Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell<\/b>. No animals were harmed in the production of this newsletter.<\/p>\n
Are you a true-blue fan? <\/p>\n
Get our Dodgers Dugout newsletter for insights, news and much more.<\/p>\n
By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service<\/a>, which include arbitration and a class action waiver. You agree that we and our third-party vendors may collect and use your information, including through cookies, pixels and similar technologies, for the purposes set forth in our Privacy Policy<\/a> such as personalizing your experience and ads. <\/p>\n Dalton Rushing<\/b> has certainly been in the spotlight lately. From his miscommunication with Shohei Ohtani<\/b> to getting emotional on the bench. We put the spotlight on him recently in this newsletter, which you can read here<\/a>.<\/p>\n This led to readers asking whether his teammates like him. And while you can never know what lies in the heart of a person, it seems very likely that they do. We quoted colleague Maddie Lee<\/b>\u2018s story last time<\/a>. This time, we look at a couple of interesting quotes from Katie Woo\u2019s story in the Athletic<\/a>.<\/p>\n Freddie Freeman<\/b>: \u201cEveryone here loves Dalton Rushing. The person he is in the clubhouse, before games, after games, doesn\u2019t get to be shown on the field. But there\u2019s that three-hour window where his emotions come forward, and it can be a lot. I wish people could see the Dalton Rushing inside the clubhouse, on the plane, on buses. It\u2019s not what you see during the game. He\u2019s a young guy who\u2019s learning the starting role, who wants to be great, who is just learning, and we\u2019re here to help, and that\u2019s why you see so many people trying to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n Miguel Rojas<\/b>: \u201cIt\u2019s really hard to change one person\u2019s personality from one year to another. We have to understand and give him a little bit of a break, because he\u2019s young. Now, if we\u2019re seeing this next year, or the same thing happening two years from now, there\u2019s probably going to be a conversation with the organization. You have to see growth.\u201d<\/p>\n That sounds like two guys who like him, and are trying to help him navigate through all of this. Which is what teammates are for. <\/p>\n However, is Rushing in sync with the pitchers? Let\u2019s take a look at the starting pitcher ERA with Rushing and with Will Smith in their career. We\u2019ll include Austin Barnes<\/b> and Ben Rortvedt <\/b>too.<\/p>\n Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/b> Justin Wrobleski<\/b> Shohei Ohtani<\/b> Roki Sasaki<\/b> Emmet Sheehan<\/b> Tyler Glasnow<\/b> Blake Snell<\/b> Eric Lauer<\/b> All Dodgers pitchers this season<\/b> All Dodgers pitchers in 2025<\/b> You can see why the Dodgers liked Rortvedt so much. <\/p>\n Dave Roberts, millennium man<\/p>\n Dave Roberts<\/b> got the 1,000th victory as Dodgers manager when they beat the Athletics<\/a> on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, 1,000 didn\u2019t even seem on my radar,\u201d Roberts said after that game. \u201cThat\u2019s a long time of consistent winning, let alone keeping a job for 11 years. That\u2019s just kind of the life I chose. But yeah, to kind of put your head down and look back and go, \u2018Oh my God, I\u2019m here,\u2019 it\u2019s mind-blowing. I still feel like I\u2019m getting better, and I still enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n Roberts, who is in his 11th season as Dodgers manager, gave a hint as to how long he will be at the helm.