Dodger fans complained that the Dodger’s platooned too much last season, so Andrew Friedman got rid of the logjam in the outfield and announced that there would be less platooning. Of course many fans lost their minds because the Dodgers “gave away” Puig, Kemp and Wood and Kyle Farmer is a “Freaking All-Star! They conveniently forget about the two highly rated prospects the Dodgers got back… both Downs and Gray are top prospects.
As it stands right now, the Dodgers intend to platoon Muncy and Freese at 1B and Pederson and Kike or CT3 in LF. Barnes and Martin is not really a platoon at C and Pollock, Bellinger, Turner and whoever plays 2B (Kike or CT3) will play just about every day.
Julio Urias will step up like Striker Buehler did last year. They will try and slow-walk his innings but ultimately, he will have 170+ I believe. Kershaw and Buehler are working on change-ups which could help both of them pitch even better. Striker will be in the mix for the Cy Young and I believe Clayton will be in the Top 10. The starting pitching and bullpen are incredibly deep. Forget a couple of injuries to Kershaw and Hill and the fact that Buehler is behind. They have it covered. It’s not a thing.
Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman think the Dodgers are a better team this year and I agree. However, it is hard to get to three straight World Series. The Cardinals were the last National League team to get to three straight World Series in 1942, 1943 and 1944, but they won in 1942, lost in 1943 and won again in 1944. You have to go back to the 1921, 1922 and 1923 New York Yankees who lost in 21 and 22, only to come back and win in 1923.
It will take some “luck,” but luck is where preparation meets opportunity and the Dodgers are prepared and deep. Some fans point to the loss of Grandal, Kemp and Puig who combined for nearly 70 HR last season, but Friedman is predicting that the Dodgers will be more efficient under Robert Van Socyoc. Even though the Dodgers hit the most HR and scored the most runs in the NL, they scored them in bunches, often winning 12-3 and then losing 3-2. In fact they scored 3 runs or less 71 times last year!
If they can cut that number in half, imagine how many more wins they would have with their pitching. Less strikeouts, better contact, a different approach. But, they have to execute their plan now. I like their chances to get back to the Fall Classic and finally win it.
In however many opportunities Verdugo gets in the outfield this year I predict that he will lead the team in OF Assist, I’ll even go as far as to say he will lead the NL in outfield assist, he has 3 in ST, no OF on Dodgers has more than 1
Good Comment. But we have to wait and see the results and what happens. On paper does not seem like a better team . If Barnes hits .200 with zero power and a anemic Slugging , if Taylor continues to be Mr Strikeout , Muncy does not continue his great season , can Pollock, Turner, Seager be healthy all year ? Can Kershaw regain dominant form and be healthy ? can Jensen regain his form ? Can Kelly pitch like the WS with Boston for a full season and be the 8th Inning Stopper ( with a 4.39 ERA last year and tons of walks i am not sure ? can Bellinger regain his ROY play, Can Joc hit more than .250 and regain some OBP and drive in more than 56 runs ? can Verdugo hit in MLB ? , Can Hill Pitch more than 20 starts ? There is a lot of uncertainty with this group. I am sure they can win the division but it will we cannot say is a better team now. If it was not for Matt Kemp All Star 1st Half and Muncy incredible season i am not sure Dodgers would have won. We will have to see if it works or not. Is not a good start to have Kershaw and Hill already in the DL. I believe they can be a beter team Mark and maybe are but we will have to see the results.
1 – The Dodgers eliminated some of the OF logjam but at what cost? Are Pollock and Verdugo really better than Kemp and Puig? Verdugo hasn’t shown much in his cup of coffee at the Big League level and nothing this Spring. Pollock has had 1 healthy season in 6. Kemp was the Dodgers’ best clutch hitter last year and Puig maybe their best OF. Bellinger in RF means Muncy at 1B and he has to show he wasn’t a flash in the pan. This isn’t a sure thing.
2 – Grandal, for all his flaws and apparent inability to catch the ball was a top 5 catcher last year. The Dodgers have 2 guys who hit under .200 last year and neither Barnes nor Martin threw out even 25% of base stealers last year. This is not a sure thing.
