Well it is hard for me to admit, but I totally botched this one. I knew in the offseason that the Dodgers would be chasing someone who hit lefties really well. This has been a Dodger bugaboo for a long time.
I do not consider Mookie Betts to be your atypical RH power hitter. Don’t get me wrong, Mookie is a poor man’s version of Jimmy Wynn, The Toy Cannon. Mookie is just a better hitter for average than Wynn was. But they are both slight in stature. Mookie is 5’9″ 180. Wynn was 5’8″ 160. In his 15 years in the majors, Wynn slugged 291 homers. Betts in his 11 seasons, so far has 262.
Wynn never hit 40, but three times he had 30 or more. Mookie’s best was 39 last year. He has now hit 30 or more four times. Mookie has hit lefties at a .298 clip in his career. Slightly better than he has RHP, .294. He has 3000 more plate appearances against RHP than he does lefties. His homer total reflects that, he has 195 off of RHP, and 67 off of LHP.
Last year, the Dodgers had two players with more than 30 homers who hit from the right side, Martinez and Betts. 137 of the team’s 249 homers came from the right side.
The team hit .249 against LHP with 79 homers, and a .787 OPS. So adding some more pop against lefties made a lot of sense. I believed they would try and trade for a hitter. But I sure read that wrong.
Instead, they went out and signed another free agent, Teoscar Hernandez, to play the outfield and be a lefty killer. I was dead set against this. Teo struck out 211 times last season. He hit .258, but his OPS was below .800. I did not think his 26 homers and 93 RBIs was enough to offset making all those useless outs.
But at this point in the season, I see what AF liked. The guy is just plain fun and loves to play the game. He also brings some thunder in that bat, and has a good time playing the game.
He is tied for the team lead in homers, he leads the team in RBIs with 50, and except for an error in last night’s game, his defense has been stellar. They could have done a lot worse than signing this guy.
He is OPSing 42 points higher than his career number. He has scored 40 and has 4 bags. His OPS+ is 139. Almost half of his 17 homers, 8, have come off of lefties.
Some have called for AF to give him an extension. I would not be against giving him a three year deal. The Dodgers have very few prime outfield prospects in the high minors. Keeping Hernandez makes a lot of sense.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
Sugarland Space Cowboys (Houston) 5 – OKC Baseball Club 2
Bobby Miller had another rehab start for OKC. It did not go well. 4.2 IP, 5 runs, 6 hits, 3 BB, 1 HBP with 4 K. Jesse Hahn, JP Feyereisen, and Michael Petersen finished the final 3.1 IP, allowing just a single and walk, with 5 Ks.
The two runs for OKC were from a James Outman 2-run HR in the 5th.
James Outman hit HR #5 and is hitting .307, OPS 1.022 with OKC. He has hits in 3 games in a row & in 14 of the 21 games he's played with the Baseball Club. Dude is doin' what he's been tasked to do, just Keep it Goin', Keep Grindin' & control what you can control! #dodgers pic.twitter.com/CWs6yBCKBr
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 14, 2024
- Drew Avans – 2-4, 1 BB, double (14)
- James Outman – 1-4 – 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (5)
- Ryan Ward – 1-4, double (11)
Tulsa Drillers 1 – Arkansas Travelers (Seattle) 0 – 10 innings
Kendall Williams and three relievers pitched a combined 4-hit shutout. All 4 hits were singles, and there were three walks to go with the singles.
This was Kendall Williams’s best game in 2024, and it really isn’t close. He threw 82 pitches (52 strikes).
Atta Baby Kendall Williams!
6IP 3H 0R 5K 1BB
Tonight was easily his best performance so far this year, best since August of last year & 2nd best outing since being in AA. Definitely a Great performance & one to build the rest of his season off of, that's for sure. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/79OD52uR8m— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 14, 2024
Antonio Knowles has had many really good outings, but tonight was, IMO, his best!
Reasons…Sequencing made him ambidextrous!
Sinker to Left (Hopped back), Slider to Right (different shapes) & location & execution was 100% perfect.
