Posted By Mark Timmons on March 27, 2017 March 27, 2017Mark Timmons
I’m not a baseball professional, but Scott Kazmir’s hip still tightens up and interferes with his delivery – same as last year but his velocity is down. It sounds like that unless he fixes the hip there is going to be no hop on his fastball. I’m not a doctor either, but it seems to me that if it can’t be fixed, it’s the end of the line for Mr. Kazmir. Of course, he won’t be on the 25-man roster, but the bigger question in my mind is “Will he ever pitch again?” By his own admission, it’s mechanical and physical, but the mechanical part is caused by a physical malady with his hip or lower back. He had nothing yesterday, but experience and that mitigated the damage. I’m actually surprised he wasn’t bombed, but he is not a good pitcher right about now. I wonder if he every will be again? Is his contract insured?
Can I use Scott Van Slyke and “speed” in the same sentence? He stole two bases yesterday? What? We have the answer to Dee Gordon? Not!
So, Seager is going to stay in AZ and work on his swing and miss the Freeway Series. Just so he’s ready on Opening Day…
Injuries are going to play a big role in deciding the 25-man roster. Kazmir, Ravin and Ethier are certainly on the DL. Baez might be and depending upon how Ryu does today, he may also be on the DL and a minor league rehab assignment. It all boings down to how he does today: Can he go five and how will he feel after it?
I look for a breakout year for Logan Forsythe at the top of the Dodgers lineup.
I mentioned this yesterday – I like Austin Barnes a lot – However, I would take Bobby Wilson is I could package Barnes and someone like Alex Wood for a pitcher like Brad Brach. Grandal is the starting catcher and there are several young catchers who will be ready in a year or two. Kyle Farmer could also serve as a backup. The Dodgers would be a better team with Brach. That’s my motivation, but I have been an Austin Barnes fan for a long time.
Sergio Romo has not pitched a lot… maybe he doesn’t need to. Will he be ready?
Will anyone go Andrew Toles or Trevor Oaks and start out in A ball, move to AA ball and then AAA ball, all in one season? Of course, Toles moved on the MLB too. The likelihood of that happening again is remote… unless Walker Buehler starts in A ball.
Today’s Music
This article has 41 Comments
Kazmir’s physical condition is a bummer! Fortunately, he isn’t needed and was trade fodder. It will help if FAZ “insured” his contract, but, I think his 2017 and 2018 salaries would still count against the luxury tax if he is finished. Let’s hope he can work through whatever this problem is. Alot of teams could use a healthy Kazmir.
I don’t know where Buehler starts the year, but I would love to see a spot start or two in LA.
Your right Mark, Harold’s article is a good one. He does an excellent job covering the minor leaguers, much like AC. Speaking of AC, good call on Morrow, the former #5 overall draft pick is looking studly! Must have been a reason he was drafted before, Andrew Miller, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum and Max Scherzer.
.
Ron Cervenka has a good article on Morrow next to Harold’s article.
Thanks for pointing out Morrow’s draft standing, Boxout.
.
Hopefully, there was good reason he was drafted before those other guys and the Dodgers were able to get him while his stock was low.
.
On the other hand, it could turn out like Greg Odeon in the NBA – in 2007, Oden was drafted before Kevin Durant, Al Horford, and Joakim Noah – 3 All Stars and he turned out to be a total bust.
There is some talk that White and Beuhler may throw some innings in the LLA series. I have not seen either pitch.
We are just about ready to strap it on. It will be interesting to see who makes the team. I am rooting for Segedin and Taylor. They have earned it.
No one seems to know if Kazmir’s contract is insured, you would think it would have to be along with all of the big contracts to older and injury prone players. I think they had to start him to prove how far away he really is from being competitive. His attitude and team spirit don’t impress, but he may get on track for later in the season.
–
Options won’t be a major issue for final cuts as Kike, SVS, Thompson, Toles, Taylor, Segedin, Wood, Stripling, Liberatore, Baez and most all but Gutierrez and Hatcher still have at least one left. Hatcher and Fields should not make it, Morrow would be a veteran bridge along with Romo to Jansen.
–
Gutierrez sticking around all season will be a product of his production and the health of Ethier and Thompson and the play of Puig, Toles, SVS and Segedin and how Joc handles lefties. His contract is not too much to swallow and he could go on the DL at any time. Positional versatility should be more important than a RH bat off the bench and a start here and there in LF.
