I originally wrote this to be published on Monday, but there was a little miscommunication, and Bear published one before me. The stats are based on post Sunday game stats. I was not going to update for Monday’s game.
Slight update on my rehab. The pain has diminished tremendously, but it is still prevalent. I have not taken any pain meds for a week and have increased my rehab exercises, which increases my ice and raising the leg much of the day. I have started to use a peddler bike for 5 minutes. I have not been able to sleep at night, so I am constantly dozing off thru the day.
With all of the above, I have not been able to read nearly as much as I want to. But I have had a chance to read comments on multiple LAD blogs to get a feel for how many the fans feel. I don’t think it is any different this year from any other year. Most fans tend to overreact to both wins and losses, and I include myself in that equation. The pessimists will tear the team down after every loss, and some close wins. The optimists will not be swayed by losses no matter if the LAD holes are exploited. Dave Roberts will get blamed for every move that does not work, and not get credit for those that do. With the number of injuries, the Dodgers incurred in 2024, and still have the best record in MLB with 24 games to go is to be applauded and not scorned. Will he overmanage in the playoffs? Probably. However, we can hope that he manages as he did in 2020 when he did not overmanage.
July was a horrid month for LAD, and many fans were commenting that they were headed for 3rd place in the NL West. With the tough August schedule, many were predicting it would be before the end of the month. Never mind that Mookie Betts and Max Muncy were out with long term injuries and coming back; Freddie Freeman’s son, Maximus, had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves, leading to weakness, numbness or paralysis; the starting rotation was in shambles due to injuries; and the bullpen not any better. And yet, they were still on top of the NL West, although the D-backs and Padres were charging hard. LAD lost 4 games in the NL West Division but were still up 4.5 games.
Then came August, which has been the Dodgers best month for the last several years.
- 2024 – 19-8
- 2023 – 24-5
- 2022 – 22-6
- 2021 – 21-6
- 2020 – 21-7
In their last six series, the Dodgers fought and grinded out wins against 6 teams that still had playoff hopes.
- Brewers 2-2
- Cardinals 2-1
- Mariners 3-0
- Rays 2-1
- Orioles 2-1
- Arizona 3-1
That was 14-6, a .700 clip against 6 quality teams.
As well as the Dodgers played in August, both Arizona and San Diego played nearly as well, and the Dodgers were able to increase their lead from 4.5 to 6.0. The lead did get down to 2.0, but at the start of Sunday’s game, it was back at 6.0.
The Dodgers lose, many believe the end is coming. They win multiple games, and they are ready for the WS. Same every year. Some are born pessimists, and some are born optimists. Some have come to expect the breakdown in October.
Many players have been denigrated on this team. Never mind that many of them are not expected to be starters, but yet they are expected to play as All Stars. Most are role players and play their role very well. IMO, do they have toooooo many utility players? Yes. Is that a bad thing. For reserve players, I do not think that LAD management is all that concerned.
Last year it was Miguel Rojas who was maligned. I think most feel differently this year, and come October, Rojas will be the starting SS and not coming out. He is yet another who has gone away from the RVS approach to return to what he does best. Make contact and spray foul line to foul line.
This year (and most years) Austin Barnes has been maligned. Why? Because his offense has not been good. However, from July 26, 2023, to the end of the year, Barnes hit .292/.358/.417/.775. Thus far in 2024, Barnes is hitting .266/.336/.315/.651. Obviously, no slug, but he seems to get on base.
Defensively, Will Smith is considered MLB’s best catcher at throwing out base runners in 2024. But it has come with a cost. He is not blocking the ball very well.
Blocks Above Average:
- Smith – -12, 62nd out of 65 catchers
- Barnes – +5, 12th
Total # of WP and PB:
- Smith – 48, 2nd most in MLB, only ahead of Shea Langeliers (51). Langeliers has had 438 more block opportunities.
- Barnes – 8 for 5th least. Admittedly he is a reserve with less block opportunities. However, if you break it down to Blocks Above Average per Game:
Blocks Above Average per Game:
- Smith – -.13, 61st out of 65
- Barnes – +.15, 5th out of 65
Pop time:
- Smith – 1.94, 44th
- Barnes – 2.00, 18th
Catcher Framing Runs:
- Smith – -6, 53rd
- Barnes – 0, 24th
Yes, Smith has improved tremendously with his caught stealing metrics to be the best in MLB. But has his setup changed to allow for that improvement to the detriment of his blocking and pop times. He has never been a plus framer.
