Not DJ LeMahieu, the recent AL Player of the Week, DJ Peters who was selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Western Nevada College. Peters became the highest draft pick in the history of the junior college located in Carson City.
Peters had previously been selected twice in the June Draft in the 36th round and became the third Wildcat selected in three straight MLB drafts. He was taken in the 36th round in 2014 by the Chicago Cubs following his senior year at Glendora High School and again in the same round in 2015 by the Texas Rangers after his first year with the Western Nevada Wildcats.
The 6’-6” / 225-pound outfielder definitely made a wise decision in not signing following the previous two drafts. By continuing to play on, he elevated his drafting position by 32 rounds and in doing so he was selected for the third time, this time by the Dodgers. In the meantime, his baseball skills developed exponentially as he set single season and career records with the Wildcats.
The Region 18 Player of the Year set West Nevada College single-season records in batting with a .419 average and in home runs with 16. Among his career records at WNC are 153 hits, 248 total bases, 104 runs batted in,108 runs scored and 23 homers.
Peters, a native of Glendora, California, grew up as a Dodger fan bleeding Dodger Blue at an early age.
Just 27 miles from Los Angeles, he attended as many Dodger games he possibly could. He quickly signed with the Dodgers and when he reported to Camelback Ranch in Phoenix following the draft, he was unexpectedly and truly bleeding Dodger Blue.
Peters was an instant success in 2016 with the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League posting a .351/.437/.615 slash line with 13 home runs and 48 RBI. He topped the Rookie-level Pioneer League in runs (63), total bases (161) and OPS (1.052) during his pro debut season.
He skipped the Great Lakes Loons in 2017 moving on to the A+ Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and again posting imposing numbers with a triple slash of .276/.372/.514 with 27 home runs and 82 RBI. He garnered more attention by winning California League MVP honors and leading the Class A Advanced circuit in extra-base hits (61) and slugging (.514) during his first full season.
On to 2018 and in his third professional season, Peters was assigned to the AA Tulsa Drillers. He again displayed power, with perhaps the best power numbers in the Dodger minor league system, with 29 home runs and 60 RBI. His triple slash did show a noticeable decline from the previous year coming in at .236/.320/.473. However he followed up in 2018 by pacing all Double-A hitters in homers (29) and the Texas League in extra-base hits (55) and total bases (232).
His fourth professional season found him back with the Drillers and through 60 games not much was different from the previous season with a slash line of .241/.331/.422 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI.
The one Peters statistic that seemed to draw the most attention is his strikeout rate which has averaged 35 per cent over his four seasons up until his promotion to the OKC Dodgers.
Peters is still ranked as the 10th best prospect in the Dodgers minor league system. It also seems quite a few folks think he is ranked too highly and is dropping out off the prospect market. I believe it is too early to write DJ Peters off.
Peters will play the entire 2019 season as a 23-year-old so is certainly more than age appropriate for his present placement with the OKC Dodgers. He has been likened to Jayson Werth, not just in stature, but with his athleticism for a big man. He plays a good center field but is most likely best suited to right field with a strong arm. The aforementioned Jayson Werth is the same one who struck out 29 per cent of the time in his first full season with the Dodgers.
Because of his long strides and long swing it seems that Peters does not go all out. Nothing could be further from the truth. In a game on Saturday, July 6 I watched as he legged out a triple and was sent home by the third base coach. He comes to play. The testimony of his former coaches confirms that he is a hard worker, stays physically fit and understands that things don’t always go well in a baseball game but there is another tomorrow.
“Amazing; he worked so hard,” said Western Nevada College hitting instructor Aaron Demosthenes on his star hitter’s high draft selection. “Truly, it’s his work ethic. When things aren’t going well for him, he gets to work, instead of feeling sorry for himself. He was a madman with his fitness in the off-season. He gained strength and weight. Playing with the pro-style flat-seam ball helped, too.”
During his experience in 2013 at the Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park in San Diego as a 17-year old, Peters made a lasting impression on Arcadia Astros coach Sean O’Leary. Matt Rodriguez posted his O’Leary interview for Perfect Game.
“This Californian is the type of player every coach wants, but not every coach gets. He has rare baseball talent and even better character. That is already evident to O’Leary,” Rodriguez reported.
“He’s very humble, plays the game hard, respects the game, and is a very good teammate,” O’Leary told Rodriguez. “For a guy with his talent and ability he doesn’t have an ego, he doesn’t act like he’s better than everybody else.”
