Even though he was 3-0, Striker Buehler has been in a funk this season, battling mechanical issues. It appears he is starting to figure it out, as we went 7 innings last night, struggling the last two, but still pitching a good game. I’d like to take credit for this but actually, it was Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com who wrote this about Walker Buehler:
Buehler is 12-5 in his 30 career starts. No drafted Dodgers pitcher has won that many games in that few starts, including fellow first-rounders Clayton Kershaw, Bob Welch and Chad Billingsley.
In franchise history, only Kenta Maeda (16), Don Newcombe (15), Fernando Valenzuela (15), Hyun-Jin Ryu (14), Kaz Ishii (14) and Hideo Nomo (14) rank ahead of Buehler for wins in their first 30 Major League starts. Buehler is tied at 12 with Pedro Astacio.
Additionally, Buehler has limited the opposition to a .195 batting average in those 30 starts, sixth in MLB all-time behind Jose Fernandez (.181), Vida Blue (.181), Nomo (.185), Juan Guzman (.192) and Matt Harvey (.195).
Julio Urias got his first save and was “the closer for the night.” I would not read any more or any less into that. I guess anything is possible, but I would think he will be back in the rotation by at least Mid-June and we should see Pollock back by Mid-July.
Justin Turner is starting to look Turner-esque and Cody bunted for a hit to keep his Batting Average over .400 for at least another day. It’s starting to look like the 2017 version of CT3 is here. He’s hitting .429 this month, but we will have to see a bigger sample before really pronouncing that. He has reduced his strikeouts from 31% in April to 19% in May. A return to his 2017 form would be H-U-G-E! We shall see… He was very streaky in 2018, but was fairly consistent throughout 2017.
Being reunited with Robert Van Socyoc may be paying off. In this month’s Dodger Insider, Cody and Doc both credit the new hitting coaches with helping Cody get off to his MVP start, not just the mechanical part, which evolves every day, but the metal part as well. It’s not gone unnoticed that the Dodgers are second in runs scored behind Seattle (who is sinking like a stone), but they are only 5th in HR – Yes they are manufacturing more runs with timely hitting. They can still hit the long-ball, but they are more-balanced this season and the scoring doesn’t have to come from a big fly.
It will be interesting to watch Kenley in his next outing. His body language and how he rebounds from the hairball he coughed up on Sunday could set the tone for his and the Dodgers season. Ryu tonight! I watched Mitch White’s performance yesterday and it was a great display of his repertoire of pitches utilized to the max with that 98 MPH fastball on display. He had issues with his velocity last year, but now it’s back!
MINOR LEAGUE REPORT BY ALWAYSCOMPETE
OKC Dodgers 0 – New Orleans Baby Cakes 4 (Marlins)
A Cameron Perkins double and 2 singles by Kyle Garlick and Errol Robinson was all the offense the Dodgers could muster against RHSP Elieser Hernandez and two relievers. Ben Holmes started surrendering all 4 runs in 5.0 IP. Luis Head, Stetson Allie, and Justin Grimm pitched 1.0 shutout inning each for the game’s highlight from the OKC point of view.
Tulsa Drillers 6 – Corpus Christi Hooks 1 (Astros)
The Drillers have won for the 8th time in their last 10 games. As Mark previously mentioned, the story of this game was RHSP Mitchell White. 6.0 strong IP allowing only a single and a walk to go with 9 strikeouts. White has now not allowed a run in 4 of his six starts and has his ERA down to 1.85 and his WHIP to an exceptional 0.78. He has 3 strikeouts in 24.1 IP while only allowing 6 BB. That is a 5:1 K:BB ratio, and that is good in any league. Nolan Long relieved White surrendering an unearned run and Luis Vazquez finished for his 3rd save.
Gavin Lux hit a lead off HR in his 2nd consecutive game and has now hit a HR in three consecutive games. He also hit a 2 run HR in the 7th inning to give him 7 on the season. He now leads the team with 7 HRs and is tied for 2nd with DJ Peters in RBIs with 18, behind only Cody Thomas’ 21. Pretty good numbers for a leadoff hitter. Cristian Santana hit his 4th HR on the season. With Lux, Omar Estevez, and Cristian Santana batting 1-2-3 in the lineup, it makes it hard on opposing pitchers to get through the top of the order unscathed. When DJ Peters breaks through in his cleanup spot, he should have plenty of baserunners for RBI opportunities. Cody Thomas contributed a two-run double in the 8th to finish the scoring. Lux and Thomas each had two hits.
RC Quakes – Travel Day
Great Lakes Loons 6 – Kane County Cougars 3 (DBacks)
The Loons’ win streak has reached double figures with the 6-3 win. They are now in first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division. I am used to the Loons starting slowly and finishing strong. This year maybe they just stay strong all year. The Loons won on this day with 7 singles, 1 double (Miguel Vargas), and 7 walks. Romer Cuadrado and Leonel Valera each had 2 hits.
