Written by Bumsrap…
Duke Snider. Hall of Famer. For many of us he was our favorite player back in our much younger days. We still love him. He was a star player on a very good team for many years. He was certainly my favorite player by far. He caught my attention as an 8 year old and stayed in my heart. But, as I have matured and evolved I have become more impressed with Pee Wee Reese, Gil Hodges, and Roy Campanella and wish I had allowed them as much room within me as I did Duke.
I used to like Don Drysdale better than Sandy Koufax but that changed as I realized that Sandy came closer to my personality than did Don. How could anybody not like Sweet Lou Johnson? The Toy Cannon was a great addition and fit with the Dodgers.
I haven’t figured out why I like a prospect but a few will make it into my heart regardless of their eventual success and stay there even if they don’t reach the success I wanted for them. James Loney would certainly be an example.
As we look at the prospects in the Dodger organization I remind myself of players that were knocking on the door in past years—some I have embraced and others I didn’t appreciate because of the threat they posed to someone I liked.
The first player that threatened to take a position away from one of my favorites was Don Demeter. How dare he threaten to take Duke’s spot in centerfield? I didn’t like to hear about Jerry Royster either as he was the up and comer to push out Ron Cey.
I was ready for Mike Marshal and Greg Brock to take Steve Garvey’s job and I didn’t seem to like the way Davey Lopes responded to Steve Sax. So for me it was Steve Sax, Gregg Brock good; Don Demeter, Jerry Royster bad.
I will hang in with Joc but I admit he is scaring me. He is so unassuming and has so much kid in him that for me, his success will be so much more fun to watch than watching a player that has already removed question marks and doesn’t show the kid within. We are watching players in their 20’s that are carrying on their backs the success of a major corporation.
So, who do we want to watch being successful? Who do we discard in hopes of a younger player being better? I have wanted to watch Pederson, Seager, and Bellinger play together. I have been interested in Peters since I saw how he played a ball off the fence in spring training. I like the Toles story. I like the speed that Smith might bring to the catcher position. I like the way Stewart climbed from A to Z in a single year. I love what Wood might become.
I am ready to enjoy what we have. In the off-season I will entertain myself with crazy trade ideas. I like what the Dodgers have in the pipeline and I like the concept of Machado coming to the Dodgers as a free agent but if he takes Turner’s spot at third then that could put Turner at first for the rest of his contract and that would keep Bellinger in the outfield for a couple more years. Until I know who gets pushed out with a Machado signing, I am not sure if I will like it.
My first question to everybody is, do you have patience, loyalty, and a sense of the personality you like to see in Dodger players or do you prefer to run players through the grist mill and wind up going with the hot hitter?
My second question is why do some commenters keep repeating what they don’t like about a player? There are not that many people making comments in here that we can’t keep track of each other’s likes and dislikes. Personally, I have taken a break from looking in here because I got tired of a few being negative. — Bumsrap
1. I see you are back – Good!
2. I love Joc…
I should have added Taylor to the guys I am intrigued about. I was an early supporter of him and said I would be okay if he started the season as the second baseman if the Dodgers didn’t get Dozier or Forsythe or Baez. He has far exceeded our expectations.
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Taylor is not a platoon player. Right now, he looks like an everyday player. With Turner out for awhile and Forsythe going to be eased back into the lineup, and Joc out for a week, Taylor will continue to get opportunities to solidify himself into the lineup.
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Taylor might be the trade of the 2016. He might be the Dodgers’ Trea Turner.
Good article. The one thing I would like to add is just because you may like Joc and I may not, or you may like Lopes and I may like Lacy, or you may like Yeager and I may like Scioscia doesn’t mean one of us is negative or that one of us is a better Dodger fan. You’re idea of negativity may be different than mine, but I would not want to participate in these discussions if everyone was always on the same boring page. An open mind is a terrible thing to waste.
We don’t disagree Rudy. Disagreeing is not being negative. Repeating oneself continuously about injuries or slow starts is being negative though. Clearly, there are those that see the Dodgers as a glass half empty.
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The Dodgers are in a good position to win another Division and as the season progresses, they may need to make a trade if it looks like they are a player away from giving them the best chance to advance through the playoffs.
