Well, I had every intention to publish Rob’s post on the upcoming draft, but something very rare and exciting happened on Friday night. Clayton Kershaw was perfect thru 7.0 IP. This was the second time this season that Clayton was perfect thru 7.0. The first game was a cold afternoon in Minnesota. This was the first game of the year for Kershaw, and he threw 80 pitches. He struck out 13 Twins. He was coming off a season ending injury the season before, and it was the right decision to take him out.
On June 18, 2014, Clayton was in Colorado to take on the Rockies. On that night, Kersh got thru the first 6.0 innings without allowing a baserunner. Corey Dickerson led off the 7th and hit a ground ball to SS Hanley Ramirez who made an errant throw to 1B and Dickerson ended up at 2B, where he remained. He completed the no-hitter, and struck out 15 Rockies batters.
Last night, Kershaw was perfect thru 7.0. Instead of a defensive miscue, the Dodgers made some spectacular defensive web gems. JT (and Freddie), Hanser Alberto, and Trea Turner (and Freddie) each made a tremendous defensive effort to keep the no-hitter alive. Kershaw acknowledged the defense after the game. He said that he thought that he might have got the perfecto because his defense was so incredible.
However, on a 2-1 pitch, Luis Rengifo doubled off a slider that was down, but missed over the plate. Kershaw got the final three outs in the 8th, and his night was done. The Dodgers were up 9-0 and there was no reason for Kershaw to go back out in the 9th. He threw 89 pitches, 63 for strikes, nearly 71%. He was pounding the strike zone.
Reyes Moronta relieved Kershaw, and the 2nd batter he faced, Brandon Marsh, crushed a center/center changeup for a HR. Shutout over. That was the end of 20 consecutive shutout innings.
Kershaw struck out Shohei Ohtani twice, and the 2nd one (7th inning) was a classic. The next batter, Taylor Ward followed Ohtani, and struck out on a slider that dived off the table. If Kershaw puts the slider he threw to Rengifo at the same location as he did Ward, Rengifo doesn’t get the hit. But he did, and the magical night simply turned to magnificent.
But it was not just the starting pitching. The offense was tremendous on this night as well. 8-9-1 was 0-fer but with 4 walks. Will Smith led the night with 4 hits, and was a HR shy of the cycle. He got an RBI for the 7th consecutive game. Justin Turner had a 4 hit night that was turned into a 3 hit night by the score keeper. He had 4 RBIs. Trayce Thompson had a 2-hit night, and made a fine running catch in the 8th to keep the shutout intact. That made his father, Mychal Thompson, very happy, and not too grumpy (Mychal’s word) to be interviewed by Kirsten Watson.
The team was 6-15 WRISP.
Will Smith is arguably the best offensive catcher in the game right now.
- BA – MLB (2nd), NL (1st) – .276
- OBP – MLB (3rd), NL (2nd) – .368
- SLG – MLB (1st), NL (1st) – .485
- OPS – MLB (2nd), NL (1st) – .853
- HR – MLB (1st), NL (1st) – 14
- RBI – MLB (1st), NL (1st) – 47
Freddie Freeman leads ML in hits with 112.
Neither are currently on the All Star roster. There is still time. I still have a rough time figuring out why the Commissioner’s office selected Garrett Cooper over either Smith or Freeman. The Marlins already had two on the roster, and the game is in LA. Why not give the nod to a Dodger in the replacement of the injured Bryce Harper? I guess Manfred still has a problem with LAD. Does Manfred really believe that Garrett Cooper was more deserving than Freddie or Smith?
Going into the All Star game. Kershaw is now 7-2 with an ERA of 2.13, a WHIP of 0.91, and a remarkable SO/W ratio of 75/12. That is 6.25 to 1. I think he has earned the starting assignment for the All Star game. Thankfully, Brian Snitker gets to choose the starter and not Rob Manfred. Certainly an argument could be made that Sandy Alcantara could get the start, but the game is in LA.
In 2013, Kershaw should have had the starting assignment, but the game was in NYM Citi Field and Matt Harvey, the Mets pitcher, got the assignment in his home park. Now it’s Kershaw’s turn.
