Many Dodger fans only comment when they have something to complain about. I guess it is human nature. Right about now, those fans have no purpose or direction in life. From my perspective, this may be the most fun season ever. There have been disappointments and injuries, and there have been triumphs and successes, but make no mistake about it: this is a team! These guys are fun to watch.
- This thing is over! The Clowns with PT Preller as the Ringmaster are dead and buried. Will Preller survive? I hope so. As long as he is there, the Clowns will suck!
- JDM should be back next week – he is allegedly fine but is going to do a rehab assignment.
- Clayton will pass Double D with his next win.
- Fans are talking 60 doubles for Freddie which has only been done but a few times, but 30 HR and 60 doubles is within reach and that has NEVER been done!
- Mookie has certainly elevated his game. What is the next level past “Superstar?”
- Jorbit Vivas (2B) was 3-5 last night (.310).
- Jonny DeLuca was 2-4 (.318).
- Miguel Vargas was 2-4 with his 6th HR (.295).
- Blake Treinen was rocked in a 1/3 of an inning.
- Jimmy Nelson needed just 11 pitched to pitch a clean inning.
- Kolten Wong is going absolutely crazy at OKC (.538 BA/1.494 OPS).
That’s all for today.
Discussion (32)
Disagree, not disagreeable
\I thank you all. As this post is titled….it’s all good The dope fiend in me awaits morphine coming Tuesday. I’m ready and am the last of my family and have no need to tell my story and I ain’t honest enough anyways. Until then, I’m still standing. I’ve lived big and stacked the deck in my trials. Coulda done better but didn’t do bad.
Prayers and thoughts are with you Quas!!
Quas, prayers to you and your family. Stay strong and enjoy the rest of this fantastic dodger season. We’ll celebrate in October.
Wow.
I won’t say anything. We shouldn’t pound our chest.
This team is pretty good at baseball.
Relatively, speaking.
Now that Max is hitting who are you guys going to complain about?
Quas my prayers are with you. Stay strong for the WS celebration—we don’t want you to miss it! Jimmy Carter has been in hospice for a year or two so rest up and stay strong!
This year has been miraculous. On June 30, at the halfway point, the Dodgers were 45-35 playing .563 ball, a projected 91 win season, and 2.5 games back of the Snakes in the NL West. In July, they were 13-10 with a team ERA of 4.59 and the lowest starter’s ERA (Bobby Miller) was 4.59.
They are 23-4 in August. Starter’s ERA is 2.96 in August. This been absolutely fun since August 1 – crazy but fun.
And yes, Friedman’s deadline deals have all panned out except for Wild Man Kelly, who has only pitched 3 innings. Look at the crazy numbers:
Lynn: – 4-0, 2.03 in 5 starts with a WHIP of 1.065
Kike – BA .263, OPS .742, 12 XBH
Rosario – BA .239, OPS .731, 8 XBH
Of course they got Kershaw and Urias off of the DL so, with Lynn added, no longer had to start Sheehan, Grove et al.
DODGERS PRESS RELEASE
DODGERS RECALL RYAN PEPIOT
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot and designated right-handed pitcher Tyson Miller for assignment.
Pepiot, 26, will make the start for the Dodgers tonight against the Diamondbacks. In two games with the Dodgers this season, he is 0-0 with a 2.00 ERA (2 ER/9.0 IP) and 11 strikeouts. He is in his second season with the Dodgers, and he is a combined 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA (16 ER/45.1 IP) and 53 strikeouts against 28 walks. He made six appearances for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season and he is 0-2 with a 3.97 ERA (10 ER/22.2 IP) and 26 strikeouts. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2019 First Year Player Draft out of Butler University.
