Speaking of Ohtani….
You think Roger Maris will have to sit thru a bunch of angels games in September?
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Speaking of Ohtani….
You think Roger Maris will have to sit thru a bunch of angels games in September?
nice call , long dodgers/ short yankees next week ~ couple weeksQuote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
Cleveland was up 6-1 after 7 on the Cubs, then 6-2 after 8.
Now it's 6-6. Ugly.
The AL Central, with its under-.500 division leader, is really something else.
I know you have come to rely on me for all things Kershaw -
to see thru Dave Roberts’ nonsense about Kershaw bullpen sessions etc. Roberts has no clue what’s going on.
Kershaw ain’t pitching tomorrow and will be shut down until after the ASG. There is literally no way he’s going out there.
You’re going to now appear to be in the know in front of your LA friends. Wait til the 2pm announcement and get some really cheap seats
Grove is going to be abandoned out there on the mound to take punishment. He’s awful.
Funny, I was considering going to tonight's game, but it's not happening if Grove is pitching.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
The Braves have been on an unreal run, and Acuña is now on pace for a 40/75 season. Obv the SB deserve an asterisk of some sort given the rule changes but still crazy. As a Braves fan it’s been fun to watch and particularly incredible given Fried and Wright have been out this whole time.
And yet despite the Dodgers being a flawed team I want no part of them in the postseason. Too many painful memories of seasons past despite 2021. Watching the Mets fail has been as fun for me as Dodgers fail is for San.
The difference between Mets fans and Dodger fans is that Mets fans possess an attractive worldly cynicism similar to pre World Series winning Cubs or Red Sox fans.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sheesfaced
Dodgers noobs and the baseball press annually anoint Dodger Blue the “Best Team in History”. They actually do. True believers who are convinced that they just run bad. Variance. Yeah, “playoffs are such a crap shoot”. All the while ignoring the repeat winners and WS finalists the past 40 years. Lol, amongst the back to back repeaters and winners were yesterday’s Royals.
I detect a little bit of reality is creeping into LA. A new sophistication and loss of innocence is manifesting.
Ohtani as Dodger savior is a strange new and disgusting Dodger thread. The idea of Ohtani in blue is blasphemous. Ohtani never would have become Ohtani if he was a Dodger. The analytics team and front office would not have let him. Ohtani sacrificed 100’s of millions in his all consuming drive to become the greatest player ever. Dodger money is not the end all and be all for him. What the Dodgers represent will turn him off. Even Angels look more appealing in comparison.
Ohtani and his team know the tag of “greatest ever” will reward him with riches beyond ANY 10 year contract
They say that Ohtani just completed the greatest month of any baseball player in history. Think about that.
Ohtani needs to win a championship to cement the legend.
Trip report from the Dodger AAA affiliate here in Boston.
Kenley Jansen was selected as the only Red Sox player to the All Star team.
I find that ironic on so so many levels. But then again it’s an insult coming from the selection committee too.
Face of Boston is Devers. Power no average but a quirky character. Being odd should count for something.
Congratulations L’chaim Bloom…. you’re playing great
wtf just happened to that Yankees reliever? Did the wife just call Manfred instead of 911 after a beatdown?
Yankees got a history of that thing. Bauer woulda fit right in.Quote:
Originally Posted by gut
Druff’s Dustin May is undergoing season ending surgery. Flexor & clean up up Tommy John from what I gather. I think the Dustin May we once knew is done.
I don’t think we know what kind of Buehler comes out of the other side either.
I need to purchase some futures tomorrow morning.
MayQuote:
Originally Posted by SanlmarYankees got a history of that thing. Bauer woulda fit right in.Quote:
Originally Posted by gut
Druff’s Dustin May is undergoing season ending surgery. Flexor & clean up up Tommy John from what I gather. I think the Dustin May we once knew is done.
I don’t think we know what kind of Buehler comes out of the other side either.
I need to purchase some futures tomorrow morning.
Urias
Buehler
Gonsolin
Kershaw
None of these guys have a clear future as effective MLB starters. It's scary for the Dodgers. Their pitching staff has completely fallen apart. The only reason this isn't a failteam is because the offense is still good enough to compensate for it somewhat.
