Averages Lie!

A statistician had one foot in a bucket of ice water and one foot in a bucket of boiling water. He said, “My feet feel great, on average.” He meant that the average temperature of the water in the two buckets was comfortable. This may be true, but the average temperature doesn’t tell the entire story. If you put one foot in ice water and the other in boiling water, on average you should be comfortable, but I guarantee that you aren’t.

So, far in this series against the D-Bags, the Dodgers are averaging 12 runs a game which means they should have won both games easily, but they only won one. In game one, they needed to score seven runs to win, but they only scored two. I game two, they needed just two runs to win but they score an additional twenty more! How crazy is that?

Sometimes with this team, it seems that either no one hits or everyone hits. On average, that looks pretty good, but looks are deceiving. It is somewhat troubling to me that a team with this type of offensive capability does not bring their bats to the ballpark on a regular basis. Like everything else, it’s probably Doc’s fault! I think Corey Seager will be back in a week or so and then I will have to listen to fans complain about how he can’t hit, because it probably will take a few weeks to get his swing back, just like it is taking Cody time to get his back.

FYI, Cody only got the one hit last night (a HR), but he did not strike out. He is getting close. Most of you wanted to get rid of AJ Pollock a week ago. Now he is second to Max Muncy is Slugging and third on the team in HR. You have to learn to look at the Big Picture, not just one game. The Dodgers are the first team in MLB history to have a pair of two-slam games in the same season. AJ Pollock and Matt Beaty each hit grand slams in a 16-4 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee on May 2.

The Dodgers were averaging 3.8 runs over their previous five games, during which they went 1-4. They nearly tripled that average in two innings on Saturday. As much moaning and groaning as I have been hearing about the Dodgers this year, only one team (the Giants) have more win than the Boys in Blue. They have 56 wins and the Dodgers have 55. This is one damn good team and they haven’t even tapped their potential as yet.

Starting Pitching

The news about Clayton Kershaw was great and he will have a nice rest during the All-Star Break and probably come back the week of the 19th. The Dodgers will likely do the same thing with Julio Urias at some point. David Price pitched three innings and could have probably pitched another one, but that is how you “build a player up” without injuring them… slowly! Remember, he has not started since 2019! Give it time.

I think JoJo Gray will be in LA sooner than later, barring any setbacks, he will likely make another start in OKC and then make his next one in LA. Last night he went four scoreless innings, allowing just 1 hit and no walks while striking out four. Get back, JoJo! Quacks had another save last night at OKC (just saying). By the last week of July, this should be the rotation:

1. Striker Buehler
2. Clayton Kershaw
3. Julio Urias
4. Tony Ginsolin
5. David Price or JoJo Gray

Let’s not forget Ryan Pepiot, who went 4 innings last night with 6 K’s and 3 BB. He allowed just one hit and one run (1.77 ERA). I wonder if he moves to OKC soon? Speaking of Starters, Bobby Miller went four innings for Great Lakes last night, allowing five hits and two runs. Not spectacular, but solid.

Kaybear

I still think he would be a huge asset to this team with his bat-to-ball skills. He would compliment a lot of the “swing-and-miss” guys. I will still push for him, although it involves trading Austin Barnes who has not done anything wrong. Bring on the Kaybear!

Trevor Bauer

I have read a lot of drivel from morons at other blogs blasting the Dodgers for not suspending Trevor Bauer and instead, waiting for the Commish to act. Here’s the way it is: The Dodgers can’t suspend Bauer on their own volition because MLB holds that authority under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy, which was enacted in 2015. The team can only act if Commissioner Rob Manfred transfers disciplinary authority to them. So, shut up with your righteous indignation and group-think “woke frenzy” and crawl back into your holes… and wait!

Also, to be clear, the Dodgers cannot void Bauer’s contract…. at least right now. So, shut up with “The Dodgers should have done this or that.” They did all they could do. The DA will likely get the case when the Pasadena Police have completed their investigation and if they charge him, then he will have to face a trial. If I had to predict, I would say that he will not be charged. However, that does not mean that MLB cannot suspend him. No one has a clue how this turns out, but I would wager that the odds are 50 : 50 he comes back this year.

The LA Times wrote this about the case:

The woman’s request for a restraining order against Bauer was filed by Marc Garelick of Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers, a Los Angeles-based family law firm. Garelick manages the firm’s Orange County office.

According to Garelick’s bio, his specialty is “highly contentious and sophisticated litigation in family law courts.” He says he helps clients in particular with decisions on whether to pursue a settlement or litigate cases. Garelick didn’t respond to The Times when asked whether he would continue representing the woman should the case go to civil or criminal court.

Garelick is a “shakedown artist.” Pure and simple. I am not taking sides, but it seems this investigation is coming to an end very soon. I would not rule Bauer being back in the rotation by the start of August… or not! Again, we hurry up and wait!