As the offseason was unfolding, there were fans calling for the signing of LHRP Tanner Scott. I was in the one year Kirby Yates camp. With respect to Scott, I was indifferent. If they signed him, okay. If not, okay as well.
The top 3 relievers the Dodgers signed this offseason were Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and Blake Treinen. All three were supposed to be late inning high leverage relievers in support of Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, and Brusdar Graterol.
Because Phillips. Kopech, and Graterol were doubtful to start the season with the team, that made signing Scott, Yates, and Treinen even more pressing. Maybe Edgardo Henriquez would have been ready. Maybe not.
The problem as I see it is that the cost of those three relievers is a $107MM.
- Tanner Scott – 4 years $72MM
- Blake Treinen – 2 years $22MM
- Kirby Yates – 1 year $13MM
That seems a little exorbitant for three relievers.
Kirby Yates needs about a 1.625 fWAR to justify his salary (current year 0.4).
Tanner Scott needs about a 2.5 fWAR/year for the next four years to justify his salary (current year 0.5). Scott has been above 2.0 fWAR one year (2023 – 2.8). Last year he was at 1.6 fWAR.
Blake Treinen needs 2.75 fWAR total for the next two years (1.375 per year) to justify his salary (current year 0.1).
The team is 1 game shy of completing 25% of the season, so Yates seems to be the only pitcher to be in line with justifying his salary.
Below is a list of 12 pitchers with far better contracts and who are having a pretty good season thus far.
- Tommy Kahnle – 1 year $7.75MM
- Jeff Hoffman – 3 year $33MM
- *Aroldis Chapman – 1 year $10.75MM
- Jakob Junis – 1 year $4.5MM
- Yimi García – 2 year $15MM
- *Steven Okert – 1 year $1.2MM
- *Hoby Milner – 1 year $2.5MM
- *Danny Coulombe – 1 year $3MM
- *Jalen Beeks – 1 year $1.25MM
- Chris Martin – 1 year $5.5MM
- Shelby Miller – 1 year $1MM
- Carlos Estévez – 2 years $22MM
* = LHRP
How have each of these pitchers performed thus far in 2025. I will include ERA, however that is not a meaningful metric (IMO) with so few innings. WHIP and Inherited Runners Scored (IRS) seem more meaningful for a reliever. Just my opinion.
Tommy Kahnle – 14 games, 14.2 IP, 0.61 ERA, .750 WHIP, .120 BA, 5 BB/13 K, 0 HR, 1 of 8 IRS, 5 saves (SV), 1 blown save (BS), 3 holds (H).
Jeff Hoffman – 17 games, 18.0 IP, 4.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .221 BA, 3 BB/27 K, 3 HR, 3 of 4 IRS, 8 SV, 1 BS, 0 H – Hoffman has been spectacular except for two games. In back to back games against LAA, Hoffman allowed 6 runs (all earned) in 0.2 IP. His next game he struck out all three Seattle batters he faced.
Aroldis Chapman – 15 games, 13.1 IP, 2.03 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, .167 BA, 5 BB/20 K, 2 HR, 0 of 3 IRS, 5 SV, 0 BS, 1 H.
Jakob Junis – 16 games, 17.1 IP, 3.63 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, .261 BA, 2 BB/12 K, 2 HR, 0 of 4 IRS, 0 SV, 0 BS, 3 H.
Yimi Garcia – 17 games, 16.0 IP, 3.94 ERA, 1.19 ERA, .172 BA, 9 BB/23 K, 1 HR, 1 of 5 IRS, 2 SV, 3 BS, 5 H – In 15 of the 17 games, Garcia did not allow a run. In the other two, 7 runs were scored in 1.0 IP.
Steven Okert – 15 games, 18.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, .119 BA, 2 BB/21 K, 1 HR, 4 of 10 IRS, 1 SV, 1 BS, 1 H – 3 of the 4 IRS came in one game. 1 out of the other 7 IRS.
Hoby Milner – 16 games, 16.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.125 WHIP, .211 BA, 6 BB/16 K, 0 HR, 3 of 15 IRS, 0 SV, 1 BS, 2 H.
Danny Coulombe – 17 games, 15.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.52 WHIP, .132 BA, 1 BB/17 K, 0 HR, 2 of 11 IRS, 2 SV, 0 BS, 1 H.
