It s a Long Season

Why does Doc keep running some players out there over and over? Some of you are wondering that. Why Kike, why CT3 and why Barnes? Some of you think he’s just rolling them out there for the heck of it because you “know” they can’t hit. I believe some think Doc is just blowing a game they should have won. Let me remind you that the Dodgers have the best record in baseball and are on track to win 108-110 games. That’s pretty dang good!

In case you don’t know, the Dodgers have one of the most sophisticated hitting approaches in MLB, in fact they lead MLB in OB% and are one of the top hitting teams. Robert Van Van Socyoc, Brandt Brown and Aaron Bates have really done a fine job with the Dodgers’ hitting… for the most part. A few weeks ago many were questioning why Chris Taylor was even on the team. My response was that if he could put up 4.3 WAR in 2017 and 3.2 WAR is 2018, he could do it again.

Their patience was rewarded as Chris Taylor finally (FINALLY) started hitting like it was 2017 again. Let’s hope he can keep it up. Now, they are working with Kike to get him back on track. Kike is so intense that when he is in there, he tends to try too hard. I guarantee the Hitting Team is working with him. He was one of the Dodgers best hitters after the All-Star Break last year. Be patient. The Dodgers can afford to be patient with the lead they have and how they are playing.

Austin Barnes has a sweet swing and in 2017 put up excellent offensive numbers. If the hitting coaches thought he was not capable of hitting, they would not waste their time. When you are in a funk, it’s hard to get out. That’s why the Hitting Coaches preach a Body and Mind Approach. You may think it isn’t working but everyone learns differently and at a different rate.

The reason Doc keeps rolling CT3, Barnes and Kike out there is the simple fact that the Dodgers need them. They need them to keep others fresh, they need them for utility, they need them to win. I think all three are at least average Major League Players. Some are capable of more… a lot more!

The same is true with Dylan Floro and Yimi Garcia. Both have MLB stuff. Dylan is still struggling… at times. At other times he looks great. He needs to pitch to figure it out and not at AAA. Doc’s patience with Yimi is now paying off. He is looking very good. This is a long season! You have to go through “peaks and valleys” with most players. The ones that don’t are Superstars (Cody Bellinger).

Patience Grasshoppers. The Dodgers ONLY have the best record in baseball and are ranked #1 in the Power Ratings. Corey and AJ and Mr. Mountain will be back after the All-Star Game. There will be a slow “ramp up.” I was not a fan of the AJ Pollock signing either, but Andrew Friedman is no fool. I guarantee the Braintrust sees something they believe will be valuable. Give it time.

It is my opinion that the bullpen will be fine. Hand is not coming as the Indians will likely be buyers. Francona and Company are not quitters. AF will not overpay or be held hostage. Bet on that! Relief help will come in the form of something unexpected: a trade for a failed starter, the return of Dick Mountain, a rookie stepping up (Gonsolin?), Maeda “volunteering” to go to the pen, or some other unexpected thing. Bullpen pitchers are fickle and you never know what you will get.

Shane Greene has never pitched like he is for Detroit (a losing team) this year. He’s a “Flavor of the Week” for some, but what happens if he comes to LA? I see the potential he could become Jim Johnson re-visited. I would love to have Hand, but that ain’t happening. I suppose Leclerc could happen, maybe Iglesis or Vasquez or Smith. AF will have to pay dearly and now is not the time.

Fans complained over the winter as player-after-player came off the board. They didn’t sign DJLM (if they had, do you think Verdugo would have had the opportunity he has?) They were really never in on Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. They didn’t trade for Kluber or Bauer, and they had the gall to trade two starting outfielders and a starting pitcher for two prospects?

Look at the results. I say “Andrew Friedman has got this.” He has about 30 eyes and 60 ears in his staff of advisors. They have SOOOOOOOO MUCH more information than we do. We are playing checkers – they are playing chess. Trust the process. It’s a good one!

MINOR LEAGUE REPORT by AC

OKC Dodgers 6 – Memphis Redbirds 9 (Cardinals)

OKC outhit the Redbirds 13 to 11, led by an Edwin Rios 3-4 night. Zach Reks, Cameron Perkins, and Rocky Gale each had a pair of hits. The Dodgers used three 2-run HRs to score their 6 runs. Two of those three HRs were hit by Zach Reks (11), and the third was hit by Edwin Rios (13). Jake Peter and Angelo Mora had particularly tough night leaving a combined 11 runners on base.

Dennis Santana started and went the first 4.2 IP. He yielded 5 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits, and 6 walks, while registering 3 Ks. It is really tough to be successful when you throw more walks than IP. Shea Spitzbarth followed with a scoreless 1.1 innings. Luis Vazquez allowed 2 runs on 1 hit and 3 walks in his 1.0 inning of work. Adam McCreery followed up with a scoreless inning. However, after the Dodgers creeped within 1 after a pair of 2-run HRs by Reks and Rios, Justin Grimm surrendered 2 insurance runs for the Redbirds for the final 9-6 score.

Tulsa Drillers off for their All-Star Break

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 10 – Lake Elsinore Storm 5 (Padres)

The Quakes put up a picket fence in the first four innings, and then double their run production with 4 in the 5th. Jeter Downs opened the inning with a walk, followed by a Donovan Casey double (13) to score Downs. After a Nick Yarnall K, Starling Heredia walked putting runners on 1st and 2nd for Niko Hulsizer who clubbed his first RC HR, a three-run shot. Up 8-4 in the 9th with 2 out, Marcus Chiu and Jeren Kendall both walked, followed by a Connor Wong triple (3) to score two more.

