Are You True Blue?

Tell hitters to not guess wrong

Too many called third strikes. Doc could do something about that…..

Dodger fan since the ‘47 World Series. Watch every game I can, look at every box score.

Add Davalan to the list of prospects with great plate discipline.

From MLB.com:

“Aside from the home runs, Davalan’s standout skill has been his keen eye at the dish. The 22-year-old has walked 37 times compared to 30 strikeouts through 56 games.”

Davalan would be a top OF prospect for many teams, but he’s rated behind about six or seven OF prospects in the Dodgers system.

I’ve read that Davalan also has experience at 2B….

Espinal has treated the Dodgers well, and the Dodgers have treated him well. He may wind up back in OKC and still be part of the team’s depth.

It will be interesting to see how the Dodgers use Edman. My guess is that he’ll move between 2B, 3B and LF, until Teo gets back. Maybe some CF if Pages needs rest (though I still think he’s too young to sit!)

I assume the optimal, healthy lineup might look like this:

Teo-Pages-Tucker

Max-Mookie-Edman-Freddie

Smith/Rushing

And we know who the DH is.

Good Lord, this team is stacked…

The bench would have Freeland, Call, Rojas. When Kike gets well and returns, he might push Freeland back to OKC. Kim is hitting at OKC and should be “in the conversation,” as Roberts puts it.

Injuries will happen. But Edman give this team a nice boost.

10 BB, 2 HBP, 3 HR, 11 Ks, 1 for 11 WRISP and solid pitching.

The Dodger way to play baseball.

Yep, knew that…….right after they told us.

I don’t think they were that close.

Eric does tend to ramble, and Nelson is not much better. I prefer Tim Neverett. He does a great job during spring games along with Mo. I would even prefer Charlie Steiner if he were healthy enough to travel. Pages is going to be good. But he still has a tendency to chase out of the zone. I did get one good bit of info. White Sox player, Chase Meidroth, went to my alma mater, Mira Costa in Manhattan Beach.

The Miz has convinced me.

I’ll take him ahead of Skenes.

Eventually, the Brewers will put him on the market. IF the Miz can stay healthy, the return would be big.

Why diss him?

He had a good year with the Pirates a few years back. Played a credible CF, as I recall it. Then he forgot how to hit. But the Dodger coaches may have fixed Suwinski.

Stuff happens. What if Pages suffers a season-ending injury?

It might be fun to rush Sirota up and give him a shot.

Would the Dodgers roll the dice when they could simply promote Suwinski and move Sirota to OKC?

I grew up five miles from the Big A, as it was known, but the Dodgers, with Maury and Sandy leading the way, had won my heart before the Angels moved south. To me, the Angels always just felt like a minor league team. But because of proximity and price I’ve attended many more Angel games than Dodger games over the decades.

I do recall my first Dodgers game.

My first best friend from childhood–he lived two doors down–came to my mother’s memorial service a few years back. Ron and I were also PeeWee teammates and played endless whiffle ball in his front yard. His family moved when we were in junior high, and within in a few years we were out of touch.

But Ron lived a father’s dream: His son Allen Craig not only made it to the big leagues, but achieved a couple seasons of stardom with the Cards before injuries derailed his career. Allen succeeded Albert Pujols at 1B, put up strong RBI numbers, and might have won the WS MVP if not for David Freese’s storybook performance. Now he’s now an adviser for the Padres. (Ron and Allen live in Temecula, where a road near Chapparal Highlis called Allen Craig Drive. Local hero.)

Anyway, Ron and I were reminiscing and we realized that, probably in the 4th grade, we had attended the same Dodgers game together with our great pal Bobby thanks to the heroic Mrs. Bonsall. And I do mean heroic. Mrs. Bonsall was 8 months pregnant with her seventh child when her husband, a Marine aviator, was killed in a training accident near Japan. Bobby was her third child and second son. Mrs. Bonsall rose above personal tragedy and was the most upbeat, strong-willed and disciplined force of good in our world.

With all those kids, of course she drove a VW van. One day she had parcelled out her four daughters to friends and piled her three sons plus Ron, me and my brother into the van for the excursion to Dodgers Stadium. Maybe another boy too. Back then, it was all affordable for families on a USMC payroll. (My dad was the paymaster at El Toro.)

Koufax pitched and the game dragged into extra innings. Maybe it was a school night, but eventually Mrs. Bonsall decided we needed to leave. We tuned into Vin on the walk out to the car. We were approaching the freeway when Sweet Lou Johnson delivered the game-winning hit and we erupted in cheers. ( I don’t think the term “walk-off” was in use back then.)

Is my memory perfectly accurate? Probably not. Are memories supposed to be perfect?

But I do know that was the first Dodger game I witnessed, and it helped cement my Dodger blue devotion.

Eric Karros couldn’t hold Mike Piazza’s jock strap and he knows it.

3 meter would be 10 feet.

3-meter is right. I meant 30-foot. Took forever to climb that puppy.

His call, not mine, but Espinal has experience and has started to hit. Both have excellent gloves. I just don’t think Freeland’s time has come. Look, he is a switch hitter and Dave pulled him as soon as they put in a lefty.

At least he got three hits today. He needed that. Balls take weird bounces on that field.

