I wrote a post on slow starts by the Dodgers, and while I did not predict there would be a slow start, history tells us to expect it. When the team got off to such a fast start (8-2), comments like “What slow start” were readily made. I indicated that I was happy with the fast first 10 games, but I also cautioned that it could not last because:
a) The hitting was amazingly good and clutch, and that can never last, and
b) There is not enough starting pitching or relievers to handle 43 games in the first 46 days.
That is especially true with how the pitching was monitored in ST. No starting pitcher went more than 5 and no relief pitcher (that I can recall) pitched in back to back games. I agree with Mark that this was not a Doc issue, but an organizational one. The idea is that it is better to have fresher arms at the end of the season than to pitch 7-8 innings in April. This philosophy may seem to work since the Dodgers have gotten to the WS the last two years, only to fall. One reason is that the Dodger starters still were not getting into the 7th and 8th (or 9th) innings in September, and the bullpen, which was not very good to begin with, was gassed.
I do not want to say anyone is panicking, but the last four games (Cardinals) many have grown uncomfortable for many. I am not in that category as this is what I expected from the beginning. The fact that the Dodgers are above .500 is a plus for me. The team is not as good offensively as they were the first 10 games, and they are not as bad as they have played the last 5 games.
Some of the prior year problems have reared up including a 8-34 wRISP the last 5 games. They are back to HRs being the primary run producer. They had 8 HRs the last five games, and 5 were solo shots. Last night all five runs scored were due to HRs. The team pitched 41 innings the last five games with exactly 21 coming from starters and 20 from 10 relievers. For the season, 5 starters have pitched 73.1 innings, with only two (Maeda and Strip) averaging at least 5.0 IP. The bullpen has pitched 63 innings using 12 pitchers (okay, 11 pitchers 1 catcher). That is averaging 4.2 innings per game. That is just not sustainable over a 162-game season.
The Dodgers were planning on Strip and Julio being in the bullpen, but I am not sure why. Last year, every starting pitcher went on the DL and 4 at one time early in the season. Why should anyone expect there to be a different scenario this year? Kershaw may be back on Monday but for what, 4-5 innings? Who knows when Hill will be back. Hill was due to pitch BP on Friday, and if all goes well, he could be going on a rehab assignment next week. If all goes as it did with Kersh, Hill could be ready to pitch in a ML game by April 23 in Chicago against the Cubs. Although they are now thinking that Hill may only need one rehab start, or maybe that is what they need. When Hill returns that will be the earliest that Urias will come out of the rotation. That is one or two more starts for a pitcher who was not expected to start in the beginning of the year so that his innings can be monitored and managed. Maybe Mark thinks that Urias can go 150 IP in 2019, but Dodger management does not appear to agree. We have seen a reluctance on the part of management to push starting pitchers, rather relying on their depth to keep innings down. We will see how this story unravels.
Strip will remain in the rotation until Ryu comes back and if everyone else stays healthy (including Strip), he can then move to the pen. I cannot see Ryu not making at least one rehab start with a groin injury, so maybe early May?
Thus far in 2019, the bullpen has been either very good or very bad. But five pitchers have appeared in at least 7 games (50% before Friday’s game). Ferguson and Floro have been the two non-closer relievers who have pitched decently. But with the 0.00 ERAs for both Floro and Ferguson, we need to look a little deeper.
So while their top 4 relievers have good ERAs, cumulatively they have inherited 12 runners, and 7 of them have scored. I do not care how you review metrics, that stat is not good. With the number of games they have already appeared in, how many IL trips can we project coming up.
Jansen – 6 games – 6.1 IP – 1.42 ERA – 4 inherited runners, 2 scored
Ferguson – 7 games – 6.1 IP – 0.00 ERA – 3 inherited runners, 2 scored
Floro – 8 games – 9.1 IP – 0.00 ERA – 3 inherited runners, 1 scored
Alexander – 8 games – 6.2 IP – 1.93 ERA – 3 inherited runners, 2 scored
Yimi Garcia has appeared in 8 games and has a 10.80 ERA in 6.2 innings. He may have appeared in 8 games, but he has surrendered at least one run in 6 of those 8 games and has allowed at least 1 hit in 7. Pedro Baez has been a microcosm of the team in his Jekyll and Hyde results. Baez has appeared in 7 games with 9.0 IP. In 3 of those games (2.2 IP) he has allowed at least 2 runs (8 in total, 5 earned). In the other 4, Petey has pitched 6.1 innings allowing zero runs on 1 hit and 1 walk.
