- I’m not a baseball professional, but Scott Kazmir’s hip still tightens up and interferes with his delivery – same as last year but his velocity is down. It sounds like that unless he fixes the hip there is going to be no hop on his fastball. I’m not a doctor either, but it seems to me that if it can’t be fixed, it’s the end of the line for Mr. Kazmir. Of course, he won’t be on the 25-man roster, but the bigger question in my mind is “Will he ever pitch again?” By his own admission, it’s mechanical and physical, but the mechanical part is caused by a physical malady with his hip or lower back. He had nothing yesterday, but experience and that mitigated the damage. I’m actually surprised he wasn’t bombed, but he is not a good pitcher right about now. I wonder if he every will be again? Is his contract insured?
- Can I use Scott Van Slyke and “speed” in the same sentence? He stole two bases yesterday? What? We have the answer to Dee Gordon? Not!
- So, Seager is going to stay in AZ and work on his swing and miss the Freeway Series. Just so he’s ready on Opening Day…
- Injuries are going to play a big role in deciding the 25-man roster. Kazmir, Ravin and Ethier are certainly on the DL. Baez might be and depending upon how Ryu does today, he may also be on the DL and a minor league rehab assignment. It all boings down to how he does today: Can he go five and how will he feel after it?
- I look for a breakout year for Logan Forsythe at the top of the Dodgers lineup.
- I mentioned this yesterday – I like Austin Barnes a lot – However, I would take Bobby Wilson is I could package Barnes and someone like Alex Wood for a pitcher like Brad Brach. Grandal is the starting catcher and there are several young catchers who will be ready in a year or two. Kyle Farmer could also serve as a backup. The Dodgers would be a better team with Brach. That’s my motivation, but I have been an Austin Barnes fan for a long time.
- Sergio Romo has not pitched a lot… maybe he doesn’t need to. Will he be ready?
- Harold Uhlman aka/Bluenose Dodger of Think Blue LA has a good write up on the next wave of young Dodger pitchers.
- Will anyone go Andrew Toles or Trevor Oaks and start out in A ball, move to AA ball and then AAA ball, all in one season? Of course, Toles moved on the MLB too. The likelihood of that happening again is remote… unless Walker Buehler starts in A ball.
Today’s Music
Discussion (41)
Disagree, not disagreeable
How about those Gamecocks!
Justin Masterson will be manning the mound in OKC this summer. Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal.
It was just announced that Ryu will be in the rotation and that Wood will be on the team. I still think they will keep Stripling. I don’t see a need to keep stretching him out with all of the depth in the minors, along with Wood. So with Jansen, Dayton and Romo locks to make the team, that leaves two spots open.
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Avilan
Morrow
Baez
Hatchet
Fields
Liberatore
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Just hurry up and trade Avilan, Barnes and Wood to the Orioles for Brad Brach! I’ll throw in Fields too…
I do not think that Romo needs a lot of time to get ready. He needs to pitch at least one game in the freeway series. It would be best if he went one inning each in back to back games. Same with Jansen.
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Harold Uhlman is a Dodger minor league prospect guru. He is generally more positive and upbeat about most Dodger prospects than even I am. I know prospects are only prospects, until they aren’t. Clayton Kershaw and Mike Trout were simply prospects early in the minor leagues careers as well. It is not the point that nobody in the Dodger organization will become Kershaw or Trout, but they may become valuable members of a championship 25 man roster. They all start out in a rookie league or A ball. The plan is to pinpoint the “untouchables” early and then plan the next level, and then the next, and then the next…Right now, IMO the untouchable prospects should be Bellinger/Buehler/White/Alveraz. One of Keibert Ruiz or Will Smith should be just behind.
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Buehler and White will be starting in A Ball. Right now White is on the Rancho roster, while Buehler is on the Great Lakes roster. I do not believe FAZ wants Buehler pitching in the mid-west in April, so I think he will either be in extended ST or go directly to Rancho. I think he is slated to pitch in the freeway series. If he pitches well, he will probably get re-assigned to Rancho. That would place Buehler/White/Alveraz/Abdullah/Boyle as the Rancho starting rotation. Ron Cervenka will be in heaven. If any player/pitcher has a shot at going from A Ball to MLB, it would be one of Buehler or White. I still beleive the highest they get is to AAA at the end of the year. Buehler will have his innings monitored and capped this year, so it is extremely doubtful that he gets to LA.
It takes me awhile for some players, but I admit that he belongs on the DL. However, there is absolutely no reason to release him. If they need the roster spot, they can put him on the 60 day just like they did to Hatcher in 2016, even though Hatcher did not believe he was a 60 day DL candidate. I believe they can place the player on the DL 5 days before season starts (that is when the 10 day/60 day calculator begins). The worst thing that happens is that Kaz stays on the DL for the full year and then gets released. The best is that he gets better physically and then mechanically and can help out at the end of the year. Either way, his contract is a sunk cost with no current value. Just move on. Next man up. Wood is now one step closer.
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I am not positive, but I believe those insurance plans only payout when the player is deemed unable to perform throughout the remaining term of the contract. And I beleive that it has to be medically supported. There are undoubtedly other restrictions, because not all contracts are insured.
