Why All the Retreads at AAA?
A few fans have questioned why the Dodgers have a plethora of “retreads,” “has-beens,” “never were’s,” and “wannabees” at AAA OKC. Now, I do not want to disrespect the ability it takes and the work it requires to say nothing of the talent needed to play at the AAA level. Many of…
A few fans have questioned why the Dodgers have a plethora of “retreads,” “has-beens,” “never were’s,” and “wannabees” at AAA OKC. Now, I do not want to disrespect the ability it takes and the work it requires to say nothing of the talent needed to play at the AAA level. Many of these guys have played 5, 10, 15… even 20 years chasing a dream… one that they may or may not achieve. Specifically, the Dodgers have the following players:
- Matt Andriese – Age 34 this year
- Dylan Covey – Age 32 this year
- William Cuevas – Age 33 this year
- Tyler Cyr – Age 30 this year
- Robbie Erlin – Age 33 this year
- Adam Kolarek – Age 34 this year
- Tayler Scott – Age 31 this year
- David Freitas – Age 34 this year
- Patrick Mazeika – Age 30 this year
Then they have Steven Duggar, Bradley Zimmer, Ben DeLuzio, and others are also on the AAA roster. Many of these players have “opt-outs.” That simply means that if another team needs a player at a certain position, they can opt out and join that team. That will absolutely happen. Some players will quit, some will take coaching positions with the Dodgers or other teams and this will leave openings in the second half of the season for promotions such as Pages, DeLuca, Cartaya, Sheehan, Knack, and others to move up to AAA (if they deserve it) while other rookies take their places at A-ball and above. That’s not how every team does it, but that is how the Dodgers do it. I would say that overall, it is a good plan.
Last Night’s Debacle
- The loss last night might have counted as three games – it was so ugly! Fortunately, it only counts as one. Tony Gonsolin was going great last night until he tried to throw some off-speed funky stuff to a guy who has never hit a pitch over 90 MPH. Bad idea… and then it got worse. Overall, he looked good. 0 ER! 3 H, 0 BB, 6 K’s and his ERA is 1.93. FIGURES LIE!
- I don’t care what Doc said, I would think that, at the very least, Caleb Ferguson will go on paternity leave today, and Justin Bruihl or Gavin Stone will get recalled… especially with Thor pitching. I am hoping for the best, but expecting the worst – he has conditioned us that way! The Dodgers are going to need “all arms on deck!”
- It was the Dodger’s choice not to put Miguel Vargas on the IL while he waited for his thumb to heal. So, stating he has difficulty with fastballs is like saying the most obvious thing you can see: “It sure is dark at night… who knew?” The good news, is he has played a very good 2B, stabilizing the infield, and his thumb is close to healed. He also is 5th on the team among qualified players with a .341 OB% – not great, but not bad when you have a thumb that won’t let you get around quickly. The Dodgers want him to be more aggressive, and I think he will – it’s just that when your thumb hurts to swing… you may not be quite as aggressive. Look for him to get hot soon.
- Michael Busch showed that he is a work in progress at 3B. I am higher on Mike Busch at 3B than I have ever been. He has never played there, and it will involve some pain. He may go down to AAA for a while (or not), but he has the tools to play that position.
- David Peralta keeps showing us flashes but has not sustained his hitting efforts. The clock is ticking: June 1st!
- CT3 is breaking out of a two-year slump! He is a very key part of this team!
- Phil Bickford has used up most of his nine lives! He has no options left, but they can’t keep rolling him out there! I Wander about Suero too! Roster moves are in the air!
- How about some good news on Daniel Hudson, JP Feyersein, Alex Reyes, Ryan Pepiot, Mike Grove, and Jimmy Nelson? There are rumors that Jimmy is done!
- Is it going to take JDM two or three weeks to regain the stroke he was trying to regain?
- Bronny James: Overrated and Overhyped? Probably!
R.I.P. Gordon Lightfoot
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (75)
Disagree, not disagreeable
While I’m falling in love (again) with the notion of Matt Chapman at 3B, I’m struck by how the Dodgers farm system seems so thin in the infield. A lot of pitchers, some really good catchers, some promising outfielders… but what about SS and 3B?
Hoese was drafted ahead of Busch to be 3B of the future, but he’s looking like a career minor leaguer. I guess Rayne Doncon is the top SS prospect now, but he’s a few years away and some say is better suited to 2B. They drafted a bunch of shortstops recently, and signed some intriguing international talent–but they are also years away and are not touted as “sure things.”
Anyway, while we are waiting for Lux to return, I hope AF & Associates targets some of top SS and 3B prospects out there. The Yankees are looking to deal some of their depth, and I’m sure some other teams might be interested in the Dodgers’ talent.
Duke Not Snider
Good post about 7 posts up. Outman more likely to be sent down than Vargas. WHAT? HOW? I would post the slashlines but what’s the point.
Predictions vs results. I’ll go with results.
Bron gets his stroke going on 3’s it’s going to crank up this run another notch.
Open on www.tiktok.comhttps://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRK6Lh5W/Just looked it up…
Matt Chapman was apparently born in Victorville and attended El Toro High before Cal State Fullerton. So yes, he probably considers SoCal to be home.
Maybe he cheered for the Angels as a kid, or maybe the Dodgers. But the Angels have about $30 million per year tied up in Rendon. (D’oh!) Anyway, this could give the Dodgers an edge when Chapman is a free agent….
And how is en fuego is Smith?
If he had enough ABs to qualify, Smith’s .329 BA would be 5th in the NL. His OPS of 1.026 is 6th among all NL players. (BTW, slap hitter Luis Arraez is now hitting .412. Last year Rod Carew said Arraez is his favorite hitter. He has 8 extra-base hits and 41 singles.)
