It’s fun to sit around and play GM at times. We can make trades without compunction for Matt Kemp, Marcel Ozuna and about any other player on the planet. In reality, almost none of those trades ever happen. I probably suggest more trades than anyone and I cannot remember a single one that was ever made. I guarantee you that Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman have been working the phones all season and know of any potential candidates available for trade – probably some we would never think of and some that we think are available who are not! The problem is, most of our trade proposals are “knee-jerk reactions.” Sometimes the best move is NO MOVE.
We look at Matt Kemp’s batting average and salivate, but we forget what a clubhouse cancer he was in both San Diego and Los Angeles. In LA, Kemp was moody, moping, euphoric or unapproachable, depending upon what was happening with Rihanna. Maybe he has matured (Andre did and he was once that way), but there might be a clubhouse revolt if Kemp came back. I speak from experience about this as this was back in the day when I was spending a lot of time around the team. Seven years ago, I spent a 4-game road trip with the team is Chicago with a Press Pass and full clubhouse access (back then the visitors’ clubhouse was a dump). The clubhouse tension was palpable with both Kemp and Ethier being prima donnas. Everyone was on eggs shells.
I say NO to Matt Kemp, but I would not be opposed to acquiring him. However, the Dodgers have moved on. He has moved on. Everyone has moved on, plus his defense is horrid… no it’s worse than that! Here’s EXACTLY what the Dodgers need: They need for Logan Forsythe and Adrian Gonzalez to get healthy. Scott Van Slyke is not long for LA. After A-Gon went 3-4 last night at Rancho, he is apt to get called up as soon as TODAY or TOMORROW! Forsythe is not far behind. Taylor or Forsythe need to go to LF. Forsythe has a bout 20 games experience there, but I am sure Taylore can play it too. That’s one for Doc to figure out.
Adrian is no longer the “butter and egg man” but he can can be a very productive hitter, especially if he is at #5 or #6. I prefer him at #6 as the Dodger’s lineup has generally been unproductive in that area. I think A-Gon can hit 12-15 HR and drive in 80 in the #6 hole and that would be big! Puig and Pederson can’t hit lefties, but Puig is RH so do you reverse platoon him. In RF, I think Bellinger is better as a hitter and while he is not the equal of Puig on defense, I believe he is a better option in RF. Where does that leave Puig? Trade bait, in my opinion. Get me another stud reliever!
How does this look?
- Taylor LF (R)
- Seager SS (L)
- Turner 3B (R)
- Bellinger RF (L)
- Forsythe 2B (R)
- Gonzo 1B (L)
- Grandal/Barnes C (L/R)
- Pederson CF (L)
Doc is just going to see how the seven starters shake out. Today will give us a big clue. Someone has to go and if Ryu can pitch well, he might be the guy. He has a team-friendly contract and if healthy, can be a nice back-of-the-rotation starter. Wood, Hill, Urias and Kershaw are locks. You have to pick one between McCarthy, Ryu and Maeda. What a great problem to have! Puig, McCarthy, Hernandez, Thompson, Ryu, Van Slyke and Maeda could all be trade possibilities. Like AC said, Miami is a perfect place for Puig. How about Thomas Jones or Brian Anderson for him?
Rants and Raves
- In my opinion, Yadier Alvarez is maybe a closer. I do not see him as a starter. Just my opinion. He throws 100 MPH… so…..
- Joc Pederson looks lost to me. I like AC’s idea of Lorenzo Cain as a one year rental. Rios and another?
- It was great to see Clayton get a better handle on his slider… he’s almost there!
- Could Walker Buehler end the season in the Dodgers bullpen?
Discussion (55)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Hawkeye – you are living up to your name.
It was his hammy – MRI tomorrow.
Still, better than his knee…
The “immaculate” ninth that Kenley threw was the 1st time I’ve ever seen that happen.
JT is a big loss, but hopefully offset by Forsythe’s reappearance.
Really pleased for Chase as I’m sure he is a proud man, and it would have been horrible for him to be Batting like he was. Not enough for him to be a cheerleader.
