More Rants Than Raves

I was hoping to sit down on my patio deck to watch the Dodgers vs Giants when I realized that I could not get the game on MLB.TV.  I was already in a foul mood when I had to come into the house and listen to Krukow and Kuiper.  I then watch Urias once again nibble instead of going at the hitters.  For the first time this year, I am starting to yell at the TV.  Urias gets out of the inning.  In the bottom of the 1^st, Joc walks and Mookie doubles.  Here we go.  Runners on 2^nd and 3^rd and zero out with Belli/JT/Seager.  They have to get a run, right?  Nope!!

Urias give up the run, and the Dodgers come back with a Mookie HR and score another on a single/error and single.  That was the only hit with runners in scoring position all night.  The Dodgers got three on a pair of HRs (Muncy and Smith) in the 4^th, and then loaded the bases with nobody out and score ONE when the SF could not turn a DP in the 5^th.  Rios crushes a solo HR (3) in the 8^th, but does nothing with runners on base.  Same with Muncy.  He gets his 4^th on a solo, but does nothing with runners on.  This is one of the big reasons why the Dodgers falter in the playoffs.  They rely on the long ball and are not productive in manufacturing runs.

Urias can only go 4.0 IP with 78 pitches.  He had not been good all night, so he should not have expected to go out in the 5^th with 78 pitches.  If Urias wants to be considered as a top of the rotation starter, he is going to need to start to challenge the batters.  I would have liked to hear what Doc was saying to Julio after he was pulled.

The Dodgers hit 1-10 WRISP.  LOB – Bellinger (4), JT (2), Seager (2), Kike’ (2), Muncy (4), Taylor (3), Rios (3)

The OF play of Joc and Belli was not very GG like.

To make matters worse for me, I am wearing my #5 jersey and Corey Seager needs to leave the game because of “lower back discomfort”.  At the time I am writing this, I have not heard how injured Corey’s back ins.

There were some positives.  Will Smith goes 2-4 with a 2 run HR.  He has certainly earned more starts over Austin Barnes, but I would not expect to see him in tonight’s game with Kershaw on the bump.

Relief pitching was not lights out, but it was good.  The relievers pitched aggressively and were throwing strikes, a different approach than that of Julio Urias.  Dylan Floro had a good inning.  He did give up a hit, but had two strikeouts.  Dennis Santana was used in the right spot, and he was relieved at the right time.  He still has some growing to do.  Scott Alexander looked outstanding with the two batters he faced, both on strikeouts.  Joe Kelly was his usual wild self, but was unhurt.  And Jake McGee looked overpowering in his one inning of work.  But now that is five relievers who will not be available for Saturday.  Hopefully Kershaw will get through at least 6.0 IP on Saturday.

The Dodgers are 10-4 and one half game behind Colorado, and they have not yet started to gel.  Colorado is still playing solid baseball, getting good starting pitching.  Arenado is having his own Bellinger start.  Charlie Blackmon and Daniel Murphy are raking.    Chris Owings and Trevor Story have been mostly productive thus far. 

SF still does not look like a real contender and Arizona continues to struggle.  I do believe SD is a legit contender for at least a wild card.  With Zach Davies off to a good start, and joining Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet, that is a good starting three.  Garret Richards is a decent #4.  If MacKenzie Gore joins the rotation, they could be bothersome later in season and playoffs. If their relievers start to produce, they will be in the race.

Even with the excellent win/loss record at the start of the season, there is still a little over three weeks until the trade deadline.  Many on various Dodger blogs are already looking at what help might be available at the trade deadline.  It’s that time of year.  Will the Dodgers have any starting pitchers that will go more than 5.0 IP?  Is Seager’s back going to last the year?  Kershaw’s?  When do you start to get concerned about Belli/JT/Muncy?  Is KJ going to struggle this year?  The team is winning, but they could have won the four games they lost.  Is it the lineups or is it the lineups have holes?  Is Doc “babying” the starters?  Many other teams’ starters are going longer.  Jeff Samardzija had given up 6 runs, but still managed 90 pitches.

I am generally all optimist, but even with the win on Friday night, I was disillusioned with their play.  I do not see guys that are counted on (i.e. Bellinger, Muncy, Urias) making their adjustments.  But while my mood may have had an off day, I see no reason to panic.  No reason to overpay for a rental.  No team is going to trade a controllable Ace or #2, and there is no reason whatsoever to bring in a back end rotation starter to block any of the Dodger young pitching prospects.

I am sure as we get closer to the deadline, the picture will get more into focus, and we can speculate on any potential trades at that time.  But for now, I am hopeful that adjustments will be made and the team can start to roll. Let’s start with a big win from Kersh over Johnny Cueto.