I generally don’t have a “favorite” player… kind of like I don’t have a favorite kid… or grandkid. However, I am unashamed to say that Alex Freeland is now my favorite player, simply because of what he has had to overcome to get where he is. I admire his parents for what they did for him, and I admire his indomitable spirit. However, the time has come for Alex to go back to OKC as soon as Kike Hernandez is activated. The Dodgers won’t rush that one. Obliques are sneaky little gremlins. He allegedly took a live at-bat against Edwin Díaz on July 5, which is a good sign… for both of them.
Alex Freeland’s walk rate is 10.6% That’s good. For context:
| BB% | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 5–6% | Low |
| 7–8% | Average-ish |
| 9–10% | Good |
| 11–13% | Very good |
| 14%+ | Elite patience |
So the bat goblin math says: his walk rate is solid, but the 30.3% K-rate is the red flag. Ideally, you’d love to see him keep the walk rate around 10–12% while cutting the strikeouts closer to 24–26%.
When Kike comes up, Alex has to go back to OKC and work on that. He is only 24 and has time to improve. I don’t want to hear anything about Hyeseong Kim. He is OPS’ing about the same as Freeland… only he’s at AAA. The Dodgers will be just fine with Kike. I could also see Kevin Call being traded. He’s league average, but has a below-average arm and little pop. Could the Dodgers have the audacity to call up Mike Sirota to be the 5th outfielder at the trade deadline? Hummmm…
- Next year, I can see the Dodgers trading a couple of outfielders for a shortstop… with Mookie going to 2B. Alex will be Superutility.
- In a year or so, could the Dodgers go after Kyle Karros?
- I predict this is Teoscar’s last year with the Dodgers. New LF’er: Josue DePaula!
- Dalton Rushing is growing right before our eyes.
- Could Will be Wally Pipped?
2028 Opening Day
C – Dalton Rushing
1B – Kyle Tucker
2B – Mookie Betts
SS – Kevin McGonigal (Dodgers traded Hope, Kim, Davalan, Zazueta, Ko, and West)
3B – Kyle Karros
LF – Josue DePaula
CF – Mike Sirota
RF – Andy Pages
DH- Ohtani
Bench: Freeland, Miller, Tibbs III, Smith, George
Call me crazy!
ACL Dodgers 4 – ACL White Sox 1
The two ACL teams fought to a scoreless tie through 6.0 innings. Fresh off his ACL Pitcher of the Week award, RHSP Luis Gamez pitched 4.1 scoreless, hitless innings. He did not walk a batter, and of the 13 outs he recorded, 11 were strikeouts. That is domination. Gamez is a 19 year old from Mexico.
RHRP Josehp Marte pitched a scoreless 1.2 innings. He allowed 1 hit and struck out 2.
ACL White Sox scored an unearned run in the 7th inning to take a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th, with one out, 3B Elias Medina hit a game tying HR (3). LF Abel Lorenzo singled and 2B Reyli Mariano drew a BB. SS Sam Mongelli then hit a walkoff 3-run HR for thew win.
NO ACL Dodger had more than 1 hit.
DSL LAD Bautista 13 – DSL Astros Blue 11
DSL LAD Bautista sent 19 batters to the plate in the 1st inning and scored all 13 runs.
- BB – 10
- HBP – 1
- Singles – 2
- Doubles – 2
- Triples – 1
- Balk – 1
C Oliver Chapman had a 2 run double (4).
DH Fran-Jean Haseth had a 2 run double (6).
LF Willy Bergolla had a 2 run triple (2).
DSL Astros Blue scored 5 in the 3rd and 6 in the 7th.
DSL LAD Bautista did not get a hit after the first inning. They did get 1 HBP and 6 BB.
DSL LAD Mega 9 – DSL Royals Fortuna 0 – 7 innings
DSL LAD Mega scored in four straight innings, beginning with the 2nd.
In the 2nd, after a batter reached base on an error, and a 2nd was HBP, the pitcher unleashed a WP putting runners on 2nd and 3rd. C Jose Rivas singled to score both runners.
In the 3rd, with one out, CF Helvin Mendoza doubled (3) and scored on 2B Hendry Arvelo’s single. Arvelo scored when Erny Orellana reached 2nd on a fielding error. A RBI single by 3B Juan Macero scored the 3rd run of the inning.
With one out in the 4th, the batter reached on a BB. SS Antoni Urena doubled (3) and the next batter drew a BB to load the bases. Two runs scored on two WP.
In the 5th, Macero doubled (3). Two BB loaded the bases and a SF brought home Macero.
After a scoreless 6th, DSL LAD Mega got one more in the 7th. 2 singles put runners on 1st and 3rd. The lead runner scored on a PB.
- RHSP Gregg Ferrera pitched 4.0 scoreless innings on 2 hits, 2 BB, and 6 K.
- RHRP Micheal Morfe pitched 2.0 scoreless innings with no hits and 3 BB.
- RHRP Albert Feliz pitched a scoreless 7th. He allowed 1 hit and 2 BB to go with striking out the side.
Macero and Rivas had two hits
Agustin Acosta, ACL Player of the Week
Fresh off of an IL stint, Acosta showed just what he can do outside of the Dominican Summer League. He played five games last week, hitting a homer and driving in eight runs. He went 10-for-18 during that stretch, as his OPS on the season climbed to 1.185.
Luis Gamez, ACL
Gamez only pitched once for the ACL Dodgers last week, but he made the most of his sole appearance.
Through 4.2 innings pitched, Gamez only allowed three walks while striking out 11 batters to lower his season ERA to 3.52. He had a fantastic month of June, posting a 2.12 ERA through 17 innings pitched.
Discussion (127)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I remain convinced we will win it all this season.
