The Dodger’s former Ace, Walker Buehler, had arthroscopic surgery yesterday to remove a bone spur. They say that does not accept his return timetable. A bone spur could not have caused any of his arm issues either… right? Of course not. It’s just his arm! There is really no other way to spin this… but Tony Gonsolin is now the Dodger’s Ace. I mean, if he isn’t, who is? He has now logged 12 games started and has pitched 63 innings (a career-high) with an 8-0 record. The league is hitting .147 against him and he has a 1.42 ERA with a 0.81 WHIP.
When you have four very good pitches you can use your fastball to set up all your other pitches. What Tony Gonsolin is doing is “pitching” – he is not just trying to blow away hitters. He is keeping them off-balance and mixing up his pitches very well. Occasionally, a hitter will run into a pitch, but they are simply off-balance with the guessing.
Personally, I do not expect Tony to go 20-0 with a 1.20 ERA, but I also feel what he is doing is pretty sustainable. He does not have a high-effort delivery. He is not what you would call a “power pitcher.” He is just a “pitcher” and doing a fine job of it. We do not know if or when Walker Buehler will be back, but Tony has earned our respect. At 28 years old he has arrived and is currently the Dodgers Ace. Can he keep it up? That is the question. Is this a temporary situation or a reality?.
The Dodgers are #2 in ERA in MLB with a 3.01 ERA. The Yankees are Number 1 with a 2.81 ERA but are #1 in Starting pitcher ERA at 2.68, and Tony Gonsolin is very responsible for that. The bullpen is a work in progress. As I say every year, the bullpen you see at the end of the year is not the bullpen we see now. There are about seven pitchers working their way back… all will not make it! We shall see who…
The greatest concern and obstacle to this team continues to be timely hitting. They run hot and cold collectively. It should not be lost on anyone that when this team wins, they score double-digit runs and they lose because they don’t score more than one or two. It is feast or famine and it has been that way since Robert Van Socyoc took over as hitting coach. How can it be that Mookie, JT, Freddie, Cody, Max, and CT3 all hit collectively or do not hit together? We have seen this movie before. If they are hot, they can beat anyone. If they are not, they can’t beat anyone. What happens when they hit the playoffs and are collectively “cold?” They just go home. To me, this pattern is very troubling. What is it about their hitting philosophy that causes the “feast or famine” results?
How can hitters like Mookie, Freddie, Max, and others go from being red hot to ice-cold? I have never seen anything like it. It has to do with their “approach.” It simply is not sustainable or even rational. Someone had better figure this out… and soon!
Next, what to do with Cody? If Mookie is in a funk and if you can’t fix him (or Freddie) how in the world can you fix Cody? This is beyond silly! I want Cody Bellinger back! He needs to go to Camelback and work one-on-one with someone… anyone. Sending him to AAA is not the answer! He needs complete overhaul of his swing mechanics and it might take 30-45 days. Then, he should go to AAA. This is not working! Hire George Brett or Barry Bonds. Whoever! Call up Zach McKinstry. Run out this lineup for a while:
- T-Turner SS
- Lux 2B
- Betts RF
- Freeman 1B
- Smith C
- Muncy 3B
- Taylor CF
- McKinstry LF
- Alberto DH
Shake it up. Do something – even if it is wrong! You can’t just pretend this is not happening!
Future Dodgers
- Player movement – Sauryn Lao was moved to Great Lakes – he has been in AZ for the year and Jacob Amaya was called up to OKC.
- Andre Jackson continues to regress as he got lit up last night at OKC as did Justin Bruihl. It’s not even worth talking about.
- Yadier Alvarez pitched 2 innings and allowed a walk and struck out 1 (2.19 ERA). No hits – no runs!
- Zach McKinstry (2-3 with a BB) is hitting .341 with a .911 OB%. He needs to be in LA.
- Mike Busch hit 3rd AAA HR – a 2-run shot.
- Someone is going to pick up Jake Lamb (.288/.916)
- Andrew Heaney – 5 IP, 2 H. 1 BB, 9 K’s. He will likely be activated this weekend!
- Diego Cartaya went 3-4 for Great Lakes (.333/1.056). I plan to see him next week in Ft. Wayne, but the way he is playing, he might be in Tulsa by then. At the rate he is going, he might be the Dodgers’ starting catcher next year and Will Smith the 3B! Stranger things have happened. I am not predicting it, but it is in the realm of probability… if improbable!
Discussion (28)
Disagree, not disagreeable
What a performance from Anderson
Absolutely gutted for him
If you can get outs using the shift keep using it. Name of game on defense is to get outs.
