More Bull About the Pen
After last night s stellar outing by the much-maligned Dodger bullpen, their Bullpen ERA dropped to 4.00, which is now the 9th best in all of baseball, just behind the often-praised bullpen of the New York Yankees. If you just consider the National League, the Dodgers are now ranked #4, just behind San Francisco, St. Louis and Atlanta. Without making ANY changes, I can see the Dodgers taking the #1 spot
After last night’s stellar outing by the much-maligned Dodger bullpen, their Bullpen ERA dropped to 4.00, which is now the 9th best in all of baseball, just behind the often-praised bullpen of the New York Yankees. If you just consider the National League, the Dodgers are now ranked #4, just behind San Francisco, St. Louis and Atlanta. Without making ANY changes, I can see the Dodgers taking the #1 spot by the end of the season (in the NL). Actually, I am willing to bet that they will be in the TOP THREE in all of MLB in bullpen ERA by the end of the year.
So, while we would all like to see the bullpen get even better, the fact of the matter is this: All teams and MOST closers are having issues right about now. I know that the Dodgers under Robert Van Socyoc are really focusing on their hitting against relievers. They are focused more than ever on location, hitting in certain zones only, pitch recognition with Virtual Reality headsets, and many other nuances. Relief pitching will likely never dominate the way it used to as hitters have a better idea of what is coming and what their strengths are.
Of course, if a pitcher executes his pitch, there is a much smaller likelihood that any hitter can hit it. However, I was listening to a “round table discussion” about pitchers executing their pitches. The consensus seems to be that if a pitcher executes his pitch (location, spin rate, deception, arm slot, release point) 2 out of 10 times, he is average, 3 out of 10 times, he is good and 4 out of 10 times, he is great! That still leaves hitter a lot of pitches to exploit.
Some of you need to immediately start searching for your minds, because you have lost them over this bullpen. Like I mentioned, it’s not perfect and of course, it can get better, but it’s a common problem throughout MLB. The Mets went out and got the best closer of 2018, but in 2019, they lead MLB is Blown Saves! The Nats spent big on the bullpen in the off-season and they are dead last in Reliever ERA. Colorado’s high-paid bullpen is a disaster and the Cubs who spent big on Craig Kimbrel are still waiting for his 6.75 ERA to come down.
Andrew Friedman is working his contacts, searching for ways to improve the bullpen. I am sure he feels the same as I do: “The Bullpen can never be too good!” But he also is not going to overpay. I still think Will Smith is the Dodgers best bet and I would also bet that Andrew and Farhan have a “handshake agreement” that the Dodgers can have the last chance to strike a deal if the Giants decide to trade him. I think they will be sellers, but I also believe it will be at the deadline. I think it is likely there will be a flurry of trade activity the last 24 hours before the deadline. It might be a Wild Ride.
Remember this: It seldom comes down to ONE PLAYER being the difference maker! This is a team game and the Dodgers success and failure will hinge on who steps up when the game is on the line.
Rants and Raves
- Dave Roberts was very stern in what he said to Kenley Jansen who stayed in the game when he should have came out. Basically, Doc said “I’m honest with you, you have to be honest with me and I am disappointed you weren’t.”
- Quick! Cody Bellinger leads the Dodgers with 77 RBI, Max Muncy is 2nd with 65. Who’s 3rd? Not J.T., not Joc, not Alex. It’s the guy so many fans want traded, DFA’ed or strung-up: Kike Hernandez has 47 in a lot fewer AB’s. Speaking of Kike, he is starting to feel more comfortable in the batters box. In the last 30 games he is hitting .250 with a .347 OB%. In the last 15, it’s .283 with a .377 OB% and in the past 7 games, he is hitting .318 with a .464 OB%. So, when you say, “He can’t hit” I say you have no clue. This has been a public service announcement.
- Max Muncy is not a guy who can move all over the diamond. He’s not as good at 3B, so in my opinion, when JT is out of the lineup, Kike should play 3B. Max will adapt, if you leave him there, but he is above average at 2B and 1B. Matt Beaty has played 3B in the minors 154 games. I wonder is he ids an option next year? J.T. may go to 1B next year.
- Today’s game is on YouTube… Early!
MT’s Minor League Lowdown
OKC -0 Gavin Lux hit 2 more HR and drove in all 5 runs as the Dodgers lost 7-5 to the Cubs.
