so you don't think the dodgers have a run scoring problem?
I have to chuckle. When things go bad it is Thomas, Feduccia and Rortvedt that should shoulder the blame. The Dodgers offense and depth is supposed to be able to mitigate the problems with poor hitting subs. Pages is out, Smith and Rushing are out and that damn AF does not have All Stars to replace them.
But they do have 3 HOF at the top of lineup that should be able to offset the weak hitters. Thomas has played 4 games for the Dodgers. Since they joined the Dodgers, the trio has 81 combined PA. They certainly are not being heavily counted on.
I understand fans get excited when Dodger sweep the likes of KC, Colorado, and Pittsburgh. But it is not as if they slugged their way past them. In the 9 games (yes, all wins), they scored 52 runs or 5.77 runs per game. Perhaps that looks like a lot but not necessarily considering that through June (86 games) the team averaged 5.36 runs per game.
Since July 31, the Dodgers have played 5 teams with winning records. Their record is 2-14, and they have scored 47 runs, or 2.93 runs per game. That is not good. That is not because Thomas, Feduccia, or Rortvedt were playing.
This paucity of offense is team wide. It cannot be laid at the feet of 1 or 2 or 3 specific players. When you look for scapegoats for a team wide funk, you are ignoring the bigger problem. The team is not producing runs. There is minimal situational hitting. There is minimal moving of runners to 3rd with less than 2 outs. There is too many GIDP. And yes, not enough HR.
This team, like the 2024 and 2025 WS teams, is built for the HR. In 2024, the Dodgers were outhit and outpitched by NYY. But timely HR helped give LAD the championship.
· Game 1 – Trailing 3-2 in the 10th, Freddie hit a game winning walkoff grand slam.
· Game 2 – In a 4-2 win, all four runs were from HR: Freddie and Edman hit solo HR, and Teo hit a 2-run HR.
· Game 3 – Freddie hit a 2-run HR in the 1st, for a lead they never relinquished in a 4-2 win.
· Game 4 – Lost 11-4, but 3 of the 4 runs were due to HR: Freddie hit a 2-run HR, and Smith hit a solo HR.
· Game 5 – 5 unearned runs, primarily due to a dropped fly ball (Judge), a bad throw to 3rd (Volpe), and a failure to cover 1st base (Cole).
In 2025, Toronto outhit and outpitched LAD.
· Game 1 – Loss 11-4. 2 of the 4 runs came from Shohei’s 2-run HR.
· Game 2 – 5-1 Win. Smith and Max hit solo HR in the 7th to take a 3-1 lead.
· Game 3 – 6-5 Win. Solo HR from Teoscar and 2 from Shohei, plus the walkoff HR from Freddie.
· Game 4 – Loss 6-2. No HR.
· Game 5 – Loss 6-1. The lone run came from a solo Kiké HR.
· Game 6 – 3-1 Win. No HR.
· Game 7 – 5-4 Win. Max solo HR in 8th. Miggy Ro game tying solo HR in the 9th. And Smith’s game winning solo HR in the 11th.
The Dodgers power is experiencing a relatively significant decrease in HR. HR production is down 16.4% from 2025. 201 HR in 2025, and 168 in 2026. Comparison of HR in 2026 vs HR over the same period of time in 2025, mínimum of 150 PA.
· Shohei – 30 in 2026 vs 45 in 2025 (-15).
· Freddie – 15 in 2026 vs 18 in 2025 (-3).
· Pages – 21 in 2026 vs 23 in 2025 (-2).
· Teoscar – 11 in 2026 vs 21 in 2025 (-10).
· Max – 26 in 2026 vs 17 in 2025 (+9).
· Mookie – 16 in 2026 vs 14 in 2025 (+2).
· Smith – 6 in 2026 vs 16 in 2025 (-10).
· Edman – 5 in 2026 vs 12 in 2025 (-7).
· Miggy Ro – 3 in 2026 vs 6 in 2025 (-3)
Others in 2026:
· Rushing - 12
· Tucker – 11
· Freeland – 3
· Call -1
Others in 2025:
· Conforto – 10
· Kiké – 8
The other facet of the game that proved to be critical in both series was defense. The lack of NYY defense in 2024 played a big part, especially in Game 5.
