In football, one of the more popular sayings and beliefs is that defense wins championships. In baseball, it is said that pitching wins championships. For the Dodgers, that has been especially true. The Dodgers MLB life began in Brooklyn in 1890. That was when the NL was born. The team itself came together in 1884 as part of the American Association. In 1890, the Brooklyn Bridegrooms finished first in the newly formed National League with a 86-43 record. There was no World Series as we know it back then, but they did play a series against the Louisville Colonels of the American Association, tying at 3 wins and a tie apiece. 
Caruthers, Terry, Lovett, Foutz
That 1890 team used just 17 players for the entire season, 6 of whom were pitchers. Tom Lovett, 35-11, 2.78 ERA, Adonis Terry, 26-16, 2.94 ERA, and Bob Caruthers, 23-11, 3.09 ERA were the starters. All three of them had 30 or more complete games. The other three pitchers used, Dave Foutz, Lady Baldwin and Mickey Hughes got into 16 games between the three of them. As much as we marvel at what Shohei does now, Foutz, and Terry were two-way players. Lovett also played some outfield during his career but was not a true two-way player like Terry and Foutz. Foutz played 1st base and Terry was an outfielder. Bob Caruthers, who was the third starter played 71 games in the outfield that year. Caruthers won 218 games and lost just 99 in his career. His career ERA was 2.83.
Foutz was 33-18 in his seven years with Brooklyn, but he won 114 games prior to that when he pitched for the St. Louis Browns of the American Association, including 41 wins in 1886. Foutz, hit .276 for his career. Terry was 197-196 in his pitching career; he was 126-139 for Brooklyn. His best year was 1890 when he won 26. He was a career .249 hitter. Lovett’s career as a major leaguer was short, just six years, and he finished with 88 wins and 59 losses, he retired when he was 30. 
Brooklyn would not win another pennant until 1916. But they still had some very good pitchers along the way. Nap Rucker pitched for Brooklyn from 1907-16. He won 126 and lost 126. But his ERA was just 2.42. His Brooklyn teams never finished as high as 3rd place until 1915. By that time, he was not one of their main pitchers. Yet he is #6 all time in pitchers WAR and #11 in the top 24 WAR players in Dodger history. 
Another very good pitcher from that era was Jeff Pfieffer. Pfieffer started pitching for Brooklyn in 1913 and left in a trade with the Cardinals in 1921 in June. He compiled a 113-80 record with them and had an excellent 2.31 ERA. He won 23 games in 1914, and 25 games in 1916. He was 0-1 in four World Series games, but his ERA was 1.98. He is also in the top WAR for pitchers at #8 and # 22 on the Dodgers all time WAR list. 
Dazzy Vance joined Brooklyn in 1922 when he was 30 years old. That came seven years after he debuted in 1915 with the Pirates. He was traded to the Yankees and pitched in 8 games for them. He did not make it back to the majors until 1918 when he got in to 2 games for the Yankees. He pitched mostly in A ball in 19 and 20 before he got another chance in the majors with the Robins. For his times, Vance had what was considered an excellent fast ball.
His first seven seasons in Brooklyn, he led the league in strikeouts every year. The amazing thing about Vance is that he pitched 12 years for Brooklyn until he was 41. In those 12 years, he won in double figures every year but 1926 when he was 9-10. He won 20 or more games three times, with a career high 28 in 1924. He was, until his record was broken by Don Drysdale, the Dodgers all-time leader in wins with 190. He won 3 ERA titles with the Dodgers and had 217 complete games in his career. He is second on the pitchers WAR list with 61.9, which is .5 better than Big D. 
Vance left Brooklyn after the 32 season and pitched until 1935. Those Dodger teams in the 20’s and 30’s were not very good. In the 30’s one of their better pitches was Van Lingle Mungo. Mungo won 102 games in his 11 years with the team. He won in double figures from 32-36. And the team at that time was usually mired in the second division. They would also bring in older guys who had some notoriety in the game like George Earnshaw, who pitched in 3 World Series for the Athletics. Also with the Dodgers at one time was Tom Zachary, best known as the pitcher who allowed Babe Ruth’s 60th homer. He also has the most wins by an undefeated pitcher in MLB history with a 12-0 record with the Yankees in 1929. Since Negro Leagues stats are now considered, Ray Brown, who pitched for the Homestead Grays, had a 14-0 season.
Things began to change for Brooklyn in 1939. Larry McPhail took over and hired Leo Durocher to manage. McPhail brought in some good veteran players in trades, and pulled off a real heist when he got Pee Wee Reese in a trade with Boston in 1939. Reese would remain a Dodger through the 1958 season. His pitching mainstays in the early 40’s were Hugh Casey, Whitt Wyatt and Fat Freddie Fitzsimmons. They finished 2nd in 40 and won the pennant in 41.
Kirby Higbe was their best pitcher in 41, winning 22 games, his only 20-win season. He was joined in that club by Wyatt who also won 22. Again, for the only time in his career. Both had come to the Dodgers in trade. They had not yet established that farm system which would produce many pitchers in the coming years. Wyatt is the top photo, Higbe below. Higbe would also be one of the Dodgers who signed a petition in 1947 that they would not play with Jackie Robinson. He ended up being traded to the Pirates.
In 1942 they won 104 games and finished second to the Cardinals. Wyatt was the team leader in wins with 19. They finished 3rd in 43, 7th in 44 and then 3rd again in 45 as the war came to an end. Their best pitcher in 45 was 23-year-old Hal Gregg. He won 18 games. They also had a 19-year-old rookie on that team pitching out of the bullpen, Ralph Branca. In 46, they finished 2nd again, but only after tying the Cardinals for the league lead and losing a 2-game playoff, the first playoff in MLB history. Higbe led the team with 17 wins. 
1947, Jackie Robinson joined the Dodgers. Ralph Branca would win 21 games. Joe Hattan won 17. The team was starting to get some young players who would define the Dodgers in Brooklyn in the 50’s. Furillo, Reese and Robinson were regulars. Snider and Hodges got their feet wet as major leaguers. They won the pennant, beating the Cardinals by 5 games, but lost the Series to the Yankees in seven games. Durocher had been suspended for the season, and Burt Shotton took over.
