Do You Remember
when the Dodgers could have traded for Cole Hamels for SVS and JDL? (Neither do I, but some insist it is true.) when every Dodger fan wanted Sonny Gray? when Dodger fans wanted David Price? when Dodgers fans were upset that Zack Greinke was not resigned by the Dodgers? I remember when FAZ signed Anderson, McCarthy and Kazmir? when FAZ got Barnes, Hernandez, Grandal, Taylor,
… when the Dodgers could have traded for Cole Hamels for SVS and JDL? (Neither do I, but some insist it is true.)
… when every Dodger fan wanted Sonny Gray?
… when Dodger fans wanted David Price?
… when Dodgers fans were upset that Zack Greinke was not resigned by the Dodgers?
I remember…
…when FAZ signed Anderson, McCarthy and Kazmir?
… when FAZ got Barnes, Hernandez, Grandal, Taylor, Muncy and Kemp (re-cycled).
All the Dodgers have done is just win the division every year and go one step farther every year. Anderson, McCartney and Kaz were bad signings, but the three combined don’t equal how bad many other single free-agent signings were. FAZ has stuck to the script. I think they will do much the same this year. Another lockdown reliever would be nice, but right now the asking prices are at the sellers price. If the prices become more realistic, the Dodgers will likely make a move. If not, they will ride with what they have and it’s not nearly as bad as some think.
A bunch of injured pitchers are due back in the next week, two weeks and three weeks: Buehler, Baez. Cingrani, Fields, Ryu, Urias. There area some difference-makers there. The cavalry is coming… let’s hope they can hold off the bandits until they arrive. Who here doesn’t think a healthy Buehler, Ryu, Fields, Urias and Cingrani can’t help immensely? Notice I left off el Gasolino? There is plenty of doubt about him…
In the last 15 games, check out the ERA and WHIP of Alexander and Hudson:
- Alexander – 2.20 ERA /1.04 WHIP
- Hudson – 0.50 ERA / 1.06 WHIP
Also, Caleb Ferguson has pitched 9 innings out of the pen and has a 1.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.
I can’t see how there can be any talk about Jacob deGrom when the Dodgers have a glut of starting pitchers and deGrom is going to start declining at 30 years old. The Dodger starters now lead the NL in ER and are 2nd only to the Astros in all of MLB baseball. Why does anyone think they need another starting pitcher? That is a real strength of the team. Let it alone. Check this rotation out:
- Buehler
- Wood
- Hill
- Stripling
- Kershaw
- Ryu
- Maeda
- Urias (I doubt that he will start this year)
Then, there are Ferguson, Santana and many others up and coming. The Dodgers should not trade for a pitcher who is only 90 days younger than Clayton. Who goes to the pen if all are healthy is a great problem to have. Ryu is the only one who likely will not be with the Dodgers in 2019. What I am saying is “NO dope-fiend moves!” Let the process work.
Rants and Raves
- Kike Hernandez does Sooooooo Many things well!
- One of the moron announcers on FOX yesterday said “When the Dodger starters all get healthy and Stripling goes back to the pen, he will be a nice weapon.” Hello… Chicken Strip is not going back to the pen!
- Edward Paredes is good for one… maybe two LH batters – don’t push your luck, Doc!
- I am getting a feeling that Yasiel Puig is about to go off on the baseballs… sending them out of park at an obscene rate!
- News on international signings: https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-to-sign-catcher-diego-cartaya/c-283475518
- Andrew Toles has started the past few games in CF – he now has 8 games in CF!
- Will Smith should be in AAA. Of course, he is a good catcher, but he’s OPS’ing .946!
- Dustin May had another 7 inning start with just 2 runs allowed. After a horrid start, his ERA is down to 3.13. He should move up too, as should Bannon and Lux who combined for 6 hits yesterday.
Minor League Report by AlwaysCompete
OKC – 6-5 Win over Round Rock Express (Rangers)
OKC entered the bottom of the 8th down 5-2. After a strikeout, Andrew Toles singled and was followed by a walk to Connor Joe. Kyle Garlick then loaded the bases with a single. Edwin Rios forced in one run with a bases loaded walk. After another strikeout, Travis Taijeron also walked forcing in run #2. Angelo Mora then followed with a 2 run scoring single to take a 6-5 lead going into the 9th.
Manny Banuelos was reinstated from the DL, started and went 5.0 innings. He allowed 4 runs on 9 hits and 4 walks with 7 K’s. Zach Neal pitched the next three innings allowing a single run (HR) on 2 hits and 1 walk, with 4 K’s for the win. Brian Schlitter pitched the ninth for his 11th save.
Kyle Garlick went 3-4 and Connor Joe went 2-3 with Kyle Farmer slugging his 4th HR.
Tulsa – 7-6 Win over Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers)
Will Smith (13) and Drew Jackson (8) were the offensive stars each hitting solo HRs. Both Smith and Jackson along with Errol Robinson each collected 2 hits for the Drillers.