Tulsa – McKinstry went 3-3 and the Drillers won 7-6 with only 2 extra base hits. Sheffield got his 5th save.
More to come…
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (86)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I don’t see versatility as being a cause for the recent defensive lapses. If that were the case, those lapses would have shown up long ago. My best guess is that this is just a bad stretch. It’s a long season, and things like this happen. If it’s anything more fundamental, I’m certain that it will be addressed. Today Muncy dropped a popup that was totally weather related, and Bellinger’s error was just one of those things from a player who plays right field everyday.
I am totally in favor of an electronic strike zone because I have observed pitch after pitch outside the K-Zone on TV being called for strikes, both for and against the Dodgers. It’s possible that if Freese had got on that Verdugo would have hit a 2-run HR. However, a different situation may well have changed the outcome for Verdugo. There is no guarantee that in a different situation Verdugo would have seen exactly the same sequence of pitches, and maybe he, or the pitcher, would have treated his at bat differently. We’ll never know.
As Hawkeye mentioned, Beaty is on fire and could be playing himself into the 1B position for next season. He seems to be a better all around player than Joc, hits in all situations, and has the power to stress opposing pitchers. He’s really made an impression with his clutch hitting and professionalism.
If there is a trade out there for Joc, I would do it if it brings a need back for the team. Otherwise, you don’t trade a 30HR player.
Ferguson is a band aid on a cut that doesn’t exist. This concern to put another LHR in the BP is blown out of proportion. Ferguson has been nothing but trouble sinice ST. He’s lost his command and probably a lot of his confidence. Why weaken the team with his presence? Not necessary.
Poor Joe Kelly, 1 step forward, 2 steps back. Red sox jinxed him. I think he needs exorcism somewhere else. Anyone can make a mistake including the FO.
Wouldn’t mind seeing Stripling on another team. Maybe some trade bait?
As an addendum to the reliever concerns, below are the pitching stats for starters and relievers coming out of the break.
Starters (5) – 36.2 IP, 29 H, 16 R (11 E), 9 BB, 42, K, 2.7 ERA — Record 2-1
Maeda – 2 G, 7.2 IP, 3 Runs — 1 Loss
Strip – 2 G, 10 IP, 4 Runs (3 earned) – 1 Win
Ryu – 1 G, 7 IP, 2 Runs
Kershaw – 1 G, 6 IP, 1 Run — 1 Win
Buehler – 1 G, 6.0 IP, 6 Runs (2 earned)
Both Ryu and Strip lost wins because of blown saves.
Relievers (10) – 26.2 IP, 25 H, 18 R (16 E), 14 BB, 29 K, 5.4 ERA — Record 2-2, 1 S, 3 BS
Baez – 4 G, 4.1 IP, 5 Runs — 1 win and 1 Blown Save
Chargois – 3 G , 2.2 IP, 2 Runs
Rosscup – 2 G, 1.0 IP, 0 Runs
Kelly – 4 G, 3.1 IP, 2 Runs — 1 Save and 1 Blown Save
Urias – 2 G, 4.2 IP, 2 Runs (0 earned)
Garcia – 4 G, 3.1 IP, 0 Runs
Jansen – 2 G, 2.0 IP, 3 Runs — 1 Loss and 1 Blown Save
Floro – 3 G, 2.2 IP, 1 Run — 1 Win and 1 Loss
Sadler – 2 G, 2.2 IP, 1 Run
Ferguson – 1 G , 0.0 IP, 2 Runs
Garcia lost a win due to a blown save
Make American Water Great Again……….
That’s the ticket…
Just saw that Gavin Lux went 5 for 6 tonight with a HR and 3 RBIs. He was only batting .313 in AA so he got promoted to AAA and is batting .577 after 15 games. Unreal.
In the last 5 games we have committed 2 errors in each game, resulting in a total of 8 unearned runs. That doesn’t even count several plays that should have been made but weren’t, resulting in “earned runs” that shouldn’t have been.
Our bullpen is a mess, but our defense isn’t helping them at all. Versatility is a good thing, but I think it has its down side. When players have a position to play every day they get settled in and practice that position all the time. Some of our guys have to practice 2-3 positions and they can’t be as prepared as they should be.
