Just Win Baby!

One day, it’s 12 runs, the next day it’s 3.  It can be pretty. It can be ugly and it can be pretty ugly! It’s just about doing the little things necessary to win… like Kike Hernandez acting like a ballerina around a bat and a catcher.  Just win, Baby – that’s all! I thought Yasmani ended it in the 9th – that’s as far as you can hit the ball without it going out.  The blast didn’t do it so the Dodgers danced their way to a win!

Matt Kemp has not only redeemed himself but, along with Justin Turner, he is the heart and soul of this team.  I mean, who could have predicted that a fat, malcontent prima donna would evolve this quickly, this much.  A good brawl always draws the boys together.  Personally, I saw nothing wrong with Kemp running over the catcher and the catcher pushed him first, so I think both should have been ejected.  There should be no suspensions. It was just one of those things.  I’m glad he didn’t slide – if anything he should have hit him harder.

Kenta Maeda looked pretty sharp for just coming off the DL.  The bullpen was stellar! The Dodgers team ERA is down to 3.68 and the starters ERA is down to 3.51, same as the Cubs and tied with them for 4th in the NL! I am still of the opinion that they do not need another starter with Hill due back.

These guys just win.  No excuses.  No starting pitchers?  No excuses! These guys are just junkyard dogs with a steely resolve.  Sometimes going through the fire like they did early in the season burns you up and there’s nothing left.  Other times, it galvanizes you. Losing JT for 6 weeks and Corey hurt  and having starting pitchers drop like flies could have caused these guys to quit.  It did the opposite… it caused them to start!

If adversity builds character, these guys are ready.  FAZ would do well not to mess with the makeup of this team.  “Team chemistry” is an intangible not understood by some… especially these who have never been a part of such a thing.  There is a day off today and then it’s time to sweep the Giants! As these guys get healthy and work out things, I think they are going to be just fine and I can feel a return to the Fall Classic… something that would have seemed impossible a few short weeks ago.

Here’s a tip for a good read.  I just started it and it is awesome.  Click on the picture to order:

 

 

This article has 16 Comments

  1. Like what I’m seeing. Team is getting great pitching from the BP (would like to see starters go a bit deeper) but with Joc, Muncy, CT3, JT, Kemp and Bellinger all contributing things are looking up. Austin was a disappointment last night and if the throw from Odor had not been horrible he would have been a goat last night. Bottom line is we won, we’re in second place and breathing down the necks of the D-Backs.

    Have I mentioned lately how much disdain I have for the Giants. Two out of three or better yet a sweep this weekend would be awesome. Hope Wood can have a good start, he’s worrying me a bit. Mechanical or physical, something doesn’t seem right with him.

