First observation, this is a much different game for the Dodgers without Mookie Betts. They are still talented enough to win, but he sure does make it much easier. Seager and Betts seem to have been carrying the team on this trip, and the spark just seems to have gone out without Mookie.
The pitching matchup for Tuesday night was the one expected for Monday. Two of the brightest MLB pitchers, Walker Buehler, and Chris Paddack, squared off on Monday, and neither pitched to their ability. Buehler only gave up three hits on the night. Unfortunately, they were all solo HRs. Both starting pitchers left the game knotted at three. This was supposed to favor the Dodgers whose bullpen has been generally outstanding, while SD’s has been dismal. Well not on that night. Bazooka Graterol was still serving up 100 MPH pitches, but they did not seem to fool the Padres batters. Caleb Ferguson who has been untouchable this year was anything but. The Dodgers could not hit the Padres relievers until Kirby Yates offered one up to Cody Bellinger. Dodgers go down 5-4. The Dodgers have lost 4 games this year, and all four games have been by 1 run.
On Tuesday it was a different story. Dinelson Lamet is showing the Padres management that they were smart for being patient with him. He looks to be a solid mid to back end starter. Paddack and MacKenzie Gore figure to be a formidable one-two with Luis Patino also in the mix. Dustin May arguably pitched the best game of his young career. His longest outing of his career and most strikeouts. He got up to 82 pitches. If he continues as he has, 7 IP is a real possibility. If he learns to truly command his pitches, he will be unstoppable. The movement on his slider is unbelievable. Just ask our favorite former Dodger, Manny Machado. It will certainly be very difficult to keep May out of the rotation.
Tuesday night was also the return to the expected results of the respective bullpens. Baez, Treinen, and Jansen were fantastic, while Stammen, Hill, and Johnson not so much. When Treinen’s sinker is working it is also unhittable. His movement is fairly extreme as well. He did hit a batter, and did not keep him at 1B, but he did strike out the side. Pedro Baez is a different pitcher with his changeup. He could not get his fastball consistently over. In prior years, he would have kept forcing it until he was lit up. But on Tuesday, he knew he could get the changeup over, and that is what he went with. Much too early in the season, but Kenley looks to be back to his 2017 self. He seems to have much more confidence in his cutter.
I cannot remember seeing five HBP in the same game. Three Dodgers were plunked, while two Padres were. 26 year old Jake Cronenworth looks to be a real keeper for the Pads. Eric Hosmer goes down with an injury, and Cronenworth, who is a SS, moves to 1B and becomes an offensive and defensive star in the series. Jake does not have a 1B glove, so he had to borrow one. The story line was that when Matt Stairs was with the Padres in 2010, he gave the club house guy a new glove to work in, but never got the glove from the club house guy when he left, and the glove stayed with him. Jake is now using Matt Stairs’ 2010 1B glove. The play he made on the Corey Seager line drive in the 5th inning was outstanding. Jake also got his first MLB home run off Dustin May in the 4th.
The player many on here did not want, and maybe still do not, continues to prove why AF signed him. With a tie-breaking double (4) in the 7th and his 3rd HR in the 9th, A.J. is now hitting .364 with a team leading OPS of 1.174. Fantastic piece of hitting by going with the outside pitch to RF on his double in the 7th. We have not seen too much of going the other way outside of Corey Seager with this team in the first 12 games.
Cody Bellinger looks like he might be starting to come around. He continues to make contact, and now they are starting to fall for hits. He still has that loopy swing, but maybe his timing is getting closer. He sees the ball, he is just not barreling it up just yet. Seager continues to crush the ball, but once again with a runner on 2B with nobody out, he struck out and could not get the runner to 3B. He has been in that same situation at least three times (twice in the extra inning game), and he has not yet moved the runner over. But he did get the key single that scored the tying run, thanks to a Trent Grisham error.
Muncy and JT continue to struggle, although with three walks, Muncy has pushed his OBP up to .356 even though he is hitting below the Mendoza line.
It was pretty cool to listen to Joe and Orel talk about Zach Wheat again, a few days after we got the great writeup on Zach from Michael Norris (AKA Bear) last week. Tonight, the previous Dodger career leader on HBP was knocked down to #2 by Justin Turner (74 HBP as a Dodger). JT did get the ball for his trophy case.
They still left 9 runners on base, but were better with RISP going 3-8.
