Remember When
Some fans thought the Puig, Kemp, Wood, and Farmer trade was just a salary dump? Some fans thought the Dodgers just had to sign Bryce Harper or Manny Machado to remain relevant? Some fans thought the Dodgers should gut the farm for Corey Kluber? Some fans thought the Dodgers should sign DJ LeMahieu because they needed a 2B? Some fans thought Chris Taylor was horrible? Some fans thought that Kike Hernandez
- Some fans thought the Puig, Kemp, Wood, and Farmer trade was just a”salary dump?”
- Some fans thought the Dodgers just had to sign Bryce Harper or Manny Machado to remain relevant?
- Some fans thought the Dodgers should gut the farm for Corey Kluber?
- Some fans thought the Dodgers should sign DJ LeMahieu because they needed a 2B?
- Some fans thought Chris Taylor was horrible?
- Some fans thought that Kike Hernandez should be traded because he was “horrid”?
- Some fans thought the Dodgers were morons for signing Ryu to the Qualifying Offer?
- Some fans thought the Dodgers should trade for JT Realmuto?
- Some fans thought Russ Martin was washed up?
- Some fans thought the Dodgers slow ramping up of players during Spring Training was a bad thing?
- Some fans said Kenta Maeda was no good?
- Some fans were willing to trade Alex Verdugo?
- Some fans wanted Edwin Diaz as a lockdown reliever?
- Some fans wanted to trade for Francisco Cervelli?
- Some fans wanted to sign Maldonado to be the catcher?
- Some fans were angry that the Dodgers extended Clayton Kershaw?
- Some fans wanted Dave Roberts fired?
- Some fans said Cody Bellinger was a platoon player?
- Some fans thought the Dodgers should “trade high” on Max Muncy?
- Some fans thought they would never hit with RISP?
- Some fans wanted Mitch Hanniger?
- Some fans raved about Yasiel Puig?
- Some fans wanted to trade Joc Pederson for a first baseman?
- Some morons (me included) said that Alex Verdugo could not play CF?
- Some morons wanted Andrew Friedman fired?
- Some morons said the Dodgers would be lucky to win 85 games?
- Some moron wanted to trade for Alex Castellanos?
Me neither!!!
It should not be lost on anyone that the Dodgers have the highest number of homegrown players on their team and they also have the best record in baseball… literally burying the competition. The naysayers seldom post anymore. They have nothing to say. To them, I say “Turn from the darkside” You don’t have to worship at the Holy Church of Andrew Friedman, but you do have to kiss my signet ring (better than kissing something else)!
Here’s the crazy thing: They are getting better! Barring devastating injuries, the Los Angeles Dodgers are an immovable force that will have to be reckoned with. In the process, they are integrating young players (aka/rookies) like Alex Verdugo, Will Smith Matt Beaty, and Kyle Garlick. This is the “MACHINE” Andrew Friedman envisioned when he took over. Maybe he needs to get another bullpen arm. Maybe he doesn’t! This is the best team in baseball!
Hard to Believe
One blogger who shall remain nameless because he has likely become institutionalized wrote this about how the Dodger infield should be structured because CT3, Kike and Austin Barnes are so horrible:
“So what’s the solution you might ask? It may be a bit unorthodox, but it’s the only thing that can prevent these three guys from killing the Dodger’s offense. Here are my thoughts on the possible solutions. The best thing at this point is to either play Max Muncy at third, Justin Turner at short, and David Freese at second. Or you can put Freese at third, Turner at short, Muncy at second and Matt Beaty at first.”
I am not kidding… someone actually wrote that! It is so devoid of reason, no response is needed. Holy Mackerel!
Dodger Reality
- Three straight walk-offs by rookies. When was the last time that happened? Like never!
- A little over a year ago, Will Smith was good defensive, bad offensive catcher. His glove was what would keep him as a backup catcher. Then the Dodgers started tinkering with his swing, lunch angle and the like. Then came RVS and his gang… well you can throw out the book. Will Smith has been re-invented! All bets are off! He might be the Dodgers starting catcher before the end of the season.
- That likely puts Austin Barnes on the sidelines during the playoffs.
- I would love to have a conversation with Eric Karros, and be able to walk away after 15 minutes. I cannot listen to him for a full game. In the interest of full disclosure, I love Joe Davis and think he should be a one-man booth like Vin.
- Orel is OK with me. Nomar is tough to listen to even though he has a lot of good insights.
- Chuck Steiner is not bad but I would not choose to listen to him, like ever…
- I can’t believe the Dodgers will put Pollock back in CF. That place belongs to Verdugo.
