Baseball is a child’s game played by adults for pay and profit. Well, the owners get the profit. Those players are human beings with human failings. They are separated from us, the fans, by their ability to do something at a high level that we ourselves cannot. Hit a 100 MPH fastball or throw one. They can make running 100 feet and catching a ball look easy. But it is not. Fame is not instantaneous. Sometimes the road to the big leagues can take years. Sometimes the taste they get of big-league life is very fleeting. Either because of injury, or not enough talent.
Baseball is also part of the entertainment industry. Something we have to get away from the pressure of everyday life and stress. Then we sit in front of a large TV screen and get stressed out even more when our favorites don’t do well. As Dodger fans, we have had more than our share of stress. But we also have not seen this much winning baseball in an 11-year stretch as we are seeing now. And it started when Guggenheim took over the team.
The result of that is now we want and expect more. When there is a hole in the roster, we expect our front office to go out and get the best players. Not always possible. The other team might not want the prospect capital you have to offer. Then again, another team might make an outrageous offer for the same player. We also expect the players on the roster to perform at the highest level each and every time they enter the game. Not going to happen.
Anxiety hits an all-time high during the trade deadline and the hours and minutes leading up to 3 PM Pacific time. The other day was no different. And the Dodgers biggest move was announced just seconds after 3. There was relief that they finally traded for a big-time pitcher, and at the same time angst because they did not land a lock down closer or impact bat. No, they got some nice role players and a bullpen arm who is pretty nasty.
The downside is exposed when they blow a 5-run lead, for the third time in a couple of weeks, just hours after the deadline and lose a 2-game series to their closest competitor. The reliever with the nasty stuff is not used in the close game, but wasted in a 8-1 blowout. I get it. The call for the Dodgers to get rid of Dave Roberts as manager are going to be louder than ever this winter if they fail in the playoffs, or heaven forbid, miss them entirely.
One must consider that the injuries to key pitchers, Graterol, Brasier and Grove, have played a part in the bullpen being so unreliable lately. The starting staff also took hits. Buehler, out since 2022, Kershaw, ineffective at the end of last year, then having shoulder surgery. May, Gonsolin and Sheehan, all out. Their big off season free agent signing, Yamamoto shut down after a great outing against the Yankees. And Glasnow spending some time on the IL to. You also have to consider that the injuries to Betts and Muncy, along with Freeman having to be home with his family, have been a big reason why the offense is so inconsistent. That along with Smith’s recent slump, Kike, Biggio, Outman, and Heyward all hitting at or below the Mendoza line replacing very good hitters, is also a reason for the inconsistency. Kershaw also not being Kershaw is another matter. I think he maybe gets two starts more before they make a decision on whether to keep him in the rotation or put him back on the IL. Kersh might make the decision for them and retire.
The biggest complaint I have read about the players they added is that they did not address the closer issue, they did not get an impact bat, and they did not improve the outfield, which without Hernandez is a statistical disaster. Andy Pages is a rookie. And as such the league has adjusted to him quicker than he has adjusted back. After showing some power early, he hasn’t had a homer in over a month playing a position from which you normally expect some. His defense as a right fielder is ok, as a center fielder, he is below average. Now, neither Edman nor Kiermaier bring power to the position. But they do bring better career numbers against RHP than Pages has right now. Pages hit’s lefties, right handers, not so much.
When Betts returns, about 2 1/2 weeks from now, we still do not know where they will plug him in. He could go back to right and immediately make the outfield better. He could go to SS and make second base a platoon situation. He could go back to second full time. If, and this is a huge if, Muncy returns and can supply some stability at third base, then the lineup gets a lot longer down the stretch and into the postseason. Their August schedule is a gauntlet of good teams.
There are more knowledgeable posters on this site who got a lot further in baseball than I did. Some even made it to the pros or had relatives that did. I played until I could not advance any further, then went to playing Slo-pitch softball at which I was pretty darn good. Hit over .600 playing that. What knowledge I have is usually from what I see, and the history of the game and the franchise, which I love reading and researching about. But I am above all, a realist. I look at the gauntlet the playoffs have become. You have to beat some very good, and sometimes, some very hot teams. One bad game can sink you.
