Hello, and welcome to a different version of Dodgers Dugout. My identify is Houston Mitchell. The Dodgers have a brand new pitcher who seems to be precisely like Shohei Ohtani. They might be twins. It’s uncanny.
The Dodgers have performed seven video games towards the Padres and Giants within the final week, and went 5-2 in these video games. Let’s take a fast take a look at some vital issues that occurred.
We’ll begin with Ohtani pitching once more. In a shock, the Dodgers introduced Sunday that he would begin Monday towards the Padres, although he would pitch just one inning. He had been pitching dwell batting follow and, effectively, let’s have Dave Roberts clarify:
“Simply type of speaking to [pitching coach Mark Prior] and [president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman] and the docs and medical and simply type of saying, ‘OK, we’ve completed the three-inning dwell, it’s slightly taxing or extra taxing on my physique.’ You’re at some extent of, I don’t know if it’s diminishing returns. However he’s able to pitch in a significant league recreation. He tell us that.”
In his begin, Ohtani reached 100 mph on his fastball and gave up one run and two comfortable singles. He wasn’t sharp along with his command, which is to be anticipated. In fact, he was additionally the DH in that recreation and went two for 4 with a double and an RBI.
For those who haven’t adopted baseball lengthy, it’s laborious to impress upon you simply how unimaginable what he’s doing and has completed is. To hit and pitch at a excessive degree may be very, very uncommon. In 2022 with the Angels, he hit .273/.356/.519 with 30 doubles, 34 homers and 95 RBIs on the plate and went 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA in 166 innings on the mound, hanging out 219. He completed second in MVP voting and fourth in Cy Younger voting. In 2023, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA on the mound in 132 innings earlier than he wanted Tommy John surgical procedure. On the plate he hit .304/.412/.654 with 26 doubles, 44 homers and 95 RBIs in 135 video games. He led the league in homers, on-base share and slugging share. He gained the MVP award.
As Max Muncy stated, “I at all times understood how laborious it was to pitch after which are available and hit, however seeing him come off the mound and go to the dugout — I don’t know, it kinda hit slightly completely different seeing it from our facet. He didn’t even get a drink of water. Simply put his helmet on, went proper to the batter’s field. That’s actually laborious to do.”
It’s anticipated that Ohtani will pitch about as soon as every week, going an inning longer every time. Coming off of Tommy John surgical procedure is at all times tough, so don’t count on miracles. Then once more, with Ohtani, miracles appear doable.
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The Dodgers gained two of three from a scrappy Giants workforce. However the huge information came about off the sphere. The Giants pulled off a commerce with the Boston Purple Sox, buying Rafael Devers, who had grown sad in Boston.
Devers was sad that the Purple Sox have been asking him to alter positions (from third base to DH to first base). The Purple Sox have been sad that he was sad, seeing as how they have been paying him $313.5 million over 10 years. So the Purple Sox unloaded him for 4 gamers.
Devers instantly stated he would play any place the Giants needed. Which actually endeared him to Purple Sox followers. However he occurs to be top-of-the-line hitters within the recreation, and instantly makes the Giants higher and offers them that celebrity they have been lacking (in comparison with the Padres and Dodgers). It additionally exhibits that Giants GM Buster Posey goes to do no matter it takes to make the Giants win.
Devers is a profession .279/.349/.510 hitter and has 40-homer potential (his profession excessive is 38). You may . Whilst you by no means know what’s going to occur when a brand new participant joins a workforce, it definitely appears secure to foretell that it simply received tougher to win the NL West.
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The Padres sequence was attention-grabbing as a result of the Padres proceed to bolster their status as a bunch of whiny infants.
Monday night time, Andy Pages was hit by a pitch from Padres starter Dylan Stop. Pages glared at Stop from the batter’s field, prompting Padres supervisor Mike Shildt to yell at Pages, saying, “Who the f— do you assume you’re?” It appeared unlikely that Stop was throwing at Pages, however Pages simply stared and Shildt escalated issues.
