I would like to take a different approach for this post. Sometimes we need a little levity. Bumsrap has been a strong fan/advocate for Joc Pederson, and Mark has been a huge fan/advocate for Yasmani Grandal. I am not the biggest fan of either (other than being a fan because they are Dodgers), but I am a big Alex Wood fan. I was also an unapologetic fan of Zach Lee. I know that Bums was also a big James Loney fan.
Discussions this past week got me to thinking that many of us grew up in different eras and became fans of different Dodgers through the years for different reasons. I know I followed the Dodgers in 1958, but I really do not remember much. My first real memory of the Dodgers was the 1959 WS and my first Dodger hero was Larry Sherry, which later made me a Ron Perranoski fan. My first jersey was #19 (Junior Gilliam). I had to have a Kenny McMullen glove. Then a Jimmy Lefebvre glove. But perhaps my all-time two favorite Dodgers are Billy Buckner and Bobby Valentine. Valentine was supposed to be the star running back after OJ at my alma mater (one year before me), but I am glad he decided to sign with the Dodgers. My one picture of Buckner on my wall is the WS ground ball hit by Mookie Wilson that Buckner missed which eventually led to a NY Met WS win and continued the Boston WS curse. I take the good with the bad. My two favorite non-Dodgers as a kid were Brooks Robinson and Roberto Clemente. Later they became Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripken, Jr.
Most Dodger fans loved Davey Lopes, not me. I was not a Davey Lopes fan because I loved Lee Lacy and I thought he deserved the 2B job over Lopes. Yes I was in a huge minority on this. But I was a fan of Lacy and not Lopes. My wife’s favoritist favorite is Ron Cey. She still has his #10 jersey. She got to meet him at a racquetball tournament run by him and Jerry Reuss at Mid Valley Racquetball Club in “The Valley”. We later reconnected with Cey because he was a scorekeeper at All Star tournaments where I managed, and their son Danny Cey was an opponent and later became one of my son’s closest friends. My closest friend’s wife was a huge fan of Shawn Green.
My wife used to like Eric Karros. My middle son saw him at a baseball camp and told him that he was his mother’s favorite. Karros responded with some unflattering comments (okay rude). My son called him a d*** and walked away. That 1B’s name is not spoken in our house. She then turned into a huge Piazza fan. I was not allowed to like Piazza because my wife and I had a pact not to like the same Dodger. At the time, I was already a fan of Brett Butler/Raul Mondesi/Dave Hansen/Ramon Martinez and later Billy Ashley and Todd Hollandsworth. We took that same pact to the River Cats where we were season ticket holders when they were the A’s AAA affiliate. That is where we both became fans of managers Tony Defrancesco and Bob Geren. They weren’t players so we could both like them. Actually I think the pact was broken with Eric Gagne.
As a slick fielding SS, my oldest son’s favorite player growing up was Ozzie, and he knew all of the Cardinals. He also became a big Garry Matthews fan. Garry Jr. lived behind us, and he would jump the back wall and come knocking on our back door all the time. Garry rewarded my son with a trip to his first ML dugout with the Cubs.
It’s easy to be a fan of Koufax/Drysdale/Sutton/Fernando/Orel/Kershaw/Seager/(and now Bellinger). But it’s the other players that we seem to gravitate to that are fun to follow, even though there are many more heartaches along the way. I know…how does one justify being a fan of Zach Lee and Billy Ashley? I know this was self-serving, but I would be interested in knowing some of your favorite Dodgers, and why.
Minor League Report
OKC – 6-2 winners over Round Rock (Texas) – Jair Jurrjens pushed his record to 3-0 with 6 IP (95 pitches). He gave up 2 runs on 9 hits, no walks, and 7 strikeouts. Charlie Culberson and Drew Maggi each had three hits. Culberson and Max Muncy each hit their 1st HR of the year. Maggi/SVS/Eibner each had doubles. Madison Younginer pitched a perfect three innings in relief (with 4 Ks) to record his 1st save.
