Of course, that is a generalization that is not always true, but it is true enough of the time that I am concerned. Last night, the Dodgers scored 11 runs on 20 hits. Betts and Smith had 4 hits each, while Ohtani and Pages had 3 each. Muncy and Lux had two each. It was quite an offensive explosion, but I question why. Why is it frequently feast or famine? This does not seem normal to me. Is it Robert Van Socyoc’s methods that are at the root of the problem? Should the Dodgers’ failures at situational hitting rest squarely upon his shoulders?
One has to at least consider that, but you also have to consider the careers he has helped turn around: Muncy, JDM, CT3, Will Smith, and others. Mookie has flourished under him. So has Freddie and Ohtani (so far). The Dodgers are always near the top in runs scored, OB%, and OPS… year-after-year. However, the Dodgers are also always near the top in strikeouts. Strikeouts used to be like leprosy – no one wanted it! In modern baseball, strikeouts are taken with a Yawn. Why is that?
Striking out used to be extremely frowned upon. Now, some guys strike out a third of the time and can still be considered elite hitters. The strike zone is actually the largest it’s ever been right now. Back in his 56-game hitting streak, Joe DiMaggio wasn’t facing pitchers throwing over 100 mph and he played before the ‘high strike’ rule. He also played before technology allowed pitchers to learn the tendencies of every batter. You have to be careful when comparing historically great players to today’s players because of how much has changed. Joe DiMaggio could not duplicate his 56-hit streak against today’s pitchers. Basically, the strikeout rate is high because of the advantage that technology and scouting reports give to pitchers. Of course, hitters have access to similar information for pitchers, but they benefit far less than pitchers do. It has nothing to do with hitters not valuing getting contact but rather them being unable to do it.
Dodger hitters only struck out six times last night! SIX! It was also six times on Tuesday. They scored 10 runs against the Mets on Sunday and struck out five times, but they also have games where they strike out in double figures. Is that a big deal? The Dodgers average 9.0 strikeouts a game. They rank #5 in strikeouts. The Atlanta Braves are 20th in strikeouts and they average 8.4 per game. Is that a huge deal? .6 more strikeouts a game? The Dodgers have averaged 5.34 runs a game this year, while the Braves have averaged 5.95 runs a game. Evidently, strikeouts do make a difference… especially when you have four players hitting .208 or less: Kike, CT3, Lux, and Outman.
Outman, Muncy, Teoscar, Taylor, and Pages all strike out over 30% of the time. Muncy and Teoscar have shown they can be successful while doing that. The Jury is still out on Outman, Taylor, and Kike Hernandez! They are currently killing the Dodgers with strikeouts. The hitting coach, Kevin Seitzer, of the Atlanta Braves, has a little different philosophy than RVS. Seitzer’s emphasis is relatively simple: Focus on hitting the ball through the middle rather than pulling it, and all good things flow from there. He wants players to focus on hitting fastballs through the middle because trying to pull the ball requires committing to swinging too early. It took some time, but Seitzer turned Jared Kelnec around. Kelnic is a lefty and has struggled for years. He is currently hitting .316, and it is interesting to see that he does not hit against LHP. PERIOD! The Dodgers have several players who also would not hit against LHP, namely Gavin Lux, James Outman, Jason Heyward, and (gulp) Max Muncy. That may be too many platoons?
Landon Knack: A Great #5 or #6
Since Landon Knack made some dietary and conditioning changes in the 2022 offseason, I have been on his bandwagon and have always said that he should be an excellent #5 starter… maybe a #6 with Yamamoto in the rotation. Knack is a workhorse and has a thick strong body to handle it. I like Landon Knack… a lot. You can’t have All-Stars at every position and he slots nicely at #5 or #6. He keeps you in the game and throws strikes. I also think Gavin Stone will be filthy in the bullpen and it looks like Bazooka and Sheehan are a ways away. Stone can take the Bazooka’s place.
Minor League Notes
- OKC BOX SCORE – Again, the Unnamed Baseball Club was at Albaquacky, but Miguel Vargas is working back from his slump. It is good to see him adjust. This is a game of adjustments. I am still as high on Miguel as I have ever been. He doubled and tripled last night and went 2-3 with 2 runs scored, 2 RBI, and 2 BB. He is now hitting .297/.1024 OPS. He leads the team in RBIs. He is playing a solid LF. Kody Hoses is hitting .339/.886. He is not a power hitter but is more of a contact hitter. The Dodgers tried to change his swing but are letting him be who he is… and he is a hitter in the mold of Kevin Seitzer. Will that play in today’s game? Andre Lipcuis continues to rake 9.309/.942) as he went 3-6 and hit his 6th HR. OK – 4 IP/5 R/3 ER/2 BB/ you have been waiting for the Buehler Report. Here it is: 4 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR (it’s Albaquacky). He threw 86 pitches – 54 for strikes. Remember where he was pitching. Albaquacky is a hard place to pitch and he did well… considering. He did not throw over 95.9 MPH, but he had 9 pitches over 95 and over a dozen over 94. I think we will see him next week in a Ravine near you. John Rooney (1.54 ERA) is on the horizon too.
