As the season passes the halfway point, Miguel Vargas is poised to make his debut in LA sometime in the next 30 days (that’s my opinion, not a fact). Miguel has made a lot of progress this year defensively. I think he can play an “above-average” Third-Base RIGHT ABOUT NOW, but he is blocked by Justin Turner and Max Muncy. So, he has recently taken up playing LF and while I have not watched every inning, I have seen him make several routine plays look… routine and have also seen a few nice running catches.
This should not be a surprise. Miguel Vargas is a good athlete. It seems to me that some fans and pundits want to say that he is not fast and does not have good “footwork.” I call BS on that. Miguel is 6′ 3″ and about 210, but he has above-average speed and has stolen 9 bases in 12 attempts this year. His footwork is improving at 3B and he has an above-average arm that enables him to play 3B, but LF may be his most logical position as he is not going to play 1B in LA for a few years! Vargas is 22 and is #3 in RBi in the PCL even though the two hitters who are ahead of him are four and three years older than Miguel. He has also struck out 20% less than they have.
I believe that Vargas will develop his “man strength” in the next year or so and become a “Mike Piazza-Type Hitter.” His doubles in the gap will become home runs. Currently, Miguel has 13 HR, 15 doubles, and 4 triples to go with his .293 BA. He also leads the PCL in Runs Scored.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I believe that Miguel is one of these guys who will hit better in the majors than in the minors… and he is pretty damn good there.
Miguel may be a “superstar” but if not, he will be a “star.” While he can play 3B, I think his position is LF. He can play there RIGHT NOW! Miguel Vargas is a natural-born hitter who is able to keep his bat in the zone for a very long time and has an “inside-out swing” that enables him to drive balls the opposite way. Not since Mike Piazza have I seen this. Miguel is ready! Andrew Friedman will call him up soon! Watch Vargas Rake:
Future Dodgers Down on the Farm
- Tulsa won 6-3
- Bobby Miller went 5 innings allowing 0 ER, 1 hit, 1 BB, and struck out 9. Nuff said!
- Ryan Ward was 2-5 with his 19th HR.
- Leonal Valera was 2-3 with his 2nd HR
- Great Lakes Lost 4-0
- Nothing to see here…. move along!
- Rancho Cucamonga won 7-2
- Damon Keith was 2-4 and Luis Rodriguez hit a 3-run HR.
- Ronan Kopp pitched 3 innings, allowing 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 BB, and struck out 3. He has a 1.91 ERA.
Rants & Raves
- I read comments about how the Dodgers pitching is good but the offense is not … and yet: THE DODGERS ARE #1 in the NL in offense: MLB.com says this: “The Dodgers remain one of the most well-balanced teams in the big leagues, with the offense leading the NL in runs per game (5.0) and the pitching staff posting an MLB-best 2.96 ERA — including a 2.72 ERA for the starting rotation.” JT is already breaking out of his funk and when (not if) Max and Cody do, look out!
- Julio Urias deserved better. I think Gavin was not able to read the ball off the bat yesterday.
- Alex Vesia is rounding into form while Phil Bickford is rounding out.
- The Dodgers have some filth in that bullpen.
- All-in-all, yesterday was a great win and an off days is greatly needed before taking on the Cardinals on Tuesday.
- Congratuations to the Dodger All-Stars (photo courtesy of MLB.com):
This Guy Should be in the HOF
Yes, he screwed up after his playing days were over, but listen to what he has to say about his teammates.
Discussion (26)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Thank you Bear
Is Ian Happ worth considering? Is he a better fit than Thompson or Lamb?
Earlier there was a great conversation about stats and which ones are best.
Like everything in life, there is not ONE THING or ONE STAT that defines everything.
Here’s my take:
Hitters (use these 3):
1. OPS
2. BA
3. WAR
Pitchers (use these 3):
1. ERA
2. WHIP
3. OPS
It has been reported that AF has inquired about the Red’s Castillo.
The same reporter said that the sun came up today.
