Up to the 1/3 point of this season, we have seen a slumping Mookie Betts, almost no cody Bellinger, some AJ Pollock and some Corey Seager. That’s kind of like an 8-cylinder engine without 4 spark plugs. Tonight Jimmy Nelson and AJ Pollock return and Alex Vesia and Edwin Uceta go back to AAA. You bullpen doom and gloomers are not going to like this, but both of these pitcher’s development was accelerated by the injury bug. Vesia could be a future closer. His stuff is filthy – he just has to harness it… and he has at times! Just because they did not come to the majors and strike out every batter and allow no runs does not mean they are not very good. Very few of you understand “depth” and I am not going to explain it… it’s a waste of time.
Rants & Raves
- By the way, AJ Pollock can make a huge difference for a LH-heavy hitting lineup. Doc just has to make sure not to “overuse” him. Make no mistake, AJ is a weapon.
- Keibert Ruiz has done a complete body makeover. He used to be a little pudgy, but he is now ripped and lean. He looked visibly faster and more nimble behind the plate last night. He was 2-4 with a double last night and is hitting .298 with a .914 OPS. I predict he’s going to be smoking hot soon. For Friedman to trade Kaybear, he will have to get a haul. Personally, I think he will be the Dodgers catcher next year, Justin Turner will be the DH and Will Smith will be the 3B! Ruiz has better bat-to-ball skills than Alex Verdugo and Alex’s skills were off the charts. Now, he is developing his power. He is still only 22 – Will Smith did not end sniff the Show until he was 24. Ruiz is going to be an All-Star. Write that down. When I saw this season what he has done with his body, I see that he is becoming a man and is determined.
- Rangel Ravelo? What to do? They have to clear a roster spot and who would that be? Hitting at AAA does not automatically mean you will hit in the big leagues… but it’s a pretty good indicator. I think they either have to call him up or trade him…. someone will take a flyer on Rangel.
- Tony Gonsolin will probably get called up next week. He went 3.2 innings and threw 60 pitches. He looked a little rusty but only gave up 1 run. The Bazooka closed out the game by striking out the side. He may get the call-up Sunday.
- Reks and Raley can’t do much more than they are at AAA (.333 & .388).
- Will DJ Peters suddenly just put it all together? His talent is undeniable. It’s his contact that is the issue.
- Sheldon Noisy is going to be a very good MLB player. While not as versatile as CT3, he is a worker (like Max Muncy) and will evolve in every facet of the game.
- By the way, those of you who questioned the trade of Neuse for the great Adam Kolarek need to eat that crow pie. Adam put up an 8.00 ERA and is now toiling in the minors. Yeah, you know how to build a pen!
- And while I am at it, for all you bullpen architects: Dylan Floro’s ERA is now 3.91 and going up faster than the Dow Jones in Bull Market. That should shut you up for a while!
- Andrew Friedman made a mistake in not tendering Yimi Garcia, but most of you were good with that. While not a TOP CLOSER he has 9 saves in 11 opportunities and a 2.86 ERA – he’s a solid piece for the pen… just not a high-leverage guy. I wish we still had him.
- Cody Bellinger is ready to make up for the lost time. Watch and see!
- Max Muncy is the Dodger’s MVP and TOP 5 in NL MVP Ranking at the 1/3 mark! In the process, he has made himself into a near Gold Gove 1B and an above-average solid 2B.
- Corey Seager will likely be back for the July 4th Fireworks. Then he will be on a mission to get a new contract!
- At the 33% Mark, the Dodgers are #3 in team ERA and will soon be #2. They are #1 in Starter ERA at 2.98 and have moved up to the Top Third in Bullpen ERA (they are now #9, after being as low as #20).
- By year-end, the Dodgers Bullpen will be TOP TIER and there will be TEARS by some of you. The pieces are starting to come back and Mookie is starting to heat up.
- You will see the meaning of “depth” throughout this season.
Dodgers Minor League Report
OKC BOXSCORE – OKC won 8-1 and is now 10-15. Reks, Ruiz and Raley all had 2 hits and Gonsolin went 3.2 innings. It was a great game and I watched it all.
TULSA BOXSCORE – Tulsa won7-6. Cuadrado and Mann hit HR and Casey was 2-5 (.315). Kody Hoese continues to heat up as he went 2-4 with a double.
GL BOXSCORE – The Loons were beaten like rented mules 12-1. Andy Pages had the only extra-base hit ( double) and seven Loons pitchers were treated like cannon fodder. Never speak of this again! I never happened!
RC BOXSCORE – The Quakes won 4-3 on just 4 hits including a 2-run HR by Deluca (not LoDuca). LH Franklin De La Paz got the win by going 2 inning and allowing no earned runs.
Discussion (21)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Dodgers Roster News: Brusdar Graterol Optioned to Triple-A
A little bit of a surprise from the Dodgers on this one.
by Brook Smith
06/04/2021, 8:00 PM
Dodgers sign RHP Jake Reed, 28, to a minor league contract. Reed was released by the Angels on June 2. He also pitched in the Twins organization.
Albies was the only guy that squared it up. I liked both White’s and Kelly’s stuff. And Nelson looked great. When healthy I think our bullpen will be a strength by the end of the year.
Disagree
Mark my words, if the Dodgers get knocked out of the playoffs it will be because of the bullpen. Unless Friedman goes shopping at the trade deadline for relievers.
For those of us in the Rangel Ravelo Marching and Chowder Society, through 4 innings tonight he has 2 homers and 5 RBI.