“The best thing about him is just who he is as a person,” O’Leary continued. “For example, I have a kid with autism on my team too and he can’t play high school baseball and that’s like DJ’s little buddy. DJ looks after him and takes care of him. I think that says a lot for a kid that’s 17 years-old and has that compassion and heart for kids with autism and stuff like that.”
The Dodgers are obviously enthused about his power potential. When he connects there is not a park that can hold him. Back to the strikeouts which seem to be a more acceptable part of the game than back in the day when Roy Campanella struck out 10 percent of the time and had more walks than strikeouts. Dodger slugger Duke Snider struck out 15 per cent of his plate appearances.
Peters was promoted to the OKC Dodgers in late June and something has happened. First, let’s concede this is a very small sample and AAA pitchers catch up to hitters too. However, better to have a good small sample than a poor one. In his first 11 games with the Dodgers he has posted a slash line of .368/.480/.763 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI. He has struck out 10 times (20%) and walked 9 times.
Does Peters’ strikeout rate determine his fate? Or, is the strikeout more situational than just a number? That is, it comes at a bad time when a simple sacrifice fly is needed to bring home a run, especially in a championship game, and everyone notices. Kyle Garlick had a 34 per cent strikeout rate in 2018 (138/402) and is presently on the MLB roster. Edwin Rios posted a 35 per cent strikeout ratio in 2018 (110/309). Max Muncy’s strikeout rate in 2018 was 33 per cent (131/395) yet he had a breakout year. He has reduced it to 28 per cent in 2019 (84/301) and even now would be on a path to have 150 strikeouts or more. No one is claiming Muncy should not be a part of the team. As I mentioned, the strikeout is relative to the situation and relative to what the hitter does with his non-strikeout at bats, especially hit home runs.
Hopefully, DJ Peters will continue to have to grind out at-bats and keep his strikeout rate more to a league average. The MLB league average in 2018 was 22.3 percent. In any event, it is my firm belief that he will make his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2019 or with another MLB team if traded.
DC’s Minor League Lowdown
DSL Dodgers (Bautista) 1 – DSL Marlins 2
Seventeen-year-old Jerming Rosario pitched 4 innings of 2-hit ball with 4 strikeouts lowering his ERA 0.44 over 20.2 innings. Hendrick Briones and Carlos De Avilia each pitched 2 innings and each gave up a run.
The Dodgers had 7 hits but scored the lone run on a ground out.
DSL Dodgers (Shoemaker) 4 – DSL Red Sox (2) 6
Osvanni Gutierrez in 2.1 innings and Fran Castro in the 9th gave up the 6 runs, 4 by Gutierrez and 2 by Castro. Frankelyn Feliz, Luisenyer Perez, Juan De la Cruz and Carlos Rodriguez, sandwiched in between Gutierrez and Castro, pitched 6.2 scoreless innings with 9 strikeouts giving the Dodgers 16 on the day.
The 4 runs scored on a Julio Enrique bases loaded walk in the 2nd and a Christian Hidalgo double in the 3rd.
AZL Dodgers Mota 6 – AZL Giants Black 5
Markus Solbach on a rehab assignment pitched 4 innings giving up one run on 2 hits while striking out 5. Julian Smith followed and his struggles continued as he surrendered 3 runs in 1.2 innings and left with the bases loaded. Ryan Pepiot stranded the 3 runners with a strikeout. Carlos De Los Santos blew the save with a run in the 8th but got the win while another Carlos, Alego, pitched a clean 9th for the save.
At the plate the Dodgers scored one in the 1st on a Jeremiah Vison home run, one in the 3rd on a WP, one in the 4th on a Luis Diaz double and 2 in the 5th on an Alex De Jesus double and a Danny Sinatro single. Jermiah Vison scored three of those runs. The winning run came home in the 8th on an Andres Noriega single.
AZL Lasorda 5 – AZL Indians/Reds 9
Carlos Duran started and for the first time this year felt the pain. He gave up 6 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks. He left with 2 runners on which Riley Ottesen. He gave up a run of his own and left with the bases loaded for Juan Morillo to deal with. Morillo stranded all three. He went on to pitch 3.2 innings giving up 2 runs. Franklin De La Paz pitched a clean 9th.
