Could the Dodgers Stand Pat?
Gavin Stone’s last outing was a resounding success. Ryan Pepiot FINALLY went two innings in his 2023 debut. They will ramp him up over the next two weeks. Even Noah Syndergaard showed signs of life last night as he went five innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while…
Gavin Stone’s last outing was a resounding success. Ryan Pepiot FINALLY went two innings in his 2023 debut. They will ramp him up over the next two weeks. Even Noah Syndergaard showed signs of life last night as he went five innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out six and walking nary a batter. Add in Clayton Kershaw, and in early August, Pepiot, Syndergaard, and Kershaw will be back. Of course, all some of you will remember is how bad Thor was before he went on the IL, but just remember that past performance is not indicative of future prospects. Add in the prospect that Striker Buehler could be back in September, and I think the rumors of trading for starters will fly out the window.
Urias and Gonsolin both pitched very well in their last two starts, and while it is easy to believe that Gonsolin’s arm is hanging on by a tendon, that may not be the case at all – in fact, if it were the case, he would not be pitching. If his UCL is “frayed,” it would be felony stupid to allow him to pitch. I think Doc took him out so that he could build on this start. He also pitched well in his last start… except for two bad pitches. I think that this is enough starting pitching:
- Urias
- Gonsolin
- Kershaw
- Sheehan
- Pepiot
- Miller
- Grove
- Syndergaard
In fact, when everyone is back in August, Grove, Sheehan, and Pepiot will move to the pen or back to AAA. It depends upon who is hot, but all three could be bulk-inning eaters. Also, Alec Gamboa, who struck out the side in his first AAA appearance, is chomping at the bit to get the call. He is a lefty who was another converted starter, and he has flourished in the bullpen. He had Tommy John in 2017 and also missed 2018. Gamboa has 5-pitches that include a 2-seam/4-seam split with his fastball. His fastball sits 93-94, and he hits 96 with his 4-seamer. He needs to be added to the 40-man roster or be lost to Rule 5 this winter… and he would get snatched in a heartbeat.
I suppose that it is possible the Dodgers could trade for Nolan Aernado if he becomes available, but at this minute, I would say the chances of that are slim and none. The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence and above the septic tank! Devin Mann also deserves a “look-see.” Jake Marisnick is an elite CF’er and will platoon with James Outman.
Mookie Betts is Playing Like a Superstar
.287 BA/.983 OPS, 27 HR, 64 RBI – MVP if not for Acuna, Jr.
Nick Frasso
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Discussion (185)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Right hand hitting outfielders that will be free agents at the end of this season and play for a team that might be selling:
AJ Pollock, Sea.
Teoscar Hernandez, Sea.
Hunter Renfroe, LAAngels.
Randal Grichuk, Col.
Tommy Pham, Mets.
Jurickson Profar, Col.
Trey Mancini, Cubs.
Adam Duvall, Boston.
Andrew McCutcheon, Pit.
Mark Canha, Mets.
Any of these guys look good? Duvall and Hernandez would be my first choices.
Today’s game changed to a 5:10 EDT start.
I’m wondering if the humidity was the reason for gonsolin s early departure last night. He looked gassed his last inning! Still believe doc did the right thing by taking him out. I guess syndergard gets another shot soon. Hoping for the best, but not sure how much longer he can go. I guess Barnes goes behind the plate today. That’s good since my son , grandson, and me are heading to Baltimore in the morning. My grandson is absolutely pumped! He pitches and plays first base and wears number 5 and loves Freddie! Would love to complete the sweep today. That would mean we went into New York and beat the Mets top 3 pitchers! Wouldn’t be totally opposed to verlander coming to LA, but not for top prospects. No to max! He’s nowhere near the beast he was, good but not a game changer. Still like Giolita coming in, but reds and rangers will be all in for him. I don’t think we stand pat nor should we! Bullpen looks a lot better, just wish bazooka would become a lockdown reliever, still makes me nervous like last night. !
There’s no reason to believe that if we had kept Bellinger, he’d be hitting .307 for us.
To me, it’s obvious he needed a mental and physical re set , and there’s no better place than with a crappy team that has zero pressure to do anything.
Now, if he is traded within the next 2 -3 weeks, we will see when he is back in a playoff pressure environment if the new Bellinger or the old Bellinger will show up. Maybe he’s fixed, and back to being a star player. Or maybe he’s better in a low pressure environment. We’ll find out the next 2-3 months.
And I’m personally not counting on a guy who’s never done it and has been injured for 3 months (Pepoit), or a guy who was absolutely horrendous but somehow will be good now because he threw 5 innings in AAA (Thor) to save us going into October.
It’s time to be pigs. Figure out which of these 8 right handed starters we have a ceiling of a 4/5 starter, and trade them. Keep the ones that have a ceiling of a 1 or 2 (or even 3) starter.
Yes!
And I agree with Mark that standing pat is a viable strategy.
New additions can blow up all on their own.
Maybe save the prospect ammo for a smarter offseason trade.
In the last 30 days, the Dodgers’ bullpen ERA is #6 in all of MLB!
Let me get this off my chest first…..I’m shocked MLB didn’t give Marvelous Max a hit and an RBI in the 9th inning. That ball had a lot of topspin and there was no way young Baty had a chance at catching that ball, perfectly placed. He never should have been called out for making an Error…it just wasnt. You see that kind of ball in tennis, which I should know, being a tennis star in my own mind.
Give me a “like” if you agree. Thanks..,
TM (short for Tenis Menace)
Maybe 2 Vet starters Urias and Kershaw
Not buying a pennant race or post season with four rookies and 1 veteran and ineffective starter in Syndergaard as part of the proposed 8 starters as suggested. AF will get some additional pitching……bank it. Giolitto, Flaherty, Stroman or someone else will be brought in.
We have such a depth of pretty good prospect talent. Not all can make it up so doesn’t it make sense to trade some of them before we lose them? Thinking Busch, Mann, one of our young catchers, and a couple of our young arms in return for some mlb talent like an Arenado or another real difference maker? Saw where Mann was playing SS. Can he play there at mlb level?