The Dodgers seem to be in early December form in their first two spring games.
The Dodgers are done with playing the Cubs in Spring. The only two “for sure” opening day roster pitchers who pitched in the first two games were Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tony Gonsolin. Both pitchers pitched well in their early spring games. Gonsolin looked particularly sharp against the Cubs “A” players. With his splitter looking especially sharp for having not pitched in 18 months.
AAA starting pitchers who will get MLB time this year that pitched were Landon Knack, Ben Casparius, Bobby Miller, and Justin Wrobleski. Casparius and Knack look like they could make the roster heading to Tokyo, but both figure to be primary AAA SP.
Casparius was hurt by some poor CF defense by Andy Pages, followed by some lazy running to the misplayed ball. As Rick Monday said, it is one thing to misplay a ball hit right at you, which can happen in the mid-day Arizona sun, but when you jog back to a ball hit over your head you just gave up 90 feet.
The Dodgers signed several AAAA pitchers in the offseason, most had inauspicious outings in the first two games: Justin Jarvis, Giovanny Gallegos, Matt Sauer, Jose E. Hernandez, Sam Carlson, Luis Garcia, and Joe Jacques. With a limited number of opportunities in a short spring buildup, each outing is important. At some point, the LAD bullpen regulars are going to need to get their innings in, meaning these journeymen AAAA pitchers will need to be reassigned to MiLB camp and generally out of sight of MLB scouts, LAD and others.
Of that group, only Gallegos looked to be effective, and should get some additional MLB opportunities. The others? Organizational depth or released.
The Dodgers home grown group of relief pitchers who took the mound in one of the two games pitched well: Ryan Sublette, Antonio Knowles, Jack Dreyer, Carlos Duran, and Chris Campos. Combined, the five pitchers pitched 4.1 innings. They allowed 0 runs, on 2 singles, 0 BB, and registered 4 K.
The pitching probably met the Dodgers expectations. At least they did not show too much to Chicago.
The ABS was not in effect this game. On a pitch to Kiké Hernández in the 2nd inning, Kiké believed a pitch that was called a strike was a ball, and he tapped his head to call for a pitch challenge. Jim Wolf, the plate umpire, had to tell Kiké that there were no challenges on the day. As it turned out, the pitch was a strike.
Another observation, the Dodgers home grown position players do not appear to be MLB ready, with the exception of Hunter Feduccia. Dalton Rushing looks overwhelmed at the plate. Nerves? We can hope. The role players that are at least showing signs of life, include David Bote, Eddie Rosario, and Chris Okey. The remaining home growns, Austin Gauthier, Zyhir Hope, Josue De Paula, Ryan Ward, Kody Hoese, Sean McLain, Griffin Lockwood-Powell, Kyle Nevin, and Justin Dean do not appear to be ready. There is still high hopes for Hope and De Paula. The others? Organizational depth.
Defense? P*** poor over the two games. Any ball hit in the air is an adventure for Ryan Ward. Zyhir Hope again showed a poor read and break on a ball, this time in RF. Andy Pages has still not learned how to play CF. He displayed some Alex Verdugo like laziness, but I do not remember that being part of his game before, so I am not going to brand him another Alex Verdugo. But he is going to need to learn to play hard on every play. Physical errors happen. Mental errors should not.
Justin Dean had another nice play in CF. But he has to hit to even be considered a 4th OF. Here is a 2021 Prospects Live scouting report on Dean.
https://www.prospectslive.com/scoutingreports/justin-dean
The Dodgers hit into 3 more double plays, were 3-10 WRISP, 15 men left on base, and 11 more K’s. For the two games, the Dodgers hit into 7 DP, 3-14 WRISP, 22 men left on base, and 22 K’s.
Mookie, Miggy Ro, Austin Barnes, CT3, and Okey each had 2 hits, with Chris Okey hitting a 2-run HR.
Nick Frasso starts for LAD against KC on Saturday. No word on when Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and Dustin May will pitch.
The game is at Camelback, so the ABS will be in effect again.
