Yesterday, Phil Jones wrote:
“It might be a good idea to put the WS talk to bed for now and just hope we play better, daily. This team has a great lineup one through 6 but after that this isn’t a good team right now.”
Right now, Phil is absolutely correct. This team is not very good. Now it can change in the very next game, and the Dodgers can go on a big run. But right now…???
I was wondering where this team would be without that unworldly start from Mookie, who has cooled off significantly. After his first 8 games:
- 38 PA – .500/.605/1.167/1.772 – 5 HR, 9 XBH, 11 RBI, 4 K, 8 BB, .476 BAbip
The Dodgers were 6-2 in those 8 games.
Since then, 11 games (Not counting Tuesday game):
- 53 PA – .244/.359/.311/.670 – 1 HR, 1 XBH, 5 RBI, 10 K, 8 BB, .294 BAbip
The Dodgers are 5-6 in those games. The other LAD hitters over the last 11 games?
- Freddie – .214/.292/.262/.554 – 0 HR, 2 XBH, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 9 K, .292 BAbip
- Shohei – .409/.449/.886/1.335 – 4 HR, 12 XBH, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 9 K, .438 BAbip
- Smith – .324/.350/.460/.810 – 1 HR, 3 XBH, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K, .344 BAbip
- Muncy – .229/.349/.543/.892 – 3 HR, 5 XBH, 8 RBI, 6 BB, 13K, .250 BAbip
- Teoscar – .333/.378/.452/.830 – 1 HR, 3 XBH, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 13 K, .464 BAbip
- Outman – .241/.313/.483/.795 – 2 HR, 3 XBH, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 11 K, .313 BAbip
- Lux – .115/.179/.115/.294 – 0 HR, 0 XBH, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 8 K, .167 BAbip
- Miggy Ro – .188/.188/.375/.563 – 1 HR, 1 XBH, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 4 K, .182 BAbip
- Kiké – .192/.222/.192/.415 – 0 HR, 0 XBH, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, .238 BAbip
- CT3 – .000/.074/.000/.074 – 0 HR, 0 XBH, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 12 K, .000 BAbip
- Barnes – .286/.375/.286/.661 – 0 HR, 0 XBH, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K, Only 8 PA
This is a tale of 2 parts of a very young season…the first 8 games and the next 11 games.
First 8 games – 12 HR, 28-76 WRISP (.368), 52 RS, 38 RA, 14 RD
Next 11 games – 13 HR, 18-92 WRISP (.196), 48 RS, 52 RA, -4 RD
The Dodgers averaged 6.5 runs per game for the first 8 games. The next 11 games? 4.36 runs per game.
On Tuesday, the Dodgers had 1 HR (Kiké), and were 4-13 WRISP. That is the first time in the last 13 games that the Dodgers have had 4 hits WRISP.
While Shohei Ohtani has had a great run the last 11 games, he has not been very good WRISP. After leaving runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out with a 4-3 groundout in the 2nd and leaving runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 out with another 4-3 groundout in the 4th. Then for good measure with Mookie on 2nd and 0 outs in the 7th, Ohtani flies to CF. Mookie did move up to 3B. After going 0-3 WRISP in Tuesday’s game, Ohtani is now 1-19. WRISP for the season.
Shohei’s other 2 AB with only Mookie at first? Singles.
Mookie went 5-5 with 2 doubles. And the Dodgers won. This is Mookie’s 3rd career five hit game, and the first 5 hit game in MLB in 2024.
Shohei may be the media and PR darling, but this Dodgers team is Mookie’s team. No matter how far this team goes, Mookie will be driving the bus.
Last 4 prospects in the MLB debut:
- Miguel Vargas – First AB – ground rule double on a 2-2 pitch
- James Outman – First AB – HR on a 1-1 pitch
- Michael Busch – K in first AB, singled in 3rd AB
- Andy Pages – First AB, singled on 1st pitch
One pitch, one hit. Welcome to The Show, Andy Pages! pic.twitter.com/XuEel0695J
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 17, 2024
Kyle Hurt pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in his first MLB start, thanks to some ill-advised base running and an excellent outfield play by Teoscar Hernández on a double off the wall that he played perfectly, made a great relay to Kiké who made a great throw to Austin Barnes who made the tag on CJ Abrams. He retired the next 5 batters. He was not built up, and was only going to go 2.0 innings. He threw 24 pitches in the 2.0 innings.
