On August 28th, 2002, Eric Gagne recorded a save against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 1-0 game started by lefty Odalis Perez. It was his 45th of the year in a season where he would record 52 saves. The streak would continue for the entire 2003 season and finally end on July 5th, 2004. Eighty-four consecutive games. No one has come close to matching it.
Between 2002 and 2004, Gagne would pile up 152 saves. In 2003, he won the Cy Young award. Considering he had 187 total for his career, that has to be nothing short of amazing. On Wednesday night, the Dodgers celebrated this feat and Gagne threw out the first pitch. His walk-in song, Welcome to the Jungle, by Guns N Roses, blaring on the sound system, he stepped on the mound and fired a strike to Evan Phillips. Roberts had turned down his request. ” I don’t know what he is going to throw, and I don’t want him to embarrass me.” Roberts said.
Gagne holds the mound at Dodger Stadium in high esteem. “Every time I step on this mound, it is like a church to me”, he said. “It’s my office, on top of that little mound and walking in here with all that history, Tommy Lasorda, Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, It is very humbling.” Gagne and Roberts were teammates over those years.
Over the streak, which lasted 87.2 innings, he struck out 139 batters and did not allow any of his inherited 123 runners to score. He allowed 2 runs, and no homers. No one has come close to matching those numbers. Gagne started his career with LA as a starting pitcher. But after 48 starts, an 11-14 record, he moved to the pen in 2002, became the closer and over the next three years he was the best in the league. He never started another game in the majors.
Gagne only pitched in 14 games in 2005 as an injury cut his season short. He did save 8 games and had 2,70 ERA. Home runs had been one of his big bugaboos as a starter. He gave up 47 in his first three years. Over his career, he gave up 76. So, over the next 8 seasons, he only gave up 29.
Gagne would spend most of 2005 on the DL. He had signed a 2-year, 19-million-dollar deal after the 2004 season. It was announced that he would undergo a second Tommy John surgery. His first was in 1997. Returning after a second TJ surgery at that time was unheard of. Since then, though, former Dodger reliever, Hong-Chih Kou did it. While performing the surgery, the doctors noticed that there was a nerve trapped by scar tissue and were able to release it with a less invasive procedure. Gagne still missed the rest of the season.
He had some encouraging outings in spring, but then the pain in his elbow returned. This forced him to undergo a second surgery, this time removing the nerve entirely. On June 3rd, Gagne made his first appearance of 2006, He would pitch in two games, getting one save. Then the pain in his elbow returned. On July 4th, Gagne woke up with intense back pain. An examination revealed two herniated discs. He underwent season ending back surgery on July 8th.
Needless to say, after not getting much bang for their 19-million-dollar investment, the Dodgers declined to extend him at 12 million. He signed a one-year deal with Texas for 6 million, with another 5 in performance bonus money. He spent some more time on the DL in 2007, but overall, he managed a 2-0 record with 16 saves and a 2.16 ERA in 33.1 innings for the Rangers. Texas traded him to Boston at the deadline on July 31st. He did not fare as well in Boston. He was not their closer. He was brought in to be a set-up man for Jonathan Paplebon. He was knocked around in his early outings. He ended up with a 2-2 record, 3 blown saves and no saves at all. He pitched one perfect inning against the Rockies in the World Series.
Eric signed with the Brewers that winter for 10 million dollars with 1 million in incentives possible. He had his worst full season in the majors, finishing with a 4-3 record, 10 saves and a 5.44 ERA. He signed a minor league deal after the 2008 season with the Brewers, but he was released midway through spring training due to a shoulder injury. He would not pitch in the majors again.
He played for a Canadian team in Quebec in 2009, going 6-6 with a 4.65 ERA. He threw 2 shutouts, and 1 complete game. He signed with the Dodgers in 2010, hoping to make it back to the majors, but after a really bad spring, he was sent to the minors. On April 18th, he asked for and was granted his release.
Gagne would coach for the French team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifiers. He was hired by the Rangers as a coach in 2018. He was released from his position in 2019. In 2007, Gagne was named in the Mitchell Report as a user of HGH. Human growth hormone. It was said he got the drug from steroids dealer, Kirk Radomski. At first Radomski said Gagne obtained them from Dodger teammate, Paul LoDuca. Radomski later said, he mailed two shipments of the drug straight to Gagne. Receipts from Fed-Ex and USPS showed that Radomski received one payment from Gagne and two from LoDuca.
