That is not the law firm defending Trevor Bauer, but it is the four most scrutinized members of the LAD organization. I started to respond to Mark’s post from yesterday, but I got called away for errands. It then got too long for a response, so I decided to make it my own post. I am writing this before Game 1 with NYM, so this could all go to H*** before it gets published.
Gavin Lux is a 23 year old former MiLB Player of the Year, who has ALL of the skills, but right now he lacks confidence. I was disappointed that the Dodgers selected Lux over Bo Bichette, and have written so ad nauseum. But it wasn’t that I thought Gavin would be a bust. It was that I thought Bichette was closer to ML and would be better overall in his career. So far, it looks like I was right. But that does not mean that Lux cannot also be an AS. He is not going to gain that confidence unless he is in the lineup. As I have said before, anyone who watched Gavin at Tulsa and OKC saw a different approach. He was reactive – more see ball hit ball hard. And he hit all over the yard. This team is coached to work the count. I do not think Gavin works better in that environment. Neither does Corey Seager, but Gavin is not Corey. I do not know how that concept is relayed in team meetings or thru coaches, but it is coached, and Gavin is having a tough time complying. IMO, a light bulb will go on, and Lux will flourish. Let Gavin try to build some confidence before the playoffs. If he doesn’t, it will not matter.
Not every young player is Fernando Tatis, Jr., or Ronald Acuna, Jr., or Juan Soto. Most are more like Dansby Swanson and Brendan Rogers, two guys I followed very closely in MiLB.
As a 22 year old, after a brief positive callup in 2016, Swanson’s OPS regressed to two sub .700 OPS as a 23 and 24 year old. As a 25 year old, he improved to a .748 OPS. The Braves stayed patient, and for the last two years, Swanson has had an OPS of .809, with 24 HRs thus far in 2021. How many would have quit on Swanson on this site? I will not name names, but you can figure it out.
Brendan Rogers was even more acclaimed as a three time top 10 MiLB prospect and #14 a fourth year. He was an excellent MiLB player. He was lost as a 22-23 year old, but Colorado stuck with him and this year (at 24), Brendan is batting .286/.345/.471/.817. I figure the confidence is growing every game, and next year, Rogers will be starting and playing where Trevor Story has the last six years.
Another player in that category is the Nationals Carter Kieboom. Kieboom looked more like Kiebust as a 21-22 year old. After a very brief start at MLB this year, Kieboom went back to AAA to work more on 3B and not sitting on a bench. When he came back this summer, it was a different Kieboom. For August, Carter is batting .304/.375/.500/.875. Think the Nats are glad they held on to Kieboom? It wasn’t that Mike Rizzo did not have offers. He just said no.
It would have been so easy for the Braves, Rockies, and Nats give up on Swanson, Rogers, and Kieboom respectively, but all three are starting to show what patience will do. They are not potential HOF players like Tatis, Acuna, and Soto, but they will be solid every day ML infielders. Maybe Lux will not get that confidence in LA. Not everyone does. But AF and Doc are going to give him every opportunity to succeed at the ML level. What else does he have to prove in MiLB? As is so often stated here on this site, development is not linear. Gavin will figure it out, and when he does, some team will reap the rewards of a gifted middle infielder. Hopefully Doc will not follow fans knee jerk reactions and continue to keep him in the lineup, and AF will not give up on this player.
Belli has said that after consultation with his coaches and looking at film, they determined that his shoulder is just not strong enough yet to replicate his 2019 season. He needs to continue to stay in the lineup and build the shoulder up. He is making more contact, even if he fouls them off. Eventually the timing and strength will come. And when it does, how valuable will his bat be in the lineup. In the meantime, Belli is providing GG defense.
There were some believers, but how many AJ Pollock non-believers were on this site? AJ has put up back to back excellent seasons. He is more than earning his $12MM AAV this year. His 2.4 WAR so far, calculates to a $19.6MM value (per Fangraph’s). It has been said that if AJ stays healthy, he can be a huge asset. Maybe the Dodgers’ plan for planned rest days are working for AJ. His .881 OPS last year has been followed with a .878 thus far in 2021.
The Dodgers have won 7 straight, 12 out of their last 13, and yet have gained only 1.5 game on SFG. So LAD is doing their part. LAD has three more with NYM, an open date, and then three with SDP. The rotation is setup so that Urias will come off the IL and pitch Tuesday, followed by Buehler and Scherzer against the Pads. If it all works as currently configured, Buehler and Scherzer will face Atlanta, and then Urias, Buehler, and Scherzer will be lined up for the Giants. It sure is a good thing that the “contusion” Urias suffered allowed the Dodgers to put him on the IL and then lineup the rotation they have.
