- 8 W; 4 L; 2.95 ERA; 1.09 WHIP; 70 IP; 93 K’s – Not bad for an old man. Enjoy his last season as a Dodger – I hear he is seething, and it is his right! Has it ever occurred to anyone that maybe Clayton has figured out his back problem?
- I GUARANTEE that Andrew Friedman will not pay Ohtani anything close to $500 Million! Whoever gets him will have a circus – just like the Angels. Instead, AF should re-sign Urias, and keep trying to extend Will Smith. Stay the course with the farm.
- I keep telling you that you have to be patient with David Peralta. He had back surgery after the season last year, and while he is in great shape, it takes time to recover from back surgery. He is a Dodger for two reasons: (1) He is a Gold Glove Caliber LF’er, and (2) He mashes RHP! For his career, he has a .291 BA against right-handers and a .346 OB% to go with a .825 OPS. After a 4-5 day, he’s hitting .261 and is just warming up. You will be glad he is on this team.
- Chris Taylor is a player where OPS tells the tale. If his OPS is .800, he’s good. He’s at .750 and climbing!
- It was good to see James Outman garner some success yesterday. His reverse splits are puzzling. He is hitting .279 against LHP but with 1 HR, and .218 against RHP with 8 HR. It’s obvious he has changed his approach against LHP. In my opinion, this is a better team with JO in CF, but sometimes he needs to sit to clear his head.
- IF Austin Barnes has to go on the DL, there is only one other catcher on the roster and that is Diego Cartaya. What harm could it do to give him a cup of coffee in the Show? It could accelerate his development. One never knows, and no one has to be DFA’ed! Of course, he’s not ready but I like to “push” prospects more than AF does!
- Michael Grove goes tonight in Philly against Ranger Suarez, who has a 5.47 ERA, but that might be a fooler. Let’s hope Grove can string together back-to-back good games. Jonny DeLuca should go again tonight!
- Predictably, the Doc Haters came out yesterday, but the consensus is that Doc Must Stay!
Other Stuff
- Payton Martin (watch him): https://www.dodgers2080.com/dodgers-prospects-payton-martin-continues-to-shine-with-quakes/
- Jared Karros: https://www.dodgers2080.com/dodgers-prospect-jared-karros-wins-cal-league-pitcher-of-the-month/
Discussion (37)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Kershaw has a right to be ticked off at the Dodgers. He has defined the term pitcher this year. Great competitor. Could he be a Ranger next year? I hope not. Would love to see him pitch his entire career in LA. Seager is having a good year in Texas after being injured. Let’s stop the Doc bashing. In my opinion, he is the second greatest manager in Dodger history behind Walter Alston, even though I’m still ticked at Alston for not letting Drysdale get the last three outs in the 1962 playoff against the Giants!! Roberts’ winning pct. is right up there with the best at this point in his career.
Bobby Miller is the real deal, and he KNOWS it! Stone not ready. Grove is a little better, still iffy. Mookie needs to cut back on strikeouts in my opinion. Wish his BA was as high as it was in Boston. I think he could steal more. Don’t get me wrong. Mookie, Freddy, and Will are the most valuable Dodgers. And, Mookie being able to play three positions shows what a superstar he is. I agree; no way will Friedman give Ohtani $500 million. To be honest I hope he stays with the Angels, though I doubt it. This is my first time on this site. It is outstanding, by the way. I go way back to 1955 when I stayed home from school and watched Johnny Podres in his rookie year beat the Yankees in game seven. Podres was one of the greatest big game pitchers in Dodger history.
Pretty sure the Unabomber was a Giants fan.
Pretty cool stat re Miller, found on mlb.com:
“… Miller is the only pitcher in AL/NL history to go 3-0 with a sub-1.00 ERA while compiling at least 23 strikeouts and allowing fewer than 15 hits in his first four games. Sure, that’s a bit of a mouthful, but put a simpler way: no pitcher has ever started his career quite like Miller. ”
I say we keep him. Sure hope Julio comes back strong.
To me, May and Buhler are big question marks. If AF & Associates feel the same way, I think Dodgers will target proven SPs and RPs in the trade season.
The Unabomber died today at a medical facility in NC. He had been in Super-Max prison here in Colorado about 8 miles from me in Florence. He was transferred to the medical center in 2021. He was 81. Don’t hear much complaining about Peralta lately, nor Heyward.
trueblue.la is a fun blog to read. This year they are doing flashbacks of the 1963 season. Below is a piece of one of the articles.
The never-ending hot seat
Dodgers manager Walt Alston has been rumored to be on the hot seat this year, at which he expressed frustration earlier in the season. To start this week with the loss, the Dodgers’ fifth straight, the Dodgers fell to 27-23, four games out in the National League standings, in third place.
