What s Up Doc?
Doc is what is up! Dave Roberts, who in his rookie season as the Dodger s manager, won the Manager of the Year Award is a shoo-in to do it again in his second year. He s so far ahead, there s not a second place. Of course, FAZ gave him an embarrassment of riches, but he has managed it almost flawlessly. I still know of three or four morons who criticize FAZ
Doc is what is up!
Dave Roberts, who in his rookie season as the Dodger’s manager, won the Manager of the Year Award is a shoo-in to do it again in his second year. He’s so far ahead, there’s not a second place. Of course, FAZ gave him an embarrassment of riches, but he has managed it almost flawlessly. I still know of three or four morons who criticize FAZ by trying to point to small failures (Olivera, maybe Schebler, Latos, Johnson, Cotton, Reddick, Montas, blah, blah, blah), but all you have to look at is the SCOREBOARD!
FAZ has proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they know how to build a juggernaut while still winning in the process. Usually, the new front office blows up the team and starts over but FAZ still went to the playoffs in their first two years and is now poised to win it all in year three. To the best of my knowledge, this has never been done before. The mockers have turned into the mockees (is that really a word?)! I told them for years that they were missing a good opportunity to shut up because they were just going to be exposed as blowhards… and now they are.
Now they have to shut up, but they still don’t. A few morons say that Guggenheim & Company “forced” Friedman to hire Roberts and that FAZ was set to hire Kapler. Somehow, they believe that this degrades FAZ. Well, there are lies and there are damned lies and that one is a damn lie! Totally untrue. It only deserves mention to berate the source of such drivel.
Dave Roberts has shut up his detractors too. When one type of slander doesn’t work, the FAZ detractors resort to other methods like “Dave Roberts is a puppet – he just does what FAZ says.” The people who say that are simply liars or ignoramuses… or both! DodgerRick was kind enough to post an article from USA TODAY (If you haven’t read it, I suggest you do) that takes a look inside of the Dodgers’ Front Office.
You want to know the secret behind the Dodgers’ success, reaching 83 victories faster than any National League team since 1944, there’s no need to look any further than their front office.
Its brand is Analytic Geek Squad, a group boasting Wall Street resumes, MIT diplomas and Ph.Ds.
Yet, while they routinely pore over statistical data with their players, they’re actually accepted and embraced within the clubhouse culture as one of their own – averting the chasm so often seen between players, field staff and front-office executives.
“The communication from Andrew, Farhan (Zaidi) and the multiple GMs around here is extremely comfortable,’’ Dodgers veteran pitcher Rich Hill says. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, wow, I can’t talk to him because he’s the president or the GM.’ There are no barriers or walls. The level of respect is there for everybody, and you just don’t find that in every organization. Hopefully, other organizations will look at this as a model for everyone.’’
Make no mistake, this is an organization that thrives on data. Players are given charts before each game on everything from defensive positioning to opposing pitchers’ tendencies to secretive injuries. Catcher Yasmani Grandal has a color-coded cheat sheet on his wrist band. Outfielders carry index cards in their back pockets during games, reminding them of their defensive placement. Players are given access to a proprietary statistical website.
Manager Dave Roberts is provided so much information before every game that he could launch a NASA program.
“But the perception that those guys are just kind of number guys,’’ Roberts says, “couldn’t be further than the truth. They’re down in the clubhouse all of the time, interacting with players and coaches, and bouncing ideas off one another. We talk just as much about clubhouse chemistry, and the right type of player we need, as much as we do the data.’’
And, please, the notion that the front office is making out the lineup card, Roberts says, is a narrative that needs to go away.
“That has never, ever happened,’’ Roberts says. “There’s always been that collaboration, bouncing thoughts off one another. We use all of the data from lineup construction to positioning to pitcher’s usage and matchups, but as far as the lineup cards, that’s my call.
“Ultimately, it’s my decision who is going to play.’’
