I was never a fan of Yu Darvish… until he became a Dodger. Then, I rooted for him. To me he screamed “underachiever!” OK, maybe I am wrong, but I think that a professional pitcher north of 30 should understand what “tipping pitches” is and should be savvy enough not to do it. Yet, Darvish tipped his pitches or just plain chocked! Well, tipping pitches is choking too, so there’s that!
QUIT MAKING EXCUSES FOR HIS TWO MONUMENTAL FAILURES!
It is what it is! Clayton Kershaw is my favorite Dodger and he has not fared well in the playoffs. Did he choke? Maybe, maybe not, but what Darvish did in the World Series is Kershaw times 10! Let the Cubs have him. I think he’s a head case.
The Dodgers did not need Darvish to get to the playoffs – they needed him to win the World Series. That’s why they traded Willie Calhoun (who will be a great hitter) for him. He had two, COUNT ‘EM, TWO opportunities in the World Series and he upchucked both times. He didn’t just have two bad games, he just plain coughed it up and gave it away. Good riddance.
Thank the Big Dodger in the Sky he is gone! Move on. There’s nothing to see here, folks!
The Dodgers have plenty of starting pitchers, regardless of what the naysayers may proclaim. I won’t bother to list them all. It’s way more than enough. Here’s a possibility: Rich Hill finishes in the Top 5 for the Cy Young Award. Yes, that could happen. This could be his year! Watch and see!
Could Yu Darvish prove me wrong? Of course. This is solely my opinion and the management of this site may not agree with this conclusion… 😉
You are only supposed to say good things about a person when they are gone. Yu Darvish is gone… Good!
Discussion (87)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Mark, just would not make that trade. Why do we want to trade for a starter when we are sitting here with 4-5 young pitchers ready for their debut. At least one, two or three will make it. They will be cheap and they are home grown.
Ok. So is there a team in the same position as the tigers last year with a stud pitcher?
I think the Cubs may have done us a favor with Darvish.
I changed my mind about Darvish, even before the Cubs signed him.
Because I am not so sure he would be a workhorse, in our rotation.
And that is what I think we need more then anything else, especially for that many years, and that type of money.
Darvish does have good stuff, and that is why it was so frustrating, when Darvish didn’t rise to the occasion, when he didn’t have his best stuff.
Because Darvish has a very good fastball, and other pitches, he could have used, instead of his slider.
Darvish could have done the same thing Verlander was doing, because Darvish does have good velocity, and good movement, on his fastball.
But Darvish looked defeated, once he got on that mound, in those two games.
Gonzo, you know they’re gonna ask for Buehler and God knows after… I have a dream!!! Buehler will be our ace if Kersh takes a monopoly run and our #2 by Aug. or thereabouts… You heard it here!!
I say go and trade for Archer. He’d be the ideal #2 and in the event that CK left he could slot into the #1. Who would it take? I don’t know but you have to give up something to get something. Like someone mentioned above, it’s about the trophy this year. LA’s window is closing with the select veterans we have and while I have faith LA will contend every year you gotta strike while the iron is hot. Would Grandal, Joc, and 2-3 top 25 prospects work?
Two of us in Idaho like Ryu. I have said several times Ryu will have a good year. This is his second year after shoulder surgery. I just like the way Ryu competes.
M.T. is right!!! The LAD trading is over. We have alot of great players to look at and alot of ballbusting decisions to make…
Kemp makes things just a lil more difficult possibily in a good way, but I’m not losing sleep over it… Go toles… Kudos to Idaho!!! Ryu will have a helluva year and he’s a warrior..
Odorizzi is just so-so. Career ERA 3.83, career WHIP 1.219. career FIP 4.23, career K/9 8.2. Numbers are OK – but we already have this guy (Maeda, who’s actually a little better – career ERA 3.80 with a better defense playing behind him in a pitcher’s park), career WHIP 1.145, career FIP 3.79, career k/9 9.0).
