The Solution to the Bullpen Dilution
The talent in the Dodger’s bullpen has gone from being the best team in baseball to literally being the worst team in baseball (or very close to it). What is the solution to the bullpen dilution? I think I have it figured out, and it involves Mark Prior. Before you lose your…
The talent in the Dodger’s bullpen has gone from being the best team in baseball to literally being the worst team in baseball (or very close to it). What is the solution to the bullpen dilution? I think I have it figured out, and it involves Mark Prior. Before you lose your mind and think, I want to fire Mark Prior… I don’t. Let’s establish that first, but when you cannot fire the whole pitching staff, you fire the Pitching Coach. That is not needed right at this moment. What is needed is change.
Before I go on, let me ask a question first: Does it seem odd that many of the pitchers are having bad years… especially in the bullpen?
- Last year, Julio Urias had a 2.16 ER – this year, it is 4.39
- Last year Michael Grove had a 4.60 ERA – this year, it sits at 8.28
- Last year Noah Syndergaard had a 3.94 ERA and came to LA for Mark Prior to “fix him.” His ERA is 7.16
- Phil Bickford had a 4.72 ERA last year – now it is 7.33
- Andre Jackson had a 1.86 ERA last year, and now it is 6.62
- Justin Bruihl went from 3.80 to 4.41
- Alex Vesia was at 2.15 last year -this year, he is helpless at 7.13
- Yency Almonte had a 1.02 ERA in 2022 and now is horrid at 6.52
Gonsolin, Kershaw, Miller & Miller, May, and even Graterol have different stuff and seem unaffected. Some are blaming Andrew Friedman, which is moronic. Who could anticipate that two-thirds of the Dodgers pitchers would regress? No one, that’s who? But things do not happen in a vacuum. There is “cause and effect.” Mark Prior is the “cause.” He has a plan for the pitchers. He has many of them start with a high fastball or a low slider; then, he likes to change the eye level of the batter. Some pitchers throw the “sweeper” to do that. The fact is that it usually involves throwing the pitches in certain areas.
I think the opposition has developed a highly predictive algorithm of the way each Dodger pitcher throws. The Dodgers are not the only team with a large analytics department. Every team does it, and these guys are smart! In 1988, Kirk Gibson knew that Dodger Scout Mel Didier told the team that EVERY TIME Dennis Eckersley had a 3-2 count on a LH batter, he threw a backdoor slider, and Gibby was ready for it.
If MLB hitters know what and even where a pitch will be, they can hit it probably over half of the time. That elevates a .250 hitter to a .500 hitter, and .500 hitters destroy a pitching staff! I believe that is what is happening to the Dodgers. It’s time for Mark Prior to throw the other team a curve – not literally! Baseball is a great game of adjustments. The opposition has adjusted – now it’s time for Mark Prior and Company to re-adjust. If that seems too simplistic, remember that sometimes the simplest methods work the best.
The entire pitching staff did not simply “lose it” this year. The competition just has a better idea of what is coming, and they are waiting for that. Change your pitching sequence, and you will change your results, Mark Prior. If it works, I’ll tell you where to send the checks! 😉
This needs to be done immediately… if not sooner!
Dodger News and Notes
- To say that Emmet Sheehan was good last night would be like saying that the Queen Mary was a boat. He did not get a ton of “swing and miss,” and luck was involved, but still… 6 hitless innings? He will stick around for another start or three.
- James Outman is showing signs of adjusting – he is not swinging out of his shoes at every pitch. I like the progress.
- OTOH, Miguel Vargas needs to sit a couple of games and clear his head. It will do no good for Vargas out Outman to go back to OKC at this moment!
- Gavin Stone got beaten like a rented mule last night – 3.1 IP/11 H/10 ER/2 BB/8 K – How on earth can you even do that?
- Andre Jackson followed up with 4.2 IP/5 H/4 ER/1 BB/8 K
- Zack Burdi struck out 2 in his 1 IP.
- Nick Frasso threw 4 IP at Tulsa with 0 Runs and 3 K’s
- Rooney and Leasure looked good.
- It is always darkest, just before dawn.
