Two things really irk me in baseball. Strikeouts and walks. So far this season, Dodger pitchers have allowed 198 free passes. They and the Seattle Mariners are the only teams below 200. I am not sure how many of those walks ended up scoring, there are no stats on-line for that. Free runners cannot be a good thing for a pitcher. Sasaki leads the Dodgers with 24 free passes in 62.1 innings. His K rate is just below 3-1. Ohtani is second on the team with 21 in 67.2 innings pitched.
Right now, at AAA OKC, walks are definitely a problem. In 600 innings, OKC hurlers have issued 355 base on balls. They have struck out 597 batters. 2-1 is not a great K ratio. The team ERA is 4.81. Tulsa 4.94 ERA, 346 walks in 557 innings. The pitchers at Great Lakes have a 4.44 ERA, which is the best in the league, 324 walks and 687 Ks in 518.1 innings. At the lowest level, Ontario’s staff has a 6.31 ERA. Pitchers there have walked 383 hitters in 556.1 innings. Their strikeout total is pretty good at 671.
So, it seems to be not only a system wide issue, but a major issue at all levels. Control has always been an issue for some, even Cy Young winners like Snell. When he won the award in 23, he was walking an average of 3 hitters per game. His K rate was just a little better than 2-1. You look at Kershaw in his Cy Young seasons; he struck out batters at almost a 5-1 rate.
Koufax once loaded the bases on walks. This was the spring in which he became a pitcher. Norm Sherry went out and told him to quit trying to throw the ball past every hitter. Sandy proceeded to strike out the side and get out of the jam. Kershaw’s career numbers are a little above 3-1. Koufax was close to 4-1. Nothing irks me more than a 4-pitch walk.
Granted, not every pitcher has the skills of Kershaw, or Koufax. Last night in the second inning of the Rays-Dodgers game, Lauer walked Mullins on 5 pitches. Only one of those pitches was even close to the strike zone. Tell me why he was nibbling when pitching to a guy hitting .200. In and of itself, the walk did not hurt Lauer. But it put Slater in scoring position where two excellent bunts got the run across and gave the Rays their 3-0 lead.
Sasaki when he first started pitching for the Dodgers was plagued by walks. He has cut those in half this year. It is hard to believe, but Roki has not pitched 100 regular season innings yet. He is at 98.2. I can look back and see several pitchers from the past who had trouble getting the ball over the plate. Walks can and will cost you games.
I remember how Stan Williams in the 62 playoffs with the Giants walked 2 hitters in that critical 9th inning of game 3. LA walked 6 batters that game. 3 of them came home to score. Ed Roebuck got the loss, but Williams drove the nail into the coffin.
The Dodgers have become miracle workers of sorts finding diamonds in the rough and turning them into solid pitchers. If ever they can find a way to give pitchers the mentality to attack the zone and not nibble at the corners so much, maybe the bane that is the base on balls can be reduced to a minor nuisance.
Sacramento River Cats (Giants) 9 – OKC Comets 6
Well, those who have been pining for RHSP River Ryan, may have to wait a bit longer. This was perhaps his worst start of his career. He managed to finish 4.0 innings, allowing 8 runs on 10 hits (including a HR), 1 BB, and 3 K.
In the 2nd inning, Ryan allowed a leadoff triple, run scoring ground out, and a solo HR for a 2-0 lead.
OKC got a 2-out double from C Eliézer Alfonzo (9) who scored on SS Hyeseong Kim’s triple (1).
The River Cats doubled the score on OKC again in the 3rd. Sacramento got a double, single, and double for 2 runs. While OKC got a solo HR (10) from RF Zach Ehrhard. Sacramento had a 4-2 lead after 3.
The flood gates opened in the 5th. The River Cats opened with 3 straight singles with one run coming in. Next batter BB to load the bases. Ryan got a K before being lifted for RHRP Chayce McDermott. The first batter McDermott faced, slugged a grand slam. All three inherited runners scored and all were charged to Ryan.
OKC tried to climb back into it in the 7th. Alfonzo roped his 2nd double (10) of the game to open the inning. With one out, 2B Austin Gauthier drew a The torrid hitting Ehrhard slugged a 3-run HR (11) for his 2nd HR of the game, and OKC closed the gap to 9-6. But that is as close as it would get.
Three RHRP pitched the final three innings without allowing a run, but all three had traffic jams.
- Paul Gervase – 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 BB, 1 K
- Wyatt Mills – 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 BB, 1 K
- Carlos Duran – 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 2 K
- Zach Ehrhard – 2-5, 2 runs, 4 RBI, 2 HR (11)
- Eliézer Alfonzo – 3-4, 2 runs, 3 doubles (11)
- Noah Miller – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (8)
- Hyeseong Kim – 1-4, 1 RBI, triple (1)
- Ryan Fitzgerald – 1-3, 1 BB, double (17)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KC) 7 – Tulsa Drillers 2
RHSP Patrick Copen continued his struggles post April. He was Texas League Pitcher of the Month of April, and has not pitched well since.
In the first, NWA had a HBP and two singles for one run. With runners on 1st and 3rd, a SF gave the Naturals a 2-0 lead.
Tulsa tied it up in the 3rd. LF Josue De Paula still has his slug pointing up hitting his 12th HR. CF Mike Sirota singled, moved to 2nd on a ground out, and scored with 2 WP.
NWA opened it up in the 4th. A 1-out single, SB, and single broke the tie. Copen walked the next two batters to load the bases. A SF scored another. After a WP, Copen allowed a 2-run single for a 6-2 lead. With 2 outs in the 4th, Copen was lifted for LHRP Christian Suarez who got the final out of the inning.
