September has finally come. (Hopefully) gone are the days of the Dodgers and their mediocre and seemingly uninspired ways. Late August is usually not kind to the Dodgers, but it’s time to move on and gear up for the playoffs.
And with that calendar turn, means new, and more, faces. Edwin Rios, and Kyle Garlick will be returning to the big club, where they have spent parts of the season. Austin Barnes will also return, and try to compete against Will Smith to get his starting job back. They will return after the Triple-A season is over.
But the new face in the dugout that everyone is excited about is that of Gavin Lux. The Dodgers top prospect is set to make his Major League debut on Monday, starting and manning second base.
There had been quite a bit of discussion about whether the 21 year old would join the Dodgers as an observer, like Smith did last season, or as one who would see a bit of playing time. The forearm injury to Max Muncy, and the stellar play of Lux at Triple-A Oklahoma City this season made the decision presumably easy.
The Dodgers drafted Smith, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin in 2016 also, but Lux was their number one pick overall.
If you’ve been following Lux’s career path, you’ll know that 2018 was his emerging year on the farm. He started the season at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, batting .312 (72-for-231) with eight home runs and 35 RBI and was named a Mid-Season All-Star. He continued his dominance in the second half of the season, slashing .346/.396/.528 and was selected as a post-season California League All-Star, finishing among the league leaders in average (.324, 3rd), OBP (.396, 2nd), SLG (.520, 3rd) and OPS (.916, 2nd). After 88 games with the Quakes, he was promoted to Double-A Tulsa where he hit .324 (34-for-105) with four home runs, nine RBI and a .408 on-base percentage in 28 appearances.
2019 saw Lux beingpromoted to OklahomaCity on June 27th, where he has done nothing but continue to impress. His slash line with the Baby Dodgers is a cool .392/.421/.607/1.028 with 13 homers, on top ofthe 13 homers he hit in Double-A Tulsa.
“I pride myself on being a good hitter first and power hitter later,” Lux told Pedro Moura of The Atlantic. “I try to hit for damage, but if I get to two strikes, I’m just trying to put the ball into play without striking out, make the defense work a little bit, which is kind of the old school in me.”
“When he does get that call-up, there’s gonna be guys who mess with him because he’s the baby,” Edwin Ríos also told Moura. “But he’s ready. He’s confident. And he knows he’s good.”
How Lux reacts to Major League pitching remains to be seen. His defense is adequate, but no doubt will benefitfrom the advice of his new major leagueteammatesand coaches.
The team announced Monday that they reinstated pitcher Julio Urias from the restricted list, and recalled pitcher Josh Sborz. Tyler White was moved to the 60-day IL in the corresponding move.
The Dodgers now start a six game home stand with a three game series against Colorado. The Rockies sit at 59-79, 29.5 games behind LosAngelesand last in the NL West.
Pitching matchups will be Monday, Walker Buehler and Peter Lambert; Tuesday Kenta Maeda and Chi Chi Gonzalaez; and Wednesday, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Antonio Senzatela. Monday’s game will be at 5:10, while Tuesday and Wednesday will be at 7:10 PDT.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Barnes has no shot at wresting the starters job back at catcher. The future is Smith. Ruiz will have a say in matters next year. I think Lux is one of those guys who is here to prove he should be in the line up every day, aka Seager and Bellinger. The malaise has lasted right at 12 days. Despite the fall off the last couple of weeks, the Dodgers still ended up with a winning month. They had exactly the same record, 17-11 as they had in April. Their best month was May. They were 19-7. The only month they did not lose in double digits.
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Securing home field is huge, but I’ve always believed you’re only as good as your last 10. If this team is playing well they will win at least 6. Many teams, in fact most teams, can’t say that. We are currently 4-6. We have not been playing well. I think the next 10 will be better.
I know the Dodgers (Roberts) was dancing around the team’s commitment to bring Lux up, but did any of us believe they wouldn’t? He was coming even if Muncy was still here. He’s earned it. You don’t not reward that kind of play. “He knows he’s good”. I love that quote. This young man looks like he was born to play ball. At 6’2” 195 he’s really put together, athletic enough to play shortstop and his RF at second already puts him in the Top 10 in MLB He will only get better. This is going to be fun.
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Well Dennis you got your wish at leadoff!
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The beginning of the Lux era spells the end of the Kike era!
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Dodgers place Yadier Alvarez on restricted list for unspecified disciplinary reasons. What a waste.
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Well Dennis I guess we now know that Joc is a follower of think blue. And you hurt his feelings! Keep up the good work. Trade the bum!
