After yesterday’s game, the Dodger’s record sits at 7-5 this Spring… not that it means absolutely anything. So far a few things have caught my eye, other than the fact that Joc Pederson looks totally lost:
- Cody Bellinger, Austin Barnes, Kike Hernandez and Daniel Castro (who?) look locked and loaded.
- Ross Stripling and Rich Hill are being stretched out.
- There are way too many arms for the bullpen… thus the news about Josh Fields, who isn’t exactly “Chopped Liver.” In three seasons with the Dodgers he was 8-2 with a 2.61 ERA. When he gave up a run it was often on the long ball. He had 16 big flies hit against him in that time, but his 2.61 ERA plays up in just about any bullpen… except the Dodgers. He might garner a low level prospect! He will also be 34 before the end of this season…
- It’s been over two years since Yimi Garcia had his TJ surgery. I think he is ready to be a lights-out reliever.
- Floro and Chargois are on the bubble and even if they are good, could be caught in a numbers crunch!
- MLB. RADIO was talking this AM about Craig Kimbrel signing a 1-year $25 Million deal with the Dodgers. That’s a total rumor and does not originate with the Dodgers. I doubt he would do it… or that the Dodgers would do it, but you never know.
- I listened to Ross Stripling yesterday who is now embracing his role as a spot-starter and long reliever. He actually sees how valuable he can be. This is a concept Alex Wood could not (or would not) grasp. Chicken Strip said this: “I think you just kind of get used to the ambiguity. It used to probably really bother me to come in and not really know necessarily what kind of role you’re even battling for. I get built up, but do I even really have a chance to be a starter? Now, I know where my value is — the ability to be like the Kiké of the pitching staff.”
- For this decade, Russ Martin was ranked as the #3 Best Catcher in Baseball by MLB.
- Carlos Rincon just missed being a Dodgers Top 30 prospects. He sits at #31. This could be a make-or-break year for him. He’s a big RH Power hitter who has hit 43 HR the past two years. Like Peters, he is strikeout machine, but he bears watching.
- I do not see how the Dodgers can keep Julio Urias off the team at the start of the season. He is the talk of Dodger Camp. He was once a kid when he first showed his immense talent. Now a man, in the best shape of his life and throwing harder than ever at 98 MPH, he has no business in the minor leagues. The Dodgers need him to help win games… like right now. He has Ace-Stuff. As a rookie, in 2016, he was very, very good, now he borders on great. This is a guy who will likely win a Cy Young at some point. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
- If Clayton is healthy (and it looks like he is trending that way), Buehler, Urias and Kershaw could make a devastating trio at the top of the rotation.
- Dave Dombrowski of the Red Sox, when asked if his team went backward after losing Joe Kelly and likely Craig Kimbrel said that it 9is a young team and that they could (through growth) be better than last year. The Dodgers also have some young players who could experience some of the same incremental growth. I’m talking about Seager, Bellinger, Barnes, Taylor, Kike, Buehler and Verdugo.
Photo Credit: Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers
Discussion (122)
Disagree, not disagreeable
The House of Representatives passed a measure condemning Hate against all forms of hate, even against Bums and Hams, Rap, and Chucks. So one should think about that before making negative comments about these characters.
You know what guys, as a fan I totally miss Puig, but watching A.J. Pollock tonight, damn, this guy is a gamer, never takes an at bat off, after a homer, he takes a walk. He is what we didn’t have last year, He is Chase Utley 2.0, I love this dude. Great pick up, just keep his ass healthy.
Out of curiosity, where does my IP show I am from?
Joc must have heard all of the talk about him today, that was a nice swing and way out in right!
Opposite Field Shot by Pollock!
Ryu looks to be in great shape…
Round is a shape, right?
The problem with MJ’s accusations is that she keeps saying Hamchuck is a poor writer and that should not be tolerated.
Hang in there Hamchuck. Don’t let MJ chase you away.