Red Smith in a syndicated column wrote that Alston is not properly appreciated. From the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, New York:
Perhaps there have been other managers who got as little credit for winning and as much blame for losing as Walter Alston does, but their names do not come to mind.
In his nine full seasons — now the longes unbroken term in the majors — Alston’s teams have won two World Series and three pennants and tied for a fourth. They were second three times and missed the first division only once. That single sickening plunge had a sequel that would have raised any other manager to a permanent place in history beside miracle man George Stallings, for the very next year Alston steered that seventh-place club through a pennant playoff to the championship of the universe.
The only permanent place for reserved for Walter is on the griddle.
Don’t worry about this guy just throw strikes…… Ha, ha, ha ha ha ha
Good outing once more by the kid.
If guys learn from adversity, then I guess next stop for Thor and Caleb is Hall of Fame!!
All my love to Mets World. Polar Bear out – adios offense.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT81DNQxP/
Bobby 2Chains: Drippiest
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT81ATsbK/
Ferguson should not pitch in high leverage situations for some time. His confidence seems damaged. Rather would have V-Gone in close games as the primary lefthanded reliever.
Grove has very good stuff but he is not consistent enough yet.
Stone got hammered again yesterday at OKC. He is sinking faster than a Stone (sorry, could not resist).
The low averages of too many hitters are finally creeping up on the Dodgers. Against good pitching all those low averages are exposed and it is costing us games lately.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Transactions
Triple-A: Left-handed pitcher Mike Montgomery assigned to Oklahoma City
Friday scores
Oklahoma City 14, El Paso 10
Tulsa 5, Arkansas 4
Great Lakes 5, Lake County 0
Modesto 6, Rancho Cucamonga 4
Saturday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Maddux Bruns) vs. Lake County (Rodney Boone)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Landon Knack) vs. Arkansas (Ethan Lindow)
5:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Mike Montgomery) at El Paso (Matt Waldron)
6:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (TBD) at Modesto (TBD)
4:05 PM ET
Dodgers (36-28)
Phillies (31-32)
SP Bobby Miller R
2-0 1.06 ERA
SP Aaron Nola R
5-4 4.30 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
LF D. Peralta L
RF J. Heyward L
SS Chris Taylor R
CF James Outman L
Partly-cloudy-day
9% Precipitation
81° Wind 8 mph L-R
I’m being honest here when I say this…..Guys like Thor or Grove should possibly have to pitch the entire 8 innings no matter how many runs they give up. That way we give our BP and much needed day off. Here is the scenario I’m laying out for that to happen.
Why should these bums pitch 4 innings, give up a ton of runs, and then go to the shower while needlessly stressing out the BP? If we’re down by 4 or more runs after their initial 4 innings, keep them in and let them finish. If they allow 15 runs, so what? Thor for instance is making about 15 million, right? Well, let him pitch to earn it. If we’re down by 3 or less, I suppose you could think of still trying to win the game and bring the BP in.
Agree Bear. Nobody standing out in bullpen except Phillips. Robertson could sure be a better option
It is over and nothing will change that. The team has not played well on the road all year. Maybe the bullpen arms are stressed because they have been used so much. At this rate, this BP could be gassed by the end of July. Starters not going at least 6 really hurts the staff and right now, there are two MLB class starters on this roster, Kershaw and Gonsolin. Miller has looked good so far, and lets hope he keeps it going with a nice performance today. If the Yankees did not scare him, the Phillies sure won’t. But they need good starting pitching and they need it yesterday. And right now there is no help coming from AAA. Stone got lit up again yesterday. They can either try and trade for help, or hope May and Urias get back sooner than later. Andriese and Erlin are the only two starters at AAA with any real experience in the majors. I do not believe Grove is a viable option in the rotation permanently. He sure has not looked the part his last two starts. Oh, I hate the opener theory. Let the starter face the guys he needs to get out.
Rookie? Looked good against the reds!
Martinez lead off double in 8th, no conscious effort to move him over. Roberts game when he played was small ball and speed, guess those days and philosophy are gone. Looks like Friedman needs to go yardsaling and find a couple reliable relievers. Wouldn’t Robertson made sense in the ninth?
I think this is all part of Caleb’s lesson plan (sarcasm intended). We were told to sit and watch his development and that the blow up in Cincy was a one-off and all part of a grand scheme to develop him for pressure situations. Hard lesson and a failure in round #1.
Meanwhile…
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT81SJyqw/
Weren’t the Dodgers and Mets supposed to have all this great pitching?
