I am losing patience with silly comments by people who always say the same thing in relation to players. Zero Understanding is something I do not tolerate well, so keep saying silly stuff and see what happens. This does not apply to most of you. Take it for what it is worth, but I do get my share of it right. With all the insane trade proposals I am hearing from Dodgers fans, I thought I would look at what the Dodgers have internally that could help.
Clayton Kershaw. – I talked to a surgeon friend yesterday, and he asked me what I thought about Kershaw being shut down. I said, “I want to know what you think about it. Is it bad?” He then went on to tell me with that kind of surgery, it would have been unusual if he didn’t have soreness. He said he would only worry if it persisted for several weeks. “It’s part of the healing process.” is what he said! In case you missed it, yesterday in an article in The Athletic, Mark Prior said this:
“There’s been a lot of improvements over 20 years, but again, we’re still having injuries,” he said. “Guys are still having elbows and shoulders. I don’t know if we’re that much better at preventing them than we were before when we didn’t know all the information.”
— Mark Prior
The biggest difference today?
“I think teams have realized that it’s not a matter of if somebody gets hurt, it’s just a matter of when,” he said. “And then it’s like, have you constructed a deep 25- and 40-man roster to weather those storms for the year?”
So, if you think Andrew Friedman is going to trade a bunch of pitching prospects for Crochet and Robert, Jr. you are smoking something very delicious and delusional. Here’s what is down on the farm or on the IL:
Bobby Miller – Well, he is back, but he is not “back” to what he was. Some fans have suggested that he should go back to OKC because they have no knowledge or understanding of why he is up in the first place. Let me break this down to you: Bobby Miller has not been very good after his first start when he pitched six shutout innings and struck out 11! Since then, he was ripped in two out of three games in April and then shut down. In June, he was bombed in both games. Why not send him to OKC? Because the Dodgers believe that after the first start, when he felt shoulder tightness, he has compensated, and his mechanics are off. Mark Prior, Conner McGinniss, and the Dodgers Medical Staff want to monitor him and work with his mechanics. Now, Justin DeFractus and Doug Mathis at OKC may be fine people, but they are new at coaching pitching, and with all due respect, Mark Prior and Conner McGuinness are two of the best in baseball. The Dodgers also have Rob Hill, and David Hill out of their Performance Innovation Lab to help with his mechanics. THAT’S WHY HE IS NOT GOING TO OKC and I happen to know a little about this! It pisses me off when I hear people with no knowledge of the situation say stuff that has no basis in fact. Will Bobby Miller be OK? I do not know, but I believe the Dodgers believe he will be. My main worry is that he has lingering soreness.
Walker Buehler – This is more concerning. He has had two Tommy Johns and as I have said before, I have no expectations… but I do have hope that his “bulldog mentality” will prevail.
Kyle Hurt – He is rehabbing at OKC and could get called up very soon. He got the save last night at OKC.
Michael Grove – This guy has become a very valuable piece in the bullpen. After a tough start, he has been a real asset to the bullpen.
Dustin May – I have no expectations that he will be back this year… but it is a possibility.
Tony Gonsolin – Same as above.
JP Feyereisen – Once one of the best setup men in baseball, he has been awful lately. I am not holding my breath, but you never know.
Justin Wrobleski—His stuff is some of the best in the Dodgers Organization, and the fact that he is LH makes him a rarity. I do not think he needs much more time in the minors, and I see him as a #4 or #5.
River Ryan – He could be a weapon out of the pen this year, as his stuff will play up in short spurts.
Ryan Brasier – We know what he can do. Can he get healthy? He’s about a month off.
Joe Kelley – We need him for the playoffs. Icewater runs in his veins.
James Outman – This is a Good News – Bad News Situation. James Outman is hitting .291 with a .406 OB% and a .953 OPS. That’s the good news. The bad news is that he is hitting .107 with a .286 OB% and a .429 OPS against LHP, while crushing RHP. He should get a callup soon, but he will platoon with Pages.
Andre Lipcius – He has somewhat of reverse splits. All except 2 of his HR were against RHP. I would like to see what he can do, but the Dodgers Front Office may know something we do not. I don’t know everything but I do have sources that help me a little.
Mookie Betts – He will be back in about six weeks.
Max Muncy – They are planning for him in August and not pushing it. Hopefully, he gets hot in September.
