A lot has been made about the huge acquisitions the Dodgers just received from the Red Sox in the last few days. Right now I want to take a look at the flip side, as in the players the Dodgers gave away.
James Loney - It's safe to say the Dodgers tried and tried again when it came to Loney. Yet, he was never able to find his offensive groove. And when it came apparent that his days driving in 90 runs were already behind him, they made the right call in letting him go.
Let's not take anything away from him on defense - he can definitely "glove it" over at first. In fact, I believe that's a big reason why he was held onto for so long in the first place. You hoped you would get more run production from him, but you knew he could play D. But eventually that gets old, and that's precisely what happened here.
He saved his job at the end of last year by hitting .320 after the All-Star break, including .367 in August and .348 in September. After failing to land the big dog in Prince Fielder in the offseason, the hope was that he'd continue to build on those numbers. Well, that obviously never happened. Instead, it seemed like he would either groundout to second or into a double play. It was time for him to move.
Jerry Sands - He's appeared off and on in the majors since last season with mostly mediocre results. Right now he's labeled as a guy who's too good to be in the minors, yet constantly finds himself back there because he can't do enough to stay in the majors. In 70 career games, he's hitting only .244 with 4 homers and 27 RBIs.
It's best for Sands to move on, especially since Carl Crawford was brought over and still has many years left on his contract. It's hard to imagine Sands getting much of any playing team over Crawford, Matt Kemp, and Andre Ethier. That's a lot of production and bucks for those guys. Sands has dabbled a bit at first base, so perhaps he can find some time there. He's got the tools, so there is a good chance he can be a good big league player.
Ivan De Jesus - There's not a whole lot to say about him since he's only played in 40 games the past two seasons. He hit .231 with only one extra-base hit and one steal. He'll fill some sort of a utility role, as he can play both middle infield positions. But he's easily replaceable, so it's no big loss at all for the Dodgers.
Rubby De La Rosa - When it's all said and done, this could be the one player the Red Sox will cherish the most from this trade. He definitely has the makeup of an elite starter, as he can touch triple digits on the gun, and has already had some great starts in his young career.
In July of last season, he made five starts and went 1-2 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. He also struck out 29 batters in 28 innings, a great indication of his power stuff. Unfortunately for him, he then went down for Tommy John surgery, and has only recently come back. As is the case with any pitcher, there's always a risk that he won't be the same type of pitcher after major surgery. I think in today's baseball world, this surgery is practically a common thing, and the results have shown that it definitely works.
I'm sure the Dodgers didn't want to give him up, as he would've competed for a starting spot next season. If you're a Red Sox fan, you have to like the move in that it's the first step towards improving their horrific pitching. I'll miss him, but as the old adage goes, you have to give up something in order to get something.
Allen Webster - I'll admit that I don't know as much about him since he has yet to appear in LA. From all I've read about him, though, he looks to be the real deal. In five minor league seasons, he's 34-24 with a 3.34 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, along with 456 K's in 485 innings.
Much like De La Rosa, I know the Red Sox definitely wanted pitching in this deal, and with two young arms who have good numbers coming to them, they have to like it. For the Dodgers, it's always tricky to project just how good "prospects" are ultimately going to be, so I can see them being willing to let one of them go. I do know that Zach Lee is probably their top prospect, so I'm happy he isn't going anywhere.
Showing posts with label Sands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sands. Show all posts
Monday, August 27, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Signed and sealed: Another new day in LA
Just when you thought the new Dodgers' ownership couldn't top themselves... think again.
The same team that has gone out and acquired Hanley Ramirez, Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Brandon League, and Randy Choate has taken their new philosophy of "spend, spend, spend" even further. Coming over to LA from Boston are superstars Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto. OK, so technically Punto isn't a superstar, and Crawford and Beckett haven't been this year either, but you get the point.
Shuttling across the country to Boston are James Loney, Jerry Sands, Rubby De La Rosa, Ivan De Jesus, and top prospect Allen Webster.
The two major players in this deal for the Dodgers are obviously Gonzalez and Beckett. In Gonzalez, the Dodgers are finally getting the cleanup hitter they've been looking for. Now they can have Matt Kemp hit #3, Gonzalez #4, and flip-flop Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier in the #5-6 spots depending on the matchup. That's pretty nasty, and a heck of a lot better than what they've had.