Jose Chacin started his second game on the season and pitched well enough for 5.0 innings. He allowed 3 runs on 8 hits with 1 walk, and 1 strikeout, and saw his ERA rise to 1.63. After a very bad outing in his last start, Guillermo Zuniga relieved for the first time this season and returned to his stellar pitching, tossing 4.0 shutout and hitless innings with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. Zuniga earned his first save on the season.
Dodger affiliates now have two teams in first place (Loons and Quakes) in their respective divisions, with the Drillers playing exceptional ball and within 2.0 games of the Texas League North Division lead.
Discussion (63)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Turner trying to show Belly what a really good month looks like! Ryu first complete shutout in what seems like a forever! Best 17.9 AF ever spent! Can’t believe Doc didn’t bring in Kelly in the 9th just to make it interesting!
Why cant Verdugo lead off???
I’m thinking Ryu got a real shot at complete game shutout… Damn that sounds good!!! Now just get it done..
P.S. J.T. is in the house.
Why do we even make Turner show up in April? His season starts the first of May!
I seriously doubt if D’Arnaud is going to replace Freese at 1B. Freese is actually a decent 1Bman. He’s not a gold glover, but this is the position he plays best. He can play 3B in an emergency but Muncy probably gets that call if there is one.
Freese is in the lineup primarily because of his RH hitting. His career numbers back him up and what he did in the WS and since coming to the Dodgers got him a contract. He’s a serious piece to this team, with a .393 OBP this season. The guy is a winner and a great dugout presence.
D’Arnaud is a long shot that costs nothing.
In the meantime, the Dodgers up 4-0 and looking unstoppable. Ryu pitching very well as he usually does at Dodger Stadium.
Turner is some kind of hitter. He’s up to .294 for the season and it doesn’t even seem like he’s come close to finding his stroke. Look out, baseball.
Also, I feel like I always forget about Ferguson. He could be a big piece moving forward.
My wife is mad that I keep introducing her as my “ex-girlfriend”.
Campy also was my hero. Likewise, I was a catcher.
My wife just stopped and said:
“You weren’t even listening were you?”
I thought to myself…
“that’s a pretty strange way to start a conversation”.
For those that watch American Idol, what did you think of the judges not saving the guy with the best voice?
I feel the same way about Campy. I was a catcher and he was my hero, couldn’t believe it when I heard about the accident. Wish I could have seen him play.
Tonight’s line up against Braves pitcher Max Fried (LHP)
Hernandez CF
Turner 3B
Bellinger RF
Freese 1B
Taylor SS
Muncy 2B
Martin C
Verdugo CF
Ryu P
Kudos to Knights 1 – You’re being nice though, maybe you haven’t read any of Jeff’s thoughtful takes…
I’m a Pollock fan also… He will be a plus for this team in July… He reminds me of a kid the Dodgers had who couldn’t stay healthy and we traded him a year too early, Jayson Werth… (Not the same numbers…just talking health)…
For us old timers… 60 years ago today… LAD vs. NYY… L.A. Memorial Coliseum…
Roy Campanella tribute… My Dad took me…
A year and a half earlier he told me of his accident in New York and I cried…Roy was my hero and I never got to see him play…
Just saying…
Kemp as a mentor to Verdugo and the guys…. no thanks.
An Utley type, no way!
I love the title of this blog post.
I am a lifelong Dodger fan living in the San Francisco Bay Area. I love reading this blog and I enjoy the different opinions on how the Dodgers should strive for a championship. I do not agree with everything posted, but I don’t care because everyone is passionate about the same goal – having the Dodgers win a championship once again and contending every year.
My perspective is anchored by the state of the team leading up to 2012. 2012 was a painful time to be a Dodger fan. 2012 was a painful time to be a Dodger fan living amongst Giants fans. The Dodgers were not competitive. The farm system was not highly regarded. No free agent wanted to play in LA. The Front Office was literally a laughingstock due to all the disclosures that came out of the McCourt divorce filings. and the Giants were winning. I was never going to stop cheering for my Dodgers. But Dodger fans had nothing to cheer about and seemingly no hope for the future. I remember going to watch a Dodgers Giants game at AT&T park and the street vendors were selling T-shirts with the Dodgers logo and the word “BANKRUPT” underneath it. Scott Boras referred to the Dodgers as the “fruits and nuts” section of grocery store that would be where big FA’s shopped. That was the lowest point I’ve experienced as a Dodgers fan.
Fast forward to today. The Dodgers are ranked #1 in the power rankings. They are always in the conversation regarding world series contenders. They have great young stars in their lineup and in their pitching rotation. Every free agent tries to leak that the Dodgers are highly interested. We complain after a month of baseball because instead of being 22-14, they could easily be 28-8. Their farm system has a bountiful supply of talent that will keep the team competitive for subsequent years as well as give them ample trade capital. And the Giants are in the cellar. Now, when I go to Oracle park, I see more Blue than Orange. Giants fans grudgingly envy the success of the Dodgers, a success being underwritten by cost controlled rising young talent as well as ample financial resources and looks to be sustainable for a long time.
