Carlos Frias competed his butt off for five innings.
Then the sixth inning came, and with zero runs from his offense for support, he finally ran out of wiggle room.
The Rangers put up four runs on three hits and a couple of walks, and with the Dodgers' offense doing a big pile of nothing, there was no drama in dropping one in Texas 4-1.
I can't blame Frias too much, other than the two straight walks to open the sixth were obviously a killer. At that point, he had made all the big pitches when he needed to, working around a few hits here and there. Then the walks came, and the floodgates opened.
But that's beside the point. The biggest culprit in this loss was once again the maddeningly inconsistent offense. Actually, they have been pretty consistent the last couple of weeks - they can't score any damn runs.
Any threat the Dodgers put together was met by a giant thud. Here's some of the "high"lights:
* Justin Turner doubled with one out in the second. He was stranded at third after two groundouts.
* Jimmy Rollins singled (yes, really) to open the third. He was gunned out stealing as Alberto Callaspo struck out.
* Turner singled to start the fifth, but was erased on Andre Ethier's double play ball.
* Callaspo and Joc Pederson walked to open the sixth inning of a scoreless game. Yasiel Puig flew out, and Adrian Gonzalez grounded into the dreaded DP.
* Howie Kendrick hit an infield single to start the seventh, but another Ethier DP ended that threat.
* Yasmani Grandal hit a solo homer to begin the eighth, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Callaspo walked and Pederson singled with one out, but Puig and A-Gon did nothing with it.
* Kendrick singled leading off the ninth, but again, nothing happened.
In case you're scoring at home, the Dodgers started six of the nine innings with a runner on, including Grandal's homer. Take away that homer, and they did a whole lot of nothing with those runners. They were 0-for-7 with RISP, and left six men on.
That's the most frustrating thing about this game - they had practically their A lineup in, and they couldn't do squat. Andrew Friedman made such a big deal before the season about having a deeper lineup. Well, that "deeper" lineup didn't bring it at all.
Here's one solution for Don Mattingly: PLAY ALEX GUERRERO!!! I can understand wanting to get A-Gon some rest by putting him at DH. And I know Donnie likes Callaspo for defense at third. And I know Donnie likes Guerrero pinch-hitting.
But come on now, the guy needs to play! Especially after the Dodgers once again laid an egg on offense, you can't ignore a guy who has 10 homers and 28 RBIs in about half the at-bats as some of the regulars. There's no excuse not to play him now. This team needs a spark, and if one of your sparks never gets off the bench, that's just ridiculous.
We'll see what lineup Donnie runs out there tonight, but if Guerrero isn't a part of it, then I'm about to go over to the "Fire Mattingly" side of things.
Showing posts with label Guerrero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guerrero. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Uribe's time in Dodger blue is done
It was official, and then it wasn't. And now it looks to "officially" be official. Got that?
Juan Uribe sure does, and after a day of going back and forth, the trade that sends Alberto Callaspo and others to the Dodgers for Uribe is done. Apparently Callaspo had a change of heart about playing for the first place Dodgers. Or maybe he was told he would be DFA'd if he didn't accept the trade anyway. Who knows.
What we do know is that after a day of going back and forth with the Braves, the two-time champion Uribe is going across the coast to Atlanta. Actually, he's going across the field to the visiting clubhouse, as the Braves are still in LA. Go figure.
Before looking back at what Uribe brought to the Dodgers, it's important to note why exactly this deal was executed, especially after all of the praise of Uribe being such a great "clubhouse guy" on a team that was dysfunctional in the past. It's true - he is very well-liked, and I'm sure was invaluable in helping Yasiel Puig get adjusted to the Majors.
But, this year has brought a whole lot of change to the Dodgers, and keeping an older, declining guy in the fold over younger, better options just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Justin Turner can play many positions and hit well, and Alex Guerrero has already brought enough power to warrant more playing time.
So Uribe is the odd man out.
In reflecting back on Uribe's tenure with the Dodgers, let's remember that he was a Gold Glove finalist at third base the last two seasons. I thought he got robbed in not winning one of them, but it is what it is. Even when the hitting wasn't there, he really could flash some serious leather at a very hard position. His Defensive WAR the last two seasons are 1.8 and 2.0, respectively.
That's the good side, but the not-so-good-side has been his inconsistency in both staying on the field and at the plate. He's battled leg injuries the last couple of years, limiting him to 103 games last season. For a guy who's 36 and in his 15th season, that's some understandable wear and tear.
When Uribe was first signed before the 2011 season, he was coming off a World Series championship with the Giants. Ned Colletti, formally of the Giants' front office, liked his championship experience (he won another one with the White Sox in 2005), and wanted his leadership to rub off on the Dodgers.
Well, things didn't quite work out initially to say the least. His 2011 and 2012 campaigns featured some of the worst baseball any "big" free agent signing has ever played. He hit .204 with four homers and 28 RBIs in 77 games in '11, and followed that up with a .191/2/17 line in 66 games. To sum it all up, he was really, REALLY pathetic.
Somehow, some way he was able to survive being cut, and wouldn't you know it, in 2013 he actually looked like a real player again, going .278/12/50 in 132 games. Not huge, overpowering numbers, but much-improved and complimented his slick play at third very well.
Last year was when injuries limited him to 103 games, though he was effective at the plate by going .311/9/54 in 103 games. And he again failed to win a Gold Glove, even if he deserved to win.
The offseason signing of Hector Olivera to a six-year, $62.5 million contract (which only recently became official) along with the emergence of Guerrero had only further clouded Uribe's future in LA. Now, he's an ex-Dodger after 4+ years of service.
It was an interesting ride for Uribe, at times bumpy, and at times smooth. He was described as being very emotional about the trade, which one can only imagine what that must feel like. His teammates will definitely miss him, no doubt. The fans have grown to appreciate his hard work, too.
But in the end, the Dodgers made the correct call in freeing up some of the logjam (think Matt Kemp's trade helping the outfield), and will give more swings to Guerrero and soon Olivera.
