This was written by Bumsrap. When we start the new site, his name will appear as the author, but it does not here.
Rob: I heard it again after last night’s game.
Dawn: “The Dodgers buy championships?”
Rob: Every. Single. Time.
Ethan: Well…the Dodgers do spend a lot of money.
Rob: Exactly! Why does everybody act like that’s some kind of secret?
Dawn: Because it’s easier than having a longer conversation.
Rob: Fine. Let’s have the longer conversation.
Ethan: Good. Here’s my first question.
What exactly does money buy?
Rob: Players.
Ethan: Only players?
Rob: Isn’t that enough?
Dawn: Not if you want to explain why some expensive teams win and some don’t.
Rob: You’re talking about the Angels, aren’t you?
Dawn: I wasn’t going to name names.
Rob: I’ll do it. They had Mike Trout. They had Shohei Ohtani. They signed expensive free agents. They spent money.
Ethan: And yet they struggled to build a consistent winner.
Rob: So payroll isn’t everything.
Ethan: No. But payroll definitely matters.
Dawn: Let’s not pretend otherwise.
Ethan: Since the Wild Card era began, almost every World Series champion has had a payroll in the top half of baseball.
Rob: So the critics are right.
Ethan: They’re partly right.
Rob: I hate “partly right.”
Dawn: Everybody does.
Ethan: Here’s what I think gets overlooked.
Teams acquire talent four ways.
They draft it.
They sign it internationally.
They trade for it.
Or they sign free agents.
Rob: That’s the whole menu.
Ethan: No.
That’s just how the ingredients get into the kitchen.
Dawn: I like that.
Rob: I don’t.
Dawn: Of course you don’t.
Ethan: Two organizations can draft equally talented players.
One develops an All-Star.
The other develops a career minor leaguer.
Rob: So now we’re talking about development.
Ethan: Coaching.
Scouting.
Analytics.
Biomechanics.
Medical staff.
Nutrition.
Technology.
Rob: None of those hit cleanup.
Dawn: No…
They help create the guy who eventually does.
Rob: Okay, I’ll give you that.
But money still buys an advantage.
Ethan: Absolutely.
It buys something fans rarely talk about.
Rob: What’s that?
Ethan: The ability to survive mistakes.
Rob: Explain.
Ethan: Imagine two teams each sign the same pitcher to a huge contract.
Six weeks later he needs Tommy John surgery.
Rob: Happens all the time.
Ethan: One team replaces him.
The other spends the next three years trying to recover from the contract.
Dawn: Big payroll doesn’t eliminate risk.
It changes how much risk you can afford.
Rob: So rich teams can gamble more often.
Ethan: Exactly.
Rob: I hadn’t thought about it that way.
Dawn: Most fans don’t.
They only see the contract.
They don’t see the safety net.
Rob: Okay, but what about the draft?
Everybody says the Dodgers always pick near the bottom because they’re good.
Ethan: That’s true.
Which means somebody else is picking near the top.
Rob: Because they weren’t good.
Ethan: Right.
And historically, the very top draft picks produce far more value than the average player drafted later in the first round.
Rob: So bad teams aren’t just getting first choice.
They’re getting a valuable asset.
Ethan: Exactly.
Dawn: Baseball has been trying to balance competition for decades.
Draft order.
Luxury tax.
International bonus pools.
Years of team control.
They’re all designed to keep the same teams from dominating forever.
Rob: So who’s got the bigger advantage?
The team with the biggest payroll…
or the team drafting first every July?
Ethan: I don’t think that’s the right question.
Rob: Then what’s the right question?
Ethan: Which organization does the best job turning its advantages into wins?
Dawn: Now we’re getting somewhere.
Rob: So let’s compare.
The Dodgers spend money.
The Dodgers develop players.
The Dodgers usually draft late.
The Dodgers trade prospects.
The Dodgers sign free agents.
They seem to do everything.
Ethan: That’s the point.
People argue about one advantage.
Organizations try to build all of them.
Rob: So when people say, “The Dodgers buy championships…”
Dawn: …they’re only describing part of the picture.
Ethan: They’re buying free agents.
They’re investing in player development.
They’re expanding scouting.
They’re building depth.
They’re improving the chances that good decisions turn into good players.
Rob: Which still doesn’t guarantee anything.
Ethan: Ask the Angels.
Rob: Ouch.
Dawn: Baseball is full of expensive disappointments.
Rob: So after all this…
what actually wins baseball games?
Ethan: Talent.
Rob: That’s it?
Ethan: No.
Talent that’s acquired well.
Talent that’s developed well.
Talent that stays healthy.
Talent that fits together.
And talent backed by an organization that makes more good decisions than bad ones.
Rob: That’s a lot less satisfying than saying, “They bought it.”
Dawn: Maybe.
Ethan: But it’s probably a lot closer to the truth.
Rob: You know what?
Dawn: What?
Rob: Baseball would be a lot simpler if every answer fit on a bumper sticker.
Dawn: It would also be a lot less interesting.
Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston) 3 – OKC Comets 2
RHSP Cole Irvin pitched 5 scoreless innings to start the game. He allowed a double and single with 2 BB and 6 K.
OKC scored a run in the 3rd inning when DH Jack Suwinski singled and moved to 2nd on the sac bunt by C Eliézer Alfonzo. SS Noah Miller and RF Zach Ehrhard both singled with Suwinski scoring on Ehrhard’s.
In the 4th, both 1B James Tibbs III (19) and Suwinski (20) doubled to give OKC a 2-0 lead.