This would be a good opportunity for all the detractors to just shut up. Maybe I am using some strong words, but I listened to this drivel about FAZ for years. The people who said it aren’t here on this board, but they are reading this and I know who they are and they know who they are. Most of us know who they are. It’s a free country, you can say stupid stuff. You can be an idiot who marches at Charlottesville. No matter how detestable your beliefs are, you are free to express them as long as you don’t injure another person or infringe on their rights. That’s true almost everywhere in America, but when you infringe on my rights by saying stupid stuff and cause me to lose brain cells, well, that’s where it stops. I can’t spare any more brain cells. You all know that!
OK, this rant is over. Have a wonderful day!
The batting order doesn’t really matter as much as we fans think that it does. DodgerRick also posted this yesterday on the Significance of Batting Order. It’s a worthy read. Logan Forsythe hit 5th, Puig hit 7th and Kike was the cleanup hitter. It’s didn’t matter – they were all instrumental in the come from behind win. Maybe we all should not miss this opportunity to shut up about the batting order (Myself Included). These guys are professionals – don’t try this at home!
Rants and Raves
- We aren’t hearing much about Brandon McCarthy. What’s up with that?
- Why does Clayton need a rehab start?” It’s just more innings. Have Stewart or Stripling or some other pitcher ready and see if Clayton can go 5 – I bet he can!
- Locastro was 3-5 again with his 2nd HR (.415 BS, 1.081 OPS) in game 1 and 1-4 in game 2
- Farmer played 3B and was 3-5 in game 1 and played 1B in Game 2
- Buehler pitched 1 inning and allowed 3 hits and a run. It’s taking a while to get him accustomed to relieving.
- Sborz and Sopko had good outings in Tulsa’s double header.
- Andre Ethier and Adrian Gonzalez both played for RC last night. Forget their numbers…. are they healthy? That’s all that counts.
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Discussion (84)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Exciting news to wake up to.
A win and a new player.
I don’t think there is a need to over think this move, other than FAZ sees it like most of us, in that Joc is just not producing.
They have given him a good shot, but Granderson is a definite upgrade.
Remember about this time last year when they traded AJ for Ruiz for his post season potential?
This is more of the same – giving us an even better shot st a WS.
Brooklyn – if it’s the pre cursor to a bigger move (Stanton), then we really are going “All In”.
Right now I don’t see where Granderson fits on the Dodgers. However, it’s late in NY (about 2:30 am), and my brain cells are on lockdown.
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Granderson could be a threat to Joc, but that would probably mean Taylor would move to CF, since Granderson can no longer play that position. It could also be the prelude to a larger deal that could be in the works (Stanton???????). If Joc is replaced, does that mean he could be included in that larger deal? Or could it be someone else on the current 25-man, since right now I don’t have a clue as to who Granderson would be replacing. Best guess is that we’ll find out in the coming days.
Vs righties:
Taylor 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Belly LF
Granderson CF
Gonzo 1B
Grandal
Puig RF
Vs Lefties:
Taylor CF
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Belly 1B
Kike LF
Forsythe 2B
Barnes C
Puig RF
Joc To AAA until Sept 1 and Forsythe out against righties would be my guess. No guarantees for Andre to make playoff roster. Could another move be coming?
Curtis Grander son to the Dodgers for a ptbnl or cash.
In memory of Lorrie, Dusti and Julianne who lost their lives 16 years ago on this day.
Yes! A sacrifice fly!
Gonzalez had a good AB in the first.
Remember when Jordan Zimmerman was good? I’m sure glad the Dodgers didn’t sign that guy.
What a team we have.
One inning to erase a 2-0 deficit and turn it into a 4-2 lead.
Incredible.
Joc trying another stance & swing…
Joc comes up short.
Puig comes up big.
Kershaw, Buehler, Wood, Otani and Urias… Katy bar the door!!!
The ‘Kid’ goes back to work… I had hoped they could have talked him into another one , but how sweet it is to be 22!!! I think I was that once!??! Let me see 1968, I was, hell, lucky to be alive… Nam and R&R… Yikes!!!