- Yesterday, Hawkeye summarized what is happening very well. The Dodgers rebuilt a bad farm system and kept winning in the process. That is rare indeed. It’s so rare, I am not sure it has ever been done. It’s like Rookies hitting back-to-back-to-back walk offs!
- A rough stretch is probably coming. It usually does, but maybe it won’t be a long stretch – this team is very resilient!
- I am planning an LA Trip – It looks like July 18-21, when the Marlins will be there. Business and pleasure. I hope to have my wife with me because our Anniversary is the 19th (22 years). Come to the Ravine and celebrate with us! I’ll buy you a beer… some on here can already attest to that fact!
Minor League Report by DC
AZL Dodgers Lasorda 7 – AZL Reds 10
It was not a good day for Lasordian pitchers. Jo Valdez started and actually pitched quite well with 2 runs over 4 innings pitched. Juan Morilla followed Valdez and served up 4 runs on 5 hits in 2.1 innings. Riley Ottesen gave up one run in his 1.1 innings while Franklin De La Paz coughed up 3 more while getting only 2 outs. Juan Gonzalez pitched the last 0.2 of an inning with no runs but did allow an inherited runner to score.
The Dodgers held a 7-3 lead after 6 innings. They scored one in the 1st inning on an Aldrich De Jongh single, two in the 3rd on a 2-run single by Aldo Espinoza, 3 in the 4th on a Yunior Garcia bases loaded double and their last run in the 5th on a Yhostin Chirinos home run. Garcia had 2 hits and 4 RBI.
AZL Dodgers Mota 3 – AZL San Diego Padres (2) 7
Rehabbing Markus Solbach started for the Dodgers and gave up 7 earned runs in 1.2 innings. Following that it was smooth dialing for the pitchers but too late for the offense. Julian Smith and Daniel Cruz combined for 6.1 scoreless innings on 2 hits and 10 strikeouts.
At the plate the Motas did limited damage on 8 hits, 4 of them by first baseman Andres Noriega. They scored one in the 2nd on a Kevin Aponte single and 2 in the 8th on an Imanol Vargas pinch hit 2-run home run.
Ogden Raptors 8 – Orem Owlz 7 (LAA)
The Raptors pitching was shaky until the 8th inning. Antonio Hernandez, Reza Aleaziz and Ricardo Hernandez combined for 7 runs allowed. Darien Nunez restored order with a scoreless 8th inning while Melvin Jimenez picked up the win with a clean 9th inning.
At the plate the Raptors scored in six different innings with the big blows coming in the 5th inning on a Ramon Rodriguez 2-run home run and in the 7th on a Jon Littell 2-run homer. Sauryn Lao tied the score in the 8th with a double driving in Brandon Wulff who was making his professional debut. A Sam McWilliams single in the bottom of the 9th provided the walk off hit for the Raptors. Andrew Shaps had 3 hits while Rodriguez had 2 as did Justin Yurchuk. Wulff in his debut had 3 walks.
Great Lakes Loons 2- Fort Wayne TinCaps 1 (San Diego)
Jose Martinez took the hill for the Loons and returned to form after his previous poor outing. He pitched 6 innings with 3 hits, no walks and 4 strikeouts. He was matched by Efrain Contreras who no-hit the Loons in his start for Fort Wayne tossing 5 flawless frames while striking out 8 batters. Guillermo Zuniga followed Martinez and continued his stellar relief work with 2 shutout innings with 2 hits, a walk and 2 strikeouts. In his last 13.1 innings he has not allowed a run while limiting the opposition to 2 hits. He has walked 7 and struck out 18. Joel Inoa picked up the save while allowing one unearned run on an error that should have been the third out.
The Loons needed only 2 runs and got one in the 7th inning on a Luke Heyer home run. The second came in the 8th inning on an error, a Miguel Vargas single, a HBP and a sacrifice fly by Jacob Amaya.
Vargas was the only Loon to have 2 hits.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 8 – Lancaster JetHawks 9 (Colorado)
Andre Jackson started for the Quakes and didn’t have all that much fun as he gave up 5 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning. In 3.2 innings pitched he also gave up 4 hits and two walks with 6 strikeouts.
Two of the hits were 2-run home runs. Sven Schueller followed Jackson and tossed 2.1 scoreless innings on four hits and a strikeout. Max Gamboa came on in the 7th inning and proceeded to give up 3 runs on two hits and a walk. Connor Mitchell took the loss with an additional run in the bottom of the 8th inning.