Dodger fans love to blame Roberts. I understand that. There is frustration over the bullpen use, the substitutions that make little sense to us. Pulling starting pitchers when it seems they have more in the tank. The blame transfers to the front office when they have a depleted roster like they have now, and then at the deadline they miss out on a couple of premier players they said they were targeting. As fans though, we have no access to the behind-the-scenes workings at the deadline. The Dodgers never volunteer that information. A couple of things did surface during this trading period. A. They made an offer for Crochet that was turned down by the White Sox. B. They were in discussions with the Twins about their closer, Duran. That fell through because the Twins wanted MLB ready players, and the Dodgers wanted to trade prospects. It also came out that they were in the Scott sweepstakes up until SD upped the ante and paid a very stiff price in prospects. SD will only get three more chances to use Scott against the Dodgers unless they were to meet in the playoffs. And only time will tell if he is the difference maker that finally gets Preller and his Pads to the promised land. Something none of his prior big trades have been able to do.
Dodger fans are also frustrated by the fact that the best team win wise in the franchise’s history, got bounced from the playoffs so quickly by the Padres. I understand that also. And then adding insult to injury, they get swept by another team they dominated in the regular season the next year. Injuries hurt them last year too. I believe that this is a make-or-break year for Roberts. This team needs to come together and play winning baseball the next 54 games. Then they need to win series in the playoffs and not get bounced again. If they don’t win, I believe Roberts, not anyone in the front office, is going to take the bullet. AF is virtually safe, as is Gomes, who is in his first year as the GM. of course, this is just my opinion.
Over the next several weeks, we will see if the deadline pickups help the team turn the season around over what it has been the last couple of months. Maybe Freidman and Gomes knew a lot more than they were letting on, and maybe they did not. What is for certain, is that they know one hell of a lot more than we do. I do suggest that if you are that upset about the trades, that you please direct your attention and displeasure at the Dodgers themselves and don’t shoot the messenger…….namely me. I am very certain they would read each and every one of your letters and respond in kind. 
Buehler’s final line tonight. 3.1 IP, 7 H 4R all earned. 3BB and 6 Ks. More of the same for Walker. He is definitely not ready yet. Not sure if the heat in El Paso bothered him. It was 95 at game time.
The problems I have with Roberts are: he costs about 4-5 games per year regular season directly due to his bullpen usage decisions but I think more than that indirectly due to his inability to read a game situation. How many times has he yanked a starter early which causes more bullpen usage. Yes, our starters haven’t gone long very often lately but…when he could choose not to pull the starter going well he can’t resist, especially young guys. And yes, receivers need to perform but take advantage of the times you could rest one guy at least. I do understand they have pitch counts but not sure how great our results have been using those. Countless IL pitchers majors and minors. The poor decisions seem to cost us once or twice a postseason as well.
It doesn’t seem Buehler will be an answer to any post season SP problem. Have to hope Yamamoto comes back healthy giving the Dodgers a strong “three-headed” playoff SP rotation consisting of Glasgow, Flaherty and Yamamoto.
CK, at this point cannot be considered for a playoff start but might be moved to the BP….hate to say that because he is the second greatest left handed pitcher to ever wear a Dodger uniform but it looks like he’s on his retirement tour.
Have to stop the “bleeding” with a good three game series against the A’s. Have to win the series and a sweep would be just what the doctor ordered.
AF has to hit on some of his player position draft picks or trade for some young and developmental big league talent (like he did for Ferris) because the track record for graduating position players to the big club hasn’t been so good. Vargas, Outman, Pages don’t move the needle with none of them appreciably contributing in a significant way. They’ve had their moments but none of them were ready to lay claim to a starting position and hold onto it for the foreseeable future.
Who’s the next Will Smith, Gavin Lux, Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger who can move up and project to be a big leaguer with meaningful results. Is it Freeland, is it Rushing, is it DePaula?
The issue with Roberts is how much influence does he really have on game decisions? I have thought for years that he was an extension of the front office and the analytics people. Does he make the lineup decisions? Does he decide what and when with the availability of the bullpen pitchers? Is it Roberts who decides who a pinch hitter will be? Or, how many pitches, innings, times through the order a starter is allowed? I feel much of this is predetermined by analytics and the front office before the game starts. In pre and post game interviews is Roberts a mouth piece for the front office? Or, is it Roberts offering up word salads with nonsensical verbiage or just plain untruths on his own?
