I was going to analyze the Dodger Bullpen today, but WOW, they have a lot of bullpen options…. so since I am not done, I will do that next week. I will not be surprised if Friedman adds another bullpen arm or two, but it’s very likley the Dodger bullpen could be great next season without any additions. The bigger question is: “What will happen at the Winter Meetings?” We…
MLB.com named the Top 10 Rotations in baseball and the Cleveland Indians were listed as #1 with Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber. The Dodgers were listed as #2 and the Nationals were listed as #3. I am going to take issue with that for several reasons: The Indians are likely to trade one of those pitchers. Almost NEVER does a team just use 5 pitchers during a sesaon….
In case you have been hiding under a rock, we are now engaged in the Baseball Hot Stove League where fans talk about trading everybody and his brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandpa, grandma as the family dog. It’s fun and we all engage in it to some degree. But, there are two rules you have to go by: #1 Believe half of what you see and none of what you…
I love this site. Without a lot going on in this so-called hot-stove league period, it is difficult to come up with topics that generate any interest. But then Dodgerrick provides an article that piqued my interest anyway. I have been harping that the Dodgers are in a cost control mode, meaning keeping payroll below the CBT threshold for reasons outside of the Dodgers operations. The article may give fans…
What are the Dodgers needs going into the 2019 season? We know they need a catcher. I discussed that in great length yesterday. I think they need a 2B other than CT3 or Kike’, but I know I am in the minority. I think the Dodgers need a leadoff batter. That is really not what Alex Verdugo does, but he seems the most logical…if he makes the squad, and there…
Why do I think that there is virtually no chance that the Dodgers will sign Bryce Harper this winter? Primarily because I do believe the leaked report that the Dodgers will not go over the CBT threshold for the next four years. I believe the Dodgers are looking at next year’s salaries and next year’s FA class and saying that it makes much more sense to wait one year before…
With Hyun-jin Ryu accepting the Dodgers qualifying offer, the Dodgers are now able to field an all LH Rotation: Kershaw Hill Urias Ryu Wood Of course, they would have to leave Buehler and Maeda out of the rotation in order to do that. Not only that, but the Dodgers have some prospects who could possibly slot into the rotation as soon as 2019. Everyone has an opinion as to who…
There are currently 38 Dodgers on the 40-man roster without consideration of either Yasmani Grandal or Hyun-jin Ryu accepting their respective QO. With the current makeup, the Dodgers will have a salary total of nearly $179MM or approximately $27MM under the 2019 competitive balance tax threshold. We will all know no later than Monday, November 8 at 2:00 PM PT if either accept. Assuming they do not accept, below is…
In 2017, the Dodgers struck out 25.5% of the time and in 2018, it went up slightly as they struck out 25.7% of the time. They were not even close to being the worst in baseball in striking out, but they were in the bottom 30%. In 2016, the Houston Astros almost led the AL in strikeouts. Tampa Bay barely beat them. In 2017, the very next year, the Astros…
Yesterday I looked at what might the team be looking at/for in 2019 with pitching (starting and relief) and catchers. Today I am looking at the infielders and outfielders. Infielders: Much of this will be determined by how Corey Seager rehabs. Will he be able to play SS as well as he did his first two years? Many do not believe that he will be able to, but much of…