Let’s Drill Down to Tulsa

Posted By on April 5, 2024

Before we start, SCdodgerFan asked what Mookie Betts writes in the dirt before each AB. Answer: Mookie writes his grandma’s initials in the dirt. There you go!

The Tulsa Drillers Opening Day Roster is allegedly set and was released on Thursday. This is the most interesting Dodger Minor League team for me this year for reasons I will discuss later. Here it is:

Justin Wrobleski will be the opening-day starter, and it would not surprise me to see three catchers in the lineup: Yenier Fernandez at 2B, Dalton Rushing at 1B, and Diego Cartaya at C. Bradon Fisher was on OKC’s Roster, but he is now on Tulsas.

Ben Casparius, Hyun-il Choi, Kendall Williams, Logan Boyer, Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, and Wrobleski will likely be the starting pitchers. Lao and Harris could via for the closer role. You never know what they are thinking, but with this roster, I see a lineup like this (a WAG):

  • C – Cartaya
  • 1B – Rushing (catcher)
  • 2B – Fernandez (also a catcher)
  • SS – Gauthier
  • 3B – Davis
  • LF – Beck
  • CF – Ramos
  • RF- Keith
  • DH – Lewis

I find it interesting that Rushing and Cartaya are on the same team. I think Rushing could obviously play some 1B, as could Diego, but I could also see Cartaya playing some 3B. I was impressed with Brendon Davis’ quick bat this Spring Training. Is that an anomaly, or is he for real? I have doubts that Gauthier can stay at SS, but I do think he is an MLB utility man. I also think Fernandez could be a real plus for the Big Club… not as a starter but as a utilityman who can catch as well. That is a unique skill.

Jose Ramos has had issues with breaking stuff, but he can hit any fastball. If he can improve on the breaking stuff he is a 4th or 5th outfielder type. Damon Keith is a guy I like a lot. Baseball America had this to say about him last year:

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: Keith grew up in Redlands, Calif., about 65 miles east of Dodger Stadium, and emerged as a draft prospect at nearby California Baptist, where he won Western Athletic Conference player of the year as a junior. The Dodgers drafted him in the 18th round and signed him for $125,000. Expected to be an organizational player, Keith instead posted some of the top exit velocities in the Dodgers system across the Class A levels in his full-season debut and became a favorite of big league hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc. He finished in the top 10 in the organization in hits, runs, doubles, RBIs, total bases and OPS.

Scouting Report: Keith is a powerful slugger with plus bat speed, plus raw power and good leverage in his swing. He gets to his power easily with a quick flick of his wrists and hits towering drives down the left-field line. Keith has holes at the top of the zone and will strike out, but he battles with two strikes and has enough plate discipline to be a below-average hitter who gets to his power. Keith is an average runner with good instincts on the bases and is athletic enough to play all three outfield positions, although he still has to work on his reads off the bat. His plus arm strength profiles in right field.

The Future: Keith’s power, athleticism and defense have made him a popular trade target of other teams. He projects to be a reserve outfielder but could grow into more.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 60. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 60.

Last Night’s OKC Game

They lost, but Andy Pages is a svelte dude who stole home. Vargas was 1-4 with a walk and a SB. Lipcuis looks like a ballplayer. Chris Okey was 2-3. Knck was not great – 5 IP/5 H 4 ER. Rooney SPARKLED IN HIS 2 IP, and Gamboa got the loss.

Dodger News

  • Time for the Cubbies this weekend.
  • Nick Ramirez has been assigned to OKC.
  • RHRP Nabil Crismatt cleared waivers and has been reassigned to OKC. I guess AF is smarter than us.
  • RHRP Braydon Fisher and RHRP Michael Flynn were reassigned to Tulsa.

My First Grandson & Other Stuff

After six granddaughters, we are set to have our first grandson today. His name will be Van Timmons and I have his present with me when he is born today.

We will raise him right… as a Dodger Fan.

His Big Sister (Violet, Age 3) is anxious to meet him. Here is Violet and I waiting:

Of course, when we moved to a new house a week ago, my wife was not happy with the kitchen, and it was outdated as the house was built in 2007. This is what it looked like when we took possession:

This is what it looks like today:

Progress Right? She assures me it will be amazing in two weeks. I say a month.

Let me put this all in perspective:

  • On Saturday, my A-Fib returned after six months, and I am working on scheduling an ablation at Cleveland Clinic ASAP.
  • I was told by my back surgeon that I need to get L2 and L3 Fused ASAP.
  • The drain to the septic tank was plugged on Easter Sunday, and we still have some digging and excavation to do to fix it.
  • Did I mention that our kitchen was tore up from the floor up?
  • We still have 3 Pods to unload.
  • My wife brought home an 80-year-old homeless lady(she was kicked out of a hotel after they drained her bank account of $60,000) and we are helping her get her life back.
  • We gave her one of our bedrooms and bathroom, which flooded the garage when she drew a bath last night. Gotta’ call a plumber this AM.
  • Then, to top it all off, my son in Brooklyn called me at 4:30 AM and asked me to take my 89-year-old ex-mother-in-law to the hospital. It turns out she needs emergency surgery, and he is flying in tonight. This may be the end of the line…

What a week! Life is good! and I am waiting to welcome Van into the world! I never have a bad day!

