As the Dodgers attained their 80th victory of the season on August 15th, a full 114 games into the season, there is simply one word that describes their performance: “dominance.” The kind of dominance that ranks up there with some of the greatest teams in baseball history.
They’ve done it with major injuries that would have decimated most teams.
Kershaw has had two IL stints, and who knows when he will return. Team ace (at the start of the year), Walker Buehler is out for the season, and probably next, Dustin May still hasn’t yet appeared. Blake Treinen was only with them for a little over a month. Daniel Hudson, a little more than that. Yet, here they are with all this pitching depth, holding things up at a record-setting rate.
Tyler Anderson and Tony Gonsolin account for 27 victories and only three losses. Those are your number 4 and 5 starters. Julio Urias has turned things around after a slow start and is on the pace to win close to the 20 wins that he had last year.
The bullpen is ranked third in MLB in ERA. Bullpen role players have stepped up above and beyond what was expected of them. Phillips, Almonte, Vesia, Price, Ferguson, and Graterol, all have excelled.
Even the lackluster performances by Kimbrel in the closer role have not derailed this team.
The pitching injuries and closer failure were enough to destroy the seasons of 90% of the teams out there. But not the Dodgers. This is a stacked bunch. Andrew Freidman has masterfully constructed a 40-man roster that is deeper than any of Major League baseball.
The subpar years from key position player components like Muncy, Taylor, and Bellinger have not resulted in extended losing streaks. Dave Robert’s patience with them appears to be paying off as they slowly come around. Even if they don’t fully return to being the threats they were before, their defense has been stellar, and they have contributed in small ways.
It wasn’t until late June that this ball club began to streak. They kind of snuck up on the baseball world with their dominance. Even with the occasional losing streak that had early on, they never dropped from contention. At no time was post-season play qualification in doubt. Now they are in a position where they could tank and play .250 baseball the remainder of the way, and they still would qualify for the playoffs.
There was a series in San Francisco where the ball club was swept. Early on, there was a series loss in Arizona and a lackluster series against Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but aside from those couple of slip-ups, this season seems to be near perfect. Their 12-1 August record speaks for itself.
With 48 games remaining (as of August 16), here is what their final record will look like if they play at the following clips:
.300 94-68
.350 97-65
.400 99-63
.450 102-60
.500 104-58
.550 106-56
.600 109-53
.650 111-51
.700 114-48
.750 116-46
.800 118-44
Setting the MLB record for victories is within reach, but it would require the Dodgers to continue to play at a record-setting pace. Probably highly unlikely as they step off the accelerator in late September when the division and home field advantage is clinched. At that point, the focus should be on the key components to remain healthy, sharp and as well rested as possible.
It would be great for the Dodgers to be in a position in their final weeks of play to have their position player starters get an at-bat or two and then rest half the game. At this point, this possibility seems highly likely. I call it Fall Training Baseball. Something they haven’t been able to practice for a few years due to extremely heated Division race chases. all know that their downfall in last year’s post season play was caused by weariness brought on by a heated pennant race when they won 106 games and finished second.
Some additional Dodger bullets:
- Crazy schedule makers have the Dodgers playing Miami and Milwaukee 14 times over the next two weeks. Milwaukee has been slumping, and Miami is out of contention. Is it possible to beef up their record even more prior to September?
- A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Lux, Freeman and Turner should all hit over .300 by season’s end and that Freeman would win the batting title. Perhaps a bit optimistic on my part, but none are falling off the table at this point. Admittedly, it’ll be tough for all those predictions to come to fruition, but I’m still hopeful.
- More on schedule quirkiness: This is the first season in MLB history (with the exception of 2001, when 9/11 canceled a week of September games) where the regular season won’t be finished until well into October. If the Dodgers go all the way, they cannot win the World Series in October because Game 4 of the World Series is scheduled for November 1st. If it goes seven games, the baseball season won’t conclude until November 5th. Throw in some inclement weather, and it pushes back more. Can we say Thanksgiving baseball?
- Just when you think Friedman couldn’t possibly pick up a quality acquisition off the scrap heap, he did so by shipping off Dodger utility man Zack McKinstry for right-handed reliever Chris Martin who is gelling at the right time. I like this pickup. Unfortunately for Martin, unless the injury bug hits the team hard, it will be difficult for him to make the post-season roster.
- Dave Robert’s and Andrew Friedman’s most difficult decisions will be who to keep off the 26-man roster in the postseason. There are so many deserving players on the cusp. Winning the championship this year is a 40-man roster proposition, not 26. So many have contributed valuably this year.
- Most fans were in favor of MLB’s changes regarding September roster expansion, restricting it to a cap of 28 players. Frankly, I am disappointed that we will have fewer prospects given the opportunity to show their stuff this year. Cartaya, Stone, Miller, Outman, Vargas, and Reed all probably deserve an opportunity. It looks like we will only get to add returning injured players but what exactly the front office brass is thinking is anyone’s guess.
