- Yesterday’s win is a game that can really galvanize a team. It also builds character.
- Bobby Miller has to take yesterday as a learning moment and look back to learn from it. Can he do that? We shall see.
- James Outman is starting to make the necessary adjustments.
- OTOH Miguel Vargas has not adjusted as yet to the top of the zone pitches – It’s not the speed – it’s the location – he is not hitting the pitch at the top of the zone. In his first at-bat, they threw him two pitches at the top of the zone, and he popped the second one up. In his next at-bat, they threw him four pitches, none of which were strikes, and he grounded out. Usually, he will not swing at a pitch out of the zone – right about now; he is totally out of whack. He needs to sit for a couple of games. Nothing good comes out of “pressing.”
- I have a few people who work in baseball that I talk to periodically. Yesterday, I talked to someone who works for another organization about my pitch sequencing theory, who smiled and told me, “I am not going to say anything more, but you are getting warm.” Honestly, I have no clue what he means… except that he knows something he doesn’t want me to know. These guys are always seeking an “edge.”
- The Dodger Bullpen ERA just moved up to #26 in MLB (4.78) and is climbing. A healthy Phil Bickford is an important part.
- OKC won their 50th game last night (50-22).
- Landon Knack fared much better in his second start: 5 IP/7H/2 ER/1 BB/6 K.
- Hunter Feduccia is on another hot streak.
- Nick Nastrini was Nasty last night” 6 IP/3 H/0 ER/3 BB/8 K – He just needs to cut down on the walks, and he will be dominant.
- Two players who may be available at the Traded Deadline: Justin Turner & Cody Bellinger… just sayin’
- I really hope the Dodgers do not trade Busch… and I don’t think they will!
- The Dodgers have options at the trade deadline, and lots of players could be “trade chips.” Call it what it is. The only problem I have is demeaning a player by saying. “He’s just a trade chip – nothing more!” No, they are people and deserve respect for what they have accomplished.
- Bear nailed it – Jonny DeLuca’s stance looks like the Penguin.
- David Peralta!
- The Dodgers need 6 or 7 strong innings by the Catman today!
- Here’s what MLB says about the Dodgers second half prospects:
The Dodgers are already good right now. But come on. These are the Dodgers. The Dodgers who have won nine out of the last 10 NL West titles. The Dodgers who have won 100-plus games in each of the last three full seasons, and four of the last five. And they’re sitting in third place in the West right now?
Expect that to change. The D-backs are a nice surprise in first place, and the Giants are chugging along just ahead of the Dodgers in second, but the Dodgers are the best team in this division. Freddie Freeman (.316 batting average) and Mookie Betts (18 home runs) are their typical MVP contender selves, Will Smith might be the best offensive catcher in baseball (.915 OPS), J.D. Martinez is having a resurgent season in L.A. (.560 slugging percentage) and Clayton Kershaw is ageless (2.72 ERA).
When Julio Urías and Max Muncy get back into the rotation and lineup from their respective injuries, the Dodgers can really get rolling. Expect them to go on a run in the NL West. They already have a better run differential than Arizona (+48 to the D-backs’ +34), and they have the easiest remaining strength of schedule of any team in baseball. The D-backs’ lead in this division is not safe. In fact, the Dodgers’ odds of winning the NL West are almost twice as high as Arizona’s, per FanGraphs — 47.6% to 19.6%.
— MLB.COM
Discussion (34)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Don’t forget to vote for our boys today. Especially Will
I don’t think so for Verlander. Actually, I don’t think so for either Scherzer or Verlander. Aren’t they both owed 40 million more for next year also ? ( Each ) can’t see the Mets Kicking in that much money. to make it worth it for AF
Verlander’s Stats
W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2-4 4.50 52 44. 1.21.
Vargas is a mess. Needs a trip to OKC.
Deadline is creeping up on us. Be here before you know it. There will be way more buyers than sellers. SO the pickins are going to be slim.
Sunday scores
Las Vegas 10, Oklahoma City 6
Northwest Arkansas 11, Tulsa 4
West Michigan 2, Great Lakes 1 (5 innings)
Rancho Cucamonga 7, Lake Elsinore 1
Jimmy Nelson pitched a scoreless sixth inning for Oklahoma City, allowing a single and a walk with one strikeout. It’s the sixth game for Nelson on this minor league rehab assignment, which began on June 10. Sunday’s appearance came on just one day rest, the quickest turnaround so far this season for the right-hander.
