It’s JUST Spring Training, but Noisy has been quiet the past couple of games. Sheldon could have seized the day, but didn’t. Matt Davidson took a walk yesterday, but he is such a long-shot due to not being on the roster, that it probably makes no difference. DJ Peters took a collar and has now struck out over 50% of the time in Spring Training. That won’t fly at AAA, let alone in the show! He is athletic but his proclivity to strikeout will not play in Major League Ball. He’s headed back to AAA.
On the other hand, Austin Barnes has wrestled the Opening Day Catcher’s job from Will Smith. OK… well actually, Kershaw is starting on Opening Day and Barnes is his catcher, so Barney has got that job by default, but he is the Opening Day Catcher… so there is that.
What’s Next For Austin Barnes?
Let me preface what I am about to say with this: “Andrew Friedman has traded Clayton Kershaw’s personal catcher before (I am talking about AJ Ellis).” What I am suggesting is that Austin Barnes stock is at an all-time high. He looked great last season, in the playoffs, and is hitting .400 while OPS’ing 1.178 this Spring.
OK, I will admit that is not enough to trade him. How’s this? The Dodgers have another LH hitting catcher who seems to be at the ready, right here, right now. Keibert Ruiz is 23 – Austin Barnes will be 32 this year. Maybe it will not be this Spring, but Austin Barnes is a trade candidate… this year! Some catcher on some contender is going to go down or under-perform and someone will pay for the chance to have Austin as their catcher. He also deserves the chance. He is not going to supplant Will Smith.
Kaybear Ruiz should give up switch-hitting and just bat LH where he has much better power and his bat would play BIG TIME in the Dodger’s lineup. Of course, Ruiz could also be trade bait, but he has six years of control and that is important for a team that needs to sign three stars: Buehler, Bellinger, and Seager. They could trade Ruiz, knowing that Diego Cartaya is about two years away, but it makes more sense to trade Barnes.
Cartaya is also RH as is Will Smith. I know that Smith can most likely play 3B, 2B, and 1B and Ruiz could also learn 1B. Andrew Friedman likes versatility. Now, understand, that Friedman does not HAVE to trade Barnes, but in a seller’s market, he could do it. It’s not imminent… but it could happen. In the meantime, enjoy Barney. He has been awesome, and he ain’t no purple dinosaur!
I think Andrew Friedman will sign his stars… at least MOST of them. The Kike’s, CT3’s, and Barneys are role-players who will be replaceable. Zach McKinstry replaces Kike Hernandez this year. Sheldon Noisy will replace CT3 next year and Keibert Ruiz will likely replace Austin Barnes… maybe this year! You have to keep moving that needle!
The Closer
Yes, it’s early and all that and many of you were calling for Kenley Jansen to be traded or cut (or worse), but he has pitched 5 innings this Spring, with ZERO Walks, 2 Hits, 9 Strikeouts, and a 0.40 WHIP… and the Dodgers need a new closer? Corey Knebel has a 1.80 ERA and then there are Blake Treinen and Bazooka Graterol (at some point). If that fails, there is Julio Urias, David Price, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and a few others. The Dodgers have this covered! I have Zero worries about who the Closer is. Right now, it is KJ and that’s all we need to know. Wait… there’s also that Morrow guy lurking…
Gavin “Freakin'” Lux
If this is who Gavin Lux is (from what he has shown this Spring), then the Dodgers are going to have an incredible offense. If he keeps hitting (and I can’t see why he won’t) he is going to be very difficult to keep at the bottom of the lineup. With his speed and baserunning ability, he is a perfect #2 hitter behind Mookie Betts. Speed Kills! That moves Seager to #3 and the trickle-down starts. I doubt that Gavin begins the season as the #2 hitter, but if he earns that spot, look out! This 2021 Dodger Offense is once again going to be the Big Blue Wrecking Crew!
Other than a throw or two, Gavin has also shown no sign of the yips anymore. His entire demeanor is different – lighter and healthier! This was Gavin in 2020:
Dodgers East
The Bostin Red Sox, also known as “Dodgers East” are getting some very nice run from former Dodgers Alex Verdugo, Kike Hernandez, Jeter Downs and Colton Wong.
Discussion (63)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Me be there, that was truly awesome way to win the game. CK belting in the only run of the game was absolutely the most exciting and “in your face, Giants!” way to end a ballgame. Loved it, I say keep the pitchers batting, it helps to keep the pitcher a little bit honest knowing if they hit someone they have a good chance of facing the reaper in their next at bat. Intimidation is a great component of most sports.
Welcome back Belly! He’s the difference between a really good team and an all time great team!
Does anybody want to take the last spots on this roster? Santana down in flames!
I think allowing the pitcher to hit is the dumbest thing in baseball. There should’ve always been the DH. Even though Price got a hit there.