Joe Kelly has been a disaster thus far. He has appeared in 6 games (7.1 IP) and in 5 of those games (7.0 IP) he has surrendered 10 runs on 15 hits and 2 walks. He also allowed 3 of the 4 inherited runners to score. I cannot see how Doc can pitch him at any relevant point in a game right now. The other true relievers that have appeared (Schultz, Stewart, Santana, and Chargois) have not appeared in enough to consider whether they are a benefit or not.
Offensively, again the team does not overuse their regulars in ST. But they got off to such a good start, that perhaps that plan worked out. However, when the pressure got a little tighter, they seemed to go back to what they have done in previous seasons. Swing hard and not worry about contact. I am not as worried. Hopefully St. Louis was an aberration and they can get back into a proper mindset back home.
Corey seems to be seeing the ball much better and is getting more aggressive the more comfortable he gets at the plate. JT still has not got untracked and has yet to go Yard. The Dodgers are going to need Corey and JT all year. The Dodgers need those two guys to set the table. Once that happens, the offense should really begin to hum. Against Milwaukee, they are still going to be facing three RHSP, so Joc should be in the lineup. Joc should continue to stay in the lineup as long as the Dodgers get RHSP. Kike and Belli are having a tremendous start, and hopefully that will continue. Barnes and Martin have also had a good start. With the Dodgers needing a solid defensive catcher while Martin recovers, I would rather see Will D. Smith get the backup slot. Getting onto the 40 man should not be a problem.
CT3 is a problem right now. He has appeared in all 14 games and has 3 hits in 31 AB (.097/.263/.226/.489). He is 0-18 against RHP. He has struck out in 10 of his 38 PA, or 26+%. He has an option, so maybe it might be best to send him down to “get straight”. Tim Locastro can take his place, once he gets added to the 40 man. Regardless, right now, CT3 should be a late inning defensive utility player. Just as I keep reading that Joc should never get to face a LHP, CT3 should never face a RHP.
It is not where I would have preferred to be after an 8-2 start, but 8-7 does not seem out of line for how this team prepares for the first month of the season. I do not expect the Pads to continue to put up W’s at the current pace. I do believe the Dodgers will win the NL West going away, but with a burnt-out bullpen, and not a very good one to begin with, they will have a problem getting past the better NL teams in the playoff, much less the AL super teams. I know Mark likes to point that the way the Dodgers are structured, they should continue to contend into the future. But for me, after 31 years, contending is not enough. Isn’t it about time the Dodgers are the best team at the end of the WS? Next year it will get even more difficult.
Caleb Ferguson gets the start today.
Minor League Report
OKC and Iowa Cubs game was postponed due to inclement weather and the teams will play a pair today.
Tulsa 8 – Arkansas Travelers 2 (Mariners)
Gavin Lux and Cristian Santana led a 13 hit assault with 3 hits apiece. Logan Landon and Zach McKinstry had two each, with McKinstry adding a 3 run HR. JD Martin had a very shaky 1st inning allowing a pair of runs on 1 hit, but 3 walks and 3 stolen bases, but settled down after that. Michael Boyle relieved Martin and pitched 2.2 perfect innings and registering 6 Ks. Shea Spitzbarth finished up with a scoreless 1.2 IP allowing a single with 3 Ks. Mitchell White gets the start for the Drillers today.
RC 4 – Lancaster JetHawks 8 (Rockies)
The Quakes dropped their 2nd straight to the JetHawks. Donovan Casey with 2 hits and Devin Mann with 2 were the bulk of the offense. Connor Wong went deep for the 3rd time. Gerardo Carrillo started and could not get anything going pitching 1.2 innings allowing 3 runs, on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 Ks. 3 relievers allowed 5 runs (2 earned) with 3 hits but 6 walks. The lone pitching star belonged to Jordan Sheffield who pitched a perfect 1.2 innings with 3 Ks. Michael Grove will get his 2nd start today.
