The Dodgers have been on the road on what seems like forever. The Dodgers actually have done well on the road this season and on this road trip. This was game 2 of the four game series against the Atlanta Braves. Mike Foltynewicz took on Clayton Kershaw. In the bottom of the second the Braves got on the board first. Nick Markakis hit a ground rule double. Kurt Suzuki then singled advancing the runner to third. Ender Inciarte hit a ground ball RBI to make the score 1-0.
In the top of third inning, the Dodgers struck back. Alex Verdugo hit his first home-run of the season over the center-field wall as the Dodgers tied the score 1-1.
Alex Verdugo homers over the wall in CF. #Dodgers tie score 1-1 in 3rd
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 28, 2018
Then in the top of the fourth inning, Yasmani Grandal hit a solo shot to make the score 2-1 blue crew. Yesterday Manny Machado got his first home run as a Dodger and Rich Hill got a hit as well. Matt Kemp would walk in the inning. Chris Taylor then hit a double moving Kemp over to third. Then Clayton Kershaw came up and needed to do what he does. He hit a double scoring two runs and the making the score 4-1 Dodgers. He reached base four times.
In the Bottom of the 7th, Kershaw let the first two runners reach base. He got Johan Camargo to strike out. He was able to get Ender Inciarte hit into a double play to get out of the inning. Kershaw pitched into the 8th inning. He left the game with two runners on and two outs. Kenley Jansen got the final four outs. The Dodgers won two straight, improving its NL-best road record to 30-22. The Dodgers are 32-16 overall since June 1, tops in the NL over that span. Tomorrow Yasiel Puig will be back. When Julio Urias does come back he will be used out of the bullpen. Hyun Jin Ryu is close to coming back. Read a rumor the Dodgers asked about Bryce Harper. What do you think of using Walker Buehler out of the pen?
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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Best I have seen Kersh pitch in quite a while, plus 2 RBI single. Nice job. Puig due back tomorrow….ta ta Verdugo. Pressley traded to the Astros who are loading up for another run. Moustakas to the Brewers, Cabrera to the Phillies and Escobar to the D-Backs who also sent Lamb to the DL. According to twitter chatter, Dodgers deeply engaged with the Marlins about their relievers. Getting Puig and Turner back like trading for a hitter at this point. Urias will be stretching to 3 innings as that will probably be his job when he comes back.
Urias, Walker will be good in the bullpen. Walker probably later. We’ve got a bunch of relievers on the DL too. Koehler is of course done for the season, but guys like Fields and Cingrani are nice arms and can make an impact. Fingers crossed.
I agree, Yueh, and have said as much a few times. We have a lot of good arms – IF they are healthy. This is a good group to begin the Revolving DL Door program. Let that dance begin.
Back to back 7 inning games? When was the last time we saw that? Will we see it again?
It’s been a long trip. Still 8 games left on this 17 game grind, with the last 6 against a very good Brewer team (60 wins) and then….. Houston. Those 6 at home, after this trip, will be a real test. I wonder who might be here to help with that?
Liberatore is down there too. Plenty of relievers with good stuff are right here.
I think this guy is spot on:
“We may not need anybody. We have several good arms in this organization, and once we begin the Revolving Door DL Program we should be able to keep them relatively fresh. Wood, with 111 innings, leads all Dodger starters in that stat. 111 innings is so far down the list it doesn’t even show up on the MLB stat page. Kershaw, Hill and Maeda by most accounts, are well rested. Keep them that way and we should be ok for the playoffs. It’s no secret that I would prefer another starter, sending one of our current starters to the pen in August/September, but I don’t see that happening. We will more likely just add a decent bullpen arm, mostly I believe for the optics of “hey, look, we did something at the deadline.”
This is a decent, resonant team when all are healthy. Fragile maybe, but, deep. Win the West, get in the tournament and hope all are able to play. Oddsmakers like us. That’s a good sign – right?”
I like us, too. The bullpen is our strong point, not our weak one. I will miss seeing Verdugo play. I think he is our future if they don’t wind up trading him. The enthusiasm to play is dripping off of him. He looks happy out there. While I like Puig, I don’t like his inconsistency and his absurd base running habits. I think Verdugo can easily replace him.
Hudson and Baez should be sent down if Cingrani and Fields come back soon.
Puig, Toles, Alvarez and the half the Loons for deGrom.
That oughta do it.
Why framing should not be a thing.
Are umpires really fooled that easily?
Yes. Yes, they are.
