It’s Winding Down

Posted By on March 22, 2019

Brad Miller turned some heads, this Spring with a .348 BA and .400 OB% in 23 AB’s, but it turns out the Dodgers were committed to Alex Verdugo and had no room for another LH hitting utilityman. I am sure he is happy the Dodgers gave him the opportunity – he would have made the team had Corey Seager not been ready to answer the bell.

Andrew Friedman likes to be prepared for the unexpected, so Miller was signed as insurance for Seager. It turns out that Seager is fine… actually more than fine, so Brad was going to have to accept a minor league assignment and wait for the next injury… or opt out. He will likely get picked up by another team and a little better deal. Good for him. Move on people, there’s nothing to see here. He was having a a good spring. That’s all! Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reported Miller’s last comments:


“You either make the team or you get to see what your options are,” Miller said before exercising his opt-out clause. “It’s pretty easy for my end. If another team has a big league opportunity, I’m a big league player. I want to make this club. It’s a good team with a lot of good players. It’s a good fit, a winning club and I’ve never played in a postseason. I chose to come here over other spots.


“The biggest thing is, they care to win here. They’ve uncovered every stone, from Minor League signings to trades to waivers to big league signings, everything to get good players on their team and reward them if they perform. That was the biggest draw for me.”

Miller knows what kind of organization the Dodgers are. He just got caught up in a numbers game and wants to be paid as a major league player. I am sure he is leaving with high respect for the organization.

So, it looks like the team is pretty well set on position players:

  1. Barnes
  2. Martin
  3. Muncy
  4. Hernandez
  5. Seager
  6. Turner
  7. Pederson
  8. Pollock
  9. Bellinger
  10. Verdugo
  11. Taylor
  12. Freese

The pitchers are becoming more clear as well:

  1. Hill
  2. Ryu
  3. Maeda
  4. Stripling
  5. Buehler
  6. Urias
  7. Garcia
  8. Alexander
  9. Jansen
  10. Baez
  11. Floro
  12. Kelly
  13. Ferguson

Caleb Ferguson is the one on the bubble. He has not had a good spring as he tries to get the “feel” of his curveball. There are candidates to take that spot, but I can’t begin to predict how they are thinking, so that’s my projection.

Tony Gonsolin makes another start today against the D-Bags. He might be the first one to go 5! The Dodgers aren’t going to be able to keep him down long. The same is true for May. Gonsolin and May are two of the hottest pitching prospects on the planet.

This is a very, very solid team. How good they are will be determined by injuries and/or progression or regression of players. Everyone has an opinion, but they play the game because opinions are like… well never mind! Will Muncy progress or impress? Will CT3 figure it out? Will Corey become the best SS in baseball? Will Martin and Barnes form a solid catching duo? Will Cody revert back to his rookie form? Will AJ Stay healthy? What does Clayton have left? Who will unexpectedly step up? Who will fall down?

This is why they play the game. In less than a week, we will start to find out. The thing is, the Dodgers are in a much better position that any other team because they have more plan B’s. If Corey goes down, CT3 can go to SS. If Muncy falters Cody can go to 1B and Alex can go to RF. If Turner…. and so one and so on. And… if they need another RH bat, they have to pieces to do so. The Dodgers are primed for another excellent season. Even if you are a “glass half full” person, you have to like their chances.

By the way, the picture of Russ Martin was taken the year before his rookie year, by me at Vero Beach. He was always the first player out on the field and the last to leave. Now, he’s primed to be the comeback player of the year.

Brooklyn Dodger, You asked about World Water Day.…

This article has 64 Comments

  1. Miller looked very good, I was hoping he would accept going to OKC but he did not want that.
    I am disappointed with Verdugo´s spring so far but that is probably due to my expectations of the stats I thought he would have. I think Pederson is having a spring like last year and I see another year of the same from him, he will hit for power but most likely will fail to hit when most needed, with runners on base, Verdugo needs to play and will prove ( my opinion ) to be the more valuable player.
    Mark, take out one Bellinger and add one Taylor.