Ray Charles said he saw that!
Congratulations Mark! I got a US Water Systems ad on my Youtube feed.
US Water DROP Home Protection Valve.
1. Dylan Hernandez is a fool;
2. Freddie Freeman does not suffer fools very well; and
3. 1 + 1 = 1 Too Many REporters in the Dodgers Clubhouse.
If I were Freddie, I would ask for Hernandez to be banned from the Clubhouse, Dodger Stadium, LA County and Planet Earth!
I used to believe that Pete Rose had been done wrong and that never betting against his team was harmless. But he was in position to blow through their bullpen on the games he had $ on wasting games he wasn’t betting on. So six of one and a half dozen of the other he threw games the same just the opposite way. He brought it on himself. A great player but not great for the sport.
Dodgers in talks with the Reds about Castillo per Morosi.
… and then there is this:
Dodger Stadium concession workers threaten to strike All-Star Game
Hanser might be the best cheerleader in baseball! But at some point either he hits or goes. More at bats for lamb,Thompson,. Still like Kyle farmer in blue again. Let’s go to St. Louis and smack cards in the mouth. Just hope wainwright isn’t in series rotation . Still hope Clayton gets the start, heard some guys complaining about it, doesn’t have the numbers to deserve. The start. We’ll look back through the years at some of the starters the fans voted in and their numbers. Case closed!
Seems like Dylan Hernandez has some big issues with Freddie Freeman.
Eric, Price had a bad start to the season and a hiccup yesterday but his 5 previous appearances were very good. His velo is way up and I think there’s a place for him now in our bullpen. Eric, can you do an analysis on bottom 2 relievers on each NL team. Their combined era and combined OPS against righties and lefties. I think that would give you a better appreciation fo r the depth of our pen even with all the injuries.
First thing, thank you tedraymond for the communication back and forth between us. I made a mistake a couple days ago and I’m glad for the communication between us.
I’m glad norcaldodgerfan is in the same camp with me on Hanser Alberto a .221/.231/.338/.568 slash line is not good. And his 1 year and a partial year in his career that he did very good against LHP is not showing up this year, as he has a .241/.241/.315/.556 slash line this year against LHP.
Tyler Anderson is a good example to show how the win/loss record stat is not a good stat. Anderson’s record is 9-1, but his slash line stats don’t match that 9-1 record. He has a .232/.273/.394/.667 slash line, that is solid/good, but almost high enough to be considered above average only. He’s not Tony Gonsolin or Clayton Kershaw good, but he has been good this year. Yes I know he almost had a no hitter and I’m not talking bad about Anderson, I like him, I’m just showing how win/loss records can be deceiving.
After yesterday’s game Phil Bickford and David Price’s stats on the year took a hit again. Bickford .768 OPS against and Price .853 OPS against. Both bad. Price extremely bad. Those two are the black holes in the bullpen at the moment. When a couple guys that are good, that are on the IL right now come back, I hope Bickford and Price are the 2 guys that lose their spot on the team. Just to clarify, I’m not talking bad about our bullpen, but there is always, no matter what, room for improvement.
Tyler Anderson is a “feel good story.” he deserved to make the All-Star Team. Tyler Anderson had a shot at making the All-Star Team, but only in a vacuum. It is a case of “bad timing.” Let’s look at who made the team:
1. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Tony Gonsolin, Los Angeles Dodgers
Tony has an 11-0 record and a 1.62 ERA and Clayton is 6-2 with a 2.40 ERA and he was a sentimental favorite, so there is no way Anderson would bump one of them off the team.
3. Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins
Some think he is the best pitcher in baseball. He has pitched 130 innings with a 1.73 ERA and a 0.913 WHIP. Anderson is not bumping him.
4. David Bednar, Pittsburgh Pirates
Every All-Star Team needs a closer and he’s among the best in the NL. No way Anderson deserves it over Bednar.
5. Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers
This one is closer than you might think. Burnes has a 2.20 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. Anderson is 9-1 with a 3.15 ERA, 20 fewer innings, and a 1.029 WHIP. Burnes deserves it over Anderson.
