I keep reading that the Dodgers are in the hunt for a starting pitcher and frankly, I do not believe it. What I mean by that is I do not think they are “hell-bent-for-leather” to get another starter. That’s not saying that they won’t do it if the right situation presents itself, but they are simply not going to overpay to get another starter. I think AC said the same thing yesterday.
If it ever made sense to make a blockbuster deal at the trade deadline, this is the year, because the Dodgers are clearly one of the best teams in baseball. However, it’s quite possible that they could win the World Series and not make a single move. They are THAT deep. Other than Yasiel Puig, whom his teammates “tolerate” because he has “toned down” his act, the clubhouse is very tight. There is a lot of good chemistry on this club, so you have to be careful with any move that is made, because it could potentially affect the chemistry.
You make deals, not when you have to, but rather, when you want to… on your terms. Starting pitching is very important and the Dodgers have a horse in Clayton Kershaw, but beyond that there are injury questions. Even Ray Charles can see that. As good as Alex Wood has been, you have to wonder if he can stay healthy. The same is true with Hyun-Jin Ryu, Kenta Maeda and Brandon McCarthy. Then there is Scott Kazmir who allegedly is coming back in a week or three after being on the shelf all season. I have the most confidence in Rich Hill, who appears to have his blister problems solved and is back in tune. I think he will be a 6 or 7 inning pitcher the rest of the season. However, he also has an injury history.
Then there is also Brock Stewart, Ross Stripling (whom I have heard really sees himself as a starter, so much so that it might be messing with his head), Trevor Oaks and Scott Barlow. Count ’em:
- Kershaw
- Hill
- Wood
- Maeda
- McCarthy
- Ryu
- Kazmir
- Stewart
- Oaks
- Barlow
- Stripling
That’s a plethora of starters any way you want to slice it. I don’t care if they have a history of injuries. I would make book that at least 6 of those pitchers will be healthy at any given moment, but you can’t help but wonder what would happen IF you had another “HORSE” to go with Clayton. It was absolutely the right move to let Greinke walk – he used to be a horse, but now he’s just a pony.
The names we keep hearing are Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Jose Quintana, but I don’t think the Dodgers would pull the string on another lefty, so I leave Quintana out of the discussion. I don’t think FAZ wants to be that heavy on LH starters. Justin Verlander is owed $56 million over the next two seasons and is clearly not the pitcher he once was, but maybe could be re-energized by changing leagues and playing for a contender. However, he is averaging 5.8 innings a start – I’m not sure that is an improvement. I would not try that unless the cost was low and the Tigers paid half his salary.
Gerrit Cole is not having a great season, but is a RH pitcher who is 26 years old and would likely do well in LA, as he is from Newport Beach. He is under team control until 2020. He averages 6 innings a start and would slot well behind Clayton… but he would be expensive. Another guy I like is Lance Lynn (he’s from Indianapolis), but he is fresh off TJ Surgery and likely will need to keep his workload under 200 IP, so I would not think he is a possibility. He will be a Free Agent next year and is 28 years old.
If the Dodgers were to trade for a Gerrit Cole, they could certainly afford to trade another starter or two or three. Maeda, Ryu and Stripling could go to other teams for other assets.
WHAT IF: The Dodgers were to trade Yadier Alvarez, Ross Stripling and prospects they get for Ryu and Maeda (I would think they could get two TOP 10 prospects for Maeda and Ryu) to the Pirates for Gerrit Cole and Felipe Rivero (OK, I can dream, can’t I?). Maybe it would take another prospect or two… I don’t know. Rivero is to die for…
Look at this:
Rotation:
- Kershaw
- Cole
- Hill
- Wood
- McCarthy
- Kazmir (Pen)
- Stewart (Pen)
- Oaks (AAA)
- Barlow (AAA)
Rivero would really help the best pen in baseball get even better and Stewart becomes the long guy as does Kaz!
Of course, our resident JD has been campaigning for JD Martinez, who would look good in LF with Chris Taylor at 2B. By the way, he only likes Martinez because he has JD ahead of his name while he has JD “after” his name. So, sue me. 😉
- Taylor 2B
- Seager SS
- Turner 3B
- Bellinger 1B
- Martinez LF
- Grandal C
- Pederson CF
- Puig RF
That’s a better lineup. FAZ has a lot to figure out. Shoot, think about this.
