The image of a prototypical lead-off hitter has changed dramatically over the last several years. When I first started watching baseball in the 50’s, most lead of hitters were players with high OBP’s and some speed. Of course, players in the 50’s were evaluated a lot differently than players are today. Pee Wee Reese was actually hit second more than he led off. As a leadoff man, Pee Wee hit .253 in 539 games. He had 4 homers leading off games. As a two-hole hitter, Pee Wee hit .271. On the 1952 team, Pee Wee was the leadoff hitter and Billy Cox batted 2nd.
Robinson hit 3rd, Campy 4th, then Pafko, Snider, Hodges and Furillo. Of course, that depended on whether the starter was a lefty or not. Snider hit 3rd, 5th or 6th, most of the year. The first year the Dodgers were in Los Angeles, they used numerous players as the leadoff man. Cimoli, Gilliam, all had shots at the first at bat of the game.
After he took over at SS in 1959, Maury Wills was the Dodgers leadoff hitter until he was traded after the 1966 season. Maury won the MVP award in 1962 when he broke Ty Cobbs MLB season stolen base record with 104. A ton of his success was due to having one of the best and most unselfish players hitting behind him, Jim Gilliam.
His type of hitter was at the time thought to be the best kind of leadoff man. LA had another when Brett Butler joined the team. Brett was a master at bunting his way on base and setting the table for the big hitters. Butler batted leadoff in over 1800 games. Butler hit .288 as a leadoff batter. He hit 8 homers. Butler also walked more than he struck out. And he could steal bases. He had 558 in his career. He played seven seasons in Los Angeles and hit .298 over those years.
Eric Young Sr. took over as the leadoff man after Butler Young had been drafted by the Dodgers but was plucked from the team in the expansion draft by the Rockies. The Rockies traded him back to LA in 1997. He played 2 seasons in LA and was then traded to the Cubs. Mark Grudzekanek took over for a couple of years after Young left.
From 1979-84, Rickey Henderson was pretty much a prototype leadoff hitter. He made contact, he had speed, and occasionally he hit the ball over the fence. He hit 24 homers for the Yankees in 1985. The first time he had reached that number. 7 of those were homers leading off games. Over his career, that number would be 81. Still the most ever by a leadoff hitter.
Right now, the idea seems to be to have a power bat leading off. Some teams still have contact bats at the top of the lineup, but two exceptions are the Dodgers and the Phillies. When the Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts in 2020, he automatically became the team’s leadoff hitter. Betts is a .286 hitter batting 1st. He has hit 52 homers leading off games between the Dodgers and his time with Boston. 32 of those have been as a Dodger.
The day after Mookie had his hand broken by a pitch on June 16th, 2024, Shohei Ohtani became the Dodgers primary leadoff batter. In 24, Shohei hit 6 homers to start off games. In his 90 games, he hit 35 of his 54 homers while batting in the one slot. Last year, he hit 12 homers leading off games. 51 of his 55 homers came while batting as the #1. This year Shohei has hit 6 homers leading off games. All 19 of his homers have come while batting first.
Two years ago, the Phillies were using Kyle Schwarber as their leadoff man. He hit 38 homers from that spot. The last two years, Schwarber has been hitting in the 2-hole, which seems to suit him better. He had 56 homers last year, to beat out Ohtani for the HR title by 1. This season, he has 30 bombs already.
Byron Buxton of the Twins is another example of a leadoff hitter with some pop. He has led off in 47 games and has 19 homers in those games. Ohtani looks to be the leadoff hitter for LA for the next several years. Unless the Dodgers find some other source that they feel could be better suited to lead off. That spot in the order has definitely evolved from what it once was.
El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego) 8 – OKC Comets 5
LHSP Charlie Barnes allowed a single to the first batter he faced, but then retired the next three batters. But the second…He got the first out, then the hit brigade. Double, 4 singles, BB, out, 2 singles, and he was done. He left down 6-0 with runners on 1st and 2nd when RHRP Keynan Middleton relieved him. 2 BB and a 7th run, charged to Barnes.
