The Dodgers finished their 2024 schedule against the Giants yesterday. Fittingly, Clayton Kershaw made his return to the major leagues after major shoulder surgery for the first time since his first inning debacle in game one of the NLDS last season.
No one knew what to expect from him. His re-hab starts had been less than inspiring. Kershaw though had declared himself healthy and felt he was ready to go. One thing you did know was that the ballpark would be full and the fans cheering for their hero.
Kershaw in his career has faced the Giants 59 times, 57 of those as the starting pitcher. His career record against them is 26-16. The only team he has more wins against is the Rockies, 27. He also owns a 2.01 ERA against the Giants. It is his best ERA against any division opponent. Amazingly, he has a better record against the Giants at Oracle Park, 15-7 1.69 ERA, than he does in LA, 11-9 ERA a little over 2.32.
We all knew he would be on a low pitch count and would probably not go more than four innings before turning it over to the pen. Even a veteran of his stature is going to have some butterfly’s coming back to the mound where he has been so dominant. 112-41 2.19 ERA.
There was an emotional impact in the stands also. As his wife and family watched, the camera’s zeroed in on them and she could be seen crying a little just before he made his first pitch. Naturally the ball was very high. But he settled down to get Soler on a pop up to Freeman. Fitzgerald then hit a liner to center that fooled Pages some, but he managed to make a snow cone catch.
Ramos then doubled to center and Chapman walked. Kersh got out of the jam by striking out Patrick Bailey on one of his vintage back foot sliders. The second inning was a little easier as Kersh struck out Villar, then got Estrada to fly out to center. Yastrzemski then hit a liner that deflected off of Lux’s glove for a single. Hill flied out to Heyward in right to end the inning. Over two innings, Kershaw had made 28 pitches.
The bottom of the lineup, which has been much better lately, then got busy. Lux walked. Heyward hit a slow roller that Webb fielded and threw to first to get Heyward. Lux moved to second. Kike then singled to right and Lux scored. Barnes singled extending his hit streak. Ahmed flew out moving Kike to third, and then Ohtani grounded out ending the inning. In the bottom of the third, the Giants got aggressive and began to hit Kershaw hard.
Soler singled to left. Fitzgerald then hit a hard shot down the line that Hernandez could not cut off and it went for a run scoring triple. Ramos singled to score Fitzgerald and Chapman also singled. No one out, two on. Kershaw then reached into the way-back machine and struck out Bailey, then Villar and finally Estrada to end the inning and get out of the jam. Sighs of relief could be heard.
The Dodgers went meekly in the bottom of the inning and Kersh came out to pitch the 4th. He got Yaz swinging, then Hill popped out to Lux. Soler up and he walked. Soler ended up walking 8 times in the series. Fitzgerald then flied out to Heyward. Kersh went to the dugout and the handshakes began. His day was over. 72 pitches. 47 were strikes. 6 hits, 2 earned runs and 6 K’s while walking 2. Not vintage Kersh, but for a guy who had not pitched in over 300 days in the majors, not bad either.
In the bottom of the fourth, the bottom of the lineup got it done again. Lux doubled. Kike then got his second hit of the day, a double scoring Lux. Heyward struck out, and Barnes got his second hit a sharp grounder that got by Chapman and Kike scored. Ahmed struck out and then Ohtani doubled to left scoring Barnes. Hernandez walked, and then Freeman popped out to end the inning.
Kershaw stayed in the dugout, and Joe Kelly came in to pitch the top of the 5th. Orel opined that Kersh had probably wished he could go out and give the team another inning with all the innings the BP has piled up lately. Kelly struck out the first hitter, Ramos. Then in typical Kelly fashion, he walked Chapman and Bailey, who was glad to see Kersh leave, singled. No problem, Kelly then struck out Villar and Estrada! Jumbo Jacks for all!
Hudson and Phillips pitched the sixth and seventh respectively. Hudson walked a batter and Phillips had a clean inning. Meanwhile, the Dodgers had three singles in the bottom of the fifth and scored a run when Heyward hit into a double play. That made it 4-2. They got three more singles, Ahmed, Hernandez and Freeman, wrapped around an Ohtani flyout. With the bases loaded, Pages hit into an inning ending double play. Jackson struck out the side in the bottom of the 7th, and Vesia came in to pitch the top of the eighth.