An MLB organization is supposed to be built to endure a 162 game season. During that time, games will not be considered more important than the season. So when JT does not come off the bench in a winnable 2-1 game against Philly, neither Doc nor AF were giving up the game, but they were not about to risk losing JT for the season if he tore his groin. Would JT have torn his groin? Probably not. But what if he did? Was it worth the risk? He has had groin concerns in the past, and really has not been a picture of consistent health in his career. Billy McKinney is a ML hitter, and as we found out last night, he can deliver. In addition, there is no guarantee that JT would have delivered. Even JT fails 7 out of 10 ABs. In a PH situation the next night, he struck out. If this were a playoff game, I am sure it would have played out differently. And please, I am not comparing McKinney to JT. Under normal situations, I would prefer JT 10 times out of 10 over McKinney.
I am not as concerned about the playoffs. Gavin knows that if he does not perform, he is not going to be on the playoffs roster, and shouldn’t be. Who are you going to pitch around in a lineup of:
Mookie Betts
Corey Seager
Trea Turner
Max Muncy
Justin Turner
Will Smith
AJ Pollock
Cody Bellinger
The bench will probably be CT3, Austin Barnes, Tio Albert, Matt Beaty, and Gavin Lux or Billy McKinney. I figure 13 pitchers and a 5-man bench. Maybe a 6 man bench in a best 3 of 5 NLDS. I know there are those who prefer McKinstry over Lux. I do not. Just my opinion.
I have come to expect many are consumed by the results on a game-by game basis. I just think it is short-sighted. I hear that Doc is not managing with urgency. I remember in 2017 after LAD built up a 21 game lead on August 24, they proceeded to lose 16 out of their next 17 games. The same “not managing with a sense of urgency” claim was yelled at high decibels. They proceeded to finish the season with a rather pedestrian 11-6 record. They then swept AZ in three for the NLDS, and crushed Chicago 4-1 in NLCS. They should have won the WS had it not been for the Cheaters.
The Dodgers organization has a plan, and it is discussed with Doc to implement. It may change depending on circumstances (injuries/suspensions), but the plan is designed to win in a 162 game season. If they end up in a one game WC situation, I am sure they have thought that out as well. How many other contenders have suffered an 80% loss in their opening day rotation, lost five of the eight relievers on the opening day roster (and only Knebel returning thus far), and played without arguably their three best position players for much (if not most) of the year; Mookie, Belli, and Seags. And still they have the second best record in MLB. Doc seems to be doing something right.
Before I forget, I have to write about something I would not have believed in at the beginning of the season. I was not a fan of the bullpen, especially when they were bringing in the AAAA pitchers. But the winter acquisition of Alex Vesia and the acquisition of Phil Bickford have been outstanding. I was cautiously optimistic about Bickford because I liked him when he was with SF. The results may not have been there, but he had good stuff. Alex Vesia? I did not see it, but how wrong I was. Since Alex was recalled on July 9, all he has done is pitch in 15 games, 17.0 IP, 0.53 ERA (1 run), 0.471 WHIP (5 hits/3BB) , batting against line of .093/.138/.130/.268, 0 HR, 20K/3BB. That is flat out domination. The one questionable caveat, is that Alex has done this primarily in a middle relief role. He has not been asked to pitch in late game high leverage situations, until last night. Maybe he gets more chances in September to see if he can step it up for playoffs. I for one would like to see what he can do in a game save situation.
Phil Bickford has been a quality reliever all year, but for August he has been on a different level. 9 games, 9.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.667 WHIP, 13K/2BB, batting line against .129/.182/.129/.311. For the year, Phil has inherited 19 runners and 1 has scored. How reliable is that?
Blake Treinen has been outstanding all season, but since July he has been other-worldly. 21 games, 22.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.500 WHIP, 0 HR, 26K/5BB, batting line against .086/.147/.100/.247. For the season, Blake has inherited 23 runners and 3 have scored. Since July, 12 inherited runners and 1 has scored.
Corey Knebel should be well rested for the playoff run. David Price will move into the bullpen for the playoffs. Mitch White will get additional opportunities to show that he belongs on the roster. Hopefully when VGon returns, he will be healthy enough to finish strong. He looked better last night. The team will have 6-7 weeks to evaluate Neftali Perez, Evan Phillips, and Shane Greene to see if any of them have anything left. They will have about 2 weeks to determine if Danny Duffy can pitch in relief. Yes, I know the elephant in the room is Doc’s apparent achilles heal…KJ. Doc has not been enamored with KJ in recent prior year playoffs, so he is not afraid to go others to pitch where KJ would figure to. Last night Treinen closed in spectacular fashion in a spot normally setup for KJ.
