Just Say No to Trading for a Starting Pitcher
OK, First I am going to talk about yesterday’s debacle (it wasn’t a game) for a minute (60 seconds). Max Muncy cost the Dodgers the game with his lack of hitting and fielding. I know it, you know it, Max knows it, and Ray Charles sees it. The fact that Max lost the game has…
OK, First I am going to talk about yesterday’s debacle (it wasn’t a game) for a minute (60 seconds). Max Muncy cost the Dodgers the game with his lack of hitting and fielding. I know it, you know it, Max knows it, and Ray Charles sees it. The fact that Max lost the game has nothing to do with his ability to play 2B. Max is an average to above-average 2B. Max is not a Gold Glove 2B (not many are), but he did make a couple of excellent plays earlier in the game. It is indisputable that he lost the game for the Dodgers, but enough with “he can’t play second base.” Max can’t do anything right… right about now. Knee-jerk reactions are silly. I am not sure what to do with Max right now. He does need something. I just don’t know what… and he has no trade value, so forget that! Maybe hitting rock bottom will give him the impetus to soar with eagles again. OK, NEVER MENTION THIS AGAIN.
Forget Trading for a Starting Pitcher
Trading for a starting pitcher is not only unnecessary, but it is also counterproductive to having a robust farm system with a multitude of arms. However, parroting that the Dodgers need another starting pitcher seems to be the popular thing, After all, Walker Buehler has been deemed to be impaired by many. Julio Urias doesn’t seem to be what he was last year, Clayton Kershaw is on the IL for who knows how long, and Andrew Heaney is also on the IL and was “much-maligned” before that, but the Dodgers keep winning. Trevor Bauer will not pitch this year because of the moronic, self-righteous, judgemental, idiot in the commissioner’s office (whom I believe will lose his job soon). The one bright spot in the rotation has been Tony Gonsolin… a guy many Dodger fans were down on or felt was better in the bullpen.
On March 26, 2022, I wrote this regarding Tony Gonsolin:
“I think he will break out like Julio did last year”
On March 30, 2022, I wrote this:
“Tony Gonsolin was beaten like a rented mule last night. It should have been so much worse! I am not in the least worried about him.”
Then, last week I wrote this:
“I have been telling you that Tony Gonsolin just needs to pitch. He needs to build up, and he is. I think we will see him pitch into the 7th inning soon. He has four very good pitches, but remember 3 or 4 years ago when he used to touch 100 MPH? He has turned it down a notch and is not that high-effort thrower. He is typically at 93 to 94 and is much more effective.”
Like it or not, that all happens to be true. Tony Gonsolin should be 5-0 with a 1.62 ERA and 0.97 WHIP, were it not for a bad play that I will never speak about again. He still has that ERA and WHIP but he is only 4-0, not 5-0. At 28-years-old, Tony Gonsolin has realized his potential. He is the Dodgers’ #3 starter, having pushed Clayton Kershaw to #4. You can see him gain confidence and command with every start.
Here’s why the Dodgers should not trade for another starter: HELLO! They have the solution in their system. Heaney and Kershaw will be back. Mitch White is a pitcher to be reckoned with and Ryan Pepiot, Bobby Miller, Nick Nastrani, Landon Knack, Clayton Beeter, Andre Jackson (I am not negative about him), and several other starters are all possibilities. “THEY ARE NOT READY YET!” Before Sunday’s game, many said that Peopit was not ready, but 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB and 6 K’s to go with his 1.72 ERA at AAA say otherwise! Elite players play up to their competition. Progress is not linear. Ryan Pepiot will be a big part of the Dodgers’ pitching THIS year! Book it! I may very well be wrong that he can’t be a starter, but boy, can he pitch!
To those who say Bobby Miller is a year away, I say the same thing I said when they told me Cody Bellinger was a year away – the year he won the Rookie of the Year Award! “Maybe, but maybe not!” If you asked Bobby Miller to deliver one clean inning, I would bet he could do it. That could be valuable in the playoffs. We saw what Miller did to the Angels in the Freeway Series. I am not saying that Bobby is ready TODAY, but progress and growth are not always predictable.
The minor leagues of the Dodger system are loaded with power-pitching prospects. Progress is not linear and sometimes the best ones do not always have the best stats or pedigree. The main reason not to trade for a starter is that what you are looking for may have been in your system the entire time. I sometimes think that Tyler Anderson and his $8 million dollar salary were not necessary. At this stage of the game, promote from within. The arms are there. Find the right one and ride it (Ryan Pepiot).
By the way, this is part of the joy of baseball. Players whom no one expects, just show up, step up, and shut everyone up. We have seen pitchers who appear to be unhittable in the minors and come up to be used as a batting practice pitcher and the opposite is also true: some guy whose minor league stats are just so-so, come up and pitches like an ace. Go figure! Personally, I would like to see the Dodgers be a little more aggressive in promoting young pitchers. Just my opinion.
Dodger Minor League Highlights
- Ryan Pepiot is 3-0 with a 1.72 ERA at AAA -m nothing more to learn here… Move on!
- Miguel Vargas was 2-4 with his 7th HR. (.311/.933).
- Brett de Geuss sucks – I can’t believe I liked him at one time. I was a moron!
As time passes, this section will get smaller as I will only focus on “legitimate prospects” – not just “feel good” stories. I get that, I like those stories, but we are focusing on the players who actually have shot at the show. Harold and Jeff at LA DODGER CHRONICLES can tell you all about the other guys… and that is important too. I just can’t cover everything.
