Intrasquad games and the exhibition season has come to an end. The results have been generally positive. The offense seems to be working on all cylinders. They are working the count, fouling off pitches, and attacking mistakes. During these games, they have shown they CAN BE a good two strike hitting team. They are going the other way with so much consistency that it is not a mistake. Some are looking to take the outside pitch to the opposite side, particularly Corey Seager. If they get any kind of offense from the catcher corps, they will be loaded 1-9.
From what I have seen of Corey Seager since ST is that he is going back to how he attacked the ball in his rookie and sophomore year. I would not project him to be 12-15 HR guy, but could lead MLB in doubles and a .330 plus BA. Corey does not walk very much, so his OBP will be more closely reflective of his BA. His doubles will boost his slugging so that his OPS should get back to his .850 +. Defensively, his arm is back to where it was in 2016/2017. He has never had top range, but it has always been good enough to keep him as one of the better SS. He has always gone to his right better than up the middle. He will be able to get back to throwing out batter/runners from deep in the hole at third. Most of MLB journalists are projecting either Mookie or Cody as MVP. Me? I am going with Corey Seager. And yes, I am biased.
Pitching wise, I think the Dodgers are well stocked. Once Walker Buehler gets fully ramped up, he and Clayton Kershaw will form a very good top two. As good as Scherzer and Strasburg? Maybe not, but Max showed some signs of slowing down at the end of last year. Verlander and Greinke? deGrom and Stroman? Bieber and Clevinger? Castillo and Gray? There are multiple quality top two, and adding Corbin to Scherzer/Strasburg, the Nats have the best top three. But I am more than bullish going to battle with:
- Kershaw
- Buehler
- Urias
- Strip
- Wood
Anyone falters, Dustin May will be ready to step in. Tony Gonsolin/Mitch White/Josiah Gray ready to follow.
I have not been bullish on the Dodgers bullpen for the past several years. But this year, the bullpen COULD be a strength. I am not saying it will be, because bullpens are always unpredictable. Seeing Kenley working on his weaknesses last night, he showed that he recognizes that he has problems with runners on base. His inability to hold the runner on first, and his inability to keep the runner on second from stealing signs, is not lost on even the average Dodger fan. I do not for a minute believe he has conquered those weaknesses, but to recognize it and work at it is a big plus.
Other than KJ, the back end of the pen seems to be well stocked:
- KJ
- Blake Treinen
- Joe Kelly
- Brusdar Graterol (AKA Bazooka) – formerly Buffalo
6th and 7th inning:
- Pedro Baez
- Caleb Ferguson (L)
- Scott Alexander (L)
- Dylan Floro
- Jake McGee (L)
- Dennis Santana
- Josh Sborz
- Adam Kolarek (L)
- AJ Ramos (R)
Long Man
- Dustin May
When the team gets down to 26, the bullpen will be eight. AF and Doc/Prior/McGuiness should be able to find a GOOD eight man bullpen form those listed above. Tony Gonsolin could also make that list if he is not needed as a SP. While both Mitch White and JoJo Gray were effective in their exhibition starts, their earliest ETA should be 2021 unless something catastrophic happens.
I know it is fashionable to negate the Jake McGee signing as a mistake based on what transpired last night. He had not pitched in over a week. He got released by a team that does not have good pitching (can’t feel good). So that he would not be on an airplane, he was told to drive to LA on Sunday (from Denver), He got into LA on Monday. Got the COVID-19 test and all of the other protocols. And then was rudely welcomed to the Dodgers staff on Tuesday. After the game, there were no excuses requested or delivered. He did say that AF knows what he can do. Same for Brandon Gomes who he pitched with while both were with Tampa Bay. He did offer that Prior/McGuiness have some things that they have seen that they can work with him on.
2019 – Home – 19.2 IP, 5.95 ERA, 1.831 WHIP
2019 – Away – 21.2 IP, 2.91 ERA, 1.015 WHIP
I may be proven wrong, but I am still comfortable with the acquisition.
The way I figure it, the 30 man roster will include 5 starting pitchers, 11 relief pitchers, and 14 position players.
My best guess:
SP (5):
- Clayton Kershaw (L) (I list him #1, until Buehler unquestionably grabs it)
- Walker Buehler (R)
- Julio Urias (L)
- Alex Wood (L)
- Ross Stripling (L)
RP (11):
- KJ (R)
- Blake Treinen (R)
- Joe Kelly (R)
- Brusdar Graterol (R)
- Dustin May (R)
- Caleb Ferguson (L)
- Pedro Baez (R)
- Dylan Floro (R)
- Jake McGee (L)
- Dennis Santana (R)
- Adam Kolarek (L)
Scott Alexander (L) and Josh Sborz (R), will be the first up when needed.
