Very early in the season, I predicted that the Dodgers would have a TOP 5 BULLPEN. Well, they currently are now #5 in ERA in all of MLB. I have always used ERA as a metric, although I know there are many others. Some of you want to use other metrics to “disprove” that they are #5. I say “Whatever!” I have always thought about combining a number of metrics, such as BA, OPS, WHIP, ERA, inherited runners scored, and others into one metric, but I’m too busy. Perhaps our resident, sage CPA can do that. 😉 You know who you are, Jeff!
However, I am not going to stop there. Barring injury, I believe that the Dodgers will have the best bullpen in baseball… and that will be a tough pill for many of you to swallow who have lamented, moaned, groaned, bitched, complained, castigated, maligned, and obsessed about the Dodgers’ bullpen. This season may have taken years off of your life because of your wild imaginings. How silly is that?
Of course, the media (bloggers and fish hacks alike) buy into this demented thinking. Every blog that I know of and every fish hack who writes for one of the fish wraps knows that negativity gets them more pay-per-clicks on the blogs and more readers on the fish wraps. I (we) do not make any money from what we write. If you do not like what we say, go somewhere else. I will speak for myself, but I do not do this for the money, and I can tell you that Jeff (AC) , Harold (DC), 2D2 (Rob), and Bear (Michael) do not do this for the money. At LADT, the Boss is an SOB and the pay is bad!
We do this because we love baseball and the Dodgers. I do not write what you want to hear. I write what I want to say… and Jeff, Harold, Michael, and Rob may not always agree. That’s fine. OK. No problem. There are no rules as to what you can write. However, I have heard all season that Andrew Friedman does not know how to build a bullpen (and of course, you do). I call BS! This has been a crazy season. There have been more injuries than ever… EVER! What has caused it? I have my suspicions, but the science will follow. I suspect that some of the injuries are related to the COVID-19 vaccine, which by the way, I urge everyone to get. Of course, some consider that preposterous and have essentially told me to shut up.
Some obtuse-narrow-minded sycophants disagree… as is their prerogative. They believe that can’t be true. You must be an idiot, moron, dumbass, derelict, or worse to even think that… or so I have been told. It is a fact that vaccination injection site adverse reactions are usually mild and transient, however, it is well documented in the medical field that that there can be difficulties. Subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis may occur, leading to shoulder dysfunction and ongoing pain. How often this has happened is unclear. But, it does happen.
What is clear is that the vaccine, by nature, revs up your immune system and that can cause inflammation, which could lead to soft tissue injuries. This should not stop anyone from getting vaccinated but I do believe that the spate of injuries we have seen this year is somewhat related to the vaccine. People respond differently to the vaccine. I was sick for four days. Others, do not miss a beat. Upon injection with the Moderna Vaccine, my brother immediately developed a metallic taste, which has yet to go away. I have talked to people who have had flu-like aches and pains for weeks, but most people are fine.
However, back to the bullpen. The bullpen problems started when Dustin May went down (I doubt his TJ was caused by the vaccine) and it was a trickle-down effect. Jimmy Nelson has been on the IL multiple times and is fresh back from it as we speak. The Dodgers have had Corey Knebel on the IL for over half the season and he is due back imminently. Mitch White, Alex Vesia, and Phil Bickford have stepped up and possibly secured playoff roster spots.
Some relievers have shown they are not ready but have flashes of dominance, such as Garrett Cleavinger and Edwin Uceta. Others are showing progress, including The Bazooka. Joe Kelly is looking dominant (finally) after surgery to remove a cyst from his shoulder. Clayton Kershaw will allegedly be back later this week, which will further “lengthen” the bullpen, and Danny Duffy will be back later in the month. As I mentioned, Corey Knebel’s return is right around the corner.
Of course, you can look at the records of each reliever, but it is all about when you “peak” and it appears to me that the stars are aligning just in time for the playoffs. Here is what I believe the pitching staff looks like for the playoffs:
STARTERS:
- Buehler
- Kershaw (L)
- Sherzer
- Urias (L)
RELIEVERS:
- Gonsolin
- Duffy (L)
- Nelson
- Knebel
- Treinen
- Price (L)
- Bickford
- Gonzalez (L)
- Jansen
Like many of you, I do not trust Kenley Jansen to close in a one-run game, but Duffy, Kelly, Nelson, Treinen, and Knebel also have experience, I think that this pitching staff has the makings of a terrifying bullpen and starting rotation to any playoff team. That list does not include The Bazooka, Alex Vesia, Scott Alexander, and Mitch White… all of whom could play a role as well. I considered the possibility that Tony Catman could be gone for the year and also that Julio Urias could go to the bullpen as a “super-reliever.” Both possibilities are on the table. However, I am very happy with this bullpen… especially if those damn injuries can wane.
Trevor Bauer Saga
Here is some interesting reading on the Trevor Bauer situation, which may give you some more insight: https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2021/7/30/22600011/why-trevor-bauer-keeps-delaying
He may or may not be done and if he is not, what will the Dodgers and his teammates say? To be continued… I do not have an opinion because I do not have enough information.
The OKC Dodgers were the only Dodger minor league team to play last night and they beat Round Rock 9-3. They did it with just 5 hits and 3 BB. Souza, Jr. hit a Grand Slam and Sheldon Noisy his a 3-Run HR. Sheldon is playing a lot of SS. Ryan Pepiot went 5 innings in his AAA debut, allowing 2 hits and 2 runs . He walked 3 and struck out 7. He still has some growing to do… in the control department.
I Look Down on No One…
Discussion (60)
Disagree, not disagreeable
A quality performance against the Ass tros would have been partial redemption last night ,not just talking about before the game. To get shutout makes it even worse. Another game off the clock , if they have hopes of winning their division.
