The trade deadline has come and gone Thankfully. The Dodgers ended up acquiring RF Josh Reddick and P Rich Hill from the Oakland Athletics, as well as P Jesse Chavez from the Toronto Blue Jays. They also ended up getting Minor Leaguer P Josh Fields from the Houston Astros. Yesterday also dealt with all the drama surrounding Yasiel Puig. I am of the opinion that Puig should stay on the club since he fields and hits better then some of the other outfielders on the team. That topic will be ongoing.
Now we can get back to the business of baseball games. The Dodgers will begin a three game set at Coors Field today against the surging Colorado Rockies. The Rockies have won 9 of 11 and are five games behind the Miami Marlins for the second wild card spot. The Dodgers better bring their bats because we all know what can happen up in that high altitude.
The Dodgers come into the game having gone 18-10 without Clayton Kershaw and are currently 2 1/2 games up on Miami for the top wild card spot. The Dodgers come into play today only two games behind the “Hated Ones” for the NL West lead. We all know we want that fourth straight division title.
| West | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | RS | RA | DIFF | STRK | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco GiantsSF | 61 | 44 | .581 | – | 32-21 | 29-23 | 473 | 419 | +54 | W2 | 4-6 |
| Los Angeles DodgersLAD | 59 | 46 | .562 | 2 | 33-20 | 26-26 | 464 | 390 | +74 | W1 | 6-4 |
| Colorado RockiesCOL | 52 | 53 | .495 | 9 | 25-24 | 27-29 | 536 | 528 | +8 | L1 | 8-2 |
| San Diego PadresSD | 46 | 60 | .434 | 15.5 | 25-27 | 21-33 | 464 | 514 | -50 | W1 | 5-5 |
| Arizona DiamondbacksARI | 43 | 63 | .406 | 18.5 | 17-36 | 26-27 | 467 | 572 | -105 | L2 | 3-7 |
The Pitching matchup for today is Brandon McCarthy 2-1 with a 2.39 ERA against Jon Gray 7-4 with a 3.94 ERA. Gray has 114 strikeouts on the season and is coming off a dominant start against the potent offense of the Baltimore Orioles in which he allowed one run in over 7 innings on five hits and two walks.
Today’s Dodger lineup:
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Reddick RF
Gonzalez 1B
Grandal C
Pederson CF
Kendrick LF
McCarthy P
Lets see how the Dodgers stack up against Gray minus Reddick:
| BATTER | NP | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | |
| Corey Seager
L^2 |
30 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .833 | .875 | 1.500 | 2.375 | .919 | | |
| Adrian Gonzalez
L^5 |
40 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .444 | .444 | .778 | 1.222 | .522 | | |
| Justin Turner
R^3 |
29 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 | .444 | .778 | .339 | | | |
| Joc Pederson
L^7 |
23 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .400 | .250 | .650 | .320 | | |
| Chase Utley
L^1 |
37 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .125 | .222 | .375 | .597 | .256 | | |
| Yasmani Grandal
S^6 |
30 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .333 | .250 | .583 | .267 | | |
| Howie Kendrick | 17 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .200 | .000 | .200 | .140 | | |
It looks like the Dodgers Lineup has had success against Gray. Coors field is the place where pitchers have nightmares. Hopefully Brandon McCarthy can kick it into high gear today and keep the team in the game.
The Rockies Lineup:
Blackmon CF
LeMahieu 2B
Gonzalez RF
Arenado 3B
Dahl LF
Reynolds 1B
Descalso SS
Hundley C
Gray P
Here’s how the Colorado Rockies stack up against Brandon McCarthy:
| BATTER | NP | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | |
| Nolan Arenado
R^4 |
35 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .300 | .300 | .900 | 1.200 | .490 | | |
| Mark Reynolds
R^6 |
44 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .556 | .500 | 1.056 | .472 | | |
| Charlie Blackmon
L^1 |
39 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .545 | .500 | 1.045 | .473 | | |
| Nick Hundley
R^8 |
52 | 16 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .400 | .438 | .600 | 1.038 | .450 | |
| DJ LeMahieu
R^2 |
23 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .375 | .375 | .375 | .750 | .338 | | |
| Carlos Gonzalez
L^3 |
61 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | .308 | .357 | .308 | .665 | .307 | | |
| Daniel Descalso
L^ |
32 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .222 | .222 | .222 | .444 | .200 | | |
It looks like across the board it should be a high scoring game based on the stats. In other Dodgers news. Yasiel Puig and Ross Stripling were sent to minors today to make room for new acquisitions Reddick and Chavez. Also P Rich Hill was placed on the 15 day DL today as well. It looks like Brock Stewart will be getting called up to make some starts.
One little tidbit, Adrian Gonzalez is one home run away from 300 in his career. In Coors field he has 19 homers and is hitting .311 with a .943 OPS. So today go Dodgers and go Phillies.
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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Hill placed on the 15 day DL? For a blister?? I thought we had a 7 day DL? Or was that my imagination?
So now instead of having a 2 month rental, we have a 5-6 week rental.
He’s supposed to be ready to pitch this week I believe.