Depends on health of our stars, state of the starting pitching come October. They will win the Division easily. No real competition there. My concern is Pages extended slump. he is hitting .240 as the 2-hitter. Another concern is the total lack of offense from Kyle Tucker. One good game, next on nothing. He has yet to string together two good games. He has not provided any power at all. By comparison, Mickey Moniak is an offensive beast. .277 average, 15 homers for 56 million dollars less. More telling .934 OPS and 139 OPS+ Tucker? .740 OPS and 109 OPS+.
Klein stunk. Walking the leadoff hitter is a huge no no. Then he puts one right in the happy zone. Miggy Ro makes an uncharacteristic error and Freeland a bad decision to throw to third and they end up losing by 1. But this is on the offense. 1-12 with RISP. Tucker another empty game. Muncy hit one on the screws but right at the right fielder. He might have been better off taking the 3-0 pitch. Ohtani and Pages with two of the worst at bats I have seen all year in the 9th. Tying run on second and they could not even move the runners over. Chuckie Robinson accepted an assignment to OKC. Joey Cora dumped by the Tigers. Wrobo robbed of a win by a leaky bullpen and bad defense.
Baseball
Alex Freeland evidently reads LADT!
A few things:
1. John, I am sorry I kept your comment in jail so long. In the next couple of weeks, we will launch a new web platform, and it is amazing. Hopefully, you won’t be treated as a criminal there. 😉
2. Kevin McGonigle was just a fun concept, BUT could the Dodgers put a package together to get him? It would be a huge overpay, but I believe they could.
3. I have been really, really busy the past month, and Jeff and Bear have stepped up immensely.
4. I still can get a rise out of you. 😉
5. Dano, I am a savage! Genius? Not many would agree! Check my T-Shirt out:
6. Epigraph of my new book: “If you you ever want to beat my father, you have to kill him.” – Stephen Timmons
In Europe, the best young athletes play soccer. In USA soccer is WAY down the list.
I remember years ago someone explained soccer–They run around in the underwear for an hour and the score is 1-0.
Was at a bar earlier and the final was 0-0. Then some penalty shots. How boring. We like basketball. A score every few seconds. True we have loads of other sports to play. Not so many sports for women, and their team became competitive sooner. My wife used to compete as a racewalker. Same story. US walkers never could compete with foreigners. Best track athletes didn’t compete as walkers. Especially men. If you wanted to watch Olympic racewalking, you had to watch a foreign broadcast. US coverage doesn’t show it.
Urgent message for Phil!
The following umps have announced that they will retire at the end of this season, accepting MLB buyout offers:
Lance Barksdale
CB Bucknor
Laz Diaz
Andy Fletcher
Marvin Hudson
Brian O’Nora
Tony Randazzo
Barksdale started a full time role in 2006 while the others all started in 1999.
Who says Rob Manfred hasn’t made baseball better?
Go full electronic and nobody cares
Holy Molly STB. A cornucopia of welcome purges to weed out some of the old MLB baggage.
The new crop of young umpires seem to be much more fit and better umpires, perhaps embracing the ABS and getting experience with it in MiLB, aided in their competence.
Where can I contribute to the CB and Laz’s retirement fund?
ps – I’ve made my case for full-time ABS and I’m letting that conversation rest. Again, if the intention of the challenge system was for fan entertainment and to add some in-game strategy, it’s been a success.
If the goal was to get all the pitches called correctly, it has NOT.
Mr. Timmons you are savage and a genius! 103 comments and counting. As P.T. Barnum said….
Book em
He wasn’t born with a clubfoot but with a foot up the man’s ass
In Europe , a talented 14-year-old earns his club money. In America, his parents pay the club $15,000 a year.
That single inversion explains the issues in American society work against US soccer.
Training compensation and solidarity payments send a cut of every transfer fee back to the clubs that developed the player, from age 12 onward. Develop one future pro and your academy gets paid for a decade. Barcelona’s La Masia, Ajax, every Bundesliga academy runs on this logic. The kid is the asset.
US Soccer refuses to enforce those rules. When Seattle’s Crossfire Premier claimed its $60,000 share of DeAndre Yedlin’s transfer to Tottenham, it got nothing. Claims on the Dempsey and Bradley transfers died partly because the federation couldn’t even produce the youth training records.
So American clubs earn zero dollars when a kid turns pro. They earn when a kid enrolls. Which makes the parent the customer, and the product is whatever keeps the parent writing checks: travel tournaments, hotel weekends, $500 showcase events, private training at $100 an hour. Elite pathways run $8,000 to $20,000 a year. A comparable academy spot in Italy costs about 120 euros.
Follow the incentive one level deeper and it gets darker. A club dependent on fees can’t cut its weakest paying players, so rosters optimize for retention over development. The scouting pool shrinks to families who can afford the cliff, which appears around age 11, exactly when development matters most. The country runs a talent filter sorted by household income instead of ability.
Every four years someone proposes fixing this. The proposal always requires the people profiting from the $15,000 model to vote themselves out of business.
Who cares? It’s soccer.
One of the joys of being a young Dodgers fan in Southern California was realizing that I could claim Brooklyn as part of my heritage. I reveled in learning about Jackie, Pee Wee, Campy and the rest.
Seriously, I really did consider Roy Campanella’s uplifting autobiography to be my favorite book… until at age 13 or 14 I picked up “The Godfather” and got to the part about Sonny and the bridesmaid.
And now True Blue LA offers some Brooklyn/LA perspective:
Dodgers history reaches equilibrium between Los Angeles & Brooklyn
by Eric Stephen
Jul 7, 2026, 10:43 AM PDT
Monday night was a notable game in franchise history for the Dodgers, and not just because the team played their first extra-inning game of 2026, snapping a 91-game stretch that was the second-longest to open a season without playing past nine innings, seven games behind the 2005 Boston Red Sox.