In 48, there was some inner turmoil as Durocher returned, but the team did not perform well, so they negotiated a trade of sorts with the Giants, releasing Durocher so he could take over in New York. Burt Shotton returned, but they still finished 3rd. Barney and Branca, the two kids won 15 and 14 respectively. Hatten won 13. During the winter, they had picked up 32-year-old, Preacher Roe, who would be a mainstay of the Brooklyn staff until 1953. Roe won 12. 
The team won the pennant in 49, strong performances from Roe, and a former Negro League pitcher, Don Newcombe, in his first year in the majors helped their win. Another rookie, Carl Erskine, went 8-1 out of the pen. Newcombe won 17 games and Roe 15. Of the 13 pitchers they used that year, all of them were under 30 except for Roe and Hatten. They would lose the series to the Yankees again, 4 games to 1. Brooklyn now had 3 black players on the team, Campanella had joined the team in 48. 
The core of what would become the “Boys of Summer”, were now in the starting lineup. Reese, Robinson, Snider, Hodges, Furillo, Campanella, and Billy Cox. They finished second behind the Philly Whiz Kids. Newcombe and Roe each won 19 games. Palica won 13 out of the pen. In 51, a year in which they should have won, they had 5 pitchers win in double figures, Newcombe and Roe had 20 and 22 wins respectively, Roe lost only 3 games. Branca, Clyde King and Erskine also won more than 10 games. Branca would be forever scarred after giving up the pennant winning homer to Bobby Thompson.
Newcombe was the Ace, but in 52, he was in the Army. So, it fell to Erskine and the rest to shoulder the load. Joe Black was the pitching star though out of the bullpen. He won 15 games, saved 15 and was named the Rookie of the Year. The third Dodger to receive the award since its inception in 1947. Erskine won 14 games, one of which was a no-hitter against the Cubs. Rookie Billy Loes won 13. They lost to the Yankees again in 7 games.
For the first time in their history, they won back-to-back pennants in 53. Erskine won 20 for the first time. Meyer, Roe and Loes won in double figures. Rookie Johnny Podres won 9 in his first year. Clem Labine won 11 games in relief. It would be Roes last good season. They would lose the series again; to the Yankees, this was getting too repetitive! Over the winter, Dressen was let go as manager after demanding a multi-year deal. He was replaced by Walter Alston, and he would hang around a while. 
Even though Newcombe returned from the service, Erskine was still their top pitcher. They used 16 pitchers in 54. 11 of them got starts. Erskine won 18, and Loes 13. They would finish 2nd to the Giants. But the most impactful thing that happened came that winter. A young left-handed pitcher from Brooklyn, was attracting the attention of some MLB scouts. He was going to college at the University of Cincinnatti and was a walk-on for their basketball team. He was pitching for the college team and he attracted the attention of Dodgers scout, Bill Zinser. Zinser filed a glowing report, but it was somehow filed away and forgotten.
The first team that offered him a tryout was the Giants. He was visibly nervous and fired several wild pitches. The Giants were unimpressed, and he was not offered a deal. During the summer while pitching for the Parkview’s, a sandlot team, he was seen by a scout who recommended the GM of the Pirates, Branch Rickey, to send a scout to check him out. Enter Clyde Sukeforth, the same scout who would advise Rickey to claim one Roberto Clemente, who the Dodgers had tried to hide at AAA.
Sukeforth watched the kid pitch and invited him to Forbes Field in Pittsburgh for a tryout. He was very impressive, and Branch Rickey exclaimed that the kid had the greatest arm he had ever seen. But in what may have been one of the biggest mistakes in Pirate history, they did not offer the kid a contract at that time. Enter Al Campanis, a Dodger scout at the time. Jimmy Murphy, a reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle, covered sandlot teams.
He told Campanis about the young lefty, and after watching him pitch, he arranged a tryout at Ebbets Field. With Walter Alston and Fresco Thompson watching, Campanis assumed the hitting stance while the kid started throwing. Campanis would later say that just two times in his life did the hair on his arms stand up. Once when he saw the Sistine Chapel, and the other when he saw Sandy Koufax throw a fastball. 
Immediately after the tryout, Sandy’s dad negotiated his contract. He wanted to make sure Sandy could finish his education if his career in baseball did not pan out. He was given 20,000 dollars. 6,000 in salary, and a 14,000-dollar bonus. The signing would not be announced until after the 54 season. Sandy’s dad, Irving, and Walter O’Malley shook hands on the deal. Going back to the University, Koufax also had a tryout with the Braves. John Quinn offered him 30,000 dollars, which because of the agreement with O’Malley, he turned down. The Pirates finally made an offer of 25,000. He also turned that down. On December 14th, 1954, Sandy Koufax signed with his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers. At the time O’Malley could not have known that 20,000 dollars was one of the best 20,000 he had ever spent. Koufax, being a so called “Bonus Baby”, would have to remain on the Dodgers 25-man roster for two years.
Had they been able to send him to the minors for experience, his career might have been much different. We will never know. 55 was a magical year for Brooklyn. They got off to one of the best starts in team history. After 24 games, they were 22-2. They would end up winning the pennant by 13.5 games. Newcombe was the staff ace winning 20 games. Loes and Erskine won 10 and 11 games. Labine won 13 out of the bullpen.
In the series against the Yankees, Newcombe continued the trend of not being very good in the post season. He pitched in just 1 game getting the loss. The hero of the World Series was Johnny Podres. He won 2 games, including a 2-0 shutout in game 7. He allowed just 3 runs in his other start. When Pee Wee Reese’s throw landed in Hodges glove, Brooklyn was the champion. The kid, Koufax was 2-2 in his inaugural season. The players did not know it, but their time in Brooklyn was fast coming to an end. Trying to get a new stadium built in Brooklyn was proving to be very difficult for owner, Walter O’Malley, so he began making contingency plans to move the team, 3000 miles away.
