60 Game Sprint
We have all heard about the Dodgers and their best in MLB history run of 60 games in 2017 with a 51-9 record. They also pulled off a 42-8 record in a 50 game stretch in 2013 before going 47-13 in 60 games. Both of those runs came later in the season. But how have they done in their first 60 games? Using their 7 year top NL West run
We have all heard about the Dodgers and their best in MLB history run of 60 games in 2017 with a 51-9 record. They also pulled off a 42-8 record in a 50 game stretch in 2013 before going 47-13 in 60 games. Both of those runs came later in the season. But how have they done in their first 60 games? Using their 7 year top NL West run of 2013-2019, their starts have been as follows:
- 2013 – 27-33
- 2014 – 31-29
- 2015 – 35-25
- 2016 – 32-28
- 2017 – 35-25
- 2018 – 30-30
- 2019 – 41-19
It has been projected that 34-35 wins should get teams into the playoffs. Their 2019 start where they started hot, stayed hot, and ran away from the division. They had two other starts with 35 wins and m 32 win seasons. 32 wins might be tough to get into the playoffs, but it at least puts them into the neighborhood. I think the urgency of an abbreviated 60 game season might provide the Dodgers the impetus they need to start off with the same zeal they have typically shown later in the season.
The short season is one of the reasons why it was disappointing to learn that Walker Buehler did not continue to work through the shutdown. Perhaps he never believed there would be a season and chose to rest his arm. Regardless, Buehler should be sufficiently ramped up by his third start, and hopefully fresh for the playoffs. The Dodgers seem to be the best team in MLB able to lose a starting pitcher (Price), have one who will probably not be ready for going deep into a game early on, and still have a formidable rotation.
25 of the 30 teams in MLB are capable of putting together a hot streak and finding themselves in the hunt. A lot is going to depend on who stays healthy. With the coronavirus and the short ramp up period for the players, there are bound to be sicknesses and injuries aplenty. We have already seen Jacob deGrom go down. How long? We will find out soon enough. Admittedly I have not been following the other teams, but I am guessing that there have been some key absences.
I know Harold is a big advocate for Victor Gonzalez who pitched Tuesday evening. His pitches showed a lot of life. He looked good in his three innings. Although, he didn’t have to go against the regulars like Mitch White did, but even the Dodger reserves are better than a lot of other MLB lineups. The two pitchers who figure to be on the 30 man roster, KJ and Blake Treinen, both pitched well. Caleb Ferguson is still unhittable in both ST 1.0 and ST 2.0. His new cutter is his 3rd pitch, and it has been fantastic thus far. He is also working on his change just for show. With Caleb now showing a reliable 3rd pitch (thus far), he is a candidate to be a spot starter. I see him being used exactly as Strip was intended. Both Josh Sborz and Victor Gonzalez have a chance of making the 30 man, especially if Doc and AF want to load up with pitching. But I do not expect either Sborz or Gonzalez to be on the 26 man roster.
Another one of Harold’s favorites is Zach McKinstry who is playing some very good baseball, both offensively and defensively. He continued his solid hitting with a two out oppo line single off a good Alex Wood pitch to keep the inning alive and then scored on a double by Anthony Garcia in the 2nd inning. It probably was not Belli’s best approach on the line drive, but it did get down and past Belli for the double to score McKinstry. Zach did the same against Brusdar Graterol with an oppo line drive single in the 7th.
Alex Wood went six innings and Julio Urias went four. After the first two innings, Wood was outstanding. His slider and change were very effective. He is learning that his fastball is just not good enough to miss over the plate. But he relied less on that pitch as the game wore on, and I do not believe he gave up a hit after the AJ Pollock’s 3rd inning single. He had 7 or 8 punch outs, and was not hit particularly hard.
Julio Urias also had a very impressive four innings. His breaking ball and change were very sharp, and he was not hit hard either. He was efficient with his pitch count, which is generally not the case with Julio. In his two outings this ST 2.0 he is showing exactly why he is in the rotation. Dodger pitchers are throwing a lot of changes. Is this a Mark Prior enhancement?
Even though it was not a tie at the time, the Dodgers practiced for the first time placing a runner on 2nd base to start an inning. Brusdar Graterol was pitching his 2nd inning. With Anthony Garcia on 2nd, DJ Peters got a broken bat single to put runners on 1st and 3rd. Kike’ swinging at the first pitch fouled out to 1st base, Matt Beaty. After being struck out three times by Alex Wood, Seager lined a single into LF off Graterol to score Garcia. CT3 made his second fantastic defensive play of the evening to throw Max Muncy and keep the run from scoring. Graterol got the final out but gave up the one run.
Other nuances tried out for this game was piped in crowd noise and Dieter Ruehle & DJ Severe. I suppose because there were no fans, we did not get the beach balls bouncing around. Just kidding.
