In his first game back from the DL last night, Rich Hill pitched 5 innings and allowed 6 hits while walking no one. He gave up one run and his ERA sits at 2.77. Some fans, like to criticize Hill because it means their irrational hatred of Andrew Friedman is somehow justified in their small minds. They criticized his rehab starts in RC because he walked a few batters because (of course) that is what they do. They are master critics who walk down the hill, after the battle is over, and shoot the wounded.
Let’s get one thing straight: Rich Hill is a very, very good pitcher. Not that he has always been a very good pitcher, but in the last year and a half he resurrected his career and is awesome… when he doesn’t have a blister. “Yeah, let’s make fun of that blister.” Anything to prove to yourself that Hill was a bad signing by FAZ. Dumb! But, you know, he throws a curveball… well a bunch of curveballs from all different angles, so it takes him a little longer to get the “feel.” That’s why he gets bombed in the Spring, but I think he is getting close. Hopefully, he has the blister figured out. After the game he told Alanna Rizzo:
“The ball came out of my hand well — not 100 percent the way I wanted to — but the one mistake to Brandon on a curveball that kind of hung. But overall everything came out the way I wanted to and the finger felt good. No issues there.”
You know, I respect differing opinions… especially when someone can articulate a position and defend it, with a sustainable and valid argument. For example, DodgerRick wants five starters who can pitch deep into games. That’s his goal and he dislikes anything less than that. He is unwavering and steadfast and presents artful arguments (like a lawyer) and while I don’t agree with him all the time (most of the time), I can respect his opinion.
The people who bother me are ones who never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge. Every comment is designed to support a circular argument that they have. The simplicity of their character makes them exquisitely incomprehensible to me. I can always predict with an absolute certainty what they will do…because they are so simple! If a player Andrew Friedman signed or traded for makes a mistake or does something other than excellence, they pile on like turkeys in the rain.
- At first I thought Doc’s lineup was dumb last night, but I think he was just trying to shake things up. It didn’t work, but I get what he was doing. Just don’t do it again, OK? 😉 I mean, at some point, you have to trust your bench. Taylor, Gutierrez, Turner and Hernandez all did their jobs, but Barnes, Puig, Pederson and SVS all failed. Barnes and Puig left 8 runners stranded. While not crazy about the lineup, players have to produce. SVS has not produced all year. When A-Gon comes back, he’s the odd man out. Joc, Puig and Van Slyke simply cannot hit lefties, I guess. Joc is hitting .174 against LH pitching – he is a platoon player. Sit him! Puig is hitting .159. Van Slyke is hitting .138. Pathetic! Grandal is hitting .133 against Lefties so Barnes was the right choice.
- Let Adrian hit #5 when he gets back. Keep Cody at #4!
- Minor League Report
- Shea Spitzbarth pitched 2 shutout innings upon his promo to AA. It is possible he could see LA THIS year! If you can pitch, you can pitch and he is a pitcher.
Discussion (59)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I saw the game – Kershaw was lights out – Orel was purring.
My question about how much we would be on the hook for Kemp has been answered. Approximately $10m a season. We need a RH thumper, who
hits lefties, and I know Kemp doesn’t tick every box, but he might feel like he has unfinished business in Dodger Blue.
That’s a great game from Walker Buehler!
I was at the game in SF today and just got home. Several observations:
1 – Puig hit the ball hard every time up. No bad ABs.
2 – Joc looks lost right now
3 – Kershaw didn’t have a good curve or a good slider but had great fastball command. The Giants were totally overmatched.
4 – No more Romo please
5 – Kike can’t hit righties
6 – Giants are in trouble. They have few hitter who can do anything and poor middle relief
A couple of notes with respect to last night’s and tonight’s minor league games.