Irvin took that 2-0 lead into the 6th. He left the game with 2 outs in the 6th and 2 runners on. RHRP Griff McGarry walked the first two batters he faced, allowing 1 run to score. RHRP Keynan Middleton entered in the 7th
Inning to try to preserve the lead. He allowed a one out BB, and two out single before giving up a 2-run double and the lead.
Sugar Land did not allow a run after the 4th inning.
- Ryan Ward – 2-4
- Jack Suwinski – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (20)
- James Tibbs III – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, double (19)
Tulsa Drillers 11 – Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 7
Tulsa started the night off with 3 runs in the 1st inning. RF Josue De Paula doubled (25) and CF Mike Sirota singled JDP to 3rd. SS Elijah Hainline tripled (1) to score 2. Hainline scored the 3rd run on 1B Jake Gelof’s SF.
LHSP Adam Seerwinski had a stellar June. He had 5 starts and reached 27.2 IP. He had a 1.63 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .161 BAA, and 27 K. On this night, he had a forgettable game. He got through 3.0 IP, allowing 6 runs, 6 hits, 2 BB, 6 K, and FOUR HRs.
Tulsa started to climb back in the 4th, when LF Zyhir Hope hit a solo HR (14).
RHRP Roque Gutierrez relieved Serwinowski in the 4th. He pitched a scoreless 4th and 5th inning, but in the 6th, he gave up a leadoff solo HR.
Tulsa came to bat in the 8th trailing 7-4. Hope led off with a single and continued to 3rd on Gelof’s double (12). DH Kole Myers followed with a 2-run double, closing the score to 7-6.
Tulsa unloaded in the 9th. JDP walked and Sirota singled. Hainline walked to load the bases. Hope singled to score JDP with the tying run. Gelof followed with a grand slam (16) giving the Drillers a 4-run lead.
Gutierrez finished off a scoreless 7th and 8th for 5.0 complete IP. RHRP Antonio Knowles pitched a clean 9th to preserve the win for Tulsa.
- Zyhir Hope – 4-5 3 runs, 2 RBI, HR (14)
- Jake Gelof – 2-4, 2 runs, 5 RBI, double (12), HR (16)
- Mike Sirota – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs
- Josue De Paula – 1-4, 2 BB, 2 runs, double (25)
- Kole Myers – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI, double (2)
- Elijah Hainline – 1-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, triple (1)
Great Lakes Loons 6 – Ft. Wayne TinCaps (San Diego) 2
Four Loons pitchers pitched 8 scoreless innings with 3 hits, 4 hits, and 9 K. Then the 9th and RHRP Reynaldo Yean.
LHSP Jakob Wright started and completed 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings. He walked 1 and struck out 4.
In the 2nd inning, LF Samuel Munoz hit his 4th HR to take a 1-0 lead. In the 3rd inning with 2 outs, RF Eduardo Quintero was HBP and scored on 3B Logan Wagner’s double (13).
RHRP Robby Porco entered in the 3rd. He pitched 2.2 scoreless innings with 2 hits, 1 BB, and 1 K.
In the 5th, with one out, CF Charles Davalan walked and scored on Quintero’s 2 run HR (6).
With 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th inning, LHRP Justin Chambers came in to get the last out. He got through 2.0 additional scoreless innings without a hit.
In the 7th, Davalan tripled (1) and Quintero singled him home.
In the 8th, SS Emil Morales homered (9) to finish the Loons scoring.
After RHRP Seamus Barrett pitched a scoreless 8th, allowing 1 hit, and struck out 3. Yean entered the 9th to bring the win home. He faced 3 batters. Walk, single, single to load the bases. RHRP Davis Chastain came in to try and shut down the threat. He induced a flyout, gave up a 2-run double, and struck out two to end the game.
- Eduardo Quintero – 2-3, 1 HBP, 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR (6)
- Samuel Munoz – 1-4, 1 tun, 1 RBI, HR (4)
- Emil Morales – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1RBI, HR (9)
- Charles Davalan – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 runs, triple (1)
Ontario Tower Buzzers 10 – Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado) 4
RHSP Hyun-Seok Jang was not able to replicate his last outing. He had a rough 1st inning. He allowed 3 singles, 1 BB, 1 WP, 1 SF producing 3 runs.
3B Easton Shelton hit a leadoff HR in the 2nd to trim the lead to 3-1.
Ontario tied it up in the 3rd, when 2B Kellon Lindsey walked and RF Jaron Elkins singled. Shelton doubled both runners home.
In the 4th, Ontario took the lead when DH Landyn Vidourek hit his 6th HR.
Ontario picked up a pair of runs in the 5th when CF Kendall George reached on an error and scored on Elkins 2-run HR (9).
Up 5-3, Ontario scored 5 in the 6th. LF Brendan Tunink and Vidourek singled. C Bryan Gonzalez-Garcia singled to load the bases. 1B Mairo Martinus and George both hit RBI singles leaving the bases loaded. Lindsey hit a SF and Elkins walked to reload the bases. Martinus scored on a groundout and George followed home on a throwing error, and a 10-3 lead.
After 4.0 scoreless innings, Jang gave up a solo HR and was relieved by RHRP Jose Cabrera who got the final two outs in the 6th.
RHRP Angel Cruz (0.2 IP) and RHRP Jhonny Jimenez had an adventure in the 7th. Cruz struck out 2 but walked the bases loaded for Jiminez to come in. Jimenez allowed back-to-back doubles to give the Grizzlies 4 runs.
Ontario got an unearned run in the 8th. George walked and stole 2nd. With one out, Elkins reached on an error. George scored on a ground out and throwing error.
