Dodger baseball right now is almost unwatchable. The team is banged up and missing two very important offensive players. The starting pitching staff has been decimated by injuries and forced to use three rookies in the rotation. Most of the players who are supposed to be nothing more than reserves have been forced into playing almost every day. The only scrub hitting above .214 is Austin Barnes. He has all of a sudden started getting base hits. Lux .214, Taylor .156, Outman .158, Biggio .189, Heyward .203.
Vargas, after a hot start has suddenly gone cold. That coincides with him being played more often. Fans were complaining he was riding the bench too much. Now he is in a 4-21 slide. Outman got two hits his first game back and has struck out 10 times in 17 at bats since his return. And accordingly, the fans are not a bunch of happy campers.
They expect this team to just waltz through the NL West and to make it to the World Series and win it. All of the additions this off-season brought about those expectations. But then the unknown factor, injuries and underperforming players reared its ugly head.
Fans at this point are not pleased. I am of the mind that sometimes your expectations can be unrealistic because one never factors in the unknown. Fans sometimes seem to be living in the Twilight Zone. Reality is something they would rather not face or believe.
The fact is that before the season ever began, there were a lot of warts on this team. There were many question marks for many of the players. Players like Betts, Freeman, Muncy, Ohtani, all have track records that you could pretty well count on. With Teoscar Hernandez, you knew you were getting a lot of power, and a ton of strikeouts. You also knew he was a decent defender. The unknown was his clubhouse presence.
The were confident they could get more than 120 innings out of Glasnow, but here he is on the IL with an ailment totally unrelated to his arm. Just what they could expect from Yamamoto, nobody knew. They managed his workload, changed the rotation around so he would feel more comfortable, and he still goes down with a strained rotator cuff.
Could Gavin Lux become the everyday SS??? This question was at the forefront of many stories and the subject of conversation on many Dodger blogs and podcasts. It was answered before spring training was over as the Dodgers moved Mookie to SS and Lux back to second. What is really puzzling to me is that during spring training we saw what Gavin Lux can do with a bat.
He hit .297 during spring. He looked a lot like he looked in 22. But once the season started, he looked nothing like that at all. The Dodgers expected some drop off because of his missing a full year. They gave him a long runway before he started being platooned with Rojas. Now, he is one of the central players used in trade conversations. The less said about today’s debacle, the better.
MINOR LEAGUE RESULTS
OKC 3 El Paso 8 Kershaw made his first re-hab start at OKC tonight. Kersh went 3 innings, struck out 5 walked one and gave up no runs on 38 pitches. He then went down to the bullpen and three some more. OKC sported a 3-0 lead after four innings but after that, it was all El Paso. Lao pitched 1.2 innings, gave up 3 walks, 1 hit and 2 earned runs. Varland relieved Lao. He went 1.2 innings, walked 2, gave up 3 hits and 2 earned runs. OKC was still within striking distance until Feyereisen came in to pitch in the top of the 9th. In 2/3rds of an inning, he gave up 2 walks, 4 hits and 4 earned runs. Varland got the loss. Gauthier drove in 1 of the runs and Owings the other 2. Ward had a triple and scored in the first inning.
CC 12 Tulsa 6 Williams started and pitched 3.1 innings. He gave up 5 walks, 4 hits and 9 earned runs. One of the hits was a homer. Kopp relieved him and pitched .2 innings giving up 4 walks, 1 hit and 2 earned runs. Driller’s pitchers walked 11 batters. Keith had a homer and Alleyne drove in 2 runs. Nothing to see here, move on.
Great Lakes 7 Ft. Wayne 4 Jackson Ferris started and went 6 innings to get the win. He walked 2, struck out 8, gave up 3 hits and 2 earned runs. Cabrera pitched 1 inning and gave up 2 earned runs. Bautista pitched 2 clean innings for his first save. Thompson and Rodriguez were the only Loons with multiple hits. Thompson had 1 driven in and Rodriguez 2.