- Trade Forsythe for a LH reliever or prospect (The Red Sox and Yanks need a 3B);
- Call up Kyle Farmer; and
- Play Barnes at 2B. I’m telling you – he is very good 2B. Farmer can be the backup Catcher.
- It was just a couple of days ago that I said I was not worried about Forsythe and Taylor and what happened? Forsythe was 4-4 and Taylor got on base three times as the leadoff hitter.
- A lineup with Grandal, Barnes and Taylor is pretty dang good.
- If the Dodgers have any inclination to do that, Forsythe could be traded easily.
- The thing is: CHEMISTRY!
HERE ARE NUMBERFIRE’S PLAYOFF PROJECTIONS.
The Dodgers are Ranked #2 in Power Rankings in MLB and Numberfire gives them a 99.9% chance of making the playoffs. The Giants are given a 0.0% chance!
Rants & Raves
- I thought this team was going to be very good, but I did not realize they would be Super Good. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
- Alex Wood should start the All-Star Game.
- Sergio Romo is nearing the end of his rope. “No Mo Ro Mo” – Copyright DodgerRick
- Grant Dayton is simply OK, but not the guy he was last year.
- Trayce Thompson is a real CF when Joc is on the bench. He doesn’t run – he glides!
- Full Minor League Report
- It was nice to see Doc go after Andy Green. Roberts pointed to Green and said “You and me.” Set the tone Dave!
Austin “Freaking” Barnes. Dee who?
Discussion (76)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Twenty wins out of 23 games. Not bad. Win today and 2 of 3 from Arizona. Kike made a great catch last night. Night before it was Puig. I love to watch Thompson run. He really does not run, he glides. It truly is next man up. Forsythe and Barnes are hot right now. Bellinger is struggling a little right now, but he will figure it out. They are just fun to watch. Turner is playing well and we do not even mention him.
Haven’t checked, but it seems like the Dodgers are doing much better against lefties this year.
IM SORRY BLUTO, BUT MY LABTOP ONLY WORKS WITH CAPS IM SORRY IF IT OFFE NDS YOU. I AM A VETERAN ON A LIMITED BUDGET. I CANT AFFORD A NEW LAPTOP I.
Can someone teach Dino Chavez how to turn off CAPS lock?
~
Please?
Doesn’t look like we need to shop for a 2nd baseman. Also I would say we have found our #2, except we already have Kershaw and Wood, when Hill is on he is as good as anybody.
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I know AC said it couldn’t be done, but let’s get Rivero from the Pirates and order World Series tickets.
Looks like the chemistry set exploded tonight…………
TAYLOR, GRAND SLAM!!!!! KEEP MESSING WITH OUR MANAGER. DODGERS 8-0
FORSYTHE 4-4. WOW
MARK, THE WAY HILL LOOKS TONITE I DONT THINK WE NEED A STARTER IMO. I CAN ALREADY HEAR THE FAZ BASHERS SAY ITS ONLY THE PADRES.
YOU KNOW THINGS ARE GOING WELL FOR THE DODGERS WHEN RICH HILL HAS 2 HITS WITH AN RBI.
Maybe I traded Forsythe too soon. Cody is in a slump, we will see if he makes a adjustment.
DAVE ROBERTS SUSPENDED FOR TODAYS GAME, BUT OTHER THAN BARNES BLUNDER ON THE BASES DODGERS ARE LOOKING AWESOME STARTING WITH RICH HILL
Hill is pitching really well tonight, good command of his breaking ball. Kike makes a great catch in RF then Cory and JT hit back to back bombs. Forsythe’s 7th straight hit, a 2B to the gap chases Overton.
SEAGER AND TURNER, BACK TO BACK HOMERS, DODGERS STARTING JULY LIKE THEY ENDED JUNE
Mark, I did not see your post above on what you think of SD fans. I think you should apply for a position as Trump’s advisor for his tweets.
I just looked at the OKC lineup for tonight’s game, and Kyle Farmer will be the starting SS. That should be fun.
