This definitely has turned out to be a different summer which is also slipping away very quickly.
Starting on Friday we will be wearing masks for indoor activities. My best friend since the sixties has just completed 20 radiation treatments for prostate cancer and we are under a heat wave with very high humidity.
Baseball has resumed at the MLB level, at least temporarily, and as fans we should be grateful for whatever season we can experience. I don’t get too concerned about a game-by-game situation unless it is the final game of the season – a championship game. What I do miss the most, and perhaps this is heresy, is minor league ball and following the kids through the Dodger farm system. With no minor league ball, it has become increasingly more difficult for me to contribute to LADT. As mentioned before , when the minor league season went belly up it pretty much took most of my baseball oxygen with it.
Having said that, there is a bit one can do to provide a column once in a while, although out of the context of minor league games. Thinking back, guys like Caleb Ferguson, Zach McKinstry and Victor Gonzalez come to mind. That is, players who were far from high profile as they started their professional baseball careers. Players who one would not expect to have achieved what they have done with Ferguson a 38th round selection, McKinstry a 33rd round selection and Gonzalez a $100,000 international signing. I would like to add Geraldo Carrillo to that group. I had hoped to do it within the context of a season and game situation. However, here goes.
Right-hander Gerardo Carrillo was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent on July 5, 2016. The native of Guadalajara, Mexico received a signing bonus of $75,000. He has climbed into the 17th slot in the Dodgers 2020 Prospect Rankings, now ahead of the aforementioned Victor Gonzalez (21) and Zach McKinstry (20) as well as ahead of fellow prospects Edwin Uceta (25), Michael Grove(19), Brett de Geus (29) AND Andre Jackson (30).
He began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League during the 2017 season recording a 2.79 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in 14 appearances, 10 of them starts. He struck out 32 over 48.1 innings while walking 14.
Carrillo started the 2018 season in Arizona in rookie ball after spending time in extended spring training. After only 4 appearances in rookie ball he was promoted to low A. He started 9 games with the Great Lakes Loons and posted an ERA of 1.65 in his 49 innings of work. He gave up 35 hits, walked 15 and struck out 37. His best game was his second to last start as he went 7 shutout innings, giving up 6 hits, walking 1 and striking out 7.
In 2019, Carrillo pitched as a 20-year-old for the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. In 23 games (21 starts), he went 5-9 with a 5.44 ERA, 86 strikeouts and 51 walks, along with a 1.60 WHIP over 86 innings. He finished the season strongly however, with his longest and arguably his best outing of the year. He tossed seven solid innings, allowing two earned runs, with a walk and a season-high 11 strikeouts in a win August 24 at the Inland Empire 66ers.
In fact, over his final three starts of the 2019 season, Carrillo finished 3-0, struck out 25, walked four, while giving up three earned runs (1.62 ERA) over 16 ⅔ innings. The 25/5 strikeout to walk ratio was noticeable in those three games as control has been the main concern with Carrillo as a young, developing pitcher.
To dig a bit deeper into his progress, in the second half of the 2019 season over 37.1 innings pitched, he posted a 3.86 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP along with 41 strikeouts and 13 walks. Again, drawing attention to the strikeout to walk ratio during the second half of the season elevated his prospect status that already was under the radar.
Carrillo was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League following his 2019 regular season. Against better competition he posted a 2.22 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP along with 25 strikeouts and 13 walks over 24.1 innings pitched. His 24.1 innings pitched were the most by a member of the Glendale Desert Dogs team. The league average for pitchers was 23.2 year-of-age while Carrillo turned 21 at the beginning of fall league play. On October 25, 2019 he was named the AFL Pitcher of the Week.
So what was it that moved Carrillo up on the Dodgers prospect chart? It is what was noticeable when he was a Loon. Perhaps what was most noticeable about Carrillo was his composure on the mound pitching to batters often a few years older than him. He did not seem to get rattled under pressure and pitched with a confidence that bellied his age and experience. Veteran pitching coach Bobby Cuellar was impressed with Carrillo on the hill.
“Right now, his delivery is not as good as he wants it, but the tenacity he has, the feel for the game that he has and the stubbornness sometimes that he has that, ‘I’m going to throw this pitch and I know it’s going to work,’” Cuellar said. “Even to do that, you have to have a feel and a trust for your ability to do things. This young man has a lot of trust in himself and a lot of trust in his ability and has a knowledge that I probably can’t teach, that ‘I can throw a pitch and it will work.”
Carrillo became even more noticeable as he was listed at 5’10” while weighing only 154 pounds yet he consistently threw in the low 90’s and could touch as high as 97 mph. Again, pitching coach Bobby Cuellar was impressed but was unable to explain how Carrillo generates his velocity.
