First of all, I want to welcome back James Outman who went 2-4 . He could have sulked when he got sent back to OKC after finishing #3 in the NL ROY balloting… but he did not. He went to OKC and went about his business and here he is back in the Show. I love James Outman and his story, his hustle, his grit, and it’s time for Dodger fans to realize his value. Quit including him in trades. He is a good defensive centerfielder (who will get better with experience) and should hit RHP very well. I do not believe he will ever hit LHP, but since RH Pitchers comprise about 70% of all pitchers, he should get 500 ABs and be a solid contributor. He should be a 30+ HR guy. Andy Pages should be his platoon partner.
The Dodgers did not start Miguel Vargas after he went 2-3 with an HR and BB on Friday, but he did pinch-hit in the 8th inning and hit another HR. I know you are tired of hearing me say that Miguel Vargas is an elite hitter, but Miguel Vargas is an elite hitter, and if Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes trade him, they are twin dumbasses! Vargas is stepping up and showing out. I hate to say “I told you so, but I told you so!
I have thought that Vargas needs to be the starter in LF, however, it is starting to look like Max Muncy could be out for the year as he has been shut down again. Obliques can be very unpredictable. Maybe Vargas needs to ramp up at 3B. He can play there. Outman and Pages should platoon in CF, and Teoscar should play RF. Heyward is injured and his not shown he deserves to be anything but a backup.
If the Dodgers can get Bo Bichette, then they should do it. Mookie moves to 2B. He is not going back to the outfield… ever! This might be the lineup:
- Ohtani DH
- Betts 2B
- Freeman 1B
- Hernandez RF
- Smith C
- Outman/Pages CF
- Vargas 3B
- Bichette SS
- LF – Pick someone
Yes, he did not hit well with broken fingers last year, and PROGRESS IS NOT LINEAR, YOU JACKASSES! But, if you trade Miguel Vargas, it will be on the level of trading Yordan Alvarez… only when he was ready to go to the Show. Put him in the lineup and let him play, you morons!
One thing I want to point out is that the Dodgers, under RVS, re-tooled Will Smith’s swing and turned him from a defense-first catcher into an elite hitter. Think about that the next time you want to diss on RVS. Also. Clayton Kershaw is progressing rapidly and Buehler, Grove and Graterol are not far behind.
Discussion (48)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The Giants traded Austin Slater to the Reds for LHP Alex Young and optioned him to their AAA team.
Maybe I will skip the Sunday games in the future. Waste of time.
Wrobleski has good , filthy stuff. As Bear said just two bad pitches at the wrong moment.
At the very least he should be an excellent trade chip.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Per MLBTR. Yankees are interested in Crochet, and the Phillies are interested in Rooker. Phillies outfield except Marsh, has not been productive. Yankees rotation woes have been well documented.
Pitching sucked, although Wrobleski made two bad pitches, but the bullpen did not help. Bats were worse. The whole team sucked. Rolled over on too many pitches and stranded way too many runners. It figures they scored all their runs on a homer from a guy hitting below .150. Not commenting on Bichette anymore. He is not the solution. Not this year anyway. And I have no faith that coming to another team will change his year. I have more faith that his GM is telling the truth and he is not going to be traded. Same with Robert Jr.
Kershaw (shoulder) threw a two-inning simulated game Sunday in Los Angeles, the Associated Press reports. “It was good to see him throw two innings. We accomplished what we wanted to,” manager Dave Roberts said after Kershaw’s workout.
“Kershaw has resided on the injured list all season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder last November, but he looks like he could be ready to make his 2024 debut for the Dodgers at some point within the next month. The 36-year-old had previously made a three-inning rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on June 19, but he was then shut down from throwing for the next week after experiencing lingering soreness in his shoulder. According to Roberts, Kershaw is in line to resume his rehab assignment next Saturday, likely with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Kershaw is expected to cover three innings in that outing, and he’s likely to require at least two rehab starts beyond that one before the Dodgers bring him back from the 60-day IL”.
Some observations.
-wrobleski has great stuff, would hate to trade him, will turn 24 in a week
– I think I’ve seen enough of Yarbrough, we use him for 2-3 innings, gives up a couple of runs, then we can’t use him for another 3-4 days.
4.67 era over last 15 games.
Would rather have a 1-2 inning guy that can go 3x week.
Ryan won’t be on the playoff roster.
– I think RVS is rubbing off on Pages ( that’s not a good thing) (see Vargas)
Everything lately is can of corn pull side lift. Leave the kids alone. Spend your time with Taylor/ Kike/Barnes and Hayward.
