This was written by Bumsrap. When we start the new site, his name will appear as the author, but it does not here.
Rob: I heard it again after last night’s game.
Dawn: “The Dodgers buy championships?”
Rob: Every. Single. Time.
Ethan: Well…the Dodgers do spend a lot of money.
Rob: Exactly! Why does everybody act like that’s some kind of secret?
Dawn: Because it’s easier than having a longer conversation.
Rob: Fine. Let’s have the longer conversation.
Ethan: Good. Here’s my first question.
What exactly does money buy?
Rob: Players.
Ethan: Only players?
Rob: Isn’t that enough?
Dawn: Not if you want to explain why some expensive teams win and some don’t.
Rob: You’re talking about the Angels, aren’t you?
Dawn: I wasn’t going to name names.
Rob: I’ll do it. They had Mike Trout. They had Shohei Ohtani. They signed expensive free agents. They spent money.
Ethan: And yet they struggled to build a consistent winner.
Rob: So payroll isn’t everything.
Ethan: No. But payroll definitely matters.
Dawn: Let’s not pretend otherwise.
Ethan: Since the Wild Card era began, almost every World Series champion has had a payroll in the top half of baseball.
Rob: So the critics are right.
Ethan: They’re partly right.
Rob: I hate “partly right.”
Dawn: Everybody does.
Ethan: Here’s what I think gets overlooked.
Teams acquire talent four ways.
They draft it.
They sign it internationally.
They trade for it.
Or they sign free agents.
Rob: That’s the whole menu.
Ethan: No.
That’s just how the ingredients get into the kitchen.
Dawn: I like that.
Rob: I don’t.
Dawn: Of course you don’t.
Ethan: Two organizations can draft equally talented players.
One develops an All-Star.
The other develops a career minor leaguer.
Rob: So now we’re talking about development.
Ethan: Coaching.
Scouting.
Analytics.
Biomechanics.
Medical staff.
Nutrition.
Technology.
Rob: None of those hit cleanup.
Dawn: No…
They help create the guy who eventually does.
Rob: Okay, I’ll give you that.
But money still buys an advantage.
Ethan: Absolutely.
It buys something fans rarely talk about.
Rob: What’s that?
Ethan: The ability to survive mistakes.
Rob: Explain.
Ethan: Imagine two teams each sign the same pitcher to a huge contract.
Six weeks later he needs Tommy John surgery.
Rob: Happens all the time.
Ethan: One team replaces him.
The other spends the next three years trying to recover from the contract.
Dawn: Big payroll doesn’t eliminate risk.
It changes how much risk you can afford.
Rob: So rich teams can gamble more often.
Ethan: Exactly.
Rob: I hadn’t thought about it that way.
Dawn: Most fans don’t.
They only see the contract.
They don’t see the safety net.
Rob: Okay, but what about the draft?
Everybody says the Dodgers always pick near the bottom because they’re good.
Ethan: That’s true.
Which means somebody else is picking near the top.
Rob: Because they weren’t good.
Ethan: Right.
And historically, the very top draft picks produce far more value than the average player drafted later in the first round.
Rob: So bad teams aren’t just getting first choice.
They’re getting a valuable asset.
Ethan: Exactly.
Dawn: Baseball has been trying to balance competition for decades.
Draft order.
Luxury tax.
International bonus pools.
Years of team control.
They’re all designed to keep the same teams from dominating forever.
Rob: So who’s got the bigger advantage?
The team with the biggest payroll…
or the team drafting first every July?
Ethan: I don’t think that’s the right question.
Rob: Then what’s the right question?
Ethan: Which organization does the best job turning its advantages into wins?
Dawn: Now we’re getting somewhere.
Rob: So let’s compare.
The Dodgers spend money.
The Dodgers develop players.
The Dodgers usually draft late.
The Dodgers trade prospects.
The Dodgers sign free agents.
They seem to do everything.
Ethan: That’s the point.
People argue about one advantage.
