Happy, Hopeful, Blessed, and Thankful
I grew up in Ohio and lived there until 1976, when I was 23 years old. I have been in Indiana for 50 years, so I consider myself a Hoosier. Now, I actually live 45 minutes from Bloomington, where the IU Hoosiers play. However, since I was nine years old, I have been a Dodger fan. You know the story! I have been absent from the blog a lot this…
I grew up in Ohio and lived there until 1976, when I was 23 years old. I have been in Indiana for 50 years, so I consider myself a Hoosier. Now, I actually live 45 minutes from Bloomington, where the IU Hoosiers play. However, since I was nine years old, I have been a Dodger fan. You know the story! I have been absent from the blog a lot this year due to working on my book, The Mountain Mover. It is due out in the fall. Finally… thirty-two years in the making. I have been incredibly blessed. However, one of the biggest blessings is this blog!
As I read the comments from people like Jeff Dominique, Michael Norris, Badger, Bumsrap, Bobby, Ted Raymond, Phil Jones, Dodgerdad, Kevin, Daytona Jack, Simon Killer, Bobby, MushersPop, Watford Dodger, JohnDoll, Matt, Cassidy, Bluto, Dodgertifosi, Zeke, Andrew Forte, Dodgerpatch, Jayne Cobb, Hawkeye Dodger, David, Bison Jones, Singing the Blue, Dano, Porpiseboy, Norcaldodgerfan, Illinidodger, Jorge Valenzuele, Anthony H, DodgerOldGuy, Gus, OC Dodger, 4-Gens, John Ferguson, Ron Fairly Fan, Vinny’s Ghost, BlueAZ2020, DCN, 77Dodgers, and others. Sorry if I missed you…
I think the above commenters and I have 100,000 years of combined experience being Dodger fans. The commenters on this blog are an amazing part of this blog. There has never been a better time to be a Dodger fan. Thank you all for your support. This blog will get even better in the future… I promise!
OKC Comets 8 – Charlotte Knights 5
Charlotte had top LHSP prospect Hagen Smith on the mound, and I was hoping to watch him pitch. But I got caught up in Yoshinobu’s game, and that is what I was focusing on.
This certainly was not his finest outing. In 4.1 IP, Smith allowed 8 runs (7 earned) threw 90 pitches (50 strikes). He gave up 6 hits, but four of those hits left the yard. I will go back and watch the game.
RF Zach Ehrhard is reminding everyone to not forget him. He led off the game with 8th HR.
LHSP Cole Irvin took the mound with a 1-0 lead, but could not get out of the first inning. He gave up 4 singles, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 1 SF, and 4 runs in with runners on 2nd and 3rd when RHRP Jerming Rosario was asked to get out of the inning. Rosario allowed a soft single to give the Knights a 5ights a 5th run in the inning.
3B Taylor Young hit his 2nd AAA HR in the 2nd.
In the 3rd, Ehrhard and 1B James Tibbs III drew lead off walks. LF Ryan Fitzgerald hit a 2-run triple (4) and scored on a throwing error to tie the score.
OKC put up 4 in the 5th. With one out, Ehrhard hit his 2nd HR (9) of the game. DH Tommy Edman singled and scored ahead of 1B James Tibbs III on his HR (19). LF Ryan Fitzgerald doubled (6) and scored when SS Hyeseong Kim hit an RBI single.
In his next two innings, Rosario allowed a BB and 2 Ks. He was relieved by LHRP Garrett McDaniels who pitched 2 scoreless innings.
RHRP Evan Phillips continued his rehab. He allowed 1 hit I his 1.0 IP. Unfortunately that one hit was a HR.
In the 7th, Fitzgerald singled, Kim drew a BB, and Taylor singled to load the bases. 2B Austin Gauthier followed with a 2-run single and a 5 run lead.
RHRP Paul Gervase relieved Phillips and pitched a scoreless 7th with 3 K. In his 2nd inning of work, he allowed a hit, but got another K.
RHRP Wyatt Mills was summoned to pitch the 9th. He allowed a run, but finished the 9th for the win.
- Zach Ehrhard – 3-3, 2 BB, 3 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR (9)
- Ryan Fitzgerald – 3-5, 3 runs, 2 RBI, double (16), triple (4)
- Taylor Young – 2-5,1 run, 1 RBI, HR (2)
- Austin Gauthier – 2-5, 2 RBI
- James Tibbs III – 1-2, 3 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (19)
Tulsa Drillers 7 – Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 6
RHSP Roque Gutierrez pitched a pair of scoreless innings. In the 3rd, after he struck out the 1st batter, he hit the next batter and allowed a double. After another strikeout, Gutierrez was about to get out of the inning before allowing a 2-run double.
In the bottom of the 3rd, DH Kole Myers drew a BB. C Frank Rodriguez singled and RF Josue De Paula singled to score Myers.
Wichita scored 4 unearned runs, 3 on a HR off Gutierrez in the 4th.
