- In 2021, 51% of all MLB Pitchers went on the IL. Let that sink in a little. Now, what pitcher do you want to trade for?
- Lane Thomas of the Nats is the latest “flavor of the week,” but a 27-year-old outfielder who is hitting over .300 with a .851 OPS and two more years of control is going to cost a lot… a whole lot! Is this his breakout year (he has a .257 career BA), or is it an outlier? I do not know. The Nats would ask a lot. He would be nice in RF, which would allow Mookie to move to SS and/or 2B.
- The Pirates are not going to trade David Bednar unless someone would make a dope-fiend trade, and we all know that AF won’t do that. The Pirates have a core that could contend next year, and Bednar is controllable through 2027! No way they trade him unless you want to include Cartaya or Rushing and a couple of starter prospects like Frasso and Ryan! What are you smoking?
- Arte Moreno is not going to trade with the Dodgers and especially is NOT going to trade Ohtani to them.
- Milwaukee’s pitching has failed them… Woodruff hurt, Burnes 3.94 ERA, Peralta 4.70 ERA, Eric Lauer 5.48 ERA, Wade Miley is their Ace at 3.36 ERA.
- Christain Yelich is not the player he once was, but he is solid: .285 BA, .379 OB%, .834 OPS, 11 HR, 21 SB. Not MVP-like, but good! Kind of like Cody Bellinger’s year (.298 BA, .353 OB%, .846 OPS, 9 HR, 11 SB… although he has been injured for a substantial time. He hit a HR in his first at-bat in Yankee Stadium! Both players could be available at the deadline for different reasons: Belli will be a Free Agent after this season, and Yelli is under contract for six more years with a lot of money still owed. Belli is unlikely to be traded to the Dodgers, and as for Yelli: NO WAY!
- Michael Grove pitched his best game ever last night. If he had not hung that curve on Ohtani it would have been outstanding. Michael learns slowly… but he learns. He is much better than his 6.89 ERA indicates. He might be ready to step in as a #5!
- Two things that are extremely silly (the first is overrated, and the second is underrated): Batting Orders and Robert’s Bashers!
- Our company purchased 50 tickets to the Indianapolis Indians vs. Memphis Redbirds last night and today. We had a great time last night, and it’s a 1:00 game today. The Indy Indians are the best ticket in town, and they are not changing their names like the Gutless Karen team in Cleveland!
- The Indianapolis Indians announced in February that the club is partnering with the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana. The partnership will include a land acknowledgment, recognition of Miami veterans during Native American Heritage Night at Victory Field, support of the Miami scholarship program, and fan educational opportunities. The team’s name, which has been the Indianapolis Indians since 1902, will remain the same. “We are grateful to the Indianapolis Indians for the opportunity to share our story with Hoosiers throughout central Indiana,” said Brian Buchanan, Chief of the Miami Nation of Indians of Indiana. “When the history of Indiana is studied, the major influence of Native American people is seen in the names of Indiana cities, state parks, rivers, food, celebrations, and other cultural points of interest. We have encouraged the team to remain the Indianapolis Indians.” — Sometimes all it takes is a little perspective and not being an idiot!
- Miguel Andujar (remember he was the runner-up to Ohtani for ROY a few years ago?) is tearing it up for the Indy Indians: 249 AB’s, 9 HR, .361 BA, .421 OB%.995 OPS – You would think the Pirates might call him up or trade him?
- I still believe in Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch!
- Do not underestimate what David Peralta has brought to this team.
- No real Dodger baseball until next Friday!
Discussion (30)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Your first place LA Dodgers…..
I’ve been wondering about whether playing infield has somehow improved Mookie’s offense. He doesn’t buy it, but Dodgers Nation says this:
“When he plays second base, he has a .347 batting average with 7 home runs, and as a shortstop, he has a .304 batting average with 3 home runs. While playing infield, he smiles all the time. His natural athleticism is evident in the infield. If the Dodgers didn’t have Gavin Lux’s injury and Miguel Vargas performed as expected, the Dodgers likely wouldn’t have given Betts much opportunity to play infield.”
One Dodger yakker suggested that Mookie is “more engaged” in the infield. Seems possible.
The offensive surge against the Angels pushed the Dodgers up to No. 3 in team OPS at .785, trailing only the Braves (.831) and Rangers (.801). The ten HRs pushed the Dodgers’ total to 149, second only to the Braves.