I am more than okay with Austin Barnes as the backup catcher.
Other LAD players maligned this season.
Gavin Lux has been maligned more than most this year. However, as we (and everyone else) have reported, Lux went home and worked on his batting with his uncle, college coach (Carthage College), and former #2 overall draft pick, Augie Schmidt, and Gavin came back with a new approach. Actually, it is his old approach that he got away from after leaving MiLB. Since the All-Star Break, in 143 PA, Gavin is hitting .336/.413/.616/1.029 with 7 HR and 14 doubles. That is All Star level. He is also putting up + defense at 2B. Will he continue to hit at that level? He cooled a bit in the last two Tampa Bay Games and first two Baltimore games. But since then, Gavin is 6 for 13 (BA), and 9 for 16 (OBP), with 4 doubles. I am not sure what else Lux has to do to prove to everyone that he rightfully is the regular every day 2B for LAD.
Tommy Edman who has made stellar defensive plays at SS and CF, is not doing badly offensively, even though he is still in his ST mode. He is hitting .295/.304/.364/.668 in 46 PA. Edman is quickly becoming my favorite Dodger player.
Kiké Hernández got off to a horrible start and was in the short list to be DFA. However, it was learned he had an astigmatism in his right eye that greatly impacted his ability to see the pitch. He started to play with glasses in the series before the All-Star Break. After the All-Star Break, with 129 PA, Kiké is hitting .263/.305/.441/.745. He is especially hitting LHP well since getting his new glasses. This is certainly acceptable for a reserve infielder/outfielder.
Chris Taylor is a true Swiss army knife, and since he has returned from the IL is hitting like he used to. The double play he started in Monday’s game was outstanding. Going way in the hole between 2nd and 1st and then throwing a strike on a line to Miggy Ro who turned the DP with a great throw to Freddie. Against Arizona, in a playoff atmosphere, CT3 went 3-8 with a double, and 4 runs. He also went 2-3 in his game against Baltimore just before the Arizona series. He is not expected to carry the team. But he is an experienced playoff performer who I trust more in a crucial situation than Andy Pages.
Kiké and CT3 will be good role/platoon players for the playoffs. I do not expect them to cower in the playoffs. Been there before and been successful. Of course that does not guarantee success. Pinch hitting? I am not quite so sure about that.
Brusdar Graterol and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will both pitch rehab games for OKC on Tuesday. How they come out of that game will dictate what comes next.
It is being reported that Tyler Glasnow will be pitching from the mound early this week. Projected – 3 starts before the end of the regular season.
Elite help is on the way. Will they pitch like elites when they do get back?
Two pitchers who are still graded at incomplete are the mercurial Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller. IMO, they have both improved and pitched well enough to continue to stay in the rotation. The Dodgers have 25 games remaining, and that could mean 4 or as many as 5 additional starts before the end of the season.
If the Dodgers get Walker Buehler back to anywhere close to his 2021 marks, he will be difficult to take out of the playoff rotation. If he doesn’t, he could still be a valuable bullpen pitcher, if his attitude is right.
If Bobby Miller continues his progress, he will put his name in the discussion.
I do not know if either will get there, but both have shown enough to continue their current rotation roles (again IMO). We will see if Walker Buehler’s progress continues in the LAA series.
Ben Casparius has shown that he can pitch at MLB, and if the current plans for him to move to relief on a more permanent basis come to fruition, he could break camp as one of the 13 pitchers in the Ross Stripling/Mitch White role.
Justin Wrobleski showed what he can do after he got his butt kicked on Sunday. After the 2nd inning, and leadoff 3rd inning HR, he retired 10 of the next 11 batters he faced, with that one reaching on an error. He was pulled after two subsequent singles and reaching 99 pitches. He completed 5.1 IP, 99 pitches, with a 42-pitch 2nd inning. He looked bad in the 2nd, but he came back with a lot of confidence with positive results. He impressed me more in the 3rd – 5.1 more than the disappointment of the 2nd inning. Just one observation, the book on Wrobleski is that he is only as good as his fastball command is. His 1st two pitches were strikes that were called balls. If he is not going to get the call at the top of the zone, he has to bring it down, and he caught waaaaay too much of the plate. He will continue in the Clayton Kershaw spot in the rotation until Yamamoto returns or they stick with a 6-man at that time.
That was a well-played 4-game series in the desert beating the D-backs 3 out of 4. LAD now owns the tie breaker against Arizona by winning the season series. Not so true with San Diego.