The series opener against the Colorado Rockies was more historical, encompassing the entirety of 143 years as a franchise. Between the regular season and postseason combined, the Dodgers in Brooklyn played 11,109 games. Monday night was the Dodgers’ 11,109th such game since moving to Los Angeles.
The franchise started in Brooklyn in 1884 in the American Association, where they would play for six seasons before joining the National League in 1890.
The World Series as we know it didn’t begin until 1903, but earlier attempts to determine a champion were less series. For example, the Dodgers won the National League in 1890 and played the American Association-champion Louisville Cardinals in the “World’s Championship Series,” but the series ended in a tie (3-3-1) and was never settled. The Dodgers’ only other 19th century postseason was in 1889, when they lost in the postseason to the NL-champion New York Giants, six games to three.
Brooklyn also finished first in the National League in both 1899 and 1900, but had no postseason to play.
In the modern era, the Brooklyn Dodgers played in nine World Series, totaling 56 games. Since moving to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have played in 14 World Series and 79 Fall Classic games, but also 174 other postseason games.
Dodgers history in Brooklyn & Los Angeles
Location Games Record Pennants Titles
Brooklyn (1884-1957) 11,109 5,650-5,325-134 13 1
Los Angeles (1958-2026) 11,109 6,094-5,009-6 14 8
regular season and postseason combined, through July 6, 2026
At the moment, 143 years of Dodgers history is perfectly balanced between Brooklyn and Los Angeles
Wow I had no idea!
Thank you. 50 50. I’m kinda shocked
Joe Davis would be all over this stuff.
Keep an eye on:
Luis Gámez, a recent international signee
The Mexican pitcher has struck out 22 batters in his last 9 innings.
4.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 11 SO
4.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 11 SO
Where is he pitching right now?
Needless to say, those numbers would even be good for Little League.
07/07/26 Los Angeles Dodgers sent C Chuckie Robinson outright to Oklahoma City Comets.
10:10 PM ET
Rockies (37-55)
Dodgers (60-32)
SP Michael Lorenzen R
3-9 6.91 ERA
SP Justin Wrobleski L
10-2 2.80 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
CF Andy Pages R
1B F. Freeman L
3B Max Muncy L
LF Tommy Edman S
RF Kyle Tucker L
C D. Rushing L
2B A. Freeland S
SS Miguel Rojas R
76° Wind 8 mph Out
NO Mookie
Tucker HRs tonight
AVF..,, would you take than bet?
Loaded with lefties and two switches. A right handers nightmare
Didn’t work out that way. Muncy, Tucker, Rushing 0-for game
2028 Starters- Go FA for more pitching and prospects especially a near ready catcher
C- Smith and Rushing
First- Pope
Second -Betts
SS-Emil Morales
Third-Chase Harlan
Left-Sirota
Center- DePaula
Right-Pages
Bench- Tucker, Hainline, Rushing, Lindsay
Here’s a question for the LADT brain trust…
We all know that MLB rules forbid trades of draft position, There is an exception for those “competitive balance” picks (such as the one that landed Davalan as part of the Lux deal).
But do the rules forbid a workaround like this:
Imagine that AF and the entire Guggenheim team gets fixated on a guy like the UCLA SS Roch Cholodsomthing or Grady Emerson. Could AF tell a team with a top pick, “If you draft the guy we want, we’ll give you Zyhir Hope + Alex Freeland + Kendall George for him.”
This sort of thing seems to happen often in the NBA and NFL. I don’t see it happening in MLB.
It also occurs to me that a high school draftee would be more excited about joining the Dodgers–and might opt for college with another team.
Am I right about this? And if so, why or why not?
AFAIK, this is the classic PTBNL deal. You are not allowed to trade prospects (unless this has changed in recent years) for a calendar year after being drafted. HOWEVER, I think there’s a six month window for PTBNL trades, so the Dodgers wouldn’t be able to do such a deal until 6 months after the draft.
That opens the door to a number of issues. If any of the prospects flourish. If any of the prospects wane in value. If any of the prospects get injured, etc….
Just as an aside, I think the ability to trade draft picks, like the NBA, is an item on the table for the new CBA.
There are obviously bigger fish to fry with this CBA. I personally don’t want to see that happen and especially if they plan on going to 12 rounds only.
It would be a huge benefit for the Dodgers, Yankees and a few other teams who never get a chance at a high draft choice and it would be a great opportunity for , say the Rockies or other bottom feeders, to get a haul of top 10 prospects. Instant upgrade without waiting 4 years.
I am not sure where this Kevin McGonigle trade notion came from. McGonigle is going to be the face of the Tigers. He will be the Tigers Bobby Witt Jr. Kevin is in the 1st year of a 9-year $150.78MM contract. He needs to average 2 fWAR per year over the life of the contract. He is 21 years old and is already at 3.8 fWAR this year. He will be 29 at the end of the contract.
At 21 he has an OPS of .817 and an OPS+ of 128. He is a stellar defender at both SS and 3B. The package of Hope, Kim, Davalan, Zazueta, Ko and West does include 3 top 100 prospects, but only 1 top 20 (per MLB Pipeline – Hope). Baseball America has one top 50 (Zazueta), one 55 (Hope) and a 98 (Davalan).. It doesn’t seem nearly enough for a 21 year old premier SS with 9 years team control at a team friendly deal.
This 100%.
It’s bonkersville between McGonigle and Skubal and Chapman talk.
I
That trade idea came from Mark letting himself have fun and maybe just to annoy Bluto.
I say go for it. If Pitt won’t take that offer, then offer those prospects to the Spurs for Wemby.
Let’s make shit happen!