In the 6th inning, Tulsa came roaring back to take the lead. CF Mike Sirota led off with a BB, and in so doing increased his on base streak to 52 games. SS Elijah Hainline also walked. LF Zyhir Hope singled to load the bases. Sirota scored on a PB. 2B Jake Gelof and 1B Chris Newell both walked and Hainline scored. 3B Kyle Nevin hit a 2-run single. Rodriguez hit a go-ahead SF.
In the 9th, Tulsa brought in RHRP Nick Robertson. Nick picked a bad game to give up a run. With one out he surrendered a game tying HR before striking out the next two.
In the bottom of the 9th, JDP walked and stole 2nd. Sirota singled and JDP stopped at 3rd. Hainline walked to load the bases, and Zyhir Hope hit a walk off SF for the win.
Every Tulsa batter reached base safely.
- Josue De Paula – 3-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Kyle Nevin – 2-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, double (8)
Great Lakes Loons 3 – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee) 1
Great Lakes got on the board when LF Chuck Davalan hit his 8th HR for a 1-0 lead in the 3rd.
RHSP Brooks Auger pitched 3.2 scoreless innings. He gave up 3 hits, 2 BB, and registered 6 K.
In the 5th, CF Eduardo Quintero hit another solo HR (3).
RHRP Reynaldo Yean got the final out in the 4th and 1st 2 outs in the 5th. Yean exited with 2 runners on base. RHRP Alex Makarewich walked the first batter faced, and struck out the next batter to retire the side.
RHRP Isaac Ayon pitched the next 3.2 innings, allowing 1 run on a solo HR in the 6th.
In the 8th, 3B Eduardo Guerrero and SS Emil Morales both drew lead off BB. After Guerrero was forced out on a ground ball, Morales scored on a fielder’s choice and throwing error.
With 1 out in the 9th, PH Marco Dinges grounded softly to Ayon for the 2nd out. Something happened on the play as both Dinges and Ayon were ejected.
RHRP Davis Chastain was called to get the final, which he did.
- Eduardo Quintero – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (3)
- Charles Davalan – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (8)
- Doubles – Cameron Decker (3) and Emil Morales (3)
Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 17 – Ontario Tower Buzzers 1
RHSP Hyun-Seok Jang started his 3rd straight poor game They are progressively getting worse. He has completed 9.1 innings allowing 22 runs (21 earned) on 17 hits, 6 BB, and 10 K.
RHRP Jholbran Herder relieved Jang in the 3rd retiring the side. He also pitched a scoreless 4th.
RHRP Ricardo Montero could not record an out in the 5th. He walked the 1st 3 batters, hit the 4th batter, and walked 2 more. RHRP Accimias Morales relieved Montero with the bases loaded. He unleashed a WP and the Storm had their 4th run of the inning. Morales got the three outs without allowing any further damage.
Down 17-0, RF Ching-Hsien Ko was HBP. 1B Easton Shelton singled. With one out C Bryan Gonzalez Garcia doubled to score Ko and to breaj up the shutout.
Not much to talk about in this game. Turn the page. Play again Sunday.
No ACL Game
DSL Astros Orange 17 – DSL LAD Bautista 0
LAD Bautista had 2 hits, and some horrible pitching in this one. This is one to simply forget.
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Discussion (123)
Disagree, not disagreeable
If anyone’s interested, here’s the clip of Tommy in that episode of “CHIPS” that I mentioned yesterday: https://youtu.be/hrmHS5Dcua8?si=0sPARKUFbkc7L6oE
Mark, I am sure I speak for all of us “lesser commentators” in thanking you, Bear and Jeff for all the info you provide. We always don’t agree with you or each other, but the respect we show goes a long way. There is no blog out there, Dodger or otherwise that compares. The bond of Dodger fans here is as amazing as the team we love even if they frustrate us sometimes.
Great Blog. I look forward to posting and reading every day. For the longest time that I can remember the blog has been civil and attacks on personalities free. There are many varying opinions here on what the Dodgers should or should not do,but there has been NO outright anger towards individuals just stating his or her opinion for the longest time..Bear,Jeff and Mark combine inform us and challenge us.You three are very BEST along with all the contributors you mentioned above and more.Keep up the EXCELLENT work .
Happy birthday Bear.
Late in yesterday’s game, before the perfect game was broken up, several WS players challenged strike calls. It got me wondering, if it was still a perfect game, with 2 outs, bottom of the 9th and the score being what it was, as a player would you challenge a call? What if the call was strike 3? This has never been an issue before. What would you do in a blow out? Or in a close game?
Bear’s birthday? Remember: You’re not getting older, but more vintage.
Very happy to be part of the best Dodger Blog and look forward to each new thread and comments. Happy Birthday Bear.
Happy Birthday, Bear! Most people don’t know this, but Bear grew up with Abner Doubleday (1819-1893) and actually fought with him in the Civil War! 😉
Many Happy Returns Michael. Appreciate everything you do here.
I really thought Yoshi was gonna do it. Gutted for him but he just didn’t let it derail him. A true professional. Feel sorry for Tucker. He’s pressing now. Making things worse. He will come round because confidence is everything in sport and just now he’s got none. Give him time. Can’t claim to be in the same league as all you Dodger fanatics, but gotta say that supporting the boys in blue has become a huge part of my life. Dodgers are my favourite team in any sport by a distance.MLB. Com has made a huge difference to my watching experience.