Typical extra 2%:
Beaty’s been working on his speed this spring training.
Sometimes it’s the little things.
Interesting write-up. I’m keeping Barnes. As to Ruiz, not trading him unless it’s for an excellent return. Right now, the Dodgers really don’t have any specific needs, pretty good team and a lot of depth. Maybe they need something at the trade deadline, maybe not. If the DH is added at some point that changes the equation.
So far Kenley looks incredibly good, like the old days.
Speaking of the East Dodgers, don’t forget Lebron, part owner of Boston Red Sox now.
He’s not from the Dodgers, but he’s from LA
Today is the first time we see our starting lineup together. Let the offensive behavior begin!
I have always said I am not worried one bit about the Dodgers offense. I stand by that comment. I’ve always been focused on the pitching.
I have always said that Jansen shouldn’t be the closer but he is useful. I stand by that comment. The last three years he has had an OPS around .700 against RHB, which is pretty average to me.
What’s the difference between a duck?
Oh if Lux can perform like he has been touted, this could be insane times for the Dodgers’ offense. Injuries are always a factor however so nothing is a lock. Nice to hear that Jansen has been able to hold onto his mechanics thus far. He has a tendency to have a malfunction as he tires as the season wears on. Maybe they have to use him very sparingly until September with the hope of preserving his effectiveness for the run in the playoffs.
I heard that Disneyland is set to reopen, I also read that screaming and yelling on rollercoasters will not be allowed (seriously). Does that mean that fans cannot scream, cheer, sing take me out to the ballgame, boo or much more than breath while in attendance at games? I have to admit, I just love following the logic of such rules, they all fall apart as you trudge down the road of sanity to insanity.
Welcome to the sports and entertainment business. We’d rather be entertained than educated or healed! I knew I shouldn’t have listed to my parents about prioritizing my schoolwork over basketball!
I had an interesting thought occur to me over my morning cup of coffee today.
Do most of you assume that Trevor Bauer will, barring injury, start about 30 games this year? And are you also willing to assume that he’ll average about 90 pitches per start?
If that happens, Mr. Bauer will be earning approximately $14,800 PER PITCH!!!!!!!!
If he throws fewer total pitches he’ll earn even more per pitch and next year he’ll make 20% more.
I don’t begrudge Trevor his money. He was at the right place at the right time, has a good agent and he’s certainly entitled to get whatever he can in the marketplace. I just think it’s interesting how our society values certain professions. He’s not only making more than the guy flipping burgers at McDonalds, he’s also making substantially more than the guy who led the work on the Covid vaccine, the guy in charge of the Mars probe, any brain surgeon you want to name, etc.
Supply and demand baby, supply and demand.
Two weeks until opening day
If Keibert is so exceptional, and we all know how Will Smith can handle the bat, who gets to play?
Barnes is much better game caller and handles pitchers better, is a much better framer, is better at plate blocking and is probably better at throwing runners out. From what I’ve read, Ruiz has a soft glove but there’s still room for improvement here.
Maybe Will moves to 3rd after Turner’s contract is up, but his defense and pitch framing regressed last season, and watching the WS last year the plate blocking comparison between Zuniga and Smith was pretty stark. That home run Baez gave up was bad pitch selection. Smith has some work to do to be really good behind the plate.
I don’t wanna get rid of Barnes. He’s the best catcher the Dodgers have who does the important intangible things a catcher has to do to make a team successful.
The Dodgers have Barnes under contract for 21 and 22, so they could keep him – that’s for sure, but Ruiz has that same type of bat-to-ball skills that Verdugo has. It’s rare! Do you realize that Alex Verdugo is ranked as the #4 best CF in MLB? Trout is #1, Bellinger is #2 and Springer is #3. I have always said he will win multiple batting titles… and he really isn’t a CF – he’s just playing there now.
Injuries happen. Nothing too serious, but Ruiz and Peters are well-positioned for extended opportunities this season. Between trading Barnes for nothing obviously special (like prospects) and using Ruiz in a package to land a star (as with Verdugo for Betts), I would choose the latter. Barnes can be a strong backup until Cartaya is ready.
Hard to know what the needs might be, but several players will be on the market at midseason.
In other former Dodger news, Joc is doing great.
I’ve caught parts of several Dodger games this spring. Peter’s seems to strike out whenever I watch. So I take the blame for his performance.
Trading Barnes; not this year but next off season a distinct possibility.
Peters may have struck out 12 times, but his OBP is over 400, Neuse down around .333. He also has shown more power than Neuse who has walked only twice while striking out 9 times in 21 at bats. I am not impressed. What I am impressed with is the superior defense Peters has brought, but I also concede some time in AAA and playing every day can do nothing but help him.