So, as we all know by now, the Dodgers opted to jettison Jason Heyward and keep Kike Hernandez, Chris Taylor, and Tommy Edman, also with Austin Barnes and Kevin Kiermaier. I hate to see J-Hey go, but the reality of the situation is that he was really just a Right Fielder, and with Mookie back in RF, there was no need. Jason Heyward was a real asset to the Dodgers, even if he didn’t hit much. His home run earlier in the week was epic. This type of decision sucks, but that is the nature of baseball. I think that there is an injury component in this, too. It seems very likely that his back or some other thing may have been causing him lingering pain, and there may have been a chance he would not hold up. We shall see if that is the case. The Dodgers now have several players who can play multiple positions and play them well. Look at this:
- Kike Hernandez – C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF, P – The Ultimate Swiss-Army Knife
- Chris Taylor – 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF – Experienced in the playoffs
- Tommy Edman – 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF – Fast, switch-hitter, and he has a cannon.
- Miguel Rojas – 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, P – This dude is hitting .28freaking3!
- Mookie Betts – 2B, SS, CF, RF – All-World
- Max Muncy – 1B, 2B, 3B – Can you say “Heart and Soul?”
- Austin Barnes – C, 2B
- Kevin Kiermaier – CF, RF
This gives the Dodgers a lot of flexibility when it comes to possible injuries. Even if it is for a few games, the Dodgers have endless possibilities of mixing and matching players, if need be. Miguel Rojas can’t play every day, but Kike, CT3, or TommyE can play just about anywhere. Edman is excellent at SS and CF and KK just glides all over as he acts like a human vacuum cleaner in CF. The Dodgers outfield should be solid defensively and offensively.
Offensively, with players back off the IL, the Dodgers offense is as good as any in baseball… probably better! Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, and Tommy Edman should be substantial upgrades, and Gavin Lux is playing like an All-Star. The Dodgers offense is as fearsome as any in baseball with Betts and Muncy back.
Of course, the season stats of Muncy, Betts and Lux are not going to look so ferocious because of extended slumping with Lux and Muncy and Betts missing extended time, but this lineup is the best in baseball (if healthy):
- Ohtani DH
- Betts RF
- Freeman 1B
- Teoscar LF
- Lux 2B
- Smith C
- Muncy 3B
- Rojas SS
- Edman CF (I like elite speed here before Shohei)
Yamamoto is progressing nicely and will likely go on a rehab assignment in a week. They are making sure every bit of the tendonitis Glasnow is experiencing is gone before he goes on a rehab assignment. We might see Gavin Stone get some rest as well, but they are building up Clayton Kershaw, and I think he will surprise many of us. I think he’s got another MPH or two left. He hit 92 MPH last game. Bobby Miller and Walker Buehler are very much up in the air. I am not counting on them, but neither am I discounting them. A rotation of Glasnow, Yamamoto, Flaherty, Kershaw, Stone, and Knack is not too shabby, and we just have to wait and see what Buehler and Miller have left this year.
The bullpen is full of arms, and there are plenty of extra ones at OKC and on the IL. Friedman and Gomes have brought the depth needed to survive injuries and failures to hit or pitch effectively. This team is poised to make an epic stretch run. The defense is solid, and the veteran leadership is outstanding! This is the Dodger’s perspective: they’ve achieved the best record in the majors despite grappling with injuries to key players. Now, many of those stars have returned or are on the verge of coming back. With Blake Treinen bolstering an already elite bullpen and the return of third baseman Max Muncy, coupled with the addition of the versatile Tommy Edman, the Dodgers are poised to outslug nearly any opponent. This could very well be the turning point where their pitching—both starting and relief—becomes an unstoppable force.
Keep the faith!
Agree we are starting to peak. Let’s MFing roll.
