhere that even though SD has always been considered one of the best minor league farms, they currently have no player in the roster that has been created or coming from their minor leagues.

    They all came as free agents or trades, I find it interesting.

    Hopefully the high command of SD does not find out about this so that Preller continues to lead that disorganized organization!

    1. I know, it’s pretty crazy that some many highly touted prospects from their system fizzled out. They didn’t do much after getting trade away either, so Preller was probably right to dump them for more established players. They currently have the 4th best record in the league, so they at least have a good team to show for it. Just not as good as most thought. It would be so sweet to see them melt down and miss the playoffs entirely.

      But, even worse than the Padres, the Texas Rangers are a total mess. Fresh off of a big free agent offseason, they sit in 3rd place in the AL West with a record that has them 13 games under 500 leading to the firing of the Manager and General Manager. Seager must have some serious regrets right about now.

    2. That was the plan all along. To stack talent in the minors to eventually trade for stars to compete immediately. I don’t agree with it as their window is now but that was what Preller’s blueprint is.

  2. So yesterday’s Kimbrel still not impressive. I guess the law of averages say eventually you will not give up any runs. So sure he got all those saves when we are ahead by multiple runs and giving up 1 run each outing doesn’t hurt the team. I still think he should be left off playoff roster. One of my many ‘things’, is that I hate streaks. Especially going into playoffs. So happy that Caleb gave up that run. Didn’t we have a guy a few years back who didn’t give up a home run all regular season, until playoffs? I remember when my favorite NFL team had a kicker who didn’t miss a field goal all season. Only to help us lose by missing one in playoffs

    1. Even blind squirrels find a few nuts. For those of you who say a closer’s job is just to get saves, let me remind you that the more you play with fire, the more likely you are to get burned. You can’t be successful when you put one batter on each inning, let alone two. Last night changed nothing for me.

    2. I thought Kimbrel’s stuff definitely looked better than it has.

      Would still love to see other options for the final out role.

    3. Yes we did. Brandon Morrow. But Morrow gave up his homers in one inning in Game 5 of the World Series. Other than that, he was unhittable. He pitched in all seven games. He gave up no homers in the playoffs. Jansen melted down twice. Morrow was the most reliable reliever in that series. I give Kimbrel a star for last night. He could just as easily let it rattle him after the walk, on a very close pitch by the way. The hit was on a very good pitch and he barely got wood on the ball. His confidence definitely got a boost.

    4. I’m sorry to all super
      Positive fans.There is no way in hel kimbrell is on my playoff roster.I expect to lose every time he takes the mound.If we were not paying him so much DR would not keep putting him out there in such situations.

      1. 87% save rate. There are teams that would kill to have that kind of success from their closer. Yeah, he makes it a little hard to watch sometimes, but he is what you have until they either decide he can’t or someone else steps up. And until Trienen comes back, there is no one on the roster except Julio who has ever closed.

        1. Well he sure as crap would not be 87 per cent if we did not have so many 2 and 3 run leads.Now I don’t know that for sure,somebody will find out.But it seems that way.I am not a big fan of his.

          1. A clean inning from Kimbrel sure would be nice. And I mean a really clean one, with Ks and weak contact. The Brewers’ Devin Williams shut down today’s game with 3 Ks. That’s like prime Kenley or Gagne on PEDs.
            Speaking to today’s games. here’s a few takeaways…..
            –The HR ball returns for Heaney. Is this just a blip? I hope he stays healthy and we get a better read in the next few outings of what he can offer in October. Fingers crossed.
            — I trust this was just a rest day for Mookie. But I wish Roberts had been a little more creative with the batting order, and slotted Lux into the No. 2 spot. He has the second-best OBP on the team, after Freddie, and I think top ten in the league. (Great play robbed him of a HR, but as a consolation it raised Lux’s league lead in triples to 7.)
            –Belli’s “metal reset” resulted in three more Ks. Can’t he he just put the damn ball in play? He has the team’s worst OBP at .259. Max has risen–a walk continues his on-base streak–but Belli’s struggles deepen. With Taylor and Trayce aboard, should Belli become a platoon guy? (Last time I checked, his splits weren’t dramatic–pretty bad from both sides.)

