It has been a week since the Dodgers placed Mookie Betts on the 10-day injured list due to a right rib fracture, and it doesn’t appear as though the five-time All-Star is much closer to a return. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register and Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times) that Betts is doing about “the same” after a week of rest, and Betts hasn’t been cleared to start baseball activities.
Given the varied nature of rib injuries, there was no official timeline placed on Betts’ recovery, though Roberts did say there was some initial hope Betts would miss roughly two weeks of action. Unfortunately, it now looks like Betts certainly won’t make that projection, and Roberts didn’t give any updated idea on when the outfielder could be ready.
Looking at the calendar, if Betts has to miss much time beyond just another week, it is possible the team might opt to shut him down through the All-Star break, rather than bring him back for what might be just a few games before the break. Because the All-Star Game is at Dodger Stadium this year, the Dodgers get an early jump on the break, as they don’t play on July 17.
With Betts sidelined, Eddy Alvarez and the newly-acquired Trayce Thompson have formed a platoon to cover one corner outfield slot, while Chris Taylor has seen most of the work in the other corner position. Of course, any method of replacing Betts is going to seem imperfect, considering his status as one of baseball’s best all-around players. Betts was hitting .273/.349/.535 with 17 home runs in 275 plate appearances, and was leading all NL outfielders in All-Star votes, as per the league’s last update.
Roberts also provided updates on several injured Dodgers pitchers both today and in yesterday’s sessions with the media. Caleb Ferguson may be closest to a return, as he tossed a live bullpen session today and is slated to throw another on Wednesday in preparation for a possible activation from the injured list. Ferguson didn’t make his 2022 debut until May, due to a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery, and he then went on the IL after six appearances due to forearm tendinitis. Fortunately, it looks like Ferguson could be back within three weeks, as the Dodgers are aiming to activate him for their upcoming June 30-July 3 series against the Padres.
Moving to pitchers on the 60-day IL, Roberts said that Victor Gonzalez (left elbow inflammation), Tommy Kahnle (bone bruise in right elbow), and Danny Duffy (flexor tendon surgery) are all scheduled to return in August. Kahnle has pitched four innings for Los Angeles this season while Gonzalez and Duffy have yet to see any work in 2022 — in Duffy’s case, he hasn’t pitched since July 16, 2021, when he was still a member of the Royals.
The outlook is still unclear about Blake Treinen’s availability, as Treinen threw only three innings before right shoulder inflammation sent him to the IL back in April. The veteran reliever started to play catch earlier in June, but Roberts said today that Treinen is still “weeks away” from being able to throw off a mound. Given the ramp-up time necessary once Treinen does get back on the bump, it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to return before 2022 is over.
Los Karens on the mend
Ok Ken
If the Angels offer Mark Prior the manager job, would the Dodgers let him leave and keep Roberts?
Dave Roberts, the manager with the highest winning percentage in MLB history? Yes they would keep him.
Anyone who coached the teams he managed would be one of the winningest managers. The roster is stacked full of all stars.
Roberts is horrible with a bullpen and has his veteran hitters slumping.
Look at the article your posting in. The team isn’t stacked when there are injuries. They don’t have the depth they once did.
poor babies. i personally feel so deeply sorry for them.
even with the injuries they still have more all stars than most teams if not ALL teams.
Funny how so many get off on ragging on Dave Roberts for playing the Andrew Friedman roster and implementing the Andrew Friedman game plan. This is called not getting baseball.
How does Roberts make hitters slump?
@Dodger Dog – if Roberts was suddenly fired there wouldn’t be ONE MLB team that would hire him to manage their roster. Not one. The world knows what Roberts is, and he’s mediocre at his job. He’s Joe Torre light in blue and white.
As if my pointed needed to be proven!
@jekporkins
I have the Chicago White Sox on Line 1, sir.
@jekporkins
Ridiculous statement. Brad Ausmus can multiple MLB manager jobs, but Dave Roberts can’t? lmao
Ridiculous. I’m not saying Joe Torre was the best manager ever but he surely wasn’t awful. Cmon.
Might backfire on them if they do that. Even with his flaws, Dave is top 3 in win percentage in MLB history.
Mattingly was a winning Manager with the Dodgers so
Lots of managers can win with the Dodgers. I’d bet real money I’d be over .500 easily. Roberts, OTOH, is averaging over 100 wins per year (prorated). Unless you can find someone else that has that record of success, then Roberts is a great manager.
Numbers have to mean something.
Numbers don’t actually mean a whole lot in this case. What really means something is how the FO feels about the job he is doing, which in today’s baseball means how he implements their game plan and conveys it to his roster. About that, Friedman and Co. must think a whole lot of Dave Roberts. He has not only kept his job but was just given an extension. Fans who think they know better about what this job entails, really don’t know.
Prior wouldn’t go to that clown show lol
Idk. Only so many manager jobs…
Dodgers need to DFA Hanser Alberto and Eddy Alvarez. Depth is an issue for them again and both players are a complete liability
They can afford to DFA the world, not like my Brewers!
