That sounds like a law firm, like Dewey, Cheatem and Howe…. but it’s not.
Kike Hernandez
I suggested this over the Winter and I am going to suggest it again: It’s time to play Enrique Hernandez everyday! Yes, I know he has a history of not hitting RH pitching, but he also has a history of hitting some pretty big home runs off RH pitchers. This year, he has 91 at-bats against RH pitchers and 90 against LH pitchers. As expected he is hitting .220 against righties and .244 against lefties. Of his 12 HR in just 181 AB’s (that’s a HR every 15 AB’s), 7 are against lefties and 5 against righties. His energy is contagious and his power is prodigious. He deserves a shot at a full time job. It doesn’t have to be in the same position – it can be 2B, SS, 3B or CF and I think he could start at any of those positions if needed. He is defensively gifted… I don’t care what his detractors say.
I say “Just give him a chance.” Doc should say “Kike, you are playing everyday unless you are tired or injured.” That should take some of the pressure off and allow him to relax. It’s time we quit looking at Kike as a utilityman and as a starter. If he plays the rest of the season, he will hit 30 HR… maybe he will have a .240 BA or maybe he will elevate that BA with regular play. Over the past 30 games, he is averaging .269 with a .345 OB% and has 7 HR in that span. Let him play everyday, Doc! He would join a pretty elite group of hitters who suddenly came into their own after age 26 (Turner, Martinez, Gennett, et al).
Yasmani Grandal
I have been a big fan of Yasmani since before the trade that brought him to the Dodgers, but he has never lived up to the potential I saw in him. It appears that this is who he is:
- An elite pitch framer;
- A great game caller;
- A very good catch and thrower;
- A deadly hot or deathly cold hitter; and
- A catcher who has trouble with some sliders in the dirt.
He is one of the Top 10 Catchers in baseball, but I was hoping for more. I guess there’s a lot of season left to redeem himself, but I would trade him IF the Dodgers could get Realmuto. Yes, the Dodgers are deep in catchers, but I would trade Grandal and their best catching prospect (Ruiz) for Realmuto because JT may be the best catcher in baseball and he is only 27. It is very unlikely, but if it could happen, I would do it.
Daniel Hudson
I admit that he was pretty bad early on, but he has a great arm and FAZ stuck with him. After posting a 14.73 ERA in April, he reduced that to 4.05 in May and now it is 0.00 in June. His ERA on the year is down to 3.81 and he pitched 2 strong innings on Sunday to get the win. I think he will pitch in a lot of high-leverage situations the rest of the way. He might even replace Brandon Morrow (as long as he leaves his pants on – some of you won’t get that). Players evolve and Hudson is evolving. I think he has accepted his role and he is a very positive, can-do type of guy! He has overcame a lot of adversity and I root for him. AC stuck up for him on Sunday and rightfully so.
Yasiel Puig
After his first season, I said that the Dodgers should trade him… but they didn’t. His talent is tantalizing and his actions are frustrating. I sense a growing level of resentment among his teammates. I don’t know how much value he has (maybe very little), but I would cash out on him yesterday and play Toles or Verdugo. Just my opinion… he is a good player, but he is an underachiever. For me, he is maddening. If I were FAZ, I would be shopping him.
Discussion (33)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Very good win. Maeda pitched very well, but Kenley still doesn’t look right.
Max Muncy probably shouldn’t be on defense in the 9th inning of a close game.
After watching Muncy turn the double play in the top of the 8th, my best guess is that Forsythe will replace Muncy at 2B in the top of the 9th.
Did Matt Kemp just draw a 14 pitch walk?
At second base you take your pick Muncie ,gennett, Le Mahieu
If at all possible I believe we need to pick up realmuto this year. I realize it would take a lot but he is a tremendously athletic and productive catcher. He can hit good pitching and is very good defensively. This would then leave us with an offensive hole at second but that would be the only hole. Furthermore if you don’t want Barnes to be the starter next year you have to do something. This would give Ruiz and smith one more year to develop if they are not part of the trade.
Max Muncy is our new starting 2b.
Against righties ytd 2018
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Pederson .294 .381 .614 .995
Taylor .259 .332 .452 .784
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Question: When Seager returns to short next year does Taylor go back to being the full time CF? Or, does he platoon with Joc?
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Question: When Seager returns to short next year, does Taylor move to second base full time?
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If Kike’ and Joc platoon in CF, where does Muncy play if he can’t do well enough defensively? If he can’t, should the Dodgers include him in a trade for Gennett?
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If the Dodgers traded for Machado, does Taylor move to second and if so, where does Muncy play?
AC, Quasimodo
Thank you gentlemen for the insight and update.
I agree with Rosenthal’s assessment. The Braintrust will add relievers but don’t expect any big salaries or big splashes at the break this year.
