The Lineups Are The Least Of The Problem Here s The Biggest Problem:
There s not much to say that hasn t been said ad nauseum. Almost every day we look at the lineups and have a cow or roll our eyes, but they win more often than not. I don t think it s the dumb, stupid, moronic lineups that are the problem. I don t care where you hit them or in what order (well, I do care, but it s not all that), I think hitters
There’s not much to say that hasn’t been said ad nauseum. Almost every day we look at the lineups and have a cow or roll our eyes, but they win more often than not. I don’t think it’s the dumb, stupid, moronic lineups that are the problem. I don’t care where you hit them or in what order (well, I do care, but it’s not all that), I think hitters are going to hit… maybe not Yasiel who seems to hit best lower in the lineup.
I think the whole problem is “approach.” The Dodgers see more pitches than any team in baseball. Joc Pederson, Yasmani Grandal, Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez all have a great batting eye – they just can’t hit a lot of them. It’s one thing to see pitches, it’s thing entirely another to hit them. When you go up there with the idea that you are going to work the count, you are less aggressive and more defensive and then when they get 2 strikes on you, if you are aggressive, you are apt to strike out. If you are defensive, you are apt to foul off repeated pitches and make weak contact.
The lineups may be 20% of the problem, but the approach is 80% of the problem. The other day, Doc said that Cody was just “trying not to make an out.” In basketball, if you go to the foul line and try not to miss, the odds are you will. The focus needs to be on what you need to do: Make a basket! In baseball, if you go to the plate with the idea of working the count, your focus is not on getting a hit – it’s on a process. Certain type of pitchers thwart that process.
When the Dodgers hit, it seems like everyone hits and when they don’t, no one hits. The Dodgers problems are not Roberts stupid lineups, but rather, the approach which may have been fostered by FAZ, but also carried out by Turner Ward and Dave Roberts. The players should not be so concerned with working the count as they are with getting a pitch they can hit. That’s a big part of the reason Dodger pitchers like Clayton Kershaw are giving up more home runs: Players know they are trying to get ahead with a strike and they jump on the first one they see.
I am not saying that they swing at every pitch they see, but quite often, I see Joc, CT3, Yasmani, Cody and even JT watch the first pitch right down broadway… and it is sometimes the best pitch they see. You can train for this, even in batting practice: Line a dozen hitters up and you only get one pitch… and you have to swing at it. I’m not advocating swinging at the first pitch, because pitchers will get wise and adjust too, but I am advocating being ready for a pitch in “your zone” and hitting that pitch.
FAZ may have started this trend – I can’t say, but it needs to end and it will likely end with the replacement of Roberts and Ward!
Dodger News
- You can see Striker Buehler’s greatness – he just needs to learn how to pitch better at Coors, although he wasn’t bad. He’s developing game-by-game.
- Rich Hill has a 7.17 career ERA at Coors, so he will probably pitch a perfect game. Kidding…
- Freeland was very good last night. He deserved the win. Oberg and Ottavino were filthy.
- Brian Dozier and Matt Kemp look lost right about now. I would give both 5 days off. Maybe pinch hit in a laffer!
- Alex Verdugo looked like a rookie with the bat…
- For some reason, Dave Roberts is loathe to play Andrew Toles
- Ruiz, Jackson and Lux are all hitting over .350 in the playoffs and Tulsa plays game 5 today.
- Thomas, Rincon, Wong and Berman all hit over .300 as RC won the first round and now plays for the championship.
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Discussion (157)
Disagree, not disagreeable
In the past 28 days, Kike is hitting .333 with a .429 OB%… and that’s over a span of 72 AB’s. I think he should play everyday.
Ugh!
Val9000,
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I don’t know where Orel is getting his numbers, because Kike was batting 227 before that first at bat, in September.
He has a good OBP, and his OPS is a little over 800, from the HR and triple yesterday, but Kike is hitting 202, when runners are in scoring position, overall.
Reds aren’t having a problem hitting WRISP.
Here we go again . Kike left 3 on base.
Julio Urias has joined the team
Taylor
Turner
Manny
Kemp
Freeze
Kike’
Grandal
Dozier
Wood
I like the idea of Cory and Manny in the same line up, but who plays where could be a problem,
Then there is Boros. Maybe we should think of options like DJ at second base. Who is his agent?
dammit. another lefthander tonight. what will roberts do?
thanks. fyi, fangraphs just ranked oneil cruz as #9 on the pirates. lots of power but too much swing and miss. sound familiar? [peters–though i think peters is better]
Does anybody know who the starting pitchers will be tue/wed for RC? Thx
Perhaps everything we think we know about infield defense is outdated. The Utley Rule allows a second baseman to turn a double play without having to be a ballerina and the shift allows slower players to make almost as many plays as faster players made before the shift.
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The shift has slotted Turner over to the right side of the infield where a second baseman normally plays and he has looked good turning the double play there. Muncy has done better than expected at second and should improve there after getting reps there in spring training.
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I don’t think the Dodgers need Machado but if I were to make a case for him it would be that Lux takes Turner’s infield spot after Turner’s contract ends and then Seager would slide over to third. Who plays short at that point if not Machado? Let’s not forget that Seager is represented by Boras and therefore might not be here once he qualifies for free agency.
