Dodger Pitcher Julio Urias Arrested

Dodgers Pitcher Julio Urias Arrested and More Baseball News

By David A. Avila

Dodger starter Julio Urias was arrested late Sunday on suspicion of domestic violence it was reported by ESPN. It was the second time since 2019 that the left-handed pitching star was arrested on a similar charge.

No comment by the L.A. Dodger organization.

Every month of September means something different for every team.

For the Los Angeles Dodgers it means the last month before the playoffs. For the Los Angeles Angels it means who will remain next year and who will be cast away.

It’s all about peaks and valleys.

After losing only five games in the month of August the Dodgers suddenly were hit with three consecutive losses all by the Atlanta Braves. The battle of division leaders was decisively won by the NL East leaders.

Now, the Dodgers are hit squarely with the arrest of Urias who has been one of the top pitchers in baseball for the past three years.

The Braves series, observed by anyone interested in the two best teams in the National League in terms of overall record, was won by Atlanta. But if baseball history has shown us the best records don’t always result in winning the World Series. Look at Philadelphia Phillies who last year rode a hot streak all the way to the end.

Whoever is hot usually wins the whole thing.

The top two hitting teams in all Major League Baseball are the Atlanta Braves with a team batting average of .275, .844 OPS and 788 runs scored as of Saturday Sept. 2. The Dodgers enter with a .256 batting average .798 OPS and 759 runs scored. The Braves and Dodgers are one and two in the National League and MLB.

Leading the American League are Texas Rangers with .267 batting average .791 OPS and 751 runs scored. Second is the Tampa Bay Rays at .259 batting average .776 OPS and 728 runs scored.

Usually, teams leading in pitching are among the leaders, but not this year.

Though Seattle Mariners have the best team pitching staff at the moment in all of baseball to lead the AL West, Toronto Blue Jays have the second best but are fighting for a Wild Card spot and far behind the AL East leaders.

In the National League the Braves lead in team pitching with a 3.47 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 547 runs allowed. The San Diego Padres are second but have only a remote chance of making the playoffs despite sporting a 3.80 ERA 1.27 WHIP and 559 runs allowed.

Despite leading the Dodgers in runs allowed the Padres are 20 games back of the team from Los Angeles.

What happened?

One theory could point toward the time limits for both pitchers and batters. This year the overall ERA has risen with the need to get the ball and pitch. No more fooling around on the mound and holding onto the ball.

Another is the rule regarding holding base runners on. With pitchers restricted to only two throws that has changed the game too. Suddenly speed is back and that has put on crimp on how to pitch with runners on base.

Now pitchers need to live and die by the fastball.

Last year the Dodger led all of baseball with a 2.80 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 513 runs allowed at this date a year ago. This year the team allowed 595 runs. Part of it was due to injuries and loss of pitchers Tyler Anderson and Andrew Heaney. But largely the team is intact and the rules changes must have impacted the Dodger pitching style to some degree.

Despite allowing more runs the Dodgers still lead by 14 games.

Surprise Losers in 2023

Probably one of the biggest losers have been the San Diego Padres who seemed to have a powerhouse team offensively. After signing Xander Bogaerts and having a healthy Fernando Tatis return to the dangerous lineup that includes Manny Machado and Juan Soto, the Padres have scored only 621 runs so far. That’s 138 less runs scored than the first place Dodgers.

The Padres pitching is not the problem, it’s their hitting.

Another big loser is the New York Yankees who many predicted - including this publication - would emerge one of the certain contenders. But after Aaron Judge stubbed his toe and tore a ligament, the Bronx Bombers went into a tailspin they have not survived. Even with Judge’s return.

This year the Yankees rank number 22 offensively out of 30 total teams in MLB. The team is batting .223 .707 OPS and 576 runs scored. Despite losing pitchers Nestor Cortes, Frankie Montas and Carlos Rodon with injuries, the Yankees have done satisfactory in that department. Offensively the Yankees seemed to get old.

As of September 3, the Yankees are 17.5 games from the AL East leaders the Baltimore Orioles. And they are nine games out from the Wild Card race.