If you think that Kike Hernandez is “just another poor hitting utility player” you may suffer from the same malady Kike did the first half of last season: LACK OF VISION.
Kike hit .191 in the first half of 2024, and during that time, he had a conversation with Martin Maldonado. “He told me that he and a couple of his teammates needed glasses, and they didn’t really know through the spring training test,” Hernández said. The comment set off a light bulb for Hernández, who struggled mightily during the first half of the season while struggling to distinguish breaking balls out of pitchers’ hands.
“They went through a more thorough test to learn they needed glasses,” Hernández said, referring back to his discussion with Maldonado. “So I was like, ‘All right, I’m gonna try it out.’” Hernández then learned his right eye had astigmatism, a condition caused by imperfections in the curvature of the eye that can result in blurred vision. I know, I have the same thing – I wore contacts until age 67 to correct it.
After getting glasses, Kike’s depth perception was off. If you have ever worn glasses and had to adjust to them, it does throw your depth perception off, but he started coming around. Look at the turn-around:
- Pre-All-Star Game: .191 BA/5 HR/15 RBI/.557 OPS
- Post-All-Star Game: .274 BA/7 HR/27 RBI/.765 OPS
Kike went from being an afterthought with the bat to being a “force.” I like Chris Taylor as well, but he is just a good dude who can play a lot of positions… and play them well. Kike can do that too, but Kike’s intangibles are “off the charts.” I believe the Dodgers are trying to figure out how to get rid of CT3. CT3 is loved by his teammates. Kike is “BELOVED!” Beloved” means to have a stronger sense of adoration and cherishment for someone or something than “loved.” “Beloved” can also be used as a noun to describe a person who is greatly loved. Kike is beloved, and he is also a master motivator of his teammates. The main difference between beloved and loved is that the adjective beloved is more intense than the adjective loved and is used to describe a more intense love.
Here’s the long and short of it: The Dodgers Will Win More Games With Kike Hernandez Than They Will Without Him. This likely spells the end for CT3… especially if James Outman or Andy Pages has a “break out Spring.”
The Dodgers offseason is almost complete… as soon as they re-sign one Clayton Kershaw. Maybe today!
Let’s all hope the Dodgers with all the talent on the roster and depth, come into camp with the HUNGER factor to repeat as World Champions in 2025. Of course major injuries are the only other factor thar can stop us from that goal.
The best sound of the offseason is “pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training”. Can’t wait for the season to unfold and what further surprises AF and BG have in in store for us. Major roster decisions will to be made to the final 26 man roster.
Damn, Keekay got into that Darvish fastball. Balls deep.
Yesterday’s Super Bowl halftime show was in my opinion and I’m sure others was THE WORST EVER!!!
Yesterday’s halftime show resonated with some twentysomethings and no one else. I am pretty progressive when it comes to music, but that sucked!
Yesterday’s half time show was NEVER INTENDED to entertain our demographic. Our age group just isn’t their market. We watch the game for the game. Everyone else watched it for the commercials and the half time show. Think many young people would be excited if it had been Stevie Wonder? Ha ha.
The worst ever?
GTFO.
Even if you don’t appreciate Lamar’s music, he loves LA.
Yesterday’s halftime show was fantastic, and I cannot wait for Kendrick to come to Sofi Stadium in May
With Kike back and no trades or injuries taking place in the spring, it’s going to come down to Rojas, Pages and Kim battling for the final active roster spot. What makes the most sense to me is Rojas accepting a coaching position with the Dodgers if indeed he wants to stay with the club as a insurance policy to Mookie’s role at SS. I’m not sure of the rules that would allow the Dodgers to take him off the roster, insert him as a coach and active him back on the team if someone is injured. We already have Edmans, Kike, Kim and CT3 as SS backups on the team. Pages and Kim both have options to return to AAA but seem more valuable on the major league roster to me. I have been thinking Pages would platoon with Conforto in the OF but Kike might do that now. A lot can happen during spring training and you never know who will be the odd man out? Smith, Barnes, Ohtani, Freeman, Kim, Mookie, Muncy, Teo, Edmans, Conforto, Kike, Pages, CT3, and Rojas. One too many………… Stay tuned
I would agree, The halftime show sucked. But then again, I remember my parents saying that about my music also. “That loud rock and roll – You can’t understand what they are saying” I still don’t consider rap – music.
