May Day, May Day!

So, maybe you are of the mindset that when Dustin May got into a little trouble in the 7th inning Doc should have taken him out? That’s silliness! It’s true that Dustin May was cruising after six innings, and he got two quick outs in the top of the 7th inning. I think he had only allowed two hits at the time. Dustin was under 90 pitchers at the time, and if you want your starters to pitch into the 7th and 8th innings, you have to give them opportunities to succeed (or fail) by occasionally pitching out of jams. Are you just going to take May out when he meets a little resistance? No lessons are learned there. Dustin has a 2.68 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.

The Dodgers need Dustin May to go seven innings… maybe eight at times. A manager’s job is to maximize each player’s ability over a full season. If you think Dustin May is going to be a workhorse but that Dave Roberts should take him out at the first sign of trouble, you are not thinking very well. The key thing last night was that the Dodgers won, but I would also like to know, “Did Dustin May learn anything? What would he do differently next time?” Dustin May is becoming a workhorse, as in his last two outings, he went at least six innings. The Dodgers are hoping for more… seven innings would have been optimal! To get there, he is going to have to struggle a bit.

It’s just like with your kids; sometimes, you have to let them struggle to grow… you can’t pick them up every time they stumble. They have to know how to do that and the satisfaction that comes with doing so. So, considering where we are in the season, I think it was a brilliant move by Doc to let Dustin May try and pitch out of trouble. If he did that in the playoffs, it would be a bonehead move! Timing is everything!

What is Andrew Friedman Thinking?

Last night Michael Busch was the DH for OKC. Why is he not playing 3B or LF? What is AF thinking? Well, I guarantee he is thinking! What? I do not know, but if I had to guess, he is leaving Busch play 2B and 3B and trying not to confuse the situation by adding another position, effectively making Michael a “utilityman.” I think Friedman has several teams that are interested in Busch (as well as other prospects). Now, I am not saying that he will trade or should trade Busch, but it is an option. Busch is young and controllable, and lots of teams want that. I have no idea who, where, or when, but that is my guess… and Friedman is going to make them overpay.

Dodger News & Notes

• Looking at the Dodger’s Top Four Starters, Julio Urias, who goes today, has the worst ERA (and coming down quickly) at 3.77; next is Dustin May at 2.68, then Clayton at 2.36, followed by Tony Gonsolin at 1.93. The Dodgers have been very “unDodgerlike” with their pitching this year. Change is in the air. Thor is on thin ice. It appears that Evan Phillips is currently the closer, but other pitchers are going to be available soon. The Dodgers are currently 14th in MLB in team ERA!
• The clock is ticking on Trayce Thompson… Tick… Tick…
• The Dodgers are 4th in runs, and 2nd in HR but have a lot of work to do in OB% and OPS.
• It was observed that I was wrong a lot. Whoever said that is very adept at perceiving the obvious immediately! I make dramatically more predictions than anyone else. Duuuuuuhhhhh! So, there is that.

Minor League News

• Alex Vesia pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning for OKC last night. He threw 16 pitches, 9 for strikes, and struck out 1.
• Andy Pages was 3-4 last night for Tulsa as he singled, doubled, and tripled… missing the cycle by only a HR! Dodgerram guaranteed he is ready! Print the tickets!
• Truth be Known, Landon Knack may be the most MLB-ready starter for the Dodgers in the minors. He commands at least four pitches, and I would not be the least bit surprised to see him pitching in the #5 spot come August!
• Diego Cartaya hit his 3rd HR (a 3-run shot) and drove in four runs last night. I still think he is concealing an injury!