Alex Who? First Eight Innings
Early in the 2021 season, that question was asked by more than a few Dodger fans. The Dodgers were in search of a left-handed reliever and there were several well-known options available, at least in trade. So what did Andrew Friedman do? He did as he often seems to do. He…
Early in the 2021 season, that question was asked by more than a few Dodger fans. The Dodgers were in search of a left-handed reliever and there were several well-known options available, at least in trade. So what did Andrew Friedman do? He did as he often seems to do. He acquired a player with whom we were not all that familiar or we simply wondered why.
On February 12, 2021, the Miami Marlins traded LHP Alex Vesia and RHP Kyle Hurt to the Dodgers for Dylan Floro. Floro had been a reliable reliever for the Dodgers who was still only 30 years old. I indicated that Miami had made the trade as I had come across this quote in a LA Times article.
“If the Dodgers’ bullpen implodes in October, Kim Ng could be to blame. She practically stole one of their best relievers from them.”
The quote was from last May so perhaps was a bit premature but suggested that Andrew Friedman had been snookered by former Dodger front office person Kim Ng. The article suggested it was typical Ng having been a student in the Dodgers front office.
It is also probably a bit early to come to a conclusion as to whom the snookered label should apply. That is, Friedman or Ng and perhaps each side got exactly what they wanted so there was no snookering.
For Dodger fans, we now know Alex Who is 25-year-old Alex Vesia. I love it when guys come out of the woodwork so to speak and decided to do a background check on Vesia. That is his history as a professional baseball player.
First Inning: Childhood and High School
Vesia was born in Alpine, California which is about 140 miles a bit southeast of Los Angels but only about 28 miles from San Diego.
He played Little League baseball, rode his bicycle, and stayed busy in the family’s large backyard as he enjoyed being outside, growing up in Alpine, the East County town of some 15,000 residents tucked into the Cuyamaca Mountains.
“When I wasn’t playing baseball,” he said, “I was usually out at the desert, riding a dirt bike or camping with my family.”
Vesia attended Steele Canyon High School in Spring Valley, California, where he played baseball. In 2014, his senior year, he earned All-East County honors.
He didn’t play high school ball in his freshman year but as a sophomore, he had been bitten by the baseball bug.
“My sophomore year I really wanted to make varsity. I felt like I had a good tryout but they put me on JV,” Vesia said. “It wasn’t what I wanted, but I told myself I’d work hard and by the end of the year, I’d be on varsity.”
His hard work and dedication paid off serving as a lynchpin for his professional career as he got to start on the varsity squad on the last day of the season.
Second Inning: University
Liking the feeling he had from pitching before a small crowd in high school, Vesia knew what he wanted to do for the next number of years. He wanted to help his parents out with paying for college and getting a degree. But most of all he knew he wanted to play baseball.
Following high school, he went on to play baseball and pursue his degree at California State University, East Bay. He chuckles as he explains why he chose to attend CSUEB.
“It was an easy decision for me to choose East Bay, they were the only school to offer me a scholarship,” said Vesia with a grin. “The Head Coach at the time Bob Ralston and Pitching Coach Paul Moore gave me a call and said they wanted me to visit the campus. I had no idea about the Bay Area before heading into that eight-hour drive to Hayward. But I immediately fell in love with the campus and it became one of the best decisions of my life so far. I would not change it for anything.”
The southpaw enjoyed his best season at East Bay as a senior, posting an 8-2 record in 78.2 innings. He struck out 82 and walked 28. He ranked No. 2 in the CCAA in wins, earned run average, strikeouts, and opponent batting average. His 1.95 ERA was the lowest by a Pioneer pitcher in the CCAA era (among qualified starters), and he rattled off a streak of 45 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run during March and April of 2018. Vesia was twice named CCAA Pitcher of the Week during that stretch.
He would go on to cement his place as one of the best hurlers in the history of Pioneer baseball. During the 2018 season, he became Cal State East Bay’s all-time leader in career wins (24), strikeouts (249), and innings pitched (313.2). He also boasts the 10th-best career ERA in program history at 3.01. Vesia is a two-time All-Region selection, three-time All-CCAA selection, and CSUEB’s Male Athlete of the Year for 2017-18.