Gagne then declined to meet with Mitchell to discuss the charges before the report was released. In a 2009 interview with the Times, he expressed remorse, not only for what he had done, but also for the fact he could not talk openly about it. The Times felt the reason was he did not want to implicate others. Later he would admit to the use of the drug and said he had used it to recover from a knee injury. Gagne also said he always gave 100% effort while he was with the Dodgers.
He and his exe-wife, Valerie, have four children, 2 boys and 2 girls. On July 31, 2020, Gagne was involved in multiple hit and run accidents in Terrebonne, Quebec. Police reportedly apprehended him after he fled the scene. For those of us who saw him come out of the pen those three magical seasons, it is easy to remember the excitement in the Stadium.
The sound system blaring, Gagne running in from the pen, firing his eight warm-ups, and then shutting the opposition down. It was something to see, and it was definitely, game over!
Will Smith is the 28th Dodger player to hit three home runs in a game (regular season and playoffs) and the 14th at Dodger Stadium. pic.twitter.com/7ZL7OBoxq9
— Dodgers Tailgate (@DodgersTailgate) July 6, 2024
Miguel Vargas' stats this season:
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) July 6, 2024
13-for-40
.325 AVG
.391 OBP
.575 SLG
.966 OPS
2 HR
8 RBI
4 2B
5 BB
6 K
The Dodgers need to find a way to get his bat into the lineup.
He was taking ground balls at third base today. He deserves more outfield run with Jason Heyward on the IL. pic.twitter.com/tiPZdF3ejX
FREDDIE FREDDIE FREDDIE and Teoscar too!!!! pic.twitter.com/yS2YINxO8c
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 6, 2024
James Outman during his Triple-A stint:
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 5, 2024
38 G
.279 AVG
.393 OBP
.531 SLG
.924 OPS
13.4 BB%
26.3 K%
126 wRC+
9 HR
21 RBI
7 SB
He was very productive in OKC and will now look to regain his success with the #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/ktg8Jut9pS
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) 11 – OKC Baseball Club 7
OKC’s Class A Starter, Christian Romero, gave up a pair of 2-run HRs for 4 runs total in 3.0 IP. He allowed 6 hits, with a BB, and 2 Ks. He left after 3.0 trailing 7-4.
OKC scored three in the 2nd inning on a Chris Owings 2-run HR and a Trey Lipcius solo shot.
And two batters after Owings, it's Andre Lipcius' turn to go deep! pic.twitter.com/GZu2kYdnXF
— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) July 6, 2024
In the 3rd, OKC drew closer when Trey Sweeney tripled and scored on Diego Cartaya’s sac fly.
In the 6th, Sweeney walked and scored on Cartaya’s double, who in turn scored on Alan Trejo’s double.
In the 7th, with 2 out Diego Cartaya was HBP and scored on Alan Trejo’s second double to tie the score at 7-7.
Matt Gage and John Rooney combined to give up a single, double, triple and 2 walks for 4 runs in the 8th to give Las Vegas the win.
- Trey Lipcius – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (19)
- Alan Trejo – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, 2 doubles (4)
- Diego Cartaya – 1-3, 1 HBP, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (2), SF
- Chris Owings – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (8)
- Trey Sweeney – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, triple (3)
Tulsa Drillers 7 – Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 0
Orlando Ortiz-Mayr pitched his career game. He completed 7.0 shutout innings allowing 3 hits with 1 BB. He registered 7 Ks on the night. Juan Morillo and Edgardo Henriquez each pitched a scoreless inning to complete the combined shutout.
Tulsa scored their 1st run in the 4th. Taylor Young drew a BB and Dalton Rushing singled. A passed ball moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Wichita’s pitcher struck out the next three, but on the third it was a wild pitch allowing the batter to reach and Young to score.
In the 5th, Yeiner Fernandez led off with a HR. Alex Freeland followed with a double. Young drew a 2nd BB. A ground out moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Damon Keith was IBB while José Ramos was unintentionally walked to force in a run. Griffin Lockwood-Powell singled and scored 2, with the third run scoring and GLP moving to 2nd on a fielding error on the play and a 6-0 lead.
