For the last several years, the Dodgers have had to rely on rookies to fill holes in the bullpen, starting rotation and as bench or starting position players. Some have performed very well, others have struggled. James Outman struggled when he was first called up in 2022. He did show some flashes of what he could be his first hit was a homer. He became a starter last year and slugged 23 homers. But he also had a couple of stretches where he was slumping badly. The team stayed with him, and he eventually finished 3rd in the ROY race.
One of the best rookie debuts came in 2015 when Corey Seager was a September call up. In 27 games, Seager hit .337 with 4 homers and 17 runs batted in. The next year, he would be the ROY. Joc Pederson on the other hand, had a very good first half his first full year, but tailed off badly. His debut in 2014 was less than inspiring, .143. He hit .210 his rookie year as the starting center fielder. Cody Bellinger had to be force fed into the lineup in 2017 because of Adrian Gonzalez’s injury. He was the ROY and passed Mike Piazza’s rookie record of 35 homers, with 39.
So, there is a history of some success there. Miguel Vargas showed some flashes when he debuted in 2022. Then because of an injury to his hand, he never reached the heights most thought he would in 23. He has hit well since he returned to the team, but he is not getting a lot of chances. He is only playing against LHP.
Right now, the Dodgers are not at full strength. Neither in the field, or in the pitching department. They have six starting pitchers on the IL. There are five relievers on the IL. In their place are rookies, Landon Knack, Gavin Stone, Michael Peterson. Andy Pages is the lone position player who is a rookie. Vargas has exceeded his rookie numbers.
Pages has been up and down. He started off pretty hot, and then had a slump. He came out of that and played really well for a couple of weeks. He has dropped some points off of his BA and he really has not shown a ton of power. He is a right fielder playing out of position, and that was shown this weekend in San Francisco where he ran some really bad routes on balls, I believe Outman and Jason Heyward would have caught. But for now, he is the centerfielder. How long he remains in that position remains to be seen. With the deadline approaching, LA could opt to find a full-time centerfielder. Outman has been slumping badly at OKC and I believe he is no longer an option.
Of the three pitchers, Stone has had the biggest impact so far. He leads the Dodgers in wins, has a sub 3 ERA and threw the first complete game by a Dodger since Buehler did it several years ago. He has eaten innings and shown amazing poise for a kid his age at the major league level. Right now, he is on pace to be in the All-Star game and be in the Cy Young conversation. Pretty heady stuff for a guy with just 23 games of experience in the major leagues.
Landon Knack was called up when the Dodgers had to put Buehler back on the IL. He has pitched in six games this year. He has a 1-1 record with a 2.08 ERA in 30 innings pitched. He has some room for improvement, and his stuff is pretty lively. He is not a big strikeout pitcher, but his K rate is 3-1 against his walks. Most likely needs a little more seasoning before he can be considered a full time MLB pitcher.
Michael Petersen is a flame throwing relief arm. His perseverance has allowed him to finally make it to the majors at the age of 30. He is very happy to be in LA and it shows. He has won 2 games and has an ERA of 1.17 and a 0.913 WHIP. His performance will determine how long he stays with the team. Graterol has started a throwing program but is probably not going to be ready before August. So, Michael will have time to impress the brass. Brasier and Kelly have no timetable for their return either.
Many feel the Dodgers should dip into their minor league system and call up Andre Lipcius. He can play a few positions other than just third base. But so far, the Dodgers have tried to fill Max’s absence with Biggio, Taylor and Kike. None have shown a lot at the spot. A pitcher who is not on the 40-man, but whom many would like to see up with the team, Justin Wrobleski, currently with AAA OKC. Justin is a 23-year-old left-handed starting pitcher, currently on OKC’s roster.
Will any of these kids be around come September? How about October? It has been a while since a rookie had any impact in a playoff series. Especially with a bat. We will just have to wait and see what AF and Gomes have in mind, and how many of the talented young players in the Dodgers system, might be traded for seasoned MLB players.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) 12 – OKC Baseball Club 6
OKC scored a run in the top of the first on a Drew Avans double, WP, and Andre Lipcius run scoring single.
Nick Ramirez started as an opener for OKC. It was not without stress, he did allow 2 hits, but no runs. Ricky Vanasco followed with a scoreless inning of his own.
John Rooney entered in the 3rd. The first three batters reached to load the bases on a double, BB, and fielding error. Rooney then gave up a grand slam to Seth Brown. After two outs, Rooney then gave up a solo HR.
OKC scored 2 in the 4th, Trey Sweeney singled, followed by 2 BB, HBP, and WP to plate two.