Who plays 3rd in JTs absence?
Holy crap, Turner hurt and it doesn’t look good. We take him for granted but he is one of the glue guys. This one will hurt bigtime. Crap,
That didn’t look good.
JT could be done for a while – looked like his knee.
B17 may be the Lavar Ball of this board. Don’t take most of it seriously, and you’ll laugh.
Like this line: 1 hit in 5 innings. Makes Urias look like high schooler. Uhh, last week Urias allowed no hits in 6ip. Yet B17 complained. Have to laugh
Wow- Ryu gives up 2 bombs in 3 innings
Don’t let B17 get to you MT, he’s like a obscene phone caller!!! Best to let him roll another one and ramble on…
Sorry to be mean, but I do not tolerate foolish stuff!
No way Joc goes down to AAA when they can send Kike down instead. Taylor or Forsythe can handle the Kike role but they need a LH hitter for CF and Joc had over 50 taters his first 2 years. They will give him more time like they did Utley and Grandal and eventually he will get hot and hit a bunch of HR’s and THEN they can trade him! (or not, who knows?) He still is pretty bad at the plate right now, not sure what the cure is. A lighter bat, choking up with 2 strikes, dropping a few bunts, going the other way, shortening his swing, take your pick. Only other realistic option without hurting the team is Gutierrez with a real or imagined injury.
Watching Twins pitcher, Barrios, age 22 pitch against the Rockies. 1 hit in 5 innings. Makes Urias look like high schooler. Season stats are amazing.
Totally agree Mark, Kemp is not the answer. All you have to do is read that book that came out about the Dodgers about 3 or 4 years ago and find out what a true diva he was. Magic had to fly from doing an NBA show back east to come back to LA and talk Kemp out of his tree because the dude was stressing about his contract or something like that. Dark days in the clubhouse. Those were the days when if you had the Dodgers by 3 or 4 runs after the 7th, they just rolled over and died. ZERO heart. This team is the exact opposite. Even when we lose, most times we at least make a late inning run. The culture has totally change in a great way. We are the Giants and Cardinals during their playoff runs a few years ago when they just kept grinding and grinding until something happened. Give Roberts credit for that. We WILL get better at that as the season progresses. Also totally agree that we need a healthy A-gon and Forsythe back. Bummer about Toles, I think we are going to miss him more that we thought. Just have to have someone else fill the spot.
Have no idea what is going on with Joc, just his body language shows that he’s lost at the plate. Bellinger looks like a man with a plan every time he comes up, and he uses all fields. If Joc would do that, he could kick some serious ass.
Tonight’s lineup:
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1. Utley 2B
2. Seager SS
3. Turner 3B
4. Bellinger LF
5. Grandal C
6. A-Gon 1B
7. Pederson CF
8. Puig RF
9. Ryu P
Interesting stuff from Keith Law on Dodger prospects.
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Before we get to it:
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1. These are Keith Law’s opinions and not mine!
2. By posting it I don’t necessarily endorse it.
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Tim: Any thoughts on the Dodgers thought process with Bellinger? Seems like with Gonzalez out, playing him at 1st would improve the defense pretty significantly over him in left with Utley at first. Have seen several misplayed balls over at 1st by Utley/Van Slyke.
Keith Law: I think they’re temporarily prioritizing contract (AG is signed through next year for too much money) over the best alignment of players (Bellinger at 1b, AG on the bench). If they get everyone healthy and play AG at first and Bellinger in left, then I think you’d have cause for complaint.
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Brandon Johnson : Thinking long term, do Alex Verdugo and Willie Calhoun have more value to the Dodgers in LA or as trade bait?
Keith Law: I don’t see where Calhoun ever plays for them because he has no position. Verdugo has a very good chance to be a star or at least an above average regular, so I wouldn’t rush to put him in a deal, but Calhoun has more value in trade than he can ever have for the Dodgers.