Ryan Yarbrough was fantastic with 5.0 innings in relief of Kyle Hurt. He gave up the 2-run jack to Jesse Winker, and then retired the next 14 batters.
Jesse Winker is looking very much like the Jesse Winker from his Cincinnati days. He is yet another hitter who just cannot hit in Seattle.
CJ Abrams is looking very special both at SS and at the plate. He was one of the top elite prospects Washington got back in the Juan Soto trade.
Not that Glasnow will ever use it as an excuse, but apparently, he was not feeling in good health on Monday.
For some former Dodger player news, one of my favorites, Nick Nastrini:
Former Dodgers prospect and UCLA product Nick Nastrini in his major league debut for the White Sox today: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 Ks. pic.twitter.com/tfwBY4DwZB
— Howard Cole (@Howard_Cole) April 16, 2024
I would have much preferred the Dodgers trade Maddux Bruns and kept Nastrini. But that is my personal preference, and probably does not match AF/BG plans.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS – 04-16-2024
Sacramento River Cats (Giants) 3 – OKC Baseball Club 2
Just promoted RHP, Hyun-il Choi, gave up a 2-out 3-run HR to Casey Schmidt. That was all the scoring for Sacramento. Choi complete 4.2 IP and allowed just the 3 runs on 5 hits. He had 2 BB and 2 K.
Stephen Gonzalves, Michael Petersen, and Kevin Gowdy pitched a combined 4.1 scoreless innings. This was Petersen’ 7th game. He has 6.2 IP and has not allowed a run. He has given up 2 hits and 3 BB, and has struck out 8 batters.
This was Kevin Gowdy’s 7th game as well. He allowed 3 runs in 0.1 IP in one of those games to drive that ERA up. But he has not allowed any runs in any of the other 6 games.
Ryan Ward had a RBI double in the 4th for the team’s only XBH. Kevin Padlo drew a bases loaded BB in the 8th for the second run.
Tulsa Drillers 15 – Wichita Wind Surge (Twins) 4
This was a bullpen game for Tulsa. Five pitchers took the mound for the Drillers, none threw more than 2.0 innings. Braydon Fisher gave up his first AA runs (2) this year. Jake Pilarski made his 2024 debut…1.2 scoreless IP.
The Drillers had 15 runs on 13 hits and 11 walks. Every Driller reached base, and every Driller except Diego Cartaya had a hit.
Dalton Rushing went 2-5 with his 3rd HR. He had 3 RBIs.
Dalton Rushing, my No. 1 #Dodgers prospect, hit his second homer of the year
Rushing has a 1.174 OPS to start the season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NZbCdtck0e
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) April 12, 2024
Taylor Young stayed hot this season going 2-6 with his 3rd double and also had 3 RBIs. He is batting .382/.475/.647/1.122 with 2 HRs going with his 3 doubles.
José Ramos is showing some life. He went 2-5 with a BB.
Brendon Davis went 2-4 with 2 doubles (4) with 2 BB. He reached base 4 times and scored 3 runs.
Brandon Lewis went 2-4 with a double (2). He scored 2 runs and got 2 RBIs.
The Drillers are now 5-5, and could feast on the 1-9 Wind Surge.
West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit) 4 – Great Lakes Loons 3
West Michigan jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Great Lakes scored 3 in the 8th to tie the score. But West Michigan pushed one across in the 9th.
Jacob Meador started for the Loons and finished 2.2 IP. In the first, he gave up a single, struck out the next 2 batters, and walked the next batter. After a WP, he gave up a 2 run double.
In the 3rd he got the first two batters and was pulled after 45 pitches. Christian Suarez relieved Meador, and walked the first batter he faced, and then a run scoring double.
