The Best is Yet to Come
2018 has been a season full of challenges and in no small part, the challenges were created initially by the decision the Dodgers made (and still denied by them) to not exceed the Luxury Tax Threshold ( LTT ). Many fans don t agree with the decision, but on every level, except my RFL ( Rabid Fan Level ), I agree with it. I actually thought they would get below it in 2017, but it
2018 has been a season full of challenges and in no small part, the challenges were created initially by the decision the Dodgers made (and still denied by them) to not exceed the Luxury Tax Threshold (“LTT”). Many fans don’t agree with the decision, but on every level, except my RFL (“Rabid Fan Level”), I agree with it. I actually thought they would get below it in 2017, but it happened a year later than I expected. And… here we are. The Dodgers righted the ship after early struggles and even injuries to the pitching staff didn’t slow them down… until Kenley Jansen went on the DL.
Since that happened, the Dodgers’ bullpen has been saddled with three straight losses and and everyone is losing their minds because FAZ should have saw this coming and signed certain other unnamed relievers. Some say that FAZ “doesn’t value relievers,” which is preposterous. They valued Kenley Jansen and opened the vault for him. They just won’t overpay a reliever knowing full well that many are tremendously inconsistent. There may be an inverse correlation between what relievers are paid and their actual value. Some of the best bullpens in recent times have been built without large expenditures.
The Dodgers bullpen has not been good and it is now overexposed without Kenley Jansen, but they have had their moments. All we know is that Jansen will be out until at least next Monday, when he will be re-examined by a cardiologist. The pennant could be lost in that period, but I doubt it – help is on the way, in the form of Alex Wood, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Julio Urias. Wood and Ryu will be back this week, and by Wednesday, the bullpen will look vastly different. I have been saying that this team is built for the playoffs and I still believe that – I also know that they have to get there first!
Losing Kenley Jansen was a shock and maybe the only player the Dodgers could not replace, but I saw something the past two days with John Axford that gave me pause. He’s worth watching and I was surprised to see him almost hit triple digits… with a lot of movement. He has closers experience and maybe Honeycutt helped him find a few MPH and movement. I am not predicting Axford will be the closer, but after a horrid first game, he has literally been Light’s Out and Eye-Popping! Stranger things have happened.
At any rate, Kenta Maeda and Ross Stripling are headed to the bullpen as Wood and Ryu move back into the rotation. There will likely be some bumps in the road as they get their mojo back. Moving Maeda and Stripling will immediately help, but this will be a process. Machado and Kemp have been ice cold. That will change, just like Pederson, Bellinger and Muncy heated up. Kenley will likely be back and so will Julio Urias. This is a team built for the Post-Season.
Starters:
- Kershaw
- Buehler
- Hill
- Ryu
Bullpen:
- Ferguson
- Urias
- Axford
- Floro
- Alexander
- Wood
- Maeda
- Stripling
- Jansen
The Dodgers may or may not carry 13 pitchers in the Post-Season, but Baez, Vinditte, Chargois, Fileds, Cingrani, Rosscup, Liberatore and others likely won’t be a part of it.
My prediction is that the Dodgers will hang on and win the division in Sepetember – they could even be a few games behind by then, but Machado, Dozier, Kemp, Turner, Puig, Bellinger and Company will get it together. It might be a bumpy ride – hide all sharp objects and stay out of high buildings. The sky is not falling and it will be OK. By the playoffs, the bullpen will be a Dodger strength.
By the way, there are two chances the Dodgers will DFA Matt Kemp: None and Never! The guy is in a slump, but his OPS is still .808 and he is hitting .283 with 17 HR and 66 RBI. Two on the NL’s best hitters went through even worse slumps. Matt Carpenter and Paul Goldschmidt were even worse for a lot longer… until they figured it out. I am sure that IF he were injured the Dodgers would give him a rest. If not, he will be fine.
I do know this: Dozier and Machado and Turner and Puig and Bellinger should only sit if they are tired. Forget the matchups. The good ones figure it out! Right about now, the key word is Don’t Panic!
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Discussion (91)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Chris Taylor looks lost. He needs to go down to figure out his problem. Machado, JT and Bellinger look locked in. Dozier was a good acquisition. The infield is carrying the hitting part. Ryu looked very good.
The Dodgers hit the ball hard last night, but right at people. Maeda will be alright. The outfielders are the ones hurting this team. That is why Toles and Verdugo should be brought up now. I know they are both lefties and we are going to face more lefties. Both of these guys are not HR hitters and we need someone to put the bat on the ball. We are running more and that will help. We are going to be ok. I just do not like Doc’s line ups and the way he handles the pitchers.