Great Lakes 4 – West Michigan Whitecaps 3 (Tigers)
Pitching was the star for the Loons and Guillermo Zuniga (4.2 IP) and Jose Chacin (4.1 IP) went the distance. Zuniga started and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits 1 walk and 3 Ks. Chacin finished and allowed a single run on a 8th inning solo HR. He gave up 3 other hits with 0 walks and 5Ks. Offensively Niko Hulsizer had the sole multi hit game with 2, including his 5th double. Luke Heyer and Jacob Amaya each hit their 1st HR of the season. Jeronimo Castro draws the start today hoping to build on his first start of 4 scoreless innings, 2 hits, 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts.
Excited for Ferguson today. Gonsolin is scheduled to pitch for OKC. White & Grove on the bump too. Go blue.
Just like in the early going of last year, the bullpen is ugly. How many games has the bullpen blown already? Four or five? But the Dodgers got off to a better start because they’re hitting the ball, something they struggled with early in ‘18, with both Turner and Seager out. Kelly is a mess, yanking the ball at times, but that’s pretty much been his history. His stuff plays up, but he’s inconsistent from pitch to pitch. I’m sure they’ll get it worked out or he’ll be a massive mistake. Hill is back on the mound, apparently had a great workout yesterday in a simulated game. He’s headed for a minor league assignment and is expected to join the rotation for the series in Chicago April 23-25, barring any setback. Ryu is expected to start throwing from a mound in the next few days and Kershaw is back Monday. In the meantime, the team treads water. Been pretty ugly the last five games.
West 8-2
Central 0-5
I agree with AC’s analysis. The Dodgers are prone to slow starts partly because of the way they prepare in ST and partly because of the current talent level in their relief corps. The FO most certainly factors in an assessment of the NL West – i.e., the teams are not as strong as other divisions, therefore the Dodgers can afford to start slow. Eventually, the NL West will be stronger (e.g., the Padres are ahead of schedule and will only get stronger and more competitive). Hopefully, the Dodgers will adapt. Last season, they had to go to game 163 to win the West so they may not have the luxury of slow starts for much longer.
Hey AC,
If Ferguson starts, does this mean that one of the current rotation pitchers goes to the BP right away? If so, will it be Strip? I think it would.
Here’s a question for you to mull over. Do you think the role of the starting pitcher has changed in the last few years? It seems to me that going more than 5 innings could be a thing of the past. Not only does it put strain on the arms, but the idea of a more effective BP comes into view. Many very decent pitchers can switch out between rotation and BP like Ferguson. Is it so unreasonable to imagine a game being planned out for less innings from a starter and more innings from the BP? This would require very able bodied relievers who would be trained for long relief work whether they would use both would depend on circumstances in each game. Starters are also very expensive. I could see this FO thinking in these terms as they have already created a sort of revolving door in the BP. The incredible amount of auditions that took place last season was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
Ferguson is starting for Ryu. Strip and Julio still have their rotation spots until Kersh and Hill get back. Strip is scheduled to start on Sunday.
Yes, I forgot about Ryu already!
I don’t like Ferguson starting today, followed by everybody in the bullpen. We’ve taxed this pen all year long, and now we’re asking the pen to give us 9 innings today.
I’d rather have called up Gonsolin, and have him try and go 5, then let Ferguson hopefully give us 3, followed by everybody else. God forbid we go into extra innings today!
I dont know. Our plan is just crazy enough that it might work.
I’m sure the Dodgers will pull out of this tailspin they’re in right now. Well…I’m pretty sure anyway. This bump in the road is growing daily. Need to put together some decent pitching performances. Really hard to get lucky without good pitching. A few shutouts would be nice. Is that too much to ask .
Some intuitively know that as you get older you are more prone to injury and need to do certain things to offset the aging process a little. Like lose weight and stay in really good shape. Obviously Ryu hasn’t figured this out yet. As maybe the most effective starter the Dodgers have these days he is really hurting the team with all these preventable muscle tears. He ain’t worth shit if he’s sitting on the injured list. And he isn’t helping his resale value for next season.
Bold prediction: May will start ten games in the 2nd half.
BlackMirror99
Did you read that article in the LA Times yesterday?
It said May would come up and pitch like Sandy Koufax, and then he will be sent down when the next starter comes off the IL and you won’t want May to leave the rotation.
No I didnt
BlackMirror99
You should read it, it is written in a very witty way.
Second Verse, Same as First.