I absolutely agree with Dodgerrick when he says that defensive runs saved can be just as valuable as RBI albeit they are harder to document. I love to watch good defense. Cronenworth has been a delight to watch even though he is Pads. I still love to watch Kike’ and CT3 play SS and 2B. They are both utility guys, but until Lux can come and take the 2B job over, one of them is going to need to play there. I know the fan base seemingly has latched onto Zach McKinstry, and deservedly so. But Zach has never faced a ML pitcher in a ML regular season game. He hit well against MiLB pitchers in ST 1.0 and ST 2.0, and he figures to be a super sub as early as next year. But this year, I would be sticking with Kike’ and CT3 because they are veteran ML hitters, and they play a far superior defense. Zach will get his chance, but in 2021, unless one of the two goes onto the IL.
The Pads have arrived a year earlier than I anticipated, but I still think they would be overmatched over a 162 game season. But in a 60 game season, they look to be very competitive. Their bullpen will get better, just like the Dodgers offense will. The rubber match will pit Ross Stripling against Garrett Richards. Richards looks to be getting back to that very effective pre-surgery pitcher he was with LAA. Dodgers need to take the game and series back to LA. Hopefully, Strip will not have a 14 pitch AB in the 1st inning. With an open day on Thursday, I would guess that all relievers are in play for the Wednesday game.
Discussion (107)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I was not impressed with Jansen last night. He looked like Kenley of last year to me. And to tell you the truth, I have not seen him have a clean 1-2-3- inning in a while. He still is there best option down there. But he looked pretty hittable last night.
It’s remarkable that the Dodgers are 9-4, when the top of the line-up hasn’t been hitting. It’s a testimonial to the depth of the team and the strength of the pitching. Joc, CT3, Strip – they saved the day. But, hey, I’ll take 9-4! What they need to do to get the hitting to come around, I don’t know. Fire their new hitting coach, send Muncy, Belli, and JT to USC, send them to the Caribbean for a vacation? Probably just need to give them more time. In the end, everything reverts to the average (“regression to the mean”). They are just too good to keep hitting so badly. Hope they get their acts together before the playoffs, when we will really need them.
Well that was too close for comfort. Always said those walks will kill you and they walked too many tonight. Strip was great until that one pitch. Muncy needs a day or five off. He is not hitting worth a damn. Cody after a couple of good days looks lost again. Once again the first 4 in the order are pitiful. Except for Turner’s double in the first, they did nothing. Off day tomorrow then the Giants come in again. They beat the Rockies tonight on a Belt homer. Rocks are 8-3, Dodgers 9-4. Virtually tied.
CT3 saved the day! Great ending
Something to be said for defense
I think Muncy may be injured. Just let him get healthy. The dodgers have all kinds of options. Bellinger, Beaty, Rios, Turner could all play first. Kike or Taylor could play cf or Betts. Joc in left vs rh and pollock vs left.
It looks like Joc is going to win this game. How many of you wanted to trade Joc before he becomes a free agent after this year? Not me.
Who will replace Muncy at 1B? Do they bring back Beaty? Cody could stand in with Joc, AJ, & either Kike or Taylor in the OF. Muncy has slipped considerably. Without his walks, he would be looking very poorly, at this point, stat-wise. Cody is just too much of a force to sit again. Let him play through it. We also have McKinstry to stand in at 2B. We are good.
Ferguson gives up a HR, but we should still win this game if the BP doesn’t blow it.
Bellinger and Muncy are almost unplayable right now. No doubt they will come around but they sure aren’t helping now. Muncy could use a day or 2. OTOH pollock is off to one of his streaky starts. It won’t last but we need him to hit Lhanders. Seager is off to a fantastic start but will need to prove health to cash in. Joc is a weapon vs rhanders.
McGhee looks like a very good pickup. Suddenly we look pretty good from the left side. The bullpen could be great. They may not but could
McGee looking like another great pickup by AF. He’s throwing 96+. This bullpen is just sic!!!!’ Who saw this coming? Considering how we ended up last year! Strip one pitch away from a great outing! But if he’s throwing 94 then good things ahead for him!
Scherzer was pulled due to a tweaked hamstring. Expects to make next start.
Joc is the MAN! Now Belly and Muncy need to follow suit! This game showing Arte why Angels could have made the playoffs
Joc bomb again.
Spoke too soon! Stripling 2outs 2strikes walk profar who couldn’t hit me then a bomb. We got a game now.
Just walk Tatis every ab. He’s their only threat!
Stripling has always pitched well as a starter when given several starts consecutively. He ran out of gas in 2018 in the 2nd half. It seems pretty clear that he should be given a permanent shot at the rotation – he knows how to pitch.
Maybe he can’t throw 99 like May but neither could Greg Maddux (and no, I’m not really comparing them). Location and movement are more important that velocity.
