Over the next week or so, the Dodgers have some very critical games coming up. First is a three-game series with Pittsburgh where they need to at least win the series, so they have a .500 homestand. Lately for the team as we all know, that has been asking a lot. They came out of the All-Star break and won 5 in a row, sweeping the Red Sox and taking the first 2 of 4 in San Francisco. After that series they dropped 4 of 5 to the Astros and Padres, blowing another 5 run lead in the process. In August, they are 3-3 after the loss to the Phillies on Wednesday.
Fans are concerned rightfully so because the team has been so inconsistent for well over 2 months. After Pittsburgh, they hit the road for four in Milwaukee against the division leading Brewers who are now just 2.5 games in front of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodger lead is also down to 2.5 over the Padres and 3 over Arizona. The Padres and Arizona are 8-2 after their last 10 games and Arizona is on a 4-game winning streak, Padres have won 5 in a row.
The good news is that Mookie should be back during the Milwaukee series. The big news is that he will play RF again, and he will be batting second. More good news is that Buehler pitched really well in his last re-hab start, and Kershaw, despite getting the loss, looked more like Kershaw in his 4.2 innings of work on Tuesday. Yamamoto threw his second bullpen, and it seems they are targeting a September return for the Japanese ace. Glasnow also pitched really well his last outing, and he will start Friday’s game, his Dodger Stadium debut, against Mitch Keller of the Pirates. River Ryan gets Pirates phenom Paul Skenes on Saturday, and Glasnow gets the final game of the homestand against lefty, Bailey Falter.
It does not get any easier after Milwaukee as the Dodgers go into St. Louis to face the surging Cardinals. The next homestand is 9 games against the Mariners, Rays and Orioles. The Dodgers end the month Labor Day weekend with a Friday-Monday wrap around critical series with Arizona. Will they still be in first place by the end of the month? Only if they turn around their mediocre play of the last couple of weeks. They need to play more like they did coming out of the break. Can Arizona and the Padres keep it up? San Diego’s schedule is pretty soft with the Marlins on the road this weekend, three with the Pirates at home, 3 at Colorado, then they come home for a seven game homestand against the Twins, who are in second place in the AL Central and have only 1 win less than the Padres, then four with the Mets, who have leap-frogged the Braves and are now in second in the NL East. They then go to St. Louis for 4 before finishing up the month on the road in Tampa with a 3-game series with the Rays.
Arizona in the meantime, plays Philadelphia at home for 4 games, then 3 with Colorado. Out on the road for 9, 3 with Tampa, 3 with Miami, and finish up the trip with 3 in Boston. Then they come home for 7, 3 with the Mets and 4 with LA. They have six more games with the Rockies and Giants, 4 with LA and 3 with the Padres, the last weekend of the season at home while the Dodgers are in Colorado finishing up against the Rockies. Six of LA’s last 9 games are with the Rocks. 3 with the Padres. So, unlike the last several years, the final weekend could have HUGE meaning to the division title.
While there is help on the way in the form of injured players returning to action, there will be some subtractions also and some popular players could get caught in the squeeze. CT-3 and Kike have to be on the bubble. I am starting to think that Kiermaier will also be a victim of the crunch. Three position players should be back in the next couple of weeks. Betts, Muncy and Edman. Then you have 1 for sure, Buehler, and maybe another, Yamamoto, returning to the rotation. Brasier is about ready to rejoin the bullpen. That is six players who will need to be either removed from the roster or sent down.
Minor League Report
Bobby Miller started for OKC tonight. He went 4.1 innings, allowing 2 hits, 3 runs, all earned, 4 walks and 6Ks. Hahn went .2 innings with a couple of Ks and a couple walks. Feyereisen pitched 1 inning giving up an unearned run on no hits and a walk. Lao pitched 2 innings, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs, both earned. Rooney pitched the 9th giving up a run on 1 hit and 3 walks. He struck out 1. OKC was plagued by 3 errors. Two by Freeland and another by Feyereisen. OKC scored first in the bottom of the 4th on a double by Hoese that scored Freeland. Round Rock scored 3 in the top of the fifth driving with a couple of walks and a couple of hits chasing Miller. OKC scored 2 in the bottom of the fifth, Trejo singled and Avans tripled. Rushing then hit a sac-fly scoring Avans. Round Rock scored single runs in the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th, innings to lead 7-3. OKC mounted a rally in the bottom of the 9th, but fell short and lost, 7-6. Feyereisen took the loss.
Tulsa lost a close game 2-1 to Arkansas. The Drillers had just 2 hits. Choi took the loss. He pitched 4 innings and gave up 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th. Duran pitched 3.1 inning of scoreless ball, and Morillo .2 innings. Keith and Ramos were the only Drillers with hits.
Lansing beat Great Lakes 8-4. The Loons scored first in the bottom of the first on a Dylan Campbell homer. Lansing scored 1 in the top of the 3rd and 4 in the top of the 4th. The Loons answered with 3 in the bottom of the 4th, Alonso walked, Biddison singled and Campbell hit his second homer to close the gap to 5-4. It stayed that way until the top of the 9th when Lansing scored 3 runs. Heubeck got the loss, his sixth. Hobbs gave up the deciding runs in the 9th. Campbell was 2-4 with 2 homers and 4 driven in.
