2015
AF, as he will be known, began making changes almost immediately. His first trade came in November when they got Kyle Jensen for a minor leaguer from the Marlins. On the 20th of November, he made a deal with the Rays for Adam Liberatore and Joel Peralta, sending a minor leaguer and Jose Dominguez to the Rays.
November moves also included, purchasing Mike Bolsinger from the D-Backs, trading a minor leaguer for Juan Nicasio of the Rockies. In December they traded Matt Megill to the Reds for OF Chris Heisey.
At the winter meetings, he made his first big trade. They sent Dee Gordon, Miguel Rojas and cash to the Marlins for Andrew Heaney, Austin Barnes, Enrique Hernandez, and Chris Hatcher. Later in the day he sent Heaney to the Angels for Howie Kendrick.
He signed Brandon McCarthy as a free agent on the 16th, and then on the 18th, his second blockbuster of the meetings sent Matt Kemp, Tim Federowicz and cash to the Padres for Zach Elfin, Yasmani Grandal and Joe Wieland. The very next day he traded Elfin and a minor leaguer to the Phillies for Jimmy Rollins. He took a deep breath and kept signing free agents through the winter and into spring training.
His first trade of 2015 came in May when he traded Juan Uribe and Chris Withrow to the Braves for Alberto Callaspo, Eric Stults, Ian Thomas and a minor leaguer. In July he traded Chris Reed to the Marlins for Grant Dayton. Another blockbuster happened on the 30th of July when a three team trade involving the Dodgers, Marlins and Braves was completed. When the dust settled, LA had received Bronson Arroyo, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, Jose Peraza, and Alex Wood from the Braves, and Mat Latos and Mike Morse from the Marlins. They sent Hector Olivera, Paco Rodriguez and a minor leaguer to the Braves and three minor leaguers to the Marlins.
The next day they sent Morse to the Pirates for Jose Tabata. On the 19th of August, they sent two players to the Phillies for Chase Utley. At the end of August they sent cash to the Jays for Chris Heisey, and cash to the Mariners for Justin Ruggiano. The team again made the playoffs, but lost in the NLDS to the Mets. 2016 would see a new manager, and many new faces.
2016
Dave Roberts replaced Don Mattingly as manager. Zack Greinke left as a free agent. Just like he had let Hanley Ramirez walk after the 2014 season, AF allowed Greinke to leave after the 15 season. The Dodgers made an offer to Zack, but Arizona offered him a deal LA felt it could not match and he signed with the D-Backs.
The first deal of the off-season was a three team trade with the Reds and White Sox that sent Brandon Dixon, Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler to the Reds and brought Micah Johnson, Frankie Montas and Trace Thompson to LA. Todd Frazier went to the White Sox from the Reds. AF continued his practice of signing multiple free agents and plucking players off of waivers. Hoping to occasionally find a gem. One spot was filled by rookie SS, Corey Seager, who would go on to earn the ROY award.
In June an under the radar trade was made with the Mariners bringing SS Chris Taylor to the Dodgers for former top prospect, Zach Lee. They also signed a amateur free agent, Yordan Alvarez, who would be traded a little over a month later for Josh Fields. He would later develop into a feared DH in the AL. On June 30th they traded two minor leaguers to the Braves for Bud Norris.
August 1st saw the Fields trade, Mike Bolsinger sent to the Jays for Jesse Chavez, and a deal with the A’s that sent Montas, Jharel Cotton, and Grant Holmes for Josh Reddick and SP Rich Hill. The last trade of the season sent AJ Ellis to the Phillies for Carlos Ruiz and cash on the 25th of August. Reddick would be a bust, but they would sign Hill to a new contract and Dick Mountain as he was known, would become a very popular member of the team. They won the division again, but lost the NLCS to eventual World Series winners, the Cubs.
2017
AF started trimming the roster early. In November, he traded Carlos Ruiz to the Mariners for Vidal Nuno. He followed that up four days later by trading Howie Kendrick to the Phillies for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney. He re-signed Rich Hill and Justin Turner in December. He also re-signed Kenley Jansen in January.
He made his first trade in January when he sent Jose De Leon to the Rays for Logan Forsythe. He made a key bullpen signing when he signed Brandon Morrow in January.
Things were quiet on the trade front until the deadline when he made three trades to acquire pitchers. First he sent a minor leaguer and Scott Van Slyke to the Reds for Tony Cingrani. He then traded A.J. Alexy, Willie Calhoun and Brendon Davis to the Rangers for Yu Darvish. The next trade sent Oneil Cruz and a minor leaguer to the Pirates for Tony Watson. The biggest pick up actually came from inside the organization. When Adrian Gonzalez went down to an injury, Cody Bellinger came up to take his place and went on to become the ROY.
He got Dylan Floro in August, and then traded for Curtis Granderson. The Dodgers won the west, swept Arizona in the division series and bested the Cubs in the NLCS and advanced to the World Series for the first time since 1988. We all know what happened next. Still a bad memory.
2018
The decided not to re-sign Yu Darvish after his bad performance in the series. In December, the team made a trade that was basically a salary dump sending Charlie Culberson, Adrian Gonzalez, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir and cash to the Braves for Matt Kemp. No one expected Kemp to make the team.
In January they made a three team trade with the White Sox and Royals, sending Avilan to the Sox, Trevor Oaks to the Royals, and getting Jake Peter and Scott Alexander in return. He picked up pitcher J.T. Chargois off waivers.
The first problem that popped up was Corey Seager getting injured and out for the season, 26 games into the campaign. He was immediately replaced with Chris Taylor. But you knew if someone was available, they would trade for a better player. That happened right after the All-Star game on the 18th of July when they sent 5 players to the Orioles for Manny Machado.
Kemp had a great spring and made the roster. Through June he was their most consistent hitter. They would make two trades at the deadline, getting Brian Dozier from the Twins and John Axford from the Jays.
At the end of August, they made two trades. David Freese from the Pirates and Ryan Madson from the Phillies. They ended up in a tie for the division lead. They beat the Rockies in game 163 then beat the Braves 3-1 in the NLDS.
The Brewers took them to game 7 in the NLCS. They won that game, a 5-1 decision. Bellinger was the MVP. Now they faced off with Boston. Their only win would come in game 3 in Los Angeles, a record setting 18 inning walk off winner on Max Muncy’s homer.
2019
With Seager coming back from his injury, they allowed Manny Machado to sign elsewhere and he went to San Diego. In December, they signed Joe Kelly as a free agent. The next day, they dumped salary as they sent Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Kyle Farmer and Alex Wood to the Reds for Homer Bailey, who would never even suit up for the team he was released the next day, Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray. One other change was Farhan Zaidi left the team to become the Giants President of Baseball operations.
They brought back old favorite Russell Martin in a January trade with the Jays. AF kept getting players off waivers and releasing just as many. But Cody Bellinger started the 19 season on fire. The first half of the season, he was a beast. Through the first 88 games he hit .337 with 30 homers and 71 driven in.
AF made his first trade in July picking up reliever Casey Sadler from the Rays. He made one of my least favorite trades sending a minor leaguer to the Astros for Tyler White 6 days before the deadline. The next deal brought Kris Negron from the Mariners. They made two trades at the deadline, getting Jedd Gyorko and Adam Kolarek. No more trades were made as the new rules ending the September 1 deadline were in place.
