Greetings Earthlings!

I’m not sure how they can justify Romo much longer.

Hill can’t record an out in the 5th and leaves after 82 pitches with 7 walks and 4 hits, charged with 5 ER. I’m usually a glass half full optimist but it’s time to admit that Rich Hill is a huge disappointment this year, has struggled with both blisters and command and has disrupted the staff and rotation and now Stripling has to throw multiple innings to pick him up. I would not be in a hurry to trade anyone until he shows some consistency. Maybe he is the guy who should go to the bullpen, he sure is not pitching like a #2.

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The way Leake is serving up ground balls tonight those 5 runs look like a tall mountain to climb. With a score like this we will probably see Hatcher AND Romo.

I know Hill is all over the place but the ump is squeezing him big time on crucial pitch counts, I’ve counted at least 3 or 4 times Hill was right there and it was called a ball. Even the dugout is chirping.

Blister Boy can’t find the plate?

I see nothing wrong with Chris Taylor in CF.

Julio was sent down because of numbers. I agree with Dodgerrick that the team should pick a five man rotation and stay with it. Right now the Dodgers have 7, and they cannot continue to

play the DL game. Maeda and Ryu need to pitch. Currently both are in the rotation and that is going to push Kershaw back one day. Julio can go down and pitch every fifth day at OKC. He can get into a rhythm knowing when he is going to pitch. Work on 1st pitch strikes, and get the command he had last summer back.

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If Maeda and Ryu pitch well, either becomes legit trade bait. Depending as to how well Stewart comes back, maybe both become trade bait. Regardless, Julio needs to pitch every fifth day, and he was not going to with the ML team. I do not see this as a demotion, but an opportunity to pitch regularly. Above all else that is what Urias needs to do.

Trout is under halo control for 3 years after this year, if you were an Angel fan what would you think of your team and FO if they dealt Trout.

He’s not going anywhere, IMO

Taylor starts in center. Puig and Bellinger in the corners.

The surgery was done to limit his innings – pure and simple. They have deliberately brought him along slowly due to his age. This year, he was held back to limit his innings – pure and simple.

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FAZ has taken a long term view of young Julio. It is limiting his progress right about now, but let’s see how you feel in September and October.

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If you think FAZ has botched this, let’s look back in 2 or 3 years and see how it worked out.

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It’s like last night:

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1. Some say it was a big mistake by Roberts to leave Clayton in (Hindsight being 20/20 they were right);

2. Some say it would have been a mistake to take him out.

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It all depends upon your perspective.

Funny M.T., sorta like what I said with a little less venom and hyperbole… Well stated though…

Dodger R, I guess you never saw Julio’s mug shot… I believe the elective surgery was warranted… Now a days he couldn’t leave a hotel on the road without I.C.E. questioning him…

Trout was sent down in his first year.

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Urias needs to build up his confidence and regroup. He has the stuff. He can mentally be more aggressive at AAA and that might help him attack when he comes back up. I didn’t like his body language when Roberts came to the mound. He turned his back to him. He is 20. He didn’t get mad. When he struggled to throw strikes, he had to pitch without the benefit of the Adrenalin that comes with success.

Bellinger had 4 K’s, so did Forsythe, and the team had 19 in a 13 inning game. He pulled his head out a couple times and the home plate umpire had some strange calls all night but most of his swings were good except for the one outside pitch flail that fooled him. They were worried he would end the game with 1 swing and pitched him very aggressively all night. Piscotti robbed him of a double down the RF line also.

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Urias was the odd man out in a numbers crunch as only he and Wood had options and he can work on a few things at OKC, mainly better command. Not really his fault the way he was handled, they never let him get into a rhythm at all. His stuff has never been in doubt, 3 plus pitches, he hides the ball well and has a nice easy delivery, not to mention a killer move to 1st. There are still 6 healthy guys left with one to trim or send to the pen, my guess is Ryu both to keep 2 RHP in the rotation and to build his arm strength. Until Dayton gets right and Liberatore gets healthy they are a LHP short in the pen also. Ryu can go multiple innings and his stuff would probably play well if he can handle the adjustment in routine.

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I am curious what the rotation will look like in Sept (and Oct?)

I didn’t think Joc was that bad off, and because of that, I was surprised he didn’t stay, in the game.

Sometimes I think it is better to just walk it off, and stay in, and play.

I did think both Joc and Puig, might be a little sore, or have some bruises today, but nothing beyond, that.

And that is why I am not surprised, that Joc is not going out on the DL, like some thought.

And because Joc ran into Cody and Puig both last night, that told me, Joc was the one, not doing his job.

Joc is the captain out there, so he is the one, that needs to take charge, and he obviously, he didn’t do that, last night.