Rancho 7 Stockton 6 In the top of the first inning, Kendall George walked. He stole second and moved to third on an Albertus single. Decker then singled to second scoring George. The Porst scored 3 in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Neither team scored again until the top of the fifth inning. In the top of the fifth, Diaz doubled. Osorio was hit by a pitch, and George received his second walk. Sean McLain then singled to right scoring Diaz and Osorio with George moving to third. Albertus then singled scoring George and sending McLain to second. After Decker struck out, Rojas singled scoring McLain, and Albertus went to third. Meza hit a sac-fly to center scoring Albertus. RC 6, Stockton 3. In the bottom of the 5th, Elliott homered making it 6-4 RC. In the top of the sixth, with 2 outs, George drew his third walk. He then stole second base, his 24th of the season and his second of the night. On a ground ball single to the second baseman by McLain, George scored his 3rd run. 7-5 RC. In the bottom of the 8th, TJ Schofield-Sam hit his 3rd homer of the year to right. RC was scoreless in the 9th. Reynaldo Yean came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th and struck out the side for the save and the win. The final strike came on a pitch clock violation by the batter. McLain was 3-5 with 3 RBIs. George walked 3 times, scored 3 runs and stole 2 bases. Albertus, 2-4 and Rojas, 2-4 were the only other hitters with multiple hit games. Gutiérrez, who went 6 innings striking out 9 and allowing 4 runs got the win, his 2nd, Yean got his 4th save.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Not meeting expectations is usually what happens when your depth is challenged. The Dodger hitters and pitchers are being challenged in this time of injury and just plain poor bottom of the order. What happened to the vaunted ‘depth’ that the team and fans talked about? Bodies on the field don’t constitute depth.
Well, their depth is definitely being challenged. One thing this season is different. There are very few players at AAA with MLB experience. The only three players with MLB experience at OKC are Oakey, Trejo and Owings. None of the outfielders have experience in MLB. Not the case in past seasons.
The vaunted depth of the Dodgers has turned out to be shallow.
Exactly….the Dodgers have fooled everyone into believe they are loaded in the minors. It’s just the opposite. And to make matters worse, the guys who do get promoted usually don’t pan out after a promising start. Crash and burn city! It would take many trades to bring in the depth we need to fill in for both the injured and the ineffective. Well, at least we lassoed the great prize of the off-season- Sho Ohtani. Now all we need are about 11 more players, pitchers and batters.
We’re doomed! Or are we? -TM
With both Az and the Padres winning, the Dodgers lead is down to 7 over both teams. They will go into the All-Star break with a 6-7 or 8 game lead on the second-place teams.
Brent Honeywell is on the 40-man roster. To accomplish this, the Dodgers moved Yamamoto to the 60-day IL. Yamamoto just started throwing again. He is doing long toss from 60 feet. He says he has no pain right now. Someone, most likely Vanasco, will get optioned to AAA tomorrow. Feyereisen is pitching himself right out of the organization. He is getting worse, not better.
Lots of issues, but having all units playing well over a full ball game hasn’t happened much this year. There’s always a weak link and it moves chairs one game or one week or month to the next. Saturday’s culprit – the bullpen – worries me the least. Get length out of the starters, the bullpen performs better. With injury reinforcements and getting 5-6 innings from our starters again, it’s possible we can avoid pitching relievers back to back nights. Getting that length from our starting staff probably isn’t around the corner, but it’s possible Glasnow, Yamamoto, Kershaw(who looked good in his OKC appearance) can give us 5-6 decent to good innings by October. There’s just so many variables though.
If they don’t feel good about the starters projection in October, I guess we could go the Brewers route in 2018. Plan for three innings from the starters and build a super pen. Probably cheaper than Crochet and we’d need to add maybe two relievers to do it? Mason Miller and Tanner Scott for instance. Another route, build our Menta and Stripling middle guys. Capable of going 2-4 innings twice a week. I don’t know who that is, other than it’s not Paxton. Who knows, maybe River Ryan surprises. I love Wrobo, but I don’t think he’s ready for post season this year. Maybe add Heaney or Eovaldi for that role.
