The Dodgers punted away another game on Wednesday with a 7-0 loss to the Brewers in the second game of the series at Miller Park. Brock Stewart wasn’t as bad as you would think, but still got pummeled for five runs on eight hits over 5 frames. However he did whiff 7 and other than that one bad inning where he allowed those 5 runs, (giving up a home run to Ryan Braun is certainly no shame), he looked pretty decent. I would like to see him take another turn at the least. It’s not like the Dodgers have anyone else.
Ultimately his start was meaningless because the Dodger offense folded up like a lawn chair as it has done on so many nights. The Dodgers tallied two measly hits all game off of Junior Guerra and the Milwaukee bullpen. Quite pathetic honestly. To be fair the entire club is hurt. Kike Hernandez was placed on the DL with rib cage inflammation. Although he’s sucked so much this year that I think it’s more like batting average inflammation more than anything.
Joc Pederson is still out after suffering an AC joint bruise crashing into the wall and may need a disabled list trip. Yasiel Puig is now hurt as well as he himself crashed into the wall at Miller Park while chasing down what was a home run allowed by bullpen torch Chris Hatcher in yesterday’s loss. We didn’t even get any news about Clayton Kershaw’s back and he is due to start on Friday evening against Colorado. Everyone is fearing the worst right now, and I’m starting to panic a little myself. Somehow, miraculously the Dodgers are still atop the wild card standings with a 43-37 record. They even gained two games on the Giants and are 6 games behind in the NL West.
Dodgers @Milwaukee
Kenta Maeda-6-5 vs. Zach Davies-5-3
Game Time – 11:10 AM – TV- SNLA
Today the Dodgers will finish up their series with the Brewers and then head home to spend the rest of the first half at Chavez Ravine until the all-star break. The boys in blue will play a ten-game home stand which sees them face Colorado, Baltimore, and San Diego. The Dodgers are 23-15 at home, and 20-22 on the road.
Kenta Maeda will head to the mound in the rubber game. Maeda is 6-5 with a 2.91 ERA in 15 starts. He’s whiffed 83 and walked 26 in 83.2 innings pitched and he’s posted a 3.45 FIP. Maeda took the loss in his last start when he was knocked out of the box in the sixth inning by the Pirates. He faced Milwaukee back on June 18 at Dodger Stadium. In that start he allowed just one earned run over six innings and picked up a no-decision. He did strike out eight Brewers in that game though.
Maeda vs. Brewers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP |
| Ryan Braun | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .667 | .667 | 1.000 | 1.667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Carter | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .333 | .000 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ramon Flores | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .667 | .500 | 1.167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scooter Gennett | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | 1.333 | 1.667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aaron Hill | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Maldonado | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kirk Nieuwenhuis | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .667 | .500 | 1.167 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonathan Villar | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Matt Garza | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | .500 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 26 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | .261 | .346 | .435 | .781 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
The Brewers will counter with 23-year old right hander Zach Davies. He was acquired by the Brewers from the Orioles in the Gerardo Parra trade. He’s actually been pretty solid. He’s in his second MLB season and is posting a 5-3 record with a 3.74 ERA/3.99 FIP. He’s tossed 74.2 innings pitched and struck out 65 while walking 21. He’s posted a 1.179 WHIP and struck out 7.8 per nine innings.
According to the scouting reports Davies’ best pitch is his changeup, but he mixes in his slider and a late 80’s to early 90’s fastball. He uses his changeup often. He’s listed as 6’0 155, and is originally from Washington State. He earned a no-decision against the Dodgers back on June 17 when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball striking out six. This is his second career start against the Dodgers.
Davies vs. Dodgers
| Name | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | SH | SF | IBB | HBP | GDP | missG |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .667 | .667 | .667 | 1.333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Yasmani Grandal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Joc Pederson | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Corey Seager | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Trayce Thompson | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .333 | .000 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Justin Turner | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | 1.333 | 1.667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Chase Utley | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .333 | .667 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Enrique Hernandez | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Julio Urias | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Scott Van Slyke | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .217 | .250 | .348 | .598 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
The game will be going on but nobody will be able to concentrate on it with Clayton Kershaw’s stats up in the air. It’s kind of cruel for the Dodgers not to announce anything right now, because we’re all kind of freaking out. The wait makes me think it’s something very serious, possibly season ending. My best guess is it’s a bulging disc, or pinched nerve, requiring several weeks of rest. I hope to god I’m wrong. We may find out tomorrow afternoon after the game. I won’t be around, because I’ll be at work as usual. The Dodgers are talking with the Rays about acquiring 26-year old Nicaraguan Erasmo Ramirez to use as a swingman. His stats don’t look very appealing to me and I had barely heard of him. It seems as though this front office continues to be allergic to acquiring impact players.
