Lack of Consistency
What has been the Dodgers main issue over the last several seasons? A lack of consistent offense. Even though they waltzed through the NL last season, there were times when the offense took the day or a couple of days off. When they scored last season, they did it in bunches…
What has been the Dodgers main issue over the last several seasons? A lack of consistent offense. Even though they waltzed through the NL last season, there were times when the offense took the day or a couple of days off. When they scored last season, they did it in bunches. That trend has continued early this year. At 8-9, they are off to their worst start in several years.
They have lost three games by one run and won one game by one run. All of the other losses and wins have been by three runs or more. Some of the players are off to decent starts, and a couple are heating up. Freddie seems to have come out of the funk he was in against the Cubs over the weekend, and Max Muncy is looking more like 2021 than 22.
Outman has played well when he is out there. Vargas has not found his footing yet. Rojas seems to still be struggling with the aftereffects of his hammy problems. He is a guy who usually makes contact, but that has not been the case lately. Mookie has a good game, then seems to take more pitches than he should. Especially those right down Broadway.
Taylor except for a few at bats, has looked downright awful. He has five hits on the season, four of them are homers. Since his three-homer game, Thompson has not shown consistent contact. His average sits at .241. Five players are hitting under the Mendoza line. Peralta, Barnes, Taylor, Rojas and Heyward. They are still to reliant on home runs. Four of their six runs last night came via the long ball. Unlike last years squad, this team seems less likely to come from behind in the late innings.
But they lead the league in 2-out scoring. Now it seems Taylor is having some injury issues again and is a candidate to be on the IL by the weekend. And his replacement will have to come from AAA. Most likely it will be Luke WIlliams, who is playing SS at OKC. My take is that they need a spark from somewhere. And they need to move Freddie into the three hole where he hit most of last season. Move someone into the two hole behind Mookie who has a high OBP. And get Freeman more RBI opportunities.
The offense really misses Smith. Will’s AB’s are solid and he is perhaps their best clutch hitter when he is in the lineup. The sooner he is back, the better off the team will be. The good news is that the Padres have looked terrible. Soto is hitting below .200. But they get Tatis back this week and that can do nothing but lift their expectations and spirits. Make no mistake, this is not last years team. We all know who is gone and what they brought to the table. But this is the hand they have to play with, and until they decide, hopefully sooner than later, that changes are needed, it is all we have.
I think there are a few on the roster who’s positions on the roster are vulnerable. But they will be given a little more time to change the narrative. For fans, they hope that time is exceedingly short. Because to us, it gets late early. We are not a patient bunch. We hate losing, especially to teams we feel they should dominate. After this weekend, they do not see the Cubs again until next year. It would be very nice to win at least three of the four games.
Busch and Williams are tearing it up at OKC. The rest of the team is doing ok, but nothing spectacular. So if they need help, those are the two most likely options. If Taylor goes down, it will most likely be Williams, since he has more MLB experience, and he can play multiple positions, including SS.
Otherwise, we wait for the deadline. And then we have to see who is available and who would make a major impact on the team. I believe the most vulnerable position player is Jason Heyward. But he still has had only 23 at bats. Way too short a sample size to make a real judgement. But unless he really turns it around, Freddie Freeman’s friend or no, he won’t be with LA at the finish.
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Discussion (99)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Lost in the giddiness over another great Kershaw appearance was the Dodgers inability to score runs.
3rd inning, runners on 2nd and 3rd, two outs – 0 runs
4th inning, runners on 1st and 3rd, two outs – 0 runs
5th inning, bases loaded, one out – 0 runs
7th inning, runners on 1st and 2nd, one out – 0 runs
The only runs scored other than by HR was in the 8th.
Just reading over Bear’s article, I was reminded how hard it is for a MLB team to be consistently good. It’s hard to be good in any season, let alone the run the Dodgers had. Luck is certainly the residue of design, but still, things have to fall into place in the right ways, and from a lot of moving parts, for a team to be successful.
Everything seemed to come up roses for the Dodgers last year. Everything kind of just clicked. I remember the same thing in 2017. The number of 9th inning come-from-behind victories seemed really uncanny to me. It was like the old guy in Caddyshack who couldn’t miss.
Then lightnings strikes.
There’s elements of this team that are good, great even, but those good elements go missing some nights, or those elements don’t really seem to come together at the same time.
If Dodger fans here are upset, what do you thing San Diego fans are doing? I was just looking at their roster, and truly, that starting rotation is really not that impressive aside from Darvish … and Darvish has a reputation for falling apart. Snell has not been good since SD got him. Their second best pitcher is Seth Lugo?
Preller spent a boatload to assemble an offensive super team, and it’s not working out, and it’s not enough to overcome thin pitching.