The team cruised to the West title, and then were unceremoniously dumped by the Nats in a 3-2 NLDS loss. Needless to say, the fans were not happy.
2020
The two most impactful deals of the 2020 season were made in February right before spring training. On the 10th, the first trade sent Jeter Downs, Connor Wong and Alex Verdugo to the Red Sox for David Price and Mookie Betts. They then traded Kenta Maeda and Jair Camargo to the Twins for Brusdar Graterol and Luke Raley, plus future considerations.
In March, all of baseball shut down as the Covid-19 pandemic brought everything to a standstill. During that time, the Dodgers offered Mookie Betts a 12-year contract and he signed. They made a signing just after the second spring training started getting lefty reliever Jake McGee. The season was shortened to 60 games with no fans.
The playoffs would feature a Wild card round, then the division series, championship series and then the big show. The only in-season trade made sent Ross Stripling to the Jays for two players named later. Kendall Williams and Ryan Noda.
The Dodgers beat the Brewers in a two game playoff. Then they faced the Padres in the division series and swept them. In game three, Will Smith became the first Dodger ever to have 5 hits in a postseason game.
They faced the Braves in the NLCS. They lost the first two games. The games were being played on a neutral field, the Rangers home park in Arlington. They won game three with an 11 run first inning 15-3. They lost game four, 10-2. It would be Kershaw’s only loss in his best ever postseason.
Facing elimination, and playing as the road team, they won game five 7-3. Going into the sixth inning they were down, 2-1, but back to back 3 run innings sealed the win. They scored 3 runs in the first inning of game six, and Walker Buehler made them stand up for a 3-1 win forcing game seven.
Game seven was a nail-biter. This time the Braves jumped out to a 2-0 lead. The Dodgers tied it in the third on a Will Smith single that scored Turner and Muncy. The Braves went ahead 3-2 in the top of the 4th. Kike Hernandez hit a game tying homer in the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the 7th, Cody Bellinger unloaded one off of Chris Martin, and the Dodgers held on to win the series.
Their first World Series win since 1988 was won in a six game series with the Rays. Corey Seager was the series MVP and was also the MVP in the NLCS. Covid or not, all the teams played under the same rules, and contrary to what some think, the win is just as legitimate as any in their history.
In order to win the title, the Dodgers had to win more postseason games than any other team in history, 13. In the playoffs they went 13-5.
2021
In 2021, the Dodgers would win more games than any other Dodger team in their history, and finish second. They passed the 1953 Dodger record of 105 wins with 106. But the division leader was the Giants who won 107 games. LA lost 10 of the 19 games they played against the Giants. So they would have to play the Cardinals for the wild card berth in the NLDS.
But before all that happened, the Dodgers went into the off season looking to build another World Series winner. And try to win a full season title for the first time since 1988.
Their first move was a November trade that brought reliever Corey Knebel and sent a minor leaguer to the Brewers. They made one trade during the winter, getting Garrett Clevinger in a three team trade. The big free agent signing would be Trevor Bauer on the 11th of February.Two trades made in February just prior to spring training would have a bigger impact. First they sent Adam Kolarek and Cody Thomas to the A’s for Sheldon Nuese and Gus Varland. Then they traded Dylan Floro to the Marlins for Kyle Hurt and Alex Vesia.
As usual, AF signed many free agents. Some were merely for use at the AAA level. On May 3rd, they picked up Phil Bickford off of waivers from the Brewers. They also made a trade with the Rays for OF Yoshi Tsutsugo.
But then on the 17th of May, they signed Albert Pujols as a free agent. Tio Albert would have an immediate positive influence on the clubhouse. And he would also have his moments on the field through the season. Fans loved the guy, and he said baseball was fun again for the first time in years.. But darkness was on the horizon. Trevor Bauer would be put on administrative leave for an alleged assault. He would end up getting the longest suspension in MLB history, and then be vindicated. His loss would be felt.
Cody Bellinger, who had off season surgery for his shoulder, broke his leg early in the season. So the Dodgers were constantly tweaking the outfield. Joc Pederson had left for the Cubs as a free agent. They traded for Billy McKinney and signed Steven Souza as a free agent.
As the deadline approached, they were short in the starting pitching department with May out, and Kershaw not fully healthy. AF traded for Danny Duffy of the Royals hoping he would get healthy and help some. That never happened.
So in need of a solid front of the rotation starter, he pulled off a blockbuster with the Nats landing Max Scherzer and Trea Turner for Keibert Ruiz, Josiah Gray, and two minor leaguers. Turner, a natural SS, would play more at second for LA with Corey Seager in his walk season.
AF then picked up reliever Evan Phillips in mid-August on waivers. The Dodgers stayed close to the Giants right up until the end of the season, but never caught them and ended up second by one game.
A freak accident in the last game of the season against the Brewers cost them slugging first baseman Max Muncy. They were already pretty banged up in the pitching department. But losing Muncy was a blow.
Scherzer, who had been just great in the regular season, started the game against the Cardinals. He would pitch only 4.1 innings. He gave up an unearned first inning run and that was it. The Dodgers tied the game in the fourth on a Justin Turner homer. Then the bullpens continued to shut both teams down until the bottom of the 9th.
With one out in the 9th, Cody Bellinger on base, Chris Taylor sent a pitch into the left field pavilion and the Dodgers were off to the NLDS against the Giants.
LA won the NLDS in five games despite Scherzer losing his only decision, a 1-0 game in game three in a horrendous wind in LA. Several long drives to the outfield hit by LA were knocked down by the win. Scherzer got the save in game 5 and Bellinger knocked in the winning run.
They lost the NLCS to the eventual Series winners, Atlanta, in six games. Once again they were down 3-1, but no miracle comebacks this time. Taylor had a 3 home run game, and Pollock 2 in game five. But back in Atlanta for game 6, they lost 4-2 behind Buehler. Their big bats failed them. Betts, Seager, Turner, Smith, Trea Turner, who had won the batting title, all had bad series numbers. Taylor, Pollock and Bellinger were the hitting stars.
2022
In the winter, Bellinger, Seager, Pujols, Jansen, Scherzer would all leave the team as free agents. Kershaw was a free agent, but he resigned. AF’s first signing was a GM, Brandon Gomes. His first player signing was pitcher Andrew Heaney.
They made no trades at the winter meetings, just minor signings. Kershaw signed in March. Later in the month they signed Tyler Anderson, who would have a nice year in LA, and former Braves first baseman, Freddie Freeman. Fans loved that one. As spring training ended, they traded AJ Pollock to the White Sox for Craig Kimbrel, Kimbrel was replacing departed closer Kenley Jansen.
The Dodgers at the top or close up until mid May when they took off and left most of the West in the dust. But AF kept tweaking the lineup. He reclaimed Trayce Thompson in June and he would have a resurgent year. At the deadline, they made only two deals of consequence. They shipped McKinstry to the Cubs for Chris Martin, who turned out to be a very good bullpen piece and then traded with the Yankees for Joey Gallo. A true three outcome player. Gallo would have some good days, but still struck out way too much and was left off of the playoff roster.
Between the 1st of July and the last day of September, the team went 62-20 to finish that part of the schedule with 109 wins. They went 2-3 in October, finishing with the best record in Dodger history, 111-51. Freeman and Betts led the way.
Mookie hit 35 homer’s, Freeman and Trea Turner drove in 100 runs. The only regular not in double figures in homers was Lux who had 6. Thompson contributed 13 off of the bench. Anderson, Urias, Gonsolin and Kershaw all won in double figures.
