Here We Go!
It is August, and the annual let’s get crazy season has started. It never fails this time of year. Fans begin to lose their collective minds. Why? Well, I really have no clue. I just sit back and watch. Dodger fans when Kimbrel blows one! What amazes me most is that fans who…
It is August, and the annual let’s get crazy season has started. It never fails this time of year. Fans begin to lose their collective minds. Why? Well, I really have no clue. I just sit back and watch.
What amazes me most is that fans who have followed the team and the game for years really have no idea how the roster is set up or how it is changed come September and then playoff time. They changed the rules a couple of years ago only to allow two callups on the first of September. It used to be the roster could expand to all 40 players if a team desired. Baseball now wants more teams involved. So they limit the roster. What they also limit is the cup o coffee many minor leaguers used to get at that time of year. Recently, the Dodgers did it with Lux. Before him, they did it with Seager and Pederson. Even when they were in tight pennant races, the also-rans used September to see what their prized prospects might bring to the table. Won’t happen much anymore.
Naturally, as fans, we like to think that we know who should be on the roster better than the GM or the manager. The Dodgers work a little differently than most teams. They pretty much decide roster options by committee, with the final word resting with Friedman. Of course, he listens pretty intently to all parties. I am pretty sure that in 2020, the decision to use Urias to close after Jansen’s blown save in Game 4 came from up top.
We all like playing armchair GM. Right now, the biggest debate on this site, and a couple of others I read, is what to do with Kimbrel. I have no clue how the final decision on him will be made, but I am pretty confident that Kimbrel is going to get the majority of the next month to iron out his issues or be replaced. The only real option to close is close to coming back, Treinen. Urias is not an option this time. He is locked into the starting role. They have a couple of guys I think could do the job well and should be given a shot at closing a game or two. Ferguson and Phillips. I also think, and don’t laugh, that Heaney could very easily step in and have a lockdown inning.
Of course, there are so many different opinions out there. Most of our posters have very definite ideas of how they think the Dodgers should play it. One thing I know for sure. If healthy, the first four hitters are going to be Betts, Turner, Freeman, and Smith. With a little Muncy, maybe. Those four guys are the most consistent players on the team. Look for Freeman and Trea to go off again, especially when the calendar turns to September.
I am not big on predictions. But I have to believe that Muncy is going to get better as the season goes on. He has at least shown he can keep it going for longer than a couple of games. He has been pretty good since August rolled around. Gallo is going to pop one out once in a while and strike out when we least need it. I have no idea what to expect from Bellinger at this point. I think they will keep Lux low in the order simply because you cannot have all your worst hitters at the bottom of the lineup. Trace, Hanser, and Taylor are all going to have to step up some more. Taylor is very valuable with his glove, but right now, his bat is a sieve. Austin Barnes will continue to give Smitty a day now and then and may even hit one out again. Overall, the team is clicking, and we as fans have to like that. They go home now to play the Marlins, who, despite their record, have a very good pitching staff. Then they get Milwaukee again before facing the Marlins and Mets on the road to end the month.
My least favorite Dodger ever next to Tyler White. Granny is actually on base in this photo taken on the 4th of July a few years ago from the third deck. Anyway, make your own decisions and see how close you can come to naming the 26-man postseason roster for the first round. The hardest choices will come in the bullpen.
Future Dodgers Down on the Farm (MT)
- OKC was postponed due to rain.
- Tomorrow they play 2 with Gavin Stone starting his first AAA Game. Andre Jackson starts game 2.
- Tulsa won 7-3
- Ismael Alcantara, who hit .183 at Great Lakes and was moved to Tulsa as a reward (sarcasm alert), was 1-3 with a 3-run HR.
- Andy Pages hit his 22nd HR.
- In his first AA Game, Nick Nastrini retired the first 17 batters he faced, threw 6.2 innings of 1 hit ball and allowed just one run while walking two and striking out 8.
- Leonal Valera was 2-4 and is hitting .303. In my opinion he has passed Eddys Leonard and Jorbit Vivas on the utilityman depth chart.
- Great Lakes beat Lansing 12-3.
- Damon Keith finally woke up and realized that he was in A+ Ball so he hit two HR and a triple as he was 3-5.
- Jose Ramos drove in two runs as he pushed to get 100 RBIs. He’s 11 shy!
- Eddys Leonard was 2-4 with 3 RBI as he also hit his 12th HR. Jorbit Vivas was also 204.
- Rancho Cucamonga lost 11-6.
- Dalton Rushing is a man among men as he was 4-5 with 2 HR, 3 RBI and 3 Runs scored.
- Peter Heubeck was roughed up – In 3 IP, he have up 5 Hits nd 3 ER
Dalton Rushing should be in Great Lakes and Diego Cartaya should move to Tulsa. 19-year-old Yenier Feernandez should be doing most of the catching at RC. It’s just my opinion, but Andrew does not consult me on these things.
Top 100 Prospects
As you probably know, Baseball America just released their Top 100 Prospects, and the Dodgers are ranked #2 in MLB Farm Systems. That is an incredible feat for a team that has won more games than any other in the past ten years. The only team ranked better is the Baltimore Orioles, who have not won since Christ was in Camden Yards.