Prior to this year Machado’s defensive metrics (valid or not) were for 3B, NOT shortstop. And as Hawkeye suggests, Machado’s defensive metrics have improved as the season has gone on. And that makes sense, given that Machado probably had to grow accustomed to short again after playing 3B in Baltimore. It stands to reason that over time, if Machado remained at short, he would continue to get better.
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I’m also convinced that over time as Machado became more and more comfortable in LA, he would find it easier to relax, and better production would follow. It’s probably apples and oranges, but Dusty Baker hit, I believe, .203 during his first year with the Dodgers. Clearly he got comfortable after that. I also believe he might benefit from spending Spring Training with the Dodgers.
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In any case, defense aside, I simply want to have Machado and Seager in same lineup. Nice right-left combo to add to the other right-left combo of Turner and Bellinger. If the Dodgers improve their production WRISP, their lineup (no matter how constructed) would be scary.
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And while I said above that I could imagine Seager ending up a 1B, I could also see him playing 2B. And, of course, because Machado was traded during this past season, he would not bring the Dodgers a draft pick if he signs elsewhere, and will not cost the Dodgers a draft pick either. Signing Machado costs only one thing, money. And since the Dodgers will stay under the luxury tax threshhold this season, his cost will be somewhat mitigated by absence of a luxury tax for the Dodgers.
I read the article at the Dodgers website also, and Seager said exactly what he should have said. But no one knows what’s going to happen. And rest assured that if Machado signs with the Dodgers, Seager will willingly shift elsewhere if necessary. I don’t know what the Dodgers or Machado have in mind, but keep in mind how good the Dodgers lineup would be with BOTH Seager and Machado in it. And having Machado and Seager both on the Dodgers serves as insurance in the event that Justin Turner begins to show any signs of age.
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I don’t have a clue as to the Dodgers intentions regarding Machado, nor do I know Machado’s thinking, but I do know that it would be nice to keep Machado’s righthanded bat. And from what I’ve seen, he’s actually a better defensive shortstop than Seager.
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And the part about Seager expecting to feel better next year, is nice. But really, he has no idea at this time how he’s going to feel come next spring. Hopefully, he’ll feel great, but there are no guarantees until he gets back on the field. And if Seager is fully recovered, and possibly in great shape due to what has been and will continue to be a grueling rehab, then I have little doubt that he will be able to switch positions with no problem. In fact, although I don’t expect it, I could even see Seager ending up at first base with Bellinger moving to CF. But that type of thing depends on what the Dodgers do this winter.
Excellent series win, on the road. Excellent clutch hit by Verdugo. It’s why he’s on his way to being my fave Dodger (provided we keep him). He actually doesn’t pretend he’s in the home run contest every at bat. We need that. Now Doc and the rest of our geniuses need to play him over the avg outfielders we continue to play.
As far as the Braves go, yes it’d be nice to continue to win, but having home field vs them is not imperative. I’d prefer to just be playing well ourselves the next 3 weeks going into the playoffs. Now time to go into Cincy and take care of business while AZ and Col battle it out.
And finally, I know it’s early, but GO BEARS!! How about that defense so far!!
Despite his troubles with the Dodgers, I still like Machado, and hope he signs with LAD. And maybe he will feel at home in Cincinnati and the Great American bandbox, which in that respect is a lot like the bandbox he played in in Baltimore.
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This is shaping up to be a very important week before the Dodgers return home next week.
If Dodgers win the Division. The firt serie WILL BE AGAINST BRAVES, SO wuldbed be BETTER Dodgers GeTs BETTER WIN/Lost PCT than Atlanta
MAYBE CINCINNATI WILL BE RAINY AN HURRICANE IS COMING
AC
That sounds good, because we often play up or down, to our competition.
Quite a nice 9th inning for the Braves.
Great win exhale! Verdugo best clutch outside turner. Machado no clutch, Ferguson over head, kike helped, hill great for 5, dh for both catchers, Taylor decent series, bellik, maeda setup, Alexander guts-command, dozero, Toles mia, Freese thawed, I repeat where would we be wo turner? I keep thinking machado or somebody will step up so please start tomorrow. No complaint with Roberts today. Maybe should have pinch hit for Barnes with Toles or anybody but Grandal. The Dodgers came-into Coors in a series in which if swept it is over but took 2 of 3 so they fought to win. That is performing under stress and getting results. Good clutch series for the team.
The Dodgers get 14 hits and 7 walks. They go 3 for 18 with RISP and leave 12 on base. The Rockies get 8 hits and 1 walk, go 2 for 6 with RISP, and leave 3 on base. A closer game than should have been, but a win is a win. Let’s see if they can beat the Reds this time around.
Would not mind seeing an outfield next year with Puig and Verdugo on the corners (cannons on the corners).
Looks like we won 2 of 3, chris Taylor isnt trash, and defense matters. Go figure
Little League. Everyone plays. Three for 15 wrisp. I have heard many times you get one good pitch to hit at each at bat. Some times it may be the first pitch.