There has been a lot of conversation about this. Some fans think that Betts should lead off. Others think that Ohtani should lead off. Why not both? Here is something to think about. Let’s look at their splits against RH and LH pitching:
- Ohtani against LHP – .264 BA/.324 OB%/.786 OPS
- Ohtani against RHP – .305 BA/.402 OB%/1.100 OPS
- Betts against LHP – .325 BA/.399 OB%/.877 OPS
- Betts against RHP – .293 BA/.394 OB%/.904 OPS
In a perfect world, I want Ohtani leading off against RHP and Betts leading off against LHP. What’s wrong with that? They both still come up in the first inning! Everything does not need to be the same all the time. Try it, you might like it.
This month’s audition for the playoffs has 4 Acts. Tomorrow, Act I will be done, but there are still three more weeks to determine who will be there in the playoffs. I see fans say, “Well, Miller gets one more start.” No, he doesn’t – that’s what morons say. The only way he gets one more start is if the knee pain is too great. Whenever fans jump to conclusions, they are usually wrong. You have to let it play out. Tonight, we will see if Landon can get the Knack.
The Bazooka will allegedly be back tonight as well, with Peterson being the obvious demotion. Honeywell may be the odd man out again when Knack returns. Honeywell has been a nice story, and I think he wants to stay with the Dodgers, but his strikeout rate is so low that it is obviously unsustainable. Maybe the team works with him over the winter, but the odds are against him.
If and when Yamamoto, Glasnow, and/or Kershaw come back, who goes away? Boy, every pitcher on the roster has a place and a case for staying… except maybe Miller. As you can see, someone is going to be the odd-man-out or should I say, “odd-men-out?”
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Discussion (20)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I don’t think Landon losing weight will impact his performance. Ok drop a few lbs. and his stamina might tick up. But he went 6 strong. Pages, ok I get it. Not to many beefy outfielders in the show. If he still has a problem with his diet, his handlers and trainers aren’t doing their jobs. IMHO I think he looks just fine.
Book em
Why didn’t the Dodgers pinch hit for taylor.. Mark doesn’t matter how you see the game, Robert has to go and take the hitting so called coaches with him.
R.I.P. Sérgio Mendes
Ohtani’s raw ability is undeniable. However, if I had a choice on who to bat with runners in scoring position, it would be a coin flip between Betts and Freeman, with the slight edge going to Freeman. Ohtani batting lead off may have more to do with there being a higher probability of Betts and/or Freeman driving in Ohtani than Ohtani driving in the other two if their roles were reversed.
Who was talking shit about Knack?
From the Dodger’s Official Page:
“As for Glasnow, injuries just continue to be part of his career. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has made it clear that Glasnow will need at least one rehab start before he’s able to return. Glasnow will throw a bullpen session over the weekend, which will determine just how ready he is to take that step. When, or if, he returns to the mound this season, Los Angeles is going to need him to pitch like an ace to anchor its postseason rotation. Will Glasnow be able to do that if he’s not 100 percent? That’s going to be the big question.As for Glasnow, injuries just continue to be part of his career. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has made it clear that Glasnow will need at least one rehab start before he’s able to return. Glasnow will throw a bullpen session over the weekend, which will determine just how ready he is to take that step. When, or if, he returns to the mound this season, Los Angeles is going to need him to pitch like an ace to anchor its postseason rotation. Will Glasnow be able to do that if he’s not 100 percent? That’s going to be the big question”.
10:10 PM ET
Guardians (80-60)
Dodgers (84-56)
SP Matthew Boyd L
1-1 2.38 ERA
SP Landon Knack R
2-2 3.00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
LF T. Hernandez R
C Will Smith R
CF Tommy Edman S
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B Gavin Lux L
3B E. Hernandez R
89° Wind 6 mph Out
I believe we are being cursed.The Morons of the past have a witch doctor who has voodoo dolls of our pitching staff who has attacked our players arms.That’s my scientific theory!
09/06/24 Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Gavin Stone on the 15-day injured list. Right shoulder inflammation.
09/06/24 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Landon Knack from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
Awe great now they put stone on IL. Maybe just to get him some rest. Still got a division to win. Hope it’s not serious
Dodgers have signed free agent LHP, Zach Logue according to MSM Sports and X. He had been DFAd by Atlanta and passed through waivers. He then elected free agency. He can start and relieve; he will not be eligible for the post-season. He has been at AAA Gwinnett for most of the year. He is 28 years old. He was 5-6 at Gwinnett with a 2.68 ERA in 92 innings of work. 12 of his 24 appearances were starts. He also has 1 save.