I think the 7-day is only in the minors.
Nice article by Daniel Brim over at DD on Hill and why he was the best SP available. It’s a must read for all who are interested in why we went out and got a 36yo SP.
Read it. Recommended it hours ago. You’re right – excellent read.
Hill threw 5 pitches on the 17th. Before that he pitched 6 innings on the 7th. He’s been out nearly a month. Threw long toss today. Supposed to have a bullpen session tomorrow. He pitches when he pitches. We wait.
Scott, just more veiled complaining!!! I’m happy that the board has somewhat chilled and we can just sort of smile and look at the standings… F.O., Inadequate coaching and yada yada yada , we got ourselves a good old pennant race…
You sound surprised peter. I think only one poster here thought we weren’t going to be involved in a pennant race. If everybody doess what it is they are supposed to do we have a definite shot at the playoffs. This year is no different than the last three in that respect.
According to Farhan. Hill could pitch this weekend or next week. It all depends on the blister. He might just make one rehab start first.
Here is my quick 2 cents. It’s happy hour and the weather is perfect here right now. So I don’t want to waste too much beer drinking time.
I have said this before, I honestly don’t think the other GM,’s want to deal with FAZ. Pretty much only their old teams. They said they were going to do something big and this is all they could come up with. We had quite a few great trade piece combinations, both proven and prospects. They have been named ad nauseum. And nothing of true substance happens. Same shit each year. Lather rinse repeat. I would prefer control alt delete. And reset.
These guys think their shit don’t stink and that they know so much more than the other GM’s, so they get the cold shoulder.
It’s just my take but it sure seems to be plausible.
Cheers All!!!!
Slotim
I sure think Friedman’s former team is still not happy that he left.
Why would they not really deal with Friedman, and instead, make a deal with the Giants.
MJ,
Cause the Giants offer was better.
The Rays were set back when Maddon left, not Friedman.
Good point.
I will go on record and say I like the hill and reddick acquisitions.
I predict both will do very well for the next 2 (hopefully 3 months). We will all find out if I was right come October
I also didn’t think much of Cotton. Yes he has a lot of k but a very high era. He reminds of of a Pedro Baez type. Nice fastball. Sometimes bad location and no great secondary pitch. His loss won’t mean much. Montas who knows. We never got a chance to see him and Holmes is still 3 years away
I’m ok with it, too. I would have like to see if Montas had developed, and Holmes was a top draft pick, ….and these guys are rentals, but they do improve the team immediately and the Dodgers didn’t have to give up their top four prospects.
Kind of chuckled when I read this
“(Bobby) I also didn’t think much of Cotton. Yes he has a lot of k but a very high era. He reminds of ….”
Rich Hill’s career 576 innings 577 Ks 4.32 era
I know. Blind faith?
I’m OK with the trade too. It is just how nothing else happened. I agree it’s about 2018 but don’t spout off about “elite”, and then choke your chicken.
I’m content with the results so far this season. Impressed? Sometimes for sure. Confident? No way.
Too many smarter people in the room than our FO and dugout. The players are stepping up. Others? Not so much.
Why can’t the medical staff figure this stuff out? I called for a house cleaning and they did but it got flipping worse. How can that be. Go to the best med schools and hire the brightest and most progressive learners. Jeez!!!!!
These are well paid athletes that are breaking. Spend a good amount on the support staff. Duh!!!!!!
I’m not happy that it is another pitcher, that has an long injury history, that is 36.
He might be ok because it is only for another few months, that is, if he can make his starts.
And I am not thrilled that Friedman let the Giants get a pitcher, that will be on the Giants for a few years.
And especially another leftie pitcher, that will join Bumgarner in there rotation.
The Giants got this leftie pitcher, to be able to neutralize the Dodgers.
And this allows the Giants to take Peavy out of there rotation.
And our front office, didn’t do a thing to help the Dodgers have a better shot against lefties.
Didn’t they say they would “target” elite players? There’s a huge difference between targeting and landing. I refer you all to your younger, single days, when out on the town you targeted the most beautiful girl in the place. How’d that work out most of the time?
Agree about the training staff. I got a plan for that too. 1. go back to 154 games. 2. Increase rosters to 28, maybe even 30. Go to a 6 man rotation 4. Have a re-entry rule. 5. Stop with the power lifting and bulking up. The old guys didn’t lift much and they could play 150+ games. Baseball is about flexibility, repetition and speed. Henry Aaron played at 6’0 180 pounds. Ernie Banks was 6’1″ 180 pounds. Both of those guys played everyday for years. The way today’s players train is clearly not working. Fix it.
Badger
I don’t know how the Giants one GM did so much.
I saw that article in Dodgers Digest, and what an injury history.
Badger, what a cunning bit of linguistics. We should have known. I got shot down more than Charlie Brown’s dog. Agree about less weights and more flex.
Meanwhile, Buttgarner and stupid team just lost at Philly, 13-8
McCarthy is lucky he isn’t down by 4 or 5 runs. His stuff stinks.
His only decent pitch is the curve. 5 walks in the bottom of the 4th. He’s a goner. 3 games in a row showing minor league stuff.