I don't think the Dodgers even get much help before the trade deadline. If the team is too far gone pitching-wise, I think the front office just lets them finish wherever, and tries to reset for next year.
The Dodgers don’t look like a contender. They should do a salary dump. There’s a really good free agent coming on the market soon. I hear the guy can hit and pitch!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan DruffMayQuote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
Urias
Buehler
Gonsolin
Kershaw
None of these guys have a clear future as effective MLB starters. It's scary for the Dodgers. Their pitching staff has completely fallen apart. The only reason this isn't a failteam is because the offense is still good enough to compensate for it somewhat.
I don't think the Dodgers even get much help before the trade deadline. If the team is too far gone pitching-wise, I think the front office just lets them finish wherever, and tries to reset for next year.
There is a reason Ohtani didn’t choose LAD before. Angels still have playoff possibility and the owner is too dumb to rent Ohtani and get him back next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by JayjamiThe Dodgers don’t look like a contender. They should do a salary dump. There’s a really good free agent coming on the market soon. I hear the guy can hit and pitch!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
I looked at this today
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/injured-...team/pitching/
Dollar value of players on injury list by position pitching.
Once upon a time pitchers pitched to contact - went deeper into games and bullpens weren’t fried or 30 players deep.
Houston Vasquez springs to mind. We all look at K% when handicapping … “omg his K% is declining fade”. What if he is just changing pitch mix and reducing the 4 seam fastball that results in repeated foul balls? Whiff rate is all we care about.
Some team is gonna moneyball induced ground balls and not whiff rate. Original thinking like Royals began with Openers and bullpen games.
Even Dodgers can’t afford whiff rate - it’s not working for them.
Counterpoint: The Twins were the last org still using the pure "pitch to contact" strat, well into this century. Resulted in repeated first round playoff exits. Now, somewhat ironically, they are the most 3TO team in baseball.Quote:
Originally Posted by SanlmarThere is a reason Ohtani didn’t choose LAD before. Angels still have playoff possibility and the owner is too dumb to rent Ohtani and get him back next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayjami
I looked at this today
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/injured-...team/pitching/
Dollar value of players on injury list by position pitching.
Once upon a time pitchers pitched to contact - went deeper into games and bullpens weren’t fried or 30 players deep.
Houston Vasquez springs to mind. We all look at K% when handicapping … “omg his K% is declining fade”. What if he is just changing pitch mix and reducing the 4 seam fastball that results in repeated foul balls? Whiff rate is all we care about.
Some team is gonna moneyball induced ground balls and not whiff rate. Original thinking like Royals began with Openers and bullpen games.
Even Dodgers can’t afford whiff rate - it’s not working for them.
Interesting list. The Dodgers lead in both numbers of DL pitchers (16) and number of total DL days of these combined pitchers (896).Quote:
Originally Posted by SanlmarThere is a reason Ohtani didn’t choose LAD before. Angels still have playoff possibility and the owner is too dumb to rent Ohtani and get him back next year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayjami
I looked at this today
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/injured-...team/pitching/
Dollar value of players on injury list by position pitching.
Once upon a time pitchers pitched to contact - went deeper into games and bullpens weren’t fried or 30 players deep.
Houston Vasquez springs to mind. We all look at K% when handicapping … “omg his K% is declining fade”. What if he is just changing pitch mix and reducing the 4 seam fastball that results in repeated foul balls? Whiff rate is all we care about.
Some team is gonna moneyball induced ground balls and not whiff rate. Original thinking like Royals began with Openers and bullpen games.
Even Dodgers can’t afford whiff rate - it’s not working for them.
I wish they would do a list for "days of projected starting five on DL", and I'm sure the Dodgers would easily lead there.
There is one upside to Julio Urias' problems this year -- both injury and ineffectiveness. This was his last year prior to free agency. Bore-ass is his agent, meaning that if Urias pitched well in 2023 without much injury, he would have been in line for huge money, and the Dodgers wouldn't have paid it.
