Are Fans Too Fickle

We fans are a fickle bunch, and yes I include myself near the top of the list.  I believe in the LAD management system and methodology, but I have questions.  I express them, especially when it comes to the “kids” and the LAD front office apparent inability to draft and develop elite position players.  Or at the very least do not give them a chance to succeed or fail at the MLB level.  Their MO is to trade for or sign the veterans.  Cannot fault them too much, it seems to work.

When things do not go right, we always look for someone to blame.  Early on in the season, before the team had completed even 30 games, and players had not yet reached 100 AB, fans were clamoring for the demotion to AAA for Andy Pages, and/or the benching of Max Muncy and Michael Conforto.

Max starts off slowly; we hear AF/BG blew it by not trading for Nolan Arenado.  First 9 games, Arenado was very hot – .371/.403/.543/1.006.  And the fans were getting louder.  But that has quieted down some since in his last 24 games (101 PA), Arenado is hitting .211/.297/.344/.641.  Yes, still better than Max, but he comes with a much larger sticker price.

Andy Pages starts out very slow as well. Many fans were saying he belonged in OKC.  Then Pages goes on a hot streak, and the fans have quieted.

Some wanted (and some still do) Luis Robert Jr. in a trade.  Some wanted (and some still do) James Outman for another opportunity to succeed or fail.

The fans who wanted Pages in OKC have now changed their mind and want Robert Jr./Outman/??? in CF and want Pages to replace Michael Conforto.  What happens if Conforto pulls out of his slump.  For the first 8 games this year, Conforto hit .308/.419/.692/1.021.  After that he has been dismal, and yet the Dodgers have the best record in MLB.  So while fans may see an urgency for a change, the Dodgers do not…yet.

Dodgers lose a game, and it has to be someone’s fault.  Dodgers swing at pitches not in the zone, and fans act as if the Dodgers are the only team that chases.  Take a look at statcast and check out the chase rates of the players.  Maybe the other team was better that night or the pitcher was better than the hitter that night.

Or AF/BG just did not get the Dodgers the right roster.  Too much LH hitting heavy.  Too much RHH bench players.  Too many older players.  Not quick enough to pull the trigger on slumping players.

I was not in the sign another LHH OF camp.  The Dodgers already had Outman, and could add Dalton Rushing or Ryan Ward to get younger and less expensive.  But when they did sign Conforto, I was not opposed.  I still believe he will pull out of the slump.  Others do not share that optimism.  That’s okay, Dodger fandom is a big tent.

Doc is not immune to the challenges he receives.  Some are warranted, but all of them?  His bullpen management has been a source of derision for several years. He has made mistakes, especially in the biggest moments.  I think he would even admit to that behind closed doors with his coaches.

His quick pull of the starting pitchers taxing the bullpen even more.  Then again is this a Doc decision or a front office dictate on the maximum number of pitches. You know neither Tommy Lasorda nor Walt Alston would have put up with that.  Then again, they did not have to deal with $100MM – $300MM pitchers.  Isn’t that an investment that has to be protected?

We now know that Pages can play and succeed at the MLB level.  He will undoubtedly slide into miserable slumps again, but since he has proven he belongs, we fans are better equipped to ride it out with him.

Now that Pages seems to have turned the page, the current angst seems to be directed towards Max Muncy and Michael Conforto.  Warranted?  In the view of many fans, yes.  For LAD management, they are not so quick to make those changes.  They are far more patient than most fans.

I think it is a legit question as to when Muncy and Conforto have to take a reduced role.  While we will never learn of it, you just know those discussions are going on internally.  But then who takes their place?  Neither player is going to be traded or DFA’d.

With respect to Conforto, on Monday against the Marlins, he broke an 0-for-31 streak with a single and also took a great at-bat that resulted in a hard-hit ball. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes that’s something Conforto can build on and thinks the left fielder is close to getting back on track.

