The purpose of this blog is not to provide the latest breaking Dodger news – lots of other blogs do a great job of this. This is just a safe place to talk about it.
Here are today’s best Spring Training New Links:
TrueBlueLA.com – lots of Dodger news here.
For those who don’t like the fact that the Dodgers signed Chase Utley, there is this:
The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, on the return of Chase Utley: “Everybody talks about the intangibles, but I really mean it, regardless of how he plays, just what he does here in the clubhouse is the best I have ever been around.”
Now, what do you haters have to say?
Andy McCullough of THE LA TIMES says this about the rotation:
The first three members of the rotation are Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Kenta Maeda. The last two spots will be decided between Julio Urias, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Brock Stewart.
We will handle Urias with a little more depth in the next question, but I suspect he will start the year in extended spring training. Ryu is a health risk, and it is unclear if he’ll even be ready at the start of the spring. Wood has utility out of the bullpen. Both Stripling and Stewart have minor-league options, which means they can be stashed in the triple-A Oklahoma City rotation until needed.
Which clears the floor for Kazmir and McCarthy. Each man has hurdles to clear. Kazmir needs to show his back and neck issues from 2016 have passed. McCarthy has to prove he can still throw strikes, a skill that eluded him after he returned from Tommy John surgery in the summer. If both can accomplish their goals, they’re likely to start the year in the rotation. That keeps the team’s depth intact, avoids expending Urias’ innings early in the season and keeps options open for later in the season.
Things are getting underway today, so have at it – you have the floor… and by the way, if you have any suggestions on other links, please share them with us.
Discussion (33)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I want Wood in the rotation.
Flash: This just in. Clayton Kershaw’s fastball sat at 87 to 88 yesterday!
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That’s not gonna’ cut it.
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Send him to AAA.
If in fact our starting rotation Is CK, Hill, Maeda, Kazmir and McCarthy AND they ALL stay healthy FOR THE YEAR, I would rather see Maeda and McCarthy trade places
My reasoning is Maeda was used to pitching every 6th day in Japan or am I wrong?
I like Culberson & thought he did a good job when called upon last year.
However, I do understand that there probably will not be a space for him on the bench.
Good problems to have.
There are going to be more scouts watching the Dodgers abundance of pitchers and outfielders this spring than any other team. Someone always goes down with an injury and the Dodgers are set to handle it. Even so, they have more starters than they need. Baltimore would be a great trade partner. Honestly, I feel good about every position on the team this year (In Puig I trust!). However, to be World Champions I would fee better if they could move a healthy Kazmir or McCarthy or Wood to Baltimore for Brach or O’Day. The O’s have SP woes, Tillman won’t be ready opening day and the Dodgers have beyond excess.
I had a blood draw today for life insurance and the nurse confirmed I do in fact bleed Dodger Blue.
This depth will be needed because injuries will occur. What seems like 10 starting pitchers can go down to 4 very quickly. Consider: Kershaw’s back, Hill’s blister, Maeda’s elbow, Kazmir’s back, McCarthy’s yips, Ryu’s done, Urias and Stripling’s innings limits.
The latest on Chase Utley:
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http://www.truebluela.com/2017/2/16/14641026/chase-utley-return-intangibles-chemistry-dodgers-clubhouse
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Then there is this: “Strength coach Brandon McDaniel told me place erupted when Utley news broke around Camelback late last week.”
Forsyth hasn’t played SS in the majors since 2014. He played only a few games then. If he is the backup SS then they have a problem.
Ryu throwing his fastball 84 – 86 MPH according to team sources – he’s not ready yet. By the end of the Spring? Seems unlikely.
Freudy strikes again!
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“Friedman inherited a windfall. He got a playoff team with a new rich ownership group and ripe farm system. A smarter man would have added the missing parts – perhaps a 3rd starter better than Brett Anderson – in order to go deeper into Oct. Instead, much like Paul DePodesta before them, a lot of tinkering, convoluted, needlessly complicated trades, signings of Cubans, reliance on unimpressive and often injured pitchers (overpaid), and other factors have led the team to no more Oct ready than before. I’d add, taking the long way around the mountain, creating needless busywork to get there.”
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https://dodgertherapy.wordpress.com/
I like the possibility of Kazmir and McCarthy starting the season in the rotation. Allows them to be showcased for a trade. If the others look good and allow FAZ to trade these two, it helps the 40 man roster logjam and solves the luxury tax worries in 2018.
Mark: I have an “out of the box question” if you don’t mind.
How many ML players do NOT have an agent handling their affairs? Any?