As far as I am concerned, there are only Eleven things wrong with the Dodgers right about now:
- They can’t hit with runners on base;
- They can’t hit with the bases empty;
- The starting pitchers (other than the New Ace- Old Man Kershaw) are pitching from erratic to horrible;
- The relief pitchers are worse;
- The pitchers cannot hold runners;
- The Runners are stealing the Dodgers Blind;
- The Dodgers can’t steal – They evidently think that is violating one of the Ten Commandments!
- The Rookies are struggling;
- The Vets are struggling;
- Nobody hits, or everybody hits;
- Dave Roberts can’t manage… because you can’t manage a trainwreck.
With those kinds of issues, it is really hard to comprehend how the Dodgers are 13-and 13. WHAT? 13-13? How is that possible? As hard as it is to understand, the Dodgers are third in runs scored in the NL. This is on a team where nobody is hitting. How on earth are the Dodgers 13 and 13? They are stinking up the joint to high heaven, and yet, they are still at .500.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the Dodgers were to just tell us the truth about everything? It might sound something like this:
- “Noah Syndergaard is working on re-vamping his entire mechanics and release point and is totally out of sync now, and we have no clue when he might be even mediocre again.”
- “We do not allow JD Martinez to play the field, not because he is a bad fielder. It is because it stresses his back too much, and he has to rest frequently.”
- “Julio Urias is working on a new pitch but is having trouble finding his release point. We think that in his next three or four starts, he will fix it.”
- “Alex Vesia and Yency Almonte really suck right about now and soon will both be sent back to OKC if they don’t pull it together.”
- “Will Smith has had some real concussion issues, but he wants to keep playing behind the plate, and how can we stop him? It’s his body, his choice.”
- “Freddie Freeman is going through some personal issues and hopefully can put this all behind him soon.”
- “Mookie Betts has been preoccupied with the PBA, but hopefully, he will get back to Dodger Baseball very soon.”
- “Miguel Vargas has had finger and thumb issues all season, but he wants to play through it, and his defense is stellar, so we are letting him.”
- “Austin Barnes could jump out of a boat and not hit water, but we expect that to change because he is a great dude.”
I could go on and on, but you get my drift. No, the Dodgers are never going to give us any explanations… nor should they! Some of what I wrote is accurate, and some may be complete BS! We simply do not know. Feel free to publish what player stats are because, after 26 games, that is exactly what things are and forever will be. Everything is etched in stone, and everyone’s splits are what they will always be. [sarcasm]
Reasonable Expectations
Nothing remains the same. Everything changes. Max Muncy has returned to his normal self: .900 OPS 35+ HR. Freddie and Mookie will most likely get it going soon. JDM will miss a few games and still be a solid presence. Miguel Vargas will get healthy and continue to contribute. James Outman, who has been carrying the team, will fall into a terrible slump, and how he comes out will define him. His strikeout percentage is very concerning right about now. I look for Heyward to continue to do better, but not great. He has been hitting the ball solidly – not all are going for hits. David Peralta is just a few inches away from being a very solid player, and CT3 is right there too. I do not have the same confidence in Thompson. Busch needs more reps. He is a professional hitter. When Betts and Freeman get going, the team will get going too. This is a process, and the same is true with the pitching.
Remember, the Braves were under .500 until August 5th, 2021, and they went on to win the World Series! You are used to being in first place wire-to-wire, but if you only learn one thing, learn this: “It’s not how you start – It’s how you finish!” Along the way, things will happen that you never dreamed of. Stick around – this is one of the most interesting seasons of all time… unless your idea of fun is clubbing baby seals!
Brooklyn Dodger had some very wise advice last night and it is worth repeating:
“Yes, the Dodgers aren’t playing well, but it’s also true that they are only one game out of first place in their division. If it was mid-season and the Dodgers were in first place and then went through a period in which they were playing .500 baseball, chances are the critical remarks would be at a minimum.
David Peralta has always been a good hitter, with a career average about 100 points higher than what he is currently hitting, and with decent power. Maybe at 35 he is finally over the hill, or maybe not. But because no one here has ever seen him hit well for the Dodgers, in their minds he’s suddenly a bum.
Mookie and Freddie Freeman are not hitting up to par, so I guess they’ve also become bums. And it’s time to give up on Vargas because rookie’s that get off to slow starts can’t be any good, and the injury to his right thumb (his top hand) can’t have anything to do with it.
I’m sure there’s a lot more I could say, but it’s 2:05 am, and I’m tired. I know it’s just a cliche’, but there is a reason the expression “it’s a long season” exists. That’s because it is a long season during which teams will have their ups and downs. I prefer to wait for the season to play out. The Dodgers may turn out to be a complete bust, or perhaps, and I wouldn’t venture to say when, they might suddenly step it up. Only time will tell.”
— Brooklyn Dodger
Minor League Notes
- Gavin Stone is back on the path – Yesterday, he went 5 innings, and allowed 3 hits and 1 ER while walking two and striking out 8. I think we will see him next month.