If 2023 ends up being a complete disaster for Urias, his value will be very much in question, and it's possible he might sign a short deal with the Dodgers to reestablish himself.
Same goes for Walker Buehler, had he not hurt himself in 2022 -- though he's not a FA until 2025. Sometimes the best news for a team long term is a pitcher becoming questionable during a contract year.
Kershaw is past the point of going to another team. He's going to evaluate how he feels in each offseason, and either re-up with the Dodgers for another year, or retire.
The Dodgers have too many pitching needs in 2023 to fix with trades.
In 2024, they will still have Betts, Freeman, Smith, and Muncy under contract. They probably re-up with JD Martinez for a year, since he seems to have worked out. That's a good enough core to keep the runs rolling in, even if the rest of the players are kinda fail.
They'll try to sign Ohtani, but might also need to do a major rebuild on the pitching staff. Will be an interesting offseason, for sure. Won't surprise me if they end up dropping Mets-like money on the 2024 squad, hoping for a non-Mets-like result.
There is talk that the Angels could “rent” Ohtani to another team. As a condition, said team would be prohibited from talking contract with Ohtani. Angels get some number of prospects/players and attempt to resign Ohtani at the conclusion of the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan DruffInteresting list. The Dodgers lead in both numbers of DL pitchers (16) and number of total DL days of these combined pitchers (896).Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
I wish they would do a list for "days of projected starting five on DL", and I'm sure the Dodgers would easily lead there.
There is one upside to Julio Urias' problems this year -- both injury and ineffectiveness. This was his last year prior to free agency. Bore-ass is his agent, meaning that if Urias pitched well in 2023 without much injury, he would have been in line for huge money, and the Dodgers wouldn't have paid it.
If 2023 ends up being a complete disaster for Urias, his value will be very much in question, and it's possible he might sign a short deal with the Dodgers to reestablish himself.
Same goes for Walker Buehler, had he not hurt himself in 2022 -- though he's not a FA until 2025. Sometimes the best news for a team long term is a pitcher becoming questionable during a contract year.
Kershaw is past the point of going to another team. He's going to evaluate how he feels in each offseason, and either re-up with the Dodgers for another year, or retire.
The Dodgers have too many pitching needs in 2023 to fix with trades.
In 2024, they will still have Betts, Freeman, Smith, and Muncy under contract. They probably re-up with JD Martinez for a year, since he seems to have worked out. That's a good enough core to keep the runs rolling in, even if the rest of the players are kinda fail.
They'll try to sign Ohtani, but might also need to do a major rebuild on the pitching staff. Will be an interesting offseason, for sure. Won't surprise me if they end up dropping Mets-like money on the 2024 squad, hoping for a non-Mets-like result.
The question for you and I is, “will the Dodgers feel compelled to rent Ohtani for the fan base?” Everyone gets into the playoffs. I say this despite my futures bet thet the Dodgers do not - that’s just value. The Dodgers obv are at the end of an era and will need to rebuild.
Do the Dodgers sacrifice prospect lottery tickets for playoff lulz?.
Even the greatest player in MLB history cannot save the Dodgers imo. However, there is a show that must be produced. Real test of Andrew Friedman’s character.
Muncy played a fantastic defensive 3rd base last night. I have been critical in the past and I must make a retraction. Muncy took my money by robbing several hits up the line. I got beat by him and I tip my cap.
Not sure if anyone already posted/discussed, but lol wow.
https://youtu.be/GT42mCeAII4
He really reminds me of when Iverson entered the NBA. All the unwritten rules dorks got their panties in a bunch, until they eventually realize the dude is just great. Bringing the playground to the pros. I love it.Quote:
Originally Posted by simpdog
Reds attempting to keep it going with exciting young players carrying the team.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been promoted. His name is so long that it doesn't fit on the uniform.
In 316 plate appearances at AAA, he is hitting .331 with 20 HR, and a 1.042 OPS.
He was injured at the beginning of the season, but is showing no signs of lingering trouble from that. We will see if he impresses like the other Reds prospects have.
