So the Dodgers won't finish 162-0. I'll enjoy being 1.000 while it lasted.
After taking a 2-1 lead in the 4th inning, the Padres scored 3 in the 6th to cruise to a 4-2 victory. Randy Wolf battled control problems all night and it finally came back to haunt him in the 6th.
There really wasn't a whole lot to this game. The Dodgers really only had a good 4th inning in which they made some noise. After K'ing in his first ab-bat, Manny Ramirez lead off with a double to center, and following Andre Ethier's flyout, Russell Martin doubled him home. The bases were soon loaded with 1 down, but Casey Blake could only manage a soft sac-fly RBI, and Wolf grounded out to end it.
Wolf wiggled out of a bases loaded, 1-out jam in the 3rd, but found no such luck in the 5th. Back-to-back singles to Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff opened the inning, and Chase Headley scored them both with a double. Guilermo Mota soon came on and gave up a sac-fly to Luis Rodriguez, and that would close the scoring.
In fact, that would close out everything for the Dodgers. Matt Kemp's infield single in the 4th was the last hit they got. They took some walks, but that's it. Manny did have a chance with 2 down and 2 on in the 7th, but he popped out.
Wolf went 5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, and like I said before, he never seemed to get on track. Mota combined with Will Ohman and Ronald Belisario to not allow anything else to happen.
Chad Billingsley will get his first start today against Walter Silva. Bills suffered through a bad postseason and a broken leg from a slip on the ice in the winter, so I can imagine he's itching to get things going again.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
It's all good for the Dodgers on Opening Day
The Dodgers did something I haven't seen in a long time - they scored on Jake Peavy early and took pressure off their pitching. That was more than enough against a weak Padres offense as the Dodgers got the win, 4-1.
It was pretty much a textbook win for the Dodgers. String together some hits for runs, throw in a big hit, good starting pitching, and really good bullpen work. Granted the Padres aren't exactly setting the world on fire these days, but anytime you beat a guy the caliber of Peavy, you have to feel good about that.
Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson got things going right away in the 1st with consecutive singles. After Manny and Andre Ethier flied out, Raffy and Hudson got a double steal, followed by a walk to Russell Martin.
In the past, this is where the Dodgers would flunk miserably. Ah, but not tonight, as James Loney laced a sharp single into left, scoring 2 for the quick lead. A huge, 2-out hit against a perennial ace. Not bad.
Hiroki Kuroda proved he was worthy of Opening Day by going 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. He gave up a run in the 1st after allowing Jody Gerut's leadoff double, but cruised into the 6th after that. In the 6th he ran into trouble, loading the bases all with 2 outs. Corey Wade came on and got Kevin Kouzmanoff to ground back to the mound to end it, and pretty much put the game away. Jonathan Broxton dominated the 9th for 2 K's and save #1.
There was good balance up and down the lineup to contribute. Raffy was 2-5 with a run and stolen base, Ethier 2-3 with an RBI, Loney 3-4 with 2 RBI, and Matt Kemp launched a solo shot to center in the 7th. Manny was 0-3 with a walk that lead to a run scored in the 3rd.
Like I said yesterday, too much is usually made of Opening Day. For now, the Dodgers can feel good that they beat a really good pitcher in his park. But if they go out and lose the next 3, it's not so good. We'll see.
Tomorrow's starters are Randy Wolf against Chris Young. Wolf pitched in Petco Park last year, putting up some pretty good numbers. Young is coming off a season marred by injuries, which included a very scary liner to face from Albert Pujols. Yikes. Thankfully he's back and says he's ready to go.
It was pretty much a textbook win for the Dodgers. String together some hits for runs, throw in a big hit, good starting pitching, and really good bullpen work. Granted the Padres aren't exactly setting the world on fire these days, but anytime you beat a guy the caliber of Peavy, you have to feel good about that.
Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson got things going right away in the 1st with consecutive singles. After Manny and Andre Ethier flied out, Raffy and Hudson got a double steal, followed by a walk to Russell Martin.
In the past, this is where the Dodgers would flunk miserably. Ah, but not tonight, as James Loney laced a sharp single into left, scoring 2 for the quick lead. A huge, 2-out hit against a perennial ace. Not bad.
Hiroki Kuroda proved he was worthy of Opening Day by going 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. He gave up a run in the 1st after allowing Jody Gerut's leadoff double, but cruised into the 6th after that. In the 6th he ran into trouble, loading the bases all with 2 outs. Corey Wade came on and got Kevin Kouzmanoff to ground back to the mound to end it, and pretty much put the game away. Jonathan Broxton dominated the 9th for 2 K's and save #1.
There was good balance up and down the lineup to contribute. Raffy was 2-5 with a run and stolen base, Ethier 2-3 with an RBI, Loney 3-4 with 2 RBI, and Matt Kemp launched a solo shot to center in the 7th. Manny was 0-3 with a walk that lead to a run scored in the 3rd.
Like I said yesterday, too much is usually made of Opening Day. For now, the Dodgers can feel good that they beat a really good pitcher in his park. But if they go out and lose the next 3, it's not so good. We'll see.