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Fabio Castillo turned in a nice 6 inning effort for OKC. He allowed 1 run on 3 hits, no walks, and 8 strikeouts. He is not a SP prospect, but he may become a reliever when the other SP start to arrive. While Madison Younginer is beginning to heat up as a reliever, Jacob Rhame seems to be going the other way. Last night Rhame went one inning, gave up 1 run on 2 hits, with1 strikeout. While Younginer got his 3rd save with 1 inning, no runs or hits, 1 walk and 1 strikeout. His last four games he has pitched 10 innings, allowing no runs on 3 hits, one walk and 8 strikeouts. For the year, Madison has thrown 20.1 innings, allowing 4 runs, on 11 hits, 5 walks, and 26 strikeouts. His ERA is 2.01, with a .85 WHIP, and a .167 batting average against. Drew Maggi has been hitting very well since he came off the DL. With the one he hit last night, Calhoun now has 6 HRs for the year.
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As I projected last weekend, and as Mark noted above, Shea Spitzbarth got the promotion to AA, and in his first relief appearance for Tulsa, he went 2 innings, allowing no runs on 2 hits, with one strikeout. He has a nice rising fastball in the mid-90’s and a very tight curve that gets a fair amount of swing and miss. He has the mentality of a late inning reliever, and should continue to move up in the organization. OKC still has some outstanding relievers in Broussard, Somsen, and lately Younginer, along with Dayton and possibly Liberatore when he comes off the DL. But Spitzbarth may be special. Offensively, Tim Locastro and Edwin Rios had three hits apiece, with Rios getting his 7th HR and 31st RBI. Edwin leads the Texas League in RBIs and slugging, while he is #2 OPS. He has a very impressive line of .348/.371/.578/.949. Maybe he can become the next Kendrys Morales for the Royals in some kind of trade.
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Neither Devin Smeltzer (Great Lakes) or Yadier Alveraz (RC) were sharp last night, although Devin did go 6.2 innings on 89 pitches. He allowed 4 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, and 1 HR allowed. Alveraz went 3.2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. He just threw too many pitches (74 /40 strikes) in those 3.2 innings. Forsythe went 0-4 with 2 K in his most recent rehab, while AGon went 0-2 with 2 walks.
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Tonight at OKC Justin Masterson pitched against Tyler Beede, the Giants #1 prospect (#79 MLB top prospects). Masterson went 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. He allowed a 1st inning double and 1 out later a 2 run HR, for the only problem he had all game. Justin had no walks and 7 strikeouts. However, he threw 106 pitches (73 for strikes). Beede went seven, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits, 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. He threw 98 pitches. The Dodgers beat the River Cats 3-2 with a walk off Willie Calhoun HR (his 7th). I love it when the River Cats get beat, especially by the Dodgers. The Dodgers have won 3 straight and go for a 4 game sweep tomorrow. Jurrjens for the Dodgers and Gregorio for the River Cats.
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Tulsa was 7-4 winners over the Springfield Cardinals. Walker Buehler started tonight for Tulsa. He went 3.2 innings, no runs on 3 hits, 1 walk and 9 strikeouts. He threw 68 pitches. They are not going to let him throw too many this year. Offensively, Kyle Farmer and Tim Locastro had 3 hits apiece, while Fernandez, Rios, and Beaty had 2. Farmer and Beaty each hit their 2nd HR, and Farmer is now batting .327 for the year. Buehler also got a hit tonight. When are Farmer and Will Smith going to get their promotions?
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Great Lakes lost to the Lake County Captains (Indians) 10-7. Brendon Davis and Gage Green had two hits, and no Loons pitcher distinguished themselves tonight.
I like that lineup Mark! It clears up the SP logjam and some salary relief. If they would take Kike and Hatcher instead of Puig I would be all in. Leave Taylor at 2B and when Forsythe comes back he can be Kike only a better hitter. Utley stays on as team dad and spends extra time with Kemp and Puig about playing nice together.
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2 priests walk in a bar, and one says ‘do you know how to spoil a shutout?’ And the other says ‘Sure, put in Romo!’