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Dodgers could use a #2 starter who’s RHP. Darvish would have fit the bill nicely; so could Greinke. They don’t have that guy now – people hope that Buehler will be but the jury is out.
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If Kershaw opts out after 2018 and the worst happens and he doesn’t return, who is Dodgers’ #1? 39 year old Rich Hill? That would have been the other advantage to signing Darivsh – a backup plan/backup ace.
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Chris Archer? Potential, I guess but he’s not that guy right now either. Last year he was 10 – 12, 4.07, WHIP 1.259. Lifetime 51 – 63, 3.63, WHIP 1.214.
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Lance Lynn missed 2016 with arm surgery and his return last year was OK, but Hawkeye is right – his FIP rose to 4.82 (up over a run/game). Was last year a hickup due to 1st year back after Tommy John, or is this the new Lance Lynn?
Ryu may be my favorite pitcher on the staff…The guy has grit and pitches away from trouble, well, most of the time. I don’t think he pitches well in cold weather. Therefore limiting what he can do early and late in the season. Just my opinion.
It is now rumored that the Dodgers are looking at Arrieta, Cobb, and Odorizzi for their RHSP. They recognize that with the heavy RH bats in the NL West, they need another RHSP. Originally I could not understand why the reports continued to say the Dodgers were looking at pitchers who received a QO, knowing they would lose a #2 and #5 draft pick, plus $1M international signing dollars. Knowing how FAZ values draft picks I just could not see it. But perhaps they are thinking Arrieta or Cobb could be worth the cost? Especially if they can spin Ryu into a #2 & #5 type player to replace the two picks they will lose. If they can get Arrieta for less than $20M AAV, they could trade Ryu and Joc to the O’s for the equivalent of #2 and #5 and some international signing dollars. That would save LA nearly $9M, to help offset the pitching cost. The O’s could use both Ryu and Joc who could be a 40 HR guy at Camden. I recognize that Arrieta’s contract would be multi year and the last couple might be bad. Most FA contracts for players generally are. I am not saying I am in favor of such a move, but I can see justification and reason for the speculation.
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As far as Odorizzi, I can see why FAZ would have interest. Jake has always been a favorite of mine, but he is a #4 or #5. Every team needs one, so Jake could fulfill that role as well as anyone. The Dodgers could still move Ryu for prospects, and be in a position to still go after a big RHSP or big bat at the deadline. I would be willing to trade Josh Sborz, and Imani Abdullah, or Ibandel Isabel for two years of Odorizzi. Ryu could get part of that in return. Again, not necessarily in favor, but I can see how it can work.
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The Dodgers have enough in the farm to move some players if they can acquire enough talent to win this year. It is time to play for the Trophy this year. 2019 and 2020 will take care of themselves.
Dang Mark, way to stir up the fellas on a Sunday morning, put a little snap in our shorts! This thing with Darvish reminds me on a lesser scale a couple of years ago when the D-Bags swooped in and grabbed Greinke. Everybody was up in arms that FAZ choked on the deal and got back doored. I was reading an article on MLB a few weeks ago, and this one writer was saying how much he trashed FAZ for their failure to land Greinke. Then he mentioned how much that contract has hamstrung the D-Bags in trying to land J.D. Martinez and other players. He also said, which blew me away that a sportswriter would actually admit it, how wrong he was about Grienke and how FAZ made the absolute right call in not going higher for Zac. As fans , we get all butt hurt, myself included, when the guy we want doesn’t get signed. Colleti’s book gave me new insight as to what FAZ has to take into account. What kind of value would Darvish bring for us in say, year 3 or 4 of his deal? At a 56-42 career record as AC says, is that worth 6 years and $125 mill? How would his contract impact us signing or trading for a key piece on July 31st? I got a feeling the Cubs are not going to be digging Darvish in year 4 or 5. And I agree with AC, I would take Arrieta over Darvish. Arrieta is a proven play-off pitcher. Cubs just plugged a hole by getting him, they didn’t get better.
#4 – still trying to figure out who would include that in an interview.
