Shake it Up!

Dodgers now 50 games over .500. Can’t remember the last time that happened this early in the season. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I wrote this a few days ago, but man, Cingrani has some filthy stuff. Next year, he will be a ridic valuable piece in the pen. Honeycutt is going to make this guy our Andrew Miller/Brad Hand. Thank you Farhan!

I’m watching the White Sox feed and when Forsythe singled they called him “an on-base machine.”

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Maybe not a “Machine” but his OB% is close to .370, and .422 against LH pitching.

Brock Stewart draws the start for OKC tonight. Kyle Farmer will be playing 1B just to add to his repertoire.

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Josh Sborz does get the start for Tulsa.

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Jordan Sheffield will get his second Rancho start this evening.

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Dustin May was reinstated from the DL to start tonight’s game for Great Lakes.

Taylor

Seager

Turner

Bellinger

Grandal

Puig

Forsythe

Pederson

Uh oh, Puig batting 6th!!!! Looks like some of our cries were heard after all!

Hatcher gone??? Great news!!!!!

Wahoooooo! Chris Hatcher traded to A’s for International $$$$

The Dodgers traded Chris Hatcher to Oakland for international amateur signing bonus pool space. IF/OF Rob Segedin reinstated from 60-day DL

Chris Hatcher is no longer a Dodger. He was traded to the A’s for $500K International bonus $$$.

I don’t understand all of the fulminations over Puig’s maturity or lack of it. We aren’t in the clubhouse so we don’t know. I haven’t heard the press leak the kind of complaints that his shenanigans lead to in the past. He isn’t making the kind of mistakes that he made before either. Maturity? Who knows, but maybe.

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The batting order doesn’t really matter as much as we fans think that it does.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/how-significant-is-batting-order/

That being said, I tend to go with the “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” theory. Move Puig up? Maybe – but if he’s hitting well where he is, do they move him? I agree that the Dodgers need to look to protect Cody in the 4th spot. I’m not sure whether Puig is the answer.

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Agree that both Joc and Forsythe are not contributing offensively. For those who say that Forsythe has a high OBP, I would note that his SLG is .312! He doesn’t have enough AB to qualify but if he did that would be third to last in all of MLB. And that’s with a platoon that favors his splits. Do the Dodgers need to make a change? We wouldn’t be talking about it at all except that Gonzalez is returning.

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Why would the Marlins take on a bunch of salary for players who won’t contribute in trade for Stanton? That’s never going to happen.

AC makes a good case for Puig not hitting against LH pitching. Call up Ramos. Platoon Puig – he’s horrible against LH pitching.

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One final thing: With all the issues with Pederson, Puig and Forsythe, the Dodgers are the best team is baseball and could set the all time win total. What is there to fix? It’s working.

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I’d do the Stanton deal Hawkeye suggests but I think it would have to include PTBNL (Puig) and Alvarez, Verdugo and Diaz.

MINOR LEAGUE REPORT – 08-14-2017

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OKC beat Round Rock Express (Rangers) 9-4. Eddie Gamboa started and went 6.0 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. Josh Ravin & Edward Paredes each pitched one inning allowing 1 walk and 2 strikeouts each.. Offensively, O’Koyea Dickson went 3-4 (double), Edwin Rios and Tim Locastro each went 2-5 (double), while Alex Verdugo went 2-3 with a double and his 6th HR. Rob Segedin got another hit and is seems to be settling into a solid routine, and is just about ready. He will probably have to wait and get that September call up, and then fight for a Post Season roster spot (although unlikely).

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Tulsa did not play Monday. Josh Sborz is scheduled to start today against Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros).

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Rancho Cucamonga lost 7-6 to the Stockton Ports (A’s). Devin Smeltzer started and went 6.0 innings. He allowed 4 runs on 7 hits, 1 walk, and 7 strikekouts. He was in a position for the win until his bullpen gave up single runs in the 8th, 9th, and 10th innings. Offensively Keibert Ruiz had a three hit night. He now has 98 AB (just about at that magic 100 AB mark), and is batting .327/.358/.551/.910. Not bad for a 19 year old catcher at A+ level. Including his time at Great Lakes, Ruiz is now batting a combined .320/.368/.462/.830 for the season. Andre Ethier went 2-3 including a 2 out RBI single. AGon went 0-5, including leaving runners in scoring position with 2 outs twice last night. Arie Sandoval &Brandon Montgomery also got 2 hits each. DJ Peters smacked his 23rd HR. DJ has had a fantastic year at A+ after skipping an entire level (full season low A at Great Lakes).