The week ahead
Oklahoma City at Sugar Land [Astros]
Tulsa at Amarillo [D-backs]
Great Lakes vs. Lansing [A’s]
Rancho Cucamonga vs. Visalia [D-backs]
Monday and Tuesday are off days this week for the top four affiliates, with each team playing a six-game series through next Monday to take advantage of the July 4 holiday weekend crowds.
I had a bad feeling about yesterday’s game because I didn’t think Astros wanted to be swept and then get on that plane home with that gnawing at them.
And then it was confirmed to me we would lose when Dubon made that great play to rob Smith in the 11th inning with Vargas coming up. Anyone but him….sigh! Oh well, we probably should have lost Saturday instead.
I do not blame Almonte for the loss. Bregman is a very good player so him getting a hit didn’t surprise me. What surprised me is Perralta’s throw to the infield. The guy wasn’t even on 3rd when Perralta fielded the ball and in fact was slowing down to stop at 3rd. Oh well….like I said, 2 out of 3 is pretty good especially considering our starting pitching is not good right now. We don’t have an ace not named Kershaw. Julio….get well my friend.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Julio Urías had 8 strikeouts in 4 IP.
Word from Inland Empire is Urías Fastball hit 95mph in 3rd inning.
#Dodgers #Quakes
I’m not sure if any of you recall, but Eric mentioned once that Vargas needed another half season in AAA for seasoning
To me this game was like a World Series game and thr players came through. Seems some unwanted drama may have come into play.
How much longer do we have to watch Vargas flail away? He needs a reset in OKC. When Muncy comes back move Busch to second. His turn.
Can’t say I understand why Philips didn’t take the mound for at least part of the 10th. If there is a valid reason I’d like to know but if the reason is just Roberts then I’m starting to see a not so good pattern.
I don’t know if there’s a place to check, but it seems like we’re on the losing side of our challenges more often than not. Maybe it’s just me, but we seem to challenge a lot of plays that don’t seem like they should our way
I’d offer that it’s a combination of things. Not sure why there’s a drive to assign the bullpen’s issues to something singular.
If I had to guess, and I know very little, I’d say it was a mix of:
1. Bad luck
2. Under performing
3. The shift
4. Over-use
5. Sequencing, bad communication, flawed approach plans and changes to the baseball.
Maury should be in the HOF. He changed the game, paving the way for Brock, Henderson, Coleman, Raines and others.
Just saying, I have been a fan of the late, great Maury Wills since he came up in June, 1959, and was a big factor in the Dodgers winning the World Series. If the two throw to first rule had been in effect when Maury stole 104 in 1962 and won the MVP of the NL, and in 1965, when he stole 94, no telling how many bases he could have stolen. His lifetime total of 586 SB’s would be much higher. Speaking of 1962, I still get a sick feeling every time I think about the Dodgers hitting a slump the last few days of the season and losing a three game playoff series to the Giants. Alston, who to me is the greatest manager in Dodger history should have brought Drysdale in to finish the Giants off in that damn top of ninth. I believe the World Series was starting the next day, and Alston wanted to save Drysdale for the first game. What a season it was. This is a great site. Thanks for letting me comment.
Eric Stephen
@ericstephen
Daniel Hudson struck out all 3 batters he faced today for Triple-A Oklahoma City, needing only 11 pitches
Sure seems like activation on the road trip is nigh
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Chris Taylor had a right bone bruise that won’t heal without rest. Taylor headed to IL and Yonny Hernandez will be activated.
Max Muncy took live BP earlier today and is expected to return Tuesday in Denver according to Dave Roberts.
There is a report that Yonny Hernandez is in LA. I think Taylor to the IL
With Vargas struggling and outman got an dthen cold cold the Dodgers look for a shortstop or second baseman at deadline and an outfielder and a starter. I still say willy Addames and Christian Yulich and Corbin Burnes make sense for the Dodgers. One it gives them a every day shortstop Adamme and if Taylor stays or Rojas they then can go play second for the struggling Vargas. With Yulich you could put him in Leftfield and then put Peralta in centerfield if Outman struggles against certain pitchers and Peralta does better you still have Hayward and Bets in outfield and with Burnes it gives you a number three pitcher in playoffs with Kershaw Urias Burnes and Gonsolin Miller Sheehan that’s a pretty good starting pitching rotation for the stretch run and into the playoffs. Brewers have to be out if it for us to get those three guys. It’s either them or the Dodgers look at Whitesoxs or Cardinals
Who would you send down? Deluca is on the team as a right hand bat.
