Kendall Williams is a 23-year-old, 6′ 6″ RH Starting pitcher who was acquired in the Ross Stripling deal. He just started his first game at OKC last night. It did not go well (6 IP/6 H/5 ER/5 BB2 K/2 HR), but since it was in Albaquacky (I can’t spell Albuquerque), maybe he really did pitch pretty well. Bunts routinely end up being 440-foot home runs there (I exaggerate only slightly). The OKC Dodgers lost 7-0 as Michael Busch and Miguel Vargas did not play. Kendall Williams will end up playing at five different levels this season:
- June 5th – Due to an injury, Kendall Williams started his 2023 season with the ACL Dodgers.
- June 16th – Kendall was assigned to Great Lakes.
- August 2nd – Kendall was assigned to Tulsa.
- September 22nd – Williams was assigned to OKC.
- He will next be assigned to the AFL Desert Dogs.
The Dodgers are fast-tracking Kendall Williams, and he has started 16 games this season with a 3-7 record and a 3.73 ERA. His WHIP is 1.26, and he allowed 61 Hits in 80 IP to go with 62 strikeouts and 39 BB. Kendall’s fastball can touch 96 but typically sits in the 93 MPH range. He has a hammer curve, and his changeup and slider are a work in progress. He is a candidate for the Dodgers’ rotation next year, and I suspect that they will be working with him in the AFL on his change, slider, or a “sweeper.” He is not a “top-of-the-rotation” guy but could be a solid, innings-eating #4 or #5. Those guys are important, too.
I have seen Kendall pitch several times in person and feel the same way now as I did the first time: He can be a solid “back-of-the-rotation” starter. Now, we get to see him in the AFL. The AFL rosters and info are out, and by clicking on UPDATED: 2023 ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE at the top of this page, you can have all of the information at your fingertips. Opening day in the AFL is October 2nd. So far, these are the Dodgers slated to play this fall:
- Ben Casparius – RHP
- Ronan Kopp – LHP
- Jake Pilarski – RHP
- Ryan Sublette – RHP
- Kendall Williams – RHP
- Yenier Fernandez – RH 2B, C
- Damon Keith – RH, OF
- Jake Vogel – RH, OF
The Desert Dogs play their home games at Camelback Ranch.
Dodgers – Giants
Never speak of last night again! Actually, Gavin Stone and Ryan Yarbrough looked good… until they didn’t, but the Dodgers could not jump out of a boat and hit water! Shawn Freaking Manaea beat them, for crying out loud! Did I mention to never speak of last night again?
Will Smith 2023 Splits
Discussion (21)
Disagree, not disagreeable
How did Kersh look tonight?
Some of us here are probably familiar with Tim Rogers, a guy who follows the Dodgers prospects closely on his “20/80″ site. Like most of us homers, he is very bullish on the Dodgers system>
Just saw an interview with him on the Dodgers Nation” YouTube. Some takeaways:
–Didn’t use the term “untouchable,” but he classified Maddux Bruns, Jeondry Vargas and Josue DePaula as three young prospects the Dodgers consider the most special young talents they want to nurture. Compared DePaula’s eye to Juan Soto.
–Joked that he would renamed his site “20/90” because Kendall George has 90 speed. Very high on George and No. 2 pick Jake Geloff, who he said would be Dodgers starting 3B by 2026 at the latest. later than 2026.
–So many catchers. Still high on Cartaya, loves Liranzo and wonders (as I do) whether Rushing should be converted to 3B. Galiz and others also in the picture. Ironic how the Dodgers seem thin at C on the ML level and so deep in the minors.
Go Ducks
So Outman moves up to 5th in today’s lineup, and Rojas is up to 6th.
But why is Peralta, now cold, still hitting ahead of Heyward, whose bat is hot?
Just looking for a rhyme or reason here.
Glad that Barnes is playing so Smith can rest up for the postseason.
DODGERS PRESS RELEASE
DODGERS ACTIVATE MICHAEL GROVE
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers activated right-handed pitcher Michael Grove from the injured list and optioned right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone.
Grove, 26, returns from the injured list after being sidelined since August 6 with right lat tightness. On the season, he is 2-3 with a 6.61 ERA (47 ER/64.0 IP) and 67 strikeouts. He made three rehab appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing two runs in 3.1 innings with eight strikeouts. He has been with the Dodgers two seasons, and he is a combined 3-3 with a 5.98 ERA (62 ER/93.1 IP) and 91 strikeouts. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of West Virginia University.
Stone, 24, pitched last night, allowing three runs in 4.1 innings and suffered his first career loss against the Giants. With the Dodgers, he is 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA (31 ER/31.0 IP) and 22 strikeouts in eight games (four starts). With Triple-A Oklahoma City, he was 7-4 with a 4.74 ERA (53 ER/100.2 IP) and 120 strikeouts in 21 games (19 starts). Last season, he was named the 2022 Dodgers Branch Rickey Pitcher of the Year after going a combined 9-6 with a 1.48 ERA (20 ER/121.2 IP) and 168 strikeouts between High-A Great Lakes, Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Arkansas native has been in the Dodger system since being drafted in the 5th round of the 2020 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Central Arkansas and he is a combined 17-12 with a 3.25 ERA (111 ER/307.1 IP) and 419 strikeouts.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Gavin Stone has been optioned and Michael Grove has been activated. Grove is expected to be a weapon out of the bullpen for #Dodgers
Dodger Magic Number down to 1 to clinch a bye in the NL Wild Card Round as the Brewers lost to Miami today 5-4.
