Is Caleb Ferguson on the Playoff Bubble?
Caleb Ferguson has a history of being left off the Dodgers Playoff Roster, and he was not happy about it. Also, if you remember, he was not happy about how the Dodgers left him on the IL when Ferguson returned earlier in 2022 after missing the 2021 season when he had Tommy John…
Caleb Ferguson has a history of being left off the Dodgers Playoff Roster, and he was not happy about it. Also, if you remember, he was not happy about how the Dodgers left him on the IL when Ferguson returned earlier in 2022 after missing the 2021 season when he had Tommy John surgery. Ferguson’s last pitching appearance was on June 14, as the Dodgers shut him down and placed him on the IL with forearm tendinitis.
Ferguson thought he could pitch through the soreness, though, and after a long road back to the big leagues, the southpaw reliever expressed frustration with the decision to put him on the IL. Ferguson said this:
“There’s just been a lot of miscommunication over the last two and a half months. Yeah, I’m just kind of tired of the miscommunication of it. […] There was a lot of things in rehab that kind of got changed around and jerked around. I don’t know. There’s a lot of people involved in it. Everybody has their own voice to speak on it. I don’t know. It’s kind of a hard question without trying to be [a jerk] and call a bunch of people out.”
— Jack Harris, The LA Times
It turns out Fergie was left off the playoff roster, even though he had a 1.82 ERA in 37 appearances. History may again repeat itself as Caleb Ferguson served as the opener in the first game of yesterday’s doubleheader and promptly gave up three hits and three runs while only getting two outs. Ryan Pepiot came in and promptly picked Nate Jones off 1B to end the inning.
Caleb Ferguson is frequently very good. However, on various occasions, he is inclined to “meltdown.” His ERA is a respectable 2.90, but his WHIP is 1.39, and the league hits .256 against him. He has given up 59 Hits in 59 IP and has walked an additional 24 batters. Alex Vesia also has a high Whip and higher ERA, but there is an explanation for that: Vesia pitched very poorly in the first half of the season. Since the All-Star Break, his ERA is 2.63, and his WHIP is 0.77. Before the All-Star Break, his ERA was 6.75, and his WHIP was 2.20.
Ferguson has given up 31 hits in 28 IPs since the Break and has walked 12 while the league is hitting almost .300 against him. Caleb, If I am making the decision, you are not on the playoff roster! Yes, that will piss him off, and he will likely be traded in the offseason. I liked Caleb, but his performance is found to be lacking. Bye, Bye!
There is a chance Kyle Hurt could make the playoff roster, but I would not do that. It’s just too risky to put a kid in a position like that when he has only pitched in one game. Of course, it could work – he has filthy stuff and is destined to be a “multi-inning reliever,” but this would not be a “Freidmanesque move,” in my opinion.
Dodger News & Notes
- From Bear: OKC beat Round Rock 8-3. Hurt started and went four innings, giving up one run and striking out 8. He also walked 3. OKC jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but by the 6th, it was 4-3. Round Rock scored two runs, one earned off of Tyson Miller, who ended up getting the win. Feduccia’s homer in the bottom of the 6th made it 5-3; then the Dodgers scored 3 in the bottom of the 7th to end the scoring. Hudson, Vanasco, and Suero each finished up with a scoreless inning. Avans was the offensive star, going 4-4 with three driven in. Yonny Hernandez was the only other player with more than one hit. Vargas did not play, and Busch was 1-5. Game two is tomorrow night.
- From Michael: “Does anybody out actually think Minnesota, Arizona, Miami, Chicago gonna crapshoot their way to a WS ring? If so, I got a hundred dollars to your one they don’t.” I’ll take that bet. a $100 vs. $1 – how could I go wrong?” Who thought Philly would do what they did last year?
- Ryan Pepiot is evolving into a big-time pitcher right before our eyes – his nine Ks yesterday (in Coors, no less) were impressive.
- Could this be the playoff rotation:
Game 1 – Bobby Miller
Game 2 – Clayton Kershaw/Emmet Sheehan
Game 3 – Ryan Pepiot/Ryan Yarbrough
Game 4 – Lance Lynn/and the pen
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Discussion (72)
Disagree, not disagreeable
* There is absolutely no way I don’t have Peralta on my playoff roster in favor of Wong. I think Mookie, CT3, Kike, and Rosario are plenty of 2nd basemen.