At Rancho tonight, the Quakes have a 5-2 lead with one out in the 9th. Rancho scored 4 in the bottom of the 4th. Decker walked and Rojas singled. Hainline walked loading the bases. Meza hit a sac-fly. A walk to Munoz and another walk to Guererro forced home the second run. A wild pitch scored Hainline. George walked and Diaz hit into a double play scoring Munoz with the 4th run. A Decker homer in the bottom of the 5th, ended the scoring for the Quakes. Fresno scored 1 in the 8th and 12 in the 9th for the 5-3 final. Linan pitched 7 scoreless innings and got his 6th win. Gonzalez gave up all three of Fresno’s runs.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Leaving early in the morning for Denver. Nice win tonight. Much needed.
Had to have it.
There are levels to this game.
What is it that Badger keeps saying “gotta score eight” we scored eight tonight and got a win, Badger is a genius.😀
We need to win more when we score 2 or 3 runs. That might be asking too much from our pitchers. We can’t seem to shut down opponents.
Yes, we are giving up too much runs, no doubt about it.
With Mookie now playing RF when he returns our lineup should be good to go:
Ohtani, DH
Mookie, RF
Freddie, 1b,
Teo, lf
Muncy, 3b (when back)
Smith, C
Lux, 2b
Edman, cf
Rojas, ss
Bench: Barnes, Heyward, Kike, Pages or Rosario
that is a very good , potent lineup and okay bench.
But it all will come down to pitching. as usual.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Looks good… perhaps very, very good.
I expect that Lux will platoon with Rosario. With Lux so hot, I’m tempted to bat him 5th and Max 7th.
Both Max and Edman have been out for so long it’s hard to know what kind of offense to expect.
Glad that the Dodgers figured Rojas needs to play SS. Lux saved his starting role with his surge.
Will Edman at CF be more productive that a Heyward/Pages platoon in RF? If not, shifting Mookie to CF should be considered.
The Dodgers are probably banking on Edman at CF being more “productive” than Heyward/Pages in RF. But keep an eye on Rushing at OKC. If Edman falters in the field or at the plate, and Rushing soon shows he deserves a shot in the majors, then he could be brought up to play LF, with Teo in right, and Mookie at center. ..A very long shot possibility, ..but you never know. Another young hot/shot bat in this line-up could move the needle.
Rushing is hitting .235 so far with no homers and 1 driven in. Doubtful he moves the needle enough to replace experienced major leaguers.
You’re right of course that Rushing is unlikely to be a positive difference-maker this season. But, that .235 is based (so far) on only a tiny OKC sample, so I’ll wait another 5 or so weeks to make conclusions on him then. And “experience” isn’t the end-all for better talent or production.
In 5 weeks, he would not be eligible for the post season unless he replaced an injured player. Five weeks is also the middle of September. I think a more realistic guess would be he debuts sometime next year.
Padres are 15-3 in the second half. Dbacks are 15-5. giants are 13-8. Dodgers are 11-8 and 6-8 in the last 14. The opposition in the West keeps on winning and with the schedule what it is I don’t see that stopping. The Dodgers need to get well and get well soon.
Looking at the box last from last night’s game I see 4 Dodgers with an OPS in the .600’s and another at .713, below league average. More than half the lineup below league average hitters. Team pitching in the second half has SD at the top of MLB with the Dodgers middle of the pack.
Both SD and Arizona have it going on so far in the second half. So has S.F. but for some reason I’m not as worried about them.
It’s still a few weeks until crunch time, but I for one don’t want to go into it chasing other teams. I prefer they chase us.
It’s difficult to have real faith in our pitching when our best pitchers are giving up HRs and allowing our opposition to score runs when we have a good lead. Our BP is running on a prayer. Then, we have our hitters slumping as well as supporting unproductive players in the lineup. This is indeed, a recipe for another CHOKE.
Miller had good stuff at OKC but once again he just can not avoid that one big inning when he loses his composure . It is the fil rouge of his career so far. Just can not toughen up and bullying his way out of trouble. A bulldog he is not.
Don´t know if he will be of any help in the stretch run and high leverage games . At least not this season.
Much needed win. Now lets see if we can somehow beat Skenes .
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, good use of language
Fil rouge. Thought it was a typo. Had to look it up. “governing principle”. Nicely done ram. I learned something. Thank you.
Anybody seen Crochet number from yesterdays game ?
Dodgers probably dodged a HUGE bullet there not trading for him.
2.1 innings, 9 hits, 7 r all earned, 4 Hr given up
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Since he didn’t get what he wanted at the deadline, maybe he just doesn’t give a sh*t anymore.
Jeff has referred to this before but it is so hard to believe what Doc/ FO says. It has been obvious that the team needed to put Mookie in right field when he is activated. Apparently they hadn’t planned on doing that and had him(let him) workout at ss. Then Doc says he’ll be the shortstop when he comes back. Now we know Mookie will return in rightfield.
What is going on!
I don’t think the brass really knows what exactly to do with the line-up, I think a “little of this and a little of that” and see what seems to stick to the wall. They thought they had it all set, and they actually did, then all of the injuries to both pitchers and every day players hit and spilled the whole apple cart. It has been scramble mode every since Mookie went down (final blow as it were). Depending on how the win column moves or doesn’t , don’t be surprised if they don’t go back with Mookie at SS. If Lux keeps performing, as he has of late, he holds on to the regular gig at second, if he slows down much at all, you’ll see a Mookie/Rojas combo manning the two middle infield spots. The line-up really isn’t locked down at this point, it is a mix and match situation and probably will remain that way thru out the rest of this season and playoffs. The funny thing is, if the bullpen would have been adequate we wouldn’t even be having this conversation, the team would have had enough to be 10 games in first. If the bullpen can’t shut the barn door the whole farm has a problem.