In the 3rd, Middleton got the first two outs and then issued a BB. 2 stolen bases and a double and El Paso had a 8-0 lead after three.
OKC finally woke up in the 6th. With one out, RF Zach Ehrhard drew a BB and scored on CF Alek Thomas’ double (6).
In the 8th inning, SS Noah Miller, C Chuckie Robinson, and Ehrhard each walked to open the inning. Miller was forced out at the plate on a ground ball. LF Ryan Ward walked to bring a run in. 1B James Tibbs III grounded out and Robinson scored. 2B Hyeseong Kim got the only hit of the inning, a 2-run double (4).
RHRP Jerming Rosario (2.0 innings), RHRP Jonathan Hernández (1.0 inning), RHRP Nick Frasso (1.0 inning), RHRP José Rodríguez (2.0 innings) combined to pitch 6.0 scoreless innings, on 1 hit, 4 BB, and 5 K.
Kim had 2 hits including a double (4), while Thomas’ double (6) was the only other hit for OKC.
Tulsa Drillers 4 – Springfield Cardinals 3
RHSP Christian Zazueta continues to pitch well at AA. He went 5.0 innings, allowing 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 BB, 8 K. In his three starts for Tulsa, Christian has pitched 14.0 innings, allowed 3 runs, 9 hits, just 1 BB, and 24 K. For the season, in 62.2 innings, Zazueta has 90 K and 13 BB. That is 6.92 K to BB. Pretty dominant.
Zazueta gave up 2 solo HR in this game.
Down 2-0, CF Kendall George tripled (2) and scored on a Mike Sirota ground out.
LHRP Wyatt Crowell is now the designated piggyback pitcher for Zazueta. This is his 3rd 4.0 inning relief outing as the piggyback for Zazueta. He allowed an unearned run on 1 hit, 1 BB, and 6K.
Tulsa tied it up in the 7th. With one out, 1B Chris Newell walked and C Frank Rodriguez was HBP. Both runners moved up on a ground out, and SS Jose Izarra brought both runners hope with a single.
Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 9th, Rodriguez led off with a single and moved to 2nd when LF Kole Myers walked. Izarra sacrificed bunted both runners up. George then walked it off with his 4th hit of the night.
- Kendall George – 4-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, triple (2)
- Mike Sirota – 0-2, 2 BB, 69 straight games that he has reached base safely
- Jake Gelof – 0-3, 1 BB – His streak has now reached 44 straight games
Great Lakes Loons 4 – Dayton Dragons (Reds) 2
LHSP Zach Root pitched a marvelous 6.0 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit (single), 2 BB, and 11 K. When does he get moved to AA.
GL broke the scoreless tie in the 5th. CF Eduardo Quintero opened with a BB and scored on a double (14) by 2B Logan Wagner. Wagner scored on SS Emil Morales’ double (8). Walks to 3B Chase Harlan and 1B Eduardo Guerrero loaded the bases. Morales scored on a SF from RF Samuel Munoz and a 3-0 lead.
In the 7th, LF Charles Davalan homered (10).
After pitching a scoreless 7th, LHRP returned to the mound in the 8th. He allowed a double and walk when he was lifted with one out by RHRP Davis Chastain. He threw a WP, moving the runners up and then gave up a 2 -run triple. Chastain would get the final 2 outs and pitch a scoreless 9th, although he had 2 runners on base before getting the final out.
- Charles Davalan – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (10)
- Emil Morales – 2-3, 1 BB. 1 run, 1 RBI, double (8)
- Samuel Munoz – 2-3, 1 RBI, SF
- Double – Logan Wagner (14)
Inland Empire 66ers (Seattle) 5 – Ontario Tower Buzzers 2
With 2 outs in the 1st inning, RHSP Brady Smith gave up a double, and scored on a ground ball throwing error. In the 3rd inning, Smith gave up a HR and a 2-0 lead.
In the 4th, 3B Mairo Martinus singled and stole 2nd. After two K, SS Joendry Vargas doubled (19) to score Martinus.
Smith had a good outing. He completed 5.2 innings allowing 2 runs (1 earned). He allowed 3 hits, no BB, and 7 K.
