A person with just sight might say, “Wrobleski is obviously not ready to pitch in the Big Leagues,” and they are probably right, but someone who has some vision will say, “Wow, the kid recovered from a shellacking and pitched four good innings yesterday. – he must have some character!” Yes, Justin Wrobleski got lit up and gave up 10 runs years. Yes, he will likely not be on the playoff roster. But, I saw a kid who made adjustments and did not put his head down. He knew he had to stay in and pitch because the bullpen was gassed, and he did and also adapted. He will likely go down today, and Landon Knack will be recalled. Knack could be used today or tomorrow.
Michael Grove could go back today as well. I suppose Pederson is on the radar again. Joe Kelly, who has shoulder issues, might be getting toasty. Watch the haters say how stupid Andrew Friedman is for signing CT3 and Joe Kelly. They never quit – that’s why they are haters. The hate just oozes out naturally. They are so fun to be around. I miss them so much. SARCASM ALERT! Guess what? Andrew makes up for bad signings with a plethora of good signings. No one is right all the time except the haters. They hate it all the time.
Haters gonna hate. I’m just going to root for the Dodgers. The truth is, sometimes you learn more about a team under adversity than in a blowout game. We are also going to learn a lot about the team today as Flaherty goes against Rodriguez today. This is an opportunity for the Dodgers to make a statement! I am eager to see what the lineup is and how the boys in blue respond. A win takes the series, which would be huge. A loss leaves them where they were at the start of the series. Remember, last season, the Rangers lost on the last days of the season… and backed in… only to win it all.
The Bazooka will likely be back this week, and Yamamoto and Glasnow are progressing at different rates. Both should be able to get two or three starts before the playoffs. Clayton is a crapshoot, as I know how toe injuries can be. You haven’t heard much about him, but a wild card is Tony Gonsolin, who is progressing nicely and has hit 94-95 MPH. You may see him pitch at OKC or RC this week. There is not enough time to build him up as a starter, but he could be an outstanding addition to the bullpen.
Hang on, this is going to be a wild September!
The game against the Snakes today will decide the season series winner and the tie-breaker for the Division. Vegas has the Dodgers -145 with Flaherty on the mound against Rodriguez who snubbed us at the trading deadline last year and we owe him one.
Really like that Taylor Swift song.
Sometimes things just go south. Wrobleski had a very bad inning, but the Dodgers needed him to hang in there and give them some innings and he did that. That says something about him.
For whatever reason, most teams don’t have long relievers anymore, a pitcher who could come in and toss four, five or six innings.
Dalton Rushing may be in the Dodger outfield next season. They’ll have to find some place for him to play, most scouting reports indicate he’ll be a big time slugger. Or so they think. If they had a a chance to do that draft again, Rushing would probably go at or near the top.
There was a piece on Teoscar over the weekend where there is some doubt about teams offering him a four or five year contract. He’s getting older, strikes out a lot and doesn’t play great defense. We’ll see. But he sure has been a clutch hitter this season.
Outman is still in the mix for next year.
I could easily see a Pages/Rushing platoon in LF next year.
John Smoltz has commented on the need for a bullpen piece that can go multiple innings in order to provide needed innings relief.
Justin Wrobleski likely gained tons of respect from his teammates yesterday for taking one for the team. Total respect for him. He (and Kike), really saved the bullpen.
Which means today: Jack Flaherty can show he’s October ready by winning us this series, and the bullpen behind him is ready to finish the game. Let’s get this and take 3 of 4.
If we resign Teoscar.We have teo,Mookie and Rushing in the outfield,let’s just say.Can we do that and where do they play.Would Mookie play center?I feel like Pages will be playing some too.
I would bet that Mookie will never play CF again. I am not sure if he plays RF next year. Maybe one more year there.
I can see an outfield of Rushing/Pages in LF, Edman in CF, and Mookie in RF next year, with James Outman and CT3 as backups.
Mark,
is it possible Rushing can play some catcher next season ?
Yes, but I do not see him as the #2.
The Dodgers value Austin Barnes rapport with the pitching staff greatly.
If Mookie doesn’t play OF next season, where would he play?
Would he push Lux out of 2B just as Lux is starting to fulfill his potential?
Lux certainly could be an attractive piece in a trade.
Mookie can play SS, but the Dodgers will have better gloves in Edman and Rojas.
Mookie shifting to SS this year was an impressive leap. Depending on who else is in the outfield, I see no reason that Mookie wouldn’t make the modest shift to CF. If both Pages and Outman make the squad, Mookie could be a platoon partner for Outman agaisnt lefties and Pages against righties
You’d have to have a compelling reason to move a guy out of the position where he’s won six Gold Gloves. That makes little sense. He wants to play 2B, but Lux is hitting very well, although he is at .171 against LHP. He may improve next year.
