Every year at the trading deadline some players will be traded. Last year LA shipped several players out of town. They made several trades prior to the season sending players like, Victor Gonzalez, Jonny DeLuca, Ryan Pepiot, Yency Almonte and Michael Busch to new teams. As the season progressed, injuries to key players forced the front offices hand. The first trade sent James Paxton to the Red Sox on July 26th.
Next, they traded minor leaguer, Michael Flynn to reacquire Amed Rosario. Next came a three-team trade with the White Sox and Cardinals sending Miguel Vargas and two minor leaguers to the Sox for Michael Kopech, and they also received Tommy Edman and a minor leaguer from the Cardinals. Sox sent Pham and Fedde to St. Louis. Their last 2 trades sent Tharon Liranzo and Trey Sweeney to the Tigers for Jack Flaherty and then they traded Ryan Yarbrough to the Rays for Kevin Kiermaier.
Edman, Kopech, and Flaherty had major impacts on their World Series run. Flaherty took a spot in the depleted rotation, Kopech was an important back of the bullpen piece, and Edman, when he finally was healthy, became the MVP of the NLCS. After his busy off season this year, Andrew Freidman said he was hoping he would not have to make any major moves at the deadline in 25. Well, it looks like whether he likes it or not, he is going to have to make a couple or maybe more, moves.
There are just 10 days left and 9 games before the deadline. The Dodgers play the Twins, Red Sox and Reds before that happens. With the Twins coming in, AF and Gomes can have a face to face with their GM if he is with the team and maybe lay the groundwork for a deal. Same could possibly happen in Boston. Not sure if the Reds will sell or add on. So fellow Dodger fans, who do you think moves on? Only 2 players on the active roster, Vargas and Yarbrough were traded at the deadline last year.
MiLB Game Summary Reports
OKC Comets 13 – Reno Aces (Dbacks) 8
Bobby Miller started, and his trade value continued to take a hit. Miller threw 88 pitches (53 strikes) in 4.2 IP. He allowed 6 runs (all earned) on 8 hits with 4 BB and 5 K. Zack Penrod and Logan Boyer each allowed a run before Ryan Sublette completed the game with a scoreless 1.1 IP.
The Oklahoma City Comets piled up 13 runs and 17 hits to push past the Reno Aces, 13-8. The Comets trailed, 1-0, after two innings before erupting for six runs in the third inning. The rally featured a total of six hits, including two-run singles by Ryan Ward and Noah Miller.
After Reno scored once in the third inning, the Comets responded with a RBI double by Hunter Feduccia and RBI single by Nick Senzel in the fourth inning to make it 8-2.
The Aces then scored fourth straight runs, cutting the deficit to 8-6 after five innings. RBI singles by Kody Hoese and Justin Dean extended the lead to 10-6 in the seventh inning.
Leading by three runs in the eighth inning, CJ Alexander roped a triple with the bases loaded and push the advantage to 13-7. Reno scored once in the eighth inning but got no closer.
The Comets are now 4-0 on the current road trip following the All-Star Break. They have matched their season high at 23 games above .500 with a 60-37 record and overtook Las Vegas for the best overall record in the Pacific Coast League.
Six players finished with multi-hit games and five players with two or more RBI.
Hunter Feduccia tallied a season-high four hits, going 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI. It marks his first four-hit game since May 9, 2024.
Ryan Ward extended his hitting streak to a season-best 11 games — the second-longest hitting streak of the season by a Comets player. Ward went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs. During the streak, Ward is 20-for-44 (.455) with 12 extra-base hits and 17 RBI…Tuesday marked his fourth straight multi-hit game and eighth straight game to reach base at least twice. But he is not good enough to get a shot with LAD.
CJ Alexander notched his first multi-hit game since joining OKC July 5 and his first three-hit game since May 17 with Las Vegas, going 3-for-5 with a triple and three RBI.
Justin Dean was 2-for-6 with a RBI and run scored. Dean has reached base safely in 15 consecutive games, hitting safely in 13 of the 15 games, batting .338 in that span.
Noah Miller and Kody Hoese also collected two hits apiece.
Tulsa Drillers 2 – Springfield Cardinals 1
The Tulsa Drillers series against the Springfield Cardinals has been a lopsided matchup this season, with the Cardinals winning 11 of the first 12 meetings between the two teams. On Tuesday night, the Drillers were able to pick up just their second victory over the Redbirds despite scoring only two runs. Four Tulsa pitchers combined to hold the Cards to a single run, and the Drillers scored late to claim a 2-1 win.
Tulsa’s 23 year old RHSP, Patrick Copen, started and worked the first five innings and allowed just one run on four hits and two walks. He struck out seven while lowering his Double-A ERA to 2.29.
Damon Keith opened the game’s scoring with his tenth home run of the season in the bottom of the second inning, giving the Drillers a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals tied the score with their only run in the top of the fourth. Noah Mendlinger drew a leadoff walk from Copen and stole second base. He scored on a two-out single.
The game remain tied until the bottom of the seventh when Ezequiel Pagán used his legs to produce a run. With one out, Pagán was able to beat out a grounder to the right side of the infield for a base hit.
