The Grass is Always Greener…
above the septic tank! Think about that one, if you will. Whenever Dodger pitchers are struggling, fans always want to trade for or sign some other pitchers because they think the grass is greener. The problem is that with most hard throwers, the arm is going to break down…
above the septic tank! Think about that one, if you will. Whenever Dodger pitchers are struggling, fans always want to trade for or sign some other pitchers because they think the grass is greener. The problem is that with most hard throwers, the arm is going to break down sooner than later. Do you want Ohtani? His arm is already broken… for the second time. Giolito? He had TJ in 2012 – he’s probably ready for another one. Aaron Nola had it in 2016. Lance Lynn has had it. By the way, if Kershaw resigns with the Dodgers, I would tend to think that Lance Lynn will walk, so at the end of the season, Andrew Friedman will likely try and “feel out” what Clayton wants to do in 2024. I have no prediction.
Jordon Montgomery also had TJ, and on and on… Most pitchers will have it. High velocity and high spin rates are hard on the UCL. I don’t know for sure that Julio Urias has a frayed UCL, but the signs are all there. This is one of the reasons that Andrew Friedman has resisted big, long-term contracts for pitchers. While I won’t say that the Dodgers will not sign a free-agent pitcher, I do believe that it will be rare that they tender a big contract to a guy like Lucas Giolittio or Shohei Ohtani. There are whispers that Jack Flaherty is a candidate as well. Blake Snell is interesting as he had it in 2020.
That said, he could sign Julio Urias, knowing full well that he needs TJ… at the right price and with opt-outs. However, with the obvious “bad blood” between AF and Borass, it is a long shot. Truth be told, years two to five after Tommy John are probably the best years to have a pitcher who has had the surgery. The Dodgers will get Walker Buehler back next year. Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin will sit out the 2024 season in its entirety. Bobby Miller has the potential to be a guy who can pitch a long time without TJ as he has a clean, low-effort delivery.
I simply do not see the Dodgers signing pitchers who may need a TJ or a second TJ. There are better ways to allocate resources. Maybe Julio has mechanical problems – those can certainly cause the drop in velocity, but I happen to believe that the Dodgers would quickly fix those. I hope that is the issue, but doubt it. Next year, the Dodgers will have Buehler, Miller, Grove, Stone, Pepiot, Frasso, Sheehan, and possibly others, but right about now, the Big Three looks like Kershaw, Miller, and Pepiot, followed by Lynn. The Dodgers are easing Clayton back in, but by playoff time, he will be able to pitch seven innings.
Was Lance Lynn’s last outing just a blip or a glimpse into the future?
Are Julio Urias’s struggles a pre-curser into his future?
At this stage of the season, I think the best thing that could happen is for the Braves to sweep the Dodgers. Yes… The best thing! I want the Braves to think they are unbeatable, and I want that chip on the Dodgers’ shoulder to be the size of Chavez Ravine! The best teams do not always win! Intelligent people know that. Sometimes, you build the biggest victories upon adversity! Lately, the Dodgers have never been the underdogs. They were in 1988! Thirty-five years later, they will like be the same. One door closes… another door opens.
The only thing that has changed since the Dodgers’ last win is the fan’s minds!
“The Loss is Roberts’ Fault!”
Don’t be absurd! How many games do you win when you only score two runs? The fault was the lack of hitting. If the Dodgers had hit, Doc would have never had to put Vesia in, and I think DR did a great managing job. Of course, some of you like to twist the facts to suit your worldview of Roberts.
Bullpens are Fickle
Yes, they are. Alex Vesia had a 2.25 ERA in 2021 and 2.15 ERA in 2022. Don’t automatically assume that he will be bad in 2024, but Doc has to play the roster he is given. The Dodgers bullpen is still the best in the game! Since June 20th, they are #1 and I predicted when the bullpen was 29th in baseball that they would finish in the Top 10. They are currently #8!