Overall, I prefer Mookie. His career stats say he is best leading off. .296/.376/.537. His OPS in the leadoff spot is .913. He has 50 career homers leading off games. All that in nearly 4400 at bats. I would rather see a pure power hitter like Ohtani hitting 3rd. But it is clear, his best spot is second. His BA is almost 20 points higher in the 2 slot. His OPS is over 1.000 in the 2 spot. His OPS+ is higher in the 2 slot. Betts’ OPS is 29 points lower hitting 2nd. Statistically, it makes sense to switch them. Yes, Hill is available, but he could not pitch in the postseason. McKinney was DFAd also.
Rich Hill is available. 😉
Landon Knack needs to pull an “Andy Pages” and drop 40 pounds. Knack changed his diet last year but if he wants to take his game to the next level, he just needs to do it better. He can do it … if he wants it enough. Lugging and extra 40 pounds all game is hard work. Pages changed his life and baseball future by doing that.
ohtani 1, betts 2? i like it either way! freddie 3. Now the kicker! i would hit Lux 4. i know righty- lefty yayaya! Gavin is making great contact and producing. Teo is a 5 all day long! But in the first inning, with 2 on , give me lux. Teo can clean up the rest!
Last week, Dave Roberts said that the door is “slightly open” for Gonsolin (elbow) to pitch before the end of the season. Gonsolin underwent Tommy John surgery Sept. 1 of last year, so he’s more than one year removed from the procedure. The right-hander pitched three live batting-practice sessions earlier in August, during which his fastball sat at 92-to-94 mph — the same range as his velocity prior to his injury. Gonsolin recently said he’s optimistic about his ability to pitch in game action before the end of this season, though Roberts was more conservative in his assessment. If Gonsoin does make it back to the big club, he’ll work out of the bullpen.
In 2022, when he was 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA his 4-seamer averaged 92-93. Stay tuned.
I feel bad for Vargas. Once he lost starting second base job in my opinion got treated wrong from that point on and really never given another chance and then traded to one of worst teams in history of modern baseball. I understand it’s a business but golly. How could he not be depressed. I really had high hopes for him and still hoping he digs himself a new path and becomes the hitter I’d thought he’d be
I like Ohtani leading off and Betts batting second. Left, right, left. I just wish Will Smith was hitting better. When the season is over, we’ll probably find out he had some nagging injury.
Didn’t Roberts just say that it’s Miller because there is no one to step up and fill that slot? Or has that changed? Oh well, every team has one issue or another these days.
I can’t believe how many LA pitchers are on the IL. Something is clearly wrong. Even the broadcast booth is talking about it. Clearly what the Dodgers are doing isn’t working. Internally you know the Dodgers upper management is having the same discussion.
Looking ahead, will Alex Freeman be the shortstop next season? Looks pretty good right now.
I’m not sure how all this will turn out for Walker Buehler. It seems like a location issue. At times he looks pretty good, he just doesn’t have the 98 plus velo, but you can win with 92 -95.
Houston Mitchell posted this report in his newsletter today:
—Chris Taylor is hitting .281 since July 20.
—Gavin Lux is hitting .346 since July 20.
—How some of the Dodgers traded at the deadline or released since then are doing:
Jason Heyward, Houston (no relation), 2 for 11 with a double and two RBIs.
Cavan Biggio is in the minors with San Francisco.
Miguel Vargas is hitting .122/.240/.195 with the Chicago White Sox. He’s 10 for 82.
Nick Ahmed is in the minors with San Diego.
Amed Rosario is hitting .250/.294/.375 with Cincinnati. He is 8 for 32.
James Paxton was 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in three starts with Boston before going on the IL in mid-August with a calf injury.
Ryan Yarbrough is 1-0 with a 2.20 ERA in 16.1 innings (all in relief) with Toronto.
Yohan Ramirez is in the minors with Boston.
I like Ohtoni always leading off with more of a chance of a homerun and a stolen base. Also he could possibly get one more at bat if the game is on the line. Don’t change what has been working since Mookie went on the IL.