Podres spent 56 in the military, so he was not around. Don Newcombe proceeded to have the best year of his career. Major League Baseball had decided to have a new award, the Cy Young award, which would be given to the best pitcher. This award at this time was given to just one pitcher. They would not award one to both leagues until 1967. Newcombe not only won the Cy Young with a 27-7 record, he was also the league’s MVP. He would be the first pitcher to win both awards in the same season.
The other starters were Roger Craig 12-11, Sal Maglie, who came over from the Indians, 13-5, Carl Erskine, 13-11, and Koufax, who was 2-4. Labine won 10 and saved 19 out of the pen. Maglie threw a no-hitter against the Phillies in September. They won the pennant by just 1 game over the Milwaukee Braves. They faced the Yankees in the series again, this time jumping out to 2 games to none lead. They lost the next two at Yankee Stadium, then facing journeyman starter, Don Larsen, he threw the first and so far, only perfect game in World Series history. On the brink of elimination, Labine, used as an emergency starter, pitched 10 innings in a 1-0 win in game 6. Newcombe started game 7 and lasted just 3 innings allowing 5 runs and 3 homers in a 9-0 blowout loss. After the series, they traded Jackie Robinson to the Giants, but he decided to retire instead.
It was their last World Series appearance in Brooklyn. They played a number of games in New Jersey in 1957. Their best pitcher was a kid from California, Don Drysdale. He had made his debut in 1956 winning 5 and losing 5. He won 17 in 57. Newcombe was 11-12. Podres was 12-9. No other starter won more than 7. Brooklyn finished 14 games back in third place. After the season, the move to Los Angeles was announced.
The move to Los Angeles ended the Brooklyn era. The Dodgers had been known for many years for their offense. The move to LA began a change of philosophy and approach to winning games. The Los Angeles version would be known for their strong pitching staffs, not their powerful offense.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Comets 4 – Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston) 1
On his 1st rehab assignment, Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless 1st inning as the opener for a bullpen game. He retired all three batters he faced, striking out 2.
Five relievers followed with Noah Davis putting up 3 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 3.
Nick Frasso was the lone OKC pitcher who struggled. Frasso allowed the one run on 2 singles, a bases loading BB, and a sac fly. His 2nd BB of the inning loaded the bases again, and Logan Boyer was summoned to get out of the inning. On his 1st pitch, Boyer got a ground out to end the threat.
In his OKC debut, Ronan Kopp pitched a perfect 9th with a K for his 1st AAA save.
The Comets put up 3 in the 2nd. With one out, Noah Miller doubled (2). Nick Senzel drew a BB, and Miller scored on a José Ramos single. With 2 outs, Justin Dean singled with Senzel moving to 3rd. Dean stole 2B, and Senzel scored on the catcher’s throwing error. Comets were up 3-0 after 2.
A Ryan Ward (19) double and CJ Alexander single gave the Comets a 4-0 lead after 3.
The Comets had 6 hits with no OKC batter having a multi-hit game. Miller and Ward’s doubles were the only XBH by OKC.
Tulsa Drillers 3 – Arkansas Travelers (Seattle) 1
Jackson Ferris had a strong start,. He completed 6.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits, 1 BB, and 7 K. Ferris allowed the tying run in the bottom of the 1st. He gave up a single, 2 doubles, and a BB for the run. But after the 1st inning, Ferris was impressive. He retired the side in order for the 2nd through the 5th innings. 14 batters were retired in order.
Top #Dodgers LHP prospect Jackson Ferris today for Tulsa:
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 10, 2025
6.0 IP
4 H
1 ER
1 BB
7 K
95 P / 67 S
Ferris set down 14 batters in a row at one point, and the only two baserunners he allowed after the first inning were on an infield single and an error pic.twitter.com/VGdaBTKkgi
Jerming Rosario, Christian Suarez, and Antonio Knowles finished the final 3.0 scoreless innings.
The Drillers put up 3 solo runs in 3 innings. In the 1st inning, Taylor Young doubled and scored on a Kyle Nevin single.
In the 4th, the Drillers scored an unearned run after a Nevin single and came all the way around to score on a John Rhodes infield single and throwing error.
In the 5th, a HBP, stolen base, and Griffin Lockwood-Powell singled the runner home.
Kyle Nevin had 2 singles, and Taylor Young had the only XBH, a double (13).
Great Lakes Loons vs Lansing Lugnuts (A’s) – Game postponed. DH on Thursday
Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) 8 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6
The Inland Empire 66ers rallied from behind, then held on to defeat the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Wednesday night, taking an 8-6 decision.
A three-run seventh and a two-run eighth against the Rancho bullpen gave the 66ers control and gave them just their fourth win in 20 games against the Quakes this year.
The Quakes built an early 4-1 lead over Inland starter Peyton Olejnik, but the 66ers scored seven unanswered runs against Cody Morse, Shawn Oduber, and Michael Vilchez, taking an 8-4 lead.
Rancho got a run back in the eighth and another in the ninth, but with the tying run at the plate, Samuel Munoz fouled out to end the game, giving Inland Empire reliever Benny Thompson his fourth save of the year.
Mairo Martinus clubbed his third homer of the year and second of the series, helping the Quakes take an early 2-1 lead in the first.
The Quakes are expected to start Dodgers rehabbing lefty Blake Snell on Thursday night, as he’ll take on Brandon Dufault at 6:30pm, in game three of the six-game series.
Blake Snell is scheduled to appear for the Quakes TOMORROW! Get your tickets at https://t.co/GAZJC4ZbVM.
— Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (@RCQuakes) July 9, 2025
All #Dodgers appearances are presented by @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/A051SZjsFm
- Eduardo Quintero – 2-5, 1 run, triple (6)
- Mairo Martinus – 2-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI, HR (3)
- Carlos Avila – 2-4, 1 RBI
- Jose Meza – 1-4, double (7)
Just one day after I posted about Scott and Yates being disappointments so far they prove my point.
Scott with his 6th blown save already. And Yates losing another close one.
With only half of those blown saves the Dodgers would be ahead by 8-9 games in the division.
Not putting the blame on those two guys alone but they are a big part of the Dodgers problems.
