SOME PRE TRADE DEADLINE OBSERVATIONS FROM THE RECLINER

With Jeff on the 10-day IL, he became desperate for assistance on the blog’s writers roster.   With his options limited, he had to resort to adding someone from the alternate training site, and had no choice but to call on me, the Yohan Ramirez of bloggers, to make a few pinch hit/relief  appearances.  Here’s hoping that I don’t give up three gopher balls to the first three batters.  Good news is, after this article and a post trade deadline article, I will be immediately designated for assignment and, thankfully, Jeff will resume his normal duties.

As is typical post trade deadline, the following are certain to happen:

*          Rumors will run rampant that the Dodgers have discussed or expressed interest in every player in the major leagues.

*          Blog writers and commentors will quote rumors as if though they are gospel.  “Rosenthal and Passan report that the Dodgers have an interest in Bobby Witt, Jr. or Tarik Skubal.”  Of course they do.  Who wouldn’t?   Whenever I read something along those lines, I imagine the front office holding a meeting, and one of the assistant GM’s says “wouldn’t it be sweet if we had Bobby Witt, Jr.?  He’d be able to solve our shortstop problem.” The rest of the FO would then collectively nod their heads in agreement.  Some young associate, seeing this would then whisper in Rosenthal’s ear, “you know the Dodgers discussed Bobby Witt, Jr. today.”  And there you have the birth of a rumor.  Rumor, by the way, is defined as “a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.”

*          All sorts of wild trade proposals will be suggested.  “we should trade our top 11  prospects for Juan Soto or Gerrit Cole.”  These proposals are not reasonable, will never happen, but the pundits and blog commentors love making them anyway.

*          Dodger fans will whine incessantly that the Dodgers front office didn’t “do enough.”  Those complaints are an annual right of passage, it seems.  In July and December, we’re bound to hear over and over again, that “AF doesn’t even seem to be trying” or “AF doesn’t try hard enough.”  And, you can take it to the bank that it will happen this year. I have already read one comment where the person wondered why AF “does not even try” to make the team better.  Say what????

*          Other teams will acquire a certain player in trade, and Dodger fans will bemoan the fact that the Dodgers could have easily bested the price paid by the acquiring team.  Alternatively, fans will moan and groan that the Dodgers “just don’t have the prospect capital necessary to acquire the top talent.”  That may be true, but the FO, hasn’t done too badly over the years, getting players like Darvish, Machado, Trea Turner, Max Scherzer and of course Mookie Betts.

*          After the deadline passes, Dodgers’ fans will get frustrated that the Dodgers “did not do enough,” or the players they acquired weren’t as good as those the Phillies, Braves, Rangers or whoever, got.  Such was certainly the case in 2022, when the only significant trade made that added to the MLB roster, was Chris Martin from the Cubs, for Zach McKinstry.  You could hear the cries of frustration and disappointment from El Segundo to Blythe.  However, while bigger names got traded that year, it turned out that Martin was arguably the most productive player traded that deadline.  Maybe, just maybe, AF and company know what they’re doing.

*          Speaking of 2022, the Padres were said to have “won” the trade deadline, by acquiring the big prize, Juan Soto (and Josh Hader, among others).  Now that we are in 2024, do you think that A. J. Preller would like to have a redo on that Soto trade now?  Giving up MacKenzie Gore, C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III, James Wood and RHP Jarlin Susana was an awful steep price for 1 ½ years of Soto.  Then, knowing the Padres could not afford him, they trade him for a lesser return package.  Winning at the trade deadline, means nothing unless you win the big prize.

*          I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers don’t announce any trades until 5 minutes after the bell rings closing the market.  It most always seems to go that way, doesn’t it?   I feel real sorry for the fans who check MLB Trade Rumors every five minutes to see if a trade has been made.

There are two questions fans ask leading up to the trade deadline: (1) what do the Dodgers need to do? and (2) what will they do?

*          Realistically, these questions can’t be answered unless the fans had every bit of information the front office has.  Namely: will Muncy be back this year?  Will Yamamoto be back?  How much can we truly rely on Kershaw, Buehler, Miller, the other youngsters?  Which players are absolutely untouchable?  We all have our opinions, but they are just that opinions.  Moreover, I’ll always remember a statement made by Dan Evans to the press, after the Dodgers traded Franklin Gutierrez for Milton Bradley, “we know our prospects a whole lot better than you do.”   I’m sure the same is true for Friedman, et al.

*          Speculatively, we can guess at the answers.  All our players are injured more than Doc and FO let on.  Kershaw, Buehler, Miller will never reach past achievements.  We can’t rely on the youngsters, etc.

*          If it was me, and money was no object, I would look to add a lock down reliever first, perhaps two.  I’m not sure that Banda is an answer to any question we might ask about strengthening the bull pen.  Certainly Graterol may help.  The operative word being “may.”  Same would be true with Michael Grove.  With Carlos Estevez being traded to the Phillies, the top notch relief market is thinning.  Mason Miller, certainly; Tanner Scott, perhaps; Pete Fairbanks, maybe; or Michael Kopech?  More than likely, the Dodgers will trade for something out of the John Brebbia, Kyle Finnegan, Jason Adam, Kenley Jansen or Dylan Floro bin.