Do the Dodgers have their warts? Of course they do, and they could come to bite them in the behind during the playoffs. The team is not built for small ball. They do not do well in moving runners over or getting runners home from 3B with less than 2 outs. It is frustrating for most of us, but it is who they are. Last year the HRs were there (thank you Corey Seager). Belli also had some very clutch HRs. They do not hold runners on base very well, and in a playoff game that can be a huge liability. Doc does make some strange pitching changes. I still want to forget Game 2 of the 2017 WS. I disagree with Mark with the 2019 NLDS. Adam Eaton hit a good Kershaw pitch for his HR. But there is no way Clayton should have pitched to Soto. Adam Kolarek owned Soto in that series. There was no 3 batter limit, so Maeda could have come in to finish the 8th and 9th. I will NEVER be convinced that Clayton should have pitched to Soto. Could Soto have hit a HR off Kolarek? Of course. Nevertheless I liked the odds better with Kolarek. But I am not the manager. However, last year he did not miss many. Bringing in Floro to face Arozarena in the 2nd inning of Game 6 was money. Everyone remembers Doc leaving Julio in for the final 2.1 innings for the championship. I know it was a surprise to many, but it was not for me. I remember back to Game 7 of the NLCS when Julio finished the final 3 innings to beat the Braves. How un-Doc like to leave Urias in to finish the two most important games of the season with multi-inning closes. Nonetheless he did for Game 7 of the NLCS, so he had confidence in Julio for Game 6 of the WS.
Can we get a repeat for 2021? I like the Dodgers chances, but that is why they have to play the games. Even the best teams lose in a short series (or a one game WC game). This team is built for the marathon 162 game season with seemingly never ending changes, but do they have the basis to win in a short playoff series? With that lineup and a Buehler, Scherzer, Urias, Kershaw rotation, what team is better equipped to win it all.
Discussion (43)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Excellent post.
I remember that the Braves traded Andrelton Simmons because they had decided that Swanson (who I think might have been the overall No1 pick) was their SS going forward. When I compare Lux to other young touted prospects who struggled at the start, I wonder about a few things.
One is whether they had horrible splits like Lux. If they were dreadful against lefties, say, did they overcome this shortcoming. How bad were Lux’s splits in the minors? His stats were so good I assume they cou
Another concerns fielding. Did they struggle on defense as much as Lux has?
I ask because I simply don’t know. The batting splits puzzle me, since there are also players with reverse splits.
It’s certainly true that the Dodgers can choose to be patient with Lux–but smaller market teams like the Braves and Rockies may stick with prospects longer because they lack better options. After Tio Albert arrived, he sometimes replaced Lux in the lineup, with Muncy moving to 2B.
Speaking of Muncy, I think Votto may edge him and Tatis for MVP. Votto is 37 and having a great year after being overshadowed in the past by Goldschmidt and Freeman. Amazing stat: Four times Castellanos was hit by a pitch ahead of him–and each time Votto followed with an HR.
But Buhler has to be the odds-on choice for Cy.
Love that potential lineup. Imight keep Trea at leadoff and bat Mookie third. Or maybe go Muncy should bat third. Nice to have two genuine leadoff options.
Yeah…we won! Another one run game, which usually means the BP was shutting them down. Nice.
Way to go KJ….only 7 pitches! You were the man!
Just finished the game on tape. Great win, WB was nails again and Vesia battled like a true warrior to end the 8th. KJ for once was automatic and without any nerve wrecking.
Did I spot TB in the dugout?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!
Great article, Jeff!
Very astute comments.
I expect Lux to eventually figure it out and be a major contributor. But probably not this year.
Giants lost, Padres losing. 1.5 games back with 39 to play. 8 game winning streak, took Jansen 7 pitches to get the save. Vesia battled his butt off. Buehler got squeezed by the rookie ump, who also gave him one on O’Neill. Then he got tossed after Roberts had already removed him from the game. What a waste of energy that was. Next two are day games. Connor Greene DFA’d. Shane Greene activated, Evan Phillips to the 10 day IL> Kelly could be back this weekend. Mookie maybe a week away from coming back. Anyone still worried about that 5 game lead the Giants had about 10 days ago???????? Oh Yeah. LA wins another one run game, 5 in a row now. Padres lose 4-3 to the Phillies and are 10.5 games behind the Dodgers.
I’m thinking I’m not the only one who’s proud of being a Jansen fan. I always was. I’m flipping off those that said he’s washed up so Kenley doesn’t have to.
