The morons wanted to see soooo many trades by the Dodgers. Many morons predicted all kinds of trades at the deadline for the Dodgers. That’s what morons do. I had expected that May and Outman would be dealt, and that is what happened. Now, they can get down to business. The morons don’t run anything… except their mouths. The Dodgers acquired Brock Stewart and Alex Call, two very useful players for them. All in all, the Dodgers improved at the deadline. Brock Stewart should help the pen immensely. RH hitters have no chance against him, and Alex Call is Steven Kuan-light. He will platoon with Michael Conforto in LF.
The Dodgers got prospects for May, including the Giants’ first-round pick last year (James Tibbs), who was part of the Devers trade. Andrew Friedman told us that he was not going to be Monte Hall at the Trade Deadline, and he was true to his word. On paper, the Padres improved a lot! AJ Preller is making dope-fiend moves to save his job, but the Padres will screw it up. They might be tough for a while, which is why Dave Roberts needs to “Go to the Whip.” The country club atmosphere is over. It’s time to play ball. The following is BULLSHIT and has to change RIGHT AWAY!
- Over the last 30 games, Shohei Ohtani is hitting .211 – this is bullshit!
- Over the last 30 games, Teoscar Hernandez is hitting .234 – this is bullshit!
- Over the past 30 games, Mookie Betts is hitting .205. – this is beyond bullshit!
- Over the past 30 games, Tommy Edman is hitting .184 – this is pure bullshit!
- Over the past 30 games, Freddie Freeman is hitting .243 – this is unacceptable!
Miggy Ro is hitting, Will Smith is hitting, and Andy Pages is hitting. It is time to go to the whip for the rest of these slackers.
Shohei and Mookie have to lead the way. They both are sucking pond water! Shohei has not hit since he started pitching: If he can’t do both, then just hit! You are not playing for the loser Angels anymore. This is a World Championship Team! Start Acting Like it! I don’t care what you want to do… just make sure you do it at a high level or don’t do it!
Brock Stewart will help. Call will help. Muncy will be back in the next few days. So will Snell. It’s time to blast off! No excuses – It’s go time! Some moron said, “Call is an improvement over Conforto!” MORON, Call is a compliment to Conforto. Idiot!
Edman should be on IL.
Freddie batting about .320 last 10 games
No move was a game changer but every move made sense. Tibbs hasn’t exactly been lighting up the minors, but the guy was the 13th overall pick by the Giants last year and the only real value the Sox received in the Devers trade. May will be a free agent and would have been relegated to the bullpen had he stayed with the Dodgers. So we got the 2024 13th overall pick for a rental relief arm with an ERA approaching 5. 00. I’m not going to complain about that. We got an outfielder that kills lefties and plays good defense and a guy who played for us previously who has been a very reliable right arm for the Blue Jays the last couple years.
I’m good with all of that. Especially compared to what Preller did to the Padre system down south. I’ve lost count how many times he’s blown up the Padres minor league system and it will produce the same results as it has in the past. They won’t win shit and get to watch even more former Padre assets make All Star teams in other uniforms for years to come.
And the poor Angel fans. The old song goes “Know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run”. Arte Moreno never learned the last three. That guy will play duce three all the way to the river, every time.
Still very happy to be a Dodger fan.
Exactly right. May want going to start. I’d rather have Stewart in relief than May (no disrespect to May but he’s been inconsistent). We also replaced a good glove no hit outfielder for a good glove outfielder who hits lefts pretty good. Would have loved Kwan but the Dodgers weren’t trading Rushing.
Very good take.
Rec
The Padres could very well win it this year, they certainly have the roster to make that happen.
Hope so. Change is good.
So after many column inches, many heated debates, many rebuttals, many angry exchanges, the Vargas / Outman Era has come to an end.
I can officially confirm the Mark / Eric War has finished as a Draw.
Far be from me to question the author of the Book of Moron, but I think Alex Call is a complement to Conforto, not a compliment. Yes, Conforto and Call should platoon.
I liked Brock Stewart when he first came up. Nice to have him back as a new, improved, oider version.
He essentially replaces May on the 26-man, and Call replaces Outman. Better bat, especially against lefties. Yes, he should platoon with Conforto. But we’ll miss Outman’s D.
If Outman had made a glorious game-saving catch on Correa’s drive, would he have saved his job with the Dodgers? Alas, we’ll never know. But it’s good that he’s getting a fresh start, and should get more leash there.
