Play-Off Picture
Although the minor league season has been extended to the third week in September the push for a very limited play-off spot will soon begin. Actually, the A and AA regular seasons end on September 19 with a five-game playoff between the two teams with the best winning percentage in the league regardless of their division.
There are no playoffs at the AAA level but the regular schedule has been extended until October 3. This extends the season by 10 games for every AAA team but there is no reward at the finish line in terms of a championship. There are no play-offs in the Florida and Arizona Complex Leagues.
As of today no Dodger affiliate at the A and AA levels would qualify as a playoff team. However, the Drillers have their fate in their own bats as they have six games remaining with Wichita and trail the Wind Surge by four games. The Loons are even in a better position at one game out of second place in the league.
The Quakes are well ahead in the Southern Division but trail San Jose in the Northern Division by 3.5 games. They have a six-game series with the Giants beginning on Wednesday.
Just Checking In – (Round selected in brackets)
The Dodgers had 19 selections in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft with three not signing a contract – SS Michael Sirota (16), LHP Adam Tulloch (17), and RHP Charlie Connolly (20).
Thus far six of the 2021 draftees are listed on the Arizona Complex Dodgers roster. Five are pitchers of whom three have thrown a scoreless inning – RHP Nick Nastrini (4), RHP Emmet Sheehan (5), and RHP Antonio Knowles (13). LHP Lael Lockhart (9) and RHP Michael Hobbs (10) are on the roster but have yet to make their debut. Outfielder Damon Keith has been the most active appearing in five games with three hits in 17 at-bats.
Undrafted Free Agent – shortstop Austin Gauthier – has appeared in six games with three hits in 13 at-bats.
As a sidebar, another Undrafted Free Agent – David Tiburcio who was signed by the Dodgers last September – has pitched 14 innings in the Dominican Summer League. He is a 19-year-old right-hander who has a 1.93 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP along with 14 strikeouts and six walks. He is listed at 6’2” /195-lb. The only information that I can find on him is that he is from New York.
Right-hander Marshall Kasowski had surfaced with the Dodgers in the Arizona Complex League. In 2.2 innings he has allowed one earned run while striking out six and walking one. Time is not on his side now so hopefully, he can get back to full-time service before the season ends. Kasowski picked up some time on Saturday, as Mark noted, with a scoreless inning with the OKC Dodgers in which he struck out the side. He threw 16 pitches, 12 of which were strikes. His K/BB ratio has been his hindrance in the past. Throw strikes Marshall.
The Dodgers have signed yet another UFO bringing their 2021 total to 11. Infielder Kyle Froemke was signed out of Oregon State. He played in 19 games in 2021. He hit .310 with two doubles, two home runs, and six RBI with seven walks and 11 strikeouts.
James Outman – Pipeline Team of the Week
Last week, outfielder James Outman of the Tulsa Drillers was named to the Pipeline Team of the Week. Now, No. 27 on the Dodgers Top 30 Prospects, Outman had a monster week with the following stat line .462/.533/.962, 6 G, 12-for-26, 3 HR, 4 2B, 4 RBI, 9 R, 4 BB, 4 K
A seventh-round pick in 2018, Outman was primarily known for his plus speed and solid defensive skills in the outfield, but he has shown enough offensive improvement in 2021 to become a viable bat as well. That was on full display last week during a run that included a two-homer game on Wednesday and two separate three-hit contests. The 24-year-old outfielder joined Double-A Tulsa on July 23 and has had no issue with the transition so far.
Loons Home Run Record
On August 11 Andy Pages delivered a record-setter for the Great Lakes Loons as he hit his 23rd home run of the season and the 128th overall for the team breaking an 11-year record for home runs in a single season.
Since then the Loons have hit 11 more home runs including three by outfielder Ryan Ward who now has 20 on the season ranking him third in the league behind the 23 of Griffin Conine (yes, that Conine) and teammate Andy Pages.
Miguel Vargas
You might have read this about Miguel.
