The Dodgers are 7-2, but it feels like they can do better. Tonight starts the World Series rematch, and the Blue Jays are 4-5. It feels like they have slipped a notch or two in the talent department. It will be fun to watch the series, but games right about now mean very little. It also feels like the Dodgers are just sleepwalking.
Mookie Betts again has had another setback. Last year, it was some sickness, and now it’s an oblique. These can linger for some time… ask Max Muncy. As much as I love Mookie Betts, my eyes are wide open. Mookie will be 34 years old in June. He plays the game the right way: HARD! However, at 5′ 9″ tall and 180 pounds, his body takes a toll. When the Dodgers swindled the Red Sox to get him, I said that I worried about the end of his contract. This is his 7th year with the Dodgers after 6 years with the Red Sox. If he makes it to Cooperstown (not a given), he will go in as a Dodger.
The thing is, he has six more years on his contract. He will make $30 to $35 Million a year for those six years. Can his body hold up? I doubt it. He plays at 100% effort all the time… he has to. Freddie Freeman will be 37 this year, but his game is different. Freddie has one more year under contract and will be a free agent in 2028. I love Freddie, but is it prudent to believe that he will be able to play to age 40 with the ability to DH? The Dodgers already have a guy who does that!
Max Muncy will be 36 this year and is signed for one more year on a team-friendly deal. Will Smith turned 31 last month and plays a demanding position. He will need to be spelled by Dalton Rushing frequently. Teoscar Hernandez will be 34 this year and appears to be in the best shape of his life… but you never know. Shohei Ohtani will be 32 this year… YIKES! Yes, he is a freak… maybe he’s Superman… or not.
The oldest of the bunch is Miguel Rojas, at 108, and he will retire after this season. My point is that there may be some hard decisions to be made in the near future. Freddie says he wants to play until he is 40. Can he? Is it wise to re-sign him? JT3 looks like another JT from yesteryear and can play 1B. I think Teoscar could be traded to a team looking for a DH after this season, but the Dodgers have a full pipeline. How long can Mookie play at a high-level? Some of the decisions they will have to make will hurt. Are you ready for it?
Josue DePaula, Mike Sirota, and JT3 are close. Others, such as Hope, Quintero, Morales, and Davalan could also move quickly. Who stays and who goes? Nothing lasts forever.
Mookie – everyone who knows me knows what my position on him moving to the most demanding position facing home plate at age 32 was. He won’t last 6 years there. He may not last the season there. Not with an oblique. He could be out several weeks depending on the severity and playing shortstop that injury could be tender all year. Oblique strains are known to be tricky and nagging. The point being the Dodgers need to be younger at that key position.
On Roki. It appears he may be auditioning for a relief role. He’s still young, 24, so I believe the Dodgers will be patient with him. Same can be said for Sheehan. Those two have ERA’s of 7 and 8, but as mentioned numbers this early don’t necessarily mean much. Like Freeland and his .900 OPS. After a few minutes that OPS is now .641, where I suspect it will remain for a while. Hope I’m wrong about that. And Espinal with a big hit, raising his average to .167. I doubt it matters much as Edman and Kiké are coming. I wonder who plays short now? Freeland, Rojas or Kim.
position facing home plate?
Yeah. Only the catcher faces the outfield. But, I think you knew that.
The catcher also faces home!
Maybe it should be catcher facing positions?
Mark on Mookie:
“At 5-9 and 180 pounds, his body takes a toll.”
I’ve seen this type of physical profiling many times before on LADT– including references to Will Smith–but I’ve never seen evidence to support the notion that a relatively small stature results in reduced durability in baseball. This isn’t boxing, football or rugby. Baseball is rarely a contact sport. I don’t see a correlation at all and, in fact, sometimes see the opposite argument.
Why is Glasnow injury-prone? Must be his height and long limbs!
I assume there are studies and data out there in baseball land that try to find a relationship between body type and durability. But I can certainly point to anecdotal evidence that undermines the thesis.
Mookie’s contemporary Mike Trout is about five inches taller and 50 pounds heavier–built like a fullback. But he’s the one who has suffered from chronic injuries.
Perhaps the best example is Yogi Berra, who was smaller than Mookie and played the most physically demanding position on the field. He was an iron man who often caught both ends of the doubleheader.
