Too Little, Too Late?

Can the Dodgers Win The World Series?

Well, stranger things have happened but to me it seems highly unlikely.  In fact, I think it’s close to impossible. So, do the Dodgers just play as hard as they can and go as far as they can? That sounds easy, but when your stated goal is World Series or Bust before the season, it might be pretty hard to really get yourself prepared to play at a high level every day… especially if you are human! If you are a machine, it should be no problem. That attitude may give us some insight into what is wrong with the Dodgers.

Justin Turner has not played this season and Corey Seager barely played and while he played, mostly he did not play well. I’m sure his teammates knew his TJ Surgery was a big possibility.  People who criticize FAZ for not having the “depth” to replace their two best players are just delusional.  What kind of depth can you replace either one with?  As AC pointed out, losing your #2 and #3 hitter is a big blow, in and of itself… to say nothing of what that absence does to the guys in front and behind them. Do you think CT3 and Belly would see better pitches with JT and Corey around them?  I’m sure of it.

I’ll go a step further: If Kershaw, Ryu and Hill had not spent time on the DL and the offense was functioning at a high level, the bullpen may not have been fully exposed.  Here’s what I can say for a certainty:  The Dodgers will not lose on Monday.  I guarantee it! Barring any last-minute setbacks, it appears that Justin Turner and Logan Forsythe will be back.  This is likely Forsythe’s last, best chance to get a decent deal as a free agent… if he plays like his hair is on fire.

Getting Forsythe and Turner back on Tuesday could not be a moment too soon for the floundering Dodgers. It could be “too little, too late” or it could be the charge of the cavalry! I think it’s important to get back to as normal as possible, so I would move CT3 back to leadoff and have JT hit in Corey’s old spot. Here’s how I see the rest of the lineup:

1. Taylor  SS
2. Turner  3B
3. Kemp  LF
4. Bellinger  1B
5. Grandal  C
6. Pederson/Hernandez  CF
7. Forsythe/Utley  2B
8. Puig RF

It may not be over.  This could be the jolt this team needs! Adding Turner back to the lineup could be huge – he may not even hit in the beginning, but he will make everyone else better.  He makes them better when he is in the dugout and especially when he is in the lineup.  I’d say he is the team leader and when he is there, I think Matt Kemp will be one as well.  BTW, Turner and Forsythe were a combined 0-6 on Sunday.

Dodger Notes

• The Cody Bellinger Bunting Debacle was over with Dave Roberts when Cody came into his office after the game, said he was wrong and apologized.  That was the right move by Doc.  Close the issue.  Turn the page.  He’s a kid, but a damn good one!
• Where would the Dodgers be without Yasmani Grandal?  He is #1 or #2 on the team in BA, HR, 2B, 3B, RBI, OPS and Slugging… and he has only 2 PB’s.  All the Yasmani Bashers:  You got nothing! It’s time to zip it!  I told you so!
• It appears that Kenley Jansen is now himself again.  If he anchors the backend, it’s a little easier to fill in the middle. Alexander looks to be coming around but there’s still work to be done.
• I wonder if the Dodgers will dip into the Drillers and take Santana and/or Ferguson… if only for the pen.
• When do they try Ariel Hernandez?
• When do they convert Yadier Alvarez to a reliever?

I Have To Address This

It has been brought up repeatedly recently about the contracts FAZ signed with Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir and Rich Hill as somwhow being an indictment of how bad FAZ is.  I am going to submit to that if you think that, you may not be dumb, but you have difficulty when it come to thinking.

Between Anderson, B-Mac, Kaz and McCarthy, the Dodgers paid them a combined $172 million… and Hill has one more year to run on his deal.  For that $172 million, the Dodgers got 48 wins.  The D-Bag paid Zack Greinke $206 million and they have 3 more years to run, but so far, they have gotten 32 wins.  I’ll bet the D-Bags would go back and trade Greinke for the four the Dodgers signed in a heartbeat as Greinke ain’t Greinke anymore.  The Red Sox paid David Price $200 million and he has 26 win in 3 years and his arm is holding on by a string.

