The Big Picture
I m a Big Picture guy. I am not very involved in the Day-to-Day aspects of my real business (except as necessary), but am focused on the Big Picture. I was intimately involved in building the business for 15 years, but growth demanded that I become the visionary, and not the Day-to-Day Manager. Besides, I am not nearly as good at the day-to-day stuff anyway. So, here s the way I work:
I’m a “Big Picture” guy. I am not very involved in the Day-to-Day aspects of my real business (except as necessary), but am focused on “the Big Picture.” I was intimately involved in building the business for 15 years, but growth demanded that I become the “visionary,” and not the “Day-to-Day” Manager. Besides, I am not nearly as good at the day-to-day stuff anyway. So, here’s the way I work: I have 6 managers I surround myself with and I bounce ideas off of them. They have permission to shoot me down… and they do, but ultimately I make the decision. I don’t bat 1.000 – not even close… but maybe I hit .650 on my ideas and that’s cool.
So, when the Dodgers blow a lead and lose in 10 innings or win 5-1 in extra innings, I am pretty even keel. It’s the Big Picture I am concerned about. Some fans lose their minds over a game – I lose it over a season (I can’t waste too many brain cells anyway). To me, the big picture has not changed. Whether Ross Stripling gives up the winning run or scores the winning run does not make or ruin my day. If Julio Urias has a good game or a bad game, I watch the big picture. If Cody Bellinger looks lost at the plate, I look at the big picture. I don’t micromanage or second guess (much). I’m all about the BIG PICTURE.
I’m not saying that is a good thing or a bad thing… it’s just the “thing” or perspective you get here. I’m not telling you not to lose your mind after a loss or to be euphoric after a win – that’s what fans do – so have at it. Don’t get me wrong, yesterday’s game was good because we won, but I tend to look at other things:
- I was very pleased with Julio Urias first’ outing. Like any 20 year-old, he has to be more efficient but he is already more efficient that last year. His own error caused him to lose the decision. BTW, Bellinger or Gonzo would have had that ball.
- Fields appears to have taken a step forward and letting Hatcher close it out may do big things for his confidence.
- Chris Taylor is a very smart baseball player.
That’s the kind of stuff I see… like it or don’t. to me the Big Picture is still rosey… though there will be changes on the way. Enjoy the season… it’s barely started.
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Discussion (61)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Big Picture
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1. We are 6th in pitching even with Maeda/Ryu/Romo. Team ERA 3.48, 1.17 WHIP. Organizationally we have LOTS of internal options if necessary (Wood etc.).
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2. We are 13th in batting even with “offensive positions” outfield/1st base sucking. Team batting .240, .384 SLG and .713 OPS. Organizationally we have some internal options and trade pieces if necessary.
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3. Need to remember Compete Now/Compete Later. No trading inexpensive 25 yr old Pederson, 2015 2.3 WAR and 2016 3.4 WAR and 24 yr old Toles, 2016 1.4 WAR for 31 yr old RENTAL Cain. Keep shopping for BARGAINS while tinkering around the edges. Replace SVS with Dickson, DL Gonzalez. Platoon, left, center, 1st (I know I am the only guy) and regular rest for Grandal.
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4. Even with suckage, we are only 3 1/2 games out of first.
Urias impressed me even though his command was a little off. His change and curve set up his fastball or vice versa, they could not catch up when he elevated and his curve got mostly ground balls. He is tough to face and looks like he can pitch deeper into games this season.
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If Maeda gets hit who is the long man today? This is a risky move with the bullpen a bit short. A night game at Dodger stadium usually limits long balls, Maeda has had extra time and rest to work on things with Honeycut, maybe he turns the corner. He needs to throw more off speed and keep his fastball down in the zone.
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Utley is a guy I want up in key situations late in a game and that is why he is on this team. He thrives under pressure and seems to come through most times. Roberts brings guys off the bench that were sitting due to matchups for that one big inning. With the consistent pitching as AC points out that is often all they need.
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Bellinger just need to lay off the high inside pitch as it is usually a ball anyway. He can handle middle to low just fine, and seems to have a good eye otherwise. He has thunder in that bat and could get hot soon if they keep playing him, but lower in the order please.