I remember how a lot of us were infatuated with Diego Cartaya, in part because his size inspired comparisons to Salvador Perez. But it turned out that his talent or resilience or whatever didn’t measure up to his size–and fortunately Will Smith just got bettter and getter.
As far as Mookie lasting several years at SS goes, well, a few seasons back we didn’t expect him to play SS. We expected him to move to 2B. Turns out he’s a damn good SS and I expect him to play there for the foreseeable future–and eventually shift to 2B.
For the time being, I just read that the plan is more Rojas and Kim to platoon at SS and for Freeland to get that “runway” stuff at 2B.
Roki will be getting more runway as a starter. There’s no rush or urgency on the mighty deep Dodgers.
Mark on Mookie:
“At 5-9 and 180 pounds, his body takes a toll.”
I’ve seen this type of physical profiling many times before on LADT– including references to Will Smith–but I’ve never seen evidence to support the notion that a relatively small stature results in reduced durability in baseball. This isn’t boxing, football or rugby. Baseball is rarely a contact sport. I don’t see a correlation at all and, in fact, sometimes see the opposite argument.
Why is Glasnow injury-prone? Must be his height and long limbs!
I assume there are studies and data out there in baseball land that try to find a relationship between body type and durability. But I can certainly point to anecdotal evidence that undermines the thesis.
Mookie’s contemporary Mike Trout is about five inches taller and 50 pounds heavier–built like a fullback. But he’s the one who has suffered from chronic injuries.
Perhaps the best example is Yogi Berra, who was smaller than Mookie and played the most physically demanding position on the field. He was an iron man who often caught both ends of the doubleheader.
I remember how a lot of us were infatuated with Diego Cartaya, in part because his size inspired comparisons to Salvador Perez. But it turned out that his talent or resilience or whatever didn’t measure up to his size–and fortunately Will Smith just got bettter and getter.
As far as Mookie lasting several years at SS goes, well, a few seasons back we didn’t expect him to play SS. We expected him to move to 2B. Turns out he’s a damn good SS and I expect him to play there for the foreseeable future–and eventually shift to 2B.
For the time being, I just read that the plan is more Rojas and Kim to platoon at SS and for Freeland to get that “runway” stuff at 2B.
Roki will be getting more runway as a starter. There’s no rush or urgency on the mighty deep Dodgers.
You can say that again…
Yogi was shorter than Mookie, but he outweighed him. Mike Trout has a bulky body.
It was also a different time… I think with the advent of super refined foods and chemicals, bodies are breaking down quicker. Microplastics, PFAS, THM, Glosophate, and a plethora of other chemicals in the water all contribute. Veggies no longer contain the nutrients they use to due to overfarming.
Do you have any solution for Mookie about his water?
https://uswatersystems.com/products/defender-whole-house-reverse-osmosis-system
Seems like management is going all out to find a spot for Freeland, now 2B, and sliding Kim to SS. Actually makes sense since Freeland has more power potential. Hopefully, he picks up his game. Then who knows what happens when the IL clears up.
“in fact, sometimes see the opposite argument.”
Agree…. I can remember a few years ago on here some were commenting that Seager was a bit large for a SS and that it made him prone to injury diving all over the place. Maybe you have to be exactly the right size?? 🙂
I like this post!
This isn’t football or hockey which are very physical sports (physical as defined by person to person contact.) Why would size have any impact on injuries in baseball?
Worth investigation, me thinks.
In his professional MiLB debut on April 5, 2026, Zach Root (the Dodgers’ No. 12 prospect) pitched 3.0 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) and taking the loss in the Great Lakes Loons’ 4-1 defeat to the Fort Wayne TinCaps.
Zach Root Pitching Line (April 5, 2026)
Innings Pitched (IP) 3.0
Hits (H) 4
Runs (R) 4
Earned Runs (ER) 3
Base on Balls (BB)2
Strikeouts (K) 5
Home Runs Allowed (HR)1
Result Loss (0-1)
Concerning the discussion on Betts and aging, let’s look back to 2020. From an SI article at the time:
“Before the Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts, their analytics staff and pro personnel department conducted a study to gauge the aging curve of such small outfielders with power. Betts is listed at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds. His career slugging percentage is .519. They found nobody like him, not unless you count Mel Ott, who debuted 94 years ago and needed to hit baseballs just 259 feet to clear the Polo Grounds wall in the right field corner”.
https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/07/23/mookie-betts-contracts-la-dodgers
Great stuff, Mark. LADT is back at full power.
