I think all this winning is going to get old! Just Kidding! I’m not joking when I say this team might win 120 games! Even in a bullpen game against the Giants Ace, they looked dominant. With 5 HR in his first seven games, Mookie Bettes is on pace for 115 Home Runs! Yeah, that will happen! Ohtani, Outman, and Lux have not even got untracked. Hopefully, when Mookie cools down, they will step up.
And why did the Dodgers trade him for a player that they released yesterday? Issues like this are never spelled out in the media. You really can’t even read between the lines. The beat writers and team officials all know about what is happening behind the scenes, and they talk to guys like Caleb Ferguson, but if they want “access” there are certain things they simply cannot say. It is understood. Let me illustrate.
About 10-11 years ago, Jon Broxton was the Dodgers’ closer, and he had a way of coughing up the lead. I wrote a blog and called him a “second-tier closer.” A few weeks later, I was at Spring Training and interviewing Logan White, and I asked him why the Dodgers had a “second-tier” closer on camera. He acted indignant and said, “Mark, that is unfair. He is really a solid closer, and we have all the confidence in the world in Jon.“ When the interview was over and the camera was off, as we walked out, Logan put his hand on my shoulder and whispered, “Yeah, he’s a second-tier closer.” I never told that story until a bout a year ago. Hopefully, Logan doesn’t read LADT!
I am not saying that Caleb Ferguson was a bad guy, but he was left off the playoff roster, and he complained that he should be closing. He thought he was better than Phillips or that (at least) they should share the closing role. I think it was just immaturity. He had a new baby – his life changed, and stuff happened. People around baseball know all this. I knew this, and so did other bloggers. The Yankees were willing to take a flyer on Caleb and hopefully, it works out, but they weren’t willing to play much.
Or maybe you believe that Andrew Friedman could have gotten a lot more in return from Ferguson but chose to just give him away? If you think that, you are certainly delusional! However, when the opportunity arose, Cashman did make Andrew Friedman a good deal on Nick Ramirez, who may or may not be LOOGY! Ramirez averages 90.4 MPH on his fastball and has a changeup, sweeper, slider, and a knuckle curve. He’s worth a look.
This group of guys really like each other and have no bad attitudes, as you can seen in this video with Shojei and Teoscar!
Discussion (27)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Interesting that Roberts didn’t pinch hit Outman for Kike against Rogers in the 8th. Did the Giants have a lefty warming up in the pen? Seems like the runway is shortening for both Lux and Outman. Happy for Lamet. He’d be a nice comeback story. And Kelly pitched like a Porsche tonight.
So far, Roberts is employing a Lux/Rojas platoon in the batting order, with Mookie shuttling from SS to 2B.
And so far, so good. Dodgers have 6 HRs from the SS position. (One of Mookie’s 5 evidently came when he was playing 2B.)
Kike took Outman’s place at CF in this game, but he recently took Max’s spot at 3B while Outman played CF. Yesterday, Kike made a great play out in LF. So I’d say Roberts is trying to keep Kike involved in multiple positions. (The other day, Roberts also inserted Rojas at SS as late-inning defense, with Mookie shifting to 2B.) Anyway, I like the way Roberts is using all this “optionality.”
With Heyward out, Teoscar takes over RF full-time… or maybe, “permanently for now.”
I assume we’ll see Trammel in LF soon, with a long-shot chance at a Cinderella story. (Trayce Thompson had one a couple years back. Fun while it lasted.) I guess Trammel makes sense for “roster management,” but why isn’t Mark’s boy Miguelito getting called up? He just hit a grand slam!
The answer, I suppose, is that the greater purpose is served by having Miguelito playing full-time in OKC, polishing his LF skills. Anyway, Trammel is a first-round talent. We can hope he’s just a late bloomer.
I read somewhere Dinelson Lamet described as a “journeyman.” True enough, I guess, but he was hot stuff a few years back, finishing 4th in Cy voting in 2000. But if he keeps this up, we’ll start thinking of him Prior’s new great reclamation success. Year after year it seems like the Dodgers breathe new life into a pitcher’s career.
Great job Lamet! Dodgers sweep!! Ohtani first homer against the G. …S
This umpire must hate Muncy. 3 terrible calls.
Surely not Lamet
Glasnow seems to lose his command and focus around the 80 pitch count. He needs to fight through that to be a true ace.
It appears Miggie Ro is swinging with just a little more conviction!! Adames who??
VIVA AZUL!!!
If Orel keeps going on, he’s gonna make me cry!
Those are fighting words! The way Rojas is hitting , Lux may get platooned against righties as well!
Eric is a LA Outman Fan.
Not a LA Dodger Fan.
He’s only happy when his boy (James) is doing OK.
He is who I thought he was!
Well, it looks like a platoon to me!
Quick question. I’m watching the game and Glasnow is pitching from the stretch with no runners on. Has he been doing this all spring and regular season ? I thought he was using the full windup in Korea.. ???
10:10 PM ET
Giants (2-4)
Dodgers (6-2)
SP Kyle Harrison L
1-0 3.00 ERA
SP Tyler Glasnow R
1-0 2.45 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
RF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
CF E. Hernandez R
LF Chris Taylor R
SS Miguel Rojas R
0%
62° Wind 9 mph Out
Heyward to IL, Trammell placed on the active roster. Will wear. # 6.
