Playing in Major League Baseball is Hard
OK, so what? Yeah, it’s hard to play baseball in the major leagues. Let me take it a step farther, who here could have played AAA baseball? AA Baseball? A Baseball? Rookie League Baseball? I am sure some will say they could have, but unless you did, you really don’t know. You…
OK, so what? Yeah, it’s hard to play baseball in the major leagues. Let me take it a step farther, who here could have played AAA baseball? AA Baseball? A Baseball? Rookie League Baseball? I am sure some will say they could have, but unless you did, you really don’t know. You just don’t! It’s easy for all of us to say that the Dodgers should just get rid of Max Muncy or send Cody Bellinger to AAA, or that CT3 should just be a utilityman.
“DFA Muncy” OK, then what? Oh, call up Busch and Vargas. Max Muncy is a bum anyway. Right, MLB baseball is easy! Due to the pandemic, Max has logged only three full seasons, in which he has hit 35, 35, and 36 HRs. As a Dodger he has a career OB% of .368 and an OPS of .870 – that’s really close to “superstar status!” So, the Dodgers just DFA Max Muncy? Really? Because Mike Busch is struggling with AAA pitching right about now. Miguel Vargas is hitting AAA pitching pretty well, and he’s all of 22, so he is ready, right? Just toss Max Muncy on the bone pile. Kevin Pillar is hitting .309 with a .405 OB% and a 1.031 OPS at OKC, Let’s call him up to take Cody Bellinger’s place. Yeah, that’s the ticket.
Most fans who propound those things also think that it’s all on Dave Roberts. Let me shatter your illusions, but I guarantee that Andrew Friedman, Josh Byrnes, the Dodger Brass, Dave Roberts, and the Coaches are all singing out of the same hymnbook on this. It’s not going to go on forever, but both Cody and Max have earned the right to play another day. Sooner or later, the push will come to shove and they will either snap out of their respective funks or they will be replaced… but that day is not today. Patience, Grasshoppers!
Baseball is hard. Major League Baseball is even harder! I have said it before and I will say it again: “If you have done it before, you can do it again!” That doesn’t mean you will… but you have the ability to do so. Max Muncy has done it before – several times, so he gets a long leash. Cody Bellinger has the longest leash because he is one of the best centerfielders in the game. He can bet you with his legs, glove, arm and power. His leash is very long… but it is not unlimited.
At What Point is This Robert Van Scoyoc’s Fault?
Hitting coaches have a short shelf life. Some teams change hitting coaches more often than some people change their underwear! It’s a lot easier to fire the hitting coach than it is to fire the whole team. It’s easier to put the blame on one person than on 14 or 15 players. The Dodgers’ Head Hitting Coach is none other than Robert Van Scoyoc (“RVS”), who has somewhat achieved “rock star status.” Brant Brown and Aaron Bates assist him.
RVS has been credited as the person who fixed JD Martinez’s swing so that he went from utilityman to superstar. He has also been credited with helping CT3, Belli, and Max Muncy (hold it… am I detecting a trend?) In many respects, Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger, and Max Muncy are the same player, even though one is right-handed. You can’t run a team with those three players as cornerstones. Some people just want to “blame” someone. I don’t care about blame. I care about what is best for the team.
The fact that the Dodgers have performed so well this year, even with Bellinger, Taylor, and Muncy performing so poorly, is a testament to how good this team is. I think I have gotten close to the end of my rope. It may be time for a change, but before we talk about that, let’s think about what the cause might be. MLB is the Great League of Adjustments. Has the league finally caught up to RVS? Is it time to chart a new course?
I think that is fair question. If you blame the hitters, can you blame the hitting coach(es)? The Dodgers have at least three players who are really struggling with the bat. If the coaches can’t help, then do you change the coaches before you change the players? That is the question…
Andrew Friedman Reclaims Another Pitcher
Last night Tyler Anderson pitched 8 shutout innings. He was simply outstanding and is now 5-0 with a 3.30 ERA. While everyone is playing checkers, Andrew Friedman is playing chess. It seems that he does this every year. Last year it was Phil Bickford, Corey Knebel, and Evan Phillips – scrap heap projects who have become very useful pitchers. This year is is Yency Almonte and Tyler Anderson. So far, both have been exceptional. I keep hearing that the Dodgers need another starter, but name the number of starters who have a 5-0 record with a 3.30 (or better) ERA! Yency Almonte is dominant, but Tyler Anderson is very crafty and has learned how to pitch to his strengths with a 70’s Curve, 89 MPH Cutter, and his 91 MPH 4-Seamer.
