Brandon and Brock
In a game which saw Brandon McCarthy drop his ERA to 2.87 and the Dodgers score 12 runs, Brock Stewart quietly showed why he could be a very valuable piece in the Dodger bullpen. The bullpen is his role at least this year. I think he can be a starter in the future, but his exceptional control (1.4 walks per 9 innings in 2016), and arsenal of pitches makes him
In a game which saw Brandon McCarthy drop his ERA to 2.87 and the Dodgers score 12 runs, Brock Stewart quietly showed why he could be a very valuable piece in the Dodger bullpen. The bullpen is his role… at least this year. I think he can be a starter in the future, but his exceptional control (1.4 walks per 9 innings in 2016), and arsenal of pitches makes him a perfect fit for the bullpen. He has a two-seamer and a four-seamer that touches 97 with movement, and his changeup is also a plus pitch. His slider is really a cutter and is also a very good pitch for a pitcher who can pitch multiple innings.
Dave Roberts waited for the perfect opportunity to bring in Brock and last night was it. I think it was important that he start his 2017 MLB season with a successful outing and that was it! 3 IP/0 Hits/4 K’s and 1 BB was his stat line and it was a resounding success. I think he will switch roles with Ross Stripling whom the Dodgers believe can be a set-up man. Brock is fresh and strong and able to go multiple innings after missing a third of the season. He’s a horse and able to pitch like that.
I see him as a key bullpen piece. You will still see the bullpen shuffle to AAA or the DL and back. Morrow, Fields, Liberatore, et al will flip and flop back and forth. Personally, I don’t see the Dodgers adding an arn in the rotation or the bullpen. Too much depth. The Mets had the best starting rotation in baseball according to many, but the depth was lacking and look what has happened! Their rotation is a trainwreck as are lots of other teams. I believe that many other teams will follow the FAZ blueprint. By the way, how many Number two starters have an ERA below 3.00?
It was nice to see Corey Seager get his MVP-Type Game back!
Minor Leagues
- Ross Stripling again pitched one inning at AAA last night – it was his second perfect outing in a row – all 1 inning!
- Alex Verdugo went 2-4 again at leadoff and played CF. It was only his second game of the season in CF, so don’t think he will play Center in LA – he won’t! His BA is .335 and OB% is .413. It was predicted by someone yesterday that the Dodgers likely won’t call him up until after the All-Star Game and I agree with that.
- Rios hit his 14th HR and drove in all four runs for Tulsa last night.
- Walker Buehler went 4, allowing 5 hits and 2 ER, while striking out 5 and walking none.
- Yasiel Sierra went two in getting his 3rd save, allowed 1 hit and struck out 4. His ERA is 2.79. You could see him min the dodger pen this year as well.
- DJ Peters and Will Smith both got hits in the Cal League All Star Game and Dennis Santana pitched a perfect inning. Istler allowed 2 hits and 1 run in his inning of work.
- In the Midwest League All-Star Game, Dustin May pitched a scoreless inning and Ruiz got a hit.
Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
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Discussion (118)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Maybe somebody can help me out here, but Rich Hill set new record last night, never before happened in the history of MLB?
I heard Orel say it, but didn’t quite get all of it.
It was something to do with a pitcher achieving 4 wins in a season without pitching out of the 5th innings….
A sentence of caution:
~
The red-hot Dodgers have only faced 3 LHP starters in their last 30 games, and their last 11 games have been against RHP starters.
Just throwing this out there but would anyone want to see Verlander in Dodger Blue? I believe the remaining contract is 2 years 56 million. Maybe the Yankee’s would be the other team interested if he becomes available. But because of his contract, he may not require top tier talent back in return. Any Thoughts???????
Someone tell Flores that there is no crying in baseball!
A few comments
1- Gee it’s been fun winning by lots of runs the past couple of weeks. The resurgence of the Dodgers’ offense by Bellinger and Taylor and Turner’s return from the DL reminds me of the 2013 season when they went 42-8, fueled by Puig’s promotion from the minors and Hanley Ramirez’ return from the DL. 30 homers in the last 11 games. Totally insane.
2 – Interesting article on the misuse of young Julio Urias by the Braintrust.
Open on dodgersdigest.comhttp://dodgersdigest.com/2017/06/22/dodgers-development-of-julio-urias-has-been-puzzling-and-now-hes-hurt/After noting that the Braintrust apparently didn’t have a “plan” for Urias this year and that the inconsistent use has probably messed up his routine and may have messed up his arm (and his head) Dustin Nosler concluded “Regardless of what happens, it might be best not to temper expectations for the rest of his 2017 season. If he comes back strong and earns a playoff rotation spot, great. If he throws 20 innings the rest of the season and has no impact on the playoffs, that’s less great — but also more likely.”.
3 – Puig has been a plus on the Dodgers this year. He has been productive on offense and is the best defensive RF in baseball. He’s never going to be as good as we’d hoped, but what else is new? You can say the same about dozens of players who turned out to be pretty good but not great.
4 – No Justin Verlander please. We don’t need a 34 year old, one who’s expensive and on the downhill slope of his career, one who is 4-4, 4.52, with a 1.45 WHIP and 86 K in 82 IP to go with 45 BB. Even with the recent near no-hitter, he is 0-0, 4.58 with a 1.73 WHIP in June.
5 – Still not impressed with Hill. He went 5 innings last night. He’s the 1st guy in baseball history to go 5 innings or less in his 1st 9 starts of a season. (This per TrueBlueLA :”Rich Hill is the 1st pitcher in MLB history to last 5 or fewer innings in each of his 1st 9 starts of a season. (via @EliasSports)”.
From Passan:
Sources: Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna not yet available. Other Marlins who are: A.J. Ramos, David Phelps, possibly Kyle Barraclough.
Boxout
The Giants are different, but they are even more pathetic then, the Mets right now!
I just want us to be ready for the Rockies this weekend!
I just wish Puig would save it, for a bigger thing!
ADRIAN GONZALEZ CONSIDERING RETIRING IF BACK PAIN PERSISTS. COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO IS DISABLED WITH BACK ISSUES, I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW ADRIAN IS FEELING.
DBACKS UP 5-1 ON ROCKIES.
I THINK AGONS CONTRACT IS UP 2018
Damn Kenley!!! Really??? Too many home plate collisions at the Inland Empire or Puig has pictures…
How many times does Hatcher have to fail before they get rid of him?