Tulsa – Lost 4-1 to Springfield (Cardinals) – Isaac Anderson had another rough outing going 4 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strike outs. Yaisel Sierra was the pitching standout also going 3 perfect innings with 4 Ks. Mike Ahmed and Edwin Rios had the only two hits for the Drillers, as Ahmed pushed across the only run with his 1st HR.
Great Lakes – 2-1 winners over Peoria (Cardinals) – AJ Alexy went a strong 5 shut-out innings allowing 1 hit and 1 walk, with 3 strike outs. This was Alexy’s longest outing for 2017. For the year, Alexy has 6 starts, 18.1 innings pitched, giving up 3 runs (all earned) on 7 hits, 5 walks, and 23 strikeouts. Alexy’s ERA is now down to 1.47. William Soto followed with 3 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strike outs. Soto got both a blown save and the win. Sven Schuller pitched the 9th allowing 1 hit and nothing else for his 2nd save. The Loons got 4 hits from 4 different players, including Cody Thomas’ 5th HR. Keibert Ruiz is continuing his steady climb up the offensive ladder. On April 24, Ruiz was hitting .217 and his average is now up to .270.
RC Quakes – 6-0 Winners over Inland Empire (Angels) – Ryan Moseley started his 2nd game in the Dodgers organization. This one went much better than the first. Moseley, who was acquired from the Orioles for Vial Nuno, went 4 innings, giving up 2 hits and 1 walk, with 3 strike outs. Drew Istler threw the next three innings giving up 3 hits, no walks and 2 strike outs to get the win. Alex Hermeling finished up the shut out going 2 innings and allowing 1 walk, with one strike out. Luke Raley got three hits for the Quakes, while Logan Landon added two, including his 3rd HR. Ariel Sandoval also had two hits. Luke is now batting .330 for the year. Luke Raley is now batting .330 on the year.
Minor League Update
I wanted to provide an update on some of the better relievers in the organization.
Adam Liberatore should still be the next one up. He has appeared in 8 games at AAA, 9.1 innings pitched, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, and 9 strike outs. He has a .930 ERA, 1.00 GO/AO, .152 BA against, and .62 WHIP.
Layne Somsen has pitched 9 games at AAA. 14.2 innings, 9 hits, no earned runs, 6 walks and 13 strike outs. He has a .000 ERA, 1.31 GA/AO, .176 BA against, and a 1.02 WHIP.
Joe Broussard has appeared in 8 games (4 at AA and 4 at AAA), and has yet to give up a run. 14 innings pitched with 6 hits, 5 walks, and 22 strike-outs. He hasa .000 ERA, 1.71 GO/AO, .128 BA against, and a .79 WHIP.
Yaisel Sierra has appeared in 10 games with 18.2 innings pitched, and has given up 4 runs (3 earned), 12 hits, 6 walks, 19 strike outs. He has a 1.45 ERA, 2.60 GO/AO, .179 BA against, and a .96 WHIP.
Shea Spitzbarth has appeared in 9 games at high A with 13.2 innings pitched, allowing 1 run (earned), 9 hits, 5 walks, and 21 strike outs. He has .660 ERA, 1.38 GO/AO, .184 BA against, and a 1.02 WHIP.
Big favorites
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Duke Snider
Don Drysdale
Bill Russell
Ron Cey
James Loney
Joc Pederson
Elgin Baylor
Fernando Valenzuela
Erik Karros
Mike Piazza
Matt Kemp
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Favorites
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Lou Johnson
Jim Lebfebre
Ron Fairly
Don Sutton
Sandy Koufax
John Hale
Those that I liked but didn’t pull hard for
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AJ Ellis
Willie Davis
Tom Davis
Reggie Smith
Toy Cannon
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Those that I wished I had seen play more
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Pee Wee Reese
Roy Campanella
Gil Hodges
Carl Erskin
Don Newcomb
Carl Furillo
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Those that bugged me
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Steve Garvey
Bill Buchner
.
