The Dodgers signed Michael Conforto to a one-year/$17 Million Dollar deal last winter, but there were several other clubs involved as well, including the D-Bags. Interestingly, the Dodgers also inquired about him at the Trade Deadline in 2024. Michael Conforto was once an excellent power hitter, having compiled 27 HR in 2017, 28 HR in 2018, and 33 HR in 2019. His OPS from 2017 to 2020 was .880. He has struggled since then, but did have 20 HR in 2024 with a .759 OPS. The Dodgers believe that if you did it once (or four times), you can do it again. So far, Conforto has shown very little life left in his bat (except for the last game). Time is growing short… the Dodgers will soon have to decide is he stays or goes, but just for the heck of it, I asked ChatGPT this question: “Why is baseball such a difficult game for hitters?” We all know this, but here is the answer:
Baseball is notoriously difficult for hitters because it combines extreme precision, reaction speed, and mental discipline—and the odds are stacked against you. Here’s a breakdown of why hitting a baseball is one of the hardest things to do in sports:
1. Hitting a Moving Target Is Incredibly Hard
- A baseball can come in at 95–100 mph, giving the batter about 0.4 seconds to see, process, and swing.
- It doesn’t just come straight: pitchers add cut, sink, ride, drop, run, or spin.
- Hitters must track a 3-inch sphere that can move horizontally and vertically, mid-flight.
You’re reacting to movement you can barely see, at an elite reaction time level.
2. Hitting Requires Advanced Pattern Recognition
- Pitchers don’t throw the same thing twice: they mix fastballs, sliders, curves, changeups, and splitters—all with different speeds, spins, and trajectories.
- Great hitters guess or anticipate what’s coming—relying on pattern recognition and psychology.
It’s as much mental chess as physical skill.
3. The Margin for Error Is Tiny
- If your timing is off by even a few milliseconds, you miss or foul it off.
- If your bat is off by half an inch, it’s a pop-up instead of a home run.
- A well-hit ball is only one of many outcomes—most contact results in an out.
Hitting is a game of inches—literally.
4. Failure Is the Norm
- Even Hall of Famers fail 7 out of 10 times (a .300 batting average).
- The game is built to make hitters lose more than they win.
Baseball demands emotional resilience—coping with constant failure.
5. Modern Pitching Is More Brutal Than Ever
- Relievers throw even harder and nastier than starters.
- Hitters now face multiple pitchers per game, each with max-effort stuff.
- Analytics have given pitchers a strategic edge in pitch location and sequencing.
Today’s hitters are battling relentless velocity and data-driven game plans.
6. Strategic Positioning and Scouting
- Pitchers and defenses know your every weakness (e.g., low-and-away slider, high fastball).
- Defensive shifts and precise outfield positioning limit hits.
- Hitters now face personalized defensive schemes, not just raw athleticism.
Summary: Why Hitting Is So Hard
| Challenge | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Reaction time | Less than half a second to decide/swing |
| Pitch variety | Dozens of pitch types, each deceptive |
| Mental complexity | Requires guessing and strategy |
| Statistical disadvantage | Most batted balls become outs |
| Constant adjustment | New pitchers, shifts, mechanics, approach |
Final Thought:
In no other major sport is failing 70% of the time still considered elite. That’s how hard hitting really is.
We saw how long it took Max Muncy to finally break out. Maybe Conforto will do the same (there are certainly some signs), but the time that he has to do that is short. I am not of the opinion that the Dodgers have to trade for a centerfielder. Andy Pages is good in CF and getting better. A player who might be available who can play LF is a player many Dodger Fans have pined for over the years. He used to play CF, but has not done so since 2023. He is a switch-hitter and is having an off year. He is owed $77 million over the next six years and has a $20 million team option in 2031.
The Pirates need players, so the Dodgers could throw in Conforto to balance this year’s salaries and trade some of their precious prospects… maybe. If you haven’t figured it out, the player I am talking about is Bryan Reynolds of the Pirates. He has had some nice years, but this ain’t one. I am sure he has a crappy attitude about being on a team like the Pirates. He could be rejuvenated to be on a team like the Dodgers. He would hit in the bottom third of the order and not have to be a key cog in the offense. He’s still only 30 years old. It’s worth considering, but it is going to hurt with losing prospects.
