Austin Barnes is not the Problem
It seems that a large number of Dodger fans are seemingly enraged when Austin Barnes catches. Yes, he is no Will Smith. “ Will Smith is an All-Star who hits and throws out baserunners .” They go berserk whenever Will Smith is not in the lineup. In their minds, every time that…
It seems that a large number of Dodger fans are seemingly enraged when Austin Barnes catches. Yes, he is no Will Smith. “Will Smith is an All-Star who hits and throws out baserunners.” They go berserk whenever Will Smith is not in the lineup. In their minds, every time that Dave Roberts makes out a lineup card with Austin Barnes’ name on it, they assume that the Dodgers are throwing in the towel. They suffer from BDS (Barnes Derangement Syndrome). Here are just a few things they say:
- “Barnes can’t hit.”
- “Barnes can’t throw.”
- “DFA Barnes”
- “Call up Hunter Feduccia.”
- “Roberts is an idiot for playing Barnes.”
Uh, no… you might be the idiot! 😉 The Dodgers record when Austin Barnes catches this season is 13-7, which is a .650 winning percentage. When Will Smith catches, it is 25-16, which is a .608 winning percentage. Now, if Barnes’s record as the starting catcher was 7-13, you might have something… but you have nothing. Zero. Zilch, Nada! As of today, it turns out that the Dodgers have a better chance of winning with Barnes in the lineup over Smith. Maybe this gives you a little insight into how we create imagined problems in our heads and develop a whole narrative that is simply not true.
This is a public service announcement from your always friendly and politically correct blogger, who is tired of Eric’s boorish behavior. If I am as bad as he fantasizes I am, why not just go away? I hate to do it, but blocking him is next.
Yesterday’s Games
- Gavin Stone continues to impress as he is 6-2 with a 2.90 ERA. What a difference a year makes!
- Ditto with Michael Grove. He is becoming a valuable innings eater.
- Alex Vesia: Anyone want him gone now?
- It turns out that Freddie Freemans’ alleged demise is bullshit. His bat speed is still top 5 in MLB.
- Feel free to disregard the OKC Baseball Clubs series in Albaquacky. They won 13-2 yesterday. The Isotopes are a horrid team (17-40) in a ballpark that dramatically inflates statistics. Forgetaboutit!
- Diego Cartaya‘s batting average is up to .211/.692 OPS.
- Lucas Wepf remains filthy at GL! 1.85 ERA/24 IP/11 H/35 K/0.78 WHIP – You might see him in OKC this year.
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Discussion (111)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I hope Taylor does go 2-4. Mb he is trying to get Taylor set up for a trade.
I would really love to c Vargas get an extended chance. His plate discipline, speed , and bat to ball skills look good. The mental side? I keep reading how it really hurt him mentally in his struggles last year. He doesn’t look smooth in the outfield. I am wondering out loud why he is not getting a long runway.
Kiké would be the easiest to trade. Low salary, had interest from other teams earlier. Can’t hit righties. He is helpful defensively but so is Taylor. Both can get the big hit in a big moment or not.
If we get on a win streak and the bottom of the lineup trends up I hope AF doesn’t think all is solved. This is not a playoff offense. Best lineup: vs righty
Betts
Ohtani
Freeman
Smith
Muncy
Teo
Heyword
Vargas
Lux
Against lefties
Betts
Ohtani
Smith
Freeman
Teo
Muncy
Pages
Vargas
Rojas
Dodgers 7 thru 9 hitters are 29th in OPS so not only are Phillies and Yanks better so are 27 other teams
i’m sorry, but does anyone get that warm and fuzzy feeling hitters 6-9? Glasnow. has to pitch a perfect game to have a chance to get a win!! Sorry, not being negative, just honest!
You’re an expert and one might think it’s your job at making everything seem rosy with this team and nothing wrong with that. Myself I wouldn’t bet a nickel on this team if playoffs started today but I sure hope that changes
A .180 hitter called up today batting 9th hits a homer.
Our 700 million dollar man is turning into Mr. K. That is why we have to have somebody to put it in play. Wouldn’t u know Freeman is looking better and Ohtani and Betts awful.
This offense is hard to watch. 1 run looks like 20. Kkkkk and kkk…this game is so hard. Betts usually gives u a good at bat. He swings at strikes and lays off bad pitches. Ohtani can’t do that . As an investment I c the money. As a player he needs to be pitching for the Dodgers to get their money’s worth.
Taylor needs to go!!!!! Why is pages or vargas not playing???? this is like being constipated!! can’t do sh*t!!!!!!!
Dodger offense is utterly pathetic right now. Hitting with RISP is non existent, when Freddie gets hot Mookie and Ohtani go ice cold.
I’ve not agreed when others have posted that CT3 should be DFA’d but it’s time.
Something needs to happen to send a message to the sleep walking hitters whether that’s RVS being let go, DFA for CT3, more playing time for Vargas. I have no idea but to see this team struggle offensively is mind boggling.
Pages over Vargas. Interesting. Fail!
