Is Kike Coming Back?

Nah, Kersh either plays for the Dodgers or hangs it up. How bit he wins the 23 WS and goes out on a high note. Im ok with that.

Austin should retire and the dodgers should make him a coaching position at double AA or triple AA! Nice guy but wouldn’t be on any or very few roster in baseball! Tough loss last night. Need to win next 2, don’t waste that excellent road trip! I know it can’t happen, but wouldn’t it be nice to have Justin back? Like the Thomas kid in Washington, Kiki? Who knows. Might be worth a shot. Just don’t want another .220 hitter!

Kike has been horrible on the infield this season. 15 errors. His outfield play has been stellar. I still think his time has passed, but I am not running the team. Max showed some life last night. If he can get one or two hits a night, then I will believe he is coming around. We all know he can get hot. I don’t blame last night on Bickford. I blame an offense that left the bases loaded when they had a chance to win. Rather than pinch=hitting Rojas, I would have sent JD up there for one swing. I also put some of the blame on Taylor who added to the pressure on the pitcher with one of the worst throws I have seen all year. Only saved a run because Freeman caught the ball. I agree about another .220 bat. Get someone who can actually hit the ball. I thought a couple of years ago that they should have traded for Whit Merrifield. His play last night did nothing to change that. Urias tonight, and Tony G. tomorrow afternoon.

and I blame last nights loss on typical bad Roberts baseball strategy.

Dodgers unwillingness to bunt and play small cost that game in the 10th.

Muncy not being able to move the runner over to third and striking out. Yes, I know, home run hitter not used to bunting , rah,rah,rah. I call BS on that. Don´t tell me a professional hitter like Muncy , who happens to have an awful BA anyway, can not take a little time of his batting practice to work on bunting.

All you need is one measly run.

If he moves the runner over that long fly ball by Heywards wins you the game.

Imagine this being the rubber game of a playoff series. You just HAVE to bring in that runner from 2nd with no outs.

I don´t care who is at bat, the runner HAS to be moved over to third at any cost.

Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, all the Clayton Kershaw ties to Texas and what not, he made a point of saying he really likes being a Dodger.

It’s possible he will retire. That wouldn’t surprise me. Not sure what is even wrong with him, lot of confusion surrounding his return date and what is actually the issue.

Good three part story in the LA Times about the Dodgers farm system, how LA keeps producing talent even without high draft choices. It started Sunday and wrapped up today.

One of the questions regarding the future is whether LA should just ride out the trade deadline without sacrificing any top prospects, then land Shohei Ohtani this winter. But that would mean the Dodgers would have around $100 million tied up in three players (Including Betts and Freeman).

The Dodgers have approximately $95 million coming off the books. Of course the Dodgers won’t just stand pat (what type of message would that send?) They need a starting pitcher, maybe a reliever and possibly a right hand bat. If it’s Kike Hernandez, probably wouldn’t cost much, but he hasn’t exactly been on fire.

At the very least Andrew Friedman will acquire a starting pitcher, maybe from the White Sox or the Cardinals.

But whoever the Dodgers part with out of the farm system may come at a price, the trade for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner cost Josiah Grey, an all star pitcher, and catcher Keibert Ruiz, another player the team could use since Austin Barnes has struggled with the bat. Bottom line Scherzer and Turner failed to deliver a World Series title, but watching Turner play sure was fun.

People inside the organization indicate the Dodgers pursuit of Ohtani will be serious and for that to work, the Dodgers need the young players to produce to hold down costs.

Now Friedman indicated the Dodgers have done a great job replenishing the farm system, but do you want to part with major league ready talent that the Dodgers need to replace costly veterans? Low cost options and all.

That will be the question. How far are the Dodgers willing to go at the deadline to secure another NL West and make a World Series run?

