First of all, I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers for my son, Andy. They are greatly appreciated. I also want to thank Harold who stepped up and handled the bulk of the posts published for Wednesday. Harold is a fantastic partner.
Maybe I am cranky because Andy’s stay in the hospital is longer than any of us thought. I read informational LAD blogs, but NEVER read other LAD editorial blogs. Unfortunately some of my friends who follow this blog but do not comment (except to me), called and told me to read a Tuesday post.
Contrary to that particular editorial, I have a different take. I do not take a back seat as a Dodger fan to anyone. NOBODY can tell me my opinions are wrong because I do not agree with theirs.
I appreciate all comments, whether they agree with me or not. I am not that arrogant to tell anyone reading this blog that their thoughts are “knee jerk, perspectiveless, circular thinking, silly drivel by people who should know better.”
With respect to the starting rotation, playoff quality is not the same as World Series quality, and maybe that is where some are making their distinction. Do I believe that the current starting rotation is good enough to win a WS? Sure, if the offense scores a lot of runs. But I do not see a lot of 1-0 or 2-1 Dodger wins in the World Series. Buehler, Urias, and Kershaw (???) or Gonsolin, instead of Buehler, Urias and Scherzer. It was not good enough last year. Why cannot it not be questioned? It may turn out to be better, but anyone who questions it is not in need of psychiatric help.
Walker Buehler – Contrary to what was written, I do not believe that Walker Buehler is throwing less hard to become more effective. I am not alone in that regard. Orel Hershiser advised us that his fastball is just not as effective as last year. Last year BAA on his fastball was sub-Mendoza line, while this year it was north of .400. Last year his fastball dominated hitters. A lot of swing and miss up in the zone.
This year it is different. Let’s look at his pitch type and value per FanGraphs before Wednesday’s game:
It is clear from above that Buehler’s fastball velo is down, and he is throwing less fastballs (12.3% less). That is not an insignificant percentage decrease for a pitch that was so dominant last year.
How dominant? Last year his Fastball Runs Above Average (wFB) was 22.9. This year it is a -8.3. That is a differential of 31.2 runs. Per the above, only the curveball has a better run value than 2021, and perhaps that is why he is throwing it more often.
I am sorry but I do not read the above to mean that he is throwing the fastball with less velo and less often because he wants to be more effective. I read that as his fastball is just not as effective as last year. Is he hurt as some may speculate? I have no clue, but I do not believe that is a “knee jerk, perspectiveless” question.
Some additional information to review. Last year Buehler started 33 games, and had 28 quality starts vs 5 non quality starts. That includes 25 of his first 27 starts being quality starts. This year in 8 starts, he has 2 quality starts and 6 non quality starts. So he has more non quality starts on May 18 than he had all last year. Of course there are those that will try to justify the difference, and they could be correct. There are others who are convinced that Walker’s fastball is just not right this year, and I am not about to dismiss that as silly conjecture.
The below chart is before Wednesday’s game.
These are statistics that the nerds like to report. There are no opinions, just numbers. Please show me where Walker is pitching with less velo and less fastballs to be more effective, because the numbers do not indicate that.
The other starters have questions as well. I am allowed to ask questions, and still be a Dodger fan. I just do not happen to believe that you make questions go away by simply dismissing and ignoring them. Also, I do not believe that if you have questions, that does not mean you think the pitchers are bad. You can question without condemnation.
One can review FanGraphs for Julio Urias and draw similar conclusions. The difference is that while Urias’ fastball has less velo, it is still getting better results than last year. However, there is a significant decrease in value for his curveball and change. Those were his two dominant pitches last year.
Clayton Kershaw is on the 15-day IL due to SI Joint Inflammation. He was supposed to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, but he was still experiencing discomfort in his back.