Mike
Freaking
Trout!
Bellinger is never going to be a slap hitter…
Nor would anyone want him if he was.
It is going to take something exceptional…
10:10 PM ET
Angels (29-34)
Dodgers (38-23)
SP Tyler Anderson L
7-0 3.07 ERA 58.2IP 55K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Trea Turner R
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Turner R
CF C. Bellinger L
LF Chris Taylor R
2B Gavin Lux L
Clear-day
0% Rain
71° Wind 6 mph Out
It’s strange that we don’t know where or how inspiration and what kind of inspiration triggers a player to an otherworldly level of greatness. We’ve all been wittiness of it happening but we don’t know what did it If we knew what would do that trick we’d package it and give it to which player could use it. I don’t have that power and if a greedy person like myself did I’d be a multi billionaire. And love myself for it even being it’s shelf life would be small. But at least my team would win the championship every year……..quasimodo givith and quasimodo takith away. Please excuse the misspelling. I know we are all part of the formula for better or worse. I was gonna use this for a joke but i have an appointment for the eye doctor. So later and cheers!
I didn’t
On occasion, I enjoy an old fashion pitching dual and last night’s game qualified as that I guess. But I had to unplug my critical eye on our offense and focus on the pitching.
Some thoughts:
* To be honest, I wasn’t sold on Gonsulin prior to this year. But he has really become a very good pitcher. I love his 4 pitch mix with command. It’s pretty tough for hitters to eliminate pitches when Gonzo can land 4 pitches for strikes. I hope he can stay healthy and can continue to be successful. He’s the bright star so far this season. It’s nice to see kids come into their own.
* You know what I think would have been really fun last night and put a charge into the crowd? After CT3 stole 3rd with a 1 run lead in the 5th, wouldn’t it have been fun to see Mookie drop down a safety squeeze to easily score CT3? You know pick up an insurance run with a steal and a bunt. The kind of exciting and unexpected play that is vintage Mookie when he’s making things happen. Instead Mookie struck out as did Freddieand CT3 died at 3rd. I know, Mookie hit a homer later to pad the lead but manufacturing a run in that spot would have been fun, exciting baseball.
* Does anybody remember back a year ago when a few of us were criticized and some (not me for some reason) got ridiculed for offering batting tips and analyzing what was wrong with Bellinger? Rank amateurs telling a superstar how to hit. How dare us.
I suggested at the end of the season, he grab a tee, a bucket of balls and work initially on assuming a stance with some hip and knee flex, stop dropping his head a foot or more and finding a trigger. Just drive the ball to left field over and over again. The bucket foot, his getting off the plate. decreasing the loop and cutting down the swing could be better addresses later if necessary if he fixed his head (both the dip and what’s going on inside).
None of that happened. He continues swinging from his ass, moving his head and being an out. He’s killing us but he’s not alone.
For my money, if he doesn’t settle for a major home town discount after this year, he’d be kicking the can down the road, with Boros at his side. I said 2 seasons ago, I would be very reluctant to extend Belli any lengthy contract with his “young man’s” swing that wouldn’t hold up. Now I’m positive. I wish he was better. I like the kid but there are other cheaper quality centerfielders who can hit .200.
* Great theater last night. Boy can our offense put pressure on the back end of a bullpen?
Love the Farm Reports!
Big Thank You Mark!
Go Dodgers!
I believe MLB needs to make some changes. The game is too slow. Pitchers should work faster and the shifts should be gone. That would be sufficient. After sitting through last night’s game at the stadium, I came to a couple of conclusions. Beautiful evening with a touch of cool in the air. Very pleasant. But the action was almost non existent. Yes, Tony Gonsolin was brilliant. But the Dodgers bats failed to show up, again.
Even when they got Chris Taylor to third with no outs they failed to score. Nobody stepped up. Before the home run late, Mookie failed to deliver. Struck out twice. Cody Bellinger hit a shot in his first at bat. Hope. Then swung and missed his next two. Looking ahead, maybe the Dodgers need to project a new course in 2023. I root for Justin Turner, but the hits are just not coming.
Hey, we’re trying to win this year. But I’m wondering if a big change is coming in the future. Bellinger should be better.
Will Smith is looking better, Gavin Lux is doing okay. Not sure about Muncy. But Justin Turner and Bellinger need to start producing. So does Chris Taylor. Often curtails a rally with a strikeout. If the top three don’t light it up, the offense tends to struggle.
