July 25th, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka When the Dodgers left the friendly confines of Chavez Ravine for the All-Star break back on July 10, they were trailing the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants by 6.5 games. The general consensus around the stadium and the greater Los Angeles area was that it was time to stop thinking about winning the division for a fourth consecutive year and start focusing on landing one of the two National League Wild Card berths into the postseason which, at the time, the Dodgers were holding onto a scant 2.5-game lead. There was one place, however, where the words “Wild Card berth” were not being said; not even being thought about for that matter; the home clubhouse at 1000 Vin Scully Avenue.
Sure enough, after losing two of three to the NL West last place Arizona Diamondbacks, the the guys who occupy that clubhouse took two of three from the Washington Nationals and two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals to complete a 5-4 road trip through the Valley of the Sun, the sweltering nation’s capital and the sweltering-er Midwest.
While all of this was happening, the team that many so-call baseball experts had already handed to 2016 NL West title to were swept in three games by the Padres in San Diego, swept in two games by the Red Sox at Fenway Park and lost two of three to the Yankees in the Bronx to conclude a 1-7 road trip. As a result, that once 6.5-game lead in the NL West is now a 3.0-game lead as both teams return home.
“I think we always felt we had a chance [to win the division],” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters following Sunday’s 9-6 win over the always-dangerous Cardinals. “We just weren’t playing the baseball we were supposed to be playing. There’s still a lot of baseball. I know people talk about the standings but I think we’re just hyper-focused on ourselves. Our goal is to win the division. That’s never changed.”
AGon’s grand slam on Sunday night was the fifth of his career.
(Photo credit – Billy Hurst)
Fueled by a six-run first inning that included an Adrian Gonzalez grand slam home run off of Cardinals rookie right-hander Mike Mayers in his major league debut (on national television, no less), the Dodgers got off to a fast start, sending 10 men to the plate. The Cardinals got one back in their half of the first on a solo home run by center fielder Tommy Pham off of Dodgers lefty Scott Kazmir to make it a 6-1 game. The Dodgers added three more in the second inning to take a 9-1 lead and chase Mayers from the game after giving up nine runs on eight hits while recording only four outs. And while there may have been some who felt sorry for the 26-year-old Grove City, Ohio native and his dubious 60.75 ERA, the Dodgers were absolutely not among them.
“Absolutely not. Pile on,” Roberts said. “[In] this league, no one feels sorry for us. It’s a big-boy league. Not even a little bit. I hope he throws well his next turn.”
Red-hot-hitting Dodgers left fielder Howie Kendrick, who extended his hitting streak to a MLB-best 16 games on Sunday night with his sixth home run of the season (off of Mayers), concurs with his boss.
“It’s always tough when you come up,” Kendrick said. “But this is a man’s game. I wish him the best. Hopefully, he’ll get another chance.”
But as they always seem to do – especially against the Cardinals – the sudden and explosive offensive power surge was over as quickly as it started and the Dodgers did not score again on the night. In a scene waaay too reminiscent of the Game-1 of the 2014 NLDS in which Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw blew a 6-1 lead over these same St. Louis Cardinals, the redbirds added two runs in their half of the second inning and three more in the bottom of the seventh and suddenly that 9-1 laugher was now a tense 9-6 ballgame. Ironically, those three Cardinals runs in the seventh were charged to left-hander Adam Liberatore, who saw his streak of consecutive appearances without allowing a run snapped at 28.
“It was a great run and I trust him when he’s out there,” Roberts said of Liberatore after the game. “When guys weren’t throwing great, he picked up the slack getting lefties out, righties out, and I put him in a lot of tough spots. For him to go up there and take the ball with confidence and that swagger that he has, he was a huge lift for all of us.”
