Rants & Raves – What Did You Expect?

The Dodgers are known to celebrate wins with tequila and whiskey shots, as well as beer. Their tributes and prayers on April 8 were focused on honoring the memory of “Micky” Rojas with respect and emotional support for their teammate.

Davey Lopes Passes Away

The Dodgers announced today that Davey Lopes passed away today at the age of 80. Lopes made his debut as a player in the early 1970s and went on to have a career as a coach and manager, making him a staple of the game for the bulk of five decades.

Totally agree with you Will Klein should have been brought in to face Springer with the game on the line.He last pitched on Monday.

There was also that unfortunate $17 million investment in Conforto….

Not sure if I’m a LADY guru, but I’d say your plan makes more sense than not.

However…

To my knowledge, Rushing has not received any training at 3B. (I’ve advocated that he should since the days of Cartaya.) Making a transition in midseason seems untenable. Both Max and Rushing bat lefty and Max already gets platooned with Espinal or Rojas. Freeland can also play 3B, and Senzel is positioned for a call up in OKC. Max gets ample rest, so I’d rather see Rushing get more action at 1B to keep Freddie fresh.

–Shohei may prefer to pitch to Smith rather than Rushing. (Roberts said he had Rushing play two days in a row to have Smith catch Yamamoto and Shohei.) That said, Shohei could use a bit more rest, so why not give it a try?

I’d like to see Rushing get a dozen starts at 1B to keep Freddie fresh. Freddie would be a nice pinch-hitter in a close game.

Back of the pen fails today. Leadoff walks kill.

BANG!

Bad bounce on his error.

From what I read, it seems Rojas asked to play today in honor of his father.

I’ll take it. Felt like their World Series.

Yeah. Not a good game. Ohtani got it going but too many bad swings, defensive miscues and an ineffective bullpen. It happens. Move on.

I was at Roger’s Centre for today’s game and the place was rocking. The Blue Jays fans booed Ohtani and Tucker more than they booed Miggy Ro and Will Smith. Jilted I presume.

Not sure the logic using Dreyer in the eighth and not Tanner Scott. There will be some BP additions soon.

I think the Dodgers had 13 strikeouts with Pages having four all by himself. Bases loaded and no outs and only pushing across one run was the precursor to a blown BP game.

Can’t win them all, and a 5-1 road trip ain’t too shabby. Get back home and get ready for Friday.

Freeland with an error that let in one unearned then should have gloved another to prevent a run. Also took strike 3 on ball 4 that should’ve been challenged. Not a great day for him though he did get a hit.

I don’t understand how Tucker didn’t score on Freddie’s groundout. Told my wife they should have a righty in for Springer.

Davey Lopes passed away at 80 years old. May God be with his family.

Ohtani doesn’t look right. 60 pitches in 3 innings. Cease doesn’t look right either, but he’s got Dodgers chasing or he too would have 60 pitches in 3 innings.

Freddy is not going to take days off. He hates taking days off. He’s chasing 3000 hits. Unless he’s in a slump, good luck getting him to take a seat.

I’m with you Mark on Sasaki and especially Henriquez. Henriques initially looked like a potential close when I first saw him pitch. I was very impressed with his fastball and stuff.

Over time, he hasn’t improved his command. He labors to throw strikes, let alone hit quadrants. He does get it and seems to fight himself. Visions of Buehler and Miller to me. But he’s 23 still and will require patience as he figures ir out.

Same with Sasaki. He was dynamite as a closer and maybe the bullpen is his calling with his pitch mix. They seem to really want him as a starter but I’m unsure of that future. But again short sample and patience lotus blossom, I say to myself

With 2 strikes I’d love to see Shohei throw his 4 seam fastball up and out of the zone to get a swing and miss. He’s always down in the zone

But none of their playoff starters are homegrown. Or the backend of their bullpen

We are about to see the start of the OKC frequent flier trips for pitchers. The Dodgers return home on Friday for a 6 game home stand, have an off day, and then a 13 consecutive game stretch…At Colorado (4), at SF (3), home vs Cubs (3), and home vs Marlins (3).

The 13 game stretch will be followed by a 6 game road trip, and then another 13 consecutive game run.