And the (non) hitting of Betts and FF has come to a real big concern as well.
Need your big guns to come threw and they don´t.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In Yates defense, it is really hard not to give up a run when the ghost runner is on second, unless it seems, you are pitching against the Dodgers. This loss on the offense. Had they scored in the 9th when they had a golden opportunity, then the run scored off of Scott would have been moot.
I am not talking about this specific game.This is a season long theme.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many said the same thing about Jansen in the years he had trouble. I worry more about it when it comes playoff time, not in July when they are heading into the All-Star break and have a decent lead in the division. Plenty of time for tweaks. I will grant you that so far, it is not pretty. But they are missing some key arms in the pen, Treinen and Graterol, they have some flamethrowers at AAA, Ruiz and Henriquez. This slump is on the offense more than the pitching. Give them some leads, and a little breathing room, and the outcomes are entirely different. Because in reality, they have not pitched that bad except for game 1 against the Stros and the first game against Milwaukee. We have been outplayed in ALL ASPECTS of the game, not just the relief pitching.
Get some pitchers that can pitch later into the game then out by the 4 th inning here’s some pitchers to go and get to improve the dodgers cuz these guys casperioe wobione and Knack get lit up and if anybody says Miller remember he gives up homers too. How come other teams have pitchers go into 6th or the 7th inning and Dodger can’t get past the 4th or they do those dam bullpen games. Here’s some guys to go get to help us I have about 8 pitchers.
Aroldis Chapman closer cuz Scott and Yates tried and failed.
Mitch Keller because the Pirates need help and this guy would be a good number 4 or 5
Andrew Heaney used to be a Dodger another good 4 or 4 guy
Michael Soroka sure-footed goodwhenhe pitched against u with the Nationals
Seth Lugo playoff experience good 4 or 5 guy with the Royals
Jose Bautista with the orioles add to the bullpen
Zack Eflin a good number 4 or 5 guy in rotation
Tyler Anderson used to be a Dodger can be 5th guy in rotation or come out of bullpen when playoff get here.
And finnally if you go get Chapman in Boston go get Buehler to be number 5 and bring him home in the rotation and get Trevor Story to play shortstop and have Betts go back to right field and get rid of Conforto where then Teoscar will go play leftfield u do that I bet Betts starts hitting better.
Dodgers SP after All Star Break and before trade deadline.
1. Yamamoto
2. Glasnow
3. Snell
4. Kershaw
5. Ohtani
6. May
7. Sheehan
8. Casparius
9. Knack
Seriously, Heaney, TA, Buehler, Eflin, Soroka? Maybe one or two beat out Casparius and Knack, but would not move any of the top 7 out. Lugo and Keller would be good additions, but not at the expense of the prospect capital. And I am not sure that I would start Keller over Sheehan. The Dodgers do not need back of the rotation pitchers.
Yamamoto averages about 5 2/3 innings per start as does Dustin May. Kershaw averages 5 innings. If you eliminate the game he was removed for rain, he is averaging 5 1/3 innings per start.
Sheehan has 2 starts after a year off due to TJ surgery. He is average 4.5 innings per start: one 4.0 IP and one 5.0 IP.
Glasnow put up 5.0 innings, allowing 1 unearned run on 2 hits and 3 BB, with 5 K in his first start post rehab. I expect similar results from Snell once he returns after the AS break.
· Yamamoto – 18 starts – 10 > 6.0 innings/start – 15 > 5.0 Innings/start
· May – 16 starts – 8 > 6.0 innings/start – 15 > 5.0 innings/start
· Kershaw – 10 starts – 4 > 6.0 innings/start – 7 > 5.0 innings/start – One of his starts was 2.0 innings but was cut short due to rain, not because he could not go longer. Also, his first start from rehab was 4.0 IP.
Are you going to tell Ohtani that he cannot pitch anymore because he cannot go 6 or 7?
This team is frustrating to be sure. But it is built with the eye on October. If all the pitchers remain healthy, the Dodgers will have the best rotation in the playoffs. Same thing was said last year, and they were not all healthy
Trevor Story? His batting metrics .251/.290/.414/.704 vs Mookie .246/.316/.386/.702. Not an improvement. Story has a BB ratio of 4.3% and a K ratio of 31.1%. Mookie has a BB ratio of 9.3% and a K ratio of 10.1%. Story has a BABIP of .317 and Betts’ BABIP is .247, which indicated that Mookie hits into more bad luck than Story. I firmly believe Mookie will improve after the break. Story? Doubtful.
Story – 2nd percentile in OAA with -2. Betts is 82nd percentile with +2. Story has +1 DRS and Betts has +7 DRS.
I am not degrading the SS position with Story.
The problem is Conforto. There is no reason to make wholesale changes to replace Conforto. If the Dodgers want to make an impact change, at least bring up Boston’s Jarren Duran or their defensive minded CF Ceddanne Rafaela. While they too may be unlikely, at least that is a credible option.
I think Betts needs to go play rightfield and Pages centerfield and Teoscar in leftfield and put Tommy Edman at shortstop or go get story or bichette both shortstops will be free agents. How am I blowing up the team by adding a closer in chapman or bring Buehler back and Story at shortstop. That’s three people to improve the positions that the Dodgers need a 5th starter in the playoffs and not may caspereius is long relief and Sheehan I think if he comes up for post season bullpen. I’d rather have Buehler or Lugo as my 5th guy in a playoff series for experienced veteran. One of thos six pitchers you mentioned in dodgers pitching rotation will get hurt before the playoffs. Either broken toe injury or elbow or hamstring just saying at deadline they should get a veteran pitcher than trust those 6 7 8 guy that you put down as playoff starters.
So you think they shouldnt add no pitching help and are fine did you see the Houston series and the pitching we had compared to the Astros. Were not worried about the Yankees now in the playoffs its the Astros that we are worried about.