Gonzalez wasn't the same player in the first half of the season, as he hit .283 with only 6 homers and 45 RBIs. But, in 37 games since the break, he's really found his stroke, hitting .338 with 9 homers and 41 RBIs. That's the guy the Dodgers need in their order cleaning up the bases.
The arrival of Beckett is fantastic timing only because of the latest injury to Chad Billingsley. It's the second time this year he's shown elbow inflammation, so who knows what kind of time he'll miss. And when you're bringing in a guy who was a major player on two championship teams, that's a good thing.
There's no denying that Beckett has not enjoyed the 2012 season at all. Right now he's 5-11 with a 5.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. That's a heck of a lot different than last season (13-7, 2.89, 1.03). And let's not forget about the drama that has hovered around him (chicken and beer, playing golf).
There's also no denying that, much like Hanley Ramirez, he really needed a change of scenery, and he's got it. Take a look at his postseason numbers: 14 games (13 starts), 7-3, 3.07 ERA, 0.94 WHIP. You don't think the Dodgers are excited about that? Here's a guy who won't be rattled to take the ball in October, and it shows.
It's hard to say too much about Crawford now, as he won't even be a factor this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery a couple days ago. Here's what we do know: his time in Boston has been a disaster. The Red Sox have to be ecstatic to simply rid themselves of his bloated contract, which was 7 years and $142 million back in 2010. Last year he played in 130 games and hit .255, and this year played 31 and hit .288. Not exactly the types of numbers they were expecting.
The Dodgers can now be patient with him as he recovers from surgery, as it typically takes anywhere from 6-9 months. All things considered, he could be ready for Spring Training, or closer to the start of the season if all goes well. And if he can find his groove that made him a superstar in Tampa, then the outfield of Crawford, Kemp, and Ethier is just awesome. Time will tell, however.
Punto gives the Dodgers another guy off the bench, which was needed since Jerry Hairston, Jr. has been lost for the season with a hip injury, which completely sucks. I'm sure Punto will get some playing time, as it's not like Juan Uribe should play over him. Heck, a one-armed Crawford could switch positions to infield and still play better than Uribe.
Needless to say, it's a historic deal for the Dodgers, and no doubt once again jolts some life into a team that has fallen back a bit in the playoff push. Now they have no excuses. Management has added plenty of positive pieces, so it's time to get the job done.
The same team that has gone out and acquired Hanley Ramirez, Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Brandon League, and Randy Choate has taken their new philosophy of "spend, spend, spend" even further. Coming over to LA from Boston are superstars Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto. OK, so technically Punto isn't a superstar, and Crawford and Beckett haven't been this year either, but you get the point.
Shuttling across the country to Boston are James Loney, Jerry Sands, Rubby De La Rosa, Ivan De Jesus, and top prospect Allen Webster.
The two major players in this deal for the Dodgers are obviously Gonzalez and Beckett. In Gonzalez, the Dodgers are finally getting the cleanup hitter they've been looking for. Now they can have Matt Kemp hit #3, Gonzalez #4, and flip-flop Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier in the #5-6 spots depending on the matchup. That's pretty nasty, and a heck of a lot better than what they've had.
Gonzalez wasn't the same player in the first half of the season, as he hit .283 with only 6 homers and 45 RBIs. But, in 37 games since the break, he's really found his stroke, hitting .338 with 9 homers and 41 RBIs. That's the guy the Dodgers need in their order cleaning up the bases.
The arrival of Beckett is fantastic timing only because of the latest injury to Chad Billingsley. It's the second time this year he's shown elbow inflammation, so who knows what kind of time he'll miss. And when you're bringing in a guy who was a major player on two championship teams, that's a good thing.
There's no denying that Beckett has not enjoyed the 2012 season at all. Right now he's 5-11 with a 5.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. That's a heck of a lot different than last season (13-7, 2.89, 1.03). And let's not forget about the drama that has hovered around him (chicken and beer, playing golf).
There's also no denying that, much like Hanley Ramirez, he really needed a change of scenery, and he's got it. Take a look at his postseason numbers: 14 games (13 starts), 7-3, 3.07 ERA, 0.94 WHIP. You don't think the Dodgers are excited about that? Here's a guy who won't be rattled to take the ball in October, and it shows.