    1. They say Wood has been getting “hamstring cramping” but that it is getting better.

      Hill makes a rehab start tonight for RC,

  2. MINOR LEAGUE REPORT by Always Compete
    .
    OKC – 4-3 Loss to Salt Lake Bees (Angels)
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    The Bees scored the deciding run in the top of the 9th off of reliever Brian Schlitter for the victory. The Dodgers compiled a total of 5 singles, and all by two players; Matt Beaty 3-4 and Kyle Farmer 2-4. Brock Stewart started and went 3.0 innings, allowing 2 runs, on 4 hits with 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. Stewart allowed a 1st inning HR. Stewart was followed by Emmanuel De Leon, Logan Ondrusek, Josh Sborz, and Brian Schlitter. Only Sborz kept the Bees of the bases in his 1.0 inning.
    .
    Tulsa – 8-6 Loss to Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals)
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    Tulsa staked NW Arkansas to an 8-0 lead after 3 ½ innings. All 6 runs were scored off of starter Justin DeFratus. Andrew Istler continued his solid AA pitching with 3 scoreless innings, and Layne Somsen wrapped it up with 2 additional scoreless innings.
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    The Drillers offense woke up to score 1 in the 5th, 4 in the 7th, and 1 in the 9th on a Will Smith HR (6), to get close. The Drillers had 8 hits with Yusniel Diaz going 2-4 and Keibert Ruiz went 2-4 with his 6th double. Connor Joe hit his 13th double in the loss.
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    Rancho Cucamonga – 4-3 Win over Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres)
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    The Quakes scored 2 runs in top of the 9th to record their 3rd consecutive win over the Storm, and 4th overall. Zach McKinstry doubled to open the 9th and went to 3rd on a wild pitch. After a Connor Wong strike out, Rylan Bannon grounded to 3B Hudson Potts who threw to home to get McKinstry on a controversial call at the plate. Manager Drew Saylor was tossed by gently discussing the call with HP Umpire. Now one run down, a runner on 1st, and 2 outs. Another wild pitch put Bannon on 2nd who then scored on a Cristian Santana single. Santana then scored on a Logan Landon double for the eventual game winner.
    .
    Every batter in the Quakes lineup had at least 1 hit, paced by Logan Landon 2-5 with his 9th double, Omar Estevez 2-4 with his 17th double, and Jeren Kendall 2-3.
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    Dean Kremer started and went 6.0 IP, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Nolan Long relieved Kremer going 1.2 IP, and allowed a HR, with 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. Logan Salow got the final out of the 8th. Zach Pop allowed a hit and 2 HBP in the 9th but got a double play to end the game to register his 3rd save.
    The Quakes are now alone in 1st place in California League South. They are up by 1.0 game with4 to play in the first half. While the Division champion was decided long ago for the North Division, all four teams in the South are still in it.
    .
    Great Lakes – 10-5 Win over West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers)
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    GL seems to be getting ready for the start of the 2nd half. This was their 3rd consecutive win, and 5th out of last 6 games. The Loons scored 10 runs on 14 hits, led by Mitchell Hansen 3-5 with HR (2) and double (3), Brandon Montgomery 2-5 with a double (5), Eric Peterson 2-4 with a double (5), Darrell Miller 2-5, and Moises Perez 2-3. Brayan Morales registered his 9th double, and Marcus Chiu hit his 9th HR.
    .
    Alfredo Tavarez started and completed 5.0 IP. He allowed 7 4 runs on 7 hits, with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. Dan Jagiello faced 9 batters in his 3 innings with no baserunners. He had 4 strikeouts in those 3.0 innings. Aneurys Zabala wrapped it up allowing 1 run on 1 hit and 1 walk.
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    DSL Dodgers Guerrero – 21-4 Win over DSL Cubs 1
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    3B Jesus Valdez – Hit for the cycle going 4-5 and added 2 walks in his 7 PA. 5th double, 1st triple, and 2nd HR.
    C Andres Noriega – 3-6
    LF Deivi Luis – 3-6 with 2 doubles (2) and 4 RBIs
    RF Andy Pages 2-5 with his 4th HR and 4 RBIs
    .
    DSL Dodgers Robinson – 10-8 Win over DSL Rays 1
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    OF Juan Mata – 2-5 with a double (2)
    2B Jhosner Vargas – 2-5 with a double (4)
    SS Johan Lopez – 2-5 with his 1st HR
    3B Alfredo Balbuena – 2-4

  3. The recent run of success shouldn’t be used to camouflage the very real troubles that the Dodgers have at several positions.

    Prior to last night’s game, the Dodgers’ offense has been running at an unprecedented and unsustainable pace. Here is from TrueBlueLA:
    “In June the Dodgers are hitting .298/.370/.628, topping the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (.997), home runs (29) and runs scored (84), while settling for third in doubles (24) and fourth in walks (41).”

    Even without pitching, it’s much easier to win if you score 8.4 runs per game, but who here thinks that the Dodgers will be doing that all year? Who thinks that Max Muncy will continue to hit a homer every 10 at bats? Who thinks that Joc Pederson won’t go into another one of his patented protracted slumps? Who thinks that the Dodgers will keep scoring 8 runs/game with only 4 players OPSing over .800 and three of them are Kemp, Pederson and Muncy?

    The Dodgers have several problems to fix before they can be considered a real contender this year. As of now, they are 5th in wild card race so if they don’t win the division the wild card may be a stretch.

    1 – Unless they want to rely on 39 year old Chase Utley, Logan Forsythe (OPSing under .600) , or Max Muncy (apparently not really a 2B), they really need a solution to the ongoing 2B problem. (Tell me, when was the last time that the Dodgers had a good 2B? Gordon in 2014? Hudson in 2009?)