Jalen Beeks – 19 games, 21.1 IP, 2.11 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, .184 BA, 6 BB/21 K, 2 HR, 1 of 8 IRS, 1 SV, 1 BS, 6 H.
Chris Martin – 17 games, 2.16 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, .222 BAA, 3 BB (2 IBB)/20 K, 1 HR, 1 of 4 IRS, 1 SV, 0 BS, 8 H.
Shelby Miller – 16 games, 16.2 IP, 1.08 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, .167 BA, 5 BB/19 K, 1 HR, 4 of 8 IRS, 1 SV, 2 BS, 6 H.
Carlos Estévez – 17 games, 18.0 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, .185 BA, 9 BB/16 K, 0 HR, 0 of 0 IRS, 11 SV, 2 BS, 0 H.
One previously effective MLB reliever still available is RHRP David Robertson.
Of course the Dodgers would not be the Dodgers without multiple projects.
- Luis García – 38 year old RHP (on MLB Roster)
- Matt Sauer – 26 year old RHP (on MLB Roster)
- Noah Davis – 28 year old RHP (40 man roster – on OKC)
- P. Feyereisen – 32 year old RHP (40 man roster – on OKC)
- Ryan Loutos – 26 year old RHP (40 man roster – on OKC)
- Giovanny Gallegos – 33 year old RHP (OKC IL)
- Stephen Ridings – 29 year old RHP (OKC IL)
- Sam Carlson – 26 year old RHP (OKC)
- Justin Jarvis – 25 year old RHP (OKC)
- Joe Jacques – 30 year old RHP (OKC)
- Lou Trivino – 33 year old RHP (OKC)
- Yoendrys Gómez – 25 year old RHP (CWS)
AF/BG have been criticized for not taking relief pitchers more seriously. And now they are being criticized for spending too much on them. The point is, you just do not know what you are going to get. Sometimes it clicks, sometimes it doesn’t.
I do not remember reading from anyone that both Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda would have pitched as poorly as they have done thus far this year. Vesia has allowed 5 HRs (18.1 IP) while Banda has allowed 4 HRs, including 2 grand slams (18.2 IP). Vesia has allowed 3 of 7 IRS, and has a 3.44 ERA, 1.145 WHIP, .215 BA. Banda has also allowed 3 of 7 IRS, and has a 4.82 ERA, 1.339 WHIP, .250 BA.
Who predicted that Jack Dreyer and Ben Casparius would have had such good starts to 2025?
Kirby Yates is not pitching at the level he was at last year, but he has allowed scoring in only 3 of 19 games (5 ER). Neither IR scored. 2.76 ERA, 1.041 WHIP, and .200 BA.
Tanner Scott is pitching differently than last year. His ERA (1.93) and WHIP (0.80) are better than last year. His one IR did not score. Scott has always been a strikeout pitcher with questionable control. While his K rate is comparable to 2024, his walk rate has been measurably better. 1.5% in 2025 vs 12.2% in 2024.
The most unpredictable position on a MLB roster is the relief pitcher. While the pitchers above have started out well this year, there is no evidence that it is even likely that it will continue next year, or even finish strong this year. Some will, some will not. There will be others coming out of the wood work next year, just like has happened in most years past. Shall we mention Devin Williams?
Both Scott and Yates have been excellent additions to the LAD bullpen. But at the contract price? We will have to wait to see how the playoffs go. If LAD wins another WS, I doubt that anyone will care at all what the contracts were.
2025 Team Relief stats
- IP – 169 (#1)
- ERA – 3.67 (#12)
- WHIP – 1.27 (#15)
- BA – .244 (#20)
- BB – 60 (#11)
- K – 187 (#1)
MiLB GAME SUMMARIES
OKC Comets 2 – Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado) 1
Pitcher Justin Wrobleski allowed one run over 7.0 innings and Austin Gauthier connected on two RBI singles as the Oklahoma City Comets defeated the Albuquerque Isotopes, 2-1. Wrobleski tied the longest outing by a Comets pitcher this season and earned his first win of 2025, holding the Isotopes to one run and six hits. He issued two walks and recorded five strikeouts. Oklahoma City built a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Gauthier in the second and fourth innings. The Isotopes got on the scoreboard with a RBI double in the fifth inning before being held scoreless over the game’s final four frames by the OKC pitching staff.