Only one deal made me think “uh-oh”: Mason Miller to the Pads. Best closer in the game joins the best bullpen–with years of control on his contract.
For the Dodgers, the Padres’ Miller deal could prove more consequential than any trade that AF pulled off. (Did the Dodgers make an offer?)
When the postseason comes, the Dodgers better score early and often–and not be forced to beat the Padres’ bullpen.
The Dodgers starting pitching when healthy, is better than the Padres, and they traded two starters and were trying to trade Cease. Their bullpen is better. That is a given, but the Dodgers beat the Padres in a short series last year with a gimpy Freeman, all of their starters on the IL except Yamamoto, and they shut them out in game four with a bullpen game. This is the same team that got one shutout all season and had four in the playoffs. AF and Gomes obviously did not want to gut the farm for any player. I was far more impressed with the Yankees haul at the deadline than the Padres. They got three closers to add to Williams and Weaver. Bednar, Bird and Doval all have closer experience. LA is getting a 30-homer guy back, and he didn’t cost them a thing. Everything I heard said that Cleveland wanted Rushing in any deal for Kwan. Duran wasn’t going anywhere as far as the Red Sox were concerned. As for Laureano and O’Hearn, they are both career American Leaguers. They are going to have to adjust to new pitchers and new ballparks. One more thing, LA has a 5-2 record against the Pudknockers this year. They have 6 games left with SD. 3 in LA, and 3 in SD. They do not play SD again after the 24th of August. So, unless the Padres sweep, I like the Dodgers chances. Both teams have 53 games left. LA has hit 163 homers. The Padres, 92.
I had a great view of the Outman “Almost Catch.”
It looked like he was 5 feet over the wall. It’s an 8 ft wall, and he boosted himself up to catch that ball A LOT! He had it North and South. It was just a little West of his glove pocket. I said, “Damn, he almost had that!” Then the replay confirmed it.
I wish James well!
Classy. Me too.
James is fast enough and plenty good enough defensively to be a #4 outfielder in the big leagues for a long time. Get some control of his K’s and he’s an everyday player. God speed.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Acquired James Tibbs and Zach Ehrhard from Red Sox for Dustin May
Acquired Alex Call from Nationals for Eriq Swan and Sean Paul Linan
Acquired Brock Stewart from Twins for James Outman
Acquired Adam Serwinowski from Reds, and Paul Gervase and Ben Rortvedt from the Rays, gave up Hunter Feduccia
Acquired cash considerations from Twins for Noah Davis
Acquired cash from Brewers for Steward Berroa
Happy Fed is free
Didn’t Shohei just recently hit a HR in 5 straight games? Just sayin…
Everything is a streak with him. Now 0-10 and 5 Ks in last 2 games
His BA has dropped over 40 points since he started pitching
What would be the reason Ohtani’s batting average would fall because he is now pitching every 5th or 6th day?
I assume it is because pitches tire him. But remember it is only e try 5th or 6th day and for 100 years pitchers batted – not all that successfully but they did. And all those pitchers pitched a LOT more than Ohtani is currently.
Also remember that Ohtani is an outstanding physical specimen in outstanding condition. All that makes me doubt it is being “tired”.
So then what? He’s not trying as hard? He’s not “concentrating” on hitting? Really? Facing a 90-100mph hardball thrown at you and you’re NOT concentrating? Pretty sure he’s studying pitchers as always. Must spend some times studying the hitters he will be facing that one day out of 6 but it doesnt seem like that would be a hugely different level of effort. I can’t think of any other mechanism that would be causing this reduced batting average, can you guys?
It’s very difficult to prepare for both. Batters hit everyday and spend quite a bit of time in the video room analyzing how the opposition is approaching them. This typically leads a higher level of detail in their batting practice(s) when adjustments are necessary. Hitters can’t afford to be complacent.
Pitchers require rest in between starts, but still have to throw side sessions. Pitching is all about routine; physically conditioning, specifically arm strength, etc. Hitting disrupts that routine and vice versa; therefore, something typically has to give.
Getting Snell back, is basically like a trade deadline move. He only pitched in 2 games, and we are getting him back right at the trade deadline. They added some nice pieces to the puzzle. They are definitely a better team today than they were on Wednesday.