6. Luis Castillo, Cincinnati Reds
This is one you could argue about.. except for the fact that the Reds have to have a representative. This is close, but he is the only Red who deserves it.
7. Edwin Diaz, New York Mets
1.78 ERA , 70 K’s in 35 IP, and a 1.78 ERA. I have to go with Diaz over Anderson. You need closers in an All-Star Game
8. Max Fried, Atlanta Braves
Anderson and Fried are close but Fried has an ERA a half run less. I can’t argue with it.
8. Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers
Josh Freaking Hader – Nuff Said!
9. Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals
0.73 ERA, 37 IP, 54 K, 0.676 WHIP. I can’t argue because Anderson has a 3+ ERA
10. Joe Mantiply, Arizona Diamondbacks
Every team has to have a player – 1.83 ERA and a 0.874 WHIP.
11. Joe Musgrove, San Diego Padres
8-2 with an ERA 1 runs better than Tyler and a better WHIP. Sorry
That said, it’s still possible…
* I’ve got a little exercise I want you to try at home that will be fun for the neighbor kids, as well Move your clothes dryer out on to the driveway and open the door. Then pace off 60 feet. Grab some baseballs and try to throw them into the dryer. Pitches that touch the edge don’t count.
That’s Chris Guccione’s strike zone. He typically isn’t terrible; he’s just small. If you follow the umpires, he just has a dinky zone. Guccione’s zone really got to Urias yesterday. It took away his focus. He got pissed and and pouted as he felt he was being screwed. It showed it in his body language and performance. It’s an area where he still needs improvement and maturity.
When an umpire has a tight zone, a pitcher just has to adjust. You can’t continue to throw the same locations, expect different results and complain about the fact that the pitches are called balls. You have adjust and get more of the plate. It’s counterproductive to do otherwise. Urias reluctantly did that, walking only one, but his effectiveness was compromised.
* Guccione seemed to finally opened it up some after the 17th run had scored. He graded out very poorly on the night with 14 of 57 called strikes, actually balls. But Urias didn’t seem to get any of that early.
* What a shitty umpiring crew this is with Guccione as Crew Chief. Both Navas and Additon were terrible behind the dish earlier in the series. (bring on the ABS please) Jose Navas couldn’t be hidden anywhere. He sucked again at first having 3 plays reviewed. 2 overturned. He damned near had the hat trick on a 3rd review. The Freeman out call was amazingly bad.
* Rod Serling should have done the intro for this game.
It was a weird game for sure. It was like 3 games in one. After the 3rd inning there were 17 runs scored and we were 2:10 into the game. I’m glad I didn’t have dinner reservations. We won the 2nd three inning game 1 to 0 with Almonte, Fergy and Vesia stopping the bleeding. We tied the last three inning game, for the win but did it oddly.
* This was a miserable game to manage, bullpen wise. But Doc did the Doc-Thing in the third, 3 inning game. I have zero idea why he did his mid-inning pitching change from Vesia (at 24 pitches) to Price. If anything, I would want to start an inning fresh with Price. That switch was odd and more odd, it left Graterol as the last man standing in the pen for the final 2 innings., as Phillips and Kimbrel were declared not available. If Graterol’s recent injury cropped up, maybe Doc was going to pitch the 9th?
* Lux is not a Swiss Army knife. He’s earned the job at 2nd. I’m not sure how to involve Alberto on D or get AB’s. Same with McKinstry. And I don’t care. Does Alberto need more innings to get his “letter”?
Same with Muncy. He’s clearly lost an everyday job, for me. He can split time with JT at 3rd or Lux at 2nd if he needs a day. I would not waste the DH consistently to get Muncy at bats. Some are finding hope that he’s turnibg it around. Well, I can’t wait any longer.
I might get a hardy serving of CROW by season’s end if Muncy turns it around and I’ve given reducing his role. But right now, I’ve seen enough. I’ve eaten crow before and would do so happily if Muncy turned it around. I don’t have that long of a leash.