“I think so. I think even the at-bats today, the swings, were as good as we’ve seen in quite some time. Even the ball to right field, I thought he put a good swing on it. I do think the hitting guys and Michael have unlocked something.”

 Whether Conforto has figured something out or not, he looked at his best on Monday as he has in quite some time. The at-bats looked more competitive, and he did not look lost as he has in many of his previous games.

It is also a legit question as to when is the right time to bring up the prospects.  I understand and acknowledge that prospects are suspects until they prove themselves.  But how can you prove it when you do not get the chance.  Dalton Rushing and Alex Freeland have nothing left to prove in MiLB.  I would add Hunter Feduccia in that group.

Rushing is getting great plaudits from the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Evan Phillips for his receiving behind the dish.

“The most important thing is that he took some initiative and was curious about what he can do to help me, target-wise, pitch calling, things like that,” Phillips said. “So having that conversation alone is impressive to see from a young catching prospect that we’re going to be relying on at some point here in the next months, year, couple years, whatever that is.”

Per Brandon Gomes:

“Obviously, we’ve had our catchers [at the Major League level] for a long time and been very successful. There’s a lot of positives with our group here.  So Dalton and Hunter Feduccia need to keep playing well and developing as things play out like they normally do. You don’t know how it’s going to go, but those opportunities arise in different ways.”

I certainly understand the Dodgers desire to keep Rushing at C so he could gain more experience.  But it is his bat that makes him a legit MLB player.  His catching skills are good enough at the MLB level.  I am not about to give Rushing a Mike Piazza comp, but nobody ever confused Piazza of being a GG catcher.

Can Dodgers management be creative enough to find a way to get Rushing enough ABs to warrant him being on the 26 man?   At what point do the Dodgers say that Max has regressed where he is no longer an everyday player?  Neither player is on the 40 man, so a player is going to need to be DFA’d.  The team is not in any hurry to move the two remaining players on the 15 day IL to the 60 day IL (Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow).

Freeland has exhibited MLB ready skills both offensively and defensively, but he needs a position something the Dodgers generally do not allow for with their prospects.  I can see Feduccia being part of a package at the deadline, but I cannot see AF/BG moving Rushing or Freeland.  Maybe we fans do not intend to be patient, but both players will need to be.

It is more likely that unless there is a significant enough injury to change the situation, neither player will get the call this year.  Unless moved at the deadline (very highly doubtful), both players will be in a great position to take a spot on the 26 man out of ST.  Both players will be Rule 5 eligible this December, so adding them to the roster will not be an issue.

At the beginning of May, and the Dodgers with the best record in MLB, I am in the camp to let the veterans play it out.  They have been successful more than dismal.

Some fans love the Dodgers’ slug.  Some of us prefer to see more contact and less swing and miss.  Fans have different points of view.  Different experiences.

Some fans are exasperated with the addition of questionable arms to the 40 man roster and maybe at the expense of getting LAD pitching prospects a legit shot to make the roster.  And we know that pitching has experienced injuries…yet again.

Admittedly, I am disappointed that Landon Knack and Justin Wrobleski have not taken the same growth step this year as Gavin Stone did in his 2^nd year.  Bobby Miller looks to be the proverbial change of scenery candidate.  I have to believe that Baltimore has the Dodgers on speed dial.  Baltimore has always been capable with non-elite SP, and the Dodgers have a lot of those guys.  I have no idea if AF/BG believe that Baltimore has any prospects worthy of consideration by the Dodgers.

I know I know, you can never have enough pitching.  Then again, the Dodgers have 87 pitching prospects, and a number of pitchers returning this year and next year from injury.

So no matter if you are a sunshine-pumper or a “get off my lawn” type, all fans, views, and opinions are welcome.

MILB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS

Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado) 6 – OKC Comets 2

OKC had their own bullpen game.  Ben Harris was the opener, and was followed by Julian Fernández, Ryan Sublette, and Joe Jacques put up zeroes for the first 7.0 innings.