Tibbs might break every AAA record this year but he is still young enough to.learn some things about himself as a player. Next year he force a Teo trade.
As for the vets, just keep developing in-house options and try to trend toward adding younger pieces.
Big fit guys lol like Garvey Freddie and Mike Schmidt playing corner infield slots last longer with less injuries. SS/2B are normally smaller (Kent being the exception) and do much more athletic moves which contribute to more injury. As we get older, the muscle lose elasticity, leading to more injury and longer recovery periods. Bottom line: Freddie could make it to 40 (in LA or somewhere), but don’t expect Mookie to be effective for more than two more years.
Also, if you can’t turn on a 97 mph fastball anymore, you ain’t gonna live in the Show. When Schmidt was in his last year, he couldn’t and Philly fans booed him, a freaking future HOFer. But then they booed Santa Claus. Injuries and slowed reaction time are both part of the aging process and this team is aging.
Mookie hurt himself on a checked swing not in the field. His bat, not his glove is the future liability.
Big fit guys like Garvey, Freddie and Mike Schmidt playing corner infield slots last longer with less injuries. SS/2Bs are normally smaller (Kent being an exception) and have to do much more athletic moves which contribute to more injury. As we get older, the muscle lose elasticity, leading to more injury and longer recovery periods. Bottom line: Freddie could make it to 40 (in LA or somewhere), but don’t expect Mookie to be effective for more than two more years.
Also, if you can’t turn on a 97 mph fastball anymore, you ain’t gonna live in the Show. When Schmidt was in his last year, he couldn’t and Philly fans booed him, a freaking future HOFer. But then they booed Santa Claus.
Injuries and slowed reaction time are both part of the aging process and this team is aging.
Don’t know what I took this morning but I keep seeing double on this blog.
I’ve noticed when I post from my iPad it doesn’t show up immediately there, but does on my iPhone. Weird, but I’m used to it now.
Good takes in here this morning. There is a lot to consider for so early in the season.
So for the short term, Kim and Rojas will platoon at SS, and Freeland will play 2B. I think it’s a good idea to try Kim at SS. He is not supposed to be as accomplished there as 2B…. but we shall see.
He’s been taking fungoes at three different positions for months. It might take some time to settle in at short. He has more range than anyone on the team, so hopefully that will translate to more OAA.
Read an article this morning on yahoo sports about Sasaki not having a feel for what used to be his best pitch, his forkball. His sliders were ho hum, his fastball is straight as an arrow, and his changeup was usually down in the zone. He grunts louder than Nolan Ryan when he throws the ball. You could hear him all over the ballpark noise. Right now, I do not have much confidence in him when he starts. Same with Sheehan. Bullpen did a great job again. Rojas made a couple of great plays. Congrats to the UCLA Women’s basketball team on winning the NCAA title.
Hey I clearly saw a third pitch so that’s a start. When I watch him–and also Sheehan–I feel like screaming, “Throw the fastball!”
It’s become a breaking ball league. I think over half the postseason pitches were offspeed.
Joe Davis mentioned yesterday on the broadcast that fastball usage across the league is way down. Dodgers hit the breaking pitch pretty good yesterday. Nats bullpen is a disaster waiting to happen. Clayton Beeter, the former Dodger prospect pitched 1,2 innings and got the blown save. 3 exe Dodgers appeared in the game, Vivas, Ruiz and Beeter. DC has 4 on their roster, the other is Varland. Dodgers are the only team in the west with a plus on the run differential, having outscored their opponents by 20 runs.
A simple grip change can increase movement on his fastball. Get some instruction from Hershiser on it. He had the best two seamers in baseball for several years. Why more pitchers don’t use that pitch is a mystery to me.
I have made it abundantly clear that I prefer Freeland to Kim at 2B. I may be wrong. It will not be the first time, and it will not be the last time. But I continue to get frustrated with Alex. He has the exact opposite problem that Pages had last year. He is in the 92nd percentile with chase, but in the 8th percentile in K’s. He does not swing. I cannot count the number of times he has watched two strikes go by and then try to hit the pitchers best pitch.
