This Team is Built for the Playoffs

Agree with AC and Hawkeye. I can’t trust that a bunch of guys coming off the DL (especially the 21 year old Urias, who hasn’t pitched in over a year) can be counted on down the stretch and into the playoffs. Maybe some of them, but not all. If they exceed expectations, wonderful. But I prefer to buy some insurance.

They may be finding the price tag so high on the relief pitchers who make sense that the plan is to grab Archer and put Wood and Maeda in the pen.

I GOOD SET UP MAN IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WS OR NOT FOR DODGERS. THATS THE IMPORTANT OF THIS RELIEVER PICHER

I am with Hawkeye. I do not share Mark’s enthusiasm for Urias to be able to come back and pitch in a high leverage role. If it is not high leverage, why take out Ferguson who has been the best multiple inning reliever the Dodgers have. In 7 relief appearances he has 18.0 IP, allowing 2 earned runs (1.00 ERA), 12 hits, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 24 K, and 1 HR allowed. Urias has a higher ceiling, but right now I trust Ferguson more as a reliever than a pitcher who has not pitched in more than a year after a significant shoulder surgery.

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We know that one of the relievers Doc trusts is Baez. If FAZ does not take away that choice, Doc is going to bring him in a high leverage situation and hope he is right. With a rotator cuff sprain, you really expect Santana to be effective in a pennant race? With all of 3.1 not very effective IP at the MLB level? You are ready to say that Fields and Cingrani will stay healthy?

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Buehler and Ryu cannot relieve, leaving Kershaw, Hill, Buehler, and Ryu as the post season pitchers. Yes that would move Maeda, Wood, and Stripling to the pen. When was the last time Ryu has stayed healthy over an extended period of time? Same goes for Buehler who is still on an innings watch.

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Irrespective of last night’s game, when was the last time Kershaw has been dominant over an extended period of time? When was the last time (first time) Kersh has been dominant over an entire post season?

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Other than Ferguson (and Jansen) here are the metrics for the current bullpen:

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Alexander – 47.0 IP, 3.26 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 1.123 WHIP

Hudson – 38.2 IP, 4.42 ERA, 4.40 FIP, 1.397 WHIP

Goeddel – 24.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 4.12 FIP, 1.333 WHIP

Chargois – 23.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 3.85 FIP, 1.329 WHIP

Baez – 32.2 IP, 3.31 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 1.500 WHIP

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Other than Goeddel, the FIP scores indicate that the ERA is appropriate. Goeddel’s FIP shows that his ERA is not sustainable. Not one ERA under 3.00, and only 1 WHIP under 1.329.

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Okay maybe Barraclough will be too costly. How about:

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Jared Hughes – 53.2 IP, 1.51 ERA, 3.14 FIP, 1.137 WHIP

David Hernandez – 39.1 IP, 1.83 ERA, 3.09 FIP, 0.932 WHIP

Jose Leclerc – 36.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 2.34 FIP, 1.036 WHIP

Keone Kela – 35.2 IP, 3.28 ERA, 2.85 FIP, 1.093 WHIP

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Everyone of them has a better FIP and WHIP than the 5 Dodger relievers.

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FAZ can hide their collective heads in the sand and hope that the pitchers will stay healthy, or they can be proactive and go out and get pitching before the championship window begins to close. If they get a couple of better pitchers and everyone else comes back and stays healthy, then there will be some tough choices to make. But that is why they make the big bucks.

I wonder if the Nationals would allow Harper to talk to the Dodgers about a contract extension before a trade were made.

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This would blow our minds if Manny and Bryce agreed to contract extensions with the Dodgers. Would they take 9 year $300M contracts with opt out clauses at age 30? Knee jerk reaction would be “hell no”. But, jerks aside, would the Dodgers do that? Who would go to the Nationals assuming Bryce agreed to extend? I assume the Dodgers would be willing to offer more if true.

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I would start with Puig and Verdugo and Stripling. The Nationals don’t have to know that Bryce agreed to extend. Old grumpy people need not reply.

I too think we’re better built for the playoffs if we use all of our arms correctly. However, my biggest fear is the lack of an ace. Yeah Kersh looked good yesterday, but I’ve seen October Kersh too many times to expect anything different this October. Anyone expecting otherwise: see Charlie Brown trying to kick the football while Lucy holds it.

If we go far this October, it will have to because our bullpen is ready to go 4-5ip almost every game, and our offense with Manny and a healthy JT carry us.

Verdugo was told last night that he was going down. I thought I posted that.

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Familia was given away for 2 non-prospects and $1 million in international spending money.

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Urias could be a weapon or he could look like a 21 year old guy who hasn’t pitched in a year because he had shoulder surgery. Ryu could look like he did early in the season or like someone who is in spring training because he hasn’t pitched forever or somewhere in between. He’s notoriously bad against Colorado.

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I get the feeling that Stripling is going revert to a bit closer to the pitcher he’s been. His HRs/9 is extremely high and he may be running out of gas.

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If the Dodgers strengthen their pen with Maeda and Wood then I don’t know who’s starting in the playoffs other than Kershaw and Hill

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They must have JT clicking down the stretch.

I think they activated Puig today to do just that. He’s trade bait.

I read somewhere yesterday that Verdugo will be sent out to make room for Puig. No one is taking Forsythe off our hands so they should just peel the band-aid off and DFA him. Call me crazy but I like our BP pieces but a strong #2 SP would like nice in a playoff series. I don’t know why but Kershaw, Hill, Maeda, Buehler kind of make me feel uneasy about a playoff series. I would feel a lot better with Kershaw, deGrom, Hill, Buehler and Maeda in the BP.

I would not at all be surprised to read next week that Puig is traded for us to acquire pitching (relief or starting).

No Stripling on your playoff roster, Mark?