The Dodgers scored one run in the 2nd on a ground out and 2 in the 4th on a Jorbit Vivas single. They added 2 more in the 5th on an Edwin Mateo single and a Frank Sanchez SF.
Ogden Raptors 3 – Rocky Mountain Vibes (Milwaukee) 0
Jeronimo Castro got the call and pitched a dandy over 5 innings on 3 hits and 7 strikeouts on 64 pitches. Aaron Ochsenbein made his Raptors debut and pitched a perfect inning. Elio Serrano returned to a relief role, at least for this game, and pitched 2 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts. Corey Merrill came on in a save opportunity in the 9th and collected his first save.
Justin Yurchak broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the 6th inning with a solo home run. They picked up 2 insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th on a bases loaded double by Zac Ching.
Great Lakes Loons 3 – Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego) 0
Right-hander Stephen Kolek started and had perhaps his best start of the season going 6 innings on 2 hits and 5 strikeouts. Zach Willeman picked up a 3-inning save.
Two of the Loons runs scored in the first inning on a bases loaded walk and a ground out. The 3rd run was chased home on a Jacob Amaya double.
Ranch Cucamonga Quakes 5 – Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego) 4
Andre Jackson pitched another dandy in his 6 innings of work giving up two hits while walking 4 and striking out 4. Max Gamboa came on in the 7th and served up the equalizer, a 3-run home run after an error and a HBP. Wes Helsabeck was called upon to deal with two inherited runners and one out. He closed the door on the inning with no further damage and completed one more clean inning. Sven Schueller pitched the 9th and 10th giving up one run but getting the win.
Offensively the Quakes scored 2 runs in the 5th inning on a Connor Wong 2-run homer, his 15th of the season. Wong helped out again in the 7th inning with a RBI single putting the Quakes up 3-0. Rancho Cucamonga claimed victory with 2 runs in the top of the 10th on a Brandon Montgomery single and a Brayan Morales SF.
Tulsa Drillers 6 – Springfield Cardinals 4
Edwin Uceta took the hill and although he did not have his best start he held his team in. He gave up 3 runs over 5 innings on 5 hits, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Edward Paredes followed Uceta giving up one more run. Nolan Long came on in the top of the 7th inning pitching 2 scoreless innings with 3 strikeouts. Victor Gonzalez picked up the save in the 9th inning with 3 quick outs.
At the plate the Drillers scored 3 in the 2nd inning on 5 hits and a walk. Logan Landon, Edwin Uceta and Omar Estevez had RBI singles. They scored 3 more in the 6th on a Cody Thomas double, a Zach McKinstry single and a Christian Santana single. Santana had 3 hits.
OKC Dodgers – All-Star Break
Is Peters just hot, or was his promotion to OKC the result of the Dodgers suddenly seeing a light go on?
He really wasn’t hot until the promotion.
Mark is right. He wasn’t hot with Tulsa. What I have noticed with OKC is that he seems much more patient at the plate with some long at bats. He hasn’t had an all or nothing swing. Maybe the pitchers will catch up with him as they often do with hitters. His walks pretty much match his strikeouts with the Dodgers. The next month or so will be the sign if he has successfully turned the corner with fewer K’s. I am definitely in his corner.
But in spite of not being hot, did the Dodgers discern a fundamental change in Peters’ approach that justified a promotion not yet commensurate with his actual production at the time? In other words, are the Dodgers beginning to see signs that some real lights are going on in Peters’ mind that will enable him to harness his considerable talents.
I really don’t know the answer to that. In his last 6 games in Tulsa he was: .333/.440/.619, OPS 1.059, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5K, 3BB.
I don’t think he would be promoted on the bases of 6 games so perhaps they saw something else.
In June in 30 games he struck out 29 times and walked 19. Perhaps the closing of the K/BB gap. I’m going with he shows signs of maturity at the plate, not in love with the home run, and he earned the attention. Maybe it is on a trial basis but I am sure he doesn’t want to return to Tulsa so is highly coachable right now.
I watch games on MiLB.TV and to the uneducated eye in OKC he looked different, more in control. He had a few long at bats and I think that is a good sign. Maybe I am wishful thinking because I am a DJ fan.
DC’s Minor League Lowdown now posted above.
Stuck in DC today after spending the night at the airport in LaGuardia.
#AmericanAirlinesSucks
You have my sympathy. Laguardia is awful.