“If you’ve been around baseball long enough, you know that I don’t have that answer for you,” Cuellar said about how a smaller pitcher can generate that kind of velocity. “I’ve been around some guys that are not very big and throw pretty hard themselves. I was fortunate enough to be a pitching coach with Pedro Martinez [with the Expos] and he wasn’t a very big guy, either. I really can’t tell you — his arm works a certain way, his extension works a certain way and then the ball comes out of his hand. I’m sure that I can’t exactly tell you what he does, but it works.”
Not to wear Cuellar out but he was equally impressed with Carrillo’s hand speed with the Loons after a very good outing by the then 19-year-old.
“The changeup was especially good for Carrillo” , Cuellar said. “It’s an arm speed thing, the coach said of the pitch’s effectiveness. “But here’s this little guy who hits up to 94 [mph] on you, and all of sudden it’s pretty close hand speed and toward the end of the night, the last two or three innings, the hand speed on the fastball and the changeup were really, really close together. He threw a lot more changeups toward the end and, in fact, the last guy he struck out was a changeup.”
“I guess once he got more comfortable the way he threw it, the better the arm speed was. It’s just a feel. He’ll change his delivery, go fast and go slow. It’s a feel he has right now.”
What are others saying about Geraldo Carrillo? As mentioned, he turned a corner during the second half of the 2019 season with the Quakes. Pitching coach Connor McGuiness explains.
”This is part of the development process. He’s starting to put it all together. Sometimes the development process can lead to immediate results, and other times, sacrifices have to be made on the results end in order to develop players to succeed at the big league level. It’s been very fun for all of us, Gerardo included, to see that his hard work is paying off.”
Jake Reiner on Inside the Dodgers wrote last May.
“Having watched footage of Carrillo, I can tell you that this guy has a potentially devastating cutter. However, he needs to harness and control his other pitches, like his 98 mph two-seam fastball, to set up that swing-and-miss pitch. He also has a changeup and curveball in his repertoire.”
Baseball America writes that he has rapidly filled out, adding 25 pounds, and has become one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the Dodgers organization.
What does Geraldo Carrillo say? Just a couple of notes from an interview with him by Gail Verderico of Prospects 1500 last May. In that interview he states that his two seam fastball is his best pitch and he is working on all his pitches but mostly on his changeup. He tends to pattern himself after Max Scherzer admiring Scherzer’s courage and bravery when he’s on the mound and the way he challenges the hitters. Carrillo doesn’t appear to be a nibbler around the plate.
Lastly Gail Verderico asked Carrillo what he enjoyed most about the experience in the Arizona Fall League. His response:
“The opportunity to meet and play with all those good players. But my favorite memory from the Fall League was when I threw 100 mph.”
During the shutdown, Carrillo is doing what he can to stay fit and motivated as his breakout year is postponed for another season.
Good article Harold. Yes, I to love to hear about the kids. Ferguson looked good last night. He is here to stay. His fastball was electric and he was hitting his spots.
I am not sure what is wrong with Joe Kelly. However I loved every minute watching him pitch. The Astros were hanging pretty loose in the batters box. The Astros batters did not look very happy.
Dodger farmhand Connor Joe who was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer on February 1 stated the following on Instagram:
“Exactly 5 months since being diagnosed with testicular cancer in February, I am grateful to share that I am now CANCER FREE!”
https://instagram.com/p/CDFrkpeAy2v/
oh that’s great!
Good to know about Connor Joe. Will we ever see him in Dodger uniform ? is he in 60 player pool ? I think Dodgers bench has too many LHB. Beatty and Rios almost the same. RHB i know you guys and Mr Timmons love KIKI, but him and Taylor are basically the same player and i like Taylor better personally and he is signed already. I would let Kiki go or trade him at deadline and get a prospect. He can be useful and very good at times but i think he is overpayed and at the end of the season barely reaches .250 with tons of strikeouts and double plays.
Conner Joe is not on the 60 man some of it is because of his health – I would love to see him play on the mlb level but I think he is. 4A player. I hope I am wrong.
Carrillo May be 5’10”, but he no longer weighs 154 pounds. He’s been hitting the weight room pretty hard since ‘18. He’s another interesting young arm in our system. We have several,,
At the end of today the season will be 10% completed.
We’ve had the Taylor/Hernandez identity thing for a few years now. Now we have Beaty/Rios. The names might change but the blueprint is the same. This is part of the team identity and it’s by design.
Twins are us!