–
Seager may not be ready, that really gives Taylor a leg up as the superior SS in the utility battle. The final cuts may not go the way we think but some guys are really making the decisions difficult.
Can’t argue with any of that.
.
Let’s hope we are Kazmir sellers at the deadline!
Vegas
That is exactly what I thought about the Dodgers, letting Kazmir start yesterday.
I thought they had to show Kazmir himself, he isn’t close.
I agree with Mark’s take on Kazmir.
Kazmir’s control, and velocity is not there, because of his chronic condition.
I said something similar last night about Kazmir. He doesn’t strike me as a team first guy. I was kind of happy to see him fail so he can’t argue about going out and doing 5 rehab games. I seem to recall that there are some deferments in his salary which should make it a tad easier to write him off as a sunk cost if and when that time comes. Mark, no I did not see his interview. Just read a few quotes.
Hawkeye
We do seem to read these things, in the same way.
Hawkeye
I just read his 24 million is deferred, from 2019, to 2021.
Makes it a lot easier to show if the door if there isn’t a roster spot for him.
Him
I agree MJ…Kazmir always thinks he’s one outing away. In 3 innings he gave up 3 hits, 5 walks, hit 2 batters, threw a WP and gave up a HR. If he wasn’t a vet who knew how to pitch it would have been even uglier! Roberts said he has to be able to compete and right now he can’t.
–
Add Avilan as a guy without options which may force Liberatore down even though I like him better. Dayton is a lock and no need for 3 lefties in the pen, unless one is Alex Wood. I think Avilan would be claimed off waivers if sent down, and Hatcher would not. Not sure if Fields has an option but Morrow has beat him out IMO. Baez to the DL gives someone on the bubble a bit more time early. I am curious to see Baez on a pitch clock during rehab, 20 seconds and a ball is called! Might do him a world of good, or perhaps make his head explode.
–
Big outing for Ryu today, a strong performance may lock down his spot. He would really add a savvy dimension and knows how to pitch without overpowering stuff. His velocity should improve as the season goes along.
I like your nod to an old friend in your song choice today Mark.
Taylor & Segedin or what is the purpose of Roster flexibility?
Surely you pick the guys in form, and move them around as the season unfolds?
Kazmir is a long way off. I’ve always been a big Ryu fan & hope he makes it.
Hopefully if he slots in at #5 to start off, he can be managed during the first few weeks of the season as may be able to get an extra days rest here & there.
Utley is making it hard to overlook him
With his stellar play.
Either way, only one week to go!!
Watford
I got what you meant about that!
SVS has always had deceptive speed. No one will confuse him for Omar Moreno, but we’ve seen him over the years leg out hustle doubles and cut off balls in the outfield and then gun out guys trying to take an extra base. He’s had pretty good assist numbers in the past in memory is accurate and I think it comes from people mistaking him for a big, slow plodding first baseman who is playing outfield and it just isn’t the case. He’s actually a good outfielder and a good base runner. When he first started playing 1B, he was quite bad at it and he’s come a long ways there too.
Appreciate the informative comments on SVS, Hawkeye. I read once that his dad, Andy Van Slyke, taught him how to run proper outfield routes since he was a kid. SVS is pretty good defensively in the outfield.
Yeah, SVS has good genes. Dad had 245 career steals, with only getting caught 59 times.
Dad can’t keep a secret, but he was fast.
I think SVS will make the opening day 25 and I like that. Until Agon plays through a couple of weeks to prove his health, he could at any moment be unable to play due to his neck or elbow. Utley could play 1st base but at this point in his career, he struggles against lefties.
.
Kazmir, like a cat, has 9 lives. He has a few left.
I guess that is true about Kazmir, as long as teams, like the Angels, and Dodgers, continue to sign him, beyond one year, or at all, by this point.
Hawkeye
I think one year Scotty had the most assists on the team, even though he only played part time.
But for some reason, Scotty isn’t as good in right field, as he is, in left.
