It didn't last long, as the Dodgers were bounced by the Cardinals in four games in the NLDS. But nonetheless, here's how I graded everyone based on their short stay.
A
A.J. Ellis - It looked like Ellis jumped out of his own body and straight into Mike Piazza's for the playoffs. He hit .538, smacked a homer, drove in two, and took four walks for a .647 OBP. Not bad for a guy who couldn't even break .200 in the regular season.
Zack Greinke - Did all he could in Game 2, which ended up being a victory despite him getting robbed of a win. Pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out seven. Also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored.
Hyun-Jin Ryu - Nobody really knew what to expect from him in Game 3, as he hadn't pitched in almost a month because of a bad shoulder. But when he took the mound, he was really good, giving up one run in six innings. Like the other loses, a blown lead in the late innings cost him a win.
Hanley Ramirez - Had an impressive showing by hitting .429 with a couple of RBIs, and some slick plays with his glove. Probably could've caught a liner that was just over his head in the seventh inning of Game 4, which soon led to Matt Adams' game-winning three-run shot, but it wasn't an easy play. I'd say he left a pretty good impression in his quest for a big contract.
Matt Kemp - Did all of his damage in the first two games, and his solo homer in the eighth inning of Game 2 led to the their only win. Still hit .353 despite going 1-for-8 over the final two games.
Brandon League - The only middle reliever worth a damn, as he had an 0.00 ERA in four appearances, and allowed none of his inherited runners to score.
Kenley Jansen - Only got one chance for a save, and closed the door in Game 2 with two strikeouts. The middle relief was so bad, that's the only time we saw him in four games.
B
Andre Ethier - Didn't have much of a chance to make an impact, but made the start in center for Yasiel Puig in Game 4 and took a couple of walks. Hit a big pinch-hit double in the ninth inning of Game 1 to get the Dodgers that close to tying it up.
C
Carl Crawford - Collected five hits, but took too many strikeouts with seven, one short of Puig for the team lead. His groundout to second to end Game 4 ended up being the final nail in the coffin.
Brian Wilson - Only made one appearance, giving up a double, intentional walk, and strikeout. Neither runner ended up scoring, so he got a little lucky. Still, his stuff was so bad by the end of the year, was barely even worth giving the ball to.
D
Clayton Kershaw - I never thought I'd put him this low, but it's reality. In both Game 1 and Game 4, took a lead into the seventh inning and just fell apart. Game 1 was totally on him, but Game 4 he at least kept things manageable. Still, I'm doubting the Dodgers were counting on a 7.82 ERA from him. If he could've made a few more big pitches, they could very well still be playing.
Adrian Gonzalez - Hit a two-run shot to try to begin the comeback in Game 1, but that was it for highlights. Went 3-for-16 and consistently failed to drive in runs from third in key situations. A big letdown for baseball's leading RBI man in the regular season.
Yasiel Puig - Had two hits and three runs in Game 1, then tripled and scored in Game 3. In between all of that, looked completely lost and helpless at the plate, striking out a whopping eight times. Finally got benched for Ethier in Game 4, which was a total slap in the face to him. But a deserved one.
Dee Gordon - Looked worn out at the plate, and only reached base five times with one steal. Pretty shocking that the leadoff man never scored one run in all four games.
Pedro Baez - Recovered a bit in Game 4 with 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball. But his three-run gopher ball he surrendered to Matt Holliday in relief of Kershaw in Game 1 proved to be the difference.
Juan Uribe - Played his typical good defense at third, but a 2-for-17 showing at the plate with six strikeouts was very disappointing.
F
J.P. Howell - His nosedive from September carried over into the playoffs, as he consistently got pounded in three games to the tune of a 13.50 ERA. Made a very lucky play on a grounder between his legs to turn a double play in Game 4, or his numbers would actually be worse.
Scott Elbert - Relieved Ryu in Game 3 with the game tied 1-1. Three batters later, the score was 3-1 thanks to a Kolten Wong two-run homer. Another middle reliever, another bad outing.
Justin Turner - It's not very fair to him, as he only had two at-bats after being the superstar utility guy in the regular season. Fair or not, failed both times to drive in runs in Games 1 and 4.
Showing posts with label report card. Show all posts
Showing posts with label report card. Show all posts
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Monday, September 29, 2014
2014 Report Card
The Dodgers are fresh off a sweep of the Rockies, a five-game winning streak, and most importantly, home-field advantage for the NLDS against the Cardinals. All is good.
Before the NLDS opens in a few days, let's take a look at the season that was for the boys in blue. Here's my 2014 report card.
(Also, here's my Midseason Report Card, where you can track who's gone up, down, or stayed the same.)
A
Clayton Kershaw - I mean, duh! There simply is no one better in baseball at what he does than Kershaw on the mound. He ends the season at 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 239 K's in 198 1/3 IP. Absolutely sensational.
Adrian Gonzalez - Who would have thought that A-Gon would lead all of baseball in RBIs? I doubt even his biggest fan, but he got the job done time and time again. His 116 RBIs were five more than Mike Trout. He also continued to strut his stuff in the field with only six errors and a .996 fielding %. What a season.
Zack Greinke - Once again made his case as the best #2 man in baseball. Went 17-8 with a 2.71 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 207 K's in 202 1/3 IP. He just continues to take the ball and do his thing without much publicity.
Kenley Jansen - Some early season struggles gave way to another big season when it was all said and done. His 44 saves were tied with Francisco Rodriguez for third in the NL. If the Dodgers can somehow bridge the gap and give him a lead, it's as good as over.
Matt Kemp - After a mediocre (at best) first half of the season, he would've had to do something special to earn a high grade. He did. His second half saw him lead the NL with 17 homers, and right behind A-Gon with 54 RBIs to his 56. Plus, he settled into right field very well. Quite a turnaround for a guy who looked washed up for a long time.
Dee Gordon - His second half saw him regress some, but for a guy who wasn't even penciled in as the starting second baseman in Spring Training, had a terrific season. He was tops in all of baseball with 64 steals and 12 triples. His defense at second got better and better with each game.
Juan Uribe - Missed some time with various injuries to only play in 103 games, but made his mark when he was in there. Hit .311 with nine homers and 54 RBIs, and was fantastic at the hot corner of third.
Yasiel Puig - I went back and forth with him between A and B due to his drop-off in the second half. But, it's hard to ignore .296, 16 homers, 69 RBIs, 37 doubles, and 11 steals. And then there's that arm in center, which continues to amaze.
Justin Turner - There might not be a better bench player in baseball. Appeared at all four infield positions, hitting .340 with seven homers, 40 RBIs, and 21 doubles. His two home runs against the Giants helped put the Dodgers a game away from clinching.
B
Hyun-Jin Ryu - He put up good numbers at 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Ran into the injury bug this year, which limited what the Dodgers could get out of him. Hopefully he's good to go in the playoffs either at or close to 100%.
Josh Beckett - He gets a bit of an incomplete, because his numbers are almost exclusively from the first half. Unfortunately, he's lost for the season with a bad hip, and perhaps that'll do it for his career as well. What you can't take away is a 2.88 ERA and first career no-hitter against the Phillies back in May.
Dan Haren - Things weren't looking good at all for him in the summer months, but a 3.48 ERA in August and 2.70 in September got him back in the Dodgers' good graces. For a guy brought in to pitch in the #4-5 slot, that's not bad at all.
Carl Crawford - How many people even realize he hit .300 this year? Well, hitting a ridiculous .448 in September made his season peak at the right moment. With him lacing the ball like he is now, is quietly a big threat in the playoffs.
Pedro Baez - Not the largest sample size with only 20 games, but on a team that desperately is looking for setup men, his 2.63 ERA and 0.88 WHIP are huge. Maybe he's the answer in the eighth inning?
J.P. Howell - Is most definitely trending downward, as hitters are either taking walks off of him, or are flat out killing his "fastball" of late. His season numbers are still very good with a 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 27 holds. And for that, he gets some love.
Scott Van Slyke - Appeared in 98 games playing here and there, and did reach double-digit homers with 11. Strikes out too much, but did hit .297 despite that.
Darwin Barney - Proved to be a very solid backup in the infield, especially for Gordon at second. Also hit .303 in 22 games with the Dodgers.
C
Hanley Ramirez - Maybe a little harsh, as he certainly didn't have a bad year. But it's not like he had a good one by his standards either. Is still as injury prone as it gets, playing in 128 games, hitting .283 with only 13 homers and 71 RBIs. His defense at short is among the worst in the league, too. Not quite the impression this free agent wanted to leave going into the winter.
Brandon League - Put together a very solid ERA at 2.57. But don't be fooled. His 1.46 WHIP is very high, and only shows how many guys reach base off of him. Can't be counted on to pitch big innings, either.
A.J. Ellis - I'll be nice here and point out how good he is at handling a staff, which is the only reason he gets rated even this high. Hit a pathetic .191, and his caught stealing % plummeted from .444 last season to .250 this year.
Miguel Rojas - Like Ellis, is definitely not ranked here because of his bat, which produced a .181 average. Rather, his defense was very good, as Don Mattingly regularly inserts him in at short to preserve late leads.
Andre Ethier - My last example of a guy who is here not because of his bat (.249, 4, 42), but because of his defense. Took over for Kemp in center back in May, but eventually because relegated to bench duty. At least has a solid glove, though.
Jamey Wright - Was having a good season... and then July hit. His ERA shot up from 1.91 at the end of June to 4.26 overall. Doesn't look like he's fooling anyone anymore.
D
Brian Wilson - So much for teaming up with Jansen to be the best setup-closer combination in baseball. Time and time again Wilson would stink it up in the eighth inning. His ERA and WHIP are sky high at 4.66 and 1.61.
Chris Perez - Another former closer who was a complete letdown. Walked way too many guys, and finished with a 4.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. A wasted signing for sure.
Drew Butera - Caught Beckett's no-hitter, which counts for something. But still gave nothing at the plate by hitting .188, and is very replaceable.
Paul Maholm - Became lost for the season in early August with a torn ACL. Didn't do much of anything before that anyway, as the long reliever and spot starter went 1-5 with a 4.84 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.
Roberto Hernandez - Started off pretty well, but constantly can't go deep into games because of high pitch counts. In nine starts with the Dodgers, went 2-3 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.51 WHIP.
Carlos Frias - Had one good moment when he went six scoreless against the Nationals in early September. But that was it, as his 6.12 ERA is hard to ignore. Had one of the worst starts in baseball history when the Rockies lit him up for eight runs in only 2/3 of an inning.
F
Kevin Correia - Went six innings and gave up one run to beat the Braves in his first start with the Dodgers. The rest was pretty awful. Ended up becoming a complete afterthought, going 2-4 with an 8.03 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in nine appearances.
Before the NLDS opens in a few days, let's take a look at the season that was for the boys in blue. Here's my 2014 report card.
(Also, here's my Midseason Report Card, where you can track who's gone up, down, or stayed the same.)
A
Clayton Kershaw - I mean, duh! There simply is no one better in baseball at what he does than Kershaw on the mound. He ends the season at 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 239 K's in 198 1/3 IP. Absolutely sensational.
Adrian Gonzalez - Who would have thought that A-Gon would lead all of baseball in RBIs? I doubt even his biggest fan, but he got the job done time and time again. His 116 RBIs were five more than Mike Trout. He also continued to strut his stuff in the field with only six errors and a .996 fielding %. What a season.
Zack Greinke - Once again made his case as the best #2 man in baseball. Went 17-8 with a 2.71 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 207 K's in 202 1/3 IP. He just continues to take the ball and do his thing without much publicity.
Kenley Jansen - Some early season struggles gave way to another big season when it was all said and done. His 44 saves were tied with Francisco Rodriguez for third in the NL. If the Dodgers can somehow bridge the gap and give him a lead, it's as good as over.
Matt Kemp - After a mediocre (at best) first half of the season, he would've had to do something special to earn a high grade. He did. His second half saw him lead the NL with 17 homers, and right behind A-Gon with 54 RBIs to his 56. Plus, he settled into right field very well. Quite a turnaround for a guy who looked washed up for a long time.
Dee Gordon - His second half saw him regress some, but for a guy who wasn't even penciled in as the starting second baseman in Spring Training, had a terrific season. He was tops in all of baseball with 64 steals and 12 triples. His defense at second got better and better with each game.
Juan Uribe - Missed some time with various injuries to only play in 103 games, but made his mark when he was in there. Hit .311 with nine homers and 54 RBIs, and was fantastic at the hot corner of third.
Yasiel Puig - I went back and forth with him between A and B due to his drop-off in the second half. But, it's hard to ignore .296, 16 homers, 69 RBIs, 37 doubles, and 11 steals. And then there's that arm in center, which continues to amaze.
Justin Turner - There might not be a better bench player in baseball. Appeared at all four infield positions, hitting .340 with seven homers, 40 RBIs, and 21 doubles. His two home runs against the Giants helped put the Dodgers a game away from clinching.
B
Hyun-Jin Ryu - He put up good numbers at 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Ran into the injury bug this year, which limited what the Dodgers could get out of him. Hopefully he's good to go in the playoffs either at or close to 100%.
Josh Beckett - He gets a bit of an incomplete, because his numbers are almost exclusively from the first half. Unfortunately, he's lost for the season with a bad hip, and perhaps that'll do it for his career as well. What you can't take away is a 2.88 ERA and first career no-hitter against the Phillies back in May.
Dan Haren - Things weren't looking good at all for him in the summer months, but a 3.48 ERA in August and 2.70 in September got him back in the Dodgers' good graces. For a guy brought in to pitch in the #4-5 slot, that's not bad at all.