So how do we feel about the pitch Kelly threw at Bregman?
Did it slip?
Did he do it on purpose but the Astros deserve it?
Is it ever OK to throw at a player’s head?
Kelly couldn’t find the strike zone. Correa struck out on balls low and away.
Is it ok to throw at a player’s head? Not really. But there may be an exception made if the player being thrown at is an Asstro.
I thought I was watching Joe Kelly from last season. He was melting down. Then, all of a sudden he started to function again. Loved the way he confronted the Asstros. He doesn’t look very tough, though. I think Badger can take him.
As much as I would have liked to see Kelly or any Dodger pitcher put one in their ribs, I don’t think Kelly had any idea where the ball was going. Last season I watched Kelly throw more balls to the backstop than any pitcher I can remember. I’m not talking about just wild pitches. I’m talking about balls that were nowhere near the K zone and hit the backstop on the fly. Much like the ball that went through his window. I will give Bregman credit. He knows that pitchers for the next year and half are going to drill them and they deserve it. He kept his mouth shut and took his base. Same after the game. They cheated, they know they cheated, and paid no real penalty. If Manfred hadn’t f’d up this too like he does everything, they may not be getting HBP as much the next year and a half.
~
I know Dusty has to stand up for his guys, but honestly I’ve lost just about all respect for him. I know managers take whatever jobs are available to them so I’ve looked past the teams he’s represented. However, you could hear him yell plain as day, “get back on the mound you little fucker” to Kelly. So, don’t show up to the post-game interview complaining about what Kelly said to Correa. That’s pretty hypocritical there Dusty. Deep down he knows the Astros players got off easy and are getting what they deserve around the league.
That was Dusty who said that? If so, he’s in the right place. An ass managing the Asstros.
When Kelly got stepped on, I couldn’t tell if it was deliberate are not. Obviously his foot was not on the bag, right? If so, did the runner miss the base?
If Joe Kelly had command he’d be a closer extraordinaire.
Jeff, there was a time when Badger probably could’ve eaten Kelly’s lunch. That time has past. But thanks for the nod.
Carrillo. I watched the videos, viewed his Instagram page. He does look a lot like Pedro. That would be cool.
Good article on Dustin May’s stuff:
https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dustin-may-sinker-cutter-curveball-dodgers
Wow. Great read. Thanks Bobby.
22 with stuff like that%? Throw strikes and go 6 kid.
The refinement he needs to become big time is coming up with that put away pitch. He gets 2 strikes easily, but needs that final pitch to get the K or weak groundout. I’m sure it’ll come with time, but when it does, look out!
99 mph with 18” break is an out pitch if there ever was one. Just aim that cheese center cut and let the flailing begin.
To tell thectruth I’ve never seen nor heard of anything like that. 99 with 6” break is an extremely difficult pitch to barrel up. 18”? Really? Wow.
it’s Kerry Wood/Mark Prior type wiffle ball stuff
Yep. Give me a plastic bat and I’ll destroy that whiffle pitch.
Ok, maybe not But I’d love to try.
DC, thank you for making my blueberry muffin taste so much better as we face another triple day in temperature here in NorCal. I too, miss the stories of the minor league players and following their journeys. Hope to see Gerardo Carrillo soon. He seems to believe in himself and proves it.
Game observations – Caleb was terrific, striking out the side.
Loved Kelly, whether intentional or unintentional on his pitches, sent a message. Did not like the head almost being hit though.
Pollock, Seager and Betts, good hitting.
Great news on Connor Joe.
Where do you live DBM?
North of Sacramento, Badger. Supposed to be 100 degrees. Not looking forward to it. Where are you at?
Another NorCal Dodger fan. AC is up here too – I’ve moved from Rocklin to Roseville.
Yes, Dodger Rick, live close to you and very proud to be in the enemy’s camp.
In the 70’s here in Santa Maria. In fact when we started our round of golf yesterday morning I had a light jacket on. Nothing like the central coast.
“From Rocklin to Roseville”. Sounds like a catchy C&W song for Bear to write.
I went to school in Redding and Chico. I have friends who lost their Paradise home in the Camp Fire. Got 2 friends in Nevada City area. Yeah, it can get hot in that valley.
My daughter and her family live in Chico. She is a counselor at a nearby high school, her husband drives for UPS. I wish they’d move :0).
I did my student teaching at Pleasant Valley High and across the street at Loma Vista. I loved living in Chico. It was different in the 70s.
Hey Harold that was a great read on Carrillo. I like stories about people who work there way up with perseverance and resolve. Have you covered Michael Grove? I would be interested in hearing some background on the young pitcher.