I have a better chance of getting pregnant than the dodgers trading for ohtani! Friedman should concentrate on this season and worry about ohtani during the offseason! Thanks for the support Bear! Kiki just brings more swing and miss to a lineup with plenty of that . We need a good, not .200 hitting right handed bat! Look att what we traded for Machado. Only 1 is in the league. We all know that all of our prospects aren’t going to make it to the show. Package a couple and get a good bat. I think we all can agree Max ain’t going to keep hitting like this forever. Why not make the Nationals an offer ? Why not make the Angels an offer for Renfro? Please not another .200 hitter.

Kike only has a 652 OPS this year against LHP. And 14 errors at SS. It sounds like Trevor Story is coming back for Red Sox soon which will make Kike even more likely to be traded. Probably a salary dump by Sox for a low value prospect. Maybe if other RH bats are too expensive this is a last resort.

Tough loss against a good team last night. Only 2–13 with RISP.

Also almost all bullpen arms used. And Roberts insists on using Phillips with 4 run deficit Sunday. At least third time recently that Roberts has wasted Phillips. Now he is unavailable tonight or tomorrow.

Why don’t the Dodgers bunt more?

Because statistically speaking, the odds are better that you swing away. It’s a fact you cannot dispute. That’s why! Now, bunting does not always work. There are lots of bad outcomes, like popping up a ball and doubling the runner. Statistics and Probability says that bunting is not as successful as swinging over the course of a season, but the Dodgers lost last night because the swing did not work, so in a circular thinking world, Blame Roberts!

WOW! JUST WOW! Forget the damn bunt forever! If you want to read about it, start here:

GEEEEZZZZ!

Microsoft news had a story this morning about a trade between the Dodgers and the Cardinals for Arenado. This as rumors that the Cardinals have softened on trading their star have heated up in the last 36 hours or so. The cost? 5 of the Dodgers top 30 prospects. Stone, Vivas, Pepiot, Heubeck and Knack. Arenado would most likely waive his no-trade to come home to LA. At the same time, the rumors about Ohtani are quieting down. Ohtani crushed his 36th homer last night in the Angels win over the Pirates. Of course, all the news is simply rumor driven. No one has any concrete evidence anybody will be traded. As for Kike, his career numbers against LHP are good. He is having a bad year. I personally like the guy, but I am not trading for another weak stick in the lineup. Maybe coming back to LA inspires the guy, and maybe it doesn’t But he is not a player of NEED.

Absolutely make the deal for Arenado! Maybe include Montgomery? Try and resign JD for next year. Walker back next year, Miller,maybe Julio, with Gonsolin, Stone, Clayton (hopefully). No need for ohtani.

Okay, Ohtani is not going to be traded. The Angels hope to keep him. We’ll see how the free agency plays out this winter.

The point that Friedman was making in the Times series is you have to deal with not only the present, but the future when making deals. It’s that way every trade deadline.

It’s the reason the Dodgers avoid the roller coaster rides that most organizations go through. The ability to maintain a strong farm system and sustain success at the major league level is what separates the Dodgers from other teams.

Shout to Jason Hayward. He’s been miles better than advertised.

He seems to put together decent ABs nearly every time he’s up.

I would do that proposed trade (above) for Nolan. He is a Stud and we would have the solution to the 3rd Base problem we have had for a while, and would lock it down for the next 4 and a bit years.

Mookie

Freddie

Will

Nolan

Is a pretty good staring point for anyone.

I’m still kicking the tires on Blake Snell regardless of whether SD really wants to trade with us.

Roberts gets credit for the loss or at least honorable mention. Ray Charles could see Grove was done. Roberts should have pulled him after there were two on. Even the double play ball was hit pretty hard. It’s possible that game could have been won in regulation if Grove was pulled and the reliever gave up just one run.

