Quite often, that is the difference between success or failure for a pitcher or hitter: One Pitch – One Swing! Look at Bobby Miller yesterday. He struck out the side in the first inning and could not get out of the second inning after allowing five runs. One Pitch! Several Times! The Dodgers are 7-3, which is on pace to win 113 games, and some Dodger fans are losing their minds. “Michael Grove is killing us.” Last week, it was Alex Vesia – now his ERA is 1.80. “Max Muncy needs to sit.” Yeah, we go through this every year.
If I were a James Outman hater like some of you think, I would call for his ouster, but I won’t because it is way early. He has 30 ABs. He has earned the opportunity to play. Let’s see what he has at the 130 AB mark. No knee-jerks! Lux is scuffling, as are Kike and CT3. Give them time. The team is 7-3, and Ohtani and Freeman are not untracked. Instead, fans all over the blogosphere want to send players back to AAA or trade for someone else. Are you freaking kidding me? Have you ever watched baseball before? The team is 7-3, and we have barely gotten started.
Maybe Grove needs to go back to OKC, or maybe he just needs a little time. One Pitch at the right time makes all the difference. I will defer to Mark Prior, Conner McGinnis, and the rest of the pitching gurus, whose jobs depend upon performance. Grove gave up all three runs in his first inning and then shut them down the last two innings. He has the stuff… he just needs to learn where, when and how to use that. That’s why he is still here… the Dodgers see it, too. Maybe they will send him back, but if they don’t, I respect the decision.
Yamamoto today. Let’s win!
Minor League Report
OKC won 3-1 as Eduardo Salazar went six innings and gave up one run. JP Feyereisen got the hold, and Kevin Gowdy struck out two to get his second save. Miguel Vargas was 1-4 and threw out a runner from LF.
Tulsa won 6-4 after giving up three runs in the bottom of the 9th. But, to me, the biggest story is Diego Cartaya, who looked like an entirely different player from last season. He was 2-3 with a double and two walks. Justin Wrobleski threw five innings of three-hit, one-run baseball while striking out six. Sauryn Lao just about gave the game away as he allowed four hits and three runs in the bottom of the 9th.
Great Lakes won 3-2 in 11 innings on an RBI by Noah Miller, who had two hits as he led off. Jackson Ferris started and went three innings, allowing three hits and one run while striking out 4. Lucas Wepf also went three innings, allowing one hit, two runs, and three strikeouts. Joel Ibarra got his first save of the season.
Rancho Cucamonga was the only team that lost, 11-5. However, there is Hope (as in Zyhir). The 19-year-old had two hits, including a HR. George singled and walked and scored two runs with an SB, and DePaula singled and drove in two runs with an SB as well.
good morning! guess everyone overreacts at times. no need to sit max , but moving him behind hernandez makes sense. teoscar drove in 4 yesterday and max didn’t score once! 9ks from max and the bottom 3. lux probably will break out eventually. james too! chris taylor looks absolutely awful @ the plate! i’m a taylor supporter, (uva guy) but RVS ain’t helping him! on a sad note for the braves, looks like strider may need tommy john. his game last night looked eerily familiar to buehlers last game. if he is done, i’m sure the braves will make a big move to replace him. on bobby miller yesterday. the wind hurt him his emotions hurt him. and the umpire didn’t help anybody yesterday had to be one of the worst called games behind the plate. I’ve seen this year maybe the worst Bobby just has to control his emotions and work through it. It’s early and he’ll be fine seeing Clayton struggle at Wrigley Field have seen other struggle there, so nothing to see there mark as you say move on like I said earlier way too early to panic but if the bottom three continue at this pace, we could see some change later on congratulations mark no feeling like welcoming a new grandchild and seeing your kids smile like you did when yours were born. I have seven now , the oldest is a dodger fan a left-hander and I love watching him pitch lotta controversy last night over the final call in the Iowa UConn game. I’m no expert but I believe it was a proper call as the Yukon player chicken winged on net screen would love to see Kaitlyn Clark win a championship. dawn Staley is a UVA grad and a great coach but sure would be nice to see go out on top. Hope the Dodgers come to play today down on the strikeouts and come away with a win. Congratulations again mark just got off the phone with my oldest grandson, chomping at the bit to get on the baseball field left-handed but he’s going to try to catch this year plus pitch you don’t see a left-handed catch you very often but that’s what he wants to do. I think he’ll do just fine.!