Hanley Ramirez blew Kersh’s shot at a perfect game and a kid named Rojas saved his no-hitter. I think you meant relieved, not received. We had two pitchers in little league when I was playing toss a perfecto. It was against the White Sox, and we won, 7-0.

What can you say? Just an amazing performance by Yamamoto.

While it will go unsaid, the most received man on the plant was Mookie Betts when that ball sailed over the fence in the 9th to break up the no-hitter.

Blowing a perfect game on an error would be haunting.

I sort of know how Mookie felt. I once booting a routine ground ball in the last inning with my pitcher throwing a no-hitter. Sure enough, the next batter got a base hit to ruin the no-hitter. It still bothers me.

At least Yamamoto had Mookie’s back. My pitcher wasn’t as benevolent.

Yamamoto was fun to analysis beginning in warm ups and throughout the game. His studying his charts late in the game seemed a contrived method to relieve tension as the perfect game progressed. He is so focused. It starting watching him prepare for his outing, during flat-ground. He was mentally rehearsing his mechanics broken down in slow motion, often piece-by-piece. Even to his rocker-step. He rehearsed picking up his pivot foot and placing it in front of an imaginary pitching rubber, in stop-action. Unbelievable attention and rehearsal to the smallest details. I see more Japanese players do this more than other players. Great mental discipline and physical rehearsal.

To paraphrase Ben Franklin, Fish and Eric Karros stink in 3 days. I was on the mute button in the 3rd inning.

I love Pages and I predicted a couple of years ago that he will eventually become a 280 to 300 hitter. I still stand by that prediction. But sometimes I don’t think he’s the sharpest knife in the drawer. Challenging a close pitch in the 2nd inning with no outs with a bad umpire behind the dish, is not a good idea. Freddie suffered the consequences on the very next at bat. Freddie could have could have challenged a really wide pitch and of course didn’t and couldn’t. Burn those challenges on close pitches, in consequential pitches early and that shitty umpire can continue to be shitty with no recourse for 8 more innings

How about this idea? Have the pitcher and the catcher use the pitch com during the 8 pitch warm-up between innings instead of the traditional glove signals, pitcher to catcher. You know. test out the gear. That way when the inning starts the catcher and pitcher don’t have delay the game while they have a mound meeting over a malfunctioning pitch-com.

He’s a 4A outfielder.

He’s auditioning for Korean ball.

Very gratifying win.

Yamamoto damn near perfect and just misses the no-hitter…

Max hits two more bombs–each with Mookie on base–and lifts his OPS about .900…

Shohei back with a bang…

Mookie makes an “oops” but gets three hits, pushing his BA closer to .200!

We are all better after reading this.

He has a cannon! His glove is suspect.

5 out of 4 people struggle with math!

You’ve probably seen Kurt Russell in the documentary “The Battered Bastards of Baseball,” about the independent minor league team that Bing Russell, Kurt’s dad, founded in Portland OR. (Bing was a character actor who appeared in a lot of TV westerns.)

Every baseball fan should find it and watch that film. It’s on my must-see flicks for baseball fans.

Absolutely true story, and it’s a hoot. The rise and fall of Bing’s dream was remarkably entertaining. Some great personalities on the team, including an over-the-hill Jim Bouton, who never lost his love for the game. Bing’s team put on a show.

I don’t know whether this was before or after Kurt played for the Diablos. But he did play for his dad’s club.

I also recall Kurt on TV telling David Letterman a pretty randy story from his minor league games that involved the wife of an umpire who did him wrong…. I mean, the ump did him wrong, not the ump’s wife.

Raise your hands, all who would have guessed Yusmeiro Petit was the holder of the record.

I think 3 meter

What a freaking G. No hat tip to crowd because he felt he didn’t deserve the ovation. Pure winner this guy.

That’s so mind boggling to retire 45 in a row over 2 games

It cannot continue.

it simply cannot.

They are the best team in the MLB, coming off World Series win, with a top five farm system. It is only downhill from here. It cannot remain at this level.

sure, we can sign Henderson at shortstop, or a superstar third baseman. The farm system could produce great talent who continues to develop. But they can’t do any better than they are doing right now and only do worse.

too much variance to injuries, to luck, to unforeseen black Swan events, to local media rights, disappearing, to a salary cap…

Damn. Feel bad for Mookie. He can’t catch a break. Yamamoto is getting closer and closer to a perfect game. Let’s get the no hitter!

A Handley Ramirez moment.

Interesting. Meaning he has a weak arm for 3b?

Through 8, Yamamoto’s 45 consecutive batters retired is tied for 2nd with Mark Buehrle for most all-time.

Yusmeiro Petit set the record with the SF Giants in 2014 with 46.

This team is such a joy, so well run.

Not a prospect but a guy who could get a look.

Oh Mookie — why? I feel bad for him.

Ho Lee Shit

Max. Two hrs tonite with men on base.

I was brain washed a Dodgers and Colts fan. My Dad liked Wilt too so the Lakers became our NBA team. I’m surrounded by Cubs and Cardinals fans. Despise those teams. I have zero respect for the Cubs and their fans. My Dad grew up rooting for Koufax, Drysdale, Unitas, etc. I had a Willie Davis poster at a very young age. That grew to other Dodgers along with Bert Jones and our Colts. I made the move to Indy and placed a stone in my father’s name outside the stadium. I drive a Dodger Blue corvette and named my daughter Brooklyn. I’m true blue.

