One-third of the 162 game season is over! The Dodgers are in first place in the NL West, 2.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres and 5.5 games ahead of the Midgets. It should not be lost on anyone that the Dodgers have had their #1 and their #2 starters perform poorly and that the #3 and #4 starters have been in the IL most of the season. Let me repeat that:
The Dodgers are in First Place while their Top Four Starters have been injured or impaired. The Athletic addressed Walker Buehler’s issues:
“His struggles had centered on a four-seam fastball that was once one of the most dynamic in the majors but instead had been battered whenever he’d throw it this season. The zip appeared to be back Saturday, matching a season-best in terms of velocity. But the command, which has been erratic, and rhythm in his delivery were not.
Buehler hasn’t looked like himself, and has at times faced an ensuing identity crisis with who he is as a pitcher. He expressed surprise that, even after arriving at a lockout-shortened spring training as prepared as any pitcher in camp, he still hasn’t found the right levers to lock his mechanics into place. His release point has dropped as he sought to manipulate the effectiveness of his six-pitch mix. The four-seamer lost some of its dominant characteristics as he became more and more reliant on his cutter. His array of secondary options — a curveball, slider, changeup and two-seamer accompany his primary choices — struggled to replicate the overall dominance that has defined his young career.
“It’s kind of a high-maintenance delivery,” Buehler conceded after his most recent start before Saturday. “Obviously, I’m not 6-6 and 250 pounds. I’m a smaller guy and I’ve got to try to generate (velocity) somehow. There’s mechanics stuff and usage stuff, all these puzzle pieces. But at the end of the day, I just want to be better.”
It has surprised even his manager that those mechanisms would fall so far out of whack.“
However, unlike the Mets Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, Walker is not injured! He can fix his mechanics, over time, but health is a totally different animal. Max Scherzer will be 38 years old next month. Jacob deGrom will be 34 next week. When will they start “breaking down?” They already have! I would not trade Buehler and Urias for deGrom and Scherzer in any solar system. Urias and Buehler will figure it out. Buehler’s mechanics are simply out of whack – well “simply” is not a good word. If it were simple, he would have fixed it already.
Sometimes these things take a Charlie Hough, Rick Honeycutt, Jamey Wright, Dave Borkowski, or Dontrelle Willis to fix. All are still on the Dodgers payroll. Of course Mark Prior and Conner McGinnis are the people he talks to every day, and maybe Rob Hill is looking at it too. Walker Buehler has a 3.84 ERA, which is not good by his standards, but it’s better than Yu Darvish, Aaron Nola, Robie Ray, Kyle Hendricks and many other starting pitchers. I preducxt that it will be under 3.00 by the All-Star Break.
Julio Urias is not far off – he has not been sharp, but his ERA is 2.78. He will be fine. Injuries are worrisome, but mechanics are fixable. Walker knows he is a smaller guy who has to generate power with his mechanics which can be more complex than say, a Bobby Miller who uses his whole body to generate power. As Walker ages, he will become more like Kershaw – he’s not a deGrom. If I were the Mets, I would worry about deGrom and Scherzer. Scherzer has lots of miles on that arm… deGrom has battled injury for 3 years, missing significant time.
Clayton Kershaw, Andrew Heaney and several other pitchers are due back over the next several weeks. Mitch White has stepped up and gets another chance tonight. Tyler Anderson has been a revelation. No one expected this. The pitching will be just fine. The Dodgers are still 1st in ERA in the NL. Everyone else is about a half run a game behind them.
It should also not be lost on anyone that the Dodgers are where they are with Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Justin Turner, and Gavin Lux all OPS’ing below .700. Will Smith is also close to being there as his OPS is .731. At least three of those guys are going to need to figure it out. Mookie Bettes (.975 OPS), Freddie Freeman (.834 OPS), Trea Turner (.821 OPS), and Chris Taylor (.800 OPS) have carried the team, but I think Freeman and Trea will both improve this OPS as the season progresses.
