Next Man Up!
In all the years playing all kinds of sports (at an amateur level), I did not have a hamstring strain until I was 52 years old, and it was a doozy! Grade 3, which is the worst. My wife was making fun of me, saying, “Rub some dirt on it.” However, the next morning the whole back…
In all the years playing all kinds of sports (at an amateur level), I did not have a hamstring strain until I was 52 years old, and it was a doozy! Grade 3, which is the worst. My wife was making fun of me, saying, “Rub some dirt on it.” However, the next morning the whole back of my upper thigh was black and blue. I feel Teoscar’s pain – a hamstring bite isn’t fun. Depending on which grade it is, he could be out up to three months. His may not be that bad. Let’s hope not!
Alex Call, Jack Suwinski, JT3, are all in the mix, but Call is already on the roster. Kim can play there, but he does not have a bat. Could Sirota or DePaula get a call? Not now, but maybe in a month if one or both are hot. It’s just “next man up”. The keyword is “Don’t Panic!”
This afternoon, I head to Dayton, Ohio, which is a two-hour drive from Indy, to see the Loons play the Dayton Dragons. My son had to fly to Phoenix this AM, and my son-in-law is headed to NY, so I am taking one of US Water Systems’ salesmen and his 11-year-old son. It should be fun. This is a guy I met one month ago at a convention in Miami. He worked for Watts Water, and as I walked by their booth, he stopped me and said, “I have watched all your videos.” We talked for about 15 minutes, and I gave him my card and said, “If you are ever interested in a change, let me know.” He called three days later. He and his older son (who also worked at Watts) came in for an interview, and he hired them both for our Penguin Water wholesale division. Funny world we live in. It turned out he lives 3 miles from me and we had never met!
I will give you a full report tomorrow or Saturday.
Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros) 5 – OKC Comets 3
LHSP Jackson Ferris made his first start since May 6, coming off the IL due to a hip injury. He completed 2.0 innings on 39 pitches (20 strikes). He allowed 1 single, 1 BB, and registered 2 K. Still too many pitches, but grinded it out.
LHRP Garrett McDaniels relieved Ferris in the 3rd. 2 walks and a single gave Sugar Land a 1-0 lead. RHRP Ryder Ryan relieved McDaniels with 2 outs in the 3rd and retired the side. In the 6th, Ryan got the first out but walked the next batter. Ryan was replaced by LHRP Ronan Kopp. The runner stole 2B, and advanced to 3rd on a balk, Kopp walked the next two batters to load the bases. One run scored on a ground ball fielder’s choice.
With LHRP Josh Hader on a rehab assignment entering in relief, RF Ryan Fitzgerald reached on a fielding error and scored on a 2-out 2-run HR from C Chuckie Robinson (2) to tie the score.
RHRP Chayce McDermott entered in the 8th. Sugar Land’s first three hitters went double, RBI single, 2-run HR, and a 5-2 lead. He got the next three batters, but the damage was done.
In the 9th, OKC got one back. With one out, SS Noah Miller singled, and Robinson drew a BB. With 2 outs, CF Zach Ehrhard singled for his 4th hit to score Miller. But that was it.
• Zach Ehrhard – 4-5, 1 RBI, 2 doubles (12)
• Ryan Fitzgerald – 2-4, 1 run
• Chuckie Robinson – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (2)
Tulsa Drillers vs NW Arkansas Naturals (KC) Game Postponed
Game to be made up May 28 as part of DH.
Dayton Dragons (Reds) 3 – Great Lakes Loons 2
The Loons lost a tough one in walk off fashion. Four GL pitchers completed 8.0 scoreless innings on 1 hit, 4 BB, 18 K. Yes, 18 Ks in 8.0 IP.
LHSP Zach Root started and completed 4.0 scoreless innings allowing the one hit (double), 2 BB, and 9 K. RHRP Joseilyn Gonzalez (1.0 IP), RHRP Alex Makarewich (1.1 IP), and RHRP Dilan Figueredo (1.2 IP) completed the next four innings without allowing a hit, 2 BB, and 9 K.
Makarewich was particularly effective. He faced five batters and none of them put the ball in play. 1 BB and 4 K. Figueredo wasn’t far off. He faced 6 batters and only one put the ball in play, a groundout to end the 7th.