Justin Wrobleski pitched a season-high 7.0 innings, becoming the second Oklahoma City pitcher to reach 7.0 innings this season as he joined Landon Knack who pitched 7.0 innings April 26 in Salt Lake. Wrobleski last pitched 7.0 innings June 16, 2024, for Double-A Tulsa against Arkansas…Logan Boyer and Joe Jacques followed Wrobleski with two scoreless innings as Boyer was credited with his first hold of the season and Jacques picked up his second save.
Michael Chavis went 2-for-4 with a double as he knocked Oklahoma City’s lone extra-base hit of the night, as well as his fourth double in the last three games and fifth in the last five games…Chavis has hit safely in five of his last six games, going 9-for-23 (.391) with five doubles and five RBI.
Austin Gauthier recorded his third multi-hit games as well as his third multi-RBI game of the season. He also drew a walk and as he reached base in all three of his plate appearances Saturday and has hit safely in four straight games, collecting five hits, including a home run, and three RBI.
Justin Dean went 2-for-3 for his third multi-hit game with the Comets.
Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona) 5 – Tulsa Drillers 1
A dominate start from Amarillo starting pitcher Dylan Ray helped the Sod Poodles defeat the Tulsa Drillers on Saturday night. Ray held the Drillers scoreless over six innings with seven strikeouts and was backed by two home runs as Tulsa fell 5-1.
An error helped produce the night’s first run. Caleb Roberts began the Sod Poodles half of the second inning with their first hit of the game and advanced to third on Peter Heubeck’s throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Roberts eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to give Amarillo a 1-0 lead.
The one run was the only blemish on Heubeck’s line through the first four innings. That changed in the fifth inning when the Tulsa starter hit Drake Osborn with a pitch, and Andy Weber followed with a two-run homer to give Amarillo a 3-0 lead.
The Sod Poodles used Kristian Robinson’s two-run homer in the seventh inning to increase their lead to 5-0.
Tulsa ended the shutout bid in the eighth inning when a single and a double set up a sacrifice fly from Yeiner Fernandez.
Unlike the night before, the Drillers were unable to rally late as Amarillo pitcher Alfred Morillo struck out the side in the ninth to give the Sod Poodles their third win of the six-game series.
Two of Heubeck’s three runs allowed were earned in his 4.0-plus innings pitched. He struck out five Amarillo batters and was charged with his second loss of the season.
Frank Rodriguez and Sean McLain led the Drillers offense by earning four of Tulsa’s eight hits. It was the second multi-hit games of the season for Rodriguez and the first for McLain.
Fernandez’s sacrifice fly was his sixth RBI collected in his six games played in May.
Tulsa reliever Livan Reinoso made his AA debut and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with a strikeout.
Tulsa was charged with two errors, bringing the season total to 42, the most in Double A.
Great Lakes Loons 13 – Dayton Dragons (Reds) 5
The Great Lakes Loons offense scored a season-best 13 runs on 16 hits, and Loons’ pitching limited the Dayton Dragons to one hit. Great Lakes won 13-5. Every Loons batter got at least 1 hit.
Facing former MLB All-Star Wade Miley, Josue De Paula homered twice, netting three runs. The Dodgers’ No. 2 prospect sent his homers 350 feet to left field off the southpaw rehabber Miley. De Paula has a 1.090 OPS against left-handers in 42 at-bats.
Great Lakes starter Luke Fox finished five innings for the first time in his pro ball career. The left-hander worked around five walks with seven strikeouts. Dayton’s one run was off an RBI groundout, scoring Connor Burns, who doubled aboard, the Dragons’ lone hit.
The Loons scored at least one tally in the final five frames. Logan Wagner had an RBI infield single in the fifth, and Joe Vetrano delivered a solo homer in the sixth. Both of Vetrano’s homers have come off left-handers.
Great Lakes totaled eight runs in the final three innings. Zyhir Hope drove three in, with a rocket in the seventh. Hope facing left-hander Adam Serwinowski pummeled it 414 feet and with an 110 exit velocity. It struck the awning beyond the left-center field fence.
An error and groundout scored two in the eighth, and a five-hit, three-run ninth got it to 13 runs. Jackson Nicklaus notched an RBI double, and Kendall George generated an RBI single.
The Dragons would score three in the eighth off of two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and an error. Dayton went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Recently promoted RHRP Alex Makarewich pitched 0.1 innings in his Loons debut. He issued 3 walks, and struck out 1.