          2. That is quite obvious. I totally get it. But the thing is this, we can gripe and complain about the guy all we want, and it is not going to change a thing. I am pretty sure, my opinion, your opinion, and most fan’s opinions do not matter one damn bit to Roberts or anyone else who is in a better position than we are to evaluate the player. It is also true that the guy has not had as many save opportunities as most closers like to have. The Dodgers have played 117 games. Kimbrel has appeared in 45 of them. He has 4 blown saves and 5 losses. He also has 3 wins. He would probably like to see more action than what he is seeing. Roberts has been forced to use him with big leads because the chances with slim leads has just not been there that often. Up until he saved yesterday’s one run win, only 4 of his previous 24 chances were with one run and he blew them all. Not the best thing for your closer to be doing. But here is another rub. Who are you going to choose who is active on the 26-man roster right now to replace him with? None of the pitchers on the present 26-man roster have any closer experience whatsoever. So, Roberts is kind of between the rock and the hard place when it comes to choices. The staff is set up so that each pitcher has a pretty good idea when they will be called on. Until Trienen is activated, most likely in a week or two or maybe even three, he really has no choice but to use the guy with 394 career saves.

        2. Duke, we all know about Belli’s struggles at the plate. Roberts was going to give him the rest of the series off, He played because he was 2-6 in his previous at bats against Burnes with a homer being one of the hits. He is going to play simply because his glove makes a difference and they can cover his bat. They wanted someone in the middle of the lineup after Muncy who at least gets on base. Lux was the obvious choice. Burnes is a tough customer no matter what. Thompson is a very good defender who has reverse splits right now which in a way causes a log jam. If he were crushing it against lefty’s, he would be in there a lot more. Gallo is going to play because of the lightning in his bat when he does connect. But they are weakest when they have Gallo, Belli and Barnes in the lineup at the same time. Taylor is a K machine. He and Belli are neck and neck leading the team in K’s. Although he is good defensively, this season with the injuries, Taylor is not the same clutch guy he was last season.

  3. If not for Barnes and Muncy providing all the offense the pitching would of been for not. Two runs on two swings of the bat are not gonna make it moving forward. But the offense will get back on track because they’re too good to slump any length of time. Till then (hopefully tonight) it sure is nice of Barns and Muncy to be such die-hards. Sure Dodgers could coast but they should avoid future stress and maybe relax with more of a lead without the needed save. I love daytime games as they remind me of the old days but this start at 11:00 this morning will cause me to miss at least a portion of the game. As Yogi had said “it gets late early out here”.

    1. The Brewers have very good pitching. This will be how the playoff games will be for the most part so buckle up.

  4. Have to wonder if the leash on Bellinger is getting shorter and shorter. After a closed door meeting with Bellinger, Doc gives him a two game re-set. I think they’ve tried that before with Cody only to see modest improvement and then a regression to some very poor AB’s with a very high K rate.

    Will they offer him arbitration or set him free in the off-season? Is Cody a “head case” or was his MVP season an aberration and this is the offensive player he always was? We’ve heard he works hard to get it right, but is he responsive to coaching? Is he still injured?

    I love his defensive game and his speed on the base paths, but his AB’s are often hard to watch where we see a feeble swing that doesn’t resemble anything close to a MLB AB. Perhaps the FO sets him free and uses the saved $17 million AAV towards a long-term deal for TT. For Doc to be so outright with the “re-set” but yet vague and ambiguous with other roster moves might lead me to believe there is a growing frustration with Cody’s game and the Gallo acquisition might have also been designed to kick Cody in the pants a bit. Improve or sit?

    1. There is ZERO chance Cody doesn’t get offered arbitration. What happened in the last game Cody played was that he was very ineffective and in his final AB, he did not run out a ground ball out of frustration. I think the benching was in response to his internal struggles, not disciplinary. It wears on us, but it really wears on Cody.

      1. I agree. Outman isn’t ready enough to just hand him the job, I don’t see them going into free agency to try to improve Center Field. One more year of Belli isn’t going to make or break the payroll next year. They’ll be over the cap one more year before they reset.

        I think they’ll try to bring Trea back, but he’s got to want to stay.

        Busch, Vargas and Outman are close, but they’ll probably have to ride the plane for a year before they trust them with an every day job. Maybe Martin gets a shot in the Outfield next year.

        Looking out even further, I don’t think it’s a done deal that Urias and Walker will remain in blue. Urias probably has a better shot. I just think he’s the kind of guy that will take a little less to stay in Blue.

        Miller, Pepiot and Stone are getting ready to join the rotation and they haven’t completely given up on Jackson or Grove yet. Nastrini and Bruns follow with Kopp and Frasso coming on strong.

        It’s crazy how loaded the farm is, especially with pitching.

  5. I never thought I’d see David Price’s name and excel in the same sentence this late in the year! He’s persevered through some tough times as a Dodger. I’m happy for him. Great ending to a fantastic career!