Other notes:
Jordan Lyles faced off against Jacob deGrom on Sunday. Neither pitcher allowed a run (Lyles 3.0 IP and deGrom 2.2 IP). OKC’s bullpen allowed 1 run while Round Rock’s bullpen (Texas) allowed 9. Edgardo Henriquez and José Hernández who will both get long looks next ST for the Big-League bullpen, pitched a scoreless 1.0 inning with 2 Ks.
James Outman back on Sunday after taking a 10 day temporarily inactive list stint. He went 4-5 including a bases loaded triple. Temporary inactive list is for personal reasons, but none are given. Prior to the triple, Outman successfully challenged 2 called strikes that were overturned. How does that umpire feel?
My 2024 breakout dark horse candidate RHP, Jared Karros – Jared Karros was placed on the Development List following his June 9 start. We have learned that was due to a combo of innings control and some arm fatigue. Great to have him back!
Welcome back Jared Karros!
Karros made his 1st appearance since June 9th and was immediately back to his old tricks throwing big hooks, throwing 3 really good pitches for strikes, locating and sequencing like a pro.Well, that, and, not giving up runs!
3IP 1H 0R 3Ks 1BB… pic.twitter.com/2qTKrJ8GDZ— Dodgers Daily (@dodger_daily) August 31, 2024
I am currently working on a post for 22-year-old LHSP, Wyatt Crowell. He could be the next SP prospect who has a big break through season in 2025. Remember Wyatt Crowell.
Dodgers final 24 games:
- LAA (A) – 2
- Cleveland (H) – 3
- Cubs (H) – 3
- Braves (A) – 4
- Miami (A) – 3
- Colorado (H) – 3
- San Diego (H) – 3
- Colorado (A) – 3
That is 12 home games against 12 away games. They have 13 games against teams with records > .500, 11 games against teams with <.500.
Arizona has 11 home and 13 away games. They have 13 games against teams with records > .500, 11 games against teams with <.500.
San Diego has 11 home games and 11 away games. They have 13 games against teams with record >.500, 9 games against teams with <.500.
LAD finishes the season with 3 in Colorado, while Arizona and San Diego play each other for 3 in the desert to end to season.
The Dodgers have a 9-game lead on NYM for the #6 slot. I like the LAD chances to at least make the playoffs. I actually like their chances at the NL West Division…a lot.
Always great to see an article from you, Jeff.
Looking forward to hearing about Crowell. Took a quick look at his stats and he seems to have a lot of potential. The only problem I could see is that he needs to walk fewer guys, but what else is new, he’s a lefty.
I thought they sent down Wrobo-Cop, so he can’t continue in Kershaw’s spot for at least 15 days? Or is it 10?
Best wishes on your recovery, Jeff. I always appreciate your even-handed, well-informed reports.
During his inactive period, Outman welcomed the birth of a daughter. There’s a photo of him holding the baby somewhere out there. He returned with a big game–four hits including a triple, if I recall correctly.
The rotation still seems very iffy heading toward the playoffs. Best case is that Glasnow and Yamamoto come back strong–but who knows? Buehler and Miller still seem shaky to me. Same with Kershaw.
The most reliable starters now are probably Flaherty and Stone–both solid, but neither really an ace.
While I’m happy for Casparius and Wrobleski, I feel like Knack is the unfairly neglected man. His ML numbers this year are better than both Buehler and Miller, so what gives?
I’m still a little miffed about Heyward getting DFA’d and catching on with the Astros, but I’d not sure who I would have released instead. It will be fun if the Dodgers wind up facing the Astros for the championship.
Much needed off day tomorrow. What few mention is that the Padres have 2 less games to play than either the Dodgers or Arizona. They have a lot of ground to make up in 22 games.
Great Lakes was the only affiliate who played yesterday, and they lost a weird one. Loons’ pitchers allowed just 1 hit, and they lost, 1-0. The hit had no connection to the run. The Loons’ managed just three hits and made 1 error. Jose Ramirez of the Guardians is closing in on his own 40-40 season. He currently is on pace for exactly 40 of each.
This had to be one of the best series Freddie has had as a Dodger. 4 homers, 10 runs driven in. He only struck out twice. 6-15 in the series. Ohtani was 5-17 with 2 homers and 3 driven in. He stole 4 bases and struck out 8 times. They scored all those runs and Teo did not knock in any in this series.
Good to hear your rehab is on the right track, Jeff!