AC, you always make me smile when you mention great Dodgers of the past. 3 -Dog was one of those guys!!! He could pick em out there and had great speed… Now of course I didn’t get to see the Duke of Flatbush in his prime, but many say he held his own with best CF trio of all time… Mick, Willy and Duke…
Moving forward in time, folks should get a chance to see a Walker Buehler live… He’s one of those kids that go thru the minors like crap thru crow… Let him destroy AA for as long as necc. and the when he’s ready, move his show… I hope he’s in the AFL this coming year…
Same here. I like that line up.
I like it mark!
I am not advocating this but puig has played center. If Taylor is serviceable I would just put him out there and I said if. Bellinger maybe in center with Forsyth in left? With our need on offense I would play Taylor somehow until he flames out. I would like to have seen the dodgers trade Gonzalez a couple of years ago but if healthy we have really missed his bat. He is a much better hitter than these replacements and I don’t mean bellinger(keep him) our best lineup: Forsyth of seager ss turner third bellinger cf Gonzalez 1st grandal c Taylor 2nd puig rf
Predictably, looks like SVS to OKC. With AGon and Cody it makes most sense.
First let me say that I love the trade discussions even though they are meaningless, they are fun to consider. With respect to Kemp, I was commenting on a trade proposal for Inciarte and Kemp. I doubt that the Braves would trade either. Inciarte is their CF for the next five years as he signed a very team friendly contract – 5 years $30.5M. Kemp is a big bat, but he is the only player keeping the Braves relevant in their new House. I have seen Atlanta with less than 5,000 fans in the seats (old Fulton County Stadium), so they need to be relevant. But I can see how Kemp might work for 2.5 years at an additional $10.5M per year. If the Dodgers cannot stick it to the Braves then walk away.
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While I have not heard one word about Kemp being available, there are rumblings about Ozuna. When his name was first discussed (I think by Bums), I did not think it was plausible because he was the best current contributor for a team that is looking to sell, and I am sure that Jeffrey Loria wants everything clicking so he can fleece a Jeter/Bush or Glavine/Romney buyer. But what I heard was that one (maybe both) potential owner groups may want to do a tear down to rebuild the farm system. Most believe that Stanton and his contract are not going to get any kind of return so that left guys like Ozuna, Yelich, Realmuto, as potential trade pieces to get prospects in return.
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I also know that Lorenzo Cain is available as a rental, and could be combined in a package with Kelvin Herrera. If you take Cain and Herrera, do you also have to take on Ian Kennedy and his contract? I have no idea what it would cost for Ozuna, Yelich, or Cain. As I hinted at yesterday, I think Rios would look good as the new Royals Kendrys Morales. Maybe Rios and Sopko?
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Perhaps the best thing that could happen to Joc would be to be optioned when Forsythe returns, so he could go back down and work on his swing. I agree with some who have said his trade value is so low that it does not make sense to trade him, and that it might make more sense to option him to OKC. If his ego and confidence cannot handle that, then the Dodgers need to know that as well. Right now Joc is not helping the team or himself. Cody can play CF in the interim. I catch a lot of flak about this, but IMO Joc’s defense is over-rated. He is an average defensive CF, not a great defensive CF. His defensive metrics do not portray him as anything but average. I understand from Bums that Vin has labeled Joc as the best Dodger CF he has ever seen, but as sacrilegious as this may sound, I would disagree with that assessment. I still believe that Willie Davis was the best Dodger CF, at least in LA.
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I know Alveraz has had a rough go of it so far this season, but with his arm, I am not ready to push him to closer. That may be where he ends up, but many consider him to have four plus pitches, so he needs to start. I have not watched him this year to see how often he throws his off speed stuff, but if he develops the curve and change (which are considered plus) to offset his plus plus fastball and slider, he could become very filthy. He just turned 21, so he has time to mature both physically and mentally.
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I am as high on Buehler as anyone. I am a believer. He is my favorite prospect, for whatever that is worth. But I do not think the Dodgers will push him to their bullpen this year. The Dodgers are going to watch his pitch count, and unless they believe he will be a difference maker, I think they will shut him down in September. He will get a ML invite to ST, and should have a legit chance to make the rotation out of Spring next year.