But for as shaky as Liberatore was – on this night, at least – veteran right-hander and Dodgers workhorse Joe Blanton was rock solid. Although the 35-year-old Bowling Green, Kentucky allowed a sacrifice fly to Dodgers nemesis Matt Holliday and a two-out, two-RBI double to Cardinals right-fielder Stephen Piscotty, he was able to get out of the inning without further damage. And after a 1-2-3 eighth inning by Blanton, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen came on in the ninth to notch his 29th save of the season and secure Kazmir’s seventh consecutive win and ninth on the season against three losses.
After an off day on Monday the Dodgers host the Tampa Bay Rays for a brief two-game series, followed by another day off on Thursday. They then face the Dbacks again for three games before heading back out on the road (after another day off) for three against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
Needless to say, the NL West standings will probably look a lot different by this time next week than they do right now.
Stay tuned…
Posted in 
Theo > Andrew
And with 9 games left against the hated ones, the Dodgers control their own destiny in winning their fourth consecutive division title.
Go Dodgers!!
To go in to Washington and St. Louis in the dead of summer and come out with 4 wins out of 6, and without their Ace, that says a lot about this team. Even considering last night’s results from Adam Liberatore, the often maligned bullpen has been the quiet stalwart of this team’s resurgence (especially from Liberatore). The SP does not allow for much confidence with getting into the 7th much less finishing it. Thus the bullpen needs to be resilient, and they have been that and more. I fully expect the frequent flyer miles will continue to mount between LA and OKC.
Even considering the lack of clutch hitting WRISP, the offense is coming back to “normal” expectations. Justin Turner should end all discussion about Evan Longoria; Howie Kendrick is just about back at his career average, AGon is getting more consistent (back improving), and Corey Seager continues to excel (even with decreasing power – no HR in July). I would like to see more consistency from Joc, but he is still 24 and learning. The one continuous offensive dilemma is from the catching position. But doesn’t the catching get some credit for the outstanding pitching?
The fate of the Division could largely be decided this week. With the return of Hunter Pence, Joe Panik, and Matt Duffy on the horizon, the Giants are going to try to do something about their bullpen and starting pitching. It’s also possible that the Giants will look at some LF help, moving Pagan back to center. They do not have much remaining in the Farm, but probably enough to help them with what they need. If they can get Jeffress and Riddick, that will help them (not so much Huston Street).
The Dodgers on the other hand are at a crossroads of sorts. Their minor league system has the talent to get top ML talent in return, but do they need or want to overspend for 1-2 players that may help with the Division, but may not be quite enough to get past the Cubs (especially if they get Chapman)? To trade their #1 prospect for a rental in Chapman, that is the definition of the Cubs going all in this year. It will also largely depend on the health status of Kershaw. If he is out for an extended period of time, the status of the year is highly questionable. If so, that should mean no rental, but only young team controlled players/contracts. Outside of Jose Fernandez, Felix Hernandez, Steven Strasburg, or Kyle Seager, I would not include Jose De Leon or Julio Urias, in any trade, and those mentioned are not happening. Chris Archer would be fine, but not for what they are asking for. I wanted Jake Odorizzi and Jake McGee last winter, so I still would be okay with both (again depending on the cost – no on De Leon, Urias, Verdugo, Bellinger, Calhoun, De Jong or Montas).
We should know next Monday at 1:00 PM what the chances for a 4th consecutive NL West Division will be. Regardless this has been an exciting year thus far, and I look forward to the last 62+ games.
You write, “Justin Turner should end all discussion about Evan Longoria.” Then you suggest we could trade deLeon or Urias (or both?) for Kyle Seager.
An additional point on Kyle: It’d be great to see them together in Dodger Blue when JT hangs ’em up. But please not this year.
In all due respect to Vinny (and that’s a whole lot of respect), we all see that he’s having increasing problems keeping names straight. Do we really want to give him Corey and Kyle Seager on the same side of the infield?
I am sorry if I wasn’t more clear and that is what you took from it. The point I was trying to make is that none of those players, Hernandez, Fernandez, Strasburg, or Kyle Seager are going anywhere. So De Leon, Urias, and the other Dodger prospects should not be going anywhere either. It was an incoherent way of saying that De Leon should not be discussed in any Chris Archer trade discussions.