The big bats came out for the Quakes at the plate and they scored 2 runs in the top of the third inning on back-to-back home runs by Devin Mann and Marcus Chiu. They entered the top of the 7th down 5-2 and came out of it 6-5 on a Connor Wong grand slam following a Nick Yarnell single, a Devin Mann walk and and an error on a Jeter Downs ground ball. Rancho Cucamonga scored two more runs in the top of the 8th inning on a Bryan Morales sacrifice fly and a Devin Mann home run. Mann had two home runs and a double to lead the Quakes attack.
Tulsa Drillers 5 – Amarillo Sod Poodles 3 (San Diego)
Parker Curry started and gave up 2 runs (1 earned) in 3 innings. Chris Nunn and Ryan Mosley followed Curry and pitched a combined 3 scoreless innings with 1 hit and 4 strikeouts. Edward Paredes gave up a run in the 7th inning and was followed by Jordan Sheffield who pitched 2 innings allowing only a walk while striking out 4. His three outs in the 9th inning were all on a called third strike.
Offensively the Drillers scored 2 in the bottom of the second inning on a Zach McKinstry single bringing home Carlos Rincon and a bases loaded walk by Chris Parmalee. McKinstry struck again in the 7th inning once more driving home Rincon with a single. Two more scored in the 8th inning on singles by Chris Parmalee and DJ Peters driving home Eric Peterson and Gavin Lux respectively. McKinstry had 3 hits as did Rincon while Peters and Peterson had 2 apiece.
OKC Dodgers 2 – Memphis Redbirds 8 (St. Louis)
Daniel Corcino started for the Dodgers and played a familiar tune with 6 earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched. Stetson Allie gave up another in his one inning while Zac Rosscup made it through 1.1 scoreless innings. Kevin Quackenbush came on to pitch the 9th inning and surrendered the 9th Redbird run.
At the plate the Dodgers got 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning on a Connor Joe home run and three consecutive singles by Zach Reks, Edwin Rios and Rocky Gale. Rios was the lone Dodger with 2 hits
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Discussion (80)
Disagree, not disagreeable
When seager gets back put Taylor at second base. It seems as singing the blue Taylor has started hitting with regular at bats. Platoon pollock and joc. I don’t care how much money pollock is paid he is not a great player. He is a streaky player who could best serve us hitting lefties. Make muncy the first basemen with freese getting some starts and muncy starting at second when needed. Kike can play against some lefties. Doc in some cases should just play the hot hand. When seager and pollock are back the depth will allow doc to play the hot hand. I think our biggest issue is when turner needs a break please no more muncy. I agree with mt move muncy as little as possible.
Against lefties: muncy 1b, Taylor 2b, seager ss, turner 3b, smith c, bellinger rf, verdugo cf, pollock lf Against righties: same infield with joc in left pollock out. Use kike as late inning defensive replacement at second, freese top ph, freese could start in playoffs some with muncy moving to second. Starting playoff rotation: ryu, buehler 1 and 2, kershaw 3, urias 4 with hill lefty setup and maeda righty setup. This is if all healthy and no trades are made.
Pollock will be a difference maker in the 2nd half and come playoff time when he’s healthy and playing full time. Joc’s playing first base to get his bat in the lineup rather than Kiki’s against righties
I’m still puzzled about why the powers that be are trying/wanting Peterson to play 1B. What is the plan when everyone gets healthy?
Is this all about A.J. Pollock? In 103 at bats this season Pollock has a 617 OPS, 532 vs righties, 827 vs lefties. Seems to me that if Roberts wants to get Pollock in the lineup he is not blocked because Peterson apparently can’t hit lefties but Pollock can.
Can someone fill me in on this?
The only one on the list that I’m guilt of is #17 and only somewhat guilty. I’ve questioned some of Dave Robert’s decisions. I’ve never said fire him though.
This Dodger offense is very good. If the pitching does its job, good things will happen. Of course injuries can mess things up, lets hope not.
To me this is the best Dodger team since the 80’s when I was growing up.
I don’t like Muncy at 2B or Joc at 1B. You have to get their bats in there somehow though.
While I don’t think that Taylor will ever return to 2017 levels or Kike to last year, both have value – they are RHH, they offer good defense and positional flexibility.
The Dodgers are obviously on a tremendous roll right now. I think that this team could be as good as 2017. They could be better if they fix the bullpen.