Carl Crawford - How many people even realize he hit .300 this year? Well, hitting a ridiculous .448 in September made his season peak at the right moment. With him lacing the ball like he is now, is quietly a big threat in the playoffs.
Pedro Baez - Not the largest sample size with only 20 games, but on a team that desperately is looking for setup men, his 2.63 ERA and 0.88 WHIP are huge. Maybe he's the answer in the eighth inning?
J.P. Howell - Is most definitely trending downward, as hitters are either taking walks off of him, or are flat out killing his "fastball" of late. His season numbers are still very good with a 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 27 holds. And for that, he gets some love.
Scott Van Slyke - Appeared in 98 games playing here and there, and did reach double-digit homers with 11. Strikes out too much, but did hit .297 despite that.
Darwin Barney - Proved to be a very solid backup in the infield, especially for Gordon at second. Also hit .303 in 22 games with the Dodgers.
C
Hanley Ramirez - Maybe a little harsh, as he certainly didn't have a bad year. But it's not like he had a good one by his standards either. Is still as injury prone as it gets, playing in 128 games, hitting .283 with only 13 homers and 71 RBIs. His defense at short is among the worst in the league, too. Not quite the impression this free agent wanted to leave going into the winter.
Brandon League - Put together a very solid ERA at 2.57. But don't be fooled. His 1.46 WHIP is very high, and only shows how many guys reach base off of him. Can't be counted on to pitch big innings, either.
A.J. Ellis - I'll be nice here and point out how good he is at handling a staff, which is the only reason he gets rated even this high. Hit a pathetic .191, and his caught stealing % plummeted from .444 last season to .250 this year.
Miguel Rojas - Like Ellis, is definitely not ranked here because of his bat, which produced a .181 average. Rather, his defense was very good, as Don Mattingly regularly inserts him in at short to preserve late leads.
Andre Ethier - My last example of a guy who is here not because of his bat (.249, 4, 42), but because of his defense. Took over for Kemp in center back in May, but eventually because relegated to bench duty. At least has a solid glove, though.
Jamey Wright - Was having a good season... and then July hit. His ERA shot up from 1.91 at the end of June to 4.26 overall. Doesn't look like he's fooling anyone anymore.
D
Brian Wilson - So much for teaming up with Jansen to be the best setup-closer combination in baseball. Time and time again Wilson would stink it up in the eighth inning. His ERA and WHIP are sky high at 4.66 and 1.61.
Chris Perez - Another former closer who was a complete letdown. Walked way too many guys, and finished with a 4.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. A wasted signing for sure.
Drew Butera - Caught Beckett's no-hitter, which counts for something. But still gave nothing at the plate by hitting .188, and is very replaceable.
Paul Maholm - Became lost for the season in early August with a torn ACL. Didn't do much of anything before that anyway, as the long reliever and spot starter went 1-5 with a 4.84 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.
Roberto Hernandez - Started off pretty well, but constantly can't go deep into games because of high pitch counts. In nine starts with the Dodgers, went 2-3 with a 4.74 ERA and 1.51 WHIP.
Carlos Frias - Had one good moment when he went six scoreless against the Nationals in early September. But that was it, as his 6.12 ERA is hard to ignore. Had one of the worst starts in baseball history when the Rockies lit him up for eight runs in only 2/3 of an inning.
F
Kevin Correia - Went six innings and gave up one run to beat the Braves in his first start with the Dodgers. The rest was pretty awful. Ended up becoming a complete afterthought, going 2-4 with an 8.03 ERA and 1.70 WHIP in nine appearances.
Monday, July 14, 2014
2014 Mid-Season Report Card
Here we are at the All-Star break, and the Dodgers find themselves with the best record in the National League, and holding off the Giants by a game in the NL West.
It hasn't always been an easy ride, so let's take a look at who has done what and assign grades, report card style. Here goes:
A
Clayton Kershaw - This is about the easiest pick I'll have to make. It wasn't looking that way at the start of the season, as he was out six weeks with a pulled back muscle, then got shelled in Arizona in May. Since then, he's thrown a no-hitter and 41 straight scoreless innings. At 11-2 with a 1.78 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 126 K's in 96 1/3 IP, he's right at the front of the Cy Young race again.
Zack Greinke - The guy who had to carry the load in Kershaw's early absence was Greinke, and he's an All-Star because of it. He's 11-5 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Not bad for a #2 guy.
Yasiel Puig - Don Mattingly thinks he's the best right fielder in baseball, and it might be true. His power numbers have dipped since the end of May, but he's still hitting .309 with 12 homers, 52 RBIs, and seven steals. Plus, the cannon in right field stops runners from advancing a lot.
Dee Gordon - Who would have guessed this? After adding some muscle this offseason, he's responded by leading all of baseball in stolen bases with 43, and is hitting .292 with nine triples as well. His defense at second looks smoother every game. I'd say he's found a home there.
J.P. Howell - Forget the 1-3 record, his 19 holds show the value he's brought. Both righties and lefties are hitting under .200 against him, making him a big weapon late in games.
Josh Beckett - From being out of baseball with finger numbness last year to throwing a no-hitter this year, he's been everything the Dodgers could hope for and more. His record is only 6-5 thanks to his shoddy offense, but has a 2.26 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Seems to have perfected the curveball, which has given him new life.
Brandon League - Why not? Had zero expectations coming into the season, and owns a 2.09 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Still isn't closer material, but the bottom line is that when he's been in there, he's gotten outs. Good for him.
B
Hyun-Jin Ryu - His pitching performance in the last game before the break was an A+. A couple of rocky starts (home opener, at Detroit) have been the only rough spots, but still has a 3.44 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.
Juan Uribe - Continues to provide a great glove at third, and is hitting .297 with five homers and 26 RBIs. Did miss about a month with a hamstring injury, which bumps him down a bit.
Adrian Gonzalez - His 60 RBIs are tied with Justin Morneau for fourth in the NL. Also has a .997 fielding %. But, despite the high RBI total, his bat has been hibernating since April, as he's hitting .223 since then. He just seems like he's slowing down a little more each game.
Kenley Jansen - Has figured things out of late, as he's now on a string of nine straight scoreless appearances. Is 27-30 in save opportunities, but a few rough spots has his ERA at 3.49. Still a dominant strikeout pitcher with a 14.43 K/9. That's awesome.
Jamey Wright - His role has been a bit hard to figure out, as he was signed to be a long reliever, but hasn't always been used that way. Through it all, he had a 2.11 ERA entering July before he hit a rough patch to raise his ERA to 3.50.
Andre Ethier - This is more for his defense than his bat, as he's hitting only .253 with little to no power to speak of. Because Matt Kemp was so abysmal in center, he got switched there in late May and hasn't committed an error all season.
Scott Van Slyke - Still doesn't get as much playing time as he should, thanks to the big $$$ of the other players. In 60 games, is hitting .268 with eight homers and 16 RBIs. For such a big guy, is agile enough to play all outfield positions and first base.
Justin Turner - Currently on the DL with a hamstring injury, but before that was really playing well. Found himself playing plenty of third base, and is hitting .302 with 21 RBIs. He provides good value at different positions.
Chris Withrow - Is lost for the season, and then some, with Tommy John surgery. Had good numbers in the 20 games he did appear in, striking out 28 with a 2.95 ERA. Look for his name in the second half of 2015.
C
Hanley Ramirez - It's hard to see him getting his big money contract in the winter since he's so injury-prone. His defense at short is ranked as among the worst, or perhaps THE worst, in baseball. At the plate, he's hitting .275 with 11 homers and 48 RBIs. You just keep waiting to see more from him, and who knows if we will.
Dan Haren - Through April, had fantastic numbers with a 2.03 ERA. Hasn't been awful since, but not that great either, as his numbers have gone up each month since then. Right now is 8-6 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, and looks like the clear odd man out if the Dodgers trade for a starter.
Carl Crawford - An unfortunate turned ankle chasing after the ball cost him a month and a half of time. Was hitting very well in May at .333 with four homers, 14 RBI, and five steals. I'm not sure you can count on him being on the field without getting hurt, though.
Miguel Rojas - This certainly isn't for his hitting (.208, one homer), but for his great arm in the field. Has filled in very well defensively for Uribe at third and Ramirez at short with only two errors.
Drew Butera - For a backup catcher, has a very good 3.08 catcher's ERA, along with 11 RBIs. Not much else can be said about him at the plate with a .207 AVG, though.
D
Matt Kemp - My how his star has fallen. Strikes out way too much with 87 in 86 games, isn't nearly the power threat he once was, and had to be taken out of center field because he was so bad there. Maybe he can only go up from here, but he looks like damaged goods at this point.
Brian Wilson - Was fantastic last year, and couldn't have possibly started off this year any worse. Right now has a 5.64 ERA and 1.88 WHIP, and those numbers are actually an improvement since the end of May. So much for being the top setup man in baseball.
Paul Maholm - Finally had a good start against the Padres before the break, going scoreless for six innings. Prior to that did a big pile of nothing, as he's not really a reliever, but certainly isn't good enough to be a starter either. I can see him getting chopped at the trade deadline for some new blood.
Chris Perez - The thought was to bring the ex-Indians closer in and let him work innings with less pressure. So far, not so good. Has a 4.54 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, and just lets way too many hitters reach base. A pretty big disappointment early on.
A.J. Ellis - His 3.38 catcher's ERA is good, but that's about where it ends. Missed some time on the DL with an ankle injury, is hitting a paltry .214 with seven RBIs, and is letting people run wild on him. Pretty disappointing lack of production on both ends.
Chone Figgins - Was a surprise member of the roster coming out of Spring Training, but was kept because of his versatility. That's all well and good, but when you hit .217, there's not much reason to play you at any position.
F
Paco Rodriguez - Poor Paco. He went from being a key member of last year's run to demoted this year. Appeared in 10 games this year for a 6.43 ERA and 1.86 WHIP. His arm ran out of steam at the end of last year, and doesn't look like it's regained much juice.
Miguel Olivo - Found himself promoted to the big club in May because of his power in Triple-A. Then thought it would be a good idea to get into a fight with Alex Guerrero when he was sent back down, bite part of his ear off, then get released. What a complete moron. Good riddance.
Carlos Triunfel - Maybe a bit unfair since he clearly wasn't ready for the Majors when he was called up. But, because of many injuries, was put into action and hit .143 with an .889 fielding %. Um, not good.
Tim Federowicz - Hitting .131 in yet another chance to prove his worth should signal the end for him. Simply cannot hit Major League pitching.
Jamie Romak - Played a few different positions, but was 1-for-21 at the plate. That's .048. Ouch.
It hasn't always been an easy ride, so let's take a look at who has done what and assign grades, report card style. Here goes:
A
Clayton Kershaw - This is about the easiest pick I'll have to make. It wasn't looking that way at the start of the season, as he was out six weeks with a pulled back muscle, then got shelled in Arizona in May. Since then, he's thrown a no-hitter and 41 straight scoreless innings. At 11-2 with a 1.78 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 126 K's in 96 1/3 IP, he's right at the front of the Cy Young race again.
Zack Greinke - The guy who had to carry the load in Kershaw's early absence was Greinke, and he's an All-Star because of it. He's 11-5 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Not bad for a #2 guy.
Yasiel Puig - Don Mattingly thinks he's the best right fielder in baseball, and it might be true. His power numbers have dipped since the end of May, but he's still hitting .309 with 12 homers, 52 RBIs, and seven steals. Plus, the cannon in right field stops runners from advancing a lot.
Dee Gordon - Who would have guessed this? After adding some muscle this offseason, he's responded by leading all of baseball in stolen bases with 43, and is hitting .292 with nine triples as well. His defense at second looks smoother every game. I'd say he's found a home there.
J.P. Howell - Forget the 1-3 record, his 19 holds show the value he's brought. Both righties and lefties are hitting under .200 against him, making him a big weapon late in games.
Josh Beckett - From being out of baseball with finger numbness last year to throwing a no-hitter this year, he's been everything the Dodgers could hope for and more. His record is only 6-5 thanks to his shoddy offense, but has a 2.26 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Seems to have perfected the curveball, which has given him new life.
Brandon League - Why not? Had zero expectations coming into the season, and owns a 2.09 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Still isn't closer material, but the bottom line is that when he's been in there, he's gotten outs. Good for him.
B
Hyun-Jin Ryu - His pitching performance in the last game before the break was an A+. A couple of rocky starts (home opener, at Detroit) have been the only rough spots, but still has a 3.44 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.
Juan Uribe - Continues to provide a great glove at third, and is hitting .297 with five homers and 26 RBIs. Did miss about a month with a hamstring injury, which bumps him down a bit.
Adrian Gonzalez - His 60 RBIs are tied with Justin Morneau for fourth in the NL. Also has a .997 fielding %. But, despite the high RBI total, his bat has been hibernating since April, as he's hitting .223 since then. He just seems like he's slowing down a little more each game.
Kenley Jansen - Has figured things out of late, as he's now on a string of nine straight scoreless appearances. Is 27-30 in save opportunities, but a few rough spots has his ERA at 3.49. Still a dominant strikeout pitcher with a 14.43 K/9. That's awesome.
Jamey Wright - His role has been a bit hard to figure out, as he was signed to be a long reliever, but hasn't always been used that way. Through it all, he had a 2.11 ERA entering July before he hit a rough patch to raise his ERA to 3.50.
Andre Ethier - This is more for his defense than his bat, as he's hitting only .253 with little to no power to speak of. Because Matt Kemp was so abysmal in center, he got switched there in late May and hasn't committed an error all season.
