Suddenly, the Giants are four games behind the Dodgers, who are tied with the Yankees for the best record in baseball. They both have a .720 winning percentage, but the Dodgers lead all of baseball in runs scored per game with 5.08. To me, that is an amazing statistic in light of the fact that most Dodger players are not hitting. Look at their batting averages. Freddie Freeman is hitting .316 and CT3 (who is striking out 42% of the time) is hitting .278. Other than that, no one is hitting higher than .261. Look at their pathetic batting averages:
- Max Muncy – .141
- Justin Turner – .180
- Cody Bellinger – .200
- Edwin Rios – .217
- Will Smith – .233
- Gavin Lux – .254
- Mookie Betts – .255
- Trea Turner – .260
- Hanser Alberto – .261
- Austin Barnes – .261
Many players are 50, 75, or 100 points below their previous batting averages, yet the Dodgers lead all of baseball in runs scored per game. The Dodgers are also 14th in HR, so it can’t be said they don’t score without four baggers. Shoot, they score without hits! Can you imagine what they can do if they ever start hitting?
Not only are the Dodgers leading all of baseball in Runs Scored, but they are also leading all of baseball in the Fewest Runs Allowed. The team ERA is 2.11. In case you wonder…. the best way to win games is to score more runs than the other team or allow them fewer runs than what you score. The Dodgers do both. They score 5.08 runs a game and allow 2.11 runs a game. It’s hard not to win when that happens.
Of course, some fans say that the Dodgers need more starting pitching. Yeah right! That’s like saying a glutton needs another meal! If the Dodgers can ever start hitting, they might win 125 games!
Dodger News & Notes
- Don’t look now, but here comes Yadier Alvarez. He pitched 1.1 innings in relief last night to get the win for OKC. He allowed 1 hit and 1 BB as he held Albuquerque scoreless. Maybe a taste of success will set him on the straight and narrow? He threw 11 pitches – 8 for strikes. He came into the game with two outs and a runner on 1B, and struck out the batter in four pitches. They did not display the pitch speed, but three of his four pitches in the first 1/3 inning were breaking balls. He also made a nice move to 1B.
- Zach McKinstry was 3-3 at OKC, and Jake Lamb was 2-5 with a grand slam (his 6th HR).
- Miguel Vargas committed his 5th and 6th errors last night (throws). Of course, Mike Schmidt committed a lot of throwing errors in his early years… until he didn’t. No, I am not comparing Vargas to Schmidt!
- 2023 Dodgers SS, Jacob Amaya was 3-5 hitting in the leadoff spot last night for Tulsa. Devin Mann hit his 1st HR and that was about it.
- Landon Knack pitched two innings and struck out four – that was the good news. He also allowed 3 hits (a HR included) and 1 ER.
- Mark Washington continues to strike out 3 and walk 2. Well, that’s what he did last night. His ERA is actually 1.13 and his WHIP is 0.81.
- Jonny DeLuca (7th HR) was 2-5, and Vivas and Rios were both 2-4 as Great Lakes improved to 14-12. Kendall Williams went 4 and allowed 6 hits but only 1 ER. He has been disappointing at A+.
- Ronan Kopp went two innings and struck out 4 last night which is about what he always does. He has struck out 26 in 12.1 innings this year and has a 0.63 ERA. His WHIP is 1.14 because he has walked 10, but I am going to make a Wild Prediction: Ronan will not be at RC for long… and he may see OKC THIS year! There is something about a 6′ 7″ 250-pound reliever with a wild streak that is upsetting to hitters!
- Striker Buehler should throw another shutout today!
- Yesterday Dodgerpatch, Bulldogs and Penguins, Watford Dodger, and the Old Bear met up and raised some hell and told some lies. This picture is better with the addition of a pretty girl and not those mugs!
Discussion (21)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Go LA KINGS
Nice sweep and scoring more runs late has become a habit for them. Now it is on to Pittsburgh and lets sweep again. Giants 4 back. That sounds so good. LA with one loss less has the best record in the majors. Only the Yankees and Dodgers have not lost double digit games this year.
CT3 scuffling right about now and might need a few days to sit and watch a bit. Who would play LF is the problem. Kevin Pillar? Muncy might need an IL stint after having his “junk” grabbed by Contreras.
That’s why AF signs them cheap and stacks them deep.
Treinen out until after the all-star break and Victor Gonzalez to have elbow debridement surgery this week according to Doc. Caleb Ferguson got rocked again in a rehab assignment.
I like what we’re seeing with Kahnle and Hudson and hope to see the continued maturation of Bickford. White and Price are going to have to make up for the loss of Treinen. BP has been great, but the extended loss of Treinen hurts a lot.
