Just as I expected and feared the Dodgers dropped the last two consecutive games to the Giants, dropping to five games behind and leaving town worse than when they came in. At this point I feel no need to try and be “positive” or blow smoke up anyone’s butt. This is just not a good club. The Dodgers are not competitive and won’t be reaching the postseason this year. If you think the reinforcements (McCarthy, Ryu, Puig etc) will somehow magically save them from their sustained mediocrity, then I am very sorry but you are just mistaken. I applaud you for your positivity and hope. There is nothing wrong with keeping hope alive and trying to be positive, as long as it doesn’t interfere with reality. The reality is that the Dodgers are simply not a good team as constructed. I’m not saying they are terrible either. They certainly are not. They are just mediocre, and not in the same league as the better clubs in the National League including the Giants.
As I’ve said before, the front office has to take a lot of the blame for this. It’s not really about moneyball or data, or analytics. The front office is just run by two very incompetent and inexperienced executives who know very little about baseball. They would make great accountants of course. It’s no surprise that non-baseball people have very flawed philosophies about how to build a competitive baseball team. Again if you love average results, shady incompetent executives, an inferior product on the field and cost cutting small market mentalities than please be my guest and continue to enjoy. Nobody will think any less of you if you do. I can no longer continue to make believe like the Dodgers are still in the race and have a chance at making the playoffs. I can’t and would never lie to any of you. I believe that would be a disservice.
Dodgers Lineup @ Arizona
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Thompson RF
Pederson CF
Grandal C
Van Slyke LF
Bolsinger P— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 13, 2016
Mike Bolsinger-1-3 vs. Zack Greinke-8-3
Game Time – 6:40 PM – TV- SNLA
Again, I never said the Dodgers were horrible. They’re not that bad. 80-84 wins seems reasonable. It’s just not enough to get them into the playoffs this season. In case you were wondering, the Dodgers would have to go 57-41 the rest of the way in order to win 90 games. Do any of you really believe this club has the talent to finish 16 games above .500 the rest of the season? It is so unlikely that I would never rely on it. It’s not impossible, but won’t happen unless major changes are made to the roster. Enjoy the rest of the season as much as you can. Enjoy Vin Scully’s final games behind the microphone. Enjoy Clayton Kershaw’s magnificent season and Corey Seager’s excellence. Just don’t expect the Dodgers to reach the postseason this year. Keep those expectations low and it will probably save you a lot of heartache. This is a lost season.
Moving on, the Dodgers travel to Arizona to play a three game series against a team that is even more disappointing then them. The opening game will mark the first time the Dodgers will face former ace Zack Greinke. The Dodgers will give the ball to Mike Bolsinger to counter.
Many of you still believe that not signing Greinke was the right move. At first it seemed that way because Greinke got off to a terrible start. He has since turned his season around and is pitching a lot better. There was no way that Greinke was going to keep pitching as poorly as he was. He’s too good of a pitcher.
Bolsinger has been pretty unimpressive this season. He is 1-3 with a 5.75 ERA in 4 starts. He has yet to pitch past the sixth inning this season and got bombed by the Rockies in his last start. Bolsinger is 0-2 with a 4.84 ERA away from Dodger Stadium. He’s pitched well against his former club. Bolsinger is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA in 3 starts against the Dbacks. In 6 career appearances and 5 starts he is 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA at Chase Field. The current Dbacks are 14 for 40 (.350) against Bolsinger.
Bolsinger vs. Dbacks
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Welington Castillo | 9 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .375 | .444 | .375 | .819 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Goldschmidt | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .333 | .500 | .667 | 1.167 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean Segura | 8 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .625 | .625 | 1.125 | 1.750 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Lamb | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .167 | .286 | .167 | .452 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Ahmed | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .600 | .500 | 1.100 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yasmany Tomas | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| David Peralta | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .250 | .250 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter O’Brien | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 47 | 40 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | .350 | .426 | .500 | .926 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Zack Greinke has won five consecutive decisions and has lowered his ERA down to 3.84, which is closer to his career average. Greinke has thrown consecutive shutouts in his last two starts. He tossed a complete game three-hit shutout against the Rays in his last start. Overall Greinke is 8-3 with a 3.84 ERA in 13 starts. He’s struck out 73 and walked 16 while posting a 3.33 FIP. Greinke has allowed 8.8 hits per nine innings and struck out 7.6 per nine. Greinke is 2-0 with a 2.52 ERA in 4 career starts against the Dodgers. The current Dodgers are 10 for 42 (.238) with a .677 OPS against Greinke.