It's hard to say too much about Crawford now, as he won't even be a factor this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery a couple days ago. Here's what we do know: his time in Boston has been a disaster. The Red Sox have to be ecstatic to simply rid themselves of his bloated contract, which was 7 years and $142 million back in 2010. Last year he played in 130 games and hit .255, and this year played 31 and hit .288. Not exactly the types of numbers they were expecting.
The Dodgers can now be patient with him as he recovers from surgery, as it typically takes anywhere from 6-9 months. All things considered, he could be ready for Spring Training, or closer to the start of the season if all goes well. And if he can find his groove that made him a superstar in Tampa, then the outfield of Crawford, Kemp, and Ethier is just awesome. Time will tell, however.
Punto gives the Dodgers another guy off the bench, which was needed since Jerry Hairston, Jr. has been lost for the season with a hip injury, which completely sucks. I'm sure Punto will get some playing time, as it's not like Juan Uribe should play over him. Heck, a one-armed Crawford could switch positions to infield and still play better than Uribe.
Needless to say, it's a historic deal for the Dodgers, and no doubt once again jolts some life into a team that has fallen back a bit in the playoff push. Now they have no excuses. Management has added plenty of positive pieces, so it's time to get the job done.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Dodgers and Red Sox working on a MAJOR deal
Word has come Friday afternoon that the Dodgers and Red Sox are piecing together a blockbuster deal that involves some major players.
Accoring to ESPN Boston, the Dodgers are about to receive Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto. The Dodgers have been rumored to do anything from sending over players like Rubby De La Rosa, James Loney, Ivan De Jesus, and Jerry Sands, to simply taking on all of those contracts. The Dodgers' part of the deal is still being worked out.
For the Dodgers, the deal means a HUGE upgrade at first (Gonzalez for Loney/Juan Rivera). Plus, Beckett has plenty of big game experience, and could use a change of scenery to regain his fire, ala Hanley Ramirez. And for the Sox, it's a great way to shed some mega contracts and somewhat start over. It makes sense on both sides.
As we learned near the trade deadline with Ryan Dempster, let's not assume any trade is finalized until we get official word. But if this does go down... whoa, baby! This is a big day!
For updates on this, keep checking out MLBTradeRumors.com.
Accoring to ESPN Boston, the Dodgers are about to receive Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford, and Nick Punto. The Dodgers have been rumored to do anything from sending over players like Rubby De La Rosa, James Loney, Ivan De Jesus, and Jerry Sands, to simply taking on all of those contracts. The Dodgers' part of the deal is still being worked out.
For the Dodgers, the deal means a HUGE upgrade at first (Gonzalez for Loney/Juan Rivera). Plus, Beckett has plenty of big game experience, and could use a change of scenery to regain his fire, ala Hanley Ramirez. And for the Sox, it's a great way to shed some mega contracts and somewhat start over. It makes sense on both sides.
As we learned near the trade deadline with Ryan Dempster, let's not assume any trade is finalized until we get official word. But if this does go down... whoa, baby! This is a big day!
For updates on this, keep checking out MLBTradeRumors.com.
Friday, August 10, 2012
News on Abreu, Gwynn, Kennedy, and Sands
The Dodgers have seen a lot go down in the last couple of days with roster movement, so here's the lowdown.
Adam Kennedy has been activated from the 15-day DL, where he was on since July 26 with a strained groin. In 70 games this year, Kennedy is hitting a blistering .250 with 8 doubles, a homer, and 15 RBIs. To his credit, he actually was having a great July before going down with a .342 AVG. Plus, he can play nearly every infield position, which is key late in games when it's substitution time.
Still, I'm pretty confused about why Sands is already going back down. Here I was a few days ago going on and on about how he'll play more first base in addition to the outfield... and then he gets sent back down after one game! Obviously he'll be back up when it's time for rosters to expand to 40 in September, but still, I didn't realize he was just keeping Kennedy's seat warm.
Speaking of biding time until September, a couple of veterans have accepted outright assignments to Triple-A Albuquerque: Bobby Abreu and Tony Gwynn. Both became victims of new blood and declining numbers, and both are willing to stick it out for a few weeks before coming back.