I was furious that Kershaw was allowed to go out there, and pitch in the ninth, last night.

And when Kershaw was allowed to stay in, after the first hitter got on, that compounded the first mistake, that Roberts made.

And I love Roberts, but he needs to learn when Kershaw doesn’t have it anymore, or we will continue to pay, in the post season.

Last night’s game, reminded of some of the games we have played in the post season, when Kershaw, was allowed to stay in a game, far to long.

Sometimes it seems like people want so badly for Kershaw to get the monkey off his back, in the post season, that they think more about Kershaw’s ego, then they think about the team, and winning, the game.

Because most of the times Kershaw is allowed to stay in these games, it has turned out, badly.

Because it hasn’t helped Kershaw’s stats, or his self esteem, and it has cost us, some games.

Bobbie, like I said a couple of posts past, the kid reminds me alot of Orel before Tommy chewed on him a lil and dubbed him ‘Bulldog’… Julio has to believe in his stuff and shouldn’t try and paint the plate so much… Just do it… As Big D. used to say “it was like a light bulb going off in my head” and I turned into a pitcher rather than a thrower… As you can see, I like Urias and seen him alot in the minors and he is and will be the real deal…

Kyle Farmer to AAA. 2-4 playing 3B. Spitzbarth was good again at AA. Pitched middle innings. He could be a multi inning pen guy.

Urias should pitch and pitch and pitch. Somewhere. Up and down is ok, depending on team needs, but sooner or later, he has to get big league hitters out. Up and down until he gets there. I’ve said before: I’m not sure of his competitive makeup. He gets frustrated easily, rather than digging down. He doesn’t trust his fastball and can’t throw it at the edges. He depends on deception, and that will only get you so far. Deception works best when you can control the strike zone. If you can’t control the zone, deception is no way for consistent results. He has to pitch. Period. No more hyper pitch anxiety with him. He’s not good enough to baby him so that he can pitch in the late season. If he is at AAA in September without consistent results, he should stay there. He is just not ready to pitch in the big leagues. First and foremost he has to work on attitude when things aren’t going right. Pederson got smashed last night. He’ll be out for a while. The more outfielders go down, the greater the chance that Bellinger sticks. 4 K for him last night.. We will see about his makeup now, as word gets out. Good win last night. Too bad Kershaw couldn’t get the credit. He was as good as he has been this year.

Dickson and Verdugo require a 40 man roster move. That leaves our old friend SVS or possibly Trace Thompson. Eibner stays for now but is on the bubble. Segedin is on the 40 man but has been on the DL for a long time and could be moved to the 60 day DL to clear a spot as could Kazmir. Ethier is already there and no word on his return but his LH bat and experience would be useful about now. More likely is Taylor and Kike remaining as valuable super subs.

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Hard to gain ground with both Colorado and AZ playing well. Walker is injured and Delgado gets a start today against Quintana then AZ goes on the road to face the Brewers and Pirates. The Rockies have a better road than home record which is scary for the other teams in the division. They play 2 more in Philly then come home to face the Cards and reeling Mariners. Dodgers need to take care of business with the Cards and Cubs then go on the road to face the Cards and Brewers. Critical although early part of the schedule.

Joc thinks he ran into a Sherman Tank.

Watford my man – Joc isn’t getting it done and that has been the story all year… Screw ego and produce… He’s making damn good money (1/2M) so he can live in the OKC for the time being… Hopefully this means Taylor stays…

I said a long time ago, Puig is gonna kill somebody some time out there…

Do you think the Dodgers might be able to turn Joc’s mishap to their advantage?

A trip to the 10 day DL might be just what the doctor ordered as it doesn’t damage Joc’s ego, but it gives him the chance of a stint in AAA to work on his swing.

After all these years, Broxton finally helps the Dodgers WIN.

Like I’ve said, it seems like it’s someone different every night helping the Blue.

Somewhere early this morning, Steve Yeager was shaking his head while staring into a glass with three fingers of something !!!

OK, so Joc goes on the DL today, which isn’t so bad, is it??? Who shows up on our porch tommorow… I’d love to see Willie Calhoun leadoff for a couple games, but theres no damn room…

Can we talk about the best player in all of baseball? Mike Trout.

It’s May 24th, and Mike Trout has a 220 wRC+. It means he’s been 120% better on offense than the league average. He’s twice the average offensive player and then some. Since he’s often considered to be a reincarnation of Mickey Mantle, it should be noted that Mantle never had a single season wRC+ that high, his best mark being a 217 in 1957. He was worth 11.4 WAR in 144 games.

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Did I mention WAR? Trout’s already over 50! FIFTY for his career.

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So let me ask this….

