Actually, my wife owns some ice cream stores (hand-packed, 15% butterfat, if you want health food, eat carrots type) and one of the most popular flavors is called This $&@! Just Got Serious. It is a smooth salted caramel ice cream brimming with rich sea salt fudge and salted cashews. Of course, Spring Training is also getting serious! With Spring Training about half completed, Opening Day will soon be upon us… and we don’t even know who will start the game for the Dodgers. Buehler is being slow-walked, so it likely won’t be him. Ryu and Hill are candidates as well.
However, I have an idea: Use an “Opener” (and I don’t mean sign Sergio Romo again). Let Joe Kelly start the game (just don’t let him cook dinner)and then bring in Urias, then Chicken Strip and make it a bullpen game. Why not? I am at least half-serious about this.
You can see that Stetson Allie and Dennis Santana have to potential to be in the Dodgers bullpen this season, but neither will break with the team. Both will go to AAA to work on trusting their stuff and repeatable mechanics. Santana as a starter and Allie in the pen. Both have the stuff to close… if they trust and control it. BIG IF!
Twenty-eight year old journeyman Yordy “Lordy, Lordy” Cabrera is throwing smoke in the Cactus League… hitting triple digits with ease. This is another pitcher Andrew Friedman has resurrected from the bone pile who has a legitimate shot. He’s a good guy who has had a lot of bad luck. He has the speed and the sink to be a high-leverage reliever. Read more about him HERE.
We all know that Speed Kills and MLB.com has the Dodgers ranked as the 6th fastest team in baseball. Here’s what they say about the Boys in Blue:
6) Dodgers (Speed score: 7.6)
Fastest: RF Cody Bellinger (28.9 ft/sec), 2B Chris Taylor (28.7 ft/sec)
Slowest: SS Corey Seager (26.1 ft/sec), LF Joc Pederson (26.3 ft/sec)
The Dodgers are interesting. They don’t have a top-level speedster, but they have a lot of players who run well, and no one who really clogs up the bases. That makes perfect sense when you think about their emphasis on versatility in their roster construction. Bellinger and Taylor play both infield and outfield. Max Muncy (27.6 ft/sec) plays around the infield. Enrique Hernández (27.8 ft/sec) is a super-utility player. Even catcher Austin Barnes (27.4 ft/sec) can also play second base. Pop top free-agent signing A.J. Pollock(28.2 ft/sec) into center field, and you’ve got an all-around speedy team.
Joe “Machine Gun” Kelly if fine after his back stiffened up from cooking at a “Crawfish Boil.” If you have never had that, you have no idea what you are missing. Kelly should be banned from the kitchen.
It appears that the Hitting Coaches are working intensely with the Dodger Hitters and we see flashes of incremental improvement, but this is a work in progress and is not a magic pill. I believe they are on the right track and most, if not all hitters are buying in… but it’s going to take some time. It was good to see Joc hit a big fly and AJ hit one with authority to the opposite field. There’s a lot of work to do and lots to be decided, but with the signing of Brad Miller, I think Joc is still on the block. He just needs to start hitting… and I think you will see him moved.
I still believe that Austin Barnes and Russ Martin will form a very solid duo behind the plate. Of course, Martin is recovering from a sore back, but Barnes flashing his 2017 form. I am not sure what happened to Austin last year, but he wasn’t happy and maybe as Orel said “He needed a change from Turner Ward.”
Orel wasn’t dissing Ward… just saying that another approach was needed. Austin looks like he is having fun again. What Russ Martin has to add remains to be seen. I still think he has some gas left in the tank. We shall see him soon… maybe this weekend.
Finally, this is for MJ: Bumsrap and Hamchuck are not the same person. I can’t tell you how I know… but I know for sure.
Discussion (77)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I haven’t checked any stats, but I believe that I read that Pollack hit 9 HRs against the Dodgers in 2018. Don’t know the breakdown of those HRs between Dodger Stadium and Chase Field, nor how the HRs were distributed between the night (cooler heavy air) and daytime (warm air which makes Dodger Stadium a launching pad).
Also, being in the deeper Dodger lineup will likely make Pollack more dangerous than he was in AZ.
I agree with Idahoal, Pollock and Freese give me alot of comfort knowing they are on our side. Alot of people are bitching how we got weaker by trading Woods and Puig(who was one of my favorite players, but also drove me nuts making bonehead moves in crucial situations just trying to make something happen, instead of letting the game come to him), but after watching alot of spring training games, we are looking kind of scary. Joe Davis and Orel were commenting today that we have so much major league ready talent that is blocked right now in so many positions. Great problem to have. Once again, Freidman has built alot of depth instead of going after crippling contracts like Harpers with the Phillies. We are in a great position to make a major move on July 31st to get us into a 3rd World Series in a row. Don’t know why, but I have a great feeling that this team is going to be lights out like 2017. The pieces are in place, screw Bill Plashke, this is the year we are going to get it done. Don’t have the rose colored glasses on and ain’t drinking the KoolAid, just being real. Count on it, and print your 2019 World Series tickets. Heard it here first. Ain’t gonna back it off.