In 2025, the number of critical defensive plays made by Edman to Miggy Ro, to Kiké, to Pages, to Betts, and Smith were special. That is why I have no hesitation to Thomas playing. He is considered an elite defensive CF. We know that Tucker and Teoscar are poor defensive OF, and they will need late inning replacements. In essence, Thomas replaces Justin Dean from the 2025 roster.
Had nothing happened to Pages, I still believe that Thomas would have been recalled in September. But with Pages out, I am comfortable with Josue De Paula getting a call to join the roster. This will give him experience that only playing MLB can give. I am not worried about starting his clock. This will have no effect on next year. As Mark said, there is no downside. I am also not concerned with him being overwhelmed if he starts out slowly. He was 0-19 after being promoted to AA last year, and it did not seem to effect him in 2026.
Yesterday, someone opined that Thomas was going to be DFA before the playoffs. No. If Pages makes it back before the playoffs, Thomas will just get optioned. He will not be DFA. No reason to be.
This team has stopped scoring and they have hit a lot less HR in 2026. What does that mean? Absolutely nothing. Just like what they did last year means nothing. But they cannot dismiss what many consider a concern with the lack of run-scoring. They will make the playoffs, and they will have an extremely formidable rotation. Maybe those timely Big Flys will come back. Maybe not. It is less likely they will all of a sudden become situational hitters, or begin running the bases to create havoc, but you never know. That is why they play the games.
El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego) 5 – OKC Comets 4
I am not sure how meaningful these games are, as El Paso is way out of contention, and OKC is 4.5 games behind the 2nd half leader with 3 teams ahead of them, and one 0.5 games right behind OKC.
What was meaningful is that RHSP Joe Musgrove was pitching 5.0 scoreless innings. He allowed 5 hits, no walks, and 3 K. He threw 60 pitches before being relieved for. I am guessing that Musgrove is ready to resume his spot in the SD rotation. I know, I know…Musgrove sucks. He falls into the category that he is not a Dodger, so therefore he sucks.
LHSP Cole Irvin was not sharp in this game and was hit relatively hard. He allowed a single, double, and RBI groundout in the 2nd inning.
In the 3rd, Irvin got two quick outs, but a single, double, and his own throwing error brought home 2 for a 3-0 lead.
Irvin allowed a solo HR in the 5th.
OKC got on the board in the 6th when SS Noah Miller singled and scored when 3B Alex Freeland doubled (6).
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El Paso got the run back in the 7th with RHRP Ryder Ryan on the bump. He walked a batter with 2 outs and then allowed a RBI triple.
OKC made a game of it in the 9th. C Chadwick Tromp drew a lead off BB, and 1B Ryan Ward walked with one out. CF Zach Ehrhard hit a 3-run HR (18) allowing OKC to climb to within 1 run. But that was it.
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C Will Smith started the game and had 3 AB. He went 0-3 with a K.
· Alex Freeland – 2-4, 1 RBI, double (6)
· Hyeseong Kim – 2-4
· Noah Miller – 2-3, 1 run
· Zach Ehrhard – 1-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (18)
Midland RockHounds (As) 4 – Tulsa Drillers 2
Tulsa had 7 singles from 7 different batters, and there was 1 BB.
LHSP Wyatt Crowell only retired 2 batters in the 1st. He gave up a single and 3 walks before being lifted by LHRP Myles Caba who got the final out.
In the 3rd inning, Caba walked the leadoff hitter, and one out later he scored on a double.
LHRP Alex Walsh entered in the 4th inning inheriting a runner at 2B with 1 out and got out of the inning. But in the 5th, Walsh proceeded to walk the leadoff hitter, followed by a single. The next batter hit a sac bunt, moving the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Both runners scored on a 2-run double.
The Drillers were basically shut down for 8.2 innings. In the 9th, 2B Taylor Young opened with a 1B and moved to 2nd when LF Josue De Paula reached on a fielding error. A WP moved both runners up 90 feet, and C Griffin Lockwood-Powell hit a 2 run single before the final out.
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Great Lakes Loons 7 – Lansing Lugnuts (As) 2
CF Charles Davalan hit a lead off solo HR in the 1st inning.
