Romo and Hatch
It used to be Starsky and Hutch but now, there is a new crime drama showing at a Ravine near you, featuring Sergio Romo, a soft-tossing arsonist who likes to start fires from the bullpen and Chris Hatcher a talented flame-thrower who is an arsonist in his own right. The crime is that they are both still pitching OK, throwing. The drama is when will it end? This duo needs
It used to be Starsky and Hutch but now, there is a new crime drama showing at a Ravine near you, featuring Sergio Romo, a soft-tossing arsonist who likes to start fires from the bullpen and Chris Hatcher a talented flame-thrower who is an arsonist in his own right. The crime is that they are both still pitching… OK, throwing. The drama is… when will it end? This duo needs to be split up. Frankly, I could live with just Hatcher, but not Romo. I don’t know what is wrong with him other than he can’t throw a ball and break a window. Of course, a couple weeks back, I said Chase Utley was toast and look how that worked out…
So the Dodgers had to settle for a split with the Rockies. Under the circumstances, I guess we will take it. B-Mac, whom it turned out did have a dislocated shoulder will start tonight, without a rehab start and Rich Hill will go Tuesday with a rehab start under his belt. We will see how some of your theories about rehab starts work.
Frankly, the Dodgers are a different team with Cody Bellinger in the lineup. It’s hard for the league to catch up with him because he takes what you give him unlike some our CF and RF. He also makes not only “in-game adjustments,” but also “adjustments during at bats. Maybe some of that will rub off on them. I took a lot of flack for telling you this kid was ready over the winter, but it turns out he was. Never doubt me again! 😉 Not only is he a hitter, but he is a very good base-runner and I still say he is one of the best defensive 1B, I have EVER seen!
Even after yesterday’s debacle the Dodgers are still #1 in Team ERA and WHIP! If you are prone to worry about the Dodgers’ pitching, you should probably also worry about a meteor coming out of the sky and wiping out the planet!
Has anyone noticed that the Dodgers are hitting with RISP and hitting LH pitching. Cary Osborne of Dodger Insider wrote this:
Since April 27, the Dodgers are a big-league best 12–3.
Two significant reasons for their run has been an offensive burst in two categories — hitting with runners in scoring position, and yes, hitting against left-handed pitching.
During the run, the Dodgers are hitting .307/.390/.521 with runners in scoring position — their average and .912 OPS is fifth best in the Majors during that time.
Prior to that, the Dodgers batted .243/.355/.387 — their average and .743 OPS ranked 18th in the big leagues.
In the last 15 games, they are hitting .273/.366/.455 vs. left-handed pitching — their .821 OPS is sixth best in the Majors during that period.
In their previous, 22 games, they hit .221/.302/.344 — the average and .646 OPS were eighth worst in the Majors.
So, there is that. It has been reported that bitching is down to a record level, and Yasmani Grandal bashers have been placed on suicide watch. Julio Urias needs to learn that his breaking pitches don’t break as much at Coors. He looked like a rookie!
Someone asked yesterday why we did not go after Greg Holland over the winter.
- He is a Scott Boras client;
- Boras wanted him to be in a position to close;
- He is making close to what Kenley makes ($15 mil + $15 mil vesting option).
Holland would have been nice, but there was not a snowball’s chance in hell that once Kenley Jansen signed he would consider LA! He was a fall back option if Jansen went elsewhere!
Minor League Watch
- OKC won 14-5: Thompson, Muncy and Davis all had 3 hits and Verdugo, Dickson and Sweeney all had 2 hits. Thompson hit his first big fly! Oaks went 6 and allowed 2 runs for the win. Ravin pitched 1 shutout inning.
- Tulsa won 10-2: Locastor and Sawyer had 3 hits and Ahmed, Farmer, Garlick, Allie and Beaty all had 2.
- RC won 3-1: Will Smith hits a 2-run homer, his 6th of the year, and Adam Bray went 5 and allowed 3 hits and 1 run. Ozuna and Moseley both pitched 2 shutout innings.