A lot of folks here wish the Dodgers would swing the bat more. And they have a point: the mid-season stats show that team has only 733 hits, ranking 20th in baseball.
But the team coaches discipline and patience–and the Dodgers’ 366 walks are second only to the Pads’ 374.
Overall, the stats show the obvious:
The offense is doing fine, but the pitching not so much.
We head into the break with percentage points lead over Arizona. Arizona has faltered some lately. What I find interesting is that they are a better road team than they are at home. They are 26-24 at home, 26-15 on the road. By contrast, the Dodgers are 29-16 at home and 22-22 on the road. Being in first changes some things if they are still in first come the deadline. I still think any trades they might make are more on the peripheral rather than major trades. If they make a move for a name player, it would probably be a starting pitcher. Even though I would love to see them get a power hitting right-handed outfielder, it won’t happen. A bullpen arm and maybe some sort of depth in the middle infield because they have not been getting a whole lot of production there. Vargas being sent to AAA is a good thing. He can clear his mind without the pressure of a pennant race. He will be back, but not as soon as some might think.
And 3rd baseman of the future?
The Dodgers took third baseman Jake Gelof from the University of Virginia with their second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, at 60th overall and the final pick for Los Angeles on the first day of the draft.
Gelof hit 44 home runs in his last two seasons for Virginia, including hitting .321/.427/.710 with 23 home runs as a junior in 2023, with almost as many walks (48) as strikeouts (50). His 48 career home runs is a school record, and he set Virginia RBI records in each of the last two seasons, driving in 81 runs in 58 games in 2022, then 90 RBI in 65 games this season.
What jumps out is that Gelof sort of “fell” to 60, if we are to believe the various prospect rankings:
No. 35 at MLB Pipeline
No. 37 by Keith Law at The Athletic
40th by Baseball America
50th by Kiley McDaniel at ESPN
So it looks like the Dodgers drafted their leadoff batter of the future, Texas high schooler Kendall George.
Scouts joke that George is a 90 runner on the standard 20-80 scale, and he makes the most out of his speed. He’s an aggressive basestealer and runs down balls from gap to gap in center field. The Arkansas recruit has a below-average arm but it’s playable in center and he compensates by getting to balls quicker than most players.
George is only the fourth high school position player drafted by the Dodgers this century, along with James Loney, 19th in 2002, Corey Seager 18th in 2012 Gavin Lux 20th in 2016.
Listed at 5’10, 170 pounds, the left-handed-hitting George talked to Dan Zielinski III at Baseball Prospect Journal in May:
“I have very good bat-to-ball skills,” George said. “With my growing strength, I think that will be the second-best tool in my game. Behind that real close is my defense. I take a lot of pride in playing really good defense. I can chase down almost any ball in the outfield due to my speed.”
Loney, Seager, Lux–that’s a pretty good track record with high school position players. George is obviously years away, but it will fun to follow his progress.
Kendall George is the Dodgers’ #1 pick. He is a cross between Jeren Kendall, and Jake Vogel. What could possibly go wrong here… or is the third time a charm?
Who the hell knows?
DODGERS REINSTATE YENCY ALMONTE
LOS ANGELES– Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated right-handed pitcher Yency Almonte from the paternity list and optioned left-handed pitcher Bryan Hudson and infielder Miguel Vargas.
Almonte, 29, missed two games on the paternity list and he has appeared in 38 games, posting a 3-1 record with a 5.15 ERA (21 ER/36.2 IP) and 36 strikeouts. He has been with the Dodgers two seasons, and he is a combined 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA (25 ER/72.0 IP) and 69 strikeouts. He has been in the Major Leagues parts of six seasons with Colorado (2018-2021) and Los Angeles (2022-23) and he is combined 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA (98 ER/196.0 IP) and 182 strikeouts. He was signed by the Dodgers on March 16, 2022.
Hudson, 26, pitched last night, allowing one run on two hits in 1.2 innings with one strikeout. On the season, he is 0-0 with a 9.82 ERA with three strikeouts in two games. He is 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA (7 ER/34.1 IP) and 57 strikeouts in 29 games for Oklahoma City this season. He is a combined 36-27 with a 4.19 ERA (229 ER/491.1 IP) and 425 strikeouts in 179 career minor league games (74 starts). He was drafted by the Cubs in the third round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft out of Alton High School (IL).