We could see Hurt up in that stretch, maybe Gervase, and maybe River Ryan as a SP or reliever. Brock Stewart could be ready by then as well.

Dodgers MLB pitchers with options: Sheehan (2), Sasaki (3), Klein (1), Dreyer (3), Henriquez (2), Casparius (2), Wrobo (1)

As per Sarah Langs:

Reminder entering his start today!!

Shohei Ohtani currently has:

The longest active on-base streak in MLB (42 games)

The longest active scoreless inning streak among SP in MLB (22 2/3 IP)

Who would you trust?

A guy named Gary at BP or the Dodgers?!??!??!?

Not that I know anything, but I thought today was the day Rushing would give Freeman a day off and/or Espinal give Muncy a day off.

But the Dodger manager is headed to the Hall of Fame, where I”m not, so perhaps he knows more than me.

And yet the Dodgers do.

Not sure if hitting vs lefties is a weakness of Kim, when his small sample size last year showed the exact opposite.

As per the wise ones at BP ($$$$$)

https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/27482/pitching-backward-there-is-no-such-thing-as-tinstaapp/

“There Is No Such Thing As A Pitching Prospect” (TINSTAAPP) is a baseball adage emphasizing that minor-league pitchers are inherently risky and unpredictable due to high injury rates and performance volatility. Coined by BP’s Gary Huckabay, it advises against over-investing in young pitchers, as many top prospects fail or get injured.

After watching the last 2 games I think that the Dodgers are renting space in the Jay’s heads. Bases loaded no outs and no runs. Vesia nails, but it seems the Jays don’t do much right vs the Dodgers.

Dodgers catching them at the right time – tons of injuries, lost 6 in a row (including a sweep vs Chisox and a series loss to the Rox).

Yes. But not a frontline starter…yet.

LADY gurus, tell me what is wrong with my plan (something must ba as AF appears to be interested in nothing close to it):

The problems;

1) will smith needs to be fresh for the playoffs

2) we don’t know which one will show signs of aging first but Freddie and max will eventually deteriorate.

3) Ohtani does not need to DH when he pitches IMO

4) Rushing shows too much promise to sit too much

My solution:

1) Rushing plays 3 times a week spelling Max once, Freddie once, and Smith twice ( let’s assume for the sake of this exercise that Rushing can learn to play 3rd base)

2) Smith is DH when Ohtani pitches

325 foot HR. Why do you think Ryan Ward has led the PCL in HRs the last two years?

Ahhh. Too many walks. The plight of the LAD MiLB pitcher. Frist stat I look at with MiLB is BB by pitchers.

According to the posted lineup he is. He might leave the team after the game.

Rojas playing today?

I should have recognized it. That is the way I roll as well.

3:07 PM ET EARLY GAME

Dodgers (9-2)

Blue Jays (4-7)

SP Shohei Ohtani R

1-0 .00 ERA

SP Dylan Cease R

0-0 2.79 ERA

Confirmed Lineup

P S. Ohtani L

RF Kyle Tucker L

C Will Smith R

1B F. Freeman L

3B Max Muncy L

LF T. Hernandez R

CF Andy Pages R

2B A. Freeland S

SS Miguel Rojas R

In Domed Stadium

He’s 20 years old. Is he a legit prospect?

Encarnacion-Strand DFAd by the Reds. Josh Fleming DFAd by the Jays who called up Tyler Fitzgerald and Patrick Corbin, who they just signed.

Condolences to Miggy and his family. Let’s not jump the gun here guys. One good game does not a season make. It shows some progress for Freeland and Kim, but when Edman and Kike get activated, both will be back at AAA.

Dodgers big mid-season pitching acquisition will be a guy named Blake Snell.

Sad news for Miggy Rojas as news is coming out that his father passed away suddenly yesterday and that was the reason for the late lineup change.

Duke,

I understand the popularity of Kiki and his contributions,but can’t see how he improves in the team at this point with all the talent rising up, including cheapies like Freeman and Kim and the hoard of solid prospects on the farm. We loved Barnes but finally parted company when younger, better talent surfaced. Sending down those two guys would probably do more harm than releasing or trading Kiki but it is probably going to happen. This team is rocking right now and that wouldn’t improve the team one iota.

Good plan Cassidy! Outside the box thinking.