With Kershaw, Strip, Woody, and Julio, the Dodgers rotation even without Buehler looks very tough thus far. I have no doubt that Buehler will ramp up and show his Ace ability. It is also clear that the Dodger hitters show at times being overmatched by the pitchers, but they do not miss when the pitcher makes a mistake. The team seems to be making a concerted effort to go the other way. Seager has been relentless going with the pitch and driving it into LF. McKinstry as well. Belli has not exactly hit the ball well thus far, but he has gone to left for most of his hits. AJ Pollock got into the game Wednesday, and got a line drive single sandwiched between a pair of 5-4-3 DP. The defense turned four DP’s during the 7.5 inning game. The rotation looks solid, the offense is coming on, and the defense has been stellar. So just like the last few years, the Dodger season is going to come down to the bullpen. For Wednesday’s game, Dylan Floro looked very sharp in his one inning relief of Wood. And Dennis Santana continues to show that he is not far off. I do not know about 2020, but he will definitely be in the hunt for a reliever spot in 2021. Even loogy Adam Kolarek looked tough on Wednesday. He got all three left handed batters out, but did walk the RH Austin Barnes. He is getting a lot of chances to show if he is a 3 batter pitcher. I think he makes the 30 man roster, but I am not so sure about the 28 or 26 unless he can show he can consistently get RH batters.
One final comment on Zach McKinstry. Kike’ is having a very good intrasquad session, hitting the ball well and playing exceptional defense. But McKinstry is showing that he is a ML baseball player even if in a utility role. He should be able to fill in for Kike’ after he moves on. I like Kike’, but he is going to get paid next year, and McKinstry should be able to replace him at ML minimum. CT3 will also be around for at least one more year to take away some pressure.
So getting back to the initial premise, I see the Dodgers going 40-20 to get home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But we will get to our predictions before next Thursday’s nationally televised opening game against Johnny Cueto and the SF Giants at Dodger Stadium.
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (82)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Pollock confirms that he was late to camp because he had Covid-19. Had some symptoms but is now fully recovered.
Rockies have told old friend Matt Kemp that he has made the opening day roster. I would have no problem if he decides to opt out of all games against us. It would be painful to have him beat us with a homer.
There are a lot of young guys playing this game. One slip up and sneaking out to meet Juliet and they contract COVID-19. They think they are OK and the next day 9 more of their teammates are infected. Not all will be sick, but all may have to go on the IL for 15 days.
Either the COVID-19 Squad or the team with the most discipline could win it all. Is anyone surprised Puig has it?
I think this season has cost Mookie Betts $100 Million. I would be willing to wager the Dodgers will sign him. For say…. $275 million?
FROM LAD Public Relations:
SPECTRUM SPORTSNET LA ANNOUNCES DODGERS LIVE GAME COVERAGE AND PROGRAMMING FOR 2020 SEASON
55 Regular Season Dodger Games on SportsNet LA will be Available to Spectrum, AT&T TV, DIRECTV, U-verse TV and AT&T TV Now Customers
El Segundo, CA – July 17, 2020 – Spectrum SportsNet LA today announced its live game and programming schedule for the Los Angeles Dodgers shortened 2020 season. Starting this season, Dodgers games on SportsNet LA are available to Spectrum customers and AT&T TV, DIRECTV, U-verse TV and AT&T TV Now customers in Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii.
The network’s live game coverage will feature 55 regular season and three exhibition games, beginning with the Dodgers first exhibition game on July 19 vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks at 6:10 p.m. SportsNet LA’s regular season game coverage will begin on Friday, July 24 when the Dodgers host the San Francisco Giants at 6:40 p.m. at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers games on SportsNet LA will be called by Joe Davis and Dodgers legend Orel Hershiser. Dodgers reporter Alanna Rizzo will serve as field reporter for SportsNet LA, while also contributing to the network’s live and original programming. The Dodgers broadcast team will call all games – home and away – from Dodger Stadium.
Throughout the exhibition and regular season, the network’s studio coverage will begin one-hour prior to every Dodgers game with LeadOff LA, followed by Access SportsNet: Dodgers airing 30-minutes before game time. Both shows will feature player interviews, team highlights and in-depth analysis. Access SportsNet: Dodgers postgame coverage will include game highlights, postgame interviews from the Dodgers clubhouse and in-depth analysis from SportsNet LA’s expert studio team.
In the studio, SportsNet LA’s John Hartung will lead the pre and postgame coverage, alongside Nomar Garciaparra, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Ned Colletti who return to provide expert analysis.
For the network’s 55 regular season and three exhibition Spanish language telecasts, Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela will serve as an analyst alongside veteran team play-by-play announcer Pepe Yñiguez on most games.