Dave Roberts said it’s “unlikely” Clayton Kershaw throws a bullpen tomorrow. Still a possibility, but he’s still experiencing some discomfort after the epidural.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 17, 2022
His back and joint inflammation are chronic concerns. They are not just going to go away. Will Kersh be able to finish the season without repeating time on the IL? Nobody knows. It did not last 30 games into the season. Even those who have those questions hope that he will come back just as strong as he was before he left, and stay on the roster through the World Series. But you cannot hide your head in the sand as if there is not any concern about Kersh’s back. By ignoring it, will not make the concerns disappear.
Andrew Heaney has a career ERA of 4.65, career FIP of 4.40, and career WHIP of 1.253. He developed a slider in a bullpen session the first weekend in Colorado, and came out a different pitcher. Will he still be able to throw that slider when he returns? Hopefully yes, but he has never maintained that high level of exceptional production. Maybe he will this year, but then again, maybe he won’t. One thing I am certain of is that all teams have smart nerds who review pitching trends and film and can perhaps notice something in his delivery. Perhaps not. But it is not just the Dodgers who have good advance scouts and film reviewers.
Tony Gonsolin – The Catman has had a couple of exceptional outings, and others average to good. The problem with claiming he is a top of the rotation pitcher is his lack of consistency from game to game and even inning to inning in some games. His K/BB rate is only 2. His ERA is outstanding at 1.64. However his FIP which many nerds follow more than ERA is 3.51. His K rate (8.2/9) is lower than at any time in his career, and his BB rate (4.4/9) is second highest. Only 2021 did he have a higher BB rate. Right now his best value is in the rotation. He throws too many pitches with an increase in walks and a number of high pitch ABs where he does not have that swing and miss pitch working consistently. For those who question whether Tony will remain consistently good through a 162-game season and the playoffs, are not out of line, no matter who says differently. WE ALL HOPE HE DOES!!!!
I have always maintained that Tyler Anderson was a very good acquisition. He is exactly who he has been throughout his career. He has a 4.04 ERA, a 3.95 FIP, and a 1.093 WHIP. He will have outings as he had with Philadelphia again. Better hitting teams will jump on his fastball and spit on his offspeed breaking stuff. I doubt that there is a better #5/ #6 starting pitcher in MLB. But I do not think it is incredulous to believe that Tyler should not be counted on as a postseason starting pitcher.
Tyler’s two best months are June and July, but those are also the months he has thrown the least number of innings in. That bodes well for the Dodgers if Clayton Kershaw and Andrew Heaney return as they were as before they went on the IL, and Tyler can resume that #6/piggyback pitcher.
MiLB pitchers – Ryan Pepiot and Michael Grove have outstanding future possibilities at the MLB level. I do not believe that it should be this year, and I am not even sure that it will be in the rotation. I will gladly accept being wrong. But I believe both will gain much better development at the MiLB level where they can stay in the rotation uninterrupted and where they can work on their command. That just may not be possible with continued IL stints.
Everyone has opinions and they all are welcome here. Contrary to others, I will never say that your opinions suck. I will never call you a moron because you disagree with my takes. I believe the starting pitching is very good, just not elite. Let’s see what happens in Philly this weekend when they face a good offensive team. Let’s see how well they do against the better offensive teams, not…Arizona, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Cubs, Detroit. Let’s see what happens when SFG is at full strength, and when Fernando Tatis Jr. rejoins the Padres. It is absolutely good enough to get to the playoffs, but good enough to win the World Series???
I agree with Badger and others that the team is not going to make any pitching changes any time soon. They will wait and see what happens with Kershaw and Heaney, and try to sprinkle in Pepiot and Grove as an extra pitcher as needed. They can also hope that Andre Jackson can turn it around from his last three disastrous starts. 4.1 IP, 15 runs/14 earned, 13 hits, 10 BB, and 3 K. Mitch White and David Price are not better options than Tyler Anderson, but are options, nonetheless.