RHRP Carson Hobbs pitched 2 scoreless innings. RHRP Cam Day was not as fortunate. He allowed a single, SB, WP, and SF for the 7th run.
Tulsa put runners on in each of the innings after they scored, except for the 8th, but could not push anyone across.
- Mike Sirota – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 run, double (9)
- Frank Rodriguez – 2-4, double (2)
- Josue De Paula – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (12)
- Joe Vetrano – 1-4, double (8)
Lake County Captains (Cleveland) 7 – Great Lakes 3 – Game 1, 7 Innings
This was the third game I was hoping for a strong SP, but LHSP Zach Root had his worst game of the year. Root lasted 4.0 IP, allowing 7 runs (5 earned), 10 hits, 1 BB, 2 K. He was around the plate, but the swing and miss was definitely missing today.
In the 1st inning, the leadoff hitter singled, stole 2nd, moved to 3rd on a ground out, and scored on another single.
In the 4th, a BB, single, and single loaded the bases. An E-4 scored 2. A sac bunt moved runners to 2nd and 3rd. 2 run scoring singles pushed the score to 5-0.
Great Lakes got one back in the bottom of the 2nd after 2 BB, WP, and SF.
Root went back out in the 5th. 2 leadoff doubles scored 1, and ended Root’s day. LHRP Matt Lanzendorfer replaced Root. He struck out the first batter but the runner reached on a PB. After a FC and strikeout, Lanzendorfer allowed a run scoring single.
GL got back on the board in the 6th. SS Emil Morales singled. RF Jose Meza drew a BB. C Victor Rodrigues reached on a fielding error with Morales scoring and Meza to 2nd. DH Samuel Munoz walked to load the bases. 3B Jose Izarra hit a SF making the score 7-3.
LF Chuck Davalan went 3-4 was the only Loons batter with more than 1 hit. One of the hits was his 15th double. 1B Cameron Decker doubled (4).
Great Lakes vs Lake County Captains (Cleveland) 2nd Game Postponed. DH on Thursday.
Ontario Tower Buzzers 8 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAA) 5
RHSP Cam Leiter allowed 2 hits for 3.0 scoreless innings. He also punched out 7 batters.
Ontario jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st on 3B Chase Harlan’s solo HR (10).
RHRP Dailoui Abad relieved Leiter in the 4th and retired all 6 batters with 2 K.
In the 4th, RF Ching-Hsien Ko hit his 9th HR.
In the 5th, DH Oswaldo Osorio doubled (1). 2B Mairo Martinus drew a BB. After 2 outs, Ko walked to load the bases. 1B Easton Shelton hit a 2-run single increasing the lead to 4-0.
RHRP Jholbran Herder relieved Abad in the 6th. A leadoff double and PB moved the runner to 3rd. Next batter drew a BB. A SF gave the Quakes a run. A run scoring double and BB put two runners on. They both scored on the 3rd double of the inning and the score was tied. RHRP Accimias Morales relieved Herder and got the final out of the inning.
In the 7th, LF Brendan Tunink was HBP. Harlan singled but Tunink was thrown out at 3B. Ko drew a BB. SS Joendry Vargas tripled (3) to score a pair. CF Landyn Vidourek walked and stole 2nd. C Brian Gonzalez Garcia walked to load the bases. Osorio singled to score 2 more giving Ontario an 8-4 lead.
Morales pitched 2.0 additional scoreless innings. In the 9th, RHRP Angel Cruz relieved Morales and allowed a run on 2 BB and 1 hit, but got the final out for the victory.
- Chase Harlan – 2-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (10)
- Ching-Hsien Ko – 1-2, 3 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (9)
- Easton Shelton – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 RBI
- Oswaldo Osorio – 2-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, double (1)
- Joendry Vargas – 1-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, triple (3)
Discussion (77)
Disagree, not disagreeable
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/06/beyond-the-cap-part-1-why-the-cap-is-the-wrong-fight.html
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/06/beyond-the-cap-part-2-the-move-nobody-is-talking-about.html
I thought this was a more reasonable approach to solving the labor issues than what the owners are selling right now.
Remember… when you are negotiating, if you want 100, you ask for 300.
This is just the beginning of a really ugly negotiations! We’re all gonna have to find something else to complain about next spring and probably
Into the summer.
Per JJ Cooper ($$$$$)
https://x.com/jjcoop36/status/2067665937843490971?s=46
Major League Baseball presented a proposal to the MLBPA today that would, if adopted, result in a sweeping change to all aspects of amateur talent acquisition. Among notable points: high school players would no longer be draft eligible.
The MLBPA released this statement in response to MLB’s proposal:
“Today, MLB made another set of proposals that are flat out bad for baseball, ones that would cripple the next generation of players and damage the future of our game. They would, among other things:
Eliminate over a billion dollars in player compensation from the international and domestic system over the next five years, with a $400 million reduction from 2026 to 2027 alone.
Destroy fundamental player rights and remove talent from our sport by barring high school and junior college players (anyone under age 20) from the domestic draft.
Abolish an entire year of international signings by delaying the first draft until at least September of 2027 (and as late as March of 2028), denying young international players the ability to start their professional careers.
Players remain committed to bargaining in good faith and leaving baseball better than they found it – the league’s proposals fall woefully short.”
Wow!
Up above, Mark was including only Ryan’s 212.2 MiLB IP. Duke was right, he did not include the 20.1 MLB innings before he was injured.
But let’s also go back to his college years at UNC Pembroke (Division II school). He attended 5 years, including 1 redshirt year. In 3 years of pitching, he pitched in 35 games, 7 as a starter for a total of 93 IP. He did not pitch in 2018 or 2019.
