Watch Those Knee-Jerk Reactions
It seems to me that just about every time a Dodger player has a bad play, bad game, bad inning, bad pitch, error, blunder or just a mistake, some fans have this automatic knee jerk reaction which often involves one of the following: Get rid of the bum Send him back to the minors Make him a reliever He has no business starting He can t play that position He should
It seems to me that just about every time a Dodger player has a bad play, bad game, bad inning, bad pitch, error, blunder or just a mistake, some fans have this automatic knee jerk reaction which often involves one of the following:
- Get rid of the bum
- Send him back to the minors
- Make him a reliever
- He has no business starting
- He can’t play that position
- He should never hit in that spot
Of course, they seldom say anything when that same player does something good. There are several cases in point, namely Joc Pederson, Kike Hernandez, Chris Taylor, Kenley Jansen, Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, and Hyun-jin Ryu.
Joc Pederson – I have to admit that he drives me crazy and that I considered bribing Andrew Friedman to get rid of him and put Nicholas Castellanos in LF. It didn’t happen… However, Joc is OPS’ing .809, which ain’t chopped liver. But, Casty is at .835 and I would love for RVS to get him to work with. Nick is VERY smart and I have a feeling he would be a .900 OPS guy with the Dodgers. Oh well… I can live with Joc.
Kike Hernandez – Yes, I said that he could be the next JD Martinez. It hasn’t happened but everyone needs a Swiss Army Knife. He could go off at any time… or not!
Chris Taylor – You should have learned from him. Most fans were ready to dump him a couple, three months ago and then he got hot and everyone got to munch on a plate full of crow. When he comes back will he be hot or cold? I have no opinion.
Kenley Jansen – “The Dodgers can’t win with him as their closer.” Total knee-jerk. Did you see that 94 MPH cutter in his last game? I beg to differ. The truth will set you free.
Dustin May – “He needs to go back to AAA“. After one bad relief appearance? His stuff plays at the MLB level… will his head? We shall find out. Get real! That’s silly! Let it play out. I’m betting that the “dog” in him helps him make the post-season roster.
Clayton Kershaw – “He’s no longer an Ace.” Really? He has gotten better all year and is in the TOP 4 in the NL CY Young Award. Case closed. Ryu is having an amazing season, and Buehler is an “ace-in-waiting,” but Clayton Kershaw is still the Dodgers’ Ace. Ask any player… they will spell it out for you.
Corey Seager – Before he was injured and underwent two MAJOR surgeries in 2018 which caused him to miss the entire season, he was arguably the best shortstop in baseball. He’s still pretty good and he is healing in body and mind. Give him time. He’s staying at SS. PERIOD! He will be an All-Star (at SS) many more times. Use your vision…
Hyun-jin Ryu – The fans who did not want to sign Ryu (and criticized Friedman for doing it) now want to sign him long-term. The second-guessers always have an “ace-in-the-hole.” I call BS!
When the Dodgers got Negron most fans laughed. How do you like him now? Just watch those “knee-jerk” reactions. They are just examples of silly, small-minded, conventional wisdom and conventional wisdom is usually wrong.
The fact of the matter is that before the season started, many fans were saying that the Dodgers would not win 85 games this year. If they lose 90% of the rest of their games, they would be right. Instead, they are on the brink of winning the most games in Dodger history. 97% of everything you say and worry about never comes to pass. Why not just enjoy the run?
Many people only see what they expect to see. In fact, they see it when it’s not even there. Many fans saw Muncy regressing and Cody Bellinger being another Joc Pederson.
Next Year
It’s puzzling to some of us why Gavin Lux has not been called up, but evidently, the Front Office has a plan. Next year, the lineup will look like this:
1B – Muncy
2B – Lux
SS – Seager (back in the MVP Race after a full season of healing)
3B – Turner (he might only start 115-120 games)
LF – Not sure
CF – Verdugo
RF – Bellinger
C- Smith
Freese, Negron, and Martin will almost certainly be gone. If Rich Hill wants to pitch another year in LA, I think the Dodgers would oblige with an incentive-laden deal. Ryu? He wants to stay, but I can’t see the Dodgers giving him more than 2 years/$40 million and I think some dope-fiend GM will offer more, but I’d like to see him back.
