I Was Wrong!!

Posted By on June 1, 2019

A couple of weeks back I mentioned how good DJLM was playing for NYY and that all of the talk that he could not hit outside of Coors was…well just talk. He is proving that he is a hitter with tremendous bat to ball skills; a skill he can take anywhere. 59inarow challenged me with admonishing me into saying maybe you were right about DJLM but what about all of the areas you were wrong. He brought up Corey Kluber which I still do not believe I was wrong with. Kluber can pitch on my team anytime.

59inarow also stated that it is easy to pick on the mistakes of those on the firing line because they are right there to see. Good and Bad. I have never been shy about giving my opinion on specific players, and neither has Mark. I probably look outside the organization more than Mark does, but we both make our cases. We take our bows and then wait for the hammer to fall on our PERCEIVED mistakes.

All joking aside, certainly I have been wrong on a number of players over the years. But no more so than with my position on LHSP Hyun-jin Ryu. I was against the QO because I could not see paying $18MM for one year for a 32-year-old pitcher with major shoulder surgery, and who pitched all of 82 innings the year before. A two-time CY winner, Corey Kluber, was making less than Ryu. I did qualify my position and stated that if it could have been worked out, I would have been supportive of a 3 year $33MM to $36MM deal.

This year, Hyun-jin Ryu has been better than good. Ryu has been compared to Greg Maddux due to his lack of velo but pinpoint control with command of 4 pitches. His May numbers compare very favorably to Clayton Kershaw’s unworldly July 2015. All Ryu has done in May is go 5-0 in 6 games started with a 0.59 ERA (3 ER in 45.2IP), and a 0.679 WHIP. He has allowed 3 walks to go with 36 strikeouts. In those 6 starts he has pitched at least 7 innings in 4 of them. He did not allow a HR in all of May. In fact, he has not allowed a HR in 48.2 IP.

For the year, Ryu is 8-1 with a 1.48 ERA (best in MLB). While Ryu has been extremely good on the road:

Away – 5 GS, 2-1, 2.22 ERA, 1.059 WHIP, 28.1 IP, 3 HR, 3 BB, 24 K, 8.00 SO/W ratio; he has been all but unhittable at home:

Home – 6 GS, 6-0, 1.01 ERA, 0.649 WHP, 44.2 IP, 3 HR, 2 BB, 45 K, 22.50 SO/W ratio. 2 walks and 45 strikeouts in 44.2 IP at Dodger Stadium? If there is any consideration as to who the first pitcher up in a playoff series at home is other than Ryu, that person should be excused from their job.

Clutch stats? Oh yeah he has those too. With RISP, Ryu has faced 45 batters. He has allowed 2 hits with one walk, surrendering 4 runs. No extra base hits. Batters have hit .048/.068/.045/.116 w/RISP, with 7 strikeouts. Now with RISP & 2 out, Ryu has faced 19 batters, and none have reached base.

We do know that Ryu is a client of Scott Boras. Boras does not believe in giving a loyalty discount. He only thinks of fair market value. But Ryu is the player and he can overrule Boras. But will he? Players select Boras as their agent so they stay out of the negotiations and all of the emotion. There is also the rumor that Ryu only wanted one more year at MLB and then go back to finish his career in Korea. It would be great to see Ryu back with LAD while the next generation continues to develop without the pressure. There is a lot we just do not know.

So I am glad to admit that I was SO VERY WRONG about Hyun-jin Ryu. But I was not alone in that regard, and some other blog sites should also come clean.

I do not know quite yet, but it sure looks like I could have been wrong on Jesen Therrien. I thought that he would be in a position to be called up in June as I stated for Brandon Morrow 2 years ago, but he hasn’t even started to throw yet in any organized game. I am glad that I was wrong on Ryu, but I am saddened about Therrien. Maybe he still will be, but it has been nearly 2 years since his TJ surgery. I know the Dodgers take it slow with rehab, but this slow?