Third Inning: 2018 First-Year Player Draft
As the 2018 draft approached Vesia naturally was concerned if, in what round and with whom he might be selected. His head coach at Cal State East Bay, Mike Cummins, offered him some sage advice.
“Before the draft, Mike Cummins sat me down in his office and he was like, “You’re not gonna make your money out of the draft, but you’re gonna make your money in the big leagues,” Vesia said. “I told every scout, give me the opportunity and I’m gonna run with it,” he recalled.
He did get an opportunity when the Miami Marlins selected him in the 17th round of that 2018 First-Year Player Draft becoming the 507th overall selection.
“It was such an amazing feeling to hear my named get called,” expressed Vesia. “Truthfully, it wasn’t an easy process and it was a long three days waiting to see where I would go. But one thing I knew was that I was ready to challenge myself on the next level.”
Fourth Inning: Start of Professional Career 2018
Vesia began his professional career with the rookie-level Gulf Coast Marlins before moving on to Class-A ball after 8.2 innings. With the GCL Marlins in his four appearances, he posted a 0.00 ERA and a 0.808 WHIP along with seven strikeouts and three walks.
On July 20, 2018, the Miami Marlins promoted Vesia to the short-season-A Batavia Muckdogs in the New York-Penn League. Four days later, he struck out four in a scoreless three-inning appearance, a 7-1 win for the Staten Island Yankees. In his final appearance of the season, on September 2nd, he struck out six in three scoreless innings in a 5-4 win over the Auburn Doubledays.
While with the Muckdogs, Vesia struck out 31 and walked four while posting a 1.82 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Between the two levels, he walked only seven batters, a 1.89 BB/9 rate along with a 10.93 K/9 strikeout rate.
Fifth Inning: Three and Up 2019
During the 2019 season Vesia moving quickly through three levels on MiLB ball moving smoothly through Class-A Clinton in the Midwest League, on to High-A Florida of the Florida State League, and finishing the season with Jacksonville in the AA Southern League. Through 66.2 innings in 2019.
He posted a collective 1.76 ERA and a 0.945 WHIP along with 100 strikeouts and 19 walks.
With the Double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp of the Southern League, he topped off his season – while impressing scouts – with a 2-0 record, a 0.00 ERA after not allowing any runs scored through nine games of action to go along with 25 strikeouts and one save.
Vesia’s 2019 season didn’t end in Jacksonville. He was chosen by the Marlins to participate in the Arizona Fall League as a member of the Salt River Rafters. All he did was earn Rising Star Recognition over nine appearances and 10.1 innings pitched by allowing no earned runs while striking out 16 and walking two. After the grind of the 2019 MiLB season, Vesia relished the chance to compete in the Arizona Fall League with many of baseball’s budding stars.
“In the Arizona Fall League, I got a chance to pitch against some of the top talented prospects from around the world. It really gave me a chance to see what I was made of. It was a necessary test for me to face future big leaguers and I feel it prepared me for my next phase in life.”
“Going to the Fall League seeing top prospects — I was like, “Bring it.” I just told myself to make the most of the opportunity. Then getting the call to big league camp I told myself the same,” Vesia said. “I can’t complain any day of the week. I love what I do.”
Fun Fact: Alex Vesia during the 2019 season strung together 35.2 innings of scoreless ball. That includes nine straight scoreless innings at Jupiter, 16.1 at Double-A Jacksonville and 10.1 in the Arizona Fall League. Going back into 2018 make that 41 consecutive innings of scoreless ball.
Sixth Inning: The Bump in the Road 2020
Last year was a year for many of us to forget, especially minor league players who were denied a developmental year. Alex Vesia was one of those who struggled with the Covid-19 shut down.
“I was shocked to hear the news at first,” expressed Vesia. “There were so many what if’s going through me mind. Where do I go? How can I train in these conditions? I spoke with some of the guys on the team about their plans to help me with my decision. I’ll admit it was a little frustrating at first because I was really beginning to build great chemistry with the guys in the clubhouse and our new pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre. Then I immediately realized that this entire situation was bigger than baseball and it’s important for me to be around my family during this current state of affairs.”
He worked out his own training routine in his parents garage trying to continue to develop and be ready for the 2021 season and was invited as a non-roster player to the Marlins spring training facility.