- Josue De Paula – 3-6, 2 runs, 4 RBI, 2 HR (6)
- Jordan Thompson – 3-5, 1 run
- Kendall George – 2-5, 1 BB, 2 run, 1 RBI
- Joe Vetrano – 2-5, 2 runs,1 RBI, double (8), HR (2)
- Nelson Quiroz – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, double (5)
- Zyhir Hope – 1-5, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (6)
- Jackson Nicklaus – Double (2)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6 – Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 2
The Quakes rebounded after Friday’s disappointing defeat, taking care of business at Valley Strong Ballpark on Saturday with a 6-2 win over the Rawhide.
Aidan Foeller, Shawndrick Oduber, Michael Vilchez, and Myles Caba combined to hold the Rawhide to just three hits, as the Quakes won for the third time in five games in the series, moving their lead back to seven games in the South Division.
Rancho’s Kellon Lindsey had a big night offensively, as he had two hits, two runs, two RBIs and a stolen base to lead Rancho’s nine-hit attack.
His two-run single capped a three-run second, as the Quakes grabbed an early 3-0 lead over Visalia starter Wilkin Paredes.
Visalia answered in the bottom of the second, as Foeller struggled a bit with his command. After allowing two runs in the second though, Foeller dominated over the next few innings, as he’d finish with eight strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
The Quakes added on with one in the fifth, thanks to a Jaron Elkins RBI hit, then two more runs in the seventh to put it away.
Rancho will look for four of six in Visalia on Sunday, with Logan Tabeling (2-0) set to make his first start of his career. He’ll be opposed by Visalia’s Grayson Hitt in the finale at 2pm.
- Kellon Lindsey – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (6)
- Jaron Elkins – 2-5. 1 RBI
Today’s lineup. Ohtani DH, Betts SS, Freeman 1B, Smith C, Muncy 3B, Pages RF, Conforto LF, Kim 2B, Outman CF, Gonsolin P. Game time, 1:10 PDT. Dodgers in second place, .008 pct points behind the Padres.
Well, it ain’t my money, and the Dodgers needed a couple of good closers, so I see the signings of Yates and Scott as big pluses. Treinen, who I said looked gassed at the end of last season, is still not in playing condition. He is the one looking like he is not really needed at this point. Since we go big on almost everything except healthy pitchers, it’s not these relievers I’m worried about. It’s the starters and their lack of dominance and health.
DePaula absolutely on fire down at GL.
Both Hrs oppo taco off a former MLB all star .
Whatever trade the Dodgers might consider please do not include this kid.
On the big league club: As I said yesterday without Scott and Yates the Dodgers probably would have 2-3 wins less, if not more.
The really bad contract looks like Treinen, at least at this moment.
Not much hitting yesterday. Everyone says theDodgers are playing for October . But have to make it to october first.
And with all those dead bats on the roster I am not so sure about it looking at Padres, D-Backs, Giants, Braves, Philies, Mets all looking good too.
You can get bye with this lackluster batting from MM, Kike, Conforto, Barnes, Outman, CT3 when your pitching is lights out. But with all those injuries to our starters and relievers I am not so sure about that.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The western division is not afraid of the Dodgers at all. Could be a long season if the bats dont straighten out
Are you guys nuts?
I doubt it, no body fears the Dodgers, you cannot play the game fearing the opposition, besides, there are too many holes in the lineup to fear anyone except the first four guys hitting right now. When Teo comes back, then you have 5. You cannot carry four dead weights the entire year and expect to win it all.
Got that right. Anybody see what San Diego did yesterday.
I don’t care how much these guys are being paid, I only care they do what they are being paid to do. So far our pitching is middle of the pack and appears fragile. If everyone comes back healthy the Dodgers will be fine. If they don’t?
Chargers 21, Broncos 0?
Ok, all the starters have had over 100 at bats so it’s time for some common sense changes in the lineup.
Ohtani needs more RBI opportunities and on this team he won’t get them with the bottom of the order floating at or under the Mendoza waterline. So… Mookie, OBP .344 goes back to leadoff, and Freddie, OBP .412, goes in the two hole. Ohtani hits third and will get an at bat in the first inning of every game. Teo, Smith, Muncy, Pages, Conforto (replacement) Kim. The team will have more scoring opportunities, which, let’s face it, they are going to need going forward.
Exactly what I said last year. This nonsense about Ohtani getting more at bats when he leads off is not producing the rbi’s a player of his calibre should have!