Starters (8):
- 1B – Max Muncy
- 2B – CT3
- 3B – JT
- SS – Corey Seager
- LF – Joc
- CF – Belli
- RF – Mookie
- C – Will Smith
Reserves (6):
- A.J. Pollock
- Kike’ Hernandez
- Austin Barnes
- Matt Beaty
- Edwin Rios
- Zach McKinstry
I have left off Terrence Gore because he is not on the 40 man, and I do not see anyone on the 40 man who should get DFA, so I cannot see Gore making the roster unless someone on the 40 man is released or goes on the 45 day IL.
Walker Buehler was asked what happened that he did not continue to ramp up during the down time. As I surmised, he was unsure of the uncertainty and just shut it down for about a week. He says he is 1-2 innings behind. Buehler is a slow starter anyway, so shutting it down a week makes sense.
A very common question asked of the players in their Zoom press conferences is whether there are any specific rules set down by the players to stay in line with the protocols. I assume that because he is the face of the team, Clayton has been asked every time and his response does not vary. “We all know what we have to do and not do. We all have a common goal of winning the WS and no player wants to be that guy who wanders out and comes back with the virus.” I think his point is we are all adults, and we know what is at stake. We do not need to write down rules. We have less than a week before the team embarks on their first road trip, so we might have a better feel once they return from Houston, Arizona, and San Diego.
There is a lot of speculation that Mookie and AF are close to reaching a 10 year deal. I am more skeptical because Mookie has always maintained that he wants to go through free agency. But maybe the pandemic has changed his position. If the rumors of a 10 year $350MM contract are true, then the Dodgers, Mookie, and Dodger fans will be happy. I guess stay tuned.
Discussion (54)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Loved the Dodgers song, never heard it before. Amazing news about signing Mookie to a long-term deal. So unlike AF to commit so much money over so many years. Statistically, we all know that players see a decline in their abilities starting in their early to mid 30s. So either AF knows something that we don’t know (Mookie is immortal) or the Guggenheim group said it was worth eating the money in the last years of his contract. Either way, this is huge! It is what Dodger fans have been waiting for while AF slowly put together a dynasty based on a systematic, disciplined approach. This is the final piece to the puzzle. And we saw some spectacular young arms in Summer Camp: Gray, Graderol, White, May. Some of you may have noticed, Nate Silver came out with his predictions for 2020. Gave the Dodgers a 20% chance of winning the WS. Next highest were Yankees and Houston, each at 14%. The odds change, of course, as the season goes on, depending on each team’s performance. These are the odds based on the info available today. It’s as if you start a race, and the Dodgers start 20 feet ahead, Houston and the Yankees 14 feet ahead, and so forth, down to the Orioles and a few others who start at 0. It’s Bayesian statistics.
No one will be forgetting about Urias after this year!
OK, I’ll do it right:
1. Kershaw
2. Buehler
3. Urias
4. Price
5. May
WOW!
Great news on Betts, helps make up for some of the bad news on other fronts. It makes this season more fun to look forward to, as well.
I am not nearly as confident about the pitching, but we will find out. This season will be unique, in that someone like Wood, who in the past has pitched better in the first half than the second, does not need to go through close to an entire season. Same for Urias, who has never pitched that many innings, but would not have to in these 60 regular season games. I do hope that we add another top pitcher for next year, even with Price returning after a year layoff. And I’m not all that sure about Kershaw, but I will rely on the reports here that he looks better than recently. As to the bullpen, I am counting on Treinen to help, I do not know at all about Kelly, who had a pretty bad season in 2019. Our lineup should be very good, though it is disappointing that Lux wasn’t nearly as ready as we had hoped last year; and we also have to hope that Smith can hit at least .240 with some home run power. But the heart of the lineup is as good as anybody’s, including NYY, and then we’ll see how we might do in the playoffs against teams with very good frontline pitching. We are the favorites to win it all, but the very short season can make for surprises, since baseball has always been a marathon in which the small advantages show up over time.
Regarding rudybyrd’s question above, there are no opt outs or no trade clauses in Mookie’s contract.
He gets a 65 mil signing bonus which apparently isn’t taxable because he doesn’t live here, and about a third of the contract is deferred but no statement as to how long the payments will extend for. Maybe he’ll try to break Bonilla’s record.
Am loving the Betts deal and I’m glad the Dodgers and AF were willing to make this deal for this player. Not Machado or Harper or even Cole. Mookie seems like a perfect fit and everyone’s a winner. No winter of free agency and and that Bu** sh**.
So it appears that with this season’s 27 M included, this deal is actually 13 years at 392M. My question is, is any portion of this year’s 27 M paid by the Red Sox? I know a portion of Price’s $96M is paid by Boston but I don’t know about Betts.
I can’t wipe the smile off my face that this is done.
That’s really great news.
So gutted that MJ won’t get to see Mookie in Dodger Blue. She absolutely loved him.
The future looks very bright.
My only doubts surround our Starting Pitching. Hope Beuhler gets up to speed quickly, and have to admit to being disappointed that Price decided not to play as I had a feeling he was gonna rebound well in LA.
I knew you guys would begin to get into the this different Baseball Season.
I’m. Looking forward to it.
