Be Careful of What You Wish For

You know, we all have ideas about what the Dodgers should do with their lineup.  I want to dump Joc.  Others want to move Puig up in the order.  Some want to bench Logan Forsythe.  I must say this: Everyone got their wish when Chris Hatchet was traded, but I think we all have to remember that this team is 50 games over .500.  They are playing the best baseball I have ever witnessed.  They are the best team in the major leagues and we could be witnessing history.  I think more than anything, this is the result of playing as a team.  Yes, Joc Pederson frustrates us, Logan Forsythe has a horrible batting average, but kills lefties.  Puig kills RH pitching but can’t hit a lefty to save his life. Puig should not play against LH pitching!  Period! Forsythe should not play against RH pitching

Dave Roberts has gotten great production by mixing and matching and maybe Puig should hit higher in the order but what is the value of a guy who is within sniffing distance of 2nd on the team in RBI’s and HE HAS DONE MOST OF THAT IN THE #8 HOLE?  That means the Dodgers are getting amazing production out of the entire lineup.  Forsythe may not get HR’s and have a  high BA, but he gets on base for other to drive him in.  Joc gets a hit here and there… some big.  This team is resilient and they pick each other up.  When the stars don’t get it done, the role players  do… and maybe that’s all they need.  Maybe that is the recipe for success.  Be careful of what you wish for.  You run the risk of messing things up!

Maybe Yasiel Puig will do fine at #6 or #5, but what happens to production lower in the lineup?  Be careful of what you wish for. 50 games over .500 and playing over .700 ball is pretty special. The Dodgers can’t have too many duds in the lineup and achieve such success. The Dodgers pitching staff is half a run a game better than any other team in baseball.  They also have the lowest WHIP. They are 5th in runs scored… and withing sniffing distance of #2.  They average 5.11 runs a game and give up but 3.10, on average.

Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager have the exact same number of strikeouts (Cody has about 60 fewer AB’s), but for such a big swing, Cody doesn’t strike out excessively.  He just keeps adjusting. Is there a better 1-4 combination than Taylor, Seager, Turner and Bellinger?

Rants and Raves

• Alex Wood.  He just keeps getting it done.  He’s a 6 inning pitcher and that’s fine.
• Why is Yasmani Grandal’s walk rate way down?
• Tim Locastro continues to mash at AAA as he went 3 for 4 in the leadoff spot, playing 2nd base.  He is hitting .400 and OPS’ing 1.006.
• Henry Ramos has cooled off down to .283 after and 0 fer last night.
• Brock Stewart threw 5 Shutout Innings last night, striking out 7.