Second bad start in a row by McCarthy.
And I knew this relief pitcher wasn’t going to be good.
They just traded him for Bolsinger, and Bolsinger was in AAA, why is this pitcher in the majors?
Stripling was doing just fine.
Badger
MCCarthy has no tenacity, he was glad to leave this game.
Can’t wait to get back to Twitter.
I think we’ve had more errors by pitchers than all the other fielders this season. I really thought Avilan was done last season. He showed nothing and he’s still the same player. This is the kind of talent that FAZ brings in with their trades. Can’t pull the switch on anything major.
The prospects that were traded – no big complaints. Cotton probably a middle reliever; Montas may never recover from 1st cervical rib resection. More concerned about Holmes.
Bigger issue – this Dodger team not a real contender if Kershaw doesn’t return. We don’t know what the Braintrust does about this, but if he doesn’t return all of this was a waste of energy and an unnecessary loss of talent for 2 two month rentals.
If Kershaw is to return, then the trade was probably necessary but not really enough.
If it was either too much or not enough, then probably not a good deal for the Dodgers.
If it’s not really enough, why do it?
If Montas does recover…..
I agree about Holmes. First round pick. Don’t you want to see what he can do? And I agree about Kershaw. Scary time. I sure hope they don’t push it. Leave him alone.
Dodger rick
The Giants got more done then all of these GMs.
And they got good players, that are not rentals.
And the Giants took Moore right from Friedman’s hands.
The Dodgers are suppose to have a much better minor league system, but the Giants took this front office to school, as well as Billy Beane.
Tonight in A ball: Brett Anderson 4ip, 3 hits, 2 runs, 0 earned runs, 1bb, 8k. I”d love to hear how hard he was throwing
Welcome to the Dodgers Jesse Chavez!
Rick
You said this was not enough if Kershaw is coming back.
What more do you think they should have done, if Kershaw does come back?
An ace-type pitcher, such as Sale. Maybe an 8th inning arm. Competent bat, preferably in the OF. Reddick is OK maybe, but I don’t see the trades as difference makers.
We get to the post season and face the Cubs, Nats, Giants. Is Hill a worthy #2 to face Strasburg, Cueto, or Lester? Wouldn’t you rather see Chris Sale there? Plus Sale not a 2 month rental so if things don’t work out you still have him next year. Anyone hope that they re-sign the 36 yo, injury prone Hill at season’s end?
Dodger rick
I agree with everything you have said.
It doesn’t look like they looked much in the National league for a
bullpen arm, or for a right hand bat.
All of the good teams, got most of the good bullpen arms, unlike this front office.
They didn’t have to give up some really good prospects, to get someone like Chapman, but there were different bullpen arms, that would help the team, unlike that pitcher that traded for Bolsinger.
Texas got the Brewers closer, and the Giants got a arm for there pen, too.
And the Rangers got Lucroy and Beltran,who both hit rightie, and I know Beltran is a switch hitter.
And the Giants had no trouble getting decent players, and we are suppose to have a much better minor league system then the Giants.
And I believe all of the players that they got, are not rentals like the players, are front office got.
When a writer asked our GM about Reddick not hitting lefties, he said that Reddick has good at bats against leftie pitchers, and he is at the Mendosa line against leftie pitchers.
Sale wasn’t ever going to happen. Even if he were for sale, and he wasn’t, do you honestly believe FAZ would have been a player? It is counterintuitive to everything they have done since they’ve been here.
ESPN commented that Chavez brought much needed depth to the bullpen. With a career 4.55era, may I ask where is the depth here?
New toys for Roberts to toy with. From mediocrity to mediocrity. Lots of creative options, eh?
Yesterday, posters were praising Toles as a steady replacement for Puig. Today, the new toy, Reddick is inserted. What else are we going to try? No vision here. Only bodies to put on the field. Where is the discerning eye of real ‘team builders’? I hated Coletti, but he had balls, which FAZ ET CIE lack.
Well Jeff depth is relative. For a two year old the wading pool can be a scary place.
The Dodgers added an arm to an overworked bullpen. Depth? Now that is open to some liberal interpretation isn’t it. To get Hill, who is currently unavailable, and Reddick, who may or may not be a net advantage in RF, we gave up Montas, Holmes and Cotton. At first glance it would appear our pitching pool just got shallower.
I agree puig was not the outfielder i would have optioned also left handed batters tonight no hits. Grandal homer as a right hander.
Making out my Christmas list:
1.Mark Trumbo for first base. Maybe Agon can be traded in August or the off-season for something useful.
2. Ian Desmond for… I wanted him this year as an infielder but the “brains” went with Howie Kendrick. Desmond was a pretty good shortstop, now he’s a dang good centerfielder. He could replace Pederson if they give up on him or switch to one of the other outfield slots. Or if Turner leaves, he could play third or even shortstop with Seager going to third where he is more suited.
3. A second catcher, perhaps Norris or? Grandal is hitting well enough to retain his job and Ellis is quite obviously done.
4. Chapman. Or Jensen as second choice.
5. Any other good starters or relief pitchers we can afford.