To me, this seems to be the plan for the immediate future. They are just waiting for some of their injuries to heal, and maybe some better results from the players they have.
I don’t get them signing Wynn and not giving Feduccia a shot. He hit well in spring training and Barnes and Wynn couldn’t hit Jeff’s pitching at this point. Having that huge hole in the batting order is to me a big problem.
I believe Thompson is on the shortest leash of all of the outfielders. I have seen a lot of fans call for the Dodgers to dump Heyward. The problem I have with that is that he is making real solid contact and has been extremely unlucky with so many hard hit balls right at a defender. His own defense has been stellar.
As I get back to writing this, they have won two games in a row and sit a game back in the West. Friday’s win was on Apple TV+ so I did not get to watch it. But Saturday night’s 1-0 win was fun to watch. Except for Chris Taylor’s at bats. I wish someone would tell him he is not Babe Ruth. He swings from the heels all the time.
Right now, I see no immediate solutions to the inconsistency that has dogged this team. But I am hoping that AF has some sort of backup plan.
A couple of feel good items though. Miller made his season debut last night and went 3.1 allowing 1 run. In the first inning, 8 of his 15 pitches were at 100 or above. Also, Walker Buehler is ahead of schedule and could pitch before the end of the season.
04-30-2023 MiLB Summary
(by Jeff Dominique)
OKC Dodgers 9 – Sacramento River Cats (Giants) 4 – Game 1
OKC scored 9 runs with only 5 hits. But they did receive 11 walks. In the 1st, Hunter Feduccia doubled (4) and Jahmai Jones walked. Steven Duggar singled home Feduccia and Jones went to 3B to score on a ground out.
In the 3rd with 2 outs, OKC put together 4 walks and a Devin Mann bases clearing double (15) to score 4.
In the 5th, 2 more BB’s and a 2-out single scored a run.
In the 6th, 3 more walks, a double play, and single scored the final 2 runs.
Matt Andriese started for OKC. He completed 5.0 IP surrendering 3 runs (2 earned), on 6 hits, no walks, and 2 Ks. He gave up a solo HR in the 1st. Andriese allowed a double, single, and sac fly for a 2nd run.
Andriese allowed a solo run in the 5th.
In the 6th, Justin Hagenman gave up 2 hits and 2 walks for the Cats final run. Adam Kolarek struck out the only batter he faced in the 6th to end the threat.
Nick Robertson pitched a scoreless 7th inning for the win.
- Devin Mann – 1-3, double (15), 3 RBI
- Hunter Feduccia – 1-3, 2 R, 1 BB, double (4)
- Jahmai Jones – 2BB, 3 R
- Steven Duggar – 1-1, 3 BB, 1 R, 1 RBI
- Yonny Hernandez – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 R, 2 RBI
Sacramento River Cats (Giants) 5 – OKC Dodgers 1 – Game 2
Top SFG pitching prospect, LHSP Kyle Harrison, lost his control in the 2nd inning. With 3 walks, and DP, OKC scored their sole run. Harrison throws 10 straight balls, and Patrick Mazeika swings at the first pitch and hits into a DP.
Bryan Hudson was the opener in what was designed as a bullpen game. He pitched a perfect inning with 2 Ks.
Andre Jackson issued 2 walks in the 2nd and 3rd, but no runs. In the 4th, the Cats scored on 2 BB and 2 force outs. That was followed by a single, and Mark Washington was brought in to try and finish the inning. He gave up a double for 2-runs, both charged to Jackson.
In the 5th, Washington gave up a single and a 2-run HR by Heliot Ramos.
Jake Reed and Tayler Scott pitched a scoreless inning each.
OKC had a single by Justin Yurchak for their only hit.
After their 7th consecutive win in the first game, OKC was the first AAA team to 20 wins. The 7-game win streak ended in the 2nd game.
Tulsa Drillers 10 – Arkansas Travelers (Seattle) 9
Nick Frasso started for the Drillers. This was his 5th start of the season, and it may have been his worst. It was a scoreless 4.0 innings. He only gave up 1 hit but he issued 2 BB to go with his 4 Ks. The reason it may be considered not at the same level as his others, even with 0 runs scored, is because of 2 walks and more flyouts than ground outs. For the season:
- April 7 – 66 pitches / 48 strikes, 3/1 (Groundouts/Flyouts) – 0 BB, 6 K
- April 13 – 67 pitches / 47 strikes, 6/0 (Groundouts/Flyouts) – 1 BB, 5 K
- April 19 – 75 pitches / 53 strikes, 5/1 (Groundouts/Flyouts) – 2 BB, 7 K
- April 25 – 69 pitches / 51 strikes, 3/0 (Groundouts/Flyouts) – 0 BB, 8 K
- April 30 – 75 pitches / 48 strikes, 1/3 (Groundouts/Flyouts) – 2 BB, 4 K
The Drillers jumped out to a 4-0 lead. In the 2nd, José Ramos drew a walk, and scored on a Carson Taylor. In the 3rd, a walk to Jorbit Vivas who eventually came home on an Imanol Vargas sac fly.