The Dodgers are where they are without a consistent cleanup hitter all year. Gavin Lux has tantalized us several times this year, but .261 with only 8 extra-base hits in 153 AB’s ain’t so good! By comparison, Justin Turner who is hitting .223 has 20 extra base hits. Cody (20 extra base hits) has to improve (at least a little) with the bat, while Smith, Lux, JT, and Max have to improve a lot. Will Smith is really struggling with just 11 extra base hits. Max Muncy also has just 8 extra base hits.
Is there help on the horizon? I guess that Mike Busch and/or Miguel Vargas could get the call, but Busch is certainly not ready and Vargas really needs more time too. The Dodgers could live with a no-hit catcher, but they need better production from 3B and 2B. Max Muncy could be the solution, if he is healthy. It might be month or more before that happens. I have two questions to ask:
- “Are we seeing Justin Turner’s final chapter or will be pull a Mookie Betts and hit his way outta’ this?“
- “Will the Santa Ana winds and hot weather make the balls fly off the Dodger bats?“
If the hitters I mentioned do not get it together, the Dodgers may have to dip into that Farm System and trade some prospects for some players who can hit. Think Miguel Vargas, Landon Knack, Jose Ramos, and Luis Rodriguez for Jose Ramirez. That probably won’t happen, and I’m betting that the abovementioned players will come around… with a quickness!
Discussion (26)
Disagree, not disagreeable
4 pitches by David Priceless( I should say worthless) and game over. He is a perfect candidate to be DFA. He is taking up a much needed spot in an overworked bullpen.
So much for being a great fastball hitting team! Maybe we can let the guys hit against Buehler’s fastball!
@Eric, your comments tonight have been the comfort zone of the evening. I am cheerful you are pointing in the right direction.
White was great. Pitched his way out of that jam in the 5th like a champ. I thought that would have earned him another inning. Head scratcher after that.
Disappointing.
At least we aren’t the Angels. 12 game losing streak is a symptom of a larger problem. Joe Madden seemed shocked but not at all upset. Mentioned he took a bike ride and is playing golf in the morning. I think that org is even more dysfunctional than I thought. And I already thought it was quite dysfunctional. What a train wreck.
Curses… foiled agan!
Strange that doc went with Justin Bruihl with three right handed batters coming up. Maybe he has determined this game is over. Yes it worked but if he is still trying to win this game strange decision.
What a waste of a Mitch White great start. Shame on Doc here. I am seeing the TBS broadcast and RDarling said it that Tony LaRussa
eat the candy of Doc here. Does he really forgot about Pollock?
Stick a fork in David Price. He is done.
Well, he pitched so badly that at least we can say he injured his arm.
Is it time to DFA David Price yet?
I guess since there are 4 straight right handed batters coming up Bickford is an ok decision to go with. There’s better options. And of course David Price sucks again.
I think I need to watch Gavin Stone pitch.
So far today, 4ip, 9k. His Tulsa ERA is .45
Looking at stats, concerning the pitching, specifically the bullpen, Justin Bruihl, Brusdar Graterol, Phil Bickford all have problems getting outs on one side of the plate, not only this year but also their career. I believe all 3 guys have options. Who to bring up if optioning those 3 guys? I don’t know I’d have to look at stats to figure that out.
David Price has been a bust since acquiring him.
On the plus side of the bullpen Daniel Hudson, Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Yency Almonte have all been good this year, but each one of them have their flaws.
Daniel Hudson has had a better than average career, but I wouldn’t consider him a lock down reliever. Although so far this year he has been.
Evan Phillips has had an average career with reverse splits and so far this year the same is true with reverse splits.
Alex Vesia has trouble getting right handed batters out but he is very good vs left handed batters both in his career and this year.
Yency Almonte has had a below average career but to be fair he pitched in that thin air in Colorado all his career except this year.
And then there is Craig Kimbrel who has had a great career but this year so far has been just better than average. He has not been lock down so far this year.
But then there is Blake Treinen who is on the injured list. Hopefully he gets back this year. He has had a solid career but has had an average career against left handed batters although he has turned that around the last 2 years.