I have said it since last season, Ohtani would be better served, and so would the Dodgers with him hitting third. Betts is much better in the leadoff role. When Teo gets back, you have another power bat behind him, pitchers will not be able to pitch around him.
It’s extra painful to watch a favorite (thinkOutman) fail but I would rather watch a younger guy who can play good defense than watch a rental or fading vet struggle.
Roberts does a good job of keeping players relevant and ready so I need to be patient when Outman is on the bench. But, his window is so short because he is most likely to be sent down when Teo returns. Hopefully it’s Kim instead.
Freeland is in free fall. Pop your chute buddy.
Did I want to try to get something back for Max this last off season? Yes.
Did I prefer to keep Pepiot instead of trading him for Glasnow? Yes.
If it looks like a frog………
I am with you on oHtani batting 3rd. Absolutely agree. Yes, he will have about 30-40 plate appearances less than in the leadoff spot, but this will be made up plenty by getting more shots with men on base.
I also think the Dodgers will have eventually to upgrade 2-3 spots on the roster . You can not carry 5-6 dead bats all season long in a closely contested division. Especially not when your pitching staff again is ravaged by injuries.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
San Diego with 21 runs.
Yeah, but only 18 were earned.
But gave up 24 hits
Treinen’s deal might have been a “thank you for your service”
Yates and Scott are holding the pen together.
No one really gives a crap about a players salary until they underperform.
Guggenheim has plenty of money and they are financial gurus. I trust they know what they are doing money wise.
Turned the game off after Suarez’s blast. Bats were inefficient, and way too many swings at first pitches that were not hittable. Barnes bunting before giving Kim a chance to steal a bag probably cost them a run. Ohtani grounded out on the first pitch, and Mookie flied out. Kris Bryant moved to the 60-day IL by the Rockies. His contract has to be one of the worst free agent deals in MLB history.
Barnes cost the Dodgers a run? Barnes put Kim in scoring position with Shohei and Mookie coming up. Most on here complain that Shoehei is not coming up enough with runners in scoring position. And yet he has 24 AB with runners in scoring position. He has 4 hits including 2 HRs. I know one was a 3-run HR (Friday night), and considering that the ohter HR was a 2-run shot, that would leave 1 RBI and 2 hits in the other 22 AB WRISP.
Barnes cost the Dodgers a run, but Shohei swinging on 1st pitch, a ball low and in, and Mookie swinging at the 1st pitch, a ball outside, did not cost the Dodgers a run?
That too er three
No guarantee Kim steals 2nd.
No guarantee Barnes gets another pitch he can get the bunt down.
Never got the chance. I would guess he would make it since Burnes is one of the worst at holding runners and keeping stolen bases down. Barnes should have taken at least 2 pitches to give Kim a chance.
Great article. It draws out a few comments:
Is this true:
“AF/BG have been criticized for not taking relief pitchers more seriously. “????
I feel one hallmark of AF’s tenure is there’s almost always a very strong bullpen. Going back to Blanton/Floro/Jansen to now.
I also am not a huge fan of the ends justify the means thinking from this statement:
If LAD wins another WS, I doubt that anyone will care at all what the contracts were.
As stated yesterday, Yates was superflous.
But my biggest issue with this year’s bullpen construction is it goes against what has worked for a decade plus. The Dodgers find pitchers for cheap and turn them into solid elements of a ‘pen. They did it with Phillips, they did it with Ferguson, Yimi Garcia, Floro, they did it with Treinen (to an extent) and this is how they’ve done it over the years.
Why change a good thing?
The ends have to justify the means. Otherwise why try to build a WS contender every year. The Dodgers are not paying $550MM+ (with luxury tax) this year to fall short.
What?
can you say that again with different words?
Yes, would be odd to spend so much money on so many of the links of a chain and still have weak links
Is this true:
“AF/BG have been criticized for not taking relief pitchers more seriously. “????
Yes, AF has been criticized for not taking relief pitching more seriously. Bluto I do not have the source and I do not feel like looking it up, but even AF said that he needs to focus more on relief pitching. Especially after the disastrous 2018 and 2019 bullpens. Have you forgotten…Casy Sadler, JT Chargois, Scott Alexander, Zac Rosscup, Erik Goedeel, Brock Stewart, Pat Venditte, Adam Liberatore, Edward Paredes. Not one reliever in 2019 had an ERA south of 3.10.