Organizations try to build all of them.
Rob: So when people say, “The Dodgers buy championships…”
Dawn: …they’re only describing part of the picture.
Ethan: They’re buying free agents.
They’re investing in player development.
They’re expanding scouting.
They’re building depth.
They’re improving the chances that good decisions turn into good players.
Rob: Which still doesn’t guarantee anything.
Ethan: Ask the Angels.
Rob: Ouch.
Dawn: Baseball is full of expensive disappointments.
Rob: So after all this…
what actually wins baseball games?
Ethan: Talent.
Rob: That’s it?
Ethan: No.
Talent that’s acquired well.
Talent that’s developed well.
Talent that stays healthy.
Talent that fits together.
And talent backed by an organization that makes more good decisions than bad ones.
Rob: That’s a lot less satisfying than saying, “They bought it.”
Dawn: Maybe.
Ethan: But it’s probably a lot closer to the truth.
Rob: You know what?
Dawn: What?
Rob: Baseball would be a lot simpler if every answer fit on a bumper sticker.
Dawn: It would also be a lot less interesting.
Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston) 3 – OKC Comets 2
RHSP Cole Irvin pitched 5 scoreless innings to start the game. He allowed a double and single with 2 BB and 6 K.
OKC scored a run in the 3rd inning when DH Jack Suwinski singled and moved to 2nd on the sac bunt by C Eliézer Alfonzo. SS Noah Miller and RF Zach Ehrhard both singled with Suwinski scoring on Ehrhard’s.
In the 4th, both 1B James Tibbs III (19) and Suwinski (20) doubled to give OKC a 2-0 lead.
Irvin took that 2-0 lead into the 6th. He left the game with 2 outs in the 6th and 2 runners on. RHRP Griff McGarry walked the first two batters he faced, allowing 1 run to score. RHRP Keynan Middleton entered in the 7th
Inning to try to preserve the lead. He allowed a one out BB, and two out single before giving up a 2-run double and the lead.
Sugar Land did not allow a run after the 4th inning.
- Ryan Ward – 2-4
- Jack Suwinski – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (20)
- James Tibbs III – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, double (19)
Tulsa Drillers 11 – Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 7
Tulsa started the night off with 3 runs in the 1st inning. RF Josue De Paula doubled (25) and CF Mike Sirota singled JDP to 3rd. SS Elijah Hainline tripled (1) to score 2. Hainline scored the 3rd run on 1B Jake Gelof’s SF.
LHSP Adam Seerwinski had a stellar June. He had 5 starts and reached 27.2 IP. He had a 1.63 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .161 BAA, and 27 K. On this night, he had a forgettable game. He got through 3.0 IP, allowing 6 runs, 6 hits, 2 BB, 6 K, and FOUR HRs.
Tulsa started to climb back in the 4th, when LF Zyhir Hope hit a solo HR (14).
RHRP Roque Gutierrez relieved Serwinowski in the 4th. He pitched a scoreless 4th and 5th inning, but in the 6th, he gave up a leadoff solo HR.
Tulsa came to bat in the 8th trailing 7-4. Hope led off with a single and continued to 3rd on Gelof’s double (12). DH Kole Myers followed with a 2-run double, closing the score to 7-6.
Tulsa unloaded in the 9th. JDP walked and Sirota singled. Hainline walked to load the bases. Hope singled to score JDP with the tying run. Gelof followed with a grand slam (16) giving the Drillers a 4-run lead.
Gutierrez finished off a scoreless 7th and 8th for 5.0 complete IP. RHRP Antonio Knowles pitched a clean 9th to preserve the win for Tulsa.
- Zyhir Hope – 4-5 3 runs, 2 RBI, HR (14)
- Jake Gelof – 2-4, 2 runs, 5 RBI, double (12), HR (16)
- Mike Sirota – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs
- Josue De Paula – 1-4, 2 BB, 2 runs, double (25)
- Kole Myers – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI, double (2)
- Elijah Hainline – 1-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, triple (1)
Great Lakes Loons 6 – Ft. Wayne TinCaps (San Diego) 2
Four Loons pitchers pitched 8 scoreless innings with 3 hits, 4 hits, and 9 K. Then the 9th and RHRP Reynaldo Yean.