“ If your bat is off by half an inch, it’s a pop-up instead of a home run.”
I immediately thought of game 5 of the WS. The Yankees,, already up 5-0, two on Judge at bat. He hits a ball that, by Davis’s call is hit a mile high. Sounds like the score was now 8-0 but Judge just missed it and was a fly out. Just 1/2 inch off and the rest is history.
TRUTH!
Missing by a half-inch is a tribute to the pitcher.
The ones that hurt are the warning-track shots that were missed by a couple of millimeters or milliseconds.
Thursday scores
Albuquerque 9, Oklahoma City 8
Springfield 4, Tulsa 3
Wisconsin 9, Great Lakes 2
Rancho Cucamonga 5, Inland Empire
ACL Dodgers21, ACL Brewers 10
“Christian Zazueta was acquired by the Dodgers in February 2024 along with Matt Gage in the Caleb Ferguson trade. The 20-year-old is having a stellar season at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, leading the league in wins (6), second in ERA (2.59), fourth in strikeouts (59), and third in WHIP (1.096). On Thursday, Zazueta pitched his fifth game (in 12 starts), where he has lasted at least five innings without giving up a run. He is ranked the Dodgers’ 19th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline”.
Friday schedule
Wisconsin (Anthony Flores) at Great Lakes (Payton Martin), 4:05 PM PST
Tulsa (Jared Karros) at Springfield (Pete Hansen), 5:05 PM PST
Oklahoma City (Justin Jarvis) at Albuquerque (Anthony Molina), 5:35 PM PST
Rancho Cucamonga (Sterling Patick) at Inland Empire (Chris Clark), 6:35 PM PST
For more detailed recaps,stats,schedules, daily standings and box scores for Dodger minor league teams go to the top of this page and cIick on MINOR LEAGUE AFFLIATES.
I think we’ve moved into Conforto-sitting-more mode.
Not really a full replacement yet.
But the clock is ticking, isn’t it?
If Conforto plays, perhaps he comes around and justifies his spot on the roster. If he sits, what is learned?
Imagine Conforto plays but only rises to a league-average level. That would be a big improvement from what we’ve seen–but far short of $17 million in value. And can’t the mighty, wealthy Dodgers afford an upgrade?
Reynolds is a good player who should be playing better than his .676 OPS suggests but I’d argue that the length of his contract makes Duran and Mullins better options. And there are probably others.
Pages’s defense has improved, and he’d be fine in CF with Duran in LF. Or Mullins could take over CF and Pages move to a corner.
The case for Mullins: He’s in his walk year. He’d be a rental, which would reduce his cost. He’s having a solid season with a .766 OPS and 10 HRs so far. If the Dodgers like him, perhaps they extend him.
Durran looked like a breakout star in ’24, but he’s closer to average this season. His OPS is .748 with 5 HRs. If Durran can find his ’24 form, he’d be great to have–and his contract includes an $8 million club option for ’26. His potential probably raises his cost.
As for Reynolds, he’s having a down year, the worst season of the group, and it seems that the Pirates want to dump his contract. This should reduce his price, but then the Dodgers would be on the hook for $77 million over the next six years.
Those first few years are when outfielders like Hope, DePaula, Sirota, Quintero, George and ??? could break through. (Perhaps one even breaks through in ’26.) Why block them?
And now let’s consider the option Mark considers unthinkable: James Outman.
He’s now the unofficial 27th man on the roster, just a strained oblique away from returning to the roster. Thanks to his quality defense, Outman is not like poor Ryan Ward, another Comet who probably could have outperformed Conforto if given the chance. The major league roster is so versatile that Outman could be summoned if any non-catcher or non-pitcher gets injured.
No on Reynolds.
He’s signed through 2030. He’s Conforto with a long- term commitment, and hasn’t had a good year since 2021, which was his one good year at 6 WAR. He’s a 2 WAR player and doesn’t really move the needle on a WS caliber team.