Vesia gave up a leadoff double to Villar. He then struck out Wisely and Yaz. Conforto then doubled to left, scoring Villar. Treinen was then brought in to face Soler. Soler singled to left scoring Conforto and tying the game at 4. Treinen then struck out Fitzgerald, the 15th Giant to strike out in the game.
Tyler Rogers came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Barnes lined out to Conforto. Nick Ahmed, playing his second game as a Dodger, matched his season total for homers by hitting one into the left field seats off of the team that had released him about 2 weeks prior. That had to feel sweet. Ohtani then hit a skyscraping fly down the right field line that went into the seats for his 31st of the year. Dodgers up, 6-4. Teo grounded out, Freddie was hit by a pitch and Pages grounded out to end the inning.
Brent Honeywell came in to try and record his first ever save. Ramos singled to center. Chapman then hit a grounder to Ahmed who threw to Lux. Lux’s relay to first was low and Freeman made a great play for the DP. The Giants challenged but lost. With 2 outs, Honeywell struck out Bailey to seal the win and get his first save. 16 Giants went down on strikes. Only 7 Dodgers fanned. The Giants had 11 hits and 4 walks, the Dodgers 14 hits and 3 walks. The bottom five in the lineup had 9 of the hits, scored 4 and drove in 4.
The win allowed the Dodgers to keep their lead over the Padres at 7.5 and increase their lead over Arizona, who was idle, to 8.5 games. They have 58 games remaining and left for a 8 game road trip to Houston, San Diego and Oakland after the game. What did it mean in the overall scheme of things? Well, it gave them a winning record for the year over their arch-rivals, 9-4. It was also a phycological boost for the team. The teams longest tenured player, and perhaps the best pitcher in the team’s history is back. Everyone had to feel good for Kershaw.
“Clayton Kershaw celebrates after he threw a no hitter. The Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 8-0 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. 6/18/2014(Photo by John McCoy Daily News)”
It was for a team that stumbled so badly just before the All-Star break, a huge boost to team morale. And it erased the taste of a really bad game the night before. We shall see how it affects the teams moves at the deadline, which is now just 4 days away.
Minor League Report
Tacoma 5 OKC 3: OKC dropped a game to the Rainers in OKC. Chris Valimont started and went 5 innings giving up just 2 runs, and 4 hits. He walked 4 and struck out 5. He got the loss, but Gus Varland gave up 3 runs in the sixth and that was the difference in the game. Varland allowed 2 hits and 3 runs. Sweeney went 2-3 with an RBI, and Owings hit his 9th homer. Trejo drove in the other run.
Frisco 9 Tulsa 3: Tulsa, after scoring 3 in the top of the first, Keith driving in one and Davis the other two, then gave up 9 unanswered for the loss. Rosario took the loss giving up 7 earned on 4 hits and 5 walks in 3 innings of work. Davis was the only Driller with multiple hits.
Lake County 8 Great Lakes 2: Great Lakes scored 2 runs on 3 hits. The game was tied at 2 after 2 innings, but then Lake County scored 6 unanswered runs. Copen gave up 7 earned on 6 hits, and 3 walks. He struck out 4. 2 of the hits were homers. There were really no offensive highlights for the Loons.
Inland Empire 5 Rancho 4: The Quakes dropped a close one at Inland Empire to make it a clean sweep for Dodger affiliates, they all lost. 66ers jumped to a 2-0 lead after 4 innings. Both runs coming off of Brito, who had relieved Makarewich in the second. Meza tripled in the top of the fifth and would score on a wild pitch. In the 6th, McLain homered, Decker tripled and then scored on a sac-fly by Rojas. 66ers went ahead with 2 in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the eighth, George singled, went to second on a fly out, stole 3rd, his 28th, and then scored on a single by Rojas to tie the game. In the bottom of the 9th, the 66ers leadoff hitter singled. He was replaced by a pinch runner who stole second. He then scored the winning run on another single to right field. Barera got the loss. Alonso was the only Quake with multiple hits.