How many Dodger fans were fans of the Anderson signing. I said that it was probably unnecessary, but he has been a key piece for the Dodgers. Baseball is hard and Andrew Friedman is good at running a baseball organization. Ultimately, it is his decision as t what happens to Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger. Stop blaming Doc! It’s all on the man playing chess, while we are playing checkers!
Questions?
If Miguel Vargas is called up, will Hanser Alberto be the odd-man-out?
I like what I am seeing of Gavin Lux. It seems that those yips have been exorcised!
Hopefully, Walker Buehler can answer some questions tonight.
The Dodgers are #1 in baseball in team ERA, even though the bullpen has been spotty lately because of use. This too shall pass!
Dodger Poke Report – Part 1
This is excellent and I am going to start publishing these:
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Discussion (102)
Disagree, not disagreeable
If the Dodgers knew or thought Buehler had arm problems, do you think they would continue to let him pitch?
I always liked stats as a kid, but nobody computed OPS back then (at least not in the newspaper).) OPS is, I think, the best measure of a hitter.
Anyway, Mookie’s power surge has moved him into the top ten in MLB in OPS at .963, just behind Bryce Harper. It’s pretty much the usual suspects up there: Trout, Judge, Machado, Jose Ramirez, JD Martinez, Goldschmidt…. Freddie is the next Dodger in 19th position, at .862.
Mookie’s 12 HRs are tied with Trout and Yordan Alvarez, behind Judge’s 17. (Egad…. He hit the humidor out too).
While the Dodgers, as a team, have the major’s best ERA and WHIP, no Dodger pitcher cracks the top ten in those categories. But given the team’s record, it’s not surprising that Buhler is now tied with the ageless Verlander with a 6-1 record, while Anderson matches Musgrove’s 5-0 record.
BTW, Verlander’s been ridiculously good : a 1.22 ERA with a .72 WHIP and a .161 BA against.
If only Kate Upton had insisted they live in LA…
I don’t think he had a single swing and miss on his fastball all night!
You have said several times that he throws the ball at 94-95 because he has a plan, that if he wanted he could throw 99-100, you have also copied and pasted publications from other sites to endorse that, now you say that it can be something mechanical, Which tells me he’s changing his narrative and accepting that he’s not the 99-100 guy anymore. Let’s just accept that he no longer has the fastball he used to and that he has adapted by throwing a lot of curveballs and sliders.
Of the team’s starting pitchers he has the worst WHIP 1.23 and the highest AVG against .250, he also has the worst IP/H ratio but he has six wins, leading the team.
We better hope Buehler does not need a second TJ because if he does, that is the end of the line (most likely).
His lower velo may be mechanical or a result of trying to be less max effort.
He wasn’t great, but he was OK.
So like it is said nowadays, Max Muncy AVOIDED the bases loaded SO!!
Excellent AB de Ríos, he made the adjustment very well, hopefully he can do it most of the time, if that is the case the team has a legitimate DH. Nearly $30 million could come off the books if the Dodgers don’t option JT and Muncy, that money going to Trea.
Wow, this guy we got from Boston for Verdugo may work out! Healthy hip brings Mookie right back into Trout’s shadow!
Well with Catman and Anderson at the top of our rotation we can afford to keep Buehler around at #5.
The honeymoon is over for Edwin Ríos, MLB has already discovered him, he cannot hit off-speed pitches, a diet is coming for him in each AB of off-speed pitches, the future is black for Ríos if he cannot make the adjustment.
First it was Walker Buehler, now Striker Buehler, and then Tommy John Buehler?
Buehler throwing a diet of curveballs and sliders from the first inning, as if he had already gone around the Nats’ lineup twice, then he throws two fastballs and gets two outs easily.
Why don’t you trust your fastball?
That was a JTurner error, right?
If Gray keeps this up, even though they don’t want it to be, this will end up being a bullpen game for the Nats.
05/23/22 Los Angeles Dodgers traded RHP Jean Herrera to Arizona Diamondbacks.
05/22/22 Los Angeles Dodgers traded LHP Andrew Shaps to Detroit Tigers.
I don’t see any problem in Muncy’s approach to hitting, that approach is the same as always, it is the one that has led him to be the best in the team in recent years, he is a patient player with a very good knowledge from his strike zone.
Where I think the problem is in the hard contact, I think this year he is not hitting the ball so hard, he is hitting a lot of ground balls.
