Bad News – Good News!
The bad news is that the Dodgers lost to the Yankees, setting up today as the rubber match. The Good News is that last night was a “breakout” game for Michael Grove. In his best-pitched game so far in his young career, he was dominant… except for two bad pitches to the same…
The bad news is that the Dodgers lost to the Yankees, setting up today as the rubber match. The Good News is that last night was a “breakout” game for Michael Grove. In his best-pitched game so far in his young career, he was dominant… except for two bad pitches to the same hitter. Sometimes certain hitters just have a pitcher’s number. Groves’ mechanics were in sync and his release point was consistent, which is why his velocity was nearly 98 MPH. There is a lot of upside to this guy. All he needs to be is a Number Five and there aren’t many Number Fives who have four pitches and throw 98 MPH!
The Dodgers were very patient with Grove – I have always been a fan, but they kept rolling him out even when he was crap. I confess that I lost faith in him. This is also why I have faith that they will “fix” Andre Jackson, who has some double filthy stuff!
If Michael Grove can build upon this outing, the Dodgers need not trade for another starter. They aren’t trading MIller, no one wants Stone and everyone will ask for Frasso, Sheehan and Ryan (two of them) in a trade for another starter. May and Buehlker are a crapshoot. Thor is as good as gone, but Urias, Kershaw, Miller, Grove, and Gonsolin are fine by me.
The Bottom of the Order
The Dodgers are not the only team with hitters who can’t hit their weight at the bottom of the order. Here were the batting averages of the 4th to the 9th Yankee hitters:
- 4th – .167
- 5th – .244
- 6th – .237
- 7th – .220
- 8th – .210
- 9th – .188
Jonny D Headed to LA
Jonny DeLuca is headed to LA a couple of months early due to Trayce Thoimpson’s oblique injury. Jonny DeLuca (“JonnyD”) is 6′ tall, 200 lbs., a RH Batter, and can play all three outfield spots. He was drafted by the Dodgers in 2019 out of Oregon, but of course, missed 20COVID-19. He will be 25 on July 10th. He has an above-average arm and is also an above-average runner. He used to be a switch-hitter but the Dodgers converted him. He is being brought up to do one thing: CRUSH LEFTIES. Even though he has a powerful swing, with prominent “Popyeye Arms,” he does not have the strikeout propensity of Joc Pederson or James Outman.
Gavin Stoned!
Last night OKC’s Gavin Stone pitched another ugly game. 4.1 IP/5 H/3 ER/6 BB/6 K. YIKES! Right about now, Gavin Stone’s value has plummeted! “What me Worry?” This stuff happens all the time and there are three outcomes:
- This is who he is and he fades into oblivion;
- He figures it out and becomes the pitcher many of us thought he would be; or
- He takes his fastball and Changeup and becomes a reliever.
Sometimes things are going on that we have no clue about, such as something in their personal life or maybe the team is telling them to throw something he is not comfortable with. Diego Cartaya was in a funk until recently (and he may not be out), but you have to look at the big picture
Dodger News & Notes
- JDM is begging to play some LF – he got his wish last night. I would love to see him do that about every 10 days and let Will Smith DH.
- Does calling up Jonny D move Heyward and DeLuca to LF and Mookie to SS?
- How Bobby Miller does today will go a long way in his development!
- I see incremental improvement with James Outman’s Defense in CF. I have confidence on the ball he misplayed early in the game he learned something. I really like his progression on defense. Both rookies are playing good defense and both are struggling offensively for different reasons. Stay the course and it will pay dividends by the playoffs.
- Where’s Michael Busch? M.I.A. for 6 games.
- Still tied for 1st!
- The Texas Rangers are the only team not to have a Pride Night… HUMMM>>>>CK? Who thought it might end this way?
- A buddy of mine called me and said, “I think Tayler Scott is a lot better than Phil Bickford. We should keep him!” I said, “You are an idiot, if you can tell anything after 1 outing, let alone 4 or 5 outings!” He came back and said, “Yeah, I know better!” It’s not about the flavor of the week – it’s about sustainability! Bickford has looked pretty bad at times, but he also is a horse… and maybe he is injured (more than we know.
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Discussion (104)
Disagree, not disagreeable
In not so great news;
Andy Pages (No. 67 in @Keith laws preseason top 100) underwent surgery last week to repair a torn labrum, sources tell The Athletic.