Houston Mitchell Dodger Dugout, in the LA Times yesterday.
Just use the link to the LA Times with every other link here, at the bottom of this site.
Well said. You would think for $17.9 million he would shed some weight and be in the “best shape of his life.” Not much you can do about a being hit by a FB as a hitter or as a pitcher being hit by a line drive to the shin that causes a bone bruise or fracture but you would think he would have tried to lose some “LB’s” and avoid the soft tissue and muscle injuries.
AC:
You mentioned Tim Locastro taking CT3 place until he gets straightened out. I thought Locastro was with the snakes. Did we get him back?
I think he meant Daniel Castro. I am not aware that Tim is Dodger property.
No my brain was way off. I was actually thinking of Drew Jackson because he can play some OF like CT3. But if only concerned with infield, Castro is the obvious choice. But they have to do something to change CT3.
AC
I know Taylor hasn’t looked good, but did you happen to look at what AJ has did against righties and in April?
He is probably a bigger part of the problem right now, because he is getting twice the at bats.
And it looks right now with the numbers, Turner is not seeing lefties as well, although I don’t know that for a fact.
I thought all the at bats our guys had in the bottom of the eighth were exemplary, especially Muncy and Corey.
And Cody also hung in there pretty good against the Brewers big leftie too, in the bottom of the ninth.
I still think Verdugo could take the at bats against lefties in leftfield.
I don’t know what to say about our pitching.
I thought Bobby’s idea was not a bad idea, but I will leave this to the Dodgers, because I don’t know what they are thinking.
Here’s a thought: what would happen if Chris Davis of Baltimore batted against Joe Kelly??? Who wins/loses that one
Catchers interference
I find it curious that the 40 man roster remains at 38. Why are they keeping 2 open spots? I can’t remember any time in recent memory that the 40 man wasn’t full.
Let’s start speculating…
Is the FO in contact with the 2 K’s? Kluber and Kimbrell?
Are they waiting to see who emerges as ready to help, Quackenbush, Allie, Gonsolin?
Doc did it again. Kelly had a semi clean inning in the 6th and got out of it unscathed after a couple of hard hit outs. Why bring him out to start the next inning, against a lefty with Alexader ready to take over? Alexander has appeared in 8 games for 4.2 innings (1.93 ERA, .086 WHIP). Kelly, 6 G, 6.2 innings 12.27 ERA, 2.32 WHIP. Alexander is more effective and less used. I think Doc should use Kelly for an inning at a time until he puts a few good ones together.
Bullpen games are the worst. Especially when your pen is sucking. We could have used Ferguson or Santana last night, but we had to save them for today.
I’m going to the game tomorrow. The weather is absolutely perfect. I wonder who’s gonna start?
FYI; Article about Joe Kelly and how the Dodgers are using him;
The Dodgers have turned Joe Kelly into a completely different pitcher, and it’s not working at all
Kelly has allowed at least one run in five of his six appearances despite changes to his approach.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made two notable free-agent signings during the offseason: outfielder A.J. Pollock and reliever Joe Kelly. Both have struggled through the season’s first 15 games. Pollock has failed to capitalize on a big opening series, and entered Saturday with a 78 OPS+. Kelly, meanwhile, has fared even worse.
Kelly has pitched in six games and has given up at least one run in five of them. His sole clean sheet came in a game in which he faced one batter. All together, he’s permitted 10 runs on 15 hits in 7 1/3 innings. He came into his Friday night appearance with the majors’ lowest fastball whiff rate — that despite averaging 97 mph on his heater (a tick down from last year, to be fair).
There’s no use overreacting to small samples — particularly for relief pitchers. But Kelly’s early-season woes are interesting because they appear to be a case where an intelligent front office is receiving immediate, undeniable feedback that they’ve messed up. Where the Dodgers have erred isn’t in signing Kelly — who excels in velocity, spin rate, and all those other things mothers warn children about — but in their implementation of him. The Dodgers are not using Kelly the way he’s typically been used, and have seemingly asked him to change his approach.
Kelly’s stock gained helium last October when he made three multi-inning relief appearances during the postseason. Clearly the Dodgers were taking notes, because they’re trying their hardest to make him into a multi-inning reliever. Kelly has recorded at least four outs in four of his six appearances, second-most in the National League behind D.J. Johnson of the Colorado Rockies. For reference, Kelly made six multi-inning appearances all last regular season. He did make 15 such appearances in 2017 — a season in which he posted his best ERA despite shaky peripherals — but had just 22 outside for his career outside of that season entering the year.