Glad you picked up on that MLB.com analysis about the Dodgers facing a weak schedule in the second half. That bit of news surprised me. The team has been hard hit by injuries–harder than most teams, I think–but the depth has played up, especially with Miller and Sheehan emerging. (Both were bound to come to Earth after spectacular starts. But I think both have shown they are legit ML starters.) With Julio and Max due back–and reinforcements like Hudson and ??? coming–I fully expect the Dodgers to win the West again.
Allow me to pause here to praise Roberts for exactly the right move in this win: Putting in Peralta to pinch-hit for the slumping Vargas. Peralta homered, so it’s easy to call this the right move in retrospect. But Peralta is a professional hitter with a long track record, so he was likely to make solid contact–and Roberts knew he could simply move Mookie to 2B, Heyward to RF and Peralta to LF. Mookie’s versatility is the key to this roster. But Peralta was just right guy in a pinch–and Roberts knew it. (Note to Mark: Perhaps Gallo and Vargas never got ABs in the playoffs because Roberts rightly had lost confidence in their bats. If your bench is crappy, you don’t use your bench.)
But speaking of Vargas’s struggles, well, what about Busch?
When Max comes back, should Busch get some starts at 2B? Right now, Busch is playing a passable 3B, but he doesn’t have the glove, arm or experience of either Max or Chris Taylor. Busch is blocked at 1B by Freddie and at DH by JDM, but is Vargas playing well enough to “own” 2B?
When Max is back, perhaps a 2B platoon of Busch and Vargas is worth a try. If Busch shows himself to be capable at 2B, he’ll be more valuable for the Dodgers and also in a potential deal. Busch’s lack of a clear role with the Dodgers makes him a trade candidate. But what if he outplays Vargas?
If Busch does get dealt–maybe for a pitcher like Giolito–then maybe Jahmai Jones or Yonny Hernandez could come up to LA if needed. Both are playing well in OKC.
Andre Jackson to Pirates
7:10 PM ET ESPN
Astros (41-36)
Dodgers (43-33)
SP Hunter Brown R
6-4 3.78 ERA
SP Tony Gonsolin R
4-2 2.92 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
DH J. Martinez R
LF D. Peralta L
RF J. Heyward L
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
3B M. Busch L
Partly-cloudy-day
79° Wind 10 mph Out
M.Busch looks like a typical average player from the 80’s, for the MLB level he doesn’t have any especial tools both he does things well, he plays hard and exudes a certain joy in his game, it’s fun to watch.
He will never be a Star but he can be a great team player, I like him.
After being drubbed 25-1 by the Angels, the Rockies gave a reprieve from his death sentence and sent Mike Moustakis to the Angels for two minor league pitchers and cash. One of the pitchers is named Van Scoyoc. I wonder if he is related to our hitting guru. Just checked, and no he is not.
Awesome come back win. I love whuppin on the Asstros.
Miller is getting the MLB Welcome Wagon. He’ll figure it out. I do have 2 suggestions:
* Karros noticed it in the dugout. If I’m up their hitting it might be nice if my pitcher is paying attention to my at bat and not pacing the dugout with his glove on ready to go back out there before we’ve finished batting. Kershaw needs to tell him to sit down.
* Scrap the “Buehler Bun-Hugger pants”
Another great College World Series game with LSU beating Florida with a homer in the 11th. LSU got another awesome pitching performance from the Floyd kid who fanned 17 in 8 innings. Man can these teams pitch. If Florida wins today to make it 1 to 1, I’m hoping will will get a chance to watch Paul Skenes pitch again.
* I mentioned before that DeLuca looks like Ron Cey in the box. LSU has a sophomore who would make a good Dodger. Third baseman, Tommy “Tanks” White looks just like Justin Turner 2.0
* Please tell me there will never be a review to see if the back of the glove, maybe the strap on the wrist, tagged the sliding runner, or was it his bare forearm, and not the glove? Please kill me if they go there on replays. It’s morphed into a place where it was never intended to go.
As for the pitch sequencing idea, I wonder if shifting–and the banning thereof–plays a role in that too.
My guess: Vargas goes to OKC when Muncy comes back and Busch stays. Not wild about exchanging a right handed bat for a left handed bat but Vargas will come back better.
Watching the Cubs v Cards on TV from the London Stadium.
Looks like lots of fans have made the trip over. My brother is there and says the atmosphere is great. He’s a Cubs fan.
