Mark Timmons Weekly Newsletter – Sunday, August 4, 2024
The biggest problem Dodger fans (actually all fans) have is that they are fanatical.
Well, Duhhhhh… That’s what makes them (me) fans.
A fanatical person is motivated by an extreme and often unquestioning enthusiasm, devotion, or zeal for something, such as a religion, political affiliation, saving the whales, or a dedication to a sports team… especially the LA Dodgers. They are so fanatical that they frequently engage in circular reasoning to justify their beliefs. There is no reason to accept their premises unless one already believes the conclusion or that the premises provide no independent ground or evidence for the conclusion.
Many fans also suffer from nearsightedness, which is a common vision condition in which close objects look clear but far objects look blurry. In other words, all we see is what is in front of us. We can’t see what might be in the distance. For the past few years, the Dodgers have almost always won the NL West by the end of August, and the only time they didn’t, they beat the Giants in the playoffs. Maybe we need to learn something there.
The Dodgers are 4-6 in their last ten games. By the way, the great Phillies are 2-8. The Diamondbacks and Padres are both 8-2 in their last ten games and 4.5 and 5.0 games behind the Dodgers, respectively. The Padres and D-Bags are playing their best baseball of the year. The Dodgers have yet to do so. This time last year, the Diamondbacks and Rangers were not even a thought, but they both ended up in the World Series. The Dodgers pitching is currently in disarray. The Dodgers are #9 in all of MLB in team ERA with a 3.79 ERA. The Braves are #1 with a 3.45 ERA, so that is not a lot of difference. The Padres are 16th with a 4.03 ERA, while the D-Bags are at #26 with a whopping 4.51 ERA. Yes, both teams made some deals and are getting players back, but so are the Dodgers. The Dodgers are still in the TOP FOUR of just about every offensive category, including OPS, BA, OB%, and Runs Scored.
Freddie Freeman is one of the best first basemen in baseball and a clutch hitter. His teammates also love him, and his absence is certainly a downer for the Dodgers. He will be back as soon as his son, Max, progresses, and I can see the Dodgers rallying with “Pray for Max Patches” on their uniforms when Freddie returns (figuratively or literally). Mookie Betts will be back, and look for him to have a slow start, only to come on with a vengeance! I think he will go back to SS with Rosario and Lux playing 2B.
In 2023, the Texas Rangers won the World Series while they were 21st in Team ERA (4.21). Their closers (Will Smith. Josh Sborz, Aroldolis Chapman, and Jose Leclerc were a combined 30 for 47 in save attempts and had a combined ERA of over 4.00 during the regular season! But they got hot at the right time. Josh Sborz had a 5.50 ERA in the regular season but a 0.75 ERA in the playoffs. “That is because Bruce Bochy is a freaking genius!” Right? I know someone is going to say that. Sborz had never pitched well before the playoffs in the history of his career, nor has he pitched like that since. But it happened. The Rangers even backed into the playoffs by losing the last game that would have clinched the division – they were a Wild Card!
The Dodgers have been playing like crap for several weeks… and Doc is showing no urgency. I am glad to see that. There is no urgency. Don’t worry about it. Let this play out before you pull the Fire Alarm or go to the whip down the stretch! As I mentioned earlier, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts (both All-Stars and potential MVPs) will be returning. Also, according to the Dodgers website, “Max Muncy, who has taken far longer to recover from a right oblique strain than initially expected, had a “breakthrough” in his recovery after having a chiropractor come in for a procedure that really worked, according to manager Dave Roberts. Muncy is set to participate in a simulated game on Aug. 8 at Dodger Stadium, a big step forward in what will likely be a lengthy rehab process because of the amount of time he has missed.” This team has the horses to win it all!
Yamamoto threw a Bullpen Session yesterday, and if he recovers well, he will start a rehab assignment and likely return in late August. Ryan Bassier and Brusdar Graterol are nearing ready, as is Michael Grove, who fills the Ryan Yarbrough Role. Tommy Edman, Walker Buehler, and Miguel Rojas will also return soon, with expectations remaining low, but you never know—this is baseball.
When Mookie and Freddie Return, I think you will see the alarm sounded, and Doc will go to the whip! I have a feeling this is going to be a fun September with no Cruise Control allowed! Oh, and BTW, Jack Flaherty looked pretty dang good last night. He is a horse. I thought his arm was ready to fall off a year ago, but it turns out it was all mechanical and training-related.
I think Heyward and Pages will platoon in RF. Tommy Edman and Kevin Kiermaier will patrol CF with Teo in LF. James Outman will be the odd man out.
In September:
- Betts – SS
- Ohtani – DH
- Freeman 1B
- Teoscar LF
- Muncy 3B
- Smith C
- Lux/Rosario 2B (definitely a L-R Platoon)
- Heyward/Pages RF
- Keiermaier/Edman CF
Rotation:
- Glasnow
- Flaherty
- Yamamoto
- Stone, Wrobleski, Kershaw, Ryan, Knack, Buehler (pick ’em)
I am not counting on Buehler or Kershaw, but neither am I betting against them. If I had to bet, I would bet that at least one of them would turn it around. Evan Phillips has been too good in the past, and I think this is just a bump in the road for him. He will be back and better for this. This is uncharted ground, and I am eager to watch it play out. To sum this all up, the Padres and D-Bags are playing their best baseball now. The Dodgers’ best baseball is yet to come!