The ones I would have put here that slipped my mind
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Great post AC! You are truly a wealth of information on the Minor League affiliates, and a student of Dodger history. Your stories of personal encounters are priceless as well. My first memory was the 63 WS against the Yankees, and I loved Koufax, Drysdale and Maury Wills. I enjoyed Willie Davis, the 3 Dog.
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I really liked both Don Sutton and Steve Garvey, not sure why they hated each other and actually had a scrap where Sutton held his own. I absolutely loved Tommy Lasorda, liked Hershiser and then came Piazza who I still pulled for after being traded away. Hated Kevin Brown because they used Piazza’s $$ to sign him.
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It has been Kershaw for awhile now and I’m really pulling for Urias. Cory Seager is a second favorite now and always saw something in Puig, but Cody Bellinger is just eye popping in what he brings to the table.
Vegas
Just curious, who do you think will be the better over all hitter, Cody or Corey?
I believe Corey because of his swing, and the way he goes, with the pitch.
Great post AC… Being So-Cal born n raised, I could go on forever…
!958, a dark day for my 12 years on the planet. My Dad had to sit me down and tell me my idol was in a car accident in Brooklyn… I would never see Campy don the tools of ignorance in L.A… Of corse so many good ones followed like Rosey and Yeager… Carl Furillo had a house in Manhattan Beach and rented a bungalow to a catcher on the Dodgers named Joe Pignatano… Not exactly a well known name, but i spent hours talking to Joe about catching and he even went to a few of my practices..
One more… I promise… Ron Fairly… Helluva 1b but I got to see him throw from RF in the Coliseum and other than Colavito, never saw a gun like that…
When I first started watching the Dodgers at a young age, that was the beginning of when the infield started their streak, of playing together.
For some reason Joe Ferguson was my favorite player, and I also liked Ron Cey, a lot too.
I always thought the announcers made to many excuses when Russel would make an error on the field, when I was young.
Because they would still bring up that Russel was converted from an outfielder, to a shortstop after he had been playing shortstop in the majors, for a very long time.
And Ferguson was converted to play catcher from the outfield, and I never heard anouncers say that much, about that.
And I thought it would be harder to convert from an outfield to a catcher, at that time.
But right now I don’t have a favorite player, I really like most of the players on the team, for different reasons.
Favorite Dodgers (in no real order):
Sweet Lou Johnson
Reggie Smith
Dusty Baker
Sandy Koufax
Jimmy Wynn
Don Drysdale
Maury Wills
Jim Gilliam
Mike Marshall (the pitcher)
Favorite Non-Dodger (by far)
Roberto Clemente
I,too, was a Lacy over Lopes fan.
Dodgers who bothered me:
Gary Sheffield
Steve Yeager
Mike Piazza
Kike Hernandez
Stan Williams
Don Stackhouse
Non-Dodger who bothers me (not even close)
MadBum
Dodgers I wish I could have seen in their prime:
Pete Reiser
Roy Campanella
Zack Wheat
Response to Sunday post: Mark: I have no problem with Kershaw finishing the game, although, with a big lead, it seems stupid. A starting pitcher should take the mound with the idea he will finish the game. Kershaw likes to finish games. But with a big lead, early in the season, a CG doesn’t warrant 150 pitches. Circumstances dictate the decision, not the pitch count.
My all time favorite is Campy. I was a catcher in HS when he caught for the Dodgers. We had no TV. I could only listen on the radio and that was the game of the week. I was raised on a farm. When I was missing on Saturday, my Dad always knew where to find me. I was in the house listening to the radio. Needless to say, I was in trouble a few times. My next favorite was Drysdale, Cey and Either.
1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Sandy Koufax
3. Adrian Beltre
4. Wes Parker
5. Willie Davis
6. Bill Buckner
7. Phil Reagan
8. Mike Marshall (P)
9. Andy LaRoche
10. Russell Martin
MJ: Corey has a more natural swing and shows no pressure in big situations but Cody has more natural power and speed. Cody is making quick adjustments and bunts to beat the shift. It’s too early to be sure but over time Cody, just a gut feeling. I hope they both have long careers as Dodgers!