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Great Lakes lost 5-0 to the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays). Melvin Jimenez was touched up in his 4.2 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits, 0 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Gavin Lux had another multi-hit game. Gavin has hit .333 over his last 10 games and seems to be getting better acclimated to this level. Hopefully this bodes well going into the off-season and 2018 (probably at RC as a 20 year old).

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Ogden beat Great Falls Voyagers (White Sox) 5-2. Christian Stolo started and went 5.1 innings allowing a single run on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Patrick Duester pitched the next 3.1 innings also allowing a single run on 1 hit, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. Austin Hamilton got the final out for his 2nd save. Rylan Bannon went 2-3 with his 5th HR, Romer Cuadrado 2-4 and his 6th HR, and Brock Carpenter 2-4 and his 4th HR.

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AZL Dodgers beat AZL Brewers 4-2. James Marinan started and went 2 innings (his longest professional outing). He did not allow a run or hit, issued 2 walks, and one strikeout. Ike Davis and Stetson Allie continued their quest to become pitchers. Aneurys Zabala pitched his 4th consecutive scoreless outing. I like to follow Zabala because he came with Drew Jackson in the Chase DeJong trade. Luis Pasan pitched the final 2 innings allowing 0 runs on 1 hit, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts notching his 4th save. Shakir Albert and Jair Camargo led the offense with 3 hit and 2 RBI nights. Albert hit his 1st triple and 1st HR on the year. Eric Meza and Marcus Chiu had two hits apiece. After a very slow start, Chiu (15th round draft choice) is starting to get very comfortable at the plate. In his last 10 games he is batting .444 with 15 hits, including 1 HR and 3 doubles raising his season average from .203 to .279.

I just fixed the 5 hole

Taylor-CF

Seager-SS

Turner-3B

Belly-1B

Stanton-LF

Grandal-C

Puig-RF

Forsythe-2B

Winning Pitcher

The Marlins sound open to taking a bad contract to lower the value. Send them Gonzo(before his 10/5 rights kick in), McCarthy, Joc, Kazmir and a pitching prospect not named Buehler. You have just bought down Stanton’s deal by about $41 million.

Gonzo-$21.5 million

McCarthy-$11 million

Kazmir-$8 million

Joc-$1 million

Marlins add Joc, McCarthy, and a pitchig prospect. Probably release Gonzo or trade him. Don’t need him. Joc would be under team control for 3 years. McCarthy cheap for two years plus a pitching prospect for a SP starved franchise. Dodgers still have Toles and Verdugo for OF depth and if they want to move Taylor to 2B. The Dodgers also reset their luxury tax by ridding themselves of more money than they’re taking on for 2018. They have also bought down to the total package of Stanton’s deal to an affordable amount by not only ridding themselves of salaries, but also luxury tax penalties on those salaries.

Their policy of Hall of Fame only (only Jim Gilliam is the exception) and retiring as a Dodger makes some sense, keeps it exclusive. Don Sutton returned for his final year as a Dodger. Piazza decided to go in as a Met and Beltre will probably go in as a Ranger. I think Fernando has proved his Dodger roots and loyalty. It bothers me to see Joc wearing Piazza’s 31 but that’s life, and he has shunned the Dodgers after his trade. I look forward to seeing Kershaw’s 22 retired some day.

On a different subject, what is everyone’s thoughts on the Dodgers expanding their retired jersey list? Off hand, I think Hodges, Wheat, and maybe Wills and Fernando are deserving. Even O’Malley (although there would be no number, just a plaque like Vinny’s). Interested in reading your opinions.

I completely agree Harlan, it is simply those that see the maturity versus those that don’t, us that see Puig growing as a player with Turner Ward versus those that say he can’t bat 5th because of a whopping 30 AB’s back in April, the same that have wanted him gone for years because of his “clubhouse demeanor”, when the kid took a boat here from Cuba, didnt speak a lick of English, knew nothing of American morals but compared the same way…..look at at his English and club demeanor now? What do you say?

You either like him or you don’t, any other player not named Puig with his stats would be higher in this batting order

Talk about double standard, want to bat Joc 5th and his .216BA? No problem! Utley? No problem! Forsythe? No problem! Grandal? No Problem!

