Only a moron would try and predict what the Opening Day roster will look like this early in the Spring. It’s way too early. There will be injuries – there always are; There will b e surprises – there always are! That is why W.A.G. Predictions are so inaccurate. In fact, you likely have to be a moron to even hazard a guess, so here goes:
Starters
- Grandal -C
- Gonzalez – 1B
- Forsythe – 2B
- Seager – SS
- Turner – 3B
- Toles – OF
- Gutierrez – OF
- Pederson – OF
- Puig – OF
- Ethier – OF
Subs
- Barnes – C
- Utley – IF
- Hernandez – IF/OF
Starting Pitchers
- Kershaw
- Hill
- Maeda
- Wood
- McCarthy
Bullpen
- Dayton
- Baez
- Fields
- Liberatore
- Romo
- Hatcher
- Jansen
Let me explain a few things: If Kazmir is healthy he is easily tradable. SVS get traded. Ryu starts on the DL. Urias is left behind and starts his season in early May. It’s a numbers game. In 2015, Kike Hernandez hit .307. Last year he hit .190. I don’t believe he is a .300 hitter, but I believe he is better than .190. Maybe there could be a reason like THIS to explain his troubles. We might soon know – his mind should be clear this Spring.
There you go – pile on dudes!
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Discussion (24)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I wouldn’t be shocked in the least to see Ryu in the pen. As a matter of fact I feel he’d be a perfect bullpen fit in my wish-build-book because inherited runners would be less threatening with the way his mind is. Don’t know if Ryu could embrace such a role but he’d shine if he’s still got it.
Mark, why not put Urias in the bullpen to limit his innings? In September you can stretch him out into a starter for the postseason.
Yeah Mark, I’m not sure about SVS either. I watched him play in Fresno last year when he was rehabbing and I really didn’t like his body language. He was barely going thru the motions. It was really disappointing to watch. Last year he just looked awful when playing with the Dodgers. Whether it is due to injury or he just isn’t vested in putting in the work I don’t know. But I’m sure the Dodger Brass are watching him. But neither am I sold on Kike either. I like the Gutierrez pick up and I like the energy Toles brings. Thompson I just haven’t see enough.
1. Hatcher has to be “lights out” this Spring. If he is not, he is gone. I believe he will step up, but if he doesn’t, I am fine with the DFA!
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2. SVS has 328 Career AB’s against LH pitching and has a .262 BA. He has been injured and disappointing the last two years, but in reality, he has had one good year and that was in 2014 when he hit .297. Here are his batting averages the other 4 years:
.167
.240
.239
.225
I don’t get all the love for SVS. A lot of people want to throw Kike out after one bad year – SVS has had 4! He can do it, but how can you count on him?
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3. FG has been up and down in his career, but in 1049 AB’s during his career he hits LH pitching to the tune of .289. Against RH pitching he averages a HR every 42 AB’s but against LH pitching he averages a HR ever 21 AB’s! SVS ‘s HR average is a little better but his BA is much lower.
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4. I like Thompson, but who is he? We have to see… He might have to play at OKC a while.
.I like the idea of a vet like Gutierrez pinch-hitting in a tight game. I also like SVS, but in reality he has had one good year out of five!
I have generally been supportive of almost all of the FA signings/re-signings because I thought that I understood the reason behind the move, and it made sense (to me). Even if the move did not turn out to be positive, the thought process was there. I was very supportive of Utley and Kazmir contracts last year, but not so much Joe Blanton. I was right on one, wrong on one, and too soon to tell on one. I am all in on the re-signing of Jansen/Turner/Hill/Utley, and the addition of Sergio Romo. But I honestly do not see the reason for Gutierrez with a healthy SVS and Thompson. I am not sure that I can be convinced that Franklin will hit lefties better than SVS or Trayce if all three are healthy and ready to play. But as I was wrong about Blanton, I hope that I am wrong about Gutierrez. I can only surmise that FAZ is not convinced that SVS or TT are fully healthy, and FG is a relatively inexpensive insurance policy. But wouldn’t he have signed a minor league deal?