But as with my cats, it’s better to keep it inside the box.

(I know it was a joke)

For the next few weeks, they will get their chance to prove they belong. Then what? Demotion or trade is likely.

We didn’t start the fire.

Max has always been a sucker for the slider from a lefty. Also, age might be catching up on him. Hope not, but if Freeman (or a RH corner) can play a platoon against strong LH starters, Muncy would have better numbers and finish his Dodger career on top. He is so proud to be on this team and wants to contribute. I love the guy!

All of that above sounds like a Billy Joel song. He didn’t start the fire. Go Dodgers.

In Ontario, Nieves went six innings of one hit, one walk ball.

We’ve been debating Kim or Freeland all spring. Turns out the answer is Kim and Freeland.

With those two and Tibbs at first and Rushing catching, it’s now time to trade Smith, Mookie and Freddie!

Where do Kike and Edman fit in when they return?

Well, that clinches it. Konnor Griffin will officially be a bust… because everything the Pirates do is usually wrong!

Love all this. Well done.

Rushing is a great development and hopefully we see him appear as a PH or spot starter at 1B.

Pages is having a breakout year. I’ve followed him from the beginning and his defensive improvements are borderline shocking. He’s nearing gold glove territory.

Ohtani is too good. I called my son downstairs to watch his single off the wall. Ho hum.

I like Tucker. Super-talented dude. Snell-like in demeanor.

Early Game today 3:07PM ET

“The Pirates have announced that they’ve signed Konnor Griffin to a nine-year extension. The news was first reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post this morning. The deal runs through the 2034 season, and MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports that the deal is worth $140MM. Heyman adds that the deal includes incentives that could take the deal up to $150MM for the Excel client, while Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that there are no options or deferred money in the deal. Sherman adds that the deal’s incentives are based on MVP voting for the 2026-31 seasons. ESPN’s Buster Olney first reported that the sides were working on a deal in the range of nine years and $140MM last week, and now the deal is done”.

Some Wednesday morning thoughts.

(1). Is there any other pitcher in baseball you would rather watch than Yamamoto? He’s at the top of my list!

(2). Is any other player in baseball playing with the confidence that Andy Pages has right now? Both on defense and offense?

(3). Is Dalton Rushing about to “bust “ wide open sitting on the bench after that monster night? Lucky to be a Dodger! Unlucky to backup Will Smith!

(4). Is Kyle Tucker the most laid back Dodger since Shawn Green? Look for 28 and 90 from him this season!

(5). Is Alex Vesia getting better ? I think so!

(6). Is Freeland getting ready to really start hitting? Looks like it to me!

(7). Is Kim really trade bait? I’m beginning to think not! Kid can play some defense! Hitting against left handed pitchers might be his only weakness.

(8). Is Freddie ever going to to give Dalton a chance to play first? May take a court order to get him to take a day off!

(9). Is Ohtani really a HUMAN?

(10). Is Blake Trienan really fixed? Time will tell.

Notice there’s not any negative questions above. Things are going VERY WELL for the Dodgers! They can out pitch anyone. They can out slug anyone. They can outthink anyone. Things can change over the course of a season. Injuries. Slumps. Attitudes. But trust in Dave Roberts to make sure that everyone is on board. It’s a long season. Everybody has a role. Everybody has to row together. The boat has to keep moving in the right direction. I agree with others. This might be the best Dodger team we’ve seen!

Muncy is a streak hitter. Once he gets in sync, he carries the team for 3 weeks.

I don’t think so… The Dodgers best play patrols it! 😉

Hurt’s looked good except for too many walks.

Actually, Jackson Ferris looked very good in the first three innings, during which he allowed only 1 hit with 2 Ks and 1 BB. In the 4th, he gave up a single, and Bride hit a 325 ft. HR. This is why I dislike the PCL. Even in OKC, the ball flies out of small parks. Ferris will be just fine, I think.

Hurt seems likely for Henriquez at some point.

Hard to disagree here

I was being deliberately hyperbolic! 😉

Throughout…

The Dodgers’ team ERA reflects the struggles of four pitchers:

Sheehan – 8.00 ERA

Sasaki – 7.00 ERA

Caspatius – 6.75 ERA

Henriquez – 6.75 ERA

And some bum named Rojas has a 9.00 ERA. 😉

I see at least two of these pitchers getting fixed.