In the 7th, Freeland opened with a single, stole 2nd, and scored on Damon Keith’s single.
Every Tulsa batter had at least 1 hit in this one.
- Alex Freeland – 2-5, 2 runs, double (13), SB (13)
- Griffin Lockwood-Powell – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 RBI
- Yeiner Fernandez – 1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (1)
Great Lakes Loons vs West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit) – Game Postponed
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 10 – Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 0
5 Rancho pitchers combined for a 1 hit shutout. And leave it to Joe Kelly to give up the sole Visalia hit. Luke Fox continues to build on his progress from TJ surgery with the first 4.0 innings. He did allow 3 walks, but registered 2 Ks.
The first batter Kelly faced singled. That was followed by a BB. Kelly struck out the next batter and that was followed with a 4-6-3 DP.
In Moises Brito’s RC debut, he got through 2.0 innings, allowing 1 free pass with 2 Ks.
Reynaldo Yean and Noah Ruen each pitched a scoreless/hitless innings.
RC scored 10 runs on 14 hits. Sean McLain led the attack with 4 hits.
- Sean McLain – 4-4, 3 runs
- Carlos Rojas – 3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (6)
- Wilman Diaz – 2-3, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (12)
- Juan Alonso – 1-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (5)
- Doubles – Cameron Decker (5), Jeral Perez (15)
ACL Dodgers 2 – ACL Guardians 1
Three 20 year RHP combined for a 7 inning no hitter.
- Hyun-Seok Jang – 2.2 IP – 2 BB, 5 K
- Ricardo Montero – 0.2 IP – 4 BB, 2 K
- Nicolas Cruz – 3.2 IP – no BB, 3 K – Did not allow a baserunner
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Will Smith passed Contreras in homers and RBIs. He definitely made a case for the All-Star team with Realmuto most likely not able to play in the game. Nice game for Vargas too. The pen redeemed themselves. Phillips with three Ks in the 9th. Glasnow made one really bad pitch and it cost him four runs. On another note, the home plate umpire tonight was awful. I thought he was the reincarnation of Angel Hernandez. His strike zone was wider than my fanny!!!!!!
Agree about the umpire.
Glasnow with one atrocious inning. And that’s all it takes. 5 earned in 6 innings pitched.
Glasnow seems to lack endurance in games. Command and control mistakes loses games. His dominance falters much like Lance Lynn. Of course I like him better than Lynn. Needs better coaching.
IMO, that’s not fair. Glasnow was just as dominant in the 5th and 6th as he was in the first three innings. He made one bad pitch. I am not sure why you think he needs better coaching, or who you think that is. His 2024 WHIP is 0.93. For a SP, that is elite. #3 in MLB. Batting Average against .183 is #2 in MLB and #1 in NL. A look at his statcast page and he has a lot of elite red. He does give up too many barrel hits. Loses games? He went five starts with no run support. Why is that his fault?
He also leads the league in strikeouts.
Vargas is looking like a MLB player. His swing is beautiful and he is looking comfortable in LF. Maybe he’s here to stay. He just hit a HR in the 2nd Milwaukee game.
Smith definitely should be an all-star. Teo and Mookie are also deserving, though of course somebody would sub for Mookie.
While Smith had an epic night, perhaps Vargas had the more important game in terms of the roster and the trade deadline. He came up big when he needed it most. Given a rare start against a righty, he homered, singled and took a walk. He also made a nice running catch on a foul ball near the wall.
I still think Vargas is likely to be traded, but Outman and Pages are vulnerable too, depending on the deal. (Interesting that Vargas was taking grounders at 3B.)
Glad to see Outman back. He earned it.
Vargas should just play every game until the trade deadline.
Roberts already announced he will not play tomorrow against Peralta. Outman will get the start in CF. Pages will move to one of the corner outfield spots. He also said Smith will play all three games this weekend. Wrobleski will start Sunday against Kuchel. Paxton tomorrow. Vargas is taking reps at third prior to games, so he might get a start there sometime soon.
Finally the Dodgers wise up and at least think about giving Vargas some run at 3b. Have been saying that for weeks they should give him an occasional start at the hot corner to keep his bat in the lineup.
Insane they bench him immediately again after showing one more time he can hit RHP . Just stupid.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And we know you cant fix stupid Roberts is a turd
Roberts does what he is told to do. He is a puppet.