Damn if you don’t sound like our Twitter In Chief talking about his trusted staff!??! Is their a staff anymore…
During the month of August which is now just about half-way over, Machado has posted a very underwhelming .263/.282/.368 slash line. To go with the unimpressive slash line is the fact that during August, Manny Machado has not yet homered or driven in a run
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That’s disgusting.
The best is yet to come. I sure the hell hope so………………………… I went from wanting to buy tickets for a game in San Diego next week to throwing up my dinner in the matter of one inning. Stripling might turn out to be the guy but he lacked confidence in the pregame interview in my opinion. It seemed like he would rather have Maeda close out the games but would do it if they called on him. That’s not the guy you want running in from the bullpen in tight games in the 9th inning. Stay tuned, if you can stand the pain…………………………
Like so often is the case, it only takes one pitcher to mess up to lose a game. It has been a different pitcher every night during the last 4 games while all the others did well.
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Alexander doesn’t seem to be able to handle the closer role but is still a good 7th and 8th inning reliever.
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The HBP was the key to the defeat.
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Buehler and Kershaw look like the aces the Dodgers need to win it all. Hill is a strong #3. Maeda should be the closer.
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Stripling should return to the rotation, if not now, in September and the playoffs for sure.
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Hopefully Fergussen = Miller.
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Hypothesis: Players that change leagues late in the season often struggle. Hypothesis: Great players take less time to adjust.
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I would go with this lineup against both lefties and righties:
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CF Pederson
RF Puig
3B Turner
SS Machado
1B Bellinger
2B Dozier (Taylor until Dozier returns)
LF Verdugo or Toles
C Grandal and Barnes
“The best is yet to come”
Sure does look like it. But until then it hurts alot ! I was at the game tonight and yes it was the twilight zone in the 9th. Very strange.
The worst part of the first and third walk was that Alexander got ahead of Slater 0-2, and just kept on coming inside, pitch after pitch. There were a couple of pitches earlier in the count when he nearly hit Slater. I kept on hoping that Alexander would mix it up a bit, and go for the outside corner (either up or down), because Slater had to be looking inside. And I’m not just talking about the 3-2 pitch. He could have done it on any number of his pitches after he got ahead 0-2.
Axford fraftued fibula, to dL. Dozier abnormal ekg and more tests being done. Are we in the twilight zone?
In other important news Dodgers cut Erisbel Arruebarrena.
Kershaw would have finished what he started.
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Alexander is no closer, he is a nice ground ball pitcher who struggles with control.
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The defensive switches were ill advised in the 9th inning.
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The team is in a funk and no other teams feel sorry for them.
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Bobby is right, there is still time but the leadership from Doc is lacking right now.
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I can’t keep watching games blown in the 9th, I will have to check the final score and condense the pain.
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It’s time for a Lasorda like come to Jesus meeting for the entire team with locked doors.
Dodgers in 3rd. 3 – 7 in last 10.
Alexander isn’t the answer in the 9th either. After giving up baserunner after baserunner. Roberts leaves him out there. There wasn’t even anyone warming up.
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8 hits 3 walks, 2 runs – one on Kershaw’s pop-up and one on Turner’s solo HR. Offense stinks.
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Kershaw was great but needed to go 9 for the Dodgers to win tonight.
You know what guys, and I respect the hell out of Mark, AC, and DC, etc, but we got us a big problem. Kershaw lays on his sword, 110 pitches, and the bullpen coughs it up again. This is a team morale blow, because Kershaw pitched his ass off for his team. This one may start some rumblings in the clubhouse. We can post our opinions all we want, but the reality is that we are exposed in a big way right now with a bullpen that didn’t get addressed at the deadline, and don’t think for a moment that the other teams aren’t smelling blood in the water.
Something’s gotta change with the roster for this team to get to the playoffs. Like a setup man for Jansen or a 2nd closer for him when he’s on the DL. At this stage where is that to be had?
First and Third, two outs and two strikes on the batter and you hit him. Horrible, horrible pitching.
Mark–Love the blog but please don’t come up with some BS sunshine. This team in all phases with the exception of SP is an unmitigated mess. RISP is non-existent, BP sucks, defense not so good and the big trade deadline acquisition Machado has been average at best, certainly not superstar.
Has an entire bullpen ever been designated for assignment in one night?
Roberts deserves the reception he’s getting.
Daniel
EXCELLENT QUESTION you raised above!!
Good night Mrs. Calabash wherever you are!!!
Shit can the entire pen
BP exposed again. FO didn’t get what they needed most at the deadline and Doc is brain dead. Takes Alexander out in Colorado once Alexander gives up a double, but leaves him in tonight and he implodes. He has no idea what hand to play and this shit show is full on now!
Nice job Doc! The pitch count looses another game.
Ouch
Muncy is not better than billinger in fist. Why muncy in fist?