He was a 2-way player. As a pitcher, he spent most of his time as a reliever. He was also a good enough hitter to get the attention of San Diego who drafted him in the 11th round (2021). San Diego wanted him aa a hitter and were looking for him to drop pitching. Dodgers swooped in with a Matt Beaty trade and said to drop the hitting. His ceiling was more as a pitcher than as a hitter.
At UNC Pembroke, River overcame significant setbacks, including thoracic outlet syndrome requiring rib removal surgery and earlier injuries like fractured vertebrae and an orbital bone fracture. With LAD he has had multiple stints on the IL.
• September 12, 2023 – 7 day IL (OKS). Arm injury
• Started 2024 season on 60 day IL (OKC) – activated July 5, 2024
• July 22, 2024 – Contract selected by Dodgers – 4 games, 20.1 IP
• August 11, 2024 – 15-day IL – forearm tightness
• August 19, 2024 – Transferred to 60 day for TJ surgery
• March 19, 2026 – LAD optioned Ryan to OKC
• March 25, 2026 – Assigned to ACL Dodgers
• April 4, 2026 – Assigned to OKC
• April 17, 2026 – Placed on 7 day IL with hamstring injury
• May 15, 2026 – Activated off 7-day IL
Pitchers with injuries like this are often ridiculed as never being healthy. At least that is what we hear about Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow all the time. Both of those pitchers are legit top of the rotation starters WHEN HEALTHY. Do you just dismiss the River Ryan injuries? Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery, fractured vertebrae, fractured orbital bone, arm injury requiring Ryan to be on the IL for 10 months, TJ surgery (another year + out), hamstring injury…
Should Ryan have been promoted to LAD when he was in 2024? The Dodgers did not have much choice. Ryan was the 11th SP to land on the injured list in 2024—many for extended absences requiring surgery. Multiple starters after his injury, including Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone, were lost for the year.
I only speak for myself, but I do like River Ryan and I think he will be a force as a MLB pitcher. But will it be this year as a starter? I cannot foresee what looms for LAD starters over the next several weeks. So I will not say that Ryan will not be recalled. Do not know. Maybe they bring up Charlie Barnes for the emergency start (s) and just let Ryan continue to build up without the stress of MLB.
I am more concerned that Ryan stays healthy for the rest of year and is ready to compete for a rotation spot in 2027.
Jeff, I read today on MLBTR that they are proposing significant changes to the amateur draft. Did you read that? How will that affect the big budget teams? Mike Trout heading back to the IL with hammy problems. Guy just cannot catch a break.
Right field.
In 12 seasons, Ohtani has a total of 71 games in the outfield. In a couple of years, at 33 or 35, there are two chances he plays the OF: Slim and None!
Would he apologize if he threw someone out at the play?
no but he might yell from RF which we’d all hear.
Question guys. When Shohei is no longer able to be a starting pitcher effectively, where does he play? DH? Or could he move to the outfield?
Considering he prefers pitching to hitting we can presume the twilight of his pitching career is far in the future, so probably DH at that point? If he doesn’t retire.
If he’s forced to stop pitching due to injury to arm or shoulder, that also probably means he won’t be viable for long throws and that also points to DH.
Would love to see him in LF.
I find it hard to believe the best baseball player of all time couldn’t play the easiest position.
News from Internet:
Plunkett on Ryan Ward finding his place in MLB:
https://www.ocregister.com/2026/06/17/dodgers-ryan-ward-finding-comfort-level-in-first-extended-big-league-run/
“I like him,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ward. “There’s a willing player. There’s a skill set of some power. He’s defended fine in left field. He grinds at-bats. Certainly there’s some swing-and-miss in there which we’ve known.
“But for a young player, his first time on this stage, he’s more than holding his own. Even with the move with Espy (Santiago Espinal) the other day, part of the reason for (Ward) staying here is because he’s performed. He carries himself really well. He’s good on the team. It’s just good for the Dodgers to give a guy like him an opportunity. He’s earned it.”
Ryan Blake with an excellent look at the Dodgers pitching rotation:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-dodgers-rotation-is-back-on-top/
“In 2026, the Dodgers lead the majors with 8.3 WAR from their rotation and 11.4 WAR from their full staff. With a great collection of fielders behind them, they’ve allowed the fewest runs in baseball.
That’s not to say everything has gone smoothly. At the moment, the Dodgers are without their second- and third-best pitchers by preseason projected WAR. ”
Keith Law re-drafts the 2016 MLB draft (FREE GIFT LINK)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7363591/2026/06/16/mlb-redraft-2016-will-smith-pete-alonso/?unlocked_article_code=1.q1A.G00D.zDLRuk_GNNco&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_copylink&smid=url-share-ta
FIVE DODGERS GO IN THE RE-IMAGINED FIRST.
1. Will Smith, C
Career WAR to date: 23.9
Spot Actually Selected: Sandwich Round, Pick 32, Los Angeles Dodgers
Player Actually Selected No. 1: Mickey Moniak, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
19. Tony Gonsolin, RHP
Career WAR to date: 7.8
Spot Actually Selected: Ninth Round, Pick 281, Los Angeles Dodgers
Player Actually Selected No. 19: Justin Dunn, RHP, New York Mets
20. Gavin Lux, SS
Career WAR to date: 7.2
Spot Actually Selected: First Round, Pick 20, Los Angeles Dodgers
Player Actually Selected No. 20: Gavin Lux
21. Luke Raley, OF
Career WAR to date: 5.7
Spot Actually Selected: Seventh Round, Pick 221, Los Angeles Dodgers
Player Actually Selected No. 21: T.J. Zeuch, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
22. Dean Kremer, RHP
Career WAR to date: 6.6
Spot Actually Selected: 14th Round, Pick 431, Los Angeles Dodgers
Player Actually Selected No. 22: Will Craig, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Baseball America has a look at 25 rising/ascendant prospects ($$$$$):
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/25-up-arrow-mlb-prospects-climbing-rankings-in-2026/
James Tibbs, 1B/OF, Dodgers
Preseason Top 30 Rank: 26
Current Top 30 Rank: 13
Top 100 Rank: NR
Brendan Gawlowski Chat:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/brendan-gawlowski-prospects-chat-6-16-26/
Chris: Is James Tibbs III a Top 50 prospect at this point?