I wasn't too surprised when Gwynn accepted his assignment, but I have to admit, I all but forgot about Abreu. So when his name popped up as heading to the minors, I was really surprised. I actually have to give these two guys a ton of credit for even going to the minors in the first place. There's no way this would have happened if it were early in the season, and understandably so. But with September on the horizon, it's worth a shot.
Adam Kennedy has been activated from the 15-day DL, where he was on since July 26 with a strained groin. In 70 games this year, Kennedy is hitting a blistering .250 with 8 doubles, a homer, and 15 RBIs. To his credit, he actually was having a great July before going down with a .342 AVG. Plus, he can play nearly every infield position, which is key late in games when it's substitution time.
Still, I'm pretty confused about why Sands is already going back down. Here I was a few days ago going on and on about how he'll play more first base in addition to the outfield... and then he gets sent back down after one game! Obviously he'll be back up when it's time for rosters to expand to 40 in September, but still, I didn't realize he was just keeping Kennedy's seat warm.
Speaking of biding time until September, a couple of veterans have accepted outright assignments to Triple-A Albuquerque: Bobby Abreu and Tony Gwynn. Both became victims of new blood and declining numbers, and both are willing to stick it out for a few weeks before coming back.
I wasn't too surprised when Gwynn accepted his assignment, but I have to admit, I all but forgot about Abreu. So when his name popped up as heading to the minors, I was really surprised. I actually have to give these two guys a ton of credit for even going to the minors in the first place. There's no way this would have happened if it were early in the season, and understandably so. But with September on the horizon, it's worth a shot.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Dodgers recall Sands while designating Gwynn
The Dodgers made another move to improve their offense on Monday, calling Jerry Sands back up from Triple-A and designating Tony Gwynn for assignment.
Sands has mostly been an outfielder throughout his minor league career, but he also has started 27 games at first base. That's exactly what he'll be asked to do since the arrival of Shane Victorino means there are no open outfield spots anymore. So, look for Sands to start against lefties for the time being, swapping spots with Juan Rivera.
In 95 games this season at Albuquerque, Sands is hitting .286 with a .367 OBP, 14 doubles, 21 homers, and 82 RBIs. Keep in mind that numbers at that place can get inflated thanks to the thin air. But still, he's definitely shown that he's ready to ply his craft in LA again. In two years covering 69 games, he's hitting .248 with 4 homers and 27 RBIs, so hopefully he's ready to show that those numbers will only go up.
As for Gwynn, the writing was definitely on the wall when Victorino arrived that his days could be numbered. He's really a prototypical substitute, as he has plenty of speed and defensive ability. Unfortunately for him, his hitting was getting so bad, there was just no use for him anymore. It's not like Victorino, Matt Kemp, or Andre Ethier would need a defensive replacement late in games since they've all won Gold Gloves, so that option was out the window.
Over two years with the Dodgers, Gwynn hit a horrible .245, and even worse .294 OBP. The 35 stolen bases are good, but when you're never on base, it's pretty hard to steal. He needs to be given plenty of credit for his defense, which combined with his legs will still earn him a spot on some team. But as his recent 0-for-13 slump showed, it was time to let him go. He simply wasn't getting any better.
Overall, this is a smart move by the Dodgers. The additions of Victorino and Hanley Ramirez will only help the offense in the long run, but that lineup can still use more thump. Maybe Sands can be that guy who drives in runs at the bottom of the order. That way their lineup can be more consistent top to bottom. We shall see.
Sands has mostly been an outfielder throughout his minor league career, but he also has started 27 games at first base. That's exactly what he'll be asked to do since the arrival of Shane Victorino means there are no open outfield spots anymore. So, look for Sands to start against lefties for the time being, swapping spots with Juan Rivera.
In 95 games this season at Albuquerque, Sands is hitting .286 with a .367 OBP, 14 doubles, 21 homers, and 82 RBIs. Keep in mind that numbers at that place can get inflated thanks to the thin air. But still, he's definitely shown that he's ready to ply his craft in LA again. In two years covering 69 games, he's hitting .248 with 4 homers and 27 RBIs, so hopefully he's ready to show that those numbers will only go up.
As for Gwynn, the writing was definitely on the wall when Victorino arrived that his days could be numbered. He's really a prototypical substitute, as he has plenty of speed and defensive ability. Unfortunately for him, his hitting was getting so bad, there was just no use for him anymore. It's not like Victorino, Matt Kemp, or Andre Ethier would need a defensive replacement late in games since they've all won Gold Gloves, so that option was out the window.
