Greetings Earthlings!

I’m not sure how they can justify Romo much longer.

Hill can’t record an out in the 5th and leaves after 82 pitches with 7 walks and 4 hits, charged with 5 ER. I’m usually a glass half full optimist but it’s time to admit that Rich Hill is a huge disappointment this year, has struggled with both blisters and command and has disrupted the staff and rotation and now Stripling has to throw multiple innings to pick him up. I would not be in a hurry to trade anyone until he shows some consistency. Maybe he is the guy who should go to the bullpen, he sure is not pitching like a #2.

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The way Leake is serving up ground balls tonight those 5 runs look like a tall mountain to climb. With a score like this we will probably see Hatcher AND Romo.

I know Hill is all over the place but the ump is squeezing him big time on crucial pitch counts, I’ve counted at least 3 or 4 times Hill was right there and it was called a ball. Even the dugout is chirping.

Blister Boy can’t find the plate?

I see nothing wrong with Chris Taylor in CF.

Julio was sent down because of numbers. I agree with Dodgerrick that the team should pick a five man rotation and stay with it. Right now the Dodgers have 7, and they cannot continue to

play the DL game. Maeda and Ryu need to pitch. Currently both are in the rotation and that is going to push Kershaw back one day. Julio can go down and pitch every fifth day at OKC. He can get into a rhythm knowing when he is going to pitch. Work on 1st pitch strikes, and get the command he had last summer back.

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If Maeda and Ryu pitch well, either becomes legit trade bait. Depending as to how well Stewart comes back, maybe both become trade bait. Regardless, Julio needs to pitch every fifth day, and he was not going to with the ML team. I do not see this as a demotion, but an opportunity to pitch regularly. Above all else that is what Urias needs to do.

Trout is under halo control for 3 years after this year, if you were an Angel fan what would you think of your team and FO if they dealt Trout.

He’s not going anywhere, IMO

Taylor starts in center. Puig and Bellinger in the corners.

The surgery was done to limit his innings – pure and simple. They have deliberately brought him along slowly due to his age. This year, he was held back to limit his innings – pure and simple.

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FAZ has taken a long term view of young Julio. It is limiting his progress right about now, but let’s see how you feel in September and October.

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If you think FAZ has botched this, let’s look back in 2 or 3 years and see how it worked out.

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It’s like last night:

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1. Some say it was a big mistake by Roberts to leave Clayton in (Hindsight being 20/20 they were right);

2. Some say it would have been a mistake to take him out.

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It all depends upon your perspective.

Funny M.T., sorta like what I said with a little less venom and hyperbole… Well stated though…

Dodger R, I guess you never saw Julio’s mug shot… I believe the elective surgery was warranted… Now a days he couldn’t leave a hotel on the road without I.C.E. questioning him…

Trout was sent down in his first year.

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Urias needs to build up his confidence and regroup. He has the stuff. He can mentally be more aggressive at AAA and that might help him attack when he comes back up. I didn’t like his body language when Roberts came to the mound. He turned his back to him. He is 20. He didn’t get mad. When he struggled to throw strikes, he had to pitch without the benefit of the Adrenalin that comes with success.

Bellinger had 4 K’s, so did Forsythe, and the team had 19 in a 13 inning game. He pulled his head out a couple times and the home plate umpire had some strange calls all night but most of his swings were good except for the one outside pitch flail that fooled him. They were worried he would end the game with 1 swing and pitched him very aggressively all night. Piscotti robbed him of a double down the RF line also.

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Urias was the odd man out in a numbers crunch as only he and Wood had options and he can work on a few things at OKC, mainly better command. Not really his fault the way he was handled, they never let him get into a rhythm at all. His stuff has never been in doubt, 3 plus pitches, he hides the ball well and has a nice easy delivery, not to mention a killer move to 1st. There are still 6 healthy guys left with one to trim or send to the pen, my guess is Ryu both to keep 2 RHP in the rotation and to build his arm strength. Until Dayton gets right and Liberatore gets healthy they are a LHP short in the pen also. Ryu can go multiple innings and his stuff would probably play well if he can handle the adjustment in routine.

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I am curious what the rotation will look like in Sept (and Oct?)

I didn’t think Joc was that bad off, and because of that, I was surprised he didn’t stay, in the game.

Sometimes I think it is better to just walk it off, and stay in, and play.

I did think both Joc and Puig, might be a little sore, or have some bruises today, but nothing beyond, that.

And that is why I am not surprised, that Joc is not going out on the DL, like some thought.

And because Joc ran into Cody and Puig both last night, that told me, Joc was the one, not doing his job.

Joc is the captain out there, so he is the one, that needs to take charge, and he obviously, he didn’t do that, last night.

I was furious that Kershaw was allowed to go out there, and pitch in the ninth, last night.

And when Kershaw was allowed to stay in, after the first hitter got on, that compounded the first mistake, that Roberts made.

And I love Roberts, but he needs to learn when Kershaw doesn’t have it anymore, or we will continue to pay, in the post season.

Last night’s game, reminded of some of the games we have played in the post season, when Kershaw, was allowed to stay in a game, far to long.