A turd puppet
I don’t know what that is.
One of the Muppets
The FO algorithm says no to Vargas. Yes, just stupid.
Good game. Freddie showing what situational hitting is all about. Great at-bat, just going with the pitch and knocking it up the middle into center field. The rest of the hitters should take note. That’s how it’s done. Vargas has played very well since being called up and should get more playing time. Why not start him at second and get Lux’s noodle bat out of the lineup for good?
Speaking of Lux, another 0hfer and he’s now hitting below .215 for the year. He’s still atrocious. But let me guess, he’s an all-star right and the future of the Dodgers? I’m sure there’s still people claiming he’s headed for the hall. Maybe he’ll finish the year above the mendoza line?
What a game for Smith. Three bombs. He’s Friedman’s finest draft pick and a great hitter.
Glasnow looks gassed. The Dodgers may have a problem if he’s running on empty. They need him for the playoffs and have to get him through the season without injury. They may have to give him a couple weeks off but if he can’t pitch more than 120 innings in a season then they’re going to have a big problem here.
I predicted a loss and they win again. What can I say? My track record stays unbeaten.
Not the best outing but he only gave up 3 hits, 2 of which were not hit that hard. He seemed unsettled once the first Brewer got on base.
You can’t have a track record if nobody cares.
I care. Scott is becoming our MVP (Most Valuable Prognosticator).
He contributed more to that victory than Ohtani did.
I’m preparing the trophy. Just need to make sure I spell Scott’s name correctly.
Well played.
Correction, I care.
You’ll appreciate me more when the wins start piling up.
I remember Gagne as a mediocre starting pitcher and then someone switched him to being a reliever and he was dominant. It fascinates me how that can happen. He had several pitches and as a closer he could command them all. For some reason that didn’t help as a starter, probably his mental approach.
I remember him being named in the Mitchell Report. But what the heck, if Shawn Green had used he might have hit 75 home runs and the Dodgers could have won a few championships.
I just watched a video on Facebook that showed Deion Sanders returning to baseball with the Reds after a three-year layoff, Gagne was the starting pitcher. Sanders touched him for a double and then a homer. He then got another hit and stolen base off of Jesus Martinez.
Maybe that’s May’s future if he ever comes back.
The Lux show is getting old. How long is his leash?
3 weeks?
Sounds about right…
There is more rumbling that the Blue Jays will be sellers. Lux + ??? for Bichette?
I still think it would be funny if the Dodgers also toss Biggio back to the Jays. How often has a guy been DFA”d by one team in a single season?
That said, DeJong just slugged his 16th HR and as a rental might be a better target than Bichette.
Meanwhile, the LAT’s Bill Plaschke has joined the chorus for adding a quality SP:
“They still need to find one more starting pitcher whom they can trust to take the ball in October.
“No more ignoring it. No more Lance Lynning it. No more counting on kids to suddenly grow up or injuries to miraculously heal.
“As Friday night once again revealed, if Tyler Glasnow is The Guy, they might need a second guy.”
While we wait on Yamamoto and ???, I like seeing what the rising prospects can do. Wrobleski is apparently the next man up, and perhaps we’ll see River Ryan before we see Yamamoto or Kershaw or Buehler or May…
I like the potential of Bichette becoming the franchise shortstop, coming here, getting his mojo back, signing an extension and deferring the money….
I really appreciate how Plaschke can just put it out there. “No more ignoring it. No more Lance Lynning it. No more counting on kids to suddenly grow up or injuries to miraculously heal.” You tell ‘em Bill. And his point about Glasnow is spot on. Glasnow may have 150 innings in him and about 30 of those will be needed in October.
And Yamamoto? It might be wise to plan a replacement.
Maybe trade for a Hall of Famer type such as Scherzer who can take the ball in the playoffs, oh yeah, I forgot, he didn’t.
Tajen from another board, two Plaschke headlines from the past week:
It is not his fault; it is the Lakers fault for caving in to LeBron. He is the real GM, he made them make Reddick the coach. And the chaos in the Laker world is so bad no free agent wants to sign there. They have whiffed on every major free agent they have tried to entice to LA. LeBron is the major reason I no longer watch Laker basketball.
He did not make the Lakers sign Redick. He stayed completely out of that decision.