My son (the one with the baby) is a Dodger fan, but was not good at baseball. Football was his thing. He won two State Championships and was All-City, All-Conference and All-State and then quit, saying “I want to walk when I’m your age, Dad.” He was a beast. Here’s his Demo Tape. Pick the “Senior 2016-17 Season” if you care to watch. They show you a 30 second ad at the beginning:
https://www.maxpreps.com/in/indianapolis/indianapolis-cardinal-ritter-raiders/athletes/stephen-timmons/media/videos/?careerid=qtfmb05tbo5qa&videoid=d0654683-0bd6-4263-ab60-c9a0c4e60292
He will be 25 in June and is set to be our CEO by the end of this year!
Mark if only I had a dad like you, I could have been a success! I was living out of my car at 25.
I made him earn everything he got.
I taught him to never complain – just do something about it.
I taught him to work hard. He graduated at 17 and at 18, bought a 120-year-old house with his own money) that he just finished. It is worth $450K, and he owes less than $100K on it. While his friends were partying, he was working on his house every weekend. I am very proud of him.
I have to pick my oldest son up at the Airport at 6 PM – His mom died when he was 9 (he’s 37), and now his grandmother is dying. He will be here for a while settling her affairs. I’m the only one he has left and he is scared to death of losing me too. I am very proud of him too.
I am so blessed – 3 kids-all healthy and happy and all three very close and 7 grandkids all the picture of health. What blessings!
1. Grove is fine but he should be the last man on the staff, pitching long relief, mop-up, whatever.
2. Wrobleski projects as a SP as early as 2025, 2026 at latest. If there’s no space in the rotation he could be wicked coming out of the pen.
3. What if Cartaya becomes a DH who catches 40 games a year. That’s a pretty valuable player, though maybe not for us.
Cartaya would be more valuable as a catcher who DHs 40 games a year.
Now that Smith is under a long-term contract, the odds of Cartaya and/or Rushing be dealt have increased dramatically. So is the possibility that one could be moved to 3B.
It’s encouraging to read about the progress of Wrobleski, Zyhir Hope, Kendall George and others.
Dinelson Lamet has been used three times already. Dodgers must like what they see.
So the Dodgers re-signed Gage? I wonder what the story is there. He and Ramirez are two veteran lefty RPs who could see action in LA.
It’s funny, there must be something special in Rushing’s bat. He has no path to a catching job with Smith locked up for good. 1B is also out with Freeman. MAYBE he could play LF. Then you get Cartaya & Liranzo too.
I personally love it. Rushing’s bat projects to play in the big leagues. One way or another, he is Muncy’s replacement in the org.
I think, and this is only opinion, that the Dodgers see and develop catchers because they are valuable as trade assets.
I’ll go along with this. Moreover, I think they for sure draft the best player irrespective of need.
TODAY: The Dodgers have re-signed Gage to a minor league contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
The New York Yankees acquired left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in exchange for left-handed pitcher Matt Gage and right-handed pitcher Christian Zazueta Jr.Feb 5, 2024
His spot on the 40-man roster will go to outfielder Taylor Trammell, whom the Dodgers have claimed off waivers from the Mariners (as was previously reported).
Spencer Strider To Undergo MRI On Right Elbow
The loss of Strider could be devastating to Atlanta’s rotation. Strider was Snitker’s choice over Max Fried to open the season as the Braves’ No. 1 starter.
Saturday schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jared Karros) vs. Fort Wayne (Miguel Cienfuegos)
4:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Walker Buehler) vs. Albuquerque (Josh Rogers)
4:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Ben Casparius) at Northwest Arkansas (Mason Barnett)
6:45 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (TBD) at Lake Elsinore (TBD)
I’ve heard of Walker Buehler!
Also, watch out for Karros: sleeper SP prospect.
Pitchers have one job–get outs. Doesn’t matter how.
young man was hell on the field mark!! so glad you brought this site back! my oldest son has a radio show in charlotte. my youngest was in oakland organization and now a college head baseball coach. i’m also very blessed! both are good men and great fathers. hopefully everything will be ok with your health. getting old kinda sucks sometimes, but better than the alternative!
That is awesome. Good to hear.