In other news, the rumors are true. I will be meeting Mark Timmons for a drink next week and talking baseball, Dodgers, and possibly all of you. I jest of course, but expect a follow up article, maybe with a few pics of yours truly (the negative downer) with the butt kisser. Stay tuned for that!
Oh and please try and behave in the chat boards. Just conduct yourself in an adult manner is all I ask for. Just keep the lewdness to a minimum. Thanks.
Go Blue!
Agon’s ejection:
http://www.closecallsports.com/2016/06/mlb-ejection-091-dan-bellino-2-adrian.html#more
A few more notes from the NL West…
Julio Urias will likely stick in the Dodgers rotation through the All-Star break, manager Dave Roberts told reporters including MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick (links to Twitter). With the club struggling to bridge the gap to its injured starters — particularly with Clayton Kershaw now questionable for his next outing — Roberts acknowledged that a near-term deal for a starter is a “possibility.” That seems to match with the earlier report suggesting a possible match with the Rays on Erasmo Ramirez.
The Dodgers have placed infielder Enrique Hernandez on the DL with inflammation in his rib cage, as Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times writes. That opens a roster spot for the promotion of righty Brock Stewart — who Jason Martinez of MLBTR/Roster Resource recently profiled. Stewart battled through some early struggles but logged five innings in his debut outing. (You can check out the new-look depth chart for Los Angeles right here.) More troublesome for the Dodgers, however, is the fact that Joc Pederson may need to join Hernandez on the disabled list, per McCullough. Pederson injured his right shoulder when he crashed into the wall making a spectacular grab the other night, and while initial x-rays revealed no broken bones, the outfielder told the media that he could scarcely lift his arm yesterday, noting that he had difficulty even getting dressed or putting on deodorant due to the lack of mobility.
Speaking of Stewart, Fangraphs’ David Laurila writes that he spoke to the infielder-turned-pitcher last summer about how pitching was never the avenue via which he expected to enter professional baseball. However, struggles at the plate during his junior season at Illinois State led a coach to suggest to him that his future may be on the mound, and his father (a pro scout for the Rays), agreed. Last summer, Stewart explained to Laurila that his velocity sat 90-92 and touched 94 mph, and described his slider rather timidly. Now, Laurila notes, Stewart tops out at 96 mph and has a much-improved slider, which have helped him reach the Majors with the Dodgers despite the fact that he opened the season at Class-A Advanced and had never pitched at a higher level.
That Agone ejection showed me how weak this team is.
The ump kicked Agone out, for no reason really, and NOBODY on the Dodgers reacted whatsoever! Agone was calm, Roberts was calm, while talking to the ump. Somebody should have lost their minds because of such stupid ejection, and instead, we calmly continued on with the game.
Pathetic. Get some fire, and let the umps have it!
Gonzalez was swinging like an old oxidized corral gate. I could do what he did in that last at bat. But you’re right. The whole team looked numb. Bellino is known to be full of himself and we didn’t have a full roster, so, maybe it’s a good thing nobody reacted.
Thompson down to .235. Maybe pitchers have figured him out. Kendrick looked drugged last night.
It’s going to be an interesting couple of weeks if both Kershaw and Pederson are DL’d. Who’s next up?
Bobby
You would think that Agone would have went after a ump during his slump, but he hasn’t.
And he rarely does anything to umps. That is why Vinny uses Agone’s example a lot, on air.
That is why it was bad for Agone, to be thrown out of this game.
I really didn’t see him do anything, except talk to the umps after he had already been thrown out.
The link for Ramirez that you posted is for a 40 year old player who hasn’t pitched in the majors for 9 years. 🙂
Did everyone hear that Kershaw was put on the the DL, for I think eleven games, and got an epidural.
I read it. Didn’t hear 11 games. Did hear about the shot. Not good news, but not surprising. I had Kendrick or Utley in my DL pool.
It’s a great day for baseball!
Looks like Puig is back in the lineup.
So who is on the bench? Ellis, SVS, the new backup shortstop. Is that it? Who am I missing?
No need to worry cause the LA Tampa A’s have DEPTH!
I worry not. The Dodgers will field a team every day. As I have from Day 1, I look forward to the next move, and then I’ll wait with anticipation for the moves to follow. It’s going to be whack-a-mole for the entire year. Should be fun. I can say that because I have low expectations.
