We all know what it is.
Is Dave Roberts insane for running Tanner Scott out there (over and over) again only to get the same results? Not yet! The Dodgers could really use the Tanner Scott they thought they signed. I think he gets another week or ten days to work out his problems before they pull the plug. Is he tipping pitches, or has the league just figured out he has only two pitches and he is almost always “in the zone?” I think it’s all of the above. The Dodgers hope they can figure it out, but if the race gets much closer, the experiment has to be stopped. With 14 games to go, that could be soon.
Blake Treinen is trying to right his ship as well. His pitches have so much movement that it is largely a product of how he is developing his “feel” for pitching. Hopefully, he can re-establish his “feel.” While I am talking about this, I want to articulate what I think happened to the Dodgers in this past offseason. In 2020, Andrew Friedman, after winning the World Series, said, “Let’s be pigs.” However, he only started “stacking” the team in 2024 and 2025.
While we may never know, I think the front office gave Andrew Carte Blanche and even encouraged him to spend, especially after 2023 and 2024. I can see AF signing Kirby Yates for one year, but I do not see him signing Tanner Scott for $72 million for four years. I can see AF signing Conforto for $5 or $6 million, but not $17 million. I think he was encouraged by the front office to do that, and he violated his own personal standards. Conforto will likely be on the playoff roster, although he is currently hitting .193 with a .628 OPS and an OPS+ of 77 (100 is average).
It was suggested that James Outman would have been a better solution. That is hilarious! Outman is hitting .157 with an OPS of .582 and an OPS+ of 59. He has struck out 46 times in 102 ABs (45%). On no planet ever does Outman make more sense than Conforto, who has struck out 110 times in 384 ABs (29%). Conforto was a bad deal, and Outman would have been even worse. Both players are great guys… both will be out of baseball next year! It’s an unforgiving game.
Conforto will likely be on the bench in the playoffs with Teoscar in LF, Edman in CF, and Pages in RF. Pages and Edman are exceptional at their respective positions, while Teoscar is below average. Kike or Call will likely be Teos’ caddy!
Rants & Raves
- Walker Buehler is still trying to develop back into a power pitcher, but he typically only reaches 93-94 mph on his fastball. Sometimes he gets lucky, but his 5+ ERA tells the tale. He needs to reinvent himself, ala Clayton Kershaw, but that is not his mentality.
- The Dodgers’ propensity to either have everyone hit or no one hit is becoming alarming. This will have to be addressed in the off-season. Everything has a shelf life… including hitting coaches.
- Baseball America lists a new Dodger pitcher that should be worth watching: Brooks Auger, RHP, Dodgers: “Every season, the Dodgers pluck a player from relative obscurity from the draft and then watch as that player becomes a standout the following season. While I’m not sure Auger has quite reached standout status yet, the 2024 sixth-round pick flashed interesting traits in his professional debut. Primarily a reliever at Mississippi State, Auger took to starting in 2025, making 17 starts spanning 91.1 innings. Despite a 5.12 ERA and below-average swing-and-miss rates, Auger has my attention. He generates four distinct pitch shapes in his four-seam fastball, slider, cutter, and changeup. The fastball and cutter are his bread and butter, and the stuff is good enough to project better days ahead.” Watch this guy!
- Ben Rortvedt has to be in the discussion for a roster spot, if only for his handling of the staff.
Not much to disagree with here. And of course we don’t know what they will come up with for the playoffs. But right now Conforto is the ‘every day’ starting left fielder against righty starters. So remains to be seen who gets benched if Edman in CF and not at 2B like last nite. Maybe Conforto and Teo get platooned. Neither hitting right now
God, you’re just such trash right now. We can’t have no relief hitting. We can’t run the bases properly we get candy score we have runners and scoring position. Base is loaded no out and you get nothing done. The only two things you can’t do is hit up infield flyer strike out and we did them both with a double play. That’s why we don’t deserve to make the playoffs. I’ll lose the Giants two nights in a row.
Richie,I’m not sure who you are referring or pointing your comments at. But it is certainly not Gods fault.I have not pointed fingers at Dave Roberts but once or twice but it is getting ridiculous with Tanner Scott constantly being used in save situations.He’s terrible,the worst I have ever seen.If you think u have to use him ,let him pitch in mop up situations.The same with Yates or send him down.
100% onboard with Rortvedt as being under consideration. Nothing against Rushing but the R brings some intangibles to the table.
100% agree. It’s no coincidence that the starting staff has become unhittable since Ben started receiving at the big league level.
9:05 PM ET
Dodgers (82-65)
Giants (75-72)
SP Clayton Kershaw L
10-2 3.27 ERA
SP Logan Webb R
14-9 3.12 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
3B Max Muncy L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF M. Conforto L
CF Andy Pages R
2B Miguel Rojas R
C Ben Rortvedt L
64° Wind 17 mph Out
NO Will Smith again
The number 2 seed in the National League playoffs is slipping away with the Phillies holding a 4 game lead over the Dodgers. Assuming the 2025 MLB playoffs were to start today, September 13, 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers would be the #3 seed in the National League. They would play the New York Mets, who are currently holding the #6 seed as the third Wild Card team. The Wild Card Series is a best-of-three, with the higher-seeded team hosting all three games. Therefore, the Dodgers would play the Mets at Dodger Stadium.
Th e Dodger bullpen has 18 blown saves this year, Scott 9,Vesia 4, Yates 2,Trienen 2, and Dreyer 1. This is the main reason that the race is so close with the Padres and we’re possibly not getting the 2 seed and a bye in the first round.
Some sites I see says LA 23 Blown saves, SD 16
The Cubs have the fewest blown saves of any playoff contender with 17. Here are the rest:
In 2023, the Texas Rangers led MLB in blown saves with 27… and they went on to win the World Series.
GO FIGURE!
My concern with the Dodgers is their team batting average with the bases loaded this season. It reminds me of the 2022 season. This could a real problem for them in post season.
It’s something I’ve noticed for a while. Betts GS was the first extra base hit the Dodgers have had in about a month and a half. Most of the time they’re lucky to score anything.
Wait, what?
Mush you know that is a double triple or homer in about like 25 to.35games.You know that’s not right friend .
Smith is going to the IL – Are they bringing Rushing back?
The thought of Kerhaw being used in playoffs is scary. We have other starters and having him come in relief doesn’t seem to make sense either
Great team effort. Everyone getting key hits. Rojas and Muncy no hits so far, but key walks in the big inning
09/13/25 Los Angeles Dodgers placed C Will Smith on the 10-day injured list retroactive to September 10, 2025. Right hand contusion.
09/13/25 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled C Chuckie Robinson from Oklahoma City Comets.