Juan Uribe sure does, and after a day of going back and forth, the trade that sends Alberto Callaspo and others to the Dodgers for Uribe is done. Apparently Callaspo had a change of heart about playing for the first place Dodgers. Or maybe he was told he would be DFA'd if he didn't accept the trade anyway. Who knows.
What we do know is that after a day of going back and forth with the Braves, the two-time champion Uribe is going across the coast to Atlanta. Actually, he's going across the field to the visiting clubhouse, as the Braves are still in LA. Go figure.
Before looking back at what Uribe brought to the Dodgers, it's important to note why exactly this deal was executed, especially after all of the praise of Uribe being such a great "clubhouse guy" on a team that was dysfunctional in the past. It's true - he is very well-liked, and I'm sure was invaluable in helping Yasiel Puig get adjusted to the Majors.
But, this year has brought a whole lot of change to the Dodgers, and keeping an older, declining guy in the fold over younger, better options just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Justin Turner can play many positions and hit well, and Alex Guerrero has already brought enough power to warrant more playing time.
So Uribe is the odd man out.
In reflecting back on Uribe's tenure with the Dodgers, let's remember that he was a Gold Glove finalist at third base the last two seasons. I thought he got robbed in not winning one of them, but it is what it is. Even when the hitting wasn't there, he really could flash some serious leather at a very hard position. His Defensive WAR the last two seasons are 1.8 and 2.0, respectively.
That's the good side, but the not-so-good-side has been his inconsistency in both staying on the field and at the plate. He's battled leg injuries the last couple of years, limiting him to 103 games last season. For a guy who's 36 and in his 15th season, that's some understandable wear and tear.
When Uribe was first signed before the 2011 season, he was coming off a World Series championship with the Giants. Ned Colletti, formally of the Giants' front office, liked his championship experience (he won another one with the White Sox in 2005), and wanted his leadership to rub off on the Dodgers.
Well, things didn't quite work out initially to say the least. His 2011 and 2012 campaigns featured some of the worst baseball any "big" free agent signing has ever played. He hit .204 with four homers and 28 RBIs in 77 games in '11, and followed that up with a .191/2/17 line in 66 games. To sum it all up, he was really, REALLY pathetic.
Somehow, some way he was able to survive being cut, and wouldn't you know it, in 2013 he actually looked like a real player again, going .278/12/50 in 132 games. Not huge, overpowering numbers, but much-improved and complimented his slick play at third very well.
Last year was when injuries limited him to 103 games, though he was effective at the plate by going .311/9/54 in 103 games. And he again failed to win a Gold Glove, even if he deserved to win.
The offseason signing of Hector Olivera to a six-year, $62.5 million contract (which only recently became official) along with the emergence of Guerrero had only further clouded Uribe's future in LA. Now, he's an ex-Dodger after 4+ years of service.
It was an interesting ride for Uribe, at times bumpy, and at times smooth. He was described as being very emotional about the trade, which one can only imagine what that must feel like. His teammates will definitely miss him, no doubt. The fans have grown to appreciate his hard work, too.
But in the end, the Dodgers made the correct call in freeing up some of the logjam (think Matt Kemp's trade helping the outfield), and will give more swings to Guerrero and soon Olivera.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
If I'm Carl Crawford, I'm very nervous right now
Carl Crawford hasn't played in a game since an April 27th victory over the Giants. In that game, he tripled, then had to leave after the third with a sore right side. That turned out to be a torn oblique, and other than placing him on the 15-day DL, not much has been said about him since.
With the way Scott Van Slyke, Andre Ethier, and Alex Guerrero have performed in his absence, I'm not sure we'll see much of Crawford from here on out.
So, like the title says, if I'm Crawford, I'm very nervous that this is the injury that KO's me from the lineup completely.
At this point, there's really no reason at all to rush Crawford back, or even to make it seem like he's needed at all. That's how well those other three players have performed. Add in the impending return of Yasiel Puig to play right field, and that makes Crawford needed even less.
Van Slyke got the start in left on Monday night, and it's a good thing he did. After Yimi Garcia blew the save in the top of the ninth, Van Slyke launched a walk-off, three-run homer to dead center to defeat the Marlins 5-3. He's played in 20 games, and is hitting .340 with five doubles, two homers, and 12 RBIs. He's strong as a freakin' ox, and his bat brings instant impact.
Guerrero started off the season red hot in any role, cooled off a bit in May, but is still hitting .326 with three doubles, six homers, and 14 RBIs in 21 games. Simply put, Don Mattingly was forced into giving him more time because of his bat.
Ethier has gotten the most playing time of anyone at 28 games, and he's responded very well. Last year was practically a giant waste for him, but so far, he's hitting .286 with three doubles, two triples, four homers, and 10 RBIs. He can put his glove on and play any of the three outfield positions, so he's invaluable in that aspect. It's great to see him contributing again and looking like he's healthy.
You know Joc Pederson and Puig are locked into their positions, and rightfully so. They can do it big on both sides of the field, and considering all of the pitching injuries the Dodgers have suffered, they need to play the best defense they can night in and night out. Barring huge slumps, those two will be etched in stone in the daily lineup card.
That leaves three other guys Donny will mix and match with for left field. Ethier has a documented history of poor results against left-handed pitchers, so he'll be looked at against righties only. Van Slyke and Guerrero can get looks when lefties are on the mound for the most part. However, I would hope Donny would play the hot hand no matter who's on the mound.
And that leaves Crawford on the outside looking in. At this point, he just needs to get his legs fully healthy, then contribute as a pinch-runner in late innings. That's not to say he'll never see left field again, but it's hard to imagine him getting much time there. The other guys have leapfrogged him.
Who knows what the future will hold, but considering how well Van Slyke, Guerrero, and Ethier have played, I doubt it will include Crawford regaining his starting role in left.
With the way Scott Van Slyke, Andre Ethier, and Alex Guerrero have performed in his absence, I'm not sure we'll see much of Crawford from here on out.
So, like the title says, if I'm Crawford, I'm very nervous that this is the injury that KO's me from the lineup completely.
At this point, there's really no reason at all to rush Crawford back, or even to make it seem like he's needed at all. That's how well those other three players have performed. Add in the impending return of Yasiel Puig to play right field, and that makes Crawford needed even less.
