AC s Notes on Mookie s Night
Mookie has a 4-4 night with 3 HRs and 5 RBIs, and a HBP. His OPS is now sitting at 1.074. Anyone watching the game realizes that Mookie’s 3 HR night ties him with Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa for the most 3 HR games in a career. I am going to go out on a limb and say that before his career is over, he will have that record
Mookie has a 4-4 night with 3 HRs and 5 RBIs, and a HBP. His OPS is now sitting at 1.074. Anyone watching the game realizes that Mookie’s 3 HR night ties him with Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa for the most 3 HR games in a career. I am going to go out on a limb and say that before his career is over, he will have that record all by his lonesome.
There is no doubt that Mookie is special, and that he makes the team better. But for me, what is most unfortunate, is that the LA fans cannot watch him at the stadium in his first year in a Dodger uniform, and give him the accolades he so richly deserves. Dodger Stadium would have shook for a 6.0+ on the Richter Scale for Mookie tonight. He is going to be fun to watch for the next dozen or so years.
At the time of Corey Seager’s surgeries in 2018, I wrote that while JT is the heart and soul of the Dodgers, Corey was the glue. The team seems to play better and more cohesively when he is in the lineup. I do not believe that it was a coincidence that without Corey Seager for most of the year, the 2018 team tied for their worst record during their 7+ year run since 2012, with a regular season Won-Loss of 91-71 (same as 2016). I also do not consider it a coincidence that they played mostly like excrement since he went down with back discomfort. Doc has found an elixir and it is Mookie in leadoff and Seager at #2. That is no surprise to many of us here at LADT, and we did not have to have special meetings with the players or management to make that observation.
I also believe that those two bunts in Wednesday’s game, was a little magic potion for the team. At least for a little bit. The team will go into a funk again before the season is over. But now they know that they can win with the bunt as well as the HR.
I thought and wrote that Cody’s oppo double in Wednesday’s game was his best AB of the season. He continued to attack with his first two AB’s in last nights game. Just bad luck, but he crushed both balls. Joc and Max still have work to do. Max had a couple of awful called strikes that were not close. The same thing was happening to Cody. When things go bad, there are just no silver linings. Max now has 24 K’s in 90 PA.
But guess who has woken up…that favorite whipping boy…Austin Barnes. Two multi hit games in three, and he went 5-9 in the series. He is now hitting .226/.273/.355/.628. His .628 OPS is better than Cody’s and Joc’s, and just south of Muncy’s .640. No, I do not believe he should be anything more than a backup catcher, but he is a good backup catcher.
The other star on Thursday was Julio Urias, who just turned 24 on Wednesday. The difference last night…he went after the batters. He was pounding the strike zone. Zero walks for the first time this year. He threw 86 pitches, and could have finished the 7th, but he did not need to. Dennis Santana needed some more work, and he came in and did a great job. The 2.2 scoreless innings from the Santana, Jake McGee, and Dylan Floro, gives the bullpen 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings. I think it is fair to say that AF has addressed the bullpen in a big way for this year. Dylan Floro looks almost unhittable thus far. He has appeared in 9 of the 20 games, and pitched 8.1 innings. He has allowed 0 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, and 6 K. He has a 0.6 WHIP.
I also believe that Urias went to school on Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin. He saw how successful both of them were by being aggressive and attacking the hitters. He needs to carry that attitude forward into his next start. It has been my belief that it wasn’t for lack of command that Urias had increased pitch counts, but trying to be too perfect and nibbling. I thought he needed to trust his stuff which everyone believes is top shelf. Last night he became a pitcher. He did not let the HR’s bother him. He continued to fill up the strike zone. I also believe that he was nibbling instead of lack of command, because Doc even intimated that the difference in Urias last night was how aggressive he was with the fastball and throwing it for strikes. Hopefully, something clicked for him.
Doc also said that Gonsolin will get another start. I am a Ross Stripling fan, but right now he is back to #6 SP behind Kershaw, Buehler, Urias, May, and Gonsolin. Maybe they stay with the six man rotation for the balance of 2020.
A little personal note. Today will be my last post for the next several days. As most everyone here knows, we lost our son Kristopher last year. Monday marks the one-year anniversary of his passing, and I just do not feel all that chummy or creative. This has been a bad year for me and my family, however LADT and the people who continue to contribute have been a blessing taking my mind away from the negativity. I have asked our other outstanding writers to find another article in them, and I will get them published. I will still be watching the games, but unless I want to joke with Mark, I do not see me contributing much over the next several days. I will also continue to monitor the comments, so continue to play nice.
GO BLUE!!
Kris, this is for you. Love you, Mom and Dad!!
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Discussion (60)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I also read some talk on MLBTR that MLB is considering increasing the player pool by at least 15. It sounded like this will be a done deal. With the trade deadline 16 days away, this could set up some top prospects being involved in deals since it is believed a lot of teams will use that to keep their best prospects sharp. It is also looking like Will Smith might be headed for the IL. The stiffness in his neck is still there and he is having problems moving his head from side to side. My guess is that they will most likely promote Ruiz for his first MLB action.
Nice to see Belli have a good night at the plate. The rumors of Kershaw’s demise are way premature. He pitched like an Ace tonight. Most impressive thing I saw was the hustle on ground balls. Seager, and Pollock got RBI’s beating out grounders. The bullpen was due for an off night. Charged with 3 runs after not giving up any for more than 22 innings. Team is 14-7, one full game ahead of the Rockies who are 12-7. 3 ahead of the Padres who lost to Arizona 5-1. 2-8 with runners in scoring position, so with some timely hitting the game would not have been that close. Buehler-Heaney tomorrow night. Then May-Teheran on Sunday. Barnes is hitting .259 now.