- The Dodgers won 1-0 on a 1 hitter last night in the second game of a doubleheader.
- Andy Pages is down to a .245 BA at Tulsa.
- Nick Nastrini was roughed up a little: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER. Kyle Hurt followed him with 2.2 IP. 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K.
Discussion (19)
Disagree, not disagreeable
You are comparing applies to oranges. Vargas can barely grip a bat. I have said that he needs to go to the IL. I am shocked he hit the HR last night.
Outman has struck out 9 of his last 10 ABs.
I hope James can work his way out of it, but you can see where they’re pitching him and the results.
The bottom of our lineup is bad, really bad and then beyond bad! And we wonder why we’re a .500 club?
JD on the IL. I knew they were downplaying it.
Shit.
Lineup:
1. Betts SS
2. Freeman 1B
3. Smith DH
4. Muncy 3B
5. Heyward RF
6. Outman CF
7. Vargas 2B
8. Peralta LF
9. Barnes C
May P
DODGERS ACTIVATE WILL SMITH, MAX MUNCY, BRUSDAR GRATEROL
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated catcher Will Smith from the injured list and pitcher Brusdar Graterol and infielder Max Muncy from the paternity list. In order to add to the active roster, the Dodgers optioned left-handed pitcher Justin Bruihl and infielder Luke Williams and placed designated hitter J.D. Martinez on the injured list with lower back tightness, backdated to April 25.
Smith, 28, returns after missing 13 games on the concussion list. He has appeared in 11 games for the Dodgers, recording three homers and 12 RBI while slashing .333/.417/.641. The former Louisville Cardinal is in his fifth season with the Dodgers and has amassed 75 homers and 242 RBI in 369 career games. He was the Dodgers first round selection (32nd overall) in the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Louisville.
Muncy, 31, returns after missing three games. He was named the National League Player of the Week on Monday after hitting .389 (7-for-18) on the week with five home runs, seven RBI, nine walks, one stolen base and five runs scored to go along with a 1.222 slugging percentage and a .593 on-base percentage. He currently leads the Major Leagues in homers with 11 and has appeared in 22 games for the Dodgers, hitting a combined .254 with 11 homers and 21 RBI. He has been in the Majors parts of eight seasons with Oakland (2015-16) and Los Angeles (2018-2023) and has amassed 155 homers and 405 RBI in 734 career games. He was a signed as a minor league free agent by the Dodgers on April 28, 2017.
Graterol, 25, is 0-1 with a 2.53 ERA (3 ER/10.2 IP) and 10 strikeouts against one walk. He has been in the Majors parts of five seasons with Minnesota (2019) and Los Angeles (2020-23) and he is a combined 7-8 with a 3.62 (51 ER/126.2 IP) and 103 strikeouts against 29 walks. He was originally acquired by the Dodgers from the Minnesota Twins along with Luke Raley in exchange for Kenta Maeda and minor leaguer Jair Camargo.
Bruihl, 25, appeared in five games in his first stint with the Dodgers, allowing one run in 5.0 innings. He was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/6.0 IP) over five appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City this year. In 50 games (two starts) for the Dodgers, he is 1-1 with a 3.23 ERA (17 ER/47.1 IP) and 28 strikeouts while limiting left-handed hitters to a .202 (19-for-94) batting average against with 15 strikeouts. The southpaw was originally signed as non-drafted free agent on July 15, 2017 after finishing his collegiate career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Williams, 26, appeared in four games for the Dodgers, hitting .100 (1-for-10) with one stolen base. He appeared in 14 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, batting .375 (21-for-56) with eight doubles, two homers and 13 RBI. In 500 career minor league games, he has amassed 26 homers and 187 RBI while hitting .245. He made his Major League debut in 2021 with the Philadelphia Phillies and has appeared in 137 games between Philadelphia (2021), San Francisco (2022) and Miami (2022), hitting .234 (55-for-235) with two homers and 12 RBI. He signed with the Dodgers on February 3, 2023.
Martinez, 35, has appeared in 23 games for the Dodgers this season and he has hit .250 (22-for-88) with nine doubles, two triples, four homers and 15 RBI. He is in 12th season in the Major Leagues with Houston (2011-2013), Detroit (2014-2017), Arizona (2017), Boston (2018-2022) and Los Angeles (2023) and he is a combined .287 hitter with 286 homers and 914 RBI. The four-time All-Star was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2009 First Year Player Draft out of Nova Southeastern University.
No lineup has been posted as of now. I’m heading out to dinner.
Apple TV has a free seven day trial sign up get the game and then cancel if you don’t want it
Just read an article that the Padres might prefer trading Soto to give them more payroll flexibility to sign Ohtani as a free agent. Or, maybe even packaging Soto in a trade for Ohtani. Soto certainly hasn’t hit in a Padre uniform. Too much mustard maybe.
If for no other reason than to get some here to hyperventilate, let’s look at trade packages that include Soto and Urias.
The Dodgers fix pitchers. They adjust mechanics to increase spin rates, mph, and control. Those fixes might not be compatible with holding runners, less time to plate, etc. Now what? Also, good point about stressing framing over popup times.