3 – The Dodgers are still what they were last year – a team of big swingers who will K and try to HR in high rates. This hasn’t changed this Spring – Dodger hitters look anemic so far.
4 – Dodger starting pitching will be the strength of the team. They are injury prone but deep and good. But it’s the same group as before except Urias replaces Wood.
5 – The Dodgers’ effort to improve their bullpen basically was to sign Wild Man Joe Kelly, a guy who has walked over 4/9 IP for his career and almost every season, including last year. They hope that El Gasolino is the guy who pitched after August 1 and not the El Gasolino who pitched from the beginning of 2017 until July 2018. The rest of the ‘pen is the same group that was one of the least clutch in MLB last year.
6 – The NL West shouldn’t be a challenge this year, but it shouldn’t have been a challenge last year either – but the so-so Rox forced the Dodgers into a tie (both teams won 91 games a year after the Dodgers won 104 in 2017). Even if they win the Division easily, thet Nats, Mets, Phils, Cards and Brewers will be better this year and the Cubs are still out there too.
7 – The best Dodger teams in franchise history were the 1952-53 squads and they couldn’t get to the Series 3 years in a row – either could the ’55-56 team get there again in ’57. The odds of getting there 3 years in a row are small. They have a shot – but their best opportunity was in 2017, and such a chance may never come again.
8 – Some general thoughts –
a – Taylor still seems to strike out 2 times/game.
b – After they named Kike starter at 2B, he stopped hitting.
c – Dodgers relievers haven’t looked too good so far this Spring.
d – Only Dodger hitter that I have faith in right now is Turner, but he doesn’t get to hit 30 times/game
e – I wonder how many innings the Dodger bullpen will have to pitch this year?
f – Will there be more World Series shock this year? I have read articles about how Dodger players admit that it was an issue last season.
g – How many games will Roberts cost the team with dumb moves this year?
Totally Agree !!!
I prefer the glass half-full optimistic approach to a new season, but after reading that I predict the Dodgers will lose 60 games this year. Bummer.
post of the day
thanks
I”m way more negative than you. I see 66 losses
Verdugo will lead the team in outfield Assists by years end, regardless of how many opportunities he gets.
Good post Mark, I gotta agree with Carlos, I am not as optimistic as many about this offense.
Anytime a Joc Pederson is in your starting lineup post All-Star game 2015, that is never a good sign. Austin Barnes, welp, fingers crossed. JT a year older, turns 35 this year, no spring chicken. Pollock better stay healthy.
Bellinger/CT3/Muncy….I have no clue what these guys are after last year.
Robert Van Socyoc……the answer? Yikes.
Go Dodgers.
We’ve been good the last six years and I don’t see any reason why that will change. Our mindset has to be just to win every series we play this year, from the first one to the last.
I like our lineup and pitching depth, although I do see some potential weakness in our middle relief, mostly due to Stripling & Urias covering for Kershaw & Hill in the rotation. Overall, our depth remains a strength, with the caveat that relying on prospects to replace veterans late in the year can be dicey at best.
I expect us to win the division though that is far from a given. We should be one of the top teams in the NL and hopefully we’re playing our best ball when we reach the playoffs so we can advance into the World Series again. From there, anything can happen but I would expect us to finish the job if we make it again.
There are plenty of strong teams but the one we need to worry about the most is our own. The drought ends in 2019. Prediction: World Series Champs.
I want to wait until we see the MPH on Kershaw’s fastball before predicting his season.
Muncy is looking better and better as spring training comes to a close.
Pederson will have a better year in 2019 than he had in 2018. Most of his spring Ks came in his first 22 at bats.
Bellinger now owns the biggest swing.
Smith will replace Martin by July.
Turner and Seager will be big this year.
The Dodgers will be back in the WS in 2019.
Since it’s time for comments and predictions:
1. I’m happy with the infield of Muncy, Kike, Seager and Turner with Taylor and Freese on the bench. If Bellinger needs to move back to 1B due to Muncy not producing, the IF will still be fine. Prediction: Kike will have a good year
2. I am concerned about LF. Not happy with a Joc/CT3 platoon. If Bellinger has to move back to 1B we don’t have the OF depth to cover–would need a mid-season trade for an outfield bat. Prediction: Unless Joc cuts down SO’s Verdugo will be the regular LF starter by ASB. Alternative prediction: if not, we trade for a impact bat at the TD.