Vargas, 23, appeared in 81 games, batting .195 (50-for-256) with 15 doubles, four triples, seven homers and 32 RBI. He has been with the Dodgers parts of two seasons, slashing .191/.290/.350 with eight homers and 40 RBI. In 410 minor league games, the Cuban native hit a combined .313 (504-for-1612) with 49 homers and 265 RBI. He was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent in September 7, 2017.
Bravo Jorge, I like your perspective.
Someone above said, amen with the news of Vargas getting demoted to AAA.
If we are dodger fans, we should be upset that the kids career has hit a pothole for the moment. I know I am.
Speaking of Soto and the “supposed” trade for him, nobody said, supposed, proposed, thought, believed or asked for a trade for Soto. In fact, I commented that I PREFER to have Soto instead of Ohtani, to sign him, not to trade for him. But that will be in two more seasons, for now… Screw that son of a bitch and all that shitty team!
While we’re tied Arizona played 2 more games than Dodgers thusly Dodgers have a higher win percentage so it’s really Dodgers are in 1st place. Bednar shouldn’t have lost yesterday’s game. That loss was on him.
Glad Dodgers are now tied for first. Great way to go into the all-star break. I did not get to comment on the trading for Soto. Absolutely not. No friggin’ way! You can keep him in San Diego along with all the other red asses they have on that “team”
The Dodgers are tied for first place!
Excellent. We are tied for the NL West lead!
I think the only reason they keep Barnes is because Kershaw likes him as his catcher and in the playoffs Smith is going to have to catch Kershaw because we will need smith and Martiniz bat in our lineup just always good to have like a Yan Gomes or veteran that can hit off the bench or give smith some time off. Why would Grandal be a bad backup with power and knows a lot of the dodgers pitchers from playing with them in his days with the dodgers. They brought back martin and he was a good backup for the Dodgers.
The other day, Roberts moved Rojas’s righty bat up in the lineup, ahead of Vargas and Outman.
Makes sense, because Rojas is now hitting up to expectations while Vargas has swooned. Over the past 30 days, Rojas has batted .265 with a .329 OBP. No power, but none was expected.. Those are decent numbers for a glove-first SS. (Over the same period, Vargas has hit–yikes–.082.– and a .385 OPS. I knew it was bad but not that bad. )
Dodgers’ offense is rolling now in part because Mookie is playing 2B. Keep him there.
Looking at the splits, Heyward is pretty much a platoon guy now, but Peralta’s splits aren’t extreme. When Taylor gets back he should platoon with Heyward. DeLuca could platoon with Peralta, but Yonny provides more versatility. (Too bad he botched that DP chance, however.)
Miguel Vargas optioned to AAA.
Likely CT3 takes his spot in a few days
Would be great to get a starter and outfielder a second baseman and a backup catcher at deadline. Now Thomas yes would be a good fit in rightfield. But what about Montgomery and Dejong in St Louis there’s a starter and a second baseman then Betts stays in Rightfield. Or Yelich Burnes Addames in Milwaukee all three of those guys could help Yellich could play Rightfield or Leftfield Addames shortstop so Rojas and Taylor move over to second base And Burnes would give you three starters in playoff in Kershaw Urias Burnes Miller Shennen. What would it cost for Brewers I would saw pages pepiot grove Busch cartaya. Now the real show stopper of trade would be if they could get Bieber Rosario and Naylor from the Indians ss starting pitcher and a of bat with power when mookie plays the infield. Again the same typical trade pieces to get those guys from the Indians. That would be the oh wow! If the Dodgers got those three players at the. Deadline. But, we still need a backup catcher because Barnes is terrible at hitting. So looking around at catchers there’s a backup catcher in Toronto. He is pretty good but Kirk is the guy that plays the most innings for Toronto but the backup is pretty good.
Great post, Mark. Glad the Indianapolis Indians are keeping the name and have the Miami Indian Nation’s support. A very positive move among all this other crap being forced upon people.
Barnes will stay. Still a very good defensive catcher, even though his average could dip below .100 at season’s end.
I wish it wasn’t all-star break. Dodgers are playing good right now. Mookie playing like the MVP. Dodgers will win the division.
