Cody Bellinger and the Next Wave

Sometimes what seems like our best writing disappears the most. It might be in your computer somewhere. I have worked on a file that was zipped to me and I didn’t change the extension and it was lost. Sucks, I know.

The Dodgers lead baseball in team ERA, and are among the leaders in pitching WAR

The Dodgers are ranked 7th in batting WAR and are 8th in wRC+

The Dodgers are second in all of baseball in run differential (the Yanks are #1)

The Yankees are back. They’re second to the Dodgers in team pitching and are near the top in hitting and currently have the best run differential. I predict them as the American League favorites for the pennant. That was a quick rebuild for them.

Eric Thames will win comeback player of the year. If he keeps up his current output, he could win the MVP. Who is he? I don’t know, either. He played one season for the Mariners in 2011 and then languished in the minor leagues until this year. He already has 8 home runs. He’s a lefty but is hitting .545 against lefties with 2 home runs. Maybe the Dodgers should go after him instead of Braun.

The Dodgers are better than their pedestrian record so far, but not as good as they have been hyped to be.

The issues:

Hitting LH pitching – a problem going back too long, and presently no improvement

Hitting with RISP – same as above. The bandaid approach has not worked

An outfield without a discerning difference – this collective group is as average as their record.

Puig is showing signs of turning the corner

Joc is still trying to figure his swing out, will he ever get there?

LF – a game by game experiment or pick between less than stellar options

AG – a man in decline in a young mans game, who has to be the slowest runner in baseball. When he is on base hope for a HR

SP – seems like the Dodgers are reluctant to go with the youth to fill the holes.

CK – happy he is a Dodger

McCarthy – has looked good, he will get better

Maeda – a big question mark based on his outings this year. What’s wrong?

Ryu – a bigger question mark, how long does this go on?

Wood & Stripling – both should be starting

The Dodgers need a #2 SP, and that guy may be in the organization but presently he has not stepped forward, or has not been given the opportunity.

The bench – past time to say adios to S V – is there a baseball pulse there,

The LH pitching killer sits on the DL – didn’t do much when he wasn’t there either. Is he really the answer to a multiple season malady?

Kiki – starting to look better but consistency would be great. At least the bananna is gone

After reading the title Mark, Now I am pissed off. Bet it was a good read.

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Well “Cody Bellinger and the Next Wave”, I am EXCITED. Bellinger, Verdugo, Bueller, White, Dough Boy Alzarez and Urias (does he count). Signal good days ahead for Dodger fans.

Open with a clean slate…Wow…

Great takes Watford my man…

NLW is extremely weak at this time, but we shall not be denied… I like the Rockies team alot but believe the launching pad they live in 81 games a year will take it’s toll…

After all the dust settles I see a three horse race (LAD-AZ-SF) with the Blue pulling away in the final stretch…

Sorry meant Relief Pitching

Then there’s this about Ziegler

Interesting that we were keen to add more Starting Pitching.

The NL West looks wide open.

AZ & Colorado have started well, the Dodgers & the Giants haven’t, and SD are there to beat up on. Or are they?

After what I’ve seen im quietly optimistic.

When we start collectively hitting we will be fine. The rotation is deep, even without Hill, the Pen is strong, with good arms waiting in the wings, and the other teams don’t scare me.

In fact I think it will be the Rockies who are our biggest challengers.

The big question is whether to see if the LH problem sorts itself out, or whether surgery is needed.

I’m guessing at the later.