Andrew Sopko and 4 relievers pitched the team to a victory with Stetson Allie getting the win and Dylan Baker getting the save.
Rancho Cucamonga – 14-6 Win over San Jose (Giants)
Behind yet another steller outing by Dustin May and an 18 hit attack, the Quakes won for the 12th straight game. May had a 7.0 IP start, surrendering 2 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk, with 5 Ks. Orlandy Navarro was just promoted from AZL to RC (quite a jump), and survived, pitching the final two innings and surrendering 4 runs on 3 hits and 1 walk, and 2 Ks. It may not look pretty, but for a 19 year old from Maracaibo, Venezuela in the US for the first time, he made the jump and survived. They let him pitch, and I hope they continue to give him chances. He could be a good one.
Offensively, the Quakes were led by Gavin Lux 3-4, Rylan Bannon 3-7, Omar Estevez 2-5, Cristian Santana 2-6, and Zach McKinstry 2-5.
Great Lakes – 7-1 Win over Dayton Dragons (Reds)
Max Gamboa started and went 5.0 innings for the win. Melvin Jimenez had another outstanding effort allowing 1 hit in 3.0 IP with 4 Ks. After what was considered a very poor start to the season, Melvin has come on strong once he came off the DL. I look forward to more great pitching out of Melvin Jimenez.
SS Deacon Liput had another 2-4 day including a double and RBI. He also had his 1st SB and error. 2B Brandon Montgomery had a 3 run HR (6) and a sac fly. DH Brock Carpenter and 1B Eric Peterson each hit solo HRs.
Ogden Raptors – 5-4 Loss to Grand Junction Rockies
20th round draftee, Caleb Sampen, had a tough outing after his first two solid efforts. He allowed 4 runs on 5 hits in 2.1 IP. 18 year old Cuban 3B Miguel Vargas continued his strong hitting going 2-4. 18th round draftee, RF Nico Hulsizer had his 4th consecutive 2 hit game, 5 out of his last 6 games, and has now hit in 7 consecutive games. Brandon Montgomery provided most of the offense needed with a 3 run HR, his 6th on the season.
AZL Dodgers – 10-3 Win over AZL DBacks
19 year old RHP from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Gerardo Carrillo started his 1st game in the US (4th appearance) and pitched 3.0 innings, allowing only 1 hit with 5 Ks. For the season at AZL, he now has pitched 11.0 innings surrendering 1 run on 6 hits, 1 HBP, 1 BB, and 14 Ks. He has compiled 0.82 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and a .154 BAA.
19 year old RHP from Maracaibo, Venezuela, Juan Morillo pitched the final three innings to get the save, allowing 2 walks with 4 Ks.
DH Frank Sanchez went 3-4, while 3B Kenneth Betancourt went 2-4 with a triple (3).
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Discussion (102)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I’d rather see Toles than Verdugo.
For those of you with long term radar:
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Dodgers 19-year-old Mexican righty Gerardo Carrillo, who was 91-96 with a plus curveball. I saw Carrillo pitch in relief of Yadier Alvarez on the AZL’s opening night, during which he was 94-97. He’s small, and my knee-jerk reaction was to bucket him as a reliever, but there’s enough athleticism to try things out in a rotation and see if it sticks.
Dodgers have a prospect named lebron
Why was Wood pulled after throwing only 76 pitches in six innings? No pitcher will want to come pitch for the Dodgers the way Roberts handles the staff.
The Dodgers won 104 games last and still had several very cold spells. Belli is in a sophomore slump maybe but if he hadn’t done so well last year we all would be worried about his huge swing and tendency to swing at balls well out of the strike zone. Taylor does more with balls in play than anybody not hitting 40 home runs. How does a guy strikeout so often do so well when he doesn’t strike out?
I absolutely love Verdugo. As far as I’m concerned he can be a hitting machine. Whatever the Dodgers do, it might be influenced by talks they’re having with other teams, and the players being discussed.
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I like a lot about Toles, but quite frankly I’m not convinced that he’s a long term solution. It always seemed to me that he had a problem with the low and in breaking ball, more so than we saw with Bellinger in the WS.
I’m on the Verdugo Band Wagon.
Once he’s up this time he won’t go back down again.
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I forget Machado as a rental – rather 3 years of DeGrom if we are giving up talent.
Now, if Manny was prepared to sign on for the foreseeable future, then that’s a different story….
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Just my take, but from what I’ve seen so far, I don’t see us winning it all this year, but that’s not to say that we might come to the boil at the right time in the second half.
Some of our key players are just not at the top of their games.
Kershaw, Turner & Kenley, often the leaders of the team, are not firing on all cylinders, and Seager is lost for the season. Bellinger continues to struggle, and Taylor can’t replicate the heroics of last year.
On the upnside, Kemp, Muncy & Joc have picked up the slack.
The Pen remains in a state of flux, with a different cast nightly.
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However, the NL is not so strong, and if we can get our Rotation fit, push a few arms to the Pen, & get JT & Cody hitting, we have a reasonable chance of going deep into the Post Season.