You Better Get Used to the Platoons
I know that many on this site do not like platoons. Why? “Because that’s not the way they used to do it!” Ha! In case you haven’t noticed, the mound used to be higher, no DH was used, there was no pitch clock, hardly anyone threw 100 MPH, yada, yada, yada! The Dodgers re at the forefront of platoons because they work. The Dodgers take marginalized players and put them in positions of strength where they can succeed.
- David Peralta can’t hit lefties;
- Kike Hernadez can’t hit righties
- Jason Heyward can’t hit lefties;
- Kolton Wong can’t hit lefties, and
- Amed Rosario can’t hit righties.
Actually, Max Muncy can’t hit lefties either, but it’s hard to platoon more than two or three positions. James Outman has reverse splits, and that is fine. In the past seven games, James is hitting .333 with a .414 OB%. I can see Miguel Vargas and Jonny DeLuca getting the call-up soon to provide more options. Vargas has been playing exclusively at 3B of late.
Will Smith is tired. He is worn down, and his offense is struggling. He likely needs a rest. Could we see Tucker Barnhart?
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Discussion (58)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Headline in Dodgers Nation:
“Walker Buhler Opened Eyes In First Game Action in 450 Days”
I sure hope pitching with his eyes open will help.
Just saw (with some surprise) that Outman was voted NL Rookie of the Month for August.
His OPS was .890 for the month.
Whether good or bad, it’s funny how a rookie has now become the “stabilizer” among this team’s SP’s.
The Miller kid is pretty good, huh.
If you are betting on a team that consistently wins over 60% of their games and you’re losing tons, maybe you need to stop or change your strategy. Just bet on them to win 60% of the time.
And yes, Miller is sure a breath of fresh air right about now.
Rookies playing well, relief pitching worries me especially our late inning options outside of Phillips.
I deserve a title this year as I have suffered with this team for a long time excluding the 2020 mini title. I also have lost a ton on them through my bookmaker, Fan Duel. For example I bet them in games 1 and 2 of this series but of course not today, I have unbelievably bad luck. Large sums of money lost on them over a long period so the least they could do is provide me a real title.
If Buhler’s idea for a Rookie Pitcher of Year Award catches on, Bobby Miller would be a contender.
Before the Braves series, there was some concern about the Dodgers “peaking too soon.” That is no longer a concern. The Braves are very tough.
What I like is that Miller keeps improving. He could be peaking at just the right time.
Speaking of rookies, Outman delivered again, with one run, one hit and an RBI. But he contributed to all three of Dodgers’ runs. After walking in the 5th, Outman used his speed to score from first on Rojas’s double. By drawing the throw home, Outman enabled Rojas to take second base–and Mookie singled him in. In the 8th Outman singled in Heyward.
On a day that Freddie went 0 for 4, the bottom of the lineup–Outman and Rojas–really came through.
Today was one of the absolute worst umpired games I have seen all year. The home plate ump was awful. That third strike call on Freeman was as bad as the call on Mookie the other night. New Yorks replay center was awful two. A couple of calls held up that were totally wrong.
Root hard for a Phils/Braves match-up in the NLDS. Upset special.
Miller! We have talent. This month will be determine which of our young arms are playoff ready. Period.
Walker looked good.
Dodgers are in good shape.
Ozuna the key guy Braves batter who lengthens their line-up. He’s exceptional this year.
We need JDM back to do the same.
Way to go dodger’s, needed this victory badly. Salvaged one!!
Phew, thank you James!
Both teams look tired, scrapping for everything.
That was a playoff at bat: Miller vs Acuna.
Come on pen show some pride, we need this win badly, disagree about the harm a sweep can cause.
One mistake and Olson punishes it. But he keeps his composure and gets the 3rd out. 7 excellent innings by Bobby Miller vs the best lineup in baseball. Now bring it home for the kid, bullpen.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miller sure looks like an ace today.
Stone pitched well his last call-up.
