Are the Dodgers Doomed?

Congrats to the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers to end a 7 game losing streak. Hats off to the bullpen and to Jack Dwyer for his first save for '26. The Dodgers' sixty million dollar man, Kyle Tucker, came through with a HR to tie the game. I love watching Yamamoto pitch. A true professional. I'm interested in how many pitches he averaged in Japan pitching once a week. With the Dodgers three Japanese starters used to pitching once a week and the Dodgers trying to duplicate that with their six man rotation shouldn't the starters pitch count be higher?

Hallelujah. A win even though the offensive strategy in the 10th inning was odd. Why not have Edman bunt Tucker to 3B with one out? Diaz did look good after the back-to-back triples. We need some offense in the worst way.

HA! Diaz gets the 'Win'

Seriously, he put Diaz in again. I would trust Dreyer before Diaz right now. Moronic.

Yikes

Luke Fox is back. AA LHP to keep an eye on. I think Jeff likes him.

Using the mute button again!!

08/07/26 Los Angeles Dodgers sent C Chuckie Robinson outright to Oklahoma City Comets.

One week in a 6 month season doesn’t mean much. I still like our chances against anyone else.

Don’t panic. It’s just that our Dodgers are a bunch of good guys and they’re all hurt that everyone is blaming them for ruining baseball. So they let the other teams win a few meaningless summer games to quiet the uproar. But come October our bullies will return and squash all the hopes and dreams of those less fortunate. In AF we trust

The "let's-be-pigs" Dodgers are guilty of hubris? Say it ain't so! The Tucker contract is Exhibit A, but first l'll circle back to one of my familiar gripes. A common refrain in LADT posts concerns how Andrew Friedman is savvy guy who doesn't like to overpay when he's doing his deals. AF himself says he'd rather avoid midseason deals because the price is higher than deals made over the winter. And it's true he's made some smooth moves, like trading one marginal ML Dodger for two prospects, or turning a promising-but-block prospect like Michael Busch into Hope and Ferris. As has been noted, Skubal came to the Dodgers for "half of Busch" (meaning Hope) and Matt Beatty (meaning River Ryan) and a third-round pick. Smooth. Not an overpay. But where was the restraint when Tucker was offered that massive, record-breaking contract? It just doesn't compute. And did the Dodgers actually save $$ by signing Edwin Diaz and Tanner Scott to fat contracts in the winter as opposed to trading for top relievers in midseason? I have my doubts. The beauty about the midseason deals is that management should know precisely what the team needs for the home stretch and playoffs--as do the rivals. Why not pay a bit extra for that? The trade for Mookie and the subsequent long-term contract was brilliant. Mookie has been an important contributor to three WS titles. Somebody around here likes to remind us that he predicted that the Mookie contract may not age well. Bold! I'd be more impressed if anybody saw Mookie playing SS in their crystal ball. Before he joined the Dodgers, Shohei singled out Mookie as one the players he most admires in the game. Perhaps we can also agree that the old "Nohtani" camp on LADT has been proven wrong, wrong, wrong... I'll confess to my own misgivings about the Yamamoto deal. Could Yamamoto really be that good? It just seemed too gluttonous, too piggish--and that maybe a smaller deal for Shota Imanaga would be better. But all Yamamoto did was become the ace and WS MVP... were really a couple of deals I wish had never been done. When AF signed Conforto, I shrugged. But in time it became clear that Conforto contract blocked internal options like Outman and Ward. We'll never know how a little more faith in farm talent would have played out. Maybe poorly, maybe not. But a midseason deal could have provided a remedy. But could the Tucker contract be like the Conforto contract on steroids? Top dollar for mediocre performance--on both offense and defense. Are we going to see three more years like this? Will Tucker block the progress of Sirota, de Paula, Tibbs, Davalan and others? Mark has suggested that Tucker be platooned with Teo--and, based on their performances, it could come to that. Of course we are all hoping that Tucker turns it all around and lives up to that contract. But if he doesn't, should we blame Tucker? Or the guy who decided to sign the giant check?

