Max Muncy is and always has been one of my favorite Dodgers. It did not happen overnight. It took me a while to get used to this guy who took so many walks, struck out what seemed like every other at bat, and yet could slug a ball a mile. Where was he going to play? He was no defensive whiz. And he seemed marginal at any spot on the field. But after being signed as a free agent in April of 2017, and spending all of that season at AAA, in the spring of 2018 he got his chance.
His spring was not exactly eye opening. He played in only 7 games. He had 4 hits in 14 at bats. 2 doubles and a triple in there. But he only drove in 1 run. He was sent to OKC to open the year, but he was recalled after 9 games. He had 2 homers and 4 driven in while there. For the Dodgers in 2018, he would play 84 games at first, 38 at 3rd, 13 at 2nd, 6 in the outfield and 1 as the DH.
He hit .265/35/79 for the season surprising everyone with his power, and even more surprising to the Dodgers was his OPS of .973. He slugged over.500. In the World Series against Boston, he gave the Dodgers their only win of the series with a 18th inning walk-off homer. He also hit 2 homers against the Braves in the NLDS.
In 2019, Max’s BA took a dip, as did his OPS. But he still hit 35 homers, drove in 98 runs and scored 101. One reason his OPS is so high is because Max gets a lot of walks. He walked 90 times in 19. In the post season, Max hit 3 homers and drove in 5 in the loss to the Nats. Like many players, Max had a lot of problems getting going in 2020. With the split spring training, most players never really got into a groove. His BA of .192 reflected that. He did hit 12 homers in 58 games played.
The 2020 postseason was like none before. A team was going to have to win 13 games, in order to win the World Series. In the first round against the Brewers, Max went hitless. Then came a 3-game set against the Padres. Max went 3-11 and drove in 2 runs. In the 7 game NLCS against Atlanta, Max would hit 2 homers and drive in 6 runs. One of the homers was a grand slam in game 3. He also walked 9 times and scored 6 runs. In the World Series Max was 7-22 with a homer and 6 driven in. He scored 3 runs and walked 5 times. He and the Dodgers were Champions.
In 2021, Max was more like the Max we had come to expect. He hit .249, slugged 36 homers, a career high, and drove in 94 runs. He walked 83 times, and his OPS was .895. The Dodgers ended up a game behind the Giants in the division and would have to play St. Louis in the wild card game, but before that could happen, Muncy was injured during the last game of the season against the Brewers at Dodger Stadium. His elbow got hyperextended when a baserunner ran into him. So, he missed the entire playoffs. And there is no denying the Dodgers missed his big power bat. They had to play a combination of players at first including Albert Pujols, Matt Beaty and Cody Bellinger. The beat St. Louis, then beat the Giants. But they lost to eventual World Series winner Atlanta.
Max was ready to play come spring training in 2022, but it would be a tough year for him. His elbow was healed, but he later revealed that he got into some really bad habits. He was sharing 3rd with Justin Turner and occasionally playing 2nd. He also was the DH in 25 games. But he managed only a .192 BA, OPS .713, He did hit 21 homers and drove in 69 runs. But many questioned his defense at 3rd and felt he should be playing 2nd. Freeman had been signed as a free agent and was playing first every day. He did homer and drive in 2 runs against the Padres in the NLDS.
In 2023, Max was now well over a year removed from his injury. His power returned as he hit 36 homers for the second time in his career, and he drove in 105 runs. His OPS went back over .800 to .808. He walked 85 times but had a career high in strikeouts with 153. The good thing was that he improved as a third baseman. He worked very hard with infield coach Dino Ebel. Like the entire team, Max had trouble against the D-Backs in the playoffs.
Spring training this year, Max worked really hard to improve his defense even more. As this season started, Max was hot. Through the first 40 games, he had 5 homers and 18 driven in and a .242 BA with an OPS of .815. Then Max slumped. His next 11 games he had 7 hits. 4 of them were homers and he drove in 10 runs. Then he went down with a problem with his oblique. He was expected to be out about 2 or 3 weeks. He ended up missing almost 3 months. Since he returned on Monday, he has 2 homers, 3 RBIs and a double. He has walked twice and struck out twice.
So, why is my money on Max? For one, I love the guys work ethic. He works hard at everything he does. His bat has thunder in it. I love watching Max’s homers. Like Ohtani, they just have a different sound when they leave the bat. This year he has been better at home than on the road. So, it is good that his first game action is at home. My hope is that his road numbers improve. One, he is hitting lower in the order. He is almost like a second cleanup hitter. He has speed on the bases in front of him. And he has Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. 
Minor League Report
Great Lakes beat Wisconsin, 5-4 in 12 innings. Dylan Campbell hit his 10th homer, and Sam Mongelli his 6th. Mongelli also had a double. The Loons had 9 walks, but amazingly they struck out 22 times. Biddison had 4 of the walks. Wisconsin struck out 15 times. That is 37 strikeouts! Bruns went 3 innings allowing 2 hits a run and striking out 3 and walking 3. De La Paz and Hobbs went an inning each allowing 1 run and 2 hits between them, with no walks and 2 K’s. Jo Rodriguez went 3 innings allowing 3 hits 2 walks, no runs, and he struck out 7. Martinez went 1 inning, Neeck 2 and McDaniel’s 1 for the win.