P.S. Jeff Dominique is a very smart guy. Some of the people at LA Dodger Chronicles thought I was disrespecting Jeff with what I said earlier… Jeff knew better. Jeff understood that I was disrespecting the Morons on his site (yeah, I have plenty here too). I read what Jeff lays down. He’s as astute as they come, and I wish him a quick recovery from his knee surgery. I also appreciate 2demeter2 and the Grizzly Bear.
Rants & Raves
- Gavin Lux is up to .240 and climbing, and Kike Hernandez has bounced up to .208 after his 3-4 night.
- Cavan Biggio remains a very useful ballplayer, but his lack of hitting will soon cost him his job.
- Michael Kopech is on the path to being a lockdown reliever of the first degree!
- I see a IL stint for Stone. He needs rest, but when Graterol, Brasier, and Grove come back, who else goes down? Ryan and who? Honeywell is looking good too. This is a good problem to have…
- Kike can close too… 😉
- Today, we go Rollin’ on the River!
- I’ll be back next Sunday… Carry on!
Discussion (92)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Still do not like Ohtani leading off no matter what the stats say. Muncy and Edman combined for a run at OKC tonight. Edman was on with a single and Muncy doubled him home. Both should rejoin the Dodgers in about a week with Mookie back on Monday. Shohei has a .275 avg as a leadoff hitter. He has a .287 avg and an OPS over 1.000 in the 2 hole. .960 as a leadoff hitter. Betts is a .296 hitter in the leadoff spot and has 228 homers leading off. He is just as capable of opening a game with a homer if not more than Ohtani. Mookie is at .307 in the two-hole. I rest my case for Mookie leading off over Ohtani.
9:10 PM ET
Pirates (56-59)
Dodgers (67-49)
SP Paul Skenes R
6-1 1.99 ERA
SP River Ryan R
1-0 1.72 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
LF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
2B Gavin Lux L
RF J. Heyward L
3B E. Hernandez R
C A. Barnes R
CF K. Kiermaier L
SS Nick Ahmed R
81° Wind 6 mph Out
Ohtani should not be leading off. With his power, he should be the 3-hole hitter. Mookie, Freeman, Ohtani, Hernandez, Muncy, Smith, Lux, Edman, Rojas. Not a bad batting order. Ohtani is losing so many RBI chances as a leadoff guy. If he was batting down in the order, he might have 100 by now. Arizona and San Diego are hot right now, but teams rarely stay as hot as they are for two months. Dodgers need to just take care of their own business and not watch the scoreboard. Nice ceremony for Dusty last night. Walter O to the ring of honor tonight, and tomorrow, Matt Kemp signs a one-day contract and retires a Dodger. Mookie is a team player. He knows playing RF benefits the team the most right now and puts the best defenders on the field.
King T better bring the heat in tomorrow’s newsletter. Can we get a sneak preview?
Betts, Muncy & Edman will be a bolt of talent injected into this team.
Maybe it’s just me, but Pages doesn’t seem “engaged “. He’s definitely not a center fielder. Mookie in right.(whatever), he goes to 2nd when a left handed pitcher is on the mound. Heyward is more than average in right field. Ahmed ? gone. Kiki? stays. Taylor? ghost injury. Kevin K? Here’s the tough one. center field is so important, and KK is a fantastic center fielder! but his bat is almost nonexistent. If Edman is healthy, really no need for KK. Rosario? .300 hitter and mediocre defensive player. I agree , Pages probably not on playoff roster. Barnes? nothing there. …. The friars are good. but! the ball sure has been bouncing their way last couple of weeks! Sooner or later that will stop. Hopefully it stops before they rake first place away!!
Who will the 3 Dodger bench players with Barnes be when Betts,Muncy, and Edman are reinstated from the IL? Interesting decisions. It’s between Rosario,Kiki,Taylor,Heyward,Pages and possibly Rushing.
Friday scores
Round Rock 7, Oklahoma City 6
Arkansas 2, Tulsa 1
Lansing 8, Great Lakes 4
Rancho Cucamonga 5, Fresno 3
Bobby Miller struck out six in his 4⅓ innings in his first start in 13 days. He didn’t allow a run nor a hit through four innings, but walked two and allowed two singles in a three-run fifth. Miller walked four on the night.
Saturday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Orlando Ortiz-Mayr) at Arkansas (Brandyn Garcia)
4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Wyatt Crowell) vs. Lansing (Luis Morales)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Ben Casparius) vs. Round Rock (Ryan Garcia)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Samuel Sanchez) vs. Fresno (Bryan Mena)
Max Muncy and Tommy Edman are expected to start rehab assignments Saturday with Oklahoma City.
Giants option Camilo Doval, might not be a bad pickup for future.
Well it looks like this may be the team we go to war with.