I agree with you that DJ will make his debut next season, and I believe he will be making it as a Dodger. As I opined yesterday, I think AF’s untouchable list is longer than many think, and I believe that DJ is on that list. He was drafted to be that RH power hitter, and he has lived up to that label. IMO the only way he is traded is for a controllable difference maker…not for a rental.
DJ will need to be protected and added to the 40 man in December 2019, so his path is clear. I prefer good bat to ball skills player, but the baseball player development gurus look past strikeouts if the hitter can hit the ball out of the Grand Canyon, and DJ has that potential. DJ is a far better defensive player than many give him credit for.
Players with DJ’s skill set potential do not come around all that often, so when one does you need to hold on to him to see if you have something special or a flame out. There is always the risk of holding on to the player too long waiting for that skill set. But if he does develop, you have a potential All Star. If DJ has a career similar to Domingo Santana, can we really complain? I know some would complain because a team without 25 HOF players just isn’t good enough for them. When someone gets exasperated with DJ’s strikeout rate, just point them in the direction of Jeren Kendall who is striking out at a 40%+ rate in Single A.
I remain a DJ Peters fan. I hope he can make the adjustments necessary to cut down on the strikeouts. I’m encouraged by the references to his strong work ethic. He certainly can hit the ball a long, long way!
Good for DJ! Maybe he finally turned the corner. So nice to hear about his big heart as well. He’s a guy to root for and I hope to see him soon. I was fortunate enough to see him up close in Spring. The dude is big! He’s also very athletic, has a cannon for an arm and is still playing mainly CF at AAA. It’ll be awesome when that big right handed bat is on the big club. With so many quality players in the minors, DJ is almost lost in the shuffle.
DC… I loved the article on DJ Peters. He has always been one of my favorites and hope to see him in September with the big club if not before. His character, talent and work ethic speaks volumes for him and he would fit right in with the ML club.
Don’t know if this is the time or place to mention this but, I thought Joc was marvelous last night. Vlad Jr might have lost to Alonso because Joc wore him out. What a contest! Reminded me of the shootouts in overtime hockey. I also will go out on a limb and say that had Joc beat Vlad Jr, he might have won the whole thing. DBM
We all know that the Dodger brain trust considers things like work ethic and overall attitude when analyzing their players and that will give DJ a real advantage. Maybe some coach at Tulsa (or a roving instructor) gave him a tip that has really helped.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Farhan ask for him in a Smith trade but as AC mentioned above, Friedman is probably not going to let him go for a rental. With all the left handed power we have, DJ could be right handed guy we’ve been looking for.
I started hearing about DJ Peters when he was in high A with Rancho. He was a spring training invite and I was really impressed with an interview he did. The profile on him has been consistent for several years – has a strong work ethic, very humble, very compassionate for others. I checked in on his stats at Tulsa and his prospect status seemed to dim a bit. I started to worry that he might not make it all the way to the big club. So when he got promoted to OKC and got off to a good start, I was really happy.
I know that this adds nothing to his prospect value, or the probability of him making it in the big leagues, but him being a lifelong Dodgers fan really strikes a chord and makes me pull harder for him. I am going to keep rooting hard for him.
2demeter2 – I too was a big fan of Don Demeter back in the 50’s along with other members of the Forth Worth AA team. ( Jim Gentile, Dick Gray, Karl Spooner, etc.) Some of these players had the problem of being blocked by players like Duke Snider & Gil Hodges! Earlier a flashy Cuban shortstop, named Chico Fernandez was blocked by Pee Wee Reese. Those were some really great teams!
I read somewhere that Joc hit 30 bombs and not 29, (He should have beaten Vlad) they checked the video several times and they are very sure of that, besides he was the only one who did not cheat since they were waiting for the ball to fall before the next release. There’s nothing left to do!
I almost wish instead of bracket winners advancing to the finals, it should be total home runs which would have put Joc in the finals.
Great idea. Wasn’t it like that previously when they had 10 outs and no clock. No brackets, just total HR’s per round. Highest 4 advance from 8, than 2 and finals. This would work with the clock the asame way. Bracket deal is sometimes not equitable . Great show now though. Way better than the old days especially the absence of Chris Berman climaxing with a “that one is half way to the moon” (Alice) call.
