In a game which saw Brandon McCarthy drop his ERA to 2.87 and the Dodgers score 12 runs, Brock Stewart quietly showed why he could be a very valuable piece in the Dodger bullpen. The bullpen is his role… at least this year. I think he can be a starter in the future, but his exceptional control (1.4 walks per 9 innings in 2016), and arsenal of pitches makes him a perfect fit for the bullpen. He has a two-seamer and a four-seamer that touches 97 with movement, and his changeup is also a plus pitch. His slider is really a cutter and is also a very good pitch for a pitcher who can pitch multiple innings.
Dave Roberts waited for the perfect opportunity to bring in Brock and last night was it. I think it was important that he start his 2017 MLB season with a successful outing and that was it! 3 IP/0 Hits/4 K’s and 1 BB was his stat line and it was a resounding success. I think he will switch roles with Ross Stripling whom the Dodgers believe can be a set-up man. Brock is fresh and strong and able to go multiple innings after missing a third of the season. He’s a horse and able to pitch like that.
I see him as a key bullpen piece. You will still see the bullpen shuffle to AAA or the DL and back. Morrow, Fields, Liberatore, et al will flip and flop back and forth. Personally, I don’t see the Dodgers adding an arn in the rotation or the bullpen. Too much depth. The Mets had the best starting rotation in baseball according to many, but the depth was lacking and look what has happened! Their rotation is a trainwreck as are lots of other teams. I believe that many other teams will follow the FAZ blueprint. By the way, how many Number two starters have an ERA below 3.00?
It was nice to see Corey Seager get his MVP-Type Game back!
Minor Leagues
- Ross Stripling again pitched one inning at AAA last night – it was his second perfect outing in a row – all 1 inning!
- Alex Verdugo went 2-4 again at leadoff and played CF. It was only his second game of the season in CF, so don’t think he will play Center in LA – he won’t! His BA is .335 and OB% is .413. It was predicted by someone yesterday that the Dodgers likely won’t call him up until after the All-Star Game and I agree with that.
- Rios hit his 14th HR and drove in all four runs for Tulsa last night.
- Walker Buehler went 4, allowing 5 hits and 2 ER, while striking out 5 and walking none.
- Yasiel Sierra went two in getting his 3rd save, allowed 1 hit and struck out 4. His ERA is 2.79. You could see him min the dodger pen this year as well.
- DJ Peters and Will Smith both got hits in the Cal League All Star Game and Dennis Santana pitched a perfect inning. Istler allowed 2 hits and 1 run in his inning of work.
- In the Midwest League All-Star Game, Dustin May pitched a scoreless inning and Ruiz got a hit.
Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
Discussion (118)
Disagree, not disagreeable
How many times does Hatcher have to fail before they get rid of him?
Damn Kenley!!! Really??? Too many home plate collisions at the Inland Empire or Puig has pictures…
I THINK AGONS CONTRACT IS UP 2018
DBACKS UP 5-1 ON ROCKIES.
ADRIAN GONZALEZ CONSIDERING RETIRING IF BACK PAIN PERSISTS. COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO IS DISABLED WITH BACK ISSUES, I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW ADRIAN IS FEELING.
Boxout
The Giants are different, but they are even more pathetic then, the Mets right now!
I just want us to be ready for the Rockies this weekend!
I just wish Puig would save it, for a bigger thing!
From Passan:
Sources: Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna not yet available. Other Marlins who are: A.J. Ramos, David Phelps, possibly Kyle Barraclough.
A few comments
1- Gee it’s been fun winning by lots of runs the past couple of weeks. The resurgence of the Dodgers’ offense by Bellinger and Taylor and Turner’s return from the DL reminds me of the 2013 season when they went 42-8, fueled by Puig’s promotion from the minors and Hanley Ramirez’ return from the DL. 30 homers in the last 11 games. Totally insane.