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I might have liked to see O’Koyea Dickson get a shot against lefties. Overall he was .327/.398/.596/.994 in 377 PA. Against LHP .327/.432/.571/1.004 in 118 PA. With 2 outs & RISP .344/.432/.750/1.182 in 74 PA. He grounded into 6 DP all year. He did this at OKC as a 1B/corner OF. He just turned 27 so he is not a prospect, but he has earned a chance. RHB 1B/OF… I think that is what they were looking for.
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If SVS is healthy, I agree with Dodgerrick, he has to make the 25. And that does not bode well for Toles. But with a healthy Ethier, it would be better for Toles’ development to play every day at OKC, where he would probably play CF and lead off; a role they envisioned for Rico Noel in 2016.
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I agree with Dodgerrick that it is unlikely the Dodgers will trade Kaz in ST. If he is pitching well, he makes logical sense to be the #4 until Urias is inserted in the rotation, at which time he becomes the #5. He would be a great #5. If he is not pitching well, nobody is going to want him. He is with the Dodgers for better or worse, and I think the better.
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For bullpen, Jansen and Romo are the only two locks. This ST my eyes are going to be on Brandon Morrow. It is very possible that he could move into that setup role. If he stays healthy, there would be nobody better. He just has to stay healthy. FAZ cannot keep Avilan/Liberatore/and Dayton in LA. Dayton should stay, but he does have options, as does Liberatore. If there are no moves, Avilan is on the 25 and either Liberatore or Dayton goes to OKC. RHRP are Hatcher/Baez/Fields/Ravin. Hatcher will either prove he belongs or he will be DFA’d. Until proven otherwise, I am going to believe he sticks. Baez is more proven than either Fields or Ravin, so he will stay. That would leave Ravin or Fields, but both have options, and I do believe that Brandon Morrow will get that last spot. If FAZ wants 7 in the pen, my picks would be Jansen/Romo/Avilan/Dayton/Hatcher/Baez/Morrow. If they go 8, Alex Wood or Brandon McCarthy (if healthy, McCarthy) take the long man spot starter role. Ryu stays in Glendale. The OKC rotation could be Wood/Stripling/Stewart/DeJong/Oaks, with Sborz knocking on the door.
Truth – good to hear from you.
Like you I wasn’t very confident about last season, but was pleasantly surprised.
Those play off games in Washington must have been amazing, especially the game Kershaw closed out. People will remember that in decades time, and you were there!
I’m looking forward to this season more than I have for years because we really do have a great squad of players, and I believe the chemistry will be good, and Doc has a year of experience under his belt.
If we can steer clear of injuries to key players, then we must go close.
Will be good to share the ups and downs with you pal.
That bullpen scares the begeebers out of me. That’s all we have? I only “trust” Romo and Jansen. That bullpen will not bridge innings 5-7. I hope it plays out better than that. The starters are ok, if healthy, but it means quite a few decent young will be in AAA or lower. I hope the spring shakes out differently than Mark’s predicted pitching staff. If Urias lights it up, he has to start with the team. Manage the innings if necessary during the season. He still NEEDS major league experience, which he won’t get staying in Glendale.
I think that Van Slyke will be on the 25 man roster – he can play 1B and pinch hit or play an OF corner against lefties.
Toles gets optioned.
Kazmir is tradeable but won’t be traded this Spring – maybe later in the season? The opening rotation will be Kershaw, Hill, Maeda, Kazmir and either Wood or McCarthy. Whichever one isn’t in the rotation between McCarthy and Wood will go to the ‘pen.
One of Hatcher, Fields and Liberatore will find themselves off of the 25 man roster. By the way, Hatcher and Avilan are both out of options – Fields and Liberatore both have options remaining so both Hatcher and Avilan are likely to be on the opening roster and Fields and Liberatore won’t be.
That 25 is realistic. Who has options and who is not fully healthy will hurt their chances of making the 25 right out of the box in order to showcase those that would otherwise have to be cut.
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I hope SVS can make the 25 because he has shown when healthy he can pound lefties.
A couple things jump out at me.
1. No right-handed sub for Gonzalez. Maybe Utley is shuttled down, once in awhile, on 10 day DL for a right-handed hitter.
2. The roster/organization has some work to do. As an organization, we are overflowing with players. I agree with you about Kazmir, trading him and his 2018 salary solves the luxury tax problem. Relatively low cost acquisition for an innings eater.