It’s an off day on your Dodgers and we’ve accomplished two full weeks of video games… the right time for an additional version of the DN Mailbag! To learn our first one, click on right here!
Following a win on Wednesday, the Dodgers are 7-6 via 13 video games this season, driving some highs and lows alongside the way in which. LA bats have been principally stable to open the 12 months however pitching, significantly the bullpen, has been questionable.
So we needed to dive in and reply the most important questions on the minds of followers proper now. Myself together with affiliate editor Noah Camras (@noahcamras on Twitter) are right here to discipline your questions! Some could also be edited for readability.
Maintain an eye fixed out on your alternative to ask questions on our Twitter web page (verify the hashtag #DNmailbag), on our Fb Group (@officialdodgersnation), or on our YouTube Group web page.
Why isn’t James Outman batting 3 or 4? It ought to be Will Smith 3 Outman 4 or vise versa. — @jaxkaybsbl
James Outman has had an unimaginable begin to the 2023 season. He’s proven off his energy, his velocity and his spectacular eye on the plate, and has was probably the greatest offensive gamers on the crew. Nonetheless, let’s not overlook that he has simply 17 video games below his belt in his MLB profession. The highest 5 within the lineup appears excellent to me proper now — Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Max Muncy, J.D. Martinez — and I feel Outman ought to slide in proper after Martinez because the on a regular basis six-hole hitter on this lineup. However except Muncy’s non-Oracle Park struggles proceed into Could (which they received’t), he’s not going to be dropping within the lineup. — Noah C.
Not likely a query per se, simply questioning who has assumed the position of crew chief within the clubhouse, now that Justin Turner has gone. Who’s the hype man with no Hanser Alberto? — @scottycatt
You don’t exchange a clubhouse chief like Justin Turner that simply or that rapidly. The season remains to be younger and there’s nonetheless time for brand new voice to emerge. That mentioned, microphones seem like pointing at Freddie Freeman when issues are going sideways to date.
As on your hype man, the crew has turned to the David Peralta “Choo Choo practice” celebration popping out of spring coaching… however he doesn’t really feel like a hype man simply but. Give it one other couple homestands earlier than we begin to see extra character.
(Appears like a membership that might actually use somebody like Gavin Lux.) — Clint P
Is it affordable to count on a lot manufacturing from Daniel Hudson when (if?) he returns? Are the early season struggles of Yency Almonte and Brusdar Graterol an aberration, or will they be an ongoing drawback? — @WayDodger
Sure. It turned clear early in spring coaching that Daniel Hudson was probably not going to be prepared early within the 12 months, as he stored struggling setbacks in his restoration. And it’s honest to fret a few 36-year-old getting back from a torn ACL. Nonetheless, Hudson was probably the greatest relievers on the crew earlier than he went down final season, and the Dodgers are being further cautious along with his return to make sure he’s a full-go when he returns. I consider he’s going to be the crew’s nearer when he comes again.
As for Yency Almonte and Brusdar Graterol, it’s arduous to know for positive. Graterol has struggled with getting swings and misses, whereas Almonte hasn’t precisely seemed like his dominant self from final 12 months. However I belief in these guys as a result of I belief within the Dodgers’ pitching coaches, and know they’ll do no matter is required to assist these guys get again on monitor. — Noah C.
Will they transfer Noah (Syndergaard) to the bullpen the place he belongs? — @BruceD34172
Noah Syndergaard is just not going to the bullpen, nor do I feel he belongs there. Individuals freaked out after his second begin of the season through which he allowed six runs and eight hits in 4 innings, however did they overlook about his first begin of the 12 months through which he allowed one run and 4 hits in six innings whereas placing out six?
Syndergaard goes to be greater than nice this season, and proceed to make a optimistic influence on the beginning rotation. The Dodgers aren’t asking him to be a Cy Younger candidate — they simply have to him to be a viable No. 4 or No. 5 within the rotation (when Tony Gonsolin returns). He’s greater than able to doing simply that, and doubtless extra. — Noah C
Is that this a tread water season with pitching till guys return? or is that this the bullpen of 2012-2016 and praying each night time? — @ryantanner
I’ve had the sensation that this crew could be very a lot hoping that they will tread water pitching sensible — significantly within the bullpen — till guys like Daniel Hudson and Alex Reyes can return. Later within the season they may see extra reinforcements within the type of J.P. Feyereisen or perhaps even Walker Buehler however that’s a protracted, good distance off if both occurs in any respect.
The pessimist in me says this bullpen could be very a lot going to be a prayer each night time — simply too many what if’s or extra so if this man can simply do clean and this one can do clean and this one can do’s… What makes that pessimist in me really feel worse is that I brazenly decried this as a priority a number of instances on our Blue Heaven Podcast within the weeks main as much as the season. I used to be simply hoping I might be mistaken.
Shorter reply: I feel we’d like a number of extra weeks to know for positive. – Clint P
Will the Dodgers take into account making an attempt to run extra? — @winelouis
It truthfully doesn’t really feel or look like working goes to be an enormous a part of the Dodger sport plan. For a crew and entrance workplace as hell bent on discovering and maximizing each attainable side of the sport, the fee vs. reward is likely to be too excessive for sport strategists working issues.
So, to your query, I actually don’t suppose so. At the least not at a stage like we’re seeing with a crew just like the Diamondbacks. — Clint P.
Why don’t we play extra small ball? Bunts, stolen bases, station to station as a substitute of counting on homers. — Anne Fairchild Smith, (FB group)
It’s simply sadly a bygone period of the sport. Groups — particularly the Dodgers — worth “slug” and “on-base” greater than manufacturing runs the methods we noticed Dodgers groups do a long time in the past. — Clint P.
Will the Dodgers commerce for giant names this 12 months, like Max Scherzer and Trea Turner? Or will they keep put and make minor trades like final 12 months with Chris Martin and Joey Gallo? — @mitchellhopkins9331 (YouTube Group)
The magic 8 ball says ask once more later. — Clint P.
I count on the Dodgers to make one “splashier” commerce this 12 months, however clearly, there’s a protracted approach to go till the commerce deadline. However at this level within the 12 months, I see shortstop as a significant concern. Do with that data what you’ll. — Noah C.
What are some choices to enhance the bullpen? Can they create up some starters from the minors or begin letting the starters go a minimum of 7 innings as a substitute of 6? — @pelumiomole1852 (YouTube Group)
The choice the membership is hoping for to enhance the bullpen is the bullpen figuring it out. Over the weekend, Dave Roberts talked about some pitchers nonetheless working via mechanical points. Those self same pitchers helped kind one of the best bullpen in baseball a season in the past.
Because the season trudges alongside, if these guys can determine some issues out and pitch moderately OK, the membership hopes to spice up the aid roster internally with one or a number of guys at present on the injured record. Daniel Hudson may/ought to be the primary however later within the 12 months, the crew is hoping Alex Reyes, J.P. Feyereisen, Blake Treinen, or probably even Walker Buehler can present some form of increase to the ‘pen.
As for the starters pitching deeper into video games, we must always begin seeing that 5 or 6 instances via the rotation. — Clint P
Have you ever subscribed to our YouTube Channel but? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to remain updated on all the newest Dodgers information, rumors, interviews, reside streams, and extra!