Kershaw will be placed on the 15 day DL, and there is no time table for his return. As stated, all back injuries are different, and Scott VanSlyke was on the DL for 2 months with back problems…..Can anyone say…4th place this year??
Now, now. We have the great FAZ. A big, bad move is coming. Wait for it. Wait for it……Wait for it…………………………Wait for it………………………………
Big? I doubt it. Bad? That’s kind of expected – isn’t it?
Does anyone know where Crawfish is hiding out? He may be needed……after all he’s still being paid therefore should be ‘on call.’
Kershaw only had two more starts, until the Allstar break, so we will have to see.
We are lucky that it has happened right now, because the timing isn’t to bad, if it isn’t a serious injury.
But I do blame the front office, for making Kershaw have to carry the team, and especially the starting rotation.
This front office, has only signed or brought to the Dodgers, only a couple of decent pitchers, Maeda and Liberatore.
They have mostly brought sub par pitchers, with extentsive injury histories.
And that is why this starting pitching rotation, is falling apart.
The lost money on Anderson, and MCCarthy, that was lost, when they got hurt, is almost the amount of money, for one additional year for Greinke.
Some of the Dodgers’ wounds are self-inflicted – others can’t be helped. Pederson, Kershaw, Hernandez – there is really no way to predict or to prevent these types of injuries.
Others (McCarthy, Anderson, Wood) should have been expected and either avoided (by not signing or trading for the player) or planned for.
Now, the Dodgers have an entire rotation on the DL (Kerhsaw, McCarthy, Ryu, Anderson and Wood) and not enough pitchers to take their place.
Rather than get another re-tread, let’s see what the kids can do!
The Dodgers have several injured OF too (Ethier, Pederson, Hernandez). Unless they are going to obtain a real difference maker, bring up one of kids and see what he can do! Let Van Slyke take more AB – stop playing Howie Kendrick (who isn’t hitting enough this year to justify his presence in the lineup as an OF) in LF.
Wow we have an entire pitching rotation and an entire outfield on the DL. Amazing
I agree with not panicking and making a move just to make a move. We won’t replace Kersh no matter who we get, so let some more kids get their shot.
We really need a big game from Maeda today; the bullpen would buy him a new suit from Rodeo Drive if he gave them a break
Meanwhile, Dodgers have acquired Bud Norris from Atl. he was 3-7 , 4.22ERA in 70 ip, 22 appearances this year. He will likely start Friday in place of Kersh.
Phillip Pfeiffer and Caleb Dirks going to the Braves.
In 29 1/3 innings since rejoining the rotation, Norris has pitched to a 2.15 ERA with a 29-to-8 K/BB ratio and an enormous 59.2 percent ground-ball rate. Overall, since losing his rotation spot in late April, Norris holds a 2.08 ERA in 47 1/3 innings.
There it is!!!!!!!!!!!!! All is well now. We love our FAZ!
Bobby
I remembered he pitched well aganist the Dodgers, in his first start back in the starting rotation.
But I am not sure how he will pitch under pressure, with the Dodgers.
Because the Braves are rebuilding, so there is no real
pressure on there players, and pitchers.
I do hope he can pitch well in the rotation, for the Dodgers.
But they didn’t have to give up much for him it seems, so that is better, then giving away any of our good young prospects.
Another retread. Great. Ned Colletti would approve.
Ned Colletti was working for a lousy owner with no money to spend, and a not very good farm system. Manny Ramirez, who Colletti basically stole from the Pirates, had probably the greatest 2 month offensive run in Dodger history, and ignited the fan base and a run for the pennant. And yes, they got him from the Pirates as part of the 3 way trade with the Sox.
Ladies and gentlemen: Bud Norris!
We have entertained a lot of talk on this fan board. Agreed and disagreed here and there about the plan and future and present of this team.
But the one thing that gets to me — is who is running the club? Is it the rookie manager, or is it part of the brain-trusts (from owner to GMs)?
I cast my vote that is it NOT the manager Roberts. If it were Robert I believe he would not be using these Right / Left lineups. Some one else is feeding him the lineup direction. Thus, some things will not get better, but just might remain the same.
Key — would have loved to have seen a seasoned manager come in who might have been his own man. The Cubs blew up their team and did not bring in a rookie manager, but a seasoned one.