The penguin is good at extracting data, has Muncy’s hard contact decreased compared to other seasons?
As been said. love is mainly just memories. And comes a time memories get replaced with current events, Max has to do something to change his current play. Yes we all fell in love with Max when he was clutch and started rallies and have hopes every at bats he comes up and mostly find that the memories are fading. Why does him saying it’s gonna take till next season keep him playing a season earlier than that in a lineup we’re supposed to win it all? Can’t sail a boat with the anchor down and ships don’t sail on yesterdays wind usually. I hope he can turn things around but hows he gonna do that when he believes that won’t be till next season?
Heard on the broadcast last night that some of the players (Lux and Bellinger) were starting to take the Freddy Freeman approach in batting practice. His dad made him take the 1st pitch to left, the 2nd pitch to center, the 3rd pitch to right, the 4th pitch hit it where it’s pitched, and then start over when they hit as a young kid. Seems like a good way to build on how to hit to all fields and build muscle memory.
Excellent food for thought Jayne. Throughout all of the modern, advanced hitting techniques, I personally haven’t strayed from what I consider the basic fundamentals of hitting. I can watch Trea Turner, Mookie and Freeman (Nelson Cruz) bat all day and appreciate how they do business. It just looks like how you hit.
I’m at a major disadvantage if I was coaching today. I have no idea how to teach the RVS way. I wouldn’t know where to start. It’s totally contrary in many ways from what I was taught. “don’t drop your back shoulder and swing with an uppercut”. Anybody else hear this in the 60’s?
The new awing has worked for many. Others not so much. But the fact that the new baseball makes the fly ball launch method less effective is very interesting. Inevitable it all comes back around to guys who can just hit; Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Bonds and current guys like Tim Anderson.
We’ve seen the evolution of hitting techniques come and go; punch and judy, Teddy Ballgame, Walt Hriniak, Charlie Lau, stride and glide, rotational, lift and separate. It’s like the golf swing evolution. I think the Founding Father of Todays Modern Swing is……………..Sadaharu Oh.
What’s next? Maybe Rob decides Chicks don’t Dig the new baseball.
7;05PM ET
Dodgers (28-13)
Nationals (14-29)
SPWalker Buehler R
5-1 2.89 ERA 46.2 IP 39K
Confirmed Lineup
RF M. Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Trea Turner R
C Will Smith R
2B Max Muncy L
3B J. Turner R
DH E. Rios L
CF Chris Taylor R
LF Gavin Lux L
Cloudy
9% Rain
59° Wind 7 mph R-L
FACING EX DODGER:
SPJosiah Gray R
4-3 4.36 ERA 43.1IP 46K
Interesting point about batting coaches. As Dodger fans I think we have a tendency to become a bit myopic and focus largely on issues with our team and our team alone.
Taking a step back, here is what we know that has changed across the league:
Home runs are down. Batting averages are down. ERA’s are lower.
Lots of reports about the ball being different. Some say, substantially so.
Muncy isn’t the only star level player who has had massive struggles this season. He actually isn’t even close to the worst. And some big name big dollar free agents are starting off very slow. Trevor Story, Javier Baez and Carlos aren’t exactly earnings their pay checks, so far, this season.
But there is having a slow start and then there is Marcus Semien. The guy broke the home run record for second basemen last year. A 7+ WAR player. He’s making $25M this year. He was suppose to slide in next to Seager and be half of the most productive double play combo in the sport.
Instead, he and Amber Heard are becoming famous in 2022 for what they do to beds. In 150+ ABs he has no home runs. All of 8 extra base hits and .476 OPS.
So my question, insofar as Max Muncy (and to a lesser extend CT3) is concerned; is there a possibility that the performance of this new ball is killing the benefit of some of these recent trends in coaching? Is launch angel no longer beneficial? Maybe potentially a detriment? Are players like Muncy having trouble adjusting to hitting a ball exactly like they hit dozens of HRs in the past, only to see it die on the warning track? If that is the case I could see that getting into a players head, in a bad way.
Or maybe some players just lose their mojo for a while. Some may not ever get it back. I don’t know.
Just putting this out there. I wish I had answers. Has anybody tried giving Max a Snickers bar?
* Don’t you love the crafty left-hander who can add and subtract, Just keep em guessing. Shades of Jaime Moyer. Joe Davis made a statement that I was thinking all night: Anderson’s fast ball is his change up. It’s refreshing to see guys get outs without throwing 100.