*          I would also look at adding a starting pitcher.  Tarik Skubal, yes; Jack Flaherty, yes; Garrett Crochet, perhaps; Tanner Houck maybe; Erick Fedde, uncertain; Rich Hill, no thank you;

Also, please stay away from the Zack Littell, Yukei Kikuchi, or Trevor Rogers aisle.

*          We could probably use another outfield bat or third baseman.  Outman is struggling and living up to his name.  If some on this board had their way, they would trade everyone in the bottom half of the lineup.  Hate to disappoint you, but Lux isn’t going anywhere.  Kike and Taylor will probably stay, as will Ahmed.  Only way Lux gets traded, is if the Tigers demand he be part of a Skubal trade or the Yankees want him for Juan Soto.  When I survey the market, however, I don’t see anything that gets me excited.  Roberts, Jr, blah; Paul DeJong, meh; Cody Bellinger, not ay all likely.  I’m not sure if he’s available, nor do I know the full financial ramifications of acquiring him, but I still think Nolan Arrenado would look great in Dodger blue.  His defense is still top notch and that alone, will make our pitching better.  Frankly, I don’t see the Dodgers doing much hitter wise.  I think Betts will return to right field, Hernandez will play left and we’ll ride out Pages and Outman.  Heck, we could always roll the dice and see what Damon Keith can do.  Now stop the groaning, he is a whole lot better than you think.

*          It is highly possible that the biggest trades made by the Dodgers this deadline will be for Brent Honeywell and Nick Ahmed.

*          As I looked back over past trade deadlines, at the time, fans argued that we gave up too much for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner.  Keibert Ruiz and Jo Jo Gray have been nice players but I’m nor sure if they would have been any help to the Dodgers down the line.  Donovan Casey and Gerardo Carillo did not achieve any success.  At the time, we all were certain that Scherzer and Turner would help.  Who knew that Scherzer would be such a wussy in the playoffs.  In 2016 Grant Holmes(a first round pick), Jharel Cotton and Frankie Montas went to the Oakland Athletics for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick, who at the time were the top pitcher and (arguably)  one of the better outfielders on the market(I know, he didn’t pan out); Again, Jharel Cotton and Frankie Montas have not been game changers.  In 2017 the Dodgers traded Hendrik Clementina (minor leaguer) and Scott Van Slyke to the Reds for Tony Cingrani.  They also traded A.J. Alexy (minors), Brendon Davis (minors) and Willie Calhoun to the Texas Rangers for Yu Darvish. Do you want any of those players back?   Last, they traded Oneil Cruz and Angel German (minors) to the Pirates for Tony Watson.  Cruz has been okay for the Pirates, but Watson filled a need.  In 2019 they traded Rylan Bannon (minors), Yusniel Diaz (minors), Dean Kremer, Zach Pop (minors) and Breyvic Valera to the Orioles for Manny Machado.   Without debating whether the players acquired performed as expected(hoped), are there any prospects on this list that you truly miss?   While they are all fine players, as far as it goes, in my opinion, there is not a single one of those prospects that would make a difference on the Dodgers’ current roster.   The Dodgers paid a price, but they received great quality in return. Let’s hope they do so again.

*          I had shared this in a past article written for Mark’s blog a few years ago. Thomas Paine’s famous quote from his book “The Crisis”: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.”   I read these words as Evan Phillips peed all over the Justin Wrobleski’s parade.  Please understand, I don’t, for a millisecond, equate the battle for liberty and freedom to a relief pitcher not being able to do his job effectively.  That said, I couldn’t help but think, in a strictly sports context, that in this quote, there was some correlation to the Dodgers’ season in 2024.   I haven’t quite fully figured out all of that correlation, but I do think that some of the Dodger players are like the “soldier and the sunshine patriot” that Paine spoke of.  This team, like some in the past, seem to lack any fire and spark.  From the outside looking in, they’re lacking a sense of urgency.   Because I don’t have access to the clubhouse, I’m not prepared to make judgment on the team merely by the limited things I can view on the TV from my recliner.   That said, it would be nice to have a Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant(Badger is that you?) go into the clubhouse and verbally kick some butt and take some names.

*          As I was putting the finishing touches on this article, Wrobleski was pitching a gem against a good Astros team (mercy, I hate writing that).  He may be a player to hang onto.  Then, as has been a microcosm of the Dodgers’ season, Phillips comes in and can’t get an out.  Please folks, don’t blame that on Roberts.  Sure, in hindsight, it would not have hurt to let Wrobleski pitch to one more batter, but the melt down was entirely on Phillips.  Mason Miller come on down!!

*          It’s time for this team to go on a nice 20-2 run and put my baseball world back in its proper orbit.

MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS

OKC Baseball Club 5 – Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle) 4

OKC scores 3 in the bottom of the 9^th to walk off a win.  Down 4-2 in the 9^th, with 1 out, Alan Trejo was HBP and Austin Gauthier followed with a single.  With 2 outs, Trejo and Gauthier pulled off a double steal.  Both runners scored on the recently promoted )07-27-2024) Brend0n Davis’ double.  Davis scored the walk off run after a single by Chris Okey.

Ben Casparius pitched 5.0 scoreless innings.  He allowed 1 hit, 2 walks, and 6 K.  Casparius threw 81 pitches/48 strikes.

• Andre Lipcius – 2-4, 1 run
• Ryan Ward – 2-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (26)
• Chris Okey – 2-4, 1 RBI
• Double – Brendon Davis (1)

Box Score

Tulsa Drillers 14 – Frisco Roughriders (Texas) 4

The Drillers finally found their first offensive spark of the road trip in the third inning. Tulsa batted around and scored six runs in the process to take a 7-1 lead. Griffin Lockwood-Powell drove in the first pair of runs with a single. Jose Ramos drove in the next two runs with a double to center field. The final three runs scored with two outs on Brandon Lewis’ two-run homer and Alex Freeland’s RBI single.

The Drillers increased their lead in the fourth inning when Keith stole home, and Lewis drove in Ramos with a single.

Ramos added to the lead in the eighth inning with a two-run blast to center field.

The Drillers did not slow down in the ninth inning.

They earned six more hits and scored three runs on an RBI single from Yeiner Fernandez and a two-run homer from Dalton Rushing.

A solid performance from the Drillers pitching staff matched the offensive performance. Kendall Williams made his 19th start of 2024 and allowed three runs on five hits and four walks. He did not qualify for the win, completing only four innings.

Christian Suarez received the win, working a perfect fifth inning after following Williams. It was his third win with the Drillers.

Antonio Knowles, Lucas Wepf, and Edgardo Henriquez were the final pitchers used, with Wepf and Henriquez pitching a scoreless inning.

*Keith recorded three more hits to finish 4-5. It was his first four hit game of his professional career. The home run marked his sixth in July, which is tied with Amarillo’s Tim Tawa for the most in the month.

*Lewis finished 3-5 with three RBI on Sunday. The home run was his first hit in ten games and his first home run since June 20.

*Lockwood-Powell finished with five hits. It was the first five-hit game from a Tulsa hitter since Jacob Amaya on April 23, 2022, in a 16-8 win over Springfield.

*The Drillers four home runs matched a season high.

*Ramos finished with four runs driven in on two hits in six at-bats.

*Eight of the nine Tulsa batters recorded a hit.

• Yeiner Fernandez – 2-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI
• Damon Keith – 4-5, 4 runs, 1 RBI, Double (11), HR (9)
• Dalton Rushing – 1-5, 1BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (13)
• Griffin Lockwood-Powell – 5-6, 1 run, 1 RBI
• José Ramos – 2-6, 3 runs, 4 RBI, Double (10), HR (12)
• Brandon Lewis – 3-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI, HR (9)
• Jose Izarra – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, Double (1)

Box Score

Great Lake Loons 3 – Lake County Captains (Cleveland) 2

Down 2-1 in the 9^th, Great Lakes scored a pair for a walk off win, without recording an out.  Chris Newell, Dylan Campbell, and Jordan Thompson singled to lead off the 9^th, with Newell scoring the tying run.  Nick Biddison was IBB to load the bases.  Frank Rodriguez followed with a run scoring single to plate Campbell for the walk off win.

Jacob Meador started and completed 5.0 innings allowing 2 runs (1 earned).  He gave up 4 hits, 2 BB, and recorded 8 K.  Four Loons pitchers threw 4.0 scoreless innings to finish the game.

• Chris Newell – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
• Jordan Thompson – 2-4, 1 RBI
• Frank Rodriguez – 2-4, 1 RBI

Box Score

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 7 – Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) 6

The Quakes held on for a nail-biter on Sunday evening, edging Inland Empire for a 7-6 win.

Cam Day went six innings of two-run baseball and the Rancho bullpen eventually survived a fierce Inland Empire rally, with Reynaldo Yean working a scoreless ninth, helping Rancho win their third straight game and take five of six in the series.

Trailing 1-0 in the second, Rancho grabbed the lead for good against starter Riley Bauman with two in the second, as Jose Meza tripled home Jesus Galiz, then scored on a sac fly from Juan Alonso.

Rancho built a 7-1 lead in the fourth, chasing Bauman with only one out, as Oswaldo Osorio’s pinch-hit two-run double capped the inning.

Inland scored one in the fourth against Day, who gave the Quakes six innings on Sunday.

The 66ers jumped on the Rancho bullpen though, getting one in the seventh and three in the eighth to pull to within a run at 7-6. With the tying run at second and two outs in the eighth, Felix Cabrera came out of the bullpen and struck out Anthony Scull, ending the threat.

Yean would then work a scoreless ninth for his fifth save of the year.

• Kendall George – 2-6, 1 run, 1 RBI
• Antonio Osorio – 2-3, 2 RBI, 2 doubles (12)
• Wilman Diaz – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run
• Triple – Jose Meza (1)

Box Score