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I try to not be a fair weather fan for players. For me, some players are more likable than others and each of us has our own criteria for what likableness is. I wonder how long some will hang with Bellinger as his strike out rate climbs? I suspect, like Trout, he might have to briefly dip back into the minors before he stays up for good, but I will always like him as a favorite.
… or as Terry Forster often said, “A waist is a terrible thing to mind.”
Right on Rudy… It’s hard to imagine Kumbaya on a site like this… Dropping by other sites definetely makes me appreciate Ladodgertalk…
Sometimes I may expect more from a player after he’s been in the Lg. for awhile and has had a meteoric rise thru the minors… Joc and Puig are two of those for me…
All I want is a ring before I leave this troubled world…
P.S. I’ll take Big D vs. clubhose pain in the arse Sutton anyday… Koufax was not from this world, but he left his personality at home…
I’m just glad we talk strictly baseball here and not about the weather, or recipes, or other mindless topics like they do on some sites when they’ve run out of baseball things to discuss. By the way, it’s beautiful here in Oregon today. :0)
Time to hit Waterfront Park in Portland, where the 60’s never left…
Dodger surprise of the year… Toles, from bagging groceries to the Bigs practically overnight… Would have loved to see how he progressed…
PeterJ: “Time to hit Waterfront Park in Portland, where the 60’s never left…”
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Have fun! But please, don’t forget there is nothing worse than a bunch of 60 yr olds acting like it is still the 60’s.
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I used to enjoy seeing the women in Mini Skirts, but that was on 20 something yr old women, not a sixty yr old. Makes me cringe just thinking about it, do leave the bellbottoms and beads at home!
The great Jeff Passan takes an early look at 2018.
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The Yanks with Machado AND Harper?!?!?!
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Yikes
https://yhoo.it/2qhLRnP
Excellent article – the ones who have been players in the FA market up to now are pretty screwed!
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If people didn’t understand FAZ up to now, they will after reading this!
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Uh, OK, no they won’t!
I think my loyalties are to the DODGERS!
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I like many of the players and don’t usually forget these guys are only in their twenties and thirties. So I try to understand when they do knuckleheaded things. However, what I like best about individual players, is their ability to hit a liner or a ball over the outfield fence or the ability to throw the baseball past the other team’s batters. When they can’t do that or lose the ability to do that it may sadden me, but I am actively looking and expecting management to find someone who can, case in point, Adrian Gonzalez.
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Gonzalez is a player I admired for a long time. I really hoped the Dodgers would pursue him in free-agency. Didn’t like the “trade” but liked what Gonzalez brought to the team. But now, when I see him absolutely crush a ball, like last night, and see the center fielder catch it in front of the warning track, I am ready to trade him in to better the DODGERS. I guess for me the biggest thing I will not tolerate from a player, and causes me to be “disloyal” is being a victim to “father time”. If Gonzalez was 25 instead of 35 yr old, I would be a lot more understanding and loyal.
Well said Box. I could have done without Jeff Kent and Louis Gonzales and Lowell(sp).
Bums, after Game 3 of the 2015 NLDS, I was a one man fan club of Alex Wood, and caught all sorts of nonsense. Now it seems that everybody (especially the so-called experts) are saying how they all knew that Wood was going to be this good. He is going to falter (that is baseball), and they will be back on the Wood is not very good wagon.
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There are Puig fans who constantly point to how talented he is. I am not one of those. I am not convinced that he is a talented baseball player. He is very talented athletically, but that does not always resonate onto the baseball field. I agree that he has a great arm and runs to the ball well. But when most fans talk about talent they are talking about what he was like in 2013/2014 offensively. Yes he has a fair number of HR and RBI, but for 2017 I can really remember only one time when he came through in the clutch. He has been fantastic in games that were already decided. In late and close Puig has had 28 PA, and is batting .160/.250/.280/.530, 1 HR and 3 RBI. Compare that to the other corner position players:
JT – 23 PA, 9 H, 0 BB, 5 K, .474/.565/.684/1.249
AGon – 25 PA, 7 H, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K, .318/.375/.364/.739
Cody 3 RBI,16 PA, 5 H, 1HR, 1 BB/ 6 K, .313/.353/.500/.853
That is what frustrates me. RF is an offensive position, and Yasiel is not producing and has had a lot of opportunities.