Let us know when you figure it out………
At least offer some reasoning behind the move. Roberts is such a tool. Why would listen to what he says? It’s typically useless information.
It feels to me that Roberts doesn’t really want to talk to the media but knows he has to so he just fills the air with words. Because of this, I don’t much listen to what is said, I just watch what is done.
A few people on this board were predicting Mookie would be back in RF (some said CF) with his return. Bear was adamant that he was returning to SS being that he was working out there. Made sense to me. This is similar to the Lux at SS in the spring and then the last minute move of Mookie to SS. This seems to put the player and the team in a uncomfortable situation because of the lack of preparation to play the position. Mookie definitely had his struggles.
Good news on Buehler and Yamamoto. It looks like Miller will not be pitching for the Dodgers this year. He needs to work on the mental part of pitching. I hope he can do that because he has the arm talent to be an ace for the team. Looking for Kershaw to continue building with each outing.
It was a nice offensive game for the Dodgers last night with everyone but Pages and Lux contributing. It’s encouraging to watch Lux prove not only to the team and the fans, but himself, that he can be a successful MLB hitter. Good on him for making the proper adjustments after enduring such a weak start. His current swing is much improved compared to whatever he was doing at the start of the season. Pages, on the other hand, is struggling with inconsistencies at the plate.
I’m looking forward to tonight’s game with the Dodgers’ promising pitcher, River Ryan, facing off against the Pirates rookie ace, Paul Skenes. It could be the first of many future match ups for these two.
Carry on.
It was my gut feeling that as long as the Dodgers insisted on Lux at second the best position for Mookie to play was right field and the Dodgers should pick up a real shortstop at the deadline. That’s why I was calling for Bichette (along with Robert Jr and Crochet). As you know I never wanted Mookie at short. I also figured Lux would be traded and Mookie would go back to second.
Well I was obviously wrong about all that but must admit I will be happy to see Mookie back in right. I just hope he is ok with the move. He seemed to really like the infield.
And as for the moves that were made, Flaherty is 1-1 with pitching well, Rosario has been invisible, Kopech looks like he will help and Edman isn’t even here yet. Can he play center? Pages can’t, Outman has been banished so let’s hope so.
I think I still prefer now what I did then but am of course willing to see how it all plays out.
Edman, if healthy, should be fine in CF. I’m worried more about his offense than his defense.
I think Lux save his job with his second-half surge. But he may yet be traded to let Mookie move to 2B full-time..
I’m sure Mookie will be OK with moving to right field for the rest of this year, but I seriously doubt he’d be fine with that being a permanent move.
He wants to play the infield. That means shortstop or second base so your comments about Lux are very valid. He has either saved his job or he’ll need to be traded, depending upon where they decide they want to play Mookie next year and going forward.
Badger, you know the game and usually make astute comments. But for the life of me, I can’t understand your distain and lack for confidence in Miggy Rojas. You constantly make statements like “the Dodgers should have picked up a “real shortstop” at the deadline”. You have wanted to replace him for the entire season. I’m not sure what your problem is with him? You have made it clear that he’s 35 and needs some days off. (no kidding, how about Will Smith getting some time off?). Miggy can get some occasional relief from Rosario when he isn’t platooning with Lux at 2nd and even Edman, who can move in from center, when necessary.
I admit, I’m a big Rojas fan at short. I absolutely know shortstop actions and I love his feet, his slick hands and transfer and his accurate arm. Plus he’s a leader and great teammate. The rap was he couldn’t hit. Well, now he is.
What else does this guy need to do to satisfy the you and other naysayers?
I hear folks “predicting” he won’t keep it up. That’s lame speculation, if I’ve ever heard one.
Miggy is hitting .275/.713 (3 homers) and making all the plays. Bichette is hitting .223/.597 with 4 homers.
Contact is good for Miggy and we can leave the slug to others in the line up.
So, Badger I’d like to hear your reasons for wanting someone else at short as I’m sort of sick of you disrespecting the guy?
Plus, Bichette is still on the IL. He hasn’t played since mid-July. Trading for Bichette would have been a total waste of assets.
It’s easy for me Phil. Rojas is 2 for his last 15 and OPSn less than league average. I see him as a valuable bench player. That’s it.
As for Bichette, I figured he’d be back in the lineup after recovering from what has obviously been bothering him. I didn’t know he would be down this long.
Actually, 2 for his last 17.
I was hoping for more offense out of that position.
So you are claiming you are basing your negativity on his last 17 at bats?
How about looking at his season totals.
You’ve been bitching about the guy’s play all year and I don’t get it.
I don’t know what kind of offense you want from the SS position? Mookie, Seager, Trea Turner?
Rojas is a good player and makes 5.5 million per. Get off his ass.
Ok Phil.
I’m with you Badger. There’s better options at SS and a platoon partner for Lux than Rojas. Rosario SS, Edman platoon with Lux.
Also, I take what doc says with a grain of salt, so I’ll add Betts too.
To others, don’t we want the best offense instead of giving up some of it for apparently a little better defense, according to flawed defense stats?
