2016 Regular Season Thread

[Quake Griffin]

8 more outs.

Ranma are you saying you're still a fan of Wong?
Something about him bothers me. Not a great defender at a key IF position? Can't hit lefties? Last out of a WS game getting picked off?

I dunno what it is about him...yuck and nothnx.

I actually think it was really smart of him to sign that extension with the Cards.

[Neddy]

speaking of the Cardinals' infield, Colton Wong supposedly sports one of the very elite bat speed in the game today, but it is the guys with some of the slowest bat speed who are kicking asses. it seems to me that no matter how fast your bat is, you must be able to see the ball first.

Speaking of 2B Kolten Wong, he was one of the guys I was kind of hoping the Dodgers would draft back in 2011. We ended up reaching for Chris Reed instead with an apparent mandate from McCourt to cut costs. I was also eyeing C Blake Swihart and RHP Taylor Guerrieri at the time. I missed on Sonny Gray, Joe Ross, and Blake Snell. I wasn't full on rooting for Wong because we had Ivan DeJesus, Jr. and Jesmuel Valentin both in the system at the time to be lined up in taking over the keystone of the Dodgers' infield.

Wong promptly triples and eventually scores on the wild pitch. Stripling is chased from the game as he's been struggling mightily in the 6th inning.

i wasn't meaning to bash Wong but how some of the slowest bats have produced in the game, that guys with better reaction time can not only overcome slower batspeed but excel.

[Ranma]

You see that call to ring up Trayce Thompson?

This ump trying to rush the game along?

The Cardinals' Piscotty wasn't happy with the plate ump either, so maybe he's equally squeezing batters.

[Ranma]

8 more outs.

Ranma are you saying you're still a fan of Wong?
Something about him bothers me. Not a great defender at a key IF position? Can't hit lefties? Last out of a WS game getting picked off?

I dunno what it is about him...yuck and nothnx.

I actually think it was really smart of him to sign that extension with the Cards.

i wasn't meaning to bash Wong but how some of the slowest bats have produced in the game, that guys with better reaction time can not only overcome slower batspeed but excel.

I haven't followed Wong's career closely, but from what I've seen I've liked. His appeal at the time was that he was supposed to be a safe pick who would be fast-tracked to the Majors. I believe his dad was a baseball coach or some such. However, upon looking up his career stats, he hasn't looked at all productive compared to what most had him projected to be as a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect. I would occasionally...err...long for Wong when I think about how Joe Thurston, Ivan DeJesus, Jr., and Jesmuel Valentin didn't work out for us. I would revisit those feelings again in light of the Dee Gordon trade.

I'm surprised he's not a reliable 2B in MLB, to be honest, as that was his appeal to me back then. He was practically a sure thing, so I guess it just shows there's really no such thing. Neddy obviously makes a great point that physical tools aren't the be all and end all, but I always felt those hit-or-miss types usually applied to outfielders, shortstops, and third-basemen. Second base is not immune from these busts.

[Neddy]

8 more outs.

Ranma are you saying you're still a fan of Wong?
Something about him bothers me. Not a great defender at a key IF position? Can't hit lefties? Last out of a WS game getting picked off?

I dunno what it is about him...yuck and nothnx.

I actually think it was really smart of him to sign that extension with the Cards.

i wasn't meaning to bash Wong but how some of the slowest bats have produced in the game, that guys with better reaction time can not only overcome slower batspeed but excel.

I haven't followed Wong's career closely, but from what I've seen I've liked. His appeal at the time was that he was supposed to be a safe pick who would be fast-tracked to the Majors. I believe his dad was a baseball coach or some such. However, upon looking up his career stats, he hasn't looked at all productive compared to what most had him projected to be as a high-floor, low-ceiling prospect. I would occasionally...err...long for Wong when I think about how Joe Thurston, Ivan DeJesus, Jr., and Jesmuel Valentin didn't work out for us. I would revisit those feelings again in light of the Dee Gordon trade.

I'm surprised he's not a reliable 2B in MLB, to be honest, as that was his appeal to me back then. He was practically a sure-thing, so I guess it just shows there's really no such thing. Neddy obviously makes a great point that physical tools aren't the be all and end all, but I always felt those hit-or-miss types usually applied to outfielders, shortstops, and third-basemen. Second base is not immune from these busts.

I stil think if Joe Thurston was given the careful career grooming and the coaching Julio Urias have gotten, he would still be our 2nd baseman to this day.

