With three (count ’em 3) offensive rookies on the MLB Roster, is that the end of what we will see this year? Well, I will say that it is likely what we will see for a while. Some fans are pining for Luke Williams, but (at best) he is a “fill-in” at SS – SS is not his position. He is a “poor man’s Kike Hernandez.” Kike could play any position at a high level – Luke Williams can play most positions at a below-average level. He’s disaster insurance.
OKLAHOMA CITY DODGERS
Yonny Hernandez is having a solid year at OKC, but he has very little “pop” in his bat. Again, he’s disaster insurance. Beyond that, the Dodgers have a number of journeymen at OKC, including Ward, Avans, Yurchak, and Mann. They are all players who could see the Bigs, but they are not solutions – just placeholders. I’m not being mean… it’s damn hard to play at this level. The Dodgers choose to keep Hunter Feduccia at OKC as he is not on the 40-Man Roster, but as we see what happens with JDM (there are “whispers” he may need back surgery), it could be that Feduccia gets the call and Will Smith DH’s more.
TULSA DRILLERS
Tulsa is where a large number of Dodger prospects reside. Jonny DeLuca, Andy Pages, Jorbit Vivas (most likely trade collateral), Jose Ramos, Diego Cartaya, Imanol Vargas, Tanner Dodson, Nick Frasso, Kyle Hurt, Landon Knack, Nick Nastrini, John Rooney, River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan. Of the position players, Andy Pages and Jonny DeLuca are at the top of the list. Diego Cartaya is inexplicably not able to hit his way out of a wet paper box (there’s a story here, but I can’t get it.).
Of Pages and DeLuca, it is felt that Pages is the better of the two, but Jonny D has some insane splits against LHP (albeit in a very small sampling). JonnyD is hitting .284 with a .376 OB% and OPS’ing .974, but in 19 ABs against LHP, he is hitting .421 with a .522 OB% and 1.469 OPS. That is insane… and a very small sampling. Of course, you can see where I am going here… Could Jonny DeLuca be the platoon partner of Jason Heyward? Well, if he can keep that up until the All-Star Break, he would get some consideration.
Of the pitchers, Frasso, Rooney, and Knack could have a shot. Knack needs to keep it up, but he could be a solid addition to the rotation. The rest of the bunch could be in next year’s class.
GREAT LAKES LOONS
Dalton Rushing is clearly the slugger here. He is hitting .263 with a .450 OB% as he is being walked 33% of the time. He is OPS’ing .950 and has 4 HR to go with five doubles and one triple. He has struck out 28 times and is a true “three outcomes player.” However, 20-year-old Yenier Fernandez is catching the bulk of the games and could be the next Yadier Molina. He is hitting .321 with a .404 OB% and a .868 OPS. Watch this kid!
So the minor league help on the horizon is not plentiful, but it is worthy of watching. July would be very, very soon to bring up a 24-year-old to the Show. He will actually be 25 in July and can play all three outfield positions. He does not have a big arm, but it is above average. He could be that “lefty-killer” the Dodgers need.
Major League News
The Dodgers went down to the wire and used the long ball to destroy the Padres’ Fans’ hopes amid chants of “Beat LA.” Padre fans don’t root for their team – they root against LA! They have no identity without us! There is a big difference. The Dodgers are the “Dragon Up the Freeway” who have owned the Padres for twelve years. The Padres are the Dodger’s pesky little brother who wants to be the big brother… but never will be. Too bad, so sad! Now grow a pair, little boys! With the Padres, it’s “style over substance.” Just shut up and play.
Speaking of up-and-coming teams, don’t look now, but the D-Bags are looking more and more like a .500 (probably better) team as they are led by the manchild and Rookie of the Year, Corbin Carroll. The only thing that can derail them is injury… as they are not deep, but they are scrappy and confident… and fun to watch.
Minor League News
- The Dodgers are closed-lipped on Nick Frasso, as they are prone to do, so either his harm is hanging by a single tendon right about now or maybe it was a blister forming. Who knows?
- Alex Vesia struck out the side in the bottom of the eight in OKC with 14 pitches – 11 of which were strikes.
Discussion (30)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I just stumbled on to a You Tube site which seems to report on prospects for hardcore roto players. Are there leagues in which these fantasy teams have their own fantasy farm systems? (Ours just had a draft of current major leaguers. This was in the mid ’80s, and Bob suggested that each owner should be allowed to keep one player from his previous team. Of course Bob had Mattingly in his prime, so we dubbed it “the Mattingly Rule” –and voted the proposal down 15-1.)
Anyway, three of the Top Ten prospects listed by this outfit were Dodgers: DeLuca, Vivas and Rushing. Warmed my heart.
The best thing about today’s fiasco was Gonsolin’s pitching. The defense has been a sore point in the past couple of games. Urias gave up eight “hits,” but three or four of those really should have been outs. Sloppy stuff.
BTW, from what I’ve read, Yeiner Fernandez’s bat is way ahead of his glove. At any rate, it’s nice to have all this catching depth. I hope Feduccia gets his chance before long.
Looks like a quick 2-game skid with Thor pitching tomorrow ….unless the Dodgers bats heat up again.