Which I think is kind of a shame, Bear. He’s played pretty well for us offensively and defensively.

Back in 1982, before I started following the Dodgers, Tommy Lasorda was on an episode of “CHIPS”. In the show, Ponch and Jon pulled him over for speeding. Tommy, wearing his jersey, was late to the game. Ponch was a big fan, and Jon had no idea who he was, and called him Tommy Lasagna.

I also was wondering “who the hell is this Tommy Lasagna dude”? Until the following year, when I learned who he was.

I still think Luc Lac in downtown Portland was the best Pho I’ve ever done.

Bear, You are causing problems for AF. How can he keep up with all your changes

I began paying attention to sports about the time I transitioned from elementary to middle school. I remember being in fifth grade and hearing Mr French’s class with the older kids. He had some of the boys in his classroom, and I heard a loud cheer erupt from the room. I could hear it through the walls. I learned later that was when Rick Monday hit the home run against the Expos that sent the Dodgers to the WS.

During the year I would hear about this young Mexican pitcher who had won all of these games in a row.

I remember bits and pieces of the 81 series because I wasn’t a true sports fan yet, but I felt the excitement, and when there was a deciding game against the Yankees after the Dodgers dropped the first two, I figured this was something special to tune into. I remember Tommy getting pulled and seeing the close ups of him glaring in the dugout. I didn’t understand why it was controversial, but I knew it was a big deal. I remember Steinbrenner issuing an apology for his team’s performance – why the game was still in progress. I knew early on he was a jerk, but a larger than life character.

In 82, when I was in junior high, I learned how to read box scores. I started to get excited when someone like Steve Sax went 2 for 4, because that meant his batting average climbed a point or two. I slowly, gradually became a Dodger fan, even though, growing up in Orange County, I should’ve been loyal to the Angels. In the backyard I would model my batting stance after Pedro Guerrero. His was unique. After a little back and forth rocking to find his rhythm, he would flip it back to it was nearly in line with his back and pointing downwards.

I knew there was something special about 1988. My fandom had matured at this point, and even though the Dodgers were coming off a pretty miserable 1987, I had high hopes. I remember Steve first pitch swinging on the first pitch of the season up in San Francisco. I think it was off Dave Dravecky. He homered. He rarely homered, and really shouldn’t have been first pitch swinging, but it was almost like it was a harbinger, a good omen.

There was something special about that season. You just felt it. It was an energy. When the Dodgers went to Chicago for a five game series, they swept, which gave them momentum. I remember Gibson scoring a walk-off run on a wild pitch – from second base!! It was against the Expos. Also against the Expos, Tim Leary, who was the starting pitcher, was ordered to pinch hit by Tommy in the 11th and delivered the game tying hit.

It was moments like that that cemented my relationship with the Dodgers. Nothing was as special as watching Drysdale congratulate Hershiser for breaking his scoreless innings streak.

Gibson’s homer against Eck was just the final exclamation point on a baseball season that was truly magical in so many ways.

Didn’t pay as much attention to baseball in the 90s. Players were roided up. It was obvious. To me, it had become a farce. I lost interest a bit, although I still followed the Piazza Dodgers. I’d go race bikes in the morning and listen to Vin on the way home.

Although the recent Dodger success doesn’t have that same nostalgic feel of 1988, it’s a really special time to be a Dodger fan. We are blessed to be watching Ohtani and the Dodgers.

Well, they have scored 4 so far, but bases loaded and one out and they don’t score again? Rushing took a pitch right down Broadway and struck out; Freeland hits a weak grounder on the first pitch to help the guy out of the inning. I change my mind, Espinal stays, Freeland back to OKC.

Yes, we saw a ST team yesterday. But the kids do not have to be AAAA or AAA ceilings. CWS has a roster full of kids, and all mentioned below are rookies except for Miguel Vargas and Edgar Quero.

• Colson Montgomery – starting SS – 24

• Chase Meidroth – starting 2B – 24

• Braden Montgomery – starting RF – 23

• Sam Antonacci – starting LF – 23

• Tristan Peters – starting CF – 26

• Jacob Gonzalez – starting 1B (until Murakami returns) – 24

• Munetaka Murakami – starting 1B/DH – 26

• Edgar Quero – starting C (until Kyle Teel returns) – 23

• Kyle Teel – starting C – 24

• Miguel Vargas – starting 3B – 26

All are productive. Even the 3rd catcher, Drew Romo is 24.

Miguel Vargas is the 3rd oldest ChiSox player on the current roster (Benintendi and Grichuk).

I am betting that they will come down to earth, but they are going to be good. And if they get pitching???

Espinal.

15ks, don’t short the kid.

We used to ride in the riverbed by Arroyo Seco Park all the way to the Rose Bowl and go swimming at Brookside Park. They had three pools there, a wading pool, the regular swimming pool and a diving pool that had a 30-meter diving platform. We used to do cannon balls off of that thing. Great fun. Cost 10 cents to get into the pool. The home always took us to games. I turn 78 tomorrow.

I will have the OKC game on my computer. I want to see . 22 year old LHSP Hagen Smith pitch for Charlotte. He is a legit prospect. It would have been great to see what JDP and SIrota could do against him. Instead they face 26 year old RHSP Preston Johnson in AA. You cannot control the other team’s pitchers.