In between he did make his professional MLB debut with the Marlins in 2021 never having pitched at the AAA level and only 16.1 innings at the AA level in 2019.
Things did not go well with the Marlins and may well be the blessing the Dodgers needed to acquire Vesia. Over five appearances – one in July, two in August and two in September – he gave up nine earned runs over 4.1 innings pitched with seven walks and five strikeouts. That’s an 18.69 ERA.
Seventh Inning: The Trade
Was it Vesia’s 18.69 ERA in 4.1 innings pitched that made him expendable by the Marlins? Was it his minor league numbers that made him coveted by the Dodgers? That is, throwing 100 innings while striking out 138 and walking just 26, for a 1.62 ERA. Maybe it was a 41 inning scoreless streak.
Maybe it is as Dodger Digest points out. Vesia’s stuff seems unimpressive at first glance, he throws a 92 mph fastball 73% of the time, mixing in a slider and change. Of course, what stands out in his numbers is that he gets a ton of whiffs despite that profile, which is due to his vertical movement on the pitch. The type of arm the Dodgers are coveting is not much of a secret, and Vesia fits the bill.
Pitching coach Mark prior has said Vesia’s fastball is unique and comes out free and easy.
“It’s been jumping out on guys,” Prior said on Sunday. “It is very eye-opening.”
According to Brooks Baseball, Vesia uses a four-seam, a slider and a changeup, although he threw his fastball 72.8 percent of the time last year with the Marlins. Last September, his four-seam peaked just shy of 93 MPH, but it is known much more for its movement, specifically the whopping 10-inch drop.
Maybe it was this.
“There isn’t anything I feel like I can’t do. My mom always told me I’m a man on a mission. I truly believe that,” Vesia said holding back a tear. “I get a little emotional about it because this is what I want to do: I want to play on the biggest stage with the guys behind me and we’re competing. Its the coolest feeling in the world and it’s great to see hard work pay off.”
Eighth Inning: Option Central
During the current campaign Vesia has been optioned to the OKC Dodgers four times and recalled. Did the Dodgers know something that could be fixed or smoothed out for Vesia at the AAA level? I’m thinking yes. His big issue with the parent Dodgers in 2021 seemed to be lack of control. In May he issued 11 walks compared to 13 strikeouts over 9.2 innings pitched.
His season stat line now reads somewhat differently. Over 30 innings pitched he has a 2.40 ERA along with a 0.83 WHIP and an opponents batting average of .094. He has struck out 39 and walked 16 (11 last May). Just to highlight things a bit, over his last 18.1 innings pitched he has allowed one earned run. (This was written before the home run he gave up against the Rockies on Friday.)
What has happened with Alex Vesia? He thinks that going to OKC helped him clear his head.
He began to put it together with Oklahoma City in June, striking out 15 consecutive batters over five appearances from June 20 through July 6. Since rejoining the Dodgers in early July, he has faced 48 batters and struck out 17, giving up just five hits (no home runs) and, most importantly, walking only three.
“I feel really confident. I know I’ve put in the hard work,” Vesia said. “Going down to Triple-A, I got to clear my head. Coming back up, I was able to just bring what I was doing in Triple-A and it carried over to the big leagues now.”
¹Nothing stood out. I just think clearing my head and building on good inning after good inning after good inning helps. … Just building confidence one good inning at a time.”
There will be games when the sailing for Vesia isn’t totally smooth, as with all players, but it seems he is equipped to move from those after having navigated some rough waters along the way.
Ninth and Extra Innings: Your turn to write. What is the next step for Alex Vesia?
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Discussion (138)
Disagree, not disagreeable
In Monday’s game it touched 97 MPH
Postseason: potentially 2nd most trusted set-up arm along with Treinen.
Great insightful article on Vesia. He’s a hard worker with his head on straight. Highway robbery by Andrew Friedman and staff. They definitely do their homework on players, Bickford is another example of a move by Andrew off the wire of a first rounder by SF with very little big league experience. Where would the Dodger bullpen be without Vesia and Bickford this year with so many of our starters injured?
Great job DC! I’m sure everyone wanted more information on Alex, who is quickly becoming everyone’s favorite lefty reliever. Could he be Kenley’s heir apparent?