SC Dodger Fan – – Thanks for the reminder of these players. I didn’t follow the FW Cats back in those days ( I was only 5 in 1956 when these players were on the roster). But I took the time to look at their roster this morning.. In addition to the players you named, a couple of others on the roster were Stan Williams and Norm Sherry. I rooted for them a lot. Norm and his brother Larry were huge for the Dodgers in the 1959 WS. In addition, I will never forget my Larry Sherry Pitch-back. I played with that for hours on end. Remembering that took me on a nice memory journey. Before I got the pitch back with my paper route money, I would typically throw at holes between the hay bales in the haystacks on the dairy on which I lived. That wasn’t too bad, but I would always have to retrieve the ball. That in and of itself wasn’t terrible, but occasionally if I would get the ball into one of those holes, it would make a mama skunk angry. Those balls would never be used again. Thanks for jogging that journey for me this morning
Thanks for taking me down Memory Lane 2d2. I also got many hours of enjoyment out of my Pitch-back, but growing up in L.A. I wasn’t having to navigate hay bales before I got it. Didn’t have any skunks to worry about back then either, but we have a family of them these days who are at war with our dogs.
Seager and Pollock being activated on Friday. Not sure what the rush is with Pollock. He doesn’t have a hit yet, he’s K’d a lot. Let him find his swing. Ive seen this in AZ in the past. He comes out hotter than hell, gets hurt, and then struggles when he comes back. Let him find something. The Dodgers have plenty of depth.
Totally agree Hawkeye. No need to rush him back. If he isn’t hitting minor league pitching yet, what makes them think he’ll hit Chris Sale in Boston?
Doc said he was gonna get 50 ABs in a rehab assignment for Pollock. Doc’s like a teenager, if his lips are moving, he’s lying.
I’m hoping Plunkett met Seager and Freese and not Pollock. It would be good for him to get 50 AB’s.
And he is a bad driver.
I just roll my eyes whenever Doc says anything. For a guy who’s supposed to be such a good communicator, he doesn’t have the common sense to not use baseball jargon when he gives post-game interviews. I hate it when he says “We’re looking for slug right there”. There’s so many other ways to say it less smugly. I think the biggest problem is that he says things, then does the opposite. But, that’s par for the course because he really doesn’t make too many decisions on his own.
You almost got me going on a Doc rant!
So AF and the brass are making the decisions and not Doc? I’ve heard that before but just yesterday that was said to be false. So, which is it. I sometimes struggle to think Roberts would make the decisions that are made. (Like Joc at first, for example). Is Doc a puppet?
Doc’s lips are always moving.
Maybe (hoping) they want Pollock back as soon as possible to get his trade value up before July 31. I can hope can’t I?
The reason why I don’t care for Pollock (besides his 617 OPS so far this season) is because I believe Freese is more valuable than Pollock and Pollock to me will be blocking Freese from ever starting against righties with that 1166 OPS against righties so far. And I want Joc starting against every righty. So if Joc is playing 1B because of Pollock then Freese is blocked from ever starting against righties with that 1166 OPS against righties.
Yes I understand Freese can’t start everyday, but I want him to start more than just against lefties.
Karl Spooner – I listened to those first games of his on radio with Vin. What he might have been able to do with today’s medical care for players.
https://www.thinkbluela.com/2013/01/the-third-k/
Interesting Dodger stats at the All Star break:
1 – Dodger hitters have left more men on base than any team in baseball; (681)
Dodger pitchers have left fewer men on base than any team in baseball (524)
2 – Dodger hitters have only struck out 726 times (27th most) but have walked 347 times (2nd most)
3 – Dodgers are 7th in R/G (5.22) but are 2nd best in Runs Allowed/G (3.82)
4 – Dodgers are 5th in HR and have allowed the 6th fewest HR (146 vs 109)
5 – WAR numbers are interesting – Dodger position players are 2nd in composite WAR (11.5)
Dodger pitchers are 9th (1.9)
Starting pitchers are 5th (4.2)
Relievers are 25th (-3.1)
See a problem?
If a team gets more runners on base than anybody else then the odds of them leaving a lot on base goes up.
If pitchers don’t put many runners on base then they won’t leave as many men on base.
See how stats can tell the wrong story sometimes?
RISPect.
Speaking of DJ Peters. In September I’m hoping the Dodgers are way ahead in home field advantage so they can see what some of their top prospects have to offer in the big leagues. I’m hoping to see the following names:
Smith (already have seen some from him)
Lux
Peters
May
Gonsolin
Kasowski
Too bad they changed the roster rules for September. I think it’s limited to 28 now.