Vin Scully said one time on a Dodger broadcast that the umpires call balls and Strikes where they cross the plate not where the catcher catches the ball I wonder why he would make a statement like that knowing the catchers are framing
Because umpires are human and human beings are fallible.
The strike zone is not fallible. How about we get that right? Even if the e-zone isn’t perfect, it’s better than those guys and it’s what millions of people see every game. You would think the umps would be tired of taking this heat. There are roughly 300 pitches thrown in a ML game. The average ML umpire gets about 45 of them wrong, changing the at bats of who knows how many players. It’s better we don’t know how bad it is, but we now demand it, so, we get it on all broadcasts. We even get replays of the mistakes. Fix it.
For whatever reason it (bad balls and strikes) bother me in the moment, but rarely resonate.
You know what drives me nuts? Umpires making themselves the center of arguments, or umpires not seeking the opinion of a fellow umpire.
We need arms in the pen more then another starter, and the Mets are not dealing their two top pitchers yet.
But if they are talking to the Marlins, it is going to take more, because Bear claw has a couple years left on his contract, I believe.
Puig doesn’t produce enough offense to play right field, but his good defense in right, lets the Dodger’s justify that.
And because of all of that, Verdugo doesn’t provide enough power, to play in a corner outfield position.
The most HRs Verdugo has hit in a season is 8 HRs this year, and Puig hit 28 HRs last year.
But Verdugo has a good enough arm to play right, but not enough power to play right.
Verdugo’s power is probably 3 years from fruition. Puig’s fruition is still hanging in the tree. For better or for worse, until further notice he’s our right fielder. Bummer for Verdugo. And Toles.
Puig’s days in RF may be limited by his contract situation more than directly by his arm or bat.
My thoughts, feel free to disagree with them. Some people are debating the worth of Verdugo, Toles, and Puig. Toles is handicapped by his size and how some people perceive that, but I think his attitude will make him an equal to Verdugo. Puig is roughly in the same class right now. I think being raised in Cuba has put him below the curve in maturity. Nothing wrong with his physical ability. I think the Dodgers are tired of him, or perhaps it will just be a money thing, but they will trade or release him and if he ends up on the right team where they will respect him and show patience, in the long run he will be better than Toles or Verdugo. But it will be much cheaper for the Dodgers to trade Puig and keep one of the others. None of the three will ever be mistaken for Matt Kemp though… Of Toles and Verdugo, I think they will be very close in ability, but Toles will have better attitude and I would trade Verdugo because other clubs will value him more.
Puig is arb eligible next year. He won’t get that much unless he finishes strong. Somebody would want him. He’s matured some the last year or so. He’s 28 next year, will have put up an average of 3+ WAR per year in his career. That’s value. Verdugo has trade value for sure. Toles? We don’t value him, why would anyone else?
Speak for yourself, some of us value him. And FAZ never makes a bad judgement???
By “we” I meant the Dodgers. He’s there just in case 2 of Pederson, Puig, Kemp, or Verdugo go down. He’s way down our list.
Verdugo’s has more trade value then Toles, only because he is younger, and still considered a prospect.
But I think their both good hitters.
I just think Toles is a better RBI guy, while I think Verdugo, would be a better lead off hitter.
But I don’t see the Dodgers trading any of their players on the major league team this year, unless they get a really good offer, that they just can’t turn down.
I agree with the last paragraph. I think this is the team FAZ wants. They may add a periphery piece, but I believe they are happy with this group.
Badger
That is just not true!
The only reason Toles wasn’t called right back up, was because he had a cramp in his hammy, the night before.
And Roberts is the one that said that.
And remember it was Toles that was called up first, after he was healthy again.
I also saw that Toles was batted for, in his last at bat, that night before, so I know that was legit.
And the Dodgers already knew Puig would be back in a short time, so they thought they would reward Verdugo, with a short trip up.
Check the numbers with runners in scoring position.
Badger. Just let it go.
MJ and Toles
MJ and Batting Average
MJ and Pederson
Some topics should not be broached except for the heartiest of us all.
Kemp is only good if you rest him every GD night because I have been told that over and over. Dummy is a genius for sure.
Verdugo knew before he even had that first at bat last night, that he would be going down.
Bluto
Why are you putting me down, for speaking the truth?
You know that Roberts said that?
And I wasn’t only talking about batting average, I am talking about the OPS too.
MJ
Keep telling us what you believe and know. That is your right. Don’t get like me where everyone disagrees because they cannot get what is happening with Kemp. See Ya.
Package
Thanks again!
MJ,
Don’t tell me what I know. Please.