Where is Lawrence Welk when we need him?
Turning off the bubble machine
1. We don’t know if Kim can hit enough to play. We shall find out, but he’s cheap. He has options. THe Dodgers didn’t pay him enough to worry about it if he has to go down.
2. We don’t know for sure how Miggy Ro will be.
3. CT3 missed a lot last year and is in overall decline. He is a year older than Kike.
4. We don’t know whether Rushing is ready of if Barnes has another year left.
5. We don’t know if Pages can continue his growth.
6. We don’t know if Outman can turn it around.
There could also be a trade… or three!
I agree with everything you just said. But right now it’s a fact that if everyone is healthy, it’s crowded and I like it.
We also don’t know if Kiké hitting will continue at the post All Star level. He is also a year older.
It’s ALL fluid right now. Can’t have our hearts set on “A” ”B” & “C”
The thing is: Kike’s valve goes way beyond his hitting.
True, but so does Chris Taylor’s. Perhaps not as much of a cheer leader as Kiké but his versatility is unquestioned and his offense was showing dramatic improvement toward the end of the season……and of course he’s owed $14 million. That’s a lot of money, just not “a lot” by Dodgers standards.
If he has to go then he does but it will be sad that too many fans won’t acknowledge the value he has provided since 2017.
I think the key phrase here is ‘Pages and Kim have options to return to AAA’. Managers LOVE veterans and the young guys have to fight to stay on roster. I remember James Loney batted about .600 in the Spring and still was sent down. and finally made the team later.. ( well maybe not .600) But anyway, why make a decision on a vet when its just easier to send the young guy down until they see how things shake out. Chances are one of these 35 year olds will be injured and then the move can be made as needed
Right now it looks like Kim, at 26, will be the youngest position player on the roster. Pages is younger but seems likely to start in OKC.
Here’s hoping that somebody unexpected has an spectacular spring and makes the roster. That was Outman two seasons back… when the keystone was supposed be manned by Lux and Miguel Vargas. (I’ve read that Lux’s injury helped Outman make the squad, since they both are lefty batters.) Rooting for both Outman and Bobby Miller to get their ’23 mojo back.
Highly unlikely, but it would be exciting if someone like Zyhir Hope takes a big step forward. The Dodgers haven’t had a position-player prodigy in a long time.
Don’t comment much anymore, but yeah, the halftime show was the worst ever. I’ve heard maybe a couple rap songs that had any merit but rap rhymes with crap for a reason. They should list rap as street rhymes and keep out of music genre.
Hey but everyone is trying to attract the younger audience. So they don’t care what the ‘older generation’ thinks, because we will still watch the game no matter what
I think that was parody David.
Keith Law came out with his Dodger Top 20 today (I’ll have more about that at a later date), but this guy caught my eye:
13. Hyon-Seok Jang, RHP
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 200 | Bats: R | Throws: R | Age: 21
Jang debuted last year after signing with the Dodgers the previous offseason, struggling in the ACL but pitching better after a promotion to High A. It’s big-boy stuff, to use the technical term, with a mid-90s fastball and a curveball so pretty they should hang it in the Louvre. His slider isn’t far behind, while he has good shape on the changeup but doesn’t seem to have a lot of feel for it yet. He’s big but hasn’t really begun to fill out with muscle yet; people are going to compare him to Chan Ho Park, because — well, you know why — but Jang is actually two inches taller and I bet he ends up 20 pounds stronger in the end. On pure stuff, he’d be much higher here, but he’s barely pitched and his results weren’t great: 36 2/3 innings total between the two levels, 27 walks, 68 strikeouts (OK, that’s great), 22 hits. If he comes out throwing strikes, he’s going to be the talk of the Dodgers’ camp in March. They always seem to have one of those.