[Ranma]

I stil think if Joe Thurston was given the careful career grooming and the coaching Julio Urias have gotten, he would still be our 2nd baseman to this day.

I was certainly surprised when things didn't work out with him. Joey Baseball seemed like another sure thing as a Major Leaguer. The Dodgers' mismanagement in prospect development under the McCourt regime certainly ruined a lot of careers. Even Chris Reed was set to be a strong relief pitcher before he was messed with as a starter.

[Ranma]

Jansen closes the door in the 9th by inducing a double-play grounder. Vin just said that the Cardinals went 2-14 with runners in scoring position tonight. It's nice to be on the other side of those missed opportunities, for a change.

[Quake Griffin]

2 in a row....and 2 above .500
Wish Blanton could have thrived there and given Kenley the day off.

Kazmir....time to right this ship.
You're not thee guy....but you're not this bad. Let's get this done tomorrow.

[Ranma]

Ross against his former teammate Wacha.

Let's do this. We need to get a streak going

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AP_Sports/status/731358645213102080[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/jphoornstra/status/731361923179118592[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/billplunkettocr/status/731359381309165569[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/billplunkettocr/status/731359516260884481[/tweet]

[Quake Griffin]

Another solid stretch for the bullpen.
I wonder how much of this is Dave. Seems like he has a quicker hook (or maybe Blanton last night is just fresh on my mind) and is using guys where they work,instead of just trotting guys out there in situations to see what they have. Biggest example IMO is less Hatcher in high leverage situations...more Baez.

Note: that 1 unearned run came in Toronto with a runner at 2B when Hatcher gave up a hit to RF and Thompson bobbled it, allowing the runner to go from 3rd to home....so, I'm still not sympathetic to Hatcher and I was livid that day.

[Neddy]

just gotta hope Scott Kazmir doesn't blow this one too.

[Quake Griffin]

Bill Plunkett ?@billplunkettocr · 41s41 seconds ago

Hyun-Jin Ryu will start rehab assignment with Ranch Cucamonga tomorrow. 2 IP planned

Bill Plunkett ?@billplunkettocr · 38s38 seconds ago

#Dodgers mgr Dave Roberts said he expects Hyun-Jin Ryu to make 4-5 starts on his rehab assignment to build up arm strength/pitch count


I'm tearing up guys.
So close now.....

[Neddy]

Bill Plunkett ?@billplunkettocr · 41s41 seconds ago

Hyun-Jin Ryu will start rehab assignment with Ranch Cucamonga tomorrow. 2 IP planned

Bill Plunkett ?@billplunkettocr · 38s38 seconds ago

#Dodgers mgr Dave Roberts said he expects Hyun-Jin Ryu to make 4-5 starts on his rehab assignment to build up arm strength/pitch count


I'm tearing up guys.
So close now.....

really wish Kazmir bounces back and excel the rest of the season to not only cash in next season elsewhere and opt out, but just imagine if Scott pitches like the man we knew just early last season in the playoffs, we will have Kershaw-Maeda-Ryu-Kazmir going into the playoffs with perhaps Urias and Wood in the pen to aid Jensen.

[Neddy]

what an incredible catch by Puig on top of the second. if he starts hitting just .275 and better than .775 OPS, his defense will carry his WAR where he will be a cheap bargain for his contract.

[Quake Griffin]

Seager the Shortstop

-__-

[Quake Griffin]

Impressed with Kazmir through 3.

Carp gave us a break bunting there though.
Good D getting off the mound and making great throws to A-Gon by kaz though.

[Quake Griffin]

oh and Ranma, I'llleave you the honor of posting what Urias did tonight.

I suck at posting tweets.

hint:
Same thing he does every night.

[Ranma]

oh and Ranma, I'llleave you the honor of posting what Urias did tonight.

I suck at posting tweets.

hint:
Same thing he does every night.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/okc_dodgers/status/731662077396389888[/tweet][tweet]https://twitter.com/truebluela/status/731659485752655872[/tweet]

[Neddy]

Seager the Shortstop

-__-

well hopefully Seager can just be a league average or slightly below defensively whiel growing up to become one of the stars of the game until 2020.

when Ronny Brito comes up finally to man the SS, then we can slide him finally to 3B.

or as you guys are suggesting, go sign Manny Machado in 2019 and place him at SS.

[Neddy]

oh and Ranma, I'llleave you the honor of posting what Urias did tonight.

I suck at posting tweets.

hint:
Same thing he does every night.

yeah heard about that too just a bit earlier. the kid is ready. it is a matter of how many innings for him right now.