2 words of advice for hitters, Good Luck!… pic.twitter.com/2nKE8wmEWe— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 14, 2024
Ryan Sublette picked up the W recording the last 2 outs, both via K. The Dodgers have a ton of Power arms out of the pen, and, while Sub can rush it up there, he brings uniqueness in arm slot, delivery & deception. He's gonna go on and stay on a heater & never look back. #dodgers pic.twitter.com/QtZSbBNCa8
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 14, 2024
Tulsa walked it off with one out in the 10th when Damon Keith’s single scored the free runner, Bubba Alleyne. This was Keith’s second walk off hit in the last three games.
You can't Make This Stuff Up!
Damon Keith hit his 2nd Walk Off this week, 2nd in the last 3 games, off the SAME pitcher. Just got back from a Hamate injury last week and has a hit in all but 1 game he's played in & is hitting .341 so far.
Atta Baby Damon! #dodgers pic.twitter.com/6r6dWSABMG— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) June 14, 2024
No Tulsa batter had a multi-hit game. Their were four singles and 1 double (Kyle Freeland).
Great Lakes Loons 8 – Dayton Dragons (Reds) 2
Great Lakes got a very good 6.0 inning start from Christian Romero. He allowed 2 runs with 4 hits (including a solo HR), 0 BB and 6 BB. Jose Rodriguez got a 3-inning save with 3.0 scoreless innings, on 1 hit, 1 BB, and 6 K.
Great Lakes put three on the board in the 3rd. Jake Vogel walked, Noah Miller singled, and Dylan Campbell slugged a 3-run HR (2).
GL put up 2 more in the 7th on 3 singles, 2 wild pitches, and a sac fly. They scored 2 in the 8th on a Jake Gelof 2-run double. They finished their scoring with one in the 9th when Kyle Nevin tripled home Jake Vogel who singled to open the 9th.
- Kyle Nevin – 2-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, triple (4)
- Jake Gelof – 2-4, 2 RBI, double (6)
- Nick Biddison – 2-4, 1 run
- Jake Vogel – 2-2, 2 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI
- Dylan Campbell – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (2)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6 – Fresno Grizzlies (Colorado) 5
Patrick Copen had a good start. He completed 5.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits and 3 BB with 6 K.
Yet again, the bullpen faltered late in the game. They went into the bottom of the 9th with a 6-2 lead, but two RC relievers allowed 3 runs, and RC had to hold on for the win.
The Quakes opened the scoring in the 2nd when Jordan Thompson led off with a double (12), and Juan Alonso hit a 1-out, 2-run HR (2).
In the 3rd, Jeral Perez singled and scored on a Carlos Rojas double (4).
The Quakes seemingly put the game away in the 5th when Carlos Rojas slugged a 2-out, 3-run HR (1) following a Wilman Diaz single, and a Jeral Perez walk.
In the bottom of the 9th, Felix Cabrera put the first three runners on base on 2 BB and 1 HBP. Callum Wallace relieved Cabrera and served up a run scoring single leaving the bases loaded. Wallace then induced a run scoring DP with a runner moving to 3rd. That runner scored on a WP, and the Grizzlies had scored 3 runs on 1 hit and were within one run.
Wallace got the final out to preserve the win. Wallace allowed 3 inherited runners to score, but got the save…go figure.
- Carlos Rojas – 2-4, 1 run, 4 RBI, double (4), HR (1)
- Juan Alonso – 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (2)
- Doubles – Jordan Thompson (12), Logan Wagner (6)
ACL Dodgers – Did not play
A strikeout from #Dodgers 18-year-old LHP prospect Justin Chambers
He was acquired in the offseason from the Brewers and is working his way back from Tommy John surgery. Chambers could see time in Single-A later this year pic.twitter.com/hBz20PtBhu
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) June 13, 2024
Question – Is Bobby Miller really ready to come back to join the rotation? In 4 rehab starts – 15.0 IP, 19 hits, 14 runs (13 earned), 8 BB, 10 K, 2 HBP. He does not need to join the 26 man. He has options. Maybe he should work out of OKC until he is right???
It should also be noted that Landon Knack has pitched better in LAD than has Miller this year, and at OKC.
I think it is a legit question.
Rōki Sasaki news
The Dodgers add Jose Hernandez to the 40 man. Why not this guy?
