What To Do With Cody Bellinger?

I’ll give you a better question… What do the Dodgers do with Joey Gallo and Chris Taylor? Joey Gallo is a great defensive outfielder, while CT3 is average to above average, but CT3 strikes out at a 40% rate, and Gallo strikes out at a 46% rate, Cody strikes out at a 30% rate while being the best Defensive Center Fielder in baseball. At this stage of the season, the Dodgers are a better team with Bellinger patrolling centerfield, but they are dramatically weaker with CT3 and Gallo on the team… unless they both can up their collective games.

Cody’s numbers are abysmal, but CT3 and Gallo may be worse overall because Bellinger plays a premium position at an elite level. However, last night Trayce Thompson looked a lot like Cody Bellinger in CF. He just keeps doing it. Of course, CT3 isn’t going anywhere. I guess we will see how the Gallo Project progresses. Cody will be on the playoff roster, but it is looking more and more like he will platoon with Trayce… even though his splits don’t add up.

Longer term, I think that after the season is over, Cody is going to have to consent to have his swing overhauled this winter. The Dodgers will offer him arbitration and hope that it works. Something is slowing down his swing. Maybe it’s strengthening exercises; maybe it’s muscle memory; maybe he just needs a clean slate; maybe he just needs a new voice or direction. I have not given up on his talent – he can hit the crap out of some pitches and others he has no chance on. We did see him change course in the playoffs last year… so there is that. For those of you who think Trayce Thompson is the future, remember that Bellinger is 27. He will be 28 next July. Trayce will be 32 next year and has a more extensive injury history than Bellinger. Bellinger had all his injuries in essentially one year. Thompson has had multiple injuries.

Can a “swing overhaul” work? Well, for a player with Cody’s talent, arbitration and the overhaul are certainly worth a try. Guys with that talent level do not grow on trees. But, right about now… the Dodgers have a Championship to win – that means the best players have to be on the field. You saw who played CF and got the game-winning hit. You also saw who closed. Dave Roberts’ mouth is going to praise Kimbrel, but when your closer has not gotten a single one-out save in a season, you don’t let him pitch in a game like last night. I would have demoralized the team! I cannot see him on the playoff roster, and I hope Yency Almonte hurries up and recovers.

Pick a RHP… Quick – Pick One!

The Dodgers have three right-handed pitchers who are all near major league ready. You have seen one: Ryan Pepiot, whose only issue is confidence and control of his pitches. He doesn’t always know where his pitches are going. When he misses, he misses BIG TIME, which means he wastes a lot of pitches. Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone also miss, but they don’t miss as wildly. Well, Bobby Miller does occasionally, but even when Gavin misses, he’s near his spots.

Gavin started his first AAA game and pitched a hitless four innings before he was taken out. Could it be he is being prepared to pitch some shorter stints with the Big Club? I am telling you: HE IS READY. Pepiot and Miller are close. Take Stone out of the oven – he’s done! I even have his “walk up” song ready:

Compare their stats. Tell me what you see!

Future Dodgers Down on the Farm

• OKC won Game 1 of their Double Header 4-1 and lost Game 2 by a score of 20-4
  • Gavin Stone pitched four hitless, scoreless innings in Game 1
  • In game two, Andre Jackson gave up Four Runs, Pedro Baez gave up Five Runs, and Yadier Alvarez gave up Eight Runs. Tommy Lasorda could have done better!
  • Miguel Vargas was 3-4 (all doubles) in Game 1. He will absolutely be one of the call-ups in September.
  • The Bazooka pitched .2 innings in Game 1 and gave up a hot and a strikeout in his scoreless stint.
  • Carson Fulmer got his 10th save, but he has been struggling of late.
• Tulsa was NO-HIT 3-0 by 29-year-old Journeyman, Daniel Gossett
  • Landon Knack had a decent outing: 4 IP, 3 Hits, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
  • Move on- Nothing to see here.
• Great Lakes beat Lansing 12-7
  • Vivas, Leonard, Ramos, and Keith all had two hits.
  • Damon Keith hit his 4th A+ HR.
  • Jose Ramos now has 91 RBI.
  • Imanol Vargas was 4-6
• Rancho Cucamonga beat the Nuts 12-8
  • C Yenier Fernandez was 1-3 with his 9th HR, 3 Runs Scored, 2 RBI, and 2 BB.
  • Yunior Garcia hir 3 HR and was 5-5 with 6 RBI
  • Maddux Bruns got smoked. Don’t talk about it! Move on!