No other option but to win it all this year.
i’m just sitting here this morning thinking about managers that might not be back if they don’t win the World Series. Dock ain’t going nowhere. Aaron Boone? He wins the World Series or he’s gone! John Schneider in Toronto. Gone. Bruce Bochy? Retires again. Mark Kotsay? Not fired, Probably takes another job with a contender. He’s done a heck of a job in Oakland! Brian Schnittger in Atlanta? Retires. Rob Thompson? Fired without winning the World Series. Too much talent, no excuses! Ollie Marmol? Fired! Bad hire to begin with. Bud Black? Does he not like being at home? Does he Like being miserable? Does he need the money? The answer to All three, is probably no. But who would want that job? It’s a no-win situation…. getting back to Doc, a lot of people will be screaming for his head if he doesn’t win! But I don’t think he’s going anywhere. Unless Friedman leaves, dock should be safe for that period of time. And like I’ve said earlier, this may be his best job!
If Friedman leaves… Ohtani may follow him. It’s in his contract.
I am not a Dave Roberts fan… but I am not a hater either.
It’s hard for me to see there is anyone better at this time.
If the playoffs weren’t so random… you just never know. The best team does not win… usually!
Cool deal Mark you finally wrote something without going ugly. Good job
Nick Ahmed elected free agency after going unclaimed on outright waivers, per the transaction log at MLB.com. The Dodgers had designated the veteran shortstop for assignment on Monday.
Padres lose to the Mets last night 8-3. beating Cease their number one pitcher.Dodgers pick up a half game. Lead now 4 over Arizona and 4 I/2 over SD.This a big series for the Mets who are in contention for the last playoff spot so maybe we’ll get a little help from them.
Houston Mitchell wrote this today about Jason Heyward:
The big news happened Thursday. The Dodgers activated Chris Taylor and designated Jason Heyward for assignment. This move caused a lot of consternation among fans online. But in the absence, so far, of an official explanation, let’s try to figure out the reasoning.
Heyward can play only right and left. Those positions are taken. Taylor can play multiple positions, including center. Heyward’s contract is up at the end of the season. Taylor has one year and $15 million left on his. Kevin Kiermaier is a four-time Gold Glove in center. Kiké Hernández can play multiple positions. None of these guys are hitting very well this season. In 43 postseason games, Heyward hit .148.
All those things add up to Heyward being the odd man out.
Heyward did bring certain intangibles however. He was a left-handed hitter. Well respected in the clubhouse. Worked hard and set an example for the younger players.
“You see him every day coming in working, helping the younger guys out, his whole routine, how professional he is,” catcher Will Smith said last year as reported in this story on Heyward’s release by Jack Harris. “That rubs off on guys.”
Will this come back to hurt the Dodgers? You never know, but I keep coming back to one thought: If your World Series title hopes rest on the last position player on your roster, then you have bigger problems. The Dodgers are still in the same boat as last week, and the week before that and….. they need the right guys to get hot in the postseason. It doesn’t matter if Heyward or Taylor is on the team if the top of the lineup goes one for 41.
Ahmed a very good defender! not so much at the plate anymore. …. I know dodgers owe Taylor a lot of money. But i still don’t see the need for both he and Kiki. Taylor can play anywhere Kiki can and is better at. shortstop. Both have a lot of swing and miss in their bats! i’m not choosing one over the other. Just saying they pretty much are the same player! …. If healthy, who’s the top 4 starters in the playoffs? (1) Glasonw, (2)Yamamoto,(3). Flaherty /Clayton) . Where or how does Stone fit in? If healthy, that’s as good as there is in baseball! Phillies are good. Padres are good. But you know who would be “dangerous “ in the playoffs? The Giants! Of course they won’t make the playoffs, but with Snell and Webb leading the way, they would be a handful! The biggest advantage the dodgers may have over everybody else? Rest. Mookie,Max, Even Freddie, Clayton, Glasnow, Yamamoto, Edman,Brasier,Phillips, all have had significant time off, or some breaks along the way. Team should be well rested in October. Might be a different story to tell this season!
That post-injury, post-trade lineup is impressive
I’m still not clear, however, how much faith Roberts has in Lux against lefty pitching. Here he is, the hottest hitter in the game–and the other day Roberts had Rojas pinch hit for Lux. And it paid off! Rojas got a hit.