* The everyday lineup looks simple to me: Lamb / Thompson for now, although that platoon may be a problem with Thompson’s reverse splits, Belli, Mookie, JT/ Muncy, Trea, Lux, Freddie, Smith / Barnes.
As MT mentioned, I would strongly consider Vargas coming up to DH. Don’t burden him with a defensive position, just hit. I’m betting he can hit better than .170.
Well, Willie was correct again, “All’s Well that Ends Well”.
Hey Eric. I read your apology from yesterday this morning. Not necessary, but I appreciate it. We are all entitled to a bad day occasionally. It’s all good with me. Please, keep posting your stats and opinions. I look forward to reading them. And don’t hesitate or be shy about criticizing my posts. I know it’s sometimes deserved. We all can’t always be right like Mark. Lol. Take care.
Carry on
Good post today Mark. I think Vargas, as well as Stone and Miller, will come up in September barring an injury. He is deserving and I think will have a starting lineup role next year at third base.
Lux should be used sparingly in left field. His position is 2nd base and will likely inherit the short stop position next year. No dope fiend moves to sign a 30-40 million dollar SS.
JT I see as a player coach next season. Rios DH next season.
Unsure if there are many podcast listeners here, but I do listen (walking dog, to and from work, working out, TMI?)
Today’s Tony Kornheiser show has Passan on. It’s a wonderful conversation about the tragic state of starting pitching, how we got here, why we’re here and why changing the paradigm may lead to Patch’s favorite windmill, unintended consequences.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tony-kornheiser-show/id1148650883?i=1000569533980
The opening interview with Michael Wilbon is also, IMHO, a listen as they discuss the world of AAU basketball which is also moving, sadly (very sadly) into a world where only more and more those with means and access can benefit.
Good points BP. I never use Lux in the outfield unless there is absolutely not a qualified outfielder available. I am even a little leery of him at second. It was an adventure over there yesterday. Freeman saved his bacon. I cut Moronta and Clevinger. Clevinger is redundant, Ferguson is a better version of him, and Moronta is just taking up roster space. They are talking now that Treinen will be back in about a month. Doubt AF does anything outrageous at the deadline. Braves just picked up Cano from the Padres.
Wow, can you believe we’re just 5 games from the All-Star break? I sure hope they don’t put it on cruise control and coast into the break. Let’s keep this ball rolling.
It’s impressive enough to come from 5 runs behind, but to do it twice in the same game is beyond huge.
I’m not in the Lux never in the outfield camp. He almost single-handedly lost the game yesterday, but he’s also made some plays that few others make. I like the maturity he showed by not letting those misqueues affect his bat going 2-3 with a couple of walks, a couple of runs, and an RBI.
So, Bickford is the new stain on the team? He was very good last year, but he’s more than doubled up his ERA this year. 7 of the 17 ER he’s given up have come from just 2 outings. He’s not as bad as the Small Sample Size indicates.
Fulmer absolutely needs a shot. He has a sparkling 1.56 ERA and nice WHIP hovering right around 1. But, you need to make a corresponding roster move to add him to the 40 man roster. Who goes?
Managing the 40 man is an art as much as it is a science. Carson Fulmer, Dellin Betances, Miguel Vargas and even Jason Martin are all deserving a shot this year and all will require a cut from the 40 in order to get that chance. That doesn’t even account for 60 day IL guys that will show up at some point in Buehler, Duffy, May, V-Gone, Kahnle, Treinen. That’s 10 guys to try to find spots for.
Andre Jackson was recently added to the development list, so maybe they’re trying to fix him. Alvarez, Amaya, Leonard, Vivas, Outman, Moronta, Grove, Cleavinger, Bruihl are all in the minors and are taking up 40 man spots. Are we going to cut all of them to make room for all the 60 day IL players and guys that are performing in AAA?
That’s without mentioning Miller or Stone who may or may not be needed.