B7 – that made me chuckle
I like Wilson as backup catcher over Barnes. I like his experience, and he is probably as good a catcher as Barnes. Barnes is a better hitter, so it is a tough choice. Wilson does not want to go down to the minors, so they may release him if he doesn’t make the team. He just LOOKS like a catcher. To me, Barnes has always been on the small side for that position, but there are smaller catchers playing these days. If Wilson makes the team, Barnes will go AAA and wait for the next chance. At what point does he want out?
Bobbie17
Maybe because the catchers are protected from being run over, a catchers size, isn’t that much of an issue, in today’s game.
Box, that’s an amazing list you mentioned above! Morrow def has talent; hopefully he’s healthy.
It takes me awhile for some players, but I admit that he belongs on the DL. However, there is absolutely no reason to release him. If they need the roster spot, they can put him on the 60 day just like they did to Hatcher in 2016, even though Hatcher did not believe he was a 60 day DL candidate. I believe they can place the player on the DL 5 days before season starts (that is when the 10 day/60 day calculator begins). The worst thing that happens is that Kaz stays on the DL for the full year and then gets released. The best is that he gets better physically and then mechanically and can help out at the end of the year. Either way, his contract is a sunk cost with no current value. Just move on. Next man up. Wood is now one step closer.
.
I am not positive, but I believe those insurance plans only payout when the player is deemed unable to perform throughout the remaining term of the contract. And I beleive that it has to be medically supported. There are undoubtedly other restrictions, because not all contracts are insured.
.
Austin Barnes is actually a good defensive catcher. Bobby Wilson is a ML experienced backup catcher. If Wilson is selected as the backup, that pushes Barnes back to AAA, and Farmer back to AA. I think that would retard the development of both Barnes and Farmer. I still find it interesting that Wilson has been playing more recently. Maybe FAZ is getting a longer look to see if Wilson can be a true backup consideraton, and then maybe Barnes does become part of a trade package. I have mentioned Brad Brach since last year as a target. But I do not think Baltimore is in a hurry to move him because of lingering questions on the health of Britton. But with the question of the health for the RHRP, there has to be some discussion with somebody. Maybe Andrew can go back to Tampa Bay and ask for Alex Colome and see what that would take. I have felt for a long time that Austin Barnes would be a perfect fit in Tampa. Ramos signed a two year deal, but who knows if his surgically repaired ACL will let him catch full-time. None of their internal choices are considered options which is why they signed Norris. Wood gives them another young starter, and makes it more palatable to move Cobb. Cedeno becomes their closer until Boxberger comes back, or stays there. If my wheels are turning, I am sure that FAZ wheels are churning faster. If it is deemed fair value for Wood and Barnes for Brach, then no one should complain about the return being Colome.
I do not think that Romo needs a lot of time to get ready. He needs to pitch at least one game in the freeway series. It would be best if he went one inning each in back to back games. Same with Jansen.
.
Harold Uhlman is a Dodger minor league prospect guru. He is generally more positive and upbeat about most Dodger prospects than even I am. I know prospects are only prospects, until they aren’t. Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout were simply prospects early in the minor leagues careers as well. It is not the point that nobody in the Dodger organization will become Kershaw or Trout, but they may become valuable members of a championship 25 man roster. They all start out in a rookie league or A ball. The plan is to pinpoint the “untouchables” early and then plan the next level, and then the next, and then the next…Right now, IMO the untouchable prospects should be Bellinger/Buehler/White/Alveraz. One of Keibert Ruiz or Will Smith should be just behind.
.
Buehler and White will be starting in A Ball. Right now White is on the Rancho roster, while Buehler is on the Great Lakes roster. I do not believe FAZ wants Buehler pitching in the mid-west in April, so I think he will either be in extended ST or go directly to Rancho. I think he is slated to pitch in the freeway series. If he pitches well, he will probably get re-assigned to Rancho. That would place Buehler/White/Alveraz/Abdullah/Boyle as the Rancho starting rotation. Ron Cervenka will be in heaven. If any player/pitcher has a shot at going from A Ball to MLB, it would be one of Buehler or White. I still beleive the highest they get is to AAA at the end of the year. Buehler will have his innings monitored and capped this year, so it is extremely doubtful that he gets to LA.
Great writeup on the RC Hi-A pitching rotation – after reading it, I checked into getting tickets for the Quakes @ San Jose. Mitchell White would presumably be pitching in front of family and friends at that stadium.