Hate watching a game thru haze, annoying!! Can’t the dome management find a way to clear the place of smoke before the game starts? Seriously unacceptable!
This offense cannot win a championship. And the defense is shaky. Outman is consistently swinging through mid mid 95+ fastballs like Bellinger last year. Not a good sign. And he doesn’t show the ability to foul off tough pitches. What a raw deal for Catman. He’s close to getting back to his top level. He’ll be fine. It’s our inability to hit good pitching that’s a huge problem.
Stick a fork in them.
Get them tomorrow!
Dodgers flat from the jet lag. The line-up looked suspicious at 8 & 9 hole. And now Suero pitching – the white flag
@am570lasports Gavin Lux is off crutches. He won’t be cleared to start running until sometime in July. . #dodgers #losangeles #gavinlux #dodgerstadium #dodgerbaseball ♬ original sound – Am570lasports
Another Dodgers let-down on defense. That misplay by Busch in the 5th – COSTLY!
Mark, thanks for the response to my question regarding the Padres mock of Kershaw and the Dodgers. Where is the baseball Commissioner and the owners on this? Where’s the press coverage of this? I will complain to Commissioner’s Office for not reprimanding the Padres and the Times for not covering it. I hope others would join me. And Mark, it’s great to have you back and feeling better.
Again too many quiet Dodgers bats, looks like a win tonight will have to be another low-scoring, nail-biting affair.
On the bright side, we’ll be done here in just a little over 2 hrs.
Stuntman’s back.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRKRjVC8/
Dodgers moved all the way up to #3 in the Power Polls. Rays #1, Braves #2.
Milwaukee is one of the best parks to watch a game.
I have watched a few games here: https://www.jsonline.com/videos/sports/2023/03/28/go-inside-j-leinenkugels-barrel-yard-restaurant-american-family-field-brewers-stadium/11557168002/
It is awesome!
Which Peralta wins out tonight? I’m rooting for the lefty.
I just looked up DeLuca’s stats against LHP in previous years in the minors and he’s hit LHP good his whole minor league career. I must have forgot that since when I looked it up in the offseason.
Last night was the most fun I’ve had watching a ballgame in a very long time.
I preferred Jorge’s Padres abuse.
A much easier read
Come on Mark
Don’t sugarcoat it.
Is it true that the “Crying Keyshaw” video above was actually broadcast at Pet Co Park? If so, it a disgrace to the Padres and it’s management.
Mark brought up today what I’ve brought up before (In the offseason) about DeLuca. I saw a need for an outfielder that could hit LHP and I saw DeLuca’s splits last year against LHP and I was impressed and he’s doing it again this year in a small sample though. Why not platoon him?
1) It doesn’t cost the Dodgers anything.
2) It’s not like he’s going to be an everyday player.
3) There’s more RHP than LHP, so his role would be limited.
Also the Dodgers need to keep Rojas from starting and that’s why I like Betts at SS. Otherwise Taylor at SS.
It’d be nice if the Dodgers could squeeze Busch in somewhere.
Just my 2 cents.
7:40 PM ET
Dodgers (21-14) 1st place
Brewers (19-15) .5GB
SP Tony Gonsolin R
0-0 3.38 ERA 8IP 4K
SP Freddy Peralta R
3-2 3.63 ERA 34.2IP 41K
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
RF J. Heyward L
DH Max Muncy L
CF James Outman L
LF D. Peralta L
3B M. Busch L
SS Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes R
In Domed Stadium
NO Dodger Minor League games tonight
I wonder if Kiner-Falefa is on the Dodgers radar. He’s a SS/LF. A righty. Having a down-year so probably is a value acquisition.
For Franmil Reyes, I see 2023 splits – vs RHP = .175, vs LHP= .211.
Career RHP = .242
vs LHP .269
Based on 2023 numbers I don’t see any help there.
Big boy though.
His line this year is .231/.288/.519 with a 37% strikeout rate. Don’t we already have something akin to that or even slightly better?
Good Morning guys – nice comeback last night. Noticed KC designated Frammil Reyes this morning . Guy hit 30HR/85RBI less than 3 years ago. Might be good idea bring him in and drop Thompson. He is what he is at this point, they need production.
UPDATE ABOVE!
How much leash does. Thompson have Mark? Can’t really use him as a pinch hitter. Doc uses Barnes as a pinch hitter praying he draws base on balls. Go get a right handed hitter that can hit!
My question is, do the Dodgers need the cavalry to come? Sure, more injuries are going to happen throughout the year, but they certainly seem to be clicking right now. 8 out of 9 wins, first place in the division and second in the NL behind the Braves.
Whats the chances Austin Wynns plays for every team in the NL West this year?
Has that EVER happened?
A shout out needs to go to Caleb Ferguson, dude has been great.
I thought Eric had a good suggestion last night.
Put Mookie at SS to open an outfield spot to be shared by Busch and Taylor.
Go with the young guys this year like the Dodgers did in the 1970s with Garvey, Lopes, Cey and Russell. That worked out well for the organization and fans.
They can decide which veterans to keep between Heyward, Peralta and Thompson.