Pitching wins championships. In every season that the Dodgers have won championships, their pitching has carried the day. Podres in game 7 in 55, Sherry with 5.2 innings of scoreless relief in game 6 in 1959. Koufax with his win in game 4 of the sweep in 63. Koufax again in 65, shutting out the Twins in game 7. When they won in 1981, there was no one pitching star, but the staff had a 3.29 ERA over the six games. The Yankees staff was almost a full run higher. Hershiser and some great bullpen work held the 88 A’s to a .177 BA in the series. In 2020, the staff had to be better than the opposition in 13 wins. 13-5 in a postseason run no matter what the circumstances is pretty good. Julio Urias, in what was probably his best moment as a Dodger, threw 2 and a third clean innings to lock down the series win. How many remember who the winning pitcher was without looking it up? Dodgers staff ERA in that series was 3.52. Rays ERA was 5.54. LA held the Rays to a .216 BA.
The offense in that particular post season was very good. Corey Seager hit 9 homers. Will Smith had the only 5-5 postseason game in Dodger history in game 3 of the LDS against the Padres. But it still comes down to shutting down the opponents’ bats. When this season started, the Dodger rotation was Glasnow, Yamamoto, Miller, Paxton and Stone. Stone at this point is the last man standing.
The news on Glasnow yesterday was not encouraging. He has not gotten better, and a re-hab stint could be needed. With the minor league season under 30 games left now, there is not much time for him to do that. Yamamoto is set to make his first re-hab appearance at AAA OKC this week. Paxton is gone. Miller looked awful in his first start after returning but looked better last time. Stone has been pretty solid all year.
Here we are at the end of August, and the rotation is Stone, Flaherty, Kershaw, Miller and Buehler. How many teams have ever won a championship by losing four of their starting five pitchers? And we haven’t even gotten to the rotating bullpen. The Dodgers best chance at a championship lies in the recovery before the playoffs of at least 2 and maybe more pitchers.
Locks for the rotation are Flaherty, Stone, Kershaw. Miller, Buehler, Yamamoto, Glasnow, are all question marks. Possibles at the AAA level, Knack and maybe Wrobleski. How many of you are confident in a rotation featuring three rookies? It is no secret that injuries have played a huge part in the team’s performance over the last three months.
Fans do not want excuses. They want results. The rash of injuries to pitchers this season in the major and minor leagues has to be alarming. The Dodgers were so sure that Glasnow was over his injury issues that they gave him a 5-year extension. He has been on the IL twice. Yamamoto at 25, had never had any issues, and he comes down with a sore rotator. Buehler trying to comeback from his second TJ surgery has issues with his hip. Miller also went down for a while. The only healthy guy has been Stone. The capper was losing talented RHP River Ryan to TJ surgery. With guys like Gonsolin and May not being able to make it back, the vaunted depth of this team has dissipated drastically.
The bullpen has had some very good moments, but it also has taken a beating in several games. At last count, I believe they had blown 29 saves. The entire pen has had pitchers who have gone through very rough stretches. No one has been immune.
At the deadline, many felt that they should target a closer. Tanner Scott was the top choice of many. The settled for Michael Kopech. Kopech has some really nasty stuff. Since he came to the Dodgers he has had just one bad inning. He is 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA. He has also gotten 2 saves.
Daniel Hudson has at times been unhittable. But then he has games where he gives up a crucial late inning homer. One reason he has 9 blown save opportunities. Joe Kelly is an enigma. One game Kelly can be as good as they come. The next game, he will give up a game winning homer. Many fans would prefer to see him at home come playoff time.
Blake Treinen did not pitch for almost two full years. He came back this spring and was looking really good before he was hit in the ribs. When he came off of the IL he pitched well. Then he got hurt again and returned to the IL. Since he came back, he has not been as effective as he or the team would like. Ryan Brasier has been lights out for most of his time in LA.
They have not had Brusdar Graterol except for about 7 pitches. Connor Brogdon, who they signed, has been in the minors all year. He pitched 1 inning in LA early in the year. Vesia has been pretty steady. But he has matched his career high for innings pitched already. Anthony Banda has appeared in 40 games since he was acquired. His ERA is a very good 2.18.
