Well, I have a busy weekend, so it will be a little hard to do any research, just use this post to vent and share your thoughts this weekend while the Dodgers are in Houston against the Astros. I will post when I can.
With the trade deadline just a few days away now, the rumors are heating up. Jeff’s post on Friday was his last for a while. If there are any topics you would like covered, let me know, I will try to get them on here for you.
It was a successful home stand coming out of the All-Star break. There were a few bad moments, but you have to love a 5-game winning streak to start the stretch run. As of today, they have 58 games left. 31 on the road and 27 at home. At this point, they are only 6 games over .500 on the road, 28-22. The go to Houston, San Diego, and Oakland on this trip. Then Milwaukee for four and St. Louis for three on the next trip. Arizona for three and the Angels for two at the beginning of September. Their last long road trip takes them to Atlanta for a Friday-Monday wrap around four game series, then to Miami for three. The last weekend of the season they will be in Colorado.
Of course, the deadline is still the hot topic everywhere. Just who they might target remains to be seen. Fans want a big splash, Skubal, Crochet, Robert Jr. I have no clue who they will go after. I have my druthers, but I suck at predictions. Since I first started this post, Freeman has left the team for family reasons. His young son’s illness. Everything else takes a back seat. With the loss they had today, I am pretty sure there will be some ranting out there. I will update the minor league games when they are completed.
Saturday’s Affiliate Games
OKC 7 Tacoma 6: Bobby Miller started for OKC. The first Rainer batter hit a home run. After a ground out, he gave up a single, a stolen base, and then a run scoring double. OKC did not score in the first. In the second inning, Miller walked the first two hitters and then gave up another run scoring double. He then hit a batter, and the next hitter drove in a run on a ground out. 4-0. Trejo hit his first homer in the bottom of the second to get OKC on the board. Miller got the side out in order in the top of the third. OKC went down in order in the bottom if the third. Miller back on the mound in the fourth. After getting the first hitter to line out, he gave up consecutive singles the lead runner going to third. Then the runner on first stole second and a run scored on Cartaya’s errant throw with the runner getting all the way to third. A sac-fly scored the 6th run, and Miller walked the next hitter. Little replaced Miller. Final line for Miller. 3.2 innings, 6 hits, 6 runs, 5 earned 3 walks 1 K and 1 hit batter. Score, 6-1. In the bottom of the fifth, OKC began their comeback. Avans walked, was singled to third by Lipcius and scored on a Ward sac-fly. In the sixth, with one out, Trejo singled, Gauthier walked, and Owings reached on an error loading the bases. Avans singled in 2 runs. Tacoma put in a new pitcher. On an attempted double steal, Avans made it to second, but Owings was out at the plate on the return throw. Lipcius then got aboard on a throwing error and Avans scored. Game stayed 6-5 until the bottom of the 9th. Ward walked on a challenge to a strike call. Hoese doubled with Ward stopping at third. Sweeney was walked intentionally. Cartaya hit a sac-fly scoring Ward, Hoese went to third. Davis replaced Hoese on the bases. Trejo got aboard on a fielder’s choice and Davis scored. OKC 7 Tac 6. Michael Petersen left the game in the top of the 9th when he had a problem with his left, non-pitching shoulder. No report on the injury yet. 5 OKC relievers, Little, Brasier, Graterol, Gowdy and Flynn, combined for 5.1 shutout innings. Of note for Dodger fans, Brasier struck out 2 and Graterol struck out the side. Not a clean game, each team had 4 errors.
Frisco 5 Tulsa 2: Not much to say about this loss. Tulsa went ahead 1-0 in the top of the 4th, then gave up 5 unanswered runs. 2 in the bottom of the 4th and 3 in the bottom of the 6th. They scored a run in the top of the 7th. Driller’s hitters struck out 15 times. Keith hit his 8th homer and C Yeiner Fernandez had 3 hits.
Great Lakes 4 Lake County 1: Great Lakes scored 3 in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. DePaula was hit by a pitch. Mongelli then doubled. Nevin then flied out and with 2 outs, Newell hit his 22nd homer to left field. Captains would score their only run in the top of the 4th on a walk, double another walk and then a run scoring walk. Bautista replaced Heubeck after the walk and struck out the next hitter to end the inning and Frisco’s scoring for the night. In the bottom of the 8th, Mongelli singled and Nevin walked. They then pulled off a double steal. They then pulled off another double steal with Mongelli stealing home, and Nevin third. 4-1 Loons. Kelvin Ramirez then struck out the side in the top of the 9th for the save, his 8th. Bautista got the win. Mongelli had 3 of the Loons 4 hits.
Rancho 11 Inland Empire 5: Zahir Hope returned to the lineup after being on the IL for two months. He had a huge game going 4-5 with 5 driven in and a homer. Top of the second, Perez walked, Decker singled to left. Rojas then singled to center scoring Perez and Decker and he went to second on the relay throw. He went to third on a wild pitch. Munoz walked. Osorio hit into a force play and Rojas scored. Diaz popped out and then George and McLain walked. Hope then singled driving in 2. 5-0 Quakes. They scored another in the top of the third when both Decker and Rojas were hit by a pitch. With 2 outs, Diaz then singled to score Decker. Inland got one back in the bottom of the third. Hope homered in the top of the 4th and Rancho led, 7-1. 66ers scored one in the bottom of the 7th to make it 7-2. Top of the 8th, George walked and then stole his 30th base. After a strikeout, Hope singled in George. Hope went to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a single by Perez. 9-2. In the top of the 9th, Munoz walked. Osorio singled him to third and he then scored on a sac-fly by George. McLain singled Osorio to second. Hope then drove in his 5th run of the night with a single. 11-2 Rancho. Inland scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th for the final score. Linan got the win with 4.2 innings of one run ball. He struck out 6 and walked 6.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Thanks for all your posts and what you do for this blog. Enjoy your weekend.