Wait, you say try Puig?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Call the National Guard!!!!!!

I consider Puig’s major league career to have begun a short time ago when he bonded with Turner Ward. Earlier, he was learning things he should have learned in the minor leagues. Quite a contrast now from the past couple of years when every trade proposal suggested by fans seemed to include Puig. I like to see Puig’s name in the starting lineup because it suggests that I am going to see something amazing during the game–win or lose.

Tend to agree Al.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

AC

I agree with you on Joc and Puig. However, I believe Puig gets a pass because he is an elite defender and Joc is average. Early this season I felt we could have better options in centerfield and right field. As the season has progressed Puig has gotten better at the plate and Joc has not. In fact, I think Pederson has regressed. I think it may be a case where both players are at right now late in the season.

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I do not want to move Puig from the 8th hole to the 5th. It has been tried and did not work. Second, I am afraid of Puig’s mental side. What will happen to him if he goes to the 5th spot and fails. Will he be the same player as now back in the 8th hole. I am not sure. That is why I would not change Puig. He is happy right now, do not mess with him. Puig has all the physical tools to be a great player. Mentally, he is very fragile.

The question is, has Puig reached a new level of maturity as the season has progressed that will enable him to hit sucessfully higher up in the order, past stats notwithstanding? I don’t know, and probably no one else here knows. That’s a decision I leave to Dave Roberts and the coaching staff. I trust that they know best.

I am continually amazed at the double standard when it comes to Yasiel Puig. I do not remember anyone calling for Puig to be removed from the Post Season roster for either 2015 or 2016 as some are calling for Joc. So Puig gets a pass for 2+ years of under production and poor demeanor/attitude. Too bad Joc and Logan do not get the same pass (without the bad attitude). Now some want Puig moved to hit 5th where he is batting a sterling .033/.094/.133/.227 vs. 8th where he is successful batting .278/.362/.546/.908. While batting 5th he has 1 HR in 32 PA, while batting 8th he has 1 HR/16 PA. Even batting 6th his slash line is .333/.400/.333/.733 (6 singles – no HR in 20 PA).

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In the scenarios I have read, none have included a Puig platoon. Joc is rightfully criticized for his .191/.283/.298/.581 splits against LHP. But nobody wants to hold Yasiel to the same standard as Joc, as his splits against LHP is worse at .146/.280/.202/.483. Yasiel has 21 HRs, but only 1 against LHP. If those calling for Joc to be platooned (no argument from me), then why isn’t Puig also being considered a platoon option.

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With respect to batting 5th over Logan, I repeat that Yasiel is batting .033/.094/.133/.227 batting 5th while Logan is batting .266/.385/.316/.702 while batting 5th. Batting 7th – 9th Forsythe is batting .158/.288/.158/.446. I am not sure why some are calling for Doc to mess with the lineup order. The team seems to have better offensive production with Logan batting 5th and Yasiel 8th. I am not emotionally invested in any of Puig, Pederson, or Forsythe, so whatever happens with the lineup as long as the Dodgers win I am okay. So far, Doc seems to be doing okay with his lineups. I will keep trusting his judgement.

IF Gonzo is healthy he can give Bellinger one day off per week until October, pinch hit, and then DH in the World Series.

This might take the place of the Dodger game today.

https://www.facebook.com/peopleareawesome/videos/1393626100686564/

Doc is going to give Agon a chance to show us what he can do. They are going to give Hatcher a chance. That is what Doc does. If they fail, it will be on them. Either will be given a chance to see what he can do as a pinch hitter. It is what Doc does. It is what Doc does. They have the time to do it this way. He will give every pitcher a chance to prove themselves. The competition within the team is great for this team.

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They will have that conversation with Taylor and Bellinger about playing different positions. However, those two are going to play. I will bet, no proof, those two will approach Doc before Doc approaches them. Taylor and Bellinger room together. They are good teammates. Joc is the problem. They will not let him into the playoffs batting like he is now. Let Forsythe and Utley platoon at second. If Ramos comes up and plays well, move Taylor to second.

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Why do you want to move Puig to 5th in the batting order? Doc has already tried it. It did not work. If it is not broken, leave it alone. Bat him 8th.

Buehler K’d Tree Trunks Calhoun yesterday.

Vegas Dodger,

I hope you had some money on Puig yesterday at Del Mar. 2nd at 32-1.