Miller, 27, pitched two scoreless innings last night, striking out two. In two games with the Dodgers, he has allowed two runs in 4.0 innings. He has pitched for the Brewers, Dodgers and Mets this season and he has a combined 4.70 ERA (8 ER/15.1 IP) and 10 strikeouts. He has been in the Majors parts of three seasons with Chicago (2020), Texas (2022), Milwaukee (2023), Los Angeles (2023) and New York (2023), posting a 2-2 mark with a 6.97 ERA (24 ER/31.0 IP) and 18 strikeouts against 18 walks. In his minor league career, he has appeared in 156 games (100 starts), recording a 4.06 ERA (268 ER/594.2 IP) and 578 strikeouts against 200 walks. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round of the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of California Baptist University.
10:10 PM ET
Diamondbacks (69-64)
Dodgers (82-49)
SP Brandon Pfaadt R
1-6 5.91 ERA
SP Ryan Pepiot R
0-0 2.00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF D. Peralta L
DH Max Muncy L
RF J. Heyward L
3B E. Hernandez R
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
C A. Barnes R
82° Wind 9 mph Out
Lou Brock in 1971: “Jerry Grote is the toughest catcher in the league to steal on…. Grote’s quick out of the box, has a powerful arm, and always seemed to have a sixth sense about my stealing. He would have the ball waiting for me long before I got there.”
Tom Seaver in 1978 – “Grote is the best catcher I have ever seen, and Johnny Bench (is) of course an outstanding catcher himself.”
I thought this might be of interest (from Facebook):
Tim McCarver in 2003 – Grote is the best defensive catcher I ever saw.”
Johnny Bench – “If Grote and I were on the same team, I’d have to play third base.”
Just as a topic of conversation. Mark, how would you or other posters here go about fixing the Angels? I know the first step would be to get a new owner. Assuming Moreno is the owner, what would you do to fix them?
Mark, You seem to take particular glee in calling Preller names. Is there a history between you two that you haven’t shared? Or maybe you have and I just never saw it.
What’s your particular problem with him when; for example, you haven’t name called Giants , Mets, Yankee’s GM’s that I am aware of.
Quas, sorry to hear of your struggle. It’s ahead for all of us sooner or later. And since many on this sight are up there in years it gonna be sooner for many.
But I trust you will remain strong and fight the good fight all the way, and yes hope the Boys in Blue do the same for the faithful like you.
Another depth piece. I’m thinking AF wants to have a catcher with a decent amount of MLB experience, just in case Smith or Barnes go down with an injury during the playoffs.
That would eliminate Feduccia plus any other catcher they have at OKC.
The Dodgers have agreed to a minor league contract with free agent catcher Tucker Barnhart, reports Robert Murray of FanSided.
Since the Brooklyn days there has been no Dodger team that I have enjoyed as much as this one. I love the apparent spirit in the club house. There is not a position player that I would want to replace. It´s fun rooting for the bottom of the batting order. You can keep Renfroe; I want to do it with the guys we have now. It’s a real kick watching the “old” stars show that they still have something in the tank and the young guys soaking up what the veterans are showing them. I really like this team–I like their skills and their personalities. I like Doc for nurturing what is happening now.
Bluto, a little premature on Kolton Wong. He was terrible with Seattle and they did well to dump him and bring in Josh Rojas. So if Wong actually plays well in AAA, where is his future with the Dodgers? I don’t suspect he had much trade value.
It seems like every time somebody is DFA’ed somebody wants to snap them up, like shopping at the Salvation Army.
This team is just fine position wise and the pitching will sort itself out as guys get healthy and get work. We absolutely, positively don’t need any new faces that might jeopardize the great chemistry we have right now. Baring injuries, I’m going into battle with who we have.
Another fixed swing?
It’s a tiny sample size, but….
Kolten Wong has only been in Oklahoma City for 13 ABs and 3 games, but he already has seven hits (home run plus two doubles)
Due to contract dollar implications, Clevinger might end up available.
MLBTRaderumors provided the following breakdown: “Clevinger, 32, is playing the season on a one-year, $12MM contract, though the structure of the deal leaves a decent chunk yet to be paid out. The veteran righty is earning an $8MM salary, with about $1.42MM of that yet to be paid out, but is also owed a $4MM buyout on a $12MM mutual option for the 2024 campaign. As such, there’s about $5.42MM in total guarantees remaining for any club that places a claim.”
