I was out with friends scheduling our upcoming cruise Thursday evening, so I did not have a chance to watch the game and prepare any commentary. Thus I thought it might be interesting to look at the Dodgers Arizona Complex League (ACL).
I said before the season started that this was a group I was very interested in. Most of the key personnel were instrumental in the Dodgers championship teams in the 2023 Dominican Summer League.
Not considering Thursday’s games, the Dodgers ACL team has the best record in the League at 16-7. They have scored the most runs in the ACL and have allowed the least. They have scored 174, with Seattle scoring the 2nd most with 156. They have allowed 88 runs, with Arizona having the 2nd least scored against with 104. The Dodgers have the best run differential with +84. Arizona has 2nd best at +41.
Team wise stats:
- HR – #1 with 23; Mariners #2 at 22
- BA – #1 with .299; Rockies #2 at .276
- OBP – #1 with .406; Brewers #2 at .384
- SLG – #2 with .462; Cubs #1 at .466
- OPS – #1 with .868; Cubs #2 at .821
Individually:
Batting Average:
- Jose Meza – .380 – #1
- Joendry Vargas – .357 – #2
- Alexander Albertus – .347 – #7
- Eduardo Quintero – .338 – #11
- Eduardo Guerrero – .320 – #16
OBP:
- Alexander Albertus – .495 – #1
- Jose Meza – .477 – #4
- Eduardo Quintero – .473 – #6
- Joendry Vargas – .456 – #8
- Eduardo Guerrero – .455 – #9
SLG:
- Jose Meza – .592 – #4
- Joendry Vargas – .554 – #9
- Eduardo Quintero – .500 – #18
OPS:
- Jose Meza – 1.069 – #3
- Joendry Vargas – 1.010 – #7
- Eduardo Quintero – .973 – #12
- Alexander Albertus – .962 – #13
Austin Barnes is a player many like to criticize. I was researching some stats and I started to look at backup catchers. Don’t know why, I just did.
I was surprised to see that Austin has better OPS than the following starting catchers:
- Keibert Ruiz – Nationals
- Miguel Amaya – Cubs
- Nick Fortes – Marlins
- Henry Davis – Pirates
Austin has better OPS than the following backup catchers:
- Yan Gomes – Cubs
- Yasmani Grandal – Pirates
- Christian Bethancourt – Marlins
- Luke Maile – Reds
- Tucker Barnhart – Rockies
- Kyle Higashioka – Padres
- Garrett Stubbs – Phillies
- Tom Murphy – Giants
- Curt Casali – Giants
Also better right now than just returning Sean Murphy.
What does that mean? I guess appreciate that the Dodgers have Will Smith and that the Dodgers could do worse than Austin Barnes as a backup.
Onto NYY.
Barnes is unfairly maligned. I think it’s just a symptom of us Dodgers fans being spoiled by the team’s success.
The biggest disappointment now, of course, is Taylor. What to do, what to do??
I’d rate Lux second, who is getting thoroughly outplayed by 35-year-old Miguel Rojas. Lux is a former top prospect–SS of the future!–who has been relegated to a platoon at 2B. Yet he’s only hitting to a .590 OPS versus righties, with .277 OBP. Rojas is at .762 and .327.
Kike has also disappointed, but at least he’s versatile and is outplaying Taylor.
If the playoffs started tomorrow, this would be my lineup card:
Mookie 2B
Shohei DH
Freddie 1B
Dills C
Teoscar LF
Heyward/Pages RF
Outman/Pages CF
Rojas SS
Kike 3B
Sure hope Max comes back healthy; he’d slot between Dills and Teoscar, bumping Kike to the bench.
Who is Jose Meza?
Trade talks.
Rather than add to yesterday’s busy and spirited trade strategy discussions, I will pick it up here.
Jeff, my reasons for waiting another 5-6 weeks or so to make a move: you don’t know who might be available yet, and, you may not know exactly what is needed by the end of July. Lux, Kiké and CT3 may snap out of it, Outman may return banging, Buehler, Muncy and Miller all could go either direction, and there could be unexpected injuries. It’s my opinion patience and analysis is needed at this time.
Hey Scott Andes, check out the production from the bottom of the order for the Dodgers. You’ve got to give credit where it is due.
Pages – .265
Rojas – .287
Heyward – .269
Vargas – .250
Although Lux (.210), Kiki (.200), and Barnes (.216) haven’t joined in and are still struggling. CT3? Why is he still with the team? Why not give a utility player in OKC a chance? I don’t get AF’s strategy of hoarding position prospects, but refuses to get them an opportunity to play for the Dodgers. I’m sure there’s a good reason, but I sure don’t see it. Does he know most are overrated and are AAAA players?
DFA Chris Taylor, play Vargas (until traded?), bring up Lupcius, and trade for Kyle Tucker.
Without any major injuries the pitching should be more than adequate.
Carry on.
Hey Phil! How did Ella Parker look yesterday with Oklahoma? It sure looks like she is a superstar as a freshman. It’s too bad softball is not an olympic sport this year. It would have been nice seeing her in Paris with the great USA softball team.
What a shame. Softball is not an Olympic sport this year, but France has chosen this instead.
