Well, the first roster shakeup of the year happened the last week with two long-tenured vets getting axed. So, the logical question is who is next? Some have mentioned Rojas, who is actually contributing more as of late, and his defense is still superior to many others. Then there is the cut ties now with Conforto consortium. My guess is that one of the veteran relievers will get the boot next. I could be wrong, but the performance of the veteran guys out of the pen has been very iffy of late. And relievers are in abundance out there. Seems some arm gets DFAd almost every day, and we all know how much Andrew loves reclamation projects who are cheap.
Luis Garcia has a 4.57 ERA in his 23 appearances but has allowed just 1 homer. Anthony Banda has a lower ERA, 3 wins, and has allowed 11 earned runs in his 21 games, and 5 homers. Garcia has also allowed 11 earned. Vesia has allowed 6 homers, luckily for him, most of them solo shots. Freidman has kept his MO of picking up scrap heap pitchers with guys like Loutos, Feyereisen, Garcia, Davis all getting shots out of the pen. A depleted pen as it now stands without Yates, Treinen, Graterol and Kopech.
But I would guess if anyone gets traded or DFAd it would be a reliever first. Of course, for us fans, it is always just a guessing game. AF and Gomes know what they are doing, and they are doing it with a lot more information that we fans have. I, like many, had my doubts when AF first took over, but even with this glitch in the plan, I have a feeling there is a lot going on behind the scenes that we will never know about until after it happens.
At this point in the season, if you look at the Dodger blogs on the internet, fans want Muncy, Conforto, and several of the fringe relief pitchers gone. They also want Mookie back in right, and Teo in left. They want Freeland brought up to play SS, and either Kim or Edman installed at second base. Edman will most likely play the infield more for the next few weeks because of his ankle. They want an immediate upgrade of the pitching staff. That I totally understand.
You need to look at AF’s history and MO since he came to LA though first. He is not a knee-jerk reaction kind of guy. I think the team has enough analysts, coaches, doctors, trainers, and head office people who help and advise AF when he is making a roster decision. If you have ever read a media guide, they give a full list of all of the front office, coaching and training staffs. It is a lot of people who have so much more info than us fans.
There are so many different stats and analytics’ they use for evaluation that we have little knowledge of. LA right now needs some length from its starters. But as Jeff has pointed out, the stats on that are not good. My belief is that the Dodgers are concentrating on the long haul and not the short term. If everything goes well, it seldom does, they could be back at full strength in the pitching staff by the end of July. Since no team in the West is playing lights out baseball, they just need to stay close until they are healthy, or until they can add to the roster via trades come the deadline.
I would venture to say, the next month or so, is going to be a very revealing time for fans to see just how good, or out of whack this team is. Can Max find his stroke? Will Conforto string together some really good games and show some power again? Will Mookie finally be at full strength and hitting like we know he can? Freddie is the most consistent player on this team and by a large margin, their best hitter. The bench is a little better with Rushing there. Will they upgrade the bench a little more? All these questions will take some time to answer. As fans, we need to be patient and trust the front office to make the right decisions when it comes down to who is next.
MiLB GAME SUMMARIES
Second consecutive night for bad games by the LAD affiliates.
Great Lakes Loons 1 – West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit) 1 – Suspended in the bottom of the 3rd due to rain. Suspension to be completed on Thursday, May 22, 2025 as part of a doubleheader.
Sacramento River Cats 8 – OKC Comets 1
For the second straight game, the Sacramento River Cats built an early lead through three innings that provided enough offense to defeat the Oklahoma City Comets as Sacramento sent the Comets to an 8-1 loss Wednesday night.
The River Cats took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run double by Andrew Knizner before adding four more runs in the second inning, including a bases-clearing, three-run double by Knizner. A bases-loaded hit by pitch in the third inning boosted the River Cats’ lead to 7-0. Oklahoma City’s lone run of the night scored in the third inning on a RBI double by Alex Freeland before Sacramento extended back to a seven-run lead with a run in the sixth inning.
The Comets lost a third straight game to match their longest losing skid of the season. Oklahoma City also opened a series with back-to-back losses for the first time this season and first time since Sept. 3-5, 2024 when OKC lost the first three games of its home series against Sugar Land.
For a second straight game, the Comets fell behind by at least seven runs through the game’s first three innings. Oklahoma City trailed, 8-0, in the third inning of Tuesday night’s series opener before falling behind, 7-0, in the third inning Wednesday…
Sacramento scored four runs in the second inning Wednesday and the River Cats have scored nine runs in the second inning so far this series and opponents have scored 16 runs in the second inning over the last eight games.