- Then there was this, and Jon Miller called it correctly:
Unfortuneatly, this is what Dodger Baseball is about
This is a huge double standard, and if you think it is not a part of Dodger Baseball, you would be wrong… and devoid of common sense! The Dodgers just ignored (selectively) their own code of conduct and caved to the Woke Mob! Shamefully! I do not ignore this bullshit! I call like I see it! It should not be lost on anyone that the Dodgers honored the anti-Catholic drag ‘nuns’ more than an hour before the first pitch inside a nearly empty stadium. They are a bunch of Chickenshit Cowards!
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Discussion (147)
Disagree, not disagreeable
It never crossed my mind in 55 years of loyalty the day would come I’d be ashamed to be a dodger fan as I was yesterday
Friday scores
Salt Lake 14, Oklahoma City 2
Tulsa 3, Springfield 0
Wisconsin 8, Great Lakes 7 (10)
Rancho Cucamonga 2, San Jose 1
Saturday schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Kendall Williams) vs. Wisconsin (Tyler Woessner)
4:35 p.m.: Tulsa (Kyle Hurt) at Springfield (Edgar Escobar)
5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Landon Knack) vs. Salt Lake (John Swanda)
6:00 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Peter Heubeck) at San Jose (Nomar Medina)
Well I live 2000 miles away now amongst Asstro fans and up till yesterday wore my dodger gear proudly always defending the Dodgers and calling them out as cheater’s. I can’t defend the wrong and stupidity of honoring a hate group as it’s been rubbed in my face quite a bit. Not only did I put my dodger gear away probably for good, it’s hurts my heart
Okay, the relievers, as a group, are a disaster. But that tends to change from season to season. Is it pitch selection? Possibly. Maybe part of it is execution, missing location. Maybe it’s a little of both. But one way or the other the bullpen is a total mess.
It was certainly a mess both inside and outside the stadium. Thousands of protesters of all Faith’s.
The Dodgers should offer a public apology. Why would you want to alienate your fan base? No one protested previous pride events. This one was different because of the so-called Nun’s trying to offend people by making a mockery out of Christianity.
Sorry, but their act is disgusting.
Even Clayton Kershaw spoke out. The face of the Dodgers. How totally embarrassing.
It was an (expletive deletive) show.
No one should have to put up with this crap at a baseball game
That’s one of the reasons to go to baseball games is to get away from this nonsense.
Whoever thought the Nuns were a good idea should be fired.
Oh and you hear this often, but the Nuns of Perpetual use their stunts to raise money to help people.
I’m guessing Justin Turner raised more money to help people in LA than these painted faces ever will. I miss Turner.
But Emmett Sheehan was fun to watch. Beyond impressive debut.
Theres only five players to keep right now I would say Freeman Betts Smith JD Martinez and Kershaw every one else trade them. And get players that are better. Have you watched a Diamondbacks game there cheering hustling and I don’t know a dam player but they play together and hard. And it could be the number one batter one nite hitting a homee or the number nine batter. Baseball is a game that you when when your whole team plays together. And right now the Dodgers aren’t playing well. Shoot they lost two games to the Whitesoxs and now the Giants. What happens when they play the good teams well they get up for those games. But not for the bad teams. And it’s been that way for years just play okay ball. That comes all on the manager how a team plays just okay not great. Right now the manager of the year is the guy in Arizona not Roberts or Melvin or the Mets manager but the Diamondbacks manager. Because the team is young and they built it over the years an splayed together. The Dodgers okay like a company softball team great one nite then suck the other three nites because it’s all about the manager. Look at him during the games Roberts looks like he is sleeping in there. Then watch a Rangers game with Bochy and he is in to the game that’s why Bochy win close games. And his teams get in to the playoffs. Right now the Rays Diamondbacks Braves Orioles Brewers Rangers are all playing better then the Dodgers.
Yeah, let’s start by trading Bobby Miller and Sheehan.
Or we could trade Barnes, Rojas, Vesia and Scott for Ohtani.
Bradley, what do you expect to get back for the guys who are playing so badly that we don’t want them on our team?