Great stories Bear. When I was 12 years old I was also living in Highland Park. I found out that I could take the bus from there to the Colosseum and back. My parents didn’t want me to go there by myself ( I understand why now) but they finally relented when I got a friend to go with me. When we came back alive I was good to go, even night games during the summer. The fun thing about the Colosseum was that you could get a general admission ticket and during the latter part of the game work your way down to the box seats by moving 15 or 20 rows to some open seats between innings when the ushers weren’t watching.

I’ve been true blue since my first game in 1958. We have been through some tough times indeed. But we are now in the Golden Age of Dodger Baseball and I am really enjoying it. I turn 80 in October and only God knows how long I have left but it sure seems like this is a great way to go out. I hope it lasts for another 10 years.

I’ve been a Dodger fan for 72 years. My dad was one and he coaxed me to sit with him when Saturday Baseball was on for an inning or two and then it was back outside. That was Monterey Park. Luckily, it was my team that moved to LA.

I can see myself rooting for a Portland, OR team if that happens. If so, I’d love it if the Rays moved here/there.

I gave up on the Lakers once but came back when Magic arrived. I was a big UCLA fan and when the Lakers had their boring period, I saw no reason to root for players from other colleges that I thought of as the opposition. So, I rooted for Bill Walton and the Trail Blazers for a few years. They could have drafted Jordan but went for a weak footed center instead. Or, did the NBA want him in Chicago?

Tommy has no choice, Sunday is the last of his 20 game max rehab stint. Who leaves when LAD returns home on Monday?

It may sooner than you want. working on something in that regard.

Like everyone else, I have never waivered on my fanaticism for the Dodgers…or my Trojans. I was told I went to a 1958 game at the Coliseum, but I do not remember it. I remember being a fan during 1959 and through the World Series, and my have been a fan non stop since.

I attended my first USC game on December 1, 1962, against Notre Dame. I went to the 1963 Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin. Then attending USC I am a Trojan for life through good and bad.

I grew up a Lakers fan in the Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Happy Hairston, Jimmy McMillan, Jim Cleamons, Keith Erickson, Pat Riley…even the Mel Counts years.

Then like the NBA the Lakers were resurrected after Kareem became a Laker, and then Magic signed with the Lakers and Larry Bird played for Boston. Five years later Michael Jordan joined the League and it has not looked back since. I stayed with the Lakers until Magic abruptly retired after the 91-92 season. I did not regularly follow the Lakers until I moved to Sacramento area, and became a Laker fan again in the 2001-2002 season. Too many obnoxious Kings fans who thought they had the Championship until Robert Horry. They tried to blame the refs on Game 7, but I pointed out that Sacramento was 16 of 30 free throws. They make 23 out of 30 and the Kings are in the Finals. That was my last year of following the Lakers and NBA. And as long as Lebron is a Laker I will never follow them.

I was a fair weather LA Kings fan during the Rogie Vachon, Butch Goring, Juha Widing, Marcel Dionne…Then onto Gretzky. Luc Robitaille, Dave Taylor, Bernie Nichols. I am up in San Jose Sharks territory with a Daughter who is a die hard fan and a grandson who is good little hockey player in his own right (although he is a Tampa Bay fan). But I still cannot become a Sharks fan, even with their young kids.

Finally I am a Packers fan. People ask me why a Packers fan and not a Rams fan. My first favorite teams, Dodgers and Trojans, were winners. The Rams? So I read the papers and found that Green Bay was a winner and went with them. There was a big gap between Bart Star and Brett Favre, but I stayed loyal throughout.

I have been in Northern California since 2000, and I still consider LA my home, and the Dodgers are a huge reason.

So after the pathetic display of hitting the Blue displayed, I watched the Phillies game and The Miz was pitching. Complete game,14Ks, one hit, who was eliminated, no walks, so he faced the minimum.

Maybe I’m crazy but if we are going to unload the farm, this is the guy who I want. He didn’t do this against the Rocks, he did it against a potent Phillies lineup . Dano says Book em, I say Buy him.

I dumped the rams when they left LA. I was a Laker fan my whole life. The last time I watched an entire game? Kobe’s last game. And I have never watched a Lakers game since LeBron joined them. Don’t hate him, just never been a fan of him. Maybe after he retires I will watch them again. Although I really don’t care much for the NBA at all. I used to know every coach in the league several years ago. Now I might name 3. J.J. reddick went to high school about 30 minutes from my house, so I I know him. My youngest son played against his brother in high school. He wasn’t good at basketball but decent in football. As far as the Rams go, I don’t mind them winning, and I really like Mathew Stafford. But I’m a Bronco fan now. And since my son (who does radio in charlotte) covers the Panthers, I like seeing them win too.

But as far the Dodgers are concerned, I will be a fan till I die! Now if they move back to Brooklyn, all bets are off!

On the team. I’m getting a little nervous about the offense. I know the runs scored and all that. But this team can go cold in a heartbeat. But there doesn’t seem to be a way to fix it, other than getting rid of some wonderful veterans who are not hitting! That ain’t happening! Dalton can be a little bit of an ass, but his fire is something a few others on this team could benefit from!

Been a Dodger fan since my first MLB game at Ebbets Field and they played the Cubbies. Dad was a Philly fan. Always have and always will be a Dodger fan.