Angels fired Maddon and placed Phil Nevin in as the interim manager.
8:10 PM ET
Dodgers (35-19)
White Sox (25-27)
SP Mitch White R
1-1 4.79 ERA 20.2IP 22K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Trea Turner R
C Will Smith R
3B J. Turner R
CF C. Bellinger L
DH Eddy Alvarez S
LF Chris Taylor R
2B Gavin Lux L
Partly-cloudy-day
0% Rain
63° Wind 5 mph In
Craig Kimbrel Placed On the Paternity List, Phil Bickford Returns
Craig Kimbrel Placed On the Paternity List, Phil Bickford Returns
As far as trades go, it’s going to be a really weird year since there’s so many teams that will make the playoffs even more in the hunt. Thank God they only added two more teams to the playoff mix. The playoffs will consist of 3 division winners in each league, then the next three teams with the best records. If the season ended today, the playoffs would look like this…
Mets and Dodgers with a buy in the first round.
Brewers will be the other division winner and will play the worst record in the first round.
Pads, Cards and Giants are wildcard teams and the Braves, Phillies and Pirates are all in striking distance from a WildCard.
In the AL, the Yankees and Houston are in BUY round
The Twins are the other Division winner
The Blue Jays, Red Sox and Rays are wildcards and the Indians, White Sox, Angels, Rangers and Mariners are all in striking distance.
This leaves the following teams as sellers and their position players that have an OPS over 750 with 100 ABs…
A’s – Not a single hitter with an OPS over 750
Tigers – Harold Castro SS .779
Royals – Andrew Benintendi LF .799
Orioles – Trey Mancini OF/DH .814 and Austin Hays LF .802
Reds – Brandon Drury 3B, 821 – Tyler Stephenson C, 821 – Tyler Naquin RF, 775 – Kyle Farmer SS, 756
Cubs – Wilson Contreras C, 916 – Ian Happ LF, 822 – Patrick Wisdom 3B, 787 – Seiya Suzuki RF, 776
Nats – Juan Soto RF, 831 – Josh Bell 1B, 802
Rockies – CJ Cron 1B, 906 – Yonathan Daza CF, 768 – Connor Joe DH, 759 – Jose Iglesias SS, 753
D-Backs – David Peralta LF, 768 – Christian Walker 1B, 764 – Daulton Varsho CF, 752
Slim Pickins indeed. Now lets take away guys with 2 year remaining on their contract or arbitration…
Royals – Andrew Benintendi LF .799
Orioles – Trey Mancini OF/DH .814
Reds – Brandon Drury 3B, 821 – Tyler Naquin RF, 775
Cubs – Wilson Contreras C, 916 – Ian Happ LF, 822
Nats – Josh Bell 1B, 802
Rockies – CJ Cron 1B, 906 – Jose Iglesias SS, 753
D-Backs – David Peralta LF, 768
That’s pretty much what you’re gonna be left with as far as position players go. So Josh Bell or CJ Cron at DH, Benintendi, Trey Mancini, Ian Happ in Left Field with CT3 moving to 3B and career year Brandon Drury at 3B look like the choices right now.
VERY SLIM PICKINS! Stop Dreaming.
I am not advocating any trades at this juncture – the Dodgers need to look inward first and see who gets healthy and who doesn’t. However, I could see Cleveland taking a dive and deciding to rebuild. Bieber is not happy, and between Ramirez, Bieber, and another vet or two, they could do a solid rebuild. Ramirez would not like to be there if Bieber is gone.
Today, Ramirez wants to be in Cleveland, but I believe they will be forced to rebuild. Ramirez loves Cleveland, and maybe Ramirez will want to stay… but things change.
What are the odds this is the team in August?