Scott Van Slyke - Still doesn't get as much playing time as he should, thanks to the big $$$ of the other players. In 60 games, is hitting .268 with eight homers and 16 RBIs. For such a big guy, is agile enough to play all outfield positions and first base.
Justin Turner - Currently on the DL with a hamstring injury, but before that was really playing well. Found himself playing plenty of third base, and is hitting .302 with 21 RBIs. He provides good value at different positions.
Chris Withrow - Is lost for the season, and then some, with Tommy John surgery. Had good numbers in the 20 games he did appear in, striking out 28 with a 2.95 ERA. Look for his name in the second half of 2015.
C
Hanley Ramirez - It's hard to see him getting his big money contract in the winter since he's so injury-prone. His defense at short is ranked as among the worst, or perhaps THE worst, in baseball. At the plate, he's hitting .275 with 11 homers and 48 RBIs. You just keep waiting to see more from him, and who knows if we will.
Dan Haren - Through April, had fantastic numbers with a 2.03 ERA. Hasn't been awful since, but not that great either, as his numbers have gone up each month since then. Right now is 8-6 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, and looks like the clear odd man out if the Dodgers trade for a starter.
Carl Crawford - An unfortunate turned ankle chasing after the ball cost him a month and a half of time. Was hitting very well in May at .333 with four homers, 14 RBI, and five steals. I'm not sure you can count on him being on the field without getting hurt, though.
Miguel Rojas - This certainly isn't for his hitting (.208, one homer), but for his great arm in the field. Has filled in very well defensively for Uribe at third and Ramirez at short with only two errors.
Drew Butera - For a backup catcher, has a very good 3.08 catcher's ERA, along with 11 RBIs. Not much else can be said about him at the plate with a .207 AVG, though.
D
Matt Kemp - My how his star has fallen. Strikes out way too much with 87 in 86 games, isn't nearly the power threat he once was, and had to be taken out of center field because he was so bad there. Maybe he can only go up from here, but he looks like damaged goods at this point.
Brian Wilson - Was fantastic last year, and couldn't have possibly started off this year any worse. Right now has a 5.64 ERA and 1.88 WHIP, and those numbers are actually an improvement since the end of May. So much for being the top setup man in baseball.
Paul Maholm - Finally had a good start against the Padres before the break, going scoreless for six innings. Prior to that did a big pile of nothing, as he's not really a reliever, but certainly isn't good enough to be a starter either. I can see him getting chopped at the trade deadline for some new blood.
Chris Perez - The thought was to bring the ex-Indians closer in and let him work innings with less pressure. So far, not so good. Has a 4.54 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, and just lets way too many hitters reach base. A pretty big disappointment early on.
A.J. Ellis - His 3.38 catcher's ERA is good, but that's about where it ends. Missed some time on the DL with an ankle injury, is hitting a paltry .214 with seven RBIs, and is letting people run wild on him. Pretty disappointing lack of production on both ends.
Chone Figgins - Was a surprise member of the roster coming out of Spring Training, but was kept because of his versatility. That's all well and good, but when you hit .217, there's not much reason to play you at any position.
F
Paco Rodriguez - Poor Paco. He went from being a key member of last year's run to demoted this year. Appeared in 10 games this year for a 6.43 ERA and 1.86 WHIP. His arm ran out of steam at the end of last year, and doesn't look like it's regained much juice.
Miguel Olivo - Found himself promoted to the big club in May because of his power in Triple-A. Then thought it would be a good idea to get into a fight with Alex Guerrero when he was sent back down, bite part of his ear off, then get released. What a complete moron. Good riddance.
Carlos Triunfel - Maybe a bit unfair since he clearly wasn't ready for the Majors when he was called up. But, because of many injuries, was put into action and hit .143 with an .889 fielding %. Um, not good.
Tim Federowicz - Hitting .131 in yet another chance to prove his worth should signal the end for him. Simply cannot hit Major League pitching.
Jamie Romak - Played a few different positions, but was 1-for-21 at the plate. That's .048. Ouch.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
2013 Postseason Report Card
The final installment of my report card series focuses on the postseason. While it started off great with a 3-1 Division Series win over the Braves, it all came crashing down in a 4-2 defeat against the Cardinals. Let's take a look.
A
Brian Wilson - The most consistent pitcher when it was all said and done, he was scoreless in six appearances, striking out eight in six innings. I would think he earned himself a closer's job next season.
Zack Greinke - Didn't get the luxury of working with much run support, but a 2.57 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in three starts is pretty darn good. He did blow a 2-0 lead in Game 1 against the Cardinals, but like I said before, his offense gave him next to nothing.
Adrian Gonzalez - Found his power stroke with three homers and two doubles in 10 games, and hit a healthy .316. Capped off a big season for him at first base.
A.J. Ellis - Caught every single inning in both rounds, plus hit .323 with a .400 OBP.
Carl Crawford - The Dodgers needed his two home runs in the clinching game against the Braves, and ended up with a .310 average with four homers total in the leadoff spot. Also, led the team with 26 total bases.
Kenley Jansen - His 4.15 ERA and 1.62 WHIP are very high for him, but that's because of a rough Game 5 against the Cardinals, which was a win anyway. Saved both his games and struck out 10 in 4 1/3 innings.
J.P. Howell - Much like he did all season long, quietly put together good numbers with a 1.50 ERA and 1.33 ERA in six innings. Was the only lefty available in the bullpen in the NLCS, which shows how much he was trusted.
Chris Capuano - Made one appearance, which came in the big Game 3 win over the Braves, tossing three scoreless innings. It wasn't pretty with three walks, but no runs surrendered is the bottom line.
B
Clayton Kershaw - He was well on his way to an easy A, but it's hard to ignore his rough Game 6 against the Cardinals. Take away those four innings and seven runs, and he surrendered only one run in the other 19.
Hanley Ramirez - So, so good against the Braves by hitting .500 with a homer and four doubles... then got beaned in the ribs in Game 1 against the Cardinals, and was 2-for-15. He showed a lot of heart in even playing those games, but his power bat was sorely missed.
Yasiel Puig - When he wasn't striking out he did some damage, but 14 K's in 10 games is way too much. Was moved to the middle of the order before the playoffs to drive in runs, but only had four RBIs, and his 0-for-10 in the first two games of the NLCS included six K's.
Juan Uribe - Gets this only because of his great NLDS, as his two-run shot in the eighth inning of Game 4 was the series clincher. His bat was atrocious the next round, hitting only .130 with three singles and seven strikeouts.
Hyun-Jin Ryu - Started off being hit around against the Braves, but was fantastic in getting the Dodgers their first win in Game 3 against the Cardinals.
C
Nick Punto - Did an admirable job in filling in for Hanley Ramirez when he was injured. But, getting picked off of second in the seventh inning in Game 4 of the NLCS was just killer. Not quite as bad as Kolten Wong, but still...
Mark Ellis - Got the start in all 10 games, and while he wasn't bad, just wasn't that good either. Hit .250 with nine strikeouts, and never made much of an impact.
D
Andre Ethier - Battled through a bad ankle injury, and eventually found his way back into the starting lineup. Unfortunately, that may not have been a good thing, as he hit a lowly .130 with no extra-base hits or RBIs. A big disappointment.
Skip Schumaker - Got some starts thanks to Ethier's injury, but did nothing with them. Hit .158 with two RBIs, and proved to be nothing more than a bench player.
Ricky Nolasco - Got skipped over in the NLDS in favor of Kershaw on short rest, then took the loss in Game 4 of the NLCS. He wasn't awful, but only gave four innings in an ineffective start.
F
Michael Young - Signed to be a big veteran bat off the bench and for his versatility. Instead, went 1-for-10 and failed to make any sort of impact at all in what might be a disappointing end to his career.
Dee Gordon - Only had one chance to make an impression, and got nailed trying to steal late in Game 2 against the Braves. It's the ultimate small sample size, but he failed to do the only job he was put on the roster for.
Paco Rodriguez - It was a tough end to the season for Paco, as he simply ran out of gas. The Braves smacked him around twice to the tune of a 27.00 ERA, and was left off the NLCS roster.
Chris Withrow - Six walks in five innings was his biggest undoing, as he had a 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in four appearances.
Ronald Belisario - Somehow found his way into seven games, which was way too much. Ended up with an enormous 7.36 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Thank God for Brian Wilson.
A
Brian Wilson - The most consistent pitcher when it was all said and done, he was scoreless in six appearances, striking out eight in six innings. I would think he earned himself a closer's job next season.
Zack Greinke - Didn't get the luxury of working with much run support, but a 2.57 ERA and 0.76 WHIP in three starts is pretty darn good. He did blow a 2-0 lead in Game 1 against the Cardinals, but like I said before, his offense gave him next to nothing.
Adrian Gonzalez - Found his power stroke with three homers and two doubles in 10 games, and hit a healthy .316. Capped off a big season for him at first base.
A.J. Ellis - Caught every single inning in both rounds, plus hit .323 with a .400 OBP.
Carl Crawford - The Dodgers needed his two home runs in the clinching game against the Braves, and ended up with a .310 average with four homers total in the leadoff spot. Also, led the team with 26 total bases.
Kenley Jansen - His 4.15 ERA and 1.62 WHIP are very high for him, but that's because of a rough Game 5 against the Cardinals, which was a win anyway. Saved both his games and struck out 10 in 4 1/3 innings.
J.P. Howell - Much like he did all season long, quietly put together good numbers with a 1.50 ERA and 1.33 ERA in six innings. Was the only lefty available in the bullpen in the NLCS, which shows how much he was trusted.
Chris Capuano - Made one appearance, which came in the big Game 3 win over the Braves, tossing three scoreless innings. It wasn't pretty with three walks, but no runs surrendered is the bottom line.
B
Clayton Kershaw - He was well on his way to an easy A, but it's hard to ignore his rough Game 6 against the Cardinals. Take away those four innings and seven runs, and he surrendered only one run in the other 19.
Hanley Ramirez - So, so good against the Braves by hitting .500 with a homer and four doubles... then got beaned in the ribs in Game 1 against the Cardinals, and was 2-for-15. He showed a lot of heart in even playing those games, but his power bat was sorely missed.
Yasiel Puig - When he wasn't striking out he did some damage, but 14 K's in 10 games is way too much. Was moved to the middle of the order before the playoffs to drive in runs, but only had four RBIs, and his 0-for-10 in the first two games of the NLCS included six K's.
Juan Uribe - Gets this only because of his great NLDS, as his two-run shot in the eighth inning of Game 4 was the series clincher. His bat was atrocious the next round, hitting only .130 with three singles and seven strikeouts.
Hyun-Jin Ryu - Started off being hit around against the Braves, but was fantastic in getting the Dodgers their first win in Game 3 against the Cardinals.
C
Nick Punto - Did an admirable job in filling in for Hanley Ramirez when he was injured. But, getting picked off of second in the seventh inning in Game 4 of the NLCS was just killer. Not quite as bad as Kolten Wong, but still...
Mark Ellis - Got the start in all 10 games, and while he wasn't bad, just wasn't that good either. Hit .250 with nine strikeouts, and never made much of an impact.
D
Andre Ethier - Battled through a bad ankle injury, and eventually found his way back into the starting lineup. Unfortunately, that may not have been a good thing, as he hit a lowly .130 with no extra-base hits or RBIs. A big disappointment.
Skip Schumaker - Got some starts thanks to Ethier's injury, but did nothing with them. Hit .158 with two RBIs, and proved to be nothing more than a bench player.
Ricky Nolasco - Got skipped over in the NLDS in favor of Kershaw on short rest, then took the loss in Game 4 of the NLCS. He wasn't awful, but only gave four innings in an ineffective start.
F
Michael Young - Signed to be a big veteran bat off the bench and for his versatility. Instead, went 1-for-10 and failed to make any sort of impact at all in what might be a disappointing end to his career.
Dee Gordon - Only had one chance to make an impression, and got nailed trying to steal late in Game 2 against the Braves. It's the ultimate small sample size, but he failed to do the only job he was put on the roster for.
Paco Rodriguez - It was a tough end to the season for Paco, as he simply ran out of gas. The Braves smacked him around twice to the tune of a 27.00 ERA, and was left off the NLCS roster.
Chris Withrow - Six walks in five innings was his biggest undoing, as he had a 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in four appearances.
Ronald Belisario - Somehow found his way into seven games, which was way too much. Ended up with an enormous 7.36 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. Thank God for Brian Wilson.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
2013 Report Card
(Note: This is my annual report card, but for the regular season only. I will be back with a postseason report card very soon. To view my mid-season report card, click below.)
2013 Mid-Season Report Card
A
Clayton Kershaw - The soon-to-be Cy Young Award winner was everything the Dodgers could've hoped for. Led the NL in ERA (1.83), WHIP (0.92), and K's (232), while finishing third in wins (16) despite a horrible lack of run support for much of the season.
Zack Greinke - A rough start because of injuries eventually gave way to an ace-like end. A 1.85 ERA in the second half paved the way to a 2.63 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 15-4 record.
Kenley Jansen - Saved the day in the bullpen, as one of the key moves to turnaround the season came in early June when he took over the closer's role. Finished with 28 saves and a fantastic 13.03 K/9.
Hanley Ramirez - Playing in only 86 games was tough, but was terrific when he was in there. Hit .345 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs, and made the offense a whole lot better just by being in the lineup.
Adrian Gonzalez - Played through neck pain early in the season, which led to some uncharacteristic errors at first. But he finished with 157 games played, hitting .293 with 22 homers and 100 RBIs, and was a steady influence all season long.
Yasiel Puig - There's no denying the electricity this guy brought at a time the Dodgers desperately needed it. Ended up hitting .319 with 19 homers, 42 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases, not to mention the eight assists from the outfield.
