Rumors: Tell me Lies!
We keep hearing rumors that the Dodgers are engaged in talks with the White Sox for a package of Garrett Crochet, Luis Robert, Jr., and Michael Kopech. While all of those players would l;ook nice in Dodger Blue and while I believe the Dodgers would be interested in all three…
We keep hearing rumors that the Dodgers are engaged in talks with the White Sox for a package of Garrett Crochet, Luis Robert, Jr., and Michael Kopech. While all of those players would l;ook nice in Dodger Blue and while I believe the Dodgers would be interested in all three, let me remind you that the Dodgers usually play their cards close to the vest. Things are quiet and then WHAM, they sign Ohtani or Yamamoto or Teo or trade for Mookie… and no one saw it coming!
When you hear these kinds of rumors involving the Dodgers, it generally means that, yes, the Dodgers have kicked the tires on these players, but the White Sox are leaking this information with the intent of driving up the cost. I am not saying that the trade with the White Sox won’t happen (and I would love it if it did, although I question how much Croichet will help this year), I am saying that most generally, the Dodger Trades are kept under wraps. So, that causes me to be somewhat suspicious. It tends to remind me of this Fleetwood Mac song:
Additionally, as early as June 25th of June, the White Sox announced that they were intent on lightening his workload. “We’re going to start dwindling his workload down a little bit, and we’ll manage that correctly,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “But it’s not something we’re going to put out and say, ‘Here’s what we’re doing,’ because nothing in this game is black and white.” If the Dodgers trade for him, they will have to do the same, including pitching him out of the bullpen. Kopech is a rehabilitation project for Mark Prior and Company… they have been successful with guys like that.
Over the next 30 days, it is very likely that the Dodgers will get Clayton Kershaw, Mookie Betts, Brusdar Graterol, Walker Buehler, Max Muncy, Yoshi Yamamoto, Michael Grove, Ryan Brasier… and maybe Bobby Miller back! With their current lead and the situation in the NL West, as these players slowly matriculate back to the Show, the question becomes, “Do the Dodgers really need to gut the farm system to pick up Crochet, Robert, Jr., and Kopech?” I cannot imagine a trade such as that where the White Sox would not demand DePaula and Rushing, along with Wriobleski and Ferris. I would not do that deal.
Michael Norris nailed it yesterday:
These Dodger fans EXPECT TOO MUCH. And they have no patience. You put all the injured guys back on this roster, gets rid of Biggio and probably Kike, and this team would most likely have a 20-game lead. They really miss Mookie and the miss Max’s power. Only need then at the deadline would be a corner outfielder or a centerfielder. Wouldn’t need two starters.
— The Bear
Yes, most fans have no patience and continually fail to understand that “PROGRESS IS NOT LINEAR!” Many of you have lost faith in Lux, Outman, Vargas, and Pages. Lux is coming back from a horrific injury. Next year may be different. Miguel is learning a new position after playing the infield his whole career. As he demonstrated, he does have a very good arm for LF. In another year, his defense will have improved, too. Gurriel looked horrible in LF when he first switched, but he adapted. Outman still has a lot of promise. He just has to work on some things as well. Andy Pages arrived a year early and was slated to play all year at AAA.
It is not unusual for young players to do well at times, plateau, possibly regress, and even have to go back to the minors for a time, only to return and, in a couple of years, become an All-Star. I would not give up on Lux, Outman, Vargas, and Pages! I would give up on Biggio. Anthony Volpe of the Yankees is their SS of the future and is hitting .248 with a .672 OPS after hitting .209 with a .666 OPS last year. We know that progress is not linear… sometimes you just have to ride it out and with the dominance of pitching the past couple of years, you are going to see more and more players struggle. Some will adjust, but some won’t. I just suggest that you just don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Miguel Vargas has exceptional strike zone judgment. Does he need to go back to OKC? Maybe… maybe not. I do think Outman and Lux need to, but there is no one to replace them yet. Lux, Outman, Vargas, and Pages could be traded or sent to OKC, or they could even be on this team in October. We just have to wait and watch and not rush to judgment. I have no opinion on how this all shakes out except for the fact that the Dodgers are still one of the best teams in baseball, and when they get healthier, they will be a force to be reckoned with. I just don’t think they have to gut the farm…
When you absolutely, positively need a big hit, who would you rather have in the batters box? I know who:
X-CITES
We Get Shadrack on August 11th
He is growing and we shall bring him home then.
Shadrack – 6 Weeks Old
I have a fenced backyard that is approx 70′ wide by 450′ long and I just bought four signs to mount to the four corners of the fence:
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Discussion (86)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Solid Idea!
teo? sign him ! he wants to be there! What a catch James!!
James Outman just made the play of the game!
Mike Trout will begin his minor league re-hab this week. Bo Bichette will be out multiple weeks with his calf strain. What a catch by Outman.
you mean to tell me gavin lux couldn’t have struck out on 3 pitches!! i’m sorry , Roberts does some dumb sh—t! a homer, a double, and Kiki swings and misses 3 straight! send kiki packing so doc ain’t tempted!
maybe honeywell is a keeper. he sure looks better than Ramirez!! his stuff looks good!
ok kiki! i will shut up! for now
Playoff atmosphere, many clutch performances, character-building win for the good guys.
Despite his recent struggles, Pages with the HUGE RBI double in the 10th that kick-started the game-saving rally to tie the game
A lot of positives in this 11-inning win….
Kike was clutch. Lux had his first multi- extra base hit game since 2021. Great throw by Teo. Greater catch by Outman. And Smith finished it off….
Nice outing for Wrobleski too.
Correcting a previous report, Kershaw (shoulder) will start Thursday’s game against the Giants, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Manager Dave Roberts accidentally stated Kershaw would start Wednesday and Tyler Glasnow (back) would start Thursday, prompting the Dodgers to issue a correction. Kershaw has yet to make his 2024 debut after enduring a pair of setbacks in his recovery from an offseason shoulder surgery. Still, he’s made two rehab starts in July, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with seven strikeouts across seven innings. He got up to 67 pitches in his last rehab appearance, so it’s expected he’ll be on some sort of pitch count”
An MRI on Saturday revealed Bichette’s right calf strain to be moderate, and he’ll miss multiple weeks due to the injury, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
“Bichette strained his calf Friday for the second time this month and was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier Saturday. Further testing revealed the injury will require a multi-week absence, keeping the star shortstop sidelined into August. In his stead, Leo Jimenez should handle most of the shortstop work, though Addison Barger and Ernie Clement could mix in at the position”.
Kenley looked fat