Let me preface this by unequivocally stipulating that I believe that Dustin May has a much higher ceiling than does Ross Stripling. Dustin May has had a great start, but has not yet faced any good offensive teams to establish his 2019 bona fides. May is a career starting pitcher and a sudden move to the bullpen could prove to be as problematic as it was for Walker Buehler. I am NOT saying that he cannot move to the bullpen for the post season. I am suggesting that the switch is not as easy as many fans seem to think that it is. IMO it makes sense to consider May’s spot on the post season roster to be directed more to the #4 spot in the rotation rather than as a reliever.
I do feel different about Tony Gonsolin and the bullpen. Gonzo has experience as an effective reliever in both College and Professional ball. This is his second season strictly as a starting pitcher. May’s path is more clear as a starting pitcher, while Gonsolin can go either way.
Now for the subject of my post…Ross Stripling. I know that many on this site are not Ross Stripling fans. Such is the case for a #4 or #5 starting pitcher, especially with the Dodgers. To many on this site (and I am NOT referring to anyone in particular), unless the pitcher is an Ace or a #2 at the least, then that pitcher is just not good enough to be in the rotation. I am all for having five #1 or #2 pitchers in the Dodger rotation, but I am also a realist. There is no team with five #1 or #2 in the rotation. The Dodgers, Nats, and Astros, are the closest with 3. Maybe next year, the Dodgers get closer, but this is 2019. The Nats #4 would be Anibal Sanchez, while the Astros will be Wade Miley.
Who will be the Dodgers #4? If Rich Hill were healthy, the question is solved. But we do not know if Hill will even be available. The likelihood of him being a starter in the post season are getting very slim, as he is now not expected back to the roster until the last week in September. Albeit, that little gem came from Doc, and I am generally skeptical with his injury updates.
Kenta Maeda? With his outstanding start two games ago notwithstanding, Kenta has never been a second half pitcher. In 2017, his presence in the post-season bullpen was very productive. It seems that Maeda may be more valuable in the bullpen rather than as the #4 starter. Who is the true Kenta Maeda? The one who pitched against the DBacks 2 starts ago, or the one that pitched Friday and against the Padres and Rockies in his 2 previous starts before the DBacks. AF/Doc/Honey are going to need to see how his second half continues, and to see if he is a legit option for the #4.
Dustin May? If he is the choice, I am not going to be disappointed. If he gets the nod, he will have deserved it. But with the workload this year, how is his arm going to feel come October. The Dodgers had no intention of considering Dustin for the post-season when the season began. So now his innings are mounting, He is already at 123.2 IP. He pitched 134.0 and 132.2 innings the last two years. Can you minimize his innings now and then build him back up? What does that do to the arm? Is that really the best option for him in his career? I do not have the answers to any of those questions, and I doubt anyone on here does either. But I bet that AF is talking to the best kinesiologists who can answer them, and to prepare a plan accordingly.
A couple of days back, Vegas Dodger mentioned that at 20, Jim Palmer threw a complete game 4 hit shutout victory against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1966 WS. I was at that game. I ditched school that day and missed football practice, so I was in trouble. It was important to me because it looked to be the last game at Dodger Stadium of arguably my favorite Dodger of all time, Junior Gilliam. In fact, it was his last game and he went 0-4. Another important factor for me was because of Brooks Robinson, Baltimore was my favorite AL team at the time. But to Vegas’ point, Palmer was on the roster for the entire 1966 season, and threw 200+ innings. Palmer was on the roster as a 19-year-old for all of 1965. Pitchers in those days were trained/developed to pitch that much. Not so much anymore. Palmer faced every AL team; the good and bad offenses. As it turned out, Palmer became a HOF pitcher. Different time and different circumstances.
Now to Chicken Strip. May has started very well. There is no doubt. But his start was not as good as Strip’s was. Against the SF Giants, on April 8, 2016, Strip was pitching a no-hit game after 7.1 IP and then a walk to Angel Pagan. That was enough for Doc, and he summoned Chris Hatcher from the pen. On a 3-1 pitch to Trevor Brown, he hit a HR to tie the score at 2-2. Joe Blanton would then allow a 10th inning HR to Brandon Crawford to give the Giants the victory.
Things did not go as well for his next 7 starts, and Ross was put into the bullpen for a game, and then sent to OKC where he was being transitioned into more of a multi inning reliever. When he returned in late July, he started 6 games and relieved in 4 multi inning games. He did much better as a reliever than he did as a starter at that time.