I like Vargas’ talent. I don’t think I would send him out right now. I don’t know about him at second base. Maybe eventually at 3B?? Mookie at second I like. Only problem is he’s a gold glove right fielder.
Hey, Dodgers! Let’s steal some bases the second half. Show Roberts’ biggest, most clutch steal in baseball history as a motivator. Let’s bring back a taste of Maury Wills, Willie Davis, Jim Gilliam, etc.
Elly Della Cruz! Very talented an fun to watch. Reminds me of the 3 Dog going from first to third. Reds have some great young talent. Hope the Reds get back to contend ing. Good for the game. Thanks for LA Dodger Talk, fellas! Thanks for letting me comment. Stay well everybody. Go, Dodgers!
Ohtani looks real good. Let’s give them a catcher,Smith an outfielder ,Outman, and any pitcher in the organization. With Ohtani, the Dodgers will win at least 2 championships in 5 years.
Mark, Your loyalty towards Vargas, Busch and Barnes is remarkable. I hope your are right on the Vargas who can quietly exit to OKC at the break. I want Mann to get a chance.
Regarding the college players available in today’s draft, it’s interesting as to what the Pirates will do. Paul Skenes, to me, is hard to pass on with the #1 pick. But Dylan Crews may be a long term dude in anybody’s outfield.
For me, I can’t pass on Skenes. Ben McDonald, who’s opinion I value, had an interesting idea of what he would do. He would draft Skenes, put him on the shelf for the rest of this year. Then he begins with with his big club fresh in spring training. The kid posted 123 innings all ready this season which is enough. And he has nothing to prove the rest of this year in AA or AAA. It would be unnecessary wear and tear. That, to me, sounds like a perfect plan for this kid.
Reds DFAd Amir Garrett. LH relief pitcher. Guy has some nasty stuff. Maybe Pryor can fix him. He is still pretty young. That CF supposedly wants 10m to sign. Pirates might pivot their pick.
Today is the MLB Amateur Draft.
The Dodgers should have picked at #26, but were dropped 10 spots as a result of the team exceeding the luxury tax threshold by more than $40 million during the 2022 season.
#36 will not get you a lot in this year’s draft, but the two LSU players. Crews and Skenes might both be in The Show this year! The Pirates pick first and will one or the other… unless they are total idiots… and they may be!
Barnsie is beloved by all Especially Kershaw .
AJ Ellis was beloved by all, Especially Kershaw
All things considered, I’m actually quite happy that by the next time we play a game, we’ll be tied or 1 game behind for the NL West.
Get a few guys on track, get a few guys back on the mound, get a few guys via trade, and we’ll be back in October again (when we can all find more reasons to bitch)
When does Pepiot come back? The one year that he would have got a spot, he gets hurt. Must be frustrating for him but I still think he could lock down a spot in 2nd half. Mount Muncy will erupt in 2nd half. Book it Dano. Can’t wait to see which of our young arms steps up with some consistency. Still love Millers stuff and makeup.
Barnes must have some racy photos of someone in front office!
Bednar is not going to be traded. Book it. Thomas is a nice fit, but like you said, he is doing it for the first time. I would not unload two of our best catching prospects for both of those guys. I would like to see Feduccia get a shot, but unless Barnes goes down with some injury, I just do not see that happening. If Taylor is ready after the All-Star break, they can send Vargas down, I would not give up on him, to get his head straight. He is totally lost at the plate. Striking out too much and not hitting the ball hard at all. At least when Peralta or Heyward make outs, they are usually hit pretty hard. Like I posted at the end of yesterday’s stream, Dodgers with 10 homers the last two games now have 149. Only team they trail is Atlanta. Cleveland has 60. Mookie, JD and Muncy have more than that combined. 149 is the most ever by a Dodger team in their history at this point in the season.
Arizona played today. If they lose we could still end up tied at the break. The announcers last night didn’t seem to notice that as they said that we would go into the break a half game behind, it will actually either be tied or one game behind.
Well, if a package of Rushing , Frasso or Ryan or Hurt and Grove (or Pepiot) would net Bednard I say grab a pipe cause that smoke won´t hurt you at all.:)
Thomas for Busch /Ramos and Pepiot/Grove ? May throw in a guy like Vivas or Leonhard too.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!