Over the last few years, we Dodger fans have become accustomed to botched relief in post season appearances. Which is why I have included one of my favorite images of reliever Steve Howe and catcher Steve Yeager following the final out of the 1981 WS. I have been fascinated with relievers since my first Dodger hero, Larry Sherry. From Clem Labine, Ron Perranoski, Phil Regan, and Bob Miller to Eric Gagne and Kenley Jansen and the multitude of solid relievers in between.
Over the years, reliance upon a bullpen rather than just a closer have enhanced. How long have the Dodgers been looking for that bridge to Jansen? Without Morrow, that leaves Pedro Baez and Josh Fields as the two remaining RHRP under Dodger control. Neither pitcher has shown an ability to be that bridge. Stripling and Stewart can move to the pen permanently, but both are more likely to be used as long relievers and both are also potential trade consideration as back end starters for another team. Wilmer Font (if not DFA’d) and Fabio Castillo (if retained) could be replacements, but would anyone feel comfortable with either pitcher over Morrow? How about Yimi Garcia? Josh Ravin? I have been an advocate of Wilmer Font, even though his inaugural Dodger outings were less than inspiring, but not more than Brandon Morrow.
It is unlikely that the Dodgers will re-sign Tony Watson, leaving Tony Cingrani as the lone LHRP from the playoff roster. It is hard to know what role Cingrani will play next year, but thus far as a Dodger he has been most effective as a loogy. Grant Dayton and Adam Liberatore will be returning from the DL and join Luis Avilan as LHRP possibilities. Edward Paredes will also be in the mix. Does anybody feel comfortable with any of these as the bridge?
Waiting for their shot are RHRP Yaisel Sierra, Jordan Jankowski, Joe Broussard, and Madison Younginer, and LHRP Luis Ysla. Sure one of these can become the 2018 version of Morrow, but not likely. For a team that is built to rely on the reliever because there is only one SP who is considered a sure bet for a 175+ IP pitcher, they are counting on a lot of question marks in the pen being answered.
Kenta Maeda was highly successful in the pen during the playoffs, but with his contract being heavily incentivized by the number of starts and innings pitched, it is doubtful that he will moved to the pen during the regular season. I think it is more likely that Maeda is traded before he is placed full time in the bullpen.
Friedman and Zaidi have shown reluctance to spend much on relievers, instead preferring to go with unproven pitchers. Many have worked, and others have not. Without Morrow, who becomes the bridge? Baez (again)?, Stewart ?, Font ?, Dayton ?, Liberatore ?, Sierra?. It is hard to argue with the success the bullpen has had under FAZ, especially before the playoffs. Or do the Dodgers continue to look for SP that can lengthen their start putting less stress on the bullpen during the season? We already know that their is an unwillingness to increase the number of pitches for Hill, Wood, Maeda, and Ryu, and it will be even less with Walker Buehler. Multiple relief pitchers are less important to a team like the Nationals who had 4 pitchers with more IP than any Dodger in 2017…Gio Gonzalez (201), Max Scherzer (200.2), Tanner Roark (181.1), and Stephen Strasburg (175.1). CK led LAD with 175.0 IP. CK was the only Dodger pitcher that accumulated enough IP to qualify for the ERA title. How would the Nats chances look with the addition of Brandon Morrow combined with Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson all in high leverage relief roles? The Nats are in a win now mode for 2018. How about the Dodgers?
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE
In the Arizona Fall Classic Saturday evening, the Dodgers had two players participate, Yusniel Diaz and Matt Beaty. Diaz went 1-3 with an RBI, while Beaty went 0-1 with a walk and a strikeout. Padres SS prospect Luis Urias had a HR in the game.
Overall in the Arizona Fall League:
Will Smith – .378/.431/.58/1.009; 4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, and 11 RBI
Yusniel Diaz – .273/.353/.364/.717;1 double, 1 HR, 7 RBI
DJ Peters – .185/.267/.407/.674;1 double, 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Matt Beaty – .191/.224/.383/.607; 3 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Michael Boyle – 2-0, 7 Games, 9.1 IP, 4 Hits, 1 BB, 8 K, .96 ERA – Nothing across after 1st game.
Andrew Sopko – 1-1, 14.1 IP, 4 BB, 7K, 2.51 ERA
Shea Spitzbarth – 7.0 IP, 2BB, 11 K, 7.71 ERA
Isaac Anderson – 8.0 IP, 3 BB, 8K, 3.38 ERA
Discussion (43)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Don’t forget Kyle Farmer as a backup to someone next year. The suits are obviously high on him. Plus he can play3b and was a major college shortstop. I saw him with RC and he was the best hitter on the team which included Bellinger.
SAD NEWS – Roy (Doc) Halladay died today in a plane crash
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https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/07/roy-halladay-plane-crash/841101001/
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I had the extreme pleasure of meeting him in 2005. He was a genuine person, who enjoyed life. He also treated my son very well the short time he was with the ML team. This one hits hard, he will be missed.
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RIP Doc Halladay.
Regarding Stanton, I guess what I don’t understand is if the team is going to commit to $295m & 10 years, why not wait for Harper/Machado next year.
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That way you:
– don’t also give up players
– have a chance to get under the repeater tax
– not go through the loooing glass with equity/pseudo equity
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Other Notes:
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Keep an eye on Christian Santana, a 3B prospect. Below is a link to his old swing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKe4Gt1QGRE
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The team has smoothed out the swing and his “hit tool” is much improved.