Saying that everyone has a bad bullpen doesn’t solve the Dodgers’ bullpen problem. When Roberts pulls some starter after pitching 4 innings they will need quality arms to shut down a team like the Yankees, Astros, Cubs, Red Sox, etc. Jansen is shaky but isn’t the biggest problem – at this point the only guy that you can point to as a “bridge to Jansen” is El Gasolino himself, Baez. If he is your only consistent middle reliever you have a problem. If the Braintrust has a blind spot, it has been fixing the bullpen. They struck gold in 2017 but struck out every other season and last year’s acquitions (Madsen, Axford and Rosscup) were not stellar. If they want to win it all it will have to be better this year.
I don’t think dealing with Zaidi to get Smith will be as easy or as friendly as some might think. FZ is a fantasy football legend and if he applies the same mindset to his real profession he will be tough to deal with. https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-zaidi-fantasy-football-20180223-story.html
I agree with the majority that we need at least one more BP arm. I am not fully onboard with the need for another RH bat. Our run differential is currently the best in baseball at 133. Minnesota is in second place at 105. No other teams are even in the hundreds. I think our offense is doing just fine. Keep the home grown prospects on the farm.
The future of the catching position will be interesting to watch. Will Smith is definitely ahead of schedule. I know he was always considered a defense first catcher but I always thought his offensive struggles were overblown. Smith always had good .OPS numbers. When he got hot, he got promoted. His offensive struggles in the minors were always directly after promotions. He got a taste of AAA last year so I wasn’t surprised that he was hitting this year at that level. His so-far smooth transition to the MLB is forcing their hand. If his game calling is up to speed he’s going to force his way into the lineup ahead of Barnes.
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The glut of catching prospects in the Dodgers system may make Ruiz available. I know he’s much much younger than the competition he’s facing but we haven’t seen the progression from last year yet. At his age he’s got plenty of time to progress so no one is writing him off
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Other than Alvarez, at this point the Dodgers have kept all the correct prospects to hang on to and that’s not a criticism of the job Fields did. So, I trust Friedman to make the correct decision. I don’t see Lux, May, or Gonsolin going anywhere. If the Dodgers want Brad Hand I see Cleveland wanting to replace the young catcher they dealt away to SD to get Hand.
Mushers Pop posted an article that I was going to do tomorrow, but it’s a lot better than mine would have been. Essentially, most teams are having bullpen issues. That was the premise of what I was going to write. I think AF will get another arm. We will see Gonsolin and go from there.
On Max Muncy: He is not a natural at 2B and he is even worse at 3B, but I think the best thing they can do it not move him around. Keep him at 2B and I think he will grow every game. He works very hard, but he’s not a glove guy naturally. If he only plays 2B, I think that by the end of the season, he will be above-average… and I can live with that. You can move Kike, CT3 and Cody around… Max is not that guy. Let him be and he will bloom where he is planted.
Wow, is this Camelot or what. These rookies in the clutch make it easy to forget the fact that the Dodgers still need bullpen help with potential closer help. My thanks to Bud Black for walking Russell Martin who was having a miserable day. Dodger player development is awesome and I keep waiting for some of that to rub off on Kike’s bat. I don’t know if I would be doing too much tweaking of personnel despite their needs. This chemistry is so good. But, while this is fun, the brass ring is in October / November. It seems like this really has to be the year.
I say two Smith’s on the playoff roster get a WS title for us this year!
So, what I take from today’s post is that most fans are reactionary, don’t see the big picture and would do all kinds of dumb things if they were in charge. About covers it.
Mark, let’s get tequila this time at the Ravine! Perfect timing too, as I return from Wash DC around the same time, so I’ll definitely see you when you’re in LA.
It’s crazy to think that we’re 13 games up on Colorado, and it’s still June. We have about 14 weeks to go of this long pre-season until the real thing starts. In the meantime, I hope we give Will Smith a legit shot at building up a rapport with the pitching staff. Yes, I think a rookie catcher can lead us into October, but he needs the reps starting now.
Kersh v Greinke tonight. Should be a fun one!
FYI; SI article on the state of bullpens inMLB
Open on www.si.comhttps://www.si.com/mlb/2019/06/24/nationals-orioles-bullpen-record-home-runsIn the seventies I grew up watching “The Infield” and loved Cey, Lopes and Garvey in that order. I was luke warm on Russell, but he definitely had an impact on that team. One by one they were traded off, except Russell of course. The heart breaker for me was Cey. I remember hearing the mantra “Better a year too early, than a year too late” at the time when trading away your players. That matra applies to Puig perfectly, if not better. AF traded him off at the perfect time and got a couple of kids that will help the team, one way or another, in the future. AF is smarter than all of us, and he’s damn good at him job. But, he needs to win the ultimate prize in order to seal the deal. Go get some bullpen help!
Being a die hard Blue fan, I’m elated..