* Could have no problem leaving Caleb off the playoff roster in favor of Stone perhaps. What I do know is Fergie would never ever see the opener role again. But a 3rd LHP in the pen with Yarbrough and Vesia would be nice. Vesia, as I mentioned yesterday, has been better lately. If Caleb doesn’t like it, I have some advice – pitch better.
* For the life of me I don’t understand the contact play. Organizations distain the bunt, as giving up a precious out, yet they send the runner from third on contact into an easy out at home on a ground ball.
I’ve had this conversation before with posters here but not in awhile. I think the contact play is order in only one situation. Runners on 1st and 3rd with the infield at double play depth. The runner at 3rd breaks home on the ground ball forcing a throw home, to avoid the round the horn double play. If he’s a dead duck, his job is to get into a rundown and try to make the out by the catcher, to end up with runners on 2nd and 3rd. You take the out at home to get 2 runners in scoring position.
Yesterday we ran JDM, of all people, on contact with runners on 2nd and 3rd and infield 1/2 way. It was a needless, easy out at home. Just a donation. It left runners at 1st and 3rd with 2 outs; hardly an outcome worth the out. I sure would prefer both runners staying put and read the play. The old advice “Make the Ball Be Through” is still the preferred play for my money. Take the out at 1st, leaving runners at 2nd and 3rd, with 2 outs.
I’ve had that argument and expressed my option with other coaches both pro and college. Many young college coaches love the play and I don’t get it. I don’t expect a decent infielder to throw the ball away often enough to justify the risk.
I hate the contact play.
Oh boy, Fergie or Vesia, I’ll take the later. Vesia has some nasty stuff and he has been throwing strikes lately. Fergie not so much. It would not bother me at all if they traded Ferguson this winter. I think Yarbrough and Vesia as the lefty’s out of the pen is fine.
Wong over Peralta?
Okay, I hate openers.
Yes, Ferguson was bad, very bad.
Sometimes Caleb is good, other times he folds. You need consistency in the playoffs. So I leave him off the October roster.
Good candidate for a winter trade.
Pepiot was impressive.
Excellent column today by Dylan Hernandez (With Trout, Time to Fish or Cut Bait). Speaks volumes about long term contracts and the risks they bring. Trout is a great player who is having a tough time staying on the field.
Will the Angels trade him? Would he waive his no trade clause? Should the Dodgers pursue him if the Angels pick up a big portion of the contract and he’s available for $20 million a year. Seven years left on the contract. Would Artie Moreno ever consider trading his star to the LA team? I’m guessing not, but who knows.
I think you’ve figured out the playoff starting rotation. Looking ahead to October, it would appear there a lot more potential playoff teams that have big flaws. Only Atlanta looks formidable.
Kersh will get the start at home. The fans deserve that. The two best pitchers on the team to put you up a possible 2-0 advantage heading on the road. Freidman is not going to be bothered by Ferguson. If Fergie gets pissed, so be it. He has not pitched that great the last few weeks. He gave up the winning runs in the first inning. Give the Rocks pitching a little credit for holding the offense down. Smith’s hitting woes continued in game 2. He went 0-5 and was the only player who did not reach base.
I would have no problem leaving Fergie off the playoff roster because I don’t trust him, plain and simple. Do I trust Alex Vesia? No, not really, but I distrust him less than Fergie, plain and simple.
I think it would make sense to swap your game 2 and game 3 starters.
I think there is value in having Kershaw start a road playoff game vs Pepiot.
Let Pepiot get his playoff feet wet in Dodger stadium.
Kersh has the experience and wont have the nerves that a rookie may on the road.
There is also an extra day built into the schedule for the NLDS meaning Miller and whoever your game 2 starter is can come back to pitch games 4 and 5. Miller can go game 1 and 4 on regular rest,
I guess if you want Kersh to be available for Game 5 you throw him game 2, but I don’t know if that would be wise.
Buckle up going to be a fun ride.