In other news from Chavez Ravine, Trea Turner will be flying into Los Angeles on Friday, according to Juan Toribio of MLB.com. Friday will be the 10th day after Turner’s positive COVID-19 test, meaning his minimum quarantine period will have elapsed. But at this point, it’s unclear if he will be immediately activated by the club.
At least you boys can go to bed.
I gotta long day ahead.
Feel like I do after a Post Season defeat.
Yeah, Scherzer will probably come ready to play. He will need some offense, I sure hope he can hit .
Dodger offense is pathetic, we won’t be seeing the Snakes or Rockies in the playoffs
Thanks @Therealten for the following quote:
Dodger Nation quotes Robert’s as saying the team needs to play with more urgency. Lol you think duh!!! My lord he is the one who created the lack of urgency. It wasn’t to long ago he said you can’t go out and play like your hair is on fire for 162
As if I need more ammunition to prove my point that Roberts is too laid back. Who wants their manager to say something like this even if he is thinking it??? Tonights game was as intense as it can get in the regular season and we laid (yet another) goose egg. Roberts sets the lineup and has Cody and his .150 batting 7th with red hot Pollack batting 8th. Does Pollack come through in the 8th with two on/two out? Who knows but these are the type of calls the manager makes along who to bring in from the bullpen that can put up zeros. Worst visual of the night = Maldonado sitting at second base laying out with peace sign after being out dead to right if it weren’t for more sloppy baseball with dropped ball. Man, I’m so frustrated I just needed to vent. Thanks for giving me the channel. End on a positive note = tomorrow is another day and that’s the great part about baseball. We get to see Scherzer represent The Blue and I’m confident he will come with a mission.
The bigger the game the bigger the disappointment! The Dodger bench is just pathetic. Maybe the worst in baseball!
Cody Bellinger is hapless and helpless at the same time. He’s a shell of his former self.
Orel says, “ Dodgers are coming up flat “ well you don’t say. How frustrating is this. The
A-team out there tonight looked pretty overwhelmed.
Much better ab’s by Houston. We’re chasing out of the zone all night long and no solid contact Just another disappointing performance in a blah month! All or nothing with nothing against decent pitching. We won’t be seeing Arizona’s staff in the playoffs!
After that terrible Muncy AB, I was almost certain the game was over, but when I see Victor Jansen (Or Kenley Gonzalez) come into the game, I knew the game definitely was over!
And I say it right now, not tomorrow when we know the final score of the game.
I wish they made me look bad and end up winning this damn game!
Have we never seen a slider before!
What’s with Muncy? His worst AB all year? That was simply sad.
Ok then, the win for Treinen !
Buehler grinding it out. Same ole offense no matter who is in the lineup. McCullers is really tough a rh kershaw slider slider slider. Home plate umpire helping at critical pitches. Seager rolling over on first pitch again but not striking out like Muncy, turner,smith. These are the games the giants have been able to win the dodgers just can’t seem to get over the hump against good teams. 9 more outs but now our bullpen has to hold.
And the Covid beat goes on brought on by???
Alot of good stuff in between the crapola…
1-0… they’re killing me…
I’m giving the bronze to Jason…
Best line up , same result: 0 Runs. For now
So far the Dbags are doing their job, so now
Let’s Go Dodgers.
We might have a second baseman problem.
Bottom of the fifth time to go to work feel the urgency
Slow start. Figures.
Just read this in the Atlantic:
“The White House has rejected a nationwide vaccine mandate—a sweeping suggestion that the Biden administration could not easily enact if it wanted to—but a no-fly list for unvaccinated adults is an obvious step that the federal government should take. It will help limit the risk of transmission at destinations where unvaccinated people travel—and, by setting norms that restrict certain privileges to vaccinated people, will also help raise the stagnant vaccination rates that are keeping both the economy and society from fully recovering.”
I like it.
Eddys Leonard hit a two-run home run in his first at bat with the Great Lakes Loons tonight. This guy is a player. He will play the entire season as a 20-year-old.
Hyun-il Choi five strong innings in his Loons debut. One earned run, eight strikeouts and no walks.
At the risk of being a name caller, it would sure be nice to see machine gun Joe Kelly pitch to one or two Asstros tonight.
Well, Doc may trust Jansen in a tight game, but even though I am not from Missouri I am a show me kind of guy. He just lets too many guys get on base. Then some games, he looks like the old Jansen.
08/03/21 Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Edwin Uceta on the 10-day injured list. Right back strain.
08/03/21 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Brusdar Graterol from Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Well actually, LAD was #6 in reliever ERA going into today:
SD – 2.89
Tampa – 3.06
SF – 3.39
Miami – 3.41
Cleveland – 3.57
LAD – 3.59
Boston – 3.62
Cubs – 3.63
Milwaukee – 3.63
A’s – 3.73
They are actually closer to 9th than they are to 4th. I do not believe ERA is the gold standard for measuring relievers. The algorithm Mark suggested might work, but I will leave that for the software engineers. BandP is closer to being able to design that algorithm than me. I believe in numbers, and I will audit it. But I will leave the design to others. But for now, I guess the stat Dodgerick provided a couple days back can suffice – LAD is 20th in bWAR at (-2.2), between Seattle and Pittsburgh.
IMO, when talking about relievers, I think most are concerned with late inning high leverage situations rather than those coming in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th…as many LAD relievers do in their bullpen games. Who cares what Garrett Cleavinger or Alex Vesia or Brusdar Graterol or David Price do in those early innings as long as they do not let the game out of hand. And for the most part, the bullpen games have not been the problem. The most relevant statistic measuring late inning high leverage situations is blown saves, where the Dodgers are 29th at 23. Only Philadelphia and their 25 blown saves have more. They have the 4th most reliever losses and only the 14th most reliever wins.