Tomorrow's starters are Randy Wolf against Chris Young. Wolf pitched in Petco Park last year, putting up some pretty good numbers. Young is coming off a season marred by injuries, which included a very scary liner to face from Albert Pujols. Yikes. Thankfully he's back and says he's ready to go.
Today's starting lineup
Here's a quick look at the starting lineup of today's game in San Diego, 15 minutes before first pitch:
1. Rafael Furcal - SS
2. Orlando Hudson - 2B
3. Manny Ramirez - LF
4. Andre Ethier - RF
5. Russell Martin - C
6. James Loney - 1B
7. Matt Kemp - CF
8. Casey Blake - 3B
9. Hiroki Kuroda - P
That's pretty good depth with Kemp and Blake at the bottom. Should be a tough one against Jake Peavy, but CC Sabathia got hit around today, so maybe Peavy will too.
Go blue!
1. Rafael Furcal - SS
2. Orlando Hudson - 2B
3. Manny Ramirez - LF
4. Andre Ethier - RF
5. Russell Martin - C
6. James Loney - 1B
7. Matt Kemp - CF
8. Casey Blake - 3B
9. Hiroki Kuroda - P
That's pretty good depth with Kemp and Blake at the bottom. Should be a tough one against Jake Peavy, but CC Sabathia got hit around today, so maybe Peavy will too.
Go blue!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Opening Day is tomorrow!!!
Baseball season is finally here, as it all gets underway tomorrow afternoon with plenty of action. Ok, so technically it starts tonight with the Braves-Phillies, but tomorrow is the real fun.
The Dodgers will be in San Diego for 4 games, followed by 3 in Arizona, before making their way back home next Monday against the Giants. Throw in a home set against the Rockies after that, and the Dodgers will play their first 13 games against all their division rivals. It's a good place to test where they stand this early in the year.
Jake Peavy will take the mound tomorrow, the Dodger Killer. His numbers are just sick against LA, as in 13-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 22 starts. Yikes. Hiroki Kuroda goes for LA, a surprise starter by most seeing that Chad Billingsley was the guy with the great numbers last year.
The Dodgers' lineup has been much hyped now that Manny has been brought in, along with the returns of Casey Blake and Rafael Furcal, and the addition of Orlando Hudson. The Padres will have to find ways to get on base for Adrian Gonzalez, the only true run-producer for them. Guys like Jody Gerut, Kevin Kouzmanoff, and Chase Headley will be counted on to continue their development and get the offense going.
Much like opening week in the NFL, too much is made of the first game in baseball. If your team dominates, then all the offseason moves have worked. If they put up blanks, then your GM sucks! Like the Dodgers showed last season, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. And doing pretty well along the way doesn't hurt.
Baseball fans, let the games begin!
The Dodgers will be in San Diego for 4 games, followed by 3 in Arizona, before making their way back home next Monday against the Giants. Throw in a home set against the Rockies after that, and the Dodgers will play their first 13 games against all their division rivals. It's a good place to test where they stand this early in the year.
Jake Peavy will take the mound tomorrow, the Dodger Killer. His numbers are just sick against LA, as in 13-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 22 starts. Yikes. Hiroki Kuroda goes for LA, a surprise starter by most seeing that Chad Billingsley was the guy with the great numbers last year.
The Dodgers' lineup has been much hyped now that Manny has been brought in, along with the returns of Casey Blake and Rafael Furcal, and the addition of Orlando Hudson. The Padres will have to find ways to get on base for Adrian Gonzalez, the only true run-producer for them. Guys like Jody Gerut, Kevin Kouzmanoff, and Chase Headley will be counted on to continue their development and get the offense going.
Much like opening week in the NFL, too much is made of the first game in baseball. If your team dominates, then all the offseason moves have worked. If they put up blanks, then your GM sucks! Like the Dodgers showed last season, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. And doing pretty well along the way doesn't hurt.
Baseball fans, let the games begin!
McDonald annoited the 5th starter
James McDonald has been officially named the 5th starter to begin the season with the Dodgers. For about a week or so this had been the talk, but Joe Torre went on record with it yesterday.
Good for him. After watching him at the end of last season, it was obvious he was another prospect with really good stuff and a really good future. His numbers this spring haven't been very pretty - 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA - but he's given up 3 runs in his last 10.1 IP. There's plenty of reason to be excited.
But I can't help but comment that while McDonald has stepped up, he was given a huge boost by the miserable pitching of others. The Dodgers were hoping to find lightning in a bottle like they have so many times in the past by bringing in forgotten veterans and seeing who would step up. Shawn Estes, Eric Milton, Jeff Weaver, and Claudio Vargas had their chances.
And all of them failed miserably.
Estes is now trying to become a left-handed specialist, which could prolong his already shaky career. Weaver is going to Triple-A to get more innings in. I have no idea what the plans for Milton and Vargas are, but they all pretty much pitched their way out of contention.