These are the moves of a team trying to win as many WS as possible over the next 10 years, not just blow their whole wad on this season. Calculated and strategic moves to shift club controllability to younger players. Internal reinforcements could definitely prove more meaningful than any big trade, ie a lot is riding on some arms being healthy and effective for the next 3 months.
I’ll echo Marks sentiment though. A fire needs to be lit under their asses now.
The Dodgers’ best deadline deals were already made – the return of Glasnow, Snell, Sasaki (maybe), Treinen, Scott (gulp!), Kopech (maybe), Graterol (unlikely but you never know) and Muncy (as long as he’s the Muncy from June and not from April).
I am not a Brock Stewart fan. He’s had 2 good seasons in 7 (including this year of course), and has only pitched 34 innings because he’s already been injured this season (which is his career high in IP for a season). I hope he helps.
Alex Call has a career OPS of .711. His career high for HR in a season is 8. He is certainly not Steven Kwan.
I like the return in the Dustin May deal.
I guess we will find out if they did enough this year. They really need a top relief arm in my opinion. I don’t trust any of the Dodgers’ relief arms to close right now. They didn’t solve that problem. I am fearful that they will lose in the postseason due to a crummy bullpen.
Call is more like Kwan than you may think… Kwan has more power , but if you look at their OPS THIS year, Kwan is at .758, while is at .756! I call that Kwan-esque!
I agree with the notion that getting players healthy far supersedes what any other team achieved at the trade deadline. The Padres, Mariners and Yankees improved dramatically. The difference is that it was necessary for those organizations in order to keep up with the Dodgers. Glasnow recently came off the IL, getting Snell, Treinen, Muncy, and eventually Scott back from the IL is going to be bigger than any of the moves that were made at the trade deadline.
The key to success for the LAD is going to be health, not a need to add more players. The Dodgers are already the most talented team in the majors. Health will be the biggest factor in determining whether the Dodgers repeat.
Winning back to back titles in baseball is extremely difficult. The implementation of the wild card has created a more competitive environment and winning a WS is not necessarily about who is the most talented. We have witnessed time and time again that it typically comes down to who is playing the best ball in the playoffs.
This is why I love this sport. It can be unpredictable. Baseball is hard!
7:35 PM ET
Dodgers (63-46)
Rays (54-56)
SP Clayton Kershaw L
4-2 3.62 ERA
SP Shane Baz R
8-7 4.61 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
LF M. Conforto L
2B Tommy Edman S
3B A. Freeland S
89° Wind 7 mph Out
08/01/25 Los Angeles Dodgers activated RF Alex Call.
08/01/25 Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Brock Stewart.
Yates to IL with back pain.
08/01/25 Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Paul Gervase.
well the padres gave up the #3 prospect in all of baseball for miller. might work out fine for the present, BUT, what if that dreaded elbow injury rears its ugly head?? they already have suarez! Now some might say i’m just jealous. No, not really. the last time i looked the padres don’t have a stud shortstop. So when the padres play the dodgers , if LA is ahead late, Miller is sort of neutralized. in my opinion, the padres are getting a bigger boost by getting Darvish back. He is very good against the dodgers! overall they had the best trade deadline. Still doesn’t make them any better against the dodgers if healthy. … Usually i get a little pissed when the dodgers hang on to prospects instead of getting a big time player. But i’m glad AF didn’t gut the farm this time. Sure Kwan would have been sweet, but not for Dalton and others. if will goes down ( please God no!) Dalton would be just fine behind the plate! Call platooning with Conforto? might be a good option. He is a contact guy. Something they desperately need! … Doc? will he crack the whip? Shouldn’t have to!! … Ohtani? if he continues to pitch, i see his average continue to go down. The dodgers cannot afford him to continue his awful swings at the plate! i, like some others wouldn’t mind him being a late inning option. ……Call me crazy if you want to. But does anyone else think that Emmit could evolve into a. lockdown closer? 95-99 and a good breaking pitches. I believe he could! just my opinion. … Whatever freddie has been drinking, he should give mookie some! …. Looking for Freeland to make a big impact with the Dodgers! good eyeballs Mark! glad they kept him! Might be starting shortstop next season!!
Artistry by Kershaw tonite
Kershaw ERA down to 3.29. The only reason we are not impressed by that is that it is high for him. for anyone else it’s a career year.
BANG!@
Nice start to August, which has traditionally for the last several years been the Dodgers best month. Freeman with his first back-to-back homer games in a long time.