Prayers for Freddie Freemans family. Freddie left the team before the start of their series with the Astros. His son, Maximus, is in the hospital fighting a viral infection. So, the Dodgers are playing a man short. Walker Buehler got knocked around in his four innings of work at OKC. 8 hits, 4 earned runs, 3 Ks, 2 walks. 72 pitches, 45 for strikes. OKC lost 4-1. Freeman can be placed on the family emergency list which he would have to stay on for 3 days. It would allow LA to add a player. The Dodgers were shutout tonight at Houston and played less than inspired baseball. Base running blunders cost them a run. They had the bases loaded and one out, Hernandez struck out and Pages flew out to right. Padres won, so LA’s lead is down to 6.5
Prayers indeed. Nothing else matters.
Young Max’s condition seems very serious, but it’s hard for us to know the prognosis. Must be a nightmare for Freddie and his family.
If Freddie is out for an extended period, I hope AF considers bringing up help from OKC like Lipcius or Ryan Ward. I’d much rather see them getting a chance than Biggio.
In less important news, mlb.com’s Juan Toribio tosses out a 4-for-1 whopper for Skubal–the four being Rushing, De Paula, Wrobleski and River Ryan.
Yes, it seems like big overpay–but that’s the point: an overpay would be required. Why would the Dodgers consider it? Toribio points out that Skubal, not Glasnow, would start Game One in the playoffs. (Seems right to me.)
Just for fun, let’s consider an alternative: Rushing, Pages, Wrobleski, Knack.
The Toribio package is too much IMHO. Ryan and Wrobleski are in our rotation and needed there badly. I would not include both.
DePaula is as close to untouchable as they get.
I would do your proposal.
Rushing, Ryan/Wrobleski, Knack, Vargas for Skubal. Still an overpay but I would do it.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pathetic game from our team in the opener against Houston. Stone not having his command and control in alignment. Our hitters can’t seem to support our pitchers these days, at least on a regular basis. They look like a minor league team playing an MLB team. Mistakes, SOs, no focus, no joy. I can’t bear to watch Biggio any longer. Help me, Lord……………..
Did not watch, but read that Vargas failed to score because he was trotting home as Kike got caught overrunning second…
Two base-running errors on one play?
Did not expect to win this one with Freddie out (along with the others)…. but sheesh.
That was all on Kike. Can not overrun 2nd in that situation. Just can not do it. Vargas did not run all out on the play but he did not have to if Kike does not get tagged out.
On a positive note Lux contenues to hit , even getting a solid hit off of tough lefty. Buehler indeed got hit hard at OKC. I do not see him contribute for the Dodgers in the postseason. And I have doubts about Clayton too. We will see clearer his next outing on WED in SD vs a very good Padres lineup.
Rushing with yet another bomb for TUL..
Prayers for FF son. Get well soon, kid!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Team reflects manager oh poor me
I am pro-hustle.
Kike screwed up… but Vargas didn’t? I think he needs a talking-to.
I also hope Vargas gets traded to a small-market team that could put him at DH or 1B. It amazes me that, after about 7 years in the Dodgers system, Vargas is such a liability on defense.
Good to see Lux hitting, but the Dodgers seem determined to keep him in a platoon. If Mookie is destined to play 2B, where does Lux fit?
Just 1 1/2 years ago, the Dodgers’ brass was committed to a keystone duo of Lux at SS and Vargas at 2B.
That did not work out well.
He got two hits last night. One off of Valdez who is a very good lefty. Just let him play against them. I think he will be fine. If Mookie is physically able to handle the job, put him back at SS unless they want Ahmed’s outstanding defense there every day. Maybe Mookie does move back to right. I am sure he will do whatever is best for the team and right now, the outfield is freaking pathetic.
On a play like that a player usually does not hustle to home play because he does not have to. If Kike does not get tagged out we are not even talking about Vargas.
If I am the Dodgers I move Mookie back to rf and keep Lux at 2b. Mookie should be well rested when he returns , he is a GG outfielder and Lux is playing superb defense at 2b. Put Rojas or Ahmed at ss and you are set there. Then bring in Robert jun. and you have superb defense in the infield and outfield. All boxes checked.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
A. Rojas is not likely to return this year if ever. I am ok with Ahmed playing SS. B. Your eyes deceive you. Robert Jr. might check the box on defense, but he is pitiful offensively this year. And there are not enough games left to fix his many faults as a hitter. 12 Ks in his last 20 at bats. 1 homer 1 RBI. You tell me how that helps this pitiful offense? If Muncy were back and healthy, maybe. But even he is not a lock to return. You are dreaming if you think Robert Jr is going to be any better with the bat.