Maybe its one of baseball’s unwritten rules?
’tis a head scratcher. This comment is very weird:
Dave Roberts on Bobby Miller’s rehab start tonight: “I saw the results. The results weren’t good. … I’m sure we’ll have a conversation but I expect him to make his next start with us.”
That would line up for the 4-game series in Colorado next week
Is Bobby Miller ready?
Nope.
Miller and Buehler at a snails pace to dominance.
Takes a big man to admit he was wrong. Good on ya.
Huge news on Sasaki.
Totally misread what AF might be thinking. I knew once they signed Ohtani that JD would not be coming back. But I still thought they would trade for an established outfielder, not go the free agent route.
The Dodgers have the money for free agent signings. Maybe they are saving trade assets for mid season moves.
I would have to believe that.
I really dislike bullpen games. Grove was bitten by some weakly hit balls. But this loss is on the offense. Seems like if the big four don’t get it done, they are not scoring.
Glad to see the Teo love…thanks Bear.
I watched the highlights this morning. Can’t believe the 8th inning. Our #8 and #9 hitters get on, 1st and 3rd, no outs…..only to see Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman all strike out. Oh my…..I didn’t think that was possible. And then a different bullpen guy strikes out the side in the 9th. Oh my….
Now you see why today, I am not optimistic about our chances in the playoffs. We lack something….not sure what? I just can’t get out of my brain last year’s playoffs when I saw Mookie and Freeman not show up when we needed them. Is it possible this year, the same will happen with the addition of another super star in Ohtani? In other words, what I saw last night happening 4 more times in October? I sure hope not and I hope I am 100% wrong. -TM
PS….still can’t believe we added BIGGIO not named Craig. SMH….another .220 hitter. Might as well go with Vargas, Rojas, or KiKe (I’m leaving out CT3-he looks to be lost).
Biggio’s career OBP, 1767 plate appearances, is .334. That isn’t awful. If he can get on a third of the time (or better) at the bottom of the order he can be helpful. He’s a career negative dWAR player so I don’t expect much out of him there. This lineup needs a healthy Muncy in it and who knows when or if that is going to happen anytime soon.
Robertson did the same thing to the same three guys the game before. Not only were those AB’s ugly, but they were also unwatchable. Always thought the Dodgers should have gone after him when he was a free agent.
Yeah, me too. Felt the same way about Semien.
Hernandez: “I would love to stay”
I’m sure he would. Don’t count on it.
To watch the top 3 in our lineup do what they did in the 8th was deflating. Nobody making contact and Ohtani chasing one that bounced. Come on man.
Mookie doesn’t look right to me. He’s hitting.192/.683, the last two weeks, .239/.731 the last month. Ohtani .204/.683 the last month. If those two don’t hit, and hit WRISP (Ohtani .232/.623 for the season) this team will have difficulty beating anybody, let alone beating the better teams.
As bad as they have looked, they are 5-5, as are the Padres and giants. These Dodgers may be cake walking through the early summer days with only the marginal players stressed for job security.
What might be next for this group? Admittedly I have no idea.
Why do you think Teoscar won’t stay? He’s helped this team a lot this season.
I thought we were talking about José.
What I see as needs for the Dodgers at the deadline. A. Muncy back. He lengthens the lineup even with his high K rate. And he is a streak hitter. B. More consistency from Mookie and Ohtani. Freeman is heating up even though he had a bad game last night. C. They need to dominate the bad teams. So far, they have not done that. D. More production off of the bench. This means cutting loose either Kike or Taylor or both. Getting an outfielder with some pop and bat to ball skills. If they really feel the need to get better at SS, make the move early. If Lux has to be part of a trade, so be it. E. At least one more dominating bullpen arm. I doubt they could pry Miller from the A’s. But there are some options out there. Flip-flop Freddie and Ohtani. Give Ohtani a day off here and there and let Smith DH. They need his bat in the lineup.
I think the pitching looks better than the offense at this time. AF seems to know how to keep the bullpen revolving door working. Outman may be an outfield piece, Kiké has been disappointing but I don’t see them replacing him. If a better utility piece comes available, then yeah, do it, but this team spins on the starting lineup and that includes Muncy.