Obviously, can’t limp into the post season with 2-3 sub mendoza guys on the roster, hoping they’ll miraculously revert to a younger version of themselves. I think the first goal is to find 9 competent bats and try to survive with a woeful bench. Counting Mookie, and assuming Max doesn’t return, we have seven with Smith and Rojas in the lineup. If I was Friedman, I’d start by promoting Hoese and Ward, drop Biggio and send Outman back down. Yes, this requires adding them to the 40 man – are we really going to fret over losing Ramirez or Jose Hernandez? If their big league tryout fizzles, (given their ages) let them move on. Given a choice between 30+ year old ex-sluggers or green rookies, I’ll put my money on the guys in their 20’s trying to hit high velo. Hoese at best, would probably just be an upgrade over Kike in a utility role, but I think a Ward/Vargas LF platoon could be a competent 8th bat. If we do trade for a competent 9th bat, it doesn’t have to be star name, but they have to be in the middle of a good season. The Dodgers midas touch on struggling hitters with upside appears to have vanquished. To address the post season bench, perhaps consider adding Rushing for the post season roster. Not to actually catch, and hopefully we wouldn’t have to use Barnes at 2B in an emergency, but as a LH pinch hitting option. It would leave us thin, but the post season is probably toast anyway if another regular goes down.
Maybe it’s time to cut our losses with both Outman and Vargas. Or in the alternative, pay the Cubs hitting coach a ton of money to come to LA. -TM
I get it the Dodgers have been decimated with injuries and some hugely underperforming players. AF could not foresee the horrible offensive performances of CT3, Lux, Heyward, Vargas and Kike, but I cannot understand the constant “bargain basement” roster churning with the likes of Biggio, Bubba Trammel, Yohan Ramirez, Brent Honeywell, (to be determined) Nick Ramirez, Connor Brogdan etc.
Why was Biggio acquired in the first place? His passive game (constantly looking for a BB) doesn’t play up and his defense is equally as bad. Were Lipcius or Hoese better options? Why Bubba Trammel and not Drew Avans or Ryan Ward when you need an OF?
Much has been said about the vaunted Dodgers depth and that it was unmatched by other MLB clubs, but when you have to acquire and play the likes of Yohan Ramirz (played with 7 different clubs), Biggio (released by the Blue Jays), Nabil Crismet, Donelson Lament, Brogdon and others and expecting positive/better results is a “fools game.” Past performance is always the best predictor of future performance and while there are always going to be exceptions to that notion, it seems we are 0-10 (WAG) in the attempt to catch “lightning in a bottle” this year.
Depth and good quality MLB ready depth are two different things. I would submit the Dodgers have been good at scouring the waiver wire and adding pieces, but not so good at acquiring pieces that “move the needle.”
It’s a long season with players added and removed constantly and it’s a complicated game adding and subtracting players when you have to consider adding a player to the forty-man roster and how that might impact roster construction and depth for the future.
Hoping AF and BG do a better job at the trade deadline and acquire talent that can “plug and play” well and impact the team and not just “plug and play.”
Mr Friedman, Fix this team.
Everything hinges on Mookie, MM and Yamamoto returning. These three players alone would make a hell of a difference.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes they would. I don’t think we can make a deep playoff run with Biggio, Lux, Taylor, and Kike playing significant roles. 2 or 3 of them need to go. Vargas and Pages are very iffy. I don’t hold out much or any hope that Heyward is going to come back and make a difference. AF has some work to do.
Tear down this roster
LOL
“Mr. Friedman, tear down this roster ”
😆
Mr. Friedman, please appoint your successor.
“Fans sometimes seem to be living in the twilight zone”
True. But at least we’re not morons.
Waiver wire acquisitions seldom move the needle. They are less than 0 WAR replacement players or they wouldn’t have been waived.
The teams hot at the end of the year win in post season. The good news may be that could be the Dodgers. They certainly aren’t hot now, so perhaps they can turn it back on in September with some well rested players and deadline additions. In the meantime at least play .500 by beating the less than teams (Detroit) and hope Arizona and San Diego don’t get hot in September, though you know that too is their plan.
We still have a few Hall of Fame players on this squad and have the ability to add to it. Be prepared to lose a few top prospects in the process. I am.
The time time to trade some of those prospects is NOW. Parades over prospects.
You can not keep them all, they are getting older , lose trade value and you can not protect them all from the Rule V draft anyway.
I can see a couple of blockbuster trades straight ahead.