Van Slyke got the start in left on Monday night, and it's a good thing he did. After Yimi Garcia blew the save in the top of the ninth, Van Slyke launched a walk-off, three-run homer to dead center to defeat the Marlins 5-3. He's played in 20 games, and is hitting .340 with five doubles, two homers, and 12 RBIs. He's strong as a freakin' ox, and his bat brings instant impact.
Guerrero started off the season red hot in any role, cooled off a bit in May, but is still hitting .326 with three doubles, six homers, and 14 RBIs in 21 games. Simply put, Don Mattingly was forced into giving him more time because of his bat.
Ethier has gotten the most playing time of anyone at 28 games, and he's responded very well. Last year was practically a giant waste for him, but so far, he's hitting .286 with three doubles, two triples, four homers, and 10 RBIs. He can put his glove on and play any of the three outfield positions, so he's invaluable in that aspect. It's great to see him contributing again and looking like he's healthy.
You know Joc Pederson and Puig are locked into their positions, and rightfully so. They can do it big on both sides of the field, and considering all of the pitching injuries the Dodgers have suffered, they need to play the best defense they can night in and night out. Barring huge slumps, those two will be etched in stone in the daily lineup card.
That leaves three other guys Donny will mix and match with for left field. Ethier has a documented history of poor results against left-handed pitchers, so he'll be looked at against righties only. Van Slyke and Guerrero can get looks when lefties are on the mound for the most part. However, I would hope Donny would play the hot hand no matter who's on the mound.
And that leaves Crawford on the outside looking in. At this point, he just needs to get his legs fully healthy, then contribute as a pinch-runner in late innings. That's not to say he'll never see left field again, but it's hard to imagine him getting much time there. The other guys have leapfrogged him.
Who knows what the future will hold, but considering how well Van Slyke, Guerrero, and Ethier have played, I doubt it will include Crawford regaining his starting role in left.
Monday, April 27, 2015
With Puig on the mend, Guerrero gets his chance
If there's ever going to be a silver lining in a superstar like Yasiel Puig getting placed on the DL, it's this: Alex Guerrero may finally get his chance to play everyday.
And if all goes to plan, maybe he never comes out of it.
That's what the Dodgers can only hope for, as they'll look to turn a negative into a positive. Don Mattingly won't go so far as to say Guerrero will be in the starting lineup as long as Puig's not, but comments like the following are encouraging:
The Dodgers are 11-7 right now, which is tops in the NL West. Even though they're the division favorites by most accounts, there's already some cracks in the armor. The back end of the rotation has the potential to be a mess, as Brandon McCarthy may have a creaky elbow, Hyun-Jin Ryu is still on the DL, and Brett Anderson hasn't exactly set the world on fire. The bullpen is better than last year, but very young, and still without Kenley Jansen for a few more weeks.
The other problem is the offense, which looks to be deep and dangerous one game (11 runs on Saturday), and lifeless the next (one on Sunday). It's not like we can count on six or seven runs a game, but after going a perfect 6-0 a couple weeks ago, they followed that up by going 3-3 last week and scoring six runs total in the loses.
A guy like Guerrero can help turn around an offense that is a bit stuck in neutral. He's only appeared in 11 games, only has 22 at-bats, but his numbers are incredible: .500 AVG and OBP, five homers, two doubles, 13 RBIs, and five runs. You can't ignore stats like that, especially when he was regarded as being a very good hitter when the Dodgers signed him before last season. He may not have the greatest glove, but he looks to have definitely improved upon that as well.
The bottom line is that with Andre Ethier sliding over to right field to fill in for Puig, Guerrero will get looks both at third and left field. In my mind, if he's not playing one position, he needs to be playing the other. Juan Uribe (.244, one homer, three RBIs) and Carl Crawford (.229/1/3) look terrible and old. I can appreciate Donny wanting to give his veterans a chance, but not at the constant expense of someone as exciting with the lumber as Guerrero.
The best thing Guerrero can do is continue to play well on both sides of the field, and force Mattingly to etch his name into every starting lineup. The offense will benefit on the whole if he does.
And if all goes to plan, maybe he never comes out of it.
That's what the Dodgers can only hope for, as they'll look to turn a negative into a positive. Don Mattingly won't go so far as to say Guerrero will be in the starting lineup as long as Puig's not, but comments like the following are encouraging:
"There's a good chance you're going to see him out there. Obviously with Yasiel down, it changes some things. A guy swinging the bat, you're going to find a place to play him, that's just the way it is."I like the sounds of that.
The Dodgers are 11-7 right now, which is tops in the NL West. Even though they're the division favorites by most accounts, there's already some cracks in the armor. The back end of the rotation has the potential to be a mess, as Brandon McCarthy may have a creaky elbow, Hyun-Jin Ryu is still on the DL, and Brett Anderson hasn't exactly set the world on fire. The bullpen is better than last year, but very young, and still without Kenley Jansen for a few more weeks.
The other problem is the offense, which looks to be deep and dangerous one game (11 runs on Saturday), and lifeless the next (one on Sunday). It's not like we can count on six or seven runs a game, but after going a perfect 6-0 a couple weeks ago, they followed that up by going 3-3 last week and scoring six runs total in the loses.
A guy like Guerrero can help turn around an offense that is a bit stuck in neutral. He's only appeared in 11 games, only has 22 at-bats, but his numbers are incredible: .500 AVG and OBP, five homers, two doubles, 13 RBIs, and five runs. You can't ignore stats like that, especially when he was regarded as being a very good hitter when the Dodgers signed him before last season. He may not have the greatest glove, but he looks to have definitely improved upon that as well.
The bottom line is that with Andre Ethier sliding over to right field to fill in for Puig, Guerrero will get looks both at third and left field. In my mind, if he's not playing one position, he needs to be playing the other. Juan Uribe (.244, one homer, three RBIs) and Carl Crawford (.229/1/3) look terrible and old. I can appreciate Donny wanting to give his veterans a chance, but not at the constant expense of someone as exciting with the lumber as Guerrero.