Let me rephrase something. I said earlier! The dodgers should RETIRE Austin! Pay him and make him a coach. Sorry Mark. And on Bickford, every team has one or two pitchers who are not high leverage relievers. Bickford is that for the dodgers. But I like the guy! I don’t get anxious when he comes in because he has about a 60-40 chance for a clean inning. Graterol scares the crap out of me! I know his. Numbers, but still scary! Really love being on this forum! Mark had really good posts and I agree with most of his thoughts. Not on Kiki though. Like to remember his 3 homer playoff game from time to time. But try like hell to forget the bump with Cody. Love reading Bradley’s trade ideas! Won’t work but love the enthusiasm! Especially love the stuff you post Bear! Sound like the perfect guy to have a beer with and watch a game! Last thing, I still get sticker shock when I look at the Braves and the contracts they gave Acunia, Albies and others. And we might spend 600 million on ohtani! No thanks

I agree with Bradley on that one also. But Arenado is my biggest wish!

From the rumors I hear that Friedman sounds like making a major trade shakeup. He knows he needs pitching starters and relief a right-handed hitter and the backup catcher can’t hit. So in order to get those needs you have eto trade for them. I say it right now ARENADO! Let’s see a right handed bat that plays a better thirdbase and Stlouis having a down year the only chance to get him and how about go get Flarethy and Montgomery. Then to improve outfield you go look at the nationals or the As and get Thomas or Rooker. One of those would help the ball club an shows teams want prospects. Problem is we still need a backup catcher so trade Barnes to a team that is out of it. How about the As for there catcher. Hear me. Barnes could teach these youngsters a thing or to be perfect for Barnes.

Bradley, what part don’t you understand that Barnes lacks commercial value or interest from any MLB team?

Who is interested in a guy who is owed 3.5 Million Dollars Guaranteed.

Your delirious passion for the team misplaces reality. Your proposals seem more like wishes. Ha, don’t suggest that I make predictions or proposals because I don’t smoke weed.

Oh the growing pains of watching Grove pitch. He sails along through 3 and then the wheels come flying off. One location mistake after another, especially when he gets ahead in counts.

Successful veteran pitchers learn how to minimize the casualties. How to work out of tight spots. Grove can’t make that big pitch when he’s in trouble. He’ll learn from the School of Hard Knocks eventually but it’s tough to watch now.

* There is a good articles by Patrick Mooney for The Athletic on Bellinger. “Don’t overthink it when it appears to be this simple: Bellinger will not be traded as long as the Cubs keep winning. And Bellinger will sign back here as a free agent if the Cubs offer him the most money.” And the Cubs have money.

Bellinger is hitting .452 (33-for-73) in July with seven home runs, a 1.270 OPS, 18 runs scored and 22 RBIs in 19 games.

Discussing changes he’s made with the Cubs, “He can get down 0-1 and take a big swing, and then you’ll see the next swing cut down a little bit. Some guys just have a driver and a 3-wood, right? Belli’s got the driver. He’s got the pitching wedge.” For whatever reason, we never saw that in LA.

Changes in Latitudes, changes in Attitudes.

Good call, MT

Dodgers acquire Kike Hernandez

So Kike is indeed returning. Just heard the report on the radio. There’s a rumor that turned out to be true.

Loved Kike with the Dodgers, but he’s been pretty awful this year, and a chance of scenery can’t hurt. Or at least it can’t hurt Kike… but it could hurt the Dodgers. Not exactly the bold move I’ve been hoping for.

As I write this, I haven’t heard what the Dodgers are giving up. Can’t be much. Sounds like the Red Sox wanted to move on. Maybe the proverbial PTBNL.

Just a little chess move to set up something else? Perhaps the brass wants another veteran UT guy for the postseason. A little cushion for after Busch or Vargas get traded.

Kike’s OPS this season is .599. He’s been terrible at SS, especially his throw. He’s been a bit better against southpaws, at .652.

Right now I’d classify this under WTF?

But after another move or two it could make sense.

The Sox are receiving Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman, tweets Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Happy to have Kike back in LA where he is happy and has been productive. I will take his .811 OPS against LHP to the bank. As I recall, I think he does well in the playoffs too. I will have to check on that….this just coming off the top of my head.

Evidently the umpires had Michael Grove change his pants between innings. After the change was when he gave up 2 runs and the conspiracy begins.