Hope for the Best – Prepare for the Worst
Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear, and you might be just as close to the truth as anyone. I don’t believe Doc when he tells us about Tony Gonsolin. Some of you prefer to think it’s because he’s stupid because that fits your worldview. I think Andrew Friedman…
Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear, and you might be just as close to the truth as anyone. I don’t believe Doc when he tells us about Tony Gonsolin. Some of you prefer to think it’s because he’s stupid because that fits your worldview. I think Andrew Friedman and the Front Office have carefully constructed a narrative, and Doc gets to deliver the “punch line.” It’s not because he is stupid – it’s because he is very smart. Give your enemies very little to go on.
- So, I am of the opinion that Tony Gonsolin may not be back this season, and if he is, it might be in a limited role. I’m OK with Tony for an inning or two at a time. Of course, I have no inside information… it’s just a feeling!
- What could hurt more is Gavin Lux’s neck/back injury, and again, I have no inside information, but his neck has bothered him on and off this season. I worry more about losing Lux moreso than Gonsolin.
- I expected Dustin May to have some cobwebs. Last night was not a surprise. He has a few weeks to get it worked out, but even if he doesn’t, he could give you one or two high-quality innings out of the bullpen. We just have to let it play out.
- Blake Treinen’s velocity is down, so it will likely take him a few weeks to return to his normal speed. In the meantime, we wait!
- We are not hearing the full truth about Yency Almonte – now they are saying “a few weeks” … maybe or maybe not.
- Tommy Kahnle, Victor Gonzalez, and Danny Duffy are all on the mend. Duffy seems to be doing the best, barring setbacks.
- What I do know is that Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Andrew Heaney, and Tyler Anderson all have something to bring, but they are all LH. I am not sure that is a great idea in the playoffs. The Dodgers may be forced to activate Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller, if Gonsolin or May can’t start. I keep thinking there is some rule that prevents them from being transferred to the Active Roster if they are not on the 40-Man roster, but I can’t find it. Tell me I am wrong or find it!
On the hitting side, has Joey Gallo shown enough to warrant a roster spot? No! But he will be given some more time. Trayce Thompson is showing he might be the real McCoy, but it appears he does his best work when he has to “earn it.” … and he has! Miguel Vargas is about to be given his opportunity. It might be at DH. In fact, I think that would be a great move right about now.
Losing Gonsolin and/or May would be the biggest obstacles. I don’t expect to lose May, but his progress may not be linear. Gonsolin is the most worrisome. That said, if the Dodgers put up their normal hitting lineup, and players hit like they have in the past and are capable… Don’t worry about it! Look at this group without Lux:
- Betts RF
- Turner SS
- Freeman 1B
- Turner 3B
- Smith C
- Muncy 2B
- Vargas DH
- Bellinger CF
- Thompson LF
That’s fearsome!
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Discussion (47)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Postseason Roster Rules & Eligibility
Definition
In a typical season, any player who is on the 40-man roster or 60-day injured list as of 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 is eligible for the postseason.
Those on the restricted list at that point are also eligible if they haven’t been suspended for performance-enhancing drugs during that season. (All players who have served a suspension for PEDs in a given season are ineligible for postseason play that year.)
A player who doesn’t meet said criteria for postseason eligibility can still be added to a team’s roster in the postseason via petition to the Commissioner’s Office if the player was in the organization on Aug. 31 and is replacing someone who is on the injured list and has served the minimum amount of time required for activation. (For example, a player on the 10-day injured list who has been on it for at least 10 days, or a player who has been on the 60-day injured list for at least 60 days.) Players who are acquired in September or after are ineligible.
Postseason roster rules
Teams submit a 26-man roster (it was 25, prior to 2020) prior to each round of the postseason comprised of postseason-eligible players. A club may request permission from the Commissioner’s Office to replace a player who is injured during the course of a series, but that player is then ineligible for the rest of that round and the subsequent round, if there is one. A pitcher may be replaced only by another pitcher, and a position player only by another position player.
Teams carry extra players throughout the postseason in the event of injuries, and those players, as well as players on the injured list, can be in the dugout during games, within reason.
This lineup is everything but fearsome. Certainly not for playoff caliber pitching.
From 6-9 it is a below average MLB lineup IMHO. Two guys just over or under the Mendoza line, an unproven rookie plus a veteran who we have to wait if he can continue his upward trend.
A potential loss of Lux would be huge on offense and on defense. Despite his two bad plays the other day he has been excellent all season.
Even more to worry is the pitching staff. We already lost our best postseason pitcher, the ace of our staff who played a huge role in our 2020 WS march. Then we might look at the loss of TG , our best starter so far.
CK is everything but a sure thing and twice in the postseason.
Treinen is a question mark, as is the health of Graterol. Both big parts for high leverage situations.
Combine all that with the unsettled closer role (Kimbrel is so shaky he makes me reach for the heart pills as soon as the bullpen doors swing open) and the Dodgers despite the best regular season record are not the favorits to win the WS.
They can do it, certainly. But there are serious doubts about this roster.
And if some of you feel offended by saying this is negativism , that is okay with me. I call it realism.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!