So Bumsrap likes Joc, seems to like him alot. That’s ok isn’t it ?And why all the paranoia? Seems weird. And what if, I say if, Bums wanted to drift into fantasy and assume another name, would that be ok too? And what if Hamchuck was really Hamchuck from S.F.
And, who’s on first? What if that would be Muncy, would that be ok?
Bums, I had an Uncle from Biddeford Me. I’m originally
from Brunswick. That’s the truth.
While we try to figure out who’s really who on this board:
Our new expensive 8th inning guy says he hurt his back standing too long while cooking Cajun food
Someone asked yesterday how much CBD I take. I take this:
It is 16.67 mg
I take a half dropper morning and evening. It’s a multi-level marketing thing and my brother give it to me at his cost which is $60.00. I was buying it at Fresh Thyme, but it was not as strong. This is allegedly water-based which allows better body absorption… is their story!
C’mon Mark. Fess up. There are no readers of this blog. You just make all the comments under various different names to amuse yourself when the water business is a little slow.
I have had people in the past change their names and mask their IP addresses, but they usually slip up now and again, and I figure it out.
I have had some change their names to troll or bait others, but I am wise to that. I have one guy change his name 5 or 6 times in an effort to troll others. He was a terrible human being and I kicked him off under every name.
We currently have one commentor on the board who has used 6 different monikers. He has always been a good citizen and never trolled anyone, so I don’t know why he changes his name so much, but it doesn’t matter since he is not a troublemaker. He can tell you if he wants, but I won’t rat him out and I won’t answer questions about who it is, but it is not HamChuck, Bumsrap or MJ!
MJ is legit because she knows of Naugles and Del Taco in Corona. And she’s one hell of an investigator.
I am thinking that at least two of them are Badger?
OK, here is what I know:
MJ ‘s IP Address shows that she is near Ontario, California
Bumsrap’s IP Address shows he is near Biddleford, Maine
Hamchuck’s IP Address shows that he is near San Francisco, California
MJ’s IP Address has recently changed. The other one was in Ontario as well.
I am very confident – but not 100% – that everyone is who they say they are. I do not think HamsRap and BumChuck are the same, but I can’t say 100%. I only wonder why MJ’s IP address Changed recently?
https://dodgersway.com/2019/03/08/dodgers-offseason-winner/
SCDodgerFan,
Bumchuck is not that good, if you have watched him enough.
Hamchuck is definitely Bum.
You should have seen how fast Bum showed up last night, to protect himself, after I called Hamchuck on that fake pity story.
Bum made a post right after my response to Hamchuck last night, and the timing was quite convenient.
But since you brought up a DNA test, and it is Bum’s obsession with Joc that is causing his identity crisis, why don’t we ask Bum to take a DNA test, to see if he is Joc’s father, or some how related to Joc.
And for those who didn’t read above, Mark never said it wasn’t Bum, he just said it wasn’t Bums usual IP address or site.
And as everyone here already knows, including Mark, it is easy to get around that.
Hamchuck, Bum and MJ… Take a deep breath and mutter:
I know you are but what am I ???
Maybe Hamchuck & Bums could take a DNA test to satisfy MJ?
Is Kelly going to be the new Kazmir?
Attn: A.C. and Tim Locastro Fans… The kid is tearing up ST and I saw he made two great catches in RF A couple days ago..
Santa Anita, the only place where windows clean people… Horses suffer from excessive inbreeding and if truly checked they would banned for life in the MLB..
I suppose if I bought a thoroughbred hose I’d call it Canseco!!!
Where did this kid Cabrera come from. I know it was the first inning he pitched, but he looked pretty darn good. Big kid. He had good control, and threw hard.
Good read on the frequency of top prospects turning into MLB All-Stars. There is value in a farm system beyond mid-season trades (cough, Verdugo, cough.)
`
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/how-many-minor-league-prospects-are-future-mlb-all-stars/
Like Mark, I was thinking the same about Kike’, Barnes, and Cody.
And like we often hear said in spring, I hope these guys save some for the regular season.