You mentioned three that worked. How about Joel Peralta, Sergio Romo and Jim Johnson? Didn’t work so well.
The Dodgers were also carrying loogies on the roster (Adam Kolarek), guys brought in to get one out. That shortened the bullpen.
Reliever volatility has transcended the information age.
“Every year, going into the year, the bullpen performance is what keeps me up at night,” Friedman said. “And it’s funny because the years that I’ve had the most confidence is probably the years where we’ve struggled the most, and the years where I’ve been the most afraid are the years where we’ve been the best.”
Ah, Friedman and the bullpen. Methinks he doth protest too much.
From FanGraphs, 2016-2024 Ranked by Bullpen WAR:
Dodgers, #2 in MLB
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&lg=all&qual=0&type=6&month=0&ind=0&team=0%2Cts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&stats=rel&startdate=&enddate=&season1=2016&season=2024
Ranked by Bullpen WHIP
Dodgers, #1 in MLB
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&month=0&ind=0&team=0%2Cts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&stats=rel&startdate=&enddate=&season1=2016&season=2024&sortcol=9&sortdir=default&pagenum=1
Ranked by Bullpen xFIP
Dodgers, #4 in MLB
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&month=0&ind=0&team=0%2Cts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&stats=rel&startdate=&enddate=&season1=2016&season=2024&sortcol=18&sortdir=default&pagenum=1
My point, not to belabor it, is that they did this without the kind of spending they did this past off-season. And deviating from that process (spending little, developing a lot) was silly.
First, perhaps you missed my premise. I listed a dozen names who were more cost efficient than Yates or Scott. That does not negate that the Dodgers did not have any others ready for late inning high leverage.
Without Scott or Yates, who were going to be the late inning high leverage relievers this year? Phillips? Hurt. Graterol? Hurt. Kopech? Hurt. Henriquez? Hurt. Brasier? DFA. The other two quality relievers this year for LAD, Ben Casparius and Jack Dreyer, are more multi-inning middle relievers. They have not shown they can be effective at high leverage relief. They are obviously comfortable in their role. Should they have re-signed Joe Kelly? He is hurt so he would have fit right in.
Luis García? Noah Davis? Matt Sauer? Yoendrys Gomez? J.P Feyereisen? Ryan Loutos? Who is your choice to close? Or even setup?
I agree with that point, I thought we were discussing whether the bullpen is taken “seriously” by the Front Office?
sure, would have had to navigate injuries to start the season. Use some journeymen, use starters in relief roles.
that would have been more consistent with what had previously been the staffing method.
Maybe because they knew how fragile their starting staff is? Need a deep bullpen if starters can’t stay on the mound very long.
I honestly don’t know the answer but I do agree what they did, especially that Scott deal, does look different.
Yimi Garcia – give me a break. He was terrible in any high leverage situations.
They’ve missed on umpteen reclamation projects, Pitchers signed and never fit to throw a baseball. You’re only remembering the successes but there’s been a whole lot of misses.
Yates and Scott have been excellent so far.
Rockies pitching gave up 19 runs in the first 5 innings. They are 6-33 for a reason. Fans here calling for Monfort to sell the team. Not one single pitcher who threw for them yesterday has an ERA below 4.50. Their best hitter, Hunter Goodman is hitting .276. No one else is above .263 and most of them are around .200. It won’t get any better today, they face Nick Pivetta, 5-1 2.01 and are pitching Marquez, 0-6 9.90 ERA.
Hope the offense shows up today.
I can tell you from experience that a shortstops first skill set to get to the Big Leagues is to play solid defense. There are a few exceptions but not many, throughout baseball history. Coming up, so much time and mental energy is spent on defensive skills by shortstops, that hitting often suffers. Once a guy gets established as a defensive fixture, more effort can be devoted to develop the offensive side.
Davey Concepecion is an example. In his first 2 seasons after becoming the Reds shortstop, he hit .205 and .209. In his third season, he knew the job was his, and he became the hitter they had hoped for; hitting .287 that season. He was a career .267 hitter.
This generation has some outstanding hitters at SS. Cory Seager stands out with his career .291 average as a shortstop despite many Dodger faithful wanting him to move to third. Bobby Witt and Frankie Lindor stand out with outstanding defense while hitting .291 and .275 respectfully.