OK, got it now, and I agree.
Seems to me there’s no need to talk about the WC until GB>GR (games behind > games remaining). Last time the Dodgers were in that situation was nigh on to 4 years ago.
Seems to me by this time 3 years ago they had just dug themselves out of a hole much deeper than the one they’re in the process of digging themselves out of now.
Seems to me our guys need to win it all this year just so we don’t have to hear any more of that “even year” crap from those poor misguided folks up north.
Why can’t the Giants win in an odd year?
We all know it’s better to win the division, with a best three out of five LCS in front of you, than a wild card berth with a one game win or your out.
I know the Giants had Pence, Panik, and Duffy on the DL among others, but whoever expected they’d go into a slump like this, after leading by 6 1/2 games? It’s hard to predict that and the wild card looked very inviting.
Okay, it looks like we’re back in the race, but it’s good to have good position in the wild card race, just in case.
That SB LDS
[…] ThinkBlueLA: Dodgers Shooting for Division Title […]
From MLB Trade Rumors: “The Dodgers would be willing to include top prospect Julio Urias in a trade for White Sox ace Chris Sale, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.”
What do you guys think? I would have to think about Urias. De Leon, your gone.
As long as there is a chance that the Dodgers can get into the playoffs and that Kershaw can come back this year, the FO owes the team and the fans to push forward. But Andrew Friedman is more of a long term thinker rather than short term gratification. Chris Sale is 27, and IS a true Ace. Julio Urias is 19 and COULD BE an Ace. I think you have to consider what the longer term prognosis is for the likes of Jose De Leon, Frankie Montas, Chase De Jong, Yadier Alveraz, Grant Holmes, Walker Buehler, Jordan Sheffield, Dustin May, and AJ Aleksy (maybe Josh Sborz and Andy Sopko). I do not think that Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart, Jharel Cotton, or Trevor Oaks are front of the rotation types but could be good and valuable back end or maybe mid-level. Can Ryu come back at all? Can the FO convince Kazmir to opt out? If the Dodgers acquire Sale, certainly some of those pitchers would be included, but a rotation of Kershaw, Sale, McCarthy, Maeda, and De Leon would be as formidable as any in MLB. Knowing that winning drives all top level athletes, will this give Kershaw reason to extend rather than opt out? Kershaw should be a lifelong Dodger.
I am sure that all of those (plus 1,000 more “what ifs”) are being considered before any decision is made, but I think Chris Sale is worthy of the trade, DEPENDING on who else is included. The Dodgers are thin at non-pitcher position prospects at the top levels. I am not comfortable with losing Verdugo or Bellinger. Calhoun and Rios are approaching that status. The Chisox need catching, so Austin Barnes in all likelihood will be included, and I would expect that Jharel Cotton will as well. Brett Lawrie is really their sole 2B, so maybe a return of Micah Johnson or include Omar Estevez. Because I do not want to lose Alex Verdugo, because of the OF talent in the lower levels, and because I do not think Jacob Scavuzzo is enough of an enticement, I would consider Yusniel Diaz. I would consider Julio Urias (#1), Austin Barnes (#12), Jharel Cotton (#9), Yusniel Diaz (#7), and either Micah Johnson (#14) or Omar Estevez (#16) for Chris Sale. It would probably take more. I would also include Urias and a less package for Jose Quintana, who is on pace for his fourth consecutive 200 IP season.
Of course you can really have some fun by proposing an Andrew Friedman 12 man 3 team trade by including the Brewers and include Puig, Grandal, Hernandez, and Stripling/Stewart/Oaks for LAD, and Lucroy and Smith/Jeffress from Brewers. I am not smart enough to package it properly, but:
Dodgers trade: Julio Urias, Jharel Cotton, Austin Barnes, Yusniel Diaz, Micah Johnson/Omar Estevez, Yasiel Puig, Yasmani Grandal, Kike’ Hernandez, Stripling/Stewart/Oaks
Dodgers get from White Sox: Chris Sale; and Jonathan Lucroy and Will Smith/Jeremy Jeffress from Brewers.
