10 Day Road Trip Will Tell Fans A Lot

Busch Stadium St. Louis

As long as I can continue to write, I will do my best to be informative until Mark returns or closes down the site permanently. Starting Friday in St. Louis, the Dodgers begin a 10-game road trip, their longest of the season.

They play the Cardinals, Braves and the Rays, three of MLB’s hotter teams. Last time they saw the Cards, they swept them in Dodger Stadium. But the team taking the field for St. Louis now is a different animal. For one thing, they are hitting. Nolan Arenado has suddenly caught fire. And when he is like that, he can carry a team on his back.

Paul Goldschmidt has been heating up lately too. He recently had a three-homer game. Jack Flaherty’s last outing, he looked like an Ace finally. They will not be so easy to sweep in St. Loo. It is a four-game series Thursday through Sunday . Do not let the Card’s sitting in last place fool you. They can be a dangerous team.

Sunkist Park, Atlanta

Then they head to Atlanta to take on the first place Braves, who have won only one less game than the Dodgers. The Braves are second in the majors in hitting. And they have exactly the same number of home runs as the Dodgers, 71. The second rating comes because of the team OPS. They and the Rays are the only two teams with an OPS over .800. Where the Braves are hurting is in their starting rotation. Strider and Morton are the only two of their original rotation still healthy. But across the board, the rest of the staff is pitching well.

Their hitters are the same ones who bested the Dodgers in the 21 playoffs. Without Joc Pederson of course, but with some additions, Kevin Pillar, Sam Hilliard, and a new SS, Orlando Arcia, who is crushing the ball right now. Pillar is hitting .270 with 5 long balls. Atlanta will be a tough test.

Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay

Then we come to the Rays. Tampa Bay has simply been the best team in the majors this year. The team is hitting .278. They also hit the long ball with 85 so far. They steal bases, 40, and have the highest OPS in baseball .858. They have 5 players hitting over .290. The biggest hole in their lineup is Brandon Lowe who is hitting .197. But Lowe also has 7 homers and 22 driven in. So he can hurt you. Their best hitter so far is their DH, Harold Ramirez who is hitting .324. Do not fall asleep on these guys. They win close games.

The team ERA is 3.30 and they have a WHIP of 1.15. Solid numbers. Dodgers on the other hand have a 3.96 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. They have solid starters led by their Ace, Shane McClanahan, who is 7-0 with a 2.30 ERA. Zack Elfin and Drew Rasmussen are also in the rotation. Their closer is Jason Adam who has 5 saves. They can beat you with offense, defense, and pitching. No easy task for the Dodgers. Well, that is a little preview of what is coming up. Believe me, the Dodgers absolutely need to play their best baseball on this trip or it could be an unmitigated disaster.

This article has 66 Comments

  1. I enjoy writing about baseball. It is something I never ever thought I would do. When Mark asked me back in 2020, I did not really know how to approach the task. But loving baseball history as I do, researching a reporting on Dodgers of the past seemed the easiest task for me. If it is indeed coming to an end, I will feel a little sad. I met a few of the posters here, nice guys and we all loved talking baseball. We got to know each other a little and that makes it easier to understand what they feel about the game and the team. I met up with Mark twice. And in person, he is a lot like me, just a big ol Teddy Bear, but he is dead serious about his company, and his family. I believe this blog for him was a work of true love for the team and the game. For him keeping it up and running for so many years is truly a tribute to his dedication to the site and the Dodgers. Things are happening in the world that have changed the face of sports and lately, the Dodgers. Some of these changes are very hard to embrace.

  2. Just saw the news that Mark might shut down LADT. I sure hope not, but he obviously puts a lot of effort into it and there is more to life. Hope his back gets better.
    If something I wrote might have contributed to the situation, I sure regret that. I hope that Mark and Old Bear and the other regulars know that we LADT fans come here because we appreciate their efforts so much.
    As for the Dodgers, it seems that Mark was right that DeLuca may be on a faster track than Pages. DeLuca just got promoted from Tulsa to OKC, not unlike Outman last season. Pages is thought to have the greatest potential of the OF prospects (including Outman) but he is younger and apparently not fully cooked. It’s almost as if the Dodgers brass thinks that progress is linear.

    1. Pages was promoted also. Both went 0-3 last night in OKC’s win. Stone started last night and went 5.1. He pitched pretty good and, in all likelihood, will take Kersh’s next turn since he will most likely go on the bereavement list. Bradley Zimmer was moved to the developmental list and is not on OKC’s active roster. I smell a DFA or release. Steven Duggar had a homer in last nights game. I am still writing for Jeff’s site, Dodger Chronicles also.