I Just read the Dodgers sent a contingent of Orel Hershier and Andrew Friedman, to visit Otani in Japan.
Around and stuff:
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Old friend Jharel Cotton’s most recent outing is representative of his season. Good, bad and the ugly. After a bad first two innings that saw him give up two runs, Cotton seemed to get back on track. The rookie’s changeup that seemed to be missing over the past month had returned to form. What transpired in the sixth was just plain ugly as Cotton’s run of good pitching lasted a grand total of three innings when he then he gave up a grand slam to Cam Gallagher.
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Cotton has allowed four runs or more in nine of his 18 starts this season as he fell to 5-10 with his ERA ballooning to 5.92.
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Schebler was activated today after a DL and rehab stint.
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Jose Peraza worked on a swing tweak with the Reds hitting coach and is 20-for-53 (.377) with a .419 on-base percentage, seven RBI and seven runs through his past 18 games.
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One time fan trade target Mike Leake has really fallen on hard times:
A year after posting a 9-12 record with a career-high 4.69 ERA, Leake is 7-11 with a respectable 3.88 ERA. His ERA is quite deceiving, though, because he has not been decent since May. He started the season with nine consecutive quality starts, posting a 5-2 record and 1.91 ERA in that span. Over the next 15 starts, though, he has only four quality starts. He was 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA in June, 1-3 with a 4.76 ERA in July and 0-2 with an 8.80 ERA in August. He gave up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings Tuesday night in the loss against Boston after giving up four runs in five innings in his previous start.
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Leake has a no-trade clause and, even worse for the Cardinals, three years and $53 million remaining on the five-year, $80 million contract the team gave him after the 2016 season.
The great Eric Longenhagen has an updated top 10 Dodgers prospect list:
1. Walker Buehler, RHP
2. Alex Verdugo, OF
3. Yadier Alvarez, RHP
4. Yusniel Diaz, OF
5. Jeren Kendall, OF
6. Mitch White, RHP
7. Starling Heredia, OF
8. Will Smith, C
9. Keibert Ruiz, C
10. Dustin May, RHP
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FanGraphs also had a nice writeup on LoCastro in their Fringe Five:
Tim Locastro, 2B/OF, Los Angeles NL (Profile)
Locastro first appeared among the Five in July of 2015, shortly after having been traded to the Dodgers from Toronto in exchange for an international bonus-pool slot. At the time, he was much more fringe than prospect. The infielder had been selected in the 13th round of the 2013 draft out of leafy Ithaca College, a school whose most recent major leaguer, Glen Cook, recorded 40.0 innings and a -0.7 WAR in 1985, a year that marked not only his rookie campaign but also his final season. Whatever its virtues, in other words, Ithaca hasn’t proven much as a “baseball factory.”
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Locastro, for his part, has proven to be a pretty useful ballplayer. The combination of contact skills and defensive ability that first earned him a place among the Five remain. Currently, however, he’s exhibiting them not for Division III school or Cal League team but rather the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate. In 82 appearances for Oklahoma City, he’s produced walk and strikeout rates of 6.1% and 13.4%, respectively, plus a .181 isolated-power figure and 10-for-11 stolen-base record. The 168 wRC+ mark he’s posted would place second of all qualified Triple-A batters — ahead, for example, of power-hitting Rhys Hoskins, who was just basically given Philadelphia’s left-field job. Despite sliding a bit down the positional spectrum as he’s ascended minor-league levels, Locastro appears capable of still providing positive defensive value.
Boy, I wasn’t even close…
Today’s lineup
Taylor
Seager
Turner
Belly
Grandal
Puig
Gonzo
Forsythe
Joc
My guess on the lineup:
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1. Taylor LF
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Bellinger 1B
5. Grandal C
6. A Gon DH
7. Pederson CF
8. Puig RF
9. Utley 2B
DODGERS REINSTATE ADRIÁN GONZÁLEZ
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today reinstated first baseman Adrián González (lumbar disc herniation) from the 60-day disabled list and optioned infielder/outfielder Rob Segedin to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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González went 6-for-31 with a homer and six RBI during a nine-game rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A Oklahoma City and last appeared in a big-league game on June 11. In 49 games with Los Angeles this season, he’s hit .255 with 11 doubles, a homer and 23 RBI, and enters tonight’s game just four hits shy of 2,000 for his career.