Yesterday was the viewing, so I missed most of the game. I did get to see Ohtani’s homer. Funeral is today. Tomorrow I am taking my brother to see the new Ghostbusters movie. I will catch up on what I missed when I get back to Colorado next weekend. They go to Minneapolis next. Which is probably going to be about as cold as Chicago. None too warm here in the southland. Luis Roberts Jr. left last nights game with a hip flexor. They already lost Jiminez to a abductor strain.
Godspeed!
Thanks Mark. To tell the truth, I cannot wait to get back home.
Remember when lots of fans wanted Shane Bieber?
Remember what I said?
Well, it is coming to pass.
Ah, the return of Mark “I Told You So” Timmons!
Tough luck for Bieber, but he sure started strong. What pitcher isn’t getting TJ surgery these days at some point? (Not Yamamoto, I hope.)
Please make another prediction…..
How about this: Rojas takes over SS full-time, Mookie stays at 2B and Lux shifts to CF…. and that way, Outman will become the fourth outfielder!
He still has one more spot to drop!
I think Mookie wants to stay at SS.
Lux has problems with Lefties too.
I let it play out. I like Outnan against RHP…. Unless the league has found a hole
my problem as a dodger fan, i’m more interested in who might leave rather than who comes in!!
Good article on the Ringer on starting pitcher injuries.
https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2024/4/2/24118963/pitcher-injuries-crisis-mlb-study-tommy-john-ucl
In 2023, the league addressed its pace problem. Now it’s trying to address its ace problem.
….
According to an MLB source, the league is conducting a comprehensive study of pitcher injuries. This ongoing deep dive, which began last October, has consisted of data analysis and approximately 100 interviews with informed figures, including doctors, trainers, independent researchers, college coaches, amateur baseball coaches and stakeholders, former pitchers, front-office members, pitching coaches, and current players.
Tell them to cut down on the spin rates and don’t throw over 94.
Yeah, that’s the ticket
Pat Zachry passes away. Spent two seasons, 83-84 with LA. 11-7 record with 2 saves. Also pitched in two games in the 83-playoff loss to the Phillies. Most known for his time with the Big Red Machine. RIP. Pat was 71 years old.
4:05 PM ET
Dodgers (7-3)
Cubs (5-2)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
0-1 7.50 ERA
SP Jordan Wicks L
0-0 4.50 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
CF E. Hernandez R
LF Chris Taylor R
SS Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes R
45° Wind 8 mph In
Why in the hell did they select Trammell if they are not going to play the guy???? Give him a start already. At this point, Taylor couldn’t hit my grandmother and she has been dead since 51!!!
They are not going to start him against a LHP
Lamet DFA
Varland Recalled
Thank U, next
The Dodgers have acquired right-hander Connor Brogdon from the Phillies in exchange for minor league southpaw Benony Robles. Philadelphia designated Brogdon for assignment earlier this week.
Brogdon will join the big-league bullpen as he does not have any minor-league options remaining.
I hear a sweeper is in his future….
going to be windy as hell around home plate today!!
We got “Muncied” again in the first inning. Won’t be long before he’s batting .200 and less with RISP.
Stay positive!
make barnes bunt the damn ball!!!
Looking forward to another year of Dodger baseball. Almost every judgment made in the first month or two is probably an overreaction until the sample sizes of at bats, appearances, starts, etc. get large enough for reasonable decisions. But making snap decisions is part of being a fan.
So here goes:
1. Dodgers have made a conscious decision to live with the swing and miss of Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez. The fact that they are going to be batting behind players who are frequently on-base is only going to highlight the problem. Add in the frequency with which Outman strikes out and there is going to be a lot of frustration. And this is not a “small sample size” problem. Muncy, Hernandez, and Outman have been high strikeout guys for a while.
2. Dodgers obviously see something in Grove but his inconsistency is frustrating. Personally, I would like to see Kyle Hurt get some of those chances that Grove gets but once Treinen, Graterol, and Feyereisen get on track, both of them will be riding the OKC express. Friedman is churning through bullpen arms trying to find the right mix of 10 to 12 arms. History indicates that they will have a really good pen by July or sooner.
3. I hope Dodgers remain patient with Cartaya. He seems to be much farther along as a catcher than either Rushing or Liranzo and has excellent leadership qualities which is a nice attribute for a catcher. Even if he hits .225 with 20 to 25 homers as a major leaguer, he is an asset.
4. This roster is definitely going to evolve as the season moves along. This year more than most. Pitchers returning from injury, young pitchers knocking on door at AAA, the traditional churning of bullpen arms, and some wait and see regarding Outman, Lux, Heyward. Will be interesting to see.