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With respect to Joc, I have been steadfast in my indifference. I recognize that he is the only true CF anywhere near the ML level, and he has huge power potential. I have never believed he was an elite defensive CF, but a good one. I have maintained that he should have been given the opportunity to play against all-pitchers. The fact that he has not seems to indicate that management does not agree. I hope Joc comes back on fire, but would not be surprised if he did not.
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I absolutely agree with your premise that we each have players we give our heart to, and not all are always supportable. Other than Alex Wood, I also live and die with each pitch or AB with Kershaw, Seager, Forsythe, Bellinger, and Taylor. Farm players…Walker Buehler (far and away #1), Yusniel Diaz, Carlos Rincon, Mitchell Hansen, Caleb Ferguson, Josh Sborz, Keibert Ruiz, Will Smith, Shea Spitzbarth, DJ Peters, Leo Crawford. Most of them will not make it, but some will. But I will be the same fan regardless as to how they perform.
Yep to all of that AC.
I am a Dodger fan and will be always. I have criticized some ball players and they have made me eat crow. I have always been a Taylor fan and love the way he plays the game. He is playing center field like he has been there all his life. I think he is a pretty good athlete. He hit the ball hard four times last night. He hits righties as well as lefties. Joc may not have a position when he comes back. He is the one ball player along with Romo and Hatcher that I do not think belongs on the team. At best Joc is a platoon player. He needs to be sent down to get his hitting back.
We do not need to make any trades right now. Ryu did a great job coming out of the bull pen. We now have 5 starters. Even Kike is looking good. We just need to find 7 good bull pen pitchers. We now have two guys who can eat up multiple innings. Fields, Baez and Jansen on the back end. Avilan, Liberatore and Dayton for the other two spots. It will all work out. Let Urias pitch in the minors until he gets his command back. Great time to be a Dodger.
I was on the other site for a while. I got mad so often. Especially when we were called ass kissers for defending FAZ. FAZ is not perfect, but who is.
Nice post today Bums! We all have our favorites and my root for above all else players were:
Sandy Koufax and Maury Wills;
Willie Davis and Don Drysdale;
Steve Garvey and Ron Cey;
Fernando and then Orel;
Mike Piazza;
Clayton Kershaw.
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Have we found by accident our new everyday CF? Small sample size but .344 BA and 1.026 OPS? He also solves the lead off issue and plays a decent CF, better than Kike. Joc has good routes to the ball but has to be the captain and either call the ball or back up the play. The Taylor trade is one of the best made so far by Faz.
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Love to be a fly on the wall when Boras had a closed door meeting with Dodger brass, since his 2 clients were the ones bumped from the rotation. If Ryu is traded it will likely be because Boras forced it, don’t think Ryu really wants to leave the only team and town he has known. Still, what would Ryu, Joc and a prospect bring back in a trade for some offense? Probably a RH bat and a middle reliever.
Vegas
I don’t think we know quite yet, how good Taylor is, in center, defensively.
But I love his production right now, but it is still, pretty early.
And I agree with Idahoal, that Joc is going to have to start producing very soon, or he won’t be playing center, everyday.
I thought after the first inning, Maeda pitched a pretty good game.
And it seems like he is pitching much more confidence, lately.
I really like when we play as a team, like we did last night,
and I call that, the Robert’s factor!
Because almost every player in the line up last night, helped us, win that game.
My criticisms of the Dodgers have had to do with the way that they are constructed. If you want to label me as negative or a “basher”, then fine.
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I don’t like:
1 – not knowing who the 5 guys in the rotation are going to be from week to week
2 – having at least one of the 5 injured nearly every week – apparently by design
3 – having more pitchers injured even though they pitch less
4 – having the same offensive deficiencies year after year (poor hitting with RISP, trouble with lefties, etc.)
5 – an apparent overreliance on statistical analysis.
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I think that as fans we are permitted to cheer when someone does well and boo when they don’t. If a player underachieves we notice and talk about it. When they excel we talk about that too. If Hill doesn’t pitch due to injury, for example, we can complain about the player (and some have, claiming that he should have toughened his fingers during the off season to avoid blisters) or about the Braintrust who decided to sign him in spite of the warning signs (this has been my point of course).