RHRP Jholbran Herder entered in the 8th. He gave up a single and issued a BB to the 1st two batters. Herder struck out the next two batters, but gives up an RBI single. RHRP Jecsua Liborius came in to get the final out of the inning.
Ontario came up in the 9th inning with a 11-9 lead. Vidourek drew a one out BB and scored on Gonzalez-Garcia’s double (4).
Liborius went back out to get the save. But it came with drama. Liborius allowed a BB, single, and BB to load up the bases with nobody out. He got a SF, but struck out the next batter and got a ground out to end the game and secure his 6th save.
- Easton Shelton – 3-5, 1 run, 5 RBI, 2 doubles (17) HR (23)
- Jaron Elkins – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (9)
- Landyn Vidourek – 2-4, 1 BB, 3 runs, 1 RBI, RBI (6)
- Bryan Gonzalez-Garcia – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (4)
ACL Cleveland 8 – ACL Dodgers 2
DSL Tampa Bay 13 – DSL LAD Mega 11 – Completion of June 25 game
LAD Mega jumped out to a 9-4 lead after 5 innings. They were outscored 9-2 over the last three innings.
- 1B Ezequiel Aparicio – 3-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (2)
- 2B Juan Macero – 2-3, 1 BB, 2 runs
- CF Helvin Mendoza – 2-5, 1 run
- LF Jesus Villaflor – triple (2)
- RF Erny Orellana – 1-6, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (3)
- C Roberto Saucedo – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (2)
Discussion (110)
Disagree, not disagreeable
only 5 hits, but only 5 Ks
Hernandez has been low key amazing at home.
Yikes!! King 38 pitches (30 strikes) thru 4 innings
Yikes. Who opened the door and let nothing back in?
Anyone here missing the game tonight because they’re at Swift-Kelce wedding?
I would have skipped the wedding, but they asked me to be in the wedding party
I saw the movie
More good stuff from Mookie and Max:
https://x.com/BleacherReport/status/2072816390365720681/video/1?s=46
10:10 PM ET
Padres (43-43)
Dodgers (57-31)
SP Michael King R
5-7 3.55 ERA
SP Shohei Ohtani R
8-2 1.58 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
CF Andy Pages R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Mookie Betts R
3B Max Muncy L
RF Kyle Tucker L
LF T. Hernandez R
C D. Rushing L
2B A. Freeland S
71° Wind 9 mph Out
I have no problem with Rushing’s personality, assuming he mellows a bit with experience and age. He seems to be willing to listen to his teammates so it’s just a matter of controlling his behavior on the field and that should come with maturity.
When the team gets into it’s annual funk, lots of us complain that they seem to be sleep walking and disinterested. Maybe Rushing is the one guy on the roster who always plays with passion.
That said, if Smith’s injury isn’t really serious, I’d like to trade Rushing between now and the end of the year. My thinking is as follows:
Mr “I’m Dalton and I play with a firecracker up my ass” will be very unhappy if he is still a part time player when Will comes back. Even if he DH’s or plays first base once in a while, that still means he’ll only play about 3 times a week. That will make him very unhappy. And he isn’t going to be willing to twiddle his thumbs until Freddie decides to retire. I know some here are convinced that Will is going to be moved to 2B or 3B at some point. I don’t expect that to happen.
Rushing’s trade value is probably quite high right now so maybe it’s time to take advantage of that, and if Andrew needs to play it safe, then wait until Smith is back and shows he can catch 5 times a week. In the meanwhile go out and bring back Rortvedt. The Mets are paying him 1.25 mil to play at Rochester. They’d probably be happy to trade him even up for Chuckie.
It might be the Dodgers that are paying him that money.
I’m still floating Rutschman in the part of my brain where things float. Kind of a Yeager Ferguson thing but better.
Ferguson spent a lot of time in the outfield. Not an option here, but Smith/ Rutschman would be very nice if they could make room for both in the lineup most of the time.
This is soooooooooooooo gooooooooooood:
https://x.com/bleacherreport/status/2073110704887128511?s=61
ya. What a hilarious moment
Another great farm report, Jeff.
It’s comforting to read when the Dodgers lose. And a joy when the Dodgers win.
Just so much talent in the pipeline.
Dodgers outrighted Hernandez to AAA OKC.
Yankees Place Carlos Rodón On the 15 day IL With Elbow Inflammation. The injuries keep mounting up for the Yankees.
At least Mendoza played the game. Watson needs to tone down the glamour and dress a little more casual, maybe a Dodgers polo shirt, not looking like she is going out clubbing. That said, she’s easy on the eyes.
So does the polo shirt make her easier?
Mendoza played softball. That is not the game. She has some knowledge but is as scatterbrained as they come behind the mic.
I like the clubbing look personally.
clubbing yes
Wait, what?
Sasaki was pretty good coming out of the pen in the playoffs last year. This is this year but he has earned a right for a runway in the bullpen from last year’s performance. Hell give that kid that just moved up to double A a shot.
By the way Bear, I like eye candy.
Fans gripe. It is in our DNA. Us older guys were spoiled with Scully in the booth. No one can live up to his standard. Network TV sports have their ideas of what personality and likeability they want on their broadcasts. ESPN and FOX are at the forefront of Joe Buck clones. Guys like Harry Caray would never be on network TV these days. They want generic BS from the boys and girls in the booth and on the field. I like listening to Jon Miller when the Dodgers play the Giants. He still has that individuality most announcers once possessed. His homer calls are still classic. Adios Pelota! Today there are games on all the time. You can even watch replays of the previous 2 seasons on MLB.TV. I know, I have gone back and watched Ohtani’s first game in Korea more than once. You can relieve the great and not so great moments. I have been watching the 2024 season for a while. Still hard to believe what an awful start Chris Taylor had to that year. At one point he had 3 hits in like 45 trips to the plate. Had to feel for the guy.