Then in what was a stunner, they lost in the NLDS to the Padres in four games. Winning only game one. The offense went totally flat. It was at the time, unexplainable.
2023
A more or less mass exodus occurred during the off season. Anderson, Heaney, T. Turner, J. Turner, Kimbrel, Bellinger, Martin, and Edwin Rios all left in free agency. AF started refilling the roster when he signed Shelby Miller.
He also brought back Kershaw on a one-year deal. He signed Jason Heyward in December, and he made a trade bringing pitcher J.P. Feyereisen . He would not pitch until 24.
Syndergaard and J.D Martinez were brought on in December. Then in January he brought in veteran SS Miguel Rojas from the Marlins. Lux was expected to be the everyday SS with Turner gone. He also signed veteran outfielder David Peralta. The Bauer situation was finally settled in January and he was released. But LA was still on the hook for his salary.
Lux was injured during spring training and lost for the year. Rojas would end up being the SS most of the year with Tayor getting some starts there. Mookie would begin splitting time at second base and the outfield.
They brought up rookie James Outman to play CF and Miguel Vargas was initially the second baseman. Outman would stay with the team all year and finish third in the ROY voting. Vargas would struggle and be sent down in June to AAA. In his defense, he had broken fingers in spring, and never felt right.
He sent a minor leaguer to the Rangers in June for Ricky Vanasco. On June 4th, he picked up Ryan Brasier as a free agent. They kept picking up free agents, usually as gap fillers. Jake Marisnik made it to the team only to be injured. On the 25th of July, they sent two players to the Red Sox for Kike Hernandez.
Then they sent Syndergaard to the Guardians for Amed Rosario. Both players would do well in LA after tepid starts in their respective cities. But LA needed pitching. Especially starters.
July 28th saw a trade with the White Sox sending Jordan Leisure, Nick Nastrani and Trace Thompson for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly. On deadline day, they had a trade in place for Eduardo Rodriguez, but he used his right to reject the trade to kill it, so they pivoted and got swingman Ryan Yarbrough from the Royals.
They then traded Phil Bickford and Kolarek to the Mets for cash. On August 9th, Kolten Wong was signed as a free agent. He would get some playing time with the team.
The Dodgers would end up winning the division and 100 games. They would again get the bye in the playoffs. Something I do not see as a plus. Mookie had a career year, .307/39/107. The most runs driven in by a leadoff hitter in history. Martinez hit 33 homers in 113 games and drove in 103. Muncy hit 36 bombs, drove in 105 despite hitting just .212. Freeman hit .331 with 29 homers, 102 driven in and 59 doubles.
The team won an amazing 24 games in August, losing only four. They won the division by a whopping 16 games over Arizona. They totally dominated the division. Then they laid a huge egg, losing the NLDS in three games to a fired up Arizona team. The offense totally deserted them and it was their big stars who fell flat. Kershaw was out and not available because of shoulder issues. And the rest of the staff could not beat the D-Backs.
We all know the moves they made this off season. The huge signings of Ohtani and Yamamoto. Trading for Glasnow, signing Teoscar Hernandez. James Paxton has been pretty good so far, and home grown Gavin Stone has been excellent.
The team has holes. We all know that. Fans want fixes right now. As most of us understand, AF does not work that way. There will be some tweaks, that happens all the time. But a major trade? Always possible. But then, who do they trade for? Mookie is the SS now and very comfortable there. Pages has looked better the last couple of days than he has in a couple weeks.
Will Lux get better? Will they give Vargas a real shot instead of just playing him once every few days? Will Mookie get his power stroke back? When will Freeman start to look like the real Freeman? Can Ohtani become more consistent?
Miller is expected back soon, will they go to a six man rotation? Graterol is likely out until at least August, and Muncy is not expected back for maybe a month. Do they trade for a second baseman or another third baseman?
May might be back by September, Kershaw in six weeks or so. Roster space is going to become very precious. All we fans can do is sit back and watch.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
Round Rock Express (Texas) 4 – OKC Baseball Club 3
This was a completion of a suspended game from Tuesday. Round Rock was ahead 1-0 after their 1st inning AB when the game was suspended.
When play resumed, OKC tied the game in bottom of the 1st on a James Outman HR (4).
James Outman went BIG FLY!
4th HR with OKC, Home Runs in 3 of his last 5 games. He also has another hit on the night to make his 4th game in 5 with a hit and 3rd multi hit game in his last 5. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/sqvgoWD4QI— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 6, 2024
Landon Knack came in to pitch in the 2nd inning, and he was not ready in this one. The first 4 batters he faced reached base on a pair of singles, a pair of BB, and a pair of SB, giving the Express a 2-0 lead before an out was recorded. Two fly balls got a third run in, giving Round Rock a 4-1 lead.
OKC scored a pair in the 3rd to get close. Andre Lipcius led off with his 15th HR. Outman followed with a single and moved to 3rd on a Kody Hoese double. Outman scored on a Trey Sweeney sac fly, and Hoese moved to 3rd. Ryan Ward drew a BB and OKC had runners on the corners with 0 outs. Austin Gauthier hit into a DP to end the inning.
Another day, another Andre Lipcius homer! pic.twitter.com/69gyw8euNS
— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) June 6, 2024
Michael Flynn and Michael Petersen pitched the final three innings without allowing a baserunner.
But the offense shut down after the 3rd. Drew Avans was the only baserunner after the third, and he drew a BB. No hits after Hoese’s double.
Lipcius has now tied Ryan Ward for the AAA lead in HRs with 15. Former LAD, Kyle Garlick is right behind at 14.
- James Outman – 2-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (4)
- Andre Lipcius – 1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (15)
Tulsa Drillers 12 – Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona) 1
This was LHSP Justin Wrobleski’s 4th consecutive fantastic start, and this was his best of the year. He went the first 6.0 innings, and could have gone more. He threw 72 pitches (46 strikes). But Tulsa was up 12-0 so there was no reason to push him.
Justin Wrobleski Completely Dominated!
Like…Completely!
6IP
2H
0R
3K
1BB
Dude has always had HUGE stuff, but his execution is really, really good. Has hit 99, so has power, but is a pitcher that focuses on execution. Power pitcher with execution focus equals Domination!… pic.twitter.com/kFP7Np6SHR— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 6, 2024
Yon Castro and Antonio Knowles pitched the final three inning. Amarillo scored a run in the bottom of the 9th. Knowles allowed a single and then a 2-out double to score the run.
Tulsa scored 12 runs on 16 hits. The hitting star in this one was Austin Beck He had a pair of 3-run HRs and a run scoring double in his 4 hit game for 7 RBIs.
Have a game, Austin Beck! 👏
The @Dodgers outfielder tallies four hits — including a pair of homers — for a career-high seven RBIs for the @TulsaDrillers. pic.twitter.com/6IHfrlw0fD
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 6, 2024
Every Tulsa batter had at least one hit.
- Taylor Young – 3-5, 3 runs
- Dalton Rushing – 2-4, 1 HBP, 3 runs, 1 RBI
- Austin Beck – 4-5, 3 runs, 7 RBI, double (6), 2 HR (9)
- Yeiner Fernandez – 2-4, 1 RBI, double (12)
- Alex Freeland – Double (5)
Great Lakes Loons 10 – Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) 1
Jackson Ferris has been pitching well in his last three starts now, and on Wednesday he had his best start of the year. He went 5.0 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 2 BB, and 10 strikeouts. 83 pitches (51 strikes). It was a 2-out single in the 5th that scored the Kernels’ only run.