BANG!
On the Pages subject, his plate discipline will decide whether he does or doesn’t become a star. The All-Star break is coming at a good time for him. I’d like to see him out of the two hole but I don’t really have a good answer when it comes to replacing him other than potentially Edman. If Teo were hot I’d think about putting Mookie back with Teo hitting cleanup. A healthy Will Smith would make the decision easier. Was last night the first time this year Doc has finally alternated Left-Right all the way from 1-9 hitters?
I’ve always liked the Big Red Machine’s lineup with Perez hitting 5th. Right now, that’s where I would bat Pages.
Looking forward to Worbs tonight, who should be an All-Star regardless of tonight’s performance.
Also Paul Skenes Day, today. Let’s see if he starts to right the ship after his first brutal starts of his career. The Pirates have lost 9 straight games he has started.
You mentioned earlier that you hated to see Robinson go. I suspect it has to do with Will Smith. Rushing is filling nicely for Smith, but Robinson can’t hit. If Smith comes back, then the Dodgers are ok. If he doesn’t, the Dodgers will need to have a better hitting catcher. It’s why I think they brought up Alfonzo. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Dodgers trade for a backup catcher, if Alfonzo doesn’t work out and Smiths return is TBD.
OK Mark… You’re crazy.
And possibly a dope fiend.
So don’t Bogart that lineup, my friend… I like the spirit.
Realistically, I don’t see the Dodgers going after Kyle Karros unless Karros raises his game in a big way.
More likely, I think, is that the 3B job for 2028 could be decided by whether Rushing “Wally Pipps” Smith, or Smith recovers and pushes Rushing to 3B. (I’ve long lobbied for Rushing to get reps at 3B and de Paula to get training at 1B. Smith could also shift to 3B.) Another possibility is that, come 2028, Emil Morales or Chase Harlan could break through as rookies.
There’s nothing wrong with Smith and Rushing as a two-headed monster job-sharing catcher. But if Freddie calls it a career, Rushing is already an option at 1B. (I don’t see Rushing as the starting catching job unless he can show he is at least Smith’s equal on defense.) Does Tucker have 1B experience? I don’t know–but a shift is plausible. Tibbs, if he is still around, is also a possibility at 1B.
Yes, Mookie should shift over to 2B by 2028, pushing Freeland or Kim into a UT role. And yes, a trade could fill the SS job.
McGonigle is very appealing, but the Astros’ Jeremy Pena is both more proven and more affordable, and thus more likely. It could happen this winter.
We fans lust after impressive rookies, but the Dodgers’ brass is drawn to experience. The age of the team shows this. Mookie, Freddie, Teo, Shohei, Snell, Glasnow and Yamamoto were established stars before the Dodgers acquired them. Tucker’s overpay is another example. Edman, Miggy Rojas and Kike will keep youngsters down on the farm. Heck, even the Conforto mistake shows the bias towards experience. (Did AF internalize the lesson of his premature faith in Gavin Lux and Miguel Vargas? Does he now rue young Roki? )
An OF that reads de Paula-Sirota-Pages assumes that Tucker will shift to 1B. Plausible, but unlikely. So perhaps Sirota may have to apprentice as the 4th OF–and late-inning defensive replacement for de Paula.
The way that Freddie and Max are playing now–fully legitimate all-stars–it wouldn’t greatly surprise me if one or even both want to keep playing in 2028. But let’s assume that both decide to move on.
So maybe….
C– Smith/Rushing
1B– Rushing/Tibbs
2B– Mookie
3B– Emil Morales (dare to dream!)
SS– Jeremy Pena
OF– De Paula, Pages, Tucker….Sirota
DH– the unicorn who is also a GOAT
UT– Edman, Freeland, Kim…. maybe a third catcher?
Kim likely won’t be a Dodger by then.
Funny if Ehrhard winds up the best of the OF prospects.
I’ve always assumed that the PTBNL is typically a marginal player, not a potential star. The deal might include a list of names, with one side able to choose from that list at the end of the season. Or whatever.
I wonder….
Did any PTBNL become a star?
Who is the greatest PTBNL of all time???
Was it Crash Davis?
Oh ye of little faith.
You may be right, of course. But I could imagine the Dodgers deciding to deal Freeland and keeping Kim. I think both are major league talents.
Duke, you mentioned Freddie and Muncy playing well the last few years. I always wondered how much of that success came from the infield restriction not letting the defense stack the right side? In a way, it also opens up the left side, especially for Max and Freddie when they play the SS on top of 2B. I’ve noticed they both brake advantage of that alignment more than they used to.
Interesting point.
Trade Pages? I have to admit it has crossed my mind too. Not saying I would, but not saying I wouldn’t. His plate discipline sometimes confounds me! Excellent center fielder, great arm, overly aggressive sometimes, tries to get to every ball in the outfield! Still don’t like him in the 2 spot. Don’t believe he goes anywhere except to right field when Sirota arrives.
Lauer was Lauer last night. Exactly what AF acquired him to be. Made 2 terrible pitches to Tovar! Other than that? Solid . Not spectacular, but very solid. And I agree with someone who said “quality “ start. In my opinion, a useless stat. It should be,(1) great. (2). Good. (3). Poor. (4) . Terrible. Just me.
The Rockies have a different look in their eyes now. Not intimidated, not scared, and very agressive. If they could only find some pitching that wanted to be there!
Dalton Rushing? Did nothing wrong last night. Had a great game! Caught a good game. Swung the bat very well. Sweet play on that tag at the plate! He ain’t going nowhere! And of course Rojas was right in the middle of that play. Going to be missed if he actually does retire.
I believe if Justin Wrob. Has a good game today, it’s going to be hard to keep him off the all star team. Major snub if he doesn’t make it.