  2. No surprises here with the roster. Miller was a long shot to make the team. We might have been able to squeeze him on the Opening Day roster, but what next? He doesn’t have options, so he would have been in limbo before too long.

    We’re almost ready to get started. A little banged up with Pederson’s back spasms, Muncy’s wrist and Kershaw’s entire body, but we’re pretty much good to go. It’s going to be really weird watching Ryu or Hill on the mound to start the season because it’s too bad that Kershaw and Bueller aren’t ready to answer the bell. It was nice to see Muncy make some contact yesterday, but the pitchers all had one of those games we would like to forget. I’m hoping to see a Major League lineup today, Sunday and Monday. Usually the last game of the Freeway series is like game 162. Same thing for the getaway game on Saturday.

    May and Gonsolin look ready to help the big club. May looks a little more polished to me. The bullpen is going to have their work cut out for them in the early going. My biggest disappointment this Spring is Kershaw not being able to answer the bell after an off-season that was designed for a return to his previous form. I sure hope something good comes out of this, but I’m very apprehensive.

    I can’t wait for the season to start after such a weird offseason and Spring training.

  3. It’s going to be fun to see Verdugo start to get comfortable and get in his hittong groves that he usually gets in come season. He’s been working on using different bat sizes all spring but It seems he is going back to the same size as last year, I’m predicting big things from him this year, I believe he is going to rise up to the hype and show everyone here who has questioned his ability because an average ST, and make supporters out of the haters….. it will be glorious to see. I’ve watched him day in and day out for a few years now and he is the real deal.

    1. Good take on Verdugo. Joc is the same player he has always been and does not make a good platoon partner with Jason but the latter will see some time in CF and RF as well as LF and PH opportunities and could be special. How he handles his role determines his future with the team. I think he could be in the ROY conversation if given a shot. Joc will just be Joc, good but inconsistent. Mark has no CT3 but he is in and Joc maybe on IL to start the seaon which could give Verdugo 1st shot at LF and he has to seize it.

      1. Call me thick or blind, but I don’t see Verdugo getting a lot of AB’s or displacing Joc. He doesn’t hit LHP so there is no advantage playing him over Joc. He is there for insurance, in case of injury or a player needing some rest, and PH. The FO said they wanted to move away from platooning. Well, here’s their chance. There is no one else waiting to displace Verdugo that is MLB ready. If Verdugo had any power, he might give Joc a run for the money but the FO has given Joc a lot of time to get together and last season was an actual improvement for him so I think this is what we get. ROY? I can’t imagine it.

        1. Someone has to play when a LH pitches because it’s not going to be Joc. I’m not sure where you get the idea Verdugo doesn’t hit lefties, but without double checking I thing his splits are pretty good.

          I didn’t quite get the traction in the blogosphere that Miller would take a spot from Verdugo. He’s just wasted in AAA, and if Dodgers didn’t think he was capable of having a spot on the roster he would have been part of some trade package. It seems he’s in the Dodgers plans. The prospect of a journeyman utility guy who had one decent year taking his spot because he’s having a decent Spring seemed pretty farfetched, and Nosler whiffed on that one, like he was off base (baseball puns) with his criticism over the Harper non sign.

          1. Verdugo hit .222 against LHP in 2018. He hit .217 in 2017. They are small sample sizes considering the amount of games he played, but nonetheless, there it is. What advantage does he have over Joc? Not much.

          2. MJ found the stats I was thinking if. The sample size you cited is, as you mentioned, small.

            I’m not a Joc hater. I think he’s valuable. He certainly has more power than Verdugo, but as Vegas brought up, Verdugo can play right field and maybe still center (he maybe has the best arm in the organization), hits for contact much better and can actually hit lefties. Joc is just lost against LHP.

            I want to see what Verdugo can do in MLB, and would like to see him play, if that means he gets some starts in RF and Bellinger plays some at first.