Ohtani
Betts RF
Freeman 1B
T. Hernandez LF
Munch 3B
Smith C
Edman CF
Lux/Rosario 2B
Rojas SS
Buehler could rejoin the rotation during a four-game road series against Milwaukee that begins Monday, with Thursday being the current target,Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
“Buehler made what is assumed to be his final rehab start Thursday, tossing 5.1 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City and yielding one run on one hit with five Ks. The 29-year-old got up to 85 pitches and shouldn’t be expected to have a pitch count. The right-hander hasn’t pitched for the Dodgers since June 18 due to right hip inflammation”.
Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts moved from right field to a middle infield role before landing on the injured list due to a left hand fracture in June. He is set to return from the IL on Monday but will be moved back to right field, per manager Dave Roberts. MLBTradeRumors.com
10:10 PM ET
Pirates (56-58)
Dodgers (66-49)
SP Mitch Keller R
10-5 3.20 ERA
SP Jack Flaherty R
8-5 2.80 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
LF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
2B Gavin Lux L
SS Miguel Rojas R
3B E. Hernandez R
RF J. Heyward L
CF Andy Pages R
74° Wind 7 mph Out
Good sign. Just checked the Oklahoma City roster and Max Muncy is officially on a rehab assignment there.
“Thanks to injuries and some lackluster performances from their bullpen, the Dodgers fell two spots in the most recent ESPN MLB power rankings. They entered the week at No. 3, and fell to No. 5 after the trade deadline failed to solidify their group of relievers”.
Via ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez:
“The Dodgers welcomed Brusdar Graterol back on Monday, after he had spent the entire season rehabbing a shoulder injury, but then promptly placed fellow reliever Blake Treinen on the injured list with hip discomfort. The following day, on his eighth pitch of the year, Graterol suffered a hamstring strain that might end his season. The Dodgers’ roster has been in flux for quite a while, and it is most evident in their bullpen. Two key injured relievers — Treinen and Ryan Brasier — are expected to rejoin the staff in the next week or two. But the Dodgers have struggled to get any continuity late in games and don’t currently have a defined closer. Since the All-Star break, their relievers have posted a 4.59 ERA, 19th in the majors”.
good call Mark , if i need to throw up, i’ll watch CNN or fox!! PLAY BALL!!!
MLB will play a regular-season game for the first time in Tennessee next season, Commissioner Rob Manfred announced today. MLB Speedway Classic ’25 will pit the Braves and Reds at one of NASCAR’s most popular tracks on Aug. 2, with a baseball diamond being built across the track and infield at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Nobody like NASCAR anymore, so Let’s Play Ball!
OK – Let’s cut the Politics.
Problem is Bear he LIED about his service, multiple times and got called on it yet he kept lying…..
Vance didnt lie about his….
Also not for Tampons in the boys bathroom….but….
Lets go back to this one….
Big one tonight, get right game…
Thursday scores
Round Rock 7, Oklahoma City 2
Arkansas 2, Tulsa 0
Great Lakes 5, Lansing 0
Fresno 9, Rancho Cucamonga 3
Jackson Ferris impressed in his Double-A debut, allowing only a run on four hits in 5⅔ innings, with three walks and four strikeouts.
Friday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Peter Heubeck) vs. Lansing (Wander Guante)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Bobby Miller) vs. Round Rock (Adrian Sampson)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Carlos Duran) at Arkansas (Logan Evans)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Isaiah Coupet) vs. Fresno (Sean Paul Linan)
.
Walker Buehler looked much better last night as he went 5 innings. His fastball was 93-96 and he hit 95 MPH in his last Inning. There is hope. His next start will be in the Bigs
In a twisted sort of way, I’m glad the D-Bags and Madres are pushing the Dodgers instead of the 10 or 12 game cushion we usually have this time of year , just coasting with no urgency. Notice Doc is calling guys out way more than he used to, which is good. I would rather have us in a tight division race going to the playoffs than just cruising, keeps everybody sharp.
Well, someone finally did it. I was told I talk too much. Unfortunately, I agree with the guy! There are times when I just do not know when to shut the eff up. My bad. Some posters just bring out the worst in me I guess.
Matt you and Bear are right on the money. The Madres are just the flavor of the month. I think there is no way in hell the Dodgers miss the playoffs. The FO and Robert’s know this and are strategically setting the Dodgers up to succeed in Oct. Learning they’re lesson from the last two years…instead of the Gallos and Lynn’s of the world, they got bat to ball defenders and Flaherty and Kopech. Everyone else is coming back now or soon. And will be fresh for a Sept. and Oct. run. Might be brilliant. We can only hope.
Book em
Baseball America ranked the MLB Farm Systems:
12. Los Angeles Dodgers
Top 100 Prospects: Dalton Rushing, C (36); Josue De Paula, OF (50); Alex Freeland, SS (97).
2024 Prospect Success Story: Alex Freeland, SS
Los Angeles dealt away a pair of its better prospects in Thayron Liranzo and Jeral Perez, but the Dodgers still have a group of intriguing prospects. Dalton Rushing leads the way, but lefty Jackson Ferris has made strides and low-level outfielders Zyhir Hope and Eduardo Quintero head a promising next wave.
