Just a few days ago, the Dodgers were 5-2, and now three games and 29 runs given up later, they sit at 5-5 – all of the losses coming at the hands of the Diamondbacks, who may or may not be a .500 club. Regardless of what their ultimate record may be, they’re young and exciting… and dangerous. Predictably and right upon cue, Dodger fans are moaning and groaning and lamenting how bad this team is. Personally, I cannot remember a Dodger pitching staff giving up 29 runs in a weekend. I’m sure it has happened – I just can’t remember it. If this is Rock Bottom, then I’m happy. Things could be so much worse.
The World Champion Astros are 4-6, while the runners-up are 3-6. The TB Rays are 9-0, and the Milwaukee Brewers are 7-2. No one is printing the tickets. The Dodgers are ten games into the season, and some fans are throwing in the towel. Unless the team is 0-10, then the only fans who are giving up on the season are the ones who (a) want to drive themselves crazy; or (b) are already crazy! Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail, and you will be neither.
There is reason to believe that things will turn around. You can be a glass-half-full person and talk about how bad David Peralta, Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas, Max Muncy, and Austin Barnes are, or you could be a glass-half-full person and talk about how the two rookies are doing well after ten games, both offensively and defensively, how JDM is starting to hit like he is supposed to, or how Jason Heyward is raising some eyebrows. A glass-half-empty person will talk about how suddenly Ferguson, Jackson, Thor, Bazooka, Almonte, Vesia, and Grove all have ERA’s of 4.5 to 14.73, while a glass-half-full person will talk about how Shelby Miller has pitched five scoreless innings or how Evan Phillips has been nails, and that May, Urias, and Bickford have all looked very good.
The truth is, the glass is not half full or half empty. The glass is refillable, and the Dodgers can refill it at any time, whether that be from the Minors, such as replacing Mike Grove with Gavin Stone or Ryan Pepiot (not sure where he is in recovering from his injury) or trading for another player or two with their prospect collateral in a month or two. The only thing imminent is that Grove might not get another start (or he may). It’s still very early, and if this is “rock bottom,” we are indeed fortunate. For the record, I am not saying it is.
The minor league shuttle for pitchers could start up as early as today. At the end of Spring Training, I wondered aloud if Yency Almonte had an injury, and I still am not convinced. Yency is out of options, but Vesia isn’t. Yency could be an IL candidate. There is not a shortage of other candidatesBryan Hudson has struck out 10 in 5 IP. Wander Suero has a 1.80 ERA, while Nick Robertson has a 1.50 and V-Gon sits at 2.45. Jake Reed, Jimmy Nelson, and Daniel Hudson could be ready soon. Of course, Tony Gonsolin is due back at any time. These are all MLB arms, and they will likely get untracked.
Thor worries me the most, but the fact is: they could replace him with Gavin Stone and not miss a beat. A few days ago, many were saying that Jason Heyward was done. Hitting .300 with 3 HR, they are no longer saying that. Yes, it is a small sampling – which is exactly the point! Now, we are hearing that Max Muncy is a boat anchor and that he has never been able to play 3B. Over eight seasons, Max has started 173 games at 3B. How would you know? 3B has always been an afterthought for him. Let him focus on it for a couple of months, and you might feel differently. The Dodgers re-did their infield and the weather prevented it from really “setting.” Of course, if you don’t have your feet, you don’t have much, but only Phil Jones has picked up on that.
I am going to submit that if you were good enough to look at a player and say they are finished or just ready to get going, it would be something that you pull out of where the sun doesn’t shine. You aren’t that good – oh, you may think you are, but I’ll bet no one is paying you for your analysis. So, you make a guess based on what you are seeing or even think you are seeing. Sometimes we can see the same thing and have a different opinion. It’s all a matter of perspective and bias!
Muncy, Peralta, Taylor, Thompson, and others will not have the latitude that Cody Bellinger did last year. This runway is shorter…much shorter. The next 30 to 40 games will write the story, but no one knows what the story is, after just ten games. This may be rock bottom, but then again, maybe it’s not!