Right now in my opinion the primary sellers at the August 3 MLB trade deadline are the Mets, Giants, Angels, Royals, and Rockies, while the Red Sox and Tigers are poised to offload star assets as well. Am I missing any teams? Is there anyone the Dodgers would want or need from these 7 teams besides the name that keeps coming up in Skubal? The Giants ,Angels and Rockies won’t trade with the Dodgers so that leaves 4 teams to trade with. AF/BG are totally going to surprise all of us with what they have in mind.
Let’s start with the possibility that an injury or three weakens the rotation.
If the Dodgers want another frontline pitcher and don’t want to pay the cost for Skubal, they could consider Freddie Peralta from the Mets or Detmers from the Angels. The Dodgers’ scouting is so good that they probably have identified a number of potential targets who could benefit from Mark Prior’s pixie dust. (Lauer is a recent example.)
Detmers, a lefty, was a first-rounder who is now in his walk year. He’s having a strong season while playing for a last-place team. Would the Angels trade with the Dodgers? They’d be stupid not to if the Dodgers make the best offer. (But they’ve proven themselves stupid in the past. By backing out on that deal some years back for Joc and Stripling, Arte Moreno missed out on Pages.)
Skubal may be only talent out there that could really move the proverbial needle. The Dodgers don’t need him or anybody else, but injuries could change the equation…. and AF might want him regardless.
I don’t see any position players who would be obvious targets.
But what if Mookie blows out his knee or arm? The Dodgers might be content to roll with Kim, Freeland or Edman at SS–or try to swing a deal for Jeremy Pena, who they might target in the offseason anyway.
Detmers isn’t in his walk year. He has two arbitration years after this season and isn’t a free agent until after the 2028 season. That will add substantially to his trade value.
Peralta, on the other hand, shouldn’t require all that much in trade although there may be a lot of teams who would like to have him.
Good to know. Gracias.
Gawd, our bats are on fire. Tucker and Rushing are going ape-shit. And good on Will Klein for coming in and shutting of fthe faucet that Sasaki opened. The backend guys with the exception of Gervase, were great again.
It just drives me nuts when a relief pitcher comes in with a big lead and walks the first guy. Gervase walked the first and last batters he faced, with a 6 run lead. Totally unacceptable.
Of the pitchers on the shuttle, only Wyatt Mills has earned his keep.
I hate the knee down technique of current catchers. Both Rushing and Fermin had “wild pitches” that were routine, center cut, dirt balls, that went to the backstop. Instead of dropping down and blocking the pitches, they tried to backhand the pitch. Old time catchers would just smothered that pitch and now it’s OLE.
I know that modern proponents of that style are convinced it’s better and gives the umpire and pitcher a better look at the pitch, which I don’t believe. Now with ABS that style doesn’t aid in framing to fool the umpire, which should never work anyway. I’d love to see the catchers go back to staying on their feet, show some lateral movement and block pitchers the old fashion way. Give em one of those old “doughnut hole” catchers mitts to train with so they can’t backhand dirt-balls, like a first baseman’s mitt.
Sasaki lays another egg. Once again, he had dick. I can’t recall which of the 3 home runs it was that he gave up but it was on a 96 mph fastball, which is now about an MLB average , middle-middle, that was straight as a string. When he can’t land that splitter / forkball, they just sit on that straight fastball. His stuff just doesn’t miss barrels. He just can’t locate and stay out of the middle.
I’m sure they have tried to work with his grips, move his fingers and thumb on the ball to create some movement, but it hasn’t worked. His stuff and command just stink.
I have said he is better suited as a relief pitcher but I’m not even sure about that.
And while it’s not his fault, he looks about 15 and when he’s pouting after a pounding his facial expressions and body language are pitiful. He intimidates no one.
I like Freeland. I also like Kim. I think either one, if given a complete runway to take over at 2b for the rest of the year, would learn, grow, and be productive. Two very different type players, but both athletic and play good D. Let the kids play.
I like Mendoza and Orel and Nomar and Karros and Joe and Steven and Rick Monday. I”m not interested in bitching about them every time one of them is on TV.
I like Mark’s new side by side restaurant and bar and I hope I get a free chardonnay when I go (if I ever go to Indianapolis, that is).
I like that the USA is getting more into soccer (football). Makes the world feel smaller and closer together. Now we see what Watford likes so much!
I like that I’ll be at the Beach Boys w fireworks at the Hollywood Bowl for Bday # 250. Can’t get too much more American than that.
I like that NFL rookies report to training camp in 2 weeks. Gona be a great year, especially for the Bears and the Rams!
I even like going to WNBA games because the fundamentals are so awesome to watch. Too bad the Sparks are injured and blah this year.
I’ve always enjoyed everything I’ve seen at the Hollywood Bowl. I miss it.
Good take on the announcers Bobby.
Your mention of the Hollywood Bowl reminds me of a story from my older sister.
I was very impressed when she told me she had seen The Doors there. Legendary! The Chambers Brothers were the opening act.
But Jim Morrison was obviously stoned and slurring the lyrics of every song. The show was such a mess that at one point he called out to the audience for requests,
“Waddaya want to hear?”