- TULSA BOX SCORE – Austin Gauthier was 3-3 (.293/1.002) with his 3rd HR. Jose Ramos hit his 5th. Ronan Kopp pitched a hitless inning walking one (of course) and striking out one. Neither Cartaya or Rushing played.
- GREAT LAKES BOXSCORES – Game 1 Game 2 – Alex Freeland (.357/1.080) remains smoking hot. Jackson Ferris looked great going 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1, ER, 1 BB, and striking out 5.
- RANCHO CUCAMONGA BOX SCORE – Gelof homered, and Jerel Perez continues to hit going 2-4 with 3 RBI (.339/1/122).
Discussion (22)
Disagree, not disagreeable
They got hits, but they were pretty tepid with men on base again. No matter, the pitching picked up the offense. DC made a huge mistake pitching to Freddie in the 8th. Must have no clue that since he joined LA, his BA with men in scoring position is off of the charts. Nice win. Jays are at .500 with a 13-13 record. Tonight’s pitcher, Bassitt, is 2-3. with a 3.90 ERA. Saturday sees Glasnow square off against Kikuchi. He is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Tough lefty. Gausman will start for Toronto in game three. Only Jays hitter over .300 is JT. They do not have much pop right now. Varsho is leading their team with 6 HRs. Guerrero is only hitting .214. Bichette, .223. Gausman was actually drafted by the Dodgers in 2010, but did not sign. He is 0-3 right now.
Every Dodger Minor League League Team won on Thursday
Thursday scores
Oklahoma City 21, Albuquerque 9
Tulsa 6, NW Arkansas 4
Great Lakes 5, Fort Wayne 1
Rancho Cucamonga 12, Lake Elsinore 10
Friday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Peter Heubeck) at Fort Wayne (Henry Baez)
5 p.m.: Tulsa (Kendall Williams) vs. Northwest Arkansas (Eric Cerantola)
5:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Elieser Hernández) at Albuquerque (Karl Kauffmann)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Patrick Copen) vs. Lake Elsinore (Eric Yost)
Fantastic series!! Way to go Dodgers!! In the end it is going to be the starting pitching that puts us in a position to win. Glasnow , Yamamoto, and Miller if healthy looks like the 3 who would make up the playoff rotation. A fourth could emerge. Watching this team it is pretty obvious good pitching stops good hitting.. lefties will still be a problem for us. This year is the best Betts has ever been arguably. Ohtani has been very good although he looked overmatched today against Gore. Will Smith off to a great start. Freeman can hit good pitching. The challenge as the year progresses is going to be putting the ball in play.
Good win, good series.
Onto Canada now…
Gotta feel for CT3 right now. He’ll come out of this.
Ok, am I the only one that notices when ever the Dodgers lose it’s all about firing Dave Roberts, but when they win it’s crickets out there! Hey Mark , you gotta do some kind of vetting process on at least half of these tool bags on this site, they have no fing clue what the true backround of the subject is that they are bitching about,, obviously haven’t listened to interviews of certain players, pitching and hitting coaches, even Dave Vasseghe, who is about the closest reporter you’ll get for inside scoop on the team. My measuring stick on this site to weed out the true knowledge fans from the front running douchbags is the knee jerk ‘Fire Roberts ‘ BS. Is Doc perfect? Hell no, but once again if y’all would listen to some of the guys (execs, coaches ) who were actually on the front lines you might learn something instead of continually feeling cool behind your keyboard shooting your pie hole off about something that you never took the time to research . Uncle Ned Colleti has said time and time again that the Dodgers are the most patient organization he has ever seen in his 40 some odd years in the business . Don’t believe me? Instagram him like I did, you might learn something, Gavin Lux? Vasseghe said( because he actually did the research and talked to surgeons who are familiar with his reconstructed knee surgery) that they said that type of injury take a up to 18 months to feel 100 percent recovery . That’s why they keep trotting him out there. He was the top player in the minors only a few years ago , ain’t no way Freidman is going to give up on him just yet. Bullpen wise , which is gettin better, anybody who has any kind of baseball IQ knows that you gotta trot some of your guys out there knowing they might get lit up that game, but you have to find out in April and May who are the keepers so you have your true ‘pen by October, roles defined., battle tested guys . Get your thinking beyond one game or one series for that matter , and start listening to some of these guys who are close to the Dodger players and coaches on a daily basis. To a man , they all say Dodger brass plays the long game, thinking October right now instead of April. And I’m serious Mark, get rid of some of these poser boys, and you and I know who they are, toxic as hell, you could hang them with a velvet rope and the would still bitch about the fit!!!!
Don’t we still need a third baseman, a shortstop, a left fielder, a center fielder, a closer and a top of the rotation starter.? Oh and a new hitting instructor and a new manager. And our crummy owner only spent like 1.2 billion dollars this off season. What a mess! I’m moving my allegiance down the freeway to a team that has it all together.
Bye, Bye!
When the Dodgers are doing well, there’s not much to bitch about and most commenters go away!
Bye, Bye!