When Freeland was struggling early in MiLB, he asked the coaches what he needed to do to get to the next level. He was told to improve his plate discipline and not chase as much. Mission accomplished. Now start swinging at strikes. The last two games I have seen him watch two strike three’s. They were on the black, but if you are looking to walk, you will never hit. You cannot always watch strikes go by and wait for the mistake. Be aggressive, especially early in the count. Right now he is beating himself.
According to Baseball Savant, Freeland is also in the 90th percentile in barrel percentage, 89th percentile in average exit velocity and 86th percentage in hard-hit percentage. You do not quit on that. But you need to swing. to get those results.
On 3 hits?
I don’t doubt your analysis Jeff, you’ve always been thorough. But I think maybe there should be a larger sample size.
That isn’t me. That is baseball savant. BTW, they also measure batted balls, including outs. He hit a 105 MPH ground ball out the other day and a 95 MPH out.
The Dodgers will miss Juan Soto on the next home stand. He was placed on the IL retroactive to Apirl 4. He would be eligible to come off IL on April 14, but the prognosis for his calf strain injury is 2-3 weeks. That will take him past the Dodgers series April 13-15.
7:07 PM ET
Dodgers (7-2)
Blue Jays (4-5)
SP Justin Wrobleski L
0-0 6.75 ERA
SP Max Scherzer R
1-0 1.50 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Kyle Tucker L
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
CF Andy Pages R
2B A. Freeland S
C D. Rushing L
SS Hyeseong Kim L
In Domed Stadium
Stay hot, D-Rush.
And keeping talking that shit to opponents.
It would make things fun if Wrobo brushed back that Giminez dude
Fuck that punk
He’s a nobody
Andy Pages named NL player of week.
Well deserved!
Projected pitching matchups vs Blue Jays:
Monday: LHP Justin Wrobleski vs. RHP Max Scherzer
Tuesday: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. RHP Kevin Gausman
Wednesday: RHP Shohei Ohtani vs. RHP Dylan Cease
We have plenty of time and runway to accurately access our young players. Freeland, Kim, Sasaki, Sheehan and Ryan and perhaps Tibbs if we get an OF injury. Let’s see what the numbers look like at the end of May.
The knock on Freeland was taking too many strikes.
Freeland’s natural position is shortstop while Kim’s is second base. I understand what the Dodgers are selling with Kim playing short, but I think they’re overthinking it.
Seems the knock on Kim is no power but he did get Gold Gloves for SS and 2B in the KBO. Defense doesn’t care what league you play in, a grounder and a throw to first is the same. He has a strong arm and quick feet. I think both him and Freeland are good middle infielders. Personally I think Kim’s elite speed tips the scale, especially as a sub runner in the late innings. That said, Freeland’s power is what the Dodgers brass seem to prefer. Taking walks along with homers is what keeps Max in the game and it should do the same for Freeland as long as he gets his numbers up. Great discussion.
Hey guys,
Here’s my take on the 2026 Dodgers so far…..They good.
In depth take am I right?
I hope everyone is well over here.
Get to writing more anticipated content, Andes!
Not yet time to blow it up Scott?
Time to trade Will Smith tho! Rushing has to be best backup catcher in baseball
Andy Pages playing like Matt Kemp out there (before he ran into the Colorado wall)
Also I really like the way Freeland plays. The bat will come around, but he plays that “gamer’ type defense.
Yep
Defense first
Don’t take off at-bats
The game will honor you
What happened to the team that couldn’t hit?
Oh my god
Crushing
OK. Now I’m serious. Trade Will Smith! TIC
The kid has arrived! He needs some time at 1B to rest Freddie
That’s how good we are. Our back-up catcher is a former #1 prospect and just went 4-4 with 2 HR.
He definitely should play 1b this series and let Freddie rest as well.
He’s a baller.
Wow – that was a nice highlight reel to wake up to!!!
Don’t know how you do it Watford!
True Dodger fan!
Scherzer left the game with forearm tendinitis. Nice game for the offense. I wish MLB would stop the stupid rule of letting position players pitch in blowouts. Not fun to watch.
How special for our star backup catcher to hit a homer off Scherzer, a future hallof Famer.
Good to see Wrobo settle down. I’m a fan. Not sure if I like him better in the pen though with Ryan in the rotation. Then again it’s probably good to have a lefty in the rotation since there’s 3 others in the pen.