I said we’d be on the other side of these one run games when Seager returned. Only two days ago things looked so much darker it’s hard to imagine. And Betts is to return next week? Just wow!!!
Damn KJ looked good.
How about The Streak?
for all the complaints about the contact play, it sure seems to work a lot lately!
We need to start calling Turner the Flash. I love to watch that guy run. We all knew he was quick, but watching him every day is something else, such a treat
I have no problem with the city connect uni’s saying Los Dodgers, and I would have been ok with them reading Los Doyers too. Maybe I am off base here, but someone at the top might have thought that would be a slur to Hispanics. They could have asked the fan base, but I think they just erred on the side of caution. I have no trouble with the all blue and find it preferable to the all white uni’s they wore against the Yankees a few years ago.
Tonight’s Revised lineup:
2B Trea
1B Max
3bJustin
SS Corey
LF Chris
CF Cody
RFBilly
C Austin
P Walker
Pollock scratched Taylor to left Mckinney to right
Courtesy of Eric Stephen on Twitter:
In July, 21 different Dodgers pitched in a game. It was tied for the second-most in any month in franchise history (behind only the 24 used in an expanded-roster September 2016)
Through 19 days in August, the Dodgers have used 22 pitchers
Shoot, I forgot about Gonsolin when spitballing the 2022 rotation.
Barnes in the starting lineup hitting 8th, catching Buehler. Belli is in the 6 hole. Turner, 2B, Muncy, 1B, Turner, 3B, Seager, SS, Pollock, LF, Bellinger. CF, Taylor, RF, Barnes, C, Buehler, P.
Tonight’s lineup:
2B Trea
1B Max
3bJustin
SS Corey
LF AJ
CF Cody
RF Chris
C Austin
P Walker
Cody moves up No Will
Scherzer wants Will to catch tomorrow
Mike DiGiovanna from the Times is the guy who reported that Dodgers players didn’t want Bauer to come back. The report was issued on 7/26. He quotes 2 clubhouse sources.
I assume that he has pretty good and reliable sources.
Regarding Bauer, one more time, I hope and think it will be AF’s biggest misstep at the
Dodger helm.
Do you think it is possible that we keep the same lineup tonight? I have my doubts that will happen but it is our best lineup w/o Betts. Having Treinen close gives me hope that down the stretch we will not totally be relying on KJ to put us thru the wringer. Again I posted with 50 games to go we needed to go 35-15 to win division…9-1 is a great start so 26-14 for the last 40 sounds very realistic especially if we are getting a healthy Betts back.
I am really sick of the Bauer Fiasco, but I keep hearing that he has admitted to several things. I read that journalists, lawyers, and others say it. I have not seen that… Now I think I understand why they say it, but I do not think that is what he/they really said. At any rate, it is still not evidence.
I asked for Chapter and Verse last night and did not get it. Just because someone writes “Bauers attorneys have said that he admitted to_______________” does not make it so.
Chapter and verse!
To me Bauer is persona non grata. I do not want him back under any circumstances. The Dodgers removed all his jersey’s and other memorabilia from their stores months ago. They cancelled his bobblehead. I do not care about this guy in any way shape or form. The Dodgers have already paid him more than all of us have made in our lives. I call his character into question, and I do not think the Dodgers need him to win.
Bauer – if by some chance he should be welcomed or forced back on to the team this year, why not make him part of the bullpen? He’s unlikely to have enough time to get stretched out as a starter so let him pitch late innings when we need a shut down pitcher. I’d rather have him pitching in those situations than Kenley, although I’m not necessarily endorsing him as the closer.
Treinen – I don’t want him to be the closer. I want Doc to use him in the last three innings when he’s most needed to stop a rally or face the middle of the other team’s order. I personally think the position of closer is overrated. The most important bullpen piece is the guy you can throw in there to stop the other guys from tying the game or taking the lead, not the guy who comes in to pitch the 9th when you’re ahead by 2 or 3.
Lux, the new CT3 – no thank you. I have no problem with keeping Gavin on the roster next year, but he isn’t even close to being a replacement for what Taylor gives us. Look at what CT3 contributes offensively and defensively and you want to replace that with what Lux is giving us? That’s taking way too much of a chance in my book. Pay Taylor what he wants to stay here. It will be a worthwhile investment.
Great post, Jeff! The comparisons you made really convinced me not to give up on Lux.
I do feel the need to chime in on the TB fiasco. Certainly, he deserves a fair trial, just like anyone. I am not qualified to judge his legal guilt or innocence. That’s why we have courts. However, I am a forensic psychologist, so I can perhaps contribute something here. I also have my own reactions as a human being and as a fan.