Brendan Gawlowski: Thank you for reminding me of the project on the other side of the lists… Somewhere around there for Tibbs I suspect
MARK: Ryan Blake did an article on the Dodgers rotation being back on top without even a mention that River Ryan is waiting….do you believe we won’t even see him this year?
Brendan Gawlowski: He’s ready, at this point it seems clear that LAD is waiting for a natural opening, they’re not going to bump him just because he’s performing really well. Obviously a very good trade candidate
Chris: Do you still have a 45+ FV grade on Mike Sirota?
Brendan Gawlowski: No
dan norman lear: Which of the Dodgers OF prospects do you think is mostly likely to get dealt?
Brendan Gawlowski: Most of them at some point, but Hope if I had to name just one.
Beer:30: Hoping the Brewers make a run at Skubal but really like Detmers as an alternative. Do you think the price for 2.5 years of Detmers will exceed that of a Skubal rental? Can the Brewers get either without giving up Pena, Made, Henderson?
Brendan Gawlowski: The first two aren’t going anywhere, I don’t think. Would you be that upset to lose Henderson if it meant getting Skubal for a WS push? You’re going to have to give up something
Darren.Howard30: Can you explain who makes up the Complex Team? Is it the old Rookie Ball plus some injuries? Or is there a more liquid structure to it? Do they play themselves or other complexes? I never knew this to be a thing years ago.
Brendan Gawlowski: The international complex is almost always recent international signees…Seth Hernandez was throwing down in Pittsburgh’s DSL instructs last year, which is the one notable exception I can think of
On the domestic complexes, it’s mostly guys who were promoted from the DSL complex, along with a few high schoolers from the previous year’s draft. There are sometimes also a few orgs to fill out the roster
K’d Cavalli: Do you grade a pitch purely based off of velo and movement characteristics, or are tunneling/sequencing incorporated? For example, is a changeup graded on its velocity separation and tunneling from the heater, or just off of spin killing and face-value speed?
Brendan Gawlowski: It’s a good question, and there’s a little bit of a sliding scale on that depending on how far away the player is. If it’s an 18 year old on the complex, I’m looking to see if he can kind of sort of get his change up to move. If he has good arm speed to sell it, great, but he probably won’t at that point, and if he does odds are it’s just a slow fastball. I wouldn’t say sequencing is a component of it. There are times a guy’s arsenal works well together and is more than the sum of its parts, and that’s the kind of thing that can boost a topline grade but not necessarily the individual pitches
Baseball America’s podcast on the Braves and Dodgers farm systems:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseball-america/id201539011?i=1000772003756
Discussion about how the Dodgers system is often, incorrectly, described as over-rated. Then into the process the Dodgers employ to build their system and, of course, OF depth.
JustBaseball’s Mock Draft:
https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb-draft/mock-2026-shakeups-stock-risers/
Los Angeles Dodgers – Archer Horn, SS | St. Ignatius (CA)
Slot Value – $2,504,200
Katie Woo on the latest Dodgers news ($$$$$)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7364679/2026/06/16/dodgers-mlb-shohei-ohtani-tommy-edman/
“While there are no lingering concerns about Edman’s ankle, the Dodgers will be mindful of his usage and plan to start him three to four times a week. When Edman is in the lineup, he won’t be limited to second base. Roberts will use Edman as a super-utility player, with Edman also seeing time at third base and in left field.”
Jay Jaffe looks back at the Devers trade:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/one-year-later-the-rafael-devers-blockbuster-doesnt-look-so-great/
“It’s worth noting that the Red Sox didn’t exactly make out like bandits in the Devers deal. Of the four players they received, only Bello — a 21-year-old starter at Low-A Salem, and no relation to Brayan Bello — is still in the organization. Tibbs, a lefty-swinging 23-year-old, was flipped to the Dodgers on July 31 last year in exchange for Dustin May; he’s 45-FV prospect currently hitting .307/.422/.614 (159 wRC+) while playing right field and DH for Triple-A Oklahoma City. May, who scuffled during his brief time with the Red Sox, departed in free agency and is now flourishing with the Cardinals. ”
Baseball America MOck Draft 4.0 ($$$$$)
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-mlb-mock-draft-4-0-first-round-picks-for-every-team-with-a-month-to-go/
40. Dodgers — Eric Becker, SS, Virginia
Jay Jaffe Chat:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jay-jaffe-fangraphs-chat-6-16-26/
Phillip Denny: Hi Jay! Is Yamamoto the most “complete” SP in the league? 70+ grade command, wide mix that can do up and down, arm and glove side. Really the only knocks are he’s a righty not a lefty, and the velo isn’t *elite*.
Jay Jaffe: It’s tough to figure out where to slot Yamamoto in the sense that he doesn’t have overwhelming velocity or light up the stuff rankings in our pitch-modeling systems. But damn, can that guy do a lot, as you say, and on a given night he can be untouchable. He came within 1 batter of Yusmeiro Petit’s record of 46 straight retired during that perfect game/no-hit bid, and is now (IIRC) one of 22 pitchers to have multiple no-hitters broken up in the ninth, and last October he proved that as a competitor he’s about as steely as they come, with that no-days-rest relief performance in the extra innings of Game 7.