Mr. Timmonson,
Speaking off your article. I for one hate the new trend of starting relief pitchers for one or two innings and going into the BP the rest of the way. Takes away for the tradition of the game. Once the traditional ways of any culture are broken, removed, sullied in any remarkable manner the system surrenders to chaos and drifts slowly into the abyss. The game has already introduced new technology of instant replay, time clocks and child labor into the ranks. Any further Radical Degradation of the Tradition could ruin the game. In a way, like the Country going from Capitalism to Socialism. 🙂
Just checking in. Other than reading an article on LA Sports Hub that states, Joc, Pollock and Kelly will all fall short of expectations. I wish the Dodgers would put more into the running game, but when those days are long gone.
It certainly going to be comfortable to know Pollock and Freese are on our team. Two professionals.
Kenta Meada looked very Good.
JD Martine… I mean Kike Hernandez is locked and loaded!
Will Smith showed the catching skills that can get him to MLB – he also showed what can keep him out – hitting. Gale will get the call first.
Ruiz, Lux and Smith are headed out.
MJ,
For some reason your comments were held in moderation. I am not sure why but I freed them.
Good pitching by LAD thus far. Outstanding 3 perfect innings by Kenta, followed by a perfect inning by KJ. Yimi had another good outing. He last pitched Wednesday, so he is getting closer to pitching in consecutive days. Jaime Schultz yet another solid outing. Sborz wasn’t perfect, allowing singles to Encarnacion and Santana, but getting Haniger and Healy on a fly out and force out before striking out Rodriguez. AA reliever Parker Curry finishes with 2, even with allowing a couple of hits in the 9th. With a lot of thanks to Rocky Gale behind the plate.
Garcia, Schultz, and Sborz pitched in their 5th game, tieing them with Kevin Quackenbush and Stetson Allie for the team lead.
Will D. Smith showed why he is considered ML ready behind the plate with a tremendous throw to get Cesar Izturis Jr. in an attempted steal.
Good feel good story on Detroit Tiger pitcher Matt Boyd:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/detroit-tigers-pitcher-matthew-boyd-on-a-mission-to-end-sex-slavery/ar-BBUz14B?li=BBnb7Kz
Two home runs for Kike’ today. He is now in a three way tie for most home runs this spring.
Kike or Taylor, who should lead off against righties?
Because these guys have both, speed and power.
Miller in LF today
Hey, since Julio has been pitching so well in ST, why not let him be the opening day pitcher IF CK is not ready to go? Think about it, Julio could come in and shut down the snakes and become Fernando 2.0! This could also ease the loss of Puig for the hispanic fans! Hey MJ, I too miss the Naugles in Corona, they had a great cheeseburger! I’ve lived in Corona for 25 years now. Great people for the most part, and its location to the mountains, deserts and beaches is nice too.
Mark
You know I respect you and I want to really believe you, but out of respect to you, I will let it go.
Sometimes it is hard for me to come on and say what I think is realism as opposed to somewhat blind optimism. I do not want to come across as critical of players, but sometimes realism needs to creep in, especially in the Spring. Two years ago the talk of ST was a young reliever, Shea Spitzbarth. He had such a great spring that I believe he did get to come back to LA to pitch in the Freeway Series before being re-assigned to Tulsa. He pitched well (very well) the first several games only to fall back down to earth when the “big boys” began to play most of the games. His final ST numbers were not impressive, but I do believe that 7 of the 9 games he did pitch, he pitched well. Today, Shea is not really on the radar screen for a ML spot with the Dodgers.
Today, Stetson Allie, and lately Yordy Cabrera have gotten notice from the team and fans. Allie is not a new kid on the block like Spitzbarth, but he does possess that 100 MPH arm which cannot be taught and cannot be controlled by most. Stetson turns 28 on Wednesday. Last year he pitched at three levels but did not distinguish himself at any of them.
RC – 22 G, 19.1 IP, 6.98 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, 31 K, 15 BB, 6 HR
AA – 11G, 12.2 IP, 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 18 K, 8 BB, 1 HR
AAA – 13 G, 10.0 IP, 6.30 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 8 K, 8 BB, 2 HR
Overall – 46 G, 42 IP, 5.57 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 57 K, 31 BB, 9 HR
He has not yet mastered MiLB, so how can he be expected to master ML hitters over an extended period of time? Maybe this year he goes back to OKC and learns how to harness that fastball and get command of a secondary pitch. Then he can be on the short list. 28 is not too old to make the leap. But we need to let him taste success at the lower levels. Allie went all ST without issuing a walk, and then last night, after 2 outs in the 8th, he issued back to back walks, which is what he has been known to do. The last time I checked, holding runners on is part of the pitcher’s game, and yet Nick Heath got such a huge jump that no catcher could have thrown him out at 2B, much less a 20-year-old with an average arm. I know that Kenley has the same problem, but Allie is not close to Kenley’s ability. Until last year, Kenley and walks were not an issue.
