Last year, the Dodgers anointed Miguel Vargas as the Dodgers’ second-baseman and gave him the job… no questions asked. It went horribly wrong! He ended up back at OKC in June. Two broken fingers, a damaged psyche, and a bruised spirit later, he is back, and this time, he is going to have to obtain a job with the big club the old-fashioned way. He has to earn it!
This time around, Miguel Vargas will have to earn his position. Of course, two broken fingers and the resultant bad habits he may have developed did not help, but like any youngster, maybe he was a little full of himself. Last year was the first time that Miguel ever struggled. It all came so easily – maybe his struggles taught him something, but I think one thing is certain: Miguel Vargas will have to earn the LF Job. It will be a process, and it won’t just be handed to him again. I am still very high on Miguel Vargas, but the Dodgers likely know what they are doing in taking it slow this time.
POWER POLL
According to The Athletic, the Dodgers are still the Number One team in the MLB Power Poll, even though the Phillies have a better record. Pure and simple: The Dodgers have more depth! Here’s what they said:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
— Tim Britton
Record: 33-17
Last Power Ranking: 1
Prospect to watch: RHP River Ryan
The players currently in the minor leagues with the best chance to help the Dodgers are probably James Outman and Miguel Vargas; the prospect with the best chance to help them hasn’t yet played in the minor leagues this year. Fun dynamic! The Dodgers are taking it slow with Ryan early in the season, given the shoulder fatigue he felt at the end of last season, when his 104 innings were double his previous high from college or pro ball. There are fewer questions about what Ryan can bring to the mound than how often he can bring it. The velocity is premium, even by today’s standards, and both the slider and curveball can play. While Ryan likely won’t be a traditional starter for the Dodgers at any point this season, he can definitely be a useful member of the staff in 2024.
Nabil Crismatt Elects Free Agency – That was the right move. He has no future in LA. Sorry, we hardly knew ya.’
Discussion (16)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Kiermier cF and Bichette ss from Bluejays two positions the dodgers need then Betts can move to 2B and can trade Lux and Outman and a minor league pitcher to the Bluejays.
Lead off triple followed by pages n Kiki strikeouts. The dbacks would have given a run but couldn’t put the bat on the ball. This is one game but typical bottom of the lineup. Hernandez bad with a righty pitching.
Btw Joc seems to kill the Dodgers year after year. We could have had him fairly cheap but I guess we didn’t want him or he didn’t want LA.
Vargas hits a double by adjusting his arms and hands IN to get his bat around an inside pitch. Nice! Showed some talent on his first hit back in the majors.
Sorry, I just got back. Was watching the Pacers and Celtics. I am going to Saturday’s Game but it appears the NBA wants the Celtics to win.
Toronto is tanking. I would try to get Bichette. Buy low , he is having a bad year but he is still has the potential upside. He may have an injury affecting him or just slumping. Of course we don’t want damaged goods. He has quit running so I expect he has a leg injury. If he is just slumping he may need a change of scenery.. He plays the right position. If he doesn’t have a long term injury I would target him.
10:10 PM ET
Diamondbacks (22-26)
Dodgers (33-17)
SP Brandon Pfaadt R
1-3 4.17 ERA
SP Gavin Stone R
4-1 3.27 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
RF T. Hernandez R
2B Gavin Lux L
CF Andy Pages R
3B E. Hernandez R
LF M. Vargas R
64° Wind 10 mph Out
This team has one too many Hernández’ on it!
Matt Beaty signed a minor league deal with the D-Backs. They will be his fourth western division team if he spends time in the majors. Jake Lamb is hitting well over .300 at the Pirates AAA team.
there are only 4 regulars on the dodgers guaranteed to be there the next year. .. more than likely Max will also be back for the last year of his contract. i would offer Teo a 2 year extension and see if he might accept it to stay a dodger. i think he might. i don’t see Outman ever being a regular outfielder on this team again. i hate saying that but ii don’t think he’ll ever get the opportunity again…..Pages? Maybe , but not positive. Vargas? another maybe…..So i agree with an earlier post, the dodgers need a big time outfielder next year! … As far as pitching, if Walker pitches the rest of the season like saturday, just can’t let him go without an offer!! …. AF won’t resign Paxton, especially if Clayton is healthy and wants to pitch again next season. …Glasnow, Miller,Stone, Yamamoto, and Kershaw, plus May, Gonsolin, Sheehan later on. That’s a good thing! … oh and Max Fried may be on their radar.
CT3 had a hit last night, yes I know he made an E but a hit is progress.
Stick with em…..
I would not sign Teo to another contract. He is just a bridge to next year. You have Vargas, outman, pages who are cheap and hopefully productive. It is also a possibility (long shot) that Ohtani could play the outfield. If (big if) it works out that the Dodgers have Glasnow, Yamamoto, miller, Buehler? May, Gonsolin , Kershaw then Ohtani could be an everyday player. Doubt it because he is a star pitcher. You also still have Taylor unless he is cut or traded. I believe they will start the year with a young and cheap of until the deadline.
I’ve now seen enough of Pages to see the warts in his swing. He definitely has the tools to eventually hit well in the majors. But gas up in the zone gives him trouble, and until he learns how to adjust his arms/hands/legs to hit pitches away on the outer edges of the strike zone, he’ll continue to pull & just ground those pitches to 3B — like he did with his last AB in yesterday’s game.
Unfortunately, it will take at least one off-season to learn how to “adapt” his swing to hit pitches located in different parts of the strike zone — like the “big 4” in this line-up can do now.
Vargas can’t “earn it” if he doesn’t get regular AB’s. It’s still early into his recall, but assuming the Dodgers continue to sit him, that tells me either… A) The Dodgers pitching coaches need more time to work on his swing mechanics before they allow him back into the line-up …or… B) The FO simply brought Vargas up to be temporary injury-insurance, and actually view him as merely prospect-capital in a future trade.
You have to infuse some young and cheap talent to balance payroll. Not even the Dodgers can keep spending at this level. The penalties are adding up. The projected OF of Outman, Pages and Vargas in 25, looks highly unlikely now. We need a star OF bat in our lineup next year and will probably have to sign or trade for one
The best outcome for Vargas and Outman is that both get traded where they have a chance to play everyday. Both are at minimum salaries and would be attractive to teams trading for them. I would sign Teo to a 3 to 5 year contract. When you play for the Dodgers you have play every day which is nearly impossible and prove yourself and produce immediately which is hard on young players.
Will Vargas get enough playing time to Earn It? That is the question.