Outman & Kike – Dodger Centerfielders

Posted By on April 9, 2024

I took a lot of flack last season because of James Outman. Much of it came from Eric, who disappeared this year when the going got tough for James. Eric evidently can dish it out, but he can’t take it! I sometimes think he loves James Outman more than the Dodgers. He also seems to hate Miguel Vargas, but many of you do because you hate it when I am right! 😉 To those of you think I do not want James Outman to succeed. I will politely say that you are out of your rabbit-ass minds.

The Dodgers need James to play well, although I have lowered my expectations for him. James is going to start against RHP, and Kike Hernandez is going to start against LHP. End of story! Like I said, I have lowered my expectations. My expectations for Kike and James are that they play great defense in CF and hit .240 with 20 HR between them. That’s it! CF is a key defensive position. James did hit a HR last night. It was his first of the season. Maybe this will get him going. James has struck out 15 times in 36 ABs. Yikes! That has to improve… Right?

Teoscar will likely move to RF, and Miguel Vargas may move to LF. That’s what I see. Miguel does not strike out a lot, and the Dodgers as a team need more contact. Vargas’ bat-to-ball skills should play up well in this lineup. Gavin Lux will figure it out. I believe that. He made a hell of a defensive play last night, and that will help his confidence. It is early for Gavin. I think Gavin will be an everyday play soon enough… maybe!

My hope that James Outman does not totally implode! This is exactly what I was afraid of. He was extremely fortunate last year. It happens. This is a new season and the Baseball Gods are not smiling on him. Hopefully, the home run he hit last night will get him going. The Dodgers need James! They need him a lot! So, there should be no talk of sending him down or things like that. James and his wife are expecting a child, so sometimes “life changes” impact people differently. Give him time!

Taylor Trammell looks like a waste of a roster spot to me. What is happening with CT3? He has a longer runway than Trammell. When will the Dodgers dip down to OKC and bring Vargas up? Probably by May 1st. We shall see. Vargas has 15 RBI so far (no one else on OKC has more than 6). He is OPS’ing over 1.000 and is playing a decent LF. It’s time for another shot for Miguel. Now, with full disclosure – it appears that Miguel Vargas has bought into the Dodgers launch angle and strikeout program as he is striking out at a much higher rate than before – he is also showing more power. It’s early, so maybe it’s an anomaly!

Last Night’s Recap

  • Paxton is looking like an excellent pickup (unless he gets injured).
  • The bullpen was lights out.
  • Ohtani and Freeman are heating up.
  • Let’s see what Conner Brogdon has…
  • It’s too bad the Dodgers sent Gus Varland back to OKC. He could have opened tonight against his brother, Louie! Instead, it’s that bum… Glasnow! 😉

100% Blackout

Yes, I saw it and it was one of the Coolest Things I have ever seen!

This article has 48 Comments

  1. 04/08/24 Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Connor Brogdon.
    04/08/24 Los Angeles Dodgers sent RHP Dinelson Lamet outright to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
    04/08/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Gus Varland to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.

  2. Are you giving up on Heyward? Don’t think it’s helpful for Vargas’ development if he comes up only against lefties. And Kike is not a great defender in CF. The Twins pitcher who threw Outman the 3-2 hanging breaking ball should be sent down. Outman hasn’t even fouled a fast ball off in over a week. And that’s what scares me the most about him. He swings right through mid mid average fastballs. Similar to Bellinger. Pitches a good hitter crushes. But he is very streaky, so maybe a good stretch is coming. And now Lux is all glove and no bat! But still lots of time. We need 7-8-9 to give us some production come October. Don’t need them to get to playoffs. Miller, Grove, Sheehan, Lux, Outman and Vargas. Some in this group will figure it out.

    1. Vargas actually has reverse splits. He hits RHP just fine.

      I think Kike is better in CF than many give him credit for.

      1. Mark,
        I saw it also. We were scheduled to go to Austin, but changed plans, Flew to Chicago Sunday, drove to Indianapolis (five hours in the rain.) Got up Monday, ate, saw the eclipse then back on the road to O’Hare ( another 5 hour drive) and a 10 PM flights to LAX.
        Was it worth it? Definitely, if only for traveling with my son.

  3. Umpire last night, John Tumpane, made some really bad strike calls on Mookie. I mean those balls were at least six inches outside. First was on a strike three call in Mookie’s second at bat. Then he made two more really bad calls his next at bat, forcing Mookie to swing at a pitch that was four inches off of the plate his next at bat since that was where Tumpane’s strike zone was. Roberts barked at the umpire and the ump threatened to run Dave from the game. Lasorda would have exploded and gotten his 10 cents worth in. Umpiring this season so far is awful. Angel Hernandez cemented his place as the worst in the league with some very questionable calls yesterday. Bring on the ABS.

  4. Got a feeling Vargas (and maybe his dad too) have had heated clashes with the Dodgers pitching coaches over his approach to hitting. If true, hopefully these “disagreements” won’t negatively affect the FO’s decisions on Vargas’ future with the team. I’d still like to see Miguel get another shot with the big club.

    1. I think you are right!

      To me, he seems to have “bought-in” to the Dodger’s philosophy. He is really driving the ball 400-440 ft. Yes, he is striking out more!