In less exciting news, Pittsburgh's Liover Peguero (SS) and Quinn Priester (P) are in the lineup today. Priester has never pitched in MLB before, and Peguero appeared in just one game last year. Both are considered possible future regulars for the Pirates.
In memory of Nick Pipes and the Rays
Orioles to win AL East +380
They are one game behind the Rays.
Rays .525Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
Baltimore .509
Jays .506
Baltimore plays Rays 8 times. Jays only 6.
I know the Jays are banned for you, but I think they go on a run here. Ryu will be a big addition (so far signs are he will be good to go) for free, then add a couple bullpen arms and a bat. Not far off IMO.
The kindest thing I can say is thet Manoah is pitching tonight. If he is good he will steal the spotlight from Ohtani for the next few days.
A good Manoah would be just madness.
Let’s leave it at that for now. You’ve suffered enuff
The Rays were always poised for regression. Especially that abused bullpen. Django needs to free them slaves. Rays should not strike fear. That is legacy thinking.
Just got fed a video whose headline claims Dodgers aren’t selling.
Also this which honestly took me by surprise … my most bet team Dodgers damn. What a wasted life
Jays still banned
Alek Manoah
9 outs, 92 pitches
4 runs, 4 hits, 5 walks, 0 strikeouts
Jays need to ban Manoah.Quote:
Originally Posted by SanlmarJays still banned
Alek Manoah
9 outs, 92 pitches
4 runs, 4 hits, 5 walks, 0 strikeouts
I did not take them tonight but will tomorrow.
What a day in baseball for offense!
The following teams scored 10 or more runs today: Twins (10), Tigers (10), Dodgers (10), Reds (10), White Sox (10), Injuns (10), Royals (11), Giants (11), Mets (11), Braves (13), Diamondbacks (16), and Cubs (17).
That's 12 teams with 10+ runs. We almost had 13, as the Padres scored 9.
Did they all win? Nope!
Braves scored 13 and lost. Reds scored 10 and lost. White Sox scored 10 and lost. Tigers scored 10 and lost. In fact, the teams which scored exactly 10 runs went 3-3 today!
In the meantime, the game played in Colorado -- featuring a struggling Houston pitcher and a bullpen game for the Rockies -- saw a 4-3 score.
Old friend Kike' Hernandez might becoming back to LA.
Fail signing by the Sawks, though at least they didn't invest too much $$ in him.
He has about $3.8m prorated left on his contract, and the Sawks want to move him because he's been useless this year.
He's prone to huge funks where he's an automatic out, much like former teammate Chris Taylor. Both of these guys are either super clutch or absolutely horrible.
A change of scenery could bring back the clutch Kike' -- at least for awhile. He's a very emotional player, and I think his moods somewhat dictate whether he's hitting or not.
For less than $4m, Dodgers might as well take the chance. As good as the offense has been, they lack depth. It's been the "big four" -- Mookie, Freddie, JD, and Will -- carrying this offense the whole way, with occasional contributions from Muncy.
I read that the Dodgers signed Heyward and JD Martinez as favors to Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, respectively. Freeman had befriended Heyward in Atlanta, and Betts had befriended JD in Boston.
Both ended up being fortunate signings. Heyward has 10 HR and an OPS over .800, and they're paying him the minimum while the Cubs foot the $21m bill for him. JD has 24 HR and made the All Star team, and is making a fairly cheap $10m.
Too bad these two weren't friends with any cheap pitchers.
Bye bye Kike’
So painful watching all the errors this year.
Boston sends Kike’ and 2.5 million to the Dodgers
Red Sox receive 2 minor league pitchers Nick Robertson and Justin Hagenman.
Druff do you know anything about these 2 pitchers?
2 AAAA organizational filler types, although admittedly both putting up decent triple-a stats this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by BostonBruce
I swear Fraudman and his protege L’Chiam Bloom share pillow talk every night.
Two shortstops in two days. Look at Friedman go
Corey Seager approves
Don't know the pitchers sent to Boston. Probably not very good. Just trade filler, as Kike' wasn't worth that much, even though Dodgers fans love him.