On Tuesday, Dodgers reliever Lou Trivino hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch within the third inning. There was a runner in scoring place, so Trivino will not be throwing at Tatis in that scenario. A few innings later, Padres starter Randy Vásquez threw a fastball inside and low to Ohtani, inflicting Ohtani to leap out of the best way. The following pitch was one other fastball inside, and it hit Ohtani within the leg. That was rather more suspect. The umpires received collectively and gave a warning to either side about throwing at hitters. This bothered Roberts, who got here out to ask why the Dodgers have been being warned once they didn’t throw at anybody. The umpire threw him out of the sport earlier than he may get two phrases out, regardless of letting Shildt ask in regards to the scenario. Roberts then received about as mad as you’ve ever seen him and argued for some time to the delight of the group.
Wednesday’s recreation was comparatively quiet, however Thursday’s recreation heated up within the ninth after Tatis was hit by a pitch (the third time he had been hit this sequence). This brought about Shildt to complain, which introduced Roberts out. Shildt stated one thing to Roberts, who didn’t like no matter was stated. The 2 received in one another’s faces, which brought about the benches to empty. Cooler heads prevailed. Ohtani was hit by a pitch within the backside of the inning. He waved off his teammates from popping out of the dugout, however Padres pitcher Robert Suarez was ejected from the sport.
In all, eight batters have been hit by pitch within the sequence. It’s most likely secure to say not all of these have been accidents. The groups don’t play one another once more till August, so there’s loads of time for feelings to chill.
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It is just one begin, so I don’t wish to recover from of my skis right here, however Emmet Sheehan appeared sharp Wednesday in his first begin since lacking all of final season due to Tommy John surgical procedure. He might be the increase the rotation has been searching for. Nevertheless, the Dodgers despatched him to the minors Thursday to make room for reliever Jack Little.
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Due to their robust play the final week, the Dodgers now lead the NL West by 3.5 video games over the Giants, and 5 video games over the Padres. Arizona is eight again and Colorado 28.5 again.
Roki Sasaki
Some unhealthy information on the Roki Sasaki entrance. He nonetheless feels discomfort when he throws, and it seems to be unlikely that he’ll return this season. If that’s the case, it’s one of many extra disappointing rookie seasons in Dodgers historical past. Hopefully, he recovers and reaches his potential, however at this level, all you are able to do is hope.
Andy Pages
There was some extent just a few weeks in the past when many individuals, together with me, have been questioning how for much longer the Dodgers may stick to Andy Pages. He was not hitting effectively and was struggling defensively as effectively. The Dodgers are at all times very affected person with gamers, particularly on offense, and stored sending Pages on the market.
And in June, right here’s what he’s doing:
.361/.364/.705, six doubles, 5 homers, 14 RBIs in 61 at-bats. General he’s hitting .290/.330/.509 with 12 doubles and 15 homers. He may very effectively make the All-Star workforce.
And one cause for that enchancment? Teammate Teoscar Hernández. Pages instructed Instances reporter Kevin Baxter: “He’s performed within the main leagues for a very long time now. He’s been via quite a lot of unhealthy instances. I went via that at first of the season, for instance, and final 12 months too. And he’s given me recommendation that’s helped me loads to get via that point.”
Pages’ household remains to be in Cuba, and Hernández has turn out to be a giant brother, taking him out for dinner on off days or simply getting collectively to play video video games.
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Max Muncy
One other particular person the Dodgers have been affected person with is Max Muncy, who received off to a brutal begin earlier than he began carrying glasses. Since carrying glasses, listed below are his numbers:
.279/.414/.537, 4 doubles, 9 homers, 34 RBIs, 32 walks, 30 strikeouts in 136 at-bats.
Possibly each Dodger ought to get his eyes checked. Talking of which….
Michael Conforto
Michael Conforto had a short surge in Might when he began hitting higher and it appeared he had turned a nook. However no.
In June, he’s six for 40, a .150 batting common. It’s like having a non-Ohtani pitcher hitting in your lineup once more.
The query I get requested greater than some other is “Why do the Dodgers proceed to play Conforto?”