Harry Arrieta: Has any player led the league in WAR at the break and not get voted into the ASG?
Jay Jaffe: For some reason I thought that happened to Tommy Edman a few years ago but I can’t get to the specifics without breaking out of this chat for too long – but it’s not hard to imagine it happening for somebody with very strong defensive numbers but modest offensive ones.
kingkash7788: let me reword that then, will there ever be another unanimous first ballot hall of famer. I feel every player has at least a hint of controversy (and mo would not be unanimous if voted in right now)
Jay Jaffe: I think Shohei Ohtani is probably the best bet, but I also think we should probably spend less time fretting about it because to do otherwise is to reward one cowardly, anonymous piss-baby hater with the attention he does not deserve.
MLB Pipeline Mock Draft:
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/mlb-pipeline-2026-mock-draft-june-11?t=mlb-draft-coverage
40. Dodgers: Taj Marchand, SS, James Island HS, Charleston, S.C. (No. 46)
I’m just a Dodger fan not an ex ball player. So I have a question. Is fouling off pitches a skill that can be learned or refined? One of the things I see that makes Freddie a great hitter is his ability to foul off tough 2 strike pitches in and close to the zone. I also see the improvement in Pages is due to this ability as well, tho he chases out of the zone too much. Nothing takes it out of a starter more than a 10+ pith at bat.
Thanks
Yes, the batters work on “wasting” pitches. It’s a skill.
With two strikes, the advice is often “protect the plate,” which basically means swing at anything close to the strike zone. My son, now 16, is not a slugger but takes a lot of pride in his bat control and ability to waste pitches, running up the pitch count. A nine-pitch walk is a win.
I used think every swing was an effort to get a hit. But often it’s an effort to see a more hittable pitch–or perhaps see ball four.
Decades ago I read a profile of Willie Mays that began with a anecdote of him fouling off 5 or 6 two-strike pitches with the game on the line. Then he hit a homer.
Short answer: YES
Gwynn was the best I ever saw at that.
Ashburn as well.
Wade Boggs made a living off it.
He average with the shift would’ve been different.
Rod Carew/
Loved him
Teo coming back will be a good thing. Although Ward and Call have done a good job filling in. Call made a couple of plays I’m not sure Teo makes. I would imagine Ward gets sent back down when Teo comes back. Shame. I really like him, Call seems to be the obvious choice to stay, no arguments here.
I’m also concerned about the number of runners left on base by this “offensive juggernaut “. Games are a lot closer than they should be! Is it approach? Is it lack of discipline? Or is it simply not performing in the clutch? That’s a question for the hitting coach, not us.Not criticizing RVS, just frustrating for them leaving 4-5 runs out there consistently. Well, at least they’re consistent in that regard!
Henriquez scares the crap out of me! Luckily he got out of a potential jam with a sorely needed double play. And no, I’m not overlooking what Vesia did yesterday. He was the beneficiary of Mullins swinging at a pitch out of the strike zone. Phillips and Diaz can’t get there quick enough! Hopefully they can step in and get guys out! Bullpen didn’t give up any runs in the series with the Rays. But boy did they ever try!
Really shocked Roberts sent Ohtani back out for the 6th with that finger. I’m not the manager, (thank goodness!), but I would not have pinch hit Ohtani in that situation. Just me. Thank goodness they have a day off today. Ohtani can probably use one!
Good for Dustin May! But we’ve seen him good before, and then go back to being injured, or just plain bad. I’m pulling for him.
I still can see the dodgers making a move for a starter, especially with Glasnow still not throwing yet. Probably not Skubal, but a quality starter who can give them innings. Again, Joe Ryan fits the bill!
Wrobleski has been great. Ohtani is great. Lauer has done a good job filling in. But Yamamoto is still the guy I want on the mound in a big game! Long way to go in the Cy Young race. So don’t count him out too fast! In October, I like a rotation of Yamamoto, Snell, Ohtani, and Joe Ryan! Glasnow in long relief if available. And no I’m not forgetting Wrobleski. If there’s no Ryan he gets that spot. He’s doing everything he can to earn a spot in the postseason rotation. My fear is he might get snubbed for the all star game. That would suck!
And finally, a shoutout to Doc. He always seems to get the most out of players who no one else wants. Although sometimes he doesn’t get it out of the guys who need to produce. Not a knock on Doc! He’s doing his job, some of the regulars need to step up in run producing situations and do their’s! Miiguel with a pinch hit homer the other day. Max with a pinch hit DUD yesterday. Come on, someone besides Freddie step it up!
We’re scoring a lot of runs, and winning a lot of games. As I posted above. The other guys drive nice cars also.
I’m happy with winning 6+ games out of ten during the regular season
Dodgerdad,STOP worrying. We have the BEST record in baseball with KEY players missing, Chill!!
Not worried. Just putting some things out there. Sure they will win the West. Sure they can repeat. Sure things aren’t always sure things. This team is not perfect. Far from it. They did not dominate the blue jays. They just lost 2 out of 3 to a hungry white Sox team. We hear how they can turn it on whenever Doc flips the switch. Doesn’t always work that way. Do I believe they will win it all again? Yes I do. But I also believe they can be beaten. By who? I do not know. But they can be! So again, I’m not nervous or worried. They have won 2 in a row and 3 out of the last 5. So no, I’m not worried.
Where do you hear “they can turn it on whenever Doc flips the switch?”
I’ve heard that (or anything close to it) not once.
Of course, they can be beaten. In the playoffs they probably will.