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In the 2nd inning, 2B Eduardo Guerrero drew a BB, and 3B Mairo Martinus singled, moving Guerrero to 2nd. LF Samuel Munoz hit a RBI single giving GL a 2-0 lead.
RHSP Brooks Auger gave it back in the 3rd inning. 2 leadoff walks to start the inning. The next batter doubled home 1 run and moved the second runner to 3rd where he scored on a SF and a 2-2 tie.
In the 6th, with 2 outs, Guerrero and Martinus singled. Guerrero scored when the pitcher made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.
In the 7th, Davalan led off with a single and moved to 3rd on SS Emil Morales’ double (17). RF Jaron Elkins plated Davalan with a SF, and Morales moved to 3rd. Morales scored when DH Nico Perez singled.
In the 8th, Munoz and 1B Anson Aroz both walked. C Gio Cueto sacrificed both runners to 3rd and 2nd. Munoz scored on a groundout, and Aroz followed on an errant throw.
Somewhat surprisingly, 5 relievers provided excellent relief. Combined they did not allow a run or hit. The one exception to excellent pitching was RHRP Reynaldo Yean. He faced three batters and walked all three. RHRP Dilan Figueredo entered with the bases loaded, struck out the first batter he faced, a force out at home, and a groundout ended the inning.
Great Lakes has 1.5 game lead in the 2nd half with 10 games to play.
· Charles Davalan – 2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (22)
· Mairo Martinus – 3-4
· Emil Morales – Double (17)
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Ontario Tower Buzzers 8 – Stockton Ports (As) 2
21-year-old RHSP Marlon Nieves (#27 on MLB Top 30) completed 4.2 scoreless innings. He allowed 4 hits, 2 BB, and struck out 7. He was pulled after 81 pitches. RHRP Devin Bell relieved Nieves and got the 3rd out of the inning.
Ontario scored a run in the 1st. 2B Kellon Lindsey opened with a BB, and RF Javier Herrera singled. With 2 outs, SS Caleb Johnson continued his clutch hitting with an RBI single.
In the 3rd, with one out, LF Ching-Hsien Ko and 1B Oswaldo Osorio singled. After the 2nd out, a WP moved both runners up. DH Aidan West singled home a pair and a 3-0 lead.
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In the 6th, 3 consecutive batters led off with a BB: CF Abel Lorenzo, Lindsey, and Herrera. With 2 out, Johnson walked to score Lorenzo. West doubled home Lindsey and Herrera. Johnson scored on a WP and a 7-0 lead.
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Bell pitched a scoreless 6th, and he was lifted in the 7th by RHRP Javier Bartolozzi, who pitched a clean 7th with a K. But in the 8th, he allowed a pair of doubles, a groundout, and a WP for 2 runs.
Ontario scored an insurance run in the 9th. C Connor O’Neal led off by drawing a BB and moved to 2nd on a single from 3B Bryan Gonzalez Garcia (BGG). O’Neal scored on a single from Lorenzo.
LHRP Ian May pitched a scoreless 9th with 1 hit and 2 K. This was May’s 7th game since signing as a UDFA out of UCLA. He is getting a good look.
· Ching-Hsien Ko – 2-6, 1 run, double (16)
· Aidan West – 2-5, 4 RBI, double (2)
· Kellon Lindsey – 1-3, 3 BB, 2 runs
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Discussion (75)
Disagree, not disagreeable
While home runs are down, it’s important to note that Teoscar, Smith and Edman have lost significant time due to in injuries. Of the 3, Teo is the one that really stands out, as his overall at bats since he’s come back are not good. As for Pages and Betts, 2 home run differences between years, I suggest is meaningless.
It’s easy to say that Shohei’s lack of production is due to his pitching as well. However, he hasn’t pitched since early July, and as you note his home runs are down significantly. Freeman’s power outage is unusual, yet even with his current lack of home runs, there is only a 3 home run difference. At least he is still hitting near his career average.
So for what it’s worth, I see Teo and Shohei as the biggest culprits to the Dodger power outage and I don’t see that changing going forward.