I'm sure the Dodgers wanted to see McDonald at least start off in the bullpen and work his way up, but they have no choice. Jason Schmidt still isn't ready to pitch every 5th day, so that didn't work either.
Ready or not, here comes McDonald. His first start will be on Friday in Arizona.
Good for him. After watching him at the end of last season, it was obvious he was another prospect with really good stuff and a really good future. His numbers this spring haven't been very pretty - 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA - but he's given up 3 runs in his last 10.1 IP. There's plenty of reason to be excited.
But I can't help but comment that while McDonald has stepped up, he was given a huge boost by the miserable pitching of others. The Dodgers were hoping to find lightning in a bottle like they have so many times in the past by bringing in forgotten veterans and seeing who would step up. Shawn Estes, Eric Milton, Jeff Weaver, and Claudio Vargas had their chances.
And all of them failed miserably.
Estes is now trying to become a left-handed specialist, which could prolong his already shaky career. Weaver is going to Triple-A to get more innings in. I have no idea what the plans for Milton and Vargas are, but they all pretty much pitched their way out of contention.
I'm sure the Dodgers wanted to see McDonald at least start off in the bullpen and work his way up, but they have no choice. Jason Schmidt still isn't ready to pitch every 5th day, so that didn't work either.
Ready or not, here comes McDonald. His first start will be on Friday in Arizona.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
NL West preview: Closers
Here's the last part in my preview series, looking at the closers.
1. Brian Wilson - Giants
2. Jonathan Broxton - Dodgers
3. Chad Qualls - Diamondbacks
4. Huston Street - Rockies
5. Heath Bell - Padres
I get the feeling that I could toss all of these names in a hat, mix them up, then go with whatever order I pick them. All of these players have either done it before with bad numbers (Wilson), are just getting their feet wet (Broxton, Qualls, Bell) or are trying to overcome injures (Street).
Wilson gets the nod because even with a 4.62 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, he still saved 41 of the Giants' 72 wins. That's hard to ignore. Broxton stepped in for the injured Takashi Saito and went 14-17, then gave up only a solo homer in 5.2 IP in the playoffs. His stuff is overpowering. Qualls puts up excellent numbers across the board, so you would think he'll be good in the 9th inning as well. Street needs to prove he's over injuries and can put up good enough numbers in Colorado, or Manny Corpas will be lurking. Bell faded in the 2nd half last year, and on a mediocre team at best, it's hard to see him being that effective.
1. Brian Wilson - Giants
2. Jonathan Broxton - Dodgers
3. Chad Qualls - Diamondbacks
4. Huston Street - Rockies
5. Heath Bell - Padres
I get the feeling that I could toss all of these names in a hat, mix them up, then go with whatever order I pick them. All of these players have either done it before with bad numbers (Wilson), are just getting their feet wet (Broxton, Qualls, Bell) or are trying to overcome injures (Street).
Wilson gets the nod because even with a 4.62 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, he still saved 41 of the Giants' 72 wins. That's hard to ignore. Broxton stepped in for the injured Takashi Saito and went 14-17, then gave up only a solo homer in 5.2 IP in the playoffs. His stuff is overpowering. Qualls puts up excellent numbers across the board, so you would think he'll be good in the 9th inning as well. Street needs to prove he's over injuries and can put up good enough numbers in Colorado, or Manny Corpas will be lurking. Bell faded in the 2nd half last year, and on a mediocre team at best, it's hard to see him being that effective.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
NL West preview: Starting Pitching
Part 3 of my season preview will look at starting pitching.
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Webb, RH
Dan Haren, RH
Doug Davis, LH
Jon Garland, RH
Max Scherzer, RH
It must be nice to have your 2nd starter as Dan Haren. Even with the departure of Randy Johnson to the Giants, this rotation is still really good. Webb and Haren are as good as you're going to get in the 1-2 spots. Garland and Davis have both done well in the past, but not so much now. Still, if one of them can put up good numbers, they'd take it. Scherzer was the phenom pitcher that came up last year who can be really good if he stays healthy.
2. San Francisco Giants
Tim Lincecum, RH
Matt Cain, RH
Randy Johnson, LH
Barry Zito, LH
Jonathan Sanchez, LH
I was close to slotting these guys in first, but I think the DBacks have a slight edge. Lincecum proved last year how dominant he is, and boy is he fun to watch. Cain seems like a guy who should be doing better, but just hasn't really broken out yet. He's still only 24, so that can change. The addition of Johnson is a good one, because with Zito still stinking up the joint, at least one lefty with a great past can still do some good things. Keep an eye on Sanchez, another young pitcher with great upside.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Hiroki Kuroda, RH
Chad Billingsley, RH
Randy Wolf, LH
Clayton Kershaw, LH
James McDonald, RH
A lot could go right with this rotation... and a lot could go wrong. It depends on youth and health. Kuroda showed that he's a very solid pitcher in the postseason, so he's earned the Opening Day job. Billingsley had a breakout season where he showed the stuff of a staff ace. Wolf is back, and he's a high strikeout pitcher, and a high injury risk. Kershaw and McDonald have some nasty stuff, but who knows if that translates into getting hitters out consistently. If anything, they've shown flashes that it can happen.