Hard for Edman to platoon with Lux since most reports have him playing center field when he joins the team. He was playing center field tonight at OKC. Sorry, none of those guys have Rojas’s defensive chops except maybe Ahmed. Defensive stats are not a flawed stat to anyone in the game Eric. I understand you do not value them at all, but teams do.
Again, just like you said below towards the end of the comments. I care about defense. It’s just that I’m not obsessed about it, like others are, and defense stats are flawed stats. There’s so many variables that go into it, that make it flawed.
I disagree Eric. And it is not obsession, it is appreciation for an important part of the game. There were four exceptional defensive plays last night alone that helped the Dodgers win that game. Ryan’s play on the dribbler in the first. Kiermaier’s catch, a great catch by Kike of a liner at third and Lux’s leaping catch that turned into a double play. There is nothing flawed about defensive stats. No one uses fielding percentage anymore, but defensive runs saved is an important stat when grading defense.
So other players that play those positions can’t make those plays?
For example could Heyward and Outman make the play that Kiermaier made. Could Muncy make the play Kike made?
Is that why you’re so in love with Outman?
Hi Mark. I see you made another name you can post under.
Flaherty is 2-0. Mookie agreed to the move. Edman has played 44 games in his career in center field. He has not made an error in 120 chances out there and he has 3 outfield assists from center. Rosario is only being used against LHP period, which to me is asinine since his splits are pretty even. Tomorrow’s starter, Falter, is left-handed, Rosario should be in there then. Bichette was on the IL when the deadline rolled around. He is still on the IL and has not played since July 19th. Would have been a waste to trade for him. If LA decides they need a SS, they would most likely make a trade, or sign a free agent, Adames, this winter.
Bear
Rosario – .303/.739 vs RHP = .292/.702, LHP = .320/.799
Lux – .248/.660 vs RHP=.249/.687 LHP= .182/.432
I’d like to see more AB’s for Rosario but it’s early. He’s had 4 games with LA.
This just begs for a platoon at second.
And a break at SS for Rojas occasionally with Rosario or Edman.
Sounds good to me.
With Betts in right, this the most logical way to line up. Rosario and Lux platoon at second. Rojas will need a break for a game or two a week at short. I am with you on Rojas. He is the best defensive shortstop on this roster (though to be honest I have not seen Edman play short very often.) Taylor could even give Rojas a break when he is back. I still would consider a Muncy/Hernandez platoon at third for the same reason that a Lux/Rosario platoon makes sense. More due to Muncy’s struggles vs. left handers than Kike’s improvement at plate since break.
Edman won’t play SS unless they want to give Rojas a day off. 3B depends on how Muncy looks when he returns. He scalded a double tonight.
I believe I read somewhere that Muncy and Edman will be playing for OKC tonight.
Muncy was listed in the box as a substitute last night but didn’t play. Idk I couldn’t figure why would he be there but not play. Betts has been out for 2 months but no rehab assignment.
There are a few posts on X saying that Max and Edman are in tonight’s lineup against Round Rock.
The best part of Max Muncy’s rehab assignment?
Next week OKC will play Las Vegas, which also has…Max Muncy.
who is the Max Max?
I will be maxed out next week.
pads win again!! N Giants. I thought the Giants were the luckiest team ever but mb it is the pads. They both are the kings of the late game comebacks. Everything is falling their way.
I’m really starting to hate the way leadership of my beloved Dodgers do things.
I am an open critic of Dave Roberts.
Me too. Just unbelievable how inept this team has been the last 10 years! They don’t develop young players and refuse to sign top free agents! Wish I was an Angels fan!
Can we finally get a starter through a 5th inning without getting lit up?
Oh cmon this just isn’t fair!!!!!!!!
Another pitching injury!! If he doesn’t get Vesia out of there we will blow another. When him n wild man Kelly come in u immediately start biting your nails. No clue where it is going.
RR was pitching great with very low pitch count. What a blow. Mb it is not serious.
Appreciate the sarcasm. The fire Roberts criticism gets tedious after a while.
NH, im with you on that one
Lol
OKC has scored one run tonight on 2 hits. The hits came from Tommy Edman and Max Muncy. Edman scored the only run on a double by Muncy. And that is why they traded for Kevin Kiermaier.
The defensive wizard according to flawed stats Kiermaier is 0 for 10 since coming to the Dodgers. Exactly what I thought and he’s playing instead of Pages who is hitting RHP better than him.
Doc is doing Doc stuff again, stupid stuff. I’m waiting for Doc to do Doc stuff in a critical game and it’ll happen eventually.
By the way, I’m talking about Hayward in CF and Pages in RF.
I dunno, I definitely think that the Dodgers could do better than Roberts.
But it’s hard to find fault with him this year if/when one considers:
The Ohtani gambling circus
The injuries
The overseas start
Lux’s slow recovery from the knee
Outman’s regression
The politics of Kershaw’s return
Politics? Where did that come from? It is not politics; it is because of what he has done during his career with the team. He deserves a chance to see if he can still pitch effectively. And Roberts had nothing to do with bringing Kershaw back. The was the front offices decision.
Politics has more than the definition you are thinking of Bear.
Not here. History dictates the open door for Kershaw, his rehab, and insertion into the starting lineup. If Kershaw can’t cut it anymore, I believe he will be the first to disqualify himself.
“But it’s hard to find fault with him this year”
I’m not blaming him about the team this year, the reason being all the things you said.
