There are no excuses. It’s all about just getting the job done. When Kershaw went down last year, it was “Next Man Up!” There’s nothing different about that with Justin Turner. Justin is a very good player, but this team is deep and Chris Taylor or Logan Forsythe can play third base. For that matter, the much-maligned Kike Hernandez can too. While I am thinking about it, I haven’t heard too many fans moaning for Dee Gordon (.245 BA /.605 OPS) lately. Austin Barnes is looking solid as a backup catcher and Kike Hernandez is the most versatile player in baseball whom almost everyone wants to send to AAA. It’s ain’t happening.
Yes, Kike is only hitting .233, but he is OPS’ing .798. Joc Pederson and his .211 BA and .620 OPS is a candidate. Do you know how rare it is to have a guy who can play anywhere and do a credible job at it? Oh, you will say that he’s not that good defensively. PROVE IT! Kike is not “smooth,” but he is effective. He’s kind of a “herky-jerky” guy, but he gets the job done. He’s better than you think defensively.
Dee Gordon is finding out how hard it is to play with No Juice! Boy, did the FAZ-Bashers pile on after Dee was traded and he sure tricked the Marlins into giving him a $50 million contract. The fact is: I would not trade Barnes or Hernandez for Dee. FAZ won that trade big time. The best part is that the FAZ bashers get to shutup!
As soon as Turner rounded third base, I knew what he did. If you have ever pulled a hammy, you know the feeling. I have only injured a hamstring once and it happened when I was 51 in a softball tournament. My wife kept telling me to “suck it up,” but I could barely walk. The next day, the back of my leg had a 14″ black and blue area. The doctor said it was a Grade 3 strain and put me on crutches for two weeks… I did use them for a day, but hammys hurt! It was a month before I could run again. That’s probably how long Justin will be out. Just a guess…
So, Ryu looked encouraging… but the rotation is as murky as ever… and I’m OK with that. Chris Hatcher pitched in a “high leverage” situation and delivered… oh, he’s another one we got for Dee. People: we have to look at the big picture and it is showing at a Ravine near you right about now.
This team is built for the long haul!
Rants and Raves
- Chase Utley is shot. Yeah, right! He will not play a ton, but he will deliver when he does. Whatever was wrong with his swing is fixed!
- Rios was 3-5 at Tulsa yesterday. He has 8 HR and is hitting .361 with .986 OPS. He’s not a great 3B… they wouldn’t call him up… would they?
- Ahmed is hitting .323 for Tulsa at SS.
- Chase De Jong was optioned back to AAA by the M’s. He was 0-3 with a 7.40 ERA.
Discussion (83)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Mattingly upset that Seager was swing 3-0 with a 5run lead in the 5th. I didn’t know there was a mercy rule in MLB.
That was better than drilling him.
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Chris Freaking Hatchet!
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You love him and you hate him!
Stripling missed him, evidently!
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The coolest thing that could happen now would be for Hatcher to drill him!
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That would be awesome!
Strip just earned some major respect from the guys.
Now hopefully that’s that and there’s no more crap this weekend
Nobody had to tell Stripling to hit Stanton. He knew what to do!
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There should be no suspension!
You drill ours. We’ll drill yours. That’s the way you do it!
Ok, there’s my answer
Another shot by Franchise part 2
And that HBP on Eibner was flat out intentional. Let’s see how we retaliate
I kinda like the Platoon opportunity with Eiber, Gutierrez and Taylor it could actually work.
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But let’s revisit some recent (and not so recent) trades:
I mean for Eibner: Dodgers gave up double-A IF.
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For Taylor: Gave up Zach Lee.
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For Wood: Braves made trade so bad their GM apologizes for it annually.
Osuna, Stanton, and Bour look like football players. They are huge. Wood is pitching another gem. Taylor is very good offensively and defensively tonight. Nice 2 run home run by Eibner. I hope Puig is ok. Good thing we have some depth.
Eibner & Taylor showing some power.
Good to see people stepping up.
Hawkeye, what are your lineup variations? I generally agree with your takes. I just like some speed up top and Bellinger at #4 and would put Seager at #3 but Roberts does not like back to back LH. When the starter is pulled watch for AGon and Grandal to PH. (Joc is a poor pinch hitter.)
FYI:
Based upon where he is now, MLB projects Puig to hit 24 HR with 79 RBI with a .270 BA AND .805 OPS.