4. San Diego Padres
Jake Peavy, RH
Chris Young, RH
Cha Seung Baek, RH
Kevin Correia, RH
Shawn Hill, RH
It's a little hard to believe that a staff with Jake Peavy can be ranked so low, but that's because 3-5 are big question marks. Young is a very good pitcher when healthy, which didn't happen at all last year. If he's fine, then that's a good 1-2 combo. However, that's where it ends. Baek, Corriea, and Hill all have some really ugly numbers. Playing in Petco Park helps, but the bottom line is that if you suck, you'll suck anywhere!
5. Colorado Rockies
Aaron Cook, RH
Ubaldo Jimenez, RH
Jorge De La Rosa, LH
Jason Marquis, RH
Franklin Morales, LH
Poor Colorado. It's practically an automatic that anything to do with pitching, they'll be near or at the bottom of the list. But, Cook and Jimenez really aren't that bad. Cook puts up good numbers without being flashy, and Jimenez has all the flash, just not nearly as much consistency. The bottom 3 guys either aren't good anymore, or never were to begin with.
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Webb, RH
Dan Haren, RH
Doug Davis, LH
Jon Garland, RH
Max Scherzer, RH
It must be nice to have your 2nd starter as Dan Haren. Even with the departure of Randy Johnson to the Giants, this rotation is still really good. Webb and Haren are as good as you're going to get in the 1-2 spots. Garland and Davis have both done well in the past, but not so much now. Still, if one of them can put up good numbers, they'd take it. Scherzer was the phenom pitcher that came up last year who can be really good if he stays healthy.
2. San Francisco Giants
Tim Lincecum, RH
Matt Cain, RH
Randy Johnson, LH
Barry Zito, LH
Jonathan Sanchez, LH
I was close to slotting these guys in first, but I think the DBacks have a slight edge. Lincecum proved last year how dominant he is, and boy is he fun to watch. Cain seems like a guy who should be doing better, but just hasn't really broken out yet. He's still only 24, so that can change. The addition of Johnson is a good one, because with Zito still stinking up the joint, at least one lefty with a great past can still do some good things. Keep an eye on Sanchez, another young pitcher with great upside.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Hiroki Kuroda, RH
Chad Billingsley, RH
Randy Wolf, LH
Clayton Kershaw, LH
James McDonald, RH
A lot could go right with this rotation... and a lot could go wrong. It depends on youth and health. Kuroda showed that he's a very solid pitcher in the postseason, so he's earned the Opening Day job. Billingsley had a breakout season where he showed the stuff of a staff ace. Wolf is back, and he's a high strikeout pitcher, and a high injury risk. Kershaw and McDonald have some nasty stuff, but who knows if that translates into getting hitters out consistently. If anything, they've shown flashes that it can happen.
4. San Diego Padres
Jake Peavy, RH
Chris Young, RH
Cha Seung Baek, RH
Kevin Correia, RH
Shawn Hill, RH
It's a little hard to believe that a staff with Jake Peavy can be ranked so low, but that's because 3-5 are big question marks. Young is a very good pitcher when healthy, which didn't happen at all last year. If he's fine, then that's a good 1-2 combo. However, that's where it ends. Baek, Corriea, and Hill all have some really ugly numbers. Playing in Petco Park helps, but the bottom line is that if you suck, you'll suck anywhere!
5. Colorado Rockies
Aaron Cook, RH
Ubaldo Jimenez, RH
Jorge De La Rosa, LH
Jason Marquis, RH
Franklin Morales, LH
Poor Colorado. It's practically an automatic that anything to do with pitching, they'll be near or at the bottom of the list. But, Cook and Jimenez really aren't that bad. Cook puts up good numbers without being flashy, and Jimenez has all the flash, just not nearly as much consistency. The bottom 3 guys either aren't good anymore, or never were to begin with.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
NL West preview: Outfield
Part 2 of my preview for the '09 season...
Left Field
1. Manny Ramirez - Dodgers
2. Connor Jackson - Diamondbacks
3. Chase Headley - Padres
4. Seth Smith - Rockies
5. Fred Lewis - Giants
Manny is far and away the head cheese in this group. That's not to say that the others aren't any good, because there's definite potential. Jackson hit .300 with a .376 OBP last season, but people want to see more than just 12 home runs. He could hit more, but maybe that's just not in his makeup. Headley is on the rise and should get plenty of playing time in that lineup. He'll probably have to get used to hitting with nobody on base (unless it's Adrian Gonzalez). Smith could platoon, but can hit over .300 if given the chance.
Center Field
1. Matt Kemp - Dodgers
2. Chris Young - Diamondbacks
3. Aaron Rowand - Giants
4. Ryan Spilborghs - Rockies
5. Jody Gerut - Padres
Kemp is one of those promising players that fantasy people drool over. With Manny back in the lineup, there's plenty of reasons to think that he could make the next step this season and be a big threat. Young was outstanding in '07, and not so much in '08. He still hit 22 HR and 85 RBI, so if he can get his OBP way above .315, he'll be in good shape. Rowand doesn't get much help in San Francisco, but he's a gamer and always plays hard.