Yes, thanks to Bear and Jeff for sparking all the discussion,
While the bullpen melted down in today’s game, let’s not overlook Wrobleski’s best start to date. He’s either a keeper or a more valuable trade chip.
But it sure did look like the “B team” would win this one…..
I appreciate it guys. Jeff will probably be out a week or more, so like I said, any ideas are welcome. I will be following the trades on Tuesday after I get back from my appointment with the eye doctor. I will update them as they happen.
Passan:
BREAKING: The New York Mets are acquiring outfielder Jesse Winker in a trade with the Washington Nationals, sources tell ESPN.
After signing for $2M this winter, Winker has been excellent, hitting .253/.372/.417 while playing a solid left field.
The biggest Mets addition yet.
Maybe the Dodgers feel the best additions to this squad will be the same guys that have been subtracted from it.
Could be. Dodger Blue posted that the Dodgers were seeking mid-tier outfielders, not the big stars. The Mets had been talking to the Giants about Conforto, but that must have fallen through. They also confirmed what I have been saying for months that the Giants and Angels won’t trade with LA. According to them, and I can confirm with the research I have done. LA and SF have made just 3 trades since moving west.
Meaning…. Belli?
Or standing pat?
They have to do something about center field. Outman is definitely the better defensive option, but his bat has regressed so much they just can’t keep him on the roster for the long haul. Belli is still out with his fractured finger. And his contract might be a deterrent.
Meaning Mookie, Muncy, Freddie, Yamamoto, Buehler, Kershaw, Miller, Graterol, Brasier, Grove, Rojas, (Gonsolin?) and now Taylor….. who am I missing?
A distinct possibility.
The Mets are coming on strong.
When will the Dodgers make a move?
They have to do something soon; good players are coming off of the board.
The LAT’s Jack Harris has a look at the Dodgers’ difficulties in the trade market…
https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-07-26/dodgers-garrett-crochet-trade-deadline-white-sox
Dave Roberts won’t be coming back if we fall short again.
That indeed could happen. He is a lame duck manager next season.
Promise?
Can’t promise, but a total meltdown by the team even with all of the injuries, someone has to take the fall, and it is usually the manager rather than the guys making the personnel decisions. Besides, Guggenheim loves the guy.
Good decision to take out your starter who is pitching a shutout with 2 outs in the 6th, having just retired Alvarez with the pitch count absolutely in check.
Not only did he take Wrobleski out who was going strong but he put even more workload on an already overworked bullpen. Had a golden opportunity to give the pen some more rest had he left the starter in.
There is always that argument that Roberts is coaching for October and how meaningless those games in July supposedly are. But then he decides all of a sudden it is a good move to take the starter out who was doing so well and yet again stresses the pen.
You see I am not even talking about the bullpen implosion that followed .
It is just another example that Roberts is a below average manager with not much feel for the game. We have seen this plot many times now.
A well known blogger would call Roberts decision that of a true moron.
Many trades went down. Phillies got Estevez from the ANgels to fortify their pen even more. That PHI pitching staff looks formidable, rotation and bullpen.
Dodgers will have to match (Scott from the Marlins or maybe even Mason Miller) .
Bobby Miller was bad last night at OKC. No control whatsoever. I have no faith in him and Buehler . Clayton ? Maybe. We will find out soon. As early as TUE in SD.
Snell with 15 Ks in 6th inning. Dodgers are rumored to be interested. Doubt the Giants will deal him to us.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“A well-known blogger would call Roberts decision that of a true moron.”
Not likely since that well-known blogger is generally an apologist for the entire Dodgers FO. He reserves the moron label to his blog’s commenters.
No chance SFG deals Snell to LAD.
Right. What I wanted to say: If I would use the words of a certain well known blogger I would call Roberts a true moron.
And right, that certain blogger already has the excuses for Roberts going.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!1
shocking, huh? lol
Roberts sucks if we have to lose to get rid of his butt so be it
Thnx Bear for your commitment enjoy wkend.
Agree that Doc has his moments where he makes horrible decisions, but that BP for gawds sake?
Phillips, Hudson and Treinen all sucked last night. Perhaps AD can go get Yohan Ramirez, Jordan Lyles or Nick Ramirez for the BP. Oh wait a minute he already has.
That other blog that has been mentioned and the chief apologist also sings the praises of the Dodgers FO but they should not be immune from the fans ire. Kelly $9 million, Hayward $9 million, WTH?
Lyles is a starter. He was signed on the 25th but so far, he has not been assigned to any roster.
Yea I know but the comment was meant to illustrate the underwhelming nature of that transaction.
I get it. Lyles is strictly AAA fodder.
Talking about the BP, Evan Phillips looks washed.
Little early for that. Prior to yesterday’s paper cuts, he had two scoreless outings. And in his defense, the Astros did not hit a ball over 70 MPH off of him. They were all dunkers.
I think the person you consider well-known is little-known.
Ok, my rant:
I still don’t understand those who continue to blame Roberts. Starting pitchers, including those on the Dodgers, are only asked to go 5-6 innings these days. You don’t have to like it, but you do have to accept it. Houston’s starter went 4.1 and gave up 4, the Dodgers starter went 5.2 and gave up nothing. Clear advantage Dodgers. Phillips went zero innings, allowed 2 to score and gave up 2 of his own. Hudson went .2 and gave up 2 and Treinen threw 4 pitches and got the loss on a booming 400’ home run. The bullpen SUCKED and you want to blame Roberts?
