Some fans assume that Alex Verdugo was called up for the purpose of player development, so that he could get a taste of the big leagues and help his advancement for next year. That seems logical, but it is also a huge mistake to think that is the only reason. It very well could be that Alex Verdugo could be a missing piece to the World Series Puzzle. Alex Verdugo’s…
The Dodger starting pitchers were beat like a rented mule by the D-Bags this week. Kenta Maeda, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill were all pounded without mercy.. and yet (Drummmmmmm Roooooolllllllllll), the Dodgers are still #1 in all of baseball in Team ERA (3.38)and Team WHIP (1.16). The Nationals are second and the Bags are third! By the way, the bullpen is even better and is also #1 in…
Anyone who suggests that the bullpen is somehow the problem hasn’t been paying attention. Even after the past two games, the Dodgers starting pitching and bullpen remain the very best in baseball. I am not a meteorologist but I do know that sometimes it is more humid than others. Barometric pressure, humidity, air temperature and other such things can create a good or poor environment for a pitcher. No excuses….
Rich Hill’s ability to spin a curve ball is among the best in the majors and when he is on, his curve is unhittable (witness his last game). A rudimentary knowledge of physics should tell anyone that pitching in the desert with less humidity and “lighter” air is not condusive to a curve balls spinning and getting “bite” on the way to the plate. Some uninformed fans might think that…
Two losses in a row! The sky is falling! We are doomed! Not really. The Dodgers just have the hiccups. They don’t have cancer or heart disease! It will all be fine. It’s a 162 game season and there is no way you can “bring it” every day. No way, no how! You can try, but somedays it just ain’t there. The last I checked, the game was played by…
Last night’s game? Forgetaboutit! Move on – nothing to see here folks. The team is still on pace to win 115 games. To break the record they will have to have a .717 winning percentage. With the resting of players and looking at roles for the playoffs, it seems unlikely that they will go the requisite 25-9 the rest of the way in order to beat the record. The record…
I still like the name “The Big Blue Wrecking Crew” but that was another time and another team. We can’t use the same name again – there are rules against such things. The 1988 Dodgers were comprised of “The Stunt Men” who include Mickey Hatcher, so that was a fitting moniker too. I thought of other names like “The Blue Juggernaut.” But, the way this team is built with a…
I was elated at the way Rich Hill pitched last night. He has had difficulty this year with the blisters and being on and off the DL and failing to get the “feel” for his game. He has had some good outings starting in July, but, last night he finally put it all together and it is now apparent that the Dodgers have a #1 and three #2’s! Rich Hill…
Would it surprise you to know that for the past 365 days, Pedro Baez’s ERA is 1.62? Would you be shocked to discover that with RISP, hitters are batting .104 against Pedro? Would you believe that Pedro Baez is much better in a high leverage situation that a low leverage situation? All of that is true. Look at the stats (all from Baseball-Reference): Low Leverage Situations: BA – .271 Medium…
There’s not much left for the Dodgers to play for… except maybe immortality! Being immortalized as the best team in the history of the game could be quite and incentive. The Dodgers are playing at .713 clip and could eclipse the record of 116 games. It’s a longshot and it really means nothing, but it’s withing access. No other teams are within a dozen games of the Dodgers record. The…