Leo Crawford came off the IL and started for the Quakes. He had a tough third inning where he gave up 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 singles, a fielding error, and a sac fly. Leo cruised through the next four scoreless innings. Connor Strain followed with a scoreless 8th. Austin Drury came into the 9th looking to wrap up the victory, but after 1 out, Drury allowed back to back singles putting runners on 1st and 2nd. Drury coaxed a fly out for out number 2. Drury gave up an infield single to load the bases, but then unleashed a WP to score a run. Drury got the last out to seal the 10-5 victory.

Great Lakes Loons and Ogden Raptors had the night off.

AZL Dodgers Lasorda 6 – AZL Padres (2) 8

The Padres jumped out to after one. In the second, the Lasordas used two singles (Jorbit Vivas and Jaime Perez), a WP, and a 2 run single by Luis Rodriguez to tie the score at 2. That was the extent of hitting with RISP as the Lasordas were 2 for 14 in that category. The Padres rolled off 6 unanswered runs before 18-year-old Dominican SS, Eddys Leonard, hit his first HR on the season in the 7th. In the 8th, Luis Rodriguez walked, moved to 2nd on a ground out, and scored on a throwing error on a ground ball to the SS hit by Brandon Lewis. Leonard then stepped up and hit his 2nd HR of the game to complete the scoring.

Igor Avila was roughed for 3.0 innings, yielding 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits and 1 BB with 2 Ks. Adolfo Ramirez followed with 2.1 IP and allowing the final 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits and 2 walks. He did strike out 5, but also allowed a 2 run HR. 20-year-old Venezuelan RHP, Emmanuel Marcano, pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, and 20-year-old Dominican RHP, Reinaldo De Paula, struck out both batters he faced. De Paula is having a so far successful start to his US debut. In 3 games and 3.2 IP, De Paula has allowed only a HBP to reach base and has struck out 7 batters.

AZL Dodgers Mota 2 – AZL Padres (1) 8

The second Dodgers AZL team was defeated by a second Padres AZL team. Omar Estevez led off and went 0-2 with a K in his first rehab start since going on the IL on May 15. The Dodgers top two international players from the 2018-2019 class, 17-year-old catcher Diego Cartaya and 17-year-old SS Alex De Jesus, continue to rake both going 2-4, with De Jesus hitting his 2nd double. In 16 US AB, De Jesus has 5 hits. Two doubles, one triple, one HR, three RBIs, 1 BB, and only 3K. While Cartaya is 4-10 (all singles) with 1 BB, and 1K. Both of these 17-year-olds do not seem a bit overmatched in the US. Continuing in the versatility being the key to the Dodgers success MO, De Jesus played 2B and 3B yesterday after playing almost exclusively at SS.

19-year-old Dominican 3B, Luis Yanel Diaz, also went 2-4 with a double (2).

20-year-old Taiwanese RHP, Huei-Sheng Lin had another rough outing going 3.1 innings, surrendering 2 runs on 4 hits with 3 K. Jeisson Cabrera and Jacob Gilliland followed for 4.2 innings and were not much relief. They allowed a combined 6 runs (5 earned), on 7 hits and 4 walks, but did have 5 Ks. However 19-year-old Dominican RHP Carlos Alejo continued with his strong US debut finishing up the game with 1 walk and 1 strikeout. In 3 games (4.2 IP), Alejo has allowed only 1 hit and one walk with 4 Ks.

DSL Dodgers Bautista 7 – DSL Royals (1) 2

The Bautistas put together 5 singles, 1 double, 5 walks, 3 HBP, and 1 error to score 7 runs. In the third, with 1 out, Harold Restituyo was HBP. Jose Garcia followed with a single. A WP put runners on 2nd and 3rd before Eynar Manchin walked to load the bases. Ender Avendano walked with the bases jammed to score Restituyo. Amin Valdez singled to score 2. Jose Ramos was HBP to load the bases again, and Luis Yan singled to score two more for five in the inning. In the fourth, Restituyo singled and worked himself around to 3rd and scored on a WP. In the fifth, Ramos got aboard on an error and came home on a Luis Morales double (4) to complete the scoring for the Bautistas.

17-year-old Dominican RHSP Jerming Rosario started his 5th game for the Bautistas, and still has yet to go more than 3.0 IP but has been brilliant in all five starts. Last night he went 2.2 innings allowing no runs on 1 hit and 2 walks. Duany Gomez, Jeremi Rodriguez, and Wilkin Baez completed the win allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks, with 3 K’s.

DSL Dodgers Shoemaker 8 – DSL Indians 2

This was a very strange game. Not only did the Shoemakers score 8 runs with only 3 singles and a 2-run HR, but in the 5th down 2-0, they scored 6 runs on zero hits, 5 walks, 3 HBP, 2 WP and a fielding error. Marlon Cairo hit a two run HR in the 6th to complete the scoring.

18-year-old RHP from Mella, Cuba started and pitched 3.0 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. A trio of young RHP, Juan De La Cruz (18), Samuel Ruben (18), and Frankelyn Feliz (17) pitched the final 6 scoreless innings to preserve the victory.