  3. This is the BEST Dodger site. Only one I really frequent except Dodgers.com

    It would suck if it were no more.

    Met Mark at Vero Beach in 2008, (that was the game Scully coined “public enemy #1…), good dude…..hope this sticks around…

    May Day today.

  4. Thx for stepping up Bear. This is the source for Dodger intel.

    You got something on Piazza in the files? Going thru your catcher’s article got me thinking back to those ‘90’s teams.

    Mikey P was the best pure hitting catcher since Bench. He was off the charts hot in ‘97. Wished he’d stay but, so many we can say same thing – what if?

      1. Thx.

        Where did Lozano find the most pushback on that new contract? Fred Claire? Tightwad O’Malley?

        How again did Vin get drawn into a very public falling out between Dodgers and their most popular star? Tommy treated Mike like a son, how did that play out?

        Thx

        1. Couple more:

          I quit listening to AM radio when Joe McDonough passed. He was all-things Dodgers back then. Also, Petros & $$ had some of the funniest f’n chats with Tommy I ever heard. Usually Tommy in a limo going to dinner. Great Fun.

          Now where do you guys go ? Fred Roggin? Podcasts?

          I feed off podcasts all day . I work outside & by myself. Same as back then but just a diff media.

          RIP Big Joe McDonough.

  5. EARLY GAME
    3:10ET

    Dodgers Lineup vs Twins Sonny Gray:

    Betts RF
    Freeman 1B
    Smith C
    Muncy 3B
    Heyward DH
    Vargas 2B
    Outman CF
    Taylor SS
    Thompson LF

    Dustin May P

    1. Sorry didnt see this addressed in other post comments..

      Just heard about this. Hopefully Kasten and Co. come to their senses and put this to bed.

      WIN TODAY.

  6. Michael – you are a good man.

    Time certainly flies by. Hard to believe it’s just over a year ago that we shared some food and a game with Patch and the much missed B&P!

    Thanks for all your hard work here, and I actually think it’s done you good – you are certainly much more mellow than when you first Posted here lol.

    It goes without saying that I love this place and the interaction with fellow fans, and it is actually amazing that Mark has done this for as long as he has.

    Give him some time

  7. Eric my friend. I noticed you’d stopped posting, and felt sad.

    You are well liked here because you are passionate and humble at the same time.

    Don’t take things so personally, but at the same time maybe try to not to make the same point over and over….

    You won’t catch me doing that with my prediction about underestimating the .500 Diamondbacks!!!

    Hope you’re doing well pal

    1. Eric stopped posting…..what?

      Hey, it was bad enough losing Bulldog and Penguin…..but not Eric too. Eric is an AWESOME poster and I love his enthusiasm for the team and for James Outman. Don’t let anyone think they won by running you out of Dodge.

      ERIC, GET BACK HERE. YOU ADD BALANCE AND PERSPECTIVE HERE, BROTHER.

      TM

  8. Believe me, THEY absolutely need to play their best baseball againts the Dodgers too because it could be an unmitigated disaster por them as well.

  9. Tuesday scores
    Oklahoma City 4, Sugar Land 3
    Corpus Christi 7, Tulsa 3
    West Michigan 11, Great Lakes 10
    Visalia 16, Rancho Cucamonga 7

    Wednesday schedule
    3:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Maddux Bruns) vs. West Michigan (Wilkel Hernandez)
    4:35 p.m.: Tulsa (Emmet Sheehan) at Corpus Christi (Julio Robaina)
    5:05 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Bobby Miller) vs. Sugar Land (Kyle McGowin)
    6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Jared Karros) at Visalia (Joe Elbis)

  10. Dodgers select the contract of RHP Dylan Covey, he is not on the 40-man, so a corresponding move will have to be made.

    1. Getting reinforcements was expected. Surprised it wasn’t someone from AAA

        1. Covey was in Japan the last couple of years. Grew up 15 minutes from Dodger Stadium and of course rooted for the Dodgers, so today’s game must have been especially sweet

  11. For the folks who haven’t followed this blog long I wouldn’t worry too much about Mark shutting the site down. He threatens to do this frequently (I can recall at least 2 or 3 times in the past) but it never comes to fruition. He seems like an good overall guy but does seem to have bit of an ego and I think he likes to hear people beg him not to do it. I honestly don’t mean this to be negative over the years I’ve grown to like Mark a lot more than I did initially. This is just what I’ve observed over the years.

    1. I mostly agree with this, and actually think this is perhaps your most thoughtful and evenhanded post.

      When I first came here I didn’t care for Mark, either, but you get to know people over time and respect them for both their strengths and their sometimes annoying quirks, and I like and respect Mark.