Today – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K , 80 pitches
Hmm, playoff possibilities, multiple scenarios…
SpokaneBob said it perfectly in my opinion. With Buehler coming back from TJ the only way I see them signing a free agent pitcher is if Kershaw is not back. Miller, Sheehan, Pepiot, Stone and Grove all have MLB experience and Knack, Frasso, and Ryan are knocking on the door. It would be malpractice to block them for another free agent pitcher or two. In fact, they have enough depth to use one or two of them in a trade for a young position player at a position of need. AF has shown a willingness to spend on top of the line talent – Betts and Freeman, for example. If Ohtani can still DH with his current UCL issue or repair, I think the Dodgers are more likely to sign him than less likely. It fits with their philosophy.
While it would have been nice to play better this weekend against the Braves, no harm no foul. The Braves are clearly a really good team and are better than the Dodgers in their starting rotation and the depth of their line up. But, if those two teams do meet in the NLCS, you can almost flip a coin. Braves will be slight favorites just as the Dodgers were against the Padres last year. All in all, if the Dodgers end up facing Atlanta in the NLCS I think it will have been a great year considering the injuries to Buehler, May, Gonsolin, and Kershaw and the ineffectivess of Urias.
The hitters on the playoff roster seem pretty well set – the current group with JDM in and Busch out. However, the 13 pitchers selected will be really interesting. I am guessing they go with Yarbrough and one other left handed reliever but Ferguson, Vesia, and Gonzalez leave a lot to be desired. The right handed relievers with Phillips, Graterol, Kelly (hopefully), Brasier, Miller seem set. That leaves six other spots – Kershaw, Miller, Lynn are locks and if Urias is not injured, he would be a fourth. Buehler would be the fifth depending on his progress, of course, leaving Pepiot, Sheehan, Stone, Grove or a third lefty for that last spot. My point is that I would choose stuff over handedness and I like Pepiot in that role with his change up and fresher arm this year.
Stone pitched 6 innings of 1 hit ball after Walker, striking out 7 while walking only 1. He looked exceptionally today.
Vargas 3-4 with a BB and a HR.
Dodgers have run into a buzzsaw this weekend. Braves look invincible . They are clicking on all cylinders. Hopefully they will cool down a bit when the playoffs roll around. If they keep this up they will win it all.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Without a healthy Martinez we are a likely first round exit, he changes the complexion of this lineup.
Also Will Smith needs rest, just not right, hope we use September to give him ample time off, maybe even DL him with second seed locked up.
Auditions for playoff roster begin now. Wake it up FO/Robert’s, I don’t want to be disappointed again.
Walker with 2 perfect innings today at OKC. 24 pitches. ON TV they did not show the velo. Maybe someone can check it. But he looked really good with his mechanics.
Not Stone pitching.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!
I read the post from yesterday about pitching in the playoffs which we will be fine if Buehler comes back that would give us four starters in playoffs with Urias going to injury list because something is wrong you would have Kershaw Miller Buehler and Lynn and Pepiot as your starters and then a strong bullpen those starters just need to go five innings in playoffs and then turn it over to the bullpen. Only team that has better starters is Atlanta but I think LA bullpen is better then Braves and in the post season it always comes down to pitching and the late innings for a win. So we will be fine. Just don’t think Urias will be in playoffs this year. And pretty much a free agent. So will we even see him again in dodger blue again. Not if he has tommy John surgery. There going to have to sign a free agent pitchers next year a starter. And I think their eye is on Blake Snell.
Right now, this year, I trust Brasier, Graterol, Miller, Phillips and Yarbrough in the bull pen. I do not trust Ferguson, Varland or Vesia. I would pitch Sheehan, Grove and Stone out of the bull pen in September to see if any of those three could help in the play offs.
In the play offs I would go with Kershaw, Miller, Lynn, and Pepiot for my starters. That leaves Urias for the pen. Some thing is wrong with Urias. I would not consider Buehler for the play offs.
What I see with Julio is he seems to short arm his follow through he needs to decelerate with a longer follow through, short arming puts more stress on his arm , just my opinion