Other metrics:
WHIP – 9th
BAA – 6th
BB – 13th most
K – 16th most
The LAD bullpen has pitched the 22nd most innings. Of the ten teams above, only the A’s and SF have pitched less. SF relievers have pitched 374.1 while LAD has pitched 376. This is a testament to how consistently deep into the games Buehler, Urias, Kershaw, and Bauer have pitched. SD starters are a mess, so they need a deeper bullpen, and they have one. They improved with the addition of Daniel Hudson, while LAD improved the starting rotation with another pitcher who can go deep: Max Scherzer.
One other metric many stat nerds look at is SO/W ratio. Of the seven teams above that are pretty much guaranteed a playoff spot (LAD, SF, SD, Milwaukee, Boston, Oakland, Tampa Bay), the Dodgers are tied (with Boston) for 6th/ 7th with a 2.41 ratio.
Tampa Bay – 3.32
SF – 3.12
SD – 2.92
Milwaukee – 2.59
Oakland – 2.54
LAD & Boston – 2.41
We all know that ERA is derived by multiplying the number of earned runs by 9 and dividing the product by the number of innings pitched. We also know that the first run in an extra inning is considered unearned. The Dodgers are 1-11 in extra-inning games, which your eyes should tell you that their late inning high leverage relievers are not very good. If we add one earned run for each extra inning loss, the Dodgers bullpen drops to 10th in ERA. In my thinking, it was the reliever that allowed the run. It is only due to a definition that MLB considers the run unearned. For me, when judging a bullpen in late inning high leverage situations, I consider it earned. It is a rule that puts a runner on 2nd with no outs, not a defensive lapse.
I believe that Danny Duffy could start in September, but will be the multi-inning reliever during the playoffs. He will be this year’s Julio Urias. Whether he will be as effective, we will have to wait and see.
I am not about to guess who will be the 8-9 LAD relievers in the postseason. Who knows who will be healthy or hurt. I agree with those that say we may have seen the last of Tony Gonsolin for 2021. I do not believe he has been healthy all year. I also do not believe that VGon is healthy. I am not comfortable that Graterol came into the season with the right attitude (WS hangover), and he is not ready for a repeat this year. He is talented, but he is going to have to develop that second breaking ball/off speed pitch and wait until next year (IMO). Jimmy Nelson has to stay healthy.
I do not care about relievers who we know will not be on the roster come October, and what their numbers do for the team metrics. The Dodgers have 6 relief pitchers who have more than 25.0 IP, and the Giants have 5. I use the Giants, because that is the team they are chasing. I have also excluded Zack Littell from the Giants list, because the team has moved him to MiLB. The team that BandP said would be trailing LAD by 4.5 games by the end of July. Oh well. ☺
In order of IP:
LAD
Blake Treinen – 2.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, .196 BAA, 4.08 SO/W, 3 saves, 3 blown saves
Kenley Jansen – 2.90 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, .187 BAA, 1.71 SO/W, 22 saves, 5 blown saves
Victor Gonzalez – 3.16 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .241 BAA, 1.72 SO/W, 1 save, 1 blown save
Phil Bickford – 2.51 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, .210 BAA, 3.09 SO/W, 1 save, 2 blown saves
Joe Kelly – 3.21 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .196 BAA, 4.57 SO/W, 1 save, 1 blown save
Jimmy Nelson – 1.98 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, .141 BAA, 3.73 SO/W, 0 saves, 1 blown save
SFG
Tyler Rogers – 1.98 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .232 BAA, 3.56 SO/W, 11 saves, 5 blown saves
Jake McGee – 2.23 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, .168 BAA, 6.71 SO/W, 23 saves, 2 blown saves
Jarlin Garcia – 2.70 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, .150 BAA, 3.83 SO/W, 1 save, 1 blown save
Jose Alvarez – 2.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .208 BAA, 2.70 SO/W, 0 saves, 0 blown saves
Dominic Leone – 1.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, .157 BAA, 2.80 SO/W, 0 saves, 2 blown saves
The Giants have added Tony Watson, while the Dodgers will be adding Corey Knebel and Danny Duffy. Score one for the good guys.
I still do not believe VGon is healthy, and I hope will not be a playoff reliever option unless every doctor says he is healthy.
The above Giant relievers ERA, WHIP, BAA, SO/W, and saves/blown saves are all better than LAD (in total), but not so much that I would be overly concerned except to when it comes to shutting down the game. The Giants will give Jake McGee the majority of save opportunities in the playoffs. Kapler can see who has been successful. Any close late inning 1-run save opportunity will go to McGee, while Rogers will get the 2-3 run lead save opportunities.
Neither AF nor Doc have moved away from KJ. Anyone who thinks that anybody but KJ was going to be the closer going into the stretch was not being realistic. Let Treinen, Knebel, or even Joe Kelly have a shot at closing. Taking away the first game that Kelly pitched this year, his numbers are 1.98 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, .160 BAA, and .474 OPS. He certainly deserves a chance.
Bottom line for me is that the Dodgers bullpen is not great. They are good, and probably good enough to win it all as long as the starters get innings and the offense shows up. But my big reservation is that the Giants have a closer they can count on, while the Dodgers do not, and apparently no desire to make a change.
F.D.A. Aims to Give Final Approval to Pfizer Vaccine by Early Next Month.
I now have sufficient confidence in White.
Wow, that lineup looks as long as a Knock Out count in Bauer’s bedroom.
