Every now and then, it is all about random stuff:
- So, did Chris Taylor get a stay of execution, at least until Max Muncy comes back from the IL?
- Shohei Ohtani tries too hard with runners on (HR included).
- The Dodgers might sit Vargas for a game or two, just so he is not too amped up. He is an excitable guy who can get too geeked out to his detriment.
- The bottom four in the lineup got five hits. That’s progress. Kike rose to the occasion.
- Teoscar might sit against tough RHP… he is struggling against them while killing LHP.
Ambidextrous Freak
Jason Gay in the Wall Street Journal has a piece entitled:
This Amazing Pitcher Throws 95 MPH Right-Handed—and 93 MPH Left-Handed -Ambidextrous ace Jurrangelo Cijntje is no gimmick—he is a legit major-league prospect helping Mississippi State try to return to the College World Series
His unearthly gift must be seen to be believed: a right-handed college pitcher, confident on the hill, in command of several pitches, his fastball blazing well into the mid-90s.
— Jason Gay
Then—behold!—he switches his custom Wilson glove to his opposite hand, adjusts his feet, turns his body and does it all over again…left-handed.
His name is Jurrangelo Cijntje (pronounced SAIN-ja), and he’s a 20-year-old “switch-pitching” phenomenon from Curaçao, by way of the Netherlands and Florida, currently helping 16th-ranked Mississippi State make a charge to the College World Series.
At the moment, Cijntje holds a 7-1 record with 89 strikeouts over 70 innings. He would be a major-league prospect if he merely threw from the right side, where his repertoire includes a sizzling fastball, curve, slider and change-up.
Down on the Farm
OKC BOX Now that Vargas is up with the big club, if I look at the OKC NO NAMES among the position players, I see just two prospects, namely Austin Gauthier and possibly Andre Lipcuis (who might be a AAAA player). After a fast start, Kody Hoese is sinking like a boulder. Avans and Ward are both AAAA players.
Jared “No Walks” Karros was promoted to AA and was rudely treated as he went 3.2 innings and gave up seven hits and six runs while walking six batters. He walked 13 in 38 innings at GL. He can only get better… right? Cartaya hit his 4th HR. The Drillers closed out the game with a triple play.
Jackson Ferris was rocked again, but this is typical… he will move past it.
DePaula is smoking hot as he was 3-4 with 4 RBI, including 2 HR
Joendry Vargas went 1-2 with two BB and scored three runs.
Discussion (17)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Who is starting for the Dodgers tomorrow
Yikes!
Just saw the highlight of the near-collision of Pages and Vargas. That could have been bad.
Taylor later entered to replace Vargas on defense.
I’m not sure who was considered at fault, or if anyone was. Maybe Roberts just wanted to put Taylor’s body at risk.
Well at least Vargas didn’t hurt himself tonight.
Looks like Kershaw was throwing off the mound at Dodger Stadium today. Looked like he was throwing hard and not holding back.
Why isn’t Mookie playing? Are they just giving him a day of rest?
Ashcraft is 1-1 against LA in his career. Given up 8 hits and 3 earned runs in 8.2 innings pitched against LA. Other than the first four in the lineup, that looks like a pretty weak group. Reds have 6 lefties hitting against Buehler.
Saturday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jerming Rosario) at Dayton (Kevin Abel)
5 p.m.: Tulsa (Justin Wrobleski) vs. Wichita (TBD)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Waylin Santana) vs. Inland Empire (Andre Sanchez)
6:37 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Landon Knack) at Sacramento (Spencer Howard)
Saturday Dodger’s Minor League Schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Jerming Rosario) at Dayton (Kevin Abel)
5 p.m.: Tulsa (Justin Wrobleski) vs. Wichita (TBD)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Waylin Santana) vs. Inland Empire (Andre Sanchez)
6:37 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Landon Knack) at Sacramento (Spencer Howard)
9:10 PM ET
Reds (19-26)
Dodgers (30-17)
SP Graham Ashcraft R
3-2 4.12 ERA
SP Walker Buehler R
0-1 7.36 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
2B Gavin Lux L
3B E. Hernandez R
LF M. Vargas R
SS Miguel Rojas R
64° Wind 8 mph Out
We signed the wrong Japanese pitcher!
Once again i agree Bear! there’s nobody on that bench who gives you confidence he can take a ball the other way. Nobody who can really move a runner into scoring position. Nobody who bunts. Chris Taylor should never hit with runners on 1st and second, nobody advances on strikes! Hopefully vargas can provide some of the above. Lineup today posted yet?
De Paula has “something” about Big Papi
Yesterday you made this comment, Bear:
” Heyward won’t be platooned, but he will sit against LHP.”
Isn’t that the definition of platooning?
The human elbow isn’t designed to throw 90+ mph sliders
Before the season, many in the media were calling the Dodgers a Super Team. We’re still early, but are they a super team or just a good baseball team? We’ll know more, of course, at the end of June.
At this point, I’d say a good team, but with potential to become a great team. We’ll see.
The Dodgers are using every piece of tech they have to try to keep pitchers healthy. Obviously, not working. No one in MLB has any answers. Pitchers continue to fall. Elbows, shoulders etc.
Seems to be getting worse, not better. Is it weights? The lifting program? The Dodgers were warned decades ago about weights. Are players trying to bulk up too much. More strains and pulls these days.
Is it travel ball in their youth. Too much baseball. Baseball players suffering more injuries at a younger age. Repetitive injuries on the rise. Athletes use to play multiple sports back in the day. Not so much now. Hey, the high school season never really end. Summer, fall and winter. Play another sport? It’s frowned upon.
Shame to see so many talented players going down.
It doesn’t appear that baseball has any answers. Hey, we’ll limit the of number of pitches or innings. You see that with the Dodgers. Not working. They still get hurt and many need major surgeries.
Don’t remember that being the case decades ago. Something has changed.
For the last time (I’ll beat on this dead horse), it’s good knowing Vargas tonight gets his first crack at starting with the parent club against a RHP. Hopefully this shows the Dodgers don’t plan on platooning him based strictly on righty v lefty pitching. Just give Miguel the same AB opportunities they gave Andy when they initially brought him up.
On Monday I wrote that I was getting worried about the lack of power by dePaula. Looks like I jinxed him in a very positive way.:-)
Keep it up , kid!
And Cartayas swing looks a lot more compact than previously. Should suit him fine in rasiong the average. The power is in no question regardless.
Lets see what Vargas can do in his second stint with the parent club.
Fingers crossed for the young man!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!