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I will happily take that!
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OK, they are mere projections. Look at other Dodgers:
Forsythe – .261/11 HR/43 RBI/.743 OPS
Bellinger – .253/22 HR/68 RBI/.802 OPS
Gonzo – .262/12 HR/58 RBI/.729 OPS
Seager – .286/23 HR/79 RBI/.834 OPS
Turner – .309/14 HR/72 RBI/.843 OPS
Grandal – .251/17 HR/62 RBI/.784 OPS
Pederson – .230/18 HR/58 RBI/.751 OPS
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Fantasy – take it for what it is…
Let’s try:
Taylor
Seager
Puig
Bellinger
Gutierrez
Eibner
Kike
Barnes
Wood
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Prediction: Wood goes 7 innings or 100 pitches and fans 10 or more Marlins. Dodgers light up Nicolino like a penny slot machine!
I was wrong last time so without further comment. Have at it.
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Tonight’s Dodger lineup vs. Marlins:
Taylor 2B
Seager SS
Gutierrez LF
Hernández 3B
Barnes C
Puig RF
Bellinger 1B
Eibner CF
Wood P
JT went on the 10 day and Eibner was recalled. Well I got one right. That’s one out of a million player personnel guesses.
In my opinion, the five starters should be Kershaw, Wood, Urias, McCarthy and Hill. Ryu or Maeda could be traded, but only one of them. If it took McCarthy or Hill to get a good outfielder, I would pull the trigger. I would not trade Kershaw, Wood or Urias.
I would never trade Wood for Haniger. When Haniger comes back they will have a surplus of outfielders. If Ryu or Maeda would not get it done, I would throw in a class A player.
I have never been a Puig fan. However, I think he is doing better this year. He is hitting the ball hard. He needs to stay in the line up right now. Joc is our problem child. I am sure Turner Ward is doing what he can to help. Right now I would bring Thompson up and send Joc down. I know Thompson has struggled, but he can play centerfield. He is playing better in AAA. You just cannot continue to send Joc out there. I would give Joc until the end of the Miami series. I believe they have all right handers throwing. If he continues looking bad, something must be done.
Boxout
Haniger may be available. Gamel may be available. Both are young outfielders. Haniger was playing good baseball and then he got hurt. Gamel took his place and he is doing well. I am sure the scouts could figure out who is best. Seattle would want a starting pitcher. Ryu may be the answer. Seattle has a large Asian population. Seattle has lost their three best starting pitchers due to injury. They are hurting.
Good win last night, with Ryu on the mound. But the Marlins aren’t good right now, so it’s not like beating the Astrios. Still the bats came alive, and we will need that with the starters being mediocre, at best. We will miss Turner’s bat, big time. He is at the top of his game, a very high place. If would be nice if we could count on 66. But…. Forsyth helps some, but not enough to make up for the absence of Turner. It will have to be Grandal, 66, and Seager to do the damage now. And the pitching will HAVE TO BE BETTER. Looking forward to see what Wood has to bring tonight. The Marlins have a few good bats: Yelich, Realmuto. Stanton is fun to watch strike out. It’s nice to see Mattingly lose. Go Cardinals.
Mark
You are right, I have to give Hatcher credit, when credit is due, and he pitched well for us last night, in a tough situation.
And your are right about Kike, I have maligned him like everyone else, but the last time I looked, he had a higher OPS, then both Joc, and Puig.
When Turner went out, the first thing I thought, was that it was a good thing, that Taylor is stepping up now.
I hope Roberts plays him at third, and plays Kike at second, until Logan comes back.
And like I said above, I changed my mind about Ryu last night, I think he is the pitcher, that won’t be in the rotation.
But I have to give him credit, because he managed to pitch to Stanton, without giving up a HR, but I know that was close..
And about Joc, I just don’t think Roberts will send Joc down, especially since we are down, two outfielders.
Kike was never really sent down for a long time last year, and he hit 190, all year.
But I know we expect more from our everyday players, then our utility players, who get so much fewer, at bats.
The problem right now is that both Puig and Joc, hit better in the eighth position.
Since Puig is hitting better then Joc, I would bat Joc eighth, so he can pick up walks easier, and wait for a good pitch, and bat Puig seventh.
I think Turner just pulled his hammy, and I think Puig also only pulled his hammy, when he was out last year.