Mark
Get your picture out for Moreno! The one “u sir are a dumbass”
Will Smith is making a statement!
From now on, when Ross strikes out someone, he is Chicken Fried!
I have never seen Chicken Strip at 95 MPH!
If Richards would cut off that stupid mustache, he might pitch better!
Turner standing at second looked like he’s got quite a pot belly going.
Bellinger, with a runner in scoring position, late on a first ball fast ball down the middle then chases strike 3. Not a good AB.
I am not an apologist for Dave Roberts, although I do think he is good for the Dodgers. Does he make mistakes? Absolutely. Do I like the constant shuffle of the lineups? No. Torey Lovullo basically had the same lineup for most of the D-Back series. Does that make him a good manager? For all of the Dave Roberts haters, I ask again, who do you want as the LAD manager? If I had my choice it would be Tito Francona. Of course, I am somewhat biased. Joe Maddon? Gabe Kapler? Bud Black? Aaron Boone? Dave Martinez? Every one of them have been blasted by their fan base as well. Joe Maddon was run out of Chicago. Bear is right. Get used to it Doc is going to be the manager for a while. AF is not going to listen to a fan base who will not be satisfied unless the Dodgers win every game.
This from MLBTradeRumors:
The Nationals pulled ace Max Scherzer from tonight’s game after one inning. It’s not yet clear what drove the decision.
Scherzer had a bit of a rough frame, throwing 27 pitches and allowing one run. He had exhibited lower-nineties velocity — not necessarily a bright red flag in its own right, but a step down from his typical heat.
Lineup Today:
Pollock DH
Muncy 1B
Turner 3B
Bellinger CF
Seager SS
Taylor LF
Pederson RF
Smith C
Hernandez 2B
MLB Pipeline out with their revised Top 100 Prospect List. We have 5 guys on it but most are toward the lower quarter.
Lux – 2
May – 25
Gray – 75
Kaybear – 81
Bazooka – 94
If they had to revise it this minute I would think Lux might be a little lower and May would be higher.
Like him or not, Roberts is going to be the Dodger manager for a while longer. He just signed a 4 year extension prior to this season. The most maddening thing about Doc to me is the constant lineup shifting. Me, I would run the same lineup out there almost every day. And when I put a player in a slot in the lineup, that is where he is going to hit. Betts is an outstanding leadoff hitter. Seager has proven he is best in the 2 hole. Bellinger is the main power threat most of the time, so he stays at 4. He has shown some life in the bat since he went back to his old stance. Turner is a great 3 hole hitter, and that is where he has done the most damage. Muncy is striking out too much to be at the top of the order. I drop him to 6th at least. Pollock or Joc in the 5th or 8th spot. For now the catchers are stuck at 9. And who ever plays second hits 7th. And they all are still striking out too much.
It really bugs me that most players don’t try to beat the shift by going the other way when they get a pitch on the outside corner of the plate. Have JT give them a few pointers. How many times have we seen him go with a pitch and single or double down the right field line Especially LH hitters when the short stops play so far off the line. A ground ball down the left field line is almost a guaranteed double. I just can’t believe that Bellinger, Muncy and Pederson can’t hit to the opposite field when they get the right pitch. We know Seager can do it with authority (although he could probably do it more). There is no way the rules should be changed to stop the shift. Let the players end the crazy shifts by hitting to the opposite field (even dribblers down the 3rd base line).
https://lasportshub.com/2020/08/05/los-angeles-dodgers-dave-roberts-still-hurting-team/
Los Angeles Dodgers: Dave Roberts still hurting the team
Even though it hasn’t been a huge sample size, Dave Roberts is already hurting the Los Angeles Dodgers in this shortened season.
Perhaps it’s the short 60-game season or the fact that the best hitters have yet to start hitting, but with one-tenth of the season already over the Los Angeles Dodgers don’t seem quite themselves.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the players slow to start but manager Dave Roberts decision making is already hurting the Dodgers.
When the 2019 season finished Roberts was left having to answer why for the first time in his tenure the Dodgers had failed to win a postseason series, with the 106-win Dodgers losing the series at home for the third straight year in Game Five of the National League Division Series (NLDS).
Roberts was questioned for letting Clayton Kershaw pitch the eighth inning up 3-1 when he had done his job and gotten out number three in the seventh. The decision was more egregious when Kershaw gave up back to back home runs tying the game.
Roberts again failed the team when he let Joe Kelly pitch the 10th inning after getting a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth. Kelly subsequently loaded the bases and gave up a grand slam dooming the Dodgers for another off-season of what-ifs.