Agon can definitely help if he can hit at close to his regular ability. If he’s healthy we know what we’ll get on defense. Can’t know unless it’s tried. At least vs rights. Belli a very good outfielder. Seems like something the Dodgers are probably already brainstorming.

https://www.truebluela.com/2017/8/10/16126670/dodgers-second-base-offense-logan-forsythe-chase-utley-chris-taylor

Maybe Ramos is this year’s Toles but his previous 7 years of minor league ball would suggest differently. Yes, I know he picked up baseball late in life. However, with the Dodgers history of babying players they would probably put him in the 8 hole not 5th.

Let’s put Eibner on the 60-day DL and find out what Ramos has to offer. I will say some are going to be disappointed by some players who won’t be called up. We recently talked about players who might be DFA’d or moved to the 60-day DL to make room for additions to the 40 man roster. Let me remind people that putting Urias on the 60-day DL counts as major league service time so I don’t think the Dodgers want him sitting on the major league DL this year and next year and then lose him to free agency earlier.

Puig is not the same hitter he was in the past. Less anxious and isn’t pressing as much. He’s won some battles in clutch situations the second half of this season and to think he can only do that in the 8 hole is ridiculous. I hate seeing innings or games end with Puig on deck because Utley, Forsythe, Grandal, or Joc are getting more AB’s.

If it’s not broke don’t fix it, right? Well, the 5 hole is broke. I’d rather see Forsythe drawing walks there than what Joc is doing, but I’d rather see Puig there and I find out now if he can handle it or not.

I can see management calling Bellinger and Taylor into his office for a little brain storming session. If Taylor agrees to move to CF and Bellinger agrees to move to LF and if AGon can step back into his old role of hitting while playing first base, it might be worth a try.

CF Taylor

SS Seager

3B Turner

LF Bellinger

RF Puig

1B AGon

C Grandal

2B Logan / Chase

This would be the best option I see but would the chemistry be lost?

That’s the million dollar question………………………

Taylor should take a lot of balls in center field in the off season. Right now he looks real comfortable in left. As good a source as Rick Monday said Taylor looked very good in center when he played it earlier this year. Right now the Dodgers don’t seem comfortable with that. I’m comfortable with whatever the Dodgers think. They’ve made quite a few good calls lately. Might say I’ve ingested FAZ flavored kool aid.

I am only willing to have A-Gon back, if healthy and part of that could be against RH pitchers only, but you have to give him a chance, the same as you have to give Andre a chance!

Utley is at .235 as Mark notes, but he has been making hard contact lately and is about to get those line drives to fall in for hits or go over instead of to the warning track. I’m sure Roberts has noticed the weak swings Forsythe has had against RHP and Kike too for that matter. Both have been sitting against RHP lately.

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AGon will probably only start against RHP so Cody will move to LF to spell Taylor or Taylor moves to CF and Joc sits. Joc has started every game he has been healthy this year against RHP. It would be swapping AGon for Joc and I’m ok with that. Cody will still hit playing in LF and Taylor can handle CF. Kike probably still starts against LHP in CF along with Forsythe at 2B.

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The schedule is still so soft with 2 off days sandwiched around the last place White Sox. They go out on the road to face the second to last place Detroit Tigers then to Pittsburgh who are currently 2 games below .500. Then back home to face Milwaukee who are just 2 games over .500, then an off day before traveling to Phx for a rematch with the Snakes.

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I am rooting hard for the Cards to pass the Cubs, I think they are a much easier match up in a potential playoff series. The Nats have to be hoping that their injured players: Harper, Strasburg, Turner and Werth come back to contribute. With no Strasburg their rotation falls off a cliff after Scherzer and Gio. Old friend Howie Kendrick is raking for the Nats and just had a walk off grand slam. He would love to do some damage to the Dodgers. The Dodgers would face the winner of the wild card playoff in the 1st round, and either the Cubs, Cards or Brewers face the Nats. So should we root for the Cubs who on paper might have a better chance to beat the Nats in their series or the hot but flawed team who would be an easier match up if they knock off the Nats? I am sure the Dodgers will say they don’t care who they face but I am sure they would rather see the Nats knocked out. Greinke in a WC playoff might get the edge but only if it’s in AZ and not Coors. I would prefer to face the Rocks with their pitching but the Dodgers have proven they can beat both teams. What say you?