The Lakers main problem is Jeannie Buss who can’t say “no” to anybody and listens far too much to her longtime buddies Kurt and Linda Rambis who have talked her into some really bad moves in the past 10 years, not necessarily the Redick hire which I think may turn out OK.
That said, the Lakers are not likely to be successful until both LBJ and AJ are no longer with the team. And you can add Pelinka to that list.
I stand corrected, but I still think he got the coach he really wanted. How come their first choice turned down all that cash? Nobody wants to coach LeBron.
I was hoping he would have been part of a sigh and trade or that he merely left in free agency.
I always felt that Hurley never intended to leave and was just using the Lakers as leverage for a better deal at UConn, but I can’t argue with your statement about nobody wanting to coach LBJ.
Actually I guess I could argue that point. Redick wants to coach him. 😎
LBJ will be gone soon. Think big picture.
I agree and will add that the downfall started with Jeannie not listening to Jerry West and instead listening to her boyfriend.
Sorry, it’s the players, not the owner. They need a shakeup.
They did win a ring a few years back. DLO cannot be relied upon. They need to develop their new players. Maybe JJ can get something out of their support players.
Same here
Nobody wants Lux, he’s awful and has almost no trade value.
That’s probably the reality. Players like him are holding back the Farm and the whole development process. Vargas, who has shown the ability to play, is not getting to play enough. Something fucked up about the FO.
Then he gets packaged with somebody who is wanted.
Lux is a former top prospect and perhaps a chance of scenery will get him back to ’22 form, when he hit to a .745 OPS.
Plaschke has been reading LADC. 😎
Well, he should be.
Plaschke is the Angel Hernandez of journalism..
I was willing to give Lux a pass since he missed all of last season and hitting major league pitching isn’t exactly easy. But it’s almost mid July and he’s barely hitting .200. I think he needs to go to a team that will re- work his hitting approach and get him to stop trying to pull everything.
Maybe while the Brewers are in town a couple of players could change uniforms such as BriceTurang and Vargas and Lux.
Brewers aren’t getting much from their first baseman and returns a Corona boy to Southern California and a Wisconsin boy to Wisconsin.
Lux does not play first Fred, perhaps you meant second??? They would never do that deal straight up for Lux, and I do not think the Dodgers would include Vargas.
If the Dodgers were to get Turang for Lux and Vargas I am guessing, and this is just a wild guess, that Lux would play second for the Brewers and it would be Vargas that played first base.
Why would any team want Lux playing second base? He’s absolutely horrendous. Nobody wants him. Why would the Brewers ever do that?
Not true, he has actually been pretty decent over there as a defender, now his bat sucks. The guy has only made 3 errors in 230 chances.
I find your geographical approach to trades very interesting. I understand Turang and Lux but is there an MLB team in Cuba?
No, but Milwaukee has several restaurants that serve an amazing Ropa Vieja plus there is a car museum that specializes in 1950’s American cars. That’s the best I can do for Vargas.
On behalf of Miguelito, I sincerely appreciate your efforts on his behalf.
Are you even watching Vargas play this time around? He looks like a completely different player. Big mistake to ship him off.
Have not seen this posted, if it has please delete:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/dodgers-news-former-la-rookie-of-the-year-sentenced-to-prison-for-six-years/ar-BB1puCXi?rc=1&ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=b7f7173bf07a4e6f9d7628fc1bf9ba8e&ei=1
He isn’t the first exe MLB player to go to jail, but he is the first one I have seen for embezzlement. Had one of the best arms in right field I have ever seen.
While not infallible, the guys at Baseball Prospectus cast doubt on two things Crochet related:
1> that he would be a starter for the majority of the 2nd half (this is also echoed at TheAthletic). Rather they project he would go to the pen and then get stretched out towards the end of the season.
2> that Baltimore, for this reason, would be interested in Crochet. They throw out Fede, Lorenzen or Eovaldi if Texas doesn’t come up.
I pointed out The Athletics comment.
I wrote this yesterday:
Although, I am hedging my SP pick to move Nathan Eovaldi to the top of the list, with Chris Bassitt right behind. Eric Fedde is moving higher up the list as well.
I think CWS made a mistake by not trading Crochet earlier (assuming they had a chance). The Dodgers need a starter they can count on in October. Crochet may not be that guy, and I will gladly say I was wrong if they can get Eovaldi or Bassitt.