Greinke vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Chase Utley | 13 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | .333 | .385 | .750 | 1.135 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Kendrick | 11 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .182 | .182 | .273 | .455 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Yasmani Grandal | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .143 | .250 | .286 | .536 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Ellis | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .200 | .200 | .200 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Van Slyke | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Turner | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 44 | 42 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 9 | .238 | .273 | .405 | .677 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
The Dbacks are having a terrible season. They’re the one club that can make the Dodgers look good. The snakes are in fourth place with a 28-37 record. They’ve been bad at home as well, with a 12-23 record at Chase Field. They are 10.5 games behind the Giants entering today’s game.
The Dodgers have always hit well at Chase Field, so maybe they can finally get their bats going in this series. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .337 (90 for 267) with 21 home runs and 64 runs driven in at Chase Field.
Hopefully the Dodgers can take advantage of what is clearly a worse club than them. For all of the Dodgers problems and disappointments it can always be worse. The Dbacks are a good example of it being worse. Again as I said above just keep your expectations low. That way you never get disappointed if they lose and will be pleasantly surprised if they win.
Go Blue!
“They would make great accountants of course. ”
🙂
I believe the gints are not that much better than we are. They just had a bad break, losing Pence. If they have another one, and we get a good break, we can compete with them.
We are an 80-85 win club. That puts us in contention as 87 could win the West. Of course, getting into the playoffs simply means we start on the road back east some place, where we might win the game Kershaw pitches, but I think it would be a quick series no matter who we play.
Does anyone really believe these FAZ guys can pull off the trades necessary to make this a 93 win team? Again, I don’t see it. If we win 90, it will be because Puig, Pederson, Grandal, Gonzalez, Seager, Ethier and Thompson all go ape at the plate in the last half. It’s absolutely possible. Is it likely?
Badger
If Agone, Howie, and Turner start hitting like they have in the past. I think the team this year, should hit better, then last year’s team. Along, if Ethier can come back and start hitting, after being out so long.
Ethier was the Dodgers best hitter, in the second half of the season. I believe this team should hit better, because the veterans should start hitting like they have before. And because Cory is a better hitter, then Rollins. Also Trayce right now, is hitting better then Puig did last year.
And if you think about it, Ether’s bat, carried most of the outfields bats, last year. Everything else, was platoons here and there. And Joc was in outfield, but he really didn’t hit much last year, after the first month of the season.
And Grandal didn’t hit in the second half either. I still believe that Turner is the key.
Bolsinger is not the answer to our pitching problems. As soon as Ryu or Montas can come back, Bolsinger needs to be released. I would bring Montas up now for Bolsinger. Why not. Bolsinger can only go 5 innings. He cannot go through the line up 3 times. Montas has pitched 4 innings in he minors. You just as well stretch him out at the major league level.
“They’re not that bad. 80-84 wins seems reasonable”
I am going to go with 79…. 🙂
Jeff said:
“Posters here keep saying the Dodger’s hitting will get better. If my memory is still functioning, I recall the same problems last year with the same cast of characters. No, some things don’t change much no matter how much you hope for them. Sure, some of the batters will get better, but how much better? Is there anyone you would bet significant money on to bat at .300 or better? I doubt it. Sure, they’ll hit some home runs and win some games, but all those close games that they lose is our batting problem and they lose a lot of them.”
Get this man a medal, someone that GETS IT…..amen brother.
I think it depends on who, and how many might get hot at the same time. Puig, Pederson, Grandal, Ethier, Van Slyke, Gonzalez, Thompson, Turner all have some thunder in their bats. If they were all to get hot we could win a few of those games in which our staff has trouble. I say again – it’s possible. Is it likely?
idahoal–Do you think Bolsinger might make an ideal long man?
Like I mentioned last week, I came into this season with a completely open mind. I even kept my mouth shut, or keyboard locked until after the end of May. At this point I agree 100% with Scott. These clowns in the FO just don’t know anything about big time baseball. I can plainly see the intent of “their plan” and yes it is a good idea/plan. The problem is FAZ has zero idea how to do it in the world of MLB, and especially not in big old Los Angeles.
I am not sure what is more “stacked with prospects”, our farm system or the FO. Guggs really needs to make some changes and that needs to be done NOW and it needs to be in the office of FAZ. It’s time for some adult supervision. This team is reeling big time and if they are not careful the natives will get restless and there will be a revolt on their hands. L.A. fans are tired of not having a championship from either the Lakers or Dodgers. The Kings are looking good and have 2 recent Stanley Cups to show off. The Rams are back and the local fans are rabid over them. The Lakers FO is just as bad as ours with the very questionable Jim Buss in charge. His father must be rolling over in his bed seeing what has been done to his franchise. The Dodger fan base in L.A. is rapidly shrinking, as is youth interest in baseball overall. New Dodger fans are not being born as fast as old ones die. And bandwagon ones are jumping ship. The casual fan has many more choices of entertainment. That being said, there are an estimated 18 million bodies in the Los Angeles Metro area, plus an additional 2 million tourists at any given time, they can easily find 45,000 people with 3 hours to waste and a couple hundred dollars to burn 62 times a year.
