Wong Time!
At one time, Kolten Wong was a very good second baseman. While never an All-Star, as a LH hitter, he has a career .742 OPS against RHP. He is exclusively a second baseman and plays Gold Glove defense at the position. He likely has no future in 2024 with the Dodgers, but he could…
At one time, Kolten Wong was a very good second baseman. While never an All-Star, as a LH hitter, he has a career .742 OPS against RHP. He is exclusively a second baseman and plays Gold Glove defense at the position. He likely has no future in 2024 with the Dodgers, but he could have a future in October for them! In 2021, Eddie Rosario, who was a journeyman, was traded to the Braves and proceeded to go off in the playoffs.
The same thing happened with Ronnie Belliard in 2009. The Dodgers traded Luis Garcia and Victor Garate to the Nationals on August 31m 2009, and the Dodgers “First Belli” proceeded to hit .351 with a 1.034 OPS the last month of the season. He also had 5 HR and seven doubles! He also hit .316 in the NLCS, which the Dodgers lost to the Phillies in five games.
Kolten Wong is 5′ 7″ tall and is a LH batter who, in the past, has hit 15 HR and up to 32 doubles in a season. He will be 33 years old on October 10th, and this could be his time! He played eight seasons with the Cardinals and then was signed as a Free Agent with the Brewers in 2021. He had decent years in 2021 and 2022, with the Brewers hitting 14 HR with 32 doubles in 2021 and 15 HR with 24 doubles in 2022. At the beginning of this season, he signed a $10 million dollar deal with Seattle and proceeded to fall off the face of the earth! In 216 Plate Appearances, he made Miguel Vargas look like Babe Ruth, as he hit .169.
Kolten was released by the Mariners on August 3, 2023, and the Dodgers signed him six days later! At OKC, the Dodgers worked with him on his swing and in 13 ABs he had 7 hits and OPSed 1.494. In order to be “Playoff Ready,” the Dodgers had to promote him to the roster yesterday. Yonny Hernandez was the odd-man-out. Kolten arrived at the same last night and proceeded to pinch hit in the 8th inning with the Dodgers down 6-0.
I am not worried that the Dodgers have lost two straight to the Braves. I would like to see a split, but I will not worry, even if the Braves sweep the Series. I want the Dodgers to have that fresh in their memories. I am not worried about Lance Lynn – he is who he is, and he will figure it out. I am worried about Julio Urias! His velocity is noticeably diminished. Earlier in the season, he could hit 95 or 96 MP – now he struggles to hit 92 MPH. After watching him closely last night, I believe he is concealing an arm injury. Tommy John may be knocking on Julio’s door!
Who will step up? The Old Man and the Kid, plus Pepiot? Maybe Sheehan, Grove, and/or Stone and Yarbrough! Julio is pitching himself off the playoff roster. Of course, he has a few weeks to right the ship, but if it is that dreaded UCL, this ain’t good! This could be fun to watch! Or not…
Minor League News
At Rancho Cucamonga, Kendall George is raking like a madman and has 12 SB in 76 ABs. He had two hits last night as did Thayron Liranzo, Wilman Diaz, and Jake Gelof. This is the new wave of Dodger prospects.
R.I.P. Jimmy Buffett
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Discussion (69)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Separate issue, but this series could demoralize this team, have a bad feeling what a sweep will do to them.
Maybe they didn’t score because the Braves pitchers did their jobs. My problem is that I have always disliked platoons. Roberts does it all of the time. I think you win or lose with your best players on the field. He burned their best three relievers. Then he brings Vesia back out to start the 10th. Sorry, I have no trust in that guy.
Acuna’s blast had an exit velocity of 121.2 mph.
Egad.
Hope the Dodgers can avoid a sweep. Either way, the Braves should be a confident team. We can hope for over-confident. But the Dodgers clearly need to be at their best against this team.
USC 66 Nevada 14. Oregon scored 81 against Portland State.
Well at least now we know who the best team in baseball is and the NL MVP
The Dodgers collected their first minor league title this season as the Dominican Summer League concluded their season today and LAD Bautista won the best-of-3 series, two games to one game over the Pirates Gold team, winning the third game 9-5.
In the winner-take-all final, 17-year-old Joendry Vargas homered in the first inning to give his team a lead that they never lost. Vargas would go 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. The Dodgers would take a 8-2 lead before Pirates scored three runs in the late inning to make the final score.
Vargas signed last January for 2.08 million and had an excellent professional debut in the Dominican Summer League. Vargas hit .328/.423/.529 in 208 plate appearances, with 31 strikeouts against 30 walks. Listed at 6’4”/175 and not turning 18 until November, it will be interesting to see if he stays at shortstop.