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2019 offseason will be far more interesting. Ryu’s contract is up. Kershaw may or may not opt out. They will have a better idea whether Seager will be able to continue at SS. Forsythe’s contract is up. Grandal will be a free agent. They will have been under the cap for a year so if they want to exceed it the pain won’t be as severe
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On the other hand, there will be no gigantic contracts (other than maybe Kershaw) handed out. Forget the likes of Machado, Harper et al in Dodger blue.
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I saw that the Dodgers have only signed 14 of their 40 picks while the Midgets have signed 32 of their 40 draft picks. And I think they have signed all of their first sixteen picks. What’s up with that? What’s the hold up? Any body know what’s going on?
Max Muncy’s OPS is .996. Scooter’s is .901.
I find a Realmuto deal unlikely. The Dodgers need to let Barnes play more and give Grandal the rest he needs. That includes stop pinch hitting for him.
Don’t see any big moves just yet, this homestand will tell a lot. They get the Cubs at a good time and a 1st time starter today then the Rocks and Bucs without a day off. The rotation is set but Caleb gets another start somewhere. The Snakes and Dodgers are playing well and getting separation from Giants and Rocks and creeping up on the wild card. Buehler is ready if they need him but no need to rush him. I like Kike, I like Grandal, I like Hudson and Puig. It’s not either or it’s all hands on deck. Teams will want prospects, not rejects at the deadline. Hard to complain about 7 solo HR’s when they had grand slams each of the previous 2 days.
Just reading the comments here the last few days. I had never really thought of jt realmuto before. Seems to me trading arguably our best prospect (ruiz) to improve a position we are already strong at is not that smart an idea. Now for Machado however
. . .
There is no denying Kike’s power. Speaking of power, Bellinger tied Russell Martin yesterday with HR #54. He’s 216 dingers behind Karros for all-time in LA history and 335 behind The Duke. If he stays healthy and his game matures he will own them both.
Really agree with you B1439.
Verdugo should play everyday at Lead Off IMO. Need to get some bodies on base if we are gonna rely on the HR.
Maybe Muncy hitting second. He knows how to have a decent Atbat and is happy to work a walk.
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Funny enough, the guy who started against the Dodgers yesterday, Jerry Blevins, seems like a FAZ signing to me.
Trading Grandal before he becomes an FA and getting something in return for him has been my hope since the end of last season.
Yasial Puig is a player that needs to move on. Time for the Dodgers to bring up Verdugo and let him play RF everyday. The Dodgers don’t need another power hitter as much as they need a leadoff hitter and a contact hitter, Verdugo will provide both.
I keep reading Forsythe is starting to hit, don’t think so, he is hitting .225 with 2 homers and 11 RBI’s. He has hit .259 so far in June with 1 HR and 5 RBI’s, but the Dodgers need much more than that from second base. He is a disappointment and I doubt he brings any trade help with his 9M contract, bench him and move on.
I disagree that the Dodger rotation is fine and doesn’t need help if the Dodgers can get
deGrom they should make the trade, he will help the team more then Machado will at SS.
From MLB Trade Rumors:
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The Dodgers will be looking for relief help but otherwise don’t have any really obvious areas of need on their roster, Ken Rosenthal notes in a FOXSports.com video report. This will allow the Dodgers to pursue the best players available on the trade market and “be picky” if they don’t like the asking price for a big-name rental player (i.e. Manny Machado).
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The Dodgers will continue to monitor Manny Machado’s availability, as L.A. still has interest in the star shortstop. Machado and the Dodgers have been linked in trade rumors ever since Corey Seager was lost for the season, and with Los Angeles getting back into the postseason hunt after an early-season slump, Machado continues to look like a logical trade candidate.
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Of course, those are just what the sites’ name implies: RUMORS!
Mark, today I agree with you 100%. He thinks his best position is SS. I agree. I would put him in RF and let him back up SS.
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Grandal and Ruiz and Puig for Realmuto and Barraclough.
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Muncy and ? to Reds for Scooter Gennett.
As you know I agree on Kiké. Just put him in the lineup somewhere….everyday. I also agree on grandal streaky, streaky, streaky but overall just not a good hitter. Throw him or Utley a change up and get an automatic out. If we could get a real(muto) catcher it would be huge. We would pay a heavy price but it would be worth it for now and in the future. Miami could have ruiz and barnes and we could trade grandal to the nationals or somebody and bring up smith. Unlikely, but grandal, ruiz, Santana, would be a good start on a trade. As far as Hudson I hope you are right but his command is shaky. Currently, he is trending better than Garcia, Baez, Goeddel etc. against lefties I have as much confidence in Paredes as anybody. Puig is a solid player but replaceable. Maybe the reds would take him for gennett. You could then move kemp to right, Kiké cf, joc lf, or bring toles or Verdugo into the picture.