I m Just Along For the Ride

Why do so few people post when the Dodgers win? With each win in a row, the posts go down inversely to how much the Dodgers win. I guess people love to bitch more than enjoy a win. (SIGH!).

With regards to what I call the “Andrew Friedman Era,” let’s look at the Dodger’s team scoring average per game, year-over-year:

• 2015 – 4.10 Runs per game
• 2016 – 4.40 Runs per game
• 2017 – 4.81 Runs per game
• 2018 – 4.82 Runs per game
• 2017 – 5.34 Runs per game (so far)

Of course, the glass half-emptiers will say, “but it is not sustainable and will go down.” On the other hand, the glass half-fullers will say “A lot of the players are slumping and the more they work with RVS, the better they will be.” I’ll be happy if they are around 5.00 runs a game, but I do see the potential for improvement under Robert Van Socyoc. Not every player learns and adapts at the same rate, but Cody Bellinger is at the head of the class and some others are showing improvement, including Old Man Russ Martin. Joc Pederson is a success story too.

Strikeout percentage is down about a point and a half… and I do think it will get better as players understand the system benefits. About the only player still really struggling is Chris Taylor and I think they just need to stick with him for at least 50-75 more at-bats. At some point, I think they will give Joc an opportunity to hit against LH pitchers, but I am all for letting him experience success against RH pitchers for a while. The Dodgers are second in baseball in runs scored and I believe it’s likely they can become even better as the year wears on.

The rotation is back healthy. Hill got a handle on it and was outstanding after a few hiccups. The bullpen got stronger as Stripling and Urias went to the bullpen, Yimi is getting his mojo back and Baez seems to be transformed. I still think the Dodgers need to seek another closer, but Kenley is not a bad option it seems. Now, if they can only get Kelly untracked…

Roger Askew said it best:

“Kind of funny, if you read what some of the guys are saying on this blog, you would think we are 5-25 instead of 19-11, which by the way is the most wins in the majors right now. Not bad for a broken down old team with a “dumbass” for a manager, and a FO guy that everybody wants to run out on a rail. Said it awhile ago and I will stand by it. If we listen to some of our twisted fan base and get rid of both Roberts and Freidman, they wouldn’t last more than a week before someone scoops them up. Some of our “fans ” should quit acting so damn spoiled and enjoy the ride. In all my years dating back to the 70’s following the Dodgers, I have NEVER seen a 6 year run like this, it’s incredible. Plus all the young dudes back on the farm that are blocked right now, but will be kicking the door down soon. Great to be a Dodger fan right now.”

I’m enjoying the ride… and it’s the best ride I can remember as a Dodger fan. The future is bright and this could be the year they win it all. They at least are in the hunt, but it won’t be some blockbuster deal that puts them over the hump… it will likely be obscure and under the radar. Those are the best kind.

Some wanted the Dodgers to trade for Corey Kluber over the winter, but I don’t think there was ever any chance the Indians were going to trade Corey Kluber. However, Kluber is not looking Kluber-esque at age 33, with a 5.81 ERA and 1.68 WHIP. It started with his performance in his past four playoff starts, which was horrid with 17 ER in 14 IP, along with 9 HR. I have heard the rumors that his velocity is down, which is why I was against trading for him. I have heard rumors of “arm issues.” I was for re-signing Clayton because he was one of “our own.” You take care of “family. I don’t know what Kluber would have cost, but I would think it started with Verdugo and May. Two words: NO WAY!

I believe that if you draft wisely, trade occasionally, develop the talent properly and cultivate the farm, you will have a parade of young players who will step up and some will show out. Players like May, Gonsolin, Lux, Ruiz, Smith, Downs, Gray and others. I saw this early in Friedman’s tenure and while I know he’s not perfect, I endorse what he is doing… TOTALLY! He’s made his share of bonehead deals, but he’s made a lot more excellent ones. I see the positive… and it’s quite awesome. There are negatives, but they are few, unless you manufacture them. Just enjoy the ride, if you can. If you can’t, then that’s just sad to me.

Revisiting Old Friends

• Frankie Montas is 4-1 as a starter for the A’s with a 3.10 ERA. Good for him.
• Brett Anderson is also pitching for the A’s and is 3-2 with a 4.35 ERA – he has a 1.48 WHIP so he’s not all that, but he’s tying.
• Jharel Cotton is still on the DL after missing all of 2018 with TJ Surgery, but should be back soon.
• Trayce Thompson is at AAA Columbus, the Indians affiliate and is hitting .141. It’s not looking good. Does he have a jump shot?
• Dee Gordon is back at 2B for Seattle and hitting .290 with his typical .321 OB%.
• In Cincinnati, Alex Wood is still on the DL, Kyle Farmer is raking at .167, Jose Peraza is hitting .188, but does have a .207 OB%, Matt Kemp is not close to hitting his weight (.200) and the same is true of Yasiel Puig (.205), while Scott Schebler is hitting .132. Turner Ward is rumored to be seeking a job as a greeter at Wal-Mart (that’s bad I know, but it’s funny).
• Trayvon Robinson, former Dodger farmhand who is now 31 years old and has been playing Independent League Baseball since 2015, is making a comeback with the Indianapolis Indians. He is hitting .391 with a .453 OB% after 40 AB’s. I guess it’s never too late.
• Feel free to share what other “friends” are doing… there’s a bunch of them.