Sometimes it seems like people want so badly for Kershaw to get the monkey off his back, in the post season, that they think more about Kershaw’s ego, then they think about the team, and winning, the game.

Because most of the times Kershaw is allowed to stay in these games, it has turned out, badly.

Because it hasn’t helped Kershaw’s stats, or his self esteem, and it has cost us, some games.

Bobbie, like I said a couple of posts past, the kid reminds me alot of Orel before Tommy chewed on him a lil and dubbed him ‘Bulldog’… Julio has to believe in his stuff and shouldn’t try and paint the plate so much… Just do it… As Big D. used to say “it was like a light bulb going off in my head” and I turned into a pitcher rather than a thrower… As you can see, I like Urias and seen him alot in the minors and he is and will be the real deal…

Kyle Farmer to AAA. 2-4 playing 3B. Spitzbarth was good again at AA. Pitched middle innings. He could be a multi inning pen guy.

Urias should pitch and pitch and pitch. Somewhere. Up and down is ok, depending on team needs, but sooner or later, he has to get big league hitters out. Up and down until he gets there. I’ve said before: I’m not sure of his competitive makeup. He gets frustrated easily, rather than digging down. He doesn’t trust his fastball and can’t throw it at the edges. He depends on deception, and that will only get you so far. Deception works best when you can control the strike zone. If you can’t control the zone, deception is no way for consistent results. He has to pitch. Period. No more hyper pitch anxiety with him. He’s not good enough to baby him so that he can pitch in the late season. If he is at AAA in September without consistent results, he should stay there. He is just not ready to pitch in the big leagues. First and foremost he has to work on attitude when things aren’t going right. Pederson got smashed last night. He’ll be out for a while. The more outfielders go down, the greater the chance that Bellinger sticks. 4 K for him last night.. We will see about his makeup now, as word gets out. Good win last night. Too bad Kershaw couldn’t get the credit. He was as good as he has been this year.

Dickson and Verdugo require a 40 man roster move. That leaves our old friend SVS or possibly Trace Thompson. Eibner stays for now but is on the bubble. Segedin is on the 40 man but has been on the DL for a long time and could be moved to the 60 day DL to clear a spot as could Kazmir. Ethier is already there and no word on his return but his LH bat and experience would be useful about now. More likely is Taylor and Kike remaining as valuable super subs.

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Hard to gain ground with both Colorado and AZ playing well. Walker is injured and Delgado gets a start today against Quintana then AZ goes on the road to face the Brewers and Pirates. The Rockies have a better road than home record which is scary for the other teams in the division. They play 2 more in Philly then come home to face the Cards and reeling Mariners. Dodgers need to take care of business with the Cards and Cubs then go on the road to face the Cards and Brewers. Critical although early part of the schedule.

Joc thinks he ran into a Sherman Tank.

Watford my man – Joc isn’t getting it done and that has been the story all year… Screw ego and produce… He’s making damn good money (1/2M) so he can live in the OKC for the time being… Hopefully this means Taylor stays…

I said a long time ago, Puig is gonna kill somebody some time out there…

Do you think the Dodgers might be able to turn Joc’s mishap to their advantage?

A trip to the 10 day DL might be just what the doctor ordered as it doesn’t damage Joc’s ego, but it gives him the chance of a stint in AAA to work on his swing.

After all these years, Broxton finally helps the Dodgers WIN.

Like I’ve said, it seems like it’s someone different every night helping the Blue.

Somewhere early this morning, Steve Yeager was shaking his head while staring into a glass with three fingers of something !!!

OK, so Joc goes on the DL today, which isn’t so bad, is it??? Who shows up on our porch tommorow… I’d love to see Willie Calhoun leadoff for a couple games, but theres no damn room…

Can we talk about the best player in all of baseball? Mike Trout.

It’s May 24th, and Mike Trout has a 220 wRC+. It means he’s been 120% better on offense than the league average. He’s twice the average offensive player and then some. Since he’s often considered to be a reincarnation of Mickey Mantle, it should be noted that Mantle never had a single season wRC+ that high, his best mark being a 217 in 1957. He was worth 11.4 WAR in 144 games.

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Did I mention WAR? Trout’s already over 50! FIFTY for his career.

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So let me ask this….

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If the Dodgers offered ALL their top 15 prospects for Trout, would that be enough? Every prospect. One through fifteen.

Kershaw had his curve last night just ask Diaz. He pitched one of the better games I have ever seen him pitch. I don’t think grinchuk should have been on second to begin with as we should have forced him on the previous groundout. The bullpen was great! Avilan made carpenter look bad, Baez was very good, and fields looked dominate and Kenley was kenley. I was holding my breath as I knew the next one in was probably going to be hatcher or romo. I guess Lynn was that good but we looked so bad particularly bellinger, Gonzalez, Forsyth (except the last) I think faz needs to concentrate on the offensive side of the ball. I don’t know why they seemed to refuse to bring a lefty in considering our problems with lefties. Our friend Broxton helped us. I think bellinger has now struck out 7 times in the past 2 games.

Nice to see Forsythe get the walk off hit after 4 K’s his 1st game back from the DL. Tough hard fought win and the 1st guy out of the dugout to celebrate the victory was Kershaw, very classy!