I read somewhere that Joe Maddon chose NOT to come to LA when he had the chance. I’d guess he’d had all he could stomach of Friedman. I think all of us here know the feeling…
A very valid point made but me being as removed from viewing games lately I’m less driven by emotions and perhaps view a bigger picture……and perhaps not. It sure appears that the Dodgers franchise doesn’t give a rats ass about it’s fans and only has a short and fake interest in delivering the real beef. Instead of news we get Kim Kardashington, like instead of history we get Chumley on a fake pawnshop set. A big turnaround is likely about to happen and/or else the real plan is all about the Rams and tax write offs. Does anybody here remember me asking if Trump was really a seriously future candidate? The only response was that to be a negative but the show went on and now the gun control idiots are on the bandwagon like they provide the answer in the same way the prohabitioners solved the drinking problem. I feel like getting drunk and shooting Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and there’s my vote.
My friend Scott asked us to keep our choice of words in check and thusly would apologize to only one here but I bet she cheers the things I say. Bring the real stuff and quit fucking around with inert ingredients or else I might start drinking.
Clearly I’m very bored and that doesn’t mean I buried Paul.
If the reports are true about Bud Norris, I wonder why the Dodgers didn’t already have him. His stats this year suggest that he is a quality pitcher. Allegedly, Norris’ great improvement in pitching comes from his dropping his change-up and adding a cut fast ball. (Reinvention–shades of Blanton.)
If Kershaw is able to return after 15 days, his problem could have a silver lining in giving him a mid-season rest and in obtaining a quality starter.
I looked at Norris’s eras through out his career, and his eras, don’t look very good, so I hope that new pitch, has made him better lately.
I don’t know how much help Norris will be but I know it won’t be enough. By trade or by promotion, we need more. And we really need a hitter.
In general, history is the best predictor, but the remarkable turn-around of Blanton demonstrates that some can break loose from their past. Let’s hope that Norris is one.
Hello Dodger fans:
I posted a few times on Mark’s old site, but never here.
I had mentioned to my colleagues (albeit Giant fans, since I live in the Bay Area) over a year ago that the good thing with Guggs and Co (including FAZ) was that the Dodgers with new management will now always be in contention.
Wow, could have not have been further from the truth. The reality of who the Dodgers are and have become , both on the field and in the FO is an embaresment to the Dodger tradition and history of said baseball legends.
Badger mentioned low expectations – no kidding, and way beyond this year.
Until I see otherwise (beyond just the FO talk), the low expectations is the new Dodger way.
I wonder how long it has been since “The Dodger Way” was visibly in effect.
Bruce,
You really need to be drinking more Dodger blue kool-aid. It will do wonders for you. There are a ‘few’ prime examples of folks that post on here that have a big gulp of Dodger blue Kool-Aid while eating their FAZ prepared frozen meal every night. They love it.
Just don’t ask them how it feels to digest it or expel it. That’s when it becomes challenging…… Now you know why the word ‘ass’ is at the top of their vocabulary.
I don’t know where Wondering heard that Joe Maddon chose NOT to come to LA when he had the chance. I’d guess he’d had all he could stomach of Friedman. I think all of us here know the feeling…
The facts are clear:
1. Maddon and Friedman are STILL very good friends; and
2. One of the first things Friedman did with the Dodgers was to say that Maddon would not be joining him. I have heard it on pretty reliable authority that Friedman was told he had to keep Mattingly at least one year.
I do know that it’s BS about Maddon not wanting to come to LA… I have Joe’s brother on speed dial!
I had assumed that the new ownership wanted to see how Mattingly would do and that the new front office wanted to go slow to assess what it had before making any changes. In retrospect, maybe it would have been better if Friedman had been given the go ahead to hire Maddon if he wanted to but the fans would have screamed if he had.
In any event, I am not impressed with Roberts as a new manager so far, but given the new paradigm in how front offices interact with field managers, I’m not sure that it really matters anyway.
It was the majority Dodger owner, who insisted that they give Mattingly another year!
I believe Maddon was under contract for another year and the Cubs traded a player to be able to sign him. Anyone remember that?
No, I think the deal was that Maddon had a opt-out clause which gave him two weeks to leave if Friedman left. They were joined at the hip.
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/99468606/joe-maddon-opts-out-of-contract-leaves-rays
I guess you shouldn’t believe what you read on the internet. But why on earth would they pass up Maddon to keep Donnie. Dum dum dum dum dum.
I did read it somewhere. Doesn’t necessarily make it true. Just like you claiming to have someone’s number on speed dial. If he knew you had it, he’d probably change the number…. I can’t imagine anyone of importance admitting knowing a nut case like you.