Happy birthday Bear! I enjoy your posts so much! Living in Virginia, you don’t see that many dodger decals on vehicles around. Got mine though! I do see several dodger hats around, but mostly on the heads of bandwagon fans who don’t know squat about the Dodgers much less their history! I feel like I’m part of a distinguished community on this site! The fact is, we’re blessed to be dodger fans! But even more than that, we’re baseball fans ! I may never meet anyone on this site in person, but it’s easy to see that all you guys are good people! Continue to state your opinions. There is no right or wrong. It’s what you might do if you were in charge. Now granted, some of us would be out of a job quickly!! But it’s all good! Nobody in the game of baseball probably felt any worse than Mookie yesterday. My grandson said to me, Papa, he lost the no hitter so the error doesn’t matter. But it did matter. I told him, if that error didn’t happen, the ninth inning probably would be completely different. Not saying that a hit would not have happened, but the inning doesn’t play out the same way! And I said the other day. I will take Yamamoto 8 days a week over Ohtani. I’m not saying Ohtani isn’t great, but give me 8-9 innings of Yamamoto compared to 6 innings of Ohtani. I’m just happy that they are both on the same team! My pick to click today? Dalton Rushing. Dalton goes 2 for 4 with a dinger! One more thing about Mookie. 3 hits yesterday. I bet he would have taken the Ofer, just to have that play back !
Happy Birthday Bear,another year wiser!
That was pretty funny — thanks for sharing. Jerry Reuss was a known prankster — liked that little touch.
We are so lucky to be Dodger fans and so lucky the Dodger brass signed the three star Japanese players Ohtani,Yamamota and Sasaki.Without them the last two years, we would NOT have won back to back World Championships. Hopefully all three are healthy and a 3 peat is possible.
I’m trying to be more patient about the prospect that Kyle Tucker, the $60 Million Dollar Man, will eventually be producing a .900 OPS. Or even .800. He’ll get there. I have faith! But right now, Tucker’s OPS is at .713. The highest-paid Dodger not named Shohei ranks 8th in OPS among Dodger regulars, trailing Shohei at .979, Max at. .912, Rushing at .886, Pages at .831, Freddie at .827, Teo at .784 and Smith at .720. Among regulars, only the slumping Mookie has a lower OPS at .611. Among non-regulars, hard-luck Kike is at 3.250 with a 1.000 BA (in 4 ABs) and Ward is .813. Ward has hit 3 HRs in 35 ABs….while Tucker has needed 247 ABs to club 5 HRs. But patience, I’ve been told, is a virtue. I’m trying.
Sunday’s Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule 11:00 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Adam Serwinowski) vs. Wichita (Jose Olivares) 11:10 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sean Patick) at Wisconsin (Jayden Dubanewicz) 2:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Jackson Ferris) at Charlotte (David Sandlin) 2:05 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Lake Elsinore (Carlos Medina)
“The Braves announced that right-hander Spencer Strider has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his throwing elbow. Right-hander Anthony Molina was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding 26-man roster move”.
I dont comment a lot, but love the blog read the great articles and posts everyday!
“The Guardians are expected to place superstar third baseman Jose Ramirez on the injured list with a left hamate bone fracture, according to multiple reports, including from Zack Meisel of The Athletic. Ramirez was removed in the fifth inning of Saturday’s game against the Tigers after popping out in his third at-bat”.
For context, the Dodgers’ team OPS is an MLB-leading .788. So Tucker is 75 points below that.
In his return from the injured list yesterday, June 13, 2026, Tarik Skubal pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk. Making his first start since April 29 following elbow surgery, Skubal threw 80 pitches (53 strikes) and reached up to 99.9 mph on his fastball. Despite the high velocity, he was saddled with the loss as the Tigers fell 3-1 to the Cleveland Guardians.
Saw the slow-mo replay on Mookie’s error… Looked to me that there was a slight bad hop that brought the ball up above his glove. Certainly an error, but a tough break too. (Hanley had an easier play on the error that cost Kershaw a perfecto.) The ball caromed to Espinal, who failed to make a bare-handed throw. Too bad Miggy wasn’t playing 2B. He might have pulled off another miracle .
The Braves currently lead all of baseball 46-24 with a .657 winning percentage, followed closely by the Dodgers 45-25 at .634. In the American League, the New York Yankees currently hold the top spot 42-27, though they trail both the Braves and Dodgers in overall league-wide standing.
The error no doubt caused a deflation. Everybody felt it. Did that allow the fat pitch hammered into the seats? I don’t know. Maybe. Shouldn’t have, but maybe. Perfect game, no hitter, shutout, all lost with two pitches. The first one was the error on a routine play. Oh well. That’s baseball isn’t it. Got the W. Got an 8 game lead. Got Sheehan on the mound. With his 4.7 ERA. Gulp. Any predictions?
Happy Birthday Bear. I have two friends also celebrating a June 14th Birthday! You got me by six months. Let’s see if the Dodgers can get you a victory for your special day!