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Austin Barnes is actually a good defensive catcher. Bobby Wilson is a ML experienced backup catcher. If Wilson is selected as the backup, that pushes Barnes back to AAA, and Farmer back to AA. I think that would retard the development of both Barnes and Farmer. I still find it interesting that Wilson has been playing more recently. Maybe FAZ is getting a longer look to see if Wilson can be a true backup consideraton, and then maybe Barnes does become part of a trade package. I have mentioned Brad Brach since last year as a target. But I do not think Baltimore is in a hurry to move him because of lingering questions on the health of Britton. But with the question of the health for the RHRP, there has to be some discussion with somebody. Maybe Andrew can go back to Tampa Bay and ask for Alex Colome and see what that would take. I have felt for a long time that Austin Barnes would be a perfect fit in Tampa. Ramos signed a two year deal, but who knows if his surgically repaired ACL will let him catch full-time. None of their internal choices are considered options which is why they signed Norris. Wood gives them another young starter, and makes it more palatable to move Cobb. Cedeno becomes their closer until Boxberger comes back, or stays there. If my wheels are turning, I am sure that FAZ wheels are churning faster. If it is deemed fair value for Wood and Barnes for Brach, then no one should complain about the return being Colome.
Box, that’s an amazing list you mentioned above! Morrow def has talent; hopefully he’s healthy.
It’s official
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/03/scott-kazmir-to-begin-season-on-dl.html?fv-home=true&post-id=88473
I like Wilson as backup catcher over Barnes. I like his experience, and he is probably as good a catcher as Barnes. Barnes is a better hitter, so it is a tough choice. Wilson does not want to go down to the minors, so they may release him if he doesn’t make the team. He just LOOKS like a catcher. To me, Barnes has always been on the small side for that position, but there are smaller catchers playing these days. If Wilson makes the team, Barnes will go AAA and wait for the next chance. At what point does he want out?
B7 – that made me chuckle
SVS has always had deceptive speed. No one will confuse him for Omar Moreno, but we’ve seen him over the years leg out hustle doubles and cut off balls in the outfield and then gun out guys trying to take an extra base. He’s had pretty good assist numbers in the past in memory is accurate and I think it comes from people mistaking him for a big, slow plodding first baseman who is playing outfield and it just isn’t the case. He’s actually a good outfielder and a good base runner. When he first started playing 1B, he was quite bad at it and he’s come a long ways there too.
I like your nod to an old friend in your song choice today Mark.
Taylor & Segedin or what is the purpose of Roster flexibility?
Surely you pick the guys in form, and move them around as the season unfolds?
Kazmir is a long way off. I’ve always been a big Ryu fan & hope he makes it.
Hopefully if he slots in at #5 to start off, he can be managed during the first few weeks of the season as may be able to get an extra days rest here & there.
Utley is making it hard to overlook him
With his stellar play.
Either way, only one week to go!!
I agree MJ…Kazmir always thinks he’s one outing away. In 3 innings he gave up 3 hits, 5 walks, hit 2 batters, threw a WP and gave up a HR. If he wasn’t a vet who knew how to pitch it would have been even uglier! Roberts said he has to be able to compete and right now he can’t.
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Add Avilan as a guy without options which may force Liberatore down even though I like him better. Dayton is a lock and no need for 3 lefties in the pen, unless one is Alex Wood. I think Avilan would be claimed off waivers if sent down, and Hatcher would not. Not sure if Fields has an option but Morrow has beat him out IMO. Baez to the DL gives someone on the bubble a bit more time early. I am curious to see Baez on a pitch clock during rehab, 20 seconds and a ball is called! Might do him a world of good, or perhaps make his head explode.
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Big outing for Ryu today, a strong performance may lock down his spot. He would really add a savvy dimension and knows how to pitch without overpowering stuff. His velocity should improve as the season goes along.
No one seems to know if Kazmir’s contract is insured, you would think it would have to be along with all of the big contracts to older and injury prone players. I think they had to start him to prove how far away he really is from being competitive. His attitude and team spirit don’t impress, but he may get on track for later in the season.
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Options won’t be a major issue for final cuts as Kike, SVS, Thompson, Toles, Taylor, Segedin, Wood, Stripling, Liberatore, Baez and most all but Gutierrez and Hatcher still have at least one left. Hatcher and Fields should not make it, Morrow would be a veteran bridge along with Romo to Jansen.
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Gutierrez sticking around all season will be a product of his production and the health of Ethier and Thompson and the play of Puig, Toles, SVS and Segedin and how Joc handles lefties. His contract is not too much to swallow and he could go on the DL at any time. Positional versatility should be more important than a RH bat off the bench and a start here and there in LF.
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Seager may not be ready, that really gives Taylor a leg up as the superior SS in the utility battle. The final cuts may not go the way we think but some guys are really making the decisions difficult.
There is some talk that White and Beuhler may throw some innings in the LLA series. I have not seen either pitch.
We are just about ready to strap it on. It will be interesting to see who makes the team. I am rooting for Segedin and Taylor. They have earned it.
Your right Mark, Harold’s article is a good one. He does an excellent job covering the minor leaguers, much like AC. Speaking of AC, good call on Morrow, the former #5 overall draft pick is looking studly! Must have been a reason he was drafted before, Andrew Miller, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum and Max Scherzer.
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Ron Cervenka has a good article on Morrow next to Harold’s article.
Kazmir’s physical condition is a bummer! Fortunately, he isn’t needed and was trade fodder. It will help if FAZ “insured” his contract, but, I think his 2017 and 2018 salaries would still count against the luxury tax if he is finished. Let’s hope he can work through whatever this problem is. Alot of teams could use a healthy Kazmir.
I don’t know where Buehler starts the year, but I would love to see a spot start or two in LA.