Bear is working on another post, but it will not be ready until Monday late. I did not have time to develop anything as I am entertaining family. I make another plea…anyone who would like to write their own post and publish, I would welcome it. Once a week, once a month, once a quarter…
Just like the 18-2 win was just one game, the 7-3 loss was also just one game. They won the series against NYY even though they did not get the sweep.
Next the Mets (4), then Cardinals (3), Padres (3), Giants (3), and Padres (4). That is 14 more games against >.500 teams. Tough road.
BTW, I kid Scott, and while he comes across as negative on outcomes, I fervently believe he is 100% Dodger fan. There are others like Scott. Others are 100% positive in their responses (win or loss), and others like to periodically vent (like me). It takes all kinds, and I appreciate each and every one of you.
Max Muncy on the Dodgers after the loss:
“We played good baseball, but the result wasn’t there. We’ve been cleaning up mistakes & focusing on the positives. Resilience is key – it’s about showing up every day, no matter the challenge.”
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Comets 12 – Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) 3
LAD pitcher Emmet Sheehan made his first 2025 appearance with OKC as he continued his rehab assignment, starting Sunday’s game for the Comets. He pitched brilliantly for 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with five strikeouts. He retired the first eight batters he faced. The two back to back hits in the 3rd were a 68 MPH bloop single into LF, and a 23 MPH broken bat infield single. He struck out the next batter to close out the inning. He ultimately threw a total of 39 pitches (27 strikes).
#Dodgers Emmet Sheehan is pitching a gem in his rehab start. Six outs in twenty-one pitches. Fastball 97mph, slider 88mph, breaking ball 84mph. @DodgersBeat #LetsGoDodgers #OKCComets pic.twitter.com/bz7kuLBSa8
— 🇺🇸 DooM_Sal (@msalas24) June 1, 2025
#Dodgers Emmet Sheehan faced his first 3-2 count and went right after the hitter, sitting him down. pic.twitter.com/ce7MSju3ss
— 🇺🇸 DooM_Sal (@msalas24) June 1, 2025
Chris Okey racked up four RBI on four hits to lead the way as the Oklahoma City Comets won a key series finale against the Las Vegas Aviators, 12-3, Sunday afternoon.
The Comets outscored the Aviators, 10-1, over the game’s final four innings to break a 2-2 tie and go on to win the series. Oklahoma City quickly took the first lead of the game when James Outman connected on a leadoff home run.
#Dodgers James Outman leads it off crushing one over the right field wall. OKC 1 Aviators 0 #LetsGoDodgers pic.twitter.com/Olyxlfxd6c
— 🇺🇸 DooM_Sal (@msalas24) June 1, 2025
Okey collected his first RBI of the day in the second inning on a RBI double for a 2-0 OKC lead. Las Vegas tied the score on a two-run homer by Colby Thomas in the fourth inning off former LAD 2015 unsigned 1st round draft pick, Kyle Funkhouser, now back with the LAD this past week.
OKC’s offense then put together four straight multi-run innings, including a RBI single by Okey in the sixth inning, RBI double by Okey in the seventh inning, and a RBI single by Okey in the eighth inning. Just exactly why the Dodgers signed Chuckie Robinson is still a mystery to me.
The Comets pitching staff held the Aviators to one run over the games’ final five innings.
With Sunday’s victory, the Comets won the six-game series, 4-2, and now own the head-to-head tiebreaker between the teams as they battle for the top spot in the PCL standings with 18 games remaining in the first half. The Comets now trail the league-leading Aviators by a half-game in the standings.
OKC closed out the series scoring 29 runs on 38 hits over the final two games.
Two other Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers continued their rehab assignments as well. Edgardo Henriquez pitched in his second game with OKC this series, tossing a scoreless seventh inning and walked two batters. He faced five batters and threw 24 pitches (10 strikes).
Michael Kopech made his ninth appearance with OKC during his rehab assignment and issued one walk and recorded a strikeout in the eighth inning.