Vargas’ season has been defined by a drastic uptick in his power numbers, and that strength was on display Saturday as the third baseman clubbed two home runs, his third career multi-homer game. With those two long balls, Vargas now has 19 home runs on the season with a .526 slugging percentage. In 2019, by comparison, Vargas had seven home runs in 124 games with a .440 slugging percentage. That power has especially been on display in what has been a scorching hot August; in 12 games this month, Vargas is slashing .391/.453/.717 seven extra-base hits (four homers).
On Sunday he continued to swing a hot stick with three hits and three runs ticking his batting average up to .308. Teammate Justin Yurchak had three more hits with two runs batted in pushing his average up to .431.
Justin Hagenman – “Silent Assassin”
Last week I zeroed in on Justin Yurchak and Justin Bruihl. I was remiss in not including Justin Hagenman.
There are some guys who just hang around unexpectedly. Justin Hagenman seems to be one of them. The 24-year-old right-hander was selected by the Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 2018 First-year Player Draft. He went unnoticed with the Loons in 2019 posting a 2.24 ERA over 76.1 innings pitched with a 1.07 WHIP while striking out 64 and walking 18.
During the current season with the Drillers, he has made 29 appearances. He had two early appearances in which he gave up seven earned runs over two innings pitched. In his 27 other outings, he has allowed only 10 earned runs over 46.2 innings pitched. On the season he has a 3.14 ERA along with a 1.09 WHIP. The big step forward for Hagenman has been his strikeout numbers. His 60 strikeouts top those of Nick Robertson, Aaron Ochenbein, and Mark Washington in comparable innings as does his WHIP. He has walked 15.
His Penn State head coach had this to say about Hagenman and it rings true. On the mound, it is impossible to tell by looking at him if things are going well, poorly, if the situation is high leverage or mop up.
“You never see him waver,” head coach Rob Cooper said. “Whether he’s given up a couple of runs, struggled, or done really well, he looks exactly the same. From a coaching standpoint it’s really nice, you know what you’re going to get. You’re going to get an ultra-competitive young man out there who’s super coachable and loves to have the ball.”
Tulsa Noodlers
From August 12th through the 15th, the Tulsa Drillers became the Tulsa Noodlers! Noodling is the sport of fishing for catfish using your bare hand and is hugely popular throughout the entire state of Oklahoma, which is dubbed the unofficial Noodling capital of the world.
The Noodlers donned a dark royal & lime green hat with a custom BiteBack Catfish logo, dark royal with lime green piping jerseys with a Noodlers script font, and lime green pants. The custom BiteBack Noodlers logo helps to represent the fun of noodling, while also showing the determination of Oklahomans to always be resilient.
The Noodlers went 3-1 against the Wichita Wind Surge which allowed them to gain two games on the division leaders.
MiLB Players of the Week (August 9-15)
Ryan Ward – Great Lakes Loons – High A Central
Outfielder Ward collected his second Player of the Week acknowledgment in the past three weeks. In the last seven days, he posted a .381/.458/1.000 triple slash and a 1.458 OPS. He had eight runs batted in and four home runs.
On the season his slash line now reads .284/.,356/.479 with a .853 OPS. Ward is now third in the league in runs batted in and slugging and fifth in OPS.
Gavin Stone – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes – Low A West
Right-hander Stone has also captured his second Pitcher-of-the-Week acknowledgment in the past three weeks. Last Friday he tossed six shutout innings of four-hit ball against the Inland Empire 66ers. He struck out 12 and issued no free passes. He threw 73 pitches, 55 for strikes.
On the season he has now pitched 70 innings and his 101 strikeouts are fourth in the league. He has walked 20.
Discussion (37)
Disagree, not disagreeable
… and with all the wailing, gnashing of teeth, howling, bitching, crying like little girls, and having pouty lips, the Dave Roberts managed team won another game.
How did that happen? The man is too stupid to do that.
Dave Roberts controls every one of you.