It was just announced that Ryu will be in the rotation and that Wood will be on the team. I still think they will keep Stripling. I don’t see a need to keep stretching him out with all of the depth in the minors, along with Wood. So with Jansen, Dayton and Romo locks to make the team, that leaves two spots open.
–
Avilan
Morrow
Baez
Hatchet
Fields
Liberatore
–
Just hurry up and trade Avilan, Barnes and Wood to the Orioles for Brad Brach! I’ll throw in Fields too…
I think you’re overpaying. Wood should be enough in my opinion. Throw in Hatcher since he would be DFA’d anyways if such a deal was made. I think we would be able to hand onto Barnes and should. 15 days or more with Wilson and Farmer would be ugly. I think Baltimore just signed Beef Wellington Castillo too.
I watched the White Sox broadcast of the game. At least as much as I could take of their god awful broadcasting team. I can’t stand Ken Harrelson. Ryu wasn’t as pinpoint sharp, but was effective enough. He was having problems with his curve ball especially in the first inning. He couldn’t throw one for a strike and then hung one for Melky. His change-up was terrific at times. Steve Stone, who can analyze pitches with his nasally, whiny voice but not much else, made a point that Ryu had enough steam on his fastball to get guys out with the high strike. He sets them up curve and change up and then blows it by them high. The White Sox got a couple goofy hits. A bunt that went over a charging Gonazalez’ s head and landed in short RF as well as a flair that proceed the White Sox second HR off of Ryu. That dinger was just a fastball in the middle of the plate that Ryu tried to bust in on the hitter. The White Sox broadcast did not show radar.
Not a whole lot else to talk about. Puig made two nice plays on sinking liners. SVS ripped a ball up the middle that hit the CWS pitcher. I think Grandal will K less this year. Morrow didn’t look particularly good. Hard hit outs. Avilan recovered well from his shelling last Tuesday.
I cannot say I am disappointed that Ryu has made the rotation. Ryu has worked hard to get back, has done well in ST, and is not a relief pitcher. I see no possibility that Stripling is not on the ML team. RHRP is where the questions are, and Stripling has been solid this spring. It appears that FAZ believes that both Stripling and Wood are more valuable as relievers than starters, at least for now. They both are multiple innings relievers and will undoubtedly be used quite a bit in April. I guess two Andrew Miller types are better than one. If FAZ is selecting the best seven for the pen, then both Stripling and Wood belong. Baez will probably start on the DL. Morrow and Avilan should then be the final two. Option Liberatore and Fields, and DFA Hatcher.
.
Now the question becomes, who does Urias replace?
McCarthy will be do for a DL stint by then or they may give Ryu and mysterious trip to the 10-day DL for a little rest. As someone who just had the labrum surgery that Ryu had, I’m happy for him. I’ve resisted throwing a baseball until last night. I played a little light catch from about 12-15 yards. It’s a bit scary at first. Definitely uncomfortable. Throwing and elbow surgery in there too. Even, if it was just a clean up, it’s been a lot of work on his part. I’m sure the Dodgers could have put him in AAA for another start or two, but they did the classy thing by rewarding his work.
Justin Masterson will be manning the mound in OKC this summer. Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal.
Organizational depth.
–
Some people will lose their minds over this.
–
I think the Dodgers will have to overpay to get Brach…
I remember when Masterson was supposed to be a young stud for Cleveland. Definitely more potential there than Fabio Castillo. They may have to overpay for Brach, but their starting pitching is pretty ugly and they would still have Givens, O’day, and Britton.
Their starting pitching is not just pretty ugly, it is very ugly. Jayson Aquino looks like he will be in the bullpen this year, as will Logan Verrett. The O’s spent so much on offense and ignored their starting pitching. Their team is built to win now with a solid offense and an excellent bullpen, and no farm system to speak of. They will not be able to sign Adam Jones/Manny Machado/Zach Britton when they become FA after 2018. That is also when Brach becomes a FA. And they will not be able to flip Chris Davis or Mark Trumbo to build their farm like ChiSox did with Sale and Eaton. Alex Wood would vault to a top of the rotation pitcher with Baltimore as he was with Atlanta. And Wood would give one more year of player control than they have with Brach. I think the Dodgers have leverage because of the urgency that Baltimore must feel. I think the O’s need Wood more than the Dodgers need Brach. I don’t know if I would offer more than Wood. I might include Barnes if they were to trade with Tampa Bay for Alex Colome.