Doesn’t mean they are a great team. Doesn’t even mean they aren’t the best team.
I guess I imagined it Mr. But. So sorry !
If you imagined it that’s cool.
If you read it somewhere, that’s just as cool.
I’m just curious, if the latter, where.
I used to want to Dodgers to construct a bullet-proof roster and win, oh, maybe 120 games would be nice.
One year recently the Dodgers won 111 games…
And got eliminated by the Padres.
I’ve now grown comfortable with the fat-cat Dodgers slow-playing the 162-game season, trying to make sure the best roster is ready for the playoffs. Other teams might rush rehab assignments because they need to scrape and scrap for Ws. The Dodgers now have a big lead in the West and the rehabbing players like Edman and Teo can take their sweet time.
Dodgerdad,
bluto demands documentation
What is going on here?
Asking for people to cite where they read something is somehow beyond the pale now?
Actually I should have said crack the whip. And I believe I have seen that statement on this site. But all’s good. I try not to make stuff up. And yes they can be defeated. I just want them to win!
I though your post was great Dad.
I don’t think the Dodgers will seek another SP unless there’s another injury. If they do, Joe Ryan could fit the bill.
Another possibility is closer to home: the Angels’ Reid Detmers, a former first-rounder who is having a solid season. I think this is his walk year, and the woeful Angels may be having a fire sale. (Soriano is another possibility, though he’s come back to earth after a blazing start.)
My sense is that the Dodgers brain trust thoroughly scouts the talent out there and targets guys who they believe can be improved by Prior and his staff. The track record is strong.
Chances of the Angels trading any player are exceedingly slim to none. LA and the Angels have not made a trade since the Pederson trade was vetoed by Moreno. The Giants are dangling Robbie Ray.
You know what concerns me? Pages running into outs!
Maybe he already does it, but Chris Woodward needs to remind Pages every time he’s on first with less than 2 outs to “retreat on a line drive”.
It’s amazing how often Pages is just brain-dead when it comes to basic base running. I love the kid but DAMN.
Last year it was him throwing misguided missiles all over the yard. This year it’s this. He’s also chasing again. Might take a while longer with this kid, but I think he’ll get there. And when he does? Perennial All Star.
I wanted to trade for PCA
can you spell Yasiel Puig?
I think you have two completely different personalities there. However, I can’t speak. Speak to IQs.
Thursday’s Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule
10:05 a.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Christian Romero) vs. Sacramento (John Michael Bertrand)
2:35 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Christian Zazueta) at Lake County (Braylon Doughty)
Game 2: Great Lakes (TBD) at Lake County (TBD)
5:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Peter Heubeck) at NW Arkansas (Steven Zobac)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (Dylan Jordan) vs. Rancho Cucamonga (TBA)
It’s AMAZING how many Bandwagon Knick fans there are at the parade in New York today.
I’m a New Yorker. In their run, the Knicks gave the whole city something joyful to unify around. It was awesome — and showing up today is a kind of “Thank You” to the Knicks for helping us all remember we are all on one big team — so, from where I am sitting, it goes well beyond any bandwagoning — it’s something happy to share with other people.
A parade in new York for a men’s professional sports team?
Good for them. They haven’t had one in 14 years.
You won’t see me celebrating a Yankees victory! My dad (born in ’38) grew up in LA rooting for Steve Bilko and the LA Angels. He would take a trolley from his house on St. Andrew’s Place to Wrigley Field LA. When the Dodgers came to LA, he was hooked. He left LA in the early 60’s to live in Belgium (where i was born in ’67) and then to NYC in ’68 where we have been ever since. I have been rooting for the Dodgers my whole life. I recall the ’74 series pretty well (my favorites were Billy Buckner and Jimmy Wynn). I was the only kid in my whole school rooting for LA in ’77 and ’78 — that was rough. I am a NYer through and through, and I am also a die-hard Dodgers fan who follows every game of the season. My Dad (88 years young) is still with us, and it has been incredibly fun sharing the Dodgers success with him (nightly phone calls dissecting games) in the Friedman era. Last year’s playoff run took the cake. My Dad and I were giddy. Thank you, Miguel Rojas.
Stealth 2B prospect might be Davalan.
I’ve read that he had played some 2B at Arkansas. He’s playing well now in the outfield, but about 7 or 8 outfielders are ahead of him. Getting him some reps at 2B to show his versatility might also make him a better trade chip.
Haha im in line to come back from SI ferry. Avoided it for most part.
Hit Wall Street area after the parade was over. Considered picking up some confetti and selling it online like Berlin Wall remains. The smell of celebration was still in the air.
Is your screen name a reference to “Lord of the Flies”?
Teoscar Hernandez is expected to take some live batting practice today and could go out on rehab assignment next week.
The Dodgers have the best overall record in baseball and the best run differential, Here is the breakdown of the four top teams:
1. Dodgers 48-27 .640 +144
2. Braves 46-27 .630 +100
3. Brewers 45-26 .634 +118
4. Yankees 45-27 .625 +122
Damn it. Stats like that make it hard to complain!
Guess I’ll just have to keep bitching about Tucker not playing up to his salary…
Some thoughts:
We lose about 60-65 games per year. Obviously its because of bad pitching, bad situational hitting, bad defense or Doc errors. I never seem to read that the other guys just played better. As someone has said, ‘they drive nice cars also’.
I never have played or coached professional baseball, but I am thinking its hard to hit . So guys are guessing. So with men on base whats’ your guess? The pitcher is going to want to get ahead, so I better swing at first pitch. So when that doesn’t work we see complaints of too much first pitch swinging. If the guy guesses that pitcher wants me to chase so I will be taking, then we see complaints about taking ‘one right down Broadway’.