You just love to make stuff up – I challenge you to tell me where you read it – because you can’t! You made it up because no one with any knowledge of the situation would say it.
You can think whatever your little mind concocts about me, but it doesn’t make it true. I have way more important things to do than thinking about what you have to say to me… or about me.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/joe-maddon-suddenly-a-big-time-free-agent-but-dodgers-not-in-play/
Exactly, my point!
Thank you!
The Dodgers have lost the most players to the disabled list of any team in baseball.
The entire Dodger offense has dramatically underachieved the first half.
The farm system is still #1.
The Dodgers have the 6th best record in baseball.
Anything can happen.
Save the drama!
Save it for when?
If wish they were joined at the hip. If that were the case Maddon would be here. Would the team be any better? I doubt it. Too many broken parts to this machine. While I’m not crazy about Roberts so far I don’t think it’s him. The fault is in our stars. We don’t have enough of them to be serious contenders.
Today’s win notwithstanding. We still need hitters especially since nobody really knows how our starting 5 will be like or who in fact they will be. McCarthy is on the way back or so we are told. Anderson and Ryu? My heart says yes, my head says no. Urias will not be starting much longer and I’ll give Stewart another 4-5 starts. I haven’t heard anything about Wood.
All that being said I would still love to have Lucroy and even Braun with his salary IF it means we can give the Brewers players lower in the pecking order.
I’m sure we would have to give up one or two of our top 10 like Cotton and Alverez or Diaz. Then throw in Grandal and Puig and perhaps the Brewers will listen, JMO.
Ok guys, he has my last name, but we are not related, so do NOT blame any bad performances on me! But if he is great…..I will take full claim and uphold the family honor! LOL
Michael
I noticed that. I thought he was your long lost son.
UGH! Nope…not mine….but we are both bald! LOL
Well, we are at the half-way point of the season, so we can no longer use the “it’s early” excuse when addressing the team’s performance this year. They are at .543 and on a pace to win 88 games.
Cherry picking some of the numbers:
1- They only have 3 starting pitchers who have pitched enough innings to qualify for the ERA title (Kershaw, Maeda and Kazmir)
2 – They are 33 – 35 in all games in which Kershaw didn’t get the decision (a replay of last year when they were .500 in all games not started by Kershaw or Greinke)
3 – The Dodgers only have 5 pitchers better than replacement level on the whole staff (Kershaw, Maeda, Jansen, Libertore and Blanton). (WAR of .8 or better)
4 – Seager leads the Dodgers in R, RBI, BA, OPB, SLG, HR and 2B.
5 – Because of all of the platooning and multiplicity of lineups, they only have 5 hitters with enough AB to qualify for the batting title (Seager, Gonzalez, Turner, Utley and Pederson).
6 – They have only 5 hitters with OWAR of .8 or better (Seager, Utley, Turner, Pederson and Thompson)
7 – Team BA is .235. The worst hitting Dodger team that I ever saw (1968) hit .230, so this Dodgers team is competing with the worst offensive team in its history.
8 – Team OBP is .308; SLG is .382; OPS is .690.
9 – Only 2 hitters with OPS over .800 (Seager and Pederson); only 4 over .750 (add Thompson and Turner).
The problems are too pervasive for an easy fix. Here’s a start:
1 – Dump the hitting coaches;
2 – Stop the platooning except 2B and C. Pick a lineup and play it;
3 – No more Howie Kendrick in the OF;
4 – No more batting Gonzalez 3rd or 4th until he starts hitting with power;
5 – If they are serious about this year, a right-handed bat is a must – preferably in the OF or at C (no Jay Bruce please);
6 – Dump one or more of Hatcher, Baez or Howell;
6 – Trade for a high-end set-up man; reserve Libertore and Blanton for the 6th or 7th inning or use Libertore as a LOOGY;
7 – Norris is a band aid. Either let more of the kids pitch or trade for someone good (the latter if they are serious about this year);
8 – Roberts is on a short leash;
9 – Dump some of the walking wounded brigade currently populating the DL. Too many high risk SP.
Dodger rick
What was the team’s batting average last year?
.250
dodgerrick:
Until the brain trust starts acting like grown-up MLB executives and stops their propensity to go dumpster diving every week, plus all the other “brilliant” moves they make on a regular basis, the systemic problems you describe will not change. I suspect Guggs will have to intercede before this ship is righted.
I don’t know much about Guggs and Walther but I’ll go out on a limb here and state that he didn’t acquire 9.5 billion in wealth by operating the way FAZ operates the Dodgers.