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Segedin appeared in just one game with Los Angeles after being reinstated from the DL (right great toe strain and right wrist surgery), and has gone 1-for-7 in three games with the Dodgers this year.
August 17, 2017 MINOR LEAGUE REPORT
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OKC 4-3 winners over Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals). David Hale started and pitched into the 7th inning allowing 3 runs on 9 hits, 0 walks, and 2K. Josh Ravin and Jeremy Bleich finished up the victory with 2.1 scoreless innings. Offensively Alex Verdugo, Edwin Rios, and Charlie Culberson each had two hits. Trayce Thompson launched his 9th HR of the season. Justin Masterson takes the mound tonight for the OKC Dodgers.
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The Tulsa Drillers beat Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros) 2-1 for a 3 game series sweep. This was advertised to be a great pitching matchup between Mitchell White and Forest Whitley. It did not quite live up to the hype because White only pitched 3 innings. White pitched out of trouble in the first two innings before giving up a solo HR to former 1st round draftee (2015), Kyle Tucker in the third. Layne Somsen, Shea Spitzbarth, and Corey Copping finished the final 6 innings. Spitzbarth got the win, while Copping got his 15th save. Behind 1-0 in the 8th, Erick Mejia led off with a double and after Drew Jackson drew a walk after falling behind 0-2, and both scored on a throwing error by Hooks’ 3B Arturo Michelena, on an Errol Robinson high bouncer.
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I know I have been tough on Yadier Alveraz. And while he still may become a top of the rotation starter, at 21 and struggling at AA (after struggling at A+), he does not have Ace written yet. To me, a pitcher like Forest Whitley who is 19 and has reached AA this year, and threw a dominating 6 shutout innings against a potential post season Drillers team, that is a potential Ace, and someone worth following (even though he is not a Dodger). Tonight the Drillers go against another highly respected pitcher, 2016 1st round pick of the Padres, Cal Quantril (mlb.com #43 prospect). Scott Barlow goes to the bump for the Drillers
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RC shutout the Stockton Ports (A’s) 8-0. Parker Curry started and went 5 innings. Daniel Corcino and Dean Kremer pitched the final 4 innings for the shutout victory. The trio allowed 5 hits, 4 walks, and 11K. Offensively the Quakes were led by a foursome’s two run homeruns. Keibert Ruiz was the star last night with 3 hits and his 6th Quake HR. DJ Peters went 2-4 with his 24th double and league lead tieing 24th HR. Quincy Lattimore went 2-3 and his 1st RC HR. Luke Raley went 2-4 with his 14th HR. Ibandel Isabel added two doubles to the hit parade. Caleb Ferguson looks for his 9th victory on the season tonight.
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Great Lakes were 8-1 winners over the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays). Leo Crawford continued with his yo-yo season, started and went 7.1 innings. He allowed the single run on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 3K. The former UCSB Gaucho reliever, James Carter, was effective again in his 5th game with the Loons, finishing up the final 1.1 inning, allowing 1 hit and 2K. Cody Thomas and Jeren Kendall each had two hits. Kendal also had two walks. Gavin Lux continued his hot August with another hit.
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Ogden was trounced by Great Falls Voyagers (White Sox) 19-2. There were no positive pitching moments for the raptors unless you can consider the 1B/OF/C Luis Paz with his 1 pitch double-play ball to end the 8th a positive pitching moment. Donovan Casey went 2-4, and Garrett Hope hit his 6th HR were the only offensive highlights. Carlos Felix takes the mound tonight for the Raptors.