Giving a DH a day off seems unnecessary to me, but I understand why one might say that. I know those paying fans that bring their family to see him would not understand why he isn’t in the lineup.
The way he has been swinging, a day just looking on from the dugout might do him some good. He has been so-so the last few weeks. And just think of him pinch hitting in some clutch situation. Would be ok with me.
Ok with you sitting in your recliner in Cañon City. Might not be ok with the dad who paid near $400 FCI to go see Ohtani in person.
Just got a new one with a massager in it, very comfortable. Anyone who pays 400 bucks for a single game ticket is an idiot.
I’m not high on the pitching right now. Our once ACE, Glasnow, is descending into a version of Lance Lynn. A better one for sure, but still losing games and allowing more HRs than is healthy. I’m shocked at Stone throwing so well, but I’m not a believer in Paxton. I like Yamamoto a lot, but he is a rookie, and being shoved into the spotlight in the USA can make anyone falter. He is still hittable and doesn’t have full command yet. Without the hitters getting hot in some games, our pitchers lose more than they already have. When you score 15 runs, you can have Kike on the mound! This team isn’t scoring 15 runs a game so the pitchers are going to have to earn their paychecks.
And, btw, Ohtani is slipping more and more into bad hitting habits. He is not the same guy at the plate that started this season. This team better start hitting soon or they are going to have a painful surprise coming.
Glasnow May be a 5 inning starter. Get him out after that.
His worst inning is his 3rd, and it is not even close. He has pitched into the 7th 6 times and has been fine.
3rd inning – .305 Batting Avg, 6 HR (out of 10 total).
7th inning – 20 PA, .211 BA, 0 HR
Give him a lead, and the hitters are chasing his pitches. Without a lead, there is no urgency on the hitter except to sit on a mistake.
I was looking at his career numbers. Averages 5.1 per start, is better early in the year. Want him well rested in October.
He has been healthy exactly once for a full season. So his innings pitched are not going to be high. His run support the last several games has been pitiful.
You are blaming him for his losses when they score 0 runs for him in five straight games? Tough crowd. Even in his last game, if they score like we were told they would score (or at least score as if Paxton was on the mound) he would have won.
Semien doesn’t need a day off. Freeman doesn’t need a day off. I remember when players didn’t need days off to “save then for the playoffs”, and they were just fine in the playoffs. Steve Garvey? Cal Ripken Jr.? Pete Rose?
Steve Garvey Playoff Stats – .338/.361/.550/.910.
Cal Ripken Jr Playoff Stats – .336/.411/.455/.866
Pete Rose Playoff Stats – .321/.388/.440/.828
Marcus Semien Playoff Stats – .270/.336/.423/.759
Even Freddie, with the exception of 2023, has been a very good playoff hitter.
Freddie Freeman Playoff Stats – .285/.394/.520/.914 (includes 2023)
Today’s human beings are softer than yesterday’s. Just a bunch of overpaid candy-pants sissies. When I was a kid we had to get off the couch just to change channels and turn up the volume. Don’t make ‘em like us anymore.
Nope, still prefer old style baseball to today’s brand.
Ditto. And Happy Birthday Bear. I enjoy reading your posts.
It’s my birthday, so they damn well better beat KC tonight! LOL> 😁
Happy Birthday Bear! I’m six months behind you.
Nice write today.
It’s going to be interesting to see what AF and the front office have in mind through the trade deadline. The recent moves and complete disregard for any prospect additions has been confusing. An explanation might be nice, but we know that’s never going to happen. Except in a book maybe 20 years from now.
Anyway, enjoy your special day.
Thanks Ted, I had to go to Pueblo to pick up the diabetic shoes the VA authorized for me. One thing about AF, he keeps his reasons for making moves to himself. You never see a reason given for most any move he has made. One move he made we knew was made out of need, and that was when he traded for Machado.
Happy birthday, Bear. Always a pleasure reading your words here or there.
I appreciate it, thank you. I enjoy writing. Never thought that would be the case when I first started.
Happy Birthday Michael!
Thank you Wayne.
Happy Birthday brother. You’re as old as me now. Act accordingly geezer.
