Yes, I have crappy Photoshop skills, but I spent all of 45 seconds doing it.
OK, this was not my idea. The Truth Hurts put me up to it!
Actually, this may be the second coming because some had Chris Taylor dead and buried a few weeks ago when his batting average dropped to .279. So, again some had him regressing to the mean (whatever the mean is), but he would have nothing to do with it. Last night he hit his 13th HR and drove in his 5oth and 51st RBI’s. On the year,he is hitting.313 with a .379 OB%. .534 Slugging % and .913 OPS.
In case you hadn’t noticed, he is also becoming a very good outfielder. He routinely turns doubles into singles and has a very good arm. If it were up to me, he would be the Dodgers starting CF next year. He can play the position as good as Joc… maybe better by then. I am tired of waiting on Joc – he is what he is and I don’t see that changing. Maybe a change of scenery over the Winter will benefit him, but on my team, Chris Taylor is the CF. Puig, Toles, Verdugo, Ramos and Rios would be candidates for my outfield. Of course, I will need to see Rios in LF but Ramos can play it too. Ramos can play RF as well… and has played CF, but he’s doesn’t have the speed for that.
Henry Ramos is a name to remember Dodger Fans. He is 25 years old, 6′ 2″ 220 pounds and a switch-hitter. Henry was signed by Boston in 2010 after being drafted in the 5th round. After the 2014 season, he was rated Boston’s #29 Prospect, but he stalled out. When drafted, Baseball America had this to say about him:
The best power in Puerto Rico belongs to switch-hitting outfielder Ramos, who stands 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds with a strong, athletic frame. He is relatively new to baseball, spending most of his youth as a soccer player, and his power shows up more during batting practice than in games. When he connects the ball jumps off his bat and goes a long way. Ramos is a below-average runner but is athletic enough and has the arm strength to play right field. He has good makeup and just needs to play every day in order to turn his tools into performance.
In 2014, BA wrote this about him:
A tremendous athlete who had limited playing experience as an amateur, Ramos seemed as if he might be in the midst of a career breakthrough at Double-A Portland in 2014. The switch-hitter was one of the team’s top performers through 48 games before fouling a ball off the side of his left knee, creating a stress fracture on the opposite side of the knee that ended his season. Ramos returned to the field by the end of instructional league and appeared to be unhindered as a runner. His plus range, plus arm and average speed in right field suggest a player who could fill an extra outfielder role in the big leagues. Ramos has shown improved pitch recognition as he’s moved up the ladder, and he has the strength to drive the ball out of the park. “If he hits at all,” said one National League evaluator, “he’s a starter.”
After 6 years in Boston’s system, he elected minor league free agency last winter and the Dodgers signed him with a Spring Training invite. He had some injuries that slowed him down, but since he was activated he has torn the cover off the ball. This year, in 97 combined at bats between Tulsa and OKC, he is hitting .423 with a .468 OB% and 1.138 OPS. He has 6 HR, 18 RBI and has taken 10 walks. He is very Chris Taylor-esque!
Now, I realize this is a small sampling, but if you watch him, you can see he has a good idea of what he is doing at the plate – he swings with confidence, much like Chris Taylor and his made-over swing. He can also bunt:
He can also play a little defense:
Of course he hits home runs too:
Here’s his AAA debut:
If FAZ keeps finding these guys, they won’t have to sign the Harpers, Machados or Arenados of the world.
Henry Ramos – that name just sounds like a ballplayer!
Discussion (74)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Great debut for Yu… A new team, a new challenge. Sometimes all a guy needs…
You can guarantee the Met hitters get on their IPADs and send the word out to their buddies… A game of adjustments..
Good game called by YG.
This team grinds it out every night. Look at all the good at bats. Many times the batter would be 0-2. Then it would be 3-2. They had DeGrom out in 5 innings. Joc needs to pick it up one notch.
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Maeda and Ryu had good outings last time. Those SP are going to feed off each other.
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At the beginning of the year I predicted they would win 92 games. That is going to be a little low.
Went to bed at 04.30 MJ.
Feel terrible as I sit on the plane waiting to head home, but it was worth it.
What a debut!
What an assortment of pitches!
Even through a Guinness induced haze he looked sensational.
Let’s hope Kershaw comes back strong.
What wouldn’t the Starting Rotation in the playoffs?
Kershaw & Darvish but then is it Wood or Hill third?
Still nice decisions to have.
Roger – couldn’t agree more.
Other than a shaky 1st he was great.
Our lineup is so deep.
Dang, Yu Darvish, don’t even know where to start. Months ago, when we were all giving our preseason predictions, I threw out that we would get Darvish at the trade deadline. Believe me, I ain’t that smart, that was just wishful thinking back then. Just watching him tonight, did you guys get the feeling that this guy has an aura of just being a flat out imposing bad ass. I love Kersh, always will, but Darvish just seems like the ultimate Doc Holiday to Wyatt Earp. Man, what a steal for FAZ! This guy is the black hatted physical kind of enforcer starter that just feels so right for this team right now. WOW, Just, WOW. Can it get any better? (what a minute, Walker Bueller is coming up in about a month)
Went really smyuooth.