I am not confident about Henriquez and Sasaki.

In perusing team stats this morning it isn’t surprising to see the Dodgers leading in several offensive categories, including runs, home runs, slugging and OPS. I can see that continuing for most of the season. What I found a bit surprising is the pitching is ranked 9th in ERA, 11th in ERA+, and way down the list in SO9. They are also 4th in WHIP, probably my favorite pitching stat, but I found that a bit strange because they are 11th in BB9 and 6th in H9.

Hard to predict pitching for this team but it certainly looked to me they were deep in arms. Wrobleski and Sheehan might be weak links in this rotation as after two appearances they each begin the year with negative WAR’s. It’s of course too early to anticipate what mid season numbers might look like but I could see the team looking around for pitching help. Alcantara would be a logical target, but Miami could contend this year. It’s hard not to want, and almost expect, the team to make a run at the ‘27 FA Skubal. If made available there will be several teams in that hunt. I read an early article in SI that suggested San Diego was his likely landing spot.

Yes, it’s way too early to know anything about mid season moves, but clearly I’m already thinking about them.

What’s wrong with Max Muncy,13K in 34AB? He is swinging at pitches out of the strike zone which is not like him.

“Dodgers minor league outfielder James Tibbs III ran roughshod over the Pacific Coast League in his first nine games in Triple-A, and on Monday was named Pacific Coast League player of the week.

In six games against Las Vegas, Tibbs had 10 hits in 25 at-bats with five home runs, a double, four walks, nine runs scored, and five runs bated in (yes, all five home runs were solo shots), hitting .400/.483/1.040.

The highlight for Tibbs came Saturday night, when he hit three home runs, just the 14th such game for Oklahoma City in its current Bricktown Era, dating back to 1998”.

Jackson Ferris 3.1IP 3H 2R 2ER 1BB 2K 1HR 5.40ERA

Not good or bad for the first time at AAA Oklahoma City. I’m a believer in him.

To belabor a point….

This 2026 edition of the Dodgers is so strong and so deep that it’s hard to imagine plausible trades that could improve them. (Today Yamamoto would have had a no-hitter going if Tucker hadn’t misjudged that “double.”)

That said, Sandy Alcantara appears to be back from surgery in Cy Young form. And Miami might be more motivated to deal him than Detroit is to deal Skubal. (I don’t consider Skenes a plausible target–not yet, anyway.)

Kim and Freeland are both looking good so far, but with Edman under a long-term contract, and Kike expected back for one last hurrah, they could become trade pieces.

The Dodgers certainly don’t need Alcantara or Skubal. But they could make an attractive offer consisting of three or four guys who might otherwise be playing in Oklahoma.

Kim’s arrival may have sparked Freeland a bit. Competition cures or kills. Freeland and Kim at the bottom worked well yesterday with Ohtani driving in Kim with a double. Both of them had two hits, including a double each. If their hitting continues the Dodgers can give Mookie a good rehab period and not rush it.

Kim and Freeland did work well together.

I think you may have been a little rough on Ferris and a little over effusive with Eder. Eder has been a MLB pitcher, Ferris just turned 22 and is in AAA for the first time. Ferris gave up a 325 foot 2-run HR . Eder got a lot of swing on 4-seamers up out of the strike zone to get pop ups. Neither pitcher pitched impressively, but neither pitched poorly.

Last year Ferris was much better in the 2nd half. His ERA was 2.25 in his last 12 starts, 64.1 IP. His problem has been too many BB. Only 1 in 3.1 IP. For me that is encouraging.

Kim has looked good. Wonder if we’ll see him in CF.

I remember that day. It was a good day. And Roger was one of the good guys. That other guy? Meh. I guess he’s not as worse as he usta was.

Kim and Freeland work well together. Hope they keep it up til they both get sent down.

Do you think Teo and Tucker would do at AAA what Tibbs is doing at AAA? Yeah, probably.

Eder: 2 innings? No Ks? And he’s in the driveway? Go home and get some sleep. We’ll need to see a lot more of that before considering a call up.

Starting to become one.

Big Jake Eder fan?