2 – Interesting article on the misuse of young Julio Urias by the Braintrust.
http://dodgersdigest.com/2017/06/22/dodgers-development-of-julio-urias-has-been-puzzling-and-now-hes-hurt/
After noting that the Braintrust apparently didn’t have a “plan” for Urias this year and that the inconsistent use has probably messed up his routine and may have messed up his arm (and his head) Dustin Nosler concluded “Regardless of what happens, it might be best not to temper expectations for the rest of his 2017 season. If he comes back strong and earns a playoff rotation spot, great. If he throws 20 innings the rest of the season and has no impact on the playoffs, that’s less great — but also more likely.”.
3 – Puig has been a plus on the Dodgers this year. He has been productive on offense and is the best defensive RF in baseball. He’s never going to be as good as we’d hoped, but what else is new? You can say the same about dozens of players who turned out to be pretty good but not great.
4 – No Justin Verlander please. We don’t need a 34 year old, one who’s expensive and on the downhill slope of his career, one who is 4-4, 4.52, with a 1.45 WHIP and 86 K in 82 IP to go with 45 BB. Even with the recent near no-hitter, he is 0-0, 4.58 with a 1.73 WHIP in June.
5 – Still not impressed with Hill. He went 5 innings last night. He’s the 1st guy in baseball history to go 5 innings or less in his 1st 9 starts of a season. (This per TrueBlueLA :”Rich Hill is the 1st pitcher in MLB history to last 5 or fewer innings in each of his 1st 9 starts of a season. (via @EliasSports)”.
Someone tell Flores that there is no crying in baseball!
Just throwing this out there but would anyone want to see Verlander in Dodger Blue? I believe the remaining contract is 2 years 56 million. Maybe the Yankee’s would be the other team interested if he becomes available. But because of his contract, he may not require top tier talent back in return. Any Thoughts???????
A sentence of caution:
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The red-hot Dodgers have only faced 3 LHP starters in their last 30 games, and their last 11 games have been against RHP starters.
Maybe somebody can help me out here, but Rich Hill set new record last night, never before happened in the history of MLB?
I heard Orel say it, but didn’t quite get all of it.
It was something to do with a pitcher achieving 4 wins in a season without pitching out of the 5th innings….
I agree with most posters regarding Puig, two outfielders going 100% for a gapper, one of them caught it, case closed.
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No comments on our 13 man bullpen being lights out once again? Well they were. This talk of an overworked bullpen is silly when you can expand your bullpen like we are seeing. Good job FAZ!
The center outfielder is the captain of the outfield and has the authority to call off the corner fielders when he has a better chance to catch the ball.
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Joc didn’t call it. If Puid did… and Ron Fairley says he did, it was Puig’s ball and after all… he did catch it.
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Case Closed!
Lots of great commentary regarding Puig and his clubhouse turnaround last night on ESPN, including his interview and ability to pick up English so quickly. I was even amazed at how well he was speaking. Love the kid and hope he continues hitting .300 like he has the past month.
Hill looked like himself last night, and really battled in the 4th with 3 K’s after loading the bases with no outs. I’m not sure what Ryu will bring tonight, the Mets will be playing hard to avoid the sweep. AZ exploded on the Rockies last night and it was moving day for the Dodgers. bringing guys back and forth from the minors is expanding the Dodgers staff and the callups are providing useful innings. Romo looked better last night, Morrow is still nearly perfect this season.
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Part of playing CF is knowing who the guys on either side of you are, where they are positioned and how far they can go on balls in the gap. Joc tracks the ball well and gets good jumps but often loses where the other outfielders are and as Jimbo stated he needs to call the other off or let them make the play. Kike is not as good an OF as Puig and is even worse on balls in the gap, both from CF and left and RF. Taylor is as good as Kike in CF and faster. After the HR last night on national TV Puig’s value is high right now if they choose to sell. Lots of teams would like to have him and I hope that includes the Dodgers.
I just finished a 1,000 word post and then it evaporated. I lost it. Maybe i’ll put it up later… or not. I’m so pissed!
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On Puig:
1. Hitting 13 HR and 40 RBI from the bottom of the order is something I will take every day. If he can keep that up, this team will be just fine.