That 5th inning last night was great. I counted 6 times we loaded the bases. All singles, walks, and an error I believe.
I haven’t written about Michael Grove, a second round selection. I tend to profile players that are not top draft selections as they seem to get a lot of coverage.
Can’t wait to see May’s follow up start against a good lineup. Nice write up on him. His stuff is insane. He seems to have control with all 3 pitches and is cool and calm out there. Future looks scary good with our young pitching staff, both starters and the pen!
Regarding what was wrong with Joe Kelly last night, looked like he had perfect control on every pitch. At least that’s one crazy nice way to think about it.
Nice post Harold. Dodgers win over the cheaters,very nice.
Whoopee! We have our first social distancing scrum! Excellent. Good thing cooler heads prevailed. I can see one of them saying, you do that again and I will sneeze on you! Really, I thought the whole thing was childish. And it started with Kelly walking off the field and making a face at one of the Astro’s. Kelly did not have good command last night, and that was one of the reason’s the Stro’s were back on their heels against him. But a win is a win. They hit too many at em balls again last night. Seager is still hitting the ball harder than any of them. Turner steady as a rock, and how about his defense last night? JT turned a couple of gems. Pollock had a good night at the plate. Buehler looked really good until he ran out of gas in the 4th. Reason Graterol got the win was because he pitched the 5th when they scored the runs even though Kolarek had finished off the 4th. Some kid named Javier on the bump for Houston tonight. MLB might consider a 5 second delay of the broadcast so they can bleep the language. But it does bring you closer to the players mindset. Sorry No Cal is so hot, but here were are getting heavy afternoon rains almost every day. Cassidy, you know very well my opine on Monsieur White, and it is not at all favorable. I also like hearing about the kids in the system. Too bad that they are not getting the chance to show thier wares this year, but health and family more important. Dodgers in 3rd place behind the division leading Padres and 1/2 game back of the Rockies. I am not good with math so the 2.7 thing evades me. Oh yeah, on yardbarker.com they have a list of the managers most likely to get fired this season and Roberts is right behind Servais of the Mariners at the top of the list.
It started either with the Bregman buzz or Kelly getting stepped on. Whatever. Something was bound to happen. Orel touched on it several times last night. The entire league and fans across America, are pissed, and rightfully so. These guys got away with stealing a championship and EVERYBODY knows it. They are the only team in baseball that is actually fortunate the stands are empty.
According to Baker, it escalated when Kelly said after the at bat to Correa, ” nice swing bitch! “. What ever the reason, it added drama to the game, fired up the Dodgers some, and made my morning coffee taste a whole lot better. Yes, the Stros would be getting well deserved boos this season had their been fans. But I reserve mine for the weak assed commissioner who did not have the Huevo’s to at least vacate the title. They should not be able to benefit from their cheating. And being able to keep that trophy is a benefit. The Marlins are seemingly signing every healthy body they can find, 3 pitchers in the last 24 hours and this morning, former Dodger, Logan Forsythe. Astros got a pitcher, H. Velazquez from the Orioles this morning in a trade. Lucroy was removed from the 60 man pool by the Red Sox.
According to Baker? F him. He’s off base, has been since he took that job, and will remain so all year. As far as I’m concerned is legacy is managing the team that got away with the worst scandal in MLB history. He’s part of the story now.
My short term memory isn’t what it usta was, so correct me if you will, but a suspect 3-0 behind the head fastball started this. Then there was the incident at first. Brantley chose not to step on the bag, Kelly’s foot was conveniently in the baseline and Brantley went for it. Did he ever touch first? I think I might have appealed it, but maybe Kelly never touched first either.
And I still have a question about Valdez and contact with the rubber. I don’t believe it’s legal to stand in front of the rubber and begin your windup.
Errrr asstros. I hates the asstros.
MLB cannot and will not ever vacate a title. They have made agreements with gaming interests and a move like that would create total chaos for that industry. It’s money over everything, including integrity (personal or professional).
Given a choice, I’m not sure whether Dodger’s ownership would even trade the money for the championship. I’d like to believe they would, but it is a lot of money.
Bear – Scott Servais has a terrible baseball team and has his entire Mariner tenure. His best and only winning season was 2016 which was the 1st year of the latest, Slick-Willy, Boy Genius, Jerry Dipoto. Since then, Jerry has had at least 2 total rebuilds of the club. He calls them “reimagining” the team. Servais gets to manage this train wreck while Dipoto leads the planet in trades and deals. Like Don Wakamatsu and Bob Melvin before, they couldn’t win in Seattle with shitty teams.