Sean McLain followed and dropped a base hit into shallow centerfield. Pagán got a good read on the hit, and his quick jump allowed him to advance to third base. Pagán scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball.
Tulsa relievers Robinson Ortiz and Antonio Knowles protected the lead. Ortiz worked around a one-out walk to keep the Redbirds off the scoreboard in the eighth inning.
Knowles came on for the ninth and struck out the side to close out the win and collect his ninth save of the season.
The Drillers honored former player and coach Mike Coolbaugh on Tuesday. Coolbaugh was tragically killed on this date in 2007 when he was struck with a line drive while coaching first base for the Drillers during a game in Little Rock, Arkansas. Coolbaugh’s number 29 is permanently retired by the Drillers.
Sean McLain’s seventh inning single extended his hitting streak to seven straight games.
Kyle Nevin was 2-4 and has recorded multiple hits in 6 of the 12 games that he has batted in since joining the Drillers.
Chris Newell hit his 12th double of the season.
Great Lakes Loons 7 – Beloit Sky Carp (Miami) 4
The Great Lakes Loons offense stole eight bases and scored seven runs with 16 strikeouts provided by their pitching in a 7-4 win over the Beloit Sky Carp.
Logan Wagner claimed the Loons’ home run lead with his 11th of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth inning.
The Sky Carp stranded eight on base in the final three innings. Loons pitching issued seven of their nine walks in those frames. In the eighth, a third walk made it a one-run game. Cam Day entered and earned the save with four strikeouts, inheriting the bases loaded and keeping the lead intact.
Great Lakes stole eight bases in the contest. Five of the runners would come home to score. Kendall George had a four-hit game with three stolen bases. He took second base in the first inning, third base in the second inning, and second base in the fourth inning. He was plated in each of those innings and generated an RBI double in the second.
Loons starter Brooks Auger struck out seven, a career-best. The right-hander went 4.2 innings. Joseilyn Gonzalez wrapped up the fifth and earned the win.
Zyhir Hope’s RBI single gave Great Lakes a 4-3 lead in the fourth. Hope now has 57 RBI, tied for second-best in the Midwest League.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 14 – Visalia Rawhide (Dbacks) 9
The Quakes opened their six-game home stand against the Visalia Rawhide with a 14-9 win.
Eduardo Guerrero had three hits and a career-high five RBIs, as he swatted a grand slam, his first home run of the year, helping the Quakes to their third win in their last four games.
Trailing 1-0 in the first, Rancho answered with three runs taking the lead for good at 3-1.
The Quakes got three more in the second, building a 6-1 lead.
Guerrero struck for an RBI hit in the third giving Rancho a 7-1 lead.
Leading 9-2 in the sixth, Guerrero smashed a ball over the left-field wall with the bases loaded, giving the Quakes a commanding 13-2 lead and their second grand slam of the year.
The game got a bit sloppy late, with walks and errors allowing Visalia to get back in the game.
Cody Morse ultimately closed it out, after giving up an unearned run in the ninth.
Marco Corcho (3-2) was credited with the win, after allowing just one run over 1.2 innings.
Logan Tabeling started, and all five Quakes pitchers gave up runs,. The pitchers combined for 11 walks and 9 hits. LAD MiLB pitching staff sure love those BB.
- Eduardo Guerrero – 3-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 5 RBI, HR (1)
- Jaron Elkins – 3-4, 1 HBP, 4 runs, 1 RBI, double (20)
- Jose Meza – 3-5, 1 run, 3 RBI, double (9)
- Mairo Martinus – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run
Elkins stole 2 bases giving him 50 on the season.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Regardless as to how this season turns out, the Dodgers need to change their stance on pitching. I cannot say if it is the coaches or the philosophy, but their pitching development leaves a lot to be desired. The MiLB pitchers cannot throw strikes. Here is where each team lands with walks.
· OKC – Most BB in PCL, 482 leads by 16
· Tulsa – Most BB in Texas League, 483 leads by 103
· Great Lakes – Most BB in Midwest League, 550 leads by 89
· RC – 2nd most BB in California League, 443
· ACL – Most BB in League, 344 leads by 14
· DSL – #2 and #5 out of 30 teams.
Who is emphasizing throwing strikes in MiLB for LAD.
In the MLB game, in 6.0 IP, the Twins relievers walked one a batter. In 4.0 IP, LAD pitchers allowed 6 BB. The one BB was by Twins reliever, Anthony Misiewicz. Perhaps he fits the Dodgers mold better than Jax and Duran.
Empirical evidence. Gracias.
One prospect who seems to be trending in the right direction is Patrick Coben in Tulsa. Pretty amazing since he is basically pitching with one working eye, having lost his vision in his right eye to a line drive in ’23.
From TrueblueLA:
Patrick Copen pitched his thirteenth consecutive game in which he has given up two or fewer earned runs, a streak in which he has averaged over five innings per start. In eighteen starts this season, he has yet to give up more than three earned runs, and has given up two earned runs or less in sixteen of them. Walks have been Copen’s only kryptonite, but he has kept his walk total to two in each of his last three starts, a noted improvement after walking 20 batters in 23 innings during his five starts in June. Copen is ranked as the Dodgers’ 28th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline.