After being their most reliable bullpen arm for a couple of years, this season, Evan Phillips has struggled at times this year. In 2022, his ERA was a miniscule 1.14. Last year it was 2.05. Still an excellent number. This year, his ERA is 3.46. He doesn’t give up many homers, but he has given up a couple this year at the worst time. He seems to have regained some of his effectiveness lately.
Right now, their 3.73 ERA is 4th in the National League. If there is one real Achilles heel to this pitching staff, it is the amount of home runs they have given up this season, 162. That ranks #13 in the NL. The question of who is on this staff by playoff time will be answered over the next couple of weeks. They are going to take the healthiest arms they can into the playoffs. Fans can only hope that includes Glasnow and Yamamoto. Two guys who are considered the aces of the staff. And a lot will depend on how well Miller and Buehler pitch in their attempt to make the postseason roster.
Will some pitcher at the AAA level get a shot? Possible. I would have loved to see what River Ryan could have done. That won’t happen for a couple of years now. Landon Knack? Knack has shown some flashes. The knock on Knack is lack of length in a starting role. In his last 5 starts as a Dodger he went 5 innings exactly once.
Wrobleski might be good in the future, but in his five starts he gave up 7 home runs. Way too many. Tonight, Walker Buehler started and ended up going 4.2 innings. Two of the first 3 runs off of him were unearned. Some very sloppy defense cost him. He looked more like the old Buehler. He got some swing and miss, which he did not get much in his first appearances back. He allowed a couple of bloop hits and a couple really solid ones. He ended up allowing 4 runs, only 2 earned, He struck out 4 and walked only one. Much more Buehler like outing. He made 90 pitches, 59 of which were strikes. His one walk should have been a K. The umpire totally blew the checked swing call.
The bullpen did the job tonight in what basically was a must win game. Buehler earned himself another shot. Most likely in Monday’s final game in Arizona. The Dodgers will go as far as their pitching takes them this season. If they are to make a real run, the pitching is going to have to look more like it did the first month than it has the last three.
Minor League Scores
OKC lost a 10-inning game to Round Rock, 4-3. Of interest to Dodger fans, Yamamoto started and went 2 innings, allowing 1 run on 1 hit. He struck out 2 and walked none. Andy Pages was 2-5 with a double and an RBI, but he struck out 3 times. The OKC team struck out 18 times overall with Pages, Rushing and Lipcius all striking out 3 times. Dreyer got the loss.
Tulsa lost to Corpus Christi 7-6 in 11 innings. Miller, 2-4, Santana, 3-5, Lockwood-Powell, 2-5, and Young, 2-4, all had multi-hit games. Wepf got a blown save and the loss. Lockwood-Powell and Newell, just called up from the Loons, had homers.
Great Lakes beat South Bend 6-3 in 11 innings. The game was tied at 2 through 9 innings. Both teams scored in the 10th and the Loons scored 3 in the top of the 11th for the win. Jordan Thompson drove Jake Gelof in with what the winning run with a double with 2 outs. Heubeck started and went 6 innings allowing 1 run, 2 hits a walk and striking out 8. McDaniel’s got his 4th win with 1.1 innings of relief.
Rancho lost 9-5 to San Jose. The had a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the 6th. San Jose scored 5 runs to take the lead, and 3 more over the next two innings. Rancho scored 3 in the top of the 9th. Decker drove in those three runs with a bases loaded double with 2 outs in the 9th. Cabrera gave up all five runs in the sixth and took the loss.
Around the League
The Giants placed Thairo Estrada, Taylor Rogers and Tyler Matzek on waivers. It is an attempt to clear some salary. Since none of the players were DFAd, they can continue to pitch and play for the Giants until the waiver process is completed. If they are not claimed, the Giants can simply keep them. However, the waivers are irrevocable. If a team places a claim, the Giants cannot rescind the waiver. Miguel Andujar of the A’s is undergoing season ending core surgery. Orioles lost Jose Mateo to season ending UCL surgery in his non-throwing elbow. He has been the Orioles Kike over the last couple of years. Nick Senzel elected free agency after being DFAd by the White Sox. The Cubs are expected to try to upgrade the catchers position this winter. Jason Heyward took his physical today and is expected to be activated by the Astros tomorrow. Michale Lorenzen placed on the IL by the Royals with a strained hammy. Nick Anderson signed a deal with the Orioles after opting out of his minor league deal with the Dodgers. Teams that have been all but eliminated from the playoffs in the NL, Pirates, Rockies, Reds, Nationals, and the Marlins. Those teams are 10 games or more out of a wild card berth. On life support, Giants and Cubs. On the bubble, Mets and the Cubs. If the season ended today the three wild card teams would be Atlanta, San Diego and Arizona. Dodgers and Phillies would get the bye, and Dodgers would have home field in the NL playoffs.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Wins in close games with tough opponents are a very good thing. Especially winning games that you absolutely have to win. The Dodgers and D-Backs both have 29 games remaining. The Padres have 27. All those games come in the next 32 days. Padres are in an 18-game stretch without a day off. They do not have a day off until Tuesday.