I see Miller and Buehler continue to blow chunks, Yamamoto is still invisible and Kershaw still looks like a maybe.
I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again – gotta score 8. The reason I keep saying that is because I keep seeing the need for it. The Dodgers have to find an outfielder who can hit and they have to find PITCHING.
Dodger starters over the last 2 months are among the worst when it comes to eating innings. Therefore the bullpen (and we have a lot of old arms there) has to log an extra amount of innings. Yesterday was THe prime example what is wrong with this approach. Your starter pitches a shutout, has only 82 pitches and gets yanked. The bullpen immediately implodes.
Loss. If you dont understand that I am sorry for you.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t blame Roberts for the loss last night. The Dodgers win and lose as a team which includes Roberts. I don’t like the premature removal of starting pitchers solely based on innings, number of pitches, or times through the order. By the Dodgers or every other team in MLB. Fortunately, the Tampa Bay manager, Cash, handed the Dodgers a World Series Championship by removing Blake Snell for no reason other than analytical fantasy that Snell was about to combust in spite of completely locking down the Dodger offense.
So, not only don’t I like it, I don’t accept it and never will. These are human beings not machines that can be programed. Use your eyes to what’s happening on the field and not a computer printout. Let Wrobleski show you that he should be pulled from the game. Especially, when your bullpen is overworked. And, then to replace him with a pitcher that is in a slump with runners on base. Granted, the Astros were very lucky with a four of soft, well placed hits. But, that’s what can happen when a pitcher is struggling. Nothing goes right.
And to see Roberts in the dugout with Wrobleski after he pulled him. All giddy. . Oh boy, congratulations on your first win! And to justifying why he took him out. I’m sure to leave Justin with a positive feeling. To protect him from any negativity that could possibly bruise his ego. To prevent Justin of learning how to pitch out of a tough situation that he created. Yeah, how did that turn out? Sure, the BP failed to do their job, but Roberts put Phillips in a position to fail considering Phillips recent struggles.
The Dodgers continue to be a mess. Offense works, pitching doesn’t. And, visa versa. Add to that all the injuries. Which leads to an overworked BP, the use inexperienced starting pitching, and a team with highly rated MLB and system depth that is vastly underperforming or not used. If these conditions continue then it would not surprise me if the Dodgers don’t win their division and have an early exit from the playoffs…..again. If it wasn’t for Ohtani I wouldn’t even be watching the games right now. To me the key is for the team to get most of the injured back and ready for the postseason. If most don’t return then no trades are going to make a difference.
Sorry for hijacking your post Badger. I understand your view on how pitchers are used. I have a hard time accepting the concept.
Carry on.
No need to apologize ted, I respect your opinions. And once again, another solid post.
I’m still of the belief that the Dodgers, when at full strength, are the best team in baseball. Will we ever see them at full strength? I don’t know, but in the mean time, weakened by numerous injuries and playing like sh*t the team is 6-4 in their last 10 and maintain a lead in the Division. I remain impressed and grateful.
Spot ON post Ted, as usual.
It’s difficult for me to be satisfied with pitching changes base on speculation by a computer, that a pitcher will soon be unsuccessful when they are sailing along. “Analytical Fantasy” what a great term. I’m stealing that one.
*As I wrote a few days ago, So there’s a built in dilemma with “innings and pitch management”. A catch 22.
The fear of over-work and arm injuries has made a quality start one where the starter goes 5 or 6 innings and 85 – 100 pitches.
Obviously, that leaves 3 or 4 innings for the bullpen, every single night. And soon there’s another concern about over-working the 8 guys in the bullpen, having to cover 28 innings a week +/-. The equivalent of 3 full games per week. The computer analytics decide pitchers use for specific matchups, using more arms.”
You made some terrific points like allowing a young pitcher to pitch out of jams.
I’m with you on watching Ohtani. You can add Judge to that, for me. Both guys hit mammoth homers yesterday.
Lots of rumors flying around. Nothing is concrete yet or confirmed. A lot of fun reading all of the posts by fans and web sites. Cannot wait to see who comes close to being right. The one obvious fact is that there at this point is a lot of pressure on the front office to make a major move. The problem there is because they are the Dodgers, teams want more from them. I would believe that maybe the only untouchable player in the system is DePaula. Maybe Hope too. Anyone else might be available for the right piece. Skubal is definitely on their radar as is Flaherty. But some have even opined that Detroit might want them to take on Baez’s contract. That to me would be a deal breaker. 70 mil over the next three years for him? Not a chance.
”Not a chance”
Why not? The last 7 days he’s OPSn .773. Lookin up.
A. Too big of a hit on the CBT. They are already over the highest tier. B. Where is he going to play? Not the defender Ahmed is. C. They can’t defer any of it. And just releasing him and eating 70 mil is not an option. Ahmed is OPSn .786. over the last 4.
CBT doesn’t matter, winning does. If the Dodgers believe taking on Baez is worth it, I believe they will do it.
I like Ahmed. But he is another DFA bench player. He’s back on the bench soon, and a switch of Baez for Ahmed if it brings Skubal is ok by me.