There is always the possibility of a three way trade. I am going on record as saying that the Dodgers can spare enough to engineer a trade without Urias in the package.
If I was the Sox, or others, I would be looking to include 19-year-old Imani Abdullah in a deal along with a collection of other arms.
I’m wondering if we are over-valuing Sale especially since the Sox are looking to unload him, perhaps for reasons other than just acquiring talent in return. His contract is good and he is still young.
Harold, the one attribute I look for in a SP is his ability to go deep in the game. Both Sale and Quintana are on pace for 30+ games started and 200+ IP. That is why I miss a Zach Greinke. I would not have signed him to what AZ gave him, but the Dodgers could sure use a 200 IP SP. I would be just as happy to scale down the price and get Quintana. I also value the strikeout. Quintana is not the swing and miss pitcher that Sale is.
I feel the same about Abdullah as I do about Diaz. Both players have a huge ceiling, but I have no knowledge as to whether the Chisox want to sell in 2016 to win in 2017, which neither player will help. Guys like Austin Barnes, Jharel Cotton, Kike’ Hernandez, Micah Johnson, Trayce Thompson, Ross Stripling, Brock Stewart, and Trevor Oaks could be on the White Sox 25-man next year . They do not have a strong minor league system. Carson Fulmer and Tim Anderson are already on the 25-man. But the pitchers are mid rotation at best, and the position players are utility/platoon players, so I would not expect a “major impact” or “elite” player in return. Because the Dodgers have a true Ace in Kershaw, and have an abundance of SP, they have the capability of showcasing a Urias or De Leon for a true Ace or #2 in return. Not so much with Verdugo, Bellinger, or Calhoun, potential impact position players at AA or above where they are limited. I would not include Chase De Jong with a Urias or De Leon package.
If the Dodgers do nothing and let the minor leaguers compete amongst themselves to prove how high their ceiling is, I am okay with that as well. I am more than fine with a total homegrown roster. But if they do nothing, then I do not believe that they can be a serious WS contender until 2018 when Verdugo and Bellinger should arrive full time, and Urias and De Leon have a full season behind them. Friedman has done a great job of rebuilding the farm system so that it can be a perpetual pipeline to the ML roster. But now they need to move some of those AAA or AA players before they become Zach Lee, and continue with the farm rebuild
One other question, if the Dodgers do nothing this week (and I am okay with that), does Friedman call the Nationals and Rangers to bid against each other for Kenley Jansen? I would expect somewhere between a Ken Giles and Aroldis Chapman return.
I think FAZ will hook more than one pitcher. Might not be the biggest catch but two good ones – either two starters or a starter and reliever.
I think the Sox are looking down the road a bit or Sale would not be on the block. That is why I think they would not only be after close to ready MLB pitchers – as any team would – but also bring in guys with a high ceiling who are a few years away. eg. Abdullah.
I don’t think Kenley is part of any discussions.
That would be enticing but would give me cause to pause. Is Sale enough to win now?
Either FAZ are committed to the long term or they are not. I expect with Sale at age 27 one could argue that is long term. However, with Julio, that is very long term.
I have a feeling they would attempt to complete the trade without Julio in it. That could mean several good young pitchers at different minor league levels.
Chris Sale
It is going to be an interesting trade deadline.
Generally, the trade deadline is a seller’s market. Buyers are usually going to pay “top dollar” for players. Sale is interesting to me because, he is good, but, I also hoped the asking price would come down because of his “issues”. Some of the proposed “packages” here would really hurt. Although, I also see the wisdom of AlwaysCompete’s statement of moving some of the AAA and AA players before they become Zack Lee. It really is a balancing act.
Bottom line for me, I trust FAZ will get good value for any players traded. They did pretty well with the Zack Lee trade. If there isn’t any moves (which I also am OK with), I am comfortable the asking price was just too high. Sometimes the best deal is the deal you didn’t make.
The future is bright in Dodgerland.