He is better than CT3, Kike (we do not need both on the postseason record) Heyeard. and a case can be made that he is a better offensive option than Pages too.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not this year he isn’t. CT3 is injured and not in the equation. Look, I get the guy has immense talent, and had one really good year. But he isn’t showing that so far. I also get Pages is no centerfielder. No argument there.
Tiny sample.
You’d judge a guy with nearly 1,600 career ABs on his last 20? Seriously?
Robert’s career OPS+ is 123, or 23% above average. While playing for a crappy team.
Common sense suggests that Robert’s performance is likely to improve.
Just for context, Tommy Pham, who is 10 years older than Robert, has a career OPS+ of 113, and 102 this year.
New Yankee Jazz has career OPS of 102+.
No, I am judging the guy on his season. .220/11/31. An almost 30% strikeout rate. We have too many of those already and the guy can’t stay on the field. Not my job though, up to AF to decide which way he wants to go. After today’s debacle, I think the bullpen will need some help. Roberts made several wrong choices today and the players he chose cost the team a much-needed win. SD now 5.5 back and they play them two next week with a depleted staff and roster. They might be a game back by the time the Dodgers leave San Diego. AF has to do something drastic I think at this point.
I haven’t seen a report suggesting that Rojas’s injury is that serious.
It was a bad play by both players but that run would have only prevented a shutout.
Stone did not pitch well, 4 earned in 6, but that lineup, filled with backups and rookies, against a first place club, what would you expect to happen?
Vargas just does not look like a Major League player to me and though Pages shows promise, this team needs a lineup of players who know what they are doing and can be trusted to get it done down the stretch. Obviously that lineup includes Mookie, Freddie and Muncy.
I am anti- getting shut out too.
Not much you can say about the game. They sure did not seem like they wanted to be there. And there might have been a lot of concern for their teammate’s family. Once again, life intervenes. Very hard on parents and friends when one’s child is ill. And it seems it started when he attended the All-Star game. So just maybe when Freddie left the home run derby before Teo won, he had good reason. But what last night really showed me is that with that lineup, missing three of their best players, they couldn’t beat a AAA team. Changes need to be made. Pages hasn’t shown any power in weeks and he damn sure is not a centerfielder. Vargas might be a very good player at AAA, but he has shown nothing at this level to make me believe he is more than a AAAA guy. The run he would have scored would not have mattered. But Teo up with the bags juiced and one out needs to be way more selective than he was. He was chasing phantoms up there and showed his biggest weakness as a hitter. Lack of patience. Then with 2 outs, Pages hits a harmless fly to right. Dodgers hit several to the warning track. Rookies starting the next two games, and unless the pull some offense out of their butts, they are going to get swept. Apple’s broadcast team avoided saying anything about the cheating scandal when they were talking about the Stros 2017 title. Glad the game is on Sportsnet tonight.
Thanks for the review Bear. Between you and the box score, this was a clunker. I don’t have Apple TV and yesterday seemed like a perfect time to NOT have it. Mercy, 15 strikeouts. Tayler Scott looks like he really struggled in the 9th?
It is painfully obvious that without some major upgrades in the outfield, and the starting pitching, this team is going to have trouble holding on to its lead in the division, much less winning in the playoffs.
Have to do everything possible to bring in Robert jun. No way around it. Would help on defense and provide another big bat to lengthen the lineup.
If we can not get a top of the rotation starter ( I think Crochet is out of the question with his demands) built a shutdown bullpen. Bring in Tanner Scott.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robert Jr. solves one problem, center field defense. He has struck out 12 times in his last 20 at bats. Right now, he is not a BIG BAT, he is a black hole and has been for most of the year. You want a big bat? Brent Rooker. .288 BA, 25 homers and 72 driven in. 3 homers and 5 driven in during his last 5 games and only 1 K. Yes, he is not a centerfielder, but you stick him in left, and Teo in right, and there is some outfield power. Stick Outman in center for his defense against RHP. Kike can play there against LHP. He is a better defender than Pages. Rooker is not going to cost you what Robert will. Then you pray both Mookie and Muncy come back. Or, you go find a 3rd baseman with some pop, Parades would be nice. Lane Thomas is hitting better than Robert Jr. You can’t trade for a guy this late in the year and hope he FINDS it.