OKC’s offense was held to three hits to match the team’s season-low mark for hits in a game, last occurring May 9 against Albuquerque…The team’s one extra-base hit — Alex Freeland’s RBI double in the third inning — tied the team’s season-low mark for extra-base hits in a game.
Esteury Ruiz collected a hit and is now 7-for-24 over his last three games…
Ryan Ward picked up his 55th hit of the season — tied for the most hits in the league to start 2025. And yet he is still playing in MiLB.
The 11 walks issued by the Comets pitching staff were the most allowed by the team since an 11-inning loss, 16-15, in Reno July 30, 2023 and the most issued by OKC in a nine-inning game since July 26, 2023 when OKC pitchers allowed 11 walks in a 13-11 loss in Reno.
Nick Frasso was only able to go 1.2 innings, allowing 6 runs, on 4 walks, with 2 strikeouts.
Springfield Cardinals 13 – Tulsa Drillers 3
For the second straight game, the Springfield Cardinals flexed their offensive muscles Wednesday against the Tulsa Drillers. One night after totaling 16 hits, the Cardinals erupted for 13 runs on 11 hits and handed the Drillers a 13-3 loss.
The Redbirds did much of their damage in two innings. They scored five runs in the second inning and topped that with a six-run sixth inning.
Offensively for the Drillers, Ezquiel Pagán got a hard-earned RBI for their first run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Tulsa’s other two runs came in the fourth inning on a wild pitch and an error from the Cards.
It was a tough night for Tulsa pitchers, including starter Jacob Meador. Meador suffered the loss after being charged with seven runs in 3.1 innings.
Control was an issue for the Drillers who entered the game leading the league in walks surrendered. Tulsa used six different pitchers in the game and the group combined for ten walks.
Tulsa shortstop Sean McLain continued to swing a hot bat. McLain went 2-4 and has recorded two hits in six of his past ten games. Since May 7, he is hitting .306 and has raised his season average by nearly 100 points.
The game featured a total of 22 walks compared to just 16 combined hits for the two teams. Tulsa pitchers issued 10 of the walks while Springfield hurlers allowed 12.
Kole Myers walked four times and Chris Newell and Griffin Lockwood-Powell walked three times each for the Drillers.
One of the only pitching highlights from the game came from Tulsa position player Nick Biddison. He pitched the ninth and set the Cards down in order.
Stockton Ports (A’s) 11 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2
The Quakes had the most hits for any of the three affiliates that played on Wednesday. Unfortunately that number of hits was 6. The three LAD affiliates totaled 6 hits on 14 hits.
With the 9 walks Quakes pitchers tossed, the three affiliates totaled 30 walks in 3 games.
- Eduardo Quintero – 2-5, 1 run, 2 doubles (9)
- Mairoshendrick Martinus – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI, double (5)
CF Quintero (19 from Venezuela) is now batting .319/.424/.580/1.004 in 166 PA, 19 XBH – 9 doubles, 3 triples, 7 HR.
3B Martinus (20 from Curaçao) – .432/.561/.614/1.175 in 57 PA, 6 XBH – 5 doubles, 1 HR.
Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear
Glad to see Teo blast one over the CF fence and May pitch so well. Scott redeemed himself after last night’s debacle.
“Can Max find his stroke?”
Seems that he has. The other day, Max won a game with a walk-off sac fly.
In a high-pressure moment, he could have easily struck out, or worse, hit into a double play. But Max drove one to deep center for the W.
I think a lot of the criticism of Max is just habit. Yes, he’ll never win a gold glove–but he’s not as bad as his reputation. Yes, he strikes out too much–but he also works the count and collects walks. Yes, his BA isn’t special, and he’s streaky. But he usually winds up with more than 30 HRs and a healthy on-base percentage.
Anyway, it seems like Max found his stroke this season once he started wearing prescription lenses, much like Kike last season.
I’ve read that Max has produced an OPS over .800 with the new specs. Slightly improved vision means a lot in a game of millimeters and milliseconds. Over the last 15 games, in addition to that clutch sac fly, Max has hit to a .842 OPS, which is better than both Mookie and Pages.
Max isn’t the weak link in the lineup. The weak link has been Conforto–and he should be spending more time on the bench soon.
It was good to see Rushing in the lineup again, even if he struck out 3 times in 3 ABs. Burnes is an ace, and he was also striking out Shohei, Freddie and Edman–but not Max, who got the Dodgers’ only walk.
Such a gratifying win today. Great outing for May, great HR by Teo to beat Burnes. And the bullpen came through.
And while the Dodgers were beating the D’backs, the Padres were getting walloped by the Blue Jays.
Nice.