I think we just have differing viewpoints on this one Jeff and that's ok. You know I have a ton of respect for you, and you're clearly a much smarter man than I am. You have a ton of knowledge about the minor league system, and your life long experience in finances. I'm just a loser with 700 bucks in my checking account. But I think the game has changed significantly since your day. It's not 1965 anymore. But to say that their best hitters like Ohtani, Freddie, Muncy, and Mookie are the problems because they can't offset career .230 hitting utility injury replacements is a little weird to me. How are they supposed to do that? Should Ohtani bat 10 times during the games? Should he be hitting .400 with 70 home runs. Ohtani went 0-6 with RISP since July 31. That bum! He should have went 6-6!. Not even the ghost of Ted Williams could overcome guys hitting below .200 this year.
"That is not good. That is not because Thomas, Feduccia, or Rortvedt were playing. "
You dont think those guys have played a part in this since July 31?
"When you look for scapegoats for a team wide funk, you are ignoring the bigger problem. "
Isn't that what you are doing here? Scapegoating the best hitters on the team because they can't "overcome" injury replacements and backup catchers who cant hit their own weight? Ohtani has only hit 30 home runs this year. What's wrong with him?
"There is minimal situational hitting."
Yet the Dodgers rank fourth in the majors hitting .271 with RISP. They have been one of the best teams all year long hitting with RISP.
"There is minimal moving of runners to 3rd with less than 2 outs. There is too many GIDP. And yes, not enough HR. "
Yes too many GIDP agree. Moving of runners? It's not 1965, they don't do that anymore. Not enough HRs? The Dodgers are eighth in the majors in HRs and fourth in the National League. They can still slug with the best.
I dont see what the results of the world series games from the last two years has anything to do with this situation, but would you have preferred Rojas to bunt in game 7 last year?
Home runs are down all across MLB, its not just the Dodgers. If you are expecting for Vince Coleman and Maury Wills to come out of retirement and spark a stolen base Renaissance youre going to be disappointed.
The Dodgers still rank in the top 5 in almost every single offensive catgeroy,HRs Avg, OPS, OBP runs scored, BB, SLG and that's with their starting and backup catcher out, their center fielder out, their 60 million dollar right fielder unable to hit his way out of a paper bag, their MVP shortstop having a career worst season at the plate and multiple below replacement utility players and backup catchers in their lineup. How in the world is Ohtani, Muncy and Freddie supposed to make up for this?
If Thomas has elite defense, and is only there because of it, then use him properly. Stop starting him. The same was said about Justin Dean and the Dodgers used him properly. He had 1 plate appearance in 2025 and never held a bat in the postseason.
All I am saying is that I expect any player who is in the lineup and hitting to just not be an automatic out. Asking for replacement level hitting from any big leaguer is a low ask. That's not expecting anyone to set the bar high. Just hit close to league average and don't be an automatic out.
But don't expect the team to score a lot of runs when Thomas, Fedducia/Rortvedt and Tucker are all in the lineup at the same time. The club is still 80-54 and nine games ahead in the NL West. They're still one of the best in the game.
If the Dodgers want to threepeat this year it will have to come on the strength of the starting pitching. I do not expect the offense to finally live up to their expectations and payroll . Bullpen will get a shot in the arm with some of the startrs going to the pen and hopefully a return to form by Diaz.
It's real easy to throw the negative cliches out there this morning after getting swept in Atlanta. 3 playoff like atmosphere games and to lose each one by 1 run is a tough pill to swallow. 1 month to go so there is still a lot of baseball to be played. Sure seems quiet in here since Bear is AWOL.
Man, I like Aidan West's swing. The ball just jumps off the bat. I predict he moves way up the rankings by the end of next season.
We need a little more Fuck You attitude. Other teams need to come take it from us and we can say no.
The Dodgers certainly had a Chris Sale problem today.... A great performance from one of the game's best. Gotta tip your cap. But that said... I'd love to see some firepower added to the lineup, given the suck from Tucker (especially) and Teo. Why not give Tibbs a chance? He's earned it.... A few seasons back, the Dodgers promoted their hottest hitting prospect a few weeks before the postseason--and Miguel Vargas wasn't nearly as hot as Josue de Paula. Would the brass roll the dice with JdP now? Or will that early sour experience with Vargas make them hesitate? Getting Smith back should help the offense. Adding Tibbs or JdP would certainly spice things up. Sadly, I'm thinking that Tucker is at the wait-til-next-year stage. Roberts seems to think so... Tucker is earning $60 m per season--but is often riding the pine.