The same is true for Cabrera. If the arm was the only measurable, Yadi Alvarez would be in the ML. Time and patience are not just needed for Allie and Cabrera, but also for Santana, Gonsolin, May, White, Ruiz, Lux, Estevez, Peters…To a lesser degree, Smith, Beaty, and Rios. None of those three would embarrass themselves at the ML level but would not be regulars with the Dodgers. Santana is closest to becoming a SP at the ML level, but he is not ready yet. Dennis Santana…meet Whit Merrifield. 2 WPs trying to do too much. Dennis will either be in the rotation next year or be a very high leverage late inning reliever on his way to perhaps becoming a lights out closer. Just not this year.
From JP Hoonstra (or was it someone else?):
`
Pollock is consistent when healthy. Remarkably, he has never gone more than seven consecutive plate appearances (not AB) without a hit.
Barnes is looking very good now let´s see the same when the games start to count.
It is time to move Pederson, I think Miller will be more valuable coming off the bench then Pederson.
Cabrera could be very interesting, let´s see what happens.
I agree with you about Allie, and Santana.
There is 19 inches of snow on the ground and starting around noon until tomorrow morning we are looking for 10 to 15 inches more, the record for March is 31 inches on the ground, anything over 12 inches and we have a new record. Time to hit the trails.
For Vegas Dodger:
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/safety-and-welfare-measures-to-be-instituted-at-santa-anita/
If the Dodgers use an opener on opening day, I’m gonna throw up. And I’m not sure why you think it’s a good idea to have a relief pitcher start the game and have two All-Star caliber Starting Pitchers follow him. Why not just have Strip or Julio start the game and throw Kelly in the 7th or 8th where everyone belongs?
I have a question. We have a ton of people on this site that read and comment every single day, which is a great way to display their love of the game. So, why does everyone want to change they game they’ve followed for all their lives, that has been played with the same rules, for that duration? There’s a lot of old ass people on this site that saw the DH come to baseball. If it was such a great idea, why aren’t all of you Angles fans? Did instant replay really improve things? The Utley and Posey rules?
So, you’re worried about who will make the Opening Day start. You have Ryu, Stripling, Hill, Urias and Maeda that have all been building up as starters. Pick one. Don’t overthink it. We aren’t the Rays. We have a ton of Starting Pitchers and don’t need to use an Opener.
Ryu starts on Opening Day, then Strip, Hill, Maeda, Bueller. You’re welcome, now you don’t need to use an Opener.
Equally frustrating is Corey Seager, let the dude play and get ready for the season. Stop treating gown men like babies. Get Kersh on the hill and see if his arm is gonna fall off. If it does, get him fixed so he can contribute next year. Get Bueller on the hill now, stop acting like he’s gonna run out of gas. Let him pitch. Now, go play baseball and get ready for the season so we don’t lose a bunch of games at the beginning of the year to inferior teams, and then have to grind at the end of the season and have to play no 163 like last year.
MJ,
I regret that my silly post was hurtful to you. Please forgive me for doing that. My intention was not to attack you or your belief.
My point if any was more in hopes of suggesting that pursuing your case really won’t accompish a smooth landing.
So MJ, I am sorry and I respectfully suggest, in the words by John Lennon, that you yourself posted yesterday,
” Let It Be “
I’ve been able to watch Verdugo a couple of times now on TV and he seems relaxed and having a good time. I like to watch players have fun. I am beginning to like Verdugo.
One of Davis or Hershiser said Verdugo hit .396 against lefties in the minors last year. Wow! If the Dodgers wind up with a platoon in LF it could easily be Verdugo and Pederson instead of Taylor or Hernandez being part of the platoon.
To avoid more problems and doubts, what if each one is presented to everyone, name, age, city and country, what is our work, something about us to know a little more. I know it may be an absurd or unnecessary idea, but … why not?
And by the way, someone commented yesterday that Mark is the only one who uses his real name … I also use my real name, so we are two!
Ditto Idahoal..
Damn I hope today’s posts are civil and maybe emphasize LADT mostly…
I watched Cabrera pitched the 9th inning the other day and he looked very good. If I remember correctly, he did not have his name on his back. He threw hard. He had good control. He struck out 2. I said to myself, wow, where did he come from? He looked good in that one inning anyway. I would like to see him throw against the starters for one inning.