Timing is Everything
When I was sticking up for the concept of playing Max Muncy, I never had any idea that he would drive in 5 runs yesterday. I’m glad that he did, but what about today? It’s one game. Yes, it’s progress, but it is a small sampling. I will be vindicated or indicted at the end of…
When I was sticking up for the concept of playing Max Muncy, I never had any idea that he would drive in 5 runs yesterday. I’m glad that he did, but what about today? It’s one game. Yes, it’s progress, but it is a small sampling. I will be vindicated or indicted at the end of the year. As Ted R. said, we will see if I am pulling stuff out of where the sun doesn’t shine. I think you will find I am not because we have all seen this movie before. Max evidently just had some inflammation in his elbow that needed to settle down. The Dodgesr did not tell us if he received an injection, but I suspect he did. Hopefully he can keep building on his success.
Where Max was (in his head), it was probably hard to be optimistic and especially if it hurt when he swinged the bat. He took his OPS from .596 to .626 in one game. He will make it to .800 by the end of the year, if he stays healthy. Now, Will Smith is showing signs of life. How about Cody? Still, with all the offensive struggles, the Dodgers have scored more runs than any other team in baseball. They are #3 in doubles, #1 in bases on balls and #1 in OPS, even with the struggles of Cody, JT, Max, and Company. They are second in OB% which should tell you about the magnitude of the struggles of every team right about now.
The players will adjust and/or Manfred will mess with the baseballs again… bet on it. The only thing they need to do with the baseball (other than make it fly again), is put some built-in tackiness on it so that the pitchers can grip it better. I have seen too many pitchers who have no control with it and someone is going to get killed… with a quickness!
On the pitching side, the Dodgers are #2 in MLB with Kershaw and Heaney coming back shortly. Who stays and who goes? It is really hard to justify David Price in any capacity. Just DFA him already! Yency Almonte and Evan Phillips have been stellar. The Bazooka needs to learn to pitch, but I don’t know if I will live that long! Bruihl or Bickford will be the other odd-man-out. I have been watching Alex Vesia and he is very close to being dominant right about now. He’s just a tick off! The pitching should be good to great and I do not see another starter in the cards.
It seems like all the Dodger fans want David Bednar from the Pirates… and the Dodgers could get him, but they would pay dearly. Before 2021, Bednar was just some shmuck who then turned into David Bednar. Why not get the guy BEFORE he is that guy? The Dodgers probably have that guy in their system. It might be Pepiot or Stone. Mike Grove might be David Bednar in two years. I would not even consider trading for Bednar unless Kimbrel implodes.
Speaking of Kimbrel, Kenley has blown three saves and has a 3.51 ERA. He is 3-0 with a 0.94 WHIP and the league is hitting .174 against him. Sounds like the 2021 version. I’m still trying to figure out how to fix Belli!
Why not try it?
Here’s the question: Would Mookie Buy into hitting #2 or #3? I’d really like to see this lineup now that Gavin Lux is hitting .290 with a .373 OB%. I think Bums suggested it and it might be an interesting idea. How about this:
- Lux 2B
- Betts RF
- Turner SS
- Freeman 1B
- Smith C
- Muncy DH
- Turner 3B
- Bellinger CF
- Taylor LF
There is no perfect lineup and sometimes moving payers gets in their heads, but that is a lot of speed at the top of the lineup… just sayin’…
Dodger’s Minor League Report
- Andrew Heaney started for OKC last night and went 4.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB and 5 K’s. He’s ready!
- Ryan Pepoit went the next 4.2 innings and allowed 5 hits, but just 1ER as he struck out 6 and walked Zero.
- Miguel Vargas was 2-4 with 3 RBI and a 3-run Homer, his 9th.
- Diego Cartaya went 1-4 with 2 RBI on a 2-Run HR. He also scored 2 runs and committed 2 throwing errors.
- Eddys Leonard doubled and was 2-4, playing SS.
- Cole Percival went 2 innings, allowed 2 hits, 0 ER and struck out 4. He got the win and is 2-0 with a 2.82 ERA. He is 23 and it seems like he has been at GL forever. What is he? I am not sure anyone has a clue.
- Jacob Amaya‘s early season progress has seen him regress back to the mean. His BA which once was .350 has slid back to .269. It appears he was who I thought he was: Good field, no hit!
- Brandon Lewis hit his 8th HR for Tylsa but he is still mired at .178.
- Leonel Valera was promoted 5 games ago to Tulsa and is hitting .375 at 3B.
- Yunior Garcia (age 20) was 5-5 with his 4th HR for RC last night.
Miguel Vargas & Devin Mann
This is not Political… it is Sad!
We can’t come together unless we can laugh at some of these jackasses.
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Discussion (54)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Another Meh outing for Buehler. His fastball is getting crushed. Joc burns them again. I hate losing to the Giants
Maybe Ferris needs a day off… heh heh.
If his troubles continue==remember, he was supposed to be the ace we’d turn to in the playoffs, not our No. 5 pitcher–then someone like Frankie Montas looks more and more attractive.
Right now, Montas’ ERA is at 3.06, about a run better than Buhler’s. His WHIP is at 1.00 and the BAA is at .211. Really solid numbers on a crappy team. Plus, Montas was really good last year.
To me he qualifies as “proven” and a playoff-caliber starter.
No, the Dodgers don’t need him, but in addition to Buhler’s struggles, I’m concerned about (presumed) fragility of Kershaw and Heaney. I’m not against seeing what more Pepiot, Grove, Miller, Knack and Stone may have to offer–but I’d package at least one those guys (Grove and/or Knack, maybe) in deal for Montas. If I’m not mistaken, Montas is under contract for next season too, which would increase the asking price.
In other news, Mookie seems to have suddenly cooled off. That won’t last.
Oh, just saw the news about Buhler’s elbow….
Perhaps a blessing in disguise. Hope he rests up and gets well…. and maybe the quest for reinforcements will kick up a gear.
If I understand it correctly, the new contract has tighted rules to how often a team can send players back and forth from the majors to minors.
With Buhler now likely to take break, my first assumption is that Mitch White would be summoned back. Or do the new rules make it more likely that someone else would get the call?
Last season White was on a yo-yo between LA and OKC. I wonder if a guy like him hopes to get traded to a franchise where he’d get more of a chance…. like maybe White + ??? + ??? for Montas
Elbow discomofort !
Well, maybe those of us who said something was wrong with WB medically might have been not so far off.
Fingers crossed he does not need TJ. But more often than not elbow discomfort is the precursor to TJ.
Too bad Bobby Miller has shown no progress at Tulsa after he looked so promising in ST vs the Angels.
Go hit hard yesterday again at Tulsa.
Hopefully WB comes back soon along with Dustin May. Dodgers pitching staff is showing more and more cracks lately.
Could it be Stone times soon ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!