Phillips has totally lost his confidence!! I thought he threw very aggressively last night but just got dinged to death. Roberts over and over has burned the pen up. Not just last night but he refuses to let the starters go deep when they are pitching well. Then, he complains he doesn’t have anybody available in the pen.
to Roberts and the teams credit. How in the world do u win with the lineup we throw out there? Btw Treinen needs to go on the dl. Mb his appearances are too much after his layoff. I like him but his stuff is flat.Hudson had 1 pitch last night mb he is overused. Bring in Graterol, Brasier, and Grove for August.
the Dodgers have multiple problems. Pitching, both starters and bullpen and of course an anemic offense.I don’t understand with all the money spent how we find ourselves with a team with this many flaws? In hindsight mb Cease would have been our best pitching option. Teams and fans are thanking their lucky stars they didn’t get Yamamoto. Can’t blame AF on that one but Senga and Yamamoto seem fragile.
That was the first run Treinen had given up in his last 5 games. Over his last 15 games, only 3 runs. Treinen has been fine. He made one bad pitch. Phillips and Hudson blew the game.
That’s the only run charged to him. I could go back but he gave up the tying run in the giants series. He has been getting in trouble with walks. I am a fan but he hasn’t been sharp.
You are not wrong about what Roberts is doing. And you are right that Roberts may be pulling his starters too early and putting the onus on a spent bullpen. But are you that sure that the decision is his? The Dodgers employ a gazillian computer nerds to determine what to do in every situation. I would bet that the book said to pull Wrobleski and put in Phillips in that situation. He did not spend $9MM on Kelly or two years for Brasier who has 11.2 ineffetive IP this year before going on the IL.
And if the Dodgers do come up short again, then I agree Roberts will be the fall guy. And probably should be. Have to do something.
But for those who are ready to blame Roberts, are you so sure that if he is fired that the team will not just sign another who follows orders?
Probably right about Robert’s. He is carrying out the mission they hired him to do. Pacify the players, be positive, follow the company line. I am not thrilled with Robert’s but I don’t blame him for the roster.i just think that AF needs to really examine why we are so bad in October. Doing the same thing over and over is insanity.
”be positive, follow the company line”
Have you ever worked any job where that was not required? Have any of us?
What Roberts is being asked to do has made him and the Dodgers one of the most successful teams in the history of MLB. And fans want him fired? Makes NO sense to me.
I have to agree with you on the company line. Most of us not independently wealthy have people to answer to. I also believe the Dodger model is being emulated all over as Kasten and the Braves were years ago. I am not calling for Roberts to be fired but rather they change and improve the product. Because of how well the Dodgers have done in the regular season I have higher expectations than a division crown. The Dodgers have proven they can win the division, lead in attendance, attract superstars. What they haven’t proven is how to close the deal. The Covid season counts but it wasn’t full season detractors would say. Even some players. If after 10 years or more you can’t win a World Series somebody has got to b held accountable. Generally, they start with the manager. At this point I expect more. I am nobody just a lifelong Dodger fan but to be great u got to win a title.
Agree 100%. I am not one who says the playoffs is a crapshoot and comes down to luck. There are reasons why the Dodgers collapse and others do not.
And what is the common denominator? Roberts.
This is so silly.
does anyone really think the Dodgers, the most analytically adept team in MLB does NOT employ self-examination?!?!
WTF!
how exactly, do you justify saying the team does the same thing over and over.
Unless the “same thing” is play baseball.
It is the same system GOAT. What have they changed? Their system has provided division winners. We start the season with great enthusiasm, we get on a streak at some point, we get half our guys on the dl, we win the division, we lose in playoffs, we say it is a crap shoot. Lather, rinse, repeat. It’s a good system but not great. What’s silly is they are like some people I know who think they know it all.
That is the same system for every team in MLB! Every team has hot streaks and cold streaks! Every team doesn’t win the WS.
are you hoping for a team that doesn’t slump and doesn’t suffer injuries?!?!!
this could not be dumber
If all else fails GOAT just start calling people names.
“The same system for every team”
do they just pull names out of a hat to name the teams?
If they all “have the same system “ why are the results different?
who has had more injured players than the Dodgers in the past several years?
if u think “they all have the same system” how do they decide who wins? Oh I get it back to it is a crapshoot
This is idiotic:
Whos is “they” in this statement:
how do they decide who wins?
The results aren’t different! Every team has the same result by your definition. THey are ALL the team that doesn’t win the World Series.
Every team has injuries! The Reds had the most injuries last year. The Nationals in 2022.
that’s luck!
Every team has slumps. Are you doubting that.
This is such a stupid take.
The Dodgers probably do more “different things” than any other team. They go big in Deadline deals, they go light in deadline deals. They use homegrown pitchers. They use Free Agent pitchers. They use international pitchers. They trade for pitchers.
They sign international players. They develop players. They spend millions on a single player.
You really see more variety in other teams?
So silly.
It was by your definition “all the systems are the same” not mine. My point is they are different that is why the results are different.
the latest dl list had 14 dodgers on the dl/the most.
lets c I am dumb, stupid u can’t have a discussion without abusing someone. Very primitive low level thinking. If only everyone posting could be the GOAT!
Low level thinking indeed.
The “same system” I was referencing was the system that leads to a different team winning the World Series every year.
I don’t think you are dumb, I like your posts (and your calling me the GOAT) but this point certainly is.
The latest DL list is simply indicative of what is happening right now. Hence the word “latest”
If they were the “same” a different team wouldn’t be winning they would be the same. I am going to leave it here because I am watching the game. But only u the GOAT could define the “same” as different.
A “same” system that seems to consistently end up with the same results for many different teams.
Sorry that’s a hard concept for you. Hint: stay away from trying to conceptualize the lottery.
Bluto’s infamous luck argument.
May as well go out and buy a four-leaf clover and stick it up his butt.