        2. Good points. Verdugo’s minor league splits were pretty even-he can hit LHP. He also can play all 3 OF positions and Joc can’t. Verdugo is the only Dodger eligible for ROY consideration, of course he has to play enough and produce at a high level which I think he could although he may never have 25 HR power. I don’t think Joc is in the long term plans either-next year is his final arb year and I don’t think they pay that or extend him, he could be treated just like Puig and they move on. Joc can play LF against RHP and that’s it. Verdugo is MUCH more versatile and a lot cheaper IMO.

          1. If the dodgers would put bellenger back on first where he belongs. We would not have this discussion on Joc and verdugo.

          2. Jeff

            Verdugo hit just under 400 against lefties in AAA last year, and hit 308 against righties.

            Of course he had a third less at bats, against lefties.

            With all of that, he hasn’t proved he can hit lefties in the majors, at the same time like you said, his sample size in the majors is pretty small, so I don’t think we know what he will do in the majors yet.

            But your right, they don’t seem to be starting Verdugo against many lefties in spring training.

            Joc has one of the worse disparities in the majors against righties versus lefties, so that ship has already sailed, unless Joc works to get better in the off season.

            But as you know, he probably would have done that a long time ago, and as it is, he comes to spring training every year looking like he needs to learn how to hit again.

            Obviously the Dodgers are not treating Verdugo like they did with Corey and Cody, so I don’t think they hold him to the same degree.

  4. 36K’s – .173 BA combined for Joc & CT3 – Ours is not to wonder why!!! But it sure gives me heartburn though..
    Expecting 5 IP and a good outing by Gonsolin…
    I really wonder if the FO gets alot of calls trying to pry our young gun pitchers apart???

  5. I agree with Mark’s opening day roster, all 25. The position players were set before ST almost and the pitchers dictated by health and performance. They need some length in the BP so Urias and Ferguson make the most sense for now until starters get stretched out and/or Kershaw returns. Garcia earned his spot being out of options. If we are being honest Urias should be in the top 5 and Strip or Maeda in the pen but that will happen later in the season by design. Maybe Kershaw is getting his almost annual shut down out of the way early and is fresher when he is really needed. Seager being ready to go was hasta la vista for Miller-who would you rather have?

    In related news Hell freezes over!

    1. I agree with Mark that, barring injury, Ferguson’s spot is the only one in question at this point.

    2. I also agree with Mark’s roster. Keep Ferguson. Too much potential to drop him off now, and the older pitchers go down after every start they make these days, so they will be the ones being shuffled in and out.

  6. Yes, there are always questions after ST. First base and LF are the two for me. Freeze is certainly an option at FB. I really like Pollock and Freeze. Two very good professional players.

    The bull pen is certainly a lot better than previous years. However, they will be tested early with SP going 5-6 innings.

    I want to thank Mark, AC and D.C. For keeping us in the game this off season. It was long. Now I have something to do each evening. I play a lot of golf and bridge. I do not get to see every game live. With the MLB TV, I watch them even if I know who won.

    Go Dodgers.

    1. Idahoal

      Have a great day at the game today, and I hope you and your wife, have a safe trip home.

      I am so happy that you have got to live your dream, because you deserve it.

  7. I fixed the roster by adding Taylor.

    I tried to clone Bellinger but it didn’t work….

    1. If you’re gonna clone someone, pick Seager next time. We could use 8 of him. Make it nine so we can rest one every 8 or 9 days and have him DH in the AL parks.

  8. Rich Hill said on Friday that he has a strained left knee and doesn’t know if he’ll be able to start the season in the Dodgers rotation.

    That is why a team with “so much” pitching looks at a pitcher like Corey Kluber. Does this surprise anyone? Now management has to consider Urias for the rotation at the outset. Only one Dodger starter has pitched into the 6th, and he did not get out of it. And his ST is probably done. So with Hill out, Ryu should be the opening day pitcher and he has not pitched past 5.2. Bullpen better get ready.

    2. Santana is starting today.

      And Palmdale Muncy is leading off like you suggested, but you weren’t the only one who thought that might be a good idea, a few people liked that suggestion too, including me.