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Favorite opposing players:
Willie Mays
Roberto Clemente
Pete Rose
Hank Aaron
Reggie Jackson
Nolan Ryan
Mike Trout
Hated opposing players:
Jaun Marichal
Barry Bonds
Sammy Sosa
Randy Johnson
Kevin Brown
Vegas Thanks!
Vegas
I was just thinking about all of the speed, that we have on the team now.
Puig, Cody, Joc, Taylor, and Toles.
We could use these players to make a big advantage, against other teams.
Favorite Players since I started watching baseball:
Strawberry – reason I’m a Dodger fan
Kershaw
Konerko
Beltre
Turner
Mondesi
Russell Martin
Favorite Non-Dodgers
Jeff Bagwell
Edgar Martinez
Dwight Gooden – yeah I sure could pick em
My first ever favorite player, in any sport, was Pedro Guerrero. I started following the Dodgers in 1983.
As far as Corey vs Cody, I still see Corey with the higher avg, but Cody with 40hr + potential. Not a bad thing.
For now, I go with:
Toles
Corey
JT
Cody
Taylor
Joc
Puig
Grandal (or Ryu hitting for him)/ Barnes
Pitcher
They say speed never takes a day off! It makes it so much easier to manufacture runs, putting players in motion, hit and run, steals here and there, 1st to 3rd and 2nd to home.
My ideal lineup:
Toles
Taylor (taking more walks lately)
Seager
JT
Cody
Puig
Joc
Grandal/Barnes
Roberts never listens to me though! Speed up top getting on base for the 3-4-5 guys and length at the bottom when pitchers relax and throw a fat one. Only Grandal has below average speed, Barnes can run for a catcher.
Good article and thanks for the Minor League report and update. Your information is great!
I became an all or nothing Dodger fan in late 1958 or 1959.
Initially my favorite players were: Don Demeter (obviously), Sandy Koufax, Gil Hodges, Wally Moon, Charlie Neal, Jim Gilliam, Duke Snider and Don Drysdale .
In the 60’s my favorites were: Those previously mentioned still with the club, and Tommy Davis, Claude Osteen, Jim Lefebvre, Phil Regan and Frank Howard.
In the 70’s my favorite players were: Bill Buckner, Manny Mota, Ron Cey, Burt Hooten ( I always threw a knuckle curve when I pitched – just like him), Tommy John, Rick Rhoden and Reggie Smith.
In the 80’s my favorite players were: Fernando, Pedro Guerrero, Bob Welch, Steve Howe, Steve Sax, Greg Brock and Ramon Martinez.
In the 90’s and 2000 – 09 – I rooted for whomever my sons were enamored with. I did think Piazza was something truly special.
Now it’s Seager, Kershaw, Bellinger, Trevor Oaks, JT and a dozen or more of our prospects.
DODGERS PLACE BRANDON MCCARTHY ON DL
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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed right-handed pitcher Brandon McCarthy on the 10-day disabled list with left shoulder soreness (retroactive to May 5) and recalled left-handed pitcher Adam Liberatore from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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Liberatore, 29, will make his second stint with the big league club after allowing one run in one-third inning of relief in his only appearance of the season for the Dodgers on April 24 at San Francisco. He last pitched on May 4 with Triple-A Oklahoma City tossing 2.0 perfect innings of relief with one strikeout against Colorado Springs. In eight games with the OKC Dodgers, Liberatore has gone 0-1 with a 0.93 ERA (1 ER/9.2 IP) and has limited batters to a .152 average, while striking out nine against one walk.
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McCarthy, 33, last pitched on April 29 against the Phillies, allowing four runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings and did not factor in the decision in the Dodgers 6-5 victory. The right-hander has gone 3-0 in five starts this season, posting a 3.10 ERA (10 ER/29.0 IP) and holding batters to a .245 average, while striking out 25 against nine walks.
Evidently he twerked it…. not tweaked it!