From what I read that starts in 2020. And I don’t like that rule change.
I don’t like rule changes in general. I still don’t even like instant replay that much because it changed the game so much. How they tag and how they slide. I miss swipe tags and the neighborhood play. I hate the Buster Posey rule and the Chase Utley rule. Next year we’ll have the Dave Roberts rule – making pitchers face 3 batters minimum. The only thing I really want is the electronic strike zone.
Speaking of the 3 batters minimum rule change. Now is the time to trade loogies and roogies that the Dodgers have. Floro comes to mind as a roogy. Righty one out guy.
I agree 100% other than I’m not sure why you would consider it the Dave Roberts rule.
Hawkeye, if you can’t see why I consider it the Roberts rule, you should probably change your nickname.
I know other managers substitute pitchers for the “platoon advantage”, but it seems to me that Dave Roberts does it on a whole new level, or that it’s exasperated because it blows up in his face so often. I’ve seen him use 4 pitchers in one inning twice this year. I often see him remove a righty to face a lefty, lefty walks lefty, brings in a worse righty, lose the game. Why not just walk the lefty with the righty and avoid all those changes?
Anyway, that’s why I call it the Roberts rule. And I don’t really like that rule, but it will save Roberts from himself so I like it as long as Roberts is our manager.
I don’t like the new rule either but Larussa and Torre used to role threw pitchers like it was nothing. Matheny and Bochy too. My friend who’s a big Cubs fan is complaining to me all the time about how many pitchers the Cubs are carrying and use. So, I get why you’re calling it the Roberts rule but he just seems to be following the trend.
The Dodgers signed Lewis so all of the top 10 have signed now.
Oh that’s great news!
Very nice, seems like a pretty good draft too!
The Joc-Guerrero competition yesterday reminded me how disappointed I was in 2015 that the Dodgers did not make a big push to sign him. That was the year that the Dodgers broke the bank signing international free agents. If I remember correctly, Guerrero was the top rated talent in the international class that year.
“him” in my previous post was Guerrero, which everyone probably understood.
Could we have? Is that the year we signed Alvarez instead?
So PhilJones asked:
So AF and the brass are making the decisions and not Doc? I’ve heard that before but just yesterday that was said to be false. So, which is it. I sometimes struggle to think Roberts would make the decisions that are made. (Like Joc at first, for example). Is Doc a puppet?
Why do you struggle to think Roberts would make the decisions that are made? Is he too smart or too dumb? The team does have the best record in baseball, so most of the decision must have been good.
Yes, Doc is a puppet. AF has a microphone implanted in his ear and he calls every shot. AF also has Roberts outfitted with a shocking dog collar and zaps him if he deviates from what Andrew wants.
Hey, I can be totally delusional too!
Well I hope that idiot puppet is managing the NL All Star game next year as well, as it’ll be in his home park!
Thanks Mark. I think 59 must be off hi meds again.
For a while I was able to read his comments with out throwing up.
Yep, the second I say that Doc sucks, I’m off my meds. Except, I don’t take any meds. Maybe I should take meds and then Doc won’t seem so bad. You should see a doctor about your “throwing up” problem. If reading some words you disagree with makes you throw up, there might be an underlying health problem you’re not aware of.
If you think Doc is good because he under used Hill and over used Kershaw, the bullpen and Darvish, I can’t argue with that. If you think Doc is good because he brings in a lefty to lose the game, I can’t argue with that. If you think Doc is good because he hit Kike 4th in the World Series when he was in a big slump, I can’t argue with that. If you think Doc is good because he’s still winning with a great team, I say go see Don Mattingly who won nearly as much with lesser teams and now he can’t win at all.
Mark, Doc said his starting lineup is a collaborative effort. It shouldn’t be. A manager should make his own freaking lineup. If you think it stops there, than you aren’t as visionary as you think you are.
Thanks for calling me out for a difference of opinion guys! I might do the same to you gordiefry if you ever said anything interesting at all.
I’m with 59 on this one. He’s opinionated and comes on a little heavy, but he wasn’t insulting really to anyone here. I didn’t think the throw up comment was really warranted in this case.
… and he’s not wrong about Robert’s propensity to sound like a warmed over PR flack when he talks to the media.
