The grass is riz. I wonder where the flowers is?
Baseball America just published a piece titled: “One Intriguing 2026 Spring Training Performance For Each MLB Team.” In it, they featured River Ryan as the Dodgers’ “Intriguing Player.” In part, they wrote: “The big question for Ryan was whether he could return to health and his pre-injury stuff. Back from Tommy John surgery, Ryan needed one spring training outing to dial in the strike zone, as in his first appearance against Arizona, he landed strikes with only 42% of his pitches. But he showed no control problems in his next two outings, and he’s sitting 96-98 mph with a swing-and-miss 90-91 mph slider. That slider has generated eight whiffs in 14 swings.”
Notice that they did not focus on Santiago Espiniol, who was hitting like his hair is on fire. It’s not surprising that some of the best performances this Spring are from hitters (like Espinol) who struggle if the ball isn’t thrown straight over the plate. He’s feasting on balls thrown straight over the plate. I know it. The scouts know it, and the Dodgers know it. Some of you don’t… but you will find out. There are basically two weeks left in Spring Training, and the pitching is getting tougher. He can still make the team, but he will have to hit his way on.
“But, Dave Roberts said he would be on the team.” No, he didn’t! He is just building him up. He can still make it, but he is about to see pitches that are not straight and over the plate. If he does happen to make it, he will be gone as soon as Tommy Tanks or Kike is activated. I suggested trading him, but an old scout told me, “The other teams see what you see… he has no market.” Yeah – he’s probably right.
River Ryan is another story, and it is possible that both River and his brother, Ryder, make the team. River will ultimately be in the rotation – his stuff is filthy. They are just bringing him along slowly. Roki Sasaki is a story in himself. I would love to see him in the rotation, but we saw this movie last year. He is filthy out of the pen. He has to master that third pitch in order to start. Yeah, he had a great game on the back diamonds. Hell, according to the legend, Sandy Koufax was throwing 90+ MPH on the back diamonds when he was in his 50s. Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear is my mantra.
Starting rotation in April:
- Yamamoto
- Glasnow
- Wrobleski
- Ohtani
- Sheehan
- Ryan (out of the pen at first)
I know that many of you might resist this, but I think there is a decent chance Sasaki starts at OKC to give him some time to develop. Pile on…
Discussion (26)
Disagree, not disagreeable
65 pitches?
Nice report, thx
Muncy homered tonight off of a left hander, his second of the spring, and his second off of a left-handed pitcher. Ohtani threw a 4-inning sim game today and according to Tim Neverett, it went very well. Hurt struck out 3 in his inning tonight. Buehler could leave the Padres if he does not make the roster.
Yamamoto will start the quarterfinal game for Japan and then return to Dodger Camp.
DR,
Can’t find anything that I disagree with. 100% agree.
9:05 PM ET
Reds (83-79)
Dodgers (93-69)
SP Nick Lodolo L
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Cole Irvin L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Miguel Rojas R
CF Andy Pages R
LF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
RF Alex Call R
3B Max Muncy L
DH S. Espinal R
C D. Rushing L
2B Nick Senzel R
89° Wind 2 mph L-R
Espinal had a very good 2021 (2.4 WAR in 246 PA), a pretty good 2022 (also 2.4 WAR but in 491 PA & an All-Star appearance).
Last three years have been rough.
But he’s succeeded before.
Espinol has a track record and it’s not good. He may have suddenly discovered something or maybe is feasting on weak Spring Training pitching? I am more interested in Nick Senzel who was a first round draft pick by the Reds and has actually had a couple of good seasons. And he’s primarily a 3B and RHH. But these are marginal guys/positions – we are talking about the 26th man here.
I am more interested in the health of the rotation to begin the season. (hopefully it will be healthy for the post-season). Here’s what we know:
1 – Snell will start out on the IL
2 – Ohtani won’t be stretched out to start the season
3 – Sasaki is a giant question-mark
4 – Sheehan has had 1 start thus far due to illness and isn’t stretched out.