1. Toles (L) LF
2. Seager (L) SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Bellinger (L) 1B
5. Pederson (L) CF
6. Taylor 2B
7. Grandal (S) C
8. Puig RF
9. Wood P
I like this lineup. As far as Grandal clogging the basis for Puig, think Puig, Toles, etc. instead of Grandal, Puig, Wood.
It is interesting though that Puig hits down in the lineup against righties and up in the order against lefties when he has reverse splits.
Bum
Puig is on a record rate for hitting into double plays, so you never know.
He has hit into three times the double plays, of anyone else, on the team.
You would have probably guessed that Grandal or Agone, would have hit in the most, double plays.
Puig is hitting 150 something against lefties now, so he has improved there, but not by much.
A big thank you to all that responded to this post. It is not easy to come up with ideas every day, especially when there is no game. This was not intended to elicit a multitude of responses. It was something that was admittedly self serving and interested me. I have a great respect for those that create and administer these blogs and who need to come up with ideas daily to spark conversation, like Mark, and Scott Andes, and Eric Stephen, and Ron Cervenka/Harold Uhlman, and Dustin Nosler/Chad Moriyama/Sarah Wexler, and Dennis Schlossman…These are all true Dodger fans who look at things differently through their own prisms and experiences.
AC
Thank you for what you do!
Idahoal
That one was for you!
Taylor hits it out and it is a slam!
Starting to fall in love with Chris Taylor here!
And san crapcisco lost again
Nice to see to see Taylor produce before Grandal came up. Time to move Yasmani to 8 hole.
The DP’s are the only reaso I would think twice about hitting Puig 2nd. All in all I like his approach this year. The process will pay off.
Thanks MJ. I watched Taylor play in Seattle. He was a good fielder but light hitter. He made changes this winter and he looks good at the plate. Fundamentally he is a solid player. Bellinger and Taylor are going to make it tough on the front office.
MY FAVORITE PLAYER IN DODGER HISTORY IS….
CHRIS TAYLOR
😉
Think I just might agree with the truth hurts. And to think that I just liked Taylor for his glove! Small sample size but he is making it look interesting with his contributions. Team starting to gel?
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In the 4th and they’ve got 10 already…hope they save some for another game. Poor Cody, hitless along with the pitcher…better move him down – hahaha
This is the everyday lineup I would like to see. I would love to see Joc play against lefties. He has to prove he can hit lefties. If not, move Toles to left and put Gutierrez in left.
Perhaps Taylor can give Bellinger competition for Rookie of the Year! Wood up to 11 K’s after 5 IP!
The Dodgers definitely won the Taylor for Lee trade whether or not this is the player he becomes or if he just becomes a good utility player. I will no longer call him a AAAA player. We all saw it in Spring Training, but sometimes it’s hard to take things seriously coming out of Camelback especially when were acquired for such a bust, he didn’t show much last year, and the way he started out at AAA this year. As a team the Dodgers may not steal a lot of bases, but they can all get around the bases with the exception of Grandal now that Agone is out.
At the time the trade was made with Seattle, it was a AAA player for a AAA player. In two years with Seattle he accumulated about one year of Major League Baseball. Taylor added weight, strength and changed his hitting over the winter. I do not know if the Dodger staff asked him to make those changes or he just did it himself. Regardless, it is working. I hope it continues. He was always a good defensive player and he runs well. With all the walks he is receiving, he also has a good idea of the strike zone.
I know that AC is most happy with the ROI on Zack Lee. When your team trades a favorite player, it is always nice to get a young player back that beats expectations. Taylor certainly has done that. Right now it looks like the Dodgers will reduce payroll next year by not having to use their option on Forsythe.
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Sometimes a young can’t miss stud doesn’t make it and sometimes a non-heralded player does. FAZ did well with Toles, Wood, and Taylor. The Dodgers were loaded with outfielders and light on infielders. They needed a prospect that looked to be a long-term solution for second and what seems like out of no where, Taylor steps in. Love it.