I agree with you AC. We just need to sit tight at trading time. Unless something comes along that really makes sense. Winning the WS does not always go to the best team. The team streaking at the time usually wins it.
You are showing off your vocabulary Mark!
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Any predictions on the All Star team? JT, Seager and Bellinger are all worthy and have carried the team so far on offense. Kershaw, Wood and Jansen deserve it as well. That’s 6 players from one team but a case can be made for all of them. I have mixed feelings about Bellinger in the HR Derby but he has a natural uppercut swing and hopefully he would do well and not get homer happy afterwards. Stanton is back to defend his title and the fans also want to see Aaron Judge and Bellinger put on a show.
I do have this bad habit of going after a fly with a cannon.
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😉
I came across this lovely piece from a Padres Blog.
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https://www.gaslampball.com/2017/6/30/15907526/dodgers-10-padres-4-alex-wood-is-a-crybaby-game-recap-get-over-yourself-dude
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I guess if you have the third worst team in baseball, this is all you got. Maybe Clayton Richard and the rest of the Madres should get mad at the FO and insist on a team that does not have 3 Rule 5 Draft players on their 25 man. You should read the comments. The fans want to drill Turner, and then have one of their “trucks” take out Grandal at the plate. Just pure class.
It is becoming increasingly unlikely that the team makes a major deadline move. They are coming to a soft part of the schedule with lots of off days in July and the teams behind them are struggling. Barring a sweep to the Snakes (and they line up to face Kershaw and Wood) there is no need for disrupting the chemistry. Unless they can get a pitcher better than Hill or McCarthy as AC stated, a RH bat better than Thompson or a LHRP better than Dayton or Avilan they are pretty set as is. I guarantee they will make a small deal or 3 but probably nothing major unless it is just too good to pass up.
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Every starting pitcher Mark mentioned is under team control for next year and there is safety in numbers injury wise. Why mess with it? No need to rush the prospects or to make a dope fiend move. A playoff rotation of Kershaw, Wood, Hill and McCarthy looks pretty good and you could have Ryu and Maeda in the pen for long relief if anyone has a rough outing. They will be really strong next year as well if they do nothing. We don’t know what Ryu or Maeda or Kazmir will do if they don’t start so that could be the real reason someone is dealt.
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Forsythe has joined the party and Thompson has filled a role and along with the resurgence of Joc and the steady play of Puig and Barnes/Grandal this team is deep and dangerous beyond Seager, JT and Cody. Taylor and Kike give some flexibility and Utley and AGon the veteran leadership along with Kershaw. It would be nice to runaway with the division but sometimes it’s hard to turn it back on in the playoffs.
LAST NITE IF YOU WATCHED THE SCUFFLE WITH ROBERTS, JUSTIN TURNER WAS RIGHT IN FRONT ALSO. I AM AN EX GANG MEMBER AND I WOULD NOT MESS WITH TURNER!
I have been verbally accosted many times in SF wearing Dodger Gear, but I have learned how to talk to them in a persuasive manner:
Before the 2016 season, Mark kept bringing up Austin Barnes this and Austin Barnes that. Now I liked Austin Barnes, but sometimes you just have to be disagreeable. I kept kidding Mark that no matter how much you talk about him, Austin Barnes is not the next Craig Biggio. Well I was right, Barnes will never be a HOF player like Biggio, but he is a lot better than many of us thought he would be, except maybe Mark. I am glad that FAZ did not trade him like I thought they should.
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Forsythe is a logical trade potential, and certainly Boston and NYY are possibilities. Neither team is going to jump on a Forsythe trade as long as Eduardo Nunez and Mike Moustakas might be available.
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I was having coffee with my Giants buddies this AM, wearing my Alex Wood jersey, and in comes a Giants Fan with his Orange & Black “DESTINY” T-Shirt telling me how arrogant and crazy I was wearing a Dodger jersey in this town (a Sacramento suburb). Never wanting to back down to obnoxious Giants fans, I laughed and asked him if DESTINY was last place for the Giants this year or for the next several. The fan got angry and my Giants buddies just laughed and told him, “Dude, if you can’t catch, don’t pitch”. It’s great being a Dodgers fan in this town (or any town)!