Yeah, we won. I love waking up in the morning to see a victory, but I hate when Siri makes my heart skip a beat when I ask her who won the Dodgers Pirates game last night and she says, “the Pirates were edged by the Dodgers, 4-3”
Nooooooo Siri, don’t say the losing team’s name first……..please don’t do that to me.
It just blows me away how many people bellyache after a win. Oh well, nature of the beast I guess.
A’s pitcher, Chris Bassitt, hit in the face by a line drive and hospitalized. He is awake, and aware where he is. They are checking for fractures. He had to have some stitches.
I would not let Kenley pitch to Tsutsugo tomorrow if Roberts is dumb enough to use him three nights in a row. Tonight Kenley was in love with his cutter again and missing his targets consistently also. Time to rest him and to “tune up” his mechanics again. He should go to his slider when he can’t hit his spots.
Do u think POS roberts has the balls to put TREINEN in the closer role? It should be obvious to anyone here that decision needs to be made!! We did it last year with Urias in the playoffs so it could happen?????
Dirty Kenley, it seems that very few can do a clean job.
Okay, it was not pretty, and Jansen walked a tightrope in the 9th, but they get another 1 run win keeping pace with the Giants and picking up another game on the Padres who lost to the Rockies again. A couple of observations, 1. Gavin Lux still does not have good at bats. 2. He fielded the balls well, but made 2 throwing errors. Shades of Steve Sax. Bellinger went 1-4 with 2 K’s, but was robbed in his last at bat by Tsutsugo who made a great grab if his liner. They had the leadoff man on second with no outs 5 times and he scored once. Not very good situational hitting from Smith, and a couple others. Taylor, Smith, and Lux all had ofers. Taylor did get a walk. But after Pollock doubled, Muncy and Taylor struck out, McKinney got hit, and Turner hit a weak grounder. They did not take full advantage of their scoring chances against some very mediocre pitchers. They were 3-16 with RISP. 10 more K’s tonight. Beaty and Pollock drove in the runs. Bullpen was very good until Jansen came in. I saw a lot of posts about the lineup. I get it, I really do. In a tight race run your best out there. But as Badger said earlier, players do not play everyday in this era. Closest player LA has to an everyday guy has been Taylor. Who has not had a full day off in quite a while. Muncy was probably feeling the after affects of getting hit on the same shoulder for the 9th time this season. Turner, just back from a groin strain, they were simply being careful with. I know many cannot stand Roberts, some keep calling for him to be fired and replaced. Well, teams in the position the Dodgers are in do not change managers this late in the season. And since he signed an extension last year, and does EXACTLY what ownership and the FO want, the chances of him getting fired are zero. So, either learn to live with that fact, or keep getting crazy over every move he makes for the next couple of years at least. Bottom line? It is a W. Be happy !!!! One other thing, be happy you do not root for the Padres. Their season has really gone in the crapper. 12 back of the Giants, 8 back of the Dodgers. Reds right on their heels for the second wild card. And they have after this stretch against the weak sisters in the league, the toughest remaining schedule in the majors. Bon Apatite.
Three left-handed batters for Bickford. That was a dangerous decision by Doc but he got away with it. Then again it’s the crappy Pittsburgh Pirates.
Quit complaining and offer some alternatives
Having Dave Roberts as the manager is very frustrating.
His job is to put the team in the best position to win. And I am not seeing that happen.
Gavin Lux needs to be an outfielder.
I am being serious. I have seen this too many times. I have seen it at 2B, SS, and now 3B.
Yippy, Kayaye!
Fired would be great.
NOBODY plays every day anymore. Giving players a day off now and then is actually a good thing. I look at it this way – we’ve got the best pinch hitter in baseball available tonight.
So what more does Treinen have to do to be our closer? Last 21 appearances…22.2 innings…8 hits…24 K…0 runs…0 runs…0 RUNS!!! Jansen has probably cost us 5-6 games…do u continue to go down that path to satisfy an ego that more than likely not be here next year?? Roberts needs to wake up before it is too late and go with the hot arm…every game matters!! I can all but guarantee Kenley will cost us a couple more games if he stays in the closer role.
Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel. Giants just called up Tyler Chatwood. Been a while since that guy did anything good. Their starters are showing some cracks.
I have no problem with the lineup. It is typical for Roberts to give players a blow. Both Muncy and Turner were hit by pitches last night. We just have to wait and see. Pirates pitcher this evening is not that good. 3-7 with an ERA north of 5.
Hey Mark, you might want to follow this link and tell him when an idiot he is…
https://www.dodgersnation.com/dodgers-on-dave-roberts-a-wonderful-man-and-a-decision-making-liability/2021/08/17/
Tonight’s lineup:
2b Trea
SS Corey
C Will
CFCody
LF AJ
1b Matt
RF Chris
3b Gavin
P Dave
No Max or Justin
A RIght then Left lineup for the first 8 players
Gavin Lux and newly acquired pitcher Evan Phillips are activated. Andre Jackson and Conner Greene optioned to OKC. VGon on rehab.
So Jackson last night was 3-4 MPH below his usual fastball speed:
“More athletic than most pitchers, Jackson has a quick arm that generates 92-96 mph fastballs that top out at 98 with some late finish”.
An update on Felipe Vazquez (From MLBTR)
Felipe Vázquez was sentenced to two-to-four years in prison (with an additional two years on probation) by a Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania judge this morning, according to various reports. In May, Vázquez was convicted on fifteen counts — ten counts of sexual abuse of children, two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, one count of statutory sexual assault, one count of corruption of a minor, and one count of indecent assault of someone under 16 years old — for the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl.
Vázquez has already served twenty-three months in prison since his September 2019 arrest, meaning he could be released on parole as soon as next month. While today’s sentencing is the culmination of the case against him in Pennsylvania, Vázquez is also facing pending charges in Florida and Missouri. Florida prosecutors allege he continued to have sex with the Pennsylvania victim after she moved to Florida, while he’s facing child pornography charges in Missouri after allegedly exchanging sexually explicit messages with the victim during a road series in St. Louis.
The Pirates placed Vázquez on the restricted list immediately following his arrest. He’s slated to officially come off the roster at the end of this season, the final guaranteed year of his contract. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported in May that Vázquez has not been paid since his arrest.
DC gracias por su excelente informe sobre los peloteros en desarrollo en las ligas menores de nuestro equipo, parece que tenemos potencial para un futuro a mediano plazo. Me impresiona como están bateando los jóvenes que claramente están retomando el ritmo en su desarrollo después del año 2020 perdido por la pandemia. De nuevo lo felicito por su brillante artículo.
* Remember a slow Sunday afternoon at the ball park. The the smells, the serenity and the sounds of the game? Before the blaring music and the walk-up songs?
That’s how it is with Nomar in the booth. A little peace and quiet. He doesn’t jump in right after Joe’s last syllable and talk until the next pitch. He casually makes his statement and then shuts up. What a concept.
* Nice win. Great to see McKinney run into one. Nice to win those bullpen games with outstanding efforts, especially Jackson.
* Muncy had a lot to be sore about after being hit by a pitch in the bottom 6. I have no idea if it was intentional but I have seen hitters plugged with first base open, instead of intentionally walking them. It’s CS baseball but it happens. I think Muncy was suspicious too.
* I really like Trea Turner but I’m not real sold on his infield defense just yet. Seager gets criticized unjustly IMO for his defense but he would have made that backhand play, top 7. It was later ruled a hit, by the way, which was BS.
* Wow. Tu Tu hit a double off KJ in the 9th. Does it ever fail? Ain’t baseball like no other sport?
* I loved Andre Jackson’s debut. How did the Dodgers find Jackson? Not a linear path, played at Utah, so so stuff. They find him and he becomes MLB pitcher. The organization is amazing at development. I thought he handled the situation very professionally. I’ve always felt you overcome nerves with solid mechanics and trusting them under pressure. I hope to see more of him.