Servais and Doc are in totally different circumstances.
hey Phil, wasn’t my story. I just said what yardbarker was reporting. I doubt Doc is on a short leash since he just signed a 4 year deal. There are plenty of crappy teams and you can pick any of them and say the manager is on the hot seat. Mattingly has not won a thing in Miami either, but Jeter loves the guy.
SingingtheBlue did his best Karnak last Sunday when he posted “I don’t claim to be an expert on pitching mechanics but I would not be at all surprised if Wood is injured. To what degree, I have no idea.” Pretty keen eye.
Joe Kelly. Wow what can you say? Kelly certainly didn’t like getting stepped on at first by Brantley which caused words being exchanged. I didn’t know then but read later it was Dusty’s voice directed to Kelly to get the ……. back on the mound. The “Joe Kelly Fight Club” status was revisited.
Everyone can speculate on whether his “Ricky Vaughn” imitation was intentional or not. But the 3 and 0 bullet over Bregman’s head looked mighty suspicious. But would he really sail one over a guy’s dome? The “control issues” are as about as explainable as the 14 straight breaking balls he threw last outing. Intentionally or not, he stirred the pot. We all knew it would happen but maybe not game 1.
In an interview I saw, idiot Eddy Perez report that MLB has to do something about last night. He stated that since Kelly did’nt actually hit anybody, he can’t be punished. So, Eddy, what “something” can be done? More warnings? Everybody, including the Asstros know this is coming. Is the Commish supposed to protect these cheaters from now on?
“Eddy Perez report that MLB has to do something about last night”
MLB has to do something? About what? Asstros getting thrown at?
Here’s a suggestion that would end it today. Strip them of their title.
MLB is gutless. The ONLY thing they respond to is money. In this case, the only thing that would get their attention is a fan boycott. That ain’t gonna happen. Fans are loyal and they are pissed. But they are also disorganized.
I would like to say, for the record, that throwing at opposing players is wrong. Having said that, I can also say that fans across the country got a certain degree of satisfaction from seeing Joe Kelly do to the Astros what they wished they could do themselves. I am one of them. It may not be right, but it is human.
I’m with you on that David.
DC, what do you think Carrillo’s chances are that he makes AA next year? That is, if we have a minor league season.
I believe he would have made AA this year if the season had not been cancelled. I would be surprised if he did not start at the AA level in 2021, season pending.
Thank you, DC.
Nice article Harold!! Carillo is another of the kids that I wish I could be watching this year. Maybe next year.
The relief corps was solid last night. Ferguson was very solid. I also thought Treinen looked especially good. He didn’t get the same results as Ferguson, but his stuff looked nasty. Same as Graterol. 100 mph. I wish I could through that hard. My 80 mph fastball in high school probably wouldn’t play in today’s game. 🙂
Don’t care much about the Kelly/Correa scrum. The “benches clear” in the Dodger game, doesn’t mean much more than everyone got the opportunity to stretch their legs. Hardly anything ever happens in baseball scrums. Where’s the Wild Horse, Puig, when you need him to stir the pot?
Uh, I thought if you opted out that was it. Markakis of the Braves has reversed course and rejoined the Braves. So I guess it is ok to change your mind and come back. Both of the Braves front line catchers were reinstated today.
That was the original ruling. Once opting out, you could not change your mind. I do not know how Markakis is able to rejoin the Braves. Apparently the original rule was overruled by MLB.
Per Dave Roberts Pre-Game Press Conference:
• No indication as to what (if any) punishment will be coming down from MLB on last night’s events. There was a fact-finding telephone conversation and a decision should be made soon. There was some discussion that the umpires may issue a warning to both benches before the game. But Dave did say that umpires do not like going that route, and it still needs to be clear indication on intent.
• CK threw yesterday. 30-32 pitches and then down and up again for another 25. Today CK felt good. He will throw again on Thursday and could pitch on this road trip, but it will not be on Friday.
• When asked who Friday’s starter would be, Doc said the decision has not been made, but did not rule out that it could be someone from the secondary site. When asked how that would work, knowing they cannot get on commercial flights, Doc said the pitcher would have to drive to Phoenix from LA. That person will know today if that happens. I still got the impression from earlier press conferences that he does not think Gonsolin was ready yet.
• One of the discussion points with the league is that managers and coaches need to do a better job at keeping players on the bench. Doc did say that he needs to do a better job. He will address the team about the importance of staying on the bench. Tempers will flare, but there is a larger picture that needs to be on display.
• When asked if he thought that the bench clearing in yesterday’s game was a tension buildup or a tension release. Doc thought that it was a tension release. Tensions were tight from the beginning.