Juan Uribe - Who knew? This guy totally changed his career around, becoming a vacuum at third base, plus hitting 12 homers and 50 RBIs.
Brian Wilson - Even though he only appeared in 18 games at the end, was the perfect setup man with an 0.66 ERA. Definitely proved his arm troubles are a thing of the past.
J.P. Howell - Quietly had a 2.03 ERA and 1.05 WHIP as one of the primary left-handed relievers.
Paco Rodriguez - Faded at the end, but you can't forget how good he was for so long. Still fresh out of college, pitched in 76 games to a 2.32 ERA and 0.90 WHIP.
Hyun-Jin Ryu - Wasn't expected to be more than maybe a #4 guy, but outpitched those expectations by going 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.
B
Andre Ethier - His numbers continue to be unimpressive (.272/12/52), but something should be said about his versatility in the outfield, especially with so many injuries to others. Still plays very solid defense.
Carl Crawford - Had his usual ups-and-downs as far as injuries go, limiting him to 116 games with some days of rest mixed in. Only had 15 stolen bases, but is still somewhat of a threat at the plate as he worked his way back from Tommy John.
Mark Ellis - His days as a starting second basemen could be over with the signing of Alexander Guerrero, but still sets a great example of how to play hard. Hit .270, but remains great on defense.
Ricky Nolasco - Started his Dodger tenure a house of fire... but oh, those last three starts. ERA shot up from 3.14 to 3.70, and probably cost himself more starts in the playoffs. But, went 7-0 in his first eight starts, which played a big role in the summer run.
Chris Withrow - The flamethrower hit the rookie wall towards the end, but still had a 2.60 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 43 K's in 34 2/3 innings. A power arm to keep an eye on in middle relief.
A.J. Ellis - Turned himself into one of the final candidates for a Gold Glove, where he's valued most. Only hit .238, but his 52 RBIs included some big ones along the way.
Nick Punto - Gets upgraded because of his ability to play three infield positions (third, short, second), which was big because of the revolving door of injuries to everyone else.
Michael Young - Did a solid job by hitting .314, even though he was short on power. Plus, he appeared at all four infield positions.
C
Matt Kemp - Somehow played in 73 games, even though it seemed like much less. Once again his season was derailed by one injury after another, and you have to question if his body is too brittle to ever be a star player again. Never thought he'd have 6 homers and 33 RBIs for the whole season.
Scott Van Slyke - Never really took advantage of any sort of playing time he was given, hitting .240 with 7 homers and 19 RBIs in 53 games. Seemed like he should've made a bigger impact.
Skip Schumaker - Wasn't bad, but never really was the good pinch-hitter he was signed to be, hitting only .263 in 319 at-bats. At least he pitched two shutout innings, though!
Carlos Marmol - Definitely was better off in LA after a disastrous stint with the Cubs, and did have a solid 2.53 ERA. However, his 1.55 WHIP showed his control problems will never go away.
Stephen Fife - More injuries disrupted his season, but had four wins with a 3.86 ERA, so wasn't too bad.
D
Dee Gordon - Got passed over by Justin Sellers (Justin Sellers!) for shortstop when Ramirez was hurt to start the season, and proved again why he'll never be an everyday player with an awful .234 average.
Tim Federowicz - Maybe there's a reason A.J. appeared in so many games - this guy was pretty bad. Had nearly as many strikeouts (56) as total bases (57), and never gave Don Mattingly a reason to play him more.
Ronald Belisario - Mr. Inconsistency was just that - inconsistent. Is no longer a strikeout pitcher, and a 3.97 ERA and 1.47 WHIP showed how unreliable he is.
Chris Capuano - Speaking of inconsistent, there's him. One start he'd look good, the next start he'd get bombed en route to a 4.26 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. His best days are clearly behind.
Jerry Hairston - Left off the playoff roster because of a pitiful .211 average with no pop at all.
F
Brandon League - An absolute abomination as the closer. And to think, his numbers actually IMPROVED to a 5.30 ERA and 1.55 WHIP after being demoted. That says it all right there. A horrible deal by Ned Colletti.
Matt Magill - Failed to take any soft of advantage of spot starts, bombing his way to a 6.51 ERA and 1.99 WHIP.
Matt Guerrier - Earned his way to Chicago with a 4.80 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Remember how he was signed to be the primary setup man? Yikes, that's a scary thought.
Peter Moylan - Pathetic numbers with a 6.46 ERA and 1.96 WHIP.
Ramon Hernandez - Was given 17 games to prove his worth. Well, he did by hitting .208, earning him a ticket out of town.
Justin Sellers - A horrendous choice to start the season at short, hitting .188. Ouch.
Luis Cruz - Had one of the biggest downfalls I can recall in recent memory. Had third base all to himself over Uribe, yet hit .127 in 45 games, and more than played his way to the waiver wire. Boy was he bad!
2013 Mid-Season Report Card
A
Clayton Kershaw - The soon-to-be Cy Young Award winner was everything the Dodgers could've hoped for. Led the NL in ERA (1.83), WHIP (0.92), and K's (232), while finishing third in wins (16) despite a horrible lack of run support for much of the season.
Zack Greinke - A rough start because of injuries eventually gave way to an ace-like end. A 1.85 ERA in the second half paved the way to a 2.63 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and a 15-4 record.
Kenley Jansen - Saved the day in the bullpen, as one of the key moves to turnaround the season came in early June when he took over the closer's role. Finished with 28 saves and a fantastic 13.03 K/9.
Hanley Ramirez - Playing in only 86 games was tough, but was terrific when he was in there. Hit .345 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs, and made the offense a whole lot better just by being in the lineup.
Adrian Gonzalez - Played through neck pain early in the season, which led to some uncharacteristic errors at first. But he finished with 157 games played, hitting .293 with 22 homers and 100 RBIs, and was a steady influence all season long.
Yasiel Puig - There's no denying the electricity this guy brought at a time the Dodgers desperately needed it. Ended up hitting .319 with 19 homers, 42 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases, not to mention the eight assists from the outfield.
Juan Uribe - Who knew? This guy totally changed his career around, becoming a vacuum at third base, plus hitting 12 homers and 50 RBIs.
Brian Wilson - Even though he only appeared in 18 games at the end, was the perfect setup man with an 0.66 ERA. Definitely proved his arm troubles are a thing of the past.
J.P. Howell - Quietly had a 2.03 ERA and 1.05 WHIP as one of the primary left-handed relievers.
Paco Rodriguez - Faded at the end, but you can't forget how good he was for so long. Still fresh out of college, pitched in 76 games to a 2.32 ERA and 0.90 WHIP.
Hyun-Jin Ryu - Wasn't expected to be more than maybe a #4 guy, but outpitched those expectations by going 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.
B
Andre Ethier - His numbers continue to be unimpressive (.272/12/52), but something should be said about his versatility in the outfield, especially with so many injuries to others. Still plays very solid defense.
Carl Crawford - Had his usual ups-and-downs as far as injuries go, limiting him to 116 games with some days of rest mixed in. Only had 15 stolen bases, but is still somewhat of a threat at the plate as he worked his way back from Tommy John.
Mark Ellis - His days as a starting second basemen could be over with the signing of Alexander Guerrero, but still sets a great example of how to play hard. Hit .270, but remains great on defense.
Ricky Nolasco - Started his Dodger tenure a house of fire... but oh, those last three starts. ERA shot up from 3.14 to 3.70, and probably cost himself more starts in the playoffs. But, went 7-0 in his first eight starts, which played a big role in the summer run.
Chris Withrow - The flamethrower hit the rookie wall towards the end, but still had a 2.60 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 43 K's in 34 2/3 innings. A power arm to keep an eye on in middle relief.
A.J. Ellis - Turned himself into one of the final candidates for a Gold Glove, where he's valued most. Only hit .238, but his 52 RBIs included some big ones along the way.
Nick Punto - Gets upgraded because of his ability to play three infield positions (third, short, second), which was big because of the revolving door of injuries to everyone else.
Michael Young - Did a solid job by hitting .314, even though he was short on power. Plus, he appeared at all four infield positions.
C
Matt Kemp - Somehow played in 73 games, even though it seemed like much less. Once again his season was derailed by one injury after another, and you have to question if his body is too brittle to ever be a star player again. Never thought he'd have 6 homers and 33 RBIs for the whole season.
Scott Van Slyke - Never really took advantage of any sort of playing time he was given, hitting .240 with 7 homers and 19 RBIs in 53 games. Seemed like he should've made a bigger impact.
Skip Schumaker - Wasn't bad, but never really was the good pinch-hitter he was signed to be, hitting only .263 in 319 at-bats. At least he pitched two shutout innings, though!
Carlos Marmol - Definitely was better off in LA after a disastrous stint with the Cubs, and did have a solid 2.53 ERA. However, his 1.55 WHIP showed his control problems will never go away.
Stephen Fife - More injuries disrupted his season, but had four wins with a 3.86 ERA, so wasn't too bad.
D
Dee Gordon - Got passed over by Justin Sellers (Justin Sellers!) for shortstop when Ramirez was hurt to start the season, and proved again why he'll never be an everyday player with an awful .234 average.
Tim Federowicz - Maybe there's a reason A.J. appeared in so many games - this guy was pretty bad. Had nearly as many strikeouts (56) as total bases (57), and never gave Don Mattingly a reason to play him more.
Ronald Belisario - Mr. Inconsistency was just that - inconsistent. Is no longer a strikeout pitcher, and a 3.97 ERA and 1.47 WHIP showed how unreliable he is.
Chris Capuano - Speaking of inconsistent, there's him. One start he'd look good, the next start he'd get bombed en route to a 4.26 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. His best days are clearly behind.
Jerry Hairston - Left off the playoff roster because of a pitiful .211 average with no pop at all.
F
Brandon League - An absolute abomination as the closer. And to think, his numbers actually IMPROVED to a 5.30 ERA and 1.55 WHIP after being demoted. That says it all right there. A horrible deal by Ned Colletti.
Matt Magill - Failed to take any soft of advantage of spot starts, bombing his way to a 6.51 ERA and 1.99 WHIP.
Matt Guerrier - Earned his way to Chicago with a 4.80 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Remember how he was signed to be the primary setup man? Yikes, that's a scary thought.
Peter Moylan - Pathetic numbers with a 6.46 ERA and 1.96 WHIP.
Ramon Hernandez - Was given 17 games to prove his worth. Well, he did by hitting .208, earning him a ticket out of town.
Justin Sellers - A horrendous choice to start the season at short, hitting .188. Ouch.
Luis Cruz - Had one of the biggest downfalls I can recall in recent memory. Had third base all to himself over Uribe, yet hit .127 in 45 games, and more than played his way to the waiver wire. Boy was he bad!
Monday, July 15, 2013
2013 Mid-Season Report Card
The Major League Baseball season has reached the All-Star break, and with it comes four days of rest for each club. The Dodgers were either awful or fantastic, with not much in between. Here I will take a look at how each player has performed, report card style. Let's go!
A
Clayton Kershaw - He's at the top of the National League (1.98 ERA, 0.91 WHIP), or in second (139 K's, 145 1/3 IP). There's not much more you can say about just how awesome he is. He's about to earn some serious dough in the near future.
Yasiel Puig - About the only thing that has even somewhat held him down is a sore left hip. Electrified LA at the perfect time by hitting .391 with 8 2B, 8 HR, 19 RBI, and 5 SB. Plus great defense, too. Puigmania!
Hanley Ramirez - Has only played in 39 games, so probably deserves a "B" at the most, but has been so good of late, he gets bumped up. He's hitting .386 with 11 2B, 8 HR, 25 RBI, and 4 SB. The ball has been jumping of his bat. His defense at short, something that has been an issue in the past, appears to be much-improved.
Adrian Gonzalez - Isn't the same power threat he once was, but is tied with Andre Ethier for most games played at 91, and by far leads the team with 14 homers and 59 RBIs.
Juan Uribe - Seriously! He gets graded on a curve based on how absolutely horrific he was the last two seasons. Right now he's hitting .270 with 10 2B, 5 HR, and 28 RBI. What also cannot be ignored has been his fantastic play at the hot corner. I never would have guessed he'd play even close to this, but he is.
Kenley Jansen - Is still a flamethrower with 12.63 K/9, and has taken over the closer's spot for nine saves, in addition to the 16 holds he collected before that.
J.P Howell - Has gotten the job done from the left side, holding left-handed batters to a mere .167 AVG.
Paco Rodriguez - Continues his rise only a year removed from college. Neither right (.143) or left (.140) handed hitters are doing anything against him.
Hyun-Jin Ryu - Signed a huge deal, but was still a bit of a question mark adjusting to MLB batters. Responded by going 7-3 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 93 K's in 116 2/3 IP. Looks to only be getting better.
B
Zack Greinke - Has been as dominant as one can possibly be the last two starts, including a two-hit shutout of the Rockies. But, has gone through some rough patches, with an ERA at 3.49. Thankfully he's trending up, not down.
A.J. Ellis - Gives the Dodgers big hits when they need it, and has been very solid in controlling the running game. Also, continues to get on base with a .349 OBP.
Carl Crawford - Started the year on time, which was a bit of a surprise, and responded as one of the best hitters in the early going. Injuries have really slowed him, as his average has gone down to .273 with only nine steals. His defense is nothing to brag about, either.
Mark Ellis - Age is definitely catching up to him, as he's only hitting .255. But something needs to be said for the example he sets of playing hard, which he does each day.
Stephen Fife - Was nowhere near the Dodgers' rotation plans coming into the season, and has already made eight starts, good for a 2.76 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Has been on the DL twice, though, which has held him back a bit.