Oh, and BTW, in my personal opinion Outman is not a 4th or 5th outfielder. He’s a 6th or 7th outfielder and should never have even made the team …. and Roberts is a terrible manager … and AF should be fired for that Brett Anderson QO. IT’S ALL THEIR FAULTS!
Great performance by Clayton Kershaw!
Dodgerram said it well. We are blessed to get to see Kershaw every fifth day!
Clayton overcame a three base error, and delivered 7 shutout innings when the team needed it.
I don’t like him going 105 pitches for the game, and 32 pitches in the 7th inning, but the bullpen has been shaky.
Hopefully, his next start is not impacted by the stressful 7th inning.
For today, let’s celebrate the 200th win for Kershaw and another masterful performance. He joins Verlander, Greinke, and Scherzer as the only active pitchers with 200 wins, and he is 4 years younger than the others.
Awesome player and awesome win!
What’s wrong with us!
Starting things off with a nice thoughtful dialogue and then Bam,
let’s use the compliment technique to try to tear someone else down. Not necessary but I guess some thrive on being unkind for breakfast.
Looks like there is a strong possibility Mookie is starting at SS today.
Eric brought this up a week or so ago, and I agreed with him then: let’s keep Outman at leadoff.
Sure, he’ll strike out 30% of the time, but he gets on base, is fast, and makes things happen. I think he can be a Joc type leadoff hitter.
Vargas is striking out more lately. Perhaps it’s his thumb; perhaps he’s pressing because he’s struggling (normal for a rookie).
I may show up for today’s 12pm game, if anyone else is going??
Good article and good analysis Old Bear….thanks for that.
I agree with Mark….let’s not platoon Outman and Thompson and give them 20 games whereby they play against everyone….and then analyze. I know 20 games isn’t much but it’s a starting point. Use Perralta and Hayward off the bench or if Betts plays 2B.
I have been wanting Smith to try 3B or LF for a year because I don’t want the rigors of playing catcher to affect his hitting. He is one of our best hitters so we need to protect that. Plus, we have a ton of minor league talent that plays catcher.
Kershaw is frigging amazing….he and Urias are the only “given” in my book.
Great game by Clayton. So happy for him for his Nr. 200. And moving up on the all time SO list.
We are really blessed to see this man pitch every fifth day. Hope he stays healty.
The emotion he showed after striking out that Mets batter to end the 7th , priceless. Maybe some of his determination rubs off on his teammates . some could use it.
Vargas clearly is hampered by his thumb. Kid will be okay when he is 100% physically. His defense is better than anybody could have expected.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!1
Here’s some Imanol Vargas highlights:
Don’t know if many saw Shawn Murphy’s post late last night? Bottom five of our lineup last night: .192 .186 .171 .125 .045 and CT3’s .125 on the bench. Now that’s consistent! And some are blaming Robert’s for being .500? Can’t believe he has us that high!
They aren’t pitching to Dalton Rushing at GL. Last night he walked four times and came up once with the bases loaded. He doubled to clear them. He was playing 1B.
Kyle Nevin went 4-5 last night and is hitting .524 with a 1.273 OPS at RC. He already has 5 doubles. He is a candidate to move up as well.
At Tulsa, Pages is batting .400 , but LeDuica is at .205. Vivas is at .366 but he only plays 2B (think Josh Harrison). Ramos is at .355 and Cartaya is off to a slow start at .214.
Landon Knack went 5 innings yesterday and allowed 1 Hit. His ERA is 0.69. He’s headed to OKC soon. It looks like the combination of better training and better nutrition is paying off. He has four pitches and could be in the rotation this season.
The fact that the Dodgers signed Wynns instead of calling up Hunter Feduccia (which involved putting him on the 40-man roster) has been a subject of debate.
How does Hunter feel?
Well, he hit a HR, went 5 for 5 last night, and is hitting .407 with a 1.363 OPS.
With Will Smith’s concussion issues, maybe he gets a look-see soon. Move Will to LF.
Look at this:
1. Betts SS
2. Freeman 1B
3. Smith LF
4. Martinez DH
5. Muncy 3B
6. Vatgas 2B
7. Outman CF
8. Thompson/Peralta/Heyward (figure it out) RF
9. Feduccia C
Early Dodger game today against the Mets starts at 3: 10 ET for those who are expecting a night game.
Prediction: One of Kershaw’s curveballs will be the Pitching Ninja’s pitch of the day. Just a massive break, and so much slower than his fastballs and sliders. (Kerveballs?)
I fully expect Kershaw to be back in ’24. He has plenty left in the tank, and he’ll want to play with Ohtani.
Great to see JD Martinez break out. We’ve been waiting for this. He had the worst K rate on the team before today.
And Outman picked up another two hits, while Max got one hit and three walks. Keep on keeping on, lads.
Hats of to Kersh. He put on a show for those punk ass Mets. Talent. Experience. Determination. Makes me PROUD to be a Dodger fan.