Now and Later…
I remember a couple of years ago and again last year, when many Dodger fans wanted to get rid of Max Muncy and bring in Nolan Arenado. I remember that many thought Mookie Betts could not play SS, and after last season, Andy Pages was toast. Many also thought that Alex Freeland…
I remember a couple of years ago and again last year, when many Dodger fans wanted to get rid of Max Muncy and bring in Nolan Arenado. I remember that many thought Mookie Betts could not play SS, and after last season, Andy Pages was toast. Many also thought that Alex Freeland couldn’t hit, and Kike Hernandez should retire. Oh, yeah, Dalton Rushing couldn’t hit either. Some wanted James Outman over Miguel Vargas (how’s that working out?), and every starter and reliever on other teams who was the pitcher of the week was their flavor of the week. Just about everyone, except Andrew Friedman, got this one right: Michael Conforto must go! Oh well, no one is perfect.
I want to take this opportunity to look at what the Dodger lineup will soon be:
C Will Smith/Dalton Rushing – Will is 31 Years old and is signed through 2033, when he will be 38. He won’t be the everyday catcher by then. There is finally talk that he might start playing 3B (next year). It’s about time. Who is his heir apparent? Dalton Rushing or someone acquired in a trade.
1B Freddie Freeman – He is signed through 2027, and if the Dodgers re-sign him, it should be one year at a time. He will be 38 in 2028. I think he’s good this year and next. Beyond that? That gives me pause. Who is his heir apparent? James Tibbs III, Dalton Rushing, Chase Harlan, Logan Wagner, Josue DePaula.
2B Hyeseong Kim/Miguel Rojas – This will be a straight platoon, with Kim batting against RHP and Rojas batting against LHP. Rojas plans to retire after this season. Kim may get a chance to win the job full-time in 2027. Who is the heir apparent? Hyeseong Kim… unless Mookie Bettes wants to go back to 2B and Kim to SS or Logan Wagner.
SS Mookie Betts – He is now the SS and may be one of the best in baseball. He is 33 years old, and I think his offensive capacity is diminished. I think he is better served batting 5th or 6th, and when his contract is finally up in 2032 at age 39, I think he will have been gone for two years. When they signed him, I said that this contract would age badly and I stand by that! Who is the heir apparent? Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland, Noah Miller, or a trade.
3B Max Muncy – He has made himself into one of the best third basemen in baseball, both offensively and defensively. His contract is very team-friendly, and he can be controlled through 2028, when he will be 37. The Dodgers will ride him until the wheels fall off. Who is the heir apparent? Emil Morales, Chase Harlan, Joendry Vargas, Logan Wagner, Alex Freeland.
LF Teoscar Hernandez – He is on the downside of his career, in my humble opinion. He will be 34 this year and is signed through 2027 with options in 2028 and 2029 (which will never be exercised). He may not last the year. He will have good days and bad days, even though he is in the best shape of his career. Who is the heir apparent? Mike Sirota, James Tibbs III, Josue DePaula
CF Andy Pages – Andy is solid here and will likely improve as he is just 25 years old and controllable through 2030. He’s a borderline All-Star and Borderline Gold Glove. Who is the heir apparent? Mike Sirota, Eduardo Quintero (with Pages moving to LF).
RF Kyle Tucker – It is my belief that this was a blunder perpetrated by Dodger Ownership, who pressured Andrew Friedman to sign him. He will be 30 next year and is signed to a Godzilla-like contract through age 33. He blocks everyone.
DH Shohei Ohtani – The best DH in baseball who is signed through 2033 and will be 32 this year. I think he is in a slump, but at some point his skills will diminish. His speed with become average and his power will waine. When? I do not know and their is no heir apparent. Pray that he can play 5 more years!
Bench –Kike Hernandez, who is the heart and soul of the team. Tommy Edman – Kike’s heir apparent. Alex Call – League average. Alex Freeland is the heir apparent after Tommy Tanks.
That’s all too clean. It really is… There will be “career-ending” injuries and things no one anticipated, but the Farm System is very rich, and there will also be players we never anticipated to step up. Who knows, maybe even Ronan Kopp will learn what the strike zone is…
On the LOW SIDE, this is the best lineup in baseball. On the high side, it is the best lineup ever! Unfortunately, they are playing without passion and hunger. Some fans have said that you just can’t turn it on and off. I believe they can. Of course, inevitably, the blame falls on Doc because he brought in the wrong pitcher or messed up the lineup. Let me remind you that these are not the good old days. The lineup and pitching decisions are a collaboration between Dave Roberts, the coaches, and the front office. This malaise shall pass as it does every year. The wheels are not falling off this train. Patience Grasshoppers.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS by Jeff
Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado) – OKC Comets 1
LHSP Logan Allen started for OKC and did not come through the gates quite ready. Three straight singles scored 1, but RF Zach Ehrhard through the runner out at 3rd for the 1st out. He walked the next batter, but then got the DP to end the inning.