The best thing Guerrero can do is continue to play well on both sides of the field, and force Mattingly to etch his name into every starting lineup. The offense will benefit on the whole if he does.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Could the third base race of '15 be like the outfield battle of '14?
If you're Alex Guerrero, you're certainly hoping it is.
In case you missed it, Guerrero got another chance to strut his stuff on Monday, and strut his stuff he did. He got another start at third for the banged up Juan Uribe and Justin Turner, and responded with a bases loaded, walk-off single in the 10th to lift the Dodgers over the Mariners at home 6-5. The Dodgers fought back from an early 4-0 deficit.
While the single was Guerrero's only hit of the night, it certainly was the biggest, and showed the confidence he has at the plate. He said right during Spring Training that he had no desire to be sent back down to Triple-A and deserved to be with the Big Club. So far, he's right.
And with that, we have to wonder what Don Mattingly is now thinking when it comes to playing Uribe as the everyday third baseman. Or for that matter, giving Turner the call on Uribe's days off. Is Guerrero going to get more serious looks at the hot corner?
While it's too early to compare this situation to the outfield logjam of 2014, there are certainly some similarities. Last year featured Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke, and Joe Pederson (in September) as guys who all wanted time in one of the three outfield spots. For Mattingly, it was a daily juggling job that left few happy with the lack of an everyday role.
Now, we have three guys for one spot at third. Actually, I'll say it's more like 2 1/2, only because Turner knows his role of utility man means he'll be playing all over the place. That's what he was brought in for and excelled at so much last season, so that won't change.
So that leaves Uribe and Guerrero as the everyday options at third. Uribe is a clubhouse favorite, Gold Glove contender, and two-time World Series champion. He's also 36, has battled hamstring injuries, and isn't getting any younger or fresher. Guerrero is 28 with plenty of mileage left in his body. He certainly has a small sample size, but has clearly shown an ability to make a difference with the lumber. You can't ignore that.
As of now, Uribe looks to at least get a chance to show why he's still the top dog, as Mattingly will start him at third on Tuesday night. However, much like last season when he moved Kemp out of center and sat Ethier in the second half, I wouldn't be surprised to see him lean towards Guerrero over the long hall.
Every year there's some sort of position battle, and third base looks to be the one in 2015. Kick back and enjoy.
In case you missed it, Guerrero got another chance to strut his stuff on Monday, and strut his stuff he did. He got another start at third for the banged up Juan Uribe and Justin Turner, and responded with a bases loaded, walk-off single in the 10th to lift the Dodgers over the Mariners at home 6-5. The Dodgers fought back from an early 4-0 deficit.
While the single was Guerrero's only hit of the night, it certainly was the biggest, and showed the confidence he has at the plate. He said right during Spring Training that he had no desire to be sent back down to Triple-A and deserved to be with the Big Club. So far, he's right.
And with that, we have to wonder what Don Mattingly is now thinking when it comes to playing Uribe as the everyday third baseman. Or for that matter, giving Turner the call on Uribe's days off. Is Guerrero going to get more serious looks at the hot corner?
While it's too early to compare this situation to the outfield logjam of 2014, there are certainly some similarities. Last year featured Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke, and Joe Pederson (in September) as guys who all wanted time in one of the three outfield spots. For Mattingly, it was a daily juggling job that left few happy with the lack of an everyday role.
Now, we have three guys for one spot at third. Actually, I'll say it's more like 2 1/2, only because Turner knows his role of utility man means he'll be playing all over the place. That's what he was brought in for and excelled at so much last season, so that won't change.
So that leaves Uribe and Guerrero as the everyday options at third. Uribe is a clubhouse favorite, Gold Glove contender, and two-time World Series champion. He's also 36, has battled hamstring injuries, and isn't getting any younger or fresher. Guerrero is 28 with plenty of mileage left in his body. He certainly has a small sample size, but has clearly shown an ability to make a difference with the lumber. You can't ignore that.
As of now, Uribe looks to at least get a chance to show why he's still the top dog, as Mattingly will start him at third on Tuesday night. However, much like last season when he moved Kemp out of center and sat Ethier in the second half, I wouldn't be surprised to see him lean towards Guerrero over the long hall.
Every year there's some sort of position battle, and third base looks to be the one in 2015. Kick back and enjoy.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
2015 Season Preview: Infield
I've already gone through the pitching staff, so now let's focus on the guys behind them. Today will be all about the infield.
2014
C - A.J. Ellis
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
2B - Dee Gordon
SS - Hanley Ramirez
3B - Juan Uribe
Bench - Drew Butera, Tim Federowicz, Justin Turner, Miguel Rojas, Chone Figgins, Erisbel Arruebarrena, Darwin Barney
2015
C - A.J. Ellis/Yasmani Grandal
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
2B - Howie Kendrick
SS - Jimmy Rollins
3B - Juan Uribe
Bench - Ellis or Grandal, Justin Turner, Darwin Barney, Alex Guerrero
Then Compared to Now:
Obviously, there's a big change in the middle, as out go Hanley and Gordon, and in come Kendrick and Rollins. Other than Matt Kemp being traded to San Diego, the infield is the biggest story. Since A-Gon and Uribe stay the same, the major question will be whether or not the new is better than the old.
Let's not forget that Gordon started off the year as an afterthought, and barely even worth drafting in fantasy leagues. He then turned himself into an All-Star who led the league in stolen bases pretty easily. Hanley had a rough year for his standards by only playing in 128 games, but did hit .429 in the Division Series without a strikeout.
The other change is the addition of Grandal, who was part of the Kemp deal. There's no doubt he brings much more offense than Ellis. But defensively, he still has to prove he can handle a staff like Ellis can.
Individual Breakdown:
Ellis (2014 stats): .191 AVG, .323 OBP, 9 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB
He's never been a star with the lumber, but even with that said, he really struggled to generate anything on offense. About all he could give was a walk, which is why his OBP is so much higher. There's no doubt, however, that the Dodgers did the right thing in bringing in an offensive catcher in Grandal. As valuable as Ellis is behind the plate, especially with Clayton Kershaw, the offense just comes to a halt when he's up.