Its pretty easy to come up with right answer while watching on TV
If you’re a good hitter (Corey Seager), swing away. If you’re not (coughtuckercough), take.
I asked Phil a while back his take on Dead Red hitting. As a coach, I wanted to hear his position on it.
Here’s mine:
As a hitter, first rule of hitting, always go up there looking for a good pitch to hit. You know what that looks like. If the pitcher throws you a first pitch get ahead fastball in your sweet zone – lean on it. If you put a barrel on that pitch I guarantee to you he won’t do that again. Even if the pitch ends up a strike you don’t have to swing at it if it isn’t in your sweet spot. But understand if he does it again, you might have to protect.
I was a dead red hitter and that is how I coached. It worked for me into my 50s. Once the kids gained confidence in it, it worked for them too. No matter the count, attack strikes. Especially first pitch cookies.
To this day it drives me nuts to see hitters take tubed fastballs for strike 1. Now they’re behind. Being behind in the count means the pitcher has the advantage and that is something that a hitter never wants to give away.
Good stuff Badger, I totally agree with your thoughts on ambushing strike one.
It’s very likely the best pitch you will see against quality pitching due to the emphasis of getting ahead in the count. How many times have we heard that the BEST pitch in baseball is Strike ONE.
As a professional hitter you hope to get one mistake or hittable pitch each at bat. Against a Paul Skenes, Don’t take it and don’t miss it. And that is possibly strike one.
MLB hitters by the count:
0-0 Count: .336 to .345
After a 1-0 Count: .247 to .280 (A count that heavily benefits the hitter)
After a 0-1 Count: .207 to .239
Two-Strike Counts (e.g., 0-2): .157
I am a huge proponent of hunting hittable pitches in advantage counts. It’s usually sitting on a fastball but it might be the pitcher’s best pitch that day. As a rule I coached looking fastball and adjusting but in today’s game it might be something else. like a change, if it’s what’s landing. But whatever it is, take advantage of a “Green Light Special”
Just yesterday I watched a hitter in a college game up 2 and 0 and they took a fastball center-cut for strike one. I just thought WTF are you waiting for? Just a totally wasted opportunity to do damage.
While Strike ONE is said to be the “best” pitch in baseball, I think the most IMPORTANT pitch is 1 and 1.
MLB hitters average .350 on 2 and 1.
MLB hitters average .165 on 1 and 2.
The math isn’t hard – That’s a .185 point difference hitting in an advantage count versus down in the count.
It’s hard to hit so it’s important to take advantage when you get that Green Light Special and it certainly can be on the first pitch.
Good stuff Phil. I’ve come to expect that from you. You were taught the same way I was.
In Ted Williams book he had the strike zone chart broken down to what he would hit on a ball to that spot. His sweet spot was dead center. (Mine was thigh high middle in) He knew if he got that pitch he would hit .400 with it. Why in the world would anyone let that pitch go by? But, they do.
When I was playing, I always looked location. Don’t ask me why, it just worked for me. If a pitch was up in the zone, I let it go. I was a line drive kind of guy, even when I played slo-pitch softball or fastpitch.
Up in the zone. Remember when the strike zone was shoulders to knees? Damm that high was really difficult to hit.
Yeah, I think Mark put up the cover of Teddy Ballgame’s book “The Science of Hitting” one time that shows the strike zone like Badger describes.
When you see it now what is striking is the spike zone is about 3 and 1/2 baseballs higher than now and a baseball off the bottom of the zone. The strike zone shrunk and moved down.
My favorite hitting stat is OPS, because BA can be so misleading. My favorite pitching stat is WHIP, or Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched. It’s just such a straightforward measurement of a pitcher’s ability to keep batters off the bases. Both OPS and WHIP respect the adage that “a walk is as good as a hit.”
Right now, the Dodgers lead the majors in both OPS at .786 and WHIP at 1.09.
So it’s not surprising that three Dodger starters are among the WHIP leaders in the National League:
–Yamamoto is second at 0.84, tucked between The Miz at 1st and Skenes at 3rd.
–Shohei’s WHIP is 0.88, but with 73.3 IP he doesn’t quite qualify for the leaderboard. (If he did, he’d be ahead of Skenes.)
–Wrobleski is fourth (!) among qualified pitchers at 1.01, between Skenes and Reds’ Chace Burns.
Also cracking that WHIP:
–The revitalizedTanner Scott, with a 0.71 WHIP (and 38 Ks!) in 31 IPs.
–Jack Dreyer, despite recent hiccups, with 0.99 WHIP in 29.1 IP.
And Tyler Glasnow, before his injury, compiled a 0.83 WHIP in 39.2 IP over his seven starts before he was shut down with injury.
WHIP it good.
1 or under WHIP impresses me.
Yep. Top ten WHIPs n the majors now, with Wrobo in the 10th position at 1.01 :
The Miz
Yamamoto
Rasmussen
Schlittler
Skenes
de Grom
Ryan
Detmers
Woo
Wrobo
Just a few days ago, Wrobo versus Rasmussen was a classic pitcher’s duel. The Dodgers prevailed 1-0 on Shohei’s HR. (Shohei would be on this list right after Yamamoto if he had enough innings to qualify.)
I think perhaps pitchers are being taught to avoid the middle of the strike zone, thus the walks. 12 Ks suggests the AAA pitchers might have good stuff, or they got the chase they were seeking. The 8 walks support that premise. I’m guessing of course.
Yeah, I agree with Zeke, Ohtani might need some down time from pitching. His last two outings have been off . 7 earned in 12.1. The blister? Probably. And who replaces him?