      We are facing a leftie too, so I am not suprised that Joc isn’t starting today, even though Roberts said, Joc would be in today’s game.

      Muncy
      Turner
      Corey
      AJ
      Cody
      Kike
      Barnes
      Carrera
      Santana.

      1. So it looks like Santana is auditioning for #5 in the rotation. Since Strip was set to start Sunday and Buehler was set to start Monday, I am guessing that they pushed back Gonsolin until tomorrow???

        I understand why Joc isn’t starting today, but why isn’t Verdugo? I cannot imagine that Carrera is a candidate to make the roster?

        1. AC

          They have not been playing Verdugo against lefties like they did when he came up last year.

          I was suprised he isn’t playing against lefties much at all in spring training, and I don’t get Carrera either.

      3. Why are they still auditioning players like Carrera? Neither Joc or Verdugo are being given a chance against LHP. Both need vast imrovement. How do you improve if you never face them?

    1. AC:
      Nice report by Glaser on Gonsolin and Lux. He did mention that Lux has trouble throwing the ball. Could that be ala Steve Sax?

  10. SI is out with their Annual Baseball Issue.

    They pick the Dodgers as the overall best team in the NL with OVER 93.5 Wins, but pick the Phillies to beat them in the NLCS. They pick the Astros to win the World Series. The project the Dodgers and Astros to win 100 games. A few Blurbs:

    “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Buhler win the Cy Young.”

    “Cody Bellinger is an MVP Candidate.”

    “The Dodgers Triple A Rotation has a chance to be better than a few major league staffs.”

    “If they don’t make the World Series, it will be a disappointment.”

    “The Dodgers are a lock to win the NL West for the seventh straight year.”

    1. I don’t consider them a lock. Too many things can go wrong.

      We should be in the mix for best team in the NL.

      That’s good enough for me.

  11. The rotation for the first 5 games prediction:

    Ryu
    Stripling
    Urias
    Buehler
    Maeda

    I might have Maeda and Buehler reversed.

    1. We might see Gonsolin and/or May much earlier than we thought. Hell, Gonsolin could make the team.

  12. Rich Hill To Begin Season On Injured List
    By Steve Adams | March 22, 2019 at 1:04pm CDT

    Dodgers lefty Rich Hill will open the season on the injured list with what the team has described to the media as a medial collateral ligament strain in his left knee (Twitter links via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com). The team also revealed that lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu will start Opening Day, with right-hander Ross Stripling is lined up to start the second game of the season.

    Hill will join fellow southpaw Clayton Kershaw on the IL to open the season. Kershaw estimated Wedmesday that he’ll need 20 days to build up to game readiness after his latest throwing session (via Gurnick), while Hill will be out for at least a “couple weeks,” though the team hasn’t put forth a more specific timeline than that.

    With Kershaw and Hill both out for the start of the season, the Dodgers will look to Ryu, Stripling, Walker Buehler and Kenta Maeda to start games in the early-going. It doesn’t appear as though the Dodgers have definitively determined who’ll open the year as the fifth starter, although Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register tweets that manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that Julio Urias might have to open the year as a starter rather than a reliever.

    1. Hill strained his MCL and will be out “a couple of weeks.”

      That’s Dave Roberts-speak for:

      Hill suffered a complete tear of his MCL and his career is over.

  14. Apparently the thinking is still that Urias would be used in relief, primarily as someone to tag team with Buehler until Buehler is ready for a full outing. That would leave the fifth spot open. Julio is supposed to be the long reliever and maybe they don’t want to take him out of that role just yet.

    Caleb is just not a good pitcher unless his curveball is working, and I do not think he is a viable starter this year anyway.

    Dennis Santana and Brock Stewart are the only other possible starters on the 40 man. Santana has pitched 5.2 MLB innings this spring, while Stewart has 3.0 IP. I have no idea if either have been stretched out at all in minor league camp.