If the Dodgers believed that they had better options at the MLB or MiLB level, they would not have brought in Ryan Pepiot or Michael Grove. Even when the deadline comes, I am not sure who will be available who is better than what they now have. I would be more inclined to accelerate the progression of Pepiot and Grove than to try to find lightening in a bottle. I see no reason to question what was done in the offseason with adding starting arms. We will never learn of the negative impact the disastrous Trevor Bauer signing, and the inane delays in his punishment, had on this past offseason.
I believe in Andrew Friedman, Brandon Gomes, and the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, and I believe they will do whatever they think is best to win the WS. But questioning does not connote panic. If you believe everything is just perfect because nothing LA does is wrong is okay with me. Just don’t tell me I am not a Dodger fan because I have questions. Others…
Impossible not to notice your ace losing velocity. At that level, a decline in mph and spin rate is definitely something. Something serious? Not necessarily but with the number of pitchers lost to injury one can’t help but gulp a bit.
My instinct would be to skip a start. Do nothing but rest, massage, mineral springs, nutritional shakes, sleep, meditate and see what happens in ten days. Problem with that is we already have a few starters out and a grueling schedule in front of us. Still, don’t risk it. Get a diagnosis if one is needed. If there is no damage take some time off. It’s May. We can make it up later.
If Buehler does not believe that there is anything wrong physically, it is hard to get anything diagnosed. With the schedule facing them, 17 games in 17 days, it might be nice to go to a 6 man rotation. But with the 13 pitcher limit coming May 29, it will make it more difficult to bring up MiLB pitchers after that date. When will Heaney and Kershaw get back? Who knows.
Somebody said he was “shaking out his arm”. Could be nothing. But I believe exams are warranted. If he doesn’t want them, for whatever reason, tough sh*t. If there’s even a small impingement it needs to be found.
yes, when will Kershaw and Heaney be back. Some people, found in various stages of blog fog, believe nothing will stop those two from coming back and pitching effectively for the next 4 months. I’m not one of those people. No doubt neither is Friedman. He’s paid big bucks to get out in front of issues such as these.
Maybe there’s nothing to be worried about. Just a glitch and our staff will be fine. But, Plan B’s are being discussed. Count on it.
Beautifully stated Jeff. I agree completely.
With regard to Buehler my impression of his post game interview was that he thought (or was trying to make us believe) that his problem with his fastball was mostly mechanical. He did manage to reach back for some effective pitches in that bases loaded situation. I guess we’ll know sooner or later what the real story is. Sooner would be better.
I hope that it is mechanical, but you would think after 8 starts the crack LAD pitching staff would have figured out what needs to be tweaked. But it is clear from everyone reviewing his workload this season that they see something is amiss. He does get Washington in his next start, so that should be a relative vacation, and then back to Arizona where he pitched the game of his career. Two bottom third offenses could be the best elixir.
A skipped start might be better for him.
I don’t recall seeing Muncy let so many (first-pitch) strikes just go past him unchallenged as I have recently. It’s as if he’s become afraid to swing. His confidence is at an all-time low.
I went to the game yesterday. Buehler was in trouble every inning after the first. From where I was sitting, it seemed he was nibbling a lot. But that is the perception of the fan. Place went nuts when Turner homered. Price looked very good. Graterol not so much.
If his fastball has lost velocity, then nibbling is a good strategy. Same with loss in spin rate. If it’s it not a swing and miss pitch, go for the edges
Great that you got to get to a game at Blue Heaven on Earth. It has been awhile since I got to LA to see a Dodger game. I think that Buehler may be nibbling because he cannot trust that fastball like he did last year. Last year he threw the #1 and he knew he was going to get outs. Not so much this year. He is hoping to get batters to chase, and they aren’t. If it is mechanical as he suggests…get it fixed.
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/sprint_speed?min_season=2022&max_season=2022&position=&team=LAD&min=10
Smith runs faster than Betts!
The team has a good group of speedsters. Good to see Roberts utilizing the running game more this season.
If asked, I would have failed that ranking test.
Gavin Lux with the fastest HP to 1B rate because he is a LHH. But he is still faster to 1B than Trea Turner.