Ma favorite front office guy was Bavasi. When Koufax evolved into King Koufax in LA, Bavasi said, “When we were in Brooklyn, I would have killed to have a Jewish baseball hero for our fans. We get to LA and we have Koufax, but nobody cared”. I thought that was a funny statement that defined some of the differences between Brooklyn and LA.

Like Bob Hope said Bear, “Thanks for the memories.”

Don’t look now, but Suwinski currently has a slightly higher BA and OPS than Tibbs.

Seems this guy was a steal under the radar pickup! Is he quickly moving up in the stud outfield prospects list?

I used to feel that way about hockey until I attended a game. I had no idea how fast that game was. I didn’t play basketball in high school so I know only know a little about the intricacies. I’m a Laker fan, went to several of their games in the early 70s. Back then I felt I could outrun anyone on the court. But dribbling a ball at the same time? Nope. I tried that in intramurals, where the competition was all former high school players. I could play D and pass. That was it. Also played some intramural soccer. Holy crap. That sport is exhausting. Like running suicide sprints in football only you never stop. And for what? Nobody scores. No thanks.

Football and baseball.

Because of his arm, there is speculation that Harlan will eventually become a RF. He is not a good defensive 3B. But his bat works.

Harlan needs to move up to Great Lakes. The California League is not that much of an obstacle for him. These guys need to face better pitching to properly gauge where they are at in their development stage. LAD moved up Emil Morales and he is struggling at Great Lakes. Fine, he will adjust, or he won’t. But to keep him in the California League would have been counter productive (IMO).

The same is true with Shelton. His K rate has not moved this year from his career. It is actually 35.9% this year aqnd 36.7% career. You use PA to measure K%. If you use AB you are not giving the batter credit for not striking out when walking or sac fly or HBP. 19 HRs by June 10 (54 games) is not something to be ignored, regardles if he is Joey Gallo or James Outman. Outman never had 19 in 237 PA. He did have 20 in 70 games and 333 PA at OKC. Push him

If anything happens to Pages, I think AF goes for Alek Thomas, then move Sirota to CF at OKC. If anything happens to Tucker, Suwinski goes up to play RF and JDP to OKC.

Then there is the out of the box thinking tht AF often does…move Edman to CF and bring up Hyeseong Kim.

Thomas and Kim are on the 40 man.

Not having any of the information or knowledge that permeates throughout the LAD front office, I would be okay with JDP in LF over Ryan Fitzgerald and Sirota in CF over Thomas.

IMO, Thomas and Fitzgerald are worthy AAAA insurance claims. But they are blocking legit elite OF propspects.

4:10 PM ET

Dodgers (44-26)

White Sox (37-31)

SP Y. Yamamoto R

6-4 2.68 ERA

SP Sean Burke R

3-3 3.88 ERA

Confirmed Lineup

DH S. Ohtani L

CF Andy Pages R

1B F. Freeman L

SS Mookie Betts R

3B Max Muncy L

RF Kyle Tucker L

LF Ryan Ward L

C D. Rushing L

2B A. Freeland S

87° Wind 16 mph R-L

Ohtani is back in the lineup

Only 3 backups in today’s game. That might help. A little. I show a 1:10 PDT game time.

A lot of talk about minor league players here. I look and always ask the questions “if” and “who”. Help will come from AAA, right? We just saw the answer if Ohtani, Call and if Smith, Chuckie.

Gulp.

A lot of seemingly great prospects. For years later than this one.

I see trades in the near future

I watched the White Sox a lot in Spring Training and thought they were going to be better. Maybe not this much better. To their credit, they are doing a nice job rebuilding this team with some fresh new talent. They are no longer automatic wins for their opponents.

Last night’s game gave me a good reason to watch my recoded MCWS game between North Carolina and Ole Miss. Great game with outstanding pitching. The Tar Heals rolled out a freshman closer, Caden Glauber, who just turned 18 and should be a senior in high school. Apparently he left early to join NC this season. 6’4″, 220 and sits in the high 90’s. You hope his arm hold together but these big, young, pitchers are impressive. Good baseball game.

By the way if you happen to drop by my house and notice my TV on and it’s tuned to the World Cup, please call 911. There’s an excellent chance that I’m dead in my recliner. That would be the only reason soccer would be playing on my TV.

I just can’t get into it.

“As per Jack Harris of The California Post, Tommy Edman is on the verge of returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers roster. The 31-year-old utility man will finish his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. Therefore, he is progressing towards returning to the Dodgers lineup next Tuesday as scheduled”.

Saturday Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule

3:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Cole Irvin) at Charlotte (Hagen Smith)

4:40 p.m.: Great Lakes (Brooks Auger) at Wisconsin (Jayden Dubanewicz)

5 p.m.: Tulsa (Roque Gutierrez) vs. Wichita (Preston Johnson)

6:45 p.m.: Ontario (TBA) at Lake Elsinore (Tyler Schmitt)

Good post Badger. I agree about moving Mookie down in the order. In a throw-back lineup, him in the 4 hole doesn’t play.

His bat speed is poor and he is a weak fly-ball machine. I think his defense is good; he is dependable on routine plays. Thanks to Miggy Ro, he has learned to get his throws off quickly (he gets it in the air) without having to display much arm. And Freddie has saved his ass on an untold number of errors.