The guy seated behind my sister yells, ” The Chambers Brothers!”
Classic lol
“I like Mendoza and Orel and Nomar and Karros and Joe and Steven and Rick Monday. I”m not interested in bitching about them every time one of them is on TV.”
That does seem to be a bit of a fetish here sometimes. None of them really bother me all that much.
Listen to the Rockies announcers some time. They will stop everyone’s bitching about ANYONE the Dodgers give a microphone to.
“Just outside the Subaru strike zone”. OMG HORRIBLE?
Yeah, and the Dodgers announcers, even the not great ones, aren’t that bad.
If you want to get nostalgic about good ole Vin back in the day, you have to remember – at least I do from my youth – that he was paired with Jerry Doggett and Ross Porter. Jerry was a nice enough guy, but he wasn’t a great announcer. Ross was ok, but god if he didn’t pepper the audience with the most inane bits of trivia to fill the air time.
“The Phillies lead the league in players who wear contact lenses.” wait, what?
Kim is a AAAA player at best. No pop, bat so so good glove and speed. But he doesn’t use it much, at least he hasn’t been doing that at OKC.
I definitely wish someone (Brett Butler) would ingrain in his head how much bunting would add to his game
I agree but I don’t think Butler is close to the game anymore. I do know Joe Kelly is now coaching at a high school in So-Cal.
I don’t understand post like this, why do you have to be someone who knew how to bunt, to understand its value. So much of the current game is predicated on creating value and finding inefficiencies, if bunting were really that great of an unexploited and under utilized tool, someone would have figured it out by now and exploited it.
It wouldn’t have to be someone who bunted in their major league career. There’s a reason people don’t bunt, I think people should run for a base hit much more. But I acknowledged their lots of problems with bunting.
Not really a part of today’s game, but some players still use it now and then. You aren’t going to have someone like Acuna bunt much, but if he were not a power hitter, he could definitely pile up some hits by bunting. The post is simply mine and Bobby’s opinion that a guy with Kim’s speed could use the bunt as a weapon. You don’t agree that is fine.
I did say, I thought people should but for base hits more, but perhaps you missed that.
Everybody has an opinion and they all stink. So let me stink up the room a little more.
Dalton’s fiery passion can get the best of him sometimes. Why is that a problem? Roki is okey dokey. Thicken up the skin a little and a little more cultural acclimation and he’s a keeper. After all his leash is longer than the Mississippi. Andy is dandy. Alex is class. Kim is a gem. And Wrobo sucks! Warning! I’m just kidding. We are blowing away the NL West. And we’re about to 3 peat. Wonderful time to be a Dodger fan. Enjoy the ride !
Oh….teachers leave those kids alone.
Book em
13 game lead on July 3 is a tad silly. Rest of the division is a joke.
Sad but true. I’d prefer a more competitive division to keep the Dodgers sharp heading into the playoffs.
I agree he might be more effective out of the pen since you cannot come in a nibble all the time. Worked for Maeda.
The plan is and always has been sasaki will be in the bullpen when the playoff starts. Chances are is he was told last season when he went to the bullpen, he will be a starter next season. The question is when will he go back to the pen, after the all star break, first of August, first of September? If I had to guess I’d bet that when either Snell or Glasgow come back Saski will piggyback with one until he’s built up and Sheehan will with the other. Once snell or Glasgow are built up both Sasaki and Sheehan will go to the bullpen.
where did you read or hear about this plan?
The plan all along has always been to develop Sasaki as a starter. The Dodgers’ brass has been very clear about that. They’ve given Roki a lot of slack.
But Roki’s performance could move him to the bullpen, or possibly off the playoff roster.
It makes sense. He surely is not one of the team’s top four starters. not by a long shot. In the playoffs, he would be coming out of the pen.
Intuition
When Rushing OPS’s at .850 he’s intense.
At .750 he’s an immature jerk.
Perspective.
It will be interesting tonight with Ohtani and Rushing
So, his sweet spot is .800
Freelnd is not a “contact hitter.” His MiLB strikeout rate was 24% and it is at 29% in MLB. So, the little red warning light is blinking, but it’s not Outman-level siren music. The MLB swing-and-miss has been the issue. Not elite contact, but not scary either. His MLB jump has been where the whiff dragon woke up.
Freeland is an empty bat right now. His AB’s are as hard to watch as Sasaki’s pitching.
He’s gone when Kiki comes off the IL.
Kike is not close yet. After the All-Star break maybe, but probably closer to August. MLB ran that ad again last night during the broadcast about a cap and a floor and basically it claims that is what the fans want.
Beg to differ.
When Rushing gets into an extended strategic conflict with Shohei, or insults an opposing player, or stupidly does an illegal takeout slide at 2B, he’s an immature jerk.
It’s not about his OPS.
It’s about maturity and playing the game the right way.
But hey, maturity is not linear.
Rushing is 25. In maturity terms he is still an infant. But he is a player on the best team in baseball catching some of its best pitchers, he needs to understand his environment. Guys his age don’t question the judgement of superstars.
I like the way Joe and Orel mesh.
I don’t like it when the sidekick thinks they are co-announcing games or constantly has to tell me what the next pitch should be.
Mendoza was better last night but she detracts more than she adds IMHO.
I root hard for Freeland but to be fair, if Mendoza annoys me with her chuckling then I should admit Freeland annoys me with hik Ks.
