The New Rotation
With Dustin May, Trevor Bauer, and Clayton Kershaw all out of the picture, at least for the time being, the Dodger starting rotation after the All-Star Break looks like this: Striker Buehler Julio Urias Tony Gonsolin David Price JoJo Gary Yes, I said JoJo Gray. He will get another start or maybe two at OKC, and hopefully, be built up to at least four innings by then (hey, it s better
With Dustin May, Trevor Bauer, and Clayton Kershaw all out of the picture, at least for the time being, the Dodger starting rotation after the All-Star Break looks like this:
- Striker Buehler
- Julio Urias
- Tony Gonsolin
- David Price
- JoJo Gary
Yes, I said JoJo Gray. He will get another start… or maybe two at OKC, and hopefully, be built up to at least four innings by then (hey, it’s better than a bullpen game). The next option is Ryan Pepiot, but I hope that does not happen until August at the soonest. Don’t laugh, but that rotation has potential. Buehler is ready, and so is Julio. Tony is being built up and looked great in his last outing. David is rested and has done this before and just needs to be built up a little more. Gray has the stuff and was in the Dodgers’ plans this year – he just got derailed for a while. Price, Gonsolin, and Gray are fresh!
We know that Dustin May is not coming back this year. We don’t know if Kershaw and/or Bauer will be back. I have no opinion. None of us have a clue. Just let it play out. Maybe Bauer and Kershaw will be back or maybe it will be one and not the other. Many of you do not see how Bauer can be back, but I do. Sight vs. Vision. Bauer’s career may be over and the same is true with Clayton, but you never know…
I read at other blogs that it might be a month or more before Gray and Price can be built up as starters, like they can’t pitch until then? Gray went two innings in his last start. Maybe he can go three in his next one… then four… and five like the Catman just did. Having Price and Gray open and pitch 2 to 4 innings is better than starting Nate Jones or Jake Reed. Come on Man! You build them up as they pitch.
The Bullpen
The pen will be taxed, but pitchers are getting healthy and the Dodgers have this to pick from and rotate to-OKC-and_back:
- Scott Alexander
- Bazooka Graterol
- Joe Kelly
- Mitch White
- Garrett Cleavinger
- Alex Vesia
- Darien Nunez
- Blake Treinen
- Kenley Jansen
- Phil Bickford
- Victor Gonzalez
- Jimmy Nelson
- Corey Knebel (August)
I am not even counting Jake Reed, Edwin Uceta, Nate Robertson, and Bobby Wahl (and there are other possibilities in the minors). I think that is enough depth. The heck with the trade route. The Bullpen is coming together nicely and if it is not overworked will be a big asset to the team. I am not counting on Bauer or Kershaw… but that remains to be seen. The path to winning it all again starts with the hitters. They have to cut down on their strikeouts. In the words of Barry Bonds, “Only swing at strikes.” Of course, that is easier said than done, but Many Muncy does the best job.
Betts, Polllock and Bellinger need to all step up, but Cody has to take the biggest step. Overall, hitting is down across MLB. We will see if the crackdown on stick ’em works, but the offense should be able to carry this team the second half. Justin Turner and Chris Taylor are the only regulars who has had what we would call a good offensive year. Corey Seager will be back soon and CT3 should move to 2B with Gavin Lux taking over the Utility Role. This lineup is potent and long:
- Betts RF
- Seager SS
- Turner 3B
- Muncy 1B
- Smith C
- Bellinger CF
- Pollock LF
- Taylor 2B
Leave Cody at #6 and let him get it worked out. I believe he will. He barely has 100 AB’s and while his BA is horrid, his OB% is just 50 points behind Mookie and Will Smith. It’s about the same as a Lux and Pollock. I believe that lineup will produce. Now, if we can just trust the starting staff, which now includes Price and Gray. Let’s hope the Price is Right and that 50 Shades of Gray baffle MLB hitters. I am going to enjoy watch this.. win or lose.
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Discussion (107)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Best news out of this game is that Nunes looked really good.
Turner’s error cost him. Yeah, Escobar hit a HR–to the shortest part of park.
I rarely sit and watch entire games, relying more on the radio and highlights. I wish the highlights would include the lowlights. Unless it’s pivotal to the game, the errors are rarely shown. And the misplays–I just read about Lux’s slow toss on a potential double play ball. Ugh.