Well, for those who think defense is not as important as offense, I say poppycock.
Defense is even more important in the playoffs. Giving good teams extra outs is a recipe for disaster.
Our defense let Buehler down tonight. Cost him 2 unearned runs and more importantly a lot of extra pitches, a possible win, and extra innings thrown on the bullpen. Luckily the Oriole defense was even worse.
If two players are hitting roughly the same, I go with the better defensive player everytime. The only exception is if a player is OPSing over .800. Then I can except lessor defense.
Sloppy game by both teams with the Orioles -luckily- the more sloppier .
D-Backs just don´t quit. Dodgers will have their work cut out for them in that huge 4 game series. The good thing: The Dodgers by winning the series or even sweeping it could all but bury the D-Backs right there.
Yamamoto looked very good in his start at OKC. Velo was there , as was his command. One bad pitch that cost him the HR.
Buehler looked better but still not a lot of trust in him starting a postseason game.
Lets see if Miller can built on his last outing today.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, I know all about Brasier’s low ERA as a Dodger. But he’s a different pitcher ..a vulnerable pitcher.. this year compared to last year when he was a power hurler throwing consistently in the upper 90’s. He’s nothing like that now, and he’ll hurt the Dodgers in the post-season.
All teams have struggles. We spent a billion dollars this offseason so no sympathy for us from anyone. Time to nut up and get the job done. We have the talent.
Here’s what has me concerned the most about the post season, a good team can usually overcome one aspect of the game, poor defense, poor offense, poor starting pitching or poor bullpen. My problem is that the Dodgers suffer from all of the above, they are struggling in all aspects of the game. Is Roberts a great manager or is he a terrible manager, how can you tell when the team consistently fails in one or all of these mentioned aspects of the game?
All the injuries, to starting pitchers, bullpen pitchers, everyday players, (hell you might as well throw in injuries to the concession stand workers at this point) really makes it tough on getting a consistent effort and results from such a wounded organization.
It looks bleak and yet the Dodgers have the best record in baseball, go figure (or is that more telling of the true state of quality baseball in the MLB?) However, the regular season is just the regular season and the playoffs really reveal any warts that a team possesses.
How does the trainer still have a job? I’m not being sarcastic. It’s an actual question. The Graterol injury for instance. He was not ready. One way or the other he was not ready.
I felt bad for Walker last night. Did Will Smith have a stroke? WTH was he thinking on that third strike? It was baffling.
Do these umpires continue to give other teams corners The Dodgers do not get? Or am I just losing it? Then the same umpire that sucked the game before does not give a third strike to Walker in the 5th. You just knew they would score after that.
Walker pitched very well last night. With his attempt to get back on track with his effectiveness, Buehler hasn’t had the best support defensively or any breaks from the umpires. An error or two, some missed calls by the ump, soft contact hits seem to snowball into huge stress innings that increase his pitch count. It happened again last night. Muncy’s error was not that unusual, but Smith’s total lack of awareness was unbelievable. It was finished off with a hard line drive over the head of Kiermaier to drive in two runs followed by a single to drive in another run.
The type of a mental breakdown by Smith last night leads me to believe that he needs some rest days. HIs current play, both offensively and defensively, indicates that he is exhausted. The front office has no problem babying the starting pitchers all season long to keep them “fresh for the playoffs”. It’s a strategy that has, again, failed this year to be effective. Unfortunately, Barnes gets hurt right when Smith could use a blow. But, that’s OK. The Dodgers are deep with catchers in their overrated system. One problem. They don’t use the apparent depth. They brought up Feduccia and he sits on the bench while we get to watch Smith become a non factor at the plate which is now creeping into his defensive play. Hunter has played one game with four at bats that produced a hit and a walk. That, apparently, is a non starter for the Dodger brass.