Never have liked Orel in the booth, or Davis for that matter. I prefer Neverett. But that is just me. Davis takes as much time off as Johnny Carson did on the Tonight Show doing his schtick for Fox. I know the guy had an impossible job taking over for Scully. But in my opinion, he is nothing more than a Joe Buck clone. And I cannot stand Buck. Orel prattles on. Mendoza has no baseball cred. She just giggles half of the time. All of them sit there and tell you the obvious which you are watching happen right in front of you.
Great analysis Bear of the state of Dodger announcers.
I like Neverett, too, honestly. You’re right about Davis. He’s pretty Buck-ish. A little generic, like a modern network TV news anchor. I don’t hate him, though. Orel doesn’t bother me. He has some good baseball insights, even if he forces the point sometimes. Alanna Rizzo was very good, IMO. Mendoza is getting better, but she still has some big shoes to fill, and her on-field giggly interviews annoy me a little.
Watson is the on-field interviewer. And she has improved a lot. But she still is just eye candy in my eyes. Rizzo had baseball cred and really good interviews. Orel is like excuse the expression, a bulldog with a bone sometimes. He just gets on a subject and will not let go. I prefer Nomar in the booth if there has to be an analyst. Talks less than Orel or Karros and makes much more sense.
You’re right. Watson is the on-field interviewer. I don’t really care for on-field interviews.
You hit the nail on the head Patch. I especially do not like them during the game, which happens now and then. Micing up players though can be entertaining like when they miced up Miggy and he said excuse me guys, I have to field this grounder.
I think that Dalton Rushing is wildly misunderstood.
There are players who are jerks (Alex Verdugo as an example) and players who are overly passionate.
In a soon-to-be-aired interview, the Loons bus driver had high praise for “Rush.” He said that he was always very respectful.
ChatGPT says this:
From what’s been said publicly, Dalton Rushing’s Dodgers teammates seem to like him and are backing him, even if they know he runs hot.
Max Muncy gave the clearest clubhouse answer. He said Rushing is “great as a teammate,” “a great kid,” and “well received in the clubhouse.” Muncy also said the fiery stuff is more his on-field personality than who he is around teammates.
The veterans have also stepped in to help him. After the Ohtani/Rushing pitch-calling mess, the L.A. Times reported that Freddie Freeman, Mark Prior and Dave Roberts all talked with Rushing in the dugout. Rushing said, “They always have my back,” while admitting he was embarrassed and needed to be better.
Alex Freeland sounded supportive too, saying Rushing plays with fire, gets after it, and expects the best from himself every day. Roberts added that after Rushing vents, he usually collects himself and gets back to the next play.
So the answer is: his teammates appear to respect him, support him, and accept his edge. He may be a little bit of a live wire, but the clubhouse doesn’t look like it has turned on him. More like: “Kid, breathe… now go compete.”
Rush will mature, but his fire is welcome to me. “I’d rather rein in my lions than teach my sheep to hunt.”
Nice metaphor…. But is there any professional athlete who might fairly be described as a sheep? If we’re going to use that metaphor, all of these guys are lions. All want to be alphas, too.
Rushing, who is 25 years old, may well be misunderstood, but I’m struck by the fact that Max referred to him as “a great kid.” A kid, as in a youngster, not a baby goat, or maybe G.O.A.T.
Does this suggest a lack of maturity? Perhaps.
It’s great that this team of lions supports the young, eager, hot-blooded cub that is Rushing. All considered, it’s probably great that Shohei, the Lion King, had a chance to educate this cub. Rushing seemed chastened, and that he may have taken the lesson to heart. Teammates can see his talent, and they should counsel him on the “fiery stuff” on the field–like his illegal takeout slide at 2B. Just a low-IQ baseball move that few rookies would make.
You have lions? Isn’t that illegal in the Indiana?
Friday’s Dodger Affiliates’ Schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sean Patick) at Fort Wayne (Kash Mayfield)
5:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Payton Martin) at Wichita (Chris Vallimont)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Jackson Ferris) vs. Sugar Land (Ryan Weiss)
7:05 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Fresno (Austin Newton)
All the articles I’ve read quoting Dave Roberts is that Will Smith WILL be back sometime after the All Star break. Bet it!
Ardaya:
Dave Roberts said the Dodgers will do a “deep dive” on Roki Sasaki, including trying to rule out pitch-tipping after seeing the Padres were “on everything.” Sasaki will still make his next turn through the rotation, Roberts said.
Pitch tipping?
Maybe. But it looked to me the Padres were “on everything” because those pitches they were on were center cut.
I have zero confidence in Sasaki. None. Last night he looked like a deer in the headlights, and as a former truck driver I can assure you that I have seen plenty of those. Missed most of them, but one poor soul in Kit Carson Colorado met his maker. Both Sasaki and Sheehan need to be better. Sasaki had gotten his ERA down to just above 4. After the last couple of debacles, it is back up to 5.41. Dude has surrendered 17 homers in 75 innings. In 75 innings, Sasaki has allowed 105 baserunners. 32 walks and 73 hits. And to tell the truth, he looks like he is scared of throwing a pitch in the strike zone. He does not attack hitters, he nibbles. The problem lies in the fact that there is no one to replace him in the rotation until either Snell or Glasnow gets healthy. Even Lauer is pitching better than Sasucki. I cannot listen to Jessica Mendoza. Last night, I found out I could listen to the radio feed instead of the TV side, so I listened to Charlie Steiner and Mo. Nelson took over in the 7th inning. As for last night’s comeback, it was a team effort. The only guy who did not get involved was Teo. Freddie now flirting with .300, Mookie up to .248. Freeman has passed Pages for the team lead in hits with 94, in 20 less at bats than Andy.