You are moving Mookie to RF, and none of those players improve the team. BTW, it is irrelevant what you or I think, the Dodgers are not moving Betts back to RF. Not happening. Chapman could help but the Dodgers are not going to sign a player who has domestic violence in his past. Bichette is not going anywhere until this winter when he hits FA. In case you did not notice, Toronto is 2.5 games in 1st place over NYY in the AL East. I have been an advocate of Bichette since before his 2016 draft. None of your pitchers outside of Lugo make any sense whatsoever, especially Buehler. Also in case you were not aware, Lugo has a player option he can opt out for 2026. No team is going to pay the going rate for Lugo as long as he can opt out next year, or perhaps get injured and have the team absorb that salary and lose prospects.
You have no clue if any of the LAD pitchers is going to get hurt. And there is no guarantee that any of the pitchers you mentioned will not be injured.
Yes I am fine with the rotation as it is. The bullpen is another issue. I will comment on that list after the All Star Break. Top relievers generally go in the last couple of days.
Whether it’s Bradley or Bradley Lawton, it’s the same old nonsensical, forever sentences suggesting that AF completely overhaul a $500MM salaried team. Half way through the season!
Like Bear says, no time to panic. At 76 years old I try not to panic over much these days. And, especially not for a baseball team.
I expect the offense to come around after the All Star break. On the other hand, I have no idea how the pitching is going to play out. Too many pitchers are on the IL for months, return, and then they’re back on the IL a couple of weeks later. I would be shocked if Glasnow makes it to the end of the season and available for the playoffs.
It’s crazy to think that close to a $500MM payroll commitment they are trying to hold the pitching staff together with the likes of:
Matt Sauer, Luis Garcia, Lou Trivino, will Klein, Noah Davis, Yoendrys Gomez, Chris Stratton, Jack Little, Ryan Loutos, Jose Urena, Julian Fernandez, and JP Feyereisen. Yikes. Plus, several prospects in their system.
It’s going to be very interesting to see how the rest of the season goes. Right now, it’s not fun to watch. If most of the talent available to the team can get healthy and do what they are paid to do, it could should lead to another championship.
Carry on.
I suggest three players from Boston the dodgers should add. And I get hazed about it. Why others are saying go get Paul Skiens. And trade six guys for him. Really wow..
Totally agree. Here are the pitchers on the IL, Sasaki, Snell, Kopech, Treinen, Graterol, Gonsolin, Phillips, Stone, Hurt, Ryan, Grove. Stone, and Ryan and Grove will not be back at all. I get some tweaks are needed, and most likely they will be addressed, but other than Lugo and possibly, Keller, none of those other starting pitchers are any better than what we have. I get everyone wanting Butane back, the memory of his 9th inning dominance in game 5 is still fresh. But he has not looked anything like himself. Now, a back end of the pen arm is definitely on the table, but the pen will be bolstered when Snell and Treinen get back. Simply because a return to the rotation from Snell means a good arm like Casparius or even May, can go to the pen.
Great post again, Ted. Your list of 12 “additions” we’ve had to the pitching staff is truly amazing for a World Champion team last year. I kind of pay attention but until they showed up out of the bullpen, I’d only hear of 3 of them. Remarkable.
The Dodgers are not going to totally overhaul their pitching staff when they have guys like Treinen and Snell on the way back. This loss on the offense. It has sucked for the last 6 games. All the starters except Smith have been in either protracted slumps, or in mini slumps. Freddie has been awful for almost a month and a half. Mookie is way below his career numbers. And despite what you might think, all teams don’t have guys who go 6 plus on a regular basis. The game has changed a lot, and because of that, pitchers are used in a much different way than before. All pitchers go through rough patches. Scott has not performed like he did last year, but he is getting a ton of money to close. He has succeeded more than he has failed. As for Yates, give the guy a break. Offense did nothing in the top of the 10th to score. The ghost runner is hard to keep from scoring. As for your trade suggestions. Chapman has been very effective, not sure if LA has an interest in him. Keller has a 3-10 record, but a very decent ERA. But do the Dodgers need another starter? Think about it. They have Sheehan, Ohtani, Kershaw, May, Glasnow all on the roster now with Wrobleski, Knack down at AAA. Snell makes his first rehab assignment tonight with the Quakes. Bobby Miller most likely is not an option. Wrobleski has pitched better than you have given him credit for. Heaney is 4-8 with an ERA of 4.41, no thanks, Soroka’s ERA is over 5, no thanks, Lugo would be ok, he is barely over .500, but his ERA is below 3. Bautista is going to cost a lot; he is under team control until 2028. If we know anything about AF, he is not going to overpay in prospects for a reliever. Elfin’s ERA is just a tick under 6, hard no. Anderson 2-6 with a plus 4 ERA is no upgrade over any pitcher the Dodgers have. And as far as the home runs go, they are way up all across the majors. As for Buehler, have you even watched him pitch this year? His ERA is over 6. Betts is not going back to the outfield and the Dodgers are not trading for Story.
They need a starter that doesn’t get hurt. I said one legit playoff starter to add any of those 8 I mentioned. That would be better then casperiois knack miller or wobiskie in a playoff game. Those 8 pitchers I mentioned are pitching for bad teams not like the Dodger lineup. So that could be why there pitching stats are bad. Okay so do like these other guys say on here. Lets go after the number one guy in Detroit or then Chicago like that would happen when there going to thee playoffs. Those teams I was looking at are teams out of the playoffs. Those pitchers wouldn’t cost much in trades. Those 8 I mentioned are number one or two pitchers on those teams. So they become 4 or 5 starters in the Dodgers rotation. Okay go get Paul Skiens or Sandy Alcantara or Sonny Gray but then it’s going to cost you players.
You cannot predict who will get hurt and who won’t. Just because some pitcher is healthy now, does not mean he will be healthy in a week. And it is not always arm troubles that put them on the shelf. LA does not have any pitchers named casperois or wobiskie. They do have a couple named Casparius and Wrobleski. Doesn’t matter if you’re pitching for a bad team and your ERA is over 5 or 6. It means you suck and allow that many runs per 9 innings. How many teams average 5 runs or better a game? Lugo is the only pitcher on that list who would be an improvement over one of the top 7 for LA. And you have based their trade value on the fact they pitch for bad teams forgetting that length of contract and team control play into the cost. They might be one or two on their respective teams, but they don’t crack the top 7 in LA. They would not be 4 or 5 in LA. Glasnow, Ohtani, Kershaw, May, Snel, Sheehan, they are not beating out those guys. Keller would be expensive because he isn’t a free agent until 2029.