All luck!
Padres swung a deal for RHRP Jason Adam from the Rays, who now seem to be all out sellers. Lowe and Parades would be nice pickups. Brandon Lowe, not Josh.
Get their closer too, Fairbanks
Fairbanks would be good, Tanner Scott would be a slam dunk.
IMHO you should have a clearly defined role in the bullpen with a designated closer. I do not like that closer by committee thing.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brandon Lowe has been trending up over the last month I’m a fan, but he is hurt so often, plus he’s best as a second baseman, and with all you Lux fans and apologists here, I know that would be sacrilegious
that was a good pick up by the Pads, Adams is a pretty good BP piece, and he can close in a pinch also.
Nightengale and a couple of others on X are claiming that the Dodgers and Yankees are in a bidding war for Parades. Since Yanks are in the same division, Rays would probably prefer trading him to LA.
He’s a difference maker
todays lineup is hard to stomach. Unbelievable. There are AAA lineups better than this.
A disgrace to the franchise , its fan base and River Ryan the starting pitcher.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Biggio, Outman, Barnes, Ahmed, with a rookie on the mound. Asstros, not surprisingly, favored again.
haha. Let’s win this one!
Interesting, really interesting deal, Per the Padres:
We have acquired right-handed reliever Jason Adam from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-hander Dylan Lesko, outfielder Homer Bush Jr. and catcher J.D. Gonzalez.
For those who want Scott or Fairbanks or Finnegan, Adam cost San Diego their #5 (Lesko), #8 (Gonzalez), and #12 (Bush) prospects. What will Scott, Fairbanks, or Finnegan cost LAD?
Andrew Friedman:
“I hate trading for relievers at the deadline. It’s my least favorite thing to do. The acquisition cost is totally out of whack. So I like to avoid it as much as possible.”
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3405247/2022/07/07/dodgers-andrew-friedman-trade-deadline/
($$$$$)
Then again, the traded for Tony Watson and that was a good one.
?? He traded McKinstry for Chris Martin a couple seasons back too…
Looking back, I wish he hadn’t traded Oneal Cruz for Watson. But who thought a 6-7 guy would be a quality SS?
Watson was instrumental in the team that was one win away from winning the WS, and won two games (I think) in the World Series that year.
Granted Cruz has developed into something really nice, but still you usually gotta give something to get something.
Per Ardaya:
Mookie Betts continues to swing a bat and has progressed to soft toss and flips, per Dave Roberts. Could take batting practice soon.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will throw his first bullpen on Friday
Roberts said Max Muncy’s progress is “stagnant.” Still dealing with some discomfort but tests have come back clean.
Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. Dodgers are reeling and the Padres are surging.
*Not much to say about this one. Our high leverage relievers were shitty. Phillips is having a rough time lately and what was a strength is now a weakness. *Wrobleski was good. I like the kid but Phillips gave up Wrobleski’s inherited runners and 2 of his own. An ERA killer.
*As the line-up has been decimated, the only salvation for the poor play was “yeah, but we’re still leading the division”. That may not be for long.
*I can’t wait for the deadline to come and go. I have “deadline fatigue”. I can’t take much more speculation and information.
*It’s good to see Gavin Lux’s improved hitting and he’s gotten more trustworthy on routine ground balls, His throws to first aren’t an adventure that much anymore, due to a better transfer action, courtesy of Miggy Ro.
He did let the ball travel on Will Smith’s perfect throw on a steal, but he insists on having both feet in front of the bag.
But he still can’t turn double plays. In a sense, he’s a “victim” of the “Utley Rule”. Back in the day, he would have gotten blasted into left field with that standing in the base line pivot. But now you don’t have to learn the dance to avoid a runner and get something on the relay.
Again, he failed to turn a routine double play with that piss-poor, stationary, in the baseline pivot. He gets nothing on the throw, that was late and wide at first. He just can’t move his feet. He could crossover to save distance (preferred) or drop-step, but he has that one lame pivot. It’s like his feet are in cement.
Orel said he’s working harder at getting the ball out of his glove. Getting a smaller glove and quicker feet might help.
*Orel and Joe kept bitching about soft contact and bad luck. Orel said those balls hit weakly, should be outs. Is that a pitchers thought, or what? I call it good hitting. Good things happen when you get the ball in play. You don’t have to have a 100mph exit velocity to get a knock.
*If you hang around lone enough, you can see just about everything. I saw the weirdest play in the Yankee-Red Sox game. The Yankees had returned the ball to the infield and quietly threw the ball to third. Ceddance Rafaela was standing a foot off the base, talking with the base coach, and was tagged out. I think about the first thing you learn in Little League is stay on the bag. The lame excuse was he “thought” there was Time Out.
Play Better.
Paredes and Flaherty?
Parades to the Cubs
So surprising (and disappointing, to me)
Source confirms: Cubs acquiring Isaac Paredes from Rays for Christopher Morel, Hunter Bigge and Ty Johnson. First: @JeffPassan
The Cubs are going nowhere; why do they need Paredes? Unless this is all about next year and year after (for both teams).
Hunter Bigge is a middling reliever and Johnson is a non Top 30 pitching prospect. Morel and two long shot lottery picks. Again AF must not have wanted Parades because he could have beat that deal.
Anyone else get the idea that AF is doing his best Nero and his fiddle imitation?
He does that every trade deadline. This can’t be a surprise to anyone here. Since most of the impact players have already been traded, I’m assuming he’s not going to do anything.
He’s gotta go.
I’m not a big AF fan either, but he cannot be fired. Ohtani signed with LA with the understanding that the front office would not change while he was there. So, AF pretty much has immunity when it comes to building the team.