He might be even worse than Conforto defensively.
The Dodgers have so many promising outfield prospects in the pipeline. They just need to plug holes with short-term FA signings until one or more of them pan put.
Yeah, it’d be nice to get out of PIT and play for a contender, but playing for the Dodgers is not going to magically make a mediocre player exceptional.
Agree NO on Reynolds!
Brewers traded Civale to the White Sox for Andrew Vaughn and cash. Vaughn was optioned to AAA.
Weird trade for both sides
I guess Milwaukee gets a guy who brings some offensive potential.
And Chicago can move Civale closer to the deadline.
Just seems like their could have been a cleaner fit.
Civale requested a trade and Milwaukee wasted no time accommodating him. I shut off last night’s game after the grand slam. Not going to win many when you get just two hits and they both come from the same player. Also, won’t win when 1-4 go ofer with 5 Ks. Ohtani’s Ks are becoming epidemic. 6 Ks is his last 17 at bats, 10 game homerless streak.
He is a human baseball player and we all think he is above going through streaks like this.I am the same way.I think he is too good to play anyway but great and I am the same way about Freddie.But they both are going to have down streaks when we have 162 games.
Surprisingly (to some, I guess), Ohtani seems to be fine.
“No on Reynolds. He’s signed through 2030. He’s Conforto with a long- term commitment,”
Totally agree. The Dodgers apparently don’t care about possibly wasting some money as long as they feel a player improves the potential to win another WS. But Reynolds seems like grasping at straws. Almost like a desperation move. If they’re going to do that I’d rather they grasp at Zyhir Hope or Josue dePaula.
Dumb fans are gonna crucify AF/BG/DR if ANY of Reynolds, Hope or de Paula tank because they have no idea how impossible repeating is to achieve.
Longenhagen Chat:
12 to 6: eric, muncy’s spectacles-related revitalization is key to the dodger lineup, but it seems his days of battling third base to a standstill are nearing an end. given freeland’s defensive skill set and the seemingly dynamite combo of kim and betts in the mi, is there any chance la starts cycling max into 1b (freeman off days), lf, and dh (ohtani off days) with more frequency and giving freeland a shot at the hot corner?
Eric A Longenhagen: IDK if there are enough “Shohei off days” for there to be frequent reps in the scenarios you’re illustrating. Plus, Freeland isn’t on the 40-man, you’re sacrificing someone else to add him proactively. He’ll come up when it’s necessary due to injury dominoes and I think that’s fine.
Kevin: Are the teams who are best at development doing something different than other teams do, or are they just better at doing the same things in some way?
Eric A Longenhagen: A little of both. You have some Have Not Orgs who are a decade behind, and you have other teams who are better at using the same tools the other clubs have. Sometimes that’s just synergizing scouting and dev so you’re taking players that you already that know you’re going to change
Unless the outfielder is Aaron Judge or Ronald Acuna, or Jackson Merril (dreaming here), I don’t think we need any long-term signed guys. I really think 1 or 2 of Hope, Sirota, Quintero, Sirota, DePaula will make it.
Teo is here for 2-3 more years. Edman and Kim are here for a while. Obviously Pages will hold down 1 of those spots for the next many years (barring injury).
So is that an argument for Mullins (rental) or Duran (club option for ’26) …. or just rolling with Conforto (or Outman) and hoping for the best?
10:10 PM ET
Giants (40-29)
Dodgers (41-28)
SP Logan Webb R
5-5 2.58 ERA
SP Y. Yamamoto R
6-4 2.20 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
RF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
2B Tommy Edman S
72° Wind 8 mph Out
Glasnow (shoulder) threw live batting practice Friday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
“Glasnow was initially scheduled to throw a regular bullpen, but he wound up facing batters during the session. Glasnow has been progressing well since battling minor back soreness at the start of June, and he could be close to starting up a rehab assignment”.
Reynolds is an interesting idea.
Baseball Trade Values has his value at -$32 million. So, uh, he shouldn’t be that hard to trade for. The Pirates might see it differently, though.