While I am being generous, one other mea culpa. I never had any doubts about Alex Verdugo’s abilities, offensively or defensively. He was and remains the total baseball package. Where I have changed my opinion is with his team first and non-selfish attitude. When I saw him last summer in Sacramento, he came across a very self-centered entitled prima donna. But the change that I have witnessed since Spring is one of a very team-oriented maturation. He hustles every play (did not last summer). He hands out praise to his teammates at every opportunity, over his accomplishments. He gives every impression that he loves being a Dodger and wants to be here. That is different from a year or so ago when he stated that he was ready to play for another team if that got him to MLB. He insinuated that he was ready and was tired of waiting. That was the impression that was delivered by the press. Maybe it was an intervention with Gil Reyes and others, but this is the Alex Verdugo that deserves to wear the Dodger Blue. And one the Dodgers are very fortunate to have. It was never about his talent. It was always his attitude that was going to hold him back, and now that has changed. I do not care one lick if Alex wins ROY. I only care that he helps this team to a WS ring…THIS YEAR. He has the ability like Cody, Corey, and JT to carry this offense on his back if he needs to. He is that good now.

I refuse to believe I am wrong about AJ Pollock. It sure looks like I was wrong about Jake McGee. I was not wrong about Jake Odorizzi. Maybe my timing was off, but he is a good starting pitcher. I was not wrong about Ryan Pressly or Jose Leclerc, and as it is turning out this year, I was not wrong about Shane Greene. But with Jesen Therrien, Alex Verdugo, and especially with Hyun-jin Ryu, I was wrong!!!

Minor League Report by AC

OKC Dodgers 6 – Memphis Redbirds 2 (Cardinals)

After multiple rough outings last night was 2018 Daniel Corcino. Corcino went 6.0 strong innings surrendering 1 run on 3 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 8 Redbird batters. Caleb Ferguson also did a little 2018 reminiscing as it took him all of 14 pitches to strike out all three batters he faced. Kevin Quackenbush each pitched 1.0 inning to complete the victory.

OKC got all the runs they would need after the first three batters. After Connor Joe singled and Zach Reks walked, Kyle Garlick stepped up and slugged a 3-run HR to put the Dodgers up 3-0. That was Kyle’s team leading 12th HR on the year. Joe, Garlick and Shane Peterson each had 2 hits with Peterson (6) and Reks (4) each getting doubles.

Tulsa Drillers 6 – Arkansas Travelers 5 (Seattle)

The Drillers found themselves down 5-0 going into the top of the 8th. After 2 singles, a Cristian Santana double (7), and a ground out, the Drillers got life. That life turned into victory in the 9th. After 1 out, Logan Landon walked, and Gavin Lux and Zach McKinstry each hit their 3rd singles of the night to load the bases. Cody Thomas stepped up and delivered a grand slam, his 10th HR of the season, putting the Drillers up for the first time in the game. Thomas now has 38 RBIs, good for 3rd (tied) in the Texas League.

Dustin May had a better night than his numbers showed. With his first pitch, Donnie Walton hit a HR to give the Travelers a 1-0 lead. His second pitch went a single, and then he settled down with no other runs and only 1 hit and 1 walk through five. In the 6th May allowed a single and triple for the Travelers 2nd run. But the wheels came off in the 7th. With one out, May allowed 2 singles before Jake Fraley hit a 3 run shot for the 5-0 lead. Jordan Sheffield finished the 7th and 8th with no baserunners and struck out 3 of the 4 batters he faced and got the win. It sure looks like Sheffield is embracing this new role as a reliever. Shea Spitzbarth pitched a perfect 9th for his 4th save. Shea struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2 – Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) 6

There were not many highlights in this one. Gerardo Carrillo started and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits, 4 walks, and had 3 Ks. Sven Schueller relieved Carrillo in the 5th and allowed both runners to score. Sven allowed an unearned run to score in the 6th. Logan Salow and Wes Helsabeck both pitched an impressive final three innings, with Helsabeck getting 5 K’s in his 1.2 innings.

Deacon Liput had a 2 runs single, Drew Avans had 2 of the 6 hits, and Starling Heredia hit his 5th double on the season to provide the offense.

Great Lakes Loons 9 – Fort Wayne TinCaps 6 (Padres)

The Loons put up 2 four run innings. In the 4th Leonel Valera (4) and Jacob Amaya (14) each had 2 run doubles to score 4 in the 4th. In the 6th, back to back triples by Valera (2) and Dan Robinson (2) and a sac fly scored 2. Those were followed by a 2 run double by Dillon Paulson (13) to complete the scoring for the Loons on the night. Dan Robinson also hit his 5th double on the season. All in all the Loons had 13 hits including 6 XBH.

Joel Chacin notched his 5th win but not without some heartburn. Joel surrendered a 3 run HR in the 2nd, and then allowed 2 singles, a walk, and a ground out to score 2 more in the 4th. For the night, Chacin pitched 5.0 innings allowing 5 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks and 2 Ks. Justin Hagenman started the 6th and allowed an unearned run on one hit in his .2 IP. Austin Drury relieved Hagenman to get a strike out to get out of the inning. Drury would pitch 2.0 innings with 5 Ks. Jasiel Alvino registered his 2nd save with 1.1 innings with 1 walk and 2 Ks.