Less competition for the remaining players, trying hard to find a silver lining
I’d love to have Ryan available 2 games per series to come in in the 3rd or 4th if the starter doesn’t have it, and get 9-10 outs.
Granted, if we don’t make any moves, we may need him to start Game 4.
Somebody needs to explain to me why Ryan was removed after getting Bregman and Alvarez for Alex Vesia, a LHRP, to face RH hitting Yandy Diaz. Makes no sense.
Zero sense.
mind numbing
it was idiotic when he did it yesterday, and it was beyond idiotic that he did the exact same thing today.
My fave part though? River Ryan looked pissed that was being taken out and that tells me this guy wants the ball. Don’t trade him!
Jeff please don’t bite my head off, because I’m having as hard of a time believing this as everyone else is, saying that rewind, and watch how hard Ryan was breathing, he took three big breaths just before he threw the pitch that got the second fly out to center, his uni was sweat soaked, I’m not there but he physically looked like he was gassed. I’m not defending Doc, I’m just observing.
now the flip side I don’t know why they put the left handed throwing Vesia to face two RH bats
Great points. No idea if you’re right or wrong, but great points.
I take your word on Ryan. I was driving through the central valley at the time, and was watching gameday on my phone, so I had no idea he was gassed. I still would have liked to see if he could have got the RH hitting Diaz. How else do you build their pitch count. The worst thing that could have happened, did.
Simple. Pitch count.
My guess is that Ryan’s 92nd pitch wouldn’t have resulted in a HR or an injury.
Vesia’s first pitch wound up in the stands.
Yeah. Saw that. Not relevant to the reason Ryan was removed though.
Roberts is a moron. We won’t win a WS with him.
Can we leave the moron comments where they belong please?
OK. He is a dope.
I remember a firsthand or relayed interview with Friedman in which he explained the reason they were so patient with Lux was because the bat was so promising.
Gavin Lux is slashing .293/.359/.517 for an .876 OPS in July 🔥🔥🔥
Well we found out that Wrobleski and River can go into a hostile environment and pitch great.
I am going to say it before we blow it. Unbelievable we were in a position to take 2 out of 3 with this lineup.
Vesia didn’t look like he even wanted to b out there. I don’t know who’s next but Vesia did not inspire confidence.
but, I am sure the chess player Roberts will find the answer. Let’s hope!!
We are still leading the game, we haven’t lost yet
Fingers crossed!
teo!! That helps
Lane Thomas is 2/4 with an RBI so far today, I think he’s Bears trade favorite at this point
Guy has speed, 28 steals, and he is a very good outfielder. Unless they get Robert Jr. Unlikely, he would be my choice and would not cost a lot. They need a starting pitcher, Flaherty, and a lock down BP arm, Scott would be my choice.
You guys weren’t listening to me yesterday when I pointed out that Thomas doesn’t hit right handed pitching. He never has and his stats this year are even worse.
We need an outfielder who hits right handed pitching. Winker would have been great, but the Mets grabbed him.
Not likely they’ll trade him now but Ian Happ would fill the bill.
Which of these guys would you rather have?
(Lifetime numbers against righty pitchers)
.225/.294/.390/.684
.278/.382/.468/851
.248/.351/.469/820
First one is Lane
Next one is Winker (no longer available)
Last one is Happ
Thomas also has a great arm. I wanted the Dodgers to get him or Rooker last season.
Rooker might be the better hitter, but Thomas is the better player.
Thomas has 28 steals, but also leads MLB with 12 CS. Washington runs, LAD does not. Thus Lane’s speed is negated as far as a base stealing weapon for LAD.
Also, Lane is NOT a good defensive OF. He is -7 OAA (#119 out of 122). He is -9 DRS and -4.0 UZR (#60 out of 62 for both).
I have been an advocate for Lane in the past, but I think I would pass unless he is going to be platooned with a LH hitting OF. If the Dodgers can find a CF, Pages and Thomas would be a fantastic platoon LF.
I am just not certain that there is a prolific defensive CF with even replacement player level offense available.
Could not agree more with your wish list.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes I think Bear has evolved. I brought him up way back and it was a lukewarm reception. It may not have been bear but Thomas was bad at the time. He hits lefties n can play cf. not the greatest but has upside.
Robert Jr is hitting .200 against RHP this year, Thomas is at .218.
Thanks
i know Robert has been bad but again with his history it could change. I would rather take a chance on Robert than what we have. Thomas is better than what we have. I personally prefer Robert but I would take Thomas as well.
Maybe you’ve heard, BA doesn’t mean squat anymore. Check the OPS numbers and get back to us.
Personally I think Robert could use some coaching up, something he may not be getting with the White Sox.
Red Sox activated Paxton, also Yohan Ranirez who they picked up from the Dodgers and Jansen, who they got from Toronto. They designated Reese McGuire and Chase Anderson. Teo with a big homer in the 7th.
Pads lose
The positive? They shoulda won two games.
The negative? They lost two games.
Honeycutt is a godsend to this team at this moment.
Biggio, if he just stops watching 3rd strikes, is maybe (just maybe) turning into an asset.
Dodgers don’t play again until after #hugwatch ends. Can’t wait to see who they end up with.
The positive they should have won but didnt. Isn’t that negative or is that your “same” but different. What a dingbat post!! I would have said WT. but I don’t speak like that lol
just kidding GOAT!!
I am now in a good mood. Dodgers win!!
👍
Honeycutt WAS a godsend.
Honeywell IS a godsend.
😄
Lol
wish i had caught that.