1. Betts RF
2. Freeman 1B
3. T. Turner SS
4. Martinez DH
5. Ramirez 3B
6. Muncy 2B
7. Taylor LF
8. Bellinger CF
9. Smith C
Bench: Lux, J-Turner, Barnes, Alvarez
Rotation:
1. Buehler
2. Urias
3. Kersaw
4. Gonsolin
5. Anderson
6. Heaney
Bullpen:
1. Kahnle
2. Gonzalez
3. Hudson
4. May
5. Duffy
6. Almonte
7. Kimbrel
That leaves off Phillips, Price, Vesia, White, Moronta, Grove, Graterl, Bickford, and Bruihl
Every year, the same thing. One third of the way through the season and fans are either in full panic mode or trading the farm. The deadline is in August this season. The second I think. By the All Star break I think we will know where the holes are. Kershaw is rejoining the team in Chicago and is on schedule to maybe start against the Giants in SF. Muncy is just beginning his rehab and Heaney is due to pitch in maybe a couple more games in the minors before a decision is made on him. I agree with Mark about Lux. The talent is there, and he obviously is no outfielder. But the lack of power is a concern. If Muncy is healthy, he will get that job back. Impressed with Alvarez’s athleticism. The guy has some obvious skills. A switch hitting second baseman seems like a nice fit.
J.D.’s power numbers are not that impressive. He only has 5 homers so far. He does have 19 doubles and is hitting .358. Slot him in the 4 hole where those 3 guys can set him up and he would be a force. Escobar hit for the cycle in the Mets win over the Padres. About the least likeliest guy you would expect to do that. Will Smith is only hitting clean up because Turner has not begun to hit on all cylinders.
I agree with you Mark I think the team is in a great position. Walker will figure it out. He is just to talented. I also think Lux is doing exactly what Roberts is asking of him. Get on base anyway you can. Don’t worry about hitting go for power. He is generally hitting in the nine hole and is third on the team in runs scored. And who is the leaders in RBI, it’s Betts, Freeman, and TT. The more he plays this all he stats should go up.
The production from the catcher position really isn’t bad. We expect more from Will Smith, but he and Barnes are on a combined pace for 30 HRs and 99 RBIs…. True, those numbers include some pinch-hitting and DH appearances–but the tandem has been solid.
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of targeting JD Martinez. He’s been an excellent bat for a long time, and he’s having a great season, with an OBP above .400.
Normally I prefer a rotating DH, but given the struggles of JT, Muncy and Belli, someone with Martinez’s track record would be nice to have at cleanup. Boston is playing at about a .500 clip but seem unlikely to make the playoffs. Not sure, but I think JD has an option in his contract that makes a midseason deal more likely. (Devers is intriguing but seems less like to be dealt. There are rumors about Bogaerts but he doesn’t seem like a good fit.)
Interesting notion re Jose Ramirez. Cleveland is now in 2nd place in the AL central, but just under .500, so they seem unlikely to make the playoffs. With more of a June swoon, the bidding for Ramirez could heat up. I do suspect that time is starting to catch up with Justin Turner. Jose Ramirez is a force.
The Dodgers are obviously so good that anything short of a championship would be a disappointment. The team is at the top of the majors in run differential, hitting and pitching. Yet there’s the nagging sense that it isn’t hitting on all cylinders, given the struggles of proven performers like Buhler, Urias and Muncy. Will Belli ever resemble the player he once was? Is Justin Turner over the hill? Why is the 3B and DH production subpar? And even Freddie–why doubles and not more HRs? Thank goodness that Mookie is on an MVP pace–but the offense seems too dependent on him, Freddie, Trea and Will Smith.
So who says no to a deal for JD Martinez? He’d slot into the DH role, batting 4th or 5th, and take ABs away from JT, Muncy and Rios (who I’d be tempted to offer in a deal).
And then there’s the BP. With Treinen out, Kimbrel a bit shaky and Graterol giving up too many runs, David Robertson has to be on AF’s radar. He’s 37, having a great season, and Cubs aren’t going anywhere.
I’m less worried about the starting pitching….unless another injury hits.
Thanks Mark for adding the Arizona Complex League and Dominion Summer League Box Scores of the three Dodger teams participating at the top of the page under Dodger Minor League Affiliates for everyone to view.