If the front office is providing most of the information and decisions mentioned above then why would they fire “the winningest manager in baseball history”? Likewise, if Roberts is just providing the media and fans with no real information about game moves, players injuries and rehab, and player use as requested by the front office why would they get rid of Dave Roberts? Roberts strong suit is player communication and ego management.
In the eyes of ownership and the front office Dave Roberts is the perfect manager for them. He handles the locker room and dugout. He doesn’t have to make too many in game decisions because that is provided by the front office. Roberts handles the media for the front office by offering only the minimal amount of useful information. Finally, Roberts isn’t paid that much.
If all or most of this is correct then, then Dave Roberts will be the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers for a long time. Andrew Friedman insists that Roberts is making all the decisions and calls during a game. If that’s true then there is a chance of Roberts being removed if the team misses the playoffs or has another early exit.
Whatever is true makes no difference to me. It would be nice to really know what’s what with most of the decision making. More important though is winning and they have done a lot of that in the Friedman years. But, I’m in the camp that without a World Series championship the season is a failure. With the huge financial commitment in the offseason the ownership has signaled the same feelings. Sure, the regular seasons have been entertaining. But, enough of only regular season success. The Dodgers need to win the last game of the postseason! Every year.
Carry on.
Good article Bear. I believe what Dave said if I got it right. Robert’s just never seems to have any urgency when a game is in the balance. He is always hugs and excuses. I don’t think you have to berate players in public. But u have to send a message with poor play. I would say at least 10 games throughout the year we just throw away. If u believe half of that we would be up at least 8. As Ted Raymond said how much control does Roberts have? Or how much does he want? He seems happy to always be the good guy knowing that if things go off the rails the front office is a part of it. The buck doesn’t stop with him and I think he and the front office wants it that way. That is why the front office gets so defensive when Robert’s is criticized because people are criticizing their behind the scenes decisions
My opinion: the Dodgers need a manager that would push back and not just go along with AF and his analytics. Terry Francona says he will be back to managing within a year and a half. I think his personality and feel for the game would be a perfect fit in LA.
Great post. There is nothing anyone can do about the injuries that have hurt this team. Do you look at the trainer? The actual training program? Something seems way off. But being frustrated about the current state of the team health is an exercise in futility.
With that being said, it just doesn’t feel right. Isn’t our year etc. Too many things have gone wrong. Almost ready to punt. Hope I am wrong.
Dave is going to be Dave under these circumstances. Some good. Some bad. But I have always wondered how many strings are being pulled by the brass when it comes to real decisions. I think MANY.
The Dodgers can still make the playoffs. The Captain Obvious approach is to get as healthy as they can before that first series. I think Mookie belongs back in RF. It’s best for the team. If they are almost completely healthy they are definitely deeper than they were on opening day. The bottom of the lineup was not going to be good enough. I think it is now.
Bear, what a great summary of the complaints coming from the fan base. I personally think Roberts resume will keep him employed. He wins. And when he doesn’t there are easy ways to spin why not; injured players, players underperforming, getting low draft picks every year. Poor Doc is just a victim of circumstance.
I don’t love to blame Roberts, but I think he over-manages. Bear, you and the knowledgeable posters here, did a great job expressing examples of what’s wrong including mismanaging the pitching and substitutions. While this year, it’s frequently injury driven, I have issues with a different lineup daily and an over reliance of platoons. Players are creatures of habit and love a set routine. A different position and spot in the lineup daily does not fit that. It also changes approaches to situational hitting, being in a different spot every day.
Is this on Doc or the FO? The organizations reputation for player development hasn’t produced much fruit, as pointed out.
But Doc doesn’t play. What he does, is to try to put players in the best position to succeed, given the circumstances. I don’t think he does that well.
It seems to be a bad combination of misfortune and underperformance, by the players, Doc and the FO.
Lux struggled early, Kike .197, Heyward .206, CT3 .167, Outman .149, Biggio .206 and the favorite whipping boy of the week, Andy Pages at .242, with adventures in center?