WHAT A YU DEBUT!
Darvish looks very good in Dodger blue.
Nice way to finish it off Joc!
I decided to listen to the Mets broadcast feed for the game in the first inning. It’s interesting to hear their perspective. Ron Darling knows the game pretty well, but he’s not that familiar with the Dodger lineup and some of their players. A lot of their opinions are based on the batting average.
– They are trying to figure out where CT3 came from. He literally came out of nowhere and they are really impressed/jealous that the Dodgers found a pretty lead off hitter without paying hardly anything to the Mariners.
– They are still bitter they let JT get away. Always referring to him as “the former Met” who leads the league in batting average
– They are duly impressed with the first 4 hitters in our lineup, but feel the bottom half is vulnerable. That was before Puig and Utley went yard. I don’t think the rest of the league is picking up on the gradual transformation in Yasiel Puig this season.
– Speaking of Utley, they should keep booing him. He focuses even more.
– Darling felt that DeGromm had really good stuff to start the game. His slider was sharp and he had good life to his fastball. However, CT3’s great AB to start the game was “disconcerting” to DeGromm. So much so, Darling thought he was unable to take advantage of his good stuff tonight. That’s the value of a great leadoff hitter.
What I was thinking after Chase hit that ball out, what a mistake Mattingly made, by not playing Chase, against the Mets in the post season.
I remember Mark insisting that Mattingly had to play Chase in that series, but Mattingly didn’t have the cojones to do it.
I am so glad he is gone!
Yu got any questions why they made the trade?
I heard on MLB Radio that Jake Lamb has a .140 BA against LH pitchers.
I would assume that would be Greinke vs Freeland. And as you pointed out the DBacks can follow with Ray and Godley and then Corbin. The Rockies will have in some order Gray, Senzatela, and Hoffman. Let’s hope Blackmon, LeMahieu, Arenado, and Reynolds tee off on Zach.
Whirling Darvish did well to get out of that.
Best Beatles tribute band: The Fab Four. Seen them 4 times. Check them out on You Tube. Have been on PBS. Great show. I keep thinking how shitty this season will be if after all the smiles, the team lays an egg in the playoffs. Kershaw v Scherzer? Vs Grienke? It may depend on the #’s 3 and 4. Hill might be the most important piece of the playoffs. And the bullpen.
The Dodgers keep adding the 40th man. They claimed Dylan Floro off waivers from the Cubs and moved Guitierrez to the 60-day DL.
The guy who broke the JT and Kenley signings on Twitter last winter tweeted that the Dodgers are looking at guys like Ben Revere and EY jr as roster additions so they can have a guy to steal a base when needed in the post-season.
Day 3 of the Galway Racing Festival @ I’ve had about 10 pints of Guinness but one things for sure – I’m watching Yu’s debut at quarter past midnight,
Truth – put me down for a shirt please.
Absolutely beautiful representation Mark, lol. How can everyone not love this guy? I had never heard of this man before the season started, unbelievable his story.
I agree about Joc, he is the weak link in this order, that swing just gets uglier by the minute and he can’t keep his hat on in the outfield either. I have never had as much hope in him as some, some of the most frustrating at bat’s I can remember for years. Nice kid, just wish we could upgrade a position by getting rid of his, like Mark said move (T) to CF go from there.
MJ
I knew you were not criticizing me. I was concerned for Taylor After last night, I think Taylor is just fine.
I do agree with you about Joc. I just think we can do better. I have never liked Joc because he just does not adjust. You can see Puig trying to adjust and do what the coaches are asking him to do. I find it hard to believe the coaches are not trying to help Joc. I can see Taylor going to second next year. He was a very good defensive SS at Seattle. Bring up Verdugo and Ramos. Besides Ramos is a switch hitter. Let’s see what they can do. If Ramos turns out to be pretty good, that will be three FAZ pulled off the junk pile. The three are Taylor, Toles and Ramos.
I watch every Dodger game. The other team I watch is Seattle when I can. When Tayor played for Seattle, he played SS. He was a singles hitter and low batting average. I did not think much of the trade at all. Something happened over the winter. This Spring he looked really good. I could not believe what I was seeing. I kept saying to myself when is he going to revert back to the player I saw in Seattle. I still think he may be a 270-290 hitter, but I will have take it. I hope he hits 300 all year. I love the fact that he made himself into a major league player. I thought he looked tired to me. Three hits and a HR. I will just shut up and enjoy.
Now that the facility to edit is gone, I am going to have to be more careful in editing BEFORE I post.
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I take it that means he gets a great jump and run a great route to have plus range with average speed.