Andre Ethier - Couldn't have possibly started the season any worse, as he looked like he was trying to get traded. But with all of the outfield injuries, has played all three positions with ease. His batting average has gone up each month, topping out with a .362 thus far in July.
Nick Punto - At this point, is just a so-so player with a .251 AVG. But, made a lot of starts at third, short, and second earlier in the with injuries to pretty much everyone else, and his versatility makes him a key utility man.
C
Skip Schumaker - Has actually pitched two scoreless innings in blowouts, and is very versatile by playing every outfield position and 2nd. His hitting has just been OK at .260 with only nine extra-base hits. Is a notch below Punto because he was brought in from the Cardinals to be a key pinch-hitter, but that hasn't really happened.
Scott Van Slyke - Was playing very well at first, but a horrible .188 in June brought a demotion. Can be a good power hitter, but it's been awhile since he's made a difference with his bat.
Jerry Hairston - Much like Schumaker and Punto, is versatile, and does little at the plate at .258 with 12 RBIs. His numbers across the board have taken a step back from last year.
Ronald Belisario - Had a good April and May, an atrocious July (8.31 ERA), and hasn't given up a run in July. It's the typical roller coaster ride with him, but has at least turned it around to appear in the late innings again.
Chris Capuano - Quite often pitches like a "D," but every now and then throws a gem. He's hard to figure out, but is capable of pitching in either role, making him a little more valuable.
D
Matt Kemp - The last two seasons have not been kind to him. Injuries have limited him to 61 games, and is only hitting .254 with four homers. Just when you think he's back, he gets hurt again.
Josh Beckett - It's almost unfair to put him here considering he's already out for the season, but was pretty bad when he did pitch (0-5, 5.19 ERA, 1.50 WHIP).
Ramon Hernandez - Traded to the Dodgers for Aaron Harang, and proceeded to do next to nothing by hitting .208 with three homers and six RBIs. And with that, he's already gone.
Matt Guerrier - Never was able to be the key setup man the Dodgers signed him for. Traded to the Cubs after posting a 4.80 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Good bye, good riddance!
Ted Lilly - Wasn't happy to start the season in the bullpen, then made five winless starts with a 5.09 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. Injuries have happened way too much as well.
Tim Federowicz - Doesn't get much playing time with only 84 at-bats, but hasn't done much with it regardless with a .190 AVG, 3 HR, and 12 RBI. To his defense, Hernandez should have never been brought in, so that took away lots of playing time from him.
F
Luis Cruz - Took Uribe's role as the worst starting position player in the majors for much of the first part of the season. Was mercifully designated after hitting .1 freakin' 27 with three extra-base hits in 118 at-bats. Horrible!
Brandon League - Given a three-year contract to be the closer... and didn't even last the first half in that role. Has the worst 14 saves you'll ever see with four blown ones, along with a 6.25 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. Awful, just awful.
Justin Sellers and Dee Gordon - Both were supposed to fill in at short for the injured Ramirez, and both were terrible. Sellers hit .188 and Gordon .175. Good Lord, that's abysmal.
Matt Magill - Simply cannot put the ball over the plate, walking 28 in 27 2/3 innings. A 6.51 ERA and 1.99 WHIP? Yup, he sucks.
Peter Moylan - Was given 10 appearances to show what he had. Well, he did alright with a 6.34 ERA and 1.94 WHIP. Like so many others, he's gone.
Javy Guerra - It's hard to believe he was once the closer. Only appeared in nine games, and the numbers aren't much different than the ones above (6.75 and 1.97). His career has fallen apart, and fast.
Josh Wall - Six games, 18.00 ERA, 3.29 WHIP. That's hard to do! Traded to the Marlins in the Ricky Nolasco deal. What a shame!
(Note: I will hold off on ranking Nolasco, Jose Dominguez, and Chris Withrow since they don't have a big enough sample size at this time.)
A
Clayton Kershaw - He's at the top of the National League (1.98 ERA, 0.91 WHIP), or in second (139 K's, 145 1/3 IP). There's not much more you can say about just how awesome he is. He's about to earn some serious dough in the near future.
Yasiel Puig - About the only thing that has even somewhat held him down is a sore left hip. Electrified LA at the perfect time by hitting .391 with 8 2B, 8 HR, 19 RBI, and 5 SB. Plus great defense, too. Puigmania!
Hanley Ramirez - Has only played in 39 games, so probably deserves a "B" at the most, but has been so good of late, he gets bumped up. He's hitting .386 with 11 2B, 8 HR, 25 RBI, and 4 SB. The ball has been jumping of his bat. His defense at short, something that has been an issue in the past, appears to be much-improved.
Adrian Gonzalez - Isn't the same power threat he once was, but is tied with Andre Ethier for most games played at 91, and by far leads the team with 14 homers and 59 RBIs.
Juan Uribe - Seriously! He gets graded on a curve based on how absolutely horrific he was the last two seasons. Right now he's hitting .270 with 10 2B, 5 HR, and 28 RBI. What also cannot be ignored has been his fantastic play at the hot corner. I never would have guessed he'd play even close to this, but he is.
Kenley Jansen - Is still a flamethrower with 12.63 K/9, and has taken over the closer's spot for nine saves, in addition to the 16 holds he collected before that.
J.P Howell - Has gotten the job done from the left side, holding left-handed batters to a mere .167 AVG.
Paco Rodriguez - Continues his rise only a year removed from college. Neither right (.143) or left (.140) handed hitters are doing anything against him.
Hyun-Jin Ryu - Signed a huge deal, but was still a bit of a question mark adjusting to MLB batters. Responded by going 7-3 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 93 K's in 116 2/3 IP. Looks to only be getting better.
B
Zack Greinke - Has been as dominant as one can possibly be the last two starts, including a two-hit shutout of the Rockies. But, has gone through some rough patches, with an ERA at 3.49. Thankfully he's trending up, not down.
A.J. Ellis - Gives the Dodgers big hits when they need it, and has been very solid in controlling the running game. Also, continues to get on base with a .349 OBP.
Carl Crawford - Started the year on time, which was a bit of a surprise, and responded as one of the best hitters in the early going. Injuries have really slowed him, as his average has gone down to .273 with only nine steals. His defense is nothing to brag about, either.
Mark Ellis - Age is definitely catching up to him, as he's only hitting .255. But something needs to be said for the example he sets of playing hard, which he does each day.
Stephen Fife - Was nowhere near the Dodgers' rotation plans coming into the season, and has already made eight starts, good for a 2.76 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Has been on the DL twice, though, which has held him back a bit.
Andre Ethier - Couldn't have possibly started the season any worse, as he looked like he was trying to get traded. But with all of the outfield injuries, has played all three positions with ease. His batting average has gone up each month, topping out with a .362 thus far in July.
Nick Punto - At this point, is just a so-so player with a .251 AVG. But, made a lot of starts at third, short, and second earlier in the with injuries to pretty much everyone else, and his versatility makes him a key utility man.
C
Skip Schumaker - Has actually pitched two scoreless innings in blowouts, and is very versatile by playing every outfield position and 2nd. His hitting has just been OK at .260 with only nine extra-base hits. Is a notch below Punto because he was brought in from the Cardinals to be a key pinch-hitter, but that hasn't really happened.
Scott Van Slyke - Was playing very well at first, but a horrible .188 in June brought a demotion. Can be a good power hitter, but it's been awhile since he's made a difference with his bat.
Jerry Hairston - Much like Schumaker and Punto, is versatile, and does little at the plate at .258 with 12 RBIs. His numbers across the board have taken a step back from last year.
Ronald Belisario - Had a good April and May, an atrocious July (8.31 ERA), and hasn't given up a run in July. It's the typical roller coaster ride with him, but has at least turned it around to appear in the late innings again.
Chris Capuano - Quite often pitches like a "D," but every now and then throws a gem. He's hard to figure out, but is capable of pitching in either role, making him a little more valuable.
D
Matt Kemp - The last two seasons have not been kind to him. Injuries have limited him to 61 games, and is only hitting .254 with four homers. Just when you think he's back, he gets hurt again.
Josh Beckett - It's almost unfair to put him here considering he's already out for the season, but was pretty bad when he did pitch (0-5, 5.19 ERA, 1.50 WHIP).
Ramon Hernandez - Traded to the Dodgers for Aaron Harang, and proceeded to do next to nothing by hitting .208 with three homers and six RBIs. And with that, he's already gone.
Matt Guerrier - Never was able to be the key setup man the Dodgers signed him for. Traded to the Cubs after posting a 4.80 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. Good bye, good riddance!
Ted Lilly - Wasn't happy to start the season in the bullpen, then made five winless starts with a 5.09 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. Injuries have happened way too much as well.
Tim Federowicz - Doesn't get much playing time with only 84 at-bats, but hasn't done much with it regardless with a .190 AVG, 3 HR, and 12 RBI. To his defense, Hernandez should have never been brought in, so that took away lots of playing time from him.
F
Luis Cruz - Took Uribe's role as the worst starting position player in the majors for much of the first part of the season. Was mercifully designated after hitting .1 freakin' 27 with three extra-base hits in 118 at-bats. Horrible!
Brandon League - Given a three-year contract to be the closer... and didn't even last the first half in that role. Has the worst 14 saves you'll ever see with four blown ones, along with a 6.25 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. Awful, just awful.
Justin Sellers and Dee Gordon - Both were supposed to fill in at short for the injured Ramirez, and both were terrible. Sellers hit .188 and Gordon .175. Good Lord, that's abysmal.
Matt Magill - Simply cannot put the ball over the plate, walking 28 in 27 2/3 innings. A 6.51 ERA and 1.99 WHIP? Yup, he sucks.
Peter Moylan - Was given 10 appearances to show what he had. Well, he did alright with a 6.34 ERA and 1.94 WHIP. Like so many others, he's gone.
Javy Guerra - It's hard to believe he was once the closer. Only appeared in nine games, and the numbers aren't much different than the ones above (6.75 and 1.97). His career has fallen apart, and fast.
Josh Wall - Six games, 18.00 ERA, 3.29 WHIP. That's hard to do! Traded to the Marlins in the Ricky Nolasco deal. What a shame!
(Note: I will hold off on ranking Nolasco, Jose Dominguez, and Chris Withrow since they don't have a big enough sample size at this time.)
Friday, October 19, 2012
2012 Report Card
As the Tigers get set for the World Series, and with the Cardinals looking to join them soon, let's take a look back at the season that was for the Dodgers.
That's right, it's report card time!
A
Clayton Kershaw - Lead the NL in ERA for the second consecutive year at 2.53. Finished one behind R.A. Dickey for tops in strikeouts at 229. Might not be the top candidate to repeat his Cy Young Award, but is still the best in the bigs on any given night.
Brandon League - A little shaky when he first arrived, but gave up only one earned run over his last 21 appearances. Took over the closer's role in September when Kenley Jansen went down and was a cool 6-6.
Josh Beckett - Somewhat quietly pitched very well upon arrival for Boston. In seven starts, put together a 2.93 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. A huge lack of run support only gave him two wins, but he was a completely different pitcher than the 5-11, 5.33 ERA he had on the East Coast.
Luis Cruuuuuuuuz - Came out of nowhere to be a fan favorite in the last part of the season. Played both short and third with ease, hitting .297 with 20 doubles, 6 homers, and 40 RBIs. Leapfrogged Dee Gordon in the pecking order for 2013.
Kenley Jansen - Took over the closer's role from Javy Guerra early in the season, and went on to gather 25 saves with a 2.35 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 99 K's in 65 innings. The seven blown saves is a bit much, but was still dominating.
B
Matt Kemp - He's really only here because he played in 106 games thanks to a variety of injuries. Still hit .303 with 23 homers and 69 RBIs, but wasn't the same player after a scorching April.
Andre Ethier - Put up good numbers at .284 with 20 home runs and 89 RBIs. But, when his team needed him most in September, slumped to .245 with only seven extra-base hits in 98 at-bats. He certainly wasn't alone, but became pretty much just a singles hitter.
Ronald Belisario - Certainly had "A" numbers if not for a horrendous July that produced a 6.60 ERA. Other than that, had a 2.54 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 25 holds, and 69 K's in 71 innings.
Scott Elbert - Pretty much forgotten about due to another injury-plagued season. In the 43 games he did appear in, pitched very well with a 2.20 ERA. Plus, was one of the only lefty options most of the time until Randy Choate was acquired.
Chad Billingsly - Was looking like the "same old Billingsley" for much of the season, then flicked the switch in July and August. In nine starts over that time period, lowered his ERA from 4.20 to 3.55. Unfortunately, elbow problems shelved him for good at the end of August.
Aaron Harang - His numbers are just pretty good, going 10-10 with a 3.61 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. But he also started 31 games anchoring the back end of the rotation, which the Dodgers gladly took.
Chris Capuano - There's no doubt that his first three months were better than the last three (plus one October start). Ended June at 100 innings and a 2.69 ERA. Ended the season at 198 and 3.72. Still, much like Harang, more than solidified the end of the rotation, especially with injuries to Ted Lilly and Billingsley.
Jerry Hairston, Jr. - It's a shame the Dodgers lost him at the end of the season, because he definitely brought energy both starting and from the bench. Appeared in 73 games playing multiple positions with a great glove, and hit .273.
A.J. Ellis - Like a few other players, was putting up "A" production most of the way, but really faded at the end. A .216 September only added to the team's miseries. Pretty solid overall, though, considering it was his first full season behind the plate.
Hanley Ramirez - Gave a pretty good spark from Miami, hitting .271 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs in 64 games in LA. Still is capable of doing more, and needs to cut down on his strikeouts, as 132 is way too high.