The game last night was fortunately on the MLB NETWORK with Matt and Yonder doing the game, Both are knowledgeable and enjoyable to listen to. I will NOT listen to the Dodger broadcasters as I have soured on all of them. I either mute the game or listen at times to the other team’s announcers. Can’t stand Mendoza and Nelson and Davis and Orel are too bias towards the Dodgers right or wrong on every play. Also tired of Joe Davis’ meaningless player backgrounds and Karos just rambles on about nothing important to listen to.
They need Nomar as the analyst. He is 10 times better than Hershiser.
Yup, on Nomar. After about 9 straight games with Karros, I’d about had it. And I just can’t warm up to Steven Nelson.
Neither can I. He thinks he is a frippen comedian. He isn’t funny at all.
Karros does sound a little too much like a groupie.
About 15 years ago, the game of the week did a game with no announcers, just the sights and sounds of the game and stadium background noise. It was wonderful to watch as if you were there. They ended it with a “Thanks for watching, hope you liked it and good night.”. I absolutely loved it. My wife even made dogs and popcorn to enhance the atmosphere.
We will next see will smith in spring training…..,.at 2nd base.
I like how you think…
I still want Betts at second. Actually, when you look at wear and tear rankings by position, catching and pitching is the toughest on players, with SS and CF, next, followed by second base. The least demanding positions physically are LF and 1B. Mookie will turn 34 during the playoffs this year. If the team wants to keep him in the lineup for another 6 years, they may want to consider another position change.
Again, it would not surprise me if the Dodgers deal for a proven top-notch SS like Jeremy Pena to enable Mookie to shift to SS. (This would likely happen over the winter, but an injury could hasten such a move.) The Dodgers love veterans–and Pena, at 28, is the kind of veteran who make the team younger.
It’s great to see Rushing swing the bat so well. He’s living up to the hype with the bat. But is he superior to Will Smith with his defense and handling of pitchers? If someone can point us to a credible baseball source that says Rushing is a better CATCHER than Smith, please do so.
So I agree with Badger that Mookie is more likely to move to 2B.
I think it’s more likely that Smith OR Rushing eventually shift to 3B or 1B–even though Max and Freddie seem in no hurry to retire. To take over the catching job, Rushing needs to prove he is at least the equal of Smith on defense.
Assuming that Will recovers well from his injury, the Dodgers can have a two-headed monster back there….
Final note: It’s amusing to me that some folks here question Smith’s durability because, at 5-10 and 190 pounds of muscle, he is somehow more injury-prone than a physically bigger catcher might be. The notion that Smith lacks durability comes just a few months after he caught EVERY inning in the epic World Series, including an 18-inning marathon. He set a record.
So nope, I don’t think Smith is fragile at all. He may look like a choirboy, but he’s a tough, gritty competitor who happens to be injured right now. And I’ve got a feeling that Shohei and perhaps every other Dodger pitcher would prefer to throw to Smith.
Mark, Off Topic;
How did the Grand Opening go??
Thanks for asking. It went very well. It was a soft opening… not advertised, but they did very well. I will post some more photos next week. Here’s a peek:
Here were the first customers:
Nice.
What happened to her other restaurant?
It is a bar, and it’s next door:
https://www.thebaldwineventspace.com/
It is evolving…
Very interesting bar food menu, Mark. Touches seldom seen.
Impressive. Hope it does well.
Well Sasaki threw another masterpiece last night! 88 pitches inn3 innings! Don’t believe that I’ve seen that before. Seriously, I agree with Badger, how much longer can this go on? The bullpen has been much better as of late. But, there’s no way it can continue to carry this kind of work load. I suspect that AF does something pretty soon.
Muted last night’s game for the most part! WHY? I expect Joe Davis to be on fox this weekend, so that pairs Nelson and Jolly Jess! Please give me a break! And just when I thought Nelson was starting to win me over. The constant giggles are so obnoxious. Yeah she knows a bit about the game, but I prefer someone, anyone else.
The bats were just what the Doc ordered last night! Especially after that dud in Sacramento the night before! Hard hit balls all night! Tucker 4-4! Mookie smoking the ball. Dalton with 4 hits! Edman is scalding the ball! Freddie is on another planet right about now! That looked more like what they are capable of! Alex Freeland may have a hard time finding playing time the way Edman is playing. One last thing. When Will Smith comes back, it won’t be a platoon situation. If healthy, he’s the starter behind the plate! Dalton will get AB’s, but Will Smith is the starter!
When Will comes back, I DO expect more ABs for Rushing if he continues to stay hot. Why wear the guy out?
All they will be doing is getting ready for Playoffs.
I am beginning to wonder if we might not see Will Smith the rest of this season?
Yeah
Fred is a terrific writer. I haven’t been to his blog in a while. Might have to drop in again.
Peter Brand said it best: “Your goal shouldn’t be to buy players, your goal should be to buy wins. And in order to buy wins, you need to buy runs.” The organization is currently structured to produce runs. Most of the top prospects are run producers. It appears to me what they may need to get better at is preventing runs.
I wonder if Sasaki’s leash is getting shorter. I also wonder why at this point in his career he has so little command. He’s a professional pitching at the highest level in the world. There are four corners and four edges to the strike zone. Find them.
It’s too bad that River Ryan is on the IL,because Sasaki needs to skip a turn or two in the rotation and figure out what’s wrong. He needs a second and third pitch that he can get over the the plate. consistently. His facial expressions on the mound looks like he’s totally lost.