LOL!
I’m glad you didn’t!
What can I say? I’m a dingbat.
Just my way of telling you I read your comments. 😎
I appreciate the correction. Seriously. Thanks.
You mean Honeywell.
But Honeycutt was good too.
If the Dodgers add either Skabol or Crochet they could lose two from Ryan, Wrobleski, Stone, and Knack, There is no guarantee Skobal or Crochet will be strong through the playoffs. I like volume right now to help keep the rotation fresh for the playoffs, adding one Ace won’t help much if Glasnow, Kershaw, Yamamoto, Miller, Buehler, are tired or not near 100%. They will need three studs and 4 healthy starters who can go 6 innings.
Barnes, Biggio, and Lux really stepping up. The bullpen not so much. Dodgers bullpen ERA for July ranked last in MLB. Who knew?
The outfield is suffering from lack of consistent playing time IMHO. Outman was good at the beginning and end of last year and bad in the middle. Just leave him full time in CF and Pages in RF.
Heyward’s line last 30 games:
.174 .280 .372 .652
Pages line last 30 games:
.204 .254 .283 .537
Corbin Carroll’s last 30 games:
.194 .282 .417 .699
Joc Pederson’s last 30 games
.272 .387 .587 .974
Yep. The Dodgers still need an outfielder who can hit.
I just read they have shifted their attention to a third baseman which is what I have been saying all year. Rengifo and Hoerner and maybe Edman are being discussed. I like being right so I hope it’s Hoerner to play third and provide depth up the middle. Would love to have Hoerner’s speed at third now that Lux has said he deserves to stay at second.
Hoerner would help. But they still need an outfielder who can hit.
Mookie back to RF.. Let Lux stay at 2b. Problem solved with the of.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really don’t understand why the Dodgers have not tried to get Joc as a lf. Mb they have and he doesn’t want to b here. He has crushed rh pitching for years. Mb he doesn’t want to b platooned but he has generally been platooned everywhere.
I do not believe being platooned is a problem for Joc anymore. The problem is his LF play. He is now a fulltime DH. But I do not think he is a worse OF than is Miguel Vargas. Why not platoon them.
However it does not matter. Arizona is not going to trade Joc to LAD.
I just knew Joc has moved a lot since LA and he has been with a lot of teams. If he is a worse defender than Vargas enough said.
not now but another player who has made the rounds but hasn’t been a Dodger is Donovan Solano. He has always seemed to hit and hurt the Dodgers. I couldn’t really get any good info on his d. Is he considered a poor defender?
Let’s be complete:
Outman’s last 30 games – .120/.205/.200/.405
Maybe Arizona will trade Carroll for Outman straight up???
Everyone already knew Outman was struggling but perhaps were not aware of haw much the guys I listed were.
You continue to use the absurd to make a point. Everybody would prefer to have Carroll over Outman but Dodger fans would complain about how unacceptable Carroll’s performance has been. Just because Carroll ‘s stats are better doesn’t mean he isn’t disappointing.
What pitcher is guaranteed to be strong through the playoffs?
Nolan Ryan?
sWarren Spahn?
I’d love for the Dodgers to land Skubal, and right now I’d part with Bobby Miller in the deal, but not River Ryan. Of all the rookie SPs, Ryan may have joined Stone in “keeper” status. Wrobo has been good, but not as impressive.
It’s unfortunate that Miller is struggling but there are only so many spots open on the future rotation–particularly considering the big financial commitments to Shohei, Glasnow and Yamamoto.
Is Spahn available? Damn good pitcher. We should go after him.
I’d part with Miller now also but the problem is he’s managed to crater his trade value. Our deciding to part with him in a trade is a good indication that other teams might not want him as much as they used to.
His trade value isn’t what it was, but I think it’s still quite high. He was a first-rounder who looked like a future ace last season.
At any rate, Ryan has moved to the top of my “keeper” list of young pitchers.
Hmm…
How about a Miller-Miller blockbuster? Bobby for Mason, plus Vargas and Cartaya and ?? for Rooker. We can throw in Geloff to unite him with his brother.
Yeah, Mason injured his non-pitching hand–but he should be fine before October.
Yeah, he’s a closer–but the Dodgers could try him in the rotation in ’25. (The A’s had him starting in ’23.)
Hell, they could put him in the rotation in October.
Mason Miller is on the IL with a broken right hand. Not sure when he will return.
I think Warren died quite a while ago. I think you mean Strahm. 4-1 1.80 ERA and 1 save for the Phillies. I don’t think they want to weaken their pen. They just traded one reliever to the Orioles.
Looks like Mark bailed on LADT..at
least for now
Hopefully he will be back, he has a great site.
Always the same with Mark. He gets upset over others having different opinions and arguments and vows to close down his blog , wants his followers to beg him to open it up. This is really tiresome.
With all due respect to Mark, but that is not the behavior of a grown up man.
I like him and his blog, but I hope he now shuts it down permanently. Sick and tired of this kindergarten game.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He comes and goes Zeke. I wrote for his site for more than two years. I enjoyed it, but sometimes it gets a little testy over there. I saw what happened to Scott’s site with all the vitriol going around. Mark is a great guy to talk baseball with, as we have met up a couple of times, but like many of us, sometimes someone’s opinion just rubs us the wrong way. If nothing else, Mark always say’s what is on his mind, he is blunt and to the point. I am in many ways, the same type myself. Sometimes I see posts that make me want to scream. But, after all is said and done, we are just fans, we have opinions. None of us are going to agree with every one of them. Be tolerant.