Seth Lugo is going to be a free agent and Mitch Keller so yep i did look that up. Mister Norris I was suggesting they get someone like that for the playoff run then have these guys with little experience in the playoffs.
Lugo has an option which he will obviously pick up. Keller’s contract goes until 2028. He is not a free agent until 2029. So, neither is a rental. Lugo’s option is a player option for 15 million. I don’t know where you read up at, but your facts are wrong. They have plenty of playoff experience on their own roster as starting pitchers. Keller has none. May has pitched in more postseason games than Lugo, 9-5. Snell, 12 games, Kershaw has pitched in 39, Glasnow has 10. They don’t need a starting pitcher, especially not a back end of the rotation guy. What they need is a couple of lock down relievers, a left fielder who can hit, and Max Muncy healthy again. They also need their three guys at the top of the order to come out of their malaise and start hitting again. Yamamoto got plenty of playoff experience last season. Sasaki and Ohtani have both pitched in pressure packed international games. They have plenty of high stress innings pitchers.
Don’t forget how great Casparius pitched last year in the playoffs.
How about we leave the starters as they are. I fine with rolling the dice on Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell, Kershaw, Ohtani, May, Sheehan.
Guys keep suggesting that Mookie move back to right field. But they ignore his statements that playing the infield is easier on his aging legs. Mookie is a pro, he knows himself better than we ever will. He will figure it out at the plate no matter where he plays.
Bear,
People suggest moving Mookie to RF, even though he isn’t.
People suggest moving Rushing to LF, even though he isn’t.
People suggest calling up Ward, even though he won’t be.
People suggest moving Smith to 3B, even though he isn’t.
People suggest putting slap-hitting, good baserunning people into the leadoff spot, even though that isn’t what leadoff hitters do anymore.
People suggest ignoring percentages, even though that’s not how baseball decisions are made.
On one hand, people say “this is what fans do”
On the other hand, people (like myself) say “this is what I wish fans wouldn’t do.”
C’est la vie.
Ole!
Wait until Mookie gets hurt trying to turn a double play. Then you all will be saying why didn’t he just play rightfield.
I am not going to say that. I have seen outfielders get hurt crashing into the bullpen gate. I saw Tom Paciorek get injured when he chased a ball in left field and hurt his ribs on that low wall. A couple years ago, Judge twisted his ankle in right field when he crashed into the bullpen gate. Guys have hurt their knees sliding into that concrete under the pads. Mickey Mantle tore up his knee on a sprinkler head. Mookie’s last two injuries that sidelined him for any length of time, came when he was hitting. Broken hand last year, and a broken toe earlier this season. Edman has the same injury now. Your argument doesn’t hold water because a player can be injured anywhere on the field. If one could predict injuries to players, it would make who you sign and who you do not a lot easier. Yankees just lost Schmitt to surgery.
I cal B.S. on Mookie. OF is easier on the body than middle infield. We would be a much better defensive team with him in RF and Rojas at SS.
You can call BS all you want, but if he believes it, that is his decision. Since I have never played at that level, I have to take the man at his word. But he is also a team-oriented guy. I am sure if the Dodgers said, look, we need you back in right, he would go there. Sorry, Miggy Ro is no longer an everyday SS. He is elite defensively, but the strain on his legs, which are older than Betts, would be too much over the long haul. Suggestion would be finding a SS and centerfielder, Move Pages to right, and Teo to left, cut Conforto, move Mookie to second.
Rojas can play two of three like Will does. Then Kim can play the other games at short. That is clearly the best for the team. Mookie might have good numbers according to the nerds who are ruining baseball but my eyes tell me that Freema bails him out of an error about once per game. Those are on routine ground balls he’s making bad throws on.
That isn’t going to happen. Yes, he still makes some questionable throws. Freddie has bailed the entire infield out more than a few times. Quit focusing just on Mookie. Rojas made a bad play yesterday.
Don’t trust the numbers, trust me!
The numbers show the result, your eyes see the play. Freddie making a great play makes the bad throws just look like outs. I focus on Mookie because putting him back in RF makes the whole defense better. I think defense and pitching matter.
yes, I hear that. I do think that the team preferences pitching on a much higher level than defense. They seem to think that positioning, and the type of pictures they recruit both lead to less importance in defensive acumen.
In catching up with posts here I can see a change in tone, and the 6 game losing streak, the longest since 2019, has seemingly elevated tensions.
The pitching is what is and what it has been all season. Will it improve after the break? I think so but of course there are no guarantees.
From The Athletic:
“Their stars also just aren’t performing, save for Will Smith. From June 1 through Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández have combined to hit .225/.294/.379, good for an 86 wRC+. Wednesday, they combined to go hitless in 11 at-bats but drove in both runs on an Ohtani walk and a Betts sacrifice fly.
The two runs were their second-most in a game in this losing stretch. The team is also 1 for 19 WRISP recently.”
The offense is stalled and from what I’ve been able to read appears tired. I am hopeful the needed rest will help.That said, personally I don’t expect Mookie to elevate his offensive game to previous levels and Freddie may be slowing due to age and injury. I believe a 70% Freddie Freeman is an asset, and him scooping Betts’ wild throws can be extremely valuable.
It feels doubtful this is a 100 win team but I believe they will win the Division and remain the team to beat in the post season tournament.
Welcome back to Badger and to thoughtful posts!
Great piece Bear.
So you want to me a GM?
It seems to me that being a GM or President of Baseball Operations is a tough job even at 7 million a year. It seems to me it’s an educated crap-shoot. There is so much data to sort through and so many sources for that information, I’m not sure how you ever can come to a conclusion. And on the pitching side, good luck finding any experienced pitcher who hasn’t had arm issues at some point. You get to guess based on evaluation of mechanics and speculation as to whose arm is going to fall off and when.