I am against increasing the number of disengagements allowed. Running is more fun to watch than waiting for the three run homerun and if running forces pitchers to change their mechanics to be quicker to the plate and that results in less spin rate or mph and that results in more action, then that is a good thing. No?
Game on Apple TV tonight….not free….
Wrong diagnosis, it is the pitching that is in the last positions !!!
Thursday scores
Oklahoma City 5, Sacramento 2 (Game 1)
Oklahoma City 1, Sacramento 0 (Game 2)
Arkansas 3, Tulsa 1
Great Lakes 6, Fort Wayne 4
Rancho Cucamonga 3, Inland Empire 2
Friday schedule
3:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan) at Arkansas (Kyle Tyler, Bryan Woo) doubleheader; Game 2 starts 30 minutes after Game 1
4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Yon Castro) at Fort Wayne (Jairo Iriarte)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Bobby Miller) vs. Sacramento (Drew Strotman)
6:35 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Luis Valdez) at Inland Empire (Walbert Urena)
Season debut for Bobby Miller in Oklahoma City.
* The Pirates keep running themselves into sacrifice flies for runs instead of fly ball outs. They have certainly adopted the running game to their advantage. We’ll see how they hold up, long term, but speed doesn’t slump.
* We are organizationally being out coached on the running game. We can’t hold runners and there seems to be little effort in fixing that.
Lefties usually freeze runners at 1st with deception, like Kershaw, and the time home isn’t as critical. You see more lefties hang that lead leg and read then you see slide steps. That works to a point. Urias is business as usual, allowing walking leads and is 1.66 to home. Barnes / Wynn have no shot.
Orel was asked what the Dodgers can do to prevent the track meet and he danced around the question, just saying Kershaw has a good move.
* I have an answer. Reemphasize pitchers varying their looks try getting the ball to the catchers quicker. Use the 2 disengagements. Try more back-picks from the catcher. Put in some plays to put doubt in the runner’s mind. Execute some timing picks in addition to daylight picks. Put in the timing-pick at 2nd where the SS breaks to the bag behind the runner as the catcher drops his mitt, signaling to the pitcher, who hasn’t looked at the runner, when to wheel and throw.
The speed game is resembling college baseball more now. Colleges run all kinds of timing stuff to control the running game. (and they don’t have a pick-off limit) That may not seem “Professional” but necessity is the mother of invention.
* It seems like I’m rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, emphasizing controlling the running game when we’ve gotten 9 hits and scored 3 runs in 2 games. That’s a whole other conversation.
* I love the new rules but maybe the limit of 2 disengagements is too extreme. Doing my best Carnac, I predict MLB will reevaluate the pick off rule and increase the limit from 2.
Roberts said that if Martinez’s back issues continue and he needs an IL stint, that Smith will get the bulk of that. They still do not think he can move right back behind the dish. If this happens, I think they need to recall Feduccia to be the main catcher because Barnes couldn’t hit Mark’s pitching.
From yesterday’s discussion. I looked at the splits today of the trio of outfielders that hit only RHP decent/good. Peralta has only 5 plate appearances this year against LHP out of 63 total, Heyward 3 out of 56 total, Thompson 24 out of 48 total.
Someone said after Thompson hit those 3 home runs he’s done nothing. It might be because Doc has used him a good amout of times against LHP.
Not that I’m a big Thompson fan, but if one of those guys need to be given their walking papers for whatever reason, like bringing up Feduccia, as I said yesterday and it’s only my opinion, I think it should be Heyward, unless Doc can’t figure out Thompson can’t hit LHP, and therefore Thompson needs to go because of Doc. This is where Doc comes into play (not an active player on the roster lol).
And by the way, I talked about this in the offseason. That the Dodgers are missing 1 outfielder that can hit LHP good to platoon with one of trio I talked about above. Or better yet one that can hit RHP and LHP good.
Hasn’t batted 300 since then either.
More likely? Mookie bowls 300 or hits 300.
Outman last 5 games……333 BA
Outman last 10 games…..325 BA
There is only one rookie struggling right now and it’s not him. I’m not concerned about the K’s we all knew that was part of his game.
Wise words from Brooklyn. No surprise there.
Of course I agree. The Dodgers are struggling. Said so in this morning’s paper so it must be true. Roberts take? “We just have to do better”. Well said skip.
We all have our opinions on what to do to make it better. My suggestion? Do nothing really. Just wait. If we’re still struggling in July, make some external moves.
I do wonder why I’m watching Wynns instead of Feduccia. Other than that, Smith should be back soon. It will be interesting to see where he plays. Rojas will be back too, though I don’t feel that move will result in Wins Above. Yes, it’s true Peralta’s career numbers say something other than what we’re seeing, but career average after 35 isn’t likely. That’s true for JD as well. Mookie is over 30 now and Freddie will turn 34 before the end of the season. What does that mean? Iontkno.
We’re better than how we’ve played. How much better remains to be seen.