Right Field
1. Brad Hawpe - Rockies
2. Andre Ethier - Dodgers
3. Justin Upton - Diamondbacks
4. Brian Giles - Padres
5. Randy Winn - Giants
The deepest of all outfield spots, all 5 players either have or are capable of putting up great seasons. Hawpe appeared in 138 games because of a hamstring injury, but still hit 25 and 85 with a .381 OBP. Ethier got much better with Manny in the lineup, as he really took off in the 2nd half. Upton only hit .250 last year, but with a .350 OBP. He could potentially put up 30 homers once he figures things out. Giles and Winn have been around the block, but if you look at their numbers, they are still very solid.
Left Field
1. Manny Ramirez - Dodgers
2. Connor Jackson - Diamondbacks
3. Chase Headley - Padres
4. Seth Smith - Rockies
5. Fred Lewis - Giants
Manny is far and away the head cheese in this group. That's not to say that the others aren't any good, because there's definite potential. Jackson hit .300 with a .376 OBP last season, but people want to see more than just 12 home runs. He could hit more, but maybe that's just not in his makeup. Headley is on the rise and should get plenty of playing time in that lineup. He'll probably have to get used to hitting with nobody on base (unless it's Adrian Gonzalez). Smith could platoon, but can hit over .300 if given the chance.
Center Field
1. Matt Kemp - Dodgers
2. Chris Young - Diamondbacks
3. Aaron Rowand - Giants
4. Ryan Spilborghs - Rockies
5. Jody Gerut - Padres
Kemp is one of those promising players that fantasy people drool over. With Manny back in the lineup, there's plenty of reasons to think that he could make the next step this season and be a big threat. Young was outstanding in '07, and not so much in '08. He still hit 22 HR and 85 RBI, so if he can get his OBP way above .315, he'll be in good shape. Rowand doesn't get much help in San Francisco, but he's a gamer and always plays hard.
Right Field
1. Brad Hawpe - Rockies
2. Andre Ethier - Dodgers
3. Justin Upton - Diamondbacks
4. Brian Giles - Padres
5. Randy Winn - Giants
The deepest of all outfield spots, all 5 players either have or are capable of putting up great seasons. Hawpe appeared in 138 games because of a hamstring injury, but still hit 25 and 85 with a .381 OBP. Ethier got much better with Manny in the lineup, as he really took off in the 2nd half. Upton only hit .250 last year, but with a .350 OBP. He could potentially put up 30 homers once he figures things out. Giles and Winn have been around the block, but if you look at their numbers, they are still very solid.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lefty Will Ohman comes aboard
The Dodgers have hopefully found a replacement for the departed Joe Beimel when they signed lefty Will Ohman today to a 1-year, Minor League deal with an option for another year.
I've talked about his numbers before, but let's look at them again. He spent his first 5 years with the Cubs, peaking in 2005 with a 2.91 ERA in 43.1 IP to go along with 45 K's. Last season he went to the Braves, collecting a 3.68 ERA in 58.2 IP and 53 K's.
Those numbers aren't bad, but what's most impressive are his numbers against left-handed hitters last year. In 29.2 IP, he gave up only 21 hits, 2 homers, 8 walks, and struck out 28. Wow. That's pretty darn good. And for those numbers alone, he has himself a job.
With exactly a week to go before the regular season begins, it's unlikely that he'd be ready for the bullpen right away. So some seasoning in Triple A seems likely at first. Hopefully he'll be good to go in no time.
I've talked about his numbers before, but let's look at them again. He spent his first 5 years with the Cubs, peaking in 2005 with a 2.91 ERA in 43.1 IP to go along with 45 K's. Last season he went to the Braves, collecting a 3.68 ERA in 58.2 IP and 53 K's.
Those numbers aren't bad, but what's most impressive are his numbers against left-handed hitters last year. In 29.2 IP, he gave up only 21 hits, 2 homers, 8 walks, and struck out 28. Wow. That's pretty darn good. And for those numbers alone, he has himself a job.
With exactly a week to go before the regular season begins, it's unlikely that he'd be ready for the bullpen right away. So some seasoning in Triple A seems likely at first. Hopefully he'll be good to go in no time.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
NL West preview: Infield
Here's my first in a series of previews for the NL West. Today I'll look at catcher, 1st base, 2nd base, shortstop, and 3rd base. I'll rank each player while trying to remain unbiased! (Not always easy...).
Catcher
1. Russell Martin - Dodgers
2. Chris Iannetta - Rockies
3. Bengie Molina - Giants
4. Chris Snyder - Diamondbacks
5. Nick Hundley - Padres
Martin may wear down in the 2nd half of the year, but he still does a lot for the Dodgers. In addition to handling a staff with a good ERA, he has a good OBP and can steal 20 bases. Iannetta is a riser based on his flashes of power he showed in limited AB's last season. For those of you that watched the World Baseball Classic, you saw how good he could be. Molina had 16 HR and 95 RBI pretty quietly last season. He still can get the job done.