I’m just pointing out things Doc can do in any critical games that clearly go against what stats say that can get in the way of winning any of those crucial games, especially bullpen decisions.
I think I agree with this, but not sure.
Not that it matters.
Kiermaier is known for his glove. The Dodgers value defense even though you do not. Anyone who would prefer Pages out there defensively does not realize how bad that guy is defensively in center. You guys are griping, and they are winning the game and that is all the matters.
Bear I said Hayward in CF and Pages in RF and they’re winning today because of good pitching today.
As long as Mookie is healthy, Pages is not going to smell a start in right. Mookie might get a day off here and there, but he is going to be the guy in RF.
With Mookie playing RF, Pages will be sent to OKC to play everyday. It’s a numbers game there are only going to be 4 bench spots one of them is Barnes that’s 3 spots left for Amed, Rosario, Kiki, Heyward, Kiermaier, and Taylor, there is no room for him, unless we have more injuries, so I wish you guys would quit talking about him platooning with Heyward, Heyward is going to be the forth outfielder, we don’t need a platoon player for him when he’s already going to be on the bench
You’re now talking about the future. Obviously, you’re right if Doc isn’t blowing smoke up our asses about Betts in RF.
It is not smoke Eric. Mookie even confirmed it and he has been seen the last couple of days working hard in the outfield.
They also won because of some incredible defensive plays there genius. What other player on the team makes that catch that Kiermaier made? How about the jumping catch by lux and immediate turnaround double play to first?
Bellinger would have made it, maybe Outman. But not Pages.
“What other player on the team makes that catch that Kiermaier made?”
Heyward and if he was on the team Outman. But I’ll stick with what you asked and the answer is Heyward
Dumbass I haven’t said Lux shouldn’t play against RHP. Obviously you don’t understand what I’m saying.
If there is a better hitting player that can play the position just as good, I’d rather have that player instead. Defense stats are flawed, everyone knows it.
Heyward is very capable of playing CF
By the way, hi Mark.
Ahmed and Kiermaier both made outstanding defensive plays tonight and between them have 3 hits out of the 8 and 9 spots. Evidently winning is not enough, we have to win with the “right” line up.
Ok if you’re so smart and I’m so dumb because of “the right lineup”, then tell me what “the right lineup” is to you going forward until Betts and Muncy return? I bet you dodge the question.
Never said I was smart or that you were dumb. We are both offering opinions and we will have to agree to disagree about the importance of defense. My point was only that criticism when they win 4 to 1, play good defense, get some timely hits, and pitch well seems to be a bit much.
Safe to say there is no best line up right now. The Dodgers don’t yet know until they get Betts, Muncy, and Edman back. I think the move to put Betts in right after saying he would play short is evidence of that. I do think a Lux/Rosario platoon makes sense and I think a platoon of Muncy and Hernandez at third makes sense. Edman becomes the primary CF and Rojas the primary shortstop. But the Dodgers have far more information on their players than either of us do and it is very likely that they will test drive a line up and evaluate it for a period of time to see what works best for them. Also very likely that it won’t be the same line up that you and I would deploy.
I appreciate your passion and your willingness to engage others but I try not to make it personal if there is disagreement. It is just fun to read different perspectives about a team we all root for.
Wasn’t this a smartass remark to me?
“Evidently winning is not enough, we have to win with the “right” line up.”
No. An observation in reply to a post Bear had made about posters griping about the Dodgers when they won. But sorry if you took it personally.
i’m sorry, bear I like you but:
I care about defense, it’s just that I’m not obsessed about it like others.
Nobody is obsessed Eric; we just appreciate it and recognize when it is a huge part of a player’s game. I saw guys like Mays and Clemente, who besides being very good hitters, were outstanding defenders. Clemente had a cannon for an arm. Nobody in the league was dumb enough to run on him. Front offices and managers respect players with excellent defensive skills. You can bash Kiermaier all you want for his low BA this year, but over his career he has been MLB average at least and his career .246 avg is about right for a player of his type. But his defense has always been A+. By the way, Matt Kemp, who is retiring as a Dodger today, was an excellent center fielder before he crashed into the wall at Coors. His defense suffered a lot after that, and he had to move to left field.
Here’s the key to what you said.
“I saw guys like Mays and Clemente, who besides being very good hitters, were outstanding defenders.”
They had both and in a perfect world that’s what I prefer. If there’s not both, I prefer offense.
That’s ok, I prefer both, but, late in a game with a win on the line, I want my best defenders out there. And this world is far from perfect. Players today are better athletes, much more in shape. But they are not per-se, better baseball players and are measured by their skills much differently than in Mays era. Strikeouts were taboo then and are accepted today. You would rarely see a guy hitting .200 still on a roster back then.
Well, well, well, he got a hit.
He has 894 of them Eric, so I think he knows how to hit.
Bear I like like you, but now you are going off the deep end with that comment.
Doubtful Eric and whether or not you like me has no bearing on the fact that the guy has played 11 years in the majors. If he could not hit, he would have been gone a long time ago. Yes, he is having a really bad season with the bat. But as you have so often pointed out on another site, you need to look at his overall stats. And they show he is just about MLB average as a hitter. He knows how to hit.
Bear lets stop this. He’s retiring for a reason, he was DFA’d for a reason. I didn’t say look at guys career stats only. That’s what Mark did in the offseason with Kike when he was argueing with me about him and I turned out right.