Yes, pitching is good and the depth is pretty impressive. But somehow I thought this team would be an offensive powerhouse. Just hasn’t happened. At this point this is a team that may not win the division, unless something changes. As much as I like Bellinger, I find watching his at bats increasingly frustrating. We can talk about process and how the hitting coaches are helping him through it. Maybe all of this is just cluttering his approach.
Then again, there are some really good hitters around MLB who are struggling. Why? Suddenly they simply can’t hit. What is really going on?
One comment I will add is the Dodgers lucked out on Anthony Rendon. He looks awful. We should thank to Hollywood for convincing him to sign with the Angels. Apparently is hurt again and got pulled.
Sometimes the best deals are the ones that don’t happen. If I was GM or owner these days, I’d probably be more than a little concerned doing long term deals. For whatever reason they are beginning to look worse more than ever for the teams.
Most people would probably love to see the Dodgers acquire Juan Soto, but will he continue to produce at a high level. Certainly hasn’t been the case lately. Will Corey Seager ever live up to the enormous contract he signed with the Rangers? Will the Max Scherzer deal pay off for the Mets? Not to mention, Trevor Bauer. Has Gerrit Cole been a lights out pitcher for the Yankees? Yes and no. What about Trevor Story? What about Fernando Tatis? Certainly Bryce Harper has delivered. Maybe the Dodgers should have made that deal. But this is looking like an expensive crapshoot. Paul Goldschmidt has certainly been good. Nolan Arrenado has not lived up to expectations.
So where does all this lead in then future? Certainly an evaluation of what works and what doesn’t, especially after watching the starless Giants sweeping the star filled Dodgers.
When we look at the money spent on high price stars, who are we now talking about, Tony Gonsolin.
Agree with MushersPop.
Bellinger and JT just over the Mendoza line and for Muncy, well, you have to put in the Muncy line sooner or later. Below .150 almost. After more than one third of the season. Ridiculous that Roberst still has him hit clean up. That ist INSANE!. If you want to keep him in the lineup move him down for heavens sake.
When your 4-7 hitters ( I include Smith who is hitting well below his abilities) underperform in such a drastic way it is no wonder the Dodgers can not move runners and drive them in.
And by sitting Lux on Sunday Roberts once again has cooled off the hottest hitter he had the last weeks. Typical Roberts.
Kimbrel has the stuff but he always gets in trouble it seems. Hopefully Treinen will return soon to give the Dodgers another option to close out games.
Good thing Ferguson and Hudson are lights out at this time of the season.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kapler seems like a sourpuss to me but he has the Giants’ hitters thinking strategically.
I noticed Joc was rarely playing in back to back Spring Training games. He was working with coaches in what seemed like a learn-do-learn-do approach. He is off to a good start but my point is the Giants might have a better approach to getting ready for a season. It worked last year and they are in the battle again this year.
Maybe Bellinger should play every other game for awhile and concentrate on retooling his swing every other day for a couple of weeks. For me, it’s about reducing his uppercut and keeping his head still and getting his bat in his swing path sooner which is about stance.
On June 10 Mark post:
Jacob Amaya‘s early season progress has seen him regress back to the mean. His BA which once was .350 has slid back to .269. It appears he was who I thought he was: Good field, no hit!
Today it’s informed he was called up to AAA.
I suspect our hitting problems are more an organization wide philosophy problem. When you see callups, see KPillar, ZMakinstry, ,etc. behaving in the same way as struggling players, looking at the exit velocity. Productive out is a dead concept nowadays.
There is some humor when most of us were thirsty for a bases loaded walk against the Giants when we had bases loaded multiple times in the late innings and yet we deride the bases loaded walk that scored the winning run last night. Striking out on ball four against the Giants made that RBI walk more painful so I will not complain when we do get a RBI walk.
When 1/3 of your lineup is hitting around .200 or less it’s hard to be clicking on all cylinders. As long as the Dodgers are in first or close to it, get used to the lineup as constructed with associated inconsistent scoring.
If thing continue on this path look to AF to get some outfield help with a possible Taylor/Bellinger platoon in center.
Been like warm to Kimbrel for awhile but I give him a pass for last night. 10 minute delays have to upset rhythm and was not surprised to see Ohtani get a hit.
Tatis hasn’t been cleared to swing a bat yet, and there is currently “no timetable” for his return. He was supposed to be in the lineup by now, so not great news for the Pods.
Still, with him out of the lineup all year, they’re still tied with the Dodgers. He’s gonna be back at some point.
It just feels like the Dodgers have all the pieces, but everything is just disjointed. They can’t put it all together and get it together at the same time.
