Dodgers Sweep the Marlins; Drop From Top Spot On MLB Power Rankings
With just over a week to go before the July 31st trade deadline, the Dodgers are running away with the NL West. MLB Power Rankings have them this week at number 2, dropping them from the top spot they held last week.
https://twitter.com/AJontheguitar/status/1153362216537604097
Dropping Down A Slot
The Dodgers still have more wins than the Yankees, and a better winning percentage (.657 to .653). Both the Yanks and Dodgers have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games, and by the skin of their teeth, Los Angeles is 1 game better than every team in baseball.
While it’s certainly not egregious, Dodger fans will no doubt find this a bit eyebrow raising. Perhaps MLB sees sweeping the Miami Marlins by a run differential of 21-7 as not good enough?
The Dodgers Biggest Hole
After watching the Dodgers bullpen blow a 5 run lead to the Triple-A Marlins, (sorry, they’re just bad) Dodger fans are out for blood. Or at least, out for bullpen help. The Dodgers could really use one or two arms to bolster the bullpen. The addition of good arms doesn’t tell the whole story, though.
The Dodgers have some good arms. Kenley Jansen, Joe Kelly, Julio Urias; these are elite arms. At the end of the day, a good player has to deliver. The Dodgers bullpen has to execute better, and Dodger fans have to hope they can.
Of course the Dodger BP has to perform better or October baseball will end within the 1st week of that month, it’s as simple as that.
Not true. Name a legitimate National League contender that doesn’t have bullpen woes.
The dodger keep trying to make starting pitchers into relievers and relievers into starting pitchers. You need to separate the to and brave it alone. That’s why Julio Urias go hurt. Also you need 8 starters defined, stop changing the lineup. Guys don’t get a chance to get in a rythem.Slso stop taking pitchers out just because the have thrown 100 pitches.
How is Kelly an elite arm? He has had one good year as a reliever in his LIFE.
Ha ha. True
Why can’t the dodgers find pitching help in there system. They certainly can develop plenty of talent who can position play. I think there minor league system could field a team that would compete in majors. That’s why I’m puzzled they don’t have an arm that could be a setup man right now!!!
People are so negative! The team has the best record in baseball and by far the best record in the NL and people continue to complain. It is amazing to me.
I remember in the winter some of the same naysayers said the team would be horrible without making the Harper deal or trade for Realmuto Thankfully they didn’t as Pollock was a very good addition and Verdugo has turned out to be as good as many predicted. Yes, Barnes has not been stellar but I hope to see Smith coming up in September. And Barnes’s defense and pitch calling are excellent. The key duty of a catcher and this team does not need more offense.
Kelly has an elite arm we shall see if he continues to improve. They picked up Stadler and he has been very effective. Chargois is coming back and with Maeda and Urias in the bullpen, they are plus arms added to Jansen and Baez.
The playoffs are all about short at the most 2 or 3 games and then travel and a bullpen reset. So a few good arms are needed. Jansen, Baez, Kelly, Urias, and Maeda are all very good arms and better than anyone on the trade market the Dodgers are likely to trade for. Remember there are several playoff-bound teams with more bullpen issues than the Dodgers have and need to make the playoffs. The Dodgers are a lock for the playoffs and no matter what some “Fans” scream about isn’t that a wonderful situation to be in?
Excellent comment! tmax! Like myself you follow the dodgers closely!