I totally agree with you; problem has filtered up to the major league team too. Walks are a killer, as we witnessed firsthand last night.
Jeff –
I think you have raised a very pertinent question – Who in the Dodger minor league system is emphasizing throwing strilkes? The data you presented shows at all six levels of their minor league system they are failing when compared to the competition. This failure is now showing itself at the major league level. Is this why AF is always bringing in existing MLB relief pitchers to “fix?” I am guessing this may be a conscious policy because “fixing” is more “cost-effective” than “developing.” If so, I suggest that they review this policy because it is undoing the Dodger long-time reputation of developing pitchers….
The only way I see the Dodgers winning a championship this year is if Ohtani/Glasnow/Snell perform like ACE pitchers thru at least 6 innings a game virtually every time they take the mound from August going forward. It is a plausible scenario, but it still puts the Dodgers on the razors edge because the bullpen is in shambles, and the the offense has slowed due to age and injuries.
They definitely need the big guns to carry the load and take some pressure off of the pen. But the guys in the pen need to step their game up too. Pen allowed 6 runs last night, that was a backbreaker.
Ridiculous take
Okay this Dodgers team needs to get rid of some players and bring in some better ones. Because this team now doesn’t scare any team. I was watching the Cubs vs Royals game now that waa like watching a baseball game there were homeruns and stolen bases and bunting oh my gosh and even consistent hitting. None of this 1, 2, 3. Batters in a row out. Pitcher bith pitched into the 6th and 7th inning nit even like Dodgers game tonute Yosemoto was almost done after 3 innings. I hope they have a closed door meeting soon and point out people not performing do your telling me with Muncy down this team is about as good as the pittsburgh pirates. Why do other teams call a player in and they don’t miss a beat but the Dodgers have nobody. If you watched the game last nite the hitters for the twins were not falling for pitches out of the strike zone. Just like the Brewers batters were very disablin didnt swing at bad pitches. Yet dodgers striking out like mookie ohtani Freeman teoscar pages are swinging at bad pitches and watching strikes go right down the middle. I don’t know if its the hitting coach or pitching coach but something has got to shake up this team. Because right now the Astros Brewers Cubs Phillies Tigers and Mariners are better then the Dodgers I’d even say the Royals are close to being better to them. Stop playing like zombies and this happens every year wait for people to get off the disable list.
Well crap!! Really sucks to score 7 runs and lose. Bullpen melts down again and the defense was also terrible again. At least it is obvious what the Dodgers need at the deadline.
Yeah a new pitching staff. with a few exceptions.
New fans too
Should the fans all be delusional like you? And not notice the pitching is horrendous?
Well that was possibly a new low!
One fella even went Ofer and got 3 RBI’s and dear old Caspa totally embarrassed himself as he decided to feign injury as he was removed from the game, plus poor old Freddie, in all his years has never seen a 102 mph throw to him from the Pitcher standing 15 feet away sail to the Warning Track lol.
Its only upwards from here…..
Injury was not feigned. He is having an MRI today. Max cannot get back fast enough.
Which Max? Legit question.
Muncy
Thank you. LOL. No. Which Max Muncy? The beginning of the season or pre-injury?
“the Pitcher standing 15 feet away sail to the Warning Track”
About that play…. to the warning track? Where was the right fielder? He should have been backing up that throw to keep ANY further runs from scoring. They ALL scored. The basic concept of every base is covered and every base is backed up is lost with this team.
This was one of the more embarrassing losses I can remember witnessing. 4 unearned runs. And that was the difference in the ballgame.
So now what? Gotta score 11?
I still believe this team will win the Division. But not if they continue to play like this.
Little League coaches pound into the heads of their players that there is someplace to go on every play. I am not sure Pages even thought about backing up first. He does not anticipate well defensively. He doesn’t go back on balls very well, routine or well hit. My wife saw Pages’ play in RF on the fly out and runner move to 3rd. She asked me why he didn’t setup for the catch and throw. She said, you used to work on that play for hours with everyone, not just the OF. I know that is a play that is worked on in Spring.
Somebody stated that it would not have made a difference on the play at 3B if Pages was set up correctly or not. I agree, but the process has to be correct and the same every time, because next time it might.
I am not questioning Pages’ desire, heart, athleticism, or his ability to hit. But he needs an OF coach not named Teoscar.
Pages is there because he can hit the long ball. I get that. But the kind of coaching you refer to should have been taught, and reinforced, through all levels of play. It obviously isn’t. And this lack of attention to detail is systemic.
I’ve been to many game and I watch for it. And I’ve watched drills on the back fields in Spring Training. “Every base is covered and every base is backed up. Anticipate the overthrow.” The Dodgers don’t do it. I doubt this is going to change. And you and I both know from experience that lack of defensive discipline costs runs.
Quite a claim.
Jeff Passan is suggesting the Dodgers will trade for relief pitcher Cade Smith. He also mentions Jax or Clase or Duran or Bautista or Bednar or Ryan Helsley or someone else. Have to say I think he’s on to something.
KC has a 45 year old pitcher that did well yesterday.