In 2017, Strip went back and forth between starter and reliever and had similar results to what Alex Wood experienced last year, and what Julio Urias may be experiencing this year. It is hard to go back and forth between two roles. But he was outstanding in relief in the 2017 post-season. 5 games, 7.1 IP, no runs, 4 hits, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. He inherited 4 runners and none of them scored. Overall in 9 of 10 post season relief appearances (2016 & 2017), he was unscored upon. So he does have success when it comes to post-season relief.
In 2018, Ross started in the bullpen, and was outstanding. In 14.1 innings, he allowed 1 run. His only inherited runner did not score. After 10 relief appearance, he started against the DBacks, and surprise…it did not go well. He went back to the bullpen for a game, and pitched well. But the team needed a starter as everyone in the rotation was getting hurt. He then rolled off 13 consecutive starts and pitched 76.0 innings, and ended up with a 2.01 ERA and was named to the 2018 NL All Star team. During those 13 games, Ross went 8-1, and the team won 9 of the games.
Strip had a tough AS outing, and maybe that had an impact on his second half start. Simply conjecture. But he did not finish as well as he started, and was not on the post-season roster.
Strip started 2019 as a member of the rotation. After 6 starts and 34 IP, Strip had a 2.65 ERA. His BAA was .218. He then went into the bullpen. He was bad in his first 2019 relief appearance against the Giants, but then pitched relatively well in his next 13 games covering 15.1 innings. He allowed 4 ER for a 2.35 ERA. Not lock down, but not bad. Strip was then needed in the rotation and his first three games getting back to that routine, he had a rough go. He was starting to get more comfortable for his last three games before he came down with a right biceps tendinitis injury.
Why was he not allowed to stay in the rotation? He was not pitching bad. Certainly not as a #5 SP. But once again, Strip got bounced back and forth and some people cannot understand why that is a problem. I do not know if going back and forth between starting and relieving had any effect on his biceps tendinitis. I will let Dodgerrick advise if that is even possible, but it seems that it could be to this novice.
I do not know if Strip will be able to make it back from his injury. And if he does, will there be enough time to stretch him out? Strip is not a sure thing, neither is Clayton. But he has success in the post-season. I prefer experience over potential in a playoff game. I do not like bullpen games in the post-season as the team cannot send a pitcher down and bring another up. There are no breaks between Game 4 and Game 5 in the NLDS, NLCS, or WS. So I do not see Game 4 as a bullpen game for LAD.
I am not advocating any one pitcher over the other, except Rich Hill. I am fine with whoever comes out the next 6+ weeks to make a statement as to who should be the starter in Game 4. Maybe it will be a different starter in each of the series. But my point is that Ross Stripling is an experienced pitcher who was an All Star, has been successful in the post-season, and should not be dismissed because Dustin May looked good against two weak hitting teams. Strip has never complained about his role (as others have done). He believes he is a starter, and would like that role, but accepts relieving is an option.
Neither Hill or Strip may be healthy enough to start, or if they are, not stretched out enough (at least for the NLDS). I do not see Maeda as someone with enough confidence to pound the strike zone against a good hitting team. Walks kill. Urias needs to work on that as well. Gonsolin is better suited for the bullpen at this point. So it could very well be May by default, and I am okay with that. But just don’t dismiss Strip.
Finally, I disagree with those who do not want to see May go up against Atlanta on Sunday. I do. I want to see what he does specifically against Freddie Freeman.
Discussion (54)
Disagree, not disagreeable
You cannot assume that Pollock being picked off cost the Dodgers anything. Certainly, it’s not a good thing that he got picked off. However, no one ever takes into account that different circumstances bring about different results. It’s even possible that had Pollock not been.picked off the Dodgers may not have scored at all. As a result of different circumstances the pitcher throws different pitches in different locations, and the hitter may take a completely different approach.
And yes, it’s possible that without the pick- off the Dodgers would have scored 10 runs because the Braves were unable to to record the 3rd out, and the Dodgers sent up hitter after hitter.
Whatever would have happened is unknown and will forever remain unknown.
Pollock getting picked off first cost the Dodgers at least two runs in the first inning and probably would have resulted in Fried being taken out.
Two other rookies with 2 homer games are Garlick & Beaty, if I’m not mistaken.
I don’t care who the Dodgers play. I just hope that everybody is healthy and playing at the top of their game.
I’m more worried about Washington and that starting staff!
Anybody that thinks the Dodgers losing this series to the Braves bodes ill for the Dodgers if they meet in the playoffs, should consider this. The Dodgers took the season series from the Braves 4-2. And then there’s this:
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1130937-the-only-time-the-1988-dodgers-beat-the-mets-was-when-it-counted-most
I just lost a long post that I was typing on my phone. Too much for me to re-do. But I do want to repeat part of it, the part about Seager not being a good shortstop. I don’t think he’s a great shortstop, e.g., he’s not in the same category as someone like Lindor. But to state that he’s not a good defensive shortstop is ludicrous. I’ll leave it at that, for now.