Suarez, Franklin De La Paz, and Brandon Neeck kept the Whitecaps off the board after the 3rd.
Michael Martinez entered in the 9th. He surrendered an opening single, walked 2, and threw a WP to give West Michigan the 4-3 lead.
The Loons knotted the score in the 8th with 3 unearned runs. Thayron Liranzo reached 1st on a fielding error and moved to 2nd on a passed ball. Dylan Campbell singled and Liranzo moved up to 3rd. Liranzo scored on a ground out with Campbell moving to 3rd. Campbell scored on a Jake Vogel single, and the speedy Vogel scored from 1st on a double from Alex Freeland.
- Dylan Campbell – 3-4, 1 run
- Alex Freeland – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 RBI, double (3)
Dylan Campbell had 3 hits for Great Lakes, and ALL of them were right back up the middle. I love the fact that the Dodgers have really concentrated on getting "baseball players" in the last couple of drafts, and not "track man" robots. Campbell is a GREAT Baseball Player.… pic.twitter.com/5PxjdfFKH6
— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) April 17, 2024
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 11 – Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) 2
The Quakes got some excellent pitching. Edgardo Henriquez started and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings. He had 2 BB to go with his 4 K.
22 year old RHP Jose Rodriguez pitched the next 5.0 innings. He ran into a little trouble in the 6th. He allowed 2 singles, a HBP, and a sac fly for the only run he allowed. He did not walk a batter and struck out 8.
Carlos Martinez was called to finish the game. He gave up a double and single for a run in the 8th . He gave up 2 walks in the 9th, but no runs.
In the 4th, Wilman Diaz struck out but reached 1st on the WP. Jerel Perez followed with a 2-run HR.
RC broke it open in the 6th with 6 runs. Jerel Perez opened the inning with a single. After one out, Jake Gelof singled. Zyhir Hope doubled and Perez scored with Gelof to 3rd. Jesus Galiz tripled home 2 runs. Joe Vetrano reached on a fielder’s choice as Galiz was thrown out at the plate. Cameron Decker and Juan Alonso both singled with Vetrano scoring. Wilman Diaz followed up a 2-run triple.
RC scored three in the 9th without a hit. They were issued 5 walks and a HBP to force in 3 runs.
- Jerel Perez – 2-4, 1 BB, 3 runs, 2 RBI, HR (1)
- Wilman Diaz – 1-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, triple (1)
- Jake Gelof – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 runs
- Zyhir Hope – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, double (5)
- Jesus Galiz – 1-4, 3 RBI, triple (1)
- Cameron Decker – 1-3, 2 BB, 1 run
Wish they would trade Lux ala Busch so he can thrive some where else after missing a year hard to get your swing back sitting on bench. Roberts prefers retreads to rookies. You are right on with Mookie.
Pages should be here to stay.
Mookie is ridiculous. He’s so hot perhaps we’ll see him set a new record for 3-HR games. It would be his seventh, and break a tie with Johnny Mize and Sosa.
Strange that guys like Aaron, Bonds, Ruth and Mays trail Betts in this rare stat. Also odd that Betts has twice as many 3-HR games than 5-hit games.
Some people have suggested that Betts is “more engaged” because he is playing SS. Not sure if playing SS has any impact on his offense, but it’s pretty to think so.
Some fun stats after 20 games….
Mookie is first in BA (.388), first in runs scored (22), first in OBP (.490), first in hits (31), first in walks (16). Also second in OPS and HRs, and third in slugging.
The bad news is he can’t keep this up… right?
Really nice debut for Pages, and I hope he starts every day in place of Taylor or Kike. The Dodgers ould use a breakthrough from a rookie.
Also impressed by the a strong 5 innings from Yarbrough, which the staff needed.