Tulsa dropped a 10 inning 3-2 decision to Springfield. Keith gave the Drillers a 1-0 lead with his 12th homer in the 6th. Ramos drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th with a double. But Springfield scored 2 in the bottom of the inning for the win. Tulsa had 6 hits to the Cardinals 5. Duran and Harris pitched 6 scoreless innings between them with 6 walks and 8 K’s. Sublette went 2 innings and got the blown save. Suarez went 1.1 and took the loss, his 4th.
OKC took a 5-2 decision from El Paso. They scored 2 in the bottom of the first to overcome a 1-0 El Paso lead. Pages hit his 6th homer in the 6th. Andy was 2-4 with 2 runs scored. Trejo had 2 hits and drove in 2. It was a bullpen game for the OKC team, Feyereisen, Grove, Nick Anderson, Dodson, Henriquez and Petersen pitched. Petersen got the save and Anderson got the win.
As I am writing this, Rancho is trailing Lake Elsinore 7-5 in the top of the 9th. Elsinore has scored in the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th; to take the lead, they have the bases loaded with 2 outs right now. Of note to Dodger fans is that Chris Taylor is 1-3 with an RBI. Quakes only had 3 hits, but they walked 7 times. Game just ended.
Took me awhile to warm up to Muncy also. During his absence this year it became very obvious what he meant to the team. He has even become a decent 3B.
Been critical about MM too in the past. But his production can not be denied. When healty for a season he is a perannial 30 HR , 100 rbi guy with decent defense at 3b.
Makes our lineup that much deeper and better.
nice win, now back to a 4 game lead.
Lets hope Bobby Miller can overcome his problems on Friday and pitch a solid game.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DSL has ended its regular season, both Dodgers teams missed the playoffs.
But Emil Morales probably the best player in the entire league. Look at those insane nmbers:
.342 average, OPS 1.169, .478 OBP,.691 slug, 14 Hr,48 runs, 46 rbi, 12 sb,
Little surprised the Dodgers have not promoted Joendry Vargas to RC after the ACL finished. Did it with Quintero though.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Way too early look to the offseason::
I hope the Dodgers make a play for Soto. Future HOF in his prime. Dodgers roster is pretty old so bringing in a 26 year old Soto would be a fantastic move.
As good as Teo has been for us this year Soto would be that much better .
FF contract is only for two more years so there will be some money coming off the books too.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I lost a lot of respect for Randy Arozarena last night. His actions after getting hit by a curve ball was bush league. In retrospect, I’m glad the Dodgers didn’t go after him at the trade deadline.
Yamamotos simulated game filmed at DS yesterday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHtad7NYcgw
In the background they tell the velo. What is the other number they tell ? Spn rate ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Keirmeir retires we will have 2 big holes in the outfield. Center field is so important and Teo has done a good job in left.
The new additions and IL returnees certainly has made a huge difference. Not only with winning games, but the fan viewing factor as well. The past couple of months once the team got down 3+ runs early the game was usually over. Not now. The team just keeps grinding away at the starting pitchers. The Mariners’ starters are solid., playoff quality that the Dodgers will face in the postseason. A run here, a run there until the pitcher is worn down until the game frequently opens up in the Dodgers’ favor. With a lineup of the following:
Betts
Ohtani
Freeman
Teoscar
Lux
Muncy
Smith
Edman
Kiki, Heyward, or Kiermaier
This has to be a dauting task to have to try and get through this lineup 2-3 times a game. These are veterans who know how to grind a pitcher until they are not only physically, but mentally exhausted.
Congrats to Max on his return and solid start. Very impressive.
Carry on
Looks like Scott Servais is going to be fired by the Mariners as early as today. Dan Wilson is seen as the likely interim replacement. Would be the second manager this season fired. Grifol in Chicago was the first.
Jason Heyward has been designated for assigment
Angels extended their GM. Looks like Edgar Martinez is going to join the Mariners coaching staff for the rest of the season. Rosenthal reports that Servais will be fired later this afternoon.
The more I think about it, the less sense this move makes. Heyward is 4-8 as a pinch hitter with 2 bombs. Neither Kike or Taylor can do that, and neither is left-handed. Neither hit RHP worth a damn. 2 days after hitting a game winning homer? Cold as an iceberg. Thanks for some really great moments, J-Hey, including a game tying grand slam earlier this year in Colorado.
I am with Bear as this does not make sense to me. The only way this makes sense is if the Dodgers have their eye on someone who will be released or has already been released. Releasing J-Hey leaves the 40 man short at 39. IMO, this would need to be someone they would be interested in for the playoffs. The Dodgers have until August 31 to acquire that pitcher and have the ability to name him to a playoff roster.
I doubt that this would include Edgardo Henriquez or Jack Dreyer. AF/BG/Doc prefer the veteran at crunch time. Henriquez has 5.2 AAA IP after 17.2 AA IP. He does have that strikeout pitch. In 46.0 total IP over four levels (A, A+, AA, AAA), he has 78 K, but probably too many BB at 21.