How much is a cost-controlled, ascending Andy Pages worth?!?!??!?!
A ton, I’d imagine.
Hard to recoup value at that level.
Mark suggested Kevin McGonigal could be a target.
LOL.
It would take more than Pages obviously.
This is just silliness.
The whole board is silly today.
I know. Someone wrote a looooooong comment arguing with what you basically just called silly.
Watched the entire game with the sound off. No way I could take even 2 minutes of the Drew Goodman I am a moron show. His analysts are not much better. I bet he was going nuts when the Rockies tied it in the 9th. the Carrigg kid is impressive with the bat. He is also a gamer. He was in the wrong on the slide home, but he seems to be the same kind of personality as Dalton.
Bear, I did my new trick again of listening to the Sirius Radio broadcast while watching the muted game. Not a Karros fan. It takes me back to listening to games on my transistor radio, as a kid. I love the descriptions that paint a picture in your head, even while I’m watching the scene. No second guessing every pitch selection. Hell they even get away with misstating pitch shapes and nobody knows – or cares.
Charley Steiner was good, Tim Neverett, was better and Rick Monday pairs with either, like a glove.
I would have to use my computer to get the Dodger audio. I just watched it with the sound off. Was ok.
I need to get up earlier and get in here earlier. Geez, already 33 comments.
Yes, I’m a huge Freeland rooter. I also rooted for Loney, Pederson, and John Hale but wasn’t rewarded as much as I had hoped. Okay, in Hale’s case, not at all. There is something about Freeland’s defense that screams out confidence and Gold. His power is as a righty bat, but he doesn’t get to use it as a Dodger. I thought he might have turned the corner a bit when he recently battled Miller. He fouled off pitches and worked the count full before flying out to left field.
Tucker’s batting average is climbing, and he has a decent ytd RBI number. Betts and Freeman no longer look old. Muncy is an All Star. Call is a left fielder. I might use Edman in CF and Pages in RF instead of putting Call in RF.
I too liked Freeland’s approach to Miller. He was not overmatched with that AB. He did not get a hit, but he barreled up a 103 hitting it foul and fouled off another at 103. It is clear to anyone paying attention that the book on Freeland is to pitch him outside. He will not swing. The MLB pitcher paints two on the outside edge and now he has Freeland right where he wants him. The Dodgers love pull-side power so maybe that is what he is sitting on. Pitchers are not giving it to him. It is up to him to make the adjustment.
His fly ball to LF was off a 102.2 4-seamer and was hit at a 52 degree angle. I would prefer that he take a more level swing, look to get more on top of the pitch, and drive it with backspin. He did hit an outside pitch to LF and did not try to pull it. He shows he is capable of adjusting. He just needs to keep working on it.
Last year, Rushing hit .204/.258/.324/.582 with a 63 OPS+ . This year Alex is .226/.308/.312/.620 with a 73 OPS+. I know some here want to DFA him, but he is 24, and is top defensive 2B (Top 7 in DRS).
I am assuming he will head back to OKC once Kike’ is back. I hope he works on hitting that outside pitch oppo.
I’ll add that Freeland seems to get a lot of pitches outside the strike zone that are called strikes. I’m regularly mentioning to the TV for Freeland to tap his helmet.
Sorry to see Chuckie go. He was a decent catcher. But his brief stint may earn him a second Dodger ring.
I forget which Rockie it was but it breaks my heart to see a perfectly good, bat intentionally broken in anger over a strike out. A beautiful $200 show piece of perfectly lacquered multi-colored maple, shattered, just seems like such a waste. As a kid, I would have slept with that bat and as a player I would have treated that bat like a piece of fine furniture giving it the respect it deserves. Ichiro used to treat his bats like precision tools that barely touched the ground. And this hitter just destroys it on purpose. Newsflash – it ain’t the bats fault partner.
Rushing had a career game. Nice to see him come through with a walk-off knock.
And a very nice catch on the popped-up sac bunt attempt. Less athletic catchers don’t make that play.
He does make life interesting. I think he was not-guilty in the little altercation at home, with Hunter Goodman. I have no idea what was said but Goodman appeared to take offense being tagged a second time by Rushing at home, when words were exchanged. But Dalton doesn’t appear to want to take shit from anybody.
Henriquez threw a pitch in the top of the 10th that made me blow a clot. I don’t know if Rushing called it but Henriguez threw it.
Top 10, Henriquez works from behind in the count, to get it to 3 and 2 to Mickey Moniak. Henriquez walked him on A FRICKIN BREAKING BALL.
WTF?? You throw 103mph? Why would you not throw your best fastball in that situation and take your chances? If I threw 103 I’m not going to try to trick anybody in that situation. It’s dead Red.
Bad choice by 2 youngsters, IMO.
My 2nd WTF last night was in the bottom of the 9th with the winning run on 3rd when Pages looked at 3 center-cut strikes to end the inning. My gawd, get a hack!!! Again, not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Credit the Rockies for hanging around and giving the Dodgers all they could handle last night. They have some kids who can swing it.
Phil, you gave me a small opening to squeeze in something that won’t escape my mind. The nicest way for me to say it is that I am open to trading Pages.
I didn’t like Teo taking a swing when the pitcher was struggling to find the home plate’s zip code.
Or do we try to stack the Pen.
7th–Scott
8th–Chapman
9th–Diaz
Vesia is fine for the 8th.
No need for Chapman.
Think prospects.
You really are against improving the team huh??? Ok….
Adding prospects improves the team, says the man not obsessed with the short term.
Obsessed with being only the third team ever and the ONLY NL team to 3 Peat.
Whats so hard to understand?
How adding Skubal or Chapman would meaningfully impact winning a 3rd World Series Championship.
That’s what is hard to grasp.