Dodgers now lead the West by 2 games over the Giants, 2.5 over the Padres and 5 over the D’backs.
Martinus with some helium
Conforto’s heat map is, er, um, problematic:
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/michael-conforto-624424?stats=statcast-r-zones-mlb
Get Conforto some glasses. Worked for Hernández and Muncy.
Nice to win a couple against the D-Backs, especially knocking off Corbin Burnes. Thank you Teoscar. Nice to have you back.
Great pitching efforts by May and the bullpen.
May has dropped his arm slot noticeably. He now has that almost sidearm slot that is working great for Paul Skenes. Apparently there is some new research that supports a lower release point for shoulder and elbow health. I need to research that a bit. If anybody here has found any articles on this, I’d love to read them.
I think it has cost May his incredible heat seeking, arm side run on his 2 seamer but some reports say the new slot has improved his sweeper and cutter.
If it keeps him on the bump, i’m all in.
Obviously, there is no long term research on this yet, but that slot worked for many old-timers like Drysdale.
While pitching has been the issue for the Dodgers, the bottom half of the order the last 4 games is 4 for 61. ouch
Maybe a day off will help.
Anyone know if Gonsolin is going to be able to make his next start or if that blister is going to be a problem?
No new post tomorrow. Site is having some maintenance done. Acuna to be activated by the Braves this weekend. Comets 9 River Cats 5: OKC came from behind twice to get the win. They scored 9 runs on 9 hits and 8 walks. Ruiz 3-5 with a double and 1 batted in. Chavis 2-4 with a double and 3 batted in. Ward also doubled. Wrobo went 5.1 giving up 4.
Great Lakes swept in their double-header, Tulsa pounded by Springfield again.
As Bear indicated, there is some troubleshooting on LADC on Thursday night. They did not want any new posts while they were testing. In the interim, I have included a reduced summary of the MiLB games below:
OKC Comets 9 – Sacramento River Cats (Giants) 5
The Oklahoma City Comets closed out Thursday night’s game by scoring seven unanswered runs to come back and defeat the Sacramento River Cats, 9-5.
The River Cats took the game’s first lead with a two-run home run by former LAD farmhand Devin Mann in the second inning. Oklahoma City knotted the score at 2-2 in the third inning on a RBI double by Ryan Ward and RBI groundout by James Outman.
The River Cats scored three runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead before the Comets answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Chris Okey and Esteury Ruiz hit back-to-back RBI singles, later tied the game on a fielder’s choice and took the lead on a Sacramento fielding error. Michael Chavis connected on a bases-loaded double in the eighth inning and cleared the bases to push OKC’s lead to 9-5.
Justin Wrobleski completed 5.1 innings. He allowed a 2-run HR in the second. In the 6th, he allowed a walk and single before being relieved by Logan Boyer. Both inherited runners scored, plus one additional run. Four relievers finish up for the win without allowing a run.
· Esteury Ruiz – 3-5, 3 run, 1 RBI, 2 doubles (12)
· Michael Chavis – 2-4, 1 BB, 3 RBI, double (11)
· Ryan Ward – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (10)
Box Score
Springfield Cardinals 9 – Tulsa Drillers 3
The Tulsa Drillers struggles against the Springfield Cardinals continued on Thursday night as the Redbirds delivered another big offensive game. The result was a 9-3 victory for the Cards, their third straight over the Drillers. In the three games, Springfield has scored a total of 29 runs on 36 hits, including 6 home runs.
The Cardinals big game on Thursday began in the first inning when Chase Davis singled home the first run.
Chris Newell matched Springfield’s run with his solo home run in the second, tying the game at 1-1.
Springfield plated five more runs over the third and fourth innings that increased the lead to 6-1.
Following a double to begin the Drillers half of the fourth, Damon Keith singled to center to drive in Tulsa’s second run.
A bases-loaded walk and a two-run single in the seventh allowed the Cardinals to increase their lead to 9-2.
The Drillers final run of the night was driven in on John Rhodes’ seventh-inning RBI single.
· Damon Keith – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
· Ezequiel Pagan – 2-4, 1 run, double (5)
· Chris Newell – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (6)
Box Score
West Michigan Whitecaps 2 – Great Lakes Loons 1 – Completion of Suspended Game
Cam Day was the Loons starting pitcher and he surrendered a solo HR for the Whitecaps lead in the 2nd. He completed 2.2 innings before Alex Makarewich relieved him.
Joe Vetrano tied the game in the 3rd with a solo HR of his own before the game was suspended in the bottom of the 3rd.
Three Loons relievers followed Day and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings. Robinson Ortiz entered in the 6th. Two walks and a single brought home the go-ahead and eventual winning run.
