As you watch this here 2021 version of the Dodgers, you realize that there are just some days when everyone (or almost everyone) is just sleep-walking and are flatter than pancakes. Sunday was one of those days. I mean when 86-year-old Albert Pujols is your only offense, you have to be flatter than pancakes. The Dodgers need a Kirk Gibson… someone who will step up and call his teammates out. Trevor Bauer is the closest we have and since this is his first year, I am not sure he is comfortable doing that.
Mookie Betts is the logical person to go “bat-shit crazy” on his teammates, but I can’t help but feel that he is somehow “detached.” You never know what is going on in someone’s life. Justin Turner is not that “get in your face guy”! It appears to me that the Dodgers do not have that guy on the team… and that could be a very bad thing! Games like Sunday are unacceptable! I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore. Someone should step up and say just that!
The Dodgers need someone who can lead by example and also get in the players faces when they need it. Either someone internal needs to step into that role (Albert Pujols?) or the Dodgers need to make a Blockbuster Trade and get that guy!
Dodger Minor League Report
- OKC BOXSCORE – The Dodgers lost 8-5 and in 2 IP, Dennis Santana and the Bazooka (now the “pop gun”) gave up all 8 runs! OUCH! Ravelo had 2 hits and Raley was 1-3 with 2 RBI. Souza Jr. was also 2-4. I watched the game and it was ugly! Santana and Graterol were arrested right after the game for impersonating pitchers.
- TULSA BOXSCORE – The game was suspended due to rain in the top of the second inning.
- GL BOXSCORE – The Loons won 8-4 as Miguel Vargas is showing he needs to go to AA. Miguel went 3-5 with 2 RBI and his 5th HR. He is now hitting .336 with a .944 OPS. Carson Taylor was 2-3 and Zac Ching was 2-4. High A seems to have derailed Outman (.233), Liput (.172), and Yurchak (.137)… at least for a minute. Clayton Beeter started and was allowed just 1 IP. He had 1 K and allowed no baserunners. Landon Knack pitched 2 innings allowing 3 hits and 1 run with 3 K’s. Cole Percival pitched 3 innings and allowed 1 run as he got the win.
- RC BOXSCORE – Rancho beat Inland Empire 6-3. Diego Cartaya blasted two HR’s and was 2-4 (.419 BA/1.486 OPS). Deluca had 2 hits as did McWilliams and Vargas (the other one). Kendall Williams pitched 4 innings, striking out 8 and allowing 2 ER. Braydon Fisher pitched 3.2 scoreless innings, and Jose Hernandez pitched the final inning to get the save.
TULSA DRILLERS TOP PROSPECTS
Today, I am going to discuss the real prospects at Tulsa and separate the Pretenders frim the Contenders.
- Mike Busch is the Top Prospect at Tulsa. He has 6 HR and is hitting .261 with a .944 OPS. I think he sees OKC before the end of the year. He is a hitter and improving at 2B.
- Kody Hoese is starting to get it together after a horrid start. He is hitting .192 with a .479 OPS. He has 1 HR in 104 AB’s. Frankly, until this week, he has looked WAY overmatched.
- Donovan Casey is a quality 4th outfielder-type. He has speed and a great arm and developing power. He is hitting .305 with a .753 OPS.
- Jeren Kendall is starting to look like he might be clicking. I was ready to throw him out with the bathwater. Time will tell. He is now hitting .225 (after a hot week) with a .749 OPS.
- Jacob Amaya, Hunter Feduccia, Devin Mann, Carlos Rincon, Stevie Berman, and Ryan Noda all look like career minor leaguers.
- Kenneth Betancourt has a shot… too early to know.
I really think there are just three impactful major league players there, but on the pitching side, there are a bunch:
- Ryan Pepiot – He is the best of the bunch and while he is starting, I see his future in the bullpen. Presently, he has a 2.12 ERA and has struck out 25 in 17 IP.
- Darien Nunez – 6′ 2″ LH needs a little better control, but he is progressing. We profiled him a few days ago.
- Mark Washington – 6′ 7″ RHP with a mid-90’s fastball, a decent changeup and a nice slider. His control is not bad for a guy so big. He’s is a bullpen option.
- Justin Bruihl – 6′ 3″ LHP with 4-solid pitches, including a low 90’s fastball and slider, but a great changeup.
- Alec Gamboa – 6′ 1″ LHP could be a starter as he has several pitches, including at least two mid-90’s fastballs, a slider and change up. This guy is a sleeper.
- Nick Robertson – 6′ 6″/265 lb RHP now tops out at 98 MPH – has the plus fastball to go with a hammer curve. We could see him THIS year!
- Aaron Ochsenbein – 6′ 3″ RHP with a low 90’s fastball, nice splitters and a developing slider. He could move up quickly.