Here is the exact comment from Ken Gurnick:
Roberts said one of the reasons Verdugo was recalled is that Andrew Toles had a hamstring cramp. Also, Verdugo has been the hottest hitter at OKC.
Note the words: “one of the reasons.” Also note how Roberts cited Verdugo has (had at the time) been the hottest hitter.
That is not the same as the following, which you wrote today:
“The only reason Toles wasn’t called right back up, was because he had a cramp in his hammy, the night before.”
It wasn’t the only reason. It was “one of the reasons”. You know this, you knew this, and the only reason you change it is your irrational cheerleading for Toles. It’s like your irrational attempts to cherry-pick statistics for Pederson, or your irrational thoughts on OBP.
I quite like Toles, but I don’t try to rewrite history.
My opinion on it is this: I like Toles as well, but I don’t believe the Dodgers are that high on him. Maybe it’s the injuries but I believe that if the Dodgers were really that high on him he would be up with the Major league roster and playing every day, or at the least getting some playing time. We’ll see him in September when the rosters expand. However I don’t think he’s as good as some people think he is. Useful player, sure, but not a star. His ceiling is as a fourth outfielder. Honestly I think Verdugo has better skills/tools, is younger healthier. Less injury prone. But again, I like Toles. I just don’t see him getting much playing time going forward and the Dodgers management knows this.
Scott
As you know, I respect your words.
But take a look at Toles’ numbers when runners are in scoring position, in AAA, and every time he was up, in the majors.
And that is something this team doesn’t have.
And remember he missed most of last year, and he didn’t play for almost two months, at the beginning of the season.
And he has only been back, for a little over a month.
And he was hitting 350 right before, Verdugo was.
And right now, he is hitting 339, and he has hit 4 HRs too.
I have always said nothing but Verdugo is a good hitter, because I think he is.
But compare their numbers, when runners are in scoring position.
Bluto
I didn’t only say that!
But you conveniently didn’t post all I said!
I also said, as a reward to Verdugo too!
MJ,
Use exclamation marks all you want. Say you said other things, fine.
Once again, here is what you stated as THE ONLY REASON Verdugo was called up in your own words:
“The only reason Toles wasn’t called right back up, was because he had a cramp in his hammy, the night before.”
And Bluto by the way, FU!
I am so tired of you acting like you are superior over everyone here!
And if you are going to present a case against me, get it right!
Because you conviently didn’t post everything I said, to try to make yourself look better.
That is simply pathetic!
MJ,
It’s an interesting world where someone is acting superior by reciting back to you your exact words.
If your new rule is I have to post everything you say to point out something you say that is completely incorrect, then get ready for a lot of people to break your new rule.
Just don’t make up stuff. It’s easy.
MJ
Hey, the Dodgers are winning tonight and playing a good game even with Dummy who pulled Kemp as he does nightly. I am glad at least you are honest. Stay with it.
Package
Thanks for your support, it means a lot!
I am just tired of Bluto’s manipulation right now, at least he thinks!
Bluto keep on talking, I just hear what the peanuts gang hears, from their teacher!
I am outta of here, I just came to ask Michael, if that HR was worth the wait, because I know he has been waiting for Puig since that last game Puig hit thar HR off a leftie.
I just like watch the guy play MJ. He is by far the most exciting player on the team. It gets frustrating watching Cody flail away lately and Forsythe too. Cody is young, he has good coaches and he will figure it out. But Puig just has a flair for the game and he enjoys it so much. Yeah, sometimes his head is stuck in neutral, but he is still fun to watch. And when he is playing well, the team benefits. He was hitting .348 for the month before he was hurt.
The game is nice and easy when pitchers go deep and the other team has a hard time scoring.
Why we sniping at each other? This was a big win. A couple of errors but no unearned runs. 13 strikeouts, but hey, that is nothing new. This road trip is officially a success.
Yea us!
Differing opinions and perceptions. Look we all love the team. Certain players, not so much. Forsythe has to be the most disliked Dodger in years. They are playing well and that is good. The trading deadline two days away and the rumors are flying. I myself would love a little more consistency, and maybe we will see it down the road. For now, they are what they are. After today, the next 7 games will tell a lot.
Is Forsythe as disliked as Carl Crawford?
I don’t think so. Over where he was known as Crawfish nobody took more heat than Crawford. Maybe Ethier, Mr Softie, came close. Chalupa Jones took some heat. Schmidt. Who was that reliever everybody came to despise. I can picture him. Name escapes me. Brandon League?
Brian Wilson?
Yeah, him too. Latos wasn’t popular. McBrittle chafed. Anderson got under some skin.
Wilson was good for a few minutes, wasn’t he?