The Dodgers had to play at the crack of dawn today and ran into a buzz-saw named Sean Newcomb of the Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers concluded the four game series against the Braves and this ten game road trip. On the mound for the Dodgers today was Ross Stripling. Stripling has been struggling lately as his innings mount up to innings he has never been to before. His command has been off and the Braves pounced early.
The Dodgers take 3 of 4 in Atlanta and win 6 of 10 in this tough road trip. They head home with the division lead.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) July 29, 2018
In the bottom of the first inning, Freddie Freeman hit a single with two outs. Nick Markakis hit a double to score a run to make the score 1-0. Kurt Suzuki then hit a double and the score was 2-0 Braves. There was talk of letting Stripling miss a start to give him some rest. In the bottom of the third, Ozzie Albies hit a single. Then Nick Markakis hit a two run shot and the score was 4-0 Braves. For all intent and purposes the game was over at that point. During this trip the Dodgers acquired Manny Machado, won two series, and saw that Caleb Ferguson is an important piece for the bullpen.
The Dodgers bullpen came in to start the fifth inning and shut down the Braves the rest of the way. Daniel Hudson pitched two innings and Erik Goeddel pitched two innings as well. The Dodgers with two outs and two strikes in the top of the 9th inning avoided being no hit when Chris Taylor hit a single off Newcomb. It was a clean hit past third baseman Camargo of the Braves. Newcomb was then taken out of the game. Taylor moved to 2nd due to fielders indifference. Manny Machado then hit a single to score the Dodgers only run in the 4-1 loss.
Tomorrow is the first home game of Manny Machado as a Dodger. Let’s see a show of hands of who will be there!
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) July 29, 2018
This trip also showed the Dodgers need another starting pitcher to get before the playoffs start. Once they get Ryu, Urias, Fields, and Cingrani back soon, the bullpen to me will be ok. Buehler, and Stripling could also go to the bullpen as well as Alex Wood. Kershaw, Hill, and Maeda are pitching well right now as the top three starters. I feel better with one more good starting pitcher to throw in the playoffs. Justin Turner should be back soon as well. The Trade deadline is Tuesday.
The Gauntlet continues as the Dodgers face the Brewers for four games this week. Then the Houston Astros for three.
James Moya
Hi I’m James Moya. I am an avid Dodgers fan. I graduated Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelors in Communications. I used to freelance at the San Bernardino Sun. I’m excited about this opportunity to write for LA Dodger Report to gain experience. I’m a straight shooter on my opinions and I hope to get some good conversations going. My dream has always been to report on the Dodgers because Baseball is the National Past-time. I hope you enjoy the ride with me.
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I’m not sure Ryu is a reliever. I think there have been issues with his prep time.
Ryu was quite effective as a starter before his injury. I also don’t see him as a reliever.
I don’t know what the problem is with Stripling. He seems to have lost whatever magic he had after the all star game. And, then again, he got no run support at all. 2 hits in a game is shameful. We still have trouble with lefties. Manny keeps getting on base. That guy finds a way.
I am thoroughly impressed with Machado. I hope we break out the bank for him.
From MLBTRL
7:43pm: In an interview with Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Archer called the trade chatter surrounding him “unsettling.” Topkin again notes that the industry sense is that Tampa Bay is more willing than ever to trade Archer, and he adds that a young catcher and a power-hitting outfield prospect would be “a good start” to a package from the Rays’ vantage point.
Let’s see, that would be Barnes and Joc.
Archer is not worth Joc.
How about Wong and Peters?
Archer ain’t all that this year but being traded to LA could light a fire under him. He could help.
Jeff
Maybe if Joc gets traded, Kemp can play like normal players. Dummy would still ass it up.
Jonah
DO IT!! Do it now!
Archer is definitely worth Joc. We’ve got plenty of Jocs and jocks at the farm.
On Stripling, I see him as our fourth playoff starter. He battles and will tend to keep games close, like Ryu. I’m fine rolling out a postseason rotation of Kershaw, Hill, Ryu and Stripling. I’m not so keen on Wood and Maeda, who are fine pitchers but just not battlers like the others I’ve listed. And they have really good stuff in short stints when they can get another couple mph ticks on their pitches. In the playoffs I think we are looking at every starter going 5-6 and the easy games will have a reliever going 2 innings. So we will need plenty of former starters as relievers (including Buehler and Urias).
I look for a few get rest in the coming weeks so my playoff rotation is Kershaw, Hill and Will See.
And yes, I would trade Joc for Archer but I doubt FAZ would. He’s their kind o’ guy.
I don’t know what is wrong with Barnes but he looks lost at the plate. I mean that literally. He strikes out and has a “where am I” look on his face. Could be that last year was an outlier year. Could be something is not right with him physically. Whatever it is, he needs to fix it or we need a replacement. His batting average is below Forsythe’s. Those two are holes in the boat.