I have stuck with this franchise since 1975. I vaguely remember losing to the A’s in 1974. I do remember losing to the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. Then we won the strike shortened year of 1981 and I remember getting home from school and seeing Rick Monday hit that HR in a cold day in Montreal. Of course the magic run in 1988 with Hershiser and Gibby.

Then we hit some lean years (1990’s and 2000’s) but still followed them everyday. The McCourt era was a fiasco and was so glad when he was no longer the owner but he sure came out just fine with his parking lot deal. I think that’s what he made money off of.

The last 13 years have been a great time being a Dodger Fan. We should have 4 titles in that time but 3 is pretty nice too. I would really love a 3 peat that would be icing on the cake.

And Jeff. Best first half of soccer I’ve ever US play. Beating guys one v one with the ball, touch passes and one strike finishes. And Reyna had a world class goal at the end.

Yes, it has been a fun ride. How long can it continue? At some point, they are going to have to retool and add some youth.

Thank you, Bobby. I never waivered. Never even thought about it even through all the years I was not in California. I loved the Show-time Lakers, but not so much since. Rams? When they left LA I said adios and never looked back. Now that they are back, I will watch them now and then, but not an avid NFL fan at all. Same with hockey and soccer. I liked the Angels when they first started because they had some colorful characters on that team, including Jimmy Piersal. But after they moved to Orange County, I cared less how they fared. Only time I ever watched the Kings was when Gretzky was with them. Even then, not a huge hockey fan. The Clippers? Please, moved too many times since they joined the NBA for anyone to really like them. I was 11 when they won in 59, watched most of the 63 sweep over the Yankees, still to me the most satisfying series win. Loved Koufax and saw him pitch many times. Was not a huge Alston fan. I still blame him for the loss to the Giants in the 62 NL playoff. Loved Tommy but thought he kept some of his pitchers in games way too long. I understood why Peter sold the team, but I wish he had sold them to real baseball people and not a corporation like FOX, who knew bupkis about the game and the history. I never went to a game while McCourt owned the team. He had raised tickets and parking so much, I just would go when they played in Arizona. Never liked the Raiders no matter where they have been.

Thank you. They said the same thing in 81. Not a real title. But all the teams had to play under the same rules. The one team that got screwed was the Reds. The actually won the most games in the west, but the Dodgers won the first half, and the Astros the second. Might have been a different outcome had the Dodgers had to face the 81 Reds.

When I start to complain about these Dodgers under Walter’s and AF, I just have to go back and remember the crooked McCourts!

What a decade+ to be a Dodger fan!

Nice topic Bear! I’m quite certain that all of us who take the time to come to Mark’s amazing blog to comment and give our baseless opinions are all pretty “True Blue” to begin with.

I myself have been a fan since 1983, after my first year of little league (where my only hit the entire year was a bunt single). The team winning the World Series on my 17th bday in 1988 was the best bday gift I’ve ever received. 2nd best bday gift may be being at 2024 NLCS Game 6 at Dodger Stadium and seeing us beat the Mets to go to the World Series.

I never thought about leaving the team during the McCourt and Raider fan era at the stadium, but I definitely refused to go to games until that mess was cleaned up. I decided to become real “True Blue” in 2017 when I became a season ticket holder.

My most “True Blue” moment had to be flying to NYC to watch us win the World Series in 2024 at Yankee Stadium.

The only time I ever dumped a team was when the Los Angeles Raiders moved to back to Oakland. After a few years of them being the Oakland Raiders, I asked myself, “why am I rooting for a crappy team that left me and my city for the crappy Bay Area, and has a completely idiotic fan base that always starts fights?”

I believe Harlan can stay at 3B, and as for Morales, projecting A prospects is like predicting the weather in the future. Ideally, one of them becomes our next franchise 3B, but there are also Freeland, Wagner, J. Vargas & new INTL signings [not to mention trades].

& I got Tibbs at 1B post-FF

100% true blue. Born and raised in Venice, 1972. Hated the Lakers and didn’t care about pro football. Trolled my UCLA dad by rooting for USC.

Was doing the Gibson bat routine in front of the TV that night. Was already hooked but that cemented it. Bought all three local newspapers the next day and still have them framed above my bar at home.

The last decade of winning felt like a let down with a lack of rings, but we broke through. Now I’m greedy and want st least two more.

AF has done a nice job. Kind of funny that all of the major pieces of the Glasnow trade are on the IL. Pepiot and DeLuca for the Rays and Glasnow for the Dodgers. Guys like Chris Taylor contributed a lot to the team despite the bad contract he got after the 21 season. Chris was a team player. I don’t think we have seen what a healthy Tommy Edman could do. He has been injured most of his time with the team. Three times I can remember I was really upset with the front office. The first time was when Bavasi sold Duke Snider to the Mets. How dare he sell my favorite player? The second time was when they traded Willie Davis to the Expos for Mike Marshall. Trade worked out well for the team, but I did not like Iron Mike. The third time was the last time because since then, I have not had a favorite Dodger simply because of this trade. Fox trading Piazza to Miami and him ending up a week late in New York with the Mets.

He’s a physical specimen. He has the frame, tools & hopefully the mindset. He’s in no rush. Just develop and become the best version of yourself.