Grandal (with Padres): .225 AVG, .327 OBP, 19 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 49 RBI, 3 SB
He's been busted for PED use, he's torn up his knee, and he's not even considered that great of a defensive catcher. But he is still young (26), and he's clearly shown good pop from behind the plate when he can stay on the field. Plus, he appeared in 37 games last season at first base, which is great since he hits right-handed and can spell Gonzalez if need be. There's a lot to like about him, but as I said before, he'll have to show he can stay on the field to really be worth the while.
Gonzalez: .276 AVG, .335 OBP, 41 2B, 0 3B, 27 HR, 116 RBI, 1 SB
I'll bet very few people, outside of Dodger fans, would be able to tell you that A-Gon led all of baseball in RBIs last season, even ahead of the mighty Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera. That's because he played in 159 games last season, and hit .333 with runners in scoring position. Plus, his defense improved, cutting down on his errors from 11 to 6. All in all, he's Mr. Reliable, and even as he turns 33 in May, has proven to be the rock in the Dodgers' lineup.
Kendrick (with Angels): .293 AVG, .347 OBP, 33 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 75 RBI, 14 SB
Two big reasons why the Dodgers preferred him over Gordon: he's consistently put up numbers at the plate since his debut in 2006, and the brass feels as though Gordon has already peaked with his best season in 2014. Time will only tell about that last statement, as Gordon will have lots of chances to show his worth in Miami. As for Kendrick, he's a clutch hitter who also brings the goods in the field, rating at an excellent 1.4 DWAR. He'll be playing for a new contract this year, so there's even more motivation for him to show his addition was a smart move.
Rollins: .243 AVG, .323 OBP, 22 2B, 4 3B, 17 HR, 55 RBI, 28 SB
Boy will this be weird seeing him in Dodger blue this season. It will be an adjustment for everybody, but after Hanley bolted for Boston, the addition of Rollins looks like a great move. He's won a ring once, lost in the World Series to the Yankees another time, and will be looking to provide the leadership the Dodgers need to bring them their first title since 1988. He looked completely washed up in 2013, but fought back for a much better 2014. He won't be the same hitter Hanley was, but defensively, he's light years better, and that's what the Dodgers want the most.
Uribe: .311 AVG, .337 OBP, 23 2B, 0 3B, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 0 SB
Entering the last year of his contract, he backed up his resurgent (and that's an understatement) 2013 with another good year at the plate. Most importantly, he gave Gold Glove caliber defense at the hot corner, barely losing out on the award again. He'll be 36 when the season begins in April, making him a little long in the tooth, so you have to wonder if this is his last year in LA. He needs to show that he can stay on the field more as well, playing in a low 103 games last season.
Turner: .340 AVG, .404 OBP, 21 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 6 SB
What an addition he turned out to be, as he constantly gave bit hits off the bench (.400 as a PH), and played all four infield positions. Heck, he could've probably been a better option out of the bullpen than the bums the Dodgers had last year as well. While it would be very hard to expect those types of offensive numbers again, they can expect him to provide a lift when needed, and play the role of late-inning sparkplug.
Barney (with Cubs and Dodgers): .241 AVG, .300 OBP, 11 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 1 SB
A deadline addition by the Dodgers last season, he only got 33 at-bats in LA, and was mostly brought in for insurance with Hanley constantly in and out of the lineup, and Gordon fading some in the second half. He'll probably resume that role this season, as he can spot Kendrick a day off here and there if needed.
Guerrero: .077 AVG, .077 OBP, no other stats to speak of
Who knows if he'll even be on the roster Opening Day, but considering his potential to be a good hitter, he's someone to remember. He only appeared in the beginning of the season and at the end with September call-ups, in between getting into a fight with Miguel Olivo and getting part of his ear bitten off. Let's just hope he avoids the drama this season and give the Dodgers a lift off the bench.
Is Now Better Than Then?
Defensively, absolutely. There's no question about that. Rollins and Kendrick are a huge upgrade over Hanley and Gordon as a double play combination. While Gordon I believe was a bit underrated for his improvements made with the glove, Hanley became a big liability at short. Perhaps we remember his error that cost Kershaw a chance at a perfect game? That's just one example of how bad he became, and now he's in left field for the Red Sox.
At the plate, it will remain to be seen mostly because of Gordon. If he shows that he's not a one-year wonder, then losing his speed at the top will definitely hurt. However, Rollins and Kendrick both stole their share of bases as well, and combined hit for more power. In the end, if those numbers stay the same, then the Dodgers are not only an upgrade in the field, but at the plate as well.
Grandal will be given plenty of chances to stay in the lineup if he can get his bat going. The Dodgers don't have that instant pop that Kemp and Hanley provided when healthy, so they'll be relying on a few guys do pull their weight instead. A power hitting catcher is one way of picking up the slack. I fully expect Ellis to be Kershaw's personal catcher, but after that, it should be Grandal's job to lose.
With two great, albeit older, fielders at the corners, the Dodgers are a more well-rounded, better team all across the infield for 2015.
2014
C - A.J. Ellis
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
2B - Dee Gordon
SS - Hanley Ramirez
3B - Juan Uribe
Bench - Drew Butera, Tim Federowicz, Justin Turner, Miguel Rojas, Chone Figgins, Erisbel Arruebarrena, Darwin Barney
2015
C - A.J. Ellis/Yasmani Grandal
1B - Adrian Gonzalez
2B - Howie Kendrick
SS - Jimmy Rollins
3B - Juan Uribe
Bench - Ellis or Grandal, Justin Turner, Darwin Barney, Alex Guerrero
Then Compared to Now:
Obviously, there's a big change in the middle, as out go Hanley and Gordon, and in come Kendrick and Rollins. Other than Matt Kemp being traded to San Diego, the infield is the biggest story. Since A-Gon and Uribe stay the same, the major question will be whether or not the new is better than the old.
Let's not forget that Gordon started off the year as an afterthought, and barely even worth drafting in fantasy leagues. He then turned himself into an All-Star who led the league in stolen bases pretty easily. Hanley had a rough year for his standards by only playing in 128 games, but did hit .429 in the Division Series without a strikeout.