In the 5th, Andy Pages doubled (7) and scored on a DH Diego Cartaya double (3). Cartaya came home on an error.
Lael Lockhart relieved Frasso and allowed an unearned run in the 5th. In the 6th the Drillers bullpen continued their struggle. With Lockhart still in the game, he gave up a lead off HR. After 2 outs, Lockhart then gave up a HR and double and was relieved by Cole Percival. Percival walked the first two batters he faced, and hit the third batter for another run. John Rooney relieved Percival and walked the first batter he saw. The Travelers now had a 5-4 lead.
The Drillers jumped back into the lead in the 7th. Diego Cartaya led off the inning with a single. Ramos was HBP and Eddys Leonard drew a walk to load the bases. With one out, Bryson Brigman singled home a pair and Jonny DeLuca doubled home with. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out, Jorbit Vivas hit a sac fly and an 8-5 lead.
With the bullpen still leaking, Ryan Sublette took over in the 7th and loaded the bases on a HBP and 2 walks. He gave way to Ben Harris and he hit the first batter he faced to force in a run.
With Ben Harris going back out in the 8th, he walked the lead off batter and then surrendered a 2-run HR to tie the score. Braydon Fisher entered and got the final 2 outs in the inning and retired the side in order in the 9th.
With the runner on 2nd to start the inning, Jonny DeLuca hit a 2-run HR. With one out, Andy Pages singled, moved to 2nd on a ground out and scored on a Cartaya single and a 3-run lead going into the bottom of the 10th.
Braydon Fisher went back out in the 10th and gave 2 back, but got out of the inning with a win.
- Diego Cartaya – 3-5, 1 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, double (3)
- Jonny DeLuca – 3-5, 1 BB, 1 R, 3 RBI, 2 doubles (4), HR (6)
- Andy Pages – 2-5, 1 BB, 2 runs
- Bryson Brigman – 2 RBI
Great Lakes Loons 5 – Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego) 2
Ronan Kopp started and completed 2.0 IP. In the 2nd inning he gave up a single and 3 walks to force in a run. Great Lakes got the run back in the 3rd. Three consecutive 2-out singles Jake Vogel, Yeiner Fernandez, and Damon Keith tied the score.
In the 5th, Great Lakes got singles by Austin Gauthier and Jake Vogel. Both moved up on a WP. Gauthier scored on a ground out and Vogel moved to third. Vogel scored on a balk.
In Robbie Peto’s 3rd inning, he gave up a solo HR.
In the 8th, Alex Freeland drew a walk and stole 2B. He moved to 3rd on the errant throw, and scored on a sac fly. With 2 out, Griffin Lockwood-Powell doubled and scored on a Yunior Garcia single.
Three Tulsa pitchers completed 1.0 scoreless IP, with Jake Pilarski pitching the ninth for his 7th save.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 13 – Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) 8
RC scored 13 runs on 15 hits. They jumped out to a 7-0 lead after 3, only to have the 66ers score 7 unanswered runs in the 4th – 6th. In the 3rd, the Quakes put together 6 singles and a walk to score 5.
Maddux Bruns started for the Quakes and while he walked 3 and hit a batter in the first three innings, he did not allow a run or hit. With 1 out in the 4th, Bruns seemed to lose it and quickly. A double, two singles, and WP and BB scored 2 before Chris Campos was summoned from the bullpen to get the final two outs.
Chris Campos gave up 4 runs on two singles, a BB, HBP, and triple in the 5th.
With Joel Ibarra on the bump in the 6th, he allowed 3 walks and an HBP to complete the comeback.
The Quakes scored 3 in the 7th on 3 walks, 2 doubles, and a single. They scored 3 more in the 9th, on a double and two HRs.
Livan Reinoso pitched the ninth to complete the victory.