Previous preseason ranks
2024: 10
2023: 3
2022: 8
2021: 9
2020: 3
2019: 10
Ohtani (elbow) hopes to begin throwing off a mound by early September, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
“Ohtani’s current throwing program as he comes back from right UCL surgery has him playing catch from 150 feet three days per week at 85 percent intensity. He will progress to four days per week and then five before being cleared to throw off the mound. As long as all of those stages go off without a hitch, the hope is Ohtani will be able to face hitters either via live batting practice or a simulated game by October. He would then be shut down for a while before eventually ramping things back up in the offseason. Ohtani is aiming to be a two-way player again in 2025”.
I’ll tell ya this….the Padres are a problem. They play with emotion and never give up. I watch them pretty regularly and they’ve had a lot of comeback wins this year. They are a very confident team. As I’m typing this they just scored 2 in the 9th to take the lead over the Pirates. I would not be surprised at all if the Dodgers ended up 3rd in the division this year. Never thought I would say that even a few weeks ago.
Tommy Edman (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City during the weekend, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
“Edman is slated to play in a simulated game today Thursday to test his wrist in the field, and he’ll head back out on a rehab assignment if all goes well. The 29-year-old infielder is expected to remain in the minors for at least a week in what will be his third separate rehab stint of the year”.
I hope the Dodgers are not going to regret giving Will Smith a TEN year contract.
Wednesday scores
Oklahoma City 8, Round Rock 1
Arkansas 2, Tulsa 1
Lansing 3, Great Lakes 2
Rancho Cucamonga 4, Fresno 2
Diego Cartaya hit two home runs, including a grand slam that busted the game open in the seventh inning, lifting Oklahoma City over the Round Rock Express (Rangers). Cartaya also walked twice, reaching base in all four trips to the plate as the designated hitter. He has three home runs in his last three games.
Thursday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Maddux Bruns) vs. Lansing (Kade Morris)
4:35 p.m.: Tulsa (Jackson Ferris) at Arkansas (Michael Morales)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Walker Buehler) vs. Round Rock (TBA)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Hyun-Seok Jang) vs. Fresno (Ismael Luciano)
Double-A debut for Jackson Ferris, Low-A debut for Hyun-Seok Jang on Thursday night.
BS call that changed the game….
As relayed by MLB.com’s Juan Toribio, Roberts corrected himself this evening about Graterol’s injury, noting that the right-hander had suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain. A Grade 1 hamstring strain is the most mild form of strain, while a Grade 3 strain constitutes a complete tear of the hamstring. This is, of course, excellent news for Dodgers fans and Roberts went on to suggest that the club “remains hopeful” that the righty can return at some point this season.
Muncy (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City over the weekend, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
“Muncy will spend at least a week in Triple-A before returning to the Dodgers, putting his earliest possible return date sometime in mid-August. The slugging third baseman has been on the injured list since May 17 with a right oblique strain and only recently began making strides in his recovery after a chiropractor visit last week”.
Brutal game to watch. Kelly is pitching awful. You should never let a hitter slug three homers off of you.
happy for Barnes. one of his biggest critics. crow don’t taste that good, but i’ll eat it gladly!
does she ever breathe?? …. Lux still raking!
10:10 PM ET
Phillies (67-46)
Dodgers (66-48)
SP Tyler Phillips R
3-1 4.39 ERA
SP Gavin Stone R
9-5 3.63 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
LF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
3B E. Hernandez R
2B Gavin Lux L
SS Miguel Rojas R
RF J. Heyward L
C A. Barnes R
CF K. Kiermaier L
The Dodgers reinstated Rojas (forearm) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
“Rojas landed on the injured list July 24 due to right forearm tightness, and he played in just one rehab game in Single-A, where he went 0-for-3 with a walk. Now that he’s healthy, the 35-year-old will likely start at shortstop until Mookie Betts (hand) is able to return from the IL. James Outman was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move”.
They should leave Outman at Oklahoma City for the remainder of 2024.
The Diamondbacks are in the process of sweeping a doubleheader from the Guardians and move within 3 1/2 games of the Dodgers.
Yamamoto (triceps) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.
“The bullpen was Yamamoto’s second since landing on the injured list June 16. In his previous session, which took place Saturday, the right-hander threw 20 pitches, and he increased that count by 10 on Tuesday. Yamamoto is slated to toss another bullpen this week before pitching to live hitters next week. If he continues to build up without any setbacks, Yamamoto could return to the Dodgers’ rotation in late August or early September”.
Just my two cents here, but Shohei Ohtani is being paid a lot of money to be the MAN. But what I have noticed is that Shohei is not very clutch. When they need just a hit to get a run or two, it seems like he is always swinging for the fences. Last night was no exception. He was 0-4. With 2 on and 2 out in the 7th, he once again hit a harmless fly ball to an outfielder. I would much rather have Freeman or Hernandez up in a clutch situation where they need a run or two. The team was 0-8 with RISP.
Tuesday scores
Oklahoma City 5, Round Rock 3
Arkansas 2, Tulsa 0
Great Lakes 3, Lansing 2
Rancho Cucamonga 9, Fresno 3
Wednesday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Patrick Copen) vs. Lansing (Mitch Myers)
4:35 p.m.: Tulsa (Chris Campos) at Arkansas (Juan Mercedes)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Jordan Lyles) vs. Round Rock (Peter Solomon)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Luke Fox) vs. Fresno (Bryan Perez)
Landon Knack struck out eight in 5⅔ innings for the win in his second start back in Triple-A since getting optioned to Oklahoma City. He allowed three runs (one earned), with all the scoring coming on a pair of home runs by Round Rock center fielder Dustin Harris. Knack has struck out 31.3 percent of his batters faced in his last two starts in the minors.