- Gerardo Carillo – Slight 6′ 0″ RH with mid-to-high 90’s fastball. He also has a slider and/or power cutter that is solid. He will most certainly be a reliever.
- Andre Jackson – A 6′ 3″ RHP, Jackson looks like a high-leverage reliever to me. In 25 IP he has allowed 14 hits, 7 BB, and struck out 30. His 0.83 WHIP shows his 3.20 ERA is an anomaly. His mid-90’s fastball and a slider/cutter that is close to MLB. Liek most youngsters he needs work on his control.
- Gus Varland was part of the Cody Thomas, Adam Kolarek trade and is a person of interest. He is a 6′ 1″ RHP and has a 94 MPH Fastball and a major league slider – that’s all he needs… for the bullpen. Watch him.
- John Rooney – 6′ 5″ LH has a smooth, repeatable delivery. HIs fastball is in the low 90’s and his slider is “OK”. He is trying to master a changeup, but I see him as a swingman.
If Michael Grove can ever get his control back, he can be good to great. He has good stuff, but he has walked 18 batters in 19 IP while striking out 24. Of course, not all of these pitcers will pan out, but they have tools that can help them succeed. It will be fun to watch.
Tulsa is loaded with big league arms. They are a fun team to watch. It’s a great time to be a Dodger fan… even if the big club lost yesterday. They will right the ship!
Discussion (25)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The report that 19-year-old Cartaya hit a 461-foot “moonshot” HR, and 21-year-old Vargas missed the cycle by a single is heartening….
So maybe 4 years from now…. Ruiz/Cartaya at C, Smith at 3B, Lux at SS, Vargas (or Hoese) at 3B, Busch at 2B… And an OF of Mookie, Belli and a leftfielder to be named later. (Pages?)… McKinstry as UT.
Who’s on 1st?
Muncy could still be fine. … Hey, maybe Rios will come back strong! And they could share the DH role too…
For some reason I prefer thinking about the future Dodgers right now.
Can’t wait to see that lineup again!
Something to think about…
Betts RF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Bellinger CF
Muncy 1B
Smith C
Pollock LF
Lux 2B
This was the second game of the season. they scored 11 runs and it was the ONLY TIME this season that they all played together.
Let that sink in for a minute.
They have only played together once this season and somehow they lead MLB in runs scored anyways.
In case you haven’t noticed, the starting rotation is pretty damn good too. We still have a very good bullpen piece on the IL in Knebel and the bullpen overall has been middle of the road even with all those rookies filling in.
It seems silly to complain so much when we are where we are and haven’t played with anything near a full team yet.
I haven’t managed employees who make $30,000,00 a year and have ten-year contracts. Maybe “is everything good with your wife and kids” doesn’t work with them. But I would think that a manager would have some high level of insight and the training and experience necessary to work with his staff to help them to overcome the issues that are holding them back. I don’t know what is keeping Mookie, for example, from performing at his normal level. But isn’t that a manager’s job? To be realistic about it, I’m sure Roberts is not blind to the problem and I assume (hope?) he is trying to help. But just to say “they will come around” or “it’s early in the season” is not much of a solution nor is it an appropriate management style.
I don’t have any answers but I do think there is a problem and it isn’t just adding or subtracting a few players or some players on the IL. Last year this team lost one series all year. They looked focused in every game. Not so this year.
I’m neither suggesting we “blow up” the team, nor am I in a panic mode. And I agree that the players are paid quite well for performing. But I own a business and have employees and I need to do all I can to see that they are performing at their best level, especially when it is apparent that they are performing poorly compared to their ability. I’m sure many of you are in the same position (hello Mark!). All I’m suggesting as an area of discussion is that Dave Roberts is the manager and he’s the one in charge of the team performance. I guess you can sit back and say that it’s early in the season and we’ll get better. I guess you can also say that business is bad and it will get better. Maybe it will and maybe it won’t. So if that’s the case, why have a manager?
I’ll bet they won’t win then!
Well how could we forget. The nationals wildcard team dispatched the dodgers that year, Cards, and ASSTROS at Minute Maid park. Won 93 regular season games. Atlanta 97. They basically did it with a hot Strasburg, Corbin, and Scherzer, with a 4th starter pitching over his head. Strasburg has been hurt ever since.
I agree with your optimism Mark and certainly we are still in good position. We just need to get healthy and stay that way. We have the talent with some new bullpen faces. This optimism will last unless the pirates beat us tonight lol
Washington did not win the World Series in 2019!
No way they could do it, because, on this date in 2019, they were 28 and 35 and their hitting and bullpen were in shambles.
This is applying the same nonsense some of you are spouting. They got better in the second half.
The Dodgers are 34 and 25! HELLO! We are in so much better shape than they were in 2019.
World Series Malise, Injury Bug, Bad Luck… whatever! The game is played by humans, not machines. This too shall pass. As bad as they have been, they are #4 in Power Rankings.