Who thinks Milwaukee is trading any pitchers or their SS right about now? Bryan Reynolds would be an idiot to sign for what Pittsburgh is offering. Freddie Freeman has only driven in two runs – do you think that is going to continue? There is so much left to figure out. We just have to watch and learn.
Winning the division is what we all want, but it’s clear by last year’s post season performance getting to the post season tournament is what must be accomplished. Last year the Phillies represented the NL from a wildcard spot and an 87-75 regular season record.
The Dodgers do indeed have an oddly constructed roster with Peralta and Heyward seemingly to be redundant players. Muncy has to start hunting fastballs to drive (especially ones that are center-cut) instead of BBs. The loss of Lux and his speed has impacted team play. Rojas seems to be a good team leader, great glove with a so-so bat. His relief role would have played well, but his starting gig on this team maybe not so much.
Is Betts a superstar? He is paid like one, but I would suggest like MT has said in previous posts, that he is not. Would like some more power from Vargas and Outman seems to be a real MLB player. Grove is not ready and should be replaced by someone before his next start. When will Gonsolin be ready? Can Syndergaard learn to put hitters away with some off speed stuff because his 92 mph straight FB looks very hittable.
Help is on the way for an under performing BP with the likes of Nelson, Reyes, Freyserian and Hudson. Patience Dodger fans…….. the Dodgers will be OK.
Many fans are saying this or that, it’s a small sample, certain players just need more time, naysayers are morons, it’s just my opinion, etc. Sounds like a repetitive theme in these articles.
was a bad last 3 games, we’ll play better….162 this thing is a grind….enjoy the ride.
I don’t believe it’s a half empty glass to predict a player will likely produce numbers similar to how the back of his baseball card reads. In 14 years Jason Heyward has a career OPS+ of 101. He’s been an All Star once, and that was 14 years ago. David Peralta has decent numbers over his career, but most of his success has come against RHP. He OPS’s .664 against LHP. We have 2 rookies in the starting lineup this year, two more in the rotation, and 2 veterans who are clearly struggling. It’s probably going to take some time to get this offense to gel.
That said, we just lost 3 out of 4 while scoring 22 runs. That suggests to me we have pitching issues. And yes, the dbacks look like an exciting club, but they just gave up 22 runs in 4 games. How bad is that you may ask? Well, 5.5 RPG last year would have been dead last in MLB.
Small sample, yes. But make no mistake, this team has some potential long term issues. They look kinda like a team marking time while preparing for future moves. (for those who may not know what “mark time” is, it’s marching in place. You march without going anywhere). And to think help is coming from the minors is, in my opinion, naive. One at a time is typical. We’ve already seen 4
This is going to be an interesting 4 months.
I like what you said Badger.
Me too. Goot post Badger.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heyward never had his swing overhauled before. So far, it looks promising. There is no other reference point.
The Dodgers got David Peralta to only hit against RHP… much like Joc. We know FOR SURE that Peralta has a .293 BA and a .349 OB% against RHP, including an .832 OPS.
I think that CT3 and Peralta, and Muncy will all bounce back, but if they don’t, then there is Plan B.
It’s a long season. Vargas is the real deal. I hope that Outman is too. He is looking the role.
I am not sold on Trayce, but I am a fan.
If Peralta Muncy and CT3 can get it together, that will go a long way.
Will Eddys Leonard make his way up in 2023? Busch?
There’s some good arguments made here on both sides of the issue by Mark, Badger, and others but it seems to me a lot of the naysayers were complaining about the Dodgers last year, about their bullpen, fragile, pitching, and weak outfield. We still ended up winning 111 games.
Sometimes a team has your number, remember Pittsburgh last year?
Losing Lux sucked.
He was the young dynamic bridge between the rookies and the veterans.
Will Smith says hello…..
In 2019, the Nationals were 12-17 on the first day of May. What was the result? World Championship!
In 2020, the Dodgers led wire-to-wire… and played an extra playoff series. What was the result? World Championship!
In 2021, the Barves were 4-8 after 12 games and spent over half the season under .500. What was the result? World Championship!
The 2022 Astros were 6-8 after 14 games. What was the result? World Championship!
You just never know. NO, YOU REALLY DON’T!