Geezer????? LOL
Yep, geezer. If the house slippers fit….
I do not wear slippers, too feminine, I wear moccasins.
What age?
76
What he said.
Happy Birthday, Bear!
I appreciate your great writing and research.
Teoscar has exceeded my expectations as well, and he brings a ton of energy to the team. He has been great so far, and has had some fantastic hot streaks. I share some concern with the strikeout numbers and thought $23 million was a hefty price, but a one year deal is limited risk. Let’s see how the rest of the season plays out. Just 9 days ago, Teoscar had an OPS of 767 which was 40 points below his career average, but then he dominated in NYC. We need to prepare for some ups and downs with Teoscar, but the attitude has been great.
Mookie runs hot and cold. That’s who he is. Luckily he is hot more than he is cold and his Luke warm is very good. I worry more about Ohtani because he has a swing that would be criticized if someone like Pages had it.
My lineup would be: Betts, Freeman, Smith, Othani, Royce Lewis, Outman,Teoscar, Lux, Pages.
I had hopes for Sheehan, Stone, and Pepiot in the rotation this year. Glasnow has a better resume than Pepiot but I miss Pepiot just the same. In the meantime, thank you Dodgers for keeping me amused with the likes of Biggio being added here and there to spice up the season.
Teo .214 WRISP. Improve that and he could have 130 ribbies.
Royce Lewis. Nice pickup. Local kid, grew up in Aliso Viejo, a toney neighborhood about 5 miles from me. How did you get him in your lineup?
The same way he had Bobby Witt Jr. and Mitch Haniger and Byron Buxton before that. Bums is always looking to improve the Dodgers.
Go big or go home 😃
I am home.
Bum, love the enthusiasm for these guys, but unfortunately, those teams have no inclination to trade those guys.
Not bad but I think we need to get Witt for Lux and then move Mookie to 2B.
Might have to include Max in that deal.
And CT3.
Make it so.
But Blue, you love Max.
As I remember, last year KC was 29th in:
Attendance
Wins
Farm ranking
Revenue
They needed a bunch of good players so it seemed logical to dangle them in front of KC as a fun exercise to get Witt. It’s not fun for me to guess at the more likely trades which would be for reclamation players.
We need to be on DFA watch. Toronto has just DFA another player…Daniel Vogelbach. Perfect all or nothing addition to the Dodgers lineup. RVS will get him popping up and striking out in no time.
Astros have released Jose Abreu.
I know AF will be tempted but I think he’ll manage to hold back.
We have warning track power to center lately. How do we get these guys to pull the ball. Mookie usta could. Haven’t seen it lately. Pages can. Lux has been going to left beautifully lately. Fly balls right at the left fielder. F-7 and G-4-3 is how he manages his Mendoza line.
Move CF in 10 feet. Problem solved.
Excellent. We do need a good fattie on this team
Moar pancakes!
Happy Birthday Bear. I hope you have an enjoyable day.
*Michael Lorenenzen is tough. Not a strike out pitcher but he keeps his pitches off the barrel.
*Grover struggled in the first and maybe he’s not an opener, as he wasn’t a starter. Maybe he should just assume his roll as a 1 inning middle reliever and call it a deal. Start Yarbrough and get 3 or 4.
*I can see Vesia closing games. He’s been great. Our back end of Hudson, Treinen and Phillips is pretty damn good. But Vesia is more than a situational LHRP. RHB are hitting .100 against him and LHB .108.
*I knew we would get a couple in the 8th to tie it up but David Robertson got Mookie, Shohei and Freddie on consecutive swinging, strikeouts. Very surprising.
And in the 9th, Kirby Yates was everywhere early but settled down after a lead off walk to Teoscar. He ended up to strikeout out the side on 26 pitches, including Heyward’s 10 pitch at bat.
*All of our outs in the 8th and 9th innings were on strikeouts swinging.
*Nice to see Pages with a couple of knocks. Despite his occasional mental mistakes. He is swinging well right now. I tend to be more forgiving on hustle mistakes. Had he scored the night before after running through Dino’s stop sign, he would have been a hero. I actually liked his effort.
*I know I got a little over enthusiastic over Ohtani’s early success. It wasn’t possible to keep up his early pace. After all, he’s a career .277 hitter.