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Toles may need to go down but my concern is with SVS, he is just not producing and takes a roster spot away. He has an option, send him down to play every day and find his stroke. Hatcher is looking improved, he has always had filthy stuff. He may be the long man today if Maeda is off. Fields is looking good as well and Dayton is supposed to be activated today which will really help the set up spot. Baez is doing pretty well there but can’t go every day and in every situation.
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The Dodgers have a chance to make up some ground on this home stand with the Rockies and DBacks facing off. They need to win both of these series and get above .500 and send a message to the rest of the NL West.
I continue to like Taylor. He has made some changes and they are all good. He should get more playing time, but he may be the best bench player we have. When he plays he seems to get at least one hit.
Our outfield is our problem. I agree with you Complete. We should have two good sluggers out of the three. We do not. Joc and Puig are what they are. Bellinger has to keep playing. He certainly has problems with a high inside fast ball. It does not take long for major league pitchers to find your weakness.
The other concern I have at this time is Grandal. His play calling was not good the other night. He is not hitting. Defensively he has some problems. His first job is to catch the ball. I would give more playing time to Barnes. Send Grandal a message.
Starting pitching is looking good. Maeda, it is your turn to shine.
While I may look at the big picture, there are still some games that hurt more. Wednesday was one of those games for me. I just had to get away from the news and stories for 24 hours. Maybe it is because I am emotionally invested into Alex Wood and his performances, and he deserved to win that game. There was a game against SF last year where Kenley blew the save and game that I felt the same way.
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Many want to take shots at the apparent lack of starting pitching with the Dodgers. The Dodgers have played 23 games. Of the 23 games, the opponent has scored more than 4 runs only 3 times, and Maeda was the starter in two of those games (1 win and 1 loss). The bullpen blew up against the DBacks for the third game (loss). The opponent has scored 4 runs in 7 games, where the Dodgers are 1-6. They have allowed 3 runs or less in 13 games and have won 9 of them. The pitching has kept them in arguably 20 of the 23 games, but are only .500 in those 20 games. Maeda has not been good, and Ryu has not done well in 2 of his 4 starts. Doc has said that Wood has earned at least one more start, and tomorrow’s start will go a long way to determine if Maeda is going to continue to be a starter in the near term.
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Where’s the problem? Dodgers OF is certainly a mess right now:
Puig .247/.344/.432/.776
Toles .207/.258/.362/.620
Joc .220/.322/.340/.662
Kike’ .237/.302/.553/.855
SVS .133/.257/.267/.524
Gutierrez .231/.286/.385/.670
No out-fielder batting better than .250. Only two OF with OPS better than .700. From a position that is supposed to generate offense, there is not much from the Dodgers OF. Based on the numbers, Kike’ deserves to play a little more. I agree with MJ that it is hard for Toles to get comfortable at the plate while he is platooned so much. If Joc or Puig were better offensively, a Toles/Gutierrez platoon could work, but I think Toles needs to go down to play every day and try to get his stroke back.
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The Dodgers are designed to be a HR threat. So why is it that Chris Taylor/Austin Barnes/SVS with 1 HR apiece have the same number of HR’s as JT/AGon/Joc/Forsyhte combined? Maybe with a couple more jacks, some of those games where only 4 runs were scored against, they could have turned some of those losses to a win. JT is hitting, just not with power. He does have a .908 OPS, second on the team to Seager’s .963. AGon has a slugging % of .319 and an OPS of .661. Not very productive for a clean-up hitter. With Forsythe out, the offense is really Corey and JT. IMO, that is why the Dodgers are at .500 when the opponents have scored 4 runs or less, not because of ineffective starting pitching.
I used to say that the bad Mattingly had a hard time winning battles and the good Mattingly could win a war. I saw some things in the SF series that felt like the Dodgers could do better at the battle level but I love that at the win the war level they are very good.
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If I could find a way to like Mattingly with all his bad lineups etc, I am not about to get down on the Dodgers this early in the season.
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The season is a series of battles and most of them have to be won but it is ability to stay focused, relax, stay positive, believe, stay motivated, and keep grinding and improving that wins wars.