There has been a lot of conversation about this. Some fans think that Betts should lead off. Others think that Ohtani should lead off. Why not both? Here is something to think about. Let’s look at their splits against RH and LH pitching:
- Ohtani against LHP – .264 BA/.324 OB%/.786 OPS
- Ohtani against RHP – .305 BA/.402 OB%/1.100 OPS
- Betts against LHP – .325 BA/.399 OB%/.877 OPS
- Betts against RHP – .293 BA/.394 OB%/.904 OPS
In a perfect world, I want Ohtani leading off against RHP and Betts leading off against LHP. What’s wrong with that? They both still come up in the first inning! Everything does not need to be the same all the time. Try it, you might like it.
This month’s audition for the playoffs has 4 Acts. Tomorrow, Act I will be done, but there are still three more weeks to determine who will be there in the playoffs. I see fans say, “Well, Miller gets one more start.” No, he doesn’t – that’s what morons say. The only way he gets one more start is if the knee pain is too great. Whenever fans jump to conclusions, they are usually wrong. You have to let it play out. Tonight, we will see if Landon can get the Knack.
The Bazooka will allegedly be back tonight as well, with Peterson being the obvious demotion. Honeywell may be the odd man out again when Knack returns. Honeywell has been a nice story, and I think he wants to stay with the Dodgers, but his strikeout rate is so low that it is obviously unsustainable. Maybe the team works with him over the winter, but the odds are against him.
If and when Yamamoto, Glasnow, and/or Kershaw come back, who goes away? Boy, every pitcher on the roster has a place and a case for staying… except maybe Miller. As you can see, someone is going to be the odd-man-out or should I say, “odd-men-out?”
PITCHERS:
I like Ohtoni always leading off with more of a chance of a homerun and a stolen base. Also he could possibly get one more at bat if the game is on the line. Don’t change what has been working since Mookie went on the IL.
Houston Mitchell posted this report in his newsletter today:
—Chris Taylor is hitting .281 since July 20.
—Gavin Lux is hitting .346 since July 20.
—How some of the Dodgers traded at the deadline or released since then are doing:
Jason Heyward, Houston (no relation), 2 for 11 with a double and two RBIs.
Cavan Biggio is in the minors with San Francisco.
Miguel Vargas is hitting .122/.240/.195 with the Chicago White Sox. He’s 10 for 82.
Nick Ahmed is in the minors with San Diego.
Amed Rosario is hitting .250/.294/.375 with Cincinnati. He is 8 for 32.
James Paxton was 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in three starts with Boston before going on the IL in mid-August with a calf injury.
Ryan Yarbrough is 1-0 with a 2.20 ERA in 16.1 innings (all in relief) with Toronto.
Yohan Ramirez is in the minors with Boston.
I like Ohtani leading off and Betts batting second. Left, right, left. I just wish Will Smith was hitting better. When the season is over, we’ll probably find out he had some nagging injury.
Didn’t Roberts just say that it’s Miller because there is no one to step up and fill that slot? Or has that changed? Oh well, every team has one issue or another these days.
I can’t believe how many LA pitchers are on the IL. Something is clearly wrong. Even the broadcast booth is talking about it. Clearly what the Dodgers are doing isn’t working. Internally you know the Dodgers upper management is having the same discussion.
Looking ahead, will Alex Freeman be the shortstop next season? Looks pretty good right now.
I’m not sure how all this will turn out for Walker Buehler. It seems like a location issue. At times he looks pretty good, he just doesn’t have the 98 plus velo, but you can win with 92 -95.
I like Mark’s idea of having Shohei lead off against righties and Mookie against lefties. The splits could maximize their on-base abilities.
Shohei would still be leading off most of the time, and I’m glad the Dodgers are using his base-stealing ability.
The other day, I was thinking, “Shohei should run to take away the possibility of a doubleplay. ” But he didn’t–and Mookie grounded into the DP.
Landon Knack, too often overlooked, is coming up. With so many questions about the starting rotation, he has a chance to be an answer.
I feel bad for Vargas. Once he lost starting second base job in my opinion got treated wrong from that point on and really never given another chance and then traded to one of worst teams in history of modern baseball. I understand it’s a business but golly. How could he not be depressed. I really had high hopes for him and still hoping he digs himself a new path and becomes the hitter I’d thought he’d be
Maybe he’ll be lucky and they will DFA him
I had always hoped Vargas would get traded to Miami, which is where his family lives now.
I don’t think the Dodgers mistreated him. If anything, he received privileged treatment more often than not. The brass was wrong to have him on the playoff roster in ’22, and wrong to gift-wrap the 2B job for him the next spring.
He apparently played despite lingering pain in his hands. If he was put on the injured list, perhaps Michael Busch or ??? would have had a chance.
The sad fact is he might just be one of those 4A players. We’ll see.
Vargas has the talent to be a very good hitter. What he lacks is maturity. He has leaned heavily on his parents and now he has no support system on a crappy team. He is lost.. and this will either make him or break him. It could set him back a couple of years.
Last week, Dave Roberts said that the door is “slightly open” for Gonsolin (elbow) to pitch before the end of the season. Gonsolin underwent Tommy John surgery Sept. 1 of last year, so he’s more than one year removed from the procedure. The right-hander pitched three live batting-practice sessions earlier in August, during which his fastball sat at 92-to-94 mph — the same range as his velocity prior to his injury. Gonsolin recently said he’s optimistic about his ability to pitch in game action before the end of this season, though Roberts was more conservative in his assessment. If Gonsoin does make it back to the big club, he’ll work out of the bullpen.