Surprised his arm did not fall off. Dick Mountain just keeps plugging along, 14th team, tying him with former Dodger, Edwin Jackson for the most teams played for. I think the Dodgers should DFA Ruiz and give Ryan Ward a looksee.
Why not. Then you can tie him up for three more option years.
Exactly
We may need all of them!
Ardaya really echoes Jeff D:
first he mentions he doesn’t expect Rushing or Freeland to move and goes on to drop:
Minnesota’s Jhoan Durán and Griffin Jax, Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase and Cade Smith, Baltimore’s Félix Bautista and Pittsburgh’s David Bednar, among others — come with multiple years of club control. With it, the already steep prices escalate.
“The prices are always crazy come the deadline,” Gomes said.
“The prices are always crazy come the deadline…”
Well, the Dodgers could have saved $17 million simply by not signing Conforto and trusting Outman with a fair shot. An OF that read Teo-Outman/Edman-Pages would have been stronger defensively, and probably better on offense too.
If Outman flopped, the brass could have easily pivoted to the trade market without worrying about that $17 million in sunk costs. Instead, Conforto’s contract afforded them little flexibility–and created an unfortunate incentive to keep him on the field, no matter what.
Let’s remember that AF signed Conforto early during the off-season–and didn’t the price seem steep? It seemed like an attempt to replicate the successful one-year Teo deal the year before. I find it difficult to imagine that another team had made a truly competitive offer.
Of course we assume that AF knows what he’s doing…but let’s not forget his unforced errors.
I just think it’s funny that the brass committed so much $$$ to Conforto, Scott and Yates while suggesting these investments would enable them to avoid the higher prices at the trade deadline.
Seems like they spent a lot only to put themselves in a position to spend more….
There will be a lot of interest in relievers this year. And the good ones will be expensive.
This team is no fun right now. Just yuck!
As fans, I know we all cope in our own ways.
I am starting a new sanity rule for watching the team live: I will watch until they make a bad baseball play (which is, of course, subjective — but I have my standards). It means I won’t get far into most of the games, but I also won’t have to experience firsthand the exorbitant amount of bad baseball this team is producing. One exception, I will watch all of a Kershaw outing as I don’t now how many more opportunities I will get to watch him.
On a related note, I was glad to hear that in Roberts’ post-game, he pointed out / admitted that the team fielding is bad right now. It’s obvious to anyone paying attention, but it does need to be said out loud, and the players do need to be held accountable — and it certainly is possible to work on fielding and make some marginal improvements and also WORK on the mental part of fielding, no? I was a good defensive outfielder on my HS team and we worked hard on all aspects of fielding – it’s exciting when a ball comes your way and you need to have a plan! As I watch this team and I see all of the extra bases our outfield gives away, it drives me nuts.
The games are hard to watch lately, especially when they fall behind because of bad defense.
I watched Miller pitch last night and what I saw was not pretty. For one thing, this kid still has a problem with controlling his emotions. He still shows a ton of immaturity. When things go south, his whole demeanor and body language change. Casparius will have an MRI today. His ankle gave out he said, and he was cramping in his hammy. Must say, Henriquez’s debut was less than encouraging. Just a totally embarrassing moment for the team. If Roberts did not chew those guys out postgame, he really needed to address the whole team on their play. In typical Ohtani fashion lately, his homer meant little after he struck out twice. Mookie under .240 and OPS under .700. He still looks lost and isn’t hitting anything hard. Conforto had a nice double down the left field line. Outman robbed on a bullet to first that turned into a DP. Yamamoto should have been out of the inning, Miggy Ro usually makes that play. Otherwise a very dismal performance by a team who missed a chance to gain a game on the Padres and lost one game in their lead to the Giants.
Ruiz? Did you mean Henriquez?
Yep, messed that up, but fixed it. Best thing about being an editor! LOL. But I was only half wrong, I meant Diaz, who although he allowed just 1 hit, that hit scored 2 of the 3 runners Klein walked.
Yes the soft hit hurt, but it was Klein’s walks that hurt the team. Klein now has 8 BB in 9.2 IP. Who finds that acceptable? Outside of AF/BG/Doc.
Or did he mean Diaz?
I thought both pitchers were fine.
Diaz gave up a soft single
and
Henriquez was good except for the error, which was probably (in my silly opinion) all adrenaline.
Agree with you. Would not lump in Henriquez’s performance last night with Will Klein or Ben Casparius. His throwing error was definitely costly but his pitching was very good. Six outs on less than 20 pitches with no walks.
I do not remember Trevor Megill giving up a soft single to score runs. Then again he is making less than $2MM a year and not $17MM or $13MM. And Megill still has two arb years remaining.
who was writing about Megill? Or salaries?
I am 100% sure that MeGill has given up runs on soft contact though. Who hasn’t?!?
I thought Bear was discussing being unimpressed with Dodger relievers, then I commented about being reasonably happy with both Diaz & Henriquez.
I can’t imagine McGill is an option.
I also can’t imagine the Diaz or Henriquez make that much money in salary.
