If everything comes together as planned, 2020 could be the magical season we all hoped for since 1988. 2017 looked to be that season, but the cheating Astros stopped it. 2019 was elite, but they just lacked something more… 2020 it is! This could very well be epic… one for the ages. It’s a great time to be a Dodger fan!
The Dodgers didn’t get Gerrit Cole, but Plan B included Alex Wood, Jimmy Nelson, and David Price with Ross Stripling, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin in the wings. The truth is, the Dodgers have enough firepower to field two Top Ten MLB Rotations… if they stay healthy… which they won’t! The fact is, the Dodgers many be better with the above group than with Cole. They may be glad they came in second in the Cole Sweepstakes.
Rob Hill, Driveline Baseball, Josh Bard, Mark Prior, Conner McGuinness, and company might just make all the difference with this pitching staff. It’s very possible you see more than an incremental improvement from every pitcher on the roster. There are junkyard dogs and bluebloods on the staff. Clayton Kershaw and David Price are two of the best starters over the past decade. Walker Buehler and Dustin May are the next generation.
Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Walker Buehler, Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, Blake Treinen, and Kenley Jansen have all been All-Stars. Julio Urias and Dustin May are waiting for their turn. Caleb Ferguson, Pedro Baez, Joe Kelly, Scott Alexander, and Brusdar Graterol have electric arms in the bullpen.
I have no idea how good this pitching staff will be, but I can tell you there is no MLB staff with this amount of firepower! The pitching is talented, deep and exceptional. There will be injuries and some pitchers may not live up to expectations, but the depth will win out. I am going on record as saying that this 2020 Dodger pitching staff will be the best in baseball. You can’t get much better than that!
How many pitchers return to their top form will determine how great this staff might be. Alex Wood, Jimmy Nelsen, Ross Stripling, and David Price are all recovering from varying degrees of injury. Treinen and Jansen are trying to return to their days as lockdown closers. Can they do that? Rob Hill and Driveline Baseball say yes. Time will tell the story. However, people who have seen Alex Wood throw say his stuff looks “filthy.”
The offense is likely the best in the game as well. What an abundance of riches! The only platoon is LF where Joc Pederson and AJ Pollock could combine for 50+ HR. Betts and Bellinger are two of the Top Four Players in baseball. Gavin Lux is the only question in the infield and he is the consensus NL Rookie of the Year in the NL and the #2 prospect in baseball. Justin Turner at 3B, Corey Seager at SS and Max Muncy as all among the TOP players in MLB at their positions and Will Smith at Catcher is a rising star.
The bench is crowded with Kike Hernandez, Chris Taylor, Matt Beaty, and many others. This team has no discernible weaknesses. None! To top it all off, the farm system is still loaded, ranked #3 by Baseball America. Expect more players knocking at the proverbial door THIS YEAR, like Kaybear Ruiz (this is his make or break year), Jo Jo Gray, Dennis Santana, Mitch White, Luke Raley, Edwin Rios, Zach McKinistry, Brett de Geus, Victor Gonzalez, and Gerardo Carillo… to name a few.
Finally, the team has a gigantic chip on their collective shoulders due to the cheating and insolence of the Astros. I understand why the players were not punished (simply put: MLBPA), but the title still needs to be vacated. Regardless, the Dodgers have a lot to prove and they will be playing late into the fall this year and hoisting the trophy as World Champions in 2020. Bet on it!
Dodger Rants & Raves
- I am glad the Dodgers did not trade Andy Pages… he has sooooo much upside!
- I think Ross Stripling and Joc Pederson will both have great years.
- Training Camp surprise with a chance of making the team: Brett de Geus! I said Alex Wood the other day, but he’s no surprise anymore.
- The first Spring Training Game is on Saturday with the Giants and as we all know…
Discussion (46)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Meanwhile, Lance McCullers has opened his big mouth and talked more trash. That garbage (can) organization just does not get it:
“[The teams talking trash are] going to have to play us,” McCullers told The Washington Post. “Except for the guys who are popping off the most.”
“Those guys aren’t going to have to face us, which is maybe why they feel like they can speak like that,” McCullers continued. “But we’re moving on. That’s not what people may want to hear, but we stood here as men and we addressed [the scandal]. … We’re just looking forward to playing baseball again.”
https://www.mlb.com/news/david-ortiz-speaks-at-red-sox-camp
I think this is the piece JR is referring to.
Interesting thoughts on Verdugo, but it’s his take on the Asterik’s cheating that interested me.
He echoed exactly what I said – that’s it’s unbelievable that not one player said NO at the time – that it was wrong and couldn’t and shouldn’t happen.
That’s why the players should be punished. They could have put a stop to it at any point – but all made a decision not to.
Dennis Goodwin stopped by my office today and we discussed whether this is the year the Dodgers go to a 6-man rotation. I could see it with the fact they can carry an extra pitcher quite easily.
1. Kershaw
2. Buehler
3. Price
4. Urias
5. Wood
6. May, Stripling, Nelson
Spread out the starts. 24 or 25 each and they are healthy for the playoffs…. and rested!