LOL at the Rosario trade. If all they gave up was Thor, I approve.
https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1684346823987855366
Still not sure what the Dodgers are going to do about the pitching. I'm hearing Lucas Giolito. As an innings eater, sure, but as a playoff pitcher? Nope.
Friedman should call Jansen backup from Red Sox
Most of the Angels discussion was in the other thread, but there they go! The only decent prospect they had left (a switch hitting 20 year old catcher already playing in AA...a solid chip) + a fringe pitcher for Giolito and Lopez.
Granted Moreno is old even by owner comparison, so he'll spend whatever, but damn that franchise will be in ruin if/when Shohei signs elsewhere.
What follows is me getting my mind right.Quote:
Originally Posted by gut
I am not an Angels fan. I do not care about LAA 2025 and beyond. I resolve to embrace this athletic performance.
I believe what we are witnessing will not last forever. Maybe a year or two.
I wish for Ohtani to fade regular season self destruction but not fear it.
I want the Angels to allow him to pursue history. I want the Angels to celebrate this athlete’s achievement not reign it in or load manage it.
I want to see Ohtani perform in the post season. Hopefully achieve similar results as the World Baseball Classic.
I hereby resolve to give zero fucks about his contract. He plays as if he doesn’t - why should I?
Go for it now. The future is promised to no one. Yesterday’s Dan Druff would have disagreed but the older wiser Dan appreciates this wisdom.
For those wondering, gut and Sanlmar are referring to Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, once Nationals pitchers shipped to the White Sox in 2017, were sent together again, this time to the Angels.
Dodgers were pursuing Giolito, so that's not happening for them. Looks like they're going to roll with their injured and struggling rotation and hope a playoff miracle occurs via their offense. Not that middling Giolito was their answer anyway.
Mets are already starting to sell off, shipping away David Robertson to the Marlins. Who would've guessed at the beginning of the season that the Marlins would be buyers and the Mets would be sellers?!
Padres might also start selling soon, with Snell and Hader supposedly on the block. Dodgers have no chance of getting either one.
It's actually good to see the stupid spending teams getting punished. That plus the dying TV contracts might bring salaries back under control. Say what you will about the Dodgers, but at least they were smart about the big contracts they signed. When it's all said and done, the Mookie and Freddie contracts will not be looked upon as a fail.
Remember how the Pirates were in first?
Now they're in last, and giving up. Carlos Santana has packed his bags yet again, and gone to Milwaukee. Not sure what happens with Rowdy Tellez when he returns from the DL in mid August. I guess they can send Owen Miller to the bench and put either Santana or Tellez at DH.
The Cubs have won 6 in a row, and are starting to come on. They are 5.5 back of the Brewers, sitting at .500. They have the best run differential in the NL Central by far. The team has an offense which scores runs in bunches, but overall they've been very inconsistent. I still think the Cubs are a better team than the Brewers, and have a higher ceiling. Don't be shocked if they win the NL Central, as they have better pitching than the Reds, and a much better offense than the Brewers.
It will be interesting to see the the Cardinals do a rare fire sale, and start unloading players like Arenado, Goldschmidt, Mikolas, and others.
Mookie (30) and especially Freddie (33) are win now signings. If Dodgers don’t history will grade the contracts more harshly than you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
You mentioned a possible Cardinals yard sale. There is talk (I’m not sure who is driving it) about Nolan Arenado (32) 3rd base to Dodgers. Recreate the Mookie Trea Freeman magic and solve the Muncy problem at 3rd.
The possible return of Machine Gun Kelly is weird and fun. Mostly fun.
@gut
Cleveland fixed Noah Syndergaard in two days? Complete game shutout? Maybe
The number for Cleveland was climbing all day today. Folks must have seen the results.
Further proof wunderkind Dodger pitching coach Mark Prior is an over rated fraud.
Weighted balls with Buehler in his hospital gown. Funny gut
5 great one-hit innings, tired out in the 6th, gave up a run, was pulled.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
I'm not convinced this was anything but an aberration.
Don't worry.. the Injuns still managed to lose the game.