Beat the Team in the Clown Suits!
Jim Bowden, you know, the former failed GM of the Reds who is now a talk show host on MLB and a writer for The Athletic, went on record with this about the trade that brought Amed Rosario to the Dodgers: “ The Dodgers trading righty Noah Syndergaard and his 7.16 ERA (at the time…
Jim Bowden, you know, the former failed GM of the Reds who is now a talk show host on MLB and a writer for The Athletic, went on record with this about the trade that brought Amed Rosario to the Dodgers:
“The Dodgers trading righty Noah Syndergaard and his 7.16 ERA (at the time of the trade) to the Guardians for below-average defensive shortstop Amed Rosario and his 0.1 bWAR. The two teams made the money even. No need for Ambien with this trade. Yawn. Meh.”
— Failed GM, Jim Bowden
I guess we now know for a certainty why Bowden failed as a GM: He’s a moron! Getting rid of Noah Syndergaard (who was one of Friedman’s mistakes) for any breathing stiff was a major accomplishment! However, getting back a player like Rosario, who is a lefty-killer, is priceless! You usually can’t call a trade this early, but I believe the Dodgers are already the winners of the Thor-Amed Trade, and this helps us understand why Bowden sometimes spews such lunacy. Maybe he is off his meds… but I digress!
Amed Rosario, who is primarily a SS (and not a very good one at that), has looked stellar at SS and 2B, and in his 21 ABs with the Dodgers (a very short sample), he has seven hits, two doubles, and 7 RBI. If he doesn’t get a hit the rest of the season, the Dodgers won the trade!
I have no illusions that Amed will suddenly become a Gold Glove SS, but he is an interesting piece in that he hits over .300 against LHP and is a nice platoon partner at 2B or even LF. He has performed flawlessly at SS as well. He is 6′ 2″ and close to 200 pounds, so it is possible that Robert Van Socyoc and Company re-vamp his swing to become a more powerful one (i.e., more HRs) as he did with JDM. That’s what they are trying to do. He will be a free agent after this season, but I doubt the makeover will be complete in two months.
James Outman had a great game last night, bringing his third HR back into the ballpark and then hitting his own shortly thereafter! Someone is going to get all bent out of shape when I say he is not a great defensive Centerfielder, but he is not… yet! However, his athleticism makes up for his route shortcomings and other defensive shortcomings. He will get better and is (in fact) doing that. His batting average is up to .252, and his OPS is pushing .800. His .352 OB% is solid, but his 32% K -Rate is troublesome – especially for a player with a relatively compact swing. It’s not like he is swinging from the heels with every swing. He has a short, compact, powerful swing, which is a little bit “funky,” but that is fine. If in his second season, he can cut down those strikeouts by just 20%, he should be an All-Star!
The Dodgers bullpen continues to shine. Since June 20th, they have been the best in baseball. The bullpen, rated at #29, is now up to #18 on the year. They may make the Top Ten, but what is more important is how you finish. The problems with starting pitching will evaporate over the next 30 days as Kershaw, Pepiot, Striker Buehler, and others try and return.
The Giants are now three games back, and the D-Bags, who are sinking like the Titanic, are 7.5 games behind and falling! It should not be lost on anyone that the Dodgers have the best offense in the NL and are just a few runs behind the MLB leader in runs scored. This is the most powerful offense EVER in Los Angeles, and yet all many fans talk about is how bad Barnes is and how they need another RH bat. Are you crazy? Come on, Man!
Last night, the Padres bullpen let them down as they blew up! Robert Suarez, who is back from injury, gave up 5 ER in his .2 IP, and then the player so many Dodger fans wanted, Scott Barlow, threw more gasoline on the fire, giving up 3 three more earned runs.
The OKC Story
Gavin Stone seems to have found his mojo. Last night, he threw six innings of no-hit ball. He walked two and fanned ten while throwing 85 pitches. He is back on the Dodgers radar! His teammates at AAA, who are also on the 40-man roster, namely Michael Busch and Miguel Vargas, also performed well. Busch led off and was 3-5, while Vargas batted second and was 2-5 with two runs scored. They are playing 3B and 2B, respectively, and that should not be lost on anyone. We could see all three players again before the season is over.
I would never say that any player is “untouchable” via trade, but Stone, Sheehan, Busch, and Vargas are all close! The Dodgers have big plans for them all. This is one of the best times to be a Dodger fan… ever! Enjoy the ride. Ditch the bitch!
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (108)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Put lipstick on a pig , you still have a pig! Put padres win any uniforms and you still have losers! Tonight. Could be a tough one. Snell has always been good. Against dodgers. Starting to get a little excited about Walker! He could be X factor in playoffs. I’m worried Bobby Miller won’t be what we need in playoffs. Has been great , but outings are getting shorter and shorter. Clayton, Walker,Julio! If right that’s a damn big three for playoffs. Get another one tonight dodgers!
