Author Archive: Phil Gurnee
Might be time for Keibert to learn how to talk like a Pirate
This is not a reactionary column to another poor outing by the Dodger bullpen, but it is about the season-long problems with the bullpen. The team is still on pace to win 105 games so at this point we only care about the wins in October. I’ve followed Keibert and watched him climb up the …
With Seager / Pollock / Freese returning who will be the odd man out?
The Dodgers get their 2nd half reinforcements on Friday when they are expected to activate Cory Seager, AJ Pollock, and David Freeze but it will come at a price to more than one Dodger who helped propel the team to the best record in baseball while the aforementioned were nursing their injuries. Matt Beaty has …
Seismic shift hits Los Angeles
Even though Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers had been rumored for well over a year by well-respected sources I don’t think many Clipper fans really felt it would happen. As Clipper fans have heard every day for forever, no superstar will ever WANT to play for the Clippers. My wife just came home from Dallas …
Dodger rookies owning it
Much of the talk about the Dodger rookies will be about the back to back to back rookie walk-off home runs this weekend but the Dodger rookies have been banging all year. Player WAR/pos Year Age PA 2B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS Alex Verdugo 2.5 2019 23 250 17 7 32 …
Wild Walk Off Weekend
There is a lot to unload from this weekend series with the Rockies. Three walk-off home runs by three different rookies Walker Buehler pitching the greatest game of his career WIll Smith ridiculous return Alex Verdugo putting his stamp on this team Matt Beatty ridiculous return
Matt Beaty belongs here
Every Dodger position rookie is making their mark this year and Matt Beaty is no exception. I haven’t looked at the statcast data, but it seems every time he makes contact it is hard contact. Matt was doing everything right, and yet because of the Rich Hill injury, he was sent down last Wednesday. He …
Alex Verdugo lights up Chavez Ravine
With the injury to AJ Pollock, Alex Verdugo has planted himself in centerfield and in the hearts of Dodger fans. I don’t want to talk for all Dodger fans but for this fan, his spirit and play has supplanted the fun that Yasiel Puig used to deliver. This comes as a shock to me for …
The ridiculousness of Will Smith
Will Smith entered the 2019 season stuck between the present in Austin Barnes and the future in Keibert Ruiz. The Dodgers had signed Russell Martin to back up Austin Barnes which left Will Smith in AAA. The good news for Will Smith is that the Dodgers didn’t trade for Realmuto or trade for any other …
Walker Buehler is on the board
At the beginning of the year, I thought Walker Buehler would be in the Cy Young conversation but as April turned to May that thought was long gone from my memory. On June 21st, Walker reminded me why I had such lofty thought for him when he pitched a complete game with sixteen strikeouts. I …
Dodgers, Yesterday and Today 