A solo James Outman HR and a 2-run HR by Sweeney gave OKC a 6-5 lead in the 5th.
James Outman goes deep in the desert! pic.twitter.com/Bp3t6YgRsm
— Oklahoma City Baseball Club (@okc_baseball) July 2, 2024
A two out single and double scored the tying run by Las Vegas in the 6th.
The score remained 6-6 into the bottom of the 8th, when Michael Flynn took the mound. By the time he left, he had given up 6 runs on 4 hits, 1 BB, 1 HBP, including 3 HRs.
OKC went down in order in the 9th to end the game.
- James Outman – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (8), HR (8)
- Trey Sweeney – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, HR (11)
- Double – Drew Avans (17)
- WRISP – 1-14
Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 12 – Tulsa Drillers 5
Tulsa used 5 pitchers to allow 12 runs on 12 hits, 5 BB, and 6 K. 24 year old Hyun-il Choi was the starter and completed 4.0 innings. He allowed 4 runs (3 earned), on 6 hits, 1 BB, and 5 K. Juan Morillo pitched a perfect 5th inning, but Antonio Knowles, Christian Suarez, and Jake Pilarski combined to allow 8 runs (5 earned).
Tulsa got on the board with 1 in the 2nd. Brendon Davis drew a BB and José Ramos singles. Davis moved to 3rd on a Griffin Lockwood-Powell line out, and scored on a Yeiner Fernandez sac fly.
Tulsa did not score another run until the 9th. Three walks loaded the bases with 1 out. A 4th walk forced in a run. Taylor Young and Damon Keith both delivered run scoring singles. Dalton Rushing hit a sac fly to plate the Drillers final run.
Damon Keith was the only Tulsa hitter to have a multi-hit game with 3. There were no XBH by Tulsa.
Tulsa was 2-13 WRISP.
Great Lakes Loons 7 – West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit) 2
Great Lakes gets 4 in the top of the first. Josue De Paula led off with a BB. With 2 out, Chris Newell singled and Thayron Liranzo walked to load the bases. Sam Mongelli walked to force in a run. Jordan Thompson singled home Newell and Liranzo with Mongelli moving to 3B. Mongelli and Thompson pulled off a double steal with Mongelli stealing home.
20 year old RHP Jose Rodriguez started for GL and completed 4.0 scoreless innings. West Michigan scored a run off Carson Hobbs in the 6th.
In the 7th, De Paula hit a 1-out double and moved to 3rd on a WP. Noah Miller singled to score De Paula. Dylan Campbell doubled to move Miller to 3rd. Miller scored on a Chris Newell SF.
West Michigan scored a run off Garrett McDaniels in the 7th.
The final score came in the 8th when Mongelli singled and moved to 2B on a fielding error. A WP moved Mongelli to 3rd and he scored on a Jordan Thompson single.
- Josue De Paula 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, double (1)
- Jordan Thompson – 2-4, 3 RBI
- Dylan Campbell – 2-5. Double (16)
- Thayron Liranzo – 1-3, 1 BB, 1 run, double (14)
- WRISP – 3-11
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 8 – Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 3
Visalia scored 3 runs off Eriq Swan in the first two innings, including a 2-run HR in the 2nd. Swan completed 3.0 innings.
RC down 3-0 in the 4th erupted for 8.
- Oswaldo Osorio – HBP
- Alexander Albertus – BB
- Jose Meza – single to score Osorio and Albertus to 3rd
- Samuel Munoz – single to score Albertus and Meza to 2nd
- Sean – BB to load the bases
- Carlos Rojas – single to score Meza
- Kendall George – BB to load the bases
- Wilman Diaz – Triples to score 3
- Cameron Decker – Sac Fly to score Diaz
Four Quakes pitchers completed the final 6.0 innings of scoreless pitching to close out the win.
- Carlos Rojas – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Wilman Diaz – 1-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, triple (4)
- WRISP – 2-10
ACL Dodgers 10 – ACL Mariners 9 – 10 innings
Down by one in the 10th, Eduardo Guerrero tripled home the free runner. Guerrero then scored on a ground ball to 1B who threw to the plate too late to get Guerrero for the winning walk off run.
ACL Dodgers were 2-14 WRISP.
Pilarski sighting
Three coming up with the D-Backs. Gallen is just off of the IL, and Montgomery has been getting his ass handed to him. Surprising that he has a winning record of 6-5. His ERA is 6.44. D-Backs having trouble scoring runs. They are way down in the league in hitting. Nelson is 5-6 with an ERA of 5.69. I think they can take at least 2 of the 3 games. Then they finally play a team with a record over .500, the Brewers. Should be an interesting series and could be a playoff preview.