Dalton Rushing was 1-for-5 in his Triple-A debut, and played all nine innings in left field. Shortstop Alex Freeland was 0-for-3 with a walk and scored a run in his Triple-A debut.
Rented mules are protesting today over how Roberts used Honeywell last night.
Clayton looked much better last night. only a couple of “hard” hit balls. his control is getting stronger. The biggest difference between having Paxton rather than Clayton is base on balls. James issues way too many passes. Clayton doesn’t have the speed James does, but his overall game is why he’s there and Paxton isn’t. Clayton still can make good hitters look silly! …. Nick Ahmed makes shortstop look easy! Same as Rojas. He won’t be out of work long. ….. Must be really frustrating for Outman to sit there and watch KevinK. playing. Wouldn’t he be better served to be in AAA? …. Mark, is Rushing being “rushed “ to the big club to play left field? …. Kiki’s hot streak didn’t last long. …… Saw some signs of Will swinging better. Boy do they need him to snap out of his slump!! …. Team looks different now without Gavin Lux in the lineup!!! Just saying. …. So sorry for Bazooka! Easiest 100 mph you’ll ever see. Bless you Brustar. …. Stone needs a big time start today. needs to help the bullpen get some rest. … Quietly Joe Kelly has been very good! …. Just win tonight guys, all’s well!
So, Betts is going to play SS as I predicted… he is just not going to hit leadoff. I like that better actually!
If Rojas is successful in returning, Nick Ahmed is the odd man out.
If/When Muncy returns, Outman is the odd man out, and when Edman returns, Kiermaier will retire.
This is the best lineup:
1. Ohtani DH (L)
2. Betts SS (R)
3. Freeman 1B (L)
4. Teoscar LF (R)
5. Muncy 3B (L)
6. Smith C (R)
7. Lux/Rosario 2B
8. Hernandez/Pages RF
9. Edman CF (B)
Clayton gave me some hope. He needs a couple of more starts. The Bazooka is gone for the season before he started. Grove will be back today and Brasier isn’t far behind him. I think we will see Jack Dreyer soon as well.
Can Stoney rebound?
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters before Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies that when Mookie Betts returns he’ll play shortstop and bat second. Shohei Ohtani will continue to bat leadoff.
That’s a hell of a hamstring injury to Bazooka!
Clayton Kershaw has shown that he might be a factor.
We need to see more!
Jolly Jess! thank goodness nerdy nelson ain’t on!
For those who are interested in Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, here’s a link to a very good article on him at Fangraphs:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-ballpark-roki-sasakis-market/
Alex Freedman
@azfreedman
Well, this is interesting. Per manager Travis Babary, Dalton Rushing will exclusively play left field to start his time in Oklahoma City.
10:10 PM ET
Phillies (66-46)
Dodgers (66-47)
SP C. Sanchez L
7-7 3.36 ERA
SP Clayton Kershaw L
0-1 5.87 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
LF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
2B Amed Rosario R
3B E. Hernandez R
RF Andy Pages R
SS Nick Ahmed R
CF K. Kiermaier L
78° Wind 9 mph Out
STB – thanks for your thoughts on Shohei and next season. I guess the big change would come if he was unable to pitch after his /nd TJ surgery.
I’m glad you love London, and I’ve gotta say I’m absolutely loving life here. I feel like a tourist constantly. It’s literally a fifteen minute stroll to Piccadilly Circus from my flat and the options I have are endless M.
Just need to be able to retire as soon as I can so I can really enjoy everything it has to offer.
Big night for Clayton tonight.
” Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas has missed the last 13 games with right forearm inflammation, but he could return to the team shortly, perhaps as soon as this homestand. Up first is a rehab assignment with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday night, the team announced”.
Well well well, with a win tonight the boys in Blue will have the best record in the NL…..
The Cavalry is coming!
Solid performance by Glasnow against a tough opponent. Feeling much better about the rotation after Flaherty’s acquisition but we’re going to need at least one additional option in the playoffs. Will Yamamoto be that starting pitcher?
Really emotional night watching Freddie’s pre-game news conference and the love the fans showed him at his first at bat.Great win!!!!
If anyone is interested Landon Knack is on the mound tonight for Oklahoma City.