Thanks Duke. Yep, meeting the Sherry brothers was fun. Because of them, I got to meet and talk with Tommy Davis. The home had a new rec center built where we used to play baseball. Larry and Norm came to the dedication and brought Davis with them. Cool story, years later when the Dodgers used to set up autograph tables on each level of the stadium on Sundays, I was on the box seat level and Davis was signing autographs. I got him to sign my first baseman’s mitt. And I told him about meeting him in 1960. Norm was managing the Angels AA Texas league El Paso Diablos in 74 when I was stationed at Bliss. Talked to him before one of the games and he remembered coming to that dedication. Nice guy. Kurt Russell, the actor, played in about 7 games for the Diablos that year, but hurt his arm and it ended his baseball career. He hit something like .450 while he was there.

I prefer hitters who don’t strike out often

Then again, there are some very successful hitters who K a lot.

We’re still a dozen or so games from the season’s midpoint, and Schwarber has already struck out 102 times in his 66 games played. That leads the majors. Yet his OPS is healthy .930.

The guys with more than 90 Ks also include James Woods, with a .953 OPS; Nick Kurtz, .976 OPS; O’Neill Cruz, .822 OPS; Ian Happ, .824 OPS, and Hunter Goodman, .823 OPS.

Murakami has struck out 80 times in only 57 games played. His OPS is .938.

I prefer hitters who don’t strike out often

Then again, there are some very successful hitters who K a lot.

We’re still a dozen or so games from the season’s midpoint, and Schwarber has already struck out 102 times in his 66 games played. That leads the majors. Yet his OPS is healthy .930.

The guys with more than 90 Ks also include James Woods, with a .953 OPS; Nick Kurtz, .976 OPS; O’Neill Cruz, .822 OPS; Ian Happ, .824 OPS, and Hunter Goodman, .823 OPS.

Murakami has struck out 80 times in only 57 games played. His OPS is .938.

Harlan’s numbers are impressive.

My guess is that Morales, being a shortstop, would do a better job at 3B than Harlan. But it’s good to have two candidates. Perhaps Morales can stick at SS.

Harlan could be ready to handle 1B when Freddie calls it a career.

But where will Tibbs play?

I feel I’m being unfair to Kyle Tucker…. but it just occured to me that be this year’s Tanner Scott.

Scott signed a hefty 4-year deal and flopped in his first season.

Tucker signed a HUMUNGOUS 4-year deal and, so far, has been a disappointment. Not a flop. Not Conforto. But a disappointment.

We waited all season for Scott to improve. And now wer’re just hoping that years 2-thru-4 on his contract will be a lot better.

We are now waiting on Tucker and hoping this 4-year contract will be worth it.

Imagine that Pages tears his ACL and is out for the season. (Not trying to jinx him, but stuff happens.)

Do the Dodgers give Sirota a shot now at CF? From everything I’ve read, the glove will play–and the bat might be ready.

Or does management opt for Jack Suwinski, a veteran with experience in CF? This would create a spot for Sirota at OKC.

A player I am very bullish on is Chase Harlan.

He is still just 19 years old, and in 238 PA, he has walked 38 times vs. 42 Ks. That’s a 22% Rate! While not possessing Shelton’s extreme power, he is close in power and has more athletic ability. I think he can stay at 3B. He should move to GL this season.

Nice Bear! I’m 68 years old and have been a dodgers fan since I was 4 or 5 years old. I have never even considered rooting for another team! From 1988 to 2020 I waited, suffered, damn near cried at times, but never ever lost faith. Watched expansion teams like the marlins and dbacks win world championships. Watched the Yankees spend money like nobody’s business. Watched the Red Sox and cubs break their own droughts. Watched happily as Bonds never won a championship! Watched with a smile as Kirby pucket did. For 32 years I watched others win the World Series and yes I watched every single World Series. I watched the Dodgers win in 2020 and listened to the critics claiming it was not a legitimate championship! BULLSHIT I say! Probably was the hardest one to win in my opinion! Now they have won back to back titles and the noise is everywhere. They have spent money both ways and some was spent wisely and some not so wisely! They have signed players other teams could have signed. They have made trades that no one twisted the other team’s arm to make. The Snell and Glasnow signing’s have paid off in October. Not so much for the regular season. But October is what counts. Conforto was a disaster! Tucker? I still have hope that he is not a disaster. So what if Mookie never comes close to .300 again! Look at what he’s done for us, the city, the Dodgers! Boston will never live that trade down! Look at what Rojas has meant to this team! Star? Nope. But such a valuable piece of these titles. Kike? Fair to say that he’s almost mediocre during the regular season, but invaluable during the playoffs! Teo? A guy 15 other teams could have signed. A crucial piece of the puzzle. Same with Freddie. So NO! I would never consider changing my alliance to the Dodgers. I’m 2 1/2 hours from Charlotte. People ask me all the time if I would make Charlotte “my” team if they get a team. HELL NO!

Bottom line. We all have to accept nights like last night. Half of the starters are out. The so called best player on the planet isn’t playing. The starting pitcher is still a work in progress. The White Sox have a young and hungry bunch of good young players. (You could see the fire in Vargas’ eyes!). Frustrating? Absolutely. But I didn’t turn it off until it was over. They have scored 9 and 10 runs in a couple of innings lately! But just like from 1988-2020, I watch. Pissed off sometimes, but I watch.

There is no question that Shelton has thunder in his bat. His downfall is that he strikes out almost 5 times more than he walks. His strikeout rate is almost 42%.