The Dodgers have done more than ask Kelly to alter his role; they’ve transformed his arsenal.
Kelly is no stranger to modification. Year after year he seems to try something different. In the past, Kelly has tinkered with which of his breaking balls to use as his main secondary pitch. This season, Kelly has thus far embraced his changeup over both, throwing it 25 percent of the time, per Statcast. His current-high changeup usage rate is 12.6 percent. One can only presume the Dodgers noticed Kelly’s cambio had the highest swinging-strike rate of any of his pitches last season, and decided he should throw the pitch more to improve his effectiveness.
That isn’t the only philosophical tweak Kelly has exhibited thus far, however. Whether by design or substandard command, he’s throwing his fastball lower than he has in the past. According to Brooks Baseball, Kelly’s average vertical location is slightly below the middle of the strike zone. His heater had averaged a height of at least 0.33 inches above the middle of the zone in each of the past three seasons, making this a noteworthy shift if it is indeed intentional.
What’s important is that some of these changes have to be intentional — the Dodgers certainly know how they’re using Kelly, and Kelly has to know how he’s shied away from his breaking balls. The question, then, is how much longer will they continue to try these new approaches if they continue to breed poor results? The Dodgers are the odds-on favorite to win the NL West, but that doesn’t mean they can continue to trot out Kelly in suboptimal ways and withstand the damage that comes from shaky outings — either to their record or his psyche. At some point, they’ll have to flip the switch, even if it means him reverting to his old ways.
There’s no telling because, for now, it appears the Dodgers are willing to experiment with Kelly regardless of the results.
Whose article was it?
CBS sports
Kerr on Walton’s firing:
http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/warriors-coach-steve-kerr-explains-what-lakers-lose-by-firing-luke-walton/1vo1npf3eyvi81jnx5sysbkjow
Other than the era when Bill Walton was a Blazer, I have been a Laker fan. I liked the Elgin Baylor years, the Gail Goodrich years, and the Magic Johnson years the most and yawned through the others. If Luke Walton gets the Portland job, I might again be a Blazer fan.
Portland still finding their way after owner Paul Allen died. Same with the Lakers after Jerry Buss died for the Lakers and Rams after Carroll Rosenbloom died. Peter was able to carry on after Walter O’Malley died.
Luke Walton could wind up in Sacramento. They have a good young team and CAP room.
1. A.J. Pollock (R) CF
2. Corey Seager (L) SS
3. Justin Turner (R) 3B
4. Cody Bellinger (L) RF
5. Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B
6. Max Muncy (L) 1B
7. Chris Taylor (R) LF
8. Austin Barnes (R) C
9. Caleb Ferguson (R) P
Not sure why Joc is sitting against a RHP today? Or why Verdugo didn’t get the call instead? Why does CT3 get the start in LF when he is ice cold against everyone but worse against RHP unless he had good numbers off Davies?
That’s easy Vegas, because Doc is an idiot! Next, CT3 will be batting leadoff.
Well, according to some people on this site, Chris is cold so Doc is trying to get him going. It only makes sense to cool Joc again as he’s starting to take some good swings.
Kike didn’t do anything last night, so it makes sense that he shouldn’t play 2B for Kike.
Maybe, with the string of right handed hitters, Doc just wants to make sure that Joc knows he’s a part time player.
Honestly, I don’t know why you don’t go with your hottest players when you have a 5 game losing streak going.
And, Doc is a bad driver.
Thank you!!!
Doc promote cold hitters. Muncy pinch hit for Joc last night in a huge inning for what reason I do not know and he struck out. Tonight he gets the start. Joc sits. makes sense.
Chris Davis’s nightmare has ended:
The beleaguered Baltimore Orioles first baseman finally got his first hit of the season Saturday at the Boston Red Sox, snapping an MLB record 0-for-54 streak at the plate that dated from Sept. 15. Davis entered the game 0 for 33 with 16 strikeouts and a .132 on-base percentage for the 2019 season.
Davis makes $17 million per year. Additionally, he will receive a significant amount of deferred money long after he’s done playing.