I not ready to give up on Bickford yet. Maybe a trip to rest at AAA, but not to DFA land. After all, he was last year’s Carson Fulmer.
First off let me say that Anderson not making the All-Star team in my eyes is pure BS. The guy is 9-1! Nice comeback yesterday but it wasn’t pretty. And Wisdom’s error on a routine grounder to third was a key. Got them to 8-7 and then Turner knocked in the go ahead runs. How good is Freeman? He saved at least 3 balls thrown from being errors, including a couple by Lux. Who still has not mastered the easy throw to first. Lux is no left fielder, that is for sure, but with Taylor out, the options are limited. But is it just me, or would Trayce Thompson have caught both of those balls easily? Enough venting after a win. I am waiting for my new computer desk to be delivered. So Mark, I have one story in the que and will start finishing up the others after I get everything reconnected.
I think that throughout the series against the Cubs Dodgers they were always down on the scoreboard and ended up turning the score around, hopefully they can do the same against the Cardinals bullpen, which is not as horrible as Chicago’s, hopefully the team with the most runs scored can turn the score around, in case they start losing the game.
Great Dodger win yesterday. 10-1 on the home stand and now going out on a five game road trip. CK should get the starting nod in the all star game, do the right thing Snitker.
Lux is a second baseman and Muncy’s starts should be at 3B and DH; stop the of experiment with Lux in the OF. Trying to get Max playing time every day should not impact Lux’s playing time and the team defense shouldn’t suffer by playing him any further in the OF.
Lamb and Trayce have shown up and AF should start contract extension negotiations with TT now. A lot of $$ potentially coming off the books next year but building a perennial line-up that includes Mookie, Freddie, Will Smith, TT sure looks good to me. Mix in the youngsters like Vargas, Lux, Miller, Graterol, Grove, Pepiot and others looks like a blueprint for another decade of great baseball for the Dodgers. It is my opinion that TT is the best SS in baseball and should be retained.
Agree that Bickford is a weak link in the BP and it might be time to see Fulmer or one of the kids that have been touted here and on other Dodger blogs, or perhaps we hold the line until Treinen, Kahnle and May get back. Not sure anything needs to be done with the roster as AF prepares for the post season unless we can improve the bench with the subtraction of Alberto and the addition of someone else who offers more pop. He seems to be a great clubhouse presence so perhaps AF doesn’t mess with chemistry, but we’ll see in the next month or so.
Love looking at the standings and seeing the Padres 8 games behind and the Giants at 12.5. Keep it going Dodgers!!!!
I would still leave Codi and Max in the if, not when category. They are just lucky they are on a team that has been able to carry them so far. When they plus JT and Barnes in lineup, it has to be a struggle. But JT showing signs of life . Hopefully he will take it easy on bases to avoid the next hammy strain.
I wish they would leave Gavin Lux at second. No doubt, Miguel Vargas gets pulled up at some point this summer. But he needs to get regular at bats. I think that’s the issue. I’m not sure what you do with Max Muncy. Still not hitting. But Justin Turner’s bat has come alive?
I think build up and expectations are part of the issue as to why people don’t feel great about the offense.
Muncy may still have lingering issues, Cody Bellinger hovers around .200. Still, if you read box scores, that seems to be the case throughout the game. I can’t wait until the shift ends. Tired of seeing the rover in the outfield throw out a hitter at first base.
Not sure what the Dodgers do at the trade deadline.
Went to bed yesterday after the 3rd inning with the Dodgers down 8-3. Just watched the rest of the game on mlbTV.
Wow, what a comeback! One of the bigger Dodgers comebacks in some time.
Hopefully Roberts will end the Lux in the outfield experiment immediately. He is an excellent infielder but a well below outfielder. Both were on displays yesterday.
Great to see that he did not take his defensive miscues from the outfield to the plate and kept on hitting and getting on base. Now 5th in the NL with his .304 average and a superb -376 OBP.
Bickford should be sent down and Fullmer called up.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!