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
Can’t blame Roberts for this one! Look, we all can admit he’s not a tactical genius,. The 2020 World Series was by far his best managing job. We’re running out 4 major league hitters at the top of the lineup, and prospects and reclamation players 5-9. Love my dodgers , but so tired of platoons every damn game! Even if we had a constant lineup with good players, we won’t pay em and let them walk away. Bobby Miller didn’t look sharp from the start last night, but why let him continue after it was 5-0? Who cares if the bullpen’s taxed! Wouldn’t you rather save millers arm than 80% of that bullpen? There’s still plenty of time to win this division. But Friedman needs to be proactive right now! It’s going to be tough to pass 3 teams ahead of you in the standings! Aren’t we all tired of .200 hitters and pitchers with an earned run average north of6? Friedman will probably let Martinez walk next year and put muncy. At Dh. I would do just the opposite. All maxs home runs look nice, but that .190 and his godawful defense needs a new home! I know the state tax issue, but wouldn’t Corey seager look so good at shortstop right about now?
Well at least we can’t blame Robert’s and the bullpen for this loss
I don’t mean to be overly religious but after the team I have followed for over sixty years picks demonic nuns to entertain their fans and kids, PAYBACK IS A BITCH! No more political stuff but you have to consider there is some kind of payback going on. I feel bad for the players, it was not their choice.
Bobby Miller lost his composure after that soft hit that broke the scoreless tie. He is still leaning how to overcome situations like that . The pitch to Wade was the result of not being able to keep his concentration up and emotions down. He will learn from it.
Embarassing loss nonetheless. Lets see how the team responds. Will they roll over on Sunday and get swept by their archrivals at home or will they rebound ?
Veterans have to step up and take control. Betts, Freeman, JD. And Roberts too.
As things look at the moment I do not see this team making the playoffs this year. Too many holes, either injuries or players not producing . Vargas has been a big disappointment so far. Sooner or later they have to decide on Barnes.
He is a good teammate and all but hitting at .100 clip is hurting the team. He is an automatic out and rally killer.
Dodgers now sligthly above .500 which is what I expected so I can not say I am surprised.
If this continues they should think about being sellers come the trade deadline. Muncy. JDM. Julio. CT3. Some contenders might be very interested in those players, offering some nice prospects.
Clear some more payroll and gear up for 2024. Which might have been the plan anyway.
On a bright note: Josue dePaula doing better and better at RC. Another 2 hit game . Average still only at .234 but on a nice roll after a very slow start. IMHO the best OF prospect the Dodgers have had since Mondesi.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worst home shutout loss in 125 years. How do lose 15-0 to Alex Wood and the Giants? Dodgers hit a new low this year. No one on the Giants team would hit in the top 5 of the Dodgers lineup. Their best hitter was allowed to walk away from the Dodgers for $7 million a year. The pitcher that shut out the Dodgers tonight was let go by the Dodgers and signed for $3 million by the Giants in 2021. The last two losses to the arch rival Giants illustrate the lack of focus and preparedness of the Dodger team. The Giants are only 1/2 game behind Dodgers and look like the superior team. The Giants seemed to tee off on off speed pitches against Miller the third time through the order.
Maybe Giants picked up something on Miller. But Miller has been great in the MLB so far.
Interesting that Roberts pulled Sheehan after 89 pitches in a no hit effort, but left Miller out there for 92 pitches behind 5-0.
Maybe the Karma from honoring the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is real.
Worst drubbing by the Giants in years. And it won’t get easier tomorrow with Webb pitching. They won’t win anything until Freddie starts to hit again. This has to be his worst homestand ever so far.
Well that’s what you get when you start a bunch of AAA players in a lineup against veterans you get a blowout. Things just keep getting worse and it’s like okay keep it close until the regulars come back. And then see what happens. If San Diego heats up we could be in trouble they have gone threw injury as well as not hitting the ball either. Right now Arizona looks like the team to beat and name a player on that team except Carroll or Walker.
Headline: DODGER DISARRAY DISASTER- Amateur Hour Continues in 15-0 Drubbing by Giants.
OUCH
Even Kapler and his Mini-Me had looks like, OK , enough already.
In the booth. AND on the mound.
I miss Orel.
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.
Enough to me of Vesia and Robert’s! Wake me up next April!
“This is the best of all possible worlds…” – Dr. Pangloss
All is well. The Dodgers are the best team in baseball after all.
Too early to think about selling at the trade deadline? AF’s plan to get under the luxury tax!
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.
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.
Busch had 2 impressive ab’s against tough-on-lefties Woods.
Somebody please teach Austin Barnes to bunt!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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