  6. MILWAUKEE — Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner is known for his smooth slides. Longtime Dodger Talk host David Vassegh will also be known for his slide, but not for the same reasons.

    After a decade of coming to American Family Field, Vassegh was finally invited to slide down Bernie’s Chalet on Wednesday. It was all he talked about for about 24 hours.

    Vassegh’s first slide down was a successful one. He braced for impact correctly, going feet first against the wall. He wasn’t so lucky in his second slide down. Vassegh wasn’t able to get his feet in position, crashing into the wall at full speed.

    He rolled around in pain for about 30 seconds, though given his personality, a party of about a dozen people thought he was playing up the collision. Turns out, after a quick trip to the emergency room, Vassegh suffered two fractures in his right wrist and six cracked ribs.

    Even while in serious pain, Vassegh was able to battle through his injury like a true warrior. Before going to the hospital, Vassegh interviewed Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who assured Vassegh that his slide was going to give everyone in the organization plenty of jokes moving forward.

  7. Beat on Kimbrel when he blows one, give him a little credit for coming back and getting the save last night. Stuff looked good to me.

    Look I know he’s not been great.

    But the Dodgers are better if he is the closer and I will pull for him….

    1. Maybe you were watching a different game than me. When you put two runners on in the 9th inning, you are going to get burned a high percentage of the time. Kimbrel has a WHIP of 1.56 – that means he puts 1.56 batters on base every inning!

      Show me a team with that kind of closer, and I will generally show you a losing team.

      Kenley Jansen is 124th among all relievers with a 1.04 WHIP, and the league hits .191 against Kenley (they hit .272 against Kimbrel).

      Craig Kimbrel is 428th in MLB in WHIP

      Let that sink in.

      The only way someone can stick up for Kimbrel is that you must be related to him… and I can respect that.

      1. Did you see the “single” Mark??

        Not related to Craig just a Dodger fan and I’m not going to beat on a guy just to beat on a guy.

        Ill pull for him, sorry that’s just the way I am.

        Also the Kenley Jansen ship has sailed. Loved what he did for us, but he was bad in the 17 series and he wasn’t closing for us in 20….

        Ill pull for Kimbrel until he is not on the team.

      2. I pointed out his horrible WHIP after he blew the save on Tuesday and he follows that up with another tight rope act giving up a walk and single.
        If he does not cut down on his WhIP he can not be the closer in the postseason.
        It would spell doom for the Dodgers for sure.

        Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2. Matt, of course the Dodgers are a better team if Kimbrel is successful closing out games. And as fans we are all pulling for him to do so. The fact is that he stinks right now at doing so. Thus the criticism. Kimbrel’s stuff isn’t the issue. It’s his command. Philjones mentioned the other day that Kimbrel isn’t missing by an inch or two, but by feet. Granted he has more than his share of bad calls from the HP ump. Maybe, that’s because he has so much trouble hitting the target set up by his catcher. Sure, he saved the game last night, but he allowed a hit and walked a batter. I believe it was the first time he saved a game protecting a one run lead in nine chances. And that’s the issue. Five clean innings in 45 appearances. FIVE! I cannot recall the last time he had a 1-2-3 inning. Right now, not acceptable.

      Bottom line is as a fan nothing would make me more encouraged or excited than to see Kimbrel do his job. If he did then you have Phillips, Treinen, Graterol, Ferguson, and possibly May available in the BP for the postseason. Add Vesia, Price, and possibly Martin to that staff I would be confident that they would dominate any opponent.

  8. I see the Lakers extended LA-Baby for two more years at 48 mil a year. That frees up a lot of time over the next couple years.

    1. lol – I totally agree. I’ve hardly watched them since he came over. I wish they would trade his ass and go with Westbrook and AD instead.

      1. What a snooze fest and I really don’t care if Westbrook is here again.

        And we bag on Padres for shipping young talent?

  9. The single last night was a 72 mph oppo flare. He’s been bitten by a lot of those this year. His command looked better last night. If he stops trying to throw his fastball as hard as he can and tries to locate better he could be a positive force going forward. I’m not giving up on him just yet!

      1. No, here’s the Voice of Reason:
        https://theathletic.com/3518265/2022/08/17/craig-kimbrel-dodgers-pitching/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983

        The Dodgers are being patient with Craig Kimbrel but can’t afford to be come October

        The Dodgers have already seen enough from a former MVP to opt for a reset. Now, they’re grappling with the fact that their 300-career-save closer might be the weak link in their bullpen and a major question mark for October as they already struggle to cobble together enough arms.