Mark Ellis - Maybe only hit .258, but something needs to be said about his leadership and hard-nosed style. Courageously battled back from a nasty leg injury in mid-May to get back on the field in July.
Nick Punto - The last of the big names to come from the Red Sox, had a .390 OBP in 22 games. Gave some good energy at second late in the season.
C
Adrian Gonzalez - Could not have possibly started his Dodgers' career off better, stroking a three-run homer in his first at-bat. Unfortunately, it took him 26 games until he hit his next, as he failed to be the big power threat at cleanup we all thought he'd be. Does have a 15-game hitting streak to carry into next season, though.
Elian Herrera - Much like Cruz, went from unknown to everyday player for a bit. Unlike Cruz, couldn't keep it up. Add it all up, and he played in 67 games, hitting .251 with a homer, 17 RBIs, and 4 steals.
Juan Rivera - Was relegated to mere spot duty late in the season when Shane Victorino and Gonzalez came aboard. Did hit 9 homers and 47 RBIs, but was pretty much an afterthought late in the year.
Javy Guerra - Started the season as the closer with five straight saves, but lost it soon thereafter with three blown ones. Definitely figured things out at the end with a 2.60 ERA, but a 1.49 WHIP suggests he was a bit lucky, too.
Matt Guerrier - Wasn't terrible with a 3.86 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, but still hasn't filled that role of great setup man like he was signed to be two years ago. Injuries can be blamed this year, limiting him to only 16 games.
Randy Choate - Very average when he came over from the Marlins, which is what a "C" is all about. After putting up a great 2.49/0.99 line with Miami, proceeded to give the Dodgers a 4.05/1.65 line. Not exactly the shutdown lefty they hoped he'd be.
Shawn Tolleson - Had his moments where he flashed good stuff, but overall was just so-so. In 40 games, collected a 4.30 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Someone to keep an eye on in the future, however.
Jamey Wright - Filled many different roles out of the 'pen, appearing in 67 games with a 3.72 ERA, but a high 1.51 WHIP. I doubt many people thought he'd last the whole season, so that's a credit to him.
Adam Kennedy - Pretty wretched through June, but a good July and August gave him hope, raising his AVG from .217 to .262. And just like that in early September, went down for good with a strained groin.
Bobby Abreu - Cut loose by the Angels in May, was thrust right into the action with a banged up outfield. There's no doubt he wore down after a good start, ending with a .246 AVG, but a very good .361 OBP.
D
Shane Victorino - Should have been a slam dunk choice for the leadoff spot after coming over from the Phillies. Instead, struggled with a .245 AVG and .313 OBP in 53 games. Never was able to get things going, which was a big disappointment.
Todd Coffey - One of the last signings of the offseason for depth in the bullpen. Ended up with a 4.66 ERA in 23 games before Tommy John reared its ugly head in early July.
Joe Blanton - The Phillies pretty much gave him away, and after watching him go 2-4 with a 4.99 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, I can see why. Never was able to stabilize a rotation that suffered a couple of big injuries
Dee Gordon - Started the year with all sorts of promise after a great finish to '11. Then he couldn't get on base hitting leadoff, committed 18 errors, and broke a finger on a slide on July 4 which effectively put him out of the picture with Ramirez and Cruz in the fold. Still has all sorts of speed with 32 swipes, but 10 times gunned down is a bit much.
Tony Gwynn - Much like Rivera, was lost in the shuffle once all the trades were made. Pretty awful at the plate with a .232 AVG and a pathetic .276 OBP. Sent packing for good in early August.
Matt Treanor - Almost not even fair to evaluate his season considering he played in only 36 games backing up A.J. Realistically, a .175 AVG is pretty hard to defend no matter how you slice it.
F
Juan Uribe - I'm a firm believer that he was the worst player in baseball this year. 66 games, .191 AVG, 2 homers, 17 RBIs. I was actually at the game he hit a homer off of Dickey in New York. I still haven't recovered from shock.
That's right, it's report card time!
A
Clayton Kershaw - Lead the NL in ERA for the second consecutive year at 2.53. Finished one behind R.A. Dickey for tops in strikeouts at 229. Might not be the top candidate to repeat his Cy Young Award, but is still the best in the bigs on any given night.
Brandon League - A little shaky when he first arrived, but gave up only one earned run over his last 21 appearances. Took over the closer's role in September when Kenley Jansen went down and was a cool 6-6.
Josh Beckett - Somewhat quietly pitched very well upon arrival for Boston. In seven starts, put together a 2.93 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. A huge lack of run support only gave him two wins, but he was a completely different pitcher than the 5-11, 5.33 ERA he had on the East Coast.
Luis Cruuuuuuuuz - Came out of nowhere to be a fan favorite in the last part of the season. Played both short and third with ease, hitting .297 with 20 doubles, 6 homers, and 40 RBIs. Leapfrogged Dee Gordon in the pecking order for 2013.
Kenley Jansen - Took over the closer's role from Javy Guerra early in the season, and went on to gather 25 saves with a 2.35 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, and 99 K's in 65 innings. The seven blown saves is a bit much, but was still dominating.
B
Matt Kemp - He's really only here because he played in 106 games thanks to a variety of injuries. Still hit .303 with 23 homers and 69 RBIs, but wasn't the same player after a scorching April.
Andre Ethier - Put up good numbers at .284 with 20 home runs and 89 RBIs. But, when his team needed him most in September, slumped to .245 with only seven extra-base hits in 98 at-bats. He certainly wasn't alone, but became pretty much just a singles hitter.
Ronald Belisario - Certainly had "A" numbers if not for a horrendous July that produced a 6.60 ERA. Other than that, had a 2.54 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 25 holds, and 69 K's in 71 innings.
Scott Elbert - Pretty much forgotten about due to another injury-plagued season. In the 43 games he did appear in, pitched very well with a 2.20 ERA. Plus, was one of the only lefty options most of the time until Randy Choate was acquired.
Chad Billingsly - Was looking like the "same old Billingsley" for much of the season, then flicked the switch in July and August. In nine starts over that time period, lowered his ERA from 4.20 to 3.55. Unfortunately, elbow problems shelved him for good at the end of August.
Aaron Harang - His numbers are just pretty good, going 10-10 with a 3.61 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. But he also started 31 games anchoring the back end of the rotation, which the Dodgers gladly took.
Chris Capuano - There's no doubt that his first three months were better than the last three (plus one October start). Ended June at 100 innings and a 2.69 ERA. Ended the season at 198 and 3.72. Still, much like Harang, more than solidified the end of the rotation, especially with injuries to Ted Lilly and Billingsley.
Jerry Hairston, Jr. - It's a shame the Dodgers lost him at the end of the season, because he definitely brought energy both starting and from the bench. Appeared in 73 games playing multiple positions with a great glove, and hit .273.
A.J. Ellis - Like a few other players, was putting up "A" production most of the way, but really faded at the end. A .216 September only added to the team's miseries. Pretty solid overall, though, considering it was his first full season behind the plate.
Hanley Ramirez - Gave a pretty good spark from Miami, hitting .271 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs in 64 games in LA. Still is capable of doing more, and needs to cut down on his strikeouts, as 132 is way too high.
Mark Ellis - Maybe only hit .258, but something needs to be said about his leadership and hard-nosed style. Courageously battled back from a nasty leg injury in mid-May to get back on the field in July.
Nick Punto - The last of the big names to come from the Red Sox, had a .390 OBP in 22 games. Gave some good energy at second late in the season.
C
Adrian Gonzalez - Could not have possibly started his Dodgers' career off better, stroking a three-run homer in his first at-bat. Unfortunately, it took him 26 games until he hit his next, as he failed to be the big power threat at cleanup we all thought he'd be. Does have a 15-game hitting streak to carry into next season, though.
Elian Herrera - Much like Cruz, went from unknown to everyday player for a bit. Unlike Cruz, couldn't keep it up. Add it all up, and he played in 67 games, hitting .251 with a homer, 17 RBIs, and 4 steals.
Juan Rivera - Was relegated to mere spot duty late in the season when Shane Victorino and Gonzalez came aboard. Did hit 9 homers and 47 RBIs, but was pretty much an afterthought late in the year.
Javy Guerra - Started the season as the closer with five straight saves, but lost it soon thereafter with three blown ones. Definitely figured things out at the end with a 2.60 ERA, but a 1.49 WHIP suggests he was a bit lucky, too.
Matt Guerrier - Wasn't terrible with a 3.86 ERA and 1.07 WHIP, but still hasn't filled that role of great setup man like he was signed to be two years ago. Injuries can be blamed this year, limiting him to only 16 games.
Randy Choate - Very average when he came over from the Marlins, which is what a "C" is all about. After putting up a great 2.49/0.99 line with Miami, proceeded to give the Dodgers a 4.05/1.65 line. Not exactly the shutdown lefty they hoped he'd be.
Shawn Tolleson - Had his moments where he flashed good stuff, but overall was just so-so. In 40 games, collected a 4.30 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. Someone to keep an eye on in the future, however.
Jamey Wright - Filled many different roles out of the 'pen, appearing in 67 games with a 3.72 ERA, but a high 1.51 WHIP. I doubt many people thought he'd last the whole season, so that's a credit to him.
Adam Kennedy - Pretty wretched through June, but a good July and August gave him hope, raising his AVG from .217 to .262. And just like that in early September, went down for good with a strained groin.
Bobby Abreu - Cut loose by the Angels in May, was thrust right into the action with a banged up outfield. There's no doubt he wore down after a good start, ending with a .246 AVG, but a very good .361 OBP.
D
Shane Victorino - Should have been a slam dunk choice for the leadoff spot after coming over from the Phillies. Instead, struggled with a .245 AVG and .313 OBP in 53 games. Never was able to get things going, which was a big disappointment.
Todd Coffey - One of the last signings of the offseason for depth in the bullpen. Ended up with a 4.66 ERA in 23 games before Tommy John reared its ugly head in early July.
Joe Blanton - The Phillies pretty much gave him away, and after watching him go 2-4 with a 4.99 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, I can see why. Never was able to stabilize a rotation that suffered a couple of big injuries
Dee Gordon - Started the year with all sorts of promise after a great finish to '11. Then he couldn't get on base hitting leadoff, committed 18 errors, and broke a finger on a slide on July 4 which effectively put him out of the picture with Ramirez and Cruz in the fold. Still has all sorts of speed with 32 swipes, but 10 times gunned down is a bit much.
Tony Gwynn - Much like Rivera, was lost in the shuffle once all the trades were made. Pretty awful at the plate with a .232 AVG and a pathetic .276 OBP. Sent packing for good in early August.
Matt Treanor - Almost not even fair to evaluate his season considering he played in only 36 games backing up A.J. Realistically, a .175 AVG is pretty hard to defend no matter how you slice it.
F
Juan Uribe - I'm a firm believer that he was the worst player in baseball this year. 66 games, .191 AVG, 2 homers, 17 RBIs. I was actually at the game he hit a homer off of Dickey in New York. I still haven't recovered from shock.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
2012 Mid-Season Report Card
The All-Star break is here, so it's time to take a look at how the boys in blue have performed during the first half of the season.
A
Andre Ethier - 'Dre has made the most out of some quirky lineups, as he has 55 RBIs. For much of the season, he led the NL in that category, only to let the lead slip away at the end.
Jerry Hairston, Jr. - Mr. Versatility has played all four infield position and left field, and is hitting .297. He's made some great plays at the hot corner as well.
A.J. Ellis - Who would've thought he would be even somewhat of a threat at the plate? His .404 OBP ranks him fifth in the NL, and his 22 men caught stealing puts him fourth in all of baseball.
Clayton Kershaw - While the numbers aren't quite as eye-popping as last year's Cy Young campaign at 6-5, a 2.91 ERA and 119 K's is still awesome.
Chris Capuano - Signed to anchor the bottom of the rotation, he's pitched like an ace by going 9-4 with a 2.91 ERA and 100 K's.
Kenley Jansen - Took over the closer's role from Javy Guerra and has looked better and better with each appearance. Has 15 saves, including 9 straight, and hasn't blown once since the end of May.
Ronald Belisario - Went from the forgotten man to a filthy setup man. In 29 1/3 innings, has 10 holds and 24 strikeouts to go along with a 1.53 ERA.
Scott Elbert - Just slips into this column thanks to numbers that have consistently improved as the season has worn on. Plus, has the tough job of being the only lefty in the 'pen, which adds to the pressure a little more.
B
Matt Kemp - It's almost unfair to say that anything he does isn't "A" worthy, but he's only appeared in 36 of the 87 games thanks to hamstring issues. But with numbers like a .355 AVG, 12 homers and 28 RBIs, it's easy to see why he'll be back on top in no time.
Bobby Abreu - The old man deserves lots of credit. Signed after being castoff by the Angels, he's already played in 55 games and is hitting .272 with a .371 OBP. With all of the outfield injuries, he's been huge, really.
Mark Ellis - Another one who would've been an "A," but a leg injury has limited him to 41 games. He has Abreu-like numbers at .271 and .371, and is invaluable in the #2 spot in the order.
Elian Herrera - His numbers have really taken a hit lately, but he's come out of nowhere to be practically be an everyday player. Has already played every outfield position, and second, third, and short.
Josh Lindblom - Went from being nearly sent back down after Spring Training, to being the top setup man, to slipping a little lately. Still, a 3.07 ERA and 13 holds is great for a guy who wasn't considered even an option in the bullpen to start the season.
Ted Lilly - A shoulder injury has limited him to eight starts, but is 5-1 with a 3.14 ERA. Hopefully will be back in action soon now that he's throwing again.