In the Joc to AAA camp, been waiting for two years now actually. I remember when he somehow made the All-Star team in 2015 and the media hyped him up as the second coming of Barry Bonds. He was already in decline during that game and all I could do was shake my head, I actually felt bad for the kid.
Puig right now is a better option than Pederson. So please, if we replace anyone, he needs to be out of this lineup immediately.
Like your lineup Mark, just Puig over Pederson.
Yasiel Sierra
Scott Barlow
Jacob Rhame
Joe Broussard
Shea Spitzbarth
—- all as relievers!
My thoughts based on observation:
* Bellinger should stay up because he will learn more and get better faster on the major league roster getting AB’s against big league pitchers and getting guidance from major league veterans (not to mention Turner Ward). Does anyone see a trip back down to OKC as anything other than a waste of time for him? The only benefit is to push back his service time clock but there are still more benefits to keeping him on the major league roster.
* I’m not opposed to trading Puig but I am skeptical the Dodgers will get anything decent in return. At this point, I prefer the approach of patiently working with him and while his performance is not spectacular, he is still contributing.
* I expect that we will see more call ups and we may very well see one of them make an impact similar to Bellinger. Odds are that the next one will be a pitcher. Anyone care to give a take on the next prospect to get called up and make an exciting splash? Maybe it will be someone we haven’t even talked about…
I would be completely fine with trading for Cain. I like the athleticism and that he has playoff experience. Another guy I’ve mentioned before is JD Martinez. Mark mentioned Rios but the name the popped was Calhoun. I can’t say if he would be too much for a rental. I would think both KC and Detroit would want pitching back so maybe Rios and a pitcher would work.
I wouldn’t bring Kemp back at this point. If what you say is true about how he is as a teammate, the guys who were here when Kemp was won’t want him back. There will be other right-handed options in the OF come deadline time.
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Bellinger will have growing pains, but seems to be adjusting on the fly. Yesterday, Cueto made him look silly the first time up but Bellinger got him back later. Puig made hard contact every time up. Seager, Turner, Taylor, Grandal all looking good right now. When Gonzalez and Forsyth return the offense should be looking pretty good. Joc in CF is the one big problem right now – he looks lost up there. And Kike CANNOT hit righties and isn’t a good CF. When Gonzalez returns, I would try Bellinger in CF and send Joc to AAA to work some things out. LF could be a problem then of course – no obvious candidates to play against RHP. (Gutierrez could continue to platoon against southpaws.)
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They are going to have to resolve the starting pitching issues. They can’t keep 6 starters on the roster and they can’t keep stashing a guy on the 10 day DL and then bringing him back and screwing up the rhythm of the entire rotation. They should pick 5 and let them pitch. I say the 5 (as of right now) are Kershaw, Wood, Hill, Urias and McCarthy. I don’t know what this means for Ryu (DL him again?) and Maeda and I could see them optioning Urias and keeping Maeda in the rotation as an alternative.
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Romo has to go. The ‘pen should be Jansen, Baez, Avilan, Fields, Stripling, Hatcher and Liberatore.
To say Alverez will be a closer at this point in his career is just keyboard finger exercise. Sure he could be a closer..he could also be a devastating number 1. We should all wait and see if his pitching matches his raw talent eventually. If it does we could have an other best in MLB number 1 pitcher. Go Dodgers.
I agree with Boxout, the internal options are good, probably better than the deals they are being offered. But if a trade matches up, even a 3 team blockbuster they will pull the trigger.
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Joc looks lost at the plate, no plan when he walks up there. Right now his trade value is lower than it should be as it would be on past production, nor present. And Kike plays CF when he sits so below average day in and day out. Cody could move there but who is the LH part of the LF platoon with Toles out? Maybe Verdugo but that requires a 40 man roster move. If Joc gets hot he has more value at the deadline, and I hope they sell high.
