The Best is Yet to Come!
The Dodgers are one win away from the most wins in the NL and two wins away from the most win in all of baseball. They have scored the most runs and have the largest run differential by a huge margin, and they still are missing their World Series MVP, who is ranked as one of the Top 2 or 3 SS in all of baseball. When he is
The Dodgers are one win away from the most wins in the NL and two wins away from the most win in all of baseball. They have scored the most runs and have the largest run differential … by a huge margin, and they still are missing their World Series MVP, who is ranked as one of the Top 2 or 3 SS in all of baseball. When he is healthy, this team is to be feared! The pitching is fine and getting better, as the Dodgers are #3 in team ERA barely behind San Diego and the Mets. The relievers are improving, but San Diego continues to lead MLB in Bullpen ERA.
They will not be able to sustain it. Here’s why: The Padres continue to have best Bullpen ERA while leading the majors in Bullpen Innings Pitched. The Dodgers bullpen has pitched 207 innings, while the Padres bullpen has pitched a whopping 275 innings. That’s 68 more innings than the Dodgers which translates into about 180 more innings if you extrapolate that through the rest of the year. They will start breaking down from overuse soon enough!
Hopefully, the injury bug is not back as Cody Bellinger has a hamstring problems and Max Muncy has an oblique strain. Both injuries can lead to extended time on the IL… or they may just require a few days rest. Neither one will likely be in the lineup today… and so we wait! Jimmy Nelson has been the bullpen find of the year and Mitch White is looking more and more comfortable, as he tries to cut down on his walks. I would not be surprised if he stays on the team all season.
Gavin Lux can hit AAAA RH pitching, but he is going to have to hit LHP and he has not been able to do that…. so far. Speaking of not being able to hit LHP, Joc Pederson has improved this year to .231 against LHP, but has only one extra base hit. All his HR’s have come against RHP. He is a “Punch and Judy Hitter” from the left side. While I am at it, Kike Hernandez is who we thought he was: a .233 hitter. Alex Verdugo sits at .294 BA with a .353 OPS.
Finally, I will say it: Albert Pujols can still play as a sub and I love having him on the team. I did feel very sorry for Mike Foltynewicz last night. He once was filthy… it shows how quickly you can lose it. Will Texas keep Bret de Geus (with his 8.14 ERA), or return him to the Dodgers?
Dodgers Minor League Report
- OKC BOXSCORE – OKC continues to be on a rampage. They raised their record to 15-17 with a 9-1 win over the Chihuahuas. Keibert Ruiz hit 2 HR and drve in 3 (.300 BA/1.049 OPS). Dennis Santana started and went 2 innings, allowing 1 hit, but walking 2. Obviously, he is working on his control.
- TULSA BOXSCORE – Tulsa only had 4 hits to go with 7 walks, but the hits were timely. Devin Mann had their only extra-base hit (a double) as Rooney gave up 1 run in 4 IP, while striking out 9. Brickhouse and Hagenman combined for 5 shutout innings to end the game.
- GL BOXSCORE – The Loons continue to be owned by the Dayton Dragons as they lost 1-0! They are now 1-9 this season against Dayton. Ouch! Overall they are 16-18. Bobby Miller pitched 3.2 innings, allowing 1 hit, no walks, and striking out 3 (1.00 ERA). Cole Percival also went 3.1 innings and allowed 1 run (1.99 ERA).
- RC BOXSCORE – The Quakes improved to 19-14 with an 11-6 win over the Storm. The story of the year continues to be Diego Cartaya who hit his 6th HR – a 2-run shot. He was 2-3 with 2 BB and4 RBI. He is now hitting .372 with a 1.335 OPS. He is a giant among boys! Edwin Mateo was 2-5 and Sauryn Lao hit a 3-run HR, as did Eddys Leonard.
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Discussion (107)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Been nice knowing u Muncy. Oblique injury probably out for month plus. It will b another long period to get right. This is terrible news! Next man up but the Dodgers have really been snakebite. Probably caused by ankle issue. They probably should put bellinger on the il before he gets a related injury. Players are so fragile in today’s game.
Giants score 3 runs in their three game series with Nats and win 2 of them. Wow!
The Andy Burns Era begins!
Really like these stories. A 30-year-old career minor leaguer (save for a six AB stint with Toronto in 2016) gets the call. He has certainly paid his dues, and was crushing in OKC. (An earlier report had Raley coming back. Is he–or did Burns get the call instead?)
I really hope he makes an impact. Can’t help but root harder for these guys and late draft picks like McKinstry more than the annointed ones. (That said, I was annoyed by McKinstry’s slow stutter-step throw to first that nearly gave ex-Dodger Culberson a hit.)
Also, I’m a bit fuzzy on Santana’s DFA…
I guess it means he is out of options so they can’t just send him to OKC. Does this mean Dodgers are likely to trade him? And if they can’t, he becomes a FA like Pujols was?
Not being able to use the goop not only affects Bauer’s spin rate but also his ability to hold runners on! He’s clearly not the same pitcher without it!
Good game to win tonight to pick up ground. Bauer is seemingly struggling every game with pitch count. It looks like he would come out sharp. He can’t get the rangers out. Terrible lineup and already 5 hits in 3 innings plus stolen bases at will. Not a good time to stink it up. I realize unearned runs but 5 hits in 3 innings. WTH did mookie do?
1 – I had hoped that last night would be the kind of catharsis that the offense needed to really get kick-started. Maybe not.
2 – Bauer’s RPM is down over 200 since MLB announced that it would start enforcing the rules. The LA Times hypothesized that the Dodgers may have made a $40MM mistake if Bauer can no longer pitch like an ace.
3 – Raley came up when they put Muncy on the IL, so he’s up too.
4 – They needed to DFA Santana to make room for Burns on the 40 man. It doesn’t have anything to do with options.
Don’t forget Bauer been pitching with very little run support
I’m not making excuses for him but it does put a lot more pressure on the pitcher
And as for Pollock, Does Anyone know what his average with RISP is ?
Just another pathetic offensive performance against a no nothing lefty. McKinstry shouldn’t be in the lineup against lefties. Bauer isn’t very good but the offense is even worse! What’s up with Mookie and lefties. Career wise he’s fine but as a Dodger he’s been BAD! Joc bad!
Hmm…. Maybe we need to get a report on Bauer’s spin rate as Dodgers fall behind 5-0.
But hey, Andy Burns is still batting 1.000!
And now 6-0 as Price gives up a single…
Our all or nothing boys in blue! Pathetic tonight. Going to bed!
70 million dollars worth of nothing tonight. Betts and Bauer stinking up the joint. Offense non existent and they are blowing a huge opportunity to gain on the Giants. Way things are now, they will still be 2 games back of the Giants. Oh yeah. Pollock went deep tonight.
Mudcat Grant, former Dodger passed away today.
This falls under the category of %^$#@*( happens!
Move along – there’s nothing to see here folks.
Sorry to hear about Mudcat I vaguely remember him pitching for the Dodgers.
What I do remember is he hit a home run off us in the World Series, does anyone remember who was pitching at the time
Here is the main takeaway from this game: NOTHING!
Maybe Clayton will want to end his career pitching in Texas like many of you imagined.