The Dodgers have 7 Top 100 prospects (the Cards are the only other team with 7), but by next season, the Dodgers could add two more. Right now, they have these players:
- Cartaya – #9
- Miller – #22
- Vargas – #24
- Busch – #47
- Pepiot – #51
- Stone – #53
- Pages – #75
I believe that Dalton Rushing will make the list next year as well as Nick Nastrini… and Emmett Sheehan could also be close. Enjoy this while you can because some team will make a run at Andrew Friedman and offer him ownership. Bet on it. Of course, some fans will say, “Friedman has only won one championship.” Well, it should have been two, but now with the expanded playoffs, it becomes so much harder. Teams can get hot like the Braves last year and win it all on momentum!
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (67)
Disagree, not disagreeable
It has seemed proven the 9 hole it’s best to put a threat batter as a weapon that produces a more productive top of our lineup. While likely the position gets one at bat less that is paid for with any more runs that occur in the bottom 8 innings. I can’t understand how this hasn’t become the norm for as long as the DH has been in the AL. The leadoff batter only holds true for the 1st inning. The 9 hole is not best to put your worse hitter.
After watching Devon Williams close the game for the Brewers yesterday, I saw what kind of closer it will take for the playoffs. It looks to me like the Brewers and Mets (Diaz) have the best closers of the NL playoff bound teams. Unless the Dodgers can find a closer or committee of closers in September, I am not optimistic about our playoff run…
I’m not laughing at your Heaney suggestion, OldBear. In fact, if Kimbrel continues to fizzle, I believe we’ll see more of a closer by committee situation. Although, the best bet is for Heaney to be a long man lefty ala Andrew Miller.
I don’t think the Dodgers have room for Bobby Miller this year and I can’t see them making yet another DFA to give Miller a cup of coffee. We already have DFA’s coming when we activate May, Treinen, and perhaps V-Gone and Kahnle.
So far with the Dodgers, Gallo is .231/.333/.615/.949. That’s plenty of production right there and he’s got a serious glove. This is no experiment, he’ll stick if he keeps this up.
The biggest battles for the postseason roster are going to be in the bullpen. There’s just way too many quality arms down there and with a couple of starters potentially in the mix, it’s going to get really interesting. Price, Heaney and Anderson are going to be really redundant and with Vesia, Ferguson and potentially V-Gone, I don’t see all of them in a post-season pen. There’s a lot of great righties too with Phillips, Almonte, Treinen, Brusdar, Martin and we’ll see about Kimbrel. That’s an even dozen right there without considering Kahnle, who may or may not return, for 9 postseason spots.
My ideal lineup would be…
Mookie RF
TT SS
Freeman 1B
Smith C
Muncy DH
JT 3B
Gallo / Trayce LF
Belli CF
Lux 2B
I like Lux batting in front of Mookie when the roster turns over with two big homer threats after the first 6. But, I wouldn’t complain if Lux hits behind JT either. I just think it’s a waste to have a burner like Lux hitting behind JT. If Belli or Gallo walks or homers or K’s, the three most likely outcomes, there’s plenty of speed or room ahead of Lux for him to run wild.
CT3 needs to come off the bench to give them a mostly platoon-neutral option in LF, or play anywhere else in the field when necessary. Hanser can be a late inning option against a tough lefty.
Eddie Rios probably gets the September callup as a bat when the rosters expand. He’s used to being a bench player for the most part. As previously stated, the callup on the pitching side will be a guy coming off the IL.
I’m going to Visalia this weekend to see and stay with family. We’re having a big ass dinner at a Mexican Restaurant with a party of close to 20 at 5PM on Saturday. They better have the game on, otherwise I might miss some of May’s debut. I might just bring my tablet to the restaurant with me. I have no idea if MLB will black out the game.
Damn!
It wasn’t a horrible outcome splitting a 4 game series against the Brewers in their yard, but Kimbrel blowing that save in extras did make it that much worse for me. It was good that he came right back and saved a one-run game, but it wasn’t very clean and it doesn’t make me think he’s getting it together. His stuff is great, but he really needs to go on a run soon in order to keep his current job.
It seems the same people that wanted to give up on Lux are the same people that want to give up on Kimbrel.
There will be a lot of competition for the playoff bullpen and some upset near misses. Hoping V Gon makes it back for a September try out. I love his stuff and moxie. If May comes back and builds up to a starter and Kersh comes back heathy could Anderson or Heaney not make the playoff roster? Really looking forward to the Met series with DeGrom and especially Scherzer.
IMHO it will come down to Phillipps and Treinen as closer IF Kimbrel continues to struggle.
Even without Kimbrel our bullpen should be in great shape with Graterol, Almonte, Ferguson , Vesia, Phillipps and Treinen at the back end in high leverage situations. Should Kimbrel return to his all star form of the past (unlikely) that much better.
And Price has looked very good too lately. His veteran presence in the pen should help too in pressure cooker postseason situations.
Rotation Julio, Clayton, Gonsolin, May. Anderson and Heaney in the pen to provide some long reilief if necessary.
About Bobby Miller: I would give him a look in September, either as a starter to give our regulars some much needed rest or out of the pen. With his stuff he could be a huge shot in the arm come playoff time.
I´d give Gallo a couple more weeks to prove himself and then bring back Rios. Rios has just as much power from the left side than Gallo but a better average and OBP.
Barring any inhuries I can see the batters for the playoffs like this: Betts, Turner, Freeman, Smith, Muncy, JT, Lux, TT, Barnes, CT3, bellinger, Hanser plus GAllo or Rios.
Gavin seems to have found his power stroke lately. Only a great play provided him from hitting another HR , settling for a triple. BTW he leads all MLB in that category now.
I would add him to FF, TT, Mookie and Smith as the 5 most consistent hitters on the team .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!