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Most of the criticism has been reserved for the Braintrust. The changes in the way that the Dodgers are being run have not been accepted by all fans. Nor do they need to be. As fans who root for a team we are allowed an opinion on these things. If anything, what frosts me is the occasional rant from some posters who bellow that the Braintrust knows more about baseball than anyone here and have access to more information than anyone here so we should just shut up and let the geniuses do what they do. Of course, you could make the same claim about any Dodger management team in franchise history but that didn’t stop the ranters from criticizing other management teams.
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For example, all of the complaints about Don Mattingly and Joe Torre – and Ned Colletti (much of it warranted). Some still complain about them. But who here knows more baseball or has more information than any of Mattingly, Torre and Colletti?
I can’t remember anybody that defended Mattingly more often than I did. Some of his decisions seemed strange but that could have been due to an injury the team was trying to keep quiet or a disciplinary measure. I always felt he was not so good at winning battles but good at winning wars.
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You probably lean toward a glass half full but you make your case for it. I personally don’t think you are negative. You point out flaws but those flaws while keeping the Dodgers from playing .600+ ball, they don’t look like they will prevent the Dodgers from winning 94+ games.
Dodgerrick, at the risk of being politically incorrect and getting the rath of Bobbie17, I do not think you are negative. Quite the contrary, I look forward to reading your takes. You and I have disagreed any number of times. We do agree on keeping with a five man rotation and changing the offensive approach to generate more runs WRISP.
We do have different beliefs as to how a team should be built, the necessity of a rotation of 200 IP pitchers, and of course with Alex Wood.
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I believe the “Braintrust” has created the depth to still put together a team that can win 90+ wins and can still win with Kershaw on the DL and now JT. I agree with the 40 man roster as opposed to just the 25 man. Do I wish the Dodgers had Quintana, or Salazar, or Archer as the #2 rather than Rich Hill? Yes, but Hill was the best option available. I still believe he will be a good pitcher. I believe there are untouchables in the minor leagues, and if the cost is Walker Buehler, I would not be okay if FAZ moved him for any of those mentioned.
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I would love to have a RH power bat, or a good OBP OF. I have been a long-time advocate for Lorenzo Cain. He does not have power, and his average is down, but he gets on base, and plays an excellent CF. I was okay with a Braun trade, even with all of his baggage. The Dodgers need difference makers right now.
I forgot to add I do not think that I have more baseball knowledge than Mattingly, Torre, or Colletti. I was never a Torre or Mattingly fan, but their baseball knowledge cannot be questioned. I think it is hard to judge Colletti because of the McCourt era.
“My criticisms of the Dodgers have had to do with the way that they are constructed.”
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Well, you can’t put that on FAZ. When Friedman was hired, the Dodgers owed $154Million Dollars a year (except for Greinke it was for at least 3 more years) to just 8 players, most of whom were DRAMATICALLY OVERPAID: Crawfish, Gonzo, Kemp, Ethier, Arruebarruena and Guerrero.
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Oh, and Friedman had the mandate to BUILD THE FARM and by the way, win now too!
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And, to top it off, the team had the highest payroll already. So, even if FAZ had been STUPID ENOUGH (yes, stupid is the right word) to sign expensive free agents, the budget would not allow it.
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So, here were are:
1. The Dodgers have kept winning (maybe not it all, but they are a top team);
2. The FARM is the envy of most teams;
3. The Dodgers are in a position to win it all this year; and
4. After 2018, they are really in the catbird seat (see the article Bluto posted).
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Yes, I would say you are a basher who assumes facts not in evidence.
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At the old board, they had two lunatics, two morons who always took the opposite stance I took (and when I switched, they switched back) and one fool who just hates FAZ.
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I have decided lunatics, morons and fools are not worth my time. Is that Politically Correct, Bobby 17?
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Joy To The World!
Great – I’m a basher and apparently a lunatic, a moron and a fool?
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I post here in part because there hasn’t been name calling or personal attacks. ( Also, due to the fact that only baseball is spoken here and due to the fact that most here have interesting takes.) Now I will think that over.
If you add the word knucklehead you will get Yahtzee :0)
Rick, I can’t speak for Mark but I don’t think he was trying to single you out.
I, for one, enjoy your posts. Everyone needs to respect the two sides of every coin. I hope you stay on site.