Other than dePaula I would not have any untouchable prospect. Even a trade of Bobby Miller is not totally unthinkable. We have to win now with Shohei, Freddy, Mookie, Smith, Glasnow in their primes.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This team doesn’t know how to turn on the power. This is the whole point, Badger. If they knew, they’d be doing it every time there is a slump happening. Sure, we have some great players, but they are also subject to slumping. I don’t think there is one player who comes back and changes it all. I could recommend mushrooms to those that seek answers to mysteries. Never helped me.
The Dodgers problem won’t be scoring. It will be pitching.
I’m fine with what you wrote at the end ..but Texas and Arizona going all the way to the WS last year despite both of them backing into the playoffs and NOT being “hot” at the end of the reg season, invalidates your point that.. “the teams hot at the end of the year win in post season.”
They all finished the regular season well, including the end of the year in the playoffs. Maybe the word hot is a little much for you. Let’s just it’s better to finish the year with a winning record than a losing one.
Plaschke, Dylan Hernandez and Jack Harris sat down together to discuss the Dodgers. Interesting read.
“The most telling story going forward?”:
Kershaw, Stone, Yamamoto. None mentioned offense. I would add Buehler, Miller, deadline acquisitions.
BR:
Nothing on pitching.
River Ryan is going to be called up after the All-Star break
I have little to say so will mention that teams look a lot better than they might be when they win and look a lot worse than they really are when they lose. This team will win if they are as they were built and will suffer if that as built team isn’t that team due to injuries.
Yesterday’s total breakdown I have to give credit to AF. You have to give any manager the players to be successful. I don’t know if Roberts was in on the selection of players but if so he to should share. This bullpen has some very good pieces but they have been treading water the last couple of weeks due to overuse. Ramirez has become the Bickford of the bullpen. Pitching him everyday if needed to sacrifice for others. A month ago that worked but he is gassed now.
of course the starting pitching is the real problem obviously. When your starters are going 3-4 innings it is going to become a disaster. Roberts knew not to use Vanasco but with a 5 run lead anybody on an mlb roster should close it out. Then the great c Barnes who calls for an inside pitch has to b questioned. U have to try to pitch away to keep him in the park. I will say that Phillips looked like he was just going through the motions with no fire. He is really struggling to get lefties out currently. They didnt seem to fight for the win.
then Freddie always swinging at the first pitch. Anybody can and do fail in those situations but u have to try to get the ball in the air with Freddie’s lack of speed. I know this is just a “this shall pas to” moment but this is just evidence that we are currently an average team.
Actually Freddie hit the ball pretty hard and the SS made a great play to get the double play.
I highly doubt Freddie deserves any blame here
Yeah you’re right about Freddie 101.4 mph. Had to make former dodger Zach mckinstry very happy.
Hey Bear, if your looking for an interesting topic, may I suggest Fred Kipp. A guy I worked with for four years was his neighbor until my buddy moved. I got my friend to get an autograph baseball from Kipp. Kipp wrote a short book that was interesting. I follow Dodger baseball real close and I was ashamed that I never herd of Kipp until my friend filled me in.
I remember Kipp well. Thanks, I will look into that.
Very thorough write up today Bear. The injuries and poor performances have snowballed and left everyone wondering what to do. For me all the worry about October and the playoffs is a waste of time. We need to try to win a ballgame at this point and put the big picture concerns to bed until we can get guys healthy and get some help by the deadline.
Like Norcaldodgerfan, I question why we keep trying to get replacements externally. It’s obvious that AF has very little faith in his homegrown players like Hoese and Lipius. Why is that?
I don’t know if the fans are living in the Twilight Zone, but this team is.
You know, you would think that Friedman would like Hose to make it, just to say “see, I saw something in this guy, and now he’s figured things out”.
But nope, give constant at bats to Biggio, who’s WAR must be under 2 by now.
Biggio’s WAR is exactly 0.00
One thing that really bothers me is that we always hear about the great Dodger farm system, and other than Smith, they have yet to produce an everyday regular. Outman came pretty close with his season last year, but he was still platooned. I also think they have little faith in the position players they have at AAA. Still not a single position player who has not been in the majors yet has made an appearance with the big club. Hoese, Ward and Lipcius have shown they should at least get a chance to show what they can do.
Hoese, Ward, and Lipcius can’t do any worse than Biggio, Kike, and Taylor. Seems that AF is not very high on his vaunted farm system.