I was a bit surprised by the starting infield, with Kike at 2B and Rojas at 3B. I assume the better defense would have Rojas at SS, Mookie at 2B and Kike at 3B. If this helps Mookie fully absorb the challenge of SS, that’s great
Amazing how they churn through the bullpen. I have not seen this strategy employed before. I think it goes like this;
1. In the off season acquire lots of pitchers who still have options.
2. Condolidate the back end of the bullpen
3. When a reliever pitches he might not be available for a couple days afterwards so send him back down and bring up a fresh arm
4. If this uses up the players options restock in the off season
5. When necessary dfa a player knowing he will go unclaimed or create a trade opportunity if he does
Did I leave anyting out?
Use Rojas when eligible.
evaluation and development steps,also there is looking for value via injury and, of course, not spending much individually.
Would like have more in the Yarbrough role. The middle innings are going to be important going forward. Some young starters could help with that.
Pages looks eager. He chased last night. Did I see vulnerability inside? We will soon see how the book on him reads.
Of course Mookie won’t keep this up. He looks like he’s jacked up on Red Bull and that cannot last 180 games.
I still believe in Lux. Hope I’m right. Taylor will start hitting. Barnes went to fence a couple of times last night. He appears to be squaring up pitches. That would help. I believe that entire group past the top 4 are streaky hitters. When they hit we score 5+. When they don’t?
I wonder if this is part of the underpinning of Friedman strategy. Superstars, like Betts now, can basically carry the team if they have to. For extended periods? I’m sure Ohtani will do it in the future, Freeman has done it in the past. And then the rest of the players… The team just kind of uses them and their production isn’t essential.
doesnt make watching Taylor any more palatable
Nice, much needed, team win last night.
*The pitching held up its end of the bargain in this bullpen game.
*I must admit this wasn’t my favorite bottom of the order with Kike, CT3 and Barnes but Rojas has been hitting well and Pages adds a spark, hopefully. I’d love to see this kid seize the opportunity and run with it. We could really use a rookie to come up and stick, for a bunch of reasons. I hope Doc is true to his statement that Pages will get a legit shot.
* Barnes hit the ball hard, which was nice to see.
*We got the Joe version of Kelly. He was slider Joe last night and had no clue where that heat seeker fastball was going. As Yogi would sum it up in a word for Kelly “you-just-never-know”.
*Mookie is so locked in and short to the ball right now, it’s a pleasure to watch.
*Have the Dodgers released tonight’s starting pitcher. We could use a nice solid outing from whomever.
Landon Knack making his MLB debut. It is also a 12:10 PM game.
Thanks Jeff. I looked it up and it looks like it was Yamamoto’s turn but it looks like they are giving him an extra day? I wonder if management wants to keep him in a 6 day schedule, more like Japan? I’d like a 6 man rotation that’s been discussed. The problem is we’re about 2 starters short.
Aren’t they always???
Good for Andy Pages. Maybe a little influx of youth will help. Knack being recalled making the start today. Yamamoto to open the series with the Mets. Yahoo news thinks the Dodgers will have interest in Tyler O’Neill, who is off to a blazing start with the Red Sox. I think that is pretty premature. Nice to see Kike get a hold of one. He still swings for the fences too much for my liking.
Kind of like pitchers throwing high velo that gets noticed, hitting the ball a long way is what gets hitters noticed. It is the Dodger mentality to swing as hard as you can. Poor Chris Taylor, swinging as hard as he can on a 3-0 pitch very low and away that he had no chance of hitting. Fortunately he did draw the BB on that PA.
Taylor, Muncy, Kiké, Teoscar, and Outman (most of the time). I am an Outman fan, but he does get infuriating when he goes back to that long Cody Bellinger swing with his head in the 1st base dugout, trying to hit it 600 feet. When he is at his best (which is very good) he is short to the ball and drives it. He is so strong, and with the short swing, the ball stays on and then jumps off the bat. His last couple of hits were like that. He will always be a strikeout hitter.
Dodgers player personnel decision makers love the long ball. I am more than convinced that AF would prefer Willie Adames to CJ Abrams or Ha-Seong Kim because of the HR power.
Tyler O’Neill – The Dodgers (or many teams) could have traded for O’Neill. The trade value – former LAD RHRP Nick Robertson and 23 year old MiLB RHP Victor Santos. Santos is not considered much of a prospect (think someone below Ben Casparius). I think the Dodgers could have bettered that price if they truly wanted O’Neill. AF preferred to sign Teoscar for $23.5MM ($8MM deferred).