Without that horrible read in centerfield, Tyler’s pitch count would have allowed him to get maybe into the eighth inning. … Pages did have a big double after that But that one play almost changed the outcome of the game!! … Doc had to use more of his bullpen than he wanted to. Banda walked a tightrope. Kopech looked great again. Hudson scared the crap out of me with that lead off walk. Thankfully he shut them down before the top of the order got back up. …. Good win! Now it’s Clayton’s turn to show he’s still the man! …. By the way, i’ve read the dodgers are considering moving Mookie off shortstop when he comes back. Now that would mean moving Gavin off 2nd, right? . Lux is raking!! Please don’t -uck that up!! If Mookie is healthy, leave him at shortstop or move him back to right field. As of now Lux has completely earned the second baseman job!! … After everything Biggio did or didn’t do for the dodgers, i was kinda sad to see him released. AND, it’s going to get tougher!! When Mookie comes back, who’s next? Ahmed? great defensive shortstop. Without Rojas he might be invaluable! Max? who’s the guy if(big if), Max comes back. Taylor? same thing. Rosario? .300 hitter. Can , or will they cut him? Saw them replace him at shortstop Sunday after a couple of oh chit plays. He made the plays , but not smooth! Kiki? had another couple of games this weekend to probably save his bacon! KK? great defensive center fielder. but his bat? (see outman). And too, KK makes that catch Pages botched. James does too. Or Chris Taylor does also. … Going to be interesting who stays and who goes. But Graterol comes, Trienan goes on the IL. Probably the same for position players. Glad it’s not my job.
Glad to see the site is still open for business. Nice win last night, even though I didn’t make it to the final out. As the calendar turns to August you can tell the games across the league take on a different vibe. Watched the DBacks/Guardians game early on and Joc continues his heroics with another late game pinch hit 2 run HR.
White Sox have lost 21 straight games tying an AL record for longest losing streaks. They may not even win 40 games this year and are on pace for the worst season ever I believe.
Pages ain’t no center fielder! Glasnow dealing!!
In additional Dodgers news, Ardaya reports that the team is planning to activate one of Brusdar Graterol or Michael Grove from the IL “as soon as tonight.” Grove, 27, has been on the 15-day IL since mid-June with an intercostal strain. He has a 5.06 ERA (but a 2.97 SIERA) in 37 1/3 innings pitched this season. Graterol, 25, has been out all season with a shoulder injury. He is on the 60-day IL, so he is not currently taking up a spot on the 40-man roster. However, the Dodgers already had an open 40-man spot before they activated Freeman and DFA’d Biggio, so they would only need to free up a spot on the 26-man roster to activate Graterol.
10:10 PM ET
Phillies (66-45)
Dodgers (65-47)
SP Aaron Nola R
11-4 3.43 ERA
SP Tyler Glasnow R
8-6 3.50 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
LF T. Hernandez R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
2B Gavin Lux L
3B E. Hernandez R
RF J. Heyward L
CF Andy Pages R
SS Nick Ahmed R
82° Wind 8 mph Out
l like tonight’s lineup left right 1-8 all the way down
The Dodgers have reinstated Freddie Freeman from the restricted list and designated Cavan Biggio for assignment, reports Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
If Rushing becomes a viable option in the near future, should the Dodgers consider moving Will Smith to 3base?
STB – hope you’re good.
You said something above that peaked my interest, in fact it’d been something I’ve been wondering about, but it’s probably a very simple answer.
I don’t watch much other baseball, different time zones and all that, so I didn’t watch Ohtani with the Angels.
What happens on the days he pitches?
I presume on those days he DH’s?
More the question is what did and what will he do on the other days?
Did he play LF (as some have suggested here), or did they DH him all the time to conserve his energy?
I mean we are talking about a weak Outfield in terms of Prospects in the Minors, and Teo is a FA at the season end, so would he not fill a very big need if he could patrol LF for us on non Starting days?
An outfield with Ohtani and Soto anchoring it wouldn’t be too shabby, or have I got it totally wrong, and he is purely a DH going forward because physically it would be too demanding on him?
From the Dodger’s Official Page:
Aug. 3: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws bullpen session
Yamamoto threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Saturday, his first since landing on the IL in mid-June. Manager Dave Roberts said the team was “really excited about the command, the velocity,” and the 25-year-old righty was able to mix some curveballs and splitters in with his fastballs. Yamamoto came away feeling good, and he’s scheduled to throw again this Tuesday August 6th..
“According to MLB Network, Freddie Freeman will return to the Los Angeles line-up tonight. The Dodger first basemen had to leave the team in Houston last Friday when his three-year-old son, Maximus, was rushed to the hospital back in Los Angeles. Maximus has been diagnosed with Gillian-Barre Syndrome. Although rare in children, this neurological condition can cause full-body paralysis and, in Freeman’s case, difficulty breathing”.
Freeman (personal) has rejoined the Dodgers and could be activated from the restricted list ahead of Monday’s game against the Phillies, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Soto will be a Yankee or Met in 2025 . Bet it!!!! AF will drive the price up if he has any interest. Also Soto is a BorASS client and AF has little interest in dealing with him.
Kiki just won’t go away! I guess that’s a good thing. Pretty much won that game yesterday singlehanded! Bullpen looked great. Doc pushed the right buttons , except maybe 1. With kiki on 2nd and no outs, why give up an out. Swing the damn bat.! if biggio pulls it to the right side of the infield and he advances , ok. Doc rarely bunts the runner over in the 10th inning with the “ghost runner “! Maybe if they’re lucky biggio finds a hole. Can’t really count on that lineup to hit a sacrifice fly. As much as they strikeout, a seeing eye single probably more likely. …. Wheeler pitched yesterday i believe, so at least they won’t have to worry about him!! Hopefully Freddie is back …. Interested to see who leaves when Graterol and Brasier come back. Banda looked great yesterday. Honeywell has been very good. Could they pull a surprise move and send Joe back to the IL? Tough decisions ahead!
