Saturday was an eventful day for the Dodgers as Hyun-Jin Ryu and Trayce Thompson made their first official appearances of the season. Ryu is coming back from elbow and shoulder surgeries on his chicken wing and Thompson is only overcoming a broken back. I have to believe that Trayce will start the season at AAA, along with Andrew Toles – it won’t hurt either of them to play every day at OKC, but Ryu has a shot at making the rotation at the start of THIS season although, I still believe he will start at AAA to build arms strength. There’s still three weeks to go. You never know…
Ryu allegedly was dialing it up to 91 MPH. If that is true, then that is very good news considering how little he has pitched. I thought he looked outstanding and I was pleasantly surprised. Ryu reported no pain in his shoulder or elbow. If true, that is also great news. If Ryu can be anything close to what he was in 2013 and 2014, then the rotation is dramatically improved. Of course, there are a lots of other options as well – I don’t need to name them all… you know who they are.
Right here, right now, it looks like Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu are healthy, but my bet is that Ryu spends a few starts in AAA. I have also heard some say that Julio Urias might stay behind in Arizona (extended Spring Training) or start at AAA. What? When you pitch at AAA, the innings don’t count? That’s silly! Urias will either stay behind or start the season in the rotation. If it were me, I would hold him out about 3 weeks. Then, I would unleash the Kracken! Maybe a DL stint or two during the year as well, but why would anyone even consider having him go to AAA? The innings count there the same as MLB – you might as well have him in the rotation.
If Urias and Ryu don’t break with the team, then this is what I think the rotation will look like in April:
- Kershaw
- Hill
- Maeda
- McCarthy
- Wood
I know it’s dangerous to assume, but I think Kazmir is toast (yeah, I am reading the reports that say otherwise) and so he is outta’ my plan. By the end of April, Urias and Ryu should be ready… and then what? I see Ross Stripling as the swingman. Barring injury, Romo and Jansen make the team, so that makes eight pitchers. That leaves four spots open. I can’t imagine that Dayton won’t have one of those spots. Pedro Baez is likely to start the season on the DL and Avilan has no options, and neither does Hatcher, so this is their shot – they have few weeks to step up or shut up!
That leaves one spot left – Fields, Liberatore or Morrow? Morrow is not on the 40-man, so I am not sure what happens there. I think Fields gets the final spot, but KNOW THIS: the look of this pitching staff WILL ABSOLUTELY CHANGE DRAMATICALLY before the season is over – in ways we can never imagine. Morrow could be up later. Liberatore WILL be up later.
I can also see Walker Buehler ending the season in the pen. You are going to need a scorecard, people. You are going to see musical chairs like you can’t imagine. The pitching staff is taking shape, but there is a lot to be decided. This is a deep, deep staff with lots of arms and FAZ will use that 10 day DL like a farmer uses a rented mule.
And then, there’s always the chance for a trade….
Rants and Raves
- Doug Padilla of ESPN has a great read on Cody Bellinger: Budding Superstar! He’s ready, I am telling you!
- Brett Eibner is a very good CF. Very, Very Good!
- Stetson Allie is organizational depth.
- Yasiel Sierra doesn’t look overpowering but he has looked very good.
- Darnell Sweeney has little chance of making the team despite a good Spring.
- Chris Taylor is making the Utilityman job a tough call between himself and Kike. He has done nothing to tarnish his star.
- Dylan Hernandez of THE LA TIMES really nails the situation with Yasiel Puig It’s a great read.
- FAZ HATERS: Don’t Read This: Andrew Toles Credits Sabermetrics for Emergence
- There are lots of good reads on the Dodger Dashboard today!
- Oh, I almost forgot – Adam asked about the WBC and said he didn’t care about it. Neither do I! I can’t watch it. Now, if they really had all the players – the Trouts, Kershaws, Bumgarners and all those – then I would be into it. It’s no dream team!
