As Dodgers fans, we are not used to losing. Julio Urias failed to pitch like the Ace he was, which he did most of the month. Max Muncy and Dave Roberts got booted! If you are going to lose, you might as well go out in a blaze of glory! This was just one game. Move along… nothing to see here, folks. It’s time for a bullpen game, folks. Caleb Ferguson takes the bump at 10:35 AM PDT (1:35 EDT). Here is all I am concerned about:
Imagine being a fan of the San Diego Clowns down the Freway! Monday, the Dodgers are back home and can pound the nails in the D-Bags coffin, but in the meantime, LET’S WIN THIS ONE! My son-in-law is a Red Sox Fan, and the Boys in Blue need to shut him up! You all know of what I speak.
Dodger News & Notes
- The Dodgers have signed outfielder Oscar Mercado to a minor league deal, and he will report to OKC. Mercado’s path has now taken him to Los Angeles, where he’ll try to become the latest player to resurrect his career in Dodger blue. It’s an interesting move…
- Emmet Sheehan got blown up in his start yesterday as he gave up 5 ER in 1.2 IP. He walked 3 and gave up a 3-run Home Run. Miguel Vargas (he has been playing 3B of late) took the collar while Blake Treinen recorded a clean inning. I think he is not a “longshot” but rather a “sureshot” to be on the roster in September.
- Nick Frasso makes his first OKC start today.
- Austin Gauthier was 2-5 at Tulsa (.325 BA/.939 OPS in 419 ABs). He is a RH Bat with not a lot of power (2 HR/27 DBL). He has played LF, RF, 3B, 2B, and SS. While not a speedster, he has stolen 18 bags. Keep your eye on him.
- Dalton Rushing was back at C and blasted his 12th HR – a 2 -2-run shot! I would not be surprised if he were promoted to Tulsa for a cup of coffee.
- Diego Cartaya has a lot of work to do over the winter…
- If you wanna see what a Superstar looks like… look no further than Mookie Betts! .312 BA. .406 OB%, 1.011 OPS. That’s what I was talking about when I said Mookie needed to put up “Superstar Stats!” Freddie is not far behind!
- Will Smith is again “wearing down” at the end of the season. I would love for the Dodgers to talk with him and see if he could play another position and be about to hit .300 with .900+ OPS due to not being beaten up behind the plate. What if he were to be the backup Catcher? He is not a big guy, and playing 3B or LF could result in another “Superstar Bat” being in the lineup!
Discussion (31)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Those were key factors.
Another factor was JDM’s willingness to take a bit of a discount to come to LA. He wanted to reunite with Von Scoyoc and Mookie, and also play for a championship.
it’s interesting how JT, although older, seems more durable than JDM. Certainly hope JDM comes back strong, but there’s no guarantee of that.
I was just reading the comments regarding the worth of JDM vs. Justin Turner. I might make some mistakes, because I’m not going look back at their individual numbers and personal information. But based on what I think I remember, the Dodgers did not sjgn Turner because he insisted on a multi-year deal, and the Dodgers were unwilling to do that given that they were considering signing Ohtani going into 2024. Also, I believe that Turner is 38 vs. 35 for JDM.
“That was my early lesson to never ever believe anything coming out of Robert’s mouth when it comes to player injuries.”
Ironic, don’t you think, that his nickname should be Doc.
Noah Synderguard just released by the guardians
agree with that.
Gavin Stone’s encouraging outing today brings hope for him next year. His “stuff” IS good, and will be refined this off-season.
Notwithstanding the Dodgers successful road trip, ..Urias’ last outing is STILL disturbing.
This time of the season has historically been Julio’s time to shine. But yesterday, the “ace” of this staff didn’t.
It seems only an unexpected setback could derail Treinen’s return by September.
But I’m reminded of Robert’s recently weird comment that Treinen is a “long-shot” to make it back this season.