Well I thought that FAZ would pick up a veteran for the OKC rotation. As long as both Stripling and Wood make the 25 man out of Spring, I can see FAZ picking up one more veteran to add to the OKC roster. With Stewart on the DL, the Dodgers will have one prospect in the rotation, Trevor Oaks, and four veteran organizational depth pitchers, Andrew Thurman/Justin Masterson/Fabio Castillo/ Wilmer Font. Winning at the minor league level is secondary to player development, and there is no reason to rush pitchers at the lower levels when they do not need to. This is a good signing.
.
Masterson says that he is agreeable to becoming a reliever. When Stewart returns from the DL, I can see Masterson joining the bullpen at OKC to see how he performs there. I haven’t see enough of Masterson to know if he can become a quality reliever, but it cannot hurt to try. It is only a minor league contract, but you are right, some will lose their minds.
Before he came to the majors in 2007, BA said he had the “out pitch and poise… to be closer.”
Kazmir’s physical condition is a bummer! Fortunately, he isn’t needed and was trade fodder. It will help if FAZ “insured” his contract, but, I think his 2017 and 2018 salaries would still count against the luxury tax if he is finished. Let’s hope he can work through whatever this problem is. Alot of teams could use a healthy Kazmir.
I don’t know where Buehler starts the year, but I would love to see a spot start or two in LA.
Your right Mark, Harold’s article is a good one. He does an excellent job covering the minor leaguers, much like AC. Speaking of AC, good call on Morrow, the former #5 overall draft pick is looking studly! Must have been a reason he was drafted before, Andrew Miller, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum and Max Scherzer.
.
Ron Cervenka has a good article on Morrow next to Harold’s article.
Thanks for pointing out Morrow’s draft standing, Boxout.
.
Hopefully, there was good reason he was drafted before those other guys and the Dodgers were able to get him while his stock was low.
.
On the other hand, it could turn out like Greg Odeon in the NBA – in 2007, Oden was drafted before Kevin Durant, Al Horford, and Joakim Noah – 3 All Stars and he turned out to be a total bust.
There is some talk that White and Beuhler may throw some innings in the LLA series. I have not seen either pitch.
We are just about ready to strap it on. It will be interesting to see who makes the team. I am rooting for Segedin and Taylor. They have earned it.
No one seems to know if Kazmir’s contract is insured, you would think it would have to be along with all of the big contracts to older and injury prone players. I think they had to start him to prove how far away he really is from being competitive. His attitude and team spirit don’t impress, but he may get on track for later in the season.
–
Options won’t be a major issue for final cuts as Kike, SVS, Thompson, Toles, Taylor, Segedin, Wood, Stripling, Liberatore, Baez and most all but Gutierrez and Hatcher still have at least one left. Hatcher and Fields should not make it, Morrow would be a veteran bridge along with Romo to Jansen.
–
Gutierrez sticking around all season will be a product of his production and the health of Ethier and Thompson and the play of Puig, Toles, SVS and Segedin and how Joc handles lefties. His contract is not too much to swallow and he could go on the DL at any time. Positional versatility should be more important than a RH bat off the bench and a start here and there in LF.
–
Seager may not be ready, that really gives Taylor a leg up as the superior SS in the utility battle. The final cuts may not go the way we think but some guys are really making the decisions difficult.
Can’t argue with any of that.
.
Let’s hope we are Kazmir sellers at the deadline!
Vegas
That is exactly what I thought about the Dodgers, letting Kazmir start yesterday.
I thought they had to show Kazmir himself, he isn’t close.
I agree with Mark’s take on Kazmir.
Kazmir’s control, and velocity is not there, because of his chronic condition.
I said something similar last night about Kazmir. He doesn’t strike me as a team first guy. I was kind of happy to see him fail so he can’t argue about going out and doing 5 rehab games. I seem to recall that there are some deferments in his salary which should make it a tad easier to write him off as a sunk cost if and when that time comes. Mark, no I did not see his interview. Just read a few quotes.
Hawkeye
We do seem to read these things, in the same way.
Hawkeye
I just read his 24 million is deferred, from 2019, to 2021.
Makes it a lot easier to show if the door if there isn’t a roster spot for him.