Badger mentioned his numbers last month. To elaborate, as of May 15th, he was hitting .364/1.108. He didn’t have back-to-back hitless games until May 7 and 8. In his first 36 games he only went hitless in 5 games.
In his 24 games since May 15th, Shohei is hitting .200/.676. Last night, in the disappointing 8th, he took the first pitch, a center cut, slightly inside, 93 mph fastball. It was the best pitch he would see during at AB. He ended up flaying away at an unhittable outside dirt-ball for a K. He has really gotten behind in counts and expanded the zone lately. Doesn’t look like the same guy we saw in April and 1/2 of May.
Solid post Phil.
Ohtani’s inconsistency is surprising to me, though for all I know he’s been like for a while.
My hitting philosophy has been the same for years. Look dead red center cut as soon as you step in the box. As you mentioned it’s the best pitch you’re going to see so why t.f. take it? I can guarantee you if you straighten that pitch out in the first at bat you won’t see it again, which allows you to control the count going forward. I know the Dodgers are taught to build the pitch count and that’s exactly what eventually happens by barreling strike one.
This is a strategy of hitting that RVS is supportive of (and AF). Build the pitch count to get to the pen. That way you get David Robertson into the game to strike out Mookie, Shohei, and Freddie twice in two games. My son has a friend who is very knowledgeable of RVS. His friend mentioned that RVS was more than a little ticked when Corey Seager went hunting 1st pitch. Especially in the first inning. He swings most often at 1st pitch and it isn’t close.
What’s his average on putting the first pitch in play?
.359/.364/.641/1.005
Puig used to hit the first pitch a lot. I think the first year he came up his BA on the first pitch was well over .400. Scully used to mention it all the time.
Thanks Phil. I always enjoy your takes.
These losses are so pathetic and predicable. Scheduled load management losses. Before last night’s game I remember thinking about the likely scenario. The opener Grove would likely give up 2-3 runs in the first right away, before being removed for Yarborough. Then the offense with Smith out of the lineup consisting of mostly .200 hitting utility players would do nothing, perhaps score 1 or 2 runs, and well…
How is that load management working? Not well. we have so many pitchers out injured. if you absolutely have to give Yamamoto an extra day off, then dont use an opener, either call up someone from OKC to make the start, (which means planning better and not making the decision at the last minute) or just let Yarbs make the start, he was a starting pitcher after all, and is their “bulk guy”.
There are now 5 utility players on the team…Taylor, Kike, Lux, Rojas, and now Biggio. You can probably put Heyward in that category. The only one hitting well is Rojas. How many mendoza line utility players does one team need?
BTW, I still dont understand Friedman’s obsession with Utility players, nor his obsession with his pet prospect Lux. He is beyond pathetic hitter. Here is Lux’s numbers, and yes I realize he had a few singles in the last series.
.214/.267.286 OPS+ 58 41 STRIKEOUTS AND JUST 39 HITS.
he is dreadful.
Friedman’s ego is so massive, it’s bigger than Dodger Stadium itself. Again, as I said before, the Dodgers need to hit rock bottom before this egomaniac does anything different. Nothing irritates me more than losing on purpose to get guys rest, and then telling everyone that “it gives them the best chance of winning” how about you just put your best players on the field everyday, give that a try.
Please fire Friedman.
I disagree with about 2/3 of your opinions, Scott, but always enjoy going back and forth with you about our differences.
Grove – he’s been quite successful this year as a 1 inning reliever. What is it about the fact that last night his inning happened to lead off the game led you to believe he would give up 2 or 3 runs.
Lux – since he only plays one position and starts about 60-70% of the team’s games there, how does that qualify him to be called a utility player? You can claim his results are lousy and that you want him off the team, but he is not a utility player. He’s our starting second baseman. And the same can basically be said for Heyward. He starts in right field for the majority of our games. He is not a utility player. He is our most-of-the-time right fielder.
Making last night a bullpen game – totally agree with you on this one. They should have called up Knack, who has been great when given a chance this year. Instead, they went through 6 of their 8 bullpen guys and don’t have an off day scheduled until they’ve played another 9 games. Yarbrough wasn’t spectacular last night, but he wasn’t all that bad and obviously wanted to stay in. This one I put on Doc, until I get a better explanation as to why the bullpen was used that way.