– .190 WRISP on this home stand.
Needs:
-#1 Starting caliber infielder (SS and or 3rd base).
– #2 Pitcher – ( a number 2 or 3 starter or no thanks)
– #3 Outfielder
-The new position players will fix another major issue,
(The Bench)
Man, what is our record on Sundays?
Go Dodgers !!
Mark, does Lux have any trade value?
so unless they are going to have rojas play ss every day, there might be some deals in the works!
Filthy stuff from Wrobleski so far. Looking good early.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
For what’s its worth.
Per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the expectation is Betts will move back to second base because the Dodgers “believe it would be unfair” to ask him to handle such an important position in the playoffs after he just got acclimated to it this season.
Bear, you may be correct when you say that pitching should be the first priority. Problem is we won’t know for sure until after the deadline when we see what we have with YY, CK and Buehler.
On the other hand, I think the infield is a major problem. Lux simply isn’t cutting it and who knows when Max will come back. When he does, he’ll have missed so much time that he may not be worth much offensively this year.
That’s why I think we absolutely need to add a good infielder, whether that be Bichette, Hoerner, Rengifo (if healthy),
or someone else. It will then be up to Doc to move the guys around the infield as he sees fit but we aren’t going to win a World Series with the infield as presently aligned.
There has been plenty of talk about getting another starting pitcher and I agree. How about one SP nobody has mentioned………..Trevor Bauer.
There has been a lot talk about getting a starting pitcher. How about one starting pitcher no one has mentioned and that is Trevor Bauer.
Wow,
I get to see Bichette around 20x’s a year.
If you have not seen him play a bunch your missing out on a very good baseball player
Got to look at the big picture , you get a chance to get a top 10 talent at a position that is in flux if not now certainly moving forward you take it.
The outfield is fine especially if Vargas steps up. Add Pham if you need a rental
Rojas being able to float gives the dodgers tremendous flexibility . Very good chance Rojas reverts back to career stats.
Mookie is not a shortstop.
make Rojas your super sub. No more Kike and no more Taylor..
Thats worth our top 20 prospects alone. (sarcasm)
I’ll just copy and past.
From: Just Baseball
Bichette had a nightmarish defensive season in 2022, but improved significantly in 2023, and his growth defensively makes him a pretty special player when you considering his offensive contributions.
Over the last three season’s the 26yr old Bichette is second to only Trea Turner — more on him in a minute — in hits among shortstops, with 555. Across that same period, Bichette has an .815 OPS and has made two All-Star Game appearances.
The most encouraging part of Bichette’s second All-Star campaign in 2023 was how much he improved defensively. Bichette had 47 errors between 2021 and 2022, but cut that down to just eight in 2023. He went from having an unsightly -16 defensive runs saved in 2022 to five in 2023.
2024 -7 errors and a fielding % .970.
He is an excellent hitter having a bad first 1/2 of the season so far.
Dejong is a worse defensive SS in 2024 with 12 errors and offensively not very good.
Some power with below avg bat to ball skills.
He already has struck out 94x’s and his strikeout rate is almost at 34% TY.
We have enough of those guys already.
Bichette frees up Rojas to be your number 1 infielder to come off the bench or come on in late innings as a defensive replacement were needed
I don’t believe Rojas keeps up his current offensive stats as we get into sept/oct.
I would rather make no move if we can’t get Bichette, and hope Rojas can hold up and continue to hit.
Off season I would look at Adames if they can’t get Bichette.
And if Muncy can’t come back or is unable to stay healthy, Rojas can play 3rd in the playoffs or if Mookie is needed in the outfield Rojas could play 2nd in the playoffs.
Would you rather have Lux/Taylor or Kike starting at one of those positions or both of them in their if Max can’t go or Mookie is needed elsewhere?
Dejong is nothing more than getting another Kiki/Taylor clone who can’t play the outfield.
Fair enough Bear! Has nothing to do with the way mookie plays SS. i believe he will benefit from playing 2nd base. Sign bichette to an extension and infield is pretty much set for the future!
love it when the 2 of you go back and forth!! both have good arguments, but this time, i vote Bichette!!
I think the acquisition of Rengifo makes more sense with the questions about Muncy at third and Lux at second. This moves Vargas to left field only and the Dodger’s outfield has Vargas, Outman (vs. lefties), Pages, and Hernandez. Heyward is a pinch hitter and spot starter. If not Rengifo, I would kick the tires on a trade with the Cards for Nolan Gorman. He would a pricey addition given his age and power numbers at 24 but he can play 2nd or 3rd and the Cardinals need young starting pitching. Dodgers have young starters galore from the MLB roster through out the minors.