My brother was moving my niece to Alpine, CA on Friday from Colorado. I told him to keep an eye out for the Vesias. He was surprised to the hear that Alpine was Alex’s home town.
You might have to do a piece on Justin Bruihl if he keeps up his great work as well. Another guy that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Good game last night. The bullpen has really been stepping up for quite a while now. Again, throwing up a bunch of zeros until the offense could to it’s job against the opposition bullpen. Will Smith and AJ Pollock keep coming up clutch with Will breaking the tie and finally breaking through a bases loaded situation and AJ adding an insurance run.
I wonder how many people will complain about Cody today. He went 0-4 with a K, but he also hit three balls very hard. It’s tough that he didn’t wind up having anything to show for it, but it looks like he’s close to breaking out and his ABs were competitive even though he’s still chasing out of the zone from time to time.
I was watching an interview with Doc this morning and he was talking about Mitch White making the start today. He was asked why Mitch will start as opposed to using an opener as they are inclined to do lately like he just did with David Price and Andre Jackson. His answer was that White’s platoon splits are pretty neutral. What? Go check the stats Doc, the most neutral platoon splits out of those three pitchers is David Price.
I really don’t like how they’re using Price. Maybe I’m putting more faith in him than he deserves, but I think they should roll him out there as a starter and keep increasing his pitch counts. For some reason, they are reluctant to do so, even though throughout his career he seems to get better as he pitches deeper into games. Do they want him to keep coming into games in relief in preparation for his postseason role? Do they have another idea for 4th and 5th starters the rest of the way? Are we going to keep having bullpen games since the bullpen is so dominant?
Tony Gonsolin is ahead of Clayton Kershaw and Danny Duffy right now. They will be joining the team in that order and none of them have enough time on the schedule to be built up as a starter, but there’s more than enough arms there to use them in a “piggy back” situation while they build up over the remainder of the season. I’m just not sure there’s enough roster spots to accommodate all of the potential short starters including Price, White, Jackson, Gonsolin, Kershaw and Duffy. We’ll be able to build half of a pitching staff with the pitchers that will be left off of the postseason rosters.
Gavin Lux is taking balls in the outfield before minor league games as he plays 3b during the games. With the very possible departure of Seager and CT3 next year and TT a capable shortstop and with Mookie playing more second base lately, Lux just might inherit that utility role until he can figure out how to earn a starting job on the team. Maybe Edwin Rios is going to have to pick up an outfielders glove and give it a good break in during the offseason. But, after seeing Bellinger struggle after shoulder surgery, I’m not feeling great about Rios’ chances to take over a starting job next season.
With a day game after a night game today, Smith will be on the bench. Let’s NOT find a way to get McKinney into the lineup today.
Excellent write-up about Vesia.
Yes, Andrew Friedman has put together a pretty good bullpen. Hopefully they won’t burn out from all the bullpen games.
At this point the biggest issue for the Dodgers has been consistent hitting. Too many hitters swinging at bad pitches. Thank goodness for Will Smith and Trea Turner.
Back to Vesia, he has some fire and attitude when he comes in the game. Great pick-up.
Maybe this means something or maybe it doesn’t, but Cody Bellinger’s swings are looking better.
David Price needs to do a better job. Not very impressive.
Great article DC. It’s always great to see a fellow Californian come back home to rock. Glad Florida lost patience with Alex.
Great win last night. I know some were upset to see Seager and Pollock on the bench, but Doc knows we are playing a day game today, so don’t overburden his players….especially against a mediocre team like Colorado. These guys especially need to be fresh against the Braves coming into town. We will be facing two solid lefties so I doubt we will score many runs against them. Hopefully our pitchers can match them and do a bit better.
Many thanks go out to Wonderful William and Terrific Trea for much of the offense last night.
And yes, much thanks to every guy who threw a baseball as well. To hold them to 3 hits was pretty amazing.
The pitching match up in Atlanta today favors the Giants so I’m not expecting any help, so we better take care of business ourselves.
Speaking of the Giants…I have to say this for them….unlike us, they know how to come back from a deficit in the 8th and 9th innings. That really impresses me. It’s sad to see our boys have only come back from a deficit when batting in the 9th inning only one time this year. How come? How come the no name Giants can do it often and we can only do it once?