Stir it up guys! Plenty of places to put the blame. Want Ohtani get more RBIs? Move him to 4th so he can get pitches from the stretch, runners on base and distracting the pitchers. One less AB doesn't matter if he hits a 3 run dinger versus a solo shot. FedEx is a 4th string catcher so expect little from him. Thomas is a fill-in till Pages gets back. Self-explanatory. Nothing noteworthy to say about Keki. He's 36, slowing down and living on past glory. Clubhouse presence only has value if you are winning. Eating salary on a trade of Teo and Tucker shouldn't matter to this team considering they make 9 Million a game. Trade them get a few good prospects and promote a few of Tibbs, Kim, Erdhard, Fitzgerald, Miller or everybody's favorite, DePaula. Hope is eternal but it's wishful thinking that the the play of the current roster will produce a Threepeat. Bottom line: Dump, promote and replenish.
who among us doesn't acknowledge the Dodgers offensive issues?
I can seriously see the Dodgers trying to trade and eating most of Teo's salary in the off season or releasing him sometime in 2027( if there is baseball) if his numbers don't drastically improve right from the start as they did with fan favorite Chris Taylor. It's too late to do anything with him now except cut down his playing time with some sort of platoon arrangement. His bat speed is the problem along with his horrific defensive metrics.Unfortunately NOTHING can be done with Tucker except less playing time. He will NEVER be the player we thought he would be.
We DON'T steal bases,lately we DON'T hit home runs,we DON'T take the extra base, we DON'T advance runners,we DON'T drive in runs in scoring position and our bullpen is suspect. Right now we're NOT playing fundamental baseball. Unless there is a drastic improvement or changes soon in most of these areas, WE DON'T THREE PEAT.BET IT!
It’s not like the bats have carried us to the last two championships. It’s been the bullpen in 24 and the starters last year. This year it will take the entire staff to carry us to a three peat. And a few more home runs.
Friday’s Dodger Affiliates' Schedule 4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Cam Leiter) vs. Lansing (Jose Dicochea) 5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Christian Zazueta) at Midland (Jackson Finley) 5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Jackson Ferris) vs. El Paso (Christian Koenig) 7:05 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Stockton (Donny Troconis)
I'm going to go on record as saying I would much prefer a catching tandem of Will Smith and Dalton Rushing over Feduccia and Rortvedt. They have played very well in the short time they've been with the Dodgers, and they should be congratulated for that, but they are most definitely an offensive downgrade long term over Smith and Rushing, so, the Dodgers offense, as a whole, is not as good with Feduccia and Rortvedt in the starting lineup. That was really the point Scott Andes was making yesterday. I don't know why we're in day two of being upset about his comment.
"This team, like the 2024 and 2025 WS teams, is built for the HR."
I don't really agree with this. It's been a bit of a trope repeated here and on Jeff's old site that the Dodgers are all about SLUG. The offense is built around it. Players are signed because of it. Prospects are drafted and developed around it. The single most important offensive objective at the exclusion of all others is to hit a home run. SLUG!!
That's inaccurately reductionist, in my opinion. If you're going to reduce modern batting methodology and science to their first principles, it's hitting the ball hard, and often, and in the air. Hitting the ball hard and in the air has a much higher probability of producing runs than hitting the ball hard and on the ground. If there's any change in how teams view modern hitting versus the Pee Wee Reese days, it's this.
Now, a happy byproduct of the emphasis on hitting the ball hard and in the air is that doing so are also the key ingredients to hitting home runs. This is a downstream effect, however, of hitting the ball hard and in the air, not the end goal in itself.
And this emphasis on hitting the ball hard and in the air is not exclusive to the Dodgers. This is the prevailing mindset of modern baseball - with some team to team variability, of course.
Take this year, for instance. The Dodgers are 2nd in wRC+, which is the single most important Fangraphs stat that measures a team's total ability to produce runs through all means. They are 4th in total runs scored, which is a little misleading because there are big differences in total plate appearances. They are 3rd in OBP, 6th in ISO, and 8th IN HOME RUNS. They are also 2nd in SLG.