None of those guys play as many positions as Kike and CT-3. Ward is strictly an outfielder, but he would be my choice to replace Outman.
With this current bullpen it always feels like it’s just a matter of time.
Bear, more signs of the Twilight Zone. We’ve had lots of injuries. Most likely real but some suspicious. And odd. But I have never heard of someone tearing their esophagus while eating. You can’t make this stuff up.
Yeah, that was a huh???? moment.
And there it is.
Ever seen a pitcher choke so hard when fielding his position?
Taylor ks again with bases loaded in 9th. priceless
And who didn’t see that coming?
Taylor actually in his career has very good stats with the bases loaded. He also has six grannies. But he failed this time. Not all on Taylor though, Freddie 0-3 with 2 K’s. Arizona scored 7 in the bottom of the 5th to tie Toronto. Padres still losing to the Braves, now 5-1.
I hate to say I told you so,
Actually I don’t.
I hope everyone can see how poorly management has done this season, and the little to no effort they’ve made to improve the roster.
Why was Yohan Ramirez pitching? Vesia was warming in the bullpen, but the Dodgers just had to use one of their many replacement level bums.
The pitching staff is decimated by injuries. Half of The position player roster is comprised of .210 hitting utility players. And worst of all, management just doesn’t seem to care. I mean hey, so many players are coming back from injury, so why worry right?
The all-star break will not help, and this is only going to get worse. There’s even a possibility although still low at this point that this club will hit rock bottom and not even make the playoffs.
I know I’ve said it before, but major changes need to be made and only if the team hits rock bottom will that happen. Friedman, Gomes, and Kasten all need to go.
I’m almost begging Mark Walter to make those changes now. Don’t wait until the winter.
Calling Theo Epstein. Please report to Los Angeles.
Kasten isn’t going anywhere. He is a part owner so that is wishful thinking. Ohtani has a clause in his contract that he can opt out if Freidman leaves or is fired. Gomes is the only one who can be used as a scapegoat.
All of those guys should be fired after this disaster season Bear. They are horrendous.
#FireFriedman
#FireKasten
You can call it that after it is over. Way too soon to make that judgement. They still have a 7-game lead in the division over Pads and D-Backs. They have 65 games left to turn it around, and they are getting some major pieces back. Be honest Scott, you know that is not going to happen. How do you fire a part owner? AF is their fair-haired boy. They have been playing bad but are still leading the division with all the injuries they have had? They obviously do not feel the way fans do, and they have more information than we do.
Because we’ve seen how this movie ends before Bear. Swept out of the playoffs part 3. The movie would be called “the losing never ends” why does anyone think this year will be different?
BTW, anyone can be fired except for Walter. Apple once fired Steve Jobs.
Kasten is an OWNER, you can’t fire an owner, you can only buy him out. And that is BS Scott, not you or anyone else can predict what is going to happen. You have no idea who they might trade for, or who comes back and helps, a lot can happen between now and September, By the way, they were only swept out of the playoffs last year. Before they won games. Nobody has a frippen crystal ball that is telling them what is going to happen. Frankly, I find your negative attitude annoying as hell.
A dismal failure on every level. Offense goes dormant after the 1st inning and Doc has his head up his ass in the ninth.
Since we’re all venting, here’s something else to gnash your teeth over. The A’s took two out of three at Philadelphia this weekend. They put up an 18-spot today. The A’s with basically a triple A lineup.
I saw that. They scored all 18 of their runs over the last 6 innings. It was a bullpen game for the Phillies. A’s hit 8 homers. Rooker hit 2, Brown hit 2 and Butler hit 3. Gelof hit the other one. Rooker now has 21. One of the players on the Dodgers radar.
You’ve gotta wonder about the Phillies ballpark. Those short dimensions are kind of a joke.
Most of the newer parks are made for home runs. A couple, like Detroit’s and the Giants have huge centerfields where balls go to die. Same with Coors Field. This year the most homers in any park is Petco in San Diego, 140. Second is Camden Yards, 134. Third, Minute Maid in Houston, 132, fourth, Dodger Stadium, 126. Cincy is fifth, Mets are sixth, Tampa is 7th, Philadelphia is 7th with 120. 16 parks have under 100 hit this year, including launching pads like Coors, 98, Boston, 98, and Wrigley, 91. Four, Miami, St. Louis, Washington, and San Francisco, have under 90. There have been 91 hit in Detroit, I would bet most of them to right or left.
