The Dodgers pitching rotation has been a merry go round. I want to call the rotation the “Mash Unit” because they always seem to be in the E.R.. The bullpen and hot bats have kept the season afloat. But now as the Dodgers hold a one game lead over the “Hated Ones” in the NL West and embark on their quest to make the postseason pitching is going to be the key.
The starting pitching now has to come to the forefront. Scott Kazmir seems to be having issues with his neck and back. Brett Anderson might be having a blister issue. I do hope he goes on the DL, I definitely don’t want him starting game 3 against the Giants this week. Help will be on the way for the Dodgers on a couple of fronts.
Scott Kazmir has been dealing with back and neck issues. The team doctors will examine him tomorrow in LA.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) August 22, 2016
Rich Hill and the never ending blister will make his Dodger debut tomorrow night against the Giants. Clayton Kershaw feels 100% and will pitch in September.
Rich Hill expects to start on Wednesday.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) August 19, 2016
Clayton #Kershaw will join #DODGERS in Cincinnati, expected to throw bullpen session: https://t.co/3BPXXWGdSk
— └A DODGERS LAKERS NEWS (@DodgersLakers) August 19, 2016
So reinforcements are on the way. Also September call ups are on the way to expand the rosters. In my view once Hill and Kershaw are back in the fold. The rotation should be Kershaw, Hill, Maeda, Urias, and Stripling. With September call ups, you can add Jose De Leon to the mix to go to a six man rotation in September. I don’t have any confidence in Bud Norris, Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, or Scott Kazmir at this time. Alex Wood can help out in the bullpen once he returns. The Dodgers need to go with pitchers who are pitching well in order to make the postseason. Now hopefully Kershaw and Hill will return to adequate form to bolster the rotation.
Once the postseason starts, if the Dodgers make it then they can go with a four man rotation. Who that fourth man will be is anybody’s guess. You would figure Kershaw, Hill, and Maeda are locked in as the top three. Kershaw and Hill should be well rested for the postseason since they have spent a lot of time on the DL. With Kenta Maeda will have to see how he would do with short rest in the postseason assuming the Dodgers go with a three man rotation. The September call-ups will be great opportunity for the spent bullpen to get some rest before the postseason to recharge the batteries. The Dodgers must avoid the wild card game so that’s why these nine games against the Giants are so important. Don’t forget they also have three against the Cubs on this current home stand after the Giants.
Hopefully Josh Reddick‘s bat will awaken to help with the offense. With the call-ups comes the reappearance of Yasiel Puig. Puig is batting .481/.548/.926 in seven games since his demotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He has slugged three home runs and struck out just once in 31 plate appearances. If Puig is still with the Dodgers come September, he adds another dimension to this team that can be an asset to get into postseason and to advance.
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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If you believe the reports we are hearing, there is a better chance of Puig getting Miguel Olivo’d than there is of him getting called up come September.
There was that Boston Globe report that quoted some insider as saying the Dodgers were wanting to “give him away.”
I don’t really buy that.
I would like to know the complete story about why he is in the doghouse. Is it really just that he was lazy and didn’t watch film or didn’t take seriously the strength and conditioning needed to keep his hammies healthy. …that and his lackluster performance.
Puig should be up today, not Sept. 1. Apparently he has gotten his groove on at OKC and it is foolish to waste his bat, his glove and his arm. Reddick has been a total bust and Roberts having him bat 4th has been a total bust x 5.
What does it say about the state of this division, that a pretty mediocre team can be a game up? Personally I think we have more question marks on the roster than we have strong points.
Most teams, except maybe the Cubs, have question marks. We are so focused on our team and it’s shortcomings that we don’t see how badly the Giants are playing, or the fact that Collins might lose his job with Mets, and that just a whole lot of teams have fallen flat, have flaws, or haven’t lived up to expectations. What do you think the comments on a Dbacks blog or looking like right now?
We can complain, because that’s what we do, but if the Dodgers can pull this off and win the division four straight years, well….need I remind you that will be the first time ever for a team whose history spans well over one hundred years.
James, I agree with you on the starting pitchers. I hope you are right about Hill. I do not have any confidence in Norris, Anderson or Kasmir. McCarthy could be ok if he figures out his problem. He looked good in his first two games and then lost it in Colorado. I think DeLeon has to pitch in September. Anderson and Kasmir need to go on the DL, and stay there until the season is over. I would keep Norris in the pen in September and use him in non pressure situations.
When Noris first pitched for the Dodgers he had a sharp hard breaking ball and I haven’t seen it yet since he has returned from his latest injury.
McCarthy has hip problems. He will not be back anytime soon.
Big series but I can remember in the 70’s when the Dodgers would win a big series against the Big Red Machine they tended to lose the next two series and the Reds would win theirs.
The important thing is to stay focused for the rest of the season and don’t get too hyped for the next 3 games. Can’t relax if the Dodgers take 2 or all 3 games.