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I doubt the arrival of heralded rookie Gavin Lux means Kike is going to be traded over the winter. Lux had a nice debut game. Made all the plays and had 2 hits and a long out. 7 homers, 2 from the much maligned Joc, and 2 from Taylor. Belli, Beaty and Seager joined that party. Beaty hit his 8th, Taylor # 10 and 11. Joc got 29 and 30. Belli’s bomb was #44. Maeda got a 4 inning save and was good until the 9th when he gave up 2 bombs and a double, but he got out of it. We get free tacos from Taco Bell here in Colorado because the Rocks scored 7 or more runs. Joc made one of the better catches I have seen this year in the 5th robbing Blackmon of a 3 run homer that would have made the game a lot closer. He had to leave the came because of cramping in his oblique. Roberts said after the game that he is day to day. 2 homers, a double and 5 ribbies, not a bad night. His double was this () far from being a homer. It bounced off of the top of the padding on the right field wall near the foul pole. Same spot he would get injured at. Of some concern was Buehler’s 5 inning very mediocre performance. The best pitchers on the team have been knocked around recently. Magic number at 6. 22 games left and a 18 game lead. 90 wins. The are 4.5 ahead of Atlanta for best record in the league, and 1/2 behind the Yanks and Stros for best record in the majors. Urias starting tomorrows game. A couple of more players should be coming up in the next day or so. Barnes, Rios and Garlick are likely candidates. Good news on May. He did not get a concussion and the only ill effect seems to be some stiffness in his neck. I don’t think he will make another start right away. I really dislike the Rockies announcers. Drew Goodman is a total bore and he says things that are not true. They were talking about Koufax, and he said that Sandy had no hitters over his last 4 years, which is totally wrong and he also said he pitched his perfect game in his last season which would have been 66. Wrong again. Koufax’s perfecto was pitched on the 9th of September, 1965. His no hitters came in 62, 63, 64, and 65. He also said that the Rocks had 9 games left with LA, but they only have 5 left after last nights game. All in all their broadcast team sucks. Alana Rizzo used to be part of that bunch.
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The Dodgers win AND you get free tacos based on the Rockies’ hitting. Could life be any better?
I was really impressed by Lux last night. No “rookie fright”. He looks very ready to compete on this level.
Also very pleased with what I’ve seen from Beaty all year, but especially the last few days. He’s been absolutely mashing the ball, even though a number of those have been turned into outs. And, although he isn’t a Gold Glover, he certainly isn’t embarrassing himself on defense. He’s a keeper as far as I’m concerned.
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Verdugo, Beaty, Pollock, Pederson, Bellinger, Taylor, Garlick…. who am I missing?
Lux should just stay here. Second base is yours. Muncy is at first. Seager is at short. Turner is at third. Play ball.
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I am pretty sure the kid locks down the every day job in 2020. He did not look at all like the moment was too big for him. Very quiet in the box. Pederson day to day. Amazing catch though. Best I can ever remember him making. 3 hitters with 30 dingers now, Belli, Muncy and Joc, and they have a chance to make it 4 with Turner only 3 short of that number. Belli, Muncy,, Joc, JT, Kike, Smith. Seager, Taylor, Freese, Verdugo, all have double digit HR’s. Beaty only 2 away from joining them. This day in Dodger history, 1975, Steve Garvey starts his consecutive games streak in Cincinnati.
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Tonight’s lineup, Lux, 2B, Seager SS, Turner 3B, Bellinger CF, Pollock LF, Beaty 1B, Hernandez RF, Martin C, Urias P, Urias only slated to go 3 innings. No other call ups announced yet.
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Very premature look at LA’s playoff roster. C. Smith, Martin all this is from the MLB web site by the way. Inf Turner, Seager, Kike, Muncy, Freese, Lux…..OF Bellinger, Pollock, Pederson, Taylor, Verdugo or Beaty depending on Verdugo’s health. Starters, Kershaw, Ryu, Buehler and Hill, again depending on his health. BP Jansen, Kelly, Baez, Urias, Kolarek, Stripling, Maeda, Gonsolin.
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I would really hate to see Beaty left off the roster. He’s a very good pinch hitter along with certainly holding his own when starting. On the other hand, I can’t really tell you who I would leave off to include him. Next year 26 man rosters will solve this year’s problem. On the third hand, one of the other 13 guys will either get hurt or go into a horrendous slump during September so I’m thinking Beaty’s odds are at least 50-50.
Bullpen – The guys you list would be my guesses today but I could easily see Sadler or even Floro bumping someone between now and October. And since we have another month to go, Ferguson or Yimi could get hot and sneak in also.
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Sadler did a nice job last night getting himself out of a jam in the 8th. Jansen came close to imploding again. He was one out away from having to face the meat of their lineup. They sure waited long enough to finally break out the bats and it was the old guys who led the way. Joc and Taylor are banged up a little, so Dodgers are being cautious. I think Beaty’s spot on the playoff roster really depends on whether Verdugo comes back healthy or not. They are not calling up Rios or Garlick. Just Barnes getting the call. He should join the team today.
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This day in Dodgers history, September 4th 1966. Dodgers become the first team in MLB history to draw 2 million fans at home and on the road when they beat the Reds 8-6 in Cincy. Last night, Drew Goodman, the Rockies play by play announcer was so bad I could not take it anymore. I got on Twitter and explained to the moron that if he was going to talk about things in Dodger history to check his facts before opening his mouth. He has been wrong every time he has tried to install some Dodger history in his inane patter. Last night it was that the Dodgers played 2 seasons in the coliseum before moving into Dodger Stadium..bzzzzzzzzz. wrong! 4 years moron. I will be so glad when the series is over and I do not have to listen to this idiot anymore.
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In retrospect, I totally get them not calling up Rios or Garlick. They are in full playoff prep mode. Those two guys would be sitting most of the time. They want to see who is going to step up on the roster they now have. Martin has heated up some this last week or so. He crushed that ball last night. Turner’s dinger almost went into the loge level. The new screen seems to be doing it’s job. Magic number is 5. Still 5 up in the NL on the Braves. Tied with the Astros and 1/2 game behind NY for best record.
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Looks like Verdugo might’ve re-hurt himself in last night’s game in Ogden
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Sure looks that way, but Beaty can more than fill his position and he has been healthy and playing while Alex has been out. Joc and Taylor return to the wars tonight.
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