…which is why he is not down with stupid long-term contracts! Which is why Greinke walked.
Most everyone’s thinking is 180 degrees off!
Mark
Our you down with stupid multi year contracts, like MCCarthy got?
$12 million a year? Yes I was – now we will see…
What if…
the offense suddenly finds itself? Don’t say it’s not possible, because it is. Do I believe it will happen? I have no opinion. I don’t know. That’s why they play the game.
In 2015, Jason Hammel had a 2.86 ERA the first half and a 5.10 ERA the second half.
In 2015, Anthony Rizzo hit .298 before the break and .255 after.
A lot of you wanted Jason Heyward last year – he’s hitting .235 in a hitters park with 4 HR. What if FAZ had signed him?
In 2015, Robinson Cano hit .251 with 6 HR before the All-Star Game and .331 after the Break with 15 HR and 100 higher OB%!
Classic case-in-point: Last season, Boston Fans were calling for Big Poppy to retire. He hit .231 before the All-Star Break and went on to hit .325 afterwards with a .401 OB%.
Such is the game of baseball. Many of you are obviously novices – you have never seen the peaks and valleys. (sarcasm) I do have to admit that I have never seen guys this good hit so bad for so long, but stick around – you may be in for a rude awakening.
Many people who don’t blindly follow the crowd are called nuts. I accept that and stand by what I have predicted. It’s a blow for Clayton to go down, but maybe that could be a blessing – it may make others step up and he might be fresher in the playoffs. BTW, the Giants won’t keep it up!
The offense has been so bad that the pitchers have had very little margin for error. Maeda has lost 5 even though he has pitched pretty well. If the offense averages 4.2 R/G, the pitchers can’t give up 4 and win. Without Kershaw, the team ERA is about 4.40. The W-L record will be worse, not better without him. I don’t see how it’s an advantage to lose the best player in baseball by WAR for any period of time.
I’m not saying it is a good thing… but you never know what can happen.
I know it’s hard for a lot of people to understand, but I believe in the power of the human spirit.
I believe that in trying circumstances some people just rise to the top.
Trouble doesn’t make character – it reveals it! I’m hoping we have some character on this team.
Sometimes the difference between success and failure is simply the belief that failure is not an option.
Sometimes trials reveal character
Sometimes they reveal characters
When Koufax went down after 1966, the Dodgers tanked. The team was good enough to win with him, but not good enough to win without him. I won’t say it will happen again, but I think there is a good chance.
Kershaw has a mild herniated disc.
I haven’t heard of a mild herniated disc so I looked it up.
It is when a disc is only protruding out, about 10 percent.
It can realign with conservative treatment.
And it always depends if a nerve is being compressed, or not, in how it affect people.
And usually only causes mild pain.
What If………
What is possible and what is probable are two different kinds of speculation. Almost anything is possible, but probable is a different equation. Both kinds of speculation are based on the past. Past performances by a player and what is called ‘potential’. While this is not a science, probability would have to win out over possibility.
Let’s take Lebron in HS. Almost every analyst and sports enthusiast predicted Lebron to become a monster player in the NBA. The kid had it all working for him and he produced. Curry, was not deemed a superstar in the making by most (not chopped liver, though) and teams had mixed sentiments about him. Some still do. But, the guy worked at his game and had the innate skills to rise in the NBA.
The transition to the Pro arena is huge. This is where the test really begins and many don’t rise to the challenge, just squeek by or abjectly fail. Do the Dodgers have any Lebron-like players in their farm system? Do they have any on the current roster? It is almost a certainty that teams need at least a couple of superstars to excel and win a championship. Many teams don’t have this configuration, but compete. Competing is itself a frustration to fans as witnessed here and in other baseball cities where a championship eludes a team because of a lack of superstars. There might be a possibility of a team without superstars winning a championship, but it is very low on the probability scale. No fan wants to settle for a competing team. They want a winner.
Are the Dodgers a winner? History says no and so does possibility as currently constructed. Am I missing something? I can certainly listen to what others say who feel otherwise.
Crap.
Shut him down. Now.
Badger
Kershaw is pretty young to have a herniated disc.
It doesn’t sound as bad as a typical herniated disc.
That is why I looked it up.
I had one, and had a surgery to help it.
But the doctors told me I had the biggest herinated disc that they ever have saw.
They didn’t say this on the after show today.
I heard this on the radio on Dodger talk, so I hope they knew what they were talking about.
B