Dodgers’ Victor Gonzalez To Undergo Arthroscopic Surgery
What they find determines how long he will be out.
SPWalker Buehler R
3-1 2.12 ERA 26K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Trea Turner R
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Turner R
CF C. Bellinger L
LF Chris Taylor R
2B Gavin Lux L
Partly-cloudy-day
1% Rain
61° Wind 12 mph R-L
SPWalker Buehler R
3-1 2.12 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Trea Turner R
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Turner R
CF C. Bellinger L
LF Chris Taylor R
2B Gavin Lux L
Partly-cloudy-day
1% RainL
Stroman has been pulled as the Cubs starter today and placed on what seems to be the Covid IL list.
The Cubs will sub Justin Steele, a lefty.
DODGERS OPTION JUSTIN BRUIHL
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned left-handed pitcher Justin Bruihl.
Bruihl, 24, appeared in eight games for the Dodgers, allowing three runs in 8.0 innings with six strikeouts. Last season, he made his Major League debut, appearing in 21 games (two starts), posting an 0-1 record with a 2.89 ERA (6 ER/18.2 IP) and 11 strikeouts. In parts of three minor league seasons, he is 14-2 with a 3.73 ERA (46 ER/111.0 IP) and 145 strikeouts. He was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent on July 15, 2017.
I have a question that this group may be able to answer. How much of the ball has to be in the robot ump zone to be called a strike. 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, etc..
Everyone is concerned about losing Bauer but if he came back today he’d be pitching at OKC. He couldn’t crack this starting staff! Now if he could hit .250 then we’d have to find him a glove for him!
Dodgers News: Pitcher Justin Bruihl Sent Down to Minor Leagues
Clint Pasillas
May 8
Today the Dodgers announced that they have optioned left-handed reliever Justin Bruihl to Triple-A. The move resets the roster back to 26 active players following Saturday’s doubleheader. Lefty pitcher Robbie Erlin who was brought up as the 27th man for the doubleheader will remain on the roster and offer some long relief to the bullpen.
Bruihl made 8 appearances so far this year, posting a 3.38 ERA over 8 innings of work. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut with LA last year, allowing 6 earned runs over 24 appearances including the postseason.
There are currently 14 pitchers on the active roster.
The Dodgers go for the series sweep in. Chicago tonight with Walker Buehler facing Marcus Stroman. The game can be seen exclusively on ESPN.
NOTES FROM INTERNET:
Fan Graphs on Landon Knack
This is a great article that not only sheds light onto Knack, but offers great, GREAT insight into Dodger pitcher development.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/dodgers-prospect-landon-knack-is-overpowering-when-healthy/
FanGraphs’ top 51 prospects for the Dodgers.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/los-angeles-dodgers-top-51-prospects-2022/
Very high on several coming prospects like Bruns, Henriquez and Doncon.
Loved this note under Henriquez:
The Dodgers tend to deploy their young pitchers with extreme caution. Henriquez often worked fewer than three innings at a time in 2021, and he only exceeded four innings once. That continues to be the procedure early in 2022.
N.B. the “Waaiiiit For It” section
Franklin De La Paz, LHP
Justin Wrobleski, LHP
De La Paz, 23, sits 92-93 mph and has a plus-plus slider. He’s rehabbing from TJ. Wrobleski’s TJ rehab is nearly complete. The Dodgers’ 2021 11th rounder was in the low-90s with a good breaking ball before he blew out.
Dan Szymborski Chat:
QUESTION: How worried are you about Jusin Turner and Nelson Cruz?
Dan Szymborski: Quite a bit. These are absolutely horrible starts.
Adam: What would happen if everyone played the entirety of their head-to-head matchups consecutively? I.e. the Dodgers-Giants played each other for one three-week stretch, split between SF and LA. Would the familiarity with the pitchers have any kind of significant impact on offense
Dan Szymborski: I’m not sure it would necessarily be a huge impact…I think it woudl get really tiring though. HERE COMES GAME 15 OF THE 17 GAME SERIES
The Dodgers are reportedly in talks to play in Paris, France in 2025, according to Reuters.