There are others who could get the call, including James Casparius and Ronan Kopp, but I think they will be next year. Diego Crtaya could be a possibility if the Dodgers (God Forbid) lose a catcher. There are a lot of names to choose from, but many times, the prospect you trade may be better than the Veteran you get. Due to Garret Crochet’s “fatigue factor” I would rather have Wrobleski over Crochet this year. Tomorrow, we will look at trade prospects.
Discussion (29)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Stone All-Star Game starter…..
I think any concerns about Lux’s arm can be put to rest with his throws on the SS side of 2nd base in the last 2-innings. Both excellent fielding and throwing plays.
Now if he can just get his BA &OPS up to respectable levels – maybe say .250 and .700.
Stone’s ascension is the #1 feel-good Dodgers story so far this season.
It’s nice that Ohtani set a new record with RBIs in 9 straight games…. but doesn’t that record seem a tad thin?
I’m hoping Ohtani can push that record higher and higher.
Stone stayed in because he was sailing and never walked a batter while pitching to contact.
He would not have stayed in many more pitches…
Nor should he have. Stone now has 89 IP.
Last season he had 132.
He is likely going to need some rest at some juncture…
Great job Gavin Stone!!
Can u believe Doc left him in to go over 100 pitches and complete a game?
I don’t KNOW why but I believe that 2 inning masterpiece Miller threw last night might have had Doc trying to save the bullpen. Nah!
3 runs in 3 games. Great pitching!!
Now beat the Giants!! Ohtani stay hot!!
Gavin is in the running for the Cy Young
So Stone gets through 8 innings on 93 pitches..
Sure hope he comes out for the 9th.
Gavin Stone is an all star!
someone should rescue Benetendi!! He has never been this bad!
Grienke is toast! Rich Hill is old! Maybe Ramon Martinez is available! lol. Barnes just blew out my candle!
Good lord, this 2b for the White Sox has looked brilliant defensively this series!
I want a SS like that.
Greinke I believe would pitch much better if he’s chasing a ring. More importantly he would be a guru to all of our young pitchers. Everything I read about Greinke is he’s very intelligent and analytical. I think he’d be a great sign
Bear another brain fart on my part. Mookie plays third against lefties with Lux at second. Mookie play second against right handed pitchers and Muncy play third.
I need a proof reader
The Robert rumors are cooling down a lot since it seems the Sox are less inclined to trade him than they were because of his performance so far. The fact is his value in trade is probably at its lowest point in his career. They would be better served prospect wise to trade him after he has proved he is healthy and performing at a high level. It makes the most sense all around. I personally do not think Pham hurt himself with his outburst. If anything, it shows the guy wants to win. Sorry John why would Mookie play third against RHP when Muncy crushes those guys. Makes no sense.
Fun thought: When Betts gets healthy, have him play third against right handed pitching and second against right handed pitching. Muncy should get back around the time Mookie is ready to go. Rojas has been solid at short.
8:10 PM ET
Dodgers (50-31)
White Sox (21-60)
SP Gavin Stone R
8-2 3.04 ERA
SP Erick Fedde R
5-2 3.05 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
LF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
RF J. Heyward L
CF Andy Pages R
2B Gavin Lux L
SS Miguel Rojas R
3B E. Hernandez R
C A. Barnes R
76° Wind 13 mph L-R
Teo is back, but unfortunately Barnes is in the lineup
I think Tommy Pham negated his chance to become a dodger a couple of weeks ago! That proposed trade earlier in the site Was way too much to give up for a pitcher and a hotheaded middle of the road outfielder. I don’t see AF giving up top prospects for a picture who might not make it through the season. I like the ideal earlier in the week, but the more I read the more I realize he may be on a limit the rest of the season. I still believe the Dodgers have enough starting pitching to cover the season. I’m still more concerned about the bench and left field. Although Taylor has Has started to play a lot better, Kiki still continues to struggle. And Biggio Is still useless. I would love to see the Dodgers, maybe go after Tyler Ward from the Angels. Doubt that ever happens though not going to see A Machado trade at the deadline. I’ll be shocked if KK and Taylor are aren’t still on the team postseason! Though one needs to go, maybe both!
It’s always entertaining when Mark–the great wise uber-sage of All Things Dodgers–tries to educate us simpletons about what AF will and won’t do.
