Random News From Around Dodgertown
- Noah Syndergaard says he feels good physically but that his delivery is still out of whack. It may take him a few starts before he finds his delivery and/or release point (if he ever does). But never fear, Gavin Stone will ride in on his white horse. BTW, he has faced 27 batters and struck out 14.
- The Dodgers assigned Jake Reed, Gavin Stone, and Adam Kolarek to Minor League Camp.
- The Dodgers are saying that Daniel Hudson will return in May or June.
- It was good to see David Peralta go 2-3 with a HR and 3 RBIs yesterday. Barring injury, he’s the Left Fielder (at least against RHP. He is a player who should benefit from banning the shift. I am looking for 20+ HR from David.
- It was also nice to see James Outman get two more hits.
- Jason Heyward just keeps hanging on with a hit here and there. He is going to make the team, but after that, he is going to have to try to stay.
- Almonte looks to be out of sync. He should get a couple more opportunities, but he has not pitched much.
- I am alarmed at how bad CT3 has looked. He has struck out 20 times in 42 ABs! It is not possible for him to be on the team if that continues.
- Miguel Vargas is only hitting .233, but he has an .843 OPS. When allowed to swing the bat, he has eight strikeouts and eight walks in 30 ABs. Miguel Rojas has one strikeout and two walks in 34 ABs. Last year, guys like Gallo, Bellinger, Thompson, and Taylor were black holes in the lineup. Gallo and Bellinger are gone, and Taylor and Thompson will also be gone if they can’t cut down the strikeouts. They will get some slack, but if they are striking out at such an alarming rate, they have to go bye-bye!
- AF will either have to trade for some players, or maybe two of Outman, Pages, Busch and/or DeLuca will be ready.
- Whoever makes the cut for the bullpen is going to have to be very good to keep it because there are going to be some arms at OKC at the ready. Last year’s bullpen was very good. This one will be better.
- Cody Bellinger is hitting .200 with only five strikeouts in 30 ABs. The Cubs’ idea of “fixing” him involves evidently inducing weak contact. It does not appear to be working.
- Joey Gallo is also hitting .200 with 10 Ks and very weak contact.
- Ryan Pepiot is auditioning for the 5th starter spot today… I mean tonight!
Discussion (16)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Looks like Outman makes the team.
Dodgers make another round of cuts
The Dodgers optioned left-hander Justin Bruihl and infielder Yonny Hernandez to Minor League camp on March 22. They also reassigned Patrick Mazeika, David Freitas and Ryan Ward to Minor League camp.
We’re gonna need Mookie, Freeman and Smith to have MVP seasons! The rest of this group looks blah!
Just read that Heyward’s minor league deal comes with an opt out if he isn’t on the major league roster at the beginning of the season. Apparently, he’s the only guy on the Dodgers on a minor league deal with an immediate opt out.
Lame. That’s the best you can do
Sure was a disappointing ending last night but all in all the tournament was very exciting. Also heard it was the most watched single baseball game EVER. Can try arguing with that but would come off lame
They are talking about making it a midseason event like soccer. Every four years. Then everyone is ready to go. I like it because the players are so passionate about it.
9:40 PM ET vs Mariners (away)
SP Ryan Pepiot R
1-0 2.00ERA 9IP 13K
Confirmed Lineup
RF James Outman L
C A. Barnes R
3B Max Muncy L
CF T. Thompson R
SS Miguel Rojas R
2B M. Vargas R
DH S. Duggar L
1B Ryan Ward L
LF B. Zimmer L
Barnes is back from the WBC
The WBC will grow in popularity as more players will want to get into it. What if it were left when it was, but that pitchers would be limited to 3 innings and position players to 6 innings? Up the rosters to 40, and don’t put as much stress on the starters. It becomes more like an All-Star Game.
Well the players were certainly all in with the tournament. Maybe next time the top USA pitchers will play. Ex Dodgers certainly aren’t helping the poor Cubs! Can’t wait to see what AF does with the final roster!
“It doesn’t matter if they were packed with fans. They weren’t AMERICAN fans, so it doesn’t matter. MURICA!!”
This comment just reeked of an entitled American.
The last WBC was ok. Didn’t get that into it. But this week was a blast. I wish more American fans would give it a chance. Something like 95% of Japanese TVs were tuned into the last two games.
Spring training is ok, mostly because we’ve gone many months with no baseball. So even crappy games are welcomed.
But last night! I watched the game at my buddy’s restaurant. It drew a good crowd that was very much into the game. But when Ohtani started warming up and we realized Trout was due to bat third, things simply got crazy. It was definitely a WS/Super Bowl atmosphere. Ohtani v Trout with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth! Hollywood couldn’t have written it better. Nobody was rooting for Japan, but things went nuts when Trout struck out. It almost didn’t matter that the US lost, it was just how it ended!
After a few weeks of watching the low energy, mechanical atmosphere that is spring training; last night was amazing. Got the blood going.
The Trout v Ohtani AB might have single handedly solidified the WBC as a major sporting event. It’s good for the sport. Even if baseball viewership in the US continues to decline, it is growing in popularity around the world. Us old timers might be a little grumpy about change in the sport, but younger fans love this kind of thing. We all fondly reminisce about the great calls Vin made in big games. My son is going to remember Joe Davis making the Ohtani/Trout call like I remember Vin saying “If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!”.
Only 7 games left and nobody wants CF except Outman and nobody wants half of LF either. Can the Dodgers afford to run a guy out there past his prime that’s a platoon guy everyday in CF. My oh my the thought of Thompson or Heyward out there. They aren’t platoon partners that’s for sure. Taylor has to platoon with someone (probably Peralta) and the thought of that. Can anyone come to the rescue and play everyday in CF that has a bat that works? We’ll see.
I’ve spent the morning reviewing stats. WBC and Spring Training stats. WBC is done. Japan deserved their victory. Good for them. USA went down with a whimper. That’s all I have to say about that.
Spring stats can be looked at in a variety of ways. The ones I’m most interested in at this point are those for the several centerfield candidates. Heyward does not impress me. He hasn’t for a few years. Thompson hopefully will come around. It’s my opinion if we were a mid tier organization Outman would be our center fielder. We are not so he is not.
Betts didn’t impress, Smith, in a limited role, hit .200, but had a decent OPS. They have a week to get ready for their roles with the Dodgers. Vargas will need time in grade.
I think Syndegaard will be fine. He will never be Thor-like again, but I think he will eat up innings and have an ERA between 3.5-4.00. I can live with that. We will see several different starting pitchers throughout this year. We’ll see several different relievers as well.
I look for trades and acquisitions happening all year. It could be the busiest year that AF has had in a while.
We’ve been messing around so much with the LF & CF positions I almost expect a clarifying trade at this point.
As others say, Peralta is the starting LF against RHP but that is really the only certainty among the two positions.
Outman, Taylor, Thompson & Heyward are looking like slightly higher-class versions of the failed AAAA types from years past.
Coming to the end of spring training. Injuries are always a worry. Arizona lost Carson Kelly to a broken arm. He will probably be out a couple of months. Dodgers-Guardians was the better of the two games they played yesterday. The Giants game was simply ugly. I gave Thor a pass on that one since the grounds were wet and he had a tough time gripping the baseball. Mookie and Smith should be back by tomorrow’s game.