Compare him to James Outman: When Outman was at Low A, his K-Rate was 2.5 Times his BB Rate, and Outman struck out at a 29% Clip.

Even Joey Gallo did not strike out at a 42% Clip.

I do not get excited about Guys like Shelton, Gallo, and Outman because of their K rate! MLB Pitchers will eat them up.

There are three broad groups:

1. The Joey Gallo group: extreme swing-and-miss, uppercut power, long levers, lots of chase. These players almost never make a dramatic strikeout-rate improvement. Gallo ran strikeout rates around 35% to 40% for most of his career and never really escaped that profile.

2. The James Outman group: athletic players with some swing-and-miss issues who can improve modestly through better pitch recognition and swing decisions. Outman has shown periods of improvement, but not a transformation from a 30%+ strikeout hitter into a 15% hitter.

3. The prospect-adjustment group: young hitters who strike out a lot because they are facing better pitching than they have ever seen before. These are the guys who occasionally make large gains.

Some notable examples:

Aaron Judge: 44% K rate in first MLB call-up Settled mostly in mid-to-upper 20s

Kris Bryant: 30%+ K rates in minors and early MLB Became more manageable around mid-20s

Kyle Schwarber: High-K slugger Improved plate discipline enough to remain elite

George Springer: 30%+ strikeout concerns in minors Developed into a much more complete hitter

What you rarely see is a player going from 35%-40% strikeouts to 15%-18% strikeouts. That almost never happens once a hitter reaches Double-A or Triple-A.

What makes Shelton interesting is that he is not built like Joey Gallo. From what I’ve seen, he is a good athlete with reasonable bat speed; he uses the whole field nd is not solely dependent on selling out for power. He is young enough that pitch recognition can still improve.

For a player like Shelton, the question isn’t:

Can he become Luis Arraez?

It’s: Can he go from a 30-35% strikeout hitter to a 22-26% strikeout hitter?

That kind of improvement happens sometimes as prospects mature, learn which pitches they can drive, and become less susceptible to breaking balls. Organizations work relentlessly on swing decisions because even a 5% reduction in strikeouts can dramatically change a player’s value.

Rule of thumb:

Under 25% K rate: likely major league regular if the other tools play.

25%-30%: survivable with power.

30%-35%: danger zone.

Over 35%: usually requires elite power or elite walks to survive.

If Easton Shelton can trim even 5-8 percentage points from his strikeout rate over the next couple of seasons, his prospect outlook changes substantially. If he stays in the mid-30s, then the Joey Gallo/James Outman questions become much harder to answer positively.

A look at Sirota and DePaula’s BB and K rate:

Sirota – 57K (29% K-Rate), 54 BB .333 BA/.468 OB%/1.070 OPS

DePaula – 37 K (16% K-Rate) 39 BB .319 BA/.407 OB%/.985 OPS

Both have 10 HR in around 200 AB’s. DePaula’s K-Rate is clearly better; Sirota has a better eye. Both are elite prospects.

OKC did not kill Will Smith or Dalton Rushing. DePaula and Sirota are no longer challenged at AA. In most organizations, they would be at the Show,

Yeah, I’m true blue. I think I am anyway. Rams colors are blue and yellow. I was something of Packer fan when I lived in Wisconsin. My friends there went nuts for them so that was fun for a while. Even wore a Packer hat in occasion. Also went to a lot of Twins games. They were easy to get behind

Kruz Schoolcraft was mentioned in some Skubal trade scenarios I was reading about. 6’8” left hander whose scouting report reads like another Randy Johnson. Obviously he hasn’t figured it out yet but when he does, look out.

The Dodgers can often offer clunkers. But that box featured 5 backups and a minor leaguer. It also had a starting pitcher with a 4.76 ERA. The White Sox, with their red and black city connect Chicago Bulls uniforms (I kinda liked them) are a first place team. You won’t beat them at home with a JV lineup.

There are currently 8 shortstops ranked above Betts defensively. Elite? I don’t believe so. His run value is poor, his hard hit is poor, his arm strength is poor and his sprint speed is poor. He’s slowing down. We can all offer opinions why, but we can no longer argue it isn’t happening. Drop him in the order and hope he can raise his OPS+ to league average. It currently sits at 65.

Nice piece, Bear. I used to live down the Arroyo Seco a bit off Ave 43 in Mt. Washington, so I’m familiar with Highland Park. Must have been fun knowing the Sherry brothers when you were a kid….

I have my hopes up for Easton Shelton. He was passed over in the draft coming out of high school before the Dodgers offered him a contract.

Of course he’s a project but the power sure seems real. We tend to get caught up in the prospect rankings. But sometimes the first-rounders and touted prospects get surpassed by unheralded guys who become stars.

Right now, there are about 29 front offices thinking, “Maybe we should have drafted his Shelton kid…”

Disappointing game all around with the exception of some great defensive plays by Rojas, FF and Call. Other thant that : A real clunker.

Roki took a step backwards in his development and the offense was just pathetic.

I want to thank the old and slow LAD offense to take the night off so I could turn on the World Cup. I mean Eric Karros was making excuses for them and the long trip from Pittsburgh all through the game. 4 hits for LAD, 2 for Miggy Ro, 1 by Santiago Espinal, and 1 by Alex Call. I got to watch the extra minutes in the 1st half and the entire 2nd half of a great USA victory. And yes, I love to watch World Cup futbol.