All three of these guys, have been doing everything right when they are in the batter’s box, situational hitting, taking their base if a pitcher gives them first, and just hitting well, in general.
Kike’, Barnes, and Cody, came to spring training ready to hit, and I bet all three of these players put in some hard work in the off season, and that is good to see.
Mark is right, a team can never have to many good arms, but at least if these guys don’t make the 25, they know they might be called up any time in the season, because Oklahoma is just a call and plane trip away.
After 59 brought up Toles today, that reminded me after I put out the word on what I thought might be going on with Toles the other day here, later that same day Toles name was switched out for another name, after being out there, for about ten days.
But the same post still remained on both different accounts.
Mark often talks about the many different people he attracts to this site, and I think this Toles thing, just makes Mark’s case.
You never know who is reading this site, or is posting on this site either.
I haven’t paid attention to horse racing since these guys were riding:
Bill Shoemaker
Laffit Pincay Jr.
Eddie Arcaro
I agre with you Mark on Urias. Let him pitch 5 innings or 90 pitches and then pull him. He seems to be stronger and better before the injury. If he needs to take a start off for rest we certainly have Stripling or a spot start for Goslin and others. Urias needs to be on the team.
From ESPN:
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26190498/robot-umps-shift-ban-coming-atlantic-league
Some, including Kershaw himself, over reacted to his early setback but his bounce back and Barnes early offensive production should give us all much more confidence in this team.
There are a few players that aren’t yet hitting but aren’t flailing away either.
Is there a team that is really thin in relief depth that would trade an elite reliever for solid relief depth?
I was just saying that Julio looked pretty thick. He really filled out. I can’t wait to see those big 3 in the rotation together. Bummer, that they’re always on a pitch limit and all have already had significant injuries.
You can add Joc, Toles (the forgotten man) and Muncy to the list of young guys.
How good is this pen gonna be when you have to dump a guy like Fields?
Floro and Chargois each have an option left. The pen is stacked all the way back to OKC and at some point they’re gonna need to make room for Allie.
Speaking of the bullpen. Alexander looks ready to take a big step forward this year.
MT – Thanks for a great video… Got the juices flowing along with my coffee.
I think #3 MLB is gonna have to wait for an opening… Barnes is on fire…
Somewhere in that building at Camelback behind LF (I assume) after each game Roberts and coaches discuss their roster… This year probably the most difficult decision making I’ve seen in a long time…
So many pitchers, so little time!!!
Off the wall MT, I’ve recently started using CBD oil for a little insomnia after shutting down my oxy regimen and and the arthritic blues… The cost though is quite hefty her in SoCal… Whole dropper for joint pain ???
Just got home from attending my first two ST games. Observations: after a day off, the Dodgers looked dead flat against the Indians. Dick Mountain was the exception, looked good on the mound and it was fun to watch Jansen take an inning. Joc, Jansen and Turner look svelt. Fun watching the kids I don’t know play. The new kids struggled fielding and Camelback is quite a wonderful place. The bar however is a bust! Wildly expensive, a lame pour!
Then to Tempe to watch my two favorite teams. Trout is a beast, Albert a dude! The Dodgers looked great, Kike standing out. Fun to see JT play. The 3rd base play the night before looked like high school! Ross S. Looked solid but got touched up a bit in his second inning. A huge difference in the facilities! Food is better at Tempe, the crowd cordial.
Final comment is the Dodgers have way more pitching depth than the Angels right now! Hope to visit again next year and left Camelack with a $45 Spring Training hat!
I agree with MT’s comment regarding Floro and Chargois. Yimi will be in the BP when camp breaks and look for Schultz to perhaps get a spot on the 25 man roster. That means Floro and Chargois will have to come up with a “mystery” ailment (assuming they are out of options) or be lost on a trade or DFA.
Could the Dodgers also break camp with Stetson Allie in the BP? At 100 MPH he’s going to miss a lot of bats or do they send him to OKC and use him later in the year? Will Joc get traded?
Welcome back. I miss your daily posts during Spring Training, during the Season and during the Hot Stove.