Dodger Chatter: Meet Loons Alfredo Tavarez
Meet Loons Alfredo Tavarez Last Friday evening 20-year-old right-hander Alfredo Tavarez pitched his second scoreless seven-inning start for the Loons in his last three starts. The native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic was signed as an international free agent by the Dodgers on December 21, 2015. He did not go unnoticed in the Dominican Summer League in 2016 posting a 1.53 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP in 53
Meet Loons Alfredo Tavarez
Last Friday evening 20-year-old right-hander Alfredo Tavarez pitched his second scoreless seven-inning start for the Loons in his last three starts.
The native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic was signed as an international free agent by the Dodgers on December 21, 2015. He did not go unnoticed in the Dominican Summer League in 2016 posting a 1.53 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP in 53 innings pitched while splitting his time almost equally between the DSL Dodgers 1 and DSL Dodgers 2.
During the 2017 season Tavarez came stateside beginning the season with the AZL Dodgers where he posted a 3.52 ERA and a WHIP of 0.91 in 30.2 innings pitched over nine appearances. In mid-August he was promoted to the Great Lakes Loons and returned to a starting role experiencing some growing pains at the Class-A level. In five starts over 20.1 innings he posted a 5.40 ERA while striking out 19 and walking 13.
The 6’5”/190-pound Tavarez began the 2018 with the Loons and experienced some additional growing pains. In two relief appearances he pitched 6.1 innings and gave up six earned runs while striking out seven and walking four. His last appearance was on April 19 and then he was sent back to extended spring training.
I expect we often wonder what happens within the Dodgers development program and especially extended spring training. With Alfredo Tavares something definitely happened.
He returned to the Loons on May 28 and in his first start he threw five hitless innings while walking three and striking out four.
What had be accomplished in his extended spring training ? According to Loons pitching coach Bobby Cuellar the work the 20-year-old put in at extended spring training in Arizona was evident. He saw what Tavarez had accomplished.
“Everything you need to become a pitcher,” Cuellar said. “And today, he showed it off.”
“Our pitcher came back in better shape with a better idea and a very aggressive attack,” Cuellar said.
Cuellar indicated Tavarez commanded his fastball while working in his changeup and mixing in a couple of curveballs. The other aspect of his game he was charged with improving was to better control the running game. He did just that.
“When a young guy learns to handle himself on the mound, he can handle anything,” Cuellar said. “If you learn it now, you never have to worry about it.”
Cuellar paid tribute to both Tavarez and the Dodgers organization.
“The movement of the body, the throw, the circle of the arm was so fluid,” he said. “When you see somebody throw it [like that], you can see the ball jump out of his hand really well. Kudos to the young man and the organization.”
Since that first game at the end of May, Tavarez has made 12 starts and now owns a 2.65 ERA while striking out 52 in 71.1 innings and walking 32. He has not allowed a home run this season. In his last 35.1 innings pitched he has allowed two earned runs.
On Friday evening Tavarez gave up three hits in his seven innings, walked one and struck out four. He threw 90 pitches, 57 of them strikes. Unfortunately reliever Mark Washington gave up two runs in the the top of the ninth inning sending the Loons to a 2-0 loss.
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Discussion (75)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Dave Roberts: You sir, are a dumbass!
FAZ has to take this out of Docs hand. Option/DFA/Outright release. I do not care. Doc will continue to put this guy in high leverage situations. The Dodgers will need to remember this game if they lose it by one game. Baez gave up the runs, but this one is on Roberts.
This is a fireable offense!
Another dumb… move by roberts.
How can Doc let that happen?
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The Rockies paid him off.
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This should be investigated.
I REALY HATE…MANY GAMES LOOSE FOR MANAGING MISTAKES
Agree. Doc should be fired for putting Baez into any game that is in doubt. This is so stupid.
Roberts is dead to me!
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I am like the Marines: No greater friend. No worse enemy.
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Henceforth, this blog shall be devoted to getting Dave Roberts fired!
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Fire him NOW!
Fire Baez!
A competition for the worst bullpen
Rats, we hit a homer with someone on base. That ruins our tendency.
Cody POP exit velocity 103, and we are tied now!
The Rokie`s bullpen is worst, definitely
That was a massive come from behind win. Huge huge momentum changer. The next time Baez pitches should be for OKC.
El Gasolino needs to find another home. Dozier was a great addition and we need BP reinforcements quick. Doc has no confidence in anyone other than Floro, Alexander, KJ and to a lesser extent Chargois. Baez is terrible, Axford is terrible, Ferguson is really good but looks more like the long man and won’t pitch on back-to-back nights.
Where was Jansen tonight?
No Daniel, Rock’s ballpark is the worst!!! Isn’t this a typical ‘E’ coupon ride at Coor’s Field…
Baez wont have to hitchhike because Roberts can drive him per M.T. and AC!??!
Oh well good W to separate Co. from us
Ferguson showed a lot tonight. Dropping that hook in the Coors elevation is never easy and against a formidable lineup. I thought he grew up a lot with tonight’s win. Should do a lot for his confidence. The look on his face when Arenado just missed squaring up his fastball was priceless.
Not sure what Pedro has on Roberts, but it’s got to be something because it makes no sense leaving him in there to just die. The frustrating thing with Baez is with an effort, they could have made the play at the plate after the cross up. Had he hustled, Arenado would have been out at the plate. No excuse for that, was asleep on the play and as a former position player, you’d think he would be more athletic out there.
Jansen back to La with irregular heartbeat, out for series and likely to dL. He went on dL in 2011 and missed 15 days because he was put on blood thinners and too risky to play.
Baez causes all us irregular heartbeats. Come on Roberts manage with urgency if it is within you, maybe there is a season. FAZ did not extend him.
I was screaming at the screen to pull Baez with runners on 1st and 2nd before Arrenado went back to 3B to load the bases. Where was Doc with the hook? What was the PB all about? Pretty heated discussion on the mound afterwards, Grandal must have been crossed up. Then the 3 run bomb we all feared was coming. I get that they are trying to see who goes when starters shift to the pen but a close game with 1st place on the line is no time to experiment. Take both Baez and Roberts to the woodshed as they cost Stripling a win he earned. Nice comeback win though, give the guys their props. Is Jansen sick or just does not want to take the ball in Coors?
I swear the last time that happened to Jansen they were in Coors Field. The effect is real!
If Jansen goes on the dL, it is time to start the shift of a starter or two to the pen. Too much garbage in the pen to survive, Axford, Baez, Rosscup and Venditte cannot be counted on at all, a 4 man pen just does not work. I would shift at least one of Stripling, Wood or Maeda immediately and look to possibly shift one more if Ryu is able to come back and be effective.
That would have been a fun game to attend. Great job by everyone not named Baez. I’m not sure how much more needs to be seen there. Kenley had problems in Denver in the past. Let’s hope getting him out of Denver is enough for his health and safety.
Wow – the news on Jansen!
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So the Braintrust is big on depth. So riddle me this one, Batman – who do the Dodgers have that you would feel comfortable with the closer’s job other than Jansen? That’s the fly in the ointment. The Dodgers solution to their bullpen problem is the Axe and the Cup. Meanwhile, the A’s pick up Sean Kelly and now Fernando Rodney?
Time for Baez to shine (I kid, I kid).