Jang is such an intriguing prospect, his control is potentially terrifying though.
It’ll be VERY interesting to see what Mark Prior already has and CAN do with his abilities.
As I recall it, Dodgers traded two prospects for the international money to sign Jang. When the scouts see someone they really like, the Dodgers don’t hesitate.
The Kike signing makes me believe even more strongly that a trade or trades are coming. The numbers don’t add up.
I unlike many, would definitely see Arenado as an upgrade over Max at this point, and we could probably get him on the cheap and solve the 3B situation for the next 3 years.
An extended trade with SL maybe to clear some room. Robert Jnr is still available and has much more upside than Outman or Pages. We have the Prospect Capital and both Arenado and Robert make us better.
Watford, Here are some numbers I find alarming on Nolan Arenado:
Barrell %
2017 – 8.5% (67th Percentile)
2024 – 3.2% (6th Percentile)
Hard Hit %
2017 – 37.9% (62nd Percentile)
2024 – 31.6 (12th Percentile)
To me that is alarming. Friedman also has access to this.
Arenado’s decline is precipitous!
I’ve got to agree with Mark on this one, Watford.
Arenado hasn’t only had one bad year, but now two in a row.
You say he’d solve the 3B situation for the next 3 years, but that’s only if he’d play up to 2022 standards for three more years. In my view, that isn’t at all likely.
With Kike back, I could see him getting a fair amount of playing time against lefties at 3B this year.
Next year, maybe Freeland is ready to take over for Max. If not, we have all this young pitching and could trade some for a really good (and younger) third baseman.
DH–Ohtani
C–Smith… Barnes, Rushing, Feduccia
1B–Freddie… Max, Kike
2B–Kim… Rojas, Edman, Taylor, Kike
SS–Mookie…Rojas, Edman, Kim, Freeland
3B–Max… Kike, Rojas, Taylor, Freeland
LF–Conforto….Pages, Taylor, Outman, Rushing
CF–Edman….Outman, Kike, Taylor, Pages
RF–Teo….Pages, Taylor, Outman
Or something like that…
2026:
C Smith
1B Freddie
2B Mookie
SS Freeland
3B Bichette JR
LF Teoscar
CF Hope ???
RF Pagés ???
DH Ohtani
Bench:
C Rushing
UT Edman
UT Kim
OF ???
RF Pagés
Did we go bankrupt? 😉
Hope is flying up prospect rankings but there is no way he is in the 2026 lineup. I saw him a couple of times this year in Rancho. He should start in Great Lakes this year and it will be interesting to see how he does in a pitchers league. He might get a late season promotion to Tulsa but I would expect him to be at Great Lakes all year. I would love to see the Dodgers move him quickly but that’s not what they do.
Kike is back! Never a doubt. The regular season is a total grind, so his stats are meaningless. His value is as……………
Mr. Rocktober…………in the post season not only is he force, but he elevates his superstar teammates to even higher levels. That is a trait rarely seen in sports. I’m going to enjoy every single game. Striker was that way. He will be missed. Thank you AF and BG for stockpiling the roster for the regular season. Also for creating a culture where the best players in the world want to play for the Dodgers and shine in Oct.
NFL has been in my rear view mirror for years. What’s wrong with Lawrence Welk! Oh and get off my LAWN!
Book em
The only problem with Lawrence Welk is that he never did the Super Bowl halftime show.
The Dodgers have hired Farhan Zaidi as a special advisor, reports Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. He will also be assisting Dodgers part-owner and chairman Mark Walter with his other sports interests.
