What s Next?

The Dodgers will go into the All-Star Break at least 30 games over .500. We would all be happier if it were 32 games above, but that depends upon whether the Dodger bats wake up or not. It would be great to see Chicken Strip pitch about 7 shutout innings! I still see him as a great trade chip, especially if he can have a good outing today. Teams need starters and if he can show he can do that, he may very well be in play to return a lock-down reliever.

Even though the bullpen is improving – the Dodgers’ Bullpen ERA just dropped below 4.00 after last night (3.99), they can always use another lock-down reliever. You can never have too many of those. I have been saying all year that the bullpen is not nearly as bad as some have lamented… and while it is the one glaring place the Dodgers can improve, it’s far from the disaster some have made it out to be. Consider this:

• #9 in Bullpen ERA (3.99)
• #2 in Bullpen BAA (.222)
• #2 in Bullpen Earned Runs
• #2 in Bullpen Walks
• #24 in fewest Bullpen HR (39, 3 behind the leaders)
• #12 in Blown Saves (14, SF is #1 with 4, but they have had few opportunities)
• #2 in Bullpen WHIP (1.18 – Cardinals are #1 with 1.15)
• #2 in Bullpen ERC %

So, while I would love to have another lock-down reliever, it is not a total necessity. There are internal options. Some think that acquiring another closer is what is needed. But, what would that do to Kenley’s psyche? Craig Kimbrel was very shaky for the Red Sox last year in the postseason. Eovaldi, Kelly, Barnes, and Brasier all had ERA’s of 1.04 or lower, while Kimbrel had an ERA of 5.91 in the postseason.

The Red Sox won in spite of their closer. It’s easy to blame the Dodgers’ playoff woes on Kershaw or Jansen, but the fact of the matter is that it’s a team and other guys have to step up. Hopefully, they will get another opportunity this year. As good as the Dodgers have been this year, they will actually have to beat teams who want to take their playoff spot.

I am all for another lock-down reliever, but even more so, I want to see our existing guys step up. I believe there are more than enough pitchers in the system to win it all. The issue is “execution,” but the bigger issue is “team chemistry.” There may not be a better locker room in all of baseball. These guys love each other. They love Joc and AJ and Russ and Austin and CT3 and Kike. They also love Ross. A case can be made that they should stand pat. Forget trades. Mitch White is settling in at AAA – what could he do out of the pen? Tony Gonsolin? Kasowski or Sheffield?

Caleb Ferguson is unscored upon in 10 innings at OKC. If he gets control of his curve back… look out! JT Chargois has looked absolutely filthy lately… and in case you haven’t been paying attention, that is how bullpens are often constructed: From pitchers who may have suddenly “discovered” what works for them after years of struggling. Witness one Shane Greene who has a career ERA of near 5.00. Suddenly he is unhittable at age 30. The Dodgers may not have to trade for that guy – they may already have that guy.

Andrew Friedman is certainly kicking the tires, but when “push comes to shove” he not going to make a “dope-fiend move” and upset team chemistry… something he has worked very had to achieve. Adding pieces to the pen is a guarantee of nothing. It’s a crap shoot and sometimes the best moves you make are the ones you don’t. I have maintained that the bullpen would keep getting better and it is. The Dodgers are now 0.30 points from the league lead in bullpen ERA. Good things come to those who wait!

As the All-Star Game looms, David Freese, Corey Seager and AJ Polock will be back. There will likely be other injuries and CT3 and Kike will serve as “stuntmen.” I think that this Dodger bench should be nicknamed after the 1988 bench players. As the Dodgers get healthy, this is what Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com reported:

“Seager will reclaim his role of starting shortstop. Freese goes back to being the key pinch-hitter and first baseman against left-handed pitching.

Pollock will go back to center field, although manager Dave Roberts concedes the outfield is more crowded than ever and his initial approach on who plays won’t surprise anybody that has watched him manage the last four season.

“In some way, I would say all of them,” said Roberts, referring to Pollock, Chris Taylor, Joc Pederson and Alex Verdugo, with Cody Bellinger the only everyday outfielder in right. Verdugo is likely to play center when Pollock does not. Pederson’s ongoing experiment at first base is designed to keep his bat in the lineup against right-handed pitching without tying up an outfield spot.

“When you go into the second half and you’re looking at playing through October, a day here or there for a guy to keep everyone incorporated is not a bad thing. All these guys have a case to play, consistently, and they help us in all different ways. I just think the most important thing is to divvy it up.”

Seager and Pollock came out of a Minor League rehab game Friday night healthy. Freese had a serious workout on Saturday and is not expected to serve a rehab stint.”

DC’s Minor League Lowdown

Highlights of the Night: Donovan Casey grand slam/2 run home run

• Zach Plunkett immaculate inning in his debut
• Daniel Cruz immaculate inning
• Aldrich De Jongh – 5 hits

DSL Dodgers (Bautista) 8 – DSL Marlins 0

Five Dodger pitchers held the Marlins to 4 hits while issuing no walks and striking out 7. Axel Acevedo did more than his share over 4 innings allowing just 3 hits and striking out 3.

At the plate the Dodgers scored in the first inning on a SF and piled on the Marlins for 6 runs in the 5th inning. Those runs came on two walks, a Kuimel Bastardo 2-run double and a Luis Morales 2-run single. One more came home in the 8th on a Jose Ramos single

DSL Dodgers (Shoemaker) 4 – DSL Red Sox (2) 12

Six pitchers climbed the hill and only two escaped unscathed. Isaac Rodriguez pitched 2 scoreless innings while Samuel Reuben pitched to just one  batter but in doing so stranded 3 runners.