Over two years with the Dodgers, Gwynn hit a horrible .245, and even worse .294 OBP. The 35 stolen bases are good, but when you're never on base, it's pretty hard to steal. He needs to be given plenty of credit for his defense, which combined with his legs will still earn him a spot on some team. But as his recent 0-for-13 slump showed, it was time to let him go. He simply wasn't getting any better.
Overall, this is a smart move by the Dodgers. The additions of Victorino and Hanley Ramirez will only help the offense in the long run, but that lineup can still use more thump. Maybe Sands can be that guy who drives in runs at the bottom of the order. That way their lineup can be more consistent top to bottom. We shall see.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sands to search for his swing in the minors
Jerry Sands may be the future for the Dodgers. But for now, he's the latest young stud to be suffering through a sophomore slump.
Sands has been optioned back to the minors on Tuesday. He's having a horrendous Spring Training at the plate, hitting only .158 with 2 RBIs in 38 at-bats. Throw in 12 strikeouts, and you get the picture that it hasn't been all peaches and cream for him so far.
It's a disappointment for everyone considering that he hit .342 last September after being called back up following a slow start earlier in the year. Just when you thought he had it all figured out, this happens. Don Mattingly envisioned him playing both in the outfield and possibly at first against lefties, giving some power that Andre Ethier and James Loney may have been lacking like last year.
Look, this isn't the worst thing in the world. Sands acknowledged that he needs to settle down and just focus on his mechanics to get going again. Getting away from the majors for a little while may do the trick. He could be a name to remember during the season, as he still has that label of being a potential power threat. Let's hope we see that come to fruition at some point this year.
Sands has been optioned back to the minors on Tuesday. He's having a horrendous Spring Training at the plate, hitting only .158 with 2 RBIs in 38 at-bats. Throw in 12 strikeouts, and you get the picture that it hasn't been all peaches and cream for him so far.
It's a disappointment for everyone considering that he hit .342 last September after being called back up following a slow start earlier in the year. Just when you thought he had it all figured out, this happens. Don Mattingly envisioned him playing both in the outfield and possibly at first against lefties, giving some power that Andre Ethier and James Loney may have been lacking like last year.
Look, this isn't the worst thing in the world. Sands acknowledged that he needs to settle down and just focus on his mechanics to get going again. Getting away from the majors for a little while may do the trick. He could be a name to remember during the season, as he still has that label of being a potential power threat. Let's hope we see that come to fruition at some point this year.
Monday, June 6, 2011
It's Dee Gordon time
The Dodgers activated three men off the Disabled List today in Blake Hawksworth, Juan Uribe, and Marcus Thames. The question then turned to which players would be replaced.
After making some roster moves today, Dodger management made one thing clear: the youth movement is upon us.
Not only were those three men activated, but shortstop and top prospect Dee Gordon has been given the big league call. Designated for assignment were Juan Castro and Jay Gibbons. Sent back down to Triple-A Albuquerque were John Ely and Ivan De Jesus.
It's obviously a big day for Gordon, and most likely an unexpected one because there wasn't much talk of calling him up. But his time has come, and with Rafael Furcal sidelined once again, he will get his chance to show what he's got.
In 50 games with Albuquerque this season, he was hitting .315 with a .361 OBP, plus 22 steals in 25 chances. Stealing bases is his forte, as he stole an incredible 73 in '09 with Great Lakes, and 53 the next season with Chattanooga. That's some unbelievable speed.
The down side? He commits errors, and a whole lot of them. In four years of minor league ball (369 games total), he's made 106 errors for a .937 fielding %. I'm no expert, but that's not very good. The slight silver lining is that he's up to .949 this year, his highest mark.
In addition to Gordon's arrival, Jerry Sands will be staying aboard, as Gibbons was the one given the boot. There had been speculation that it would be the other way around in order to keep both men in the organization, but give the Dodgers credit for doing the right thing. Sands is only hitting .210, but after dominating the minors for a few years, he still needs more time to get comfortable and produce.