No Trevor Megill is not available. The Milwaukee Brewers do not have a problem with unearthing reliable closers. From Josh Hader > Devin Williams > Trevor Megill. Next up? 25 year old Abner Uribe? Dodgers? I guess Alexis Díaz and Edgardo Henriquez? Alex Vesia? Do you really believe that ALexis Díaz and Edgardo Henriquez are closer material for a contender? If so, we differ. I was echoing Bear’s comments that it is irrelvant (IMO) whether the 2 run RBI single was due to soft contact or hard contact. It was a 2-run single. The Megill statement could have been for any of the Brewers or Twins or Padres or Giants relievers. Not true with any of the LAD relievers.
I agree with all of that! I just think Henriquez and Diaz can and will be useful arms in the bullpen, but the Dodgers totally will pursue another high leverage arm.
Diaz, and that soft single allowed 2 runs to score. Doesn’t matter, pen did not do their job. 6 runs by the pen is not good pitching. Yamamoto was done in by an error by Miggy.
On the positive side of things:
1) after this horrific last 4-5 weeks, we’re only 1.5 games from having the best record in baseball
2) NFL training camps have opened
3) Luka looks like he’s lost a ton of blubber on his body
4) Bradley’s trade ideas are the most fun thing on this board the past few weeks
Yep, Bradley does make some interesting suggestions.
Thanks Bobby and hey some might become true. Because these Dodgers look destroyed old and like is the season done.
Just the dumbest of observations.
Really I watched the game last nite. I didn’t make up what I saw which was a bad team. How is my observations wrong when batters swung at balls and watched strikes go bye them. And the fielding was not good.
just so I know, so I can train my eyes to see it, what does it look like when a team is destroyed question mark is it apocalyptic? Is it on the final day of the season? Is it like that Batman movie?
Means no energy at all. If Betts was playing for any other team he be batting 7th or 8th his hitting is almost as bad as Conforto. I mean at least Miggy and Kim put the ball in play move the runners over. Betts should not be leadoff man or batting 2nd and I guarantee you. If he went back to rightfield his hitting would get better. How about have Edman leadoff and give Betts a wakeup call bat him like 8th. Doc won’t because oh Betts is the star. Maybe he is juts getting old and worn down playing shortstop and poor Freeman has a bad ankle most teams would give him some days off but oh not us. Because of Freemans bat if he doesn’t play all the teams would pitch around Ohtani so he has to play. And then again you tell me the Dodgers don’t have a guy that could give Freddie a rest after say a nite game. They can’t cuz the other teams would pitch around Ohtani if Freeman didn’t play. That’s pretty bad not having a guy that could sub for you sometimes.
The Cardinals Helsey has also been named as a possible target.
Just announced on MLBTR, the Cardinals have designated Eric Fedde for assignment. That is a very surprising move. He is struggling but did pitch really well last season. I guess his trade value was way down. Two more recent notes from MLBTR, German Marquez has gone on the IL for the Rockies. LA faces them in a 4-game series in August. Guardians are listening to offers for Shane Bieber. Bieber has not pitched this season at all but is on a rehab assignment in the minors. He has pitched just 7.1 innings there.
Maybe lower than Bobby Miller because of the contract.
Remember last trading deadline?
Some thought the Dodgers would have to settle for Fedde!
Yes, I do, he actually pitched well for the Cardinals after the deal, but he doesn’t look like the same guy this year.
Early game today. Glasnow goes for LA. Not sure what the lineup will look like. But to me, with them heading to Boston and Arizona this trip, this is a must win game. LA will be in Az at the deadline. D-Backs expected to move some pieces to other teams, one of them being Suarez who is tied with Ohtani for the NL homer lead. Send him to the AL.
I like Suarez in NYY. Others like him in Seattle. If NYY wants him, Seattle and Dipoto is not going to outbid NYY’s Cashman.
We all had such high expectations at the start of the season. And, so far, it would be hard to have things go more poorly. Committing hundreds of millions of dollars in the offseason somewhat confirms that it’s difficult to buy a world championship. Especially when the front office has taken the concept and use of analytics to the absurd.
I’m a common sense person. And, the use and benefits of analytics has been hard for me to accept. A couple of years ago Badger correctly convinced me that OPS and OPS+ were a better gage of a hitter than batting average. I go to a players stat sheet and my eyes glaze over at all the crazy stats that a front office thinks are important in evaluating a player.
Let start with the conclusion that it’s OK to strikeout multiple times trying to elevate a ball in order to increase the possibility of hitting a HR every 20-30-40 at bats. I don’t think that’s an effective use of an bat. It’s, also, not very entertaining to a fan. I like HRs as much as anyone else. But, to watch every hitter take this approach may not be a positive use of a player’s talent. Case in point. Last night a recent MiLB callup, Edgardo Henriquez, fields a chopper about 20 feet along the first base line, fumbles it, and proceeds to throw it wide of Freddie and all the way to the right field fence. The bases were loaded at the time. All three scored and the batter ended up at third base. More productive and exciting than a strikeout?