1st Base
1. Adrian Gonzalez - Padres
2. James Loney - Dodgers
3. Todd Helton - Rockies
4. Chad Tracy - Diamondbacks
5. Travis Ishikawa - Giants
Gonzalez is far and away the top player here. He continues to put up power numbers (36 and 119 last year) in a pitcher's ballpark. That plus his team around him really sucks. Loney had 90 RBI despite only 13 HR. Don't expect power numbers from him, but he can hit over .300. Helton came off an injury-plagued year because of his back, and who knows if he'll ever be the same. If he is healthy, he can still give the Rockies good AB's.
2nd Base
1. Felipe Lopez - Diamondbacks
2. Orlando Hudson - Dodgers
3. Clint Barmes - Rockies
4. David Eckstein - Padres
5. Kevin Frandsen - Giants
This is easily the weakest position, and barely worth talking about. Lopez and Hudson have each seen better days, but could also rebound this season if things go well. Barmes is still a good play at Coors, but definitely not on the road. Eckstein's best years are well behind him.
Shortstop
1. Troy Tulowitzki - Rockies
2. Rafael Furcal - Dodgers
3. Stephen Drew - Diamondbacks
4. Edgar Renteria - Giants
5. Luis Rodriguez - Padres
A torn quadriceps ruined last season for Tulowitzki, but when healthy in 2007, he posted 24 and 99. Give him the benefit of the doubt that he can return to those numbers with a clean bill of health and that darn ballpark. Furcal has been in and out of the lineup for the last 2 years, but when he's in, it's all good. A great combination of power and speed for an improved Dodgers' lineup. Drew can become a better hitter with more patience and less hacking, but can still hit 25 homers.
3rd Base
1. Garrett Atkins - Rockies
2. Mark Reynolds - Diamondbacks
3. Casey Blake - Dodgers
4. Kevin Kouzmanoff - Padres
5. Pablo Sandoval - Giants
Atkins has slowly regressed since his big 2006, and injuries are a concern. He gets the slight edge over Reynolds only because Reynolds strikes out and commits errors like it's his second job. Blake and Kouzmanoff are close to a wash, but Blake is in a better lineup to produce more. Sandoval hit .345 in 145 AB's last year, so he could shoot up the list. Or he could stay put if it was just a fluke.
Catcher
1. Russell Martin - Dodgers
2. Chris Iannetta - Rockies
3. Bengie Molina - Giants
4. Chris Snyder - Diamondbacks
5. Nick Hundley - Padres
Martin may wear down in the 2nd half of the year, but he still does a lot for the Dodgers. In addition to handling a staff with a good ERA, he has a good OBP and can steal 20 bases. Iannetta is a riser based on his flashes of power he showed in limited AB's last season. For those of you that watched the World Baseball Classic, you saw how good he could be. Molina had 16 HR and 95 RBI pretty quietly last season. He still can get the job done.
1st Base
1. Adrian Gonzalez - Padres
2. James Loney - Dodgers
3. Todd Helton - Rockies
4. Chad Tracy - Diamondbacks
5. Travis Ishikawa - Giants
Gonzalez is far and away the top player here. He continues to put up power numbers (36 and 119 last year) in a pitcher's ballpark. That plus his team around him really sucks. Loney had 90 RBI despite only 13 HR. Don't expect power numbers from him, but he can hit over .300. Helton came off an injury-plagued year because of his back, and who knows if he'll ever be the same. If he is healthy, he can still give the Rockies good AB's.
2nd Base
1. Felipe Lopez - Diamondbacks
2. Orlando Hudson - Dodgers
3. Clint Barmes - Rockies
4. David Eckstein - Padres
5. Kevin Frandsen - Giants
This is easily the weakest position, and barely worth talking about. Lopez and Hudson have each seen better days, but could also rebound this season if things go well. Barmes is still a good play at Coors, but definitely not on the road. Eckstein's best years are well behind him.
Shortstop
1. Troy Tulowitzki - Rockies
2. Rafael Furcal - Dodgers
3. Stephen Drew - Diamondbacks
4. Edgar Renteria - Giants
5. Luis Rodriguez - Padres
A torn quadriceps ruined last season for Tulowitzki, but when healthy in 2007, he posted 24 and 99. Give him the benefit of the doubt that he can return to those numbers with a clean bill of health and that darn ballpark. Furcal has been in and out of the lineup for the last 2 years, but when he's in, it's all good. A great combination of power and speed for an improved Dodgers' lineup. Drew can become a better hitter with more patience and less hacking, but can still hit 25 homers.