And replace them with who, amk?
Eddy Alvarez has a -12 OPS+. Hanser Alberto is at 53. I’m willing to bet that two of Jake Lamb, Miguel Vargas, Jason Martin, Drew Avans or Michael Busch could easily out produce that.
Everybody knows the Dodger WAY! Just pick up everybody they need and keep spending over the Cap. Where are the younger players at the position’s outside pitching? The answer, not many! They just aquire free agents and trade young talent . I give them credit for having enough minor league talent to trade!
4 of their 5 starters are home grown, the other couldn’t find a job & he’s 9-0. The majority of their team is home grown, 3 of their 9 starters on offense were basically released by their previous teams.
It’s funny when people try to use this “homegrown” excuse in 2022. Their BEST everyday players — Betts, Freeman, & Turner — are all from other teams (teams which beat LA in previous years, in fact, which isn’t exactly an original or interesting GM approach). With Betts being so fragile, Freeman aging, & Turner leaving this summer, their window is closing fast.
@Neon Cop:
“Homegrown excuse”…what are you even talking about?
Beyond @reneaguerra’s mention of the starters, the Dodgers’ major-league roster is filled mostly by homegrown players; players whom they plucked off the scrap heap and helped become All-Stars (JTurner, Muncy, Chris Taylor); and inexpensive FAs whom they hit on far more often than they miss.
Yes, their top three players currently are two FA signings (though Betts technically arrived via trade) and a trade acquisition, but the Dodgers are a major-market team with an ownership group that doesn’t sell a BS narrative to its fan base about being “too poor” to compete (and shame on all the owners who do, and all the fan bases who buy that crap), so of course they’ve got a few high-priced players, two of whom led their teams to WS titles in the last two seasons and a third who’s just as good (and may be leaning toward a return back East…but may not be).
As to your last idea about the Dodgers’ “window closing fast”:
The Dodgers “window” will be a perpetual thing, moving forward. They’ve got one of the very best farm systems in the sport, and disproportionately little guaranteed money on the 2023 payroll and beyond; with their knack for drafting well, developing talent and signing impact FAs–Trevor Bauer notwithstanding–it’s silly to think the Dodgers even have a window to close.
No matter how. much that might piss you off…..
Freeman looks like his best years are behind him.
Freeman also looks like an All-Star at the most competitive position in the league/sport.
Oh, and:
OPS+ (2022:): 143
OPS= career: 138
OBP (2002): .389
OBP (career): .384
BA (2002): .305
BA (career): 296
OPS (2002): .880
OPS (career): .892
So maybe not?
“Their window is closing fast” is some good copium. Dodgers are in far better position now than when Friedman first arrived.
True, but it sure helps that he got to serve under ownership that isn’t bankrupt.
@ amk1920: “far better,” huh? They’re a truly bizarre mix of top-heavy talent from other teams, mediocre/headcase homegrown players, & assorted scrubs. They’re also stuck with frail Betts til 2033 & an aging Freeman (who doesn’t even want to be there) til 2028. Muncy, J Turner, Kershaw, Heaney, Rios, Kahnle, Duffy, etc are now always a breath from the IL. Taylor, Smith, & some of the pitchers are bright spots going forward, but it’s no accident that LA could only break through in a shortened 60-game “season.”
Andy Burns is better than Hanser Alberto at this point. The Dodgers should be embarrassed at how he swings at everything and TV analysts make jokes about it on national TV
I know what you’re talking about. Alberto spent the weekend showcasing his penchant for chasing pitches out of the K zone. Seemed like pitchers were having a contest to see who could get him to chase a pitch furthest from the zone. It was embarrassing
Freeman probably crying about the braves again.
Anyone else getting sick of the Freeman story?
Stop crying Freddie nobody ran over your dog. Your making hundreds of millions of dollars to play baseball. It’s a business. Braves went younger.
If I was a dodger player I’d be annoyed that he STILL is not over this. You play for LA NOW!
How is he “STILL not over this”?
He returned to a place where he played his entire career–and on some garbage teams, before leading them to a title last year–and so was appropriately feted before the first game of the series.
Just because FOX and then ESPN decided to make constant mention of the narrative during their respective broadcasts of Games 2 and 3 of the series just means they were telling a basic story to national viewers.
Meanwhile, Freddie continued to rake on this road trip and the Dodgers took 2 of 3.
Pretty sure there are ZERO Dodgers players annoyed with Freddie these days.
But sure.
Good point. On the topic of the narrative angles of broadcasters, I tried watching that alternate broadcast with A-Rod and Kay and it was horrible.
While I’m not a fan of the Manningcast, I can see how people like it. But the alternate baseball broadcast seemed bad to the point it makes one wonder how long it will be done by Kay and A-Rod in that format.
It’s beyond awful.
Growing up a Dodgers fan, I obviously know I was spoiled, having their games called by the best to ever do it.
But how the Yankees have foisted Michael Kay and John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on their watchers/listeners for decades is just criminal. I simply can’t imagine being a Yankees fans and having nowhere to turn….