#Dodgers LHP prospect Jackson Ferris was excellent today:
5.0 IP
2 H
1 ER
2 BB
10 K
16 whiffs
83 P / 51 SFerris, my No. 9 preseason Dodgers prospect, set a new career high with his strikeout total pic.twitter.com/xjLrQMf39k
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) June 6, 2024
The Loons scored the 10 runs on 10 hits and 9 BB. Every Great Lakes batter reached base.
Great Lakes scored 6 runs in the 3rd. Noah Miller led off with a single. Kyle Nevin reached on E-5. Chris Newell singled to score Miller with Nevin moving to 3rd. Nevin scored as Thayron Liranzo grounded out. Newell moved to 2nd. Newell then stole 3rd.As Jake Gelof drew a BB, Newell stole home. Gelof scored on a Luis Rodriguez single. Nick Biddison completed the scoring with a 2-run HR.
Thayron Liranzo hit a 2-run HR in the 6th. Noah Miller hit a solo HR in the 7th. Sam Mongelli had a sac fly in the 8th to complete the scoring on the day.
#Dodgers top C prospect Thayron Liranzo hit his 6th homer of the season pic.twitter.com/69Hcd87BVc
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) June 6, 2024
Noah Miller had 2 hits including HR #6 of 2024. Miller has hits in 3 of the 4 games played this month after finishing May gathering hits in 1- of his last 12. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/ysCBh7BbUl
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 6, 2024
- Miller – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (6)
- Kyle Nevin – 2-5, 2 runs
- Thayron Liranzo – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (6)
- Nick Biddison – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (1)
Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 10 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 1
Alex Makarewich started his 2nd game with RC, but could not get out of the 3rd inning. He allowed 5 runs on 5 hits, 2 BB, 2 HBP, with 3 K in 2.1 IP.
Cam Day relieved Makarewich and pitched well. In 4.2 innings he did not allow a run. He allowed 1 hit and 2 BB to go with 1 K.
Waylin Santana and Roque Gutierrez pitched the final two innings allowing 5 more runs.
The pitching was not very good, but the offense was just as bad. Continuing the trend of the LAD, the Quakes were 1-11 WRISP. The Quakes got 9 hits and 4 BB, but could only push one run across.
Oh yeah, the Quakes had 2 errors.
It is hard to win when your pitching, offense, and defense is bad.
- Samuel Munoz – 2-5, 1 RBI, double (4)
The Dodgers are getting closer to getting injured pitchers back. Bobby Miller and Kyle Hurt will be pitching Friday for OKC.
River Ryan began his rehab assignment on Monday at the ACL. He looked dominant in his return, even if it was ACL. He threw 2.0 scoreless innings with 1 BB and 5 K.
Jeff, have you heard why Bruns was placed on the IL?
I went to the Loons website, they just said he had been placed on the 7-day IL.
Yes, this is why I asked.
I looked everywhere, even on his page and there was no explanation. It is really hard to find info on minor leaguers
MiLB very rarely (almost never) discuss injuries to their players. They are not required to, so there is no reason to divulge that info. We had to wait more than 3 months for reports that both Carlos Duran and Edgardo Henriquez had TJ surgery in August 2022.
I mean I’m very supportive of privacy, so I guess I support it.
Made some spelling errors in this one, sorry about that and also stated Kersh was injured and not available for the AZ series, which was wrong, he got hammered in game one. I also said Bellinger left after the 23 season. He actually left after 22.
Should recall Outman. Hitting .380 now with an OBPS of over 1200. Want get any better than that. Either he hits now in MLB or not. Or package him with some other guys to get a proven OF like Robert jun..
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Forgot about Hurt
3 0fers, 2 more unearned runs and a starting pitcher who couldn’t go 2 innings. Also another gag performance by a home plate umpire.
That game sucked.
Outman is clobbering AAA. Bring him back up and platoon him with Pages? Yeah, sure.
Why is Vargas still with this cub?
Ohtani slumping. That won’t last.
Taylor. Sigh.
I assumed right away this morning’s post was written by Bear. Although well done I believe it’s a month too soon. I’m sure Friedman is on the phone. That’s his job. Can anyone foresee where this club will be in 6 weeks? Yeah, I can. First place in the West. As for individual positions? Nope.
Why worry about trades now? Still 6 weeks to the trade deadline? San Diego didn’t hesitate to trade for Luis Arráez on May 4. Did it help San Diego now? San Diego knew they needed a bat, and they went out and got one. For San Diego, in 125 PA, Arráez is hitting .381/.408/.449/.857, with 1 HR, 3 BB and 5 K. I can certainly understand why the Dodgers would not want such a player. One HR in 125 PA? Only 5 Ks in 125 PA? What is wrong with this guy? The Dodgers need that 30 HR, 180 K hitter.
3 years ago in May, Milwaukee did not hesitate to trade for Willy Adames.
It is not like it is a foreign concept to AF. Bear mentioned a trade on May 27, 2015, when he sent Juan Uribe and Chris Withrow to the Braves for Alberto Callaspo, Juan Jaime, Eric Stults, and Ian Thomas. Not an impactful trade, but it was a trade that involved MLB players.
Impactful early trades do happen. The Dodgers could work with CWS for Garrett Crochet. I know, why do they need another pitcher with how many they already have? Because he is an established LHP with 2.5 years of control, that could make another in the long line of LAD depth pitchers available in a trade for a bat. And with the Dodgers, you can never have enough HEALTHY pitching.
Fans start talking about trades a lot earlier than the teams do. AF has rarely made a move before the deadline involving a major player. He has preferred to go the free agent or waiver claim route.
How has that worked out?
Well, not great. This would be a great time to change it up. They are in Chicago in about 10 days, talk trade then about Robert and Crochet. Dodger lead is now 8. Padres got beat by Arizona. Also, I am officially fed up with Chris Taylor. He is a lost cause and needs to be gone. ASAP.
Joe Kelly has given us just ehat we expected. Some good pitching, some sloppy pitching, and lots of time on the IL. I like Joe, but I don’t see the value for what he gets paid.
I didn’t understand that deal the day they made it and I still don’t. If you’re going to sign Joe Kelly you need to make the contract incentive- based dependent on innings.
Like so many on this Dodger roster Kelly’s value is what he can bring in the last two months of the season, not the first two.
He’s no more likely to be healthy the last two months than the first two.
I’d have offered him $1.00 to sign and $150,000 per inning pitched. Probably not legal by MLB rules and if his agent had let him do that deal he should have been fired.
Will we ever see Ferris and Buehler in a Dodger rotation together?
We will never see Ferris in the Dodger rotation and I would guess that the odds are we won’t see Buehler in the Dodger rotation after this year.
I have a feeling that he’ll be signing with SF or SD.
I enjoy watching the Dodgers more when Outman plays. It was a good move to give him a short break and he has used it wisely. Now bring him up and make him a regular and not a platoon grub.
Trade? Sure. I’ll take a third baseman. Keep Outman though.
Third baseman? What do you have against Max?
He hasn’t struck out or made an error in the last 3 weeks.
Max may be minimized.
Minnie Max.
True, but I miss the breeze he generates when he swings.