I agree with all that James. Kershaw and Hill 100% all September will change the dynamics.
Plan B?
Alternate plans might begin Kershaw and Hill at about 80% and that would be acceptable to me. The anxiety comes from the reality of our not knowing who is going to available from here on out. It feels as likely there will be more going down as it does there will be more coming back. I’m not counting on anything.
Agree about Puig True. On the field he is ready. The question is, what has he done off the field to show the organization that he gets it. He should be in there against the Giants. We need everybody that’s good to be in there against the Giants. We are trying to win this with second and third stringers all over the field. It’s been true every year for a while, the team that wins it is the team that is kicking everyone’s ass starting in September. I want Kershaw and Puig to part of a team that is playing well in September. We all want that because we all know what our chances are without our ace and we all know how much better our lineup is with Puig hitting.
Giants throwing their 3 best: Bum, Cueto, Morris Dodgers throwing 3 of their 17 best: Maeda, Hill, TBD.
Even if we lose 2 of 3, we’e tied going to the Cub series Friday. Gona be a fun 3 games!
Bumgarner and Maeda have 12-7 records. Bumgarner’s ERA is a run lower. Bumgarner has more innings of course. He leads the league in games started. Much better ERA+. More K’s. Better WHIP…….. identical record. You know what all this tells me? We can win this one.
Bobby
That is the truth.
If a team is even just one game ahead, if the other team doesn’t sweep, it doesn’t do that much in the standings.
Doesn’t a player have to be called up before September first, to a eligible for the post season?
I found out that Toles father was a line backer for the Saints in the 80s.
I’m surprised the broadcasters haven’t mentioned that.
There are no hard and fast rules. They can add players even during the playoffs by simply claiming a player is injured and put on the DL, then naming a replacement who doesn’t even have to play the same position. Yeah, baseball is the All-American game, as dishonest as they can make it.
Earlier today there was some debate over whether or not getting Hamels a year ago would have cost Urias and Seager. Give me a break! Everyone here knows the subject was never broached with Philadelphia, The FAZHOLE never raised his sights above Woods, Latos, Johnson and the bad contracts we took off Atlanta’s hands just so we could pay them and DFA them. Hamels nor any other decent pitcher was ever in play for us.
We could have had Hammels for Seager and Urias. That’s who they wanted. Thank you FAZ for NOT making that deal.
First off, congratulations to Rob Segedin on the birth of his son the same day as his first homer, and dad made it home in time for the delivery. Seager and Urias were never in play because Philly was never approached. Everyone assumed that is what they would be asking for. That is probably right, but there was no way the FO was trading both of those guys with Seager being the most untouchable. I think they might have traded Urias had they been in contact with Philly, but the Rangers gave them 5 guys. FAZ would never have made that deal.
Any team is going to ask for your best prospects, that is a given.
FAZ isn’t that stupid. Somebody here said that’s what it would take and some people actually believed it. Again, Seager was going NOWHERE, and the package did not need to include the #4 rated prospect in all of baseball. De Leon was rated #23. The offer began with him. The top rated prospect Texas gave up was Alfaro and he was around 50. Holmes was rated higher than he was.
Wondering is right.
At the start of 2015 season the Dodgers checked in on Hamels and they asked for Seager, Urias, + one more. That ended the conversation. At midseason last year they checked in again. No one knows for sure what they asked for. Could it still have been Seager? From all accounts it was definitely Urias, Deleon, and more.
Here is a quote from a July 17, 2015 article.
“As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the general manager of the Phillies has been asking for a lot in return for Hamels. It was suggested that he wanted four or five big prospects in exchange for the starting pitcher, and that he had insisted the Dodgers include at least shortstop Corey Seager and left-handed pitcher Julio Urias in trade scenarios. It caused the Dodgers to cool on those talks, but it could be re-visited if the Phillies have truly backed off the original demands”.
Since 1958 might be right, ONLY Seager and Urias might have got it done.
Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/2259863/la-dodgers-trade-rumors-johnny-cueto-cole-hamels-become-trade-targets-for-dodgers/
Hearsay evidence not admissible.
Some of you aren’t thinking it through.
Look at what the “best offer” ended up being. How close is that to the #2, #4 and whatever else? Not even close. They may have said that to a numbskull reporter who prints it because…. PEOPLE WILL READ IT……. but come on. Amaro never expected either of those guys. I think it’s more logical that FAZ never really wanted Hamels, for a couple of reasons.
Well….this isn’t a court of law. Journalists, to get the inside scoop, use anonymous sources…you know…hearsey….ALL THE TIME!! Remember Woodward and Bernstein? Deepthroat?
It might have been BS, but those are really the only sources we have, and it beats Badger gathering the facts from deep recesses of his imagination.
I’ve thought it through. I still think your argument stinks. It could be the Phillies and Dodgers had some discussions, the Phillies were asking too much and Dodgers just walked away. Texas and the Phils then had separate discussions that evolved in a different way. You can’t just make a prospect to prospect comparison and say the Dodgers could have X for Y. It doesn’t work that way.