Yes, them dam Padres played pretty well but we were flat and no denying that so I’m just going to bank on a lesson learned there and hope our young pitching pulls off a story for the ages. Miller, Pepiot and Sheehan are looking promising. We sure will need em to. Sure, love how feisty Miller looks out there.
9:10 PM ET
Giants (77-77)
Dodgers (94-59)
SP Ross Stripling R
0-5 5.40 ERA PRIM
SP Clayton Kershaw L
12-4 2.52 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
CF James Outman L
SS Miguel Rojas R
LF D. Peralta L
RF J. Heyward L
C A. Barnes R
72° Wind 11 mph Ou
The Braves, who play in one of the better parks to hit homers in, have actually hit more home runs on the road. And they are only four long balls away from hitting 300. The Dodgers have hit 236 homers. Not even close to the team record with 9 games left. But they have scored 859 runs, only 40 less than Atlanta with less hits, and a team BA almost 20 points lower. They have more doubles and more walks. The best park for homers? Cincinnati.
What I don’t like and biggest worry is clinching way to early and having five days off before first playoff game. At least don’t have six straight meaningless games against the lowly Rockies at home this year to end the season and get even more out of zinc. Would feel better having something to fight for towards the very end and a couple less off days to keep ‘em sharp and battle ready. Other than JD seems offense is sputtering already since Mookie and Freddie got their day off
Question: I know the Dodgers , so far, have hit 11 grand slams this season. Does anyone know how many were hit at Dodger Stadium? I’m guessing not many. Because the Dodgers had a low team batting average with the bases loaded last year (0.280) tied with the Washington Nationals for LAST place. As much as I love the Dodgers (been a fan of them since 1977), I don’t see them doing much this upcoming post-season because of the Offense. The other players have to do more contributing in run production instead of depending on Mooky and Freddie on run production. Dodgers MUST work on every weakness they have before post- season play gets underway because their opponents , whoever they are, will exploit them to the fullest extent. “DODGER BASEBALL” will not cut it in the post-season.
Everybody, I’m concerned about the Dodgers’ offense. I’ve noticed throught out the years that the Dodgers dont score a lot of runs at Dodger Stadium. If the Dodgers hope to win the WS they must score runs. LOTS OF RUNS. Another 5-1 loss at Dodger Stadium last night! ( Same score as the final game of 2017 and 2018 WS)!. the Dodgers Offense just does not know how to score runs in big post-season games, especially at Dodger Stadium. Anybody can explain why?
Emmet Sheehan made history on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. Sheehan, who threw 4.2 no-hit innings before getting pulled, became the only MLB pitcher in the modern era to go at least four innings without allowing a hit in back-to-back starts against an opponent, per OptaSTATS.
Sorry, didn’t mean Barnes was better than Will as a hitter, just if Barnes was a lot better as a hitter Will could rest more, that’s why I would like a different backup next year.
Barnes plays once sometimes twice a week so you can’t compare his hitting with Wills. He’s a lot healthier than Will. If he was a better hitter he’d probably play more and rest Will more.
Maybe it would make sense to not have a regular DH and allow Will Smith to limit catching to three or four times a week in order to keep him fresh. Of course having JD Martinez as the full time DH has worked out very well.
Maybe Will could start playing some third in 2024, but that’s probably in the future. A lot depends on what happens this winter. He has been injured, which, no doubt impacted his hitting. The Dodgers do have some skilled catching prospects, but they may be a year or so away. But I wouldn’t panic and try to find instant fixes. Those usually don’t work.
The Dodgers need to see how it goes in the playoffs. They have a plan. Is it a good plan? Depends a lot on the bullpen, which is only as good as the weakest link. If the link snaps, everything begins to unravel.
LA desperately needs a Parade. Clayton Kershaw needs a Parade. The fans need a Parade. That means they need peak performances and a lot of luck. Who will step up with the bat. In 2020, they had Mookie, but they also got a lot of big hits from Cory Seager. Maybe it will be Freddie Freeman, who passed 200 hits last night. Be nice to see him get 60 doubles.
Now that Acuna has reached 40 homers and 40 steals, I’m guessing he has wrapped up the MVP.
Big or small catchers get beat up as the year goes on. They don’t report when they have all those broken fingers etc. So hard for a catcher to be healthy in Sept. So is Will hitting any better than Barnes the last month or so? I don’t think so.
Or anybody else. Is Mookie in ‘slump’. How has he been since last injury. Its just part of the game. Everyone says they are ready to go.
I don’t see Will catching past 2025 season. He will too beat up. If not Perez,who? Rushing probably 2 years away. And please don’t say Barnes! He’s not a mlb starting catcher. If he’s there next year , ok . But not past 2024!
Amen! Trade for Salvador Perez till Rushing is ready. Really can’t fault dodgers last night, hitters couldn’t see anything but hair! Lol
From previous thread. I agree it would be nice to drop Will down in batting order. Who knows how many injuries he has now. I read he played earlier with broken rib, from being hit by pitch. Just some tweaks to think about