Let s Throw Out The Baby With The Bathwater
When the Giants won the World Series three out of five years, does anyone remember what happened in between? What is of interest to me is that after winning the World Series in 2012, in 2013 the Giants were ten games under .500 the next year 10 GAMES! Then, the very next year, they won the World Series again. Just because some moron says the Dodgers don t have depth,
When the Giants won the World Series three out of five years, does anyone remember what happened in between? What is of interest to me is that after winning the World Series in 2012, in 2013 the Giants were ten games under .500 the next year – 10 GAMES! Then, the very next year, they won the World Series again.
Just because some moron says the Dodgers don’t have depth, doesn’t mean it’s true. Someone posted an article by Howard Cole mocking the Dodger’s depth. Of course he did. That’s what he does… based upon 38 games this year, he thinks that proves the Dodgers have no depth? I won’t even try and reason with someone who is so obviously devoid of commons sense – I guess it’s not common in his case. The Dodgers do have amazing depth, up and down the system, but how do you plan for crazy stuff like this?
The Dodgers signed Logan Forsythe as depth, especially if Justin Turner went down. So, for a minute, it looked to be a great move, until Forsythe went down too. The Dodgers’ front office is evidently composed of jackasses for not having another All-Star Caliber shortstop to back up Corey Seager. Why did they not do that? They should have had Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carerra stashed on their 40 man roster. Cole is absolutely right – they had no depth after Seager. [I case you don’t know – that is sarcasm.]
The Dodgers should have predicted that Bellinger and Taylor would “regress.” Really? What makes you think they have “regressed” after seeing all of 38 games? “Well the bathwater is dirty, let’s throw out the baby too!” Yeah, that’s the ticket! I don’t think either player has regressed. I think they will be fine – maybe they are trying to do too much, but my opinion (for those who care) is that they will be just fine. I do agree with moving them down in the lineup. They both will figure it out. Taylor has to stop looking at so many called 3rd strikes – that is fixable.
On the other hand, I think they should have played Kike more – let’s see what he can do as a regular. I don’t like that they didn’t. I don’t know what the front office’s fascination with Joc Pederson is. The Anti-FAZ faction will say that FAZ keeps THEIR players (which is dumb and wrong), but Joc is not their player and neither is Puig. Both of them are killing the team… in different ways. Farmer looks lost and right now the team is composed of a bunch of Punch & Judy Hitters.
Depth? Look at the depth at catcher – the pipeline is full of potentially great ones. Andrew Toles was depth in the outfield, as is Henry Ramos. Toles’ injury has really hurt this mash unit. So, when your “depth” goes down too, you have no “depth?” Maybe your depth needs “depth?” Yeah, that’s what he means. Cole says the Dodgers have no depth, but lots of baseball people who can actually think and have common sense have stated otherwise… a lot! At this moment in time, Cole may be right… for a minute, but he’s wrong… as usual!
I have said it many times: this front office is not perfect. I was OK with the moves they made last offseason, but many weren’t and so far, it looks like you were right… but it’s a very long season. I still think the Dodgers will win the division because of their DEPTH! It’s fashionable to pile one when someone is down, but I have not lost faith in the front office… not even close. If you think they are going away anytime soon, you also are delusional. They have built a world-class organization – one of the best in baseball. They have lots of depth, regardless of what some may say.
The main thing that bothers me is that they are so “streaky.” They can go 52-8 and then lost 17 in a row! I’d like to “fix” that. They are in that “17 in a row rut right now.”
“There is no depth!”
“The sky is falling!”
“Taylor and Bellinger have regressed!”
“The Dodgers are an absolute mess.”
Shock journalism sells. But, it’s nonsensical – like throwing the baby out with the bathwater! Just Dumb! … and some people have a depth of dumb!
This too shall pass – I just wish it would hurry up and do it!
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Discussion (48)
Disagree, not disagreeable
We have Hill today and he is the one starting pitcher I have little faith in. I hope I am wrong and he has a good game. If he does Doc will take him out after four innings.