Is he a troubled person? Absolutely. Is she a troubled person? Absolutely. They are two messed up people who found each other and engaged in something highly destructive and self-destructive. But still, I can’t get around the fact that he beat this woman, even if it was with her consent. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, because we didn’t know the facts. I’m sure there is still a lot we don’t know. However, in his recent published testimony, he admits that he beat her. And choked her to unconsciosuness. And penetrated her while she was unconscious. It bothers me. To my mind, it is wrong to brutalize another human being, even if someone asks you to do it. It has nothing to do with his guilt or innocence in the eyes of the law. And I am also not a prude. There is a lot of variation in sexual interests and practices, and usually I couldn’t care less. To each his own.
However, for me, it is simply the question, do I want this person associated with the team I support? Do I want someone who treats women in this way associated with my team? My answer is no, whether he is legally culpable or not. And I would be shocked if AF, who is always talking about his kids, feels differently. Is this the kind of person you want to have as a role model for kids, your own and anyone else’s? No way. I hope that both these disturbed people get help, because they clearly need it. But I still don’t want him on our team.
And I have a suggestion for AF about how to get rid of TB’s contract. Trade him to Houston, where he would fit right in!
1 – You never know about prospects – that’s why they are prospects. Have we seen the real Gavin Lux? No one knows. Koufax wasn’t Koufax for 5 years (although he never got to pitch in the minors). They gave up on Paul Konerko and Pedro Martinez too early – but on the other hand, the Dodgers have had lots of top prospects who were busts. It’s too soon to tell on Lux.
2 – Bickford is a ROOGY. His splits are extreme – RHB – .174/.230/.239/.469
LHB – .275/.400/.500/.900.
He’s good against RHB only.
3 – Treinen has had seasons where he has been unhittable. In 2018 he had one of the best relief seasons in history, with an ERA of .78 in 80+ innings. His problems have been control (too much movement on sinker at times) and predictability. He now throws more sliders and the occasional 4 seamer, and he’s as good as ever and easily the best reliever on the team at the current time.
4 – People keep conflating Bauer’s legal problems. The last hearing and decision is not predictive of what the criminal courts will do and what MLB will do. Most players suspended by MLB for violations of its Domestic Violence Program are not convicted of crimes, and it sounds like Bauer was pretty violent. I expect that he will probably be suspended whether he is criminally prosecuted or not. And the alleged victim can still sue civilly. Remember, OJ got off in the criminal case but was successfully sued by the Brown family because the burden of proof is different.
On the issue of primary assumption of the risk, “In cases involving ‘primary assumption of
risk’ – where, by virtue of the nature of the activity and
the parties’ relationship to the activity, the defendant
owes no legal duty to protect the plaintiff from the
particular risk of harm that caused the injury – the
doctrine continues to operate as a complete bar to
the plaintiff’s recovery. (Knight v Jewitt, the seminal case in California, decided in 1992).
This is frequently used to bar lawsuits for injuries occurring during athletic activities – you know that it’s dangerous but you do it anyway. It’s a civil liability concept. It probably doesn’t apply in criminal cases and won’t apply to MLB’s evaluation. There is one other issue – can you consent to what happened here? Not the sex stuff, but the violence. You can’t consent to being murdered. How far does the right to consent go?
To see how crazy the Trevor Bauer situation could get, consider that DeShaun Watson has been accused by 22 women of sexual abuse. 10 have filed criminal complaints. Bauer is a rank amateur (sarcasm)… and Watson is not charged either.
Bear – here are a couple of articles I posted nine years ago on TBLA.
https://thinkbluela.com/2012/12/the-rise-and-fall-of-baseball-cards-part-1-the-rise/
https://thinkbluela.com/2012/12/the-rise-and-fall-of-baseball-cards-part-2-the-fall/
Topps has lost it’s exclusive licensing rights with MLB. They will be replaced after 2022 by Fanatics. MLBPA signed with them also. An era is ending. Topps has been making cards since 1951. Some of the best in my opinion.