2. Yasiel is the best RF in baseball.
3. Puig caught the ball behind Joc, which means Joc would not have caught it.
4. I don’t think either player called it, because they were not sure they could catch it.
5. Joc has had issues with calling balls before .
6. It just happened and I can’t put blame on either player. It’s just one of those plays.
Too much ink spent on Puig… He really doesn’t care… He doesn’t listen to Mota, AGon or J.T and Cespedes and Reyes = No comprende… We just put up with him… He’s narcissistic and dumber than a fence post, but boy oh boy the ‘Potential”…
I played softball for 25 years, most of it as an outfielder. One year I played 123 games. I don’t know what Joc and Puig said on those plays but on any team I ever played on or got picked up by for a tournament the rules were always the same. If you’re not the centerfielder you go for the ball in the gap until the centerfielder calls you off. If you call for it and the centerfielder calls you off then it’s his play and you get out of the way or back him up. It’s the centerfielder’s job to call for it or call you off early to avoid a collision. If he doesn’t do one of those he needs to let you make the play. If Joc called for it then Puig was wrong. If Joc didn’t call it or called for it late then Joc was wrong.
Did anyone notice Joc’s bit of humour in I think it was the 8th, when he waved Puig off a Flyball to CF when Puig was about 50 yards away.
I thought it was quite funny.
We really have a tough lineup to pitch to when we are playing like this.
6-7-8 were great last night.
Ward has done a great job with Joc & Puig who seem to be having much more professional ABs.
I think it’s pretty clear Hill would do a better job pitching from the DL. At least till he figures it out (elsewhere) it is just painful watching him.
Truth
Jerry Hairston said different, and he played in the outfield.
And you know if a ball is close, it is the centerfielder’s ball.
And you know Joc is not my favorite.
I am just telling the truth.
And I am sorry you had to watch the game on ESPN!
Just a note on the Joc/Puig outfield incident. If you watched the game on ESPN last night, a former three time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young winner blamed Joc on not getting out of the way of Puig and said Joc is going to injure someone if he does not stop playing the way he is in the outfield, wreckless.
Just saying…..I love our takes, but Sutcliffe has been around awhile.
For those of you who were worried about the Dodgers not signing draft picks:
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http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/237659606/dodgers-sign-21-draft-picks-six-of-top-10/?topicId=27118384
Just my 2 cents but if either Joc or Puig has to be traded I trade Joc. Puig makes a great play on a ball and he needs to be shipped out? Just let him have any ball he can get to. I don’t think Joc called it either based on Puig’s reaction. Since both have struggled against LH pitching this year the team needs both. Puig is batting .298 in June with a .927 OPS.
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Rich Hill has been putting the team in a bad spot and he was horrible against the Indians his last start (and the teams last loss) I don’t understand why he struggles to get his curve balls in for strikes and guys are going to feast on his 90 mph fastball when he gets behind. I am hopeful he pitches a good game tonight but not confident.
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I think the Dodgers take 3 out of 4 from the Mets and 2 out of 3 from the Rockies. Then a 4 game home and road with the Angels and 2 games in San Diego and following an off day get 6 at home against the DBacks and Royals before the All Star break. They also have a very favorable schedule for the rest of July, and will make their move.
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Bellinger and Aaron Judge are off to ridiculous starts this year and should be runaway ROY in both leagues. My question is who will be the ROY for the Dodgers next year? Verdugo? Calhoun? Buehler? Oaks?
I appreciate the varying points of view here on this blog. We have glass half full people and glass half empty people. That’s OK – everyone has a point of view. The reason I started this blog was because I was tired of the incessant trying to belittle FAZ no matter what they did. Some people just have an irrational view of anything FAZ and contort and distort the facts to fit that warped view.
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It turns out that are doing a lot right – Quite a lot!
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I appreciate everyone’s input!
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On a side note, I have received some e-mails from some of you asking if Dodgerpatch would be interested in writing some blogs. So, here it is: Would you, DodgerPatch?