The Comets were first on the board with a Ryan Ward BB and Michael Chavis double (6) in the 5^th.  The Comets took it to 2-0 with a Justin Dean triple (3) and a Chris Okey sacrifice fly.

The wheels came off in the 8^th.  With Jacques back on the hill in the 8^th, he gave up a pair of doubles to lead off the inning.  Logan Boyer relieved Jacques with an inherited runner trying to hold on to a 2-1 lead.  Boyer threw a WP moving the runner to 3^rd, and a sac fly tied up the game.  Boyer had 2 outs and the bases empty, but could not get out of the inning.  A BB, double, and single plated two more giving the Isotopes a 4-2 lead.

With Jose E. Hernandez relieving in the 9^th, he walked the first batter, and then gave up a 2-run HR.  That would become the final score, 6-2.

• Dalton Rushing – 2-5
• Michael Chavis – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI, double (6)
• Justin Dean – 1-4, 1 run, triple (3)

Box Score

Tulsa Drillers vs Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona) was rained out – DH on Thursday

Great Lakes Loons 3 – Dayton Dragons (Reds) 2

Kendall George led off the game with a single, stole 2^nd base and scored on a Josue De Paula single and a 1-0 lead.

With Eriq Swan on the bump for the Loons, he walked the first batter he faced, he promptly stole 2^nd, and scored the tying run on a double.

In the top of the 4^th, Zyhir Hope singled and scored on a Jordan Thompson double (7).  Thompson later scored on a Kole Myers triple (2) for a 3-1 lead.

Swan struck out the leadoff batter in the 4^th, and walked the next batter.  Swan was lifted after 3.1 IP and 75  pitches.  Jorge Gonzalez got the final two outs without allowing a run.

Roque Gutierrez relieved Gonzalez in the 5^th and surrendered a HR.  That would be the only hit (and run) that Gutierrez would give up.  He did allow a single walk with 6 Ks.

• Kendall George – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run
• Josue De Paula – 2-5, 1 RBI, double (5)
• Jordan Thompson – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (7)
• Kole Myers – 1-1, 3 BB, 1 RBI, triple (2)
• Nelson Quiroz – 2-4

Box Score

 Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 3 – Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 0

The Quakes 20 year old RH hurler, Sean Linan, was back doing his somewhat dominating thing.  While somewhat dominating by keeping runs off the board, it was not his most efficient outing.  He pitched 4.0 scoreless innings allowing only a single and double, but 4 walks.  He also registered 5 Ks.  He threw 77 pitches in 4.0 IP.

Eduardo Quintero hit a 2-run HR in the 3^rd, and the Quakes never looked back.  In the 6^th, Mike Sirota reached on a fielding error, moved to 2^nd on a passed ball, and scored on a Samuel Munoz single.

Felix Cabrera, Michael Vilchez, and Marco Corcho followed Sean Linan to complete the shutout.

• Jaron Elkins – 2-4
• Eduardo Quintero – 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (4)
• Elijah Hainline – 1-4, double (9)

Box Score

ACL Dodgers 3 – ACL Reds 2

This was a game featuring two MLB starters on rehab assignments. Clayton Kershaw was the starter for the ACL Dodgers and completed 6.0 no-hit innings.  He walked 1 batter that was erased in a double play, so he faced the minimum 18 batters. Rhett Lowder was the Reds starter.

Brendan Tunink hit a 2-run HR off Lowder in the 3^rd.  In the 4^th, Chase Harlan hit a double (1), moved to 3^rd on a ground ball, and scored on a sac fly.

The Reds scored a pair of runs in the 8^th to make it close.  But RHP Jhonny Jimenez from the DR pitched a flawless 8^th with one K.

• Brendan Tunink – 2-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (1)
• Ching-Hsien Ko – 1-3, double (2)
• Chase Harlan – 1-3, 1 run, double (1)
• Javier Herrera – 1-3, 1 run, double (1)

Box Score