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…
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…
Doc is what is up! Dave Roberts, who in his rookie season as the Dodger’s manager, won the Manager of the Year Award is a shoo-in to do it again in his second year. He’s so far ahead, there’s not a second place. Of course, FAZ gave him an embarrassment of riches, but he has managed it almost flawlessly. I still know of three or four morons who criticize FAZ…
The Dodgers bullpen held fast last night and Alex Wood did his part to help beat Greinke and the D-Bags. It wasn’t pretty but our cleanup hitter banged out his 33rd Home Run and our 2nd cleanup hitter drive in another run. If 4th is cleanup, then 8th is second cleanup – right? It was good to see Joc get a solid double as well. If he can get it…
With three straight outings of seven innings during which time he has only allowed 2 earned runs, Hyun-Jin Ryu is officially back to the guy we used to have. His velocity is back, his curve is wicked and his control is pinpoint. He now has pitched 91.2 innings and his ERA is down to 3.53… and falling. His ERA is better than these starters: Carlos Martinez Alex Cobb Chris Archer…