The other change is the addition of Grandal, who was part of the Kemp deal. There's no doubt he brings much more offense than Ellis. But defensively, he still has to prove he can handle a staff like Ellis can.
Individual Breakdown:
Ellis (2014 stats): .191 AVG, .323 OBP, 9 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB
He's never been a star with the lumber, but even with that said, he really struggled to generate anything on offense. About all he could give was a walk, which is why his OBP is so much higher. There's no doubt, however, that the Dodgers did the right thing in bringing in an offensive catcher in Grandal. As valuable as Ellis is behind the plate, especially with Clayton Kershaw, the offense just comes to a halt when he's up.
Grandal (with Padres): .225 AVG, .327 OBP, 19 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 49 RBI, 3 SB
He's been busted for PED use, he's torn up his knee, and he's not even considered that great of a defensive catcher. But he is still young (26), and he's clearly shown good pop from behind the plate when he can stay on the field. Plus, he appeared in 37 games last season at first base, which is great since he hits right-handed and can spell Gonzalez if need be. There's a lot to like about him, but as I said before, he'll have to show he can stay on the field to really be worth the while.
Gonzalez: .276 AVG, .335 OBP, 41 2B, 0 3B, 27 HR, 116 RBI, 1 SB
I'll bet very few people, outside of Dodger fans, would be able to tell you that A-Gon led all of baseball in RBIs last season, even ahead of the mighty Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera. That's because he played in 159 games last season, and hit .333 with runners in scoring position. Plus, his defense improved, cutting down on his errors from 11 to 6. All in all, he's Mr. Reliable, and even as he turns 33 in May, has proven to be the rock in the Dodgers' lineup.
Kendrick (with Angels): .293 AVG, .347 OBP, 33 2B, 5 3B, 7 HR, 75 RBI, 14 SB
Two big reasons why the Dodgers preferred him over Gordon: he's consistently put up numbers at the plate since his debut in 2006, and the brass feels as though Gordon has already peaked with his best season in 2014. Time will only tell about that last statement, as Gordon will have lots of chances to show his worth in Miami. As for Kendrick, he's a clutch hitter who also brings the goods in the field, rating at an excellent 1.4 DWAR. He'll be playing for a new contract this year, so there's even more motivation for him to show his addition was a smart move.
Rollins: .243 AVG, .323 OBP, 22 2B, 4 3B, 17 HR, 55 RBI, 28 SB
Boy will this be weird seeing him in Dodger blue this season. It will be an adjustment for everybody, but after Hanley bolted for Boston, the addition of Rollins looks like a great move. He's won a ring once, lost in the World Series to the Yankees another time, and will be looking to provide the leadership the Dodgers need to bring them their first title since 1988. He looked completely washed up in 2013, but fought back for a much better 2014. He won't be the same hitter Hanley was, but defensively, he's light years better, and that's what the Dodgers want the most.
Uribe: .311 AVG, .337 OBP, 23 2B, 0 3B, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 0 SB
Entering the last year of his contract, he backed up his resurgent (and that's an understatement) 2013 with another good year at the plate. Most importantly, he gave Gold Glove caliber defense at the hot corner, barely losing out on the award again. He'll be 36 when the season begins in April, making him a little long in the tooth, so you have to wonder if this is his last year in LA. He needs to show that he can stay on the field more as well, playing in a low 103 games last season.
Turner: .340 AVG, .404 OBP, 21 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 43 RBI, 6 SB
What an addition he turned out to be, as he constantly gave bit hits off the bench (.400 as a PH), and played all four infield positions. Heck, he could've probably been a better option out of the bullpen than the bums the Dodgers had last year as well. While it would be very hard to expect those types of offensive numbers again, they can expect him to provide a lift when needed, and play the role of late-inning sparkplug.
Barney (with Cubs and Dodgers): .241 AVG, .300 OBP, 11 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 23 RBI, 1 SB
A deadline addition by the Dodgers last season, he only got 33 at-bats in LA, and was mostly brought in for insurance with Hanley constantly in and out of the lineup, and Gordon fading some in the second half. He'll probably resume that role this season, as he can spot Kendrick a day off here and there if needed.
Guerrero: .077 AVG, .077 OBP, no other stats to speak of
Who knows if he'll even be on the roster Opening Day, but considering his potential to be a good hitter, he's someone to remember. He only appeared in the beginning of the season and at the end with September call-ups, in between getting into a fight with Miguel Olivo and getting part of his ear bitten off. Let's just hope he avoids the drama this season and give the Dodgers a lift off the bench.
Is Now Better Than Then?
Defensively, absolutely. There's no question about that. Rollins and Kendrick are a huge upgrade over Hanley and Gordon as a double play combination. While Gordon I believe was a bit underrated for his improvements made with the glove, Hanley became a big liability at short. Perhaps we remember his error that cost Kershaw a chance at a perfect game? That's just one example of how bad he became, and now he's in left field for the Red Sox.
At the plate, it will remain to be seen mostly because of Gordon. If he shows that he's not a one-year wonder, then losing his speed at the top will definitely hurt. However, Rollins and Kendrick both stole their share of bases as well, and combined hit for more power. In the end, if those numbers stay the same, then the Dodgers are not only an upgrade in the field, but at the plate as well.
Grandal will be given plenty of chances to stay in the lineup if he can get his bat going. The Dodgers don't have that instant pop that Kemp and Hanley provided when healthy, so they'll be relying on a few guys do pull their weight instead. A power hitting catcher is one way of picking up the slack. I fully expect Ellis to be Kershaw's personal catcher, but after that, it should be Grandal's job to lose.
With two great, albeit older, fielders at the corners, the Dodgers are a more well-rounded, better team all across the infield for 2015.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Gordon could go from All-Star to traded
While the Matt Kemp to San Diego rumors continue to dominate talk about the Dodgers at the Winter Meetings, here's another tidbit that could be interesting - Dee Gordon is being made available by the new management.
Who knows what the level of "available" is, as this doesn't initially strike me as something the Dodgers are hotly pursuing. I get the feeling it's more of an "If you like him, let's talk" type of thing.
One team that perhaps would like to talk is the Marlins, who might already be showing some interest.