Looking forward to that Crowell blog you have coming up.
Huge win yesterday. Absolutely huge. IMHO with that series win we all but distanced the D-Backs for good in the division. As Orel referred to with the Dodgers now owning the tiebreaker over ARI that was basically a 3 game swing with one win..
Flaherty pitched well and gave us some needed length. With the outburst late the Dodgers also could rest their high leverage guys.
But have to give props to this ARI team too. They are never giving up and their offense is running high even without three of their top hitters. Can never count them out until the end.
Padres too just wonßt slsow down. The Padres can really shorten a game with Adams, Scott and Suarez at the backend of their pen. Dodgers will have to keep the pedal to the metal which might be a good thing.
Peterson and Honeywell mopped up but both look to be the first two candiates to go down when Knack and Graterol will be called up.
I really would like the Dodgers to give Henriquez a look if they think he is ready to face big league hitters. ANother big arm could play big in the postseason.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was busy yesterday and man I have to comment on 2 comments from yesterday. One was said to me and the other wasn’t. I’ll leave their names out.
Let’s start with the one that wasn’t said to me yesterday:
“The Dodgers have a 5-million-dollar team option on Miggy (Rojas) for next year with a 1-million-dollar buyout. I think they bring him back. He is a bargain at 5 mil. Barnes has a 3.5-million-dollar team option contract. With the way he has played this year, I would venture a guess that they will exercise that option and bring Barnes back for one more year. Kiermaier says he is retiring. I think Edman and Taylor can more than cover his departure.”
First of all, you’re saying the bar has been set that low to Kiermaier? Wow just wow. Edman and Taylor taking over CF next year?
But you mentioned this:
“Who backs up Edman in center? He surely is not going to play every game out there.”
So are you saying he will be needed at another position maybe the infield sometimes? Or he’s not an everyday player? You were high on him when the front office got him, so I’ll take the guess you think he will be needed in the infield sometimes which makes him an everyday player just like it would if he was the starting everyday CF.
Wow you certainly don’t care about building the best offense you can get.
1) So you want Edman in there everyday with a career .265/.318/.406/.725 slashline? Not to mention his stats are bloated from his rookie year.
2) You want Rojas a guy who is aging and is hitting over his head this year with a career .260/.312/.358/.670 slashline in there everyday? Not to mention the last 3 years his BA is below average and OPS absolutely sucks. Or maybe Edman is the one needed sometimes to give Rojas off days.
3) You want Taylor in the outfield when Edman is needed in the infield with Taylor’s career .250/.329/.423/.752 slashline? Not to mention in the last 3 years Taylor’s had below averge slashlines when you average them out and so far this year he really sucks.
4) You want Barnes with his career .223/.324/.340/.665 slashline still backing up Smith, letting Smith possibly wear down towards the end of the season and the playoffs?
5) I’m using recent stats, starting after the short season 2020 because 2020 is a small sample.
Your philosophy right there screams: Our 4 man fraternity doesn’t have to contribute much on offense, lets be superheroes on defense and catch every ball that is hit, so we don’t allow any runs. That will certainly get us to the promise land.
Those 4 slashlines averaged in BA and OPS is .249 BA and .703 OPS with the warts I pointed out and you want that taking up 4 roster spots? None of those guys are homegrown players. Barnes would certainly be blocking Rushing. If you want Edman playing everyday and Taylor playing at least part time, you’d be blocking Outman and Pages because the front office certainly won’t go with Edman and Taylor and add both Outman and Pages. That leaves Betts as the only real proven hitter in the outfield, if he’s in the outfield next year.
I know what you are going to say to all of this, because you’ve said it plenty of times. Something like: None of us have control of what the front office is going to do.
Do you know what that sentence means? Whatever the leader does, he knows best and I’ll follow him. Follow the leader. It’s true, none of us have control of what the front office does (With input from Doc), but we don’t have to agree with it, and this blog lets us express that.
Now to the other person that said this to me yesterday:
“Seriously, I think there are questions whether Outman can hit Major League pitching, period. He is going to be 28 in May of next year. It would be great if he could be the Dodger’s everyday centerfielder next season but he is going to have to show he can do that starting in spring training. IMO, he has not earned the length of rope you are willing to give him in CF next year.”
First of all is your philosophy this? Buy players on the free agent market and trade homegrown players for other teams players and let the homegrown players rot in the minors? Secondly are you Mark over on LADodgerTalk? If you’re not Mark then I appologize.