Cody’s in right, I guess for a few reasons.
1) Out of over 300 games in the outfield for CT3, only 4 of them have been in RF
2) Cody’s arm is stronger
3) Less running for Cody
I guess the Dodgers don’t think highly of DRS. AJ Pollock’s DRS in CF is better than CT3 and CT3’s DRS in LF is better than Pollock’s.
MT, I also had the metallic taste in my mouth from Moderna. I don’t have any flu symptoms today, but the metallic taste persists.
Badger, If you understood math, you would realize that you can’t estimate that the average age of those who died with COVID based on the numbers that were given. So, you can not definitively state that the age is under 85.
Bear, if you corrected everytime someone misused a word, missed punctuation or generally failed at grammar in all the posts on this site, you would need to hire an assistant.
This year, I hate the Giants, Padres and Astros in that order. The top spot never changes for me. Even with the cheating, the Astros are a classy ballclub compared to the Padres. But that’s like comparing COVID Classic to the Delta variant.
Anyone else have butterflies in their stomach for this big game against the cheaters?
Please don’t lose LA…..pretty please!
All our love and hopes going out to our boys,
TM
2b Mookie
1b Max
3b Justin
SS Corey
c Will
CF CT3
RF Cody
LF AJ
P Walker
It’s OK to discuss stuff, but let’s keep it civil. Most of you have. It’s good to see differing points of view, but I will not let it devolve to insults and name calling. Stop it!
Sorry TM, lineup is out, Bellinger in the lineup hitting 7th before Pollock.
Update on Ozuna. Fulton County has decided not to proceed with the felony aggravated assault strangulation charge against him. But they are proceeding with a couple of misdemeanor charges of family violence battery and simple assault. Both carry sentences of up to one year jail time. Matt Shoemaker released by the Twins.
Lets keep it to baseball alright. All this posturing about Covid is about as relevant to tonights game as dandruff.
Off to bed – alarm set for 3am
Don’t wanna miss this series with the Asstros
You guys have been a little behind us all the way on the Covid Curve.
The vaccines have broken the link between number of cases and deaths and hospitalisations here in the Uk.
Delta was a nuisance but we are well on the way out of it.
The country is open with no restrictions – no compulsory mask wearing – although advised in crowded areas such as buses or the Underground. No curfews and no restrictions. It’s been a wonderful
Couple of celebratory weeks, and the number of new cases is actually going down even though we are now totally free.
We have the same arguments – to Vax or not to Vax – it’s a personal choice. No point worrying what others are doing if it’s beyond your control.
There is no plan B – and at some point soon you will all need to move on together, vaccinated or not.
You guys will be at this point in a few weeks time.
I do not check span every day, but I noticed that several posts were marked as “spam” that should not be. Usually, it is a long post that does it. If so, just post “I am stuck in Spam” and that will alert me to get you out of jail.
Isn’t it fun to have an opinion, and to be able to express it, oh wait!
Duck and cover !
Actually freedom of expression runs rampant on this site.
Thank you Mark. I think it’s good for us.
(in-spite of the monkey business)
I was in the Army, I got more injections than I can count and had no say in it what so ever. But I never questioned it simply because the Army knew more about what kind of ailments were waiting for me in some foreign land than I did. If Y’all are worried about a little prick in the arm that has for the most part not harmed most, y’all are nuts. Try getting the vaccination that they gave over seas for Hepatitis. 1 CC for every 20 pounds of body weight. I weighed 220 at the time and got 11 CC’s right in the ass. 5 in one cheek, 6 in the other, try sitting on a hard seat of a deuce and a half with that for 2 hours. Not only did I not get sick, the lumps eventually went away. I am 73, have diabetes and I am at high risk for Covid. But I have not caught it. And I beg to differ porpoiseboy, not everyone who has died from it are fat and old. A lot of young people died too, including a friend of mines 30 year old granddaughter. So unless you have facts to back up that bullshit, just keep the crap in your mouth and off of your postings. Lakers just got another old guy signing Carmello Anthony to a one year deal.
DODGERS RECALL ZACH REKS
LOS ANGELES
– The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled outfielder Zach Reks and optioned right-handed pitcher Yefry Ramírez.
Reks, 27, will be recalled for the third time in his career and has appeared in six games for the Dodgers this season. He has spent the majority of the season in Oklahoma City, batting .312 (62-for-199) with 12 homers and 38 RBI in 53 games. In 309 career minor league games, he has batted a combined .303 (334-for-1107) with 47 homers and 183 RBI. The Chicago, IL native was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th round of the 2017 First Year Player Draft out of the University of Kentucky.
Ramírez, 27, made his Dodgers debut Sunday, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. He is now 1-10 with a 6.19 ERA (63 ER/91.2 IP) and 91 strikeouts in 31 games (13 starts) in his Major League career spanning three seasons and stops in Baltimore (2018-19), Pittsburgh (2019) and Los Angeles (2021). In his minor league career, he is 43-39 with a 3.75 ERA (278 ER/667.1 IP) and 679 strikeouts in 152 career games. He signed with the Dodgers as a minor league free agent on March 25.
August 3, 2021
Reks was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to Tuesday’s game against the Astros, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.
Dodger Nation quotes Robert’s as saying the team needs to play with more urgency. Lol you think duh!!! My lord he is the one who created the lack of urgency. It wasn’t to long ago he said you can’t go out and play like your hair is on fire for 162. Well mb some of those games they just pissed away because they wanted to c what they had. How about continuously resting players who just had a day off or who are hot. SMH glad to c he is now on board.
Which has been worse, Dodger late inning offence or late inning relief pitching?