The Loons remain atop of the Midwest League Eastern Division by 1.0 games over the Lake County Captains (Cleveland)

This article has 80 Comments

  3. Who cares?

    We are all going to be wrong, we are just fans.

    We don’t evaluate players, have access to health reports or detailed scouting evaluations. We don’t have careers in baseball management.

    In my silly opinion.

    If you like “having takes” be like AC and others here. Try to be rationale and don’t take yourself so seriously. Be informed, take a guess and don’t sweat it. We all are just fans.

  4. Wrong can be a long way off. Who knows? Montas was an injury prone talent who now is starting to make his mark. Muncy a has been who is now making a mark. Smeltzer a young pitcher who seems like he was in the la origination a long time ago but just pitched 6 innings I think of shutout ball at the major league level at a young age. Jose de Leon a cant miss has missed but he could resurface. Jamie Moyer pitching effectively into his forties when he wasn’t much better in his twenties. Until they post retirement wrong is a long way off. AC you have been astute on most everything you have written so right now wrong is only in the present.

    1. By the way, I am counting on JDL making it all the way back. He was always a favorite of mine. While with the RC Quakes, I specifically took a trip to Lancaster to watch him pitch against the JetHawks, and he was thoroughly unhittable that day. If Tampa can find another starter via trade, and JDL comes back this summer, they could be a real force in the AL East for the entire season this year. I know NYY is the big favorite to land Keuchel next week, but I am still holding out hope that Tampa signs him for one year. If the Dodgers could somehow find a way to get JDL back, I would absolutely be thrilled.

  5. Rights and Wrongs:

    1. Piazza got on my radar in A ball and my gut said he would be good.

    2. Kemp never got on my radar until just before he advanced to the Dodgers. He sneaked up on me and was good before I had a chance to think about it.

    3. I watched Andy LaRoach play in the AFL and never became impressed. I did however really get behind Loney and Abreu. I was right on 2 out of 3.

    4. I thought if John Hale could start 20 games in a row he would prove to be a valuable player. Wrong!

    5. Joc is more and more proving me right about him. Now I have to worry about Will Smith as my next hope project.

    6. I am finally beginning to like Verdugo. Never thought he wouldn’t be good but also never thought I would like him.

    7. I was one of the earlier supporters of Turner and thought he clearly was the best choice for 3rd when that position was up for grabs.

    8. I really wanted the Dodgers to sign Moncada and thought he would be in the majors several years before he finally stayed up. If they had splurged on Moncada they would not have signed Alvarez instead the following year.

    9. Bellinger was an easy player to get on our radar but I had worries that his vertical stance and big swing would haunt him and he would have many more games like he had in last year’s World Series. I was more wrong then right.

    10. Now for the future–I would trade Ruiz for a great reliever but then I would have traded high on Muncy and that would have been wrong.

  6. I though I was wrong once, but I was mistaken. 😉

    Hey, some of you were taking me to task for daring to compare Cody Bellinger and Ted Williams. Nowhere did I say that Cody was the equal of Ted and I know that Ted may have went down as the greatest of all time had he not missed 4 seasons in his prime. However, they do physically resemble each other and if Cody keeps up his current pace, he is on track to have a better year than Ted ever did. That’s all! If he doesn’t keep it up, then I can say “Cody has flashes of Ted Williams.”

    I really don’t think you can compare generational legends anyway. The game was different then verses now. Better or worse, it has changed.

    http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26846850/how-cody-bellinger-best-season-mlb-history

    Here were are:

    1. The Dodgers lead MLB in Wins and Winning Percentage; and
    2. I think they will get even better!
    3. The Dodgers’ starting pitchers have a 3.02 ERA and are second to TB’s 2.35 (that’s sick…. and unsustainable)

    1. No one could seriously think you were comparing ted Williams and bellinger. Bellinger is a 5 tool player who is off to a great start! The Dodgers are playing great minus a bullpen! We can get better but so much fun we are rolling and bellinger has been second to no one thus far. Great time to be a dodger fan! FUN!

    2. Yes but Bullpen is terrible ! Need help with Bullpen. Kike is not solution at 2B neither is Taylor. First place yet and bet team overall but in short series Good Bullpen is crucials. Also D – in offseason signings of Pollock and Kelly. Not needed . But great season so far overall !!!