LA Trip
My youngest son and I will be making a business trip to LA on May 31st to June 5th. It’s all business but we will be to at least two games (maybe more):
- Tuesday , May 31st @ Dodger Stadium – We will be in the RF Home Run Seats. We are arriving early.
- Saturday, June 4th @ Rancho Cucamonga – Allegedly Jayne Cobb, Bear, and Bulldogs & Penguins will also be there. We plan to be early.
- We have an Air B & B in Pasadena and may have some evenings available. Not quite sure yet!
Here is who to look for:
Blurred Lines
The Trevor Bauer Appeal Begins Today. Hopefully, this is the beginning of the end of Robber Manfred – Village Idiot!
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Discussion (105)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I mean at what point does Rios start taking AB’s away from Muncy? If not now when?….It seems the guy hits a dong every game he plays in. He needs to be in the lineup right now against RH pitchers.
You forgot a big name in the pitching discussion. It was reported that Ginger Thor is already facing batters, is way ahead of schedule, and is being built up as a starter.
I can’t remember if I commented on Muncy yesterday. Mark summed it up well, except the above average second baseman part. Yes, he cost us the game. He probably shouldn’t have been at second base late in a tied game. Doc didn’t need to pinch hit for Lux, but did anyways, so that burned CT3. Hanser was still on the bench and should have been at second base at that point in the game. Doc f’d it up by not having his best defence in place with a one run lead and three outs to go.
You can easily make a case that Muncy shouldn’t be on the field right now. Rios is again hitting homers at a record pace. But, Muncy is a very good player and the team is in first place. Doc wants to get Muncy going, so this is where we are. We have the luxury of letting Muncy play through it.
I would much rather see Lux and Hanser mostly handle second base and Muncy / Turner Rios mostly handle 3B and DH. I think Muncy’s and Rios’ playing time should be reversed at least until Muncy gets going. Hopefully, yesterday will be a tipping point for Muncy and he goes back to banging bombs and taking walks. He’s a lot more passable at 2B when he’s putting them in the seats, or in the water.
In another week, we will need to make a change to the 26 man roster when the 13 pitcher limit comes into play. We need to bring up an outfielder so we’re not as dependent on CT3. I don’t know if Kevin Pillar is the answer. He’s a lifetime I'm with Mark in that I would much rather see our own guys try to grab the open spot(s) in the rotation rather than use those same guys to trade for a more established pitcher. Right now, there isn't great options available. There might not be any options available with teams preferring to see if they're close to a playoff spot at the deadline. By the time pitchers are made available, we might not need pitching. Maybe a good team turns bad by the trade deadline and a good pitcher becomes available. Then, perhaps the story changes.
Bauer starts his arbitration today. The "experts" think the Dodgers will cut him even if he wins his appeal. The "experts" all thought that May would be back at the end of the year and used in the pen. I would like to think that the Dodgers, or any team would value winning above all else. But, I'm not 100% convinced.
I'm also of the opinion that if you F-up, you do your time, you are forgiven and get another chance. I will never subscribe to the thinking that it's okay to banish someone because of a mistake. Pete Rose has a lifetime ban, but the HOF has plenty of his personal belongings on display. This seems hippocrytical to me.
It sucks that the Quakes and Dodgers conflict for Mark's game. I generally don't miss Dodger games for other events, I'll make an exception to have a beer with Mark, Bear, Jayne and the others who show up.
Damn, I wasn't feeling well yesterday and took my temperature in the afternoon. Cough, congestion, fever. I hope I don't have the VID again.
Not worried about Muncy long term. He’ll get over this funk and then get hot, just like Justin Turner has. Yes he cost us yesterday, but whatever; it happens.
Bellinger is a different worry, as it’s gone on for a couple of years now.
Ever since we heard that Muncy and Belly were working on bunting and then Max got a bunt hit, I don’t think I’ve seen either of them try another bunt.
I also like the stuff I’ve seen from Almonte; this year’s Bickford?
MT on the IL with a pulled rotator cuff from patting himself on the back once again.
Is .2 WAR, .156 BA, .279 SLG, .610 OPS and 76 OPS+ through 122 AB’s a knee jerk reaction to thinking Max needs to sit and/or, an IL stint? Competition is the best motivator for professional athletes and a Michael Busch call-up just might be what Max needs to be “kicked in the butt.”
Production is the name of the game in the big leagues. Produce and your name gets penciled in the line-up, continue to suck and management will find someone to take your place. Jut ask KJ about game 6 in the 2020 WS when Doc used Julio to close it out with KJ watching from the BP. Loyalty and sentimentality can only go so far, It’s all about production and Max needs to sit, get his elbow checked out or see a sports psychologist . I’ve seen enough of the center cut FB’s with his bat on his shoulder to convince me of that.
Draft Kings World Series Odds:
Dodgers 4.5:1
Yankees 5.5:1
Astros 8:1
Mets 8:1
Earlier in the year, when Lux was experiencing “the Yips” or something close, you could see him pressing in the field and at-bat. Happily, it went away and you can see the resurgence.
Muncy is also pressing. Maybe yesterday is the tipping point!
25 pitchers used in 3 games, and 14 more games without a day off.
Taylor and Muncy could both use some time to reflect.
My sixty seconds about Muncy. You say there is NO OTHER option on the team or in system that could do better than him? He already said he won’t be 100% til next year. Let him sit on the IL, and bring up someone else to bat .180 or above
“We’ll see” said the Zen Master.