- Chris Okey – 4-4, 1 BB, 4 RBI, 2 doubles (4)
- Austin Gauthier – 3-5, 1 BB, 4 runs, 2 RBI
- Steward Berroa – 3-5, 1 BB, 2 runs, double (4)
- Alex Freeland – 2-4, 2 BB, 2 runs
- James Outman – 2-6, 2 runs, 1 RBI, double (12), HR (12)
Outman now has four home runs over his last six games and over his last seven games is batting 14-for-32 (.438) with eight extra-base hits, 14 RBI and 13 runs scored…
Freeland extended his on-base streak to 18 games — the longest by an OKC player this season.
Wichita Wind Surge (Twins) 6 – Tulsa Drillers 0
For the second time in their six-game series in Wichita, the Tulsa Drillers were unable to overcome a big first inning by the Wind Surge on Sunday afternoon. Six walks in the first helped Wichita score four runs that led to an eventual 6-0 shutout loss in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Jacob Meador made his tenth start of 2025 in the finale, and he did not have his best stuff as he struggled to find the strike zone. Meador issued six walks in the first inning and relinquished one hit as Wichita took an early 4-0 lead.
The game became a bullpen game for the Drillers as Kelvin Bautista entered in relief of Meador. Bautista recorded the next six outs, with four coming on strikeouts.
The Wind Surge added a fifth run in the fourth inning when a double by Andrew Cossetti allowed Noah Cardenas to score from first base.
A bases-loaded walk was responsible for Wichita’s sixth and final run in the eighth inning.
The Drillers offense out-hit Wichita 6-4, but drew just one walk. Tulsa had only two at-bats with a runner in scoring position and stranded four on base. It was the fourth shutout loss suffered by the Drillers this season.
Tulsa used six pitchers in the game. Bautista, Jeisson Cabrera, and Ronan Kopp did not allow a run in their outings. Meador was charged with the loss, dropping his record to 0-6.
Griffin Lockwood-Powell finished 2-4 to increase his on-base streak to 17 straight games.
Tulsa pitchers walked 13 Wichita hitters, which matched a season high.
The Drillers committed four errors in the loss.
- Griffin Lockwood-Powell – 2-4
- Damon Keith – 2-4, double (10)
Great Lakes Loons 6 – Fort Wayne Tin Caps (San Diego) 5
The Sunday contest between the Great Lakes Loons and Fort Wayne TinCaps had five lead changes with Logan Wagner driving in the final run on a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. The Loons 6-5 win gave them a series win.
WAGNER WALK-OFF WINNER pic.twitter.com/feHzKu3a5e
— Great Lakes Loons (@greatlakesloons) June 1, 2025
Logan Wagner had an eight RBI week, driving in three today. Nelson Quiroz had a four-hit game, including three doubles. Both had big hits in the ninth.
A 3 double day for Nelson Quiroz 🔥 pic.twitter.com/igScBJNc5C
— Great Lakes Loons (@greatlakesloons) June 1, 2025
Quiroz, would single aboard in the ninth after fouling off three previous pitches in a seven-pitch battle. Wilman Diaz reached on a single popup misplayed by Fort Wayne, and a Josue De Paula walk loaded the bases. Wagner went first pitch swinging against the newly inserted Fernando Sanchez and singled to left, deflected off shortstop Brandon Butterworth’s glove.
Fort Wayne tied the score at five, in the eighth. Leo De Vries ripped a RBI double to right field. Three of the five TinCaps runners that scored, were put aboard via a walk.
The Loons homered twice. Jordan Thompson throttled his second of the series, a go-ahead blast in the seventh. Jake Gelof got Great Lakes on the board, with an opposite-field solo shot in the second.
Loons starter Payton Martin went four innings, permitting four runs. Two TinCaps doubles plated three with a wild pitch making it 4-3 in the fifth.
Noah Ruen, Reynaldo Yean, and Evan Shaw each tossed a scoreless frame. Carson Hobbs worked the final two innings, with two strikeouts and a clean ninth.
Great Lakes is now 9-6 in one-run games. Today was their first walk-off win of 2025.