Landon Knack needs to take his conditioning much more seriously. He’s over weight, exhibiting too much body fat. sweating profusely, breathing heavily, while on the mound. No players should be immune from being in athlete shape. It shows how much of a professional attitude you have about yourself. Sports is all about being in shape, healthy and athletic looking. Plenty of great examples on the team to follow. Stone, Heyward, Mookie, Freddie, Ohtani, and even Treinen. These guys take pride in their conditioning. Even Rojas can do better.
Would be interesting what the Dodgers offered for Crochet.
Him and Arozarena would be a good haul at the deadline. Do not want Kenley back, better options internally and externally.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!1
Justin Wrobleski has been put on the developmental list by OKC. Ricky Vanasco has been put on the 7-day IL. Dodgers are signing infielder Alan Trejo who was DFAd by the Rockies, cleared waivers and was assigned to AAA. He opted for free agency. He could be on OKC’s roster as early as tomorrow.
It seems like the two players I have never warmed up to will be playing third with Taylor there until Max returns.
Pages is slowing down and Heyward is slumping. Earl Weaver would love Teo Hernandez.
YTD, Stone is the Dodger Ace.
Old blog fodder Tim Anderson was DFA’d. Why you may wonder? One reason is he had 50 hits this season, and 53 total bases.
Liranzano and Jeral Perez selected for futures game.
Heubeck also placed on developmental list, I’d presume same reason as Wrobeleski. Innings. His career high was in the 80s, he’s in the 50s now
Really good look at Treinen’s evolving pitch profile:
Reynaldo Yean back! Yean hit 104 earlier this year & had strung 11 scoreless outings in a row. Then he gave up 4, and went on the IL…
Returned last week and was lights out last night!
The Dodgers have promoted the following players from DSL to ACL:
· RHP Jhonny Jimenez (20)
· OF/1B Roger Lasso (20)
· SS Raynerd Ortega (18)
· RHP Weslin De Los Santos (18)
I am not sure why it took so long for Lasso or Jimenez. They both had good seasons at DSL in 2023.
It figures. I bring up IKF as a possible trade target and he goes on the IL with a knee sprain.
It seems everybody is guessing the same thing.
I would say that Outman showed a big flash in ’22, and Vargas showed none at all.
Outman hit to a 1.409 OPS in 16 plate appearances and 13 ABs, with two walks and 1 HBP. He struck out 7 times but his OBP was .563. Clearly not sustainable–but the stats are the stats. He was briefly spectacular and followed his debut with a streaky but overall solid ’23, finishing 3rd for ROY.
Vargas would be called up later i n ’22, with a big reputation for his bat-to-ball skills. He had more hype than Outman–but what happened?
In 50 PAs, Vargas hit to .455 OPS–and this was before the hand injuries. As a point of comparison, his on-base-plus-slugging was actually 100 points lower than Outman’s on-base percentage alone. His sample size was still small–but more than 3X what Outman had.
He also showed less plate discipline. Vargas had only two walks in his 50 PAs, while Outman had two in 16 PAs. Outman’s OBP in ’23 was above .350, and in OKC now it’s over .380. He gets on base.
And yet the Dodgers kept Vargas as a righty bat on the roster for the ’22 playoffs. Mindboggling. He was playing alongside Gallo, whom AF got from the Yankees for Beeter. He must have seen Gallo as upgrade over Outman. But was he? Outman outplayed Gallo in ’23.
As for this season, the Stone, Pages and Knack have been more than solid. Stone is a ROY contender, and I get the impression that Knack, who doesn’t throw as hard as Miller, could turn out to be the “workhorse” type who avoids injury. (I may have just jinxed him.)
Vargas, no longer a rookie, is also on the roster, but limited to the short side of a platoon in LF. With no chance to play 1B or DH–and no longer trusted by Roberts to play in the infield–Vargas clearly would be better off on a team that would give him more opportunity.
We could see dramatic changes before the trade deadline. But simply dealing Vargas and promoting Outman would immediately improve the OF defense and provide better balance and power in the lineup.
D-Backs got Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Alex Thomas back off of the IL today.
It was ruled a hit but Rojas should have made that play.
Ohtani’s pretty good.
Wah-Ooh!!! Walk Off!!!
Figures, we have Flaherty in our sights, and he has back problems. Rays traded Civale to the Brewers. Eddie Rosario DFAd by the Nats. Finally, do not tell me that this team has no fire in its belly to win. They beat Sewald with three straight two out hits and were down to their last strike when Freeman doubled home Smith.