Conforto has a 116 wRC+ since May 10th. Though that is buoyed by a hot few games right at the beginning. He’s just at a 92 wRC+ since 5/16.
Easiest thing would be for Conforto to figure it out.
I think the chances of the Dodgers trading for Conforto, or any OFer on a long-term contact, is very unlikely. And if they do, it might as well be Mike Trout.
I like your style.
Who are you?
😉
Oops
“trading for Reynolds, or any other OFer”
i predict confirto goes deep again tonight. i predict the dodgers sweep the giants. i predict kershaw pitches 6 good innings. i predict i have no clue how Dustin May pitches this weekend! … i would still rather have Duran than Reynolds. But if conforto starts to hit a little more, neither will be a dodger.
Zach Pop called up by the Mariners
Former Dodger who was part of the Manny Machado trade.
Decepcionante actuación de Yamamoto, me parece un verdadero fiasco de pitcher de 350 millones de us dllrs.
Primero, El es uno de los mejores labzadores de este temporada
Segundo, con Ohtani y Sasaki, ellos ganan cientos de milliones de dolares por el equipo.
Relajate.
Yamamoto just had a bad game, Webb has a 2.58 ERA after last night’s game. Yamamotos is 2.64!
First, he is one of the best players of this season. Second, with Ohtani and Sasaki, they earn hundreds of millions of dollars for the team. Relax.
I don’t think Sasaki is earning anything for the team yet…
Fingers crossed.
Webb thoroughly outpitched Yamamoto. The Dodgers need a true ace to step up.
I’m expecting more from Shohei than either Snell or Glasnow.
Translation from CBeisbol above,
Damn! First 4 took an ofer. Teo 2 hits. wish they would get on the same page.!!!!! Yamamoto was not sharp at all last night. But the guy behind the plate was atrocious! … JW pitched 4+ very nice innings. …. Logan Webb looks like the mean kid on Christmas Story! but he can pitch!
The balls and strikes calls have been poor for a number of games. Let’s go electronic!
Happy Birthday Bear!!!! Enjoy your day!!!!
Happy Bear Day!
Friday scores
Oklahoma City 9, Albuquerque 6
Springfield 6, Tulsa 4
Wisconsin 6, Great Lakes 4
Rancho Cucamonga 6, Inland Empire 3
ACL Rangers 10, ACL Dodgers 2
Rancho Cucamonga clinched the first-half divisional crown.
Saturday scores
Wisconsin (Sam Garcia) at Great Lakes (Sean Linan), 4:05 PM PST
Tulsa (Pete Heubeck) at Springfield (Max Rajcic), 4:35 PM PST
Oklahoma City (Kyle Funkhouser) at Albuquerque (Andrew Quezada), 5:35 PM PST
Rancho Cucamonga (Aidan Foeller) at Inland Empire (Francis Texido), 6:35 PM PST
For more detailed recaps,stats,schedules, daily standings and box scores for Dodger minor league teams go to the top of this page and cIick on MINOR LEAGUE AFFLIATES.
I can see Yamamota hitting the IL for a lttle R&R once some of the reinforcements are here.
The NL West is so competitive.
Just the other day, some baseball pundits were suggesting that the D’backs shoud deal Gallen or Kelly. But they just beat the Padres and are now 5 1/2 games out.
It’s still a four-team race, with the Dodgers and Giants tied at the top, with the Pads two games back.
“Pundits” are usually not worth listening to.
FanGraphs gives the DBacks a 36% chance to make the playoffs.
Baseball reference gives them a 25% chance.
Too early and too much chance of making the playoffs at the moment to consider moving players like Galen
10:10 PM ET
Giants (41-29)
Dodgers (41-29)
SP Landen Roupp R
4-4 3.29 ERA
SP Clayton Kershaw L
1-0 4.35 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
RF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
2B Hyeseong Kim L
73° Wind 8 mph Out
Dave Roberts said the Dodgers are discussing whether Emmet Sheehan’s next outing will be with OKC or if he’ll be activated.”Whether he needs another one there or he joins us, I think that’s what internally we’re going to make that final decision here in the next day or two.”
