Rant & Rave Friday
I don’t have much time today, so this format seemed appropriate. If you are so inclined, read what Dan McLaughlin writes in the National Review with regard to the Trever Bauer Debacle. It is at least very thought provoking. One has to wonder how long Max Scherzer’s arm will hold…
I don’t have much time today, so this format seemed appropriate.
- If you are so inclined, read what Dan McLaughlin writes in the National Review with regard to the Trever Bauer Debacle. It is at least very thought provoking.
- One has to wonder how long Max Scherzer’s arm will hold up. Justin Verlander’s evebtually broke down. Let’s hope it stays intact at least they season.
- In an interview yesterday, AJ Ellis said that Clayton Kershaw is a “One-Uniform Guy” and that he will go into Cooperstown as a Dodger. We may have seen the last of Clayton. A pitcher doesn’t miss two months because of a little strain in his forearm. In an interview this week, Clayton referred to his sore elbow. Of course, nothing is ever disclosed like that by the Dodgers, but I think he needs TJ and is just trying to finish the season and retire. He’s not going to go through that. I predicted early in the season that he would retire after this season. I stll stand by that, although I hope he can pitch before the season ends.
- Danny Duffy could be a big weapon in the playoffs, if healthy. We don’t have much information on him either.
- Don’t count on Lux and Beaty being on the post-season roster. With Turner, Turner, Seager, Taylor and Muncy able to play all around the infield and with Albert the RH pinch hitter, McKinney is a better candidate due to his defense and experience.
- The Dodgers team ERA sits at 3.00. SF is next with a 3.24 ERA. The Dodgers have been 1st or 2nd in Team ERA since 2017. That is impressive.
- Ryan Pepiot has pitched 83 innings and I suspect he is running on fumes.
- Jorbit Vivas finally moved to Great Lakes.
- Diego Catraya is shut down for the year and Bobby Miller is being used sparingly and is currently on the IL. The Dodgers are being very careful with both of these potential Superstar talents.
- We haven’t heard much from Eric about Bullpen Building lately, as Sean Dolittle was let loose by the Reds this week. I think Bullpen building is a lot harder and vastly different than many fans think.
- Brent Suter (2.73 ERA) has blown 8 saves for Milwaukee
- Brad Hand has blown 6 (remember when he was the flavor of the week?) saves
- Liam Hendriks has blown 6 saves
- Daniel Bard of Colorado has blown 8 saves
- Mark Melancon has blown 5 save
- Jake McGee has blown 4 saves, as has Will Smith
- Tyler Rogers (1.93 ERA) has blown 5 for SF
- Craig Kimbrel has blown 3, but his ERA has went from 0.57 with the Cubs to 1.53 with the Sox
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Discussion (123)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Giants already up 2-0 in the first on a Posey homer.
OK, I give up. The Giants are an excellent team. There, I said it.
(hopefully that will be enough to push them into a major slump)
With Pujols batting 4th and a .515 OPS against righthanders I can see Muncy entering the game today after the lefthander (Freeland) is done.
I have a question, maybe baseball connoisseurs can answer, how many times has a team won 2 games on the same day, without being a double header? I mean the game on Wednesday practically ended on Thursday and then again at night another win
Guess who has the lowest OPS against on the Dodgers pitching staff with a large enough sample size?
Nope not Blake Treinen or Kenley Jansen or Max Scherzer or Walker Buehler. It’s Alex Vesia.
Did I happen to much how much I hate openers?
Graterol has stats that suggest he is a ROOGY and he gives up a homer to a left handed batter Blackmon.
Jackson looking good so far, knock on wood
Thanks Joc for the incredible catch.
Braves win 6-5.
Smith is the man. 21st HR of the year. Sorry, he plays everyday. But I know he will not. Now Turner takes him deep. 2-2. Yea Trea!
Back to back bomb Turner
There’s a lot of firepower in this healthy lineup. Will Smith is the best #8 in all of baseball. I predict a big long ball final 35 games. Buckle up Giants! Finally the Giants lose a close game but just barely. Thx Joc!
Another nice performance by Jackson. But I don’t know if he has enough velocity and command with his fastball to be a long term part of the rotation. That was some bomb by Cron! Reminded me of the one Stanton hit years ago.
Chance to gain a game in the standings in a regular season that is coming to a close rapidly.
Having two BP
Games with rookie pitchers playing integral parts is not optimal but the offense has been rather anemic tonight.
Got to get this win!
Bellinger over Muncy?
Enough already! Sit Bellinger down. He’s just AWEFUL! He’s probably the worst hitter in all of baseball. We’re trying to avoid a one game playoff and can’t afford any wasted ab’s. Put TT in center and Taylor and Lux at second. What a wasted opportunity tonight by an offense that is too talented to look this bad! And against one of the worst bullpens in baseball.
Frustrating game. The use of the opener backfires. Seager swinging 3-0 at what might have been ball four. I don’t get that at all. The incredibly bad call on Seager for strike three. Muncy may have swung at ball 4 but with Wolf’s strike zone who knows.
I agree. I hate those long fly outs when walks and singles would do nicely. Everybody thinks he can hit it over the fence, but how often does that turn into an out? Yet the guy goes back to the dugout thinking “hey I was almost a hero.” An out is an out unless it’s a sacrifice fly. The best Dodger hitters only homer twenty times a year. Seems like a low percentage gamble to me. I’d rather they bunt against the shift.
The team was flat. And it showed. They expended a lot of energy the last 3 days, came home to face an opponent they have dominated and fell flat. What they call a trap game. Rockies pitchers are not that good. They were chasing pitches all night and squared up very few. Smith had 3 hits, no one else except Turner with his homer did anything. So do not blame Bellinger for one bad AB off of the bench late in the game. JT 0-4 TT 1-4 Betts, 1-4, and his hit did not come until the 9th. Pujols 0-3 Seager 1-4 Pollock 0-4, Taylor 0-3. Smith 3-3. You score 2 runs, you are going to lose. They struck out 12 times against 4 pitchers and none of those guys has an ERA below 4. The last 3 hitters, Muncy, Seager and Pollock all struck out with a man on. Against a pitcher they have owned in the past. It is over, you can’t take it back, and once again they blow a golden opportunity to get within 1.5 of the Giants.