Every year, when the Dodgers hit a bad streak, everyone loses their minds, and I say “Patience!” This year is no different… except some of you should know better by now.
And at 5-2 everyone was crowning us……
Win today….
I doubt that it will be the last 3 game losing streak they have.
Probably not, id like to keep that to a minimum though.
I doubt this is rock bottom, obviously repeating 111 wins wasn’t going to happen.
I also doubt the team ends up out of the playoffs.
Face the fact Dodgers are not very good.
Dodgers may not make the playoffs. Team does not look very good.
Neither is anyone else in their division. They have as good of a chance as any other team,
It the end of the world! But, my take on this weekend is a little different. I was thoroughly disappointed watching the d-backs go with pitches to the opposite fields, swinging aggressively on first pitches, just plummel our pitchers ! It’s only 3 games I know. But their approach at the plate was outstanding. We did score enough runs to win all 3 games, but when is the last time you saw a dodger team get demoralized like that? It was embarrassing. Hopefully it was one of those freaky weekend s. Two strikes, base hit time and time again. Freddie looked MVP ish, we’ll come back!
I agree that the Dodgers haven’t played nearly enough games to know anything yet, but there are some long-term trends that may give hints about the future:
1 – David Peralta had one season where he hit more than 17 HR. In a 10 year career, he averages 12 HR. Last year he had an OPS of .731. He’s been a pretty good LF against RHP, but he’s now 35. There’s a reason that he wasn’t signed until 2/16. I don’t have high hopes for him.
2 – Max Muncy had an OPS of .713 and K’d 141 times in 565 PA (25%). This year he has an OPS of .505 and a K rate of 39% (he’s leading the league in Ks – 16 in 41 AB). What’s really troubling is the number of center cut fastballs that he takes early in the count. Last year, he had a .955 FA, this year it’s .923 with the rest of his defensive metrics also far below average. Trends aren’t good.
3 – Chris Taylor – Last year’s OPS was .677 and 160 K in 454 PA (35% K rate). This year he has a .560 OPS with a K rate of 37.5%. At least he can catch the ball.
4 – Miguel Rojas has one season with an OPS over .736. It was .713 in 2021, .605 last year, and .387 this year. At least he can catch the ball. Trends aren’t good.
5 – Michael Grove – last year in 9 appearances, he had an ERA of 6.63 and a WHIP of 1.609. This year the numbers are 14.73 and 2.318. Isn’t it time to try someone else?
6 – Alex Vesia – Sports Illustrated reported that he had the longest time between pitches of any pitcher on the Dodgers’ staff in 2022 (25 seconds). He looks to me like he hasn’t made the pitch clock adjustment yet.
7 – Yency Almonte – He was not healthy during Spring Training. Has he pitched like he’s healthy so far this year?
The Dodgers will be better than they’ve played thus far in 2023, but I’m not convinced that they are a team that will win more than 90 games. They look slow – too many old guys. Last in MLB in SB with 1 in 10 games (D-backs leading the league with 17). They have struck out 90 times in 10 games (7th in MLB). They have walked 58 times (1st). Makes you wonder if they got the memo about the rule changes?
Good post Dodgerrick.
Yes, it is early but I am not surprised what we are seeing . This is a team that I expected a tad above .500, around 90 wins as currently constructed.
Team will go as far as the pitching will take them and the last three days the pitching was abysmal. Starting and relieving . As Mark wrote who can remember the Dodgers giving up 29 runs over the weekend ?
Yes, the Dodgers have the resources to improve the current roster but as it is constructed right now what you see is what you will get. Around .500 and needing very good pitching to get into postseason play.
So no, the sky is not falling and it is not rock bottom, just a team around .500. Lets see how they do against the better teams . I would not be surprised if they are below .500 after this week.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are a few things that you may not be aware of.
1. On Peralta, you are looking at his number when he was a regular and played against LH and RH pitching. The Dodgers got him to be a poor man’s Joc Pederson. He was traded last year and had 12 HR at that time. He then suffered a back injury and did not hit another one. He had surgery in the offseason, and the reason he was not signed was he needed to be able to pass a physical. He is now healthy and in a different role, so I think he may have a bounce-back year.