- Brusdar Graterol, Victor Gonzalez, and Tommy Kahnle should be given a shot to recover from injury in September as well. There simply isn’t enough room for everyone. Nor is there time (Recent reports from Dave Robert’s states that Danny Duffy is feeling discomfort after facing live hitters, so he is probably out).
- The promotion of Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller to AAA Oklahoma City and Nick Nastrini to AA Tulsa is well deserved. Emmett Sheehan probably deserved a call-up, too, but when you send someone up, another has to be released or sent down. It is probably a numbers game. Speaking of numbers, Sheehan’s stats are quite impressive (W-L 6-2, 2.80 ERA, 16 GP, 10 GS, 54.2 IP, 37 H, 22 R, 17 ER, 2 BB, 17 K’s, .187 BAA, 1.15 WHIP).
Future Dodgers Down on the Farm (MT)
- OKC won 2-1
- Mike Grove had his best outing, going five innings, allowing four hits (all singles), 0 Runs, 0 BBs, and striking out 10!
- The Bazooka pitched one inning and allowed no Hits or Walks, striking out 1.
- Jacob Amaya is hitting .209
- Tulsa lost 9-5
- Kyle Hurt went 3.2 innings, allowed 2 Hits, 1 ER, walked 5, and struck out 6.
- Jordon Leasure gave up a walk-off Grand Slam – Game Over
- Great Lakes lost 6-3
- Diego Cartaya hit his 21st HR.
- Jose Ramos was 2-4 and hit his 23rd HR, and now has 85 RBI. I look for a big jump from him next year.
- Rancho Cucamonga won 9-6
- Dalton Rushing hit a 3-run HR and walked. He is hitting .469 and will move rapidly through the system.
- Yenier Fernandez (still 19) was 2-3 with his 8th HR
- Ronan Kopp went three innings and allowed 2 Hits, 2 ER, 2 BB, and 3 Ks.
Discussion (27)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Braves have begun extension talks with Dansby Swanson. White Sox signed Elvis Andrus.
Did the Great Bellinger re-set work? An 0-4 performance with 3 K’s……… err not yet. How much longer do we say but he plays great defense and runs the bases well? Dude is a former shell of himself at the plate and I’m thinking his Dodger days are short lived after 2022. Just a WAG, but we’ll see.
You can have Bellinger in the Dodgers’ lineup.
You can have Taylor in the Dodgers’ lineup.
You can have Gallon is the Dodgers’ lineup.
… but you can’t have all three.
Taylor and Gallo are liabilities.
Even if he doesn’t hit, Belli is an asset.
Strikeout %:
Bellinger 30%
Taylor 40%
Gallo 46%
Unless a miracle happens, Gallo will not be on the playoff roster, and CT3 is playing his way off.
Cody Stays.
Kevin Pillar? Doubtful he will be ready.
If it were me.. and it’s not: I would bring up Stone and Miller and let them see what they can do. They need to be challenged, in my opinion.
Devon Williams showed us what a closer is supposed to look like and it don’t look like Kimbrel or Kenley.
That wasn’t even fair.
Williams vs. Gallo, Taylor, and Bellinger…
Williams: Now that is a closer!
I wonder what the Dodger’s record in getaway games is?
I’m thinking it’s poor.
Watching Cody hit is very difficult at the moment.
I think it’s coming to the end game for him.
Nice comeback game from Lux! One passed ball away from a tied game!
Anyone seen Miller in person?
Odds he makes playoff roster?
He is the flava of the week in Podcast world. Trevor Plouffe, in particular, is all in on BM.
Bats need to awaken from their slumber if they want a series win. McCutcheon goes yard twice.
From Trea Turner regarding free agency:
From multiple organizations, you’d want to know what they expect or where it’s going or what they’re trying to do — kind of a vision,” Turner told Wittenmyer. “Whatever that vision is it is. But I think that’s mandatory. You need to know how the next few years look and how that pertains to you and your family and your career. It’s definitely a factor in picking a team.”
Charles Robinson·NFL columnist
Thu, August 18, 2022 at 12:01 PM
Deshaun Watson will serve an 11-game suspension and pay a $5 million fine for multiple violations of the league’s personal conduct policy in what amounts to one of the most significant penalties in NFL history, sources have confirmed to Yahoo Sports.
The Cleveland Browns quarterback and the NFL have settled his disciplinary case prior to a final ruling by arbitrator Peter C. Harvey, following an agreement between the two sides on Thursday. The fine is the steepest ever levied against an NFL player.
2:10 PM ET
Dodgers (81-35)
Brewers (62-54)
SP Andrew Heaney L
1-0 1.16 ERA 31IP 42K 10BB
SP Corbin Burnes R
8-5 2.39 ERA 143IP 181K 38BB
Confirmed Lineup
SS Trea Turner R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
DH Max Muncy L
3B J. Turner R
2B Gavin Lux L
RF Joey Gallo L
LF Chris Taylor R
CF C. Bellinger L
In Domed Stadium
Well, that wasn’t long. Belli is back in the lineup today, Betts gets a day off with Gallo in right and Taylor in LF against a really tough righty in Corbin Burns.