I was a fan of the Gibbons signing this past offseason, but it clearly hasn't worked out. First he had problems with his eyes in spring training, which delayed the start of his season. When he has played, he's hitting .255 with one homer and five RBIs. So much for being a power bat from the left side. I do like Castro, so hopefully he can hang around and get called back up at some point.
It's about time the Dodgers got some good news on the injury front, as they have just been hit hard all season long. So, it's nice to see Uribe, Hawksworth, and Thames back. Plus with Gordon coming up and Sands staying around, there's finally some reasons to get excited again. It's not like we're talking major contenders here, but maybe more guys not named Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier will give Dodger fans something to cheer about.
After making some roster moves today, Dodger management made one thing clear: the youth movement is upon us.
Not only were those three men activated, but shortstop and top prospect Dee Gordon has been given the big league call. Designated for assignment were Juan Castro and Jay Gibbons. Sent back down to Triple-A Albuquerque were John Ely and Ivan De Jesus.
It's obviously a big day for Gordon, and most likely an unexpected one because there wasn't much talk of calling him up. But his time has come, and with Rafael Furcal sidelined once again, he will get his chance to show what he's got.
In 50 games with Albuquerque this season, he was hitting .315 with a .361 OBP, plus 22 steals in 25 chances. Stealing bases is his forte, as he stole an incredible 73 in '09 with Great Lakes, and 53 the next season with Chattanooga. That's some unbelievable speed.
The down side? He commits errors, and a whole lot of them. In four years of minor league ball (369 games total), he's made 106 errors for a .937 fielding %. I'm no expert, but that's not very good. The slight silver lining is that he's up to .949 this year, his highest mark.
In addition to Gordon's arrival, Jerry Sands will be staying aboard, as Gibbons was the one given the boot. There had been speculation that it would be the other way around in order to keep both men in the organization, but give the Dodgers credit for doing the right thing. Sands is only hitting .210, but after dominating the minors for a few years, he still needs more time to get comfortable and produce.
I was a fan of the Gibbons signing this past offseason, but it clearly hasn't worked out. First he had problems with his eyes in spring training, which delayed the start of his season. When he has played, he's hitting .255 with one homer and five RBIs. So much for being a power bat from the left side. I do like Castro, so hopefully he can hang around and get called back up at some point.
It's about time the Dodgers got some good news on the injury front, as they have just been hit hard all season long. So, it's nice to see Uribe, Hawksworth, and Thames back. Plus with Gordon coming up and Sands staying around, there's finally some reasons to get excited again. It's not like we're talking major contenders here, but maybe more guys not named Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier will give Dodger fans something to cheer about.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Sands will get his chance
In an effort to spark a lifeless offense, the Dodgers have called up outfielder Jerry Sands and designated Xavier Paul for assignment. Sands could play in left field for an ailing Marcus Thames, or slide over to first to spell an ineffective James Loney.
Wherever he plays, it's a good move by the Dodgers. Rather than just sitting back and hoping guys like Loney will step up, Don Mattingly can now give someone else a chance to make some noise. And make no mistake about it, Sands has been on fire in Triple-A Albuquerque this season. He's hitting .400 with five homers, 17 RBIs, and a 1.297 OPS.
Last season, he was named the organization's player of the year by hitting 35 homers between Single-A and Double-A. Mattingly already has him in the lineup for Monday night's game against the Braves.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing what this kid can do. It's not like the offense can get much worse, so why not put him in there? It would be a welcome sight for Dodger fans if he can have a big game sometime soon. If he struggles early, then it will be interesting to see how long Ned Colletti and others will stick with him. Either way, this is the right move to make.
Wherever he plays, it's a good move by the Dodgers. Rather than just sitting back and hoping guys like Loney will step up, Don Mattingly can now give someone else a chance to make some noise. And make no mistake about it, Sands has been on fire in Triple-A Albuquerque this season. He's hitting .400 with five homers, 17 RBIs, and a 1.297 OPS.
Last season, he was named the organization's player of the year by hitting 35 homers between Single-A and Double-A. Mattingly already has him in the lineup for Monday night's game against the Braves.
I'm very much looking forward to seeing what this kid can do. It's not like the offense can get much worse, so why not put him in there? It would be a welcome sight for Dodger fans if he can have a big game sometime soon. If he struggles early, then it will be interesting to see how long Ned Colletti and others will stick with him. Either way, this is the right move to make.
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