Happy New Year Dodger Fans!

Is Prior Honeycutt’s successor?

Dodgers just hired for one of their open coaching positions. Mark Prior was hired as the bullpen coach. This is a good hire.

Mark Prior signed by the Dodgers as BP coach according to Tim Brown @ Yahoo sports.

Dylan Baker is certainly full of potential. He used to hit triple digits and 2018 will be his firts full season in a while. He has four pitches and while he has never pitched above AA, he could be a factor. He has the pedigree, Alaska boy that he is.

Well hopefully the “not so hot ” stove league just might be ready to break loose. The Pads have given Eric Hosmer a guaranteed 7 year offer, and the BoSox have given JD Martinez a 5 year offer. Now it is up to Boras to counter. I do not think there is much more out there for them although Boras will tell them that ten other teams are still very interested and have the teams bidding against themselves.

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The Cubs have given Arrieta a 4 year $110M contract offer, but he wants 5 years. The Cubs are not willing to go 5. The Yankees are not going to go for Darvish as they want to stay under $197M this year. They will wait out Pittsburgh in their quest for Gerrit Cole. Teams are waiting for Darvish to set the market for Cobb and Lynn. And then Cashner. Once Hosmer and Martinez are inked, the rest should go quickly.

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I am sure that Boras sees Holland as superior to Wade Davis, and wants a better deal than Davis got. I am just not sure that teams buy into that scenario anymore. Addison Reed could have been signed by now, but he is asking for 4 years. Most teams are not willing to go 4 for him. He knows teams will go three, so why not hold out for the 4th year? He’ll get signed. I am not sure why Watson has not signed anywhere. If he is not asked to close, he is a very good late inning LHRP. With Cingrani, Avilan, Liberatore, and Paredes, I just do not see the Dodgers signing another LHRP for $5-$7M AAV.

I forgot about Alex A in Atlanta who also might claim Font or even Thompson. It will be hard for the Dodgers to sneak anyone through this year. Maybe a split contract like Culberson had last year if they have a good spring?

It will be an interesting ST for sure but there is still time for a lot of moves for a lot of teams. The kids with options will probably be optioned, if only to push their arbitration clocks back. Barnes and Grandal will both play a lot with Barnes playing 2B once a week against RHP. Turner needs a day off pretty often too. It’s the players with no options left like Thompson and Font who will have a target on their backs. Ryu and Maeda have the 4 and 5 spots to lose and do they need both Stewart and Stripling as swing men? Of course some injuries will pop up too whether real or imaginary to give a few an extra look. Last years team on opening day looked very different from the playoff version. I still like Watson to come back on a team friendly deal for 1 or 2 years. If Font is DFA’d his old pitching coach Matt Herges is now on the Giants who have the 1st chance to claim him-I don’t see that happening. Kapler in Philly would claim him too if he got that far. The next news may be the arbitration guys getting resigned and my feeling is they all avoid hearings and settle.

If the Dodgers don’t make another move, it should be an interesting Spring.

IMO Toles showed last year before he went down last May that he has a reliable arm. And if he lacks so called Kemp power, he has the mentality to hit to move runners around the bases. As stated already, and I agree, we need alot more of that mentality to be a better team. Toles can hit the ball out and he knows when not to and when to work for that base hit with runners in scoring position.

Joc just battled through a tough season, to raise his level of play and produced in the post-season. Gotta give him props. Joc is also a reliable fielder.

Like Campy and Quas, I can’t complain about the weather here in Cali except for the damn draught(?) being mentioned again…

Idahoal I’m all in with you. This is why I want to see Toles and Verdugo given a good look at in ST… Verdugo is a future RBI crown in the waiting…

-17 Idaho Elwood? How about +17.

I would like to see the Dodgers play a little more small ball next year.

1. Bunt against the shift of you are a left handler.

2. Hit to the right side with a runner on second and no outs.

3. Hit a sacrifice fly with a runner on third.

4. More steal attempts.

5. More hit and run.

If we could do those things, we would be a more complete team. This was Doc’s game when he played. He is the one that needs to make it happen. I know home runs are more sexy, but small ball is part of the game.

-17!

Don’t forget to splash a little extra Old Spice on this morning…

22 degrees in Boise. It snowed the day before Christmas. I’m really hoping it melts before spring training begins. Kemp still has trade-able value does he not? Someone will need a big bat before the season begins, won’t they? While the Dodgers made the move to get under the so called cap and reset the luxury tax. They are smarter than to handcuff themselves with a tool that they can’t use. Kemp was an emotional player. When his emotions were focused on the field of play. He could dominate. If he can manage to ignore the unnecessary distractions, it’s possible the team could enlighten and teach him some new tricks in order to better utilize the tools he still possesses. No longer would the fear of him twisting an ankle and creating a power gap in the line-up. He’d be just another part of the equation.

-19 with snow forecast for late afternoon should make for a long drive home this evening.

Mark, I read the article by Molly Knight, but that doesn’t include the 2013 and 2014 seasons when he was again trouble, especially in 2014 when he was nothing but trouble for Mattingly and the team. I’m not rooting for Kemp. Time for the first meeting of 2018.