I was not sold on Gavin LUx at the start of the season. Then he got on a little run and looked good, but now he is back to .238 and his OB% is .293. That sucks BIG TIME! When Corey Seager comes back and if Lux is still hitting like this, it may be time to move Smith to 2B or 3B and see what Ruiz can do.
Smith is not a big guy and could benefit offensively by playing a less taxing position.
1. Betts RF (I think he will come around)
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 2B
4. Bellinger CF
5. Smith 3B
6. Muncy 1B
7. Pollock LF
8. Ruiz C
McKinstry and Taylor play all over.
Pujols is team mascot and designated hitter and pinch hitter.
We are right in the hunt.
We lost a road series to a good team (even though they are under .500).
It’s June 7th; not time to panic. Need to clean up a few things and they will…starting tomorrow in Pittsburg.
Just like all good businesses, winning teams require leadership, and that starts with management. When things are not going well, you don’t rely on the employees to figure out what’s wrong and motivate each other–that’s what management is for, especially when things are not going well. It’s easy to run a business or baseball team when everything is humming along, but the great businesses or baseball teams are the ones who take the appropriate action(s) when things are not going well. That’s why you have managers and that’s what makes great managers. Heck, why have managers if you believe only the players are the ones who can fix this?
* I mentioned before this road trip that the next 15 games would be an indication if we were going to make a move up the standings or not. So far we’re 1 and 2.
* As a coach I used to stress the importance of our pitchers dominating the bottom of the lineup. Certainly big league hitters are more dangerous but there is still usually a reason guys are hitting 7th and 8th and then pitchers or pinch hitters. Yesterday, the bottom 3 spots for the Dodgers were 0 for 10.
7 total hits and 0 walks made for no traffic on the bases and only 5 LOB. Where are the bats?
* Larry Vanover is one of the old guard umpires who has his own personal strike zone and refuses to call the high strike, until he does. The ring up of Taylor in the 4th was horseshit. But like Joe West, you’d better not say anything. I’ve gone a few days without lobbying for ABS so it’s time.
* Does Smith not get along with home plate umps? He gets more marginal strike calls at bat than anybody.
* Between Freeman and Pujols, first is like the welcome wagon over there. They appear to be enjoying themselves but there was a time when that kind of fraternizing was discouraged by the league and some hard-nose players. It’s unlikely you would have seen Ted Williams or Pete Rose giving any hugs over there.
* I notice weird things. The whole series at Truist Park, I noticed how tight the backstop netting is. It’s like a trampoline. Foul balls off the netting constantly bound back to home plate or bounce off the brick wall back to the catcher. Any wild pitch has the potential to ricochet right back to the catcher.
* Mookie looked back in his “yank mode” again.
* I suggested that MLB should put off the illegal substance enforcement until spring training. Then they can start fresh, clarify what’s illegal, how it will be enforced, what are the penalties and maybe consider tacifying the baseball beyond rubbing mud on it. Is sunscreen and rosin illegal?
Instead Manfred is going to turn this into a witch-hunt and any suspected violator better have his spin electronically monitored, as Bauer’s was yesterday, to look for significant changes in spin rates. Then guys like Bauer can be labeled as cheaters and Managers like Doc can be compared to Hinch and Cora. There are fans already comparing using illegal substance to gain an advantage to the use of steroids to gain an advantage. Again MLB will turn this into a shit-show. before it’s all said and done.
Good article in the Athletic by Fabian Ardaya about Bauer and the proposed crack down.
I know it is not good to kick some one when they are down but we are one-third through the season and I think that is a large enough sample size to allow criticism for our very well paid players. I am normally very positive but looking at this year and last combined- I echo earlier comments today that Belli may only be a home run hitter with an inability to change now that pitchers have figured out his long swing (I think AF has a really hard decision to make when spending huge dollars/long term on him): I kept hoping that Lux would settle into a grove but it looks his grove is utility infielder; I love Kershaw but he has been paid very well, is now in decline, and if he wants to continue then I have no problem hoping he does well in Texas; our bullpen is truly a revolving door but more blame goes on the offense; I am afraid Mookie is what we see; there is no way Seager is back as his agent will get every possible dollar from some team willing to make a big mistake. My final worry is complacency as the players have read they are the best and just assume they are going to win. I know when I compete in racquetball against someone inferior and let off the gas a little, it is really hard to turn it back on when needed. I don’t think the hunger is there and the Padres smell blood!! Sorry for all the negative but it seems this is a perfect storm of a lot of bad things coming together augmented by a lot of injuries that have provided the players with an excuse. There is a reason we rarely see teams winning back-to-back championships. Boy do I hope I am 100% wrong!! I would really like to look stupid!!
Tommy speaking through me.