Funny, but I seem to recall some folks here arguing that AF would never pay more than $500 million for Ohtani. Remember the Nohtani movement? Good times….
Anyone, or us to opine about what the Dodgers front office SHOULD do and what he WILL do are very different things.
If the Dodgers truly want to position themselves to win the World Series, they have a rare opportunity now to add two young, potential superstars in Robert and Crochet–and both on below-market contracts.
Now, that’s not saying that AF will outbid the Phillies or Braves or ???. But the Dodgers certainly could.
Heck, our great and wise Yoda claims that the Dodgers lost Brandon Drury to the Padres two seasons ago because the Reds insisted on Miguel Vargas, so no way! Vargas is gonna be a star!!! But since then there’s no question that Drury has been a much better player than Vargas. Oh well. (Maybe it’s all because Drury, unlike Miguelito, doesn’t have a short torso and long limbs. Yeah, that must be it….)
Is Robert injury-prone? Maybe. But maybe the Dodgers feel they can help Robert stay healthy and get back into his epic ’23 form. They did due diligence on the oft-injured Glasnow and so far it’s working out.
What would a talent like Robert cost as a free agent? A lot. He is five years younger than Teoscar, and widely considered more talented, capable of contending for a gold glove in CF while hitting 40 HRs. AF signed Teoscar for one season at $23.5 million–and Robert would certainly command more. But the AAV of Robert’s contract for the next 3.5 seasons is about $18-19 million.
So no wonder Phillies fans love the idea of Robert slotting behind Harper in the batting order for the next 3.5 seasons, and no wonder Braves fans hope he could replace Acuna this year and fortify the lineup for years to come.
Why the hell would the Dodgers want a player like Robert when we can root for an bargain-basement OF of Vargas-Outman-Pages?
As for Crochet, he’s earning $800,000 this year but should do well in arbitration. But he could be the lefty the Dodgers want in a six-man rotation with Kershaw in the twilight of his career.
Some people say that AF is conservative by nature and won’t swing big deals. But I think the deal for Scherzer and Trea Turner was pretty damn big. Robert + Crochet would be bigger still, in part because they are young talents who could impact the team for years.
My guess is that the Phils will snag Robert, in part because I’m more convinced that Phillies management is more daring and more interested in actually winning rings. There’s a reason that the mascot is a Phanatic.
Am I suggesting that the Dodgers management is not as interested in a championship? Yes, I guess I am. They want to win–but they want to win on their more conservative, corporate terms . They are more interested, I suspect, in building the Dodgers eventually it global brand, and always being a top contender–and hoping to catch some breaks.
Can this approach eventually lead to a championship? Sure. At some point the Dodgers will catch some breaks. But I’d rather see the front office be more aggressive.
Um is Rich Hill any where or Zack Greinke need some inning eaters these guys will pitch seven innings no problem just like Paxton does Or third baseman played with the Giants and last year with the Diamondbacks just until Muncy comes back because Biggio sucks now I know why the Bluejays let him go speaking on them why nit go get Justin Turner just need him to play thirdbase and pinch hit. These guys would be bettee then the minor league guys or who we have playing.
Feyereisen is a nobody.
Mark:
I, like NJ Dodgers, love the blog……. the best in the business. We’ve never met, but I think you’ve acknowledged that your “connect” inside the Dodgers is quite dated and you’ve also mentioned many times that AF runs a tight ship and doesn’t allow “loose lips.” I have reason to believe you’re doing what we all do…..speculating and guessing about many of your random musings. You don’t know the plan, but you like to think you do. Sometimes you’re right and sometimes you’re wrong.
Without doing any research I believe the front office has, in the past, sent down Joc Pederson, Vesia, Puig, Outman, Grove, Sheehan and others to get more time, to get more AB s or innings pitched away from the big lights etc. If they’ll create a “phantom injury” for WB so he can re-set both mentally and physically (and learn to pitch differently) I see no reason they can’t do the same with Bobby Miller.
I want him to succeed as much as any other Dodger fan, but his two outings since coming off the IL have been bad. Last nights poor outing resulted in another BP game. They can’t keep doing that since we all know what the definition of insanity is. I think you’ve told us on many occasions.