I know lots of people who did not get the vaxx. It’s their option. I got the first shot, but not the second (due to a severe reaction, my doctor advised me not to), so it is not clear if I am or am not vaccinated. Here are a few points to remember.
1. Normally, it took about 12-15 minutes of exposure to COVID-19 to overcome your immune system and start the disease. With the new Delta Variant, the transmission time is as little as 5 seconds. There is also no indication that it is any less deadly.
2. I have had COVID-19 TWICE (as in 2 times) and you don’t want it.. especially if you are my age.
3. Masks do very little to prevent you from getting COVID-19. What they do is prevent you or any person with COVID from spreading it as readily. Masks don’t protect you. They protect others.
4. Even if you get the vaccine, you can transmit it to others and you may even be sick, but not as sick and not as dead!
I have to think Bauer is pitching enough to remain stretched out should he be able to return.
I will get a booster shot without hesitation.
Someway somehow America needs to get to 75% vaccinated.
“A coward dies a 1000 deaths, the brave but one. ”
That quote should get a few engines revved up.
I don’t know what the best way to measure a bullpen is, but it is certainly not ERA. Because unlike with starting pitchers, their part of the game does not start at the same point. Come in with a 7-1 lead, walk two batters, get taken out and both score, and your ERA for that game is over 18. Come in with a 10-2 lead, pitch two scoreless innings, and your ERA is 0. What is the context? Oh, one may think it evens out, but I would focus on how the bullpen does in close games, and particularly in the later innings. We have all these bullpen games, with six or so pitchers pitching one or two innings. Actually, you can lower your bullpen ERA with these, because you are using so many different pitchers. But it wears out the bullpen, too.
We are 1-11 in extra inning games. Those were all lost by bullpen pitchers. Yes, not scoring enough in the extra innings is a big part of it, but I have seen great bullpens, like TB’s last year, or KC’s in their championship year, hold for many innings; although of course there was not the amateurish rule about the runner on second. But better bullpens win these, and ours does not. Isn’t that more important than how we are in ERA?
And then of course the focus must be on the closer. Do we have the fifth best closer in baseball? Not close to that. Have we had that for the last three years? No, we rarely even use him in key moments of playoff games. So with that, how do can we rank our bullpen among the best?
We do have some good arms, and I could see the bullpen becoming a strength. But I could also see it letting us down. I do not have too much confidence in it, and not much in Jansen. We will see, of course, and hope for the best. And it will depend on how well Roberts uses the bullpen, as compared to the other managers whose teams we will face in the playoffs.
I’ve never talked about these 2 subjects here until now and I will keep it short and get to the point.
1) I don’t trust the government and especially one that is controlled by the Democrats, so no thank you to a Chinavirus vaccination.
2) I want the Dodgers to win another championship and Trevor Bauer makes the Dodgers chances better, therefore I want Trevor Bauer back pitching for the Dodgers.
There, short and sweet.
I have never posted a word about covid I will say this. People can do what they want as long as it doesn’t effect me. The neighboring county and my county are having a flood of new covid cases flooding the hospitals. The vaccination % of the neighboring county is 47%. Folks can get into hospitals again for needs that have been put off for months. They are again above capacity and many health care workers have had enough. They are finding something else to do and it’s very difficult to find replacements. The vast majority, of these hospitalizations are unvaccinated folks under 39. They aren’t dying but they are very sick with plenty of respiratory issues. It will be very soon that the Governor will require make again as mandatory while in public. I don’t want to do that. I also have a medical procedure on hold while the unvaccinated take up all the hospital space. I’m 70 and may die from any of the listed afflictions mentioned above. I on’t believe I got and chip from the vaccine of will grow a 2nd head or something. At this point I see no reason NOT to be vaccinated to lower the cases. I look at it as a civic duty to help arrest the spread and allowing this stuff from mutating into a form that kills and can’t be controlled.
I might be spewing the company line for many doubters but I wasn’t abducted by aliens and brainwashed. I don’t distrust the science or my doctor’s advice. You could tack me if you want with a chip or use my cellphone. It’s not that interesting. I just personally don’t understand at this point all the resistance. It’s infringing on my person freedoms at this point.
So, it sounds like we are all in agreement here….Jansen should not be our closer……..yet he is!
I wonder how AF feels about this? Does he really tell Doc what to do if he feels strongly about something? Or does he let Doc manage while he GMs?
I have to admit that I find it odd that most of you are very proVax and that Covid is such a bad thing that people should get a drug that hasn’t been studied, the companies have no liability in a court, and that really hasn’t been working all that well.
I need this experimental injection to STILL have to wear a mask apparently, STILL can get Covid BUT my symptoms MAY be less IF I get it. This is for a virus that many people WITHOUT OTHER ISSUES report are fairly mild. I know a dozen or so people that had it. Not one of them said it was that bad. Almost no children have died from Covid unless they have other issues such as Leukemia or something serious, but yet we are going to mask up 6 year olds all day again. Mind boggling.
However, when LA picked up Turner while he is ON THE DAMN Covid DL, everyone here assumes he will be back on day one after his 10 days. That was all I read. He is eligible on this day so we can move this player here and yada yada. Go back and look. I never saw one concern. I don’t think I read ONE thing where anyone said.
oh my. I hope he is OK.
I hope he can still play at MLB level
How could AF trade Ruiz for a guy that could drop dead since he HAS Covid.
Think about that. This awful, killer disease that I need this vax for is sooooooo bad that a guy can go play MLB right after his arbitrary time period is over. I think that if some of you put down your TV remote, all would be better. Not perfect but better.
Hopefully, after the midterms, Lord Fauci will again revise his position and his flock will be free again. You that have the vax WERE free for what……a week or two of no masks before they grabbed that right back from you?