CT3 knew he was going to make contact, I knew it too. I also knew, as he did, that it wouldn’t make it out of the park. I could read that much in his face. It’s a popular look with the Dodgers as of late. I guess there’s a lot of satisfaction that comes with winning a championship, Damnit! Before you pass that baton give an example of what you’re supposed to do before handing it off! All that talent and opportunity and this is what us fans get? Win and then get eaten by lions? Be the Mo-Fu lions and represent. Or how many years before the next parade? If you let it slip through your fingers, how special is it? Because right now is the time to show what the Dodgers are all about. Not thirty some years later!
I think all of us ,maybe not from a offensive output so much,miss Kike and Joc.We miss that fire in the belly that Kiki has,that constant fun smile Joc kept,it infected the team in a great way.To me we really miss that,I know we can overcompensate.I do think we will.But I also am watching mlb and these pitch doctors and spin rates.That could change a lot .
What?
No big discussion on spin rate with MLB now enforcing foreign substances on balls and Trevor Bauer’s on his four seam fastball dropping from 2,835 in his first 12 games to 2,612 rpm yesterday.
As for Mookie, he has a nagging injury or maybe not. He loves LA. Possibly a funk, a bad stint. Players have those.
I agree there is no Gibson type. That would have to come from Turner.
Certainly injuries haven’t helped. But there is something missing on this team. No, it’s not Joc or Kiki. But look at the Dodgers win. They get four hits … four and score nine runs. MLB is doing that. Change the ball and whatever other dumb decisions good old Rob Manfred can come up with. Some of it the residue of too much analystics. Yes, for the most part the game is boring.
Come on Mark. You should know that Albert is not a day over 49. But what the heck, he got two hits yesterday and he hustles. Old guys rule.
It’s not the bullpens fault that in the last month and a half we’ve scored three runs or less 19 times. You’re not gonna win a lot of games with that lack of production. We’re just not hitting and not hitting for power. And we’re losing a lot of close games. Lacking in passion and belief. Somebody needs to crack the whip!
You do realize we have the highest payroll in all of baseball. How much more can AF do? Guys have been injured and just not performing. It’s on the players to be better.
After last week’s personal back slapping post, maybe it’s time to give acknowledgement to those who said it would be wise to freshen things up and not let anyone rest on their laurels.
It was stated many times that you should always strengthen from a position of strength. Offensively we stood pat, or in fact went backwards with the loss of Joc and Kike.
The need for a RH bat was discussed as was the need for some decent bench pieces.
The signing of Bauer was excellent and exactly what you should do when the WS Champions. I listened to the Cardinal’s announcers yesterday, and they said as much – they were in doubt that he is the Ace on our staff.
We didn’t strengthen on the offensive side, and as DodgerRick had stated many times, it is our Starting Rotation that is keeps us afloat.
Seagar is a huge loss of course, but I have my doubts as to whether Belinger will ever be more than a HR hitter. He doesn’t seem interested in evolution.
Mookie stats are much better than he looks. I think AF is going to regret this one. He really doesn’t have any star qualities unless it is on defense. Right now he is not a basestealer. Mb he has some kind of leg issue holding him back but he should have been running in Atlanta. No power, doesn’t really have a certain pitch he hammers. Does not hit well with runners in scoring position. He has had one great year statistically. I know his defense helped us win a World Series so I am grateful. I was expecting a superstar and I just don’t c it. Mb something is wrong and I hope there is if it can be corrected. His body type would not appear to b durable in the long haul. He appears to be a class act so there is that. Mb I just expected too much. Most players have a hot streak and he is due.
Does anyone know what is up with Busch and Gray ?
Busch has not played in some time now and Gray was supposed to be out for only 2-3 weeks.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!
Missed the game and I am glad I did. I get very frustrated with this particular bunch. I did watch the recap after I got home from our jam session, which went pretty well despite a little afternoon drizzle. Comedy was provided by the owners dog, Odie James, who managed to knock Lonnie out of his chair several times, get off of his leash, and generally cause a little havoc. Odie is a full blooded Malamute. Good news is that both SF and SD lost. Giants lost Longoria for 4 to 6 weeks. Story on MLBTR says Pads might target Joey Gallo if Texas makes him available. Pujols jack was not a cheapy…pretty nice for a 86 year old guy.
I agree. This team will probably stabilize and start playing consistently better the second half of the season but I am also frustrated by the lack of emotion they are displaying. Watch Tatis and Acuna play and you not only see tremendous talent but enthusiasm for the game. I’m not sure we have that type of player on our squad this year. Mookie should be that guy.
Mookie detached? What are you speculating….he’s got some personal issues, he doesn’t like it in LA, something else?
His detachment could be .258 BA, .372 OBP, .438 SLG, .810 OPS, 127 OPS+ with just a 2 WAR.
mookie! Stop playing with your jewelry FOCUS on baseball earn your money.