If a player tears their hammy, that is a big difference, from pulling a hammy.
And I think Hunter Pence tore his hammy last year, and he actually made back, before the season was over, but that was quick.
But I think AC is right about Turner, so I think it is only a pull.
And about Gordon, I have never been a Gordon supporter, I was actually glad, he was traded.
Because I thought he could never play well, on a big market team, like the Dodgers.
I thought he was given chance after chance, to play shortstop, and he couldn’t handle the shortstop position, at the major league level.
And he got yet another chance, to be the regular, second basemen.
If I was Mattingly I would play the kid that filled in for Gordon last year, after Gordon went out, because he tested, positive.
Because that kid did a good job, when Gordon went out.
And I wouldn’t reward Gordon for cheating, to get a big contract, and I think the other kid, will hit better then Gordon, and have more pop then Gordon, too.
David Schoenfield, ESPN Senior Writer
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“Who would say no? Dealing the Nationals a closer”
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“The trade: Soto and a second-tier pitching prospect for Herrera and Cain. As good as Soto is, he’s also just 18 and a few years from the majors. He’s probably a left fielder in the long run since he lacks a prototypical right fielder’s arm. The Nationals make a huge upgrade in center field with Cain (who is a free agent) to replace the injured Adam Eaton and acquire Herrera for this season and next. The Royals get a premium hitting prospect in a system that lacks one, which they’ll need as Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas hit free agency.”
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Wait a minute KC, We can beat that offer!!!
No way they will take Kennedy!
Trade Hatcher before he morphs back into his awful self.
I think most of us speculate on who might be moved when there is a roster crunch and we all have our favorites. Sometimes it’s not what we would do but predicting what management will do. JT’s injury settles any Taylor vs Kike debate (for now) which has been going on since ST. Maybe Joc does need to go down for awhile, I just don’t think they will do that. A lot of people don’t like Puig, but I see a change in him this year and a player about to break out. Kike will never have Puig’s talent but is a useful guy to have around and very scrappy.
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Good to see last night:
Utley 2 hits leading off-Maybe I was wrong about him leading off
Ryu pitching well-maybe I was wrong to rank him the #7 starter
Hatcher with 2 K’s (5 in a row now) in a high leverage situation-wrong again
Puig with a clutch HR to drive in 2-Maybe I was right? Leads team in HR’s, RBI’s, SB and hard hit outs (and GIDP)
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I sure know a lot less than the brain trust and support whatever they do, and root for this team no matter what. This is like last year when Kershaw went down, and the team needs to pull together as this is a winnable stretch of games for the team to make a move.
How about Joc for Cain?
AlwaysCompete: “I also know that Lorenzo Cain is available as a rental, and could be combined in a package with Kelvin Herrera. If you take Cain and Herrera, do you also have to take on Ian Kennedy and his contract? I have no idea what it would cost for Ozuna, Yelich, or Cain. As I hinted at yesterday, I think Rios would look good as the new Royals Kendrys Morales. Maybe Rios and Sopko?”
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If Turner is out for very long, we will need reinforcements, especially adding in the Toles loss. Kennedy is owed $49M/3yrs after 2017, right in FAZ territory. Cain would look awfully good in center right about now. Pederson looked horrible on that strikeout last night, swinging at ball three and four.
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Herrera would also be nice, but we have internal options, how about adding Moustakas instead of Herrera? Rios, Sopko, Calhoun and absorbing Kennedy’s contract seems good to me, but probably pipe. Gotta believe FAZ has KC on speed dial right about now!!
Next man up. We do have replacements. I bitched about Utley and Hatcher and they both looked good last night. Joc just looks lost. He is not seeing the pitches. He swung at some pitches that were not even close. I really think he needs to go down to get his swing back. Where is Segedin? He is a third baseman. I have not head anything on him.
Yes, the starting rotation has not been solved. Can Maeda and Ryu go to the pen? I think those two are the two that will be eliminated from the starters. You may want to trade one, but not both. Hill is just not that reliable because of the blister.
Yep, Turner injury hurts for sure, but you’re right ‘next man up’!!
Now this will cause a stir for sure!!! I still think Seager will eventually move to 3B someday !!! Why not give him a few reps and see see how he doe does there… Do I think he can play 3B, darn right or I wouldnt bring it up…
Anxious to hear additional takes from AC on our MILB possibilities…