        They plugged one potential Hall of Fame closer in for another this spring, allowing Kenley Jansen to walk in free agency and using financial maneuvering to add Craig Kimbrel to their roster and get rid of a year of AJ Pollock’s salary. The results, at least from their new closer, have been a season-long test of how much an otherwise historically elite club can sustain having a leaky ninth inning.

        The Dodgers are sticking with Kimbrel in the closer role for now. But how long can it last once that expansive division lead is reset come Oct. 11?

        The running themes have been alarming. His 4.57 ERA would be his highest over a full season in his career. He’s worked a clean inning in just eight of his 44 appearances this season. Of the 20 saves he has been able to complete, none have come as Kimbrel inherited just a one-run lead.

        “With his track record, he’s earned the right to get a longer look,” manager Dave Roberts said, a day after Kimbrel blew his fourth save of the season on Victor Caratini’s bases-loaded 11th-inning single. “Absolutely, I have no problem with that. But as we get into September, the best pitchers are gonna pitch. That’s just the way it has to be and I think that’s the only right way you manage it.”

        So the Dodgers have stuck with their 34-year-old closer, whose fastball has lost half a tick and gotten crushed and whose command has evaded him all year long.

        First, his breaking ball command was off. His fastball command was spotty. The directional state of his mechanics fell out of whack. But even as he’s worked through each of the holes that have popped up, the results haven’t allowed him to come up for air.

        That’s just part of the article.

  10. UPDATE ABOVE.

    I did not have time to post the Minor League Notes this AM.

    It’s up now.

        1. Only 9 Managers in MLB history have managed four 100+ win teams their entire careers and they are ALL in the HOF. Doc is about to make it 10 in only 7 years of Managing. He isn’t going anywhere for a while so get used to it and there is very good chance he will be in the hall as well. He is an ELITE Manager. All I hear is people bitching about him…who would you replace him with or have you thought that far ahead?

          1. People who brand Doc a bad manager, say a whole lot more about themselves than they do about him.

            It’s not a tenuous argument. It’s an absurd argument!

  13. As a long time critic of Cody Bellinger in the past I don’t understand this out of nowhere benching by Roberts (FO?). What sticks out in my mind recently is that Cody hit two HR’s and was having good contact success. And, as usual playing incredible GG caliber defense and using his speed on the base paths. In the first four of his last seven games he hit .357 with a 1.285 OPS including three HRs. Then, he has a three quiet games where he hit .083 and struckout 5 times in 12 ABs. And for that he’s on the bench for some R&R. It seemed kind of a knee jerk reaction. What gives? Haven’t we all watched Max Muncy flounder for more than half a season without any consideration for a benching? More for a mental break than a physical one. Or, watching CT3 strikeout time after time while waiting for him to hit a HR every 40 ABs. There must be something going on in the background that we aren’t aware. It doesn’t make sense to me. He should be out of the doghouse soon.
    Carry on

    1. I don’t think he is in the Dodgers Doghouse.

      He’s in his own dog pound, and they felt he needed a break. They are trying everything…

    2. Yeah, it does seem odd. But, those last couple of AB’s were probably the worst swings he’s taken all year. He looks confused. Work on the swing in the cages for a couple of days. What else can you do? There’s a big enough lead to let someone else play CF in the interim.

  14. Well, that wasn’t long. Belli is back in the lineup today, Betts gets a day off with Gallo in right and Taylor in LF against a really tough righty in Corbin Burns.

    The rest of the usual suspects are in the lineup…

  15. 2:10 PM ET

    Dodgers (81-35)
    Brewers (62-54)

    SP Andrew Heaney L
    1-0 1.16 ERA 31IP 42K 10BB
    SP Corbin Burnes R
    8-5 2.39 ERA 143IP 181K 38BB

    Confirmed Lineup
    SS Trea Turner R
    1B F. Freeman L
    C Will Smith R
    DH Max Muncy L
    3B J. Turner R
    2B Gavin Lux L
    RF Joey Gallo L
    LF Chris Taylor R
    CF C. Bellinger L

    In Domed Stadium

  16. Charles Robinson·NFL columnist
    Thu, August 18, 2022 at 12:01 PM
    Deshaun Watson will serve an 11-game suspension and pay a $5 million fine for multiple violations of the league’s personal conduct policy in what amounts to one of the most significant penalties in NFL history, sources have confirmed to Yahoo Sports.

    The Cleveland Browns quarterback and the NFL have settled his disciplinary case prior to a final ruling by arbitrator Peter C. Harvey, following an agreement between the two sides on Thursday. The fine is the steepest ever levied against an NFL player.