Properly, there are a number of causes. They’re paying him $17 million and don’t wish to waste that funding. Conforto has a monitor report of success and being affected person has labored out twice already this season (see Pages, Andy and Muncy, Max). They’ve the perfect offense within the NL already and may afford to be affected person with him, particularly since they’re in first place. The pitching is extra of an issue than the hitting proper now.
It’s most likely a mixture of all of these issues. A Conforto who can hit is a good benefit to the Dodgers come October, and the Dodgers at all times play the lengthy recreation, whereas the followers are extra all for profitable each recreation.
Sooner or later, you need to determine the Dodgers transfer on and provides extra taking part in time to Hyeseong Kim. If it have been me, I’d do it now. However I’ve managed the Dodgers to the identical variety of victories you may have, plus, all the choices I make on my sofa work 100% of the time. So, this can be a great way for all of us to study endurance, and see what occurs.
However there was excellent news Wednesday when Roberts stated Kim had earned extra taking part in time.
Hey, possibly Conforto ought to begin carrying glasses.
Unusual prevalence at Dodger Stadium
Some unmarked white vans and SUVs have been at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, sparking hypothesis about immigration enforcement on the stadium. The Dodgers the automobiles into the stadium parking heaps.
5 brokers, armed with pistols, stood subsequent to the automobiles. They didn’t put on figuring out gadgets or badges. When requested by a Instances reporter which company they have been with, they stated “DHS” and declined to remark additional.
The Dodgers launched this assertion: “This morning, ICE brokers got here to Dodger Stadium and requested permission to entry the parking heaps. They have been denied entry to the grounds by the group. Tonight’s recreation shall be performed as scheduled.”
However the Division of Homeland Safety and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers stated they weren’t at Dodger Stadium, as an alternative saying it was Customs and Border Safety brokers.
So, why did they establish themselves as DHS? Why did they depart when police arrived? There are extra questions than solutions in the mean time.
There have been protests about ICE in downtown Los Angeles, and the Dodgers had been criticized by a few of their followers for not making any public statements in assist of the individuals focused by immigration raids.
The workforce stated Wednesday that it had solidified plans to work with immigration teams and would make an announcement Thursday. Nevertheless, what occurred Thursday delayed that announcement.
Crew president Stan Kasten launched a press release saying, “Due to the occasions earlier as we speak, we proceed to work with teams that have been concerned with our packages. However we’re going to should delay as we speak’s announcement whereas we agency up some extra particulars. We’ll get again to you quickly with the timing.”
Prime 10 second basemen
Who’re your prime 10 Dodgers first basemen of all time (together with Brooklyn)? E mail your checklist to and let me know.
A lot of you may have requested for an inventory of gamers to contemplate for every place. Listed here are the strongest second baseman candidates, in alphabetical order.
Hub Collins, Álex Cora, Tony Cuccinello, George Cutshaw, Tom Daly, Delino DeShields, Mark Ellis, Jim Gilliam, Mark Grudzielanek, Billy Herman, Orlando Hudson, Jon Hummel, Jim Lefebvre, Howie Kendrick, Jeff Kent, Pete Kilduff, Lee Lacy, Davey Lopes, Gavin Lux, Invoice McLellan, Charlie Neal, Willie Randolph, Jody Reed, Jackie Robinson, Juan Samuel, Steve Sax, Ted Sizemore, Eddie Stanky, Chase Utley, John Ward, Eric Younger.
A reminder that gamers are listed on the place wherein they performed essentially the most video games for the Dodgers, which is why Gilliam and Robinson are listed right here and never at different positions they performed.
Up subsequent
Friday: Washington (*MacKenzie Gore, 3-6, 2.89 ERA) at Dodgers (*Clayton Kershaw, 2-0, 3.25 ERA), 7:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Saturday: Washington (Jake Irvin, 5-3, 4.23 ERA) at Dodgers (Dustin Might, 4-4, 4.46 ERA), 7:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Sunday: Washington (Michael Soroka, 3-5, 5.06 ERA) at Dodgers (Shohei Ohtani, 0-0, 9.00 ERA), 1:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
*-left-hander
In case you missed it
And eventually
An ode to the Garvey-Lopes-Russell-Cey infield. .
Till subsequent time…
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