And Alex Rodriguez is easily the most overrated former-player-turned broadcaster in recent memory, and I’ll never ever understand how he’s managed to pull the wool over so many eyes I still haven’t totally recovered from the Vasgersian/ARod/Mendoza SNB booth–and may not ever…..
Lol don’t you have Charley Steiner announcing games? You’re not that spoiled!
Some of them, mostly on radio. Not sure what you are saying about Steiner exactly, but at least he pays attention to the game most of the time. These other guys, they chatter among themselves like they’re sitting on the sofa drinking beer and only half paying attention to the game. Even when he told his stories Vin hardly ever lost the thread of the game. Every game had a plot, and he was the narrator. Nobody even tries to do this anymore. It’s a dead art.
While Steiner isn’t anyone idea of an optimal choice–and damn if it doesn’t feel like Steiner and Monday simply don’t like each other–he/they are still LIGHT YEARS clear of Sterling and Waldman, who–considering the franchise for whom they work–are epically abysmal.
And don’t get me started on Joe and Orel. They spend way too much time and energy trying to show us how much they like each other, as if that’s why we tune in.
Freeman wears his heart on his sleeve. It’s completely authentic to who he is. What’s remarkable to me is how much this annoys some fans. What a shame. We live in such mean times.
Everyone moves on, but I was annoyed when he lamented that the Braves had acquired Olsen. He seemed genuinely sad to leave Atlanta, but he was given a ton of opportunities to re-sign. It felt like, if Atlanta increased their offer to $145M, Freeman would’ve countered with $145,000,025.
Atlanta offered him $135M/5, and he left for $148M/6 (PV). That extra year takes him thru age 37. Freeman probably could’ve gotten that extra $13M as a retirement year contract from Atlanta.
He left Atlanta for nothing, and was sad about it?
All we really know is his agent made a counteroffer to the Braves that received no response from the team, and this breakdown gave the Dodgers their opening. Theories beyond that are not very meaningful. But again his surprise and disappointment that the Braves traded for Olsen instead of trying harder to keep him is totally sincere as far as I can tell. All the cynicism being expressed about it tells me more about the people who are saying this than the player himself.
@BlueSkies_LA
This, exactly.
By all accounts (including my deep dives into past stories about him, when the LAD interest morphed into likelihood), he’s as nice and decent and well-liked a guy as there is in the game.
Further, he’s been incredibly willing to answer questions about what was, obviously and understandably, a very emotional time for him–and for that, he deserves only praise. And that he feels entirely comfortable not just feeling his feelings but expressing them should be celebrated.
I’d argue the Braves knew all along that an Olson deal was a strong possibility, and thus, had to thread quite the needle in not antagonizing their franchise centerpiece while nevertheless moving on from said centerpiece. To that end, Freeman did the Braves a solid, simply owning his disappointment and sadness rather than ripping into the organization for its decision (and specifically, the decision’s messy timing).
And now it’s all over, and all the cavemen can come back out from under their rocks, safe in the knowledge that Freeman won’t burden them with emotional responses of any kind.
At least until October….
and specifically, the decision’s messy timing)
==================================
There was no messy timing. All he had to do was to say yes. He wanted more money. At some point, like with every negotiation, one side or the other has to move on. When Freeman didn’t budge on his $165M/5 (or $175M/6), the Braves had no choice but to move on.
That part is etched in cement My personal opinion is that Freeman thought he had the Braves over a barrel and that they would never cut ties with him, and that he could ask for anything he wanted. In some cases, like with Lindor and the NYMs, that’s true. But more teams are now willing to cut the cord instead of overpaying (RS/Betts, LAD/Seager, Nats/Harper).
Again, imho, there is nothing wrong with looking for more money. But if you like your current gig, and the “more money” is not meaningful, you might as well stay.
@Joe Brady: agreed, not a “messy timing” issue. But, did “he want more money”? If left up to him, would he have taken the 135/5 deal? Was it Freeman who “thought he had the Braves over a barrel” or maybe his agent? His agent misjudged the Braves resolve and gave Freeman bad advice?
I blame his agent, and he does as well since he just fired him. But his agent is also simply a contractor. My spouse and I hired people to do the floor, and before that the siding, and before that, some heating thing.
But we’re still involved in the process. At every point of the process, Freeman could’ve made a decision. If Atlanta was important to Freeman, he should’ve sat with his agent, and discussed how close they were. If it was $180M v $135M, maybe he has to make a decision he doesn’t like. But the two offers were close, and PV included, he might have earned more with Atlanta.
He is a $300M career earner, and he left Atlanta for pocket change. Freeman has no one to blame but himself.
@Joe Brady; sweet analogy and to your point, agent aside, it was Freddie’s call all along. Cheers!
The price contract / trade is a bust. $16 million + cash from the Red Sox to be an overpaid middle reliever. injured, never heals up or never slotted to start.
If this was the angels or a losing team, this is Vernon wells part II.
Roberts – winning but few ws titles to show for it.