      I don’t know if this time it’s for real or not. Maybe it is, and that’s ok. Mark could focus on writing his book. If so, it’s been fun. I don’t read other Dodger blogs. I just come here for the commentary.

      This place has something that no other Dodger blog has; namely the experience and wisdom from Dodger fans and former players who have been around a long, long time, understand the game and have insights that the typical fan does not.

      I think it’s been a fantastic outlet for Bear, who has accumulated over a lifetime an encyclopedic knowledge of baseball and now gets to pass that on. I think that’s important. None of us are getting any younger. It’s a shame every time someone who’s lived an extraordinary life passes, and all that knowledge and all those experiences vanish with him. Everyone has a life story, has knowledge, and a legacy that needs to be shared. bear more than most.

        1. Years back I was checking out this good looking chick who’s attire hid little. Her bulldyke mate snarled at me with a “what you lookin at?” I said “your girlfriend” and “she’s hot” she smiled and sat at my table talking about her mate. No problem – I’m open minded enough to be civil, but she wasn’t a man, She drove truck and may of had her father’s features but not his fixtures. They can pretend all they want but I ain’t pretending just because they want me to. I don’t attend those parades.

      1. It should be because celebrating the T in that alphabet soup of theirs is literally supporting mental illness. And that part although debatable is barely debatable.

    1. And just like that, the season takes a dramatic turn. I guess the key word is “elbow” and not “forearm.” Still, if this is a harbinger of Tommy John, that would be catastrophic – for May more than anyone.

  12. Por lo que se ve, todos esos ex Dodgers que trae ahora Minnesota ( Farmer, Gallo) otro de otros equipos fueron vacunados vs el virus del ponche. Nos quedamos con los contaminados (Taylor, Thompson, Barmes) es lastimoso verlos perdidos en el plato (desde luego dicho con todo respeto y desconociendo las situaciones internas y personales de los peloteros). Sin embargo yo considero que 40 juegos (o entre 50 y 70 turnos ) es más que suficiente para ellos (se ve poquita mejoría), si esos cabrones que mencioné antes y otros hubiesen estado a la mitad de como están ahora el año pasado, todo sería diferente. Solo mi opinión.

  13. Wow. I got busy for a couple days and seemed to have missed a lot.

    I hope Mark reconsiders.

    I hope Dustin May isn’t done for the season.

    I hope marketing departments would stop trying to make political/ideological motives part of their strategy.

    I don’t do boycotts. I typically ignore most BS. If I stopped consuming every product where I disagreed with something the company did, I’d have to go back to being a hunter gatherer.

    That said, my friend owns a sports bar and he told me the other day that Bud Light sales are down about 85%. Coors Light and Mexican Lagger sales are way up (ironically, some brands that are also owned by the same company that owns Budweiser). I’ve owned many businesses over the years. I would never mix politics with business. Well, unless it was occasionally comping a local city councilperson a dinner. That’s just smart. But why make controversial decisions that alienate whole swaths of your clientele? It’s perplexing to me.

    1. I wonder how Magic is taking this chatter given that EJ came out a few years back and that’s not exactly news around here?

      Or is it?

    2. My guess is that Anhueser-Busch didn’t realize that an obscure promotion would become controversial. I assume they are tracking sales–and that while sales are down in many venues, they are also probably up in others. For decades major companies have done targeted marketing o the gay community–and now that community includes the T in LGBT.
      Most of us would have never noticed the Bud Light brouhaha– or brew-haha– if not for the AR-15 antics of Kid Rock and his reactionary ilk. The Republican Party pulled back its own memes attacking Bud Light after realizing that Anheuser-Busch is a major donor.

      1. Come on man. This isn’t “canceled”. Company’s need to be mindful with whom they allow to participate in promotion and marketing programs. I have zero issue with LGTBQ night. I have no issue with nights that honor veterans or current members of the armed forces. Or nights that honor religions or ethnic groups. None. But when you go sideways and start bringing in fringe (controversial) groups, that’s just stupid.

        If you’re honoring the armed forces I expect to see a Color Guard. Not masked members from some radical militia group. This isn’t rocket science nor is it canceling.

        1. And I get to choose what’s fringe for the Dodgers’ event? You do? Shouldn’t the Dodgers?

          Stupid indeed. Just not as stupid as the KKK analogue.

          But when you go sideways and start bringing in fringe (controversial) groups, that’s just stupid.

          1. I’m not sure what your point is.

            Yes, every business gets to decide what they want to do.

            But if you offend a large portion of your customers, you deal with the consequences.

            I’m an atheist (for lack of better term. I prefer “I don’t believe in magic”).