Him
I agree MJ…Kazmir always thinks he’s one outing away. In 3 innings he gave up 3 hits, 5 walks, hit 2 batters, threw a WP and gave up a HR. If he wasn’t a vet who knew how to pitch it would have been even uglier! Roberts said he has to be able to compete and right now he can’t.
–
Add Avilan as a guy without options which may force Liberatore down even though I like him better. Dayton is a lock and no need for 3 lefties in the pen, unless one is Alex Wood. I think Avilan would be claimed off waivers if sent down, and Hatcher would not. Not sure if Fields has an option but Morrow has beat him out IMO. Baez to the DL gives someone on the bubble a bit more time early. I am curious to see Baez on a pitch clock during rehab, 20 seconds and a ball is called! Might do him a world of good, or perhaps make his head explode.
–
Big outing for Ryu today, a strong performance may lock down his spot. He would really add a savvy dimension and knows how to pitch without overpowering stuff. His velocity should improve as the season goes along.
I like your nod to an old friend in your song choice today Mark.
Taylor & Segedin or what is the purpose of Roster flexibility?
Surely you pick the guys in form, and move them around as the season unfolds?
Kazmir is a long way off. I’ve always been a big Ryu fan & hope he makes it.
Hopefully if he slots in at #5 to start off, he can be managed during the first few weeks of the season as may be able to get an extra days rest here & there.
Utley is making it hard to overlook him
With his stellar play.
Either way, only one week to go!!
Watford
I got what you meant about that!
SVS has always had deceptive speed. No one will confuse him for Omar Moreno, but we’ve seen him over the years leg out hustle doubles and cut off balls in the outfield and then gun out guys trying to take an extra base. He’s had pretty good assist numbers in the past in memory is accurate and I think it comes from people mistaking him for a big, slow plodding first baseman who is playing outfield and it just isn’t the case. He’s actually a good outfielder and a good base runner. When he first started playing 1B, he was quite bad at it and he’s come a long ways there too.
Appreciate the informative comments on SVS, Hawkeye. I read once that his dad, Andy Van Slyke, taught him how to run proper outfield routes since he was a kid. SVS is pretty good defensively in the outfield.
Yeah, SVS has good genes. Dad had 245 career steals, with only getting caught 59 times.
Dad can’t keep a secret, but he was fast.
I think SVS will make the opening day 25 and I like that. Until Agon plays through a couple of weeks to prove his health, he could at any moment be unable to play due to his neck or elbow. Utley could play 1st base but at this point in his career, he struggles against lefties.
.
Kazmir, like a cat, has 9 lives. He has a few left.
I guess that is true about Kazmir, as long as teams, like the Angels, and Dodgers, continue to sign him, beyond one year, or at all, by this point.
Hawkeye
I think one year Scotty had the most assists on the team, even though he only played part time.
But for some reason, Scotty isn’t as good in right field, as he is, in left.
B7 – that made me chuckle
I like Wilson as backup catcher over Barnes. I like his experience, and he is probably as good a catcher as Barnes. Barnes is a better hitter, so it is a tough choice. Wilson does not want to go down to the minors, so they may release him if he doesn’t make the team. He just LOOKS like a catcher. To me, Barnes has always been on the small side for that position, but there are smaller catchers playing these days. If Wilson makes the team, Barnes will go AAA and wait for the next chance. At what point does he want out?
Bobbie17
Maybe because the catchers are protected from being run over, a catchers size, isn’t that much of an issue, in today’s game.
But I still hate that new rule.
It’s official
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/03/scott-kazmir-to-begin-season-on-dl.html?fv-home=true&post-id=88473
Box, that’s an amazing list you mentioned above! Morrow def has talent; hopefully he’s healthy.
It takes me awhile for some players, but I admit that he belongs on the DL. However, there is absolutely no reason to release him. If they need the roster spot, they can put him on the 60 day just like they did to Hatcher in 2016, even though Hatcher did not believe he was a 60 day DL candidate. I believe they can place the player on the DL 5 days before season starts (that is when the 10 day/60 day calculator begins). The worst thing that happens is that Kaz stays on the DL for the full year and then gets released. The best is that he gets better physically and then mechanically and can help out at the end of the year. Either way, his contract is a sunk cost with no current value. Just move on. Next man up. Wood is now one step closer.