Fedde makes sense as an add at the deadline given the cost and durability.
Dodger FO getting River Ryan for Matt Beatty, Justin Frasso for Mitchell White, Ferris and Hope for Busch all look like shrewd moves at the moment.
4:10 PM ET
Brewers (52-38)
Dodgers (55-35)
SP Dallas Keuchel L
0-0 6.75 ERA
SPJustin Wrobleski L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
SS Miguel Rojas R
LF M. Vargas R
3B E. Hernandez R
2B Chris Taylor R
82° Wind 1 mph Out
As predicted earlier:
07/07/24 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Gus Varland to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
07/07/24 Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of LHP Justin Wrobleski from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
Before Spring Training, here is how the Top 10 SS were ranked:
1. Corey Seager, TEX (Last year: 4)
2. Francisco Lindor, NYM (5)
3. Xander Bogaerts, SD (3)
4. Dansby Swanson, CHC (6)
5. Trea Turner, PHI (1)
6. Bo Bichette, TOR (7)
7. Carlos Correa, MIN (2)
8. Willy Adames, MIL (NR)
9. Bobby Witt Jr., KC (NR)
10. J.P. Crawford, SEA (NR)
Bichette has got off to a slow start this year, but even with his slow start, his career BA is .291 with an .800 OPS.
According to BA, his average season is 25 HR, 92 RBI, 39 Doubles and an .800 OPS. I do not let one bad half year out of six worry me and his defense has improved, but like Seager, he is a bat first SS. However, he has worked hard on his defense and look at his errors:
2021 – 24
2022 – 23
2023 – 8
2024 – 7
His coaches praise his defensive work ethic, and why would anyone think a guy who has hit nearly .300 for five years has suddenly become a .225 hitter? It’s more likely he reverts back to what he was, just as it’s very likely Miggy Ro does the same.
I don’t get why anyone would not think Bichette was a big upgrade. I just worry if the Dodgers will pay the price?
I would also bet that Bichette will end the season with a higher BA and OPS than Rojas. He has been rumored to be traded all year and maybe it’s messing with his head.
07/07/24 Los Angeles Dodgers traded LHP Matt Gage to New York Mets for cash. Gage was on the 40 man roster which opens a spot for Wrobleski.
I don’t understand why we would want Bichette. From what I have read, he’s only an average defender. Shortstop is an important position. We already have Betts which could become a better defender than Bichette. I would prefer Dejong over Bichette if we are going to spend the Prospects. I agree that Vargas needs to be given a chance to play 3rd. No to Bichette.
A game changing trade would us getting the A’s top prospect Jacob Wilson, son of former MLB player Jack Wilson. It’s a position of need for the Dodgers this guy is a player. OKC just played the A’s triple A team in Oklahoma City and they couldn’t get him out. They shouldn’t feel bad because no professional team has figured out how to get Wilson out. Overall he is two places below Rushing on the top 100 but Wilson will be in the top ten before next season. Don’t know what it would take but I’d offer any of our catching prospects and any right handed pitching prospect to get him.
Incredible that there are still people who care about the idiots from SD, no one cares about those faggots!
The only team you all should worry about is the Dodgers.
And it’s not even time to worry about them yet.
Pitching match-ups vs Phillies if all stay on schedule looks to be:
Miller vs Wheeler
Stone vs Sanchez
Knack vs Nola
Schwarber is expected to return for the Dodgers series if there are no set backs
Harper is very close and may return for the Dodger series
Realmuto , not till at least after AllStar game.
Of course no Muncy or Betts on our side.
Go Dodgers !!
agree on bichette mark. my bad i totally forgot gibby managed. …. while we all play GM , AF is probably planning out a humongous trade for???? A waiver wire. .215 hitter!!! Just kidding!!!! i hope!!
The more I think about it Mark, the more I like your proposed future positions/line-up.
…if only AF can swing a Bichette/Lux deal.
Old friend Michael Bush is hitting .264 with a .360 OB%. He has 15 doubles and 10 HR with a .809 OPS and is striking out at a 38% clip.