So far, Kershaw has returned to be a useful part of the rotation. Now Buehler seems to be moving in the right direction. With a bit of luck and some improved umpiring, Buehler is proving to himself that he doesn’t need to throw 97+ to be an effective pitcher. Once he gets the mental part of the equation straight he could be a contributor in the postseason.
So, as we see Kershaw and Buehler progress, we have Glasnow probably being a non factor for the rest of the season. I think Yamamoto will join him. How many times have we heard that a player is progressing and will be good to go for the playoffs and then the player is never heard from again? Too many. The two pitchers they decide to spend an enormous amount of money on and they can’t make it through their first season with the team without trips to the IL. One, is a 25 year old with no serious injury history, that comes to the Dodgers can only start 14 games before going down for several weeks. Fix one, IL one. All season long. It’s very discouraging. I think their whole pitching philosophy needs to be questioned and improved. Yeah, I know they have the best record in MLB right now, but it means nothing without a World Series championship at the end of the year.
Carry on.
I really thought Buehler came out strong, confident, good stuff, command and then muncys error. Ok errors will be made but will smith was unacceptable. He provides zero offense for 4 months but thankfully he is throwing out runners or we might be putting Barnes in for him. If our defense was not so bad Buehler would have gone 6 at least.
*I’m a dog guy. Shohei’s dog was so cute and his first pitch act was hilarious. heartwarming start to the evening.
*Bear, great summary on the Dodger pitching woes, again, this season.
*Buehler is snake bit right now. He had a 5 out inning. Doesn’t get close critical calls and didn’t make many mistakes but doesn’t get away with any.
But he battled through and looked sharp. This is a great sign in his progress. Another brutal start and he’s maybe out of opportunities. But he commanded the zone much better and his stuff looked great. The breaking ball had some swing and miss and was sharp. This is huge going forward. Now, do it again.
*Muncy insists on pulling and rolling over the outside pitch. Just like forever. And he winds up like Bob Fuller to spike a throw to first.
*Shohei, getting hit on his shoulder on the double steal is a good example of why a guy should learn to slide on either hip. That could have been a face shot instead of the shoulder. A slide on the right hip on an infield throw takes the face out of the target zone. Or slide headfirst.
*The quality of defense is in noticeable decline. And not just the Dodgers.
I watched the Yankees a day ago kick it around like soccer team. They made 10 errors in 4 games. Many due to the Jazz Chisholm experiment at 3rd.
I think much of the shabby defense is attributable to the grind of a 162 game season. Think about what you were doing the first of April and what’s changed. These guys have been playing baseball almost every day, since April.
Everybody who’s been playing, now has multiple nagging little injuries that won’t go away as long as they are playing every day. You have a strawberry, bruises and bumps, aches and pains. Your body hurts. And the mind is tired. That’s why players used to take “greenie”.
I’m not making excuses. Players are paid handsomely to produce. But keep in mind what professionals go through physically and it’s affect on play.
Yesterday I saw Bear’s article on the McCourt era. I’m sorry Bear, but I couldn’t spend one second reading it. Those were two of the most disgusting and misguided people in sports. How Bud Selig allowed those carpetbaggers to take ownership of one of the most historic baseball teams is certainly a black eye for MLB. And, in the end that piece of shit human being ends up clearing $2B+ was too much for me.
I, also, read Phil Jones comments on the Dodgers settling on a set lineup for the remainder of the season. With Kiki, Edman, and now Taylor as the ever loved utility players AF goes out of his way to have on the roster, I doubt that is going to happen. Although it should. Not only now, but all throughout the season. And, it’s not only his fascination with utility players, but the obsession with players who can play several positions. I think that may be one reason their position prospects are failing at the MLB level. It’s hard enough to hit major league pitching, but it becomes even more difficult when playing a new or multiple positions at the same time. It is too much for deal with. Look at Vargas, Pages, and Lux and the issues they have had adapting. The one big success has been Will Smith. He has played one position on a regular basis. Catcher. Just something to consider.
How about this lineup the rest of the season?:
C Smith
1B Freeman
2B Lux
SS Rojas / Edman
3B Muncy
LF T Hernandez
CF Kiermaier / Edman
RF Wilson
DH Ohtani
Although, all above is mute if they can’t get and keep a starting staff healthy and available.