Bear,
we have got to get a cf. Robert jr. May not be the answer but he mb. No matter who u get it is a risk injury wise or performance. Smith is not doing a thing for us now but his track record says he could. As bad as Robert has been he has a star past. If not Robert mb somebody else. Rooker might help with a bat but he could slump as well and expose his poor defense. My priority would be a cf who is also a hitter/we do not have that now.
second, a frontline pitcher. If Yamamoto comes back and can perform plus miller getting his act together we would have a shot. But, after the deadline we got what we got. A lot of ifs in the rotation. If all falls our way we could compete. Yamamoto is iffy, miller iffy, kershaw iffy, Buehler looks to be done, stone iffy.
mb go after a couple of overpowering bullpen guys. This would shorten the game and limit the need for sp. currently, this team is very mediocre and without Betts, Muncy, freeman, we will be lucky to score much less win.
I get it, I really do. Do they take the chance and trade that many assets for an oft injured player who is having a terrible year? Does a change of scenery help? Maybe being in a lineup where he does not have to be THE MAN is the answer. I do not know. But I also know there are cheaper good defensive center fielders who might be available and not having such bad offensive seasons. Lane Thomas is one of those. Right now, Robert is not a hitter. He is a black hole in the lineup, and strikeouts are worthless at bats. As for Buehler, he is still working on some things and trying to integrate the changes he made while down in Florida into his delivery. Saying he is done is a little premature right now. The plan has been for him to make several starts at AAA. If he has not improved by # 3. We will know it. I just do not believe that Robert Jr is the answer to all of their offensive problems. If they trade for the guy, and all of a sudden, he is Mike Trout 10 years ago. I will gladly eat crow.
What is the boy genius waiting on perhaps reinforcements are not coming. This team needs a Gibson type to get them to have some energy.
Sandy, those kinds of guys do not exist in the game anymore. Pham would come close but does not have the same skill set. Dodgers could use a player with his energy. But that is not their problem. Energy is not going to overcome those injuries. But maybe getting pissed at being hit by a pitch after 2 homers and someone getting tossed would.
I don’t believe this is about energy and getting motivated, this is about ability. That lineup, including a rookie on the mound, cannot be expected to compete with the better clubs in this league.
Changes are coming and they may be costly. Stand by.
Agree
Agreed that he would help the defense, but as Bear says, right now he’s no “big bat”. One good year doesn’t make him a star. He can’t make contact with the baseball this season. We already have one of those. CT3. Rooker is having an outstanding offensive season. I would prefer a proven bat. Not one that may show up. Again, we have enough of those right now. I like Bear’s platoon of Outman and Kiki. Sure, Rooker might be a liability in LF but he can’t be much worse than Vargas and his offense would more than make up for any misplays in LF (I hope).
Bottom line there are no sure things. Robert would shore up CF, but will he hit? Rooker could add some solid offense, but will his defense cost the team in the playoffs? Also, Rooker would cost less in prospects. Let’s see what happens in the next few days.
The play for the Dodgers right now is definitely not playoff winning baseball. So many uncertainties. Their position prospect players (Vargas, Pages, and Outman) seem to be getting worse in all areas of the game as the season progresses. That play Pages tried to make in CF the other day was a little league effort. Their collective minds appear to be somewhere else right now. That’s on them and the Dodger coaching staff.
The starting pitching continues to be in disarray and it’s anyone’s guess on who is going to be available and effective for the playoffs. Bear, I agree with your comment above. The question is will the upgrades come from returning injured players or via trades? Probably a combination of both. We will know in the next few days.
I wouldn’t want to be AF or Gomes. No matter what they do it will most likely be wrong in the eyes of those of us reading and/or writing on a blog and baseball analysts.
Good thoughts go out to Freddie and his family. It can be a helpless feeling watching your child in a hospital bed.
Carry on.
This is the first year in several years that AF did not have a MLB experienced outfielder stashed at AAA. Last year, there were several including Kole Calhoun, and David Dahl, who is back with the Phillies. This lack has shown since they are unwilling to give guys like Ward and Avans a chance at the MLB level. If I were those guys, I would want to be traded somewhere else. Best outfield prospects are years away.
That’s been my feeling for most of the season. Personally, I think the Dodger minor league system is overrated by the experts. Pitching, very good. Position players, bad. And, it’s been that way since AF arrived. Will Smith. That’s it!