So if a few more successful outings by Blake in OKC does NOT result in his call-up next month, it would confirm my suspicion that things may not be well between Treinen and the Dodgers hierarchy.
Let’s hope this isn’t the case.
OKC is bombing the Albuquerque. The new guys are killing it, Wong and the outfielder. Hasn’t been a good series for OKC but this is a breakout.
Just saw Oppenheimer. Its amazing. Endorse it more than Barbie or Dead Reckoning, even though those two are also GREAT times.
The 1953 Dodgers and the 2022 Dodgers have the two highest winning percentages in Dodger history. 1953 the winning percentage was .682. In 2022 it was .685.
Anyone know what the franchise record is for the number of wins in a month? 21-4 so far in August with 4 to go. Should be fun Labor Day weekend against Atlanta. Freeman is going to cruise past the franchise record for # of doubles, sitting at 50 – 51, damn machine. Nice to see Mookie go yard, with a nice bomb.
DODGERS CLAIM TYSON MILLER
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers claimed right-handed pitcher Tyson Miller from the New York Mets and transferred right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin to the 60-day injured list.
Miller, 27, returns for his second stint with the Dodgers after making one appearance for Los Angeles this season, allowing two runs in 2.0 innings on July 26. He has pitched for the Brewers, Dodgers and Mets this season and he is a combined 5.40 ERA (8 ER/13.1 IP) and eight strikeouts. He has been in the Majors parts of three seasons with Chicago (2020), Texas (2022), Milwaukee (2023), Los Angeles (2023) and New York (2023), posting a 2-2 mark with a 7.45 ERA (24 ER/29.0 IP) and 16 strikeouts against 17 walks. In his minor league career, he has appeared in 156 games (100 starts), recording a 4.06 ERA (268 ER/594.2 IP) and 578 strikeouts against 200 walks. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round of the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of California Baptist University.
Gonsolin, 29, finished the season with an 8-5 mark and a 4.98 ERA (57 ER/103.0 IP) with 82 strikeouts in 20 starts. He has been with the Dodgers five seasons, posting a combined 34-11 record with a 3.19 ERA (133 ER/375.2 IP) and 349 strikeouts in 79 games (71 starts). He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the ninth round of the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of Saint Mary’s College.
I’ve said it before, but I’m really enjoying this season.
To see so many young players doing so well is so encouraging for the future.
Miller
Stone
Pepiot
Sheehan
With Beuhler and May rehabilitated and loads of money coming off the books.
Vargas, Busch, Outman, with Lux coming back,
What a position to be in.
Is heyward hurt? Looks awful at the plate right now. Taylor is really bad at the plate. Max had a nice day. Freddie is robot! Mookie is on another planet! Outman was good today . Barnes was lucky today. ( we’ll take it). Rojas raking lately. Rosario can contribute io a lot of different ways. Still need a right hand bat for the outfield. Taylor just ain’t cutting it! Not bashing Roberts, but should have taken Stone out after6 . Good win!
With with the benefit of hindsight, I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognize that we would be better off at this point with Turner than with JDM. However, the one thing we should not overlook is that up to this season, Turner had been the staple in terms of clubhouse leadership. It was time to turn the leadership reigns over to the next generation of Dodgers.
https://share.newsbreak.com/4sa4zigf
Good history piece on Cooks. Still standing agst the crush of red tile roofs.
Gonsolin is out for all the season
I hope it turns out well for Stone. But I’m surprised the Dodgers are starting him on the road in Boston, who I think is fourth or fifth in the major leagues in runs scored. but what do I know?
Go Gavin… Go, Dodgers
Absolutely pathetic first inning!
Mark, Treinen did not have a clean inning. He hit the first batter he faced. But his pitches were crisp and he was throwing easily.