FAZ catches a lot of grief for perceived errors in player evaluation judgement. I think this has a lot to do with certain pitcher FA signings and trades, as well as not making a trade for an ACE at the trade deadline. FAZ bashers are great at reminding all of us about Mat Latos & Jim Johnson, but NOW ignore Alex Wood and Luis Avilan who came with Latos and Johnson. I say NOW because while everyone is jumping on the Alex Wood bandwagon, Wood was not appreciated at all, especially after the 2015 NLDS Game 3. Some started to see what he could do last year before his injury, but then blasted FAZ again for trading for an injury prone pitcher.
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Kazmir does not look like a good FA signing, but I agree with Bums and others that I beleive he will be heard from again. I have already labeled him the 2017 version of Ricky Nolasco. Will he ever be worth the contract cost? Absolutely not!! Everyone blasted the Brandon McCarthy FA signing. I think most are happy he is a Dodger this year. Will he ever be worth the contract cost? No!! But if if he gets the Dodgers into the WS, nobody will care what the cost was. Anderson is not a Dodger and we do not need to rehash a player who has no impact on this year’s team. Signing Anderson did not cost the Dodgers any other pitcher FAZ would have wanted. I think it is clear that FAZ would have loaded the team up with 7-8 starting pitchers if they thought there were others available not costing $150M+.
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But as much as I am a fan of what FAZ has done (not all but in total), I am more of a fan for what they did not do. They have never panicked. They could have traded for Cole Hamels but it would have cost at least Seager and maybe Urias. Those that believe that the best player the Dodgers would have had to trade was JDL are delusional. The second non-trade was last year at the deadline – Puig/McCarthy/Prospect for Ryan Braun. I think most believe that would have been disastrous this year. Instead they went for Hill & Reddick. Some liked it, some do not. The Dodgers could have traded for Brian Dozier or Ian Kinsler this Winter/Spring, but the cost would have been Bellinger. Seager and Bellinger are the future face of the team (after Kershaw), so as a fan, I am very glad FAZ did not panic and trade the future to satisfy some fans desire to do something.
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I think the secret is that FAZ do not react on emotion. I think they look at their player assets objectively, determine their value, and look for equal or more value. If they do not get their perceived value, they do not make the move. I think in their mind, no player is untouchable, including Kershaw, Seager, and Bellinger. But the return would have to be astronomical/impractical/irrational to make them seem untouchable. We fans are emotionally invested in certain players, and do not want to see them moved for anyone. That’s why I have so many Dodger jerseys. But FAZ cannot afford to be emotionally involved in any player asset.
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FAZ has put together a very good 40 man roster. Can it be improved? Sure. I do not beleive they HAVE to make a trade, but there are impact arms and bats that could make a difference. If they do make a deadline trade, some will love it, some will hate it. Just the nature of the business of sports. I enjoy trade rumors. I like to project them and to respond to others’ trade alternatives. But I beleive that FAZ will only make the trade if they truly believe it will help the Dodgers this year and perhaps future years.
I said above that Grandal probably leads the league in cheap hits. He seems to be fooled more than Barnes does but gets enough bloopers and seeing eye soft grounders to keep his average decent.’
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We might guess that Bellinger or Seager or Turner has the highest average exit velocity on hits on the Dodger team but they don’t. The person that has the highest average exit value also has an average launch angle of 10.4 degrees. Bellinger however has an average launch angle of 20.3 degrees.
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Here is the site that tells us the mlb leaders: http://m.mlb.com/statcast/leaderboard#avg-hit-velo
Click on the column labeled average exit velocity to sort by that category.
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That’s right, Joc leads the Dodgers in average exit velocity but is the player with the 10.4 launch angle. Joc has always had a high average exit value but this year’s launch angle is low for him, probably still adjusting to what Ward is doing with his swing. Joc has the 11th highest average exit velocity in the MLB.
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Grandal is way down the list with an average exit velocity of 88.3 mph. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_leaderboard
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Sometimes we think players are doing better than they really are and sometimes we think players are doing worse.
Brock Stewart just an injury or 2 away from a starter role. This is, after all, MLB. And in MLB you never know nothin.