3. Catching will be OK. Barnes will produce enough offense that we will be fine there. His defense is not questioned. Prediction: There will be a catcher injury at some point–we’re talking catchers after all–and if more than a week or so, Smith or Ruiz will see MLB time. I expect Smith as his glove is MLB ready but might be Ruiz as on 40 man. Gale as back up if only 10 days. Much as I would love to see it, Kike will NOT catch this year.
4. SP will be a seven man rotation by and large (one spot IL and one spot in pen ) but (Prediction) expect to see Gonsolin as eight man by mid season
5. Relief pitching will be up and down. There will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth, particularly in the comments, but will not be as bad as we make it out to be. All I care about is whether it is good in October.
6. Robert’s in game management will drive us to drink (see #5)
7. Prediction: 96 wins (win the West and best in NL)
Cody might have a big swing, but he can hit when runners are on base, and in scoring position.
And he knows how to hit the ball the other way, and he knows how to adjust, and because of that, he doesn’t just continually hit into the shift, like other players on this team.
I had no idea that Babe and Marichal wore the Dodgers uniform
https://dodgersway.com/2019/03/25/dodgers-top-5-players-forgot/
Cody might have a big swing, but he knows how to adjust, and hit the ball the other way, instead of leaving the left side of the infield open all the time, and continually pulling the ball into the shift.
And because of all of this, Cody not only hits well when runners are on base, he hits well when runners are in scoring position, unlike many on this team.
Last ST game
Pederson LF
Turner 3B
Seager SS
Muncy 1B
Pollack CF
Bellinger RF
Hernandez 2B
Martin DH
Barnes C
(Urias P)
Outside of DH (Martin) this will likely be our usual lineup at least in the early part of the season
CT3 for Joc against LHP, and probably some Freeze for Muncy against LHP (although not a pure platoon). But overall, I agree it looks like an Opening Day lineup against Greinke, with Austin Barnes catching over Martin.
I agree it looks like an Opening Day lineup against Greinke, with Austin Barnes catching over Martin as you indicated. CT3 for Joc against Robbie Ray (and other LHP), and probably some Freeze for Muncy against LHP (although not a pure platoon).
I gotta believe as a side job Rick is a greeter at White & Day Mortuary!!!
The season is over… Roll another one…
I was going to say something similar.
If he really feels that way, I simply do not know what to say.
If anyone looks at this team and feels that way, then I simply feel pity for them.
There’s nothing else to say.
We are the favorites in the west based on all accounts I have read etc. We should be we have won year after year. We have proven to be the best in the west for a number of years. You are the favorites until someone can prove otherwise. I certainly believe that but I believe it will be a dogfight. The Rockies are good, Arizona can pitch, and we have trouble with the Giants. I believe the strength of our team will be the starting pitching. We have good, solid pitching, with a chance for dominant pitching. But the pitchers I envision being dominating are buehler and urias. Ryu and stripling can be very good as well as kershaw. Maeda is the weakest link who is capable of being very good or very bad on any given game. In comparison to other teams I like our rotation.
We had one really good hitter last year in Turner and we have doubled that with Seager. If they can stay healthy both can hit quality pitching as well as anyone could expect. From there pollock is a solid hitter with speed and power who has to stay on the field. Bellinger has tremendous skills with speed and power who hopefully will breakout. Muncy, kike, Taylor, joc, who knows but I see flashes of very good and lots of inconsistencies over the course of the year. Add verdugo and the supporting cast looks a lot like most teams. Barnes and Martin I hope can stay over the Mendoza line while freeze is a fine hitter coming off the bench. Freeze could find himself playing a lot if injuries or slumps prolong.
The bullpen will still have to prove themselves. Spring training is spring training so you can’t overreact but the pen looked shaky during training. Kelly, Garcia should help from the right side but losing cingrani weakens the left side. The arms are there to be better but they sure looked shaky in preseason.