Yeah I also hope dodgerrick stays. I know exactly who the “two lunatics, two morons who always took the opposite stance I took (and when I switched, they switched back) and one fool who just hates FAZ.” were on the old board and none of them were you!
Very funny line Rudy: “If you add the word knucklehead you will get a Yahtzee”.
Rick,
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You said: “If you want to label me as negative or a “basher”, then fine.”
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So, I agreed that you were a basher! You gave me permission.
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I said ““At the old board, they had two lunatics, two morons who always took the opposite stance I took (and when I switched, they switched back) and one fool who just hates FAZ.”
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Why would you think that applied to you? I said it was at the old board and I won’t let the others in. I never intended for that to apply to present company. .. and I only called you what you gave me permission. No offense intended.
You’re right – I did. I guess I do bash or have a bash or something.
Very well stated Mark and exactly as I read it
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And compliments to Rick for accepting the clarification with aplomb.
I think Dodgerrick always states his positions clearly and gives good explanations for his feelings. I sometimes think it’s a little too critical but who the Dodgers signed for the rotation can surely be debated on the merits and the injuries should not have been a surprise based on their history. If anything the different views are refreshing and make this site interesting.
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AC and Bums contributing posts along with Marks often provocative takes make this a superior forum for Dodger Talk. The usually excellent comments are a real bonus too.
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The Cubs have not been hitting much, our pitching should hold up fine in this series. I worry about the bats as they have struggled with Arrieta in the past (remember the no hitter?) Lackey is a pros pro and Lester just had a complete game victory. We trot out Wood, McCarthy and Kershaw so they see our best. They really need to take 2 of 3 before going out on the road. The Cards can help us a lot against Colorado.
This site is getting boring. Dodger political correctness rules the day. Afraid to offend? Come on. It’s just a blog for people to talk about the Dodgers. Since when has it become ladodgertalk-lite. How many goofy trade prospects, and projected lineups does it take to fill this place up? With the exception of our host, I can’t discern any superior knowledge from any of us about this team. We are fans, and we take the time to contribute and share, and motivate other response, which is the life blood of this blog. What if they gave a Dodger blog and nobody came? On the subject of Pederson, he has not come close to his minor league stats. Moreover, he has abandoned his base stealing skills because he is no good at it at this level. He has screwed around with his swing each season, to no avail. The latest is the Pederson shuffle.The team has shown remarkable patience with his attempts to learn to hit. Right now, he is a home run threat only–once in a great while. His defense is no better than most major-league center fielders. He’s a fun guy, like Kike, but so what? I’m not sure he will ever learn to hit for average, say .270. This is negative and maybe repetitive, but we responders didn’t bring him up. I can’t wait for someone to push him from the minors. Maybe the golden boy will have more success improving his game with someone breathing down his neck.
Not sure if I have even had my name used in a sentence with “Politically Correct?”
Bobbie17, I believe there is a difference in being disagreeable and disrespectful. I do not beleve anyone on this site has been disrespectful, but I do believe there have been many disagreements. I do not consider myself any more knowledgeable or less knowledgeable than anyone else. I do have a different perspective when it comes to minor leaguers, having been the father of one for 9 years. My son was called every name in the book, and all I could do was take it. So yes I do take exception with the name calling like he just sucks, and “dumpster diving trash” as other sites have used. My son was no larger than many of the older catchers, but on a team with the svelte looking catcher like Mike Liberthal, a Philadelphia sportswriter wrote that my son needed to be tethered behind home plate. I for one am grateful that I can comment on a site whose participants are not that disrespectful.
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Nobody’s going to beg you to stay Bobbie.
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If it’s boring, don’t frequent.
Bluto
At least Bobbie doesn’t think Toles did nothing, like you do.
And I am still waiting for those other war numbers, on the other players, you mentioned.
What?
Farmer played first base yesterday with OKC.
For the record, I loved getting Alex Wood. I was just not sure he could withstand the rigors of starting and boy was I wrong. I love Wood.
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There are a lot of people on this board who Know a lot about baseball, some acquired in unique ways: AC had a son in baseball which gives him a unique perspective. I have had press access for over 10 years to press boxes, locker rooms and the like (not anymore). That give me some unique insight, but no one has more knowledge than someone who earns their living, day-in-and-day out, in baseball.