    3. I know that you’re never wrong, but the Twins lead MLB in Winning Percentage.

  7. Well, I must say that it’s not necessary to admit you’re wrong, but it’s a lot more refreshing than saying that you’re right all the time. A good point that Ten says is you’re wrong in the moment. Players have ups and downs. Perhaps you’re also right in the moment in terms of DJLM. Because Lux is going to make passing on DJ look like a brilliant move. This brings us to another point of balancing this year’s needs with next year’s rookie breakouts.

    Right now it looks like there’s no room for Lux or Muncy with Joc’s resurgence and Verdugo’s breakout causing a crowded outfield again. Muncy might just take over 2B full time when Pollock comes back. Lux might have to wait until Turner’s contract is done before he can move to 2B and Muncy to 3B.

    Soon we won’t have any right handed hitters.

  9. Interesting point about Ryu being a client of Satan (or Steve Boras as he’s commonly known). Both Ryu’s contract and Rich Hill’s are up at the end of the year. Hill has said he plans to pitch next year. The Dodgers have Stripling and Urias plus May and Gonsolin coming along. Do they try to resign Ryu? Hill? Do they resign Ryu and make Hill a qualifying offer?

  10. This is fun . Let’s see,

    1) I was right in 2017 that we win 100+ games, and get to the World Series
    2) I was wrong in 2018 that we win 95+ games and get to the World Series (we won 92?)
    3) I was wrong in predicting that Bryce Harper come in 2019 (and THANK GOD!!!)
    4) I think I”ll be right if Kimbrell signs a high salary for 2019 deal with us and helps us win it
    5) I predicted 100 wins this year, and easy division title, and again, a trip to the World Series
    6) I was wrong that Darvish would be a better pickup than Verlander in 2017 (well, I was only wrong in the World Series)
    7) I was right about Lux, WRONG about Kendall (so far)

    1. I was initially wrong about Lux, but unfortunately right about Kendall. It was not that I thought Lux would be a bust, but I was all in on Bo Bichette. I still like Bichette, but I am very very happy with how Lux has turned out.

  11. What ever happened to the young (16?) “CAN’T MISS” catcher the Dodgers signed last year?

    1. Diego Cartaya is now 17, 6′ 2″ and 200 lbs. He is headed to Rookie ball and is likely several year away. I have not seen him but have heard raves about him.

  12. Tomorrow Mark can write an article about being wrong about Joc…
    .274/.375/.662/1.037 Joc
    .284/.458/.585/1.043 Trout

    1. Hey, I have admitted I was wrong about Joc. I predicted he was no better than a #4 or #5 Outfielder. It has been a slow and painful progression, but Doc is using him exactly how he needs to. Joc should rarely face LH pitchers. 70% of the pitchers are RH – let him rake on them. Forget the LH pitchers except on occasion. He is hitting .190 against LHP this year which is about what he has over his career. He is a force in the lineup. Put him where he will be successful and don’t try and make him hit LHP. He might blast 40 HR this year! Keep his confidence high.

      3. I just listed the numbers, nothing more. If you’re hysterical, that’s on you.

  13. All birds are edible ( I learned that from ‘survivor man’) and even crow can taste wonderful. But I don’t believe you were wrong about Verdugo. He certainly displayed a cocksure attitude that gives one a wrong impression easily at a time when his worthiness remained still in question. He cleared both sides of that hurdle and not only does he belong he fits too. I’m happier to eat crow than to eat peacock and Verdugo as it turns out is not a peacock.

    1. Birds are edible, but they leave a fowl taste in your mouth.

      But, seriously…

      Reyes and others (maybe Rich Hill had a hand in it), have helped Alex change his attitude… and it did need to be changed. Other helped, but give Alex credit for changing. It all started when he bought in. I also hear he is a real student of pitchers.

      I was also wrong that he couldn’t play CF and I would like to know how he improved his speed. Me? I have 4.3 speed! Four feet in three seconds… Is that good?

      We are taking our “TEAM” the Indianapolis Indians game tonight to celebrate. At 3 PM yesterday we called a whole company meeting as we had our first Million Dollar Month at 2:30 PM… and brought in Champagne as we toasted our success! 18 years ago, my wife and I started US Water Systems in our garage after I left my job due to illness (they were sick of me) as National Sales Manager for a Water Treatment Company in LA… and here we are: I love this country!