This is the best Puig has looked at the plate since his rookie season. Much more control at the plate. Much more relaxed. McCarthy was efficient with his stuff. Looked like the seasoned veteran we have been looking for a couple of years. Stewart was incredible. Lots of swings and misses. This stretch of games starting about a month ago was supposed to be tough. No one expected the offensive explosion. Bellinger is the reason. Rockies series this weekend will be mid season playoff atmosphere. I’d like to see Kershaw sharper. Should be a million runs scored tonight. Can Hill go 5?
Right Knights27. Some people wanted to trade Seager and Bellinger. Not me. I think some of our prospects can be trade. However, FAZ should know which ones cannot be traded. It looks to me like Calhoun can be traded and Verdugo cannot be traded. Calhoun just does not have a defensive position he can play. He would be better in the American League. Verdugo looks like a contact hitter, but he is now developing some power. There must be some good players at AA. To have nine on he all-star team says a lot.
How many FAZ detractors were screaming for the FO to trade Cody Bellinger for Brian Dozier? There’s no arguing about winding up with Logan Forsythe (and giving up JDL) instead of landing Brian Dozier (and giving up Cody Bellinger). And how stupid would it have been to trade Corey Seager for Cole Hammels? Just sayin…
I have liked Brock Stewart a lot too.
And it was good to see him pitch again.
Since Urias is not pitching right now, Brock may pick up some starts, even in the bullpen.
I read that the Dodgers still consider Brock as a starter.
But this is the way the Dodgers use to get their young pitchers feet wet, by bringing then up, to pitch in the bullpen.
I hope we face one of the Met’s real major league starters, to get ready to face the Rockies, this weekend, because the Met’s pitching, isn’t very good right now.
We are not the same team that faced the Rockies and the Dbacks, earlier in the season.
Both of these teams, are in for a surprise, when we face them again!
A very pleasant read, first thing in the morning! Is this what a Juggernaut looks like?
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Here is something interesting.
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Best run differentials in MLB:
1. Dodgers +114.
2. HOU +113.
3. NYY +103.
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Worst run differentials:
30. SD -118.
29. Phillies -97
28. SF -88.
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I remember when people were telling us Midget Management knew how to build a winning team! NOT!!
Well, you never know what this front office is up to – you could see a blockbuster deal, or nothing!
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It’s not like the team has to do anything, but if they do they can deal from surplus. I could see some of the following players moved in the right deal:
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Alvarez
Calhoun
Forsythe (although his clubhouse persona is outstanding)
Rios
Puig
Pederson
Thompson
Diaz
Maeda
Ryu
Oaks
Hatcher
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I do not see them trading Verdugo or Buehler… They should be able to get a couple of difference makers without compromising the system.
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Barring some significant injuries, I do not see Stewart in the rotation THIS year.
Grandal might lead MLB in cheap hits this year but when he is streaking hot, he hits them hard. Looks like he is on the upswing again.
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I have been saying that Stewart would be in the rotation and I still believe that. I think Stripling will excel in the bullpen whether as a Miller type pitcher or as a pure setup guy. Maybe Ryu can take Wood’s place in the bullpen and excel there as well. Wood is locked into the rotation.
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The rotation will do well with Kershaw, McCarthy, Wood, and Stewart and one of Hill, Maeda, Kazmir, Ryu will wind up in the rotation as well.
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A bullpen of Jansen, Stripling, Baez, Ryu, Maeda, and one more lefty should be a good one. I like players that always wanted to be Dodgers so I hope Romo can at least stay on the team through the All Star game.
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Puig is going to try to catch everything he thinks he can get to and do it without deference to the center fielder. Puig needs to play center field for some team or he is going to kill somebody if he stays in RF. That is why I would trade him. Verdugo can play RF if the Dodgers want to bring him up to take the place of Puig. Thompson could play RF as well. Hopefully Bellinger stays at first instead of returning to the outfield and Agon becomes the clutch pinch hitter every team needs–the next Manny Mota, Dave Hansen, Lenny Harris.
Tonight it is Hill’s turn. Hope he does well.
Felt sorry for Taylor last night. You can see where they are trying to pitch him. Outside and low. I thought some of the called strikes were outside. He does not complain.
When you are ahead 4-0 and no out recorded, it was going to be a long night.