This team isn’t very good. Combine that with the injuries and this has become the new reality.
The volume of injuries and player fitness needs to be addressed with a fresh approach, in all of baseball, not just the Dodgers.
I would love to candidly talk to the players and see how much ownership they take for the poor performances and how much they blame circumstances and management.
I like a couple of acquisitions at the deadline but getting more utility guys didn’t move my dial.
Really good comments today by the posters. It will be extremely interesting how this plays out.
My knee replacement surgery was successful, but now the hard part comes…rehab. I was up and walking with a walker before they would release me. I am really tired and can only sit up for about 30 minutes a couple of times a day through the weekend. I started physical therapy on Wednesday, and will have a physical therapist at my home twice a week starting next week. After that, I go into the physical therapy office. And yes I am in pain, and meds help even though I am not taking them as often as prescribed.
One final thing on Mark. I am sorry to see him leave LADT, and hope he reconsiders. He can call me a moron any time he wants, and has many times. But when he says that I tolerate the morons and idiots on my site, he is impugning the commenters on LADC. That I will not let go, which is why I responded as I did. And he calls me a passive aggressive little man. Anyway, if he does decide to finally walk away, I wish him nothing but a fun-filled life regardless as to how he feels about me or the commenters on LADC. He has had a fantastic run and is at the pinnacle of Dodgers blogs.
I have no idea right now as to when I will be able to stay up long enough to write a post. But you are all seemingly getting along swimmingly without me, and that is how it should be.
I have been watching the Olympics more than baseball.
It is time for me to exercise and nap.
I’m assuming Outman goes down when Freeman returns, Biggio and Ahmed get the axe when Mookie and Edman get off IL but what happens if Muncy and or Rojas return. Hmm?
I have a question for you guys. Ohtani has now hit 21 solo home runs. All others were 2 run shots. When Mookie and Freddie are back, I don’t understand why he would hit lead off. Mookie-Freddie-Teo-Ohtani seems more balanced to me. The bottom of the lineup just doesn’t get on base.
Hey, fire Doc. makes no difference to me. The organization will just go find another manager who thinks the way they do. That is how Doc got the job in the first place. He aced his interviews. He believes in the analytic side of the game, and it is very obvious he uses them during games. Sometimes ya have to wonder how the old timers were ever successful without the I-Pads, computer print outs and positioning cards to show them what to do.
In non-fire Doc news, Jackson Ferris, after throwing 8 innings of no hit ball last night, has been promoted to AA Tulsa Drillers. Also, Gus Varland has been claimed off waivers by the WhiteSox. Let’s hope that he’s the PTBNL in the Edman/Kopech transaction.
I do not know why, but when I read this I just totally cracked up: Astros claim Janson Junk. 😂
Pache was claimed by the Marlins, JD Davis was released by the Yankees and Jamaii Jones outrighted to AAA.
Question. If a player the Dodgers draft does not sign, do the Dodgers get a compensatory pick?
So when mookie comes back and they move him to rightfield who plays centerfield Edman Kermeier or Pages and Freeman at 1b Lux and Rosario at 2b Ahmed and Rosario at shortstop and thirdbase Muncy hernandez Edman and leftfield every day is Teoscar and Smith and Barnes catching duties and Ohatani Dh that’s the play for playoffs and heyward off the bench or play the outfield on Sundays and move Betts in and play second base on Sundays so someone show me a lineup that woild match Phillies with this group. Since the Philies almost play the same lineup every night.
The LAT’s Dylan Hernandez examines a concern for all of us: Where will Mookie play when he gets back?
https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-08-01/dodgers-mookie-betts-returns-broken-hand-injury-shortstop
A couple of takeaways:
— First, Hernandez assumes that Miguel Rojas will return, so perhaps his injury isn’t as severe as feared.
–Second, Lux’s offensive surge and the recent acquisitions should limit and perhaps shift Mookie back to RF:
“Superstars are usually the ones who are accommodated by role players, and not the other way around. In this case, Betts could be asked to move to right field to unclog an infield depth chart that includes Miguel Rojas, Gavin Lux, Tommy Edman, Amed Rosario and Nick Ahmed. A return to his former position would bolster the Dodgers’ underwhelming corner outfield production as well.”