In 2022, when he was 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA his 4-seamer averaged 92-93. Stay tuned.
ohtani 1, betts 2? i like it either way! freddie 3. Now the kicker! i would hit Lux 4. i know righty- lefty yayaya! Gavin is making great contact and producing. Teo is a 5 all day long! But in the first inning, with 2 on , give me lux. Teo can clean up the rest!
Landon Knack needs to pull an “Andy Pages” and drop 40 pounds. Knack changed his diet last year but if he wants to take his game to the next level, he just needs to do it better. He can do it … if he wants it enough. Lugging and extra 40 pounds all game is hard work. Pages changed his life and baseball future by doing that.
Who was talking shit about Knack?
Rich Hill is available. 😉
Do you think he’ll have to give Pages a Porsche to get his old uni #44 back when we sign him?
Considering Hill’s current pay scale and the length of time Pages has worn that number, a 2003 Honda might do it.
I was thinking a 1982 Checker cab.
That may be worth as much as a Porsche.
Can’t be too many of those left in running condition.
Overall, I prefer Mookie. His career stats say he is best leading off. .296/.376/.537. His OPS in the leadoff spot is .913. He has 50 career homers leading off games. All that in nearly 4400 at bats. I would rather see a pure power hitter like Ohtani hitting 3rd. But it is clear, his best spot is second. His BA is almost 20 points higher in the 2 slot. His OPS is over 1.000 in the 2 spot. His OPS+ is higher in the 2 slot. Betts’ OPS is 29 points lower hitting 2nd. Statistically, it makes sense to switch them. Yes, Hill is available, but he could not pitch in the postseason. McKinney was DFAd also.
McKinney might be DOA!
Rich Hill is close!
Dodgers have signed free agent LHP, Zach Logue according to MSM Sports and X. He had been DFAd by Atlanta and passed through waivers. He then elected free agency. He can start and relieve; he will not be eligible for the post-season. He has been at AAA Gwinnett for most of the year. He is 28 years old. He was 5-6 at Gwinnett with a 2.68 ERA in 92 innings of work. 12 of his 24 appearances were starts. He also has 1 save.
Awe great now they put stone on IL. Maybe just to get him some rest. Still got a division to win. Hope it’s not serious
If he’s done, he more than did his part this year. I salute him. We need to hope for Glasnow to join Yamamoto and Flaherty so that whoever’s #4 is not as crucial. Buehler gets my vote. Maybe Kersh.
09/06/24 Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Gavin Stone on the 15-day injured list. Right shoulder inflammation.
09/06/24 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Landon Knack from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
09/06/24 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled LHP Justin Wrobleski from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
09/06/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Michael Petersen to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
I believe we are being cursed.The Morons of the past have a witch doctor who has voodoo dolls of our pitching staff who has attacked our players arms.That’s my scientific theory!
Agree 😉
10:10 PM ET
Guardians (80-60)
Dodgers (84-56)
SP Matthew Boyd L
1-1 2.38 ERA
SP Landon Knack R
2-2 3.00 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
89° Wind 6 mph Out
From the Dodger’s Official Page:
“As for Glasnow, injuries just continue to be part of his career. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has made it clear that Glasnow will need at least one rehab start before he’s able to return. Glasnow will throw a bullpen session over the weekend, which will determine just how ready he is to take that step. When, or if, he returns to the mound this season, Los Angeles is going to need him to pitch like an ace to anchor its postseason rotation. Will Glasnow be able to do that if he’s not 100 percent? That’s going to be the big question.As for Glasnow, injuries just continue to be part of his career. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has made it clear that Glasnow will need at least one rehab start before he’s able to return. Glasnow will throw a bullpen session over the weekend, which will determine just how ready he is to take that step. When, or if, he returns to the mound this season, Los Angeles is going to need him to pitch like an ace to anchor its postseason rotation. Will Glasnow be able to do that if he’s not 100 percent? That’s going to be the big question”.
Sounds like he’s just sitting out.
My opinion is that Glasnow’s injury is more serious then the Dodgers are letting on.
I can see it both ways… which is why I have no opinion.
So, I wait and see!
I have no expectations… good or bad!
Who was talking shit about Knack?
I have always liked Knack. I said earlier that he should lose 40 pounds… maybe 25 is all. 😉
I should too
You’ve been consistent about that. Never took it as if you were bad mouthing him.
Ohtani’s raw ability is undeniable. However, if I had a choice on who to bat with runners in scoring position, it would be a coin flip between Betts and Freeman, with the slight edge going to Freeman. Ohtani batting lead off may have more to do with there being a higher probability of Betts and/or Freeman driving in Ohtani than Ohtani driving in the other two if their roles were reversed.
R.I.P. Sérgio Mendes
I saw them in concert once. What a great show they put on. RIP is right.
Why didn’t the Dodgers pinch hit for taylor.. Mark doesn’t matter how you see the game, Robert has to go and take the hitting so called coaches with him.
These were his choices, Kiermaier, Barnes and Pages. Who in that group do you trust? Kiermaier is not very good as a PH; Pages has done it 5 times in his career. You really want Barnes over Taylor who in his career with the bases jammed has 6 career grand slams? Taylor had a very good at bat. He just happened to hit the ball hard on the ground and right at someone. Taylor would have not been in the game if not for Teos’ injury. It also looks like Teo is going to get some IL time and the Dodgers only replacement is Pages. Barnes in his career is not a very good PH. But he has been decent this year, 4-8 but no runs driven in.
I don’t think Landon losing weight will impact his performance. Ok drop a few lbs. and his stamina might tick up. But he went 6 strong. Pages, ok I get it. Not to many beefy outfielders in the show. If he still has a problem with his diet, his handlers and trainers aren’t doing their jobs. IMHO I think he looks just fine.
Book em