Dodger fans with the money and baseball smarts are getting more and more antsy, and you can see it and hear it loud and clear. Will people make themselves heard by not turning up at Chavez Ravine? Highly doubtful. But, this is a major market with media outlets of every conceivable type. I guarantee that you will start to hear more from the local media outlets bashing FAZ and the rudderless play on the field.
We all know what the problems are on the field, and we have all made the trades needed and brought up the prospects, at least on our keyboard we have. No need to rehash all of them right now. Guggs spent big $$$ to get the team and they will make even bigger $$$$$ when they sell it in 3-4 years. However they also don’t want it to be devalued on their watch. The guys in the Guggs office are one hell of a lot smarter than the ones at Chavez Ravine. I have said all along that they never had any intention of keeping the team long term. It was/is all about the real estate. They are hedge fund people. They find devalued assets, purchase them, carve them up and make money on the parts. They wanted the real estate, not the team. The team was just icing on the cake. Guggs is a heartless company who couldn’t give a crap about any of you. They are about money, and making lots of it. This team is a play toy for the head honchos of the firm, something to talk about at the cocktail parties and country club outings.
If they let this team continue to function like it is currently, one of the parts of their investment is losing value, or in this case it becomes stagnant. I don’t expect them to let that happen too much longer. Yes they have a huge payroll, but they knew that was going to be part of it going forward when they bought the team. Their “Business Plan” had them eating millions of $$$ in it from the beginning. Was it with the players that they have had to do it with, some yes, some no.
But with that said, these guys don’t like to lose, especially money. Will they spend more big sums to land that free agent, will they make a blockbuster trade, I think it will be a blend run of both. The trash pile recycle program ain’t working, the throw shit on the wall and see what sticks ain’t working either.
I think there will be a major shakeup in the Chavez Ravine offices long before that blockbuster trade, or new signing. Will we hear ALL about it, no way!!!! The media/spin team will handle it, and everyone will be happy in LAD land for the time being. Big Brother was standing behind FAZ and keeping an eye on him. Now Big Brother is front and center and getting pissed. Sorry Roger but The kids “aren’t alright”. This is perhaps one of the largest markets in the world, period, and Guggs knows how play in it. But, it is also like operating in a fish bowl, with hungry sharks circling. The hiring of FAZ was absolutely nothing any different than “THE TRADE”. It did what it needed to do. How many of them parts are still around?
They didn’t stock the front office like the farm system with all those prospects to not use them.
The music is about to stop and there will be one less chair.
Wow! I have seen mob action and riots that were more rational than this.
WOW! WOW! and DOUBLE WOW!
You guys are going to be so upset when Friedman stays put.
I do agree what Time says about Guggs! However, Frank McCourt owns the land.
Sorry Mark you are wrong about the land. McCourt is a minority partner in a large portion of the parking lot and the land at the bottom of the echo park entrance. That’s it. Guggs owns All the rest. And there is a lot of it in the surrounding area!!!!!
I will stand behind my comments that the deck chairs will be rearranged. Like I said though, will hear all about the details , nope!!! Someone will be given a new title and it will be a huge announcement. And it will take away some of Fazs thunder.
It is my understanding that Guggs controls the land but that McCourt is 50-50 partner and will profit from any future sales or development.
My guess is Zaidi gets thrown under the bus. That’s why you have 3 GMs to do the work of one; you always want to have a fall guy when things go wrong. Of course it could be Roberts or the coaches but then someone might ask why you hired them.
McCourt and Bud Selig should be in Gitmo for what they’ve done to Dodger fans and baseball in general.
Wolfe, I agree Bolsinger may be alright in the bull pen as their long man. I just think the Dodgers have better options. Urias is looking better with each start. He is on an inning control. I would think he would be the best option out of the bull pen in long relief. Ryu, McCarthy, Anderson and Wood are all coming back in the second half. We also have four starters in AA doing very well. In fact these four maybe closer to major league ready than anything we have at AAA except for Montas. Montas will be the next pitcher brought up.
Bolsinger, Mr. Home Run, done after 4 2/3 innings. Top speed of 87mph. Typically pitches in the low 80’s. No heat. Batters typically knock ’em out. You can’t have either a starter or a reliever that cannot pitch with power. He has no dominance at all. What does the front office expect from guys like this? He is a stop gap, a bandaid. Trade him in the next wave of acquisitions. Mediocrity gets you nowhere.