CT3 with 2 knocks
Spring games are what they are, dress rehearsals for the scrubs. I am more into what the regulars do. After the game, I watched Ohtani’s three homer performance to reach 50/50 again. Great game to watch. Kersh is just 32 K’s away from becoming the first Dodger ever to record 3000 strikeouts. All as a Dodger. Scherzer got # 3000 while a Dodger and that was fun to watch. Betts is 29 homers from 300. Freeman is 7 away from 350. Ohtani is 25 away from 250. Teo is 8 away from 200. So, some milestones can be reached this year. Do you guys realize that Tyler Glasnow has just 5 more career wins than Tony Gonsolin? Miller has one more career win than May. Walker Buehler will reach 50 career wins if he wins 3 games with the Red Sox. Walker is wearing number 0 for the Sox.
Offense will be there when the time comes. Defense? It would appear the Dodgers don’t stress it much. I don’t believe they have since Alston managed the club.
I know I keep saying this but for me bears repeating. I learned early, Little League I think, that throwing overhand from ALL defensive positions is important because backspin throws fly straighter and create truer straight ahead bounces that are easier to field. Sidearm throws spin sideways which fades and creates a sideways bounce. It’s a little thing that good coaches catch early. Betts continues to throw sidearm from shortstop and I’m telling you if he keeps that up there will be accuracy issues going forward. Bend the knees, field the ball with proper mechanics, stand up straight, throw an overhand strike to first. The only exception to that are quick, short throws to get a force at second.
Betts throwing like a second baseman?
I really have doubts that Mookie can sustain the SS position as the season goes on. By June or July Miggy will be the regular SS. I want Mookie to succeed but I just don’t see it.
BTW, playing SS isn’t less taxing on your body than playing RF, not even close.
I disagree with your throwing tutorial, Badger. I’m all in on your over-hand emphasis on throws from outfielders to cut-off men or bases. Setting the feet and over-hand throws create true hops, no fading short-hops and some mustard on the throws to prevent 90 more feet. That’s is perfect for outfielders (and catchers).
When I learned to play shortstop, the teach was over the top throws, especially from the 6 hole, but moving left it was perfectly fine to drop down and get the ball in the air. I have zero problem with Mookie’s side-arm throw, actually favoring it. First basemen are obviously aware of how throws across the infield break due to various arm angles.
One of the things I would have enjoyed about today’s infield coaching is the freedom players are given to use different arm angles and footwork. As a coach, when I started coaching kids blew rundowns because they couldn’t throw the ball while running. They never practiced it. Well we practiced it everyday until it became routine. Once my infielders learned solid routine mechanics, we had fun with more advanced skills like jump throws to 2nd from the hole and bobble-drills where the infielder intentionally juggles the ball, didn’t panic, regrouped and threw.
I think it’s awesome to watch a shortstop to cut down a slow roller in the 6 hole with a backhand and throw a bullet to first – on the run. In the old days we would not be allowed to do anything but set our feet and throw over the top.
I love the freedom and athleticism of this play as it’s executed today.
Watching Arenado throw from third displays nothing that was preached back in the day. I wouldn’t suggest it for Max Muncy. Lux displayed no ability to drop down on turns, and combined with his bad feet, we missed too many double plays. He played stiff.
I attribute the confidence and expertise in these skills to the Hispanic player’s influence on infield play. I learned skills that I wasn’t allowed to practice as a kid from Hispanic kids I met in the minors. They did Miggy Rojas type things without thinking about it. Their play influenced my game and how I taught infielders from then on. I wish I had discovered their actions as a kid.
My point is infielders have been allowed to be unafraid to use once considered unconventional mechanics. These guys practice this stuff daily and are great at it. When I see a bad throw by infielders, I don’t blame it on not throwing overhand.
We disagree on this one.
“unconventional mechanics”? It surprises me you think pink that’s ok.
I see that Kim throws that way too. He’s accurate with it. Mookie isn’t.
Edit didn’t work again. Am I the only one this is happening to?