Pederson, Taylor, Rios, Garlick, Beaty, Hernandez, and even Pollock all could be had in the right deal. Some of that group will be gone next year. The Dodgers really have very little “needs” to fill. It’s s much better off-season when you only have “wants” and a farm system full of opportunities.
As Vin would say “Now back to this one.” We have a Championship to win! “WE”
Minor League Lowdown
- Gavin Lux had two singles and a walk last night. He just keeps rolling and is hitting .419.
- Dennis Santana pitched 2 strong innings out of the bullpen and struck out 3.
- Victor Gonzalez got smoked out of the pen, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs in his inning of work. After a great start in AAA, he has slipped badly.
- Robinson Ortiz pitched 7 shutout innings for Great Lakes, allowing but 3 hits and striking out 8.
- Diego Cartya went 2-3 and is now hitting .300 for the Arizona Motas.
- Some dude named Enrique Hernandez played 2B for the AZL Lasordas and went 3-4. Looks like he’s about ready.
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Discussion (96)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Pollock CF
Muncy 3B
Smith C
Bellinger 1B
Taylor LF
Seager SS
Hernandez 2B
Pederson RF
Kershaw P
Feels like 3 months of spring training this year, March, April and August. Not that I’m complaining about an 18 1/2 game lead but with all the roster/line up shuffling it feels like March again. Again, no complaints, just an observation in the dog days of August.
I really think that Muncy is the most under the radar and unsexy guy in our lineup. We all get caught up in Bellinger, Seager, Verdugo, Smith, and all the other young pups, but tell you what, with the game on the line, needing that key at bat or hit, I’m taking Muncy or Turner anyday. Muncy is rapidly gaining on Turner with how he grinds his at bats. The past few weeks, I can’t believe how many times he came back from an 0-2 or 1-2 count, kept grinding, and either got a walk, a hit, or hit it out. This guy is going to be clutch come play-off time, he doesn’t shy away from the big moment.
Torres coming to LA is joke.
It would take a lot more than Muncy, Pederson and Gonsolin.
More like May, Lux, Buehler, and Gonsolin.
Agree with Mark, which is why I said above that the Dodgers would do the previously suggested deal in a heartbeat. I love Max Muncy, but Torres is a very young hitter who is already producing at a very high level. My best guess is that he may well get better in the coming years as he matures and gains further experience. Even though I don’t watch the Yankees, and therefore don’t have any firsthand knowledge of Torres, my best guess is that he has a higher ceiling than Muncy. And when Turner has to be replaced at 3B, it would be a lot easier for Seager to slide over if Torres was available to replace him at short. And there are other scenarios that I could envision.
That fat home run derby 90 MPH not-very fastball right down the middle was un-acelike.
2demeter2:do you remember a curly haired skinny kid named Rodney.reading your post I had deja vu.in the late 50s I was at Artesia Park daily .i knew the downs boys well and rode in the back of jacks old black chev pu to many games.i too am of Dutch heritage and lived on the chicken ranch at Norwalk and 183rd.played in many pick up games at the school on that corner.no doubt we played a lot of 10 inch softball over the line together.your article brought back many great memories.thanks
If you think Seager is moving to 3B, well you are delusional.
PERIOD!
Watch and learn!
Will Smith? Some have loved him from when he was first drafted, but no one saw this coming. It’s still hard to comprehend because he never was that guy. He seems to be something otherworldly right about now… and it is awesome. I guess this is another RVS success story.
BTW, I think Seager will be back THIS year!
Hershiser just said luck is the residue of design. Does he read this blog, or just coincidence?
Now we’re starting to see what a healthy Pollock can do!
Seager from the last series against Arizona is moving his bat very well, I do not know how they can not see that, since then his swing is much better, the last 10 games his swing looks great, he is on the right track, he will surely finish very well.