I like Incarte, but NO Kemp, and I would only include Alvarez if it involved Mike Trout coming our way in another trade. Put Taylor at second, he has turned his game around, and trade Forsythe, and yes Joc and Puig need to be traded. And enough with Bellinger not at first base his natural position. AGon is just behind Utley; Utley’s engine is running on fumes, AGon has been on empty for too long. Where is all the depth – let them play.
Have another drink Mark and make it a Long Island Ice Tea since I come from there.
OK, how about this?
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The Dodgers trade Hyun-Jin Ryu, Yasiel Puig, Scott Kazmir ($30 million contract), Joc Pederson and Yadier Alvarez to ATL for Ender Incarte and Matt Kemp (against my better judgement)/
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Lineup:
1. Incarte CF
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Bellinger RF
5. Kemp LF
6. Gonzo 1B
7. Grandal C
8. Forsythe 2B
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Can you dig it?
Hey Mark, I was going to say that about Kike last night batting cleanup but since you bring the blind squirrel up..Puig has hit the ball hard all 3 times today, and leads the team in RBI’s and stolen bases and is tied with Cody for HR’s and probably has as many hard hit outs as anyone on the team. Joc on the other hand should watch how Bellinger takes the outside pitch the other way and quit trying to pull everything. He is either stubborn or not real smart, maybe both. He probably takes more called strike 3’s on a 3 and 2 pitch while already trotting to 1st than anyone I have ever seen. Umps probably hate him just a little for that stuff.
Always I was watching on my iPad and predictably Pederson struck out but with 2 strikes I knew puig would k but he didn’t great!!!! Those guys have to produce but with both hitting below 250 I don’t think we can expect much. But give him credit today.
Puig – Now that was clutch. Keep that up.
Mark our pitching is fine when healthy. Rich hill is a stud when healthy. He pitched well last night. Our problem is we cannot score. Pederson puig are just not good major league hitters. I think Pederson always works hard he is just limited in skills. Puig can’t hit a fastball very slow bat he provides good defense and very little else. Just throw utley a change up and he is done. Faz has got to work on the offense.
Cueto got it up to 93 but has thrown about 4 fastballs in 2 IP so far. Seager hit a 1st pitch single, Turner pulled one down the line and Grandal took an 0 and 2 change up off his shoes, dropped the barrel and doubled to right for 2 RBI’s. Nice start today, not trying to do too much with Cueto moving the ball around. Kershaw looks sharp so far. Not sure I like Utley leading off when you have Taylor but not gonna nitpick.
I think it’s gonna work out fine. Title of an old song done by several artist. Ike and Tina Turner’s version was probably biggest chartwise but from the moment I heard Ry Cooder’s instrumental version of it nearly 40 years ago it’s been my favorite piece of music. If Beethoven had heard it the ninth would had been just a little better. Sure, it’s rough viewing Giants beating Dodgers too often, but ‘I Think It’s Gonna Work Out Fine’.
Mark
How about that big hit, from Grandal!
I said I had to get used to these line ups. I am taking a stand. I am not going to get used to these kinds of lineup. I believe everyone should know their roles. That means we have eight starters, and four bench players. We need five starting pitchers. Give each starter a rest when they need it, and only one at a time. Seven in the bull pen without Romo and Hatcher.
If we have to depend upon Pederson and Puig to take us to the promised land, it will never happen. They both have been with us three years and I do not see any improvement. It is time for those two to fish or cut bait. Peterson is batting 216 on the season and Puig is batting 241 on the season. Bring up Thompson, Dickson or Verdugo. They certainly cannot do any worse than Puig and Pedersen. Put Kike and Taylor in the outfield. Do something.
The more I think about the last two games, the madder I get. Those pitchers from SF we should of hammered. We stink.
Hill did not pitch great, but something for him to improve on. One run on five innings is pretty good. Now, find five starters. I am pissed. I do not use that word very often.