Doubtful as he is celebrity #1, a media darling, has freakin children’s books written about him, with a ton of power and no really accountability and who gives that up?
As to the bullpen, again stats are stats but outcome is outcome.
There just is NO statistical argument to make that Jansen is a quality closer. All you have to do is watch the games WHEN IT MATTERS. He is a mess. He misses spots routinely. Walk way too many hitters. Makes way too many non-competitive pitches. Gives up too much contact. Can’t hold runners on.
Jansen’s stats are like the guy who hits 30HR but 28 are solo shots late in blowout games. Who cares. What do you do when there are RISP late in games when it matters?
I think that the pen gets much better with Kershaw and Max in the mix. Of course. IF Bauer was to return, then even more so.
As long as Roberts/AF keeps using Jansen in tight games with little to margin for error, LA will give away more games. Especially, when Jansen gets to his 4th or 5th batter and there is still NOBODY warming up.
This is going to be a fun team to watch down the stretch as they get to almost full strength. Losing Bauer is a big blow but one I think they can overcome. Adding Max certainly helps, and who knows if AF gets him if Bauer is there, but wow can you imagine Bueller, Scherzer, Bauer, Kershaw as the playoffs 4?!!
Hoping Bellinger can get it together but I don’t have a lot of hope. I wish he had the heart of Barnes or Taylor. I don’t know him of course but the lack of change just says that he doesn’t. I could be wrong.
On paper, the Giants are not even close to a better team. In real life, they have over preformed at a historic level in my opinion. Outside of Posey, they don’t have ONE player that starts in LA or SD but yet they are on top into August. When and IF the Dodgers can get healthy, I think that slowly changes and LA wins the west by 4-6 games but who knows.
Going to be a fun one tonight and tomorrow. I wish I could be there!! Crowd should be wild.
Mark, I too noticed the absence of (hopefully) Joseph (not Joe) Kelly from you list of pitchers.
My list, if the playoffs started today, would be:
CK, Striker, Scherzer and Urias who pitches in relief when a 3rd starter isn’t needed
Price, Treinen, KJ, and Nelson. I’m adding Kelly.
Knebel and Duffy who I have never seen but I’ll take your word for it.
That’s 11 and Gonsolin would make it 12, but I’m not optomist based on no evidence what-so-ever. So, that’s 11 without him.
That leaves Vesia, Cleavenger, Alexander and V-Gon to fill 1 or 2 roster spots. All lefties which we need. For me, it’s Vesia and Cleavenger in that order.
Alexander, if healthy on the taxi squad and V-Gon last. I’ve seen him struggle too much this year to trust him despite his post season success.
I think we can win with this group but they need to do their jobs and execute.
This could all change after we see Knebel and Duffy. Bickford is intriguing but he’s earned a job for me. But I could see him replaced for a left handed arm.
Astros changed their starter for tonight, opting to Lance McCullers Jr. 8-2 with a 3.23 ERA. Only 4 Dodgers have a history against him. Albert, 0-15, Betts 2-5 with a RBI, Turner and Taylor 1-2 each. Correa is the only Astro who has done damage to Buehler, 2-2 with a HR. Buehler named NL Pitcher of the Month. Former Dodger John Axford was traded the other day, players who were in the minors can be traded. And the price Milwaukee paid for Axford?? One dollar. Axford is on the Brewers active roster. Tonight’s rematch with the Astros will be the first time fans have been in Dodger Stadium to see the two teams since game 7 of the series in 17. To say fasten your seatbelts as a sold out Dodger Stadium raises the decibel level to previous unknown heights is an understatement.
JoJo Gray with 5 innings for the Nats yesterday giving up just one run in his debut there, Keibert still not with them .
Pages has been a house on fire lately.
Giants find ways to win games every way possible just as the Dodgers find a thousand ways to lose. Difference in the standings . 3.5 back now. Have to empark on a winning streak soon.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!
Interesting, Mark.
I’m having a difficult time forgetting the three blown saves by Kenley in one week, two against the Giants in an important series, basically the difference in being where we are and not in first place. But yes, the bullpen overall has been good.
The Giants keep winning and the Dodgers have managed to find a way to lose games they should win, the errant throw in San Francisco, the inability to get a runner home from third with no outs or one out, the poor record in extra inning games —- more games are lost than won.
At this point I’m not sure what to think. I expected the Giants to fade in July, but that hasn’t happened. There are some cracks in their starting rotation, teams getting to some of their top starters, still, somehow they seem to be able to overcome it. Will it last? It’s getting later with each passing day and they seem to be hanging on. Maybe it’s their year. Unless, of course, the Dodgers go on a couple of runs, extended winning streaks. Certainly capable.
As to Trevor Bauer, I’ve moved on. Not sure if his return would be a good thing or a huge distraction and media circus.
At this point, when will Clayton Kershaw return? That’s the biggest question. If the Dodgers make the playoffs and can get past the wild card or win the division outright, I have no doubt LA can win another World Series. Best team moving forward.
At this stage, not a lot of faith in Jansen. Hope for the best, but he struggles at times with control. Walks are one of the biggest factors in late rallies in MLB.
If the Dodgers make the playoffs and if Kershaw’s healthy see Urias as a key option in the bullpen. Duffy could become a starter or a long reliever in the final month.
Hey, pretty good effort by Jo Jo Gray in his first Washington start last night.