Fabian Ardaya
@FabianArdaya
Emmet Sheehan’s next start will be with the Dodgers per sources, as the right-hander returns to the big league rotation 13 months after Tommy John surgery.He’s here in LA today.
That’s excellent news.
The Dodgers do have a lot pitching depth, and Sheehan might be a guy who can stick in the rotation or the pen.
The Los Angeles Dodgers currently have a locker in the clubhouse for Jack Little, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
The right-hander has a 2.35 ERA over 25 outings in Triple-A this season, as he appears to be close to making his MLB debut.
Little is 27
In just 30.2 innings (small sample)
His ERA (2.35) is 53% better than league average
His FIP (3.99) is 22% better than league average
His xFIP (5.20) is 1% better than league average
Predictably, his walk (10.1%) and K (24.8%) rates are nothing special.
STEAMER projects him for a 4.90 ERA and 5.07 FIP.
In short, he looks like a filler arm much more than he looks like a savior.
06/14/25 LHP Garrett McDaniels returned to Los Angeles Dodgers from Los Angeles Angels.
McDaniels walked (16%) more than he K’d (12%) in 10 major league innings.
His ERA was 45% worse than league average. His FIP 67% worse. His XFIP 27% worse.
Would Texas traer DeGrom to the Dodgers ?
He has the Profiles the Dodgers love:
1 Very good pitcher
2 Expensive
3 Veteran
4 Injury-prone
Would Texas trade DeGrom to the Dodgers ???
He has the profile the Dodgers love:
1 Very good pitcher
2 Expensive
3 Veteran
4 Injury-prone
Definitely Injury- prone and we have more than enough quality reinforcements on the way. No need for starting ptchers.
I think the Dodgers look for #1
I think the Dodgers are more willing to accept #’s 2-4 than other teams.
Game is going very well today
The offense is clicking – 7 walks and just 1 K.
Kershaw getting the outs and 3 K’s closer to 3,000. Only 55 pitches through 5. He’s faced 17 hitters. It would be a perfect time for someone like Sauer to come in finish off the last 12 outs – but he just wore one for the team. And Wrobo just did it yesterday. I guess try to get another couple innings him Kershaw against the lineup for the 3rd time.
Kersh through 6 with another K.
Can he do one more inning?
70 pitches thus far
Kershaw for the very big W.
Yes, it’s mid-June, but this still feels big to me.
Seven shutout innings, only three hits and one walk. Five Ks. And the Dodgers beat the Giants, regaining first place in the West.
If Yamamoto had put up those numbers, we’d be hyping him for the Cy. Instead, it was Kershaw, now an aging, crafty southpaw, using control and guile to deliver the kind of stats we’d have expected from him in his Cy-MVP prime.
It feels big because Kershaw delivered this game after Yamamoto, supposedly the new ace, had delivered a stinker.
And it feels big because it has me thinking that Kershaw, health permitting, really can contribute down the stretch and into October.
Oh, nice game from Shohei too. Back on a 50+ HR pace.
Dodgers are 13-6 when Kim plays. A week ago I said that putting a guy with a 500+ OBP,and a400 BA with plus plus speed at the top of the lineup and moving the guy who hit 20+ hrs and struck out 20 more times than Conforto to 2nd in the lineup. The answer I got was that was a dumb idea because Ohtami always batted first. He will get just as many dingers, walks, but probably cut the Ks with someone in front of him who rattles the pitcher and forces him to pitch out of the stretch
Yes, batting Kim last gives you similar results, but robs he guy hitting 400 out of a bat per game. Even if mgt keeps Kim at the bottom of the lineup, put him in LF and Conforto on the bench.
don’t like kike pitching in this game! 11-0, a good beat down, a great performance from Clayton, and had to bring in Banda to finish it off anyway. I know the reasoning, but i still don’t think this was the to do it! … Kopech? he will be fine! …. now it’s time for Dustin to to show us something! Or should i say , show the dodgers something! … happy father’s day to all you dads out there! enjoy the day with your loved ones and then enjoy a dodger win tonight! i predicted a sweep, but 2 out of 3,ain’t bad! Right Meatloaf? rip!