RHRP Luis Carias got the final out in the 6th and finished the game. In the 8th he gave up a solo HR. 2 unearned runs were scored off Carias in the 9th.
Ontario got a final run in the 9th. 1B Easton Shelton led off with a BB. Vargas was HBP. After an out, C Conner O’Neal singled to load the bases. Shelton scored on a groundout, for the final run.
- Mairo Martinus – 2-4, 1 run, triple (8)
- Joendry Vargas – 3-3, 1 RBI, 2 doubles (20)
DSL Cleveland Mendoza 10 – DSL LAD Mega 6 Suspended in the bottom of the 10th
DSL Cleveland Goryl 12 – DSL LAD Bautista – 8
- 2B Aaron Guzman – 3-4, 1 run, 2 RBI
- LF Willy Bergolla – 1-2, 1 BB, 1 run, 4 RBI, HR (1)
Discussion (110)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Well, the Padres hammered the D-Backs, so LA has a 15-game lead on Arizona and 14 over the Sadres. That game winning single had to feel good to Mookie. Nice job by Vesia and Henriquez getting out of that 8th inning jam. Scott mowed em down in the 9th. Giants lost, now 22 games back and just 1 game ahead of the Rockies. Brewers have 58 wins and 34 losses. LA is 61-33.
Sasaki has just unbelievable arm talent. It’s just a matter of time with him.
Thankfully, the Dodgers have all the time in the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fajvqa50Jc
Dodgers answer to hitting so poorly last night with RISP is to not put any runners on tonight.
Well Roki showed some stones tonight and finished strong! Our enigma!
Walk and a wild pitch to start an inning is a nice recipe for helping the opposition score without getting a hit– sheesh.
We may have to accept the fact that Sasaki is a bust. I have never seen a 99 fastball get pummeled like his
Staked to a 3-0 lead, Sasaki promptly gives up a pair of homers.
That’s our Roki!
Alex Call is a moron!
I have been ruminating on how good we have it as Dodgers fans. If we go back a mere 7 years, it seemed that the Dodgers might never get it together and that Friedman. Roberts and company were in over their heads.
Here is a link to a 2019 “doomsday post” from “Dodger Therapy” (you guys remember that blog run by “Freudy”?): https://tinyurl.com/3d6urtsy
Those were frustrating times: the Giants had their every-other-year-run (’10, ’12, ’14) while we had nothing since ’88. What a difference 7 years makes. This is such a golden age for the franchise! I sure hope the looming shutdown is somehow averted. Meanwhile, let’s play a clean game tonight and take the series from the Rockies.
Edman is a perfect #2 guy.
10:10 PM ET
Rockies (38-55)
Dodgers (60-33)
SP Gabriel Hughes R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Roki Sasaki R
3-5 5.40 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
2B Tommy Edman S
1B F. Freeman L
SS Mookie Betts R
3B Max Muncy L
LF T. Hernandez R
RF Kyle Tucker L
CF Alex Call R
C E. Alfonzo S
80° Wind 8 mph Out
Edman batting 2nd,Pages sitting.
PS – I hate soccer. America has its sports – baseball (first of all) then football and basketball (yeah I know that Bball was created by a Canadian). When I was a kid I was exposed to soccer. But it became emphasized beginning in the 1980s as a game for little kids since it didn’t require eye-hand coordination.
Like many things, you can brainwash kids more easily. But this happened about the same time that various government entities attempted to push the metric system on Americans who grew up using the Imperial system. What the rest of the world does (soccer, meters) was preferrable to what Americans were accustomed to.
Adults said no to the metric system, but kids hadn’t already formulated preferences and in another 20 years you had American adults following soccer.
I am happy with the sports that I have loved all my life and don’t need somebody that I should really be watching soccer because it’s the “world’s game”.
RIP to The Vulture, Phil Regan. 14-1 with a league leading 21 saves in 1966.