Do the Dodgers have a second base prospect? Freeland will remain there for this year, but after 266 plate appearances he still looks overmatched by ML pitchers. The Dodgers can afford to be patient with him.
I hope Morales can remain at short. 6’3” 191 is a large shortstop. His scouting report says average speed with “below average” range. He should add some muscle weight as he ages. Sounds like a third baseman.
9 game lead. Best record in baseball. Nothing to worry about. Right?
I agree with you Badger, Ohtani might miss a start or two. Offense left too many runners on base again last night. Another thing that is maddening is hitters swinging at the first pitch they see in clutch situations. Muncy PH for Edman with the bases juiced, swung at a pitch he could not drive and hit a weak pop up.
I think the Dodgers’ best 2B prospect is a guy called Mookie.
The others are Freeland, Kim, Taylor Young, Gauthier. This season, Edman figures to see a lot of action at 2B while Freeland and/or Kim will be relegated to bench/UT roles… at least until Kike shows up.
Seriously, the rumors that the Dodgers are interested in the Astros’ Jeremy Pena make a lot of sense to me. Mookie has the SS job now and probably the rest of the season, but perhaps over the winter Freeland or Kim or ??? will be packaged for Pena. He’s a proven all-star who, at 28, would make the Dodgers younger and smooth the way for Mookie’s move to 2B.
Why not promote from within?
Note that Dodgers have a surplus of outfielders among their top prospects, and only Emil Morales plays SS. But as you note, the scouting reports say Morales’s size and limited range make him a better fit for 3B. The Dodgers have some other interesting SS prospects–but none look like the next Bobby Witt Jr., or outplay Pena.
Hainline & Lindsey too. Maybe Vargas.
Yep. A whole lot of talent.
Imagine being one of those guys and thinking, “I can’t wait to compete against Mookie Betts for the 2B job. And he’s already being paid about $30 million per season.”
I’d like to see more blockbusters from the Dodgers to free up the logjam.
Alex Freeland is hitting .228 with a .644 OPS.
In a cup of coffee in 2025, he hit .190 with a .602 OPS.
So, he is incrementally better this year.
I think there is a lot more in the tank, and I also think he can play SS at the MLB level.
I am going to liken his ability to Brice Turang.
As a 23-year-old rookie, Brice Turang had 400 ABs and hit .207 with a .580 OPS in the first half of the season, which he improved to .229 and .589 in the second half.
The next year, he hit ,254 with a .665 OPS followed by .288 and a .794 OPS.
This year he is hitting .266 but has a .853 OPS. I see a lot of Turang in Freeland and it takes time.
Progress WAS linear for Turang and I think Freeland profiles much the same, but there are a plethora of 2B options on the Dodgers:
Wagner, maybe Harlan, Perez, Morales, Lindsey (who has a new swing), Hainline, and West.
“Progress WAS linear for Turang“
Huh?
Morales? 2B? Harlan? I don’t think so. Lindsey maybe. He’s a 55 SS with 80 speed, but lacks arm strength. Ok. Lindsey it is.
That said I hope it’s Mookie for at least 3 years.
Same thing was said about Brice Turang being overmatched by MLB pitching when he first came up. Rookie season with 448 PA – .218/.285/.300/.585. His next year in 619 PA, .254/.316/.349/.665. He did win GG that year. With 2B more than 350 innings, Freeland is #3 2B with +7 DRS (7) and #9 OAA (4). Both metrics measure better than Turang.
I agree with you the Dodgers can afford to be patient with him. I am not predicting he will hit with Brice Turang, but I am not about to predict he won’t.
Here’s what many Dodger fans do not take into consideration:
While River Ryan is 27 years old, he has pitched just 212 innings in the minor leagues AND here is what he has pitched in the last three years:
2024 – 24 IP
2025 – 0 IP
2026 – 36 IP
He started in 2022 with 47 IP and in 2023, he started 24 games, and averaged a little over 4 IP per start for a total of 104 IP.
By comparison:
Gavin Stone had 413 IP in the minors and College.
Justin Wrobleski had about 330 IP.
Jackson Ferris has 344 IP at age 22.
River Ryan has filthy stuff, but is a BABY to pitching. There is a lot more to pitching than just throwing, and River needs a lot of experience. If they bring him up now, I think MLB hitters will eat his lunch!
You may be right that River would benefit from more experience, but he actually threw more innings in 2024 than your report suggests.
The plain fact is that Dodgers brass saw fit to promote to the majors in ’24–and he succeeded before he got hurt.
Hitters did not “eat his lunch.” To the contrary, River STARTED four games and pitched 20.1 innings, striking out 18 while allowing 15 hits and nine walks. His record was 1-0 and his ERA was 1.33. These numbers suggest that while he allowed some traffic on the basepaths, he succeeded in limiting the damage. Small sample, sure–but an impressive four-start rookie debut.
I remember the highlights. This River was filthy! Maybe toxic. Assuming that he would come back from injury fully healthy, as many pitchers do, I rated him ahead of Sheehan, Wrobleski and Stone as having ace potential. In all of my many fantasy trades, I hugged River Ryan more than any other prospect.
Certainly, there’s no need to rush River. But I hope we can see him as the season unfolds. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he ends up on the roster down the stretch and into the post-season.
OTOH, smoke ’em if you’ve got & who knows how many bullets are in that gun [to mix metaphors].
I’d say pitchers # 1 enemy is a blister and this is what Ohtani is currently dealing with so it wouldn’t surprise me if they skip his next start or two to get that healed. Who will fill in for him if that happens, got me. Fun series with the Rays, now on to Orioles then on road to Twins and Padres. July is fast approaching and the season is almost half way over with 75 games played.