BTW, one of the guys who is outhitting Smith is Matt Chapman.
“On fire” it is said in spanish “está encendido” so it is said “Smith está encendido” or “Smith anda encendido”. Said it respectfully
Brusdar still can’t miss enough bats! Frustrating!
Smith en fuego!
Mark’s nervous tic keeps coming up.
If he has a chance to diss Outman, he takes it. This time he repeats his assertion that Outman is more likely to be sent down to the farm than Vargas. He quickly adds that he also thinks neither will… But why the gratuitous dig? Is it because he thinks Outman is just too “lucky” and actually lacks the potential of Busch, Pages, DeLuca, Ramos and Busch?
The good news is that Vargas is really coming around with the bat. The other good news is that Outman–and not Mark’s favorite rookie–who has emerged as a legit ROY contender. But hey, it’s still early! Still, the notion that Vargas’s defense has “solidified” the infield is quite a reach. Roberts, who never shies away lavishing praise on his players, described Vargas defense as “OK” and that he expects it to improve. We’ve all seen Vargas miss plays that a first-rate second baseman makes. Anyway, Vargas has always been known more for his bat than his glove–and if he delivers OK defense, well, that’s OK.
As for 3B, I don’t think Busch is the answer. He is, as they say, “serviceable.” n If Busch had “the tools” for 3B–the lightning quickness, the powerful arm–he’d have been put there years ago. Max clearly has the stronger arm–and Max ain’t exactly Arenado back there. The fact that Vargas was moved to 2B tells me that Dodgers don’t see him as the answer either.
The answer could be that guy in Toronto who is playing great in his walk year. As I’ve mentioned before, AF should have dealt for Matt Chapman when he had the chance. He’s a Gold Glover and now having a great year with the bat. (He bats from the right side.) If the Dodgers fail to land Ohtani, perhaps they could invest in Chapman. Not sure what town Chapman considers “home,” but he went to Cal State Fullerton (like JT and Tim Wallach) and might want to play in SoCal. Perhaps he grew up dreaming to wear Dodger blue.
Fantasy 2024 non-Ohtani lineup:
Mookie RF
Freeman 1B
Smith C
Muncy DH
Chapman 3B
Outman CF
Vargas 2B
Lux SS
Taylor/Heyward/??? LF
I think TT’s time is up. It’s just been a train wreck!
That’s the first time this season I’ve seen Vargas pull a 95+ pitch for a homer. YES! PROGRESS!!
Miggy’s thumb is getting better!
No, Mookie spookedness there
I believe in GS!
What he’s doing now is not sustainable, but I still love the kid’s potential, and he’s doing fine. Fingers crossed for Outman to learn the art of contact/fouling away 2-strike pitches. Then his K’s will drop, he’ll extend his at-bats, get more hits, and become a batting star. But easier said than done.
Well at least Syndergaard pitched a shutout inning tonight! That will drop his era.
Smith has been locked in all season.
Thor gone, big trouble, no easy answer(s) for 5th starter, …except to rake like crazy and outscore the opp when another (5th SP) goes to the mound.
Thor to the IL.
Gavin Stone is back!
OK, this is not good… a blister!
Thor is toast – you can see it in his body language. He is beaten!
Good start. Cuz a W might take a lot of runs tonite.
Shiny things cost money Bear! Both are hall of fame pitchers, both are old. Wouldn’t count on them, but I wouldn’t count against them either! Without them Mets are done. Very important start for syndergard tonight. Can’t keep running him out there pitching like he has been. Hopefully he can give the dodgers 5-6 decent innings
7:40 PM ET
Dodgers (21-15) 1st place
Brewers (20-15) .5 GB
SP Noah Syndergaard R
1-3 6.32 ERA 31.1IP 21K
SP Eric Lauer L
3-3 4.40 ERA 30.2 IP 29K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
LF Chris Taylor R
3B Max Muncy L
2B M. Vargas R
DH James Outman L
CF T. Thompson R
SS Miguel Rojas R
In Domed Stadium
A’s have several locations on their minds for a ballpark in Vegas. They sure need to get out of Oakland.
I guess AF was pretty smart not to chase Scherzer when he was a free agent. He is missing another scheduled start due to a ache and pain. Being old, I understand what he is feeling. But I am totally happy he is a Met and not a Dodger. Those two contracts for him and Verlander were ridiculous.
DODGERS RECALL JUSTIN BRUIHL
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled left-handed pitcher Justin Bruihl and placed left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson on the paternity list.
Bruihl, 25, returns for his second stint with the Dodgers after appearing in five games in his first stint with Los Angeles. He went 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA (1 ER/5.0 IP) with four strikeouts in five games for the Dodgers. With Triple-A Oklahoma City, he was 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/9.0 IP) over seven appearances. In 50 games (two starts) for the Dodgers, he is 1-1 with a 3.23 ERA (17 ER/47.1 IP) and 28 strikeouts while limiting left-handed hitters to a .202 (19-for-94) batting average against with 15 strikeouts. The southpaw was originally signed as non-drafted free agent on July 15, 2017 after finishing his collegiate career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
Ferguson, 26, has appeared in 15 games for the Dodgers, allowing two runs in 14.1 innings while striking out 14. He has limited left-handed hitters to a .136 (3-for-22) batting average while garnering a career-best 0.84 WHIP on the campaign. In his five seasons with the Dodgers, he is a combined 13-5 with a 3.24 ERA (58 ER/161.1 IP) and 191 strikeouts in 148 games (seven starts). He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 38th round of the 2014 First Year Player Draft out of West Jefferson High School (Oh.).