<\/p>\n \u201cI will not manage 20 years. Mookie wants me to manage until his contract expires [in 2032], so that\u2019s something I am thinking about. But I can be certain I\u2019m not going to do 20 years. It\u2019s too much. I love it, but it\u2019s a lot to give. To see myself doing that for another seven, eight, nine years, that\u2019s a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Barring some unexpected collapse by the Dodgers for a couple of seasons, Roberts will be manager of the Dodgers for as long as he wants. He has won three World Series titles and will go into the Hall of Fame one day. He has grown considerably as a manager, as he has shown in the last two postseasons. There is always a vocal minority who doesn\u2019t like him, or who thinks anyone could manage this team to a title. Nonsense. As Mookie Betts<\/b> said:<\/p>\n \u201cI would definitely say it\u2019s probably the reverse. It makes it harder. It\u2019s probably easy to write in a lineup, for sure. But to manage so many personalities, injuries, guys coming up, guys coming down, it\u2019s a lot, especially losing. We went through our stretches where we weren\u2019t playing well.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then it\u2019s the other way, like, \u2018Oh, you got this roster, and you\u2019re still losing X, Y, and Z.\u2019 But he just kind of handled it. Handled it with grace. And still come out on top. So, yeah, it\u2019s probably easy to write in the lineup, but to manage it for 162-plus is really hard to do.\u201d<\/p>\n Roberts became the 69th manager to win 1,000 games and the fourth Dodger manager, joining Walter Alston <\/b>(2,040), Tommy Lasorda<\/b> (1,599) and Wilbert Robinson <\/b>(1,375). He also has the best winning percentage of any manager in history, winning 62.3% of his games. He is 1,003-607. Just behind him is Joe McCarthy<\/b>, who won 61.5% (2,125-1,333). McCarthy won seven World Series titles, all with the Yankees, and is considered by many to be the greatest manager in history.<\/p>\n Sad news<\/p>\n Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo<\/b> made his major league debut with the Dodgers on Sunday, but with a heavy heart. Alfonzo\u2019s younger sister, Eliana<\/b>, and stepmother, Patricia<\/b>, died during the devastating earthquakes<\/a> that struck Venezuela recently. <\/p>\n \u201dDon\u2019t really know what to say about it outside of my heart goes out to him and his family,\u201d Roberts said before Sunday\u2019s game<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s in [the lineup]. He\u2019s going to play today, but obviously it\u2019s heavy hearts. I don\u2019t want to really go too far because I\u2019ll get emotional, so I don\u2019t know. I know it\u2019s tough, very tough.\u201d<\/p>\n After the game, Alfonzo said this about playing: \u201cHonestly it was a little difficult, but at the same time thanking God always for everything. What happened, unfortunately, is out of my hands and part of life. Only God knows why they happen. I went out there to honor my sister and my stepmother, and give my best in a difficult moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Keep these types of things in mind the next time you want to boo or yell at a player for making an error, mentally or physically. We don\u2019t know what they are going through from day to day. It\u2019s easy to get caught up in thinking these are baseball players making a lot of money and living the dream. But no one lives the dream 24\/7. <\/p>\n Four All-Stars<\/p>\n Ohtani, Freeman, Max Muncy <\/b>and Andy Pages<\/b> were all elected as starters for this year\u2019s All-Star team, and Yamamoto also made the team, giving the Dodgers four All-Stars this season, tied