It’s a job that I would have no interest in and seldom venture into that world, even with my opinions about trades and obtaining players.
I know a lot about coaching, the X’s and 0’s, how to teach skills, how to communicate with players, how to recognize talent, how to make every attempt to keep players healthy and rested. And experience knowing the stages that a successful team needs to go through the be champions; the phases of “forming, storming and norming that a team must progress through to get cohesion. That cohesion and bonding leads to comments after victories like “we’ve overcome so much together”, “nobody thought we could do this” and “I love and play for my teammates”. That becomes a reality by working through stages to become a winning team.
But I have NO idea how to be a General Manager.
The Dodger’s brain trust is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, in MLB. But it’s still an inexact science even with all of the information available. Players aren’t robots. As a player and coach I often stated “sometimes you get the peanuts and sometimes you get the shells”. We have been collecting a lot of shells lately. Sometimes AF and his staff can seemingly do all the right moves and it backfires. Other times the moves are head scratchers.
Let’s take a look at the past year’s signings and you decide how it’s panned out:
Roki Sasaki (international free agent) Just about every team made a play for this kid who was a bargain and supposedly a can’t miss talent. But his velo took a downturn and there were signs he wasn’t healthy. Sure enough after 34 innings and 4.72 era he went on the IL with right shoulder impingement. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot for Zach Penrod who has 14 innings pitched @OKC.
So, that’s some bad luck, or bad scouting, bad review of Roki’s medicals. I suspected he will reappear next Spring Training and hope for the best.
Tyler Glasnow – is in his 2nd Dodger season. He signed in 2024 for 5 years and $136.5 million. That’s 2.7 million and change, per season. In 2024 he threw 134 innings w/ a 4.5 era. He had a health, All-Star 1st half but made only 4 starts after that with back soreness and elbow soreness in Sept. He missed 9 starts to end the year and the post-season.
The Dodgers made changes with his posture ie spine angle and release point to avoid more injuries. It didn’t work and he got shoulder inflammation
So far in 2025 he’s thrown 18 innings until last night where he looked good going 5 innings and 85 pitches. And we all wait for the other shoe to drop.
So the Dodgers have gotten 157 innings for $41 million from Tyler so far.
He’s never had a season prior to the Dodgers when he threw over 120 innings. Here is a brief summary of his season’s injuries:
2021 – Tommy John
2023 – oblique strain
2024 – back, elbow tendinitis and strain.
2025 – leg cramps, shoulder inflammation
So, is that bad luck? Or bad scouting? Bad acquisition? Or the Dodger’s organization thought they could fix Tyler for the duration of that 5-year contract?
They really do not have a good track record doing that. I hope Tyler is back.
Blake Snell was a target for many teams as a free agent. The Dodgers were delighted to get him and signed him for 5 years @ $182 million (many deferred) dollars. He’s signed through 2029.
Here’s a brief look at Blake’s injury history:
2018 – left shoulder fatigue
2019 – broken toe, arm scoped to remove loose bodies w/ multiple trips to the DL.
2021 – left abductor strain, Gastroenteritis
2022 – abductor strain
2024 – abductor strain, groin issue
2025 – Shoulder inflammation
Blake has 9 innings thrown for the Dodgers for his $13 + million for half a year’s salary. But we have 4.5 years left so see how he can help.
Hyeseong Kim – great signing and needs more PT, in my mind.
Michael Conforto – 1 year @ 17 million. I have previously written about his downward spiraling career since even before he missed all of 2022 with a shoulder injury. He hit .232 for the Mets in 2021, missed 2022 yet signed with the Giants for 2 years at $38 million. He hit .238 as a Giant.
Now topped out at .175 for us.
You have to wonder if that’s bad luck or maybe a poor contract decision for a guy who’s last good season was 2020. Or maybe we thought we could fix him with our hitting instructors?
Michael Kopech – 1 yr at $5.2 million- came to the Dodgers at the trade deadline in 2024 after 5 years with the White Sox where he had a 4.38 era a 1.35 whip and 416 strikeouts in 376 innings. He helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 2024 as a high-leverage reliever, going 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA in 24.0 innings pitched. He also recorded nine saves while holding batters to a .118 average. During the postseason, he made 10 appearances, going 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 9 innings.
In 2025, Michael Kopech has been on the injured list twice. First, he started the season on the 15-day IL due to a right shoulder impingement. After returning on June 8, he was placed on the IL again, this time due to torn meniscus, requiring surgery
Bad luck.
Tanner Scott – 4 years at $72 mil. 3.76 era. Tanner came to the Dodgers with very few stints on the IL. But Tanner is currently on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. This was announced yesterday, after he blew a save opportunity against the Brewers. Prior to this, he had been struggling with his command, particularly in closing out games, with five blown saves in his first 1/2 season as the Dodgers’ closer.
Kirby Yates – at 38, signed for a year at $13 million. He took the loss last night after the Dodger’s failed to score “Manfred’s Man” from 2nd in the top of the 10th. 3.9 era, 2 saves and a good 42 K’s in 27.2 innings. You can decide if this was a good acquisition.
I the words of Johnny Paycheck, you can “take this job and shove it.” While you have immense power over player acquisition, you are powerless when it comes to their performance.
Thanks Phil, I think the GMs job is a grind. You have to constantly make decisions that affect careers. And if the team is not winning, or you make a costly free agent signing that does no pan out, fans are relentless, and it can get pretty nasty. Take Scott. LA gave him a ton of money, which they probably had to do if they really wanted him to be their primary closer. AF and Gomes obviously were concerned about the health of Phillips, since he missed the World Series, and that knowledge was put to use. Prior to last year, Scott had two good seasons, one with the Orioles in 20, when his ERA was just 1.31, but that was a shortened season. Then he was excellent last season with Miami and the Pads. But his ERA for the Marlins was just 1.18. He had 18 saves in 20 chances. He was 4-4 in saves with the Padres, but his ERA was a run and a half higher. LA got to him in game 2 of the last series with the Padres, hanging a loss on him. We all know from past experience that AF knows what the problems are, and we also know he is not going to overpay for a fix. No five prospects for Skenes no matter how good he is.
