No Bull
Ross Stripling should be better than he is. In 50+ innings this year, he has given up 6 HR after giving up 10 home runs last year in 100 innings. Also, I hear that Ross is not very happy being a reliever he sees himself as a starter, but he really needs to learn how to pitch better. His stuff does not play well up in the zone. Ross
Ross Stripling should be better than he is. In 50+ innings this year, he has given up 6 HR after giving up 10 home runs last year in 100 innings. Also, I hear that Ross is not very happy being a reliever – he sees himself as a starter, but he really needs to learn how to pitch better. His stuff does not play well up in the zone. Ross has no business throwing belt high 94 MPH fastball over the middle of the plate. His curve is excellent but he needs to keep it down. He has no chance of starting for this team at the moment, so I would suggest that he adapt and be the best relief pitcher he can possibly be or he might be left off the playoff roster. Ross needs to change his mindset… and pitch location. It’s as simple as that. No bull!
The bullpen has not been good in August and they have had a proclivity for the long ball. No bull. However, the bullpen is still near the top in ERA. It’s Red Sox 3.01, Indians 3.03, Dodgers 3.08, so the Dodgers have the best bullpen ERA in the NL and they lead all of baseball in WHIP. The Cubs have the second best bullpen ERA in the NL with a 3.44. The Nationals bullpen ERA is 4.99. If you are a glass half empty person, you are going to freak out about the bullpen’s difficulties of late. Over the past 14 days, the Dodgers bullpen ERA is 5.30. In July it was 2.41. In August it is 6.00 so far, which is the worst it has ever been this year.
If you are a glass half-full person, you might realize that it is a long season and there are going to be bumps in the road. I also look at the arms in the pen and I realize that for the playoffs, Ryu and Maeda will likely be in the pen with Jansen, Baez, Morrow, Fields and two more pitchers who are deemed worthy. This is the list they have to pick from:
- Buehler
- White
- Avilan
- Font
- Hatcher
- McCarthy
- Paredes
- Stewart
- Dayton
- Cingrani
- Watson
- Ysla
- Stripling
I think they can find two good arms in that bunch. I also think Ross Stripling will figure it out. Even after last night, Ross has a 3.67 ERA. That’s not great, but not horrible. There is a lot of time to go and games to play. Trust the process! No bull!
Rants and Raves
- Rios and Ramos were both 3-5 yesterday at OKC and Locastro was 2-6
Discussion (64)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Calhoun in LF for Rangers farm team. Brian Moran is lights out for Tulsa in the bullpen. I think he might be a career minor leaguer.
We have options, this is what you get for being 16 games in first place, 10 games for the best record in baseball and playing the…..San Diego Padres…..just hope the guys can stay motivated right now.
I am excited to see if AGON can return to form. Listening to MLB network last night they were talking about his return and the importance of his bat in the postseason. I think we will need the experience AGON brings when dealing with multiple Aces and elite bullpen pitchers that we will be facing, just his presence alone changes things.
I move Bellinger to left and Taylor to center, Agon back at first, Joc the odd man out. I really don’t think any of the kids will have an issue with the heart and soul of this club for the past five years returning, especially Bellinger. We need his bat in the lineup for October, not just for DH and pinch hitting purposes.
The Dodgers are due a WS, not even a NL pennant since 88. 95/96/04/06/08/09/13/14/15/16 gave me enough time to enjoy regular season and SOME postseason success for a lifetime. This is WORLD SERIES WINNER or bust for me, I am over the failures, second place is the first loser.
I noticed from earlier in the season that Stripling isn’t so good at throwing the high fastball. Usually the target is out of the zone,high, and he has a hard time getting it that high. The pitch ends up in the strike zone usually very hitable. The catcher shouldn’t call for that location so often for him. For him the target should be low every time. He pitches downhill and that is where his best control is. I agree that he should learn to be better at the high pitch. Easier said than done. I also agree that he probably wants to start. It will have to wait until next Spring and we see how the rotation shakes out.
Just a couple of thoughts about yesterdays thread.
First I disagree that if we don’t win it all this season means nothing. It means a lot to me right now. It is an historic season, not only for the records but also for the emergence of Cody and Chris. so far this has been the most enjoyable and fun season that I have ever experienced.
Certainly not achieving our goal of World Champs would diminish our season but I am not going to worry about that because I believe that this team is different than the team models of the past. We have been very consistent since the end of April. We have not experienced any prolonged slumps and I don’t believe we will. The team as built and the mindset that Doc has instilled in them does not depend on the production of a few key players. The depth of quality players and type of players that Faz has acquired has produced a team that’s not subject to slumps. The team mind set of focus on one game at a time makes me believe that we will continue to play well straight through the end of the season and right into the post season. We are not the Mets or the Mariners.
I also believe that what got us here will carry us through the playoffs and right into the World Series. I am not going to stress about what might happen in October because I BELIEVE that this is OUR year.
IN this most outstanding season of Dodgers’ baseball, the big picture is important. Others around baseball have started looking at the Dodgers’ bullpen as a possible weakness to be exploited in the post-season. I posted about it yesterday, but for people who didn’t see the article, here is the link:
Open on www.beyondtheboxscore.comhttps://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2017/8/11/16125246/dodgers-playoffs-predictions-matchups-weaknesses-strengths-platoon-bullpenThe Dodgers will probably have an 8 man ‘pen. I agree with you about the 4 probable keepers from this year’s pen. Will they keep 2 starters? Maybe.
We don’t know who the September callups will be and how they will be used. It is possible that a Font or Buehler will pitch well if they are called up and will make the post-season roster, but unlikely. I figure that Avilan will likely make the ‘pen if he is healthy as he has been the most effective lefty in the ‘pen this year so far. I assume that Watson will be given every chance to make it too as he is a former closer who has not pitched well this year but has good experience. I doubt that if both starters are kept for the ‘pen that another long man will be kept.
Stripling nibbles too much. I prefer him in long relief. If Maeda and Ryu both make the playoff roster, Stripling is the odd man out most likely. He wasn’t fooling anyone last night.