      The Indians are playing the Gwinnett Strippers tonight. That should be interesting… Oh, it’s the Stripers? Who knew? Damon Berryhill is the manager and Grant Dayton is in the pen.

  15. We all agree that the bullpen needs help. Most of us agree that we won’t be the ones to sign Kimbrel next week (apparently the Cubs have thrown their hat in the ring with the various other teams that have been interested). AC and I have been tossing around the name of Greg Holland since spring training. The D’backs will be out of it by July and will be selling off some pieces. Holland signed a one-year contract with them for 3.2 mil so he’ll be affordable, salary-wise.
    This is what his 2019 season looks like so far:
    19 games/18.2 innings 12.5k/9 innings 1.45 ERA 1.07 WHIP
    As far as I can tell, that’s better than anyone we have here.
    I’m going to keep bringing his name up until we trade for him, he flames out, or July 31st, whichever comes first.
    This seemed like the perfect post to make this comment, since if we trade for him he’ll probably turn into Joe Kelly and then I can say I WAS WRONG!

    2. If you look at the wild card standings almost no one is out of it yet. Figuring out who will be buyers and sellers at the deadline will be interesting with so many teams hovering right around .500. Teams in the NL West will not want to help the Dodgers in any way unless they way overpay for a rental. Holland I’m sure would want to close. Having said that I would love to have Holland in the bullpen. Rockies have won 6 in a row and are 9 games back but right there in the WC standings.

  16. I was wrong once. That was when I thought I was wrong but I was really right.

  17. Might Hunter Pence be a Dodger this year? Maybe if Pollock winds up being out all season.

    Floro, Santana, Fergusson, Pollock to Mets for Cespedes and Diaz? DFA Cespedes immediately.

    1. I suggested Hunter Pence and his remade swing 6 weeks ago. He would be a nice fit.

      I don’t know if the Mets would do that deal, but it would push the Dodgers over the Luxury Tax Threshold. However, IF the Mets did accept it and Cespedes ended up with the Dodgers, why on earth would they cut him? He’s owed $30 million in 2020, so why not see if he can play? If he is healthy, he could be very valuable.

      1. I think the Mets would do that deal but not Friedman. No way he would give up that much in players plus take on Cespedes’ salary when he has spent so much time on the IL and will likely do so again next year. Diaz is great but that’s too big a gamble for Friedman.
        Hunter Pence – I’ve always been a huge fan, even when he was with the Black & Orange, but I really don’t see him keeping this up all year. I expect some substantial decline by the end of the year, although he’d be great in the clubhouse.

        1. Trade Pollock for Cespedes. One bad contract for another. Throw in Kelly too !!

      2. Pollock has a $15M payroll cost to Cespedes’ $29M but goes on for 5 years and the latter ends in 2020. Maybe Hill or Kelly would have to be part of the trade to match payrolls.

  18. I have a question, every day I read that we need help in the bullpen, which I agree, and we talk about possible pitchers that could come to the team, but my question is: who would be the one who would have to go? Urias? Stripling? Baez? Jensen? Floro? Kelly? I do not think so. The only ones I see as possible are Yimi Garcia or Scott Alexander. And when saying that he has to go, I do not mean exactly in a trade, but to be sent to AAA

    1. In my mind it has to be a difference maker. If the choices are John Axford, Zac Rosscup, or Ryan Madsen types, then nobody. If Leclerc, or Doolittle, or Greene, (and there will be others of the same quality), then it would probably be Alexander or Floro because they have options, and then Garcia. Playoff roster, Alexander and Floro would both be selected over Garcia.

  19. Also on a possible right handed hitter, there is one that could come to the team: A.J Pollock … Oh wait, he’s already on the team!
    When he returns, I think he could only play against lefties and Joc against RH, at least this season

    1. I think you are being optimistic. He has lost his spot. Verdugo has taken it . Pollock could be a good platoon or bench bat. At .223 avg and less than .300 OBP no thank you

  20. I am still not giving up on Pollock, we will need his bat com October. He is yet another guy on this team that can carry us when he gets hot. He just needs to relax when he gets back to playing and not worry about trying to hit up to his contract. Calling this shot, you guys will be loving this dude when the contending teams start stacking us with leftie pitchers late in the season. Let’s not kick this guy to the curb, let’s root for him to get healthy and balance the lineup. I know we are cruising right now, but mark my words, we are going to need his bat big time this fall.