- You may or may not know that I am a Big Duke Blue Devil Fan- 4 wins in 4 days to win the ACC Championship. Coach K is amazing because when he loses, it’s his fault and when he wins, it’s because of his players. Players run through walls for him. BTW, I think the ACC will have 10 teams in the tournament.
Todays Music
That’s one of my favorite songs!
Discussion (41)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Roger,
I too am hoping against hope. I think this could be Puig’s year. I am rooting for him to get it together and have a break out year where he puts it all together. But again that’s why I love baseball, especially in the spring. Because hope springs eternal. Baseball for me is a chance to hope that this is the year that any given player can have a career year and the Dodgers can go to the World Series.
I know I may be daydreaming a bit here, and the article in the Times trashed him pretty good, but didn’t Puig looked focused as hell the other night when he hit two homers against Texas? He looked alot slimmer too than past springs. (feel free to pile on here, I know his track record sucks). For some dumb reason, and I have been burned I don’t know how many times the past 3 years, I still believe in Puig. The guy is oh so close to being downright scary. If he can just get the Raul Mondesi out of his head, he will be unstoppable. He seems more comfortable at the plate. I get the feeling that FAZ really wants him to work out, because they probably know that he will come back to haunt them someday if they trade him and he figures it out. (Picture him in a Giant uniform, my worst nightmare). I am going to go out on a very shaky limb again and say Yasiel can be the difference maker in the lineup this year if he keeps playing the way he is. Ok, let me have it, I can take it.
Of the non-Ryu pitches trying to come back from injury, Kazmir has the best track record. The Dodgers will give him (and all of the others) every chance to show that he can do the job.
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I would personally like to see Urias in the opening day rotation. He has pitched like he’s the Dodgers’ 2nd best pitcher and in keeping with last years’ narrative that they will play the best players, it sends the right message if they let him pitch. This will allow Ryu, Kazmir and Stewart (who has a sore shoulder) additional time to get ready for the season.
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As of right now I expect the rotation to start the season to be Kershaw, Hill, Maeda, Urias and McCarthy with Wood as the long man in the pen, Stripling in AAA, and Stewart either in AAA or the DL and Ryu and Kazmir on the DL.
I have hopes for Kazmir also, and he pitched very well 2 years ago especially in the first half season. It just seems his physical problems and general attitude don’t fit well with the team concept Roberts and Faz are promoting. I agree Wood has potential and his unorthodox delivery causes hitters problems. But how many lefties can or should be in one rotation? That gives McCarthy an edge if healthy who along with Maeda gives the rotation more balance.
AC,
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Did you see the interview I did with Zach Lee 5 years ago?
He was a great kid.
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That was at Parkview Field in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
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I did an interview with Garrett Gould thye same day, but John Shoemaker’s was the best:
Shoemaker runs the Arizona Operation.
Didn’t get a chance to comment on your last post Mark, but your article on Grienke’s contract was just an awesome read. The way you broke down Grienkes contract vs. the risk and reward of the other guys we signed totally opened my eyes on why we didn’t sign Zack. Made total sense, even though at the time I was totally pissed off we let him go. This is why I follow this site. Between you and some of the other guys on this page, I have learned stuff I never even thought of before. Keep up the great writing and feedback from the other guys, because I bet there are more guys like me out there that are learning more about the Dodgers than they ever thought possible. Great job man!
Not sure why Stewart, Stripling or Wood would be in the rotation except as a placeholder for Urias, assuming McCarthy keeps performing. Let the kid pitch, he is special! 5 best guys with Ryu another month away. Wood or Stripling or both as swing men, Stewart to AAA. Nice problem to have with too many healthy starters pitching well. Kazmir may not be done but has fallen out of favor and won’t take it well if not in the rotation. He is an addition by subtraction candidate. I like Taylor better than Kike for his speed and glove, and SVS has an option left but has earned a spot IMO. There could be a trade or more likely some players open on the DL and others get an extended look. Great takes and topic today as usual.
I have said this a few times so sorry to repeat myself but I think Stripling would excel in a Miller role and with that I have said Stewart instead of Stripling should be in the rotation. Hopefully, Stewart only needs a week to get past his strain.
