A lot has been written about Yasiel Puig’s alleged “Knuckleheadedness” – I confess… lots of it by me. I have been the first to say that he has enormous talent, but his
knuckleheaded ways may keep him from realizing his potential. If I could trade him straight up for Ryan Braun, I would probably do it (shoot, I’d probably trade Calhoun and Puig for Braun), because with that right handed-bat in our lineup, we would be World Series Bound. Imagine this:
- Forsythe 2B
- Seager SS
- Braun LF
- Turner 3B
- Gonzo 1B
- Grandal C
- Pederson CF
- Toles/Thompson RF (I’ll call them Toles n Thompson or “TNT”)
The thing is, Milwaukee would have to pay some of Braun salary or take Ethir or Gonzo and they won;t do that and Andre would not waive his no-trade clause in that deal. So, it’s back to reality and when one looks at what has happened to Yasiel Puig since his demotion to OKC last season, it seems at least possible that maybe, just maybe, Yasiel is trying to put his knuckleheadedness behind him. 2015 and 2016 were rough years for the Wild Horse, but if you look back to 2013 and 2014, you can at least have some real hope.
Look at his stats:
- 2013 – .319 BA/.391 OB%/.925 OPS
- 2014 – .296 BA/.382 OB%/.863 OPS
You know, I would take that, but I have a feeling that if he is really serious about baseball and his team, he can do even better. Wouldn’t that be something? As good as the lineup with Braun was, this one may be even better:
- Forsythe 2B
- Puig RF
- Seager SS
- Turner 3B
- Gonzo 1B
- Grandal C
- Pederson CF
- Toles/Thompson LF
Not only could it be an offensive juggernaut with a MVP-Type Year from Puig, but it might just be the best defensive team in baseball. It’s almost time for Dodger baseball!
Rants & Raves
- Need another pitcher? Here you go. I’m kidding…
- In case you did not see it yesterday, here’s your chance to buy the Dodgers.
- 6 More Days!
Discussion (20)
Disagree, not disagreeable
That’s a helluva lineup you have there Mark(the one with Puig in the 2 hole minus Braun). I’m totally on board with that one. Not only a lockdown defensive lineup, but some young legs in there as well. For some weird reason I don’t think we have seen the true Trace Thompson yet. Just have a feeling he could have a break out year if he’s healthy and given alot of play time. Also, it seems like we all keep talking about the young guys and their potential. It seems like we have them coming out of the wood work. I know I’m being totally old school and non sabermetric, but i wish we would cool it a bit on the platooning and let these young cats hit against lefties and righties and figure it out, instead of always playing the matchups. Some of these guys have incredible upside, but they need the time to work through the highs and lows of playing over a long season.
Watching one of my other favorite teams. Great game!
Go Blue Devils!
I don’t like Braun. And the reason I don’t like him isn’t because of his PED usage in itself, but the way he denied his usage showed the color of someone I’d have a hard time rooting for. The F/O backed out of the Chapman deal for something a lot less shameful and should lose all credibility in an excuse of what we want our team made of. I don’t care for a championship so hard when Braun would have to be part of it. Braun ain’t hero material in my book and I prefer cheering against the weasel puke. No thanks, not on my Dodgers!
The Dodgers really don’t have to do anything right now. They can play the waiting game.
I agree with Mark, I don’t see the Brewers biting on any package that doesn’t include any young guns… they are in a rebuilding mode and not pressing for playoffs. If they were, they wouldn’t trade Braun unless it made the team much better.
Ethier would platoon with either Thompson or Puig and compete for that opportunity with Toles. If it looks like Puig will play full time and that Toles will get the nod, Ethier should be more willing to go to a team for one year that tells him he will play significant innings in an effort to get another contract.
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If Ethier and McCarthy could be part of the package going to the Brewers, I can see a chance that Braun could be traded to the Dodgers. If it were not for Toles issues with anxiety, I think he would be the player the Brewers would also want. I think we all agree that nothing is going to happen in regard to Braun before the latter part of spring training.
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An SVS/AGon and a Toles/Thompson platoon could be all the Dodgers need to be solid against lefties and allow Joc and his defense to stay in CF and not be part of a platoon.
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Because certain players will either be traded if healthy or released due to old injuries, I think we all will be more accurate with our guesses on who will be on the 25 in July than who will be on the 25 in April.
So far Urias is no-no for the WBC, Dodgers are being very coy about it. I think they want Urias for the all star to playoffs, so there going to limit him early in the year… maybe 180 innings max.
Is there any way the team will allow Urias to pitch in the WBC? I don’t want any of our starters to pitch in it. Urias’ name is on the pitching tentative roster. Spring training will be messed up this year for us guys who to down for a week. Lots of NL West guys in the WBC. Still will be good. Puig is here to stay until someone better comes along–like Bellinger. But even at his worst, he’s still better than the average replacement. Just get used to:.260; 17; 65.
The Dodgers will try and get payroll under $220 million this year, but may not make it. Next year, they will be under $200 million.
I agree, no Braun for Dodgers. Braun’s salary is another potential anchor. I still say FAZ gets Dodgers out of luxury tax hell in 2018.
Although, I suppose it’s possible that Dodgers go get Braun at the deadline, if Puig totally sucks and Dodgers aren’t hitting lefties again and are competing for a championship. I bet from MIL standpoint, Puig, almost anything else, and taking on Braun’s total salary could make it happen at ANYTIME.
I don’t think Braun provides enough value to take on the money, and it looks like Timmons agrees.
I think the interesting question is how to offset the team’s splits with a limited bench.
It’s early and there will be injuries and standout (good and bad) performances, but….
Let’s say they go 7 in the ‘pen. Trace (rehab) and Urias (innings limit) to extended Spring Training.
Kershaw, Maeda, Hill, Kazmir and Stewart are starters.
Jansen, Romo, Ravin, Dayton, Avilan, Baez, Liberatore/Wood/Morrow?
Grandal, AGon, Forsythe, Seager, Turner, Toles, Pederson, Puig.
That leaves:
Barnes, Kike, Ethier, SVS and who on the bench?
Against lefties:
SVS can slot in at first. Kike in Center. Maybe Ruf then? Or do they need a Culbertson/Taylor to cover SS?
Ethier really is a waste of a spot at this moment, his injury cost them a chance to move him and now he’s 5 and 10’d. Ruf is also out of options.
The Dodgers will not trade Puig for Braun, And to have Braun till 2021 I don’t think so.