3rd Base
1. Garrett Atkins - Rockies
2. Mark Reynolds - Diamondbacks
3. Casey Blake - Dodgers
4. Kevin Kouzmanoff - Padres
5. Pablo Sandoval - Giants
Atkins has slowly regressed since his big 2006, and injuries are a concern. He gets the slight edge over Reynolds only because Reynolds strikes out and commits errors like it's his second job. Blake and Kouzmanoff are close to a wash, but Blake is in a better lineup to produce more. Sandoval hit .345 in 145 AB's last year, so he could shoot up the list. Or he could stay put if it was just a fluke.
Friday, March 27, 2009
No love from ESPN on Opening Day
I was hoping ESPN would show the Dodgers' Opening Day game again, but that just won't happen this year. ESPN does have 5 games on, but they won't be including the Dodgers on April 6.
The games they will have on are Mets-Reds, Rays-Red Sox, Yankees-Orioles, Cubs-Astros, and A's-Angels. Those are all good games, although when you live in New York like I do, I may as well just say that 3 games will be on since the Mets and Yankees will be blacked out. So ESPNEWS, here I come!
Oh well, at least we can count on the free preview of the MLB Extra Innings package if you haven't previously ordered it already. The free preview lasts from April 6-12. Not a bad deal.
The games they will have on are Mets-Reds, Rays-Red Sox, Yankees-Orioles, Cubs-Astros, and A's-Angels. Those are all good games, although when you live in New York like I do, I may as well just say that 3 games will be on since the Mets and Yankees will be blacked out. So ESPNEWS, here I come!
Oh well, at least we can count on the free preview of the MLB Extra Innings package if you haven't previously ordered it already. The free preview lasts from April 6-12. Not a bad deal.
Manny will hit in the #3 spot
I'm not sure if there was any debate about this, but Joe Torre has officially announced that Manny Ramirez will remain in the #3 spot in the order for this season. That's the place where he found the most success last season, so if it ain't broke, Torre won't fix it.
Not that that's settled, the bigger question will be about who is hitting cleanup. Torre seemed to think that it will depend on the opposing pitcher. In other words, against righties, Andre Ethier will be the man. Against lefties, it's a bit more of a toss up.
Based on last season, Russell Martin got the call once Jeff Kent went down with injury. Obviously, Kent is retired now, so that may place Martin in the lead. But, there's also Casey Blake and Matt Kemp to consider. Most people who aren't Dodger fans would probably think it should be Kemp, but we Dodger fans know that his free-swinging ways may not be ready for that yet.
I hope it's Kemp at some point. That would mean he's maturing at the plate and being more selective, and not just trying to jack one out every time. He's talent is way up there, as we all know, but his decision making isn't. The good news is that we're talking about a 24-year-old player, so I think we all need to remind ourselves to stay patient with him.
Ethier has proven that he can hit around Manny, now it's time for Kemp to do the same.
Not that that's settled, the bigger question will be about who is hitting cleanup. Torre seemed to think that it will depend on the opposing pitcher. In other words, against righties, Andre Ethier will be the man. Against lefties, it's a bit more of a toss up.
Based on last season, Russell Martin got the call once Jeff Kent went down with injury. Obviously, Kent is retired now, so that may place Martin in the lead. But, there's also Casey Blake and Matt Kemp to consider. Most people who aren't Dodger fans would probably think it should be Kemp, but we Dodger fans know that his free-swinging ways may not be ready for that yet.
I hope it's Kemp at some point. That would mean he's maturing at the plate and being more selective, and not just trying to jack one out every time. He's talent is way up there, as we all know, but his decision making isn't. The good news is that we're talking about a 24-year-old player, so I think we all need to remind ourselves to stay patient with him.
Ethier has proven that he can hit around Manny, now it's time for Kemp to do the same.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Billingsley nursing a sore groin
Chad Billingsley's injured groin may be worse than expected. He's already been scratched from his start Sunday against the Padres. He'll instead aim to throw a simulated Minor League game that day if he's feeling better.
This isn't exactly good news for the Dodgers. They're having a heck of a time finding a quality 5th starter since scrubs like Eric Milton, Shawn Estes, and Claudio Vargas are pitching like... well, scrubs. Now they're worried that their #3 guy won't be ready to pitch April 8 in San Diego.
He did throw 15 pitches today on flat ground, so I guess that's some progress. It would suck if he had to miss any time when the season starts, but if he does, hope that it's just one start and nothing more.
This isn't exactly good news for the Dodgers. They're having a heck of a time finding a quality 5th starter since scrubs like Eric Milton, Shawn Estes, and Claudio Vargas are pitching like... well, scrubs. Now they're worried that their #3 guy won't be ready to pitch April 8 in San Diego.
He did throw 15 pitches today on flat ground, so I guess that's some progress. It would suck if he had to miss any time when the season starts, but if he does, hope that it's just one start and nothing more.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
5th starter battle is heating up
*** UPDATE ***
Shawn Estes is done. The Dodgers did themselves a favor by cutting the veteran lefty with a hefty 8.44 ERA in 5 games this spring. He says he can still get people out. Maybe he meant Little League.
***
With Jason Schmidt not being able to grab a stranglehold on the 5th starter spot, the Dodgers find themselves in the same position they did last year at this time - who to put in that spot. From what I can tell, it's down to 3 guys: James McDonald, Claudio Vargas, and Josh Lindblom.