Why not harp about the Piazza or Pedro trade as well? The horse is dead.
Yeah, better we should use our time to make up really idiotic trade proposals…
And you know that how?
…..?
“….and the bad contracts we took off Atlanta’s hands just so we could pay them and DFA them.”
This discussion board really needs emojis. I just don’t think I can describe the true face palm inducing effect of that statement without a face palm emoji.
I have it on pretty good authority that the Dodgers could have had Hamels for 2 of the following:
Pederson, Urias, Seager. De Leon was never in the discussion.
So, for any morons who think otherwise, read this:
http://www.dodgersnation.com/phillies-gm-ruben-amaro-jr-compares-cole-hamels-clayton-kershaw/2014/11/26/
where it says (in part):
The Dodgers inquired on Hamels prior to the trade deadline last season and reportedly were told it would require their top three prospects in exchange for the southpaw. Months later, that may still be case in light of Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.’s comments.
According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, Amaro Jr. views Hamels in the same light as Lester, Clayton Kershaw and David Price:
This is one of the best starting pitchers in baseball,” Amaro said. “He’s at a level with the [Clayton] Kershaws and [Jon] Lesters and [David] Prices. And some of the metrics say he’s even better in some respects. So like I’ve said, he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball, and we don’t have to trade him. And if we do decide to move him, it will be for something we think is appropriate.”
MJ, I have been busy but mostly I stay away because of STUPID stuff people say. That’s why I am going to re-open LAdodgerTalk. I can’t afford to lose all these brain cells.
Agreed. Please don’t waste them trying to educate us imbeciles…
Mark
I was wondering what happen, after your Urias article.
And you told me I was no quitter. I expected the same from you. As for losing brain cells, well, it is all in how you take it. If you take it too seriously it will eat at you. Take what you are reading with a grain of salt, and realize some folks might not have the insight you might have. You have a lot of resources at your disposal, most do not, but good luck to you anyway.
Oh brother.
Think about for a moment – the Dodgers were told it take the top 3 prospects, who were ranked #2, 4 and #23 and yet what Philly accepted was 3 guys with the top guy ranked around #50. And you say it has to be true because AMARO says so?! Yoiks. That’s freakin hilarious.
And you post that, in italics no less, and expect us to believe that FAZ walked without an offer believing that top 3 bullsh*t was the bottom line? (I would use the the ROFL acronym now because it fits, but I think they’re lame)
Man, you really do think we’re stupid.
I brought this up already. If Amaro’s asking price was Urias, Pederson and Seager in 2014, doesn’t it stand to reason that the asking price in 2015 was at least one or possibly both of Urias and or Seager? What Texas gave up is irrelevant. What is relevant is what was asked of the Dodgers. Don’t you think that if the prospect haul was handful of Chase DeJongs or a few Ross Striplings that Hamels would be on the team? I would think so, which leads me to believe, rationally, that the Phillies were asking for prospects that the front office was not willing to part with.
You really can’t argue at all because you simply DON’T KNOW. You have NO IDEA. None. You weren’t there. You weren’t privy to the negotiations. You don’t know what was offered or what it would have taken.
All I know are the results of FAZhole’s trades since then and they more than any words I could use tell us what kind of players he wants. And that’s a fact, Jack!
“What Texas gave up was irrelevant”.
I strongly disagree. For what I consider obvious reasons.
It is possible that Amaro said those things out loud, but under his breath he was saying “fu&@ you Los Angeles. I’m not helping you out. I’m sending this guy to the American League.” Whatever. You’re right about one thing, none of us were in the room. I just know it wouldn’t have been that hard for us to beat the winning bid. And unless Amaro was giving us the finger it would not have taken Seager and/or Urias.
Sure Amaro was going to ask for those guys, and he knew the Dodgers would refuse, so he went to Texas and got a haul instead of quality. That’s his story and he is sticking to it. But we all know Amaro was under HUGE pressure because the Phils were falling apart and getting old. He had to replenish the farm system. And that is what he ended up doing…….where is he now though? Out of a job.
I think with the way the team is playing hard, and this being Vinny’s last year, anything can happen.
Of course in the history of the world, Badger has never been wrong.. ask him – he can confirm that.
That’s not true Mark. I was wrong about you.
Man, was I ever wrong about you.
I can’t believe how well the Dodgers have held it together with a patch work pitching staff. Looks like they get Kershaw back in early September. If they can create some kind of consistency down the stretch and build some momentum, they could go deep going into the playoffs. Let’s just keep pounding on the Giants and open up a little breathing room. I don’t want this thing to go down to the wire. I couldn’t deal with the final three games in ‘Frisco deciding the division. We want the Dodgers well in control and the pennant clinched. Like the magic number is ZERO! Give Roberts a chance to rest his guys before the post-season and set up his pitching staff for the first round of the playoffs. Then it’s a whole new season.