The Athletic has a good article about Tony Gonsolin and why he pitched for 2 months with a torn ACL. He knew it. The Dodgers knew it. And many here suspected it. He was told it wouldn’t worsen so he chose to pitch. With the other injuries to the rotation, he felt he needed to do what he could to help. That is so impressive to pitch through that pain for the benefit of the teams, even if he was sub-par.
You gotta love the guys attitude and commitment to the club. As I’ve mentioned, this team has amazing chemistry do to attitudes like Tony’s
Hunter Renfroe would be a hell of a right-handed bat to add! But no way he falls all the way to Dodgers. Can see Padres snapping him up just to keep Dodgers from him. With 3 healthy starters Brewers are very scary matched against any team. Still hear guys on MLB network saying Padres still have a run in them. What the hell is wrong with those people? That is as dysfunctional bunch as I can remember! If Bob Melvin can’t get them to play together who can? It’s like the Dallas Cowboys, as long as Jerry Jones owns them, they’ll never win another Superbowl. Just as Mark said about Preller. Tony Gwynn would crap his pants if he could see this collection of super ego idiots! Need to play well this weekend so Braves don’t get too big in the britches! Remember we took 2 of 3 in Atlanta!
* I hope Bobby Miller was paying close attention to Clayton Kershaw last night. Miller struggles with crooked number innings and minimizing damage. Last night CK got through 5 innings and didn’t have dick. He had 2 clean innings but never found his rhythm. He worked around 3 walks and 3 hits, one a homer. He knows how to make big pitches when he has to, to minimize the casualties. Getting a 6 run cushion doesn’t hurt.
* D-Train made a good comment “He looked rushed”. He did.
* Speaking of D-Train, I didn’t think he was going to do any more color in the booth with Joe. I can listen to him for about 1 game, max, before his stuff gets stale. He means well but like many others, he just can’t shut up. He doesn’t understand that he doesn’t have to reply or elaborate after every Joe Davis comment. Let the game breathe and learn to shut up.
* Well we just did “whack a Mole” with the D-Backs 2 best starters. This team is unbelievable right now.
Freddie had a rare oh-fer and the rest of the line up got 16 hits.
* Again, nice to see Muncy drive the pitch away too left field.
Josue dePaula 3-5 last night, now batting .290
Kendall George also 3-5 and now battting over .400 with a blazing start to his career a A ball.
I see both advance to high A ball next season, in the case of dePaula probably to begin the season there.
Both very exiting players.
Yes, the West is won . Now the Dodgers have to make sure they are ready for the playoffs and not lay another egg like last season. Dodgers are firing on all cylinders at the moment and the fear is they migh have peaked too soon.
Treinen had nothing on his pitches yesterday. Needs more time to be considered for the playoffs. Not sure he will be good to go. Same for Kelly who Roberts already said he does not think he will be 100% rest of the way. Same thing he said about Clayton too.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday scores
Round Rock 10, Oklahoma City 9
Arkansas 10, Tulsa 6 (10 innings)
Dayton 6, Great Lakes 5
Rancho Cucamonga 11, Stockton 3
Wednesday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jared Karros) vs. Dayton (Chris McElvain)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Robbie Erlin) vs. Round Rock (Zak Kent)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Kendall Williams) vs. Arkansas (Jimmy Joyce)
7:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Chris Campos) at Stockton (Eduardo Rivera)
Preller created front end excitement and back end disappointment. He definitely created buzz in San Diego. Some pundits are speculating if the Padres will move Juan Soto this winter. He’s never really lived up to his early potential for whatever reason. A lot of media and baseball insiders thought he would be the first $500 million player.
Buying championships is a difficult thing to do as both the Padres and Mets have found out.
If we look back to when the Dodgers changed hands, LA tried to rebuild the farm system and win at the same time. They won, but they threw around a lot of money trying to sign players internationally and being honest it was like burning money. They benefitted from the farm system that Logan White had drafted and managed to resist trading their best prospects away. Unfortunately, that will be the legacy of Preller and the Padres.