Bluto has a particular talent for not understanding things …. and belaboring the point of his lack of understanding.
Chapman isn’t Skubal. He’s a 38 year old closer on an expiring contract playing for a losing team that wants to trim expenses and get something in trade. He won’t cost a lot in prospects, at least nothing the Dodgers would be loathe to give up.
I don’t know how the relief playoff roster will shake out, but wouldn’t you want a Chapman instead of a Will Klein pitching in a key moment of the playoffs? Klein did great, but Chapman instead of Klein or Henriquez or Kyle Hurt? They aren’t terrible, but Chapman, though older and with less velo, is still a stud.
None of these guys – Chapman, Phillips, Scott, Diaz – all with closer experience, need have clearly defined closer or setup roles. Having a lot of stud relievers allows you to plug them into any high leverage situation, rather than waiting to insert them into clearly defined role. And the playoffs are filled with non-stop high leverage situations.
I think having a Chapman in the bullpen to go along with a Diaz and a Phillips and a Scott would just give a manager a lot of good options.
If he won’t cost a lot, why not?
Why not!
if I am sure about anything this hour, it’s when the Dodgers front office decides to make the trade the words “why not” never ever ever ever ever ever ever come up
You’re right. The Dodgers brain trust likely make these decisions during their late night poker games.
“What about that Chapman guy?”
“Meh. Fuck it! Let’s trade for him. ….why not?”
BTW, there’s implied cost/benefit analysis in the phrase, “If he won’t cost a lot, why not?”
How much the Dodgers need Chapman will depend on how well Dryer pitches between now and the trade deadline.
Dreyer??!?!??!
Diaz, Vesia, Scott, Phillips, Hernandez, Stewart.
Those are six relievers (five if you are “wait and see” with Philips) ahead of Dreyer. You think improving the 7th (6th) relief pitcher is worth giving up prospects for Chapman?!?!?!?
Baseball America / Future Projections preview the MLB draft:
“They’re probably going to take a player who 15 teams in front of them wish they took like a year from now. It seems to be what the Dodgers do every year. I’ve heard them connected to a lot of different profiles.
James Clark, Eric Becker, Aiden Ruiz, Bola Rantz, Kayden Sorel, Colt Prosek”
From Future Projection: Episode 195: The Ultimate 2026 MLB Draft Preview, Jul 7, 2026
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/future-projection/id1555299031?i=1000775768442&r=7479
This material may be protected by copyright.
Gunnar Henderson is really struggling, I wonder if he is a typical Friedman under-valued asset to acquire and rework?
His name is ALEX. Put some respect on him.
He is a valuable bench piece, he aint going no where.
Go get Skubal.
Stack the deck, it is no sure thing Glas and Snell will be back 100% for playoffs.
Yamamoto, Skubal, Ohtani and one of Glas and Snell.
How many times does a team get the chance to 3 peat….
Prospects are cool, Parades are cooler….
Hope is expendable with JDP/Sirota & others.
All arms are on the table: Zazueta, Root, Ferris.
We have nothing but 3rd & 4th pieces for a trade–solid prospects with good major league probability.
People here say the cost won’t be that high, but Hope/Root/Ehrhard/Copen for Skubal?
I could see us going balls deep on this year.
The LADT consensus seems to endorse the idea that Hope is expendable. I share that view.
But what happens if AF decides he really wants Skubal–and Detroit says. “You can keep Hope. We want de Paula or Sirota.”
Then what?
The Dodgers could keep Hope–and also know that Quintero is maturing fast.
From what I’ve read, Quintero may have the highest ceiling. He and Sirota are 5-tool players. De Paula is considered the most advanced hitter–but the worst fielder of the bunch. And behind these four, the Dodgers also have Tibbs, George, Davalan and Erhard…. plus some intriguing guys at Ontario.
I hate that statement.
it’s not binary. No one with a brain thinks it’s binary. You’re not guaranteed parades by trading prospects, you’re not guaranteed prospects by avoiding parades.
You know it’s even cooler than parades? What’s even cooler than prospects?
Having both prospects and parades!
What gives us a better chance to 3 peat. With Skubal or without?
Irrelevant.
This thinking will lead to infinite trades. What is the limiting principle?
A front line starter will get what? Five starts over the entire playoffs? How much more value does Skubal deliver (pun!) over Snell? or Glasgow? It’s marginal at best.l, and easily outweighed by the potential clubhouse problems.
An ace like Skubal could be the difference between 3 peating, and losing a world series or not even getting there.
You want to face the Miz, Harrison and Skubal in a playoff series?
Oh! I love the “could be” game!
Let me play!
An ace like Skubal “could be” no influence on the Dodgers post-season performance.
A prospect like one traded for a meaningless Skubal “could be” an MVP in the future.
Mark Timmons’ water company “could be” a trillion dollar company one day.
A playoff rotation with ‘Miz’ and Skubal “could be” a playoff disappointment.
You know what’s not a “could be”?
The Dodgers HAVE (no conditionals about it) won two World Series in a row without Skubal.
Holy cow man give it a rest uh.
The Dodgers are markedly better with Skubal, if you dont think so, well your lost….
They are definitively and undeniably NOT markedly better in a playoff. This cannot be refuted.
No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (Princess Bride FTW)
I may have been a little (a lot?) flippant, let me try to be more level-headed and explicit.
In the simplest terms: In MLB playoffs crazy shit happens! All the teams are really good, most of the pitchers are good. In this case, we are talking about (when healthy) two great pitchers (Glasnow (could be Snell or Ohtani, but Glasnow as some here are down on him) have an insignificant difference because of the small role they play and the overall chaos.