Pages and Outman could be a young outfield core. Heyward and Teoscar are for now only here for 2024. Muncy is scheduled to leave after next year. Are Betts, Ohtani, Freeman, and Smith enough to carry Outman and pages this year or do they need more. If those 4 are enough, then maybe Teoscar and Muncy plus a pitcher can be traded for a younger core player.
I’m intrigued Fred. Max and Teoscar go where and for whom? It would have to be a contender because of the short amount left on those two contracts. Which contender do you see giving up a younger core player for Teoscar and Max?
They go in large packages for Witt and Tucker.
In other words, they’re the throw-ins.
Blue, we have to start with a preference and then dial down into the detail where the devil lives.
For change to happen a problem or opportunity has to be defined and agreed upon.
Next step is identifying and agreeing on solutions. You are asking me to jump to a solution. Might we first agree that a problem exists and that it might be too many dollars tied up in aging hitters that aren’t good WRISP.
Muncy isn’t going anywhere. I am tiring quickly of Teo’s act. I would trade him in a heartbeat.
His act? I have no idea what you mean by that?
So, I’ll ask you the same question I asked Bums? Where are you sending him and for whom?
His act is striking out a lot and failing most of the time with RISP. I am not the one who brought up the idea of trading him. I am just saying I would trade him if they could get a taker.
OK, thought you were referring to something in his personality rather than his production.
He hasn’t been the best producer with guys on base, but I think he’s far from our worst problem.
Teo’s streaky. He was leading the team in RBI and then stopped hitting with RISP.
Kills lefties, strikes out on sliders from righties.
Whatever you think of Max Muncy, compare him to the 3B who have played in his absence.
I love Badger’s posts. He gives me a lot of points to agree, disagree, and or expand on. Yesterday Badger said there will be changes to the roster. I don’t think there is anyone who doubts that. My problem is I am not sure AF is willing to get the right players to help this club. He hasn’t yet. The one exception was 2017. Yu Darvish, Tony Watson, and Tony Cingrani were very helpful down the stretch. But that was pitching,
There have been holes in prior year’s rosters, and he did not address them. Missed out or ignored, we will never know for sure. Regardless, the holes were not addressed. Why do some assume that he will address the holes this year?
AF has done a relatively good job with addressing pitching needs (except the most glaring miss in 2023). He did well with Alex Wood (2015), Rich Hill (2016), Yu Darvish (2017), and Max Scherzer (2021) as starters. Also Tony Cingrani, Tony Watson, Adam Kolarek, Chris Martin, and Ryan Yarbrough were good reliever picks. I am going to add Josh Fields as well, regardless of how good Yordan Alvarez has become.
But Danny Duffy, Lance Lynn, John Axford, Ryan Madson, Casey Sadler? Joe Kelly is in a different bucket. When Joe is healthy, he has been good, But who knows when he will ever be healthy enough to help. Can you really count on him in October?
Position players – IMO, he has not been so good at trading for competent help. He needed Manny Machado, and it did not cost much. Kudos to AF for that one. Turner came with Scherzer. I have no doubt that AF would not have traded for Turner as a standalone. I think this was more of Washington wanting to move Turner before he could walk, and they did get Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz. Kudos for AF on that one.
The only other position player I think AF hit on was David Freese.
But let’s look at his other position player trade deadline busts…Jose Peraza, Josh Reddick, Curtis Granderson, Connor Joe, Brian Dozier, Tyler White, Kris Negron, Jedd Gyorko, Joey Gallo, Kiké Hernández, Amed Rosario, Kolten Wong.
IMO, I do not think that AF truly believes the current team has holes. IMO, I think AF believes the team is just in a funk, but the current roster is good enough to win the WS. I guess he has to with how much he has committed for this team. Kiké, CT3, Lux…they are just about ready to break out. Right? Doc believes that CT3 is ready because he hit a fly ball to just in front of the warning track in the first game of the series, so he got the start of Miguel Vargas…again.
I fear that AF will not spend the prospect capital for a big bat, but will dabble with the likes of Jesse Winker or Nick Senzel or Luis Rengifo or Mickey Moniak, or Seth Brown, or Miguel Andujar, or Jose Siri or Rowdy Tellez or Akil Badoo. Does anyone really believe he will pursue Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Lane Thomas, Tyler O’Neil, Willy Adames, or Bo Bichette.
More likely FA, Harrison Bader. Rowdy Tellez? He traded for Jedd Gyorko.
So yes there will be changes. I just do not believe they will be meaningful or helpful. More depth, something they do not need.
Relievers? I expect more of the Yohan Ramirez and Anthony Banda type deals. Established late inning high leverage relievers? AF has already told us how he feels about trading for relievers. If he can get Tanner Scott for Jonathan Araúz, AF will be all over that.
At the beginning of the year I didn’t see any holes in the lineup either. The LF position was covered with a RH power bat. Center was Outman, RF was Heyward/Kiké/CT. Infield of Muncy, Lux, Mookie, Rojas, CT, Kiké, Freeman, and Smith, Ohtani the everyday DH, Miller, Glasnow, Yamamoto, Stone, Sheehan, Buehler, Kershaw, a couple more getting ready MiLB starters, a strong bullpen – looked like 106 win team to me. Who knew cracks would appear? I didn’t. Scott probably did. He is good crack finder.
It’s still the first week in June and the team has a 7 game lead in the Division and as I pointed out the team OPS and WAR numbers remain high. I trust in 7 weeks, if needed, the cracks will be filled. My confidence level remains high.
We are seeing more than just a little slump. In the last 23 games, the Dodgers are 12-11. They are averaging 3.8 runs per game. They are averaging 3.5 runs against per game. They are hitting .204 WRISP. We see what happens when Shohei goes into a prolonged slump.
In his last 30 games, in 135 PA, Mookie is hitting .248/.326/.372/.698, with 3 HRs. 14 BB vs 12 K. Is everyone really sure that playing SS is not hurting Mookie’s offense?
Teoscar has had 2 RBI since May 15. He has had ample opportunities. He has had 1 HR since May 11. He is striking out at a 30% clip since May 11.
We know Mookie and Freddie and Smith can disappear in the playoffs, and now we see Ohtani is more than capable of disappearing. Good pitching can shut down slug. We have more than enough examples proving that. But the Dodgers are getting shut down by non-elite pitching. Last 11 losses:
Paul Skenes
Jared Jones
Dakota Hudson
Nick Martinez (twice)
Hunter Greene
Graham Ashcraft
Ryne Nelson
Brandon Pfaadt
Logan Webb
Yu Darvish
Michael King
Webb and Darvish are the two established elite pitchers in those 11 games. LAD has not played Philly and that gauntlet of starters. We will see if the bats can hit against some very good NYY pitching. As it lines up (even though no announcement), it will be Cody Poteet, Nester Cortes, and Luis Gil. Poteet just beat Logan Webb in SF, and Luis Gil is a leading AL CY candidate.
“Is everyone really sure that playing SS is not hurting Mookie’s offense?”
I told you what I thought about that.
The team needs he and Ohtani to hit. I believe they will. If they don’t? Don’t even want to go there.
Your concerns are valid. The team is in a slump. But even so as you pointed out they are over .500 over their last 23. We’ve seen it before with previous Dodger teams. They’ll snap out of it.
The old this is just a slump argument. I’m seeing this from a lot of people. and we know it’s not just a slump when half the position player roster are automatic outs, or unproductive hitters.