LHSP Jakob Wright started and completed 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings. He walked 1 and struck out 4.
In the 2nd inning, LF Samuel Munoz hit his 4th HR to take a 1-0 lead. In the 3rd inning with 2 outs, RF Eduardo Quintero was HBP and scored on 3B Logan Wagner’s double (13).
RHRP Robby Porco entered in the 3rd. He pitched 2.2 scoreless innings with 2 hits, 1 BB, and 1 K.
In the 5th, with one out, CF Charles Davalan walked and scored on Quintero’s 2 run HR (6).
With 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th inning, LHRP Justin Chambers came in to get the last out. He got through 2.0 additional scoreless innings without a hit.
In the 7th, Davalan tripled (1) and Quintero singled him home.
In the 8th, SS Emil Morales homered (9) to finish the Loons scoring.
After RHRP Seamus Barrett pitched a scoreless 8th, allowing 1 hit, and struck out 3. Yean entered the 9th to bring the win home. He faced 3 batters. Walk, single, single to load the bases. RHRP Davis Chastain came in to try and shut down the threat. He induced a flyout, gave up a 2-run double, and struck out two to end the game.
- Eduardo Quintero – 2-3, 1 HBP, 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR (6)
- Samuel Munoz – 1-4, 1 tun, 1 RBI, HR (4)
- Emil Morales – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1RBI, HR (9)
- Charles Davalan – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 runs, triple (1)
Ontario Tower Buzzers 10 – Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado) 4
RHSP Hyun-Seok Jang was not able to replicate his last outing. He had a rough 1st inning. He allowed 3 singles, 1 BB, 1 WP, 1 SF producing 3 runs.
3B Easton Shelton hit a leadoff HR in the 2nd to trim the lead to 3-1.
Ontario tied it up in the 3rd, when 2B Kellon Lindsey walked and RF Jaron Elkins singled. Shelton doubled both runners home.
In the 4th, Ontario took the lead when DH Landyn Vidourek hit his 6th HR.
Ontario picked up a pair of runs in the 5th when CF Kendall George reached on an error and scored on Elkins 2-run HR (9).
Up 5-3, Ontario scored 5 in the 6th. LF Brendan Tunink and Vidourek singled. C Bryan Gonzalez-Garcia singled to load the bases. 1B Mairo Martinus and George both hit RBI singles leaving the bases loaded. Lindsey hit a SF and Elkins walked to reload the bases. Martinus scored on a groundout and George followed home on a throwing error, and a 10-3 lead.
After 4.0 scoreless innings, Jang gave up a solo HR and was relieved by RHRP Jose Cabrera who got the final two outs in the 6th.
RHRP Angel Cruz (0.2 IP) and RHRP Jhonny Jimenez had an adventure in the 7th. Cruz struck out 2 but walked the bases loaded for Jiminez to come in. Jimenez allowed back-to-back doubles to give the Grizzlies 4 runs.
Ontario got an unearned run in the 8th. George walked and stole 2nd. With one out, Elkins reached on an error. George scored on a ground out and throwing error.
RHRP Jholbran Herder entered in the 8th. He gave up a single and issued a BB to the 1st two batters. Herder struck out the next two batters, but gives up an RBI single. RHRP Jecsua Liborius came in to get the final out of the inning.
Ontario came up in the 9th inning with a 11-9 lead. Vidourek drew a one out BB and scored on Gonzalez-Garcia’s double (4).
Liborius went back out to get the save. But it came with drama. Liborius allowed a BB, single, and BB to load up the bases with nobody out. He got a SF, but struck out the next batter and got a ground out to end the game and secure his 6th save.
