The Bell Toles for Andrew
Andrew Toles has a great story out of baseball, stocking groceries and back to baseball. From the outhouse to the penthouse and even after that he has endured even more adversity in the form of injury. However, he apparently is healthy and ready to contribute. I am going to make the case that he can contribute to the Dodgers success in the biggest way by playing CF and leading
Andrew Toles has a great story – out of baseball, stocking groceries and back to baseball. From the outhouse to the penthouse and even after that he has endured even more adversity in the form of injury. However, he apparently is healthy and ready to contribute. I am going to make the case that he can contribute to the Dodgers success in the biggest way by playing CF and leading off… everyday. Yes, he hits right-handers better, but he has been given little opportunity against LH pitching. In a small sampling, he has a .351 OB% against RHP and .250 against LH pitching. He deserves a shot. He has the speed to leadoff and help manufacture runs and he also has the speed to play CF.
The fact of the matter is that he has only played CF 15 times in the majors. He has also started 16 games as the leadoff hitter. So, it’s not like he hasn’t played there. FAZ likes the long ball and, while not a slugger, Toles can hit the ball out of the park with power. Part of the Dodgers problems this year have been the inability to hit with RISP. It’s because they have too many “all-or-nothing” players like Joc, Cody, Yasmani, CT3 and Kike. They can make the chicks dig them with the long ball, but they move air liken a giant fan with their whiffs.
Playing Toles in CF and Verdugo is RF would help the “all-or-nothing” mentality. Since Puig is injured, I would play Alex in RF and Andrew in CF – the solution to the Dodgers problems could be right under their nose. Alex went 2-4 and scored 3 runs last night for OKC and is hitting .350 with a .916 OPS. I think both players are ready and they are both different types of hitters than the Dodgers normally play. Adding some guys with On Base Skills surely can’t hurt… and they don’t require a trade.
The bullpen is getting better…. and better, and while you never have enough arms, the bullpen could be fine with internal fixes (Ryu, Urias, et al). The Dodgers team ERA is now #1 in the National League and will soon be #2 in MLB behind the Astros. The Dodger starters are #2 in baseball… only thye Astros are better. Yes, the pen is getting better, but another good arm would not hurt.
It should not be lost on anyone that the 2018 Dodgers are the fastest team since 1955 to go from 10 games under .500 to 10 games over .500.
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Discussion (80)
Disagree, not disagreeable
7th inning again, may e patchwork bullpen not going to work. How about the FO get off their arses and make a move, needed!!!
I think rich hill could be a weapon out of the pen in the postseason.
All-star starter matt kemp!
Slap hitter Cody Bellinger, don’t like it.
Dodgers get 2 on in the 8th with 1 out and don’t score.
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Taylor K’s again with RISP.
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It’s sad.
Dumb baserunning play by Toles – he should be on 3B!
….and CT3 did hit a HR to tie the game at 3-3 but good gawd he K’d on a pitch in the middle of the LH batters box with Grandal at 2B. Hit the freaking ball to the right side and get him to 3B. All this talk about what to do with CT3 if Machado is acquired, but really who cares just get Manny and sort it out.
Dodgers 2 for 14 with RISP, left 11 on base. You won’t win often with these numbers.
Machado and Barraclough. Might as well add Steckenrider.
I never have agreed more, Jansen is not right and this patchwork bullpen will not lead us anywhere in the second half. I understand the organizational philosophy about going all in but there is a lot of Up and coming teams in the NL and this year’s opportunity may not come again. Nl is for the taking.
Was woodard or toles asleep on that play or both?
Also playing with 24 today hurt
Terrible baserunning by Toles, but that’s not what bothers me about him. I still believe that he has a hole with the low and in breaking ball. However, after watching him today, I am beginning to wonder if breaking balls in general are a problem for him. No doubt that he can hit the fastball (the double was off a fastball). Beyond that I’m not so sure. In fact, if Verdugo is not included in a deal for Machado, or any other deal, then he should be called up to replace Toles.
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I think I mentioned this in a previous post. Kenley Jansen is no longer dominant. Strikeouts are way down from previous years. Hitters are making contact against him at an increasing rate, and sometimes, like tonight, it’s hard contact.
I’ve noticed the control problem as well. I wonder if the control problem is the result of Kenley losing confidence in his stuff, leading him to be more tentative about throwing strikes. Might be nibbling more.
MJ, let’s not get emotional. I do not have it in for Toles, and today’s observations have nothing to do with Toles’ performance today.
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I don’t know exactly when I posted it, but I previously made a similar observation of Toles’’ problem with low and in breaking balls.
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Just because someone says something negative about a player you like doesn’t mean that they have something in for that player. It’s just a different opinion, something we’re all entitled to.
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And if you have a lesser opinion of Verdugo than I do, then that’s your prerogative. Sometimes people have to just agree to disagree.
MJ, this is not over 4 games, it’s a long term opinion I’ve held. But believe what you want, it’s your prerogative.
I didn’t watch last night’s game but I did check in every once in awhile on Gameday. I noticed Jansen never reached 91 MPH last night.
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Also in reviewing highlights this morning it is clear that if it were not for Upton’s poor defense, the Dodgers would not have had a chance to win last night. Upton should have caught both Grandal’s and Toles doubles.
Brooklyn and MJ – What happened to giving Toles (could have been Verdugo) 30 games out of the gate vs. lefty or righty??? Until that happens we won’t know squat IMO…
Did you see the Silver Fox shred those bases!??!
No to the DH – Let mgr’s manage… Don’t ban the shift – Teach/Learn to bunt… I can’t recall it being that difficult and you could walk to 1B like Harper!!