I pretty much agree with the rest… It’s just 10 games, so there is that.
Peralta is a player who will not be able to help the Dodgers. He is more or less a washed up player and will most likely be released at some point during the season.
Really way too early to make a statement like that.
The best Dodgers news in recent days has come from the farm system, especially from pitchers like Frasso, Sheehan, River Ryan and Jordan Leasure. Victor Gonzales also had a good outing.
Groves got hit, but Gonsolin and Pepiot should be back soon–and perhaps we’ll see Gavin Stone by midseason.
The depth can help on the field and in trades as well. Bryan Reynolds is still an obvious target. But who else?
This doesn’t feel like rock bottom to me, especially since Outman and Vargas are playing well. But it doesn’t feel great either. Credit to the Serpientes for emphasizing speed precisely when the rules are changed to emphasize speed as well.
Additional numbers – Dodgers are 25th hitting RISP. They are 25th in “late and close” batting. They are 9th with 70 LOB in 10 games.
Their pitching has a team WHIP of 1.70 in “late and close” pitching and a BAA of .394 (third from the bottom).
Hard to win if you don’t knock runners in or hold tight leads.
News From Internet:
Baseball America ($$$$$) looks at 50 prospects that MLB scouts cited.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/50-prospects-standing-out-to-scouts-in-2023-spring-training/
“The biggest takeawy from the calls (with scouts) is that the Dodgers have a fountain of a farm system that spits out talented prospects with the regularity and ferocity of old Faithful”
Martinus, Sam Munoz, Chris Campos, Wrobleski, Jordan Leasure and Liranzo ALL make the list.
Ben Clemens on steals for this season, Dodgers get a couple of mentions:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-early-returns-on-steals-are-overwhelming/
Jay Jaffe chat:
Steve: Best for this year…Grove, Dodd, or Elder?
Jay Jaffe: I was impressed with what I saw of Michael Grove last night, but I’ll go with Dodd, entirely based on Eric Longenhagen’s prospect grade. he’s a 50 FV via what Eric ran last week (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-starters-pistol-update-to-the-top-100-pr…) whereas the other two are 40+ guys.
Marko from Tropoja: IMO, Kershaw and Trout were surefire Hall of Famers on opening day of their tenth seasons. Who, if anyone, could be the next person on that list? Mookie (2023 is his tenth season)? Ohtani? Soto?
Jay Jaffe: Mookie is 15th in JAWS (56.2/50.4/53.3), between Gwynn and Evans, ahead of Suzuki, Winfield, and Guerrero already, so I’d call him sure-fire. Once Ohtani gets to 10 years (2027), he’ll have my vote if he’s still able to do both roles competently. Soto is much further off, with only two seasons of 5.0 WAR or better. Pretty normal for a guy who’s in his age-24 season.
Mr. Burrito: Jay — Love your work. Dumb question: The Dodgers are swapping out vets for rookies/reclamation projects off of one of the better regular season teams of all time. Is there any historical precedence for this? Has there been a team that won anything close to 111 games and, in the next season, tossed out two SPs and three regular position players? If so, how’d that go?
Jay Jaffe: I don’t think there’s any recent precedent for this at all. Seems like an A’s level teardown but I’d have to look more closely to see how much turnover there was… Maybe the 1998 Marlins — but the Marlins were much more aggressive, they weren’t keeping the likes of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Julio Urías around.
Farhandrew Zaidman: Michael Grove is just the new Ross Stripling/Mitch White? 4 average to plus pitches, swingman type guy?
Jay Jaffe: That seems about right. Not a high ceiling but useful, light workloads, trips to the bullpen and Triple-A while he still has options, would be more secure in another organization
Fangraphs has added a pair of hard-throwing prospects Dodgers to their list:
https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board?org=lad
Jake Pilarski – 13th (a 70 on Pilarski’s FB and SL!!!)
Juan Morillo – 33rd
Jay Jaffe on the Dodgers outfield:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-dodgers-new-look-outfield-has-been-a-hit-so-far/
“Van Scoyoc has worked with Heyward to lower his hands and move them further away from his body, reduce his movement once the pitcher starts his delivery, and find a more direct path to the ball. “We worked on his lower half, his legs, how he uses his back side, hand position, bat path, sequencing – all of it… getting [him] into a position where he’s more balanced, more athletic, holds the ground with his back leg,” Van Scoyoc told the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett recently.”