The news for the Giants just keeps getting better. The Giants starting pitcher closest to the ML is Joan Gregorio, and he just got suspended for the year for the use of Stanozolol.
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http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/indians-colon-giants-gregorio-get-season-long-drug-bans-070117
I like Barnes a lot, but I want him to continue to be our back up catcher, not our second baseman.
We have plenty of players on this team that can play second.
And really, there is almost to much depth at second, on this team, if that is possible!
Because we almost have as many players on this team who can play second, then we have outfielders , with Ethier and Toles out.
And since catching is such a demanding position on a player’s body, I want Grandal to get as much rest, as we can give him, to keep him healthy throughout the season.
And so he will be healthy in the post season, because he hasn’t been healthy enough, to contribute to much offensively, in the last two post seasons.
And by doing that for Grandal that is also giving Barnes more playing time, to continue to stay sharp.
They are making sure our starting pitchers, are getting enough rest, to stay sharp and healthy, but our catchers, should also be rested, throughout the season too, as well as our bullpen pitchers.
I fully want us to go get a right handed #2 guy , but i really really hope that it won’t cost us Walker Buehler! Man he is going to be the real thing. I’m so excited about his future. He’s a Zack Greinke type
Referring to Boxout’s report on Puig, did you see the Kenley Jansen interview by ESPN?
Tell me about your relationship with Yasiel Puig.
//I am telling you right now, the Yasiel Puig that everybody sees outside is not that. He is just a great guy; a fun guy [with a] great heart. That’s who he is. That’s his personality. He is still learning what’s right to do around here or what’s not right. He is just learning the culture of the United States, I feel. Sometimes, I feel like us as Latinos kind of complicates stuff a little bit. People from here kind of see it differently. And I feel like with Yasiel, it was the past, too, that a lot of stuff could have gone differently for him. Since the beginning, he could have been better; he could have worked harder. He could have [been more] disciplined.
Now that we have other people around here, he is really well disciplined. Like I said, Yasiel is gifted. A talent like that, I never saw before. I am serious. I never saw Bo Jackson play, and I heard Bo Jackson was amazing. But for me, in my eyes, a talent like that, you can tell this kid is so gifted. The way how he plays the outfield. The arm he has; his hitting ability. He has so much in him that he just has to get to know himself to be on that other level. He is not there yet, but I hope one day he just gets it, and he will get to that level.//
An argument can be made for no major moves…okay, even a very good argument. How about 53-28 to start. How about they are having fun and playing off each other very well. This team reminds me of the 2004 Red Sox (a lot). The Dodgers needs per the know-it-all pundits:
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1. A reliable #2
2. Dominant LHRP
3. RH Power Bat
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Reliable is a funny term. That doesn’t necessarily mean good. If you want a safe innings eater, then trade for Jeff Samardzija. Max Scherzer and Chris Sale are not going anywhere. If you want good, what is wrong with Kershaw/Wood. I know, I know…Wood is a health risk. And Kershaw isn’t? Maybe not as much, but Kersh has been known to go on the DL. I will match Kershaw/Wood against Scherzer/Strasburg and Kuechel/McCullers. And as far as reliable, Strasburg is anything but, and both Kuechel and McCullers have been on the DL this year. Kuechel still is, and is out at least until the AS Break.
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There are three dominant LHRP…Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, and Felipe Rivero. Virtually no chance whatsoever of getting any of the three. Yes Mark, you are dreaming about Rivero. There are some other good ones like Justin Wilson, Brad Hand, Sean Doolittle, Taylor Rogers, and Scott Alexander. Rogers (Twins) and Alexander (KC) are needed for their respective teams’ playoff runs. I would like any of the first three. But maybe (just maybe) the Dodgers have a LHRP who could become dominant…Hyun-jin Ryu. He may not want to, but neither did Andrew Miller. Let’s see, a back of the rotation starter (maybe), or potentially a lock down reliever.