OKC tied it up in the 5th. 2B Tyler Fitzgerald reached on an error and scored on SS Noah Miller’s 2nd triple.
The game remained 1-1 going into the 10th. OKC loaded the bases with the placed runner and 2 BB. But a K and force out ended the inning. In the bottom of the 10th with LHRP Keynan Middleton on the mound. With the placed runner on 2nd, the second pitch Middleton threw was a RBI single to end the game.
RHRP Brusdar Graterol, RHRP Nick Frasso, RHRP Chayce McDermott, and RHRP Jerming Rosario pitched the final 5.0 innings without allowing a run.
OKC had 5 hits, but no Comet had more than 1.
Springfield Cardinals 7 – Tulsa Drillers 6
RHSP Christian Ruebeck faced 5 batters and all five reached before giving way to LHRP Evan Shaw. 2 runners scored and Ruebeck left with the bases loaded. Shaw got a force out at 2nd, but one inherited run scored. Shaw did a nice job inheriting the bases loaded and no outs, and only 1 run scored.
In the 3rd, with 2 outs, C Frank Rodriguez walked and scored on CF Kendall George’s first triple. George scored on DH Josue De Paula’s single. 3B Kyle Nevin and SS Elijah Hainline both walked to load the bases. RF Chris Newell singled to plate 2 and stole 2nd. On the throw to 2nd, the 2B had a fielding error and Hainline scored giving the Drillers a 5-3 lead.
Then LHRP Maddux Bruns entered. And surprise, he did not pitch well at all. He did get 1 out. But 1 hit, 4 walks, and catcher’s interference, generated 3 runs and he left with the bases loaded with one out. RHRP Carson Hobbs came in and got a pop out for the first out. But then gave up an infield single to score 1 before getting the final out.
I know we need to relax and be patient with the first round pick Maddux Bruns and his 11.68 ERA and 2.76 WHIP.
The Drillers got one more in the 7th after a single from Newell and three walks. But the score remained 7-6 through the rest of the game.
RHRP Nick Robertson pitched the 8th and 9th retiring all 6 batters, three by K.
Chris Newell was 3-4 on the night with a double. He had half the Drillers hits. Kendall George had the other XBH with a triple.
West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit) 4 – Great Lakes Loons 3
LHSP Jacob Frost started and completed 3.1 innings. He was pulled after 75 pitches. He surrendered a 2-out HR in the 1st. 3 BB and a WP scored another in the 3rd.
In the bottom half of the 3rd, 2B Nico Perez hit his 6th HR.
Frost got the first two batters out in the 4th and was lifted for RHRP Dilan Figueredo, who got the final out of the 4th.
In the 5th with Figueredo still on the mound, the first batter reached on an error. Next batter was HBP. There was a one out walk to load the bases. Next batter hit an infield single to score 1, before Figueredo retired the next two batters to end the 5th.
With RHRP Alex Makarewich on the mound in the 7th, he gave up a solo HR and a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th, 3B Eduardo Guerrero doubled (6) and scored on LF Samuel Munoz’s RBI single.
In the 8th, three one out singles by Perez, DH Jose Meza, and C Victor Rodrigues got the Loons to within one. But that is as close as they got.
West Michigan had 3 hits, 2 of which were HR, and 8 walks.
- Nico Perez – 3-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (6)
- Samuel Munoz – 2-4, 1 RBI
RF Mike Sirota reached base twice on a single and BB.
Ontario Tower Buzzers 9 – San Jose Giants 2
What do you know. A game with limited walks by a LAD affiliate. RHSP Cam Leiter went the first two innings. He allowed 1 hit, but did not allow a run. He did not walk a batter, and had 2 Ks. He threw 33 pitches (21 strikes).
RHRP Seamus Barrett followed Leiter. He allowed the first three batters to reach on 2 singles and a BB. He struck out the next two, but then unleashed a WP to score the first run of the game.
Ontario put up 3 in the 3rd. C Anson Aroz drew a 1 out BB and scored on 1B Easton Shelton’s 2-run HR (5). CF Landyn Vidourek followed with a BB and scored on SS Emil Morales’ double (15).
RHRP Mason Estrada came in to relieve in the 4th. He allowed a HR, but little else over the next 4.0 innings.
In the bottom of the 4th, LF Brendan Tunink led off with a double (5). Tunink moved to 3rd on RF Jaron Elkins’ single. Aroz singled to score Tunink. After a DP, Elkins moved to 3rd. Vidourek singled to score Elkins. Vidourek then scored on Morales’ triple (3). Finally 3B Chase Harlan hit an RBI single to score Morales.
In the 5th Elkins hit Ontario’s 2nd triple of the night. Elkins then scored on a passed ball.
2B Joendry Vargas homered (4) in the 7th for the final run.
RHRP Jhonny Jimenez pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th.