One thing we don’t know–and probably shouldn’t–is how the players and coaches are talking about the Bauer situation among themselves. I assume Roberts and probably AF have conducted team meetings, and I haven’t seen much in the way of comments from the players.
Anyway, I’m left thinking that the Bauer mess may be a serious distraction. On the practical side, it means that more bullpen games and more RPs are getting called up. The team really seems in a serious funk–poor fielding, poor hitting. Bauer’s situation is not an excuse for poor play, but I suspect it still causes a ripple in negative ways.
The Dodgers have enough trouble with their own injuries–and now with the alleged injury to Bauer’s sex partner.
A trade for an impact pitcher will help change the story.
Uceta is just not ready for the majors at this point. I dont know why DR and the Dodgers insist on proving the opposite again and again. Why they have him up and not the Bazooka (who worked 1.2 scoreless for OKC is beyond me.
If Bellinger and Betts do not start producing the Dodgers are dead.
Best thing out of yesterday is the clean MRI for CK.
I would not trade Ruiz but bring him up for Barnes. Good to see Peters have a huge day. Hopefully he can continue like this and at least up his trade value.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ugly game and they lose ground to the Giants and the D-Backs. Uceta does not belong in the major leagues. Quackenbush had another clean inning striking out 3. His ERA is 0.00. Peters had 4 hits tonight, one a homer and drove in 4. Got his average over the Mendoza line.
Ironic that Nunez and de Geus played on RC Quakes together in 2019 (A+ that year). One gets the L tonight and the other the W. No shade on Nunez.
PATHETIC.
Or Reed. Roberts can’t resist putting his new “toys” in a position to fail and take the team down with them.
I never want to see Uceta in the 8th or 9th ever again!
Same ole Dave Robert’s saves uceta for the ninth.
The dodgers home 1 game out and play like this. Arizona is the worst team in the majors no doubt. Once again our defense and offense suck!!
That prospective late-season lineup looks terrific… assuming that Seager and Belli get back on track, and Betts returns to form.
As for trading Ruiz…
He’s a big chip. OKC manager is raving about his improvement and unmatched bat-to-ball skills. Still only 22 years old. It would be great to see him in LA for a spell. (Come on, Austin. Your elbow is bothering you, isn’t it?)
BTW, I just noticed that catcher Connor Wong, the 3rd guy in the Betts deal, has made to the majors. He was behind Ruiz on the Dodgers depth chart.
I wonder how many guys on the farm are hoping to get traded…
Nunez deserved much better. His change up is very good. Turner looked lazy on that ground ball.
Dodgers Injury Update: Clayton Kershaw’s MRI Only Shows Elbow Inflammation
Dodgers: Alex Vesia Recalled With Jimmy Nelson Headed to the Injured List
I don’t know the source but in Twitter someone reported that Kershaws’ MRI showed NO tear.
why was my post removed?
Tonight’s winning lineup against the snakes:
RF Mookie
1B Max
3B JUstin
CF Cody
C Will
2B Chris
SS Gavin
LF AJ
P David
Padres place Blake Snell and Drew Pomeranz on the 10 day IL.
STB:
In a word: NO!
For all those interested in the exploits of LAD OF prospect, Luis Rodriguez, he is playing at the Arizona Complex League (formerly known as Arizona Rookie League).
33 PA, 28 AB, .214/.333/.643/.976, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 10 K, 4 HR and 7 RBI.
So of the 6 hits, 4 were HRs and with 10 Ks (35.7% K rate), I think he fits right in with the three outcome approach as many LAD…HR, BB, or K. Just being a little facetious. He is only 18 and in his first year in US. He is actually playing quite well at this juncture of his career.
Question:
Assuming we are willing to trade Ruiz for a cost-controlled mid-rotation starting pitcher from a selling team, who even fits that description?
Lotsas Dodger content out there today:
Previously mentioned above Kiley M’s latest mock draft.
FanGraphs Daily Prospect notes:
Keibert Ruiz, C, Los Angeles Dodgers
Level & Affiliate: Triple-A Oklahoma City Age: 22 Org Rank: 2 FV: 50
Line: 4-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI
Notes
Ruiz’ four-hit night wasn’t enough to make up for the fifteen runs scored by the opposing El Paso Chihuahuas, but it certainly bolstered confidence in the young catching prospect’s overall 2021 performance. His approach at the plate continues to impress; Ruiz’s 11% K-rate is the third lowest in all of Triple-A (10th lowest in all of the minor leagues), and he’s only struck out twice in the past twelve games, walking 11 times over that span.