I stand on my record of the past 5 years for predicting sunny days versus others who called for sleet and hail.
As a weatherman and prognosticator, I would remain employed. The one who predicted doom and gloom would be fired!
I have been calling for Sunny Days because even Ray Charles can see they are here and the front is settled in!
Sorry Mark but Kersh is not an elite October pitcher. Not in 18 not in 19. Not for much of his career. I do think he will have a very good regular season even better than last year. But I don’t want him pitching in October more than once a series.
And here we go again with all this crap about Houston, I read this on another page and I wonder if it would be possible, although we know it won’t happen …
“What I don’t understand is why they don’t just put a playoff ban on for the next 2 years? They can absolutely do this, and it don’t affect the players union. But, it will be a great back door way to truly affect the players. With a playoff ban over the next 2 years and the loss of 1st + 2nd round draft picks over the next 2 years, it is in perfect sync.
The Astros could tank their season, but still don’t get the draft picks. They can play as well as they want and still call themselves division champs, but they still can’t make the playoffs, and it would go to the division runner up. This would also affect the players because they would all waste 2 good years (some people in their prime) on a team that can’t complete the ultimate goal of winning the World Series.
Plus free-agents won’t want to sign with them until the ban is lifted, etc..
Perfect punishment.”
Rumors flying Luis Severino’s medical exam didn’t go well. He might need surgery.
Even with him heathy, I’d rather have the Dodgers rotation.
Big question is can Urias develop into a co ace with Buehler and can May become good #2-3 and how long will it take. I think they both will but this year may be a stretch. And we still have Gonsolin and Gray. The future of our rotation looks really bright!
If you compare the depth of the Dodgers with the rest of MLB, what Friedman has built is great.
In this case the Mets and their depth in SP there is no comparison with the quantity and quality in favor of the Dodgers.
Friedman will one day be an HOF, he is revolutionizing baseball at the organizational level, there will be a before and after in how to lead a baseball team, he is making history !!!
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/camp-battles-mets-rotation.html
Pollyana has nothing on our host this morning. The glasses aren’t just rose-colored – they’re hot pink.
The offense will be the best in the NL for sure. I’m not nearly as sanguine about the pitching however.
The Dodgers have to make up for the loss of Ryu, Hill and Maeda. The 3 combined for a record of 28 – 13, 68 starts, 395 IP (including Maeda’s relief appearances). Ryu’s ERA was 2.32 and WHIP was 1.01; Hill had 2.45/1.13; Maeda had 4.04/1.07.
They are going to rely on David Price to replace one of the 3. Price was 7 – 5, 4.28 with a WHIP of 1.31. So, OK he was injured last year – in 2018 he was 16 – 7, 3.58 with a WHIP of 1.14. He only threw 74 innings due to injury in 2017 and was 17 – 9, 3.99 with a 1.20 WHIP in 2016. In other words, he won’t be as good as Ryu was last year if he stays healthy (a big if). He’ll be better than Maeda if he’s healthy. But he’s the #3 guy.
Every year, you hear that every player is in “the best shape of his life”. Every year, someone has a new changeup grip, a better breaking ball, has worked to regain a lost MPH or 2. It rarely means anything once the season starts however. So – Stripling has a new changeup grip, Wood has been reborn working with Driveline, blah blah blah. Maybe – we’ll see. But probably not.
The thing we know about baseball is entropy happens. The Second Law of Thermodyamics happens. (Unless someone is using steroids.) Players age and rarely regain lost velocity or endurance. We age – our bodies break down. We learn to get along on experience and guile where once we relied on phyisicality. This idea that Wood and Kershaw and Jansen are all going to be reborn as younger, stronger versions of last year’s self is unlikely.
So – Wood has been promised a spot in the rotation or he wouldn’t have signed. OK – assume that is true. Wood was 1 – 3, 5.80 in 7 starts last year 1.40 WHIP, 35 IP. Yeah, he was injured. In 2018, he was 9 – 7, 3.68, 1.21 WHIP, 27 starts, 151 IP (including relief appearances). If the Dodgers are lucky, maybe he replicates Maeda’s numbers.
Now we are left to the 5th starter. Stripling can do it – he has before, but he also broke down before and couldn’t sustain it (in 2017). That leaves the shredded right arm of Jimmy Nelson and untested guys like May, Gonsolin and Urias. Roberts has said that Urias will be a starter this year so I assume that the job is his unless he pitches himself out of it.
Urias threw 79 inning in 34 appearances last year – an average of 2+ innings/per appearance. He has thrown 184 major league innings over parts of 4 seasons. He has thrown 312 minor league innings. That’s 500 innings in 7 years. He threw 122 combined innings in 2016 – that’s the most he’s ever pitched. No way after throwing less than 80 innings last year he throws 180 this year.