Marcus Stroman out after 4 innings with a blister problem.
I do hope that the Dodgers get a turn to play here. You guys would love a weekend in London.
Just watching Michael Fulmer pitch for the Cubs. Has anyone noticed the uncanny resemblance he has to our own Alex Vesia??
Another fine win yesterday. Always good to beat the Asstros
I’ve actually been impressed with Busch’ defense at 3b. Not because he looks like Nolan Arrenado, but because all we ever heard was he’s an average fielder, no matter where he plays, and his bat is what got him here.
So far, it’s the opposite. He looks calm and steady at 3b, and his offense is a tad slower; BUT, he is hitting really well with guys on base.
I’d love to have him play more and learn on the job, but how many rookies can we do that with??? And with Muncy back this week, Busch likely is trade bait, and hopefully a big chip for someone.
He may blossom somewhere else, regardless of what position they stick him at, but hopefully he helps land an impact player for us this year.
A little more on the sequencing discussion –
This was a comment I read yesterday.
“I highly doubt the sequencing theory had much if anything to do with the bullpen improving the last three games.
Sequencing didn’t cause Graterol to make two horrible defensive plays to cost games and hang a two strike slider for a HR against Giants. Sequencing didn’t cause Caleb to walk 3 and hit another batter to blow a game.”
No reasonable person should make a conclusion whether opposing teams have discovered some chink in the Dodgers sequencing armor – for or against – based on exactly two samples. He’s right. Graterol and Ferguson didn’t execute in those particular games. It happens.
The question that perplexes me, and why I think Mark’s theory is at least interesting, is that the Dodgers relief corps, collectively, for all of 2022, was the best in baseball. Currently, up till a few days ago, they were nearly the worst in baseball with more or less the SAME personnel, throwing with the SAME stuff.
Graterol and Ferguson having two bad games are a small sample size. It means nothing. An entire season’s worth of data compared to nearly a half season’s worth of data is not a small sample size. It means something. The question is what.
Point #2:
It’s no secret that Mark Prior has done a very good job getting the most out of pitching staffs and pitchers. He revitalized Anderson’s and Heaney’s careers last year, and the total pitching staff was tops in the majors. You don’t think opposing teams noticed?
And if opposing teams notice that Mark Prior seems to have some sort of secret sauce when it comes to pitchers, do you not think opposing teams are asking themselves HOW he’s doing it? If they observe and begin to understand Prior’s approach, doesn’t it therefore reason that opposing teams can possibly predict what his pitchers are going to do and gameplan for it?
Now, is this proof that Mark’s sequencing theory is correct? Obviously not, but it is a reasonable enough hypothesis to at least consider rather than dismiss with tautologies along the lines of, “The Dodgers relief pitching is bad because they’re simply not pitching good.”
I loved reading Trashtros fans on Twitter wail and gnash teeth because they didn’t think that was a balk. It was a balk.
Saturday scores
Oklahoma City 7, Las Vegas 3
Northwest Arkansas 2, Tulsa 1 (11 innings)
West Michigan 10, Great Lakes 0
Rancho Cucamonga 4, Lake Elsinore 1
Sunday schedule
11 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Justin Wrobleski) at West Michigan (TBD)
11:05 a.m.: Tulsa (Ben Casprius) vs. Northwest Arkansas (Andrew Hoffmann)
12:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Matt Andriese) vs. Las Vegas (Kyle Muller)
2 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Julio Urías) vs. Lake Elsinore (Miguel Mendez)
Julio on a rehab start
Wild game, good win!
Bobby Miller has the stuff and he already showed that in his first 4 games.
Now he will prove he has the brain and the calmness too. As soon as something goes wrong he gets completely out of whack. Has to learn damage control. Maybe he should sit down with Clayton more, the master of damage control.
In the low minors our 2023 prized international signing. 17 year old ss, Joendry Vargas, is off to a very good start in the DSL.
And the highly touted Wilman Diaz, last years top signing, is rebounding very well this season after a bad first year.
Hitting well in the AZ rookie league.
Two highly talented ss, a position where the Dodgers are thin throughout the system. Keep an eye on those two kids.
OTOH Dieog Cartaya now hitting below the Mendoza line. His development seems to have stalled a bit. But as Mark says: progress is not linear.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!
Bickford got a haircut and performed very well for 2 innings yesterday. Maybe Thor should do the same. Anyone hear if Andre Jackson was picked up by another team on his DFA earlier in the week?