Do you prefer to hire Norwegians??
No one wants to look at game #5…
I’m glad the Darvish drama is (will be) over soon…
2 days and a wake up…
Kemp will begin auditioning for a DH spot somewhere in just a few days. He can still hit a baseball is my guess, and someone will, in return. be willing to relinquish a piece that will help the Dodgers going forward? Or he will hit so well, Magic Johnson will trade hil to Indiana for Reggie Miller?
I agree with mark on Darvish. I think he would have been a good regular season addition but not a post season weapon and not at that price. Arrieta on the other hand has been a post season stud but there again too pricey. They are going to get under the luxury tax so we will just have to live with it. Maybe the trade deadline will provide an opportunity to get that post season guy. I also agree with always compete let’s get bumgarner when he becomes a free agent if he does. Highly unlikely the giants will not retain him. Had Jansen and Kershaw delivered in games 2 and 5 we would have been world champions. Jansen I didn’t see coming Kershaw well more of the same. Roberts could have started wood or Kershaw in game 7 but didn’t. Did he really have confidence in Darvish or a lack of confidence in the other 2. I know that is behind us but I guess my point is we could have won the World Series without Darvish and we don’t know if he was the problem but we know he wasn’t the solution. Let’s try somebody else and that guy might already be on our roster in say Urias, Buehler, or who knows.
I occasionally read other blogs and comments and he’s one that amazed me:
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You know, I just realized that my problem with FAZ is that they never just get in the game. They let everyone else in and then do nothing. I do not think the Dodgers will be as good as they were last year as they lost too many players and have not so far replaced them. They would cause a good fan to just give up. They are not an LA group. They care nothing about the team chemistry and nothing about the tie between the fans and the team. Winning is important to them but how is not important. I think the team and fans need to be together. FAZ will not build a team for the future. I give up.
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Wow – Just Wow! I don’t even know what to say…
Rosenthal says the Brewers may be interested in Jharel Cotton.
Darvish didn’t live up to his potential. Plain and simple. Kershaw didn’t either. The Astros on the other hand were instrumental in winning what just might be the most exciting World Series of my time. I still worry about the health and agility of our front-line…and the ability of the depth behind them. I’m not saying, “Hill, Maeda and Ryu – won’t get us through…” I’m just concerned is all. It’s hard keep winning without consistancy from the starters. Most of the conversation here has been enjoyable to follow. I’ve been under the weather so, I haven’t read it all this past week.
Darvish signs with the Cubs for 6 years at $21M a year. I do believe the Cubs will regret this signing.
Kemp or Pederson, I’m hoping Toles.
I really hope the Dodgers sign Utley.
By the way, Rich Hill wants to pitch deeper into games and while he has always been a hard worker, he has really worked this off-season. He thinks he has his blister problem solved and I think he could pitch north of 160 innings.
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In 2007 (when he last was a starter before 2016) he pitched 195 innings. In 2016 he pitched 110 innings and last season he pitched 135. He only has 746 IP on his arm for his career… and it’s been re-built. 160-180 sounds about right if you are an optimist, like me.
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Darvish is younger but has more innings on his re-built arm. It may surprise you, but like Rich Hill, he has surpassed 195 innings just once.
AC,
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This is right out of our Employee Handbook:
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I. MISSION AND CORE VALUES
• We are vested and care about our customers, each other and our industry
• We work Hard – We want to work smart -We get it done
• We don’t panic – we stay calm
• We are fair – but not suckers
• We’re creative and adaptable
• We’re good humored and value fun
• We don’t allow room for assholes (selfish, divisive, snarky)
#4 came about after our sales manager who had been with us for 11 years (and was really, really good) started drinking (on the job). I busted him twice and fired him the third time. When he was sober he was a little obnoxious, but when he drank he was an a-hole. Everyone came to hate him. He was also married to my wife’s niece…
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It’s on my mind right now because he just texted me (about two hours ago) and apologized for “being so self-centered and an asshole.”