Against lefties, perhaps Edman shifts from CF to 2B (where he won a gold glove) and CF plays CF while Lux sits. Pages has been a lefty killer, with an OPS close to .900. Assuming he comes back for the playoffs, he could start some games in CF, with Keirmaier as a late defensive replacement.
I don’t see any weak links.
I have never been convinced that Gavin Lux can’t hit LHP. Actually, I think Roberts will let him play against some LHP moving forward. However, I have always been convinced that James Outman will never hit LHP… the same as I felt about Joc.
Of course, I was convinced that Miguel Vargas would be a very good hitter. The fact that it hasn’t happened yet does not deter me.
I am also convinced that Andy Pages is not a CF’er – he belongs in RF.. and lets not forget that he is much younger than Outman.
Wow. Right on the money. The bosses overseeing the Boys in Blue have given the fans an incredible opportunity to watch history unfold. They say you can’t build a team for October, but they sure are giving it the old college try. Great time to be a Dodger fan. Try to keep up Michael.
Book em
Another way of looking at the lineup Mark posted from an opposing pitchers point of view:
1. MVP
2. MVP
3. MVPFreeman 1B
4. All Star & home run derby winner
5. Hottest hitter in baseball
6. All star
7. All star
8. .283 hitter
9. Edman
Let’s do something for Edman besides just his name.
How about fast guy who can lay down a bunt and steal bases.
Speed Racer
Love it…..and true. There’s no specific defense against speed.
Speed kills!
well i’d rather lux started! But , i would rather him sit against a tough lefty than pinch hit for him later in a game. He’s earned the right to stay in the game if he starts, not be pinch hit for!
Lux is starting tonight
10:10PM ET
Rays (64-63)
Dodgers (76-52)
SP Tyler Alexander L
5-3 5.17 ERA
SP Bobby Miller R
1-3 8.02 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
C Will Smith R
CF Tommy Edman S
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B Gavin Lux L
3B E. Hernandez R
Home Run Odds
72° Wind 10 mph Out
Doh! Just realized I wrote that “CF plays CF while Lux sits.” While that is an excellent plan, I of course meant Keirmaier.
Still some important personnel moves ahead. But injuries–real ones–could force some decisions.
Shohei, Mookie, Freddie, Teo, Lux, Smith, Max, Edman, Rojas, KK, Barnes–that’s 11 locks. Then Kike, Taylor, Pages would make 14….
The taxi squad could include Outman, Feduccia, ??
Who am I forgetting? Maybe that’s it for position players.
Question: Much of a chance AF/BG bring up any of the best minor leaguers for a cup of coffee to see if their abilities play up? De Paula, for his bat and the 05 mph fireballer, Yeah? Especially if anyone gets hurt?
Maybe Jack Dreyer… but not likely. Nobody else and probably not Dreyer…
I just got an E-Mail from someone who said this was really a comment:
AF is overrated. He is very good, but, not the baseball boy wonder savant some people believe he is.
I would say any number of baseball execs could do as well or better with the resources he has.
I don’t know who wrote it, but… What Stupidity
I know it wasn’t Jeff or Michael or Badger, but WOW. JUST WOW!
I think I will have to check and see who that moron was…
I have always had spies.
That is one of the dumbest things I have ever read.
AF is not perfect, but damn!
I love Jeff and Bear, but there are some really dumbass morons there.
It was Ohio Dodger who said that stupid shit!
Nothing he can ever say to make up for that dumbass shit!
What a degenerate!
NEVER QUESTION KIKE “FREAKIN” HERNANDEZ!
How about all the MORONS who wanted to send Bobby Miller back to oblivion?
Now, you know why you are too stupid to comment here!
HA! 😉
Damn Mark,sometimes I don’t even know why you bother to respond to these blog bitches who are obviously trying to bait your ass so they can get some kind of perverted high by calling you out. There is a cute little button on your keyboard that can delete all these toxic troopers who get off on calling you out. Make the damn call, stop battling idiots (my word for morons), and get back to your joy, talking about the Dodgers and all that is baseball, by the way, , great take yesterday on where the team is ,keep it up
What can we Dodger fans say, Ohtani is the man. 40 Hr, 40 SB