Ben Clemens Chat:
Guest: The dodgers drew 23 walks in their series vs the Diamondbacks and walked a single opponent. And they split the series. What a funny sport
Ben Clemens: Yeah, I watched a fair number of those games b/c the late windows over the weekend weren’t packed and I find both the Dodgers and DBacks really fun. I think that the Dodgers role players looked pretty dang good, which was the big worry around them this year. Those are the breaks of baseball, but I am not sure I expected Outman to look like ‘oh yeah this guy just seems like a good major league hitter’
Shane: Since 1950, 3 of the top 4 seasons by ERA- are the 2020-2022 Dodgers. Is this perhaps the greatest three season pitching stretch in baseball history (albeit with 2020 being abbreviated)? Do we appreciate how significant of an accomplishment this is and just how good this pitching staff has been?
Ben Clemens: It’s really remarkable. Their BABIP allowed was just insanity. They just turned batted balls into outs at an unprecedented rate. We’ll see if they can keep that going but it’s truly a dominant stretch
Baseball America ($$$$) looks at the most talented MILB teams:
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/the-best-teams-in-the-minors-on-opening-day-2023/
OKC makes the list
Don Szymborski Chat:
Farhandrew Zaidman: True or False: Dustin May is unhittable when he’s landing his breaking ball for strikes.
Dan Szymborski: True
JJ: Did you take any regular season wins over/under this year?
Dan Szymborski: Arizona over, Dodgers under
Good Stuff – Thanks Bluto.
I am not going to sweat a three game losing streak in April. This stuff happens in September, different story. Just take care of the frippen Giants. Them I hate losing to.
Well said.
True Bear. But if Muncy and Taylor don’t hit, that creates a lot of holes from Outman down. Heyward, Peralta, and Thompson don’t scare anybody and Martinez won’t continue to OPS .900. Vargas will eventually hit, but, when?
I’m not worried. Not yet. Only the Padres are good enough to run away with the Division, and that won’t happen in April.
There are if’s every year. Can Lux play second, is Turner going to re-sign, will Bellinger bounce back, same with Muncy, Muncy made an adjustment during BP today and we saw the results. Sometimes it is just something small. Taylor is a bigger worry in my opinion. He has not looked good at all.
I am just waiting for the trade deadline and man what would it take to get Addames, Yelich, and Burnes to improve this team. It gets you a starting shortstop that could lead off and you move Betts to hit third in the lineup behind Freeman. Then you get a leftfielder who can play everyday and help the rookie in centerfield who should be playing every day. And oh go get the number three starter in a playoffs game in Burnes so you have Urias Kershaw and Burnes and then May, Syndeguard rotation. Until that happens this team will sputter having different lineups each nite and a bad shortstop and thirdbaseman that’s what I am waiting for three player Brewers and who do you want?
Yellich? Meh. He’s lost the lustre.
Yelich is hitting .231 with 1 homer and 9 runs batted in. Heyward is hitting ,250, playing stellar defense and gets paid 700,000. Why in the wide wide world of sports would the Dodgers trade anyone worth anything for Yelich who is being paid almost 180 million dollars for the next 6 years to be mediocre??? Over the last four seasons, Yelich has hit .205, 251, 246, and 231, His production has steadily declined since his banner year in 2019. His defense is no where near what it was. You are living in fantasyland. The Dodgers are not taking on that albatross of a contract. If they want a full time left fielder, it surely is not that slug. And besides, Milwaukee is not trading their starting SS and their best pitcher. Quit dreaming, get your head out of the clouds. Milwaukee would want the best minor leaguers the Dodgers have just for Burnes. Adames is making 8 million. He is a free agent in 2025.