            But I have no interest in offending those who are religious. None. I live my life. Others can live theirs. I would never celebrate a team taking a stance on religion, even if I agree with it. Why? That’s just divisive, non productive and pointless.

            Sports should be about the game, the players and competition.

            Nothing more. Nothing less. Things that bring people together. Regardless what we believe, support or have unrelated passions for.

            Balls and strikes don’t care who you are or what you believe.

            But that’s just me.

          2. My point is if you’re offended. Be offended. Don’t create a controversy.

            That’s it. You used the term “controversial” above. That’s the whole problem. People create controversies instead of ignore them. And companies then feel they have to react to it.

            Some people make fun of religion. Some people make fun of sex. What makes religion beyond the pale for you?

            It happens to great CEOs and the companies suffer. It happens to law school professors and NFL QBs who kneel. It’s beyond stupid.

            I bet 99.99% of people here have no interest in reading this discussion point anymore. I don’t blame them. It should never have been posted here, nor updated this afternoon.

            But if you want to discuss it more (I promise to be civil) there are better forums or fake emails we can move it to.

          3. We do agree, to a point. I just don’t want this discussion in baseball.

            The Dodgers kind of forced that issue. Unnecessarily. And foolishly. In my opinion.

          4. What about the “cancel culture” of looney right, Bluto?
            The leading cause of death–the ultimate cancel–of children in the USA is now guns. Mass shootings are the American way, it seems.
            Why is it that people who get freaked out about drag queens just tut-tut whenever there’s another mass shooting?
            But ain’t that America….

          5. Well, from the standpoint of someone who is Catholic….. Which is not me…. The dodgers honoring a group whose whole existence is based on making fun of and denigrating the Catholic religion, I would call that a huge swing and miss

    1. Yes sir.

      I have friendships where we don’t agree on much. Religion. Politics. But we can watch a game together. And I love that.

        1. The sisters of perpetual indulgence are a group that deserves all the prejudice they can have thrown at them

  14. 05/17/23 Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Jimmy Nelson on the 60-day injured list. Right elbow inflammation.
    05/17/23 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned LHP Justin Bruihl to Oklahoma City Dodgers.
    05/17/23 Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of RHP Dylan Covey from Oklahoma City Dodgers.

  15. May is headed to the IL with a flexor strain in his right arm per Roberts. Gavin Stone will most likely be first man up. It would not surprise me to see them trade for a starting pitcher come July.

    1. Per Eric Stephen:

      Recent time missed with flexor pronator strains, from @baseballpro

      2022:
      Luke Weaver 65 g
      Hunter Harvey 80 g
      Art Warren 45 g

      2021:
      Jake Odorizzi 34 g

      2018:
      Nate Jones 90 g
      Steven Matz 13 g

      1. Not a silver lining, but it looks like we’ll get a good look at Stone, and maybe Pepiot and Grove when they return. How about Landon Knack or any of the Tulsa gang?
        The fragility of this rotation has always been a concern. The odds that the Dodgers will go after a veteran SP at midseason have increased.
        Will Corbin Burnes be available? Maybe Lance Lynn?
        Perhaps that DH down in Anaheim?

  16. Mark, I hope you hang around so I can learn of your success at achieving Sinus Rhythm! I also greatly enjoy your site and your love of the Dodgers. I too, missed a couple of days in SF Giants country visiting my daughter and watching Little League and my grandson (what fun). I am disMAYed at the elbow news. After all that time and his work to be great. Sometimes, you just need to point the steering wheel straight ahead and persevere. I wish a solid road trip for our team, better health for those who need my luck. Please recharge Mark, the mission is not complete.

  17. Miller has looked really good tonight pitching into the 6th inning. OKC up 3-1. OKC wins it late 5-1. Miller gets his first win.

    1. Good news on Miller performance tonight.
      Thanks for the update Bear.
      I appreciate your writing and helping keep the site going.
      You do great work!

      Hopefully Mark stays on board. He brings some strong opinions and interesting perspectives. Now that the Dodgers have pulled back their community hero award maybe he will reconsider.

      Great win by Dodgers. I am amazed they keep winning series with the bottom of the order struggling so much. I think Trayce is 0-34. Heyward 0-17. Barnes hitting 098. Taylor and Rojas under 200. The Top 6-7 guys need to carry the team until a few guys get right or replacements arrive.

      1. Rojas is hitting the ball very hard, just like Peralta and Heyward, he is not always getting the results. Taylor is as streaky as they come, we should have signed Drury.

  18. Forgot to salute Victor Gonzales. He entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out.
    Pop up. Strikeout. Fly out.
    Outman and Covey were the standouts in this game, but VGon keeps delivering the goods. Mark described him as “a Godsend.”
    He was clutch.

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