Dodgers coverage on the network will include SportsNet LA’s signature weekly Backstage: Dodgers documentary series that features behind-the-scenes stories of the players, coaches and management throughout the regular season and into the postseason. Backstage: Dodgers will premiere on Friday, July 24 at 10:30 p.m. and debut a new episode every week throughout the regular season.
Other original programming on the network will include Timeless Dodgers, which highlights special presentations of the most memorable games in Dodgers history and Dodgers Squeeze Play, a condensed one-hour format of Dodgers telecasts enhanced with the sights and sounds from the game.
The 2020 SportsNet LA regular season Dodgers broadcast schedule is available here.
Spectrum SportsNet LA is the exclusive 24/7 TV home of the Los Angeles Dodgers that takes fans behind the scenes and offers in-depth access into the organization, providing an immersive experience with never-before-seen content and thousands of hours of comprehensive Dodgers programming. SportsNet LA and Dodgers games are available to Spectrum customers and AT&T TV, DIRECTV, U-verse TV and AT&T TV Now customers in Southern California, Las Vegas and Hawaii.
About Spectrum Networks
Spectrum Networks is a series of 24/7 news and sports networks owned and operated by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband communications company and the second largest cable operator in the United States. Spectrum Networks carry distinct, comprehensive, and exclusive local programming on over 30 networks across Charter’s footprint. More information on Spectrum Networks is available at spectrumlocalnews.com.
Strategies will be interesting and different this season. The shorter season obviously means that no team can afford to experiment, or concede a few games to test out players. You can’t overwork them, but you can’t rest them in anticipation of the usual six-month regular season.
The Dodgers are in a somewhat unique position, in that they are currently the favorite to win it all, ,just ahead of the Yankees, and of course we haven’t won a title since 1988, with a myriad of reasons, some good, some excuses. And if Betts goes somewhere else next year, we probably won’t win one for another several years. So this season, as shortened as it is, becomes more important to the Dodgers than to perhaps any other franchise, except possibly the Yankees, who spent all that money on Cole. The Dodgers cannot play this as a welcome relief for the sport, sort of a glorified exhibition season, they have to go all out to win the title, even though it of course will not compare with winning it in a full season. The other teams will also try hard, of course, and we are not going to be facing the kind of weak middle relievers which we usually feast on; each team will be using their best relievers in almost every game. It presents new challenges for Roberts and the players.
I think starting pitchers are the furthest behind for the first 10 games or so. Kersh, Woodie, and Strip should be able to go 6 or 7 innings. After that it will be by committee. It will be interesting how soon Walker and Julio can get ramped up. And which of the kids are going to step up. My guess May is going to be a starter by the the playoffs.
Thank you for whoever restored the postings. Sorry for Yasiel and hope he is okay.
Puig has tested positive for Covid and apparently the Braves have decided not to sign him.
Tough break for him. Baseball needs his enthusiasm.
I am confused at what has happened. It seems mine and peterj’s posts have disappeared. Did I do something wrong?
Here are my thoughts on Kike. Kike is a very talented defender, and a very streaky hitter. He was handed the starting 2nd base job in 2017 and blew his chance to be a regular. He is a super sub period, and he is the same type of player as Chris Taylor with a little more power. Kike’s crowning moment was his 3 homer performance in game 5 of the 2017 NLCS. He will forever be remembered for that, and his banana suit. But he is gone after this shortened season is finished. His base pay this year would have been 5.5 mil. He would be due a big raise this offseason. Lux, McKinstry and Taylor fill his spot with no problem. He would be a sub again, and Taylor was already signed to a 2 year deal. Joc and Kike will be history.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding of the L.A. and D.C. current Covid regulations is that if you are exposed to someone who tests positive, you must self-quarantine for 14 days, no matter if you test positive or not.
If I’m correct about that, then if even one Dodger player tests positive, the whole team would have to quarantine for two weeks if they interacted with him. This is why the Nats are thinking of playing their games in Virginia instead of DC because Virginia doesn’t have the same regulation. The Dodgers have said they are not, at this point, looking for an alternative site to play.
I’m guessing that if the above happens here, somehow they’ll manage to get some sort of waiver from the mayor, but I could be wrong about everything I just said above. Someone please fact check me.
No corner for you peterj or dunce hat either. You speak a lot of truth and some of it is funny.
I feel sorry for the players who have been forced to quarantine and hope anyone who is having any medical problems, PT, known sometimes as Painful Therapy, gain strength if possible,to cope with it all. I admire you all for doing that.
As far as Tucker Carlson is concerned, he couldn’t run the bases. He could not get off a chair for his debut appearance on Dancing With The Stars and was eliminated.