You want Friedman to put his best players on the field. Last night, his crappy bottom of the order put two guys on base in the 8th and then the three Hall of Famers all struck out and didn’t get a run across. This was the second night in a row that Robertson did that to them.
Lastly – you seem to have a real hatred for Andrew. I think he has done a fine job since he got here, but we can disagree on that one. What I don’t understand is how you think he’s an egomaniac. But you are certainly entitled to your opinion on that.
OK, we’ve got 9 games until our next day off. Do you think we’ll lose all 9?
I say we win 6 of them.
Your turn. Have at me.
I always respect your opinions. It is fun going back and forth. Allow me to further clarify my opinions…
Grove – he’s been quite successful this year as a 1 inning reliever. What is it about the fact that last night his inning happened to lead off the game led you to believe he would give up 2 or 3 runs.
Because he’s not a starter anymore, and is not used to pitching in the first inning. He’s been pitching well, but that’s in the late innings. He wasn’t good yesterday, and maybe part of that was because the Dodgers asked him to do something he’s not accustomed to doing anymore.
Lux – since he only plays one position and starts about 60-70% of the team’s games there, how does that qualify him to be called a utility player? You can claim his results are lousy and that you want him off the team, but he is not a utility player. He’s our starting second baseman. And the same can basically be said for Heyward. He starts in right field for the majority of our games. He is not a utility player. He is our most-of-the-time right fielder.
Because he hits like a utility player. whether he starts or not, he’s a terrible hitter, and his numbers speak for themselves. I dont mind him being used ocassionally, but not as the starting second baseman, or starting anywhere. How much more rope can they give him?
Heyward hasnt been good either, and yes hes started the majority of games in right field.
Making last night a bullpen game – totally agree with you on this one. They should have called up Knack, who has been great when given a chance this year. Instead, they went through 6 of their 8 bullpen guys and don’t have an off day scheduled until they’ve played another 9 games. Yarbrough wasn’t spectacular last night, but he wasn’t all that bad and obviously wanted to stay in. This one I put on Doc, until I get a better explanation as to why the bullpen was used that way.
The bullpen was used this way because they are doubling down on this stupid load management stuff. It doesnt work, and it has not prevented injuries. So why keep doing it?
You want Friedman to put his best players on the field. Last night, his crappy bottom of the order put two guys on base in the 8th and then the three Hall of Famers all struck out and didn’t get a run across. This was the second night in a row that Robertson did that to them.
This more speaks to the lack of fundamentals more than anything. It’s somethign that Jeff D has touched on. Even the superstars have no two-strike approaches, and the situational hitting is poor in general. Although Mookie is one of the best with RISP normally.
Lastly – you seem to have a real hatred for Andrew. I think he has done a fine job since he got here, but we can disagree on that one. What I don’t understand is how you think he’s an egomaniac. But you are certainly entitled to your opinion on that.
I don’t hate anyone. I just think he is stubborn and is an egomaniac. He refuses to adjust or try something different. how many utility players can he keep trotting out there, especially when they are all useless at the plate?
OK, we’ve got 9 games until our next day off. Do you think we’ll lose all 9?
I say we win 6 of them.
I dont think they’ll lose all 9, but I think they dont score runs unless the superstars (mookie, Ohtani, Freddie) are having good nights. On the nights when they have off-nights, then the rest of the guys (the utility players) have to pick up the slack, and they are not able to do that. I think losing 6 of 9 is likely, but I hope Im wrong.
Refusing to adjust or try something different sounds like the definition of stubborn to me, but that doesn’t make him an egomaniac. After all, except for the lack of WS wins, he’s been incredibly successful. Maybe he has the right to have a fairly high opinion of himself.
There have been 9 World Series played since Andrew took over and no team has won more than 1 time, except for the Astros. If you take away their 2017 win and give it to the Dodgers, that would mean AF has won more WS than any other GM since he took over. At the very least, if you take away the Astros win in 2017 and don’t give it to anyone else, the Dodgers have won as many WS as any other team since he got here.