  5. Great win last night if not for that dreaded based on balls, Paxton probably throws six shut out. Innings pitch really well. With glass now on the mound tonight, looking for another six innings of good pitching Yamamoto to figure things out Bobby Miller will be just fine now what about Gavin? We all say it’s early no need to panic. Gavin has some really quality pitches. He just can’t seem to get that one big pitch to get out of a jam to get out of an inning. Hate to see him sent back down. We don’t want the Dodgers to kill his confidence, but five runs per Start won’t cut it really excited for walkers. Next rehab start get him back in that rotation would be major then of course later on in the summer expecting Dustin, May and Kershaw back I Agree the Trammel experiment looks like a flop. Absolutely a waste of a roster spot with Kris. I’m lost too. Can’t keep running out to left field hitting .075!! not all that high on kiki either. so why not give vargas another chance? bottom line, we need a left fielder! (who can hit)

  6. Talk about a short runway. You couldn’t even land a paper airplane on the runway that you’ve given Trammel! And why has everyone thrown Heyward to the curb? He had a solid year last year with the bat and gives us a gold glove in right field.

    1. The word on Trammell is that he is just there… no passion. That could be wrong, but…

      On Heyward… If he’s healthy, he’s a positive. We just don’t know…

  7. The bullpen is pretty good when u can throw Brasier, Hudson, and Phillips but look out tonight with grove, Kelly, brogdon. Could be some drama.

    Outman has speed, has power, very good defender. But he can’t put the bat on the ball so in a crucial playoff game expect a k.

    We mb should have kept Margot instead of kike. Taylor and kike r very versatile but Taylor is a k and kike can’t hit either along with being a dp candidate. Lux can hit rh pitching but lefties ina playoff situation k. So somebody has got to come through. Eventually it looks like Vargas mb the best bet.

  9. No mention of the Dodgers hosting the Girl who caught the HR ball?

    Classy thing to do for the organization, but of course the media will ignore that, doesn’t fit the narrative….

    Oh well, lets win tonight!!!

  11. Eric,

    If I truly were an egomaniac, I would come back with a comment designed to hurt you with no regard for your feelings.

    But, that is not the case and I don’t need to defend something that isn’t true.

    All I will say is that I wish you nothing but the best. Godspeed!

  12. Two more days and then I head home. Something really needs to be done about the umpiring in baseball. These last few days have shown how inept so many of these guys are. Bucknor and Hernandez are two of the worst. Makes you wish guys like Joe West were still working, and West could be an ass. But he was always fair behind the plate and if nothing else, his K zone was consistent.

  13. 7:40 PM ET

    Dodgers (9-4)
    Twins (3-5)

    SP Tyler Glasnow R
    2-0 3.18 ERA
    SP Louie Varland R
    0-1 6.75 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

    60° Wind 11 mph Out

  14. Trevor Story is out for the season with shoulder surgery.

    Josiah Gray to IL with a forearm strain. I predict that Gary might be a #5 at some point. He’s not there now.

  15. “TMZ reports that UrĂ­as is facing “one count of spousal battery, two counts of domestic battery involving dating relationship, one count of false imprisonment and one count of assault.” UrĂ­as’ arraignment is scheduled for early May, according to the report.”

    1. A person commits false imprisonment when they engage in the act of restraint on another person which confines that person in a restricted area. False imprisonment is an act punishable under criminal law as well as under tort law.

    2. Here we go. This is going to end badly. This was a guy who was on track to maybe get a 300 Million Contract and now he gets Zero. Zilch. Nada

  16. Vargas did not go to OKC to rediscover his offense, the offense has never been lost in the minor leagues, Vargas was sent to OKC to learn how to play LF, the Dodgers want to see how he performs in that position. If Vargas plays an average LF he will have a future on the team, if he plays below average, like he did at 3B and 2B, he is out and will be traded.
    Before starting the season I predicted that Teo would move to RF and Vargas to LF but now he has competition with Pagés, a real OF with a cannon arm.

    1. Correct.

      The only chance Vargas has with the team, barring catastrophe (like Outman never gets another hit), is next year if he can stick in LF. He can’t play defense.

      1. I do not agree with the premise that Vargas cannot play defense. His glove is fine, unlike a player like Delwyn Young who had an iron skillet. . He is listed as 6′ 2″, but I think he is taller than that, but he also has very long arms and legs. He has never had a position for long. He played 1B, 2B, and 3B throughout the minors, and while he is not a natural fielder, he does have a “soft glove” and good speed. He has been the youngest or one of the youngest players in every minor league stop. I think LF is his perfect position. His arm is above average, and so is his speed. He can catch a ball. Just leave him there, and he will be fine. He’s just not an infielder. He’s a faster version of Yuli Gurriel.

    2. I do not think the Dodgers will re-sign Teo – he will get big money somewhere else, and RF is perfect for Pages. In 2026, this is the Dodger Outfield:

      LF – Vargas
      CF – George
      RF – Pages

        1. Hopefully, he is still here. I do like James. I see him as a 4th OF – always have – he can play every OF position.

  17. I thought the comment in Mark’s article directed towards you was unnecessary, but at the same time, why do you take any criticism of Outman so personally?

    It doesn’t matter and no one cares. Ok…maybe Mark cares, but really, it doesn’t matter.

    1. I did it to draw him out… it worked.

      I like Eric. He said he likes me.

      That means some days he hates me.

      😉

  20. FYI, I will re-iterate that I like dissent… if you have a cogent argument. It doesn’t mean that I agree, but I respect a rational argument.

    Don’t just make sweeping statements. Put together a rational and coherent argument. We will all never agree with everything, but I loved to debate in HS and College and was very good at it.

    I raised two sons: #1 thinks he can out-debate me; #2 can!

    1. How about that 4th outfielder!
      Did he come off the bench to hit this one out?

Comments are closed.