Good series win. Lets keep it going.
Juan Soto is a big fan of Shohei Ohtani, and if Shohei made a pitch for him, that would be a game-changer, but Rushing should be able to play LF. I have seen two of his games there and he looks Vargas-esque.
I actually believe the Dodgers have a great chance at signing Soto.
Dalton Rushing’s bat is near ready: At Tulsa he had 281 ABs with a .270 BA, .378 OB%, .512 SLg, and .890 OPS to go with 17 HR and 59 RBI. His strikeout rate was 25%. Is he an option in LF THIS year? I will give you a definite “maybe.” 😉
Freeland was hitting .245 with a .792 OPS but with Sweeney gone, they might as well push him. He was 24-26 in SBs.
Roberts said All-Star Mookie Betts (fractured hand), third baseman Max Muncy (oblique strain), infielder Miguel Rojas (forearm strain), utility man Tommy Edman and possibly utility man Chris Taylor (groin injury) will all participate in a simulated game planned for Thursday August 8th at Dodger Stadium. All five are currently on the injured list and will face pitchers brought in from Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.
“After 8 long days in the Pediatric ICU we are officially HOME!” Chelsea Freeman wrote Sunday. “Max still has a long road ahead of him to regain his strength and relearn how to walk. But we are so thankful to have our family back together. Thank you God for this miracle. Also, thank you to our incredible team of doctors and angel nurses for taking such good care of our boy. And to our village for helping so much with Charlie and Brandon. #MaxStrong #GBS #gbsawareness #gbssurvivor“
Maximus was diagnosed with a rare case of Guillain-Barré syndrome after going into full body paralysis. The scary incident prompted Freddie Freeman to leave the team amid a road trip to Houston, Texas. He was placed on the family emergency list July 26.
Saturday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated Freeman might return to the team during the team’s home series against the Philadelphia Phillies beginning Monday.
@FabianArdaya
Dodgers catching prospect Dalton Rushing is going to be promoted to Triple A, as @Bnicklaus7 said (OKC doesn’t play again until Tuesday after tonight). Worth nothing that Rushing has gotten four starts in left field of late.Along with Dalton Rushing, the Dodgers are also promoting infielder Alex Freeland and right-handed reliever Edgardo Henriquez to Triple A, per a source.
Beyond his talent, an obvious appeal to Soto is his age. He is young enough to make an immediate impact and provide value beyond the current crop of Dodger players. Soto offers stability beyond Freeman, Muncy and the eventual aging of Mookie Betts. Muncy is a FA after next season and Freeman after the 27’ season. Soto’s appeal goes beyond his immediate impact on the field.
Sorry, i forgot about Soto. Great hitter, below average defensive player, and not a great baserunner. Don’t see AF handing him 500 million just so he can be the next DH.
it’s ok to speculate!! some say Clayton might not be back. Some sa Walker walks. some say Flaherty probably signs elsewhere,even though he probably wants to be a dodger. some say kiki, heyward, kk, and others won’t be back. so who’s the major outfielder available in the offseason. Teo’s production will be hard to replace. SIGN the guy!! Then we can worry about next year next year! i like to speculate!
Your analysis and projections seem pretty much on target to me, but Doc may want to tinker a bit. (Maybe a weekly report is the way to go.)
After such a long layoff, I doubt we’ll see maximum Max production soon.
So how about the Lux/Rosario batting 5th and Max eased back in at 7th? I’m a strong believe in going with the hot hand, and lineup promotion would be a nice reward for Lux’s improved offense. (Not long ago Lux was in danger of losing even a platoon gig; the best alignment on defense and offense had Rojas at SS and Mookie at 2B full-time.)
Speaking of SS, I remain concerned about Mookie’s defense, especially during a close game in the late innings. I’d rather see Rojas or Ahmed (if he’s still around) at SS, but I certainly don’t want to lose Mookie’s bat.
So Mookie–who now seems like Cesar Tovar with a HOF bat–can either slide over to 2B or up to CF, a position he has played well in the past. Mookie, like Keirmaier and Heyward, is a gold-glove outfielder. Edman won a GG at 2B, and Ahmed earned a couple at SS. Imagine a late-inning defense with Rojas or Ahmed (another gold glover) at SS, Edman at 2B, Mookie at CF, Heyward in RF and Freddie at 1B. Heck, if Teo gets hurt, the Dodgers could keep Keirmaier in there and have SIX gold gloves on D (though I suspect that Ahmed and Biggio are the most likely to be DFA’d.)
Did anybody else see a highlight of Kevin Pillar’s flying Superman catch for the Angels yesterday? Look for it on Youtube. Just spectacular, up there with the best of the year. I’m not sure, but I think Pillar, like Keirmaier, has talked about retiring. I hope not. He’s had a fine season. Many of us no doubt remember Pillar’s brief time with the Dodgers. Assigned to OKC as veteran reinforcement, got called up–and suffered a season-ending injury.
One final thought: I don’t want River Ryan sent back down unless he shows he needs more seasoning.