Joc is just getting started in his turnaround. He’s made leaps and bounds and if he continues to improve and refine his plate appearances, he can be a major part of this team. I would never trade him as he is now, not when he’s coming up like he is.
Archer, otoh, has shown little in his career. A losing record over a 6 year career, over 4.00 ERA the last 3 seasons, and a 1.39 WHIP this year. Those are terrible numbers and you want to give up a producing outfielder with upside, with proven power and high defensive numbers for this guy? And, his salary is only $550K. What are you seeing in Archer, over $6Mil in salary, that tells you he is worth Joc?
Wood not in the playoff rotation? Wood to the bullpen? This is nuts. He went 16-3 last season with a 2.72 ERA. He’s 7-5 and has not lost a game since early June. He’s won 6 games since starting 1-5 and his ERA has plummeted from 4.43 to 3.68 and his WHIP is 1.17. Many of his early losses was due to no run support, similar to Kershaw’s losses. He was our ace last year. And, he makes only $2.8mil.
Assuming you are serious Jeff I’ll answer the question:
A career 3.69 ERA and 1.23 WHIP … in the AL, 3 straight years of 33+ starts and 200 innings, 9.7 K/9….. and there is NOBODY on our team that can boast those numbers… not Kershaw, not love love love Rich Hill, not Good Wood … nobody!
Hey, maybe after all that he’s finished, but he is 2 years younger than Kershaw and 30 years younger than Hill. I think he’d be worth bringing in here… and for a 4th outfielder? A steal.
That said I don’t see it happening.
Badger, you’d better check Kershaw’s #’s again. From 2011-2013, Kershaw had way better #’s. Granted, Archer is durable, and maybe you can blame his lousy W-L record on being on a bad team, but I don’t give up Joc on a team that has struggled with the bat like the Dodgers have for a mediocre pitcher.
Jeff
You don’t have to worry about that, because Joc would never get Archer, it would take a lot more then Joc, and that is why both YF and I, said that.
We would be lucky to get Green from the Yankees bullpen for Joc, because he is probably at his top value right now.
He only hit three HRs in July, and that is a big difference from what he did in June.
I personally think we need a top set up guy, more then anything, but there are not many pitchers like that left, I believe.
Archer has pitched like a number one in his career at one time, but he has been pitching for a bad team, in one of the hardest leagues, in all of baseball, for quite a while, in a park that favors hitters.
And Joc is a platoon bat, because he has never hit lefties much at all, and he has one of the worse splits, in all of baseball, when it comes to lefties.
Jeff
If he pitches for FAZ he will be HOF material. Put Honey on the case and he will be an all star.
Just read the Dodgers franchise value is up 9% over the last year. I remember some heated conversations a few years ago regarding the team operating at a loss, how they HAD to get spending under control (as they were increasing payroll) and so on. I said then those numbers mean nothing and the value of the franchise will continue to rise. And it has. If this team somehow manages to pull off a championship, will Guggs leap at the opportunity for a huge profit? Isn’t profit what they do?
Won’t be on here until I get back home to Colorado. Hold down the fort…
Blue Jays trying to trade Roberto Osuna. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/07/blue-jays-trying-trade-roberto-osuna-rumors.html
This could be a real chance to buy low because there are a couple of things still hanging over his head and he won’t be available until August 5. I would offer a flexible deal, one or two players to be named later, depending on the results of the minefield he has yet to walk through. If he gets released to play early, they get better players. If he gets more penalty time, then low level players in trade, but eventually we would get to use him. The moral crap I don’t even consider, lots of us step in dog poop and get away with it to one degree or another. Those who get caught are probably more careful than others after they are burned. A small gamble for a big reward, another closer.
I have no problem with it but I wonder if Friedman might. If I read this right he hasn’t been convicted of anything. Chapman fired a weapon through a window with police in the neighborhood, which in some cities (Denver) gets you life in prison. Osuna allegedly punched his girlfriend. Some teams might want to wait until the court decides, but other teams won’t care. He is the arm FAZ is looking for.
YF
Exactly!
Joc has only done this for part of a season, it would take a lot more then Joc, to make that trade.
Pitching at Dodger Stadium and Honey looking at Archer, could help him pitch like a number two, and he also has a rubber arm too.
He has pitched 200 innings three times in a row.
Friedman was the one that drafted Archer, he would make that trade in a minute!
Because he knows what Archer has been going through pitching for that team, in that league, and in that terrible park.
Scott and Oscar don’t seem to be getting the message that readers here aren’t very interested in beer and wine reviews or baseball cards. I assume they are being paid on the other end for their efforts, for they get no kudos on the blog for it.
Tim said he likes the beer reviews. I haven’t been into baseball cards since my folks sold all mine from the 50s and 60s when I was in ‘nam. But, hey, Oscar seems to enjoy it, so, go for it.