Yankees Cole to Covid IL. Shea Spitzbarth, who was in the Dodger system his entire career until 2020, called up by the Pirates. Angels called up #1 prospect Joe Adell. Tauchman outrighted to the minors. Josh Hader on Covid IL> TM, the Giants did win over the D-Backs last night, but it was not easy. D-Backs put up 8 and lost in extra’s. 11-8. Giants starters are starting to show some cracks, they got to Desclafani for 5 runs in 4.1 innings and scored 3 more off of the pen. D-Backs pen is atrocious, so losing in 10 was no surprise. But at least they put up a fight and made the Giant pen pitch 5.2 innings. Lakers signed 4 guys who played for them before, Howard, Ariza, Bazemore and Ellington, none of whom is under 30. Only Lebron, Westbrook, Davis and Gasol were on the roster after the trade and all of their free agents. Caruso has already left on a 4 year deal to the Bulls.
I got a question I can’t immediately find an answer for – how many bullpen games have we used this year and what’s our record in them?
I thought at the beginning of the year our bullpen could be historic. Of course, it had Gonsolin, Price, Knebel Alexander and Nelson in it then.
Kershaw is behind schedule and nobody is saying much about it. What they are saying about Duffy is September. How many more bullpen games will be needed this year? Picking up Scherzer is obviously huge, but with the loss of May and Bauer, the uncertainty about Kershaw and Gonsolin and Duffy not coming back until September, this team is still short starting pitching. White and Pepiot? Ok. That’s kinda scary, but, ok.
I think we are going to have to score more runs going forward.
Based on my reading on the vaccines, and the ongoing, but improving reluctance from a large group of, have to be careful here, stubborn Americans the vaccinated numbers are slowly going up. The effect on athletes is questionable but those questions have to be asked. Probably won’t be answered anytime soon but if there is a correlation all teams should suffer equally. Maybe those teams from stubborn areas could be more likely effected but I doubt we get any solid information on that before October. One day at a time, one week at a time.
For what’s it worth I spoke with my sister-in-law, a Stanford Med School graduate on the front lines in Oregon and when I asked if we are headed toward a third booster she said “yes”, it looks likely. And why? We know why.
That was a very entertaining write-up, Mark. Maybe you can write about about the value of getting Belli going as opposed to having him sit on the bench next.
It’s hard to evaluate the bullpen just based on stats. Some will complain about ERA because a reliever’s body of work for a season can be ruined by a single bad outing. Some will look to into inherited base runners scored as metric, but not all inherited base runners are equal. One team could have a higher number of baserunners inherited on 3rd base whereas another team could have a higher number on baserunners on first. There’s just no great way to really quantify a bullpen without a lot of work, possibly making it a full time job.
I agree that you might as well use ERA, it’s the gold standard for pitcher effectiveness and the brass tax for any pitcher is to prevent runs. As you mentioned, the Dodgers are top 5 right now on the year in bullpen ERA. That’s pretty damn good. Now, let’s look at some of those guys that contributed to that ERA who are definitely not going to be on this team come playoff time.
Jame Sherfey 4.15
Andy Burns 18.00
JoJo Gray 6.75
Nate Jones 8.31
Mike Kickham 13.50
Dennis Santana 6.00
Edwin Uceta 7.64
That’s a lot of junk in the trunk and none of those guys will see a post-season inning on the Dodgers.
I’d would also like to point to a more qualitative approach. Surely, any bullpen that has to choose between Tony Gonsolin and Brusdar Grateral as the final piece has to be full of talent. After all Graterol, as we all know is a fire-breather who seems to throw 100+ without giving it much effort at all. He pitched 8.2 innings to a tune of 3.12 in last year’s postseason with a save to boot, in his rookie season no less. Let’s look how this bullpen shapes up with a few words on each piece.
Gonsolin – With the sore shoulder, I’m betting Graterol beats him out. But, his lifetime ERA of 2.65 is nothing to take lightly. He’s dirty and has a trick pitch that no one is familiar with.
Duffy (L) – He was one of the best left handed starters in the AL this year before he went down. He could serve in that multi inning lefty reliever role and he likes pitching in the pen. His 95-96 MPH sinker and 4 pitch mix will play in the pen.
Nelson – We’ve seen him a little shaky, but once he got going, he was unhittable mostly due to the nasty curveball. His fastball has enough heat to blow it by hitters when they have to respect that hook.
Knebel – He’s been a dominant closer in the past and looked like he was picking up his past form before the lat injury throwing zeros in his last 6 games after a slow start in his first two games.
Treinen – He had possibly the best year as a closer ever, just 4 years ago. He’s sporting a 2.22 ERA this year even after giving up all those cheap shift hits and he cranks that sinker up to 99 with a heartbreaking slider.
Price (L) – He’s touching 95 after getting the cyst removed from his hand and he’s a former Cy Young winner.
Bickford – He’s a former first rounder (18 overall) and he’s sporting a nifty 3.03 ERA is what is essentially his rookie season.
Gonzalez (L) – Dirtiest lefty reliever on the team with a 2.70 ERA in last year’s playoffs and a true lefty killer with a career .175 BAA vs lefty hitters.
Jansen – Box of Chocolates Jansen. You never know what you’re gonna get. When on he’s unhittable and when he’s off, forgetaboutit.
But wait, there’s more…
As I posted yesterday, there’s still some potential surprises in the Dodgers system they can dip into in case of injury. Guys like Quakenbush and Feliz have had great seasons in the past and the Dodgers have a track record for getting guys back to their peak form. Morrow and Kahnle still exist, so you never know what can happen. Guys like Vesia, Cleavinger, White, and Nunez all have great stuff and are coming along. You never know what progress they’ll make over the remainder of the season.
There’s a ton of choices here and all of them are potentially better than what was available at the deadline sans Kimbrel and maybe Hudson. Would you really bump one of these guys for Tony Watson?