There was a discussion last week about the possibility of moving JT & Seager to a different position. I now feel it is imperative to move Seager, probably to 3B, next season. He is not a very good SS defensively. In fact, he weakens the infield. Perhaps he can give JT some days off this season and allow the choice for SS to fall to Taylor, Negron, and possibly Kike as subs. I’m not sure which position Lux is natural to. I do know that the infield as it stands needs a permanent 1B/2B. Gyorko is not the answer at 1B. He’s too short. He cannot stretch to stop errant throws. I also saw his career stats at 3B to be horrible. No place for him next season unless he does a Max impression. Blooping singles are not going to do it. I guess they need to audition him to see what they’ve got. I think it was a stab in the dark. Max needs to play. Negron, Taylor, & Kike are genuine utility guys. Taylor & kike will need to get back in the swing of things when they return. Playing time is essential.
I can’t wait for Verdugo, Taylor and Freese to get back. The band will be back together at that point.
Green and Melanson two games two shut down.
Not enough swing and miss for May. That worries me
Agree with Mark. Let’s see if May learns from his mistakes. Nomar had it right when he called for a fastball UP. That pitch was all about location. Can’t believe that May was looking to throw that thing down the middle.
May is 21, and as talented as he is, there are still quite a few refinements, especially as regards command and control that he needs to make. And that applies to both starting and relieving.
And as to this game, the major issue is the Dodgers’ inability to score after the first inning.
A case for not Dustin May in our playoff bullpen!
That was ugly.
Now, we will see what Dustin is made of.
Most HR’s in first 3 MLB seasons:
Albert Pujols 114
Ralph Kiner 114
Eddie Mathews 112
Mark Teixeira, 107
Joe DiMaggio 107
Cody Bellinger, 106 and counting…
Bottom of the third. WOW! Gotta love that.
With Taylor and Kike being activated on Tuesday the Dodgers have some interesting roster manipulation ahead. Garlick to OKC seems like the first move. With 16 straight games starting on Tuesday they won’t be going down to 12 pitchers and I have to believe they want to keep Negron around through September. I’m assuming that he’s out of options. So, I’m guessing either a phantom IL stint for someone like Negron, a real IL stint for Pollock, or either Goose or May heads back to OKC. Goose may be thanked for his outing then told we will see you on Sept 1st if someone doesn’t head to the IL
I think the Bellinger guy may have a shot to be MVP
You can NEVER have too much starting pitching! Ask the Angels
Urias is to being built up as a starter while at Camelback while he’s out. Doc has know stated that Stripling will be a reliever only and won’t be back until September 1st. AF contradicted Doc’s statement on Hill and said they still have time to build him up.
I have no idea what the decision makers are going to do next year but this is what I would do.
Next year’s position players. First of all Martin and Freese are free agents and I wouldn’t sign either even though I really like Freese but he is prone to injuries.
I would not add anyone through free agency or trade. If it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it.
Starters:
C Smith
1B Muncy
2B Lux
SS Seager
3B Turner
RF Bellinger
CF Verdugo
LF Peterson/Pollock platoon. Pollock is prone to injuries it will be good for him to start less.
Bench:
The LF that isn’t starting.
The back up catcher Barnes.
Beaty corner infield and LF back up.
Taylor middle infield and outfield back up.
1 spot open.
Other names that can take the open spot or be back ups in the minors:
Hernandez who has no options.
DJ Peters
Garlick
Rios
Ruiz
Negron
Gyorko
and hopefully others in the minors emerge as possible back ups.
Just saw the previous thread. So sorry to hear about what AC and his family are going thru. AC, please your goofy Dodger family here as your escape whenever you’re ready.
I hope May gets into the game as a reliever today; it’d be interesting to see how he handles a different situation.
So far this year we have 6 pitchers with 10 or more starts — Maeda (24), Buehler (23), Ryu (23), Kershaw (21), Stripling (12) and Hill (10). There are 4 more with “spot starts” — Urias (6), May (3), Gonsolin (2) and Ferguson (1).
I would assume something similar next year — 6 – 7 starters with 3 – 4 “spot starters”
I would also assume one resigning from Ryu or Hill — (probably Ryu) but rate that as 50/50 chance.
Much as we see Maeda fading in the second half, he has been an innings eater. Given his team friendly contract he will likely stay.
With the stated plan of Urias as a starter, Kershaw, Beuhler, Ryu/Hill, Urias, Maeda, May, Gonsolin. There are your seven. Rest and injuries should determine usage.