FanGraphs’ Jay Jaffe Chat:
Question: Bryant to Mets makes a lot of sense for NY. Can they do it without moving Alvarez / Mauricio /
Baty / Vientos / Armstrong?
Jay Jaffe: My guess based on the fact that Bryant would be a short-term rental is that you’re not going to see anybody give up a top-50ish prospect, which describes Alvarez and Mauricio, but that you might see a guy in the lower part of a top 100 as a piece in the deal.
Question: Do you think the dodgers are reluctant at all to trade Keibert Ruiz at the deadline given how well he’s played at AAA?
Jay Jaffe: I think they’re holding onto him for the right deal, and given the shape of their rotation right now, this might well be the time to trade him in a blockbuster.
Question: what do you think it would cost the dodgers to get kyle gibson?
Jay Jaffe: Not Keibert Ruiz, whom I’d think if you’re dealing you’re getting somebody with more than 1 1/3 years of club control unless he’s really elite. Most of their top prospects are lower-level guys, and I’m out of my element in trying to parse them on the fly.
Question: Hi Jay, do you think that the Dodgers will be forced to make a move for a pitcher, giving thier rotation and its breakdown?
Jay Jaffe: See upthread. Yes, I think they need to make a move for a starter, but they’ll gain more clarity as to how big they need to go once they get Kershaw’s MRI and see where the Bauer investigation is headed (I’d expect a substantial suspension).
Question: Sorry if this isn’t exactly your lane, but I noticed that the updated prospect board has Ryan Pepiot listed as a MIRP instead of a SP. What’s the reliever risk there? He’s been thoroughly dominating AA this year.
Jay Jaffe: ooh i think i can actually sort of field this one as I grazed by Pepiot in my Dodgers piece. From what I gather, the major concerns about him are his command and whether he can hold his new-found velocity over the course of a longer season/bigger workload. The command, which Eric graded at 35/45, does seem to have improved somewhat. As for the velo, wait and see, as he’s only got 41.2 innings under his belt.
Baseball America’s Mock Draft 6.0 has:
Jud Fabian OF
Baseball america on some recent Int’l Signings:
Names To Know
Rayne Doncon, SS, Dominican Republic: Doncon signed for less money… Doncon is 6-foot-2 with a high waist, long limbs and promising physical upside. In 2020, he got stronger while staying lean, improving both his power and the chance that he could stay at shortstop. He has fast bat speed and good contact skills in games. …
Jorge Carpintero LHP, Venezuela: Carpintero, who trained with Kevin Moscatel, is a 6 foot, 160-pound lefty… He’s not a power arm.. with a mid-to-upper-80s fastball, curveball and changeup.
Carlos Avila, C, Venezuela: Avila is a smart, heady player who is a student of the game with high-level baseball acumen, especially on the defensive side. …
Roger Lasso, OF, Panama: Lasso has a strong, muscular frame with good strike-zone judgment and power. He’s a corner outfielder whose offensive game will drive his value.
I’d be in favor ofthe automated strike zone for TWO reasons. More accurate calls of course, but do away with cheating by catchers(excuse me , Pitch Framing)
“Vargas has hit everywhere he’s been in the minors and the power really has come to the forefront in 2021, making him a potential 30-homer slugger to go with a plus hit tool,” said the Baseball Prospectus report, a piece co-authored by Jeffrey Paternostro, Jarrett Seidler, and Keanan Lamb.
Vargas had a 142 wRC+ with High-A Great Lakes. He’s at a still-above-average 109 wRC+ in Double-A while leading Tulsa in slugging percentage (.500) and OPS (.801), all while being over three years younger than the average for Double-A Central”.
Even with the complete team, without any injuries, in October if they do not avoid the SB the team will not win, it is urgent to correct or at least improve that aspect of the game, they are giving too many advantages, in October playing against teams of a similar level could be the difference.
In October we could see for the first time what the 1 and 2 will be for a long time, in postseason games, Buehler and Julio who already showed that they are two pit bulls in those games, two very brave fighting dogs !!!
Teams that are looking like sellers, D-Backs, Marlins, Rockies, Orioles, Twins, Cubs, Rangers, Pirates…..maybe a couple more. Dodgers supposedly have been checking in on Wade Miley and a couple others.