Correction Philly is 8th.
I didn’t watch the game, soccer for me today.
But I read this on Twitter:
Yohan Ramírez didn’t get the six-out save while pitching for the third consecutive day.
The state of things?
Thank goodness the All Star game break has arrived. This team is an absolute mess right now. Why was Vesia warming up and not used?
I know it’s not the case, but it seems the entire organization doesn’t give a shit about winning. The front office keeps going outside the system to get players and let’s it’s “highly ranked” prospects rot in the minors. Roberts watches and just shrugs his shoulders as game after game heads toward defeat. Like I said after his first disastrous appearance “why is Ramirez wearing a Dodger uniform?”. I know the players are trying. The lineup still has Ohtani, Freeman, Smith, and Hernandez so even though there is some weaker hitters after that, they should be producing better than they are. This is when a strong voice is needed to wake up this group. It’s certainly not the manager stepping up. Who then? The same
Indifferent attitude as in recent years. Rinse and repeat.
And if it’s not too much trouble…..carry on.
I asked the same question. Why leave Ramirez out there to pitch the 9th with a lefty coming up after he gave up the winning homer yesterday. Then he compounds the situation by making an awful throw to third.
What are they, 21 – 24 in their last 55 games? Somewhere along the line this team has to hit rock bottom. Hopefully this is it!
That adds up to 45 not 55. They were actually 26-24 in their last 50 the other day.
Well, that was ugly. Not sure why Roberts left Ramirez in to start the 9th with a lefty coming up and Vesia warm in the pen. Ramirez is a DFA candidate in my mind. But the offense was part of the problem too. Took their foot off of the gas after the first inning and never really threatened after that until they loaded the bases in the ninth. Naturally, the inning ends on a Taylor strikeout. Outman will likely be sent down after the All-Star break since reports are that Heyward will be activated, same with Glasnow. River Ryan will be called up after the break too. Thye now expect Kershaw to be activated after one more re-hab start. If that goes well, CK will be back. They start a series with the Red Sox on Friday, and they had better get their act together quick. If today’s scores hold up, they will retain their 7-game lead. Both the Padres and D-Backs are losing right now. Padres down 7-0 to the Jays, D-Backs losing 2-1 to the Braves. Blake Snell had his perfect game broken up on a single by Manuel Margot in the 7th inning.
Can’t we just celebrate that the Brent Honeywell Era has begun?
He did just fine.
The frustration over the ever-churning relievers reminds me that the Dodgers could go after the Marlin’s Tanner Scott. He’d be a good guy to have in the playoffs…. and I assume the Dodgers will still make the playoffs.
All is well. ” Everything is for the best in this the best of all possible words.” (Dr. Pangloss in Voltaire’s Candide.)
Hey Bear. I have a suggestion for a post you could do. How about the Dodgers from 1967 to 1973. After Koufax retired they had some lean years. Some thought on what went wrong and how they fixed it. Thanks.
Okay, good idea. I know 67-68 were really bad. After that draft in 68, it got better,
Interesting how drafting good players helps.
And not trading good players for bad, plus there was no free agency in those days. Drafting and trades were about the only way to get players plus signing undrafted free agents.
Thanks. I thought of it because of the upcoming draft. And I know that the draft was instrumental in their resurgence in the 1970’s. Also, that particular time period in Dodger history is not talked about or discussed much.
Already working on it.
Dodgers 23-34 since May 21 per the Times.
Wrong, they were 33-18 on the 31st of May. They are 56-41 now. That adds up to 23-23. The times cannot add worth a crap. If they were 23-34 since May 21, they would have played 108 games already. They have played 97.
Couple picks until the Dodgers, Longenhagen has Kellon Lindsey as the pick if he’s not taken before.