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Puig is the guy everyone has mixed feelings about but he has a plan at the plate and has been taking walks and getting hard contact. I keep feeling he is about to break out in a big way and his defense and base running are always exciting. If he gets on a roll he has even more value at the deadline, but I hope they keep him.
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AGon is ready and the lineup needs him, pack your bags SVS! Forsythe creates a different problem, too many infielders. Either Kike, Taylor, Utley or Gutierrez has to go down or to the DL or cut back a pitcher. Taylor played some CF in ST and is adequate there and hitting much better than Joc. Kike could be the odd man out.
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Bellinger needs to play most every day and play all 3 OF spots and 1B as needed. He is the protection Turner has needed all year and the guy teams pitch very carefully to.
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Roberts needs to make up his mind who his starters are and today may be Ryu’s last chance to stay in the rotation. His stuff would play in the bullpen, and they are short a LHP there. He has little value in a trade at this point, but more than Kazmir. That still leaves 6 guys for 5 spots and that leaves the bullpen short an arm.
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Please play a more regular lineup! Please don’t sit a guy who just had a big game because of pitching match ups! Please don’t sit 2 of your 3 big producers at the same time. Please don’t put out a ST lineup in any game. Please put Bellinger at cleanup and leave him there. Please don’t bat Utley lead off. Please don’t hand the ball to Romo or Hatcher in a close game.
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I still really like this team and once these decisions are made they will play more consistently.
Mark
When you said earlier this week we have a thumper coming back, I was going to ask you, who you were talking about.
But you are right, a healthy Agone is a better hitter, then a lot of players, in this line up.
And he will be a great teacher, for Bellinger.
It doesn’t look like Joc and Puig learned anything from Agone’s example, when it comes to hitting runs in, but I bet Bellinger will take note.
I hated when Toles got hurt, but now there is a place in the line up, for both Agone and Bellinger to play, and exist, with one another.
And when we need a tough RBI there is no hitter better then Agone, in our line up.
The Logan, Taylor, problem will work out too.
I hope Ryu can pitch well tonight for the team, and himself.
He was once a very good pitcher and he takes a lot of pride in trying to get the job done, so I hope he can.
The starting pitcher thing will work out too, and there won’t have to be necessarily any big moves, to work this out.
It is still early, but pitchers have the highest percentage of attrition, in baseball.
I would argue that we will go as fast as our hitting will take us. I have confidence we have, with a few bullpen tweaks, the pitching to take us all the way. My concern is whether we have the hitting to score the runs to win.
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A healthy Gonzalez and Forsyth will help. Can Taylor play an adequate CF? Would time in OKC help Joc find himself? He looks lost right now.
Important point to remember; none of us have a blemish worth (on FAZ’s behind) of baseball knowledge compared to the guys actually running the show.
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While it is easy to see the flaws in our team, and every team has them, and who looks good right now on other teams, we really have no idea what it would cost to acquire them. Kemp? Sure if the price is right, but it won’t be! Braves would look to bend us over, just like the Brewers must have with Braun. And Kemp must be a HUGE problem if the Padres would pay just to be rid of the guy.
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I have resigned myself to enjoy the season, knowing if a “good” deal/value appears FAZ will be all over it. We are a very good team as currently constructed, a true Championship Caliber team. FAZ is going to be patient, stick to the long-term plan and see what we got. Yes, Gonzalez and Forsythe could be just what the Doctor ordered AND the price is right. Puig, although frustrating is leading the team in RBIs, from mainly the eighth spot, it could be worse. Pederson needs to platoon, so does Hernandez, Gutierrez and a couple other guys. A couple fringe guys need to be jettisoned , VanSlyke and Romo.
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Something that tells me FAZ is doing their job, is the better internal options, depth, we have everywhere compared to last year. Stick to the plan and it will be even better next year. Get crazy, like the Lakers did with signing Mozgov and Deng and we will regret it. How would the Lakers look right now with the NUMBER 2 pick AND lots of money to spend this year or next?
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The good news is the Dodgers will go as far as the PITCHING will take them and that could be a long way.