This part of what you said:
“Seriously, I think there are questions whether Outman can hit major league pitching period and IMO, he has not earned the length of rope you are willing to give him in CF next year.” ?
Did you take a nap during the 2023 season and in case I’m talking to Mark with a different screen name like he does on his blog with the name of Dano, are you mistaking Outman for Miguel Vargas? .186/.284/.333/.617 career slashline. And since going to the Sox .122/.240/.195/.435 slashline. By the way, I won that arguement with Mark and I figured Vargas wouldn’t last with the Dodgers all along ever since I saw the deer in headlights look in 2022. But I kept my mouth shut about that part because I didn’t want even more venomous viscious crap from Mark.
It was Outman’s rookie season and I’ll give you some numbers.
.248/.353/.437/.790 overall. .247/.351/.484/.836 against RHP. and you’re questioning if he can hit MLB pitching PERIOD? Against LHP I won’t bold his slashline, I’ll only bold the only flaw he had .254/.357/.308/.665. That flaw is SLG against LHP.
And please don’t try to say Outman’s career stats are bloated from his rookie year because I said Edman’s stats are bloated from his rookie year. Outman has 154 plate appearances since his rookie year and Edman has 2,127 plate appearances since his rookie year. Edman’s stats are a large sample/set in stone, Outman’s is small. We know about Edman, but we don’t know about Outman, and the only way you and me and everyone else, besides the all knowing Mark lol, will find out is with playing time/racking up at bats. The team next year will again be a loaded team, if you won’t give your homegrown position players playing time on a loaded team, then when are you going to do that.
Outman sucked this year.
1) Everyone has a down year or 2 and some have more.
2) He only got 154 plate appearances including 17 against LHP this year.
3) After having a good rookie year with only 1 flaw, power against LHP, he was platooned right off the bat this year with none other than Kike, on a loaded team before all the injuries happened, and he sat sometimes against RHP by DOC. The all knowing, never makes mistakes, manager with the best regular season record in the history of baseball, by being provided with one of the most, if not the most some years, talented rosters, and the manager with a career 1 run game record managing the Dodgers through 2023 with a record of 159-142 a .528 winning percentage and so far this year 18-17 a .514 winning percentage. Overall 177-159 a .527 winning percentage. Translation, that’s not very good. I’ll give Doc this credit, it’s at least over .500.
4) I don’t know about you, but the first sentence in number 3 would get in my head if I was Outman. I wouldn’t be surprised if Outman is constantly on the phone with his agent telling him to, “get me the hell away from Dave Roberts specifically, and this organization”.
This is not directed at this person specifically, it’s to everybody: I don’t care what Doc’s career record is during the regular season, read the reason why in the above paragraph. What I care about is: Does Doc make the right calls in tight games.
I’ll give you credit for saying this:
“It would be great if he (Outman) could be the Dodger’s everyday centerfielder next season.”
And I agree. 👍 If you’re not Mark I appologize, I’m sorry.
big and important day for the Dodgers today.
Yamamoto and Graterol will pitch at OKC in their rehab assignment. Both can not have another setback or the season is probably done for them.
Ohtani in his emotional return to Anaheim. Hope he has a big day in his quest for 50-50.
And a important day for Buehler too. Can he built on his last solid outing vs a bad offensive team or will he get hiit hard ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the postseason I expect to see Edman in CF and Rojas at SS. I hope Roberts doesn’t get cute and put Edman at SS and play someone else in CF [Keekay?] just for the sake of managing.
This team can win it all with Rojas at SS. As far as weak links go, we’ve had worse.
Does anyone know what happened to Kendall George? He’s not played in a while but I didn’t hear if he got injured, or if he’s on one of those long breaks in AZ?
If Yamamoto and Glasnow can come back strong and Flaherty.and Stone are our best starters now where is there room for Buehler and Miller in the post season?
But I still have this question/concern.abot the post season plan; our starters are used to pitching every 6 days but in the playoffs they need to pitch every 4 or 5 days u less they sweep. Can they handle that adjustment?
A clutch win yesterday. The offensive came through in a big way. Excluding the Peterson and Honeywell mop up the pitching was very good as well. The Arizona offense is relentless. And, this is with three of their top hitters on the IL. But, I don’t think their pitching is as neat as effective as last year.
With yesterday’s victory I think the division is in complete control by the Dodgers. With six of the final nine games against Colorado it would take a major collapse from here on to lose the division.