X-Cites

https://twitter.com/CodifyBaseball/status/1775535055458419187

This article has 47 Comments

  1. Congratulations on your grandson! All of my three grandsons are huge Dodger fans. Start em early!

  2. Wow – that is a lot stuff happening – some of it “SUPER exciting” (i.e. the grandson), “exciting” (i.e. – new kitchen), also note that all remodels take 2-3 times longer and 2X the costs – have never figured how that happens even when you budget for “unforeseen” costs to include buying the next level of gadgets then whatever you budgeted for.
    Then the “not exciting” crap happens stuff (i.e. plug bath line and septic system issues) that you have to throw money at.
    Then the “unfortunate” stuff with you son’s mother-in-law. As most of us on this blog are a little on the older side we have all had the experience of losing our parents, friends, etc. I hope she had a good life and does not suffer.

    Best Wishes on your health issues – my brother-in-law had three ablations before they installed a pacemaker.

    Thanks for taking the time to provide the run down on the minor players – otherwise I would have no clue who these guys were.

  3. congrats mark! i have 7 now! trying to make dodgers fans out of them, but my one daughter in law is from new hampshire so they are red sox fans. another marlins pitcher down! perez to have tommy john surgery.. looks like o marlins will be taking offers on some players. not sure if dodgers interested in any of them. would you offer a package of lux and prospects for arryz? (spelling atrocious!) just curious. guy has no power but a hitting machine!

    1. My son-in-law is a Red Sox fan, and he is insanely jealous of the Dodgers. He says he would traded the World Series Championships for a run like the Dodgers ae having!

  4. Mark, on Monday a sewer contractor will start work on putting a new sewer mainline to my 100 year old house.
    This will cost $12,000.
    Reading your list makes me feel I am sitting pretty. Like you, regardless there is too much to find joy in then be discouraged and depressed with a few inconveniences.
    Love the attitude.

  5. i’ve always liked the red sox , and pull for them to always beat the yankees! BUT, as long as alex cora is there they can lose every game and i’ll be happy! he and AJ hinch should not have been allowed to manage again. nobody lining. up to hire beltran, right? the kenley rumors starting up again. love the guy , but that ship has sailed as far ad im concerned. also love and miss. JT but that’s over as well! where would he play? as i said yesterday, probably shy have brought back shelby miller. need to continue hot start today! don’t give the rest of the NL west any hope. vargas playing well in AAA. would like to see him get another chance, skills are there and if he can’t cut next chance, time to move him elsewhere?

  6. Wow! You’ve got a full plate Mark. Hope the health issues work out. Moving is for young people! Thanks for the write up. Doesn’t seem like we have any positional all stars in the waiting. Maybe with Vargas, Pages, Rushing and Cartaya, we could get a starter or two.

  8. 2:20 PM ET

    Dodgers (7-2)
    Cubs (4-2)

    SP Bobby Miller R
    1-0 .00 ERA
    SP Kyle Hendricks R
    0-1 12.27 ERA

    Confirmed Lineup
    SS Mookie Betts R
    DH S. Ohtani L
    1B F. Freeman L
    C Will Smith R
    3B Max Muncy L
    RF T. Hernandez R
    CF James Outman L
    LF Chris Taylor R
    2B Gavin Lux L

    41° Wind 18 mph L-R

  9. Cool stat on Mookie matching Junior for a record number runs and RBIs in the first eight games.
    I’m left wondering if Junior also had 5 HRs.

  10. Congratulations on the grandson Mark. I have four granddaughters and one grandson. He is a Dodger fan. The granddaughters were influenced by my daughters second husband and have joined the opposition, they are Giant fans! UGH!!! My great-granddaughter is unaffiliated at this point, but mom is a Giant fan, so there isn’t much hope. My brothers-in-law’s funeral is tomorrow. Then the burial is on Monday. I am not going to that. I will be heading home on Thursday morning so I will miss most of the games on this road trip. Bruns, and Kopp are getting extra work down in Arizona, so they are not on any of the rosters. Dodger image took another hit over the disposition of Ohtani’s first home run ball. Fan says she was pressured into making a quick decision over what she would receive for the ball. She ended up with 2 autographed bats and 2 autographed balls. Collectors say the ball would be worth about 100,000 dollars at auction.

  12. Bobby Miller totally lost it in the 2nd. Ace stuff but he just is not consistent enough . As soon as things get tough he too often loses it.
    Pen will be taxed today. Again. and that is the problem with scripted bullpen games like the one on Tuesday.

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

    1. He didn’t get the same strike zone as Kendrick. Very inconsistent. Watching on game day. Ump is horrible but no excuse for a lot of those pitches.

  13. One good thing that happened today is the JamesOutman got a double. He needed that.

    1. Yes. He did. Ohtani San gets us back in it! Are you blacked out Mark or do you still hide your a@@.

  14. watching on MLB. TV and they always come back late from their annoying commercials between innings. Every inning they are app. 60 seconds late.

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

  21. Our 7-8-9 has to be the worst in baseball right now and Taylor is just beyond terrible!

  22. amen , no time to panic, but bottom of lineup is killing the dodgers.!! maybe doc needs to quit being so loyal to max and swap him and hernandez in the order!

  23. Dodgers 3 for 16 RISP today. Max was the worst offender but far from the only one.

    It’s early, but the bottom of the order isn’t getting it done:
    Taylor OPS – .378
    Hayward – .414
    Outman – .424
    Lux – .433
    Kike Hernandez – .435.

    The bottom is going to leave a lot of men on base with performance like this.

  25. Well, it finally happened:

    Van Timmons arrived. He’s small, so I shall call him “Mini Van.”
    Van2

    2. Congratulations Mark and your whole beautiful family. A lot going in the Timmons Kingdom!

    3. Congrats to you , the parents and the entire family. A new born always is a blessing. Most important thing in life.

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

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