The problem is as Jeff has pointed out, Friedman thinks the same thing, he thinks this is just a slump and looks at the seven game lead or whatever in the division and doesnt have any sense of urgency to do anything or make any changes. expecting him to do otherwise is like expecting a chicken to give you milk.
Entering the offseason, the Dodgers essentially had no CF, (other than outman) no 2B, no SS, no LF, or RF, No DH (before they signed Ohtani) and no bench. The pitching staff is much improved, but there was no real effort to improve the lineup or bench because Friedman thought that Outman, Lux, and the rest of the guys (Kike, Taylor, Heyward etc) would be productive. We now know that they are not.
The problem is, it’s hard to replace half the roster in midseason, or at the trade deadline. Maybe he can get one or two bats, but they would have to be difference makers, and agaiin when has Friedman ever picked up a difference maker on offense during the season. The time to do that stuff is during the offseason, especially when there are no difference makers in the minors.
The Dodgers not only wait too long to dump players who are not performing, they rely too much on these mediocre prospects. The only guy that seems to have even a sprinkle of batting skills is Andy Pages, and last I checked he had 5 walks against 50 strikeouts.
The Dodgers are going to have to make some serious changes if they want to win the WS. One of those is drafting better. No more excuses. If the excuse is that they draft low because of their position, then they may have to trade up, and try and draft a difference maker. The last few years or more have produced no difference makers, or productive hitters in the draft.
Otherwise they have to find those players in free agency or through trade. They need to lenghten the lineup, not shorten it. Taylor, Lux, Kike, Heyward have all gotta go. Not sure if Pages can adjust, perhaps they can send him back down again and he can work on stuff while at OKC and they can bring him back up later. Can Vargas actually produce at the major league level? Can Outman find his stroke again? He may be one of the few hitting prospects who was actually semi-productive (during 2023)
Look for another loss today, and more losing will come in New York. After they’re swept in the bronx, they’ll come home 9 games above .500? I think they have to hit rock bottom, which for them is being knocked back to .500 before Friedman will even think about making any changes.
Sorry for the bad news boys, I hope I’m wrong and they turn this around.
You list a number of positions that Andrew failed to take care of during the off season.
CF (except for Outman) – I think it was a decent assumption after his rookie success that he could be counted on as a regular.
SS – they decided Mookie would be the SS
LF – they signed T. Hernandez who is certainly considered an above average player
DH – they signed Ohtani
So I think your implication that AF sat on his hands and did nothing is an exaggeration.
Yes, the bench is bad and I think he blew it on that one.
I also agree with those who say that AF is too patient in making changes/additions. Alex A. in Atlanta moves in a hurry and has been very successful in doing so. At this time of year, most teams are still analyzing what changes they want to make. The Braves just jump in with good trade offers and have much less competition early on.
And you’re still wrong about us losing the next 4 games.
It’s okay! You are probably wrong. We all are, myself more than most!
I was wrong today. 10 runs. I like it.
Sadly you can’t trade draft picks. What I would like to see is they steal some of Baltimore’s scouts they don’t miss on bats
This HAS to be a joke.
You do realize that Rodriguez, Ruschman, Holliday and Kjerstad were all top 11 picks?
The Orioles had a pick no lower than 11 in EVERY year from 2018 to 2023, when they had to suffer at #17.
The last time Dodger scouts were able to pick in the top 11, they screwed it up with some pitcher named Kershaw.
Surely you realize Baltimore selected Westburg, Henderson, Ortiz and Mayo. While the Dodgers were picking Miller, Knack, Vogel, Hoese and Busch. I think Baltimore has shown they can better evaluate hitters than the Dodgers have.
Um, Westburg went #30 in 2020, one pick after the Dodgers took (checks notes) Bobby Miller. Miller signed for less than Westburg to boot.
Henderson signed an overslot deal, Jeff D would know more if that was the sole reason so many teams passed on him. But having a horrible team does give you the ability to go overslot much more liberally than a team like the Dodgers (this is pretty nuanced, and I admit that a massive generalization.)
Ortiz is who? The Phillies player who recently passed?
Coby Mayo is fine. Nothing special, feels (to me) like he’s not on a different level than many of the top LAD prospects
You should do a little research before making such statements. Ortiz is the Brewers starting 3B and is a leading candidate for NL ROY – .288/.389/.487/.876. What position player have the Dodgers drafted better than Ortiz lately. BTW, he came to Milwaukee as the key part of the Corbin Burnes trade.
LOL
I thought it was Luis Ortiz!
Thank you for correcting me!
As per the below and speaking about correcting me, if his point was about hitters I 100% agree. I don’t understand the Dodgers preference for players whose best position is the batters box.
And the above slot argument doesn’t even hold water. Mayo went for well over-slot as did Vogel.
Guessing whether Gasparino would draft Kershaw is not someething I have any interest in entertaining? Is it at all provable without either a time-machine or truth-serum?
Rodriguez is a pitcher, not a hitter. Ron Fairly fan talking about hitters.
And Logan White was making the picks when Kershaw was drafted. You sure Gasparino makes that pick? I am not.
As Ron Fairly fan said:
Westburg – #30 pick 2020. Jury still out if Miller will be a better selection than Westburg. But I will not argue it either way.
Henderson – #42 in 2019. No question Henderson is better than either Hoese or Busch.
Ortiz – 4th round 2019 (#108) – No question Ortiz is better than Henderson, Busch, and Jimmy Lewis.
Connor Norby – 2nd Round #41 – IMO better choice than Maddux Bruns.
Coby Mayo – 4th round #103 – Dodgers took Clayton Beeter and Jake Vogel over Mayo. Mistake, especially Vogel.
Ron Fairly Fan’s point is that the O’s are better at selecting hitters than are the Dodgers. He is not wrong. I will not speak for Ron Fairly Fan, but IMO the Dodgers do select pitchers better than do the O’s.
No question the Dodgers draft pitching better than the Orioles. My point was the Orioles don’t miss when they select hitters. I would like the Dodgers to steal some of the Orioles scouts. I also know the Orioles were drafting at the top of the draft. How many of the high picks they drafted were busts. Not many.
Yeah, I over-reacted.
My bad.
I just find it insane that the Dodgers are recognized as having the best front office, the best player development and others (not you) act as if we need to change them.
I mean is there any executive in Baseball who is more secure than Friedman? Any? Are there any sons of owners who are installed in similar roles?
Ashcraft was sent down today by the Reds. Darvish is hurt. Kevin Padlo found a new home at a lower level. Royals signed him and sent him to AA. Pirates signed former Dodger Justin Bruihl to a major league contract.
Skenes isn’t elite? I’d take him over everybody else on the list.
Experience is great, but there is a lot of talent on that list–Skenes, Jones, Green…
Skenes is still a rookie as is Jones. They will be elite, but they cannot be considered elite yet. They may have an elite fastball, but does that make them an elite pitcher? Do I believe they will be elite—-yeah! Are you going to argue that the pitchers the Dodgers have been beaten by are elite. Or even good? Dakota Hudson? Michael King? Nick Martinez?
Greene – Career ERA 4.37. Better this year, but still not elite.
Jones – 4 teams have beaten Jones this year.
I would want all three on the Dodgers. But that does not make them elite pitchers. Point – All three have great fastballs that the Dodgers cannot seem to hit.
I am not optimistic that AF will make a major trade for one truly impactful bat, much less two. This team as currently constructed and playing is not a championship club.