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I know of only two RH Power Bats that are being bandied about…J.D. Martinez and Marcell Ozuna. I really do not believe that the Marlins will move Ozuna until they have a new buyer who will buy off on Ozuna being traded. The Marlins value drops every day that Mattingly is the manager, and Loria cannot afford to damage his investment more by trading away his best player not tied to a $300M contract. I do not know the cost of Julio Daniel Martinez, but if not too much, I can see this being an option. But do they have to make a trade for Martinez? I do not believe it is essential to getting to and winning the WS, but it might help. I like the lineup Mark posted. There is not a hole anywhere in that lineup.
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If the Dodgers do go for a #2, let me give a reason for why Jose Quintana might be a fit. Everyone is pointing out that the Dodgers do not need another LHSP. The reasons why they might…Walker Buehler, Brock Stewart, Mitchell White, Trevor Oaks, Yadier Alveraz, A J Alexy, Dustin May, Scott Barlow, Imani Abdullah, Jordan Sheffield, Dennis Santana, Josh Sborz, Andy Sopko, Caleb Ferguson, Leo Crawford, Morgan Cooper (hopefully within the next two weeks). Only Julio in the LHSP column, and not until 2019 at the earliest.
Rant:
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Enough of Barnes playing second. Forsythe and Utley are already there. No room for Barnes.
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Taylor is the LFer when he is not playing second.
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Hernandez is the backup shortstop.
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Forsythe is the backup third baseman.
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Barnes should be more than the backup catcher, I agree. He needs to get 50% of the innings at catcher.
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Barnes can be used as a pinch hitter and then play 3rd or 2nd in the late innings to keep a backup catcher available.
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Hard to bring up Farmer mid season and expect him to fit in with the pitching staff.
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Dodgers are loaded at catcher throughout their system.
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As good as and as deep as the Dodgers are, they have a chance of adding Shohei Otani next year. If they do, they have pitchers to trade this winter.
Yeah, We only need to think about it a couple seconds to know FAZ aint going to go for another starter unless “the right situation presents itself”. Think another few seconds and you know that goes for any deadline trades. In the two and half years FAZ has been in charge we should all be able to see by now, that FAZ only make moves on THEIR TERMS. What are their terms?
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Bluto said it best on the last thread:
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“The problem with “just going for it” and loading up for the stretch run in that the best team doesn’t always win.
The MLB playoffs more than most sports (maybe not the NFL) are too prone to randomness, hot streaks, or freaky happenings.
Better, in my opinion, to configure for continued high performance than focus on a year.”
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I think it’s possible, Bluto plagiarized that statement from “Chapter One” of the FAZ handbook.
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A lot of us have read, that FAZ isn’t looking for rentals, they are looking for CONTROLLABLE players, if they do trade from their treasure chest of prospects or MLB depth. I’ll bet the players they are considering also need to be nicely priced in addition to controllable. Can’t forget about the luxury tax (it’s in Chapter Two)!
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Seems to me, the FAZ terms really reduce the possibilities of a BIG trade, but you never know!
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In the meantime, we are at 54 and 28 and that makes for GOOD CHEMISTRY!!!!
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I read a comment on another board from someone claiming to be related to a Dodger coach. He said his relative (the coach) said, “The rumors regarding Puig not getting along with the rest of the players, is hugely overstated, a big nothing burger”. All is good in Dodgersland!
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Get better soon, Julio!
I know he is only AA but Walker Buehler had another great start last night. Looks like he may be ready next year. I just can’t see us trading for a SP with the group we have now and the prospects that appear to be a year away. What would we do with all the pitchers? Perhaps we should field a split squad.
Verdugo and Calhoun are machines. Seems that each of them has a hit or two each night. FAZ must have a plan, but I can’t figure out what to do with all the talent.
“Play Barnes at 2B. I’m telling you – he is very good 2B. Farmer can be the backup Catcher.”
I can go along with this. Barnes is an athlete. Maybe Forsythe could bring a decent LHRP in return.
Maybe guys like Forsythe don’t read Ladodgertalk, but they hear us talking about them… Bada-Boom – 4 for 4… I’ll keep coming with it’s someone every night with the glove or the bat helping us win a game… This is a team on a mission…
Great to see Roberts getting a lil rumble going!!! “You and Me” a classic…
Barnes for President.