- Easton Shelton – 3-5, 1 run, 5 RBI, 2 doubles (17) HR (23)
- Jaron Elkins – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (9)
- Landyn Vidourek – 2-4, 1 BB, 3 runs, 1 RBI, RBI (6)
- Bryan Gonzalez-Garcia – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (4)
ACL Cleveland 8 – ACL Dodgers 2
DSL Tampa Bay 13 – DSL LAD Mega 11 – Completion of June 25 game
LAD Mega jumped out to a 9-4 lead after 5 innings. They were outscored 9-2 over the last three innings.
- 1B Ezequiel Aparicio – 3-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (2)
- 2B Juan Macero – 2-3, 1 BB, 2 runs
- CF Helvin Mendoza – 2-5, 1 run
- LF Jesus Villaflor – triple (2)
- RF Erny Orellana – 1-6, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (3)
- C Roberto Saucedo – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (2)
Discussion (110)
Disagree, not disagreeable
only 5 hits, but only 5 Ks
Hernandez has been low key amazing at home.
Yikes!! King 38 pitches (30 strikes) thru 4 innings
Anyone here missing the game tonight because they’re at Swift-Kelce wedding?
More good stuff from Mookie and Max:
https://x.com/BleacherReport/status/2072816390365720681/video/1?s=46
10:10 PM ET
Padres (43-43)
Dodgers (57-31)
SP Michael King R
5-7 3.55 ERA
SP Shohei Ohtani R
8-2 1.58 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
CF Andy Pages R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Mookie Betts R
3B Max Muncy L
RF Kyle Tucker L
LF T. Hernandez R
C D. Rushing L
2B A. Freeland S
71° Wind 9 mph Out
I have no problem with Rushing’s personality, assuming he mellows a bit with experience and age. He seems to be willing to listen to his teammates so it’s just a matter of controlling his behavior on the field and that should come with maturity.
When the team gets into it’s annual funk, lots of us complain that they seem to be sleep walking and disinterested. Maybe Rushing is the one guy on the roster who always plays with passion.
That said, if Smith’s injury isn’t really serious, I’d like to trade Rushing between now and the end of the year. My thinking is as follows:
Mr “I’m Dalton and I play with a firecracker up my ass” will be very unhappy if he is still a part time player when Will comes back. Even if he DH’s or plays first base once in a while, that still means he’ll only play about 3 times a week. That will make him very unhappy. And he isn’t going to be willing to twiddle his thumbs until Freddie decides to retire. I know some here are convinced that Will is going to be moved to 2B or 3B at some point. I don’t expect that to happen.
Rushing’s trade value is probably quite high right now so maybe it’s time to take advantage of that, and if Andrew needs to play it safe, then wait until Smith is back and shows he can catch 5 times a week. In the meanwhile go out and bring back Rortvedt. The Mets are paying him 1.25 mil to play at Rochester. They’d probably be happy to trade him even up for Chuckie.
This is soooooooooooooo gooooooooooood:
https://x.com/bleacherreport/status/2073110704887128511?s=61
Another great farm report, Jeff.
It’s comforting to read when the Dodgers lose. And a joy when the Dodgers win.
Just so much talent in the pipeline.
Dodgers outrighted Hernandez to AAA OKC.
Yankees Place Carlos Rodón On the 15 day IL With Elbow Inflammation. The injuries keep mounting up for the Yankees.
At least Mendoza played the game. Watson needs to tone down the glamour and dress a little more casual, maybe a Dodgers polo shirt, not looking like she is going out clubbing. That said, she’s easy on the eyes.
Sasaki was pretty good coming out of the pen in the playoffs last year. This is this year but he has earned a right for a runway in the bullpen from last year’s performance. Hell give that kid that just moved up to double A a shot.
By the way Bear, I like eye candy.