• Buehler did not experience any soreness today. He will be ready for his next start (Sunday). He will go approximately 5 IP and 75 pitches.
• Dustin is cleared for 5 and 75 as well today.
Pitching Matchups for the Arizona series:
Thursday – Ross Stripling vs Robbie Ray
Friday – TBD vs Zac Gallen
Saturday – Julio Urias vs Luke Weaver
Sunday – Walker Buehler vs Merrill Kelly
Great article. And I feel your pain.
While I am very happy that MLB is back and have enjoyed looking forward to watching games everyday; I also am finding it hard to enjoy the overall experience without MiLB. My son and I go to 30+ minor league games per year. My son was very much looking forward to seeing some of the players he got to know last year like Jacob Amaya and Miguel Vargas. We were excited to have an opportunity to seeing Hoes, Bush and Cartaya in Rancho this year. I doubt Amaya or Vargas will be in A ball next year and it’s uncertain if Hoes, Bush or Cartaya will every play in high A ball at all and just get moved directly to AA for 2021.
A lot of the enjoyment my son has in watching Dodger games in the excitement of seeing players in the Show who he once met down in A ball. Post AS break he’d obsessively follows the news feeds to see if one of “his guys” gets a call up. And stress out at the possibility that one may be tossed into a trade before the deadline. Having no minor league season takes a lot of that away. It’s a shame.
While I am very happy baseball is back, the lack of following the young guys progress in the minors really does leave a big hole in the overall experience. At least for me and my son.
Looks like Joe Kelly just got hit with an 8 game suspension.
Its the equivalent of 22 games in a normal season!
I understand a suspension, but that seems heavy. His suspension a few years ago was six games (out of 162). I guess MLB wanted to hit him hard as a second-offender and send a message about brawling in this unusual year.
Clearly that’s a ridiculous punishment. In fact, the only one who should be suspended is Baker for cursing on television and inciting a riot. I’d give him 8 days and a suspension of the title.
No kidding. This punishment is absolutely bulls**t. Does dumbass Manfred plan to protect the cheaters and suspend every pitcher who throws inside to the Asstros? God forbid if somebody hits an Assstro. He might get the death penalty or a lifetime ban. Funny Kelly puts his lip out and that’s taunting (after getting stepped on at first earlier) and gets suspended but Dusty can yell a profanity at him and get nothing. I’d appeal and fight this one big time.
You can bet it will be appealed. And most likely reduced. They have to prove intent. None of those pitches looked intentional to me. He was all over the place.
I find it more than a little ironic that no Astro players were suspended for a single game for cheating all of 2017. But Kelly gets 8 games for a couple brush backs that weren’t even obviously intentional (given he couldn’t hit a barn door the entire inning).
Hey guys, I haven’t been around here in awhile. I’ll try to keep this short. My observations after 5 games.
Doc is being Doc. Head shaking pitching decisions and head shaking starting position players. Some decisions have worked others haven’t.
I remember an interview that Chris Taylor had and he said that he performs better when he knows that he will be starting a game and what position he is playing. Last year Taylor got hot when he was given the SS job after Seager got injured. I wish Doc would give Taylor the 2B job and let him swim or sink.
Doc is overplaying Hernandez. Hernandez should be a pinch hitter against lefties only.
I wish Doc would give Matt Beaty the DH job and let him swim or sink. Beaty doesn’t have enough career at bats against lefties to make a determination. Lets find out.
I see Doc overplaying Pollock. Doc needs to stick to a strict platoon of Pederson/Pollock not only statistically but also for Pollock’s health (Injury prone).
I’m not going to get into Doc’s pitching decisions because that will make this post long. But what’s up with Doc using Dennis Santana in a winnable game. Also Doc is playing with fire when using LOOGY Kolarek and ROOGY Floro under the new 3 batter minimum rule, not to mention ever using Joe wildman Kelly.
And what’s up with Terrance Gore taking up a roster spot. Zach McKinstry?
Muncy back at leadoff, Kike sits, Barnes catching, Taylor at second, and Beaty gets a start at DH. I do not like Muncy in the leadoff role. Doc will serve his one game suspension tonight, Geren will manage, and Kelly is available after appealing his suspension. I hope he gets in the game. Looks like the suspension is for taunting, not throwing at Bregman’s coconut.
Well we wouldn’t want to hurt the poor Astros feelings!
If Kelly ever earns a Dodger Bobble Head I would vote to use his taunting expression where he sticks out his lower lip. Its made me laugh every time I have watched it today. I am also glad they have stuck with Kolarek after how he handled Soto in the playoffs last year,
There was a Joe Kelly bobblehead scheduled to be handed out this year.