Walter just wants to win at Fantasy Football and Farhan is the best at that!
Not sure how many times I have to say it. CT3 aint going anywhere.
He’s going to have a good season….
Those two points aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. He could be traded and have a good year.
Why do you think he is going anywhere?
As of right now, if we keep……..
CT3, Miggy Ro, Barnes and Kike. All the kids will be Comets or lower. Mind you, this is just the opening day roster. Things invariably will change. Dodger spring training is more about showcasing the talent than it is fighting for a roster spot.
By the way Duke, didn’t Lawrence Welk
perform at Keith Richards 100 year old birthday party?
Book em
Remember this:
The Dodger’s mandate is not to develop homegrown players (although they do that very well).
The Dodger’s mandate is to win the World Series.
Some fans would complain if they hung them with a new rope. 😉
Houston Mitchell:
Hernández has been one of the most clutch postseason players in Dodgers history. Last season he hit only .222 during the season, but .294 during the postseason with a triple, two homers and six RBIs. In his postseason career (which includes one year with Boston), he has hit .278 with 15 homers and 35 RBI’s, good for a .522 slugging percentage compared to a .405 slugging percentage in the regular season.
And, that .222 average last season could be deceiving. The Dodgers discovered an eye condition in August which caused Hernández to start wearing glasses. After that, he hit .287.
And there’s something about the guy that most (yes, I got a couple of emails unhappy with the signing, saying he’s washed up) fans love. He brings a joy to his routine that we imagined as kids we would have if we played in the majors. He interacts with fans before games. He seems to wring every ounce of athletic ability out of his body each game. And fans love that. It’s good to have him back.
my prediction? Outman gets traded. Pages starts at AAA. Taylor gets traded to an American league team. Barnes is hoping Rushing gets turf toe! if Catman starts , May gets traded. Although i agree, Tony could start at AAA with Dustin in the pen. Roberts gets 6 years at 7 million per year . Kike gets fined 3 times this season for profanity!
CT3 aint going anywhere.
Embrace him
I am confused regarding all the talk of replacing Max. He had 13 consecutive at bats without an out on the biggest stage. Didn’t Billy Beane teach us that the game is really about not getting out. Count me on team Max.
Angels To Sign Kenley Jansen
It’s a one-year, $10MM deal for Jansen, reports the Post’s Joel Sherman.
I was rooting for Kike Hernandez long ago when Roberts named him the starting second baseman. Within about six weeks, he played his way onto the bench. I considered him a waste of a roster spot, although he had a couple of big moments over the years. I was happy to see him go.
Since he has come back, he has improved the team and has been a clutch in the playoffs.
Alden González
@Alden_Gonzalez
Clayton Kershaw is at the Dodgers facility playing catch. He and the Dodgers have agreed to terms on a new contract, per source, though he still has to finish going through his physical.
Kiki’s deal is for $6.5MM, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
The Dodgers and left-hander Clayton Kershaw have agreed to terms on a new deal, reports Alden González of ESPN. It was previously relayed by Dylan Hernández of the Los Angeles Times that the lefty is in camp with the club.
https://x.com/dylanohernandez/status/1889393172377379113
On Tuesday, right-handed reliever Evan Phillips told Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register that he’s still recovering from the shoulder injury that kept him off the World Series roster.Plunkett said Phillips “seems likely” to open the 2025 season on the injured list.
This explains why they signed Yates.
Dodgers finalize Kiké Hernández contract, place Gavin Stone on 60-day injured list Hernández gets $6.5 million on 1-year deal with LA. Stone is expected to miss the 2025 season after October shoulder surgery
Made it home to Colorado safely. A little snow dusting right as we came into Pueblo. Spring training has begun. The Stupor Bowl was just that, a real snoozer, but excuse me, being a musician, what was done at the halftime show in no way resembled real music. Couldn’t understand a single word. It was awful. Lots of decisions to be made between now and the end of spring.