Fans gripe. It is in our DNA. Us older guys were spoiled with Scully in the booth. No one can live up to his standard. Network TV sports have their ideas of what personality and likeability they want on their broadcasts. ESPN and FOX are at the forefront of Joe Buck clones. Guys like Harry Caray would never be on network TV these days. They want generic BS from the boys and girls in the booth and on the field. I like listening to Jon Miller when the Dodgers play the Giants. He still has that individuality most announcers once possessed. His homer calls are still classic. Adios Pelota! Today there are games on all the time. You can even watch replays of the previous 2 seasons on MLB.TV. I know, I have gone back and watched Ohtani’s first game in Korea more than once. You can relieve the great and not so great moments. I have been watching the 2024 season for a while. Still hard to believe what an awful start Chris Taylor had to that year. At one point he had 3 hits in like 45 trips to the plate. Had to feel for the guy.
Right now in my opinion the primary sellers at the August 3 MLB trade deadline are the Mets, Giants, Angels, Royals, and Rockies, while the Red Sox and Tigers are poised to offload star assets as well. Am I missing any teams? Is there anyone the Dodgers would want or need from these 7 teams besides the name that keeps coming up in Skubal? The Giants ,Angels and Rockies won’t trade with the Dodgers so that leaves 4 teams to trade with. AF/BG are totally going to surprise all of us with what they have in mind.
Gawd, our bats are on fire. Tucker and Rushing are going ape-shit. And good on Will Klein for coming in and shutting of fthe faucet that Sasaki opened. The backend guys with the exception of Gervase, were great again.
It just drives me nuts when a relief pitcher comes in with a big lead and walks the first guy. Gervase walked the first and last batters he faced, with a 6 run lead. Totally unacceptable.
Of the pitchers on the shuttle, only Wyatt Mills has earned his keep.
I hate the knee down technique of current catchers. Both Rushing and Fermin had “wild pitches” that were routine, center cut, dirt balls, that went to the backstop. Instead of dropping down and blocking the pitches, they tried to backhand the pitch. Old time catchers would just smothered that pitch and now it’s OLE.
I know that modern proponents of that style are convinced it’s better and gives the umpire and pitcher a better look at the pitch, which I don’t believe. Now with ABS that style doesn’t aid in framing to fool the umpire, which should never work anyway. I’d love to see the catchers go back to staying on their feet, show some lateral movement and block pitchers the old fashion way. Give em one of those old “doughnut hole” catchers mitts to train with so they can’t backhand dirt-balls, like a first baseman’s mitt.
Sasaki lays another egg. Once again, he had dick. I can’t recall which of the 3 home runs it was that he gave up but it was on a 96 mph fastball, which is now about an MLB average , middle-middle, that was straight as a string. When he can’t land that splitter / forkball, they just sit on that straight fastball. His stuff just doesn’t miss barrels. He just can’t locate and stay out of the middle.
I’m sure they have tried to work with his grips, move his fingers and thumb on the ball to create some movement, but it hasn’t worked. His stuff and command just stink.
I have said he is better suited as a relief pitcher but I’m not even sure about that.
And while it’s not his fault, he looks about 15 and when he’s pouting after a pounding his facial expressions and body language are pitiful. He intimidates no one.
I like Freeland. I also like Kim. I think either one, if given a complete runway to take over at 2b for the rest of the year, would learn, grow, and be productive. Two very different type players, but both athletic and play good D. Let the kids play.
I like Mendoza and Orel and Nomar and Karros and Joe and Steven and Rick Monday. I”m not interested in bitching about them every time one of them is on TV.
I like Mark’s new side by side restaurant and bar and I hope I get a free chardonnay when I go (if I ever go to Indianapolis, that is).
I like that the USA is getting more into soccer (football). Makes the world feel smaller and closer together. Now we see what Watford likes so much!
I like that I’ll be at the Beach Boys w fireworks at the Hollywood Bowl for Bday # 250. Can’t get too much more American than that.
I like that NFL rookies report to training camp in 2 weeks. Gona be a great year, especially for the Bears and the Rams!
I even like going to WNBA games because the fundamentals are so awesome to watch. Too bad the Sparks are injured and blah this year.