And again, Manfred proves he’s a useless piece of trash commissioner.
I am with Jayne Cobb on the suspension of Joe Kelly. The asterisks cheat their way to a WS and NOT ONE player gets a suspension, but Wild Man Joe Kelly gets hit with an 8 game suspension (in a 60 game season) for throwing near the head, taunting, and a previous incident. As he said after the game, he had no idea where the ball was going. He was not trying to hit Bregman. He did not even want to walk him. The pitch got away from him, like many before that have. Crybaby Carlos Correa gets nothing who started the taunting with his mouth of which Kelly was responding to. Somebody should ask the asterisks if every time Correa looks stupid when striking out, should the opposing pitcher get suspended? Dusty Baker gets a fine (I am sure for bench clearing), but nothing for taunting Kelly by telling him to “Get on the mound…MFer”. That is allowed. But pouty faces are taunting. Do the asterisks have pictures of Manfred and/or Torre? Why do they always come up smelling like roses when they are nothing but the manure that is used for the rose fertilization?
The asterisks have supplanted the Giants as the most hated team in my book. I despise nobody more than Carlos Correa (except for Juan Marichal).
Wonder if anyone bothered to ask Hanley for an opinion on Wild Joe Kelly’s ability to Plunk someone?
Guess it’s better to have him on our side.
DBM – glad I got it wrong yesterday, and that things are good.
Phil – thanks for the kind words as well.
Let’s sweep the Cheaters.
….and in the 2017 WS Yuli Gurriel makes a hand gesture by spreading his eyes in a slanted fashion making fun of Yu Darvish and gets a five game suspension but was allowed to serve in 2018. Should have been suspended during the WS.
Manfred is the worst commissioner in all of sport.
Here is a Marcus Stroman tweet in support of Joe Kelly:
https://twitter.com/STR0/status/1288594894337040384?s=20
I’ve always liked Marcus Stroman
Do you think anyone out there agrees with this suspension, besides Astros fans and MLB management?
I think it is likely that Kelly’s suspension will be reduced to 1-3 games, but boys and girls, this is what we have learned: it’s better to cheat than to have bad control. Taunting? Players say stuff all the time. Manfred did not hand down this suspension – Torre did. If Manfred has any balls or brains, he will reduce the suspension dramatically. Send us the narrative, you feeble wimp!
I believe I read in an ESPN story that it was Chris Young Senior VP Baseball Operations who meted out the suspension.
Joe Torre is Major League Baseball’s Chief Baseball Officer, overseeing areas that include Major League Operations, On-Field Operations, On-Field Discipline and Umpiring. The buck stops with him. He approved it regardless of who wrote it!
May… too many pitches, late covering first. Rookie.
Manfred. Whimpy. He should walk around with a hamburger in his hand.
Maybe it’s sacrilegious to say this after only 5.5 games, but Betts has been underwhelming and a bit disappointing so far. Looking for that big moment where he comes up big, but it seems he might be pressing a bit.
the “Killer B’s” are killing me
Don’t be bad-mouthing Petey!
Where’s our vaunted Dodger offense?
This is why Gore is on the roster!
Gore better steal home!
Has the check been cashed yet?
3 hits going into the 9th inning is not going to do it. OTOH, I’m loving that BP!
Top four hitters in #Dodgers lineup (Muncy, Betts, Bellinger, Turner) are 1 for 16 thru 9 innings today. Only hit was a swinging bunt by Muncy that snapped an 0-for-15 stretch for him.
Anybody miss Doc? C’mon, you know you do.
With Geren out there, it might as well be Doc.
Good thing 16 teams get into playoffs this year.
Alexander looks filthy thru the first out (Altuve).
I have to think that the Dodgers will start hitting eventually.
My concern is the rotation. They can’t have starters go less than 4 innings consistently. Especially with the bullpen use – no one pitches over an inning. So even with a 16 man pitching staff, they are going to run out of relievers eventually at the current rate.
60 game season. Pull all the stops out and let these guys cut loose. Not worried about the BP this season. Dodgers will have to adjust while the starters get their s**t together. Geren is a very conservative manager.
60 game season. Pull all the stops out and let these guys cut loose. Not worried about the BP this season. Dodgers will have to adjust while the starters get their s**t together. Geren is a very conservative manager.
Shut-up about Alexander!
Alexander the Predictable.
ok
You just can’t make a comment like that. You jinxed him.
……and there it is…..MOOKIE with a double in extra innings. YES!