Next, pitch counts and times through the lineup. It’s May/June and a pitcher is in the sixth inning and has allowed a couple of hits, walked one, has a shutout going. The score is 3-0. The pitcher is beginning to face to opponent’s lineup for the third time. He walks the first hitter in the sixth after pitching 80 pitches. Roberts leaves the dugout and replaces the pitcher. Or, throws his 100th pitch! A cause for immediate removal. Not just for this pitcher, but for nearly every pitcher in baseball. Why? The numbers say so. Don’t rely on instinct or your eyes. Although it’s May/June the reasoning is to keep each and every pitcher fresh for the playoffs…. in four months. My feeling is the pitcher is fresh now so let him keep pitching until he proves by performance he needs to be replaced.
Now we go to the absurd. We find out the front office is NOT concerned with the pitchers walking people. It’s more important to TRY to get the hitter to chase pitches off the plate. As opposed to attacking the hitter, creating weak contact, and pitching to the hitter’s weaknesses. You know, to minimize pitch count, go deeper into games, and keep the bullpen fresh. Why? I guess the analytic personnel needs to continually justify their jobs and come up with more and more stupid stats and concepts.
Steal a base. Drop a bunt. Consider a hit and run. Just make some type of contact with RISP. Let a pitcher throw 120+ pitches. Weird shit can happen when you ignore the “odds” and use some of the above time tested approaches. And it’s a lot more entertaining than one three run homerun in the fourth inning and no further action. Just sayin’
Couple of questions:
“Why? The numbers say so. Don’t rely on instinct or your eyes. ”
Versions of this appear all the time. I’m confused by it. Why exactly should you not trust the numbers?
And when you wrote:
“We find out the front office is NOT concerned with the pitchers walking people. It’s more important to TRY to get the hitter to chase pitches off the plate. ”
I’m not saying we didn’t find this out, but did we? Where and when?
Gomes:
“I would argue that if we stay somewhat healthy, that this group is better than it was last year,” Gomes said of a unit that helped carry the team to a championship last fall. “Obviously there’s a long time between now and the stretch run, but right now I feel very good about the talent level of this pitching staff.”
Roberts:
“It’s difficult,” Roberts said. “This is the guys we have right now, and they’re getting opportunities to make an impression. So that’s on them. When you have certain guys down, you’re put in leverage, bases loaded, nobody out, whatever it might be — you’ve gotta come in there and do your job. Some guys are, some guys aren’t.”
What’s Gomes supposed to say? “Nope these guys stink, every one of them suck and we feel they will only pitch worse as the season winds down”.
It’s nice to be optimistic and hope that everything will be fine, but we also have to accept the reality that we’ve been wathing all season. The pitching has been dismal and I am being kind.
The rotation should be ok with Glasnow back and looking good, and Snell due to come back soon. The Dodgers will be able to have at least 3 good starters (Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell), but if you believe that the Dodgers can continue to use guys like Noah Davis, Tanner Scott, Yates, Will Klein, etc and the rest of those below replacement level guys that can’t throw strikes, and expect good results then you are not paying attention to what’s been happening in front of you.
Now if Kopech, Graterol, Treinen etc all return and stay healthy and pitch like they did last year, and limit walks then the Dodgers have a good chance.
“What’s Gomes supposed to say? “Nope these guys stink, every one of them suck and we feel they will only pitch worse as the season winds down”.”
Obviously not. But Gomes could definitely say something to the effect of: “We made a lot of off-season acquisitions, injuries happened and performance hasn’t been what we wanted and now we have to deal with that.”
“Now if Kopech, Graterol, Treinen etc all return and stay healthy and pitch like they did last year, and limit walks then the Dodgers have a good chance.”
Agree to this, and I’ll raise you a high-leverage relief arm acquired at the deadline.
I do not remember Gomes ever saying that the performance was not what they are expecting. He could have made the statement by releasing Conforto and Yates. And maybe he still might in the next 8 days. AF/BG has admitted to mistakes before, with Noah Syndergaard being a big one.
“Now if Kopech, Graterol, Treinen etc all return and stay healthy and pitch like they did last year, and limit walks then the Dodgers have a good chance.”
You really expect that to happen? I think that is a glass 7/8 full.
What can I say?
I’m an optimist!
I have no doubt that is how Gomes (and Friedman and Doc) feel. They are not about to publically admit a mistake (Scott, Yates, Conforto), and their inactions at the deadline will confirm what Gomes is saying. Perhaps a more pertinent question is why do the Dodgers have more injuries to pitchers than any other MLB team, and by a wide margin. They lost two more this week. Why? Is that question allowed, or do we just have to blindly accept what AF/BG/Doc feed us?
Apparently, Casparius felt the tightening in his calf at the end of the first batter he faced and tried to pitch through it. Was it just cramping or was it a strain? We will find out at some point today.
I know for a fact that question has been asked quite a bit, but the Dodgers aren’t gonna release either players specific information or team wide policy philosophies.
Right? One is federally prohibited, and the second is competitive.
I think, haven’t given this a lot of thought
Yes, it is a rhetorical question because the Dodgers are not going to answer what their plans are to mitigate the arm injuries. But it is a logical question. To just accept that the Dodgers are doing everything possible to mitigate the injuries, IMO is just sheepish naivete.
seriously? I think you’re joking.
What business or competitive reason would there be to not (NOT) spend a lot of research time and money on this injury pandemic?