8:10 PM ET Dodgers (69-47) Diamondbacks (62-55) SP Y. Yamamoto R 11-7 2.76 ERA SP Brandon Pfaadt 6-1 3.66 ERA Confirmed Lineup DH S. Ohtani L CF Andy Pages R 1B F. Freeman L 3B Max Muncy L SS Mookie Betts R RF Kyle Tucker L 2B Tommy Edman S LF T.Hernandez R C Hunter Feduccia L In Domed Stadium LINE LAD -201 Tough matchup tonight

The Dodgers have the Trump curse! That's what they get for going to the White House to see Trump and give him a WS ring and jersey! Everything that Trump touches goes to Shit!

David Vassegh @THEREAL_DV Tarik Skubal goes on Monday. #Dodgers Blake Snell will start on Tuesday vs #Royals

Will Klien has bone chips in his elbow. No decision as to what the plans are. Even with the nanoneedle, the earliest he could return would be the playoffs. The last double was by Alex Call August 2 against Boston. The last triple was by Tommy Edman July 22 against Philadelphia.

I think it is healthy to vent and rant. Does it mean that anyone who doesvent, does not believe the team can win, or that they are just frustrated. Right now the team looks old, slow, and tired? They just do. Many assume that they will break out of it and go to the whip when it matters. Maybe, maybe not. Does that mean that we can expect Mookie, Teo, and Tucker to become consistent producers? Can we expect Will Smith to come back playing at his elite level? Are Díaz, Scott, Vesia, and Phillips all just going through a phase, but will turn it around at the right time? Is Kiké just going to go through the motions until the playoffs? Will his playoffs more mirror 2025 or 2021 (with Boston)? Many here just expect the Dodgers to turn it on for the playoffs. I do expect the pitching to get better when Snell and Glasnow make it back, but I am not nearly as optimistic with the bats. While many do not think Snell and Glasnow will make it back, they are sure that Teo, Tucker, and Mookie will become worthy of their paychecks. I would expect more from Shohei, but not from Pages. When it mattered most, he disappeared. Max had a terrific start to the season. But in his last 15 games, Max is slashing .176/.250/.431/.681 with 22 K in 56 PA, a 39.3% K rate. It looks like his once fantastic plate discipline has been taken over by a Teoscar clone. Does he turn it back around, or is father time catching him in that race now? Everyone points to the full season batting metrics. In the beginning of the season when legs were fresh and body strong, they were hitting a ton. But as the season grinds, the trends show a different picture. Since July 1, the team has played 30 games and are 13-17. • BA .251 (12th in MLB), OBP .314 (18th in MLB), SLG .395 (19th in MLB), OPS .709 (20th in MLB) • Runs – 126 (21st in MLB) • HR – 32 (23rd in MLB) • wRC+ - 94 (20th in MLB) Pitching since July 1: • Runs Against – 150 (8th most in MLB) • ERA – 4.66 (24th in MLB) • FIP – 4.87 (28th in MLB) • SIERA – 3.92 (19th in MLB) • Run differential – (-24) Their defense is good, but it too is regressing. They now look like a WC team, and if the playoffs were today, they would face the Snakes or Cubs. If they got through them, I doubt they can go 7-1 against the Phillies and Brewers as they did last season. I know they did it the last 2 years. But they did not the three previous years. They lost to the Braves in the NLCS 4-2, the Padres in the NLDS 3-1, and Arizona 3-0. What this team needs to do is look in the mirror and not look for anyone else to step up and take over. They need to do it individually and collectively. If that means hitting behind a runner to get the runner to third with less than 2 outs, that is what they must do. Then not hit a pop up or K. Quit hitting into DP where they lead all of MLB. They do not like to bunt because it is giving up an out. Better one out with runners moved up than 2 outs. BTW I do believe the Dodgers are more than capable of turning it around, and I like their pitching for the playoffs, but it is far from a sure thing. And I have no problem questioning the current results.

I’m taking your post as tongue in cheek, Mark. Yes, the Dodgers have an outlandish payroll. Yes, they are monumentally underperforming. Yes, it’s early August. Yes, they will win the division by ten games and have the 2nd best record in the league. No, it’s not the end of the world.