* Bellinger had his best swing of the year. He took an outside pitch and drilled it opposite field. It wasn’t because he was tardy or had no legs and flicked it out there. He let it travel and drilled it. A thing of beauty.
* Now Muncy could use a little of that technique. When is the last time Max took an outside pitch and hit it where it was pitched. I know plenty of HOF’ers who were dead pull guys but Max right now is incapable of hitting anything to the left side. He rolls over every pitch that is on the outter half, if he makes contact at all. He gets “outside” of all those pitches. We know Doc’s loyalty and that he will stay with Muncy until the cows come home. But in return for the loyalty (don’t laugh) maybe Max could consider doing something to help his team – like an occasional bunt base hit attempt. Maybe with a runner or 2 on so at worst he moves a runner. It’s totally there but he prefers to “pull” his way out of his funk. And that surprise bunt may be better suited to batting in the 9 hole. I know I had a flashback and actually mentioned bunting as a weapon. My bad.
* Thanks for the words of encouragement Tedraymong.
I know I had skills when I was 11. BUT after that, it was all downhill. Little league stars are not always ticketed for major league stardom. I know the game is very hard, that is why stars are successful only 30 percent of the time if they are Hall of Famers for the most part. Longevity can lead to being in the Hall. Guys like Sutton, who were steady but not really spectacular made it. Mazeroski, a great glove so so hitter. So I give Muncy a little slack since I do not believe he is fully healed. I also think his confidence is at an all time low for him. Bellinger has actually been raising his BA and getting some key hits. Taylor took a ball to right center for his triple. All good signs. But we as fans have no clue what is happening behind clubhouse doors. Only the players, coaches and staff know Muncy’s true mental state. Badger is right. The Dodgers are an in season wrecking crew. Bringing the title home, they are more like the 90’s Braves.
I just returned from a week vacation in Jackson Hole, WY to visit cousins. I was not able to watch the Dodgers, but somewhat followed them via MLB app on my phone (excellent by the way). I know B&P doesn’t like it when posters make comments from reading a box score and not from watching the games. Lol. So, now that I’ve returned I have a few things to comment about.
It’s amazing to me that the Dodgers have the largest run differential in MLB right now. This is with JT, Bellinger, Muncy and Taylor underachieving. With CT3 and Cody having K rates of 40% and 35% respectfully. Max has a no contact rate of 60%. And, even though JT is hitting only .207 he’s at least driving in runs and making contact.
The Muncy situation is the most troubling. As I and others have mentioned he started last year with the same MO – lots of walks and watching fat pitches in the strike zone. But, he then got back on track in May and ended up with his best season offensively. This year he has not got on track. Why? The injury to his arm of course. Like with Cody last year. I don’t buy it for this reason. Max says he won’t be 100% until next year. Therefore, he must be injured. Why would Roberts keep trotting out an injured player day after unproductive day if he was injured? Especially, when you have Rios or Alberto to replace him. I don’t know what Max’s defensive stats reflect, but to me he’s an average at best at 2nd and below average at 3B. I would like to see him on the bench for PH purposes with an occasional DH appearance for the time being. If he’s injured then a stint on the IL should be of benefit. Call up Pillar and see what his right hand bat can do. Odds are it will be better than Max is providing right now. If he’s not injured then some time to recharge and reflect could be helpful for him.
With the team as a whole let’s let things play out until closer to the trade deadline before making a move. With the shortened spring training the pitching has been thrown off somewhat. I think Buehler and Urias are close to gaining some consistency. Gonsolin is rounding into a nice #3. An unexpected performance by Anderson should lock him in as a solid #4/5. With Kershaw and Heaney, hopefully, returning soon to help round out the starting staff. Add in a couple of potential minor league prospects to the mix, if necessary, there may not be a need to trade for an additional starter. With the hope that some of the offensive laggards get it in gear the Dodgers should be in great shape to win their division and be set for a strong postseason run.
A get feeling better shout out to phil jones. I know it isn’t fun to rehab and recover from your surgery. Your insight and comments are always appreciated.
To conclude, I’m OK with the current Dodger play. The only moves would be to sit Max and maybe Taylor for a bit. No trades or dope fiend moves necessary right now. Can the Bauer nightmare come to a long awaited end? The handling of the Bauer situation and the moving of the All Star game should be enough to end the terror reign of Boob Manfred. The current registration and early voter turnout in Georgia proves that his knee jerk reaction was made in error costing many minority business owners in Atlanta millions.
Carry on.
UPDATE ABOVE – AAA REPORT