I gotta humbly admit maybe I was wrong about Ferguson. Guess statistics alone don’t tell the whole story. Good point that they let him go for next to nothing, Mark. (cause he wasn’t wanted around, plus Muncy’s remarks about ‘bad teammates’). The other lefty we dumped Victor Gonzalez seemed to have lost his effectiveness. I actually love that trade. Trey Sweeney is a future big leaguer. Alex Vesia has been very ineffective since the pitch clock. Wild high all the time. I like the chances with Pomeranz better than Nick Ram. Ramirez pitched in Detroit and wasn’t consistent for even an inning. I’m pulling for Lament. He could be another Shelby Miller for us this year. Of all our 30+ RHRP, I think Kelly and Treinen have the worse chances of lasting the
whole season. Definitely missing Graterol these days..
“..but if they want ‘access’ there are certain things they simply cannot say.”
BINGO!! And that’s especially true with media and politics.
If you want a reason why to bring in the Automatic Balls and Strikes System, look no further than Phil Cuzzi!
https://x.com/ChadMoriyama/status/1775354522396926107?s=20
I am posting this above.
Caleb Ferguson made negative remarks in the media on multiple occasions. Once he was crying about being on the disabled list. Wanted a bigger role but kept messing it up. Was not dominate against lefties. Failed multiple times in the opener roll. Like Vesia and Kelly drama every time he pitched. Mb he was a player that Muncy was referring to when he said the players who are not team first have been weeded out. He certainly is talented but I don’t miss him or c him in a high leverage roll. Friedman continues to seek lefties. Mb Pomeranz will be the guy.
The Astro’s only win is from a 30-year-old Rookie Pitcher who threw a no-hitter after 7-years in the minors!
Good win by the Dodgers! And beating the Giants twice in a row is always enjoyable! Mookie continues to amaze with his torrid start. The roster is so deep, they can win a bullpen game even when some bats are struggling. They knocked out Webb in the 4th inning, which is his second shortest start in the last two years. While Webb pitched ok in his first start, he was really bad in spring training. He had over a 12 era in his last 4 spring training starts, giving up at least 4 runs every game. His last spring training start he gave up 9 runs in the first inning. Sure that is only spring training, but now 5 of his last 6 starts have been poor.
And another Dodger villain did not fare well last night. Astros closer Josh Hader gave up a two out, two run HR in the 9th inning to blow his first save opportunity with the Astros. Blue Jays beat them 2-1 on the Davis Schneider HR off of Hader. Astros are now 1-5.
So what would a package of Sheehan, Grove, Knack and Vargas/Pages fetch????
scary to think that the dodgers are winning games and the offense is at around 60%!! it’s early but if heyward is down with back issues, or he can’t match last year production, what to do? kiki and taylor supply really good defense,but also a lot of swing and miss. that’s why trammel could be a diamond in the coal pile!! maybe RVS can work some MAGIC with him!! like i said earlier, it’s not the time to panic, but the bottom 3 have to produce. listening to mlb network this morning, i’m not sure but i think the Phillies won the world series yesterday! although steve phillips picked mookie as mvp this season. wow, he went out on a limb with that one! hopefully we get the sweep today! just a quick thought. if i could snatch wilmer flores from the giants i would do it in a heartbeat! good player and hits the dodgers very well.
Cmon Matt, don’t get satisfied. We need to have you coming up with some of your wild trades!
If Buehler comes back and can be close to the 21-20 version that is absolutely huge. He is a game 1 starter.
You line up Buehler, Glasnow, Miller, Yamamoto, that is scary right there. A lot different than a hurt Kersh, rookie Miller and Lynn….
In the Pen we could have…Kershaw, Stone, May, Sheehan….fun to think about that…
Im going to enjoy this ride all season long.
Voters in Missouri rejected a tax that would fund renovations to both Arrowhead and Kaufman Stadiums in K.C. Both ownership groups said the vote places the future of both franchises in Jackson County in doubt. Voters probably tired of funding billionaire’s stadiums anymore. More pressing issues seem to be important. The A’s also stated that they and the city of Oakland are far apart in an agreement to let the A’s play there until their new ballpark is ready in Las Vegas.
The umpire last night, Phil Cuzzi, was atrocious. His K zone for Webb was wider than an elephant’s ass. You look at some of those strike calls on Smith and Lux, and they are just totally out of the zone by 6 inches or more. It was not a pretty win, but a W just the same. Grove looked good his first inning, then seemed to lose his control. He also got squeezed a few times by Cuzzi who gave those same pitches to Webb. I will be heading back home to Colorado next Thursday. Trammell will find out today if he goes back on the waiver wire or is activated if they have to put Heyward on the IL.
you could see misery in caleb ferguson s face. never saw him smile any time the camera was on him. goodbye, good riddance. a nice lefty for the bullpen would be nice. don’t trust vesia at all. i posted earlier, wouldn’t it be nice if hitters 1-6 all hit in the same game! wish ohtani would come back! vargas heating up? a shame it doesn’t happen in the bigs! maybe some day, hope so. barnes tonight? oh well, go barnes!!!!
Love the minor league content, Mark. Thank you.