Carry on
A couple of things about Buehler’s start last night. For one thing, his control and location were really good. His velo was pretty consistent. His curveball was breaking really well. In the second inning when the Orioles scored three runs, as we all know, Muncy’s error and Smith’s brain fart on a ball he caught on a bounce extended the inning. Had Kike not let the throw from Muncy get by him, the ball would not have gone into the dugout giving the runner second base. The double that scored 2 was the first hard hit ball of the inning. The hit to right by McCann was a bloop. There were 2 hard hit balls in the inning. But it never should have gotten to that point. Mullins, who got to first on the Smith mental blunder, would have been the third out had Muncy made a good throw. The third base umpire blew a checked swing call in the top of the 5th that allowed the next hitter to come up. It should have been the third out.
D-Backs have set their rotation for the 4-game series. Gallen, Kelly, Pfaadt, Rodriguez.
Such a good team and organization.
next five games will be fun to watch!
It’s obvious Friedman loves anylitics and Doc loves veterans even if the analytics are against a certain veteran. So I know this is hoping a lot from Doc and Friedman, but can’t they call up Rushing before September 1st while putting Smith on the IL for obvious reasons that have been discussed already and then bring up Pages when rosters expand? Then figure out the catching situation (Smith and Barnes) a little later.
Wouldn’t Pages and Rushing be elegible for the playoff roster? Not that I’m advocating for Rushing to be on the playoff roster right now until I see what he can do at the MLB level.
Do players without options such as Taylor for example HAVE TO BE on the playoff roster?
I think I know the answers to all 3 questions, but I’m getting confused from the comments here, because some comments are conflicting with others.
The reason why I’m talking a lot about the position players and very little about the pitching is because I believe pitching wins championships and without Yamamoto and/or Glasnow as a possibility, the offense is going to have to carry the team in the playoffs in a big way. It might not be possible for the offense to carry the team without BOTH Yamamoto AND Glasnow in the playoffs because with weak offense from CF and history say SS Rojas COULD fall apart offensively and who knows what’s up with the offense from the catcher, and then there is a solution to Lux’s platoon partner, me and Phil Jones discussed that yesterday, put Betts at 2B and Pages in RF against LHP, but I have no faith Doc will do that considering he’s a veteran lover.
There’s also the issue of the bullpen giving up HR’s (as they have a lot this year) in the playoffs and that is a BIG THING THAT CAN KILL YOU in the playoffs in tight games.
Phil, as always, I love your analysis on various topics, but with regard to this statement from above:
“ A slide on the right hip on an infield throw takes the face out of the target zone. Or slide headfirst.”
How do you think AF and friends would feel if Shohei decided to do his slides headfirst with that billion dollar arm of his (or maybe 1/2 billion since he’s also getting paid to hit)? A bump on the head might actually be preferred to a messed up shoulder or elbow from sliding headfirst.
Badger, your analysis of the US gold standard business model was a thing of beauty. Made me laugh out loud until I remembered that I was a contributor to the McCourt success story for the years that they were here.
Padres lost today (finally!) in StL today.
Mets/AZ are 2-2 in the 9th inning
According to Sports Nation, Glasnow is going to Arizona with the team, and he will begin throwing tomorrow. Tommy Pham, Robbie Grossman, Travis Jankowski and Nicky Lopez all placed on waivers by their teams. Janson Junk DFAd by the Astros, McCormick optioned to AAA and Heyward activated.
No Freddie in the lineup again. I don’t know why they don’t put him in the 10 day IL and send him home for a week with his family and rest his finger. Kind of a mental health break. I still think putting Smith on the 10 day when Barnes comes back makes a lot of sense also.
Lineup Note:
In a testament to Dodger lineup versatility (and a salute to Phil) the Dodgers are starting 6 shortstops tonight.
August 21, 2024
Oklahoma City Baseball Club placed OF James Outman on the temporarily inactive list.
Today is August 29, 2024
What’s the rest of the story?
Man, if this lineup produces several runs, it will be a miracle but anything is possible.
A disappointing inning after being given a 5-run lead. Just bad pitching — terrible control when he needed it.
J-Hey went 1-2 with a double and 2 driven in for the Astros in their win over KC.
Wahoo!! Dodgers take the series.