Thanks, Mark. I enjoyed your article today. But what really caught my eye was the title of the article. I’ve been trying to describe those padre uniforms without offending anyone. I think “clown suits” is perfect…………um, or do you think that offends clowns? 🙂
I was watching the game last night and for seven innings I was waiting for the Dodgers to have one of their “crooked number” innings. Well it happened big time. 8 runs Off their bullpen in 2 innings – fantastic! It sure made it worth staying awake until after 1:00 AM. Let’s hope the team can do it again tonight.
I know, I need to stop sugar-coating my feelings about those clowns.
On another note, I enjoyed Kirsten’s interview with Peralta above. I was not a fan when she started. I like Alana and Kirsten mumbled through comments and talked down her shirt.
I must say that she has improved so much and now does a nice job with the role she’s ask to do. Nice to see improvement in anybody’s career.
Mark, how did your procedure go?
I am smiling so big today.
I woke up this morning and with one eye, looked at the scoreboard from last night. Needless to say, joy was on my face and in my heart. As many of you know, I went on record not trusting the kid, Miller, in this big game on the road, and even went on record saying he would give up 3 runs in the 1st inning. But thanks to Outman taking a HR away from Tatis, he got out of it with no runs. There were a ton of base runners in his 3+ innings, but fortunately, not many runs.
Why else am I so happy today?
Stone pitched 6 innings of no hit ball last night. Get out!!!! Please, please, please Mr Stone….do what you did last night every time you pitch. Whatever you changed, keep doing it and don’t forget it.
Why else am I happy?
JDM is back!!!! Buehler might be back!!! Clayton is close to being back!!! Kike is back!!! And who in the heck is this Rosario kid?
Today….it’s all good! Thanks especially to Mark and NewBear for all you do here.
* Fun game. The our “new guys” are making a big impact. Especially with their energy.
* I think this game was very well managed by Doc. The score indicates a blow out but it wasn’t for 7 innings. I thought his moves were terrific last night.
* When he turns to Vesia and Fergie, it would be nice if they didn’t start with walks and hitting guys, especially with a 4 run lead. Throw quality fastballs. Seriously, don’t trick anybody. Don’t get behind in counts. It’s going to take lots of contact to catch up but the free runners are inexcusable.
* The Padres throw us a ton of inside breaking balls inside. Freddie finally took one.
3 other times we quickly got out of the way. I could hear my high school kids hollering, “you gotta wear that”. Especially when the bases were loaded. Some pro hitters would have certainly done that, but it’s a big ask, even on an 84 mph breaking ball. It’s a long season and those bruises add up. Personally, I’d take the dot.
* I would wear those SD uniforms to a shit-fight so I wouldn’t wreck my good clothes.
It’s so satisfying to kick their arrogant asses. Bush-league hot-dogs.
Alex Reyes? The Dodgers are paying him 1.1 mil this year with a 3 mil club option for 24. Former elite prospect who has had his career derailed by injuries. He hasn’t pitched since 2021. Didn’t even realize he was under contract for the Dodgers. I doubt the Dodgers exercise that option. That’s 3 mil saved.
Based on the current Dodgers under contract and arb values, the Dodgers will be 137 million under the competitive balance threshold in 2024. That’s 137 mil in money to play with.
How would you spend it?
The suck is real in Dago:
Open on www.tiktok.comhttps://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8LPgnvH/There is a ton of payroll coming off of the books this winter. I think the team will have a decidedly younger look next season. They might re-sign Kersh if he wants to stay, but I am at this point, not so sure they keep some of the other free agents. Freeman and Betts will be the vets. Muncy will be there if they decide he is going to be the full time DH. I think they go young all around the infield with Vargas at second, Lux at SS, and Busch as the new third baseman. I have a strong feeling that Urias is gone. I just believe someone else, maybe even the Padres, is going to offer him a huge deal. Considering his age, he will take the most money. I think Deluca will get a serious look in spring training. It they decide to trade Taylor, more likely with less time left on his deal, they could always bring Kike back to be the Swiss army knife type player. Betts, Outman and Deluca are a pretty good defensive outfield. Some speed out there too. Smith will for next year at least, be the primary catcher, and unless something really dramatic takes place, Barnsie will be his backup. Rosario will get some consideration since he can play outfield and infield. But they are pretty much stuck with Rojas for at least next season. The rotation will be younger. The thing with pitching staffs is the moves over the winter change the face of the bullpen and sometimes the starting rotation. It will be very interesting to see who AF targets for the pen this winter. They might re-sign Heyward. I think he has a better chance of being retained than Peralta. His connection with Freeman is pretty strong. Contrary to what some might think, I seriously doubt they trade for a catcher to replace Smith as the starter to move him to another position next season. They have too many good catching prospects to go and block their progress. Both Pages and Cartaya are going to have to show much better results in the minors next season before anyone even considers them as MLB ready. Pages coming off of an injurie and Cartaya with a really bad offensive season. E. Rodriguez wanted a contract extension to approve the trade. Glad it was nixed. Old pal Charlie Culberson re-signed with the Braves on a minor league deal after being cut by the team.