Alexander is good for 1 inning.
That’s it.
Get him outta’ there!
should have brought Graterol in for Alexander. No way do I go with Alexander late in games.
Agree. Graterol, Santana and Sborz all available and they use Alexander for 2 innings. SMH
Santana! Oye como va!
How are they going to win this without any hits? The team is really slumping in this early stage of the season. With all the Van Scoyoc coaching, they are doing the same things that have haunted them for the last few years, not hitting with RISP! Someone please explain it all to me.
1. Uh, they won 106 games last year!
2. They scored more runs in the NL than anyone else.
And they choked in the playoffs!
must have missed this, but how do they decide who the runner is on second in extra innings? Does it count the same as a walk for the batting average?
Looks like it’s the guy who made the last out in the prior inning.
And if that’s the case, I don’ see any reason for Terrance Gore to be on the team
You can pinch-run for him, but they already used Gore.
Pinch ran Gore but let Barnes hit.
That’s my guy!
Edwin Rios!
Next is Graterol!
Very satisfying win. Rios, Santana, you’ve got to love it when the young guys come through. And Mookie finally wakes up. The pen is finally looking like a strength after so many years. Now, if the offense can have a reset, start performing how they’re capable of, we’ll be alright.
I am old school (very old), but am disappointed that there hasn’t been any attempt to bunt the runner from second to third nor has there been a successful attempt to hit to the right side to advance him, even Seager hit to left field. In extra innings that is.
You, me, the ESPN announcers all agree. Both teams will be furious if they lose as they blew too many chances.
I am pretty adamament that with no outs and a runner on 3B, you should NEVER bunt!
I would rather hit the ball to the right side.
Graterol is not available.
This is a huge swing game for us. And Santanna can really save this team by not just not losing the game, but maybe more importantly not letting it go to more overtime. He needs to save the rest of the staff now.
I really don’t like the new rule putting a man on 2nd base in extra innings. Seems like a cop out.
I love it.
Young fans love it.
Oldtimers hate it!
Get with the program.
That is here to stay. The DH is here to stay. The 20 second clock will be here soon. The electronic strike zone will also be here soon.
Evolve or die!
No problem with the DH. I’ve wanted it for years. Man on 2nd just ain’t fair.
I do not think the extra inning rule stays around. Ok in this short season,,but otherwise, it is not so good, and I hate it.
It’s stupid. I believe less than 2% of games go 12 innings. Less than 1% go 18. Fixing a problem when there isnt one. A HR still won the game. This game still went almost 5 hours. Coaching USSSA we had to play California rules when we had extra innings which was starting with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. MLB shouldn’t use gimmicks to finish games.
~
Good job by the pen. When I saw Alexander. I have to admit I thought the worst.
Dennis Santana = Weapon!
And just like that, kids: 10% of the 2020 baseball season has been completed!
4-2
8-4
16-8
32-16
… you get the picture!
Impressive outing by Santana. Nice blast off the bat of Rios and Betts delivered a clutch double. Other than that, the offense struggled badly. BP was nails,
Not just the best bullpen in the AF era but best bullpen in mlb history! Well they’re doing a great job so far. Wow!
Amazing night for Santana!
These Dodgers are starting to remind me of a less obvious aspect of the 2017 team—the mystery of who the starter will be and/or how long he will go., with deep reliance on a strong bullpen.
Home field advantage was defeated in today’s games. Visitors win the day. Watch out, Dbacks.
BP has been terrific. Ferguson looks unhittable.
l like the runner in second rule. Astros hitters dont seem so dangerous without trash can support
5 for 44 with 13 Ks. 2 for 15 WRISP.
Yoiks.
At this point in time, our pitching is ahead of our hitting.
Get out of Texas.
I’m assuming these guys get tested daily?
Can’t find a comment on why Doc was suspended. Was it because Kelly threw at/behind batters or did he do something else?
according to Doc it was because the healthy distance during the fight was not respected
Yet it was Houston’s team that came over to the Dodgers dugout.
Rosenthal and Stark, today in the Athletic:
“Several people around the game speculated Tuesday that the game would have shut down had the Dodgers or Yankees experienced an outbreak similar to the Marlins”
That’s how tenuous this situation is.
The whole thing has been bizzaro world for me.
When the roster size gets trimmed down there’s going to be some tough cuts in the pen.
Filthy-Graterol, Treinen, Ferguson
If McGee works out I don’t see how Kolarek survives.
Amazing how many fewer runs the ASStros score when they don’t know which pitch is coming!
After Altuve struck out last night, Orel said “guessing is harder than knowing”
Simple Truth!