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AZL Dodgers beat the AZL Reds 7-3. Jose Chacin started and went 5 innings for his 3rd win. Stetson Allie continued his conversion to pitcher with another good 1 inning in relief. Overall, Allie has been in 6 games, completing 5 IP, 2H, 1 unearned run, 4BB, and 5K. I wish both Allie and Ike Davis well in their quest to continue their careers as pitchers. Offensively Jair Camargo went 2-4 with a double and his 2nd HR, Jacob Amaya went 2-4 with his 1st professional HR, and Shakir Albert went 2-4 with a double and his 2nd HR. This was Jacob Amaya’s 1st multi hit professional game.
As of today Mayweather is -400 and as much as I don’t like him he has never lost which means his money line always cashes. McGregor has a punchers chance of course but all the top BOXERS have never done it, that is pin Floyd down and land combinations or even a good left hook. He dances away, uses his speed to land combinations and piles up points. He is not a knockout guy, but McGregor is not much of a boxer so it is possible. I see a dominating decision because that is Floyd’s thing but this price shows me the betting public does not understand boxing. MMA rules a different story, but McGregor is just there for the payday.
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On a side note I like the Dodgers to win today and extend their win streak. I’m curious to see when AGon is activated since he can DH in these games with Detroit.
We have Roberts!!! Why the spin out… He’ll sign an extension after the season…
Watford you’re right!!! With Verdugo in the wings it’s wait n see…
The fight Watford, the fight!!! I’ve got MMA going down in 6 or less and then we shall eliminate future thoughts of a cage dude entering the ring…
Now it’s on to Detroit to sack n pillage…
Stanton doesn’t seem like a FAZ type signing with that huge contract.
MJ,
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I read a recent interview about Roberts hiring – I’m not going to spend a lot of time looking, but TrueBlueLA wrote this:
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“Former Dodgers outfielder and current Padres bench coach Dave Roberts has interviewed with the Dodgers for their vacant managerial position, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, who also reported the Dodgers aren’t close to a decision on their next manager.
Roberts was mentioned as a possible candidate for the Dodgers’ job by Rosenthal on Oct. 22, the day manager Don Mattingly and the club mutually agreed to part ways. Roberts, 48, was also a finalist for the Mariners manager job that went to Scott Servais.”
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Open on www.truebluela.comhttps://www.truebluela.com/2015/11/3/9665066/dave-roberts-dodgers-manager-interview–
Roberts was on the list from the beginning. The other stuff is just BS from a couple of idiots at LADR!
I just randomly picked the 1979 Dodger team to compare to this year’s team:
1B – Bellinger or Garvey? Garvey was great, but I take Bellinger…. after 1 season.
2B – Lopes over Forsythe and Utley
SS – Seager over Russell – no comparison
3B – Turner and Cey are close
LF – Taylor over Baker
CF – Derrell Thomas over Pederson
RF – Puig and Reggie Smith – this was late in Reggies’ Career and Puig was better here.
C – Grandal and Barnes over Yeager and Ferguson
Bench – The 2017 team is deeper
Pitching – Team ERA in 1979 was 3.89. The 2017 is barely over 3.05.
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I think Seager and Bellinger and Kershaw end up in the HOF. The 1979 Dodgers had ZERO. Just my opinion.
MJ said:
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“The Dodgers owners were also a big part of bringing Roberts to the Dodgers, because they asked to see more manager candidates, and that isn’t a knock on the front office, that is the truth.”
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I have it on very good authority that it is not the truth… that Roberts was on the list from the beginning. Give me proof from some credible source that is true and I will believe it, but I don’t think you can. I know some have SAID that, but that does not make it true. Friedman and Kasten have denied it.
Barnes did great job of hitting last night. Forsythe doubles, none out, and Barnes tried to get a hit on the first two strikes and then he hits a grounder to second. Forsythe then scores on a wild pitch. That is the kind of small ball they need to play. Doc and the other players congratulated Barnes as if he hit a HR. Then he does get a hit in the 9th. and scores the winning run. A lot to like about that kid.