LA DODGER TALK!

The Splendid Splinter Revisited

We have seen the obvious similarity in appearance in Ted Williams and Cody Bellinger. When the comparison was originally made, the comparison was only the physical resemblance… they were totally different hitters. After Cody Bellinger’s “makeover” the resemblance is much closer. They still have beautiful swings, but Bellinger has more of an uppercut swing. That’s now the biggest difference. They both are elite hitters and we read yesterday that if Cody keeps it up, he will have the best season of any MLB Player since {gulp}… Babe Ruth.

When Cody Bellinger made the first out in 9th inning last night, it was very obvious that he cut down his swing and just tried to make good contact on two strikes. That has to be a big part of Cody’s success this year and gives me confidence that he can keep up his monster season. While he made an out in the 9th inning, it was an absolute rocket that was caught right at the RF fence.

The Doctor

Doc Roberts has the team running more this year. Hit and runs, stealing (not just signs), etc. It’s not that they will steal a ton of bases, but they are being very aggressive on the base paths. They are 21 out of 25 in stolen bases and lead MLB in OB% (.350), just ahead of Houston. They are #2 in Runs Scored behind the surprising Minnesota Twins. With Corey Seager and Justin Turner just hitting their groove and with a healthy AJ Pollock, this team could be an offensive Juggernaut. Maybe we need to break out the old moniker: “The Big Blue Wrecking Crew.”

A lot of credit has to go to Dave Roberts. Many pundits are saying he is the Manager of the Year … so far! His players know their roles and know he has their backs. Even Joc understands that he is not going to play against lefties… at least at this juncture. Why mess with success? You can make a great case that the NL All-Star Outfield should be Pederson, Verdugo, and Bellinger, but Doc is the “glue.”

Some of you don’t like him and that is your prerogative. When he took out Ryu with two outs in the 8th and replaced him with Kenley Jansen, if Jansen had given up a HR, some would have said “Doc is an idiot.” No, Jansen did not execute! But last night he did. Whether, he executed or not, the right move was to take Ryu out. You could see he was done. It’s not the moves the manager makes, so much as the way a player executes. Doc is the perfect manager for this team. There was a time I wanted Joe Maddon, but he is getting pretty “long-in-the-tooth”. It’s a younger manager’s game… and Doc is our man!

The Indomitable Kid

Alex Verdugo is just a professional hitter! He stays within himself and delivers. He is not swinging for the fences and so has only 4 HR… he should not change that approach. I do think he will hit lead off at some point, but he is valuable further down, because he moves runners, makes productive outs and drives in runs. He will occasionally jump on a pitch and hit it out, but that is totally not his approach. His enthusiasm and borderline “stick it to the other team” attitude is contagious and he has earned the right to play every day.

The Re-invented Closer

That the Dodgers have been wanting Kenley to throw his slider more and he has been resistant to that has been publicized, but last night, he evidently trusted the process and threw the slider very effectively. If all he throws are cutters, the hitter can guess where it might be and have success, but when he mixes in his nasty slider, they have no chance. This is the re-invention of a new and improved Kenley Jansen… now if Joe Kelley can just be re-invented… maybe “resurrected” is the better word!

The Crafty Lefthander

Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com called him “LA”s Left-handed Greg Maddux:”

Ryu pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings on four hits in Thursday night’s 2-0 Dodgers win, utilizing a four-pitch mix that didn’t stress the radar gun, but produced a better game outcome than hard throwers Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Walker Buehler.

Listen to Callaway, who played in Korea when Ryu broke in there.
“He mixes it up better than I’ve seen in a long time,” said Callaway. “There’s no pattern whatsoever. He drives his arm through every pitch and sells everything, whether it’s a changeup, curveball, he gets through it. He’s using his fastball at the top of the zone at the right time. It’s just kind of really a lesson in pitching to everybody sitting there watching. He pitched a heck of a game.
“I saw him when he was 19 win an MVP in Korea when I was playing there, and he was unbelievable then. This kid knows how to pitch. The last couple years, he’s one of the ERA leaders in the league. He’s doing a heck of a job.”

Clayton Kershaw: Take Notice!

Minor League Report by DC

Player of the Day – a toss up between Jair Carmargo and Jeren Kendall who won the toss. The 23-year-old center fielder had three hits, including a double and home run, along with two runs scored and four driven in.

Pitcher of the Day (from MLB Pipeline)

Dodgers: Edwin Uceta, RHP (No. 20) — 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 9 K (Class A Adv Rancho Cucamonga). Uceta allowed a two-run home run in the fifth inning and struggled with his control en route to a season-high four walks, but the 21-year-old also established a season high in strikeouts while notching his fourth win in his last five starts. He’s having a breakout campaign in the California League, where he’s racked up 65 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings and owns the circuit’s second-best ERA (2.15). The 2016 July 2 signee has good feel for a three-pitch mix of average-or-better offerings.

Great Lakes Loons 8 – Bowling Green Hot Rods 4 (Tampa Bay)

The Loons started quickly in the top of the first inning with a lead off single by Miguel Vargas, a stolen base, a walk to Dillon Paulson and a two-run double by Jair Camargo. After falling behind 4-2 in the bottom of the second inning, they scored single runs in six of the last seven innings. Every Loon had a hit with Romer Cuadrado, Dillon Paulson and Jacob Amaya recording two. Jair Camargo had three.

On the mound Zach Willeman had an unusual start giving up four runs on no hits but with four walks, two steals, a HBP and an error. The only ball to leave the infield was a sacrifice fly. All six outs in his two innings were by ground out. Brett de Geus followed with two scoreless innings and Jose Martinez with five shutout innings.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 12 – Inland Empire 66ers 4 (LAA)

Edwin Uceta started for the Quakes and picked up his fourth win. He went five innings with two earned runs on three hits, four walks and nine strikeouts. Melvin Jiminez gave up a run in his 1.1 innings pitched as did Max Gamboa in his inning. Connor Mitchell chipped in with 1.1 scoreless innings. Combined the four pitchers struck out 15 but they also walked 12.

On the offensive side, every Quake except Marcus Chiu had a hit with three having multiple hit games. Both Jeren Kendall and Connor Wong had three while Nick Yarnell had two including a home run.

Tulsa Drillers 1 – Springfield Cardinals 5

The Drillers played two with the Cardinals and came up short on both ends of the twin-bill. In the first game pitchers Victor Gonzalez and Andre Scrubb gave up a combined five runs on 10 hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

Tulsa managed only six hits, two by Chris Parmalee who homered and had a double.

Tulsa Drillers 3 – Springfield Cardinals 6

Michael Bowden started for the Drillers and gave up five runs in four innings including two two-run home runs. Michael Boyle conceded another un in his inning while Marshall Kasowski struck out two in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Drillers did have eight hits to match the Cardinals totals with all eight being singles. Cody Thomas had two for the only multiple hit game while Angelo Mora, Logan Landon and Jordan Procyshen each drove in a run.

OKC Dodgers 10 – Memphis Redbirds 8 (St. Louis)

Tony Gonsolin made his second start coming off the IL and pitched his limit of 1.2 innings with no hits or runs scored along with two walks and two strikeouts. Rob Zastryzny and Joe Broussard allowed all the damage by the Redbirds giving up six and two runs respectively. Josh Sborz, Kevin Quackenbush, Justin Grimm and Jaime Schultz all logged a scoreless inning.

The bats came alive as the Dodgers collected 12 hits, three each by Kyle Garlick and Drew Jackson who also included a home run in their totals. Zach Reks and Errol Robinson had two hits. Reks drove in three while Garlick had a season high five runs batted in.