I looked at a few other teams, and the Dodgers are fast comparatively.
Freeman runs the bases so well he seems faster than he actually is.
Big surprise…Max Scherzer has an oblique injury and is out 6-8 weeks.
Somewhere, in a corner of Dodger Stadium, Andrew Friedman is smiling…………..just a little.
Smiling? Good thing you didn’t say that in Bulldog’s presence, he might have gotten physical with you.
Mr. Cohen, may I introduce Bauer to you? He could be available in less than 6 to 8 weeks.
Whichever team winds up with three healthy pitchers who are capable of shutting down offensives will do well if not best in the Playoffs. Winning games in the regular season is entertaining and draws crowds. A few players that play like superstars will also draw fans.
At this point the Dodgers don’t know if they have those three pitchers on their roster. Same with the Mets. But they will win games and pack Dodger stadium.
Fabian Ardaya has an article at The Athletic speaking to the same Buehler issues Jeff did. I just read it, says 27 minutes ago, but it could have been up longer. It certainly appears to be an issue, though there are some fans aggressively pursuing a different take. I’d like to think it’s just a glitch but it might be a pattern.
Yeah, Fabian called me and asked if he could piggyback on me for a change.😂😂
Excellent timing.
There’s something there. Unless of course there isn’t.
Very nice article Jeff, backed with great information which is usually missing from another blog.
This is disappointing.
We all know Mark’s personality – a bull in a china shop. He’s full of bluster, and that’s mostly for effect. It’s a way to poke the wasp nest and get people commenting, discussing – arguing. There is nothing wrong with a good argument if it doesn’t become personal or use insults. And if you take a personal offense at a disagreement, that’s really on you. Disagreement is a part of life.
And if the issue is that he is insulting, what exactly is this entire article but a backhanded insult?
And the whole premise of the article is a bit of a strawman argument, don’t you think? Mark never said those who complain aren’t true Dodger fans. He might call them idiots, but he wouldn’t question their loyalty. It’s a little dishonest of you to say that.
Speaking of which, B&P accuses me of being a Giant’s fan every other day. I laugh. We joked about it when we met for lunch. We argue about FIP all the time. I don’t take it personally. In fact, through argument, he’s made some good points that I have to consider if I’m to make a better argument. He’s made me think.
Personally I think you have the better argument with respect to Buehler’s fastball, and it would further the discussion if Mark could be taken down a peg, but that argument is wasted when you make it passive aggressively to an echo chamber over here.
I understand that there are personality conflicts, and disagreement leads to factions where people choose sides and see the other side as the enemy, or whatever, but it seems pointless in this case.
I don’t mean this to insult, but I will be frank. I think this all just a little thin skinned and holding a grudge, and, considering that Mark gave you the opportunity to write for his blog, gave you ample time off when you needed it, gave your new blog here a positive shout out, and even posts a link to it at the top of his site, I think this is a little dishonorable – and I think you are generally an honorable person.
Scott Andes’ site devolved into rabble of resentful people who were there because they hated Mark. It destroyed that site. Resentment does that.
First let me apologize about not approving your post sooner. With my son in the hospital I did not get to notice that there was a post waiting for approval until I got home late yesterday. The first post must be approved by me, and It was approved.
Now to your response. I am not sure what you are disappointed in. Apparently it is okay if Mark goes off on a tirade about anyone who disagrees with his sage knowledge, that they are not just wrong, but need to be institutionalized. He calls them “foolish rants”. He further writes; “I have read some very eloquent and well-written, Knee jerk, perspectiveless, circular thinking, silly drivel here recently by people who should know better. I mean, if you have been on the planet for 60 or 70 years have you not learned anything… especially about baseball?” And those that do not agree with him are supposed to just ignore this? They can’t respond? They can’t respond in kind? Anyone who disagrees with Mark and “has have been on the planet for 60 or 70 years” must agree with Mark or be considered unlearned, especially about baseball?