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Friedman spoke today:
– he expects Rick Honeycutt and rest of coaching staff to return.
– he’s hopeful Corey Seager’s elbow will heal without surgery.
– he expects Adrian Gonzalez to be healthy and in Spring Training in 2018.
– he expects Yimi Garcia (Tommy John surgery) to be in the bullpen mix in 2018.
– Kenta Maeda is viewed primarily as a starting pitcher.
– he expects Dave Roberts to manage for a long time, but would not discuss if a contract extension is being considered.
– he left open the possibility of bringing back free agent Yu Darvish.
– Shohei Otani is “a situation we are monitoring closely,” but “premature to talk about right now” because posting system in flux. ALSO: if the Dodgers were to sign a player talented enough to both pitch & hit, he’d look forward to the challenge of making it work
– he said it is too early to say what aspects of his roster need offseason improvement.
– “I hope we have that headache.” — Friedman on having too many starting pitchers in Spring Training.
– he expects Toles to be ready for Opening Day
End of season press conference at DS with Faz at 11:00 AM PST. Probably hear an update on coaching staff, some front office changes, perhaps an update on Honeycutt and any off season surgeries that are scheduled. Conference will be live on Sportsnet LA for those who have the pleasure of having such service.
Some talk about the Dodgers trading Grandal this off-season and whether that would be a good move or not. I would make the trade now and receive some value in return, as opposed to losing him in FA after next season for almost nothing, especially if Barnes becomes the everyday catcher and Grandal becomes a 7 million dollar backup.
I cannot see anything definitive on what year a buyout counts against a teams payroll, but Andre Ethier’s contract for 2018 would have been guaranteed with 550 plate appearances in 2017 or 1,100 PAs in 2017-18 and he would have been paid $17.5 million for 2018… or the Dodgers could have decided to pick up the option and the $17.5 million would have counted in 2018. If the salary counts for 2018, why would the buyout not count for 2018? That seems illogical to me.
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Of course, not everything is logical, but Cots Contracts has the option in 2018.
I read that the Dodgers out-righted to OKC Dickson which I expected. I believe that puts them at 41 which means one more has to go.
Suspicions proven correct, Dodgers pick up Forsythe’s option.
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Great line from Eric Stephen @TrueBlueLA (one of my favorites) in response to who are the untouchables for a Stanton trade:
“His contract”
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Hee hee.
LA TIMES LETTERS:
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I keep thinking about five things: Jansen’s blown save in Game 2;. Kersh’s failure in Game 5; getting Darvished twice; Turner batting around .130; and Bellinger striking out 29 times.
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Congratulations to the Houston Astros and especially to the true co-MVPs for winning the World Series: Yu Darvish and Dave Roberts.
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If Darvish fails the Dodgers once, shame on Yu. If Darvish fails the Dodgers twice, shame on Dave Roberts.
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Darvish Nightmare Scenario Part 2:
He signs with the Cubs and shuts down the Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2018 NL Championship Series.
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The Astros lost 100 or more games in a season three times in the last 10 years. The organization respects its fans so little that it forced them to watch awful baseball for the better part of a decade while it built a winning team through high draft picks obtained essentially by losing on purpose.
The last time the Dodgers lost 100 or more games in a season? 1908. Thank you to the Dodgers organization for putting a competitive team on the field every year through smart drafting and visionary trades and free agent signings. We never have to stomach bad baseball and the World Series championship is going to be so much sweeter when it happens.
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Cody Bellinger is surely hurting. But he should be reminded of Gil Hodges, the Dodgers’ greatest first baseman, who in 1952 went 0 for 21 in the World Series against the Yankees. One series does not define a ballplayer.
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For those who are already beating up on Dave Roberts: The team won 104 regular-season games, and got into the World Series. Put on your thinking caps and recall which Dodger team and what manager did better in the last 29 years. I suppose it’s hard for those befogged by the endless local media hype to discern, but Houston is a very good team, one that broke out of the gate faster than any other in the major leagues, and effectively won their division by July. The Astros had a great season, and the Dodgers a very good one.
Thank you, Mister Roberts, and my gratitude to your squad for a most entertaining run!
For some reason my long comment got lost some place in cyberspace! I come to this site, some days multiple times to keep abreast of the Dodgers. I sometimes find myself double-minded as I ponder the excellent posts from various contributors. On many issues there is not just one right answer! On a side note, can anyone tell me a good source for getting good information on the Winter Leagues?
Dodgers exercise option on Forsythe.
MJ,
With respect to Morrow. A lot of pitchers have had injuries through their career. Andrew Miller was a mess before he concentrated on relief. Morrow is following a similar path as Miller. His injuries were primarily present when he was a starter. He has been healthy the last 1 1/2 years exclusively used as a reliever. Morrow just got through pitching in all 7 WS games, and he was still hitting 100 on Game 7. I cannot predict that he will not get injured again, but there is risk in every contract. From the 2017 season I saw, Morrow looks good for at least 3 years. I would have no problem offering him 3 years. The real problem is does he want to be a setup or closer.
AC
I like Morrow a lot, but how long can we sign him, because he has had injury issues, throughout his career?
Also why didn’t Will Smith play in this game Saturday, his numbers really stand out, from the other players you listed?