This is why I reject the 1900s theory (living in the 1900s) that a SS needs to be defense first without the bat. When you have question marks about LF, Muncy, Taylor, and I know I’m going to get blow back for this, Vargas. You don’t just give a guy like Rojas (no bat) SS. Yes Lux was suppose to be the SS and yes Taylor is barely doing better than Rojas with the bat. But I’m talking about the debate we had in the offseason, Lux or Rojas at SS. And also it’s why now, I hope Taylor gets back to being the Taylor before last season and grabs the starting SS job. Because I know what Rojas will do with the bat and that’s basically nothing.
Starting pitching:
If Sydergaard still is a problem, let’s say in a month or so or whenever, there is Gavin Stone and I hope the powers that be choose him at that time. But then what if another starting pitcher becomes a problem or gets injured and is expected to be out for awhile? There’s top prospect Miller but is he ready? I’m not high on Pepiot, I think he’s AT BEST (but I have my doubts) a 4th or 5th starter. Uh oh, I said 4th or 5th, just a little poke Mark, but I wish you would fully come around about Outman. I’ve always believed Grove was a trade chip and nothing else. It looks like that’s the case or maybe not.
The bullpen:
I didn’t want to talk about this during the offseason because it seems like I do every offseason. Yes the bullpen was great last season (until it wasn’t in the playoffs) with the help of Martin, who was acquired at the trade deadline. But it seems like Doc uses Graterol as the work horse of the bullpen and that’s dangerous in close games. Because his career stats suggest he’s a roogy. Maybe he’ll put that behind him or maybe not.
Some believe Ferguson is the be all end all, but he’s not (stats). He’s usefull though, but I wouldn’t want him in close games just like Graterol.
Bickford was good in 2021 and then in 2022 he wasn’t. Which Bickford is going to show up this year?
Then there’s the definite question mark guys. Miller and Jackson.
There’s a few guys in the bullpen that are nails that Doc can use in close games. Phillips, Almonte (not so far), Vesia (not so far) and Hudson when he returns. These guys right here will be the key to the success of the bullpen.
All of this sounds like I think the sky is falling, but I’m not. I’m just pointing out some things. AF has prospects that he can trade for help and I could be wrong about some things. So don’t take this as though I think the sky is falling, I’m not. AF has been a great GM and he’ll figure out some things and some things might fall into place.
Just my 2 cents.
As Badger points out, we lost 3 of 4 games while scoring 22 runs. Pitching is an issue. In 3 games we gave up 43 hits and 29 runs. The D-Backs also exposed our lack of holding runners and getting the baseball to the catchers before the bag is stolen. That is a common problem that we don’t stress and teach well. Arizona seems to be embracing putting the game in motion. They have 17 stolen bases. The Dodgers have 1 on the year. It’s an organizational philosophy. But it’s tough to steal bases when you’re down by 5 or 6 runs. Still, I’d like to see the organization use the speed we have more, when the situation calls for it.
I predicted this club will win 85 to 90 games. We’re going to see lots of prospects get time in the Big Leagues. And that’s okay, by me. We need to give the youth movement a chance, get under the cap and not panic to acquire expensive replacements this season. Bite the bullet, see what we have and do the best we can to develop and evaluate the young guys. Player development is a lot better than trying to buy a team. But I believe it’s a time for transition, no matter how painful for the fan base.
I’m happy with Outman and Vargas. Yet some are now complaining about their lack of power. Let these kids settle in as major leaguers and appreciate that they look like the real deal. I’m confident they will gain power and skills as they mature.
We all may need to reevaluate our expectations as the season develops and be patient with a youth movement. It’s especially tough for a fan base that’s used to winning the division every year.
Horrific games to watch. As Dodger fans we haven’t been subjected to this kind of thing much, at least in recent memory.
Pitching depth is still our strength. I have no doubt that AF will be shuffling some players around in the next week or two. Hopefully Tony G will come back in decent form soon.
Stats really don’t matter much at this stage. I trust my eyes more, at least until we are at a point where we have a decent sample size. My eyes tell me that Freddie, JD, Vargas and Outman are having consistently good ABs. JD is striking out more than usual but he’s making solid contact. Vargas might be the toughest out on the team behind Freddie. We almost take Will Smith for granted. He plays baseball. And he’s really good at it. A lot of other pieces need to fall into place. Mookie will be Mookie. Look pretty bad for a couple weeks and then go on a massive tear. He’s due for few games of mashing.