This loss is on Doc. You let the starting pitcher hit and then he pitches to one batter and he gets one out and then taken out. Why? Then we give up four runs. If Bellinger does not sit today then Doc has lost the team. Talk about a stupid mistake. Bunting on a 3-0 pitch. He could of done it 3-1. You must place that bunt on the line or it goes foul. Not back to the pitcher. Maybe it is time for a club house meeting. I am getting tired of the same crappy baseball every night.
My take on the Forsythe trade was that Logan would have to prove he could play in a pennant race.
He mostly failed, though he did some nice work under greater pressure in the post-season.
So not a great move, not an awful one by the FO. As is his nature, Mark overstates his case:-).
Well ahead coming down the stretch in 2017, an unmotivated squad finished 14-22 (I started with their win
against the Brews August 25, and ended with last game of season, a win against the Rocks, IIRC).
Add the 14-22 to this year’s start at 16-23, and you have a team playing .400 baseball, a record of 30-45.
To get to 90 wins this year, they have to go 74-49, or roughly .600. Doable? Sure. Likely? Doubt it.
I realize Baltimore may not want to dance but tell me why going hard after Machado is so wrong? There are no surefire prospects outside maybe Ruiz so any package would not be that disabling. I think White or Alvarez, Christian Santana, Sheffield, and one more lottery ticket pitcher gets close and if Orioles want to help us financially Forsythe. A slightly bigger name replacing Santana or Sheffield if they want to make sure we stay under the LT. Machado and the return of Turner turns this season, this confidence boost would carry over into the pen and we would have a shot at our 6th division title in a row. And then as our front office always reminds us it is a crap shoot from there.
Even in the worst case scenario we don’t make the playoffs and we don’t resign Machado. Oh well we are still in about the same position for 2019, what gives with this train of thought??
Right now… Today… The Dodgers are not mediocre, but a very bad baseball team. The evidence is they have lost series to the Marlins, Padres, and now, the Reds. From I can tell , most of the players offensive numbers are down from last year. The bullpen statistical numbers are significantly down from last year. The bottom line is that team needs to have a lot better performances across the board. There isnt a magic wand or switch available. No one player can get the team better. The Dodgers CAN get turned around….
But I am guessing that 2017 Giants said the same thing about getting turned around, and we know didnt end so well for them.
Even against my heart (I’m dodger fan since 1980) I think it’s time to let Kershaw go, it was very important to win the division and sell tickets, but at the important time, in playoffs, it has not helped much, let’s stop thinking with our hearts and start using reason … This is my humble and personal opinion!
Trade Kershaw?
Open on baseballanalyzed.comhttps://baseballanalyzed.com/2018/05/11/the-case-for-trading-clayton-kershaw/Today was the first game in God knows how long that I gave ZERO attention to. I didn’t watch, listen, follow gamecast, check online or on phone for score or update. Nothing. I just knew the game was over and who won because of the espn app automatically updating me after games are over.
And I see we lost 5-3 and Chargois got the loss an Bailey is now 1-5 (meaning he was 0-5 until today). Ho hum. Looking forward to being swept by the worst team in baseball (aside from LA) tomorrow
3 in a row to the Reds? Let them come from behind? But of course, the Dodgers don’t come from behind.
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7 under .500, 8 games out. 24% of the season gone. 7th worst record in MLB, 4th worst in NL. The teams behind LA are mostly trying to lose. It looks like the Dodgers are trying to lose too.
Mark:
Might want to write a story about Bellinger and how his shit is wearing thin with the Dodgers. Doc benches him for not hustling in SF, then says in a post game conference about players needing to make adjustments and then tonight he bunts down by two runs in the bottom of the 9th on a 3-0 count.