The rest of the usual suspects are in the lineup…
As a long time critic of Cody Bellinger in the past I don’t understand this out of nowhere benching by Roberts (FO?). What sticks out in my mind recently is that Cody hit two HR’s and was having good contact success. And, as usual playing incredible GG caliber defense and using his speed on the base paths. In the first four of his last seven games he hit .357 with a 1.285 OPS including three HRs. Then, he has a three quiet games where he hit .083 and struckout 5 times in 12 ABs. And for that he’s on the bench for some R&R. It seemed kind of a knee jerk reaction. What gives? Haven’t we all watched Max Muncy flounder for more than half a season without any consideration for a benching? More for a mental break than a physical one. Or, watching CT3 strikeout time after time while waiting for him to hit a HR every 40 ABs. There must be something going on in the background that we aren’t aware. It doesn’t make sense to me. He should be out of the doghouse soon.
Carry on
Duffy is out for the year. He will not be pitching for LA. Betances is going to retire.
We can quit discussing this when he is left off the playoff roster!
UPDATE ABOVE.
I did not have time to post the Minor League Notes this AM.
It’s up now.
The single last night was a 72 mph oppo flare. He’s been bitten by a lot of those this year. His command looked better last night. If he stops trying to throw his fastball as hard as he can and tries to locate better he could be a positive force going forward. I’m not giving up on him just yet!
I see the Lakers extended LA-Baby for two more years at 48 mil a year. That frees up a lot of time over the next couple years.
Beat on Kimbrel when he blows one, give him a little credit for coming back and getting the save last night. Stuff looked good to me.
Look I know he’s not been great.
But the Dodgers are better if he is the closer and I will pull for him….
MILWAUKEE — Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner is known for his smooth slides. Longtime Dodger Talk host David Vassegh will also be known for his slide, but not for the same reasons.
After a decade of coming to American Family Field, Vassegh was finally invited to slide down Bernie’s Chalet on Wednesday. It was all he talked about for about 24 hours.
Vassegh’s first slide down was a successful one. He braced for impact correctly, going feet first against the wall. He wasn’t so lucky in his second slide down. Vassegh wasn’t able to get his feet in position, crashing into the wall at full speed.
He rolled around in pain for about 30 seconds, though given his personality, a party of about a dozen people thought he was playing up the collision. Turns out, after a quick trip to the emergency room, Vassegh suffered two fractures in his right wrist and six cracked ribs.
Even while in serious pain, Vassegh was able to battle through his injury like a true warrior. Before going to the hospital, Vassegh interviewed Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who assured Vassegh that his slide was going to give everyone in the organization plenty of jokes moving forward.
I never thought I’d see David Price’s name and excel in the same sentence this late in the year! He’s persevered through some tough times as a Dodger. I’m happy for him. Great ending to a fantastic career!
Have to wonder if the leash on Bellinger is getting shorter and shorter. After a closed door meeting with Bellinger, Doc gives him a two game re-set. I think they’ve tried that before with Cody only to see modest improvement and then a regression to some very poor AB’s with a very high K rate.
Will they offer him arbitration or set him free in the off-season? Is Cody a “head case” or was his MVP season an aberration and this is the offensive player he always was? We’ve heard he works hard to get it right, but is he responsive to coaching? Is he still injured?
I love his defensive game and his speed on the base paths, but his AB’s are often hard to watch where we see a feeble swing that doesn’t resemble anything close to a MLB AB. Perhaps the FO sets him free and uses the saved $17 million AAV towards a long-term deal for TT. For Doc to be so outright with the “re-set” but yet vague and ambiguous with other roster moves might lead me to believe there is a growing frustration with Cody’s game and the Gallo acquisition might have also been designed to kick Cody in the pants a bit. Improve or sit?
If not for Barnes and Muncy providing all the offense the pitching would of been for not. Two runs on two swings of the bat are not gonna make it moving forward. But the offense will get back on track because they’re too good to slump any length of time. Till then (hopefully tonight) it sure is nice of Barns and Muncy to be such die-hards. Sure Dodgers could coast but they should avoid future stress and maybe relax with more of a lead without the needed save. I love daytime games as they remind me of the old days but this start at 11:00 this morning will cause me to miss at least a portion of the game. As Yogi had said “it gets late early out here”.
So yesterday’s Kimbrel still not impressive. I guess the law of averages say eventually you will not give up any runs. So sure he got all those saves when we are ahead by multiple runs and giving up 1 run each outing doesn’t hurt the team. I still think he should be left off playoff roster. One of my many ‘things’, is that I hate streaks. Especially going into playoffs. So happy that Caleb gave up that run. Didn’t we have a guy a few years back who didn’t give up a home run all regular season, until playoffs? I remember when my favorite NFL team had a kicker who didn’t miss a field goal all season. Only to help us lose by missing one in playoffs
I think this has nothing to do with today’s article, but it struck me that I read somewhere that even though SD has always been considered one of the best minor league farms, they currently have no player in the roster that has been created or coming from their minor leagues.
They all came as free agents or trades, I find it interesting.
Hopefully the high command of SD does not find out about this so that Preller continues to lead that disorganized organization!