Timmons is an immature narcissist. He should just go away. He loves to throw his hissy fits so everyone of his drones begs and flatters him feeding his ego.
I get it I really do, but yet his site has been one of the more popular sites among fans, why? I think it mostly has to be because he stirs stuff up. He does know his baseball. But I am sure we all rub someone wrong somewhere.
This is correct.
I just checked, and Mark wrote:
He is right, I tolerated him.
That’s how I got here, during one of Mark’s multi-retirements. And I feel right at home.
Except for:
River Ryan. Why is it that this kid, who’s now 25, comes up to the big club and the most pitches he’s thrown in a professional game is 76? In 182 innings covering 46 professional starts, he hasn’t been stretched past 76 pitches?
I swear that’s what Joe Davis said.
I get he was a position player in college. But there appears to be no attempted to build arm strength and endurance in the minors. Innings manage for the fear of an injury has gotten to the point where 5 innings and 85 pitches is PAR.
With a depleted and shitty bullpen Joe Davis seemed flabbergasted that River went out for the 6th after 75 pitches?
Want to have no arm injuries? Don’t pitch.
So, Captain Hook popped out of the dugout with 2 outs and couldn’t resist pulling the plug again without letting the kid complete the inning. And Vesia promptly gives up a big fly.
This is where I came in to this shit show.
I don’t want to hear any more about an overused bullpen.
I guess we won but I’ve seen enough of this over-managing. I’m out.
I sometimes feel a bit guilty for picking on Mark… Sometimes.
But every time he mocks someone as an “idiot” or “moron” for simply disagreeing with his opinion, I think he deserves to be mocked himself. Turnabout is fair play. What’s good for the goose…
Certain people indeed make ill-informed comments at times.
When Mark and others insult those folks, I think they are punching down. Why be a bully?
Perfect.
Lolz 😆
Another one of Mark’s rants, calling everyone morons and idiots and threatening retirement for the 10th time…..
Lolz 😆 😆 😆
“He is right, I tolerated him.”
Good one.
Go read what he wrote about you afterwards.
Again?
He’s Brett Favre rn
Given a choice, I now prefer Lux over Bichette. Maybe Friedman made the right draft pick.
I’m very happy for Gavin. He’s been great since the All Star Game, but………………… it’s a pretty darn small sample size.
I very much hope it continues, but that would be all the more reason to get Hoerner. He plays second (if Lux crashes), shortstop (if Mookie takes too long to get back) and third (which is where we need him most at this point).
Correction:
Hoerner has played only 7 MLB games at third base. Not sure if that’s because they didn’t need him there or because his arm wasn’t up to it. Probably should find that out.
Yes, it’s a small sample, but Lux has been a good hitter in the past so maybe his surge isn’t a fluke. He spent the all-star break getting coached by his uncle, a long-time batting coach.
If Lux keeps it up, I’m hoping he gets more ABs against lefties.
I like Hoerner too.
At any rate, I suspect the Dodgers must be considering Mookie as a solution to the CF concern. He’s played there before, and he’s a gold glover in the OF If Lux can man 2B full-time (or close to it) and Rojas or Ahmed can handle SS, Mookie could fix CF.
It’s increasingly unclear whether Max will be back. But consider this l-to-r defensive alignment:
–an OF of Teo-Mookie-Heyward
–an infield of Rojas-Ahmed-Lux-Freddie
And of course Smith/Barnes.
If the brain trust decides that Lux should still platoon, Mookie could shuttle between CF and 2B much like he did between RF and 2B last season.
Keith Law on the Paredes trade:
($$$$)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5665014/2024/07/28/isaac-paredes-cubs-rays-trade-analysis/?source=emp_shared_article
He’s not a huge fan of what the Cubs gave up, nor is he a huge fan of Paredes going forward.
Really interesting analysis.
Per Ari Alexander, who I don’t know nor know to trust:
Sources: The #Dodgers, #Cardinals and #whitesox have discussed the framework of a three-team trade.
The Dodgers are working to acquire Cardinals UTIL Tommy Edman.
The Cardinals are interested in White Sox RHP Erick Fedde.
No deal in place at the moment.
Edman makes a lot of sense given the status of Max, Rojas and Taylor.
Agreed ..IF he’s healthy
Edman is still on the IL and hasn’t played a game all year. A little dumb trading for a player who isn’t going to play.
Trading for injured players who will never suit up for the Dodgers. The Friedman specialty.
I’m surprised AF has kind of painted himself into a corner with his bullpen this year. In the past he usually had about 3 relievers with options available to rotate arms in and out of the bullpen. Right now I think Vesia is the only reliever with an option left. I keep hearing reinforcements are coming for the pen but there’s no room to maneuver with out a dfa of some one like Banda or Honeywell who are actually pitching well at the moment. I assume Kelly, Phillips, Hudson Vesia or Trienen will have an injury and go on the IL to get a breather.
Not sure what kind of moves AF will make at the deadline my guess was way off. I thought Arozarena and Eflin were perfect AF trade targets.
AF didn’t anticipate the injuries to so many pitchers, starters and relievers. It appeared there was a staff of 6-7 inning starters at the beginning of the year with the possibility of adding a few more mid season. Graterol, Brasier, Kelly, and Phillips. Frankly I found it all a bit short sided but I’m not the genius, he is.
Funny, but I think AF and Gomes do anticipate plenty of injuries.
That’s why the Dodgers have so much pitching depth, and are so quick to acquire arms that have been released, with Honeywell as the latest example. They seem better at dealing with pitchers than position players–as illustrated by the lofty expectations they had for Lux at SS and Vargas at 2B.