I watched the USC-San Jose State game after the Dodger game. It was 21-14 at the half. But USC took over in the second half and had 5 touchdowns. One of them was a 96-yard kickoff return by a freshman. Ended up 56-28. USC’s new defensive line did well despite a couple of hiccups. They allowed a TD with 8 seconds left on the clock at the end of the first half. Otherwise, great game to watch.
Snatched defeat from victory. But all of the competition lost so no big deal. nonicnamebumfan, JT has played 2nd 10 games this year. He has been ok there, but he does not have the range to play second every day. He has played 7 games at third and made 3 errors there. He also has three at first. He would have been the DH for LA. Jayne Cobb. You are right about the inaccuracies in Eight Men Out. Same with Cobb and I knew Stump was a con man. I never thought that movie was very well done anyway. Duke Not Snider. There were no professional ballplayers in Bang the Drum Slowly. That is why I did not include it in the post. But you are right, it was very well done. So was The Natural. Also, one of my favorite films.
#Dodgers Lineup vs #RedSox RHP, Tanner Houck:
Betts 2B
Freeman 1B
Peralta LF
Muncy 3B
Heyward RF
Outman CF
Busch DH
Rojas SS
Barnes C
Caleb Ferguson P
1:35 PM ET
Dodgers (79-49)
Red Sox (69-61)
SP Gavin Stone R
0-0 12.75 ERA PRIM
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF D. Peralta L
3B Max Muncy L
RF J. Heyward L
CF James Outman L
DH M. Busch L
SS Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes R
How much longer do we have to wait for MLB to install the ABS System? Bad calls seldom outright lose the game for a team, but they just put you at a disadvantage. But yesterday’s call on Muncy was close to a “game loser”. Yeah, I know, he could have it the strike that was actually in the zone. But the strike 3 was aweful. To add insult to injury, Jordan Baker could have walked the baseline to avoid Muncy’s reaction but instead he chose to make a stand and toss Max and Doc.
I have seen enough bad umpiring for a lifetime and the sad irony is that it’s all fixable.
* MLB stood on a soapbox when it lobbied for replay reviews and video challenges, proclaiming the goal was “To just get the calls right”. Swell. Now let’s get the balls and strike calls right.
The Athletic ran this article Friday, by Jason Stark. I will try to post it but it’s subscription so I don’t know if it will open. I’ll try
https://theathletic.com/4791440/2023/08/25/mlb-robot-umpires-future/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983
If you can read it you will notice what the complaints have been from it’s use in MiLB.
Some examples:
* The strike zone is different in each park.
* That can be fixed. Now it’s different for every umpire.
* The strike zone is the same for tall and short guys.
* studies show that human umps don’t adjust their zones to players heights either.
* It brings back the 3 1/2 hour game as too many balls are called.
* Is that bad tech or bad AAA pitching?
* Not all strikes are created equal:
* Listen to Rangers pitching prospect Owen White, on pitches he has thrown that even he thinks shouldn’t be a strike. “Like back-up sliders, where the catcher sets up on the outer third (of the plate) and then he catches them on the inner third? I mean, there are just pitches that shouldn’t be rewarded or called strikes because of the (automated) zone,” he said. “To me, whenever you make the catcher look bad, those really shouldn’t be a guaranteed strike. But the ABS calls them strikes.”
* My take – It’s not the umpires job to critique pitch quality. It’s a strike or a ball.
* Umpires couldn’t adjust the zone for blowout games or to speed up games with bad weather blowing in.
* That’s the most lame reason I’ve ever heard.
* What do they have against catchers – framing would be a lost art.
* To me “framing” actually effecting the call is overrated anyway. And there’s a difference between true framing and yanking pitches to the center of the plate.
* The challenge system was addressed.
* I’m opposed to another stoppage for a challenge. It puts 2 separate strike zones in play; the umpires individual interpretation of his zone and the ABS zone.
To me these complaints are mostly lame. They are not backed up by facts, as the article points out. They don’t credit player’s ability to adjust.
The Technology is available – JUST USE IT!