60yr dodger fan. 1st time poster long time follower
I deleted my post because it’s the first time I have ever posted and inadvertently put my name in.
So cut the bullshit on “Several posters posted and then deleted what they wrote because it was Bullshit.” I’m the several. (1post/1 delete
What I wrote wasn’t bullshit “ look at tonight’s current box scores for tonight’s games and you will see the bottom 4 hitters for the Yankees and the Phillies are both CURRENTLY doing better then the bottom 4 current dodger hitters.
Of course that can and probably will change
But I digress,
Lived in NJ all my life
Have had the ability to watch many of the Phillies and Yankee games throughout the season.
Here is the problem the Yankees and Phillies have heart/life, they are aggressive and they are as you would call it “junk yard dogs”
And they do not let up.
The Dodgers, especially the leaders , Mookie , Freddy and Othani are nice guys.
Watch the Yankee/ Dodger games this weekend. Tell me who you would want in a foxhole with you when the shit hits the fan or who you want up with runners in scoring positon.
Love my Dodgers but don’t love the make-up of this team. They really do not know how to develop young offensive talent. On the other hand they do a tremendous job on developing pitchers.
Go Dodgers
1. The decision to play Taylor and not Vargas is collaborative. If AF thought it was important for Vargas to get these at bats, Vargas would be playing. I share the frustration. The so-called runway for these “talented young guys in our system” as Brandon Gomes said last year is now about a foot long. Really hard to explain. Certainly, the Dodgers have their reasons but difficult to discern.
2. For those who watched Ohtani with the Angels, has his swing always been this rotational? Seems to be swinging with a lot of body turn. Plus, he appears to be chasing out of the zone frequently.
3. In support of what Mark said about batting averages around baseball, I was looking at outfielders that might be potential trade targets and there were several names I looked up and the averages were .180 to .225 for almost all of them. A lot of teams are playing guys who don’t hit particularly well. Which makes the Vargas decision even more puzzling.
4. I disagree that Kershaw coming in to face Soto in Nats series up a run was wrong only after the fact. It was the wrong move before he threw a pitch. Told my son before the Soto home run that Adam Kolarek made more sense given his success against Soto.
5. Can somebody tell me what the professional comps are for Rushing? Be the first to admit I am not a scout or talent evaluator but just curious what his ceiling is since he is at AA already and does not seem to be putting up numbers any better than Vargas and Pages did at his age.
$320 million doesn’t buy what it use to in this present day economy. Pathetic and inexcusable.
100% agree with NJ Dodger. This team goes through the motions with no emotion. Freaking throw a bat, get thrown out for arguing after a rookie HP umpire calls strike three to an established big league star like Freddie Freeman on a pitch clearly out of the zone.
0-12 RISP. Why did CT3 get a start?
Great question by NH Dodger about Ohtani. He does seem to be anrms only on swings as his lower half timing is way off. His ass and front leg are not in sync.
Will the dodgers score a run this series?
Skeenes tomorrow/will the Dodgers get a hit?
How many times can we get a runner on second with nobody out and can’t score?
And it just gets more pathetic’er for our offense. Highlight was the first inning. AF, you cheaped us out at 1.3 bil!
The comments get SO fucking stupid after losses.
It’s mind-boggling.
My God, now idiot posters are calling him Notani because he’s not hitting .800. Where in the HELL did all these Dodger poser smiling bitch face fans come from, it’s like overnight , like cockroaches. Dude has been dealing with a bad hammy going on two weeks , he’ll be just fine. As will the rest of the team, not even close to full strength with injuries, not hitting all that well , but still ok first place by 5 or 6 games! My biggest problem this season is not the team, it’s the new generation of Dodger fans with all the social media bullshit that live game by game and just criticize the hell out of Doc or any player who fell short that day. Not the fan base I’m used to, not even close. If you’re going to spew your 5 second toxic snapshot on how the Dodgers are so terrible in so many ways, buy a damn Giants hat and start hanging with Farhan. Damn…..
Upon further review., Dodgers lose tonight yet they are 7, 7!!! Games up with a team not even close to full strength and all I’m seeing is a bunch of arm chair managers wanting to make moves in June. JUNE!!! Good God, adjust your way too tight tighty wighties and just relax!! Feel like Mark is spending WAY too much time defending himself and talking half you cats off the ledge. Celebrate where we are at right now, best is yet to come, lose the negative vibe, damn we are so spoiled!!
Holy He!! you would think this team is 23-40 and 12.5 games back in the division.
I get it man it sucks to lose and no one likes losing 1-0.
But cmon this is a 162 marathon and then a 5 week sprint.
Settle down, have a beer and relax.
This team WILL be in the playoffs and the team you see on 6.5.24 will NOT be the team that starts game 1 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium.
Stick with these guys they are good and they are going to be damn good come October.
Mookie has won 2 WS, Freddie has won 1 WS… let me ask you a question, how many WS titles does Harper have, have many does Judge have, how many does Stanton have, how many does Cole and Nola have???
Ill take Mookie and Freddie over those guys anyday…..