* Hey Jeff Dominique, if you’re out there today, I want to reply to yesterday’s conversation. It took me about 24 hours to ponder your very good post yesterday about dealing with pressure, after my wise-crack about send Nunez to Tulsa to learn to throw strikes.
Jeff posted “I assume since Phil has played MiLB he understands that the nerves in the lower levels do not compare to the nerves at ML level. The expectations really start to peak at AAA.”
First Jeff. I applaud your son for making it to the Bigs. I’m sure he’s a great kid and a great player. And I appreciate your knowledge and experience. Your statement was very accurate regarding the anxiety and nervousness of getting called to the show and then performing.
But I want to share another scenario. Another emotional and nervous time in a baseball career that perhaps your son experienced, but maybe didn’t. So picture a game in East BF, USA. It’s on a poorly lit, dusty minor league field with about 500 people in the stands. A 21 year old infielder is facing a kid who was signed because he was able to throw a ball through the side of a wooden barn in Bartelso Oklahoma. And he’s everywhere. And while trying not to get killed, the young hitter is desperate to get things going during his 2nd year in A ball. He know the fate of others around him when they haven’t lived up to expectations. He needs to hit. He needs to make plays. It’s a performance business. The kid has seen struggling teammates get their walking papers and a dream that they had since 7 years old would come to an abrupt end. A dream shattered. A ticket home and having to explain to the hometown folks why a kid with such high hopes and expectations, didn’t quite cut it. And damn. what is he going to do now?
So that’s not the same pressure, perhaps, as performing in the Show. Of being sent down, sometimes repeatedly. But while disappointing, that player still has a job and the dream is still alive. The pressure in the second scenario is over survival.
Jeff, thanks for your thoughts. I made me really think. I enjoy these exchanges.
I hope Price has I nice outing. I fully expect it.
Here’s a good video explaining Doc’s slap-ass episode with Scherzer. I thought it was pretty funny and Doc handled the interview well and he will not “Handle” Mad Max going forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKu8KW1id-o
As per Eric Stephen:
The Dodgers have already used (a franchise-record) 34 pitchers this season, but that’s hardly novel this season in MLB.
LA only ranks 8th in most-pitchers used, tied with the Rays. Mets have the most, with 39.
MLB teams *average* 30 pitchers this year
Welcome Shane Greene!
He’s given up 16 runs in 17 innings this year. Seems like the perfect signing.
I didn’t see the game or a sol mo replay of Bellinger’s throw to first, but in real time it looked like the runner was inside the line and could have been called out. The Dodgers complaint fell on deaf ears. Did any of you see a good replay, and was he inside the line? Guess this couldn’t have gone to replay??
For those who didn’t think all that highly of Max Muncy last winter and wanted the Dodgers to pursue various free agents, how do you like him now?
Andre Jackson was impressive, the change up really good. Needs, obviously, to reduce the walks, but overall a good performance.
Nice write-up, DC. Some talent and potential in the Dodger system.
I stand corredcted. Both RHP Michael Hobbs and LHP Lael Lockhart debuted with the ACL Dodgers yesterday. Both gave up an earned run in an inning pitched.
Kirsten Watson has added some volume and excitement to her dialogue. I have seen great improvement. She no longer annoys me, and I can hear her! I applaud her work to improve. Here’s an interview with Andre Jackson after the game (she asks the first question).
I love the minor league reports. The next wave of of guys are starting to look promising. Pages, Ward and Outman are all looking like useful pieces. Vargas’ bat has been solid for some time now, I’m glad he got his power stroke going. Yurchak is a big surprise, he’s a hitting machine! Did we run into someone very special here?
It was awfully nice of the Dodgers to fix Tsutsugo so he can showcase his stuff with the Pirates for the rest of the year.
Andre Jackson had a nice debut, but those walks won’t play at this level. He needs to figure out how to throw more strikes. His cambio is outstanding.