Minor League Report by DC

Great Lakes Loons 14 – Dayton Dragons 4 (Cincinnati)

The Loons definitely like day baseball. They came into Sunday’s afternoon contest with a 3-0 record in day games along with a 1.33 team ERA and averaging seven runs per game.

They started Sunday’s game in kind by scoring 13 runs by the end of the sixth inning. By then every Loon had had a base hit while Dan Robinson, Miguel Vargas, Jacob Amaya, Luke Heyer, James Outman and Jair Camargo each had two. Vargas extended his on base streak to 12 with two hits in the sixth innings and three runs batted in during that inning. The Loons batted around in the sixth inning before making an out. Nineteen-year-old catcher Camargo seems to be demonstrating he belongs at this level.

The Loons tacked on another run in the top of seventh inning. Miguel Vargas, Jacob Amaya and James Outman finished with three hits a piece while Luke Heyer had a two-run home run. Vargas has had six multi-hit games in his last 10 games and in those games is hitting a Ted Williams-like .405. He has 11 runs batted in and has walked seven times while striking out three times.

Josiah Gray started for the Loons and before his long wait for the bottom of the sixth inning he had pitched five innings of two-hit ball with one run allowed, one walk and had struck out six. He weathered a 30-minute wait and after a bloop single set the side down on three first-pitch outs. Gray finished his day with 72 pitches, 50 of them strikes. James Marinan had started for the Dragons. Over 4.1 innings he got touched up for seven hits and five runs while striking out three.

Left-hander Austin Drury replaced Gray in the bottom of the seventh inning and after a lead-off double held the Dragons to a single run in the inning. He then set Dayton down in order in the bottom of the eighth inning. Right-hander Joel Inoa and his 95 MPH fastball finished up in the bottom of the ninth inning but not without incident. He served up a two-run homer before closing it out.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 0 – Modesto Nuts 7 (Seattle)

Left-hander Geraldo Carrillo started for the Quakes and after three strong innings ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning giving up two walk, two singles, a double and a HBP resulting in four runs. He was replaced by Connor Mitchell with two out in the fourth inning. Mitchell gave up two more runs in his 1.2 innings pitched and Max Gamboa gave up yet another in the sixth inning, although an unearned run, leaving the Quakes at a 7-0 deficit. Ryan Moseley continued his strong relief work with a scoreless eighth inning on one hit and two strikeouts.

Offensively the Quakes did not have much to write about as they were limited to five hits with 17 strikeouts. Marcus Chiu had two of those hits, one a double.

Tulsa Drillers 5 – Corpus Christi Hooks 0 (Houston)

Right-hander Dustin May started for the Drillers in an afternoon start against the Corpus Christi Hooks. After four innings on four hits, six strikeouts and no runs, he ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fifth inning giving up two singles to the first two batters and chipping in with a wild pitch. However, he shut out the Hooks in the inning with a runner cut down at the plate on a ground ball to Angelo Mora, a strikeout and a ground out.

May was replaced in the sixth inning by right-hander Louis Head who tossed 2.2 nice innings giving up only one hit while walking one and striking out two. Marshall Kasowski came in to preserve a win and started with some trouble in the bottom of the ninth by hitting a batter and walking the next one. He recovered striking out two and getting a game ending ground out.

At the plate the Drillers gave May a bit of breathing room with an Angelo Mora run scoring in the top of the first inning on a wild pitch and a Zach McKinstry solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth inning Angelo Mora scored again on a wild pitch having worked his way around following a walk with one out in the inning. Two more runs scored again in the top of the eighth inning compliments of a botched double play attempt by the Hooks and giving the Drillers a 5-0 lead. Tulsa had but four hits but scored four unearned runs.

OKC Dodgers 4 – San Antonio Missions 1 (Milwaukee)

Pitching seemed to be the order of the day as Daniel Corcino started and went five innings for the Dodgers holding the Missions scoreless over five innings on two hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
The sixth inning became more of a challenge as after a HBP and a single Corcino was replaced by Josh Smoker who proceeded to issue a walk loading the bases and a run scoring sacrifice fly. Smoker closed out the inning with no more damage giving the Dodgers a 4-1 lead heading into the seventh inning. He was followed by Zach McAllister who struck out two and gave up a single before being replaced by Joe Broussard who pitched 1.1 clean innings. JT Chargois was called on the finish up and struck out the side in the ninth inning.

The Dodgers scored four runs for Corcino. Three came on a Matt Beaty three-run home run in the top of the third inning and another on an Errol Robinson single in the top of the fourth inning. Paulo Orlando had three of the Dodgers six hits.