When Cody Bellinger was sidelined for half of the 2021 season, Mookie Betts often found himself patrolling center field. But that year, Mookie’s hip troubles seemed to flare up, coincidentally or not, casting a shadow over his performance. Sure, Betts has the speed and athleticism to handle center field, but should you really ask one of baseball’s most elite players—someone with a slighter build—to suddenly double his workload in the outfield? Absolutely not, especially when he’s already the best in the game at his natural position.
While Mookie can certainly step into center field in a pinch, the presence of players like Outman, Edman, and Chris Taylor makes it unnecessary to even entertain the idea. Moving Betts off his preferred spot would be a disservice to his unparalleled skill set.
I think it’s likely that Mookie will play RF in 2024 and move to 2B when Lefties are on the mound, with Pages playing RF!
So if you are saying that 2B is Mookie’s “preferred spot”–and I’m really not sure you are–are you also saying that Lux should be traded? Or are you saying that Mookie, who recently wanted to play SS, now he prefers RF again?
I trust you’ve dropped the Lux-to-CF notion. (Lux’s mediocre arm, I think, could be hidden in LF, but it would also hamper him in a UT role, at least for a team like the Dodgers.)
Lux may still believe he can be a quality shortstop, but the Dodger brass are now limiting him to a platoon at 2B–and he’s playing great in that role. Given his offensive surge, I hope he gets a chance at playing full-time–but not this season.
Before Lux visited his uncle over the all-star break, I was eager to deal him. Now I’m not sure.
But if Mookie is truly destined for 2B, what’s the plan for Lux?
And if Rushing proves he can be decent at LF and hit major-league pitching, what’s not to like?
Rushing could also be a third catcher and give Freddie some occasional rest at 1B. (Barnes will still be under contract. I’ve read that Rushing’s defense as catcher isn’t ML quality, but he could get at least get action in blowouts.)
As Freddie ages, he might be sharper playing 152 games instead of 162. And I’d still like to see Rushing get some training at 3B.
As I’m writing this, I’m watching highlights of today’s win.
Smith just threw out another guy stealing, giving him 29 (!) for the season.
Ohtani just stole another base, giving him 23 out of his last 23….
And Teoscar went 5-for-5…
And of course Freddie hit a couple of bombs.
But the best news today is another fine start by Flaherty.
Given all the uncertainty in the rotation, Flaherty seems like someone we can count on.
Losses such as yesterday are normally much easier to get over than a one run loss. Sometimes games just get away from you and then in order to win the war you have to concede the battle. I like Teo as much as the next guy but I think (like it matters) that a two year contract at the maximum. We have enough quality players to fill CF, Rushing in left and Betts in Right. If Rushing comes up and is briefly overwhelmed we have Pages, Outman etc. in two years DePaula should be ready to be in the majors. I know this won’t be popular with some but I’d offer Teo a one year contract period. Bullpen pieces are like red headed girlfriends (I had one for about three years) you really don’t know what your going to get from one week to the next. Happy Labor Day
I don’t disagree with much of that. Maybe two years at 60 Mil, but it is not smart to break the bank on him. NO LONG-TERM DEAL! I’ve had the same girlfriend for 28 years. 😉
I married way above my pay grade!
I agree you out kicked your coverage and I’ve never seen you and can make that call. If you sign Teo for two years, which isn’t a bad scenario, where are you going to play Rushing? He’s knocking on the door and I agree it would not be the best for the Dodgers to play Betts in CF. Personally if Hernandez has not received a qualifing offer, I’d go that route and get a first round draft pick. Next season Hernandez may have a better year than Rushing (maybe) but in two years Rushing will put up better numbers in my crystal ball.
4:10 PM ET
Dodgers (82-55)
Diamondbacks (77-60)
SP Jack Flaherty R
10-6 3.07 ERA
SP E. Rodriguez L
2-0 5.06 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
3B E. Hernandez R
2B Chris Taylor R
In Domed Stadium
Hello September. Baseballs second best month. The Boys in Blue are poised for a deep run in the playoffs , barring catastrophe. The Dodger organization as a whole , needs to game plan way better this postseason. Lovullo really had the winning strategies last year and the Madres the year before. Change up all of your sequencing and first pitch comfort zones and put your opponent flat on their back. It can’t hurt. History is unfolding.
Book em
Great series win took care of business!
offer teo 2 years at $30 million per year. if he says no, move on. i think he’s going to stay! he seems to love it there, and they love him! he strikes out a lot, but the production is very good!