Which Tyler O’Neill would a new team be getting? The 2021 and 2024 start version, or every other year version?
Totally agree with you Jeff. Watching Muncy is also painful when he consistently chases that low outside pitch that he couldn’t hit if he tried. His third strike swing last night missed that ball by a mile and the ball was at least six inches off of the plate and low. Would have been ball four.
Still waiting for Ohtani to hit like Ohtani. He is being paid to drive in runs in clutch situations. So far, he is a bust.
bat Ohtani behind CT3, that way nobody will be on base when Ohtani comes up
😀
First game I get to watch this year!
Good to see CJ Abrams rounding into form, for a while the Soto trade looked decidedly one-sided.
Knack settling in nicely.
Pages and high inside heat has been an issue all his career. Seems MLB scouting has caught up on that note.
Grove also looking good.
freeman lacing the ball, not getting results. Oh well.
Yep. He will get a steady diet of inside cheese until he proves he can hit it.
Lux looks lost.
YEESH. WRISP. 0 for 7.
I still believe this team will hit.
Of course they will hit. Well, maybe not CT3.
joke!
Uninspiring baseball from the boys in blue for the last week +. Right now it feels like we’re not doing anything particularly well. Assembling a bunch of stars doesn’t guarantee quality baseball (just ask last year’s Padres). Time to wake up, fellas!
Lux is such a bust, and I said it a couple of years ago. Tell me what talent evaluators/scouts for the Dodgers would pick Lux over Busch, or Lux over anyone?
about 5 years in the majors and he hasn’t done anything. Weak hitting utility infielder with no power. Can we just get over him already and let someone else play second?
I would rather see MIggy Ro there, yes, I can’t believe I am typing this. You win Jeff! Miggy Ro having a good start to the season.
I don’t like this team right now. Don’t know how to put my finger on it. It’s fucking disappointing. No fire maybe?
I realize that part of the fun of being a Dodger fan and a regular on a Dodger blog is announcing to the world what we think is wrong with the team, the manager and the front office, but geez guys, we go through this every year.
The team gets off to a lethargic start and plays especially uninspired ball against the very teams it should beat most easily.
By the end of the year, we win our 100+ games and head to the playoffs………………….where we get beaten by a team that should not beat us.
I am not worried in the slightest about this start, and I won’t know how I feel about the playoff results until November.
I’m 100% the same way.
We are so very wise, Bobby. 😎
The finish is what is important. In March and April, you are working out the kinks. Right now, they are 12-8 on game up on the Padres. Last season, they were 10-10 and a game behind. They did not really begin to heat up until May. And by next week, they will be done with the Nationals until next year. Some things are concerning like the lack of consistency and the struggles at the bottom of the lineup. You have to believe that Ohtani is going to get a lot better with runners in scoring position. And Freddie is a much better hitter than he has shown so far. Max’s average is respectable, but he still strikes out too much. But his OPS is still way above .800. Gavin Lux is about as expected. He seems unsure and tentative at the plate, and he is not at this point making very hard contact. But let’s be fair about this. The guy had not played in over a year. He got into exactly 13 games in spring training, and he hit ok. And also, to be fair, Lux has played less than two full seasons in in the majors. He has a total of 289 games in his career. He will be fine.
Wise guys huh?
They are still in first place. Not that being in first place means anything in April, but I think it does suggest as a team they aren’t lethargic. A few players are, but there is no ultra first place, and those players have time to get it together.
Thanks for giving away the ending of the book.
Sorry, Fred. Should have issued a spoiler alert.
Somehow, this repetition is acceptable to you? Winning 100 games and falling on our face in the playoffs? Wow. Too philosophical for this old codger.
The mediocre start and ending up with 100 wins is acceptable.
The lack of playoff success is not.
My point was that for me (I’m not speaking for anyone else), this kind of start to the season is not going to get me riled up.