There are a couple of reasons to believe that Gordon really could be on his way out. For starters, the Gordon we saw in the second half of last season did not come close to matching the All-Star reserve at second base we saw in the first. His average was around the same (.292 before, .284 after), but his OBP went way down (.344/.300). He also started striking out a bunch more, and while he led all of baseball in stolen bases at 64, he started getting caught more in the second half despite playing in much less games.
The other reason is that the Dodgers have Alex Guerrero and Erisbel Arruebarrena waiting in the wings, and they're not cheap. They're pretty much opposites of each other right now, as Guerrero has the bat, and Arruebarrena has the glove.
A major factor that could keep Gordon right where he is is that Hanley Ramirez is now in Boston. Perhaps the Dodgers would be satisfied with Arruebarrena at short and Guerrero at second, but that's a lot of inexperience up the middle on a "win now" club.
I'm not ready to give up on Gordon for slowing down in the second half, as his 148 games far outpaced his next highest career total of 87 in 2012. I think a smaller, speedy guy like him just naturally started feeling the wear and tear of a long Major League season. If you recall, he bulked up some before last season started, and helped the Dodgers solve their leadoff issues.
Right now the Dodgers are waiting to see if Jon Lester comes aboard, and maybe finalizing the Kemp trade to the Padres. After that, then possibly this talk of moving Gordon begins to take on more importance. Stay tuned.
Who knows what the level of "available" is, as this doesn't initially strike me as something the Dodgers are hotly pursuing. I get the feeling it's more of an "If you like him, let's talk" type of thing.
One team that perhaps would like to talk is the Marlins, who might already be showing some interest.
There are a couple of reasons to believe that Gordon really could be on his way out. For starters, the Gordon we saw in the second half of last season did not come close to matching the All-Star reserve at second base we saw in the first. His average was around the same (.292 before, .284 after), but his OBP went way down (.344/.300). He also started striking out a bunch more, and while he led all of baseball in stolen bases at 64, he started getting caught more in the second half despite playing in much less games.
The other reason is that the Dodgers have Alex Guerrero and Erisbel Arruebarrena waiting in the wings, and they're not cheap. They're pretty much opposites of each other right now, as Guerrero has the bat, and Arruebarrena has the glove.
A major factor that could keep Gordon right where he is is that Hanley Ramirez is now in Boston. Perhaps the Dodgers would be satisfied with Arruebarrena at short and Guerrero at second, but that's a lot of inexperience up the middle on a "win now" club.
I'm not ready to give up on Gordon for slowing down in the second half, as his 148 games far outpaced his next highest career total of 87 in 2012. I think a smaller, speedy guy like him just naturally started feeling the wear and tear of a long Major League season. If you recall, he bulked up some before last season started, and helped the Dodgers solve their leadoff issues.
Right now the Dodgers are waiting to see if Jon Lester comes aboard, and maybe finalizing the Kemp trade to the Padres. After that, then possibly this talk of moving Gordon begins to take on more importance. Stay tuned.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Gordon could be leading off come Saturday
If you're really into studying Don Mattingly's lineup against Team Australia, then perhaps the leadoff hitter for Saturday is someone we didn't exactly think of.
Dee Gordon led off and played second base today, not Yasiel Puig, who hit right behind him. Throw in the fact that Carl Crawford didn't even make the trip, and as unlikely as this was amid all the hoopla of the Alex Guerrero signing, Gordon could very well be the man at the top of the order.
I wrote about Gordon's resurgence about a week ago (here's my proof), and I speculated that he'd hit eighth. At least for today's exhibition game, Mattingly likes the idea of Gordon and Puig at the top, followed by Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Juan Uribe, Scott Van Slyke, and A.J. Ellis. Since the left-handed Patrick Corbin of the Diamondbacks has been scratched because of a possible season-ending elbow injury, two right-handed pitchers will start in Wade Miley and Trevor Cahill. It's not hard to see today's lineup carrying over to the weekend.
And you know what? Why not? I'm all for Gordon getting a chance at the top. He hit .286 this spring with a .326 OBP. Of his 12 hits, four were triples, and he was a perfect 9-9 in stolen base attempts. I'm pretty sure that's the type of guy who's earned a chance at leading off.
Keep in mind that the Dodgers and Diamondbacks play two games, so if Gordon stinks in the first game by going 0-for-5, then Mattingly can easily put Puig leading off and drop Gordon to second or eighth. It's obviously way early in the season (duh), so it's time to see if Gordon can handle the load.
On the flip side, what does this mean for Guerrero? Well, he could sneak in as the last roster spot, or it could be off to Triple-A to start everyday at second and sharpen his defense as he's still trying to transition from a year off and as a primary shortstop. That's not a bad thing, as it could very well pay off for him in the future.
Dee Gordon led off and played second base today, not Yasiel Puig, who hit right behind him. Throw in the fact that Carl Crawford didn't even make the trip, and as unlikely as this was amid all the hoopla of the Alex Guerrero signing, Gordon could very well be the man at the top of the order.
I wrote about Gordon's resurgence about a week ago (here's my proof), and I speculated that he'd hit eighth. At least for today's exhibition game, Mattingly likes the idea of Gordon and Puig at the top, followed by Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Juan Uribe, Scott Van Slyke, and A.J. Ellis. Since the left-handed Patrick Corbin of the Diamondbacks has been scratched because of a possible season-ending elbow injury, two right-handed pitchers will start in Wade Miley and Trevor Cahill. It's not hard to see today's lineup carrying over to the weekend.
And you know what? Why not? I'm all for Gordon getting a chance at the top. He hit .286 this spring with a .326 OBP. Of his 12 hits, four were triples, and he was a perfect 9-9 in stolen base attempts. I'm pretty sure that's the type of guy who's earned a chance at leading off.
Keep in mind that the Dodgers and Diamondbacks play two games, so if Gordon stinks in the first game by going 0-for-5, then Mattingly can easily put Puig leading off and drop Gordon to second or eighth. It's obviously way early in the season (duh), so it's time to see if Gordon can handle the load.