I hope everyone is enjoying the Yankees struggles as much as me! i don’t have a second favorite team, but if i did it would be the orioles. …. if aaron boone doesn’t win this year, he should be gone. My daughter in-law is from new hampshire, so her family are big red sox fans . Can’t pull for them as long as trash can cora is there ! He and Hinch should not be managers! …. Anyone know what happened to Gabe Kapler? probably bodybuilding somewhere! lol…….Shelton does a really good job with the pirates. ….. Counsell might regret leaving milwaukee! ….. Toronto will probably be in the market for a new manager this offseason. ……..Feel bad for Kotsay in Oakland. no chance of winning ever. ……. Same for Ron Washington in anaheim, probably won’t be back next season. …….if yankees do fire Boonie, would Lovello of the snakes be an option? …. If the rangers don’t make the playoffs does Bochy retire again? ….. What is wrong with Bud Black?? does he enjoy losing?? ……. Dave Martinez might be the most underrated manager in baseball! …. Joe Torre is my “most”. overated manager of all time. Didn’t win crap till he got to new york. Checkbook Joe. …. Tommy Lasorda wasn’t the greatest x&o’s manager , but his passion for baseball was unmatched!! …. Bear, would Kirk Gibson have made a good manager? ……. finally., i’ve come to appreciate Doc as a players manager. He really seems to care about his players. History will be his judge not us. Another world championship and he’ll be forever revered in LA. Without another one, not so much . i hope he’s not remembered as “checkbook “ Dave, the one who only won the shortened season championship. That wouldn’t be fair.
Gage is NOT on the 26 mam roster but on the 40 man roster. Varland will be reassigned to Oklahoma City from the 26 man roster, Nick Ramirez will be DFA, then Wrobleski will be added to to the 40 man roster and 26 man active roster. Simple!
We will have a shortened bullpen today will the addition of a sixth starter and the workload of high leveraged relievers the last two nights.
The Dodgers will have to clear a spot for Wrobleski on the 40-man roster. I’m guessing Nick Ramirez is the odd man out. Someone also has to go on the 26-man roster. Will it be Varland or Gage?
Vargas has to sit today! Kiki needs some “run” in left field! Biggio needs some “run”. at 3rd! Taylor needs some “run” at 2nd! Now I’m completely full of crap, but, would it shock anyone? Vargas needs a shot somewhere. After watching Taylor’s tee ball swing last night, Lux’s. lackadaisical swing night after night, kiki usually going ofer the week, isn’t it ridiculous to keep Vargas on the bench? He has played 3rd, 2nd, and left, so why does Taylor play against right handed pitchers but not Vargas. Taylor ,Kiki, and Biggio. can’t hit my 10 year old grandson!! I’m not jumping on the vargas bandwagon. But the guy deserves a chance ! He gives more quality at bats per game than the aforementioned 3 combined. …. Now i’m in total agreement with you Mark on Bichette. A change of scenery for him probably cures his hitting woes. Include Lux in a package and do it! i’m sure Bichette can slide over to 3rd occasionally and Rojas at shortstop. Rojas becomes the super utility player taylor and kiki were supposed to be. …. Maybe Outman and Pages make a good platoon, i don’t know. But if Vargas is to man 3rd, a big bat for left field is needed. …. Is the rookie pitching today? i haven’t seen a move to bring him up yet. …. Bear, Doc still has 7 hours to think about sitting Will Smith!! ……. Paxton scares the crap out of me on the mound!! His fastball is good, but if they don’t chase it , he probably walks 5 a game! Everyone healthy, he’s either traded or possibly bullpen. i’m not sure he would be effective out of the bullpen. Maybe a long guy , or hell , use an opener and get him through the first inning. ….. The dodgers are 9 games up on the Friars in the loss column , and10 on the snakes.
Why give up our young guns for a bunch of TJ’s waiting to happen. Hard no on any starter. We will be loaded come October.
Book em
Ram, that’s a brilliant take. Goes right along with mine about the FO slow playing Miguel.
Robert and Bichette. Sorry Bear.
Ohtani DH
Freeman 1B
Betts 2B
Smith C
Teoscar LF
Robert CF
Bichette SS
Outman/Pages RF
Vargas 3B
Book em
Yamamoto (shoulder) will begin playing catch next week, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Yamamoto has been shut down from throwing since being diagnosed with a right rotator cuff strain June 16 but will resume a throwing program in the coming days. The 25-year-old is no longer feeling pain in his shoulder and seems to be on track for an August return”.
Maybe Vargas needs to ramp up at 3B. He can play there. Outman and Pages should platoon in CF, and Teoscar should play RF. Heyward is injured and his not shown he deserves to be anything but a backup.