The pitching could be very good but right now is very iffy. They do have 8 or 9 guys who will probably start this year and they can cobble a rotation together. They don’t have 2 top-10 rotations. They might have 1 top 10 rotation. They don’t have a top 3 rotation. The guys who are in the rotation at the beginning of the season won’t all be there at the end.
The Dodgers are playing it differently this year than in any season since they have been in LA. They plan on winning by bludgeoning their opponents into submission by offense. This isn’t the Koufax/Drysdale/Podres or Osteen Dodgers; it’s not Sutton/Messersmith/John or Sutton/Hooten/John or Fernando/Reuss/Hooten or any of these permutations. In my view they have 2 sure things at the top of the rotation and question marks after that.
Loving all the positivity. I stated a few weeks back that I thought we’d have the best Rotation and I stand by that.
My biggest concern is still Doc. He is great in the Regular season, so let’s hope he’s learned something from previous Post Season disasters.
Sorry but Kersh wasn’t ace like in 18 and 19 playoffs. Just can’t see him pithing twice in a series against that righty Yankee lineup. And Price has a lot to prove this year. I’m just saying there’s A LOT of question marks with our pitching. I’m not as optimistic as Mark especially about the playoffs
Cassidy, while I agree with you that Gerrit Cole is a difference maker, the Astros still did not win the World Series. I’m not so sure you can’t out Kershaw and Price. Kershaw was ace like in 2017 except in Houston and we now know why that happened and Price was certainly an ace in 2018 World Series.
The Dodgers won’t be glad they finished second in the Cole sweepstakes when they face the Yankees in the WS. Pitching depth is great during the regular season but the playoffs is all about aces and we have only one. Kersh and Price are past their prime and even in their prime they were not playoff aces. I think May and Urias could get there but this year would be a stretch. Counting on Wood to last a whole season at a high level just isn’t realistic. And not to mention our bullpen which has question marks throughout. Our lineup is WS worthy but our pitching has a lot to prove. Still think we need a second ace. We will see by the trade deadline where the pitching stands.
Wow, Mark. While I like your posts, I’m not sure you would fare well with dealing with players. Obviously, it was the Dodgers intention to clean up the outfield mess, thus the failed trade of Joc Pederson to the Angels. It’s still a mess and they know it. What I would probably say instead is the hot bat plays. But it’s not AJ who is the problem, it actually how do you get at bats for Chris Taylor and Kike Hernandez, who both saw playing time in the outfield.
The addition of Mookie Betts means there is only one outfield spot left for four players. The infield is pretty set with Max Muncy, Gavin Lux, Cory Seager and Justin Turner. Of course, injuries could play a factor, but probably not likely. Pollock is really good and I’ve watched him for years, so I get just how good he can be. The second half where he was healthy should be an eye opener. Since most of his injuries have been of the freak variety, there is no reason to expect him not to be healthy.
I like Joc, always have, watched in A ball and actually see no reason he can’t hit lefthanders. He hit them in the minors, but he’s in his free agent year and playing time is important. He has indicated that he had lots of discussion about the issue last year with the Dodgers. Even with Pollock out he was still sharing time with Taylor and Verdugo He needs to play, be given a chance a chance to hit lefties. That probably won’t come with the Dodgers. Yes, he wants to be a Dodger, but does anyone actually see that happening next year. The Dodgers focus is going to be on re-signing Betts, keeping both Seager and Bellinger long term.
The idea that you send Pollock and a bunch of cash to another team makes no sense. We’re already paying for Maeda to play for the Twins. Getting a talent like a 100 mile potential back of the bullpen reliever back was a plus. But the Dodgers probably would have been happy with putting Maeda in the bullpen where he was very effective. Only one problem, Maeda wanted to start, and the club didn’t want an unhappy pitcher on the roster.
The same holds true for Pederson. This is his big year, his opportunity to cash in … As good a person as Joc is, he’s great in the community and fans really like him, he’s also human and he won’t be happy playing part time. Nothing has changed. Pollock already has a contract and if he gets hot he can actually carry a team. These are just the realities the Dodgers face. Easy to deal with on paper, not so easy to deal with in the clubhouse and behind the scenes.
Andrew Friedman can explain to AJ that he can trade him and cash to the Marlins or he can shut up and win a World Series. Pick one AJ!
I am looking forward to the first TV game on Saturday. I love ST. I love to see the farm kids play. As a High School player I dreamt of playing baseball in Florida in the spring. Never happened, but it was fun dreaming.
I do believe the Dodgers are going to be very good. I just see one problem. Pollock will not be happy platooning in LF. I think Pollock and Pederson will have a very good ST. One will have to be traded before the season starts.
Mark, this time you could be correct. Let´s see what happens.
Pederson and Pollock hit a combined 51 HR’s last year in 758 ABs. They won’t do that in 2020 if they exclusively split LF in a platoon. Lots of their combined power came in games where they were BOTH playing. Now, if DJ Peters figures out how to stop striking out, maybe then the Dodgers could field a 50 HR LF combo. I for one am not ready to hold my breath on that happening.
I’m not so sure I would label this a make or break year for Ruiz. He’s only 21.