–Third, Hernandez’s brain fails to ponder my brilliant insight that Mookie could also man CF, which would both unclog the infield and also allow a Heyward/Pages platoon in RF. (Are the Dodgers really better off with a weak-hitting Keirmaier in CF? He notes that Pages and Heyward have not hit much lately–but they certainly have outhit the new CF options Keirmaier and Edman, who has yet to play at all this season.)
The story is about Mookie, so Hernandez doesn’t explore the matter of 3B
I can see where some think we’re a better team with Mookie in outfield but my take is Mookie is happier and more engaged playing the infield [ his own words ] and a happier Mookie is a more productive offensive weapon which is what we need the most. Can’t deny when he’s on a offensive roll wins come a lot easier and a catalyst for rest of lineup
Kiermaier in the starting lineup tonight but not Rosario.
Rosario is hitting over .300 this year against both LHP and RHP.
He has played all three OF positions plus 2B, 3B and SS during his career.
The current batting averages for the 6 players starting at those positions tonight are: .195, .197, .206, .235, .239 and .260.
If Rosario is actually in Oakland, I guess they got him to keep the ball boy company. Or maybe they’re saving him for a walk off in the 9th.
Tonight’s line-up is tough.
Kike, Kiermeier Ahmed and Biggio. That 44% if my math is correct.
And I’m slowly warming to Biggio.
Bobby Miller scratched from his start tonight because of a strained abductor muscle.
At the rate he’s going this might just end his year.
https://x.com/fabianardaya/status/1819523312193822972?s=46&t=9NWx-kmBe0wF8N9YYpyAlg
This sounds positive hope they come out of it ok
We better not look behind us someone might be gaining. I think Satchel Paige said something to this effect. Well Arizona and SanDiego are charging hard with the Giants picking up steam(Snell 1 walk 8ks so far 0hits) it could turn into the Wild West. We better get tough in a hurry. If we can win with the lineup we are throwing out there Roberts should win manager of the year. Btw why did we get Rosario?
someone needs to step up and throw a gem. Come on stone!! We are going to have to play better on the road. Oakland has got to look at this lineup and think they should be favored. Will smith is doing a lot of talking it is time he backs it up with his playing. Come on Will somebody step up and play over their head!
To be honest, I don’t get the frustration with Dave Roberts. He seems to be “taking one for the organization”. Are there decisions he has made that have not worked? Sure, name me one manager that has not. As fans we tend to judge managers on results rather than process. The Braves have, arguably, had a better roster than the Dodgers in both 2022 and 2023. They were also eliminated in the NLDS the last two seasons. I thought Roberts did an outstanding job last season. What team was going to win a series starting an injured CK, a rookie in Bobby Miller, and a mediocre Lance Lynn and with their two best hitters combining for one hit in three games? If we had been told before the season started that Muncy would miss 10 weeks, Betts would miss 8 to 9 weeks, Yamamoto would miss 10 weeks or more, and we would get no meaningful contributions from Kershaw, Buehler, Miller, or May (at least to this point) what would you have predicted? They are just 2.5 games out of the best record in the NL. Sometimes, we (me included) would do well to step back and see the forest from the trees.
Anyone have information on why Rushing is playing left field more frequently of late? Is this to expand his versatility for next year or a potential outfield option this year. I may be reading too much in to this.
With Rosario sitting against a right hander, I am guessing he will be the platoon partner for Lux. Interested to see what Keirmaier gives the Dodgers. To me, this a two week audition before Edman returns. But with the versatility of this roster, there are several options. Hope Dodgers can hang on for these next two weeks before help arrives.
Third time through the order is TOUGH for young pitchers.
Offense is stagnant. Pitching is awful. Not much else one can say
You are not going to win many games scoring two in the first and then having the offense stymied by a pitcher with an ERA north of 4. Also not going to win much giving up 3 bombs and 6 runs. And when your 700-million-dollar man is ofer his last 15 at bats, you definitely are not going to win. Arizona already won their game. Colorado ahead of SD 3-2 in the top of the sixth 2 on and 1 out. Snell pitched a no-hitter against the Reds.
Stone gets the loss that Kelly deserves…