I am giving a formal apology to Rob Schelling who spent a lot of time and wrote a great article on the upcoming Rule 4 Amateur Draft being held on Sunday – Tuesday in LA. I promise it will run on Sunday AM before the draft.
Watched from first pitch to the last. At least the hit was legit. Hate when they get a bleeder. Smith and Freeman both belong on the All-Star team.
My thoughts exactly, Bear. You want that hit to be legit, and it was. Of course, CK was saved a few times before that on plays that took hits away.
So, the Nats latest offer to Soto of 15/440 has been rejected and they are now listening to offers. He has two years of control left after this year.
I could see the Mets trading every asset they have to get him and paying him whatever he wants.
I could see the Yanks deciding to let Judge walk if they could get Soto who is much younger.
I don’t see AF trading the entire farm system for Soto.
I cannot see AF even entertaining the thought of trading for Soto.
If only he hit from the right side like Acuna who I think is the better player. Betts and Soto would be fun. Add in Freeman and Smith and perhaps Lux and that would be quite the team.
Have to find a way to pay for Soto. That probably means Muncy, Justin, Kershaw, Trea, and Bellinger might not fit into the payroll.
Since Smith has catcher covered for the next 7 to 9 years (that will also cost $$), the Dodgers could include Cartaya in a trade. There is a limit as to how many players/prospects a team can offer to the Nationals so I don’t think the trade that gets made won’t make the Trade Simulator happy.
https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/trade-90198/
https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trades/?team_filter=516
Even neither Jerry Dipoto nor Dave Dombrowski would make that trade. I have no idea who is going to pay the price Washington is sure to ask for.
I agree. I think the Trade Simulator will not be close to what actually happens with Soto if traded this year and the Nats will have to wait until his free agent year to trade him.
I don’t see Soto getting more than 40-45 mil per year.
Muncy, JT, Kershaw, Trea and Belli would be something around 90-100.
Austin Riley and Tyler Anderson added to the NL All Star roster. Both are legit replacements. Riley is replacing Nolan Arenado and Anderson is replacing Carlos Rodón.
Kershaw may want to pitch a few more years.
At least two more. They’ve already got his catcher locked up.
In less than an hour, the Futures Game will be played at Dodger Stadium. Mike Scioscia is the NL Manager and has inserted the three LAD prospects into the starting lineup. Miguel Vargas will be batting 5th and playing 2B, Diego Cartaya will be batting 9th and catching, while RHP Bobby Miller draws the starting assignment. Vargas will get a shot at 2B on a big stage. One of the top 10 prospects, Jordan Walker, will be the starting 3B. Walker is 20 playing at AA Springfield (Cardinals).
Unfortunately I am in wine country for a week and do not have access to see or hear the game live. If I want to get up at 6:00 AM on Sunday, I can see the replay on MLB Network.
I think you will recognize some of the names of the NL coaching staff:
Kenny Landreaux (bench), Dan Haren (pitching), Shawn Green (hitting), Eric Davis (first base), Matt Tuiasosopo (third base) and Cesar Ramos make up the rest of the NL coaching staff.
Jimmy Rollins will be managing the AL roster. You might recognize some of the names of the AL staff as well. Jerry Manuel (bench), Edwin Jackson (pitching), Adrián Beltré (hitting), Garry Matthews Jr. (first base), Ryan Newman (third base) and Dan Otero (bullpen) as the remaining AL coaches.
Bobby Miller strikes out the side in the 1st. Good start.
Miller 3 Ks, Walk/WP/single to score a run.
Vargas walked and scored on run on error, ground out 6-3
Diego Cartaya reached on error (scored Vargas), ground out 5-3
Kyle Harrison allowed 4 runs including 2 HRs. Here’s to hoping that as a SFG prospect he loses a lot more games at Dodger Stadium.
Miller, 2 WHIP and a 9 ERA. His stuff is undeniable. His command is unreliable.
Dustin May made his first appearance in a rehab assignment today, tossing two perfect innings for the Dodger team in the Arizona Complex league. He struck out 3. Let’s hope his return continues on an upward trajectory