    1. Thought he’d get a year, but it feels like the Bauer suspension ONLY in that it appears the NFL took into account how Watson would react legally and set a length accordingly.

  17. From Trea Turner regarding free agency:

    From multiple organizations, you’d want to know what they expect or where it’s going or what they’re trying to do — kind of a vision,” Turner told Wittenmyer. “Whatever that vision is it is. But I think that’s mandatory. You need to know how the next few years look and how that pertains to you and your family and your career. It’s definitely a factor in picking a team.”

  19. Anyone seen Miller in person?
    Odds he makes playoff roster?

    He is the flava of the week in Podcast world. Trevor Plouffe, in particular, is all in on BM.

    1. He has no shot of making the playoff roster. He has little shot of even being on the roster at all this year. With so many guys coming off of the IL, he won’t be seen until next spring. Bellinger, 3 more K’s today, Taylor 2 more. And Muncy goes over 100 for the season with 2 whiffs. Thompson should start against RHP. He is hitting them better than Bellinger. Guess the two days off did not help at all.

    2. I have not seen Miller in person, but I have watched him on TV probably close to 20 times.

      He pitched outstanding against the Angels in the last game of Spring Training.

      I have always felt he would be a weapon in the bullpen THIS season. I still think that, but Friedman does not generally do that.

      OTOH, he has never had Bobby Miller.

      Gavin Stone ain’t far off either.

      1. Yes, looked good agst Angels but, my gripe here, we only get the ‘highlights.’ Yet to find a full start – all the hits, misses.

        D’s on a run & bandwagon is getting crowded. The Pod crews sound like they’re watching same clips as everyone else.

        Time for field trip for someone.

  21. I wonder what the Dodger’s record in getaway games is?
    I’m thinking it’s poor.

    Watching Cody hit is very difficult at the moment.

    I think it’s coming to the end game for him.

  22. That wasn’t even fair.

    Williams vs. Gallo, Taylor, and Bellinger…

    Williams: Now that is a closer!

  23. Devon Williams showed us what a closer is supposed to look like and it don’t look like Kimbrel or Kenley.

  24. If it were me.. and it’s not: I would bring up Stone and Miller and let them see what they can do. They need to be challenged, in my opinion.

  25. You can have Bellinger in the Dodgers’ lineup.

    You can have Taylor in the Dodgers’ lineup.

    You can have Gallon is the Dodgers’ lineup.

    … but you can’t have all three.

    Taylor and Gallo are liabilities.

    Even if he doesn’t hit, Belli is an asset.

    Strikeout %:

    Bellinger 30%
    Taylor 40%
    Gallo 46%

    Unless a miracle happens, Gallo will not be on the playoff roster, and CT3 is playing his way off.
    Cody Stays.

    Kevin Pillar? Doubtful he will be ready.

      1. I’d trust Taylor to come thru in a big moment AND play good defense.

        Gallo isn’t needed. Belly might as well bat 9th as we’ll need his defense (consider him to be a pitcher who hits like in the old days)

      2. Ya just don’t get it. Bellinger is going nowhere. Especially come the post season. Thompson is a very good outfielder, quite athletic. Bellinger is an ELITE outfielder. And they need that kind of defense come playoff time.

    2. I’ll see your whiff stats and raise you with OBP:
      Taylor .315
      Belli .259
      And also with OPS:
      Taylor .723
      Belli .654
      That’s not even close.
      FWIW, Gallo’s OBP is at .333 with the Dodgers, and .287 for the season.
      All considered, I’d say Taylor is more valuable than Belli because (a) he’s better with the bat and (b) versatility. Belli’s defense is first-rate, but Trayce and Taylor are excellent outfielders. Gallo too.

  26. Did the Great Bellinger re-set work? An 0-4 performance with 3 K’s……… err not yet. How much longer do we say but he plays great defense and runs the bases well? Dude is a former shell of himself at the plate and I’m thinking his Dodger days are short lived after 2022. Just a WAG, but we’ll see.

    1. Can you really tell after just one game, and against a pretty good pitching staff. Also, that home plate ump was pretty all over the place with his strike zone. First time he was called out on strikes, that was a ball. It was at least 4 inches off the outside of the plate. Brewers got those calls. Same kind of pitch from Heaney just prior to McCutcheon’s second homer was called a ball, and the batter walked. Umpiring this season has been borderline unbearable.

      1. Gotta feel for a down and slumping player to get gut punched with horrible calls like Belli did. I actually felt sorry for BELLI.

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