Old and Pathetic
The Dodgers aren't just an older team because they have a couple of graybeard pitchers. The offense is where the age discrepancy really lives.
No, I'm not talking about myself! Normally, we don't do two blog posts a day, but today I couldn't help myself. Sorry, Jeff... you do a fabulous job on the Minor League System. You are the "Unquestioned Minor League genius."
I do have a few Ramblings & Rants:
The Dodgers look old and slow and pathetic, and the pitchers look like BP Throwers. They are cannon fodder! Right about now, the Brewers aren't merely cheaper than the Dodgers. They're roughly 3½ years younger per roster spot. I had AI calculate the average age of the Brewers vs. the Dodgers on August 31st (before the roster expansion). The number that jumps off the page: 4.7 years
The Brewers' position players average only 27.8. The Dodgers' position players average 32.5.
That's enormous.
The Dodgers aren't just an older team because they have a couple of graybeard pitchers. The offense is where the age discrepancy really lives.
Think about the Dodgers' veteran core:
Freddie Freeman, 36
Miguel Rojas, 37
Max Muncy, 36
Kiké Hernández, 35
Mookie Betts, 33
Teoscar Hernández, 33
Shohei Ohtani, 32
Meanwhile, Milwaukee is getting regular contributions from Cooper Pratt, Jackson Chourio and Luis Lara, all 22 or younger, with Brice Turang and Sal Frelick still in their 20s.
This Dodger team needs a closed-door clubhouse come-to-Jesus meeting! It's their only hope, but all I see is old and slow!
These guys are seasoned professionals and have seen it all, BUT SOMETIMES you need an injection of youthful energy and enthusiasm! That's why I pushed for JDP. Tibbs3 may be more ready, but JDP has to be placed on the roster over the winter, so that's why I chose him. He has obviously mastered AA. An injection of youth could inspire the greybeards as well!
AF must be gun-shy after what happened with Miggy Vargas and Gavin Lux. Getting Sirota was a stroke of genius, which made up for the stupidity of thinking Lux could be a SS!
BTW, MiggyV has 30 doubles and 29 HRs; his OB% is .363, and his OPS is .847. His defense was the question, but by Statcast, Vargas and Max Muncy are in roughly the same defensive neighborhood this year. Vargas is around -7 OAA, while Muncy has been around -6 OAA. Vargas has essentially become what the Dodgers always hoped he might become offensively, but the defensive concerns they had about him were legitimate... however his bat plays.
I sometimes wish he were back, but then I remember that Edman and Kopech helped win a Championship. Good luck, Miggy.
Michael Conforto is OPS'ing .801, which is an indictment of RVS and Company. The "Launch Angle Revolution" has ended, with pitchers throwing faster, fewer fastballs, more spin, and higher in the zone or away from hitters' power.
The Dodgers can no longer "flip the switch." They are "cooked' with this approach. They have to evolve and change... but can they do it during the season? I remain skeptical.
I also think there is a better-than-50-50 chance that Stan Kroenke offers Andrew Friedman a stake in the Angels in exchange for assuming the position of President of Baseball Operations. BANG! You also know what else could happen... Ohtani becomes an Angel, again. Friedman could become a billionaire and Kroenke a bigger billionaire. Watch for it!
Maybe this meme is more appropriate:
Discussion (125)
Disagree, not disagreeable
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I don’t know what’s sillier, thinking that JDP makes sense as a call-up, thinking that the Cubs’ hitting instructor Kelly isn’t also a slug/launch angle guy, or thinking that Conforto, a veteran, changes his approach because of the hitting coach.
But Mark is just driving conversation, and he’s exceptionally good at that.
Once again they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory! Pathetic. Forget three peats. This team will be lucky to make it out of the first round of the playoffs. Ohtani has been brutal.