I did not say that LAD would not spend time and money on injuries. I said we will never hear the results. But not hearing results is not going to dissuade from the questions. Do you think it isn’t worth a question (rhetorical) as to why the Dodgers have more injured pitchers than any other MLB team by a wide margin. The same question was asked last year, and management said they reviewed it in the winter. Then more injuries this year than last year. You can be okay with that, I am not.
You wrote:
“To just accept that the Dodgers are doing everything possible to mitigate the injuries, IMO is just sheepish naivete”
I would believe that dedicating time and money is everything possible right? What else could they allocate?
This is an answer to a question you didn’t ask, but there’s no way I expected tangible results in less than three years, but less one.
That is not saying that I do not believe they didn’t spend the money or time. It means I do not accept the fact that they have figured anything out. Let them prove me wrong.
Understood! Yeah, I don’t think they’ll figure anything out, but I think they’ve started to do things differently.
They’ve spoken about this obliquely.
I have no idea what the Dodgers plan on doing at the deadline. They need relievers, but it could be nothing more than one (or two or three) of Steven Matz, Danny Coulombe, Brock Stewart, Seranthony Dominguez, Gregory Soto, Dan Altavilla, Steven Wilson, Jordan Leisure, John Schreiber, Steven Cruz, Justin Topa, Robert Garcia, Jacob Webb, Luke Jackson, Garrett Clevenger, Eric Orze, Aaron Bummer, Pierce Johnson, Rafael Montero, Jake Bird, Tyler Kinley, Calvin Faucher, Lake Bachar, Vallente Bellozo, Json Junk, Dennis Santana, Caleb Ferguson, Kyle Leahy, John King, Phil Maton, Jose Ferrer, Jackson Rutledge, and Kyle Finnegan as the closer.
I am not going to say no, but I cannot see AF/BG spending top 100 prospect capital for any of the elite closers. Others will pay the cost, but not AF/BG. They will try for the Michael Kopech or Joe Kelly trade route.
One click bait trade mock publication has suggested the Dodgers trade with Atlanta for 31 year old LHRP, Dylan Lee, who is taking over for Raisel Iglesias as the de facto closer. He is a shade better than Scott. He has only blown 5 saves, albeit out of 7 save opportunities. And all it would cost the Dodgers is Alex Freeland or Emmet Sheehan. If that is the cost for Dylan Lee, what might the cost be for David Bednar, Pete Fairbanks, Seth Lugo, Griffin Jax, Jhoan Duran, Emmanuel Clase, or Cade Smith. I am going with not something AF/BG is willing to pay.
So, no path for Freeland to make the varsity? Ok. Use him. I’d like to hang on to Sheehan for a while. Maybe he could become a one inning guy somewhere in the future. Maybe not if Sasaki doesn’t make it back.
No path for Freeland this year. AF/BG made that clear when he did not come up when Muncy first went down. A top 38 or 54 prospect (depending on publication) for a journeyman reliever? I do not mind moving Freeland or Sheehan, although I really like Sheehan, but it has to be for more than Dylan Lee.
Would a move for a player like Tommy Pham be a good move could play leftfield produce better then Conforto and get in people’s faces when they play like crap. And wouldn’t cost you guys much some low lever minor leaguers. A player with some spunk maybe this team is a bunch of choir boys and miss that from Muncy.
Well, something or someone needs to light a fire under their asses.
AF/BG should get on the phone with Texas right now. Texas just DFA’d 33 year old RHRP Luke Jackson. I am sure the Dodgers can find a lottery ticket that would be acceptable to Texas, knowing they can fix Jackson
Watching Dodger hitters I have to agree with Jeff and it’s time to let RVS go as the hitting coach. Mookie has way too much tilt to his swing trying to seemingly hit everything out. Try up the middle or oppo line drive for goodness sakes.
Shake it up!
Here is where I expect AF/BG to shop:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/07/9-under-the-radar-bullpen-trade-candidates.html
I have wondered for a while about the Dodgers’ hitting coaches. It’s uncanny how everyone can be in a slump at once. Something just isn’t right. Of course, Freddie, Teo, and Tommy are all playing hurt. But even Ohtani’s BA has dropped 30 points. I do wonder if they need a different voice. But don’t expect the hitting philosophy to change. It comes from the top – from analytics.
The Dodgers made every effort to bolster their pitching staff in the offseason. Did anyone here know that Evan Phillips would need Tommy John surgery, that neither Michael Kopech nor Blake Treinen would pitch much this season due to injury, that suddenly Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott’s performance would regress from last season?
Same with the starters. Anyone know that Sasaki, Snell, Glasnow, and Gonsolin would be out most of the season?
So now that this is the case, what do they do about it? The starters appear to be getting healthy and the need is the pen. I don’t doubt that they will bolster the pen again this year.