I knew Mark’s list seemed like it was missing someone. Curiously omitted is our own legend, El Mariachi, Joe Kelly.
Maybe Mark has him serving a suspension for the rest of the year after planting some darts on some cheaters or Padres or Giants. The bullpen is very good and very deep indeed. Some might call this kind of depth “Historic”. Let’s see how this shakes out.
Regarding the pitcher who shall not be named. Until he’s suspended for the season, there’s going to be a chance that he comes back. Talk about game over! I was beginning to resolve myself to the possibility that we would not see the nameless one until next year. That was until Starlin Castro received just 30 games for his second offense for allegedly beating his wife. A reasonable person would think that getting rough with a hooker is a lesser offense than beating your wife, for a second time. But, we all know that MLB doesn’t necessarily hand out suspensions fairly. I mean, Kelly got suspended 6 games for not hitting a dirty, stinking, cheating Astro and Urias served time because his drunk girlfriend caused a scene and tripped herself. Adding that Manfred and the nameless one are definitely not good friends and you can see this isn’t something that can be reasonably predicted. But, there is a chance, and what a winning lottery ticket that would be.
Here’ a bullpen stat worth noting. The Dodgers pen leads the league in holds!
I’m a fast reader and sometimes I miss things, but did you mention anything or any numbers regarding “blown saves?”
It seems to me we have had more than our share of them, especially in the 9th inning, and especially when Jansen is pitching.
So, my one thought is simply this, like you said, while our bullpen as a whole may be doing fine, one Kenley Jansen has the power and could keep us from winning our second WS if he is allowed to continue to close games in the playoffs.
This is why I hope Bauer is back, so that we can move Urias back to the pen to close behind the big 4: Buehler, Bauer, Scherzer, Kershaw.
I realize Urias has the most wins of all our starting pitchers but no one can deny the fact that his bullpen performances made the difference for us in winning last year. Unlike Jansen, He throws strikes and is drama free.
In conclusion: I’m afraid to say this, but one guy could spoil it all and if Doc does continue to throw out KJ like he did recently, causing us to lose 3 very important games in a row, I hope he gets relieved of his duties too. The thought of Doc calling on Jansen to close out that one game winner move on playoff game against SD with us leading 4-3 is very very scary to me. I don’t want that moment to be in my dreams during the entire off-season.
I too think the pen is better than some might think. I am not however counting on Catman until we find out exactly what is wrong with his shoulder. One thing Andrew has proved to be a master at is manipulating the roster. He will find slots for the players he feel he needs to win. TM is excited to see Trea Turner as I think all here are. Nice debut for the Nats by Gray. Wish him much success against everyone but LA. I echo what Mark says. I do this for my love of the game and the Dodgers. I am not as knowledgeable about some facets of the game that maybe I should be. But at 73, this ol Bear is just a little long in the tooth to want to spend the time understanding analytics and some of the more complex ways of player evaluation. I spent a lot of time yesterday arguing with a friend about Bellinger. In my mind, he lost…..I hate to lose. One last thing, I talked with my sis the other day, she is a nurse at Harbor General in Carson. And as such see’s everyday the effects of Covid. She encouraged me to get vaccinated back at the beginning of the year when I was dead set against it. But it was offered in the building I live in. So I read all of the info I could on the vaccine they were using, Pfizer, and went ahead and got both of the shots. Only side effect either time was a sore arm for about 2 days. For a 73 year old, I am in pretty decent health other than the normal aches and pains from age, and arthritis that rears it’s ugly head once in a while. It was a choice I am glad I made. But that is me. Follow your own conscience and what ever advice your doctor gives you. I shall keep writing as much as I can when I find a Dodger subject I think you will enjoy. Have a great day guys, GO DODGERS!! Beat the cheaters!!!
The bullpen has the pieces to get it done if healthy. If he don’t ruin Bickford down the stretch Robert’s could call on him for big outs in certain matchups. Doc seems to really have confidence in him. Please no Alexander.
Mitch white should take the current starting nod created by the Gonsolin injury. I like AF pushing Pepiot and Jackson to triple a. At least now you have some starting pitching options to bring up. Mb Kahnel is a possibility in September. Gonsolin is a quality pitcher but not with shoulder issues. For good reason he has no command. I don’t expect him back but hopefully.
If tb is back how can he be built up to starter status? Ridiculous that Castro can be given 30 days quickly and move on by Mlb. Mlb should make a decision and move on. Mlb should just rule on their end and let the court do what they are going to do.
I believe currently the Giants are just better than us in all areas: starters, bullpen, defense, slug. Once scherzer and kershaw are back that could change. In July our era was better but they have a full healthy rotation. Their bullpen just are not giving away games. If you look position by position we are not clearly better at any position. Normally cf would b but bellinger. U say Muncy but wade and ruf have put up incredible numbers. U say 3rd well Bryant/Flores give very good production. Second base mb but who is our second baseman if turner ever plays clear advantage dodgers. Pollock in left but now the giants have Bryant to move around that is close. Mookie in rf mb but not currently.
Our pitching could save us in the end if if if happens. But will we run out of time?
Dodgers: Andy Pages Named to the MiLB Prospect Team of the Week
by Brook Smith
The Dodgers prospect list got a major shake-up this week at the trade deadline. With several big pieces moving out of the Top 30, there have been opportunities for guys to move up in the system and get a new opportunity. Andy Pages made the jump up to number 6 on the Dodgers prospect list.
08/02/21 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Yefry Ramirez to Oklahoma City Dodgers. If Knebel is activated off the 60 Day IL ,someone will have to be DFA or someone on the 10 Day IL will have to be transferred to the 60 Day IL..
Who might that be? The 26 man roster stands at 25 as of today.