Up until yesterday’s Sasaki game and the game with that AAA journeyman Barnes guy, the Dodgers were leading MLB in pitching WAR and ERA.
I think it’s a little reactive to take a single bad game by a young pitcher and extrapolate that the Dodgers don’t prioritize pitching in favor of a hitting centric approach at an organizational level.
Sure, there are more top position players in the farm system compared to pitchers, but really the opposite was true just a couple of years ago. Back then the Dodger farm was really good at developing pitchers but not position players – at least that was the prevailing narrative.
I don’t think pitching is a huge issue, and to the extend that there isn’t a lot in the pipeline, that can be fixed.
Badger:
What blog are you referring to? Can you supply a link. I don’t think I am familiar with it and wouldn’t mind checking it out.
Thanks
Thanks, Badger. I appreciate that.
The site you’re remembering was from quite a while ago, and it was very different then. Over the years, I removed the old posts and discussions, so it really doesn’t contain the material you were referring to anymore.
These days I’m more interested in exploring ideas through conversations than writing traditional opinion pieces. If Mark keeps giving Rob, Dawn, and Ethan a place here from time to time, maybe we’ll all get to know them a little better. My hope is that the conversations stand on their own, and if they spark a good baseball discussion, then they’ve done exactly what I hoped they would.
So true. I love the pic! He seems to have controlled the fury and kept the fire and last night he was professional and determined. When Smitty comes back, I see a possible L/R platoon behind the plate.
Three recent concerns for the Dodgers, Betts, Rushing and Tucker, are quickly being resolved. All are hitting.250 with good OPSs which has to scare the hell out of the rest of baseball. With Smitty questionable as to when he is coming back, Rushing is shouldering the majority of the catching and after a few conversations with Doc, is performing above and beyond recently. Mookie looks like his old self, barreling and turning in plus defense. Tucker, over the last nine games has performed like the guy AF thought he signed and nobody is more relieved than Tucker. And throw in Edman coming back and hitting around .400, and providing versitility and speed and this team could be the greatest team ever assembled in baseball history. The 3peat is looking better every day.
All the naysayers on the site still want to trade Rushing for his anger,immaturity and intensity? He is the BEST overall backup catcher in baseball and the BEST offensive backup catcher in baseball.
He went 4-4. He’s always been a good offensive prospect. So far, however, he’s been a pretty terrible framer, not a great game caller, has a pretty lousy ABS challenge percentage ruled in his favor, and his immaturity and false bravado have made him the most hated player in MLB – and has made him look like a complete idiot, IMO.
I’m still a naysayer.
I’m not going to overlook his flaws or change my opinion after one game. Once he establishes a pattern on not being an incompetent behind the plate and not acting like a douchey MMA fighter with a Napoleon complex , then I’ll change my opinion. Hitting like Barry Bonds would help, too, if I’m being honest.
I heard the Dodgers are interested in trading for Rortvedt. Bring in Rortvedt!!
“Framing” ain’t what it used to be.
Now it’s more about the ability to know when to challenge the ump’s calls!
Which is something that Rushing needs to improve.
Great comeback win. The Preller Padre Punks bring the BEST out of the Dodgers everytime we play them. The Dodger lineup last night against right handed pitching with Edman batting 9th will matchup against ANY playoff lineup. As stated many times on this site the Padres have NO starting ptching except King and where will Preller find some at the deadline with so many teams in the hunt for a Wild Card?
Good points AVF,
A lot of us wished for a high average contact leadoff hitter in front of Ohtani. We just have to wait until the 2nd or 3rd inning. I’ll take it.
And the rebirth of Mookie and Tucker is exciting to see. Did you see the calm, focused determination Rushing displayed last night at bat and behind the plate? Doc’s sit down with him did wonders and shows why Roberts is the best manager in baseball.
Tucker is coming back. Nuff said.
The Dodger’s comeback win, the 23 run rout by the Cubbies, the collapse of the San Diego pitching and their stars hitting under .200 has to be spinning the Padres into a void they don’t have a clue how to get out of. They are collapsing quickly.
This win, I think, said a lot more about the ridiculous strength and depth of the Dodgers than the flaws of the Padres.
The Padres jumped on Roki early. Machado, Merrill and Cronenworth with three HRs in the first two innings. So it feels like we’re back to square one in the development of Sasaki, courtesy of some Padre stars showing signs of life.
Then it just seemed like the Dodgers decided to spot the Padres a six-run head start just to make things interesting.
Highlights:
–Rushing flexes again: 4-for-4 with a homer helps put recent defensive drama behind him. Best backup in the game. Get well, Will. Take all the time you need.
–Tucker also 4-for-4, after 4 straight walks in the previous game. Can he keep it going and justify his fat contract?
–The bullpen, allowing just one run over the last seven innings–and it came in the 9th, a last-gasp from the Pads.
–Mookie, the de facto captain, continues his comeback from a slow start, again playing like an all-star to silence doubters.
–Maximum Max, polishing his own all-star credentials. A burly guy plucked from the A’s scrapheap years ago–and now outplaying every 3B in the game. No veteran delivers as much bang for the bucks. (I remember when Billy Ripken argued that the Dodgers needed to trade Max to an AL team so he could DH.)
–Edman, batting 9th as the most dangerous “second leadoff” batter in the majors. Yes, it’s a small sample–but he has a habit of spectacular play when coming off the IL.
–Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman, always polishing their HOF credentials.
It’s nice to be able to root for the Dodgers.
It’s nice to be a Dodgers fan.
Well one thing I know for sure about winning.
Not gonna happen with the McCourts.
Thank you Guggenheim!