I try to keep an open mind to what I see from game to game and be aware of the big picture of the long season. Roberts likes to keep everyone involved and stays with his veterans longer than most. They platoon more than I would prefer but like to play match ups. I did not like last nights lineup but understand it. SVS got one more chance and did not look good. He and Utley do not make the plays Cody and Agon do at 1B. Kike produced in the cleanup role, and Taylor delivered again. Gutierrez is hitting and if his body holds up playing the OF will stay. I expected 50/50 results from the 2 pitchers coming off the DL and McCarthy did worse than I thought he would and Hill did better, settling down as the game wore on. If he is past his blister issues moves way up on the starter depth chart. Tough decisions looming as all but Ryu have produced recently. Hatcher does fine in low leverage situations, Romo probably gets another chance or two. Dayton does not look the same this year but Fields, Baez, Avilan and Stripling have been consistent, Jansen his normal self. AGon’s return sends SVS down and when Forsythe is ready they will need a spot and one from Kike, Taylor, Utley or Gutierrez either goes down or to the DL, unless they cut back a pitcher. More intrigue and roster manipulation to come. Seems like a couple days ago they were poised to take first and now sit in 3rd but it is a long season. Winnable series are coming up and they catch the NL Central not playing all that well, this will be a big test outside of the division of where the team stands. Kershaw needs to be the stopper tonight and Cueto needs to pay for being a soft tosser these days. Don’t chase and make him throw fastballs behind in the count. Also put the ball in play, take walks and manufacture runs, hard to hit low curves out.
Last night decent pitching no scoring. It’s always something. SF appears to be about ready to get on a roll. Come on Dodgers, get with the program.
Going into the season I thought the greatest determinant as to how we would do was Joc and Puig. If they hit well, we’d win going away. If they played like last year we’d struggle
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Out rotation question marks were primarily who would be healthy, as we had quantity and quality. By and large our pitching keeps us in the game but we have to score runs to win.
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Puig and Joc are two of my favorite players but they aren’t getting it done.
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I’m not quite ready to cut ties, but am willing to listen to offers.
Hopefully Hatcher, Romo, Kike, and Van Suck will be replaced on the 25-man roster sooner than later.
Some teams just give some teams a very hard time. For the last couple of years, the Giants have been that team for the Dodgers. I hate that. I hate having coffee with my clients (and my best) who are former Giants. I hate having Giants fans wearing their WS jerseys/jackets/shirts. I am going to see a lot of them this weekend. But I will still be wearing my Dodger gear.
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I do not like that Seager and Bellinger are out the same game. While I agree that Barnes needs to play more, and against LHP, maybe it might have been better to have Grandal in the game with both Seager and Bellinger out. He does have the hot bat. Those were my only real complaints about last night’s lineup. Kike’ should just play against Giants lefthanders. Barnes not hitting in key situations is not good (but somewhat understandable), but Puig not hitting in key situations is not acceptable. He needs to clutch up, that is what he is there for. I have said it before and am more than willing to eat crow, but I keep hearing how much talent he has. Since 2014, we have not seen it. So was June 2013-2014 the outlier? Or is 2015-Present the outlier? Late and close Puig is .182/.280/.318/.598 (25 PA); team ahead he is .267/.343/.500/.843 (70 PA) vs. team behind he is .226/.268/.377/.645 (56 PA). Puig leads the league in GIDP with 11. And I know he is only 26. SVS not hitting is now expected.
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I am not altogether sure where Joc is at? He was making good improvements last year, but he seems to be reverting back to 2nd half 2015. But until there is a better option, Joc is the only CF choice the Dodgers have. Thus it is even more important that Puig produce, especially against LH .171/.239/.195/.434 (46 PA). Because of Joc’s power potential, a little more patience is warranted, but he is going to have to begin producing. My clients do not care what my credentials are. All they care about is if I get the Business Plan to the lenders on time, and file their tax returns on time. In my audit days, the SEC did not care what my potential was. All they cared about was making sure that our client’s audit was completed in order to file annual reports before the deadlines. Talent and potential are great, but it is production that wins games. The pitchers seem to be pulling their weight, now it is the offenses turn to clutch up.