So in your world, Mark can disparage anyone he wants and do so without retribution. I am sorry but I had enough of Mark belittling anyone who did not fall in line with his “wisdom”. I purposely do not read Mark’s posts. But I had multiple friends call me while I was in the hospital and tell me to read that day’s post. My response would have been no different had I still been writing for LADT. Passive aggressive? I am not going to dispute it. I have made similar remarks to Mark on multiple occasions. I have never hid how I feel.
You said…”We all know Mark’s personality – a bull in a china shop. He’s full of bluster, and that’s mostly for effect. It’s a way to poke the wasp nest and get people commenting, discussing – arguing. There is nothing wrong with a good argument if it doesn’t become personal or use insults. And if you take a personal offense at a disagreement, that’s really on you.” First, Mark is allowed to make blusterous sophomoric insulting remarks to readers to encourage participation in his blog, but I am not allowed to do so in mine. Passive aggressive or not, my response was pale in comparison to what he said. Mark did not leave it at one post, but went on multiple subsequent posts.
So that you are clear, I consider Mark a friend. I responded because I am thinned skinned and hold a grudge? Not even close. I am no more thin-skinned than Mark is in his responses to those who disagree with him. HOLD A GRUDGE? I have no idea what you are talking about, and quite frankly, with all due respect, neither do you.
Mark did not “give” me the opportunity. He needed another writer, and he reached out to me, not the other way around. Am I appreciative of the five years I spent with LADT? Absolutely. Gave me ample time when I needed it? It wasn’t a job? The “agreement” we had was that I would write once a month, once a week, or as often or as little as I wanted. So what ample time are you referring to? When my son died?
I reached out to Mark and told him how appreciative I was about him mentioning my blog and where he placed it on his banner. It was a private discussion.
Other things you may not be aware of…Mark has quit and/or threatened to quit at times. When the pandemic hit, I had 20+ people reach out to me to start my own blog. I was just about to start that process when Mark called to ask if I wanted to become the administrator of LADT, and I agreed to do so. Just before the 2020 World Series I had some medical flareups that needed my attention, and Mark was ready to come back and take charge. So LADT was my responsibility when HE needed ample time. But that does not count?
Why did I leave this time? I do not like to talk about politics on a baseball blog. Mark did not care, in fact he encouraged it with many of his posts. I stopped publishing my comments on baseball, and it had a negative impact on my health. At that time, I had many in the previous group call me and ask if I would reconsider starting my own blog. I am retired and I need a hobby so why not. I know Mark took a vote on his site and the response was overwhelming to stop political discussions. I was too far down the road to stop the process of designing my own blog, so I continued.
I am now back writing and publishing on a daily basis. It is a S*** load of work, but I am enjoying the ride. I am not in competition with Mark. That is unthinkable. I do not even pretend about that. I am nowhere in competition with any of the established LAD blogs. I am a mere neophyte. However I have 2,439 followers/likes on Facebook, 1,249 followers on Twitter, and 1,715 followers on Instagram. My developer has advised that I am doing very well in my first 5-6 weeks. I am not trying to duplicate Mark’s numbers. But I am proud of what I have accomplished thus far.
Patch, maybe you are disappointed, but I am not. My post got you to respond. You didn’t respond before, and you probably will not in the future. But if you do, you are welcome to disagree with me all you want. You were not shy about it before, and I did not negatively respond, even if I am thin-skinned as you say.
Mark is welcome here anytime. And he is a big enough boy to fight his own battles. He has never shied away from that with me. There is only one person that I will not let onto my site. I fully appreciate and respect Dennis Schlossman and his Thinking Blue Planning Committee. It is a fantastic site. It has taken him 6 years to get where he is today. I do not know where I will be in 6 years, but I fully expect to be around, and fully expect to have as successful of a blog as Thinking Blue Planning Committee is today.
But by responding to Mark, I got at least one more response. 😄 👍 That post got more responses than any other post yet, so maybe it was a disappointment to you, but it was not for me.