Eovaldi would be fun…. Meanwhile, Tyler Anderson is quietly having a strong bounce-backseason in Anaheim.
His ERA is better by 2 runs, but Arte isn’t trading anyone to LA.
Nice! Missed it yesterday. We were traveling.
These were my thoughts from 2 days ago “My main observation is – is this a Dodger team constructed to win in the Playoffs? Let me give you 6 reasons why NOT.
Lux .217, Barnes .208, Kike .206, Heyward .205, Biggio .188 and CT3 .162. We hold out hope that the savior will arrive soon – Max Muncy @ .223.”
With 1 of the non-fab six out for a while, this should be a golden opportunity for Vargas to get a much needed, and last, change to prove himself or set his trade value. I’m thinking he will hit this time if given the opportunity.
I’m good with Teo, Outman/Pages and Vargas.
Vargas has certainly worked his way into the outhouse. As soon as possible there’s a defensive replacement so there’s little confidence there. Now he will sit for Outman.
Why not give Hoese a look? I see his splits in AAA are .282/.800 v RHP and .365/.912 v LHP. Please spare me a lecture on the difference between AAA and MLB pitching.
Jeff what’s the book on Hoese?
I’ve reached the point of no return for Biggio, Kike and CT3 as anything but gone.
Kike – .189/.521 v RHP, .219/.635.
CT3 – .147/.469 v RHP, .170/.549 v LHP.
Vargas .240/.750 V RHP & .471/1291 v LHP in a limited sample. Vargas should play every day.
Biggio should have been gone day before yesterday.
The “IF” conversation was a good one, yesterday with Badger, Pluto and Bear. Too many “IF’s” at this point in the season. We have to see how many IL pitchers will return and be worth a shit.
Get another starting pitcher and find a 3rd baseman either internally by giving guys a look or pay the price at the deadline.
But this stretch with the same unproductive players appearing everyday, while we all prey for a miracle has gotten old to me.
Nice question by norcaldodgerfan on Brasier’s 2 and a 1/2 month calf strain.
Good stuff Phil, as always right on the money. But and you know this is coming, Taylor is not really a viable trade candidate. His contract makes him untradeable unless the Dodgers eat some cash, and who would want him anyway? Biggio is the most easily disposed of. He should and will be DFAd shortly. Kike, he might have some value in a trade, but again, who would want him unless he was some sort of throw in on a major trade with some prospects. Lux also should be in some sort of package deal. Heyward is on the IL for the present, but I doubt he gets released unless he totally goes in the tank after he returns. He is the one gold glove caliber outfielder in the bunch without Mookie out there. As for Barnes, we all know why he is here and Feduccia is not. Although at this point, I think his defense is not what it once was, and he damn sure cannot throw out runners. They run more on Barnes than they do Smith. I think age has a lot to do with Brasiers lengthy stay on the IL. He is 36 and no spring chicken anymore.
Trade Kiké, a pitcher and a catcher we aren’t going to use for prospects, take those prospects, a pitcher and a catcher we aren’t going to use and trade them for a pitcher and someone who can hit that we are going to use.
Embezzlement? After he gets out he should move back here and run for office.
Thanks Bear. You are spot on with your analysis of the 6 guys who can’t hit but either have no trade value or AF won’t eat their salary. As you mentioned, Taylor isn’t tradeable with his 22.5 million being owed. I would eat a bunch of that salary to dish him now. Eat the money and check it off as a bad signing unless you really want to watch his act for another season and a half.
I have no idea what portion of Biggoi’s 4.2 million 1 year contract, we pay. If AF is paying this guy a million, again check that one off as a bad idea. Kike is owed a couple million. See ya. Lux earns 1.23 and someone might do that with the right package. Heyward is going nowhere for his 9 million, and Barnes isn’t going anywhere with his 3.5 mil as the Dodgers love him for hopefully 6 more months.
CT3 seems to have us over a barrel, with AF being unwilling, it seems, to part with 22.5 million. And perhaps Kike’s 4 million.
But we paid Trevor Bauer $61 million for 17 starts, a 6 & 5 record and 107.2 innings. That’s $570,000 per start. And we don’t want to part with 26.5 million to clean house of our deadwood? Fine time to start pinching pennies.