Different subject– Just before Verdugo’s HR, Freese was called out on a pitch that was inside (I believe it was a 3-2 pitch) and if he were on it would have been tie game. I am more and more in favor of electronic pitch calling.
Taking on Greinke’s contract would be insanity, even if the D-Backs gave him to us for nothing, and threw in an extra player or two.
I wouldn’t surrender our top prospects even if the Mets ate a big part of deGrom’s contract. The more I think of it, the more I’m opposed to surrendering multiple top young players for a single piece that may or may not make the difference this year. Justin Turner may be good for another year or two, but it won’t be long before we have a vacancy at 3B. And the same can be said for our rotation. Ultimately the best path to a world championship is a fertile farm system that supplies fresh talent year in and year out. In fact, after watching some video the other day of Gavin Lux, I am convinced that he should remain virtually untouchable.
And don’t think players like deGrom don’t come with risks. Below are deGrom’s salaries for the years to come. The second column is for age. So deGrom, who is a former TJ patient, will be 32 next year, and will be making huge dollars through at least 2023. (team has option for 2024).
2020 32 New York Mets $25,000,000
2021 33 New York Mets $35,500,000
2022 34 New York Mets $35,500,000 may opt out after 2022 season
2023 35 New York Mets $32,500,000
2024 36 New York Mets *$32,500,000 $32.5M Team Opt
When you consider that the Dodgers are going to have to start paying Seager, Buehler, etc. in the coming years, I’m not sure adding deGrom makes much sense. And even if the Dodgers gave the Mets a kings ransom (not likely, or advisable) for deGrom, it’s highly unlikely that the cheap Mets would eat enough of his contract to make it worth while.
Except for Urias, who isn’t a traditional bullpen piece, there is nobody consistently good. That means if you need 2-3-4 innings of relief somebody is bound to screw up and today it was Ferguson! Got to believe AF will come through with a big deadline addition. It would be a shame to see this bullpen take us down in the playoffs! We have all the other pieces!
If anything, the sloppy play lately might serve to make the Dodgers more aware of the things they need to work on.
Is Hector Neris our new villain? (see link below) Too bad we don’t play the Phillies anymore this year. What are the chances that the Dodgers pull off a deadline deal for Neris? 🙂
And kudos to Max Muncy for his reply.
Open on bleacherreport.comhttps://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-dodgersGet DeGrom or Grienke. The Dodgers are willing to take on payroll. Most likely won’t cost our top 5 prospects because of the big money contract and it also helps the starting rotation in the future.
Leave Urias in the pen this year.
Try to get Giles without trading any of our top 5 prospects.
Move Kershaw to the #4 starter in the playoffs. With a starting rotation of Ryu, Buehler, DeGrom/Grienke, Kershaw not necessarily in that order besides Kershaw 4th, and an awesome offense we have, you won’t need much of a bullpen.
Bullpen in the playoffs 7th, 8th, 9th innings. You play your best every game in the playoffs.
Jansen
Urias
Baez
Giles
Game over we win.
From Pedro Moura:
Max Muncy said Héctor Neris screamed “Fuck you!” toward the Dodgers’ dugout after the last out. “He’s blown about eight saves against us over the last two years,” Muncy said. “I guess he was finally excited he got one.”
The Dodgers did not appreciate Héctor Neris staring into their dugout after securing the save. Dave Roberts brought up Neris’ suspension and suggested he look into his own dugout instead. “To look in our dugout and to taunt in any way, I think it’s unacceptable,” Roberts said.
I forgot about Longoria, Belt is their first basement for a few more years. Beaty can stand out there in left field, but I wouldn’t call it “playing” left field.
Not saying that Farhan doesn’t love Beaty. Not saying we won’t trade him to SF. But Longoria’s contract has about 150 years remaining and he’s going to be their third baseman. Luckily for Farhan, Beaty can play first or left also. I’d rather move Joc to SF and keep Beaty. He’s not nearly as streaky and he’s a very good pinch hitter. I don’t have the stats to back it up, but my feeling is that Joc is not a good pinch hitter.
M.T. as POTUS??? Hmmm, would his red baseball cap be emblazoned with M.A.W.G.A ???
O.K. I’ll go back to Ireland…
Alright, not a horrible road trip as we finish on the right side of 500. It should have been a sweep with a couple of better bullpen pieces. I’m sure the Phillies are feeling a lot better about themselves splitting at home against the best team in baseball.