Son of a biscuit…. I get home from PT and check on my favorite baseball blog and the ‘C’ word has returned and what do you know, MJT is at the wheel… Of course lets throw in Missing Children as an example of what??? Mark chopped it up with a credit card, lines it up and snorts…
Look out Science… Maybe we should let Tucker Carlson touch bases (no pun intended)…
OK heart rate up, but still feel the PT…
Hodges54 get well…Easy does it…
P.S. Im waiting for DBM to send me to the closest available corner…
P.S.S. Watford speak to me mate… How as your golf excursion or was it called off???
Here’s a true story for you. Close to where I live 2 ladies that were close friends decided to go get COVID tested. They arrived at the testing facility, filled out the paperwork then went and stood in line. The line did not move fast enough for their liking so they left. A few days later they both received mailed test results at their different addresses. Both had tested positive. And they never took the test. That explains it all.
Me, have yet to wear a mask or gloves. In fact no one where I work wears a mask. Most people can see what this is all about.
sadly, some of those homeless vets have chosen to decline services and have instead chosen to accept substance abuse and PTSD as a way of life. If someone is not posing a danger to themselves or is not gravely disabled you can’t force them into treatment. They have a right to walk the street, sleep under a bridge abutment or on the street. It is indeed sad, but not completely a result of “how we take care of them.”
Mark
You constantly confuse correlation with causation (i.e., comments on hydroxycloroquine). I could go on but frankly this is a BASEBALL site. Unless your comments relate to the ongoing summer camp/ season you should post your supposed Covid-19 insights to your US Watersystems website and just post your baseball musings ( which we all find interesting) here.
You need to pump the brakes on that statistic Mark. That was from 2013 and is a misleading number. According to the FBI’s NCIC there were 30,618 missing juveniles as of Dec 31, 2019. Still a horrific number but the 800,000 number is very misleading
For those of you that watched the intrasquad games the last 2 days, how did you like the “normal” feel? I mean with the PA announcers, walk up music, piped in crowd noise, etc. To me it felt much more normal, especially when I’d be doing other things but could still hear what was happening.
I knew Mookie Betts was very good, but he is “gooder” than that. 60 games with Mookie, Max, Cody, Corey, Joc, JT and the gang could be the Return of The Big Blue Wrecking Crew!
Correction: I meant that in a shorter season, the confidence interval is wider (not narrower).
Kike still has a flair for the dramatic.
CT3 is quietly efficient.
Most teams would love to have a player like Kike and CT3, let alone both!
It would seem that Enrique will become a FA, but he loves LA and his teammates – could it be he will sign a 5 year $40 million deal?
Stay tuned.
In terms of the number of wins, 40 is certainly not out of the question, but so is 36. The projections so far converge around 38. In a longer season, the confidence interval around that projection will be narrower, and in a shorter season, it will be wider. The confidence interval is the range of likely outcomes (in this case, wins). With a shorter season, this range is wider, due to the small sample size of number of games played. In small samples, wacky things – random things- can happen. Baseball is one of the sports in which the outcome – who wins – is most affected by chance. “Hit it where they ain’t!” is partly a matter of luck. Thus, if most experts or projection systems converge around 38 predicted wins, the likely variation around this prediction, on both the high and low ends, is greater in a short season. Thus, it would not be surprising to see 40 wins, but just as likely see 36.
Okay, I admit that Rios is pretty darn good! (Don’t say ‘I told you so,’ Mark!). He seems more disciplined at the plate, and his home runs are thunderous. Of all the positives I see in summer camp, none impresses me more than the relief pitching. Blake Treinen looked awesome the other day, like his old, unhittable self. I think the Dodgers got him for a steal. Don’t forget, he was one of the most dominant closers in the game a couple of years ago. Kelly seems to have resolved whatever problems were ailing him last year. He was the one who shut the Dodgers down in the WS a couple of years ago. Also looking like a prescient trade. KJ looks more like his old self, lots of movement on his cutter. Not to mention the new(er) kids on the block: Ferguson, Gonzolez, etc. If we had a weaker link in the past few playoffs, it was the bull-pen. It put too much pressure on the starters, and caused Dave Roberts to make bizarre post-season pitching decisions. Now the bull-pen is looking like a strength. Bring it on!
Pepiot looked very poised on the mound considering he was at Great Lakes last year. Change up looked great. I expect good things from him. I think, for now, they view him as a starter.
Has a similar education background to Strip with an interest in finance. Definitely has some smarts.
I thought Ryan Pepiot’s last name would be pronounced “Pep-wah”, like a French spelling/pronunciation.
Our announcers are pronouncing “Pep-ee-oh”. Interesting (or maybe just to me)
Either way, his stuff looked nice in that inning! AC/DC, is he a future starter or a future late inning guy?
My prediction is 38-39 wins. I think they will win the division by 3 games over….wait for it,,,,,,,San Diego.