- Rayne Doncon was the offensive star in this one. He went 4-4 with 2 walks, 3 runs, 4 RBIs, a double (2) and HR (5).
- Joel Izarra – 3-6, 3 RBIs, 2 doubles (9).
- Chris Newell – 2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (6)
- Livan Reinoso was the only pitcher to not allow a run.
Good post, Bear.
Feduccia – I said at the time Austin Wynns was signed that it did not make sense. You cannot keep touting your system, and then when a player seems to be making a breakthrough, skip over him to sign a 32 year old journeyman catcher, if not a true AAAA catcher.
OTOH, Hunter Feduccia has done everything possible to show that he should at least have received an audition at the MLB level. As a 26 year old non-elite prospect, I doubt that AF/BG is worried a bit about starting his service clock. He has never hit this well in MiLB, so maybe it is an anomaly. Then again, maybe not.
He at least should have earned the benefit of the doubt and got the call. Hunter knew the LAD pitchers better than Wynns. Feduccia caught Kershaw multiple games in ST while Barnes and Smith were in the WBC. It is not as if losing Wynns was a problem. Maybe Wynns signs elsewhere, but the Dodgers do have Patrick Mazeika as a AAAA catcher sitting in OKC. And David Freitas with MLB experience working out on the Development List.
I understood the Jacob Amaya slight much more than Feduccia.
Trayce Thompson – I agree with Bear that Trayce’s leash is running out. But until they can find another OF, then hoping that Trayce will accidentally run into one every 30 ABs is the best they have. They do not have a legit RHH OF at OKC. They do have multiple LHH OF, but none of them have MLB platoon player creds. So until we get closer to trade deadline, Trayce Thompson is not blocking any prospect, so he is going to remain a LAD for now.
Jason Heyward. I agree with Bear, Jason Heyward is a fine reserve OF. Unfortunately because of the anemic bats of Trayce Thompson and Chris Taylor, Jason is going to need to be more of a regular then originally anticipated. Jason certainly is not hurting the team. He makes solid contact, and they will eventually fall (more than occasionally).
Chris Taylor – An enigma for sure. He signed a contract that most considered a reach and overpay for a utility player. He cannot blame an injury for what is going on right now. And he shows no signs of becoming even remotely consistent. Miguel Rojas is supposed to be the reserve infielder, and CT3 was to be the reserve OF. Pick one or the other, Trayce or CT3. Although he did well on Sunday.
I watched Bobby Miller on MiLB TV. He was throwing loose and hard. Miller threw 55 pitches, the fastest of which registered at 101.2 mph. He could not land any of the offspeed stuff for strikes, so batters were sitting fastball. That will become more of an issue as he goes deeper into the games. There are still a considerable number of prospect pundits who believe Miller will end up in the bullpen in a high leverage late inning (closer type reliever. I hope they are wrong, but a lot of good high draft pick pitchers have had to go the reliever route.
It wouldn’t be fair to Feduccia if the reason he was not brought up was to keep him where he can help AAA pitchers evolve.
I am happy for Noah Syndergaard getting his 1st win as a Dodger.
Some outstanding relief work, including 2 lefties. Caleb Ferguson, Brusdar Graterol, and Evan Phillips continued their excellence. I am not sure that Vesia or Almonte will become consistent enough to be counted on. They need more good efforts.
The Dodgers are now 3 games over .500 for the first time since April 6 when they were 5-2.
It looks like Gavin Stone will draw Aaron Nola in his MLB debut against the Phillies on Wednesday matinee game.
Solid post Bear. You know I agree with you on the premise. You too Jeff. Spot on.
It’s my opinion that the Dodgers may emphasize the platoon practices too much. 70% of plate appearances are against RHP. OK. That being the case, if it were up to me I would see to it that 30% of all swings in batting practice come from left handed pitching. This practice begins the day a player is drafted. I assume we are not developing platoon players. But I don’t know that. We sure sign a lot of them.
Our starting left fielder, David Peralta has a career OPS of .826 against RHP. Impressive. But he’s 35. What has he done lately? Well, not that. And this year he’s off to a painfully low .416 start. Thompson? Better than Peralta but his numbers, OPS+ below 100, are still bumped up by one game. Heyward? He doesn’t hit lefties. 4 plate appearances all year. But he’s looked like the best 4th to me.
Our outfield consists of Outman, Betts and the Bowery Boys. And now maybe our best outfielder, Betts, is being considered for the infield. I still like the idea of Smith, Outman and Betts. And bring up Feduccia already.
