Mailbag Monday: A rough schedule ahead
Answering your questions!
I had this terrible dream that the Dodgers got swept at home by the Angels…. good thing it was just a dream!
Hope everyone is enjoying their Monday. As always, thank you to everyone who asked a question for the mailbag this week. If you’d like to ask a question for the next mailbag, make sure to subscribe today!
Tom — College starting pitchers pitch once a week and then adjust to pitching every 5th day. Why can’t Japanese pitchers do the same? I’d guess it’s because college guys have minor league seasons?
It’s definitely been done before. Hiroki Kuroda made 104 starts on four days rest. Hideo Nomo made most of his starts on four days rest. I guess nowadays this is just how they prefer to handle things and be safe with arms. I’m fine with them not going by that schedule, but I would definitely prefer is they started going on five days rest. I just think it’s crazy having that schedule where you just pitch every Friday or Saturday, at least until they’re able to move to a 6-man rotation.
Travis — As a lifelong, diehard Dodgers fan, I love all of them. I have been of the opinion that Barnes should have been moved on from for a while now. But honestly, when I first read the news it was a bit of a gut punch. I could not believe it at first. I understand the move and I think he'll end up back in the org at some point as a coach. I had similar feelings about Taylor. What was your reaction? Any emotional reaction at all?
I was devastated. Both Barnes and Taylor shouldn’t have been on the roster to begin the season, but they were. I knew a roster crunch was coming eventually this season. I just didn’t think it would happen so soon, let alone two in the same week. The Barnes one was more surprising to me, mainly because they did have an out this offseason. They didn’t have to bring him back, they CHOSE to. I assumed he’d make it the rest of the season. Taylor was inevitable, but I assumed it would be at least not until July. I’m going to miss them both and I hope they return to the Dodgers in some capacity!
Marilyn Fisher — Are there any pitchers in the minors that are ready to come up to help in relief? It seems like all these DFA players were DFAd for a reason!
Short answer, yes. Long answer, none that can be saviors! There are plenty of options in the minors the Dodgers could turn to, but I don’t think there are any who would really help the Dodgers in any way. Their best hope is for guys to get healthy slowly and return one by one. The good news is that it seems like a few will be back soon. Michael Kopech is throwing rehab games in OKC and should be ready in a week. Edgardo Henriquez was throwing in Arizona and might be a few weeks away. I think once July gets here a lot of reinforcements will be back…. we just have to get there first!
Travis — The schedule is about to get brutal, through June 20 at least. Picking up 2 or 3 wins against a team they should beat in the Angels would have been nice, especially with the Padres getting swept by Seattle. The season is long, and every team will have bad stretches. But heading into this gauntlet, I am a little worried (more than usual) about the pitching. With Snell and Glasnow out until what, mid June at the best case, and Roki out for who knows how long, just how are they going to cover these innings? I like their depth, but man it's being tested to this point and is about to have an even tougher test. Your thoughts?
The state of the pitching staff isn’t great at the moment. The Dodgers aren’t getting length from their starters, which means more innings from their bullpen. You’re right, they have a gauntlet of a schedule over the next month. The good news is that they have two off days over the next 11 days, so they’ll be able to get some much needed rest soon. June is absolutely BRUTAL, though. They have a stretch of 13 consecutive games, all against really good opponents. After that one off-day, they have a stretch of 10 consecutive games, once again against some really good opponents. Over a 31-day stretch the Dodgers are going to have only TWO days off…. that is just terrible. Hopefully some reinforcements come back, or else things could get very, very ugly for the pitching staff.