- Emil Morales – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, double (15), triple (3)
- Jaron Elkins – 2-3, 1 HBP, 2 runs, triple (2)
- Anson Aroz – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Easton Shelton – 2-4, 1 run, 2 RBI
ACL Dodgers 8 – ACL Padres 7
- Daniel Mielcarek – 3-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, double (1), HR (2)
- Javier Herrera – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, triple (1)
- Reyli Mariano – 2-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 2 triples (2)
- Brian Gonzalez Garcia – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Jose Gonzalez – 2nd double
- Moises Bolivar – 1st HR
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Discussion (111)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I think I’ve read the ideal sample size is 20 to 30 games. and I don’t think that’s correct about the 2024 playoffs,The offense was dominant leading all teams with a 122 wRC+ (Weighted Runs Created Plus) and averaging over five runs in most games.
oh boy, did I get my data wrong! That’s from the wrong year! Can we just pretend I never posted that?
Not as a PH. As a bench player. I could post some slug % numbers but I got a feeling it would be a waste of time here.
I don’t know about that. You might want to look at Kiké’s post season stats while with the Dodgers. Or maybe you don’t. Kiké is older, 34, but as a bench player he doesn’t have that many miles on him.
Quintero has been building up his batting average at Great Lakes after a brutal first three weeks. He looked like a guy miserable to be out in the cold.
Did she look anything like Bluto?
Dodger offense explodes for four runs tonight!
“Some wanted James Outman over Miguel Vargas… (how’s that working out?)” Moron alert! There goes Mark again, presenting a false choice. Reminder: Outman and Vargas were NEVER rivals for the same job. They were never in direct competition, despite Mark’s constant and inane insinuations. The reality is that in ’23 Outman proved that he was a quality CF over his full rookie season. Meanwhile, Vargas proved that he couldn’t really be trusted at 2B (even though the brass had gift-wrapped the job) and ended up back in OKC while Outman finished 3rd in ROY voting. (The Dodgers also found Miguelito wanting at 3B and LF. Definitely not Dodgers-quality utility-man material.) So in ’24 Vargas got packaged with others in a three-team deal that brought Kopech to the Dodgers. Going to a struggling franchise with weaker internal competition has been great for him. Good for Miguelito! Last spring, Outman was still a Dodger. He hadn’t been sent packing, but found himself in a DIRECT competition with Andy Pages for CF. Why? Because Andrew Friedman , alleged genius, signed Michael Conforto for $17 million to play LF. Big investment! And a dumb one, as it turned out. So Pages beat out Outman for the CF job and on Opening Day the Dodgers OF read Conforto-Pages-Teo. The Dodgers stuck with that even while Conforto played like he should be earning the minimum at best. He and his fat contract effectively denied opportunities that shoulda coulda woulda gone to Outman, Ryan Ward and others. If the brass had simply passed on Conforto, the OF could have read Teo-Outman/Edman-Pages. Non-morons should see that the commitment to Conforto also produced a weaker defensive alignment. Now obviously, the brass expected much better from Conforto. We all did. We also can’t know whether Outman would have out-hit Conforto if given the chance . But even if his bat was as disappointing as Conforto’s, at least he’d have provided better defense. And a trade could have been made at mid-season to fix the problem. (Conforto’s poor play was one of the reasons the Dodgers brought in Alex Call.) At any rate, Outman would be dealt for Brock Stewart. With Outman gone, the 4th OF role went to Justin Dean, whose greatest play was to NOT retrieve a Blue Jays drive that got wedged against the base of the outfield wall padding in Toronto. Quite the web gem! Before Outman got traded, he was sent down to OKC. I remember Mark making the dire prediction that Miguelito’s non-rival might never return to The Show because of K troubles. But Outman made the Twins roster. Outman’s struggling now but, like Conforto and Dean and Chuck Robinson and Buddy Kennedy, he did earn a ’25 World Series ring. While Outman and Miguelito were never in direct competition, only one of them has two WS rings.
Rushing has serious power…. from time to time. If Roberts wants to give Shohei or Freddie or Teosome days off, it would be fun to see them in a pinch-hitting situation.
Mark writes: RF Kyle Tucker – It is my belief that this was a blunder perpetrated by Dodger Ownership, who pressured Andrew Friedman to sign him. He will be 30 next year and is signed to a Godzilla-like contract through age 33. He blocks everyone. I share Mark’s concern that this was a $240-million blunder. But why would Dodger Ownership pressure Friedman to sign him? Is there any credible journalism regarding this? Don’t they trust AF’s judgment? I would think that AF would have had to persuade ownership that Tucker was worth it. The last time I recall ownership getting involved in contract negoiations concerned Kenley Jansen’s 3-year contract years ago. Kenley, meanwhile, soldiers on and is approach 500 saves. Will he enter the HOF as a Dodger?
Some spirited responses on this thread. Very entertaining.