Yes, the Dodgers tried to add to the bullpen with FA signings of Scott, Yates, and Treinen. Scott and Yates have been unmitigaed disasters, and Treinen is an incomplete. Maybe the Dodgers knew about Phillips which is why they signed all three. Evan missed the WS due to an injury. Kopech pitched through pain last year in the playoffs. It was reported that Sasaki’s velo was way down last year, and people were pointing to a potential injury before he signed. I wrote about the concerns. Snell, Glasnow, Gonsolin, and Treinen have been injured quite a bit the last couple of years. To anticipate there would be no injuries to any of them would be akin to hiding their head in the sand.
Do you see the Dodgers spending top multiple prospects on the elite closers, or do you see them adding multiple middle relievers?
They haven’t added a top relief arm at the deadline in the past but they have had guys who could close down the stretch before. I didn’t expect them to sign Ohtani or trade for Mookie but they did. I no longer am comfortable saying I know what they will do.
I for one don’t see AF/Gomes trading top prospects for elite RP’s. That’s not how they roll, and I agree with that course.
I also think there’s the (silly to me) psychological factor.
Every off season (except when that pitcher refused to agree) they acquire a big name (relative to what’s available) and invariably a team player says “this is a good move, it shows the front office is invested” or something.
You would think the team doesn’t need that, but they usually come out and say how good it is.
Excellent outing for Glasnow. He looked really good!!
Something to feel positive about.
HPU really bad all game: Glasnow’s only walk (ist innning) should have been a K, and then his last pitch (6th inning) was way off the plate and called a strike.
Hmm — bringing out Glasnow for the 7th. Don’t like it after 94 pitches. Dude is fragile and he ended strong. Our shitty pen is affecting strategy.
Follow-up: glad to be proven wrong! Way to go, Glasnow, that was top-notch!
He was fantastic. I really hope we can score here and get him much earned W
We got one, but shoulda had more.
Mookie has perfected the weak pop-up to right field.
I’m rooting hard for him, but man does he look lost.
Totally lost and chasing pitches he cannot square up.
I’m not sure this was the best time to use Yates.
Agreed. Vesia has to be perfect now.
Yates should not pitch in a high leverage situation again. That was hard to watch. LA definitely needs to trade for a top-notch reliever.
You would think Roberts would know that by now.
A $13 million mistake.
If the team could shoot Yates into the sun, 50% chance they would.
Or they could just cut him from the team, or at the least stop using him in high leverage innings.
What a waste of a great Tyler Glasnow start.
Yes, it is. And they load the bases and cannot score. Looks like they will blow another chance to add to their lead.
Hard to watch this kind of baseball. Leave too many runners on base, relief corps walking way too many hitters.
To fall behind with another soft contact hit is really rubbing salt in the wound.
That said, there wouldn’t be as bad of a wound if this hadn’t transpired:
Klein, Casparius, and Yates in the last 18 hours:
Combined 0.1 innings, 9 walks, 8 runs
last year at this time the Dodgers were 61-41 with a +99 run differential and had allowed 408 runs. This year they are 59-43 with a +65 run differential and have allowed 477 runs, (plus the three today to put them at 480). that is nearly an 80 run difference. They have scored about 35 more runs than they did at this point last year (542-507). 72 runs is a huge difference, due to the dismal pitching and defense.
also at this time last year they were 29-22 against above .500 teams, this year they are 2 below, 26-28.
Right, they suck. Oh yeah, what place are they in?
I said the pitching sucks, not the team. Your ire should not be directed at fellow Dodger fans, but somewhere else.
Interesting numbers, but not surprising, given a pitching staff that has been held together with chicken wire and duct tape. The starting pitching should improve with Glasnow back and Snell due back soon. The bullpen is another story. Will be interesting to see what AF comes up with. As for the defense, it’s an adventure every other day.
THAT WAS SOOOOO NEEDED!!
Well how about that! Yay!!!
Yes, considering the circumstances this was a must-win game ..and they did it.
Much needed win. I know I can be more negative than most people, but I will say the offense has been great for most of the season. The club has the best offense in MLB and has lead in almost every offensive category since the beginning of the season. They also have been one of the best at hitting with runners in scoring position, tops in Avg, SLG, HR, runs scored etc.
I do believe like many here that the team can be too reliant on slug, and at times do not move runners over effectively, but the offense has carried the club all year. This team can score runs, and they’re going to need to score as many runs as possible with the dismal pitching and defense.
If they can improve the pitching and defense problems, they will probably be ok.
If only Glasnow could stay healthy!
When he and Snell and Ohtani can give us 7 and Yamamoto is our 4th, that should make even you, Scott, feel positive about October. Bullpen will get healthy and AF will add to it and should be ready to go. Mookie is still my main ?. Would be a lot easier if he returns to superstar level for post season
Mookie’s bat is still a concern ..until it’s not a concern.
Give Ruiz credit. He wasn’t over anxious and took the walk.
So true. He looked quite calm up there
Interesting that Vesia gets the blown save and not Yates.
“In MLB, a blown save occurs when a relief pitcher enters a game in a save situation (e.g., a lead of three runs or less, or the tying run on base, at bat, or on deck) and allows the tying run to score, thus failing to preserve the lead. The run does not have to be charged to that pitcher. Even if the pitcher doesn’t finish the game, they can still be charged with a blown save if they surrender the lead while entering in a save situation”
And that is why you shouldn’t pay any attention to the stat “blown save”.