Davis will receive annual deferred payments of $3.5 million from 2023-32 and annual payments of $1.4 million from 2033-37.
Davis has not hit above .221 since signing the seven-year, $161 million contract, and he has surpassed 30 home runs just once. Davis is under contract through the 2022 season. He will be 36 when the deal expires.
Two reasons I can think of why Doc constructed tonight’s starting lineup the way he did:
1) He knows he’s going to be using a lot of pitchers and wants to double sub early in the game, bringing in Joc and/or Verdugo in the second or third inning so the pitcher doesn’t have to bat. Same thing next time through the order when he’ll bring in the other guy.
or 2) He thought Davies was left handed (which would be a fireable offense).
I’m guessing it’s #1 and we’ll know by the second or third inning if I’m right.
Here are the answers to your questions and more.
1. Doc pinch hit for Joc with Muncy last night in a crucial moment and Muncy struck out, so it warrants a Start. Does not matter that Joc hit a HR last night.
2. Why does AJP always get the starts and the left handed hitters have to sit???? He isn’t doing that great himself.
3. Taylor needs to be the bench guy right now, until he can show something more than one hit every 12 ab.
Honestly taking your starting pitcher out in the 3rd inning. This is what I am beginning to Hate about modern Baseball. Is this just a Doc thing or league thing? I don’t know, but it stinks. It is sucking the life out of the game.
Santana in with two out and two on in the third. This would have been the perfect time to bring in Joc or Verdugo, have them hit in the pitcher’s spot and put Santana into CT3’s spot. That wasn’t done, so Santana will lead off the next inning, if he can manage to get anyone out and makes it to the end of the inning. So far a wild pitch and a walk.
Point of interest: Tony Gonsolin pitched 5 shutout innings at OKC today.
Pulled after 70 pitchers. I guess they’re trying to get him used to Doc.
Decision for a BP game is confounding to say the least. Put Gonsolin on the 40 man roster and give him the freaking start. That’s a FO decision, not Doc’s.
Exactly, and that is why I didn’t say anything, because I don’t know what the front office was thinking.
I’m not sure what effect on service time would be to bring him up now, but if you get an extra year of control by waiting, then I would wait.
Can’t win the division in April but you can lose it. Play the best you got it and sort out the ML service time later.
Well other than the stupid decision to pull Ferguson and bring in this guy Santana, the pitching did ok. Hitting is looking a lot like the old hitting
If 59 and Hamchuck managed to make and have a baby boy, would the infant grow up to be labeled Badger? Did someone in the front office kidnap your child or run over your puppy? I don’t know if either of you are old enough to remember the days of 78 rpm records and the Victrola, but your constant bitching about the FO, the coaching staff and any member of the team who fails to perform like an All-star in any situation reminds me of the noise made by a needle that is stuck in place on said record and Victrola: a cacophony of repeating, discordant notes that fail to express an idea of any value.
Give Kimbrel 3y/$45m and figure the rest out later.
That is one move, what about Kuechel
Dont need him as much. Kimbrel might not fit now but come October he’d be a weapon. Not giving up on ultimate goal.
Yes I agree Bmirror. I would love Kimbrel. He has that Kick A$$ mentality. But if I bitch too much, we get scorned by the PC Police. You see, fans are supposed to sit and behave themselves and enjoy crappy play, like good little robots.
BM,
I don’t think there would be anything to figure out later. Under normal circumstances, Kimbrel at 3yr/$45M is good value and something any team should be looking at. The problem with the Dodgers is the luxury tax. It would put them over the threshold which is something they don’t want to do. Personally, I would take Kimbrel over Jansen, but I don’t see the FO making this move unless they could trade Jansen at the same time as acquiring Kimbrel.
I think the only way that we have open to us at this point is to let our current situation play out and see what happens with the return of Kershaw and Hill. I don’t see Gonsolin or May joining the club any time soon, if at all this season. The FO doesn’t like to rush these things.
I can’t see any reason Roberts deserves standing up for when he’s contradicting himself with whatever excuses he’s used in his past reasoning. Okay, Joc can’t hit LH pitching and Taylor can’t hit RH pitching so what do we do? Well Taylor did get a hit from a RH pitcher tonight……..His first this season, so Roberts must of had that feeling…..I guess.