Yamamoto had much better command today. Granted, Nationals are weak but he was sharp. Bluto, what is Yamamoto’s IVB on his fastball compared to Knack’s? I’m guessing not even close to his movement. Now THAT’S how you close a game!
Holy crap! That ball was headed for Yamamoto’s face! He doesn’t catch it it could have killed him. Nice job dude !
Now that did not take long for the bottom half of the lineup to screw up.
CT3 is outrage embarassing the way he is playing these days. IMHO it would serve the team and himself best to go to Arizona and work on his swing.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
maybe Doc should put Rojas in the nine hole so at least Mookie would come up to bat with someone on base. Barnes and Taylor right at this moment pretty much useless with A bat in there hand. and bear, as far as Joe Davis goes not a big fan, but by far would rather listen to him than Stephen Nelson , neveret is better than both. hopefully the Dodgers can finish off the sweep today, but with Taylor and Barnes in the lineup could be another Lackluster day at the ballpark. Need the first six to shine today and and six innings plus from the starter not much not too much to ask for.. It’s actually a shame that there’s nowhere to get Will Smith bat In the lineup without taking Ohtani out. Go Barnes!
Found this on Twitter and think it’s very interesting.
The amount of movement Dodgers development has wrung out of Knack’s arsenal.
Four-Seamer (42 thrown): averaged 92.6mph, WITH 19.6″(!!) Induced Vertical Break (IVB) & 8.7″ Horizontal Break (ArmSide)
Change (10): 83.8 mph, 13.3″ IVB, 10.5″ horziontal AS
Curve (10): 78.3, -16.7″, 7.8 GloveSide
SL (31): 84.6, 3″, 5″ GS
You may ask, as I did, what is IVB?
Well, it is a measure of how well the ball avoids the effects of gravity in a pitch. The higher it is the more a hitter thinks a pitch is rising, ergo, the higher the IVB theoretically the higher the whiffs up in the zone and called strikes down.
More here ($$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/understanding-pitch-classification-in-the-pitch-tracking-era/
From what I’ve read, only (9) nine pitchers in all of baseball averaged higher than 19.6” of IVB last season. Knack’s heater has seriously good carry!
4:05 PM ET
Dodgers (15-11)
Nationals (10-13)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
1-1 4.50 ERA
SP MacKenzie Gore L
2-1 3.60 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
3B E. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
LF Chris Taylor R
SS Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes R
59° Wind 7 mph
LA. needs yamamoto to step it up today! Stone probably has 1-2 more starts to try and remain in the rotation. as of now, Knack is outperforming him, although small sample size. pulling big time for paxton to get it right. last outing wasn’t awful, but the walks are concerning. need James to step it up till reenforcements are back. when miller comes back, and walker, could paxton become that lefty specialist in the bullpen the dodgers need? nice game for lux last night! pages could absolutely go on a roll as he gets more comfortable! as far as taylor is concerned, how could the dodgers even consider sending pages down and keeping taylor ? guess barnes is catching today. oh well, someone has to cool Will off! Bear . i know you don’t like Orel as a broadcaster, so did you ever like him as a player? just curious!
Knack has a pretty straight fastball for a guy who throws 93. I am not particularly sanguine. Stone’s stuff is better.
Graterol totally shut down. You are not going to see him for a while. Another reason for a lot of strikeouts is the really bad umpiring happening in the majors now. Hard to hit when there is no set strike zone. There were more than a few calls last night where the ball was not in the zone. Bellinger, back on the IL with broken ribs. Mike Trout has revived himself. First MLB player to 10 long balls. With Graterol down for an extended period of time, LA might be looking for BP help.
Nothing good happens when hitters strikeout. Players should change their approach with two strikes.
Just because it’s tolerated or considered acceptable doesn’t make it okay.
Thursday Dodger Minor League Schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Dinelson Lamet) at Albuquerque (Tyler Danish)
4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Jared Karros) at Fort Wayne (Miguel Cienfuegos)
5 p.m.: Tulsa (Orlando Ortiz-Mayr) vs. Northwest Arkansas (Chandler Champlain)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Patrick Copen) vs. Lake Elsinore (Harry Gustin)
dePaula had to leave yesterdays game when he was running the bases and came up limp. Hopefully nothing serious. Kid was just finding his swing.
We should not expect to get the same WB back that we lost to his second TJ surgery.
The velo probably will not reach the 98,99 mph range again and that was his strength, his forte, his out pitch whenever he got into trouble. If he does not adjust to being more of a pitcher than a thrower we might be looking at the same problem as wth Syndergaard.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Where’s Payton Martin this year?
Why move Stone out of the rotation?
Even if Buehler returns we have space.
It is tough to watch such a great person and teammate like Taylor struggle so much. I’m rooting for him. When he starts hitting the off speed stuff to right center he’ll be on his way. Lux needs to elevate the ball and Outman needs to keep his hard hit balls in play. Still early and still time to turn things around. We don’t need their bats to win the West. We need them in October. Pages went down and spanked a low fastball out last night. Now can he turn on one that’s elevated. I like his composure and makeup. I also like Doc’s makeup. His eyeliner was spot on yesterday during his in game interviews!