Greinke told Joc that he was an easy out.
the way Greinke locates pitches, he will tease Joc into easy pop ups all game
Bobby
And Greinke has his first from Joc.
I looked Beltran up, and he has 16 HRs right now.
It might be because of the Yankees short right field.
But that is more then any Dodger has right now. But the Yankees are only 5 games out right now.
Beltran is a switch hitter, but most of his HRs have come at Yankee stadium and most have come left-handed. Of course he gets more ABs left-handed, but AT&T is a left-hand hitters’ park. If the Yankees get back in the race maybe it may save us from facing Beltran and Miller or Chapman.
Zack looks hittable but Bolsinger is fooling no one.
Hey guys
We are going to have to score every two runs, for every one Dbacks run, with Bolsinger pitching. Greinke is hitting 276 right now.
Bolsinger is pitching. It is awfully hard for me to get excited.
Everyone getting those World Series tickets ready?
Interesting theory Tim. I’ve heard versions of it before, and find it believable – with some caveats.
You’re of course right about the money group being in it only to make money. They need people for that to happen. They need lots of them and LA has them. And, there are fewer pockets easier to pick than those of sports fans. That being the case, it makes sense to me for this group to put a winning team on the field. I don’t think they would add all the GM muscle if they didn’t have intention to do just that. I also think they will give this group some time to put it together. 2018 will be year 4. They will have at least that much time, maybe even 5 years. The land is there, and can be developed any time if that’s what they want to do. The baseball money is flowing so there is no need to throw the team in the dumpster. In fact, make the product better and everybody makes more money. This might actually work, but it’s not going to work short term. They are flipping the script and it’s going to take time. I’m prepared to ride this out – only because it’s my opinion there is no choice here. People don’t like it, they can stop buying tickets. I don’t see that happening but even if it did the Dodgers have already sold 3 million tickets. That money is in investment accounts drawing Guggenormous dividends. The tv money is there too, even if broadcasts aren’t. This is easy money for them. Why ef that up by being stupid. Why not try to build something worth $4 billion? I hear the first billion is the hardest.
But all that said, I know I’m a moron so I could be wrong. Whatever. This team is like flat beer. We love our beer, but, come on.
Meanwhile, for Rancho tonight, Puig just hit a HR in his 2nd at bat
Bobby
I hope that Puig is going to come back, as a better hitter. Mark said that they were working with him down there. That would really help. Turner is hitting and looks like the old Turner to night.
Roberts looked pissed when he went out there to get Bolsinger, out of the game.
Bolsinger was saying that he was more then a five inning pitcher, on the after show for the Dodgers, last week sometime.
And Hairson, didn’t like what Bolsinger said.
Bolsinger said it was only a rumor that he was a five inning pitcher.
And I guess he was referring to Mattingly.
And that is what got Hairson mad.
Roberts was probably pissed because Honeycutt went out there, to give Bolsinger instructions.
And Bolsinger allowed another two out run.
World Series caliber club we have here guys
Scott
At least Turner is hitting now. And this is Greinke.
Greinke outpitched Bolsinger. Now there’s a surprise. Team 0 for 9 WRISP. Yeah, that sucks. Yet we are still in it. And the Dbacks have swallowed some olives this year, so, even flat beer can beat them.
Joc is a damn good center fielder though
Oh my god Kike sucks!
I am sick of Kike coming up with less then two outs, with people in scoring position, and over swinging!
Orel said that that pitcher had only thrown one strike. And Kike struck on two pitches that were balls.
Howie should have had a hit.
We have lost two hits on good plays to night.
And the dam Giants are ahead again.
Is Kike this year’s Alex Guerrero? There must be somebody at OKC who could put the ball in play with the sacks full. Every time they load the bases it’s time to go get a sandwich. Same problem last year–maybe they should hire a hypnotist.
Snider
I think that is a good idea. I thought that they should do that for Puig.
Because Puig has trouble hitting, and doing other things, in clutch situations.
They’ve made a couple nice plays to rob us of a few runs.
Either way, as usual, another frustrating game
Bobby
Bolsinger can’t pitch even five innings, and not give up
A HR.
Bases loaded one out and what 10 pitches later we take the field. Frikin bad new bears at the plate.
Tim
But Howie did get a hit, just a good play
MJ, where in the box score does it say he got a hit? The final score is what matters. And the beat goes on. Not the teams heart beat, cause they ain’t got one. Uninspiring to say the least. Somebody please light a fire under these guys.
Not really worth the price of admission is it. Like watching water evaporate. Nothin much happens, but at the end of the evening the bowl is empty.
Maybe the streak starts tomorrow. I’m done with today.
Tim
That is true. But when I see the players have good at bats, and hit the ball hard. That is different to me, then when they have quick at bats, and strike outs.