This is the Way…

it is … at least for a while! Remember what I have always said, “Relief Pitchers are fickle?” Well, it has never been more true than this year.

• Phil Bickford has been bad (and he was not good last year but was great the year before);
• Yency Almonte had a 1.02 ERA last year – this year, he absolutely sucks with a 9.28 ERA;
• Alex Vesia has a 9.30 ERA this year, as compared with a 2.15 ERA last year;

For the past ten years, the Dodgers have always been near the top in Pitching ERA and WHIP. They are currently 22nd in Team ERA at 4.64 and 18th in WHIP. They are #6 in Starter ERA at 4.21, while being #27 in bullpen ERA at 5.32. Michael Grove and his 8.44 ERA is gone, as is Andre Jackson and his 7.94 ERA. I won’t even mention Jake Reed and his 81.00 ERA. It’s time to step it up or go back to OKC. Grove and Jackson have bright futures, but it’s the little things that have killed them this season.

Jimmy Nelson will likely be ready to return next week, Bryan Hudson, 6′ 8″ Lefthander has a 2.53 ERa with a 1.22 WHIP has 21 strikeouts in 10 IP. He is a possibility later in the season – he needs to keep it up… and do better as he has walked 6 in those 10 IP. Gavin Stone, while not a reliever, needs to pitch well for a few more starts before he is considered a possibility.

Julio Uria has been working on a new pitch, and Noah Syndergaard is working on something… we just don’t know what. It sure hurts that Ryan Pepiot “obliqued out”! He’s still a long way away. The best news from last night’s debacle is that Tony Gnsolin threw 65 pitches and did not allow an Earned Run. He will be better next time out. Thor is woefully close to the scrap pile. If he doesn’t turn it around, this will be a black mark on Friedman and Prior, who have been very successful at resurrecting careers lately.

Giving up right about now would be premature… to say nothing of dumb. It is still early, but it’s getting late… early. On a positive note: Shelby Miller seems to be taking over a key role in the bullpen, if not the closer position.

Betts and Frereman are in slumps – that will change. JDM is hurt. Will Smith is in concussion protocol, and Peralta and Heyward are not hitting. Thompson has been riding the pine, while three rookies are playing. Brian Reynolds is not coming, and Dodger fans are restless. Of course, they are. Me? All I say is “This is the Way.” This ship will be righted, and we will live happily ever after, and all the vitriol you may speak means ZIP!

If the Dodgers can win today, they take the series from the Pirates and head home 5-2 from the road trip! Better days are ahead – I just wish they would hurry up and get here!

This is the Way!