Rant & Rave Sunday
X-CITES
- I am convinced that there are “alleged” Dodger fans who are secretly (and some not so secretly) rooting for Michael Conforto to fail so they can say “GOTCHA” to Andrew Friedman. They feel the same way about others, including Dave Roberts and Robert Van Socyoc. Actually, they are not real fans. Hand me the troll spray!
- Kyle Hurt, Bobby Miller, Bazooka Graterol, and Julian Fernandez each have a shot at making the playoff roster (maybe one or two).
- Brock Stewart will be a massive factor in the playoff bullpen.
- Could Roki Sasaki be in the playoff bullpen?
- What role will Clayton play in the playoffs? We have to look at this without prejudice. Yamamoto, Ohtani, Glasnow, and Snell seem to be an all-RH rotation, but what role do Kershaw and Sheehan play?
- Boy, there are going to be some hurt feelings by some pitchers who are worthy of making the playoff roster… but won’t!
- I doubt that Kike Hernandez plays another game for the Dodgers. Alex Freeland changed everything! The bat will come… but the fielding is there… from anywhere.
- Did you see Justin Dean dive for that ball in CF Friday night? It won’t be the last time! That’s who he is. It’s a shame he will go back to AAA when Edman returns.
- Nice hit by Dalton Rushing last night to drive in two runs.
- I don’t know that Dave Roberts needs to “go to the whip.” I think the Dodger players just “whipped” themselves into shape.
- Dodger fans are going to be begging for Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette in the off-season. I vote no!
- James Outman is 4-30 with the St. Paul Saints (the Twins’ AAA Team) and has struck out 43% of the time. James is a great man… but a terrible hitter.
- Finally, my sixteen-month-old grandson (my only grandson – I have six granddaughters) is the sweetest, happiest kid I have ever seen. He is ALWAYS smiling. His name is Van. He is a Dodger fan but is mesmerized by football.
Discussion (63)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Some of you more seasoned guys called it. I thought it conceivable, but did not really expect it based on historical norms. I am now convinced the Dodger brain trust truly started the season with a strategy to use the regular season as a mere spring training extension. Mark calls this “going to the whip in August”. I like the spring training analogy because in spring training you see young players get significant playing time to gauge their actual major league fiber while starting pitchers are given only enough time to tune up but not enough to wear them out. I see some Stan Kasten in this. He of the 14 division titles with the Braves but only one World Series championship. Could this strategy change the “crapshoot” of MLB playoffs into something more predictable where the best team actually wins the WS say 50% of the time instead of 20% of the time? This is going to be interesting over the next 10 years.
Happiest guy in Dodger Stadium last night was Rushing, and rightly so.
What do you do with a guy who is hitting. 300 in AAA and had 100 RBIs? Why, you keep him there and then trade him to a post season rival, where he can flourish, AKA Michael Busch. Nothing wrong with the guy they brought up but leaving Ward down in OKC is cruel and unusual punishment. You can’t tell me we can’t find a place for him as bench piece and OF/DH relief.
Enjoy your Sunday with the grandkids