Fast forward to the 2020 season and it seems Roberts still can’t get out of his own way. Roberts has made some questionable lineup decisions. Despite the Dodgers acquiring Mookie Betts a career .303 hitter in the leadoff spot, Roberts has been putting Max Muncy in the leadoff spot ahead of Betts. Not surprisingly, Muncy, a .216 hitter leading off has struggled this year leading off and is hitting .200 overall.
In a 3-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants the Dodgers had the tying runs on base in the bottom of the eighth inning facing a right-handed reliever. Roberts didn’t use any of his left-handed batters on the bench leaving Matt Beaty and Edwin Rios sit and watch. Not surprisingly right-handed hitters Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor stranded the runners and the Dodgers lost.
In a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with the Dodgers leading 3-1 in the eighth inning and two outs. Roberts elected to intentionally walk Eduardo Escobar who was hitting .133 to load the bases and pitch to Christian Walker who was hitting .333 and hit .296 with 14 RBIs in 2019 against the Dodgers.
Not surprisingly, Walker smashed a three-run double to beat the Dodgers, afterward Roberts justified it saying: “I’m trying to play to win that game and get that hitter out. It just didn’t work out.”
Big-time sports can shine a harsh light on coaches and managers, this season with only 60 games to play the smallest decisions can have a greater effect on the season. Perhaps Dave Roberts needs to realize this sooner rather than later, “It just didn’t work out” just isn’t good enough anymore.
Non-baseball question:
Best acting name, 1. Slim Pickens 2. Gale Storm 3. Rip Torn 4. other ?
McKinstry’s arrival should be interesting with regards to Doc’s love of the line up de jour. In 11 games, Doc has had 11 different line ups. It’s not just batting order movement with the 11 core players. With trying to get Rios and Beaty in the lineup, Mookies’s injury and rotating the DH, it should be interesting to see what Doc does to get McKinstry his PT. Lots of moving parts here when it isn’t necessary IMO.
Padres payroll is not 69 mil. It’s about 160 mil. And Machado, Hozmer and Myers are terrible signings. My point is that with all this young talent they have spent poorly to augment it. And Betts hardly fell into our laps. AF has been working a Boston for over a year. There’s been a lot of bad expensive long term deals but AF has not made that mistake!
DODGERS RECALL IF/OF ZACH MCKINSTRY
LHP VICTOR GONZÁLEZ OPTIONED TO ALTERNATE SITE
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have recalled infielder/outfielder Zach McKinstry and have optioned left-handed pitcher Victor González.
McKinstry, 25, will be recalled for the first time in his career and his next appearance will be his Major League debut. The Ohio native has been in the Dodger organization four seasons, batting a combined .270 (331-for-1226) with 30 homers and 149 RBI across five different levels. Last season, between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, McKinstry played six different positions while hitting .300 (129-for-430) with 24 doubles, 19 homers and 78 RBI. He finished the season with Oklahoma City and hit .382 (34-for-89) with seven homers and 26 RBI in 26 games. He was originally drafted in the 33rd round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Central Michigan University.
González, 24, made his Major League debut on Friday, allowing one run on three hits in one inning of work. It was his lone appearance with the club after being recalled on Thursday afternoon in place of outfielder Terrance Gore. In seven seasons in the Dodgers’ minor league system, the lefty has posted a 17-27 record with a 4.34 ERA (182 ER/377.0 IP) and 364 strikeouts in 112 games (76 starts). The Tuxpan, Nayarit, Mexico native recorded his best season with the Dodgers in 2019, across three different levels going 5-2 with a 2.31 ERA (23 ER/89.2 IP) and 93 strikeouts.
Thoughts of the morning after:
* Muncy needs to stop check swinging and let it eat. And never check swing on strike one. A tapper back to the pitcher on a check swing is the worst AB ever.
* Where do I apply to become an MLB “authenticator” of baseballs? That job got infinitely easier with no fans in the stands.
* Sometime Orel and Joe forget about the baseball game and take some verbal journey into space. Last night it was Orel and Joe’s “Bird of Paradise” babble and blooming every 10 years. WTF. Orel also called Muncy’s relay throw home, a “good throw”. It was 8 feet up the 3rd base line and got Barnes decapitated but other than that it was fine.
* Nice to see Pollock proving me wrong so far. His AB in the 7th was exceptional especially after 2 horrible called strike calls.
* May’s arm side runner / sinker at 98 is unbelievable. Add the slider / curve breaking the other way and he’s Greg Maddux at 98 mph. His stuff was amazing last night.