The defense looks strong and we have some speed. Our manager should have learned some lessons from last year. If the great communicator could quit doing injury updates and reduce his interviews he might be able to focus on the team.
That was a nice 2 strike swing by Joc there vs a leftie
Bobby
That pitcher only had a 91 mile fastball, so I wouldn’t get to excited.
Right now it looks like…
The starting rotation is barely ready to go
The bullpen will be overworked
The offense is barely ready to go
1B is a ?
2B is a ?
LF is a ?
CF may be injury prone.
My thoughts are that they have enough offense to win on pitching and defense once the rotation is healthy.
Clayton Kershaw has pitched abbreviated seasons the last three years and is starting the season on the DL. It is a big deal that he’s not ready to go on Opening Day and is being downplayed by management. I almost hope something tears and he’s forced to see a surgeon and finally chooses to get his back fixed as well.
There are at least 2 prospects that can slide into the rotation right now in Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, and if they were on other teams, they probably would be in the MLB to start the season. Dennis Santana is probably another guy that would have a job in a rotation on a lot of other teams. But, a little more seasoning will help all three of them.
Verdugo, Taylor, Freese and Thole provide quality depth at questionable positions and put pressure on Pederson, Muncy and Hernandez to perform. In addition to Verdugo, Kike and Taylor are also outfielders if need be so the entire starting group could go down and we would still have coverage. Hell, Martin and Barnes can even play second base and so can Muncy if needed. This isn’t even counting Toles if he ever comes back. We’re well covered for a variety of injuries without venturing off the 40 man. We also have a ton of prospect capital if it comes to having to make a trade.
There’s interesting names in the minors that can get by in the Majors if injuries start to mount in Rios, Beaty, Garlick, and guys like Lux, Peters and Estevez beyond that. Again, a little more season helps.
The bullpen has a lot of major league quality depth and major league quality arms with options to back them up and two major league quality starters that will have to go to the pen once Kershaw and Hill come back. The main problem is if Kershaw and / or Hill come back. Speaking of Kershaw, the mouthpiece has commented on his slider’s depth and that he’s developing a change that we won’t throw often. No mention of improved fastball velocity which concerns me since his off-season was supposed to be focused on regaining that velocity. Is it more likely that Kershaw is more like pre-injury Ryu, or like vintage Kershaw this year?
The early schedule will test this team. The D-Backs and Giants will do anything they can to kick us when we’re down and then come 23 games in a row against playoff hopefuls (if you include the Reds as a playoff hopeful) with only one off day. It could get real ugly real fast if they come out of the gate sleepwalking like last year. The rotation injuries with some while others not being built up is going to put a lot of pressure on the bullpen early on.
Here we go!
The starter tonight, only had a 91 mile fastball, and although Greinke doesn’t have much of a fastball, he knows how to pitch.
I am not getting over excited about the offense tonight, because of the the starting pitcher, let’s see what happens after this starter is out, although Orel said the Angels were going to threw minor league pitchers tonight.
Dang boys, is this DodgerTalk or the friggin S.S. Titanic? What is with all the gloom and doom? Every team in MLB has their share of warts and shortcomings, buy some of you guys are more critical than the dudes on ESPN and MLB network, who to a man have called the Dodgers THE deepest team in the major leagues. Rejoice in that, we all know that spring time brings hope eternal, and this team has a helluva lot of hope. Damn, get on my World Series bandwagon and let’s do this.! We are tons better on every level than last year. Stop being so damn critical and believe the path that we are on, with a really solid, solid 26 man roster with a buttload of minor league guys ready to bust down the door. Let’s not get too wrapped up in our uber critical opinions with this team, and enjoy the incredible 6 year run that we are on. I was there when the O’malleys sold out to Fox, who passed the baton to McCourt and ushered in the dark years, so right about now I feel incredibly blessed to be a Dodger fan right now. Ride the wave into shore guys….
I have heard and read this dumbass stuff for 5 years and the naysayers have always been wrong.
I cannot stand this stupid shit.
Maybe I should just shut down this blog and let them post at the other site where the idiots post gloom and doom fiction every day!
I am done…