So, they have been producing offensively at a high level for the entirety of the season so far, but they aren't relying on hitting home runs to produce those runs. So really, they aren't about SLUG.
If you keep on thinking about it, if the Dodgers are really built around the home run, why did they sign Freeman? He is one of the best gap hitters ever, but not really a home run hitter. The Dodgers won the WS last year because of Miggy Ro's dramatic home run. Was he in the lineup because of his home run hitting prowess? It was a happy accident. It's what happens in the playoffs.
Now, currently, the Dodgers core lineup is not playing up to their potential. On August 27, 2026, yes, the Braves were a better team.
Is this going to matter in the playoffs? Nope.
I do think they obviously need to play better, and I thought Andrew Forte made some valid points about improving fundamentals. Earlier in the year, not only were the Dodgers the best offensive and pitching team in baseball, but they were also one of the top defensive teams. They need to tighten things up and starting playing their best baseball when the playoffs roll around.
I have read that an impact bat can impact an entire lineup. The Dodgers (who has the second best record in the mlb despite having a horrendous August) have two all stars missing in their everyday lineup. I would think that would impact the lineup.
I saw in an earlier post that we need to do get better at using our challenges. I agree. I’m not sure on how it’s going with our current catchers but it would be logical that when Smith comes back the challenges from an experienced catcher will improve the challenges. Hope the Dodgers make some moves this coming Tuesday other than having Smith back.
I guess we can all agree that the Dodgers are not clicking! They may not click again this season. But they very well could. I don’t need stats or numbers to know that they lack in certain areas. They don’t hit with runners on base. The power is almost nonexistent at the moment. The bullpen is walking way too many. And you can criticize Doc for his lineups but can he do better? Call had 2 hits the other night. He may go 0-10 his next abs. Teo can’t field his position at a competent level. Tucker has forgotten how to hit. Freddie has developed a power shortage. Will Smith is missed sorely. Dalton too. Kike looks good on defense, not so good on offense. Pages’ bat is missing. Mookie still flies out too much. Both catchers are potentially career minor leaguers. Although Feduccia has been adequate on offense, while Ben hasn’t been bad defensively. This all sounds negative , I realize that. It probably won’t be that way forever! I still have hope that the Dodgers end up in the World Series for the 3rd consecutive season! The starting pitching is way too good not to give us high hopes for that! Yamamoto was excellent last night. Chris Sale was on another planet. Last night’s game was much easier to accept than the first two games. I read somewhere this morning that Doc was partly to blame because he has become so predictable in the dugout. While I don’t agree completely with this opinion, I would like to see some more running and aggressive play. You can move your furniture around in the house all you want, but it’s still the same old furniture. It still sits the same. And it’s still old. May sound like a stupid comparison, but makes sense to me!
Tough loss but I love an old fashion pitcher’s duel and this was one. Sale and Yamamoto were awesome. The first inning once again bit the Dodgers.
Orel mentioned correctly that in these matchups, one pitch can make the difference, and he got that right. I seemingly insignificantly get-me-over splitter for a homer standing up and being the difference, is remarkable. Orel, however dropped another of his “Science-Geek” type comment that nobody else has ever mentioned, ever. His comment that Sale is extra-tough when Albies played up the middle and he would like to position Albies there, if he was Sale, because the fastball home comes right out of Albie’s jersey top, distracting the hitter. One, I’m not sure that’s true and two, if you are noticing that as a hitter, you have other issues with focus. Maybe if someone mentioned it. and put it in the hitter’s head, but even than I doubt it. That one is up there with Orel claiming he used to time his pitch home with the “wave” going around the ballpark, to help distract the hitter. Few would ever think of shit like that.
Tommy Edman seriously wore one for the club in the 8th to get a two-out baserunner . You could see the anticipated pain on Tommy’s face as he made no attempt to avoid that shot to his leg. Gym rat again, doing what he can.