* No one needs to be surprised of the quality the Pads are now putting on the field. I was just wondering when it would happen since they have been rated in the top 3 for a few years now in prospects and organizational depth. They were waiting for this group to arrive plus signing Machado.
* The Padres are taking the shift to new levels. (I can’t name more than a handful of players who do NOT get shifted anymore.) It must statistically work or all the teams wouldn’t be doing it. Against left handed hitters, it’s beginning to look like the over-the-line games we played as a kid where you could only hit to the pull side half of the field. If you hit left-handed in our games you got pitched to from 3rd base so the outfielders didn’t have to move. Numerous times last night the only player on the entire left side of the diamond was the left fielder playin in left-center. Absolutely no infielder on the left side.
Manny Machado’s position should now be called “rover” like slo-pitch. His athleticism and arm gives them a 4th outfielder against lefties. I don’t like the extent this is morphing into but it’s not going away. I don’t foresee a rule change so hitters better figure a way to miss the shift even if it involves changing their comfortable swings. I see a few dribblers leak through the shift sometimes but I see way more hard hit balls right at perfectly place fielders taking away what were once base hits. It looks more and more like teams feel the best way to beat the shift is to hit the ball over the fence.
AJ Pollock deserves tons of credit. This is the we signed last year because this is the guy we always saw against us in AZ. He’s playing great, and I really hope he gets more AB’s, whether in LF or DH.
Still striking out too much, but when he hits it, he its it well
Good for us that the Padres signed both Machado and Hosmer and tied up a lot of money and years. Thx AF for waiting for Mookie!
I want to compliment Doc for putting CT3 and Pollock into the game. Pollock drove in two and CT3 one. Both moves worked out. May is a keeper. He is filthy. I think it is his 2 seem fastball that really runs from left to right. It is effective against left and right handed batters. One more tonight. Thanks Jeff for the nice article.
It would be fun to see what it looks like with everyone hitting they way we know they can. Probably not likely. Seager and Pollock will not hit .360, Turner won’t hit .234 nor will Bellinger hit .184. Barnes could hit .100 though. He looks hapless up there.
I heard Orel say it again last night – “the throw took Barnes into the line”. That’s a misnomer. The throw can take a catcher up the line but not into it. You position yourself where you choose to. It’s just as easy to receive the throw with your left foot on or near the line as it is to stradle the line. It’s either legal to block the plate or it is not. Those collisions need to stop. They haven’t because MLB is not enforcing the home plate collision ban.
San Diego has strong starting pitching and top prospect MacKenzie Gore is allegedly ready.
I’m not a believer in the 3 batter rule. I do think the reliever should be ready to go when he gets in there. 3 warm up pitches, play ball.
With no minor league games being played, what will the trade deadline look like? Are training facilities being scouted?
I hear Lux is back. Time for Kiké to resume his utility role.
6 more Cardinals test positive. That’s 13 in the organization. They will need 5 called up for their weekend series. I wonder how many more players might opt out over the next 5 weeks? I would bet some will.
I saw Treinen hit 99 on the gun last night. Graterol (I love the Bazooka name) throws 100+, May hit 100 last night and Kelly hits 99. Jake McGee hits 97, Baez has been 96-97 in the past (not sure he’s there yet this year), and Urias can also run it up to 96-97.
That’s a lot of very live arms! Wow!
Bazooka Graterol – that name sticks!
The cut down to 28 players is going to take one of each of these:
Beaty or Rios.
Floro or Kolerek
That’s tough!
Barnes is hitting a buck – I wonder if we will see Kaybear? There seems to be little info available from USC…
Nice comeback. JT may not be hitting well, but his glove work at 3rd is the best it has been in years. He has made several outstanding plays and continued that last night. MLB has announced the the rosters will indeed drop to 28 on Thursday, but, they will stay at that number the rest of the season and the playoffs. Also, the 3 man taxi squad on the road has increased to 5. The pitching has been outstanding and they very well could be 12=0 with a more consistent offense. Rockies won again, and still are a game in front. The Dodgers do not see Colorado until they come to LA on the 23rd of August. We have the Giants this weekend, and then the Pads come to LA. Mike Trout is a beast. He misses 4 games for the birth of his son and crush’s a homer in his first AB back. Albert Pujols hit homer # 659 tonight. Putting him one back of the Sey Hey Kid, Willie Mays. Ohtani done as a pitcher for the rest of this season. If he continues to have arm troubles, I would think the Angels would just shut him down for at least a year. Madison Bumgarner, our least favorite former Giant got lit up again. Outstanding move by AF not signing that guy,