On Lindsey:
Full ReportThe diminutive Lindsey is one of the fastest players in the draft. He ran the fastest 30-yard dash at the Combine at a blazing 3.53 seconds and often runs close to 4.00 from home to first. His wheels, style of swinging, and build are all reminiscent of Trea Turner at the same stage of his career. Lindsey’s arm strength is going to be an obstacle that makes it tough for him to stay at shortstop and it seems silly to waste his speed at second base, so here he’s projected into center field where his speed could make him an impact defender. Whether Lindsey will develop power is going to be more dependent on his athleticism than his build. He’s not especially projectable (though Tommy Edman and Jett Williams are examples of hitters this size who’ve gotten strong anyway), but a bigger, more elaborate swing that takes advantage of Lindsey’s capacity for movement might coax more power out of him.
Lindsey was injured and missed a lot of showcase reps the summer before his draft year, which creates a bigger error bar around projecting his hit tool. Still, varsity pitching in Florida is good enough to be confident in Lindsey’s spring breakout. He’s a classic leadoff man prospect who’ll play up the middle somewhere.
Couple questions just asked, in the chat, about Lindsey. I wonder if it was the vacationing Jeff D??!?!?!??!
Alfredo Garcia Any info on what the Dodgers see/like in Lindsey?
Eric A Longenhagen Elite speed, more body projection than generally assumed
Farhandrew Zaidman Lindsey feels a lot like Kendall George from 2023
Eric A Longenhagen Bigger power ceiling, imo. George was under slot, they had their pocket picked by Seattle with Farmelo
Diminutive? I read he’s 6’2” 175.
Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 75 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
And if was the quarterback of his high school football team his arm can’t be that bad.
I like what I read about this kid. I thought for sure they would go Kash Mayfield. The Padres got him so we’ll see him in the future.
Videos and comments on Lindsey:
The Great Kiley McDaniel:
Hardee HS (FL) SS Kellon Lindsey has been the biggest riser this spring among high school players, jumping from the 3rd-4th into the 1st round. He’s an 80-grade runner with a shortstop profile and a Trea Turner vibe, but limited experience against top arms.
https://x.com/JoeDoyleMiLB/status/1769814851281416631
https://x.com/JoeDoyleMiLB/status/1773379530645999890
Rudner:
For any curious Dodger fans, Kellon Lindsey is an extremely intriguing prospect. He has game-changing speed and only recently started focusing on baseball full time after playing quarterback for his high school’s football team. Tons of room for continued growth.
Some guy named Peter Flattery, the third:
With the 23rd overall pick, the Los Angeles Dodgers have selected SS/OF Kellon Lindsey. Really intriguing combination of both speed and athleticism. Could put 70s on both. Closer to an 80 runner than 70. Contact skills are advanced, hit over power.
Kellon Lindsey was the highest-ranked player on BA’s draft board to take part in on-field action on day one.
He stood out at the plate AND defensively at DAY ONE of the MLB Draft Combine
($$$$)
https://baseballamerica.com/stories/2024-mlb-draft-combine-day-one-10-standouts-data-leaders-more/
Via Vinnie Cervino (who?)
23. Los Angeles (NL): Hardee Senior (FL) SS Kellon Lindsey
Hurt last summer but made up for that in a big way this spring. 80 runner/athlete w/ adv athletic metric testing off the charts. Scouts really love the hit tool; might be CF long term.
Bruce Kuntz:
This is dependent on how the #Dodgers use the money they’ll save if Lindsey signs under slot. Lindsey has risen a lot this year, if he continues that projection, I like the idea a lot.
For now, I’d give it a B-. Tougher to love when Caminiti/Brecht/Mayfield were all there too.
Somebody named Taylor Blake-Ward:
Dodgers 1-23: Kellon Lindsey, SS, Hardee HS (FL) — speedy/athletic RHH prep infielder, quick/direct high contact cut w/ sneaky pop, mature hitter who could see leadoff profile, 80 runner w/ range on dirt and up-the-middle future whether SS/CF (Florida commit)
Seems to me the Dodgers are changing their emphasis in the draft. Whether due to rule changes regarding the shift or increased emphasis on the stolen base the Dodgers seem to be valuing more athletic players and prep bats. Teams like the Diamondbacks, Brewers, Reds, Red Sox, among others have prioritized athletes, defensive range, contact, and speed. When the Dodgers play those teams the difference in athleticism jumps off the screen. Last year’s draft and the draft of Kellon Lindsey seem like a couple of steps in that direction as well as getting Zyhir Hope from Cubs in Busch trade.