Certainly! It probably keeps him supplied with free beer…
Free beer? There is such a thing?
It sucks because when we went after Chapman, all you heard about how bad Chapman was.
But once the Yankees got him, you didn’t hear much in the press, about Chapman.
And we won’t hear a lot about the Astros getting Ozuna either, because the Astros are the darlings in baseball right now.
YF and I, and others, are still upset, with the haul the Yankees got, for Chapman.
I didn’t know the Brewers got Moustakas, he is starting, and playing third, tonight.
Jonah
Yeah, I think Oscar layed awake at night a long time to think up the that militarization of MLB. I know MLB makes money but who cares as they give a spotlight to our military who deserve it. I do not think the only reason they do what they do, is to make money. I printed US camo for over 30 years and I made a lot of money. Does that make me bad? Just an opinion
The Cards are shopping Bud Norris. Please have him go to the Rockies, we need him to pitch batting practice to us the same way he did for the other teams when he was with the Dodgers
Well, I know nobody cares and probably have not even noticed that Kemp is sitting again. He must really be tired. Guess you just overlook Dummy and go on.
Package
That is because Utley is playing tonight.
But if Muncy doesn’t start hitting, you won’t be seeing this same defensive line up, that puts Cody in center.
Because this line up as you probably already know, is because of Muncy’s defensive liabilities.
MJ
I follow you on Muncie but I don’t get how that equates to taking out Kemp? Let Joc sit, let Puig sit, why is it always Kemp? Kemp is not supposed to be in a platoon system that I know of.
It really is funny reading all of the trade rumors about some of our alumni. Norris, Granderson, Sergio Romo of all people. At least we know that FAZ runs in a pack.
I think Archer would be a good pick up for the right price. Maybe FAZ still has enough pull with the LATampaAs to pull off something that doesn’t cost too much. We have the catchers and OFers they want x 2 or 3.
A comment from Striping made it clear he doesn’t want to go to the pen. He was pissed it took 1.5 years to make the rotation again.
Put some money in Maedas bank account toake up the bonus losss and he will gladly move the pen as needed. He’s a team guy.
We have a ton of suspects blocked in AAAA, AAA, and elsewhere, time to let someone else see if they become prospects then MLB players.
The west is not going to roll over, we need to not be left behind. Just pray Archer won’t be a Darvish. Doubt it though.
Muncy 1 for 24. Saw this coming. Hopefully he snaps out of it.
Every time Kemp sits it spikes packs blood pressure. Lowers mine.
Archer works. So does one of the relievers being mentioned. Time to do something if something to be done.
Maeda looking hittable.
Badger
One of these days Dummy is going to do something that you will not ignore and you will see how it feels. If I had the money, I would buy the Dodgers just to fire Dummy. He is a GD Dummy.
Something that I will not ignore? That strongly suggests I am ignoring something he is doing with Kemp. I respectfully submit you are the one ignoring what he’s doing. He’s resting a guy we all want there in September and October. It’s my opinion you are missing the bigger picture.
Roberts has done a few things I thought were peculiar – the most recent being pitching Hernandez in a game that was still in doubt. But this team will win or lose with the players, not the manager.
Badger
I am not ignoring anything. I do not buy the reason he takes out Kemp is to rest him for Sept. and Oct. I have not read that anywhere except from you. That opinion is very subjective. I say he just won’t play Kemp like a regular should be played. You say Dummy has done some peculiar things and what he did pitching Kike was peculiar. I say that was just plain DUMB. That game is not on the players, it is on Dummy!!!!!!!!!!!
I never would have counted on Kike to win that game pitching. Give me a break.
So you think the reason Roberts takes Kemp out is because he’s stupid.
Ok. You are entitled to that opinion.
I think it’s a strategy to keep Kemp’s body healthy for a long a grueling pennant drive and equally grueling playoff season. For the last several seasons Kemp’s year was over by the end of September. For the last several seasons the teams he played for were pretty much out of it by the deadline. He hasn’t played in a high pressure game since 2014. He has played over 650 games since then. He’s had injuries. He will be 34 when the playoffs start this year. Things are very different for him now.
You don’t see it that way. You just think Roberts is an idiot. I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one.
All or nothing.!!! Loved Jocs at bat in the 4th, he tried to work it. 5th sucked, Bellinger and Taylor All or Nothing. Just put the ball in play and let the athleticism of your team mates produce runs. Geez is it really that frikin difficult.
Milwaukee is a good team. They are one of 2 teams in the NL with a better record than us. Next up is Houston. They are one of 5 teams in the AL with a better record than us. These next few days will be a test.
But, we go through streaks. We did this last year, and obviously we’ve done it again this year. It’s who we are. Hopefully we will be hot in September and October. You never know.