“ Does anyone really believe he will pursue Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Lane Thomas, Tyler O’Neil, Willy Adames, or Bo Bichette.”
Could someone please explain to me this apparent infatuation with Mr. O’Neill that so many people seem to have? This is his 7th MLB season and his excellent 2021 season was the outlier. He got off to a nice start this year and got injured again. He’s only had over 350 at bats once in seven years. His overall stats aren’t all that much better than Outman’s and his (Outman’s) lifetime numbers have been dragged down by his horrendous 2024 numbers.
And then we have Lane Thomas, another fan favorite. Just don’t look at his numbers against right-handed pitching. So, if AF decides to go after Thomas, he’ll need to give up something pretty good for a guy who should only be playing against southpaws.
In answer to your question, Jeff, I say, I hope he doesn’t go after either of those two guys because I think Pages and/or Outman might give us almost as much production without having to give up players to get them.
If I’m AF, I go all in (which I understand is not his general way of doing business) and go after a very good outfielder like Tucker and part with some of our better prospects who often times never develop into the stars we hope they will become.
I included them because many are looking for the Dodgers to get them. I am just saying that the Dodgers are not going to look at them.
Okay since you shot down O’Neil and Thomas, do you think he would consider anyone in the Tucker, Bregman, Bichette, Adames group? Without an injury, I do not think there is a prayer. I still think it will be in the Jesse Winker and Nick Senzel level are more along AF’s choices. (Reddick, Granderson, Gallo).
With respect to Outman, and I am an Outman fan, just like you cannot ignore Thomas’ numbers againat RHP, you cannot ignore his 2024 numbers. Also with respect to Outman, he has nothing left to prove in MiLB (neither do Vargas or Pages). So perhaps the best scenario is for Outman to stay at OKC, continue to OPS >1.200, and headline him in a package for an established bat. I have no idea what their plan for Vargas is. He is being wasted as to how he is currently utilized.
I really think that management’s thought process may have changed this year and that they might truly be all in on winning now.
I think they are also coming to the realization that they have held a number of their “star” prospects too long and have lost trade value they could have taken advantage of.
And I’m going on record one more time (are you listening Bear?) that I think it’s quite possible by August that Ohtani’s arm will be strong enough that they might consider playing him in left field part of the time and bringing in a DH like JDM who will definitely be available. Assuming Shohei would be OK with it, I would definitely consider this seriously.
There have been very few star prospects in the Friedman era. Other than Will Smith, and Walker Buehler, I can’t think of any others. Most of the “star prospects” are busts, flameouts, or overhyped mediocre prospects that can’t hit above the mendoza line.
Theyve drafted some decent pitchers, obviously Buehler was the best. May and Gonsolin were effective before injuries, The latest crop seems productive, like Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, and Landon Knack. But as for position players? Hitters? there have been none after Smith.
Lux, and Vargas both suck and can’t hit above .200. Lux is the worst, but the Dodgers did give Vargas three months to produce and he couldn’t hit above .180. I dont blame them for being hesitant to just roll him out there everyday. Pages seemed like he had a little batting skill, but his numbers are not good, and he’s been bad for weeks.
Outman was semi-useful last year, and this year he proudly joined the automatic out club.
Vargas and Barnes at the bottom of the lineup today, if that doesnt scream losing, I dont know what does.
Who do you eliminate when you add Martinez? You like asking me for details and then you fail to do so yourself.
You eliminate CT3 or Kike. We don’t need both of them. Some would say we don’t need either of them.
I included Thomas and O’Neill because they have been mentioned often. Okay, you do not want Thomas or O’Neill. Do you really believe that AF will genuinely pursue Tucker or any of the others mentioned? Unless there is an injury, not a prayer. He is more likely hoping for lightening in a bottle from Jesse Winker or Nick Senzel types (Reddick, Granderson, Dozier, Gallo). Plus the prospect (lottery ticket) cost is more along the lines that AF is comfortable.
With respect to Outman (and I am an Outman fan), just like you cannot ignore Thomas’ AB against RHP, you cannot ignore Outman’s 2024 numbers. Outman has nothing left to prove in MiLB (neither do Vargas or Pages or Lux), perhaps his greatest value will come if he continues to put up >1.200 OPS and becomes a headliner in a package for the established bat AF prefers.
What the heck. Maybe AF is waiting for Avisaíl García to clear waivers and for Miami to release him.
We better trade for Avisail today before the Braves snap him up. 😀
You left Luis Robert off the list of possible pursuits… that AF won’t pursue.
I expect AF to dabble, but Robert has an attractive contract. The Sox could get a big package for him.
By the way, Bear, I’m pretty sure Gallo made the playoff roster. AF failed to build a decent bench. (He could have dealt for Drury, but the Padres landed him.) When Roberts rightly called for a pinch hitter for Belli, mired in his epic slump, he correctly chose Barnes over both Gallo and Vargas. That’s how bad those guys were down the stretch; Barnes was the best option.
He flew out–but at least he made contact….
BTW, I would LOVE for the Dodgers to have Rengifo as a UT option instead of Taylor or Kike.
Gallo was on the roster, but he only played defense (I think one inning).
I did forget Robert Jr. (and I am sure others). I am hoping that they do not get Robert. He would cost too much, and he is too much of an injury risk to put that much prospect capital into the deal.
Jeff is right. AF has never traded for a top position player except when he got Machado. And that was out of need. I think he doesn’t want to give up his best prospects because that is what it would take. So we will settle for a player like O’Neill, who I do like because the guy plays with his hair on fire, or Pham, who also brings a ton of attitude to his game. Roberts Jr. is a huge question mark. If he could stay healthy, he would be a great addition. Tucker is just plain dreaming.
What about Mookie Betts?
Mookie was not a deadline trade. Bear may not have specifically stated that in his response, but that is what he is referring to.
What you said. Mookie was traded for prior to the 20 season. Trea Turner was a throw in they had to take with Scherzer.
What about Trea Turner?
And why would they trade for someone if not out of need?
Yes, except for Mookie Betts, Machado and Turner Friedman has done very little trading for very high-end hitters to improve his team which constantly wins more than 100 games.
At the time of the trade, I got the impression that Washington wanted both Gray and Ruiz and were not going to get both for Scherzer, and asked if they included Turner would that be enough for Gray and Ruiz? I do not believe Turner was target, just a great addition.
They had to include Turner in order for LA to give up both Ruiz and Gray. Turner was purely accidental.
So was Soto.
A ton of Dodger fans wanted them to trade for Soto. Those are the kinds of deals the Padres pull off, not the Dodgers.
WTF
The Dodgers have traded for:
Scherzer, Darvish, Hill, Trea Turner, Mookie Betts and Manny Machado.
But they don’t make trades for the….
Juan Sotos?!??!?!?
And the idea that Trea Turner was “just a throw in” is not only moronic, but it’s highway robbery if that was the case, which it is not.
You get Manuel Margot as a throw in. Not Trea Turner!
This is the most bonkers of bonkers criticism.