2028 LA position players
DH-Ohtani
C-Smith
1bPope
2b-Betts
SS-Emil Morales
3b-Chase Harlan
OF-De Paula; Sirota; Pages; Tucker
Bench: Lindsey, Rushing; Tibbs
Keepers: Quintero; Davalan; George; Hainline:
Other prospects are used to acquire near mlb ready catcher, pitching and more pitching. There are a lot more prospects and if they are kept in the organization, fantastic.
I read a rumor from a respectable source. There are a lot of baseball pundit sources that I read, I just cannot remember which one this came from. Sorry Bluto, cannot give appropriate credit here. The Dodgers are looking to make a trade to Baltimore for RHRP Rico Garcia. I have no idea who is involved. The source did say that this could happen sooner than later (before deadline). I would have dismissed it, except this is exactly the type of reliever that AF looks for at the deadline. Under the radar and having a very good year. Like Brock Stewart last year.
Garcia throws 4 pitches: 4-seamer (34%), change (29%), slider (20%) and curve (17%). His breaking ball run value is in the 94th percentile, and his offspeed run value is in the 89th percentile. His batting average against his change is .083 while his BAA with the curve and slider is .125. He has 38 IP this year which is more than any LAD reliever. He has 41 K against 12 BB. His ERA is 2.37 while his WHIP is 0.84. .152 BAA. The Dodgers love the change for a reliever, and Garcia has a great one.
One stat I love for relievers is inherited runs scored. Garcia has inherited 21 runners and 4 have scored. Alex Vesia is the go-to guy with runners on. He has inherited 23 with 3 scoring. Klein – 14 inherited runners, 8 scored. Dreyer – 21 inherited runners, 10 scored. Scott – 10 inherited runners, 2 scored. Treinen – 14 inherited runners, 5 scored. Henriquez and Hurt generally begin an inning.
Yesterday STB reported that 7 veteran umpires had chosen to retire at the conclusion of the 2026 season. I did a little research on this.
Bob Nightingale, of USA Today, reported that these 7 had excepted a buyout from MLB. While MLB isn’t explicitly firing or dumping them, I couldn’t help but notice that 6 of these 7; Bucknor, Diaz, Fletcher, Hudson, O’Nora and Randazzo all have terrible ratings with ABS and are all on my top 15 of the worst umpires in 2026. Barksdale hasn’t call a game all season.
So while I’m not in love with the Challenge System, ABS has accomplished one good thing despite the league’s denial. It’s weeded out some shitty, veteran umpires.
One interesting side tone; these “retirements” opens a full-time spot for Jen Pawol, the 1st female MLB umpire. I hope Jen takes this opportunity to improve. So far, in her limited experience, she is #5 on my list of the poorest MLB umpires.
I do not disagree with Badger that Freeland should have put the ball in his back pocket. He was trying to make an impossible play or at least incredulously difficult…hit Miggy while he was running full speed. Still Dreyer should have been there, and Miggy should have raced to third when there was no play at 2nd and before Freeman got to 2nd and made the turn. Freeman saw nobody at 3rd and took off. Freeman easily beats Miggy in a foot race. Miggy expected someone to be at 3rd.
There is plenty of blame to go around. Klein walking the leadoff hitter. Big shame on Klein. Then gave Carrigg a pitch to hit with a 1-2 count. The botched ground ball by Miggy. The colosal cluster f on the sac bunt. Or even go back to the 5th.. Who told Miggy to bunt? With runners on 1st and 3rd and nobody out? Miggy can put the ball in the air. Even if he hit into a DP a run scores. Who told Dalton Rushing to run on contact?
This was just a p poor game played, managed. and coached It happens. With my best Bob Seger…Turn the page.
On a positive note, it is great to have Evan Phillips back. Maybe the next time there is an urge to bring in Klein in a high leverage situation, a thought to bring in Phillips prevails. And before anyone jumps on that, I understand why Phillips was not brought in in that situation. He needed to come in and pitch in a non leverage situation first, as he did last night. I am talking about next time.
Oh yeah, BUXTON, is back on the IL.
Verlander has finally announced that he will retire at the end of this season. First ballot Hall of Famer.
Togh luck for Wrobleski. He deserved a better fate. I’m sure he will be an All-Star. He certainly deserves it.