Stripling is a good piece but I see him as the odd man out unless he remains predominantly a reliever. If either Ryu or Hill resign then I would see Stripling as a trade candidate this off season. Fair for him as well. If no resigning of either Ryu or Hill then Stripling likely stays as injury insurance.
I don’t see Ferguson as a starter with the MLB club next year. Either he transitions to the BP or remains in OKC working on another pitch. Last few spot starts go to Gray and White in the dog days of summer.
Well, I’m a Ross Stripling fan forever! A little biased though since my twin sons played with him at Southlake Carroll HS and went to state. Great pitcher, role model and smart!
A man named Jedd will start at 1B today!
DODGERS RECALL RHP GONSOLIN, ACTIVATE IF GYORKO
RHP JOSH SBORZ AND IF EDWIN RÍOS OPTIONED TO TRIPLE-A
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they have recalled right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin and activated infielder Jedd Gyorko from the 60-day injured list while optioning right-handed pitcher Josh Sborz and infielder Edwin Ríos to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Gonsolin, 25, was recalled for the third time this season and will make his fourth career start today. In his three starts this season, he is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA (5 ER/14.0 IP), including 10 innings of one-run ball over his last two starts. Gonsolin, 25, was 2-4 record with a 4.35 ERA (20 ER/41.1 IP) and 50 strikeouts in 13 starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The righty was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the ninth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Mary’s College.
Gyorko, 30, was originally placed on the injured list on June 8 by the St. Louis Cardinals with a lower back strain. He appeared in 38 games for the Cardinals, batting .198 (11-for-56) with two homers and seven RBI, before being traded to the Dodgers on July 31 for left-handed pitcher Tony Cingrani and right-handed pitcher Jeffry Abreu. He has spent parts of seven Major League seasons with the San Diego Padres and Cardinals, compiling a .246 (625-for-2540) batting average with 112 homers and 351 RBI. The infielder was originally drafted in the second round by the San Diego Padres of the 2010 First Year Player Draft out of West Virginia University.
Sborz, 25, was recalled on Friday and did not appear in a game. He has appeared in two games for the Dodgers this season, allowing six runs on six hits in 3.0 innings of work. In 41 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, he is 4-3 with a 4.27 ERA (22 ER/46.1 IP) and 63 strikeouts, including a 2-0 record with a 2.31 ERA (3 ER/11.2 IP) and 17 strikeouts over his last 10 games.
Ríos, 25, has appeared in 17 games for the Dodgers, clubbing two homers and four RBI with a .286 (10-for-35) batting average. On Wednesday, he became the 17th Dodger this season to record a multi-homer game and the third rookie, joining Alex Verdugo and Will Smith. In 92 games with Oklahoma City, he slashed .266/.339/.551 with 25 homers and 75 RBI. In five minor league seasons, he has hit .294 (479-for-1627) with 89 homers and 310 RBI. The Puerto Rican native was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Florida International.
Crazy Nats-Brewers game last night. Think we have issues with Jansen. Doolittle gave up 3 home runs (10 in 52 innings). ERA to 4.33 — a number that rises to 7.36 in 15 appearances since the all-star break.
Ryu is one of may favorite players on the team, so I hope they resign him and stockpile starters for depth. Maybe Ryu would like to try to save a year at the end of his career for Korea and is willing to do what Kuroda did to stay with the Dodgers where he’s comfortable. That’s my hope anyways. If he walks, there’s always Garrit Cole, a local guy who would look great in Blue as he did with UCLA. If they don’t sign anyone, they still have options in May, Gonsolin, Stripling and Maeda to fill out the rotation behind Kershaw, Bueller and Urias.
Speaking of Kershaw, he is really something. Watching him transition this year is a thing of beauty. I can see him being better next year and pitching longer than the remaining two years on his deal. Josiah Gray is just around the corner and Mitch White might be able to turn things around. Then there’s Santana and Ferguson if you want to dig deep.
Looks like it is Gonzo starting on Sunday. What a confusing few days this has been as management has waffled on the May/Gonzo competition. I had thought they were throwing their chips on May until I saw the article saying he would go into the BP. Now, it’s Gonzo they are giving the audition to. This was actually my original thought earlier in the month concerning which one gets the nod. As good as May is, and he is destined to start next season, Gonzo looks to me as if he could flourish right now as a tough SP. Going against Atlanta will be a very good litmus test to his fortitude and control under some pressure. The Dodgers would like to take this series against arguably the best competition in the NL. I will be rooting strongly for Gonzo and it will go a long way to helping the FO decide on who will make the rotation next season. If Urias is indeed in line for a promotion to SP, one of them is not going to make it as I’m assuming they resign Ryu and I don’t believe they are going to go to a 6 man rotation. Any thoughts?