If u can get healthy. I mean pollock batting 8th in the lineup. Best lineup currently. Looks like the World Series champs running up the pitch count with a clutch hit or 2.
What happened to Muncy?
My goodness. Anderson is just making us look silly with his change up. And Julio isn’t fooling anyone.
Good for Dick Mountain! Love that guy! How does Tampa do it? That’s one awesome organization!
https://www.draysbay.com/2021/6/2/22465174/rich-hill-named-american-league-pitcher-of-the-month-for-may
Victor Arano in 3 years of experience in MLB shows good numbers, but would it be a problem if the Dodgers take him? I mean for the 40 man roster
Ex- minor league Dodger(2013) 26 year old Victor Arano was FFA’d today by the Atlanta Braves. He was traded to the Phillies in 2014 as the player to be named later and was selected off waivers by Atlanta in January of this year.
He spent 3 ML seasons with the Phillies as a RHRP. His record was 3-2 and a 2.65 ERA, 9.6 K rate and 2.8 BB rate. He is also a FA in 2025
I only mention this because it seems to one of the things AF loves that being small risk high reward situation.
Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Confirms Tony Gonsolin Will Start in Pittsburgh
by Brook Smith
The days of the Dodgers going with 4 starts and resorting to bullpen games appears to be coming to an end. They’ve made it this long with just 4 guys after losing Dusti May for the season, but they’re getting a big name back. Tony Gonsolin made his 3rd rehab start with the Oklahoma City last night.
That’s a pretty good lineup! Julio needs to bounce back. Keep that fastball on the edges!
1. Betts RF
2, Muncy 1B
3. Turney 3B
4. Bellinger CF
5. Smith C
6. Taylor 2B
7. Lux SS
8. Pollock RF
9. Urias P
I think Tsutsugo has to play before they make a decision regarding him, give him the last chance…
Interesting read on various substances used to improve spin rate.
https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2180019
With baseball planning on crack8ng down on its use it will be interesting to see how pitchers such as Bauer perform going forward.
You mention the Nats; last three years after slow starts their winning percentage for the second two thirds of the season was .669. If this trend does not repeat where do think Scherzer gets traded. Are the Giants one of the options?
At least we have a better chance at repeating than the Lakers!
LOL! A lot of trolling going on in this post. That’s ok. I think it’s good. It stimulates lively discussion.
I think you do have to clarify what depth is. To me, depth is when you have a replacement player who plays at a replacement level at least. The substitute can fill in acceptably well for a starter and not detract from the overall team performance until the starter returns. Kyle Garlick played acceptably well. Even better, when you have substitute players who play better than replacement level you have something special. AF has been very good at accumulating talent over the years and finding hidden talent, but he’s not an alchemist. Warm bodies are not “depth.” The Dodgers at one point lost 15 of 20 games and are currently in 3rd place. The “depth” did not perform. Period. Full stop.
I’m hopeful that Neuse and Vesia can develop into bona fide major leaguers, but they aren’t right now. I have my doubts that Peters will ever change the strikeout prone player he’s been in every level of the minor leagues.
“Ripped and lean?” “Smoking hot?” I think maybe you’re a little too enamored with “Kaybear.” Besides. Next week when he goes 0-4 you’ll want to trade him again. If he has even better bat to ball skills than Verdugo, and if you considered Verdugo to be the next Tony Gwynn, who are we talking about here? Do we have the next Ted Williams?
The Dodgers are still firmly middle-of-the-pack when it comes to relevant reliever metrics. They are average …mediocre … not exceptional. No more Santana and Vesia and Uceta will help, but the Dodgers record in one run games does not augur well for a successful post season run. Playoff baseball is a crucible of critical plays and one run games.
I think the Nationals had a losing record in the first half of 19, the year they won the World Series. The Braves were pretty mediocre in the first half last year, exploded in the second half, and pushed the Dodgers to a game 7. If we get our core guys back I see no reason why the Dodgers can’t pull away from the rest of the league.
A lot of folks here have never given Muncy the respect he deserves. All he’s done is perform since he’s been with the Dodgers, and now he’s turning into just a great, all-round player.
I have my doubts about Bellinger long term. I think he had a charmed first half of 19, and then the league figured him out. That swing is just too complicated and disjointed.
We keep talking like Mookie is in a slump and will soon explode. Look at his 2017 season. He’s now performing a little better than he did then. I think his performance last year set our expectations, but he has had mediocre years before. There’s no guarantee he will put up 2018 numbers.
What’s next? Barring more injuries, this team is about to go on another run. Warmer weather plus a streak of not so good teams on the upcoming schedule will push this team back into first place by the time we play the Padres and Giants again at the end of the month.
They setup Belli’s locker right next to Albert. I’m wondering if Belli got some advice from “The Machine” to convince him to make an adjustment. Belli is going to start carrying the team.
The roster crunch is coming. We’re going to have to say goodbye to someone pretty soon with Gonsolin coming off the 60 day. Knebel will be next to come off the 60 day, probably near the end of the month, or around the All-Star break. I think Dennis Santana is going have a garage sale soon to get ready for a move.
What’s the point of keeping Yoshi on the roster at this point? We have pitchers with better slash lines.
Tonight’s lineup should look something like this…
Betts RF
Muncy 1B
Turner 3B
Belli CF
Smith C
CT3 2B
Pollock LF
Lux SS
It’s starting to look really deep again.