Pages has to be a huge fan of the ABS challenge system. He took a walk bottom 5 that consisted of 2 or 3 strikes that were called balls and went unchallenged. Adam Beck wasn’t very good back there.
.
Conrads to the Rockies. They beat the big 3 in the 9th. We just couldn’t come up with a big hit. 1 for 12 w/ RISP.
Some pretty sloppy play by the Dodgers on offense and defense.
When’s the last time Miggy Ro booted a ground ball for a critical error also and made a poor bunt on a safety squeeze. Rushing didn’t get the best jump to home. But it is a SAFETY squeeze so he has to read the bunt. It’s undefenable when run properly.
Guess what started the Rockies fiasco, top 8? A friggin walk.
It warms my heart to see Evan Phillips back. God what a long rehab and the questions that comes with it. That has to be miserable
https://www.si.com/mlb/10-biggest-disappointments-first-half-2026-season
See Kyle, it’s not as bad as you think. You didn’t make the list!
Watford, how can you not be watching your countryman?
The Fery tale continues!
Now all he needs to do is beat Zverev and Sinner!
Trump is passionate about American patriotism and asked the board to reconsider. And it was a bad red flag to start with. They reversed the decision and the flagged player was reinstated. The problem is that European countries only have one sport, SOCCER. No other sports matter as much as soccer and I am sure they resent the US winning anything in their game. Our athletes have multiple choices with NIL and bonuses. Soccer pays nothing. The President did what he thought would help. It wasn’t politics, it was him defending the US team.
Last night, we lost the battle of safety squeezes. Colorado was flawless in the execution and defense. The other team was Little Leagueish.
What a waste of another brilliant performance by Wrobo. Sure hope he gets called up to the all star game. It would be well deserved!
Please, please, somebody, anybody move Pages out of the #2 spot. His time there has been a disaster. Move Edman in there and put Pages and Tucker in the bottom of the order where they belong.
Our biggest opponent in the second half will be boredom!
I like this time of year.
Sitting on Number 1 Court at Wimbledon watching Fritz (USA) v Zverev ( Ger) in the sunshine.
Dodgers with a 14 game lead in the Division with the ASB round the corner, and The Open at Birkdale next week. Summer is here.
England still involved in the World Cup, and the US were simply beaten by the better team.
Despite some reservations before the off, everyone here is absolutely loving everything about the tournament, especially the welcoming nature of the American people, and the amazing standard of the US stadiums, with the one in Atlanta garnering most attention. You guys are making a lot of friends. And money lol.
What could possibly make this summer even better? A World Cup win, and a visit from Mark Timmons!!
2026 MLB DRAFT
Day 1: Saturday, July 11 (Rounds 1-4)
• 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET – Picks 1-10 (NBC/Peacock)
• 2:30-4:30 p.m. ET – Picks 11-40 (MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+)
• 4:30-7:45 p.m. ET – Picks 41-135 (MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+)
Day 2: Sunday, July 12 (Rounds 5-20)
• 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB TV, MLB+)
Dodger’s first pick will be pick #40
Wednesday’s Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Aidan Foeller) vs. Dayton (Reynardo Cruz)
5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Adam Serwinowski) vs. Springfield (Brandt Thompson)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (TBD) vs. El Paso (Jackson Wolf)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Inland Empire (Aiden Butler)
Watched High A game with Root dealing. Quintero is special. Just a smooth, complete ballplayer.
I remember Mays, Mantle, and Snider hitting 3rd.
Rojas late to realize the pitcher wasn’t covering 3rd on the bunt in 8th. Freeland hit Rojas’ glove but Rojas couldn’t catch it running to 3rd. Throw was near the knees so harder to catch. I would have preferred Rojas get the error.
Rockies using an opener tonight. Hughes has pitched in one game. First game after the All-Star break is at Yankee Stadium against the Bombers, who LA has owned since the 24 season.