My prediction of an offensive letdown by the Snakes after a 14 run onslaught on Sunday proved to be correct. Up until the last two Dodger pitchers the staff only allowed Arizona three runs. There were lots of baserunners, but Flaherty and company did a nice job of limiting runs.
I think the Dodgers are attempting to use a little more small ball in their offense. The bunt is being used more and more. And, of course, the stolen base has become a huge weapon. Ohtani is a monster on the base paths. A walk or a single by Ohtani. No worries. He’ll be at second in a pitch or two. Now, that’s expanding to stealing third base. Fifty? Sixty might be possible. He can’t be stopped. You can only hope to contain him!
Jeff, happy to see that your recovery has turned the corner pain wise. Looking forward to more of your outstanding in season analysis and some of the best information of Dodger prospects available. Continue with your successful recovery. Bear did an outstanding job providing informative articles, 24 hour comments (does he ever sleep?), and kept the site free of conflict and mayhem. Although, I think the posters on the site can take some of the credit for the civility as well. Lol.
Carry on.
Going 3-1 on the road is impressive regardless of how they did it. Arizona had every motivation needed to send a message and they received the message instead of sending it.
29 runs in the 3 wins. If they can put up big numbers like that in October they won’t need an elite starting staff. I realize there will be better pitchers. But I do not see a complete staff that can shut them down.
A very intimidating offense.
Great win in the most important game to date.
Doc managed a great game while it was still competitive. He stayed with Flaherty as long as he could. Went to Vesia and matched up the rest of the way. I can’t say much for the performances of Brasier, Petersen and Honeywell.
I’m enjoying our current style of baseball with aggressive base running and the mixture of power and small ball. The stolen bases and the tagging up and advancing 90 feet on deep fly balls, is good baseball. I love the bunt single by Miggy Ro.
I liked the fact that we took back the momentum Az gained in the 7th, cutting the lead to 3. A goose egg there and it’s a different game. Instead we broke it open.
I enjoy scoreboard watch around the league. Great time of year for MLB. For teams in the hunt, every game is meaningful.
I have a major complaint with the TV broadcast I get for the Dodgers. Maybe in the LA market, you get the information I want on the pre-game show, which I don’t get.
I don’t know why SNLA can’t display basic pre-game graphics and details that literally every other broadcast does.
I access the games on my MLB Extra Innings package, broadcast on Direct TV.
What I get is the opening with the announcer’s quick preview of the pitching match up, Kirsten offering up some drivel yesterday about Doc wanting to win the game to leave with a 6 game lead. (No shit, Sherlock), and the 3 folks on the desk in center mostly offering comedy.
What I don’t get is the starting batting order, the defensive alignment and the umpires.
The Yankees broadcast even gives a quick scouting report on the Home Plate Umpire. I had to check Baseball Reference for the previous game to see the umpire rotation to see that it was Ramon De Jesus behind the dish. Joe Davis finally mentioned his name in the 8th.
I was interested in the Dodgers defensive set up vs the LHP. I had lobbied for a platoon at 2nd and wanted to see if that happened. Would Lux or Edman be at 2nd with the platoon I was anticipating? With KK in center?
On Joc’s double play ground ball, I discovered it was CT3 and Rojas.
Edman led off the 2nd, so I figured out by default, he was in in centerfield. His position was never mentioned or offered on the graphic.
And I’ll be damned, Kike started vs Muncy, at 3rd. I learned that when he came to bat.
Why can’t they just tell me all of this before the first pitch? Use the time while the pitcher is warming up in the top of the 1st and coach me up on the basic information.
For such a proud organization this is just a piss-poor pre-game.
Fun fact:
In August, Shohei hit 12 hr. He also stole 15 bases without being caught.
No other player in MLB history has ever had both a 12+hr month and a month going 15-15 or better in steals over the course of his entire career, let alone in the same month.
He is also the first player to lead his league outright in both HR and steals in the same month since Willie Mays in 1956 (11hr and 9 steals).
Walk Ohtani and pitch to Betts. Makes sense, uh, no! Mookie 3 run bomb.
D-Backs were beating the Giants in the bottom of the 8th. 7-2. Giants scored 4 in the bottom of the 8th.
Teo, Smith and Edman have combined for 9 of the Dodgers 16 K’s tonight. Three each. Hernandez has now struck out 164 times this year. Will Smith, 96. Second most in his career.
Dodgers stay 6 in front of the D-Backs and pick up 1/2 game on the Padres.