No reason for the confrontation and no reason to “spike” the football if you’re right. I certainly won’t if I’m right. Miller, and more importantly the Dodgers, could benefit greatly if Miller worked out his mechanics, his sequencing, his control and his overall pitch quality/effectiveness in OKC rather than the big leagues. Will it happen…..maybe not, or maybe it will. Doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong as long as the end result is a win for Bobby Miller and the Dodgers.
All of baseball is still waiting to see who the sellers will be and who will be buyers. I believe the team needs at least one more starting pitcher to eat some innings. BP will be fine if Graterol makes it back, along with Brasier. I do think they need some pop off of the bench. Kike is not the Kike they thought they were getting. Taylor has showed some signs of being better, and with his contract, he is much harder to deal or release.
It’s all about making us the best team we can be in October. And for me another big bat is the biggest need. I think the Dodgers will sign Sasaki. His posting fee will be high but his salary will not be. So next years rotation would be Ohtani, Yamamoto, Sasaki, Glasnow and Miller. With May
Whatever is it with arm issues, MLB has no clue how to deal with the issue. Throw less innings, more rest, focus on limiting high stress innings, cut down the number of pitches during a game — still, none of it seems to be working.
Back in the day, there were seemingly less injuries and pitchers were throwing more innings and more pitches during the games.
But back then, pitchers weren’t throwing as consistently hard as they do today. Seems like every pitcher throws in the mid to high 90s. They train with weights, bigger and stronger. Then boom. Something snaps, pulls or strains. I’m just guessing that’s where the issue lies. Didn’t the team doctor tell the Dodgers that decades ago when they announced a weight training program.
Now the way things are these days, no one is going back. Pitchers will continue to throw hard. Teams will adjust like the Dodgers with more pitching depth in their system. They’ll continue to fix the issues with new modern techniques. Life will go on.
Of course Clayton Kershaw is sore. Was anybody really surprised? It comes with the surgery and the rehab.
Yes, the Dodgers would love to acquire Crochet. Who wouldn’t? But if he is put on the trade market, the price would be high. Probably too high for the Dodgers.
The only question I have about LA’s pitching depth is Yamamoto. Is this another one of those injuries that continues to linger. Look how careful the Dodgers were with him and he still got hurt.
Arozarena? Why would the Dodgers want him.
Bobby Miller will eventually round into form. Eventually. He just looks out of sync. Obviously not comfortable with his stuff and location.
Okay, I would slow walk all the let’s trade a bunch of high level prospects. The Dodgers are leading the division by nine games. Not exactly like we’re five games behind and leaking fuel.
Good write-up today, Mark.
I will preface this with love the blog for many /many years.
But, you said
THAT’ WHY HE IS NOT GOING TO OKC and I happen to know a little about this! It pisses me off when I hear people with no knowledge of the situation say stuff that has no basis in fact.
Well, if you have this inside knowledge,
It Pisses me off that you wait to use this info to try and defend your argument.
Share with the people.
Maybe look at it this way, with NO inside info, my eyes and the stats of Millers current situation tell me he should be getting
More reps in the minors.
Not figuring it out up here and burning the bullpen
porpoise boy,
In response from an earlier blog,
Yes, I believe Cole would not have come up after 2 starts in the minors, after being out since last year, if his numbers were as horrendous as millers in his rehab starts.
Being from the NY area and seeing enough interviews with Cole . He is perfectionist and a big team first player.
If he shit the bed like miller I would believe he would have told the big club he needed a few more minor league starts.
Go Dodgers!!
Friend of mine suggested this trade:
Crochet plus Pham for Knack, Wrobleski, Outman, Rushing, Karros.
Would make that deal though giving up Wrobleski and Rushing would be hard.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No need to worry about Miller just yet. Give him couple more starts and see if he can come around.
Lux got a hit off of a LHP, Vargas got one off of a RHP. Good to see.
Bullpen had to shoulder 11 innings at CHI the last two days and gave up no runs. Amazing. that is not sustainable without risking blowing the pen out. Hopefully Stone can give the Dodgers 6-7 innings today.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved how Rojas got in Miller’s face on the mound. Miller right now is pitching scared. He has no idea where most of his pitches are going, This is the second time he pitched in Chicago,with a large gallery of friends and family and got his ass handed to him. Watching him closely I think he is a head case,more mental issues than physical ones.Rojas will make a great coach and possibly a manager some day.