Sale was certainly feeling “frisky” in Joe’s parlance, with his fastball velocity. Back in the day, I would have questioned if the stadium had a hot radar gun. Sometimes there were a couple of MPH differences between models of radar guns. But now days pitch velocity measurements are standardized across all 30 MLB stadiums and it’s now measures by the same Hawk-Eye Tracking System used to with ABS. Maybe the Hawk-Eye is juiced but maybe 37 year old Sale is just getting frisky?
I very seldom criticize or second-guess Doc but I sort of did last night, in the 9th. When Thomas pinch ran for Freddie, after his single, I think you just have to send him. You have to try to steal 2nd in that situation and get a runner in scoring position and hope for an error, bloop, anything to scratch out a run. If you get thrown out you get the same outcome anyway. The problem was the Dodger’s don’t run and don’t have anybody for that situation. They have nobody on the bench, like a Dave Roberts, who can steal a base when everybody knows it’s coming.
Alek Thomas has zero steals as a Dodger and 28 total in 5 years. Doc did send him late in the count and it was a foul ball. Personally, I’m running early and again after the foul ball. Since there’s no such thing as a hit & run anymore, that wasn’t an option. And if Call is running perhaps Miggy’s ground ball forces an out at first and not 2nd? Who know. But I’m running in that situation especially with a catcher who can’t throw out the trash.
Secondly, the best pinch-hitter Doc had available on this bench was Alex Call. I like Alex but he’s not exactly a prototypical pinch hitter in the bottom of the 9th. We are loaded with utility guys, but lack a bopper off the bench. I know we lack Will and Andy but the bench has some holes.
I won’t go into out hitting. This was a game where we just got beat my a terrific pitcher and a dinger.
All three opinions can be held at the same time.
Tomorrow, I will do a "deep dive" into what I think the problem is and what the solution is. Stay tuned! It's a really, really Deep Dive!
Here is the remaining Dodgers' Schedule:
August 28-30 at Tigers (currently 62-71) September 1-3 vs. Cardinals (67-68) September 4-6 vs. Nationals (63-73) September 7-9 vs. Reds (63-71) September 11-13 a Marlins (68-66) September 14-17 at Reds (63-71) September 18-20 vs. Giants (55-79) September 22-24 vs. Padres (72-62) September 25-27 at Giants (55-79)
6:40 PM ET
Dodgers (80-54) Tigers (62-71)
SP Tarik Skubal L 8-7 2.91 ERA SP Drew Anderson R 4-5 4.09 ERA
Confirmed Lineup DH S. Ohtani L 1B F. Freeman L SS Mookie Betts R 3B Max Muncy L 2B Tommy Edman S RF Kyle Tucker L CF Alek Thomas L LF T. Hernandez R C H. Feduccia L
77° Wind 6 mph In LINE LAD -175
It's obvious that people here love to leap to negative conclusions, but I'm genuinely surprised at how little (there's NONE) discussion there is on the latest MLB proposal:
Per Passan:
Major League Baseball today proposed drastic changes to its offseason calendar, including shortening free agency to a two- to three-week window every offseason, sources tell ESPN. The details of the proposal:
The divide on LADT is wider than the Grand Canyon. One side says let's jump, the sky is falling. The other is trying to talk them out of jumping. Enjoy the view they say, the scenery is spectacular. Some people rattle off stats and short term trends, trying to figure out what's wrong. And some people say it's a long season, we're gonna have our ups and downs. The boys will be dancing. And since most of you think it's a crapshoot, let's roll the dice and see where they land. We'll either win it all or not. So whether you believe in chicken little or santa, it's all good. Let me lay it on the line. We will 3peat. And I will crow when we do...and hopefully I won't have to eat a healthy serving. Book em
83 pitches, this offense and bullpen, yet he’s going to pull Skubal. 🙄
Nine hits, 7 BBs, 1 HBP = 2 runs. For all the teeth gnashing about how they played in Atlanta they are 7-3 in their last ten games.
Take the W but boy do they need to start hitting w/RISP.
Good, much needed win!!
14 of our last 25 games have been 1 run decisions. We're 7-7 in those 14 games.
9 hits 9 walks ..... If you were trying REALLY hard it would still be hard to only score 2 runs. Also can't believe Dino sent Tucker on that shallow single. I was yelling "STOP"! Glad for the win. Whew!