Above, BellingerBuehler was hoping the Dodgers had enough of a lead to bring in top Dodger prospects:
Smith (already have seen some from him)
Lux
Peters
May
Gonsolin
Kasowski
It may come across as being negative about the prospects, but there is no way Lux, Peters, May, or Kasowski will make the 40 man in September just to be called up. If there is a need, yes. And we can all certainly point to 4 on the 40 man that can be moved out, but that is not how the business of baseball is run. AF is not going to start the clock on 4 prospects if he does not need to. They already started the clock on Smith and Gonsolin out of need, so they will definitely be up.
I can see the Dodgers bringing up one, two, or three of Lux, May, and Peters to get a taste of the ML clubhouse life, but not be on the official 40 man roster. That was the Will Smith treatment of last year. But it is still highly doubtful; certainly for all three. Of the three, only DJ needs to be added to the 40 man in December, so it is not as problematic for him. But if the Dodgers want to look at prospects who may be looked at as potential 40 man players in December, Jordan Sheffield, Mitch White, and Andre Scrubb could be considered. IMO, Sheff would get considered before Kasowski. Kasowski does not have to be added to the 40 man until December 2020, he is currently on the IL not having pitched since 6/12, and he is basically a one-pitch pitcher (although a very good deceiving fastball). ML hitters may have an easier time picking that pitch up more than AA batters.
What about Connor Joe who is having an outstanding AAA season at OKC? What about Zach Reks who is having an even better year at OKC? What about Kevin Quackenbush who has ML experience and is pitching very well (especially of late) at OKC?
Whether anyone likes it or not, none of Dennis Santana, Adam McCreery, Casey Sadler, Josh Sborz, or Jaime Schultz are going to get released, unless there is need (like trading for a legit late inning reliever). I also doubt that Yadier Alvarez will get DFA. Brock Stewart and Rocky Gale are the most likely to get DFA, but that is not how AF works unless there is a need.
In 2015 after dominating AA, everyone expected Julio Urias to be added to the roster. He was not. DJ has only had 41 AB at OKC. Let’s see what he does in July and August before he needs to be added to the 40 man.
Oh, I didn’t know about starting the clock. I’ve never been good at those rules.
Ok then never mind what I said because the Dodgers don’t NEED them, but as you said since Smith and Gonsolin’s clocks have already started then I’m looking forward to them.
Smith and Beaty for sure, maybe Garlick and Rios and some bullpen help. Those guys at the end of the 40 man will be in jeopardy in the off season when players like Lux, May, Sheffield, Peters, White, Raley and Scrubb from the 2016 draft have to be protected or exposed to the Rule 5 draft. Smith and Gonsolin were from that same draft but already were added to the 40 man.
Rule 5 Draft rules:
1. were 18 or younger on the June 5 preceding their signing and this is the fifth Rule 5 draft upcoming; or
2. were 19 or older on the June 5 preceding their signing and this is the fourth Rule 5 draft upcoming. Both Lux and May were under 19 on June 5, 2016, so they got the extra year and are not due to be exposed before December 2020. Although there is no doubt they will be on the 25 man at some point next year and room will need to be made at that time. Luke Raley is with the Twins.
Maybe we could include Connor Joe in a deal to the Giants for one of their relievers. Farhan has gone through so many roster changes, maybe he’ll forget he had him and released him.
59, your’e probably still on your meds… As I’ve stated before you fall into the obscene phone caller syndrome… You make mostly idiotic comments trolling for comments and when you negative responses you get off (paraphilia)… You keep psychologists busy and driving Beamers and Mercs…
Go Blue – Go Doc
That’s one way to see it. The way I see it is, if you call me out, the gloves are off. I’m glad I’m helping out your psychologist by giving you something to cry about, snowflake.
I don’t always agree with him, but he has opinions and he at least tries to provide a case for them. That in itself provides value and homogeneity to the community.
What value did your post bring to it?
…and he’s sometimes rubbed me the wrong way
Doc’s favorite thing, mid inning pitching change to bring in a lefty to face lefty in the All Star game, ignoring Gallo’s platoon splits, helping me prove my point.
Priceless!
Oh my God, the broadcasters are so biased towards the Yankees. Man baseball is not what it use to be. It has changed so much.
East Coast bias at it’s best…
Damn I’d like to go up against the Yankees….
OK Blue take a few days off, a lil home cooking and get ready to rumble in Bean Town…
P.S. snow flake, gloves are off??? Depends change..
59’s comments like a fart in the wind…