Again, I like the hot hand. If Ryan continues to impress, let him cook.
I know Kiki has a good hitting game about once a week and he plays good defense, but I wonder why they don’t play Rosario at 3rd? We would have an Ahmed at SS and an Amed at 3rd. Interesting! They need offense and he has a good split with R and L pitching.
4:07 PM ET
Dodgers (64-47)
Athletics (46-66)
SP River Ryan R
1-0 .82 ERA
SP Osvaldo Bido R
2-2 5.00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
LF T. Hernandez R
2B Gavin Lux L
RF J. Heyward L
3B E. Hernandez R
1B Cavan Biggio L
SS Amed Rosario R
CF K. Kiermaier L
C A. Barnes R
72° Wind 9 mph Out
I don’t think I’m the only one who stopped watching the game after the bases were loaded and no out, I thought “Same old story again, no more”
I’m pretty sure Betts will return to RF for at least the remainder of this season, which I think would be best for the team.
Maybe even Sheehan next year?
Wow! what a surplus of starters the dodgers could have next season!! Glasnow, Yamamoto,Ryan.Wrobleski, Stone, Gonsolin, May, Frasso, Kershaw, Buehler (maybe), Flaherty(maybe). So why would they trade for the White Sox lefty?? He may want to skip the regular season and just pitch in the playoffs! lol! I wouldn’t mind at all a swap of Buehler for Flaherty! Doubt that would happen. AF won’t spend the money! i’m more concerned about the offense next season! Doubt seriously AF resigns Teo. Although i would love to have him back! Heyward probably gone. Kiki probably gone. i’m not as sure of Pages as i was before. Outman? No clue!! Dodger minor league position players aren’t exactly killing it. Pitching is strong, but except for a couple of positions, concerned. … Look for the “River “ to roll on today!! Probably should have saved 3-4 of those runs last night for today!!! Not exactly an explosive offense out there in Oakland today. … # 1, hopefuls Maximus is getting better!!! #2, Freddie, can’t wait to see you back on first!! that play by Biggio to Jack covering the bag was as bad a throw as you’ll see!! Barnes goes deep today! Book it!
Justin Wrobleski pitches for Oklahoma City today.
Have we heard any updates on Rojas?
I like the newsletter, Mark. (Maybe you can do a mailbag too where you answer some questions.)
Based on your September lineup, Kike’Hernandez becomes the odd man out. Would be unfortunate but I think thats how it end up. Unless, does he becomes part of the bullpen?
Good win for the Dodgers and a very good debut for Jack Flaherty.
Sometimes, I wonder how San Diego keeps making trades. They’ve depleted the farm system several times, but somehow they find enough prospects to make big deals. I thought the Dodgers did well at the trade deadline. They really needed to add another starter and they got Flaherty.
Skubal was never going to happen and Crocket had an incredibly high price tag. The Dodgers managed to retain their top prospects and improve the team.
As the Dodgers move forward with IL players returning, all you can do is ask for good health and hopefully those players can regain their form.
I do recall the days of Gavin Lux being considered a very good hitter. The injuries more or less derailed him. But now he looks like the player who had been a highly rated prospect.
thanks mark for keeping my sunday morning routine alive! Biggio probably cost Jack a seventh or maybe eighth inning gem. But that’s ok, don’t need another pitcher on the IL!! Dbacks lost, friars won . 5 game lead. River Ryan. today, keep rolling on the River!! .. Every time i criticize Kiki he has his once a week good game! So Kiki, your spectacles suck!! Take that! …. AF maybe stole the trade deadline with Kopech and Flaherty! Throw in Rosario (when they let him play) and not bad at all! KK will probably save a few runs with his defense . poor James out of the picture the rest of this season! If Yamamoto comes back healthy, with Glasnow and Jack F, lookout! Clayton will be fine. River Ryan could be the wildcard!! Gavin Stone looks like he might need an IL visit for a rest. …. Walker ain’t gonna help i’m afraid.
“Oliver Gonzalez, the 17-year-old Panamanian right-hander acquired from the Cardinals in Monday’s three-team trade that also brought Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech to Los Angeles, made his Dodgers organizational debut on Saturday. Pitching for the DSL Dodgers Mega team, Gonzalez struck out three in three scoreless innings in his start, allowing only two singles”.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters earlier Saturday in Oakland that both Graterol and Grove could be activated by the Dodgers during their homestand which runs from Monday to next Sunday. From Bill Plunkett in the Orange County Register, Roberts added, “Those two guys have checked the boxes they need to check.”
Betts (hand) and the Dodgers are targeting a return to the lineup during their next road trip, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
“Betts has been out since mid-June after suffering a fracture in his left wrist/hand and he took batting practice with the team Wednesday. The Dodgers will begin their next road trip Aug. 12 in Milwaukee with a four-game set with the Brewers before they’ll play three games in St. Louis. If the timeline remains true, Betts will likely begin a rehab assignment in the coming days”.
As bad as things have been lately for the Dodgers,they are 1 1/2 game behind the Phillies for the best record in the National League with a record of 64-47 vs the Phillies 65-45. This is a big 3 game series vs the Phillies starting Monday.Hopefully Freeman is back and his son is on the road to a full recovery.