Muncy is the one that is making me cringe. Much as he did last season. It’s too early to draw conclusions but his willingness to take strikes only plays when he’s drawing a lot of walks and limited his strikeouts. Right now he’s a strikeout machine. He needs to have better ABs. And be more aggressive. I think his defense will come around. But I can’t help but get flashbacks to 2022 with how he’s swinging the bat. Tough to watch.
All said, I’m not worried but I’ve had enough of watching our pitching implode. We need to get back to losing 3 to 2, when we do lose. Those games are boring and frustrating, but at least they aren’t gut wrenching and embarrassing. Watched the game at the local sports bar with a group of buddies before everybody went off to do their Easter things. One of them is a Padre fan. Always lovely to give him endless ammunition to talk crap. And I just had to take it. We sucked this weekend.
It happens.
Ask that SD fan how many titles they have won or heck how many division championships they have won.
SD fans have ZERO room to talk Sheet.
Speaking of the Padres, I wonder what happened to Jorge?
9:45 PM ET
Dodgers (5-5)
Giants (4-5)
SP Julio Urias L
2-0 1.50 ERA 12IP 12K
SP Logan Webb R
0-2 6.55 ERA 11IP 16K
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
RF J. Heyward L
CF James Outman L
LF D. Peralta L
SS Chris Taylor R
Partly-cloudy-day
1% Precipitation
55° Wind 11 mph Out
NO Dodger minor league games tonight
We’re favored tonight. -145. -1.5 runs. 8 runs O/U.
The Dodgers are currently #3 in MLB Power Ratings…
Tony Gonsolin, Ryan Pepiot and Daniel Hudson are not close to ready.
Jimmy Nelson may start a rehab assignment soon.
Take that, you Fruitcake Muncy Haters!
Hearing those ‘small sample’ mutterings.
Mookie Betts MVP voting.
16 AL MVP #2
17 AL MVP #6
18 AL MVP #1
19 AL MVP #8
20 NL MVP #2
21 NL MVP –
22 NL MVP #5
That says superstar to me. Bat and glove and teammate!
Look at his stats in 2018 and compare them to 2019-22.
Now that was superstar in 2018!
Every stat cited for 2023 is based on a small sample size.
It’s still very early and every projection is somewhat silly. As I’m writing, HRs by Mookie and Max have given the Dodgers a 4-0 lead–but it’s still early. Oh, now the Giants just scored. It’s only the 4th inning in this game,.
.In the 2023 season, we’re still in the first inning.
That said, it seems clear that this roster is a work in progress. Injuries could change everything, but it’s fun to make predictions, so here goes:
–The early success of Outman, a rookie, and Heyward, a veteran getting (mostly) paid by the Cubs, should make the lackluster Peralta expendable. The Dodgers will deal him for a prospect we’ve never heard of and eat half of Peralta’s salary. They’ll promote Luke William or Busch or Yonny from OKC.
–JDM will NOT play LF because there must be a reason the Dodgers haven’t pursued this obvious option. But he will get some rest to allow Will Smith to DH when Barnes catches. Heyward could get some turns at DH too when Trayce gets a start.
–Trayce will remain a mercurial feast-or-famine kind of hitter. He’ll still strike out a lot, but his power, defense and speed make him a fine 4th outfielder.
–Outman’s improvement will keep him on that runway. The knock on him was that he strikes out too much, but his plate discipline has improved.
–Mookie will continue to be damned with faint praise in LADT by people who quibble about what constitutes a
“superstar.” But at the end of the year, he will lead the league in runs scored, hit more than 30 HRs, win his seventh Gold Glove–possibly at 2B, if Vargas goes down with an injury. Or if Max does, and Vargas shifts to 3B. He’ll be in the Top Ten in MVP votes, perhaps the Top Five. And he’ll roll another 300 game, too.
Max who ! Couldn’t be happier for Mr. Muncy.
And now the bullpen rollercoaster.
Big props to Vesia there. Hopefully he figured something out there
And things got back to normal.
Sleeping well.
Fuck the Giants.
Good to see Muncy have a great game. Maybe this is a sign of good times.