I don’t consider Hill, Kaz, B-Mac or BA great signings, but they didn’t have to be.  They were just “placeholders” and what you think is an indictment of FAZ really provesd how good they have been to avoid those bad deals.  Remember, nearly 70% of Free Agent deals suck.  Those may suck as well… but they suck less!

 

MINOR LEAGUE UPDATE by Always Compete

OKC – 4-3 Loss Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Brewers)

Guillermo Moscoso was the starting pitcher and completed 6 innings. He allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, 1 walk, and struck out 5. Yimi Garcia pitched the final two innings and allowed 1 run on a HR which proved to be the game winner.  Offensively 8 individual hitters each had one hit.  Rocky Gale (double), Alex Verdugo (double), and Travis Taijeron (triple) were the three XBH.  Both Rocky Gale and Kyle Garlick had 2-out RBI’s.  OKC was 1-7 with RISP.

 

OKC still leads the PCL American North Division by 1.5 games with a PCL best record of 24-11. Just in case anyone missed it, on Friday, Justin DeFratus pitched a 4 hit complete game shutout against the Memphis Redbirds.  He issued 0 walks and had 3 strikeouts on 89 total pitches.

 

Tulsa – 11-8 Loss NW Arkansas Naturals (Royals)

Devin Smeltzer started and just got spanked. He went 3.1 innings allowing 10 runs on 12 hits, 0 walks, and totaled 3 strikeouts.  He gave up 3 HR’s in those 12 hits, including 2 by former Dodger farm hand  Erick Mejia.  Michael Johnson and recently acquired 27 year old LHRP Chad Girodo restored order in their 4.2 innings of work.

 

Offensively, the Drillers got 12 hits, led by LF Zach Reks (3-4 with a double), and 2B Angelo Mora (3-4 with 2^nd HR).  1B Peter O’Brien slugged his 4^th HR for the Drillers.  The Drillers (18-17) find themselves tied for 2^nd place in the Texas League North 1.0 game behind the Springfield Cardinals.

 

RC – 3-2 Win over Visalia Rawhide (DBacks)

After surrendering a 1-0 lead in the 8^th, Logan Landon hit a game winning walk off 2 run HR in the 9^th for the Quakes win.  Christian Santana led off the inning with a single before Landon’s dramatics.  Andrew Sopko started and went 7.0 shutout IP (88 pitches).  He allowed 5 hits, 2 walks, and registered 5 strikeouts.  Logan Salow came out in the 8^th and faced 4 batters, each getting a hit, with 2 of them scoring.  Sven Schuller and Parker Curry finished for the Quakes with Parker Curry getting his 4^th win.

 

The Quakes totaled 8 hits with Christian Santana (double), Logan Landon, and Cody Thomas (triple) each with 2. Gavin Lux and Connor Wong had the other two.  Leadoff hitter Lux also had 2 walks getting on base 3 out of 4 PA.  He is now hitting .344/.449/.451/.900.  He is #3 in the Cal League in OBP and #8 in OPS.  He also has 17 RBI’s from the leadoff spot.  The Quakes now have 3 out of the top 10 RBI’s in the Cal League…#2 Christian Santana (28), #6 Rylan Bannon (25), and #10 Connor Wong (23).  They also have 2 tied for 2^nd in the Cal League HR with 9; Rylan Bannon and Connor Wong.

 

The sellout crowd came to see ML players Logan Forsythe and Justin Turner, who both went hitless.

 

In not so surprising news, Jordan Sheffield was placed on the 7 Day DL with right forearm tightness. It is never good when you hear forearm tightness for a pitcher.

 

Starting Pitchers

OKC – Manny Banuelos

Tulsa – TBD

RC – Dustin May

GL – TBD