.
I am not positive, but I believe those insurance plans only payout when the player is deemed unable to perform throughout the remaining term of the contract. And I beleive that it has to be medically supported. There are undoubtedly other restrictions, because not all contracts are insured.
.
Austin Barnes is actually a good defensive catcher. Bobby Wilson is a ML experienced backup catcher. If Wilson is selected as the backup, that pushes Barnes back to AAA, and Farmer back to AA. I think that would retard the development of both Barnes and Farmer. I still find it interesting that Wilson has been playing more recently. Maybe FAZ is getting a longer look to see if Wilson can be a true backup consideraton, and then maybe Barnes does become part of a trade package. I have mentioned Brad Brach since last year as a target. But I do not think Baltimore is in a hurry to move him because of lingering questions on the health of Britton. But with the question of the health for the RHRP, there has to be some discussion with somebody. Maybe Andrew can go back to Tampa Bay and ask for Alex Colome and see what that would take. I have felt for a long time that Austin Barnes would be a perfect fit in Tampa. Ramos signed a two year deal, but who knows if his surgically repaired ACL will let him catch full-time. None of their internal choices are considered options which is why they signed Norris. Wood gives them another young starter, and makes it more palatable to move Cobb. Cedeno becomes their closer until Boxberger comes back, or stays there. If my wheels are turning, I am sure that FAZ wheels are churning faster. If it is deemed fair value for Wood and Barnes for Brach, then no one should complain about the return being Colome.
I do not think that Romo needs a lot of time to get ready. He needs to pitch at least one game in the freeway series. It would be best if he went one inning each in back to back games. Same with Jansen.
.
Harold Uhlman is a Dodger minor league prospect guru. He is generally more positive and upbeat about most Dodger prospects than even I am. I know prospects are only prospects, until they aren’t. Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout were simply prospects early in the minor leagues careers as well. It is not the point that nobody in the Dodger organization will become Kershaw or Trout, but they may become valuable members of a championship 25 man roster. They all start out in a rookie league or A ball. The plan is to pinpoint the “untouchables” early and then plan the next level, and then the next, and then the next…Right now, IMO the untouchable prospects should be Bellinger/Buehler/White/Alveraz. One of Keibert Ruiz or Will Smith should be just behind.
.
Buehler and White will be starting in A Ball. Right now White is on the Rancho roster, while Buehler is on the Great Lakes roster. I do not believe FAZ wants Buehler pitching in the mid-west in April, so I think he will either be in extended ST or go directly to Rancho. I think he is slated to pitch in the freeway series. If he pitches well, he will probably get re-assigned to Rancho. That would place Buehler/White/Alveraz/Abdullah/Boyle as the Rancho starting rotation. Ron Cervenka will be in heaven. If any player/pitcher has a shot at going from A Ball to MLB, it would be one of Buehler or White. I still beleive the highest they get is to AAA at the end of the year. Buehler will have his innings monitored and capped this year, so it is extremely doubtful that he gets to LA.
Great writeup on the RC Hi-A pitching rotation – after reading it, I checked into getting tickets for the Quakes @ San Jose. Mitchell White would presumably be pitching in front of family and friends at that stadium.
It was just announced that Ryu will be in the rotation and that Wood will be on the team. I still think they will keep Stripling. I don’t see a need to keep stretching him out with all of the depth in the minors, along with Wood. So with Jansen, Dayton and Romo locks to make the team, that leaves two spots open.
–
Avilan
Morrow
Baez
Hatchet
Fields
Liberatore
–
Just hurry up and trade Avilan, Barnes and Wood to the Orioles for Brad Brach! I’ll throw in Fields too…
I think you’re overpaying. Wood should be enough in my opinion. Throw in Hatcher since he would be DFA’d anyways if such a deal was made. I think we would be able to hand onto Barnes and should. 15 days or more with Wilson and Farmer would be ugly. I think Baltimore just signed Beef Wellington Castillo too.