Anyhow, let’s win today and see what happens in Atlanta, my home town. (No, I’m not attending the game.)
TM
David Price opted out of 2020 because of what I believe is injury.
Maybe his UCL is hanging on by a thread. He evidently does not want to throw many pitches and they evidently do not want him to.
Maybe it’s not Doc’s call.
Maybe he prefers to not start the game. I have no idea if that is true or not, but of course, it could be. The Red Sox are paying half his salary because he is diminished and/or damaged.
Personally, I do not think they should build up Kershaw, Gonsolin, and Duffy. If they can start by throwing 1 or 2 innings and then 2 or 3 innings, that is enough.
Playoff Rotation:
1. Buehler
2. Urias
3. Scherzer
Split up the RH and LH pitchers.
4. Kershaw, Price, Gonsolin, Duffy
8. Knebel
9. Vesia
10. White
11. Jansen
12. Treinen
13. Bickford
Pending: Kelly, Graterol, Greene
Who on earth ever thought this was not a bullpen?
The Dodgers team ERA sits at 3.00. Since the All-Star Game it is 2.70!
If you are worried about the bullpen being overworked, know that the Dodgers Bullpen is #12 in IP.
I thought Bellinger had much better ab’s last night. More competitive. When he drives an outside pitch to left field like Seager does then he will have more success.
DC–Do you think Noda could be a guy?
Thanks Harold for the great article on Alex Vesia. Looks like he will be on the pitching staff for many years. Kyle Hurt the pitcher who was in the trade that brought Alex from the Marlins has worked his way up to Rancho. In 13 1/3 innings he has given up 12 runs. But the great part he has 24 strikeouts! Someone to keep an eye on.
Mike Busch played 1B last night. Miguel Vargas played 2B.
Make of it what you will.
Ha ha. You do know how to pick under the radar prospects to write about. I enjoy your view and keep it up!
Muchas gracias DC por tu excelente trabajo en tu creativa narración sobre Alex Vesia, en ésta novena entrada deseo que este muchacho mantenga la línea de trabajo y su enfoque mental en cada bateador que enfrente, entrada por entrada, porque en la medida de su éxito los rivales lo estudiaran más y, desde luego tendrá tropiezos que le harán madurar, ojalá que la membresía de Dodgers Talk no se desespere y continuemos apoyando a el y los demás muchachos que hacen grandes progresos. Saludos desde Guadalajara.
Sunday’s Afternoon Lineup:
HITTERS H-AB RBI HR SB AVG
T. Turner2B 151-467 56 20 26 .323
M. Muncy1B 100-384 76 28 2 .260
A. PollockLF 103-339 56 16 8 .304
C. SeagerSS 65-240 33 6 1 .271
C. Taylor3B 122-442 67 19 13 .276
C. BellingerCF 43-254 32 9 2 .169
B. McKinneyRF 51-255 27 9 2 .200
A. BarnesC 36-165 19 5 0 .218
M. WhiteP 0-12 0 0 0 .00
08/29/21 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Edwin Uceta to Oklahoma City Dodgers.
08/29/21 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Mitch White from Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
* Great stuff DC. I love hearing about successes of kids like Vesia. Kids that were 17th rounders with little expectations. Except their own. Another great example that success isn’t a linear path. The Dodgers find them and develop them. Interesting that he’s a swing-and-miss guy with an average speed fastball that’s ticking up. No offense to Graterol, but he sits at 100 and doesn’t miss bats. Movement and location from Vesia versus straight gas from Graterol. What a nice find Vesia has been and I absolutely trust him in high leverage situations. Some had him off post season roster projections leaning toward experience. Not me. This kid needs to pitch. Thanks again DC.
* We have a Water Spigot offense. We were hitting 213 the last 13 games before last night.
* You can argue about Bellinger until the cows come home: I’ve read the following:
* sent him to AAA – really?
* sit him – really?
* platoon him – with who?
* Play him.
What’s wrong with him is moot right now. Swing changes, shoulder strengthening, mental cleansing, whatever, can wait for the off season. It’s too late for that now. Play him in center. Put him in the 8 hole and leave him alone. His speed and defense is valuable. I’m at a point, I expect nothing from him offensively. I have hope he might run into one or get hot. I can live with that for now.