DODGERS RECALL GAVIN STONE
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have recalled right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone and optioned left-handed pitcher Bryan Hudson.
Stone, 24, returns for his third stint with the Dodgers and he is 0-0 with a 12.75 ERA (17 ER/12.0 IP) and eight strikeouts in four games (three starts). With Triple-A Oklahoma City, he was 6-4 with a 5.04 ERA (53 ER/94.2 IP) and 113 strikeouts in 20 games (19 starts). Last season, he was named the 2022 Dodgers Branch Rickey Pitcher of the Year after going a combined 9-6 with a 1.48 ERA (20 ER/121.2 IP) and 168 strikeouts between High-A Great Lakes, Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Arkansas native has been in the Dodger system since being drafted in the 5th round of the 2020 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Central Arkansas and he is a combined 17-12 with a 3.25 ERA (111 ER/307.1 IP) and 419 strikeouts.
Hudson, 26, appeared in the game last night, allowing one run on one hit. On the campaign, he is 0-0 with a 7.27 ERA (7 ER/8.2 IP) and seven strikeouts in six games. He was 5-1 with a 2.76 ERA (14 ER/45.2 IP) and 75 strikeouts in 39 games for Oklahoma City this season. He is a combined 37-28 with a 4.23 ERA (236 ER/502.2 IP) and 443 strikeouts in 189 career minor league games (75 starts). He was drafted by the Cubs in the third round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Alton High School (IL).
I agree about Will Smith, third would be a logical spot or the Dodgers could go without a set DH and that would offer an opportunity to rest Smith and still keep his bat in the line-up. The Dodgers should also consider extending him to a five year deal this winter.
Of course, if the Dodgers pursue Ohtani this winter, then third becomes a viable option with Michael Busch handling the position when Smith catches. Lots of options.
Just when you think Urias has turned the corner, he falters. His next outing may tell us more. Was it just a bad outing?
I’m getting tired of watching Chris Taylor’s all or nothing swing. Time to move on. Way too many swings and misses.
Story in the LA Times about the woman, Linda Goldbloom, who died after getting hit in the face by a foul ball at Dodger Stadium five years ago. She and her husband were long time Dodgers fans. Her husband is still upset with the Dodgers delayed acknowledgement that she died at the game. She was sitting in the loge section behind the plate. The Dodgers failed to acknowledge what happened for six months. Why?
She died four days later in the hospital after emergency surgery. I recall hearing about a woman struck by a ball in the face. I often sat in that section. Then nothing. It’s a good article, definitely worth reading. Sometimes I don’t get responses to tragedies or incidents, best to be transparent, not try to hide it
To Mark, OldBear and others… I rarely, if ever comment, but o just wanted to let you all know that I visit this site every morning. I love getting game recaps, minor league updates and history lessons. I have been a Dodgers fan since I was born in LA in 1991. My life has taken me all over the US, but the Dodgers have been a constant! Thank you and Think Blue!
I agree Mark about Will. Is athletic enough to play left field. Has a strong arm and runs well. Would have to go get a catcher to play every day (not Barnes) 100 in left and 40 behind the plate would be perfect! Justin turner looks pretty bad at first base, but his production at the plate has been great! Sounds as if he’s a little bitter about the way things went with the front office. 0&2 on Duvall and Julio just put one on a tee ball stand. He looks like a cy young winner one minute and a triple A pitcher another. Really can’t stand Cora! As for Muncy, ball was clearly off the plate. If he has such great eye for the strike zone, why does he take so many pitches right dy broadway? Poor Chris Taylor! Swing is same spot every time. If the ball is in same path he can crush it! Would be great to get series win today!
Sounds great for Will Smith to move to another position. A lot of catchers wear down once we are into Sept. So we just have to get another catcher. Another alternative is also to get another catcher who can start 50 games or so and let Will DH. So both those plans don’t work with Barnes as the number two guy.