Doc is far from the best manager in MLB but he’s not responsible for all the injuries we’ve had and the players who aren’t performing up to their capabilities.
Scott has been dfa’d and replaced on the roster by Bryan Hudson.
Infielder Yonny Hernandez is in the clubhouse but may only be here in case Taylor needs to go to the IL, so possibly taxi squad for now.
9:10 PM ET
Giants (37-32)
Dodgers (39-31)
SP Alex Wood L
1-1 4.80 ERA
SP Bobby Miller R
3-0 .78 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
DH Will Smith R
LF J. Martinez R
CF Jonny DeLuca R
2B M. Vargas R
SS Miguel Rojas R
3B M. Busch L
C A. Barnes R
Clear-day
0% rain
71° Wind 9 mph Out
Wood coming off of the IL to start. Dodgers called up Bryan Hudson and DFA”D Scott. Hudson is a lefty.
Per Dave Roberts, Peralta is feeling better and could be used as a PH tonight but will probably not play the outfield for a few days, Taylor is getting a cortisone shot, and they will wait before making an IL decision. Urias threw a bullpen and threw 40 pitches. He will need at least to throw to hitters before a re-hab assignment.
Tonites lineup the first five batters yeah the last four batters yawn that’s when you go and make dinner because it will go like this.,strikeout or popup to the infield the 6,7,,8,9, batters tonite. Geezzzzzz. Yet it’s Dodgers vs Giants so you watch it and you root for the guys in Blue. And wonder why did we let Pederson go just being in the clubhouse him an kiki made games fun.
David Vassegh
@THEREAL_DV
Chris Taylor received a cortisone injection to his right knee. Usually players are unable to play for at least 48 hours after injection. #Dodgers
Urías throwing his second bullpen session of this home stand. Dave Roberts one of the observers. #Dodgers
J.D. Martinez starting in LF for the first time in a regular season game since 2021. #Dodgers
David Peralta just went thru outfield drills and left hamstring appears to be ok. #Dodgers
Loving this season. Loving watching the Rookies play.
I’d be happy to give all these prospects a go and get some experience. Sheehan was great like all our debutants have been.
What a great job the player developing team do.
I would much rather watch a team
of homegrown players over the next few years, than a team of mercenaries just collecting a paycheque.
For all the hard to discern stuff in Bradley’s post, I really like this basic tenet:
Trade players for players who are better than those you trade.
Some guy on twitter posted a video of him burning his Dodger cap and jersey. I have 8 and about 12 caps, I am not burning any of them. Way to expensive. Some of those caps are 45 bucks each. Especially the ones for Memorial day, or to honor Vets. 4th of July. Crazy money. And my most expensive jersey is worth 300. Nope, not burning shit.
Gay day is over, I wish all this sisters of total lunacy shit would just go away.
The Dodgers need the young bats to produce this season if they’re to be a legit contender. And there’s no better time to start than this game ..right NOW.
Somebody please teach Austin Barnes to bunt!
Busch had 2 impressive ab’s against tough-on-lefties Woods.
You could see Miller got flustered. I mean it was OBVIOUS he needed to regain focus, why didn’t they go out and calm him down??? Nope. Gives up a homer.
I like the youth movement but four rookies in the starting line-up is a recipe for a disaster, or just another L in the loss column.
Been saying it since the Winter Meetings but this is an organization wide strategy to get young and see if player development has done a good job. Sure they signed JD and Syndergaard as FAs but really not much else unless you consider a trade for Rojas to be a big move.
Hindsight is 20/20 but letting Seager go, a player drafted
and developed is still a head scratcher for me. Not offering Bellinger salary arbitration I get but Seager should have never been allowed to leave.
Team looks uninspired,
perhaps too young in too many positions.
Too early to think about selling at the trade deadline? AF’s plan to get under the luxury tax!
“This is the best of all possible worlds…” – Dr. Pangloss
All is well. The Dodgers are the best team in baseball after all.
Enough to me of Vesia and Robert’s! Wake me up next April!
The Dodgers with 16 losses in their last 27 games. And now they’re in free-fall.
There is more plaguing this team than just the injury-bug, …MUCH more.
I miss Orel.