- Logan Wagner – 2-4, 1 BB, 3 RBI
- Nelson Quiroz – 4-4, 3 runs, 3 doubles (11)
- Double – Zyhir Hope (12)
- Home Runs – Jake Gelof (2), Jordan Thompson (5)
Modesto Nuts (Seattle) 8 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 0
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes concluded their series on Sunday afternoon, suffering an 8-0 shutout at the hands off the Nuts.
Rancho collected a season-low two hits, singles by Joendry Vargas and Victor Rodrigues, and split the six-game set with the Nuts, finishing their road trip at 5-7 overall.
Rancho starter Hyun-Seok Jang was dominant over three innings, but was pulled to start the fourth.
The Nuts took advantage and jumped on reliever Nicolas Cruz, scoring once in the fourth and four more in the fifth to take a commanding 5-0 lead.
They added three more in the sixth off the Rancho bullpen to put it away.
The Quakes will send Aidan Foeller to the hill on Tuesday night, as they return home to face the San Jose Giants.
I hope Sheehan arrives sooner rather than later.
Sometimes it seems that the Dodgers always want to take their sweet time bringing back pitchers on rehab assignments. At any rate, Sheehan’s progress is encouraging.
Can Bobby Miller progress?
Kopech and Henriquez have not looked ready so far down at AAA on their rehab stints.
Not encouraging when looking at their MLB return. Dodgers desperatly could use two big RHP in their pen.
Yamamoto looked shaky again. That is two unusual lackluster outings in a row.
MM has found his stroke. If only Conforto could follow suit.
Pages on pace for 30 hr, 100 rbi.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Henriquez reportedly cranked it up to 102 mph in his latest outing…
Kopech will be back with the club this week, Henriquez’ injury was a foot so he’s probably just fine tuning mechanics. He’ll be back as well, and then there just aren’t many spots available.
Speaking of Kopech, and I write this with full hope that Vargas turn into a stud:
LAD:
Edman (.301 AVG, .763 OPS)
Kopech (17 IP, 0.53 ERA, 11.12 K/9)
CWS:
Vargas (.110 AVG, .402 OPS)
STL:
Pham (DFA’d)
Fedde (37.2 IP, 4.30 ERA)
“We played good baseball, but the result wasn’t there. We’ve been cleaning up mistakes”
That’s not exactly true Max. An error on a throw cost a run and a bonehead mistake on the basepaths cost another.
But, as in the blowout the day before, this was just another game.
Sheehan 97 already? Easy kid. That arm will be needed in the second half.
By the way, is he a long man bullpen candidate in a pinch? The Dodgers could use another one. Just a thought.
And Jeff, as much as I enjoy your writing, just posting the thorough minor league results now and then would be fine with me. This group is capable of starting up conversation on its own.
. . .
Jeff,
please don’t feel the pressure of having to write a daily article. I think I speak for most posters here that we are grateful to you and Bear for your dedicated work and if you need to take a few days off, then do it. We can mindlessly continue to post on!
Yarborough had the last laugh on the Dodgers who treated him very shabbily. One of AF’s worst decisions leaving him off the Post Season roster in 23 when we had no Starters (and Kershaw’s arm was nearly falling off). Still a head scratcher.
I do not think they treated him shabbily. He got a World Series ring even though they traded him at the deadline. Choosing the roster? Well, that is a crapshoot every year.
This is coming up more and more in discussion, whether the pendulum has swung too far towards “missing bats” as a pitching strategy.
It’s contrarian and kinda interesting.
I’d love to see any good articles or analysis if anyone has read or written any.
Please.
I admit this would be a good research project. I fear, however, it is going to have to come from a major publication as I do not have the tools to develop and process the necessary algorithms to aid in the research. I have to believe that every MLB organization already has such information, but that is going to be proprietary.
Oh. yeah.
wasn’t expecting it here, this is too much of a fan fest.
Hey Jeff. I agree that a daily post isn’t necessary to yield comments. I think having a new, clean post for each game with the date and score would be adequate. That way we have the opportunity to comment on that game, plays, and players. We all appreciate the forum. Try not making it a burden for you.