Everybody has an opinion and they all stink. So let me stink up the room a little more.
Dalton’s fiery passion can get the best of him sometimes. Why is that a problem? Roki is okey dokey. Thicken up the skin a little and a little more cultural acclimation and he’s a keeper. After all his leash is longer than the Mississippi. Andy is dandy. Alex is class. Kim is a gem. And Wrobo sucks! Warning! I’m just kidding. We are blowing away the NL West. And we’re about to 3 peat. Wonderful time to be a Dodger fan. Enjoy the ride !
Oh….teachers leave those kids alone.
Book em
I agree he might be more effective out of the pen since you cannot come in a nibble all the time. Worked for Maeda.
The plan is and always has been sasaki will be in the bullpen when the playoff starts. Chances are is he was told last season when he went to the bullpen, he will be a starter next season. The question is when will he go back to the pen, after the all star break, first of August, first of September? If I had to guess I’d bet that when either Snell or Glasgow come back Saski will piggyback with one until he’s built up and Sheehan will with the other. Once snell or Glasgow are built up both Sasaki and Sheehan will go to the bullpen.
When Rushing OPS’s at .850 he’s intense.
At .750 he’s an immature jerk.
Perspective.
It will be interesting tonight with Ohtani and Rushing
I like the way Joe and Orel mesh.
I don’t like it when the sidekick thinks they are co-announcing games or constantly has to tell me what the next pitch should be.
Mendoza was better last night but she detracts more than she adds IMHO.
I root hard for Freeland but to be fair, if Mendoza annoys me with her chuckling then I should admit Freeland annoys me with hik Ks.
I think that Dalton Rushing is wildly misunderstood.
There are players who are jerks (Alex Verdugo as an example) and players who are overly passionate.
In a soon-to-be-aired interview, the Loons bus driver had high praise for “Rush.” He said that he was always very respectful.
ChatGPT says this:
From what’s been said publicly, Dalton Rushing’s Dodgers teammates seem to like him and are backing him, even if they know he runs hot.
Max Muncy gave the clearest clubhouse answer. He said Rushing is “great as a teammate,” “a great kid,” and “well received in the clubhouse.” Muncy also said the fiery stuff is more his on-field personality than who he is around teammates.
The veterans have also stepped in to help him. After the Ohtani/Rushing pitch-calling mess, the L.A. Times reported that Freddie Freeman, Mark Prior and Dave Roberts all talked with Rushing in the dugout. Rushing said, “They always have my back,” while admitting he was embarrassed and needed to be better.
Alex Freeland sounded supportive too, saying Rushing plays with fire, gets after it, and expects the best from himself every day. Roberts added that after Rushing vents, he usually collects himself and gets back to the next play.
So the answer is: his teammates appear to respect him, support him, and accept his edge. He may be a little bit of a live wire, but the clubhouse doesn’t look like it has turned on him. More like: “Kid, breathe… now go compete.”
Rush will mature, but his fire is welcome to me. “I’d rather rein in my lions than teach my sheep to hunt.”
Friday’s Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sean Patick) at Fort Wayne (Kash Mayfield)
5:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Payton Martin) at Wichita (Chris Vallimont)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Jackson Ferris) vs. Sugar Land (Ryan Weiss)
7:05 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Fresno (Austin Newton)
All the articles I’ve read quoting Dave Roberts is that Will Smith WILL be back sometime after the All Star break. Bet it!
Ardaya:
Dave Roberts said the Dodgers will do a “deep dive” on Roki Sasaki, including trying to rule out pitch-tipping after seeing the Padres were “on everything.” Sasaki will still make his next turn through the rotation, Roberts said.