Good morning all. Great post Jeff. I love your stuff. Watched the game and enjoyed all of the performances by guys like Phillips, McKinney, my man Pollock, and the entire team. With Mookie coming back, this team is going to be a monster. Yeah, I thought Trea should have come in spikes first on that second steal. We now have the MLB leader in steals and BA in LA. Trea Turner. He is 1 steal ahead of Tatis. I like Lux, always have. I think he is too passive at the plate and takes way too many good pitches and swings at stuff he cannot hit. I have no opinion on Bauer’s legal problems, not educated enough on the law to know what is what. As a fan, I do not want him back. And I think part of that is because I believe he would be more of a distraction in a clubhouse that is clicking on all cylinders right now, than a plus. I think another distraction is what the fans reaction will be on the road. I have seen how fans treat the Astro’s. I have seen other players lambasted for different reasons. I just have to believe that stuff like this is going to bring out some really vile chants against the guy if he is pitching. And with his cocky attitude, he does something like putting the sword back in the sheath after striking some guy out, they will just really let him have it. Do the players want him back? I think he is a decent pitcher. He has been better than average. But he has allowed a lot of HR’s, 19 in 17 games. Another question. He has not faced hitters in over 2 months. Is he throwing? How long before he would be ready to pitch say 6 innings? No, I do not think this team needs that kind of distraction, and he will be that.
Excellent post AC. Very well done.
* Who in the hell is Evan Phillips? What a story of the life of a journeyman in baseball. Evan Phillips gets a shot to help the Dodgers in an important bullpen game. This guy has been in 5 organizations in 6 years with a career ERA above 7. Nomar described his saga to get here. Car in Durham, up and down, AAA, Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore than comes to LA with just a suitcase. He walks into a clubhouse where he is in awe of the player who are now teammates; Albert, Seager. JT, CK; the list is long. And he comes out and gives us important innings and picks up a win. Great story. Where does AF find these guys? Evan may get sent down today. I wouldn’t be surprised. Will he ever get back? Likely not. Who knows? So he may soon be another name on the pitchers used list approaching 40 strong. So, if the Dodgers win it all, does he get a replica ring and an Albert Bobblehead for his trouble. Tough business but a great effort by Evan.
* It dawned on me that I have seen 3 or 4 delayed steals recently, around baseball. I had’t seen a delayed steal tried since King Kong was a chimp. The idea used to be to catch the Catcher napping with the “shuffle-shuffle and go” start to catch him and the infield perhaps off guard. And Nomar explained why we’re seeing more these days. With most catchers now stationed on one knee, the delay works as the catcher doesn’t easily pop-up from that stance. Just another reason I really don’t like that technique. Great pick-up by Nomar.
Speaking of Nomar, I’m enjoying his comments from a hitter’s perspective. Great comments about situational hitting, hitting with 2 strikes and the value of putting the ball in play. And he knows when the STFU.
* So I’m watching bottom 3rd when Trea Turners attempt the steal of 2nd and I immediately see Villar drop that knee also to block the base. I’m thinking “There was a time before head-first slides, when that move earned you the honor of getting spiked in the knee or thigh.” TT came off the bag and was out.
Well I’ll be damn but this clown does the exact same thing on TT’s steal in the 5th. TT was safe and he didn’t look very happy with Villar. While not illegal, it’s a chicken shit play at any level and wouldn’t go unnoticed with a little retaliation expected somewhere down the line when the time is right. Bush League play.
* Doc’s (or the wizard) has done a good job managing the bullpen lately with all these bull-pen games. I guess Price’s abbreviated outing would not technically count as a bull-pen game with his 4.2 innings but we used 5 pitchers in that one. So in the last 4 games since Scherzer’s start we have had 20 pitching outings. And we’ve given up 5 earned runs. That is absolutely remarkable.
Keith Law 8/5/21:
Dark Knight: Dodgers have been giving Gavin Lux opportunities for couple years… do you see him more as a Carter Kieboom/ Biggio? or still someone who will be an above avg regular?
Keith Law: Chance to be a star. Way better than those other two. Not even in the same league in tools or ability.
Rendon hit the HR off Kershaw not Eaton.
It was very recently reported that Diego Cartaya has been on the IL since Aug 1 with a hamstring strain. It is also reported that he will likely miss the remainder of the season.
I will take Treinen over Kenley every day and twice on Sunday. The guy is unhittable when he is on his game and most time he is exactly that. While Kenley is making me nervous as soon as he comes in from the pen.
Make Treinen the closer now!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!
In other news, dovetailing from comments on the blog yesterday about the Citi Unis. Apparently a number of Hispanic fans are a bit twisted because they did not put Los Doyers on the unis instead of Los Dodgers. Which was what someone suggested on here yesterday.
Though I think the all blue is A LOT better then some of the trash I have seen.
cheers
pb+
MAN! Treinen was simply filthy last night. There was pretty much no way anyone was going to hit that slider. Heart of the lineup …… BUHBYE! Classic close.
Yesteday, with the Loons, Ryan Ward continued his hot streak. He scored six runs, had six RBI and hit a home run for the sixth consecutive game. He now leads the league in RBI and is one off the pace in home runs.
