What a long, strange week it was for the Los Angeles Dodgers. And yet, they didn’t lose a game.
After having been no-hit by the Chicago Cubs 10 days ago, the Dodgers have not lost again. They won the next three games against the Cubs, took both games against the San Francisco Giants, and then flew cross country to battle both the weather and the red hot Washington Nationals. And still they didn’t lose a game.
In the midst of this week of tough opponents, the Dodgers also lost their highest-paid pitcher Trevor Bauer has been placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball while he is investigated for sexual assault allegations. And still, they didn’t lose a game.
Any prospective return for Bauer remains to be seen.
After being no hit, Justin Turner and Albert Pujols addressed the team, urging their teammates to take more quality at bats. Since the chat, the team has seemed to get back to their patient AB until someone breaks loose with the big hit.
Many people have been critical of Manager Dave Roberts, and sometimes rightly so. At times his bullpen management has been subpar at best. But this week has shown what a great manager he is, especially from the personnel side of things. There must have been a lot of in-house discussions with regards to Bauer and the allegations against him. As other teams have also gone through, the Dodgers have been through a lot of injury issues and keeping up the morale in the clubhouse through those, and after being no-hit can’t be an easy task.
Some stats from the last week and over the course of the 2021 season:
Since the rain delay in Saturday night’s game in Washington, the Dodgers bullpen threw 14 combined innings. They only allowed one run on 11 hits, while striking out 17. They own a 0.76 ERA over the nine game winning streak.
Max Muncy is batting .310/.432/.641/1.073 vs. relief pitchers this season.
Albert Pujols, since joining the Dodgers, has an RBI for every 4.7 at bats he’s taken. He is 4-for-10 as a pinch hitter with a walk and two RBI.
In Joe Kelly’s first 11 games this season, he allowed eight earned runs and had a 7.20 ERA through 10.0 innings. In his last 10 innings of work, he has allowed no earned runs with a 0.00 ERA.
The All-Star selections have been made, and no Dodgers were voted on to be starters. No pitchers were included at all. However, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy were added as alternates, and Chris Taylor was a commissioner’s pick. Roberts, who is managing the All Star team as the National League Champion Manager, said that he was going to start Muncy at DH and bat him second.
The Dodgers now are in Miami for a four game set against the Marlins. Probable pitching matchups are Monday — Walker Buehler and lefty Trevor Rogers; Tuesday — Tony Gonsolin and right-hander Pablo Lopez; Wednesday — Los Angeles bullpen vs. TBD; and Thursday’s matinee will be Julio Urías and righty Sandy Alcantara.
Before Monday’s game, Scott Alexander was activated from the 60-day injury list and Garrett Cleavinger was optioned back to Triple A Oklahoma City.
My opinion of Roberts is he a great human being and a good clubhouse manager. His in-game pitching decisions cost the Dodgers critical playoff games and stopped them from getting into or winning the World Series for several years. I think Doc truly cares for his players and people. But I like a Lasorda type that can get more out of his players than many believe possible he was a master motivator. Roberts has never won a series the Dodgers were an underdog and lost plenty they were favored to win.
Pujos has been a true gift for the Dodgers both offensively and in the clubhouse. To get a sure first-ballot HOF’er for a minimum salary is incredible. All of the Dodgers should watch Pujos with RISP. He puts the ball in play and changes his swing when necessary. Turner does the same. Why can’t guys like Bellinger do that? Is it arrogance?
When Seager returns the Dodgers need to platoon Lux he is helpless against left-handed pitching.
As we have all traded our thoughts on Bauer it will be very interesting to see what the Dodgers do after the 7 day period. Does the Union protect Bauer? I think they will and force the Dodgers to make a decision. I am sure the phone lines are burning up between the Dodgers and MLB on this. It’s a hot topic.
Roberts said he doesn’t see Bauer pitching again before the All-Star game so I don’t think they plan on letting the seven days just expire and bring him back
I agree. There is no way Bauer is back before the All Star game.
Frankly I don’t see Bauer pitching again for months.
Lux does not know how to take a throw from the catcher on a steal. I’ve seen it several times now. That E-2 was on him.
Pujols, Ya missed the L there T, joined an excusive club with his single. 6000 total bases. Only other players in MLB history with that many, Aaron, Mays and Musial. Congrats to a great hitter… T, Bellinger cannot do that simply because that is not how he approaches hitting and it is not the philosophy of the Dodger hitting staff, who should by the way take lessons from Pujols. His sac fly notwithstanding, he had struck out in 10 of his last 11 plate appearances. Now, if he used the way we used to hit, which is to take what the pitcher gives you and go with the ball, he might make more contact. But Belli is trying to lift everything instead of just hitting the ball square. Ya know, guys like Mays and Mantle, and many others hit a lot of HR’s without swinging like they were trying to behead someone.
Another unearned run. And we lose by one.
Dodgers make a couple of moves. Souza is DFA’d. Saw that coming. They call up Jake Reed from OKC. He is already on the active roster now. 5 plus ERA at OKC. And they signed free agent pitcher, Neftali Feliz to a minor league deal. He was recently released by the Phillies and was totally ineffective there. But he had a very good ERA at the AAA level.
Feliz?
?
We have to do better than that.
Jake Reed? Apparently he gets right handers out.
Feliz?
Don’t worry, get Happy.
Part of a long line of one and dones this year. Is our farm empty or what?