I have zero confidence in Sasaki. None. Last night he looked like a deer in the headlights, and as a former truck driver I can assure you that I have seen plenty of those. Missed most of them, but one poor soul in Kit Carson Colorado met his maker. Both Sasaki and Sheehan need to be better. Sasaki had gotten his ERA down to just above 4. After the last couple of debacles, it is back up to 5.41. Dude has surrendered 17 homers in 75 innings. In 75 innings, Sasaki has allowed 105 baserunners. 32 walks and 73 hits. And to tell the truth, he looks like he is scared of throwing a pitch in the strike zone. He does not attack hitters, he nibbles. The problem lies in the fact that there is no one to replace him in the rotation until either Snell or Glasnow gets healthy. Even Lauer is pitching better than Sasucki. I cannot listen to Jessica Mendoza. Last night, I found out I could listen to the radio feed instead of the TV side, so I listened to Charlie Steiner and Mo. Nelson took over in the 7th inning. As for last night’s comeback, it was a team effort. The only guy who did not get involved was Teo. Freddie now flirting with .300, Mookie up to .248. Freeman has passed Pages for the team lead in hits with 94, in 20 less at bats than Andy.
We will next see will smith in spring training…..,.at 2nd base.
Mark, Off Topic;
How did the Grand Opening go??
Well Sasaki threw another masterpiece last night! 88 pitches inn3 innings! Don’t believe that I’ve seen that before. Seriously, I agree with Badger, how much longer can this go on? The bullpen has been much better as of late. But, there’s no way it can continue to carry this kind of work load. I suspect that AF does something pretty soon.
Muted last night’s game for the most part! WHY? I expect Joe Davis to be on fox this weekend, so that pairs Nelson and Jolly Jess! Please give me a break! And just when I thought Nelson was starting to win me over. The constant giggles are so obnoxious. Yeah she knows a bit about the game, but I prefer someone, anyone else.
The bats were just what the Doc ordered last night! Especially after that dud in Sacramento the night before! Hard hit balls all night! Tucker 4-4! Mookie smoking the ball. Dalton with 4 hits! Edman is scalding the ball! Freddie is on another planet right about now! That looked more like what they are capable of! Alex Freeland may have a hard time finding playing time the way Edman is playing. One last thing. When Will Smith comes back, it won’t be a platoon situation. If healthy, he’s the starter behind the plate! Dalton will get AB’s, but Will Smith is the starter!
Fred is a terrific writer. I haven’t been to his blog in a while. Might have to drop in again.
Peter Brand said it best: “Your goal shouldn’t be to buy players, your goal should be to buy wins. And in order to buy wins, you need to buy runs.” The organization is currently structured to produce runs. Most of the top prospects are run producers. It appears to me what they may need to get better at is preventing runs.
I wonder if Sasaki’s leash is getting shorter. I also wonder why at this point in his career he has so little command. He’s a professional pitching at the highest level in the world. There are four corners and four edges to the strike zone. Find them.
Three recent concerns for the Dodgers, Betts, Rushing and Tucker, are quickly being resolved. All are hitting.250 with good OPSs which has to scare the hell out of the rest of baseball. With Smitty questionable as to when he is coming back, Rushing is shouldering the majority of the catching and after a few conversations with Doc, is performing above and beyond recently. Mookie looks like his old self, barreling and turning in plus defense. Tucker, over the last nine games has performed like the guy AF thought he signed and nobody is more relieved than Tucker. And throw in Edman coming back and hitting around .400, and providing versitility and speed and this team could be the greatest team ever assembled in baseball history. The 3peat is looking better every day.
All the naysayers on the site still want to trade Rushing for his anger,immaturity and intensity? He is the BEST overall backup catcher in baseball and the BEST offensive backup catcher in baseball.
Great comeback win. The Preller Padre Punks bring the BEST out of the Dodgers everytime we play them. The Dodger lineup last night against right handed pitching with Edman batting 9th will matchup against ANY playoff lineup. As stated many times on this site the Padres have NO starting ptching except King and where will Preller find some at the deadline with so many teams in the hunt for a Wild Card?
Well one thing I know for sure about winning.
Not gonna happen with the McCourts.
Thank you Guggenheim!