Now I know what you're thinking, Who's Josh Lindblom? Trust me, I did the same thing. Here's what I found. He was the 2nd round pick by the Dodgers in the 2008 draft after pitching first at Tennessee and then at Purdue. Currently, he's the #4 ranked pitcher in the Dodgers' farm system. He's only pitched in 35 Minor League innings, but that didn't stop him from K'ing 3 in 2 IP against the Royals the other night. Scouts were rightfully impressed.
Even with that, I'd still be surprised if he does get the nod. But as far as making the team? Well, he did pitch at the AA level last year, so a promotion to AAA would make sense.
McDonald came off of 5 lousy relief appearances this spring to pitch 3 flawless innings against the Indians on Saturday. He's pitched 11 1/3 innings in the Bigs late last year, including the postseason, without allowing a run. The 2-time Dodgers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year would seem like a favorite for the job. He's got quality pitcher written all over him.
The last is Claudio Vargas, who is already on his 5th team in 7 seasons. He has a 6.57 ERA this spring, yet guys like Shawn Estes and Eric Milton have been so bad, that's actually considered good. That's pretty sad. Needless to say, I have never little confidence that he could be even a decent pitcher.
My guess is that most fans would like to see McDonald get a crack at this spot. He's definitely got the stuff to get the job done. He's also 24 with only 6 games of experience in the Majors. The Dodgers already have Clayton Kershaw in the rotation, so will they want another young gun in there as well?
I think the team would definitely want a veteran to step up and take the job, but that's just not happening. Because of that, we may be seeing the beginning of the James McDonald era in the starting rotation.
Shawn Estes is done. The Dodgers did themselves a favor by cutting the veteran lefty with a hefty 8.44 ERA in 5 games this spring. He says he can still get people out. Maybe he meant Little League.
***
With Jason Schmidt not being able to grab a stranglehold on the 5th starter spot, the Dodgers find themselves in the same position they did last year at this time - who to put in that spot. From what I can tell, it's down to 3 guys: James McDonald, Claudio Vargas, and Josh Lindblom.
Now I know what you're thinking, Who's Josh Lindblom? Trust me, I did the same thing. Here's what I found. He was the 2nd round pick by the Dodgers in the 2008 draft after pitching first at Tennessee and then at Purdue. Currently, he's the #4 ranked pitcher in the Dodgers' farm system. He's only pitched in 35 Minor League innings, but that didn't stop him from K'ing 3 in 2 IP against the Royals the other night. Scouts were rightfully impressed.
Even with that, I'd still be surprised if he does get the nod. But as far as making the team? Well, he did pitch at the AA level last year, so a promotion to AAA would make sense.
McDonald came off of 5 lousy relief appearances this spring to pitch 3 flawless innings against the Indians on Saturday. He's pitched 11 1/3 innings in the Bigs late last year, including the postseason, without allowing a run. The 2-time Dodgers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year would seem like a favorite for the job. He's got quality pitcher written all over him.
The last is Claudio Vargas, who is already on his 5th team in 7 seasons. He has a 6.57 ERA this spring, yet guys like Shawn Estes and Eric Milton have been so bad, that's actually considered good. That's pretty sad. Needless to say, I have never little confidence that he could be even a decent pitcher.
My guess is that most fans would like to see McDonald get a crack at this spot. He's definitely got the stuff to get the job done. He's also 24 with only 6 games of experience in the Majors. The Dodgers already have Clayton Kershaw in the rotation, so will they want another young gun in there as well?
I think the team would definitely want a veteran to step up and take the job, but that's just not happening. Because of that, we may be seeing the beginning of the James McDonald era in the starting rotation.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Brazoban and Beimel both gone
The Dodgers tried everything they could to get Yhency Brazoban back to full strength. Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be. After being assigned to Minor League camp last week, Brazoban was released today.
Things were looking pretty good for him in 2005 as the fill-in closer for the injured Eric Gagne. He converted 21 saves as a power-throwing righty with a bright future.
Then it all came to a crashing halt in 2006 when he got Tommy John surgery. He followed that in 2007 with shoulder labrum surgery. He was never the same, battling weight problems every step of the way.
As for Joe Beimel, he settled on a 1-year, $2 million contract with the Nationals to be their 8th inning pitcher. There was talk of him re-upping with the Dodgers, but it's possible they never offered as much money. That's usually what it comes down to, so that's my guess.
Things were looking pretty good for him in 2005 as the fill-in closer for the injured Eric Gagne. He converted 21 saves as a power-throwing righty with a bright future.
Then it all came to a crashing halt in 2006 when he got Tommy John surgery. He followed that in 2007 with shoulder labrum surgery. He was never the same, battling weight problems every step of the way.
As for Joe Beimel, he settled on a 1-year, $2 million contract with the Nationals to be their 8th inning pitcher. There was talk of him re-upping with the Dodgers, but it's possible they never offered as much money. That's usually what it comes down to, so that's my guess.
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