for the most with Atlanta and Philadelphia. It is Ohtani\u2019s third All-Star nod with the Dodgers (he also had three with the Angels), Freeman\u2019s fifth with the Dodgers (he also had five with the Braves), the third for Muncy, the first for Pages and the second for Yamamoto. <\/p>\n The franchise record for most players on the team is seven, done in multiple years while the Dodgers were in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n Dodgers named to the All-Star team at least four times:<\/p>\n 11<\/b> 10<\/b> Nine<\/b> Eight<\/b> Seven<\/b> Six<\/b> Five<\/b> Four<\/b> These names seem familiar<\/p>\n How notable players who were with the Dodgers the last couple of seasons are doing with their new teams (through Sunday). Click on the player\u2019s name to be taken to their full stats page:<\/p>\n Anthony Banda<\/a>, Twins: 2-0, 4.46 ERA, 2 saves, 34.1 IP, 31 hits, 15 walks, 33 K\u2019s, 98 ERA+, on the IL<\/p>\n Cody Bellinger<\/a>, Yankees: .251\/.348\/.426, 374 PA\u2019s, 17 doubles, 3 triples, 11 homers, 50 RBIs, 116 OPS+<\/p>\n Walker Buehler<\/a>, Padres: 5-4, 4.61 ERA, 82 IP, 83 hits, 30 walks, 76 K\u2019s, 91 ERA+<\/p>\n Mike Busch<\/a>, Cubs: .234\/.367\/.391, 398 PA\u2019s, 14 doubles, 2 triples, 11 homers, 47 RBIs, 114 OPS+<\/p>\n Michael Conforto<\/a>, Cubs: .250\/.345\/.492, 148 PA\u2019s, 10 doubles, 7 homers, 21 RBIs, 133 OPS+<\/p>\n Justin Dean<\/a>, Cubs: .400\/.500\/.800, 6 PA\u2019s, 1 triple, 3 RBIs, 259 OPS+<\/p>\n Caleb Ferguson<\/a>, Reds: 1-0, 1.62 ERA, 1 save, 16.2 IP, 15 hits, 6 walks, 16 K\u2019s, 278 ERA+<\/p>\n Jack Flaherty<\/a>, Tigers: 2-8, 4.60 ERA, 76.1 IP, 74 hits, 37 walks, 92 K\u2019s, 93 ERA+<\/p>\n Kenley Jansen<\/a>, Tigers: 1-4, 4.98 ERA, 10 saves, 21.2 IP, 14 hits, 12 walks, 23 K\u2019s, 87 ERA+<\/p>\n Craig Kimbrel<\/a>, Rays: 0-2, 4.62 ERA, 25.1 IP, 22 hits, 10 walks, 23 K\u2019s, 9Gavin 4 ERA+<\/p>\n Gavin Lux<\/a>, Rays: on the IL<\/p>\n Dustin May<\/a>, Cardinals: 5-6, 4.80 ERA, 84.1 IP, 83 hits, 24 walks, 78 K\u2019s, 84 ERA+<\/p>\n Zach McKinstry<\/a>, Tigers: .196\/.274\/.291, 225 PA\u2019s, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 16 RBIs, 58 OPS+<\/p>\n James Outman<\/a>, Tigers : .159\/.234\/.292, 124 PA\u2019s, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers, 11 RBIs, 46 OPS+<\/p>\n Joc Pederson<\/a>, Rangers: .242\/.338\/.466, 276 PA\u2019s, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 14 homers, 31 RBIs, 133 OPS+ <\/p>\n Luke Raley<\/a>, Mariners: .228\/.293\/.466, 241 PA\u2019s, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 14 homers, 35 RBIs, 114 OPS+<\/p>\n Ben Rortvedt<\/a>, Mets: in the minors<\/p>\n Corey Seager<\/a>, Rangers: .182\/.292\/.374, 219 PA\u2019s, 6 doubles, 10 homers, 25 RBIs, 94 OPS+, on the IL<\/p>\n Justin Turner<\/a>, Tijuana (Mexican League): .281\/.394\/.475, 216 PA\u2019s, 17 doubles, 6 homers, 28 RBIs<\/p>\n Trea Turner<\/a>, Phillies: .246\/.283\/.360, 364 PA\u2019s, 15 doubles, 10 homers, 31 RBIs, 72 OPS+<\/p>\n Miguel Vargas<\/a>, White Sox: .247\/.363\/.494, 304 PA\u2019s, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 20 homers, 56 RBIs, 138 OPS+<\/p>\n Kirby Yates<\/a>, Angels: 0-3, 2.75 ERA, 2 saves, 19.2 IP, 11 hits, 7 walks, 28 K\u2019s, 154 ERA+<\/p>\n Note: Vargas was named to the AL All-Star team.