The playoffs are what? At a most the Dodgers will play fewer than 20 games. AT THE MOST! This isn’t a 162 game season, where favorable outcomes happen to the best teams. The fewer games, the higher likelihood of outliers. This is simple stats.
Because of that, a starting pitcher’s impact is really, really, really lessened. It’s 3-4 starts MAX. If you consider starting pitchers are usually pulled earlier than normal, a starting pitcher will only participate in what 12-14 innings? That’s no more than 15% of all innings played.
The rest of the game, they have marginal impact (marginal because you can start to factor in down-stream things like bullpen usage, but then you have a ton of other factors) The bullpen, luck, the offense, luck, the defense, luck. Those have just as much if not more impact than a single starter.
And the difference between goood starters in such a small sample cannot be anything but nigh insignificant. There’s just not enough impact on outcome. And so, in specific, dealing with a healthy Tyler Glasnow contra a healthy Tarik Skubal? Both are elite. Let’s admit Skubal is better? How much better? At most your win probability is 4%. Educated guess. Over 3 games? 4 percent is 4 times out of a hundred. That’s bubkes. Thats way less than bubkes.
A HR from a singles hitter? A blown umpire call? Aaron Judge making an unforced error? Unforseen travel complications? That’s at least the same impact as 4%.
Look, if we were talking about Will Klein being forced into the rotation and you could replace him with Tarik? That’s a massive impact. But a healthy ace with another healthy ace is a very small uptick.
Wow. A lot of effort went into proving a point.
I’ll take Skubal and the 4%. Every little bit counts in the playoffs. Both the Yankees and Blue Jays can confirm that.
Badger,
Proving points is infinitely more valuable and rewarding than sharing opinions, no?
There’s a 4% chance that adding Skubal adversely impacts the Dodgers chances of winning.
What is going on here?
Hard to believe that was the first inning game the Dodgers have played in this year. I sure like the young core of the Rockies. They sure could resemble the Blake Street Bombers in a couple years where they just mash the ball and try to outscore you. They will always have pitching issues and attracting free agents.
Mark and others have stated the obvious that this teams superstars are starting to age so it got me thinking of who is the next big bat the Dodgers will acquire. Yes I know the current labor mess will definitely be a factor.
Betts was traded for, Freeman and Ohtani were signed as free agents. Who could be that next superstar? This is purely speculation and this is where Bradley excelled at with his crazy trade ideas but how about Junior Caminero. Kid is a stud and is only 23 years old. I have no idea of his contract status and how long he is under control. I am just throwing a name out there for the sake of conversation. We have a history of trading with the Rays so never say never.
Junior Caminero is team controlled through 2030. He is not eligible for arbitration until 2028. Depending on what he receives in arbitration in 2028, it is possible that Tampa Bay would move him before the 2029 season. But it is more likely that they will hold on to him through the 2029 season. Junior will be 25 for 2029. So what will be the cost for a 26 year old superstar 1 year away from free agency; $$$ and prospects.
Caminero leads MLB in errors for 3B. His OAA and Fielding Run Value place him last in MLB. DRS is more forgiving. He is more middle of the pack.
Even when he’s trading the Front Office looks for undervalued assets. Bear has chronicled this quite well.
Betts had to be moved due to salary, Freeman (a signing, not a trade, but a superstar) was coming out of acrimonious negotiations with the Braves front office. Ohtani took much less than market.
I raised Gunnar Henderson elsewhere. That to me is more of the “superstar” who the front office would pursue, someone they could get at a discount.
I like it! Gunman Henderson would be nice acquisition.
Baseball America just released their Mid-Season Farm Rankings:
1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Washington Nationals
5. Seattle Mariners
29. Philadelphia Phillies
30. San Diego Padres
So, the Padres are on the list.
Haha
It’s NOT surprising that Preller’s Pathetic Padres’ Punk’s Farm System is 30th and last. When you keep trading your top prospects every year and don’t win the big prize, the World Series or get eliminated early in the tournament, NOW is the time to blow it ALL up.
The same thing happened with the Phillies and Dave DUMBrowski!
The window of opportunity is slowly closing to win a World Series for the Phillies with an aging team.
Maybe!
I wonder if the rest of the National League really believes they can beat the Dodgers? Why trade your best assets just get beat by an obviously better team? It might be wiser to keep your better young talent and wait a couple of years for this current power house to power down due to age. Using the Padres as an example, look where they are after all the attempts they’ve made to dethrone the Division Champs. Of course it’s possible, the dbacks did it once, the Padres did it once, but what are the odds? And then there is the possibility of a lockout and huge changes on the horizon. How does that affect your deadline decisions?
My guess? Don’t drain the system. Get a better player here and there, make the playoffs and hope the Dodgers have an off series.
Awesome, that should be the team’s official name. “Preller’s Pathetic Punk’s” of San Diego. Love it!
An absolutely awesome piece in The Athletic on Max Muncy and the mental part of the game: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7424573/2026/07/06/dodgers-max-muncy-mental-skills-coach/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=147501&source=dailyemail&success_message=Login+successful
Like Yogi said, “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”
Mark, that is an awesome piece in The Athletic on Max. His statement “You train in the weight room to get bigger, stronger, faster,” Muncy said recently. “You train in a cage, work on your swing, train on the mound, work on your pitches, (work) in the infield. But the one thing most guys neglect is their mind.”
Yup
The Dodgers spare no expense to provide what their players need to reach their maximum potential. If you haven’t read the chapter on Doc and the Dodgers in the book “Skipper – Why Baseball Managers Matter” by Scott Miller, you need to.
I think Max’s mental journey matches my journey in regards to me wanting to trade him to now appreciating and liking him.