Utility players – to me the definition of a utility player is a guy who only starts every so often and can play more than one position. I guess maybe to you it’s a guy who is lucky to be on the roster and isn’t very good, so I suppose we can’t argue about utility guys since we’re working with different definitions.
Okay. The next nine games – KC (3 at home), Colorado (4 away), LAA (2 at home).
STB has the Dodgers going 6-3, and Scott has them going 3-6. I am aligning with STB on this one. What say you?
7 wins
6-3, with an outside chance at 7-2. Angels are horrific. Anderson is the only pitcher they have who is doing anything good. Rockies pitching is a shambles. KC will give them problems. But, after they get done with the Angels, they see the White Sox then the Giants. Giants are still under .500 and the White Sox have lost 52 games. They have a stretch here where they can really do some damage.
4-5
If that happens, the crap WILL hit the fan.
I don’t get it either. I was hoping they would DFA Taylor and bring up Lipcius and give him the shot at 3B. Instead AF gets another no hit utility player. I think AF is overrated and some things need to change with the lineup and the management from the top down.
Lipcius is not on the 40-man roster. Someone has to be moved before they could bring him up.
Wouldn’t a DFA of Taylor take care of that?
How realistic do you think that is? They love the guy.
“Please fire Friedman.”
No.
But thank you for your feedback.
It’s all good Badger,
enjoy the losing
Thank you Scott.
And let’s all enjoy the winning. We are in first place you know.
He is cognitive dissonance when it comes to the Dodgers.
If his 6 loss prediction sounds familiar, it should.
It’s all good Bluto. Who am I to argue with you if you enjoy this brand of losing.
If you enjoy the pathetic load management losing, and sub mendoza hitting from multiple utility players. The pathetic clutch hitting and no baseball fundamentals. After all Gavin Lux is hitting .215! with an OPS+ of 58! He’s only more than 40% below league average. And his one home run! He’s ready to break out any day and maybe hit .250! He’s a future hall of famer!
Enjoy the losing Bluto!
#FireFriedman
What can I say? I’m a fan of the Dodgers!
the first place Dodgers, or the any place Dodgers.
So am I!
But I think Friedman is overrated
#FireFriedman
Last time the Dodgers had a sub.500, or losing season was 2010. Who cares what they are hitting in June. It is how they finish that counts. 11 straight trips to the playoffs. Only Atlanta has had more.
yet only 1 ring, and a string of pathetic playoff losses.
Losing? Have you checked their record since Guggenheim took over?? Since Friedman took over, they have won100 games or more 5 times, plus winning the most games in a single season in their history, 111. They only won 100 or more 4 times their entire time in Brooklyn. And have only done it twice in LA before this stretch. It is a hell of a lot more fun watching your team win and have a shot at a title, than going home every year. It has been 76 years since the Cleveland franchise won a title. Colorado, Seattle, and Milwaukee have never won.
and yet how many embarassing playoff losses?
watching them lose every year in the playoffs is not fun. I don’t enjoy it. but hey, everyone is different. For me championships are what count, not empty 100-win playoff failures.
I really dont care or see how it’s relevent about what Colorado, or Seattle or Cleveland has done.
Sorry Bear, we can agree to disagree about this. I would like to see what someone else can do as POBO. I think Friedman is vastly overrated, and a stubborn egomaniac.
#FireFriedman
Happy Birthday BTW!
Yes, we will. If you are so unhappy about this stretch of winning, you must have been totally miserable in the stretch between 1988 and 2017.
Friedman has about as much chance of being fired as you do of being named the GM.
You never know…..😀
#FireFriedman
Scott’s back in performance mode. We generally only have to watch him perform until a two game win streak if history proves true.
He has the right to his opinion, which unfortunately for him, the Dodger brass obviously disagree with. One title is better than none, and they were robbed of one. Would his opinion change had they beaten the Astros? Probably not. But there are reasons for those playoff losses. Not that easy to win the whole thing anymore.
The Dodgers are 20-9 when Rojas starts.
They’re 24-22 when Lux starts.
This has to be a factor going forward.
I hope so
They are 19-0 when Miggy drives in a run.