<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n Monday<\/b>: Colorado (*Kyle Freeland<\/b>, 2-7, 7.25 ERA) at Dodgers (*Eric Lauer<\/b>, 4-5, 4.84 ERA [3-0, 2.88 ERA with Dodgers]), 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020<\/p>\n Tuesday<\/b>: Colorado (Michael Lorenzen<\/b>, 3-9, 6.91 ERA) at Dodgers (*Justin Wrobleski<\/b>, 10-2, 2.80 ERA), 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020<\/p>\n Wednesday<\/b>: Colorado (Ryan Feltner<\/b>, 3-2, 4.27 ERA) at Dodgers (Roki Sasaki<\/b>, 3-5, 5.40 ERA), 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020<\/p>\n All times Pacific<\/p>\n *-left-handed<\/p>\n In case you missed it<\/p>\n Dodgers\u2019 Edwin D\u00edaz pushes back against alleged links to illegal cockfighting<\/a><\/p>\n Dodgers\u2019 Eliezer Alfonzo to start after his sister and stepmother died in Venezuela<\/a><\/p>\n Dodgers sending four more players to MLB All-Star Game, tied for most selections<\/a><\/p>\n Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers taking cautious approach with his biceps ailment<\/a><\/p>\n How Dodgers\u2019 Max Muncy, vying for his third All-Star selection, continues to evolve<\/a><\/p>\n Fan loudly expresses unbridled enthusiasm for Mexico\u2019s World Cup goal … at Dodgers-A\u2019s game<\/a><\/p>\n Dodgers Debate: Midseason awards<\/a><\/p>\n Walter Alston, Dave Roberts and everyone in between: The 10 managers in L.A. Dodgers history<\/a><\/p>\n And finally<\/p>\n Vin Scully<\/b> tells us about Kirk Gibson<\/b>\u2018s home run. Watch and listen here.<\/a> <\/p>\n Until next time …<\/p>\n Have a comment or something you\u2019d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com.<\/a> To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. No animals were harmed…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":916550,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[41],"tags":[108357,12192,2442,1003,20645,1910,108358,19498,8333,108359,1266,8328,5950,62,22799,67,132,68,79783,1628],"class_list":["post-916549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-batting","tag-contract","tag-dodgers","tag-double","tag-era","tag-game","tag-good-team","tag-hit","tag-homer","tag-ip","tag-mlb","tag-ohtani","tag-season","tag-sports","tag-start","tag-united-states","tag-unitedstates","tag-us","tag-walk","tag-year"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116873665328315853","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=916549"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/916549\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/916550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=916549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=916549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=916549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
ERA with Rortvedt: 0.86 (21 innings)
Barnes: 1.64 (33)
Rushing: 1.75 (92.2)
Smith: 3.29 (221.2)<\/p>\n
Smith: 2.60 (86.2)
Rushing: 3.75 (72)
Rortvedt: 6.14 (7.1)
Barnes: 10.90 (17.1)<\/p>\n
Rortvedt: 0.00 (11)
Smith: 2.08 (82.1)
Rushing: 2.97 (39.1)
Barnes never caught him<\/p>\n
Rortvedt: 0.00 (2)
Barnes: 2.00 (9)
Smith: 4.32 (58.1)
Rushing: 6.21 (37.2)<\/p>\n
Rortvedt: 0.00 (1)
Rushing: 3.04 (50.1)
Smith: 4.20 (124.1)
Barnes: 7.56 (16.2)<\/p>\n
Rushing: 1.46 (24.2)
Rortvedt: 2.89 (18.2)
Smith: 3.42 (210.2)
Barnes: 5.40 (10)<\/p>\n
Rortvedt: 0.47 (19)
Smith: 3.26 (30.1)
Rushing: 4.80 (15)<\/p>\n
Smith: 1.50 (6)
Rushing: 3.86 (23.1)<\/p>\n
Smith: 3.02 (393)
Rushing: 3.74 (341.1)
Chuckie Robinson: 4.88 (59)<\/p>\n
Rortvedt: 2.89 (140.1)
Rushing: 3.87 (325.1)
Smith: 4.00 (865.1)
Robinson: 5.14 (7)
Barnes: 5.16 (103)<\/p>\n
Clayton Kershaw<\/p>\n
Pee Wee Reese<\/p>\n
Don Drysdale<\/p>\n
Roy Campanella
Steve Garvey
Gil Hodges<\/p>\n
Sandy Koufax
Duke Snider
Maury Wills<\/p>\n
Ron Cey
Jackie Robinson
Fernando Valenzuela<\/p>\n
Freddie Freeman
Mike Piazza
John Roseboro<\/p>\n
Mookie Betts
Pedro Guerrero
Cookie Lavagetto
Davey Lopes
Van Lingle Mungo
Don Newcombe
Mickey Owen
Johnny Podres
Preacher Roe
Don Sutton
Dixie Walker
Whit Wyatt<\/p>\n