Last post about this Eric. I know he was DFAd and the player who was traded for him was also DFAd. But the Dodgers did not trade for the guy for no reason. They value his defense and care little about his bat. If they were worried about his bat, they never would have traded for him. Kike is a totally different story. He is strictly a utility guy, and last season he played well after the trade. They could have not signed him since they have Taylor, but decided they wanted to keep him. Right now, they are happy they did .
I can pick apart that but I won’t because I want peace.
Actually, you cannot because it is simply your opinion. And I disagree with everything you have said. We simply have different views. I am basing mine on what I know to be true. Kike has turned his season around since he got glasses. Raised his average about 12 points which at this time of the year is very hard to do. You might not think teams value defensive players, BUT the Dodgers signed one off of the junk heap, Ahmed, a glove first guy, and then traded for another, Kiermaier. Just understand they value defense and are not worried about these guys offense. If they were, they never would have acquired either of them. I have no quarrel with you at all, we just are very far apart in our opinions.
Report on Ryan, right forearm tightness. Will be re-evaluated in a couple of days. Edman and Muncy expected to rejoin the team in about a week. Mookie back Monday in Milwaukee.
Ryan going on IL regardless. Knack coming up.
MRI tomorrow.
It’s to bad, Ryan was pitching well, and had already gone through a lot of adversity to get to the major league club. Hope it’s only a forearm muscle, and not the ligament.
Why do they need Knack when they can put Buehler in Ryan’s spot?
Actually, Knack is pitching better than Buehler and deserves the spot more but they were planning to add Buehler so he fits right into Ryan’s spot.
Now I see where they’re going to use Knack in the bullpen, but as soon as they add Buehler in a few days, someone will have to be removed from the roster. Unless they come up with another injury, it would seem like Knack will be the guy to go.
Of course, it’s about time for Mr. Kelly to make another trip to the IL. Or they could option Stone and just have him sit for a couple of weeks without pitching. Since he has options left, that might be the best solution.
Knack will most likely just be sent back down. They rarely will activate a starter off of the IL until the day he makes his first start.
Buehler has not seemed capable of taking one of the starting spots. He hasn’t been the same pitcher we all knew and respected. From what I’ve seen, he looks 50% of what I remembered him as. Maybe he needs more rehab time but to throw him into our rotation seems like a desperation move. I guess we will see.
Man oh man, another tough break for the Dodgers rotation.
Hope it is not TJ surgery for the young man.
Rotation options are getting thinner and thinner.
Have no faith in Buehler. Not much more in Miller.
On the bright side: Lux with two more clutch hits vs probably the best pitcher in the league.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I read the article on dodgers.com about Betts in RF. Doc said some things that make it not a lock Betts will be in RF permanently.
“I know that I said we want to start with Mookie out there at short, to then give the potential to pivot out there,” Roberts said. “I had a good conversation with him last night. And, I think right now — and again, things always seem to change — but right now, we’re gonna kick Mookie out to right field.”
“It’s something that … we all feel that’s what’s best for our ballclub now, going forward. And could it change? Potentially.”
That DOES NOT sound like Betts is the permanent RF. It might turn out that way, but it sounds like Doc still wants to see what the infielders can do. How much more time does he need? As far as this blog and Mark’s blog, there were calls for Kike and Taylor to go bye bye about a month ago, and long before that, and now I hear crickets. Funny how some forget.
It’s hard to ignore Pages slashline against LHP .321/.363/.452/.815, at least it is for me, but then again there’s a good amount of defense only people here. There’s no way an average hitter let alone a shitty hitter with good defense is more valuable to the team than Pages.
If Mookie goes back to SS keeping Pages becomes an option, but I still think they will keep the veterans and send Pages back to OKC. But if Mookie plays the majority of his time in RF they would have Mookie, Teoscar, and Edman in the OF, with Heyward as the forth OF, plus Rosario, and Kiki can play both the OF, and the IF. Pages should only play a corner OF, who are you going to sit Mookie or Teoscar. Pages has done a good job filling a hole so far this season, but I think his days on the ML roster for this season or coming to a close.
heres a question for Phil or Badger, can Pages learn to play at least an average CF, or is it a talent where you either have it or you don’t.
I too prefer the Dodgers keep Pages around to bat against LHP.
👍
A statement I saw today attributed to River Ryan makes me wonder about the pitch clock and the relation to pitching injuries this year. He alluded that the pitch clock was an issue for him and it makes you wonder if an extra few seconds between pitches for some guys allows the arm to be more ready for the next pitch. Or to put in another way and I don’t know the answer….. Does it put that much more stress on some pitchers arms to throw 10 pitches in say 5 minutes versus throwing those 10 pitches in 7 minutes?
I saw that too and it apparently has been discussed before the Ryan injury around the league.
I think there is something about it. Just think about doing your weight exercise. It is much more demanding for your body and muscles when you have less rest between your sets. You get tired sooner and it is totally reasonable that it increases the risk of injury. I am fine with a pitch clock but maybe scale it back to 30-.35 second range.
Some say baseball is fundamentally boring anyway but the additional 10 seconds on the pitch clock would not make the game less interesting for the true fan. And those who like fast and furious pace are wrong at baseball to begin with.
Just my 2 cents.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent points, seems like it would make total sense.
Ryan mentioned the pitch clock in his interview after the game. The MRI will tell us more. I think 15 seconds on the pitch clock is too short. 25 would make more sense.