The Loons scored solo runs in the 2nd and 7th inning. In the 2nd, RF Kole Myers led off with a BB. Myers moved to 3rd on 2B Eduardo Guerrero’s single. Myers scored on a DP, and a 1-0 lead.
In the 7th, 1B Samuel Munoz led off with a single. SS Jose Izarra forced Munoz at 2nd. Izarra stole 2nd and scored on 3B Emil Morales’ RBI single.
The Loons took a 2-0 lead in a game their pitching dominated into the 9th with RHRP Nicolas Cruz coming in for the save. The first three batters reached on a single, BB, and E3. One run scored on a ground out, with runners moving up to 2nd and 3rd with one out. The lead runner was thrown out at the plate by Morales at 3B. Cruz hit the next batter to load the bases. Cruz balked in the tying run, and then made a throwing error on the next batter allowing the winning run to score.
Kole Myers and Eduardo Guerrero were the two Loons to have two hits.
Visalia Rawhide (Dbacks) 13 – Ontario Tower Buzzers 5
RHSP Hyun-Seok Jang started but could not get out of the 1st inning. Jang threw 36 pitches before he was relieved with 2 outs in the 1st. First 4 batters – BB, single, HBP, 2 run double. Jang struck out the next batter but the third run scored on 3B Chase Harlan’s 11th error. He allowed another RBI single before RHRP Seamus Barrett entered to get the final out of the inning.
Barrett and 2 other relievers combined to allow 6 runs on 8 hits, including 3 HR, 5 BB, with 4 K.
Ontario was down 10-0 when they batted in the 5th. DH Kellon Lindsey singled and moved to 2nd on a throwing error. CF Jaron Elkins tripled (3) Lindsey home, and scored himself on a ground out.
Visalia scored 2 more in the 6th to move the lead back to 10.
3B Chase Harlan hit a leadoff solo HR (6) in the 8th. Visalia got the run back with a HR in the 9th.
Elkins hit a 2 run double in the 9th to finish the scoring. He was a HR shy of hitting for the cycle.
• Jaron Elkins – 4-5, 1 run, 3 RBI, 2 doubles (8), triple (1)
• Chase Harlan – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (6)
ACL Dodgers 10 – ACL Reds 5
ACL Dodgers scored the 10 runs on 11 hits, including 3 HR.
The Reds scored 4 unearned runs off RHSP Jose Tavares in the 2nd.
In the 3rd, 1B Oswaldo Osorio singled and moved to 2nd on a ground out. CF Jhon Gil singled Osorio home.
In the 4th, DH Daniel Mielcarek hit a 2-run HR.
The Reds got one in the bottom of the 4th for a 5-3 lead. The Dodgers scored got the run back in the 5th on 4 BB.
In the 5th, 2 BB, single, and a grand slam HR (2) by SS Aidan West. Back to back doubles by 1B Cameron Decker and 3B Moises Bolivar scored a 5th run in the inning.
C Euri Rosa hit a solo HR in the 7th to complete the scoring.
• Jhon Gil – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
• Oswaldo Osorio – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, double (1)
• Jose Gonzalez – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, double (4)
• Doubles – Cameron Decker (1), Moises Bolivar (2)
• HR – Daniel Mielcarek (4), Aidan West (2), Euri Rosa (1)
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Discussion (73)
Disagree, not disagreeable
irrelevant I’m just details of the proposal
One of those came off of Josh Hader. That is impressive. He was the DH today and they had a catcher playing 1st base. Ward must have already left the team.
You have to know the players will never agree to this.
Yes, over years so the high spending team wouldn’t be singularly disadvantaged
It will never happen. MLBPA will never agree to a cap. They have said that from the first time it was mentioned. Gradually?
Non Dodger game news, but Orel Hershisher has opened a Chevrolet dealership in Chino, CA. Hope his new endeavor goes well. Some may not like his color commentary, but he is a great Dodger and a good guy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VQOlPLZr_A
Tibbs has hit two 3 run hr, both to CF, so far today.
It would be gradually implemented.
A $245MM hard cap makes no sense. current luxury tax starts at $244MM and it’s not a hard cap. When negotiating you start low and work your way up but if you don’t want the other side to be insulted, you have to at least make it a viable offer. This number is crazy. Dodgers CBT payroll is $420 MM. they would have to slash $180MM from payroll and obviously that isn’t going to happen.