On the flip side, what does this mean for Guerrero? Well, he could sneak in as the last roster spot, or it could be off to Triple-A to start everyday at second and sharpen his defense as he's still trying to transition from a year off and as a primary shortstop. That's not a bad thing, as it could very well pay off for him in the future.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Despite signing Guerrero, 2nd base looks wide open
Perhaps the Dodgers aren't ready to just hand Alexander Guerrero the everyday job at second right away?
It sure looks that way based on recent quotes from Don Mattingly. While the Dodgers eventually see Guerrero as the guy, especially since he's armed with a four-year, $28 million contract, Mattingly acknowledged on Thursday that he's not ready to declare Guerrero the "everyday guy" quite yet.
The word on Guerrero is pretty simple - he's a great hitter, but will be a work-in-progress with the glove at second. He's been a shortstop in Cuba before defecting to the US in 2013, and the transition to second isn't as smooth as people may think. When you're so used to pivots and angles of fielding and throwing from one side of the diamond, it can be pretty tricky to adjust all of that to another.
So if Guerrero is slow to pick up the nuances of second, whom do the Dodgers turn to?
The list is quite long, and it starts with old friend Dee Gordon. Once looked at as the primary leadoff hitter and shortstop for years to come, ineffectiveness at the plate, with his glove, and injuries have all made him an afterthought.
The good news is that he's tacked on about 30 pounds on his wiry frame, from 150 to 179. He still has plenty of speed, so that will never change. He also has spent time working in the outfield, which is smart because at the very least, he can be quite the utility player and super-sub if he shows the ability to handle multiple positions.
There are a few other names to keep in mind as Spring Training gets underway. Justin Turner is a former Met who hit .280 in 86 games last year. I can see him making a push to replace Nick Punto as a utility infielder.
Justin Sellers broke camp last year as the starting shortstop after an injury to Hanley Ramirez, and horrible play from Gordon. He then proceeded to hit .188 and earn his way back to Albuquerque. By the way, the link above is worth clicking because he's hilariously referred to as "Justin Fellers" in the article. Poor guy!
The remaining two names are Miguel Rojas, who came over from the Reds, and Chone Figgins, who's 36 and looking to make one last push. Never say never, but I wouldn't count on either one of them.
The race to start at second will be a big battle to watch in Spring Training, along with juggling four outfielders and filling out the back end of the rotation. Let's see how it all plays out.
It sure looks that way based on recent quotes from Don Mattingly. While the Dodgers eventually see Guerrero as the guy, especially since he's armed with a four-year, $28 million contract, Mattingly acknowledged on Thursday that he's not ready to declare Guerrero the "everyday guy" quite yet.
The word on Guerrero is pretty simple - he's a great hitter, but will be a work-in-progress with the glove at second. He's been a shortstop in Cuba before defecting to the US in 2013, and the transition to second isn't as smooth as people may think. When you're so used to pivots and angles of fielding and throwing from one side of the diamond, it can be pretty tricky to adjust all of that to another.
So if Guerrero is slow to pick up the nuances of second, whom do the Dodgers turn to?
The list is quite long, and it starts with old friend Dee Gordon. Once looked at as the primary leadoff hitter and shortstop for years to come, ineffectiveness at the plate, with his glove, and injuries have all made him an afterthought.
The good news is that he's tacked on about 30 pounds on his wiry frame, from 150 to 179. He still has plenty of speed, so that will never change. He also has spent time working in the outfield, which is smart because at the very least, he can be quite the utility player and super-sub if he shows the ability to handle multiple positions.
There are a few other names to keep in mind as Spring Training gets underway. Justin Turner is a former Met who hit .280 in 86 games last year. I can see him making a push to replace Nick Punto as a utility infielder.
Justin Sellers broke camp last year as the starting shortstop after an injury to Hanley Ramirez, and horrible play from Gordon. He then proceeded to hit .188 and earn his way back to Albuquerque. By the way, the link above is worth clicking because he's hilariously referred to as "Justin Fellers" in the article. Poor guy!
The remaining two names are Miguel Rojas, who came over from the Reds, and Chone Figgins, who's 36 and looking to make one last push. Never say never, but I wouldn't count on either one of them.
The race to start at second will be a big battle to watch in Spring Training, along with juggling four outfielders and filling out the back end of the rotation. Let's see how it all plays out.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Dodgers continue international splash by signing Guerrero
Just three days after being ousted in the NLCS by the Cardinals, the Dodgers are already back to work in upgrading their club.
In what has been rumored for most of the season, the Dodgers officially signed Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero to a four-year, $28 million deal today. Based on plate appearances, that total could get bumped up $1 million per season, topping out at $32 million.
While it's very early to project just how good of a player Guerrero will end up being, it looks like a good signing on a few different levels. For starters, as we saw in the NLCS, the Dodgers really need to find ways to improve their offense up and down the lineup. While a healthy Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez obviously make a big difference, the book on Guerrero is that he has plenty of power and speed on the bases. So, if he pans out, that's a huge plus.
It also means that the days of Mark Ellis being the full-time starter would appear to be over. I'm not saying that he has no value, because if you watch the amount of games that I do, you have to respect how hard he works in the field and at the plate. But, the bottom line is that in 126 games this season, he hit .270 with 6 homers, 48 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases, which are not exactly eye-popping numbers.
What Ellis did have was a great glove, as his .989 fielding % ranked eighth in all of baseball at second base. He only committed six errors all season in 533 total chances. And we all know that in the National League, having a great defense is big if you want to win, so while Guerrero has been described as having a good glove, he'll have to prove it.
The last reason this will probably turn out to be a good signing has to do with a guy not even on the Dodgers, and that's Robinson Cano. Magic Johnson alluded to not signing Cano towards the end of the season, but with management's reputation for throwing a whole lot of bucks at the big names, it was hard to believe the door was closed. Now I think the door might only be open a slight crack, if at all.
It's hard to blame Ned Colletti for being aggressive in the international market based on the success of Hyun-Jin Ryu and Yasiel Puig this season. Plus, we all know of the strong history of international players in Dodger history, from guys like Fernando Valenzuela, Hideo Nomo, and Chan Ho Park. It's worked before, and it can work again. Guerrero can make that happen.
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