We all hope River is fine as it was a special matchup with Skenes and he held his own.
Plaschke article this morning centered around Betts nails it my opinion. The Dodgers should not move him around like they have. There are other quotes I’ll leave out as I don’t want to piss anyone off in here, but I believe he’s right. Mookie should have been left in right field and Mookie should lead off.
I agree with you Badger. The Mookie situation is another example of the Dodger front office trying to be smarter than everyone else. And, it has not worked out at all. I’ve mentioned in the past that I don’t understand this fascination by the Dodgers of having this desire for so many players playing at several positions. Especially, the prospects. The game is tough enough offensively. Too add in playing a new or unfamiliar position seems to be unnecessary if other player options are available. In this case there was. Miguel Rojas. CT3. Kiki.
I was OK with Mookie’s move to 2B. But, the move to SS just before the season is to start seemed to be a bit much considering Mookie’s slight frame and age. The wear and tare aspect of the move didn’t make much sense. To have a key player messing around with a major position change might not be the right thing to do. Now, at this stage of the season it looks like more uncertainty for Mookie to deal with. Roberts has to do what he is basically paid to do and that is talking and reasoning with a player on a bad decision the front office has made. Here Dave Roberts, is a pile of crap we want you to make nice.
Both of you guys are so off base about this. Mookie wants to play infield. They put him at second and he was fine. Then it turns out that lux is no kind of shortstop. So the real issue is lux and the fact that it turns out he can’t really play MLB shortstop. Everything has snowballed from that as far as short and second and center field goes.
I would not be totally surprised if Lux were the shortstop and Betts the second baseman next year.
I would be shocked. I would be less surprised if Lux was used in a trade. Mookie loves being closer to the action. He is moving to right because it is at this point in time where the team needs him the most. If he did not want to move, I am pretty sure he would have let the team know he wasn’t going to. But Mookie is the consummate professional and team player. I also think Mookie should be leading off, not Ohtani. Mookie has a higher BA out of the leadoff spot than Ohtani by plenty, and he has hit 228 of his career home runs as a leadoff hitter. Ohtani on the other hand, hit’s .285 in the two hole, by 16 points better than at leadoff.
I’m a fan of Doc, and our FO, but this is one time I think they all missed the boat, how could they all have not figured out that Lux couldn’t play SS until a week before the season. That forced the Mookie move, he was all set and happy to be at second. You know what they say happy Mookie happy life, or something like that.
I had no problem with Mookie wanting to play 2B and the Dodgers allowing for that to happen. Again, it was the decision to move Mookie to SS right before the season starts. And, it’s not Lux inability to play SS to blame. It’s the front office’s decision to think he could play SS. A huge mistake on their part and hard to believe they made such a decision.
Bottom line is this all on the front office.
The Dodgers season started with Lux at short and a centerfielder who was in the running for ROY last year. I believed Lux was a shortstop and I also believed Outman would grow as a centerfielder. Neither happened. 2 huge holes were created. Then Muncy goes down. Hole #3. Then Mookie goes down. Hole #4. Heyward is 140 points below his last year’s OPS production and so far his second half OPS is .598. He and Kiermaier are good defensively but neither are producing offensively. Smith is in an extended slump and even Ohtani isn’t thumping like he did to begin the season. His last two weeks he’s OPS’n .584. And then there are the pitching injuries, too numerous to mention here.
It’s my opinion if all the starters that were supposed to be here were here this would be a Super Team that would threaten the MLB Season Win Record.
But it’s not playing out that way. Not yet anyway.
Is all this management’s fault? The corporate world is based on the bottom line. The Dodgers, miraculously in my view, are still in first place. But I can see if it all falls apart someone at the top might be forced out. Personally I wouldn’t do it but I can see how it could happen.
I think they had mookie in the infield because mookie wants to be in the infield. And yes, I agree they are better off with him in right field. I read the article you referenced and thought that Plaschke was being a real little bitch about the whole thing. His article made it seem like they forced mookie into the infield. It has also sounded like from what mookie has said that he will go back to right field reluctantly because that is what’s best for the team not necessarily because that’s what he wants to do.
I didn’t read it that way at all. His point was simply Mookie shouldn’t be moved around so much. As I said the season started with Lux and Mookie up the middle, then they switched positions, which I thought was a bad idea, and now he’s back in right field and hitting second. Move, move, move, and move. That’s a lot of moves in one year. And the year isn’t over yet.
Kopech has looked excellent so far with us. Of course, it’s safe to assume he’ll have a bad outing eventually, but all bullpen guys do.
This could be a nice weapon to have to come in the 5th inning with 2 on and 2 out of a big playoff game.
I stepped away form the game for a few minutes last night and came back to see Vesia had entered the game. I checked my phone for stats to see what Ryan’s pitch count was. That seemed OK. Injury? Later in the broadcast Davis announces that Ryan had forearm tightness. And I’m thinking, “of course he does”. We now wait and see what the final diagnosis might be. But, another black mark on the medical and training staff.
I think every starting pitcher, except Wrobleski, has been on the IL this season. They baby these guys while they’re in the minors. And then when they called up they can’t pitch 3,4,5 games and they have arm issues. WTF? I read that it might be because of the pitch clock in Ryan’s case. Really? Not the constant emphasis to have a high spin rate? Or obsession with throwing 100+ MPH? Finally, not properly building up arm strength? The philosophy of “throw hard as you can for as long as you can” gives the team and the fans the discouraging results we are now seeing.