· Joe Vetrano – 1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (5)
· Mike Sirota – 1-3
· Logan Wagner – 1-3
· Jake Gelof – 1-2, 1 BB
Box Score
West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit) 7 – Great Lakes Loons 1 – Game 2
Wyatt Crowell started for the Loons, but completed only 2.1 IP. He threw 61 pitches before he was pulled.
Crowell allowed a single and a walk in each of the first two innings, but was able to get out of the jam. Crowell followed with the same in the 3rd, but this time was pulled and relieved by Christian Ruebeck who allowed both inherited runners to score, plus one of his own. Roque Gutierrez allowed a grand slam to Max Clark, Detroit’s #1 prospect.
Kendall George led off the game with a walk, and moved to 3rd on a single by Josue De Paula, and scored on a Zyhir Hope force out. That was the Loons sole run. Mike Sirota and Jackson Nicklaus had singles for the remainder of the Loons hits.
Box Score
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 9 – Stockton Ports (A’s) 4
The Quakes overcame 12 walks allowed, using 15 hits to end a brief two-game skid, defeating the Stockon Ports on Thursday night by a final score of 9-4.
Elijah Hainline had a team-high four hits and Victor Rodrigues reached base all five times, as the Quakes won for the first time in the series.
Jose Meza tripled home a pair of runs in the first, then scored on a wild pitch by Stockton starter Wei-En Lin as the Quakes took the lead for good at 3-0.
Raynerd Ortega (4) smashed a two-run homer in the fourth, as Rancho moved the lead to 5-0.
Quakes’ starter Aidan Foeller was dominant through four, but ran into pitch count issues in the fifth.
The Ports would take advantage of six Rancho walks issued in the fifth inning, pulling to within a run at 5-4.
That’s as close as Stockton would get though, as Eduardo Quintero crushed his league-leading eighth homer of the year, a two-run shot in the sixth, giving Rancho a 7-4 lead.
They added two in the ninth for good measure to put it away.
Myles Caba, who came on to get the last out of the eighth, worked a scoreless ninth for his first career save.
The Quakes will send Logan Tabeling to the mound on Friday, as he’ll take on Jefferson Jean at 7:05pm.
· Elijah Hainline – 4-5, 1 run
· Joendry Vargas – 2-5, 2 runs, 2 doubles (3)
· Victor Rodrigues – 3-3, 2 BB, 2 runs
· Triple – Jose Meza (2)
· HR – Raynerd Ortega (4), Eduardo Quintero (8)
Box Score
ACL Dodgers 7 – ACL Mariners 4
19 year old CF Brendan Tunink reached base all five PA: 1 BB, and 4 XBH. The 2024 8th round draft pick hit a HR (2), a triple (3), and 2 doubles (6). In 63 PA, He is now hitting .353/.476/.706/1.182.
After a slow start, SS Emil Morales is heating up. He is now slashing .268/.344/.518/.862 in 64 PA.
18 year old Taiwanese OF, Ching-Hsien Ko, is hitting .395/.491/.674/1.165 in 53 PA.
Box Score
Not to sound crass, but is there anyone on that Tulsa team that’s a legit prospect? If not, it may be time to move some of the Rancho or Great Lakes guys up.
Bear, you totally understand fans desire to upgrade the pitching staff (quoting from your post) but not their desire to upgrade 3rd base or left field?
In your minor league update you mentioned Ward’s hit but questioned why he’s still in minors. How about replacing our underperforming left fielder?
I think the difference between Muncy and Teo is; a runner is on second and two outs, Teo takes a big cut trying for a hit, Max triesfor the walk. One results in a possible rbi the other just puts two on. I like the hitter and he seems way more clutch, at least the last few years.
No big surprise but interesting to see in print.
Posted to X by Codify Baseball:
Quality Starts Vs. Same Date Last Year:
+7 CIN STL TB
+6 HOU
+5 LAA
+4 CHC WSH
+3 ATH BOS CWS NYM SF TEX
+2 ARI
0 ATL
-1 KC PIT
-2 PHI
-3 MIL SD
-4 CLE
-5 COL
-6 MIA MIN NYY
-8 BAL DET TOR
-12 LAD SEA
Busy day, Braves DFAd Orlando Arcia, their SS, Royals DFAd Hunter Renfroe, Yoendrys Gomez outrighted to AAA by the Sox, Garrett Hampson signed to a major league deal by the Reds. Kershaw vs Canning, 5-1 ERA under 2 for the Mets at 4:10 LA time on Apple +.
Anybody in here watching this game?
Tell me again why Tanner Scott is worth $72MM?