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Yu Darvish is a good guy, but I am happy he is a Cub.
Love #4! Every company/organization has WSM’s- whining, sniveling, malcontents. Yes, they are assholes and yes they should not be tolerated. Where can I get an application?
I’m a bottom line guy.
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You do or you don’t do. Yoda said that!
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When I interview job prospects, I tell them I have 4 rules:
1. Show up
2. Step up
3. Shut up
4. We don’t tolerate assholes.
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Show up means be there on time. Step up means give me value. Shut up means no drama and the last one is self explanatory!
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Darvish did not step up. In fact, he did the opposite. Bottom line guy that I am: He’s gone!
I am not trying to be mean or harsh, but at some point you have to say “Who do I want to go to war with” and it’s not Darvish… Kershaw is still on the list… but barely!
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Even if he was tipping his pitches, with his stuff, it should not cause you to have a 21 ERA!
Yu Darvish would have been a luxury the Dodgers can do without. He was lights out in the NLDS and NLCS, and stunk up the yard in the WS. I do not give credence to the “slimey” ball for his problems. Both teams pitched with the same ball. Was he tipping pitches? Ask the Astros.
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Jake Arrieta had a 4.35 ERA in the 1st half of 2017, and a 2.28 ERA in the 2nd half. That’s Claytonesque. He was outstanding in the playoffs last year (1 ER in 10.2 IP), including a win against the Dodgers. There is no way that I can be convinced that Darvish is a better pitcher than Arrieta this year. The Cubs are not better with Darvish and Morrow than they were with Arrieta and Davis. I also do not know if Tyler Chatwood is better than John Lackey. Maybe in 2018 he will be, but Chatwood has not yet put it together. Every team needs a #5, and Chatwood is probably better than any #5 the Nats will throw out, but not better than Ryu.
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As far as WS choking, how many hits has Chase Utley had the last two playoff years. And yet, I would love to have him back on the team. I will agree with Mark that Darvish was acquired for the playoffs and he just did not deliver when he needed to. But there is a lot of blame to go around in that series. Perhaps one of the biggest is Kenley in Game 2. And of course my biggest gripe was Alex Wood not getting enough pitch time. I think he should have started Game 7.
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I am not down on Darvish for his WS, but I also do not believe he is a $21M AAV pitcher for 6 years, and I am glad the Dodgers did not pursue him any further.
2 World Series games – 4 innings. Can you say small sample size? Darvish is a better pitcher than anyone on the Dodgers’ staff except Kershaw of course. He has great stuff – he has the hightest K/9 of any starting pitcher in baseball history. The Dodgers would of course be better with Darvish than without him and he immediately makes the Cubs better – he’s their #1. But there was never any way that the Braintrust was going to sign him – no to 6 years, no to over $20 MM/year, no to over the luxury tax cap. I never thought that he was coming back. But it’s just wrong to put him down as some inferior pitcher.
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Rich Hill is not finishing in the top 5 for the Cy – i would be amazed if he managed to match the 133 innings that he pitched last year (the 2nd most innings that he has thrown in his career). Even Zaidi has said that the Dodgers will not have the “depth’ among starters that they have had in the past. Urias won’t be back, if at all, until August. Buehler wasn’t ready for prime time last year – only 97 pro innings in his career. He will be back at some point but will have to show that he’s ready. No to Tom (the faucet) Kohler as a starter. Maybe Stripling – he has starter’s stuff.
The Cubs signed the guy who single-handedly blew the 2017 World Series. I’m fine with that!
Looks as if the Dodgers may have a new candidate for LF. Way out in left field. Initials are MT. 1. Calling Yu a head case is ludicrous. 2. To say what Darvish did was 10x greater than Kershaw’s belly flop is also ludicrous. 3. Rich Hill as a top 5 candidate for CY…enough already. Wow. I am happy the Dodgers didn’t sign Darvish but I would never be so callous as to denigrate the man as you are doing. Mean spirited. You’re better than that, I thought.