As for the game, it was much expected the Dodger offense would be somewhat mute after a double digit output on Saturday. With Yamamoto pitching and Yarborough taking the mound for the Dodgers, it looked like a great chance to sweep the Yankees. Well, Yamamoto was ineffective and had major control problems.
Yarborough’s soft stuff had the Dodgers’ top of the lineup stymied. At times he made them look foolish. It shows that it isn’t necessary to throw the pitch 100 MPH to be effective. Of course, I’m not saying that he this effective most of the time. But, at least he’s available to pitch when needed. He’s had no major arm issues in his career.
Still some bright spots offensively with Muncy and Pages. A positive weekend for the Dodgers in taking the series from the Yankees.
It looks like some pitching reinforcements are on the way with Kopech and Henriquez. Love the Sheehan outing. Maybe, he’ll be back in the rotation by the end of the month.
Carry on
And neither did Jamie Moyer or Bartolo Colon. They are certainly the outliers, but it can be done. Teams just have to look with their eyes rather than with the radar gun.
I honestly do not understand some of the moves. First Steward Berroa, then Chuckie Robinson, Chris Stratton, and now Will Klein. AF/BG traded LHRP Joe Jacques to Seattle for RHRP Will Klein, and I guess gained 5 years of age. But Klein needs a 40 man spot and Jacques did not.
Klein has 3 pitches, a 97.0 MPH 4-seamer, a curveball, and slider. None of the three pitches were effective in MLB and I am guessing they were not in MiLB either.
· 242.2 IP, 5.34 ERA, 1.669 WHIP, 12.8 K/9 and 6.9 BB/9
I guess they are looking for another Evan Phillips miracle. Tweak the slider and see what happens.
Klein does have 2 option years remaining.
The front office loves guys who pile up k’s.
Klein’s numbers in MiLB are 12.8 k/9.
That overcomes all the lousy numbers.
Also being 5 years younger and having 2 option years probably didn’t hurt.
And lastly, maybe Jacques had a June 1st opt out?
We all know the math on even the best starting pitchers. One third of a pitcher’s starts, he has his stuff and command and everything is working. The bottom third is he just doesn’t have it, for whatever reason. And one third you expect the guy to compete, eat some innings and keep your team in games.
That’s a couple of subpar starts in a row for Yamamoto.
If you’ve ever played any quality golf, there are days when you think all of your work has paid off and you have figured the game out. The next day, you realized you haven’t and you hit it all over the place. I have mastered the game on the driving range a thousand times. It happens to even the best players. On your off days as a pitcher, you try to minimize the damage and hope your mates pick you up but there is no explaining that somedays, you just stink. We’re not robots.
I hope May has a nice, healthy outing tonight.
I’m especially pleased that Pages has made the improvements he’s made both at the plate and in the outfield. He will occasionally make a rookie mistake, like the airmail throw home last night, but he’s become a nice player. And it’s cool that Teo has become such a mentor to the kid.
Jeff, this is for you, but anyone else, please feel free to comment:
Spent a few minutes on Baseball Trade Values today and found these two trades for players I had barely heard of. Once I looked at their stats I became more interested.
Trade 1: Cubs get Bobby Miller. Dodgers get 3B/OF prospect Jonathan Long
Trade 2: Marlins get Kendall George. Dodgers get reliever Ronny Henriquez.
I don’t know how good a fielder Long is but his stats on offense are nice. Maybe he’d be a viable replacement for Max in the next couple years (or earlier if we let Bums make the decision).
We definitely need relievers and now that we have Sirota, George might be somewhat redundant.
What say you, folks? Of course, I realize that it takes two teams to make a trade and the other team might say no.
That site can be a welcome diversion!
Thanks Jeff,
Appreciate you and Bear.
Why would any pitcher throw anything else but a low and away pitch to Ohtani? And it doesn’t need to be a strike. It’s his kryptonite
Scott stinks again. Time to pull the plug on him in high leverage situations.