Aaron Harang - His numbers might not be worth this spot, but as someone who was looked upon to be the #5 starter, is 6-5 with a 3.51 ERA. Not too shabby.
Nathan Eovaldi - Was practically robbed of a win, any win, through his first five starts. Got rocked in two starts after that, but rebounded for his first win against the Diamondbacks on July 5. Has filled in quite well for the injured Lilly after starting the season at Triple-A.
C
Juan Rivera - Is close to an "A" since he can play both outfield and first base, but in 179 at-bats, only has 11 extra-base hits (3 homers, 8 doubles). Plus a .257 average isn't that great.
Dee Gordon - Take away his speed, and he's pretty bad. Has a .229 AVG, .280 OBP, and 17 errors. But those 30 stolen bases lead the majors, and those can't be ignored.
Javy Guerra - Came into the season as the closer, but lost that spot thanks to a rough end of April and beginning of May. Missed most of June with a knee injury, but has since returned and will look to be a top setup man.
Jamey Wright - Has toggled between long reliever and regular reliever with mixed results. Hasn't been terrible, but not exactly good either with a 3.79 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 29 games.
D
Adam Kennedy - Plays many different positions, which is always good. But, with a .228 average at the plate, hasn't given much of any help on that side of the field.
Matt Treanor - Granted, has only played in 19 games since A.J. Ellis appears in so many, but is still only hitting .224.
Scott Van Slyke - Another one with a small sample size. Did have an awesome go-ahead, three-run shot to defeat the Cardinals back in May. Other than that... not much. .167 with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs for a big guy like him needs to improve.
Tony Gwynn - For a guy with good speed, only has a .240 AVG and .288 OBP. He's also 10-16 in stolen bases, which isn't awful, but not very good either.
Chad Billingsley - Gets an "F" for the way he constantly blows leads in the middle innings. His 100 strikeouts in 104 2/3 innings shows he can get it done, but at 4-9 with a 4.30 ERA, reminds us all how he can't be relied upon.
F
Juan Uribe - I'm a firm believer that he's the worst starter in all of baseball. True, he does play good defense at third, which nobody is taking away from him. But with a .194 AVG, 1 homer, and 13 RBIs in 45 games, has to be in serious danger of being DFA'd. And that wouldn't be a bad thing at all.
Todd Coffey - Gave the Dodgers practically nothing out of the 'pen, other than watching small deficits turn into big ones with a 4.66 ERA. Is now lost for the season and then some with Tommy John surgery.
Mike MacDougal - Remember him? Had great numbers last year, signed a one-year deal, and proceeded to absolutely suck with a 7.94 ERA and 2.65 WHIP in seven games. I think it's safe to say the Dodgers made the right call in releasing him and bringing Belisario back.
A
Andre Ethier - 'Dre has made the most out of some quirky lineups, as he has 55 RBIs. For much of the season, he led the NL in that category, only to let the lead slip away at the end.
Jerry Hairston, Jr. - Mr. Versatility has played all four infield position and left field, and is hitting .297. He's made some great plays at the hot corner as well.
A.J. Ellis - Who would've thought he would be even somewhat of a threat at the plate? His .404 OBP ranks him fifth in the NL, and his 22 men caught stealing puts him fourth in all of baseball.
Clayton Kershaw - While the numbers aren't quite as eye-popping as last year's Cy Young campaign at 6-5, a 2.91 ERA and 119 K's is still awesome.
Chris Capuano - Signed to anchor the bottom of the rotation, he's pitched like an ace by going 9-4 with a 2.91 ERA and 100 K's.
Kenley Jansen - Took over the closer's role from Javy Guerra and has looked better and better with each appearance. Has 15 saves, including 9 straight, and hasn't blown once since the end of May.
Ronald Belisario - Went from the forgotten man to a filthy setup man. In 29 1/3 innings, has 10 holds and 24 strikeouts to go along with a 1.53 ERA.
Scott Elbert - Just slips into this column thanks to numbers that have consistently improved as the season has worn on. Plus, has the tough job of being the only lefty in the 'pen, which adds to the pressure a little more.
B
Matt Kemp - It's almost unfair to say that anything he does isn't "A" worthy, but he's only appeared in 36 of the 87 games thanks to hamstring issues. But with numbers like a .355 AVG, 12 homers and 28 RBIs, it's easy to see why he'll be back on top in no time.
Bobby Abreu - The old man deserves lots of credit. Signed after being castoff by the Angels, he's already played in 55 games and is hitting .272 with a .371 OBP. With all of the outfield injuries, he's been huge, really.
Mark Ellis - Another one who would've been an "A," but a leg injury has limited him to 41 games. He has Abreu-like numbers at .271 and .371, and is invaluable in the #2 spot in the order.
Elian Herrera - His numbers have really taken a hit lately, but he's come out of nowhere to be practically be an everyday player. Has already played every outfield position, and second, third, and short.
Josh Lindblom - Went from being nearly sent back down after Spring Training, to being the top setup man, to slipping a little lately. Still, a 3.07 ERA and 13 holds is great for a guy who wasn't considered even an option in the bullpen to start the season.
Ted Lilly - A shoulder injury has limited him to eight starts, but is 5-1 with a 3.14 ERA. Hopefully will be back in action soon now that he's throwing again.
Aaron Harang - His numbers might not be worth this spot, but as someone who was looked upon to be the #5 starter, is 6-5 with a 3.51 ERA. Not too shabby.
Nathan Eovaldi - Was practically robbed of a win, any win, through his first five starts. Got rocked in two starts after that, but rebounded for his first win against the Diamondbacks on July 5. Has filled in quite well for the injured Lilly after starting the season at Triple-A.
C
Juan Rivera - Is close to an "A" since he can play both outfield and first base, but in 179 at-bats, only has 11 extra-base hits (3 homers, 8 doubles). Plus a .257 average isn't that great.
Dee Gordon - Take away his speed, and he's pretty bad. Has a .229 AVG, .280 OBP, and 17 errors. But those 30 stolen bases lead the majors, and those can't be ignored.
Javy Guerra - Came into the season as the closer, but lost that spot thanks to a rough end of April and beginning of May. Missed most of June with a knee injury, but has since returned and will look to be a top setup man.
Jamey Wright - Has toggled between long reliever and regular reliever with mixed results. Hasn't been terrible, but not exactly good either with a 3.79 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 29 games.
D
Adam Kennedy - Plays many different positions, which is always good. But, with a .228 average at the plate, hasn't given much of any help on that side of the field.
Matt Treanor - Granted, has only played in 19 games since A.J. Ellis appears in so many, but is still only hitting .224.
Scott Van Slyke - Another one with a small sample size. Did have an awesome go-ahead, three-run shot to defeat the Cardinals back in May. Other than that... not much. .167 with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs for a big guy like him needs to improve.
Tony Gwynn - For a guy with good speed, only has a .240 AVG and .288 OBP. He's also 10-16 in stolen bases, which isn't awful, but not very good either.
Chad Billingsley - Gets an "F" for the way he constantly blows leads in the middle innings. His 100 strikeouts in 104 2/3 innings shows he can get it done, but at 4-9 with a 4.30 ERA, reminds us all how he can't be relied upon.
F
Juan Uribe - I'm a firm believer that he's the worst starter in all of baseball. True, he does play good defense at third, which nobody is taking away from him. But with a .194 AVG, 1 homer, and 13 RBIs in 45 games, has to be in serious danger of being DFA'd. And that wouldn't be a bad thing at all.
Todd Coffey - Gave the Dodgers practically nothing out of the 'pen, other than watching small deficits turn into big ones with a 4.66 ERA. Is now lost for the season and then some with Tommy John surgery.
Mike MacDougal - Remember him? Had great numbers last year, signed a one-year deal, and proceeded to absolutely suck with a 7.94 ERA and 2.65 WHIP in seven games. I think it's safe to say the Dodgers made the right call in releasing him and bringing Belisario back.
Friday, October 14, 2011
2011 Report Card
As the MLB postseason rolls on towards the World Series, let's take a look back at the season the season that was for the Dodgers. Here are my grades from this past season.
A
Clayton Kershaw - 21-5, 2.88 ERA, 248 strikeouts. An absolute monster season from one of the game's best pitchers. A pleasure to watch every fifth day.
Matt Kemp - A Triple Crown threat until the very end, he erased any doubt about his desire by hitting .324 with 39 homers, 126 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases. Plus his defense in center was top-notch.
Kenley Jansen - Started the season off rocky, but after returning from injury in June, was absolutely untouchable. Finished with an MLB record 16.1 K's/9 innings.
Javy Guerra - Came out of nowhere to go 21-23 in save opportunities with a 2.31 ERA.
Dee Gordon - Mr. Excitement finished with a strong .304 average in 56 games. His blazing speed got him 24 steals, and made even routine grounders into close plays at first.
Hiroki Kuroda - I don't care if he had 16 losses, his 3.07 ERA and 202 innings pitched were the real reasons this was his best season to date.
Mike MacDougal - Quietly had a great year with a 2.05 ERA and 14 holds in 69 appearances. Was a stable force in a bullpen that struggled for most of the year.
B
James Loney - It's hard to believe just how much his season turned around once August hit, as he was as hot a hitter as there was in the majors. Raised his average over 30 points in that span, and perhaps played himself back onto the team.
Scott Elbert - A quiet contributor, he showed some great stuff from the left side with a 2.43 ERA in 47 appearances.
Nathan Eovaldi - A quality starter (but not a reliever). Gave up two or less runs in five of his six starts to perhaps lead the way to a starting spot again next season.
Juan Rivera - Picked up for practically nothing from the Blue Jays, proceeded to drive in 46 runs in 62 games. Gave the Dodgers a legit run-producing threat to pair with Kemp.
Tony Gwynn - Only hit .256, but did steal 22 bases, and flashed some serious leather, especially as a defensive replacement late in close games.
Jamey Carroll - A scrappy, gritty competitor who hit .290 and led the way with his hustle.
Aaron Miles - A non-roster invitee to Spring Training, ended up playing in 136 games. Hit well above .300 in July before sliding some in the last couple of months.
Dana Eveland - Not much of a sample size, but a 3.03 ERA in five starts is pretty darn good. Was fantastic in his three wins (1 run in 20 2/3 innings) and terrible in his two losses (9 runs in 9 innings).
Josh Lindblom - Was up and down between the majors and minors, but showed he can get the job done with a 2.73 ERA out of the 'pen. Another power arm to keep an eye on.
C
Andre Ethier - Might seem a big harsh for a guy who hit .292 and made the All-Star team, but his lack of power (11 homers) and whinny comments made it a season unfulfilled.
Ted Lilly - Bounced back great to end the season, but it was too little, too late. A 5.02 ERA through July is hard to forget.
Rubby De La Rosa - Was lost at the end of July because of Tommy John surgery, but looked pretty good with a 3.71 ERA. Someone to remember in the future.
Jerry Sands - Came in with the reputation of having all the tools, but it's taken him awhile to get on track. Fortunately he did towards the end, as his .342 September average raised his overall to .253.
Rod Barajas - His 16 homers were (sadly) second on the team. Still has good pop, but a .230 average is pretty poor.
Chad Billingsley - Maddeningly inconsistent, as he just never seems to have the numbers to match his stuff. One step forward, and one step back meant an 11-11 record with a 4.21 ERA.
Blake Hawksworth - A solid arm for most of the season, but the wheels fell off the bus at the end, as a lousy last two months raised his ERA from 2.95 to 4.08.
Matt Guerrier - Wasn't bad, but wasn't worth the big contract (3 years, $12 million) either. Ended with a 4.07 ERA in 70 games.
A.J. Ellis - Hit a decent .271, but with only four extra-base hits in 85 at-bats. Still hasn't exactly done enough to show he should even be the backup.
D
Rafael Furcal - Injuries once again left their toll, as he hit a lousy .197 with five stolen bases in 37 games. Traded to the Cardinals at the deadline... where he of course is enjoying postseason success. Figures.
Jon Garland - Was signed to be the #5 starter because of his durability... and then made only nine starts before ending his season with shoulder surgery. Collected a 4.33 ERA in those starts.
Casey Blake - Still plays hard when he can, but his days of starting are clearly over. Hit only .256 as he appeared in a measly 63 games. The ship has sailed.
Ramon Troncoso - He stunk. That's pretty much it.
F
Jonathan Broxton - Had the luckiest seven saves you'll ever see, as he had a 5.68 ERA in 14 games. Elbow injuries ended his season in May, as it's unknown if he'll ever come anywhere close to the All-Star he was only a couple seasons ago.
Juan Uribe - The big free agent signing after winning a ring with the Giants in 2010, proceeded to absolutely suck. Hit .204 with four homers and 60 strikeouts in 77 games. A colossal disappointment.
Eugenio Valez - 0-37. 'Nuff said.
Lance Cormier - Complained after Spring Training that he deserved to be on the big league roster. So he was... and then earned his way off of it with a 9.88 ERA in nine games.
Hong-Chih Kuo - From shutdown All-Star in 2010 to a 9.00 ERA and monumental flop in 2011. Unbelievable.
Marcus Thames - So much for being the power righty in the outfield. Instead hit .197 with two homers in 36 games before being shown the door.
Dioner Navarro - Horrendous effort led to putrid defense, and a .193 average. Was mercifully sent packing in late August.
A
Clayton Kershaw - 21-5, 2.88 ERA, 248 strikeouts. An absolute monster season from one of the game's best pitchers. A pleasure to watch every fifth day.
Matt Kemp - A Triple Crown threat until the very end, he erased any doubt about his desire by hitting .324 with 39 homers, 126 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases. Plus his defense in center was top-notch.