Well sooner or later everything changes. If AF leaves, someone else will come in and take over . Gomes? Maybe. There’s no question that AF has taken the Dodgers to a different level in the sport. Tampa Bay has sustained a strong organization without him. Of course they don’t have the financial resources the Dodgers have, but they keep on winning and developing talent all over the field. All this said, AF has whiffed on a few acquisitions lately. Of course they all can’t be expected to be successful , like Conforto, Tucker, Diaz. Maybe Tucker and Diaz could get back to their old selves, but I doubt it. I don’t see the Los Angeles Dodgers going anywhere anytime soon! The Dodgers aren’t just about money. Hell the Yankees haven’t won since 2009. And they have tons of money! The Dodgers logo has been the most beautiful on any jersey ever. Many will try and imitate it, nobody can replace it. Of course it’s time to start getting younger. Teo will be gone after the season. Kike will move on. Probably somewhere like Miami with old friend Clayton M. Freddie and Max more than likely will be gone after 2027. And then there’s Rojas. I still don’t think he retires after the season. One more season and I won’t be shocked to see him in the dugout sitting beside Doc. Mookie moves to second base and a young shortstop is brought in. The A’S have one they might have interest in. Would love Bobby Whitt, but can’t see the Royals committing baseball suicide! Abram’s isn’t a good enough defender for me. Unless he’s acquired and moved to second base, which means Mookie would stay at shortstop. Ain’t happening. Starting pitching is well above average even without Ohtani. So even if Ohtani flees to the Angels or somewhere else, the pitching is superb. ( bullpen not included). If Ohtani continues to want to pitch, I believe his offense will continue to suffer, just like his physical ability to do both will continue to be a concern. So replacing him might not be as hard as we might think. I’m not saying he isn’t a great player, only a fool would think that. I don’t believe he can be elite at both pitching and batting anymore. Hell, trade Tucker if at all possible possible and make Ohtani the everyday right fielder. ( if he wants to do it which he probably won’t). Bottom line? The Dodgers are the Dodgers! They will never have a problem getting top talent to come play there. Not giving up on this season or the guys who have won it all 3 of the past 5 seasons. Signs are there. Mookie is swinging a good bat . Freddie too. Pages will be back and rested. Max is still proving lots of us to how little we really know about evaluating talent. Especially what’s in players hearts. Will Smith just missed a walkoff last night. Teo ? Maybe he gets hot just at the right time! Maybe someone else will be the “Sasaki” in the bullpen this postseason. The Brewers aren’t young and exciting. The Braves, Cubs, Phillies, all are talented and World Series contenders. But the champs are still champs until they aren’t.
The best thing about last night’s game was Alan Porter the HPU. Did you notice how many ABS Challenges there were. ZERO He may have missed 3 pitchers, all close ones in the 8th. The guy is the best in the business.
I'm okay with Friedman going to the Angels and taking Ohtani with him especially if Tucker is part of the package.
Then find a way to not have Kike', Rojas, Teo, ....
Thursday’s Dodger Affiliates' Schedule 1:00 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sean Patick) at Lake County (Jackson Humphries) Game 2: Great Lakes (Brooks Auger) vs. Lake County (Will McCausland) 4:45 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Jackson Ferris) at Round Rock (Blake Townsend) 5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Aidan Foeller) vs. Wichita (Cory Lewis) 6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Derek Clark)
AF/BG thought it was wise to bring back the same old group of characters with the additions of overpaid Tucker and Diaz for an historic run at a three peat,but instead they should have injected more talented youth to the roster from our minor league system or by trade. That might be the FATAL mistake that keeps the Dodgers from achieving that goal.Right now what I see and evaluate, I'm NOT sold on a third World Series Championship in three years. I'm hoping I'm wrong.
Things either change or in spite of winning the division we will not be in the playoffs for long.
Something is wrong with Ohtani physically. Give him some time off.
Back in the day the Dodgers had a name for the bullpen, they called it “canned heat”. This current bullpen needs a name also - I suggest “ The Arson Squad “.
I sure as hell hope that this is not the Team we take to the playoffs.
Nice rant.
I would to offer a rebuttal but I have none. I’ll leave that to others.