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I have enjoyed watching Sweeney play third. He might be able to play there a few weeks should Turner need to visit the DL.
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Ethier is taking ground balls at first again. It has been a couple of years since he has done that. If SVS doesn’t make the 25, might Ethier spell Agon at first a few games this year?
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Thompson might not have enough time left this spring to get the at bats he needs to be ready to start the season with the Dodgers but I see him joining the team by May if he doesn’t open the season with the Dodgers.
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I will repeat myself again, sorry, but I like Taylor. The better he does the better the Lee story/draft. I like his speed. He stretched a double into a triple yesterday and as a result scored on a SF by Utley.
Thanks for the update on Sierra. I’ve not been able to watch him pitch yet, but the stats say he’s doing very well; much much better than last year in the minors.
Hopefully he’s figured things out
Ryu has notched up 7-8 MPH from the initial reports, so he is getting stronger. So much for those that latch on to early reports and deem players done before they even get a shot in a game. Good for Hyun-Jin. He may not be the 2013-2014 version, but he will make the full comeback, and probably be effective. He needs to face batters, so I would agree that AAA seems a good starting spot, rather than extended ST.
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With respect to Scott Kazmir, I am not yet ready to call him through. Mark, as you may recall, we went round and round on Zach Lee. I was always pulling for him and then trying to find a hole after he did make an appearance. You were ultimately correct about him as a Dodger, but I will still pull for him as a Padre (unless he faces the Dodgers). I will stick with Kaz until FAZ decides he is through.
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I started ST as a Brandon Morrow supporter, so I will stick my neck out and say he makes it over Fields. There is a 40 man spot open, so that should not be a hindrance. I think Hatcher is done as a Dodger. He is absolutely snake-bit and he needs to move if he wants to re-establish himself as a ML pitcher (which he is more than capable of). Hatcher has no trade value, so I see him as a prime DFA candidate. If he is not picked up, and is willing to accept a minor league assignment, give it a shot, and maybe he can re-emerge at AAA.
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Other than the Goldschmidt HR, McCarthy has been very good. There is no reason right now to believe he is injured (or has the yips), and cannot become the #4 or #5 starter.
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Either Wood or Stripling make the initial rotation depending on whether FAZ/Doc want 3 LH starters or 3 RH starters (or who they are playing). Both pitchers can assume the now named Andrew Miller role. There is a good article in MLB TradeRumors for the re-emergence of this type pitcher. Unfair comparison to Andrew Miller in ability, but I believe that both Wood and Stripling can be effective in that role.
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I agree that both Toles and Thompson start the year in OKC where they play every day. If anything happens to Ehtier or Gutierrez, FAZ will have no second thoughts about bringing either up. I believe Ethier will produce, but I am not as sure with Gutierrez.
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I like Chris Taylor, and I think he is the logical utility player based on his ability to play SS, and because he has earned it for his spring play. He can also hold his own in CF if needed, as well as Kike’ IMO. Of course there is also the Zach Lee factor. Chris Taylor is who the Dodgers received for Zach, so naturally I became a Chris Taylor fan from day 1.
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Knowing that FAZ moves their prospects quickly through the organization, I can see Walker Buehler getting a call in September for the pen, but I still believe that it is a long-shot. FAZ is still going to want to control Buehler’s pitch count, and both Trevor Oaks and Josh Sborz should be more advanced and in line for the call before Walker.
Let the kid pitch. You can keep him on a pitch count, not an innings count,and occasionally skip a start when there is an off-day or give him a mysterious 10-dL stint. Leaving him behind and re-starting him isn’t any better either. He’s a young strong kid, let him throw. They already botched his innings by doing the eye surgery in the middle of the season instead of the off-season prior.
On my way to Glendale. Ryun is key—again. Just like the last 2 years. It would be amazing if he comes back. Haven’t seen much of Liberatore. I like Mark’s use of Urias. AAA would be a waste and probably will set him back mentally.