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
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.
Now we’re starting to see what a healthy Pollock can do!
Hershiser just said luck is the residue of design. Does he read this blog, or just coincidence?
BTW, I think Seager will be back THIS year!
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.
If you think Seager is moving to 3B, well you are delusional.
PERIOD!
Watch and learn!
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
That fat home run derby 90 MPH not-very fastball right down the middle was un-acelike.
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.
Torres coming to LA is joke.
It would take a lot more than Muncy, Pederson and Gonsolin.
More like May, Lux, Buehler, and Gonsolin.
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.
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.
Pollock CF
Muncy 3B
Smith C
Bellinger 1B
Taylor LF
Seager SS
Hernandez 2B
Pederson RF
Kershaw P
Rich Hill is throwing a bullpen session on Thursday.
The teams that have the best players always win the world series and sometimes lose (Yankees).
Teams that have good players, but not so good, always lose the world series and sometimes win (dodgers).
This is what the story says, but when Kasten arrived he said that the Dodgers would be the team of the 21st century and I believe in him, I think that the Dodgers will now be different from those of the past, they will continue with what has worked as is the development of players but now powered by signatures of important players in places they need, I think we are starting to see the Dodgers in the right direction.
I think the Dodgers will see them every time with better players, we will see more high level players in the team in the future.
The best is coming.
Brandon Lewis and Jeff Belge have been promoted to Great Lakes from Ogden
Well if Stadler stayed any longer he might have caught the stiff neck syndrome. I hear it’s very contagious!
Buns, do you actually believe that the Yankees would trade the 22 year old Torres and his .282 BA, 29 HRs, etc. for Muncy and Gonsolin? If so, the Dodgers would do that deal in a heartbeat. Don’t hold your breath waiting for it to happen.
I’ll bet Negron was very surprised to learn that he had a stiff neck. I woke up with a stiff neck this morning, called my doctor who told me take two aspirin and you’ll be fine on September 1st. 🙂
Don’t know what they’re doing with Sadler. He pitched well enough when he was up the first time. Now they’re giving him the Brock Stewart treatment.
DODGERS ACTIVATE TAYLOR, HERNÁNDEZ AND RECALL FLORO
NEGRÓN PLACED ON IL, GARLICK AND SADLER OPTIONED
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they have activated infielder/outfielder’s Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernandez from the 10-day injured list and recalled right-handed pitcher Dylan Floro from Triple-A Oklahoma City. To make room on the 25-man roster, Los Angeles placed Kristopher Negrón on the 10-day injured list with neck stiffness and optioned outfielder Kyle Garlick and right-handed pitcher Casey Sadler to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Taylor, 28, was placed on the injured list on July 15 with a left wrist fracture. The former Virginia Cavalier has played in 90 games for the Dodgers, batting .261 (68-for-261) with eight homers and 41 RBI. In his six Major League seasons, he has slashed .262/.331/.438 with 47 homers and 193 RBI in 505 games.
Hernández, 27, was placed on the injured list on July 29 with a left-hand sprain. Prior to going on the injured list, the Puerto Rico native was slashing .400/.488/.629 with two homers and nine RBI and 1.116 OPS in the month of July. On the season, he has amassed 16 homers and 52 RBI with a .238 batting average in 98 games. He is in his fifth season with the club, batting a combined .241 (346-for-1622) with 62 homers and 181 RBI in 568 games for the Dodgers.
Floro, 28, returns for his second stint with the club since being optioned on August 1. The former Cal State Fullerton Titan has appeared in 38 games for the Dodgers, going 4-3 with a 4.00 ERA (16 ER/36.0 IP) and 30 strikeouts. In 67 games since joining the Dodgers, Floro is 7-4 with a 2.97 ERA (21 ER/63.2 IP) and 61 strikeouts.
Negrón, 33, was placed on the 10-day injured list with neck stiffness. In 15 games for the Dodgers, Negrón is batting .268 (11-for-41) with two homers and seven RBI. On the season, he has appeared in 25 games for the Mariners and Dodgers, hitting .250 (16-for-64) with two homers and eight RBI. He originally joined the Dodgers on July 28 from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for the minor league infielder Daniel Castro.
Garlick, 27, was recalled last Tuesday and played in five games, hitting .364 (4-for-11) with two doubles, one homer and two RBI. On the season, he has appeared in 30 games for the Dodgers, batting .250 (12-for-48) with three homers and six RBI. In 69 games with Oklahoma City, he is batting .319 (76-for-238) with 20 homers and 51 RBI. The former Cal Poly alum was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 28th round of the 2015 first year player draft.
Sadler, 29, is being recalled on Saturday and did not appear in a game. The Oklahoma native has appeared in nine games for the Dodgers, allowing one earned run over 12.1 innings (0.73 ERA) with eight strikeouts. In 18 Major League games this season, he has allowed five earned runs in 31.2 innings of work for a 1.42 ERA for the Tampa Bay Rays and the Dodgers.
Negron has been IL’d with neck stiffness like I predicted. Beaty didn’t deserve a demotion and the Dodgers are adverse to going to a 12-man staff during the regular season. Kike, Taylor, and Floro up. Garlick and Sadler down.
Bluto: “The above post is based on the premise that the best comprised team, or most talented team, or team with fewest holes wins the WS every year.
This is a decidedly false premise. It fails to account for luck, injuries, opportunity and other variances.”
So why does it matter if you are any good at all? It’s all chance after all. Talent doesn’t matter – the only thing that matters is getting hot at the right time and having “good luck”.
Wholly falacious.
This ignores the obvious – the better the team, the fewer the holes, the better chance that you give yourself to win.
“Luck is the residue of design” – Branch Rickey.
In light of this, what’s wrong with saying that you would prefer if the team use its resources to improve the bullpen?
MT, you are not going to build up your following be taking your followers to task and finger wagging. Most days I read the comments and keep my own thoughts to myself.
I do thank the Big Blue Dodger in the Sky that no one on this blog actually makes any decisions re: the team itself.
2020
LF Bryan Reynolds
SS Seager
1B Turner
RF Bellinger
3B Glyber Torres
2B Lux
C Smith and Barnes
CF Pollock
Add the righty bat of Torres and keep Pollock and I am more than happy with the righty bat stats Reynolds puts up when he is not hitting as a lefty. How did I get Reynolds? I traded Verdugo and Downs for him. How did I get Torres? I traded Muncy and Gonsolin for him.
I still don’t know why some of you guys want to change our position players/offense (before the additions of Gyorko, Negron, White) in the off season. I can give you a bunch of different stats that will tell you that we have the best offense in the National League.
What has been our weakness this season? If you say the bullpen you are right. How about the Dodgers fix that in the off season. I don’t know about any of you but I don’t want to part with too many of our assets, so how about zeroing in on our one and only weakness (the bullpen) and fix it in the off season.
Free agents, at least the good ones, for the most part get long term high priced contracts. It’s a gamble when you commit to those kind of contracts, you never know if a long term injury will happen or the player suddenly becomes a bust. That’s why in my opinion you only commit to those kind of contracts when you absolutely need to fill a hole on your team.
We don’t have a hole in our offense, and with the addition of Lux next year we certainly will not have a hole in our offense. How about fixing our only hole, the bullpen.
Free agent Will Smith the pitcher? I would do it.
Aaron Bummer of the White Sox, left handed reliever with closer like stats in a trade? Depends on what we have to give up in that trade.
Again fix the hole we have, the bullpen.