This FO has been incredible at drafting and developing pitchers but, despite their reputation for developing hitters, they have come up short in developing position players to supplement their ML roster. It has hamstrung this organization since they brought up Will Smith and Cody Bellinger. Not sure if it is the result of drafting so many high floor, low ceiling college hitters, their overall hitting instruction which seems to be a one size fits all approach (though some of you with more insight may have a more informed opinion) or a lack of international free agents from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic at their upper levels in MILB but they have not had a home grown position player become a regular on their team since Will Smith, by my recollection.
FWIW, I would trade Kopp, Cartaya, and Ramos for Arozarena in a NY minute.
THIS!
I think the old drafting strategy, for hitters, was (and this is general not universal) draft big bats and the Dodgers can compensate for poor defense via positioning and shifts.
(Busch, Rios, Beatty, etc)
now it seems to be, draft tools and speed and the team can develop up the power.
exciting to see if they can do it
I didn’t watch the game on time today as I was busy but I just finished watching my recording. What a fitting ending to the first half.
*The offense got an early start on the break, it appeared.
*Was there a pattern or any reasons for Doc’s use of the bullpen pieces? Maybe he was drawing names out of his hat.
*Obviously the Vesia question is first and foremost. Why let Ramirez continue in the 9th to be left crawling around on his belly and being embarrassed.
*But for me it started earlier. Apparently, Honeycutt was on a pitch count. Of what 40? How come? Did a computer decide that his arm falls off or that he becomes ineffective at 39 pitches?
*Instead of an artificial pitch ceiling, let the hitters tell Doc when to pull the plug. With a 3 run lead, let Honeycutt pitch. If he gets a guy on, make the change. The decision to go to Yarborough instead of milking another inning from Honeywell should have been influenced by the fact that Yarborough has been horseshit and continued to be. He barely wiggling off the hook each inning.
*Was there pattern when Doc’s decisions besides the fact that he seems to relish the opportunity to pop out of the dugout, like a Jack-in-the-Box at weird times?
*Nice double steal getting a run in the first with Miggy Ro. Orel blamed the Tiger’s catcher for not checking the runner at 3rd before throwing thru. That’s absolutely true. But what he failed to point out was the first baseman failing to execute.
With 2 outs, the first baseman always needs to trail the stealing runner after the pitch. When the runner stops to get in the rundown, the first baseman is in position to receive the throw from the middle infielder and tag the runner out before the runner at 3rd can score. I had to remind my first baseman every time the opposition had 1st and 3rd, with 2 down, that he was chasing, if they ran. It is the best defense to avoid giving up an easy run, in that situation.
Neither of these 2 things happened and the Tigers gave up an unnecessary run. And good for Doc, or Rojas for putting on that double-steal. That was the best thing that happened all day besides Honeycutt looking great.
*This team is so mentally and physically fatigued, this break isn’t nearly long enough to flush the taste of the last week out of our collective mouths.
Excellent takes as always Phil. This team is over rated and are on the verge of turning into a huge disappointment.
They are only up by seven games in their division. Time to panic.
Oooooooh I am shaking in my boots. Better than being 7 back when you only have 4 games left against them like the D-Backs or 5 like the Padres. These new schedules suck.
Seriously, Bear, you need to know when someone (like me) is being sarcastic.I was responding to Zeke’s comment. You need a sense of humor transplant.
Thanks Keke
Good post Phil. You’re preaching to the choir on Honeycutt (Honeywell) being pulled. Roberts should shove the pitch count restrictions up you know where. Watch the frickin’ action on the field. Maybe something positive might have happened that could have helped the team, the bullpen, and Honeywell’s confidence. This crap has been going on years. Another example of how the reliance on statistics is ruining baseball.
Ted your last sentence tells all that is wrong with baseball.
It will get better. Glasnow, Mookie, Muncy, Miller, Kershaw, Yamamoto, Heyward, Buehler, Graterol, Brasier, Kelly, ok maybe not Kelly, and whoever is picked up at the deadline. This IS a playoff team. Ok, maybe not IS, but WILL BE.
Badger – “That “would be” a playoff team”!
Actually that’s the team that AF, the organization, the players, the broadcaster and the fans EXPECTED.
Well, it can’t get a whole lot worse.
Hopefully it won’t.