The Dodgers scored one in each of the 3rd and 4th innings, both on a SF. Vladimir Perez brought the last 2 home with a single in the 9th.

AZL Dodgers Mota 11  AZL  Angels 1

Jeffry Abreu (4 IP), Mark Mixon (1 IP) and Zack Plunkett (1 IP) combined for 6 innings of one-run ball with only 2 hits and 9 strikeouts. Plunkett was making his professional debut as a 20th round draftee in 2019. He struck out the side on 9 pitches, 6 swinging and 3 called. Daniel Cruz followed up Plunkett with back-to-back immaculate innings, his with 9 swinging strikes. Jacob Gilliland didn’t have an immaculate inning to finish up but he did have a clean one.

The Dodgers started things off with a bang. Seven runs scored in the first inning on 5 hits, 2 walks and a stolen base with Danny Sinatro reaching base twice in the inning. Two more came home in the 3rd inning on a Kody Hoese single and one in the 5th on a WP. Albert Suarez chased home one more in the 9th with a single

AZL Lasorda 10 – AZL Indians/Reds 5

Twenty-five- year-old Yujo Kitagata started for the Dodgers but left with 2 outs and 2 runs in. The Japanese right-hander was signed as a free agent by the Dodgers in May. Jose Rudolfo, Emmanuel Marcano, Franklin De La Paz, Riley Ottesen and Reinaldo De Paula took care of the pitching after that with 3 hits  and 2 runs over 8.2 innings.

The Dodgers scored 3 in the 1st inning and 3 in the 3rd inning. Aldrich De Jongh had an RBI hit in both innings, one a double. Big on crooked numbers, Lasorda’s boys scored 4 in the 6th on 2 wild pitches , a SF and another double from De Jongh who had 5 hits and 4 runs batted in.

Ogden Raptors 2  – Rocky Mountain Vibes (Milwaukee) 7

Kevin Malisheski’s night did not start well as he gave up 4 runs in the 2nd  inning including 2 home runs. He surrendered 2 more runs in the 5th and one in the 6th putting the Raptors at a 7-2 disadvantage. Nelfri Contreras and Yeison Cespedes combined for 3 scoreless innings on 2 hit and 4 strikeouts.

The Raptors got their 2 in the bottom of the second on  a Justin Yurchak single and an Andy Page double.

Great Lakes Loons 1 – Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego) 4

The Loons played for the first time in a “Dodger Blue” theme uniform – home uniform complete with red number on the left side.

John Rooney made his 10th start of the season and logged 6.2 innings with 7 hits, 2 runs, a walk and a strikeout. His stat line is not that impressive but there was more to be seen. Rooney was not as sharp as usual and had to pitch his way out of situations with at least one runner in every inning. He left with 2 out in the 7th and 2 on with infield singles. Justin Bruihl was called upon to get the third out in the inning which he did with a ground ball out. Guillermo Zuniga came on in the 8th inning and gave up 2  runs in his 2 innings.

With the bat Chris Roller was moved into the lead-off spot and responded with a home run on the 5th pitch of the game. However, that ended the Loons scoring.

Ranch Cucamonga Quakes  14  – Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) 2

Michael Grove started for the Quakes and after 2 outs in the first inning gave up a home run. His night was finished after 1.2 innings giving up that lone run. He was replaced by Wills Mongomerie who seems to be back on track with 6.2 innings of one-run ball on 4 hits and 7 strikeouts.

The Quakes tied the game at one in the top of the 2nd inning on a Connor Wong single and Niko Hulsizer double. They widened the gap in the top of the 5th with a Donovan Casey grand slam and a ground out RBI by Deacon Liput. Before the dust settled the Quakes had 14 runs making it 30 against the 66ers in two games. Casey hit a second home run in the 6th giving him 6 RBI on the night. Connor Wong drove home three more with a solo homer in the 7th and a triple in the 8th. Steve Berman finished the scoring with a solo shot in the 9th.

Tulsa Drillers  3 – Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City) 2

Logan Bawcom got the call and pitched 5 innings on 7 hits, 2 runs and 3 strikeouts. He was followed by Michael Boyle who gave up only a walk in his 2 innings while Andre Scrubb also contributed 2 scoreless innings.

The Drillers got on board in the 6th on a Jordan Procyshen home run but kept the fun until the bottom of the 9th inning. Jared Walker tied the score at 2 and Christian Santana had a walk-off single following singles by Logan Landon and Zach McKinstry.

OKC Dodgers  7 – Round Rock Express (Houston) 3

Rob Zastryzny started for the Dodgers and had a very good outing going 6 innings while giving up just one unearned run on 5 hits while striking out 4. Casey Sadler made his debut with the Dodgers after being acquired in a trade for former Loon Nathan Witt. He gave up a single then struck out the side in the 7th and retired the side on one hit in the 8th. He did surrender  2 runs in the 9th.

Offensively the Dodgers collected 2 runs on an Angelo Mora double in the 2nd inning and scored again in the 4th on a Mora single. That was followed by a Will Smith SF and a DJ Peters 3-run home run. Peters had an 8-pitch at bat in the bottom of the 7th and was thrown out at home trying to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park home run.