MLB tv carried a little of the Mookie-AF presser. Mookie said he didn’t need to test free agency because the Dodgers gave him a fair deal and he loves everything he’s experienced in his short time here. Players and front office have been great and he knew he wanted to stay.
As an aside, I’ve never seen AF so animated. He’s really ecstatic.
Anyone heard of any ‘opt-outs’ in Mookie’s contract?
Congrats to Mookie, and the Dodgers for signing him to the contract. Beyond his obvious playing talents, he seems to be one of the good guys, with great work ethics, focus and character. Hope he has many enjoyable years with the Dodgers and gives the fans a real boost towards a championship.
Little bummed about McKinstry but hope to see him this year without wishing anyone suffering an injury. Also love CT3 and his defense and his offense.
So the Dodgers tried to sign Harper and failed. Got Betts instead. Far better deal.
I really like CT3 as an everyday 2nd baseman leaving Kike do do what he does best. That infield, in fact the entire defense, looks very solid to me. Be nice to Pollock hit
Damn, I hope this Mookie rumor has legs. I’d love to see him secured for the future. Yippie just read it’s a deal
Gatoraid is a dude and he sure looks like a future closer to me.
From one Gazelle to another
PRESS RELEASE:
DODGERS SIGN 2018 AL MVP MOOKIE BETTS TO A 12-YEAR CONTRACT
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they have signed outfielder Mookie Betts to a 12-year contract through the 2032 season.
Betts, 27, is entering his seventh season in the Major Leagues after spending the parts of the last six seasons with the Boston Red Sox. In 794 games with Boston, he hit a combined .301 (965-for-3203) with 139 homers and 470 RBI, while being named an All-Star four straight years (2016-19) and winning four Gold Glove Awards (2016-19), three Silver Slugger Awards (‘16, 18-19) and the 2018 Most Valuable Player Award. He led the Red Sox in WAR in each of his first five full seasons in the Major Leagues (6.0 in 2015, 9.5 in 2016, 6.4 in 2017, 10.9 in 2018, 6.9 in 2019).
In his MVP campaign, the Tennessee native hit .346 (180-for-520) with 32 homers and 80 RBI while leading the league in WAR (10.4), runs scored (129), batting average and slugging percentage (.640). After leading the Red Sox to the World Series Championship in 2018, he became the first player in American League history to win the World Series, MVP, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger in the same season and the second player in Major League Baseball history to complete the feat (Mike Schmidt in 1980).
Last season, he hit .295 (176-for-597) with 29 homers and 80 RBI in 150 games while finishing first in the American League amongst right fielders in defensive runs saved (20). He finished fifth in the AL in OBP (.391) and 11th in OPS (.915) while leading AL right fielders with 10 outfield assists.
Betts was acquired by the Dodgers on February 10, along with David Price from Boston in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo and minor leaguers Connor Wong and Jeter Downs. He was originally drafted in the fifth round (173rd overall) of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of John Everton High School (TN).
Betts will make his Dodger debut tomorrow night in the season opener against the San Francisco Giants at 7:07 p.m. PST.
Exciting news about Mookie. Between that and watching the Dodgers knock the ball around the last few nights, I’m ready for this sprint of a season. With the way Seager is swinging the bat, I think I would put him back in the two hole and let Muncy protect Belli. I would rather see CT3 in the lineup over Kike.
The offense looks stacked. I guess we will find out later if they call Lux up but if they do then one of Rios or Beatty likely gets sent to USC.
The rotation looks OK – I wonder how much Buehler’s post-Spring Training laziness will cost them? I think that Strip will be OK and we will have to see how the back of the rotation (Wood/Strip) will do – the early signs are good.
As for the ‘pen – Kelly has not looked good and has hardly pitched (again). I have seen no evidence that he is anything other than what he has always been – inconsistent. Treinen has hardly pitched and Baez hasn’t pitched at all. Alexander either. Kolarek hasn’t gotten right handers out and Floro can’t get lefties. The pieces are there but this group wasn’t that good last year and the Summer version of Spring training hasn’t proven anything. Graterol could be the difference maker here.
Last year’s team OPS’d .810 without a DH and averaged almost 5.5 runs/game. Add a DH and Mookie Betts – this could be the best Dodger offense since 1953.
ESPN.com is saying that the deal is for 13 years, including this season, 380 million dollars. And it could be finalized as early as tonight. Blue Jays not allowed to play home games in Pittsburgh per the Pennsylvania board of health, so a couple of days before the season they are scrambling to find a home. Lots of former really good players getting released, including Melky Cabrerra and Beckham from the Mets. Bret Cecil was also released.
I think the active Roster has now been posted. I assume this is the case as only 30 names are listed. https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/roster
When listing bullpen possibilities you didn’t mention AJ Ramos. I think he’s shown what he can do and if not on the opening day roster I would much rather have him be the first guy up than Sborz.
Seager has looked so good it’s scary. I just hope that he carries it into the season and if he does, AF can start talking to him as soon as he has Mookie’s autograph on the dotted line.
Mookie Betts. 12 years, ‘at least’ $353M. Wow!
Will comment later on this.