I'm a little slow but I think your article is a little tongue and cheek. Right Mark? Please say right. Book em

The lower payroll owners can build an interesting team using early draft picks. They could edge towards competitive if they didn't lose those picks to free agency. But that's how big payroll owners are able to also have access to those elite picks, eventually. The process starts with owners who want to amuse themselves with ownership and pinch pennies and ends with ego driven multi-buillionaire against multi-buillionaire. I'm being overly harsh. Maybe.

Saturday Dodger Affliates' Schedule 4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Isaac Ayon) at Dayton (JP Ortiz) 5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Aidan Foeller) at Corpus Christi (Andrew Taylor) 5:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Emmet Sheehan) at Salt Lake (Joel Hurtado) 6:45 p.m.: Ontario (TBA) at Lake Elsinore (TBA)

Wow!!! What team would you change places with? My confidence in the winning it all isn’t any different than a month ago. I do worry about Will Smith. He’s steady presence on the field and behind the plate is a great influence on the entire team. If I wanted to be political which is taboo on this site as it should be, could it be the trump factor. The Dodgers haven’t been very good since that visit.

Simply it was unwatchable and bad fundamental baseball, which they have been doing a lot. Ohtani caught stealing again, Edman picked off of first. Bad routes to balls, see Teo. Ohtani with a GIDP in a clutch situation. Freddie beat out one of those to score the first run. LA leads the majors in GIDP with 97. Cmon guys, how about a few clutch hits mixed in? Doomed? Maybe not, challenged, definitely. At this point last year, they had a 67-49 record and were just 3 games in front. At this point last year, they had 26 games remaining against their in-division foes including 6 against Az and 6 against the Padres. This year they have 2 left against Arizona, 3 against the Padres, 3 against Colorado and 7 against the Giants, who no longer have Arraez, Roy, Ramos or Chapman who will most likely need season ending surgery. Every team goes through slumps. In Between those 7 Giant games they play the Padres 3 in LA before heading to SF to finish the season. I still have to believe there is enough pride and game left in these guys to win the division. Best record? They are 3 games back of the Brewers and behind the Braves for the two spot. If that is the case at the end of the season, they would be a wild card team again. And right now, Az would be in the wild card along with the Cubs and Phillies and all three of those teams would be a challenge for LA. Right now, if they played Az, they would probably have to play games 1-2 there since they are losing the season series 5-6. Not sure exactly how that works. They were 2-4 against the Cubs, and are 4-2 against the Phillies.

Tough loss last night. I have been harping about how you win games. It’s a consequence of everyone doing their job. Each player sticks to the process, pick up teammates and control what you can control. If everybody does their job, you have a good chance at winning. * It’s easy to blame Diaz and he has certainly struggled. Closers are hard to pick up by teammates. When they fail, you go home. That’s why they need Rhino Skin and NO memories to have that job. * But this was again a team loss. We had plenty of opportunities to NOT be in that position for Diaz to poop the bed. * Not to kick a dead horse but we didn’t get anything done against Kelly for 5 innings, again falling behind 2 - zip. We had NO hits and 2 walks until the 6th. * I love Tommy Edman, especially his beautiful, contact RBI base hit in the 7th. But getting picked off 1st to start the 6th cost a potential run. * Follow his getting picked off Kelly gave up another single and 2 walks to load the bases. Time to make him pay, finally. Instead Freddie hits into a double play, scoring an unearned run, and Muncy strikes out to end the rally. A potential big inning gone. * Scott did a high wire escape in the 8th despite the dreaded walk after an intentional walk but he nutted up to keep the lead with a great, clutch, battle with Arenado. * Doc decided to stick with Scott versus Arenado. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Doc had decided to go with Hurt for the righty-righty matchup but he chose to stay with Scott, it worked. * Doc had to go to Diaz in the 9th. They signed Diaz and paid him handsomely for this exact spot. He’s made his career closing games. Last night he didn’t do his job * We all saw the ending. * I have been on teams that couldn’t buy a win. That’s when the slump-buster activities would come out and the superstitious players would do shit like reminiscent of the voodoo-practicing slugger Pedro Serrano (Dennis Haysbert) in Major League. * This veteran clubhouse needs to keep the faith that a positive run is just around the corner, if we * Play Better

The dumbest conversations arise when the team plays poorly.

Too late to deal with those inflated contracts so let's Fire Roberts!! satire warning