Okay, the Angels are a little strange. Yes, pundits were right. The Angels should have traded Ohtani and gone into a full rebuild, trading Mike Trout this winter. I get wanting to hang onto Ohtani, but it didn’t work out well. Now Moreno should sell the team and get out of Anaheim as fast as he can. What a waste of prospects. Wonder if any of those players waived will be available to the Dodgers. Probably not.
Meanwhile the Dodgers continue to roll along.
THE BURNING QUESTION IN MYMIND IS HOW DOES A GM OR ORGANIZATION TRADE OR NOT RESIGN THE LEADER OF YOUR TEAM AND A FUTURE HALL OF FAME PLAYER? THE DECISIONS TO LET MOOKIE AND FREDIE GO IS ABSOLUTE INSANITY. JUST LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. BOTH ARE MULTITALENTED AND AS IMPORTANT GREAT TEAMMATES AND LEADERS. THESE GM’S GET PAID TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS….GIVE ME A BREAK.
Dodgers now lead the West by 13.5 games.
Uh oh. That sounds a bit familiar….
1951 Brooklyn Dodgers
On August 11, 1951, the Los Angeles Dodgers held a large 13.5 game lead and appeared to be cruising towards the pennant. Then the New York Giants happened.
Not only did the Giants go 37-7 overall, but they won 16 in a row at one point, forcing a three-game playoff despite losing the last game (potential-clinching) of the season 10-0.
After they split the first two games, the Giants rallied behind Bobby Thomson, who smacked a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Giants a 5-4 victory. Check out the win probability chart at bottom: total collapse epitomized in a picture.
Because of that play, Giants’ fans will never forget Russ Hodges’ voice screaming “I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it,” as Thomson sprints across home plate and into the nightmares of every Dodger fan.
Mookie is a superduperstar, obviously.
Until he starts next season in a bit of funk, and people start kvetching….
Dodgers, I think, have zero chance at any of the newly waived players. Their record is too good. But some of the contenders could get a real boost from newly liberated talent.
I certainly didn’t see the Angels dumping so many players. Pretty strange to find out you’ve been waived and then go out and play.
I have to think that Ohtani is not impressed. Perhaps Angels management already know that he’s leaving, but if not, this would be another reason to go. I really hope Arte Moreno sells the team.
In many ways this has been the most enjoyable season for Dodger baseball in quite sometime. Need to win the post season for this to be a truly magical season. Gotta believe we can do it and I do believe in the team this year.
Mookie, Freddie and Will are playing great and throw in an occasional pop by Max, Outman, Miggie Ro, Peralta and Heyward and I think we’ll be just fine.
This team seems so much more cohesive than many other teams we’ve seen. Playing for each other as opposed to the individual stats and as Tommy use to say, “playing for the name on the front of the shirt vs. the name on the back.”
Woodruff is healthy!
Looking ahead to the playoffs.
We should hope the WC series goes 3 games.
I dont like how there is a day break in the division series between game 1 and 2 AND between games 4 and 5.
To me that favors the team that had to play at least 2 extra games giving them another day rest between 1 and 2 of the division series. Like last year we are going to have some down time, but I think we’ll learn from it.
I think we’ll see Milwaukee.
They’ll throw Burnes and Peralta in game 1 and 2 in the WC series. Which means we’d see them in games 2 and 3 in the Divisions Series. If the WC series goes 3 games that means in game 1 we’d probably see Colin Rea.
I think we’d line up Julio game 1, Bobby Ice Game 2 Kershaw game 3 (On the road) and then either come back with Julio or Lynn in game 4.
Fun to start speculating about this, I know the front office will have their plans all set up and in the end its the players that need to go out and do something special.
I think Mookie and Freddie will and then we will need a few others to step up….
Been a fun ride so far and we got the best part coming up
Giolito and Clevinger placed on waivers.