Suffered the injury in his first Triple A game after posting a .925 OPS in Double A. On track to be ready for spring
The Dodgers need another consistent bat in the lineup at the trade deadline and another starting pitcher. They have Urias Kershaw and who else in playoffs Gonsolin and two Rookies I don’t think so. Your going against better lineups in the playoffs like the Braves Brewers and don’t forget the Padres. You better have pitching or we will be home.like last year. And if I recall we had a hard time beating that Arizona team when they came to LA to play so there not scared to play us they could be like how the Padres were last year sneak in and knock us out. Dodgers need a outfield that can hit better then Taylor Peralta and Thompson a backup catcher that can hit better then Barnes and another starting pitcher with playoff experience to pitch in playoffs over two rookies in Stone and Miller that will get us threw the season but what about the playoffs. So look at teams that are going to be out of it. And go what player would look really good in Dodger Blue. Could be a player from the Reds or Royals or As or Pirates or Twins or Whitesoxs. They need to do something to hit lefties or that’s going to hurt the Dodgers in the playoffs.
Maybe we can trade Thor to a pitching starving team for a bona fide RHH bat.
/beingfunnyoff
They will have to wait until the deadline to see who is available Bradley, and then, they have to weigh the cost for that player. One thing we know for certain is that AF is not going to overpay. Also, there is no one on the Royals except maybe Salvador Perez who would be of much help.
Not getting any help from Atlanta so far, D-Backs ahead in the 7th. Rosario hit a go ahead grand slam in the 9th with 2 outs. AZ loses.
OKC wins in comeback style scoring 4 in the bottom of the 8th. Freitas with a 2 run double puts game out of reach for Reno.
Kyle Nevin, an outfielder, and Phil Nevin’s kid, is raking with a .349 mark at Rancho.
Second time Graterol pulled that shit
We know he’s a great athlete, especially for his size, but he’s not a damn miracle worker
Graterol Graterol, como en cuenta de 0-2 le pasas un lanzamiento al centro del plato?
Thank You JD. What an awesome addition to the Dodgers.
I know I never batted against major league pitching—but Taylor has. He needed at least to swing at one pitch in this situation in 7th inning. Just guessing fastball for some reason and couldn’t pull the trigger on any pitch.
I also thought Varga’s attempt at a steal was ill timed.
It’s now becoming painful to watch Outman bat…or in some instances, carry a bat.
Better bullpen wins!
Sad news, former Dodger pitcher and also a major league manager, Roger Craig passed away today at age 93. RIP Roger.
Umpires calls still awful.
It’s also painful watching Dodger players getting picked off.
Dodgers are currently playing sloppy baseball.
Poor fundamental baseball by the Dodgers. Playing the infield in to prevent a run from being scored and both CT3 and Vargas went to 1B to get the out instead of going home. Was it the right play?
Grateral has to eat the ball instead of throwing into RF. Horrible play.
Will Smith cannot get picked off 1B, simply can’t happen, shouldn’t happen.
In spite of that Miller looks awesome.
Bear I am in full agreement with you about the umpires. I have long been in favor of an electronic strike zone.
Combined sloppy play, lifeless bottom order, and meh bullpen – all catching up with this team.
Dodgers better level their listing ship SOON!
Playing in the shadows….I got what I expected….a low scoring game.
I was encouraged when I saw the Yankee starting lineup….no one was scary good…a few are good though.
I figured with our scary good 4, we would outscore them. Guess I thought wrong…..but of course, I didn’t expect their .193 hitter to park one in the bleachers.
My 2 cents on the Vegas slow roller….I think he has at least a 50% chance of nailing him with a good throw and a bare handed pick up. Mere speculation of course, but I did apply physics to the equation. That’s right, I computed the length needed to score from the moment Vargas touched the ball to the possible velocity of the ball thrown to Smith. (Big grin)
TM “Einstein”
I just bought tickets to the Cincinnati – Dodger Game on Tuesday. My son, my son-in-law, my brother, and his son (all employees of US Water Systems) are going.
WE are 4th row behind 3B and the Dodgers Dugout. In LA, these are $200 tickets. In Cincinnati, they cost $90 each. It’s a Company trip! 😉
Dodgers signed RHP Ryan Brasier to a minor league contract. Brasier recently released by the Red Sox.