Bear nice post on Bums thnx. How is the retina doing nothing to fool aroundwith. Skenes imo is better than any pitcher on our roster since we dont give rookies much opportunity why not trade them.
Have a second appointment coming up. No major problems right now. We will see going forward.
I don’t recall seeing almost an entire star-studded lineup look so bad at the plate for the last week.
Some of that is due to of a couple of excellent pitching staffs in Houston and Milwaukee. The Brewers have put together quite a stable of power arms.
Last Sunday, I mentioned that Tuesday would be a “must watch” match up between Kershaw and young fireballer, Jacob Misiorowski. I was right and he showed everyone his electric stuff. Now we know who the kid is.
Jacob, Skubal and Skenes are “must watch” pitchers on my schedule.
Then on the backend for the Brewers you get Trevor Megill, who calls himself Lil but everyone knows him as Nance, throwing 100+.
Except for Smith, Pages, Rojas and Kim, this order looks lost. As I mentioned before – “Mr. Obvious says there’s never been a lineup in need of a mental and physical break” like this one.
Ohtani is a good example. He seems to have no concept of working advantage counts. He takes fat pitches in advantage counts and then swings at the rosin bag getting himself out. He hits enough home runs to keep all the announcers claiming he’s the best hitter since Babe Ruth, yet leaves tons of RISP.
Freddie is again muttering to himself and displaying the most negative body language I’ve ever seen from him. He needs to move from the batting cage to the Psych Ward.
I can’t believe the pitches he’s missing.
The Dodgers philosophy is based on Slug. When we don’t slug, we don’t win very ofter.
In our 6 straight losses, we’ve hit 4 homers.
So how do you win while you can’t slug? I’d try more “small-ball”. We did try to manufacture a run with 3 stolen bases to go along with the 7 walks, last night. But you can move em into scoring position all you want but at some point somebody needs to knock em in. 0 for 6 w/ RISP just doesn’t play.
Pat Murphy, an old college coach, goes bat-shit crazy with his hitters taking called third strikes. Doc doesn’t seem to mind and we take too many good pitches. We also have way too many check-swings which shows me indecisiveness and being tentative. Get up there and get your hack at a strike.
Tough stretch yet the most amazing part is we will go into San Fran with a 5 game lead in the division.
Play better.
I forgot to mention a quick thought about the 10th inning yesterday. The visiting team must score Manfred’s Man and hope for a 2nd run. If you don’t it is obviously a major disadvantage. The mission for the home team is to get that free-runner at 2nd, to 3rd anyway you can; maybe a bunt or a well executed fly ball, like Contreras did.
But once that runner is at 3rd, I’m convinced that you have to walk the bases loaded in hopes that one ground ball gets double play, either home to first of in the middle with the infielders 1/2 way. I don’t think you can sit back and try to get 2 outs, stranding that runner.
Just my opinion but I’d be tensed to walk em loaded every time in that situation.
At a minimum, you walk a batter to set up a double play. If you have the bases loaded, would you have the infield play in? Or at double play depth? Infield in, sets up a force at any base but leaves you open to a ground ball single. I rather try for the traditional double play but either way gas merit and better than hoping for two outs that can’t move the runner.
I personally prefer to walk em loaded, Sam. That way the infielders have one less decision to make. You know the runner at 3rd has to break for home on a ground ball.
If you walk one to make it 1st and 3rd, the runner at first will likely steal anyway and then you walk the next batter. Or you have to guess whether they are going on contact. That play either losses the game or is thrown out at home for the 2nd out. But then you need another ground ball of fly out. I want one ground ball to try and end the inning.
Walk em loaded and the corners can play “IN” going home to first with no hesitation while the middle can play “IN” or “Half-way” depending on the hitter.
The first option is home to first but on a pee-rod to a middle infielder a 4-6-3 or 6-4-3 double play works just fine on one pitch.
It’s a huge jam but the fewer decisions to make by the infielders, the better.
The real key is to have a pitcher with swing and miss stuff. One who can blow hitters away. Like the Brewers. We currently don’t have that guy. I do agree with loading the bases and if they get the runner to 3rd with only one out.
Actually, the Dodgers have quite a few relievers who fit that bill, Vesia, Scott, Little and Yates all appear above any Brewer reliever.
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&lg=all&type=5&season=2025&month=0&season1=2025&ind=0&sortcol=10&sortdir=default&pageitems=200&stats=rel&qual=0
It seems some of our pitchers have no problem getting two strikes. But that third one sure seems elusive.
Passan on the Dodgers slump:
https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/45708588
Well, tough week for our Dodgers. It happens to every team in a 162 game season. Too soon to panic. However, it is not to soon to be concerned. I have no idea what AF/BG are going to do, but, I believe there will be changes. This is not the lineup we will see in September/October.
By the way, great write up Bear. Enjoyed it very much.
Thanks Ohio. Working on part 2, which covers LA pitching.
I look forward to it.
Struggling is an understatement at this point. Sucking the big one is more appropriate.
Yep, that about sums it up.
CJ Alexander was officially outrighted to OKC after passing through waivers. DJ Lemahieu was officially released by the Yankees. Joe Coleman, who pitched in the 60’s has passed away at 78. He was drafted 3rd in the inaugural MLB draft. His father pitched in the 40’s and 50’s.
Somewhere in heaven, Harold Uhlman is looking down and smiling proudly. For those who do not know Harold, he started LADC with me and Rob Schelling. One of Harold’s most favorite LAD players was Zach McKinstry.
As my wife added, maybe Harold pushed him to this level.
Since joining the Giants, Devers has slashed just .240/.348/.387 with two homers. However, the organization is already experiencing early teething problems with its relationship. According to Red Sox broadcaster Will Flemming, Devers skipped an early first base workout with Giants coach Will Clark, increasing concerns over his offensive output.
Flemming told WEEI: “They don’t yet know what is going to happen with the player. I was there the second day Will Clark was there to work on ground balls with him on first base and Raffy didn’t show up. So, that’s the person that these guys have been dealing with for a long time.”
I know, shocking.