Mookie didn’t throw sidearm when he was gunning down runners from right field.
Badger, I believe I addressed the difference between throws from the outfielders and the catcher versus throws from the infielder around the diamond. Now a cut-off throw and relay to a base, especially home, is a different story.
I son’t see throwing from various arm angles as unconventional anymore.
I also don’t want to see Mookie get a case of the yips by overthinking his throws, like Lux. Just cut it loose Mookie and trust it.
While I believe he will not be out long-term shortstop, I don’t think his lack of throwing overhand will be the reason.
They said they fixed it. I will check with them again on Monday.
And I am the opposite. Remember, today’s scrubs could be tomorrow’s regulars. I do not worry about the veterans, other than the veteran “on the cusp” (Outman/Pages/Rosario/Bote) players. The veterans know how to get ready for the season. It was good to see both Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor get two hits.
Very true Jeff, but I have seen nothing in the last two days showing me that any of the scrubs have much of a chance to crack this roster.
Not to start the season, I agree. But it is a long season and we have had similar guys crack the roster during the season…Jake Lamb, Kevin Pillar, Jake Marisnick, Luke Williams, Austin Wynns, Nick Ahmed…A huge # of pitchers.
Then I would think Rosario might have the best chance. Outman needs a strong spring, if he gets it, Pages will be at AAA.
Bear, you are probably correct about Pages. But anybody that has watched Pages attempt to play centerfield can see that he’s uncomfortable there and takes bad routes. We’d hoped he’d improve with some experience but it hasn’t happened.
Conclusion: He’s not a centerfielder. They’re trying to pound sand up a rat’s ass. Move him to a corner and platoon him so he faces LHP. If he doesn’t cut it the Spring, down he goes but not as a centerfielder in AAA either.
If it’s not Outman, we don’t have a centerfielder. It could be Edman by default, but I still see him as a utility guy.
Kim is getting some reps out there in practice on the backfields. Could they still make a trade for a legitimate CF? Possible.
Even Phillips said today that opening day is off of the table due to his rehabbing his shoulder. Brett DeGues DFA’d by the Pirates. Arenado to the Astros talks again taking place.
Don’t know about winning a game, but the pitching from the kids does not look all that great. Frasso was ok, Henriquez stunk. Way to go Max.
Outman is digging himself a deep hole.
It sure looks that way. Royals taking the lead in the top of the 9th on a 2-run triple. Dodger pitching walked 12 and allowed 8 stolen bases. May gets the start tomorrow. Feduccia, Muncy and Hope hit homers. 3 run shot by Max and Hunter.
How do you even get a 108 era? And some people had Hernández making the opening roster!
Henriquez
Another ridiculous game. We’re sure learning early who isn’t ready for prime time.
He was already in one. Obliette.
We have seen over and over again players have a great spring training only to have a terrible April. It goes the other way as well. It usually takes hitters a week or so to catch up to the pitchers so this first week should be about finding the groove and not so much about determining who will make the 26.
That said, time is precious for guys like Outman and Pages and to a lesser extent for Kim and Taylor. They all need an outstanding spring training because once sent down, they will need two to three months of outstanding play to make it back up and then someone on the 26 might have to get hurt or play really poorly.
Outman, Pages, Kim all have options. Taylor does not.
True. I included Taylor not because he had options but because I’m not so sure he will be a Dodger if he has a terrible spring training.
A few years back, Pages was the 19-year-old kid from Cuba getting to strut his stuff at spring training. I remember that he botched a play in left and didn’t make haste to minimize the damage.
He doesn’t seem to have learned better. Can we please see some hustle?
I’m guessing that Rosario’s deal would allow him to opt out if he doesn’t make the roster or get placed on the 40-man. I really have no idea. But the Dodgers love experience, and if Rosario outplays both Pages and Outman, they’ll probably want to keep him around.
One of the things I do like about Outman, he hustles all the time. So does Edman. Pages could learn a few things from watching guys like that. Even as hard-headed as he was, Puig never took a play off. He played hard, just did not listen to the coaches much.