AF did sign Jordan Alvarez for $2M as a FA in 2016 and then traded him to Houston within a month of that signing. Yordan was an All Star two years later. He signed a six year $115M contract last year. AF almost got it right. Except the part about trading him away.
Ted, everyone brings up that trade. At the time, it made perfect sense. Alvarez did not play a single game in the Dodger system. No one, not even Freidman, could have predicted he would blossom into this type of hitter. The other problem, he is atrocious in the field. DH and nothing else. Houston has been forced to use him in the outfield at times. But he rarely plays the field. At the time of the trade, the Dodgers badly needed a solid reliever, and they got that in Fields. The sad thing is that since AF took over, and of course the position they have in the draft year after year has had some effect, but they have failed to draft an impact position player. Not Pages, Vargas, or Outman fit that description. As Jeff has pointed out, they missed the boat on a player like Gunnar Henderson. Gasparino and his bunch are definitely not in the league of Logan White. If they had kept Alvarez, he would not have played regularly until the DH became a full-time thing in the NL. 2022.
Alvarez and Henderson are days of future past. What we have NOW is the lineup that will out there TODAY and though I haven’t seen it yet I am assuming it will contain several junior varsity players.
It’s time for moves to be made.
I understand your point about Alvarez. Yes, it would be doubtful he would have ever played for the Dodgers because of the lack of defense and no DH in the NL until last year. I’m sure the Dodgers knew of his shortcomings yet they spent $2M to sign him and then traded him with a couple of weeks. It was an odd situation for sure. Basically, AF spent $2M to obtain Josh Fields.
Position players, very bad. I wonder if the coaching is up to snuff there. Guys like Vargas and Pages have real weaknesses in their games. Doesn’t reflect well on the FO. Pass the hat on to someone else, AF.
How much chance of that happening do you think there is? And who would you choose to replace him?
If they get swept out of the playoffs in the first round again there could be big changes. At some point Guggenheim is going to get sick of it, if it happens again.
Ohtani can opt out of Freidman leaves. That is in his contract. The manager will leave before Freidman does.
Ohtani is not going to leave if that overrated guy gets fired. Contracts can be reworked.
Shows you how slimy Friedman is. He put that in his contract to save his own butt.
Isaac Paredes anyone. Hell no on Roberts Jr. Brent Rooker and Pham.
Flaherty and a top drawer reliever.
Trade any or all of Vargas, Pages, Outman, and Kike.
I would love Paredes. I would take Thomas over any of the other outfielders, less expensive and more productive than Pham or Robert Jr and a very good defender.
Yes to Thomas.
Thomas has a lifetime batting average of .225 against right handed pitchers and this year it’s even worse. Lifetime OPS against righties is under .700.
Unless you want to platoon him he’s not the answer either.
Neither at this point is Robert.
Hunter Feduccia is on his way to Houston, I’m assuming to replace Freddie for a few days, although I have no clue of he’s ever played first base, so we may still be stuck with Biggio and Kike with HF being held for pinch hitting opportunities.
Perhaps Feduccia will catch and Smith will play first base. Barnes may catch and Feduccia will back up
Could be a good time to see smith play in the infield. Bad times produce opportunities. We’ve learned a lot about our young pitchers. Because of injuries and for the most part they have passed the test.
Adversity will show the fans how the Dodgers are made of in their competitive spirit. They could lie down and feel sorry for themselves or they can go with the next man up theory. This isn’t permanent but for a short time the players that were relying on. The fans need to be more supportive now than when the Dodgers have their full roster. Personally I think they will hold their margin in the division. This is where we see if the Dodgers are contenders or pretenders. I’ll take off my coaching hat now.😎
I do not know it all, never have. I base what I post on observation. I have like all of you, watched Freidman closely since he took over in November of 2014. Those of you who do remember was that he made a flurry of roster changes and trades before spring training even began in 2015. He still had a 1-2 punch in the starting rotation, Kersh-Greinke. His first trade in November brought in 2 relievers, Peralta-Liberatore. He let Hanley leave in free agency. He then got rid of Haren, Gordon and Miguel Rojas, then he traded Kemp. Most of his major moves have come in the winter. Yes, I know he traded for first Darvish, then Machado, then Scherzer-Turner. But I doubt he ever had as much pressure to pull the trigger on a major trade as he does right now. Over 1 billion dollars spent on talent over the winter. And 300 mil of it is missing in action, Yamamoto, 125 million has been on the shelf, and just returned, but has not pitched as well lately, Glasnow. He is only getting his money’s worth from Ohtani and Hernandez. His rookie pitchers are doing better than his big money guys and his young position players would be better served elsewhere. Fans are restless, ownership has to be concerned, and perhaps the biggest thing, at least in my eyes, there is not a team in either league that is afraid of this team at all. What is there to fear? Three thirty homer guys are missing. Their defense in the outfield is suspect, their pitching is erratic and can be beaten. Unless they do something really drastic that works, they are nowhere near the team that left spring training and not a post season threat at all.