5 – Wrobleski and River Ryan have looked really good.
6 – Yamamoto and Glasnow are locked and loaded
Lots of moving pieces
Sasaki can be really good, and he can be really bad. I’ve said it before; he needs to get his emotions on a steady level. It seems that it doesn’t take much to get him off kilter. A couple of bad ump calls and he’s losing it. A good pitch gets hit, and he’s spinning. He’ll be up and down. He loses to stress more often than not.
Thank you
“He has no market,” the scout told Mark.
Yet the CHAMPS signed him, and he’s a frontrunner for the 26th spot on the roster.
On the “intrigue” meter, from 1 to 26, the new UT option may rank last.
But for some reason Mark is fixated.
River is filthy and has a wipeout slider.
Ryder is a power pitcher but relies more on location and sequencing than River.
I’ll go DOM over USA & JPN over ITA.
DOM takes the crown
What have you seen out of Ryder stuff-wise?
I think Mark is a contrarian and likes to take an opposite view when people have grasped onto a dominant idea unquestioningly.
In this case it’s that Espinal represents a clear upgrade to the bench over what we already have.
Active Dodgers on WBC Remaining Rosters
Player Team Position Status
Shohei Ohtani Japan DH/Pitcher Advanced (4-0)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Japan Pitcher Advanced (4-0)
Will Smith USA Catcher Advanced (3-1)
Edwin Díaz Puerto Rico Pitcher Advanced (3-1)
Hyeseong Kim Korea Infielder Advanced (2-2)
He may, but I have to see him pitch with my eyes – not hear how great he was on the back diamonds. He will get that chance soon enough.
Your grasp of reality is really altered.
To Brians question: No
“The Los Angeles Dodgers will not visit the White House during their first trip to Washington this season, though the celebration of their 2025 World Series title could still happen later in the year. Los Angeles is scheduled to face the Washington Nationals from April 3–5, a series that initially appeared to line up with the team’s potential championship visit. However, scheduling complications surrounding the early-season road trip mean the Dodgers will postpone the trip for now rather than cancel it altogether.
The delay stems largely from game logistics surrounding the Nationals series. All three games in Washington are scheduled as daytime matchups, leaving little room for the formal ceremony traditionally held at the White House. The Dodgers have followed the championship tradition before, including last season when the club visited Washington to commemorate its previous title”.
Sasaki makes the starting rotation. Bet it!
2026 WBC Remaining Schedule
All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET).
Date Matchup Time (ET) Round
Fri, March 13 Korea vs. Dominican Republic 6:30 PM Quarterfinal
Fri, March 13 USA vs. Canada 8:00 PM Quarterfinal
Sat, March 14 Puerto Rico vs. Italy 3:00 PM Quarterfinal
Sat, March 14 Venezuela vs. Japan 9:00 PM Quarterfinal
Sun, March 15 SF 1: (KOR/DOM winner) vs. (USA/CAN winner) 8:00 PM Semifinal
Mon, March 16 SF 2: (PUR/ITA winner) vs. (VEN/JPN winner) 8:00 PM Semifinal
Tue, March 17 SF 1 Winner vs. SF 2 Winner 8:00 PM Championship
Sources: MLB.com, FOX Sports, CBS Sports
Why would anyone suggest that Espinal is more intriguing than River Ryan??
Seems like Mark always needs somebody to root against.
Now it’s Espinal, perhaps because he is blocking Alex Freeland… who might be Miguelito’s little bro.
USA advanced to the next round courtesy of the Italians who crushed Mexico. Pasquintino hit 3 homers. I have no clue what the 26-man will look like, but with Kim’s hand injury and Edman being out, Espinal has a very good chance to break camp on the roster. Staying there? That is another thing. Sorry, Sheehan has not impressed much this spring. The Ryan brothers on the other hand have.
I like the rotation.
Haven’t seen Ryder pitch. His stuff as good as his brother’s?