—-
Scratch the “maybe”. Vargas has to be in the lineup every day . Pencil him in in LF and give him some occasional starts at 3b or 2b. He can play both positions adequately. Can make a defensive substitution late in close games if his defense really should hurt the team there..
Fully agree on Outman. On days when he is in CF Pages can play RF and Vargas 3b/2b.
Supposing Mookie and MM can come back for the stretch run Dodgers need one more high average/high OBP bat to strengthen the bench.
Lux IMHO got a tough break from the official scorer yesterday. Should not have been Ruled an error on Adames after the 3b made a diving try and distracted him. But htat is the way it goes when you are slumping.
Ferris is coming on like a house on fire lately. Great game at GL yesterday. Gives the Dodgers another trading chip if they want to.
Wrobleski today in his MLB debut. Exciting young pitcher with an electric left arm.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
As much as I hate to say it, and they annoy the Hell out of me big time, Padres are staring to sneak up a bit.
Padres blew a game tonight they should have won. Score, 4-4 in the top of the 10th. D-Backs scored 3 to take a 7-4 lead. The new D-Backs pitcher, Vieira, could not get anyone out. Cronenworth was the ghost runner on second. Machado walked. Solano then doubled scoring Cronenworth. Merrill was up and walked. Castellanos, who had an ERA over 10, came in to relieve. Bases loaded no outs. Castellanos struck out Johnson, then he struck out Kim. Higashioka came up and flied out to center field. They lose 7-5, Dodgers pick up a game on the Padres and the Giants who lost to Cleveland on Harrison’s return to the rotation. Dodgers 7.5 in front again with 7 games left before the All-Star break. The only Padre with an OPS above .800?????? Profar. D-Backs have four such players.
Well, I’m not trading Outman or Vargas. That would be crazy. Then again, I’m not the decision maker. Both will end up as regulars. Let ’em play. Every Pundit is saying the Dodgers will pursue an outfielder, a pitcher and maybe a bullpen piece. Maybe they will. They really favor experience.
They don’t need to make a move, but they will. They’ve put a ton of money in this team in an attempt to win a World Series or two or three. They won’t hold back. Let it rip. But don’t get nervous. Friedman won’t trade the farm.
I like your lineup above Mark I just think Bichette is going to be too expensive for AF. The only thing I would do is leave Teoscar in left and play Outman in center and Pages in right every day I think both would be eventually hit same sided pitching. Also Heyward, Kike and Taylor can give games off against tough pitchers.
My first thoughts were that Arozarena and Eflin would be perfect AF targets. I’ve gone away from that and I believe that DeJong and Fedde will be on his radar. If AF got DeJong I could see more of a job share with Rojas this year and extend both for 2025 to keep short open for Freeland in 2026. As far as Fedde is concerned there are too many ifs with the rotation. If Glasnow, Stone and Paxton don’t wear down. If Miller, Buehler, Yamamoto and Kershaw can come back and stay healthy. If Wrobeleski and Knack can get and continue to get mlb hitters out.
I have faith AF is going to make moves at the deadline that will suprise most of us. I just don’t see a blockbuster. I think the blockbusters were the offseason additions
This may be why Vargas is now taking grounders at 3B, per Ardaya:
Max Muncy is no longer swinging a bat, Dave Roberts said today. Oblique issue hasn’t progressed. Anything rotational still gives him some discomfort.
Why mess with Vargas’ mind and further delay his progress by making him switch gears (again) to re-learn (the more difficult) 3B all over again. Dumb. Stop yo-yo-ing this young man around. Enough already! Stick him in LF to sink or swim there!
As for the growing uncertainty over Max’s health — AF must obtain another infielder–maybe a UT guy to play multiple positions–who can hit better than Lux/Taylor/Kiki. It’s gotta be done.
I mean at this point it’s just downright idiotic to be giving CT3, Lux, or Biggio any meaningful at bats over Miguel Vargas.
If Vargas doesn’t start tomorrow, it better be because he was just traded; otherwise no reason to let him watch much lesser hitters continue to get at bats over him.
“Cut the Crap, Friedman!”
Start with Biggio. Then bring up Lipcius.
I would love to be wrong about Outman.
Vargas is gonna have to make the front office have no choice but to play him.The last 2 games will do that.Maybe he will get a shot at third.
I agree with you Eric about Rooker. .270 average, 17 bombs, 50 driven in. Dodgerdad, not to worry, Roberts already said Smith was going to catch all three games this weekend.
Eric,
You know that I really love you and your passion for the Dodgers. I am glad you are here.
Give Teo 3y/$80m right now?