I hate to be the one to break this to you but Adrian will never, never, again produce to a .300 avg 100 RBIs, 30HRs. Cody only needs a very few breaks before the end on the season. I just say that I think it is a very bad move. Let Cody continue unless there is a good reason to remove him. Yes, you have commented many times on Agons performance. I enjoy your posts. Thanks

Mark

I think your right about Agone, and if Agone is not right, I don’t think he will want to get in the way, but we have to see what he can do, because he would be valuable, if he can hit like he did last year, in the second half.

I don’t think your being fair to Chase about his batting average, because he is not getting consistent at bats, and playing almost everyday, like Forsythe is.

And I would bet that Chase has more extra base hits, then Forsythe.

And although Chase didn’t get a hit yesterday, he hit the ball hard, and that is something that Forsythe doesn’t do to often.

How many times has anyone seen Forsythe even hit a ball to the warning track, this year?

I have not seen him hit much beyond a grounder up the middle, and if he has hit a extra base hit, it was probably a double down the rightfield or leftfield line, but I don’t remember him hitting many, extra base hits.

But I do know Forsythe does much better, against lefties!

I do think Roberts should give even our young players, a blow down the stretch.

Corey said last year, his legs were getting tired or weak, from playing so much.

Since these kids don’t play as many games in the minors, they don’t know how the long season, will play on their body, so I think definitely, that Cody, Corey, and Taylor, should get some rest down the stretch to keep them strong and fresh , for the post season.

But I know Roberts will do that!

AGON will be a nice LH PH piece in the playoffs and nothing more I suspect, unless he absolutely rips the cover off the ball. Once activated Doc will play him to see what he offers and if we’re a better team with him in the starting line-up, Cody goes to LF and moves CT3 to CF. If not, AGON stays on the bench and is used as a PH, veteran status and ego aside. WS or bust and I suspect AGON has privately accepted his plight and will be an excellent teammate. He wants a ring and will do anything to get LA one.

I have no idea which Agone we’ll see upon his return, but he deserves an opportunity to show us. I think it’d be amazing if he has his stroke to all fields working.

Right now, Forsythe doesn’t cut it batting 5, and neither do Joc or Grandal. Puig would be ideal, but who knows if it would work. Maybe Turner Ward knows. But Agone wouldn’t need any power batting 5. He’d need to continue rallies and get clutch hits to al fields. That’s the ideal #5 hitter for us. Get those guys in!

“I do not think A-Gon will be back unless he is healthy and assuming he is healthy he could very easily be the .300 clutch hitter he used to be. The Dodgers will not bring him back to be a .250 singles hitter. So, assuming he does make it back, you also have to assume he is the 1B we used to know.”

This is what needs to be figured out over the next month and a half. I agree with Mark, they do not bring back the .250 singles hitter. I am OPTIMISTIC he will be the .300 guy we used to know, in that case, he has to play.

I can see Agon giving Cody a breather ever now and then and also playing 1st when Cody switches to LF to give Taylor a day off. But, for the most part, I see him coming off the bench so as not to disturb a good thing.

Why say OK, let’s put Adrian back into his old spot?

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As I said, I do not put Adrian back there unless he’s healthy and can produce (over a full season) a .300 BA, 30 HR and 100 RBI. However, if he is healthy and can put those numbers up, the answer is obvious.

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How do you integrate him back into the lineup? Slowly, let him start a couple of times and see what happens. The results will dictate where you go with this. There has been no one more vocal about A-Gon’s decline than me. I have been saying for 3 years, but if his decline is due to his back and he is now healthy, I give him a shot because there in not a team in baseball who couldn’t use that kind of bat.

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Ramos is playing CF at AAA and might be able to play in the Majors, as he has played CF just a little less than RF, but I am sure CT3 can play CF.

With the Dodger’s foot on the gas pedal and running stronger than they ever have in their history, I do not think it is time to make a change and move Adrian into Cody’s spot at 1st base. Sometimes that kind of change will upset the applecart. Both Cody and Chris are entrenched in their respective postions and their places in the batting order. Why say OK, let’s put Adrian back into his old spot. It is now Cody’s position to lose. It is more important to give confidence to Cody than massage Adrian’s ego. Cody is a better player than Adrian. This year is very special and I do not think the Dodgers should do anything to lose their magic.

I have not followed Ramos closely. Can he play centerfield as I do believe that Joc is a weak link?