In 31.2 IP at OKC Dreyer has a 2.27 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, which is good in the PCL, with a great K/BB ratio (39/5). Both are legit candidates for 2025 bullpen. I would be surprised if either contracts are purchased before September 1.
One team to look at over the next week who could place multiple players on the waiver wire is Texas. (Think 2023 LAA and their ton of players waived). Texas could waive Max Scherzer, Kirby Yates, David Robertson, Andrew Chafin, and some say…maybe Nathan Eovaldi. It seems improbable that any of those will last until the Dodgers can pick.
Another potential reliever who could be waived is Aroldis Chapman (Pirates).
Just thinking out loud, but it sure seems that LAD is looking at the waiver wire to get that 40th roster spot filled.
Arr you kidding me letting J Heyward go to make room for Chris Taylor so your choices to pinch hit in playoffs game are Kiki, Taylor, Rojas, Barnes, and Pages to hit a Homer wow. So there looking at guys that can play multiple positions rather then if they can hit the ball.
Wow.
Heyward DFA’d to make room for Taylor.
And right after that three-run pinch-hit homer. Maybe this is part of the reason Roberts said that HR was personal highlight.
Did not see this one coming. But I guess the roster crunch is crunchier than I thought–and the Dodgers do have Mookie in RF, after all.
With all the teams competing for a Wild Card, I hope another team brings him aboard and he creates another special moment or two.
…
Oh, for what it’s worth, I’ve been a Max fan and defender from the start. Great underdog story. Makes up for the Ks with the bases on balls–and the bombs, of course. Pundits wanted him traded to the AL to be a DH, but he made himself a solid first baseman, and then moved without complaint to 2B and 3B. A grinder and team player all along.
I sincerely believe that Max has cost himself maybe $4-5 million per season by not testing the FA market. Why does Chris Taylor have a better contract??? But he loves the Dodgers and doesn’t want to leave.
Was it really Heyward for Taylor? I think mb they wanted to keep Kiermaier. He suddenly is playing very well so that would allow Edman to play more positions. Edman was obtained to primarily play cf but Kiermaier has impressed with his d but also his energy. He stretched a double into a triple in a recent game and almost beat out a ball hit right to a fielder. I mean he is emptying the tank. Idk what they will do with Taylor but it would be a lot more money to cut Taylor than Heyward
A word on Muncy. I started out thinking who is this guy and why. But, he really earned his way. His injury on the last day of the season crushed our playoff chances in my opinion. When he is hot he is one of the best.
I looked at the stats and among the guys that don’t have a position to play everyday who have a large enough sample this year, Heyward has the best SLG against RHP over Pages (2nd best) by .024 and against LHP Pages has the best SLG by far. But still, they chose Taylor over Heyward. The reason why I brought up Pages is because Bluto mentioned in his post that it’s being reported that Pages will be brought up when rosters expand. By the way, Pages hit a HR yesterday against a RHP in AAA.
Most of us gave up on Lux earlier in the year and now we’re all coming back here, one by one, confessing we had that one wrong.
Some here gave up on Max after his arm injury, but most of us are happy we have him now.
I may be the only one in Dodgerland (except AF and Doc) who hasn’t given up on CT3 yet but if they’ve added him to the roster, I’m willing to see what he can do in September. If that works out well, he could be an asset in the playoffs. If not, he won’t make the post season rosters.
I enjoy being the contrarian and I’m looking forward to seeing CT win a few games for us.
Few things I’ve read online or thought up:
heyward move is no guarantee that Taylor is on the playoff roster. Taylor again reworked his swing during his IL stint. His last swing retooling was nigh-disastrous
Hayward move should also end the “Dodgers play or roster their favorites” narrative
there’s an interesting idea of Pages being on the playoff roster due to his skill in RF and against LHP. This would move Betts to 2B
finally, the idea if Kike and Taylor regress to early season form of adding Rushing to the playoff roster. He is mashing, could add some positional flex and blooding him could be a good medium term play.
Speech was fine. Nothing special, IMO. Better than rambling incoherence, but mostly whatevs.
Jay Jaffe @Fangraphs takes a look at Kopech and the works the Dodgers have done with him:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-dodgers-have-helped-to-restore-michael-kopechs-luster/
Heyward for Taylor. I guess I am not surprised. I wonder if it is really a big deal as neither was going to get much playing time with Kiermaier in CF, Edman now available in CF, SS, 2B, 3B and Mookie in RF.
Mets beat the Padres so the lead over them is now 4.5. Az remains 4 back. I still do not understand them activating Taylor right now. He is a redundant piece. And although he is a very good fielder, he is not in Heyward’s league in the outfield. And J-Hey has been a very good PH this year. Taylor strikes out way too much to flourish in that role, besides, Heyward is the only lefty power bat they had on the bench. Thanks for the good memories, Jason.
Servais firing official, Wilson is named manager. Nick Ahmed cleared waivers and became a free agent. Padres optioned knuckleballer, Matt Waldron after he got knocked around by the Twins on Wednesday. Members of the NBP, Nippon Baseball Players, are pushing for earlier free agency.