Although no one actually cares what I think, I’m sick and tired of it!
Carry on.
I agree about the obsession with velocity, and spin rate, but with all of the technology the hitters have, they have gotten so good they would tear up pitchers if they had fast balls in the 88 to 90 mph range which is what they use to throw when they pitched 7,8,9 innings. It’s obvious with all the arm injuries the human body can’t throw the ball as hard as they do now, and not have an injury. As frustrating as it is I don’t see an answer to the problem. I do think Ram had a good point about the pitch clock, I hope MLB is not to stubborn to admit this aggressive pitch clock is probably contributing to the rash of the arm injuries that we are seeing now.
I care what you think Ted😀
Thanks Keith.
Ted, I’m sick about Ryan and while I don’t know the diagnosis, it didn’t look good to me.. This is an epidemic and it’s bad for the players of course, but brutal for the game. I’m to the point where I watch a kid pitch and just wait for the one pitch that breaks him down. I’m the same way with Skenes. I fear the day.
Ryan obvious had issues before. But I think, as I previously mentioned, that his highest pitch count in any of his 80 or so minor league starts was like 78 pitches. Why is that the case?
I agree with thisTed. I believe most fans do as well.
So it’s maybe the medical and training staffs and not management?
What to do about it? Everyone must have an opinion on it. Since spin rate and velocity will NOT be de-emphasized I have suggested limited number of pitches (I cringed when Flaherty went over 100) and a 6 man rotation. I’ll add to that a roster increase (an additional pitcher to cover 5th and 6th in ing when needed) and adding a significant number of seconds to the pitch count.
This obviously a big problem for MLB. It needs to be addressed and quickly.
Well, I think you better find another sport to love and hate. Because I see no end to the emphasis on velocity and spin rate.
I think you shouldn’t tell tedraymond he should find another sport to love.
By the way hi Mark.
He is not Mark.
You’re right. I totally agree with that.
My 2 cents on Mookie:
I agree with porpoiseboy that Mookie wants to play the infield and is going back out to RF for the good of the team in 2024.
I don’t see him out there permanently and I really don’t see him at SS permanently either. That only leaves 2B.
I wonder if there is any scenario in which AF trades Lux this winter and signs Adames to play SS? Lux has dramatically improved his trade value so if they actually want to move guys around, it would now be much easier this winter.
2025 Defensive allignment:
Smith – C
Freddie – 1B
Mookie – 2B
Adames – SS
Muncy – 3B
Teo – LF/RF
Edman – CF
X (someone we get in a trade that includes Lux + ?) – RF/LF
Possible candidates: Riley Green, Bryan Reynolds, Seiya Suzuki, Colton Cowser, Ian Happ
Possible internal options: Rushing, Pages, Outman
If we use an internal option Lux could be used in a trade for pitching (starter or bullpen).
I’m not advocating that we trade Lux but if Mookie winds up at 2B, there would really be no spot for Lux, although I guess they could try making him an outfielder again.
Your plan is rational and logical.
More likely, the Dodgers move Lux to 3b, Mookie to 2b, Muncy to SS, and find 8 guys to rotate around the outfield.
Good plan.
Reported about 20 minutes ago, Ryan has an elbow injury, most likely out for the year. Course of action will be decided later.
I am late on the conversation on Mookie. Mookie is a bit of a victim of his own skills. He is a superstar who is also versatile. When Muncy, was moved, lux was moved, Teo is moved, we teach from little league it is a team so you put your best team on the field. You respect the player and that is why Doc has had the conversations with Mookie to get buy in. But u r on the team so u do what’s best for the team. Instead of worrying about poor ole Mookie just be happy that he is good enough to solve a problem.
The front office bungled this from the beginning by thinking lux was the ss. The chess players might have anticipated this but they didn’t. So they didn’t want to move Mookie and they didn’t want Rojas at the time, couldn’t get a ss through trade, none on the farm, so our superstar can do it. Mookie saved the team at the time. I think Mookie wants to be the second baseman. The front office seems hellbent on playing lux. Lux is hitting well now but I don’t think he will ever be more than a solid player. I mean he is a platoon player. His value is going up so he is a trade option. The Dodgers will have to have a better plan at short next year. Mb Ohtani (kidding)
I believe the fans who pay salaries want and expect the best team on the field. Just win baby!!
I’m glad someone brought up Lux playing SS. When I saw he couldn’t play SS I was glad they put him at 2B. Why was I glad? BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT DEFENSE. I’m just not obsessed over defense stats that are flawed. For example what’s the difference between either Heyward or Outman in CF vs Kiermaier defensively?
Four gold gloves as a center fielder to none. Heyward got his in right.
Gold gloves? who determines gold gloves and what do they base it on. That’s not a question by the way.
And how long ago was that? That’s not a question either.
Eric, just forget it. He is a superior defensive outfielder to Outman, Pages, Heyward period. You might not think so or care.
Kiermaier is far superior to pages in cf. pages has missed catchable balls in cf many times this year. I can’t say about the stats but I have many times watching said that ball has got to be caught. I am ok with pages in right but not center.
14th Blown Save since June 28th. Most in baseball.
Gotta be Roberts. Right?
Sometime this season, Teo found a way to become a better 2-strike hitter.
Now he’s an RBI machine, and as clutch as they come.