I’ve been watching a lot of games of the best team in baseball right now (Astros), and our starters don’t compare to those of Houston. The biggest difference is that they are healthy. Houston has a relief pitcher that can pitch several innings 2-3 days in a row, and they use him like Cleveland used that guy last year. Statistically, there might not be much difference, but take a look at wins and losses. On the offensive side, the Astros can field almost 2 teams with players who consistently produce. This is the team the Dodgers will have to beat at some point, and unless Kershaw can pitch every day, or the batting light weights start producing, I don’t see much of a chance. BTW: At least OKC beat the Sacto giants. I can’t believe we can’t play the giants better than we do. It’s been going on for several years now. The Dodgers are the only team against whom the giants have a winning record. Unbelievable. I’m afraid of a sweep today. Kershaw will have to be better than he has been lately.
Hill did pitch better then I thought he would, last night.
It didn’t look good early with him after he walked the first hitter, and hit the next batter, but Hill didn’t allow the game, get out of hand, after that.
He had much better control then I thought he would have, but I will have to see how he pitches against a team, with a better offense.
But since I haven’t seen, or heard anything about a blister, the news seems to be good with Hill, at this point in the season.
Taylor and Kike did provide most of the offense last night, and they probably had the two hardest hit balls, last night too.
And about Puig, Joc, and Barnes, I wouldn’t expect as much from Barnes, as I would, from Puig and Joc.
Barnes does not get close to the same amount of at bats, as those two, and he is only in his first year.
I think we are lucky that he has been able to provide some offense, with the few games, he plays in.
But I think your right, it does look at this point, that Joc and Puig, are not going to make any big gains this year.
They are what they are, so I don’t expect them, to do much more, then they have already done.
And that is why I was high on Toles, because he seemed like he would be a more consistent hitter, and that would help this offense, to be more productive.
Because we don’t have a lot of hitters in our line up, that consistently make contact, and keep our offense, moving.
And the fact that Toles had more power then I thought, and seemed to be able to hit in the clutch, was like having the icing, on the cake.
I don’t think Puig should automatically start and play, in every game either, because he hasn’t done much against lefties, this year.
And he has had reverse splits, throughout his career against lefties, to an extent.
I see Puig hitting his best, toward the back of our line up, because there is less pressure, hitting in the back of the line up.
Because it seems like Puig tries to do to much, when he hits higher in the line up, and at times, when he is under pressure, in clutch situations.
And I don’t understand why Joc never seems to have a swing down, when he comes to spring training.
It is hard to learn a new swing, and use one, at the begining of the second month, of the season.
Players do make adjustments with their swings as the season goes along, , but it isn’t big incremental changes, like Joc seems to make, after the season has already begun.
“Turkeys in the rain”?
I remember as a youngster being out at Lakeside Golf Course watching “Soldier in the Rain” with Steve McQueen, Jackie Gleason and Tuesday Weld being filmed, but I’ve never heard of turkeys in the rain. Must be messy.
I hope we never see another starting line-up without both Seager and Bellinger. It made no sense.
Come on, Clayton…don’t let the bastards bring out the brooms.
Just a thought, but if we took Kemp back, would that be cost efficient as aren’t we on the hook for 50% of his earnings?
… and we have a Big Bopper with another coming back soon…
M.T. Where’s the music???
I’ll leave the articulating and subtracting from the sum of human knowledge (sounds like a line from Genius currently on the tube)…
With a loss like that last night, I could use a little of Lynard Skynard or Little Feat to uplift my soul…
Oh yeah patrons of LADodgertalk, how does a big bopper in the middle of the lineup sound to ya now???