Is Vesia rapidly becoming everyone’s favorite lefty out of the pen? He has my attention every time he gets into a game. I like how animated he’s become on the mound. He’s looking very comfortable out there.
I hate the mid inning pitching change, especially following a strikeout. This time it worked out. I’m pretty comfortable going to Treinen in that situation because he’s probably our best reliever and Graterol had already thrown 20 pitches. If Graterol continued, he might not be available for tonight’s game.
I fell asleep right before Kenley came in for that last inning. I’ll probably watch it sometime this morning. All I have to say about Kenley is that I like that he’s mixing in his other pitches. This may be his rebirth, but I will never fully trust him again and think they should let him walk at the end of the year. I might throw him that qualifying offer to try to get that extra pick though. If he stays one more year, it wouldn’t be all that risky even if it might be a slight overpay.
Muncy is awesome coming up with that go ahead homer, but he really sucked at moving Turner along. Move him to the 4 spot if he can’t move that runner.
The bats need to get going tonight and Doc needs to let Price stretch it out a little to give the bullpen some rest. I’m really excited to see if Neftali can make a comeback. Those strikeout numbers in AAA are impressive. The homers and walks are not. Is he still throwing 100+?
San Diego is just 1.5 games up on the Reds for the second Wild Card spot. Go Reds! They’re now my second favorite team this year.
It really sucks watching Bryant save the Giants last night with two big flies. Ever since that 2016 season, he’s been one of my favorite non-Dodgers. Let’s go Mets! Get those next two games.
Really nice article, DC! When you take it together with Mark’s from yesterday, it makes you realize how many talented young players are in the minors, and how much hard work, perserverance, luck, and opportunity it takes to make it to the big show.
Andre Jackson was a pleasure to watch yesterday. I was impressed watching him during spring training, and was surprised to see then that he was only in AA. He seems to have some control issues, and I might have expected a tick or two higher on his fastball. However, he is a very cool under pressure and works quickly, and seems to have an excellent change up. It must have been a peak experience for him with his family there in attendance. We needed him to show up big and he did. I wonder if they’ll keep him around or send him back down right away. Anyone know?
Jackson had his moments but my gut tells me he’s not quite ready to face a good Major League lineup for 5 innings. Great change up, suspect command and a minor league fastball. With the news on Hamel we will continue to scramble for starting pitching through September.
McKinney found a nut. Yay!
Did anyone read the partial transcripts posted yesterday? $3.4 million hush money was mentioned. Don’t know if it’s true but sounds about right.
Mark- You seem very connected to the Dodger brass and I thought I might ask if you knew of any of the recent rumors that Orel Hershisher and Fernando Valenzuela were seen at CBR holding a showcase where AF was in attendance.
With the unfortunate health issue with Hamels, it’s been rumored Orel and Fernando are looking to get in on some of the action to see if AF will bite off on a one week $ 1 million contract for each. Just curious of you’ve heard anything?
DC–love your stuff. It stands up with anyone else’s content out there. Out top ten is solid but it’s our depth that stands out. Andre Jackson is a good example.
I hope we see some of these minors who are looking good up with the big boys….especially pitchers and outfielders.
As for last night….it went about as I suspected it would go:
1. McKinney a hero both in the field (arm) and his big bat
2. Arguably our best hitter, Marvelous Max, does it again. (I’m sure he should get paid more than any other positional player not named Mookie.)
3. Jackson pitched 4 shut out innings, although I was expecting 5.
4. Jansen closes another, although Mark’s man crush, TsuTsu made it interesting (nothing new for Jansen).
5. Giants beat the Mets
6. We only scored 2 runs on 5 hits. I expected this….guys were tired, and they usually don’t score many runs the game following 14 runs.
7. Trienen, who I think should be the closer, only needed one pitch.
I was very relieved to still be 4 games out….this bullpen game scared me. We survived. Great win, now rest up,zzzzzzzzzzza, see you Tuesday.
TM