Some excellent observations, NHD.
Muncy is just a butcher at 3b. sorry, but if he does not hit he is useless on a team with lofty expectations as the Dodgers
No one expects him to be a gold glove but just make the routine plays.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get off Max.He was our first baseman.He would be our DH.Do we have someone better .
Maybe Doc should start playing Miggy Ro for his bat.
Mark, I had an ablation for Afib a year ago. It was a piece of cake.
Good, I go to Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday…
Bobby Miller could learn a thing or two from Yamamoto today about bearing down in tough situations.
THIS
“Braves right-hander Spencer Strider underwent an MRI today and the testing revealed that the ace hurler has suffered damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, per a team announcement. The next step for the Braves is for Strider to be evaluated by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, though the club noted that a date for that visit has yet to be determined ”
This would a huge loss to the Braves if TJ surgery is next and moves the Dodgers definitely ahead of the Braves for a shot at a ring in my humble opinion.
If Strider goes down, would the Braves consider Trevor Bauer? The fit would be logical.
well, I have to say I got a little irritated with Austin Barnes today. He struck out with a runner in scoring position I said, make him bunt the damn ball. he had a hit that led to a run so my bad Max Muncy made an error that could’ve been critical, but a toned for it with a big hit again today umpire was awful. That’s for both teams not just the Dodgers Yamamoto work some magic the first two innings and ended up giving them five good innings. I think he’ll be a lot better at home than on the road. The bullpen was very good today. Evan Phillips struggle just a bit but shut it down in the ninth. I’m not sure if a different centerfielder could’ve made those two plays that Kiki didn’t make but it looked like he was playing too shallow. There’s a lot of work to do with this team Outman pinch it for KK but lux never got in the game. I’m not sure if Gavin will handle this platoon very well not saying Rojas doesn’t deserve to play because he played very well today. I’m just not sure what they’ll do with Gavin. It’s early but I’m still not happy with the bottom third of the order. Tough game tomorrow with the left-hander on the mound for the Cubs Gavin Stone needs to step up and give the Dodgers some innings six at least.
… and the umpires still suck!
If the technology exists to electronically evaluate the umpires, the technology exists to replace the human strike zone.
Buehler = 4.2 IP, 2 H, 6 K, 0 BB
Great outing by Buehler!
Yamamoto was very impressive today in Chicago. A lot of poise and pitched out of trouble like a veteran. He is still adjusting, but two great starts in a row.
How was his velo ?
Last time out he worked at 93-95 with the 4 seamer. To be the old WB he needs a couple more mph.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
hell yeah!
A highly implausible proposal, but I wonder what the Angels would want for lefty Reid Detmers, former first-round pick who seems to keep getting better and better.
Today he struck out 12 and walked only 1 in six innings against the Red Sox. Allowed one run on 3 hits. Threw 95 pitches, including 64 strikes.
Good to see Buhler progressing. This might be his last season with the Dodgers, given the $$$ commitments to Glasnow, Yamamoto and Shohei, plus the fact that Miller, Sheehan, Stone and Knack are under team control for a few years–and the report that Sasaki wants to join the Dodgers. And oh yeah, Gonsolin and May are coming off an injury, and Kershaw has an option for 2025 too.
That said, I would love to see Buhler kick ass and stay with the Dodgers. (Who doesn’t want to see Ferris and Buhler in the same rotation.)
I’ve been pretty hawkish on Luzardo….
So what the hell? How about an offer to the Angels for Detmers?
Highly unlikely, but the Angels’ rotation is heavy on lefties–which was one argument against Snell or Montgomery.. So let’s start with a young righty who could step into the rotation, such as Stone or Sheehan. Maybe add Grove for depth. (Would the Angels consider guys on the IL like May or Gonsolin? Would the Dodgers consider dealing them?)
Now add some offense.
The Angels will want Rushing to share C/DH with O’Hoppe, but they might settle for Vargas…. if the Dodgers sweeten the pot with some intriguing prospects to spice up their second-rate farm system.
Why do you want trades that the Dodgers don’t need? Veteran reinforcements are on the way plus a slew of young pitchers. Pitching is not a need now or in the future.Save the prospect capital for other needs at the trading deadline.
It’s highly unusual for a team to acquire an injured player.
Besides – No trades are going to happen now.