Kenley Jansen - Started the season off rocky, but after returning from injury in June, was absolutely untouchable. Finished with an MLB record 16.1 K's/9 innings.
Javy Guerra - Came out of nowhere to go 21-23 in save opportunities with a 2.31 ERA.
Dee Gordon - Mr. Excitement finished with a strong .304 average in 56 games. His blazing speed got him 24 steals, and made even routine grounders into close plays at first.
Hiroki Kuroda - I don't care if he had 16 losses, his 3.07 ERA and 202 innings pitched were the real reasons this was his best season to date.
Mike MacDougal - Quietly had a great year with a 2.05 ERA and 14 holds in 69 appearances. Was a stable force in a bullpen that struggled for most of the year.
B
James Loney - It's hard to believe just how much his season turned around once August hit, as he was as hot a hitter as there was in the majors. Raised his average over 30 points in that span, and perhaps played himself back onto the team.
Scott Elbert - A quiet contributor, he showed some great stuff from the left side with a 2.43 ERA in 47 appearances.
Nathan Eovaldi - A quality starter (but not a reliever). Gave up two or less runs in five of his six starts to perhaps lead the way to a starting spot again next season.
Juan Rivera - Picked up for practically nothing from the Blue Jays, proceeded to drive in 46 runs in 62 games. Gave the Dodgers a legit run-producing threat to pair with Kemp.
Tony Gwynn - Only hit .256, but did steal 22 bases, and flashed some serious leather, especially as a defensive replacement late in close games.
Jamey Carroll - A scrappy, gritty competitor who hit .290 and led the way with his hustle.
Aaron Miles - A non-roster invitee to Spring Training, ended up playing in 136 games. Hit well above .300 in July before sliding some in the last couple of months.
Dana Eveland - Not much of a sample size, but a 3.03 ERA in five starts is pretty darn good. Was fantastic in his three wins (1 run in 20 2/3 innings) and terrible in his two losses (9 runs in 9 innings).
Josh Lindblom - Was up and down between the majors and minors, but showed he can get the job done with a 2.73 ERA out of the 'pen. Another power arm to keep an eye on.
C
Andre Ethier - Might seem a big harsh for a guy who hit .292 and made the All-Star team, but his lack of power (11 homers) and whinny comments made it a season unfulfilled.
Ted Lilly - Bounced back great to end the season, but it was too little, too late. A 5.02 ERA through July is hard to forget.
Rubby De La Rosa - Was lost at the end of July because of Tommy John surgery, but looked pretty good with a 3.71 ERA. Someone to remember in the future.
Jerry Sands - Came in with the reputation of having all the tools, but it's taken him awhile to get on track. Fortunately he did towards the end, as his .342 September average raised his overall to .253.
Rod Barajas - His 16 homers were (sadly) second on the team. Still has good pop, but a .230 average is pretty poor.
Chad Billingsley - Maddeningly inconsistent, as he just never seems to have the numbers to match his stuff. One step forward, and one step back meant an 11-11 record with a 4.21 ERA.
Blake Hawksworth - A solid arm for most of the season, but the wheels fell off the bus at the end, as a lousy last two months raised his ERA from 2.95 to 4.08.
Matt Guerrier - Wasn't bad, but wasn't worth the big contract (3 years, $12 million) either. Ended with a 4.07 ERA in 70 games.
A.J. Ellis - Hit a decent .271, but with only four extra-base hits in 85 at-bats. Still hasn't exactly done enough to show he should even be the backup.
D
Rafael Furcal - Injuries once again left their toll, as he hit a lousy .197 with five stolen bases in 37 games. Traded to the Cardinals at the deadline... where he of course is enjoying postseason success. Figures.
Jon Garland - Was signed to be the #5 starter because of his durability... and then made only nine starts before ending his season with shoulder surgery. Collected a 4.33 ERA in those starts.
Casey Blake - Still plays hard when he can, but his days of starting are clearly over. Hit only .256 as he appeared in a measly 63 games. The ship has sailed.
Ramon Troncoso - He stunk. That's pretty much it.
F
Jonathan Broxton - Had the luckiest seven saves you'll ever see, as he had a 5.68 ERA in 14 games. Elbow injuries ended his season in May, as it's unknown if he'll ever come anywhere close to the All-Star he was only a couple seasons ago.
Juan Uribe - The big free agent signing after winning a ring with the Giants in 2010, proceeded to absolutely suck. Hit .204 with four homers and 60 strikeouts in 77 games. A colossal disappointment.
Eugenio Valez - 0-37. 'Nuff said.
Lance Cormier - Complained after Spring Training that he deserved to be on the big league roster. So he was... and then earned his way off of it with a 9.88 ERA in nine games.
Hong-Chih Kuo - From shutdown All-Star in 2010 to a 9.00 ERA and monumental flop in 2011. Unbelievable.
Marcus Thames - So much for being the power righty in the outfield. Instead hit .197 with two homers in 36 games before being shown the door.
Dioner Navarro - Horrendous effort led to putrid defense, and a .193 average. Was mercifully sent packing in late August.
Monday, October 4, 2010
2010 report card
The 2010 season is history, as the Dodgers failed to reach the playoffs (or come anywhere close to it for that matter). Here is my report card for the whole team.
A
Clayton Kershaw - Stepped up into the #1 role with a 2.91 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 204 1/3 innings.
Hong-Chih Kuo - Pitched in a setup and closer's role and excelled both times. A 1.20 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Kenley Jansen - Only appeared in 25 games, but was awesome with an 0.67 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 27 innings. A future star indeed.
Hiroki Kuroda - Doesn't have "ace" numbers, but really good ones for a guy in the middle of the rotation. A 3.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 159 strikeouts, and a career-high 196 1/3 innings pitched.
Rod Barajas - Gave good pop when he came over for the Mets, as he hit .297 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 25 games.
Jamey Carroll - Played the super-sub role very well, hitting .291 with a .379 OBP in 133 games.
B
Chad Billingsley - Close to an A, but did have some bad starts in the beginning of the year. After peaking at 4.61 in mid-July, ended the year with a 3.57 ERA. Also had 171 strikeouts.
Andre Ethier - Would have easily been an A, but a broken pinkie in mid-May really hurt his numbers. Still, finished with a .292 average, 23 homers, and 82 RBIs.
Ted Lilly - A good addition at the trade deadline, as he went 7-4 in L.A. with a 3.52 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.
James Loney - His average dipped to .267, but still collected 88 RBIs and played his usual stellar defense.
Rafael Furcal - Hit .300 with 22 steals, but only appeared in 97 games. The injury bug struck again.
Jay Gibbons - A nice comeback story, and some decent games too. Hit .280 with five homers in 37 games.
C
Matt Kemp - Led the team with 28 homers and 89 RBIs, and still covers great ground in center. But, his season was plagued by bad baserunning, a sometimes aloof attitude, and a .249 average.
Manny Ramirez - Injuries derailed his season and his power, hitting only eight homers in 196 at-bats before being shipped to the White Sox.
Casey Blake - The veteran has started to slip, as he hit .248 with 17 homers and 64 RBIs. Still has a good glove at third, though.
Vicente Padilla - Great stuff when he's there, but only made 16 starts for a 4.07 ERA. Plus he got shelled Opening Day... in Pittsburgh!
Russell Martin - Another year taking a big step backwards, only hitting .248 with five homers and 26 RBIs. Lost for the year on August 4 with a hip injury.
Reed Johnson - Only hit .262 and gave little power.
Carlos Monasterios - Started the year off great in the bullpen and making spot starts, then faded as the year progressed for a 4.38 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.
Ramon Troncoso - Saved himself a bit with a pretty good second half of the season, but still had a 4.33 ERA and only eight holds.
Octavio Dotel - Logged 18 2/3 innings before being traded again to the Rockies, but compiled a respectable 3.38 ERA. Better than most of the other bullpen clowns.
Ryan Theriot - Covers good ground at second, but a .242 ERA for someone hitting high in the order is way too low.
Blake DeWitt - OK average at .270, but very little power with one homer and 15 doubles in 82 games. Never fully claimed the second base job like he was penciled in to do.
Scott Podsednik - Was brought over to spark the top of the order, but a .313 OBP and five steals in 39 games didn't cut it.
Brad Ausmus - His numbers look like a D (.222, no homers, two RBIs in 21 games), but I like him. So it's a C.
D
Jonathan Broxton - Even with 22 saves, crumbled in the second half to finish with seven blown saves, a 4.04 ERA, and countless times ripping the hearts out of Dodger fans.
Ronald Belisario - Went from a top setup guy to a season full of distractions and a 5.04 ERA.
John Ely - Started the year great, then got creamed to balloon his ERA up to 5.49 with a 4-10 record.
Jeff Weaver - Somehow went 5-1, but with a horrible 6.09 ERA.
Ronnie Belliard - Was brought back for his bat... then proceeded to hit .216 with two homers and 19 RBIs.
F
Garret Anderson - Supposed to be the key lefty bat off the bench, and was miserable with a .181 average, two homers, and 12 RBIs in 155 at-bats. A complete waste.
George Sherrill - Looked to be the setup man in the eighth, but got bombed to the tune of a 6.69 ERA.
Charlie Haeger - A great start in Florida with 12 strikeouts, then got crushed to go 0-4 with an 8.20 ERA in nine games.
The Ortizes - Russ (10.29 ERA in seven innings) and Ramon (6.30 in 30) sucked.
A
Clayton Kershaw - Stepped up into the #1 role with a 2.91 ERA and 212 strikeouts in 204 1/3 innings.
Hong-Chih Kuo - Pitched in a setup and closer's role and excelled both times. A 1.20 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Kenley Jansen - Only appeared in 25 games, but was awesome with an 0.67 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 27 innings. A future star indeed.
Hiroki Kuroda - Doesn't have "ace" numbers, but really good ones for a guy in the middle of the rotation. A 3.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 159 strikeouts, and a career-high 196 1/3 innings pitched.
Rod Barajas - Gave good pop when he came over for the Mets, as he hit .297 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 25 games.
Jamey Carroll - Played the super-sub role very well, hitting .291 with a .379 OBP in 133 games.
B
Chad Billingsley - Close to an A, but did have some bad starts in the beginning of the year. After peaking at 4.61 in mid-July, ended the year with a 3.57 ERA. Also had 171 strikeouts.
Andre Ethier - Would have easily been an A, but a broken pinkie in mid-May really hurt his numbers. Still, finished with a .292 average, 23 homers, and 82 RBIs.
Ted Lilly - A good addition at the trade deadline, as he went 7-4 in L.A. with a 3.52 ERA and 0.99 WHIP.
James Loney - His average dipped to .267, but still collected 88 RBIs and played his usual stellar defense.
Rafael Furcal - Hit .300 with 22 steals, but only appeared in 97 games. The injury bug struck again.
Jay Gibbons - A nice comeback story, and some decent games too. Hit .280 with five homers in 37 games.
C
Matt Kemp - Led the team with 28 homers and 89 RBIs, and still covers great ground in center. But, his season was plagued by bad baserunning, a sometimes aloof attitude, and a .249 average.
Manny Ramirez - Injuries derailed his season and his power, hitting only eight homers in 196 at-bats before being shipped to the White Sox.
Casey Blake - The veteran has started to slip, as he hit .248 with 17 homers and 64 RBIs. Still has a good glove at third, though.
Vicente Padilla - Great stuff when he's there, but only made 16 starts for a 4.07 ERA. Plus he got shelled Opening Day... in Pittsburgh!
Russell Martin - Another year taking a big step backwards, only hitting .248 with five homers and 26 RBIs. Lost for the year on August 4 with a hip injury.
Reed Johnson - Only hit .262 and gave little power.
Carlos Monasterios - Started the year off great in the bullpen and making spot starts, then faded as the year progressed for a 4.38 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.
Ramon Troncoso - Saved himself a bit with a pretty good second half of the season, but still had a 4.33 ERA and only eight holds.
Octavio Dotel - Logged 18 2/3 innings before being traded again to the Rockies, but compiled a respectable 3.38 ERA. Better than most of the other bullpen clowns.
Ryan Theriot - Covers good ground at second, but a .242 ERA for someone hitting high in the order is way too low.
Blake DeWitt - OK average at .270, but very little power with one homer and 15 doubles in 82 games. Never fully claimed the second base job like he was penciled in to do.
Scott Podsednik - Was brought over to spark the top of the order, but a .313 OBP and five steals in 39 games didn't cut it.
Brad Ausmus - His numbers look like a D (.222, no homers, two RBIs in 21 games), but I like him. So it's a C.
D
Jonathan Broxton - Even with 22 saves, crumbled in the second half to finish with seven blown saves, a 4.04 ERA, and countless times ripping the hearts out of Dodger fans.
Ronald Belisario - Went from a top setup guy to a season full of distractions and a 5.04 ERA.
John Ely - Started the year great, then got creamed to balloon his ERA up to 5.49 with a 4-10 record.
Jeff Weaver - Somehow went 5-1, but with a horrible 6.09 ERA.
Ronnie Belliard - Was brought back for his bat... then proceeded to hit .216 with two homers and 19 RBIs.
F
Garret Anderson - Supposed to be the key lefty bat off the bench, and was miserable with a .181 average, two homers, and 12 RBIs in 155 at-bats. A complete waste.
George Sherrill - Looked to be the setup man in the eighth, but got bombed to the tune of a 6.69 ERA.
Charlie Haeger - A great start in Florida with 12 strikeouts, then got crushed to go 0-4 with an 8.20 ERA in nine games.
The Ortizes - Russ (10.29 ERA in seven innings) and Ramon (6.30 in 30) sucked.
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