Young stars like Gunnar Henderson .258, Dansby Swanson .251, and De La Cruz .250 are stars who are .250 hitters.
My point is, I think Mookie’s offensive production has been compromised by the emphasis on defense at Short. He has really made nice improvements to his defensive play but at the expense of some offense, IMO. Since moving full-time to Short, his batting average is the lowest in his Major League career. His career average as an outfielder is .294. Maybe that will improve w/ time?
I know “it’s early” and maybe this is an anomaly, but maybe there’s a reason the great athletes at shortstop don’t hit .300 for a reason.
I’m not sure our abbreviated Spring Training was good preparation, performance-wise, for the season. I get it; it was a fabulous success from a marketing and promotional standpoint. But the travel and chopped up schedule had a negative effect, in my opinion.
Most hitters seem to like 50 spring at bats. Our regulars got far less. And there seemed no urgency to get at bats. Plenty of MiLB players got way more at bats than the regulars. Seeing the farm hands is important but not at the expense to getting the Big Club ready for the season.
Mookie only took 25 spring at bats. Our current struggling players, Muncy and Conforto got 39 and 32 AB’s, each. Including spring training and 1/4 of the season, Max is hitting .192 and Conforto .156. CT3 .212.
It will be interesting to see how many games and how many at bats it will take for the unproductive regulars to be reduced or replaced, which has obviously been a major conversation point on this blog for a while. Loyalty and money seems to be driving AF’s bus, for now. But for how long?
I’ll agree with one caveat. Mookie lost strength and stamina and lost 20 to 30 pounds this Spring. That has to be part of your hypothesis.
Excellent point Bum.
The Rockies have announced that manager Bud Black and bench coach Mike Redmond have both been fired. Warren Schaeffer (previously the club’s third base coach) will serve as interim manager for the remainder of the season, and hitting coach and ex-manager Clint Hurdle will become Schaeffer’s bench coach.
They should have fired the owner.
Yep.
Blake Snell is set to meet with Dodgers team doctors on Monday as the parties try to determine the next step in his recovery from left shoulder soreness. Snell’s shoulder is still bothering him, to the point that plans to resume playing catch earlier this week were put on hold until Snell received a check-up from the medical staff.
Tyler Glasnow is also set to meet with team doctors tomorrow, though this appears to be something of a final step before the right-hander gets the green light to start a formal rehab process.
Just read that.
Outman playing his way back to OKC.
I do wonder how much runway he’s going to have…
I think I wish he would have a lot more than you actually will
He will be here until Teo or Edman are activated.
Millions of dollars are at stake and the alternative is measured in 1000s. That’s pressure.
Freddie is the best player on the Dodgers, hands down.
an ageless wonder
Yep!!
Right now he’s the best player in MLB not named Judge. Ask Marlin fans and Rockies fans how silly it is to spend money to make your team better. I’m grateful. Thx AF and Walter’s
It wasn’t but 3-4 years ago that many posters were complaining that AF didn’t know how to construct a bullpen. I have no problem that when everyone is healthy that we have a bullpen full of closers!
Big win. Split the series. 6-4 road trip. Back in 1st place. I’ll take it.
Colorado fired manager Bud Black and bench coach Mike Redmond. Dick Montfort’s response in an official press release, “Our play so far this season, especially coming off the last two seasons, has been unacceptable. Our fans deserve better, and we are capable of better.”
Montfort is an absolute joke. He and Arte Moreno have to be the worst owners in MLB. Of course, A’s John Fisher and Pirates Bob Nutting are not exempt in that discussion.
Coloradans want him to sell the team. Black will get a job somewhere.
Another nice start by the Catman.
We’re very lucky to have him back.
He pretty much gives us a shot at a win every time he goes out there.
Nice was to end the road trip. Gonsolin did not have his best stuff, but he kept Az off of the board. Freddie is the best player on this team IMHO.
Freddie’s elite baseball IQ and clubhouse leadership are the icing on the cake.
Superior player.
Love the guy. He is about as clutch a player as there is. Dude’s slash line is .376/.437/.734. He is 1 RBI behind Teo and has only 7 more strikeouts than walks. His 1.171 OPS is higher than Ohtani’s. His BA is 52 points higher than the leagues #2 hitter, Manny Machado. Only Judge at .409 is better.
Betts with another homer on Mother’s Day. Happy Moms Day to all the mothers out there.