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If the Dodgers offered ALL their top 15 prospects for Trout, would that be enough? Every prospect. One through fifteen.

Kershaw had his curve last night just ask Diaz. He pitched one of the better games I have ever seen him pitch. I don’t think grinchuk should have been on second to begin with as we should have forced him on the previous groundout. The bullpen was great! Avilan made carpenter look bad, Baez was very good, and fields looked dominate and Kenley was kenley. I was holding my breath as I knew the next one in was probably going to be hatcher or romo. I guess Lynn was that good but we looked so bad particularly bellinger, Gonzalez, Forsyth (except the last) I think faz needs to concentrate on the offensive side of the ball. I don’t know why they seemed to refuse to bring a lefty in considering our problems with lefties. Our friend Broxton helped us. I think bellinger has now struck out 7 times in the past 2 games.

Nice to see Forsythe get the walk off hit after 4 K’s his 1st game back from the DL. Tough hard fought win and the 1st guy out of the dugout to celebrate the victory was Kershaw, very classy!

Watched the last 8 innings – these extra innings are good for me in home games!

Some very dominant pitching & a really good game to win.

Baez looks a lot better.

I was worried after the 9th inning it might go 15 and wear out both bullpens. After 12 complete there are 6 hits and 4 walks, none by Dodgers pitchers. 31 K’s, 18 by the Cards staff. Rockies and Snakes already won their games.

Bad Throw By Molina.

Wild pitch by the great Molina!

Molina was lazy on the backhand.

Pederson is going to get someone hurt out there, 2 collisions and both caught by the other guy. Cannot fault the effort but the CF has to take charge and call it or back off.

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I am sure Clayton takes the blame for that pitch and the batter was not going to get out of the way but still, 2 bases is a hard one to take and a tough break. Great base running too.

We may have just lost two players.

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Joc was in two collisions tonight – with LF and RF.

By the way, AC’s minor league report was awesome yesterday.

I am sure Yasmani thinks he should have got that ball, but that was a really tough one. I’m not sure Molina would have got it. Dodger pitchers do bounce the ball a lot (by Honeycutt’s design) and AJ Ellis was very good at blocking them. He’s available.

When the lead off man singled sharply I would have gone to the pen, now we need a walk off run in the 9th to avoid extra innings.

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It was called a WP but it took Grandal too long to find the ball and runner scores from second. I believe that breaking ball in the dirt never gets by Molina.

Wild pitch; yes, but remember the guy with the steel glove strikes again – for TWO bases

I have to say Urias going down was the right move for now, If Maeda and Hill each throw well I think Ryu goes to the bullpen where they have been 1 lefty short, but he should get 1 more start.

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Cards were a 2.5 to 1 underdog tonight which seemed crazy as Kershaw has had history with the Cards and Lynn has pitched them tough in the past. Sometimes you just take the under 7 and hope for the best. The game has a playoff feel to it no matter where these 2 teams currently are in the standings.

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Taylor will get some chances at 3B too as Forsythe can’t go every day and Utley is 2B only at this point. Chris can play SS for Cory too in a pinch and he was out taking fly balls today. Super Sub!

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Bellinger just looks like a solid player: even on a quiet night he got robbed of a double and let Joc know he better call it if he wants it in the gap. AGon made a couple nice plays at 1B as well.

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Kershaw is at 94 pitches through 8, I hope they let him go for the shutout with Jansen warming in the pen in case anyone gets on.

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Toles underwent surgery today, here is hoping that all goes well and he’s back for spring training next year!

Dodger news from all around:

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EricLongenhagen chat:

QUESTION: Adam Willie Calhoun’s bat seems ready and he could probably be one of the better leadoff hitters in the game. Could he be adequate in LF or is it still a DH or bust thing?

ANSWER Longenhagen DH

QUESTION: Bleh (12:33) How much longer until we see Buehler in the big leagues? Can he oust someone from the roster (Sergio Romo perhaps) or does he have to wait for a guy to get hurt?

ANSWER Longenhagen I have no idea.

QUESTION: Mike Is Yadier Alvarez back on track or is there still risk after not showing up for two starts.

ANSWER Longenhagen: I’d like to think he’ll be fine from here but it’s going to be hard to wipe away some of these dud starts and rumors of him being out of shape early in the spring.

QUESTION: Oakland A’s fan Is most of Cotton’s problem mental or did you see anything else in his rough outings? I am hoping for a callup soon.

ANSWER Longenhagen: There’s some worry his fastball plays down due to poor extension.