Tonight’s Dodgers didn’t look like a team that made it to the World Series the two last seasons. I know that this isn’t who they are and that the ship will right itself soon with good baseball but Geez it sure ain’t good baseball in the meanwhile. It may start a turn around if management does a turn around. Just a couple minor adjustments will make a world of differences. Just the obvious ones.
Dodgers have no clue how to stop this bleeding. They are relying on Kershaw and Hill to put them upright. Two pitchers who are certainly capable but fragile, and in their decline. Is it enough? I wouldn’t bet on it as there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding Clayton.
The mess of the BP is just that, a mess. We have a few stalwarts like Alexander, Floro, and Jansen. We haven’t seen Jansen in a week. Will he be ready and effective after not pitching for so long? The BP is a real blindspot for the FO. They have not figured it out and it doesn’t look like they will because of the mistakes they’ve made by their signings and unproductive outings of the starters who are mostly relievers disguised as starters. Wake up, FO.
Jansen pitched last night
Yes, I’d forgotten, and he gave up another run! Answered my question on his readiness. This pitching staff is a sad situation.
Well Dodger Denny –
59Inarow and I are not the only fans that comment on the poor play of the Dodgers. And I think if we did have a baby, we would use a surrogate. A very Hot, Beautiful woman I might add :). I think 59 would have to bow to me to spawn the child, as I am the hierarchy after all. After the babe is born, 59 then could take over the upbringing lol. So he could name the baby whatever he wanted. I on the other hand, may choose to rehire the surrogate at a later date on my own for my own purposes :). So now that we have addressed your baby obsession, let’s move on.
Now back to baseball. The Dodgers are now 8-7. Being that AF allotted 60 total loses, he is almost 1/6 of the way there and we are not even 1/2 the way through April. At this rate we won’t even make the Playoffs.
Hamchuck,
The good news is that our division is weak. I won’t say that will be enough to catapult us, but I’m already on the record for saying no WS win for them this year and no lock on anything. Can you imagine if the Padres won the division and went on to win the WS? Who saw that coming? Is the Machado signing the real difference in that team? Will the Dodgers have egg on their face? Even with hindsight, I wouldn’t have signed Machado or Harper. But the smug FO could have done a lot more than they have.
There are several players with question marks that I would like to see do well. Schultz is one of them and he did well enough last night. I still have hopes for Strewart. Santana needs to get consistent control and he will do well. Fergusson could be Miller-like.
I don’t think the Dodgers should make a trade until mid-season when they know if May or Gonsolin can join the rotation or if Kershaw and Hill will last through the season. Ryu has a question mark on him as well health wise. Answers to those questions will determine if Maeda goes to the bullpen.
Maeda, Urias, Stripling, Jansen, Kelly, Fergusson, Floro, and Alexander could wind up being the bullpen with Kershaw, Hill, Buehler, Ryu, and ? in the rotation. The ? could be someone obtained in a trade.
A voice of reason… that seems a little unusual, when the sky is falling. Oh, wait… the sky isn’t falling.
The Dodgers are 8-8 and people are losing their senses, criticizing Doc and the FO for being unprepared. The World Champion Red Sox are 5-10. When you play in the World Series two years in a row… or just one year like the Red Sox, you are wise to hold your pitchers back. The Dodgers were 5-9 on this date last year. They were 7-7 on this date in 2017.
What’s the reason some of you are losing your minds over nothing? Over a small sampling? Geeezzzz, it can only be your irrational hatred of the FO and/or Roberts. You have been saying this every year. You should learn from it but you haven’t!
Hamchuck,,
Forgot you haven’t been a long time reader of this blog. Badger was a former poster on this site who exhibited the same “negative Nellie” attitude about the FO and coaching staff that you and 59 do. All I’d like to see from you both is some positivity about the Dodgers and some suggestions on ways to help the existing club improve versus just saying this is wrong and this is wrong ad nauseum. Don’t think that persons within the Dodger organization never view this site and it is important IMO to let know that they have our support during the best of times and the worst of times.
DD
Just talking about how grand everything is can get a bit boring. I give positive critique, but it would seem that those are overlooked. 59 and myself have been labeled and branded, so be it.
I guess you never saw my posts about how good Cody and Kiki have done with approach to the game. Or how Doc should give the Starters more leeway. I talk great about Joc, Verdugo. Some players are not living up to their salary or status. What can I say? Lie?