Change of subject: When I watch Rich Hill’s follow-thru, I can’t tell if he’s imitating a place kicker or or if he’s trying to fly away. Man, is he gawky.
He is what Hunter Pence might look like pitching.
Is it wrong to admit I like Hunter Pence? And Brandon Crawford?
They are good players so why not recognize the for that. I don’t dislike the Giants, just their fans.
Yes
How about this the 7 starting pitchers should get together and agree to do whatever it takes to win. Maybe they have but they are all getting a good paycheck so put winning ahead of everything else. Ryu wants to start well ok but last night was evidence that maybe he is more valuable out of the pen. Maybe not but he sure looked good but I didn’t see any 90 fastballs maybe I missed them. One time through the lineup he could be awesome. His health could keep him from this but time will tell. They are worried about their careers and rightfully so but I believe teams value winners. Zobrist has been willing to play wherever to win and he has at least 2 World Series wins and a huge contract for a guy who doesn’t always have a position. If healthy the pitching is here with a bullpen tweak or 2 but we need offense.
Maybe when Maeda’s turn to pitch comes around again Ryu will start and Maeda will come in in the 6th.
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I have been pimping pitching pairs for a long time. One guy starts and his pair always comes in in the 6th regardless. If the pitcher can’t get past the 4th, use a relief pitcher to pitch the 5th. The Pair can be flopped flopped.
Kershaw
Wood
Ryu/Maeda
Urias/McCarthy
Hill/Stewart
That gives 8 pitchers that can warm up as starters and know when they will pitch and when they will not. They pitch every 5 days and 5 of the 8 would pitch either 5 or 4 innings. Those 5 can rotate so that they pitch 5 innings one start and 4 innings their next start. They never pitch in between. That leaves 4 traditional relievers.
Jansen
Stripling
Fields
Baez
Not sure I only want 4 relievers, but I might be comfortable with 2 combinations and 5 traditional relievers. I need spend a little time to think over the various outcomes of this arrangement but might workable, particularly with the current make of the of Dodgers pitching staff.
Or we could go out and get pitchers who can throw more than five innings at a time effectively. How much are these guys getting paid anyway?
I think we have them in-house already but there are reasons to reduce their innings this year due to surgeries or youth.
Let’s use Ryu as a long man. When the starter falters, rather than get buried, bring him in with a quick hook in the 3rd or 4th and let him pitch 4 or 5.
I like better if Ryu knows when he will pitch and doesn’t have to warm up several times a game and not pitch. Let him pitch 4 or 5 innings every 5 days.
DODGERS CLAIM MIKE FREEMAN AND CHRIS HESTON
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LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today claimed infielder Mike Freeman and right-handed pitcher Chris Heston from the Seattle Mariners. Both Freeman and Heston will be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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Freeman, 29, has appeared in 37 Major League games in two seasons with the Diamondbacks (2016) and the Mariners (2016-17), batting .135 with one home run and two RBI and has a .292 career batting average with a .363 on-base percentage, 132 steals, 19 home runs and 279 BRI in 757 minor league games.
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Freeman has appeared in 16 games with Seattle this season, going 2-for-30 with three runs and slugged his first career big league home run on April 12 against the Astros. He has appeared in three games (two starts) at first base, three games (two starts) at second base and two starts at third base with the Mariners, while also making his first career pitching appearance on May 20 against the White Sox. He also spent time with Triple-A Tacoma, appearing in 15 games with the Rainiers, batting .356 (21-for-59) with 12 runs, three doubles, one triple, one homer and nine RBI along with a .424 on-base percentage. The Orlando, Florida native was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 11th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Clemson University.
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Heston, 29, has appeared in 40 games (33 starts) over four big league seasons with the Giants (2014-16) and the Mariners (2017), going 13-13 with a 4.57 ERA (98 ER/193.0 IP) and has struck out 151 batters against 78 walks. In 157 career minor league games (151 starts), Heston has gone 50-55 with six complete-games and one save, while posting a 3.63 ERA and limiting the opposition to a .256 average.