Another AF crap show.
The definition of insanity: Allowing Ferguson to pitch to anybody in the 9th inning of a close game and expecting a different result.
It turns out Ferguson is not a situational lefty, either.
Schwarber was totally gassed after hitting that triple. Looked like he needed oxygen.
Deluca looks like he belongs out there.
Let this dude play against everybody and see how he does!
No player is worth $500 million.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Julio Urías will not start on Sunday. Left hamstring didn’t respond in last bullpen session. #Dodgers
Arizona Complex League: Left-hander Mike Montgomery, who signed a minor league deal Tuesday, was assigned to the ACL Dodgers
Thursday scores
El Paso 4, Oklahoma City 3 (10 innings)
Arkansas 9, Tulsa 5
Lake County 7, Great Lakes 2
Rancho Cucamonga 7, Modesto 3
Friday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Yon Castro) vs. Lake County (Ethan Hankins)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Emmet Sheehan) vs. Arkansas (TBD)
5:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Gavin Stone) at El Paso (Jay Groome)
7:05 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Jared Karros) at Modesto (Marcelo Perez)
7:05 PM ET
Dodgers (36-27)
Phillies (30-32)
SP Michael Grove R
0-2 8.14 ERA PRIM
Ranger Suarez L
1-2 5.47 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
DH J. Martinez R
3B Max Muncy L
LF Chris Taylor R
2B M. Vargas R
CF Jonny DeLuca R
SS Miguel Rojas R
Partly-cloudy-day
36% Precipitation
70° Wind 8 mph L-
Outman > Hollandsworth?
Why is it that other teams can develop players and they are in the mayor league faster than the Dodger players.
* With experience, Vargas will learn not to check swing on strike one, especially ahead in a count. Take it or let it eat, but never check swing on strike one. He went from an advantage 2 and 0 count into a double play.
* Are we in the Twilight Zone, sometimes? Mookie has 2 chances to be on 3rd with one out, including when the ball got away from the cacther with 1 out. When he did get to third he looked like he was tagging on the flair to center with 2 outs. And Freddie not sliding at home is pretty weird. And in this game it didn’t matter. Other times it does.
How nice to see a game where we used 2 pitchers, total in a win.
i Love to see CK go 7 and look great.
Kersh went off on David Bell yesterday after Barnes was hit. It doesn’t matter at this point what the fan base thinks. Kersh is a Christian, and he has strong beliefs. He is really irked about the situation, but what goes on underneath, only Kersh knows. I do believe it will not be all that easy to retain his services if he decides to continue his career. The chances of him going home to Texas have increased with this decision by the Dodgers. Today is Jeff Dominiques birthday. Happy Birthday Jefe! Hope you have a great day.
Yes a lot of Merch sales. But what if injured after 2 years. Its a big risk.
And as that famous guy once said-‘Can’t we all just get along’?. But sadly not happening anytime soon
Good point Matt about the return in merchandise Ohtani would bring. Plus it would make the Dodgers even bigger in the Asian/Japanese market regarding prospects and media.
Cartaya: Average hovering around .200 still. I find it curious that the Dodgers do not play him every day. They appear to give him 2-3 days off a week, not even using him much at DH.
Josue de Paula has had a slow start at A ball, average in the Austin Barnes range of .150. Still only 18 years old and probably THE best hitting prospect in the Dodgers system. Hopefully he can turn it on soon and not become anohter Joel Guzman. Yikes, there I said it…
Will the game be on tonight or called because of the smoke and dust on the east coast ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
500M but how much Merch will he sell and extra tickets will he sell??
Not often a guy like this comes on the market. Dodgers will be players make no mistake about it.
Mark –
As usual, I find myself in agreement!
I agree with you on Kershaw and how this could be the last we see of him as a Dodger. The Dodgers may also have taken their strong fan base support for granted and – given their current PR debacle – I am really curious on how future attendance may be impacted.
You were right on Peralto; he is looking like an important piece the rest of the way. Also, Outman has impressed me with his composure during the last monnth of troubles and hope he can make the necessary adjustments.
I like what I see in Miller, Grove and Robertson too. I like that the Dodgers are giving the opportiunities to the young guys to see what they have. In fact, I am willing to settle for a wild card slot in the playoffs to find out.
You are right about Taylor too. I get frustrated watching his big swing every time at bat but his value as a utility player – maybe a even full-time SS – cannot be denied.
I am really impressed with Ohtani but I question $500M for any one player and how a potential debilitating injury could impact the future of any franchise. The upside of signing him could be huge but so is the downside IMO.
Glad to see LADT still going strong and thanks for all you do that keeps it so!