Is the Cavalry Coming?
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…
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.
I Wonder How the Little (rhymes with itches) Feel now?
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Discussion (84)
Disagree, not disagreeable
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.