Every year the Dodgers go deep in the playoffs, the last two years making it to the championship. Yeah, I get it – a storied franchise like the Dodgers only measure success in World Series victories. But I fully appreciate that my team is playing playoff baseball every season – I remember having to endure the hype about the Giants and St Louis in the playoffs. Now MLB fans get to hear plenty about the Dodgers in the post season. and I am enjoying it – a great time to be a Dodgers fan indeed.
Why would we want Kemp when we have fleet footed (?) Travis d’Arnaud to play left field (taking playing time from Joc and CT3) and first base (taking time from Muncy and Freese). This is his 7th MLB season and he has played a total of zero games at either position. He has, however, played one game each at second and third. This seems like such a ludicrous signing that I’m sure it will work out. They must know something we don’t, but I find it fascinating that Doc apparently stated they don’t intend to have him catch very often.
Dodgerpatch, you suggested giving Ryu repeated QO’s. As far as I know, a player can only be QO’d once in his career so that is no longer an option. We could offer him another one-year contract, but if he continues to pitch well, he won’t have any problem getting three years from someone.
Let’s not judge Pollock until he returns and is healthy again. Still think he was a bargain and will produce for Dodgers. Kelly has too good of stuff to be this bad. If he puts it together and has any kind of post season like last year then he’s more than worth it. Don’t give up on these guys. Look what Taylor is doing. These guys have talent. Got to let it play out!
Were free agents A.J. Pollock signed for five years and $60 million and Joe Kelly signed for three years at $25 million, mistakes? If so, can they be mitigated? Boston probably would take Kelly back sans a few $M the Dodgers would have to retain and Kelly probably has a sizable insurance policy on him so he only hurts with the CBT.
Those mistakes, if they were mistakes, are reminiscent of Brandon McCarthy, (three years, $48 million), Scott Kazmir (three years, $48 million), Yaisel Sierra (five years, $30 million) and Hector Olivera ($62.5 million, of which $23.5 million is the Dodgers’ responsibility), and Alvarez’ $16 signing bonus all told that’s $250.5 million.
Few teams could afford to make those mistakes and not go bankrupt and for how they would have impacted their ability to have enough payroll left to field competitive teams.
Maybe that is the reason the Dodgers were reluctant to offer Kenley the contract they ultimately gave him in the same off-season they re-signed Turner and Hill. Hill is gone next year and both Turner and Jansen will see their contracts expire after the 2020 season along with their ability to control Pederson.
The Rays are doing well this year with a small payroll. Seattle dumped a lot of payroll and are doing fine this year.
Friedman stayed in the bidding for Greinke and allegedly offered Harper a short but big contract. I think other teams have kept Friedman from further mistakes along the lines of those mentioned in the first paragraph by over paying by too much.
Hill and Ryu and Kemp ($10.3M) will be off the books next year. I think the Dodgers will either trade away the cost of Hill to stay under the CBT this year if they do acquire another player or wait until next year to do anything. But, they have made mistakes before so who knows.
Thank God that Roberts was smart enough let Urias close this game. Looks like that shoulder tweak knocked Cody’s swing out of whack a little. Hope he gets it back right away. I see a pattern with Joc and it doesn’t look good. Don’t look now but our bats are starting to heat up. Seger, Turner, CT3, Muncy have all begun to contribute on a regular basis. Another lefty tonight, so Joc should be back on the pine.
Doc says that Belli isn’t gonna play first base anymore to protect him against diving and hurting the shoulder again. I guess you don’t dive in the outfield. If Joc’s gonna be the odd man out, you might as well trade him with less than 2 years of control remaining. You can’t extend and keep everyone. Maybe we can get that bullpen arm for him and play more musical chairs if we need a fourth outfielder with Toles, Rios, Beaty, Kike, and CT3 in the mix for the 4th outfielder spot. That is when Toles and Pollock come back.
Nothing better than seeing your starter go 7 with a lead and the last six outs recorded in order. Better stop using Urias for multiple innings to keep him rested so he can give Jansen a day off until he’s back to form.
Things are coming together, on pace for 101 wins. I’m still sticking with 105.
This from Mitchell White.
“Two bullpen sessions ago, we just focused on the slider and getting it to a different place. Mixing up the grip of it,” he said. “And the other day it was all curveballs. Being able to throw it for strikes, and that’s all about hitting the right line with it. Getting it to break down in the zone. … That definitely helped me out today.”
The 24-year-old lowered his ERA to 1.85 over his first six outings, which ranks second in the Texas League to Arkansas’ Ricardo Sanchez (1.75). White is tops on the circuit in opponents’ batting average (.151) and WHIP (0.78). He has fanned 30 while walking just six over 24 1/3 innings this season and Monday was his second consecutive start without allowing a run — a stretch of 11 2/3 frames.
“I felt great today. I just went out there and pitched,” White said. “I established my fastball early, got it working to both sides of the plate. And it was just one of those days where I just felt comfortable throwing anything at any time. Not one pitch was a carry pitch, it was just a little bit of everything.”
“The plan today was very simplified: it was basically just go out there and compete. Just attack the zone, see how the stuff is playing early. Read the swings and reactions from the hitters and go from there,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s just about executing pitches.”
Winning > Losing