Woke up to -17 Degrees F.

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Pretty Cool! I actually like it… for a few days.

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Most of the schools are closed today. It will warm up in a couple of days.

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Supposed to be in the 30’s by the weekend.

It’s 12 below freaking Zero here right now.

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Send help!

Having access to this site and all the passion it brings is a blessing. I live 15 minutes from Dodger stadium, I can watch the Friday night fireworks from my deck. (I do go to several games each season but typically avoid Friday nights)

This sight which I’ve just recently begun participating in makes being a Dodger fan all the more fun.

I love how Mark and AC get the ball rolling and how everyone else piles on with their opinions and GM work.

I agree that striking out while swing for the fences with runners in scoring position is pretty frustrating. Of course when the ball does fly it’s fun. But working on manufacturing runs in those situations should be something seriously worked on this season.

I also agree losing the WS was a team effort, lots of factors and reasons. Baseball is a humbling game and our boys got beat, but we all know they will be back and likely learn from the 2017 experience

After reading the article by Molly Knight that Mark recommended, I hope and am cheering for Matt Kemp, ” to come home again”. I really do hope he finds redemption at the Ravine in 2018.

I finished Ned Collettei’s book last night, (as text clock struck 12), I thought it was pretty interesting and is a good read.

2018 could be called:

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Matt Kemp: Redemption!

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What if he “earned” his money?

Happy New Year-thanks for the great year Mark. As many have said great site.

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Re 2018: I think we will likely go into spring training with pretty much our current roster.

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Re LF: Toles/Pederson it’s your job to win it – time to take charge. If Pederson doesn’t win job he will be back up. If Toles doesn’t win job will either be back up or start in OKC-depending on health/rehab status. Verdugo will start season in OKC no matter how we’ll be does in ST. Hernandez will be other half of platoon. Wild card is Kemp

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Starting rotation: Kershaw, Hill, Wood, Ryu, Maeda. Buehler likely starts in OKC unless significant injury to starting 5. Oaks is other option if significant injury. Stripling or Stewart if need spot starts. I don’t see significant contribution from Urias until 2019 but may see some late season innings

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Pen: Kenley and take your pick from others. It will be a revolving door (10 day DL, OKC shuttle). Players will have to show who belongs. Expect significant contribution from Cingrani. Would love to see Stewart embrace bullpen role. He could be a valuable piece. Oaks with his ground balls could be as well if he converts.

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Other starters are pretty much set. Expect Barnes and Grandal to split duties initially.

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Re Kemp: as many have said three options. Traded if anyone will take on any of his salary. Otherwise he comes to camp in shape and wins significant time in LF or DFA

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I don’t expect significant trades until July when we see what we have and what we still need. Expect add a high end starter ? another bat and some pen piece like last couple years. Will remain under luxery tax with any potential additions/trades

Happy New Years everyone.

Amen Mark! Thank you for hosting a site that all readers can enjoy! Looking forward to 2018 and another bite at the apple. I like you and others don’t think the team needs much change, I think leadership will wait till the ASG, to make any big move to a finishing touch before the playoff run. Team chemistry will be the key, and there will no tolerance with the likes of Kemp or other sulking types… can’t wait for ST!

Mark

Thank you for this site, just wish I joined 3 years ago instead of posting on the other site.

….”With a runner on third and less than 2 outs he struck out. ” True, but at that point in the game every Dodger was striking out. Joc broke up Scherzer’s no-hit, shutout game in the 5th or 6th that was the beginning of getting Scherzer out of the game but, yes, let’s talk about that that strike out. He also hit a ball on the nose and sent a hard ground ball to second with the bases loaded. Others were striking out but Joc hit it hard. Shall we complain about that at bat as well?

Happy new year!! I hope this is the year for the World Series champion Dodgers. Along those lines I just keep thinking how the dodgers can get better. Much has been said about Joc Pederson. I like joc and I think he is a team player albeit out of shape. Even though he came up big in the World Series I can’t help but think about one at bat. With a runner on third and less than 2 outs he struck out. The game would have been over had he gotten the runner home. In those situations you have to have people put the bat on the ball and that is why Barnes was there over Grandal who will either k or dp. They can both help immensely over the course of a long season but in a short series they either have to improve that or not play. One of Roberts biggest mistakes was not pinch hitting there. I was watching thinking he will k and so was Houston. I believe we need a playoff caliber starter or a stronger bullpen. Roberts completely quit using fields, stripling could not be trusted, and McCarthy was game over for la. He overused Maeda and morrow because he couldn’t trust the rest. These people help through the season but in a short series players have to be able to put the ball in play and pitchers have to be trusted so it has to be considered how to get players who can execute in a short series.

Happy New Year to all. I will continue to read the blog and do hope to evolve.

Has Jewel performed yet? I like her she sings that song There ain’t no Z in Boise There were’nt no ring in 2017!

Well I ended the year with something I hope not to repeat……..locking my keys inside my apt. So a fresh with a fresh year that it’s almost amazing I made it to 2018. Happy new year all!