Players and owners are working on a new labor deal ahead of the current one’s expiration on December 1. In the owners opening economic proposal to the players in New York on Thursday. For 2027, the first year of the new labor deal, the league is proposing a salary cap of $245.3 million and a floor of $171.2 million, with a 50-50 split of revenues. Seems like a reasonable starting point without details on a bunch of other issues. We all know that the Player’s Union has made it clear that they will never go for a salary cap, as Bear reminded us earlier. But I never say never. Maybe with a floor and ceiling, it’s time for the players to rethink their stance to avoid a long and expensive lock out, if they get other concessions Missing from the league’s proposals, however, were changes to the minimum salary and baseball’s overall “reserve system,” which governs how long players have to wait to become free agents. Also the Dodger’s feelings about TV revenue sharing with the league will be interesting. I’m glad they are discussing details now and not waiting until the season is over. It’s anticipated that the Players won’t ever accept a cap. In that case it could be a long time before baseball next year and of the fans wondering why rich people would kill the Goose that laid the Golden Egg.
MLBPA is not going to accept a cap. Last time MLB proposed a cap was 30 years ago, and it led to the longest work stoppage in MLB history. Not happening.
Yes when you get on the 40 you earn more and join the union!
The MLBPA’s statement also states: “The last time the owners made such an explicit push for a cap — over 30 years ago — it led to the longest work stoppage in MLB history. For generations, our members have fought against cap systems because they harm players at all levels, erode or eliminate contractual guarantees, pit player against player, lead to more work stoppages, not less, and get worse for players over time. Caps don’t lower ticket prices for fans, eliminate tanking or ensure teams are run with equal competence. They suffocate competition by offering owners an all-purpose excuse for inaction and mediocrity.”
I too, haven’t understood the dislike or respect for Kim. I really enjoy his play in the field (great arm) and on the basepaths. And you’re right Badger, the Dodgers need a bunting instructor if one isn’t available. Is Brett Butler around? Sure, Kim has had some difficulty with velo and pitch recognition. Look how reluctant the front office is to bring up a prospect from AAA, let alone AA. Korean baseball is considered between AA and AAA talent level. Add to a big jump in talent level he is adjusting to a new country, city, new team, teammates. and doesn’t speak the language. With his plus defense and baserunning I believe it helps to compensate for his understandable issues at the plate. And as Badger pointed out he is still doing as well as some of the established stars on the team.
I want the Wards taken care of. There should be a healthy minimum for anyone on the 40. Maybe average paid attendance times $X could create a salary cap which would create unique caps for each team. That’s more creative than realistic.
I was thinking that as well. Call to be the regular in LF.
MLB’s first off is a 171.2 million floor and a 245.3 million hard cap. Revenue sharing of 50/50. A centralized fund for all local media revenue shared by all 30 teams. It didn’t address free agency or arbitration in its proposal.
Very aggressive rankings
They are calling up Ward. Kike admitted during an interview that he knew he was injured. Now if you think about it, his MLB career, especially with LA is at risk.
I’m headed to Dayton. If I am not back in three days, send out the dogs.
6 in the Top 28 is NUTS. That list still doesn’t include Davalan or Morales. If Teo really is out for 2 months, I’d rather see what Tibbs can do (either for our future or for trade bait purposes). If Teo is out a few weeks, then sure, let Ward/Call/Kim/whatever play out there.
Badger, I with you! Kim is a great defender, has speed and has a higher avg. than many of the veterans! He has speed on the bases and seems to be clutch in many ways, either getting on and being driven in or driving in runs himself.
Thursday’s Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule 2:30 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Adam Serwinowski) vs. NW Arkansas (Hunter Patteson) Game 2: Tulsa (Payton Martin) vs. NW Arkansas (TBD) 4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jakob Wright) at Dayton (Jose Montero) 5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (River Ryan) at Sugar Land (Ethan Pecko) 6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Visalia (Jesus Escobar)
Obviously I’m interested but Andrew doesn’t let me make trades anymore.
I think this is a reward for Ward rather than who may be best to temporarily replace Teo. I think they had many options, but none that stood out to be a difference maker. So reward the guy who has been in the organization for 8 years now. Ward has been a loyal soldier, although he did not have much choice. Maybe MLBPA can address free agency length, both MLB and MiLB.