The AL looks very strong though, and the WS will take some winning this year.
Still, hasn’t stopped me investing some more money @ 16/1 on the Dodgers winning it all, which I think is a very good price.
I know most of you guys will run me out of town for this, but you trade Verdugo while he has high value. I don’t care if the guy bats ,785 with 50 home runs, he is a potential cancer to the current makeup of this Dodger team. No way he is a Dave Roberts all hands on deck kind of guy. He has already had issues with showing up late to team meetings on the major league level. Hill and Doc have both had words with him, besides the wardrobe malfunction about a month ago with the batting gloves. Just by watching his body language when he plays, I get a 90’s flashback of the ego era, Bonds, Sheffield, A-rod, etc. For all their faults,(Joc, Kike, Forsythe, Barnes, Yasmani, even El Gasolino, they all love their teammates and would lay down on the barbwire for them. I would take Toles on a month of Sundays, bad hamstring and all, over Verdugo. Don’t forget that he jacked his knee up trying to help his pitcher out with a no hitter. For all his talent, which he has alot of, Verdugo is not a good fit for guys like Turner, Utley, Kershaw, Kemp. Dude just has an individual edge that is unsettling.
Maybe Alex has a slight injury and they didn’t want him on the DL so that he could play in the AAA All-Star Game. If so, Toles will get the callup now.
Verdugo has been out of the OKC lineup for three consecutive days (????). Toles got three hits tonight including his 4th HR. And maybe the forgotten man, Henry Ramos also had three hits including his 8th HR. Ramos will not be recalled because he is not on the 40 man, but he is hitting .298 and an OPS of .841, both better than a lesser defensive outfielder Willie Calhoun. Ramos is also the same age as Toles and Joc.
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It’s going to be Verdugo or Toles. Maybe it should be both with someone like Forsythe going on the DL. With Verdugo or Toles getting recalled, I am hoping that Yusniel Diaz will finally get the promotion to AAA. He went 4 -5 today, including his 6th HR and is now batting .301 with an OPS of .871.
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Also, Will Smith had 2 hits with a HR (14) and double (11). He is now batting .287/.384/.580/.964. Perhaps it is time to give him a call to AAA.
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Zach Pop and Marshall Kasowski were both stellar in relief for The Quakes’ 13th consecutive win, including a 5 game series sweep of the San Jose Giants. It is time for some more promotions.
Well, Manny would have looked good in the lineup tonight.
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If Manny comes to LA, why not put Taylor back in CF and Bellinger at 1B? Taylor is the best CF on the team and Bellinger may be the best 1B in baseball (defensively). Leave Manny and Muncy (M & M) as the keystone combination. 2B and SS won’t be great defensively, but hopefully they can rake.
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How about Ramos, Rios, Alvarez and Sheffield?
Well at least the quakes won. Thanks for the head-up, Bobby. I can’t remember watching them this year.
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Mark, it’s got to be a bummer to see Puig go out with an injury just when your prediction for him to go on a HR binge was starting to look good.
Brooklyn said “Watching the Dodgers lately unable to score consistently reminds of why they could use Machado. A s good as the Dodgers lineup can be, they have a tendency at times to go cold. Adding Machado would have repercussions up and down the Dodgers lineup, leading to far fewer cold spells like we’ve been witnessing lately.”
I agree 100%. Machado is a JT type hitter, a hitter who has power but can consistently put the bat on the ball and get base hits when he’s not hitting home runs. It would do wonders for our feast or famine lineup to have a young stud like that. He’s a better offensive player than Seager, I believe. I also feel that an AZ lineup with Lamb, Goldschmidt, Pollock AND Machado would be hard to overcome.
It’s a shame that we couldn’t sweep the Angels but you need to it in order to do that and we didn’t in this series. AB-91 Hits-13 K’s-37 BA-.143. Too bad.
Words of wisdom Mark. I was actually thinking just that as I was writing my post.
Rally monkey amirite
Floro looked sharp
Not sure that it was a very good idea for Turner to be swinging 3-0 with a runner on and Muncy, Kemp and Bellinger to follow.
Did I just see JT ground into a DP with a 3-0 count, down by one run in the eight inning? Unbelievable, that’s bad baseball like trying to bunt for a base hit down by one with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning on a 3-0 count, yea that happened too.
Spin it anyway you want that’s not fundamental baseball. Bad, bad, bad!
Floro
Watching the Dodgers lately unable to score consistently reminds of why they could use Machado. A s good as the Dodgers lineup can be, they have a tendency at times to go cold. Adding Machado would have repercussions up and down the Dodgers lineup, leading to far fewer cold spells like we’ve been witnessing lately.
Has Barnes forgot how to hit, looks quite bad offensively.
Puig out just when he was heating. Bellinger would have been safe twice tonight if the umpire calls him safe. Instead not enough to overturn call. Ridiculous tie goes to runner.
SAFE, SAFE, SAFE, ….