You just made a great case for change.
Dodgers and Philly are the only NL teams over 60 wins. 6.5 games up.
Betts, graterol, grove and brasier on the road back.
lux seems to have figured it out.
Sometimes, I waffle on if Skubal even fits in:
Glasnow
Kershaw
Stone
Wrobleski
Knack
Miller
Yamamoto waits in the wings.
maybe a BIG unexpected bat to really fill out the order?
100%
“Lux seems to have figured it out”
His ops+ is up to 80 now!
With a .286 OBP! .235 avg…what a star!
Give the guy a break. He has been hitting better and he missed a whole year. He might not be a star, but he is making his way back to the kind of hitter he used to be.
Skubal would fit at the top.
His record just improved to 12-3 with a 2.35 ERA. He’s a Cy Young candidate on a mediocre team.
Jeff, have you published thoughts on Chris Campos?
Actually I have been writing quite a bit about Campos. But I have done a solitary write up on him yet. I will try during my rehab.
AF is not going to overpay for anyone (nor should he), so unless he finds a fair deal I’m not expecting anything earth shattering by the trade deadline. My guess is he will ride it out hoping to plug holes on the roster as players come off of the IL. Betts, Muncy, Yamamoto, Rojas & all the relievers are better than any trade out there. If it doesn’t work this season then it’s on to 2025.
I wanted a bat last year and I again want one this year. I like Robert Jr but if the Dodgers want to overpay then I would go after Royce Lewis 3B. I want to live with Outman in CF full time with Pages in RF and T. Hernandez in LF also full time.
The Dodgers might not have a good Playoff rotation and the Aces they might want might not have enough innings in them to pitch in the playoffs. Therefore it would be dangerous to trade two or three of the following: Ryan, Miller, Knack, Wrobleski, Stone to get either Skubal or Crochet.
Here is my playoff team:
Ohtani
Betts
Freeman
Smith
Lewis
Lux
Hernandez
Outman
Pages
Here is my rotation to get to the playoffs:
Miller, Kershaw, Glassnow, Yamamoto, Stone, Wrobleski, Ryan, Knack, Buehler
But is Lewis on the market???
There is no way Minnesota trades Lewis, they are the second wild card team right now, only 4.5 out of first. Most likely they will be buying, not selling at the deadline
They can buy from the Dodgers.
Well Jazz Chisolm looks to be off the table.
Good, the Yanks can have him.
per Alden Gonzalez:
Source: The Yankees are acquiring CF Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins for three prospects, headlined by C Agustin Ramirez.
per Kiley:
While we wait for the other two names, it’s worth noting Agustin Ramirez is a catcher in AAA w/+ raw power (and 20 HR this yr), a good-enough glove, decent contact skills, and an average arm. Haven’t finished my Top 100 update but he’s close if not on there. 45 FV entering 2024.
Rosenthal’s latest implies Dodgers focused on a starter, OF limited because SFG and LAA won’t trade with LAD
($$$$$)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5662942/2024/07/27/trade-deadline-mlb-royals-orioles-giants/?source=user_shared_article
Bear has mentioned that as well. The Dodgers need a CF. I don’t think either of those teams could help. The Dodgers have traded with the Nats, so maybe Thomas?
Thomas is mentioned as are the reasons against
Tonight is a reminder that the bullpen needs help too…
Padres winning again 4-0. With the lineup the Dodgers are throwing out there against the ASStros they will be lucky to score much less win. The Dodgers lead could be down to 4.5 by Monday. I believe they have a matchup with the padres next week. If they don’t get some help soon this division will be up for grabs. We just don’t have a mlb team on the field currently. Our starting pitching is just not performing and our offense non-existent. I don’t want to be gloom and doom but we cannot beat good teams with this lineup.