Maybe it’s just me, but I want the best record period!!! I understand the rest. I understand the need to get everyone involved. I also understand that having the best record does mean something. Sure the Dodgers have won their clinching game away from dodger stadium, and that shows that they are the best team in baseball. But I don’t agree with losing games that are winnable. Now I’m not saying they lose on purpose, that’s ridiculous. But if they lose today, they are one nice Dalton Rushing play away from being swept at home by the Rockies! When you’re the best, fans expect you to play like it. David is right! They lose so we can have something to bitch about! Sorry guys, but I want them to win every single game! Not possible, but it’s a dream of mine . 162-0! Now that’s more like it!
Are we sure Freeland goes when Kike comes? Is it a possibility Call gets moved instead? Freeland is playing second base as well as anybody in baseball. kike allows them to make that move. Alex Call is probably not playing much in the playoffs. Kike will get that job if healthy. Not saying it should happen, but food for thought. Call doesn’t strike out as much as Freeland, but the power is practically the same. Never know.
We have to have some of these awful losses, or else there would be nothing to talk about. So stolen bases looked at a lot differently now. For example in 1966 Maury had 38 steals and 24 cs. That’s the same as 24 more strikeouts.
Freeland evidently reads LADT and was pissed after yesterday’s blog. Let’s keep talking badly about him. 😉
These guys are just on cruise control… who can blame them?
The Brewers and Dodgers are currently fighting for the BEST overall MLB record and home field advantage with every series in the October tournament including the World Series.The Brewers are 58-33 while the Dodgers are 60-33. The next closest is the Rays 53-36,the Braves 52-38 and the Phillies 51-41.
That 8th was difficult to watch. Who were those guys? A Little League inning. Against the worst team in the league.
In my opinion 1 for 12 WRISP lost the game.
Skenes beat the Braves. I wonder if he’s a possibility?
Checking the box I see Klein with an L and an H. How can you have both? Makes the Hold stat look kinda worthless.
Maybe Freeland can hit. But I need to see him do it against better pitchers. Rockies pitching sucks.
Watch out for the Padres. They are on a 1 game winning streak, now only 14 games behind.
I wonder how good the Rays might be if they land Skubal for the playoff run? That’s of course a “what if”, and we know how irritating those can be.
Anybody have an opinion on what happened to the US in the World Cup? Anybody care?
John Finestein wrote a book on golf a few years ago called “A Good Walk Spoiled”
Last night could be called “A Good Pitching Performance Spoiled “. Crappy defense, bad base running, Miggy, a .290 hitter, bunting and 1 for 10 RISP performance totally destroyed a fine outing by the Shark. Wrobo had some traffic but those Ks got him out of it. Right now we have three playoff starters who compare to any team in baseball.
Last night’s loss makes today’s game a little bit more difficult. It’s not a good look to lose a home series to the Rockies. So does Sasaki finally get back on track? These Rockies hit the ball! And the Dodgers haven’t exactly been pounding Rockies pitchers either. Leaving runners on base isn’t a new issue with the dodgers. We can bitch and moan all we want about Pages in the 2 spot, but just like Mookie, Doc will leave him there until HE decides he has seen enough. Funny how the game goes! Freeland has a 3 hit game, and the majority of the team can’t buy a hit against a guy who recently has had an era of around 100! Guess the Dodgers get everybody’s best shot. Devastating? No. Disappointing? Absolutely!
Can’t be mad at Miggy! After all, he’s one of the biggest reasons the Dodgers are defending world champions! Just a play he makes 999 times out of a thousand!
Rest day for some today. No Dalton? No Max? Maybe another? Really be nice to come back today and win the series. You really have to be impressed with the Rockies hitters and their approach at the plate. But they probably leave LA and go back to being the old Rockies and lose 10 in a row! That’s baseball I guess!
Disappointing game. 1-12 with RISP and an uncharacteristic error by Miggy allowed the Rockies to score 3 in the 8th and end up winning the game. Also disappointing were the at bats by Ohtani and Pages in the 0th. Two on, no outs with the tying run at second and neither of them did their job. Teo had a great at bat following Freeland’s third hit. But Ohtani popped out and Pages did the same. He needs to be moved out of the 2-hole. Hitting just .240 with little power since he moved there.