That’s the worst fundamental baseball I’ve seen in a long time. It’s my gut and only that, but Doc wouldn’t look at him as he came back to the dugout and I think Doc is so tired of Bellinger not making an adjustment on the offspeed stuff and on the hands and then when he tries to bunt on a 3-0 count you’ve got to wonder what they might do with this guy. I’ll go out on a limb and say he sits Sunday……just a hunch.
Mental
Losing three straight is basically getting swept. Four straight would be absolutely pathetic. It’s already been a long season.
How’s that vaunted Dodger depth working out for us? Chargois was a nice find but it’s obvious why the Twins exposed him to the waiver wire and he made it all the way to the 29th team to be claimed. Horrible roster construction and that’s on FAZ.
I’ll take it all back if we turn it around with the same players, but if we don’t I’ll be here all year and into the off season extolling their “small minded and small market” approach and their not ready for primetime BS decisions. This is freaking LA, the second largest market in the USA. A proud franchise and one that I thought Guggenheim would invest in to make it a top notch product everyday….all day! Sadly, the shareholders will get paid and the fans will watch in misery as our vaunted depth gets us a 4th place championship trophy.
This season is becoming lost quick, , too many holes including Roberts.
Our famous bullpen moves, let the pitcher hit and then pull him immediately in the following inning. Roberts does that constantly, not hitting for a guy in the top half and then not letting him go more then one or two batters.
Like your roster Mark, but doubt we are getting close to that anytime soon.
Again though I don’t feel positive about any facet of our game right now. We are doing everything way below average.
Treating this three times through the order thing as cement dogma is tough. I mean it has merits to pull the guy, but there needs to be room to negotiate context. Stripling was rolling, and in come J .T. Chargois who immediately serves up the lead. It’s doubly not smart when you don’t actually have a good bridge guys in your bullpen.
If they lose this game, you are talking full on torches and pitchforks for Doc, Strip just had Votto shaking his head on a nasty ass breaking pitch and you pull him for match ups, He had so much left in the tank, you pull a Lasorda and ride that wave into shore. I am friggin speechless…
Sadly it’s believable!
Love Doc, but horrible call yanking Strip. This is all Doc, and I cant’ believe I am calling him out. Damn,,,, 4-3 and the air just went out of Dodger Stadium. I got nothing. Strip was cruising.
Is it just me or why did they pull Stripling too early in the 6th? Yeah they got a few hits, but he was looking great. At least let him finish the 6th.
Not many talk about the lousy pitching. Is anyone any good? The Jansen show set the table for the rest. Bullpen and starters. Right now I see our savior as Striker Buehler. He stays in the rotation. NO MATTER WHAT. Kid Gloves are off with him. ONCE AND FOR ALL. It’s his time. He should get 100 pitches each start. The bats need Turner. Obviously. He’s not THAT good but with this lineup, he is.
If Headley clears Waivers, would he be short term fix in the infield?
Always a slow starter -!he might catch fire in the second half?
Can’t lose for the league minimum?
I would take that 25 man roster of yours to battle for sure Mark, especially if everybody is healthy. Also agree about 90 wins. This division , like the NL Central, is going to be high and tight all year, nobody is going to run away and hide. We just have to hang on until our guys get back.
YIKESSEKIY. NOW THAT’S CHANGING THINGS UP.
The Dodgers just sent Brock Stewart back to OKC and brought up some guy who can throw with both arms.
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It sounds like a freakshow, that is Pat Vindette!
I have not given up on THIS year. I think some players have to return, others have to be sent back to the minors and some have to be traded.
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I would like to see this roster THIS year:
1. Bellinger
2. Forsythe
3. Utley
4. Taylor
5. Turner
6. Grandal
7. Barnes
8. Hernandez
9. Kemp
10. Verdugo
11. Toles
12. Puig
13. Kershaw
14. Buehler
15. Wood
16. Ryu
17. Santana
18. Stripling
19. Stewart
20. Urias
21. Maeda
22. Alexander
23. Kohler
24. Cingrani
25. Jansen
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If the Dodgers can get there – they can be OK.