On aggressive teams (undisciplined, too) like the Rockies, Tanner Scott can get lit up because he is typically in the strike zone. Soon, there will be Phillips, Diaz, and Scott. Remember when many wanted Henriquez and Klien gone? Me neither! 😉
Lock down bullpen? Not really. Just perusing the reliever stat sheet and the Dodgers are currently 6th in SV %. That should improve when Diaz gets back. That is what he is being paid bank to do.
Freeland? Of course I want him to be successful but I don’t see it. Not yet anyway. His glove plays. But his bat doesn’t. Or hasn’t.
Lauer another QS, though I don’t really buy that stat. I don’t consider a 4.5 ERA Quality but maybe that’s just me. For some reason he doesn’t fill me with confidence. When he’s pitching it feels like waiting for the roof to cave in. But, he’s putting up the numbers. 1.09 WHIP, 3.12 ERA. OBP of .286. His 5.29 FIP is a bit concerning, but the Dodgers have won ever game he’s started, so, clearly he’s been an asset.
Snell, Glasnow, Diaz, Phillips. Will they all be available and 100%? When? And for how long? The Dodgers are on pace for 106 wins without them. With them?
When reading Snell’s stats this morning I noticed with giants he lead the league in complete game shutouts with 1. How many remember when Koufax led the league with 11? Or better yet, Bob Gibson with 13? I believe Kershaw’s best was 3. In SO many ways, this is a different era in baseball.
I’ve lost track of the status of Gavin Stone and River Ryan on the IL…
Could either or both of them be back to contribute?
Who is the calm, collected guy who replaced Rushing behind the dish? Actually the same person, just a different version. Rushing has transformed into solid, dependable and as of last night, heroic. The attitude adjustment is a game changer for him. He still has the fire but he didn’t take the bait when the runner got into his face at home. He is quickly transforming from a backup to an equal. Smitty may not be the same guy he was and Rushing is steadily filling the gap, not as a replacement, but as part of the best catching tandem in baseball.
I’ve said it many times and I’ll restate it again,Rushing is the BEST backup catcher in baseball and soon could be the BEST starting catcher in all baseball IF at some point if Will does NOT return to being the offensive and defensive catcher he once was. Many on this site wanted him included in various trades. “Be careful what you wish for”. This includes the upcoming trade deadline. What I love about AF/BG is they NEVER overreact. They have plans A,B and C already in place. They will NOT overpay or get fleeced in any trade. Bet it!
Absolutely, AVF!
It would be a travesty to trade Rushing, and after last night, most in this site are leaning towards Rushing being the future backstop.
This team is killing it. Tucker is over .250 and closing the last hole in the lineup with Edman and Two back
I saw Rushing jawing at Carrigg after the home plate tag out, and I’m 100% with Rushing on this one. It was a good play by Rushing, a clean tag, but Carrigg didn’t like it and said something to Rushing. Rushing didn’t back down, which is to his credit.
I have no problem with a Dodger player with some fire and a willingness to be gritty and get in someone’s face if needed. I think that Dodgers could use that type of personality on a team of Shoheis and Freemans and Mookies.
I just don’t like douchebaggery or immaturity.
If Rushing establishes a pattern of properly directed fire and improves his pitch calling and game management, and continues to hit, then I’ll change my opinion of him. He was really good on both offense and defense last night.
Clearly, this team is great… and aging. The farm system is stacked. The Dodgers will almost certainly trade some prospect collateral – the question only remains: When and Who… not IF.
I too am rooting for Freeland but that strike out rate and no slug won’t fly.
Looks like both the Angels and the A’s will be in sell mode come the deadline. Mike Trout has a full no-trade in his contract and won’t waive it. Mozeliak won’t discuss moving controllable players. But he has several on expiring contracts who could be trade fodder, including Soler, d’Arnaud, Yates, Moncada, Frazier and Brent Suter.
I think Trout, a New Jersey boy, might waive his no-trade if he could go to the Phillies, Yankees or Dodgers.
Or perhaps another contender.
I doubt that it will happen, but those clauses are always negotiable.
Adding Trout to a lineup with Harper, Schwarber and new all-star Brandon Marsh would be interesting.
Scott was due to have a stinker. No biggie. Rockies have some exciting new talent on the team. Good for Rushing to get the game winning hit.
3-0 and he swings at that. Stupid!
Not really, he hit the pitch hard. The pitcher made a good play. They won the game, so it really does not matter. 15 games up on the Padres and 14 on Arizona. Ohtani needs 1 homer for 300 for his career. LA will have 3 players with 300 plus career homers. Ohtani, Betts and Freeman.
Bear,
The best thing for Ohtani (and the Dodgers) would be for him to get a mysterious sore shoulder, let Wrobo the Shark replace him, rest, invigorate and spend time with his wife, dog and newborn. He looked tired and unemotional, even after the homer last night. Four days rest would do him wonders.
He is the DH. He is not on the team as a pitcher. Wrobo cannot therefore replace him on the NL roster. Dave will probably give him 2 at bats and then put Schwarber in there.
The kid was struggling to throw strikes. It was a pitch on the corner and he really didn’t hit it that hard. It was a selfish AB. Pass the baton
Your opinion. Teo is not a selfish player. He thought he could drive it so he swung/. And it was a strike
I don’t think he’s a selfish player usually. It was a selfish AB to swing 3-0 on a pitch on the corner. It was the general consensus post game as well. There’s a time and place to swing 3-0. That wasn’t it.
That is your opinion, which I don’t agree with at all, and you are nitpicking about one at bat in a game they won. Tonight, Teo took a walk, and then Ohtani and Pages had two of the worst at bats of the year. Two on, no out in the 9th and neither of them could get the runners over. Team was 1-12 with RISP, now that is something to bitch about.
Dope fiend
Well, Id say there’s a better chance of the Dodgers trading for Skubal, and that ain’t gonna happen either.