Mookie is slumping!
Come on Badger, just laying out some stuff… If you need counseling, we don’t need to know…
Damn were looking good though… Divine intervention or???
Alright Bellinger with another one.
Excellent outing by Kersh.
We win, we’re back in first with 6 weeks go go!
I’d say those of you who have predicted the demise of Kershaw and Bellinger should re-think your positions.
We have seen over the 3 or 4 games that Cody is getting it together.
Clayton looks vintage!
Kershaw up to 94 MPH on the fastball tonight. Good snap. Doesn’t have good control of the breaking stuff – but he’s been aggressive and he’s gotten 8 ground ball outs in 4 innings.
It seems like Bellinger has an off-balance swing. His legs don’t seem like their planted right. I’m no expert though.
Are we doing Home Run Derby again tonight?
I see now they’re painting ads on the mound. Next comes ads on the uniforms like Mexican baseball. It’s all about $$$.
And…..we’re off. 1st and 2nd, one out, no runs. Cody strikes out of course.
Hey AC, ‘the future ain’t what it used to be’. This month on the 18th 19 years ago tragedy tugged on my coat and since those words come to mind a lot. I guess the world has never been on the right track. It’s surely not all a box of chocolates. I hope you don’t take me wrongly as there are no right words to be said. At least that’s still how it is with me. Sorry for you man.
Trade him? I thought we were gonna outright him! Let’s put Barnes in centerfield!
Can we tear down the gallows now or at least encase it in bubble wrap…
Best proposal of the week was Trade Belli… This is why we have drug counselers…
My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours Jeff… Celebrate the memories of his life with you…
Sorry to hear about the loss of your son AC . I’m sure he had as good a life as you could possibly give him. and his being in your life made you a better man. Sincere condolences.
My prayers for you and your family Jeff!
Looks like Doc is sticking with Mookie, Corey, JT 1,2,3
Max gets day off
1. Betts RF
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Pollock LF
5. Bellinger CF
6. Taylor DH
7. Hernandez 2B
8. Rios 1B
9. Barnes C
Kershaw P
Jeff
Best wishes.
The Dodgers are 13-7. The Cubs are 13-3. The Cardinals are 2-3. What is MLB going to do with this? Just in terms of the Dodgers, the Cubs are four games ahead in the lost column, in the battle for the best record in the NL, and if they do not make up the games, that is hard to overcome. Now, it may be that home field is not going to matter at all, but I think that home surroundings would help in the playoffs. Are they going to play 2-3-2, or just stay in one venue? And if home field really does not matter, then I guess the only goal is to make the playoffs, as it does not matter much where you are seeded, except maybe that you do not want to be seeded 8th, and play the best team by record..
Well, the whole thing is being dealt with as best they can with the circumstances arising. We enjoy the fact that there is a season, but we know that is going to be diminished in baseball history, no matter who wins it. In some ways, i am looking at this season with an eye on the next one, and that is why I am excited when we see a good game from May or Gonsolin, and when Bellinger starts to get back to form. I hope that next year’s team is clearly the best in the league, if not all of baseball, in terms of roster strength. Some of our players will not be back, due to one-year contracts or hopefully trades. And we don’t know where we or the other clubs will stand in terms of monetary flexibility. I would try to sign Treinen now, though, and take the risk that he keeps pitching as well as he has so far. He really solidifies our bullpen. But I suppose that he would rather wait and go for the three-year deal he will get in the offseason, as a closer.
At this point, the twelve-year deal for Betts is looking very smart and proactive, now we have at least one position where we have a superstar for the future, as long as he stays healthy.
Jeff, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I cannot imagine losing a child.
It took Doc a long time to put Mookie in lead off position. I hope he never entertains a thought to put someone else there. Pederson and Muncy need to rest. I agree with you on CT3. By getting on ahead, those HR’s become 2 and 3 run HR’s. CT3 needs to move to second when Corey comes back. Then bring up Lux. Let hm play and let CT3 be the super sub. I think Gonsolin has to stay in the rotation. May, Utias, and Gonsolin are 3 young guns.
Kike, Pederson. And Stripling are expendable. Get something at trading deadline that is needed. Maybe an outfielder. Bull pen looks strong.
Betts is getting some well deserved attention as is Urias and Taylor. But how about Pollock? That catch in the first inning was spectacular, as was Joc’s reaction. You could clearly hear Joc yell WALL! Then he adds to that by homering. The guy has been steady when the big guns have not been firing. Kudo’s to AJ for another well played game.
Belli hit the ball hard yesterday. It’s only a matter of time before he joins the party. And what can I say about Mookie? What a gift that he’s on our side! Already has 6, 3 HR games at age 27! And his positive attitude is contagious. If some of it rubs off on Belli and Muncie, we’ll be unstoppable. Finally, good to know that Doc has been reading this blog. Putting Mookie and Cory #1 and #2, telling Urias to be more aggressive, and the bunts,.can’t be coincidental! Finally, from the day before, you’ve got to love Joe Kelly. His trash talking, pouting, calling out the Astericks, and “wild pitches,” may have been just the spark the Dodgers needed.
Congrats to Mookie for his awesome batting performance. I really like his play and attitude. Very good trade.
Also want to compliment CT3 for his contribution in last night’s game, both hitting and defense. Just goes to show a mixture of home runs and base hits can be successful. Does not need to be only homers.
Jeff, my sincere sympathies, and we will look forward to reading your posts when you feel up to it.