For a team that just spent a freaking billion dollars in the off season, it baffles me that they are balking at eating $23M to get rid of Taylor. I would get rid of Biggio and Kike before Taylor however. Dodgers should have signed Profar or Pham instead of Heyward.
Hindsight is 20/20. They have passed on Pham twice. You might not believe it, but Profar is the only Padre with an OPS above .800. Four Diamondbacks are above that number. Machado is at .775.
I was an advocate for Profar over Heyward in the off season. Pham not as much. But we could use his grit on this team.
The Dodgers can eat a lot of salary if they really want to move some of those contracts.
When Mookie comes back, he should play 2B full-time, and that would make Lux fully expendable. And Biggio has earned a DFA.
The versatility of Taylor and Kike make them more useful than Lux and Biggio.
Why not promote Hoese or Lipcius to play 3B until Max gets back?
Only the front office knows why. Might be because neither of them is on the 40-man and they might not want to DFA someone to get them on the roster. The most vulnerable is Biggio. But they haven’t seen fit to cut him loose
Thank You
I wonder if the 2024 version of Kody Hoese has surprised the front office as much as it has me. Up until this year he was showing all the signs of another dismal position player draft failure that the Dodgers have had more than a few of. I think Jeff made reference to that a few days ago.
I very much hope I’m wrong, but my feeling is that this year will turn out to be a one-off and not a new beginning. That said, I would much prefer to see him in a Dodger uni tomorrow than I would Biggio.
The Dodgers have three utility players, including Rojas, for situations just like this.
How’s that working for them?
Hoese is 26, has been in the organization for 6 years, is the third baseman for the organization’s AAA club, he’s hitting over .300 and OPS’n over .800 and the team sticks with Biggio.
There must be a reason. What is it?
40 man planning with so many on the 60?
Hmm. Have to admit, I hadn’t considered that.
Hurts Hoese’s paycheck.
Hoese would get prorated MLB minimum if he came to the majors. But it would dwarf what he is making now.
It is a farce.
No, its baseball. They have to feel the player would improve the team, which in this case, they so far do not.
Might be his glove. He is mediocre as a defender. Maybe they feel he isn’t as good as what they have.
“But this stretch with the same unproductive players appearing everyday, while we all prey for a miracle has gotten old to me.”
100%!! Hopefully this present act ends by the trade deadline!
Strongly disagree with your assessment of Vargas. He’s looking at a real turnaround. Hits and looks good in LF. Play him.
Wrobleski tomorrow. That should be interesting.
I’m sure the White Sox will have a scout or two in attendance as will a number of other teams.
I am not trading that kid at all, River Ryan either. The rest of the farm system, have at it. They are short on lefty starters in the system.
I think Ferris might be another lefty that should not be traded.
I would agree with that.
Agreed.
But they may trade a lefty for a lefty…
0 for 7 WRISP.
And they win.
That is this year’s Dodgers.
Home Runs or Bust. Team is not good at eking out runs playing small ball. It will be their downfall again in the post season.
Not necessarily. The team you see now is not the team that will go into the playoffs.
Damn, I hope not.
Bank on it.
This may be why Vargas is now taking grounders at 3B, per Ardaya:
Max Muncy is no longer swinging a bat, Dave Roberts said today. Oblique issue hasn’t progressed. Anything rotational still gives him some discomfort.
Speaking of relievers, there is still chatter among baseball scribes that the Dodgers may bring back Kenley.
Oh, ye purveyors of gloom and doom. The team you see on the field today is not the team that will be playing come October. There will be changes, maybe not the ones you want, but changes none the less. Bullpen will be different; lineup will be different. Muncy might not make it back, but Betts will, and he alone changes a lot. One less weak bat in the lineup. Padres lost tonight in 10 innings. The D-Backs scored 3 in the top of the inning. The Padres had 2 on and none out, and Solano doubled. That scored one and put runners on second and third with no outs and Merrill coming up. He walked to load the bases. The D-Backs brought in Castellanos to relieve. The guy had a plus 10 ERA. He struck out Johnson, then Kim, and got Higoshioka to fly out. Dago now 7.5 back. The Giants lost to Cleveland, so the Dodgers pick up a game on their closest pursuers.
Dodgers up 9 in the loss column on the Puds.