    Tony Gonsolin is more of a possibility, and there are some spots on the 40 man available. The Dodgers have 39 on the 40 man (holding one for Martin who opted out), including Toles who is on the 40 man but also the restricted. So there are two spots available. Gonsolin would have to be added to the 40 man next winter, so it is not all bad. He still should spend almost the entire year in MiLB anyway so they would not run up a lot of service time. I also do not see the use of an option this year being an impediment.

    I see the rotation to start the season as:
    Ryu
    Strip
    Buehler/Urias
    Maeda
    Gonsolin

    If that were to be the case, Gonsolin would make his MLB debut against SFG as did Strip in April 2016.

    Once Hill comes back, Gonsolin would probably be headed back to MiLB, with Ferguson due for shipment out once Kershaw is back. Urias would necessarily piggy back with Kershaw once Buehler is at full throttle.

    1. ”(holding one for Martin who opted out)” Forgive my ignorance, but who is Martin? I only know Rusell Martin, but I do not think he chose to opted out his contract.
      And by the way, I hope not to offend anyone with my way of writing in English !!

      1. My bad. I meant Brad Miller…not Martin. I am trying to get out of town and I was rushing.

        1. I thought about Brad, but since I do not know as much about the players as you did, I decided to ask first … Thanks and good trip!

    2. All this is good.

      One thing people need to remember about Gonsolin is he’s quite a bit older than May so there are not the same worries about rushing him/starting his clock too early. If he’s throwing well, let’s use him. May we can afford to be more conservative with as he is arguably a more valuable long-term piece. If Gonsolin is one of our best 13 arms, we need to use him and not save him for later.

  15. per Bill Plunkett’s Twitter feed, “Andrew Friedman confirms Julio Urias will start the season in #Dodgers rotation but only until Rich Hill is ready. Hill injury is “a short-term thing,” Friedman said”

    1. Rich Hill injury is always a “short term” thing. So are his “non-injuries”

    1. I would like to look like Brad Pitt and have Warren Buffet’s money.

      My “would like” is the same as yours.

    2. Santana looking like the one I keep forgetting. In the running for that final spot.

      And just like that Gonsolin to minor league camp

  18. SO Mark. Who are Cody Thomas and The Deacon Lilyliput?

    These two, especially Thomas have great numbers. Thomas seems like a Peters type. Power and K’s.

    1. They are prospects who could rise quickly… or not!

      Thomas is not unlike Peters!

      1. Mark, I don’t get to see any of these guys on tv or hear about them. When I do get some info it is only the bits of Dodger news on their website, which is usually the same old news. I was hoping you had a bit more? Liput’s name is kind of funny, so not making fun of it. It’s just my personality.
        Anyway, I don’t have the time or means to research the Dodgers, the way I did some years ago. But my questions are not frivolous. I am truly interested.

  19. I attended today’s game. I do not understand Doc. Why play Carrera in LF? He is not going to make the team. Where is Verdugo? The Snakes threw a right hander. Where is Joc? Maybe Carrera is going to start in LF. Sometimes Doc is just leaves me wondering.

    1. The comments made after Joc was removed early from Thursday’s game due to back spasms were read by me to say Joc would play yesterday, Friday. The word now is that he didn’t play Friday as a precautionary measure. He is supposed to start all three Freeway Series games.

      I will guess that players have their preparation tightly scheduled and Friday was going to be a day for Verdugo to work with instructors. He has made a few throws into the infield that didn’t have a particular target and maybe they want him to concentrate more.

  20. I suggested early in Spring Training that Urias might force his way into the rotation this year. I was immediately disagreed with. I got it right again when I predicted he would be the one that replaced Hill.

    I said I hoped Stewart would make the 25 on opening day and was disagreed with and now it looks like he might.

    I was right when I said Taylor could be the second baseman the Dodgers were looking for in the winter before the 2017 season.

    So, don’t pile on too deeply when I say that Joc will get an extension this year and probably sooner than later.

  21. I wish Brock Stewart the best in his quixotic quest to claim a roster spot. Hope he knows how to hold a mop.

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