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FanGraphs also has a nice article on Chris Taylor. Here’s the big takeaway:

Every season brings us moments like this. More often than not, they end with the red-hot player cooling back into his usual self, or something slightly more than that. Precious are the times when a new above-average performer suddenly emerges from nothingness. We don’t yet know if Taylor’s newfound patience at the plate will translate into long-term success. But there’s always a group of guys whose performances require further monitoring. Taylor is part of that group right now. He’s outplaying even the most generous of projections, and damn if it isn’t fun.

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In a Baseball Prospectus chat:

Jose (St Paul): What are your thoughts on Will Smith’s offensive production with the Quakes? Has the hit and/or power tool ticked up or is it too soon to gauge his production in the hitting environment he is in?

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Wilson Karaman: Smith’s a tough hitting nut to crack, I still don’t have a great feel for him after seeing him a whole bunch now. He’ll flash some leverage in his swing when he’s in a hitting count and looking to pull one, but broadly his swing plane tends to be quite linear in games. Know a couple of dingers have come at Lancaster, I haven’t seen any of ’em personally yet. I’m wary there’s much more than I saw last year, but he’s a guy I still want to see more of

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Jerry (Earth): Hey Wilson. Wasn’t sure if you had chance to get eyes on or any updates on Oneil Cruz as I know he is in full season and super young?

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Wilson Karaman: Emmett’s had a few looks at him, and I wrote an update based off his notes in an MLU recently: “Described by prospect team member Emmett Rosenbaum as “one of the weirdest things I’ve seen” Cruz is a gangly 6-foot-6, 175-pound shortstop. After turning heads at the Dodgers’ DSL affiliate last summer, he’s been adjusting as you might expect for an 18-year-old navigating his stateside and full-season debut. While he’s highly unlikely to stick at short as he fills out, the profile’s still intriguing at third. More from Emmett: “The power is definitely real, he [shows] some pretty impressive strength given how little his body is filled out.”

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Finally in the latest Baseball America mock draft they note the Dodgers are interested in:

RH 1B Evan White

RH Speedy outfielder Bubba Thompson

RHP Tanner Houck

RHP Griffin Canning

I thought he should be sent down simply because he wasn’t pitching well and we have somebody to replace him. I wasn’t slamming you or even him it was just an opinion. Thus far I just don’t see ace material. At his best I see a good quality pitcher. But I concede at age 20 that could change rather quickly. I get the kershaw comparison at the same age and I know kershaw struggled with command ala Koufax so maybe he just frustrates me with his walks and command issues. One thing about kershaw though is he suddenly come up with the devastating slider which separates him. His strikeouts are down this year in part because he has not found his slider. As Urias develops maybe he becomes an ace but he doesn’t seem to have that dominating pitch. Maybe the change up but the fastball not overpowering. Having said that I hope he turns it around and becomes the number 2 we need in the playoffs. Being from Illinois I am going to get to see the dodgers tonight on cardinals network(ugh) and the cubs are drilling giants ha

So I get Forysthe in the lineup, he needs to play. What I don’t get is Utley (who has flirted with the Mendoza line ALL YEAR) over Taylor? Not only that, but by playing Utley, Roberts is forced to place the slow Grandal in the three hole.

Slammed? If I am guilty of that then, Sorry.

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I am a believer that the Dodgers should pick their best 5 guys and let them start in the rotation. If one if them is unavailable, then someone else starts. I REALLY dislike this 6/7/8 man rotation stuff. Guys coming off of the DL after a phantom stay have generally come back rusty and a loss is a loss, whether in May or September.

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From what I can tell, the current top 5 are Kershaw, Wood, Hill, McCarthy and ??? It could be Ryu, Maeda or Urias. The difference is that Urias has options and he is 20. Seeing which of the other 2 guys make the 5 makes sense to me unless Urias starts really shining or unless Ryu and Maeda keep stinking it up.

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The way that the Braintrust handled the kid this Spring is the probable reason that he isn’t doing well. Pitching 2 innings per start in Spring Training, staying in Arizona and pitching pretend games for a few more weeks, coming up when he isn’t sharp due to lack of game action and isn’t stretched out is a recipe for failure. If he gets real game action in AAA then he can work his way back to sharpness and maybe contribute this year.

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What would I have done? I would have seen whether Urias was ready to pitch now. Stretch him out this Spring and see whether he was ready. If so, plug him in a let him go. There are ways to monitor his usage as the season progresses – skip him for a start, limit his innings during a start, etc.

There is a difference in being wrong in a prediction of what someone else would do (the Dodgers sending down Urias) and being wrong in what should be done. Only time will tell if the decision was successful. If successful, then it was not a wrong decision to send him down. That will not answer the question if you would have been wrong to keep him up.

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That’s what the hot stove league is for–endlessly debate the could’ve, should’ve would’ve.

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Life is good. Hope you keep your head above water this week. Beat the Cardinals!