I watched the White Sox broadcast of the game. At least as much as I could take of their god awful broadcasting team. I can’t stand Ken Harrelson. Ryu wasn’t as pinpoint sharp, but was effective enough. He was having problems with his curve ball especially in the first inning. He couldn’t throw one for a strike and then hung one for Melky. His change-up was terrific at times. Steve Stone, who can analyze pitches with his nasally, whiny voice but not much else, made a point that Ryu had enough steam on his fastball to get guys out with the high strike. He sets them up curve and change up and then blows it by them high. The White Sox got a couple goofy hits. A bunt that went over a charging Gonazalez’ s head and landed in short RF as well as a flair that proceed the White Sox second HR off of Ryu. That dinger was just a fastball in the middle of the plate that Ryu tried to bust in on the hitter. The White Sox broadcast did not show radar.
Not a whole lot else to talk about. Puig made two nice plays on sinking liners. SVS ripped a ball up the middle that hit the CWS pitcher. I think Grandal will K less this year. Morrow didn’t look particularly good. Hard hit outs. Avilan recovered well from his shelling last Tuesday.
I cannot say I am disappointed that Ryu has made the rotation. Ryu has worked hard to get back, has done well in ST, and is not a relief pitcher. I see no possibility that Stripling is not on the ML team. RHRP is where the questions are, and Stripling has been solid this spring. It appears that FAZ believes that both Stripling and Wood are more valuable as relievers than starters, at least for now. They both are multiple innings relievers and will undoubtedly be used quite a bit in April. I guess two Andrew Miller types are better than one. If FAZ is selecting the best seven for the pen, then both Stripling and Wood belong. Baez will probably start on the DL. Morrow and Avilan should then be the final two. Option Liberatore and Fields, and DFA Hatcher.
.
Now the question becomes, who does Urias replace?
McCarthy will be do for a DL stint by then or they may give Ryu and mysterious trip to the 10-day DL for a little rest. As someone who just had the labrum surgery that Ryu had, I’m happy for him. I’ve resisted throwing a baseball until last night. I played a little light catch from about 12-15 yards. It’s a bit scary at first. Definitely uncomfortable. Throwing and elbow surgery in there too. Even, if it was just a clean up, it’s been a lot of work on his part. I’m sure the Dodgers could have put him in AAA for another start or two, but they did the classy thing by rewarding his work.
Justin Masterson will be manning the mound in OKC this summer. Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal.
Organizational depth.
–
Some people will lose their minds over this.
–
I think the Dodgers will have to overpay to get Brach…
I remember when Masterson was supposed to be a young stud for Cleveland. Definitely more potential there than Fabio Castillo. They may have to overpay for Brach, but their starting pitching is pretty ugly and they would still have Givens, O’day, and Britton.
Their starting pitching is not just pretty ugly, it is very ugly. Jayson Aquino looks like he will be in the bullpen this year, as will Logan Verrett. The O’s spent so much on offense and ignored their starting pitching. Their team is built to win now with a solid offense and an excellent bullpen, and no farm system to speak of. They will not be able to sign Adam Jones/Manny Machado/Zach Britton when they become FA after 2018. That is also when Brach becomes a FA. And they will not be able to flip Chris Davis or Mark Trumbo to build their farm like ChiSox did with Sale and Eaton. Alex Wood would vault to a top of the rotation pitcher with Baltimore as he was with Atlanta. And Wood would give one more year of player control than they have with Brach. I think the Dodgers have leverage because of the urgency that Baltimore must feel. I think the O’s need Wood more than the Dodgers need Brach. I don’t know if I would offer more than Wood. I might include Barnes if they were to trade with Tampa Bay for Alex Colome.
Well I thought that FAZ would pick up a veteran for the OKC rotation. As long as both Stripling and Wood make the 25 man out of Spring, I can see FAZ picking up one more veteran to add to the OKC roster. With Stewart on the DL, the Dodgers will have one prospect in the rotation, Trevor Oaks, and four veteran organizational depth pitchers, Andrew Thurman/Justin Masterson/Fabio Castillo/ Wilmer Font. Winning at the minor league level is secondary to player development, and there is no reason to rush pitchers at the lower levels when they do not need to. This is a good signing.
.
Masterson says that he is agreeable to becoming a reliever. When Stewart returns from the DL, I can see Masterson joining the bullpen at OKC to see how he performs there. I haven’t see enough of Masterson to know if he can become a quality reliever, but it cannot hurt to try. It is only a minor league contract, but you are right, some will lose their minds.
Before he came to the majors in 2007, BA said he had the “out pitch and poise… to be closer.”
How about those Gamecocks!