You can tell when a team is just clicking. It’s hard to put a finger on it, but you know. In 2017, it seemed like there was just something special about how they could pull off a come-from-behind win or get a key hit or key pitching performance. They were fun to watch all year. Unfortunately, the Trashtros cheated them out of the WS, but it seemed like it was their year. 1988 felt similar.
They’re winning this year because it’s really hard NOT to win with this team, but they’re losing in the margins. When games are closely contested – in the playoffs for instance – games are won within the interstices.
The Dodgers are good because of overwhelming talent, but it’s not an efficient machine. If they don’t improve, it’s going to be a hard if not impossible slog in the playoffs.
Bellinger is getting impossible to watch except when he is in the field. His at bats are continually awful. And sorry, but JT is about the same. Max Muncy had two great at bats in the White Sox game, since then it has been same old same old. Best lineup ever? Not even close. The 70’s Dodgers were better and so was the team from 47-57. The talent is there. The production is not. As for Buehler. Ok, 6-8 weeks. But who here thinks there is a snowball’s chance in hell he comes back ready to pitch 4 or even 5 innings in 8 weeks. Article today said that any upgrade in the Dodger rotation will come from internal sources. That’s encouraging and realistic since who the hell would they trade for anyway and what would he cost. AF said they will cross that bridge when they come to it. But even thinking about it now is out of the question. One thing that needs addressing immediately is the lack of consistency in the offense.
Trying not to bitch after a win but this current style of play is very boring to me. I would have thought after being swept in SF and having a day off that maybe they would change there approach at the plate. Nah it’s still swing out of your shoes and try to hit it a mile.
These guys all seem like they use the same approach swing for Home Runs, Fly balls, with walks, and strikeouts. No fundamental or situational approach. I wish we had baseball players instead of a bunch of Home Run derby players. Just my 2 cents and I miss the game I fell in love with in the 70’s & 80’s.
Not trying to rag on Cody as he’s been beat down a lot but his at bat in the 4th inning was an awful plate appearance in my opinion.
Dodgers had a moment last night when they had 4 outfielders. That to me is pure BS and not MLB baseball. I will be so very happy when the shift goes the way of the Do Do bird. Scary moment for the home plate ump. I think the 9-minute delay had as much to do with Kimbrel’s troubles as anything else. But he regrouped and got save # 12.
Blake Treinen on rule changes…
“Leave them there and get rid of them. We don’t need any more changes in baseball.”
“There’s so many of the them you can’t even keep up with them anymore. Let’s just keep baseball the way it is. I’m so sick of everybody trying to put their fingerprint[s] on the game. Your fingerprint should be: the way you play on the field, the way you treat people in the clubhouse, and the way you manage games.”
“If you want to invest in things to have a good product that’s fine, but if you’re going to try to tweak the rules, the way they’re doing, I won’t be able to teach my kids the same game I grew up playing.”
I agree wholeheartedly. The idiot in charge is out of touch with reality.
I agree on Bellinger, something drastic has to be done. At some at bats he looks completely overmatched, even against mediocre pitching. We would certainly miss his defense but we need to try and salvage him offensively. It is sad to watch right now.
Solid win last night. Lets win tonight and make it a winning streak!!
Offense will get going I have no doubt.
What a nail biter last night! A bases loaded walk and a solo shot is all we could get going. 3 hits on each side and the game was still more than 3 hours. What happened to speeding up the game?
I really didn’t see the point in bringing Tony back out for one hitter in the 7th. Baby steps? Can’t let him get that pitch count into the 90’s?
Nice to have Caleb back. 7 pitches and 5 strikes. That’s the way to get it done.
Daniel Hudson’s signing was met with little fanfare, but he’s been a lock down setup guy and steps up for a save from time to time. Where would we be without him?
Kimbrel made it interesting again, but wiggled off the hook. He’s dirty, but his control is really bad right now. That bleeder in no man’s land didn’t help him out. Is this progress?
Belli is a mess and it’s sad to watch. It’s crazy that he just can’t fix it. It’s like watching him punch himself in the face. In addition to pulling off everything, he doesn’t help his cause by constantly chasing out of the zone.
Finally giving up on Bellinger? I’d rather have Bonds hitting for him than coaching him. At best for him he should be platooning with Taylor in CF. Please no more futile swings at breaking balls out of the zone against lefties! And how sad for “the greatest lineup in baseball history” to have Alberto as your DH. Poor JT has just fallen off the side of the cliff. And now we’re just into the Bellinger excuses for Muncy. Can we really just wait for next year with Max?