Now we get to go back home to beat down the Marlins and Angels and enjoy a couple of off days in the schedule before we hit the DC / Denver road trip closing out July for our last roadie to CO this year.
Trades coming! Matt Beaty is doing his best trade bait impression. We’re going to see him a lot in the coming years playing 3rd base for the Giants. Farhan loves him!
Speaking of trade bait. Why do you think Stripling is in the rotation instead of Urias?
Bullpen and defense costly again. I think the Dodgers had about 5 outs at the wall too. It would have been nice had Barnes got his bunt down and the umps wouldn’t have bailed out the Phillies with that transfer call.
Picked a bad day to be a savant; it appears as if the soon to be vaunted Dodger BP has once again failed.
Ferguson is not a reliever! Send him down to be a starter and develop a third pitch. Do we ever need a left handed reliever!
Wow Mark, I don’t think our bullpen agrees with your assessment of it being a good bullpen. So much for Kelly ready to be a shut down guy.
I’ll take Beaty over Joc at 1st base every day of the weak and I like Joc. Beaty is daring them to send him down again.
~
Honestly even if we “cherry pick “ stats for this pen. Being 9th in ERA in a league full of bad bull pens isn’t good enough for this Los Angeles Dodgers team. Has bull penning caught up with MLB this year?
~
While I wasn’t too happy about the You Tube broadcast I’ve enjoyed the presentation. What is being shown between innings is enjoyable compared to a normal broadcast. The third guy in the booth is unnecessary as usual and you can tell the crew hasn’t worked together but the presentation has been good.
~
The transfer rule call today was horrible BTW
I know Ferguson has ridiculous stats in AAA, but he seems to just lose it when he’s in the bigs.
At this rate, is him being a reliever even working anymore? Is it better that he just stay back in AAA and convert back to being a starter?
Meanwhile, Lux is 4-4 today so far with another HR. My goodness!
Beatty on fire! Hope Doc finds a way to keep him in the lineup for upcoming games.
News and notes
• Roberts said he expects Kenley Jansen (right ankle) to be available Thursday in the bullpen. Jansen did not pitch Wednesday after taking a 98 mph comebacker off his right ankle in Tuesday’s loss, but Roberts said the closer’s ankle was “significantly better” Wednesday after receiving treatment.
• Catcher Will Smith, the Dodgers’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, left Wednesday’s game with Triple-A Oklahoma City after getting hit on the right hand after he appeared to be crossed up on a pitch.
“He’s fine,” Roberts said. “It was more just precautionary.”
• The Dodgers recalled left-hander Caleb Ferguson from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Thursday’s game to provide a fresh arm in the bullpen after using five relievers following Wednesday’s lengthy rain delay. Casey Sadler, who tossed two-thirds of an inning immediately following the 2-hour, 37-minute delay, was optioned to Oklahoma City to make room on the active roster.
Paul Casella is a reporter/editor for MLB.com based in Philadelphia. Follow him on Twitter @paul_casella.
Moderately interesting FROM Longenhagen FOR conspiracy theorists:
Fangraphs reader: How likely is it that the Astros had the Dodgers sign Yordan Alvarez to get around international restrictions so they could trade for him 6 weeks later?
Eric A Longenhagen: there are people in baseball who believe this is what happened, but peole say all kinds of stuff about Houston and not all of it is true. Also, if this is what happened, I’m fine with it. As long as the player knew he’d eventually be an Astro and wasn’t being lied to when signing with LAD
Other stuff:
Neal H: Who says no: Felipe Vazquez for Gavin Lux, Will Smith and Josiah Gray?
Eric A Longenhagen: LAD
G: Better long term C prospect in a dynasty league; Jansen or Will Smith?
Eric A Longenhagen: Smith. Positional versatility and more power
Mike: Hey Eric I saw the tweet from FG prospects ranking farm systems post-draft. Is that big bump (from 9 to 3) for the Dodgers related primarily to the breakouts of Lux and May, or is there other stuff going on at lower levels driving that surge?
Eric A Longenhagen: We’ve been high on those guys for a while now, it’s more a combo of teams in front of them having graduates. Also Gray De Jesus and Cartaya moving up
Well I surrender Mark! Now if you can get Barnes to hit then I say sell your business and run for President!