Perhaps Bluto your comments are moronic. I think many share that opinion. Or perhaps you do not recall the commentary of the trade at the time or just chose to ignore it. I remember the Dodgers wanted Scherzer. Scherzer!!! There was no discussion on Turner. Seager was the Dodgers SS, and they were making due with Lux and Turner at 2B. They certainly did not need Turner. They needed SP. They needed more SP. The Nationals wanted both Ruiz and Gray. So the speculation was that the Nationals would include Turner for both Ruiz and Gray plus a couple of lottery tickets…Gerardo Carrillo and Donovan Casey. You can choose to ignore the reported speculation, but just because you believe it to be moronic does not make it so. Choose to believe it or not, but it was not moronic.
And again. Mookie was not a deadline trade. Why do people continue to say that. Yes AF has done well with pitchers – well until last year. But position players? Machado and Turner. Far more Gyorko, White, Negron, Reddick, Granderson Dozier deals.
Jeff,
You seem to miss the point of every discussion.
What is moronic (more on moronic in a second) is devaluing teh acquisition of Turner and then saying something to the effect of The Padres would make a trade for Soto, the Dodgers wouldn’t. That is most definitely moronic.
That said, most of my comments are DEFINITELY moronic.
I work in marketing for a video game company. The fact that any thought I have would have resonance is probably luck or stolen from someone who actually knows something.
Reported speculation?!?!!?!? Ignoring reported speculation from mediocre reporters is something I advise EVERYONE to do.
HE TRADED FOR TURNER. It’s just like trading for Soto. It’s just like trading for Betts. It’s just like trading for Verlander. It’s a trade for a superstar.
Who cares if he was or wasn’t the first target. He was acquired! Is the new precedent we are trying to establish that we need to know and agree with the inner workings of every trade for it to count as a high-quality acquisition?
Stop trying to rationalize that into something it isn’t. It was a MASSIVE get. As was Scherzer. As was Machado. As was Hill. As was Betts.
How many times would you like a Superstar to be acquired by a front office to prove they can do it?
He traded for Trae Turner.
This is Friedman’s MO. Overpay for superstars, find value elsewhere.
BETTS WAS NOT A DEADLINE TRADE. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. Hill was a pitcher. Outside of Machado and Turner, what impactful position player AT THE DEADLINE has AF traded for?
How many do they need to? How many hitting superstars are traded at the trade deadline? In the past decade?
Soto?
Bryant?
JD Martinez?
Machado?
Turner?
Austin Meadows?
The Dodgers made a THIRD of those deals!
I am not going to go through all of the deadline deals, but I am sure there have been more than six quality hitters traded at the deadline.
You think the Dodgers have done well at the deadline for hitters. I do not. Not one of the deals the Dodgers have done has worked out to get a WS Championship. No 2020 trades for MLB players. Only Stripling for Kendall Williams, MiLB RHP.
Again, you are shifting the argument.
We’re not talking about WS wins. This started with the esoteric idea of:
“Position players – IMO, he has not been so good at trading for competent help. ”
That list was only about top tier hitters, like Turner. I came up with it off the top of my head. I thought about adding Schwarber when the Cubes dealt him to the BoSox, but that was when Schwarber’s value was super low. I can’t even remember who the Sox gave up.
Sure there are more. Maybe 10 big bats?
At the very least, 20% were done by the Dodgers. That’s pretty good at trading for competent help.
I may be confused, but what does 2020 have to do with anything?
The biggest deal that deadline was….
The Clevinger / Cal QUantrill one?
Archie Bradley?
Sterling Marte?
In hindsight the Stripling deal may have been the best?
That is the difference between you and me. I am ALWAYS talking about WS wins. I am not changing. I look for changes to help that journey. You seem satisfied (I did not say happy) with getting to the playoffs. Me it is winning the playoffs when I am satisfied.
About 2020. They did not make a trade that is all. You glossed over the part that none of the trades before or after 2020 helped the Dodgers achieve the Ring and Parade. I fully expected you to say then the Dodgers should not make any trade. Just enjoy winning the West again and then keep the fingers crossed. But how has that worked out?
Does it really matter? Geez!!
🙂
The Dodgers would not trade Gray and Ruiz and the two other minor leaguers for Scherzer. To get the deal done, DC threw in Turner, who they felt they could not re-sign. The Dodgers did not need Turner, they still had Seager playing at a high level. Turner played 52 games for LA in 21, 49 of them as the SS. He was a concession to get what they wanted. As for Mookie, he came in the off-season and was not a deadline pick-up. Darvish pitched in 9 games, had a 4-3 record and gave up 7 homers in his in season work for the Dodgers. He pitched ok against the D-Backs and the Cubs in the DS and CS, but he stunk up the joint in the World Series. Rich Hill was no star, he was merely a decent pitcher to plug in at the back end of the rotation. You know what his post season record with LA was? 1-1. Both of those decisions came in 2016. After that, he never won or lost another post season game in 9 starts. As for Manny Machado, that trade would have never happened had Corey Seager not been injured. And Machado was merely ok as a Dodger. His BA in LA was .273, 42 points lower than it was in Baltimore. His OPS was 138 points lower. He also totally sucked in the post-season, and his dirty play at Milwaukee gave the whole organization a black eye. So get down off of your high horse, your opinion is nothing but an opinion. And it this case, you don’t know what the fuck you are talking about. The only bonkers person here is you.
Today’s SP for Pittsburgh is LHSP Bailey Falter. In his last 7 starts, 2.84 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. In his last 11 starts, 3.22 ERA and 0.95 WHIP.
Dodgers’ lineup:
Betts
Ohtani
Freeman
T. Hernández
Pages
Rojas
K. Hernández
Vargas
Barnes
4 Runs in the first inning! but 3 on a home run so far.
This is the way.
Couldn’t there be more of a balanced way?
Only on good days
Just not very many of them.
Always could use more good days.
Good start.
And yet another throwing error on Mookie. Same sidearm throw. And another unearned run.
7 of his 8 errors on throws.
8 of his 9.
I really like Roberts letting Buelher battle through!
Why the f not?
Shall we start the Buehler’s back conversations again?
I feel like Buehler and Lux are similar cases.
The Dodgers probably have a ton of time to further let both explore their ceilings for 2024. Fans would probably they act on both sooner rather than later.
But how long do you give both?
It’ll be interesting to track.
“But how long do you give both?”
Buehler looks stressed. Not sure what that means regarding management of playing time. I figure Lux is the starting second baseman until the deadline draws near. If he’s still hitting.200 in mid July I believe something could be done.
Bring on the Dancing Bears!
High school players can field ground balls and throw across the diamond. I’ve seen enough. I’ll watch the WCWS.
Runner on third, less than two outs, you have to get that runner in with the heart of your order coming up. Ohtani K’s, Freeman grounds out, unacceptable.
Boom! Take that naysayers!
there were a few booms today so far
I felt them here. Two earthquakes in Newport Beach.
Of course Taylor struck out in his appearance.
His OPS+ is now -7.
(Remember, 100 is league average.)
And it just went down on a pitch 2’ outside.
Platoon Heyward and Teo in RF. Play Vargas everyday in LF. DFA Taylor. Bring up Outman and platoon him with Pages.
Leave Teo out there and trade Vargas.
Re: The exchange between Jeff and Ron Fairly fan above
O’s draft hitters better than the Dodgers do.
Dodgers draft pitchers better than the O’s do.
Currently the Dodgers need a hitter or two.
Currently the O’s need a pitcher or two.
Need I say more?
Perfect summary, we can put this to bed now.
I concur, I am totally over Chris Taylor now, can they please just release him already. Eat the money, get another bat.
Yes, and Dodgers have nothing to lose by trying Lipcius or Owens.