Loved the Joe Kelly/Tatis at bat last night. Classic. After he struck him out you could read Joe’s lips “F__ing Bitch”!!
Good article Mark.
Great team win last night. Big contributions by Outman, Rosario, and the key hit of the game from Peralta!
Not sure who pitches tonight against Snell, maybe the new Dodger Yarbrough, but great to start the series with a win.
Apparently Walker Buehler had a great workout yesterday and threw the ball very well.
With Pepiot, Kershaw and company returning, the Dodgers pitching headed into the fall should be very solid.
No question, Outman continues to impress, both on offense and defense. I really like Vargas at second, Lux at short and Busch at third next year. The rotation looks good too with Miller, Sheehan, Buehler, Stone and Pepiot, hopefully Kershaw and the pipe dream Ohtani.
Before Mark mentions Koop-Aid, I wish to point out that in California we have strawberry fields and great Mexican restaurants, so the drink of choice is strawberry margaritas.
Although Friedman blew it with Thor, he did well signing Peralta and Heyward. Can’t nail every signing.
An earlier story indicated the Padres may be on the verge of struggling with weight of the payroll. Will they take step back this winter and trade away some of their big contracts?
Because of Joendry Vargas I have been following the DSL in recent weeks a little more than usual.
In addition to Vargas who is having a very, very good first season at age 17 there are a couple more position players who are having excellent seasons so far.
C Angel Diaz is hitting .417 with 6 Hrs and fleet footed CF Eduardo Quintero is hitting .370 with 5 Hr and 17 sb .
On the pitching side 17 year old Jesus Tillero is intriguing. 6-0 , 190 frame and already reaching 97 mph. Whip 0.83 in 19 innings, 22 SOs.
Very likely We will see him along with Vargas and Diaz and Quintero at RC next season .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice win. Always love it when they shut the ever obnoxious and annoying “Beat LA” chant up. Padre fans still gloat about beating LA in the playoffs last season, but forget we swept them out of the NLDS in 2020. Will Smith had 5 hits in that game three rout. I will be the first to admit I was wrong about Rosario. But my main concern was his defense, not his bat. He has made a lot of errors as a SS this year. So, he is not the defender Rojas is. But he made a fine play at second last night while sitting on his arse. The only Dodger offensive player outside of call-ups without a homer this year is Austin Barnes.
The forgotten man, Dustin May. Anyone heard what his status is?
What a surprise
Walker Buehler threw a bullpen session on Friday at Titleist Performance Institute in San Diego, complete with motion-capture technology to see where he’s at in his return from Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon repair last August.
Buehler said back in May that he is planning for a return to the Dodgers rotation by September 1, which was seen as aggressive at the time.
Dodgers assistant pitching coach Connor McGuiness was with Buehler Friday, then talked to Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register about the bullpen session and the timeline for Buehler’s return:
“For him actually? Who knows. We’ll see,” McGuiness said when asked if Sept. 1 is a realistic target. “You never want to guarantee a date or anything like that, because who knows? Anything could potentially happen as he goes through it. I think it’s one of those things where if he passes all the proper tests, and our group, with the resources we have, feel good about it, we’ll be ready to rock and roll.”
If the next step for Buehler is facing hitters, that could come as early as next week at Camelback Ranch. He mentioned on his weekly appearance on the Just Baseball podcast on Monday that August 8 was a possibility for him to pitch to hitters.
Great team win, everyone contributing. Got ‘em on, got ‘em over, got ‘em in! Good ab w/ risp! Bring on the Bravos! New guys doing well, best the team has looked. Kudos to AF.
Big come from behind victory. Bobby Miller showed he can work out of trouble but he has to learn to put hitters away when he has them on the ropes. It is a learning thing every game but kid has just ace stuff.
Good to see Stone rebound with a great outing.
Wilman Diaz since his promotion to RC is raking. Good to see him find his stroke after a difficult start to his pro career.
Who is going to start today ? Grove or Yarbrough ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll try not to be rude to that team of bitches, but… who’s worried now? not me, never!
White Sox Acquire Two Minor League Pitchers From Dodgers
By Anthony Franco | August 4, 2023 at 10:29pm CDT
The White Sox announced they’ve acquired right-handers Aldrín Batista and Máximo Martínez from the Dodgers in exchange for international signing bonus space. Both were eligible to be traded because they haven’t been on the 40-man roster at any point this season.
Both pitchers are low-level arms with no major league experience. They’d each been in the Arizona Complex League. Batista, 20, has a 3.46 ERA while striking out just under a third of opponents in 39 innings. Martínez, 19, has a 4.73 ERA with a 23.3% strikeout rate over 26 2/3 frames.
Hopes are we will win it all this year, but if we don’t AF did not trade away key prospects and he will have a roster in 2024 that he can work with and have the necessary dollars to do so. The key prospects have spent time on the MLB roster in 2023 and are gaining more experience at Oklahoma City right now. The future is extremely bright.