    2 – Some here think that the starting pitchers will be fine. Maybe – but what are the chances that they will stay healthy? Not only did they have the 1, 3, 4 &5 starters on the DL at the same time, but add #6 (Buehler) and #8 (Santana) to that. 6 out of the top 8 starters out at once? Crazy! It doesn’t give you a lot of confidence that they will be able to field a full rotation all season.

    3 – The bullpen has been wildly inconsistent and frankly not all that good this season. I still have no confidence in any of the relievers to be the “bridge” to Jansen. They just aren’t consistent.

    I think that the Braintrust has to look for a starter (a #2 type) who’s arm is still attached, one or two top set-up relievers and a regular 2B. I don’t think that they will due to salary considerations – not this year.

    2018 will be a “waste” year – like a waste pitch. You aren’t serious about a waste pitch – you are setting the hitter up for the next pitch. I think that the Dodgers will be setting up for next year.

    1. All teams have weaknesses or will have if injuries mount. If the bear is the 27 Yankees the Dodgers don’t have to outrun that bear, they just have to outrun the NL West.

    2. Well, I have to respond:

      Even without pitching, it’s much easier to win if you score 8.4 runs per game, but who here thinks that the Dodgers will be doing that all year?

      They don’t have to do it all year. They just had to do it while the starting pitchers were down.

      Who thinks that the Dodgers will keep scoring 8 runs/game with only 4 players OPSing over .800 and three of them are Kemp, Pederson and Muncy?Unless they want to rely on 39 year old Chase Utley, Logan Forsythe (OPSing under .600) , or Max Muncy (apparently not really a 2B), they really need a solution to the ongoing 2B problem.

      You may believe Forsythe will keep OPS’ing under .600 – I don’t. I also think Muncy can be serviceable at 2B. I think 2B is fine.

      Some here think that the starting pitchers will be fine. Maybe – but what are the chances that they will stay healthy?

      I think the odds we will have 5 healthy starters is very good. Some of this is just freaky stuff. Urias will be back, Kershaw will be back, Hill will be back and Ryu will be back. So will Buehler.

      The bullpen has been wildly inconsistent and frankly not all that good this season. I still have no confidence in any of the relievers to be the “bridge” to Jansen. They just aren’t consistent.

      What pen is consistent all season? The Dodgers were pretty bad at the start, but the past 25+ games they have been exceptional… and I think they will get better as players get healthy.

      I think that the Braintrust has to look for a starter (a #2 type) who’s arm is still attached, one or two top set-up relievers and a regular 2B.

      They have him: Striker Buehler!

      2018 will be a “waste” year – like a waste pitch. You aren’t serious about a waste pitch – you are setting the hitter up for the next pitch. I think that the Dodgers will be setting up for next year.

      We shall see. The Dodgers will win the NL West. They could go much farther – History will be the judge.

  4. My worry is that the Dodgers can’t put together a deep lineup against lefties.

      1. Yes. Didn’t know his average was down to .307. Maybe I should change my mind 😉

  5. Well one thing for sure the Dodgers won’t see dodgerkiller blach this weekend as he is working on inning 6 today in relief.

  6. I have previously identified the 6 member of the RC Quakes that were named to the California League All Stars.
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    Great Lakes had 2 players added to the Midwest League All Stars:
    RHRP – Andre Scrubb
    3B – Jared Walker
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    Tulsa Drillers had 5 players added to the Texas League All Stars:
    RHSP – Yadier Alvarez
    RHSP – Justin Defratus
    C – Keibert Ruiz
    INF – Drew Jackson
    INF – Connor Joe
    .
    I have no idea how Alvarez made the Texas League All Star roster. He is currently on the DL (since May 5). He has started 5 games, pitched 15.1 innings, 5.87 ERA, 2.02 WHIP, 20 BB, and 17 K.

    1. I would love to think that Alvarez’ stats do not reflect his value to the team and that he will be more than I now expect him to be.

  7. Per MikeDiGiovanna
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    “LHP Rich Hill hits his pitch count for Rancho on the mark. Departs with two outs in fifth having thrown 75 pitches, 58 for strikes 4 2/3 IP, two unearned runs, 10 Ks”
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    Looks like we may see Rich Hill in Chicago

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