MT, you had a easy write today, in that looking back is a fool man’s wisdom…
I’m still concerned with 2B!!! I know Muncy is doing great, but defense wins pennants…
I’m a big Martin fan and especially his Pop who works the subways entertaining folks, but he is bad, real bad… I’d go with Smith till he can’t do it…
Gotta have breakfast…
Go Blue
Rumor that Gonsolin is next man up. No word on who he might be replacing.
While I was all in on Kluber, I was certainly not for gutting the farm. A tad hyperbole?? But you are right I would have included Verdugo. I would still take Kluber, but always at the right price, and no Verdugo is not in that equation.
I was all in on DJLM, and I still believe the Dodgers would have benefited with him. He certainly isn’t hurting the 2nd best team in MLB, and the Rockies miss him big time. Just because the Dodgers are winning and do not have DJLM does not mean that it was a great move to not sign him.
I have already admitted I was wrong about Ryu, and wrote an article about it. I bow to all those who KNEW he would be this good. I have also suggested that the Dodgers try to extend him. He loves LA, he is comfortable in LA, and LA loves him. Sometimes money has to take a back seat.
I was never for JTR, luke warm on Cervelli, but was an advocate for Yan Gomes. On the positive side, I was also an advocate for James McCann. But who knows how he would have performed with LAD.
I was never against the Kyle Farmer trade, even though it included one of my favorite players, Alex Wood. It was a smart baseball move that opened the door for Alex Verdugo., and brought in two prospective major leaguers. I think Downs was thought of as the big prize, but I bet AF and his scouts were more impressed with Gray’s potential. You have to prune so that new sprouts will grow. That is why I am in favor of moving out a couple of players at AAA to move in Lux and Sheffield. Those AAA guys do not need to be released. For one, Shea Spitzbarth appears to be way overmatched at AAA. Move him back down.
Many of our prognostications may not have turned out (or maybe they would have). But if GMs made all great moves all of the time, then we would have never heard the adage…”Some times the best trades are those that are never made.” In this case, I would much prefer to be wrong than right.
There is something good going on in the farm. These kids coming up are poised and ready to play Major League Baseball. Pitchers will adjust and then will our young players adjust. I think they will. This is great. Four rookies playing on the best team on baseball and contributing. Wow!
Beaty and Garlick, our blue collar guys. Junior JT’s in the making. Just hope they don’t start growing their beards and getting funny haircuts.
I’m on your remember when list more than a couple of times! That’s why I run IT Infrastructure for a living and I’m not a GM. 😉 This team is so freaking fun to watch. Imagine how good they would be if Doc didn’t throw away 5-10 games with bad bullpen moves!
I try not to get too excited over small sample sizes, but I can’t get enough of Will Smith. I sure hope he starts more games behind the dish.
RVS is the MVP of this team. Sheesh, who would have thunk he would have this kind of effect?
This team will be unbelievable after we pick up a late inning reliever or two.
Verdugo and even Smith were both top prospects. Both are doing better than I would have thought. Sure, it isn’t outlandish to think Verdugo would hover around 300. Hell, a 352 OBP at this point in the season is completely reasonable from a rookie with his pedigree. His 489 slug isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility. But, all the little things he does is off the charts! The defense, the routes, the arm, the clutch, moving runners, sac flies. This guy is everything you want in a ballplayer even if his stats don’t jump off the page. He’s quickly becoming one of my favorite players! Plus, he has the best walk up song, next to Will Smith of course!
The other two rookies are the ones that I’m really surprised about. Beaty and Garlick are those blue collar types that you can’t help but be amazed with. I sadly wonder if one or both will be included in a deadline deal.
June is almost done. Next up, D-Backs in the desert then off to Coors, where I’m always wary of injury. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we make it out of Coors healthy.
Great Post MT!
Rosscup pitched 1.1 scoreless innings? Call him up!
His ERA is down to 9.00!
I would still like to have signed LeMahieu. And I would not be opposed to trading Pederson, Maeda, Barnes, and Hernandez for the right pieces,
Friedman is either a genius or he was lucky other teams turned his trade offers down.
Some trades the Dodgers didn’t make were not needed but could have still have made them better.
I wanted more righty swinging bats and the two I would have liked to have were Haniger and Realmudo. Yes, I offered Verdugo, Barnes, and Ruiz plus various assortments of others like White.
I have always been a huge fan of Smith but have had a hard time getting past Verdugo’s tats, big red sliding glove, red batting gloves, red shoes, and history of attitude. Funny how his excellence makes all those “old man” dislikes disappear.