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Heston appeared in two games (one start) for the Mariners this season, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings. He has spent majority of the season with Triple-A Tacoma, making six start for the Rainiers and going 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA (12 ER/31.2 IP), while holding batters to a .228 average with 28 strikeouts against 11 walks. The Palm Bay, Florida native was selected by the Giants in the 12th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft from East Carolina University.
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To create room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred outfielder Andrew Toles (right ACL surgery) and left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir (left hip strain) to the 60-day disabled list.
Everyone is speechless.
More humor from Rudy….very funny again.
It might work if the team wants to conserve innings. You have stripling who could back up wood or hill etc. they could work on matchups versus different teams. We have a very good staff just be selfless and let Roberts manage to win. We saw some of that in the playoffs when Jansen just said pitch me when you need me and kershaw came in for relief. This is why a team can be better than the individual parts with everybody willing to sacrifice and somebody at the helm who can direct it. I guarantee the other teams are watching with concern when the roster is maximized. The dodgers are getting there and it starts at the top. I believe Roberts is willing to make the moves. This is something that mattingly was unwilling to do. He kept saying we got to get the ball to kenley whereas Roberts says we will bring kenley to the ball. Not a knock on mattingly I am just pointing out that Roberts is willing to alter the traditional way of doing things to win. I happen to agree but certainly many won’t. I think faz does.
At least I have not been called names on this board like the other board. Also this board sticks to Dodger baseball which I like. One thing I would like to see the Dodger network do is show the electronic strike zone more. The Mariners show it all the time. Some umpires are not good ball and strike umpires. The home umpire doing the Seattle – Boston game right now has really missed some calls. Time for the electric strike zone.
Maybe the Dodgers will show the box more Vin’s retirement is further in the past. Vin did not want to show up umpires.
Peace!
Muck-raker Heyman has 70 players who may impact the trade deadline:
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https://www.fanragsports.com/mlb/inside-baseball-70-players-hit-trade-block/
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Of interest to Dodger fans are (from the general to the specific)
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1. LOTS of starting pitching
2. Fair amount of relief
3. Some OF (RF) power
4. Old friend Dee Gordon rates high. I hadn’t followed Gordon at all, so two things were very surprising to me:
A. He has a bad contract (did he resign after the Dodgers traded him?)
B. He’s been slumping for 2 years!
5. Verlander is directly tied to the Dodgers
6. So is Ryan Braun (boooo!)
Taylor could allow the Dodgers trade Forsythe back to the Rays in a package for Archer.
Dee Gordon signed a 5 year $50M guaranteed contract, much of it deferred. Gordon will be paid $10.5M, $13M, and $13.5M for 2018-2020. There is also a 2021 club option for $14M with a $1M buyout.
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Heyman states that the Tigers are going to go for it because nobody is running away with the AL Central, and that they would like to honor Mike Illitch. Morosi says that the Tigers will make all of their veterans available if they are still below .500 at the end of June. J.D. Martinez would be a good rental, so here’s hoping the Tigers play no better than .500 the rest of the year.
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There were no surprises on the list (except no mention of Matt Harvey). What FAZ seems to do (or at least how I read it), he lets the big spenders go for the big trades (i.e. Cole, Quintana, Archer). That would leave Alex Cobb, Jake Odorizzi, Justin Verlander, and Sonny Gray as potential rotation pieces. None of which excite me. If Archer or Cole could be acquired with Kershaw, Seager, Wood, Bellinger, and Buehler the only untouchables, I would like to see them take a chance.
In honor of this day in 1959 when Pirates’ Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings for a game score of 107,I looked up how game score is calculated.
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Game Score is a metric devised by Bill James to determine the strength of a pitcher in any particular baseball game. To determine a starting pitcher’s game score:
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Start with 50 points.
Add one point for each out recorded, so three points for every complete inning pitched.
Add two points for each inning completed after the fourth.
Add one point for each strikeout.
Subtract two points for each hit allowed.
Subtract four points for each earned run allowed.
Subtract two points for each unearned run allowed.
Subtract one point for each walk.
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On June 18, 2014, Clayton Kershaw posted the 2nd highest ever game score for a 9-inning, no-hit effort. Kershaw struck out 15 while walking none, and the only baserunner was the result of a throwing error. His game score of 102 is the third-highest for a 9-inning game in MLB history (50 + 27 +10 + 15).
I will go on record ahead of time saying I would have given Wood another inning.