Andy Pages and Eddys Leonard both doubled in two-hit performances and finished with four combined runs batted in. Leonard extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI double in the third inning, also raising his on-base streak to 14 games. Both are 20-year-old players for the entire season.
Right-hander Gavin Stone got baptized at the A+ level by the Lansing Lugnuts on Thursday. He breezed through he first three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth giving up a grand slam.
Stone struck out eight and walked none. In watching him – from a layman’s point of view- he was running on full throttle. He got the ball and then waited for the batter to get ready. He did strike out the side in the first inning.
His fastball ranged between 93-96 while his slider was around 88 with good movement and a change up at about 85.
He had a couple of baptisms with the Quakes and then emrged as the pitcher-of-the -week twice. I’m guessing that with some mentoring by pitching coach Ryan Dennick and time to work with his catcher, Carson Taylor, his next outing will look somewhat different.
Another great one Jeff. I too have been pleasantly surprised by the pen although I have never expressed any displeasure with it. As Mark says, relievers can be fickle. They may be unhittable one year and batting practice picthers another.
I think relief pitchers are way too much underappreciated Their role is no longer just to relieve a starter late in the game but now it is to pitch four or more innings a game. Yesterday seven relievers used, no walks and eight strikeouts. That still might not satisfy some folks.
Seven of the Dodger relievers are from outside of the system with only three having come up through the ranks. Jansen and the long invisible Gonzalez and now the seemingly unappreciated Bruihl are home grown.
The relief corps, always subject to injury, presently is not ancient. Jansen, Treinen and Feliz are 33. The rest are all under 30 – Graterol (22), Bruihl (24), Gonzalez (25), Vesia (25), Bickford (26) and Knebel (29).
It looks like AF has caught some of these guys in an upswing. I find it just a bit difficult to understand how it is thought he does not know how to build a bullpen. He has basically gone from scratch and still has others pieces either on the IL or with the OKC Dodgers. That also means that guys like Price and Urias can pitch in relief come play-off time.
I love your posts AC, and this one is no different from the rest. It’s always a pleasure to read your reasonable, cool headed takes on this team.
Bobo, you hit the nail on the head in your last post early this morning.
AVF, you are certainly entitled to your own opinion, but you don’t speak for all Dodgers fans. I am a fan, and I welcome Bauer back. Unlike you, I don’t believe the government or anyone else should have any say in what people do in their bedrooms. It is not my sort of thing, but I can understand that other people do things that I might find offensive and it is their right to do them. I can understand that there is a very good chance that she kept saying harder, harder and he obliged. Certainly not something that turns me on, I’m not condoning it, but I am defending their right to do it.
Boxers literally get paid for getting punched in the face for money. Should that be illegal? Football players regularly suffer severe injuries on the field, I guess football should be illegal as well?
We got some really good news yesterday when Mookie said he feels like the start of Spring Training. Let’s hope that cortisone shot lasts throughout the postseason. Maybe he’ll get one more between postseason series.
Doc really screwed up last night. I wanted to see Neftali Feliz and he didn’t get him into the game. What an Idiot! Back away from the keyboard, Mark. This is a joke!
I can’t accept at face value that a team with Mookie and TT at the top of the lineup isn’t built for small ball. I think they are certainly capable when necessary.
I really liked how Doc handled the bullpen game last night. He got a little length early from Phillips and V-Gone combining for 4 innings. Just one mid inning pitching change and no unnecessary double switches. See, it isn’t that hard not to over manage!
Blake Treinen is the most dominant pitcher in the pen. He showed Doc that there’s a viable alternative to KJ, so Jansen will need to really step it up going forward. I’m hoping Doc is smart enough to switch things up if Kenley can’t fully get it together. If Kenley was smart, he would pocket that cutter and use it as a side dish instead of the entree.
Belli seems to be able to absolutely crush one ball each night. Last night, it was a liner to deep center. With his defense, I’ll take it. He still has another month to get better, but I think he’s showed enough to justify his spot in the lineup.
Lux’s problem is in between his ears. He is every bit as athletic and dynamic as Mookie, TT and Belli. He will be an all-star one day, you can take that to the bank. But, I’m not sure if I would put him on the postseason roster this year.
Bluto, you were very unhinged last night with respect to Bauer. You don’t know what is legal and what is not. You are simply parroting opinions from article writers that are designed to make you outraged. For every lawyer that says he’s guilty of a crime, there’s another that says he’s innocent. That is the nature of our legal system. Each side gets a lawyer to argue on their behalf, so half of them are basically lying for a living (or all of them are lying half the time). No offense 2D2!