It feels like, due to injuries at key positions, this team is in perpetual motion. We’re good enough to hold serve while the sculpting takes place, but there sure are eye brow raising days.
Stop that metaphor!
?
Stop that vexatiousness.
Stop using long words I am not familiar with..LOL.
Vexatious: rebarbative, incommodious
Hope that helps Bear
Google helped me find it Bear.
Note to Taylor: Yonny Hernández SS age 24 now hitting .366 1.017 at OK.
Taylor don’t give no never mind. Hims money is guaranteed.
Ok, note to Roberts then.
Just a guess here but they were able to find a spot for Wynns on the 40 man knowing they would release him and then have an open spot again. If they had moved Feduccia into that spot they would have had to keep him on it or release him.
Regarding Taylor I agree, if he had tried to become a singles hitter instead of swinging out of his shoes he might be having a whole different, and better, career.
He’s become a millionaire set for life with that swing. Why change now?
Feduccia would have been optioned back to AAA, not released. Wynns is without options which is why he would need to be designated for assignment.
What I’m saying is he would remain on the 40 man leaving one less spot for someone else. Now they have that spot available again
Outman might now have a green light to run. He now has 4 stolen bases.
One of my favorite conspiracy theories will always be the Phantom Time one:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_time_hypothesis
Read it. Misinformation from the past? Say it ain’t so.
Said in ladpc: “Even Max Muncy’s impressive 11 long balls have been the model of inconsistency, as the 32-year-old slugger continues to sandwich streaks of sluggish ABs around two or three games where he is virtually unstoppable.”
The big dollars should go to more consistent hitters but it’s nice to have a guy who can win 2 games a week in the lower half of the lineup.
The top 4 or 5 IMO should be more consistent hitters.
While we all want that as it sure would come in handy in October, in today’s game it’s rare. Especially in LA.
Did they have the same comments about Mookie and his consistent inconsistency at the top of the order?
No, and that truth results in what we are getting.
Really need for Betts and Freeman to get hot. Both have been somewhat disappointing at the dish thus far. Especially Betts. One or more of the Peralta, Thompson, Heyward group needs to step up. Thompson was brought in to hit lefties and it isn’t going well. They are all fortunate that there are not better options either in the minors or available in a trade. And, KT3 has to be the most frustrating player I have watched in recent memory. Again, he is lucky better options are not available.
I agree. If this team is to be the best in the NL, it needs the best from those two.
LA and SD are both 7-3. Dodgers +17 RDIFF. SD, -13 RDIFF. We’re pretty good even when many aren’t playing all that well.
I do not disagree with your conclusions, but in actuality, Thompson was purchased to replace RHH Kevin Pillar who fractured his left shoulder on a slide into 3B. The Dodgers did not have any RHH OF at OKC (still don’t). Eddy Alvarez, Jason Martin, Drew Avans, and Ryan Noda were all LHH. Early to mid-June is not the ideal time to find a difference maker OF bat. Thompson got off to a great start last year, and I am sure the Dodgers were hoping for the same in 2023. Just like pitchers and batters need to adjust, methinks the front office should also.
well said
Austin Wynns was indeed DFA’d. This was to make room on the 26 man for Miggy Rojas, who will be activated today before the Philadelphia series, and to open a spot on the 40 man for Gavin Stone, who is reported to be the starting pitcher on Wednesday. That is probably why AF/BG decided to go with Wynns knowing that he could be designated while Feduccia could not. It was always a short term solution. One choice would open a 40 man slot, while the other would not.
None of us are overly thrilled with the start we’ve gotten off to this season.
Here’s a link to a site that did a breakdown on all the guys who were here last year and what they’re doing with their new teams. Turns out, with the possible exception of Belli (and Outman is pretty well matching his production), we haven’t lost much.
Surprisingly Tyler Anderson is doing worse than Syndergaard. Even Trea isn’t off to a great start……….and only has 4 stolen bases, same as Freddie.
Anyway, here’s the link:
Full disclosure: this is my son’s site. I think he does some pretty good stuff on it and it’s free so you might want to subscribe (I hope you don’t mind the plug, Jeff. If you do, feel free to eliminate any or all of this post).
I do not mind at all. I will subscribe.
Outstanding site. Thanks for posting it and kudos to your son.
Always nice to hear good things about your kids. Thanks Ohio.
I will trust your son got his charm and intelligence from his mom and will take a look/subscribe.
😥 You’re so mean, Fred. Not that you aren’t 100% correct.