- GL did not play
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Discussion (62)
Disagree, not disagreeable
1 – I think that they still need to find their best 5 starters and go with them to the extent possible. The constant roster shifting makes it impossible for starting pitchers, who are creatures of habit and who need to get a rhythm, to do so. If there are real injuries (like McCarthy’s) that’s one thing but for Maeda, who pitched 8 brilliant innings and immediately went on the DL for a hamstring injury which, if it existed, obviously didn’t bother him at all, it’s another. Many of the Dodgers’ pitchers (Ryu, Maeda, Hill) rely heavily on touch and feel and can’t possibly maintain it if they are off for 10 days at a time.
2 – I haven’t been a fan of Wood’s in the past, but he is throwing differently this year. His arm slot is higher and he is able to maintain it so that his release point is consistent. This means that he is putting the ball where he wants to and he is pitching much better than in ’15 or ’16 to my eyes. Maintaining a consistent release point is what’s important here.
3 – Hatcher has been OK in low leverage situations and can pitch multiple innings. I wouldn’t use him in high leverage situations but he is valuable as long as he is used properly. Romo seems to have lost it and I wouldn’t let him pitch right now. I still get nervous seeing Baez in there with the game on the line. I know that he throws hard but he throws a very straight fastball and a good hitter will catch up to it.
4 – Bellinger has lengthened the lineup and has been a real spark to the offense. If he can adjust as Mark suggests that he can then he will be a factor all year. I expect he will be the regular LF when Gonzalez returns.
5 – They have some roster decisions to make when McCarthy, Hill and Gonzalez return. I expect that Liberatore will be sent back down again although I hope that they will find some phantom injury for Romo to have. One of the utility INF or backup OF will also have to go – they are playing Taylor and Kike regularly so I expect it will be Van Slyke or Eibner, probably the latter since Van Slyke can play 1B and is right handed. Maybe Ryu will also be DL’d again after his last outing.
Mark, please, I didn’t include you in the bashers… The rudder M.T. , the rudder!!!
I could see Bellinger and his already HOF glove, manning LF while we wait out the demise of AGon and head to the Promised Land…
Romo and Hatch, that’s funny! I think Romo is done, if the brain trust does not agree then send him to the DL, work out the kinks and let him prove it on a rehab assignment. His contract isn’t much to absorb either, and his ERA is now above 8. Hatcher same thing, only his issue is mental, not physical. He has the tools but leaves a fat pitch on 0 and 2 counts way too often. They have shut him down at some point every year he has been here.
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Big test for both McCarthy and Hill coming up. Seems like they are willing to gamble on the road, I expect 50/50 results but both pitching well would be a nice bonus. When and if all 7 starters are healthy I believe 1 LHP should go to the pen, and right now it should be Ryu or Hill as Wood has really turned a corner. Someone said Urias needs the Bulldog speech Lasorda gave Hershiser and I agree with that too. Ryu is 1 and 5 now and has had some tough luck and seems healthy but others are more effective and his stuff might play well out of the pen while he builds up more arm strength. At $48 M of course they want Hill to start, and Maeda and McCarthy being RHP give the rotation more balance. We shall see!
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Taylor has cooled off a bit but he still shows me more than Kike. Roster move today for McCarthy but they have Eibner or SVS that can be sent down. Another one tomorrow to activate Hill and they are carrying 8 in the BP, perfect time for Romo to have a hammy or something.
Damn Mark, It’s hard to be humble when you’re right in so many ways… You are the rudder on our ship…
I only hope that soon the Adrian Gonzalez bashers will be on suicide watch. That would be sweet …
Mark, I agree. Romo and Hatcher hurt us yesterday. We could of won the game 6-5. If FAZ signed them, they will keep them. That is a theory I have on FAZ. I would like to see them gone. If we could of won yesterday, we could of buried Colorado.
I am hoping McCarthy will not be affected by the lay off, like I think Ryu and Maeda would. McCarthy is not a finesse pitcher. Ryu and Maeda are finesse pitchers. We will see if McCarthy has good control.
Bellinger just looks like a natural. He continues to adjust. He also plays great defense.
Both Romo and Hatcher need to be tossed into the compost bin.