Has anyone heard anything about Rojas if he’s injured or if Doc has decided to go with Taylor for now just because?
Ok the Bullpen limo ride !
Some people think it is September and this is what the Dodger roster will look like. I guarantee it will not. Pepiot and Gonsolin most likely out until at least June.
Gonsolin back in May.
It’s good to see Muncy have a great game.
Some said it was painful to watch Max at the plate and tonight with 2 outs and bases loaded a whole lot more found it painful watching Max at the plate. All were Giants fans though. Good seeing Max smile. Keep smiling Max.
Max kills Giant pitching and it does not matter who is out there. Lefty starts tomorrow. Alex Wood.
Fun fact: Mookie’s incredible 1.078 OPS in 2018 followed his worst season, when his OPS was .803–acceptable for most players, but way below Mookie’s career OPS of .889. (The career 162-game average also computes to 127 runs scored, including 31 HRs.)
As Cassidy points out, Mookie finished #2 for MVP after he joined LA–and LED THE DODGERS TO THE 2020 WS CHAMPIONSHIP. Let’s also recall his dazzling postseason defense.
But what happened in ’21?
Well, Mookie missed 40 games due to injury–but still scored 93 runs and had an OPS of .854. Still made the all-star team, of course, His .854 OPS was his second worst since 2015.
Today’s game showed what a good game can do in a good sample size. Mookie lifted his BA to .300 and his OPS to .945. (Some say Mookie was robbed of another HR early this season by the interference of overzealous fan. Umps gave him a double instead.)
Anyway, if you review the body of Mookie’s work, I don’t think he’s a guy we need to worry about.
While Max was the big offensive star, how about that James Outman?
He picked up his third, another stolen base and another walk–his 8th, tying him with Max for second on the team. Outman ended the game with NL’s highest OPS among “qualified players” at 1.262, just ahead of possible future Dodger Bryan Reynolds. Ranked third is Will Smith at 1.155, and Freddie isn’t far back at 1.081. Mookie comes next on the Dodgers, followed by JDM and Max. Max’s BA is still below the Mendoza line, but the HRs lifted his OPS to an even .800.
And how about that Julio Urias?
The ace is now 3-0 (tied for ML lead in wins) with a 1.50 ERA and 20 Ks in 18 innings pitched.
Mookies BA is .293. But close enough. I doubt Reynolds gets traded to the Dodgers. He would cost them a ton of prospect capital.
Fun fact: Mookie’s incredible 1.078 OPS in 2018 followed his worst season, when his OPS was .803–acceptable for most players, but way below Mookie’s career OPS of .889. (The career 162-game average also computes to 127 runs scored, including 31 HRs.)
As Cassidy points out, Mookie finished #2 for MVP after he joined LA–and LED THE DODGERS TO THE 2020 WS CHAMPIONSHIP. Let’s also recall his dazzling postseason defense.
But what happened in ’21?
Well, Mookie missed 40 games due to injury–but still scored 93 runs and had an OPS of .854. Still made the all-star team, of course, His .854 OPS was his second worst since 2015.
Today’s game showed what a good game can do in a good sample size. Mookie lifted his BA to .300 and his OPS to .945. (Some say Mookie was robbed of another HR early this season by the interference of overzealous fan. Umps gave him a double instead.)
Anyway, if you review the body of Mookie’s work, I don’t think he’s a guy we need to worry about.
While Max was the big offensive star, how about that James Outman?
He picked up his third, another stolen base and another walk–his 8th, tying him with Max for second on the team. Outman ended the game with NL’s highest OPS among “qualified players” at 1.262, just ahead of possible future Dodger Bryan Reynolds. Ranked third is Will Smith at 1.155, and Freddie isn’t far back at 1.081. Mookie comes next on the Dodgers, followed by JDM and Max. Max’s BA is still below the Mendoza line, but the HRs lifted his OPS to an even .800.
And how about that Julio Urias?
The ace is now 3-0 (tied for ML lead in wins) with a 1.50 ERA and 20 Ks in 18 innings pitched.
Urias CY YOUNG put that in the bank.
And yes he will be a Dodger for life…….