Assorted Minor League observations from FutureDodgers and/or Josh Thomas:
Speaking of Knack, the Dodgers top three picks from 2020 (Knack, Bobby Miller, and Clayton Beeter) now all in the rotation for Tulsa
Clayton Beeter just keeps on putting together quality outings and piling up the Ks, after tonight’s start he has 31 in just 15.2 innings, the line:
4.0 IP
3 hits
1 run (earned)
2 BBs
8 Ks (7/8 swinging)
Ronan Kopp is off to an unreal start with Rancho Cucamonga – after today’s outing he has 26 Ks in just 12.1 innings, and he lowered his ERA to 0.73. The line:
2.0 IP
2 hits
0 runs
1 BB
4 Ks (all swinging, all on secondaries, and this a 6′-7″ 19 year old up to 99, that’s all)
19 year old Edgardo Henriquez, who has been up to 98 in the past, had the best outing of his young career. Dodger fans, it looks like there might be another one. The line:
4.0 IP
1 hit
0 runs
0 BBs
6 Ks
Speaking of shoulder discomfort, it’s going to be a little while for left-handed Andrew Heaney, who last pitched on April 17. Heaney is supposed to play catch this weekend, the first step toward getting back on the mound. From Juan Toribio at MLB.com: “Once he gets cleared to pitch, Heaney will have to make several rehab starts before rejoining the Dodgers.”
Yeah the girls are prettier, but they know nothing about Dodger baseball like the four well educated and extremely intelligent and good looking guys in the photo. How is that for a line????? LOL> Watford, Patch and B&P are all great guys and I would spend time with them any day. Same with Mark. RIP Mickey Gilley. Almost totally responsible for the Urban Cowboy craze. His club, Gilley’s, was the go to venue back in the day and the movie made it more so. Great artist. The Girls All Get Prettier at Closing Time was a cowboy’s anthem.
Dodgers: Andrew Heaney Takes First Step In Returning to Mound
The Dodgers starting staff has been one of the best in baseball so far this season. Surprisingly, journeyman left-hander Andrew Heaney was a key part of the rotation’s success in April. He was arguably their best starter in the early going.
In his first two starts of the season, Heaney did not allow a single earned run in 10.1 IP. The lefty hurler logged 16 strikeouts and a microscopic 0.68 WHIP. It looked like the Dodgers and Heaney had really unlocked something for the former first-round pick.In his first two starts of the season, Heaney did not allow a single earned run in 10.1 IP. The lefty hurler logged 16 strikeouts and a microscopic 0.68 WHIP. It looked like the Dodgers and Heaney had really unlocked something for the former first-round pick.
Then, it all came to a screeching halt. Heaney was placed on the injured list after his April 17th start against the Reds. After a couple of weeks of less-than-encouraging news, NBC Sports reported on Saturday morning that Heaney is set to begin a throwing program over the weekend.
In honor of Mother’s day, the Dodgers are bringing out their brooms today to sweep up the Cubbies!!!!!
It looks like a lopsided mismatch with Ace Walker Bueller going against the Cubs who originally had left handed punching bag Daniel Norris scheduled, but seems to have changed their minds and will be sending out Marcus Stroman instead.
Today’s game in on Sunday Night Baseball at 4PM PDT, or shortly thereafter. So, instead of hearing Joe Davis and the revolving door of Dodgers analysts, we’ll have the pleasure of listening to 9 innings of Dodgers bashing.
So, the Dodgers have the best pitching and they score the most runs per game. They also play in the best division in baseball, they have the best record, tied with they Yankees for the moment. Their run differential +68 is +19 runs better than the next best team. I wonder what will happen when MLB makes a knee jerk reaction by “fixing” the baseball mid-season without telling anyone.
Just figured out that Bum is a jinx. Yesterday he proposed that the Dodgers trade BOTH Muncy and Bellinger for Byron Buxton. Yesterday Buxton left the game with an undisclosed injury and is day to day. Buxton is a talented player to be sure, but he is more brittle than a 100 year old man with arthritis. He is injured way to much and has missed more time than most. Sorry. I never make that trade. Cody might not be the Cody of 2017,, but he still does some great things on the field and his defense is second to none.
I think it was already established that no more talk about Bauer, but I read something and I don’t know how real it is, it is said that MLB offered him a deal in which if he pleads guilty, they reduce his punishment to 99 games or days , taking into account what has already been lost, so he could return very soon, but he does not want to make that deal because he insists on pleading not guilty…
I also read that all the team members have already declared that “Bauer has been banished and forgotten” and they don’t want to know more about him…
I imagine that the Dodgers front office supports Bauer in his decision NOT TO PLEASE GUILTY… This saves more than $60 million…
And finally, without that debt, how much is this year’s payroll? I guess below the cap, which means there will be no penalty or loss of draft spots. Right?
Hope you are having a great time guys!
Since I do not know you personally : who is who in the picture?
Is this the best Dodgers pitching in the first 25 games ever?
At least it feels hat way.
Go Dodgers!
So we must be doing SOMETHING in the top half to account for all those runs.
Walks-5th
Strikeouts (least) 5th
OBP 3rd