“I don’t want to be gloom and doom…”
then don’t!
too much upside and reasons for optimism.
enjoy the present good play, anticipate better play!
GOAT u mb right but u mb wrong. Obviously total bullpen meltdown but the offense overachieved.
Not my term. I think Koufax is the best pitcher the Dodgers have ever had. But a lot of people dispute that. Game seven win needed; I would take Koufax in a heartbeat.
I agree about Koufax. I was referring to Bluto and his posting.
Got it, sorry, my bad.
Phillies replenish bullpen.
Getting Carlos Estevez from LAA. The Angels will receive Phillies’ No. 23 prospect LHP Samuel Aldegheri and No. 28 prospect George Klassen in return for Estevez, . @JeffPassan was on it.
Passan adds:
A quick reminder for the trade deadline: Public prospect rankings quite often are not updated during the season. If you think George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri are not good because they were ranked in the 20s before the season, you do not know ball. They are both very good.
Adds McDaniel:
To Jeff’s point: like Agustin Ramirez in the Chisholm trade, George Klassen is also firmly in the top 100 mix, if not on the list; has been since May when it was clear he was much better than in college at Minnesota. He was a 2023 6th rounder with well below average command then, and to make the point with Klassen further: I had him over Mick Abel in my Phillies live/private rankings and just checked with a few more execs to make sure. They also had Klassen over Abel.
6-9. Gulp.
Phillies #20 prospect doesn’t sound that like a great prospect to me. Guess I don’t know ball. And I went to that Passan link. Don’t know what it was supposed to find there.
I do agree there is much to be excited about. This is a first place team that should be ok in the coming weeks.
The Angels and Phillies are chronic trading partners.
The Phillies, Yankees, Orioles and Mariners have made significant moves.
When will the Dodgers?
Not sure when Bluto, but they will, have faith. This team may not be completely fixed at the deadline but I’ll bet they will be better, somehow they will get a hitter, or a CF, or a SP, or a BP piece, we want it all, but solving any one of those problems is a step in the right direction.
4 runs on bleeders and bloops. What might go unnoticed is the line drive to right that began the scoring likely would have been caught by the 6’5” Freeman.
This team, at this time, can be tough to watch.
Didn’t expect to win a game this weekend anyway!
They are very hard to watch, but what is more frustrating is a veteran bullpen coughs up the game. Dave just picked the wrong guys.
Seems like he does that a lot. And no, I am not a Doc fan.
The only thing I can say about Doc is that his players love playing for the guy, and that has to play into the reasons for them keeping him as manager. Of course he has to use what he is given, and right now, with a depleted starting staff, his bullpen has become very vulnerable. I just think he pulled the kid too soon. But I felt bad for Phillips because not one of those balls was hit hard. A bunch of dunkers and all of a sudden you have given up 4. But that rocket Bregman hit off of Treinen in the 9th was legit.
“I just think he pulled the kid too soon.”
knew it and hated it at the time.
The best chance they had to win this game was to let Wrobleski pitch as deep into the game as possible. But I knew at 80 pitches he would be hooked. Jhair was talking about it on the post-game.
Obviously they cared very little about winning this game. The bullpen has been run into the ground. Management’s game strategies and pitching management is weak, tired and predictable.
They just refuse to make any adjustments or change anything. Get ready but you guys are likely to be very disappointed at the trade deadline again.
Hoping Freddie’s son makes a quick recovery. Sending good thoughts to his family. No need for him to rush back anytime soon, this team has no chance at a title this year anyways.
“JHair was talking about it on the post-game.”
Saw that. He wasn’t necessarily wrong but that was classic Post Game Managing
“Obviously they cared very little about winning this game.”
Well I find that a ridiculous statement. Of course they cared about it. They just don’t have the players to get it done.
This team needs the Varsity on the field and all at 100%. When that happens, they will be fine. If it doesn’t happen, they won’t be.
Same here, unless you are in that clubhouse, you have no clue what they are trying to do.
LA HAD “Varsity” pitchers Phillips, Hudson, Treinen on the mound when they served up Houston’s 7-run comeback win.
Padres now firmly in the rear view mirror at 5.5 games out; AZ not far behind. Not sure the Dodgers can hang on much longer with this bullpen.