A rational person would realize that the only one that did something illegal is that case is the accuser. She lied by omission in order to try to get a restraining order to make this case go public. A dirty trick aided by her legal team. Bauer was an easy target, already hated by many, the media jump right onto the bandwagon trying to destroy his career.
She is basically an Internet predator. She stalked and took advantage of Bauer with the goal of negatively impacting his performance against her favorite team and former employer in a young season when San Diego’s hype machine was on full force. Why not cash in while she’s at it? Is it so hard to think a 27 year old women, who’s biological clock is ticking away after struggling with alcohol (and usually drug) addiction for 10 years and a crappy dead end job would try to extort money from a rich guy?
Do you really take the side of such a destructive women who put the sex lives of three high profile baseball players into the public eye while causing tension between all their teammates on two teams with championship aspirations? That’s the person you want to stand up for, defend and side with under the guise that all women are victims and the men they interact with are guilty without due process?
The media is complicit with the destruction of the reputations of the players involved and trying to control the minds of their readers in order to push their own flawed belief systems. Be wary in the future when those who are covering sports write pieces that are designed to imprint their opinions in your minds. When this happens, you are being manipulated. Don’t be sheep, think for yourselves.
Good read, Jeff, as always.
I agree about Gavin Lux. I still believe he will be a very good player and no doubt the Dodger system which preaches patience, going deep into counts may not be working for him. Eventually he will adjust. No question he needs to build confidence, but his ability to spray the ball all over the field should pay off at some point.
The question moving forward has to be where does he fit in, probably the reason he suggested to Dave Roberts that he could play some third and outfield too. Will he be the replacement to Chris Taylor?
No certainty where the Dodgers go from here, looking forward. Will Corey Seager return or will the Dodgers move Trea Turner to short?
The only question I would ask … are the Dodgers better with Seager than without him? The answer is obvious. The Dodgers need to re-sign him. That means Trea continues to play second. Where does that leave Lux? The new Taylor?
If the Dodgers bring Seager back and pursue signing Turner, I’m guessing Taylor will move on.
I’ve always liked AJ Pollock, just a really good hitter. Just had a lot of “freak” injuries. Now I think people can see why Andrew Friedman signed the former Diamondback. He has delivered and been a difference maker.
No question, you have to be impressed with the Dodger bullpen. Like Blake Treinen as the closer.
I wonder what the players thought of the first MLB proposal. Probably, when you have a serious proposal, come back and we’ll talk.
As to Trevor Bauer, not only what the judge ruled, but what she said In the ruling probably derails any thoughts a DA may have to pursue a case. What MLB does is anybody’s guess. But decisions need to be made.
Thanks, again, Jeff for another well thought out article. Many of us fans should not be so quick to criticize and have some patience with our younger players. Fortunately for us that’s the case with you Jeff. I was a believer in Lux at the start of the season and felt he should be given at least half the season and then reevaluate. Well, he wasn’t that bad for a rookie and with all the talent around him he should have continued to start at 2B. Then Corey gets hurt and Lux moves to short. He did OK there, but was still having problems with LH pitching. Then he gets hurt, recovers, and here we are. I’m still optimistic that Lux will have a productive career.
I had written a couple of weeks ago about how well Bickford had been pitching and had gotten little recognition on the blog. The response was crickets. So, thanks for highlighting his accomplishments. Bickford goes quietly about his business, pounds the strike zone and gets results. And he’s a workhorse. It’s been fun watching both he and Vesia develop into effective relievers. Mark stated weeks ago that the bullpen would be a strength going into the end of the season and in into the playoffs. So far so good Mark. Another projection of his was Mitch White. He has improved a lot since he first came up with the Dodgers. White looks like a future starter if he continues to develop like he has. The key for all these guys is to believe in their stuff and pound the strike zone.
The Dodgers are on a roll right now and it’s nice that they are getting some return on their fine play. Could the Giants finally be having a slump? The next couple of weeks should revealing to what the rest of the season might be like for the Dodgers.
Standing O, Jeff. Exactly what I wanted to read this morning.
Great article Jeff as always. AF has made some brilliant moves with the bullpen with a wire move with Bickford, trades for Vesia and Knebel and signing Treinen in the off season. Hopefully Treinen is the main guy we go to to close games in the playoffs. Albert was also a nice addition for the bench and his HOF hugs along with Trea and Max at the trading deadline. AF is all in to win it again this year and should be given deserved credit.
My opinion only is that Trevor Bauer is history and will never be accepted by the Dodger fans or players or pitch another game for the Dodgers again. This has already been decided in the court of public opinion. The only thing that has to be decided is how much they will have to pay on the remaining contract and if there will be a MLB suspension, A settlement on the money issue is possible .,