    1. Wow. Hopefully. With .223 and .280 something OBP and no power. Bad Signing. Team did not needed this player. Over rated and over paid and often injured. Next. Bring Puig Back

      1. Dang, Carlos, you sure like to pull the plug early, don’t you? If the Dodgers FO was as impatient as you, Joc, Baez, Kenley, Kelly, and Taylor, and probably Kike would all be gone. Patience grasshopper, patience. It’s a long season, alot of things happen.

  21. Get Joc a first baseman’s glove and start working him out there. I know last year he was working out some there. Muncy at second and Pollock in left at least against righties. I was a proponent of Belly moving back to first but I was wrong. He’s much too valuable in right. Out overall team defense and positioning is a huge part of our success! If the bullpen was even decent we might have another 5-6 wins.

    1. It has already started. I think you will see Joc there at times. I’m not sure what it does, unless JT is injured and Mad Max plays 3B…

    1. Definitely want an 86 OPS+ batting leadoff. Definitely. Maybe we can get Wade Miley too if we want to trade for poor players.

      Carlos, on a scale of 1-10 what would you rate your potential happiness if the Dodgers brought back:
      Dee Gordon, Matt Kemp AND Puig.

      Asking for a friend with IQ above room temp.

  23. 20 games over .500
    Starters have the most innings pitched in MLB. 3rd best FIP.

    The Dominican Summer League officially began today and the good guys have 2 teams and some noteable names…

    The DSL Dodgers Bautista roster includes 2018 signees Diego Cartaya, Jerming Rosario, Joel Ibarra, and Jose Ramos.

    The DSL Dodgers Shoemaker roster includes Carlos Duran, Alex De Jesus, Osvanni Gutierrez, and Jorge Gonzalez.

    1. DC knows this team better than me, but my players to watch would be Miguel Vargas (3B), Jacob Amaya (SS), Niko Hulsizer (OF), Hunter Feduccia (C), Jair Camargo (C), Andre Jackson (RHSP), Robinson Ortiz (LHSP), John Rooney (LHSP), Zach Willeman (RHRP), Brett de Geus (RHRP), and Guillermo Zuniga (RHRP).

        1. He is just 17. He needs to get accustomed to professional ball. Everyday. If he has a good summer, I think we will see him in the USA at some point before the US affiliates are done. Probably a little time in the AZL. I hope so. If he does, I think I may have to schedule a trip to Glendale AZ in August to watch.

      2. Please don’t forget about my man, Dillon Paulson – he’s starting to heat up.

  25. Strange lineup tonight-Freese bats leadoff?! CT3 bats 3rd and Kike 5th ahead of Cory and Alex. JT gets another night off. Maybe Freese and CT3 are getting switched out when the leftie leaves the game?

    1. Doc missed yesterday’s game; he HAD to put his stamp on tonight’s lineup as best he could!

  27. AC you remember how Wood was so good for the Dodgers the first half of the season and made the all-star game, but he wasn’t good enough for the Dodgers to keep him? So wrong and right on players is relative.

    1. There is something about participating in the All-Star game, that causes those Dodger players to experience a second half tail spin. Like AC, I was very pro Alex Wood. However, after his appearance in the AS game, he started on a steady downward progression.

    2. Wood was good enough. He was not the All Star pitcher, but he was a good #4 or #5. He was a savior in Game 4 of the 2017 WS as a STARTER. He also pitched 2 innings of shut out ball in game 7 with 3 Ks. I wonder what might have happened if Wood had started Game 7 instead of Darvish. He did pitch poorly in relief in the 2018 WS, and he probably had an attitude since he should not have had to go to the bullpen in his mind. But he is a Red now, and I can only continue to wish him good success.

  31. Say what u want. Dodgers still have issues with lefties. And the last two have been terrible lefties at that!

  36. What was the name of the guy who Will Smith replaced when he first came up 3 all star appearances ago?

  37. Just one note. Why in the heck would you hit Chris Taylor 3rd in the order? For one, he is the strikeout king. Two, you want base runners in front of Bellinger. Why Taylor???? Verdugo should be hitting in front of Bellinger. Joc wastes too many of his Home Runs on Solo Shots. Verdugo is more of a get on base type, and then you get the 2 or 3 run homer.

  38. One more thing. Something is wrong with the way Pitching Baseball Stats are when the guy who started leaves with a lead, but then the great relief pitcher blows it all in 1 inning and then ends up getting the win. I say, if you get tagged with a blown save and then the team wins, the Starter gets the WIN. Enough of this BS with giving the relief pitchers fake wins.

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