MINOR LEAGUE REPORT:
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OKC lost 4-0 to Las Vegas 51’s (Mets) – The offense was comprised of seven singles. Yaisel Sierra had a decent outing going 3.0 innings allowing 1 run (HR) on 2 hits, with 0 walks and 4 strikeouts. 32 year old knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa gets his OKC Dodgers debut tonight. After being released by the Rangers, Gamboa was signed by the Dodgers and was assigned to Tulsa. He has pitched okay, but nothing very special. He first starting pitching a knuckleball in 2013 after being tutored by Phil Niekro. He is not the next Charlie Hough. However, since he went to UC Davis, I pull for him.
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Tulsa 8-3 win against Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) – Errol Robinson went 3-5 with a triple. Matt Beaty had yet another multi-hit game going 3-5. Johan Mieses (11) and Jacob Scavuzzo (15) each hit homeruns. Luis Ysla made his Dodger debut going 2.0 innings, allowing 0 runs on 1 hit, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout.
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RC lost 5-2 to Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) – Zach Reks had back to back 3 hit games going 3-4 with a walk. DJ Peters had 2 hits for the Quakes. No standout pitching.
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Ogden 4-3 win over Billings Mustangs (Reds) – That is the highlight.
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AZL Dodgers 5-3 win over the AZL Royals – Marcus Chiu had 2 hits (including his 2nd HR). Marshall Kasowski (2017 13th round) pitched in his 5th game and still has not been scored on. He has pitched 5.1 innings allowing 1 hit and 3 walks with 9 strikeouts. Riley Ottesen (2017 5th round) pitched in his 7th game (2.0 IP). After a shaky first two games, he has gone 10.0 IP in his last 5 games. He has allowed 1 run on 6 hits, 1 walk and 10 strikeouts.
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Great Lakes Loons – Now the best game of the night/week/month…. – Great Lakes beat the Dayton Dragons (Reds) 16-5 – This game has so many story lines. Cody Thomas and Carlos Rincon hit back to back HR’s twice in the 1st inning. Cody Thomas hit his third later in the game, and now both Thomas and Rincon have 18 HRs on the year (tied for 3rd in League). Jared Walker also added 2 HRs (including another in the 1st inning).
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Anthony DeSclafani started on a rehab assignment and promptly went .1 IP, allowing 8 runs before leaving with forearm tightness. DeSclafani has been on the DL for the year with a sprained UCL. With last night’s setback, who knows when he will be back?
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Then there was Jordan Sheffield. Jordan went a very strong 7.1 innings and then hit a wall. In 7.1 innings before he hit the wall, he allowed 0 runs on 1 hit, 0 walks, and 10 strikeouts. After starting the 8th with his 10th K, he then allowed 3 singles, a double, and a walk before being replaced. His final numbers did not look pretty, 7.1 innings, 5 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts. But before he ran out of gas in the 8th, this was his best professional game.
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Besides the 7 HRs, there were 3 hits from Gavin Lux (including 2 doubles), and 2 hits from Moises Perez. Maybe something has finally clicked for Gavin. In his last 10 games, Lux is 14-39, with2 doubles, 3 HRs, 7 RBIs, 5 walks, 1 HBP. Over those 10 games, he is batting .359/.444/.641/1.085. Let’s hope he continues to finish strong for the Loons and can feel positive going into 2018.
I agree that Peterson would be better off on another team. I don’t know the guy at all so my comments don’t hold much watter, but he just doesn’t seem to be fast mentally nor a mature as most of the other players.
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I also agree that Thompson doesn’t seem to be a major league hitter. He is a great athlete and he may improve his hitting, but right now it looks like he may be gone soon.
“I do not see Thompson in the Dodgers organization next spring”.
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See, that just proves FAZ doesn’t know what they are doing. Thompson, Montas, Latos, Peraza, Olivera, Schebler – these guys are morons!
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What? Best record in baseball? Most depth in baseball?
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…. never mind!
I watch the Dodger minor league teams very closely, but I also watch the Red Sox and Phillies farm teams as well. I have been following Henry Ramos since 2014 when he first appeared at Portland (AA). He did not do anything special, but he did everything fairly well. I think because he was relatively new to baseball is what first drew my attention to him. When the Dodgers signed him last winter I thought, great now I can really follow him. He is 25…younger than Trayce Thompson. I watched his first game at AAA, and he did not disappoint. I did not get to see his game last night as I was watching a Beatles tribute band, and they were awful. So far Rain is the only Beatles tribute band worth seeing (IMO).
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Henry should certainly get a good look next Spring for a #4 or #5 OF spot. I do not see Thompson in the Dodgers organization next spring.
I remember seeing Henry Ramos in Spring Training. It was only a couple of at bats, but he left a good impression. I never kept up with him when he went to Tulsa and OKC so I appreciate the update. Sounds like he offers additional outfield talent. Oh Henry!
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I agree with you that Joc is at risk of losing his starting CF position. Unlike you, Mark, I think he will eventually overcome some of his bad habits at the plate – it will take some time though. If CT3 can show good routes in CF, he could push out Joc. An outfield of Toles/Ramos/Verdugo in LF, CT3 in CF, and Puig in RF – I could see it. It would be interesting to see what kind of offensive production as well as defensive runs saved that outfield could deliver in 2018.