* It worked fine last night but I still don’t like sitting 2 regulars at the same time.
* I’d like to see Doc rethink his stealing with TT. I see little reason to wait around with TT, putting the next hitters in a box. First, there should be a lefty in the 2 hole, which Doc does. If it’s Seager, put TT in motion on the first pitch. An automatic “run and hit”. Cory loves to hit the first strike. If it’s a ball, that’s a good pitch to run on. If it’s Muncy, I still like running early to give him a shot with TT on second. So straight steal early in the count. And when Muncy has an advantage count, or predictable chase count, it’s an automatic “run and hit”.
* How about Muncy’s bullet liner, one foot above 1st base, for the DP? The Baseball Gods are laughing their asses off on that one; the easiest DP in baseball.
* Practically the entire line up seems in a “pull mode” too much lately.
* Orel offered a great pitching clinic bottom 6 , on grips w/ all the variables. Finger pressures, finger positions, wrist angles. It was good and best of all he didn’t do it during a critical situation in the game.
* CT3 seems extremely frustrated right now. He needs to stop bitching and start swinging.
* I wonder when KJ goes into the Dodgers HOF someday will there be some fans screaming for Treinen to go in, instead!
The Nationals are calling up catching prospect Keibert Ruiz to make his team debut tomorrow, per a team announcement. The 23-year-old is widely-considered one of the team’s best prospects, if not the best. MLB Pipeline and Baseball America have him as the club’s number one, while FanGraphs has him second, behind only Josiah Gray, both of whom just joined the organization as part of the trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers.
Giants losing 3-0 in the 4th.
Back from Maui.
Restaurants
Over-rated: Momma’s
Under-rated: Mala Tavern
Properly rated: Shaved Ice
Books;
Over-rated: Machiavelli’s The Price
Under-rated: James Lee Burke novels
Properly Rated: The Roger Angell Baseball Collection
Streamable Content:
Over-rated: Sicario
Under-rated: The Wire season about schools
Properly Rated: Ted Lasso (it’s SOOOOOOO good.)
Hawaiian Activities:
Over-rated: paid Snorkel excursions
Under-rated: Asking a local then driving and snorkling.
Properly rated: Surfing.
Hawaiian Fishing:
Over-rated: Sport fishing anywhere but the big island
Under-rated: Sport fishing on the Big Island
Properly rated: Bottom fishing with family.
Baseball changes:
Over-rated: Banning the shift
Under-rated: Pitch clock
Properly rated: Automated strike zones.
Big mistake. You could see that coming a mile away. Just like Orel said, I wouldn’t pitch to that guy. I said the same thing to myself. You got a 178 hitter coming up behind him WTF
You don’t even have to think about it you don’t pitch around him you just put him on.
Cron was hotter than fire I mean he was plasma hot, big mistake
Bad inicial day. Hope things change. What a couple of juicy balls yo Cron . They Say hit me
With three of our stars sitting and a three run deficit it’s going to be tough to pull this one out.
A 2-9 pitcher with an ERA around 5 is pitching a no hitter after 3.
And we know the Giants have lost…..
Where is the passion? Urgency?
Well, one thing I think I do know….if we don’t tie them or take the lead by 8 innings, it’s a loss. We fold like a cheap tent in the 9th when down. Sooooooo, there better be a sense of urgency soon.
Too bad Mitch didn’t have it today. Too bad we even have to count on him and Price to bail us out over and over. Too bad Trevor………..never mind!
This is one time I have to agree that sitting 3 of your best hitters against a pitcher they have owned all year, knowing that the Giants were being handled by the Braves with a chance to gain a game in the standings is really dumb. Betts has played 2 games since he was activated and he needs a rest? Smith is the hottest bat on the team, and the big RBI guy so far. JT has been slumping, so maybe he might need a day off. But smarter at bats would help also. 3 of those guys saw less than 3 pitches. Seager and Bellinger got themselves out on first pitches. Bad hitting approach. Bad decision pitching to the hottest Rockie. Bad decision not trading for one more HEALTHY starter at the deadline, not an arm that is doing you no good on the IL> Duffy.
Finally get a runner in scoring position and McKinney is at bat and of course an out.
Got get that career .200 hitter in the lineup back to back days. He’s not even that for the Dodgers.