Check out this play by Jake Gelof..
https://twitter.com/greatlakesloons/status/1798880443086918050
If the Dodgers are willing to move Taylor and Kiké, one bench roving utility infielder they could use in their stead is LAA’s Luis Rengifo. I believe it was Duke Not Snider who mentioned this a few days back. I cannot say I have been anywhere near the forefront of this possibility, but I do like it.
Believing that Arte Moreno will not trade with the Dodgers, another option is Baltimore’s 3B former GG Ramón Urías. Urías started very slowly this year but is playing well right now. He is not the big bat they need, but he would be an improvement over CT3 and Kiké. In addition, he is a plus plus defender at 3B, a plus defender at 2B, and a competent SS. I would prefer that they go bigger and see what it would take to get Jordan Westburg, but that is a personal preference, and I am certain Baltimore has ZERO desire to trade him.
The Dodgers do need a big bat, but they also need a better bench. A much better bench.
20 year old RHP, Payton Martin, has been promoted to Great Lakes from Rancho. Hopefully he can continue to impress at GL and get to Tulsa to start 2025 as a 21 year old.
AAAA OF Lolo Sanchez was released by LAD. Sanchez, a former Pittsburgh prospect, was one of two AAAA OF that were signed to play at Tulsa. The other is Austin Beck who is still playing good baseball at Tulsa. With Outman, Ward, and Avans in the OKC OF, there really is no room for him there.
Elieser Hernandez was outrighted to OKC. He has apparently accepted the outright assignment as he is listed on the OKC roster as active.
Ben Casparius continues to pitch well at OKC. In his 6th start for OKC last night, he was not able to get deep into the innings, but in his 4.0 IP, he allowed just 1 run on 1 hit, 3 BB and 3 K. It was a good bounceback game after his last start. He outpitched the much more heralded Jack Leiter. Ben threw 82 pitches in the 4.0 innings which is why he did not go 5.0. He still walks too many (4.59 per 9 innings). He needs to get his control tightened up, but if he does, he should really become a fixture in the LAD top 30 prospects. He is currently in the top 30 for Baseball America (25). His biggest drawback (other than control) is his age (25).
Another reason to push the trade envelope a little early. Last year the Dodgers needed SP and more SP and more SP. AF/BG spent a lot of time on Eduardo Rodriguez only to have him pull the trade away from reality as he invoked his no trade clause. I was not there. I have no insider trading info on this. But I still wonder how does AF not make sure, before the negotiations, that E-Rod was willing to waive his no trade to come to LAD? It certainly was not the first time AF has come across a no-trade scenario. Was it the naivete of Scott Harris (Detroit GM), or falsehoods told by Rodriguez’s agent? . Makes no difference, AF should never have got to the end of the deadline only to be told 10 minutes before the deadline that Rodriguez would not waive it. It also makes no difference why he did not waive it. He should have walked away without getting assurances. We heard family reasons. We heard he was trying to force the Dodgers to guarantee more on the back end of his option. If they had done that early enough, they might have been able to pivot to Jordan Montgomery. BTW, I do think E-Rod was the best option for a SP out there. But if you cannot close the deal, and your next best option is Ryan Yarbrough…
Of course we will never know, but anyone who does not believe that AF whiffed on that one is drinking way too much of his Kool-Aid.
https://twitter.com/francysromeroFR/status/1798751638611533989
I have to admit, I do not understand this. The Dodgers IFA bonus $$$ were more than anyone else (and still are), and were in a great position to sign Rōki Sasaki if he chose to come out this year. He would be subject to the IFA rules, subject to maximum available bonus $$$ and not full free agency. The Dodgers have now committed $700K to a 17 year old Taiwanese OF. That will drop the Dodgers IFA budget to $2,452,500, providing more opportunities for teams like SF to trade for more IFA money to become competitive. It really is not that hard to come up with trades giving $1MM in bonus $$$.
The Dodgers are still in great shape, and I do not believe they should lose any of their IFA $$$ by not spending them. They cannot be carried forward. But why give any team an opportunity to compete for Sasaki?
I have no kernel of knowledge as to their thinking. But it is a question I sure would love an answer to.
Teams remaining IFA bonus $$$ per Francys Romero:
Dbacks $614,300
Braves $32,500
Orioles $1,917,300
Red Sox $1,015,000
Cubs $257,200
Reds $70,000
Cleveland $139,300
Colorado $1,027,800
White Sox $995,000
Tigers $995,000
Astros $1,082,500
Royals $594,800
Dodgers $3,152,500 ($2,452,500)
Angels $262,200
Marlins $1,725,000
Brewers $110,500
Twins $17,500
Mets $334,000
Yankees $737,200
Athletics $1,863,000
Phillies $29,200
Pirates $124,800
Padres $2,200
Mariners $214,500
Giants $1,420,000
Cardinals $867,200
Rays $20,000
Rangers $22,500
Blue Jays $824,700
Nationals $177,500
Francys Romero is a sportswriter with deep ties to the foreign market for baseball.
After 7 0 for 2 WRISP. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Ohtani; Betts. Yankees aren’t any better. Yet.
Good grief, I thought Stanton’s ball was on its way to New Jersey.
He JUST missed, thank god
This has to be one of the most predictable shutouts of the year.
Lux, Kike, Taylor have gotta go.
Maybe they can squeeze a run in extras. No adjustments at all. Just an entire game of routine outs.
Wow. What a sweet win..